I’ll admit I jumped the gun this year on my garden, but I’m sure a lot of you are waiting until this weekend or the following to plant your vegetable garden. And I’m sure a lot of you are itching to get your plants in the ground and started.

However, before you go putting plants in the ground there’s a couple of things you need to do to ensure that they’ll get the nutrients they need. Not to worry because I’ve got everything you need to get your garden soil ready for planting.

Moisture Test

By now much of the excess water from snowmelt is long gone and your garden is perfect for tilling. Just to be sure that there isn’t too much water in the soil, grab a hand full and squeeze it together and drop it on the pavement. If it retains it’s ball-like shape, the soil is too damp. However, if it hits the pavement and disintegrates, you’re good to go.

Compact, damp soil makes it more difficult for roots to spread out, inhibiting plant growth. Working with damp soil also makes the job more difficult and messy for you.

Till the Soil

Break up the soil to aerate it for the new plants. Doing this also helps you remove rocks, sticks, weeds or roots embedded deep in the bed. Depending on the size of your bed, you can till it by hand or rent a tiller from your local hardware store. Breaking up the soil also makes the next step much easier.

Add Natural Fertilizers

Incorporate new, nutrient-rich soil into your existing bed to replenish it. To find this new soil, you can either head to the local hardware store and get fresh top soil and fertilizer, or you can check out this post to learn about the natural fertilizers you have around your home right now.

Layout Where Each Plant Will Go

Some plants require more space than others, so it’s best to read about how much space each plant needs and plan your garden bed accordingly. Some gardeners use string and some just mark spots in the soil, but no matter what you do it’s better to plan ahead.

Start a Compost Bin to Sustain Your Garden Throughout the Year

All those fruit, veggie and landscaping scraps you throw away are gold for your garden. Starting a small compost bin is super easy to start and a free source of fertilizer for your garden throughout the season. Plus, it’s just another way to reduce the amount of junk that ends up in landfills.

Getting your plants off to a great start requires a little bit of work, but you’ll be much better off later if you properly prepare your garden soil ahead of time.

Need some more inspiration for your garden this year? Check out a few of these articles from the Zing archives!

Benefits of Growing Heirloom Plants
6 Easy-to Grow Mosquito-Repellent Plants for Your Garden
Inexpensive Raised Bed and Planter Options for Your Garden
Shade Gardens: Which Plants Work Best
Turn Kitchen Scraps Into Plants
Create a Cocktail Container Garden
Picking Pet-Safe Plants for Your Home

What plants do you plan to grow this year? Share your garden plans with other Zing readers in the comments below!

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You’d be surprised to know how many different styles you can choose from in the world of windows. From picture and bay to casement, double-hung, and awning, there’s a type of window that fits your home-style. So where do you start on this journey to finding the perfect windows? You start with learning more about the different styles and weighing the pros and cons of each.

Let’s take a look at five popular window styles so you can get a better idea of how they might fit your home.

Picture Windows

If you are fortunate to live in an area that comes with an amazing view or you just really enjoy watching your kids play with the dog in the backyard, then this style of window is for you.

Pros: The picture window gives you an unrestricted view with the intention of capturing the outside canvas as if you were framing a picture – hence, the name picture window. For a long time, the downside of owning this style fell on the fact that it couldn’t open, but now there are a few manufacturers stepping out and removing that hang-up. That’s right. You can enjoy the view and a breeze too.

Cons: Be aware of the amount of light you are letting into your home. Picture windows can cause rooms to get extremely hot and stuffy, which may cause an increase in your energy bill because you’ll have to use the air conditioner to cool it off.

Bay Windows

A bay window may be a great addition to your home. There are many variations beyond the usual inside angles of 90, 135, or 150 degrees, which opens the window of possibility on where you can install it.

Pros: A great feature of the bay is that it may actually increase the square footage in your home due to the fact that it projects outwardly. With the extra space, you could build a reading nook or maybe an arts and crafts area for the kids. However you decide to use the space, you’re allowed to add your personality to the room with something that speaks to who you are.

Cons: A disadvantage of the bay is usually found when trying to add window treatments. With the bay being a unique frame, you want to avoid damaging it or compromising the style when trying to add window treatments, so hiring a professional is highly recommended. Due to the uniqueness in this style, replacement windows could cost upwards of several hundred dollars.

Casement Windows

If the view isn’t the reason you’re getting a window, then chances are you’re a fan of the cool summer breeze. If this is the case, then the casement window is the window for you.

Pros: Built almost like a door, using vertical hinges, the casement opens outwardly, which allows you to receive more ventilation than most styles. There is even a crank used to open and shut the window, making it very easy to maneuver.

Cons: Even though the window is easy to maneuver, some consumers find the appearance of the crank a little unpleasant. Other reasons casement windows are often passed over are due to the lack of functionality in the style. Storm screens aren’t able to be placed on the outside of the window because it opens outwardly (the screen would have to be installed on the inside of the window). This also makes installing an air conditioner challenging as you would be required to purchase a special mounting system to make sure your air conditioner is secure within the window.

Double Hung Windows

A double hung window is one of the more popular styles on the market and one of the easiest to identify.

Pros: A double hung window has two sashes that slide up and down. They come in a variety of sizes and are compatible with many home styles. This window is air conditioner and storm screen friendly, easy to clean, as well as energy efficient. However, the efficiency is usually only found in higher quality styles because they have the ability of quadruple weather stripping, which makes it virtually impossible for heat to escape or cool air to enter.

Cons: On the flip side, if you’re not purchasing a higher quality style then you run the risk of having a window that does the complete opposite. Also, double hung windows only have the ability of opening half of the entire structure so you aren’t receiving the amount of air you would with another style such as the casement.

Awning Windows

Awning windows have many benefits aside from providing natural light and breezes.

Pros: What separates this window from others is the ability you have to place it higher than most. This design allows you to obtain the light and ventilation you want, but also maintain a level of privacy. A typical awning style window remains intact at the top and opens outwardly from the bottom. Making this the perfect window for those, like me, who enjoy keeping the window open during a rain storm and catching the nice, cool breeze.

Cons: If you live near a public walkway, awning windows may not be permitted by your city’s local-council. Also, the height and design may make it hard for you to keep clean or escape in the event of an emergency. These are definitely concerns that should be taken into consideration before making a decision.

These are just five of the many style windows available on the market. But before making a final decision, it’s important to talk to a professional window consultant who can recommend the right type of window for your home, climate and desired functionality. Have you recently purchased new windows? Which style did you choose?

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Tis the season for home renovations, and aside from bathrooms, kitchens are one of the most popular places to start. Whether you plan on tearing it down to start over to just want to freshen it up a bit, a new countertop is a great place to start.

There are tons of options when it comes to countertops, and in recent years eco-friendly alternatives have gained popularity. The even better news is that according to many real estate agents, green upgrades can add value to your home and possibly even sell it faster.

Whether replacing your counters is part of a larger renovation project or just one update you want to do in your kitchen, eco-friendly counter tops are a smart upgrade.

Recycled Glass (Starting at about $20 per square foot)

Companies like Vetrazzo collect glass and ceramic and repurpose it into modern-style counter tops. Experts note it’s easy to take care of and durable. The Environmental Protection Agency says, “Glass, especially glass food and beverage containers, can be recycled over and over again. In fact, 90% of recycled glass is used to make new containers.”

Recycled Lumber (Starting at about $20 per square foot)

Salvaged wood has tons of character and adds warmth to almost any space and helps keep thousands of pounds of lumber from taking up space in landfills. Although wood countertops need regular sealing and maintenance to keep them in the best shape possible, it’s probably one of the cheaper options on this list.

Recycled Paper (Starting at about $30 per square foot)

That’s right. All that paper you recycle can get turned into a durable, heat- and stain-resistant counter top. PaperStone notes a piece of 1”x5’x12’ section of paper countertop saves more than 1,200 gallons of water, 130 pounds of solid waste and 50 pounds of petroleum-based phenol.

Stainless Steel (Starting at about $40 per square foot)

Better Homes and Gardens notes that stainless steel is “Made of 65 to 100% recycled content.” Okay, stainless steel is expensive, scratches easily and you have to wipe it constantly so it’s not covered with finger prints; however, it’s high heat resistance and durability make it another great option that will last for years. And getting brushed stainless steel alleviates most of the aforementioned problems.

Okay, some of these manufactured eco-friendly counter tops are a touch on the expensive side. However, a few of these styles can easily turn into weekend DIY projects. Creating a recycled glass counter top would pretty much follow the same process as making a recycled glass backsplash.

With tons of options, you’ll find an eco-friendly countertop style that fits your home décor and budget.

Have you considered replacing your old countertops for eco-friendly ones? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!

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Many factors play into the successful closing of a mortgage. However, sometimes things happen and the mortgage becomes suspended. This can be frustrating and confusing to those going through the mortgage process. Recently, I sat down with Mike Lyon, vice president of operations at Quicken Loans, to get more insight on the common reasons why loans get suspended and how to set the right expectations for clients during the mortgage process. In part one of this interview series, we will focus on suspension and how to avoid it.

Q: What Does It Mean When a Loan Is Suspended?

ML: It means that the loan is broken. If you look at it from an automobile assembly line standpoint, that automobile has been yanked off of the assembly line because it has a defective part or parts.

A great example of that is income. Clients will work with their bankers and calculate their monthly income. Say it’s $5,000 a month. Then you have a debt ratio that is based off of that. The debt ratio has to be under a certain level in order for us to actually do the loan. We pull tax transcripts on that client and we find out, lo and behold, there is unreimbursed business expenses that the client forgot about because they’re working for a company and writing off the cost of their uniforms that they have to wear on the job. They write it off for say, $10,000 for the year and we have to back that off of their monthly income. Suddenly, their income is lower than we thought it was. The debt ratio then goes over what was allowed by the product they originally qualified for and that loan is now suspended. So the loan would come off the assembly line, and hopefully we can repair it. We have our own little repair shop of solution consultants and analysts to try to get the loan back on track.

Q: From an Operations Standpoint, What Are the Most Common Reasons that Loans Do Not Close or Get Suspended?

ML: The great news is that, at the initial underwrite, 90% of the loans that come in are conditionally approved. This means that they are not suspended; they still work. We’re talking about one out of every 10 could have something wrong with it at the very beginning.

The reason for suspense could be income, short assets, or some kind of credit history issue – but the number one reason upfront is income. People forget, for example, that they work for one place but have a partnership on the side with a Schedule E or Schedule C business that happened to lose $15,000 last year. We have to, unfortunately, exclude that or reduce their income because of that loss.

From a total process standpoint, as that loan goes through the pipeline, the number one reason for suspense, without question, is collateral. It dwarfs every other reason. Simply put, many clients think that their home is worth more than others in their neighborhood. They think, “I know that my neighbor’s home just sold for $200,000 and my other neighbor’s home sold for $200,000. But they don’t have fancy new yellow linoleum in their basement bathroom. My home is obviously worth $50,000 more so I’m going to estimate my home at $250,000.” We get the appraisal back and it says the home is worth $200,000. This is because the value of the home is only as much as what recent sales in the area have shown. It’s always based on the comparable properties in the area and what they’ve sold for. When clients overestimate the value of their home, loans end up being suspended because their loan-to-value has now exceeded what is allowed according to product guidelines.

If we say we need $10,000 of assets to close and we get your bank statement and find you have $10,000 in assets but you also have a $9,000 deposit which came from silver doubloons buried in your back yard, we’ll have an issue. We can get a great explanation letter on the silver doubloons but we can’t use those assets because they are not documentable funds. We can never use those. We have to have funds that are actually showing up on a bank statement for 30 days. We have to have seasoned funds.

Q: What Missing or Incorrect Documents Commonly Delay a Loan’s Closing or Cause Suspension?

ML: These types of things may not cause suspension, but they do slow the loan down. It’s important to step all the way back to the beginning of the process. The first step in having a successful loan is having a client who has correct expectations upfront and understands that we’re going to be asking for a ton of documentation. This is especially important for those clients who refinanced a few years ago when guidelines were less stringent. Maybe they refinanced in 2007 and figure, “Well my last loan was really simple, this loan is probably going to be the same.” This, however, is a brave new world. We have to document the heck out of our loans, so you may have to provide documentation now that you did not have to the last time you refinanced.

Along with the correct expectations upfront, getting the information we need is critical. The client has to give us a homeowners insurance declaration page. It’s amazing how much not having this page from the insurance company slows the process down.

Bank statements are another one. When we ask for a bank statement, which includes all pages front and back, we mean an official bank statement. A lot of times, what we get is the Internet printout, which is not a bank statement. It’s these shortcuts of documentation that a client may take that can disrupt efficiency.

Another thing that can go awry, mostly happening upfront, is credit. A client that has a disputed account on their credit report, needs to understand that their credit score doesn’t account for that dispute. Let’s say you had an account that is 90 days delinquent and you dispute that account. Your credit score could magically go from a 640 up to a 730 overnight because that account is disputed, and by law the credit bureaus can’t include that in the credit score. So while you’ve increased your credit score, we’ll say we need an explanation and proof of why you’re disputing that account. There have been times when clients would actually say that they just wanted a higher credit score. Those usually go from suspense to denied in a hurry. It’s not helpful at all.

Property is another one. When you estimate the value of your home, your mortgage banker is going to tell you that you’ll need an appraisal. You need to treat that as if your mother-in-law and mother are showing up on the same day to go through your house with a fine-toothed comb. The appraiser is coming inside and they’re going to check things out. It’s amazing the number of times that we were going to lend on somebody’s home, and the appraiser has a hard time just walking through a room because it’s filled with so much stuff. Or there are ceiling tiles missing. Or the home is in bad shape. If you do a good job of cleaning your home prior to the appraisal, you probably add 5% to your home’s value. It’s as simple as that. If you haven’t dusted the home in five months, it’s time to dust. Make a good impression as if you were trying to sell your home. If you have potential buyers coming into your home, you want to make it as appealing as possible. During a refinance, your home is collateral, so you’re basically “selling” your home to the company who actually wants to lend you the money. To get that loan, you have to be credit worthy and your collateral has to have the value that is necessary. One cannot offset the other. If I have a great client but poor collateral, I can’t do the loan. The same applies if there is great collateral but poor credit, I still can’t do the loan. Both have to pan out so the process moves along smoothly.

Well, there you have it straight from one of the top dogs at Quicken Loans. Keep a lookout for part two where Mike will be discussing other difficulties that may arise during the mortgage process and how you can avoid them.

Mike Lyon is the Vice President of Operations at Quicken Loans.  Mike has been with Quicken Loans since 1997 and has been in his current role since 2002. In his position he is responsible for all underwriting, processing, closing, and vendor management activities and leads a team of approximately 2500 team members. Prior to coming to Quicken Loans, Mike was a National Bank Examiner and worked for the Comptroller of the Currency, a division of the Department of Treasury, from 1987 to 1997. Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University.

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I firmly believe the vast majority of women in America dream of one day owning a huge closet. I can admit that I’ve unrealistically envisioned myself strolling through a gigantic walk-in, complete with a love seat, full-length mirrors and a fancy chandelier.

Needless to say, I’m still waiting for my dream to be realized. However, I do have some great news for all of the other women (and men) out there who want more closet space. Although I can’t deliver a bigger closet, I CAN share some solid ways to create more space in your closet, despite the size!

• Clear out old clothes. Experts say that most people wear only about 20% of the things in their closet. So this probably means that there are a number of items that are either outdated, don’t fit or just belong in the trash. Consider pulling out a trash bag and making a trip to the Salvation Army.
• Try a closet organizer. These come in all shapes and sizes, and are available at most stores. Be prepared to pull out your handy tools to put your organizer together. They typically consist of shelving, hanging bars, drawers and dividers. Organizers are a great way to use uniformity and give everything a specific place in your closet.
• Lose bulky or flimsy hangers. Bulky hangers take up excessive space and it’s often hard to keep clothes on flimsy hangers (and not on the closet floor). Investing in higher quality, sturdy hangers will help make you closet rows neater.
• Add a shoe rack or shoe shelf. A rack will help keep your shoe mates together and help avoid a pileup at the bottom of your closet. Consider color coordinating the rack for quick reference.
• Use hooks. Mounting a hook rack on the wall of your closet to store belts, scarves, ties and necklaces is an effective way to create more shelf and drawer space.
• Buy stacking dividers. If you don’t prefer a full-closet organizer, dividers can make stacking neat piles of pants and shirts a cinch! This may prove to be a space-saver over hanging more items on a bar. Dividers are perfect for the upper-level shelves in your closet.
• Switch to space-saving hangers. Tiered hangers are a big win in the space-saving arena. There are several versions of these hangers that allow you to save a ton of space along the hanging bar in your closet. Just be sure that your bar can support the extra weight of tiered hangers! Typically, one hanger can hold four to five items.
• Try vacuum bags. Space-saving bags are often overlooked as a means to store off-season clothing. They are touted by various companies because they’re air-tight and water-tight. Best of all they can save up to 75% in closet volume (Not to mention they’re kind of cool).
• Use labeled storage bins and boxes. Bins and boxes are a good organization tactic for the top and bottom of your closet. They work well for socks, bags and other accessories. This also is a good way to create and identify your space if you share a closet with others.

There are many other ways to be creative and make space in your closet. But these are a few quick ways to transform your space!

How do you save space in your closet? Share your tips with other Zing readers below!

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Ah, spring. When you arrive, it means warmer weather and gardening season, which I love. But it also means it’s time for bugs to emerge from their winter hiatus. And who doesn’t like swarms of bugs hovering around them or invading their house? Am I right?

This time of year most of us probably stop by the local hardware store and pick up a bug repellent to spray around the house to keep the bugs out. Sure, it works well and is fairly affordable, but some of these insect repellents contain dangerous chemicals that are toxic to humans and animals.

So if you’re looking for something that doesn’t cause skin and respiratory irritation, you’re in luck. Check out some of these inexpensive, effective natural insect repellents to protect your home.

Garlic, Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper Powder

You can pick up a couple of bottles of garlic, cinnamon and pepper powder at the dollar store or get some huge bottles from a warehouse store for a few bucks. Sprinkle heavily around the foundation of your home every month to create a bug-proof barrier around your home.

Vinegar, Herbs and Water

Vinegar is a super multitasker around the home. Not only is it a great cleaner, it also keeps bugs at bay. Grab a large spray bottle and fill half of it with white or apple cider vinegar. Next add any or all of these herbs: mint, lavender, catnip, sage or thyme. Top it off with some water, shake well, and let it steep overnight. The next day you’ll have a super-pungent bug repellent.

Vinegar and Essential Oils

For an even more effective bug repellent, fill a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water and add 10-15 drops of any of these essential oils: mint, tea tree, spearmint, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, clove, citronella or eucalyptus.

Witch Hazel, Water and Herbs

This recipe is pretty much the same as the vinegar one above. Just two small changes though. Substitute witch hazel, which you can get at most grocery or drug stores, for vinegar, and distilled water for tap water.

Vodka and Essential Oils

Vodka is another versatile item to have around your home – and I’m not just talking about cocktails either. Fill a small spray bottle with your favorite bottom-shelf vodka and add about 20 drops of any of the essential oils mentioned above.

For extra protection, plant some of these bug-repellent plants in pots around your home.

Last year, I used the vinegar and herb solution because we noticed a lot of earwigs (so gross) and ants hanging out around the house. Within a day of liberally spraying the solution around the foundation, the bugs vanished. We continued to spray around the house and didn’t see any nasty little critters the rest of the summer.

Instead of spraying dangerous chemicals around your home, give natural insect repellents a try. They’ll keep the bugs at bay without dousing your home and yard without harmful substances.

Have you used natural insect repellents around your home? Did they work? Tell us below in the comments section!

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Investing in a pool is a great way to not only enjoy the hot summer months, but also improve your health. And now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s about time to remove that unsightly winter pool cover and hop into a summer of refreshing relaxation. Opening your pool doesn’t have to be a nightmare; here are a few easy steps to get you swimming in no time.

• The first step is to remove any water, leaves and other debris from the top of pool cover. Get rid of the water with a small hand pump and a garden hose and scoop out the remaining gunk with a leaf net. Pull back the cover on itself slowly, so that any remaining grime stays out of the water. Make sure you wash both sides with soap and water before putting it away in a safe place until fall.

• Grab your garden hose and begin filling the pool back to the correct level. While waiting, get out your pump, filter and connection hoses to make sure they’re in good shape. If you have a sand filter, you should change the sand about once every two years. If you have a cartridge filter, look for a replacement after about 3-5 years of use. Inspect all parts for cracks, tears and holes. These can cause improper filtration, low pressure and leaks.

• Once the pool is filled 2/3 of the way up the skimmer, take out all plugs and hook up the pump and filter. Make sure all valves are open, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for starting the pump and filter, as many brands have different setups.

• After everything is ready, turn on the filter and let it run for at least 24 hours. Purchase a chlorine stabilizer and hang it from a nylon or net inside the pool. It will take a few days to dissolve, and will help prevent the summer sun from burning through your chlorine too fast.

• Next, add a chlorine shock treatment with the filter still running. There are a lot of chemicals out there to clear your pool, but the tried and true method is a concentrated chlorine shock. Read the instructions on the bag to determine the correct amount, and spread it around the pool. Avoid entering the water for at least 24 hours, due to the high chlorine levels. If you don’t want to use chlorine, there are a few alternatives available.

• Once the filter has been running with the stabilizer and shock for at least a day, use a testing kit (the strips are more accurate than the drops) to read your chlorine, alkalinity, pH and phosphorus levels. Based on those readings, you can purchase chemicals to either raise or lower each category. It takes take some trial and error to get the perfect balance, but this is normal, as your pool has not had any treatment for several months.

• In order to maintain a clean pool all summer, proper filtration and chlorination is a must. Again, there are many products available to help clear your pool, but chlorine is the most effective. The fewer chemicals in your pool at one time, the better. Running the filter on a set schedule will also help to keep the water moving and prevent algae and bacteria from settling into your water.

What are some of your pool care tips? Let us know in the comments section below! Happy swimming!

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Most of us know that a key element of selling a home is curb appeal, and a huge part of that is landscaping. It’s the first impression potential buyers get of your home.

Properly planned landscaping makes your home stand out from the others on the block and can also give you a pretty decent return on investment (ROI). That’s right, your landscaping offers a return on investment, but just how much can you expect?

Experts nationally agree that investing in landscaping around your home is a strong move to make. RealEstate.com shares the following landscaping-related statistics that might help change your mind if you’re still on the fence:

• Raises the property value as much as 12%.
• Increases your resale value 14%.
• Spending as little as 5% of your home’s value on landscaping may get an ROI of as much as 150%.
• Decreases the amount of time your home is on the market – sometimes by as much as six weeks.
• Nearly 90% of real estate agents encourage homeowners to invest in landscaping prior to selling.

Sounds pretty great, right? Well, before you go crazy planting trees and flowers everywhere, you’ll want to take some time to create a landscape plan. After all, if you’re going to spend a ton of money on this, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t wasting your money.

Make a List of What You Would Like

Sit down and think about all the things you would like to have in your yard. Do you want a large patio or composite deck for hosting parties? Is a vegetable garden area important to you? Maybe you’re thinking about putting in a pool or hot tub. All of these things are important so you can plan a budget and start thinking about where to put all that stuff.

Contact a Landscape Architect

A professional licensed by the American Society of Landscapers can help you plan your landscaping project. They’ll work with you create the back or front yard you’ve dreamed of. Whether you want lush plants or something that requires little maintenance, they’ll work with you to determine what will work best to meet your needs.

Don’t forget that you have tons of landscaping options that can help you save on your monthly water and energy bills. Make sure to mention that to your architect if it’s important to you.

Buy Quality Materials and Plants

Low prices sometimes don’t warrant quality, and you don’t want to buy a whole bunch of cheap plants only to have them die a few months later. Spend a little bit more at your local greenhouse to get quality plants and trees for your yard.

The same goes for the hardscaping, or non-plant items in your plan. For example, instead of opting for poured concrete patio, which is pretty cheap, consider a brick or wood patio instead. Not to knock on poured concrete patios, but wood or masonry make a larger visual impact in the space and look a bit nicer.

Learn How to Care for Your Landscaping

At this point you’ve probably spent a significant amount of dough on plants, flowers and trees, and you certainly don’t want it to die or turn into an out-of- control jungle. Decide whether you want to take care of it yourself or hire a landscaping expert to maintain it.

An important thing to keep in mind is most real estate experts suggest you shouldn’t do all your landscaping right before you plan to sell. To get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to let your landscaping fill in first.

Whether you’re thinking about selling your home or just want to build an outdoor oasis, landscaping is a worthwhile investment. This summer, plant a little green around your home to get a little green back later on.

Do you have any landscaping tips? Share it with other readers in the comments section below!

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The wedding’s over, the thank-yous are sent and the top cake tier is in the freezer, waiting for your first anniversary celebration. Now you and your new spouse are starting to act on the plans you’ve made for your life together, and are ready to take that big step in moving into your first real home.

It’s a big task, joining together two households and finding the perfect location with great schools, affordable taxes and good neighbors. But once you’ve signed on the dotted line for the home where you will begin your life as a couple – and maybe also raise your family when the time arrives – you’re ready to plan your big move. Many newlyweds face the chore of merging furniture, kitchen equipment and closet space from two households. To start your moving process off on the right foot, consider eliminating duplicate items and having a garage sale, or donating items, before beginning the packing process. It’s a great chance to upgrade household furnishings – especially if you received something new as a wedding gift.

Then determine what size of moving truck you’ll need. A good rule is to plan for 150 cubic feet of space for every fully furnished room. Many young couples moving from a small apartment or condo into a larger first home will find a 12- or 16-foot Penske rental truck  more than adequate. Plan to reserve your truck at least two weeks in advance.

Penske Truck Rental offers discounts on trucks and moving boxes through AAA to help couples save.

For help in making moving day go smoothly, use these tips from Penske. They’ve been in the do-it-yourself moving business for more than 40 years:

 Start Early and Group Items Together

Get good, sturdy boxes of various sizes, and then fill them with items of a similar content. Some traditional ways to group items are by item type (i.e. photo frames) or by contents of a room. Label each box with the room name, and the contents. Make sure you have plenty of packing bubbles or towels and cloths on hand to keep breakable items from being damaged in the move.

Still Unpacking Wedding Gifts?

If space isn’t a concern, keep those wedding gifts in their original boxes, because the store packaging will help protect the items. But if space is tight in the rental truck, throw away the store packaging and carefully repack in your moving boxes – with plenty of padding to protect your new gifts.

Loading the Truck

Load the largest items (i.e. bed, couch, dresser) into the truck first to ensure they will fit, and then start loading the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on top. Having each box labeled with contents will help prevent you and your friends from packing heavy books on top of your new fine china wedding gifts.

When you cross the threshold of your new home the first time as a married couple you’ll be surrounded by the excitement and energy of so many adventures to come in your future. Carefully unpack your moving truck, cherishing the memories of your personal belongings as you meld them to fit into your new home and life with your new spouse.

Ready to move? Visit www.PenskeTruckRental.com or call 1-800-GO-PENSKE, today!

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Does your mom have a green thumb? If so, maybe Mother’s Day is the perfect time for you to shower her with garden-inspired gifts!

You know how wonderful Mom is; don’t you think she deserves to be spoiled green? Why not, get her something that she’ll love and that she really needs. Here are eight ideas to consider:

Monogramed gardening gloves ($30) – A specialized gift is just the way to make Mom feel special. There are a variety of online retailers that offer some flattering colors and styles. She’ll be the most well-dressed gardener on her block.

Kitchen planter ($25) – A window sill planter will bring a little bit of natural beauty into your mom’s kitchen. No doubt, your mom has the perfect spot in mind.

Gardening book ($17) – Sure your mom’s an experienced planter, but buying her a complete gardening book is a good way to share some new tips. Books such as “The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” and the “Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook” explore the healthiest pesticides to use and provide valuable info on how to grow plants and veggies in all climates.

Potted rose bush ($30) – This is another way to bring the outdoors into mom’s house, and it’s a nice alternative to a fresh bouquet of wild flowers. Hopefully you know her favorite color and can select a pretty basket to display them in.

Floral print shirt ($20-$30) – Shouldn’t every gardener have an article of clothing in their closet that’s an expression of their passion? You can score a flattering shirt or blouse at any popular clothing retailer such as Target, T.J. Max or Macy’s.

Stylish gardening hat ($25) – A wide-brim straw hat will help protect mom’s face and neck from the rays of the sun while she’s hard at work in her yard. Plus, it’s a classic accessory she can use outside of the yard all spring and summer.

Framed piece of art ($60) – If your mom is like most, the inside of her walls could use some sprucing up. If you can get her to retire an old picture that’s been hanging in her home since you lived there, then a new outdoor-inspired piece of art is the way to go.

You – Why not commit to spending a few hours of your precious time in the yard helping Mom? This would be a wonderful surprise and an opportunity for a little quality time. It’s really the best way to say “Happy Mother’s Day.”

All of these gift ideas will help you score big points this Sunday. But whatever you decide, don’t forget to pick up a greeting card or make your own!

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