Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Reusable batteries are handy to have around, but whenever you need to use them, it can be difficult to find the charger. Then you probably end up having to buy more batteries that you don’t really need. Not only is this an added expense, but it also wastes materials. If this happens to you too, you might be happy to know that there are now USBCELL AA rechargeable batteries.

All you do is pop off the bottom and plug it into your computer to charge them…it’s similar to how you would use a jump drive. There are quite a few products that are battery operated in your home (remote controls, wireless gaming controllers, digital cameras, flashlights, MP3 players, etc.), and it’s nice to be able to get use out of them. For less than $20, you can have two AA rechargeable batteries, and you can keep using them over and over again without the inconvenience of a charger.

Almost everyone has a cell phone (to those of you who refuse to be controlled by your electronic devices, you’re better than the rest of us addicts). So have you ever considered how much electricity you use to charge your cell phone, iPod and digital camera? Well, if you want to reduce your dependency on electricity for these items, you can invest in the Brunton SolarRoll, which can charge these devices with the sun’s energy.

The SolarRoll is so powerful that it can even charge a car battery, and you can even link like units together. This gadget is also waterproof and can be rolled up for easy storage. It comes with a vehicle outlet and multi-linking cable, so you can charge your electronic devices even if you’re on the go.

This solar gadget can keep you twittering, texting, jamming and chatting in an eco-friendly way. Plus, you save all of that electricity you would normally use to charge all of these devices.

Opening your windows and letting the breeze filter through your home is refreshing, but it can also give ants, flies and other bugs an easy entry. Anymore it’s scary when you get bit by bugs, because you never know how concerned to be about a bump on your skin. You could get viruses and diseases but more than likely you survive and the itchy, red bump on your skin goes away.

To combat these pesky insects, handle them in a more natural way without using chemicals: grow a water garden full of carnivorous plants! A great option is the bladderwort, which is a carnivorous plant that feeds off of mosquitoes and other small insects. In addition to exterminating insects, the bladderwort will also bloom a yellow or purple flower. Other plants to consider include the Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the Drosera Intermedia. If you prefer an indoor insect eater, a pitcher plants such as the Nepenthes rafflesiana can work wonders.

This is not the typical booster seat you remember from childhood, but it does have a unique and simple design. The KinderZeat is made in Norway, and it’s functional design enables it to grow with your child.

The chair is made from beechwood, and it’s unusual design makes it stable, which is what you look for in highchairs. The seat and footrest can be adjusted up and down as well as horizontally so your child can sit comfortably at the table. Since it lacks arms, it’s safer for those climbers. The chair is made for children ages 18 months and older, and it has a safety harness.

The chair’s design is eco-friendly, because it can grow with your child and even become a suitable seat for an adult. The KinderZeat is so versatile and sturdy that your kids might be able to use it for their children. You can even buy the KinderZeat cushion if you want extra comfort.

In September, the following are some gardening tasks that you should have on your checklist.

• Plant Bulbs – Dig over the soil and add some fertilizer. Then you can plant your bulbs in bold groups. If you plant them in a line, you’re taking a risk because one or more of the bulbs can break or fail to sprout. Make sure you plant the bulbs at the appropriate depth.
• Save Half-hardy Plants – It’s best to take geranium cuttings now as well as any other half-hardy plants. Choose the healthy shoots, cut off the lower leaves, trim the base, dust the base with root hormones, re-plant in a pot and cover with polythene to keep moist.
• Harvest Seeds - Collect seeds that have recently been shed. Then you can separate the chaff and store the seeds in a dry place.
• Trim Your Hedges – A power trimmer makes hedge trimming simple. The more often you trim the neater your hedges will look.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, it’s easy to find out what plants are best for what seasons or even months. The autumn is full of colorful options that can make your patio come alive with flowers in bright shades of yellow, orange and plum.

Some of the best plants for September are the Korean chrysanthemum, golden grass, nerine, Michaelmas daisy and the red hot poker.

The chrysanthemum is a half-hardy herbaceous perennial, which is best in beds or large containers (perfect near benches or sitting areas). The nerine takes at least a year to become full, but once it matures, it will be a hardy plant. Many autumn-flowering asters become victims of mildew, but the Michaelmas daisy is immune to this. However, these daisies require a sunny and well-drained spot. The red hot poker has slender stems with a creamy yellow top, and it’s foliage looks similar to grass. This flower is best in the front of a bed or border where there is sun or semi-shade.