HALLOWEEN DIY DECORATIONS

Are you looking to spruce up your house, inside and outside, but can’t afford to spend much money on decorations? Luckily for you, fall and Halloween decorations don’t have to cost much if you’re creative! There are so many ways you can take leftovers from previous projects you’ve done or things lying around the house and make good use out of them for super cute decorations around your house.

Look at this super cute jack o’lantern with mums sprouting out of the top. This is a super cute decoration that can be done easily by going to a local dollar store and buying the trick or treat baskets and planting your own mums or buying some locally at a farm, pumpkin patch, grocery store, or anywhere else that sells mums!

Another cheap but cute little project! Take any bottle that you have laying around your house, could be filled or empty, and buy little googly eyes. Those can also be purchased at a local dollar store and usually come in many different shapes and sizes. This would be a good DIY to make when you’re having friends over, and confuse them when you go to drink out of it!

Fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas? Jack Skellington is super popular around this time of the year into the end of the year, it’s a classic! You can find this specific light again, at a dollar store and you can take a permanent black marker and draw his face on the light yourself! You can buy a couple and make him have multiple facial expressions!

This DIY is easy for everybody to do since it includes everyday necessities. Do not throw away all of your toilet paper or napkins to get to the roll (those things were once scarce because of covid!), instead just wait until it goes empty. You might be able to make a couple of these little cute rolls out of one napkin roll since they’re longer.

This is the perfect DIY if you have pool noodles from owning a pool! Most noodles get gross over the winter, so what better way to make use out of them before tossing! Don’t worry, you can still find these at a dollar store if you don’t own a pool.

Such a cute decoration that can be placed inside or outside! Easy to do, and can be substituted with other materials to make this project work. All you need is some paint and patience to make this cute halloween craft!

Have left over materials from other projects you’ve done? These creepy cool hands can be made out of almost any materials. Wood, cardboard, plastic. If you use wood or cardboard, remember to weather-proof it!

This is so adorable!! This one can be done with fresh sunflowers or fake ones, but just remember the real ones can’t be reused, so fake is probably the best bet! You can find the skulls and fake flowers at a dollar store, and can use hot glue to glue the faces into the center! Perfect for those who love skulls and sunflowers, and can even be used year round.

Halloween is one of the best times of the year, and decorating your house with spooky decorations can make the spooky spirit even better. Most things can be found at your local dollar store, and if not there are always alternatives to materials. Get creative and stay spooky!!!

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFAST IDEAS

Mornings trying to get kids out the door are hectic enough, especially the first few weeks back to school. Breakfast shouldn’t be hard; it should be simple.

Wake up, make coffee, drink coffee, ponder life questions, get dressed, think about the kids mess in the living room, wake up the family, make breakfast, gather the children’s clothes, put all their school stuff together, yell a few times, make sure everyone is dressed, eat breakfast, ask your husband for help with the kids, drink more coffee, brush teeth, feed the puppy, and gather all belonging and out the door before 8:10 AM to make it to school at 8:30 AM.

In all that chaos you are supposed to feed your family a nutritious well balanced breakfast. I’m a huge fan of wraps, everyone enjoys them, and it’s not so messy. To make breakfast easier here are a few ideas that I have put together.

Scrambled Eggs, Potatoes and Cheese in a wrap

Scramble eggs and potatoes, top with cheese, put it in a wrap. No mess, and it’s a hit.

Left Over Breakfast Wrap

If you have either beef, pork, or chicken and spring veggies from last night’s dinner: cut it up, or shred it and cook it in a skillet with eggs. Put it in a wrap. BAM, delicious gourmet breakfast.

Granola, Yogurt, and Fruit

Smash a Natural Valley Crunchy Granola bar, layered with vanilla yogurt, topped with berries & strawberries.

Eggs, Avocado, Hummus Wrap

Cook eggs to your liking. Slice up a few pieces of avocado. Put eggs and avocado in wrap with a spoon of hummus, roll it up and enjoy.

Bacon, Egg’s and Cheese Wrap

Cook Bacon. Scramble eggs, top with cheese. Spread a tiny bit of mayo on your wrap, add scrambled eggs and cheese, then top it with crispy bacon. Roll it up and enjoy.

Egg Whites, Tomatoes, Basil & Goat Cheese

Scrambled egg whites. Place in wrap, top with: Fresh tomatoes, Fresh Basil and goat cheese. Roll it up and enjoy. (If you have time, roast the tomatoes before placing them in wrap. It will give the wrap and extra kick)

Peanut Butter & Jelly, Fresh Fruit Wrap

Spread your favorite type of peanut butter and jelly over a whole wheat wrap. Top with Bananas and Strawberries. Roll it up and Enjoy.

-Everything is cooked in extra virgin olive oil, no butter, no vegetable oil.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You have to make it enjoyable for you and the kids. They have to go out there and conquer the world, make it a little easier by making them a breakfast they could enjoy before school.

Plumbing Fact: Over $100,000 were spent on a study to determine whether most people put their toilet paper on the holder with the flap in front or behind.

If you enjoyed our blog post, please visit our blog for home improvement advice and plumbing tips.

www.KevinSzaboJrPlumbing.net

This is the Story of How I Ended Up Setting My Marshmallow Peeps On Fire

Local Orland Park Plumber Hates Marshmallow Peeps

MY HATE FOR MARSHMALLOW PEEPS

Once a upon a time, in a far far land called Orland Park, a local Plumber‘s son threw his Easter Marshmallow Peeps on the floor after deciding he didn’t want them anymore. The stickiness of the peeps completely aggravated him. They taste like crap, they don’t do anything, and his son doesn’t even want to play with them, “What does one do with a Peep?” asked the Plumber. After short research the Plumber realized that Peeps aren’t good for anything, he decided to get rid of them.

He first tried to throw them down the sink:

Since the sink drain was too small, he went for something bigger, the tub. “Surely, the tub drain will work” said, the Plumber.

The tubs drain failed the Peeps big time. The toilet always works for everything people flush down. “We get calls for kids toys all the time. Toys, keys, phones, clothing objects, chicken bones, and gold fish. Marshmallow Peeps should be a piece of cake.” said the Plumber. Without hesitating the Plumber threw the Peeps down the toilet.

What do I have to do to get these Peeps to just disappear? “I’m guessing they are ducks or bird like things, if I set them free they will go away” thought the Plumber. Frustrated with the Peeps, the Plumber packed the Peeps bags and took them for a little stroll down to the pond.

The Plumber threw the Peeps in the pond and wished them well. “Have a nice life” said the Plumber, as he walked away.

The Plumber happily went back to working, he had already wasted enough time trying to get rid of the Peeps, but was glad he finally set them where they belonged. Some time later, the Plumber walked past the pond and noticed the Peeps weren’t in the water. They were perched above the pond, soaking in all the sun. He didn’t understand, “How could the Peeps emerge from the water?” asked the Plumber.

The Plumber couldn’t take it anymore. He was angry. He didn’t want anything to do with these Peeps. The Plumber threw the Peeps in the fire pit and set it on fire.

“Yesss” yelled the Plumber. Finally, the Peeps gave up and melted away. The Plumber should have felt defeat over his victory, but all he felt was remorse. “What did the Peeps ever do to me?” said the Plumber. “It’s not their fault they taste bad, are sticky, and plain useless”. The Plumber ran to the store to purchase a box of Marshmallow Peeps, but they were sold out. Heartbroken, the Plumber promised to never take advantage of a Peep again.

**No one was hurt during the process of this article, besides a Plumbers heart**

www.kevinszabojrplumbing.net

Shop Local: Support Your Local Economy

It is our responsibility to support the community. We can’t wait for the government to come help us. When people spend their money locally, most of it stays in that community. I hear a lot of people talking about how businesses in their town are going out of business, or how there isn’t enough money in the town. It is your responsibility to spend your money in that town. The more you take care of your local businesses the more they take care of your town. Small business owners love to support the community they serve in. It is their duty to give back to the town they belong to.

I’m not going to lie, we do shop at big box stores here and there, because a good deal is hard to pass when you’re on a budget. But, no matter what deals we get at big box stores, we always make it a point to stop at locally owned businesses to purchase a few items. Take care of those small business so they could keep taking care of your community. Remember, it’s never to early to teach your children to support local businesses.

Plunger For Your Toilet, Sink and Tub

Which Plunger Do I Use?

Almost every American household has one in their bathroom, right next to the toilet, others under the sink cabinet, and the rest in the bathroom closet. Now a days they make plastic, metal, or decorative plunger covers so you aren’t ashamed.

Plungers have come a long way from the first plunger invented in 1777. The modern day toilet plunger it is said to have been invented in 1932 by Jeffrey Gunderson.

Gunderson gets credit for the invention but it is believed that it was actually invented sometime between 1850 and 1900. The reason for this theory is because the S-trap drainage system was invented in 1852 and the use of wood and rubber were becoming common practice.

I know your main concern is knowing which plunger to use for the job.

For your toilet you should use a flange plunger

-Make sure that you don’t have too much water in the toilet so you don’t make a mess.

-Place flange plumber in the toilet bowl to completely cover the opening.

-Push down with force.

-Thrust the flange plunger several times until the water flows down.

-The flange plunger should do the job the first time around.

-If whatever is blocking your pipes is not flowing down, try putting dish soap to loosen out what ever is blocking your pipes.

-Let the dish soap sit there for 10-15 minutes, before you try again.

For your sink and tub use the cup plunger

-Place cup plunger over sink opening.

-Make sure the cup plunger is completely covering the opening.

-Push down and hard to get a good suction.

-Thrust the cup plunger until the water starts to flow down.

What if the plunger doesn’t work? Can I use chemicals to pour down the sink or tub?

They have several chemicals to pour down your sink or tub. They say it works like magic, but pouring chemicals to unclog your drain is not a good idea. They damage your pipes, your skin, your surface and whatever else it touches.

Your best bet is to call a professional plumber to help out with your problem.

Funny Ways To Use A Plunger