OKC Animal Center Holds Adoption Event for Black &White Dogs and Cats

A special kind of animal adoption will be held Saturday at the Oklahoma City Animal Resources Center. Instead of encouraging people to adopt any type of pet, this time the limelight will be shined upon the black and white animals.

The Black and White FurBall event will specifically focus on finding homes for black and white dogs and cats. These are the pets that are often left behind in the shelter, and they can sometimes grow in number even faster than other colored pets because of their larger litters. Due to limited space at the animal centers, organizers are hoping to give them away for adoption and find them a good home.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 28, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Those who want to adopt black or white dog or cat can come to the Animal Resource Center at 7949 S Interstate 35 Service Road.  There will be more than 100 dogs and cats available for adoption thanks to the 25 central Oklahoma rescue groups that are participating.

The Black and White FurBall will also feature live entertainment, vendors selling dog and cat- related items, and a petting zoo.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

How to Get Rid of Flea Infestations

A flea infestation in your home is a nasty problem, and it affects not only your pets, but you and your family and well.  If you find evidence that your house may be infested by fleas, put necessary preventive measures into action as soon as possible. Do not wait and allow this annoying dilemma to become worse because they multiply quickly.

Here are some tips on how you can get rid of fleas in your home:

• At the first sign of fleas on your pet, treat them immediately before they spread throughout your house.  When pets have fleas, they are constantly scratching and biting themselves which can cause the fleas to jump off of them and onto your floors and furniture. Bathe your pets often and comb their fur using a fine toothed comb to get rid of the fleas.  There are also powders that are designed specifically to eliminate fleas.
• Vacuum your floors and furniture regularly, as well as any other areas where your pets sleep or spend a lot of time.
• Wash your carpets and rugs often with shampoo or steam clean them to kill the fleas.
• Wash all of your bedding, stuffed toys, pillows, and covers in the washing machine with detergent and tea tree oil.  Dry them in a dryer versus letting them air dry, so the heat can kill any fleas that have survived the washing.
• Do not place your pet’s bed on carpets or rugs. Place them on wooden floors or other hard surfaces, so fleas are less likely to infest the area.
• Spray insecticides on your carpets, floors, and furnishings. When choosing an insecticide, look for those that contain IGR or Insect Growth Regulator.
• If you have done everything you can to get rid of the fleas, but they continue to infest your home, call pest control as soon as possible.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Creative and Elegant Backsplash Ideas for Your Kitchen

Aside from their function of protecting your walls against sprays and spills when you cook, backsplash designs can also be an elegant focal point in your kitchen and add beauty to the room.  When it comes to kitchen decor, there is a wide variety of colors, designs, and materials to explore. You can choose to stick with a simpler, classic look or let your wild side rule and go with something more colorful and unique.  Whatever your preference is, just keep in mind that your kitchen backsplash should blend well with the rest of your kitchen.

Below are some creative kitchen backsplash ideas:

• Miniature stainless steel tiles. Using tiny stainless steel tiles will add a more luminous effect to your kitchen because stainless steel reflects light.  In addition, the tiles are easy to clean and eco-friendly.
• Hand painted tiles. If you are artistically inclined, you may want to showcase your works on your kitchen backsplash.  You can paint each individual time with a repeating theme or, for a more traditional or country kitchen, create a multi-tile mural that you can appreciate each time you cook.  Just be sure to apply a coat of polyurethane on your paint to seal it.
• Ceramic tiles. For a more traditional look, opt for ceramic tiles for your backsplash.  If you want to mix it up a little bit, use multiple colors or shades of a color to create patterns. different colors of tiles to come up with a pattern instead of a monochrome repeating patterns.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Edmond Hosts Laxapalooza, Regional Youth Lacrosse Tournament

This coming weekend, lacrosse players and enthusiasts in Edmond will gather together for a two-day lacrosse tournament called Laxapalooza.  The event happens every year, and lacrosse teams from all over the country come to compete in the two-day competition.  The Edmond Lacrosse Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 2006, is hosting the event, and it also provides lacrosse programs and training to interested boys and girls throughout the year.

Thirty teams will be participating in Laxapalooza 2012, including representatives from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The Edmond Lacrosse Club is proud to have the opportunity to host the event, as well as the different teams and their families.  They said that the event not only benefits their club, but it also has a huge positive economic impact to the city. Local vendors are allowed to sell lacrosse-related products during the event, and players will be donating canned goods to the Hope Center Edmond.

Laxapalooza is open to the public. Those who wish to witness a good game of lacrosse can go to Cheyenne Middle School, 1271 W Covell Road and J.L. Mitch Park, 2722 Marilyn Williams Dr. from 8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Six Cleaning Tips for Men

Who say’s cleaning is the woman’s job?  In the past, household cleaning was associated with women because it was the norm that they stayed home during the days to be with the children and do such work.  Now, however, there are many households that are the complete opposite, and the woman works to earn a living, while the man stays home with the children and household chores.  Or, maybe both people work, and they divide the cleaning duties so they do not fall on any one person.

Regardless of the scenario, if you are a man who has the responsibility of cleaning the house, here are six cleaning tips to follow:

• Have a clear plan of action.  When do you need to start?  What will take the longest time to accomplish?  What can be left turned on while you do other tasks?  Knowing these details will enable you to create a list prioritizing what you should do first and what can wait until later. By organizing your to-do’s and plan of attack, you will have the foresight to turn on the dishwasher or washing machine while you sweep the floor.
• Make it a race. Men love a challenge so why not make cleaning a challenge too?  Go to a room and set the time to fifteen minutes. Make sure you actually clean the room within fifteen minutes and do the same in every other area of the house.  By giving yourself a time limit, you will move faster.
• Pick up clutter and put items back where they belong. Even something as simple as picking up a scattered item off the floor is cleaning.
• Gather all your supplies and carry them with you wherever you need to clean. Have a box ready with items like detergents, a duster, wet rugs, clean rugs, water spray, etc.  Carrying all your supplies with you will prevent you from having to waste time to go back and forth to get things.
• Make it a habit to clean as you go.  This does not mean you have to sweep the floor or dust every time you leave a room.  In fact, cleaning too much can actually be unhealthy. But, by putting things away after you use them and removing clutter, if will be easier to find things when you need them again, and it will also decrease the amount of time you have to spend on regular cleaning.
• Listen to music while you clean. This will energize you while you sweep or mop, and you can also have fun and sing to your heart’s content.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Six Flooring Ideas for Your Kid’s Room

Kids can be rough on furniture and decor when they play, and as much as you want them to enjoy themselves, you must also always consider their safety.  So, when planning your kid’s room, pay attention to flooring, as it is a great way to give them an attractive and fun room, while minimizing the risk of injuries.

Here are six ideas for planning the flooring in your kid’s room:

• Use soft hardwood tiles on top of your hardwood floor. Wood floors are beautiful, but they are hard and more likely to cause injuries if you child falls on them or even crawls around.  If you want to retain the elegance of hardwood floors, install soft hardwood tiles over them, so make the surface softer for your little ones.
• Line up carpet squares on the floor. They are soft, easy to install, and easy to remove. Plus, they are easier to clean because you can simply remove the stained or dirty square and replace it with a new one.
• Add some bright colored circular rugs. Not only are they functional, but they also make the room more fun because they have a touch of whimsy.
• Make the room safe for rough play by laying down patterned rubber flooring. Rubber floorings is durable and soft and is used for activities like karate, ballet, and dancing. If your kid is active and animated, rubber flooring could be the perfect option for you.  There are pattered options as well, which can add an element of fun.
• Reduce allergies by using cork flooring, which is warm to walk on and hypoallergenic. If you do not like to hear loud noises coming from your kid’s room, then cork flooring can be a solution for you because it reduces noise.  Your kids can play all day and you can do your household activities in peace.
• Fill in spaces with soft colorful tiles. Bring more colors into your child’s room with soft colorful tiles. They are safe to use, easy to clean, and fun for the little ones.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Edmond Constructs Rain Garden in Preparation for Storms

The effects of storms, heavy rains, and flooding can cause major damage to properties and even, in some cases, people’s lives. For citizens of Edmond, however, floods caused by heavy rains will soon be a forgotten memory thanks to the newly constructed rain garden. Now, the city will experience fewer floods because rainwater will immediately run off toward the rain garden.

A rain garden is a landscaped area that typically consists of plants, drains, and pipes that filter rainwater and prevent flooding. When heavy rains come, rainwater runs toward the garden and is drained through the pipes toward a river or other body of water.

The City of Edmond has constructed a $38,000 rain garden at the new Blake-Service Soccer Complex. The rain garden is a beautifully landscaped, 200-foot long garden that runs along a parking lot, and it includes a variety of water filtering components, including soil, mulch, gravel, and several drains and pipes.

According to Ryan Oschner, Landscape Architect of Edmond, the new storm solution is a simple approach. Once the rainwater runs off to the rain garden, it is filtered by the components of the garden and drains to the Arcadia Lake.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

9 Decorating Ideas for Your Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are both functional and stylish.  And, in contrast to the typical bulky cabinets and shelves, floating shelves can open up wall space, while still serving a purpose.

Here are nine ideas you can use when decorating your floating shelves:

• Fill them up.  Add lots of decor and knick knacks to fill up most of the shelf space and create a random collection. Just make sure all the items match or complement each other.
• Initiate conversation. Fill your floating shelf with conversation pieces like picture frames, book collections, and small antiques. They will attract your visitors and spark a good conversation.
• Use different styles for your floating shelves, like boxes or wood,  instead of the typical plank. For example, glass floating shelves are great for a modern living room. Unique styles can add more beauty and design to your wa.
• Include a theme for your floating shelves. Tapping into the room’s theme or creating one for a collection of items can help you decide what to place on your floating shelf.
• Use live objects instead of the usual figurines. Place a long aquarium on the bottom shelf and fill it with colorful fish, stones, and seaweed.
• Arrange them horizontally. Line several small floating shelves in a horizontal pattern to display decorations like teapots for the kitchen, picture frames for the living room, and small lamps for the dining room.
• Create a pattern. Rather than organizing your floating shelves into a straight vertical line, create a pattern like a circular design or a stair-like arrangement. It can add more charm to your wall.
• Make use of colorful shelves. Use different colors for each of your shelves, but make sure the colors match each other. For a more feminine look, use pastel colors like yellow, pink, violet, and light green.  For a more dramatic or romantic feel, use darker colors.
• Make it functional. Instead of serving only as a customary unit, use your floating shelves for a more functional purpose like a bedside table.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

How to Add More Color to Your Room

Adding more color to your room can increase its vibrancy and personality. If you love to see splashes of color throughout your house and/or would like more of it, don’t be afraid to experiment and play with colors. The main thing to keep in mind is to choose colors that complement each other and don’t make the room seem too crowded…beyond that, you can let your imagination run wild!

Here are a few ideas for how you can add more color to your room:

• Unite the colors in one area through a colorful painting or photographs. Rather than relying on introducing color through painted walls, you can make use of colorful artwork to introduce a concentrated splash of color to your room.  This is a great option if you’re wanting to maintain the simplicity of the room, while still adding a hint of your playful side.
• Choose a color scheme for your room and then play within that area. If you love yellow and green, combine different hues of each through patterns, textures, and shades. Your room will look more attractive and have depth, but will feel well-organized and neat.
• Incorporate more vibrant furniture. Based on the color scheme of your room, choose a more vivid color for your chair or table. Don’t go overboard and try to make all of your furniture rich in color. Just choose a few focal points, such as a center table, a small stool, a wall cabinet, or a headboard.
• Make the color pop with white or neutral walls.  These basic shades help your colorful elements stand out because they create a sharper contrast and minimize distraction.

• Choose contrasting colors. When choosing a color theme, focus on two or three colors that are different enough that they will produce visual interest and depth instead of monotony.
• Add color to your floor.  An area rug, carpet, or even painting your entire floor are great ways to add lively, rich colors in a way that is more unique and unexpected.
• Add multi-colored accents. You can remain simple and neutral with your floors and walls and use room accents to make your space look vibrant. Choose lamps, vases, and throw pillows with colorful designs and patterns.
• Make it more personal. Choose a color that represents the atmosphere you want to create in your room.  For instance, choose red for a more dramatic room or yellow for a brighter porch.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

OKC Fire Department Hosts Wildfire Protection Meetings

Fire prevention and protection are two of the primary goals of the Oklahoma City Fire Department.  Last year, over 1,000 grass fires and wildfires were reported, so to address citizens’ concerns, the fire department will be partnering with the city council to host a series of presentations to educate residents on fire protection.

Some of the topics that will be discussed during the meetings will include ways to protect homes, animals, and land against wildfires and prevention methods to avoiding causing fires. The OKC Fire Department indicated that there are several things people do that could unintentionally start wildfires, such as burning trash, throwing of cigarettes to the ground (especially from vehicles), and allowing children to play with fire.

The series will start on April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Oakdale School, which is located at 11901 N Sooner Rd.  It will be followed by the second presentation on April 17 at 7p.m. at Bridgestone Intermediate Center, located at 1700 S Council. The last presentation will be geared toward Southeast Oklahoma City residents and will take place on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Harmony Christian Church, located at 7100 S. Choctaw.

 

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors
http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com