Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Building a concrete driveway is one of those rare options that can satisfy most people's practical and aesthetic concerns. Concrete driveways are not only built to last long but are appealing to the eye at the same time. Granted, they may take a bit of time to build properly, because none of your efforts will feel wasted once you view your final product.

What Not to Forget When Building a Concrete Driveway

Building Codes in Your Area - It's possible, especially if you're living in the suburbs, or belong to a certain community, that driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. Your village, for instance, may prefer for all houses to have similar looking driveways, regardless of the material used. Or, it's the choice of material that's subjected to certain restrictions. To avoid wasting time and money, do your homework and see if building a concrete driveway will result to any violation.

Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Put Your Plans in Paper - Before getting your still-unused carpentry and building tools and donning your DIY uniform, it's best to put your plans on paper and try sketching the dimensions of your proposed concrete driveway. Make sure that you scale your drawing properly to gain accurate results, and most especially if you've decided not to hire an expert to help you out.

If you don't know how to draw, please please please ask someone to do it for you. Don't be stubborn like other homeowners who insist on doing everything themselves, never mind the consequences.

Submit the Necessary Requirements - Once you've become satisfied with the projected appearance of your concrete driveway, make time to submit the necessary requirements in order for the housing committee in your area to grant approval for your concrete driveway plans. It's possible that they'll be concerned with how your neighbors would feel once the noise of construction reaches their ears; to avoid any future altercations with your neighbors, make sure that you politely and nicely inform them of your plans. Gaining written permission from them won't hurt either!

Going Shopping - With the legal stuff done, the next thing to do is what women love to do best: going shopping! If any woman in your household is a genuine shopaholic, she wouldn't mind accompanying you in your buying quest, even if it's just a trip to the local hardware store.

To save on time and money, make a list of the things you have to buy, compare product reviews, and see what brands are of superior quality but affordable at the same time. As for tools and other equipment, consider either buying them second hand, renting, or borrowing from your neighbors or friends.

Excavation and Base Preparation - The pre-construction stage is over, and it's now time to do backbreaking stuff. First in the list is excavation and base preparation. Like most structures, excavating and preparing a base is required to give your concrete driveway a solid foundation. It's best to take your time when doing this because one little mistake related to the foundation can cause the whole thing to collapse.

Building the Driveway - Once you've finished with the foundation, it's now time to build the skeletal part of the driveway itself. Always consult your handmade blueprint while building the driveway to ensure that you've done everything correctly and according to the measurements you've specified.

Sealing it with a Concrete Kiss - Once you're done with the frame, it's now time to apply the concrete and wait for it to harden.

Finishing Touches - Backfill and provide enhancements for the landscape.

Pros and Cons of Using a Concrete Driveway
Benefits - Concrete driveways can be decorated in various ways, making it more easy to use as a complement to the house itself. It is also easier to clean during winter. Concrete driveways can also be sealed right after installation.
Cons - Concrete driveways, however, are more expensive than asphalt driveways and require a higher degree of care and maintenance. Lastly, concrete driveways cannot be relayered.

Choosing to build a concrete driveway is a good decision to make in most cases, but of course, it's what the homeowner feels that counts the most. Just remember that when making a driveway, always choose a material that won't crack under the weight of a ten-wheeler truck but enhance the appearance of your house as well!

Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner
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Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Building a concrete driveway is one of those rare options that can satisfy most people's practical and aesthetic concerns. Concrete driveways are not only built to last long but are appealing to the eye at the same time. Granted, they may take a bit of time to build properly, because none of your efforts will feel wasted once you view your final product.

What Not to Forget When Building a Concrete Driveway

Shuffleboard

Building Codes in Your Area - It's possible, especially if you're living in the suburbs, or belong to a certain community, that driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. Your village, for instance, may prefer for all houses to have similar looking driveways, regardless of the material used. Or, it's the choice of material that's subjected to certain restrictions. To avoid wasting time and money, do your homework and see if building a concrete driveway will result to any violation.

Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Put Your Plans in Paper - Before getting your still-unused carpentry and building tools and donning your DIY uniform, it's best to put your plans on paper and try sketching the dimensions of your proposed concrete driveway. Make sure that you scale your drawing properly to gain accurate results, and most especially if you've decided not to hire an expert to help you out.

If you don't know how to draw, please please please ask someone to do it for you. Don't be stubborn like other homeowners who insist on doing everything themselves, never mind the consequences.

Submit the Necessary Requirements - Once you've become satisfied with the projected appearance of your concrete driveway, make time to submit the necessary requirements in order for the housing committee in your area to grant approval for your concrete driveway plans. It's possible that they'll be concerned with how your neighbors would feel once the noise of construction reaches their ears; to avoid any future altercations with your neighbors, make sure that you politely and nicely inform them of your plans. Gaining written permission from them won't hurt either!

Going Shopping - With the legal stuff done, the next thing to do is what women love to do best: going shopping! If any woman in your household is a genuine shopaholic, she wouldn't mind accompanying you in your buying quest, even if it's just a trip to the local hardware store.

To save on time and money, make a list of the things you have to buy, compare product reviews, and see what brands are of superior quality but affordable at the same time. As for tools and other equipment, consider either buying them second hand, renting, or borrowing from your neighbors or friends.

Excavation and Base Preparation - The pre-construction stage is over, and it's now time to do backbreaking stuff. First in the list is excavation and base preparation. Like most structures, excavating and preparing a base is required to give your concrete driveway a solid foundation. It's best to take your time when doing this because one little mistake related to the foundation can cause the whole thing to collapse.

Building the Driveway - Once you've finished with the foundation, it's now time to build the skeletal part of the driveway itself. Always consult your handmade blueprint while building the driveway to ensure that you've done everything correctly and according to the measurements you've specified.

Sealing it with a Concrete Kiss - Once you're done with the frame, it's now time to apply the concrete and wait for it to harden.

Finishing Touches - Backfill and provide enhancements for the landscape.

Pros and Cons of Using a Concrete Driveway
Benefits - Concrete driveways can be decorated in various ways, making it more easy to use as a complement to the house itself. It is also easier to clean during winter. Concrete driveways can also be sealed right after installation.
Cons - Concrete driveways, however, are more expensive than asphalt driveways and require a higher degree of care and maintenance. Lastly, concrete driveways cannot be relayered.

Choosing to build a concrete driveway is a good decision to make in most cases, but of course, it's what the homeowner feels that counts the most. Just remember that when making a driveway, always choose a material that won't crack under the weight of a ten-wheeler truck but enhance the appearance of your house as well!

Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Lee Dobbins writes for [http://concrete.subjectmonster.com] where you can learn more about the wonders of concrete [http://concrete.subjectmonster.com].

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Stripping Your World Of Warcraft Character Naked

Have fond memories of going around in games like Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance or Neverwinter Nights naked, slaying rats or any other low-level creatures? Well, you can do the same thing - or you can just run around naked screaming about a magic missile for an hour or two in Stormwind. Not that I've done that, you know, but anyway!

Getting your World of Warcraft character naked just takes the basic knowledge of the game setup, and a few empty slots in your bag. If you don't have the empty slots, you can sell anything you don't need, or place items in the bank for retrieval later. You could also ask a friend to hold the items for you, if you're in a group, but be careful - you might never see those items again.

Open your backpack or bag (Hotkey B for your backpack, hotkey's F8 - F11 for other bags), and then open your character menu (Hotkey C). Left click once on a piece of your clothing that you wish to remove - pants, shirt, shoes, anything - and move your curser to an empty slot in your bag. Next to your curser should be a smaller image of your item - if not, you need to click again. Just left click the empty slot to place the item in your bag. Do that for every piece of clothing you have on you.

Stripping Your World Of Warcraft Character Naked

And tah-dah. You're naked. There's really not much to it - unless you want to look good while naked. Then there's something much more to this.

Your attractiveness depends on what race you are, and if you're male or female. Here's a low-down on how attractive your WoW character will be when he or she is actually naked.

Alliance

Night Elves

Hands down, the most attractive race of the Alliance, the Night Elves look great both clothed and naked. There's not too much to say about the naked male Night Elf, but the female has a slightly off body shape, and the ribs protruding not only don't fit with the stomach, but give the torso an awkward look. Still, you have to admit, the Night Elves can really get their dance on.

Humans

The humans aren't too bad looking, as long as you keep their clothes on. Both the female and male are a little on the - how you say, chunky side, and they do not wear flattering underwear. Not very appealing to the eye, but somehow guys who play women and dance naked in Goldshire still get stuff. Hey, we all have to make a living, right?

Dranei

The Dranei, one of the new races that came with the Burning Crusade expansion, are the ugliest Alliance race. No question about it. The men are wide and brutish, and the women - well, their legs are just disgusting. Although, while I have nothing good to say about the men, the women's facial features are rather attractive, in their own, blue way, and their bodies are much better sculpted then the gnomes or dwarves.

Dwarves

The dwarves are short-ish, squat creatures that aren't at all attractive or appealing to the eye. Most male dwarves have long beards which take away from the rest of their face, and the choices for women's facial structure or hair aren't very nice at all.

Gnomes

I have the same complaint about the gnomes as the dwarves - their shorter, though, and even less attractive naked. No one, and trust me, no one, wants to see a naked gnome dance. I'll leave it at that.

Horde

Blood Elves

A beautiful race! The blood elves were the other race to come with the expansion, and they are the most attractive race in the entire game, no questions asked. Slim, sleek bodies framed by a smooth, visually appealing face and surprisingly nice hair styles. Their jump is smooth and fluent, with a graceful landing style, and they look the best naked, by far.

All Other Horde Races

These races aren't something that you want to see naked. The Undead, Orcs, Tauren, and Trolls should never take their clothes off, ever.

Ever.

Stripping Your World Of Warcraft Character Naked

FreeWorldOfWarcraftGuide is an online portal with expert articles about essential World Of Warcraft tips and guides. To learn more about how to effectively play the game to your advantage, visit http://www.freeworldofwarcraftguide.com for free access.

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3 Fun Games to Play at Your Next Tea Party

Tea party games are always fun to plan. If you are looking for the best tea party games, you have come to the right place.

The first game is called Teacup Swap. Any number of people can play Teacup Swap and everyone is a winner! To play, each person needs a teacup and saucer. Let guests know in your invitation that they need to bring a teacup and saucer or you can provide one for each person if your party budget allows it.

When your guests arrive, have them place their teacups at their place setting or have them already arranged there if you are providing them.

3 Fun Games to Play at Your Next Tea Party

Invite all of your guests to admire each teacup and saucer set by walking around the table. When everyone has finished looking, ask the first guest to arrive to be the first to choose a teacup. Continue in the order that the guests arrived in, go alphabetically, or have numbers drawn from a hat. Wherever the cup is, that is where they sit. This is a great game to use when people only sit by others that they know. Each guest will get a chance to pick their favorite, and no matter which teacup others choose, they will each end up with a lovely teacup and saucer to take home!

The second game you are about to learn is called Tea Tasting. This is a great game to play with smaller groups. Make sure that you have several teapots handy, and a little trinket to give away for a prize. Find a few different teas and prepare each in a separate teapot.

Let your guests taste a small bit of each tea, one at a time, without letting them know which is which. After everyone has tasted each flavor and guessed what they might be, award a prize to the best guesser. Don't forget to write down what tea is in which pot so you don't get confused! When buying your teas, make sure you purchase contrasting flavors. Familiar flavors are good if your guests are not usually tea drinkers (It will make the game easier for them).

In general, avoid buying mixed teas because the flavors can get confusing.

Try out these great teas for distinct flavors:

Peppermint
Rose Hip
Orange Zest
Green Tea
Lavender
Chai
Chamomile
Ginger
Raspberry

If you are looking for a silly game that is tons of fun, arrange for each guest to make a lovely tea party hat. Look at a craft store or a dollar store for inexpensive hat making materials. Don't worry too much about finding the perfect craft supplies. Your guests are sure to get creative with whatever you supply. Need some ideas of what to buy? Here are a few ideas:

Silk flowers
Ribbons
Lace
Buttons
Beads
Thread
Bells
Fabric

The fabric can be tulle, which is inexpensive and can easily be cut into 1'x1' pieces. Hot glue guns are needed for this project, so make sure you have some handy. Make sure you have one for every two people. If you do not have any hot glue guns handy, a few bottles of quick drying craft glue will suffice.

After your guests have finished decorating their hats, award prizes to the biggest hat, the silliest hat, the prettiest hat, etc. This game is lots of fun when everyone wins!

3 Fun Games to Play at Your Next Tea Party

If you are planning on hosting a tea party, visit this web page that is all about how to host a tea party

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Creative Club Ideas For a Kid After School Activity

School is back in session and you're looking for a creative after school activity for kids. Whether you're a parent or after school care provider, keeping kids busy, happy and safe can be a challenge. Between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. is when kids need fun activities to keep them from being bored. I have listed ideas for after school clubs that are easy to plan and fun for kids to do.

Organize a cooking club to make a nutritious snack for everyone. Make a healthy trail mix with granola or cereal, peanuts, pretzels, seeds and dry fruit. Mix up fruit smoothies in a blender with low-fat yogurt, fresh fruit, honey and ice. Put together mini-pizzas with small bagels, pizza sauce, and cheese. Review math concepts such as fractions, addition and subtraction with the cooking lesson.

Physical fitness is an activity to plan each day. Kids need about an hour of physical exercise each day. Have a fitness club to organize a team sport such as dodge ball, softball, and volleyball to play with everyone. The club can also plan relay races and fitness and movement games. If weather is rainy or snowy, play indoor volleyball, basketball or set up an obstacle fitness course.

Creative Club Ideas For a Kid After School Activity

Putting on a play or puppet show is an activity that can be ongoing for several weeks or more. Have a drama or puppet club, which meets twice per week. The kids will pick a story or play that they like, design costumes or puppets, create props, and practice their parts. Pick a date for the performance and invite other students, friends and family to come see their production.

Eight more great after school club activity ideas:

Science Club: do experiments and record results Chess Club: have tournaments Book Club: read a book, discussion, and write book reviews Dance Club: learn dance steps from all over the world Language Club: learn sign or a foreign language Photography Club: take photos of other clubs Journalism Club: put together a monthly newsletter Art Club: drawing, painting, sculpture, and cartooning

Plan on each club being between one half to one hour in length. Offer sessions so everyone can have an opportunity to participate in many of the activities. A different club or activity can be offered each day. Have kids sign up for a club that they are interested in. Involve the kids in the planning, preparation, and even leading the club. The more the kids are involved in the activity, the more successful the activity will be.

Creative Club Ideas For a Kid After School Activity

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 25 years experience working with children and adults. My articles include a variety of activity ideas including holiday topics, child's play, nature, and cooking tips. I hope you find them informative and enjoyable to read.

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