Homebrewing Guide: Brewing Your Own Beer

If you are a huge fan of beer and love the great taste of the perfect brew, you'll love the results you can get from homebrewing. Making homebrew beer is a hobby enjoyed by thousands, but what makes it so trendy? Here are six excellent reasons why you too will want to begin brewing your own beer.

It's Easy

Forget about the messiness and difficulty of malting your own grains. These days it's incredibly easy and simple to brew your own beer with a straightforward beer kit and malt extract.

Just use the ingredients provided, follow the intructions, add water, place the cap on the fermenter, and the yeast will do the rest. It basically brews your beer for you, while you sit back and relax. You just check on it with the hydrometer, then, when ready, put it in bottles (an easy-to-use filling tube is provided for this), and soon after that, you can sit back and enjoy your very own beer.

That's the beauty of homebrewing with kits -- everything is provided for brewing great-tasting beer, and the process is incredibly simple and easy.

It's Cheap

Not surprisingly, making your own beer is a lot cheaper than drinking the commercial brands. The microbrewery kit is reasonably priced and completely reusable; you just have to decide which individual malt kits from a large selection to purchase to give you whichever delicious form of beer you desire at the time. You can make as much as six gallons of your preferred malt beverage for about $20-30. It's an inexpensive and very yummy hobby!

It's Fun

You know, some hobbies can look like hard work, but not homebrewing! Not only is it simple and cheap, but you can have fun and savor the results of your labor when you're finished brewing. You can now prepare classic lager, stout, ales and other great types of beers. Try one selection after another if you so desire - variety is the spice of life, and beer. Or you can experiment by creating your own custom blends and flavors, and brag about them to your friends!

Taste the Difference!

Homebrewed beer is completely natural; there are no artificial colors or added preservatives. This contributes to the unique essence of its taste and aspect.

Whichever mixture you try, homebrew beats commercial brands hands down. And you are not limited to the standard classics - now you can create all kinds of delicious original flavors. Experiment with gorgeous honey beers, or spiced ales, or the legendary Goat Scrotum Ale -- a perfect blend of fascinating flavors.
Venture into the ample world of homebrewing, and you won't want to go back!

Impress Your Friends

Be prepared to impress your friends, family and colleagues with your homebrewing skills. People are always amazed at how good homebrew tastes, so don't be startled when they come back for more, again and again. And you never have to run out, as you can certainly cook up to 6 gallons at a time, every week, and get a different juicy beer each time. Now that's impressive.

Health Benefits

And, perhaps most surprisingly, drinking homebrewed beer in moderation also has numerous health benefits. These include decreasing the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, decreasing the occurrence of blood clots, and improving your cholesterol to a healthy level. It is also a time-tested stress reliever. And there are many other great health benefits that you can receive by drinking beer that you brewed yourself from natural ingredients. So you sincerely can feel good about your new hobby.

Home brewing your own beer has never been so easy, fun and delicious. No surprise as to why it has become the trendy new hobby for so many people in recent years.

Check out the video below for a helpful guide on brewing your own beer:

Green Living: Biodegradable Trash Bags

With "going green" the new fad, perhaps one of the most important things one can do to be environmentally friendly is to purchase biodegradable trash bags. Think about it: Every time you throw something away, where does it go? A trash bag. All of that trash has to go somewhere. And these trash bags take a long time to biodegrade as they are made of plastics which are harmful to the environment and sit in landfills for years. With the average person creating 4-5 pounds of garbage a day, and there being a few billion people on the planet, using plastic trash bags is a huge problem for our planet Earth.

So what can we do about it? Simple - We should start using biodegradable trash bags instead of the standard plastic trash bags. These garbage bags are made to decompose into all natural, eco-friendly elements to minimize their environmental impact. Companies like BioBags, Eco-Smartbags, and BioSmart currently manufacture high-quality, affordable biodegradable trash bags which can easily be purchased online (and maybe in some organic grocery stores as well). Biodegradable trash bags are a great way to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact. Start using them today!

Buying The Perfect Handbag

Buying a handbag is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. All women know it. Handbags can take on a position of pride and self-esteem in a woman's wardrobe - For women, there aren't any personal items more important than handbags and shoes. In fact, it is safe to say that designer handbags can send a strong statement about the owner's social and economic status, in addition to her fashion sense.
What makes designer handbags so difficult to choose, is the amount they cost. You're forking over a large amount of your income for several months possibly. So, before you take the dive, it is important to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Just imagine if you were to spend a lot of money on a handbag only to find out that it went out of style several seasons ago!

Some things that you should definitely consider when you purchase designer handbags are the brand, durability, safety, fashion, color, appropriateness and functionality. It may seem overwhelming and a little bit too much of a headache to deal with, but hey, that's why these things cost so much.

If you have your heart set on designer handbags, the one thing that you definitely won't be disappointed in is the variety of different handbags available. With so many major brands competing for the money of consumers, it is no exaggeration to say that it is a buyers' market altogether. Based on Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, there are way more designer handbag makers than you could ever hope count on your fingers and toes. However, the value you get depends on the status of the creator. For example, a Prada or LV Messenger bag designer makes a statement that is completely different than, say, Mary Frances. Which is the first question you need to answer - What kind of a statement do you want to send?

Next up is the practical use of each handbag. It is true that the designer handbag you choose should be currently in style. But never for only a one-season stunner. They can provide you temporary pleasure, but will leave you out to dry after they go out of style. You will have a lighter pocketbook but nothing to show for it.

Designer handbags must be easy and comfortable to wear. It should not feel like a load of bricks on your arm! A nice, soft leather provides a good, comfortable feeling and it also lasts much longer as it shows less signs of wear. If the bag starts showing its age, a bit of inexpensive polish can fix it up good as new.

Then there's the design, style and functionality. Is the design practical? Can you wear it the way you want? Is the stitching classy and stylish? Although with well-known designer brands sticthing is rarely a problem, it still pays to check before you open your pocketbook and hand over the cash. Even veteran handbag shoppers can be taken for a ride by unscrupulous vendors.

One last thing before getting your new trendy, unique handbag: Safety. Will your wallet and other valuables fall out suddenly when you run or bend over? Permanent closures or zippers are strong not only for beauty, you know.

But in the end, for a woman, there is only one requirement for whether or not you should purchase a handbag - And that is, does it make you look good and feel even better? If so, take the plunge and go for it. If not, keep looking for another handbag that suits you better, regardless of the brand.

Gift Basket Making

Gift Basket Making Guide: How To Make A Gift Basket

Gift baskets are a great way to show someone just how much you appreciate them, and making gift baskets is both easy and fun. You could always just buy a prepackaged gift basket from a store or online shop if you wanted to, but sometimes you can't find one that is exactly what you want, but by making them yourself you can get one that's just right for both you and the person you're giving it to and gives it a more personal touch.
Before you even start making your gift basket, however, you'll need to have a general idea on what you want it to look like and what items it should contain. Obviously it should match the occassion - if you're making the gift basket for a baby shower you would probably want to have it full of baby items and things that a new mom would need. Then you need to decide exactly what you want to put in it. You should do some shopping around in stores or online to find things that will fit the theme of your gift basket. Of course, you'll also want to buy a basket to put all your gifts in. It should be big enough to hold everything and appealing to the eye.

Once you have everything you need, it's time to put the gift basket together. You should arrange the items in a way that is both practical and eye-pleasing. The larger items should be placed in the middle and the smaller items should go around them. When everything is in the basket, all you have to do is put the finishing touches on it. Some ribbons or plastic wrapping will make it look all the more beautiful and can really make your gift basket stand out.

And now that you're finished making your new gift basket, it's time for the best part of all - Giving it to your loved one and seeing their reaction to the great gift basket you just gave them!

Pets: Dog Boutiques

A lot of people love to spend quality time shopping with their dogs for dog accessories. A dog boutique is a one-stop store where you can go to get virtually everything relating to dogs, from clothing and shoes, leashes, eyewear for dogs, and all types of other dog accessories. One of the most appealing features of a dog boutique is the fact that they have a ton of items specifically for dogs and dog owners all in the same place, so you won't have to go all over the place to do your pet shopping. The main purpose of a dog boutique is to fit and sell clothing for dogs. There are usually designers on hand who work on a variety of styles for your pet and spend a lot of time creating custom clothing. This level of dedication and hard work makes these boutique clothes more unique than ordinary dog clothes. Clothing ordered through a dog boutique brings a certain chic quality to your furry little friend.

You and your dog will be the envy of everyone that sees your dog strutting his stuff in his fashionable new clothes. Surely your dog will love the extra attention he'll get from his stylish digs. You can get a great ensemble from a dog boutique, like a nice pair of boots along with a hat and a jacket. The clothing available is typically high-quality and comfortable to wear as they will be tailored to your dog. This is especially important as dogs don't like to wear anything that isn't comfortable. The clothing designers take extreme care in getting the correct fit. You can get whatever kind of clothes you want, but some are usually only available during certain seasons, like summer clothing, heavy coats for winter, and halloween costumes.

So in conclusion, a dog boutique is a great place to find lots of things for pampering your pet. Once you get a chance to take a look at all the items available to buy at the store, you'll have a better idea of what would suit your dog. Dogs are special and deserve the very best that we can offer them, and a dog boutique offers a nice part of that.

Tornado Insurance and Ways to Reduce Tornado Damage

Tornadoes are disasters that occur every year - are you ready if one comes to your neighborhood?

It doesn't take a direct hit on your property to cause damage. A little preparation ahead of time can save you thousands of dollars of repairs and many hours of laborious cleanup.

Be sure you know if your insurance covers tornado damage and how much it will pay.

Eight hundred tornadoes are reported across the United States in an average year. The powerful winds with the driving rain and flying debris often damage homes that are near the center of the tornado. You should have an insurance policy that covers any necessary repairs or even the total cost of rebuilding after a tornado.

If the damage is so severe that you can't live in your home, an adequate insurance, such as Safeco, will also provide living expenses as provided in your policy until you can move back in. You should check your policy to be sure of the coverage that you have.

Review it once each year to be sure that the coverage is still sufficient to completely rebuild at the current costs of construction. You should get a precise estimate from an independent building contractor, and talk with your agent about any unique features of your building and property that require extra coverage.

There are also actions you can take to reduce the damage inflicted by a tornado.

It's not possible to make your home tornado-proof, but you can increase the chance of surviving the extreme winds. For complex jobs, you will need to get professional builders.

Begin at the top of the house, the roof. First fix any damaged areas that need repair. If you are replacing the roof, use materials that are able to withstand high winds. If you are replacing your windows, choose impact-resistant window systems that have a better chance of remaining unbroken during the tornado's high winds. Be sure door frames are anchored solidly to the wall framing. Ensure that there are at least three hinges holding each door and that there is a deadbolt security lock with at least a one-inch bolt to secure the doors against the high winds.

And when you hear that a tornado is coming in your direction, there are emergency steps you can take for the security of yourself and your family.

If you are inside a building, go to an underground shelter if one is available, or at least to an interior room or hallway on the bottom floor. Keep away from windows and corners to avoid flying glass and sharp objects. If you are in a vehicle, get off the road immediately, get out and seek safe shelter; lie flat in a ditch if nothing else is available. Avoid overpasses and bridges as it is not safe to seek shelter beneath them. Most injuries and fatalities are caused by flying debris, so protect your head and neck with your arms.

Home Improvement: Light Switches

A light switch is a device that controls the lighting in a room with the touch of a button.

You might think that there isn't much variety when it comes to different designs of light switches - You couldn't be more wrong, however. There are many different styles available on the market, from the plain white light switches that you probably see everyday, to fancy designer light switches that can really make a huge difference in the appearance of a room. You would be surprised how much a nice looking light switch can improve a room's image. While you can find many inexpensive, plain light switches at your local hardware store, if you want the more interesting looking ones you'll likely have to look for a specialty store or look for a store online that sells designer light switches. There are many options available - instead of the boring white plastic switches you would get at a hardware store, you can get designer light switches in stainless steel, chrome, brass, gold, silver, ivory, and pretty much any other material you can think of. The designs of the more expensive specialty switches tend to be much more extravagant and detailed as well. There are also switches that much more high-tech than your ordinary light switch, like "smart switches", and the Consumption Feedback Switch, which monitors your electricity usage and will actually shock you (ouch!) if it feels that you've gone over the limit. Apparently this is some attempt at a "green", environmentally friendly light switch. There are even some that don't even have switches (they are touch sensitive) or have remote controls to turn the lights on and off. And who could forget "The Clapper"? There really are a lot of options available in the world of light switches if you're willing to look for them.

One of the most confusing things about light switches is how to actually change a light switch. It's really not all that difficult, actually. All you need to do is turn off the power (this is important - you don't want to get electrocuted), remove the old light switch and connect the new one. It's really quite simple - just tighten some screws and you're ready to go. To make the process even simpler, you can buy a wireless light switch - No wires to mess with ever again!