Three Easy Ways to Control Mosquitoes in your Yard and Home.

It is seldom possible to eliminate all traces of mosquitoes from your yard, but with proper approach, you can gain control of the problem. In fact, it is possible to get rid of most of these pests from your yard and enjoy your outdoor summer evenings.

Photo credit: Home Design Bee.

Dispose of any sitting water.
Water can accumulate in several places outside of your home, and this is where mosquitoes will breed. By taking a look at every place that has water and disposing of this water, mosquitoes will lose most, if not all, of their breeding grounds.

Examples of this type of water can be a small can with leftover water from a recent rain. Water can also accumulate in rain gutters, because they need to be cleaned. Leaves and other debris can accumulate preventing water from draining property. All old, stagnant water needs to be removed.

Photo credit: MLive.

Spraying for mosquitoes.
A professional pest control company specializing in mosquitoes is the next step. A professional will be able to use a safe but effective chemical to destroy any and all mosquitoes on your property. They will also be destroying the eggs that could possibly exist.

A professional will know exactly where to spray, and will focus only in areas that need to be addressed. Those who attempt to do this type of spraying with off-the-shelf pesticides at a local hardware store will commonly spray in an uncontrolled manner. This creates health and safety problems for people and pets.

Photo credit: Japan Newbie.

Use mosquito repellents.
Once you have eliminated any safe havens in your yard for this insect and have had the yard sprayed by a professional, the final step is to use mosquito repellents when spending time in your yard. There are safe products that are available at your local hardware store that can be used whenever you are outside in your backyard.

One example is a coil that burns in the fashion of incense. They are fueled by harmless oils that mosquitoes cannot stand to be around. One smell by an intruder, and they will fly to another backyard. There are many good pest control companies, but remember to hire those whose specialty is killing mosquitoes and ticks in residential communities. One example of this type of company is the Mosquito Squad.

Sneak Peek | Etude House x Kerrie Hess Dreaming Swan Collection.

I was planning to go on a hiatus until Easter Sunday, but I just could not resist sharing this wonderful news with all of you. Etude House, one of my favorite Korean makeup brands, has launched its Spring Collection today! Hooray!

Etude House x Kerrie Hess.

This new collection, called 'Dreaming Swan' is a collaboration with Kerrie Hess. She's an Australian illustrator who has worked for Chanel, Lancome, Kate Spade, and many other popular designer brands.

Kerrie Hess.

The collection is super chic and very feminine - a beautiful assortment of delicate, soft shades inspired by ballet. There are a total of eight products in this new collection - a powder, a brush, eye and cheek powders, nail polish, lipsticks, volumers, cushion cases, and a mini makeup kit.

Dreaming Swan Collection.

Let's take a closer look at these items, shall we? 

Sneak peek after the jump!

4 Tips in Buying the Right Pilot Shirt.

Sometimes pilots are so concerned with their flight designations that they forget all about their uniforms. If you're in the market for pilot shirts, here are just four tips in buying ones that will make you proud.

Ji Jin Hee in the 2012 Kdrama Take Care of Us Captain.

1. Be Aware of Color Taboos.
Some airlines regulate the colors that their pilots can wear. Others reserve certain colors for specific levels of experience or logged flight hours. Don't make the mistake of showing up to work in a light blue shirt if only white is allowed on your level.

2. Consider Material Type.
Pilot uniforms are usually made of cotton and polyester. Certain blends are more durable and wrinkle-resistant than others, so do your research and figure out which kinds of materials are most suitable for you.

3. Research Their Special Features.
A pilot shirt isn't like a regular shirt that you can just throw on in the morning. You'll need to find brands with pencil slots, adjustable buttons, longer tucks and chest-area flap pockets. You'll need all of this storage space and more when you're in the air.

4. Consider Price.
Remember that you never need just one pilot shirt, so however much they cost, you'll be paying that amount several times over. Talk to the manufacturer directly to see if you can get a discount for buying in bulk. These are just four tips for buying a pilot shirt. A clean, professional uniform can make or break your first impression, so it's definitely worth the time and energy of buying the right kind.

Transforming Conservatories without Mechanical Systems.

Once upon a time, homeowners were building conservatories at an unprecedented rate. They were quick, paperwork-free and apparently added considerable value onto a property.

Then, people started to realize the drawbacks. These were rooms which were ideal at some points in the year, but their structure meant that they either boiled over or became far too cold to be in for most months. It meant that rather than throwing up a conservatory with little thought, most people opted to install some sort of mechanical cooling or heating system. In terms of the latter, this would generally tie in with central heating system - so it goes without saying that it was a hugely expensive job.

Photo credit: Houseplastics.

Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to follow this path anymore. Conservatories are still proving to be very attractive from a buyer's perspective, but even more so if they don't have all of the dreaded temperature control problems attached to them. Now, without spending a small fortune hooking up your heating or cooling system, you can turn to something much simpler - window blinds.

Considering the fact that most people just see these products as pieces of fabric, it's quite amazing to see the effect they can have on temperature. Let's start with winter - the period when most conservatories are the equivalent to an igloo due to the thin glazing that they are comprised of.

Modern advancements in the window treatments field mean that this no longer has to be the case though. For example, the insulated shade has been developed specifically to combat cold environments - with its design trapping heat and unsurprisingly insulating a room. If you just keep the shades down for most of the day, as you return to your property you'll be able to comfortably sit back in your conservatory and use it almost like you do in the summer months.

Of course, there are occasions in the summer when these rooms just get too hot to handle. Again, due to the reliance on glazing, heat can stretch through the glass and make the space far too warm to even step foot in. Insulated shades can work wonders for the same reasons in this regard, but an even better approach comes in the form of a solar shade. This product is made out of a specialist fabric which is designed to filter the majority of UV rays. Ultimately, it means that much less of those hot glares of sun are able to get through the glazing and things are much more comfortable again.

We've only looked at two types of products here, but both are able to comfortably solve both problems which play with a conservatory's temperature. Neither is expensive, particularly when compared against a mechanical alternative, and it finally means that these rooms can be enjoyed all-year round. It also means that they are a much more shrewd investment for the typical homeowner and in today's market, this certainly should not be ignored either.

Wordless Wednesday #128 | Holy Week.

Have a blessed and meaningful Holy Week, everyone!