Amsco Windows Blog

It’s winter, and love it or hate it, the world keeps going around. This can be an especially hard time for parents trying to fill the time with kid friendly activities and those long holiday breaks certainly don’t help! Despite the daunting task, take a deep breath, and remember there’s plenty of things to indoors and outdoors during the winter season! Here are some ideas for winter activities (indoor and outdoor) that will keep the whole family in fun spirits! Indoor Activities: Break out the Baking Stuff: One of my favorite memories of the holidays was baking cookies with my Mom and listening to cheesy Christmas music. This activity is fun, has something for everyone, and is relatively cheap. It also doesn’t involve leaving the house! I’d say for a busy parent, this one is a win.   Volunteer and Give Back in a Big Way: This might not some people’s first idea of holiday fun. However, I would argue that no activity embodies the holiday spirit more than giving back t...

Buying a new home is an exciting and overwhelming experience. With such a hot home market, buyers are often told they need to make a bid the same day as the walkthrough. Therefore, the time we spend looking at our potential new home is critical to our confidence in our purchase. It is very rare that a new home will meet all of our standards. In fact, compromise is just the reality of buying a new home. However, there are some things in which the home buyer should never compromise. Below, I’ll provide some important tips for when it comes time to buy your new home. 1.       The Roof Over Our Head      Before even entering the home on your walkthrough, take a close look at the roof. If the roof is in poor condition you may want to ask your realtor if repair costs can be taken into account in the final price of the home. A damaged roof is an expensive repair job, and if left alone can caused even further damage to the home. Taking this into acco...

As the winter starts to wind down, now is the best time to consider what steps you need to take to have a flourishing yard and garden this summer. Waiting until April or May might seem logical but there’s actually quite a bit to be done before we start putting those hardy vegetables in the ground. 1.     Asses Your Space When doing any project in your yard it’s important to have a game plan. This often takes a bit of research and consultation depending on an array of factors. However, don’t be overwhelmed, just get an early start. When the snow begins to melt, assess your lawn and determine if areas may need to be patched with sod or grass seed. Think about the suns cycle in your area and determine where you plant based on this and what each individual plant needs. 2.     Clean Up Debris This one might seem obvious but it’s an important garden chore that can be taken care of ahead of time to avoid stress later on. If there are...

Winter is a beautiful time of year, but sometimes it feels never-ending. Sure, many people look forward to winter sports like skiing/snowboarding, hockey, and ice-fishing, but what about those of us looking for more budget friendly and less time consuming activities? Thankfully, the world continues to go around despite a little snow and there are plenty of options for the budget wise this winter. 1.      Break Out the Sled Sledding is perhaps the most classic winter activity of them all. And thankfully, this fun winter pastime is almost always free. For some extra budget friendly family time, look online for great DIY sled ideas! 2.      Play in the Snow Here’s another classic budget activity. Throw on your hat and mittens and let the snow guide you! If your area has little or no snow, try an outdoor craft, like an easy homemade birdfeeder or Christmas Wreath! 3.      Let In the Light One of my favorite chi...

The kitchen is an important gathering area in our home. Kitchen renovations can be expensive but there’s plenty the budget conscious consumer can do to drastically improve the look and feel of their kitchen. Brighten Things Up Some better lighting can do wonders for your kitchen. Brighten up your space with a ceiling light or under-cabinet lighting or consider just replacing you bulbs with energy saving natural light L.E.D. bulbs. Tile Backsplash A tile backsplash is an inexpensive project that can add lots of aesthetic appeal to your kitchen. Tin-tile has made a comeback in modern kitchens and its reflective properties add extra light to your kitchen. Consider Adding Storage Space More and more homeowners are turning to wall hooks or shelves to store their kitchenware. This frees up cabinet space for bigger more unsightly appliances and stainless steel and copper pans can look great if properly hung and cared for.  Change Sink and Faucet Sinks and ...

Make this holiday season even more heartwarming with these great budget friendly family activities. This Christmas, start traditions that your kids will love! 1.      Wreath-Making Festive wreaths are an easy and budget friendly activity that is sure to instill the Christmas spirit! You’ll just need a foam or wire ring, some evergreen branches, pine cones, and whatever materials you want to go on your wreath! 2.      Christmas Movies There is no shortage of great holiday films. Make some popcorn or homemade treats and cuddle up for movie night! 3.      Holiday Light Tour This is one of my personal favorites! Take a walk or drive around the neighborhood and bask in the beauty of holiday light displays! 4.      Christmas Cookies Where to begin with Christmas cookies? There are simply too many good ones to name! Break out your favorite family recipes or try something new. Either way thi...

With spring just around the corner, now is the time to start preparations to your garden. Below I’ll give the eager gardener some advice to keep you garden flourishing all season.  Prep Garden Beds One of the first things you should do when the snow begins to melts is to prep your soil. Work in composted material such as well-rotted leaves, manure, or other nutrient heavy material. Use a till to work in the compost material but don’t overwork the soil. Prune If you didn’t prune your fruit trees in the late fall or winter the early spring might be you last chance to encourage blossoming fruit. Generally, prune in the winter to encourage growth and the summer to inhibit growth.  Start Your Seedlings This is a great time to get a head start on your seedlings. Do some basic research on your seedlings see when the best time to plant is in your area.  Hardy Vegetables In most areas this is a good time to start hardy vegetables like onions, artic...

With spring just around the corner we can look forward to nicer weather, beautiful blossoms and spring cleaning?! Well, we might not look forward to that last one... However, if we can calm and organize ourselves before taking on this colossal task, spring-cleaning might just not be so bad. First take some time to prepare.  In a previous post I recommended taking some time to actually plan and prepare for spring-cleaning instead of diving in headfirst. How much cleaning time will you set aside? Will you be trying to clean every inch of your house? Or are there specific areas that need more time and devotion? Will you need to rent or buy tools, equipment, or cleaning supplies? Will you have a music playlist ready to keep you in the cleaning spirit? Consider these questions before cleaning day arrives.  Cleaning Checklist - Room By Room The list that follows is not comprehensive but includes important cleaning tasks room by room. Keep in mind every home and homeowner ...