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Why You Need Pest Control in the Winter in Tennessee

Pest control in the winter? Absolutely! Pest control isn't just something you should have during the summer months. Pests can be a serious problem all year long. In fact, some pests become more of an indoor problem when temperatures outside become undesirable. Let's take a look.

Rodents

We have many species of rodents in Tennessee. The most common are mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. These critters can get into your home during any part of the year, but dropping temperatures and a reduction of food options gives them even more reason to come inside. When they do, they can spread harmful bacteria and diseases. They can contaminate stored foods, dishes, silverware, food-prep surfaces, and more.

As they explore your home from top to bottom, they can spread parasites around as well. Flea and tick infestations are commonly linked to rodent infestations. These secondary pests bring with them their own list of diseases.

Rodents don't just enter homes during the warm months. They can get in any time of the year.

Spiders

Common house spiders become even more common when the cold temperatures of fall arrive. While spiders have the ability to create a sort of antifreeze that protects them from freezing to death, most of the food they eat doesn't have this ability. When their food goes inside, the follow. So, when you see overwintering insects during the cold winter months, don't be surprised to see those spiders too.

Ants

Most ants in Tennessee disappear during the winter months. They hide in their nests underground and wait for conditions outside to become favorable again. But, when an ant species as established itself inside a home, where it is warm, they can be active all winter long. This is especially true of carpenter ants because carpenter ants are much more likely to create a nest inside a man-made structure than other species of ant are. When they do, they can weaken the wood they inhabit. This can be bad news for a property owner looking to protect their equity.

Year-Round Pest Control is the Way to Go

Tennessee pests have a way of getting into our homes and causing trouble all year. The best way to keep them out and reduce the threats they can pose is to have a licensed and experienced service professional apply appropriate treatments in each season and guide you in steps you can take to reduce the impact pests can have on your health and your property. If you need help with this, remember, the team at All-American Pest Control is always available to assist you.

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Why You Need Pest Control in the Winter in Tennessee

Pest control in the winter? Absolutely! Pest control isn't just something you should have during the summer months. Pests can be a serious problem all year long. In fact, some pests become more of an indoor problem when temperatures outside become undesirable. Let's take a look.

Rodents

We have many species of rodents in Tennessee. The most common are mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. These critters can get into your home during any part of the year, but dropping temperatures and a reduction of food options gives them even more reason to come inside. When they do, they can spread harmful bacteria and diseases. They can contaminate stored foods, dishes, silverware, food-prep surfaces, and more.

As they explore your home from top to bottom, they can spread parasites around as well. Flea and tick infestations are commonly linked to rodent infestations. These secondary pests bring with them their own list of diseases.

Rodents don't just enter homes during the warm months. They can get in any time of the year.

Spiders

Common house spiders become even more common when the cold temperatures of fall arrive. While spiders have the ability to create a sort of antifreeze that protects them from freezing to death, most of the food they eat doesn't have this ability. When their food goes inside, the follow. So, when you see overwintering insects during the cold winter months, don't be surprised to see those spiders too.

Ants

Most ants in Tennessee disappear during the winter months. They hide in their nests underground and wait for conditions outside to become favorable again. But, when an ant species as established itself inside a home, where it is warm, they can be active all winter long. This is especially true of carpenter ants because carpenter ants are much more likely to create a nest inside a man-made structure than other species of ant are. When they do, they can weaken the wood they inhabit. This can be bad news for a property owner looking to protect their equity.

Year-Round Pest Control is the Way to Go

Tennessee pests have a way of getting into our homes and causing trouble all year. The best way to keep them out and reduce the threats they can pose is to have a licensed and experienced service professional apply appropriate treatments in each season and guide you in steps you can take to reduce the impact pests can have on your health and your property. If you need help with this, remember, the team at All-American Pest Control is always available to assist you.

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How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Prevent Cockroach Infestations on Your Property & Stop the Unsightly & Unsafe Critters from Putting Your Family at Risk

Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in the world, with Florida being home to over 70 different species of roaches.

Keeping this in mind, it is extremely likely that people will encounter cockroaches at some point in their home. This skeevy pest excels at adapting to new environments and can bring disease-causing germs into your home that can lead to allergic reactions, food poisoning, hepatitis, and diarrhea.

Facts About Cockroaches

If you see one cockroach, it's likely there are more. And if there are more, you've likely got yourself a cockroach infestation.

If you've found yourself with an infestation, there are a number of things worth knowing about the pest.

First, cockroaches are small and sometimes hard to see, with dark brown or black bodies that are only 1/2 to 3 inches long.

Cockroaches prefer warm and humid environments (like Florida, especially Southern Florida) and they are scavengers in every aspect. They'll eat almost anything; glue, the material in book bindings, and dead skin flakes are just a few of their odd-ball favorites. Some species of cockroach even eat their own young.

Cockroach Infestations

Cockroaches are nocturnal and spend their days hiding in small cracks and crevices.

Hiding places for these critters varies depending on the species, but as a rule of thumb, cockroaches will fit themselves in extremely small cracks and feel most secure when they're being touched by surfaces on all sides.

Once roaches have infested an area of your home, they multiply quickly and become harder to eliminate.

How to Get Rid of a Cockroach Infestation

To practice the most effective cockroach control, it typically requires more than one type of treatment method.

One of the most effective ways to control a cockroach infestation is roach spray, but it must be sprayed directly onto the roaches. To use this method, you must be able to see the cockroaches, and react quickly as the pest will scurry away.

To identify where cockroaches are hiding, examine your home for potential entry points.

Use a flashlight to search popular hiding spots, including under the sink, closet corners, crevices in cabinets and shelves, as well as behind the refrigerator.

After you've examined your home, an application of roach glue strips or glue boards will help to ultimately determine where the roaches are hiding. Leaving these in place for a week or more will help to ultimately determine if you have found the cockroach infestation.

When you've found these areas, another solution to getting rid of a cockroach infestation is to use gel bait. Gel bait comes in the form of a tube and can be applied in places where cockroaches are likely to hide. It is and extremely effective method for removing a cockroach infestation.

How to Prevent Cockroach Infestations

To prevent future cockroach infestations and control current ones, the most important things that you should practice in your home are cleanliness and proper sanitation.

Some basic guidelines for that are:

Don't leave dirty dishes out overnight, keep food stored in closed containers, and clean the areas behind and along large kitchen appliances like stoves and refrigerators.

Immediately clean up spills and vacuum cracks and crevices in your kitchen.

Take the garbage out frequently and store it in a covered trash bin outside of the home.

Externally, seal any cracks that cockroaches could use to enter your home. Fix any leaky pipes and install dehumidifiers in your basement to eliminate areas of excess moisture.

Benefits of Professional Cockroach Pest Control

If your home or office in Southwest Florida has a cockroach infestation, it's imperative to have it taken care of before it gets out of hand.

Contact a pest management professional as soon as you spot a roach in your home, especially during the day. These insects are usually only active at night, so if they are out during the daytime it is an indication of a large-scale infestation lurking in your house.

The pest-elimination professionals from the premium pest control provider in the area will ensure your home is protected from cockroaches and cockroach infestations with a complete removal plan that has been customized to eliminate the issue you are faced with.

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Pine Straw and Pests: What You Need to Know This Fall

Pine straw is a popular feature of outdoor autumn décor all around Alabama, and more people across the country are also beginning to use it as an eco-friendly, organic mulch. There are a lot of reasons to use pine straw, but before you start raking it up, keep one thing in mind. Bugs that are looking for somewhere warm to settle down for the winter also love pine straw.

That's right, insects like pine straw even more than avid gardeners. Here's why.

3 Reasons Insects Love Pine Straw in the Fall

Pine straw itself doesn't attract insects. Bugs don't eat dry pine straw, but other qualities draw in bugs including termites, centipedes and earwigs. Some of these insects help break the pine straw down, which is good for deterring weeds, but for the most part its best to keep critters away from your house.

Like other types of mulch, pine straw can serve as a hideout as well as a route for bugs to get in or near a home. As we mentioned in an earlier post, when the weather cools off bugs will be attracted to your warm home for hibernation and are looking for a way to get in. If pine straw is right up against the foundation, on the porch, etc., insects will see it as an invitation to venture further inside.

Even if they don't get inside, the pine straw acts as a ground insulator, which is another reason it attracts insects that are looking to stay warm. Homeowners use mulch to protect roots from freezing like a blanket. Just know that insects may also snuggle underneath.

Yet another double edge sword of pine straw is that it can hold in moisture. This is preferable for your plants, but it can also cause rot in wood, attracting different types of ants and other bugs in the early fall. The moisture also makes pine straw edible for a variety of insects, and termites need high moisture levels to survive.

But don't worry if you've already spent the time to collect a pile of pine needles and have covered your garden beds. When placed properly pine straw can be used to give you all the mulch benefits without the bugs.

Tips for Keeping Pine Straw from Causing Pest Problems

With pine straw it's all about placement and upkeep. Where you put it directly affects how many troublesome bugs start hanging around. Follow the tips below and you'll have a lot fewer pests to worry about this fall.

Don't put pine straw right up against the house. This makes it much easier for bugs to get inside where they don't belong. Instead, stop the mulch line at least a foot or two away from the foundation.

Create a barrier between the house and the pine straw. Just as with other types of mulch, it's best to put a barrier between any structures and the pine straw. Pea gravel is an excellent option to use as a barrier.

Only make it 2-3” deep. In Alabama and other areas with somewhat mild winters that's all it takes to keep root structures warm. It's also shallow enough so that the pine straw won't retain moisture and attract insects.

Keep pine straw mulch shallower in moist areas. If an area is typically moist (spots that are shaded all day or near the gutter outlet) the mulch needs to less than 2” deep.

Opt for long or standard length pine needles that are on the heavier side. Pine needles come in three lengths: 12”, 9” and 6”. The longer and heavier the needles are, the better they will interlock without compacting. This decreases the chances of the needles blowing out of place closer to the house when the first strong gust of wind comes along. Denser pine straw is also less likely to retain high levels of moisture.

Rake the pine needle mulch every now and then. Raking helps to aerate the pine needles so it's less likely to lock in moisture. This will also help prolong decomposing, which typically occurs within 2-4 months.

Skip natural pine straw decor. If you love the look of pine straw wreaths and house decorations, it's best to fake it. Synthetic pine straw decor won't attract insects and you can use it again next fall.

Even if you are careful when placing pine needles so that they don't encourage bugs to hang around, the safest bet is to schedule regular pest control treatments even when the weather cools off. The experienced techs at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. know where all the fall pests like to hide and can treat the pine needle mulch without harming your plants.

Give us a call for more tips on using pine straw in your yard or to make an appointment!

Original Source:  https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/pine-straw-pests-need-know-fall/

The post Pine Straw and Pests: What You Need to Know This Fall appeared first on Vulcan Termite & Pest Control.

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Why I'm storing dry goods in a kitchen pantry with containers and bay leaves.

Happy New Year! Anyone else dreaming about cleaning and purging? I admit, I have started with the Marie Condo method once again and hit my own closet hard!  And even took a trip to the dump after giving my workshop a good clean after the table saw lesson from my brother Les. Things are coming […]

The post Why I'm storing dry goods in a kitchen pantry with containers and bay leaves. appeared first on Funky Junk Interiors.

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A Renovating Couple Gains Their Urban Chops

Classic design and deep color tones anchor a home for new New Yorkers

The move to New York from the West Coast landed Jeremy, an advertising executive, and Chris, a nurse managing an emergency department, in a 778-square-foot co-op in the developing neighborhood of Hudson Yards. A “simple” tiling job that crumbled while living there led the couple to the bigger renovation that they had been saving up for. With each of their “must-haves” in mind, they posted their project on Sweeten, a free service matching renovators with vetted general contractors and found a Sweeten design-build firm. The result? Herringbone floors, an array of new custom millwork-and sound advice to share with future renovators.

Guest blog post by Sweeten homeowner Jeremy

A first-and obvious-lesson in renovating: it really is harder in New York. When my husband Chris and I embarked on this adventure, we had thought we knew what we were doing. After all, we'd undertaken a remodel of our 1914 Seattle condo before. But that was all before we decamped to New York for work-and learned what a reno here really takes.

After the move, we rented in the Financial District while debating where to settle. I pushed for Brooklyn, dreaming of a leafy side street, but Chris' job in an emergency department required getting to work even if the subways and bridges shut down-that meant living in Manhattan. Our real estate agent brought us to a 1929 building we would have never come to on our own, smack next to the construction zone that is Hudson Yards. I was hesitant, but Chris saw a decent amount of room and a good layout in a neighborhood that would develop restaurants in place of jackhammers soon enough.

Photo: Sweeten contractor

After moving in, we wanted to redo the kitchen, but the most urgent fix was the bathroom. Some prior higher-floor leak had unmoored a section of tile, and the previous owner refused to repair it as a condition of closing. This was our first lesson in how different a Seattle and New York renovation could be.

Our foray bidding a standalone bathroom remodel proved short-we got as far as finishing the design when the co-op came back with a series of unexpected plumbing requirements, chock full of things we'd never heard of like water hammer arrestors and Laticrete. The price nearly doubled, and if we were going to spend much more on a remodel, we decided we should save up and do the larger apartment renovation we had hoped to.

With regular re-spackling, we figured we could pull through. That folly ended a year and a half later when, hours before leaving for vacation, a precarious section of tile came crashing down. Our super covered the crumbling wall with a plastic tarp, but it was clear: it was time to begin bidding.

We weren't sure exactly what we needed-walls weren't moving per se, but our co-op seemed to want an architect. So while we asked the initial bathroom contractor to bid, we also thankfully posted our project on Sweeten. To complete our renovation, Sweeten paired us with a design-build firm with architecture training. They also did custom millwork, making it the perfect fit for our project. Not only did the general contractor immediately understand our aesthetic, but we also had a great rapport.

In planning the remodel, we knew we wanted to play off the building's modest Art Deco bones, but in a way that wasn't slavish or theme-y. We also both brought mild obsessions to the mix-for me, an inexplicable passion for English cabinetry, for Chris, a desire to put a banquette in any possible corner.

The first big choice was how to manage the kitchen layout. The room was spacious enough-designed as an eat-in when 24” of counter space seemed ample-but the two doorways weren't in an ideal location. One opened onto the foyer and the other onto a back hallway by the bedroom. It had also been poorly updated in the intervening years: half of the footprint was wasted, with a lonely refrigerator in one corner and an errant desk in another.

The location of the gas riser dashed our hopes of moving the entry to adjoin the living room, so our contractor suggested closing the smaller opening to create a wide galley with room for a banquette. This would extend the cabinetry the length of the room on one side, doubling the counter space and creating room for a wine fridge and pantry to boot.

While we played with centering the sink and range on the counter runs, our Sweeten contractor advised against it to preserve prep space. In hindsight, we were happy to have lived in the space before renovating: symmetry looked better on paper, but from experience cooking in the space, we knew her recommendation would be more functional.

To keep the room from feeling enclosed, we substituted upper cabinets for extra-long open shelves on one side, then tucked in under-cabinet lighting for function. The banquette capped off the space, creating both more storage and a place for friends to hang out while cooking.

Photo: Sweeten contractor

Our foyer situation was a classic New York City conundrum: too small to do much anything useful but large enough to be wasted if empty. We decided on a full-height bookcase that's only 8” deep and it holds loads more than we expected. On the opposite side, our general contractor fitted narrow custom cabinets to serve as a bar. There's just enough depth to squeeze in double rows of liquor bottles and glasses, saving precious room in the kitchen. We ran new electrical to hang art lights over tall mirrors-the goal was to make the whole space pull triple duty as an entryway, a library, and a bar-then painted the foyer and kitchen cabinetry the same deep gray so that the two spaces relate.

In the bathroom, we preserved and refinished an original tub and stuck to a classic black-and-white New York-inspired scheme with updated finishes. Given the narrow layout, the primary play here would be with subtle geometries-and taking advantage of our building's extra thick walls. A hex marble floor worked well with the warmer white subway tile and porcelain. Our contractor recommended extending the floor tile onto the base of the walls to stretch the visual plane of the room.

The hexagon echoed in new shower controls that help tame the notorious temperature fluctuations that come with living in an old building. In such a small space, we took a cue from hotel bathrooms and put a pedestal sink atop console legs to keep the space open. An extra-tall recessed medicine cabinet provides both storage and electrical outlets.

My favorite thing of all is the towel warmer which took forever to source but that I deeply love for its hex bars and Anglophilic appeal. The contractor placed it in a deep niche so that the warm rails wouldn't risk singeing passersby.

We decided to paint the walls and ceiling in a black high sheen that makes the ceiling recede and the white surfaces gleam. Strangely, of all the things in the apartment, the shower glass proved one of the most frustrating: it wasn't installed until five months after everything else wrapped up.

New wood floors were the most unexpected part of the reno. We had only budgeted for the kitchen alone. But the more floor options we looked at-and after our contractor dissuaded us from several temptations like Moroccan Bejmat tile-the more we wanted hardwood in the kitchen. That meant either putting down maple boards to match the rest of the apartment-despite disliking their color-or redoing everything. Our contractor's opinion was that changing the kitchen floors would make one of the biggest impacts in the space. So a month into the renovation, after all the other demo was done, we raided a savings account and scrambled to add herringbone floors to the scope. The late choice delayed the project by a month, but it was one of the best decisions we made.

Stepping back from it now, our major lesson was in developing a deep comfort with flexibility. We found that we could be much more controlling of our remodel in Seattle than here. New York's interminable series of permits, co-op requirements, and engineering reports-paired with the inelasticity of old spaces-meant we had to take a go-with-the-flow approach that made trust and an ability to laugh key. Also, best to know exactly what you're looking for before you start to remodel.

Our contractor taught us the biggest lesson of all: do it all at once if you can. It's not the disruption that's the problem, really, or that rework ends up costing more-it's that few of us really have the talent to create a cohesive space in small increments. Unfortunately, we didn't quite learn this last lesson in time. During our reno, our bedroom became the storage unit for our furniture.

More than anything else, we were lucky to have a real partnership with our Sweeten general contractor to see us through the changes and warn us off of bad choices. We feel a bit like we've earned our honorary New Yorker stripes: we chose a space that we thought was a diamond in the rough and hoped we could turn it into a classic city respite. We feel like-at least to our taste-we got there, and now we have this lovely, large-living one-bedroom to come home to in one of the most dynamic parts of Manhattan.

Thank you, Jeremy and Chris, for sharing your new New York home with us!

KITCHEN RESOURCES: White oak hardwood floors in espresso stain: Minwax. Kitchen cabinets and under-cabinet lighting: Custom by general contractor. Kitchen cabinet paint in Down Pipe, wall paint in Strong White, and ceiling paint in Wimborne White: Farrow & Ball. Regent Collection cabinet pulls: Restoration Hardware. Super White Carrara marble countertop and backsplash: HG Stones. Shaws Original farmhouse sink: Rohl. Faucet in satin brass: California Faucets. Refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, hood, and wine fridge: Thermador. Haleigh ceiling light fixture: Rejuvenation.

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Fitzgerald Collection sink: DXV. Console legs in polished nickel: Palmer Industries. Monterey faucets: California Faucets. Bianco Dolomiti 1 ¼” hex floor tile: Artistic Tile. White subway wall tile and black liner tile: Subway Ceramics. Astor collection hardware and shower fixtures: Jaclo. Verenne sconces: Restoration Hardware. Thomas O'Brien light fixture over medicine cabinet: Circa Lighting. Recessed medicine cabinet: Robern. Eco Drake toilet: Toto. Frameless glass shower surround: Glasscrafters. Ceiling and wall paint in Off Black: Farrow & Ball. Towel warmer: Vogue UK.

FOYER RESOURCES: Cabinetry: Custom by general contractor. Super White Carrara marble countertop: HG Stones. Cabinetry and wall paint in Down Pipe, ceiling in Wimborne White: Farrow & Ball. Regent Collection cabinet pulls: Restoration Hardware. Kelly Wearstler flush-mount ceiling light fixtures, Thomas O'Brien art light fixtures: Circa Lighting. Baseboards: Kuiken Brothers.

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Angela's bathroom in a landmark New York City building gets a classic yet modern update.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you'll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project's location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you're ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post A Renovating Couple Gains Their Urban Chops appeared first on Sweeten Blog.

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6 Tips for a Successful Finished Basement Remodel

Finishing the basement in your home is a great way to maximize the space you already have, without having to add on any square footage in the form of an addition. Whether you want to go the more luxurious route and turn your basement into a home theater, or you're simply looking for a way to create more living space in your home, finishing your basement is a great way to do so. However, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind for a successful basement remodel. Below, we cover 5 tips to get you started.

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Last Minute Budget Changes for 2019

The last thing any property manager wants to hear is that something they need isn't in the budget. There are several components that go into your yearly costs, and it can be easy to let some things fall between the cracks if you're not careful. 

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Glowing Christmas Lights Night Tour

There's nothing more magical then twinkling Christmas lights and this marks the fourth year of sharing my glowing Christmas lights night tour that positively sparkles. Cozy up by my roaring fire and enter this magical winter wonderland. Don't miss the end of this post where I link to 20 other bloggers who are sharing their […]

The post Glowing Christmas Lights Night Tour appeared first on Kelly Elko.

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Bottling it up

The road to vermouth does not always involve sorrow. I had not stayed with my father the night he died. He was alone. I had not known he would be, but the night before, when Vince and I left the hospital, my body collapsed in grief. It knew, if I wasn't sure, that I would not see him alive, again. I never cried in the room with him - I never wanted him to see that sorrow, or to feel anyone else's stress. And so at unexpected times in those five days I would have to pull the car over, or risk accident. When the call came to the house in the 4.30am dark,  I went to sit with him for the last time. The small dark nursing sister was there, and I was glad she had been on duty. Looking up into my eyes, she held my arm firmly and told me she was sorry. On a previous night, she had held my shoulder with that same firmness as I sat beside him, reading him childhood stories, from books whose pages were falling apart. The ward staff were kind. The previous day I was brought a tray of coffee, and asked if I would prefer hot or cold milk. And there was a cookie. I don't like cookies, but I ate that one, very carefully. Immediately afterwards, that final morning, the shocking bureaucracy and decision making of death evicted any possibility of mourning. But in the blank days after my father's cremation, and when my husband's warmth had returned to New York, I began to gather wild flowers and fynbos herbs from the mountain, the surrounding green spaces, and my mother's garden. In small jars each plant began infusing in good vodka. Elderflowers and wild plums began to ferment. On the last day of 2018 I blended and bottled the vermouth. That year is over. And from its end there is a local alchemy that tells the story of this Cape Town summer. Vermouth captures time and place like nothing else I know. When I open it in Brooklyn, sometime in a new year whose days remain to be filled, I know I will cry.

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Forage, Harvest, Feast

(Yes, there is a vermouth recipe)

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12 Brilliant Car Hacks That Will Help You Survive Winter

This time of year gets so frigid that I can almost hear my poor car pleading for me to not take her out into the snow! Driving during the winter can be a harrowing experience at times, so who can blame my car for wanting to stay put? But this year I am committed to being more proactive about preparing for the worst that winter driving has to offer.

So I put together a list of useful car-related tips that should help me survive all my winter driving. And I'll be sharing that list with you today, so you can feel more prepared too! So without further ado, here's my list of 12 helpful (and often surprising!) winter car care tips for surviving winter driving.

12 Car Hacks That Will Help You Survive Winter

1. Foggy Windshield Fixes

During the winter months, fogged-up and frosty windshields can be a constant issue. To quickly eliminate the fog without creating a mess of smudges, use a chalkboard eraser! It works really well, and it's easy to store in your glove box or center console.

Another tip for dealing with a foggy windshield is to make sure your car's air recirculation is turned off. The air in your car is already humid, and humid air contributes to windshield fogging. Use the fresh air intake option instead, which will pull in dry air from outside. The dry air will help take care of the fog in no time!

2. Fog-Proof Your Windshield

While the tips I mentioned above will help you get rid of fog on your windshield, there are also ways to prevent fog from forming in the first place! Here are a few you can try:

Smear shaving cream on the inside of your windshield, then wipe it off. You'll leave behind a thin layer of shaving cream, which contains some of the same ingredients and commercial defoggers.

Fill a stocking or sock with kitty litter and leave it in your car overnight. The litter will help absorb moisture that would otherwise collect on your windshield.

Before you turn your car off every night, open the windows for a few seconds to let the cold, dry air in. This dry air will help dehumidify your car overnight.

Don't leave water bottles or other drinks in your car overnight. The moisture from them can contribute to a foggy windshield.

3. Keep Socks In Your Glovebox

Having a pair of socks at the ready in your car can be really useful during the winter! You can pull them on over your shoes if you ever need to push your car out of ice or snow. (The socks provide a little extra traction that makes it easier to find your footing.)

Another way to use socks is to cover your wiper blade overnight! Just raise your wiper blades and slip the socks over the ends. The socks will help prevent ice from forming on the blades, which will make your de-icing process much easier in the morning.

4. Fix For Frozen Wiper Blades

During the winter, make sure to fill your car with washer fluid that is rated for cold weather. It can help melt the ice that's clinging to your wiper blades in the morning. It can also be a quick way to defrost your whole windshield if the ice is thin enough!

5. Impromptu Ice Scraper

Can't find your ice scraper and need to get going? Grab a plastic spatula from your kitchen, or use a plastic card from your wallet! (It's best to use a card that you don't mind losing, in case it accidentally snaps while you're scraping the ice.)

6. Windshield Parking Hack

Let Mother Nature defrost your windshield for you! If you can, park your car facing east. This ensures that your windshield will get a bit of extra warmth from the sun as it rises in the morning. Your wiper blades may be able to take care of the remaining frost-no scraping required!

7. Thaw Frozen Car Doors & Locks

For frozen locks, try heating your key with a match or lighter. Gently push it into the lock to melt the ice. (Just be careful not to burn yourself!)

Another option for thawing frozen locks is to use a drinking straw. Just aim the straw at the lock, and blow air into it. The heat from your breath will start melting the ice, and you'll have that door open in no time!

And finally, you can use hand sanitizer to fix frozen doors and locks. Just rub a layer of hand sanitizer over the frozen area and let the alcohol melt the ice.

8. Prevent Frozen Doors

Sick of having to unstick frozen doors? Prevent them from freezing in the first place with a bit of cooking spray. Just spritz a bit of it where the door seals. This acts as a “waterproofer” to prevent water from seeping in and freezing your door shut.

Related: 13 Amazing Things You Can Do With A Can Of Cooking Spray

9. Keep Side Mirrors From Freezing

You can prevent your side mirrors from freezing overnight just by covering them up! You can use a plastic shopping bag, a ziplock bag, or whatever you can find to slide over the mirrors. Tie the end or keep it in place with a rubber band, and your mirrors will remain ice-free overnight!

10. Fast Headlight Fix

Having bright, working headlights is especially important during the dark and snowy winter months. If your headlight covers could use a cleaning, just cover them with a layer of toothpaste. Let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse the toothpaste off with warm water.

This toothpaste treatment will help remove the film on your headlights so they shine more brightly. It's a quick and easy fix that's much cheaper than buying a special headlight cleaner product!

11. Get Un-Stuck Fast

Keep a bag or two of heavy cat litter in your trunk on snowy days. It will help add weight to your car, which can help give your tires a bit more traction in the snow and ice. And you can sprinkle the litter under the tires if you get stuck! This will give your tires something to grip onto and improve your chances of getting out of that snowbank.

Another useful tip for getting your car out of a snowbank is to use your floor mats. Just lay them down in the snow in front of your tires. They'll provide more traction for your tires and help you get your car moving. (Just don't forget to pick them back up before you drive away!

12. Make A Winter Emergency Kit

Weather can be unpredictable during the winter, so it's a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your car just in case. Start with a spare outfit that can keep you warm if you happen to get stranded. Follow these steps:

Unzip a winter coat

Put a thick pair of socks, long underwear, hat, gloves, scarf, and snow pants inside the coat

Zip the coat up and stash the outfit in your trunk

You should also keep additional supplies in your car that could save your life in a winter weather emergency. Here are a few suggestions:

Flashlights

Warm blanket

Charged battery pack for your phone

Hand and foot warmers

Bottles of water

Energy bars

Now that you have these helpful tips, you'll be able to face any winter driving challenge with confidence!

What's your best tip for surviving winter driving?

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New Life "Paints It Forward" for Ezra Lionheart

Hey everyone, Noah Winkles here from New Life Painting. This is going to be our first annual Pain It Forward for Ezra Lionheart. We are doing this in memory of Ezra, my best friend, Eric, and his wife, Sarah who are a part of a program called Angels Foster Care, and they had Ezra for about seven months, and he had passed away a year ago.

So what we're doing is we're going to do a Paint It Forward in his memory. We worked with Angels to get Cindy and Wally Hernandez and we're going to be painting their house today. We chose them just because they have worked with Angels for about six years. They've had 15 kids through their house in the foster program and so we're super thankful, and really happy to work with them and paint their house.  For colors, we're going to go from this sand color and the green fascia, and we're going to go to a bare color which is called perfect taupe. It's kind of a silver taupe color that's going to be for the stucco, and then it's "Starless Night" is going to be for the fascia, which is kind of a dark navy blue. And then the black is Black Bordeaux, and that's going to be going around for the doors and for some of the trim. So those are going to be the three colors we are going to use.

I want to thank Kelly-Moore Paints and Lalo at Kelly-Moore for donating about 25 gallons to repaint this home. We want to just say thank you for that.  

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My Self-Assessment of 2018 & Goals for 2019

It's that time of year. Time to slow down and reflect on the year that was and the year that will be. Every year, I like to pause, reflect, and assess how I performed against the goals I set out to achieve for the year. Hopefully, this gives you a window into me – personally and financially – and it's a way to publicly hold myself accountable for the year ahead. If you haven't tried a similar exercise, give it a shot. It can help to keep you grounded, focused, and moving in the right direction. My biggest focus areas The post My Self-Assessment of 2018 &... [Read the rest of the story at 20somethingfinance.com]

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Cleaning Company or Individual – Here Is How You Can Choose

There are options, but the expertise lies in choosing the best one for your need and preferences.

You may think, it is about cleaning your home and you want it to be done perfectly, no matter who is doing that. There are cleaning service providers in OKC and there are individual cleaning professionals. Who do you want to choose?

Here is a comparative study for you to understand the matter and filter your choice better.

Setting a Standard

It is difficult for the subcontractor to set up a standard for a client. The consistency is hard to maintain. Whereas, the cleaning service providers train the employees to provide the clients with consistent cleaning services. If it is a one-time job, you may find the subcontractors useful but for a routine apartment cleaning service, it is better to contact a company. They will make a note of your needs and preferences and you will get the persistent service each time maintaining your needs.

Responsible Employees

The staff of a cleaning company is more responsible than the individual cleaners. Generally, the apartment cleaning service provider companies are licensed and liability insured. They are well acquainted with the taxes, insurance, social security and many more which are imperative to be a reliable cleaning company.

Professionalism

You can expect complete professionalism from the cleaning service providers in OKC. Many people have complained that individual contractors often reschedule their service and show up with more people than expected. It is not a reliable practice because the client may feel uneasy about unknown people to handle with the personal items.

Home Maid Better is one reliable cleaning service providers in OKC. We have a professional team who are quite experienced about cleaning. As per your requirements and preferences, our team will perform the tedious job on your behalf leaving no room for complaint. You can contact us and schedule your cleaning service as per your convenience.

The post Cleaning Company or Individual – Here Is How You Can Choose appeared first on .

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Decisions, Decisions… More of What to Keep When You Remodel the Bath!

Bathroom remodeling is filled with difficult decisions, and sometimes the first ones are the hardest… like what to let go and what to keep! We shared some ideas with you recently, and now we're back with part two, via The Recorder Online, to help you decide what to keep when you remodel your bath!

Tired of the tub?

We relayed the advice about what to do with your jetted tub – namely, get rid of it. But that doesn't mean just ban the bath!

Think twice, or even three times, before you consign a cast iron, claw foot bathtub to the dump. This type of vintage fixture is likely to be harder wearing than any modern bath and never goes out of style.

The outside of a clawfoot tub can often be painted to match your other decor. And the inside, if it has seen better days, may be a candidate for reglazing.

Don't get sunk at the sink!

Even if your sink is functional, it can be… well… less than ideal.

Who else hates it when the bathroom counter is a-slosh with water? After every. Single. Handwashing. Session. As part of your reno, do give a thought to solutions.

It may be as simple as a new aerator, or as involved as a new basin. Either way, the sink is something you use (hopefully, anyway) every time you use the bathroom. It's deserving of an upgrade.

Mirror mirror, on the wall!

In the future, archeologists may be resigned to using our bathroom mirrors to determine the relative age of our homes. And it would work. Your mirror will date your bathroom faster than anything else.

Yes, 1980-1990 was a memorable decade, and it seems a lot of builders tried to immortalize the '80s by installing those whopping great bathroom mirrors, usually topped by an array of Hollywood lights.

If you can't do away with the dreaded mirror wall, try adding a frame or shelves to tone it down a bit!

  Can you think of other items that should definitely stay – or go! – during a bathroom remodel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Decisions, Decisions… More of What to Keep When You Remodel the Bath! appeared first on Welcome to O'Gorman Brothers Bath Fitter.

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A Day in Normandy :: Seaside Villages & Cocktails in a Palace!

Ahhhh, France. Just when you think it can't possibly get any better or suprise you more, you head north and discover the rolling hills, seaside villages, and history of Normandy.

Our final stop on our British Isles cruise was – surprise! – actually not in Britain at all. While some of our group made their way to Paris for the day, a few of us decided that we may not be seeing this northern shore again anytime soon, and to take advantage of the opportunity to explore and experience a new part of one of our favorite countries. 

We took an early morning bus from the ship, which docked in Le Havre, to the seaside village of Honfleur. Located where the Seine meets the English Channel, the old harbor looks like a movie set, it's so damn charming. 

We had a late breakfast of giant crepes before a quick walk through the town. Known as a home to many artists – including Monet – during the rise of Impressionism, the town is still referred to as a bit bohemian, and has such a laid-back feel to it. The buildings are far from meticulous, and I liked that they embraced their harbor roots and age here.

One of my favorite things about Normandy is the facades of the countryside homes and village buildings…

Whether painted on or actually built out of wood, I had always assumed this type of facade to be more Bavarian than French. Turns out I needed a little history lesson to discover that northern France is infamous for this style!

The market in Honfleur was a highlight, with so many goodies that I wanted to take home! Mostly bottles and bottles of French cidres, which I love.  

The market ended into one of the town's larger, busier squares with several restaurants and cafes to enjoy, with the sea just a few steps away. From Honfleur the plan was to go to Deauville, which is much more of a resort town and I would have liked to explore and see the contrast between the two places. Sadly, we couldn't find a taxi that would take us there because it was during the annual film festival (sounds much like Canne, no?), and traffic would have been horrible. 

With our plans for the rest of the day thwarted, we decided to see if we could sneak into one of the later excursions through Princess, and we scrambled back to the ship just in time to catch a bus to the Benedictine Palace! 

Sidenote: on the way to the palace, we took the scenic route along the water, and my goodness was it stunning! If you can take some time to explore the coastline, especially around Etretat, you won't regret it!

The draw of the palace was not necessarily the palace itself, but actually Benedictine, the liqueur. In 1510, the Benedictine monk Don Bernardo Vincelli created the recipe for this French liqueur, which calls for 27 plants and spices. Today, it is still made here, in the palace, and only a handful of people know the actual recipe, as it is still kept in great secrecy. 

While we received a full tour of the palace and the distillery, it was Joe we really came for. He came from Deauville (ironically!), where he is a bartender, to teach us how to make two cocktail recipes – one of which I'm going to share with you today!  

The Monk's Sour // serves one

1.7 oz Benedictine Liqueur

25 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 bar spoons of honey

1 dash orange bitters

15 ml egg white

grated nutmeg for garnish

Any drink that I can make that uses only one type of alcohol is a win to me! Not only is it easier, but cheaper too. No need to stock the bar with three different liqueurs that you'll use once a year.

To make, add all the ingredients into a shaker, then add ice. Shake extra hard, and for longer than usual, to get the egg whites to whip up. Strain into a glass and garnish with nutmeg.

I loved the taste of this! It's light but with so much flavor, thanks to the Benedictine. And definitely a perfect winter cocktail! And now, you can feel as fancy as we did, sipping cocktails in a grand palace.

The post A Day in Normandy :: Seaside Villages & Cocktails in a Palace! appeared first on coco kelley.

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Your Expert Guide to House Cleaning in the Fall and Winter

The cooler weather has now arrived across the region and you're now likely considering the best ways to keep your home clean for the months ahead. Our experienced team here at Sunrise Cleaning in Mississauga has a clear understanding regarding quality winter cleaning services, and within this new post, we'll provide our expert guide to keeping your home clean throughout the fall and winter seasons.

Add Door Mats Throughout the Home

Doormats are your home's first defense against the slush and the dirt that can erode carpeting and damage hardwood floors. Take the time to install doormats throughout the home so you don't face an expensive cleaning bill in the months ahead. For that extra layer of protection this winter season, consider using one doormat outside the home and one doormat inside. The added effort will be worth it when you see the reduction in cleaning costs!

Use Boot Trays

It's an item that's rarely considered until it's desperately needed. But boot trays can help to make your home look tidier and keep it cleaner this winter season. For the low maintenance boot tray option, there are plastic products available widely online and in retail stores. But for those who wish to blend the boot tray with their home decor, you can always use copper stamped products that feature unique decorative designs.

Ensure You Keep Entrance Ways Clear

One of the more common impediments for homeowners struggling to keep a clean property throughout the winter season is dirt in hallways and mudrooms. The slush and grime that sticks to the floor in these areas can be caught on socks and then tracked inside the house, causing a significant cleaning problem. It's important you take care to clean your foyers and mudrooms regularly as this will go a long way to keeping the rest of the home in the optimal clean condition.

Enforce the No Shoes Rule

It might be difficult at first, but you must try to ensure that your children don't bring their shoes inside the home during the winter time. One great way to help support your family in enforcing this rule is to place a laundry basket by your boot tray in the mudroom or foyer. Your family can remove their dirty shoes and boots and place them on the tray. Then they can remove their cold, wet socks and place them in the laundry basket ready for the washing machine. This process helps build a routine for arriving back at the home and will significantly reduce your cleaning work.

Vacuum the Furniture

With your family spending more time indoors during the fall and winter seasons, it's important that you take the time to vacuum your furniture. The furniture will quickly become dusty as a result of the contaminants being distributed throughout the home by your home heating system. Take the time to vacuum the furniture, as well as the carpet, to minimize the amount of dust and pet dander that settles in the home. Not only will this help in making your home look cleaner, but it will also reduce the level of allergens in the home space.

Inspect Your Chimney

There's often nothing better on those cool winter mornings than sitting around the fireplace and watching television or reading together with your loved ones. But many families don't recognize the potential hazard in their chimney. If there's a blockage in the space, and the fireplace is turned on, smoke could fill the home rather than being vented outside. Before you begin using your fireplace and chimney this season, have the area inspected professionally to determine it's in optimal working condition.

Clean the Dryer Vent

One mistake many homeowners make when cleaning around the home during the holidays is not considering their home dryer and the vents connecting the dryer to the exterior area of the property. The vents must be cleaned annually to ensure that heat can be vented from the dryer. When it becomes blocked, there's the potential for a dryer fire and for the dryer to break down over a short period of time.

Steam Your Home Carpets

It's now the time of year where the majority of the family will be spending more time together at home keeping warm. And so you should consider ways in which to make sure your home looks its best throughout the months to come. One area on which to focus is your home's carpets. Take the time to clean your home carpets carefully using steaming equipment. This can help to remove any animal odours or tough stains that might have been collected over past years.

Turn to Sunrise Cleaning for Quality Winter Cleaning Services in Mississauga

Our experts at Sunrise Cleaning can help you ensure your home is kept in peak clean condition for the months ahead and ready for 2019. Our full-service range includes the following:

 One-Time Cleaning

We can visit your home for a one-time cleaning service designed to ensure professional cleaning is completed on an as-needed basis. We offer both a one-time basic cleaning service and a one-time deep cleaning service that includes the deep cleaning of carpets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, floors, and all areas throughout the home.

Regular Recurring Cleaning

Our team also offers a regular recurring service, which can be designed according to your unique schedule and cleaning requirements. Our regular recurring cleaning service includes either one or two maids for ongoing cleaning work throughout your home.

Customized Services

At Sunrise Cleaning, we present you with a full range of customized cleaning services designed to help you consolidate the cost of achieving that completely clean home. It's the ideal option for those with unique home maintenance challenges.

To discover more about our team and our range of service options for your upcoming winter cleaning requirements, please call today!

The post Your Expert Guide to House Cleaning in the Fall and Winter appeared first on Sunrise-Cleaning.