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White Chicken Chili from The Whole30 Slow Cooker, featuring Thrive Market

Sponsored by Thrive Market

Winter is here, and it's chilly (pun intended)! Cozy up with Thrive Market, your go-to online shop for affordable Whole30 Approved staples to use all #JanuaryWhole30 long. Today, we're teaming up with Thrive Market to share a sneak-peek recipe from Melissa Hartwig Urban's newest book, The Whole30 Slow Cooker, featuring more than 150 recipes for your slow cooker and Instant Pot. Prediction: It's your new favorite recipe to enjoy on a chilly evening, made easy when you shop Thrive Market's digital aisles to gather the ingredients you need.

Before you start cooking, click here to shop Melissa's Thrive Market favorites and get an additional 25% off your first order!

White Chicken Chili With Sweet Potatoes

SERVES 4 | PREP: 35 minutes | SLOW COOK: 5 hours (low) or 2 ½ hours (high)| TOTAL: 6 hours Recipe contributed to The Whole30 Slow Cooker by Michele Rosen of Paleo Running Momma

Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless Thrive Market Free-Range Organic Chicken Breasts 2 cups Whole30-compliant chicken broth or Chicken Bone Broth (page 294) 1 large white or Japanese sweet potato, peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces (about 3 cups) 1 small yellow onion, diced 1 can (4 ounces) Thrive Market Mild Green Diced Chiles 1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons Thrive Market Organic Ground Cumin 1 teaspoon Thrive Market Organic Oregano 1/2 teaspoon Thrive Market Organic Chili Powder 1/8 teaspoon Thrive Market Organic Cayenne Pepper 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon Thrive Market Organic Ground Pepper 1/2 cup Whole30-compliant Thrive Market Organic Coconut Cream 1 tablespoon Clarified Butter or Thrive Market Organic Ghee 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional) 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced Chopped fresh cilantro or chives, for serving

Instructions

PLACE the chicken in a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the broth, sweet potato, onion, green chiles, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

COOK on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

TRANSFER the chicken to a plate; cover to keep warm. Turn the slow cooker to high if using the low setting. Add the coconut cream, butter, lime juice, and nutritional yeast (if using) to the slow cooker; stir to combine. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

USE two forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the 1 tablespoon minced cilantro.

SERVE with the avocado and more cilantro.

Ready to get cooking? Click here to get an extra 25% off your first Thrive Market order.

This post was sponsored by Thrive Market; thank you for supporting our Whole30 partners.

The post White Chicken Chili from The Whole30 Slow Cooker, featuring Thrive Market appeared first on The Whole30® Program.

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Laugh So You Don't Cry: What It's Really Like to Celebrate Christmas With Little Kids

I decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving and don't un-decorate until well into January. In fact, I wrote this on January 9th basking in the warm glow of my Christmas tree. Although less warm than it was earlier in the month because a bunch of bulbs burned out. Probably because I turn it on ALL the time.

I had high hopes for Christmas this year because:

I'm not pregnant (hello gin-and-tonics on Christmas Eve);

Kidwoods is three years old, which seems old enough to “get” Christmas;

We weren't hosting or traveling!

So I thought: yeah! It'll be a low-key, cozy, lots of adult beverages snuggled up by the fire type of Christmas week!!

Somehow I forgot that:

There was no preschool so we had both kids home all day. Every day. Allllll day.

Continue reading Laugh So You Don't Cry: What It's Really Like to Celebrate Christmas With Little Kids at Frugalwoods.

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2018 Holiday Gift Guide – DIY Staff Picks

At DIYControls, we have been finding great products and proudly serving our customers for over 60 years! Our focus is on do-it-yourself products designed to protect you and your home and business, and to keep your entire family – including pets, children, and seniors– safe and secure in and out of the home.

Exceptional Service & Support

From freeze alarms, pool alarms, remote monitoring solutions and automatic shut-off valves to phone thermostats, wireless security systems, and video surveillance and more, we are your source for easy-to-use products to protect your family, home and business. And we're happy to provide free technical support for every item we sell.

All of us here at DIYControls take pride in offering exceptional and friendly customer service. We know our products inside and out, and love nothing more than helping you select the most economical and valuable protection.

Our Staff Picks for Holiday Gifts

When it comes to the holidays, we're as particular as you are about finding just the right gift for everyone on our list. To help you get a head start on your shopping, here are 12 things we would most like to give – or receive – this year!

Bob: Home Protection During the Holidays

Protection is a priority for those like Bob who aren't always “home for the holidays.” With an automatic water main shutoff system like the leakSmart Automatic Water Shut Off System with Internet control, Bob can rest assured that his home and belongings are protected against water damage before it starts. Leaksmart's sensor-based system detects leaks throughout the home and shuts off the water in less than 5 seconds. The system hub connects to the Internet and sends audible and visible alarms as well as notifications via a smart device app.

Bob's wish list also includes a professional grade DIY security system to safeguard his home against intruders and other safety hazards. A fee-free, internet based security system like Risco's WiComm Internet/Cellular Security System with a cellular backup option lets Bob use an iOS or Android smartphone or a computer to control the system from anywhere. He can also receive email and push notification alerts right to his mobile device .

Dan:

A Warm Welcome

For ski and snowboard enthusiasts like Dan, the gift of an Internet thermostat lets him live the dream of arriving to a pre-heated ski cabin on cold winter nights. The Venstar T3700 Explorer Residential Digital Thermostat has seven-day, single-day, or five-and- two-day programming. A variety of lighting, language and temperature options allow Dan to customize the unit, and he can choose to connect remotely using either WiFi or Z-Wave technologies by adding one of Venstar's optional wireless modules. All for under $100!

Laura: A Sound Sleep and Reminder to Take Her Meds

The Marsona Sound Therapy Machine is a thoughtful and unque gift for anyone who has difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, especially those like Laura who suffer from tinnitus. It lulls users with relaxing sounds like falling rain, the ocean's surf or crickets chirping softly. This lightweight, portable machine plugs into a wall outlet or runs on battery power. It also features an automatic timer and sliding volume control.

Laura would also appreciate finding a Med-Q White Digital Pill Box Organizer in her

stocking. She can easily program the Med-Q with her medication time and it will flash the corresponding day slot with a bright red light. It also sounds an alarm that increases in volume. Features include 14 removable compartments, oversized buttons and large, digital display, and braille marking.

Kris: A Smart Home Upgrade

Kris is wishing for an easy entree into the world of smart homes. The Samsung SmartThings + Leviton Home

Automation Bundle gives her the ability to easily control the lighting in her home from anywhere in the world. The kit includes the SmartThings hub, a Leviton universal dimmer and a Leviton switch. And because this system is totally expandable and compatible with many WiFi and Z-wave sensors and modules, Kris can add any of hundreds of compatible devices to monitor and protect her property, including lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors and more.

Laura's Mom: Layers of Pool Safety for Her Grandkids

The Safety Turtle 2.0 Child Immersion Pool Alarm System is the easiest way to

protect little ones around a pool for open water. This “personal immersion” system uses water-activated wristbands that trigger a loud alarm when submerged in water. Laura's mom can use the Safety Turtle at home or carry it to wherever the grandkids will be swimming, including hotels, lakes, a friend's pool or on a boat.

For an added layer of protection, the easy-to-install MagnaLatch ALERT Pool Safety Gate Latch with Alarm is a magnetic latch she can affix to vinyl, metal or wood gate posts. The top-pull model has dual electric warnings when unlatched – bright LED lights and an audible alarm – and a rekeyable lock for extra security and convenience.

Lisa: Fewer Worries About Her New Dog

The gift of an indoor pet cam would go a long way towards alleviating Lisa's worries about her new dog when she's at work or away from home. Motorola's Digital Wireless Indoor Pet Monitor with two cameras offers a convenient two-way communication feature that will allow Lisa to communicate to her dog without being in the same room. The video monitor has a full color LCD screen and infrared night vision for keeping an eye on things in very low light levels.

Jim: Vacation Home Peace of Mind

A freeze alarm monitors the temperature inside the home and provides a warning if it dips dangerously low. It's an ideal gift for people like Jim, who owns a vacation home up north that he closes up for the winter. A call-out freeze alarm like the best-selling TempAlarm Dialer Pro sends Jim an alert via a phone call when the indoor temperatures in his home are falling.

A local alarm like the simple-to-use Freeze Flash Temperature Warning

Light lets Jim put his observant neighbors to work for him! All he has to do is set the low temperature, install the batteries and place the unit in a visible window. When the temperature goes below the set level, the light will flash and attract his neighbors' attention.

Donna: Home Alone Security for Her Dad

The Ring Video Doorbell is tops on Donna's list of gifts for her elderly dad, who lives alone in a town several hours' drive from her. It's like Caller ID for the front

door and super-simple to use! When the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, an alert is sent to her dad's smartphone along with streaming live HD video of the visitor outside the door. Ring Video also lets her dad converse with the visitor through the built-in microphone and speakers.

Still looking for the perfect gift?

Click on the Great Gift Ideas tab on the DIYControls home page for more suggestions. Use the lefthand column to shop by price, manufacturer, features and more. It's a handy resource for finding holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list!

  The post 2018 Holiday Gift Guide – DIY Staff Picks appeared first on DIYControls Blog.

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The Landscape Revisited - My most valuable lessons of 2018

The 2018 growing season is coming to a close. Thanksgiving is behind us and the next holiday season is closing in. In Massachusetts, we've already had eight inches of snow dumped on us. At my company, as we're valiantly struggling to keep working through the snow, rain, frost, and mud, I realize the mixed blessing that garden making is for me, my staff and our clients. Full of ups and downs, successes and failures, working in the landscape and with nature is not a task that anyone should take on if they expect a predictable, repeatable work environment. That isn't a good description of the outside work life...at least not where I live.

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Can I Switch Out the Cabinets Underneath My Granite Countertop?

Here's a common dilemma for our Kitchen Magic clientele: They are happy with their cabinets, the paint color in their kitchen looks great-but it's definitely time to replace the outdated countertops. So, the old countertops are torn out and replaced with a beautiful new granite slab.

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Reasons To Check Your Property For Damage BEFORE A Winter Storm Hits

If you haven't inspected your property lately for potholes, cracked sidewalks and clogged storm drains, grab your coat.

There's still time before the next big snow.

Paul Weaver, construction manager at Level Green Landscaping, shares a few potential hazards you should check out before snow removal season, to keep everybody who visits your property safe.

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How to Remove Coffee Stains and Messes in the Office

Coffee is a staple that can be found in nearly all office buildings. Unfortunately, numerous people walking around with their coveted cups of Joe are bound to leave behind coffee rings on tables, stains on carpet and spills on upholstery. Coffee stains are pretty much inevitable, so you need to know how to handle these common office mishaps.

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3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year

The new year is right around the corner, and many people are starting to think seriously about their New Year's Resolutions. And while the most popular resolutions aren't going anywhere (eat healthy, work out, spend less time in front of a screen), if you're looking to buy a home next year, at least a few of your resolutions should be of the financial variety.

Starting the new year off on the right financial foot by making financial resolutions can set you up for success and help you get closer to your goal of buying a home. Here are four financial resolutions you should consider making if you want to buy a home in the new year:

1. Track your spending

via GIPHY

It's impossible to get a handle on your financial situation if you don't know what this situation actually is. Which is why your first financial resolution needs to be to track your spending.

Tracking your spending will give you a clear picture of how much money you're spending, where you're spending it, and where the opportunities to cut back are.

The key to successfully tracking your spending is to track every single cent you spend. You can create a spreadsheet and manually input every purchase or you can use a money monitoring app like Mint; Mint connects to your debit and credit cards and then tracks and categorizes your purchases throughout the month.

Once you've tracked your spending for a month, it's time to dive into the numbers. How much of your income are you spending on necessities (like living expenses and utilities)? How much is going towards paying down debt? How much are you saving?

It's only when you have a clear idea of your financial situation that you can determine if you're ready to buy a home - and, if so, just how much home you can afford without putting yourself in a financially challenging situation.

2. Cut out unnecessary expenses

via GIPHY

A great side effect of tracking your spending is that it allows you to see opportunities to cut back. Which leads into resolution #2: cut out any unnecessary expenses.

If you're serious about buying a home, you need to rein in unnecessary spending and pad your savings account as much as possible. Are you spending a significant amount of money every month eating out at restaurants? Commit to eating out one or two times a month and making meals at home the rest of the time to save some cash. Is your coffee habit costing you $5 a day? Brew a cup in your kitchen before you leave for work. Are you spending a fortune on a gym membership you barely use? Cancel and use free workout videos on YouTube to get your exercise. Do you pay for premium cable when you'd be fine with basic? Downgrade and lower your bill.

Now, keep in mind - even though you'll want to go into savings mode before you buy a home, that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend any money on yourself. If you don't spend any money on fun and entertainment, it can actually make it harder to stick to your budget. Allot a certain amount of money per month you can use as you please; that “fun money” will make it easier to stick to your budget the rest of the time.

The more unnecessary expenses you cut out of your budget, the more you'll have to put in your savings account - and the faster you'll be able to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

3. Clean up your credit

via GIPHY

Another financial resolution to make if you want to buy a home? Clean up your credit.

Your credit score plays a huge part in determining if you get a mortgage and, if so, how competitive your interest rates. A good credit score can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars over the course of your loan, which is why it's important to get it as high as possible before you purchase a home.

First, you'll want to get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Errors are more common than you'd think, and even a small mistake can drag down your score. If you find an error on your report, you'll need to contact the credit bureaus to have it removed.

Once your report is error free, it's time to do everything you can to boost your credit score. Paying down debt, paying all your bills on time, and keeping the percentage of credit used low can all help to increase your score - which will help you get a better deal on your mortgage when you apply.

There are plenty of resolutions you can make in order to hit your goals in the new year. But if your goal is to buy a house, these financial resolutions are the key to getting there.

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The post 3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting

The winter season brings it's fair share of snow, assuming you live in a region where snow is common. Even so, painting a home in the cold is not exactly ideal, even for painting professionals. Instead of breaking out the winter jacket and earmuffs, it might actually be better to focus on your home's interior instead. While you'll want to get the exterior painted eventually, it's better to wait for a more ideal climate than to brave the frigid weather. Consider these four reasons why interior painting is a great place to start this season.

  Take Advantage of Your Holiday Vacation

If you're snowed in, consider this perfect timing to take a closer look at your home's interior. Even if you aren't snowed in, chances are you've taken some time off work and have some time to kill anyway. Just make sure you purchase the paint you want to use beforehand in case you do get snowed in. While you're at it, it may be good to purchase other supplies commonly found in paint stores, such as shovels or salt for your driveway.

Faster Drying Paint

Alternatively, those who live in dryer climates throughout the year can also take advantage of the winter season. Summer means higher rates of humidity, which is not exactly ideal for the drying process. Because winter weather is generally a dryer season, your paint job should dry noticeably quicker than it would during other times of the year. Just make sure to crack the windows so proper ventilation can get in.

Earlier Natural Light

Since daylight savings time occurs during the winter season, you'll get more light during the morning hours. This should act as good incentive to get up early and start your paint job then. If your room has windows and you live in a snowy climate, you can also take advantage of the natural light reflecting off of the snow outside. More light makes it easier for you to see areas of your interior you may miss. It also allows you to work more efficiently, shortening the process overall.

Save Money on Professional Painting

If you plan on hiring a painting company, you'll learn that their rates go down during the winter season. According to some estimates, painting during the winter season can be as much as 40 percent cheaper compared to hiring services during the summer. Getting a professional paint job at a lower rate is always a benefit!

Additionally, getting your interior paint job done now will give you more time to focus on the exterior once the weather gets warmer. You'll also have more time to focus on outdoor projects in general, including garden plots, deck repairs and utility maintenance.

No longer do you have to ask yourself “when is the best time to paint inside my house?” There's no better time than winter to work with a painting company. Call a professional to get your estimate today!

About Platinum Painting

The team members at Platinum Painting are interior experts who only focus on residential homes. That means you can expect knowledge that's catered to you as a homeowner, not vague information that could help any average client. It also means you can get your cabinets and doors painted along with your walls. To learn more about their work or get a free estimate, you can contact them through their website.

The post Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog.

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Things Are Getting Homier At The Duplex!

Last month we shared how refinishing the floors at the duplex made us feel like we turned a major corner at a house we've been renovating for over a year (remember when it looked like this?!). And now we are firmly in “the fun part!” You know, where you get to start bringing in rugs and light fixtures and furniture and accessories so it goes from looking like a construction zone to an actual home. It's THE. BEST. Especially after months and months of expensive improvements that you don't even see when the drywall goes back up (like plumbing and electrical upgrades).

So let's just get right into it. Behold, this wall of the left side's master bedroom that we pretty much rebuilt from scratch:

bench / similar light / similar rug / walls: SW Spare White / doors: SW White Truffle

That rug is the one we originally bought for the pink house's living room (you can see it there in this post) but it often looked too dark paired with our dark sectional. But in this room with a fluffy white bed on top of it, we think it'll look worlds lighter and brighter – especially paired with our pretty pink closet doors and that capiz chandelier that we hung between them (which used to hang above our dining table in the pink house – more on that switcheroo here).

We actually added those two closets during framing because it was the largest room but it didn't have a closet at all originally. So we thought flanking the window with two of 'em added lots of storage and symmetry (whereas just one closet would take a bite out of the corner of the room and feel less balanced).

Here's the same bedroom, as you view it from the door. We can't wait to add some thick wooden shelves in that little chimney nook that we were able to expose during the renovation.

Below is a similar view of this bedroom when we bought the house. It was just a boring box, complete with a drop ceiling to hide a whole lot of mold and rot that was going on above it.

The photo below is a picture of the back bedroom on the other side (the right side of the duplex) as it looks now. Over here we reused the only set of original doors that we could salvage: these cool skinny little pine doors, complete with their original hardware.

bench / similar plant / similar light / basket / Walls: SW Spare White

They have tiny little latches on each side that stole my heart the second I saw them, along with little faux drawers at the bottom with old cup pulls. So much quirk & character!

And since they're not standard height (they're shorter than standard interior doors) we got to add cute little cubbies above them. I love how the curved baskets bring in some texture and some softness with so many rectangles going on around them. Same with the curved chandelier.

We're also pretty excited about our kitchen progress, since we worked over the holiday break to assemble both sides (not without hiccups – more on that here) but we're really happy to be mostly over that hump. The appliances are on their way, and our counters should be getting templated and installed before the end of the month. We can see the finish line!!! (Ok, and then we have to add shelves, hardware, and a bold patterned backsplash, but we're closer to the end than the beginning!)

cabinets / hood / pendant light

That's the kitchen on the right side and here we are in the adjacent mudroom/laundry room. We still need to build in that storage cabinet, but we're waiting for the stacked washer & dryer to be installed first. And those painted pocket doors (they're Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams) lead to the kitchen, and will probably stay open most of the time. We added them in case people want to shut out the noise when laundry's going. And because they're just so dang cute.

pendant light / floor tile / walls: Spare White by SW / doors: Oyster Bay by SW

We'll also be adding lots of mudroom storage in here, like hooks and baskets galore for shoes, bathing suits, towels and all that good stuff. The outdoor showers are a few steps away from the back door that leads into this room, so this space is going to be a workhorse for sure.

Ok, but now let's take a peek at the kitchen on the left side of the duplex. We chose some moody blue-green-gray cabinets for this side, but they look bright blue here. Wait for it…

cabinets / hood / pendant light

They're still covered with a protective film that we aren't going to remove until after the appliances and counters are installed, but you can see from the piece John's holding up below that they're a lot grayer and greener underneath the film. We LOVE the color for a beach house. Feels really playful but not too out there.

This is the mudroom off of that kitchen, where we did a similar tile pattern as the other mudroom, but in a totally different colorway. We love how each side feels related to the other side – but not identical. Kinda like they're cousins but not twins. We still need quarter round trim in here (most of the other rooms are done – but we held off on this room so we can add a few built-ins and then install it).

floor tiles: pink, white, & taupe / door color: White Truffle by SW / door: secondhand find (!!!)

So those are just a few of the spaces that look SO MUCH BETTER already – even before our huge truckload of furniture arrives (yes, we're renting a giant box truck and driving things down ourselves in less than a week!). But even without all the beds and tables and sofas and chairs that are coming, we're soaking up this PROGRESS, BEAUTIFUL PROGRESS! And you know I'm counting down the days until I can share more photos with furniture and curtains and art and ALL THE THINGS!!!

P.S. To see all of our duplex progress from the very beginning, click here for around a dozen posts that'll cover a lot of ground (from buying it and floor planning to rebuilding it, tiling, and refinishing the floors).

*This post contains affiliate links*

One more P.S. – If you like blog posts, you can get an additional one each week delivered straight to your inbox – and it's free! Just sign up here (and if you'd like to see a few sample emails first, here's one, and here's another one).

The post Things Are Getting Homier At The Duplex! appeared first on Young House Love.

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The Dirtiest Places in Your Office and How to Keep them Clean

Ask a co-worker what parts of the office they think are the filthiest and most will bring up office keyboards or perhaps the bathroom door handle. However, there are are other parts of the office that are teeming with germs that you may be oblivious to. Failure to properly clean an office can lead to health issues and loss of productivity, as many workers will call in sick. Below, are some of the dirtiest places in your office and how you can sterilize them without breaking the bank…or your back.

The Start Button on Your Photocopier Machine

A study conducted by Hloom-a prestigious template maker-found that the average photocopier start button had 1.2 billion colony forming units per square inch; this is in stark comparison to a typical toilet seat at a school, which only has 3,200 colony forming units. As can be seen, the start button of your photocopier machine is one of the most germ-ridden spots in the office. The good news is you can clean it by using a high-quality disinfectant solution or by affixing an antimicrobial screen onto its surface.

The Surface of Your Desk

The surface of your desk will also be laden with a ton of germs. It may appear clean to the naked eye but rest assured that there are many harmful germs spread across your desk that you may not be aware of. Many busybodies also eat and drink at their desks in order to save time and make deadlines. As such, food particles and spilled liquids can cause issues, and discarded napkins, paper cups, and utensils can also serve as hot spots for nefarious germs to spread.

Many employees also make the mistake of simply wiping their desks down with a damp cloth instead of using a high-quality cleaning solution. To properly clean the surface of your desk you should use a high-quality disinfectant solution daily. If possible, come in a few minutes early and properly clean your desk before the workday begins, and, if you have the time, do the same right before exiting the office in the evening.

Vending Machine Buttons

A vending machine may appear clean, but it is also a hotspot for germs to spread. In fact, if you checked the buttons on the vending machine under a powerful microscope you would find a myriad of harmful germs and bacteria on them. Furthermore, one of the issues with vending machine buttons is that you can't clean them using a conventional cleaning method. However, you can purchase antimicrobial resistance screens for vending machine buttons. Then, simply clean them whenever you have the time and you will reduce the propagation of germs with minimal effort.

Your Office Keyboard

While we did mention that the office keyboard isn't the biggest ecosystem for germs, it is still one of the biggest. Dirt and dust from your table, as well as the carpet underneath your desk, will somehow find its way onto your keyboard and set up shop. In fact, it is possible to have up to 4000 germs in every square inch of your keyboard, which can make you sick. The good news is cleaning your keyboard can be a breeze if you use the proper technique and solution. Simply wipe it down using a high-quality disinfectant solution every day and you should be able to enjoy a clean (and pleasant smelling) keyboard for your office tasks.

The Refrigerator Handle

Dozens, if not hundreds of people, will need to access the office refrigerator on a daily basis, so the handle of the refrigerator will be touched a plethora of times. As such, germs can easily spread if the handle is not cleaned thoroughly and methodically. An easy solution to this issue is to ask your coworkers to wash their hands before they open the refrigerator. Evidently, not all of your coworkers will be compliant, so the only surefire way to reduce germs is to take matters into your own hands and vigorously clean the handle, as well as the surface of the fridge, with a premium quality disinfectant solution.

The Washroom Door Knob

Another classic hotspot for germs that needs to be sterilized as soon as possible is the inner knob of the washroom door. Unfortunately, many people simply do not wash their hands after using the washroom, and even the ones that do often don't use the proper hand cleaning techniques. As such, fecal matter, and other malevolent particulates will often attach to washroom door knobs and spread from person to person. In fact, a single washroom inner doorknob in an office can house over a million harmful microbes, so cleaning it properly should be a priority. Moreover, most experts agree that an office washroom should be cleaned five times a day, with the inner door knob being no exception. Also, if your office has cleaning staff then you should ask them to also disinfect the washroom handles while they are cleaning the washrooms.

Sunrise Cleaning

Sunrise Cleaning provides full-service office cleaning services in Mississauga. In fact, we have been providing premium quality office cleaning services in Mississauga since 1992. We also offer a 20% discount for the first-time clean (some restrictions may apply), and currently, have a team of over 40 qualified maids and over 2,000+ satisfied customers. For a consultation in order to discuss your cleaning needs, please do not hesitate to contact us at 289-814-1824. You can also visit our website to learn more about our award-winning services.

The post The Dirtiest Places in Your Office and How to Keep them Clean appeared first on Sunrise-Cleaning.

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3 Commercial Property Tax Strategy Considerations for the Next Recession

Is a recession on the way in 2019? If you ask a CFO, there is nearly a coin-flip chance that the answer is yes. Ask a CFO if a recession will start by the end of 2020 and that number skyrockets to 82%, according to the latest Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook survey.

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The Easiest DIY Desk Ever

The post The Easiest DIY Desk Ever appeared first on Kaleidoscope Living.

If you need a desk that won't take up a ton of room that it is affordable and easy to make, this DIY desk tutorial is for you! The floating desk design takes up very little floor space and it's easy enough for even inexperienced DIYers to tackle. Happy new year, friends! I hope 2019 ... Read More about The Easiest DIY Desk Ever

The post The Easiest DIY Desk Ever appeared first on Kaleidoscope Living.

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Kids Against Climate Change: How The Next Generation is Try to Save Us From Ourselves

Let's get this out of the way: Climate change is real, it is happening right now, and it is caused in large part by human activity.

The overall pattern of rising global temperatures means a lot of scary, seemingly abstract things are occurring: Sea levels are rising. Drought and wildfires are increasing. Oceans are acidifying, precipitation patterns are changing, and hurricanes are intensifying. It can be difficult to fully grasp how climate change will affect day-to-day life for individuals, or if the impact on our lives is fully understood, to wonder what, if anything, will really make a difference. Where do we start? What can I do? Will this really affect me at all? But the reality is that climate change will be (indeed already is) felt by everyone, and for future generations the threat looms even larger. So while many of the adults in charge continue to argue and deny and refuse to act in meaningful ways to combat climate change, these kids are stepping up.

Kids Against Climate Change is a website created by kids for kids that provides information on climate change in the form of videos, articles, and games, as well as tips on how kids can make a difference and involve the grownups in their lives to make a difference, too. This site is a great place to start for young people who want to make a difference but aren't sure how. And for educators with eco-minded students, the site also provides resources and lesson plans. Young Voices for the Planet is another online resource tackling the threat of climate change YVFP documents the inspiring actions of young people making a difference. The short films feature young environmental activists speaking at rallies, testifying at town halls, raising funds for environmental causes, and forming organizations that plant trees, convince restaurants to go straw-free, cities to go plastic bag-free, and school cafeterias to bring in locally sourced food. YVFP also provides resources and lesson plans for educators.

Related: 7 Easy Ways Your Family Can Help Mother Earth

A long-time leader in empowering youth and caring for the Earth, scouting programs are taking up the mantle of sustainability as well. Girl Scouts have always made taking care of the natural world a cornerstone of their movement, and has recently added a series of new Environmental Stewardship badges. Girl Scouts encourages girls to take on active roles in their communities with projects such as distributing free energy efficient light bulbs, building rain gardens, and saving the bees. The Boy Scouts of America also offers a series of sustainability badges, and makes sustainability a key part of what they do, from their outdoor philosophy of “Leave No Trace” to encouraging scouts to identify environmental issues in their own communities and make an impact.

Making a difference at home and in local communities is vital work, but some kids are taking their concerns all the way to the top: A group of young people in the United States has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over climate change. The lawsuit (Juliana v U.S.) was first filed in 2015, and alleges that the US government created a national energy system that causes climate change, threatens future generations, and therefore deprives the 21 young plaintiffs of their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, i.e. their right to live in a stable climate. And it's not just kids in the United States; last December, Australian school children staged a school strike. Thousands of kids in over 200 schools across the country walked out of class to protest climate change and government inaction. And in Sweden, sixteen year old activist Greta Thunberg has been on strike for months, sitting on the steps of the parliament building in Stockholm to demand the government take a radical response to climate change. Greta also recently spoke at a climate summit in Poland, telling world leaders who have failed to act on climate change, “You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.”

Related: Over 15,000 Scientists Across the Glove Issue Warning to Humanity

Inspired by the next generation and want to step up and fight climate change? In addition to being more eco-friendly at home, contact your representatives and senators here and ask what plans they have for your local community and for the country. Petition companies here, as just 100 corporations are responsible for a large portion of the carbon emissions that are contributing to climate change. Donate to organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and buy renewable energy certificates to help fund solar and wind power plants. And finally, until these kids can do so themselves it is vital that we vote in candidates who are committed to taking action on climate change like the Green New Deal, from town councils all the way up to the leaders of the world.

The post Kids Against Climate Change: How The Next Generation is Try to Save Us From Ourselves appeared first on Mothering.

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Making Over My Garage Door in 2 Days

Over the last few months I have been looking for garage door painting ideas and after considering my options, I decided to go with faux woodgrain painting. It is not hard to do and is a very budget friendly way to update any paintable surface in and around your home. As you know I have... 

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If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy the easy to follow DIY Decorating Tutorials and Creative Ideas on my blog, In My Own Style.com Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of Copyright law @2009-2015, all rights reserved

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20 Inspirational Quotes For Aspiring Home Chefs

The kitchen is heart of the home - a place for families and friends to gather and socialize. Sometimes it also serves as a home office, where we pay our bills while our kids do their homework at the kitchen island. It's where we eat our meals, and store our dishes and silverware in beautiful solid wood cabinetry.

But let's face it - The kitchen's main function is for cooking (because man cannot live on takeout alone). Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out, here is some inspiration for the aspiring home chef.

Good food and a warm kitchen are what makes a house a home. - Rachael Ray

Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. - Guy Fier

Cooking and baking is both physical and mental therapy. - Mary Berry

So the pie isn't perfect? Cut it into wedges. Stay in control, and never panic. - Martha Stewart

Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors – it's how you combine them that sets you apart. - Wolfgang Puck

If you're not the one cooking, stay out of the way and compliment the chef.- Michael Strahan

I think careful cooking is love, don't you? The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give. - Julia Child

My day job may be exhausting, but cooking is my peace. - Chrissy Teigen

Don't be afraid to do whatever you want. Cooking doesn't have to have rules. - Masaharu Morimoto

Baking is how you start kids at cooking in the kitchen. - Sandra Lee

I'm a home cook and love to read about food, but I'm not trained as a chef. I'm just really into cooking and passionate about it. - Ted Allen

A grill is just a source of heat. Just like a stove, it is very user-friendly. - Bobby Flay

A splash of red wine vinegar can pull things together like a pinch of salt. - Alex Guarnaschelli

I don't believe in low-fat cooking. - Nigella Lawson

Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there. - Ree Drummond

You don't have to do everything from scratch. Nobody wants to make puff pastry! - Ina Garten

When I'm home, the heart and soul of our family is in the kitchen.- Cat Cora

Cooking can cure almost anything. - Michelle Dockery

Once I tune in to the fact that my family receives my cooking for them as an act of love – that it's actually something that makes them feel cared for – it shifts my entire perspective. - Joanna Gaines

Food brings people together on many different levels. It's nourishment of the soul and body; it's truly love. - Giada De Laurentiis

At The RTA Store we help make your dream home a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) and Pre-Assembled solid wood cabinetry and accessories. Whether it's your kitchen bathroom, laundry room, home office, bar room or TV room, we offer the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store, but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let us make your dreams come true with the help of our free room design tool!

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The Landscape Revisited - My most valuable lessons of 2018

The 2018 growing season is coming to a close. Thanksgiving is behind us and the next holiday season is closing in. In Massachusetts, we've already had eight inches of snow dumped on us. At my company, as we're valiantly struggling to keep working through the snow, rain, frost, and mud, I realize the mixed blessing that garden making is for me, my staff and our clients. Full of ups and downs, successes and failures, working in the landscape and with nature is not a task that anyone should take on if they expect a predictable, repeatable work environment. That isn't a good description of the outside work life...at least not where I live.