How to Keep Your Family Flu-free
(ARA) - “Sniffle, sniffle, wheeze, wheeze.” These are tell-tale sounds of cold and flu season, which is right around the corner. With a little knowledge and a few smart tips, you and your family may make it through the winter without a single “ah-choo!”
Lifestyle expert Hannah Keeley, author and founder of TotalMom.com, offers the following tips for keeping your family flu-free this winter:
Get your daily dose of healthy food.
Eating raw fruits and vegetables not only helps your digestive health, it also strengthens your immune system. But as any mom can tell you, it’s hard to get your family thrilled about noshing on raw carrots all day. Try fresh or frozen fruit smoothies or offer raw veggie slices served with a zesty dip. Be creative – look for opportunities to slide some sprouts in a sandwich or hide sliced peppers in a wrap. A healthy diet makes for a healthy family.
Wash your hands.
Mothers have been chanting the same mantra for ages, so why mess with a good thing? The simple act of washing hands with good old-fashioned soap and water is, hands down — no pun intended — the best way to prevent the spread of colds and viruses. Make soap easy for children to reach and try paper towels for drying instead of cloth towels, which can harbor germs.
Keep your body moving.
Daily exercise is a great way to strengthen your immune system; and we all know that a strong immune system is key to fighting off potential infections. Even though the cooler winter weather drives us indoors, make time during the day to get up and move. Turn on some music and dance around the house or bundle the kids up and go skating. Find ways to make exercise fun and get the whole family in on the action.
Take a daily multi-vitamin.
Many people suffer from diets that are low in the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to guard against disease. Protect the health of you and your family by taking a daily multi-vitamin. Remind the kids to take their vitamins by making it a part of your family’s morning breakfast routine.
Tell a good joke.
Stress can make the body more susceptible to catching colds and the flu. Fight off stress this season with a little laughter, fun and games. Host a weekly family game night, watch a hilarious family comedy together, or share funny stories around the dinner table. You’re not just strengthening bodies; you’re strengthening your family.
Clean the air.
During the winter, your family is exposed to viruses that circulate in the air they breathe both outside and indoors. While indoors, protect your family by installing a whole-home air filtration system like American Standard AccuClean. Not only does the American Standard AccuClean system remove a whopping 99.98 percent of particles and allergens from indoor air, but according to a recent Harvard University research study, it also removes more than 99 percent of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from your home’s filtered air. It’s an easy way to keep your family breathing clean, comfortable air all year long.
Forget stocking up on the tissues and expensive meds. In just a few simple steps, you can protect your family and look forward to a fun and healthy winter together.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Purr-fectly ’Green’ Cat Care Tips
(ARA) – She can jump from the floor to the top of the refrigerator, or bound across your desk without disturbing a single sheet of paper. Your cat personifies the graceful, enviable sure-footedness of her species. But what about her eco-footprint?
With 88 million domesticated cats in the country (according to the National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association), the question isn’t just academic. Like their human companions, pets’ modern lifestyles consume natural resources and can contribute to environmental issues like greenhouse gases and the waste stream.
”As consumers and responsible pet owners, we are all looking for ways to care for our pets’ health and their environment,” says Jill Cordes, host of America’s first broadband pet channel www.Petstyle.com. “Many of us are already putting eco-friendly practices into action in our own lives, from buying organic food to shopping with reusable bags and switching to natural household cleaners. Adopting ‘green’ pet care habits is a natural extension of our environmental consciousness.”
You can become a “greener” cat owner with 10 simple steps, Cordes advises:
1. Give them shelter. Overcrowding at animal adoption centers strains resources. You can help ease the problem – and possibly save an animal’s life – by adopting from a shelter rather than buying a cat from a pet store or breeder. You may also save money if you adopt from a shelter where many animals are likely to already be vaccinated, spayed or neutered. Visit www.aspca.com for more information.
2. Use protection. Get your cat spayed or neutered. Unplanned, unwanted ”deliveries” often wind up in shelters, contributing to the overcrowding problem. Plus, spaying and neutering can help reduce your cat’s risk of developing uterine, ovarian, or testicular cancer.
3. Tag, you’re it. Be sure your cat always wears a name tag (or license, if your municipality requires cats to be licensed). If he gets lost, the tag will help any good Samaritan who finds him return him to you. Plus, you’ll conserve the gas you would waste driving around the neighborhood hunting for him, and the paper for those ”missing” posters.
4. Keep it clean – and gentle. Replace traditional pet care and cleaning products that may contain harsh chemicals with gentle, all-natural products.
5. Potty all the time. Choose environmentally friendly cat litter like ARM & HAMMER Essentials Clumping Cat Litter. It’s made with natural biodegradable corn fibers which are sensible for the environment, and absorbs twice the liquid compared to regular clumping clay litter. Plus, the addition of baking soda eliminates odor problems instantly. Visit www.armandhammeressentials.com/litter.aspx to learn more.
6. Food for thought. Just as added hormones or pesticides in your food aren’t good for you, they’re not good for your cat, either. Look for pet food that is natural, organic and FDA-certified.
7. Quench their thirst. Change your pet’s water and food bowl regularly to eliminate potential disease, insect or other pest infestations. Be sure to use filtered tap water rather than bottled water, which weighs on your wallet and the environment.
8. Play ball. Purchase toys made from sustainable fibers or recycled materials, or entertain your cat with homemade toys crafted from recycled materials, like a scratching pole made from old carpeting. And remember, you will always be her favorite – and most eco-friendly – toy.
9. Into the wild … or not. Try to keep your cat inside as much as possible to avoid exposure to injury, illness and predatory wildlife. If your cat craves the outdoors, however, try to keep his outside time supervised in an enclosed area.
10. Purr-tanical gardens. In an enclosed space, plant a small garden in your backyard for your cat and stock it with cat-safe herbs and flowers. Just be sure kitty is always supervised, and stays in her own yard – otherwise you may find yourself having to explain her embarassing visit to your neighbor’s tomato patch.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - As Halloween approaches, the seasonal “to-do” list, typically marked with finding the perfect costume and trick-or-treat route, is a bit more complicated with the growing need to protect the environment and manage household budgets. In preparing for your neighborhood ghosts and goblins, try these easy tips and tricks to “go green,” and spend less on your families’ spook-tacular celebration.
Howl to be Green
Incorporating small changes into your holiday preparation will go a long way to create an eco-friendly Halloween. Whether you’re hosting a party or adding colorful flare to the home or office, take inventory of your decorations and go back to nature by using locally-grown pumpkins, apples or fresh gourds to create tabletop and front porch accents. Organic, pesticide-free produce is widely available at farmers markets, grocery and specialty stores and leaves little waste once the celebration ends.
Also look for ways to “re-use” your Halloween accessories. Cloth or canvas shopping bags and pillowcases are great alternatives to paper, plastic bags and more traditional plastic jack-o-lanterns used by many trick-or-treaters to collect candy. Gather fall-colored scraps of fabric, ribbon, buttons or food coloring and spend the afternoon with the kids decorating a recyclable trick-or-treat bag. Use the custom creation to hand out candy at your door and your house will be the hit of the neighborhood.
Howl to Save
Spend less this Halloween by using old or outgrown clothes, sports equipment or dress-up items to make one-of-a-kind costumes. Unpack your graduation gown and buy a gavel at a thrift or prop store to transform your trick-or-treater into a judge. Dust off a wedding gown or bridesmaid’s dress, polish an old pair of pumps and grab a wig from a costume store and you’ve got a princess. Host a costume trading party and make sure everyone comes with old clothing or accessories to trade. Let the kids use their imaginations and see how many new and different costumes come to life.
You can also save by using recyclable household materials to decorate. Bed sheets hung from the ceiling or tree branches make convincing ghosts, as do balloons covered with a white sheet, tied with a ribbon around the neck and black felt tapped on for eyes. The sheets can be taken down, laundered and returned to the linen closet once Halloween is over.
Howl to Have Fun at Home
Consider baking at home this year to get everyone in the Halloween mood. Find unique recipes for Halloween treats that can be used as decorations or centerpieces before you indulge.
Gather everyone around and make creepy “edible eyeballs” with mini white powdered donuts, Life Savers Gummies, red icing and chocolate chips. Cover the hole in the center of the donut with a thin layer of icing and top with a gummy. Next, dip the bottom of a chocolate chip in icing before layering it on the gummy. Make the eyeball scary by drawing lines from the center of the donut to the outer edge with red icing. Finish the treat by poking each donut with a lollipop stick and arranging them in a bowl of candy corn to make a freaky yet tasty centerpiece.
Howl to Be Safe
Set the seasonal mood by decorating trees and sidewalks with lights and lanterns while making it easier for trick-or-treaters to find their way from door to door. Neat, well-lit landscapes make everyone feel more comfortable and confident.
Another simple way to help ghosts and goblins find their way door to door is to use makeup to finish a costume as an alternative to masks. Face paint makes it much easier for trick-or-treaters to see … especially at night
(ARA) - Now, more than ever, families are looking at creative ways to stretch their dollars. With higher prices for household items from food to clothing, consumers are repairing items instead of automatically buying new. To minimize budgets and time, frugality takes on new meaning.
“Families from all walks of life are looking for ways to save dollars and time but not lose the lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to,” says Mary Beth Cowardin, Instant Krazy Glue senior marketing manager. “We’re seeing households take on more of a ‘fix it before you replace it’ attitude when it comes to do-it-yourself and common repairs.”
To incorporate the repair know-how into your household, try these ingenious, inexpensive ideas:
Sole Sister
To save money, more and more women are choosing to repair shoes instead of buying a new pair. Simple, at-home shoe fixes can be achieved using Instant Krazy Glue Single-Use Tubes. The one-time applications are a handy instant fix that dries clear – simply apply the adhesive to a broken heel or strap. For shoes that need resoling, find a local repair shop. The cost of resoling a pair of shoes is typically 50 to 60 percent less than the cost of buying new shoes.
Tidy up the Toy Box
Children’s toys withstand a tremendous amount of wear and tear, especially during the summer months when children are at home for extended periods of time. For some toys, it’s best to use instant glue to bond broken pieces back together. The benefit of repairing, rather than replacing well-loved toys is two-fold — you’ve extended the life of your children’s toys and you’ll save yourself a trip to the toy store.
House Beautiful
Decorating with flair doesn’t need to take a backseat to the family budget. Instead of throwing away broken picture frames or decorative ceramics, use instant glue in a clear gel formula to delicately fix any type of home decor item. Once those frames are repaired, explore savvy decorating options as an alternative to expensive works of art. Adorning your walls with family images or the custom artwork of a loved one is an inexpensive way to produce priceless memories.
Brilliance on a Budget
Baubles and stones can be re-affixed to necklaces, rings or any costume jewelry for a brand new look. Instant glue is a great option for resurrecting vintage items or family heirlooms from your jewelry box. By replacing old stones or embellishments with a dab of glue, voila — you’ve got a brand new look.
When new items need to be purchased, be on the lookout for brands that offer added incentives. Brands in every category from food to clothing and home decor are offering coupons, discounts, sweepstakes and contests. Products like Instant Krazy Glue are offering consumers a chance to win a Hawaiian vacation. Visit http://www.commercialsgonekrazy.com to learn more about the contest.
“The sky is the limit for families who want to be stylish and budget-conscious,” says Cowardin. “There are resources out there for every lifestyle.”
W.F. Young makes pain-relief products for both horses and humans.
(NewsUSA) - When it comes to finding a great shampoo or topical pain-reliever, some consumers don’t horse around. Others do, and they just might tell you that it pays off.
Using horse shampoo or other products designed for animals may seem a bit strange, but according to some pet-care industry experts, there’s a growing trend of consumers doing just that.
W.F. Young, for instance, sells an equine topical pain-relief product called Absorbine Veterinary Liniment, but company officials say that some of their human customers use it for treating their own achy muscles and joints.
“We often hear from our loyal customers that in addition to using Absorbine Veterinary Liniment on their horses, they have found that they reap the same therapeutic benefits the liniment gives their pets,” said Jaime D. McKinley, corporate vice president of sales and marketing at W.F. Young. “Our customers tell us that when they apply the liniment to their horses, they feel the soothing, warm sensation on their own hands and it feels great.”
Horse products aren’t the only ones making it out of the barn and into Americans’ bathrooms and medicine cabinets.
Creams made for moisturizing cows’ udders are used by some people to moisturize their hands, while certain balms designed for soothing animals’ cuts and skin abrasions have also proved popular in recent years.
Such products are popular enough, in fact, to be sold at many major retail chains.
CVS, for instance, sells a cow ointment product in its skin-care section, as well as a shampoo initially developed for horses. And W.F. Young’s Absorbine Jr., a pain-relieving liniment made specifically for humans but similar to veterinary Absorbine, is also sold at CVS locations as well as Rite Aid and Brooks Eckerd stores.
So why might people use animal care products on themselves? At least in regards to Absorbine, perhaps it’s a question of commonality.
“Muscle pain and stiffness are conditions common to humans and animals,” says McKinley. “We all need a little relief now and then.”
Owners can easily entertain their pets, even while on a limited budget.
(NewsUSA) - It is possible to care for, even pamper, your pet on a budget or fixed income. By planning carefully and making smart shopping decisions, you can save money on food, toys and treats.
- Save money on everyday essentials, such as pet food, by shopping at deep discount stores. Forty percent of the money Americans spend on pets is for food. You will find savings on name-brand pet food at a deep discount store such as Dollar General. Remember that you can save even more by buying private label food. Many private label products are equivalent to the national brands.
- Find lower-cost medical care. Local humane societies often sponsor free or reduced-price clinics for routine vaccinations or spaying or neutering. Learn about clinics offered in your area, which can save you from expensive vet visits. And, you don’t always have to visit the vet for some medical treatments. Dewormer, ear mite treatment and other medications are available over-the-counter.
- Enjoy the great outdoors with your favorite animal -; which doesn’t cost anything. For outdoor or indoor fun, your pet will need a few basic accessories like a leash, collar and water bowl. All of these inexpensive items are available at deep discount stores.
- Skip the pet day spa and groom your animal at home. You can save a lot of money by bathing and grooming your animal yourself. All you need to set up your own pet spa are shampoo, conditioner, a brush or comb, a hair dryer and nail clippers.
- Potty training and maintenance for pets can also be affordable. Deep discount stores such as Dollar General offer cat litter, litter pans, scoops and liners. Puppy pads are available for puppies that are being trained.
While buying the basics for your favorite animal, don’t forget to pick up a toy or treat. Dogs love toys, snacks or rawhide bones. Cats enjoy exercising on a scratching post or munching on catnip.
(ARA) - By now nearly everyone has heard something about the digital TV transition set to take place on Feb. 17, 2009. That’s the day when all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will cease broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting solely in digital.
That’s less than a year away — so now is the time to start thinking about how the switch will affect you. Will you choose to get a converter box or will you take advantage of this opportunity and step up to the amazing picture of a high definition TV with a built-in digital tuner?
While the change to all-digital TV might sound a little scary to some people, the fact is that digital broadcasting will benefit everyone, bringing improved picture and sound quality, as well as additional channels and interactive video and data services. The best news is that it’s actually very simple to make the switch from analog to digital TV at home. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to enjoying a high-definition digital experience in your own home.
Getting Started:
If you’re looking to get the best high-definition picture, you’ll need an HDTV set capable of 720p, 1080i or 1080p picture resolution. You’ll also need a high-definition source such as an HD cable box or satellite receiver and be watching a high definition channel that will show 720p or 1080i resolution. To receive 1080p resolution, which is the clearest, most detailed picture available today, you’ll need a Blu-ray Disc player. If you’re a little confused, don’t fret. The salespeople at almost any store that sells HDTV will be glad to help you out.
Making the Right Connection:
It’s important to remember, however, that when you buy an HDTV, one of the most important components may not be included. To get all that high definition picture and sound from your HD cable box or satellite receiver or Blu-ray disc player, you will want to purchase an HDMI cable to connect your high-definition source to the TV.
Widely regarded as the best high-definition connector available, HDMI cables give you the very best sights and sounds, and because they carry both audio and video digital signals they’re also the easiest way to hook up to your HDTV.
Not All Cables are Created Equal:
There are many different choices when it comes to buying HDMI cables, but like you wouldn’t put economy tires on a sports car, you will want to make sure you go with the highest quality cable available to get all the performance from your high definition gear. This doesn’t have to mean buying the most expensive cable, but you will need to find one that can support the large amounts of data coming from sources that have the new HDMI 1.3 format, 1080p, and the new HD audio formats used on Blu-Ray discs. Even if you haven’t converted to Blu-Ray just yet, planning for future technologies is advisable when it comes to purchasing HDMI cables.
Noel Lee of Monster Cable believes it is possible for all Americans to make the perfect digital connection. His company is offering “Monster Advanced for HDMI” speed-rated cables. “We’ve worked to create a speed-rating system for every budget and hookup,” Lee states. “This way, everyone can enjoy maximum high-definition performance, no matter what system they own.”
For more information about HDMI and to learn which speed-rated cable is right for your HDTV, visit Monster’s HDMI learning center at www.monstercable.com/HDMI. For more specific questions, visit www.monstercommunity.com .
Aspiring real estate “flippers” should plan their selling strategy before they start renovations.
(NewsUSA) - Buy a run-down building in a nice area. Gut the rooms and rebuild state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms. Then sell the home for hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit.
The idea of “flipping” homes appeals to Americans. But for many aspiring flippers, reality does not live up to the expectations created by reality television and get-rich books.
Flippers buy distressed properties in nice neighborhoods. They often run into trouble with contractors to stay on budget for the home repairs or improvements. People attempt to make lavish improvements and don’t realize how much time and money the ambitious renovations will really cost. By the time they sell their real estate project, many flippers barely break even. In some cases, flippers lose money. Sometimes people create a dream property, put it on the market, then watch the home sit for months without exciting buyers’ interests. In the meantime, mortgage costs eat into flippers’ profits.
When it comes to flipping homes, profits depend on quick sales. Before buying properties, people should learn how to sell them. Californian real-estate professionals have created a step-by-step system for homeowners looking to quickly sell properties.
The “Fast Action Homes Sales System” teaches homeowners how to create bidding wars with or without a real estate agent. Homeowners using the guide learn how to attract buyers’ interest with signs, printed ads and custom-built Web sites. The advertisements lead to a frenzied weekend bidding war, giving sellers the advantage.
The whole process, from first step to exit, takes two or three weeks. Before potential real estate moguls invest in a property, they should start planning its final sale -; selling a newly renovated home quickly is key to making a profit-earning flip.
To access a quick-start guide to the Fast Action Home Sales System, either visit www.RealEstateKit.com or call 1-800-669-1038.
Repairing concrete surfaces can help properties make better first impressions.
(NewsUSA) - In today’s highly competitive housing market, every advantage counts when attracting potential buyers to your home.
Traditional home upgrades, like bathroom and kitchen remodels, return less than 70 percent of their cost, so homeowners are looking elsewhere for project ideas.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 50 percent of the time a home is sold before a buyer even gets out of their car. Improving a home’s exterior, or curb appeal, can give buyers better first impressions.
For exteriors, the Quikrete Companies offer a line of inexpensive, easy-to-use products whose impact can mean the difference between another week on the market or making a deal:
Spruce Up Driveways
If a potential buyer pulls into your driveway and sees small cracks and mystery stains, they’re probably walking away with a bad first impression.
Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer offers an economical alternative to replacing old concrete. Following a thorough pressure washing, homeowners just mix, pour and squeegee. The resurfacer results in a durable, wear-resistant surface that can be driven on after 24 hours.
Quick Patching
Patching unsightly cracked or pitted concrete surfaces such as steps, driveways and sidewalks can be an easy improvement using the Quikrete Vinyl Concrete Patcher. The versatile, vinyl-infused compound bonds to the concrete surface for a smooth repair. The patcher has a high resistance to ultraviolet light and heat, and it is self-curing, so no additives are needed.
Fix Small Cracks
For minor concrete repairs, like cracks less than half an inch in width, Quikrete Gray Concrete Crack Seal offers a easy solution -; simply shake the ready-to-use product and pour it directly from its bottle. Once applied, the material blends with the natural color of concrete for a uniform finish, becomes dry to the touch in 30 minutes and maintains adhesion throughout freeze-thaw temperature cycles.
For more information, visit www.quikrete.com .
(ARA) - Whether it’s five stories up in an apartment building or in a tiny backyard, it’s possible to grow greenery. As long as there is access to water and sunshine, people with the desire to add a little plant life to their living space can break out the watering can and create a green space.
Small-area and container gardening are easy, relatively inexpensive activities that people of all ages can enjoy. Today’s lawn and garden market is full of products aimed to satisfy the garden enthusiast in any location. Windowsill boxes, mini-herb gardens, packaged potting mixes and containers of all shapes and sizes make it easier than ever to grow something beautiful, no matter where you live.
“A container garden offers residents in smaller, often urban, spaces the chance to grow and eat fresh vegetables and enjoy beautiful flowers,” says William Moss, a master gardener specializing in urban gardening and author of the “Moss in the City” e-newsletter for the National Gardening Association. “A well-maintained vegetable container garden can produce enough vegetables to prepare nutritious meals and save money at the same time.”
Little Time, Big Convenience
One of the many benefits of small-space gardening is the small amount of time and effort it takes. As with any type of garden, it requires commitment and care. Ensuring plants get the proper amount of sunlight and water is crucial. However, a smaller space means less weeding and fewer pests. Slow-release fertilizer and automatic watering systems also cut down on time. Miracle-Gro Watering Can Singles are great time savers, making it easy to feed plants with convenient pre-measured packets of water-soluble plant food that can be quickly poured into a watering can.
Other considerations include the plants’ location. It is important to secure plants kept on windowsills or terraces so they won’t blow away during strong winds. If plants are frequently exposed to inclement weather, they should be moved to a sheltered spot or protected using supports and cages.
Doing a Lot with a Small Space
Another important benefit of small-space gardening is the amount of room needed. Depending on the plant, almost any container is acceptable as long as it can hold eight inches of soil and has holes at the bottom for water to drain. Rocks can be put in the bottom to assist drainage if there are no holes. Containers also tend to dry out quickly, so paying attention to watering and feeding is critical. Avoid filling the container with ground soil that can contain bacteria or fungi. Instead use packaged potting soil that is supplemented with fertilizer and other nutrients. Be sure to look at the care instructions that come with the plants and follow the directions on the potting soil and supplements to ensure the best outcome possible.
Growing For Food and Fancy
Different types of flowers, fruits, vegetables and plants thrive in containers. Vegetables such as peppers, garlic and lettuce are all easy to grow in containers. Herbs are especially well-suited for pots, and are easy to maintain since most pests tend to avoid them and they’re not susceptible to disease.
As long as there is adequate sunlight, herbs can be grown outdoors or indoors. Many herbs, like basil, dill, oregano and parsley, grow easily from seeds, which are less expensive than seedlings. Plant height is important to keep in mind, as basil, parsley and dill can grow one foot or taller.
For a plant that’s a beauty and easy-to-care for, try miniature roses. Available in a multitude of colors and varieties, it is easy to find one for just about any small space. Other colorful and low-maintenance container flowers are geraniums, impatiens, begonias, marigolds and zinnias. During the summer, Moss recommends growing plants with tolerant dispositions that can stand up to heat, pests and stormy summer weather. Flowers like the crinum lily, nasturtium, trailing petunia and moss rose are all colorful, low-maintence and grow during the summer months.
“Many different plants grow well in containers, but depending on location, some plants will flourish where others will wilt,” says Moss. “Check with local nurseries for flowers that thrive in your area.”
For more tips and fun ideas on starting a container garden or growing in small spaces visit http://www.itsgrotime.com and check out Moss’ page on the National Gardening Association Web site, http://www.garden.org/urbangardening/ .
