We love our pets — they’re one of the family. Keep pets safe this Halloween by checking out this infographic, get tips, and be aware. #Puptober #pets
Keep Pets Safe At Halloween
PSA Infographic from PuppySpot for #Puptober
We love our cats, Jinx and Josie. They are definitely precious and we don’t want them to get hurt in any way. Dogs and cats have special needs. So, it is important to be aware that not everything that is good for you is good for your pet. Take chocolate, for instance, I love a yummy chocolate fix once in a while (ok, maybe a little more often than that), but chocolate can be deadly to dogs and cats.
How is your air conditioner working? Are you struggling to keep cool? Guest poster, Debbie Lewis, has some great tips on how you can help keep your cool this summer.
Struggling To Keep Cool?
Maybe Your Air Conditioner Is On The Fritz…
Here in Sarasota, Florida, our weather is warm throughout the year. With high temperatures between 71 and 90 degrees in winter and summer alike, most homeowners rely on their air conditioners to keep their homes feeling comfortable. If your air conditioner hasn’t been keeping you as cool as it did in the past, you’ll want to find the cause and a solution. Perhaps your refrigerant is undercharged, or there could be a leak in the coil, or maybe a nearby lightning strike caused a short-circuit. If any of these issues are affecting your system, a repair may be a cost-effective option to get the air conditioning up and running again.
If your air conditioner is at least 10 years old and/or the repair will be costly, it may be time to consider a new, more energy efficient system. Minimum SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings have risen from 6 to 13 and higher in the past 10 years. One of the key benefits of a new air conditioning system is the massive cost savings due to improved energy efficiency. Older and outdated models tend to use a lot more energy to run, which costs you more each month in utilities. While you will have an upfront cost to purchase and have the new unit installed, it is well worth the investment to save money in the long run as well as reduce energy usage. This infographic was originally published by Aqua Plumbing & Air, and it discusses the advantages and benefits of having a new air conditioning installed.
Today we’re welcoming Debbie Lewis as a guest poster. She is here to give you some tips and ideas on how you can breathe easier this summer.
Breathe Easy In Summer
Simple Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Poor air quality in your home can lead to many respiratory issues like indoor allergies and asthma attacks. There are many sources of the allergens and pollutants that enter our homes mostly unnoticed. Additionally, changes in temperature can worsen the air quality in our environment. Heat and humidity in the summer months can combine with gas pollutants and chemicals lingering in the air to create an unhealthy cocktail for us to breathe. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make sure your air indoors remains clean.
First, you should make sure your home’s HVAC system is in excellent condition. You should change your air filter regularly, and don’t wait too long between maintenance appointments. Your air conditioner commands a lot of the air flow in your home, so a sluggish unit can also affect air quality. If you’ve noticed strange symptoms, like incessant coughing, or allergy symptoms you’ve never had before, you may appreciate an indoor quality assessment, which can give you insight into what is circulating in your home and the changes you can make to improve quality.
Keep surfaces free of dust and clean carpets and other dust-magnets regularly. Try to avoid the use of household cleaners that have a high toxic content. Replace them with safer, natural alternatives. If you have pets, bathe them weekly, to make it easier to control fleas and pet dander. Take a look at the infographic below. It shows more helpful tips you can use to keep your air clean and help you and your family stay healthy.
Do you want to save money? Think you’ve tried everything to cut your costs? Well, here are some fabulous tips on Energy Efficiency in your home from Uma Campbell. You are going to love the infographic she has to share!
Energy Efficiency
What’s Eating Your Energy?
What uses the most energy in your home – Intro
What’s eating up your energy? No, not your job, lifestyle, kids, etc… literally eating your energy – as in your electric bill? Maybe it’s the refrigerator? Could it be the dishwasher – should you run it less often? Or, the hot water heater – turn it down a little?
A couple of additional degrees of heat when the winter wind howls feels pretty good at the time, but that coziness comes at a cost. Older houses were built when energy like coal and gas was inexpensive, and these dated mechanical systems can really take a bite out of your budget. Older appliances like washers, dryers, and freezers weren’t manufactured to be energy efficienct, or with the size of your carbon footprint in mind. So, maybe it’s time to find those extra energy calories – the ones that are adding up over time to big, bloated energy use. Time to take a look at your “eating” habits, or how you’re consuming energy at your house.
Maybe, the best way to think about it is to think about energy use in the same way you think about the calories you eat. Healthy eaters know how to cut calories by employing small steps that add up over time. You’ve read the recommendations – sparkling water instead of sugary pop, crunchy carrots instead of potato chips. It’s not dieting, exactly, it’s a lifestyle change, because these folks know that extra calories here and there add up over time to big, unwanted weight gain.
Similarly, with just a few practical, cost-cutting steps, you can trim your energy use and boost your energy efficiency just like healthy eaters cut calories and make better “meal” choices. Here are practical, economical ways to cut your energy bill by making your older appliances more efficient. Plus, steps you can take to make your house retain heat in cooler weather and stay cool during the hotter months with just a few adjustments. You will also find new ideas to make your house the most energy-efficient house it can be.
Make your house – whatever its age – more energy effective, and discover where your energy dollars are being wasted.
Embracing a healthy energy style–good for your wallet and good for the planet too.
Uma has certainly shared some brilliant tips and ideas to increase the energy efficiency of our homes. What an awesome infographic! I hope you have discovered things that will help you save money.
We’ve all heard that getting a good night’s sleep is important, and it is true. There is a long list of benefits associated with a proper and restful routine for sleeping. So, why not put Sleep on your New Year’s Resolution List? Sleeping well helps you stay healthy, just take a look.
Benefits to a Proper Night’s Sleep:
Better Health and Immunity
Decreased Risk of Injury
Better Focus and Memory
Clearer Thinking
Increased Energy
Better Sex Life
Better Metabolism and Weight Control
Be Happier and in a better Mood
So, when Alyse, from Casper, wanted to share this awesome Infographic on how to get the sleep you’ve always dreamed of, I was thrilled to accept. Below, you will find some common reasons you may not be getting the rest you need, and solutions to solve the problems. I hope you will find these tips helpful.
I know that I sometimes have trouble turning off my brain at night. Making sure I have things organized and under control helps keep stress away so my brain can get some rest. Doing a little reading before bed is always a help.
Tossing and turning is something else that plagues me at night. Magnesium–who knew? A handful of almonds may become my new best friend before bed.
Thank you, Alyse, for sharing the tips and solutions for getting a healthy night’s rest.
The holidays are upon us, and that means dining and partying it up with all sorts of people you need or want to impress–the boss, the new girlfriend, the mother-in-law… Don’t be the butt of the holiday party jokes that last all year long; learn some simple etiquette. Take a look at what Phoebe from Liberty Tabletop has brought to us today.
I was thrilled when Phoebe contacted me regarding this awesome Infographic, which provides great tips for one of my dinner party pet peeves. YIKES! Which fork do I use? Has that thought crossed your mind? What about when you go to set your roll on your bread plate just to find that the person seated next to you has used your plate? This one little misstep creates a chain reaction that upsets the entire table. There is an easy solution…
A formal dinner offers the opportunity to enjoy fine food and excellent company. It is often part of a sophisticated night of entertainment and socializing. You could be invited to attend a formal dinner as part of a company event, a dinner in aid of a charity, or at a high-end restaurant for a first date.
What to expect
A formal dinner is always catered by a chef. Guests are served their food at the table, rather than helping themselves from dishes left in front of them. Guests will be expected to dress appropriately, and follow the correct formal dining etiquette.
What to wear
Formal dining, and formal events in general, are sophisticated events with a strict dress code. Men must wear tuxedos, or a dress coat with a white tie in very rare circumstances. Women can choose an evening or long dress, as long as it is suitably elegant and refined. A formal event is a great chance to wear your best clothes.
How to behave
There are many protocols and routines that are followed at a formal dining event. These allow the meal to progress smoothly without any of the guests offending or embarrassing the others. Many of them are quite simple, such as remembering which cutlery to use, or to always pass the salt and pepper as a pair. Knowing and following these rules and preferences ensures you will be the perfect dinner guest.
This is a fantastic infographic! Thank you, Phoebe and Liberty Tabletop, for sharing it with us.
Here are a few more helpful Etiquette Tips
Now you know to start with the outside utensils first and work your way toward the plate and then to the top for dessert. But, the table is still loaded with other questions that need answering to make the best of impressions.
Which Bread Plate is Mine? And, what about the Glassware?
This simple trick will ensure you use your proper place setting. Give the situation a little “Thumbs-Up.” Your knuckles should be folded into your palms. Place your “thumbs-up” fists knuckles-to-knuckles. You can see that the left hand “thumbs-up” resembles the letter “b” for bread, while the right had “thumbs-up” resembles the letter “d” for drinks. A discrete and easy way to decipher that your bread plate is on the left with your “b thumbs-up,” and your glassware is on the right with your “d thumbs-up.”
Seating
Gentlemen should seat the lady to their right. Pull out the chair and allow her to sit down before taking your seat.
It is NOT Fashionable to be Late!
Arrive at the appointed time. You may be a few minutes early, but you may never be late.
Phone Calls at the Dinner Table
An absolute No-No! Turn off your cellphone. If you are expecting a very important phone call, make sure your phone is set to vibrate, and quietly inform the guests seated next to you. When you receive the call, excuse yourself from the table before answering the call.
My mother passed along to me her passion for crystal and fine china, and of course, if you have it, you may as well use it–so, let the entertaining begin! We may not go to the extreme of tuxedos and long dresses, but I do love to set a formal table for the holidays and special occasions, and good manners and proper etiquette are important in every aspect of your life.
If you have any tips or suggestions, please share them in the comments.
I hope you have found this information helpful. Now, go be impressive!
Life With Lorelai is growing tremendously! Thank you so much to all of my readers. In an effort to bring even more fantastic content to the blog, I have decided to build a creative team, and YOU can be a part of it! It is exciting to extend this opportunity to you, my fellow bloggers. Join this creative team in the form of a Regular Contributor or Guest Poster.
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Contributors, hurry and sign up now, as there is limited space available. I will be accepting applications from now until September 15, 2015.
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Guest Posters, send your Post Ideas to lifewithlorelai@gmail.com — any time.
