Month: February 2015

Categories
Best charities to donate to Charities for wounded soldiers Make a donation

Your Guide to Giving Household Donations to Charity

Clothes donations

By now, most people know that clothing donations are the greenest and most generous way to help their communities. Diverting clothing donations from the landfill to the closets of people in need helps eliminate around 12 million tons of waste each year and contributes to the 4.7 billion pounds of clothing donated annually. But in addition to receiving gently used clothing donations, charity organizations are also on the lookout for household items that can be reused or repurposed.

Which types of household donations can go to charity? Here are just a few items you may have that can go to a better home:

  • Furniture: When it comes to furnishing a home, many families are unable to afford the high costs of furniture today. Many Americans who are more well off find themselves spending more as the economy improves, and as a result, they’re ready to dump their old furniture. If you’ve recently bought new furniture, don’t put the old stuff out to the curb just yet. See if you can donate to a local organization in order to help furnish a home for a struggling family.

  • Appliances: Just as with household donations of furniture, the same goes for appliances. Many families want to replace the old, white appliances they bought years ago with stainless steel and other stylish designs. Additionally, many smaller items like microwaves, toasters, blenders, and coffee makers might also get thrown out for a kitchen makeover. Whether you’re ditching the big appliances or replacing smaller kitchen gadgets, see if you can give any items still in good working order to charity.

  • Electronics: Consumer electronics ranging from computers and cell phones to televisions and DVD players represent some of the most reusable items in the average home. But many people ditch the old models in favor of upgrading to the latest and greatest technology. This creates unnecessary electronic waste throughout the world, which leads to dangerous levels of pollution. If you’re considering swapping out your home’s electronics, see if you can give your old items to a service that refurbish and donate them to people and organizations in need.

Are you interested in helping families in need with your household donations? Ask your local organizations what they need from community members and give accordingly. You can also ask about donation pick up and drop off options with that charity. Have more questions? Leave a comment below.

Categories
Adjustable bed Luxury adjustable beds The best adjustable bed

7 Tips to Improve Your Sleep

What is the best adjustable bed

The National Sleep Foundation, a well known sleep research institute that conducts surveys across the country, reports that nearly 15% of the American adult population suffer from serious, chronic pain that is related to sleeping in the wrong position. Additionally, they report that when anyone goes to sleep, they change positions continuously throughout the night, even when they are still sleeping, to avoid positions that trigger pain and tension that is caused by sleeping in uncomfortable ways. There are lots of bad effects of sleeping poorly and not getting a good night sleep, and one of the most horrible is chronic pain that is associated with insomnia.

If you want to improve your overall quality of life and learn some ways to get a good night sleep, there are lots of strategies you can employ to make this happen. One of the best things you can do is get a twin adjustable bed to improve your overall sleep comfort at night, because this is a special system designed to maximize your quality of sleep. If you want to know more about all of this and the best ways to resolve problems sleeping at night, keep reading to learn some of the top ways to sleep better at night. These tips will help you get better sleep, which will improve almost every aspect of your life.

    1. Avoid watching television or movies before bed
    This is one of the most common mistakes people make — it seems like watching TV before bed would calm your down, but in reality it can distract you and prevent you from going to sleep.

    2. Read a book
    Reading a book is a great way to wind down before sleep, and it can help you avoid electronics, which do the exact opposite of helping you to relax.

    3. Turn the lights down low
    One of the most helpful things you can do is turn the lights down low at least 30 minutes before bed, because bright lights can mimic daytime and make it hard to sleep.

    4. Stop exercising at least two hours before you sleep
    Being active is great, but try to keep it to a few hours before bedtime.

    5. Don’t eat anything for one hour before you sleep
    Same goes for eating dinner or snacks — it’s best to give your body a few hours to digest.

    6. Don’t do work or study while laying in your twin adjustable bed
    This can make your bed seem like a workplace, when really it’s the one place you should only relax and try to get some rest. If you have to do work at home, avoid going in your bedroom.

    7. Avoid reading on your cell phone when you can’t sleep
    It may be tempting to check your texts or emails while you’re laying in your adjustable twin bed if you can’t sleep, but you should avoid this because the intense light can actually cause symptoms of insomnia.

What are your thoughts on how to find the best twin adjustable beds? Do you have any ideas for people who are interested in learning more about some tips on ways to get the best night of sleep? If you have any experience with resolving serious sleeping problems, or if you just want to share your thoughts with others who may feel overwhelmed, please share your ideas and join the conversation by leaving a comment below.

Categories
Apartment floor plans Apartment rental application Rent an apartment

Three Tips to Simplify Your Apartment Search

Apartment hunting

Living in an apartment has a number of attractive benefits, but most people agree that the process of apartment hunting is a different story. To find apartments that fit your lifestyle and your budget, you have to search through local apartment listings, schedule appointments, walk through different units, and get your application in before anyone else, all while managing your everyday responsibilities. However, when you find an apartment that perfectly matches all of your needs, it can all become worth it. To make the apartment hunting process easier in the meantime, however, follow the tips below.

Take Notes
As you head from listing to listing, it can be difficult to keep the various advantages and disadvantages of each apartment separate. For this reason, many apartment hunters benefit from keeping a comparison checklist with all of the initial factors that attracted them to each unit, which they can then add onto as they learn more. Snapping a few quick pictures is also helpful. Later, you can review this information to determine which apartment you saw offered the best overall living arrangement.

Ask the Tough Questions
While it is important to be polite when meeting your potential landlord, you should make sure you ask about things that will impact your experience living on their property. Ask if the window treatments or any utilities are included, if there are any parking or building amenity fees, and how much the current energy bills are. Likewise, don’t be afraid to get a little nosy: look for mold under the sink, check for odd smells and noises, test faucets, and open closets. If there are any problems or unexpected costs, you should know about them before you make a decision.

Be Ready to Make a Move
The current housing market is competitive, and you will need to move on an appealing apartment quickly. To avoid losing great places to other renters, bring all of the information you would need to fill out a standard rental application and your checkbook. This typically includes contact information for your employer, present and past landlords, your social security number and more. By having all of this information, you will be able to fill out and submit the application quickly, reducing the chances you will lose a place you really love.

What tips and tricks have you used to help your apartment hunting efforts in the past? Share them in the comments below! Helpful info also found here.

Categories
Insignia remote control Lg remote control Tv remote codes

Does Your Pet Keep Destroying Your Remote Control?

Replace remote control

After a long, stressful day handling any number of responsibilities, it can be a relief to grab your digital TV remote control and relax on the couch for a few hours. However, if you’re like many pet owners, this experience can often be marred as you wind up rummaging in your sofa cushions and checking under furniture for said remote. Eventually, you’ll find a stray button or even look up to see your dog watching you guiltily from across the room. It looks like your vision of reclining in front of the TV just disappeared: your pet has destroyed yet another remote. But why are all remotes seemingly destined to wind up as chew toys, and how can you handle this situation?

The answer to the first question involves some basic understanding of pet behavior: all animals, especially dogs, instinctively gnaw, peck and otherwise mangle anything they can find. For this reason, your remote control is instantly fair game to dogs, birds, and other animals, although most pet owners find that their cats are uninterested in the device. However, dog lovers are most likely to have trouble: canines are already notorious chewers, and TV remote controls are appealingly shaped like a bone and smell like their master to boot. Because of this, no-chew sprays and other tactics are unlikely to work. Moreover, every pet owner can likely attest that their pet has a sixth sense for searching out the things you need and will have difficulty replacing as their new chew toy, such as your digital TV remote control.

To try to discourage this, the best thing you can do is keep your pet occupied: chewing and other destructive behavior often occurs when your pet is bored or anxious. Try making sure they have plenty of their own toys and are getting enough attention and exercise. Training or encouraging them to recognize the things they can chew may also be helpful. However, for the best results, you should also try to make your remote and other attractive items less accessible by storing them on a high shelf or in a drawer. This trick will also help you in the long run: after all, if you teach yourself to keep your digital TV remote control in the same place, it will be harder for you to lose it.

However, if your pet has recently destroyed the remote, figuring out how to replace this device can be just as frustrating as discouraging your pet from destroying it. You could invest in universal television remote controls, but most people find that these do not work the same as their original remote. Fortunately, there is an easy way to find the best replacement remote controls: simply look on the back of your destroyed remote for the model number. Using these TV remote codes, you can easily find a device that works for you and your television, allowing you to unwind the way you had originally planned. More on this topic.

Categories
Amish shed kits Custom shed Weathervane for sale

A Short Guide to Gazebos, Pergolas, and Pool Houses

Cupolas nj

In the throes of winter it can be easy to start fantasizing about summer parties, languishing on the lawn under a hot sun, and entertaining in the humid shade. The key to doing any of these things is having the right kind of structure — not all outdoor features are created equal. Here are three of the most common outdoor structures, how they differ, and what they’re good for.

1. Gazebos
A gazebo is one of the most common outdoor structures. These are generally made of wood or a sturdy fabric like canvas. They are usually at least six-sided, which gives the structure more of a rounded look. Gazebo builders usually cover the roofs completely, so they offer a space out of the weather. Some have screened in sides and others have open sides — a gazebo builder should be able to accommodate both. Either way, these are generally large enough to accommodate a table and a few chairs for a sit-down meal or just somewhere to set out food and drinks.

2. Pergolas
A pergola is pretty similar to a gazebo, except that the roof is not covered. A pergola is usually a four posted structure that has an open roof with horizontal rafters and completely open sides. While offering a bit of shade, these do not protect from the weather the way that a gazebo will. However, they are still ideal for covering an eating area, provided the weather cooperates with your plans.

2. Pool Houses
A pool house is also a pretty common outdoor structure, but — of course — this really only works if you have a pool. A pool house is literally a small house. It’s unlike both gazebos and pergolas in that they are completely enclosed and have a solid roof. Pool houses are usually situated near a pool which is perfect for a space out of the sun and for a little light entertaining.

So you want to add any of these structures to your property? Feel free to share with us in the comments section below. Find more.

Categories
Custom house designs Luxury home floor plans Luxury house builders

Three Popular Amenities in Custom Luxury Homes

Custom house builders

When it comes to designing luxury house floor plans, there aren’t a lot of things you can’t do. From the number of bedroom to the overall aesthetic of the front of the home to the little design details inside, one of the benefits of buying a custom home is that you have control to make your home exactly what you want to suit you and your family’s needs. Working with custom home builders is essential for doable designer home plans, but here are a few of the most popular amenities that homeowners are choosing for their custom houses.

1. Green Features
One of the most common focuses in custom home designs these days is green features. Making homes energy efficient is very important for buyers these days. The right appliances can save homeowners on utility bills. Furthermore, homes that don’t have weatherstripping lose 30% to 40% of heating and cooling through air leaks, so making sure the home is weatherstripped is important. Insulation can also make a home more energy efficient and save a homeowner on energy use.

2. Pools, Jacuzzis, and Spas
Another common and popular feature for luxury custom homes these days is some sort of luxury pool or bathing space. Stone bathtubs are very in right now, and more and more homeowners are opting for luxury pools outside. Pools are nice enough for any home, but infinity pools are more popular among the luxury crowd, as are more hot tubs and jacuzzis.

3. Outdoor Oases
Aside from green features and luxury pools, homeowners are also opting more for outdoor oases altogether. Some of these include a full outdoor kitchen and entertaining areas for preparing and serving food. Others prefer to add details like a waterfall near their pool.

Have you added any of these features to your luxury house floor plans? Feel free to share with us in the comments section below. Learn more at this link.

Categories
Ac repair parts st louis How long does it take for an average furnace repla Why is my furnace not lighting

How Long Will My Air Conditioning Repair Job Take?

“Where can I find the best AC compressor sales near me” and “Who can I call to help with an AC condenser near me” are two questions you may find yourself asking as a business owner. A big part of business ownership ad building management is ensuring everything is in good working order. This is where ac repair service providers can step in and make at least HVAC services easier to manage.

When you need maintenance or repair work done on your AC console unit or your heating furnace setup, it is important to call in the local pros. Staying local is always a good idea. They best understand the seasons’ challenges and pressures your heating and cooling system will face and can therefore provide the tailored services you need.

Whether you need cooling servings, AC furnace service work, or some other aspect of HVAC service and maintenance, contact your local heating and cooling expert today. Let them come and do an on-site evaluation and provide the services you need. Be ready for whatever the new season has in store!

St louis heating and cooling

When you call a professional for home air conditioning repair, it’s understandable to want to know how long the repair job will take. If you live a busy life, you may not have time to stick around while heating and cooling contractors work on your home air conditioning systems. And if the weather is hot, you have even more reason to want home air conditioning repair to wrap up as quickly as possible.

As with any heating and cooling repair job, the time frame largely depends on the complexity of the repair and the systems involved.

For example, if you’re just low on refrigerant, a home air conditioning repair contractor can just add some refrigerant and leave after a few hours. Low refrigerant is usually signaled by a gurgling sound in your air conditioning system, or a sudden loss of cooled air.

Replacing an old fan belt can also be pretty quick, usually taking only a few hours. Fan belts start squealing as they age, so if that’s the problem you’re experiencing, you probably won’t have to worry about a lengthy, drawn-out repair.

A lack of sufficient cooling could mean there’s something wrong with your compressor. If your compressor is broken, that might take a little longer. Different components of the compressor might break, like the motor or the capacitor, and the length of the repair is all about the parts.

If your HVAC contractor has a replacement part on hand, the repair will probably take about a day. But if they have to order the part for the repair, the job will take longer.

As for total air conditioning replacement, you’ll have to be willing to wait. You need to pick out a new AC system that will actually work in your house, find an HVAC contractor who can install it, and then wait for the installation to be complete. This can take a few days to a week.

Be up-front if time is an issue for your repair and talk to your HVAC contractor to get a tentative end time or date for any repair.

Links like this.

Categories
Brunch dishes Outdoor wedding places Wilmington de golf courses

Three Things You Need to Know About Throwing a Wedding Brunch

Learn to play golf

One of the best things about getting married is planning the parties. There’s the engagement party, the bridal shower, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the reception — at least. If you’re looking for an easy option for any of these, wedding brunches are becoming more and more popular. With the rising popularity of Sunday brunches, it’s not hard to please guests and they’re a pretty cost-effective and simple event to throw. Here are a few things you should know.

1. Why throw a wedding brunch?
Since you’re already throwing a bunch of other parties, it might be nice to have a smaller event that’s a people pleaser and will be easy to plan. Brunch is a pretty versatile kind of event, so it works if you’re aiming for a formal or casual event. You’re still gathering a group of people for a meal and you’re still having a party, so why not? Additionally, since brunch is more of a morning affair you shouldn’t have a problem with attendance.

2. Who should be invited?
This largely depends on the reason you’re throwing the brunch. The most common cause for a wedding brunch is to thank the wedding party — the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and the couple’s parents. Brunch can be as big or as small as you want, since the size of the meal and brunch dishes are easy to make for any number of people.

3. What should be on the menu?
Part of the fun of throwing a wedding brunch is planning the menu. Since brunch is a combination of breakfast or lunch, you can do pretty much whatever you want. A brunch buffet is probably the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re hosting a large group. As far as drinks go, brunch is famous for cocktails like Bloody Marys, mimosas, and bellinis.

Do you have any tips for throwing a wedding brunch? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below. Continue reading here.