Spring Training - Get Your ___ In Shape!

Spring Training – Get your ____  in Shape! Oh boy was I disheartened when I looked into my spring/summer wardrobe! Sadly I found things a little snug, how about you? Let’s get our butts outside and start a walking regimen! Are you in or not?

Spring Cleaning!

Spring Cleaning -- Your Checklist Matters!   So often we are rushed and overwhelmed by day to day tasks that we put things on the back burner.  I find that a master checklist for my spring chores helps to keep me on task and allows me to delegate to others for help. What works for you?

Road Hazard!

  

Were you aware that March was named for the Roman God ‘Mars?’ Feel like you’re driving on Mars these days? Winter sure has taken its toll on our roads! Drive according to road conditions, not the speed limit. We just had a major repair to the company car. Be aware of those pot holes that swallow tires whole! 

A Crappy Day

January 27th: Thomas Crapper Day Sounds like he invented the toilet right? Well, he is often incorrectly credited with inventing the toilet! Thomas Crapper was a plumber and the businessman who did, in fact, champion the modern wash closet and also invented the 'ballcock' — that floating ball in the body of your toilet. His apropos surname was just a coincidence; the word “crap” already existed in the English language at the time of his birth! Brings a whole new meaning to having a "crappy day!" And we all have them, just as we all have a porcelain throne!

Cold Weather Pet Hazards

1. Honk for safety's sake

When it's cold, cats love to sit under the engine or even under the hood of your warm vehicle's motor. Before turning on your ignition, look under your car, tap on the hood, or honk the horn to roust any sleeping kitties.

2. Put on a sweater

Dogs and cats are equipped with fur coats,but they vary in thickness and ability to keep them warm. Some animals may never develop an adequate winter coat and may require a winter sweater. Check your furry friend so they are not shivering! 

3. Be careful with chemicals

Cats and dogs like the sweet taste of antifreeze (ethylene glycol), so clean up spills promptly. "Even a teaspoon is potentially lethal," says R. J. Krapfl, DVM, an Omaha veterinarian and spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Be sure to wash pet's paws after walking outside along sidewalks and roadways, as most winter salt is damaging to their paws.

Live Christmas Tree Tips

The perfect Christmas tree adds just the right touch to your holiday. Here are some tips to help you choose your tree and make it last through the holidays

1. The tree should have a strong, fresh pine smell and nice deep color.

2. Bend a small branch to see if snaps, if it does the tree is dry and you should pick another tree out with bendable branches.

3. You should let the tree settle for a couple of days before you bring it into the house. Make a small cut across the trunk of the tree on a diagonal to help the tree absorb water and dissolve the sap. Then put it in a bucket of warm water. If you add a half  a cup of sugar or an aspirin or two to the water it will help keep the tree fresh.

4. When you're ready to bring it inside, make a fresh cut straight across the trunk, and     drill a hole as far as you can into the trunk. Stuff the hole with some absorbent     material like old pieces of cotton to help pull water up and into the tree.

5. If you find yourself with a bunch of pine pitch on your hands during all of this,     rub them with some vegetable oil. The mess will come right off!

Holiday Shopping Dates to Remember

As November slips away, many of us are wondering, how will we manage the shopping? Crazy schedules, ridiculous gift requests, limited resources and time....  What's a holiday consumer to do? Speaking from experience, it is important to utilize every vantage point when trying to accomplish these seasonal tasks. Take advantage of these established shopping dates: Black Friday, 11/29; Small Business Saturday, 11/30 and Cyber Monday, 12/2, to accomplish your tasks!