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How to Make the Most of a Professional Move

Whether you’re moving across the state or across the country, it can be overwhelming. By using movers near Livonia MI, you can make it easier to handle a move without having to do all of the work on your own. You can focus on other aspects of the move while professionals help you every step of the way. There are a few tips to ensure you maximize working with a moving company.

Take Advantage of All Services

Many people assume that movers simply move the furniture and boxes into the truck, drive it, and, then, unpack everything into the new house. While this is true of some moving companies, other moving companies offer a comprehensive list of services. This includes packing up all of your household items. Learning what a moving company can do and letting them do more can make it easier for you to deal with a move. It will save you time and ensure that everything is packed properly so that it arrives at your new place in the same condition.

Choose an Off Time

While you may think that moving is an expense that you can avoid with a DIY approach, think again. You don’t want to be responsible for moving all of the heavy furniture in your house nor do you want to drive a large truck across town. You can save money by choosing an off-season time to move. This includes the fall and winter months as well as a day during the week. Many moving companies will give you a discount if you don’t choose a peak time.

Use the Provided Checklist

Movers want to make sure that your move is successful. They’ll provide you with a checklist to help you with packing, labeling your boxes, and preparing for moving day. Be sure to follow this checklist so that you’re ready when the movers show up.

Simplify your move by working closely with a professional moving company. The assistance they can provide will be priceless.

How to Surprise Your Mother This Mother’s Day

I love the month of March. There are so many fun days and occasions to celebrate, especially if you have kids: St. Patrick’s Day, Red Nose Day, World Book Day, and finally the Mother’s Day which this year happens to be on March 31st. As you can see, the list here goes on and on, but probably one special occasion that stands out is the Mother’s Day, which you cannot miss. Below you will find a few gift ideas that can make your mom really happy:

1. A day in a spa. This is probably one of the best gift ideas for a woman out there. Which lady wouldn’t like to get pampered by getting a back or facial massage, or treating herself to a spa or steam room session while being able to chat with her friends? every mom would like that gift, I am sure that a lot more than a box of chocolates. Even a short visit to a spa can promote wellness and well-being that can make a woman happy for many days to come.

2. You might want to discuss it with your mom prior to buying this gift, but buying here some storage space like storage units tucson can be a great gift because it will allow you to free some space in her house. Which lady wouldn’t want some extra square metres in her house she could use on something she enjoys such as extra clothes, or that extra fitness equipment she has been storing in her bedroom for ages now.

3. Nothing beats flowers as a mother;s day gift, because all women love flowers. If you want to do something different this year, my advice is to buy potted flowers instead of fresh ones. They will last for longer, and they are generally a better investment than a bouquet that is going to wither within just a few days.

Stretching the Refreshments for a Women’s Ministry Event

When you’re preparing to host a bunch of women for a women’s ministry event, it’s important to make sure your hospitality is there. After all, women deserve to feel welcome and taken care of. If there’s anyone who should make sure this happens, it ought to be the church. This is why refreshments need to make the list when you’re working on planning the event. Even with a small budget, consider the following ways you can create an amazing refreshment table for the ladies.

1. Use manual labor.
When it comes to women’s ministry and manual labor, they often think of community service and overseas mission projects. While that’s an important component of a christian women’s fellowship, think about the food. It’s always cheaper to make the food yourself. However, don’t try to take it on all by yourself. Ask a few of the women on your team to help out. Create a theme. Put everything on sticks. Create cake pops. Make macaroni & cheese bites to put on a stick. If someone on the team can make delicious meatballs, put the meatballs on sticks. It’s a fun way to create a theme, keep costs low and still provide a deluxe experience for the women.

2. Purchase easy snacks that stretch.
Popcorn is one of the most inexpensive snacks you can make. Air-popped popcorn is extremely inexpensive. Once it’s popped, add some seasonings and butter to the mix. Additionally, chips and pretzels are snacks that can stretch as well. They don’t take any prep work and are delicious. Provide a simple cheese dip to go along with the chips for an easy spin on nachos.

3. Provide a large punch bowl.
As long as you have punch, your event will succeed. Go to your local discount grocery store. Purchase a bunch of fruit punch. Buy a bottle or two of ginger ale. Then, add one bottle of mango nectar to the mix. Once you add the ingredients into a large punch bowl, add some fresh fruit. Pineapple slices or berries work best. Put the punch bowl in the fridge to cool down for a while. You want to make the punch a few hours in advance. When it’s time for the women to enjoy their punch, provide a separate bowl for ice. You don’t want to add the ice to punch or you’ll water it down.

3 Tips for Preventing HVAC Failure

When you live on the Gulf coast, having your air conditioner go out during the summertime can be miserable. The well-being of your family and pets rests upon you taking a handful of steps to prevent problems before they occur at the worst possible time.

Ensure Your Current Unit Is Properly Sized

There is such a thing as an air conditioner that is too small or large. The system should be chosen based upon the square footage of the building being cooled. If your house has been remodeled, this could be factoring into any cooling issues you have. You can get this checked out by an HVAC company and they’ll let you know if your current system is overworking itself due to improper sizing.

Spring For Periodic HVAC Servicing

The best way to prevent problems from occurring is to properly service your unit. This includes home maintenance you can do yourself as well as service by a professional on a regular basis.

Each month, change the filter in your inside unit. Every type of unit has a filter to prevent excess dust, dander and dirt from getting up into the unit itself. When the filter gets clogged, it forces the unit to work harder, which can wear it out prematurely. Double check the filter size before buying new ones.

Periodic maintenance can also be performed by an HVAC company; this is usually done annually. A technician will come out and clean the coils, clear the drain lines, check coolant levels and inspect the system inside and out for parts that are wearing out. A maintenance call is not expensive but can give you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can to prevent problems from cropping up.

Properly Vet Each Company

Always do your due diligence before hiring a Tampa FL HVAC company. First, check out their website and look for their “about” page. Chances are you can find out some info about the owners, how much experience they have and what kind of services they offer. You wouldn’t want to call a commercial HVAC company if you are servicing your residence or vice versa. Likewise, if you’re looking for special services, like air quality evaluation, be sure to find out if it’s something they can do.

Ensuring that the company is properly licensed by the state will give you confidence that they are performing work according to Florida’s safety regulations. It is required for the company’s license number to be on any advertising, and you can then check to see if they have any complaints. Also, be sure to check for reviews to find candid opinions about the companies you’re considering.

7 Stunning Birthday Gift Ideas For Your Brother’s Birthday

He may have tormented you when both of you were kids to get things done according to his way, maybe he does that still. Now that you both have grown and he has become more of a mentor than a tormentor, a guide more than a bully, it’s time to reward him for always sticking by your side.

For the upcoming birthday of your brother, we’ve picked some traditional and over the top gifts that will surely touch the chords of his heart. Take the guide to 7 amazing gifts and wow him:

  • ‘Best Brother Ever’ Mug

At times, you must have felt the love and warmth for your brother when he helped you do things that were unimaginable without him. You know he is the best brother and it’s time to make him realize by gifting him the Best Brother Ever coffee mug which will be his reminder every morning as he sips his coffee. He will feel proud for having such a loving sister.

 

  • Multifunction Laptop Table

Of late, people are habituated with using the laptop on bed. If this is the case with your brother too and he does not understand the harmful effect of such a posture over his back, neck and eyes, gift him with a multi-function laptop table to help him sit in a good posture and work comfortably.

 

  • Rucksack

Everyone loves to travel. To give the best travel experience to your travel freak brother, gift him a functional rucksack that he has been eyeing on ever since. Pick his favourite colour of the rucksack and be mindful of the durability.

 

  • Fitness Band

Almost every guy has made plans of hitting the gym but life hardly offers time for the same. For your health conscious brother, a fitness band is the perfect choice which will help him monitor his health and control his harmful habits.

 

  • Projection Alarm Clock

Is your brother always running late than his schedule? If yes, gift him a projection alarm clock this year on his birthday. The projection alarm clocks are an enhanced version of the traditional alarm clocks. They project the time on the ceiling once the alarm turns on. Seeing the alarm on the ceiling is a much better way to wake up instead of unconsciously snoozing the phones alarm every time.

 

  • Moustache Cake

Getting a birthday cake for brother is a herculean task. Be creative and get a moustache cake for your brother, as a reminder that his hard work of growing his beard and moustache has finally paid off and he looks no less than a macho.

 

  • VR 3D Reality Glasses

If your brother likes to play games on his smartphone or tablet, gifting him with a VR 3D Reality glasses is the best option. He will fall in love with the 360-degree viewing experience while playing a game on his phone. Playing games on a smartphone while using the VR 3D Reality glasses is the ultimate experience for any gamer.

With these amazing gift ideas for your brother’s birthday, it’s time to express your emotions and thank him for always being your anchor, your strength.

The Ups and Downs Of Animal Ownership

There’s really nothing that can compare to the experience of bringing of loving little puppy or kitten into a household. Children who grow up with pets always remember the day their new animal came into their home and first cuddled with them. Bonding with a pet is a loving, joyful experience that is long remembered, and it’s the start of a beautiful relationship, too. Cats and Dogs Regardless whether the new family member is a tabby cat or a pick from a litter of miniature schnauzer puppies houston, the fact is that pets are always a happy aspect of a home, and caring for an adored animal can make a family grow closer. Cat People Versus Dog People Puppies and kittens are both wonderful pets, but they do place different demands on an owner, which is why some people have definite preferences in the type of animals they adopt. Cats, for example, are friendly and cuddly pets that really do bond with their owners. Cats are highly independent however, and they tend to go their own way and do as they please, whether that means cuddling in a human lap or sleeping in a corner. Cats are fastidious in their cleaning habits, too, and they generally are happy to use a litter box, which makes caring for these creatures fairly straightforward. People who love dogs love them intensely, as these adorable animals are very loving and loyal. Dogs can be house trained, too, but they do need to be taken outside to “take care of their business.” Dogs have to be walked regularly on a leash, and they can’t be left alone for hours on end. Dogs do love to travel with people, however, so they are great for taking on vacations or out to cafes or even offices. No matter what type of animal you prefer, the truth is that owning a loving pet can be life changing. So, if you need more love in your life, consider adopting a cuddly little friend today.

A new way to think about chalkboard signs

From time to time, you probably encounter Chalkboard Signs either on your way to work, school, supermarket, or some other places where you tend to go. It is usually small business owners who use them to advertise their small businesses, and they do it for a number of reasons.

One of the biggest advantages of chalkboard signs is the fact that you can easily erase and create its contents every day. This is especially beneficial if you offer some daily promotions, or simply if you want to put your menu on display. Many pub and restaurant owners do it successfully on a regular basis, and they would never do without such signs.

Before you place a message on your sign, I strongly recommend that you experiment with different chalk colours and fonts. It will allow you to choose how your final message is going to look like. Too small font will cause the passerbys to miss out on the message, but too big font can result in not being able to fit the entire message. Also, some colours are more visible than others. You will want to avoid anything blue or brown, and go for white or yellow that stand out.

Don’t be afraid to create your very own first message. It might not be perfect, it might even look unprofessional, but with time you will have a chance to practice to draw something that will look better. It always takes time to master things, so don’t discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time.

Before you attempt to write or draw your message, make sure that you have a specific design in mind. You might want to draw something on a piece of paper first and then copy it to your chalkboard sign. Alternatively, you might want to ask somebody more competent than you for help such as a co-worker or an employee if you suspect that they might have a gift for drawing. If there is somebody who enjoys it more than you, there is nothing wrong with that. Let them enjoy something that they are good at and you yourself reap the benefits of it.

How to Engage Your Kids in Cleaning Your House

There will be a time in your life when you will have to do some cleaning when your kids are at home. I am thinking here about all those times such as school holidays, or even Saturdays. Instead of allowing your kids to run around the house and cause havoc, why not engage them in your cleaning activities? You would be surprised how much they might actually enjoy, and you will get to bond with them as well. Here are some ideas to help you make it reality:

1. Start them young. You might think that your kids are too small to help you with cleaning and you might be so used to doing everything for them. In reality, most kids might be a lot more eager to help you with your cleaning activities than you can possibly imagine. In order to check how ready they are, just offer them some cleaning supplies and see what is going to happen.

2. Organize a cleaning contest where the person who cleans the most wins. Introducing a bit of competition in your family can be really healthy as long as you don’t overdo it. Kids really care about winning, so it is guaranteed to make them motivated to try their best and aim at winning. Even if not all your children get to win, have some spare prizes prepared for them, or alternatively play the game “where everybody is a winner”.

3. Teach them about the importance of tidying up when they are still young. If needed, explain to them the idea of public storage Jacksonville when they are still young so that when they grow up they will be more likely to make those better informed decisions regarding storing their belongings safely.

4. Incorporate fun and music into your cleaning rota. Not only will your kids find it more fun, but also you should be able to have more fun with cleaning by knowing that you can clean and dance a bit at the same time.

Why People Enjoy Self Storage

From time to time you might hear people talk about self storage such as self storage pompano beach. Yes, people have their lives completely changed thanks to such facilities because of how useful they are. Below you will find a few reasons why self storage units have been gaining on popularity over the last few years and what it is that makes them so desirable:

1. They are affordable. Yes, the more storage units near you, the more competitive they try to be and they do more to undercut the prices to be able to compete in the market. Maybe in the past self storage facilities where mostly for businesses, but these days it is very common for regular people to use them as well and benefit from them.

2. They are convenient to use. You might not be able to find one of them around your block, but the truth is that with the growing number of such units in many areas it is easier and easier to find something near you that fits the description of a storage unit. If you are unsure where there is one near you you might want to Google it and see what results you get.

3. Anything that helps you to maintain order and declutter tens to be usually desirable, and self storage facilities are no different. It is like getting an extension to your closet, that extra space you have been missing.

4. The flexibility of the terms offered by many facilities are also something that make them so attractive. Many facilities these days offer very flexible short-term contracts, making it easy to cancel at any time. This means that you can try to rent a unit for a very short period of time, and in case you don’t like it you might want to cancel at any moment without any strings attached. There is no long-term commitment here as modern units are usually very flexible and not demanding.

Are You Storing TOO Much? The High Cost of Keeping Everything & How to Save

It is no surprise that you may find it extremely difficult to part with your personal items. It happens to even the best of us, even if we have not used the item in the months prior to deciding whether we should toss or keep it.

Today’s statistics show that about 10 percent of all households have a storage unit. With that many people renting out storage units, what do they put in them? The average storage unit is filled with household items, items that people ran out of room for, extra furniture, college textbooks, and more.

While you may think that a storage unit is the answer to your space shortage problem, it is not always the best choice. Storage units are quite affordable, but the overall cost of them long-term may not be the best choice for you and your budget.

In 2016, the average cost of a storage unit in Pittsburgh was about $1.65 per square foot. Therefore, a 100 square foot unit would cost you $165 per month. Yikes!

Often, people use storage units because they simply procrastinate and do not want to deal with excess items they have. On the other hand, storage units are useful for those who need to move or store furniture while their home is renovated.

So, how can you cut the high cost of keeping all your items? Let’s look and see.

  1. Take Advantage of Discounts and Skip the Extras

The first way to save on storage space is to take advantage of the discounts offered and skip any of the extra costs associated with the unit such as insurance or additional protection.

Many storage facilities offer a month free or a discounted first month’s rent as a new customer, so do take advantage.

  1. Declutter BEFORE You Store

Yep, you read it and knew it was coming too. You MUST declutter your items BEFORE you store them. This means sitting down and going through all your stuff to find out what you want, what you can donate, and what you can throw out.

People often run into the problem of letting go of their items, however, if the item no longer brings you joy, you only need one of it, or you could repurchase it for cheap, toss it out.

  1. Purge Everything and Store Only What MUST Be Stored

After you declutter, purge your items and try to find a spot for them in your home. If your home is out of room, store the items, but make do with the smallest unit you can for all your items. Remember, the larger the storage unit, the more it will cost you.

Don’t Store Your Items Just to Store Them

Yes, a storage unit sounds nice and it can provide you with extra room, but you do not want to use it as a substitute because it will get expensive over time. Only store the items that you truly need to store and either find a home for the others or toss them out.