One thing is for certain: Living costs money. If you have never thought about life that way, think again. Living is expensive! We have to pay for food, transportation, clothing, electricity, running water and more! It only gets more expensive as the weather changes. With weather changes come sickness, a change in air quality, an increase in energy bills and fluctuating temperatures. There are many ways to save money and reduce the balance on most of your bills. For example, you really should get your HVAC system checked out by the professionals! They will be able to tell you if any repairs are needed, if you just need a simple tune-up or a quick cleaning. If your HVAC system is in good working order, it will not have to work as hard to keep your home warm during the winter. Also, by keeping your heating system maintained, it will last longer, which will definitely save you money in the long run. When the air quality changes (for example, the cold weather will cause the air to be ...
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In Stitches: Tips for Designing and Printing Your Own Sewing Patterns
Printers are useful for many things besides churning out documents and one of its many attributes is the ability to print out sewing patterns, provided you know how to do it. Not only can you print out ready-made sewing pattern templates but for those that are more adventurous and have their own design ideas, you can even create your own bespoke patterns. Using PDF sewing patterns There are numerous tutorials available to help you see how to print PDF sewing patterns and although these printing instructions can definitely be helpful in getting you started, you might still encounter a few issues that need resolving. Regular sewing hobbyists know that there are a few do’s and don’ts that can help you to print out your sewing patterns without too many problems. The most helpful suggestion would appear to be use Adobe Reader to view and print rather than Mac Preview if you are working with an Apple computer and it seems that avoiding the version of Adobe Reader that was pre-loaded ...
The Value of Learning Toys in the Early Years
Recently I was having a discussion with some parents that are part of a photography meetup group I joined. We were discussing the value of learning toys. Do they add value and help babies and toddlers hit their learning milestones. One of the parents’ related a story about what a challenge it had been to potty train her son. She mentioned having listened to friends tell her how easy it was for them or how kids learn when their ready. Frustrated, she turned to the DVD “Him Once Upon a Potty,” available at Babies “R” Us She said the repetition of watching the video along with the catchy tune helped her son get potty trained quickly. Another parent raved about the Baby Einstein Activity Gym. She said her five month old is captivated by the lights, sounds, and bright colors. The baby smiles with joy every time he gets to play with it. These parent’s certainly see the value in toys that help ease a child into their next growing stage or that visibly bring them joy. I took some time and ...
5 Ways to Show Your Loved Ones You Care During the Holidays
Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by, but it has and now is the time you can make an effort to show your loved ones you care. It’s important to realize that showing love to family and friends shouldn’t just take place during the holidays – it should be a year long thing! However, it is nice to spend extra time with your family during this time, which can include doing activities you normally wouldn’t do. Here are some ideas to get into the festive holiday spirit: Spend more time outside Depending on where you live, breathing in the great outdoors is not only a great way to spend your time off, but you can share this activity with your loved ones, as well. Take the time to go on a hike and explore the nature around you. If your family loves to go on bike rides, this is another way to not only enjoy the nature around you, but get some exercise, too. Invest in life insurance The holidays are when people start to ...
Simple Ways To Reduce A Few Bills
Are you finding that your bills are becoming more and more expensive? Don’t you miss the days where you were young and carefree where your only issue was having to learn how to tie your shoes and keep your room clean? Now, we have monthly bills and if we do not pay them then we lose something we want or need because of it. I want to talk about how to reduce your bills without doing anything too difficult or sacrificing too much. If you notice that your energy bills are increasing, you may want to find the source before they become out of control and too high to deal with! Call your local HVAC company – your heating system could be having trouble and might be working too hard and overcompensating to try and keep your home warm, thus raising the energy bill significantly higher than usual. You may need some repairs done or you may need to replace your heating system entirely. When you meet with the professionals, ask them about a regular maintenance plan. You should see your energy ...
Your Humidifier Can Save Your Life!
Did you know that a humidifier could save your life? That may sound impossible, but it is very true if you have asthma. If you have asthma, you are well aware of the following symptoms that you may experience: • Shortness of breath. • Chest pains. • Coughing. • Wheezing. • Trouble sleeping. • Breathing is more difficult when dealing with a cold. Investing in a humidifier is one of the best things you could do for yourself and the other members in your family. By purchasing a humidifier (make sure you get the correct humidifier filter as well), you will likely eliminate the cool, dry air that causes your asthma to flare up and cause your airways to constrict. Home humidifiers disperse moisture into the air so you will be breathing moist air, which will lessen your chances of experiencing an asthma attack. When you are placing your humidifier in your home, make sure you place it a reasonable distance away from draperies and furniture. You will also want to keep an eye on ...