Friday, October 7, 2011

Gary Vaynerchuk - "The Thank You Economy"

Great speaker, inspiring, powerful and so energetic! Building your business how-to's and incorporating social media all the way. Saw him today in Boston for a ReMax sponsored and Crush it for a cure; Susan B. Komen event.  www.garyvaynerchuk.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Chris Garner at our RE/MAX convention in Rhode Island MA

 Chris Garner spoke at our RE/MAX convention yesterday about the road to success and life lessons; he speaks so well, is funny, insightful and inspirational.  Chris Gardner is the man whom was portrayed by Will Smith in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.  Read more about him:

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Swampscott Flooded.....Humphrey Street partially closed off

From my back window
Due to the fierce and loud rain storm last night we got so much rain that my street is flooded for two blocks. This morning I looked out my back window and saw this. I thought oh my, we are under water and ran to my front window and felt relief....no water. My condo complex was not under water, phew!


But these poor people who have businesses and basements flooded. And, below, these three cars stuck that tried to drive down the street!
Three cars stuck

Outside my front window the sea is calm.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene




Looks like the last Hurricane we had here in New England, The Great Hurricane of 1938, was the first major hurricane to strike New England since 1869. The storm formed near the coast of Africa in September of the 1938  becoming a Category 5 hurricane before making land fall as a Category 3 hurricane on Long Island NY on September 21. The hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800 people,[2] damaged or destroyed over 57,000 homes, and caused property losses estimated at US$306 million ($ 4.77 billion in 2011).[3] Even as late as 1951, damaged trees and buildings were still seen in the affected areas.[4] To date it remains the most powerful, costliest and deadliest hurricane in New England history. See Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_New_England_hurricane

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A ceiling fan can lower the feel of a room’s temperature


Switching out an existing overhead light fixture for a ceiling fan is a fairly simple project that a handy DIYer can do in a couple of hours.

Cool breezes at low cost

Ceiling fans use just slightly more energy than a 100-watt light bulb, and new Energy Star-rated fans use about half that—saving you up to $165 in energy costs over the life of the fan. For every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat above 78 degrees, you can save 3% to 8% on cooling costs.

Size does matter

With any ceiling fan, the goal is to move more air—measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM)—with less effort, or fewer revolutions per minute. For example, a fan that’s 36 to 42 inches in diameter might have a top speed of 300 rpm; a 52-inch fan moves the same amount of air at 220 rpm.

Size matters more than the number of blades. Go for the biggest fan that will fit the space. Putting in a dinky fan to make it appear inconspicuous often has the opposite effect—and is a missed opportunity for cooling comfort.

Here are general size guidelines from the American Lighting AssociationContinued...

Friday, April 8, 2011

From Dave Valley Home Inspector: www.masscertifiedhomeinspections.com

Five Things That Can't Be Trashed or Recycled
 Wondering what to do with the cans of uneeded paint or your stash of old batteries taking up space in your house and garage? You know you shouldn't throw them out, but it really is time to get rid of them. Resist the temptation to toss them in the trash anyway. The reason: They (and everything on the list below) contain toxic chemicals capable of contaminating the environment if not disposed of properly.
Unlike items that are picked up at the curb, you'll have to make a special effort to unload these ones responsibly. But, with a little advance planning and some good info, you'll see that it's really quite simple to dispose of these seemingly mysterious items. Here's how:
   * Batteries. Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers take them back free of charge. There are
fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local Whole Foods Market, Ikea, or library. Otherwise, your best bet is the local household hazardous waste drop-off site. Where is it and what are your closest drop-off options?
 
   * CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs are becoming easier to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off...For full article go to: http://www.homehintsenews.com/dbpage.asppage_name=notrashrecycle
**Check out: http://search.earth911.com for a recyling center near you, more articles and info.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

How to Beadboard over existing bathroom wall tile.

Lowe's Creative Ideas
Baths Bedrooms Kids Kitchen Laundry Living Areas Outdoor Spaces   Pine Paneling and Moulding Ledge Cover existing bath wall tile with this quick and easy paneling solution.
A handy moulding ledge of cove moulding, 1/2- x 1/2- x 8-foot pine paneling (#304508) Hardware & Supplies 1 box (2-inch a level as a guide. Attach to the wall studs using 2-inch screws. Step 3: Cut the pine paneling adhesive to the back of the pine paneling, position the pine paneling flush with the top edge.
Baths Bedrooms Kids Kitchen Laundry Living Areas Outdoor Spaces   Moulding Made Easy Transform a room or update a piece of furniture with off-the-shelf moulding. Phase 1: Preparation 1. Prep the surface. a. Clean the surface where the moulding will be attached. If removing old caulk, use a putty the moulding. Uneven surfaces will make it difficult to measure accurately. 2. Estimate pieces needed to attach moulding, and add up the total number of feet. Take this number and divide by the length

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Food Allergies and dermatitus in cats

One of my cats seems to have a food allergy. His skin condition isn't getting better with the new foods I'm trying...Holistic, natural, no grain formulas. He is breaking out with red bumps and red scabs and scratching.

Below are two great articles on food allergy and intolerance. Has anyone had the same problems and what have you tried?

Food allergies account for about 10% of all the allergies seen in cats and dogs. It is the third most common cause after flea bite allergies and atopy (inhalant allergies) Food allergies account for 57% of the causes of itching and scratching in cats. For full article: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1332&aid=142

Omega fatty acids: Sources, Effects and Therapeutic uses in Cats:  http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1400&aid=665

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Valentines Day

 
A Valentine for you



Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had a valentine to celebrate with him or her? Remember when you were young and in elementary school when you had to give out valentines to those you liked....well, I remember not knowing if I should give out cards to everyone or just those whom I liked and what if someone gave me a card and I didn't give one to them? Too much pressure! I guess it was to prepare us for when we get older and are still disappointing or getting disappointed. I am considerably older now than I was then and don't care so much about it all. And yet, still single so I did't get a valentines day card but I remember when. What about you, what's your story...did you get a valentine this year?


Friday, February 4, 2011

Painting walls red is an inexpensive way to add pizzazz to a room and bring a lush, romantic mood into your home. But red—and any bold color—is a bear to cover up when you suffer painter’s remorse. Here’s how to find the right red and how to cover your tracks when you decide to get rid of red.

Seeing red  Painting walls red is less forgiving than, say, painting walls Linen White. Make a mistake, and you’ll feel like you’re dining inside a tomato. Change your mind, and you’ll need at least two new coats of paint to cover your regrets. Here are tips on where and which red to choose.Painting walls red can make large spaces feel more intimate, and small spaces look more interesting. Splash a little red in a powder room, or on just one wall in a den.
Bluish reds can be festive and a good choice for dining and living rooms.
Orange-hued reds are anxiety-producing colors—popular in casinos—so keep them out of the bedroom.
Paint your selection of a sheet of poster board—not on the walls—and place it in different parts of the room, at different times of the day, and in different sunlight conditions. At night, turn on lamps to see how your red reacts to artificial light.      Here’s how to neutralize red
Red walls don’t play well with new colors: Whites turn pink, yellows become orange, and blues look purplish. You won’t be able to throw up a coat of crème and call it a day.