| Monthly
Quote |
“The
worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in
the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.”
- Johnny Carson, American entertainer, (1925-2005) |
| Tip
of the Month |
Part
of the fun of the holidays is the spectacle: the glittering
lights, the colorful gifts, the thoughtful cards. Whatever
holiday you celebrate, make your home more festive with these
easy tips:
Hanukkah: Combine cobalt blue items with
silver to make every aspect of your home ready for the festival
of lights. If you’re hosting a meal, purchase cobalt
blue stemware, which is great for company. An elegant cobalt
vase filled with white roses or silver balls or stones makes
a lasting impression. You can place it between a pair of silver
candlesticks or in front of a sunny window to create a stunning
look.
Christmas: You don’t have to cover
your home in lights, snowmen and garlands to jazz up your
holiday. A few simple decorations can transform your home
from normal to Christmassy!
• Purchase and hang some stockings – this item
instantly says “Christmas”!
• Hang a wreath. Available in countless stores and in
styles that range from traditional to kitschy to swanky, a
wreath welcomes guests into your holiday home.
• Play some Christmas music. Although not a decoration,
playing a little “Jingle Bells” and “White
Christmas” gets everyone in the holiday mood.
• Dim your lights and light some candles. Easier to
set up and take down than lights, candles are elegant and
festive. You can choose between a variety of colors, but you
should go with a theme, such as red and green or silver and
gold. You can also throw in one or two strongly scented candles
to add the smells of the holidays to your home, such as baking
cookies or freshly cut Christmas trees.
• Pick up a few poinsettias. Another instant way to
give your home some holiday pick-me-up! Place a few in prominent
places, such as at the foot of a staircase or in the corners
of your dining room.
Kwanzaa: There are a few key items that you
shouldn’t be without when celebrating Kwanzaa: a mkeka
(a place mat usually woven of straw or raffia), a kinara (candleholder),
mishumaa saba (seven candles – one black, three green,
three red), mazao (fruits and vegetables representing crops),
vibunzi (one ear of corn for each child in the household)
and a kikombe cha umoja (communal unity cup). Once you have
these items, decorating for the Kwanzaa celebration is easy.
If you celebrate Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, you can recycle
many items you would use for those holidays. From Thanksgiving,
you can re-use many of the harvest-themed items, such as ears
of corn, squash and gourds (just make sure you omit the cornucopia,
since it is a Western tradition). Since red and green are
also colors of the African flag, you can purchase solid-color
items to use for both holidays, such as napkins, table runners,
placemats and candles. To decorate your Kwanzaa table, first
put a red or green tablecloth on the table to protect your
wood surface. Center the mkeka on top of that as either a
table runner or a square table topper. Place a kinara as your
centerpiece, with the black candle in the middle, the three
red candles on the left and the three green candles on the
right (you can also alternate candles if you wish). Place
baskets and wooden bowls of fruit and vegetables around the
kinara and arrange your ears of corn around the bowls and
baskets. From there, you can get creative, whether it’s
hanging the African flag in the room or some African-themed
posters.
Source: Holiday Decorating for Dummies by Kelley Taylor, Wiley
Publishing, Inc., 2003.
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Critters,
Keep Out!
 You’re
not the only one who wants to hole up and keep warm
during the winter. Pesky intruders such as rodents and
insects are looking to hibernate too. Here’s what
to do to prevent them from taking up residence in your
home this winter.
As the weather turns colder, your instinct
is to bundle up and stay indoors where it’s nice
and warm. Unfortunately, vermin like rodents and insects
have the same instinct this time of year. “Pests
adapt to the changing environment and seek refuge indoors
during the colder months,” explains Cindy Mannes,
spokesperson for The National Pest Management Association
(NPMA).
The NPMA says the last thing you want
in your home is a bevy of unwanted guests. Roaches can
trigger asthma, while rodents such as mice and rats
can gnaw through electrical wiring and insulation. All
three pests can get into your pantry and your food.
“During the winter, rodents such as house mice
become one of the most common invaders and can cause
serious property damage in and around the home,”
warns Mannes.
Since rodents and insects can squeeze
through tiny spaces (mice can get in through spaces
as small as a nickel!), it is important that you winterize
your home. A recent Realty Times article offers several
tips from the NPMA for pest-proofing your home:
• Clean out gutters complete after
the majority of leaves have fallen.
• Don’t let trash or debris pile up around
your home. Temporarily store garbage in sealed containers
and dispose of it regularly.
• Remove old tires and smooth out depressions
in your yard that can fill up with water and provide
a breeding ground for pests.
• If you have a swimming pool, clean and cover
it.
• Trim back or remove shrubs and tree branches
that are near the sides of your home or your roof to
prevent them from serving as highways into your home.
You should also pull soil or mulch back from the foundation
of your home to prevent termites.
• Firewood should be stacked at least 20 feet
away from your house and five feet off the ground to
eliminate shelter for termites, rodents, spiders and
centipedes.
• Catch up on home repairs, such as loose shingles
and rotted boards. Deteriorated wood is a big draw for
insects.
• Seal up any cracks or holes on the outside of
your home, including areas where utilities and pipes
enter the home.
• Replace weather-stripping around windows and
doors and repair loose mortar around the basement foundation
and windows.
• Screen any vents or openings to your chimney.
• Inspect your basement, attic and crawl spaces
regularly to make sure they are well-ventilated and
dry.
• Thoroughly inspect any boxes, grocery bags and
other packages to eliminate hitchhiking insects.
• Clean up completely after food preparation,
especially if you are preparing food outside.
• Store any potential food sources in your garage
in sealed bins. This includes bird seed and pet food.
If you spill any food or seed in the garage, clean it
up quickly and completely.
• If you have experienced problems with pests
in your pantry, store food in containers other than
easily penetrated boxes and bags. Food like cereal and
flour can be easy targets. Keep your pantry swept and
clear of spilled food.
These precautions should help
you win the war against pests this winter. If mice,
roaches or other pests still manage to get the upper
hand, call a qualified pest control service for assistance.
You can also ask friends and family for referrals. Make
sure to communicate to the service if you have pets
or small children, as this may eliminate some pest control
options.
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