Category: Health
Blizzard Preparation Checklist
A blizzard is heading our way and it’s time to start checking to make sure we are prepared at home! Before settling in for the night tonight make sure your home is prepared with the following items. Once the snow starts falling many local businesses will be closed so it’s important to prepare! Do you have all of the items on this list?
• Non-perishable food—at least a 3-day
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Fully-charged cell phones
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet food
• Candles/matches
• Sand or rock salt
• Warm coats, gloves, hats and boots
• Firewood (if you have a fireplace)
• Warm blankets
• Snow shovel
5 Tips For Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions
Making resolutions is easy…sticking to them is the tough part! Whether you are trying to lose weight, save money or get organized here are some tips to help you be more successful with your goals this year!
1. Make your goal realistic. If your goal is to lose weight, remember that losing 100 pounds in a year is just not feasible (for most of us) so make your goal one that is realistic to obtain in one year.
2. Make sure you resolutions are specific. Don’t just say “I am going to get healthy in 2015.” Instead say I am going to exercise three times per week this year and stick to it.
3. Find a buddy with a similar goal. If you want to quit smoking this year, find a friend who has the same wish and keep each other accountable. You can inspire each other to stick with it.
4. Give yourself a smaller time frame. One year is a long time to be held accountable for a lifestyle change. Instead give yourself monthly goals. For example, save 100 dollars by the end of January. Once you have done that, challenge yourself to save 200 dollars in February.
5. Don’t be afraid of setbacks. We are all human and tend to slip up throughout the year. Don’t worry about a setback and just get back on track rather than choose to give up.
How to Clean Your Couch
We wash our floors, our sinks and counter tops but we often forget about the couch! We sit on it every day and some of us let our pets lounge on it too. Here are 5 easy steps for cleaning your couch.
1. Use your vacuum hose/attachment to give the couch and pillows a once over. Don’t forget to flip the cushions so you can remove dust, allergens and pet hair from all surfaces.
2. If your couch has wooden parts (legs, arm rests) dust them off and use a furniture polish to wipe them clean.
3. Read the papers/tags that came with your sofa. They will explain what sort of fabric it is made out of and what cleaners are safe to use.
4. Clean with the proper cleaner. Focus on spots that have noticeable stains and wear. Let the couch dry.
5. Rent a shampooer and deep clean your sofa. Use the attachments to get in all the crevices of the cushions to ensure a deep clean. Let your couch dry.
What To Look For When Buying Produce
We all browse the produce aisle at the supermarket and squeeze a piece of fruit or hold a veggie in the air to inspect it, but do we really know what to look for? Here’s a guide to help you know what to look for when buying popular produce.
Oranges- Heavy with a firm, smooth texture
Grapes – Tender and plump; firmly attached to the stem
Bell Peppers – Thick, glossy skin and firm
Broccoli Crowns- Firm, deep green color with closed florets
Potatoes- Firm with a smooth texture and oval shape
Tomatoes- Plump with a rich, red color and cushiony to the touch
Onions- Dry, papery-smooth skin
How to Clean Your Keurig Coffee Maker
Keurig coffee makers have certainly made our lives easier! They make a single cup in seconds and we no longer have to wait for hot coffee to perk before we can enjoy it. If you have a Keurig at home, do you clean it often? Do you know the proper way to clean it? Here are the steps to follow!
1.Disassemble the brewer. Open the cover of the brewer by lifting the handle and remove the K-Cup holder inside.
2. Wash the holder, drip tray, funnel and drip plate in the dishwasher. These parts are all dishwasher safe!
3. Clean the exit needle. The bottom and upper portions of the K-Cup holder both have exit needles with three holes. You can use a small, sharp object like a needle or paper clip to ensure there isn’t any leftover buildup inside.
4. Use hot water and soap to clean out the plastic water reservoir and cover in the sink. Make sure to get all of the soap out and then let it dry.
5. Use a sponge to wipe down the exterior of the machine to remove any dirt or dust that might have been floating around your kitchen.
6. Reassemble your Keurig and enjoy a hot cup of coffee in your freshly, cleaned machine!
5 Halloween Safety Tips
We’re only just in the beginning of October but the Halloween festivities are upon us! Here are 5 Halloween safety tips to help you and your family enjoy this spooky holiday in the best way possible.
1. Make sure your children are seen at night. Whether you are at a haunted house or just trick or treating, make sure your kids are either carrying flashlights or wearing reflectors on their clothing if they’ll be walking in the dark.
2. Stick with familiar neighborhoods. It’s best to go door to door in a neighborhood that you are comfortable in. You will most likely know the neighbors and you won’t risk getting lost.
3. Watch for welcoming signs and signals. If a house is dark and the lights are turned off, chances are the owners don’t want visitors on Halloween. Stick to the houses that are bright and friendly.
4. If you’re attending a local fair, make sure to decide on a meeting spot in case your group gets separated.
5. If candy or food handed out on Halloween or at parties you attend looks suspicious, throw it out! There’s no sense in risking it. If wrappers are partially open or torn or something just doesn’t look right toss it in the trash. There’s plenty more candy to be had!
5 Ways to Keep Your Home Free of Pet Hair
We love our furry friends but sometimes their fur and hair can get to be a burden! It covers the couches, our clothes and our carpets. Here are 5 ways to get your house pet-hair free in no time!
1. Cover your pet’s favorite spot with a blanket or cover up – especially if that favorite spot happens to be on the couch.
2. Use lint rollers on your clothes AND your pillows. They will pick up tiny hairs that can’t be seen by the naked eye.
3. When fur causes build up on your baseboards or hardwood floors, use dryer sheets to pick up the mess. They also smell great which is an added bonus!
4. Invest in a vacuum that specializes in pet hair cleanup. Some vacuums have filters that contain pet dander better than others. They also come with special attachments for furniture.
5. Groom your pets as often as possible. You don’t have to spend a fortune bringing them to the groomer either. You can brush them and trim them right at home to eliminate any fur that might fall!
Pedaling for a cure – Princeton Properties’ President rides the PMC
Every year over 5,500 cyclists gather from all over the country for the annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon. The PMC has raised over $414 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research since 1980. 100 percent of the funds raised by riders is donated directly to the cause and amounts to over 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.
This year’s PMC was held this past weekend, August 2nd and 3rd. Princeton Properties’ President, Terry Flahive, is a veteran rider and this year marked his sixth PMC. Terry rode the two-day route, which covers 192 miles and runs through 46 towns across Massachusetts. The cold, wet and slippery road conditions on Saturday made this year one of the most challenging PMC rides in history.
“This year, even more than the last five that I have ridden, seemed more important, meaningful, and unforgettable” Terry said. “I was really chilled and my hands had stopped working. I couldn’t use my fingers to shift gears and I had to get someone help me finally take off my helmet strap!”
As if to put the whole ride into perspective, a cyclist passed Terry and said, “Tough day today, but better than a day of chemo.” Like Terry, thousands of riders, were committed to riding as long as it took, knowing that their efforts were helping to make a difference.
Every year Terry rides for a ‘pedal partner’ – a child currently receiving treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year Terry is riding for Jack, a two year old who is fighting for his life (pictured above with his parents and older sister). They cheered Terry on along the route and provided support early Sunday morning.
“Every time I looked at Jack, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have three healthy grand kids and how hard it would be to have one as sick as Jack” Terry said.“Then, there were so many survivors and doctors and nurses out there with me, riding with all their strength to provide more money for more research. We know that with every little break through, someone is living a better life.”
Cyclists put their physical, mental and emotional energy to the test, using their combined strength to bring researchers closer to finding cures for various types of cancer. The 2014 PMC has currently raised just under $30 million of their $40 million goal.