Wendy & Associates
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, November 21, 2013
One More Week! Thanksgiving Tradition
In my house, and my office and every other aspect of my life
for that matter- Thanksgiving tradition will not fall by the wayside! I do not
want sales, lists and coupons! I want family, turkey and pies on the last
Thursday of November! The tradition has
evolved slightly since its start in the 1600’s- sweets are now a staple, and
weren’t available then, and our attire has been updated, and the day is spent surrounded
with friends and family.
Somewhere along the way the tradition of hitting the malls
and big box stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving for crazy deals on
everything from televisions to blenders- has changed. It started as a slow change, with the hours
creeping earlier and earlier- and before we knew it in the last 10 years we saw
the stores start to open at the wee hours of the morning. Now, this monster we call Black Friday is
beginning to get a little out of control.
Don’t get me wrong- I love great sales as much as the next person, but
not at the expense of family time on a Holiday!
The very purpose behind current Thanksgiving tradition is to
spend time with the ones we love, and to be THANKFUL for all that we have. Yes, this is already slightly misdirected,
because yes we should be thankful every day- but the point is that on this one
day we should not be rushing out the door to shop or in many cases, to work!
Instead of enjoying the time we have, we are either to worried about getting to
the store as it opens- or needing to get there because of a work shift. In my opinion, Black Friday is plenty long
enough and should be kept as BLACK FRIDAY!
Whether you will be cooking or shopping this Thursday, or a
combination of the two- just remember where the holiday came from and try to
keep sight of it. At this point,
boycotting isn’t going to change the fact that the stores are opening Thursday
for Pre- Black Friday. However, we
cannot lose the spirit of yet another holiday and allow it to be completely
revolving around gifts and goods! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Have a SAFE Winter!
Buying or Selling a home can often cause for us all to allow
for certain things to slip through the cracks, even important ones. Whether you are new in your home, or have
lived there for decades- it is important to maintain some priorities! One of those
key things, that is overlooked much to often, is safety with fire and carbon
monoxide. New
homes mean that you need to inventory, check and plan for safety equipment,
including detectors, ladders and even a plan of action for exit and meeting. This is especially important if you have you
children, but honestly none of us should be ignoring it!
Most of us are pretty good about having smoke alarms,
however how often we check them – could be a different story! There are two types of smoke alarms, and it
is typically recommended that both be in a home (or the combination version) –
as they function differently and serve their own unique purpose. Smoke detectors should be placed on all
floors of your home – including in your basement and garage! Always make sure that if they are battery
operated, you are testing and changing the batteries as necessary – some new
construction will have the alarms hard-wired into the house electrical system,
but battery operated versions are more common.
In addition to your smoke detectors, it is also important that you have
an emergency plan in place, and have discussed and reviewed it with your
family. Plan safe exits, meeting points,
etc. to ensure that your family understands and can react if necessary in your
new home.
Carbon Monoxide detectors are less common, and more
expensive- than a regular smoke alarm.
However, since carbon monoxide is credited with being the leading agent
in accidental deaths from poisoning, it is something that we should not take
lightly. As most know, carbon monoxide
is a result of our appliances that burn fuel in order to function. Furnaces, stoves, grills, fireplaces and
dryers all produce carbon monoxide, with ranges being the most common producer
due to the open flame. However- it
should be noted that most deaths and poisonings are a result of carbon monoxide
from cars- if a car is running in an enclosed space, especially an attached
garage, this can be particularly dangerous.
If your new home has an attached garage, be sure to practice smart
behavior, and alert all of your driving-age family members- of the dangers that
could result. It can be easy and
tempting, especially here in cold Northeast OHIO to want to start you car and
warm it up indoors- but you simply just can’t.
The detectors for Carbon Monoxide can be purchased at any
hardware store or big box DIY store- such as Lowes or Home Depot- and they
function by measuring the amount of carbon monoxide that has accumulated over
time. Carbon monoxide can be dangerous
if you are exposed to low levels over a long time, and also if you have high
levels occurring quickly. Read alarm
information and packaging to pick the alarm that is best for you! It is also important to remember that these
detectors run using an electrical outlet- so if the power is out, the detector
no longer serves its purpose. This may
also be another great reason to consider getting a back up power source, like a
generator, if your new home is in an area that tends to have more frequent
power outages.
Winter months mean we are running our furnaces more
frequently, and also our fireplaces and warming up our cars! These both increase fire and carbon monoxide
risks- so take the right precautions and keep yourself and your family safe!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Northeast Ohio’s Signature Holiday
Happy Sweetest Day!- Although it has grabbed a bad reputation
over the years- labeled as a candy-industry creation, or Hallmark Holiday - it’s
early start is nothing to forget.
The very first Sweetest Day was in Cleveland in the early
1920’s- A committee planned the first
Sweetest Day and distributed candy and treats to “newsboys, orphans, old folks,
and the poor” in an effort to do something kind for those less fortunate. Several big ticket movie stars assisted in
handing out the treats, and the rest is history!
Today we view Sweetest Day as a secondary, love-related holiday
in comparison to Valentine’s day.
Predominantly celebrated in Cleveland and Detroit, although the
tradition did catch on in a few other places throughout the US.
It is quite possible that if you visit other parts of the
country and mention this October holiday, people may have no idea what you are
talking about! However if you have
recently moved to Northeast Ohio, you better be prepared to participate!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Halloween Fun in Northeast Ohio
‘Tis the season to bundle up, dress up and venture out for
some Halloween and Fall fun! Our area
has an abundance of things to see and do in October! From local pumpkin patches
to hayrides and hauntings- Clear your schedules and enjoy this time of year!
Lake Metroparks has haunted hayrides and a spooky trail-
great for the kids, but be sure to make reservations! The events will sell out
quickly, but now is the perfect time while the weather is still decent. Cleveland Metroparks also hosts Fall
hayrides- running throughout October on Saturday evenings and Sunday
afternoons.
Boo at the Zoo is another fantastic event- October 17-20 & 24-27, 2013 from
6 - 9 p.m. at
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo- and Friday, Saturday and Sundays at Akron Zoo-
find kiddo-friendly (non-scary) décor and fun- including Trick or Treat, animal
exhibits and entertainment at every turn.
For adult fun, Put-in-Bay is hosting Octoberfest THIS
WEEKEND! And there is also an array of haunted houses in and around our
area. If you love to be frightened, then
you will definitely find enough to keep you busy this month! Couple that with
Halloween parties and horror movie debuts- Plenty to scare and celebrate.
Of course we can’t forget choosing and carving pumpkins,
picking apples and hot apple cider- The favorites that tie the entire season
together. Just make sure you leave time
to do that fall yard cleanup! Better yet, grab the pumpkin leaf bags and double
your cleanup and decorating- it’s a win-win!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Keep that Furnace in Shape!
Furnaces can be a pricey replacement, and regular
maintenance can greatly extend the use and efficiency of one of the most
important appliances in your home! One
of the factors typically taken into consideration when purchasing a home is the
age and status of the furnace- However maintenance is just as important, if not
more so! On top of general use for you
and your family, it is a great idea to keep records for services performed on
your furnace if you decide to sell
your home in the future.
If you have a new furnace, it is still important to ensure
that the filters are clean, and that the furnace is operating at its best. Make sure you register your product with the
manufacturer, as many give a pretty wide window to ensure that furnaces are
registered for any manufacturer warranty programs. If it was just installed, chances are you
will be good for the season- however if it has sat the summer months, or is
even just a year or so old- it is a good idea to being your maintenance
program.
Many factors impact the performance of your heating source-
What type of furnace do you have? Gas, fuel oil or electric are the most
common. The type of furnace is dependent
on your location, the age of your home and the cost of commodities such as
natural gas and electricity. Many homes
that were built prior to city gas line installs may still have alternative
methods for heat- such as fuel or electric.
Although different, each type has its positives and negatives. Any local heating and cooling professional
will be able to service, inspect and recommend proper maintenance for each
type.
Establishing and keeping up with a routine maintenance plan
can pay off big in the long run- small issues due to blocked filters can add up
into high costs if the furnace abruptly stops working and you need to make an
emergency service call in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter! Furnace inspections are commonplace when purchasing
a home, and home ownership should be no different- replacement costs and
labor can be delayed for many years if proper care is taken.
Trying to DIY is a possibility, however if you are like me
and take one look at a maintenance checklist- Half of the terms are foreign,
and not to mention we are talking about working with electricity, fire, and
gas! In my opinion, this is a job best
left for the pros- Give
me a call for great local providers!
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