The Light of Christmas

Posted on September 19, 2021 by Laura

Christmas is the season of light. We celebrate Christ’s birth so many years ago in a stable where the star of Bethlehem shined brightly over where He lay. A flame at night, the moon, and stars would have been there only light on a dark evening. Today we carry the light of Christ by burning candles at Church and in our homes during the Christmas season. We also decorate our homes with lights and illuminate beautiful Christmas trees. The Advent wreath which holds four candles is also traditional symbol in many homes during the season of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS WINDOW CANDLES

The tradition of placing Christmas candles in windows dates back to the very beginning of Christianity. A candle was lit on Christmas Eve to symbolize Christ and His coming. It burned throughout the night in memory of the nativity- lighting the way for Mary and Joseph when they could find no shelter. This candle lighting custom still continues in many European countries today. In the United States, beginning in the 1930’s, Colonial Williamsburg historic area began using candles in the windows of it’s buildings during the Christmas season. It has been a part of the area’s Christmas celebration ever since. The use of real flame candles was a fire concern for private home owners until the 20th century when the electric candle used in a window took hold and is used in this country today.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. The German people decorated their trees with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther a German preacher was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. A story is told that while walking through the forest one night he was amazed by how vibrant the stars were shining through the fir trees. He arrived to his home and placed a tree indoors with glowing candles attached to it. The Christmas tree was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820’s.

THE ADVENT WREATH

The word Advent means coming or arrival. During the Advent season Christians work to prepare themselves for Christ coming. Advent symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals, they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present today, and that he will come again. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve.

The Advent wreath is a symbol of the season. It is a circular wreath with 4 candles, three purple and one pink. One candle is lit each week. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and comes into the darkness of our life to bring hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to others in the world. The wreath is a symbol during the Christmas season for those in the Church as well as in believers homes.

During this Christmas season may we all see the light of Christ in …

Fabric Vertical Blinds – One of the Most Reliable Window Treatments

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Laura

Fabric Vertical Blinds – One of the Most Reliable Window Treatments

On the quest for the perfect blinds for your home, you will soon find that there are lots of options out there. Blinds are made from various materials such as vinyl, aluminum, or wood. Each kind of blind will give a totally different look to your room. Aluminum blinds come in 6 and 8 gauge aluminum, so you may pick a size according to your need. The most popular type of blind is vinyl because it is by far the cheapest and is able to create the same results as any other type of blind. Wood creates a homey and elegant overall look. But one type of blind is worth looking into – fabric vertical blinds. This kind of window treatment can help personalize the effect that you want to create in any room.

Going for fabric vertical blinds has a number of advantages and remains one of the most reliable window treatments that you can add to your rooms. The material fabric can give a warm feel and look, and it comes in various colors and designs so you can choose whatever suits your needs and taste. You will also like the fact that this type of blind is relatively simple to install. You can choose the type that can be inserted into a plastic groover, or the other kind that has free hanging fabric strips. If you choose the latter, you will enjoy its quietness since you won’t hear them hitting the window once you lower or lift them. The plastic groover kind also has its own advantage – it prolongs the life of your blinds since it protects and supports the fabric really well.

Fabric vertical blinds are best suited in the living room, the bedroom, or in a nursery. Using fabric blinds in places where humidity can be very high is not advisable, such as in the bathroom or kitchen. This will cause the blinds to absorb odors and moisture will cause the colors of your blinds to fade faster. To produce a welcoming and calming effect, you may want to go for soft, warm colors for your bedroom such as beige, yellow, lavender, light blue, green, and pink. If you want to install fabric blinds in the nursery it’s best to go for pastel colors. This will help your baby feel at ease and relaxed. Remember that colors are highly associated with mood so it’s always wise to go with something that is warm and soft if you’re not sure about the room’s theme.

Fabric vertical blinds are available in a wide array of choices so you can match any color to your room. As soon as you’re ready to buy, you may browse online for a huge selection of products. A lot of sites give fabric swatch samples that can be sent to your home so that you can determine if it suits your wallpaper or paint. You can choose a style that …

4 Key Approaches to Bottled Water Dispenser

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Laura

4 Key Approaches to Bottled Water Dispenser

Thank the rich and wealthy who invented the idea which floods our mainstream markets today with bottled water dispensers. What the higher class knew about water back then, which still holds true now that might even scare us, is that big bucks were paid to gather real spring water from mountains into canisters, in order to evade microbes, heavy contaminants and as a result prevent disease and death.

Today’s bottled water dilemma

Aï¿½ Long term health crisis: As with many so-called natural/pretreated bottled water companies out there, which brand and type can we really trust to deliver our bottled water dispenser system in an above sanitary experience? And which is the best treatment to produce the healthiest quality drinking water?

What’s worse than knowledge is false security of “safe water” just because it comes bottled:

The real irony: Most so-called spring bottled water, are actually not derived from real springs, but regular, chlorinated tap water, heated and filtered to fool our taste buds as tasting a little bit better.

Aï¿½ Lab test results: Have proven in exploiting this fraud, that drinking most bottled water in the long run, might in fact, be worst off for you then dipping your whole mouth right beneath the sink tap.

The reason is found when after testing the bottled water’s acidic PH level (pre-manufactured/post-manufactured stage) was comparable to that of low grade tap water, plus it contained traces of heavy metals and lead absorbed from the material of the plastic bottle itself – Pretty scary stuff!

Top 4 water purification methods

1. Distillation: The healthiest process separating everything, all microbes, contaminants and chemicals by steaming the water pure out the other end compartment. But even vital minerals.

2. Reverse Osmosis: The most sought-after, yet questionable in eliminating chemicals, in that it works like a fine sift, with semi-permeable membranes big enough for H20 molecules, yet too small for everything else, except chemicals such as chlorine, that is.

3. Ionization: Electrolyses the water into 2 separate compartments – 1 for drinkable alkaline water production, the 2nd for superficial-use, acidic water production. But doesn’t rid chemicals.

4. Softening: The most popular one, yet least affective in filtering microbes and chemicals, as this works by swapping hard for soft minerals. This is recommended supplementing with the above.

Top 4 bottled water dispenser types

1. Plastic – top bottled water dispensers: The most widespread and popular one, since it is affordable and conventionally loaded from the top, as opposed to its friendly nemesis the bottom bottled water dispenser, which uses tubes to draw the liquid up and requires less lifting.

2. Countertop dispensers: Blends in nicely with the kitchen, with portable small footprint, making it more affordable and ideal reach for those ankle-bitters tugging us for some more.

3. Water bottle-less dispensers: Because this simply draws water from the main water supply, there is no refill requirement, but for its inner filter. A good supplement to the methods above.

4. Metal, …

Using Pinch Pleated Draperies As Your Window Covering

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Laura

Using Pinch Pleated Draperies As Your Window Covering

Pinch pleated draperies are the most common type of curtains that you can buy. They have the adaptability no other curtain has, and can be both classic and trendy, and fit in with both.

You will recognize these by the outwards pleat at the top and the hooks that are placed on the pleat to be attached to a rod. These also open with one motion, much like a stage curtain, and are the most popular type of curtain in the world. They also make these in the widest array of colors and materials.

Thermal drapes are very well-liked, since these can help make your energy bill lower. They keep the windowpane from allowing the heated or cooled air to escape. These are also very effective at helping to keep a room dim, which is why many hotels use these in their rooms.

If you like to have a lot of light with ample privacy, then sheer drapes may be better for you. Mostly, sheers are used behind a heavier drape, and this can give you the brightness, and allow for you to be able to control the temperature in the room as well as protect the more expensive curtains that face the room from fading by the sun.

You may find that you want a color that is no longer fashionable, or made from material that is a little more exotic then what you can find available. If this happens, make your own. A search on the web will give you many tutorials to make professional quality drapes.

Pinch pleated draperies will match with any decorating style from an ultra modern living room to a fairy tale bedroom, and everything in between. They can let you sleep better, save you money and give your rooms an expensive feel to them by having them hanging at your windows.

Be Done With Pests With These Pest Control Tips

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Laura

Pest invasion is one of the most common nuisances homeowners have to deal with at some point. Animals are nice, but most of them belong out in nature! Taking a home back from a pest or two can be as easy as just reading this article. Keep on reading if you wish to learn some useful techniques to get the pests out.

Use steel wool to plug in openings where rodents can use to enter your house. Any opening bigger than a half inch should be plugged. These rodents can come through extremely small openings.

Vacuuming the pests inside your home can reduce pests. This will help get rid of the pests in your rugs and carpets. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag when done.

Use sticky traps to control brown recluse spiders. These poisonous spiders hide in deep cracks. They usually look for something to eat. You will be more likely to get them with traps strategically placed behind furnishings and along the walls.

Use a spray for the perimeter of your home. Spray the foundation, porches, porch and any areas that are near windows and doors. Look for cracks that pests could enter your home. Seal these areas with caulk or other material.

Humans can verify that only check about a portion of your home’s surface area for termite free. Trained termite sniffing dogs can actually check out your entire home. The reason that dogs can do this is because they can smell methane gas is the actual byproduct of the termites eating your wood.

Bedbugs do not have to eat for a whole year. This is the reason it is important to close off all holes in your home’s walls and walls. They will not be able to get into these spots.

This article discussed some excellent points of advice to use in curing your home of unwanted pests. Poison isn’t always necessary, neither is an exterminator. Use the information from the article above to help control your pest problems.

Home Decor – Using Stripes For Home Decoration

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Laura

Home Decor – Using Stripes For Home Decoration

Stripes in home decor are extremely popular with people who have a bold outlook towards life. This does not mean it is only meant for them, though. Whatever be your outlook, a dash of stripes in your living room can add that exotic touch you have been looking for.

When it comes to using stripes, however, there are some ground rules you must understand before you step into this uncharted territory.

Why Stripes, and Where?

Stripes in your home decoration plans are all about making a style statement. And remember, too many stripes are not formal.

Your living room presents plenty of options for adding stripes. You could use stripes on your walls, on your upholstery, on your window drapes, on the floor rugs, and even in the numerous decoration pieces that adorn any normal living room.

What Kind of Stripes For Decor?

Then there are a large variety of stripes you can choose from as well. One way to classify the stripes are the direction. There are the vertical ones, and there are the horizontal ones. You can even use slanting lines in your stripes.

The next option is size – there are thin and thick stripes. In case of smaller rooms thick stripes look better as they add to the volume of the room, and vice versa. Thin vertical stripes tend to make the roof look higher than it actually is.

Then there are the options in colors. You could use bold or light colors. Contrast colors do well in certain places, but for first timers it is best to stick to the same color family as the stripes themselves are less glaring. Thus you can have a combination of dark brown, light brown, orange and shades of yellow, just to quote an example. In case of contrasts, blue and white stripes are amongst the most popular.

Keep it Light

If you are using stripes for the first time, it is best to keep it light, as in going in for only an item or two for the changeover. Do not fill the whole room with stripes at one go.

Change the upholstery, or the window drapes, or the walls into a striped pattern one at a time. If you like what you see and continue to like it after a while as well, you got a winner on your hands. Now you can go for the next step and add other pieces to your overall striped home decoration design.

Vary Your Options

When looking for a pattern, try to mix and match. Too many stripes may actually become overbearing, so go for a combination of plain and striped decoration. For instance you could have plain upholstery against striped walls.

Window drapes are a great way to create stripes without investing an extra penny. You could create stripes with plain window drapes by using a combination of contrasting plain drapes. Thus a beige colored window drape sandwiched between two dark …

How to Remove Car Window Tint With a Kit

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Laura

How to Remove Car Window Tint With a Kit

No matter what your reason is for wanting to remove your old tint there is going to come a time when you have to tackle the unpleasant task or pay somebody to do it for you. If you elect to pay somebody to do it for you, this can end up costing you quite a bit of money. If you do it yourself, you can save that money and put it towards having your new tint put on.

To remove the tint film that is adhered to your vehicle the first thing that you will need to have is a lot of patience because it can be a long drawn out process, and it can get very tedious. You will also need a razor, blade, glue remover, and a cloth. Your best chance of getting the window tint completely off is to use a window tint remover kit, this way you can rest easy knowing that no glue residue and pieces of tint will remain.

To buy a window tint remover kit you will simply need to visit your local auto store, AutoZone, Pep Boys, Napa, and Checker, are some of your best examples. Once inside the store, you can ask a sales associate where the remover kits are located or you can find them yourself by going to the window tint area. There will be different brands of remover kits, but they should all come with the same basic supplies. The supplies that you require are the adhesive remover, cloth, razor blade, and a blade holder. You can buy the cheapest kit you find, as long as it has those supplies, if you are removing a lot of tint you will want to purchase two kits.

To begin removing the window tint you will want to use a heat gun or hair dryer and start in the corner. Once the hair dryer has heated up the window you can start to peel the tint towards you, this works because the heat gun or hair dryer heat melts the glue that is holding the tint on. Once you have peeled the tint off you will want to spray the window with the adhesive remover. Then let it set up for 10 minutes or so. Using the razor blade inside of the razor blade holder, you want to remove any glue residue still attached to the glass. Once you are done wipe the window clean with the cloth.

After you have cleaned off all of the tint, you will want to wash your windows with a strong window cleaner to get off any remaining bit and pieces of glue or tinting material.…

What Can Your Auto Glass Shop Do For You?

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Laura

What Can Your Auto Glass Shop Do For You?

It has happened to most of us. You’re driving along, usually behind a truck, and a rock hits your windshield. When something happens to your car, even a minor “ding” to the windshield, it becomes abundantly clear how important glass is for visibility and a safe operational environment. All auto glass items are literally your windows to the world. So, don’t let auto glass repair or replacement problems go. What may seem minor, like that small crack in your auto windshield, or if you notice side windows that don’t go up and down smoothly anymore, can quickly escalate into much bigger problems that can cost a lot more.

What can your glass repair shop do for you? Let us count the ways!

Auto Glass Today

Today’s shop can rightly be called a “glass center” because of the full range of services, including:

Cracked windshield replacement

Chipped windshield repair

Power window repair

Side view mirrors

Car trim repairs

Glass replacements to meet industry standards

And even assistance with insurance claims

If you have been in an accident, call your local auto glass shop. Ask questions and find out how that shop can help with damage control and work with you to determine whether you should file an insurance claim. Your auto policy’s comprehensive section will usually cover damage and some shops will actually file the claim for you and handle all the paperwork too.

What else can your local glass replacement center do for you?

Residential Glass – The Big Bonus

Did you know the auto glass shop can actually help you with creating phenomenal customized looks for enhancing your interior and exterior home d?Ã¯Â¿Â½cor? This is a real glass shop bonus that many folks never even think of. There are more and more glass related products that can add comfort and beauty to your living space:

House window replacement

Insulated glass replacement

Single pane window repair

Storm windows and screens

Mirrors

Furniture/Table tops

For example, when you start looking and asking questions, you will discover many glass shop items that can be special ordered and customized to reflect your own home decorating ideas. For instance, protecting your furniture with glass tops makes sense to add to and retain the beauty of fine wood. Look for a glass shop that can create the shape, size and thickness you need and can meet your requirements for beveled edges, and seamed or polished edges. When your glass desktop or tabletop is cut to size and ready, it will present a shining surface, can be cleaned with ease, and best of all, it will be protected for the long haul.

Custom mirrors can make a dramatic impact too. Having mirrors created to your own specifications by the local glass shop you thought was only good for auto repairs is the new way to go. Now, you can create mirrored walls, size little mirrors to fit small spaces, bevel the edges, and have everything custom installed …

Residential Window Glass: Making Sense of Different Types of Glass

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Laura

Residential Window Glass: Making Sense of Different Types of Glass

Things used to be a whole lot simpler a few decades ago. There weren’t too many options available to someone looking for a residential window glass. Commonly, home owners could choose between ‘thin’ and ‘tough’ glass. At the most, they could get them tinted or painted.

Today, glass counterpanes, furniture, tiles and wall of varying durability and transparency are replacing conventional building materials. Architects select different types of glass for windows with different configurations. One used for the window in your house will differ substantially from commercial door. The type of glass you select for your window will affect the comfort, energy consumption, insulation, noise level and security of your home.

Let’s take a look at the common types of residential glass window. Each type has its unique qualities. Understanding each type will make it simpler for you choose the right types for your window.

Patterned Glass

Pattered one is covered with patterns or designs. Usually translucent, this can be color or plain. It is perfect for situations where both natural light and privacy are required. The patterns on it prohibit anyone from looking through the glass, but enough light escapes through the glass to light the room.

Tinted Glass

Tinted glass is coated with material that reduces the transmission of light, ensuring that your home doesn’t heat up too much during the summers. This will also offers you privacy: you can see through the glass, but people on the other side cannot see you. Tinted glass is commonly used in cars. You can also avail residential glass tinting services and get your existing one tinted.

Low Emissivity Glass

This type of glass is coated with a special material comprising metal oxide compounds. The coating reflects a large percentage of harmful UV rays, and it absorbs a lot of the heat energy. The effect totally depends on the thickness of the coating, and you can customize the coatings to increase to decrease heat gain. This type is quite durable and is perfect for hot climates.

Double Paned or Insulated Glass

Double paned is two sheets of glass separated by air or special gases. This kind of glass offers unparalleled insulation against cold, wind and noise. For extremely cold climates, triple-pane windows are also available. If your house is located in a noisy neighborhood, or if you live in an extremely cold climate, this is a good option for residential window.

Impact-Resistant Glass

As the name suggests, this type of glass doesn’t break easily. Impact-resistant is made by combining multiple sheets with layers of plastic. Even if it breaks, the internal layers hold the broken fragments together. If you want to minimize your residential glass repair bills, this is your best option. For areas with high risk of hurricanes, this is the ideal type of glass for windows.…

Your Home Improvement Confusion Cleared With This Advice

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Laura

So you’ve found this article. Are you ready to get started on all of those home improvement projects? Now you can! You, no doubt, have many questions, and this article will cover them. Find tons of great home improvement advice to help you along the way.

New couches and chair are not cheap. Instead of buying new you can get creative by finding unique pieces that are gently used. You might find great things when buying used stuff, including furniture. Some may require a bit of work, but with the right time invested, they can be a real asset to your household.

It’s time to pop those flooring bubbles! If this problem is visible in your home, you can cut it and get rid of the problem. The bubble will collapse in the short term. You Remodeling will have to inject a bit of glue, though, to keep the repaired section flush with the floor. Get the glue that comes inside a syringe to help you complete this job.

Protect your floors at all times when you engage in painting your home. This helps keep wet paint off of your flooring. A cheaper way to get this done is to layer old newspapers. Other alternatives include a drop cloth or large plastic tarp; both are available at most home improvement centers.

Think about putting in insulation whenever you plan on renovating your home. You can install weather-stripping on each of your windows and doors. Your energy bill will be more affordable as you weatherize your home. That is going to mean savings on your utility bills.

Now, you should be prepared for home improvement projects. You may have thought yourself to be ready, look at yourself now! Use the advice provided above, and get started on all of those home improvement jobs that you have been putting off.…