Business

Top ten qualities that allow business operations to grow easily

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My husband and I were enjoying our dinner one night as we discussed various plans and ideas. I shared that I wanted to submit articles and ads to a large number of ezines to market my ezine in a big way, and wanted your help to make it happen. His response stopped me in my tracks: “Can your systems handle the increased demand?”

I know my online systems and processes are capable of handling significant volumes of transactions on a daily basis, but there are still a couple of manual processes that aren’t as seamless as they could be and at times may not create the best experience. With current demand, I can tolerate these manual processes and get by easily, but the additional demand I expect from my marketing efforts will make these tolerances very quickly intolerable. If I had gone ahead without changing and expanding my systems first, I would have risked some very important things: the loyalty of my new customers and my sanity!

I seem to be frequently in this tug-of-war situation. The need to establish the correct system configuration conflicts with the search for opportunities. With my strategic sense, I can see several steps ahead. I often get very excited about those steps and can’t wait to make the leap before it’s time.

I see this as a challenge for both large and small companies. I believe that the ones that are successful plan their operations and put the right systems in place to properly manage the highest demand loads. The key is to take firm and strategic steps forward: you must learn to walk before you can run. All businesses need a solid foundation or business operations platform so that they can easily handle increased business needs and growth while serving customers well. This is essential. Otherwise, the business owner can easily get overwhelmed.

Top ten qualities that allow business operations to grow easily:

1. Scalable: Operations are scalable and easily handle exponential and sudden demand.

2. Designed to create great customer experiences (while meeting business needs) – Operations provide a consistent and repeatable level of service that serves the customer every time.

3. Seamless Flow – Efficient operations allow all transactions to flow through the business effortlessly, with minimal manual effort or intervention where manual effort only occurs when it makes good strategic sense.

4. Professional Appearance – Operations help you present a professional face to the customer at all times.

5. Simple – Processes are simple and straightforward for both you and your customers. They are simple to use, simple to maintain, and simple to run. Everything is done quickly and efficiently.

6. Proven – Operational processes are tested and produce repeatable successful results.

7. Backup: Operating systems are always backed up and backup is also backed up.

8. Documented – All processes are documented, including customer experiences as well as team member roles and goals.

9. Understood: The entire team knows and understands the operating procedures and suggests continuous improvements.

10. Improved: Improvements are discovered proactively through close observation of customer experiences, as well as through direct customer feedback. Adjustments to improve the customer experience are added quickly and easily.

I believe that these ten qualities can be applied to any operation, at work or at home. Examples in the home include but are not limited to meal preparation, house keeping, and paying bills.

Copyright 2004 Donna P. Lendzyk

Home Kitchen

If it sounds too good to be true, what do you think?

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I seem to have reached a point in life where I have difficulty accepting the premise that when something sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is too good to be true. However, it may not be related to age but rather ingrained in our DNA; we want more for less, something for nothing, always looking for the deal of the century. Later living to regret.

Every day I am bombarded with countless ads and emails offering everything from handy gadgets to fabulous furniture to brand new kitchens or bathrooms, all at ridiculously low prices. As much as I try to avoid even looking at these unlimited offers, my fingers pay no attention to my brain. Taking on a life of their own, they click to open all the offers that have managed to avoid my spam or junk folder. And every time I succumb to the lure of the must-have LED flashlight with a built-in can opener that’s “cheap at half the price,” I’m disappointed all over again. Why don’t I learn?

I saw a young woman on TV who wrecked her car, which she had named BRAD (while it was insured by a company we should immediately switch to). I believe she took her advice and created a website by the name of Brad that offers great DEALS, but only if you act very fast. Most of these things are either too good to be true, or too cheap to be good. But that doesn’t stop us. I bought a set of outdoor furniture (some assembly required); six chairs and two footrests, guaranteed not to rust for one year. I am too embarrassed to reveal how low the price was. It took two full days to assemble, after a two-week wait for missing parts to be shipped from California. The rust started 31 days after the initial delivery. Company policy: 30 days return. I was told that I had no luck with the return, but since the warranty was valid for one year, I could ship the assembled chairs to California (fine print: at my expense) for a replacement. After figuring that shipping the assembled chairs would cost three times the initial cost of the product, I now live with rust.

But did I learn? Apparently not much, although my resistance to these offers is gradually increasing. And, speaking of building, the same goes for remodeling. Advertisements for incredibly low-priced cabinets and countertops are popping up everywhere. Cabinets and countertops are often imported from overseas, in countries where they have no scruples or standards. We have no way of knowing what harmful chemicals are in these products and what dangerous gases will permeate our home environment once they are installed. But by then, it’s too late, the damage is done, and we’re putting out daisies (which never grew because we ordered them from a cheap mail-order catalog).

Common sense: There is a legitimate price range for any product or project, so beware of silly offers that don’t sound plausible. Every time I’ve succumbed to the deal of the century, whether it’s for a lawn chair or a new computer program that will fix everything, I’ve regretted it. As enticing as low offers are, especially when combined with big promises, they should raise a red flag.

Do your research! Check the reviews and references and use your common sense! In the case of remodeling, be sure to select a qualified company for your project whose business and financial capabilities, past performance, and reputation ensure that they will do a good job, with products that perform as promised. I’m not saying you can’t find bargains, but remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you may end up living with rust.

Auto

What are ethanol engines and how do they work?

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Ethanol is a fuel source that is actually extracted from plants, like corn or sugar cane, and then refined into alcohol. This alcohol is suitable for use as biofuel to power all types of vehicles and equipment. When it comes to cars, ethanol fuel is widely used in hybrid vehicles with “flex-fuel” engines. Surprisingly, there are several similarities between these flex-fuel hybrid car engines and standard car engines. Read on to learn more about ethanol engines and how they perform compared to standard vehicle engines.

ethanol engines

Cars that run on ethanol fuel are quite similar to the standard engines in cars today. In fact, the only significant difference is that ethanol engines can use biofuel, ethanol; while standard car engines use oil-based gasoline. In hybrid or “flex fuel” vehicles, ethanol is injected into the engine in the same way that gasoline is consumed in standard cars. Its gas mileage is slightly less than that of a non-hybrid gas vehicle; however, the fuel emissions are much less harmful to the environment. This is one of the biggest advantages of ethanol engines. It is also cheaper than gasoline; another much-admired advantage of ethanol engines.

For people who own non-hybrid vehicles, there is still an ethanol option; for example, some standard vehicles can operate on a 10% ethanol fuel blend. There are many gas stations across the country that offer this convenience.

Here are some interesting and respected facts about ethanol car engines:

  • Ethanol fuel has an octane rating of 113.
  • Ethanol is the highest performing fuel on the market today.
  • High compression engines run best on ethanol fuel.
  • Blended ethanol fuels keep fuel systems cleaner longer.
  • Ethanol fuel leaves no residue or gummy deposits.
  • Ethanol promotes optimum performance in vehicles.
  • Ethanol prevents winter complications by working as an antifreeze in gas lines.
  • Blended ethanol fuels are approved under various US manufacturer warranties.

Additional motorized staples that can use ethanol-based fuels:

  • speedboats
  • motorcycles
  • Lawn mowers
  • snowmobiles
  • aquatic bikes
  • tractors
  • agricultural equipment
  • And more!

Do you have an old ethanol based motorized product lying around?

If you own an ethanol-based motorized product that no longer works, or just takes up a lot of space around your property, consider selling it for cash on the spot to a junk car buyer. They accept all junk motorized commodities including cars, trucks, vans, boats, boats, trailers, tractors, construction equipment, farm and landscaping equipment, and more.

Digital Marketing

How To Quit Masterbating – 5 Tips To Stop The Madness

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Learning how to quit masterbating is something that can haunt you mentally if you have tried to quit and failed many times. I know how you’re feeling. Millions of people around the world have been frustrated because they wanted to know how to stop masterbating and couldn’t. If this is you, there is hope! By studying this article you can change your consciousness and change your life!

Feeling like you can’t seem to learn how to stop dominating takes a toll on your self-esteem and can trigger emotional feelings of great guilt and fear, all while taking time away from dreams. These types of effects tend to be standard with any addiction, but are often increased with addictions like masturbation and porn use. Below are several tips that will get you on the right path to recovery.

#1. Stop the guesswork. study what works

Plain and simple. Random changes and guesswork are not enough. This is a serious need of the body that needs to be released. It takes more than hoping you’ll be stronger next time. Try a proven system or at least some kind of professional and well thought out method that has worked for others. This is how people find success by learning how to stop masterbating.

#2 Have a physical outlet during hot times!

The need for masterbate is physical. He is not mentally oriented. This means that using only mental coping strategies is not enough. You must use the physical ones to combat the emotional and physical drive. Get some testosterone. Find some type of activity where you can break a sweat in the heat of the moment by playing a sport, lifting weights, going for a brisk walk, or something that directs your physical sex drive and channels it into a different physical outlet. This is a great key to learning how to stop masterbating.

#3. Focus on avoiding porn as a first step.

For most people who want to stop dominating, porn is a very important factor that they need to address first. This can be compared to making sure there is no gasoline near a fire if you don’t want it to grow. Once this is done, you can tackle the fire much better. Whether it’s internet porn, television, movies, strip clubs, or mental images you have in your mind, you need to deal with them before you can learn how to stop masterbating.

#4 make your dream state your goal!

You must release the semen one way or another. Understand that people who have learned to control masturbation or even stop dominating it altogether still release semen. The body naturally produces an excess of this. Most people’s natural release method occurs in the dream state. You need a goal to aim for. Make it the state of your dreams. Avoiding a behavior is not enough to stay goal-oriented. You need a line to mark your success!

#5 Join recovery teams and invest in knowledge!

There are some absolutely amazing programs out there that can give you the edge of life in porn addiction recovery, masturbation recovery, and life empowerment in general! Thousands of people connect with these programs created by teachers and experts and find an advantage that they did not know existed.

Relationship

how to fry chicken

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First of all, I would like to remind you that frying any food in fat, especially deep fat like the one we will be using here, can be dangerous. Here are some things to remember:

  1. Make sure your fat is deep enough to cover your food.
  2. Make sure you have completely dried all the food you put in the fryer. The water will cause splashing and can cause a nasty burn.
  3. Use a basket to lower food into the fryer and remove it. IF you don’t have a basket, use a long handled strainer spoon or straps. You don’t want to use a fork to pierce the meat when trying to pull it out. This releases juices that can cause splashing.
  4. You may want to use an oven mitt or mit if you can and still handle your implements easily. This can prevent small splashes from getting on your hands and wrists.
  5. Roll up your sleeves. Okay, this may sound strange, but hot grease can cause fabric to catch fire, especially some of the man-made fabrics we like to wear today. Make sure his sleeves and other parts of his clothing are not hanging down or near the pot of oil.
  6. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Make sure you are using the type that is designed for use on a stove or with an oil fire. Remember, the water will only spread the oil, it will not put out the oil fire. IF you have an emergency, remember that you can cover a small fire with salt or baking soda, so you may want to keep a box on the counter.

Now for the fryer.

The FAT: Fats or oils used in deep frying must be able to be heated to a high temperature without smoking or burning. Smoking impairs the taste of food, the body’s ability to digest fats left in food, and the durability of fat. You should be able to use your grease a few times, but with each use the smoke point of the grease will be a little lower. Also, you want to label your fats or oils with the type of food you are using them for. You don’t want to cook chicken or French fries in fat that was recently used to fry fish. You should also strain the used fat, once it has cooled, to remove any crumbs or leftovers from the food you cooked. Store your fats or oils in a cool, dark place. Fats spoil quickly, so I suggest keeping used fats and oils in the refrigerator between uses.

Today we use vegetable fats and oils, so the problem of fat going rancid is less of a concern; however, even these oils will spoil, so store them in a cool, dark place until ready to use. Vegetable oils have a higher smoking temperature and for this reason have become popular choices for home cooks. Some oils, such as peanut oil, offer a good option for frying at home. It has a high smoking temperature and is less likely to transfer flavors when used for different foods. You can also opt for corn oil, safflower oil, or even olive oil. Each one has different characteristics that you should consider before use. Olive oil, for example, is probably more expensive to use for frying and has a lower smoke point than some of the other oils. However, these vegetable oils will work just fine when making fried chicken.

The utensils: You must have several utensils ready if you want to fry chicken or any other food at home. Lately home fryers have become fashionable and are a good alternative. They allow you to control the temperature of the oil more easily, they usually include a basket, and they are easy to clean and store. However, if you don’t have a deep fryer (like I do), you can use a couple of other options.

Deep pot – A deep pot that has high sides is a good option. Helps reduce splattering and boil over. Remember that when you place the food in the hot oil, it will bubble initially. You never want to fill a pot more than half full of oil or you may have a serious spill that starts a fire.

Cast Iron Skillet – I have a 12-inch round, 4-inch deep cast iron skillet that I only use for frying chicken. I inherited it from my grandmother. It was the only pot she used and she said she got it from her mother. I love my skillet. Call me old-fashioned, but if you’re lucky enough to have one of these, you may find that your chicken cones taste better than when cooked in other pots. Cast iron cookware also transfers trace amounts of iron to the food we cook in it. When I was pregnant with my first child I had a problem with anemia. I can still feel those horse pills trying to slide down my throat. Oh! It was at that moment that my grandmother gave me the pan, telling me to cook everything in it. Believe it or not, even my doctor was surprised when my iron levels increased and the anemia disappeared. And I know it was the frying pan because I stopped taking those horrible pills when Grandma gave me the frying pan.

Tools: You really need a basket to lower and remove food with. It is the safest method. However, you should also have some flip-flops and long-handled spoons. One of those wire strainer spoons is also handy, especially if you don’t have a strainer or use a basket. You will also need a rack or a stack of paper towels to drain the food. I prefer a rack so there isn’t a puddle of oil or grease under the food.

HOW TO FRY

  1. Add enough fat or oil to your container to cover the food you are cooking by about 1 inch. Do not fill the container more than half full. IF you’re using a deep pan, like my cast iron version, you’ll want to be very careful not to overcrowd the pan. You won’t be able to cover the food with a pan, so you’ll need to be prepared to flip the food, maybe multiple times, during cooking. Remember, overfilling the pot could cause a boil and fire.
  2. Heat fat or oil slowly to desired temperature. This will be between 300 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit and should ALWAYS be below the smoke point of the fat or oil you are using. You should be able to find this information in the container. Be sure to read the labels and follow the directions that apply.
  3. Put only a few pieces of chicken in the pot at a time. Each piece you add will lower the temperature a bit. Each piece will also cause the fat to bubble when placed in the pot, so multiple pieces can bring the fat to a boil. Adding too many pieces at once will cool the oil and delay cooking, as well as increase the absorption of fat into the food. This results in greasy tasting chicken and a crust that isn’t as crispy as you’d like.
  4. When the food is ready, carefully remove it. Use a basket and let the fat or oil run back into the pot. Remove to wire racks or paper towels. The chicken should be done when it is a deep golden brown in color. If you have the temperature set correctly, around 375 degrees for fried chicken, and maintain that temperature, your chicken should come out crispy and fully cooked.
  5. When cooking multiple batches of chicken, you can place the pieces in a warm 275 degree oven while subsequent batches cook. This allows everyone to have a piece of hot poultry when the dish arrives at the table.

Follow these steps and you’ll have a delicious alternative to the highly salted varieties you buy at that window. Here’s a little bonus. One of my first jobs was at a fried chicken franchise. I learned a few tricks and got a delicious recipe. You may want to give it a try.

Southern, Wishbone Pulling, Finger Licking, Fried Chicken

  • A whole chicken, cut into pieces.
  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • 1/2 cup of cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cheyenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients, except flour, in a zipper bag, mixing well.

Beat the egg with the milk until smooth.

Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, and then coat each piece with flour.

Dip back into the egg and then place it in the zip lock bag. When you have 2 or 3 pieces in the bag, shake well to coat the pieces. Only do this when you’re ready to add the pieces to the hot oil. Don’t let them sit on the coating as it will get sticky and won’t give you a good result.

IMMEDIATELY place the pieces in the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Drain.

Enjoy.

Health Fitness

The Ketogenic Diet: The Ultimate Diet for Fat Loss

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The keto diet. What is the ketogenic diet? In simple terms, it’s when you trick your body into using your own BODY FAT as its main source of energy instead of carbohydrates. The ketogenic diet is a very popular method to lose fat quickly and efficiently.

The science behind it

In order for your body to enter a ketogenic state, you must eat a high-fat, low-protein diet with NO or NO carbohydrates. The proportion should be around 80% fat and 20% protein. This will be the guideline for the first 2 days. Once in ketogenic state, you will need to increase protein intake and reduce fat, the ratio will be around 65% fat, 30% protein and 5% carbohydrates. Protein is increased to preserve muscle tissue. When your body eats carbohydrates, it triggers an insulin spike, which means the pancreas releases insulin (helps store glycogen, amino acids, and excess calories as fat), so common sense tells us that if we cut out carbohydrates, insulin will not store excess calories as fat. Perfect.

Now your body doesn’t have carbohydrates as a source of energy, your body must find a new source. Fat. This works perfectly if you want to lose body fat. The body will break down body fat and use it for energy instead of carbohydrates. This state is called ketosis. This is the state you want your body to be in, it makes a lot of sense if you want to lose body fat while maintaining muscle.

Now to the part of the diet and how to plan it. You should eat AT LEAST one gram of protein per pound of LEAN MASS. This will help in the recovery and repair of muscle tissue after workouts and such. Do you remember the ratio? 65% fat and 30% protein. Well, if you weigh 150 pounds of lean mass, that means 150 g of protein a day. X4 (amount of calories per gram of protein) which is 600 calories. The rest of your calories should come from fat. If your calorie maintenance is 3,000, you should eat about 500 fewer, which would mean that if you need 2,500 calories a day, about 1,900 calories should come from fat! You must eat fat to fuel your body which will also burn body fat in return! That is the rule of this diet, you must eat fat! The advantage of eating dietary fats and the ketogenic diet is that you won’t feel hungry. Fat digestion is slow, which works in your favor and helps you feel “full.”

You’ll do this Monday through Friday and then “carb load” on the weekend. After your last workout on Friday, that’s when carb loading begins. You should have a liquid carbohydrate along with your post-workout whey shake. This helps create an insulin spike and helps you get the nutrients your body desperately needs for muscle repair and growth and to replenish glycogen stores. During this stage (carbohydrate loading) eat whatever you want: pizza, pasta, fries, ice cream. Anything. This will be beneficial for you because it will recharge your body for the next week and restore your body’s nutrient needs. Once Sunday begins, he goes back to the no-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein diet. Keeping your body in ketosis and burning fat for energy is the perfect solution.

Another benefit of ketosis is that once you get into ketosis and burn fat, your body will run out of carbs. Once you load up on carbs, you’ll look as full as ever (with less body fat!), which is perfect for those weekend beach or party times!

Now let’s recap on the diet.

-You must enter the state of ketosis by eliminating carbohydrates from the diet while eating moderate/low fat high protein.

-You must ingest fiber of some kind to keep your pipes as clean as ever, if you know what I mean.

-Once in ketosis, protein intake should be at least one gram of protein per pound of lean mass.

-That’s basically it! It takes dedication to go carb-free for the week, as many foods have carbs, but remember that you will be greatly rewarded for your dedication. You shouldn’t stay in ketosis for weeks at a time as it’s dangerous and will end up with your body resorting to using protein as a fuel source, which is a no no. Hope I helped and good luck with the diet!

Legal Law

david m schwarz

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It was just a twist of fate that David M. Schwarz became an architect. Having started his own practice (in his own words, “too early”), with little success, he realized that his dream of becoming an architect was over and he had almost given up hope. However, a chance encounter with a friend gave her a ‘last minute’ second chance, when the friends boyfriend offered her a project. His career is now considered remarkable, and his architectural practice was established after he received awards from a wide range of organizations, including the American Institute of Architects and the Art Deco Society of Washington.

Prior to this success, Mr. Schwarz received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD, and a master’s degree in architecture from Yale University. He also earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science from Humboldt State University. As founder and CEO of David M Schwarz Architectural Services, Inc., Washington, DC and Fort Worth, TX, he now has over thirteen years of success in landscape design, planning and construction.

“…It’s really sticking to principles and sticking to them, even when it’s hard, that makes real success possible,” explains David.

His background in environmental science is key in the development of site-specific landscapes involving soil and slope stabilization, habitat restoration, and new vegetation management. His strength lies in his ability to focus on developing spaces that are artistic, appropriate to the needs of the client, and responsive to the surrounding environment. Perhaps his most iconic project, Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center epitomizes Schwarz’s signature style, being wonderfully classic, with a modern twist.

Describing his design philosophy, Schwarz explains: “Our architecture is what would have happened if modernism hadn’t happened. But modernism happened.”

“We set out to create what we call neoclassicism appropriate for 21st-century Nashville,” says Schwarz. “The building and all its details are much less serious, much lighter, much more friendly, much less imposing than simple.” neoclassicism of, say, the 19th or early 20th century.

One of the most exciting features of the 197,000-square-foot, 1,872-seat concert hall is the enormous amount of indirect natural light. After touring concert halls around the world, notably Vienna’s Musikverein, Schwarz decided that natural light was an important element to include in the interior. Innovative features include a convertible seating system designed to give the room unique versatility.

Schwarz describes Schermerhorn as “the most classically inspired building we’ve ever done.”

Another classic design with incredible scope and space utilization is the Dr Pepper Ballpark. Following its construction in 2003, Dr Pepper Ballpark received the 2003 Texas Construction Award for Best Architectural Design and the surrounding sports complex received the award for Best Sports and Entertainment.

Schwarz had a stated goal of creating a “park within a (ball) park” at the stadium. Nine interconnecting pavilions, where concessions, restrooms and luxury suites are located, are built separately from the main seating area.

Its Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex features “Florida Picturesque” architecture, with tall towers and seemingly endless arches at the field house and ballpark.

Other projects include the Tarrant County Family Law Center, which has a historically evocative design, and Bass Hall, critically hailed as “the last great hall built this century,” and voted by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 opera houses in the world.

Within his firm, Schwarz’s main responsibility is that of director of design. In this capacity, he directs, orchestrates and reviews the design process for all of the firm’s projects. . He is frequently asked to create unique and custom modern furniture to complement the company’s interiors. Fine details, rich materials, and a high level of craftsmanship characterize Schwarz’s contemporary furniture projects, which range from the understated, such as a highly detailed, arts and crafts-inspired inlaid buffet with an imaginative and protective float glass cover; for the technically savvy, like an art deco-inspired oval loggia table. The table can be folded in half lengthwise for placement against the wall and contains custom-fabricated hinges and a device that automatically centers half of the top on the base, allowing the table top to turn between oval and semi-oval without sacrificing the center of gravity. . He has also explored elements in modern furniture design, such as a custom freestanding medicine cabinet and a stainless steel and glass stool. The range and variety in style, inspiration, and material account for his vision, regardless of scope or scale.

Schwarz is committed to college-level teaching and engagement and reading to the public. He currently serves as Chairman of the Dean’s Council of the Yale School of Architecture and is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Corcoran Art Gallery, located in Washington, DC.

Lifestyle Fashion

How to Spot a Fake Crystal Chandelier – 5 Tips

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Crystal chandeliers have that magical ability to create an aura of elegance and warmth wherever they are hung. And since the lighting in your home is such a critical ingredient, it makes sense to use it as a way to create and enhance ambience in whatever method you decide.

Well-distributed lighting will instinctively bring life and dynamism to the reception rooms you desire.

cleaning tips

Cleaning crystal chandeliers may seem scary at first for a number of reasons. First, they are often placed high on the ceiling. Second, the chandelier’s ornate design makes it a delicate accessory to clean properly. To properly clean a crystal chandelier, follow these steps:

– Set alternative lighting. Make sure you have another light source set up, as you won’t be able to use your crystal chandeliers while you clean them.

– Make sure the power to the candles is off. If the crystal chandeliers are on, it can be dangerous for you.

– Cover the bulbs, for example with sandwich bags.

– Place a sheet under the crystal chandeliers to prevent liquid from falling on your floor.

– Mix a solution composed of one part of isopropyl alcohol and three parts of water. Spray on the solution and then let your crystal chandeliers dry. Remove the sandwich bags when you have finished drying the crystals.

How to detect if the chandelier crystals are fake

Fake glass fixtures can be great in an apartment or early home because they are affordable. However, if you prefer to have the real glass, how do you spot decent quality among the variety of fakes and scams being sold out there?

1) What to look for: Just like when shopping for diamonds, look for one that exhibits clarity, purity, a fine cut, and good color. Look for the absence of defects and no inclusions, bubbles or rough spots. The surface should feel smooth and the glass should not have a gray or green tint.

2) The lead content of the crystal does not indicate how fine it is. Some manufacturers often add lead to glass to make it softer and more malleable, and because of the way lead interacts with light, it adds a great sparkling, prismatic effect.

3) All glass is glass. Distinguishing between good and fine glass can be difficult. Schonbek Crystals sells many of its accessories in two grades: Spectra, a nice but lower grade crystal, and Strass, the finer grade. Spectra costs half. However, when both hang from the ceiling, the look is almost indistinguishable,” muses one crystal chandelier analyst. Check the quality of the crystal with the manufacturer or seek advice from reputable home decor dealers.

4) All glass begins as a liquid poured into a mold and then polished by hand, machine or fire. Fire-polished glass, also called molded glass, is the cheapest. The facets of the glass are not as crisp, because the fire molds itself as it melts. Hand and precision machine cutting creates sharper facets. Swarovski crystal, considered the finest in the world, is machine cut.

5) When cleaning the glass, do not spray a cleaning agent directly on the accessory. Get some white cotton gloves or a soft cloth. Spray glass cleaner on your gloved hand and wipe the glass. Glass dealer Schonbek Beers adds, clean it often. “If it’s not clean, even the brightest glass will look like plastic.”

Crystal Chandeliers – http://crystal-chandeliers.xon.us

Pets

Sequoia Day Trip from Lemoore, California

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Lemoore is located in central California and is perfect for a wide variety of family trips, including the two-hour drive to historic Sequoia National Park, home to the giant sequoia trees, sequoias that are the largest living things on earth.

From Lemoore, head east on Highway 198 through Visalia and into the foothill community of Three Rivers. Three Rivers offers a great place to stop for sandwiches on the river or even homemade candy and ice cream. Just a few miles from Three Rivers, you’ll pass the entrance to Sequoia National Park, but keep in mind that you’re still about an hour from the heart of the park, after a slow drive with lots of switchbacks.

About forty-five minutes from the park entrance, you’ll pass Moro Rock, a giant rock with stairs and a railing, perfect for an afternoon workout. You can climb the rock and take in incredible views of the interior of Sequoia National Monument and the San Joaquin Valley below. About a third of the way up the rock, you’ll also have a great view, if you’re short on time or energy.

Just minutes from Moro Rock you’ll find Crescent Meadow, a beautiful meadow of wildflowers and other Sequoia flora and fauna. You can take a leisurely walk through the meadow, just over a mile in all. About halfway up the trail, you’ll find the historic “Tharpe Log”, a hollowed-out log used by a guy named Tharpe for lodging nearly a hundred years ago.

A short drive past Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow, visitors will find a variety of opportunities to drive over and under the giant sequoia trees. The largest of the Giants is located just before Lodge Pole. Parking is plentiful and visitors can walk to the base of this behemoth, the General Sherman Tree. For a hundred years visitors have been photographed in front of this giant tree. From the scale of the photo, the visitor appears to be the size of an insect.

After taking photos near the General Sherman and perhaps a short hike in the nearby redwood forest, visitors can visit Pole Lodge for dining or shopping. A ranger station at Lodge Pole can help answer any additional questions a visitor may have.

From Lodge Pole, a Lemoore family can return via the Three Rivers or loop through Grant Grove and on to Fresno. The Grant Grove stretch of highway doesn’t offer as many redwood delights as the highway to Three Rivers, but it’s much less winding and will get you home in just over two hours. All told, the trip is a fun-filled day trip from Lemoore.

Real Estate

Is cardboard more absorbent than a garage water mat?

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It’s hard to keep up with daily chores around the house, and we often tend to overlook cleaning tasks that aren’t right under our noses. After a while, the places we’ve been ignoring begin to claim our attention. It’s pretty embarrassing when a friend or neighbor points out our carelessness, isn’t it? Perhaps they have our best interests in mind when they point out the damage that rainwater that has been falling off our cars over time has done to our storage boxes.

We may not care about rainwater and think twice about the drops that turn into rivers under our car every time we return from a trip to the store. It’s a shame the typical garage isn’t equipped with a drainage system, but it usually is. This water has to go somewhere, and unless you have a mat of water in the garage, where will it migrate to? That’s right, those cardboard boxes that are all over the room will act as an absorbent.

Storage boxes are cheap and cheerful and made from cardboard, which is readily available. However, this product is highly absorbent and is far from ideal if we are storing materials in a humid place. If you don’t have a garage rain mat to take care of all the rainwater that will invariably come, your garage is going to be a very wet place. Those cardboard boxes will act as absorbent material and ruin anything stored inside.

Perhaps it’s time you considered renting one of those air-conditioned, climate-controlled storage facilities in the city center? After all, you can keep all your memories and heirlooms there without risk of damage. Of course, this is an ongoing monthly cost. Perhaps it would be better for you to consider buying a garage water mat as a much less expensive and better option?

By placing a water mat in the garage to protect this room and all of its belongings year-round, you avoid the cost of replacing all of your stored materials. They may be out of sight and out of mind, but if you store them there in the first place, they have to have value to you. You probably won’t see the damage that rainwater buildup is doing to them, but it will be very real nonetheless.

A garage water mat has been specifically made to deal with gallons of liquid at any one time, a typical threat posed by excess rainwater. It’s made from super absorbent polypropylene and is even good at catching all that melting snow and sleet, which can be even more of a problem in the winter.

Consider a water mat for the garage as one of your biggest investments. Few of us have the luxury of separate, self-contained storage areas, or can afford an off-site storage facility. Your stored items will get damaged if you’re not careful, but by placing an absorbent material on the floor under your vehicles, you’ll be ahead of the game.

As storm season approaches, understand that you need to make purchases from time to time as an investment for the future. Classify a garage water mat as such an investment, and if you have more than one vehicle, make sure you buy the right amount. This will help you avoid unnecessary and unwanted costs in the future and the heartache of losing some precious memories.