Well it only took a month, but i finally got my new yard lights up that were given to me at Christmas.  Over the past few years my landscape lights have been slowly falling apart so I knew it was time to replace them.  Previously we had been using a set of black metal tier lights from Brinkmann that we have really liked, but I thought I would like something a little different this time.  I searched many websites looking for landscape lights and also looked at some houses in my neighborhood and I settled on coach style lights with the integration of spotlights.

Again, Brinkmann was the brand I got which was fine as the last we had worked great.  So finally last weekend I got out there and pulled up the others and layed out how far apart I wanted each coach light and then where I wanted the spotlights to shine.  After settling on the postion I staked them into the ground and plugged in the transformer and in just an hour or so I had transformed the appearance of our front yard.  It is amazing how something so simple can make such an impact.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) January 13, 2010 — Buildings are not immune from Minnesota’s frigid temperatures. Troy Norberg, General Manager for Tru-Serve, a Twin Cities facilities maintenance services company, says calls to fix frozen pipes go up when the thermometer mercury falls.

Frozen pipes can break, causing major damage and expense. If water from a faucet isn’t working, first check all faucets to isolate where the frozen pipe may be. If none of the faucets work, the problem may be with your meter rather than a frozen pipe. The frozen section of a pipe may be frosted or have ice on it; a bulging pipe is close to breaking and should be taken care of immediately.

Treating Frozen Pipes
According to Norberg there are some basic steps to take to treat frozen pipes including:

Preventing Frozen Pipes
Norberg recommends prevention before the cold weather hits but doing what you can now, will help. Here are key tips to prevent frozen pipes:

If frozen pipes can’t be accessed, it’s time to bring in a professional. And, if you continue to have frozen pipes, you may need to take additional measures to insure that pipes are kept warm.

Jan 10, 2010 WCCO-TV News Segment

More about Tru-Serve

This past year as my folks have been trying to “go green” at their home, they decided to install a pond in the backyard after reading some articles on the environmental benefits of a pond.  Well they didnt know what they were getting into.  While they truly love it, it has been far more work than what they thought and because they dont have any local pond shops to lean on, they rely on the internet for tips and advice.  What we have come to realize is that they undersized their filter system.  As they (and I) have been reading, we found out that we are not cycling enough water per hour.  Rule of thumb is the pond pump should circulate the whole pond per hour at the min, well they are probably only doing 3/4.  Also it appears an external filter would be a better option due to the size of their pond…one that offers all the various types of filtration in one unit.  So while shopping for pond filters I come across some great end of season sales, so I was able to get them a great OASE filter system, complete with pond pump and at great price.  I think they will really love it and best of all never expect it.

For the last few years “going green” has been a popular trend and a heavy buzzword.  Now that more and more products are showing up in the marketplace that promote green living and environmentally friendly, gifting these kind of products is growing.

For the gardner, there are few eco friendly gifts better than rain barrels or composters.  Both products allow for the re-use of natural resources to help better sustain a yard or garden.  For those that are not familiar with what rain barrels do, rain barrels are used to capture rain water for re-use in other areas.  Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes from small units that are placed below a drain or gutter pipe to large units that are installed underground that come equipped with a pump that make for easy access to the captured water.  Many rain barrels themselves are made of recycled plastic, further adding to their environmental benefit.  Also, as many gardners can attest to, rain water is far superior to tap water when it comes to water flowers and plants.  So with a rain barrel you get free water that is better for your plants..cant beat that.

Compost bins, in a way, are somewhat similar to a rain barrel, but for solid waste.  Yard waste, kitchen scraps and other organic material is collected and stored in a conmpost bin where it can naturally break down into a nutrient rich earthy material called humus.  This material is then added to gardens, flower beds and even lawns to enhance the quality of the soil and provide vital nutrients.  Depending on the materials collected, the composting process can take a month or two to complete.  But once you get it going, what you end up with is a continuing process of recycled food and yard waste that can be used all year long thus reducing the dependency on fertilizer and even reducing water usage.

So if you have a gardner or landscape enthusiast on your xmas list, a rain barrel or composter might be a good idea.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) December 3, 2009 — The Washington Post reported that Cyber Monday Website traffic rises 8%. According to Coremetrics, a marketing optimization company, internet sales rose 13.7% on Cyber Monday compared to Cyber Monday 2008.

Contrast those statistics to Boston’s Bella Sante Day Spas who reported today “Cyber Monday Website traffic rose 76% and Cyber Monday Internet sales rose 59%” – said Tiffany Amorosino, COO of Bella Sante.

Why is Bella Sante enjoying so much growth in Website traffic and internet sales? Perhaps it is Bella Sante’s ten year record of winning more Best of Boston Awards than any other spa in Massachusetts. Or perhaps it is the fact that they have built a strong client base where the majority of their clients are repeat customers. In fact, some of their repeat clients come from as far away as 200 miles to get services at one of the three spa locations located in Wellesley, Lexington and on Newbury Street in Boston.

The Bella Sante management style is focused on making sure their clients get the best care at every level. It starts with skilled concierges answering the phones to highly trained staff providing services to managers following up with clients. The results produce statistics such as today’s impressive growth in Cyber Monday traffic and internet sales.

Their centralized call center takes reservations for the Bella Sante Spa’s three locations making getting an appointment easy and fast. In addition, the call center takes orders for Gift Certificates and runs the retail transactions for the online store.

While traffic is significantly higher than last year a review of the average wait time for a caller to talk with a Bella Sante call center concierge on Cyber Monday was 21 seconds.

The caller then talks to an experienced concierge who will help them make a reservation, get advice on a treatment, order Gift Certificates or order products used at the spa such as Carita-Paris, Phytomer, Cosmedix, Kai and MamaMio.

The total commitment of Bella Sante management and staff at every level of customer interaction has paid off in 2009.

Simply put Bella Sante is continuing their tradition of being the Best of Boston in all regards.

About Bella Sante:

Bella Sante is and has been the premier day spa in the Boston Metro area for more than a decade and has the honor of having won more Best of Boston awards than any other spa for the last 10 years. Their history is that a majority of their clients are repeat customers because they get consistent, excellent treatment by the highly trained and wonderful staff.

Bella Sante’s record with clients is hard to surpass. Bella Sante also has clients from all across the United States that year after year order Gift Certificates for their friends, co-workers, family and loved ones in Massachusetts. Customers can also place orders on line for Gift Certificates or for the outstanding products they use in their spa such Carita-Paris, Phytomer, Cosmedix, Kai and MamaMio.

When it comes to pampering, both the clients and Boston Magazine agree that Bella Sante is simply the Best in Boston. Bella Sante has locations in Wellesley, Lexington and Newbury Street. www.bellasante.com. You can follow Bella Sante on Twitter You can become a fan on Facebook.

Media contact
Tiffany Amorosino
617-594-6669

Vice President of Operations
Sara Lahey
617-424-9930

In a heart wrenching story, a man has been found not guilty in the murder of is wife.  In July of 2008, Brian Thomas killed his wife of 40 years while he slept.  Aparently he was having a nightmare and was in a state of automatism whereby the mind has no control over the body.  After extensive testing it was confirmed that the man has a long term sleep disorder that has seen only 50 similar instances in the world.

I can only imagine the insane amount of guilt he must feel, especially when you take into consideration that fact the couple have two daughters.  Thats a really tough and strange story.

Link here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34063635/ns/world_news-europe

I found these tips for Halloween Safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics – aap.com

ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.  Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers.  Then parents can do the cutting.
• Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

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