Welcome to this month's edition of the RealtyRave newsletter. We hope that you find it filled with interesting and useful information!
Please think of me with any real estate related questions you may have - now and in the future. It would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you.
The single highest and best compliment a Real Estate Professional can receive is a referral to friends, family or colleagues. As appropriate, please feel free to forward this Newsletter and/or my contact information. Thank you!
David Burke
HEALTH AND SAFETY
7 steps to allergy relief with spring cleaning
(BPT) - Longing for allergy relief? To stop the endless cycle of sniffles, sneezes and wheezes, it’s time to ready your vacuum and rubber gloves. Spring cleaning helps eliminate allergens so you can relax, breathe easy and enjoy the season.
“People who suffer from allergies may not realize there’s a direct connection between cleaning your home and reducing allergy symptoms,” says allergist Bryan Martin, DO, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI.) “The more you can rid your home of dust mites, mold, cockroaches and pet dander, the easier you’ll breathe.”
ACAAI recommends seven spring cleaning steps to remove allergens in the home and avoid accidentally letting more in.
Step 1: To sleep, perchance to dream – and breathe.
Start in the bedroom where you spend eight to 10 hours a day. Dust mites can flourish during cold, dreary months, so wash your sheets and comforter regularly. Most mites die by drowning, but if you want to use hot water (which will kill slightly more mites) don’t use water that’s over 120 F because it can scald.
Remember to also wash decorative pillows. Finish by adding allergy-proof casings to the mattress, box spring and pillows. Keep pets out of the bedroom as their dander can cause symptoms to flare.
Step 2: Gaze out, but don’t open.
Window treatments are a magnet for dust and allergens. Pull them down and dry clean, or vacuum each thoroughly. Don’t forget to vacuum blinds and windowsills as well. Tempted to open the windows to let the spring breeze in? Don’t. Unwanted pollen can enter your home and spread everywhere.
Step 3: When the dust settles, wipe it off.
Suit up to win the war on dust by wearing protective gloves and a face mask so you don’t breathe in microscopic mold spores. Next, ditch cotton cloths and feather dusters that kick up allergens, and instead use microfiber cleaning cloths which trap and remove triggers. Wipe down all surfaces including picture frames, knickknacks, plant saucers and ceiling fans.
Step 4: Nature abhors a vacuum. You shouldn’t.
Move all furniture, and vacuum the dust and dander that collects underneath. Use a cyclonic vacuum, which spins dust and dirt away from the floor, or a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Additionally, clean vents and return registers to limit dust recirculating. Consider shampooing carpets to remove deeply embedded allergens.
Step 5: Scrub-a-dub the mold.
In bathrooms, basements and tiled spaces, scrub any visible mold and mildew from surfaces with bleach, or borax mixed with water, then dry completely. The key to reducing mold is moisture control, so use bathroom fans and clean any standing water immediately. You can also help ward off mold by keeping home humidity below 50 percent.
Step 6: Change is good – for filters.
Keep the air that circulates through your home’s ventilation system clean by using filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12. Change the filter at the change of every season, or every three months. (Set a calendar reminder to remember). Additionally, change filters in HEPA appliances. This helps eliminate allergens, and prohibits mold growth.
Step 7: Get out! And about.
Check your home’s exterior for any concerns that may have emerged due to cold weather. Chipped paint, roof damage or cracked siding can lead to mold problems. Make repairs as necessary.
These seven spring cleaning steps may take a few weekends to complete, but they’ll help reduce allergens all season long.
HELPFUL HINTS 
The road to recovery: What you need to know about addiction
(BPT) - Drug and alcohol addiction can destroy careers, tear apart families and ruin lives. With 43,982 total drug-induced deaths each year, addiction continues to be a problem in the United States.
“Experiencing or watching a loved one battle an addiction is heartbreaking,” says JJ Bush, Executive Director of Behavior Rehabilitation Services. “But there is always hope. Years of research in the field has provided insight into the most effective treatment options. The treatments for addiction recovery are now more effective than ever.”
If you or someone in your life is struggling with addiction, here are some facts you need to know:
Prescription drug addiction is no different than illicit drug addiction.
When you think of drug addiction, prescription drugs are probably not the first substance that comes to mind. This is because many believe getting high on legal drugs holds a lesser stigma than using illegal street drugs, but prescription drugs can be just as dangerous. For example, painkillers and anti-anxiety medication can be safe and effective when used as prescribed, but they are no safer than illicit drugs. Many addiction recovery centers offer programs that specialize in prescription drug addiction as people who abuse these drugs often require treatment.
Anyone can recover from addiction, just like anyone can become addicted.
An addicted person might believe he or she can get off drugs without help and achieve a permanent drug free status, but the CDC cites these as common myths. “If patterns of addiction occur for many years, it’s not easy to break the habitual cycle,” says Bush. “Breaking an addiction is an extremely difficult process. Everyone who faces this challenge needs to know it is possible to get help and recover. But prying the grip of alcohol and drugs away from a life requires inpatient treatment.”
Addiction can occur anywhere, in any demographic.
Addiction affects people everywhere without discrimination. Race, ethnicity and gender don’t have any say when it comes to who becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Addiction groups, meetings and recovery centers host people from various walks of life, some who may have nothing in common but their addiction.
It’s common to be addicted to more than one substance.
While you might assume every addicted person has a favorite drug and sticks to it, cases of polysubstance abuse — when a person uses multiple classes of substances — are not uncommon. Some examples of this include “speedballing,” a known practice which combines the effects of heroin and cocaine and the mixing of alcohol with stimulants. Many addicts in recovery rationalize using another substance with the thought that it isn’t their “drug of choice,” leading them to fall back into addiction process. Cases like this are often more difficult to treat, but a professional rehabilitation program can offer effective recovery results.
Untreated addiction can lead to death.
In 2013, drug overdose was the leading cause of injury death in the United States, CDC data reports. When addiction to drugs or alcohol becomes a pervasive problem — affecting relationships, employment, physical and emotional health — the addicted person needs to get help before it’s too late. Assistance from a professional inpatient treatment program becomes the solution to gaining lasting recovery.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Chef John's Salmon Mango Bango
Makes 2 servings and ready in 30 minutes!
Ingredients:
- 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons red bell pepper and ancho chili pepper jam
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 salmon fillets, skin removed
- sea salt to taste
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- Add all ingredients to list
Directions:
- Stir mango, lime juice, pepper jam, and cilantro together in a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for relish flavors to combine, about 30 minutes.
- Season salmon fillets with sea salt.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until oil begins to smoke. Place salmon, flesh-side down, in the hot skillet and cook until edges are just starting to cook through, about 2 minutes. Flip fillets, remove skillet from heat, and let fillets sit in the hot pan until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and top with chilled mango relish.
|
Compliments of:
David Burke
Realty Executives Desert Lifestyles
78065 Main St. Suite 101
La Quinta, CA 92253
e-Pro
 |
Household Tips
Broken Lipstick
Hold a match under the broken ends until they melt enough to adhere to each other. Cool in the refrigerator.
Removing Dead Skin
Rib a bit of Miracle Whip salad dressing into your skin and let it stand a moment. Rub vigorously and dead skin is quickly removed. However, this only works using Miracle Whip, not mayonnaise
Natural Facial
A good and inexpensive facial to try: mash half an avocado, spread thickly on face and remove with warm water 20 minutes later.
Another Easy Facial
Apply a paste of instant oatmeal and water to face. When it dries and feels tight, rub of with fingers, removing dead skin.
Vinegar For Skin
The natural ph-balance will be restored to your skin by adding cider vinegar to a bowl of warm water and splashing it on your face. Allow to air-dry.
Health Spa Secret
After washing your face, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into wet skin. Keep wetting face until the jelly does not feel greasy. This is a little-known secret that many health spas use
Squeaking Shoes
If your shoes squeak, try applying linseed oil to the soles.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Did you know armadillos have 4 babies at a time and are all the same sex
- Did you know reindeer like bananas
- Did you know the longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds
- Did you know birds need gravity to swallow
- Did you know the most commonly used letter in the alphabet is E
- Did you know the 3 most common languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English
- Did you know dreamt is the only word that ends in mt
- Did you know the first letters of the months July through to November spell JASON
- Did you know a cat has 32 muscles in each ear
- Did you know Perth is Australia's windiest city
- Did you know Elvis's middle name was Aron
- Did you know goldfish can see both infrared and ultraviolet light
- Did you know the smallest bones in the human body are found in your ear
About Us
Whether you are looking to buy or sell, we are here to assist you in accomplishing your real estate dreams. Burke and Associates has been awarded the "Top Listing Agent, 2011, and 2012" by Keller Williams Realty. Call today and let us put our tools, techniques and skills to work for you!
Also, be sure to ask us about our monthly specials for our new construction developments!
P.S. Referrals are the highest compliment a sales professional can receive from a client. Please pass my name around to your friends, family, and acquaintances so that I can provide them with the best real estate experience possible! |
|
|
Comments
Post a Comment