June 12, 2008
Famous Chocolate Quotes:
Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can.
Among life’s mysteries is how a two pound box of chocolate can make a woman gain five pounds.
Forget love — I’d rather fall in chocolate!!!
Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays.
Stress wouldn’t be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.
Eat a square meal a day - a box of chocolate.
Other things are just food. But chocolate’s chocolate.
Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate.
Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.
A little too much chocolate is just about right.
In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips.
There’s more to life than chocolate, but not right now.
Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don’t need an appointment.
Nuts just take up space where chocolate ought to be.
It’s not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let’s face it, far more reliable than a man.
Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies.
This guy found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, and he gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and poof! there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and poof! there was a convertible. And then, he wished he could be irresistible to all women… poof! he turned into a box of chocolates.
Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.
Simply put… everyone has a price, mine is chocolate!
The three best pleasures in life are scratching, sneezing and eating chocolate.
I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process…. It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated.
I don’t understand why so many "so called" chocolate lovers complain about the calories in chocolate, when all true chocoholics know that it is a vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, ’nuff said.
I could give up chocolate but I’m not a quitter.
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June 11, 2008
Approximately 71 million households in the U.S. have pets, and anyone living in those homes knows that sharing space with animals can be a real beast. Muddy paw prints, scratches and scuffs and, of course, unsightly stains from those occasional accidents can all take their toll, especially on floors. Luckily, the latest innovations in laminate flooring are throwing pet owners a bone.
“Laminates are superior in durability to any other flooring option, making them ideal for homes with pets,” said David Small, director of marketing for Pergo, the inventor and leading manufacturer of laminate floors. “They resist scratches and are easy to clean, so the removal of pet hair and stains won’t stop owners from spending time with their furry friends.”
Practically pooch-proof, laminate flooring won’t fade, dent or scratch like solid wood, won’t yellow or tear like vinyl and is more comfortable on paws than ceramic–which can be cold, hard and difficult to clean. In fact, the nation’s leading product review and testing magazine recently named laminate floors a “smart option” because they give “more toughness for your buck when it comes to spills and scratches.”
The following are just a few reasons why laminate floors are going to the dogs–or at least to the homes of pet owners:
Claw Resistance
No matter how often those nails are clipped, an overexcited puppy is bound to stumble and scratch its way across a room. Offering superior scratch resistance, laminates won’t wear through, scuff or fade over time, no matter how many games of fetch you play. And laminate floors never need waxing, polishing or refinishing, allowing more quality time with man’s best friend. For optimum performance, look for laminates that feature extra protection against scratching and spills, such as the ScratchGard Advanced™ Surface Protection found on Pergo’s new Elegant Expressions™ collection of premium laminate.
Piddle Proof
Pet owners realize that occasional accidents are inevitable. With laminate floors, there’s no need to send Rover to the doghouse. Simply wipe with a damp cloth or mop. For deep cleaning, a mixture of water and vinegar is recommended. Stay away from chemical-based cleaning solutions; they can leave a dulling film on the floor’s surface.
Animal Magnetism
Thanks to recent design innovations, the quality and variety of today’s laminate finishes are virtually limitless–with realistic colors and textures that could fool Mother Nature herself. In fact, consumers routinely mistake laminates for higher-priced wood, ceramic or stone alternatives.
Laminates are also available in a wide array of colors. For instance, Pergo’s Elegant Expressions collection includes rustic whitewashed looks, contemporary dark oaks and even exotic bamboos. These stylish choices allow the floor to direct the décor of a room.
For more tips on laminate flooring, visit www.pergo.com.
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June 10, 2008
Keeping a home running smoothly is no small task, particularly for today’s busy homeowners who are long on “to dos” and short on time. Stocking a utility drawer with a few purposefully selected tools and household items can make the difference between dollars spent on the handyman and dollars saved in the bank.
With the right tools, you can perform routine maintenance and on-the-spot home beautification quickly, easily and cost effectively, so that you feel good about your home and ensure it retains its value in today’s challenging real estate market.
Maintain and beautify your home by transforming a “junk drawer” into a truly functional “utility drawer.” Stock with some of the following essentials:
• Multifunction Tools: These handy and compact tools include everything from screwdrivers to pliers to wire cutters, equipping you with the tools to tackle most any task in the home. And best of all, they require very little space!
• GE Caulk Singles: With GE Caulk Singles, caulking becomes a quick and easy fix instead of a weekendlong, messy task. And best of all, very little know-how, tools and time are required. With its deceptively simple yet ingeniously engineered packaging, Caulk Singles dispense effortlessly with one hand, putting an end to caulk guns and hard-to-use squeeze tubes. These single-use packs make caulking as easy as tear, squeeze and toss. So the next time your bathroom or kitchen needs a spruce-up or the crown molding in your living area needs a touch-up, reach in the kitchen drawer for Caulk Singles and transform your home in just minutes.
• Paint Samples/Brushes: Miniature jars or sampler packets of the paints used in your home can be a great tool to keep on hand in your utility drawer. When home cleaning solutions are not strong enough to tackle unsightly marks or stubborn dirt on walls, tap into your paint reserves for quick camouflaging.
• Duct Tape: Hemming drapes, righting a crooked photo frame, and replacing a shower curtain grommet are among the uses for ordinary duct tape. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll reach for this resourceful item, and how often it provides a quick fix to everyday problems.
• Solvents: To remove scratches or sticky substances, paint smudges or tape residue, a small tube of “goo” remover is a good addition to a utility drawer.
For more ideas on beautifying and maintaining your home, visit www.caulksingles.com.
Open-Drawer Policy–With the right tools, you can do on-the-spot maintenance anytime.
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June 9, 2008
Keep Your Cool, But Save Energy, Too
(NAPSI)-Energy experts say that more than half of consumers’ home energy dollars go toward home heating and cooling. Fortunately, there are some steps homeowners can take to keep their energy bills low, stay comfortable and contribute to a sustainable environment.
• Check the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) value of your home’s air-conditioning equipment. The higher the SEER value, the more energy you’ll conserve. The U.S. Department of Energy has mandated that all new air conditioners meet a minimum standard of SEER 13.
• Maintenance goes a long way toward keeping a system operating at peak efficiency. Change the air filter monthly and have your home’s cooling system serviced annually.
• Insulation adds value. A high R-value insulation installed in the attic, walls and crawl space will provide year-round energy conservation, translating into lower utility bills.
• If you’re considering a new home cooling system, make sure it uses an R410-A refrigerant. Beginning in 2010, all U.S. manufacturers will be required to use this refrigerant in newly manufactured air-conditioning units. R410-A is less depleting to the ozone than commonly used R-422 refrigerant.
• Finally, don’t forget the role a technician plays in keeping your home’s air-conditioning system running at maximum efficiency. Technicians certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-the industry-accepted standard for technician testing and certification-have proven their knowledge of home heating and cooling. They can ensure that your home’s cooling system is properly sized, installed and operating at maximum efficiency. More than 25,000 NATE-certified technicians are located throughout the U.S.
To find a contractor with NATE-certified technicians, visit www.natex.org and click on the Certified Technicians link.
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June 9, 2008
Keep Your Cool, But Save Energy, Too
(NAPSI)-Energy experts say that more than half of consumers’ home energy dollars go toward home heating and cooling. Fortunately, there are some steps homeowners can take to keep their energy bills low, stay comfortable and contribute to a sustainable environment.
• Check the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) value of your home’s air-conditioning equipment. The higher the SEER value, the more energy you’ll conserve. The U.S. Department of Energy has mandated that all new air conditioners meet a minimum standard of SEER 13.
• Maintenance goes a long way toward keeping a system operating at peak efficiency. Change the air filter monthly and have your home’s cooling system serviced annually.
• Insulation adds value. A high R-value insulation installed in the attic, walls and crawl space will provide year-round energy conservation, translating into lower utility bills.
• If you’re considering a new home cooling system, make sure it uses an R410-A refrigerant. Beginning in 2010, all U.S. manufacturers will be required to use this refrigerant in newly manufactured air-conditioning units. R410-A is less depleting to the ozone than commonly used R-422 refrigerant.
• Finally, don’t forget the role a technician plays in keeping your home’s air-conditioning system running at maximum efficiency. Technicians certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-the industry-accepted standard for technician testing and certification-have proven their knowledge of home heating and cooling. They can ensure that your home’s cooling system is properly sized, installed and operating at maximum efficiency. More than 25,000 NATE-certified technicians are located throughout the U.S.
To find a contractor with NATE-certified technicians, visit www.natex.org and click on the Certified Technicians link.
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June 8, 2008
Ratio of an igloo’s circumference to its diameter:
Eskimo Pi
.
2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital:
1 I. V. League
.
2000 pounds of Chinese soup:
Won ton
.
1 millionth mouthwash:
1 microscope
.
Speed of a tortoise breaking the sound barrier:
Mach Turtle
.
Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour:
Knot-furlong
.
365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer because it’s less filling:
1 lite year
.
16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone:
1 Rod Sterling
.
Half of a large intestine:
1 semicolon
.
1000 aches:
1 megahurtz
.
Weight an evangelist carries with God:
1 billigram
.
Basic unit of laryngitis:
1 hoarsepower
.
Shortest distance between two jokes:
A straight line
.
Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement:
Bananosecond
.
A Half-Bath:
1 demijohn
.
453.6 graham crackers:
1 pound cake
,
Given the old adage "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," the first step of a one-mile journey:
1 Milwaukee
.
1 million microphones:
1 megaphone
.
2 million bicycles:
2 megacycles
.
365.25 days:
1 unicycle
.
2200 mockingbirds:
Two kilomockingbirds
.
10 cards:
1 decacards
.
1 kilogram of falling figs:
1 Fig Newton
.
1000 grams of wet socks:
1 literhosen
.
1 millionth of a fish:
1 microfiche
.
1 trillion pins:
1 terrapin
.
1 million billion picolos:
1 gigolo
.
10 rations:
1 decoration
.
100 rations:
1 C-ration
.
10 millipedes:
1 centipede
.
3 1/3 tridents:
1 decadent
.
10 monologs:
5 dialogs
.
5 dialogs:
1 decalog
.
2 monograms:
1 diagram
.
8 nickels:
2 paradigms
.
2 wharves:
1 paradox
.
100 Senators:
Not 1 decision
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June 7, 2008
When it comes to conserving energy, many people think that transportation is the most energy-guzzling sector, but it’s not. Buildings are.
Accounting for 40 percent of energy use in the U.S., buildings represent a significant potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Atlanta-based American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
While most people can’t directly affect commercial energy use, many can take steps at home to reduce their energy consumption during the warmer months.
• Dial up. During the day, set the air-conditioning thermostat at 76 degrees or above, and move it a few degrees higher at night.
• Mind the ventilation. Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely. Install a timer switch to limit the time an exhaust fan is on.
• Cover up. In warmer months, close the drapes or shades on the east, south and west windows during the day to prevent the sun’s energy from heating the room. The shade or drapery material should be reflective on the side facing the window.
• Duct, duct, loose? Have air ducts checked for leaks and holes. If you use duct tape to repair and seal ducts, use tape with the Underwriters Lab logo so it doesn’t degrade, crack or lose its bond with age.
• Get some shade. Shading from overhangs, awnings, exterior shades, shade screens and foliage can reduce heat entering the house, especially on east and west windows. Make sure landscaping doesn’t block the airflow to the outdoor air-conditioning unit.
• Clean up. Clean or change furnace filters every one to two months and have the system maintained according to manufacturer’s instructions. Dirty filters, coils and fans reduce airflow, which decreases performance.
• Insulate. Adding insulation to your attic is the easiest, least expensive way to increase insulation. Insulation can be blown into wall cavities, especially in older homes. If siding is to be replaced, add a layer of exterior insulation.
• Keep your cool. Caulk, install weather stripping or use spray-in foams around windows and doors, on exterior walls or between cooled and unconditioned spaces such as garages, basements and crawl spaces.
For more energy-saving tips, visit www.ashrae.org/consumer.
Building owners should realize that the power to reduce the nation’s energy independence is in their hands.
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June 6, 2008
When it rains, it pours. And rain gutters are supposed to help channel a downpour safely to the ground so there’s no ground erosion. The problem is that traditional rain gutters can easily get clogged with leaves, maple keys, twigs and other debris–making them ineffective and prone to flooding.
Fortunately, there’s another option–one designed to be immune to clogging. Rainhandler gutters use an open-louver system that breaks up sheets of water into small rain-sized drops that are deflected away from the home. The system is nearly invisible when it’s installed, so the natural lines of the home aren’t broken up by pipes and downspouts.
And even if a rare leaf should land in the louvers, it won’t affect the system’s performance at all. You will probably never have to clean them, but if you ever do, it can be done from the ground with a hose and a basic pressure nozzle.
A variation on traditional rain gutters can help homeowners avoid clogs and floods.
Posted in Helpful Hints, Real Estate, Things of Interest No Comments »
June 5, 2008
Owning a home is the biggest investment most Americans will ever make; successfully selling that home may be much easier if you follow a few tips from the experts on selling your house and getting the best value for it:
• Take care of basic repairs before showing your home. Some people have a home inspector tour the house as if he or she were buying it and tell them what might discourage a sale.
• Don’t forget the simple fixes. Look at your home from the point of view of a stranger. Is it messy? Does it smell like cat? Is there junk in the yard?
All these faults can easily be remedied so your home is more attractive to a prospective buyer.
• Do what you can to make your home stand out in a good way, whether that’s painting your front door a bright, welcoming color or displaying fresh flowers in your living room.
• If your home is listed online, make sure the photograph does it justice.
• To make a quick sale, be sure to price your home at fair market value. Trying to get more than it’s worth could end up costing you money by delaying the sale.
You may be able to learn a lot of ideas about sales success from successful salespeople.
Fortunately, many tips on how to sell just about anything can be found in a fascinating book titled “Masters of Sales: Secrets From Top Sales Professionals That Will Transform You Into A World Class Salesperson” (Entrepreneur Press). It’s the latest in the Masters of Sales series.
In the book, sales experts from a variety of industries share personal experiences on topics from finding prospects to keeping the pipeline of referrals flowing to the all-important close.
Additional chapters feature tips from more than 50 sales specialists, including Harvey Mackay, Zig Ziglar, Martha Stewart, Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins and Jay Conrad Levinson.
Each chapter examines a different aspect of the sales process and many of the contributing features include “how-to” sections that transcend industry or area.
You may have an easier time of it when it comes to selling your home if you heed a few hints from sales pros.
Posted in Helpful Hints, Real Estate No Comments »
June 4, 2008
The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.
Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it’s FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals’ renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League , and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.
100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners.
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Loving the San Diego Coast!
