Livingston Reporting - page 347

Personalized Kid’s Toys: Toy Boxes

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When you first see the double lines show up on the pregnancy test you start to think about all the goods you need to support your new little being.  Toys, clothes, furniture, bottles, and all that stuff babies absolutely need to survive all runs through your head in that moment.  What expectant parents fail to realize is that really so long as the baby can eat and has a place to rest its head it will thrive with a parents love alone.  However, as indulgent parents we feel the need to purchase and store goods that we think baby might need as it grows.

That is where toy boxes come into the picture.  Toy boxes are really one of the best gifts a new parent can receive.  My father has made a toy box for each new arrival in our family and all of our friends.  We used ours from the day we received it before baby was born to now as they have grown out of the toy stage of life.  It started out storing the new purchases until babies arrival, then moved on to the storage of toys and it now is used as game storage plus a really nice coffee table for our sitting room.  My father is really great at making these personalized kids toys boxes. He adds little features that make them uniquely each individually perfect.

If you aren’t as lucky as we have been to have someone make our children a personalized kid’s toy box I recommend you look into ordering one right away.  It helps to keep all of baby’s things in place before their arrival and helps create a space for their extra things as they begin to accumulate and take over your home.  You will want to make sure you look for a quality personalized kid’s toy box.

What To Look For

  • Safety: You really want to find a toy box that has a controlled hinge.  This will help ensure that no one gets their fingers shut in the box.  You will also want to make sure that the toy box does not lock latch.  Children love to sit in their special toy boxes and it would be incredibly dangerous if the box latched and locked them in.
  • Practical verse Decorative:  Are you looking for a toy box that also combines as a book shelf for a child’s bedroom or are you looking for something that is strictly functional for toys in the main space where a child plays?  This will be a living room or area where mom and dad can keep an eye on them for quite awhile as they play.
  • Material:  Are you looking for a personalized toy box that is made out of plastic or wood.  The benefit of wooden toy boxes is that they last forever and can be passed down as an heirloom.  Plastic ones however are less expensive, light weight and can easily be maneuvered by little ones.

Benefits Of The Toy Box

  • Quick Cleanup:  Toy boxes are perfect places to throw toys in a jiffy.  Larger toys are easily stored for use later.  Smaller toys can be placed in bins that can then be stored inside the larger toy box so that little pieces don’t get lost at the bottom of the box.
  • Easy Access:  Toys boxes are a great independent play parenting tool.  The toys inside are easily accessed and children can spend hours emptying and filling the box with their personal belongings.  Whether it is dress up clothes, teddy bears, match box cars or Lego’s kids can entertain themselves without needing to much parental interaction when toys are stored in toy boxes.

Drawbacks Of The Toy Box

  • Broken Toys: If toys are thrown in to the toy box overtime the more fragile toys will eventually be broken.
  • Forgotten Toys: Toys that are stashed at the bottom might become lost or forgotten about for the child.  Rotating toys in and out every few weeks will prevent this from happening and prevent toy boredom.
  • Potential Mess:  Isn’t this why we have kids though.  Yes, toy boxes can solve and create the same problem.  Toys get thrown in and out of the toy box.  That is what having children is all about – hiding messes.

My Favorite Kids Toys

Water Damage Restoration: Prevention Tips For Your Basement

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Have you ever come home and found your basement and the contents floating away?  If so you know all about how badly water can damage your belongings and most importantly all about water damage restoration.  There are many different reasons basements flood.  Your job as a homeowner is to prevent water getting into your basement in the first place.  Prevention is the key to prevent water damage.

The most likely reason your basement becomes flooded is due to natural causes.  Rain, snow melt and flooding can all lead to rain coming in to your basement.  In order to prevent this from being the source of your problems add an extra sump pump.  It will cost far less than having to have water damage restoration completed in your basement.  It is essential that you track the water flow away from your house.  This is especially true when you live on or near a lake or river.  If you are aware that a heavy rain is coming and that your home is prone to flooding another way to help is by adding sand bags to the homes foundation.  This is really only in special cases that you know the rain and floods are coming.  This is common with homes that are close to inland lakes and rivers in the spring season when snow is melting and the rains are heavy.

Another reason basements flood is because of the way the land around your home does not allow for penetration of the rain water. If the ground has a high water table level around your house the ground can be easily flooded.  This causes the extra water to stay on the top of the lawn which could easily cause the water to flow towards the house and flood the basement.  If this is the case for your home it is best to dig pathways away from your home to alleviate the gathering of water in your basement.

Another reason the puddles occur in the lawn around your home that could lead to a flood in your basement is from having an uneven yard.  The best way to handle this is to make sure that any areas that are low lying are away from the home.  It is also important to slope any areas around your home away from the foundation.  This will prevent the water from running into the basement area of your home.

Gutters and downspouts are an important piece in directing rain water away from the base of your home.  In order for them to continue to work properly you will need to keep them clean and free of debris.  It is important that in the winter you keep the gutters free of ice damns to allow for water to freely move away from the house instead of building up creating an area that could puddle.  Foundation cracks should be filled and gutters cleaned every six months to prevent and fix minor damage. Water seal paint can be found at most local stores and it is advisable to use it to seal the concrete blocks around the foundation.

Water damage restoration is expensive and time consuming.  If water does get into your basement valuables and precious family heirlooms can be damaged.  Preventing water from seeping into your basement in the first place is a lot easier, cheaper and less time consuming than dealing with the after math of water damage.

Go Maher

Window Treatments: Different Types of Window Blinds

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Choosing window treatments for the windows in your home is an important part of the decorating choices in your home.  You need to determine the style you are looking for, the purpose of the room and a budget to better help you determine what you are looking for in window treatments.  When determining style you will need to look at the room and your home as a whole.

Do you have a very modern home with sleek lines, is it contemporary or is your home a little bit more country?  When looking at the purpose you will need to look at the room.  For instance a kitchen window has different needs than a bedroom.  Light needs to be kept out of a bedroom and the kitchen is a room where light is of value. Budgeting is important in any room improvement.  It is not necessary to break the budget for designer window treatments in a room no one will ever occupy like a laundry room.  We will look into these objectives as we explore different types of blinds.

Windows with blinds between the glass are a popular option these days.  They are very efficient and the blinds inside the glass can be switched up depending on the desired look.  However, this option is expensive and requires replacement windows be installed.  The benefits are high though so if you are looking into replacement windows that you would then have to dress up with window treatment this option then becomes a little bit more feasible.  They are perfect for a home that needs a low maintenance window that is energy efficient and made to blend with any style home.  Windows with blinds between the glass are really a great choice for anyone looking into replacement windows.

For larger window and door walls panel blinds are becoming very trendy.  They can be purchased in many styles but gear toward a trendier look and feel for your room.  They are also sold in many different price ranges depending on several factors; fabric density, size and style.  You will find the hardware to install them is pricier than the panel blinds themselves.

Venetian blinds have been and continue to be a very popular option in window treatments.  They offer many advantages over other types of window treatments.  If you are looking for an all around good deal the venetian blind is the way to go.  They offer a style that is timeless and are great because they also offer different degrees of privacy.  You can find them to go with any size budget and are incredibly easy to install.

When looking to add blinds to windows that are odd in shape or out of the way, like skylights pleated blinds are the best options.  They do tend to be pricier than other window treatments but offer the convenience of coming modified to more custom windows.  They do fit in to any type of home décor and are often viewed as a higher end window treatment. Pleated blinds are often seen as a higher end window treatment and can be used in staging a home for resale very effectively.

Roller blinds are neat.  You can purchase them in a variety of textures, colors and prints.  They bring a different look and feel to a room.  Roller blinds can be used to fit into any décor.  They also offer varying degrees of light control for the rooms they are used in.  They are usually a bit more expensive than traditional blinds.  You are paying for a more sleek, stylish and custom product.

Cellular shades are a perfect choice to give a warm feel to the rooms in your house.  You can open them form the top or bottom which is super nice in a room such as a bathroom where you want privacy to be maximized but also to enjoy natural lighting.  They are incredibly affordable and can be purchased in most colors to compliment the décor in your home.

If you are looking for a very inexpensive route for a temporary place such as an apartment you are renting stick with mini-blinds.  They are inexpensive, can be used to create ultimate privacy by closing them tightly or no privacy at all by retracting them completely.  They tend to blend into any style and are really for a temporary fix for window treatment needs.  They are hard to clean but are so inexpensive it is probably cheaper to buy new ones than to waste time cleaning them.

Faux wood and real wood blinds offer the same advantages with different budgets.  They are both very pleasing to any décor and soften the look and feel of your room.  They offer any degree of privacy a homeowner would desire.  The biggest advantage of real wood is that it is incredibly durable where as faux wood can easily get damaged.

When choosing window treatments there are many different options as there are with blinds in general.  Depending on style, budget, purpose and personal choice can affect your window treatment choices.  Look into several different options when looking into window treatments.  You will find that between curtains, blinds and other treatments that the options within the categories can vary greatly.  You will want to look at décor that is pleasing to your eye and determine exactly what you desire for your home. Personally I am waiting to purchase window treatments for my home because I am hoping my husband will agree to replacement window so I can buy windows with the blinds between the glass so I don’t have to worry about the kids and cats tearing the window treatments up.  I have had a cat stuck in the middle of my venetian blinds.

Heatkeeper

Access Control Systems: Ever Changing Technology

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It is important as a business owner that we know who is coming and going from our facility at all times.  Tracking this is often a difficult task.  We do this for safety and security reasons.  It is expensive to hire a security company to watch the flow of traffic and track it for you.  That is where access control systems come into play.  An access control system allows you to monitor when people enter and exit access control systems help to keep unauthorized people out, while providing flawless access to those who are authorized to be there.

Access control systems have three main mechanisms.  They include a controller, locks and the device that enables and disables the lock.  The controller is a multi level device that is programmed with software from a computer that manages the system. This is where your control access, create accounts and look at the logs of entry and exit.  Cost is usually a factor with how in depth the reporting from the controller.  The more detailed the options and flexibility in programs the more expensive the system.

The locks are enabled and disabled per a command from the central control system, computer.  There are two different types of locking systems available electric and magnetic.  Magnetic locks tend to be chosen more over electric locks.  They tend to be a bit more costly but are advantageous because of their strength, ease of installation and power.

The access device is the key to the access control system.  There are several different options available in the area of access devices.  It is often determined by the level of security needed for a facility.  A high tech government facility may be interested in doing a biometric scan instead of a pass code entry because it is possible to pass along a code but is nearly impossible to pass on the information needed for a biometric scan.  If you are however just giving access to your companies parking garage something simpler like a magnetic card reader is all you need.

I was recently at a gated community up in Oscoda where in order to access the cabin you needed to enter through a sliding electric gate.  It is nice because every visitor has a unique id that tracks when they arrive and exit. The code was then deactivated after our stay at the facility.  I felt incredibly safe letting the kids play more freely than on other vacation I had been on because I knew that people entering through gate were supposed to be there.

The technologies available within the access device systems themselves are incredible.  I think it is crazy that you can range in access from a number code, a magnetic reader, a key fob, scanning systems all the way to biometric devices. Fingerprints and hand scanners are, in my opinion, the most secure systems.  It is incredibly hard to lose or duplicate a part of you.  Whereas it is easy to misplace a magnetic card reader or forget an access code.

Whatever business you are in and whatever system you need whether an exit and entrance gate access system or a door access system make sure to research the options available to you.  It is important that your system be able to allow you the insurance needed to fell that your business is as secure as it possibly can be.

SAC Fence

Wheelchair Ramps: Easing Access for Those with Limited Mobility

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Many of us take for granted the ease of which we access or homes and the businesses that we visit.  It is as easy as opening the car door and swinging your legs out and then walking into the building.  We don’t worry about the flight of stairs we have to climb or the lip on the sidewalk.  We just maneuver our feet around them.  Now think about if you were bound to a wheelchair or had to use a walker.  Those simple tasks we take for granted then become very difficult.

The ADA has set forth guidelines to help mobility issues that people with disabilities face.  Included in these guidelines is the requirement that public entities must make certain that all people with special needs are able to access buildings to participate in any and all services offered.  Included in this is the need for wheelchair ramps at businesses that have only been able to be accessed by stairs.

Before a wheelchair ramp is installed there are several steps to consider in planning for the addition whether you are installing a wheelchair ramp for use at a residence or place of business. It is important that you look into the laws regulated by the American with Disabilities Act for specifications on materials and planning requirements.  It is also advisable to look into the laws set forth by the local and state governments regulating wheelchair ramp installation.

After you have given the necessary for thought involved with planning take pictures of the location you are installing the ramp in. It is also helpful to scope out the neighborhood or other businesses for ideas and inspiration.  Take measurements of your area and then measure again for accuracy. The worst part of any project is incorrect measurements.

Create a picture map to the scale you are building the ramp.  A site plan should be drawn up and the detail, including materials, should be labeled and entered.  This will help with the actual construction phase.  If you have people helping you it should be easy for them to see your vision through the drawn plan.  Go over the different laws regarding the slope of the ramp and hand rail specifications.  Also, ensure that the landing to the ramp is completely level.

It is also important to create a budget to follow, draw permits and call the local utilities company before construction begins.  A budget allows for you to stay fiscally responsible when actual construction begins.  You will be able to determine if you can afford the materials you are interested in for the ramp or if you need to research other building materials.  It is also important in determining if this is a job better left for a professional installer, if the budget allows for it.  Permits are required for all structures to do with your home.  Take your plans up to the local governmental offices and pay the permit fee.  You will be happy you listened to this step as the fees for not having a permit are outrageous.  Miss dig is important because the last thing you need to do is hit a gas or electrical line as you are getting started in the construction of your wheelchair ramp.

Wheelchair ramps help ease the transition in and out of buildings residential or businesses.  It is important that those of us who have an ease of mobility don’t lose sight of those who don’t.  It is up to us to ensure that quality of life is had by all.  It is so important that wheelchair ramp access is given to all those who are in need due to limited mobility issues.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Curb Appeal: Replacement Windows with Blinds Between the Glass

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I love taking a Sunday drive in the spring and summer looking at everyone’s landscaping and homes in general.  Curb appeal is everything to me.  I hate seeing reality signs that say, “Must See Interior”. That to me is like a screaming billboard that says the owner didn’t keep up with the yard work.  If I was looking for a new home I would want both curb appeal and a must see interior.

Another thing I love looking at is the windows people choose for their homes.  One thing that does not appeal to me is windows with plastic prairie grids.  Not only do they not look clean but they just cheapen the overall look of the home. The dust and cob webs seem to be attracted to the little plastic squares.  The windows I really think look sharp from my curb point of view are the windows with the blinds between the glass.  They make the whole house look uniform.  I am a creature of consistency so this feature in replacement window really appeals to me.

Another thing I love about Sunday drives in checking out the ways people use the space in their yards.  Some people have fancy backyards that are pristine and make you feel like you are in a story book such as Alice in Wonderland. Their sheds have windows with the blind between the glass, the flowers are all symmetrical and the grass is not littered with dandelions like mine. I should tell you at this point I live on a river and the grass really doesn’t grow and the only thing present in our yard are hosta plants and ferns.  The shade trees that surround our yard kill the Alice in Wonderland theme I crave.

It is always funny to me to drive by older homes that have started to migrate their belongings to the porch or better yet the yard.  Instead of a nice wooden bench to sit on these folks bring out the sofa.   I laugh at the creativity.  In fact my brother’s home is one of these.  Instead of using a wine barrel planter they have planted flowers in an old toilet.  I guess you could say they are the world’s best recyclers.   They do not have the home that you drive by with designer windows with blinds between the glass but instead have different colored sheets hung over the windows.  To each their own and thank goodness because it makes my Sunday afternoon drives that much more interesting.

Think about your own curb appeal.  Do you have the majestic well maintained lawn, perfect brick and windows with blinds between the glass or are you more like my brother; a trailer with curtains made out of sheets and toilet bowl flower pots?  Whatever your style own it and have fun with it.  Remember there is some Sunday afternoon gawker who will enjoy the creativity possessed by your home.  Whether ornate or simply classic homes will appeal to their owners and that is what counts.

Heatkeeper

Helping Seniors Stay Safe on Their Own

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It is so interesting that as our parent’s age we become the ones that start to parent them.  Not only do I worry about them inside their home in regards to personal safety and safety due to mobility but I worry about them with outsiders.  I have read many studies that show senior citizens are the least targeted group for crimes I still however worry that one day someone will realize a vulnerable senior loves in the neighborhood.  I worry about a physical assault as well as any other.  I know it is more likely they will be taken advantage of financially then physically.  All this tends to worry me.  I can take care of the aging in place needs like a wheelchair accessible ramp but how can I make sure they are safe from predators?

The first tip I have involving the safety of senior citizens involves the wheelchair accessible ramps.  When a home has a ramp that is visible from the street it basically tells all the people that drive by that someone elderly or disabled lives in this home.  This is not the message that you want to send to the crooked people that exist in our world. Instead of having wheelchair accessible ramps installed at the front of the house add one to the back or side yard.  In the side yard it is easy enough to put up decorative fencing or tall hedges to camouflage the ramp which in turn does not allow predators to know that a person that has limited mobility lives in the home.

It is also important to use locks that include a steel stopper.  Believe it or not deadbolt locks can still be broken through.  If you add a metal stopper it is nearly impossible for the door to be kicked in.  Alarm systems also help keep our loved ones safe.  When looking into alarm systems for parents who are aging in place that notify police, fire and ambulatory services.  Security lights should be installed at different angles of the home.  This is also valuable for seniors to be able to see out into the yard in the evening hours.  I would also recommend that all sliding doors have locks and extra security rods put into place.

Make sure that a trusted neighbor has an extra key to the house.  Thieves know all the hiding spots for spare keys.  Don’t chance it.  It is one hundred percent safer to leave a key with a neighbor in case of an emergency.  I also really like the option of purchasing a realtor lock.  This way if there is an emergency and entrance is needed a code could be given to EMS and they could obtain entry to your loved one.

Like my parents did to me when I was little I did to them now that they are aging.  I sat them down and discussed the birds and bees of financial safety.  I remind them that social security number and credit cards were something that should never be released to anyone over the phone or that comes to your door.  In fact I have asked them not to open the door when they are not expecting visitors.  Internet safety was something I addressed as well.

When my parents leave the house I always remind them to carry only one credit card and enough cash for their purchases.  My dad has begun carrying his wallet in his front pocket and my mother is very careful to hold her purse close to her side.  As they have aged there are limits on when they should be out verses home.  My parents are home before dark so that it is easier for them to drive, park and enter the house again without problems.  Using the handicap accessible ramp becomes difficult for my mom at night.  When she is tired and has been going all day the level of strength she possesses has decreased and my dad does not have enough strength to help her.

For their safety and my piece of mind they allow me to help guide changes in their lives so that they can age in place instead of moving into assisted living.  It seems to be a winning combination for us right now.  As they continue to age and become less mobile we will discuss options but for now it works.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Maximization of Search Engine Placement Leads to Success in Business

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Where is the first place you turn now days to find a product or service that you are in need of?  Fifteen years ago the answer would have been the phone book. Today however technology has advanced so far that many of us instantly recycle the phone book that lands in our driveway twice a year.  Instead we turn for our I-pads, laptops or phones and start searching the internet.  Businesses always wanted the biggest and best ad in the phone book.  The same is true for the internet.  Your website is the front window of your business.  It must be well designed and functional.  More importantly however is getting the consumer to your website in the first place.  This function happens in the internet world with search engine placement.

We get to websites that sell the products or services we are searching for using key phrases commonly associated with what we need and plug them into a search engine such as Yahoo, Google or Bing.  From there we are bounced to a list that the search engine has found listing the web pages that are associated with our key phrase.  The job of search engine placement is to make sure your company is recognized with the key phrases people will type in for your product or services.  Not only do you want to come up when the key phrase is entered but you want to be on the front page of the search and as close to the top as possible.

This is important because as with the phone book people are going to call upon the first advertisements, or web page in this case, that catches their eye.  So it is easy to see how a website design is important to actually sell your product or service but search engine placement is even more important in that it is the process of getting them to your site in the first place. A company that does website design should place as much emphasis on search engine placement as on the design of your site if not more.

Search engine placement is an ongoing process.  To keep your site rankings on the first page and to get them there in the first place you will need to work with a search engine company that places value on this process.  Working with a company you should expect results within a few months.  It is important to work with a firm that is willing to research key phrases, using input from you, to come up with the most commonly used phrase search engine recognize with your services and products.

Many companies that offer search engine placement services should also offer website optimization.  This includes either building a site revolved around keywords associated with your business or tweaking an existing site to include phrases that will be used in the process of maximizing searches to get consumers to your website.  Your website should then be designed in a matter that is visually impressive, easy to use and includes information that consumers will be looking for.

Creative Programs and Systems

Handicapped Ramps: Hiring a Contractor Verses Doing It Yourself

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How should you begin is the first question most people ask when thinking about any home improvement project.  The same question should come up when talking about building a residential wheelchair ramp.  It is no easy task.  It is however a must if you have someone in your life that needs a handicapped ramp.  This could be someone who has knee joint issues, is in a wheelchair, using a walker or even parents who use a stroller.  It takes a lot of effort to construct a handicapped ramp that works correctly and is not an eye sore.

Starting the construction of a handicapped ramp should only be done after you have answered a few questions regarding the project.  Ask yourself if the structure is meant to permanently be attached or are you only in need of a temporary wheelchair ramp.  The reasons you might only need a temporary handicapped ramp installed is if a parent is only coming to stay with you in the final stages of life.  You would need the ramp to ease the transition.

Ask yourself if this is a project you should be undertaking.  Do you have knowledge of the construction field?  Are you an experienced builder?  Do you have the time it takes to commit to a project of this size or would it be best to hire a licensed handicapped ramp installer?

It is important that you take time to read and understand the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities act.  Those guidelines help set in place all of the specifications which make the ramp safe.  Have you reviewed the specifications for the slope, width, landing and handrails?  It is important that all aspects be looked into when dealing with handicap accessible ramps.

Can you construct the ramp for prime maneuverability of the wheelchair or walker?  It is important that it is easy to use and that all the building code that is enforced in your area is properly met.  If you have any question in regards to your ability to start and complete the project it is best left to the professionals.

Hiring a professional handicapped ramp installer would be the first place I would turn when my parents finally want to stop living on their own.  My dad has problems walking up and down the stairs so it would alleviate a lot of the strain on his body.  In building a ramp for our home one of my goals would be to make sure it blends into the landscape and environment of our home and neighborhood community.  Handicapped ramps that are installed correctly truly enhance the beauty of a home and add value.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor