Everyday Life

Thankful Around the Dining Room Table

November 17, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is a special holiday and always has been in our family. Growing up, I can remember going to my aunts house to eat a big meal. There was a lot of talking, laughing, and family fun. And it was always around a big table with metal folding chairs stuck in between the beautiful dining room chairs.

There were over 20 of us with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. The food was set out on the table in serving trays of all different shapes and sizes. We passed it around… yummy turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, and sweet rolls. The memories and smells are engraved in my mind.

And now, I have my own family. We have since moved states away so I had to start my own holiday traditions. One tradition that we do when we get together on holidays is focusing on what we are grateful for. We not only do this on Thanksgiving, but other holidays as well.

My favorite thing to do is after all the food has been consumed and the table has been cleared, we pop open the sparkling cider and go around the table and each person will say what they are grateful for and we toast after each declaration. More often than not, someone winds up crying… more often with joy than with sadness.

I just recently thought about doing this on birthdays as well. What a great time to talk about what we love about that person on their special day.

Do you have any fun family holiday traditions? We would love to hear about it!

3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Christmas Lights

October 10, 2016 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Did you think Christmas lights were only for winding through the branches of firs and spruces during that festive season? Think again. Christmas lights are a versatile way to decorate for your parties at any time of year. Discover three things you didn’t know you could do with Christmas lights.

Add Glamour to a Roaring ’20s Party

Glamorous 1920s-themed parties have become all the rage since the release of Baz Luhrmann’s film “The Great Gatsby.” The era was all about decadence, and Christmas lights can set the scene beautifully.

You’ll need a lot of Christmas lights to pull off this look, so the approach is perfect for people who decorate their home like the Griswolds in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” If you don’t have enough lights already, you can often find great discounts at sales throughout the year.

String the lights across every surface you can. White lights work best here, because they look a little like crystals glimmering in the night. All those lights can draw a lot of power, so consider choosing energy-efficient LED strings of lights from suppliers such as Christmas Lights Etc instead of traditional Christmas lights.

Light Up a ’60s-Themed Party

Christmas lights can be used in many ways to make your ’60s-themed party groovier. From tie-dyed fabrics to lava lamps, this decade was all about color, so you’re best served with brightly colored lights, not plain white ones. Simply stringing colored Christmas lights around your party will give it a groovy glow. However, if you have more time on your hands, you can get a little more creative.

Knot strips of tulle around a ribbon and tape it to the edge of the table where you’ve got your chips and dips or a retro cheese ball. Wrap some Christmas lights around the legs of the table, underneath the tulle, and turn them on. The lights will shine through the tulle, making your spread look even cooler.

If you have time, you could also make a twinkling peace sign wall hanging. Cut the peace sign out of a large piece of wood and drill holes through the design, following its lines. Poke colored Christmas lights through the holes, turn on the lights, and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Transport Your Guests to the Islands at a Hawaiian Party

We can’t always get away to tropical Hawaii, but with the right Christmas lights, you can re-create time on the islands at home. Any Hawaiian-themed party needs a tiki bar serving exotic cocktails such as mai tais and piña coladas. To add the right island atmosphere to your tiki bar, string up some Christmas lights. The idea sounds strange, but many colored Christmas lights actually look a lot like the lights that decorate island bars. Lights that have large bulbs, such as raspberry LED mini lights, are ideal for your Hawaiian celebration.

If you pack your Christmas lights away in January, you’re not using them to their full potential. With these ideas, you can enjoy these lights when the holiday season is long gone.

Image via Flickr by MsSaraKelly

3 Companies that Protect the Environment while You Travel

September 27, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

It doesn’t make much sense for companies that profit from helping people travel the world to neglect that world in the process. A few companies in the travel industry understand that they owe a debt to the planet and try to give it respect it deserves. Companies like JetBlue, Southwest, and Park ‘N Fly are among the best at also protecting the environment while getting you to your destination.

Image via Flickr by eastleighbusman

JetBlue

JetBlue has shared detailed information on its social and environmental impact every year since 2006. In its 2015 report, JetBlue devotes an entire section to its environmental sustainability efforts. The company acknowledges how much its affordable flights depend on natural resources and the beauty of the earth, which is why the company takes a proactive approach to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by minimizing pollution and waste.

To evaluate that footprint, JetBlue looks at its emissions footprint in revenue ton miles (RTM), which is a common environmental metric in the airline industry. This number reflects the weight in tons of cargo and customers carried multiplied by the number of miles flown. The company compared the metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted per 1,000 RTM. Since 2009, JetBlue has shrunk this ratio, also known as the Scope 1 emissions intensity ratio, by 3.7 percent.

The company has also incorporated recycling into virtually every aspect of its business. For example, since 2013, JetBlue’s recycling tracking system estimates that the company has recycled more than 60 million bottles and cans. Similarly, JetBlue donated the 110,000 pounds of food waste that it collected from JFK airport in 2015 to an upstate New York farm for conversion to organic compost.

Park ‘N Fly

Park ‘N Fly’s business concept helps protect the environment by offering travelers off-airport parking. Rather than having to ask someone to make two trips to drop them off and pick them up, travelers can park in a conveniently located lot and share a shuttle to their destination gate.

Park ‘N Fly has also created a foundation of the same name devoted to natural disaster preparedness and relief. The company is also a subsidiary of BCD Travel, which earned the top Corporate Social Responsibility rating in 2016 largely due to its environmental sustainability efforts.

Southwest Airlines

In an effort to maximize efficiency, Southwest has developed an independent climate change strategy in addition to its standard business strategies. In 2014, the airline signed a contract to purchase 3 million gallons of low-carbon, renewable jet fuel each year from Red Rock Biofuels. Red Rock refines the fuel from the residues of Oregon’s forests.

The company has also managed to boost its RTM efficiency by 29 percent since 2005. Additionally, the company maintains a commitment to local sourcing to reduce transportation costs, receiving 39 percent of its construction materials from sources within 500 miles of the site.

Without a beautiful planet to explore, the travel industry won’t experience much demand. These three companies have incorporated that principle in their ongoing efforts to respect and reinvigorate the environment.

Things to Check When Inspecting a London Heating Unit

April 11, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

london_hvac_fix The winter is not too far off, which is why now is the time to start checking the heating methods a home has. Among the most common type of heating method in a home is an HVAC unit. The HVAC unit is designed to keep the temperature throughout a home regulated. In some cases, this unit will not be able to do its job due to mechanical issues. The best way for a homeowner to keep their unit running correctly is by taking the time to inspect it on a regular basis. Here are some of the things that a homeowner will need to look at when trying to ensure their HVAC unit is functioning properly.

The Duct Work is Important

The duct work of an HVAC unit helps to take the cool or warm air produced and distribute it throughout the home. As time goes by the tape used on the ducts will begin to weaken and can cause a number of air leaks. By taking the time to inspect the ductwork and provide repairs when needed, a homeowner will be able to avoid wasting energy over time.

Inspecting the Filters

When trying to make sure a unit is not in need of heating repairs london, the homeowner will need to check out the air filter of their unit. This will allow them to see whether or not the unit is getting the proper amount of air flow. If the filter is dirty, it will be very hard for a homeowner to get the performance they need. Taking the time to change the filter can help the homeowner to get what they are in need of and avoid serious repair issues in the process. The time that is invested in this process will be worth it.

Some Professional Assistance

Trying to ensure that a unit is in good shape without the proper amount of experience can be very difficult. A homeowner will be able to benefit greatly from the hiring of a professional in the HVAC industry. The more a homeowner is able to let a professional do, the easier it will be for them to get the right results. Neglecting to get this type of professional help will usually lead to less than stellar results. Hiring a professional will help to ensure the job is done the right way and in a hurry.
Selecting the right company to help may be a bit difficult, but worth the effort. Paying a professional to perform HVAC maintenance can keep a unit in great shape.

Things to Ask When Meeting With a Palos Verdes Wedding Florist

October 7, 2015 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Among the most stressful things that a couple will take on in their lives is the planning of their wedding. Taking the time to get all of your proverbial ducks in a row is vital in making sure that your ceremony goes off without a hitch. There are a number of important factors that have to be planned out in detail and neglecting to pay attention to them can lead to a disastrous outcome. The flowers that you will have at your wedding will have to be supplied by a knowledgeable Torrance florist. The following are a few of the questions that have to be asked when meeting with a wedding florist.

What Are the Latest Trends and How Can They Work For Your Wedding?

The first thing that you need to make sure of when hiring a wedding florist is that they are up to speed on all of the latest floral trends. Taking the time to find out what the latest trends are and how they can be incorporated into your wedding can be very beneficial. A great florist will have no problem answering this question in a comprehensive manner.

What Flowers Are Available?

The next thing that you will need to ask about when trying to find the right florist is what types of flowers the will have available. You need tom make sure that you have a full grasp of what is out there before proceeding. The more you are able to find out about the options that you have, the simpler it will be for you to get the right ones chosen. Having a reputable and experienced florist on your side will make the selection process much easier.

How Available Are You During the Time of the Wedding?

Another very important thing that you will have to ask when trying to get the right florist in place is how available they will be during the time of the wedding. You need to make sure that the florist you choose will be able to be hands on during this process. The more you can find out about the florists in your area and what they are prepared to offer, the easier you will find it to get the right one chosen. The time that goes into meeting with the various florists in the area is necessary and the only way you will be able to narrow the selection.

Choosing the team at rollinghillsflowermart.com will allow you to get the right results in no time. Call them or visit their website to get more information on what they have to offer.