(NewsUSA) – A kitchen renovation is almost always a costly and time-consuming undertaking. The thought of ripping out and replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances is enough to stop you in your tracks. But a kitchen redo doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. Take wallpaper, for example.
Nothing enlivens an outdated kitchen more quickly or more easily than wallpaper. A bright, happy pattern like a toss of fruits or vegetables can play on the past with kitschy, retro-inspired style. Or you can modernize with patterns that mimic tile, stone and metal: a budget-friendly alternative to the real, more costly materials for backsplashes. You don’t have to worry about most stains because most wallpaper has a protective coating and is washable, even scrubbable. In fact, kitchen-friendly wallpapers are much lower maintenance than paint, which has about a three-year life span.
Wallpaper isn’t just for kitchen walls. Here are some ideas that can modernize any kitchen in an instant:
* With extra wallpaper or coordinating border, cover lamp shades on hanging fixtures to create a chic, pulled-together look.
* Wallpaper inset panels on cabinets and pantry doors.
* Paper the back of glass cabinets or open shelves and turn the display of everyday china into a work of art.
* Tap into your creativity: layer wallpaper with a coordinating border and removable wall decals. Or, if there’s a hard-to-reach angle where wallpaper won’t work, use a complementary wall decal to pull the look together.
* If the seating in your kitchen faces one wall, create an art installation by placing individual peel-and-stick wall decals in store-bought frames in a pattern on the wall.
To find additional information on wallpaper, visit www.yorkwall.com.
Budget-Friendly Kitchen Redos With Wallpaper
Helping Save Polar Bears Is As Easy As Texting
Polar bears are loved by people of all ages, all around the world. These magnificent, powerful animals live nowhere else except the Arctic, and they need our help.
Coca-Cola and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are joining forces to help protect the polar bear’s Arctic habitat. Together they are raising awareness and funds for conservation efforts to create a safe haven for the polar bear. The program is called “Arctic Home.”
To call attention to the cause, for the first time ever, Coca-Cola is turning its iconic red Coke cans white. Shoppers will find these limited-edition cans on store shelves this holiday season. Bottle caps of many other Coke products will also be white.
Lurking in Tall Grass, a Hidden Danger Awaits
(NewsUSA) – Hiking in the woods is a fun activity for many people, and it increases in popularity when the seasons begin to beautifully change. But being outdoors brings with it an increased risk of tick-borne illnesses. Different species in different regions of the country are responsible for a variety of extremely serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and tick paralysis.
Lyme disease is typically the most worrisome as nearly 20,000 Americans are diagnosed every year, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America. Most cases of Lyme disease occur in late summer and fall months when people are more active outdoors. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a non-profit committed to the protection of public health, food and property, urges families to take extra measures to protect themselves and their pets from tick bites. Blacklegged ticks, often called “deer ticks,” can carry the Lyme disease bacteria.
As people take part in outdoor activities, the risk of being bitten by a tick increases. Avoid tick bites by following these preventive guidelines from the NPMA.
* When in an area where ticks are common, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light-colored so ticks will be easy to detect.
* Tuck pants into socks.
* Use a tick repellent.
* Upon returning indoors, inspect clothing and your entire body, including your head, for ticks. Don’t forget to check your family members who may have been out with you and/or your dog as well.
* After spending time in a tick habitat, it’s a good idea to take a shower because it will afford you the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your entire body.
* Wash clothes immediately.
* Keep grass cut low, including around fence lines, sheds, trees, shrubs, swing sets and other difficult-to-cut locations and remove weeds, woodpiles and other debris from the yard.
* Inquire about lawn tick treatments; especially those that focus on the edges of the lawn where it interfaces with natural areas. This method has the greatest chance of preventing ticks from establishing themselves in your back yard.
* Pet owners should speak to their veterinarians about preventative flea and tick treatments, as these can help to deter pet pests and kill ticks on contact/upon being bitten.
For more pest control and management tips, visit www.pestworld.org.
Tips to Start the School Year on the Right Track
(NewsUSA) – Back-to-school mayhem presents a number of challenges for parents. Each morning there are breakfasts to make, lunches to pack and extracurricular schedules to track — all while trying to get to work on time. So, how do you navigate the morning chaos and hold onto your sanity? With these helpful tips, you can make your back-to-school mornings easier:1. Stick to a strict bedtime schedule. According to the Mayo Clinic, school-age children need 10-11 hours of sleep each night. Making sure kids are well rested will help avoid oversleeping and wasted time getting them out of bed each morning.2. Get prepared the night before. Pack all school bags as soon as homework is finished, and lay out school outfits prior to bedtime for the next day.This shortens the list of morning chores and adds a few extra minutes of rest. Also, don’t wait until early morning to pack a rushed lunch with little nutrition value. Preparing the night beforehand enables parents to pack food with nutrients and vitamins, not just potato chips and snack packs. For even better efficiency, plan lunches a week ahead.3. Find a quick and balanced breakfast option. Not many parents have time for eggs and pancakes each morning, but there are quick, quality alternatives. Stock up on cereals that kidswill enjoy and are high in fiber, folic acid, iron, and vitamin C. Try Malt-O-Meal for family favorite varieties packed with whole grains. As an added bonus, Malt-O-Meal is available in resealable bags, which reduces the amount of packaging consumers have to dispose of or recycle by 75 percent. (BagTheBox.com)4. Make a weekly calendar of activities. Organize each family member’s schedule to make sure kids are where they need to be at the correct times. Between extracurricular activities, like sports, clubs, study groups, jobs and friends, it can be a challenge to establish any sort of routine. Set up car pools in case some events overlap. Input alerts in your phone, and set an alarm for each to avoid temporary mental lapses.
DeVry University Seniors Learn There’s Value in Pro Bono Work
(NewsUSA) – In a social media powered society, instant gratification is something we have come to expect. More of our daily routines are executed online, be they personal or professional, so when our computer crashes so does our productivity.
In the not-so-distant past, PC problems, virus removal and most other computer-related issues were resolved by carting your PC or laptop into a service center. This is not an easy burden to bear when time is of the essence. With immediate response in high demand, computer support companies have moved their services online, offering comprehensive tech support without the hassle of waiting at in-store service lines.
With the ability to get news, updates and results online in real-time, shouldn’t you be able to access computer troubleshooting online when an issue arises?
In an effort to harness the potential of remote access, some standout IT businesses are implementing remote services to create a better user experience for their clients. Geeks On Call, a trusted provider of on-site IT services nationwide, recently announced the launch of their Remote PC Repair Services.
If a person’s computer suddenly crashes, slows down or gets a virus, Geeks On Call is there with comprehensive technical support to see the issues through to solution. Because the troubled computer is remotely accessed through the Internet, there is no need to wait for a technician to make a house call. However, if there is no Internet access to the computer, Geeks on Call still has an on-site assistance option — in many cases, it can get a technician to you the same day you call. And unlike other services, it can dispatch a technician directly to your location with the ability to refund the majority of the service call.
By taking advantage of remote computer repair with services like those offered by Geeks On Call, users will see real-time solutions for serious computing problems. Remote Services are available 8 a.m. to midnight in the customer’s time zone at 1-800-905-GEEK (4335). For more information, visit www.geeksoncall.com.
Rare Flower Jolts Skin’s Vitality
(NewsUSA) – Sunglasses: Check.Sunblock: Check.Swimsuit: Uh-oh!The sun is out, and the surf is up, but women everywhere can be found in front of full-length mirrors facing an age-old dilemma, thinking: "What swimsuit can I possibly pull off with my body type?"The bathing suit hunt is nothing less than discouraging. When met with most store’s racks crammed with handkerchief-size designs with bottoms that slip down and tops that ride up, women truly get the short end of the stick when it comes to summer swimwear.That is, until now. Launched in 2009, Ohio-based designer Debbie Kuhn is bursting onto the market with a new concept that is a twist and a blend of the tried and true: Girltrunks. Kuhn designed the two-piece suits because the traditional swimsuit market offered nothing that covered the legs.After accepting an invitation for a summer holiday in Montana that was to include tubing down the Madison, Kuhn found herself in a futile search in many a store for an appropriate outfit for the river excursion when she was struck with the perfect solution: "Why don’t I pair a tankini top with swim trunks?" She did just that. "It was a day in time I remember vividly. I felt so liberated, in swimwear of all things, and I wanted to share that feeling with other women."The trunks fit like finely tailored Bermuda shorts and are available in two leg-covering lengths. They are made of a quick-drying polyamide fabric with mesh lining that dries almost instantly, unlike many traditional women’s bathing suits. To complete the look, two top styles are offered in chic prints. All are available in sizes 4-24.Like the slogan "Reinventing swimwear for women," Gilrtrunks delivers a sense of confidence women so desperately lack during bathing suit season. But the suits don’t just flatter — they’re versatile, too. Swimming, visiting water parks, biking, hiking, jogging or just simply strolling the beach, Girltrunks lend themselves perfectly to any activity.Short to tall, skinny to plus-sized, apple to pear, teenager to grandmother; women no longer are forced to be swathed in the excess of a cover up. Comfortable, stylish and taking in the joys of summer — that’s you, girlfriend, in Girltrunks.Visit www.mygirltrunks.com to learn more about Girltrunks.
Allergy Relief: Nothing to Sniff At
(NewsUSA) – Do you have difficulty controlling your allergy symptoms even though you’re on medications? Or do you still get allergy-like symptoms even when the allergy season is over? If so, you may be one of over 40 million people who suffer from a condition called nonallergic rhinitis.
Easily confused with seasonal allergies, nonallergic rhinitis causes similar symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, sinus pressure and pain. But unlike allergies, it’s not caused by allergens such as pollen and ragweed. Instead, it’s often caused by environmental factors such as perfumes, household cleaners, cigarette smoke or changes in weather.
Even if you’ve been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, there’s a good chance you also have a non-allergic component to your suffering. A recent study confirmed that 50 to 70 percent of allergy sufferers also have nonallergic rhinitis.
If you think that you might have nonallergic causes for your symptoms, ask your doctor. Unfortunately, allergy pills like Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra do little to relieve nonallergic rhinitis. Instead, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid or a new over-the-counter nasal spray called Sinus Buster, which has been clinically proven to provide significant relief for sufferers who have both allergic and nonallergic causes for their symptoms. Sinus Buster contains capsaicin -; one of the most studied botanical medicines — and has been shown to directly shut down the receptors in the nose that cause congestion, sinus pressure and pain. Sinus Buster has demonstrated a very fast onset of action, with patients experiencing relief in under one minute. Most importantly, all-natural Sinus Buster has an excellent safety profile with no rebound congestion, a habit-forming condition associated with chemical-based sprays such as Afrin.
The Sinus Buster study was fielded by allergy specialist Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, professor of medicine in the Division of Immunology/Allergy at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. He has published several papers on the importance of proper diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis and has successfully treated many of his own patients with Sinus Buster.
To learn more about nonallergic rhinitis or the Sinus Buster clinical, visit www.BusterBrands.com.
Tips to Spring Into Fitness
(NewsUSA) – As the temperature starts to warm, many Americans think about lacing up their running shoes or pulling out their tennis rackets. But don’t let spring fitness fever corrupt your good judgment — if you haven’t exercised all winter, it’s better to ease into physical activity.
Not sure where to start? Here are some tips:
* Start slow. Attempting too much too soon will result in an injury or “hitting a wall” — reaching a point where your body can no longer recover from exercise. It takes about three weeks for your body to adjust to a new exercise routine and about six weeks before you’re ready for more aggressive activity. If you’re running, start with exercising three days a week. If you’re walking, you may be able to handle four or five days of exercise from the start. Increasing the duration or intensity of exercise by more than 10 percent each week puts you at a greater risk of injury, so be sure to progress gradually.
* Get the right equipment. Wear clothes that wick sweat — you’ll be much more comfortable. If you’re a runner, proper footgear will help your legs avoid unnecessary strain. Likewise, a well-fit bicycle can help cyclists avoid knee and other injuries.
* Don’t push through pain. Most exercise injuries are overuse injuries, meaning they occur when athletes push their muscles, tendons and bones past their limits. One sign that you’ve reached your limit? Pain. If you experience real discomfort, it’s better to take a few days off or see a doctor than risk worsening an injury.
Of course, some muscle pain is perfectly normal for those starting up an exercise routine. Schedule recovery days — days in which you either don’t exercise or engage in very light activity — to give your muscles a chance to rebuild between workouts.
If you experience routine muscle soreness, a topical product may help speed your recovery. For example, one product, Absorbine Jr. (www.absorbinejr.com), contains natural menthol and herbal extracts. The liquid pain reliever creates a penetrating warmth to soothe sore muscles, aching joints, arthritis and back and foot pain. Because it increases blood flow to sore muscles, Absorbine Jr. actually helps muscles heal as it provides pain relief. Absorbine products were initially formulated to soothe the strong muscle pain in horses. This inspired Absorbine Jr. for humans.
Does Your Mouth Feel Dry? Winter May Not Be to Blame
(NewsUSA) – The winter season can be a busy time — family get-togethers, holiday parties, shoveling snow and many other distractions can make it easy to …
Tips to Keep Winter Colds at Bay
div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/WinterWellness.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – As colder weather hits, everyone starts playing a waiting game — when, exactly, will they get sick?
It’s no big secret that adults and …/div/div
