In the greater New Orleans area, the weather can change from warm and muggy to wet and cold at the drop of a hat. With the recent weather change taking a turn for the colder, it can be tough to adjust. Many people are cranking the heat up at the home and in their cars. However, if you’d like to save a little on your electricity bill while still staying toasty in these cold winter months, there are a few things you can do.
First of all, make sure all your doors and windows are closed securely. Any openings can let the cold air right in, and can make the your apartment drafty. After ensuring that all openings to outside are closed properly, also make a quick check to make sure your doors and windows are as air-tight as possible. Check to see if the weather stripping around your doors is doing its job and the caulking around your windows is keeping the air out as well.
While many people assume curtains are strictly for blocking sunlight or keeping your apartment cool, they can also be tremendously useful for keeping cold air out as well. The heavier the curtains, the better they’ll be at blocking any window drafts that may be present. When the sun is shining, you can open the curtains to allow the warmth in, then close them when it’s overcast outside or once night falls.
Close off any rooms you’re not using. A closed door is all it takes to make an unused room another barrier between you and the frigid outdoors. It also stops air from circulating as much, which reduces heat loss. You can also opt to use smaller rooms to ensure that you don’t have to heat as much space. If you have a bedroom that’s cozier than your living room, make that the common area when people are around. This will keep the space warmer, and give you less of an area to account for when trying to keep the room warm.
Dress warmly, and keep a light jacket on while inside. A hat is a great accessory to have when the temperature drops. A turtleneck sweater can also work wonders when it comes to keeping you warm. Dress in layers, especially with wool or cotton clothing. Wear slippers or warm socks. A comfortable throw or blanket while indoors can also keep you cozy without having to crank up the thermostat.
If you have wood or tile floors, try putting a rug down. This will keep the floor from feeling as cold, which can help quite a bit when you’re having to traverse back and forth. Another idea to stay warm is to drink warm beverages. Tea, hot cocoa, or coffee are not only delicious treats, but practical beverages this time of year!
One of the most effective ways of staying warm without cranking up the central heat is to use a space heater in the room that you’re in. Space heaters tend to use much less electricity than a central unit would, and you can carry the heater with you whenever you go from room to room. Not only will it save you money, but you may find the localized warmth of a space heater comforting when it’s blustery and cold outside!
If your clothes have been unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of a spill or stain do not fret! The solution could be as close as your kitchen cabinets and cheaper than the harsh chemicals you would regularly purchase.
For starters, you can create a handy soap jelly which can be a great pre-treatment for stained laundry. You can keep a jar handy in the laundry room.
To make your soap jelly, all you’ll need are a glass jar, a laundry soap bar (or non-perfume soap bar), and hot water! Take your bar of soap and shave it down until the shavings fill half of the jar. Fill the rest of the jar with hot water (boiling if the jar can handle that much heat without shattering), then cover with the lid. Allow the water to soak into the soap a bit to soften it up, then shake it hard or stir it thoroughly until the soap is dissolved. Once the soap is dissolved, allow it to cool completely. The soap and water mixture will form a soap jelly that is ideal for using on laundry stains. Just apply to any of those stubborn clothing stains using a soft brush. Make sure to scrub gently to avoid damaging the cloth.
If you’re at a wine gathering and get red wine spilled on your shirt or blouse, someone else’s white wine may help to save the day! Grab a napkin to dab the wine and neutralize it from dripping elsewhere on your clothing. Then, if you have a bottle or glass of white wine handy, pour it over the red wine stain and thoroughly dab it. As crazy as it may sound, white wine will neutralize the red wine and make the stain vanish! With the stain neutralized, you can throw the item of clothing in with your next load of laundry. But, beware! Make sure the stain is completely gone before you toss your item in with the other laundry! The heat of the dryer will cause the stain to set if it’s still present, making it a permanent part of the garment. The same rule applies to an iron, so never iron a stained piece of clothing!
Whatever the stain, there’s a way to neutralize it! So have fun knowing every stain has a solution!
With the New Orleans holiday season upon us, get-togethers always leave the inevitable mess. Once your friends and loved ones have filed out, sometimes what’s left behind can be quite taxing! Whether you’re hosting a party or simply helping out with the organization and clean-up, it’s important to have a few handy cleaning tricks up your sleeve. While most of us have plenty of household cleaners bought from the store available, sometimes homemade stain-removers work best. If they don’t do the trick, you can always use the store-bought cleaners as a back-up! Whether you’re pre-cleaning your apartment for a get-together or dealing with the aftermath of a holiday gathering, you can never have too many cleaning options.
For general, all-purpose cleaners there are a couple of simple options. Mixing vinegar and salt together will work just fine as a surface cleaner. If you have baking soda just sitting in the back of your refrigerator, you can also use it as a cleanser. Simply dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water for a general cleaner that can tackle quite a bit in your home. You can also use baking soda on a damp sponge. Not only is it an effective cleanser, but baking soda can help to deodorize all your kitchen and bathroom surfaces as well.
If you’re looking for a toilet bowl cleaner, both baking soda and vinegar can also come in handy there. Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. This combination both cleans and deodorizes! You can also use lemon juice and borax for more stubborn stains. Simply mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste that can cover the entire ring. Flush your toilet to wet the sides, then rub on the paste. Let the paste sit over the stain for 2 hours, then scrub thoroughly.
Vinegar and baking soda can be used for most ceramic and tile surfaces beyond the toilet bowl. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda, like you would with scouring powder, over your tub or tile surface. Rub with a damp sponge, then rinse thoroughly.
To clean grout, put 3 cups of baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and add 1 cup of warm water. Mix this into a smooth paste and scrub into the grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Then, rinse thoroughly and dispose of any leftover paste when finished.
The addition of vinegar to baking soda can help with pesky film build-up. Vinegar removes most dirt without much scrubbing and doesn’t leave a film. Use 1/4 of a cup (or more) vinegar to every 1 gallon of water. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar undiluted to a sponge and wipe the surface. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
If you don’t already have most of these common household items in your home, they can be cheaply purchased at any grocery store. Make sure you’ve got what you need on hand for the next holiday gathering. Not only will some quick thinking and thrifty cleaning save you money and the headache of a mess, but you may actually impress your fellow party-goers in the process!
Pets are a joy to have in the home, and can add fun and companionship to any household! Especially for those living alone, the cliche of pets being best friends can ring very true. However, with the joy comes responsibility. And when it’s time to take an extended trip, figuring out what to do with your furry friend can be tricky. While some might be lucky enough to have responsible friends who can house-sit or check on pets as needed, sometimes a Plan B is in order. If you’re familiar with your neighbors, sometimes leaving your pet with them might be the best option.
Deciding whether to leave your pets with neighbors requires a serious assessment of both your neighbors and your pet. Not all neighbors are responsible enough to properly care for your beloved animal, and some pets may prefer to board at your veterinarian’s office or at another facility. The temperament of your pet is important to consider, as some animals are not as friendly with others as they might be with you. How well you know your neighbor and their character is also paramount when considering whether or not to leave your pet in their care.
The primary consideration when deciding if you should leave your pet with neighbors is your relationship with them. Having more than a passing acquaintance with your neighbors makes it more likely that they will follow your directions for caring for your pet because, if they do not, your friendship might end. If you’re not sure about a neighbor, or don’t know much about them, do not leave your pet in their care! While he or she very well could be a great person, you have no way of knowing without previous evaluation, and it’s not worth taking the risk.
The personality and lifestyle of your neighbors is also important. If your neighbors are rarely home, have a messy house, and are not particularly warm or caring individuals, they might not properly care for your pet. Anyone you entrust the care of your pet to should love animals, be responsible, and be consistently available during the time that you are away. An absentee pet sitter does you no good when you’re away!
Prior to leaving your pet with neighbors, consider your pet’s health, personality and exercise needs. If you have a particularly needy animal, explain this when approaching your neighbor. Make sure that they understand the importance of whatever special needs your pet has. Downplaying or not properly explaining a particular issue your pet has could lead to an unfortunate situation. Some pets might do better during your absence if they are in a pet care facility such as a doggie daycare center or at your vet’s office. Pets that require special medication, food or supervision might find living in a new residence or having a stranger visit them a few times a day unnerving. This is particularly true for elderly pets, which require more attention.
In the end, what’s most important is to make sure that your furry best friend is in the best hands possible. Don’t be afraid to be discerning and particular when deciding who you entrust your pet to! Doing so will afford you peace of mind, and your pet will thank you when you return home!
Halloween in New Orleans is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about costume ideas! While individual costumes are easy enough, what about the entire family? There are some great costume ideas out there for the entire family to get in on together! When you hit up your local costume shop for Halloween, keep these ideas in mind if you want to dress the entire family up using a fun theme!
Click here for a list of dog costumes from Party City
There are several costume stores, both in town and online, that sell Crayola Crayon group costumes! No matter how many are in your group, you can all choose a color and parade the streets as a technicolor group! It’s a great way to show some unity and allow everyone to express theselves by dressing as their favorite color.
Star Trek spans multiple generation as a family favorite. With the classic TV series, its multiple spin-offs, and the recent movie bridging the gap between young and old, everyone can enjoy dressing up as characters from the series! There are male and female costumes that everyone can wear, with kids and adults being able to dress up as heroes or aliens!
One classic costume that everyone can enjoy is the clown costume! While dressing up the whole family as clowns will give uniformity to your trick or treating adventures together, there are also enough variances in this classic stand-by to allow everyone to express themselves! There are hobo clowns, magician clowns, or the bright colors of the classic clown!
This is a great costume for your family or group, as there are multiple characters from the show, each with a different color scheme! Save the universe from evil while you collect candy on your Halloween night!
Fun for both kids and adults, Teletubbies costumes are silly enough for everyone to get a laugh out of this Halloween! Parade the streets as the entire gang! With colorful costumes that are instantly recognizable, you can’t go wrong!
Sesame Street is a show that several generations have grown up on. With the TV show still going strong, adults can feel nostalgic and children can feel right at home dressing up as their favorite characters! From Bert, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, or Big Bird, there are plenty of costumes to make the entire family look like a part of the friendliest street around!
People still love tales of the old west and the cowboy culture. With western themed costumes available at almost every costume shop, this is a great idea for families who want to add a little vintage flair to a group costume! Men and boys can dress as cowboys, while women and girls can dress as cowgirls or can-can dancers. It’s great fun for everyone!’,’Fun Family Costume Ideas’,0,’There are some great costume ideas out there for the entire family to get in on together! When you hit up your local costume shop for Halloween, keep these ideas in mind if you want to dress the entire family up using a fun theme!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
