Quick tips for eliminating morning madness

Calling all moms: eliminate morning madness
(Courtesy of ARA) – Every mom knows that the only thing to expect in the morning is the unexpected. Between finding time for a shower, getting the kids’ teeth brushed and keeping the dog from drinking out of the toilet, morning madness begins in the bathroom for many busy moms.  According to a recent Scrubbing Bubbles survey, 81 percent of women begin multitasking right from the start, with eight in 10 admitting to multi-tasking more now than ever before.

“As a mom of two, I know the difficulties of trying to juggle everything in the morning,” says Janice Croze, founder of 5 Minutes for Mom. “Like many women, I start my mental to-do list as soon as I step into the shower, so the last thing I want to look at is a dirty bathroom. By utilizing tools that work hard for me and employing some organizational skills, my mornings run smoother.”

Croze is partnering with Scrubbing Bubbles to offer moms a few simple tips to minimize morning madness:

* Prepare in advance – Make the extra effort to prepare lunches the night before for the kids to grab on their way out the door to school. You can also use the time to start prepping something easy for breakfast, like pancake or muffin batter.

* Turn morning hassles into nighttime fun – Picking out outfits is another night-before activity that can cut down on chaos in the morning. Try making it into a ritual after homework and before bed. If your kids are budding fashionistas, let them help choose what you’ll wear, too.

* Choose cleaning solutions that work overtime – Avoid looking around your house and adding cleaning to your worries by finding products that work harder for you. For example, new Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer has active cleaners that keep your bathroom surfaces clean for days. So, there’s one less thing on your to-do list for the day.

* De-clutter as you go – Don’t let a mess pile up in the kitchen sink after every meal. Be proactive – leave the dishwasher open and empty, directing everyone to put their dishes in when they’re done eating.

* Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork – Team up with your family members to make sure that everyone has what they need as they go out the door, from completed homework and lunch bags to gym clothes and cell phones.

Making a night-before effort, finding products that work harder for you, and staying organized will cut down on unnecessary chaos in the mornings. To find more tips to help you minimize your morning madness visit www.5minutesformom.com or www.scrubbingbubbles.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Atlanta home inspector says some Drainage problems are easily fixed

As an Atlanta home inspector, one of the things that I look for on every home inspection that I do is the gutters and where they are dumping the water.  The last thing you want is the water ending up right against your foundation.  

Gutter maintenance is very important and you want to keep your gutter and downspouts clear of all debris and check for any damage or separations that would prevent water from flowing properly through them. Rainwater spilling out on a concentrated area can create low places in your grade and allow water to concentrate against your foundation wall and in time can deteriorate the concrete or concrete block joints. It will also start seeping through cracks in your basement wall and cause a basement leak. 

Where the water exits at the bottom of the downspout is a critical area. It must be allowed to flow away from the foundation. This can consist of a simple splash block or a drain pipe as needed.  Make sure that your splash block is doing it’s job properly. 

If you find that you are having trouble with your gutters or that it is time for an upgrade please give my friends at Affordable Gutters Plus a call at 770-735-4433 and they will be glad to help you out.

Now with all that said and done, when you find your dream home, make sure that you get a thorough home inspection from the Atlanta home inspector, David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections, he serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. Call us today at 404-788-2581 for a thorough home inspection.  We won’t let you buy the money pit.

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Utility/Communication Connection Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!

You can also schedule your own Georgia home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time!

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Our Website: http://www.ihihomeinspections.com

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Infant Deaths prompt Re-announcement of Bassinets

Atlanta home inspector wanted to take the time and share the following child safety information.     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2009 Release #09-319

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

 

Two Additional Infant Deaths Prompt Re-announcement of Simplicity “Close-Sleeper/Bedside Sleeper” Bassinets
Consumers urged to immediately stop using the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 bassinets, including those with Graco logo and “Winnie the Pooh” motifs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is once again urging all parents and caregivers to immediately stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned of two additional infant deaths since the August 2008 safety alert and recall announcements that notified consumers of two infants who had strangled in their Simplicity bassinets. To date, CPSC is aware of four infants who have died in the close-sleeper bassinets.

CPSC learned that in September 2008, a two-month old female in Demorest, Georgia suffocated when she rolled into the adjustable fabric siding of the bassinet, pressing her face into a “pocket” which formed near the Velcro© fasteners. In another incident in January 2009, a six-month old female in Fort Worth, Texas appears to have been fatally entrapped in the bassinet’s bar opening created when the Velcro© fasteners were not secured. An investigation into this infant’s death is ongoing.

In addition, CPSC has received two separate reports involving a 10-week old and a 3-month old whose heads became entrapped between the lower bassinet bar and the mattress support. The infants were freed by their caregivers without injury.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets, including bassinets with the Graco logo and “Winnie the Pooh” motif licensed by Disney Consumer Products, contain metal bars that are covered by an adjustable fabric flap. This fabric flap is secured by Velcro© fasteners, which are intended to be partially removed when the bassinet is converted into the bedside/close-sleeper mode. If the Velcro© fasteners are not properly re-secured when the fabric flap is adjusted, or if the consumer entirely removes the fabric flap exposing the metal bars, an infant can slip through the opening between the lower metal bar and the mattress support and become entrapped and suffocate or strangle. Consumers are urged to check their bassinets to ensure they are not using one of the recalled Simplicity bassinets.

Parents and caregivers are advised to return these bassinets to the retail store where they were purchased. All of the recalled bassinets can pose a danger to infants.

To determine whether your bassinet has been recalled, please check for the model number and the manufacture date code pictured below. Bassinets manufactured prior to 21st week of 2008, “2108” (before May 18) are recalled. The model numbers for recalled bassinets manufactured prior to “2108” are:

The following retailers have voluntarily agreed to recall the product and provide a refund or store credit to consumers who return the product to the store where purchased.

Due to the life-threatening hazard these bassinets pose to infants, CPSC urges all consumers to share this safety warning with friends, family, day care centers, and consignment stores to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.

SFCA Inc., the Reading, Pa.-based company that purchased the assets of juvenile product manufacturer Simplicity Inc. after foreclosure, no longer appears to be conducting day to day operations. SFCA Inc. is no longer answering phone calls or responding to e-mails from consumers.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

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Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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Atlanta home inspector shares a few different home maintenance issues

As an Atlanta home inspector I constantly find different maintenance issues.  In the following video I point out some different items that you can do to maintain your home, which will increase the value whether live there forever or sell it later on down the road. 

 

Check back often for new ways to help maintain your home or different items that you could be doing around your home. 

David Lelak of IHI Home Inspections serves Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Woodstock, Atlanta and all of North Georgia. 

We are proud to offer our new FREE Home Concierge Services where one call does it all, Satellite, Internet, Cable TV, Home Security, and Phone.  Call 1-866-594-4871 and provide them with access code 1008126.  Call our Free Home Concierge Services to save time, save money and simplify life!
You can also schedule your own home inspection today online.

We create Peace of Mind ONE Home Inspection at a time. 

 

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Children’s Necklace and Bracelet Sets Recalled by D&D Distributing-Wholesale Due To Choking Hazard

 

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

---

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2009 Release # 09-247

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 262-9435 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Children’s Necklace and Bracelet Sets Recalled by D&D Distributing-Wholesale Due To Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: “Chelsea’s” Necklace and Bracelet Sets

Units: About 29,000

Importer: D&D Distributing-Wholesale Inc., of Tacoma, Wash.

Hazard: Small parts can detach from the necklace and bracelet when the elastic string break, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves two models of “Chelsea’s” Necklace and Bracelet Set. These two models are “Crayon” and the “Shiny Heart” Necklace and Bracelet Set. Both models have yellow, blue, red, green, purple, and pink crayons or hearts connected by elastic string. Each set has one necklace and one bracelet.

Sold at: Retail stores and wholesalers nationwide from April 1999 through April 2009 for about $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled necklace and bracelet set away from children and contact D&D Distributing-Wholesale to exchange or refund the product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact D&D Distributing-Wholesale toll-free at (800) 262-9435 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit the firm’s Web site at www.dddist.com

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

—

Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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Atlanta home inspector shares home maintenance video

As an Atlanta home inspector most of the time I notice that a lot of the items that I find could be prevented or at least not as bad, if the home owner would take time to do a little more maintenance.  You may think you don’t have the time or funds to do maintenance on your home, but the truth is not doing home maintenance can cost you major financially if not taken care of. 

Need help deciding what to do first and what is the most important items on your list of maintenance, Call 404-788-2581 today and ask about our Ultimate Home Maintenance Inspection. We provide a lot of Alpharetta home inspections, Roswell home inspections, Marietta home inspections, Woodstock home inspections and Canton home inspections.

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Atlanta home inspector “It’s all in the tools”

As an Atlanta home inspector we have certain tools that we use on every job.  We use a pda which we store our computerized home inspection report in, a camera so that we have digital pictures, we use a moisture meter, a voltage tester and all kinds of other tools just to get an accurate picture of you perspective home. 

Every body has a different set of tools and must have common knowledge of how to use them.  I’m sure that each and everyone of you have tools for your trade also. If you’re about to start a framing project you wouldn’t use a trim hammer.  You want to use the right tools for the job. 

Did you know that as a home inspector we give each person that has gotten an Atlanta home inspection done by us a separate maintenance summary so they can use it as a tool to see what needs to be done and what has to be done.  This tool can ultimately save the new home owner a lot of money because they don’t overlook things such as caulking around the windows and door jams to keep water from penetrating the walls.

 As a new customer who signs up on line we also give the homeowner a small new tool kit to help with those jobs. 

Call us today at 404-788-2581 to schedule your home inspection and recieve $500.00 worth of  Gas certificates.

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Atlanta home inspector wants to share “Stimulus Payment” E-mail scam

This valuable ispector shares stimulnformation was sent to me from my parents who received it from their Email service provider.  I know we are all the time getting all kinds of warnings and everything else.  But for a service provider to send this out, there is someone out there who has perhaps already fallen victim to this.  I don’t want it to be me or you.

 

If you need to schedule a great home inspector for a home inspection schedule it here.

 

Also take time to to check out our ActiveRain blog  we have been so busy here that we haven’t had time to post much over at ActiveRain, but there is some valuable information over there.

 

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Atlanta home inspector found this article about Lasko fans

Atlanta home inspector found out that Lasko

Products to Pay $500,000 Civil Penalty for Failure

to Report Defective Fans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty. The penalty (pdf), which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to immediately report incidents about its defective portable fans. recall of about 5.6 million fans.

These box and floor fans were sold between 2000 and 2004. In February 2006, CPSC and Lasko announced the

CPSC alleged that Lasko failed to report to the government in a timely manner that fans sold by the firm could overheat, smoke, or catch fire, and pose fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Between November 2002 and September 2005, Lasko received about 42 reports of fans overheating, smoking, melting, or catching fire, which resulted in nine personal injuries and property damage. Lasko did not fully report the incidents to CPSC until September 2005.

Consumers who have the recalled fans can still receive a free fan cord adaptor, designed to shut off the fan motor if overheating occurs. Contact Lasko at (800) 984-3311, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates any consumer product safety rule, or any other rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by CPSC.

In agreeing to settle the matter, Lasko denies that it knowingly violated the law.

    

 

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Recall of Window Blinds from the Atlanta home inspector

Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall of Window Blinds Sold at Cost Plus and World Market Stores

Released January 13, 2009

Release #09-090

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Roman Shades and Roll-up Blinds

Units: About 692,400

Distributor: Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, Calif.

Hazard:

Roman Shades: These shades have a looped pull cord and exposed inner cords on the back of the shade. Looped pull cords and exposed inner cords on roman shades present a strangulation hazard. 

Roll-up Blinds: These blinds have a looped pull cord and two lifting cord loops that run around the bottom rail. Looped pull cords and exposed lifting loops on roll-up blinds present a strangulation hazard to young children.

 

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported with the Roman shades and roll-up blinds involved in this recall. However, CPSC is aware of the death of a child who became entangled in the lifting cord of a roll-up style blind whose manufacturer and retailer has not yet been identified and at least two deaths involving exposed inner cords on various styles of roman-style shades.

Description: This recall involves four styles of shades, the “Canvass Roman Shade” available in four different sizes (4’x 6’, 5’x 6’, 2.5’ x 6’ and 3’x 6’) with sku numbers 376983, 376984, 376985, 384870; the “Sari Roman Shade” available in two colors (berry and chocolate) with sku numbers 394700, 394701; and the “Buddha or Floral Matchstick Blinds” sku numbers 407376, and 407221. A small tag on the back of the Canvass and Sari Roman Shades states “World Market© Cost Plus, Inc., Oakland, CA 94607, Made in India, 100% Cotton.” In addition, this recall involves other styles of wooden roll-up blinds, with or without valances, that have the following SKU numbers: 404991, 404992, 404993, 400742, 499743, 400744, 400745, 400746 and 358064, 358065, 358066, 358067, 358068.

Sold at: Cost Plus and World Market stores nationwide from February 2006 through August 2008 for between $25 and $60.

Manufactured in: India and China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled window blinds/shades and return the product to any Cost Plus/World Market store to obtain a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Cost Plus toll-free at (877) 967-5362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.worldmarket.com

Note: CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman Blinds and Roll-up shades in their homes. If looped pull cords, exposed inner cords, or exposed lifting loops are found and children are in the home or occasionally visit your home, please consider replacing the blinds or shades with products that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.

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