Spider Bites
July 24, 2012 at 5:14 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: spider, spider bites
Spider Bites
Ok, I may be the only person in America who suffers from Spider bites- but I doubt it. One thing I have realized, the more I get bitten, the more I become allergic. Since I have no other allergies, I am wondering if this is true for all allergies and allergic reactions.
As a result, at this time of year, I rely heavily on my favorite form of protection: Spider Not Spray. This handy little aerosol spray assures me that no spiders will attack me while I sleep, while I sit on my porch, or while I sit on the grass brushing my dog. I spray it around the open windows, on the screens on the porch, and around the grass where I plan to do dog brushing. This neurosis is a result of huge welts the size of quarters that itch like crazy.
Leave a comment telling me what works for you!
Save Time As You Soar Into Summer
June 29, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: cleaning, cleaning routine, List, Summer, Top 5
Summer is here! Time to enjoy the longer days, bask in the sun and relax. Of course, you can’t completely abandon your cleaning routine, and that’s why I’m here to help. Here are my top 5 “Save Time This Summer’ Cleaning Tips
- Take 5 – five minutes that is. I used to devote one evening to tackling the house. Summer is too brief to spend an evening indoors doing that. If I devote 5 minutes twice a day to cleaning, that’s over 2 hours weekly – the same amount of time it usually takes me to clean my first and second floor during my normal routine. You may have to vary the numbers based on your house size and how many “helpers” you have.
- Reevaluate your cleaning routine – I found that I ended up cleaning the same areas (my office desk for example) every week. Sure, the bathroom and kitchen need more thorough attention weekly, but I can skip other dusting chores week this week and it’s fine. For example, switch it up and clean baseboards one week, higher shelves the next. Do this and you won’t miss an area – something I am very guilty of!
- Do you have the right cleaning equipment? I personally don’t like to use a mop and bucket, but that is because of the mess and hassle I associated with this cleaning method. Keep an open mind – there are new cleaning inventions coming out all the time. I’m just lucky I’m able to test them and pass them on to you. The Clean Spin Mop brings the mop and bucket back, in a really clever and even, dare I say it – fun – new way. I tried it and I’m sold.
- Give yourself a break – It’s Summer. Yes, you still have to clean. Give your cleaning routine a break and clean every other week or whatever feels comfortable to you.
- Move the cleaning outdoors – Focus on the deck, pool, patio – you name it. You spend more time outdoors anyway, you might as well make the most of it.
So there you have it – my top 5. I would love to hear yours!
Once you’re done cleaning, get out and enjoy the day – just like I did at the “Red, White & Blue Balloon Rally” in Letchworth State Park in Upstate NY!
Have a great Summer everyone,
Connie
Spring into Salad!
March 23, 2012 at 7:28 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: recipe, salad, spring
Hungry? Good- we have the perfect Spring/Summer recipe for you. It’s light, fresh, easy and delicious. We thought you deserved a break from all that Spring Cleaning. Enjoy!
Simply Sweet Springtime Salad
Simply Sweet Springtime Salad
Ingredients
2 Bunches of Romaine Lettuce Hearts – chopped
Mandarin Oranges – I can (drained)
Black Pitted olives – I can (drained)
1 cup of Croutons
1 cup of chopped celery
2 small leeks chopped(use mostly white end) or ½ small red onion chopped
½ cup of walnuts chopped (optional)
Add ingredients together and toss
Dressing:
½ cup of oil ( olive or canola)
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup of sugar
Salt to taste
Mix well and pour over salad
Ingredients
Never Forget To Set
February 23, 2012 at 5:32 pm | Posted in Current Products | 1 CommentTags: daylight savings, george eastman house, spring
It’s hard to believe, but Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner (March 11th). I LOVE when it arrives, because it means Spring is not far behind. What I don’t love? Remembering to change my clock. Ugh! I have a lot of clocks too. You never realize how many you have until it comes to this time of year (and when we fall back).
What I have started to do is replace my clocks with Set and Forget Clocks.
Set & Forget Clock
Why? Because these nifty clocks remember to do the time switch for you. How cool is that? Another neat feature – they automatically reset if the power goes off. I live in a windy area and my power goes off a lot. It’s a great feeling knowing I do not have to fiddle with those tiny buttons. It also gives me peace of mind knowing that my alarm will always work and be set to the correct time. We have many different models to choose from, including one that projects time on your wall (fyi).
So, now that we are “Springing Forward”, do you have any big plans? We’ve had a mild winter here, but I still look forward to the first tulips blooming, the first 70 degree day of the year (ah, can’t wait) and going outside without a jacket. Patience my friends, patience.
Spring color is coming!
Here’s to a Spring in your step!
-Connie
Resolutions 101
December 29, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: christmas, new years, qci direct, resolutions
Raffling off gift baskets at our Christmas party!
We sure had a fun time at our annual holiday party! We hope your holidays were full of family, friends and fun as well. So, what are your resolutions for the new year? Do you make any? I know some people do, some don’t.
Our resolutions revolve around our customers. We resolve to find the most practical products for you and offering them at the fairest prices. We attend vendor shows across the country, looking for the latest and greatest. We also have some surprises in store for 2012. One of them involves the QCI Guys. We’re bringing them back! You’re going to love their informative and entertaining clips about new items. We also plan to continue with giveaways and promotions on Facebook and twitter, so be sure to like and follow us.
I’ll leave you with a link to an article with 10 tips for keeping those resolutions this year and beyond.
Whether it’s exercising more, eating better or taking more time for yourself, we wish you the best in 2012!
Happy New Year everyone!
Tis the Season!
December 5, 2011 at 8:13 pm | Posted in Current Products | Leave a commentTags: christmas, christmas lights, holidays, light-bulb tester, xmas
How are your holiday preparations going?
My goodness, time goes by fast – it’s hard to believe that the New Year is right around the corner. The following photo was taken at our holiday party last year. We had a “Decorate Your Own Cupcake” bar. It was a lot of fun and pretty easy to do. This is something all ages love.
Decorate Your Own Cupcake!
Speaking of decorating, I put up my Christmas tree last night. It never fails, I get everything out and I discover a dead bulb. Ugh! Thankfully, I had this Light-Bulb Tester. I used it to find the bad bulb in just seconds! It’s really simple to use. I also like the fact that you can use this while the lights are on the tree (or wreath), indoors or out. This is one of those products that is nice to have on hand. Plus, the Bulb Tester works with color and white string lights.
Check out our Light-Bulb Tester!
Now that my tree is all set, I can focus on my second favorite part of holiday prep – baking! Not sure what my specialty cookie is going to be this year. Advice welcome. 🙂
All the lights now work!
Happy holidays to you and yours!
-Connie
Fall Fun
October 13, 2011 at 7:31 pm | Posted in Current Products | 1 CommentTags: fall, furniture covers, outdoor furniture, winter
We were so fortunate in Upstate New York this weekend to enjoy warm weather. The photo you see here was taken at a nearby Fall festival.
It was a delightful day to be outside. Dry, mild conditions also made it perfect for completing those outdoor chores – mowing the lawn for the last time, raking leaves, cleaning out the gutters, etc.
So, what is on your “to-do” list this month? Mine includes putting away my deck furniture. I try to wait until the last possible moment, but that can be a problem.
Last year, it snowed before Halloween. Oops! This year, I will be better prepared.
If you have heavy outdoor furniture like I do, moving it inside is not always possible. Or, you may not have the space. That is also my issue, as I have a small shed and one car garage that really limits what I can store behind closed doors. Furniture Covers solve both problems instantly. I have been using these covers for years. They are the easiest way to keep rain, snow, slush, mud and debris out. Think of it this way – you would never leave your house in the dead of Winter without a coat on, so why would you leave your outdoor furniture uncovered in the same conditions? Enjoy the rest of the season!
Autumn is Apple Time!
September 9, 2011 at 4:34 pm | Posted in Current Products, Recipes | Leave a commentTags: apple, apple corer, apple peeler, apple pie, autumn, fall
Autumn is upon us!
I know it’s still officially summer, but here in upstate NY, the days are getting shorter and you can feel Fall in the air. As Fall approaches, my thoughts turn to fall fun like apple picking and baking apple pies. This year, I wanted to try making a pie with my favorite new apple, the Paula Red. Have you ever had one? It tastes a little like a macintosh but with a hint of a strawberry taste. They are a firm apple, but can get soft when cooked, so they are better suited for a recipe like applesauce (as opposed to a pie).
If you do like making apple dishes, our Apple Peeler & Corer really comes in handy. It saves a lot of time and effort, giving you more time to enjoy the great outdoors. So, let’s get out there and start baking! Need a recipe to get you started? Click here for an easy applesauce recipe for you to try!
Apple Peeler & Corer does the hard work!
Feel free to let me know what you think of the recipe and Paula Red apples. I would love to hear about your seasonal favorites as well, so drop me a line. 🙂
Here’s to a fun Fall!
-Connie
Summer’s Bounty
August 23, 2011 at 3:29 pm | Posted in Recipes | Leave a commentTags: cooking, healthy, recipe, vegetable
With Summer in full swing, it has been so wonderful to enjoy fresh fruits and veggies. For the first time, I have been participating in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable pickup. I prepaid for fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farm for the whole season. I thought it would be a nice way to support farmers in my area. It has been a great experience, trying new vegetables and recipes. Sometimes I have an overabundance, and I share these with my friends, coworkers and neighbors. If you ever get the opportunity to try a CSA, I highly recommend it.
A typical "share" of vegetables - some unusual ones you see here include Kohlrabi (like a cabbage) and Swiss Chard.
The vegetables I receive are organic, but even so need to be cleaned and prepared properly. I use a Fuller Vegetable Brush to clean my vegetables before eating. The great thing about this brush is that it also does double duty, as you can use it as a dish cleaning brush.
Veggie Brush - a must have for cleaning your veggies
I hope you are also enjoying the homegrown foods of the season in your home town. I will leave you with a link to a great recipe for zucchini cornbread.
Stir Fry Supreme - another idea for a quick, easy, healthy meal
Here’s to healthy eating, cooking and cleaning!
Connie
August 4, 2011 at 3:05 pm | Posted in Current Products | Leave a comment
Tags: bug spray, bugs, deet free, mosquitoes, natural
I love spending time outside during the nice weather, but I don’t love the insects that seem to follow me. Have you had that problem this year? I also ran into a bit of an ant issue in my kitchen. We’ve been experiencing very warm temperatures and a bit of a drought here in upstate, NY. I was told that ants come inside to search for water. Be gone I say!
Beautiful flowers, but boy were the bugs out this day! It had been raining the night before, so it was the perfect storm.
The only insect I can’t stand more than ants are mosquitoes. They seem to love me. I’m a bit wary of spraying chemicals on myself, so I was very willing to be the product tester for Buzz Away. This is one of our new items. It claims to be sweat proof, waterproof and Deet free. It also keeps black flies away for up to 4 hours. I tested it one evening at an outdoor concert. I give it a big thumbs up – no bites! It does not stink either, like other sprays do.
I give this natural insect repellent a thumbs up. Easy to apply, long lasting and it does not smell bad.
Some people (like me) seem to be more prone to getting bit than others. If you are in the same boat, here are some tips to ward off biting bugs:
- Mosquitoes love dawn and dusk, so if you can limit outdoor exposure at those times, you reduce your risk.
- Dark clothing is a big draw to bugs, so dress in lighter colors or white. You’ll stay cooler too!
- Situate yourself near a fan. Your scent won’t be detected. I did not believe this one, but it really works!
- Perfume, scented soaps and sweat are a bug draw to these bugs, so limit fragrances and excess activity as much as you can.
- Get rid of any standing/stagnating water in and around your home. It acts as a bug breeding ground.
Hopefully, these ideas will help you keep bugs away!
Enjoy the rest of your Summer,
Connie
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