AZUMA Leasing

Now You'll Know: The History of Black History!

2012-01-26T15:03:00.006-06:00

The majority of the American population grew up hearing about and studying Black History Month. When I was in school, we devoted a whole month to learning the importance of Black History Month, and its purpose. As I've grown, and been out of school, I do not see/hear/discuss this topic near as much as I would like to during Black History Month! Today, I want to discuss a little bit of history, as well as what this holiday means to all of us, just to jog the memory of those of us who don't have it brought to our attention each year by history teachers. :) Black History dates far back into the 1600's. In 1619 The first African slaves arrived in Virginia. Let me be the FIRST to say, how PROUD I am that times are different! We, as a country, have come so unbelievable far! I don't know about you guys, but I am proud to call this place home!

"We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.

Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more than Douglass and Lincoln to show for its significance in black American history. For example:

February 23, 1868:
W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.
February 3, 1870:
The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.
February 25, 1870:
The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.
February 12, 1909:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.
February 1, 1960:
In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.
February 21, 1965:
Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims."

As you can see, Black History Month is one of the most inspirational Holidays in America. It teaches and inspires children and adults of all nationalities. Not only can we establish a more peaceful nation, but by educating the future generations, we're allowing a much easier life for our kids, and grand kids. I'll wrap this up with a few inspiring words from an intelligent man, Mr.Martin Luther King. Until next time, keep it clean!

Feng Shui Your Way Into A Wealthier You!

2012-01-25T13:43:00.000-06:00

Many of us make plans each new year to make changes in our lives! Whether it be dieting, saving money, or being a better person - we all struggle throughout the year to actually make those things happen! One of the hot topics for all American's is the economy. The massive U.S. budget deficit is the gravest threat facing the economy, topping high unemployment and the risk of inflation or deflation. Today I read an article online with some interesting ideas, and I'm going to pass these ideas onto you to help improve the number one concern of all Americans: increasing your income!

Well, that is a good question! We've all heard this term, and are familiar with it, but have we actually taken the time to learn what it means? Never fear, because I did some research so we can all understand it more clearly. "Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. The ancient Chinese believed that the land's energy could either make or break the kingdom, so to speak."

The first and most important step to using Feng Shui to help increase your financial resources is your attitude! By using energy to help increase wealth, you are counting on cosmic forces to bring you positive results! If you go into this experience with a negative attitude, how can you ever expect this method to work for you? It absolutely won't. You must BELIEVE that wealth and good fortune are coming your way; otherwise all other steps are null and void. Next, Choose the right charm. This step is also very important. The charm doesn’t have to be anything specific, just something that you associate with wealth. Even if others don’t understand what a particular charm has to do with wealth, remember, it is your space and it’s up to how you associate the item.

It is very important that you avoid filling the home with items you don’t associate with wealth. This has everything to do with keeping the right positive attitude! If your parents bought a particular grocery product when you were a child and in the back of your mind, you associated that product with being poor (we all know Ramen is the food of poor college students), stop buying that product. The same can be said for clothes shopping. You don’t have to go out and buy a designer wardrobe, but just try to keep in mind when you’re out to cover yourself in brands that you don’t associate with being poor. It may not sound like much, but you must convince yourself that you are worthy of wealth before wealth will come to you. For example, if you're going out to the grocery store, carry yourself differently. Maybe in stead of going in your pj's (like I commonly do) - comfortable casuals would be a good alternative.

Keep in mind that the true objective of Feng Shui is to harness the Chi of the local environment to support us in our goals and desires. It is a science and practice of looking at the quality of a person's life by looking at their living environment and seeking to improve that quality of life by tapping into the natural energies in that environment. This can have an impact on gaining new opportunities and being able to take advantage of them as they arise. Although everyone wants to improve their finances and and make more money, the first thing to review and improve is overall health and happiness. If you don't have those two items, the improvement in finances may be wasted. I hope all our laundry fanatics take these tips to heart! Who doesn't love a little extra cash in their pocket, and a happier lifestyle? I know I sure do! Until next time: live long, prosper, and most of all, keep it clean! :)

Green Cleaning: For Your Clothing!

2012-01-19T14:36:00.001-06:00

It's a whole new year and you know what that means... Resolution time! One of my main resolutions this year is to utilize natural "green" household cleaners, deodorizers, hair/beauty products, ect. and get rid of the chemical-laden sprays and scrubs I previously used! Going green is not only better for the environment, it's also great for your pocketbook! I'll be incorporating posts over the next few months with tips and tricks on how you can go green (cleaning wise) for 2012. This week I would like to focus on our favorite topic here at Azuma: LAUNDRY!

   Did you know you can make your own laundry detergent that works just as well as the manufactured kind you would buy in a store? Even better, did you know you could make that detergent for a fraction of the cost? It's true! With the right ingredients, you could wash your clothes for as little as .003 cents per load! Now let's take a look at this spectacular process, which actually looks extremely fun in a science experiment-type way.
      The first thing you will need to do is gather your ingredients. You can purchase everything you need, a whopping 3 items total, at any grocery or drug store. The ingredients include borax, washing soda, and a bar of soap. That's it!!! Any bar of soap will do, but upon my research names such as Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Zote, and Dr. Bronner's were on the top of most DIY-er's lists. After you get the ingredients it's time for the fun to begin!
   Take the bar of soap and grate it with a cheese grater. Ideally you want the soap as fine as possible, I would recommend using the small side or Parmesan cheese side of the grater. If you have a food processor, I hear that works wonders too! Just grate the soap, then add your other ingredients and pulse until smooth. Otherwise you would just add the other ingredients and stir until well combined. A good ratio for this would be 1 bar of soap (grated), 1 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup borax. From here you can leave it be and use that as a powdered detergent, about 1 tablespoon is all you need per load! Another option would be to liquefy the detergent a.k.a. the fun part.

To make the liquid detergent, you are going to need two extra things that were not included for the powder - water and a 5 gallon jug or bucket. You will first grate the soap as before, only this time you will add it to 4 cups boiling water and stir until melted. Then you will fill your bucket half full with water and pour your soap solution into it. After that, add the same amount of borax and washing soda (1/2 and 1 cup respectively) and mix, making sure you get the bottom and sides. Top off the bucket with some more water and stir once more for good measure. Finally, place a top on your bucket and allow to sit overnight. Stir once more the next day and then, using a funnel, fill a small container halfway (recycled detergent bottles work great of course, but you could also use milk jugs, glass jars, ect). Add more water, shake, and wah-lah - your own homemade laundry detergent, with plenty to spare or share! Using the liquid detergent couldn't be easier, just add 5/8 cups to your top-loading washer or 1/4 cup to your front-loader! There's no denying, whether you prefer powder or liquid, making your own detergent is a great way to save money and help our wonderful planet! So until next time, stay clean (and green)!!!

Last Minute Shopping!

2011-12-15T07:54:00.010-06:00

If 'tis the season for you to put off your holiday shopping for the last few days before Christmas, you are not alone! According to the Today Show, despite $25 billion dollars already spent this holiday season (up 15% from last year), 37 million consumers have not yet started their holiday shopping (I happen to be one of those consumers!).
Here are a few holiday shopping tips that may help to make your season merry and bright...and to get you through that last minute holiday rush!!

The National Retail Federation states that 90% of online retailers are offering free shipping. Equally as important to free shipping is a free return policy. Be sure to read the details of this policy so you don't have to fork out any extra bucks to return an item that didn't work out for you or your gift recipient.
Consider taking a day off from work to do shopping. A week day morning is an excellent time to do some shopping. Not only do you not have to battle the after-work crowds but you get to make the most of your day. Many stores open early and close late during the holiday shopping season so take advantage of this! You may be able to knock out all of your shopping in one day!
Don't rule out shopping on Christmas Eve. Many malls are not crowded because people begin gathering with their families. PLUS, many retailers begin their markdowns on Christmas Eve so there are some good deals to be had if you wait until then.
Crowds aren't for you? Consider shopping online. Many retailers are guaranteeing delivery by Christmas eve on in-stock items. Be sure to check order deadlines for this guaranteed delivery because it does vary from retailer to retailer.
Always make a list. If Santa does it, then it MUST be a good idea! In reality, a list will help you keep track of everyone you plan to shop for. I also write down three gift options for each person so that I know what to look for instead of randomly shopping. It helps to save lots of time!
And speaking of saving, be sure to make a budget. Not having a budget can lead to overspending and, let's face it, who wants to be stuck with hefty credit card bill at the end of the season? Set a target amount to spend for each person on your list and try to stick within a few bucks of that target. You will feel a lot better about the holiday and budgeting eliminates a lot of holiday stress.

Hope these tips make your holiday shopping easier and virtually pain-free! Don't forget to take a minute to enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate and some holiday music. Remember, it's the little things in life that matter most, not the new tablet computer for little Johnny or Jenny. Until next time, keep it clean!!

December

2011-12-02T13:43:00.005-06:00

Welcome to the last month of the year, ya'll!! We made it through another year! December is a wonderful, but hectic month (take a look at all the December words to the right and see if you agree with any of them!!). Things take on a more festive, light-hearted attitude. People around the world celebrate various holidays with a variety of customs, faiths and beliefs. Here are a few fun tidbits about the awesomeness that is our twelfth month of the year.

For those with December birthdays, blue topaz is the traditional birthstone. Turquoise is the alternate birthstone for December.
There are 31 days in the month of December.
The birth flower for the month of December is the paper white narcissus. The narcissus symbolizes self-esteem.
Holidays during the month of December are Hanukkah (beginning December 1st), Christmas (December 25th), Kwanzaa (beginning December 26th) and New Year's Eve (December 31st).
How do you spell December in other languages? Here are a few of them:
Spanish: diciembre
Italian: Dicembre
French: décembre
German: Dezember
Polish: grudnia
Latin: augustus
Russian: Декабрь
December 12th is Poinsettia Day.

Here are a few important and historic dates for the month of December:

1941 - Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
1955 - Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her seat to a white man and not moving to the back of a bus.
1958 - Charles de Gaulle was elected President of France's 5th Republic.
1980 - John Lennon was shot in New York City.
1981 - The first test tube baby was born.
1983 - Lech Walesa, Poland's Solidarity Union's founder, received the Nobel Peace Prize.
1988 - Benazir Bhutto named first female PM of a Muslim country (Pakistan).

Well, there ya have it, a few interesting items about the month of December that aren't wrapped up in green and red! Until next time, keep it clean!!

Give Thanks

2011-11-25T10:23:00.007-06:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day yesterday. Traditionally, the holiday is spent with our loved ones (family and friends) and we all give thanks for the many things in our lives that we are grateful for. But what happens the day after? Do we still say thanks for the great things in our lives? A lot of people go right from being thankful to pushing and shoving in lines at stores to buy "things" that aren't really necessary (they are wants not needs).

Instead, why not keep the feeling of gratitude going by giving to those who have less than we do? If you are off today, why not donate your time and energy at a soup kitchen, food pantry, or nursing home? You may also consider helping out a neighbor or family member with things on their to-do list. Helping others is a great way of passing on our gratitude. It keeps the holiday season positive and full of hope. And isn't that what the holidays SHOULD be about?

Until next time, keep it clean!!

The Benefits of Smiling

2011-11-04T09:41:00.011-05:00

There is nothing like seeing the smile of a friend or loved one. It gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. We feel better when we smile at others, too. It brightens our day and the day of those around us. Did you know that there are also health benefits to smiling? Oh yes! Not only does it require fewer muscles to smile than to frown but it helps keep us healthy. Here are a few health benefits than can be gleaned through the simple act of smiling.

Smiling makes us more attractive. Let's face it, who wants to talk to a frowning, scowling person? Smiles are far more inviting and makes us more approachable. Give it a try!
Smiling changes our mood. Next time you are feeling down in the dumps, try smiling. It will raise your spirits and when that happens, things can turn around for you.
Smiling is contagious. It really is. Try it. Next time you are in a room with friends or family, smile a bright sunny smile. I betcha others will start smiling more, too.
Smiling relieves stress. This really goes back to the idea of smiling boosting our mood. Same concept. Smiling makes us feel happier and being happy releases more endorphins that help us manage stress better.
Smiling lowers blood pressure. When you smile, there is a measurable drop in blood pressure. Don't believe it? Give it a try. Use a blood pressure monitor and write down your pre-smile pressure. Now, smile for one minute and take your blood pressure. I betcha it's lower!
Smiling can help boost your immune system. This could be because when you smile, your body is more relaxed and being relaxed is less taxing on your body. This helps stave off colds and the flu.
Smiling helps you stay positive. Try this test: Smile. Now think of something negative and see if you can hold that smile. It's hard to do!! When we smile, our body is sending a message to our brain saying that everything is a-okay! That's much better, don't you agree?

Some of the best ways to put a smile on your face are to spend time being with the people you love and doing the things that you enjoy. Take time out to watch a TV show that you find funny. Laughter really IS good medicine! Reflect on happy memories by flipping through photos. And one of the things that helps me smile is being with my dogs. Pets can do so much to brighten up your life and they are an endless source of smiles and laughter.

Hope this helps make you smile! Remember - we all have plenty to smile about. Focus on those things and it will make your days that much happier. Until next time, keep it clean!!

Halloween Top Tens

2011-10-26T07:39:00.014-05:00

Halloween is just around the corner so in honor of this fun holiday, here are a few Halloween themed top ten lists for you to enjoy!! And remember, keep it clean (and safe!).

Top Ten Halloween Movies

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Shining
The Silence of the Lambs
Halloween
Poltergeist
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Alien
Night of the Living Dead
The Exorcist
Seven

Top Ten Kids Costumes for 2011

Transformers "Bumble Bee"
Twister (yes, the classic game complete with spinner hat)
Jack Sparrow
Crayons
Captain America
Ballerina
Ghostface
Monster High Characters
Wolverine
Skeleton

Top Ten Halloween Candies

Snickers
Nerds
Tootsie Rolls
Life Savers
M&M's
Twizzlers
Skittles
Butterfingers
Candy Corn
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Top Ten Halloween Songs

The Monster Mash
Thriller
Tubular Bells (theme from The Exorcist)
The Time Warp (Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack)
Don't Fear the Reaper
Werewolves of London
Highway to Hell
Ghostbusters
Witchy Woman
Purple People Eater

History of the Clothes Dryer

2011-10-19T08:25:00.012-05:00

Have you ever wondered where the dryer you are renting from AZUMA Leasing originated? Here is some info about where the clothing dryer came from:

In the early 1800s, clothes dryers were first being invented in England and France. One common kind of early clothes dryer was the ventilator. The ventilator was a barrel-shaped metal drum with holes in it to allow the heat to escape. It was turned by hand over a fire until the clothing inside was dry. Can you imagine having to do that? Talk about a hazard for the launderer!! One early American patent for a clothes dryer was granted to George T. Sampson on June 7, 1892. Sampson's dryer used the heat from a stove to dry clothes and it had a rack for the clothing. This dryer was also a ventilator dryer.

Electrical clothes dryers appeared around 1915. We take them for granted now, but clothes dryers are a fairly recent invention. In 1955, only 10 percent of U.S.households had one, probably because they were fairly expensive. Inventor J. Ross Moore lived on a North Dakota farm in the early 20th century. Tired of hanging wet clothes outside in the frigid winters, he built a shed, installed a stove and hung the clothes there to dry. Over the next 30 years, Moore developed his idea for an automatic clothes dryer. He finally built a drum-type model that worked. He developed both gas and electric models but, due to financial difficulties, needed to find a manufacturer to produce them. After many rejections, he struck a deal with Hamilton Manufacturing Company of Two Rivers, Wis. Hamilton began selling the new automatic clothes dryer, named the "June Day," in 1938.
Here are a few important dates in dryer history:

In 1946, dryer manufacturers moved controls to the front of the dryer, added a timer, an exhaust for moist air, temperature controls and a cool-down cycle.

In 1958, a 30-inch-wide dryer using a negative pressure system was first offered to the public. This system is still used in dryers.

In 1959, dryness-sensors were first used to shut off the power when the load was dry.

In 1965, dryers with permanent-press cycles were introduced.

In 1972, manufacturers put electric starters on gas dryers.

In 1983, the first clothes dryers with delayed start timers allowed users to run dryers in off-peak hours.

Hope you found this interesting! Just goes to show ya, there is always something new to learn. Until next time, keep it clean!!!

All American Foods!

2011-10-14T13:05:00.013-05:00

I don't know about you but sometimes I get a hankering for junk food. Some of the best were created right here in the great USA! Here is a little list of some foods that have roots in our great country. See if any of your favorites made the list!

Corn Dog - This yummy golden goodness on a stick was invented in 1942 at the Texas State Fair. This cornmeal-battered hot dog has paved the way for other fried goodies like fried Oreos, cheesecake, Twinkies and even Coca-Cola.

Philly Cheesesteak - You don't need to be from Philly to appreciate this gigantic, messy sandwich. Fatty meat, Cheese Wiz, chopped onions on a white hoagie roll. Resistance is futile so grab a stack of napkins and eat up.

S'mores - Graham crackers and marshmallows aren't particularly exciting on their own. Add a campfire and a nice hunk of chocolate to the party and s'mores are hard to say no to. They are melty and ooey-gooey which equals a whole lotta fun.

Buffalo Wings - Chicken is usually a pretty healthy form of protein but only in America could someone have concocted the idea to fry wings until crispy and then smother them in hot sauce and butter. As if that weren't enough, they were wise enough to add creamy, cheesy sauces on the side for dipping. No Super Bowl watch party is complete without these.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream - I don't know about you but I am guilty of eating cookie dough straight from the refrigerated roll. Now, add that yummy goodness to some vanilla ice cream and you have a delicious sweet treat. It tastes even better while watching chick flicks with friends.

Hope this list got you thinking about your favorite junk foods. I betcha some of them were created right here at home. A word of caution: don't eat all of the above listed items in one sitting or a tummy ache is eminent. Until next time, keep it clean!!

Giving Back

2011-09-30T10:33:00.004-05:00

Times are hard right now and there are lots of people, families and animals in need of a helping hand. Charitable donations are always needed but even more so in times of crisis. With the economy as it is and many parts of our country being devastated by natural disasters, now is a great time to not only say thanks for what you have but to also give to those in need. Here is some general information on how to get started if you are interested in making donations of time, items or money.

Give to an established charity. Find a charity with a proven track record. There are a lot of bogus groups out there that label themselves as "charities" and just take monies from unsuspecting philanthropists.
Budget your donations. Work your donations into your monthly/annual budget just as you would any other payment.
Keep good records. Most donations are tax-deductible but receipts are required for this. A canceled check or credit card statement for gifts of $250 or less is acceptable documentation for the IRS. For gifts over $250, a receipt from the charity will need to be provided to the IRS as proper documentation of your charitable gift.
Volunteer! In additional to financial support, giving your time and skills to a local charity organization can be just as beneficial to the cause of your choosing.
Consider donating unused or outgrown clothing and household items to a charity in your city. What you may see as an outdated sweater can be a source of warmth for someone who is in need.
The website www.charitywatch.org is a great site for getting more tips on donating in addition to providing a listing of reputable charities that can use donations. Worth checking out before opening up your pocketbook.

Hope this helps to put you in a giving frame of mind. It's always good to help other because we never know when it will be our turn to need it. Until next time, keep it clean!!

First Day of Fall

2011-09-23T10:08:00.008-05:00

Today is the first day of Fall! It's my favorite time of year. The air is crisp, mornings and evenings are cool and the colors of the leaves start to change from green to beautiful autumnal shades of gold, red and orange. Welcome to the Autumnal Equinox!

On the Autumnal Equinox, the sun is right over the Earth's equator and there are equal hours of day and night. From now until the Vernal Equinox, days will remain shorter and than nights. The longer nights aren't such a great thing but that is even more reason to make the most of the daytime hours we do have!

Fall is a great time to go for hikes outdoors. It's always nice to get some fresh air and most trails are beautiful when the seasons change. Be sure to take your camera along! If you are a gardening enthusiast, Fall is the perfect time to plant fall bulbs so that you will be able to enjoy a wide array of Spring flowers! Tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are all good options. And don't forget to plant some garlic! Farmers markets are full of apples, root vegetables, pumpkins and gourds. Try picking some of those items and incorporating them into new recipes. It's always good to try new things!

Hope you are as excited about fall as I am! Until next time, keep it clean!!

Blog

2011-09-16T09:55:00.017-05:00

Azuma Leasing has one. Lots of businesses and organizations have them. Someone you know may have one. They can be funny, serious, provide valuable information or just be random thoughts or ideas. I'm referring to blogs. Blogs are basically online journals with commentary, ideas, information that is updated regularly. Blogging has gained popularity with the increase in the use of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and others. There are even things called "blogathons" where a large number of people get together and blog about blogging. The term "blog" is an abbreviation for the term "web log". Generally, most blogs follow the same general format and include the content itself, an archive of older articles, a place where people can leave comments and list of links to related websites or blogs called a "blogroll". You can find blogs about almost every subject online.

Blogging itself has many incarnations. Some people do video blogs, photoblogs that contain only photos and audio blogs known as podcasting. There is also a form of blogging called microblogging where people just make very brief postings. Blogging has become very popular and as of February 2011, there were 156 million publicly posted blogs. The "blogosphere" is the collective community of all existing blogs. There is even a day called Blogday that is held on August 31st. This was established by blogday.org as a way to get fellow bloggers to interact with each other. On this day, bloggers share 5 blogs with others so that previously undiscovered blogs can be read.

So if you are interested in specific hobbies, causes, activities, schools, etc., swing by their website and see if they have a blog for you to read. You may even be inspired to start a blog of your very own!

Until next time, happy blogging and keep it clean!!

Friday! Friday! Friday!!!!

2011-09-09T09:34:00.011-05:00

Happy Friday! TGIF!!! Ever have one of those weeks where a lot has happened but when you go back at the end of the week to replay all of the events in your head, it's a blur? That's kinda how this week was. We have had a busy week here at AZUMA Leasing (and we like it that way!).

After such a hectic and stressful week, I'm sure we could all use a little R&R. Looking for something fun or relaxing to do this weekend? There are so many options! The theater, parks, shopping, staying in and watching movies - all are good options to take one's mind off of the whirlwind that was the previous week. Local newspapers and news websites are a couple of places to look if you are needing ideas for some weekend activities in your area.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!. Until next time, keep it clean!

Labor Day

2011-09-02T09:06:00.008-05:00

Who doesn't love a three day weekend??? I know I do but have you ever wondered why we have the Labor Day holiday? Here is a little bit of info about it! Labor Day is observed the first Monday in September. It is a tribute to acknowledge the social and economic achievements of our nations workforce. Its a celebration of the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Our reward for working hard and making our country great! The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday September 5, 1882 in New York City and was set up by the Central Labor Union. By 1894, Congress passed an act declaring the first Monday in September the official national holiday.

Nowadays, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. But there is no reason to not get out and enjoy some Labor Day activities in your community. There are parades, picnics, carnivals, fun runs and so much more! Enjoy your long weekend everyone! Until next time, keep it clean!!

Happy Friday!

2011-08-26T09:10:00.011-05:00

Who doesn't love Fridays??? Fridays were made for fun. Things are more relaxed and people are upbeat in anticipation of the weekend ahead. I don't know about you but I love random fun facts and I thought that sharing a few of those would be a good way to get our weekends off to a great start. So, here are some fun little tidbits! Enjoy!

Picasso could draw before he could walk
Blueberry jelly beans were created for Ronald Reagan
It takes 7 shuffles to thoroughly mix a deck of 52 cards
Milk chocolate was invented by Daniel Peter who sold the idea to his neighbor...Henri Nestle
The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant
The word ‘umbrella’ is derived from the Latin root word ‘umbra’, which means shade or shadow.
As an iceberg melts, it makes a fizzing sound because of the compressed air bubbles popping in the ice.
The U.S. has the most movie theaters, but India produces the most movies.
The reason why your nose gets runny when you are crying is because the tears from your eyes drain into your nose.
The first lighthouse was in Alexandria in 290 B.C.
Domestic cats purr at about 26 cycles per second, the same frequency as an idling diesel engine.
A storm officially becomes a hurricane when cyclone winds reach 74mph (119k/h).
There is enough concrete in the Hoover Dam to pave a two lane highway from San Francisco to New York.
Checkmate comes from the Persian word “shah mat”, which means ‘the king is dead’.
La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, is the highest capital in the world at over 17,000 feet (5,181 m)
The Hawaiian alphabet consists of only 12 letters
The name for Oz in "The Wizard of Oz" was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum, looked at his filing cabinet and saw A-N, and O-Z, hence "Oz"
There are no poisonous snakes in Maine
In your lifetime, you'll shed over 40 pounds of skin
Armadillos, opossums, and sloth's spend about 80% of their lives sleeping
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
One gallon of used motor oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water

So there ya go! Hope you were able to learn something new!! Until next time, keep it clean and enjoy your weekend!!

Back to School

2011-08-19T08:53:00.004-05:00

It's hard to believe that summer is almost done and soon, the kiddos will be returning to school with new backpacks filled with new crayons, notebooks, pens and pencils. Soon, it will be back to football games, band practice, after school tutoring sessions and homework (notice that I listed homework as the last item on that list?).
Here are a few things to think about as school bells start ringing class into session again:

Back to school means that there will be more children walking and riding bikes to school. Please be sure to keep an eye out for them especially in school zones or at cross walks.

Make sure that your child is up to date on immunizations. Each state has different requirements so check with your healthcare provider to find out what your student needs.

Many states offer a "tax-free" holiday which means that certain things are not taxable during a set period of time. It's a great way to save money for items your child may need for school.

Kids get nervous when faced with the reality of going to a new class with a new teacher and new classmates. "New" can be scary and overwhelming! Remind your child that many of the other students will be in the same boat and that the teacher will do their best to make them comfortable.

When buying a backpack for your child, pick one with wide, padded straps and a padded back. It will make it much more comfortable for your munchkin.

Another note about that backpack, even though little John or Jenny wants to pack every piece of new school stuff into that pack, refrain from doing so. Those packs can get awfully heavy especially when you start adding their lunch in that pack. The lighter the pack, the better.

Don't forget that getting back to school is going akin to us returning to work after a long vacation. We need time to assimilate back into a normal routine and so does your child. Be patient.

Try to ease your child back into the routine of going back to school by getting them into bed at their normal "school year" hour so they can adjust to waking up earlier.

Teach your child to lay out their school clothing the night before so they won't have to rush in the morning. This will help to eliminate school morning stress.

Hope these tips help out in making the back to school transition a little less daunting! Until next time, keep it clean!!

Summertime Laundry Tips

2011-08-12T09:24:00.010-05:00

Ahhh, summertime!! Time for fun and outdoor activities by the pool or beach or out in the backyard. All of that outdoor activity can lead to some seriously dirty clothes though! What to do when you a scoop of ice cream falls from your cone and onto your favorite t-shirt? Or how should you treat grass stains that end up on your child's shorts after an afternoon of backyard football?
Here are a few tips that may help with those pesky messes you may encounter!

In a well ventilated room, dab some mineral spirits on grass stains (of course, test for color-fastness of the clothing before doing this). Scrub with an old toothbrush and then launder. The stain should come right out!
To remove mustard, ketchup or BBQ sauce from fabric, soak the item in white vinegar for 10-15 minutes and then toss in the washer on cold. *Poof*! No more stain!
Did you eat some greasy BBQ along with that sauce and get grease on your shirt? Never fear, cornstarch is here!! Immediately pat cornstarch onto the grease stain to absorb the offending oil. Let it sit then wash it with the rest of your clothing as usual. The stain will come right out (learned that little trick from my Mom!).
If you happened to get ice cream on your shirt, soak the item in warm water for approximately 15 minutes, apply a stain pre-treater and wash as usual. Launder as you normally would!
Gum can be removed from clothing by putting it in the freezer. Leave it in the freezer for at least 6 hours and then chip away the hardened bits with a butter knife.
Lemon juice works wonders for removing berry stains from clothing. Now, be careful because the acid from the juice may bleach the clothing. Always best to test in an inconspicuous area before treating the stain.
Hydrogen peroxide is very good for removing blood stains from clothing. Soak the spot in HP and watch the stain magically disappear!!
Salt and baking soda make EXCELLENT laundry boosters. On a side note, they (along with white vinegar) are also really good for cleaning your home if you are concerned about using noxious chemicals.

Hope these tips help you and get you and your clothing through a wonderful summer!!! Until next time, keep it clean!

It's a scorcher!!!

2011-07-08T08:17:00.006-05:00

It's summertime and that means more outdoor activities in the heat. This summer has been unseasonably hot which can be very dangerous especially for children, the elderly and pets (okay, so just about the entire general population!!). While you don't need to curtail your activities, it is a good idea to take some precautions if you will be out in the sun for a prolonged amount of time. Here are some helpful ideas on how to stay cool and protect yourself (and others!) from the summer sun and heat:

Try to take advantage of the early morning or late evening when planning outdoor activities or work outs.

Wear loose-fitting clothes that are in a light color to keep your body cool.
Use fans to circulate air to make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned home.
Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer and grab one when going outside. As the ice melts, you will have a supply of cold water to enjoy!
Drink plenty of water or sports drinks when engaging in outdoor activities to replenish the electrolytes in your body that are lost when perspiring.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol since they promote dehydration.
Use products with mint or menthol. Body washes, lotions and body sprays refresh the skin and create a cooling sensation.
Wear a hat to keep the sun off of your face.
Drink chrysanthemum tea. The tea is said to have a cooling effect on the body.
Eat spicy foods. Yep, you read that right! Foods that create warmth in the body enhance circulation and causes sweating that will cool you down.
Dogs are less efficient at cooling themselves than people are. If your dog lives outdoors, consider bringing him indoors during the hotter times of day and be sure to provide a shaded area in your yard for him (like a dog house beneath a tree).
Always use sunscreen. And don't forget to put sunscreen on your pets too! Short-haired dogs are susceptible to sunburn especially on the bridge of their noses, tips of their ears and belly area. May sound silly but it works and can save Fido from a lot of discomfort later on!
Your dogs paws can get burnt on a hot sidewalk or asphalt driveway. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws. If the dog MUST go out, keep the walk very short and keep him in the grass if at all possible.

Hope those tips help to keep you and your entire family safe during the dog days of summer. Now, go grab a cold glass of lemonade and head for the nearest pool! Until next time, keep it clean!!

Happy 4th of July!!

2011-07-01T07:33:00.007-05:00

Monday July 4th will mark the day that the original thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence was signed on that day in 1776 and now, the rest is history! Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Patriotic themed decor is generally colored red, white, and blue in keeping with the colors of the American flag. Communities across the country have parades and fireworks displays (although safety concerns have led many cities to cancel fireworks displays due to drought and excessively dry conditions this year) happen in the evening at places like parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

A few fun facts about the 4th of July:

In July 1776, the number of people living in the newly independent United States of America was 2.5 million.
THIS 4th of July, the U.S. Census estimates that our nation now has approximately 311.7 million people.
Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).
One place with “patriot” in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209).
Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle.
Over $211 million has been spent on the importation of fireworks from China.
The first Fourth of July party held at the White House was in 1801.
The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal.

So there you have it, a few fun facts that you can use to dazzle all of your friends and family at those July 4th BBQ's you will be attending this weekend! Wishing you and yours a restful yet fun Independence Day weekend! And as always, keep it clean!

Water Conservation

2011-06-17T07:26:00.018-05:00

When temperatures soar, so does most people's water consumption. You know what we do - we fill the pool in the back yard, water the lawn, take longer, colder showers etc. Right now, many areas of our country are trying to survive drought conditions which requires mandatory water conservation. Of course, conserving water is not something that should be limited to times of drought. Conserving our most valuable and life sustaining resource is vital at all times (plus, it can save you some money!).

Here are a few helpful and easy tips for conserving water:

When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill up one sink with dish water and the other with rinse water.
Don't leave your faucet running while you brush your teeth.
Run your clothes washer and dishwasher when FULL. This can save you several hundreds of gallons a MONTH. Yes, you read that right - PER MONTH.
When landscaping, use drought-tolerant native plants instead of plants that may require excessive watering.
Switch your shower-head to a low-flow version especially if your shower fills up a gallon bucket in under 20 seconds.
When doing laundry, always match the water level to the size of the load you are washing.
Avoid watering your lawn on windy days. The water will just blow away and evaporate which doesn't benefit your lawn at all and wastes water.
If you NEED to wash your car, try to find a car wash that RECYCLES the wash water.
Washing dark colored clothes in cold water saves on energy and water PLUS it helps maintain your dark colors (a win-win situation!).
When washing your hands, don't let the water run while you lather your hands.
Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge instead of letting the water run cold from the tap.
Shorten the length of your shower by a couple of minutes and save about 5 gallons of water per shower!
When washing fruits and veggies, use a pan of water to wash them instead of letting the water run over them.
Check your home inside and out for any water leaks. Sometimes sprinkler heads leak and waste LOTS of water.

See? Pretty easy, huh? Maybe you can think of ways to save water that aren't on this list and you can share them with friends and family. If we all pitch in, we can save a ton (literally) of water. When you consider that the average American home uses about 260 gallons of water per day (during peak season the average household can use about 1,000 gallons of water in a day), a little conservation can go a LONG way!

Until next time, keep it clean (but save water while doing it!).

Breakfast

2011-06-10T07:42:00.007-05:00

As you can tell by the subject this morning, I'm a little hungry! I violated the cardinal rule of mornings - don't skip breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day! I'm sure you can relate - you get into a hurry, didn't prepare the night before and don't have time to pick something up on the way to work (or you will be late and who wants that?).

Here are a few reasons why breakfast is so important:

Eating breakfast gives you better focus, attention span and productivity
Helps you to maintain a healthy, consistent weight
Eating breakfast has been linked to better learning and cognitive ability
It increases your metabolism
Gives you more energy for your day
It helps your body take in all of the nutrients it needs

Those are all pretty good reasons to have a healthy, nutritious breakfast! And it doesn't have to be something that's crazy complicated to make in the morning. A healthy breakfast can be some oatmeal with some fruit thrown in or an English muffin sandwich with an egg white, a little cheese and maybe a slice of tomato (I personally put spinach and mushrooms on mine...when I am good and make myself breakfast!). A few other easy options for a quick, nutritious breakfast are:

A high fiber, low sugar cereal with fruit
A pita pocket filled with lean ham, cheese and veggies (yes, it's perfectly okay to have veggies for breakfast!)
A cup of Greek yogurt with fresh berries and granola
A fresh, fruity smoothie
An apple, cheese stick and a handful of walnuts
A whole grain waffle with peanut or almond butter and a banana (seriously - try it!)
And if you absolutely MUST stop off for breakfast in the morning, an Egg McMuffin is a good way to go! Yep, you read that right. Tell them to make it with no cheese and it's an even better deal.

Hope all of this gives you a few ideas on how to get your morning off on the right foot. Take the weekend to stop at the grocery store so you can be prepared for next week. I betcha that eating breakfast will make your days a lot better!!

Until next time, keep it clean!

Gotta Get Away!

2011-06-03T14:17:00.008-05:00

Deadlines. Schedules. Activities. Finances. Meetings. Do these sound like a few things that permeate your world on a weekly or even daily basis? Sometimes you just gotta get away and take a vacation! A few days off to decompress, relax and do things that aren't tied to a schedule can do wonders for one's psyche. Times are hard and budgets are limited so trying to vacation on limited funds can be challenging.

One very important ways to maximize your traveling bucks is to be flexible. Most people leave on vacations during the weekend but did you know that you can save some money by leaving during the week instead? Yep! You can easily save some serious cash on airline tickets if you adjust your departure date. Another thing that can help with saving is to plan your trip for the off-season. That can give a substantial savings on hotel rooms and car rentals. Do some research on various destinations. For example, if you have your heart set on a beach vacation, compare prices. You could save a lot by being flexible and choosing Puerto Escondido over Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. And I don't know about you but I have ALWAYS enjoyed traveling with my family and friends. Why not get together and split a rental house on the beach or a cabin near a lake? Taking family and/or friends along will not only defray the cost of lodging but some great memories you can be made together! Nothing like quality time with those nearest and dearest to you. Camping at a national park can be a wonderful budget-friendly experience. There are countless outdoors activities to take part in such as hiking, canoeing and swimming.

Ya know, you can also use your vacation time as an opportunity to volunteer. Giving back can be very rewarding. WWW.globalvolunteers.org arranges volunteer vacations for individuals, couples and families. During your vacation, you will live with locals and work on various community development projects. It's very rewarding and benefits a community of people. WWW.americanhiking.org also has volunteer vacations where trails across the country are maintained, created or improved. It's a good way to get out in nature and enjoy some fresh air!

There ya have it - a few ideas to get you started on your summer vacation ideas! Until next time, keep it clean!

Memorial Day

2011-05-27T09:07:00.007-05:00

The Memorial Day weekend is coming up and for most people, that means barbecuing, road trips, and picnics but do you know what Memorial Day REALLY means or where it came from?

Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day" as a way to memorialize those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. It was first observed on May 30th, 1868 when flowers were left at the gravesites of Confederate and Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The National Holiday Act of 1971 made Memorial Day into a federally observed holiday that is always on the last Monday in May. In 1915, Moina Michael was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" and conceived the idea of wearing a red poppy in memorial to those that have died while serving our nation in times of war. A few years later, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) became the first veteran's organization to sell the poppies nationally in their "Buddy Poppy" program. Each poppy sold was made by a disabled veteran.

Today, most people view Memorial Day as another day off but perhaps we should all give thanks to those that have given their lives in order for us to have that day off. Paying tribute to the fallen soldiers can be as simple as taking a personal moment of silence as a display appreciation or choosing a more visible way of commemorating by placing flags at gravesites, marching in or attending Memorial Day parades, dedicating memorials, sending care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan or wearing Buddy Poppies. As our older war veterans disappear, there will be fewer people to carry that torch of remembrance. It's up to us to keep their memories alive and pass on the importance of this holiday to younger generations.

Until next time, keep it clean.

Bits o' Randomness

2011-05-20T07:25:00.011-05:00

Today's blog is all about random facts. Fun little tidbits of information that you can use to impress your friends and family!

Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.
The average person spends 2 weeks of their life stuck at traffic lights.
During his or her lifetime, an average person will grow 590 miles of hair.
A group of owls is called a parliament.
An earthquake on December 16th, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow BACKWARDS! (how cool would it have been to see THAT!)
The size of your foot is the distance from your elbow to your wrist.
The only letter in the alphabet with more than one syllable is "W".
There are more dogs than children in the city of Paris.
The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 sandal.
If you bite down on a Wint-O-Green Lifesaver in the dark, you can see SPARKS!
A hippo can open it's mouth wide enough to hold a 4 foot child inside.
Look at your zipper. See the initials YKK? It stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushibibaisha, the world's largest zipper manufacturer.
A duck's quack doesn't echo. No one knows why.
Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow a film down so you could see his moves. That's the opposite of the norm.
Your brain is more active when sleeping than watching TV.
"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year!
Porcupines float in water!
The most powerful electric eel is found in the rivers of Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, and Peru, and produces a shock of 400-650 volts.
The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was actually a Captain Kirk mask painted white.
Washing machines use about 22% of the water consumed in the average American home
Clothes washers account for 93% of lost socks in a typical American household.
The clothes dryer is typically the second-biggest electricity using appliance in a household after the refrigerator.

Have a fabulous weekend and as always, keep it clean!!

Mother's Day

2011-05-05T07:50:00.008-05:00

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb

Just in case you need a reminder, Mother's Day is this Sunday May 8th. Mother's Day is typically the second Sunday in May in many countries. Time to do something very special for the mom's in your life. Here is a little bit of trivia about Mother's Day:

96% of American consumers celebrate Mother's Day
Mother's Day is typically the peak day for long distance telephone calls
Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for most restaurants
American's buy 140 million cards for Mother's Day
There approximately 83 million mothers in the United States (better eat your veggies!!)
48% of people say that they are friends with their moms on Facebook
The National Retail Federation approximates the total spending for Mother's Day will be about 14 billion dollars! That's a lot of flowers, perfume and cards!!!

On Mother's Day, we devote various activities in honor of Mom. Most take mom out for dinner, take the weekend off, play games, etc. It's a weekend where pretty much anything that mom wants or needs is attended to. Mothers are special but we all know that. They feed us, clothe us, care for us, encourage us and love us unconditionally. This weekend, show mom some love. Do something special for her and say "thanks" for all that she has done for you.
Make her breakfast in bed. Watch her favorite movie. Do something you know she loves but ordinarily wouldn't have time for.

And don't forget to keep it clean.....you wouldn't want Mom to clean up your mess this weekend, would you?

Take a Hike!

2011-04-28T07:31:00.016-05:00

This is such a beautiful time of year and in most parts of the country, the weather is perfect for some outdoor fun and activities. Why not take a hike? There are lots of state and national parks that are just waiting to be explored. What? Never been hiking, you say? Well then, let me give you some basic pointers because, even though it may seem that you are simply walking outdoors on a trail, there are a few pieces of knowledge that will make the experience so much more enjoyable and safer.

Don't travel alone. There is truth to the old adage about safety in numbers. If you hike with a partner, there is someone to help should you become injured, ill or if you become lost. It just makes good sense to have a friend along for the hike PLUS it will make it a more fun experience.
Know where you are going. Maps and field guides are essential when hiking in a place that you have never visited before. Most state and national parks have a headquarter office where you can pickup a map on the way into the park. Take a few minutes before you begin your hike to do some map reading to familiarize yourself with the location.
Take basic gear. A few essential items to have in your backpack are matches (preferably waterproof) or a lighter, a knife or multipurpose tool (like a Swiss Army knife), first aid kit, flashlight, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, a hat, a rain poncho, extra clothing and an extra pair of socks. I personally take along some emergency blankets (you've seen them - they look like giant pieces of tinfoil). A cell phone or GPS is also good to take along.
Take basic provisions. Water, water, water. In case you didn't get that, take water with you. The last thing you want is to get dehydrated while out on the trail. You will want to pack foods that won't spoil. Things like dried fruit, granola, trail mix, crackers or pretzels, peanut butter, jerky, tuna (in vacuum packed pouches, not the canned stuff), carrots, apples, bananas and cheese sticks are all good options.
Always carry out what you carry in. Take an extra plastic bag with you so that you can put trash in your pack. The last thing you want to do is litter the beautiful trail you are on. Keep your trash with you and dispose of it properly when you return to the headquarters.
Pace yourself especially if it's your first hike. You will be eager to take in the views along your hiking route but you should guard against using all of your energy early into your hike. It's always good to take things slow and conserve energy because you don't know what you are going to encounter along the trail (you might need to run from a ferocious squirrel!!). Let the slowest person in your group be the lead hiker and set the pace. Keeping the slower hiker in front helps in terms of keeping your hiking group safe and to ensure that no one gets left behind. Be sure to take breaks as needed.
Exercise common sense. If you don't know what it is - don't eat it. If you don't know what kind of animal or insect it is or whether or not it's poisonous- don't touch it. If you are tired - stop and rest. If you are hungry or thirsty - eat or drink a little. Think before you act and you will be fine.
ENJOY!!!!! There are very few things that are quite as awe-inspiring as getting back to nature and realizing what a great place we are fortunate enough to call home. Take in a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy the wide open spaces.

Until next time, keep it clean!!!

Play Ball!!

2011-04-20T15:25:00.011-05:00

Springtime always makes me think of the beginning of baseball season. There is nothing like going to a baseball game on a warm, sunny afternoon to sit and cheer on the home-team with while munching on peanuts and hot dogs. Baseball is, afterall, considered to be the great American past time and has a very rich, colorful history.

The origins of baseball are subject to lots of debate. Early on, Americans played a version of the 19th century English game called "rounders" or "town ball". Throughout the early 19th century, small towns formed "town ball" teams and larger cities formed baseball clubs. Alexander Cartwright is credited with setting must of the baseball code that is still used today (and he did that waaaay back in 1845!) Talk about carrying on tradition! The first organized baseball "contest" took place a year after the rules for the game had been adopted. Cartwright's team was called "The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City" (imagine that on the front of a t-shirt!) and they lost to the "New York Base Ball Club". The game increased in popularity and players and teams got together for a convention in 1857 to discuss rules and other issues. By the following year, the first organized baseball league was formed and was called the National Association of Base Ball Players.

By 1871, amateur baseball began to fade and the best players were being groomed to play professionally. Shortly after, the National Association was formed and was comprised of 9 teams and grew to 13 teams less than four years later. The National League took over the game beginning in 1875 and took control over policies regarding ticket prices, game schedules and player contracts. It wasn't until 1901 that the American League was formed (they squired away many of the National League's best players). Welcome to professional baseball as we know it!

Hope you enjoyed a brief glimpse into the history of baseball. Trust me, this is just the tip of the baseball iceberg but at least you know know how it all started!

Enjoy your weekend and until next time, keep it clean!!

Friday!

2011-04-15T12:30:00.013-05:00

It's finally here! The day that most of us look forward to all week - FRIDAY!!! Friday is the greatest day between Thursday and Saturday (hee hee!). It's the beginning of the weekend and our time to relax and unwind. Fridays bring a smile to our face, a spring to our step and a sparkle to our eyes. The troubles of the week melt away and we are faced with the vast opportunities that the weekend ahead has to offer.

Wondering what to do on a Friday night? There are so many possibilities! Get together with friends. Catch a movie at the theater. Visit family. Go to dinner. Go for a walk at a neighborhood park. Play some board games. Go dancing. Catch a live sporting event (it is baseball season!). Put your feet up on the sofa and read a book. Bake cookies. Go bowling. Play miniature golf. You are only limited by your imagination! Whatever you do, make it something fun and enjoyable.

Until next time, keep it clean!!

ACHOO!!

2011-04-08T08:51:00.009-05:00

This is the time of year that makes us want to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. It's all about getting out to smell the flowers, right? You pick that flower, bring it to your nose and then......AACCCCHOOOO!!!! I don't know about you but pollen and various allergens in the air can really put a damper on my outdoor activities. It starts with a nice, relaxing walk out on a trail and ends with itchy, water eyes and sneezing. Who wants to deal with that? According to the FDA, Spring is traditionally the main season when allergies blossom because of new growth on trees and weeds. But fall, with a whole different set of blooming plants as well as leaf mold, is a close second.
Here are a few ideas on how to curb your allergy issues:

Check the pollen count. Most local news stations will have pollen count information during their weather-cast. You can also visit www.pollen.com to get the latest on the pollen count in your city. The website will even give you a 4 day forecast so you can plan your outdoor activities.

Keep your home clean. Regular dusting and vacuuming can greatly reduce the amount of dust and pollen in your home. Changing your air filter on a regular basis can also help to keep allergens from taking over your home. Keep your windows closed on days when the pollen counts are high (another good reason to check out your local newscast!). Wash your bed linens every couple of days to keep the allergens from effecting you during your sleep. And as nice as it is to hang laundry outside, avoid doing that on high pollen days. Stick to using your indoor dryer (perhaps your AZUMA Leasing dryer??).

Minimize your morning outdoor activities because this is when pollen counts are typically highest.

Wash your hands, change clothes and shower after outdoor activities to avoid bringing those allergens into your home. Don't forget to give your pets a wash if they have been outdoors, too. Pollen can collect on their fur and when they shake, all of those spores will go flying around your home!

Use a neti pot or saline spray to rinse out your nose after being outdoors. This is a simple, effective way to keep the allergens from taking over your nose.

Consider getting a HEPA air purifier to keep indoor allergens at bay.

And if things get REALLY bad, visit your doctor. A doctor can run a series of allergy tests on you to find out specifically what you are allergic to so that you can avoid it.

Hope these tips offer some relief if you are dealing with allergy issues during this time of year. Until next time, keep it clean!! No, really, keep it clean so it doesn't collect pollen and dust and you won't have to keep sneezing!

April Fool's Day!

2011-04-01T08:54:00.009-05:00

Happy April Fool's Day!! Rather than try to play a prank, I thought I would give you a little bit of info on this silly little day. April Fool's Day, sometimes known as All Fools Day, is a day where people play jokes on each other (some big, some small) and sometimes concoct elaborate hoaxes to catch a "fool".

Some see April Fool's Day as a turn in the seasons while others believe that it's related to the adoption of a new calendar. Many cultures including the Romans and Hindus celebrated their new year on April 1st. It wasn't until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian calendar) to replace the existing Julian Calendar marking January 1st as the first day of the new year. Many people refused to accept this new date and continued to celebrate on April 1st by sending traditionalists on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing false stories. The practice spread all over Europe.

Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University, provided another explanation on the origins of April Fool's Day in an Associated Press article published in 1983. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine when a court jester named Kugel told the Roman emperor that he could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine was amused and allowed the jester to be king for one day. Kugel passed a law calling for absurdity on that day. The custom caught on and became a yearly event.

There was only one catch to Boskin's theory: he made the whole thing up. It took a couple of weeks for the AP to realize that they'd been victims of an April Fools' joke themselves.

Here are a few famous pranks that have taken place on April Fool's Day -

Taco Liberty Bell (1996) - Taco Bell took out an add in the New York Times announcing that the restaurant had purchased the Liberty Bell to help reduce the national debt.
Burger King (1998) - The "Home of the Whopper" announced a specially designed left-handed burger so that the condiments would drip out the right side. Yes, customers actually ordered the left-handed Whopper.
In 1983, Australian millionaire Dick Smith claimed to have towed an iceberg from Antarctica to Sydney Harbour. He used a barge covered with white plastic and fire extinguisher foam to convince onlookers that he had indeed towed an iceberg.
A Dutch television news station fooled viewers in the 1950's into believing that the Tower of Pisa had fallen. The news station received numerous phone calls from concerned citizens.

So keep on your toes today!!! Keep the pranks light-hearted and fun and until next time, keep it clean!!

Peanut Butter

2011-03-25T08:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but one of my favorite snacks is a PB&J sandwich. Peanut butter is such a yummy, versatile and healthy treat.
To learn more about peanut butter, we first need to start with the peanut itself.

Peanuts are native to the tropical regions of the Americas. The Aztecs used to pound the peanuts into a paste that was not nearly as sweet tasting as the ones we find today. It wasn't until George Washington Carver came on the scene that ingredients like molasses and cane sugar were added to give the peanut paste a sweeter and more palatable flavor. By the way, did you know that George Washington Carver came up with 300 different uses for peanuts? Pretty remarkable! Peanut butter as we know it today comes from a US patent issued to Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, Canada. Edson's process included milling the roasted peanuts between two heated surfaces until they reached "a fluid or semi-fluid state." As the concoction cooled, it entered what Edson described as a consistency similar to "butter, lard or ointment". That doesn't sound too appetizing now does it?! Good thing it tastes pretty delish! There are also some health benefits to eating peanut butter. It may actually protect against cardiovascular disease because of the high levels of monounsaturated fats contained in the peanuty creamy goodness. Peanut butter also contains heaps of protein, vitamins B3 and E plus it has magnesium, folate and dietary fiber. Some brands of peanut butter contain hydrogenated vegetable oils added to make them creamier but this also makes them less healthy. Hydrogenated vegetable oil has been linked to coronary heart disease and strokes. If you are going to eat peanut butter, it's best to stick with the NATURAL kind of peanut butter because those are naturally free of that bad hydrogenated stuff.

Peanut butter has been used in many types of foods such as candies, cookies, ice cream, cakes, brownies, pretzels, stir fry and noodle dishes, sandwiches (peanut butter and banana sandwiches are a personal favorite of mine) and sooooo much more! If you are ready for some peanut butter treats, give this cookie recipe a try!!

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.
Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

Enjoy!! And until next time, keep it clean!!

Play Time

2011-03-18T09:12:00.003-05:00

Remember the good old days when you didn't have a care in the world and played on the swing set in the backyard every afternoon? Homework consisted of coloring and creating fun art projects instead of reading financial reports and analyzing budgets. As adults, we get very wrapped up in our social calendars, work schedules, bill paying and the like. We lose our childlike instincts and forget how to enjoy ourselves. Are you in touch with your inner child?

Think about the things you enjoyed as a child. Did you enjoy coloring in a coloring book? Finger painting? Roller skating? Bike riding? It's important to make time for the things you love because that is what keeps us happy and healthy. "Play time" can help you relieve stress, sharpen your skills, become more creative and brings a smile to your face (and who doesn't want to smile more??).

Here are some ideas to help you get started on revisiting your childhood (even if you do it for just an hour a week!):

Read a book that you loved as a child (Dr. Seuss books do it for me!)
Color in a coloring book
Blow bubbles
Play with a hula hoop
Fly a kite
Jump in puddles
Swing on a swing set
Watch a few episodes of Sesame Street
Wear mismatched socks on PURPOSE
Pack yourself a "kids" lunch to take to work (PB&J, juice box, pudding cup, etc.)
Have a Saturday morning cartoon party complete with bowls of cereal and pj's

Those are just a few ideas to get ya started. Remember, do something you enjoy this week and make it FUN!
Until next time, keep it clean (or NOT if you decide to make mud pies for fun!).

Bucket List

2011-03-07T09:58:00.018-06:00

I had a wonderful dinner with some friends this past weekend and during the conversation, the subject turned to talking about things we would LIKE to do but haven't done - our bucket lists. Most included travel to faraway, exotic locations, daring feats that would obviously be the result of a momentary loss of reason (one of mine fell into this category - see the picture to the right) and other things that are a little less dangerous (like trying flamenco dancing).
It brought me to the question - what would I do if I could do anything in the world and not have to worry about work, money, bills, etc? Here are a few things that are on my list:

Swimming with sharks
Learn to speak Japanese
Ride a gondola in Venice (no - not the Venetian in Las Vegas - I want the real deal!!)
Volunteer more with different charity organizations
Build a house for someone through Habitat for Humanity
Help set up water wells in a country that has no safe drinking water
Hike Mount Kilimanjaro
Write a novel

Those are just a few of the the things I would do if I could. Some are easier to achieve than others but, hey, it gives me something to work towards!

Give it some thought. What would YOU put on your bucket list? Here are some links to help you get started on a list of your very own:

http://superviva.com
http://www.bucketlist.org
http://www.43things.com
http://www.dayzeroproject.com

Have a wonderful weekend! Maybe you can find some time to get started on your bucket list :-)
As always, until next time, keep it clean!

Under Pressure!!

2011-03-04T08:43:00.010-06:00

Aside from being an AWESOME Queen and David Bowie song, being "under pressure" is a drag and, unfortunately, it's part of everyone's life at some time. Pressures at home, work and school can have a detrimental effect on your health. Luckily, there are ways to manage the stress in your life (because, let's face it, there is ALWAYS going to be SOME stress no matter how hard we try to eliminate it). The best place to start is at the beginning - what is causing your stress?
Once you figure that out, you will be able to learn healthy ways to reduce and alleviate stress.
Sometimes it's pretty clear where stress is coming from. Major life changes (the death of a loved one, marriage, the arrival of a new baby) can bring on stress and tension. Prolonged stress can wreak havoc on your body causing rapid heartbeats, headaches, stiff neck/shoulders, back pain, stomach upset and may lead to a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and a list of other detrimental health problems. We all know the signs of being stressed out but do you know how to manage or relieve your stress? Here are a few ways that I personally have found to be effective:

Keep a journal. Write down those negative thoughts to get them out of your head! Imagine the stress traveling from your mind, down your arm and through your pen onto the paper. Once it's on the paper, let the stressful thoughts go and do your best to not revisit them.
Exercise regularly. Even taking a quick 20 minute walk around your neighborhood can do WONDERS for improving your overall sense of well-being. Give this one a try - it's quick, easy and really helps.
Do something you enjoy. Doing volunteer work, gardening, painting, coloring in a coloring book or partaking in any hobby that makes you smile is a great way to reduce stress.
Let the feelings out! Talk, laugh or cry with someone you trust.
Ask for help. Sometimes we take on too many things and don't like to say no to people and this causes us to feel overwhelmed and stressed. If you have too much on your plate, ask for help.
Speak up. Not talking about your concerns and/or needs creates stress. Learn to express yourself in a thoughtful manner so that those concerns are released instead of keeping them bottled up.
Learn to relax. Activities like yoga, tai chi and meditation are known to lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Can't hurt to try, right?
And lastly, when all else fails......LAUGH!!! In the end, sweating over the small things just bogs us down. Why not laugh them away? Put on a silly movie, get a friend to tell you a funny joke or remember a time when you did something sooooo silly that you can't help but laugh. Laughter IS the best medicine!

Hope you will give these pointers a try next time you are feeling some tension in your world. Until next time, keep it clean and don't forget to LAUGH!

The blog is BACK!!

2011-03-01T09:15:00.012-06:00

Did you miss reading the AZUMA Leasing blog? Of course you did - how could you not miss it! But we are back in the game and will do our best to make every Friday more fun, silly and entertaining than before. After all, that's what Fridays are for!

Hard to believe that spring is just around the corner. The first day of spring this year is March 20th. It will be really nice to get some warm, sunny weather and pack away the sweaters and jackets. And of course, all of that packing brings to mind spring cleaning! Not something that everyone enjoys but it is a necessity. When you clean out your drawers and closets and storage units, see what you can donate to organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. If you have large items and are unable to take them to the donation location yourself, you can arrange for pickup of your items - free of charge! You can't beat that deal with a stick! Remember - if you haven't used it, worn it or displayed it in a year - DONATE IT!

I even donated some items that belonged to my dogs to the Humane Society. They will accept gently used collars, leashes, beds, blankets and of course, food donations. We can't forget to help out our four-legged friends, too!

We will have another blog posting for your reading pleasure on Friday so please be sure to check back! Until next time, keep it clean!!

I HEART Cupcakes!!

2010-10-08T10:58:00.010-05:00

What is it about cupcakes that makes most people smile? Is it that a cupcake is a bundle of yumminess in a small, pretty package? Is it the fact that you aren't committed to just ONE flavor of cake or frosting? Or is it the SPRINKLES (yes, cupcakes MUST have sprinkles!)? What has me in this cupcake fantasy world, you may ask? Last night I was looking through my cupcake recipe book to see what delightful little cakes I should make for a football game party at a friends house this weekend and I found it so hard to decide what to make! Do I make vanilla cakes? Chocolate? Strawberry? Lemon? All of the above? And should I put the same kind of frosting on all of them? So many options! Then I got distracted because I started to wonder WHERE cupcakes originated so I started looking online to see if anyone knew. I found that the term "cupcake" was first used in a book of recipes from 1828 and since hearth ovens were used primarily around the turn of the 20th century, muffin tins were used to bake cakes because they required less time to bake than a large cake. According to the Food Timeline website, food historians are unsure of the origin of the name CUPCAKE - could be because they were baked in cups (before the muffin tin came along) or if it is because the ingredients used to make the cakes were measured out by the cup. Either way, I am soooo glad that someone came up with the concept! And after reading about cupcakes, I decided to run to the cupcake shop around the corner from my house and get myself a treat to eat while I decided on what to bake. In the end, I decided to make chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles (told ya, GOTTA have sprinkles!!) and strawberry with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries on top. I think everyone will enjoy them!

Enjoy your weekend and keep it clean!

First Day of Fall

2010-09-22T10:20:00.009-05:00

Today is the first day of fall!!! It really doesn't FEEL like it though (it's still kinda warm in most areas of the country). I know there is a lot of technical science stuff behind the change of seasons but I prefer to think of it simply as a beautiful change to our everyday scenery. It will be very nice to see the colors in the landscape change and to feel the air turn crisp. The fall season brings to mind so many different things - football (yes, I know, I have mentioned that before!!), pumpkin carving, a warm mug of apple cider, gingerbread cookies, long walks in the park while wearing a SWEATER. What does autumn call to mind for you? It's a little premature but as soon as I can pile up some leaves, I'm jumping right in!!!

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone and be sure to keep it clean!!

FOOTBALL!!!!!

2010-09-10T15:25:00.009-05:00

It's here!!!!! Football season is upon us. I know football isn't for everyone but for many, it signifies the end of summer. There is nothing better than going to a football game on a chilly Friday night with a thermos of hot chocolate and a blanket. Don't like braving the elements to take in a game? Watch it at home with your family or a few friends. Prefer getting in on the action? Play some flag football over the weekend. Do you like being more hands on? Help coach a pee-wee football team. One can learn a lot from watching football. It takes teamwork and a combined effort to get that ball into the endzone or to keep your opponent from scoring. Football is a little bit like life - you have to have good teammates to support you, it takes a lot of work to keep moving forward but every once in a while, if you are lucky, you catch a Hail Mary pass and score the winning touchdown.

So go on, get out there! Toss the ball around. Get some grass stains on your jersey. Afterall, life's a game so have some fun!

Until next time, keep it clean (ish - grass stains, remember?).

Happy 10th Anniversary, BJ!!!!

2010-09-01T10:56:00.006-05:00

Friday the 13th!

2010-08-13T08:39:00.007-05:00

Happy Friday the 13th guys!!!! I know today is supposed to be a day full of bad luck but I tend to believe that luck is what you create yourself.
Ever wonder where the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th came from? There really is no written evidence for Friday the 13th superstition until around the 19th century. Some people think that it's the combination of two old superstitions - 13 being an unlucky number and Friday being an unlucky day (Friday? Unlucky? That's the best day of the week!!). One theory is that in numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus. The number thirteen was considered to be irregular. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.
Can you believe that the British Medical Journal even did a study on this back in 1993? The study was titled "Is Friday the 13th Bad for Your Health?" . Yep, a study done to find "the relation between health, behaviour, and superstition surrounding Friday 13th in the United Kingdom". The study found that, even though many people chose to NOT drive their cars on Friday the 13th, there were more vehicular accidents than on other "normal" Fridays. Isn't that crazy?
If you don't feel like tempting fate, have that bowl of Lucky Charms cereal, listen to Stevie Wonder sing "Superstitious", stick a rabbit's foot in your pocket, avoid black cats and walking under ladders!! I'm going to head home and watch the classic Friday the 13th movie instead :-)

Until next time, keep it clean!

Rain!

2010-07-28T16:23:00.004-05:00

Lots of rain the last couple of days! For the most part, lots of folks have been stuck indoors. I know I got to do some laundry last night (with my handy-dandy Azuma washer and dryer!!) and watched a movie.
Want a few ideas for things to do when it's raining outside? Give these a whirl"

Take some pictures outdoors - I know, not exactly an indoors activity but there are some really beautiful things to take pictures of if you don't mind getting a little soggy.
Catch up on some reading.
MOVIE MARATHON!!! (One of my personal favorites!).
Play board games.
Bake something! Nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies in your home to chase away the blues.
Spend time on your hobbies.
Clean out your closet or dresser drawers.

Those are just a few ideas. See what kind of rainy day fun you can come up with!

Until next time, keep it clean!

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

Today marks the day that, during the American Revolution, the original thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was signed on this day in 1776 and the rest is history! Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Patriotic themed decor is generally colored red, white, and blue in keeping with the colors of the American flag. Communities across the country have parades and fireworks displays happen in the evening at places like parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.
So why are you sitting around reading this blog? Get out and enjoy some July 4th activities! Go to a BBQ or take in a baseball game or a patriotic themed concert in the park!

Until next time, keep it clean and enjoy our nation's birthday!

Photos from NAA Conference!

2010-07-02T08:18:00.009-05:00

Hello out there! The NAA Conference in New Orleans was a HUGE success! There are some great photos of the conference and of the AZUMA Leasing booth posted on our Facebook page.

Check out our photo album at:

http://bit.ly/cIF8lh

AZUMA in The Big Easy!

2010-06-17T16:31:00.016-05:00

It's summertime and things sure are hopping around the AZUMA office. One thing that we are all very excited about is the National Apartment Association Conference and Exposition being held in New Orleans this week! The conference brings together over 5,000 professionals from the multi-housing industry for training and networking. It's an exciting event and AZUMA Leasing is proud to be a Platinum sponsor! A few members of our AZUMA family are attending the conference and look forward to being on hand to answer questions about our service and our products. If you happen to be in New Orleans today through Friday, drop by our booth (Jessica, Danny and our President/COO, BJ will be in booth number 913) and say hello!

Until next time, keep it clean!

Exciting AZUMA News!

2010-06-17T16:31:00.008-05:00

AZUMA Leasing is very pleased to announce that Phillip E. Bogucki has joined our company as Vice President of Sales. Mr. Bogucki is a 19-year veteran of the leasing industry specializing in appliance rentals to apartment tenants. He most recently served as an executive with the Boston-area based Mac-Gray Corporation. Mr. Bogucki is known in the industry for improving operating income and high customer service ratings. AZUMA President B.J. Rosow said, "AZUMA is honored that someone with Phil's industry stature chose AZUMA Leasing as his new home. Phil's standards for quality and service match those of AZUMA and we are excited to join forces with him as we continue our longstanding commitment to serving our customers."

AZUMA Leasing and all it's employees would like to give a warm welcome to Mr. Bogucki! Welcome aboard, Phil!

Happy Friday!

2010-05-21T09:31:00.007-05:00

It's that time again......FRIDAY!! I'll try to contain my enthusiasm but I'm sure I'm not alone in my love of Friday's.
Not sure what to do on a Friday night? Here are a few suggestions:

Have some friends over for game night! Balderdash, Taboo, even the old standard Charades are always good for a few laughs. Ask your friends to bring over some snacks and make it a potluck game night. It's inexpensive and is a guaranteed good time.
Head downtown! Take a walk and find a restaurant that has outdoor dining. People watching is always good entertainment.
KARAOKE! I have several friends who LOVE doing this and it always makes for a fun evening. The good thing about karaoke is that you don't have to be the world's greatest vocalist to enjoy it. If you aren't shy, give this one a try!
Enjoy some live entertainment in your city. Go online and see who is playing at different music venues around town or maybe find out if there is a comedy club where you can check out some up and coming comedians. If you're lucky, you may even be able to find some FREE shows around town (and how can you possibly say no to that??).
Go to a movie. I know, I know - you do this all the time but there is something relaxing and enjoyable about sitting in a theater while noshing on popcorn. Invite a big group of friends to see a silly movie and blow off some work-week steam. Or if you don't want to go out for a movie, invite them over and have a "themed" movie night complete with snacks. Idea - if you will be watching 80's flicks like Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles have foods you would have had back in the day like PB&J sandwiches, Capri Sun juice, Fruit Roll Ups, Pizza Rolls. You get the idea.

Well, hope these ideas help you come up with your own Fun Friday plans! Remember, do what you like and like what you do and a good time is just around the corner.

Until next time, keep it clean!!

AZUMA News!!

2010-05-12T16:29:00.013-05:00

On May 10th, AZUMA Leasing began providing washer and dryer rentals in the Richmond, VA area!! We are very excited to be a part of such a historic community!

A few historical tidbits of information about the lovely city of Richmond:

The Powhatan Indians inhabited much of the Richmond area until 1607.
Richmond became a settlement between 1607 and 1609.
The city of Richmond is named after the London suburb of Richmond-upon-Thames and was given this name by William Byrd II.
Richmond served as a trading post trading furs, hides and tobacco until it became a city in 1742 and later became the state capital in 1782.
In May 1861, Richmond was declared the Capital of the Confederacy

Richmond boasts many attractions devoted to it's historically-rich and diverse culture.

The Historic Downtown section has cobble-stone streets and homes that were once occupied by Edgar Allan Poe amongst others.

Maymont Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful urban parks in the country. The land for Maymont Park was donated to the city of Richmond by a wealthy landowner and now has numerous fountains, an Italian-inspired garden and a peaceful Japanese tea garden. There is also a petting farm for children with sheep, lambs, chickens and other animals.

The American Civil War Center and Richmond National Battlefield Headquarters is the site of the iron foundery that supplied items to the Confederate Army. The goal of the center is to be the definitive museum on the Civil War and showcases information and items from both sides of the battle.

The White House of the Confederacy was the mansion used by Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War.

Interested in a walking tour? Swing down to Monument Avenue to walk the old brick roadway and take in the statues and beautiful homes.

What's not to love about Richmond? With it's history and charm, AZUMA Leasing is very happy to add Richmond to our AZUMA family.

Until next time, keep it clean!

A Brief History of the Washer

2010-05-07T09:45:00.002-05:00

Ever wonder how we went from pounding and rubbing our clothes on rocks to the slick, in-home washers we have today? I was wondering that myself and decided to do a little research (afterall, we are in the business of renting washers and dryers so it only makes sense to know how we came to have the equipment we rent!).

A looooong time ago, people use to take their clothing and linens to a nearby river to wash them. Rubbing the laundry on rocks helped to flex the cloth and make it easier for soap (made of animal fat) to penetrate the fibers to get it clean. This eventually led to the advent of the wash board but this still required rubbing the clothes but at least a basin of water could be used instead of a river! People traveling by water would sometimes place their clothing in a bag, toss it over the side of the ship and let the ship drag the bag through the salty water for several hours.

In the early days before running water, gas or electricity, doing laundry was very laborious and time consuming. Imagine (if you can) - one wash, one boiling and one rinse use to use approximately 50 gallons of water (that's the equivalent of about 400 pounds). The water wasn't in your home so you had to pump it from an outdoor well and then carry that water inside to be heated on your woodburning stove and THEN transfer the water to the wash basin to START the wash process. To conserve time, many women would reuse the warm soapy water after the least soiled clothing was washed, then use it for progressively dirtier clothing. And when all of that was done......you'd get to do it all over again! WHEW!!

The earliest washing machines had tubs made of wood. Later, metal tubs allowed a fire to burn below the washtub to keep the water warm during the washing process. Electricity was not common in many households until the 1930's so most washers were hand operated. Later, automatic washers were connected to sink taps to have a temporary water supply attached. By 1940, 60% of electrically wired homes had an electric washing machine. Water removal by spinning didn't come into play until electric motors were developed since spinning requires that the tub be moving constantly to properly wring out the clothing and by the 1950's, most American manufactured washing machines had a spin-dry feature. A University of Montreal study found the advent of the washing machine to be an important milestone in the liberation of women. Women were now able to enter the workforce because they were free from the drudgery of doing the wash!

In the last century, washing machines have gone from being a luxury to being an item of daily necessity in most households.

Hope you enjoyed the little history lesson! Until next time, keep it clean (which is a lot easier now that you don't have to beat your clothes on rocks!).

National Arbor Day

2010-04-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

April 30th is National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a nationally recognized celebration to preserve and care for trees. Trees play an integral part in our day to day lives. They provide foods that we eat, give shade to shield us on a hot, summer day, clean the air that we breathe (trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air) and countless other things.

A little bit about Arbor Day:
It was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska.
An estimated one MILLION trees were planted on the first Arbor Day (that's a lot of trees!!).
Arbor day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April (although each state has its own state Arbor Day holiday as well).

There are many ways to celebrate Arbor Day. How about........

Organizing a beautification project in an area park or schoolyard
Ask co-workers, friends and family to recycle paper (newsprint, magazines, etc.) and for every pound recycled, plant a tree
Take a walk with your family or friends and see how many different kinds of trees are in your area
Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization to make a difference in the quality and beauty of your community
Plant a fruit tree in your backyard
Visit a botanical garden and take in a lecture on caring for trees

Trees do some pretty amazing things for our environment. Did you know that ONE tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces in 25, ooo miles? Or that trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves? Or how about trees cutting down on noise pollution by acting as natural sound barriers (and they are MUCH prettier to look at than a large noise reduction wall!). Makes ya wanna go hug a tree, doesn't it?

For more information on Arbor Day and tree preservation, check out the following websites:
National Arbor Day Foundation – www.arborday.org
American Forests – www.americanforests.org

Until next time, keep it clean! Now get outta here and go plant a tree!

Earth Day

2010-04-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! Earth Day was created to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment. The very first Earth Day celebration was on April 22, 1970. The celebration has been expanded in many communities across the country (and the world) as EARTH WEEK (April 16th through April 23rd). All of these celebrations focus on environmental issues and ways we can ALL make a difference to preserve our planet.
There are so many things that we can do to make that happen. Ya know the phrase "reduce, reuse and recycle"? That's just the tip of the iceberg but it's a GREAT place to start!
REDUCE - Think twice about the number of goods you purchase. Do you REALLY need to buy that book or can you check it out from your local library? Are you able to walk to the grocery store instead of driving thereby reducing the amount of gas you consume? Install a low-flow shower head to reduce your water consumption.
REUSE - Instead of tossing things out because they are worn out or stained, etc., find a new use for the item. Be creative!! How about covering old cereal boxes with brown paper and using them as shipping boxes for sending items to friends and family? It works and it saves you a couple of bucks on a new box for shipping. Try using coffee grounds and tea leaves as natural plant fertilizer. Instead of tossing out those nylon mesh vegetable bags (you know the ones that bulk onions and some citrus fruits are packaged in), wad it up and use it as a scrubber for various cleaning tasks around the house. Buy a stainless steel water bottle and refill it with water instead of buying a plastic water bottle (you are REDUCING the amount of plastic for recycling and REUSING the water bottle by doing this!!).
RECYCLE - Take old magazines to work for others to read while on lunch breaks or take them to local bookstores for reselling. Make a compost pile in your backyard with organic matter that you have leftover from your kitchen (egg shells, vegetable and fruit peels, etc.). You can then use the nutrient rich compost to fertilize the veggie garden you started so you don't have to drive to the grocery store (you see where I'm going with this?).

All of these things are SIMPLE and INEXPENSIVE. It's really about making small changes and then working towards the larger ones. So think about it, give it a shot and help preserve this wonderful place we all call home.

Until next time, keep it clean!

Drum Roll, Please!!

2010-04-20T10:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you all are anxious to find out what the new name is for our adorable mascot. After a week of receiving votes from all of our customers, the winner is ...........

SUDZ!!!!!

Isn't that a terrific name? Everyone here at AZUMA Leasing is happy to have a name for the little guy and would like to thank everyone that participated in the vote. I'm sure that Sudz would also thank you if he could!

Keep an eye on future blogs because I will likely have lots of stories to share about our buddy Sudz!

Until next time, keep it clean (but before you leave, check out a little dog trivia)!

An American Animal Hospital Association poll showed that 33% of dog owners admit that they talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages on an answering machine while away.
At the end of the Beatle's song " A Day in the Life", an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog.
Dogs have fewer taste buds than people - probably fewer than 2,000! It is the smell that initially attracts them to a particular food.
Every year, $1.5 billion is spent on pet food. This is FOUR TIMES the amount spent on baby food!

Bow Wow!!

2010-04-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, AZUMA Leasing needs your help! See the adorable little guy on the left? He's been our mascot, pet and buddy for years but he does NOT have a name (shame on us!). AZUMA Leasing is asking you to help us pick a name for him. The names to choose from are: Max, Zeke, Sudz, Jake, and Sammy (pretty cute, huh?). To cast your vote, simply visit www.azuma.com, follow the link at the bottom of the screen and cast your vote for your favorite name! When the voting ends, I will enter the puppy's new forever name here in our blog.

In honor of our much loved mascot, here is a healthy peanut butter treat that you can share with that special pooch in your life (and they are super easy to make!).

Ingredients:

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. spelt flour (if you don’t have it, use wheat flour in its place)

1 c. quick-cooking rolled oats

2 TBSP flax seeds

1-1/4 c. warm water

1/4 c. natural peanut butter (crunchy or smooth - leave that up to your doggy!)

Directions:

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Next, mix the flour, oats and flax seeds in a large mixing bowl.

Add the peanut butter and stir in the water.

Knead the dough (should feel like Play-Doh) on a lightly floured surface. You want to add in more flour, little by little, until the dough is no longer sticky.

Roll out the dough until it’s approximately 1/4″ thick. Bring out those cute cookie cutters you have been stashing (bones, fire hydrants, flowers, etc.) and cut into cookies.

Bake for 20 minutes and then turn your oven off. By allowing them to cool in the oven, you’ll get crunchy biscuits!

Makes 24 biscuits (depending on the size of the cookie cutters you use!).

I hope your pup enjoys them! Until next time, keep it clean!

Springtime!

2010-03-25T17:03:00.000-05:00

March 20th marked the first day of SPRING! So many things come to mind when one thinks of spring: flowers blooming, trees getting a fresh crop of green leaves, warmer weather. One thing that also comes to mind is SPRING CLEANING. Need a washer and dryer to help with some of that cleaning? Call AZUMA Leasing at 800/707-1188 (or visit our hassle-free website - www.azuma.com) and get started on tackling all of your spring-time laundry. I don't know about you, but every spring I pull out all of my warmer weather clothes from storage and stick the winter stuff in it's place. Having a washer and dryer makes it so much easier to get that chore done (I mean - who wants to smell like stale clothing?).
Spring is a time of renewal and growth for all living things. It puts a spring (no pun intended!) in our steps and a smile on our faces. Springtime moves us back outdoors after being cooped up all winter. It's THE perfect time to get out and do some gardening (an organic veggie garden, perhaps?) or to take long walks in the park.
So, find some fun stuff to do and get out there! Enjoy the longer days and fabulous weather or take the time to renew yourself and your home by recycling or donating all of those unused items you have been keeping in your home so you can spring forward into the great season ahead.

Until next time folks, keep it clean!

Rats!

2010-03-12T14:13:00.000-06:00

Ever have one of those days when you KNOW you shouldn't eat fast food/junk but you just can't help yourself? Or you reach for a doughnut for breakfast when you KNOW you should be having oatmeal and fresh fruit? Yep. That's how it has been for lots of folks here at AZUMA Leasing this morning. What is it about fast food that makes us crave it? It's not good for us and has little or no nutritional value. According to sciencenews.org, junk food may be addictive (so THAT'S why I want pizza every Friday night!!). A study performed on rats at the Scripps Research Institute shows that the area of the brain that senses pleasure is effected by the high-fat and high-calorie diets. The more junk the poor little rats ate, the more they wanted and the more they needed to get the same pleasurable sensation. Interested in learning more about the study? Check out the link to the article here (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/48605/title/Junk_food_turns_rats_into_addicts). It's pretty interesting stuff (and you will undoubtedly feel some sympathy for the little rats)!
In the long run, all we gain with the frequent trips through the drive through and local bakery is WEIGHT and high blood pressure and diabetes and......shall I go on??
So when looking for something quick for dinner, forgo the burger and pickup a salad. Better yet, visit eatingwell.com for some great recipes!!

Until next time my friends, keep it clean!!

Snow Day

2010-02-26T13:33:00.000-06:00

Can you believe we had SNOW on Tuesday? It looked like we were inside of a snowglobe!! People were bundled up in their coats, hats and scarves (items that they probably received as Christmas gifts but hadn't had the opportunity to use!). But, you know the stories you hear about Texas weather changing at the drop of a hat? It's true! The snow was kinda light and the flakes were big but it was a special treat for us. There is something about snow that brings out the child in everyone. People tossed snowballs at each other and built snowmen (okay, they were itty bitty mini snowmen but snowmen, nonetheless). We had a momentary winter wonderland.
The next day, it was sunny and BEAUTIFUL!! You would never have guessed that we had snow the day before. As wonderful as the sunny weather is, there was something special about our snow day. Snow seems to slow people down and help them to appreciate the simple things - a nice warm mug of hot chocolate (can't forget the marshmallows!), a warm coat, the laughter of a loved one. Maybe snow days are meant to make all of us take a deep breath and enjoy life.

Until next time folks, keep it clean.

TGIF!

2010-02-19T13:23:00.000-06:00

TGIF!!! Ever have one of those weeks where a lot has happened but when you go back at the end of the week to replay all of the events in your head, it's a blur? That's kinda how this week was. I'm sure you have heard by now of the plane that was intentionally crashed into an IRS building here in Austin. I won't sensationalize it by talking about it but it's just a relief that more people weren't hurt.

After such a hectic and stressful week, I'm sure we could all use a little R&R. Looking for something fun or relaxing to do this weekend? There are so many options! The theatre, parks, shopping, staying in and watching movies - all are good options to take one's mind off of the whirlwind that was the previous week. Local newspapers and news websites are a couple of places to look if you are needing ideas for some weekend activities in your area.

We have had a busy week here at AZUMA Leasing (and we like it that way!). Check out our website (www.azuma.com) if you are in need of a washer and dryer. You can also call our customer service department at 800/707-1188 if you prefer setting up your delivery by phone. We are open Monday through Friday so we are going to go home this weekend, recharge our inner batteries and be back bright and early Monday morning to assist our customers.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, keep it clean!

Green

2010-02-10T08:21:00.000-06:00

We are supposed to get a bit of a cold snap in the next day or so - maybe even a little SNOW (although we are being told by weather forecasters that if we DO get snow, it won't stick). The wet, sleety weather should clear up for the weekend. The Austin Marathon is this Sunday (Valentine's Day) so I'm sure all of those runners will welcome the cool but not wet conditions. The Austin Marathon is one of the "greenest" marathons in the country according to Runner's World. That's a big nod for our city and our efforts to go green. Curious about the Austin Marathon? Check out the write up at Environmentally-Friendly Races at Runner's World.com. AZUMA Leasing is also doing it's part to go green. We are now providing our customers with paperless invoices and lease agreements. Not only does it cut back on the amount of paper that we are contributing to landfills, but it cuts back on energy costs (less electricity is used in the printing, folding, mailing of the invoices AND the US Postal system has a few thousand less bills to deliver so it may save on gas and emissions). It's a small step but it is a step in the right direction. There are lots of small things that we can all do to protect our environment and produce less waste - using "green" bags instead of plastic bags when shopping, reading newspapers online instead of getting the traditional kind on newsprint, buying used books instead of new, buying locally grown foods. Going green is also a good way to get creative and reuse things or repurpose them (turn an old T-shirt into a green bag or a pillow case!). Little steps can make a BIG difference. Give it a try and see what unique things you can do to save money and the environment. (How about getting an in-unit washer and dryer from us? Renting from AZUMA Leasing will help you save gas, release fewer emissions into the air and MONEY). Give us a call at 800/707-1188 if you would like to set up a delivery and get started on saving some "green"!

Until next time, keep it clean!!

Game Time

2010-02-05T08:04:00.000-06:00

Last week I mentioned how wonderful the weather had been here in Austin. No sooner had that blog been posted when we got a good soaking and some cold weather (well, cold by Texas standards. It was about mid-40's for a few days in a row - BRRRR!!). Today is the first day that it hasn't been raining cats and dogs. (Speaking of dogs, check out my buddy Rover at his Twitter page - http://twitter.com/AzumaRover). The cold, icky weather kept me indoors for a few days. Watched some TV, read some books, did some laundry. Not only do I work at AZUMA Leasing but I am also a customer! It was pretty nice to have the washer and dryer in my home and not have to worry about going to the laundromat in less than favorable weather. If you want to get a set for yourself, give AZUMA Leasing a call at 800/707-1188. We are more than happy to get you set up with a set of your own!

The Super Bowl is this weekend! YAY!! Time for friends and family to gather and watch some good, all-American football. The Super Bowl has almost become a national holiday of sorts. People plan for MONTHS on what they will serve, where they will gather and who will be invited. It's hard to believe that football season is now drawing to an end. What is one to do with all of those empty hours on a Sunday afternoon? Maybe that is the reason that football is primarily a fall/winter sport. If we sat around watching TV during the spring and summer, we wouldn't be outdoors appreciating the fantastic sunshine!

Lastly, if you get a chance, please visit my good friend DOMINIC at his Twitter page (http://twitter.com/AzumaRover). Today is his birthday and I know he would appreciate your well-wishes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOMINIC!!!!

That's all for now! Until next time - keep it clean!

Fresh Start

2010-01-27T09:44:00.000-06:00

Hi there, hello and howdy! This is the first AZUMA Leasing blog so I suppose the best place to start is at the beginning by introducing us to you - our readers.
AZUMA Leasing is an appliance rental company based out of Austin, Texas. We are a nationwide company and specialize in the rental of washers, dryers and refrigerators* (*in some service areas). We rent mostly to people in apartment communities but we also rent to people who live in condos and homes. Don't live in Austin, you say? No worries! We service about 45 markets nationwide and will be able to get a washer and dryer right over to you!

Enough about that - let's move on to the fun stuff! It's the beginning of a new year and things are pretty good here in Austin - great weather, fun things to do and see, excellent music and food. Doesn't get much better than that! People near our office are out running and taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Our year is off to a busy and productive start here at AZUMA Leasing. We are renting out washers and dryers like hotcakes (mmmm...hotcakes with syrup! YUM!)!!!! How about your start to the new year? What sort of things are you planning on doing this year to give you a FRESH START?

Until next time, keep it clean!