Guest Room Essentials

Having guests over can be a lot of fun and since you want them to feel right at home, here are some ways that you can make their stay more cozy.

Needed essentials for every guest room:

• Fresh bed linens
• An extra set of towels (wash cloth, hand and bath towels)
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush
• Small bottles of lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
• Extra blanket
• A place to sit (besides the bed)
• Room for them to put down their bag(s)
• If you have drawers, at least one or two drawers should be empty for their items

Extras that are sure to make their stay even more special:

• Fresh flowers
• A cozy robe
• Shower cap
• Candy dish with assorted candies
• Serving tray
• Chair and desk
• Books that they might find interesting
• Pretty stationary with pens
• Calendar
• Closet space for their clothes
• A phone in the room
• A television in the room
• A DVD player
• A laptop with Internet connection
• A radio or CD player

Also, don't forget to tell them the basics of your neighborhood - where they are allowed to park, and any other home owner association rules that may effect them.

With all the basics and extras listed, your guests may never want to leave!

Marlin

Jewelry Storage Solutions

In order to keep your jewelry in good condition, it is best to use some form of jewelry storage to protect them. I have listed below some ways to store or display your jewelry.

Use a jewelry box with lots of drawers and different compartments, or if you have many items get a jewelry storage case. You can also get an organizer that can be stored in between your clothes. If you don't have the money to afford these types of items, get creative - use ice cube trays, pretty storage boxes, clear storage boxes, silverware trays, or even office storage items.

If possible, store similar pieces of jewelry together. All silver items, all gold bracelets, all rings with stones, all bracelets, etc. Those with stones, should be made to sure to be somewhat separate, in order to ensure that the stones do not scratch each other.

Store all necklaces in the same place - preferably hanging, so they do not get tangled. All bracelets should also be in the same drawer or also in a hanging position.

Always make sure that the inside of containers, are soft or padded, so it does not scratch the metal on your jewelry.

Use ring holders for rings, if you do not have a container for them. Keep your engagement or wedding rings in a small but elegant box or container on your nightstand (if you do not wear them to bed).

Display your jewelry on a pretty statue or in a clear container.

There are many ways to store or display your jewelry, just look around your house to come up with new and creative solutions!

Have a great week!

Marlin

Summer Camps

Many of us are considering sending our kids to camp for the Summer. Whether it be a day camp or an away camp, where the kids stay overnight, here are some ideas to ensure that they will be safe and feeling secure.

• Get your child the Camper Alert bracelet. They are rubber bracelets which provide instant access to important information about your child in an emergency. You can put the parent's cell phone numbers or allergy information on there. They also come in various colors. For more details visit http://www.hopepaige.com/.
• Pick the right camp for your child based upon their needs as well as their likes.
• Make sure you know what the rules are before you commit to the camp.
• It's also best, if possible, to go and see the camp site yourself.
• Make sure clothes, toys and other electronic items have your child's name on them.
• Make sure that the emergency contact information has all the ways to contact you in case of an emergency or someone else if you are not available.
• If it is to an away camp, make sure that they have the ability to contact the parents (cell phone number) whenever they get homesick.
• If this is their first away camp, make sure that they have been to someones house (Grandma's) for at least a weekend getaway, so they will be able to spend some time away from you.
• Make sure to have letters in their suitcase or send letters to the camp site, so that they can read or see pictures of you. This shows that you miss them.
• Encourage your kids to write back to you or draw pictures so that they can share their experiences.

Enjoy the weather!

Marlin

Computer Running Slow?

I have been having issues with my computer lately and came across this information that I think might be helpful for anyone out there who might be having the same issues.

If your computer is running slow, try any or all of the following to see if it runs any faster.

• Make sure that your computer has the latest virus protection.


• Make sure that your computer has the latest Windows updates as well.


• Try defragging your computer.


• Go to your Internet Options and remove the following - Cookies, Temporary Internet Files and your Browsing History.


• Go to filehippo.com and download CCleaner. This software download is free. It cleans up unneeded files on your PC. It also has a Registry cleaner and fixer. You'll be surprised what isn't right on your computer, and it's safe because it backs everything up first. It also has a great Windows start up tool, that shows you everything starting on your computer when you boot up, and you can get rid of unnecessary applications.


• Download from Microsoft their Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. This tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software and helps to remove the infection if it is found. I believe that Microsoft releases an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of every month, so you can always check for an updated version each month.


• Uninstall any programs or applications you don't use any more.


• You can also check for downloads from the maker of your computer (i.e., Dell). They often have a support page with specific downloads for your specific computer.

Hope this helps!!

Marlin