Month: May 2015

May 28, 2015

DIY: The Perfect Room

It’s true, not everyone can be Michelangelo and paint the Sistine Chapel.  But, if you’ve got the color, a free weekend and your own two hands, there’s no reason you can’t transform your own home into a DIY masterpiece.

These FAQ’s can put you on the path to painting perfection:

What type of paint is best?

There are two basic types: oil based and water-based paint.  When painting a room, modern water-based paint dries faster, has less odor and has plenty of gloss and wipeability.  You’ll find it hard to go wrong with a matte or eggshell finish.

How much paint do I need?

The general rule is to use one gallon for every 350 square feet or surface area.  Sherwin-Williams.com allows you to type your wall dimensions into their paint calculator.  Always buy an extra quart for touch-ups later on.

What about a primer?

There is no need for primer unless walls are badly stained, marked up with spackle from patching or you’re painting a light color over a dark one.

What’s the step-by-step?

  • Clean dusty ceiling corners and baseboards.
  • Apply painter’s tape.  Start in a corner and take your time tearing off tape strips (about 2-3 feet long).
  • Put down drop cloths.
  • Before you lift a roller, “cut” all corners in the room.  Roll away!

Painting Supplies

May 21, 2015

Storm Preparation Tips

Storms in Nebraska is like snow in Alaska.  It’s inevitable.  Especially, with Nebraska being in the direct path of tornado alley.  Although there are many good things that come from Spring/Summer storms, like April showers binging May flowers and soft trickles of rain that help you sleep (idk, maybe this is only me), storms can also be catastrophic.  Keep in mind these storm tips the next time a storm is predicted to hit your area.

Thinking ahead.  If you know a storm is approaching, before it hits, make sure all unsecured items outside are taken inside.  Some of these items would include, umbrellas, lawn chairs and cushions, garden hoses, tables and garden ornaments.  These items could cause damage to the exterior of your home when the storm does hit, if they are not brought inside or tied down.

Shelter.  Stock your basement, or a lower-level interior room (a room without windows), of your home with these essentials: water, first aid kit, dry foods (i.e. cereal bars, granola, nuts, etc.), radio, blankets/pillows, flashlight, candles/matches, and a portable battery charger for your cell phone.  If a storm takes a turn for the worst, you and your family can safely wait it out more comfortably.

Unplug.  Lightening, as you know, is extremely dangerous to both you and your electronics.  On the positive side, the chances of lightening striking and frying computers, modems, cable boxes, and other important electronics is rare, but why would you take that chance if you don’t need to. Always unplug all electronics before a thunderstorm hits – it’s better to be safe than sorry.  Trust us!  We’ve learned this the hard way.

It’s Alive.  When a spring/summer storm hits in Nebraska, there’s a good chance it will produce lightening and hail. Protect your air conditioner or heat pump (both inside and outside) by turning it off at the thermostat if you see lightening. A surge of electricity can damage your air conditioner/heat pump, capacitor, compressor and motors. Once the storm passes, check for damage and clear debris from your outdoor unit before restarting your air conditioner.  Also note that damaged fins on the unit will inhibit the air flow and will most likely need to be repaired.

We hope you have a happy and safe Spring/Summer with no storm damage.  And, if you need your air conditioner or heat pump checked, serviced or replaced, please give J & R Heating a call at 402-362-5702.

May 14, 2015

Mexican Wedding Cookies

These delightful cookies are a cinch to make and don’t require many ingredients.  Just remember not to eat too many as you’ll find yourself grabbing the third cookie in no time at all.Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup  butter, softened
  • 1 cup  powdered sugar, divided
  • 1 tsp.  vanilla
  • 2 cups  flour
  • 1 cup  finely chopped PLANTERS Pecans

Directions

  1. HEAT oven to 350°F.
  2. BEAT butter, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour, beating on low speed after each addition until blended. Add nuts; mix well.
  3. SHAPE dough into 48 (1-inch) balls. Place, 1-1/2 inches apart, on baking sheets.
  4. BAKE 14 to 15 min or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets. Roll warm cookies, 1 at a time, in remaining sugar in small bowl until evenly coated; place on wire racks. Cool completely.

Yield: 24 servings, 2 cookies per serving

May 7, 2015

Are You Too Connected?

Smart Phone

Smart phones are arguably the greatest inventions since sliced bread.  We have banking, shopping, social media, and games literally in the palms of our hands.  But is that really a good thing?  Over-use of smart phones can lead to:

  1. Physical injury.  From “text neck” (Google it!) to germs, your phone is not necessarily your friend in terms of health.
  2. Emotional disconnect.  Eyes glued to the screen during dinner?

Know more about your family via Facebook than actual face time?  It’s time to unplug and rekindle real connections with real people.

Smart phones are a great thing, but they can’t take the place of an active life.

Me and my sister being active, or at least trying, and representing J & R Heating with our branded beanies!

Me and my sister being active, or at least trying to be active, and representing J & R Heating with our branded beanies!