Grow Your Own Herb Garden

Instead of shelling out money for pricey, off-the-rack dried herbs, try growing your own. Most are easy to grow, and fresh herbs add an extra kick to your meals. You can also dry them yourself, making a few plants last all year round.

Wondering whether to grow them inside or outside? It’s really depends on your preference. Either way, you’ll need to purchase some plants or seeds, which you can find at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-mart or neighborhood nurseries. For inside gardens, choose a spot that receives a lot of sun but is protected from heat and dryness. Keep them well watered but make sure they have excellent drainage and choose a soil mix formulated for potted plants. Some of the best herbs to grow inside include basil, chives, oregano, parsley, sage and rosemary. Ultimately, your food preference tastes should dictate what you grow. 

For outside gardens, plant as close to the house as possible so they’re within easy reach, even in the rain. If possible, grow each herb in a separate space and find a spot that drains well and receives at least six hours of sun a day. Also keep in mind that some herbs, like mint, will reseed and run rampant, popping up all over a garden, if not properly maintained. Keeping plants harvest also ensures thick, healthy growth. Most of the herbs that grow well inside will also flourish outside.

The best time of day to pick herbs is after the dew has evaporated but before the sun becomes too hot. You can start picking as soon as the plant has enough leaves to maintain growth. For dried herbs, pick the flower bud before it opens and seed heads as they change to brown or gray. Wash them in cold water, drain completely and then dry. Hang upside down in a dark, warm, well-ventilated, dust-free area. When they become dry and crumbly they are ready to use or store.

Uncommon Uses for Common Items

Bet you didn’t know spaghetti could be used as more than a carbohydrate, or that newspaper should be a staple in every kitchen. There are many common household items that can be used in uncommon ways, saving you time and money! Curious about what’s lurking in your kitchen that has more than one use? Here are some ideas.

Lemons – Run a few wedges through the garbage disposal to eliminate smells, stuck food and fight bacteria. Or, after handling raw fish and washing with soap and water, pour one tablespoon lemon juice into palms, rub together and rinse. Voila! The smell is gone. Lemons will also remove food stains from plastic or wooden cutting boards.

Vinegar – To keep cats off furniture or certain household areas, spray white distilled vinegar on the spot. Full strength white distilled vinegar also kills weeds, especially in crevices and cracks. In addition, it can be used to soothe sunburn.

Lint roller – Instead of creating a dusty mess trying to wipe down a lamp shade, use a lint roller. It effortlessly picks up all the particles, leaving a clean shade.

Spaghetti – Easily light a candle that’s burned down to the bottom of a container by lighting a dried spaghetti noodle. It also works well for lighting multiple candles, like those on a birthday cake – no more burnt fingers!

Newspaper – Wrap it around unripened fruits and vegetables, leave overnight and wake up to ripe tomatoes, peaches and more. Don't forget them though, otherwise Allgood Pest Solutions will have to come out and take care of some fruit flies.

Non-skid rug pad – Install one in your trunk to keep grocery bags upright and in place.

Eight Web Sites You’ll Want to Bookmark

From a blogging baker featured on Martha Stewart to a company that animates your child’s drawing, we’ve surfed the Web to find some unique and creative sites for moms and kids. So take a minute (or longer) and check these out – but be warned, they may be habit forming.

For Moms

For all things handmade, visit www.etsy.com. You’ll find invitations, clothing, art work, jewelry, toys, vintage items and so much more. Interested in selling your own wares? Then join the more than 100,000 sellers from across the globe.

Tie-dye eggs kits. Fun and functional changing pads. Eco-friendly food storage containers. At www.coolmompicks.com, each day a new list of cool mom stuff is featured. Some of it will make you go “Why didn’t they invent that when I was a kid” or “I need a baby just so I can buy that”!

Even if you’re not a foodie, it’s hard to resist this gal’s baking banter (and she’s from Georgia!). At bakerella.blogspot.com, she shares how to bake everything from Easter Bunny Cake Pops to butterscotch pie. Her blogging has even landed her on the Martha Stewart Show.

Looking for the perfect gift for the relatives who have everything? Then send them a custom video created from your child’s drawing! Littledirector.com animates drawings, adds voiceovers and can even add extra characters, making it a gift they’ll never forget.

For Kids

If there’s a little girl in your house, she’s sure to love americangirl.com. The site allows girls to learn more about the historical characters portrayed by the American Girl dolls, play games, send e-cards and see behind-the-scenes videos from AG magazine shoots.

Have a budding scientist in the family? Then Bill Nye’s the Guy. A scientist, engineer, comedian, author and inventor, Nye has dedicated his life to making science fun and accessible. Billnye.com features scientific experiences kids can try at home, cool science facts and much more.

Take a break from the TV and let your kids experience some fun from yesteryear. At kiddierecords.com, you can download to your computer or iPod vintage children’s records. You’ll find gems like Mister Ed, Cinderella, the Lone Ranger, Tom and Jerry, Robin Hood and much more.

Our wide, wonderful earth awaits kids of all ages at kids.nationalgeographic.com. The site teems with cool videos, games, stories, activities and more. Get the facts on Clown Anemonefish, Atlantic Puffins or any of the hundreds of animals featured on the site.

Keller Williams Blood Drive

Today, Allgood Pest Solutions grilled hot dogs for participants at Keller Williams blood drive. We fed and mingled with 50 agents coming and going throughout the day, and also all the rest of the folks in the office park located in Snellville. "My real estate contacts across the state are seeing a lot of buyer movement, which is good for us," said Ben Satterfield, Allgood's real estate liason. When all was said and done, they collected 22 pints of blood.

10 Ways to Prepare for Spring

Along with increasing daylight and warmer temperatures comes the itch - the itch to buy flowers, dig in the dirt, mow the lawn, sink your feet in new grass and all the other joys that spring brings. But before any of that happens, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are 10 ways to get a jumpstart on spring gardening.

Get a soil test. 
Contact your local extension office for testing directions or visit the link below.

Find out your planting zone.
Georgia is divided into four zones, so you’ll need to know which plants grow best in your zone.

Tune up the lawn mower.
Basically you’ll need to clean the deck, sharpen the blade, install a new spark plug and change the oil.

Prune trees, bushes and flowers.
If you’re not sure how to prune, your local extension office can help.

Till planting areas.

Buy seeds and start them indoor.

Add new mulch to existing bushes.

Sharpen gardening tools and replace as needed.

Aerate lawn and apply fertilizer.
This is where the soil test also comes in handy – the results tell you the kind and amount of fertilizer needed.

Make a list of any new plants needed and where they’ll go.

Resources
Soil testing directions: http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C896.htm
Georgia planting zones by zip code: http://www.garden.org/zipzone 

Allgood’s Quality Pro Designation – Our Commitment to Excellence

At Allgood, we do more than just provide pest control. We believe our customers deserve the best, whether that’s customer service or the latest technology. Just two years ago, in recognition of our commitment to excellence, we were awarded the Quality Pro designation by the National Pest Management Association.

Less than two percent of all pest control companies in the United States have achieved this status, and we’re proud to join their ranks.

The Quality Pro status means that not only do we meet state and federal requirements, but we also voluntarily go above and beyond those requirements. We’re committed to a stringent set of qualifications that include:

1. Criminal background checks and driving record reports
2. Maintaining a drug-free workplace
3. Higher insurance requirements
4. Clean, identifiable vehicles with proper security for the storage of pesticides
5. Higher training and testing requirements
6. Practice proper IPM techniques
7. Clear, easy-to-understand contracts and agreements

As a Quality Pro company, Allgood is dedicated to getting the job done right. We’re proud to be a pest solutions brand you can trust. 

Reconnect by Disconnecting

Ever feel like your family spends more time watching TV or surfing the Internet than they do with each other? Then maybe it’s time to unplug and reconnect. If you’re at a loss for what to do with your newfound family-bonding time though, check out these ideas:

Put Your Game Face On
Get the whole family involved with a fun game. Try letting each child pick out their own game and have the entire family play them together. Even preschoolers can enjoy the fun with games like Hi-Ho Cherry-O or Candy Land; for more advanced, creative play try Cranium or a fun card game like Pit. 

Build Family Bonds
Tackling a project together does more than just bring the family together. It also helps kids learn problem-solving skills as well as other important traits. Whether it’s a doll house, model airplane, race car or even a simple birdhouse, a building project combines fun, learning and togetherness. 

Take a Hike
With Georgia’s abundance of community, local and state parks, there’s no excuse not to make a family day a park day. Bring the bikes, the dog and even the fishing poles and a picnic lunch for a fun time in the great outdoors. 

Backyard Fun
Turn your backyard into a different kind of PlayStation with badminton, volleyball or even croquet. Be careful though, a little friendly family competition can be addicting! Try adding in some classic games like hide and seek (even more fun at night with flashlights!), red rover and Frisbee. 

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

It’s that time of year again! While thoughts of spring, warmer days and gardening chores race through your mind, don’t forget another important task – renewing your termite warranty. 

Termites cause more damage to a home than wind and fire combined. You wouldn’t think of letting your homeowner’s policy lapse, so why would you drop your termite coverage, especially in a region that’s prone to infestations?

Even if your home doesn’t currently have termites, it’s possible it could become infested in the future. In Georgia alone, termites cause millions of dollars in home damage each year – none of which is covered by homeowners insurance. Renewing your termite warranty guarantees that Allgood Pest Solutions will treat the infestation as well as repair any damaged areas, at no additional cost. You’ll also receive free quarterly or yearly inspections done by our highly trained technicians.

An Allgood termite warranty helps you protect one of your most valuable assets, plus it entitles you to future discounts on other services. It’s also transferable, which can be a good selling point when marketing your home. 

For peace of mind when it comes to your largest investment, renew your termite policy today and let Allgood Pest Solutions protect your home.

Stumped By Stubborn Stains? Check Out These Handy Solutions

Wondering how to get those crayon marks off the wall? Tired of uselessly scrubbing your stainless steel cookware? Here are some tips and tricks for removing common household stains, spots and marks. 

Problem: Pen marks on the computer screen
Solution: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Rub gently and watch the marks disappear.

Problem: Dirty iron leaving residue on clothes
Solutions: Turn iron to low, sprinkle salt on wax paper and iron. After turning iron off, wipe with a damp cloth to remove any leftover residue. Or purchase a tube of iron cleaner from a fabric store. 

Problem: Bottom of stainless steel cookware discolored 
Solution: Bar Keepers Friend, found at grocery stores, Target or Wal-Mart. The powdered cleanser shines up cookware without damaging it and has many other uses as well, from removing stains in carpet or clothing to gray marks on porcelain.

Problem: Crayon marks on wall
Solution: Spray a small amount of WD40 on the marks and rub off. Also works on almost any other surface that has unwanted crayon marks.

Problem: Grease stains on light-colored fabric or upholstery 

Solution: Cornmeal. Pour enough to completely cover stained area. Leave on for 15 to 30 minutes and then vacuum up the cornmeal.

Share the Love with a Valentine’s Day Project

This Valentine’s Day, don’t confine the celebration to just one day. Make the entire month of February an occasion to show those around you how much you love them. If you have youngsters in the house, now’s the perfect opportunity to spend time together making some fun crafts.

For a great Valentine’s idea that will last the whole year, try creating heart magnets from family photos. You will need:

Photos of family members
Flat magnet paper (any craft store should carry this)
Glue
Scissors
Drawing paper
Crayons, markers or colored pencils

Have your child draw a background for the family member’s face, using heart shapes. Cut out the face and paste onto the drawing. Then cut their creation into a heart shape (decorative scrapbooking scissors are great for adding pizzazz). Cut a matching heart from the magnet paper, glue the photo onto it and viola! The two of you have created a magnet that will remind you of loved ones all year long.

Allgood Challenge

We dare you to try this with your pest control company.

Start the New Year Off Right With Healthy Choices

At some point or another, we’ve all made New Year’s resolutions…and probably broken as many as we made. This year, why not resolve to make some changes that could possibly save your life? Try making a list of healthy living resolutions and sticking to them. They will positively impact your life for years to come. Here’s a few to help you get started:

Eat your fruits and vegetables. The United States Department of Agriculture recently revamped the food pyramid, adding a customized chart showing how many servings you should eat per week based on your age and gender. Check it out to make sure you’re eating enough.

Drink plenty of water and cut back on caffeine. As your body’s principle chemical component, water is vital to your health. On average, drink about eight glasses a day. If you’re drinking more than three cups of coffee a day, that’s considered heavy caffeine use and you should probably scale back.

Exercise. It sounds simple enough, but with today’s busy lifestyles it’s not so easy. Even just a 30-minute walk once a day can help combat weight gain, prevent disease, provide better sleep and strengthen your body. Stop smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, about half of all smokers who continue to smoke will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. Also, if you quit before 50, you’ll cut your risk of dying in the next 15 years in half.

Relax! Chronic stress can take a toll on your life in more ways than you realize. Making time for yourself, learning to say no and having fun can help you de-stress and enjoy your life.

Getting the Most Out of Your Home Remodel

Believe it or not, now may be the best time to remodel your home. A slow housing market means builders and remodelers are searching for work, and you may be able to negotiate lower labor and material prices. Consider this though: if you’re planning on selling in a couple years focus on small projects such as upgrades, otherwise you won’t recoup the cost of a major remodel.Usually some of the best areas to remodel are kitchens and bathrooms. But according to Remodeling magazine’s 2007 annual Cost Vs Value report, the outside may be the place to start. Adding a wood deck addition usually results in 85.6 percent of the cost being recouped. Next on the list is replacing the siding - 85.1 percent of cost recouped.Other best remodeling values include minor kitchen remodels – replacing cabinet fronts and hardware, installing new matching appliances, replacing laminate countertops with more upscale materials, installing new flooring, replacing the sink and faucet and repainting the walls.If you have an unfinished basement, also consider having it finished. You’ll recoup 80 percent of costs by adding a full bathroom, wet bar, and all electrical, lighting, drywall, doors, insulation and trim.Thinking about an upscale remodel? Then plan to stay in your home long-term in order to recover costs when you do decide to sell. Having said that, more homebuyers are looking for luxury touches such as spa-like baths and professional kitchens. On a major bathroom remodel you’ll usually recoup 78.8 percent of the cost, while gutting your kitchen results in 79.3 percent of costs regained.Whatever you decide to do, make sure you’ve done your research, studied the market and have the cash to finance your project. A little bit of preparation beforehand will ensure a better remodeling experience all the way around.

Don’t Let Your Fireplace Go Up in Smoke

For many of us at Allgood, enjoying the warmth of a fire is a welcome winter ritual. But without proper maintenance beforehand, those glowing flames can turn into a devastating chimney fire. The best course is prevention – having a certified chimney sweep perform an annual inspection ensures your fireplace and chimney are in working order. They’ll also clean and repair it when needed. Following some simple do-it-yourself steps can also prevent a catastrophe. If you’re cutting your own wood, make sure it has time to season (dry out); moist wood promotes creosote build up. Don’t build huge fires; instead burn smaller, hotter fires that produce less smoke and a more complete burn. When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace. Also, never burn trash in your fireplace and keep the area around the hearth clear of potential fire hazards as well.If you have a screen, whether mesh or tempered glass, always use it to prevent sparks or debris from escaping. Don’t have some kind of shield on your fireplace? Then install one today. Also inspect the outside and make sure the chimney is free of branches or other debris. Stack wood at least 30 feet away from your home. Storing wood in your garage will invite unwanted insects that live under bark and between the grain of the wood. Stacked wood can also provide harborage or living space for rats and mice. Storing wood up against your home can invite termites closer to your biggest investment.As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take action today so that you can enjoy a roaring fire all winter long.

Pick the Perfect Tree

Whether it’s the frosty winter air, the rich fragrance of freshly cut evergreens or the excitement of finding the “right one”, picking out a live Christmas tree is a memorable event and one that most of us at Allgood look forward to every year. Your family may have already perfected the art of choosing a tree but even if that’s true, here are some helpful reminders.Before you leave on your tree-finding mission, measure the space it will go in. There’s nothing more frustrating than coming home with a tree that’s three feet too tall or wide (or three feet too small) for the area.Once you get there, ask the retailer if they receive one shipment of trees or several throughout the season. If the trees come at different times, try to find one recently delivered as it will be the freshest. Trees that are shedding needles, have discoloration or smell musty aren’t fresh. Usually, Georgia tree lots offer three different types: Scotch pines, Douglas firs and Fraser firs. Which one you choose really depends on which one you like the best. With proper watering all of them should last throughout the Christmas season.To help pro-long a tree’s life, have someone cut about ½ inch off the base before you take it home, then place it in water as soon as possible. Keep it away from direct heat – fireplaces, dryer vents, direct sunlight, etc. Check the water level every day to ensure the base is still submerged.And lastly, after Christmas, properly dispose of your tree at a local recycling station. Many home improvement stores as well as fire stations offer tree drop-offs.