June 9, 2012

Margie and Ray Toombs, owners of Northeast Ohio Maid Brigade, answered a question that was emailed to us from an online listener in Pretoria, South Africa. Jacqui wanted to know how to motivate her sister to declutter her home. Margie and Ray offered a suggestion that often works: Don't try to tackle everything at once. Instead, clear out one small space -- a closet, a corner or even just a countertop -- and clean thoroughly. Then see how much you enjoy having the newly created space. It becomes an island of order, and what it does is inspire you to want more order in your home. And so it goes, until your house, literally, is in order. Maid Brigade is a green cleaning service, meaning that only nontoxic cleaning agents are used. For more information: 866.814.1000 or Maid Brigade

Habitat Builds

Habitat for Humanity of Summit County is building three homes in one week in Akron. Here are some pictures of the progress. The first row shows the site in April of this year. The basements were dug and the foundations were laid.

The next two rows represent the progress through 9 a.m. on June 4, 2012.

June 2, 2012

Heather's Heat and Flavor has quite a selection of hot sauces, dry rubs and seasonings, barbecue sauces, and cool gift ideas for Father's Day, hostess gifts and other occasions. Check out the birthday candle that blossoms after you light it. It ends up looking like a cross between a rose and a candelabra. But wait, there's more: It will spin and play "Happy Birthday"! Other new items include a Moruga Scorpion hot sauce (beware the heat) and, for those who prefer milder foods, a cognac mustard, which is great for dipping, and a peach and blueberry merlot salsa, which is a Heather's original. Employee Dave Halaby says Heather's Heat and Flavor is easy to find. It's located in the First and Main shopping center, 94 First St., Hudson, Ohio. For more information: 330.653.5131 or Heather's Heat and Flavor

Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning owner John Walter says that if you haven't had your air conditioning unit serviced, it's definitely time to do that. For those homeowners who have cottonwood trees in their neighborhood, it's especially important because the cottonwood can really clog up your condenser. Even if you think you don't have a cottonwood tree nearby, somehow the fluff can find its way to your air conditoning unit. Regardless, yearly maintenance by a professional will keep your unit running smoothly and efficiently, resulting in a longer-lasting life for this home investment and a much more comfortable environment for your home. Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning is located at 1337 Commerce Dr., Stow. For more information: 330.686.9828 or Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning 

The Veggie U 10th Annual Food and Wine Celebration takes place July 21 in Milan, Ohio. This year's headliner is Robert Irvine, star of the Food Network's "Restaurant Impossible." Also appearing will be other Food Network stars, including Amanda Freitag, one of the celebrity judges on "Chopped." You'll get special pricing on tickets ordered by June 8. Call 419.499.7500 or visit VeggieUFoodandWine.

Summit County residents can start their summer reading on the right foot with Mind, Body & Sole, a new program encouraging both reading and exercise. Read or listen to 26 books, e-books or articles and run/walk 26 miles or 52,000 pedometer steps between June 11 and Sept. 10, and you'll be included in drawings for great prizes. Registration begins June 11. For more information, visit the Akron Library website.

May 26, 2012

Habitat for Humanity of Summit County is building three homes in eight days with the help of the Home Builders of Portage and Summit Counties. Starting June 4, you'd better not blink if you are in the 400 block of Ardella Avenue in Akron or you'll miss some vital piece of the building project. Rochelle Fisher, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, also encourages people to come to the first-ever Housing Summit at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. The event, which will be a one-stop shop for prospective and current homeowners, will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23. In addition, Habitat's ReStore is a great place to find great deals on furniture, appliances and other home products. ReStore is located at 2301 Romig Rd.; 330.745.7734. For more information: hfhsummitcounty.org 

Sue Brys, the owner of DaVinci Floors & Granite, has plenty of suggestions for homeowners who want to redo their kitchens but don't want to invest an extra $40,000 or $50,000 in their homes. She suggests retrofitting your kitchen instead. Painting cabinets, adding new countertops and backsplashes, installing updated lighting and making numerous other enhancements can do wonders for your kitchen. And you can get away with spending a fourth or less of what an entirely new kitchen would cost. DaVinci Floors & Granite has a granite sale that continues through the end of May. You have your choice of 20 beautiful colors for $49 a square foot installed. DaVinci Floors & Granite is located at 229 Court St., Medina (330.764.3232) and 156 E. Liberty St., Wooster (234.249.0016). For more information: DaVinciFlooringMedina.com

Strongsville High School graduate Adam Pervez was making a six-figure income working for a Danish corporation when he decided to quit his job to travel the world and make a difference by helping people out in Mexico, Central and South America and other parts of the world. He calls himself the Happy Nomad, and he fervently believes that personal happiness comes from helping others. Not only is the 29-year-old on his Happy Nomad Tour, but he's growing his hair in support of Westlake, Ohio-based Wigs for Kids. His plan is to raise $12,000 or $1,000 per inch of hair to help children who are being treated for cancer and other afflictions. He's doing this in memory of his uncle, who passed away of cancer in February. For more information: Adam Pervez.com or visit Adam's blog, HappinessPlunge.com