Spending Time Outdoors in a Boat (Get a Used Boat)

Fishing on a boat is a completely different experience than fishing on shore. In large bodies of water you have an advantage. You can access those hard to reach places and deeper down. Not only are boats great for fishing, they are one of the best ways to spend time outside.

Photo Credit: Ellen Dewar

Are you looking for a fun and sporty way to cruise around? Check out the Sessa C38 cruiser. It will be your home away from home. This featured boat has a roomy cockpit with U-shaped seating. Plenty of space for lying around and there's even a fold out table. Of course, its packing twin 300hp Volvo Penta engines. It's in the more expensive range but you get your money’s worth!

Not in your budget? Find used boats for sale.

You can buy a used boat and trade or sell your current boat. Whether you're looking for a cruising boat, off-shore fishing boat or a yacht, you will find quite a variety of power boats. There are new and used boats for sale from boat owners and dealers in Australia. Use this site to narrow down your search and easily find the boat of your dreams that has the features you are looking for and is within your price range.

Organic Bamboo Sheet Set Giveaway (April 16-May 14) #ettitudeEco

Bamboo is an amazing resource. It's grown without pesticides and rapidly renewable. Create a safe sleeping environment for the family. These sheets are the perfect solution for adults and kids with sensitive skin with bamboo being naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. 

In addition to bamboo sheet sets, Ettitude has a vast selection of bamboo comforters, duvet covers, crib sheets, pillows, mattress protectors, and towels to name a few. Ettitude was founded on the simple idea that all home and family essentials should not only be practical but also be unquestionably safe, Eco friendly, beautiful, and convenient.

Getting a Sump Pump for Your Basement

What is a sump pump? 

It is a pump that removes water collected in a sump basin usually in the basement or crawl space of a home. Basements that are particularly wet or below the water table level need a sump pump. Its job is to remedy the wetness and help with basement flooding. It will remove the water from the home and far enough away from the building that it won’t cause any more problems. Usually the water is guided to a sewage drain or dry well.

Sump pumps and sump basins are usually installed into the main design of the home where there tends to be water accumulation. There are two types of sump pumps- pedestal and submersible. The pedestal is mounted on top of the sump while the submersible is inside of it.

Little Giant Sump Pump

There are two categories of submersible sump pumps- manually-operated and automatically operated. A manual pump will start pumping once it is connected to power. An automatic pump has a convenient switch that can detect water level and turn on only when needed. Dual-modes are also available making it easy to use the pump when needed but also capable of being left on for automatic use.

Things to consider when looking for a sump pump: 

• Power cord length
• Automatic vs. manual 
• Horsepower 
• Head pressure 
• Phase and voltage 
• Backup system and alarm 

Sump pump maintenance: 

Sump pumps should be examined at least once a year. Pumps that run more frequently with a higher water table should be check more often. It is important to maintain your pump because costly repairs could result if it were to fail. Secondary back up pumps can be helpful in this type of situation.

PexUnivers.com has great sump pump reviews. They carry a wide selection of sump pumps including many different models and outlet connections.

Purple Renaissance Lady Costume Review {CostumeDiscounters.com}

It may not be Halloween but that's no excuse for not wearing a costume. In some parts of the country people are dressing up to celebrate the Renaissance! Me? I'm just dressing up for fun with my 4 year old. He is my Knight in Shining Armor! I was sent this elegant purple Renaissance costume to review.

The clothing for royals during the Renaissance was often a strong dark color and made with velvet. Originally velvet was made from silk and it was very expensive and hard to clean. This costume replicates velvet very well. It's soft and smooth yet easy to clean.

Why You Should Get a Hybrid Car

With the rise of gas prices and compounding emissions into our air it only makes sense to switch to a hybrid vehicle.

What is a hybrid car?

It is a vehicle with both a gasoline engine and an electric motor.

The Prius V is a small SUV and full series-parallel hybrid, meaning that it uses a separate electric motor and generator. It generates electricity while the vehicle is moving which is then stored in a generator. For low speeds it runs fully on the electric motor. With 7 airbags and a panoramic moon roof it is very luxurious yet safe, making it great for families with kids.

I personally like the low profile and interior space. That way it is less prone to roll overs and can accommodation my family. There are extra storage compartment and very roomy cargo space in the back. The design also looks like it has even weight distribution which helps with driving on snow and ice. The seats are made with Toyota's patented SofTex material which has 99% fewer VOC's than other synthetic leathers that are used in vehicles. It features a build in control unit with a back up camera and advanced parking guidance. How cool is that?

Stress and cancer: the sensitivity of the body, mind and soul

Life is moving at an ever increasing pace allowing for little if any quiet time to connect with what is happening in our bodies and minds. This developing trend of disconnection is fuelling systemic illness of body, mind and soul everywhere you look.

Cancer is now the primary cause of death in developed countries and the second leading cause in developing countries. Cancer is a disease caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Broadly speaking there are more than 100 different types of cancer. It can be called a disease of the genome. The DNA in our cells contains the code needed for our cells to function properly. This set of code is very complex and during the normal life cycle of the cell errors may become introduced. Luckily our cells have evolved with many check points which shut cells down if it is likely they have become corrupted. A good example of this is sunburn, where the cells that have been exposed to the powerful mutagens in the sun – ultra violet (UV) rays – suicide as it is highly possible their DNA may have been mutated.

The human psyche or soul is extraordinarily sensitive and complex. Our disconnection from what is really going on in our bodies everyday is evident in how much psychological stress we are living under - and the ramifications this is having on our health is frightening. Interestingly the word ‘psychiatry’, literally means ‘soul-healing’ and the study of psychology is really all about is the word ‘psychosis’, which literally means ‘soul-illness’ [1].

There are many different causes for the all different types of cancer. Recent studies have shown stress hormones may fuel the growth of some cancers [2, 3]. Evidence suggests stress may impact on the effectiveness of the immune system preventing normal the ‘shut down’ mechanism operating in cells with damaged DNA which can go on to become cancerous [4].

This highlights the chronic need for balance in our lives. We all intuitively know the fast paced lifestyle we lead must have its consequences, but we are very good at distracting ourselves from the obvious. Many will dismiss the need to reduce stress from our lives as an impossible task. However, no one disputes the gravity of the situation when they hear the statistics relating to cancer. Reducing chronic stress is vital for our well-being. The scientific facts of this all important disease are now speaking for themselves showing us how imperative it is to reconnect with our body, mind and soul if we are to help diminish the impact of this incredibly serious epidemic.

1. Griffith, J (2012) Soul. World Transformation Movement. Retrieved from http://www.worldtransformation.com/soul/
2. Thaker et al. (2006) Chronic stress promotes tumour growth and angiogenesis in the mouse model of ovarian carcinoma. Nature Medicine. 12, 939-944.
3. Sood et al. (2010) Adrenergic modulation of focal adhesion kinase protects human ovarian cancer cells from anoikis. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 120, 1515-1523.
4. Antoni MH et al. (2006) The influence of bio-behavioural factors of tumour biology: Pathways and mechanisms. Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 240-248. 

E-Waste is Building Up

Photo Credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Apple comes out with a new model of their iPods nearly every year. But what happens to all the outdated ones? What about computers, cell phones, televisions and stereos? Over 70% are thrown away! Our purchases of electronics are dramatically increasing over time. Electronic waste, aka e-waste has become a growing problem.

E-waste takes a very long time to biodegrade but it is more than a nuisance. It’s toxic and can leach heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. There are even companies that claim to be recycling but instead ship the e-waste to other countries.

What can be done?

• Limit the amount of electronics and wait to upgrade. I know that is easier said than done but you can handle the iPhone 4 a little longer.
• Buy used and refurbished when available.
• Think before you toss!

Consumers need to become more educated. We all know to carefully dispose of certain light bulbs and medications but what about an old cell phone? Those contain beryllium, a toxic heavy metal. I think companies should take their products back and reuse them to make new ones. They would know how to properly take the products apart!

What about computers and phones with personal information?

If you can’t remove it yourself then you can find a company that will. Actually most computers now-a-days are very hard to clear out completely. E-Waste Harvesters has a hard drive destruction service. They will remove all personal data from hard to reach places, destroy the hard drive and then recycle it. So, don’t let the fear of passing on personal information scare you into not recycling.

TV recycling Phoenix

Televisions can be hard and inconvenient to recycle. I know it’s tempting to just throw them on the curb or drop them off at a dump. You may be able to schedule a recycling pick up.

An Efficient Water Heater Can Help You Save Money

A main priority for a homeowner is having affordable utilities. If you have an old hot water heater it may be very inefficient. You could be experiencing unexpected bouts of cold water while showering or washing dishes. The tank may be too small or too large for your family. By finding a new hot water tank and hear that is efficient, the right size for your family and the proper fuel type for your home you could be saving energy and money.

Do you know if you need a tank heater or a tankless heater?

Most people don't. Discuss with some experts to find out what will work best for you. It will depend on how much water you use, how many people use it and what you use it for. Call a Calgary plumber from ClearView.