Main Street Magazine. Blogspot 2: November 2010

Quote It

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together.

- Verna M. Kelly

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

- Anne Bradstreet

The problem with winter sports is that – follow me closely here – they generally take place in winter.

- Dave Barry

To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring.

- W.J. Vogel

Brew me a cup for a winter’s night.

For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;

Spice it with love and stir it with care,

And I’ll toast our bright eyes,

my sweetheart fair.

- Minna Thomas Antrim

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat.

- Anonymous

As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
http://www.mainstreetmagazine.net/

nazareth love hurts (1976)

Going Green

Easy Ways to Go Green this Winter
Article by Jennifer Claerr

Those cold winter months can really drive up your energy bill. Find out how to go green and save energy this winter without sacrificing your comfort.

Keep Warm and Save Energy This Winter
For many people, the cold winter months create a huge energy drain within the home. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to save energy and go green while still staying warm. Many of these energy-saving methods are cheap, and some are even free. All of them will save you money and help you to reduce your carbon footprint. You'll be toasty warm all winter, and you'll have a good feeling inside because you helped to protect Mother Earth. Here are a few quick and easy green winter ideas that will give you the most bang for your buck.

Go Green and Save Energy on Heating Your Home
One of the easiest ways to go green and save energy on heating your home is install digital programmable thermostat. Program the thermostat for about 65 degrees during the day. Lower the temperature to about 60 degrees if you plan to be away from home for a while. If you feel cold, wear layered clothing such as a t-shirt and sweater. If you're low on warm clothing, shop for eco-friendly winter fashions online or in stores. Buy organic and recycled winter wear, or check out some vintage winter clothing at a thrift shop. You can also save a lot of energy by switching your ceiling fans so that the blades run clockwise. This helps the warm air to circulate more efficiently around your home. Also, be sure to clean or replace your furnace filter according to the manufacturer's recommendations. You can also install clear plastic clear plastic window insulation on the insides of your windows to reduce drafts. Don't forget to caulk cracks around your home, as well.

Easy, Green Ways to Light Your Home for the Winter

The best way to save energy on lighting is to replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Also, instead of leaving lights on when you're away from home, put a timer or a motion sensor on your indoor and outdoor lights so they'll come on when you arrive. You can also install solar LED lights with a timer; these will come on automatically when the sun goes down in the evening. In addition, the easiest, greenest way to light your home is to open the blinds or curtains on the west and south sides of your home. This technique will also help to warm your house naturally by letting in the winter sunshine. Also, be sure to turn off lights when they're not being used.

Do Your Laundry and Dishes the Green Way

You can save a lot of energy by lowering your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees. You can also save energy by installing a jacket or blanket on your water heater. Water heater insulation products are available for both gas and electric water heaters. You can also insulate your pipes to save energy on heating water. Wash laundry in warm or cold water. Whenever possible, dry clothing on a rack inside the house or dry them on a clothesline outside, if it's sunny and dry. Turn off the heated dry setting on your dishwasher; the ambient heat from the washing cycle will dry them sufficiently. Also, only run the clothes washer and dishwasher when full.

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises

As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
http://www.mainstreetmagazine.net/

Budget Travel

Fall Travel Deals

Deals on Airfares, Cruises, Transport and Hotel rates

By Mark Kahler

     Prices quoted in this article are subject to change without notice, as they are controlled by the airlines. Change however does not necessarily mean UP, it could be down depending on the seats available, so please check each airline you are interested in.

     Fall is a great time to get away. In most places, it is not "peak season," and there are plenty of deals to be found. Here are some tips for finding better airfares, cruise deals and better rates for all inclusive resorts, transport and things to do, as well as cheap hotel rates. Do a little seasonal planning and find some great budget travel deal

     This is by no means an exhaustive list of deals for fall, but you should see enough here to whet your appetite for more!

     Europe is a favourite fall destination, and you'll find the attractions far less crowded even if the weather is rather cool and rainy at times. LastMinute.com getaway-style bargains to nine European cities.

     Go-today.com offers airfare/hotel combinations: for Ireland; Paris; London; and Rome. Unfortunately, these rates are significantly higher than at this time last year. Book these trips as early as possible, because the pre-autumn offers usually don't remain through the season.

     Air Berlin offers low fares from August-October. One recent search revealed a New York-Dusseldorf one-way fare for $300 USD. Fares tend to decrease from August to October. It's worth checking here because connections from Air Berlin airports to other European cities can be excellent.

     A good baseline shopping tool is British Airway's Cheapest Fare List. Here you can see the lowest priced tickets between London and multiple North American cities this fall.

     Once you find a good trans-Atlantic fare, Lufthansa offers deals for flying within Europe. Fares can change at any time but start at $125 USD round trip. Seats are limited and therefore these fares are subject to availability.

     Delta's International Business Class sale is valid for departures from hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati or New York JFK. Requires a 30- or 50-day advance purchase. The best one-way fares go to the 50-day buyers: New York-Madrid $1,279; Atlanta-Brussels $1,669; a 30-day advance price for New York-London Heathrow is $1,559. (Price subject to change)The fares require a minimum seven-day stay and do not include some additional fees.

     Alaska Airlines offers airfare Web deals for travel in September and October. Recently offered one-way fares include Los Angeles-Seattle from $89; Portland (Ore.) to Phoenix from $99. All fares require immediate purchase. Read terms carefully.

     Southwest Airlines has a "Northeast to Florida" sale good for travel between Sept. 7-Nov. 15. One-way tickets must be purchased at least 14 days in advance and are good only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. One-way fares include Baltimore-Ft. Lauderdale from $89; Boston-Panama City from $89; and Chicago-Ft. Lauderdale from $99. Fares can only be booked online and must be purchased early.

     Honolulu Vacation Packages and Deals from Travelocity include some flight and hotel offerings. These deals vary in length and hotel destination, so study the terms carefully before making a final selection.

     Don't forget to check out Deals of the Week for late-breaking air travel bargains throughout the season.

Please note:
     All the sale fares you encounter are base prices for the trip. You'll also need to add on taxes and fees. The fine print for each deal is required reading. Skipping this step leaves you open to potentially costly problems. Since many of these fares are non-refundable, you must understand the terms completely before you book.

Just A Moment

So I guess I am a little strange when it comes to winter. I love the beauty of snow…….from inside the house or through the lens of my camera. The first time it snows I have to fight the impulse to get out the Christmas decorations, and I start humming Carols.

I love the cosiness of a warm house and a cup of hot-chocolate and something great to read either by the fireplace or with some of my favourite scented candles merrily glowing.

This months issue is going to be great for those quite moments; there are so many choices;

Your Home, Your Garden has some great ideas for DIY touch ups for your home before the holidays

Budget Travel with great deals if the snow is just not something you want to see out your window.

Going Green is a must read to save the environment and some of your hard earned money this cold weather season.

Fun & Easy Crafts is a great one for Christmas Gift Ideas……never to soon to start knocking that list down.

Lily’s Garden will defiantly warm you up this month; you might want to forgo the hot-chocolate while you read this one.

Moving Forward is a must read if your household is anything like mine….full of Chaos!

I sincerely hope you enjoy all of these great articles plus many more of your favourites.
And don’t forget a marshmallow or two in your cup.

Chris

© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the November Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises
To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
http://www.mainstreetmagazine.net/