December is a time for celebration and thoughtful reflection for all of us in these United States. We wanted to help spread a little holiday cheer with an article that helps people from all faiths learn a little more about the three major holidays that take place each December. Since the holiday season is also an excellent time to make and eat various delicious foods, we have included the different traditional food dishes that are emblematic of each religious holiday. Maybe you could try one or all of the dishes this year? Either way, good food and family is definitely something to celebrate! Christmas. December 25th Christmas has its origins in both Christian (hence the name) and pagan traditions that were popular at the time. It is a celebration of the birth of the religion?s lord and savior, Jesus Christ blended with pagan practices like the yule log, bringing a tree indoors and decorating it, and taking place during a time that was typically celebrated by the pagans: the winter solstice which takes place around the 21st of December each year. Traditional foods include Large roasts like beef, turkey, ham, or goose Fall and winter specific side dishes and produce like yams, potatoes, nuts, cranberries, apples, and figs Fan favorite dish: cookies, pies, fruitcakes, yule logs Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights. Dates Vary By Year. Hanukkah is known as The Festival Of Lights and takes place at the end of each year, typically starting in late November or even mid to late December. It is observed over a period of eight nights and is marked by the lighting of celebratory candles in a specialized candle holder called a menorah. It is typically celebrated by people of the Jewish faith to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. Traditional foods include Latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), symbolizing the miracle of oil. Large baked briskets and other hearty dishes that can feed large gatherings. Kwanzaa: Honoring African Heritage and Unity. December 26th Through January 1st. Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate African-American culture and values. It is a celebration of family and loved ones in the affirmation of the seven guiding principles known as Nguzo Saba. They are the core tenants of the week-long celebration. Traditional foods include Soul food staples like collard greens, black-eyed peas, candied yams, buttermilk biscuits, spoonbread and fried chicken. More traditional African foods are also served as a reminder of their ancestral heritage, which include jollof rice, plantains, Accras: Caribbean fritters, Feijoada (a stew of black beans, pork, and vegetables over rice), and more! Conclusion We hope that this article about the holiday season and its delicious foods was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome exterior solar shades or commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started .
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Winter?s arrival brings with it a lot of fun and good things like the Holiday Season and fun with friends and family, but it also brings a lot of preparation and hard work if you?re a homeowner. Each year, millions of families lose out on thousands of dollars because they didn?t winterize their home properly. Forgetting simple things like having your sprinklers blown out or not wrapping exposed pipes can cost you. Don?t get caught flat-footed this winter! Here are some tips for winterizing your home and garden this year. Winterizing The House There is a lot to do when it comes to winterizing your home, but you will be so glad once it?s done. Here is a quick list of things you can do to help winterize your home this year. Clean out your dryer vent to ensure no blockages or buildup Clean and clear off all vents that lead outside to ensure proper ventilation and HVAC function Seal any cracks in windows, doors, or walls. If there is any outside air getting in directly, then you should plug it up thoroughly Insulate any water pipes that are exposed in your crawlspace, attic, or outside your home. Check for any small leaks or cracks while you?re at it Inspect and clean out your gutters to help prevent ice dams and clogs Have your local HVAC tech inspect your heating system before booting it up for the winter Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries Install energy efficient and insulating window coverings like we have for sale Winterizing Your Lawn/Garden We like to think of summer as the main lawn and garden season, but the fall can be the most important time of the year for them both. Setting up your lawn and garden for success can help to ensure your home continues to look nice and to help ensure that you are not overwhelmed with insects, mold, and other unpleasantries when spring comes. Drain garden hoses and put them away in a safe place for the winter Clean up debris in and around your garden, especially in the plant beds to help reduce rodent and insect buildup Mulch garden beds to help lock in nutrients for next year Clean up garden tools and store them for the winter Cover your perennials to help them survive until spring Mow your lawn one last time, and bag the clippings Aerate your lawn to help improve overall water absorption and improve nutrient capacity and distribution Fertilize your lawn with a special end of season fertilizer that will help replenish and lock in nutrients for next year Rake leaves, especially before snow starts to help ensure that your grass doesn?t get smothered and pests don?t invade and make those warm leaf piles their winter home Conclusion We hope that this article about winterizing your home and garden was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome exterior solar shades or commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started .
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Winter?s arrival brings with it a lot of fun and good things like the Holiday Season and fun with friends and family, but it also brings a lot of preparation and hard work if you?re a homeowner. Each year, millions of families lose out on thousands of dollars because they didn?t winterize their home properly. Forgetting simple things like having your sprinklers blown out or not wrapping exposed pipes can cost you. Don?t get caught flat-footed this winter! Here are some tips for winterizing your home and garden this year. Winterizing The House There is a lot to do when it comes to winterizing your home, but you will be so glad once it?s done. Here is a quick list of things you can do to help winterize your home this year. Clean out your dryer vent to ensure no blockages or buildup Clean and clear off all vents that lead outside to ensure proper ventilation and HVAC function Seal any cracks in windows, doors, or walls. If there is any outside air getting in directly, then you should plug it up thoroughly Insulate any water pipes that are exposed in your crawlspace, attic, or outside your home. Check for any small leaks or cracks while you?re at it Inspect and clean out your gutters to help prevent ice dams and clogs Have your local HVAC tech inspect your heating system before booting it up for the winter Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries Install energy efficient and insulating window coverings like we have for sale Winterizing Your Lawn/Garden We like to think of summer as the main lawn and garden season, but the fall can be the most important time of the year for them both. Setting up your lawn and garden for success can help to ensure your home continues to look nice and to help ensure that you are not overwhelmed with insects, mold, and other unpleasantries when spring comes. Drain garden hoses and put them away in a safe place for the winter Clean up debris in and around your garden, especially in the plant beds to help reduce rodent and insect buildup Mulch garden beds to help lock in nutrients for next year Clean up garden tools and store them for the winter Cover your perennials to help them survive until spring Mow your lawn one last time, and bag the clippings Aerate your lawn to help improve overall water absorption and improve nutrient capacity and distribution Fertilize your lawn with a special end of season fertilizer that will help replenish and lock in nutrients for next year Rake leaves, especially before snow starts to help ensure that your grass doesn?t get smothered and pests don?t invade and make those warm leaf piles their winter home Conclusion We hope that this article about winterizing your home and garden was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome exterior solar shades or commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started .
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Improving your home?s energy efficiency isn?t just a good idea for the environment in general, but is a great way to have a real financial impact on your family?s bottom line each winter. This winter, let?s save some real dollars and more than a few cents when it comes to conserving energy to keep your home warm. Today?s blog is all about that and more! Reducing Energy Consumption Tips There are lots of ways in which you can save energy on heating bills this fall and winter. Here are a few great and simple ideas you can start using today in order to help save green while going green. Seal Gaps and Drafts With just a little bit of weather stripping material from your local hardware store, you can turn that small investment into a huge return on your energy bills. Use that and some extra caulking you may have lying around to seal cracks and gaps around your doors and windows. Check Your Attic And Reseal Check up in your attic to see if there are any gaps or open holes that are letting the outside air in. This can help you cut down on damaging moisture buildup as well as reduce the chance that critters and bugs can get in and start wrecking the place. Strategic Landscaping This is a bit of a long game, but it is worth it by far. One way to help reduce damaging wind gusts against your home and especially against your windows, then you may want to plant some barrier shrubs or trees. If you plant trees around the perimeter of your property and have bushes and shrubs near your windows, you can help to eliminate harsh sun and direct wind abrasion all year round. Upgrade To Energy Efficient Windows And Doors If you?re tired of paying too much for your heating and cooling bills each year, you can put a huge dent into those HVAC costs by upgrading your windows and doors to more modern, energy efficient and insulating ones like double or triple pane windows and insulated doors. Upgrade Your Window Coverings With Energy Saving Ones Another great way to step up your cost-saving game is to shop our fantastic selection of energy efficient window coverings, like our Hunter Douglas roller shades or our Roman Shades. Hunter Douglas Roller Shades These provide a modern and stylish look while also being energy efficient. They help to insulate your windows against both the hot and the cold, all year long. Roman Shades You don?t have to actually be in Rome to do as the Romans do. Why not take advantage of their luxurious look and feel to both impress guests and save money on energy bills? Shop our excellent selection of Roman Shades today. Conclusion We hope that this article about conserving heat in your home was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome exterior solar shades or commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started .
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"Bought our new home in February 2012. Blind Appeal installed all of our blinds. Amazing, professional, clean, prompt as you would expect. Years later I needed to buy new pull cords because my puppy chewed them up. But surprisingly they replaced them all for free! They said lifetime warranty means lifetime... This year our blinds are over 8 years old and still look great. A piece of furniture got pushed up against the window and ripped the blinds in a bedroom. I needed a quote. Turns out they don't make that color anymore. Their solution? Replace the blinds in all three windows so they match. For free! Lifetime warranty means lifetime. You simply don't find companies that stand behind their reputation like Blind Appeal. I never write reviews. This company deserves your business. You will not find a better company to work with!"
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"Thank you for the beautiful shutters. They are beyond our expectations! They have made our new house a true home. We will have no trouble recommending your company."
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"We are pleased with our new blinds. This was your 3rd visit to our home, and we have been satisfied each time."
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"Blind Appeal was a breath of fresh air and exceeded my expectations. There isn't a thing that they could have done better and I am very impressed with their work. I would recommend Blind Appeal to anyone needing blinds for their home."
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We really are enjoying the new blinds. Your installer was great. He arrived right on time, did excellent work. From start to finish, you made this so easy. We will definitely recommend you to friends & family.
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Blind Appeal is an amazing company! They were fast, efficient, had great communication, and follow through. I would highly recommend them.
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