Moxie's online newsletter for September 2017
September/October 2017
HEALTHY HOME NEWS
(949) 835-5444 • www.moxieservices.com • 18 Technology Dr. Suite 154, Irvine, CA 92618
Welcome to Your Healthy Home News
We jointly welcome you to the second issue of the Healthy Home News. Eric Bollmann from Zerorez Carpet Cleaning, Daniel King from Pacific Coast Termite, and Michael Fleming from Moxie Pest Control hope you’ll find some interesting and helpful information within the pages of this newsletter. We also encourage you to contact any of us if the need for our services arises. Zerorez expertly handles anything related to carpet, rug,
upholstery, tile, grout, and stone and wood floor cleaning. Pacific Coast Termite will rid your home of termites as well as make your home rat- proof. And any ongoing pest issues, such as spider, ant, or cockroach infestations, will be stopped by Moxie Pest Control. You can be assured that you have three companies at your side that are the best in the business. We are committed to making your service experience second to none.
Eric Bollmann 949-387-2222
Michael Fleming
Michael Fleming 949-835-5444
Daniel King 714-602-5440
We have some amazing offers inside for you. Take a look and see for yourself!
‘Never Forget’
Google Maps. Here you’ll see from your own home how this tragedy has been transformed into works of art. Visit a Local Memorial While it’s no surprise New York City has a museum dedicated to 9/11, you might not realize other towns and cities have erected smaller monuments to remember that day. Even Boise, Idaho, for example, has its own locally donated World Trade Center monument. Search the web to find out if your city has a local monument, then make it a museum day.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York
Fifteen years ago, terrorists hijacked two planes and flew them into the World Trade Center towers. A generation of children who watched the event unfold, enraptured by the news as they’d never been before, are now adults, many raising their own children. September 11 still holds deep meaning to this generation because it was the day they saw the unthinkable — the day the terrible realities so common in other parts of the world touched the United States. This September, visit a memorial to remember the brave, the heroes, and the fallen of 9/11.
Consider visiting New York’s 9/11 Memorial Museum. It stands where the twin towers once stood, housing bits and pieces from that day, including pieces of the original building woven throughout its exhibits. Guided tours are also available. Even if you can’t make it to the actual museum in New York, spend some time on the 9/11 Memorial website. On it, you’ll find interactive timelines, frequently asked questions, and even a virtual tour of the museum courtesy of
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Pets & Plants How to Avoid Household Disasters
If you live in a home complete with both pets and plants, you may be in search of a little balance. Some cats and dogs can’t help but nibble on the greenery or dig in the dirt. Others may love to roughhouse, leading to potential spills and other disasters. But with a few simple changes, you can make sure your pets and plants get along, and disasters will become a thing of the past. Pick the Right Plants. There are many houseplants that are toxic to animals. Aloe is a common one that can cause serious health issues if ingested by cats and dogs. The ASPCA recommends pet owners buy plants like the Boston fern, Chamaedorea palm, and the spider plant instead. You can search the ASPCA’s plant database at www.aspca.org/pet- care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants to find plants that are perfect for your home and yard. Consider Plant Placement. Keep houseplants out of reach of curious snouts, paws, and the occasional tail — while still ensuring your plants get plenty of light. Find spots on tables and shelves or hang plants from the ceiling if that’s an option. As a general rule, set plants away from ledges or areas where cats might be tempted to jump. Make sure your plants are secure. Nonslip mats are a great way to keep pots and containers from slipping. Leave No Cloth Dangled. Watch for mats, tablecloths, or anything else under your plants that drape or dangle over tables or stands. These can be enticing for playful pets, and they may pull on them and topple over the plant. A falling plant may injure your pet or leave you with a big mess. Make sure anything placed directly under a plant is made or cut to fit in the space provided. Discourage Dirt Digging. For troublesome cats with a habit of getting into the dirt around houseplants, the ASPCA says that aluminum foil can be an effective deterrent. Form the foil around the base of the plant, leaving just enough room to water the plant. Cats don’t like the crunchy feeling of the foil beneath their paws.
When a House Is More Than a House Multipurpose Homes
A house becomes much more than a house when its design is so unusually genius that it serves multiple and often unexpected purposes. We’ve rounded up three multipurpose architectural anomalies for your viewing pleasure.
Home as Art and Art as Home
Our first home is located in Rio de Janeiro. Built by two artists and brothers, the home is literally located on the side of a wall. Beds, tables, chairs, even an unusual orange couch and a potted plant hang suspended above the streets. Set against the backdrop of a painted red and yellow stone wall, the brightly colored furniture makes for an unexpected piece of art that captures what the French would call the joie de vivre , or joy of life. Our next home hasn’t yet skateboarded into the real world, but if everything goes according to plan, it’s sure to keep its residents fit. The idea comes from professional skater Pierre Andre Senizergues, who worked with designers and architects to create a home that is essentially a skate park. In place of the typical square structure, you’ll find curved, pipe-like walls with a couch that doubles as a grinding rail. Senizergues’s home is a skateboarder’s paradise. Did you know that Seattle has its very own Floating Homes Association? Neither did we. But apparently they need one, as the city has taken houseboats to the extreme. These homes literally serve two purposes, as both a house and a boat. Artistically, the houseboat has more walls than windows, which results in an organic feel, as though the home belongs on the water. The decor echoes the boat’s aquatic surroundings. Where you’d expect to find a microwave over the stove, you’ll find instead a fish tank. And where you’d expect to find a screen door, you find an opening that lets in the crisp ocean air. Skate on Home Home Sweet Houseboat
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Are You Ready to Live Pest-Free?
A Couple of Tips Before Your Moxie Technician Arrives
As the summer heat dies down, every type of creepy-crawly is vying to make your house their own. If you’ve noticed some unwanted freeloaders skittering around, it’s probably time to give Moxie Pest Control a call. Before you do, though, there are a few things you should try to get together for your Moxie Pest Control technician. Though we’re equipped to identify and eliminate all types of pests, it can speed up the process if you have some information ready before we do our inspection. The first thing you should do, if possible, is to identify the threat you’re dealing with. Write down as much as possible about the damage your particular pest has been causing. If you can, use a flyswatter and “gather” a sample of the insect (the less flattened, the better). Take pictures of the affected area(s) and of the pests themselves. Also, make sure to take note of how long it’s been an issue as well as any steps you’ve already taken. If your home has a history of pest infestation — even if it was a totally different critter than before — compile as much
information as you can about previous issues. Find information about any treatments you or an exterminator used. If you’re having chronic pest problems, we’ll help you get to the root of the issue and eliminate it from the source. Regardless of which bug is terrorizing your home or how serious the infestation, you can bet our team at Moxie Pest Control is up to the challenge. We’ll come into your home with our years of experience, eradicate the little buggers completely, and get out — leaving you with a healthy, bug-free home, and peace of mind.
What’s That Smell?
into your home over the years. Even with regular vacuuming and quick cleaning of spills, your carpet serves as your home’s historical record. If your carpet smells, you don’t need to replace it — unless it’s been about 20 years. All you need is baking soda. Scatter baking soda over the affected area and wait a few hours. The longer
key to getting rid of mold and eliminating the odor is to ensure the space can adequately dry. Odors can also come from your dishwasher. It often gets skipped over during regular kitchen cleaning because we assume it cleans itself as it cleans our dishes. While that’s partly true, food particles and moisture can come together and stick around for some pesky odors. The easiest way to get rid of dishwasher odor is to use vinegar. Instead of detergent, add a cup of vinegar to your empty dishwasher and cycle it. When you clean your dishwasher, don’t forget to clean the filter. It’s generally found under the sprayer, and it’s a great place for food particles to accumulate. Carpets represent another source of unpleasant and hard-to-find odors. Carpet odors can be more subtle and can spread over a larger area. Think about everything that has been tracked
Homes are filled with sources of unpleasant smells. That odor might come from the garbage disposal, the garbage bin, the litter box, or the spoiled pasta you forgot about weeks ago. For the most part, these smells are simple to get rid of, but what about the smells that are harder to find? One of the most common sources of odd odors is mold. It’s not food gone bad, but mold in the bathroom and around your home’s windows and doors. It can hide virtually anywhere with a hint of moisture, including leaky pipes and roofs, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms with inadequate ventilation. COMMON HIDDEN SOURCES You can identify the smell of common nontoxic mold by its musty or wet cardboard scent. When you find it, you can easily clean it with a mixture of soap and water, or a mixture of vinegar and water. Aside from a good scrub, the real
you wait, the better. Then, vacuum. If the odor lingers,
reapply the baking soda and try again; otherwise your carpet may need a deep steam clean.
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Fall Into Home Improvement
will seep in just as easily as the humidity did over the summer. Before you find yourself living in an igloo, consider investing in energy-efficient, double- pane windows that will preserve your comfortable, heated air, and keep Jack Frost out of your home. Alternately, you can try to caulk and weather-strip around the windows to prevent air from leaking in and out of the frame, but that won’t do anything to reinforce a single pane of glass. New windows will make your home more comfortable and your heating and air conditioning bills a little bit lower. 2. Wood. Now that the sun isn’t beating down with the force of Thor’s hammer, it’s a good time to do some maintenance on the wooden parts of your house. If you have any wood windows, wood exterior doors, or wood siding, keep in mind you need to scrape, sand, and repaint them every couple of years, especially if the wood is on the south or southwest side of
Here are five areas of your home that might need some attention before it gets too cold outside. 1. Windows. If your house was mistaken for a sauna this summer (despite the best efforts of your air conditioner), or if you found yourself avoiding certain rooms that didn’t seem to hold the cool air as well, it could mean your windows aren’t doing their job. If your house is still sporting old, single-pane windows, or leaky windows, you can bet the cold winter temperatures
With the hot weather behind us and the cold temperatures not too far off, fall is the best time to do some maintenance work around the house — whether you want to or not. If you have multiple jobs that are a bit too big for you to handle on your own, or the thought of scraping your siding makes you want to pull your hair out, consider enlisting the help of a general contractor who can do everything from patching your roof to replacing your windows to sealing your patio — leaving you free to spend your evenings relaxing on the porch.
All the Treats, None of the Tricks
Halloween Movie Party
opoly, which comes complete with creepy real estate and ghoulish figurines. For older kids, try out Betrayal at House on the Hill or One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Visit Board Game King’s website for their list of the Top 10 horror board games for Halloween.
Bring the spooky celebration home with a classic Halloween party. If your kids are older, let a scary movie be your main event. If your kids are younger, go for a fun Halloween movie like Disney’s “Halloweentown.” Or, for even younger kids, find the Halloween episode of their favorite TV show. Don’t forget the time-honored tradition of spooky foods like hot dog fingers and curdled blood punch. Check out Parenting’s online article “21 Gross Recipes: Halloween Party Food” for more icky ideas.
Build a Haunted House
Your kids will love the arts and crafts aspect of building a haunted house. Paper bats, garbage bag ghosts, and plenty of fishing line will turn an ordinary living room into a spooky good time. If your kids are older, they might enjoy scarier props or sound effects. You don’t have to let in the public to enjoy the haunted house, but you can always have the extended family over for some fun and scares.
Not comfortable with trick-or-treating? Maybe your kids are too young, or maybe they’re too old. Perhaps it’s a safety issue. Or maybe going around ringing the doorbells of strangers and asking for candy just isn’t for you. Whatever the reason, if trick-or-treating isn’t on the table for your little ghouls, consider these spooky alternatives.
Spooky Board Games
Have a good old-fashioned board game night — with a scary twist. Purchase and play the Halloween version of your favorite games, like the always-entertaining Boo-
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carefully chosen a design, changed your mind three or four times, and finally ordered the materials. A half-finished guest bathroom on Christmas Eve will inconvenience your company, give your mother-in-law one more thing to critique, and make you wish you had started the job in the fall instead of waiting until December.
your house. At this point, you’re probably considering moving before taking on a job like that; buying a new house seems easier than fixing the wood siding on the house you have now. But before you start browsing the classifieds, consider working with a professional who can not only do the job quickly and easily, but can spot and remedy rot and mold that you might miss on your own. 3. Roof. If leaves and pine needles are accumulating in your yard, they’re probably accumulating on your roof as well. And just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t need to be taken care of. At some point you (or an unwilling volunteer, like your teenage son) will have to climb up there and sweep them away. If you don’t clean your roof, all of that debris will slide down into your gutters, successfully forming a dam and inviting water to pool on your roof. That alone will weaken roofing materials and lead to leaks. But, during a rainstorm, your backed-up gutters and downspouts won’t be able to get water off of the roof fast enough and you might end
up in a downpour of your own right in the middle of your living room. 4. Porches and patios. Don’t deny your family access to your patio, porch, or deck just because it’s a little too cold to sit outside. You’ll miss all of those beautiful winter skies! Install a fire pit (think s’mores made to order), fireplace, or chimney outdoors so everyone can spend time there year-round. If you close your eyes, you’ll almost feel like summer has returned … or at the very least, you’ll feel warm and cozy. 5. Additions and renovations. If you’re considering adding a room to your house, it’s a good idea to get started before the weather gets too cold. Your contractors will do their best to seal up the gaping hole in your walls where the new room will attach, but even the heaviest plastic can only do so much against harsh weather conditions. If you plan on having a new room by the time your mother-in-law arrives for the holidays, you need to start yesterday. It can take weeks for even a small, one-room renovation to be completed, and that’s after you’ve
Did You Know?
Did you know ...
Deep oceans are home to strange creatures like the vampire squid, which have blue eyes and seem to represent the common ancestor between the squid and the octopus. They use bioluminescent mucus to glow and change patterns to disorient predators. Other oddities include the dragonfish, which uses a long barbell attached to its chin that lights up to lure in prey, and the colossal squid, which scientists believe can grow up to 46 feet long. If these amazing creatures exist, perhaps beings like the Loch Ness Monster aren’t so impossible after all. Animals aren’t the only unbelievable deep sea discoveries. Scientists have also found clusters of hydrothermal vents in the Arctic that are more than four stories tall and spew extremely hot fluid into the sea. With primitive bacteria found on fossils in such vents, these environments could hold the secret to life’s beginnings.
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For many kids, having a treehouse is a quintessential part of growing up. From building the treehouse to having slumber parties and Nerf gun battles in it, the treehouse has come to represent the ideal childhood. Meet Hayden Trigg, a 7-year-old from Austin, Texas. He has lived his life in a wheelchair. Being diagnosed with cerebral palsy and spina bifida meant a treehouse was likely not in his future. Last year, that changed. Hayden wanted nothing more than to have his very own treehouse and a place to play with his friends and siblings. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as a local contractor, his dream of having a treehouse was realized. The Treehouse of DREAMS
You might think that home improvement projects are reserved exclusively for the warmer spring and summer months. After all, you hear all about spring cleaning and summer blowouts, but what about the other half of the year? If you’re looking to spruce up your indoor and outdoor living space for the fall, here are some good places to start. Go for the Gutter: You may not know it, but your gutter drainage system diverts thousands of gallons away from your home annually. Make sure that system is running smoothly by inspecting your gutters for leaves and other obstructions. Mind the Gaps: Don’t let all the warm air get out! Seal gaps and cracks around windows with weather-stripping and caulk to stay warm and toasty. Raise the Roof: If you’re in an area that gets heavy snow or rainfall, have your roof professionally inspected to be sure nothing comes through curled shingles or leaky vents. Dust the Filters: Don’t let last year’s dirt become this year’s problem. Clogged filters can prevent warm air from circulating properly throughout the house, so grab a dust rag and clean them out. Chim chim-er-ey: If you have a traditional fireplace, have it professionally inspected before you burn those logs. Taking precautions now will ensure you have to douse the flames for the whole season. Adjust the Outdoors: If your flower boxes have some flower remnants remaining, dig them out and replace them with heartier, winter-ready greenery. This will help add color and natural flare. Also, if you have a fire pit in the yard, give it a good cleaning. Then fill it with well-seasoned hardwood for those impromptu marshmallow roasts. Humidify Your Space: The bone-chilling winter air isn’t just bad for your health, it’s also bad for your house. Dry, cold air makes fine wood more prone to cracking, so keep up a central humidifier to balance things out. Clean Up: Most of all, you want your home to feel fresh, and you can’t do that if you’ve got the May issue of “Better Homes and Gardens” hanging around. Take a look around, and throw out all your outdated magazines and newspapers. Furthermore, go through your cleaning products, and throw out expired chemicals. Keep your heaters, furnaces, and other heating products clear of clutter. Home & Garden Fall Fixes for Your
His family found the perfect spot between two 200-year-old oak trees. Through rain and shine, Hayden eagerly watched the treehouse come together. Instead of the typical rope or wood ladder, the treehouse was designed with a 65-foot wheelchair ramp. Once complete, Hayden invited his first-grade class to the ribbon- cutting ceremony. Yes, you read that right. Hayden’s treehouse opened with a celebration complete with a ribbon cutting. With the ribbon cut, Hayden and all of his classmates played together in the new treehouse. Hayden’s mom, Adrienne Trigg, watched as her son played. “It was the best day of his life,” she said. “His wish was to share this with his friends.” The treehouse was finished earlier this year, just as school let out for the summer, and Hayden was able to spend his summer having sleepovers and parties. The best day ever turned into the best summer ever. Hayden loves his treehouse so much, he insists on doing his physical therapy there. He even practices rolling himself up the ramp with his manual wheelchair. In the past, he had struggled to travel far on his own due to low muscle tone. Now, he can roll up his treehouse ramp without a second thought.
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Have A Laugh!
ONE-PAN HARVEST PASTA
Ingredients
rinsed and drained • 13/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth • 1 cup dried whole grain elbow macaroni • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Kosher salt • Ground black pepper (optional) • Snipped fresh basil • Grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 small eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces (4 cups) • 1 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped (2 cups) • 2 tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 cup) • 1/3 cup chopped red onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans (white kidney beans),
Instructions
1. In a very large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, and garlic. Cook, uncovered, 7–10 minutes or until vegetables are almost tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Add beans, broth, pasta, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 7–10 minutes more or until vegetables and pasta are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper; top with basil and Parmesan cheese and serve.
Man’s Best Friend … Twice? The Surprising Ancestry of Modern Dogs
modern dogs lack any genetic trace from the original European dog population, it is believed they died out around the time the Asian dogs migrated over. There is opposition to this theory. Some scientists believe the rate of mutation may have been miscalculated, and initial domestication in Asia could have occurred much earlier than estimated. Furthermore, scientists have yet to extract usable DNA from the ancient German dogs. When they do, tests could show that these dogs also have ancestry from Asia. Or, they could turn out to be a completely independent species, perhaps proving the multiple domestication theory. As it stands now, the answer to whether dogs were domesticated in Europe or Asia looks to be both. Now, the next question: Who’s a good boy?
14,000 years ago. Thanks to the wide sample range, they also noticed, for the first time, a sharp genetic split between Asian and European dog species. Researchers attribute the genetic split to a sharp population decline, often seen when a small group breaks away from the larger population. They believe this is the result of a migration in which humans, along with their canine companions, came from Asia to Europe, spreading dogs across the continent between 6,400 and 14,000 years ago. But this doesn’t close the case just yet. Archaeologists previously found evidence of dog domestication in Germany dating over 16,000 years old — long before dogs were domesticated in Asia. This suggests that mankind domesticated dogs at two different points in time at two different locations on the Eurasian continent. As
When it comes to animal loyalty, dogs often prove themselves to be best in show. But is that really so surprising? Dogs have stood beside humans longer than any other domesticated species. Our ancient ancestors domesticated the dog before the development of agriculture. The question is, did humans first domesticate dogs in Asia or Europe? In a research project led by Oxford University, scientists across the world have been gathering their resources, trying to trace the genetic history of man’s best friend. After uncovering the inner ear bone of a 5,000-year-old dog at Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland, scientists mapped out the specimen’s genome. Then, they compared it with the genome of 605 modern dogs from around the world. They determined that all modern dogs share a common ancestor with a wolf who lived in Asia around
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
In Memory of 9/11
How to Find the Right Pet and Plant Balance
Multipurpose Homes
Fall Fixes For Your Home and Garden
All Tricks and No Treats
PLUS MUCH MORE!
See Special Offers Inside!
But you don’t care about that. What you care about is getting them out of your pantry. If it were any other pest, I’d give you some do-it-yourself advice to keep the bugs out or purge them from your house. But with Argentine ants, there’s really not a lot you can do without a professional. There’s the no-brainer of “don’t leave your food out,” but the sad truth is, no matter how many traps you lay down, they’ll still keep coming back. And thanks to their tiny bodies, they can get in anywhere ; there’s absolutely no way to seal them off. Luckily, the pros at Moxie Pest Control are very good at killing vermin. Don’t let ants camp out and multiply in your house. Let our friendly experts eliminate the colony at its source and get you the peace of mind you deserve.
Ants Invading Your Home?
they won’t bite, they will do everything they can to eat all your food, infest your house, and drive you crazy. First identified in — you guessed it — Argentina back in 1866, Argentine ants have steadily spread from South America, all the way up to cozy California and across the pond to Europe, hitching rides in travelers’ cars and luggage. Part of their “success” comes from the fact that individual colonies don’t compete or fight with one another like other ant colonies do. In fact, the three massive supercolonies, including the one that’s invading your home, are thought to be part of an enormous global supercolony, with a population as big as the human race.
Though the warm weather stays pretty consistent here in Southern California, some bugs still somehow manage to follow a seasonal schedule. As September rolls around, so do swarms of Argentine ants — tiny little buggers that can squeeze into every nook, cranny, and crack in your home. They’re not at all dangerous, so don’t worry about them chomping at you as you walk around your house. But while
Michael Fleming Michael Fleming
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