How To Look For An Accessible Home When You Have A Disability

House hunting is difficult at the best of times. Now imagine reducing the pool of homes available to you by 95 percent. This is the issue that millions of Americans face when it comes to finding their new home, as fewer than 5 percent of homes in the United States are accessible to people with disabilities.

Furthermore, according to the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, New Mexico is among the states with the highest concentrations of disabled persons. For this reason, we aim to help New Mexicans with disabilities find the perfect accessible home for you and your family, no matter the disability.

Make A List Of Your Needs

Your first step should be to outline what you need from your house. Think beyond the obvious. For example, for a wheelchair user, the obvious is step-free access throughout the house and wide doorways. However, there are smaller details you should look out for such as the placement of switches and electrical outlets, whether corners are easy to navigate, or whether cupboards are reachable. Make sure you budget for these extra costs. For example, in Meridian, you’ll likely pay $103 - $397 for outlet and switch services.

Separate The “Must-Haves” From The “Nice-To-Haves”

Ideally, all accessibility features are a must-have. However, realistically, you should pick one or two features you can’t do without. These should ideally be structural features, ones that are either difficult or expensive to change. For example, you can narrow things down to single-story homes only, or you could decide you want large open layouts. This guide to separating house hunting wants and needs can help steer you in the right direction.

Accept You Will Need To Modify

It is unlikely you will find the perfect accessible home, in the perfect location, for the perfect price. You will need to compromise, but you will also need to make sure your home is safe and convenient for you. This means you will have to make modifications. These range from small add-ons, such as grab bars in showers, to larger projects such as changing all the flooring in the house. SFGate has an extensive record of common modifications and can be a good starting point if you are unsure of what you will need.

Remodeling for accessibility can run into the thousands of dollars, particularly if you need to make any structural, electric, or plumbing changes. For example, just widening a hallway could cost up to $4,500. Before you choose a house, list out the modifications you would have to make, price them, and add this figure to how much you intend to offer. This is the real figure you will be paying.

The Extra Details

Once you find the perfect home, there are a few things you will want to do before moving in. First, you should make sure you have all the support you need when it comes to the actual move. You are probably already planning on hiring a moving company, but consider a packing company as well (or, even better, one that does both), which can make the whole process a smooth one.

Second, because it's an unfortunate fact that people with disabilities are at higher risk of being targets for crime, you'll want to make sure you assess your home security before moving in. This includes windows with locks, deadbolts or chain locks you can easily maneuver, quality outdoor lighting for nighttime, and, most importantly, new locks. In fact, having your home rekeyed should be the first thing you do after closing on your house. You can easily find a highly rated, reputable locksmith with a quick online search.

Ultimately, looking for an accessible home is similar to any house hunting process. You need patience, good planning skills, and a willingness to compromise. If you need support at any point, don’t hesitate to reach out to disability associations in your area, or to look for an experienced realtor to support you personally in your search.

Mega Trivia June 2019

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Solving myths about freezing and thawing fresh foods | E-Neighborhood Advisor

There are many myths about frozen food. Some people believe frozen fruits and vegetables aren’t as healthy.

Did you know that frozen produce is picked at peak ripeness then flash frozen within six to ten hours after picking? Because it happens rapidly, flash freezing locks in nutrients and prevents ice crystals from developing.

When it comes to thawing food, it’s best to let it thaw in the refrigerator where the temperature is safely below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Harmful bacteria can rapidly grow when the food reaches the dangerous temperature zone between 40- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit.

Another caution - do not run hot water over food when thawing. While parts of the food are still frozen, the hot water will warm areas of the food into the dangerous temperature zone indicated above. That can be dangerous. That hot water can even cause patches of the food to start the cooking while other areas remain frozen.

When it comes to freezing foods, you can freeze them after the “sell by” or on the “use by” date. Doing so should not cause any health concerns. Just don’t wait until after the “use by” date.

When bringing meats home from the grocery store, it is recommended to rewrap them in freezer-safe packaging and squeeze out as much air as possible. When freezing fresh vegetables, blanch them first. Here are blanching directions and times for home freezer storage.

The length of time foods can be frozen will vary. Because of this, and because some foods may remain in your freezer for an extended period of time, you should always label foods in your freezer with the date you originally froze them. Here is a handy list of storage times for food in the refrigerator and freezer.

Keep in mind, most foods are freezable, but some will lose quality and texture, like milk and dairy products. They are safe to eat but it may be best to use previously frozen dairy products in casseroles, baking, and other recipes. 

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Q: What is small, red and whispers?

A: A hoarse radish!

Make money from your KonMari Mountains | E-Neighborhood Advisor

A few weeks ago we talked about making mountains the KonMari way. Maybe you’re the type of person who jumps right into projects like that, but many of us aren’t.

We thought we could give you a bit of encouragement during Spring Cleaning season with a way you can make a little cash from your “KonMari Mountains”.

Purged items gain extra cash for you by having a yard sale. This is the best time of year to do that, and Summer is next-best.

The ultimate days and times will vary, but Saturdays are often best. Serious shoppers will arrive early. An excellent time to begin is 7:00 am to as late as 3:00 pm. Gauge the end time by the items you have left and the number of people stopping by.

Sometimes Friday afternoon/early evening can get a good jump on your yard sale success. Here are some quick tips to boost that victory:

• Set a date and tell your neighbors as soon as possible. That helps prevent clashing neighborhood events. Plus, it could become a neighborhood sale if others choose to join in.

• Price items with easy-to-see tags/stickers, and avoid overpricing. A quick Google search can help find realistic prices. Yard sales prices are generally a quarter to a third of what items sell for brand new.

• When pricing, consider bundle rates for like-items such as DVDs ($1 per DVD or $3 for 4).

• Advertise the yard sale during the two weeks prior to the big day in relevant neighborhood Facebook groups, Craigslist, Kijiji, local papers, church bulletins, etc.

• Put up sturdy, easy to read signs a few days before the sale. They need to withstand weather and have large, legible letters. People passing by only have a moment to glance at your sign. If it cannot get read from a passing car, you miss potential buyers.

• Have small bills and coins on the day of your yard sale to make change, and never leave your cash unattended.

• Be prepared to negotiate and haggle.

• Make sure items are clean and look as new as possible.

• Sort and organize items so that they are visually pleasing up close and from the street.

• MOST IMPORTANT: Avoid bringing unsold items back into the house by having a plan to get them to a donation location.

See more detailed tips here.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Q: Where does Princess Leia go shopping for her clothes?

A: The Darth Maul!

Dealing with lower back pain | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Lower back pain can be the result of many factors: aging, overexertion, stress, strain, degenerative diseases, injury, or poor posture. Before a physician can decide on treatment, he or she will perform preliminary tests to narrow down the cause of the pain. 

Treatment and Techniques

• Epidural steroid injections – Injections can help relieve neck and back pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves.

• Heat and cold packs – these can be useful in controlling pain and improving muscle and joint pain.

• TENS or ultrasound therapy – These pain relieving modalities provide sensory-level stimulation to the back and help mask or block pain while relaxing muscles.

• Spinal decompression therapy – This session-based procedure minimizes pain in the lower back that may arise from damaged or degenerative disc syndromes.

• Chiropractic care – This hands-on technique, which applies gentle pressure on the spine and affected joints to relieve pain, calls on the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.

• Therapeutic massage – This involves stroking, pressing, and kneading the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to relieve pain, as well as to relax, stimulate and tone the body.

• Physical therapy – Here the focus is on regulated stretches and exercises to improve blood circulation and promote healing.

Strive for Successful Treatment

Treatment for lower back pain can also involve regular home-based exercises, muscle development activities, and lifestyle modification, like getting to a healthy body weight and adapting the safest ways to lift objects. To ensure long lasting relief, patients and physicians need to work together as a team.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Add Style & Personality to the stairs | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Does your staircase need a facelift?

A lot of consideration goes into the style and practicality of the staircase when designing a home.

Will it have a grand curve, be L-shaped with a midpoint landing or go straight up to the next level?

Will the treads be covered in carpet, hardwood or another material?

Will the balusters be wood spindles, decorative iron or glass shields?

Beyond a practical, safe design and primary material finishes, the way you decorate the staircase adds to the character and personality of your home. Here are some options to consider.

The Walls – Decorate the walls with color or a collection of photos and artwork in varying sizes. You may choose a bold pattern or embossed wallpaper instead or any combination of these ideas.

The Risers - Some staircase risers get embellished with mirror panels or patterned wallpaper. Another option is a mural panel cut and placed on each riser. When looking up from the lower level, the mural reveals a complete scene.

Risers are an excellent place to add inspirational words or quotes that provide daily encouragement. Some have even been decorated to look like the spine of books. Here is inspiration from our Houzz.com Page.

The Landing – Consider how a mid-level landing or the area the top and bottom of the stairs will get used. These areas can incorporate a bench, bookcase, mirrors, coat rack, and other decorative elements. Here are some great uses of the landing. 

One thing is for sure; there are some creative staircases in homes!

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here is a stair joke for you!

"Why I don't trust stairs?"  Because they are always up to something! :)

Isn’t it time to save money on your energy bill? E-Neighborhood Advisor

Have you ever Spring cleaned your expenses? It seems like everything has gotten a little costlier this year. One place to save money is on the energy bill, and there are ways to keep those costs down.

Control the Temperature

One way to reduce energy costs is to install a programmable thermostat. Set it to maintain an ideal home temperature between 70- and 78-degrees Fahrenheit (according to energystar.gov). Then, when you’re away from home, you can program it to warm that temperature in the summer or cool it in the winter by 8 degrees.

Plus, lowering the heat on the water heater to 120-degrees can provide additional savings.

Control the sun’s heat coming into your home to reduce energy expenses further. Permit less heat to get in during the summer and more in the winter by using insulated window coverings inside or retractable awnings outside.

Change the Light Bulbs

Where possible, install Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. Not only are these energy efficient options, they last longer than most standard bulbs. Learn more about

“The 7 Best Light Bulbs of 2019.”

Take Charge of What Is Plugged In 

From kitchen appliances to digital devices and gaming units, unplug what is not getting used. That includes the length of time you recharge digital devices. Don’t leave them plugged in overnight.

Allow devices to charge only until the battery is full. Electronics often draw unnecessary energy when left plugged in or in rest mode.

Seal it Up

Seal drafts around the window and door and ensure there is a healthy level of insulation in the attic.

When inspecting the home for drafts, make sure the HVAC piping is correctly connected and sealed. Then double-check that nothing is blocking the vents in each room.

Adjust the Settings

Take advantage of the energy-saving settings on many newer TVs and electronics. Then, as the budget allows, consider upgrading to more energy efficient appliances, hot water heater, furnace, and air conditioning units.

It’s little savings that add up to a lot.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Q: How many mystery writers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two, one to put it almost all the way in and the other to give it a surprising twist at the end.

3 Ways To Make Your Home Look Great | E Neighborhood Advisor

Maybe you want to spruce up the place, or you’re planning to sell this year, here are three key areas deserving extra attention. Curb Appeal The first impression of your home happens from the street. People will determine what the people and inside of the house are like based on the way it looks out front. That curb appeal also majorly impacts a potential buyer’s decision. Stand in front of your home and survey the property. What needs to get fixed? What needs to get cleaned up? Survey the remainder of your exterior property. Create a list of what needs to get done like: Remove debris; Remove weeds and dead branches; Edge the garden; Fertilize the lawn; Add some colorful plants and flower pots; Paint the garage door; Paint the front door; Clean the windows, etc. Declutter and Organize Walk into your home as if for the first time. Forget what you know is there and view the interior like you’re visiting a model home. A model home has no clutter. If you’re planning on selling your home, keep in mind that buyers expect to see a tidy, depersonalized house. Of course, if you’re not planning to sell your home the personalized items can stay. The spring cleaning of your home includes getting rid of clutter like out-of-place items, papers, magazines, etc. Organize by having a distinct place for every item in your home, donating or selling things you no longer want or need, and throwing away the trash.

Complete the Incomplete

Get that home to-do list checked off. Often there are little DIY projects that we put off like updating light fixtures, caulking the bathtub, repairing a small spot on the wall, repainting a room, rehanging the drapes. Now is the time to get them done, especially if you are planning to sell the house. Those unfinished projects can impact the value of your home.

When considering your home’s value, a local real estate agent can give you the best advice for your home. In general, curb appeal, floors, fixtures, bathroom, kitchen, and master bedroom strongly impact the value of your home.

Of course, we’re here to help you with flooring, tiles and more! Stop in any time.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Q: What kind of house weighs the least?

A: A lighthouse.

Tips to save your time and sanity | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Have you searched the Internet for tips and tricks to save time or simplify your life? Here are a few shortcuts to use in the kitchen.

Spice Jar Labels

For spices purchased in a bag, and transferred to a spice jar at home, a quick way to label the jar is to cut the name of the spice off the bag and tape it to the outside of the jar.

Peel Garlic

Whether it’s only a clove or an entire bulb, toss it into an empty bottle. Place the lid securely on top and then shake it vigorously. You can even dance around the kitchen while you shake that jar for a few minutes. The garlic skins fall away. Dump the contents onto a clean surface, take out the fresh garlic cloves and discard the skins.

Boiling Pasta and Potatoes

Prevent a rapidly boiling pot from overflowing foam and water by laying a wooden spoon across the top. It keeps the bubbling water in the pot!

Peel Hard Boiled Eggs 

If you wonder how to cook perfect hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel, here is a video.

There are many shortcuts and solutions on the Internet about almost every topic. The best way to discover what options might be available to save your time and sanity is to search on Google, YouTube and Pinterest.

I hope the kitchen tips I shared will save you time. Here are 33 more in a quick video.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here is another joke for you:

Q: What did the egg say to the clown?

A: You crack me up. :)

Why There’s a Day to Honor Mom | E-Neighborhood Advisor

This Sunday is Mother's Day, a day to honor our mothers and those who have a mothering role in our lives.

The relationship with our mothers is filled with up and down moments in time, but this Sunday is a time to remember that no matter what, she’s had a substantial impact in shaping who we are today.

In most cases throughout our lives, mom has been the primary caregiver. She has taken care of our bumps and bruises and been our greatest advocate. After all, her life revolves mostly around the family! That's why she deserves this day of recognition.

The concept of Mother's Day dates to the 1600s, but modern-day Mother's Day traditions began in 1905 through a campaign in the US by Ann Marie Jarvis after her mother passed away. Jarvis started a crusade to have a recognized holiday to honor mothers as the person who does more for each of us than any other in the world.

Congress rejected Anna's proposal for a national holiday, even mocking her, but by 1911 every US State observed Mother's Day. Then in 1914, Woodrow Wilson officially deemed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor our mothers. It was the second Sunday of May when Ann Marie Jarvis lost her mother. 

In 1915, the second Sunday of May also became officially recognized as Mother's Day in Canada.

Enjoy time with your mom this weekend. Honor her with your siblings and loved ones. If she has passed, why not gather with all the same people to celebrate in remembrance of who she was and the impact she had on your lives?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Q: Why is a computer so smart?

A: It listens to its motherboard.

The paint color you choose – and what it means to you | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Walking into a paint store to choose colors can be daunting. Along with brands and sheens, there are a lot of paint chip options! Never let that rack of colored squares be the end of your decision-making process. That's only part of the final choice.

Color has a deep mood connection, so start by deciding what mood you want for the room.

• Blue = honesty, authority, productivity

• Green = growth, relaxing

• Yellow = cheery, positive energy

• Red = passion, sometimes associated with anger or romance

• Light purple = calming, relaxing

• Dark purple = bold, pride, wealth, nobility

• Orange = youthful & energetic

When choosing your colors, use a color wheel to determine pairings. Often hues that are opposite one another on the wheel will complement each other nicely in a room.

Consider your furniture, fabric, and artwork, because each will impact the paint tone. Also, keep in mind the trim and its color.

Look at the windows and how much natural light comes into the room at different times of the day, along with other lighting choices. Fluorescent, incandescent, lamps, pocket lights, ceiling fixtures ... all of these will impact how the paint color reflects from each surface.

Make a note of where the shadows and darker areas are in your space. The paint will look different in those areas than in better-lit areas.

When choosing the actual brand or style of paint, know that the dried paint sheen – matte or enamel gloss level – will also impact the color appearance.

Finally, decide on the room’s focal point. For example, you may choose to include an accent wall, where you paint one wall a vibrant color while leaving all other walls a different, less dominant hue.

Once you have considered all those elements, test the color. Many dealers have paint samples that you can take home and apply to walls. Take home a few color options and check them in multiple spots in the room: a well-lit area and a darker area, alongside trim and windows, near an opening to another room. Make sure the paint tones in different rooms go well together too.

Paint those sample patches large enough to get a good look at the color. Then go into that room and look at them at different times of the day: morning, afternoon, evening, after dark. That is how you will get the best impression of what the color will look in the completed room.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Do you yawn? You know you want to! | E-Neighborhood Advisor

We've all been there. Across the room, someone's nose wrinkles up. Their eyes squeeze tight, and their mouth stretches wide open, compressing their cheeks – often with an audible "Aaaahhh!"

It's that blasted yawn! The one that many of us don't want to repeat. Some will go so far as pursing their lips and stretching their face muscles downward in an effort not to yawn – usually to no avail. The yawn eventually erupts from their face.

Did you know that suppressing a yawn can actually make you more likely to yawn? There have been studies on yawning, and when we see a yawn in photos or in person, almost three-quarters of us will also yawn. Some people only need to read about yawning (without a picture), and they will yawn.

Yawning is more about personality than sleepiness. According to a Time Health article, yawning is a sign of empathy, that you’re relating to someone else's emotions. It's suggested that contagious yawning is an act of bonding. Plus, some studies indicate that the younger a person is, the more likely they are to yawn after seeing another person do it.

Contagious yawning is mysterious. A recent study connects 'catching' yawns to how excitable our motor cortex is. That's the part of the cerebral cortex in our brain where nerve impulses start and engage voluntary muscular activity. During the test, participants were asked to resist yawning when they saw it and, overall, that group had stronger urges to yawn over those who could yawn as much as they wanted.

How much does seeing others yawn make you stifle or outright yawn?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Speed reading: Your Key to Knowledge! | E-Neighborhood Advisor

With knowledge, we can do anything we choose, and there is a lot we can read! A quick Google search offers tons of information about any topic we can imagine. Amazon reviews help decide what books will be good to read, and libraries can often save the expense of buying them all.   Here are a few tips to speed up reading through all that content: Eliminate distractions - Remove or turn off anything that can distract you, that could occupy your mind or take your thoughts away from the book in hand. Your total focus is key. Warm up - Get familiar with the book before starting to read. Look over the dust covers, table of contents, in-book reviews, the author page, and the introduction. Flip through the pages of the book and read summaries, chapter keys, pull-outs, quotes, diagrams, appendices and index. Stop the voices! - That means no subvocalizing, or reading to yourself in your head. Focus on what you see, rather than what you hear. Something that might help not vocalizing the words is chewing gum, humming, or holding a finger to your lips while reading. Set your pace - Remember moving your finger along the row of words when you first learned to read? By doing this now, you can push yourself forward in the book. That finger also prevents you going backward in the text. Putting an index card over the text you've already read also stops back-skipping. Set your goal - Decide how quickly you want to finish a book. How many pages do you aim to read in a half-hour or an hour? Set a timer and get it done. Push yourself to read faster to reach your goal, then reward yourself with a break, lunch, etc. when you achieve it. Check here for more on speed reading techniques. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160

The Life of Your Dreams | E-Neighborhood Advisor

It's a new year and a great time to freshen things up, stop procrastinating (if you do), and start living the life of your dreams! That may make you think, "I don't know what kind of life I want," or something similar. Well, it's time to start figuring that out. That is, determine how you want your ideal life to look. Consider what you'd prefer your life to look like in five years. You may want to write this down! Your Mornings Ask yourself ... • What time do I get up? • How do I feel? • What does the room smell like? How does it look? • Who am I with? • What do I do next, where do I go? Write out all the details you can think of! Your Days Ask yourself ... • How do I earn a living? • What is my role? Employee or entrepreneur? • Where do I work? What time do I arrive? • How many hours do I work? • How do I dress? • What time do I go home? • If I'm not working, what fills my days? • What kind of people am I sharing my time with? • What activities am I doing? How do those activities make me feel? Imagine everything as thoroughly as possible. Your Evenings Ask yourself ... • What happens as my day winds down? • Who am I with? What do we do together? • What is my routine for before and after dinner? • What am I listening to, watching or reading? • What time do I go to bed? • What is my bedtime routine? Capture those details in as much clarity as you can. Consider writing it in a journal where you can build upon it, reflect on it or reconsider what that ideal day looks like moving forward. The clearer we get about the life we want, the easier it becomes to determine what we need to do to get there – and decide to do it. May 2018 be your year to start creating the life you want to be living, today and five years from now. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160

3 Things About Your Facebook Friends | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Facebook is a great tool for staying in touch with friends and family all over the world, but it also comes with some drawbacks. Here are three ways to customize your Facebook experience to make dealing with your friends just a little bit easier: You can add all their birthdays and events on your digital calendar at once. You can get the Facebook Calendar links for your friends’ birthday and events, then add those to your Apple iCal, Microsoft Outlook, or Google Calendar. Here's how. A note about the instructions at the link above, you may need to right-click on the Birthdays and Events links and then copy the link address. To add to those URLs to your digital calendar in ... Apple iCal – 1. Go to Calendar > Subscribe 2. enter the URL. Google Calendar – 1. Open Google Calendar and click on the down arrow to the right of ‘Other Calendars.’ 2. Click 'Add by URL,' 3. Paste the URL and click on ‘Add Calendar’. (NOTE: If you have the new Google Calendar layout, start by clicking the + sign to the right of 'Add a friend's calendar,' then 'Add by URL.') Microsoft Outlook – 1. Click on your Outlook Calendar, 2. Click on ‘Open Calendar’ under ‘Manage Calendars’. 3. Next Click on 'From the Internet.’ You can protect your friends’ identities. By default, everyone sees your friends list, but there are many reasons you might not want that to be public information. Fortunately, you can hide that list so that it is not visible to the public. Here's how. You can choose which friends get to see the content you post. When adding a post to Facebook, you can choose who gets to see it by selecting your audience from a drop-down menu to the left of the Post button. You can also choose who sees any post or photo you have been tagged in. See the instructions here. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151

101+ Ideas for Your Next Date Night | E-Neighborhood Advisor

                                        

Get a babysitter! Go out for dinner – just the two of you. Or go all out: get an overnight sitter and hire a personal chef to prepare an at-home dining experience while you have a romantic night in together. 

Choose a fun activity! Go dancing, go to a movie, or choose another activity that you both enjoy.

Sometimes looking back to those dating days and what you both enjoyed doing together will give you the perfect idea. If that doesn't work, here’s a site with 101 date night ideas in several different categories.

Happy dating!

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Why does chocolate have power over you? | E-Neighborhood Advisor

It's no secret that chocolate is a comfort food. It is craved by many people, and more by women than men.

Do you feel good after eating chocolate? If you do, there is a reason for that: chocolate has been found to raise serotonin levels in your brain.

So, what is serotonin? It's a chemical produced by nerve cells in our bodies (a neurotransmitter) that carries signals through and between the nerves. It is a chemical that positively affects our mood, and when it's low it can lead to depression. In general, serotonin contributes to our happiness and well-being.

That’s where chocolate gets its power. It's in the elevated serotonin levels that create a relaxed feeling after consuming chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more it may increase serotonin levels. And aside from the feel-good boost of indulging in your chocolate cravings, higher serotonin can actually help reduce anxiety. Plus, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that are good for your body.

So why do women often have a stronger craving for chocolate than men? Serotonin affects women differently, likely due to the rise and fall of hormones during the monthly cycle.  

A study in the early 2000s showed that when women ate chocolate, it lowered hypothalamus activity. That regulates the desire for food, which means chocolate likely lowers a woman's hunger.

Many people simply love the creamy flavor of chocolate and how they feel after consuming it. Whatever your reason for indulging, why not snag a square of chocolate today?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160