Should you run in cold weather? Yes! | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Cold weather during winter months may keep many people from leaving home and running in the open air. However, a VOA News reports that the drop in temperature is a good reason to run. In fact, researchers say, running in cold weather helps improve one’s performance. Many people say running in the winter can be difficult. Two reasons are the low temperatures and bitter winds. Yet many runners might find it easier than running in hot weather. That could be because lower temperatures reduce stress on the body. When you run in cold weather, your heart rate and the body’s dehydration levels are lower than in warmer conditions. The body needs less water on a cold day than in warm weather. Many people, especially new runners, believe that running in cold weather is harmful. This is simply not the case for healthy individuals. Some people even think that the lungs can actually freeze -- again, not possible, even in the coldest places on the planet. When a person takes a breath, the nose, mouth and throat warm the entering air, so that by the time it reaches the lungs, it has warmed to near body temperature. Several websites note that the most important thing for people who run in cold conditions is to wear the right clothing. Keeping as dry as possible is most important when exercising in low temperatures. Wear mittens on your hands instead of gloves. Wear shoes that will keep you from falling. And especially, wear more than one layer of clothing to keep sweat away from your skin. So, if you are a runner, don’t let winter weather keep you indoors. Simply get ready for the low temperatures and start running. For more tips about running in cold weather, click 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! What do runners do when they forget something?  They jog their memory!

Just desserts | E-Neighborhood Advisor

In 1856, at Boston’s Parker House Hotel, French chef Monsieur Augustine Francois Anezin created the Boston cream pie. In 1996, Massachusetts declared the Boston cream pie as their official dessert. The traditional Boston cream pie is a yellow cake filled with custard or cream and topped with chocolate glaze. Although it is called a Boston cream pie, it is in fact a cake, and not a pie. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were cooked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. While not every state has an official state dessert, they all have treats they are known for. Some make sense, like saltwater taffy in New Jersey, cheesecake in New York and Mississippi mud pie in, well, Mississippi. Some are more of a headscratcher. Utah does have an official state dessert and it is jell-o. That probably doesn’t boost their tourist trade. Missouri’s official state dessert is the ice cream cone, but gooey butter cake is the confection that shows up on the “best of” lists. This fabulous treat starts with a layer of thick, buttery yellow cake baked with a gooey filling of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and eggs. Nebraska’s notable dessert, the popcorn ball, has the most fantastic origin story. Nebraska is the country’s leading popcorn producer, growing about one-quarter of our national supply. Per Slate magazine, popcorn balls were invented during a day of wonky Nebraska weather: First heavy rains sent syrup flowing from sorghum grass into the cornfields, then extreme heat caused the corn to pop, and finally a tornado swept the sugar-coated popcorn into clusters. Take a look at these lists and see what sweet treat your home state is known for, and use them to plan a trip to your next delicious destination. United Sweets Of America Map Best Desserts In The Country 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! Why did the pie go to a dentist?  Because he needed a filling!

Getting the garden started | E-Neighborhood Advisor

In February, we often see the first promise of spring. Bulbs start popping up, the days are getting longer and we start thinking about our gardens. Now is the time to set yourself up for your best growing season yet. February is all about prep. If the ground isn’t frozen, you can begin to get your beds ready. Dig up all remaining weeds and get the soil ready for sowing. It’s also a great time to check over your tools and equipment so that everything is in good working order come spring. Thompson Morgan says pruning and tidying are the most important tasks for the flower garden in February:  Prune wisteria now, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds.  Cut back shrubs down to their bases.  Prune summer-flowering clematis towards the end of the month, before active growth begins.  Cut back the old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins. Clip them to within a few centimeters of the ground.  Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.  Prune winter-flowering shrubs once their colorful display has finished.  Remove faded flowers from winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage a flush of new flowers when the weather warms up. In Florida and other frost-free regions, summer bulbs such as crinum, agapanthus, dahlia, gloriosa, gladiolus, and canna can be planted now. Site them where they will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Their only other requirement is well-drained soil that doesn’t remain wet and soggy after heavy rains. Mulch the bulbs to protect them from an unexpected cold snap and to minimize weeds. Enjoy bulb flowers weeks earlier by purchasing pre-sprouted plants at your local garden center. Bulbs are a snap to grow, but some take a while to break dormancy, so potted plants will jumpstart the color show. If it’s too cold to garden outdoors in February, why not make a terrarium? Costa Farms suggests looking for clear-glass containers that have a lid or stopper that will help maintain a humid atmosphere around your plants. For plants such as succulents that prefer a drier climate, select a large, open-mouthed container. Then, look for plants that remain compact. Good choices for a moist environment include pilea, peperomia, ivy, artillery fern, button fern, baby tears and creeping fig. For an open container try cactus, succulents, hens-and-chicks, jade plant, hoya and  bromeliad. And don’t forget to feed the birds in February. By late winter many natural food sources for local birds will begin to thin out. It’s important to keep your bird feeders fully stocked until spring. Offer a variety of foods to attract the widest selection of bird species. Black oil sunflowers, for example, draw cardinals, blue jays, juncos, and a host of other species. Beef suet is ideal for woodpeckers, mockingbirds, and nuthatches. And Nyjer seed is a finch favorite. Also, include a diverse selection of feeders such as tube, hopper, and platform to accommodate the feeding habits of different bird species. During winter you can often attract more songbirds to fresh water than you can to food. Use a heater to keep the water in your birdbath from freezing and add fresh water every few days. 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! What did the flower say after he told a joke? I was just pollen your leg!

Coloring: it’s not just for kids | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Coloring isn’t just for kids. It relaxes the fear center of your brain, the amygdala, and induces the same state as meditating by reducing the thoughts of a restless mind. This generates mindfulness and quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest after a long day at work. The adult coloring book trend has spread nationwide, with some books popping up on bestseller lists. With the countless health benefits of coloring for adults, it might be time to pull out the crayons, colored pencils and markers! In addition to reducing stress and anxiety, Beaumont Health cites the following benefits of coloring: Improved motor skills and vision Coloring goes beyond being a fun activity for relaxation. It requires the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate. While logic helps us stay inside the lines, choosing colors generates a creative thought process. Improved sleep We know we get a better night’s sleep when avoiding engaging with electronics at night, because exposure to the emitted light reduces your levels of the sleep hormone, melatonin. Coloring is a relaxing and electronic-free bedtime ritual that won’t disturb your level of melatonin. Improved focus Coloring requires you to focus, but not so much that it’s stressful. It opens up your frontal lobe, which controls organizing and problem solving, and allows you to put everything else aside and live in the moment, generating focus. You don’t have to be an expert artist to color! If you’re looking for an uplifting way to unwind after a stressful day at work, coloring will surely do the trick. And you’ll have something pretty to hang on the refrigerator! Here are the best adult coloring books of 2019 per New York magazine. Start coloring! 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! What kind of berry has a coloring book?  A crayon-berry.!

Welcome to February 2020 | Capell Flooring and Interiors

Dear friends,

Welcome to February’s Issue of the Neighborhood Advisor!

As it’s the month of love, we’ve got a variety of exciting articles, trivia and
puzzles made especially for you.

Valentine’s Day has truly evolved over the years. It was a day that was once a
celebration for lovers and that special someone; and for those who are single it
was a bit of a “whatever day” because frankly we couldn’t care less. The great
news is Valentines Day doesn’t have to be about romantic love. We see a rise of
Valentines Day being celebrated with friends. For instance, Valentine’s Day is a
celebration of a platonic friendship among women and is becoming more and
more popular. We even find Valentines Day being celebrated among family
members.

We’re happy with this shift but let’s not reserve one day to show love to our
friends, family, or that special loved one. As a business we’d like to extend a
Happy Valentine’s Day to all our friends we look forward to showing love to your
homes and every single one of you that walk through our doors.

Your friend,

Matt Capell