Recent General Posts
10 Ways to have a better day in St. Clair Shores during these rainy cold Fall days
10/14/2019 (Permalink)
10 Ways to have a better day
10 Ways to have a better day
By Casey Anthony
Oct 7, 2019
Maybe it's the upcoming holidays on the horizon... Maybe it's the inevitable end-of-the-year madness about to take place.... Maybe it's just the current season of life. Whatever the case may be, I find myself going through a bit of a slump right now. Even the most motivated and driven people can suffer from slumps every now and then – it's totally normal! The good news is that even though it sucks, there is usually a way to speed up the process to dig yourself out. Here are 10 ways to have a better day, starting today.
#1: First things first: you must accept the feelings of being unmotivated for what it is and acknowledge the amount of stress we can put on ourselves during it. No one is happy and energetic 100% of the time, not even Tony Robbins. Be kind to yourself. This cloud will soon pass.
#2: Conjure up a smile. An easy way to lift your spirits is to grab your cell phone and look through your camera roll. Linger over the pictures that make you happy. Do you see pictures of your family? Your pet? Your kids? Remember why you get up every morning and go to work. What makes you work hard?
#3: Take advantage of the early bird edge. If you've got a task or project at work to complete, block out the appropriate time and get it squared away sooner rather than later. Not only will you feel better crossing something off your to-do list, it will also prevent other demands from sidelining one of your main priorities.
#4: Make a vision board. Who doesn't love a fun Pinterest board? Or better yet, a physical vision board? If you're having a hard time becoming motivated, grab a stack of old magazines (or your computer) and create a vision board of sorts. Cut out images that spark joy and are realistic to achieve. Once you create a board of your dreams and future goals, make a habit to look at it every morning to remind yourself what you're working towards.
#5: Live your legacy. Imagine you are writing your own obituary. What would you want it to say? What do you want to be remembered for? Jot down some goals you can work towards and take the first step towards one of them before the end of the day.
#6: Make a plan. When you're in a slump, thinking of a goal can easily backfire... unless you make a plan ahead of time of what to do when this potentially happens. An easy way to set yourself up for success is to choose a S-M-A-R-T goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. In other words, you're not setting a goal without actions that will essentially make your slump even worse if you don't succeed.
#7: Practice. Starting today, practice ahead of time what you want to say to your COIs on your daily marketing route. What are some topics you can bring up when you drop by? Is there anything going on in your community you can get involved in, and encourage your COIs to do the same? Is there exciting news in our industry that you can research and incorporate into your daily conversations? What can you say to your COIs today to continue to grow and develop a relationship with them? Think about it as you drive to your first stop of the day.
#8: Have something to look forward to. Oftentimes, slumps can happen when there is nothing exciting to look forward to. To combat this, consider booking an affordable weekend trip somewhere or sign-up for a class you've been dying to try. In my experience, the build-up to an actual event is almost as exciting as the actual event itself.
#9: Journal. If you're unsure why you're feeling unmotivated, now is a good time to take pen to paper and figure it out. Spend a few minutes getting all your thoughts out in a journal. Continue writing over the next few days and label each day as super happy (10) to absolutely miserable (0), then review the factors behind your daily scores. A lot of times, we may be holding in confusion, anger, sadness, or other emotions that aren't necessarily easy to see. Eventually you will be able to identify what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Oust the dissatisfying things from your life.
#10: Up the self-love. Are you constantly consumed by high-stress situations? Try detaching for a few minutes (or hours) with a temporary escape. This could be a phone call to a friend or family member, a walk outside, or a warm bubble bath. It is so important to take care of yourself during this "blah" time. Find little pockets of your day when you can take care of your mind, body, and soul in ways that actually feel good to you. Prioritize taking care of yourself even if it takes some extra effort.
SERVPRO Helps You Through the Clean-up Process in Clinton Township, MI
7/31/2018 (Permalink)
Explaining the Process in Clinton Township, MI
SERVPRO of St. Clair Shores understands the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your life and home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it "Like it never even happened."
For a stress-free claims process, SERVPRO works with your insurance to help manage the insurance process and paperwork.
Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our training program includes the following:
- IICRC Training
- Employee Certification Training
- Initial Franchise Training
- e-Learnings
- Continuing Education Classes
- Our crews are on standby 24/7 to help you if an emergency arises. We are Always Here to Help (586) 741-5050.
21 Priceless Ways to Spread a Smile This Holiday Season
11/29/2017 (Permalink)
21 Priceless Ways to Spread a Smile This Holiday Season by Diane MacEachern-Women’s Day
Here's a list of ways to put your own special stamp on the gifts you give this holiday season. In most cases, they involve spending very little money or time at the mall. But they're so creative and considerate, they're guaranteed to make your loved one’s smile. And isn't that the point?
- Check their smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace if necessary.
Fire safety is of the utmost importance during the Christmas season and all year round!
- Download the First Aid App and the SERVPRO App. The American Red Cross has a great app that provides essential information needed to handle common first aid situations. SERVPRO.com also has an App that you can use in case of emergencies. This stores all emergency numbers you may need – including your insurance company, police/fire dept. and the SERVPRO Professionals. Shovel their snow (or water their garden).
If you live in a region that gets a lot of snow, offering to shovel for someone else could be a godsend, especially if they're incapacitated or too busy with kids and work to squeeze in shoveling time, too. If you're in a warm, dry climate, pitch in by watering porch plants or the garden, especially when someone goes on vacation or has to go out of town on business or for an emergency.
- Offer to watch kids so their parents can get a much-needed afternoon or evening out.
- Feed their cat (or walk their dog).
Most pet owners need at least occasional help with their animals, especially when they can't be home for long stretches of time during the holiday.
Cook up a stew or casserole that can be frozen for a future dinner, or provide a "coupon" that can be redeemed when an emergency arises.
Is anything more fun than getting a delicious cake made especially for you?
- Give them an amaryllis bulb, already potted.
Amaryllis bulbs are wonderful because they start growing as soon as they're watered and within 6 weeks produce a gloriously big and beautiful flower. But don't just give someone the kit the bulb comes in. Actually, pot it in the dirt for them and wrap a sweet little bow around the pot. All they'll have to do is put it in a sunny window and water it once a week.
It can be almost as time consuming to wrap holiday presents as to buy them. Why not lend a hand?
Dull knives are the bane of every cook's existence. Use a sharpening stone to sharpen them yourself, or pick them up and take them to the local hardware store to get a better edge on them.
Find out their favorite colors, then buy a few skeins of yarn that combine them. If you're just learning to knit, you can still make a beautiful scarf knitting one row and purling the next.
Help your friends clear out their closets by helping her decide what's worth keeping and what should be donated. Hint: If they haven't worn something for at least two years, they probably won't wear it in the future. Take the discarded clothes to a local thrift store or make arrangements with Purple Heart or Salvation Army for a pick-up.
- Put things they don't want on eBay, Craigslist or Freecycle.
From hiking boots, sports equipment and instruments to paintings, tools, and furniture, most people have a lot of stuff lying around. They might want to sell it online but don't know the first thing about how to do that successfully. Why not help them out?
- Compile a one-of-kind mix CD.
Who are their top 10 favorite musical acts or musicians? Pull together two songs or performances from each one for 20 "greatest hits." Or, make a mix of music you've listened to together over time. A special mix for an upcoming road trip would be fun, too.
Lots of people drive their car through the car wash but don't take the time to wipe up the frame, vacuum out the interior and trunk, or wash the inside windows. Give the gift of a clean car inside and out!
This is a two-fer: one for your friend or family member, and one for the planet. Get a package of energy-saving LEDs and change out the bulbs in the most frequently used lights in the house, usually the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom and porch.
- Recycle their electronics.
Most people have a lot of old electronic gear just cluttering up their basement, attic, or home office. Pick it up for them, wipe the hard drives, and take it to the nearest e-waste center, which you can find on Earth911.com. Best Buy and Staples accept used gear as well. Mobile phones can usually be recycled at phone stores, or traded in at Gazelle.com.
- Contribute to their favorite charity...
What cause is near and dear to your loved one's heart? Make a donation on their behalf. If they care about a cause but don't know which organization to support, get some 4-star recommendations from Charity Navigator.
- Volunteer for their favorite charity.
Many organizations need volunteers as well as donations. Can you help your loved one staff a pet adoption day, run a toy or coat drive, hand out water at a fundraising race, deliver Meals on Wheels, or visit people in a nursing home? You can find more volunteer opportunities at VolunteerMatch.org.
- Frame a meaningful picture.
It could be a photo of you and them together, an image of one of their accomplishments, or some shots of a place you visited together that will bring back fond memories.
- Record their oral history.
Listen to some of the wonderful oral histories available online at StoryCorps.org for a sense of the kind of story your loved one might want to tell. Dohistory.org has put together a very helpful step-by-step guide to help come up with questions, record interviews, and edit the recording to be as long and in-depth as you'd like.
The entire team at SERVPRO of St Clair Shores would like to wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays. May you be safe and joyful during the holiday season. We are always on standby Hero Ready for your emergencies at (586) 741-5050.
13 Weird Tricks to Clean Your Car
7/6/2016 (Permalink)
13 Weird Tricks to Clean Your Car
13 Weird Tricks to Clean Your Car
We found simple, cheap, unexpected tips on how to wash your car to keep it cleaner for longer.
By Diane Dragan Hair conditioner for shine
iStock/ThinkstockWash your car with a hair conditioner containing lanolin. You'll become a believer when you see the freshly waxed look, and when you find that the surface will repel rain.Fizz windshields clean with cola
iStock/ThinkstockWhen it rains after a long dry spell, a dirty windshield turns into one big mess. Get rid of streaks and blotches by pouring cola over the glass. (Stretch a towel along the bottom of the windshield to protect hood paint.) The bubbles in the cola will fizz away the grime. Just be sure to wash the sticky cola off thoroughly or your cleaning efforts will end up attracting dust and dirt.Vodka on the job
Hemera/ThinkstockWhen your windshield-washer reservoir needs filling, raid the liquor cabinet to make your own washing fluid. In a screw-top gallon jug, mix 3 cups vodka (the cheapest you can find) with 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons liquid dishwashing detergent. Screw on the cap and shake well, then pour as much fluid as needed into the reservoir.Content continues below ad
Shine those car lights
Keep your headlights polished (and yourself, safe) by applying window cleaner and rubbing vigorously with an old pair of panty hose.A one-step window cleaner
iStock/ThinkstockClean your windshield and car windows by rubbing them with baby wipes stored in your glove compartment. What could be easier?No windshield washing fluid?
iStock/ThinkstockIf the reservoir is empty (and doesn't it always seem to be?), use an unlikely substitute to clean your windshield: feminine hygiene maxi-pads, a box of which you could stash in the trunk. Hold a pad on the sticky side and rub the windshield vigorously. The glass will really shine once you've wiped it to the max.Content continues below ad
Clean your blades
If your windshield wiper blades get dirty, they'll streak the glass instead of keeping it clean and clear. Make a solution of 1/4 cup household ammonia to 1 quart cold water. Gently lift the blades, and wipe both sides with a soft cloth or paper towel soaked in the solution. Then wipe the blades with a dry cloth before lowering them into place.You can see clearly now
Add 1/4 cup household ammonia to 1 quart water, pour it into a plastic bottle with a water-tight cap, and keep it in your car for washing the windshield and windows. As soon as your windshield begins to get dirty, take out the solution and apply it with a sponge; then dry the windshield with a soft cloth or paper towels.Baking-soda car cleaner
Pour 1/4 cup baking soda into a gallon-sized jug, then add 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid and enough water to fill the jug almost to the top. Screw on the cap, shake well, and store the concentrate for later use. When it comes time to wash the car, shake the jug vigorously and then pour 1 cup of cleaner base into a 2-gallon water pail. Fill the pail with warm water, stir to mix, and your homemade cleaning solution is ready to use.Content continues below ad
Banish back-road dirt
iStock/ThinkstockIn many rural areas, so-called oil roads (some unpaved, others semi-paved) are sprayed with oil to control blowing sand and dust. If you find yourself driving along one of these back roads, your windshield may end up coated with oily grime. To cut through the muck, sprinkle cream of tartar over the windshield, and then wipe the glass down with soapy water, rinse well, and dry.A surprising no-wax washer
iStock/ThinkstockAdd 1 cup kerosene to a 3-gallon pail filled with water and then sponge the solution over your car. You won't have to spray the car before washing or rinse or wax it once you're done. And the next time it rains, rainwater will bead up and roll off the car, lessening the likelihood of rusting.Watch the heat
Washing your car when it's too hot—right after you've been driving it, for example, or when it's been parked in direct sunlight—can result in soapy splotches and deposits, says Consumer Reports.
Free Winter Cleaning Checklist
7/6/2016 (Permalink)
Free Winter Cleaning Checklist
Basics
These items are cleaning tasks that I rotate through 4 times a year or seasonally. Some of these items (dust, vacuum) are on my weekly cleaning checklist, so I do those on that day of the week, but I do a more thorough job. For instance, instead of just vacuuming the family room I move the furniture and vacuum under the couch. I dust all surfaces, but I also dust the corners and corners at the ceiling. If this is the only portion of the checklist that you complete, you have still done a great job. These 18 basics will make a big difference in your home!
Deep Cleaning Extras + Bonus Points
If you’ve never done a deep or thorough cleaning and you have extra time on your hands, you’ll want to check these items off your list. If you just washed the insides of your windows last month, you probably won’t need to wash them, check your home and see if any of these tasks should be completed.
Traditional Winter Cleaning Tasks to Add If You’d Like
Seasonal cleaning goes back generations, these tasks are ones that are generally associated with winter cleaning. If you’d like to complete them and it makes sense for you it will be time well spent. If you don’t have time and have never completed them, no need to feel bad – they are just suggestions
Free Spring Cleaning Checklist
7/6/2016 (Permalink)
Spring Cleaning Checklist
FREE Spring Cleaning Checklist
by Becky for more, check out CleaningMaMa.netI’m a big fan of spring cleaning in March. Why? I like to get it out of the way early so when the weather gets nice (we live in the midwest, so it takes a while) we can head outside and enjoy the much-awaited spring weather. This year I’ll be doing the majority of my spring cleaning in March and finishing up in Mid-April. If you want to follow along and get some spring cleaning done around your home too, start with this FREE Spring Cleaning Checklist. Print it out and put it somewhere where you’ll see it and be reminded of your list and you can work on it when it works for you. It’s divided up into 3 sections – do one section or all three – any way you look at it you’re making progress and getting your home ready to welcome spring.
Free Fall Cleaning Checklist
7/6/2016 (Permalink)
Fall Cleaning Checklist
Basics
These items are cleaning tasks that I rotate through 4 times a year or seasonally. Hence the fall cleaning checklist. Some of these items (dust, vacuum) are on my weekly cleaning checklist, so I do those on that day of the week, but I do a more thorough job. For instance, instead of just vacuuming the family room I move the furniture and vacuum under the couch. I dust all surfaces, but I also dust the corners and corners at the ceiling. If this is the only portion of the checklist that you complete, you have still done a great job. These 9 basics will make a big difference in your home!
Deep Cleaning Extras + Bonus Points
If you’ve never done a deep or thorough cleaning and you have extra time on your hands, you’ll want to check these items off your list. If you just washed your windows last month, you probably won’t need to wash them (you can still put a check mark on your list), check your home and see if any of these tasks should be completed.
Traditional Fall Cleaning Tasks to Add If You’d Like
Fall and spring cleaning goes back generations, these tasks are ones that are generally associated with fall cleaning. If you’d like to complete them and it makes sense for you it will be time well spent. If you don’t have time and have never completed them, no need to feel bad – they are just suggestions.
Kepp us in mind for your capet and grout cleaning! Call us today to set up an appointment at 586-741-5050.
Follow us on Instagram & Twitter & Facebook
4/8/2016 (Permalink)
We are now on Instagram & Twitter & Facebook
You can now add us on Instagram and see what new projects we are currently working on. Also find ideas and tips for working around your house! Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @SERVPROStormy
Follow us on Facebook at SERVPROscs and 'Like' our facebook page to keep us in your newsfeed in case of emergency!
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