Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

The History of the Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon

Turkey Pardon | Flat Rate Carpet BlogEvery year, right before Thanksgiving, the President of the United States participates in a ceremony in which he gives one lucky turkey a presidential pardon. This lucky turkey gets to live another year, but where did this tradition come from?

Ever since 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board have given a Thanksgiving gift of a turkey to the President of the United States. Other than President Kennedy, every President before 1989 ate the turkey at their Thanksgiving feast.

Although the first President in modern history to pardon a Thanksgiving turkey was President H.W. Bush, there are rumors of presidential turkey pardons that go all the way back to Abraham Lincoln pardoning his son’s pet turkey.

Pardoned turkeys do more than live another year. These famous turkeys go on to live on farms or at parks. In both 2005 and 2006 the pardoned turkeys got to go to Disneyland in California to be the honorary grand marshals in the Disneyland Thanksgiving Parade. Since 2010 all pardoned turkeys have been sent to Virginia, to live out their lives at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.

This Wednesday, President Barak Obama will be pardoning one lucky bird, in a tradition that’s fast become one of America’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions.

How You Can Help Others

With so many people in need from the aftermath of Sandy, it’s hard to know how to get started helping others. Many people want to help out by donating items, but don’t know what

people need, or how to get it to them. Anything you can do to help those in need is important and valuable, but here are some of the best items to donate to help get you started:

Canned foods and clean water are in the highest demand right now. Since many people still don’t have power to cook food, canned foods are easier to prepare than dry goods like rice or pastas. Make sure to donate non-perishable and non-damaged items only.

Many food banks, soup kitchens and other organizations can purchase large amounts of food at extremely low costs. Giving money can sometimes be uncomfortable as you can’t always be sure if you’re gift is really helping people. Locating reputable food banks and local religious organizations make it easier to give worry free financial donations.

It’s literally freezing outside, and many people are cold. Warm blankets and clothing are very much in need. Contact your local soup kitchen, shelters and religious organizations to find out where you can bring warm clothing for donation.

Donations are pouring into New York and New Jersey from all around America, but getting the needed items to the people that need them is still difficult. To give a truly amazing gift to others and to yourself, donate some of your time. Volunteering to drive supplies, organize, or help out at a soup kitchen is an amazing way to give back to your community.

By pulling together and helping our neighbors, we can make this storm a thing of the past.

Removing Crayon Stains

Crayons | Flat Rate Carpet BlogYou’re so excited to see your little ones go off to school in the morning, but what about when they get off the bus with their clothing covered in crayon? Did the teacher even bother handing out paper or did they just instruct the kids to draw on their clothes? Well never fear, crayon stains are easy to remove from clothing.

At first you might be tempted to scrape the crayon off the fabric, whatever you do, don’t do that! Scraping crayon is the equivalent of rubbing, it will spread the stain and help to work the crayon deeper into the fabric.

Soak the are of the crayon stain in liquid laundry detergent. Saturate the area well, and then allow it to sit overnight. Launder the clothing normally, checking the pockets for any extra crayons that might get ruined in the wash.

Next time you catch your kids with crayon stains on their clothes, don’t stress. Removing crayon stains is so simple you won’t need to give it a second thought.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte | Flat Rate Carpet BlogWith the cool autumn breeze comes the delicious desire for warm drinks. It’s time to toss aside the ice coffee and move on to fall delicacies like pumpkin spice lattes. This fall flavored coffee is super easy to whip up at home, and will save you a bundle by making it yourself.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup espresso or half a cup of very strong coffee
  • 2 cups milk (non fat, whole, soy – any kind you like)
  • 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (more or less depending on your taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Directions:

Mix together the milk, sugar and pumpkin in a medium sized sauce pan. Then cook the mixture over a medium heat until it starts to steam.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients.
Either blend the mixture for a few seconds, or mix by hand using a wire whisk. (A blender will make the mixture more foamy.)

Now just pour everything into a mug and enjoy!

Back to School Organizing Tips

Back to School | Flat Rate Carpet BlogIt’s back to school season, and your home is probably cluttered with notebooks, pens and new clothes. If your house is a back to school mess, get clean and organized with these simple back to school cleaning tips.

Start the school year right with a designated area for back packs and homework papers. Not only will it keep your house organized, but it will help the students in your home stay organized with their school work.

Get a clip for the refrigerator for any papers that need to be signed, or notices for parents. If there’s always a special place to put important papers, they are less likely to get lost or forgotten.

Is there a mountain of sports equipment, musical instruments, or other after school equipment piling up by your door? Make sure each has a place of it’s own.

Having a large family calendar in a place where everyone can see it (on the refrigerator or by the front door) is the perfect way to make sure important activities aren’t overlooked. If everyone’s schedules are clearly written out, it’s easier to organize rides and make sure everyone gets where they need to be, on time and without multiple trips around town.

Get a jump on the school year by getting your house organized for the school year!