City Shop Direct Blog March Archive

We are all looking for ways to save money and have a safer, cleaner house at the same time.  The fact is, you don't have to spend a lot of money on those expensive cleaners and disinfectants. All you have to do is buy a bottle of vinegar!

Did you know that vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs (viruses)? Kept in a simple spray bottle, a 5% vinegar solution will fit the bill for most of your cleaning and disinfecting jobs at home or in the office.

Read more: Don't waste your money buying expensive cleaning solutions [click]

When it comes to every subject, there is a definite "do and don't" list. Feng Shui for the office is no exception.

If you are looking to channel the most positive energy and get the best results in desiging your office using Feng Shui, here is a hint list of what to do and not to do.

Read more: Feng Shui Rules for your office [click]

Did you know that some of the common houseplants yo umay have in your home could be toxic to your pets? How many times have you seen your dog or cat randomly chewing on the leaves of your plants?

If you think you are keeping your pets safe by keeping them away from known toxic agents like antifreeze, which will definitely kill them, you may be missing a threat to their health you wouldn't normally suspect!

Read more: Houseplants can be deadly for your pet! [click]

House plants have long been proven as an ally in helping to purify air and maintain a good balance of humidity. It is a good rule of thumb that if you have 8 or 9 foot ceilings, you should allow for one house plant for every 10 square yards of floor space in your living areas.

Do you know which houseplants most effective in counteracting the offgassed chemicalsin the air as well as balancing the humidity i the air? Here is a list of the top ten plants to give you a bang for your buck:

Read more: Do you know which house plants are the most beneficial for your air quality? [click]

As with everything else on the market, there will be people who say yes and no. Probiotics are supplements to the diet that contain potentially beneficial yeasts or bacteria.

Hundreds of beneficial organisms reside in the cecum and large colon of the horse naturally. These bigger sections of the gut provide a place for fermentation to take place, where cellulose and hemi cellulose fibers in roughage such as hay (especially stems and stalks) are broken down into a form of nutrient the horse's body can use.

Read more: Can supplementing with Probiotics improve your horse's digestion? [click]

It is that time of summer again..time for some softball!

Oil City Girls' Softball League is currently holding signups at Oil City High School. There will be signup sessions this Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 6-8PM as well as Saturday the 21st, Wednesday the 25th and Saturday the 28th. Signups on Wednesdays will all be 6-8 PM and Saturdays 10-Noon in front of the high school gym.

Read more: Oil City Girls Softball League now forming teams [click]

Helping the environment is important to everyone, including those who care for horses. There are beneficial biological control methods to control flies and mosquitoes around your stable that will help not only to protect your horses from these annoying pests, but also protect them from the deadly diseases carried by these insects.

Parasitic wasps can be purchased through mail order and are easy to use, safe and relatively inexpensive. When using this method of insect control, there is no need for overhead sprays and direct sprays to the manure pile.

Read more: Parasitic wasps are a good alternative for pest control management at your stable [click]

Did you know that one horse produces approximately 45 pounds of manure per day? That means that in a year's time, you are looking at one heck of a manure pile.

It is environmentally responsible to plan for the disposal of manure from your horses. Manure should be kept 100 feet from wetlands or natural water sources and should be managed so it does not become a detriment to the environment.

Read more: Composting manure your horses produce is beneficial to the environment [click]

Another day, another $600. I got the sad call today that my daughter's 1996 Pontiac Sunfire that I dropped off at the shop today to be inspected, had about $600 worth of repairs that it needed.

This same car has had the top half of the engine rebuilt (to the tune of about $2,500), the water pump and timing belt (at the same time, which was extra), the front end parts virtually all replaced (don't remember how much that all was), the front end of the body (after some guy ran a stop sign and hit her), complete brake system overhaul, new exhaust, you name it, this poor car has probably had it replaced.

Read more: When you do you finally say enough is enough when paying for auto repairs? [click]