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Building project tips to ensure a successful and smooth build
Word Count: 635
Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion, recently started a huge project: building a race shop for his cars and equipment from the ground up. After deciding to build his own shop, Logano purchased a piece of land and started digging. The massive undertaking brought with it its own trials and learnings, but in the end, Logano took measures to build safely and securely. The project resulted in an impressive race shop that will be used for years to come.
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What every parent needs to know about keeping kids safe around medicine
Word Count: 538
Every year more than 67,000 children are treated in an emergency room for accidental medicine poisoning. That’s one child every eight minutes. Even more surprising is that in 86 percent of serious cases seen in emergency rooms, the child got into medicine belonging to an adult.
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Your first resume - dos and don'ts
Word Count: 665
Editor Alert: Includes editor's note.
If you’re heading out into the workforce for the first time, there’s plenty of prep work to do. An employer’s first impression of you could very well be your resume. Here are some tips that might help.
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Scratching the right itch: Does your pet have seasonal allergies?
Word Count: 542
Editor Alert: Includes editor's note.
Humans may sneeze and sniffle when trees and flowers start to bud in the spring, but many pet owners wouldn’t know if their pet was suffering from treatable allergy symptoms, which are likely to occur at the same time of year.
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Select the right insurance for your home-based business
Word Count: 465
Home-based businesses are booming. About 36.6 million businesses operate from U.S. households, according to the Home Based Business Institute. And the Small Business Administration notes that 53 percent of all small businesses located in the U.S. are home-based, with those numbers expected to grow substantially in the near future. But before you start planning your home-based bakery, personal training studio or computer repair venture, there’s one important thing to think about: the right insurance to protect your at-home enterprise.
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Tech talk: Understanding 'the cloud' and what it can do for you
Word Count: 726
News headlines, commercials and chatter between colleagues – recently there has been a lot of hype around “the cloud,” but the term can be complex and confusing. What exactly is the cloud, and furthermore, what does it mean for you and the way you use technology? Although the concept feels relatively new, it’s simpler than you may think.
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Is it time for a financial checkup?
Word Count: 607
For most of us, checkups are a regular part of life. Dental visits, auto maintenance appointments and even glances in the bathroom mirror all help us catch potential problems and assure that all is – or will be – well. What’s true of teeth, engines and grooming is also true of finances: regular checkups are recommended.
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Protect yourself from summer's backyard pests
Word Count: 469
Warm weather is here for the next few months, and that means you’ll be spending more time outdoors with family and friends – and more time with summer pests. Mosquitoes, fire ants, bees, wasps and yellow jackets are some of summer’s worst bugs. And those pests can be more than a mere nuisance.
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A 'not-so-rare' story in the journey of a rare disease diagnosis
Word Count: 555
Cushing’s disease is a rare but serious, debilitating endocrine disorder caused by the presence of a non-cancerous pituitary tumor in the brain which ultimately leads to excess cortisol in the body. Here's what you should know about Cushing's disease.
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Advice for choosing a financial advisor
Word Count: 709
Editor Alert: April is Financial Literacy Month
Saving for retirement is an essential task, but one that can be complex and demand a lot of attention. With the arrival of April – Financial Literacy Month – focusing on your existing saving strategies should be a priority. It’s also an ideal time to talk to a financial professional who can help you shoulder the burden and explore other options to make your money work harder for your future.
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Tips for new Mother's Day and Father's Day traditions
Word Count: 691
Editor Alert: Includes two recipes.
Families have many special traditions to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Starting new traditions is also common. If your family is looking for some new ways to enjoy Mother’s Day or Father’s Day this year, check out these tips and gift ideas that will help make your celebrations special.
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Take control and mitigate mold growth in your home
Word Count: 459
Damp, dark areas of the home, such as an unfinished basement, can often be trouble spots for homeowners hoping to increase their living space. Left unfinished, these areas of the home can potentially suffer significant damage, be prone to flooding or develop mold. When it comes to home improvement, homeowners are wise to consider the affects of moisture and mold buildup and how they can be combated.
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Rattling down the highway? What those common car noises mean
Word Count: 479
“What is that rattling? Is it serious?” We all can get a little paranoid about a new sound our car is making. Those sounds can certainly be annoying, but what people don’t realize is sometimes those sounds may be linked to something more serious.
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Tips for setting up your home theater viewing space
Word Count: 857
The home entertainment center concept has evolved dramatically over the past decade, from a single “tube” TV and a DVD player to full-blown, high-definition multi-media centers. The technology today offers a more immersive experience. And with a proper set up, you can enjoy the full potential of the pride and joy of your living room.
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The evolution of accounting: new careers in the language of business
Word Count: 568
Numbers span all languages and cultures, creating what is known as the language of business: accounting. The earliest accounting records date back thousands of years to the use of an abacus, a rudimentary counting tool. As the workplace has progressed, so has the role of the accounting professional. This has been particularly evident in recent years; the integration of technology in accounting has created many specializations and job opportunities within the field – from forensic accounting to health care IT auditors.
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Five tech tools that can help you get into a new home faster
Word Count: 782
Just 10 years ago, homebuyers would have started the purchasing process with a phone call to mortgage broker or real estate agent, a drive through a desirable neighborhood and a perusal of the classifieds. In 2013, however, buying a house is a high-tech affair, with technology making it easier than ever to find and finance the home of your dreams.
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Extend your car's longevity with these spring cleaning tips
Word Count: 478
The open road lies in front of millions of drivers who are ready to lower the windows and feel the warm breeze, but nothing curbs the excitement of a spring drive more than car issues that could have been avoided by simple maintenance to combat the lasting effects of driving through winter.
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How to ace your next job interview
Word Count: 569
Making it to the job interview stage means your skill set and resume have caught the interest of a potential employer, who now wants to determine if you’ll be a good fit as an employee of a company. Acing the interview is essential if you want to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.
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Five common credit report errors to watch out for
Word Count: 590
Although uncommon, errors can occur in your credit report. Ensuring everything is being reported accurately is key to unlocking the benefits of a positive credit history. In order to find errors, you should check your credit report regularly. Check for these five issues.
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Knowing your health heritage: the familial link of diseases
Word Count: 748
Family members can have many things in common, including physical characteristics and personality traits. While some traits are obvious, like having red hair or blue eyes, some shared traits are not as obvious, such as the risk for developing a common medical condition, like high cholesterol, or a rare disease.
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Creating the perfect sleep environment this spring
Word Count: 491
Everyone, including moms and doctors, can agree that a good night of sleep is necessary for good health, high energy, and an individual’s overall well-being. Not getting enough good sleep – or rapid eye movement sleep – can affect the mind and body’s ability to react appropriately to outside factors, the National Sleep Foundation reports.
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Suppress the sneeze: Tips to help prep your home for allergy season
Word Count: 496
The season of sneezing has made its annual return and that can only mean one thing for homeowners: preventative cleaning measures. Especially true for allergy and asthma sufferers, there is no better time to get a head start on prepping your home against unwanted allergens than the early weeks of spring.
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Taking the intimidation out of saving for retirement
Word Count: 625
Retirement planning and saving doesn’t have to be frightening or fruitless. Knowledge is power, and when it comes to preparing financially for retirement, the more you know, the more likely you are to succeed – and feel secure about your future in your golden years.
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Stylish stairs: Five can-do ideas that add personality
Word Count: 644
Stairs are no longer just a way to get from one floor to another. Realizing that staircases are quite often major focal points in their homes, homeowners are showing love to this once underappreciated space with a wide variety of creative and easy updates. Add personality and perk-up the daily climb in your home with these five do it yourself projects.
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Ask the Pharmacist: Poison prevention starts at home
Word Count: 591
It’s a serious problem with a simple solution. Nearly 1 million children under the age of 5 are exposed to potentially poisonous medicines and household chemicals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no better time than now to learn more about preventing accidental and unintentional poisonings.
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Don't miss a beat this college basketball season
Word Count: 455
The college basketball tournament is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans across the country, so much so that workplace productivity takes a nosedive. Whether you’re watching from your desk or from your couch, the following tips can help you stay in the know this season and help make you the MVP among your friends and co-workers.
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Go green and live comfortably all year long
Word Count: 433
Milder temperatures and longer days mean winter is fast becoming a distant memory. However, environmentally conscious homeowners know that the arrival of warmer weather also means the likelihood of increased air-conditioner use and higher energy bills.
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Three tips to save time spring cleaning
Word Count: 723
It’s that time of year - throw the windows open and refresh your house with a good, deep clean. Americans spend nearly 70 hours cleaning their homes each year, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Get your time back with three easy tips to make the process fast and stress-free.
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Season's cleanings - tips to keep your home clean and clutter free
Word Count: 656
After a long winter, spring is finally in sight. Before the season is in full bloom and outdoor chores pile up, take advantage of spring showers to tackle the indoors first with easy home cleaning and organizing projects. To get your home in tip-top shape, start by breaking down your to-do list room by room, so you can create an easily achievable goal that will leave your house looking fabulous and you feeling refreshed.
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Five questions to ask before you tie the knot
Word Count: 774
“I’m so lucky I’m marrying my best friend,” is a phrase you often hear in wedding toasts. Now that you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, make sure you protect each other by considering the bigger financial picture.
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Staging on a shoestring: Tips from the pros for quick home sales
Word Count: 724
The real estate market is starting to show signs of improvement, which is welcome news for people wanting to sell their homes. This positive momentum alone isn’t enough to close a deal, though – a homeowner must make their properties appealing to potential buyers so they stand out from the competition. The good news is it’s easy to create an appealing atmosphere with a few staging tips and tricks from the experts.
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Finding inspiration in basketball
Word Count: 625
If you love March basketball, here’s how to use the time and energy you spent on choosing a winning bracket to live your own hoop dreams.
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Getting organized: Learn your style and find solutions that work for you
Word Count: 831
Resolving to reduce clutter and get better organized seems to be a lingering item on many people’s “to-do” lists, yet for many of us, it can be difficult to get started. While organization is an essential tool for navigating our complex modern lives, many people struggle to find their personal style of organization and a system that works within their busy lives at home, at the office or on-the-go. Just as specific organizational needs vary from person to person, so too do organizational styles.
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Knowing your risks for type 2 diabetes
Word Count: 454
Editor Alert: Includes sidebar.
Understanding your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, or getting an early diagnosis, is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.
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Digging soon? Call 811 first for safety's sake
Word Count: 410
With winter forgotten and spring in the air, many homeowners are packing away their snow boots and rolling up their sleeves to get started on long-awaited home improvement projects. Across the country, homeowners and professionals alike will plan landscaping and home-improvement projects this season that require digging.
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Expert skin care tips for glowing skin on your wedding day
Word Count: 708
The ideal dress, the perfect menu, the heartfelt vows – to these add another necessity of your dream wedding: gorgeous, glowing skin. Throughout your entire wedding – from the moment you start walking down the aisle to when you exchange vows to your first dance as man and wife – the focus is on your face. Beautiful skin is essential, and with some expert tips, achieving it doesn’t have to be difficult.
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From golf to fishing: America's ultimate destinations for active travel
Word Count: 675
The word “vacation” means different things to different people. For some, it’s lounging poolside and sleeping until noon. Others, however, savor the opportunity to get outside, try some new activities and indulge in their favorite pastimes for days on end. If you’re one of the latter group, there are few better places to travel than right here in the United States.
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Chef-inspired tips for a cleaner, more efficient kitchen
Word Count: 532
If cleanliness is next to godliness – as the old adage goes – than a clean kitchen is simply a divine place to be. It’s the room in your home that gets the most intense use, so keeping your kitchen clean can be a challenge. You can make kitchen cleanup a bit easier if you take your cleanliness cues from professional chefs.
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Reinvent dinner in minutes with common pantry staples
Word Count: 739
Editor Alert: Includes recipes.
Busy families face the dinnertime challenge every day. Not only do they need to find a nutritious meal the entire family will enjoy, but they need to do so in a limited amount of time. With a few tricks, it’s easy to get out of the dinner rut and score big with tasty, wholesome meals that use pantry staples in creative ways.
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Get your car road trip ready for spring
Word Count: 550
You may be dreaming about escaping on a vacation, but the sky-high costs of flights and cruises can quickly turn into a nightmare. If you’re looking to take a break without breaking the bank, a good, old-fashioned road trip could be the way to escape. Aside from packing snacks and preparing the perfect playlist, there are a few things you should consider before venturing out on the open road. A few updates and precautions can help you avoid the wear and potential safety hazards a long trip can have on your vehicle.
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Healthy foods and creative recipes provide vitamin D when sunshine is scarce
Word Count: 556
Editor Alert: Includes recipe
When days are short and sunshine is scarce, it’s only natural to feel a little out of sorts. The sun is the body’s chief source of vitamin D, and for many Americans, clouds and cold temperatures can lead to deficiencies. Fortunately, there are other sources that provide this important vitamin – some of which come in a deliciously edible form.
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Hiring pros for spring cleaning tasks? What to look for and what it should cost
Word Count: 587
When you hire a professional to handle a cleaning task, how do you know what he or she should be doing for the money you pay? For that matter, how do you know how much you should expect to pay? Here are some common spring cleaning and maintenance tasks that you might hire a professional to do – and some guidance for what these jobs should entail and cost.
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High-tech homes make everyday living simpler
Word Count: 596
If you find yourself wondering how you ever got along before your smartphone, laptop and GPS, you’re not alone. Technology is so much a part of how we go about our days that we often take it for granted. However, in many cases, houses haven’t caught up to the same technological standards as the gadgets people carry with them 24/7. But that’s all about to change, as new ideas begin to revolutionize the way we view our homes.
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Tips for knowing when it's time to replace products on your home
Word Count: 743
Owning a home means giving constant attention to the building products that go into protecting the structure of your house. While we’d like to believe items like our roof, siding and windows will last forever, that’s not the case. All items will eventually need replacing, and here's how to know what to look for.
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Boarding your four-legged family member
Word Count: 708
Whether traveling for business or fun, it’s not always practical to take along a four-legged family member. Arranging care of a beloved pet for an extended absence can be daunting. Knowing what to look for in a kennel, and what to look out for, can help you choose wisely.
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How to breathe easier in your own home this spring
Word Count: 450
With spring on the horizon, airborne allergens and pollutants can cause much grief to homeowners who suffer from breathing problems such as asthma and seasonal allergies. With the potential for increased irritation, allergy sufferers typically seek long-term, consistent relief any way they can.
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Weekend home improvement projects that add value and curb appeal
Word Count: 617
Weekend warriors rule as 2013 is proving to be the year that the do-it-yourself trend reaches full momentum. If you have a weekend to spare, you have plenty of time to make some home improvements that add value and curb appeal. The key is to choose projects that have a big impact, but only take a few days to complete.
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How to find the right vet for your pet
Word Count: 626
Pet owners have many responsibilities, and keeping your pet healthy with veterinary care is a significant one. To help make sure your pet receives high quality medical care, several veterinarians offer advice on how to find the right vet for your pet.
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Kitchen updates that won't break the bank
Word Count: 422
Take a look around your home and think about which spaces you use most. If the kitchen made the list, you’re not alone. For most homeowners, the kitchen is the heart of their home, and all the time spent there likely causes a fair amount of wear and tear. If this sounds like your kitchen, it might be time for a remodel. Here are some great ideas for updating your space on a budget.
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Five must-haves for your new truck
Word Count: 493
With a brand new truck decorating your driveway, you’ve probably got plenty of ideas of how you’re going to use it for towing a boat, transporting large and heavy loads and conquering rugged terrain. Or maybe you just want to feel powerful while driving it down the road. But before you get too comfortable, think about what could make your truck even better. What can you add that will help your truck last longer, handle more tasks and look even stronger?
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Easy Asian recipes for everyday and entertaining
Word Count: 832
Editor Alert: Includes recipe
Preparing a meal that will please everyone at the table is something that every host strives for. The vibrant flavors of Asian food are surprisingly easy to create at home – particularly when you have the right ingredients – and so versatile that they can be dressed up or down to fit any occasion.
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Grow your tax refund with savings bonds
Word Count: 620
Expecting a tax refund this tax season? If so, you may be interested in a convenient savings option offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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Score big with a game-day snacking strategy
Word Count: 741
Whether you’re snacking through the biggest football kick-off of the year or an epic college basketball match-up - score big with lower-calorie, game-day snacks that won’t crush your passion, but will keep you fueled up for the game-winning play. Consider including these game-time snacking rituals next time you’re getting ready for the big game.
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The right home tools for a healthier lifestyle
Word Count: 637
Even with the best intentions, many of us who resolve to live a healthier lifestyle in 2013 will fall back into old, familiar habits much sooner than we would like. To maintain motivation and create a routine that is both sustainable and effective, it’s important to invest in the right tools for every room in your house.
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Green home improvements that can make a real difference in home value
Word Count: 605
What your home is worth to you is one thing – what it’s worth to someone else could be totally different. But if you want to boost the value of your home for both yourself and in the eyes of others, one of the best ways to do it, in today’s real estate market, is to make green home improvements.
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Dogged by pricey pet care? Cost-cutting tips for pet owners
Word Count: 586
These days, everyone is searching for ways to save money and stretch budgets. Consumer experts advise people to sniff out deeper discounts, saving opportunities and additional ways to cut costs. For pet owners, it can feel challenging to cut costs without compromising on care.
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