What's In Your Frosty Flakes?

Discovering "bugs" in your breakfast cereal may be disgusting, but it isn't unusual -after all, pantry pests (a.k.a. stored product pests) enjoy munching on the same type of foods that we do.  We recently received a text from a young lady panicking over the worm-like things appearing on her counter top.   What she thought were maggots, actually ended up being a sign of pantry pests.  No one is exempt from the infestation possibility.  In fact we brought them into our home a few months ago.  We purchased some dog treats at a specialty pets store and discovered upon getting home that the bag was  a-l-i-v-e.  We were fortunate to have found the problem right away, rather than after the treat munchers infested other items in our pantry.
There are several different varieties of pantry pests and whenever possible it is best to determine which one is causing havoc in your home.  It will help narrow down possible food resources that they are using and harborage areas.  Typically the first signs of a pantry pest problem are moths, small brown beetles or tiny worms on the wall, counter, shelf or pantry floor.
Of course these insects can't roll up in the McDonald's drive thru for their next meal---that's why they are at your house.  Their favorite foods include dried goods-especially those containing grains, dried fruits and nuts.  Baking mixes, flours, spices, cereals, powdered milk, pastas, bird seed, dry pet food and pet treats---(obviously-refer to 1st paragraph).  Even unopened boxes of cake mixes, puddings, cereal, crackers, popcorn, etc. can have an infestation.  Some varieties will even feed on dried flower arrangements and some eat...chocolate-Oh ya-I went there!  Chocolate! 
Ok...So what do you do about it?   First thing is inspect.  Everything.  It is time consuming, boring and yep tedious, but you will never get rid of the problem if you try to skim thru it.  Empty your pantry, your beloved cookie or cereal cabinet or the pet food/treat stash.  You are checking for holes in unopened packages, looking for bugs (or parts of them) in clear bags, check areas where crumbs gather-behind appliances or canned goods, look for any webbing and check the shelves-and above them in each of these areas.

Infested items need to be sealed up and removed from the home immediately.  Your other option is to throw the item into a freezer bag then in to the freezer to kill off the bugs.  Items not infested need to be sealed in an air tight container.  Thoroughly vacuum -all areas including crevices and wash cupboards, pantry shelves, floors, etc. to remove any spilled food stuff and any insect fragments.  Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag immediately after vacuuming and take it outside.
The bright side?  Once you locate and eliminate all infested foods, you have cleaned thoroughly, and repackaged the remaining items in sealed containers, any remaining adults (beetles or moths) will be looking for another food source to deposit their eggs.  -But you have done your job, which means they can't do theirs.  Nice.
Yeah, It's a pain in the butt to get rid of them. But... once you have eliminated your problem you can help avoid future infestations. Repackage materials in properly sealed clear containers.  Inspect new items-as soon as you bring them into the home, especially discounted or nearly expired products.  Rotate your food products to use older items first.
Now you can sit back and enjoy that bowl of cereal once again....and know -it's just a bowl of cereal.

Wanna Win Some Moo-lah?

Don't miss your chance to win $500.  

That's 500 smackers, Moo-lah, buck-a-roos.

Enter the Bradenton Herald's 2013 People's Choice Contest 

Vote for your favorite Bradenton businesses for your chance to win $500.

 BUT... (Oh ya, you knew there was a but)...You have to hurry!

The voting ends midnight, this Sunday February 3.

We would appreciate a vote for Acme Termite & Pest Control as your favorite pest control company in the "for your home" section.

If you have entered the People's Choice contest in the past, you will be pleasantly surprised with some changes that they have made with this years ballot.  You are no longer required to provide answers for the majority of business categories.  Instead you only nominate companies from the categories that you choose. Regardless of how few or many that may be.  This means you no longer have to vote for companies that you aren't familiar with, just to get your total number of answers in.  I think that was a brilliant change that not only makes the voting process less tedious and lengthy, but also brings out more sincere votes for companies showing who voters trust and love.

Best of luck!  and please... don't forget to vote for Acme. 

Get off your butts and vote...PLEEEEEEEZ

It's that time of year again for everyone in the Manatee County area to speak up and vote for your favorite local businesses.  The Bradenton Herald 17th Annual People's Choice Awards has started.  Voting is pain free (we promise) but it will take a few minutes to complete.  We would sure appreciate your vote for Acme Termite & Pest Control on your ballot...but you have to hurry...voting ends Sunday, February 6 at 11:59pm.   Oh...and if our begging isn't enough of a reason for you to vote--you could WIN $1,000 in CASH for submitting your entry online.   Yep--that's what I thought, now hurry up and vote.

Start off 2011 the right way

If one of your New Year resolutions is to get organized...It's your lucky day. Get a free sample of Post-it durable tabs.  Also check out their website while you are there for organizing ideas, coupons and other free samples.

While you are sitting there getting all organized in your home office, you may find that your home could use a little freshening up.  If so why not take advantage of this Febreeze Noticeables rebate.  Purchase one warmer unit and get a $3.50 rebate by mail.  There has also been some great coupons lately that can be used when you buy it.  If you don't find them in your paper search on line for coupons or sign up at Febreze.com.

So now that your house is all organized and less stinky, don't forget to give your BFF a treat for putting up with you all this past year.  Stop by the Blue Dog Bakery site for a $1.00 coupon off a box of treats.  Our dogs LOVE these and it is a real down to earth company that really appreciates your business.  Sign up for their newsletter and stay in touch with them.

Borrow or buy?

You know all that stuff packed away in your garage, attic, shed and closet.  That thing, and those boxes of du-dads and all the other stuff that you just absolutely had to have...that now sits unused, dusty and forgotten about.  Well here is an idea for you...
A guest writer for Almost Frugal offers an interesting enhanced version of freecycle (which I have previously blogged about). Read the article here about borrowme.com.  Among the long list of available items that are available to borrow, rent or buy from people in your area, you may find a wheelborrow, canoe, camping equipment, pet carriers, music, DVD's, wedding dress, baby needs, tools, bicycle or my favorite funny find "Ten stupid things women do to mess up their lives" book.  You can even create a wish list of things you are hoping to find. 
So now you can loan or give out your unneeded items to someone who could use them or rent out your unused things-and make a little cash...maybe to spend on your next big "I gotta have!" item.

Making your life a little easier

Acme Termite & Pest Control is happy to be able to offer something that can make your life a little bit easier.  If you are a customer of ours you can now share in the excitement of being able to save time and money.  You can now pay with the security provided by Pay Pal using your Pay Pal account or debit/credit card on line.  Paying your bills on line reduces the amount of mail you receive.  Plus you'll use fewer checks, save on postage and won't worry about your payment arriving on time.  If you are looking for a way to "go green" this is probably one of the easiest.  Call or email our office today and we will send you an email invoice link, using the pay pal site, for payment processing.  Save time, hassle and worry....pay on line today.

Just Do It!

How often do you try to accomplish something? Perhaps weight loss, exercising more, getting organized, spending more time with the kids/pets, nixing the smoking habit, saving more/spending less or something business related?  Do you ever give up and walk away from the new idea saying "well at least I tried?"
I believe it is important to try new things and not avoid starting a new project or diet just because you don't want to fail. ....but here is an interesting perspective... Dr. Steven Gundry (a wellness team expert for Jillian Michaels) has made a very interesting point in his post..about Not trying.  He is discussing his ideas on becoming healthy/losing weight BUT his point could be applied to anything in your life even your business.

Want to know what it is? Check it out here!

Planning or Dreaming?

A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Dream
(unknown author..but it says a lot)

So...are you planning or just dreaming?

If you own your own business or are thinking about it, I highly recommend a quick visit to HappyLife by Zu-Li. As a business owner myself, I took her advise and made a business 2010 goal list of 10....which spilled over to more like 14. (lol) But it felt good to get it down on paper and begin the change from dreams to planned out goals.

One goal for this year on my list is to blog more (surprise, surprise, right??). If that is on your list too, you should check out this article about 100+ blogging ideas posted by Lisa Barone.

(Credits: smallbiztrends.com and found thru NFIB SmartBrief)

Whose running the show?

Welcome to 2010! We hope every one's new year has started off great.
Are you still getting used to writing 2010 on all your paperwork or are you one of those people that will continue to absentmindedly write 2009 for the next 6 months on every check you write? I came across a great article from dollar stretcher.com about setting and achieving goals. (Perhaps the first one should be to remember that it is now 2010...lol).

Do you find yourself sitting around waiting for life to happen to you or are you planning, setting goals and heading towards the things you want to achieve in life? Whether your goals include family, financial, getting organized, traveling or millions of other ideas, a vision board may help you reach them. Need a little help getting started? Check this out: Setting Goals, Goal Setting, Achieving Goals

OMG!!!!!! What a night!

How crazy is that? Both of our kids were in seperate vehicle accidents on Thursday within 1 hour of each other. Thankfully-both are ok!

Brianna's school bus clipped a car turning a corner. The kids aboard the bus weren't near as shaken about the incident as they were the very upset, vocally loud person getting out of the car that the bus hit. After about a 1 1/2 hour delay, she made it back home.

1 hour later Chance was T-Boned in the drivers side of his Acme truck a few blocks away from the office. The blow spun the truck into a light pole and bouncing sideways down the side walk. He is alright...but the truck on the other hand.....

ATTENTION: All teachers & students grades 4-8

Whether you are a teacher looking for ways to infuse creativity and fun into your lesson plans, an educator facing an added challenge due to cut budgets and programs or a student in grades 4-8 looking for a challenge...here it is!

**You can win $3,000 for your school's science department**

The PPMA (Professional Pest Management Alliance) has announced the "Pest PSA Contest"

Use your biology, entomology and creativity hats to create educational public service announcements (PSAs) that discuss the health and property risks posed by household pests. The grand prize winning entry will receive $3,000 for their school's science department.

Check out http://www.pestworldforkids.org/index.html for full contest rules and details, including sample PSAs and lesson plans for creating PSAs. The website is a great spot for kids to find pest guides, games, science fair kits, & help for writing reports. Check it out.

I haven't listed any freebies or good deals lately, so here is a few.

Here is a coupon for $1.00 off Naked Juice. Ya-I know...sounds weird, but they have several different flavors-all packed full of fruits and veg's and some are really good. {try the blueberry}

Get a free sample of Scope Outlast....and feel fresh up to 5x longer. Too bad they don't make a version for dogs (lol)

I know you are interested in natural products... Get a free sample of Burts Bees Natural Acne Solutions, with willow bark. I haven't tried it yet, but my order for a sample is in.

DIY Termite Control?

Whether you have drywood termites, subterranean termites or one of the other invading species, before you run out and buy the expensive over the counter solutions and equipment to treat them yourself, you should watch this! Fox 13 news explains why that might not be the best thing to do.

If you find yourself with a problem Acme Termite & Pest Control always provides free estimates and depending on the severity and location of the problem we can offer all 3 treatment options; Whole Home No-Tent Treatment, Spot Treatment and Fumigation. Our trained experts will examine your home, ID the termite problem and offer the best solutions for your situation. Don't be afraid to find out more information and prices for the treatment

Weird bumpy paper

Embossed wall paper used to be a big thing when I was younger. I thought the bumpy paper was a little weird but couldn't help but touch it. Then it seemed to loose its flair and everyone removed it from their walls. Well, guess what, apparently it is coming back again (as everything always does). Check out this article from BH&G on customizing the accessories around your home (besides your walls). I love the covered boxes and office storage ideas. The lamp shade and bedroom mirror are nice too. I think my daughter would love the window shade and would probably try making a wallet out of the material, to go with her multi compartment, decorated duct-tape wallets (see below) that she has been making. (Ya, I know...don't ask)...they actually look pretty cool are are functional. One has a Velcro closure and the other a ribbon/loop closure.

Free Ride?

So here's a question for ya'all. Does anyone have experience with freecycle? I saw an article about 2 years ago from a location in New York (I think), the people went on line, checked it out and got a free bike. They only had a few locations but now there seems to be many. This is how it works..you go to freecycle.org and sign up for the group in your area. You post things that you want to get rid of (for free) and people who live nearby will contact you and come pick it up. You can also post things that you are looking for. Lastly, you can monitor the posts and if you see anything you want, you contact the poster and go pick it up (for free). No money exchanges hands, no spam or advertising is allowed. So far I have seen clothes, playhouses, baby strollers, cribs, etc., set of dishes, microwaves, furniture and so forth. Just wondering if anyone has tried it out and what kind of experience that you had.

Get your finances in order

Need some very straight-forward, no bull advise about spending, saving and everything in between? Get a free download of the new book by Suze Orman. 2009 Action Plan. But Hurry...it is only available until January 15th. Thanks to Coupon Cravings for the link.

Coupons, Free Samples & Great Links

Short and Sweet----Everyone can use some help right now, so check these out.

Progresso Soups: Coupon for $1.00 off 2 cans or $2.00 off 4 cans.

Free Sample of Gold Bond Ultimate Soothing Lotion

Quaker Rice Cakes: Choose free sample of Mini Delights or Rice Snacks

Visit RedPlum for a Meaty Bone Buy 1, Get 1 Free coupon

If you shop at Walgreens then sign up for the newsletter at From Wags To Riches to save $$$

More newsletters worth signing up for: Almost Frugal, Coupons.com, Hooray for Freebates and Coupon Cravings

Dollar Stretcher has good newsletters and the website covers anything you can think of.

Get a Free Sample of Pedigree Good Bites, bit sized dog treats

Earn Money with Ebates

If you haven't heard of Ebates-you, my friend, are missing out! Almost any shopping that you do on line, can be done thru Ebates..and you will earn actual money..moo-lah! (not points or credits..the green stuff) Here's the deal: you sign up (free membership) then each time you are going to shop on line ie: to a clothing store, Target, Walmart, Hot Topic, Office supplies, Home improvement store, car stuff, pet stuff...(get the idea) your first sign in to Rebates, then directly to the store of your choice. It is the actual site, everything is exactly the same as if you went directly there first hand. Except..you earn money for every purchase (up to 26% cash back-although the average is probably 5%, coupons to hundreds of stores and the best prices. They automatically cut you a check every 3 months and mail it to you. How simple is that?? So far I have earned $86.21 in 4 months, just for shopping as normal.

And here's a sweeter deal---sign up now by going here and make your first qualifying purchase before December 31, and we will both get a $10.00 credit. SWEET

How Frugal Are You?

I came across a really cool blog that is worth checking out. Almost Frugal lists 25 Frugal Things that she does. She also has a list of 25 more frugal things.

If you have any frugal ideas to share-leave me a comment.

More Sweepstakes

Scott Towels Sweepstakes

Enter to win Scott Towels Sweepstakes for a chance to win a year supply of Scott paper towels or instantly win gift cards valued between $25 and $1000.

You can enter once a day until December 31.

Thanks to My Good Cents for the link.

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Dole Salad

Enter once a day to win a free Distinctively Dole Salad. http://www.winfreedolesalad.com/

Kotex Perfect Fit Sweepstakes

Enter for a chance to win a trip to New York and a $5,000 wardrobe makeover. http://kotex.eprize.net/perfectfitsweepstakes/index.tbapp?affiliate_id=2g

While you're at it...you can request a free sample pack which includes Kotex Ultra Thins, Light Days and Tampons. http://www.startsampling.com/sm/100293/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100293&source=&ss_id=