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Keeping Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Holiday pet safety

It’s the holiday season! We all love to deck the halls with festive decorations and throw holiday parties, but it’s also important to remember our pets during this busy time of year.

As wonderful as the holidays are, the decorations and foods of the season pose threats to our furry family members. That said, it’s not impossible to avoid holiday hazards for pets.

Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Holidays

Avoid a trip to the pet emergency room with some advanced planning and by taking a few simple precautions. Here are some ways to avoid the most common Christmas dangers for pets:

Christmas Tree

If you have cats or dogs, here are a few things you should think about when it comes to your Christmas tree:

  • Make sure you have a wide, weighted base so your pets can’t knock over the tree. Some cat owners use fishing line to tie their trees to … Read Full Post »
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How To Prevent Lyme Disease

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
How to prevent Lyme disease

As a tick-borne illness, Lyme disease is a serious concern for people all across the United States. If the disease isn’t treated soon after exposure, it can cause debilitating pain, weakness, and other chronic impairments. Learn more about what Lyme disease is, the symptoms, and how to prevent Lyme disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Humans contract the disease through bites from deer ticks and black-legged ticks. Most commonly found in the Midwest and the northeastern US, individuals suffering from Lyme disease are also spread all across the country, as well as in 60 other countries. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme is the most widespread disease spread by animals in the US.

Lyme generally isn’t fatal. However, people with untreated Lyme disease experience chronic pain and disabilities. Lyme impairs the functioning of organs and causes mental impairments, pain, and … Read Full Post »

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White Elephant Party Gift Ideas to Celebrate the Season

. Posted by in • San Antonio
white elephant gift ideas

For your next holiday party or family get-together, instead of regular gift-giving, why not try a white elephant gift exchange? Below, we’ll talk about what a white elephant gift exchange is, how to play, and give you some white elephant gift ideas.

What are White Elephant Exchanges?

White elephant gift exchanges turn gift-giving into a game. Instead of purchasing a gift for a specific person, everyone brings a silly or useful gift, and the group plays a game to find out who gets which gift.

By turning gift-giving into party entertainment, it reduces the stress of having to pick the ‘right’ gift, especially for people who you don’t know well or who are hard to please. It also can be a great way to eliminate pressure to spend a lot of money, as some of the best white elephant gifts can be under $5.00.

How Does White Elephant Work?

According to the website White Elephant … Read Full Post »

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Holiday Recipes That Are Sure To Impress

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Holiday recipes

Thanksgiving might be behind us, but there’s still plenty of holiday cheer left in the year. And with just weeks left until Christmas, we’re betting you have a number of holiday parties to attend and few holiday dishes you’ll need to bring along with you.

Whether you are hosting a party, need an idea for a side for a potluck, or just ready for something new in your dinner rotation, you may not have the time nor the desire to look through your all cookbooks or pore over countless websites, looking for the perfect recipe.

So to ease your stress this holiday season, we compiled a list of holiday recipes that are sure to impress.

Appetizers

Whether you’re hosting a festive soirée or making a dish for your office holiday party, consider going smaller rather than bigger. Appetizers and small bites are the perfect addition to any party, as guests can munch and … Read Full Post »

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Enjoy A Favorite Holiday Tradition: The Austin Trail of Lights

. Posted by in • Austin

Ask a group of Austinites about their favorite things to do in our city during the holidays, and you are very likely to hear the same response, over and over again: the Austin Trail of Lights.

If you are new to the area, are just visiting, or somehow haven’t made the trip, a great way to get into the holiday spirit is by visiting the Trail of Lights in Austin. We at ABC Home & Commercial Services are excited to be involved in the Trail of Lights for the second year in a row. Look for ABC at Pooh’s Corner, where you can see Winnie the Pooh, already ready for next year’s Zilker Kite Festival!

Here are some fun facts about the Trail of Lights:

  • Over 400,000 attendees have enjoyed this beloved tradition
  • More than 15 marriage proposals have taken place at the Trail
  • This year, the Movies in … Read Full Post »
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How to Restore Your Lawn and Prepare for Winter

. Posted by in • Austin
lawn restoration

Cooler temperatures are upon us and summer is officially over. While you might think the temperature change is a good indication that you can take a break from lawn care until the spring, think again. Contrary to popular belief, fall is a great time to care for your lawn.

Many homeowners tend to ignore their lawn once they experience cooler weather. They also notice slower-growing grass and assume it requires less treatment. But the opposite is true. In preparation for winter—and in an effort to recuperate from our extremely hot temperatures—your lawn is absorbing energy, moisture, and nutrients for the months to come. Whether you contact a company for lawn restoration services or choose the lawn restoration DIY route, investing time in your lawn during the fall will pay dividends all year long.

Read our tips below to learn simple things you can do to keep your yard happy and healthy.

Let Your … Read Full Post »

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Banish Brown Patch From Your Lawn

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
what is brown patch

Our Texas weather can be brutal on yards and landscaping. Grass can suffer from our area’s unrelenting heat, flooding events, and lack of consistent rainfall. Another reason it may be hard to keep your grass looking its best is lawn diseases.

Some lawn disease can develop as a result of environmental factors, such as drought, shady conditions, or very high or low temperatures. Sometimes, pests are the reason behind the problem. Other diseases can be linked back to how we care for our lawns.

During cool, wet weather we have to remain vigilant against a fungus called brown patch. This disease can pose as big a threat to our turf as heat and drought.

Banish Brown Patch From Your Lawn

Below let’s look at what brown patch is, how you can identify it in your yard, and most importantly, how to get rid of brown patch in your lawn year-round.

What is Brown Patch?

Brown Patch … Read Full Post »

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How to Keep Your Home’s Heater Running More Efficiently This Winter

. Posted by in • San Antonio
energy efficient heaters

When summer comes to a close and fall brings with it lower temperatures, homeowners start thinking about heaters which are often dormant during the warmer months. But before you turn up the thermostat, however, take a look at ways to preserve energy in your home and reduce your energy costs.

Check out our winter energy saving tips below to make sure you are getting the most out of your heater.

Conduct an energy audit

An energy audit can help you gain a better understanding of your home’s energy use. It will help you determine problem areas and how to best fix them. It can also help you determine just how much you should use your heater. An energy audit is the first thing you should do if you are looking for ways to save on heating costs.

Cover any openings

After you’ve conducted an energy audit, you’ll want to check for any air leaks [http://energy.gov/energysaver/detecting-air-leaks] … Read Full Post »

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Keeping Your Home Rodent-Free This Holiday Season

. Posted by in • Austin
Keeping rats away

The holidays are a time filled with family, food, and cheerful celebrations—it’s the most wonderful time of the year! And while colorful decorations and freshly baked cookies are wintertime staples, colder months can also mean higher chances of a rodent infestation. If you are hosting a potluck or outdoor party, you’ll want to learn how to keep rats away from your yard, and you will want to make sure any rats outdoors don’t make their way inside. Fortunately, though, there are steps you can take before your guests arrive to help keep rats away during the holiday season.

Gather around the fireplace and read our tips on how to keep unwanted rats and mice away.

Fill in the gap

The first step to keeping unwanted rats and other rodents out of your home is to seal off any possible entryways. Cracks and holes in walls, around windows and doors, and in your roof … Read Full Post »

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How To Make This Holiday Season Less Stressful

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
Holiday hacks

Helpful Hacks For A Stress-Free Holiday Season

It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us once again. Soon enough, we’ll be picking apples for cider, hanging garland over the fireplace and welcoming family into our homes for a celebration.

And while the holidays can bring great cheer and joy, the impending arrival of family and friends can leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed. To avoid any unwanted stress, we suggest taking necessary steps to ensure your home is in tip-top shape before the festivities begin.

Read our tips below to make getting ready for this holiday season a little bit easier.

Make a Checklist

Before your guests arrive, assess your home to see what areas need attention. During this time you can also take inventory of what you can reuse from prior years’ festivities and what you’ll need to purchase.

Remember, though, taking on too many tasks can set you up for a stressful situation. … Read Full Post »

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