Real Estate Information Archive

WHY DO THIS?

If your home comes with kids, pets or an eco-friendly attitude, the chemicals that come with store-bought cleaning products may make you a little nervous. Good news: by DIYing your household cleaning products, you can break free from those chemical bonds, save money and keep your house squeaky clean! Here are three super-simple, eco-friendly recipes to get you started.

HOW TO:

1. Dish Soap. This is a particularly useful cleaner to make if you have kids – the leading cause of poisonings in the home for children under the age of six is liquid dish soap! All you need is some castile soap (this is any soap made entirely from vegetable oil), mint tea and a few other simple ingredients. For detailed instructions, read: Make Your Own Non-Toxic Dish Soap.

2. Oven cleaner. Wet all surfaces of your oven with a sponge or cloth. Then mix ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup water together so they form a paste. Spread throughout the interior of your oven, but avoid vent openings. Let the paste sit overnight, scrape off in the morning and remove all remnants with a wet sponge or cloth.

3. Laundry detergent. This one is nice and simple. Use a cheese grater to grate a bar of laundry soap into a bowl. Add some borax and baking soda, and mix together. Use one tablespoon of the mixture for each load of laundry, and keep the rest in an easy-to-access jar.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

What’ll 80 extra bucks a month get you? Oh let’s see . . . a weekend road trip, an Apple TV, a bottle of really nice champagne, a steak that’ll change your life. And that’s just the tip of the $80 Iceberg of Possibilities.

We’re hoping you can take some of these tips and treatcho’self, because LIFE IS SHORT YOU BEST ENJOY IT.

Here are eight ways you can save $10 a month or more:

Ditch Your Cable

Cable is so last year. If you don’t want to say goodbye to your shows you can always get HBO Go/HBO Now, Showtime or Netflix. It might also behoove you to turn to Youtube, Redbox, books or board games. These are all either free or a one-time purchase opposed to a monthly subscription. Still not sure? Run through this checklist to find out if cord-cutting is right for you.

Dust Off Your Crockpot Again

Crockpot meals are a great way to stop eating out. You can set your meals up at night, cook them during the day, and you won’t be tempted to order food when you get home from work because your home will already be filled with delicious meat smells. You can also use up ingredients that might be one-day too late to sauté (like older spinach).

Use Your Microwave Instead of Your Oven Range

Yeah, yeah, I can already hear you foodies moaning about this tip. But here’s the thing: your microwave uses half the power as your gas range. So if wanna save some cash, go microwave.

Buy a Battery Recharging Station

You can buy 48 batteries for $13, and those’ll last you a long time. Or, you can buy a $13 battery charging station and never buy batteries again. It’ll take a while for you to start seeing the savings, but long term this is an easy way to save some cash.

Install a Shower Timer

Start using a timer when you’re in the shower, and try to keep your sessions under 10 minutes (you can shoot for five if you’re ambitious). This will reduce your monthly water bill.

Cancel Your Home Phone Service

The cost of a LAN line can vary, but it’s usually at least $20 a month. If you can’t just ditch the thing entirely and use your cell phone, try switching to a Magic Jack – a computer plugin that allows unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada through your Internet. The initial device that connects your phone to your computer is $60. This includes a year of service. After that you will pay $35 a year. In short, you will pay $6 a month your first year and $3 a month every year after that. Still way cheaper than a traditional phone line! Learn more here.

Get a Tree Planted For Free

Many municipality services will provide a free tree planting, if you’re willing to be on a waiting list. Have them plant the tree on the west side of your house and save money on your utility bills – an adult tree on the west side of a home can reduce your AC needs by 30 percent and reduce the energy required for heating by 20-50 percent (trees both shade and insulate).

To find your city’s municipal tree planting program, Google: “Municipal tree planting program [your city]”.

Stop Dry Cleaning So Many of Your Clothes

You’ve probably heard this one before, but dry cleaning is a tough habit to break. While it’s convenient, it ends up costing a lot (industry reports estimate an average of $40 a month per heavy dry-cleaning household). Check out our step-by-step guide on how to start doing your dry cleaning at home so you can start saving!

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Have moths been fluttering into your immaculate home every time you open a door this summer?

Moths may not bite, but they’re definitely pesky, and for the insect-averse, they can totally ruin a cozy evening spent reading by lamplight. 

If moths are hanging out by an outside light and rushing inside whenever you open your patio or front door, cinnamon can help. The anti-microbial qualities of cinnamon oil make it a great bug repellent. Wherever the smell is strong, insects will stay away!

Fill a few cotton or mesh bags with cinnamon sticks and hang the bags outside, near the lights that are attracting the moth menace. 

For a double whammy, unscrew your outdoor light while it’s cold and use an eyedropper or small brush to paint the bulb before screwing it back in. When the light turns on, the heat will spread the scent of the cinnamon oil and repel moths. 

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

If you’re totally new to gardening, it’s easy to go overboard when purchasing garden tools. Walk into any home improvement store and it can feel pretty overwhelming. Luckily, there are only a handful of essential tools you actually need to get your green thumb going. Focus on the basics!  

Here are seven tools for the beginner gardener.

A Pair of Gloves

Ever tended to roses without garden gloves? Yeah, ouch. Keep splinters and thorns away from your skin with a good pair of sturdy gloves made of leather or latex coated cotton. Make sure they fit snug, and aren’t too bulky.

Garden Shoes

Grab a pair of clogs or garden shoes to make spending hours outside a bit more comfortable. Make sure to get shoes with a sturdy sole (think pressing down on a shovel’s edge) but also something that is waterproof. If you’re on a tight budget and have an old pair of tennis shoes, that works perfectly, too.

Hose with Adjustable Nozzle

A quality, long garden hose may sound like a no brainer, but just as important is anadjustable nozzle. This will allow you to cover every inch of your garden, and put you in control of the water pressure. If you’re working with a smaller plot of land or an herb garden, a watering can will also work.

Shovel

It may not be the most exciting tool, but it’s definitely one that will get a lot of use. Use a round-headed shovel for digging any holes or picking up dirt or compost to create your garden beds.

Wheelbarrow

This will come in handy especially during spring and fall when there is a lot of pruning and cleaning up to do with your garden space. Excellent for hauling soil or compost to your garden, a wheelbarrow can also help with construction materials if you’re doing raised beds. Expect to shell out about $85 at your local home improvement store, but it’s well worth it.

Hand Trowel

These are perfect for planting herbs, small patches of flowers and removing weeds! Plus,hand trowels are relatively inexpensive. Make sure to properly clean your tools after each use, and avoid storing the shovel with any caked-on dirt. This will help prolong its life.

Scissors

Garden shears and scissors are necessary for deadheading, pruning small plants or thinning your vegetables. You can also use these to cut and bring in bouquets of fresh flowers. Larger shears are great for trimming and edging garden beds and paths.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com

Close your eyes and picture your best beach day.

What makes it so great? Chances are it’s the warm sun on your face, cool beer in your hand, gentle breeze and a relaxed attitude. Great news! If you have a deck or porch, you don’t have to spend money on a fancy vacation to recreate all of the above. All you need is a can-do attitude, a free afternoon and a few good ideas.

Here are seven of our favorite ways to make your porch (or deck!) ready for summer awesomeness:

1. Seal, Stain & Weather-Proof

There’s a reason you don’t put lipstick on a pig – it doesn’t do any good! Unless the exterior of your deck or porch is in good shape, any fun accessories you add will be a waste of time. Plus, an unsealed porch will become waterlogged and rot over time, getting worse with every summer storm or winter snow. If your setup is looking a little ragged, check and see if there are any professional deck and porch maintenance offers in your area. It’s the easiest way to whip things back into shape.

2. Hang Twinkle Lights

Now that your porch is protected, it’s time to have a little fun. To extend the time you and your family enjoy your outdoor living space, throw up some patio twinkle lights.  A few strands of lights can transform a so-so patio into something special.

These lights come in an assortment of sizes, shapes and colors. And you’d be surprised how far they’ll go towards making your area look like it’s straight out of Pinterest. Plus, you’ll be able to see your cocktail during those nighttime hangs, and everyone looks great under the glow.

3. Add an Outdoor Cooler

A perfectly lazy afternoon isn’t complete without a cold drink (or two…or three). Make living easy by adding an attractive outdoor cooler to your deck or patio oasis. Avoid ugly plastic coolers, and opt for interesting shapes and containers, like this baby bathtub idea fromSouthern Living. When you’re headed outside for a long afternoon of leisure, fill the bathtub,metal planter or other unique cooler with ice and beverages. That way, you and your guests barely have to move to refill.

4. Bring Out a Bar Cart

Turn the porch party up with a bar cart. Don’t limit your bar cart to booze! On the cart, you can store booze, and cups, stirrers, coasters, books, magazines, speakers, sunglasses or anything else you may fancy while you’re wiling away the afternoon. It’s basically a chest of drawers on wheels.

If you would fancy a cocktail or three on your porch, build a baller bar cart with these tips.

5. Hang Up a Hammock

Hammocks are the best. Really, the best. We cannot overestimate how great wasting an afternoon in a hammock can be. You swing, you feel the breeze and you relax, all from the comfort of your front (or back) stoop. To turn your hammock time into romantic-time, consider a two-person hammock. We love this one, because it has a steel stand, so it’s mobile and easy to set up.

6. Think Indoors

To make your outdoor living space feel cozy, add a few traditionally indoor items like rugs, lamps, and flower vases. If your porch isn’t enclosed, we recommend bringing the smaller items inside at night, or some jealous passersby might nab them.

7. Plant Perennials

Adding pots full of perennials to your outdoor living space is an easy way to inject some color and visual interest. Why perennials, instead of annuals? You only have to plant perennials once and then you’ll get to enjoy them every year.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

High temps are breaking records left and right this summer. And if you don’t have central AC, your house is probably feeling like a sauna these days. Enter your savior: the classic fan.

This basic, inexpensive appliance can be the difference between misery and comfort, so don’t just set it down anywhere – maximize its potential! By using a few strategic tricks, your home will drop a few degrees in no time.

Don’t thank us, thank your fan.

Create a Crosswind

Creating a crosswind is a refreshing one-two punch: you’ll get hot air out while also pulling cooler air in. The first step is to close up your house during the day – close windows, drapes, blinds, everything. You don’t want any sun-warmed heat getting in. Note: This will make your home darker, so if you’re partial to a lot of natural light, you may want to choose being warm over a dark room.

When the sun sets, swing open your windows and grab two standard fans. Place one fan facing out of a window in the room you want the coolest. Then, use a second fan to create a strong flow of air towards that fan. Do this by setting up fan #2 so it’s facing inwards, and is either in front of a second window or pushing air into the room you’re trying to cool. This setup will remove stale, hot air out and bring in fresh, cool air.

Use Tall Windows

This trick is all about getting hot air out. If you have tall windows (lucky you!) place your fan as high up as possible, facing out of the window. A shelf, ladder or stool can help with this. Remember, hot air rises, so the goal is to push as much hot air out of the house as possible.

Switch Directions (of Your Ceiling Fan)

If you have a ceiling fan, switch the fan direction so that it moves clockwise instead of counterclockwise. That way, instead of blowing warm air around the room, it will circulate heat up and away. Be safe and make sure you turn the fan off before adjusting. Ceiling fan a little dirty? Read: Clean Your Ceiling Fans.

Make a DIY AC Unit

Don’t have an air conditioner? Make one! This quick project will have you reaching for a sweater in no time. Place a standard fan on the ground (or as low as possible). Put a large bucket of ice directly in front of the fan. The fan will blow air over the ice, cooling it in the process. It may not be pretty, but it’ll keep you cool. If a big bucket of ice sounds like a lot of work, a wet washcloth will do roughly the same time – just place it over the front of the fan.Tip: Keep one window open so hot air can escape.

Trick Mosquitoes

Okay, so maybe mosquitoes don’t make a room hotter, but they certainly make a sticky, sweaty day worse. To stop mosquitoes from bothering you, hang out directly in front of a fan. If you have a patio, bring the fan with you! Mosquitoes can’t land in a crosswind and hate flying against it, so they’ll avoid breezy areas.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

I’m going to be straight with you: if you already love naps and are happy with your routine, you can skip this article. (Try this post about spider prevention, instead.)

This one goes out to the napping haters – all those desperate souls living a full-night’s-sleep-only existence. You don’t hate naps because they’re bad…you might just be doing it wrong.

Ready to up your napping game? Follow this four-step nap routine.   

Step 1: Find The Perfect Nap Spot

Studies have shown that it’s 50% harder to fall asleep if you’re sitting up versus lying down. So, avoid chairs if you can. In terms of the old “couch vs. bed” debate, I’ll say this: the more important thing is to nap in as dark and quiet a room as possible, so both beds and couches could work. I personally nap on a couch because I’m afraid of oversleeping in the incredible comfort of my massive bed (not to brag or anything…but my bed rocks).

Step 2: Aim for the Afternoon

You don’t want to nap too close to bedtime. So, an afternoon snooze between 1 and 2 pm is ideal (this is also the time when most people get groggy and reach for coffee). You want to get in and out of sleep before it gets dark outside because waking up in the dark can be confusing to your body.

Step 3: Nap for Less than 45 Minutes, or More than 90

Messing this part up is the reason a lot of people hate naps. It takes 45 minutes to enter a REM sleep cycle and 90 minutes to complete one. This means that if you sleep for an hour you’re going to wake up groggy and pissed instead of relaxed and re-energized. If you want to just refocus and recharge quickly, shoot for a 20-30 minute catnap. If you’re looking to boost your creativity, go big with something north of 90 minutes.

Step 4: Don’t Panic If You Don’t Fall Asleep

As soon as you think something like, “Crap it’s taking forever to fall asleep my time’s almost over,” your nap is ruined. So don’t stress about it! Research from the book Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit has suggested that just trying to nap can reduce blood pressure and help you relax, so you’re still helping yourself out.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

For a super-thorough baseboard cleaning, you do kind of need to involve rags, water, soap, and a decent amount of elbow grease.

But if you just need a quick spruce because you’re having an impromptu dinner party or something, there’s a faster way!

Grab a dryer sheet from your laundry room and give your dirty baseboards a quick wipe. The anti-static properties of the sheet will help repel dust so your boards will stay cleaner, longer.

The more often you wipe the boards down using this method, the less dust will stick to them. Over time, you’ll stop hating the task and focus your loathing on something else, like toilets.

Back-Saving Tip: If bending down to baseboard level is the most irritating part of the chore for you, affix the sheet to a Swiffer duster to make it easier on your back. 

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

The days are shorter, the air is crisp and Sports Center is focused on football. Yup, fall is just around the corner!  While the new season doesn’t officially arrive until Saturday, it’s not too soon to get in the spirit of things, and nothing says autumn like apples! So don a sweater, grab a pumpkin latte and try one of these upcycled apple peel ideas.

Make Jelly. Eating apple peels in every form, even sweet jelly, is good for your health! Apples are high in antioxidants, especially the peels. In fact, almost half of the vitamin C in apples is in the peel! To get an antioxidant boost at breakfast, try this apple core and peel jelly recipe.

Clean Cookware. If your delicious dinner left a caked-on mess in the bottom of your aluminum pot or pan, use apple peels to clean it up. The acid in apple peels breaks down stains and restores the aluminum to its original shine. Simply boil a handful of apple peels in water and let it simmer in your damaged cookware for 20-30 minutes. The mess should come right out and then you can care for your pots and pans like you normally would.

Brew Tea. Stay warm on chilly evenings with apple peel tea. You’ll reap all of the antioxidant benefits with none of the sugar! We love this recipe from Finding Joy in My Kitchen.

Freshen Your Air. Fill your home with the smell of fall with this apple peel air freshener. For this eco-friendly stove-top brew, you’ll need cinnamon, ginger or cloves, lemon juice and apple peels. Place your ingredients in a pan and cover them with water. Bring the concoction to a boil and then let it simmer until the water has evaporated.

If apples aren’t your favorite autumn fruit, that’s fine – other fruit peels have home and health benefits, too! Check out Four Ways to Use Fruit Rinds to learn more.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Here are a few signs that a tough day has smacked you directly in the face:

1.) You sat down at your desk at 8:30 AM and did not move until 6:45 PM.

2.) You passed a puppy on the street and didn’t even stop because you were so busy.

3.) A trip to the office snack drawer was the best part of your day.

Sound familiar? Yeah…tough days are terrible. And the truth is you really can’t avoid having them every once in a while. But you can work to forget about them!

Here are seven simple things you can do at home to erase the mark of a tough day:

1. Keep Bath Salts Handy

You would be surprised how much stress and frustration can be fixed with a warm bath. Add some soothing salts to the mix, and you’re on your way to Chill-Out Town. If your current bath salt stockpile is low, ScoutMob is a great place to find different scents. Anything with sage or lavender is going to be especially good at taking the edge off.

Tip: Making your own personal bath bombs is pretty easy! Here’s our step-by-step guide.

2. Prepare a Room with No Screens, and Lots of Music

We’ve talked about how electronics and screens can disrupt your sleep, but they also prevent you from de-stressing. Your favorite music, on the other hand, will lower your blood pressure and decrease stress hormones. Sounds pretty great, right?

If you have a spare room, get some music up in that beast and keep the TV, laptop, iPad and phone far away. Come home, grab yourself an adult beverage, and listen to some music for an hour or so. May we recommend Taylor Swift’s jam Shake It Off?

3. Kiss Someone

According to a study conducted by Northwestern University, an emotionally charged, ten-second kiss will release a ton of endorphins and make you feel better almost immediately. So when the Day from Hell strikes, suck some face. It doesn’t even need to lead to sex – just enjoy the kiss!

4. Set Yourself Up for a Repetitive Action

Our bodies really dig repetition. It’s one of the reasons that people find things like knitting and praying with a rosary to be so relaxing. If those two activities aren’t really your thing, here are two more ideas:

1. Do a craft. This post has 10 DIY wine cork projects – number three and seven are repetition city.

2. Sweep or mop your floors (it helps to do the whole “wax on, wax off” thing from The Karate Kid).

You may feel silly at first, but give it a shot. We bet you’ll wind up feeling a lot more relaxed than if you’d just binge-watched a Netflix show or ate a pint of ice cream (or both).

5. Put Away Your Dishes

One nice thing about mornings: usually nothing terrible has happened to you yet. Take advantage of this boon! Make a habit of emptying your dishwasher (or clearing out the sink) prior to leaving the house. That way, if fate craps on you during the day, you can at least rustle up a clean plate, fork and cup for wine without much struggle.

6. Treat Yourself

At the end of a long day, treat yourself with a taste of something sweet. Eating something sweet actually pauses the production of the stress hormone glucocorticoid, so you feel better pretty much immediately. A little bit can go a long way! One small peppermint candy or piece of chocolate has the same effect as a large slice of cake. 

7. Walk Around the Block

After a rough day, it's temping to pour a tall glass of wine and veg out with your favorite Netflix show. Before you settle on the couch for the night, force yourself to take a ten minute jaunt around the neighborhood. Even a slow walk will boost endorphins, which will reduce stress hormones. Bonus points if you leave your phone at home! 

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.