Your head throbs after a night in Vegas. Your joints ache after a 10K. But your heart? You’re less likely to realize something’s wrong until something’s really, really wrong. And that’s troubling, given that cardiovascular diseases now account for nearly 1 in 3 deaths in America every year. Heart disease now leads the way as the number one killer of men. Worse, 38 percent of adults meet at least three of the seven criteria for “poor” heart health set out by the American Heart Association. 

There’s no need to hide from leather interiors – while some experts recommend leather cleaners and conditioners, Honda says your seats just need dusting, vacuuming and the occasional wipe down.

“The simplest way to prolong the life of your leather interior is to vacuum it regularly,” Honda Canada spokesperson Chris Wood says. “Chances are, if it can’t be solved with a vacuum, a soft cloth that’s been slightly dampened with water will do the trick. Just be sure to remove any remaining moisture by buffing the area with a dry cloth.”

It sounds simple, especially since there are lots of leather care products on the market. Wood says they don’t recommend any products in particular.

“Some are cleaners while others are conditioners. Choose the wrong one and you may regret it,” Wood says. “Our recommendation is to consult the owner’s manual and follow the instructions.”

Those instructions say to clean the leather with a soft cloth dampened with a 90 per cent water and a 10 per cent “neutral wool detergent solution,” then buff with a clean dry cloth.

Again, Honda won’t specify a specific brand of pH neutral or near-neutral detergent, but products for wool and delicates fit the bill.

“It’s important to avoid detergents that use any kind of dye or bleach and anything that can be harsh, abrasive, or cause the leather to dry out and shrink,” the auto maker says.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute agrees that leather seats don’t need much maintenance, but preventing tears and stains is crucial.

“There’s really not much to do to take care of a leather interior,” says the Institute’s Carolyn Forte. “Obviously, you want to keep sharp or rough objects away from it to prevent rips, tears, and scrapes, but that’s [the case] with fabric, too.”

Aside from keeping keys, cell phones and zippers off leather surfaces, Forte says drivers should use a leather cleaner and conditioner for cleaning.

“Stains can be tougher to remove on leather than on fabric, so be sure to keep pens away and blot spills as soon as they happen,” she says.

Good Housekeeping doesn’t recommend any particular leather product, though, and neither does Consumer Reports.

In a March 2012 article on detailing car interiors, Consumer Reports says drivers should gently clean vehicle leather with “leather cleaner, saddle soap, or another mild leather soap on a damp cloth.” Be sure to remove all soap and moisture – especially on seams and folds.

Wood says Honda recommends checking with your dealer before getting your leather surfaces professionally cleaned.

“Without knowing how a professional cleaner gets the job done, it’s hard to predict how it will affect the surface or whether it will void the warranty,” Wood says.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/how-to-care-for-your-cars-leather-interior/article4421020/

Over a weekend, you can make your bath look and work a lot better. Here's how.

Three quick add-ons to max out a small space

Get bottles off the sides of the tub with a toiletries organizer. Oxo's Bathtub Corner Shelf ($6, oxo.com) is a plastic triangle that suctions to a bathtub's corner (and can go right in the dishwasher).

Hang towels where you need them with stylish metal-look adhesive hooks, like the Command line by 3M (from about $6).

Expand elbow room: Install a curved shower-curtain rod. A double-rod style like Polder's ($45 and $50, polder.com) lets you dry towels or hand-washables out of sight.

Little changes, big impact

Swap out the toilet seat. Having a pristine seat in place is just...nice (and inexpensive, too — as little as $15). Unbolt the old one from the rear of the bowl and attach a new one; some have nuts that can be tightened with your fingers.

Replace your showerhead. WaterSense-labeled ones, as in the multi-spray Moen Nurture line ($29 to $39, lowes.com), could save your home 2,300 gallons of water a year. To replace: unscrew the old showerhead (you may need pliers or a pipe wrench), remove the plumber's tape, apply new tape (available at hardware stores) to the threads, and twist on the new showerhead. Done!

Re-caulk the tub or sink. Discolored caulk makes a bathroom look dirty even when it's not. Remove the old caulk with a scraper (with any luck, it'll peel right off), then wash and dry surfaces. Mind your "45s": Snip the tube's tip at a 45-degree angle, then apply to seams at a 45-degree angle. GE Silicone II Kitchen and Bath caulk ($6, caulk yourhome.com) sets in three hours and has a five-year no-mold guarantee.

Ambitious, but still easy

Put down a new floor. It's easier than you'd think. Armstrong self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles (starting at $1 a square foot, armstrong.com) can be cut to fit with a utility knife. Peel off the backing and stick right atop the existing floor (linoleum, tiles, etc.). Tip: A faux-stone pattern like granite is almost foolproof — geometric styles can be tricky to align.

Dress up the mirror. Add a frame from MirrorMate ($135 to $235, mirrormate.com). Unlike others, these are precut and have adhesive backing so they'll stick around your existing mirror. Or, if you have a medicine cabinet, consider replacing it. Robern makes handsome cabinets that are mirrored inside and out ($190 to $468, robern.com).

Not a handy-woman?

Leave the tools in the box and try one of these chic, simple trade-ups:

• A NEW SHOWER CURTAIN
The vivid stripes of Kate Spade's latest ($40, Bed Bath & Beyond) add a splash of color to a neutral space. Not so bold? The graphic-yet-subtle patterns of West Elm's spring styles ($40 each, West Elm) are eye-catching, but not overwhelming.

• LUXE TOWELS
Who doesn't love to cuddle up in a fresh set? Pottery Barn's plush Hydro Cotton ($6 to $19, Pottery Barn) shrank little in GHRI tests and can be monogrammed. Swank!

• A FRESH BATH MAT
For secure footing — and a spa-like look — splurge on a wooden mat, like a teak one ($69, VivaTerra). Prefer a softer style? Pick a cotton mat (it'll be superabsorbent) that's machine-washable and reversible so you can clean it less often.

Your home is your single biggest purchase and the things inside it, probably number two. So when it comes to insurance, making sure your home and possessions are protected is important. Here are ten things you need to know.

1. What if my house burns down?

The cost to rebuild your home plays a big role in determining the amount you pay for home insurance. Insurance companies use a formula to figure that out, but since there are several industry approved calculation methods the cost may differ from one insurer to the next. Ask your broker or agent to explain which method they use and the assumptions.

2. Do I have replacement cost coverage?

The number the company comes up with in Step 1 is what it will pay to rebuild your home. The amount increases over time, but there is a possibility it isn’t keeping pace with increases in the cost of labour and materials.

Check with your broker or agent to see if you have guaranteed replacement coverage. This ensures you will receive the amount that it actually costs to replace your home and not the amount on your policy. Not all policies have this coverage and rules vary across insurance companies.

3. Do I have sewer back-up coverage?

It may come as a surprise that not all insurance policies include coverage for damages from sewer back-up into your home. If you are unsure, speak to your broker or agent.

4. Policy special limits

Most policies set a maximum they will pay to cover certain items including jewelry, tools, furs and bicycles. These limits can vary from one insurance company to another. If you have expensive items you wish to protect, make sure the policy has sufficient coverage for your needs. You can also increase the amount of insurance for these items separately, if needed. And if you are shopping around, ensure you include this coverage for an apples-to-apples comparison of rates.

5. What type of policy do I need?

Broadly speaking, there are three types of policy: a Comprehensive Policy, a Broad Policy and a Fire Policy. The first type provides full coverage, the second average coverage and the last provides only basic coverage. The names of these policies offered will vary from one insurance company to another, so be sure to ask to better understand what you are buying.

6. Ask for discounts

Some insurers offer discounts for such things as being mortgage-free and for being a non-smoking household. There may also be something if you have an alarm system, are claims-free or bring all your insurance policies under one roof.

7. What happens if I make a claim?

If you were to make a claim you could lose your claims-free discount. For that reason you want to consider the impact on your rates before proceeding with a claim and better understand how your policy works before you purchase home insurance. Also be sure to consider your out-pocket costs related to any claim such as your deductible.

8. I’m a renter. Do I need insurance?

Even if you are only renting your home, you should consider a tenant’s policy. This protects your possessions (TV, computer furniture, sporting goods, jewelry, etc.) and ensures you are covered in the event of damage to your apartment, a neighbour’s, or someone injures themselves while on your property.

9. Older homes

There are a few key areas an insurance company looks at to assess risk before insuring your home including wiring, galvanized or lead pipes, electrical service, heat source, wood stoves, and the age of your roof. Most prefer that you not have knob and tube or aluminum wiring. Galvanized or lead pipes generally indicate the age of the home and most companies prefer that you have this updated to copper or plastic. They also typically prefer that you have breakers instead of fuses with 100-amp service at minimum.

Improperly maintained wood stoves are a common cause of house fires and your insurance company may request a full inspection should you have one. Generally speaking, insurance companies prefer that your roof has been updated within the last 20 years.

10. Optional coverage

Depending on where your home is located you may want additional coverage. For example, if you live in an earthquake-prone region you may want to consider earthquake coverage, which is not normally included in standard policies. Another example is sewer back-up coverage which may be particularly desirable should your home be located in a low-lying area that is susceptible to sewer back-ups.

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/848353--home-insurance-10-things-you-need-to-know

For the first time in more than a decade the GTA condo market is showing signs of slowing down. Bad news for those trying to sell their unit perhaps, but great news for renters.

There so many new units coming on stream, prices are softening. Many owners who bought them as investments may have no choice but to rent them out rather than sell. This means plenty of choice, room to bargain and better prices if you want to rent.

In Toronto in June there were 13 per cent fewer condominiums sold than in June 2011. There are rumours that some projects may be put on hold. In many buildings, there are multiple units for sale and they have been unsold for more than 30-60 days, almost unheard of during the first three months of the year. Some blame the slowdown on the double land transfer taxes payable in the city of Toronto. Still, because interest rates should continue to remain at historic lows for the balance of the year, there should not be any major reduction in overall selling prices.

Here are some ways you can get a better deal if you are renting.

Ask if a parking spot is included in your rent. Many downtown condos do not have them.

Make sure that you insert a cap on the maximum a landlord can increase your rent in any year, for example 2 to 3 per cent. Rent review does not apply to condominiums, or any other apartment unit or home built after November 1, 1991.

Do not agree to pay any security or damage deposits except for last month’s rent. These are illegal in Ontario.

Do not pay any deposits for keys or other entry cards unless they are refundable at the end of your lease.

Include a right to renew the lease for an additional year, at your option. This way, landlords cannot take the unit back for their own family use at the end of the first year.

Get contents insurance to protect your contents should something like water damage occur. Otherwise, you will not be compensated for this.

If you are asked to pay for utilities, ask for copies of prior bills to make sure you understand how much this may cost you going forward.

Visit the building during different times of the day. See how long it takes to get an elevator and how many people are using the swimming pool.

Make sure you are familiar with all the condominium rules before you rent. A swimming pool may not be suitable for you if you cannot swim before 7 a.m. If the declaration says no pets, then you can’t bring a pet onto the premises.

Landlords should still not be in too much of a hurry or panic before renting out their units. They still need to conduct the proper credit and background checks to make sure the rent is always paid in a timely manner, and that tenants take proper care of the rental unit.

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1228288--real-estate-advice-toronto-condo-market-gives-renters-plenty-of-choice-and-better-prices

When it comes to brain chow, blueberries, spinach, and omega-3-rich foods get all the cred. But did you know there are a host of other brain-boosting bites—many of which you probably already eat—that can safeguard your grey and white matter against disease?

Case in point: Antioxidants in onions may protect the brain from stroke-inducing damage, according to a brand new study in the journal Nutrition. Read on for more about onion’s cerebral benefits, plus four other items that can help you keep your dome sharp. (And for more mind-enriching tips, follow these 27 Ways to Power Up Your Brain.)

Onions
In the study, researchers fed some mice a regular diet and gave others a diet supplemented with an onion extract. When they induced stroke in all the animals, the onion-fed critters suffered significantly less brain damage. The reason: Antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase and glutathione peroxidase, in onions may block the formation of reactive oxygen species—compounds that damage the protective blood-brain barrier during a stroke.

Eggs
Choline, a nutrient found in eggs, chicken, and kidney beans, may protect your brain as you age, reports a study published last year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the nearly 1,400 adults studied, researchers found that those with the highest choline intake performed better on memory tests and were less likely to have markers of blood vessel disease in the brain that could contribute to dementia. Choline is needed to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which may play a role in memory and brain health. The recommended amount of choline for men is 550 mg per day—about the amount in five hard-boiled eggs. (Sick of your boring old morning scramble? Check out these Easy New Egg Recipes.)

Coffee
Order your java fully loaded: Caffeinated coffee might help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers at the University of South Florida. In a study, scientists gave mice that were bred to develop Alzheimer’s disease either caffeinated coffee, decaf, or straight caffeine. They found that the regular coffee increased the levels of a brain-boosting hormone (granulocyte colony stimulating factor), which reduced symptoms of the disease. The hormone spurs the production of new neurons and creates connections between existing ones, researchers found. The key to reaping the benefits is the amount of coffee you take in: You’ll need about four cups of drip coffee each day spread out until about 4 p.m. (Later than that, and it could keep you from falling asleep.)

Citrus
Make it your main squeeze: People who ate two or more servings a day over 14 years had a 10 percent lower stroke risk compared with those who ate fewer than two servings a day, reports a 2012 study in Stroke. Credit a certain compounds found in oranges and grapefruits called flavones. The chemicals may improve the function of blood vessels and have anti-inflammatory effects that could reduce the risk for strokes due to blood clots. Reach for whole fruits—juices are often packed with sugar.

Red Wine
Compounds in grape seeds may help fight Alzheimer’s disease, a 2011 study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reports. Researchers found that grape-seed extract significantly reduced levels of proteins that contributed to the development of the disease in mice predisposed to develop memory problems. Red wine also includes the compound, so ahead and enjoy a glass with dinner. Need suggestions? Here are the 10 Best Wines for Under $15.

http://news.menshealth.com/5-new-brain-foods/2012/07/17/

In August, my husband and I will pack the car with suitcases, snacks, toys and movies for the kids, and drive to our annual family reunion. The river tubing, berry-and-mushroom picking, reminiscing and general relaxing that awaits makes the nine hours trapped in the car with two restless toddlers worth it, but the drive there is long and painful.

All of the recent warm weather and sunshine in Toronto has happily meant all windows open at my place lately. The downside is that it's become all too apparent that my windows have accumulated a lot of grime over the winter and are downright embarrassing. When I tried my usual routine of spray cleaner and paper towels, it didn't work and left streak marks instead. So I started looking for tips on how to get crystal clear glass. Here are a few of the best tips I found:

1. Forget the glass cleaner with paper towel routine. To breakdown any built-up film on really dirty windows always start by giving them a good scrub with a sponge and a simple mixture of water and dish soap.

2. While vinegar and water is a popular alternative to harsher chemicals, many people find that it can leave windows with streak marks. You can avoid this by adding a dash of basic dishwashing detergent to your solution. Use 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/2 tsp of dishwashing detergent. For squeaky clean results, the less suds the better.

3. The best way to wash windows is to start at the top and work your way downwards in an 'S' pattern. Then, wipe off any excess water with a squeegee or a microfibre cloth.

4. Wash your windows on an overcast day. Direct sunlight can often dry the windows too quickly, resulting in streaks on the glass.

5. Wash your windows twice a year to keep your home looking its best.

Now just might be the time to buy that vacation dream home south of 49.

The loonie is still within sight of par, taking the bite out of the currency transaction. Add to that glimmers of hope for a turnaround in the killing field of U.S. real estate, where the average house price dropped 34 per cent from its peak in 2006, and you have a situation that may not come around again for many years, if ever.

Americans still feel pretty grim about their economy, spending and income. June marked the fourth month in a row that consumer confidence has fallen, according to the U.S. Conference Board. Despite that, house prices are not only firming up but rising in 19 of the 20 cities that comprise the S&P/Case-Shiller composite index. The index gained (jumped said many market watchers) 1.3 per cent in April, the most recently reported month.

Canadians have become accustomed to a real estate market that has been attached to a balloon. A monthly gain of 1.3 per cent doesn’t even seem worth talking about. However, what it may signal in the U.S. is not so much a market poised to boom but one that is no longer bust.

“The key point here is that the price collapse is over, and potential homebuyers need not be put off now by the prospect of big capital loss,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at High Frequency Economics in a note to clients that was reported by MarketWatch’s Washington bureau chief Steve Goldstein.

Canadians are attracted to the south and winter escape states such as Florida, Arizona, Nevada and California — among the hardest hit during the Great Recession. The major cities in all states posted gains led by Phoenix where prices rose 2.5 per cent in April and 8.6 since April 2011. (There have even been bidding wars on some Phoenix properties.)

Before you get out your chequebook, pause and consider these six tips for buying U.S. property.

1. Don’t rush The market may well have bottomed out but there are foreclosures galore clogging up the system. Depending on how they hit the market they can have a big impact on house prices. Also, many areas are still in the negative over the past 12 months. In the foreclosure capital of Las Vegas, prices inched up in April but are still down nearly 6 per cent compared to last year.

2. Rent first Unless you vacation frequently where you want to buy, try renting. A hotel stay doesn’t give you the same feel for a city or community as living in a condo or house. Also neighbours are great sources of information. For instance, when Winnipeggers Charlaine and Jason Horne zeroed in on dirt-cheap Spring Hill, 45 minutes north of Tampa, they rented for two weeks. “We were looking at nice 3 bedroom ranchers with pools going for $60,000. Then I heard about all the sinkholes in the area from a neighbour. We’re thinking about something closer to Orlando now.”

3. Run the numbers Many Canadians finance U.S. home purchases with a home equity line of credit. Ensure you can afford the payments based on higher interest rates that will likely come sometime before 2014. And while you’re at it put together a budget for your expenses in the U.S. Can you handle the costs if the dollar drops to 90 cents against the greenback? In the past six years alone the loonie has ranged between 62 cents and $1.07 vis a vis the U.S. dollar.

4. Get tax advice This is important if you intend to buy a vacation rental. Over the last couple of years the IRS has ramped up its interest in foreigners who earn income but don’t submit tax returns. There are many accountants who specialize in tax advice for Canadians with U.S. investments and income.

5. Check the HOA Homeowners associations across America are struggling because condo fees are in arrears. You may get a great deal but be saddled with unexpected costs as solvent owners are tapped for money for maintenance and repairs.

6. Check the title Title companies take care of closing real estate deals in the States but aren’t required to disclose existing liens. But if you ask they must tell you. You can also use a lawyer, as is the practice in Canada. Even so, ask the question.

No one believes that the U.S. housing market is down for good, but recovery will be very uneven and slow. Don’t plan on making a quick buck and prepare for doing far more research and asking many more questions than you would if buying in Canada.

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1218558--u-s-real-estate-it-might-be-time-to-invest