Storm Watch!

Hurricane Irene Preparation:

With the possibility of a hurricane (or tropical storm) making landfall this Sunday and/or Monday I thought it would be a good idea to address some issues that may arise with your pool and hot tub. The easiest and most efficient way to deal with hurricane damage is of course to prevent it from happening in the first place, and by preparing your pool and/or spa for such an eventuality you can protect your investment and save yourself a few headaches in the process.

                The most common damage that occurs in hurricane conditions is from high winds (those of you who suffered during the wind storm earlier this year know this all too well.) Strong Winds not only put strain on pool walls, but also turn any object on your deck, patio or lawn into a possible projectile. This leads me to my first point; remove all objects not bolted down (or heavy enough to withstand high winds) away from your pool or spa. Patio furniture, solar rollers, patio umbrellas and pool/spa accessories are some of the more common objects that should be moved or secured prior to any high wind situation. Secondly, the best way to prevent objects from entering your spa is to firmly secure the straps holding your cover. Hot tub covers that are not secured properly can be lifted away, or damage cover-lifters and even the sides of the tub itself.

                Power outages can also cause you some grief with both pools and spas. If the power should go out for any prolonged period of time (24 hours or more) it’s a good idea to give your pool and spa a shock when the power comes back on as the filtration and circulation of both pools and spas depends on power going to various pumps. Pool pumps are easily reset by flipping the tripped breaker or turning the pump switch back on. In the case of a spa, tripping the breaker and other interruptions to power will cause the spas’ controls to reset back to the default setting. Those customers who own a Beachcomber spa, the default setting is the standard mode or ST on the control panel and most customers will normally operate their tub using this mode. If you have your spa set on economy mode EC, or sleep mode SL you will need to change it back after a power outage by hitting the key that looks like 3 side-by-side up and down arrows, then the key that looks like a sun until you reach the desired setting.

                Lastly we come to rain, something we are far too familiar with this season. Rain fall is a normal part of our pool routine here in the Maritimes and isn’t hard to deal with. In the case of heavy rainfall, the biggest concerns to our customers are throwing off the water balance of the pool and overflowing. If you currently have the water level in your pool up to the maximum line (or ¾ up the skimmer) it may be a good idea to drain the water level down a few inches prior to the storm to prevent overflowing or flooding. Please remember however, the water level in your pool must be around ½ ways up the skimmer in order for the pump to properly function and not run dry. The rains effect on the water balance is measured by the amount of rainfall we get, so if we do get hit with a lot of rain it may be a good idea to bring in a 1 L. water sample to check the balance. 

Remember call with any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you out!

-Craig McNutt

Holland Home Leisure

Belize It or Not!

When I met my husband Ricky he was telling me about himself and how he was born in Belize. I had no idea this country even existed or where it was.  I had to have him explain it to me and then I needed a visual of its location because lets face it he didn’t marry me for my geographical knowledge. Belize shares a border with Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea.  He was born and lived there until he was eleven at which point his family moved to Canada.

 I can tell you from first hand experience just how beautiful Belize actually is. We went there for two weeks on our honeymoon. The biggest decision we had each day was what we would have for dinner! I know what you are thinking deciding what you want for dinner isn’t really that difficult, but when you are faced with choices like fresh red snapper from the sea or chicken enchiladas it becomes harder than you think. So what did we do? Obviously he ordered one and I ordered the other and then we ate from each others plates. I know that sounds like something newlyweds do but almost five years later we still do it!

Beautiful beaches aren’t the only thing that Belize has going for it. It has a fascinating history including incredible Mayan civilizations. The famous Blue Hole is a huge attraction. The architecture is a mixture of different styles that reflect different phases of its history. Music is a key part of Belizean life and of course the food! All of this plus the fact the official language is English makes it a tourist’s dream come true.

Oh the food…….glorious Belizean food! You have not tasted anything until you have tasted Belizean BBQ chicken or Disco with homemade flour tortillas. So here are the recipes and method of cooking for some of the most delicious food you will ever have! In fact I bet your mouth will have died and gone to Belize!

So the key spice in these recipes is Recado, however you cannot purchase it in Canada that I am aware of, but you can make it from scratch! The following are recipes for Belizean BBQ Chicken, Disco, Flour Tortillas, and Ice Tea. Let’s be honest no cookout is complete without homemade ice tea!

Recado

1.5 Tbsp. Achiote Seeds

½ Tbsp. Coriander Seeds

½ Tbsp. Black Peppercorns

½ Tsp. Cumin Seeds

3 Whole Cloves

2 Tsp. Dried Oregano

5 Gloves Garlic

1 Tsp. Salt

1-2 Tbsp. White Wine Vinegar

Preparation Instructions

1. Grind the first 6 ingredients to a powder in an electric spice mill. Achiote seeds are very hard, so it will take a little time. Crush the garlic with the salt in a mortar, and then gradually work in the ground spices. A hot red chili pepper could be added; crush it with the garlic. Moisten with the vinegar or bitter orange juice so that you have a smooth paste.
2. Form the paste into small disks or balls and let them dry, or put the paste into an airtight container to dry. Whether dried, or as a paste, the recado will keep for several months if refrigerated. 3.
3.  If you don't have an electric spice mill, a regular coffee grinder works well. However, it's hard to get the spice flavor completely cleaned out, and you may decide to keep one for spices and a different one for coffee beans.

Flour Tortillas

2 Cups Flour

1 Tsp. Baking Powder

2 Tbsp. Lard

1 Tsp. Salt

 Water

Instructions

1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix lard with dry ingredients - This works best if done by hand. Mix water in to create dough.
2. Dough will be sticky in the beginning. Knead dough thoroughly, rip it apart periodically, and then ball it back up again.  Separate dough into golf sized balls and place in a lasagna pan. For best results refrigerate overnight.
3. Spread lard onto countertop and place a ball in the centre, rub lard onto your hands, and use your fingers & hands to spread dough out. Spread it as far as possible without making holes and make sure the thickness is consistent. Place tortilla into hot non-stick frying pan. Rotate in frying pan until cooked – no longer doughy. To keep tortillas warm wrap plate with tea towel.

Disco – Approximately 10 Servings

This dish is cooked outside on an open fire in a metal bowl that sits on a stand in the fire.

4lbs. Ground Beef

1 Cup of Ginger ale, Sprite, or 7 Up

2 Cups diced tomatoes

Tomato Juice

1 Cup diced sweet peppers

1 Cup diced onions

1.5 Tbsp. Recado

Tex Mex

Season Salt

¼ Cup White Vinegar

Instructions

Begin cooking beef in the Ginger ale, Sprite, or 7 Up and a dash of tomato juice. Allow beef to cook for 5 – 10 minutes before adding spices and vegetables.  If Recado is in a dry ball form mix it into ¼ cup of vinegar with Tex Mex and Season Salt. The more flavor you want the more Tex Mex and Season Salt you should add. If recado is in a paste add the spices until you reach the desired flavor. Add vegetables and spices to beef.  Add tomato juice as needed to keep from drying out. Continue to cook until the beef is thoroughly cooked. Mixture should not be too wet. Serve with flour tortillas.

Belizean BBQ Chicken – 8 Servings

This dish is cooked outside on an open fire on a rack that sits in the fire.

8 Pieces of chicken

2 Tbsp. Recado

Season Salt

BBQ Sauce

¼ Cup White Vinegar

Instructions

Mix recado in vinegar with season salt. Rub mixture onto chicken. Place chicken on rack to begin cooking. Flip chicken to ensure even cooking. Add BBQ sauce during the last 2 minutes of cooking for extra flavor. Do not add it before this time or it will completely burn! Serve with flour tortillas.

Homemade Ice Tea

6 Orange Pekoe tea bags

2 Cups Sugar

Ice

2 Cups Boiled Water

Cold Water

Instructions

In a juice jug place the tea bags and add the boiled water. Place lid on jug and allow to steep for 5-10 minutes. The longer it steeps of course the stronger the tea. Add the sugar and mix thoroughly. Add cold water and lots of ice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

-Megan Banman

Aylesford Assistant Store Manager

A big Thank You to Megan!! Sounds Delish!

Proud to be a Member!

The HHL staff enjoyed an early morning gathering this past Sunday, which is our regular day off! We all met at the New Minas store at 8:00am sharp and no one was in poor spirits. Everyone was chipper, smiling and ready to raise money for a great cause. Staff members, husbands, fiancés and their children all working together and laughing together! What a great sight to see! Everyone dressed casually in their Splash for CF shirts, working together with a positive attitude.

We had a great team pull this together and I would love to share a big special thank you to some key organizers! First off, Cathy, thank you so much for your organization of this event. Everything went smoothly and we couldn’t have asked for a better leader! Also, a thank you to her husband Mike, who was with us all day working as hard as everyone else! Cathy had a team of some wonderful helpers as well, so thank you to Katie and Jessica who assisted in the planning! Katie and her fiancé Nic, and Jessica, along with her husband Leigham and daughter Elizabeth, also spent the whole day working hard! These 3 ladies also brought in huge amounts of items to be donated to the CF tables! WOW!

Mike and Debby vandenHof also spent the entire day helping and selling! A big thank you to you both, and I’m sure Cathy enjoyed “bossing” you around for the day!! Jenn and her son Gabriel sold raffle tickets all day and did a wonderful job! Big thank you to both of you! Kristi and Megan also were there pitching in for the day and the extra hands were appreciated! My husband Sebastian and I had a wonderful time renting our own table and helping where needed. On the way home, we both agreed that the event could not have gone better!

Congratulations to all HHL staff for a job well done, and thank you to all of those who rented tables, donated items and came to shop!!

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Fun Facts about MIKE!

So, it is slightly intimidating to write a Blog about your boss, but luckily for me I do have more of an inside scoop than your average employee. He is Mike here at work (my mother still finds it odd to hear me say that out loud) but during time off he is “Dad” or more commonly these days “Papa”.

Our “Head Cheese” is our In-Ground pool guru. Mike makes it his job to remember his customers every detail. Most likely if he helped you create your dream backyard, he knows the size and shape of your pool, as well as where you live and the color of your house (he tends to not forget facts such as these).

For those of you who have read his three decades of HHL Blogs, you know how he has grown Holland Home Leisure from the ground up. He is known for putting customer satisfaction and product quality at the top of his priorities, and because of that he is well respected in the industry among his peers. We can all see why!

Some of Mike’s quirks (those of which I can share with the world): His glasses come on and off of his face approximately 623 times a day (give or take a few), they are usually being bent into abnormal shapes and flung around in a carefree way (more so when deep in thought). He is extremely sarcastic and the majority of the money in the sarcasm jar comes from him! He now has the satisfaction of giving to charity, which I believe encourages his sarcastic comments.

Mike’s top sayings that you won’t go a day without hearing at HHL are as follows: “Excellent” (usually for a job well done, but also can be a purely sarcastic remark), “the reality of it is” (this is “serious” Mike talking) and “well there you go” (that is one of our favorites).

“Well, I have known Mike for close to 18 years now and I must say, he hasn’t changed a bit.  Mike has always been a pleasure to deal with from a business perspective and over time we have become good friends as well. Mike is the kind of guy that if you ever needed anything, he would be there for you which is just one of the many attributes I admire him for.” Mike Godfrey, BioLab Canada

Godfrey also adds at the bottom of his email “Now by saying all this nice stuff about Mike, do I get a bottle of wine from the ‘special section’ in the vandenHof wine cellar?”

Mike is easily distracted with conversations revolving around food and wine, and if you were to ask him which restaurant you should go to while staying in the city you are guaranteed a 30 minute break from work! (Why is it in the valley people refer to the city like it’s the only one? I mean Halifax for you out-of-towners)! We love his enthusiasm and easy going attitude, his ability to crack a joke or tell a good story, but above all his constant drive in the work place. Mike has learned to embrace change and that is one of the qualities I personally admire, and he is well aware of what is necessary to guide his staff and ensure quality customer service.

We appreciate his hard work and providing us with a wonderful working environment! Thanks Mike "Dad" vandenHof

-Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Backyard and Pool Safety!

Pools can be the center of fun in the summer months, but can also cause stress to parents of young ones. Here are some simple tips to help make your backyard oasis safe!

Fence your pool on all four sides with a five foot fence (whether or not your county bi-laws require it).

The fence should be equipped with a self locking gate, with the latch high enough to be out of reach of little hands.

Do not place patio furniture close to the outside of the pool fence. Kids are known to climb and will use this as a boost to get over the fence and into the pool area.

Infants and toddlers (under the age of 4) should be wearing a life jacket and not inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties”. They should always be within arms length of a supervising adult, this is called touch supervision. Even if the child has participated in swimming lessons they should not be left alone in the pool.

All doors and windows leading to the pool area should be locked and secure to avoid little ones escaping to the backyard unnoticed. Keep pool toys packed away when not in use to make the backyard less tempting!

Keep rescue items and a telephone close by when the pool is in use. Every family should also have a 1^st aid kit close by to the pool! Taking a course on CPR is also beneficial for parents and guardians.

Remember to keep yourself and your family safe from the sun as well as the water! Ask your family doctor which SPF is recommended for each member of your family. Most doctors also believe infants younger than 6 months of age should stay completely out of the sun, and always be kept in the shade when outdoors! Remember to coat on the sunscreen even on cloudy days!

Remember to stay hydrated and keep a cooler full of drinks close by! Monitor how much children are drinking when outdoors, sometimes there is just too much fun going on to remember!

Make sure your family is familiar with your Pool Rules, and make sure your guests follow them as well. Sticking to the rules daily and having a system in place when rules are avoided! Make sure babysitters are also comfortable supervising the pool and aware of any rules in place that you may have.

Ask in the store for details on different safety devises we have available, such as gate alarms, to help make pool safety easier!

HAVE FUN!

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Sauna Low Down!

So whenever I tell anyone that I work at Holland Home Leisure, they usually reply with “ohhh, that’s the pool store right?” or “I know someone who got a hot tub there” and then of course there’s always the “can you get me a good deal?”. It seems that almost everyone knows about pools and hot tubs, and the benefits of owning them! There is a real interest in creating that backyard oasis that can be fun, refreshing, and beneficial to your health.

Not everyone knows that Holland Home Leisure also sells the perfect item for your INDOOR oasis! Infrared Saunas have been steadily increasing in popularity since they were introduced to our leisure line-up in 2007. Aside from being a great way to break that chill you can’t seem to warm up from, these indoor saunas also have HUGE health benefits associated with them!

Benefit #1: DETOXIFICATION
Toxins such as sodium, alcohol, nicotine, cholesterol and carcinogenic heavy metals (lead, zinc, nickel) accumulate in the body during modern daily life. The body eliminates most toxins naturally by sweating. A quick session in your infrared sauna can stimulate the sweat glands that cleanse and detoxify the skin. The heat simply speeds up the body's natural process.

Benefit #2: PAIN RELIEF
Heat relieves pain by expanding blood vessels and increasing circulation. Better circulation allows more oxygen to reach injured areas of the body and helps reduce pain and speed up the healing process.

Benefit #3: WEIGHT CONTROLPerspiring is part of the complex thermoregulatory process of the body that increases the heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. The process requires a large amount of energy and reduces excess moisture, salt and subcutaneous fat. Fat becomes water-soluble and the body sweats out fats and toxins.

Benefit #4: EXERCISE

REALLY?

I can exercise just by sitting on my bum, listening to some tunes in a little room?

During a 10-20 minute sauna session, your heart rate increases by 50-75%. This provides the same metabolic result as physical exercise. The increased cardiac load is the equivalent to a brisk walk. AWESOME!

Benefit #5: REDUCE STRESS
Heat therapy loosens the muscles and relaxes the body. Many massage therapists use heat to provide more thorough and effective treatment. Who doesn’t need a good stress reliever in their life!

Holland Home Leisure has saunas of various shapes and sizes, for the person who wants to sweat it out alone, and also for those who like to detoxify in the company of family or friends! Our saunas also offer some great bonus features, such as light therapy and built in radio/CD players!

Why not stop in and check them out, and if you ask REALLY nicely, we’ll even heat one up for you so you can see what all the fuss is about J

-Katie McLean

Q&A with an Industry Expert!

I was lucky enough to sit down with Mike Godfrey, the Director of Sales of Bio-Lab Canada. Technically I was sitting at my desk in New Minas, Nova Scotia and he was sitting at his in Toronto, Ontario, but with his great people skills and personality he had me laughing and smiling over speaker phone.

I had emailed Mr. Godfrey (Too many Mike’s to call him Mike) recently, presenting him with the idea of doing a Question and Answer session on some key pool and hot tub questions that I hear everyday. Who better to answer these questions than an industry expert! Mr. Godfrey started off with Bio-Lab Canada in 1994 (“wow, I’m getting old” he says) and now is in the position of Director of Sales. 

Here are some notes on our conversation:

1. What do you think are the most common mistakes new pool owners make, and what are some great pointers on maintaining great water?

The most common mistakes pool owners make are as follows:

·        Not paying enough attention to water balance

·        Not keeping the skimmer basket and pump basket clean from debris

·        Not backwashing at all or backwashing too much

·        Not brushing the walls of the pool.

2. Mike we are often asked about Salt Water in Hot Tubs, what is your opinion?

I’m not a huge fan on running a salt system on a hot tub. The main reason for this has to do with pH. It is very common for the pH in a hot tub to rise due to aeration (jets) and high temperatures.  By using a salt system on top of everything you are perpetuating the problem as a salt system in itself tends to cause an increase in the pH level.

With a combination of high pH and warm water in a hot tub, scale is much more likely to form which can negatively affect your heater element and also if the cell from the salt system gets scale on it then you lose the ability to sanitize the water.

3. Do you think people are becoming more cautious of what they are adding to their pool or hot tub, and what is BioGuard doing to stay ahead of the game?

Absolutely, whether it is products being added to the pool, hot tub or used around the home consumers are much more aware of what they are using.

BioGuard’s commitment is to produce quality products that perform at the highest level and provide pool & spa owners with great results.

With our responsible approach to water care we have developed such products as SYNERGY, Smart Sticks, Smart Shock, Brominating Concentrate and Spa Lite to name a few that are both multi-functional and concentrated. These types of products allow consumers to use less while achieving consistent proven results.

4.What about the “magic” one step products that seem to now be available everywhere?

I always caution people that you will see devices and products pop up out of no where making bold claims such as ‘just plug it in turn it on and your pool or spa will be perfect’ These types of claims seem to be too good to be true…and they are just that, too good to be true.

By following the ‘5 keys to basic pool/spa care’ and working with the educated team at Holland Home Leisure you can get the results you want.

5. So what are these 5 steps Mike? Refresh my Pool School Memory!

CIRCULATION
Pool water must be circulated for maximum sanitizer effectiveness. The more your water is in motion, the harder it is for bacteria and algae to take hold. Debris is captured by your filter, too. The best time to circulate the water is during the day, for 10 hours or more, ideally 24 hours!

FILTRATION
The filter is one of your most important pieces of equipment. It removes both visible debris and most microscopic matter. Generally, a filter should be backwashed (the removal of material trapped on or in the filter media) when the water pressure in the filter reaches 8 to 10 psi above normal. (Check manufacturer's guidelines.) Because backwashing does not remove oils and deeply embedded debris, every filter needs to be chemically cleaned regularly. Your BioGuard Dealer can help you establish a filter maintenance program.

CLEANING
Some swimming pools have areas with little or no circulation. This is where algae and bacteria can begin to grow. At least once a week, the walls and floor should be brushed and vacuumed to remove debris that the filter misses. Brushing is a must, even if you use an automatic pool cleaner or retain a weekly service.

TESTING
Every pool has characteristics that must be regularly measured and adjusted. Most important are the pH and the level of active sanitizer. By testing these two factors at regular intervals, you'll understand how bather load, weather and product application affect the water. Test your pool water two or three times per week. Also, take a sample to your BioGuard Dealer when you open and close your pool, and every four weeks during the season. This will help you maintain proper water balance and greatly reduce the potential for problems.

CHEMISTRY
The last step in a total pool maintenance program is applying the right products to your pool water at the right time.

This will help you:

Provide a sanitary swimming environment.

Balance the water to protect the equipment and pool surfaces

Unbalanced water can permanently damage both.

Provide brilliant, sparkling water that's inviting.

6.I'm curious, how are the Splash for CF fundraisers going this year? What are your 2011 goals?

The Splash for CF campaign which is a program geared at raising money and awareness to fight Cystic Fibrosis is going very well. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults.

Through various events our goal is to raise $50,000 this year through the BioGuard network of Dealers across Canada. It has been a pleasure to work with the staff at Cystic Fibrosis of Canada and our BioGuard Dealers like Holland Home Leisure towards achieving this goal for 2011.

WOW, $50,000 is a great goal, and all of us here at HHL feel like it’s a great cause Mike, which we are happy to help support!

Thank you so much Mr. Godfrey for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and Blog with me, it is greatly appreciated!

Yes, this is our trusted chemistry expert! Very excited to have a piece of our 30th Anniversary Cake!

Until next time,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Strange Home Beauty Remedies

So, I've been asked to share some home beauty remidies. You asked for it and you got it!

Have you ever seen the slightly off the wall lady on the Ellen show who is always mixing up home beauty treatments, and covering herself in them on TV? She is actually full of some pretty great ideas for making you bathing suit ready with items you have at home or can pick up at the grocery store (Kym Douglas is her name, Google her)!

Here are some of my favorites:

Almond Peach Edible Face Mask- Perfect for freshening summer skin!

½ cucumber

1 tbsp plain yogurt

½ cup sliced peaches

1 tbsp almonds

1 tbsp honey

Blend all together and cover face for 15-20 minutes, wash off with a damp warm cloth.

Has the summer heat taken a toll on your hair, leaving it dry? Have you thought of syrup for your dry ends?

Massage ½ cup of syrup (regular old syrup) into the scalp and ends and then cover your head in plastic wrap for 25 minutes to seal in the moisture. Much less expensive then the hair masks available out there!

Alright, so I have kept it pretty tame so far, I know, boring! Now, when I think of summer beauty I think of exposing those slightly pale areas that stay hidden all winter, and because they are pale I feel like they are illuminating their flaws! What happened to the knee to chin bodysuit style bathing suits anyway?

Looking to firm your chest? Who isn’t? So, if you are looking to forgo walking to the drugstore counter with breast firming cream (although I do love making awkward eye contact with the 15 year old boy who is ringing me in blushing and smiling equally as awkwardly back at me) I’ve got you covered!

1 tsp of vitamin E oil

1 tbs of plain yogurt

1 tbs honey

1 egg

Massage and cover (your chest region) and then cover up with an old bra for 25 minutes.

I would also recommend showering afterwards!

Need a bum lift? No problem!

Take any face firming mask you have at home already, and mix a small amount with a small amount of this mornings left over coffee grinds. The caffeine gives you a lift and the firming mask does just that firms!

Remember, after you have a nice cup of tea ring out the tea bag and let it cool to place on your dark under eye circles, you’ll be a new woman (or man)!

Hit the pool or the beach with confidence this summer (just remember to wash the coffee grinds off your bum first)!

Enjoy and have fun!

Talk soon,
Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer