IS A FIXER-UPPER RIGHT FOR YOU?

 Buying a fixer-upper can be a great way to get in on a hot market at a lower price.

MAKE MANAGING ECZEMA EASIER

 

(Family Features) More than 30 million Americans, including nearly 10 million children, have eczema, the umbrella term for a group of noncontagious, inflammatory and painful skin conditions marked by an itchy, rash-like appearance. Because one of the most challenging aspects of eczema can be its unpredictability, the National Eczema Association (NEA), designed an app to help people and parents easily track what’s important and make sense of it.

The app, called EczemaWise, aims to revolutionize how people living with the condition manage it with a faster, more efficient tracking system that helps uncover trends and makes preparing for doctors’ appointments easier.

People with eczema tend to have an overreactive immune system that produces inflammation on the skin when triggered by a substance outside or inside the body, such as food or pollen, along with factors like stress and sleep. Experts say tracking and recording symptoms and possible triggers is key to managing the condition, but it can be time-consuming, and many people struggle to keep thorough notes in journals or on their smartphones.

“One of the best things out there to help keep track of your child’s eczema is EczemaWise because it’s so easy to use,” said Aisha Bryant, mother of a 3-year-old with eczema. “Within a few days of using it, I was able to identify that tomato sauce was causing my daughter to flare.”

The app can help track nine different disease and care factors, including:

• Itch intensity on a scale of 0-10
• Pain on a scale of 0-10
• Skin symptoms using a body map to note affected areas
• Stress on a scale of 0-10
• Sleep problems on a scale of 0-10
• Weather, which auto-populates using your location
• Triggers, which track exposure to materials such as metals, chemicals, irritants and environmental allergies
• Diet with tracking of water intake and foods
• Treatments logged by time of day

The free app, which is available for Android and iOS as well as a web app, is designed to identify trends and patterns so people and their doctors can better determine the most effective treatments. NEA recommends tracking a minimum of three times each week – and ideally daily – though people can log as many or as few factors as they like. App users can also print their health data to share at doctors’ appointments.

“Using EczemaWise will empower patients with eczema,” said dermatologist Eric L. Simpson, MD. “The app allows them to communicate a much broader story about their disease than we can typically capture in a 15-minute visit.”

For more information, visit EczemaWise.org.

SOURCE:
National Eczema Association

6 REFRIGERATION TRENDS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

 

(BPT) - The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house - especially now, when we're all at home more than ever. And while we're cooking more meals in and stocking up on necessities, having the right features and appliances can help make our lives in the kitchen easier when we all need it most.

Whether you're looking to improve capacity for storing essentials, or you simply want the most useful kitchen innovations, these are the top refrigeration trends to keep an eye on as we head into the new year:

1. Fast, freshly filtered ice

Have you been reaching for more ice water while at home? You're not alone. A recent survey revealed that 50% of Americans consider themselves "ice obsessed," with 53% realizing the need for better ice production at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and the same percentage saying no ice available means they simply drink less water. The survey also found that the average American consumes up to 116 glasses of ice per month or nearly 36 pounds!

Always looking for ways to simplify life for consumers, the new QuickIcePro System refrigerator from Bosch is one of the fastest refrigerator ice makers in the industry, producing several pounds of freshly filtered ice a day at a rapid rate - which means you won't be running out anytime soon.

2. Fresh-food storage

If you're staying home, cooking more and making fewer trips to the store, you need extra storage and features that will keep your food fresher longer. Refrigerators have come a long way in helping you maintain optimal freshness, especially when it comes to fresh produce. Look for options that offer precise temperature and humidity control, like the Bosch FarmFresh System, to take your food preservation to the next level and minimize waste. This advanced system uses four technologies to circulate cool air, filter out unwanted odors and ethylene gas, as well as remove the guesswork in storing items at the ideal environment.

3. Energy-efficient technology

Technology can also help you save energy and money at the same time. For example, refrigerators with automatic freezing functions return to normal operation after reaching the required freezing temperature to save energy. As a result, frozen food keeps its flavor, even when new food is being added.

And if you've ever accidently left your fridge or freezer open, you know it can be a costly mistake. Some refrigerators can help you avoid those high energy bills and spoiled food by sending a notification directly to your smartphone if a door has been left open.

4. Smart refrigerators

If you've ever been at the grocery store without a list, it's likely you wished for a crystal ball to see inside your fridge. Connected appliances help make that wish come true with remote monitoring and diagnostics, fridge and pantry management, and quick-cooling capabilities that get your fridge ready for new items when you're on your way back from the grocery store.

5. Two-in-one appliances

Refrigeration isn't only about keeping your food fresh. Storing beverages at the right temperature is just as important. In fact, 56% of Americans agree that having a drink at the wrong temperature has the potential to make their day less enjoyable.

The new Bosch Refreshment Center refrigerator offers pre-programmed settings to take the guesswork out of achieving the optimal temperature for the beverages of your choice at the touch of a button - from red or white wine to beer, soda or other drinks. Plus, its industry-first, glass-front beverage drawer puts beverages in view and within reach in your kitchen, eliminating the need for a second appliance dedicated to drink storage elsewhere in your home.

6. Easy organization

Having a large fridge and freezer makes it easier to store more, but without organization, food can become lost or buried and go to waste. To make it easier, the new Bosch French door bottom mount refrigeration collection features organizational solutions like a FlexBar, split glass shelving and three-tiered freezer system to make it easier to keep all your ingredients organized, in view and within reach.

Now more than ever, the kitchen has become a place that brings everyone together. Turn yours into the focal point of your home with these refrigeration trends for a happier and more efficient space.