All the information you need on floor pads for your office equpiment cleaning supplies is here! Floor pads are a cost effective way to product beautiful looking floors. Each pad is designed to perform a specific job and to provide consistent performance while assuring high-quality reproducible results.

The differences between floor pads may seem small, but when added up, they can make a big difference to your bottom line in terms of produtivity and labor costs. 3M floor pads offer:

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                      - The right amount of aggresiveness for every type of stripping, scrubbing and cleaning job.

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STRIP- to remove all finish, sealer and contaminants from the floor surface. Done at the start of a maintenance program and at times when scrubbing will not acheive the desired result. Click here for stripping pads

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BUFF/POLISH- Buff very soft finishes or use polishing soft waves on wood floors. Polish to remove light soil and other contaminants. Click here for buffer pads and click here for polishing pads

We are wrapping up our wellness tips with foursteps to preparing your body and mind for a wet & cold winter! Beyond the usual precautions against cold and flu, there are other things to consider for staying healthy in extreme weather.

1. Protect your heart- Cold temperatures thicken the blood and constrict arteries, elevating blood pressure and leaving one vulnerable for a heart attack. Keep this in mind before starting physical activity and always do a good warm up. If you must exert yourself with a task such as snow shoveling, work a little at a time, taking breaks  in between.

2. Help your lungs- Cold air is often dry, irritating the lining of your lungs, bringing on asthma or other problems. In addition, viruses are vibrant in cold weather. To withstand these chilling effects, keep a scarf wrapped over your mouth and nose to moisten the air as you breathe.

3. Relieve your sinuses- sinus pain is the result of acute inflammation and cogestions of your nasla passages that often occur during the cold and rainy seasons. You may have a headache or feel pain elsewhere in your face or body. To relieve sinus pain, you need to cure the inflammation. Using nasal washes, sitting in steam, drinking non-caffeinated hot teas, and even eating spicy foods can all ease the congestion that may be causing you pain.

4. Enlighten your brain- Being so far from the sun during winter months can cause chemical changes in teh brain that lead to depression. This is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). somethings, simple solutions can help. during the day, try to sit in the sun near large windows as much as possbile, which can stablize serotonin, the chemical related to depression.

Stay tuned for cleaning tips and products later this week! Shop online at www.portersop.com and visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/portersofficeproducts!

Often, the key to wellness is in the path of prevention. Understanding how the right foods can aid in boosting our immunity and warding off illnesses is essential during a time when viruses and illness seek to conquer. Food is the most powerful medicine for healing, and those rich with antioxidants are just what the doctor ordered. Take a look:

Apples are a great source of vitamin C and product amino acids that reduce inflammation and protect against viruses.

Blueberries reduce inflammation, boost the immune system and improve mental capacity.

Broccoli packs the most nutritional punch of any vegetable and is low in calories and high in fiber.

Citrus Fruits are a great source of vitamin C and protect against cancer and reduce inflammation.

Garlic can prevent colds as well as shorten their duration

Green Tea helps boots immune function and fights off illness-causing bacteria and viruses

Oats pump up the performance of your immune system by enhancing your system’s response to bacterial infections. Oats also help lower  “bad” LDL cholesterol

Spinach is known as one of the top 10 super foods. High in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin K, it reduces inflammation and the effects of age-related brain function decline.

Try our Featured Recipe this week!

Curried Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

This recipe is packed with immune-bootsing “super” ingredients, such as butternut squash, garlic, ginger, and chicken stock. And the tumeric found in most curry powders has proven medicinal qualities.

Prep Time: 45 Min

Ready in: 1 hr & 45 min

Cook Time: 1 Hr 30 Min

8 Servings

1  (2 pound) butternut squash

3 tablespoons butternut squash

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

2 firm ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1 inch dice

1/2 cup half and half

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. Place squash halves, cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in preheated oven until very soft, about 45 minutes. Scoop the pulp from the peel, and reserve.

3. Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, and salt. Cook and stiru until onion is soft about 10 minutes. Pour chicken broth into the pot and bring to a boil. Stir in the pears and reserved squash, and simmer until pears are very soft, about 30 minutes.

4. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender. Puree in batches until smooth. Return soup to the pot, stir in half and half, and reheat.

5. Serve topped with fried onions

Water is essential for cleansing and detoxifying the body. Drinking enough encourages your body to eliminate waste and toxins that make and keep you sick.

Winter Squash and Pumpkin are low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with Vitamin A which is key to the health of your heart, eyes, skin and immune system.

One of the great things about technology is the way in which it allows your to access so much more information at the click of a mouse or the swipe of a screen. teh answeres to many wellness questions are literall at your fingertips. Whether you are looking for a new exercise routine, the benefits of a holistic diet, sresearch on a family member’s illness, how to plan for a healthy holiday meal, or natural and alternativ ways to fight the common cold, welness websites and blogs abound. Here are a few noteworthy sites to peruse on your computer, smart phone, or tablet:

Pro Fit USB-PS/2 Washable KeyboardWashable Keyboard with Antimicrobial Protection

www.well.blogs.nytimes.com

www.drweil.com

www.mayoclinic.com

www.blogs.wsj.com/health

www.drhyman.com

Time to tackle the winter blues with this article from our Office Stuff Newsletter this month. Check it out:

Floor Hygiene Station- Make your environment a healthier place to work!

Everyone knows that mood can affect wellness. So what is one to do when the winter blues settle in? Whjen the weather outside is frightful, take heed; something delightful may be just around the corner. Here are a few thigns youc an do to take your mind off the cold climate:

1. Find something you like to do primarily in the winter: for some, this could be making chocolate and sitting by a fire;  for tohers, it could mean braising or baking, or just snuggling in for a good movie. Whatever it may be, take advantage of it as often as possible!

2. Become involved in your community or city. There are always abundant cultural offerings during the winter, since everyone is primarily stuck in doors. Meetup.com has oodles of groups in your neighborhood and city that might be right for you to join. And museum free days, as well as library or music evernts are often too good to pass up.

3. Get physical. New Year’s resolutions or not, winter is a great time to get in shape. Even without a gym membership or a clear outdoor path to walk on, you can still find ways to get your body moving to exercise videos or simple yoga sessions in your home. As they say, there is no better time than the present. And as well all know, exercise certainly boosts the mood.

Get ready for Valentine’s Day next week with these perfect cards!

Start crafting and show us what you’ve made- we would loveto see your holiday crafts on our Facebook.

If you’re looking for ideas check out Kaboose for tutorials on holiday cards and decoration- like these here!

How to make it:

1. Begin by cutting a piece of construction paper or card stock into four equal pieces.
2. Fold quartered paper in half to make a card.
3. For the easiest version, appropriate for preschoolers, use stickers to decorate or cut out hearts from a different color of construction paper or card stock to glue onto your cards. Experiment with different patterns, florals look great contrasted with stripes on a solid background.
4. Younger children love glitter! Use a bottle of glue to “draw” on a heart or phrase (such as “Be Mine”). Sprinkle glue generously with pink, red or white glitter and let dry over night. Tap off excess glitter when completely dry.
5. For the older set, let them use pinking sheers to cut out heart shapes and glue onto cards. Again, use contrasting patterns and colors to create a charming design.
6. Once glue is dry, cards may curl up a little. Place cards between the pages of a heavy cookbook or phone book and leave over night.

Tips:

Finding the perfect paper. Card stock is available in literally hundreds of different designs. The scrap-booking aisle has individual sheets or pads of various colors and patterns. Construction paper is inexpensive and children love it just as much.

The QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code)  has become popular due to its fast readability and large storage capacity- and it’s easy! We now have QR codes on our Catalogs, postcards, and our new furniture truck!

Start taking advantage of these awesome tools and download the QR reader app! Click here to get the app for you iPhone and here for your Android!

Once downloaded, open app and hold over QR code. It will automatically take you to the website, information page, etc. It’s as simple as that!

What are some of your favorite ways you’ve seen QR codes used?

Do You Have a Receipt For That? Each year the majority of Americans unite on one issue—procrastinating on filing tax returns. A major complaint? Too many documents to deal with. Documents are placed in piles, tossed in filing cabinets, and generally ignored until you’ve reached “crunch-time.” You can easily save both time and frustration by following a few simple tips that ensure you will find tax papers and receipts when you need them.

Check it Off. Look at your last few years’ tax returns and create a checklist of the documents you usually need to prepare the return. An electronic checklist can be easily updated and re-used year after year. Attach the checklist to the inside flap of an expanding file or tax organizer. Then, check off items as they are received and place them in the file or organizer. This way you will know which documents have arrived and which ones are still missing.

I Filed…Now What? After your tax returns have been filed, place your copy of the return and all supporting documents into the tax organizer, label it for the tax year, and store in a secure location with previous years’ returns. If you prepared and/or filed your tax return electronically, place a disk with backup copies of the files in the organizer for safekeeping. A secure storage location, such as a fire-safe box, will provide protection from potential harm but allow for easy retrieval of documents.

Get a Head Start! Finally, get a jump-start on next year’s tax return by setting up another tax organizer, with sections labeled for all the receipts and papers you gather throughout the year. If you store the organizer close to where you sort your mail and file the documents as they are received, the papers will be ready for you when you begin working on next year’s tax return.

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Lets face it.. who doesn’t want to be happier? At home, work, with family, etc. everyone wants it! Follow these steps from Larry Winget’s Money & Personal Blog to get 2012 off to a happy start!

Ten Steps To A Happier Life©
By Larry Winget

1. Lighten up! Don’t get your panties in a wad about every little thing that happens.

2. Forget blame. You can fix the blame or you can fix the problem. Spend your time fixing the problem.

3. Forget guilt. Guilt serves little purpose. If you messed up, apologize and move on.

4. Forget luck. Lucky people are those who are prepared, recognize opportunities and then act on those opportunities.

5. Give up the constant need to be right. Pick your battles. Sometimes it just isn’t worth the fight. Besides, sometimes you’re wrong.

6. Scope up. Pettiness is unattractive on all levels.

7. Rise above the approval of others. You are never going to to make everyone happy anyway so stop trying.

8. Forgive. You can’t be happy when you are full of anger and resentment. Get over it. Forgive them for your sake, not theirs.

9. Get healthy and stay that way. It’s hard to be happy and sick at the same time.

10. Stop looking for things outside yourself to make you happy. Happiness comes from within.

Based on an excerpt from People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It (The Idiot Factor in paperback.)