It’s easy to believe that homes without security systems are must more likely to be targeted by a burglar that ones that are equipped with an efficient home security system. Many times, the simple presence of an alarm system can be enough to protect your home and your family from a break-in.

There are occasions in which a burglar will enter a home without knowing whether or not there are actually any occupants inside or not. This can quickly escalate to a dangerous situation. If this is not enough to convince you to have a burglar alarm installed, keep reading for some more benefits.

This is particularly pertinent if you have children who are old enough to stay home alone, or elderly members of your family. Reaction times may not allow them to get out of a home with the speed required in dangerous situations, and although a forceful burglary may never happen, your family will at least have a peace of mind that there is something there to deter thieves.

In addition to protecting your family, an efficient burglar alarm helps to protect your valuables. When your alarm system is enabled, it will not only set off an audible signal, it will also alert authorities that the home has been broken into. This increases the likelihood that the burglar will be caught or identified later for the crime committed.

As all homeowners know, having insurance on their home is mandatory. This type of insurance policy covers private residences and the possessions within from loss, or damage that can occur as the result of a number of events, burglary being one. However, if you have an alarm then you’ve reduced the risk that you will be robbed, and therefore most insurance companies will provide a discount for homeowners insurance.

Thanks to smart devices, home security systems these days allow you to view your home using a web cam. Most systems also allow you to remotely arm and disarm the home, monitor multiple cameras, and even turn lights on and off and control your HVAC system.

Fun Fact:  A traditional New Year’s Eve religious service, “Watch Night” is observed to give thanks for life’s blessings and pray for divine favor in the coming year.  “Watch Night” was especially significant among African Americans in 1862, as President Lincoln vowed to end slavery with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Wherever you happen to be, New Year’s marks a time for change, a time for making resolutions and a revival of hope.  Make a life changing resolution; Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom and work to improve your future illumination.  Rejoice in unbeatable promotional pricing on the year’s finest home lighting and accessories, including shining innovations from Forecast, Hanover Lantern and Thomas Lighting.

I grew up in the 90’s, back when thrift store shopping was considered alternative and grunge.  While I tooled around Goodwill listening to Nine Inch Nails on my Walkman, my more sophisticated friends were at the mall, looking adorable & stylish in the latest trend from The Limited.

But that was the 90’s.

Thrift-store shopping, dumpster-diving, and hand-me downs deliver a new parlance that has clever DIY’ers quaking with excitement for Saturday yard sales and obsessively scouring Craigslist for the Next Big Find.  This elegant new term for taking used items and making them new = REPURPOSING.

Also commonly referred to as recycling, upcycling, reinventing, revitalizing and/or reusing, entire boards are dedicated to this subject on Pinterest. Everything – and I mean everything – can be repurposed.  So why not the light bulb?

With a few basic tools and a steady hand, a light bulb can be hollowed out and transformed into a unique gift or decorative project.  Prepping the bulb, however, is not a task that we recommend for the kids.  Before you undertake any of these projects, take a moment to read a tutorial on how to safely hollow out a light bulb.

1. Witches Brew