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“I know it’s in here somewhere!” Does this sound like you when you’re trying to find something in your kitchen cabinets? If you find yourself on bended knee with a flashlight, or perched on a rickety chair to locate a favorite pie pan or a certain spice, it may be time to get organized. Thankfully, with a few tricks up your sleeve, you can have everything within reach — and sight — without worrying about keeling over on the kitchen floor. Here are Julie Morgenstern’s top 10 tips for organizing your kitchen:

1. Have a plan of attack. Start with a strategy based on how you want to function in your kitchen. Prioritize by identifying the frequently used “must have” items and the things you use only occasionally.

2. Declutter in chunks. If it seems overwhelming, start with the most visible items first, such as what’s on the countertops. You’ll get a feeling of instant change and gain motivation to do the next chunk.

Pyrex 10-Piece Storage Set with Lids

List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $13.90
You Save: $8.09 (37%)

Features:
• Includes 2 2-cup round, 3-1/2-cup rectangular, 4-cup round, and 6-cup rectangular storage piece
• Made of nonporous glass that won’t warp, stain, or absorb odors
• All pieces come with seal-tight plastic lids for secure food storage
• Oven-, microwave-, refrigerator-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe
• 2-year warranty for glass pieces; stackable design; made in the USA

3. Seek treasures instead of trash. Focus on searching for hidden treasure versus ditching the unwanted. This will allow you to transform organizing into a positive experience.

4. Banish flimsy dividers. Pitch pitiful plastic trays and replace them with sturdy wooden drawer organizers. This will help you create a happy home for spoons, whisks and what-nots.

5. Lay out a landing strip. Designate an official “drop zone” for car keys, cell phones, etc. For example, Diamond Cabinets’ Mini Message Center has hooks, shelves and a write-in message board, all concealed behind a door, creating a perfect solution for on-the-go organization. It can be found on the Diamond Cabinet Web site at www.diamondcabinets.com/.

6. Cubbies aren’t just for kids. Containerization is the name of the game, so create your own kitchen ”cubbies” wherever you can. Stash wire baskets or transparent storage boxes on shelves so you can see and grab things quickly.

7. Create eye-level storage. Make items easier to see by adding eye-level shelves or a tall pantry unit to put small jars of spices or tall bottles of oils and dressings within easy reach.

8. Let there be light. Proper lighting ensures a comfortable environment for a variety of activities, so consider installing dimmers. The Diva dimmer from Lutron allows you to set light levels to full brightness for meal prep and art projects, for example — and to lower levels for others, like mealtime and late-night tea. Visit www.lutron.com for more information.

9. Divvy it up in drawers. Kitchen drawers need not be junk drawers. Use them to store items that can be folded or stored flat, such as cloth napkins or candles. Some drawers even come with wooden pegs to hold stacked dishes in place.

10. Make organization part of your life. Schedule a time for organizing into your daily routine, such as after the kids get home from school. Even a daily 10-minute dose of it can keep your kitchen in check.

Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide - The Classic Reference (Oriental Carpets)

List Price: $75.00
Buy New: $40.05
You Save: $34.95 (47%)

With the mass of Oriental rug books that have been published in the last ten years (let alone since the 1960s, when writing about Oriental rugs became the raison d’être for collecting them or dealing in them), it seemed almost impossible to hope for a *Good* general book on the subject ever being attempted again - there was simply so much information that had become critical to even a broadly accurate understanding of the subject that one couldn’t imagine the surface even being scratched by anything less than a proper ten-volume “Survey”.

But Murray L. Eiland - one of the authentic Big Daddies of the early Oriental Rug Book Revival - hit on the brilliant idea of taking as a starting point his distinguished standard work ‘Oriental Rugs - A Comprehensive Guide’, published in the high scholastic manner and drab production values of the early 1970s, and then re-engineering it in co-authorship with his aptly-named son Murray L. Eiland (who says No Man is an Eiland?), to produce, against the odds, what must surely be The General Oriental Carpet Book of our time.

Iconoclastically renamed ‘Oriental Rugs - A Complete Guide’, ‘Oriental Rugs’, as the new baby will undoubtedly become known in the footsteps of its parent volume, not to mention of the Eilands, incorporates the bulk of the most interesting and important new discoveries, attitudes, nomenclatures, theories and attributions of the past 25 years and packages it all up in the definitive Major Oriental Rug Book De Luxe Coffee Table Edition format, the identifying attribute of which has increasingly become those huge and stunning full page bleeds depicting in the most intimate close-up detail some isolated felicities of colour and ornament extracted from appropriately major examples, which serve here to introduce each of the book’s main sections.

Within each such section, the work is lavishly endowed with a wealth of richly glowing colour plates illustrating many of the best and most legendary rugs that have been on the world markets over the past two decades, these punctuated by a scattering of excellent maps, diagrams and well-chosen atmospheric pictures of weavers, deserts, mountains, animals, old paintings and the like. The thorough and well laid-out text is similarly interspersed with those entertaining anecdotes and telling on-the-spot findings gained from field-research trips by both father and son to the rug producing countries of the kind made famous by Mr A. Cecil Edwards, although in the hands of the Eilands this documentary evidence is timed and honed for optimum impact with a post-CNN suavity noticeably (some might say, regrettably) absent from A.C. Edward’s chapter-ending ‘Conversation Piece’ cliff-hangers.

The result of all this lavish and entertaining mixture is a truely fin de siècle book on Oriental carpets, encompassing outstanding print and paper quality, superb colour illustrations of many of the ‘keynote’ rugs of the past twenty years that any budding rugaholic simply has to know about, the whole held together - and God bless the Eilands for this! - with a wealth of real, useful, accurate information, this given added interest and relevance by the penetrating and often gently provocative personal opinions of the authors.

For anyone wanting access to as wide and accurate a knowledge base on Oriental rugs of the 19th and 20th Centuries as could possibly be wished for within one book, there has been nothing remotely approaching this ‘Oriental Rugs’ of the Eilands since Ian Bennett’s ‘Rugs and Carpets of the World’.

The authors’ breadth of knowledge and eclecticism of taste allow them to range wider and deeper, untroubled by the blur of bias effecting their focus, than the incomparable Bennett. Thus they provide a deeply knowledgeable, balanced and scrupulously fair examination and appraisal of virtually every type rug and flat-weave that is both worth bothering about, and remains (however intermittently) available.

‘Oriental Rugs - A Complete Guide’ is also - and this may come as a surprise to anyone who doesn’t buy Rug Books on an acceptably regular basis - quite reasonably priced for a work of such size, quality, and number of colour plates, especially when written by so eminent an authority as Murray Eiland Senior. The whole thing is a joy to look at, and succeeds in communicating the unique beauty possessed by the best knotted-pile Eastern rugs as much through its overall ‘look and feel’ as by the brilliance, elegance and subtlety of the individual items depicted. And then on top of all this is the substantial textual content, all of it pertinent, up-to-date, and attractively written. If ‘Oriental Rugs’ doesn’t in fact come up with anything exactly groundbreaking in the issues it addresses, perhaps more helpfully it judicially and accurately records the real groundbreaking stuff that has set the tone and temperature of the rug world in recent times. Verdict: Extremely Desirable, if not quite Absolutely Essential, and with its truth and taste entirely uncompromised by the opposing forces of ego or e-commerce.

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Carpeting is a practical and aesthetic addition to any home. Utilized for its comfortable surface, it also beautifies interior spaces by adding to the décor. Proper upkeep and care ensures that your carpet will last for years to come, adding to your home’s value.

“Carpeting is a popular option in many homes,” comments Geoff Simril, Capture product line manager for Milliken Chemical, a company that specializes in cleaning products. “But what can be a striking addition to a home can become an eyesore if it is not properly taken care of. And with the cost of carpet, it’s worth a homeowner’s time to make sure that they get the maximum life out of their investment.”

Miele Upright Vacuum Cleaner
List Price: $379.00
Buy New: $359.00
You Save: $20.00 (5%)

Features:
• Extremely quiet effective 1,000 watt motor
• Electronic Variable Speed Control
• Multi-Layer Filtration System
• Certified HEPA Filtration will retain 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns
• Completely Sealed System ensures that the dust reaches the exhaust filter

Follow these easy tips to keep your carpet looking its best:

* Frequent Care
The most important thing you can do to care for your carpet is be sure to vacuum regularly. This might seem simplistic, but many homeowners neglect to vacuum on a regular basis and dirt particles sit on the carpet and get ground in deeper over time so they are more difficult to remove. This can cause damage to the carpet base and create permanent stains.

When vacuuming, be sure to move the vacuum cleaner back and forth in both directions. Spend extra time on high traffic areas. Use vacuum attachments to get at hard-to-reach places and the seam right next to the wall where dust and dirt often gathers.

* Periodic Care
Steam cleaning carpet is recommended to get a deeper clean. You can purchase a steamer or rent one affordably from your local hardware store. Run your vacuum over the carpet first to remove surface dirt and then begin the steaming process.

Start by dropping a Drop ‘N Go concentrated deep cleaning tablet in your machine’s reservoir, then fill with hot tap water. These tablets, developed by Capture to work with all steam cleaners, deep clean carpet and remove dirt and stains. Drop ‘N Go tablets eliminate messy liquid cleaners, and because they are premeasured, you don’t have to worry about mixing the wrong amount of cleaner with the water.

Use the machine to spray the solution onto the carpet. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for specific recommendations. Once the solution penetrates the carpet, use the machine to suck out the solution and dirt. Test the dampness of your carpet with your hand. If it feels like it is damp but wrung out, it has been done correctly. Allow carpet to thoroughly dry overnight.

* Spot Treatments
Between your regular and extended care, you’re bound to have an incident where you need to spot treat an area before it becomes a permanent stain. It’s best to treat spills immediately before they have a chance to sink into the base of the carpet.

Use a spot carpet cleaner or a mild detergent mixed with warm water to clean the spill. Use a white cloth rather than a colored one to ensure that no dye transfers during the cleaning process. Rubbing will actually push the mess further into the carpet so a blotting technique is recommended. Rotate the cloth to use a clean section until the stain has been removed.

“Carpet provides comfort and style to homes. With the proper maintenance, it will continue to be a positive addition for many years to come,” adds Simril.

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(ARA) – Clothing is an extension of a person’s personality. It projects their tastes and is an important part of making a first impression. Some of us love shopping for clothes and others loathe the task, but what everyone wants is a wardrobe that represents who they are and how they want to be seen.

“A major wardrobe embarrassment that we’ve all experienced is going to work, to a party or simply walking in public and seeing someone else with the same shirt, pants, jacket or purse as you,” says Natasha Forth, a fashion expert at CustomizedGirl.com. “There are many ways to get unique clothes that are special to who you are and the image you want to portray.”

Brother XL2610 59 Stitch Function Free Arm Sewing Machine
List Price: $149.00
Buy New: $119.99
You Save: $29.01 (19%)

Features:
• 59 Stitch Function Free Arm Sewing Machine
• Built-in Automatic Needle Threader
• 4 Step automatic buttonholer
• Built in stitches for quilting, garment construction, decorative sewing and mending
• Drop-in Bobbin

Here are some tips for creating a wardrobe that no one else has:

Customized Printing
A big trend in many fashion circles is getting shirts, tanks and jackets custom printed. In magazines we see celebrities making a variety of statements on their T-shirts. From unique designs to political statements to declarations of love, customized printing is an affordable and easy way to create unique pieces in your wardrobe.

Web sites like CustomizedGirl.com are user friendly and provide many clothing options so you can get a unique item that no one else has. Shirts, tanks and jackets can be customized with symbols, designs, names and other phrases in a variety of sizes and font styles. You can even upload your own logos and pictures for a specialized item. For ideas, visit the community page on the Web site and see what other users are creating.

Shop Vintage
Secondhand stores provide an array of styles and clothing options for those looking for something different at an affordable price. Whether it’s your local vintage boutique or a chain donation store such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill, you will find lots of clothing that you’re not likely to find on anyone else.

The key to shopping secondhand is to make sure you have enough time to go through the items. Often these types of stores have a lot of clothing and you have to dig and search for that special item to add to your wardrobe. Look for clothing from different eras to add flare to one of your current outfits. A 40s cardigan is the perfect addition to your favorite dress or a 20s hat can add style to an old pantsuit. Maybe a broken-in pair of jeans from the 80s will become your new favorite item for casual Fridays at work.

Shopping vintage is like a treasure hunt because you never know what you’re going to find, but you can be sure that you’re not likely to find it at your local retail store or in anyone else’s closet.

Details
Often what truly stand out on an outfit are the little details. Whether it’s a standard wardrobe item from your local retail store, or a tired piece of clothing you haven’t worn in years, adding special details can give these pieces style and new life.

Visit your local sewing and craft store to find unique appliqués, sequins, buttons, studs and other details that can easily be added to any fabric. Embroidery is another option that can add flare to otherwise boring clothing.

And remember, adding a funky necklace or unique belt can change an entire outfit and make it stand. Look to the details and accessories to add pizzazz to your wardrobe.

For more information on customizable clothing visit www.CustomizedGirl.com.

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(ARA) – Every change of season, our stuff comes in and out of storage. In the springtime, we put the snowmobile, winter clothes, blankets and jackets away and bring out the patio furniture, garden equipment and outdoor toys. Come summer, boats and jet skis join the fray. Then as winter approaches, we do a switcheroo.

Ever stopped to think about what happens to your stuff while it’s in storage? Unless you’ve taken steps to keep them away, mice and other rodents may be nesting and having their babies inside your favorite jacket, chewing through the wires on your snowmobile, and making a mess of just about everything else you have in storage — which is not a nice thought.

Sauder Closits Single 2-Shelf Storage

Buy New: $44.99

This Sauder Closits storage tower is useful in even the smallest spaces. It features sturdy construction with 2 adjustable shelves for everything from canned goods in the pantry to spare towels in the guestroom. Made of maple-finished wood. Coordinates with other interlocking and interchangeable pieces in the Closits maple collection (each sold separately). No. 503-205. Made in USA. 43-1/2Hx14-1/2Wx14-1/2D.

Rodents can cause many problems. They spread disease through their urine, droppings and hair, and because they are capable of gnawing a range of materials, often cause structural damage to property by chewing through wires, wood and even plastic.

“When I moved onto a farm, I was disgusted by the idea of dirty little mice running all over the place — walking on the countertops, hiding in the tractors just waiting to jump out at me. I had to find a way to get rid of them,” says Kari Warberg of Stanley, N.D. Because she suffers from allergies, using moth balls to keep them away was not an option and she didn’t want to spray poison and then have to dispose of dead mice.

“I’m an environmentalist and wanted to come up with a solution that wouldn’t harm people or animals,” says Warberg. She did a little research then started experimenting with the same essential oils she had used to turn wildflowers into potpourri. Once she found the perfect mix that wasn’t offensive to humans but was a big turn off for mice, she began marketing it as Fresh Cab. The product, which contains an all natural blend of corn cob chips, plant and herbal extracts, recently received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be labeled as a botanical rodent repellent.

The pouches are safe to use around children and pets, but although the scent is pleasant — it is strong. Warberg says most people tend to use them in out of the way places, like under the kitchen sink, in the back of the closet, in the garage, and in storage areas. “When the rodents go into an area protected by Fresh Cab, their instincts tell them to leave at once. Because their sense of smell is thrown off, they can’t smell food and water, or sense predators, so they don’t feel safe.”

Since coming on the market nearly a decade ago, Fresh Cab has received endorsements from members of the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owner’s association and Care2.com, an online community for people who want to make a difference. In an article she wrote for the site, Annie Berthold-Bond says “Getting rid of mice without poisoning or killing them is very hard… Plugging up holes had helped the most until we discovered Fresh Cab… I have eight pouches in the basement and eight in the attic. I am hopeful that the squirrels will stay out of the attic and mice out of the basement.”

Fresh Cab is available in home improvement, hardware, farm and home stores across the country. For a store locator log on to www.cranecreekgardens.com.

Automatic Feed Can Crusher

SIX TIMES FASTER than ordinary can crushers! Holds 6 aluminum cans, feeds them automatically into chamber and ejects each after crushing! Makes it easy to store and transport cans for profitable recycling.

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(ARA) – Look around your house and you will likely notice a lot of coordination. The brushed nickel knobs on your cabinets match the kitchen sink; all of the lighting fixtures on your upper level contain alabaster glass; and every window in your home has those same wooden blinds.

Matching looks and materials allows you to create a sense of cohesion — in essence to tie everything in the house together. You may think you have done a good job of it, but if you look around, there may be something that just does not seem to fit in — the fans.

“It’s not so unusual to see homes with beautiful designer kitchens and upscale entertainment rooms have fans that look out of place. If I’m describing your home, it’s time to do something about it,” says Dan Blitzer, consulting director of education for the American Lighting Association (ALA), who points out that fans have come a long way in the past few years.

Fanimation Ceiling Fans Pallisade2 Model FP240OB in Oil-Rubbed Bronze. Damp rated indoor/outdoor
Features:
• Tropical-African Style Damp rated indoor/outdoor ceiling fan
• 52 Inch Blades Span
• 40 Degree Blade Pitch
• Pickled Oak Blades
• Lifetime Limited Motor Warranty

“People never used to think of fans as decorative pieces, but now they are, thanks to the wide variety of options available,” says Blitzer. Among the trends he is tracking, a much broader selection of fans, particularly in the modern or contemporary style, a richer choice of materials and detailing, and the availability of fan integrated lighting that is much more energy efficient.

Nathan Frampton of Zionsville, Ind.-based Fanimation says one of the biggest trends he has noticed lately is that decorators are treating fans almost like pieces of furniture. “You’d think an interior designer would rather use a chandelier from a decorating standpoint, but now you can have the best of both worlds,” says Frampton. “A beautiful light fixture that has the functionality of a ceiling fan.”

Frampton points out there are now fans on the market, like his company’s Air Shadow fan, that feature an exquisite lighting fixture with retractable fan blades. If you are looking for more of a retro look, how about a fan with a metallic housing and single matching blade that pushes a lot of air around. For outdoor decorating, there are units that feature decorative plastic blades that look like they are made out of wood or metal.

Kim Noerteman of St. Louis, Mo.-based Regency Fans says a trend she has noticed is the prevalence of fans with larger motors and intricately decorated blades. “The larger motors allow the fans to move air around more efficiently,” says Noerteman. “As for the blades, leaf-shaped wooden blades were the most popular decorative accents for years, but now we’re seeing blades with new designs and different materials. Points and swirls are popular,” she says.

In addition to a wide array of decorative options, today’s fans are also more energy efficient than ever before. Blitzer points out that many now carry an Energy Star rating, which means they use improved motor and blade designs that require less energy to run than conventional fan/light units. During the summer months, a fan can reduce the apparent room temperature by as much as eight degrees. This can save you $15 to $20 per year on utility bills, plus any additional air conditioning or heating savings gained when the fan is operated properly.

Here are some tips from ALA that will make finding the fan that works best for your home a breeze:

* Bigger rooms need bigger fans. For maximum efficiency choose a fan to fit your room size. In a room up to 75 square feet, like a bathroom, choose a 29- to 36-inch fan. Medium sized rooms up to 144 square feet can fit ceiling fans with 36- to 42-inch blades. The larger bedrooms and family rooms around 225 square feet work most efficiently with 50- to 54-inch blades.

* Ceiling height is also important when choosing a fan. Place the fan higher than seven feet above the floor in the middle of the room for maximum comfort, circulation and aesthetics. Optimal placement would be eight-to nine-feet from the floor.

* Fan blades determine the amount of air being circulated throughout the room. The fan blade brackets should be positioned to hold the blade at a 12- to 15-degree angle for optimal circulation and be weighted and matched as a balanced set to avoid having your fan wobble.

* The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. The motor is responsible for producing quiet operation while driving the blades for air movement. Look for a high-quality motor with heavy-duty windings and sealed bearings that are permanently lubricated.

* Consider the warranty. When you choose to purchase a ceiling fan, look for a good warranty for the life of your fan. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty and in-home service.

For more information about how to utilize ceiling fans for year-round comfort in a fashionable style, log on to www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com. There you will also find a tool to help you locate a lighting showroom near you.

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Fast and Fun Ideas for Simple, Last Minute Halloween Costumes

(ARA) - Halloween is around the corner. You run to your local Target or Big K to find a costume, but all the cute ones are gone. What do you do — a ghost again? Not necessarily, says Jocelyn Leiser Herndon, an instructor in Fashion Design at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco.

“Two simple costume ideas that are great for both kids and adults are ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and a witch,” says Herndon. Several years ago, says Herndon, her brother came for a visit on Halloween. Short on time, Herndon had him purchase a black shirt and pants. With red and white felt to make the hat and a small amount of black fabric to make a tail she built around a coat hanger, Herndon finished off the costume using a pair of white gloves.

“For the witch, just about any black dress paired with striped socks or tights and black boots or shoes will do the trick,” she says. For the hat, Herndon suggests picking up an inexpensive hat at any Halloween store (there are usually lots of these left, even after Halloween).

Another great costume for an adult is a cobweb. Pick up some cobweb printed fabric and make a poncho out of it by cutting a hole in the center for your head and wear with black clothes. For men, get a shirt that has spiders on it. For ladies, pick up a pair of spider covered tights (available at Halloween or specialty hosiery stores). For an added touch, buy a big furry spider from the decoration aisle and attach it to your head with hair pins or elastic as if it’s the spider in the web.

For the minimalist, a scary face is a simple way to go on Halloween. There are many good one-time-use inexpensive latex scarves available in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days, says Herndon. To enhance the “boo” factor, Herndon uses the following fake blood recipe (not suitable for eating, she cautions):

1 ounce red food coloring
1 tablespoon blue food coloring
2 ounces water
1 pint light corn syrup
Combine ingredients. Scare at will.

To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 35 locations located throughout North America providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Brother 10 stitch free arm sewing machine

List Price: $99.00
Buy New: $78.88
You Save: $20.12 (20%)

Home sewn fashion at your fingertips. Sewing Machine with ten built-in stitches each with multiple stitch functions, including elastic and blind hem, you’ll be stitching like a pro in no time. An included twin needle feature allows for two-color sewing, while the flatbed/free arm convertible sewing surface and quick-change presser feet perfectly compliment your personal sewing style. A quick bobbin winding system and electronic speed control leave you more time to create. Lightweight, compact and portable with a built-in handle. 25-year limited warranty. Model #LS2125I.

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Brother SE270D Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine

Step up to a sophisticated but surprisingly easy to use computerized sewing and embroidery machine. It features Brother’s exclusive new quick-load thread cassette system. Simply place a spool of thread into the cassette, insert the cassette into machine and the needle is threaded automatically! Built-in embroidery designs, 1-step auto-size buttonholes, and many other time-saving features: Features: Versatile Brother computerized sewing and embroidery machine.

Features 98 stitch functions. 97 built-in embroidery designs including Mickey Mouse & Friends designs. 70 additional designs include florals, seasonal themes and more. 10 border shapes in 12 border styles for 120 different border combinations. Large 4-inch by 4-inch embroidery area. Built-in memory card slot - compatible with our extensive optional Brother Embroidery Card and Disney Embroidery Card Collections. Exclusive quick-load thread cassette system. Automatic needle threading. One-step auto-size buttonholes in 10 styles. LCD touch-screen panel with computerized stitch selection. Programmable needle-stop position - great for quilting. Drop feed for free motion quilting-5 Quilting stitch functions.

Sew fleece, elastic and other stretchy fabrics with the built-in stretch stitches. Create delicate family treasures using the built-in heirloom stitches. Free arm/flatbed convertible sewing surface. Includes soft cover. Instruction booklet in English and Spanish. 25-year limited warranty. Dimensions: 19.7″H x 10.8″W x 10.7″D. Weight: 15.4 pounds.

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