We all know Thanksgiving can be a hectic holiday, particularly if you’re hosting. When the 10+ pound turkey has yet to be picked up, the sides have yet to be planned, and your guests are due to arrive in hours, decorating the table is the least of your worries. Don’t be discouraged: you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to create a beautiful, easy, inexpensive holiday centerpiece. In fact, you may have all the supplies to wow those soon-to-arrive guests in five minutes flat:

Option 1: Glass Vases or Wine Bottles + String Lights

Check your cabinets for empty glass vases, hurricane candle holders – any decorative glass bowl will do. If you’re in a pinch, an empty wine bottle creates the same effect! Now, fill with string lights and voilà – instant centerpiece. Battery operated string lights are easiest because you won’t have to worry about the cord, but you can also get creative with hiding the cord under your table runner. Add pinecones and/or branches as you wish.

Option 3: Leaves of Your Choice + String Lights

This incredibly simple centerpiece looks fantastic with deep green magnolia leaves or a collection from your front yard’s best yellow/orange/red ensemble. The rustic tablecloth used in this picture matches well, but any neutral color would work.

Many homes, local businesses, hospitals and city buildings rely on electric generators as a backup to their main power source when there is a power outage. June is National Hurricane Preparedness Month and Mr. Electric wants to help you, your family, business and community stay safe during the hurricane season. Whether you are using a permanently placed standby electric generator or a portable electric generator used for the home, these guidelines will help you power tomorrow.

Standby electric generator:

Electric home generator:

Proper operation of electric generators will prevent damage and injury. Stay safe during National Hurricane Preparedness Month with these tips from Mr. Electric.

Warm weather and clear skies means it is finally barbeque season once again! May is National Barbeque Month, and we are definitely in the festive spirit. But before you get ready to fire up the grill and bust out the pool rafts, make electrical safety a priority. It might be time for an outdoor outlet upgrade to keep your parties running smoothly this summer.

So just what do you need when it comes to outdoor electrical outlets? Make certain to have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) installed outdoors for your outlets to protect from serious electrical problems. It’s also always a good idea to have additional outlets installed if possible, especially if find yourself running extension cords across your deck that have become a safety hazard.

Don’t overlook the manual warning of certain appliances that say “not for outdoor use.” It’s always safer to double-check before running into a problem later on. Make sure that electrical appliances are unplugged and turned off when not in use or left unattended.

Just like your outlets and appliances, extension cords need to be rated for outdoor use when you are using them in your backyard. If you must have extension cords running across your backyard during a barbeque, make sure to keep it out of the walkway and away from where children will be playing.

If a rainstorm begins while you’re working as a master chef outside on your electric grill, don’t be a hero for the burgers. Stay safe and head into the kitchen with a backup plan to avoid the risk of electric shock.

Don’t kick off barbeque season without getting pools and spas inspected by an electrician who can make sure you’re backyard is safe and ready for the summer. This is also a good time to make sure you know where electrical circuits and breakers are in case of an emergency.

If you need any help making your backyard barbeque-ready, our professionals can make your electrical renovations and fix-ups a breeze.

1.  Invest in a Few Strategically Placed Garden Lights–Do not over light your landscape. Be sure to check the “dark sky”* ordinances in your town so that your landscape lighting design will be within legal limits of illumination.  Try a few garden spread lights to softly highlight flowerbeds, rock gardens and sculpted shrubbery.

2.  Work It Wisely—Put the ultimate control in the palm of your hand. Whether hand-held or on automated timers, outdoor lighting controls are the utmost in energy-saving and convenience to promote safety and security effortlessly and instantly.

3.  Prepare Your Patio for the King of the Grill—Task lighting is often neglected when planning your landscape and outdoor lighting design. While aiming for subtle illumination in most backyard areas, you need shielded, but plentiful focused task light over outdoor cooking stations.  An adjustable spot light installed in a rooftop corner or an attached grill light will help you to see that your chicken is thoroughly cooked and your burgers are not too well-done.

4. Watch Your Step and Provide Shielded Path Lighting —LED path lights and strip lights are available in a variety of colors and sizes to uniquely define and expand the boundaries of your outdoor living space while providing nighttime illumination for safe navigation.

5.  Go for the Life Time Guarantee—Superb new vendors are featuring landscape lighting products guaranteed to withstand the elements and weather naturally overtime without peeling or rusting.  Check out new post lamps from Northeast Lantern–all parts, with the exception of glass, are guaranteed for life!

 Say “Happy Father’s Day!” and bring it on home. Great landscape lighting will truly make his home feel like his castle. 

 Best Landscape Lighting Finds For Summer 

Path Lighting: “Nexus,” new from Hinkley Lighting featuring LED and a Bronze finish; “Dwell”  1547 from Hinkley in a Buckeye Bronze or Hematite finish.

Garden Lights: “Intaglio” Brass Crook Neck 1543 landscape light in Olde Bronze from Kichler Lighting; Tiffany path light in Antique Bronze with Green Faux Tiffany shade (P5271) from Progress Lighting.

Grill and Wall Lights: Barn Lantern from Northeast Lantern available in a choice of unique finishes including: Antique Brass, Dark Antique Brass, Dark Brass and Verdi Gris.

Step and Deck Lighting:  LED-TO24-5 Tape Lights from WAC Lighting, available in Amber, Blue, Green, Red, and White.

 Be sure that your new outdoor lighting purchases are in keeping with the dark-sky outdoor-lighting codes in your community.

*The latest landscape light fixtures are energy efficient and in keeping with new “Dark Sky” regulations.  “Dark Sky” ordinances continue to spread across the country in an effort to reduce light pollution.  Check the latest nighttime light restrictions in your town, to make sure your outdoor and landscape lighting is in keeping with new code laws.  Call your local government’s community planning and zoning office.  Fines for violating dark-sky ordinances may cost up to $100–Consumer Digest Communications, LLC.

The emergence of shielded dark-sky-compliant fixtures makes it easy to update your landscape lighting in keeping with the new laws. In addition to being environmentally friendly, these fixtures reduce glare, and they are affordable and energy saving.

Twas the Day before Christmas….a true story December 24, 2009 Garland, Texas As the temperature dropped, it had started to snow, The 100 Amp. Federal, just decided to Blow!……….. It arced and it sparked, sent my wife in a Panic, I felt like the captain, of the famous Titanic…. Kids coming for christmas, lots of food to prepare, No lights in the kitchen, on the brink of despair…. Her I-Phone still up, she went to the net, She Googled some words, and found the Best Bet…. We called and Nick answered, He got someone going, Jeremy from Mesquite, and soon—Power Flowing!!!! Mrs. Overbey and I sincerely thank the Family at ElectricMan for being there and saving our Christmas! God Bless and Merry Christmas, Val & Susan Overbey

Thank you Val & Susan!  It was a pleasure to do business with you!