Avilla Theory

Fasting, Greyson crashes his bike.

We sold a car!
Air Doctor update :) https://www.airdoctorpro.com/

What are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)?

Source: EPA.gov

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.

Where can they commonly found?

• paints, paint strippers and other solvents
• wood preservatives
• aerosol sprays
• cleansers and disinfectants
• moth repellents and air fresheners
• stored fuels and automotive products
• hobby supplies
• dry-cleaned clothing
• pesticide
• building materials and furnishings
• office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper
• graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions.

Do we need to improve the air quality in our home?

Source: EPA.gov

• 70% of lives in our homes (probably more now with COVID)
• Polon, dust, smoke, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can be found in the home and reduce air quality
• Primary causes of indoor air problems: smoke, flooring, cleaning products, personal care products, excess moisture, pesticides
• VOCs are up to ten times higher indoors than outdoor. Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. 
• Most residential forced air-heating systems and air-conditioning systems do not bring outdoor air into the house mechanically, and infiltration and natural ventilation are relied upon to bring outdoor air into the home. Advanced designs for new homes are starting to add a mechanical feature that brings outdoor air into the home through the HVAC system. Some of these designs include energy efficient heat recovery ventilators to mitigate the cost of cooling and heating this air during the summer and winter.

Source: NY Times

• Indoor air pollution has been linked to a wide variety of adverse health effects, including headaches, respiratory problems, frequent colds, and sore throats, chronic cough, skin rashes, eye irritation, lethargy, dizziness and memory lapses.
• Long-term effects may include an increased risk of cancer. Though children, the elderly and those with chronic ailments like asthma, allergies and heart and lung diseases seem especially vulnerable, symptoms may also occur in otherwise normal, healthy persons
• The pollution problem is most serious in homes tightly sealed to keep out the winter cold (or heat). In a typical ''leaky'' house, all the air is exchanged with fresh outdoor air about once an hour, but a well-sealed house may take four to 10 times longer to completely replace the indoor air. This allows an enormous buildup of potentially harmful substances in the air.
• A Harvard study showed that children living in homes with gas stoves had a significant reduction in lung function. A British study revealed an increase in colds and bronchitis among children whose homes had gas ovens. Nitrogen dioxide has been implicated in longterm respiratory problems, and possibly heart disease and cancer.
• Gas ranges should be fitted with a hood that is vented to the outside, and the vent should be turned on whenever a burner is lighted or the oven in use.

Improving Home Air Quality 

Source: EPA.gov

• Natural ventilation from windows and doors when weather permits
• Reduce and remove pollutants, (ex. cooking, cleaning, smoke)
• Plants may help but the evidence is inconclusive 
• To filter particles, choose a portable air cleaner that has a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that is large enough for the size of the room or area in which you will use it. The higher the CADR, the more particles the air cleaner can filter and the larger the area it can serve.
• Look for HEPA filter in air purifier
• Look for HEPA filter in vacuum otherwise the vacuum could be making it worse by stirring up the pollutants and putting them back into the air
• To filter gases, choose a portable air cleaner with an activated carbon filter or other filter designed to remove gases. 
• Avoid portable air cleaners and furnace/HVAC filters that intentionally produce ozone
• Use a Merv 13 filter for the HVAC
• Use a doormat and remove shoes at the door

Source: health.harvard.edu

• Vacuuming the carpets and area rugs at least once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Opting for hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting may also cut down on allergens in the home
• Invest in an ionic air purifier
• Let fresh air in

Conclusion:

Will a portable air filter help improve home air quality?

Yes. Most portable air cleaners and furnace/HVAC filters can filter particles from the air. Some can filter the small particles of greatest health concern (PM2.5). There are also air cleaners and filters that can filter both particles and gases. The longer the air cleaner runs, the more air it filters. Note that it is always important to reduce or remove the sources of indoor air pollutants and to ventilate with clean outdoor air. Filtration does not replace the need to control pollutants and ventilate. - epa.gov 

Can I test the air in my house?

Yes, an indoor air quality monitor can be purchased. 

Resources:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/guide_to_air_cleaners_in_the_home_2nd_edition.pdfhttps://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-07/documents/guide_to_air_cleaners_in_the_home_2nd_edition.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/28/garden/dangers-of-indoor-air-pollution.html?pagewanted=all

Air filters increase test scores:

https://www.vox.com/2020/1/8/21051869/indoor-air-pollution-student-achievement

Best Air Purifier Review and why it’s needed:

https://mommypotamus.com/best-air-purifier/

https://wellnessmama.com/346605/air-filters/

Checkout https://www.kiwanisbikes.org/

How to find a cleaning team

How to provide a 5 star experience. 

Rock with guest communication

How to reach superhost status

Tricks for gaining traction early: gift baskets, hand written notes, food in the fridge etc. manage expectations 

1099 your cleaning staff

Furnishing

• QR code hack with blog posts to the hikes.
• High end furnishings are noticed and appreciated by guests

PantyDrop.me
KiwiBox

We recently started playing piano and Nicole and the boys are taking piano lessons. Here's what we've learned so far :)

• Clearly communicate the time expectation up front. The time that I was away from the family while working, or while the kids were too small to be in the dangerous area without supervision.
• Take tons of pictures, because you’ll want to remember the insane amount of work it was
• Have the right tools for the job: crowbar, full body paint suits for under the house.
• Bluetooth speakers 
• 3m drywall sanding screens
• Drywall sander
• Texture
• Paint
  • Bigger than a quarter to match color
  • Match the finish: matte vs flat vs satin vs semi gloss and gloss
    • Matte and flat - good for bedroom and living room
      • Pro- easy to touch up
      • Con- hold dirt and hard to clean because removes finish
    • Satin - perl like sheen when dry - high traffic area like kitchen and kid bathroom
      • Pro: stands up well to cleaning
      • Con:  doesn’t hid imperfections
    • Semi gloss and gloss - reflects most light (bathroom and kitchen)
      • Pro: durable and scrubbable
      • Con: shows every single imperfection

We talk about:

• Finding good renters
  • Do credit checks
  • Be patient it can take many showings to find the right renters
  • Use renter screening tools like cozy.co 
• Be extremely clear about expectations
  • Make sure to have a clause in the contract that requires a per day late fee over a set number of days. E.g. after 3 days, each day late costs $25/day
  • Be clear about pet cleaning fees 
  • If they want an exception for an animal, try to get a good idea if they really need the pet or not. I wish we asked for some sort of proof that the animal was required otherwise we would’ve charged extra
• Set up monthly or quarterly visits from a landscaper for the exterior
• Being your own handyman
• Other ways you can invest in long term properties

We recommend:

• Roofstock - Build Wealth through Real Estate 
• Second Nature - Filter subscription
• Starbucks - Maryland You Are Here mug
• Starbucks - Seattle Been There mug
• Cozy - Free property management
• Nest Learning Thermostat
• Airbnb - Our Tahoe Short Term Rental

We talk about:

• Choosing a hospital, birth center, or homebirth
• Reasons you should consider a home birth
• Our hospital birth story
• Importance of hiring a doula 
• What is a Certified Professional Midwife
• Interviewing and choosing a midwife
• Storing cord blood
• Delayed cord clamping
• Placenta Encapsulation
• Cost of a homebirth
• Postpartum visits with a midwife

We recommend:

• The Business of Being Born
• Comparison chart of CNM, CM, CPM
• The BMJ Safety of Home Birth Study 
• CMAJ Outcomes of planned home birth vs hospital birth study
• Over the Top - Jonathan Van Ness
• Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss

We talk about:

• Finding us on social media
• Purchasing a second home
• Choosing a lender and why rates are higher for investment properties
• Investing more money into your downpayment
• Renting out a house as a short term rental
• Finding tax breaks with your investment property
• Remodeling homes 
• Creating a budget for a short term rental

We recommend:

• Calm - magnesium
• How you spend your days - Podcast
• Emeals - Dave Ramsey
• Instagram - AvillaTheory
• Twitter - @AvillaTheory
• Our Red House - Airbnb
• Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
• The Switch Bag - Danielle Fabri and Angela S. Bigotti
• Wahl Cord/Cordless Clippers
• Professional Barber Cape

We talk about:

• Reevaluating and recalibrating our finances 
• Turning a budget into a challenge/game
• Tracking methods for spending
• Creating monthly and long term financial goals
• Spending money on things you are passionate about
• Watching feel-good movies
• Update on what we are currently reading

We recommend:

• Mint
• Cook Smarts
• I Will Teach You To Be Rich - Ramit Sethi
• Becoming - Michelle Obama
• Permanent Record - Edward Snowden
• CITIZENFOUR
• goodreads
• Big
• Mighty Ducks
• Mighty Ducks 2
• Angels in the Outfield
• Remember the Titans

We talk about:

• Buying tickets
• Finding a hotel/airbnb
• Renting a stroller
• Download the Disney app
• Eating with restrictions
• Scheduling rides
• Resting places in the parks

We recommend:

• Download the Disney App
• Costco Disney Packages
• AAA Disney Packages
• Instacart
• BabyQuip

We talk about: 

• Creating monthly outings with friends
• Investing our time into our community