Ada Boje is a licensed massage therapist, and the owner of Health Touch Massage Center, and has been practicing massage therapy in Portland Oregon since 1994.

Ada is a lifelong learner and always strives to gain knowledge that will enhance the lives of those she touches. Through the years that she has been a Massage Therapist in Portland Oregon she has taken an integrative approach, connecting the body, soul and community. She has been a massage therapist in the greater Portland area for almost 20 years. Ada has been proud to offer services and strives to improve the lives of those in her community. She shares in the joy and spiritual connection that comes with being able to touch people’s lives in a positive way.

Massage Services

• Swedish
• Deep Tissue
• Myofasicial Release
• Neuromuscular Techniques
• Soft Tissue Release
• Bodytalk Access
• Somassage

Health touch Massage Center
503-641-7743
Contact

Followed by getting out of debt and losing weight, quitting smoking is the third most popular New Year’s resolution.

According to a non-scientific survey of Fresh Start Detail clients, the number one area to have that fateful, resolution-breaking cigarette is in their car. Why? Most smokers agree it is because no one is around to hold them accountable.

Making a big announcement to friends and family will help smokers resist nicotine urges, but those urges can grow quite strong with each passing hour and day after quitting. Many smokers struggling to quit will justify just one cigarette to “take the edge off.” Sadly that first cigarette often leads to another and eventually results in a failed attempt at kicking the habit.

According to behavioral specialists one important part of stopping an addictive habit like smoking is to change your activity and surroundings that may support that habit. For example, someone giving up alcohol wouldn’t continue to go to bars where the temptation is high – sights, sounds, and smells will only feed the urge. Similarly, a quitting smoker should remove themselves from situations where they know ahead of time that they may be tempted or even encouraged to smoke.

Specialists recommend removing all evidence of the smoking habit like all cigarettes, lighters, matches, and ashtrays, as well as laundering clothes to remove the scent of the nicotine. Thoroughly detailing the inside of the car and removing all the cigarette odor will also go a long ways to discourage smokers from lighting up again.

Odds are, if you asked your car where it would most like to be these days, it wouldn’t say, “Portland in the winter time.” And can you blame it, what with the cold, sleet, snow, and other winter nasties?

Winter will take a toll on your car, truck or SUV – inside and out. Cold temperatures make it harder for an engine to work properly. Snow and ice limit traction. Rain creates mud that gets tracked into the car. Potholes damage wheels and tires. Salt causes rust and gravel pits the paint. I can go on…

But there’s no need to fret, if you take the right steps to make sure your car is ready for the winter months.

Waxing – Invest in a professional wash and wax job. Doing it yourself may help some, but let the pros do the job. When washing it yourself, using household cleaners and even some store bought car cleaners will yield a result that’s less than ideal. Getting wax in and out of the nooks and crannies, and waxing in places non-pros often don’t consider will make a huge impact. This step is one of your primary lines of defense, so don’t go cheap or quick with it.

Headlight Check – Take a good look at your headlights. Are they aligned? Is one dimmer than the other? If you need to replace bulbs, do them as a set – same with restoring the headlight covers. Are the headlight covers faded? Driving with yellowed or faded headlights can be an extreme hazard as the darkness falls earlier in the day. If they are yellowed or faded, you should consider headlight restoration service.

Stop Stains Before They Happen – With the rain comes mud. And with your shoes, that mud gets into the car and can cause both water and mud stains in your car’s carpeting or upholstery. Get a pre-season treatment to prevent those stains before they happen.

Snow Tires and Chains – The condition of your car’s tires is critical during the winter. If the tires are worn, or they are high performance tires, braking, acceleration and handling are all negatively impacted while driving on slippery roads. Make sure you’ve got enough tread to be able to handle wet and icy conditions. And put a set of chains in the car – you never know when you’ll need them, especially if you’re a snow bunny.

Tire Pressure – It is critical to have properly inflated tires, as this guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road. A properly inflated tire will also help protect against wheel damage that might occur as the vehicle is driven over potholes. Read your owner’s manual to find the correct tire pressures.

Check your 4WD – Portland is an SUV mecca. If you’re an SUV owner, make sure the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that there are no strange noises coming from the drivetrain. Make sure that the transmission and gear oil levels are correct. Your owner’s manual will state at what speeds and environments the 4WD can be activated.

Belts & Hoses – Inspect belts and hoses – cold weather can be a killer on them, especially if they’re close to needing replacement.

New Wiper Blades and Fluid – Replace your blades if it’s been more then a couple months since you last replaced them, and make sure you’ve got a full supply of wiper fluid.

Battery Check – Cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion. This is especially important if you park outside.

Anti-Freeze – The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised. You can check the radiator’s mixture by using an antifreeze tester, which can be purchased at all auto parts stores. If the mixture is off, adjust it by adding either coolant or water.

Gear Up for Emergencies – Make sure you’ve got an emergency kit in the trunk. Things you might want to consider carrying:

The 2011 Holiday Ale Festival welcomes you and is one of our favorite events of the year!

Faith Heating & Air Conditioning

Faith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. was established in April 1999 as a full service Heating & Air Conditioning sales and service company. Service is the key element of our company. We maintain fully equiped vans to provide on site service whenever and wherever it is required. Our company specializing in designing and installing complete systems for owners of existing homes and buildings just like you. We are dedicated to delivering you the best. We take our responsibility very seriouly when you place your trust in us. We pledge to always tell you upfront what your cost will be to complete your job correctly.

Faith Heating & Air skilled technicians have the required personnel, training, expertise, and instrumentation to provide the followingbuilding services:

• Air Distribution
• Sound & Vibration Testing
• Verification of Control System
• Duct Cleaning
• Routine Maintenance
• Fuel Piping
• HVAC System Installation
• HVAC System Inspection
• Seasonal Promotions

Portland Metro East
Ph: (503) 356-8686

Portland Metro West
Ph: (503) 645-9988

info@faithheating.com

That ol’ car has been good to you. It’s taken you all over the place and never complained. rain or shine. But, as with all things, there comes a season… After you’ve wiped the tears from your face and pulled yourself together, and fallen in love with your next car, make sure that trusty old steed will get you the highest possible price from its next owner.

According to Kelly Blue Book, a properly cleaned car will increase the resale price by $300 to $500, and the value of a mid-range vehicle can capture up to $2,000 if made ready for sale with a full cleaning and taking care of minor repairs (according to The Car Care Council). Here are tips to help your car’s resale value go up…

Put on the Shine

Invest in a professional wash and wax job. Doing it yourself may help some, but let the pros do the job. When washing it yourself, using household cleaners and even some store bought car cleaners will yield a result that’s less than ideal. Getting wax in and out of the nooks and crannies, and waxing in places non-pros often don’t consider will make a huge impact. If your paint’s faded, this won’t bring it back, but detailing technicians are trained to wax a vehicle to get it about as close as possible, so the buyer won’t notice just how faded your paint has become.

Clear Lights

If your headlights have become worn and dingy, your detailing pro can restore them to like new. There are some over the counter products that do a decent job, which would be acceptable for a car you’re keeping. But for resale, trust it to a professional detailer.

Nice Rims…

Cleaning wheels can be pretty time consuming and with all the road grunge wheel covers collect (and hide) you’ve got to really work at getting all of that residue cleaned away. Auto detailers know how to get into all of the dirt removed, both visible and hiding in the rims, as well as shining those sidewalls that make the wheel covers really pop.

The Human Stain

The interior of a vehicle is like a “well lived in” home or apartment. It carries the “human stain.” That is, when you clean your vehicle yourself, there’s likely a lot that you don’t see because it’s your vehicle. For the buyer, it’s like looking at a new home or apartment. They’ll see everything… and we mean everything. Every stain, nick, tear, whatever. Auto detailers are called “detailers” for a reason.

We see all the details – and we’ve got the professional tools and skills to get that “human stain” removed. Of course, when there are big tears or stains that have been left to set for years, there may be nothing we can do to totally repair or remove them. But for the most part, a professional detailer will be able to restore your interiors to a point where they’ll feel like new.

Scratches and Dings

Don’t be snookered by those miracle products you see on TV that claim they’ll remove a scratch. The only real solution is having a professional handle the removal of scratches. Anything else may lead to greater damage. And if the car has small dents and dings, get those repaired, as well. Remember, just as mentioned above, that buyer sees everything. Getting even small scratches repaired will pay for themselves.

Aside From Cosmetics

If you’re getting ready to sell, put a small binder together with the maintenance history of the car. Include receipts and repair records here. This will offer proof positive to the buyer that you’ve cared for the car well, so they can be confident that they’re getting a good deal. Also get a CarFax report and include that with the car – this will show the ownership history.

On the mechanical side, be sure to replace all burned out bulbs and have any other issues corrected by your mechanic.

Letting go of a good car isn’t easy. Be sure to make sure you give it a good home with a new owner that’ll be as thrilled with it as you’ve been. Then, when you pass the keys over, give it one last pat and watch it ride into the sunset… with a good bit more cash in your pocket that you would have gotten if you’d not prepared it for sale.

I miss you darling, more and more every day, As Heaven would miss the stars above. With every heartbeat, I still think of you, And remember our faded love. — Patsy Cline

When I see a vehicle come into the shop that’s suffering from faded paint, that heart rending lyric from Patsy Cline comes to mind. While all paint jobs will fade over time, your car has given you so much love, here’s how you can show it some love in return and slow down the effects of fading…

As mentioned above all vehicle paints fade gradually over time. This is due to exposure to the ultra-violet rays of the sun and chemicals that are in the atmosphere. You can reduce the effects considerably, however, and make your paintwork last much longer, by taking a few simple and easy measures to protect it.

Sunlight

Over time, UV rays will inevitably reduce the shine of your car’s paint, especially on the horizontal surfaces of your hood, roof, and trunk. The best protection against the heat and UV rays of the sun is the regular application of wax/sealant every 4-6 months. The rub here – no pun intended – is using a quality sealant and applying it the correct way. Wax on, wax off is only part of the process. At Fresh Start Detail our Detailing Technicians are formally trained in the correct application of wax and sealants to ensure that they’re properly applied for both maximum coverage and durability.

Chemicals in the Atmosphere

Pollutants in the air like nitric and sulfuric acid are hard to detect but if left on your paint they will slowly degrade your clear coat by gradually eating it away. The best defense against this is regular washing and again, the application of wax/sealant every 4-6 months. And, also like waxing, there IS a right and a wrong way to wash your car.

Prevention is the name of the game because many times, once you notice a problem with your paint, it is too late to repair. Preventive maintenance is ALWAYS cheaper than repairs, so don’t be the cause of faded love when it comes to your car. Stop in and let us help you keep the color shining bright!

Followed by getting out of debt and losing weight, quitting smoking is the third most popular New Year’s resolution in 2010.
Did you or a loved one make the resolution to quit smoking this year? You can help keep that resolution with our Interior Detail with Smoke Odor Removal Service. With a car that smells fresh and new, the temptation to sneak that cigarette on the way home from work will be so much lower.
An Interior Detail with Smoke Odor Removal is a great gift if you have someone you want to encourage to quit smoking. It’s also a great gift to yourself if you’ve decided to quit. Remember, you’ll be saving some money now that you’re not buying cigarettes.

Can you hear it?  Winter’s right around the corner and that rustling sound isn’t the last of the fall leaves.  It’s dollars flying out of your wallet as the winter takes its toll – with all its rain, mud, snow, ice, road de-icer, gravel and grime – on your car.
What should you do?  Let’s think ahead a few months…

Come spring time, when you get around to cleaning your car, here’s what you can do now to make that job much easier and cheaper:
1)    Give your car’s paint a fighting chance through the winter with a coat of wax to protect the finish.  A good wax is your paint’s best friend when it comes to repelling the nastys of winter.  Get your car thoroughly waxed now so you won’t have to pay a detailer extra to polish the oxidation or to remove other stubborn contaminants.
2)    During winter your car should be washed weekly, but at least every-other week to prevent the build-up of contaminants on the paint.  This is especially true for your wheels.  That gray brake dust sitting on your wheels is right now etching its way permanently into the coating. Investing the time and expense throughout the winter will save you even more than if you need to have a detailer clean the stains you just can’t get out.
3)    Visibility is very important during the dark, wet winter months.  Check your headlight lenses to make sure they’re still clear.  If the plastic is fading, hazy or turning yellow you should have them looked at by a professional detailer.  If needed, a detailer can restore the clarity of the lenses to maximize headlight output, and at a fraction of the cost of buying new lights.  You’ll be much safer during the dark days of winter.
4)    Continuing with visibility and saving money, now is the time to fix any rock chips in your windshield.  Drastic temperature changes cause seemingly dormant chips to split out into large cracks with no warning.  That chip may have sat there all summer and fall just minding its own business.  In fact, you probably don’t even notice it anymore.  But one of these cold winter mornings when you hit your defroster that chip will scream to life and make a sound, that’s right, the sound of money flying out of your wallet.

Keep your car looking its best during the winter months and your spring cleaning can be a breeze.

Fresh Start Detail's sign, December 2008

Windshield chip repair (WCR) is a process that injects a special clear adhesive resin into a small crack or break in a windshield. The damaged area’s strength is restored to prevent any cracks from spreading; in fact it’s guaranteed not to spread! The clarity is also improved at least 85%.

• Repairs save money by preventing the need for a more costly replacement. Replacing a windshield on a modern car or SUV will cost hundreds of dollars, even more if it has an antenna, defroster or rain sensor built in to it.
• Repairs are very convenient taking less than an hour.
• Repairs are safer than replacement because the glass is never removed and the original factory seal is maintained.