Valuable Resource on Marriage ~ From Family Life Today ~ Marriage Memo archives Fight for your marriage! It's worth it.
Swine Flu ~ If you are interested in a different perspective than the mass media is giving, check out this article: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx
Outward Beauty vs Inward Beauty ~ Watch this amazing video of Susan Boyle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY Thanks to Rosanne Ayers in Virginia for sending this link!
Tattling ~ When your children come to you, tattling on one another, try having them say something nice about the person they were tattling on. That may put a stop to this age old problem. Of course, teach your children that it is not considered tattling to tell you when they see someone is in danger.
Saving Water ~ Some dishwashers suggest running hot water before starting the dishwasher. It often takes 30 to 60 seconds to get hot water at our kitchen sink, so rather than wasting the water, I like to fill up my sprinkling can for watering house plants, or fill a small bucket for watering plants outside. At least it doesn't simply run down the drain. Also if water sets uncovered for 24 hours before using it, the chlorine will dissipate, which is better for fish and plants.
Watering Trees and Bushes ~ Don't forget to water your trees and bushes during a rain shortage. They will die if you don't.
Contents of Purse ~ When you are away from home and think of small and simple items you have need of, consider cleaning out your purse and restocking it with items like safety pins, pain reliever, chapstick, tissues, a few essential oils, fingernail file, dental floss, etc. Of course, keep it as light in weight as possible by using tiny items, if possible.
Closer Vacation Spot ~ With the downturn in our economy, choosing a nearby vacation spot would help save money on gas.
Keeping Bugs and Bees Away ~ Light sticks of incense from a dollar store and put in the ground or on your picnic table to deter insects. Putting one in a vase will help keep it from falling over. Slide a saucer underneath to catch the ashes. Certain oils also work.
Bananas ~ If you want to slow the ripening of bananas, cut them apart when you bring them home from the grocery store. By the way, mosquitoes are more attracted to people who eat bananas.
Jar or Bottle Opener ~ A large rubber band can be used to open a jar or bottle, if nothing better is available.
Leftover Coffee can be saved in the refrigerator and when you need a cup, simply heat it up in the microwave. No waste.
Stain Remover on Hard Surfaces ~ Almost any stain on hard surfaces like appliances, the inside of a crockpot, countertop, floors, walls, smooth book covers, etc. can be removed with Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel, Goo Gone, or a wet Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Simply rinse or wipe clean after removing the stain.
Cleaning a Pizza Stone or Stone Bar Pan ~ Soap should never be used on them because the fragrance will be absorbed into the stone. A Pampered Chef consultant mentioned that it was safe, however, to use baking soda to absorb excess grease or oil from baking stoneware, along with using the scraper that comes with your purchase. Storing baking soda in a shaker jar and keeping it within reach would make the job easier.
The Best Way to Save Money is to stay out of stores as much as possible. I'm glad I wasn't in our local Hallmark store today, because as I was walking from the parking lot to go into a nearby store, I heard several crashes, then one very loud glass shattering crash. A driver was charged with wreckless driving after crashing into a bush, a concrete bench, and two parked cars before driving right through the glass store front and fully into the Hallmark store! Thankfully no one was hurt.
Spring is here and for many of us that means spring cleaning! Today's tips are meant to help you make cleaning easier.
- If you have old linens that have yellowed, turned brown or are dingy, soak them in buttermilk or sour milk to brighten them and remove some of the stains. This works especially well for items like quilts or old doilies that you don't want to use anything harsh on.
- If you get a build up of spray starch or fusible web on the sole plate of your iron, just run it over a dryer sheet to clean it off.
- Keep a toothbrush by your kitchen sink to clean things like graters, choppers, mixer beaters and openers. You will be surprised how often you grab it to use on hard to clean places.
- Clean your coffee pot once in a while. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar into it and run it through as if you were making coffee. Repeat a couple of times using the same vinegar.
Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down your drain. Then pour the used vinegar from the coffee maker down the drain. Let it sit for a minute or so.
Next, pour 1-2 pots of water through the coffee maker to wash out the vinegar. When each pot of rinse water from the coffee maker is done, pour it into the drain. You now have a clean coffee pot and a clean drain. - Take care of all your small appliances. It really does help them last longer.
- There is a little door on the bottom of your toaster that catches the crumbs. Open and clean out the crumbs once in a while. (UNPLUG THE TOASTER FIRST!)
- Wipe down your hand mixer after each use.
- Run your iron over a dryer sheet to remove anything gummy, including fusible web
- Blow the dirt off of your fans, computers, or air purifiers. (You can buy cans of air for use with computers at office supply stores. These can be used to blow dirt off of other hard to clean items. I used to use an air compressor to blow the dirt off of house fans and grates.)
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