Household Tips

So, yes, I KNOW that this really has no place on this blog, but I am so excited that I have to share. Oreos. Pizza. They have come toghether. Yes, really. Domino’s Pizza now has an OREO DESSERT PIZZA. Dear God, thank you for answering my prayers. Unfortunately, they did not deliver one to my door in a publicity stunt, so I am stuck with simply sharing the news with you. Pictures, I’m sure, will come after this weekend.

Domino’s Pizza the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, delivers two great brands in one pie with the introduction of Domino’s new OREO(R) Dessert Pizza.
Domino’s OREO(R) Dessert Pizza is a new twist on one of America’s favorites. The first nationally available dessert pizza in Domino’s nearly 47- year history, OREO(R) Dessert Pizza starts with a new dessert-style thin crust that’s layered with vanilla sauce and covered with OREO(R) cookie crumbles. When it’s fresh out of the oven, a sweet icing is drizzled on top. Beginning this week, customers can try Domino’s new OREO(R) Dessert Pizza for just $3.99 with any purchase.

Domino’s, Oreos, dessert pizza, happiness

More and more consumers are fighting for truth in labeling. Are you one of the growing trend? If so, a new organization beckons. More than 20,000 people are concerned about the chicken they’re buying to band together and issue a press release! I’m personally more concerned with hormones than with salt and water, but maybe that’s just me.

More than 23,500 members have joined the Truthful Labeling Coalition (TLC) in hopes of drawing attention to the mislabeling of pumped-up chicken.

These 23,500 constituents have been spreading the word to family, friends and coworkers that they will not stand for the mislabeling of their fresh chicken products. Currently, members are engaged in a growing initiative — each individual is being asked to recruit at least two new members in hopes of tripling the coalition’s size.

By urging immediate reform of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s poultry labeling rules, members are hoping for a change that will prohibit fresh chicken that is pumped-up or injected with a solution of sodium, water, binding agents like carageenan (a seaweed extract), and other additives, from being labeled as “natural”.

The TLC Tip Sheet is designed to inform, educate, and inspire people to get involved with the truthful labeling cause.

http://www.TruthfulLabeling.org

chicken, labeling

These are so pretty that they get stolen from my front yard! Really! My daughter made one of these with a pretty cross design on it, and someone STOLE it (yes, a cross!) from our front yard.

To make stepping stones, use plastic or rubbermaid tubs (margarine tubs, etc. work great!) Line with vaseline, and then pour concrete in. You can set in stones or mosaic tiles before the concrete sets. When the concrete dries, you can pop out most designs. If they won’t pop, just slice the margarine container away!

crafts, stepping stones

Use dental floss to:

I’m not sure what I think of this. Yes, I grant you that the mortgage industry is a mess right now. And yes, I grant that when I hear Better BUSINESS Bureau, I immediately have warm fuzzies. But just naming your business to sound like the BBB doesn’t really work for me… Especially when the URL is a .com, not a .org…. I’ll leave it to my alert readers to decide.

A new “service” has emerged — the Better Mortgage Bureau. Here’s what they have to say about themselves:

Mortgage Experts Launch ‘Better Mortgage Bureau,’ A Free Service to Consumers Looking for Legitimate Home Loans

A Better Business Bureau-type organization has finally arrived to help the mortgage industry to regain its credibility and footing among consumers. It’s called the Better Mortgage Bureau. Its website, http://www.bettermortgagebureau.com went live this week, and it could not have come at a better time.

The Better Mortgage Bureau is an organization that provides consumers the necessary tools and education in order to make informed home-buying decisions. The BMB mission is to elevate consumer awareness through shared experiences and industry experts. The BMB was built to establish the Best Practices benchmark for the mortgage industry. The Better Mortgage Bureau
is the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for the mortgage industry.

Consumers can search the repository of all BMB members to find the mortgage professional that meets their needs. For the first time, consumers can be assured that their mortgage professional is licensed, trained and will adhere to the BMB code of ethics. Mortgage brokers, loan officers and lenders who join the BMB immediately add credibility to their profession.

“We intend to shore up the mortgage industry’s battered image in America,” said Lance Cassell, the Better Mortgage Bureau’s Managing Director. “We see an industry that needs trust and reliability today as much as home builders need bricks and mortar.”

This is such a silly tip, but I love it. You know how your metal finger nail files always seem to gunk up with filings? You can make those files like new again. Simply take a piece of tape (the stronger the better), attach it to the file, and pull it away. Just like you’d do with pet hair or lint on fabric.

nail file

I don’t know about your lawn, but after 10 days of greater than 100 degree heat, mine is DRY and yellow. I’m not sure even these tips can save it. But I’m willing to give it a try. Thanks to Briggs and Stratton for the tips!

Here’s what to do now:

— First aid for a battered lawn.
By late summer or early fall, your grass may be worn down from foot traffic. When you fertilize, give these areas one extra pass with the spreader to help the grass recover.
— Need green in a hurry?
Hosting a family gathering or open house? Apply a light dose of urea (pure nitrogen fertilizer) and water it in for near-instant green in two to three days. It will last a couple of weeks.
— Prepare for the weed war.
Those most hated of weeds — perennials like dandelions and creeping Charlie — should be tackled in early fall for a better lawn next spring. They are germinating now and are easier to kill. Use a broadleaf weed killer.
— Raise your mower blade.
Give your lawn a break by letting it grow just a little longer. Whenever you mow, never cut more than one-third the height of the grass blade to help your lawn stay healthy.
— A great time to seed.
Whether you are seeding an entire lawn or fixing dead patches, late summer and fall are great times to do it. Rake off any dead grass, loosen the soil and add a starter fertilizer before you seed or add sod. Keep the area moist until the seed sprouts and the sod sets roots.
— Plant trees and shrubs.
Fall is a good time to add landscape elements, and you will find many of them on sale. Water trees and shrubs thoroughly and continue to water until the first frost.
To diagnose and find a cure for lawn problems or to learn more about how to achieve a great yard, visit the Yard Doctor at
http://www.yardsmarts.com.

lawn, yard, grass, Briggs

This might be the most unique contest I’ve seen yet! Any entries out there??

Garage Organization Leader Launches Contest to Help the Most Chaotic and Cramped Garages

There are 70 million garages in the United States today, but according to a recent Gladiator(R) GarageWorks consumer survey, many need organizational help. Only 40 percent of garage owners listed parking their car as the garage’s primary use, with the same percentage referring to their garage as a storage unit or junkyard. To help Americans turn around their chaotic and cramped garages, Gladiator brand has announced the first ever Chaotic & Cramped Ultimate Garage Makeover contest. This contest is aimed at turning the most chaotic and cramped garages in the nation into organized new frontiers with $10,000 in Gladiator(R) GarageWorks products.

To further illustrate chaotic garage issues, Gladiator brand has teamed up with celebrity designer, host and organization expert, Karl Champley to kick-off the contest. To enter, garage owners must visit http://www.gladiatorgw.com between August 9, 2007 and October 9, 2007, and submit a photo of their garage along with a description on why it’s deserving of a makeover. One Grand Prize winner will receive a Gladiator(R) GarageWorks Ultimate Garage Makeover worth $10,000 and five first prize winners will receive a Gladiator(R) Fold Away Work Surface valued at $249.

contests, garage

Here’s a great list of tips for packing the kids’ lunches (it’s back to school time!) or your own!

Packing A Lunch Kids Will Love
To make sure your children bring fun and nutritious meals with them to school, follow these easy-to-follow tips:
1. Keep food cold and safe by packing an ice pack in an insulated lunch box.
2. Pack your child’s favorite cut-up fresh fruit and include a toothpick or place fruit on a skewer to make eating it more fun.
3. Include a small container of low fat ranch dressing to make veggies, like baby carrots and red pepper strips, more appealing.
4. Offer a low fat cheese stick or yogurt for bone-building calcium.
5. Include a variety of lean protein sources such as tuna, turkey, and chicken.
6. Pack a healthy beverage of 100 percent fruit juice, water, or low fat milk.

lunch, school

Just when I thought everyone in the world had already heard this (my favorite ever) tip… I found someone at a baby shower the other day who did not know….

You can quickly, easily, and NEATLY cut cake with dental floss! Make sure you buy unflavored, because that mint or cinnamon flavor will indeed transfer to the cake. Just cut a long piece of floss, and slice right through the cake. Serve as usual!

cake, dental floss

This is an odd one… But, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health has issued a public advisory on handling pet food safely. According to them, 21 cases of salmonella in Pennsylvania have been linked to pet food handling!

Here’s what bothers me: Shouldn’t the food I buy for Fido and Fifi (or at my house Pooka and Izzy) be salmonella-free to begin with? I don’t want to feed my pets that stuff!

Nonetheless, here is the list of safety tips. It makes my friend Judy look very smart — she cooks for her pets every day!

Buying Tips

– Purchase products (canned or bagged) with no visible signs of damage to the packaging, such as dents, tears, discolorations, etc.

Preparation Tips

– Preferably, people should feed their pet in areas other than the kitchen.
– Begin with clean hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap before and after handling pet food and treats.
– Wash pet food bowls, dishes and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use. The bowl or utensils used for pet food should not be washed in the kitchen sink. In households where there is no alternative, the sink area should be adequately sanitized after these items have been cleaned and removed.
– Do not use the pet’s feeding bowl as a scooping utensil — use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon or cup instead.
– Dispose of old or spoiled pet food products in a safe manner (example: in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash receptacle.)

Storage Tips

– Pet food should not be handled or stored in areas where food for humans is prepared. If this does happen, it increases the potential for cross-contamination from the pet food to foods being served to people.
– Promptly refrigerate or discard unused, leftover wet pet food (cans, pouches, etc.). Refrigerating foods quickly prevents the growth of most harmful bacteria. Refrigerators should be set at 40 degrees F. The accuracy of the setting should be checked occasionally with a refrigerator thermometer.
– Dry pet food and pet treats should be stored in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees F.
– If possible, store dry pet food in its original bag inside a clean, dedicated plastic container with a lid, keeping the top of the bag folded closed.
– Keep pets away from food storage and preparation areas.
– Keep pets away from garbage and household trash.

pet food, dog food, salmonella

And now that we’ve been convinced there’s a problem, Clorox and the CDC offer us a solution!

Help to Expel Germs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 52 million cases of the common cold each year among Americans under the age of 17. With illness keeping students out of school for a national average of four days a year, experts advise parents to devise a plan of action for how to deal with their kids’ sick days.

Donna Mazyck, president of the National Association of School Nurses offers the following tips for helping to reduce the spread of germs in the classroom:
— Teach children hand-washing habits; it is one of the most important thing teachers can do to help prevent illness during the school year. Use warm, soapy water and rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds (about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.)

— Use disinfecting wipes regularly on commonly touched classroom surfaces to decrease the level of germs that can cause illness.

— Encourage kids to cough and sneeze into their elbows, not their hands (where they’re more likely to spread viruses through touch).

— Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, as these are easy ways to transmit germs after coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.

— If you are uncertain about when to keep a sick child home, it’s important to talk with your school nurse or doctor.

Clorox is providing tips and tools for teachers to help them expel germs from their classroom. For more information on promoting a healthier classroom, teachers can sign up at http://www.cloroxclassrooms.com to download free “Clean Up the Classroom” lesson plans, children’s games and more.

School, Teachers, Germs, Classrooms

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this here before, but just in case I haven’t… By day, I’m a high school teacher. That means that I spend my day with a minimum of 150 students coming through the door of my classroom, spreading germs. We just started back to school this week, and already I feel like I’m coming down with a cold. (And yes, I’m using Airborne!)

So, I found this press release very interesting. I, indeed, do clean student desks with Lysol wipes (to try to disinfect them), but I’m sure I don’t pay attention to everything they suggest.

This is a long article, so I’ll give you half today, and half tomorrow! Come back!

In a recent survey, school nurses say more can be done in America’s classrooms to help prevent the spread of illness, especially at the height of cold and flu season when more than half of school nurses send five or more sick children home each day.

According to the new survey of school nurses from the National Association of School Nurses about germs at school sponsored by The Clorox Company, 76 percent of school nurses treat more than 16 ill students every day.

In addition to ensuring proper hand washing in the classroom, the survey showed:
— An overwhelming 94 percent of nurses surveyed believe classroom cleaning routines for teachers to follow would help combat germs at school
— Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe disinfecting plays an extremely important role in maintaining a healthy classroom.

— 98 percent disinfect their own offices. It’s also important for sick students to stay home.

— More than half of students seen by school nurses came to school ill. Traditionally, school custodial staff members clean areas of the classroom including floors, chalkboards, sinks and bathrooms, but do not disinfect desktops, computer keyboards and mice, and other high-touch areas where germs can harbor. It’s left to teachers and parents to clean these
items.

A fall 2005 study by University of Arizona further shed light on the importance of cleaning in schools. After comparing bacteria presence on office surfaces of professionals in different occupations, the study ranked classrooms as the #1 workplace for germs and named teachers as having the “germiest” job.

Lyson, Airborne, Teachers, School, germs

We are having one heckuva heat wave in the South — temps over 100. I’m sure those of you who are desert dwellers are rolling your eyes at that. But remember, we also have 90% plus humidity! That also means that power bills will SOAR next month. Try these tips from PSE&G to cut electricity usage:

– Turn off everything you’re not using; lights, TVs, computers, etc. Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

– Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.

– Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. With central air, close off vents to unused rooms.

– Delay heat-producing tasks such as washing and drying laundry or dishes until later in the day, and wait until the load is full.

– Refrain from using nonessential appliances. Unplug or use only when necessary an extra refrigerator in your garage.

electricity, conservation

Since I don’t have one, I’ll have to thank The Maids for posting this great list of “easy” tips for housekeeping!

– Place a doormat outside of your front entry door to reduce the amount of dirt tracked into the home.

– Leave a squeegee inside the shower and have each family member squeegee the walls after each shower. This reduces hard water buildup and a lot of scrubbing later on. A towel can also be used in place of a squeegee.

– Pour 1 cup white vinegar in the toilet bowl and leave overnight. Flush in the morning and the waterline ring should disappear.

– Enlist the family’s help by assigning age appropriate chores. Kids ages 10 and under can make beds and pick up rooms, while children older than 10 can vacuum, dust and wash floors. Convince your husband to move and clean behind appliances!

– Break up chores by scheduling common tasks for certain days of the week. In the past, women used to do chores by the day of the week. This traditional method breaks down the long list of weekly chores into seven days, making tasks seem more manageable.

housekeeping, cleaning, toilet ring