Household Tips

I enjoy drinking soda, as much as I know it’s bad for the health. But do you know there are several other ways to enjoy soda without having to drink them? Here are a few tips….

• Soda keeps flowers fresh. Cut an inch of it at the end of the stem. Put this in the vase with the desired amount of water. Add a little regular 7-Up or Sprite. When you change the water everyday, you add a little of the soda too. It will keep the buds perky for as long as possible. You can also do this with green plants. Treat them with soda once in a while.
• Carbonated soda’s help clean car battery terminals better. You try this….pour this on your car battery and watch as it fizzles away the dust and dirt. If you can do this on car batteries, you can also do this in other areas were rust is present.
• Carpet cleaning? Use club soda to remove problem spots and clean them. The soda helps loosen the dirt so you can blot cloth or towels onto it easily. Unlike soap, it doesn’t leave any residue (which really makes the carpet a lot dirtier!).
• Fluffier pancakes? Make use of soda as a secret ingredient. Replace part of the water with this.
• Pour soda in toilet bowls, let it soak for an hour and then scrub like normal….watch how it sparkles and shines.
• Add a tad of club soda to your bitter coffee, the one that’s been sitting too long, and enjoy a fresh cup instantly!

If you’re a tea and coffee drinker, you would love to own one of this.

The Cuisinart Electric Kettle from William Sonoma is a real kitchen helper. It is a cordless hot pot that is proven to boil water faster, and then shuts off immediately as the water is ready. The heat comes from the basin it is sitting on, this hotplate type, saucer like bottom.

Gone are those kettles that you leave in the oven too long, charred and rusty; or those plastic ones that seem to look unsafe after a couple of usage. This one is truly a superior kitchen appliance

The Cuisinart even comes in this really beautiful stainless steel. It’s kinda old school, but very much up there with ease of use and technology. It’s also something you won’t mind displaying at the kitchen countertop or even at the office nook, because look how pretty it is!

$79.95 at William Sonoma.

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How cute are these! Don’t they feel like something straight out of Beauty and The Beast, you know that Disney movie? It’s so creative and whimsical!

These are kooky cabinets designed and made available at Posh Tots, who has been in the business for years now. Expectedly though, these are ultra expensive items because they are custom made and crafted with the highest quality. These are just two samples of kooky furniture found at Poshtots, there are actually plenty more ranging from $3,000 to the highest priced at $10,000.

And I guess the end result is something that is not only pleasing to look at and a joy to own, it’s going to be a treasured piece in the house, I’m sure.

Some kids are really born privileged and very lucky!

Need an energy boost? A quick fix and prevention for the cold and flu virus that could be spreading around? A stress relief? This Bath & Body Works Instant Aromatherapy set for $10 each should do the trick. The scent helps cure whatever it is that troubles you and you will be back in good disposition soon.

• Breathe deeply for best results
• Never tested on animals
• Fragranced with essential oils and other natural fragrances

	Aromatherapy Instant Aromatherapy Cold & Flu Therapy Coming down with something. Under the weather. Can’t breathe. Throbbing sinus pressure. Stuffed up. Want to go back to bed. Fatigued and exhausted. Chicken soup isn’t doing the trick. Feel better. This all-natural blend of therapeutic essential oils helps provide a feeling of relief from cold and flu symptoms.
	Aromatherapy Instant Aromatherapy Instant Comfort Back to school. Long flight. Nervous energy. Anxious about tomorrow. Too much caffeine. Bouncing off the walls. Can’t get comfortable. Marathon meeting. Pop quiz. New blemish. The in-laws are visiting. Roll this on for relief. Studies have shown that breathing in Vanilla absolute eases anxiousness. And Chamomile essential oil fosters feelings of comfort.
	Aromatherapy Instant Aromatherapy Stress Relief Stressed out? Too many deadlines. Not enough hours in the day. Worked late. No job security. Noisy traffic. Demanding husband. Screaming kids. No time to yourself. The car is acting weird. Roll this on for relief – studies have shown Eucalyptus essential oil eases stress and calms the body and mind, while Spearmint essential oil can ease mental fatigue and stress.

Most pot does come with a lid but these aren’t the type which are air-tight, or posstibly keep food from burning.

This silicon lid from Delight is manufactured to deliver just that and it makes cooking even more perfect. The see through window allows one to take a peek on how the dish is progressing, and the additional silicon spatula is a handy tool that helps handling food better.

This set costs $34.50.

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Do you use a lot of Cilantro on your dishes? I’m not a big fan of it, I admit. It tastes like medicine. Then again, I’m not a fan of any herb (which would sound rather silly).

But I wasn’t aware, there are plenty of people out there absolutely despise this herb, bad enough to even form an “I Hate Cilantro” group on Facebook.

Here’s an interesting story about Cilantro on The Wall Street Journal , after the cut…
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Cover lids of your dinner contributions to a church or social group with rubber bands while you transport them. This way, you keep the food secure and clean. You only need to open them when the party or eating starts.

If you have babies in the house, or unexpected guests with babies arriving and if you still haven’t got the time to child proof the house then secure cabinets with extra large rubber bands to keep them from hurting themselves. Babies can get through anywhere they can reach, it’s better to be safe even when they are just temporary guests at your place.

Rubber bands may help improve your child’s grip onto a water glass. Slip a wide rubber band onto the glass, it will help the child learn to hold the glass properly and will keep it from slipping or spilling.

Slippery cutting boards may be kept in place if you wrap a couple of rubber bands diagonally as you hack away the vegetables and meat.

If you love cooking rice dishes such as Paella and the likes, this latest home gadget from designer Sang-Jang Lee, will make preparation and cooking of it easier.

Though still a concept product, this Rice Cooker is already featuring a lot of potential and possibilities. On top of it, the item features a concave pedal where most of the heating and activity takes place. It works like a pressure cooker, so to speak. Also on the top surface, one will find the touch panel and a visual display. The menus are pretty straightforward so it is really easier to operate. And then at the bottom of the panel are keys to help you guide through the menu page. When cooking is done, the concave pedal tilts to release the steam.

You can basically toss whatever rice recipe you have on to this Rice Cooker, use the buttons and then it will do the rest.

The result should be a perfectly flavorful dish you can boast to family and friends.

Source

This is something even couples with kids can enjoy together!

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

INGREDIENTS

1lb/450g fresh strawberries
7oz/200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids if possible)

METHOD

• Firstly wash the strawberries (leaving the stalks in place) in cold water. Drain in a colander and dry completely on kitchen paper.
• Line a baking sheet or tray with greaseproof or wax paper.
• Heat some water to boiling point in a saucepan. Remove from the heat.
• Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over the pan of hot water ensuring that it does not come into contact with the water. Stir regularly until the chocolate is completely melted & smooth.
• Hold a strawberry by its stalk and dip into the chocolate, rotating it slowly. Lift it out of the chocolate and allow the excess to drain back into the basin. Place onto the greaseproof paper.
• Repeat the process until all strawberries are coated.
• Allow the strawberries to set fully in the refrigerate for about an hour.

From Gourmet Food Evolution

Cream together:

• 1/2 Cup of Crisco
• 1 1/2 Cups Sugar

Add 2 eggs - Beat Well

Sift 3 Times:

• 2 Cups flour
• 1 Tablespoon Cocoa
• 1 Teaspoon Salt

Fold In:

• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda dissolved in
• 1 Tablespoon Vinegar - Quickly

Use 2, 9″ Layer Pans that have been greased and floured.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes

Filling and Icing

Cook on low flame to pudding stage:

• 1 Cup Milk
• 1/4 Cup Flour
• Dash of salt

Cream:

• 1/2 Cup Crisco
• 1 Stick Margarine
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla

Add to pudding and beat well. Spead between layers and on top and sides. Sprinkle with coconut.

This easy does it recipe is from TechDirect.

Hair spray has plenty of other uses other than just a styling product. Below are some ideas for you:

• No bug spray in sight? Spray pesky bugs using hair spray. This will make their wings sticky and stuff making them immobile. Once they drop on the floor, you can then swat the pesky buggers or sweep them off the floor.
• Hair sprays are good agents for preserving flower arrangements. Spritzing this will keep them looking fresh longer.
• If you have ink stains on clothes, spray the area with it then blot….and then wash the clothes like usual.
• Keep ruffles on curtains from drooping by spraying on it.
• Spray your child’s precious artwork with a few spritz to keep the colors alive and brighter before hanging them on the wall.
• Having a hard time slipping thread through a needlepoint? Spray the end of the thread with a bit if hair spray, let it dry and watch as it stiffens. It will be easier to slip this in the needle afterwards.
• If your pants’ zippers keep on sneaking down, leaving your fly open (embarrassing!) spray on this product so that it will hold. Make sure that your hair spray has the lacquer ingredient.
• Hair sprays are great for repairing panty hoses that has caught a snag, especially if you have no nail polish handy. The hair spray will stop the running.
• White leather shoes sparkle and shine easily with a few spritz of hair spray. It will also keep dirt at bay as the hair spray will work to seal it.

Who says Valentine’s Day is only exclusive to lovers? You can pamper your pooches (or the pooches of your loved-ones) on this day, too! Here are some gift ideas, with their product descriptions from the site, Crittersnack. These are affordable good stuff, too!

I wasn’t sure it was possible. But apparently it can be done. The great thing about dyeing hair with Kool Aid? It can be easily washed off. So, I can probably try wearing my hair blue next week!

For kids, this should be something really fun for them to do.

Watch this video:

Are you still sending out snail mails?

Beginning May 11th, the price for first-class stamps will go up to 44cents, up from 42cents, according to the US Postal Service.

Says Postmaster General John Potter:

“The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today. Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world.”

The complete rate change may be seen on this Postal Service website.

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Author Bruce Littlefield offers some practical Valentine tips when sending out greeting cards to loved ones on this occasion. He suggests using store bought cards, which is fine and easy to do. But then, you can add some more to it and personalize it to make it more meaningful to the one who is going to receive it.

Here’s a video of his handy tips: