Household Tips

Yes, this is blatantly a regurgitated press release. But really, who doesn’t need one of these? I bought my husband a $200 plus shoe polisher several years ago. Admittedly, it hardly gets used. But this? This sounds promising.

His birthday is coming up.

Does the modern man remind you of someone? Take a look at his father. From the renewed gravitation toward sophisticated spirits like scotch to the fact that gift certificates for old-fashioned barber shaves have topped men’s holiday gift guides across the country, guys are taking a cue from the men who reared them as they revisit all things classic.

What’s old is new again, and as fashion and image become more important in their everyday lives, men are increasingly focused on style and grooming. Case in point: shoes. Sales of higher-end shoes are growing at a faster rate than mid-price brands. And men aren’t just shopping for nicer shoes; they’re seeking ways to take better care of them.

To aid with this task, Kimberly-Clark today announced the arrival of Shine to Go(TM) Shoe Polisher, a nourishing polisher set to revolutionize the shoe care market. Designed to offer today’s busy professional an entirely new, convenient and portable solution never before possible, the proprietary all-in-one Shine to Go system delivers all the benefits of a quality shine — deep luster, water-resistant protection, scuff coverage and real cream polish — in just minutes.

Since 60 percent of adults groom on-the-go, convenience is paramount when it comes to shoe polish. However, quick fixes like shoe wipes and sponges don’t provide a quality shine. No product on the market matches the convenience and performance delivered by Shine to Go. The entire package is smaller than a dollar bill, enabling consumers to shine wherever and whenever they need to so they can look their best.

The result? Shined shoes — just like Dad’s — without all the fuss.

According to a recent survey(1), maintaining a professional appearance down to one’s shoes increases confidence (77%) and assertiveness (60%) and creates the perception of earning a higher salary (71%) within the workplace.

— Thirty-eight percent would shine more often if they had a more convenient method.
— Three-fifths (59 percent) of professionals shine their shoes at least once a month.
— However, one-quarter of professionals never shine their shoes because traditional home-polishing is inconvenient, time-consuming and messy, and polish often ends up where it’s not wanted.

You might be like me. I’ve already dumped my resolutions. Didn’t succeed so well at those. But then I got to thinking… Why can we only turn over a new leaf once a year? Here’s a great list of things we can all do — daily! — to be better people!

– Do a clean sweep. Take a weekend to get rid of things from your office or your home that you don’t use anymore. Break away from clutter by letting go of unnecessary things once and for all.
– Choose one thing to boost your health and well-being. Instead of the usual weight-loss goal, start with one new healthy habit and focus on that until it really becomes a habit. Then add another. For instance, drink six to eight glasses of water a day, add 20 minutes of walking or add five fruits and vegetables to your diet daily.
– Name a theme for your year. Give your year a clear focus and an intention. The “Year of The New Career,” “The Year of the Diva,” “The Year of Getting Fit” and “The Year of a Positive Attitude” are some examples.
– Do one thing a day towards your dream. Make a commitment to do one thing daily, no matter how small, to move ahead a dream or project.
– Give back. Raise money or volunteer your time to improve your community or the condition of people who are in need of help. You’ll be surprised how good helping others will make you feel, and motivate you to do good in your own life.
– Recruit a cheering squad. Make sure you have good supporters in your life to help you stay motivated to make your change. Teach the naysayers how to be more helpful and call on your cheering squad whenever you need them.

Are you resolving to get in shape? (Me too!) Lady Foot Locker has published some great info on buying the right shoes for the job!

An important part of getting the most out of your new workout is selecting the proper footwear for your activity. “Each activity has its own must-have components in an athletic shoe, and you should make sure that you use the right shoe for the right function,” says Lauren Bristow, VP of Brand Marketing for Lady Foot Locker.

– Running shoes come in many forms, and most companies will offer both soft and stable options.

– If you are a beginner, choose a shoe that provides greater stability than cushioning. The Nike Shox Turbo and the Nike Pegasus incorporate the Nike Plus technology that will allow you to program a soundtrack for your run, which may help to keep you on track when beginning a new routine.

– Asics offers a variety of options for the seasoned runner, such as the Asics 2130, which is lightweight, and provides additional support and stability.

– Walking shoes, like the Sportwalker 4000 by Ryka, are designed for low impact activity. They should have good shock absorption in the heels and in the balls of the feet. They tend to be more supportive than running shoes.

– Cross trainers are great all purpose shoes. The Nike Shox Electro is perfect if you just joined a gym, or are trying out different fitness classes. Cross trainers are designed specifically to support a wide range of motion. Bristow adds, “Fit and quality are two critical factors to consider when selecting any athletic shoe.”

To ensure that you get the proper fit, have a store associate measure your foot before recommending a shoe for your specific activity. You don’t break in athletic shoes, if it doesn’t feel good in the store, it doesn’t fit. Try on two-three different brands, and of those, one should feel absolutely great. This is your shoe. You should expect to spend at least $65 or more for a decent shoe, and don’t forget the importance of athletic socks and insoles as well.

If your house is anything like mine, you sometimes find yourself with helping hands on offer… But without any idea for what to have them do to help! Enter our friends at Whirlpool. They have some ideas for helping hands and for other ways to ease your holiday stress load!

– Chop, Chop: Get the kids involved sorting chopped vegetables for appetizer platters, soups and stuffing. With your supervision, let them take the lead by peeling carrots or washing potatoes.
– Baking Bonanza: Bake several batches of sweet treats at once and freeze extras or give them to neighbors and co-workers as festive platters.
– Pantry Raid: There’s nothing worse than realizing you ran out of an ingredient halfway through meal preparation. Take recipes with you to the store to make sure you get everything on your list. Also, substitute stale bread for bread crumbs, applesauce for vegetable oil or graham crackers for pie crusts when in a pinch.

I have to admit. I am NOT a trend-setter. I am not even a trend-follower. I may pick up a cute pair of shoes or a jacket to throw on with my jeans and t-shirt, but it’s hard for me to imaging re-decorating my house to the current fashion. That said, our friends in High Point have published their take on the latest home decor trends. So what’s in? Studs. No, not those. Those never went out of fashion! Nail studs on furniture! And the 20’s and 30’s Hollywood look. (I know, goes well with the studs, right?)

Color: Eco-colors continued to saturate new product introductions with earthy tones in various shades. Freshest now are combinations of brown and green. Grays and oysters serve as modern neutrals and are juxtaposed with bold metallics, orange-y reds, pink-y reds and saturated teals.

Print Patterns: Retro styling moves to the fore with geometric repeat patterns and oversized florals remaining strong. Animal-skin inspired patterns continue to serve as neutral counterpoints while stripes and linear polka dot variations abound.

Texture Trends: Patent, metallic, suede, leather, knits, inlay and paillettes along with “Gaudi-esque”-ornate detail were the key textures “on hand” in High Point. Along with faux bois styling and tactile designs, the trend is toward textures that beg to be touched.

Silhouette Status: When it comes to silhouette, today’s key shape is the long, lithe rectangle and structured styling with an origami edge is on the horizon. Even so, organic design still dominates in many manufacturers’ showrooms. The hottest home furnishings looks appear to have “sprouted” from Mother Earth.

Designer Details: “Stud-ly” style is coming to a store near you. Keep an eye out for furnishings embellished with nail-head trims used in interesting new ways. Reflective design is another crystal clear fashion trend shining through, with chandelier-like details popping up in unusual places. “Boho” is seen in small doses and amped up in attitude with a luxurious bent and more structure (think minimal shift dress versus flowing caftan as an apparel fashion correlation). Chunky furniture “jewelry” will be seen in the form of ornate legs and pieces “dressed” in oversized beads and crystals.

Era Inspiration: Global design, spanning a wide array of historic periods, is being brought forth in fabulous 21st Century style. From
Britannia and Celtic to Craftsman and Americana, and Old World Euro to Pan-Asian-there is a look to satisfy all tastes and pocketbooks. If new product introductions here are an indication of what’s to come in homes across the country, urbanites in particular will soon be “glamming it up” with furnishings reminiscent of Old Hollywood, 1920’s and 1930’s Parisian styling and very modern takes on Deco.

For more tips on decorating a small space, check out this post on dorm decor.

I am all in favor of remodeling kitchens and bathroom. My current kitchen project involves refinishing my cabinets. I looked into replacing them all, but I figure I can be happy with refinished cabinets for another 7-10 years (and save myself about $12K!) My kitchen cabinet (in my 80 year old house) were handmade by the man who owned this house before us. The cabinets aren’t bad at all. They just look beat up. Amazing what a good cleaning with Murphy’s Oil Soap will do for that. Even more amazing what some sanding and staining can accomplish! But then, I’m an avowed do-it-yourselfer. (And did I mention that I’m TERRIBLE about actually finishing those projects?) I suppose I SHOULD just follow the advice!

For those of you who are looking into Kitchen remodeling, SEN Design Group has some recommendations.

Educational Approach
— Interview several potential candidates, especially firms that focus exclusively on kitchens and baths
— Confer with friends and neighbors on their past remodeling experiences
— Request to see a copy of the contractor’s certificate of insurance
— Ask for a list of recent references and make follow-up phone calls

Planning
— Envision what you want - begin by collecting images from magazines and newspapers
— Write down your ideas, thoughts and concerns; prioritize your needs
— Create a general plan and budget for the entire project
— If available, visit a designer’s showroom
— Ask to see design layouts and several case studies
In lieu of the month, now is a great time to start thinking about
making home improvements. With the immense amount of resources available,
homeowners can be prepared prior to the start of the process.

For more information on remodeling, visit the archive here.

Next time you mop your kitchen or bathroom floor, use your trash receptacle as a mop bucket. You’ll two birds with one stone — cleaning both your trash can and the floor!

Remodeler Dreammaker has created a “do” list for what to look for in your next remodeler.

Research
* Consult friends and neighbors on their past remodeling experiences.
* Ask to see a copy of the remodeler’s certificate of insurance. Most states require they carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance.
* Check out the remodeler’s credentials. Contact the Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Affairs Office for detailed background information.
* Ask for references and make the calls.

Planning
* Envision your dream home and what you want the end result to look and feel like.
* Create a detailed plan and budget for the entire project.
* Understand what is going to take place before, during, and after the entire remodel.

Other Suggestions
* Get an agreement in writing before beginning any remodeling project.

Our friends at Troy-Bilt have published a fall garden checklist that I will be following this weekend!

– Walk around your landscaping - Remove any flowers or shrubs that didn’t grow well and tidy up the area for new bulbs; perennial planting is best in early fall. Make a note of what plants didn’t work and try something new next year. Weed beds now to prevent pesky weeds from growing next spring. Remove decorative stones or collectibles from gardens and bring them inside.

– Fertilize the lawn - Fall is a great time to fertilize, reseed and touch up bare spots before temperatures plunge. Try fertilizing and reseeding once in early fall and once in late October. This process pumps nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium into the roots, giving them a boost to grow in the spring.

– Add leaves to the soil - Instead of raking leaves out of the flower beds, spend a few extra minutes tilling them into the soil to enrich it for next season. Chop up extra leaves with a quick pass of the lawn mower and add to a compost pile, or take them to the nearest recycling center.

– Plant new bulbs - Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths should be planted in the fall to develop healthy root systems before the soil cools.

– Clean up the vegetable garden - Start preparing your garden for next spring by cleaning out dead plants and adding in organic matter from your compost pile. Be sure to till the soil well to help to refresh the soil’s nutrient levels by breaking down old vegetable organic matter.

– Trim trees - Remove all dead or dying tree limbs before the snow starts to fall. Snow or ice can build up on weak branches, causing damage to property and bystanders. Trim healthy trees after leaves turn to encourage healthy growth next spring. For easy cleanup, place an old sheet or tarp underneath the tree to catch the trimmings.

– Prep your hand tools - Grab a wire brush and scrape off the caked-on dirt from tools such as hoes and shovels, then clean with soapy water. Wipe metal surfaces with an oiled rag. Lubricate all pivot points and springs and wipe down wooden handles with boiled linseed oil to prevent drying and cracking. Sharpen bladed tools like pruners, and spray bare metal with a penetrating oil to prevent rusting.

– Prep your lawn equipment - Empty the gas tank and oil crankcase of lawn mowers, string trimmers and edgers. Wipe the entire unit down with a clean rag to protect its surfaces and grease all lubrication points. Store your lawn equipment in a clean, dry place. If equipment is light enough, hang on the wall in the garage.

– Check sprinklers and hoses - Make sure to drain all hoses to avoid freezing and breaking. If you have a sprinkler system, shut it off to prevent pipes from freezing, and store extra hoses in the garage, shed or basement.

– Wash down lawn furniture - Give the lawn furniture a good cleaning before you store it away. Wash all fabric cushions and store those inside, out of damp weather conditions. Move ceramic fireplaces into the basement; extreme cold weather can cause the pots to crack or break completely.

Fall, checklist, garden

Let me first admit: I am not familiar with this company. But, I like their top 10 list. I need these things. You need these things. I don’t know if I’ll buy them from these folks. I’m quite fond of the Real Simple line of products at my local Target. But what the hey. It’s worth a look!

The Ten Top Selling Products at Safe Home Products are the following:

– Sh-Mop Mops — Machine wash and dry cotton covers fit on this large based mop for hard wood, laminate, marble, vinyl or ceramic floors. Because you can change covers when dirty, you’ll always have a clean mop and will never put your hands in dirty mop bucket water again.

– Kirk’s Original Hard Water Castile Soap — This pure coconut oil and vegetable glycerin biodegradable soap is hypoallergenic. Create luxurious lather in hard or soft water.

– CareCover Sliding Door Electrical Outlet Covers — The original USA-made sliding door electrical outlet covers increase child safety and insulate. Help protect children from electrical shocks by covering unused outlets. Reduce air loss through unused outlet holes.

– Bona Kemi Floor Cleaning Products — Microfiber mops and safe, non-toxic, environmentally-responsible cleaners are great for hardwood, laminate and most hard-surfaced floors. Clean floors without oily residue unlike all-purpose cleaners.

– Super Stopper Window Stop & Sliding Door Stop — These sturdy home safety devices limit window or sliding door openings to help prevent accidental falls. Combining a flexible suction cup with a unique shaped wedge, Super Stoppers are easy to install products to improve home safety.

– Molechaser Stakes — Place these battery operated or solar vibrating stakes in your yard or garden to protect against mole and gopher infestations. Molechasers are environmentally-friendly solutions and remove the need for dangerous poisons or traps.

– Res-Q-Me and LifeHammer — These small safety tools can save your life if your vehicle is submerged in water or doors jam in an accident. Break out side or back windows after cutting away jammed seatbelts to escape drowning, fire or entrapment.

– Tattle Tale Sonic Pet Training Alarm — The Tattle Tale sensor detects vibrations caused when a pet jumps on a surface such as a counter or a sofa. A two second alarm startles the pet and alerts the owner. Tattle Tales enable effective training without harm to the animal.

– Animal Away Repeller — Deter animals such as cats, dogs and raccoons with this ultrasonic repeller that responds when the animal triggers a motion detector. Animal Away is battery operated and its high pitched frequencies are not audible to humans.

– Radon Gas Detector Pro 3 by Safety Siren — The only EPA evaluated radon gas alarm for home use, this device provides a continuous digital display of radon gas levels in your home. This product gives you peace of mind that your home is safe from radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

All products listed here can be viewed on the Safe Home Products website http://www.safehomeproducts.com.

I have a problem in my bathroom, and I’ve been researching solutions. Actually, my bathroom has ceramic tile. But my kids’ bathroom has those peel and stick vinyl squares. A few of them are coming up. Now, I’d love to replace them with ceramic tile, but I don’t have the time or inclination to take on that project right now. So I’ve been looking for ways to just fix it.

According to one source, holding a WARM (not hot) iron to the tile will re-activate the adhesive underneath and allow you to re-stick the tile.

I haven’t tried it yet. But I will.

peeling tile, tile, vinyl

Did you know there was such a thing as the “coupon counsel”? I didn’t. But they exist! And they know an awful lot about who uses coupons and how. I was surprised to see that young adults — under 24 — actually use a LOT of coupons. I think when I was 24 I could barely afford to drive to the grocery, much less buy a paper and clip coupons. Actually, I doubt it even occurred to me at that juncture… So yea for you, you under-24 set. Read on!

The Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) Coupon Council unveiled data today that shows that 71% of people between the ages of 18-24 use coupons when purchasing a product or service. Coupon clipping is a time-honored ritual that saves Americans billions of dollars annually on grocery, healthcare and household items. In fact, the Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) Coupon Council reports that “coupon clippers” represent 86 percent of the overall U.S. population up 10% from 2006. Each year, the PMA designates September as National Coupon Month, and reminds consumers of all demographics of the many saving opportunities
available with coupons.

Some remarkable data on coupon usage of 18-24 year olds from BIGresearch’s July 2007 Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM10) include:
— Coupons are more influential in purchase decisions to 18-24 year olds in four out of the eight retail categories measured than the general population, including:

— Electronics (37% vs. 23%)
— Apparel/Clothing (31% vs. 24%)
— Car/Truck (11% vs. 8%)
— Telecom Services (9% vs. 7%)

— 54% of 18-24 year olds were influenced to purchase a grocery product (food/cleaning/beauty) because of a coupon.
— 46% of 18-24 year olds were influenced to eat a particular restaurant because of a coupon.
— 37% of 18-24 year olds were influenced to purchase a particular electronics product as a result of a coupon.

Basic Coupon Facts
— 86% of the United States population uses coupons.
— Shoppers saved approximately $2.6 billion last year by using manufacturer’s coupons.
— The typical manufacturer’s coupon was worth $1.15 savings in 2006.
— Coupon users report an average of 11.5% savings on their grocery bill with coupons.
— Manufacturers offered approximately $330 billion in coupon savings in 2006.

For more coupon clipping tips visit: http://www.couponmonth.com.

coupons

My daughter is about to turn 14, and I teach high school juniors at my day job. Let me tell you, there is nothing they talk about more than what they drive or want to drive. Seriously. More than girlfriends and boyfriends. More than part-time jobs. And certainly more than their grades. So how can you pick a car that is teen-friendly? Well, following this checklist is a good start!

1) Conduct a dashboard test. An easy test is to turn the key and watch as
the warning lights on the dashboard illuminate. Then, turn the key
further and start the car. If a light stays on after the car starts,
something is not working properly. The lights are indicators that the
vehicle is doing a “self-check” to ensure all features are operable.

2) Is there an Antilock Braking System (ABS) and, more important, does
your teen know how to use it? Antilock brakes, introduced in the late
’80s and currently in about 83 percent of cars, are not meant to be
stabbed numerous times in a row or pumped. Doing so defeats the purpose
of ABS. A vibrating feeling underfoot and loud “chattering” noise
actually means the ABS is working properly. Liberty Mutual has found
that even professional drivers are not always familiar with how ABS
works. The real benefit of ABS is that it allows the driver to maintain
steering control in an emergency. It’s a good idea to take your teen to
a safe place, drive 15-20 MPH with seat belts properly fastened, and
slam on the brakes to get a feel for what ABS feels and sounds like.

3) The more airbags the better. It’s standard on new models to have driver
and passenger airbags. But protection is dramatically increased with
the addition of side torso and head curtain bags. More recently, dual-
stage and smart airbags have become available. Dual-stage airbags offer
two levels of inflation depending on crash severity - full pressure for
hard impacts, less for more minor hits. Smart airbags include sensors
that assess the weight or position of the occupant to determine whether
or not to fire the front passenger airbag.

4) Does the car have stability control? This is an especially important
function if you are buying your teen an SUV. Stability control, which
works using the ABS system sensors, helps prevent skids and helps keep
equipped vehicles under control during abrupt maneuvers. A new report
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says
that stability control has been very effective in reducing crashes.
Automotive safety experts now say that stability control is the single
most effective safety device in vehicles since the advent of seat
belts.

5) Check the conditions of the seat belts, head restraints and tires.
Properly adjusted head restraints help protect against whiplash in the
event of a rear-end crash. Look carefully at seat belts to ensure they
are not frayed, cut, or worn excessively. Make sure there are working
safety belts for all driver and passenger positions. And, tires must
have adequate tread life left in them. Bring a tire gauge when hunting
for a used car. Also, be careful of “aged” tires - most experts agree
tires that are older than five years need to be carefully inspected to
look for signs the rubber is degrading. This can be a particularly
serious problem on cars that are not driven many miles per year - the
tread may appear good, but the tire has deteriorated to the point where
it is dangerous.

6) Does the car have traction control? Traction control is effective when
starting out on roads that are slippery from snow, ice, or rain. It
operates using the ABS wheel sensors to detect tire spin. If the tire
spins because it has lost traction, traction control automatically
defuels the vehicle to slow the drive wheels down and regain traction.

7) Does the car have All Wheel Drive/Front Wheel Drive/Four Wheel Drive?
— AWD - Power is distributed to the wheels that have traction and not
those that are slipping; this function is useful in all weather
conditions. AWD vehicles are not suitable for extreme off-road
driving.
— FWD - This type improves traction because of the weight of the
engine and transmission over the front drive wheels.
— 4WD - Commonly found in SUVs and pickup trucks, this feature is only
useful if the vehicle is taken off road. These vehicles are usually
rear wheel drive until they are manually shifted into 4WD.

Look up the car safety score. There are a number of Web sites,
including http://www.libertymutual.com/lm/carsafetyscore , where you
can research the safety ratings a car has received. Others include the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), http://www.iihs.org ,
and the National Highway Traffic

I know I’ve posted on this before, but someone e-mailed another great tip for this… It’s end of the season, and it’s a holiday. If you find yourself enjoying life in the great outdoors, you MAY have to deal with this!

Book Club met at my house last week, and as with all book club meetings, there are still unclaimed and unmarked dishes that were left in my kitchen. How to avoid the problem:

No more lost dishes! And no more angst-ridden hostesses trying to figure out who owns which plate!

dishes, parties