Household Tips

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

Here are some great tips from Seeds of Change on how to be more environmentally conscious. (And none of these are hard to implement!)

– Reuse, renew and recycle - glass jars are perfect for storing leftovers, they are easier to clean than plastic and they make beautiful vases
– Take public transportation, walk or ride a bike - by choosing not to drive a car or take a taxi to your destination, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and make a big impact on the environment
– Select certified organic foods - help promote sustainable growing practices by choosing organically grown produce and food products over conventionally grown foods
– Plant an herb window garden - keeping plants indoors can help remove common environmental pollutants
– Unplug appliances - the simple act of switching off power when appliances are not in use helps save precious energy resources

recycling

This is something none of us likes to think about. But how prepared are you for an emergency? The canned food alliance has prepared a list of what you should have stocked in your pantry — just in case. While I’m not running out to the supermarket, this IS useful. I’m imagining it’s good prep-work for impending snow storms, too!

Here is the chart: http://www.steel.org/containers/EmergencyPantryChart.pdf

When asked what form they would prefer for their emergency food supply in the event of a natural disaster, 55 percent of consumers favor canned food, over dry goods, fresh and frozen options.

The survey, conducted by the global research firm Harris Interactive, indicates that consumers recognize the important role that canned foods play in being prepared for an event such as a hurricane or tornado. It was conducted in advance of September, which the government has dubbed National Preparedness Month.

canned goods, emergency preparedness

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