Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts

Saturday, September 15, 2012

6 D.I.Y. Homemade Cleansers



Small Changes, Big Difference
Keeping your home clean is important. Keeping your home safe and cancer-free is even more crucial. These homemade cleansers cost pennies to make, get your house gleaming and best of all, they're made from natural ingredients and don't contain any potentially toxic chemicals. So make them, use them, and feel good about your clean and healthy home.
Kitchen
Table salt is your best weapon when cleaning wooden kitchen areas, like counter tops and butcher blocks. Cover grease splatters with salt, wait an hour, and brush away the salt. To erase permanent-marker stains from finished wood floors or solid-surface counter tops, simply pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and gently polish. For overall kitchen cleaning, mix one cup white vinegar with one cup water. Clean drains by pouring straight vinegar down the drain. Let sit for 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.
Mirrors
Looking for an alternative streak-free mirror-cleaning solution? Mix in a spray bottle: one cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, one cup water, and one tablespoon white vinegar. Or wipe mirrors with a soft, lint-free (microfiber) cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol, gel hand sanitizer, or antiseptic mouthwash.
Stove tops
One of the best ways to clean stove tops is with baking soda. Pour directly onto a damp sponge and scrub to remove food residue from stove tops and refrigerator.

To clean burners, soak them in one gallon warm water plus 1/2 cup baking soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry. Table salt also works wonders: If there’s a spill in a still-warm oven, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven cools off, wipe the spot with a damp sponge.
Bathrooms
Vinegar works wonders in bathrooms! To clean toilet bowls, mix one cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup baking soda, pour into the basin, and scrub with a brush. For moldy tiles, spray vinegar on the affected areas. Let stand for about 15 minutes, then rinse and let dry thoroughly. To tackle mineral deposits on showe rheads, pour vinegar into a plastic bag (grocery bags work best), and knot the handles over the neck of the shower head, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight and rinse with water in the morning.
Carpets
Even carpet stains don't require harsh chemicals to lift them. Simply mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a scrub brush or sponge socked in warm, soapy water. To get out (fresh) grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming. For a heavy-duty carpet cleaning method, mix 1/4 cup each salt, borax, and vinegar. Mix into a paste and rub into carpet. Leave for a few hours and then vacuum up.
Credit: Read more: http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/your-life/your-health/article/homemade-cleaning-products.html#ixzz22lTmVDit



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Keeping Dogs Safe This July 4th

More dogs get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year.
Help keep dogs safe this independence day!

1.   Ensure that your pet’s information is up to date. If your pet doesn’t have a collar with a tag that has contact information on it, as well as a microchip with your current information, now is the time to get them.


2.    It is recommended by professionals Not to take your dog to Firework displays. The anxiety can become to much for most dogs.


3.  If your dog stays in a fenced in back yard be sure the fence is secure with no holes or unsure latches on fence doors. If you dog has shown past history of severe anxiety during firework seasons, speak to your vet who may prescribe a sedative to help relax your dog.





Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Sugar Free & No Sugar Added What Is The Difference

I look for food and drinks that are sugar free most of the time, but do settle for no sugar added at times. I know that by reading labels which I am diligent about that no sugar added products usually are low in sugar. I make diet allowances if I am eating those foods since I am a diabetic.
  Since most folks are watching what they eat for their fitness and health regiments I bring you this article on the difference in sugar free and no sugar added labels.

     Sugar free indicated that less than 0.5 gram of sugar per serving is used.
    No sugar added means that additional sugar hasn't been put into a product, but the term has become a marketing gimmick.

 "It's on foods that won't have sugar added such as plain yogurt for example - to entice you to buy them," says Constance Brown Riggs R.D. a spokesperson for the American Diabetic Association.
 
   Ms. Riggs recommends that you read ingredients instead of relying on these labels. Your body processes all sugar in the same way, so if your watching your weight monitor your calories.

Credit: The paragraphs that are not in italic are property of Fitness Magazine dated September 2011.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Recipe: Italian Herb Baked Chicken & Pasta



Every evening I join my Husband, David in the kitchen to cook dinner. He is our house chef so already knows what we are preparing before I do.
Tonight we prepared, OK I just assist mainly, this Italian Herb Baked Chicken & Pasta. The recipe is property of McCormick as it was taken from their packet, stating that this is a NEW recipe. My Son In Law had two helpings and shared that he thought it was good. I had one serving and enjoyed it greatly, must admit I ate two rolls with it. Delicious is my final thought on this dish, filling, and served all 4 adults in our household with ample helpings.
Italian Herb Baked Chicken & Pasta
Seasoning Mix

Ingredients2    cups uncooked medium pasta, such as rotini, penne or ziti
1    pkg. McCormick Seasoning Mix Italian Herb Baked Chicken & Pasta
1    lb.  uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts,  cut into 1 inch cubes
2    cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1  1.2  cups water
1   can (14 1/2 oz.) petite diced tomatoes, do not drain

DirectionsPlace pasta chicken and 1 cup of the cheese in a 13x9 inch baking dish.
Mix, water, seasoning mix and tomatoes until well blended. Pour over pasta and chicken. Stir to coat well, making sure most of the pasta is covered with sauce. Cover with foil.

Bake in preheated 375 degrees oven 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove foil and stir. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake uncovered 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Sauce will continue to thicken upon standing.

Credit: Photographs are property of Kathy B owner of Southern Made In The Shade. Recipe is property of McCormick original spices. The review of this recipe is my own opinion and no compensation was taken.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Pet Safety: Paper Shredder Safety Tips


 I subscribed to a new website, www.petplace.com. We are a family with two senior dogs and a puppy. They are part of our family so I read often on ways to keep them safe and healthy.
The following tip is from their current Dog Crazy newsletter. When you can stop by their website if you have a dog,
Paper Shredder Safety Tips

Dogs may lick the paper shredder mechanism or have hair caught in the mechanism pulling in limbs or tails. Keep paper shredders turned completely off or unplugged when not in use.
 Over the past several years, we have over 80 expert veterinarians contribute to PetPlace.com and have build a library of over 8,000 articles. If you have any pet questions or concerns, check out our extensive library at www.PetPlace.com.
 My name is Dr. Jon Rappaport and I'm the founder and CEO of PetPlace.com. I'm a veterinarian and own several hospitals in South Florida. I've spent the last 25 years of my life serving dog crazy people and I've learned a lot and really want to share some of what I have learned with you.

Credit: © Copyright 1999-2012 Intelligent Content Corp., All Rights Reserved. To read the entire article that this insert was taken from go to http://view.ed4.net/v/XGBOMP7/XT7Q/NFZHOR5/TPLMSU/FORMAT=H.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Review: Country Bob's Cookbook

Happy June to you, YEA summer has arrived. 
I wanted to share this great grillin time cookbook review with you. 
I know it is somewhat of a blur so hope you don't get dizzy. As usual I am so excited and move to fast on my videos. I am working on that!!


Please visit this fine company on Facebook and their Country Bob's website to order this book. 
If you have used this companies products, such as Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce let me know what you think!

Credit: This review is my own opinion and no compensation was received on my part for this review. I am not associated with Country Bob's business in anyway. Except being a fan of their products. 

Monday, June 4, 2012

Dessert Recipe: Healthified Banana Pudding

"healthified" banana pudding
Recipe from
Go bananas with a made-over dessert favorite that won't pack on the pounds! It has 32% fewer calories, 87% less fat, and 90% less sat fat than the original recipe.
Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT Marques Internationales SAS (France) used under license.
Healthified Banana Pudding
Ingredients

3    cups   fat-free (skim) milk
2    boxes (4-serving size each) French vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
4    containers(6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free banana creme or French vanilla yogurt
1    container(8 oz) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
48    reduced-fat vanilla wafer cookies
6    small bananas, sliced
Additional banana slices for garnish, if desired
Directions 1. In large bowl, beat milk and pudding mix with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed; beat in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping.
2. Place 24 vanilla wafers in a single layer in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon half of the pudding mixture over wafers. Place 6 sliced bananas over pudding mixture. Spoon remaining pudding mixture over bananas. Arrange remaining 24 vanilla wafers over top of pudding.
3. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours but no longer than 8 hours. Just before serving, garnish with additional banana slices.