Nuts are expensive and I usually take awhile to finish a package. I don’t want them to go to waste by going rancid.
So, to keep nuts fresher a little longer, I put my nuts in the freezer. The great thing about freezing nuts, is they don’t freeze like liquids do. Just take the bags out of the freezer and the nuts are ready to go. No defrosting needed!
Once your child(ren) have outgrown their toys, glue them to a frame and spray paint for a unique picture frame! What a unique keepsake :)
Kids always seem to love sidewalk chalk, don't they? Well now you can go a step ABOVE and make them a batch of sidewalk PAINT--how cool!!
Ingredients:
1 part cornstarch (1 c.)
1 part water (1 c.)
food coloring
sponge brushes
To keep it organized, pour each colour into a different cup in a muffin tray--that way your little ones are less likely to spill it as they paint! :)
Pour boiling water on weeds growing between pavers of a pathway. Keep the kettle close to the ground to avoid splashing yourself -- or any nearby plants you want to keep.
This chore should be a breeze if you first drill several half-inch holes in the bottom of the can. The drainage holes will allow you to hose down the insides of the barrel without having to dump out the dirty water; this will also prevent rainwater from collecting and allow for proper ventilation. Rinse with a hose, scrub interiors with water and dish soap, rinse, and dry in the sun.
Time Saver: Make laundry time easier by readying the clothes (zip zippers, close snaps, etc.) before tossing them into the machine.
To get every last drop from an overly firm lemon or lime, zap it in the microwave for 10 seconds. The heat will soften the fruit, releasing its liquid. Slice it in two. Using one hand, squeeze half (cut side against your palm) over a bowl. The seeds will collect in your hand as the juice flows into the dish
You probably dont realize how much build-up is on your shower head and faucets! To clean, pour vinegar into a ziploc bag and dip shower head in, then wrap with an elastic band--let sit overnite!!!
Boil spices such as cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg in water or use plain white vinegar. Continue boiling for 20 or 30 minutes, or until the cooking smell is completely gone. I personally like to use the white vinegar--it initially has a smell, but subsides and is the most effective in removing other odors.
One of the most persistent odors in a kitchen is fish. Fish smells can be eliminated in a number of different ways. Again, leave a small bowl of white vinegar by your stove while you're cooking and it will help to absorb the odor particles in the air that saturate open surfaces which can cause smells to linger. You can also boil a small pot of lemon water while cooking.
The best way to clean your oven racks and bbq grills is to place 6 dryer sheets in the bathtub, put racks on top and fill with warm water just above where the rack sits---leave overnight and by the morning, most 'gunk' will be removed; if any remains, just wipe away with the dryer sheets! Works every time :)
Line the bottom of a pan with aluminum foil. Set your jewelry on top of the aluminum foil. Make sure it actually touches the aluminum. Heat your water to boiling. Remove it from the heat and place it in your sink in a large bowl. Then, add about one cup of baking soda for each gallon of water. (If you need only half a gallon of water, use half a cup of baking soda.) The mixture will froth a bit and may spill over; this is why you put it in the sink.Pour the hot baking soda and water mixture into the pan with the jewelry item, and completely cover it. Almost immediately, the tarnish will begin to disappear. If the silver is only lightly tarnished, all of the tarnish will disappear within several minutes. If the silver is badly tarnished, you may need to reheat the baking soda and water mixture, and give the silver several treatments to remove all of the tarnish.
Remove and rinse completely and pat dry.
1. Put frozen fish in a dish of milk to thaw. This improves the flavor and texture so that it tastes like fresh caught fish.
2. Facial Mask – milk has moisturizing properties that you can use for a facial mask. Prepare half a cup of milk powder then add a little water. Stir the mixture until you have a thick paste. Spread the milk facial mask on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Wash your face and rinse. Your skin will feel softer.
3. Dab milk onto mild sunburn for a cooling effect and will prevent further damage. Mix powdered milk with water and 2 pinches of salt. Apply to burn.
4. Boost the flavor of corn. Pour some milk in water and boil. Drop the corn in the boiling milk/water mixture. Leave it in the pot until the mixture boils. Cook corn for as long as you normally, would. You will notice a sweeter taste.
5.Makeup remover and face cleanser. Make a thick paste of powdered milk and water as a make-up remover. Rinse well after removing the paste.
6. Liquid milk cleans patent leather to a shine. Rub it with a little milk on a soft cloth. Allow to dry and then buff them.
7. Relief for Insect Bites – Milk, relieves the itch and swelling of insect bites. Make a solution of milk, water and salt, and apply it to the bites.
8. China Repair – fine cracks sometimes are repaired by boiling them in milk. The milk proteins, will react to the china then turn into an adhesive. Remember it doesn’t always work, but sometimes it does.
9. Furniture Cleaner and Polisher – Mix milk and lemon juice and you have an excellent furniture polish. You can add essential oil to the mix for a fresh scent.
10.Plant Cleaner – You can clean your plants using skimmed milk. It will clean dirt, sap and stains off of the leaves. Rinse it off of your plants after cleaning.
People can easily go overboard when it comes to spending money on groceries! Read the following tips to lower your bill and prevent you from making unnecessary purchases:
1. Create a Meal Plan for the entire
duration of your budgeted grocery bill. For example, if you are buying 2 weeks worth of groceries, plan meals for the entire two weeks.
Read about effective meal planning here: http://www.amumntheoven.blogspot.ca/2012/02/effective-meal-planning.html?m=1
2. In addition to the meal plans, make a list of all items needed and STICK TO IT! Only go down the necessary aisles and do not browse--this will, no doubt, lead to impulse purchases.
3. When making your lists, browse through your local flyers if they are delivered to your home (or you can usually find them online as well). Many people believe that hitting multiple stores for amazing sales is a good idea and will help save them money--WRONG! It is definitely not worth shopping at multiple grocers because of the gas you are spending. Check your favourite store to see if they 'Price Match.' That way, you can get the same featured deal from the alternate store all in one place! Many stores do practise this these days to stay competitive.
4. If you have small children, ALWAYS keep them home if you can. We all know kids can be unpredictable and whine or throw temper tantrums once they spot something they want. I know this firsthand with my son who throws the WORST fits while out, and I admit to giving in sometimes just to keep him quiet! So, keeping them home will allow you to get in and out by only sticking to what you need.
5. Last but not least, NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING WHEN HUNGRY! I am, again, guilty of this without even being aware; spending more money than wanting to because so much more 'appealed' to me. Plain and simple, fill your tummy or go shopping AFTER a meal!
Not only do essential oils fill a room with a wonderful aroma, but they are considered to possess certain qualities or serve special purposes when used properly. Find out what your favourites can do for you below:
SOOTHING:
chamomile
rose
jasmine
clary sage
geranium
sandalwood
vanilla
musk
nutmeg
ENERGIZING:
lemon
eucalyptus
pine
citrus
bergamot
peppermint
rosemary
cinnamon
APHRODISIACS:
clary sage
geranium
sandalwood
ylang-ylang
lavender
SPIRIT LIFTERS:
neroli
bergamot
rosemary
MENTAL STIMULANTS:
clary sage
Juniper berry
pine
peppermint
MUSCLE RELAXANTS:
vasmine
vanilla
musk
eucalyptus
peppermint
If you are unfamiliar with essential oils, you can pick them up at your local health store!
It sounds silly, but many of us have experienced what are supposed to be simple tasks, but end up being a lot more complicated every time you do it--for example, trying to tear a sheet of aluminum foil out of the box without pulling the entire roll out! Well, check the ends of your aluminum foil or saran wrap boxes for a handy little circle or triangle. If you punch it in, it will hold the roll in the box and prevent it from popping out when you rip off a piece!
Another quick tip - placing your plastic wrap in the refrigerator will make it easier to handle :)
How to Prevent Ticks on your Pets:
1. Garlic –given as a dietary supplement makes your animal less appealing to ticks. The smell is excreted through the skin and repels both ticks and fleas. However, garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs. If you use garlic as your tick prevention, use it SPARINGLY.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to your pet’s blood, making it less appealing to ticks and fleas. Add 2 tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar to the his or her food or water bowl as a preventative.
Prevention on Humans:
1. Always wear an insect repellant of at least 20% DEET whenever outside
2 Dress in light-coloured clothing! When coming inside, place your clothing for 10 minutes in the dryer on the hottest setting--it will kill any ticks that may be lingering.
A fresh bouquet of flowers will brighten up any room, especially if they last. Surprisingly, a number of household items will help do the trick. Here are a few interesting products and tips that can help your blooms stay fresh longer:
1. Cut your stems with a knife instead of scissors. The gauge on scissors is set for paper or fabric, not for flower stems, which are bulkier. Using scissors will crush their vascular systems and prevent proper water uptake.
2. What you put in your water makes a world of difference!
A) Dissolved aspirin is a tried and true method to keeping your flowers fresh, but lemon-lime soda can work too. Mix one part of the soda with three parts water. Then add 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per quart, which will help the water stay clear.
B) Lemon juice is another great ingredient to put in your vase. Mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of warm water. Another 1/4 teaspoon of bleach can be added to the vase water every four days.
C) One of the strangest products that will help your bouquet last is Listerine. According to Plantea.com, just 2 ounces of the mouthwash added to every gallon of water will act as plant food and create a bacteria-fighting environment for the flowers. It's also acidic like many of the other solutions, which helps the water to move up cut stems.
We all know clear nail polish can do a great job on a manicure, but many of you may not know the other wonderful and useful benefits it posseses! It can aid in:
1. Making jewelry last. To extend the life of costume jewelry and to keep it looking bright and glossy, give beads a thin layer of polish. It helps prevent fading and tarnishing. It also helps your fingers turning green from rings!
2. Sealing envelopes. In lieu of licking the envelope flaps to seal them (not only can this be ineffective, but does anyone find that taste as gross as I do?) dab on a little polish to keep them glued nice and tight.
3. Threading needles. Rather than get frustrated when attempting to thread a needle, run the cut side of the thread through the polish brush. Roll the thread between your fingers a couple times; the polish will dry pretty much immediately and the thread becomes stiffer (and much more easy to get through the eye of the needle).
4. Keeping belt buckles pristine. To ensure belt buckles stay bright and shiny, shellac them with a coat of polish to prevent oxidation.
5. Securing buttons. Brush on a dollop of polish in the center of your buttons to keep the threads from coming undone. If you have a sweater or dress with delicate pearly buttons, give the whole thing a coat of polish to keep them luminous.
6.Fixing window screens or shades. If you have a tear or small hole in a window shade or screen, paint on some polish to keep it from getting worse.
7. Waterproofing matches. As any camper can attest, there are few bigger drags than a box of soggy matches. To waterproof them, paint the flammable tips with polish.
8. Wood floor repairs. A bit of clear polish is fantastic to touch-up minor dents and little scuffs on wood floors.
9. Avoiding rust stains. You know those rust rings that form on your tub if you leave shaving cream in the shower? Just varnish the underside of the can with a little polish to keep the metal from staining.
10. Shoelace protector. To stop shoelaces from unraveling and fraying, dip the ends in clear polish.
