Ashes to ashes – Summer may be fading and your BBQ grill may have had it’s swan song …not because you’re tired of grilling – you’re just tired of the grill. Same old same old? Try a “firepit”. Portable hearths commonly burn wood & charcoal. The cooled ashes can be saved for a compost pile – they’re high in nutrients that fertilize the soil and neutralize it’s acidity. So fire it up…again!
Fat ain’t all bad - We all know that fatty foods widen our waistline – bad fat! No trans fat! BUT, your body needs some fat. You can use an online tool from the American Heart Ass. to calculate just how much fat you need for your body type. Myfatstranslator.com states, for instance, that a 40 year old woman who is 5’5”, 140 pounds and active…(should have between 64 and 90 fat grams a day.
Dirty cell? If you should suddenly have an watery accident with your cell phone . If your cell takes a spin in your washing machine…remove the battery, then blow-dry all the parts (on a cool setting). Dry them out some more by placing in a bowl of uncooked rice for 3 days.
Luggage-locator! Try to put a little convenience back into your airport experience. To quickly spot your luggage - tie a bright ribbon tightly around the handle. As you’re desperately waiting for that carousel to spin your way, then trying to discern your bags from the litany of look-a-likes -this common sense tie-on can expedite your departure.
Toothpaste tips
Remove crayon marks. Squirt a dab of non-gel toothpaste on the wall, rub gently with a soft cloth then rinse with warm water. This should do the trick for most crayon masterpieces as well as scuff marks.
After preparing a meal and you can't get the garlic or onion smell off of your hands, wash them with a blob of toothpaste. You might get a light whiff of Colgate or Crest ever so often but it beats reaking of onions over dinner.
Toothpaste can whiten scuffed tennis shoes (runners/sneakers/nurse's shoes/etc.)...clean rubber souls by rubbing scuff marks with an old toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste.
Defog your goggles. If your family enjoys a dip in the ocean or pool, coat the inside of your swimming goggles with toothpaste - wipe it off and your underwater viewing should be crystal clear...unless you're in the waterway (a little murky)
Aired 08-26-08
Trying to Conceive a boy? – Start everyday with a bowl of enriched cereal nearly doubles your chances of giving birth to a boy and your odds are even higher if you top your cereal with a banana. The link? A nutritious breakfast appears to alter blood-sugar levels in a way that favors the conception of male babies.
No Time to Chat? – Need to tell someone something, but don’t have time to chat or can’t be bothered at a certain time? Try Slydial, a service that links you directly to the voicemail on the other person’s cell. Simply dial 267-Sly-Dial, listen to a brief ad, enter the cellphone number and voila! The service is free; long-distance charges may apply.
New Use for Styrofoam Peanuts – Fill the bottom half of the pot with leftover peanuts before adding soil. They are light and improve drainage, which promotes healthy roots.
Aired 08-19-08
Smoothing Leather Wrinkles
– Next time you take a hot shower, hang the jacket up in the bathroom. The steam should help relax the wrinkles. You can also carefully press them out. Set iron to warm, place a large cotton or linen handkerchief over the crease and gently press it flat for a few seconds. Storing leather garments in plastic bags risks mildew, so keep your jacket on a wooden hanger in a closet with good air circulation.
Removing Old Self-Adhesive shelf paper – Cover the shelf paper with foil, then gently press with a medium-hot iron to loosen the glue. Do one small area at a time. Apply baby or mineral oil around the edges of stubborn patches and let it seep into the paper to soften adhesive. Carefully pry up the paper with a putty knife. This also works for decals stuck to hard surfaces.
Mosquito Bites won’t itch if you use this – If you’ve been bitten & need fast relief, covering the site with roll-on antiperspirant will make the swelling go down and the itching end. The aluminum salts in the antiperspirant help the body reabsorb the fluid in the bug bite, so it can’t cause a reaction anymore.
Aired 08-12-08
Take back your yard from bugs!
Mosquitoes, horse flies, ticks, chiggers, etc…
You name it and they’re out there – just waiting to feast on you and your family/friends over the summer.
To reduce the insect population around your house, try these tactics…
-Eliminate breeding grounds. Check your property for standing water in buckets, flower pots, and clogged gutters. Keep your grass mowed.
-Get rid of nests. Treat ant hills by pouring boiling water into mounds or spraying nests with Terro Ant Killer Spray – try the baits as well.
-Use sprays sparingly. They work for a while, but they’ll kill ALL the insects in your yard-including beneficial ones, like spiders.
-Use traps in closed areas like a tent or screened porch. If used outside, these traps attract mosquitoes from neighboring yards and compound the problem.
Aired 08-05-08
Stop Nail Splits –If your nails tend to break, chip & split, your filing style could be to blame. Sawing back & forth weakens nails, so make sure you move the file in one direction only.
Melting Lipstick – Notice little drops of moisture on your lipstick? Quick, pop it in the fridge. The emollients and waxes in lipstick can melt in a warm car or purse. Letting it chill for a few minutes will allow it to reharden and avoid breaking.
Slim Your Face – Exposing your forehead instantly elongates your face. The longer your face seems, the leaner it looks. Simply make a center part and let a slenderizing frame of hair fall on each side.
Radiant Skin – Add 2 handfuls of Epsom salts to a bath of warm water. The salts pull out toxins in your skin, making it look more glowing & beautiful.
Aired 07-30-08
5 Ways to Look As If You Slept for 8 Hours:
1. Get glowing skin – A dull, dry complexion leaves you looking even more exhausted. To increase radiance, gently exfoliate with a product that contains alpha hydroxy or glycolic acid.
2. Use tea bags on eye bags – Soak 2 green tea bags in cool water and place over eyes for 5 minutes. The caffeine & antioxidants help reduce puffiness.
3. Cover Up – Dark circles are a dead giveaway that you’re sleep deprived. Camouflage the evidence with a concealer one shade lighter than your skin.
4. Make Eyes Look Wider – Dark liner contrasts with the whites of your eyes, creating a clean, wide-awake look. Choose an espresso shade. It brightens in a flattering, natural-looking way
5. Warm up Face – Looking washed out? Try a face cream with built-in gradual self-tanner. You’ll get just a little bit of subtle color every time you moisturize.
Aired 07-22-08
