Tips for Tuesday

TIPS FOR TUESDAY - Freecycle

2010-04-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

I have found a neat little secret that I want to share with you today.

FREECYCLE

It's a FREE Yahoo group you join. You then post and receive offers for FREE stuff via email. You can get daily emails, weekly, or choose to see the offers at the Freecycle website only. It's your decision.

I get daily emails with things that are posted that folks are trying to get rid of (posted as OFFERS) and have also posted things I want (posted as WANTED).

Freecycle is an online community where you exchange things without any money changing hands. Usually the GIVER decides who to GIVE to, kind of on a first come first serve basis.

TIP: When I respond to an offer for a lareg item like a chair, piano or couch, I ask for a photo of that item to be emailed or texted to me first.

We responded to a loveseat someone was getting rid of and ended up with a free loveseat. All we had to do was pick it up that day.

I have given away a free Little Tykes kitchen playset and a Rubbermaid slide we had outgrown.

TIP: Look at the distance you need to drive for the pick up as well as the GIVER's pick up requirements (sometimes same day) before you respond to the offer.

You join the FREECYCLE group in your area as the "stuff" must be picked up. I am a member of the Akron, Ohio freecycle group.

You can find the regional group nearest you by clicking here.

So come, on. What are you waiting for? GET FREECYCLING!

Tips for Tuesday-3 Ways to Celebrate Easter

2010-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

1. PLAY GAMES - Nothing makes Easter more fun than simply being with your family. But kids can get bored. So, plan ahead by having these games ready to go for Easter Sunday. Print these family fun board games for FREE and play with your kiddos. Don't Eat Peter (Directions here.) or Easter Bingo. (Directions here)

2. WATCH THE SUNRISE- If getting up before dawn is not possible, you can watch the sunrise anywhere on Earth on the Discovery Channel through http://www.googleearth.com/. Click here and follow the simple directions.

3. COLOR COAT YOUR HUNT - Host a color coated Easter egg hunt. Each child is assigned one color of egg to hunt for, eliminating fussing and arguing among your kiddos. If you run out of colors, you can implement sizes and designs (like polka dot eggs or large yellow vs small yellow).

Tips for Tuesday- 5 Ways to Exercise Throughout Your Day

2010-03-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

I struggle with fitting in my exercise routine each day. I just plain stink at it. And then I get discouraged and do nothing. But there is a better way. You can get the same results by simply breaking up your exercise into small bite-sized pieces (punn intended) throughout your day. Try these 5 exercises.

5 Ways to Exercise Throughout Your Day

1. DVD IT - Do 15 minutes of your favorite exercise DVD in the morning before your shower. Set a timer and stop the DVD after 15 minutes, not slowing your morning routine down at all.

2. STAIR IT - Walk up and down your stairs at home or at work for 15 minutes during your lunch break.

3. WALK IT - Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk to work. Or walk briskly for 15 minutes during your lunch hour or when you get home from work.

4. RUN IT - Jog on your treadmill or in your neighborhood after work for 15 minutes. That's like 4 songs on your MP3 player.

5. JUMP IT - Jump rope or simply jump up and down for 15 minutes, bending your knees and breathing deeply.

By simply adding 3 of the following bite-sized exercises to yoru day will add 45 minutes of daily exercise, burning calories and losing weight.

Tips for Tuesday - Spring Cleaning Tips

2010-03-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

10 Spring Cleaning Tips

1. LIST IT - Make a wish list of everything you want to clean for spring cleaning. Then rank items from most important to least. That way you can check them off as you accomplish each task.

2. LITTLE BY LITTLE - Work on one task each day. Make them small enough to accomplish in one hour or less. Take 3-4 weeks to complete you tasks.

3. TOP DOWN- When you dust, start at the top and work down.

4. AS YOU GO - Clean as you go! Throughout each day, just clean a little more as you go through your day.
5. SODA IT - If you sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and leave it there overnight, it will absorb the odors. In the morning, vacuum it up.
6. SOCK IT - Use those old, mismatched gym socks as mitts for dusting and cleaning. The won't slip off and will make dusting and wiping a breeze. And your nails won't get damaged.

7. WASH IT - All those small knick knacks that are difficult to dust can be washed in mild soapy water and left to air dry on a towel.

8. HEEL MARKS - Use a pencil eraser to remove heel marks on your floor.

9. BE PATIENT - If you let cleaners set for a few moments, you won't need to wipe and scrub as hard. So be patient and wait...

10. GET HELP - Ask a girlfriend to swap cleaning days with you. You go help her clean her house one day, and she can come help you anoetrh day. Working with a friend will make the time go fast and be more fun. You can gab as you go...

MORE great spring cleaning tips are here.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-03-10T03:40:00.000-08:00

6 Cookie Baking Tips

After school cookies, warm out of the oven. What could be better? Not much.

Here are some top cookie baking tips to make it simpler.

6 Cookie Baking Tips

1. USE PARCHMENT - This is something I learned while working for my friend's company, PEAK. We baked a lot of cookies for our clients. Parchment paper is inexpensive and can be used and reused over and over again. It makes the cookies bake evenly and no sticking whatsoever. Find it in your baking isle in roles.

2. UN-SALT - Always use unsalted butter. It makes the cookies bake better and have a better consistency.

3. FREEZE DOUGH - Make cookie dough in bulk and roll into balls. Place on cookie sheet and place in freezer. Once frozen, you can toss the cookie dough balls into Ziploc freezer bags. When you want fresh baked cookies, simply pull out some cookie dough balls and bake them fresh. YUM! Saves money over prepared cookie dough as well.

4. COOL PANS - Allow cookie sheets to cool between batches. Cool cookie sheets allows the dough to bake properly and not spread too thin.

5. UNDER MIX - Do not over mix your cookie dough. It is better to just under mix the dough. Over mixing encourages gluten development, resulting in dense and tough cookies.

6. BAKERY TYPE - To make bakery sized cookies that are perfectly round, try placing cookie dough inside an empty frozen orange juice can. Refrigerate overnight. Then, use a can opener to remove the bottom lid, and press the dough through (like a push up pop) an inch at a time and slice perfectly round cookie dough to bake.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-03-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

5 Tips to Tame The Kids Chaos

1. CHART IT - Print a sticker chart to mark successes, like making your bed, finishing your homework, or not fighting with your sister. I have made some of my own, and found some great websites where you can print some for free. Here are some free printable charts:FREE Printable Charts or Preschooler Chore Chart

2. AUCTION IT - Have a family auction weekly or monthly. Kids can earn tickets by completing tasks, homework, keeping a positive attitude, getting along with their siblings. Whatever you decide. Purchase a large roll of tickets at Staples, and when they earn a ticket, tear one off and write their name on the back. They toss it in a sealed bucket. When you have the auction, dump out the bucket and divide the tickets accordingly to their owners. Then auction off some prizes, like toys from the dollar store, coupons for TV or computer time, or a get out of making your bed card.

3. MARBLE JAR IT- I did this for a number of years. Get 2 jars and fill each halfway with marbles or pretty stones. Label one jar the HAPPY JAR and one the SAD JAR. This is a FAMILY WIDE reward, not individual. When your child does something good, ask them to take a marble out of the sad jar and put it in the happy jar, and vice versa. When the happy jar is full, decide on a family wide reward, like going to a science museum or out to dinner.

4. PRAY IT - Make faith and prayer fun in your house. Use these fun family time prayers you sing to at meal time, and watch your kids absorb your faith from the inside out.

5. DEVOTIONS AND DESSERT - Have weekly family devotions and dessert. Pick one night that you are all home, make a tasty dessert, and as you enjoy the treat, read a fun family devotion. The kids will love the sweet treat, and will sit still, and you can all grow together in your faith. One fantastic family devotion we have used is Gather Round the Dinner Fable by Steven James.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-02-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

TOP 10 COOKING TIPS

1. SLICING CAKE - At your next birthday party, try using dental floss to slice the cake in perfect squares. Cut a strand of floss longer than the cake is wide, hold it with 2 hands, and pull it down through the cake. You will get a perfect slice every time.

2. LEMONS - Microwave a lemon for 15 seconds and double the juice you get before squeezing.

3. GARLIC - Microwave garlic cloves for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off.

4. HARD BOILED EGGS - When slicing a hard boiled egg, try applying a bit of cooking spray to the edge of the knife. It will slice cleanly.

5. CORN ON THE COBB - To remove all the silk strings after you husk corn on the cob, take a dampened paper towel or terry cloth and brush downward, and voila.

6. OPENING JARS - Tough opening a tight jar? Try using latex dish washing gloves. They give a on-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

7. FLUFFY MASHED POTATOES - To make lighter and fluffier mashed potatoes, add a pinch or two of baking powder to the potatoes before whipping.

8. CUT CALORIES - Prepare muffins and quick breads with less saturated fat and fewer calories. Use three ripe, very well-mashed bananas, instead of 1/2 cup butter, lard, shortening or oil or substitute one cup of applesauce per one cup of these fats.

9. PREPARE CAKE PANS - When making boxed cakes, reserve about 2 teaspoons of the powdered mix before blending. After you grease the baking pan, sprinkle the reserved mix into the pan.

10. NON-STICKING DOUGH - When making yeast bread dough use nonstick cooking spray on the inside of the bowl that you will be using to raise the bread in. Once the dough ball has been placed in the bowl, spray the top of the dough itself. By doing this your bread will not be rising in a puddle of oil.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-02-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

7 Tips to Combat Cabin Fever

Well, we are on day5 of being snowed in, and that is on top of 3 previous snow days last week. It is taking a toll on us, and I am feeling down in the dumps with a bit of cabin fever.

Winter is not yet over, and so I wanted to share the BEST tips to help fight your own cabin fever this winter.

Let it snow..let it snow..with these GET-A-GRIP tips, I can survive anything!

7 TIPS TO COMBAT CABIN FEVER

1. DIFFERENT - Do something different. If you have always played cards and board games when you are snowed in, try making a craft with your kids, or coloring or painting. You can even put down a felt backed, plastic table cloth on your kitchen table, and spread a can of shaving cream on top, and create finger art with the shaving cream. Kids love that and your house will smell amazing!

2. BAKE - I am a big fan of baking something sweet lifting my spirits. Make cookies or brownies, or look online for a new recipe to try together. (http://www.allrecipes.com/ is a great place to start)

3. GET OUT - Yes, its cold and wet and the snow is knee deep. But bundle up and go for a walk. Even a brief walk outside will help your blood pump and help lift your mood.

4. GAMES - Play cards, board games, or ping pong. But make it structured. Have a one hour tournament with your family and see how many games of speed or golf you can get in. Pull out your scrabble board and see who can be the scrabble champ!

5. READ - Nothing like losing yourself in a good book. There is probably one on your night stand right now you can dive into.

6. CREATE - Make something new. I started crocheting a blanket and, believe it or not, ran out of yarn. (That's what being snowed in 5 days will do to you.) Make jewelry, string beads for necklaces or pull out those scrapbooks and get them caught up.

7. NAP - Take a guilt free mid afternoon nap...Ahhh....enjoy the hours you have to relax.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

10 Valentine's Day Tips

Love comes from God, and Valentine's Day is the perfect day to show the ones we love what they mean to us.
5 Valentine's Day Tips for Your Kids

1. Heart Shaped Pancakes- For breakfast you can make heart shaped pancakes. Simply put your pancake batter into a recycled squeeze bottle (like an empty pancake syrup bottle or an empty Hershey syrup bottle). On your coated skillet, squeeze the batter in a v-shape. As the pancake cooks, it will for a perfect heart shaped pancake! (You can even add red food coloring to the batter and make the pancakes pink or red!)

2. Scavenger Hunt - Write up 5-10 clues of things you have hidden for your children to find on a fun Valentine's Day scavenger hunt. Hide everything while they are at school, and when they get home, they get to hunt away. Gifts can be simple things like a candy bar, new hair ribbon, matchbox car or a pack of gum.

3. Love Coupons - Hand write or print out love coupon books to give to your children. Give each child 5-10 coupons each, customized to their likes and hobbies. For my son, I have a coupon for a sleepover so he can choose a weekend to invite a friend over. For my 7 year old daughter, a coupon for an extra 3o minutes of Wii play time past her usual bedtime. My teens, I have a coupon for one week off of cleaning their rooms. Get creative and make them unique.

4. Text It - If you have teenagers, text message or email them a sweet love message from you. Tell them in writing how much you love them and how proud you are of them. Believe it or not, they need to hear that, and they will treasure it, even if they roll their eyes.

5. Sweet Stuff First - Eat supper backwards starting with a sweet Valentine's Day dessert, ending with the main course. Your kids will have fun "breaking" the rules. Try this Chocolate Truffle Cookie or this Hot Fudge Ice Cream Bar Dessert.

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5 Romantic Valentine's Day Tips for Your Sweetheart

1. Breakfast in Bed - Make your sweetheart breakfast in bed. Get up early, and bring him his favorite breakfast in bed.

2. 10 Sweet Compliments - Throughout the day, pay your spouse 10 specific sweet compliments. Don;t tell him what your plan is, just start showering him with your sweet words of love.

3. Dress Up - Surprise your husband by getting all dressed up for supper at home. Get that little black dress out from the back of the closet, put the kids to bed early, and prepare a romantic candlelight dinner for 2. The key is dressing up as if you are going out and staying in anyway.

4. ABC's - Make a list with each letter of the alphabet. For each letter, write down something sweet about your husband. I love you because: A - Adorable - You are adorable; B-Believe-You believe in me; C-Care - You show me tender care...etc...

5. Love Note Trail - Leave love notes for your husband that he can find throughout his day. Put one on his bathroom mirror before you go to bed; put on in his coat pocket, in his briefcase, on the windshield of his car. Write romantic sayings, quotes, or simply tell him how you feel. Each not can lead up to the wonderful romantic dinner you can surprise him with that evening.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2010-01-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

10 Amazing Everyday Uses for Lemons

1. Freshen the fridge - Remove refrigerator odors with ease. Dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours. Make sure to toss out any malodorous items that might be causing the bad smell.

2. Brighten dull aluminum -Make those dull pots and pans sparkle, inside and out. Just rub the cut side of half a lemon all over them and buff with a soft cloth.

3. Keep rice from sticking -To keep your rice from sticking together in a gloppy mass, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the boiling water when cooking. When the rice is done, let it cool for a few minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

4. Refresh cutting boards -Rub lemon all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

5. Make soggy lettuce crisp -Don't toss that soggy lettuce into the garbage. With the help of a little lemon juice you can toss it in a salad instead. Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Then put the soggy lettuce in it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure to dry the leaves completely before putting them into salads or sandwiches.

6. Clean your microwave -You can give it a good cleaning without scratching the surface with harsh cleansers or using a lot of elbow grease. Just mix 3 tablespoons lemon juice into 1 1/2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High for 5-10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls and ceiling of the oven. Then just wipe away the softened food with a dishrag.

7. Deodorize your garbage disposal -If your garbage disposal is beginning to make your sink smell yucky, here's an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon and orange peels and toss them down the drain. To keep it smelling fresh, repeat once every month.

8. Eliminate fireplace odor -There's nothing cozier on a cold winter night than a warm fire burning in the fireplace -- unless the fire happens to smell horrible. Next time you have a fire that sends a stench into the room, try throwing a few lemon peels into the flames. Or simply burn some lemon peels along with your firewood as a preventive measure.

9. Neutralize cat-box odor -You don't have to use an aerosol spray to neutralize foul-smelling cat-box odors or freshen the air in your bathroom. Just cut a couple of lemons in half. Then place them, cut side up, in a dish in the room, and the air will soon smell lemon-fresh.

10. Remove unsightly underarm stains -Avoid expensive dry-cleaning bills. You can remove unsightly underarm stains from shirts and blouses simply by scrubbing them with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice (or white vinegar) and water.

Source: Reader's Digest. For more amazing everyday uses for lemons, check out Reader's Digest.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-12-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

5 Last Minute Christmas Tips

Three days and counting...Christmas is coming.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

So how do you survive the chaos and find true joy?

By focusing on the true gift of Christmas, simplifying the small stuff, and enjoying the journey.

To help you get started, here are my Top 5 Last Minute Christmas Tips:

5 LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS TIPS

1. STORY TIME - One of our favorite traditions is to read 2 Christmas stories. On Christmas Eve, we all gather around the tree and read Twas the Night Before Christmas. The kids love eating a Christmas cookie and listening to the words flow. Then, on Christmas morning, before a single present is unwrapped, we gather around the breakfast table and read the TRUE story of Christmas, of the birth of Jesus. You can start with Luke 2:1-20 or Matthew 1:18-2:20. This truly helps your family focus on the fun side of Christmas, and yet cherish the real gift of Jesus.

2. MAKE AHEAD BREAKFAST - Take the time on Dec 23rd or 24th to make your Christmas morning breakfast ahead of time. That way Christmas morning, you can simply enjoy eating and not have anything to do. 2 fantastic ideas are Sausage and Egg Casserole, or Sunday French Toast. For those and more great breakfast recipes click here.

3. SLOW DOWN - We tend to be in such a rush to "get done" with opening gifts and celebrating Christmas. I enjoy slowing the day down. Maybe open a few gifts in the morning. Let your kids play with those gifts, have lunch, and then open some more in the afternoon. Spread it out, take your time and enjoy the time together. Don't rush out the door to grandma's house, instead, stay home as long as you can and relax and enjoy watching your children play with their gifts.

4. CUT IN HALF - If you are a to-do list kinda person like I am, write down everything you think you need to do between now and Christmas Day and then...CUT YOUR LIST IN HALF. Christmas is Christmas not because of anything you do, it is Christmas because God gave us the gift of Jesus. Celebrate that, and don't worry about getting it all right..or all done. Celebrate what you have, thank God for all in your life, and let the rest go.

5. GIVE TO SOMEONE - Nothing will make you feel more joy than giving to someone else. Take hot cocoa to the Salvation army bell ringer at Walmart. Bring cookies to your gas station attendant or a tin of Chex Mix to the local fire or police station. Give to someone who does not expect you to give to them, and you will feel the true joy of Christmas.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-12-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

5 TOP TEACHER GIFTS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK

1. COOKIES IN A JAR - You can assemble these cookie mixes in quart mason jars, and add a fabric swatch on top. Talk about sharing sweet love. Click here for details.

2. LIGHT UP THEIR DAY - You can buy inexpensive votive or jar candles at the dollar store and wrap them in fabric swatches with a tag attached that reads "You Light Up My Days."

3. NOTEPADS - Teachers are always in need of notepads. Find some fun and inexpensive ones at the dollar store and wrap them up in fun paper for your teachers.

4. COFFEE TO GO - Purchase $5 coffee gift cards to a local coffee house or Starbucks. Always a great gift, and no wrapping needed. $5 will buy one sweet cup of coffee. For a variation, get a Subway $5 gift card for lunch on the go. Their foot longs are only $5!

5. HOT COCOA MIX - Make hot cocoa mix. There are a ton of varieties that are sweet and scrumptious. Who doesn't love hot cocoa for Christmas. Tons of recipes here.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-12-01T04:56:00.000-08:00

Love a Soldier

This Christmas, while you are decorating your home with lights and your tree with ornaments, don't forget to decorate your life with love.

TIP #1 SEND A CHRISTMAS CARD
While you are filling out your Christmas cards, add an extra one to an American soldier who was injured in battle. Send your letters, cards and love to:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

TIP #2 EMAIL A SOLDIER
Go to
http://www.anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/

And on the left is a list of US soldiers overseas. You click on a name, fill out a form and will be sent the email of a soldier you can email, encourage and support.

TIP #3 Other Ways to Love Our Troops
Check out http://amillionthanks.org/ for more great ideas on writing or emailing our soldiers, sending care packages, and letting our troops know we love and support them, and are thankful for our freedom because of their sacrifices and dedication to our country.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-11-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

3 GREAT Websites for Savings

#1 Absurdly Cool : Freebies you may need, and lots of freebies you may not yet know you need. Things like

#2 Coffee Bean Direct: I love my coffee...but gourmet coffee can get expensive. Here you can find gourmet coffee and tea at wholesale prices.

#3 Slacker: This is free Internet radio where you can listen to any and every song on your computer, laptop, or iPhone. Over 2.4 million songs easily accessible, and no time limits. It is LEGAL, and you can create your own play list.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-11-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

5 Tips for Taming the Homework Hassle

1. Homework Hour - Make a specific hour or two for homework hour. That way, everyone in the home is working on homework at the same time and there are no distractions.

2. Creature Comforts - Make the homework hour more fun by adding in creature comforts. If your child love hot cocoa, provide some hot cocoa and popcorn that he or she can enjoy while they work on homework. Adding in a creature comforts makes your child enjoy the process more.

3. Goodie Grabs - Allow your child to earn some goodies, and it doesn't have to be monetarily related. If your child works hard on homework, he can earn one hour of TV time, or an extra 20 min of Wii play time. An extra 15 min before bedtime, or the breakfast of his choice. Have fun with that!

4. Down Time - Kids have been stressed out and rushed all day at school. When they get home, permit them to have some down time before starting homework. Allow them one hour to play outside, ride bikes, or watch an episode of iCarly. Announce the homework hour begins 5:30, and let them have free time until then.

5. Break It Up - If your child has a lot of homework, attack it in shifts. Don't try to complete it all at once. This is a HUGE strategy especially if you have a child that struggles with focusing, or has ADD. Maybe work on 2 assignments, then take a 20 min break and go shoot hoops in the driveway. Then get into the next assignment. Breaking homework up into bite sized portions will allow your child to stay focused longer and succeed more.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-11-04T03:42:00.000-08:00

5 Tips to Healthier Thanksgiving Eating

1. DON'T GO HUNGRY - Don't go to the Thanksgiving dinner hungry: we often eat faster and more when we are hungry - therefore eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day to avoid overeating at dinner time.

2. GO SKINLESS - Turkey - go skinless: choose your 4-oz turkey portion skinless to slash away some fat and cholesterol. Save your appetite for the side dishes and desserts.

3. PORTION IT OUT - Make your portions smaller so you can have more of a variety of everything.

4.DRINK WATER - Drink plenty of water: it fills you up and keeps you hydrated,

5. LOW FAT - Substitute high fat ingredients with lower-fat or fat-free ingredients. Cutting some fat can really reduce calorie intake.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Soothe That Cough and Sore Throat

Well, along with the many sweet prayers and well wishes this week as I have been healing from the flu, I also got this fantastic advice for a gargle to help sooth a sore throat.

Jenny, a blogging friend, sent this to me, and it is fantastic. So I wanted to share it all with you. Here is what she said:

"As a speech therapist, there are a few trade secrets I have picked up. One is how to fight a cough. It is very important for our patients with voice disorders.

One thing that will likely help is a personal steamer. It's a lot like sitting over a boiling pot on the stove, but you don't have to lean over the stove. They are about $25 at most drug stores.

Next is this gargle:
8 oz hot water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp honey (or corn syrup)

Gargle it as much as you can stand it. It will help clean the infection out of your throat and coat it with a layer of moisture, which is what your throat really needs to beat the cough! One final thing is a product by Vick's called Shower Soothers.Good luck!"

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-10-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

6 TIPS FOR WINTER SKIN CARE

1. SHAVE WITH CONDITIONER - Use hair conditioner to lather your legs when you shave and your legs with be smoother than you could ever imagine!

2. MOISTURE MORE - Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)

3. SLATHER ON SUNSCREEN -No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun -- combined with snow glare -- can still damage your skin.

4. GIVE YOUR HANDS A HAND - The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

5. HOOK UP THE HUMIDIFIER -Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home.

6. GREASE UP YOUR FEET -Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine. Cover your feet, wrap Saran wrap on top, then a pair of socks and sit for 30 min and let it soak in.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-09-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

Easy Homemade GranolaIngredients:

2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup slivered almonds

1/3 cup peanuts

1/3 cup cashews

1/3 cup craisins (or raisins)

Directions:

1. In coated (or paper lined) baking dish, pour oats and nuts. Drizzle with honey, sprinkle on cinnamon, salt, brown sugar and vanilla.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, stirring several times.

3. Remove from oven and let cool. Toss in craisins. Store in air tight container.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-09-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

4 Tips for Making Your Marriage Better

#1 PRIORITIZE - First: Make your marriage the priority. Between kids and work, it’s easy to get so busy that you put your marriage on hold - but it should be the center of everything you do. Spending time with your spouse is the most important job you have to do each day.

#2 FRESH - Try new things as a couple. Remember when you were getting to know each other and everything was new? Get that feeling back! You don’t have to take up sky-diving. Try cooking a meal you’ve never cooked before. As long as it’s new, and you’re doing it together, you’ll be giving your marriage what it needs to thrive.

#3 HOLD ON - Hang onto something from your single life. Something just for you. Reading. Sewing. Scrapbooking. Going out to dinner once a month with your girlfriends. Being an individual is not mutually exclusive from being a couple.

#4 ASK - Ask your spouse for advice! If you find yourself with problems you don’t feel you can share with your partner - you’re in trouble. Being able to talk things out is the foundation of a great marriage. And this is especially true for men. According to marriage expert John Gottmann, the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT predictor of marital success is a husband’s willingness to listen to his wife.

*Source: Some items sourced from Intelligence for Life by John Tesh

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-09-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

5 WAYS TO COOK HEALTHIER FOOD

1. Fruit puree. Substitute an equal amount of fruit puree (e.g., applesauce) for oil in cake, brownie, bread, or muffin mixes. The fruit adds flavor, moisture, and tenderness to baked goods when the oil is omitted.

2. Egg whites or egg substitutes. Replace some of the whole eggs in a recipe with egg whites or a commercial egg substitute. 1 egg = 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup of egg substitute.

3. Cocoa powder. Use 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder plus 1 Tbsp. regular or diet margarine in place of every 1 oz. of unsweetened baking chocolate.

4. Fat-free milk..yogurt, sour cream, or cream cheese. Use these in place of
the whole-fat products. A dollop of vanilla fat-free yogurt makes a nice substitute for whipped cream on some desserts.

5. Light or diet margarine. Be careful when using light or diet margarine to replace regular margarine or butter. These substitutes have a higher water content and can change the texture of your baked goods. Experiment--you may need to reduce some of the liquid in your recipe when you use light or diet margarine.

For more healthy eating snacks for the holidays and GREAT gift giving tips, see http://www.snac.ucla.edu/.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-08-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

5 DOUBLE DUTY USES FOR EVERY DAY PRODUCTS

1. ANGEL FOOD CAKE PAN - Use to keep corn on the cob steady so you can cut off the kernels with a knife. Stand a cob upright in the center hole, and as you cut the kernels off, they fall straight into the pan. Ah ha.

2. Play Doh - Prevent burns on the Fourth of July by placing lit sparklers into open can of play doh and enjoy a safer sparkling July 4th. Ah, ha.

3. Colander - Place colander on top of smaller bowl when you want an ice bowl out for a party or family gathering. As the ice melts, the water drains into the bowl and your guests have fresh ice all night long. Ah ha.

4. Orange and Lemon Peels - Save your orange and lemon peels and let them dry out. They make GREAT fired starters. And bonus, they are fragrant fire starters. Ah ha.

5. Flower Flats - When you buy flowers, save the flower flats. They are perfect to slide under your car seats as a sliding drawers to keep Kleenex boxes and CD's safe and organized. Ah ha.

*Source: Some items sourced from REAL SIMPLE magazine, July 2009.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-08-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

10 LUNCH PACKING TIPS

1. Zip Those Chips: Instead of costly pre-made single serving packs, buy in bulk and make your own lunch sized bags with Ziploc bags.

2. Baby-Wipes: Those pre-moistened wipes can clean messy hands gently. Put one in a ziploc bag in each lunch.

3. Cookie Cutter Sandwiches: Slice the crusts off the bad and use cookie cutters in fun shapes. Pack a few extra to share with friends.

4. Hug-A-Day: Pre write or print out some sweet love notes and kid jokes to put in your kids' lunches. Like packing a hug.

5. Monday Perks: Mondays are gloomy, so pack a special treat in lunch boxes every Monday to brighten their day.

6. Sunday Sandwich Fest: On Sunday evening, take an entire loaf of bread, and make PB&J sandwiches. Individually wrap them in aluminum foil, and pack them back into the bread bag. Then place the bread bag in the freezer. When your kids pack lunches, they simply grab a pre-made sandwich and are good to go.

7. Freeze the Capri-Sun: In the hot months to come, you can keep lunches cool by freezing the Capri-Sun juice box ahead of time. Then pack it in the lunch and it acts like an ice pack. Defrosts by lunch and is cold and refreshing.

8. Wrap It Up: Tired of PB & J? Make a sandwich wrap with a soft tortillas. Layer lunch meat and cheese, or spread it with PB & J, roll it up, and voila. A fresh take on a typical sandwich.

9. Lunch-Able: Instead of spending a pretty penny on a pre-packaged lunchable, make your own lunchable kit for your kids. Dice up meat and cheese and place in one Ziploc bag, and put crackers in another.

10. BEST TIP YET: Kids Pack- No matter how young or old, have your children pack their own lunches. The more involved they are, the more lunch packing success you will find.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-08-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Top 3 Tips for Back to School
1. LAUNCH PAD

To make your back-to-school mornings go more smoothly, try creating a launch pad for your children.
If you can, have a hook for each child to hang their coat, and a hook for their backpack. Then a crate or box for their shoes and miscellaneous items.
Before bed each night, have your child lay out their clothes for the next day of school, and have them prepare their “LAUNCH PAD” for the morning rush. Make sure to have everything they need for school ready to go on their launch pad, and your morning rush won’t be so rushed.
If you do not have a central location in a foyer that can be turned into a launch pad, each child can have a launch pad in their bedroom. It doesn't matter where the launch pad is located, just that you have a central location for all their school stuff.

2. MAIL BOXES
To keep track of all the papers and homework that will soon invade your home, purchase a mail box system for your home. You can purchase one fairly inexpensively at Staples. I have a 4 tier box that I put in my pantry and each child has a shelf in that mail box. When they bring papers home, they go in their mail box.

Then once a month, I sort through everything in there, decide what to keep (like art work or papers they have written) and the rest gets tossed or recycled.

You can also use a 3 or 4 tier Rubbermaind type file cabinet on wheels. Each child can have a drawer and you can wheel it out of the way when you clean up.3. PACKED LUNCHES
Involve your children in the lunch packing process. The more involved they are, the more lunch they'll eat. Our kids help us make out our grocery shopping list, and each night, they pack their own lunches. We make sure they have a sandwich, a fruit and a drink, then they can add a treat they like. For more tips on packing lunches, check out the blog post "Lunch Packing Tips".

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-08-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

TOP 4 ONLINE CALENDARS FOR FAMILIES

1. COZI: Cozi's tagline is "Family Life...Simplified." And that it is. Manage your family's schedule, organize your shopping and to do lists, and share favorite summer and fall memories—all in one spot. You can watch a demo here: demo. And you can even set up grocery shopping lists, send yourself reminder messages via email, set up mobile phone access and even create a family journal.
ALL FREE. www.cozi.com

2. PRINTABLE CALENDARS:We provide professional-looking printable calendars in a matter of moments. Every download is a perfectly formatted Microsoft Word ® document that contains the finished calendar — you'll never need to fill the dates in yourself.
ALL FREE at www.printablecalendar.ca/

3. GOOGLE CALENDARS: You can set up your family calendar in Google Calendar for FREE, and share the login name with your family so you can all add things as they come up. One of the coolest things about GOOGLE CALENDAR is that you can set it up so it will email and/or TEXT you when you have an upcoming appointment as a reminder so you will never again forget that 2:oo meeting or that 3:oo doctor appointment. ALL FREE at www.google.com/calendar

4. FAMUNDO: Famundo for Organizations is a great tool for organizations to easily share events with Famundo families. Free online calendar and other tools for schools, churches, and clubs, to easily share events with members.ALL FREE at www.famundo.com/

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-08-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

4 Berry Wonderful Recipe Ideas

1. BREAKFAST BERRIES - Make a raspberry sauce to pour on your pancakes. Puree 1 cup of berries in the blender with 3 tsp lemon juice and 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar. Pour over pancakes. YUM!

2. LUNCH BERRIES - Make a turkey wrap with a soft tortillas, some thinly sliced turkey, and place some fresh raspberries on top. Roll up and enjoy. (The berries will smash down an add a sweet taste.)

3. DINNER BERRIES - Raspberry Glazed Chicken. Make glaze - 1 teaspoon sage, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 cup crushed raspberries, 1/2 teaspoon honey mustard, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves. Soak chicken breasts in glaze, and then grill or bake until cooked.

4. SNACK BERRIES - Make a raspberry smoothie for a great summer snack. In your blender, toss in 1 cup raspberries, 1 ripe banana, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup ice. Serve cold and fresh.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-07-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

5 Tips to Save Money on Laundry

1. ADD A TOWEL - I always have a bath towel in my clothes dryer--always. A towel in the dryer cuts down dryer time. It absorbs extra moisture out of the clothes and the time it cuts down in drying time can be 1/3-1/2. Try it!

2. SMALLER SCOOPS - We never use the scoop that comes with the laundry detergent. Instead, we use a 1/3 cup measuring cup. This eliminates the big scoops of detergent and our laundry still comes out great! This trick probably doubles the amount of laundry loads we can do.

3. LINE DRY - When you can line dry your clothes. Save your clothes, especially delicate by line drying. No more white color points on blue shirts either. The dryer beats your clothes up. Clothes last longer so you need to buy less.

4. ADD TENNIS BALLS - Throw 3-6 tennis balls in the dryer to speed up drying time. Also fluffs washed down coats and comforters.

5. ADD VINEGAR - Use vinegar as a fabric softener. Soap is basic. Vinegar is acid. Acid removes a base. No soap left in clothes, so clothes are soft. Never a salad smell.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-07-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Top Energy Saving Gift Idea

A SUN JAR - I love the glow of candlelight around Christmastime. Actually, anytime of year. But the constant drain on electricity or batteries can be expensive and environmentally costly.Leave the Sun Jar in the sun for a few hours, and the frosted Mason jar will give off a warm natural colored light when the sun goes down. Great for porches, decks, patios and gardens. Completely water tight.

More energy saving gift ideas can be found here.

Check out our Christmas blog daily for new updates on all things Christmas, tips, recipes, and all kinds of fun.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-07-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

SWAP a DVD for Free

I am the queen of swapping. I wrote an entire book on supper swapping and how that can save you time (cut cooking by 80%) money ($4000 a year) and add friendships to your life. (The book is The Great American Supper Swap)

I swapped babysitting with neighbors and friends during the early mom years of my life.

I swap clothing with friends who have kids older and younger than my own.

I am a HUGE fan of FREE CYCLE (www.FreeCycle.org) where you can swap just about anything you have that someone wants, and get things for free that you need.

In fact, I would swap just about anything. Anytime. Anywhere if it would save me money and time...

And let's face it. We all have too many DVD's. DVD's that our kiddos have outgrown or grown bored with.

So here is a great resource for you for this week's TIPS FOR TUESDAY.

Make a list of all the DVD's that you can live without, and log onto www.SwapADVD.com where you can weed out the clutter of those unwanted DVDs and get some new ones your family would LOVE....

Simply post 10 DVD titles you are willing to get rid of and receive 1 credit for a new title you may want. Then, each time you mail out a DVD to someone else who wants one of yours, you receive additional credits for future swaps! The site even offers printable mailing labels to make it even easier.

There are even sister sites that swap books and CDs.

So swap away, my friend. Clean out your clutter, bless others, and let the blessings come your way as well.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-07-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

5 Clutter Busting Tips for Summer

1. CRATES - Find some crates, baskets or boxes that will fit under your end tables or coffee table. Store toys, diapers, books, all the clutter in your family room inside. When it is time to clean up, simply pull out the crates, dump everything in, and shove the crate under your end table and voila, the room appears to be clean.

2. NO FLATS - I have gotten rid of all the flat sheets on my kids beds. That way when they make their beds, they look half way decent. It is much easier to make a bed by only straightening out a comforter.

3. TIME IT - Set a timer on the microwave and have a 15 minute clean up every day with your kids. See how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes working together, then, spend the rest of the day having fun.

4. ONE A DAY - Have each of your children be responsible for one chore a day. Maybe cleaning up after lunch, running the sweeper or taking out the trash. Each person does one chore a day and you can stay ahead of the mess.

5. LET IT GO - And finally, let it go. The clutter of summer is the reality of summer. Your house will not look neat because everyone is home all the time. So let it go. Live with the clutter and enjoy the time you have with your kids. In 20 years you will have an empty nest and a very clean house, and you will reminisce about the good old times when your kids were home all summer long. So enjoy it now, and don't stress about the small stuff.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-06-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

5 Tips for Your Garden Success

1. EGG SHELLS - Take your egg shells, crumble them, and sprinkle them around the soil at the base of your tomato plants. This will protect them from slugs and snails.
It does double duty as a cloche, providing shelter, warmth and retaining moisture.

2. LEFT OVER MILK - You might be shocked to know that regular milk is an incredible fungus and virus fighter in the garden. Some plants such as tomatoes and roses are notorious for contracting nasty diseases that can kill the plant or limit fruit and flower production. Start adding a tablespoon of powdered milk to the soil around your plants early in the season BEFORE problems happen. Or make a spray that can be applied to infected leaves using leftover or spoiled milk diluted with water.

3. GARLIC WATER - Soak cloves of garlic in a large container of water. The longer the cloves soak, the better. Watering your plants with the garlic infused water will repel pests from them.
4. REPEL BUGS - Some plants will actually repel the insects or diseases that plague other plants in your garden. Marigolds are known for their insect repelling properties as well as Citronella, chrysanthemums, onions and chives.

5. PULL IT NOW - I am not a fan of weeding. If you covered your garden with black plastic or mulch, you may not have much weeding. But if you are like me, you have weeds in the dirt. I have learned that weeding daily will help you stay ahead of the task, and it only takes 10 minutes each day to do so. Pull it now when you see it, and stay ahead of the weeds.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

5 Tips for Father's Day Fun

5 Tips for Father's Day Fun

1. Breakfast in Bed - Always make the day start with the traditional breakfast in bed for dad. Make him his favorite meal, and let him sleep in just a bit. If your church meets early in the summer (as ours does) you could do lunch in bed, and let dad nap or watch his favorite ESPN channel all day long. Let dad decide, and make it a guilt free day to spoil him

2. Visit a Local Farmer's Market-Take Dad to your local farmer's market! More than 4,500 farmer's markets across the country are open for business and brimming with fresh locally-grown summer produce, fresh cut flowers and tasty baked goods. What better way to spend a summer morning or afternoon? Use the things you buy to create a delicious Father's Day meal. Find a farmer's market in your area by visiting www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets

3. Explore a Local Forest or Park-Connect with nature and help the entire family create a lifelong curiosity about the natural world. This will also help the family to become better stewards of the environment and lead to healthier, active lives. Visit www.discovertheforest.org to find activities within an hour of your home - just type in your zip code for locations near you.

4. Play Ball - Play baseball, flag football or basketball with dad. Make it a family tournament, and have some fun prizes for the victors. Then you can cook some hot dogs on the grill and picnic in the backyard.

5. Off the Hook - Let dad off the hook for the day. Give him a get out of being a dad for a day card, and let him go golfing with friends, go to a ballgame with his own father, or just take a guilt free afternoon nap for as long as he likes.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-06-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Best Way to Cut a Birthday Cake

I was at a bridal shower this past weekend, and was shocked when they came out to cut the cake with, of all things, DENTAL FLOSS.

But it worked so well. Thanks, Connie, for the great tip to share with folks here.

HOW TO CUT YOUR CAKE WITH DENTAL FLOSS
Step 1

Take your cake out of the box and place it on the table. Pull out a piece of dental floss about 4-6 inches longer than the cake (enough so you can hold the floss tightly in each hand without touching the cake with your hands). Wrap each end of the floss around your index fingers.

Step 2

Hold the tightened floss over the cake evenly and push it down into the cake making a straight, even cut into the cake all the way to the bottom of the cake.

Step 3

Let the floss loose on one end and pull it through with the other hand. If you have a brand new package of floss, throw that first piece away and pull out a new piece for your next cut. If you are unsure of how much floss you have, you can reuse the pieces after pulling them through a clean paper towel or napkin. I always buy a new package of floss when I purchase a cake. Floss doesn't go bad and you can always use it for flossing your teeth anyway.

Step 4

As soon as you've made slices the length of the cake then use the same process for the slices going in the other direction. You'll end up with perfect little squares (or not so little, if you desire) and you will have enough cake for every guest at the party

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-06-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

5 Ways to Make Summer Chores Fun for Kids

1. DRAW - Sit down with your family and write out all the daily and weekly chores that are needed to keep your household running in tip top shape. Write each chore on an index card, fold it and place it in a jar or bowl. Each morning after breakfast, each person in the family randomly draws out their chore for the day. Put some music on and make the work fun for all!

2. AUCTION - Make a list of the daily and weekly chores you'd like to accomplish. Then label each chore with a value of tickets. Washing the dishes after breakfast might be worth 5 tickets, running the sweeper 7 tickets. Buy a large roll of tickets from Staples (or make your own by hand) and as each child chooses their daily chore, they are then awarded the appropriate amount of tickets. AT the end of each week, or month, you can then hold an auction and auction of desired items, like an ice cream cone from DQ, an extra hour of stay up time past bedtime, or a date with mom or dad out to supper. Get creative and make it a blast for the whole family, all ages.

3. TEAMWORK - Divide your family into teams each morning, and have the team decide what daily or weekly chores they will accomplish. See which team gets done first, which team does the best job, and which team had the best attitude while working. You can award prizes at the end of the day.

4. CHART IT - Stop the nagging by putting a chore chart on the fridge with each daily and weekly chore that each child must complete in order to keep their "privileges." At our house, privileges are anything fun, like Nintendo DS, bike riding, TV watching, etc...

5. HIRE THEM - Hire your kids and pay them for the work they do each day or week in "fake" monopoly money. Set a salary for each chore, and let them be their own boss and make the decisions as to how much they want to earn. Then, at the end of each week, let them go shopping with their fake money. You can purchase some neat treats at the dollar store, make coupons for things like an extra hour to sleep in, renting a movie at the Redbox or getting to have a friend sleep over.

TIPS FOR TUESDAY

2009-06-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Recipe for Hawaiian Chicken

Ingredients:
4 Boneless Chicken Breasts, fresh or thawed out
1 Bottle of Lawry's Hawaiian Marinade
1 16 oz bag of frozen Sugar Snap Peas (I prefer Bird's Eye Steamer bag)
1 Can of chunk pineapple (optional)
1 Can of chicken broth
Brown rice (as much as your family eats)

Directions:
1. Turn crock pot onto the warm setting, cover the bottom of crock with chicken broth. You only actually need a half of a can. Pour about 1/3 of the bottle of marinade into the chicken broth, stir and cover with lid.

2. In a mixing bowl, cover the chicken breasts with marinade (don't use it all, but most of what is left). Make sure they are coated, cover bowl and place in fridge for about an hour.

3. After the hour is up, put chicken and the marinade from the bowl into the crock pot. Make sure the chicken is covered in juice. If it's not then add a little more broth. Cover.

4. Turn up crock pot up to high. Cook on high for one hour.

5. Turn crock pot down to low and cook for two more hours.

6. At 45 minutes before the chicken is done, steam the sugar snap peas in the microwave. Drain the water and pour steamed veggies into the crock pot. At this time add the can of pineapple (if you choose, just as yummy without it) and the remainder of marinade.

7. Cook your brown rice.

8. Serve chicken mix over the rice! YUM!!