Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Small tricks for difficult tasks

When you break a glass, use a cotton ball to wipe up all  the slivers and tiny shards.  The fibers will catch any tiny pieces you can't see.
Ever try to get a sticky label off of something.  Put a little bit of peanut butter on it and let it sit so it can soften the adhesive and then wipe clean.
Dingy artificial flowers can be cleaned by putting them in a plastic bag with a few teaspoons of salt.  Shake the bag until the salt absorbs the dust.  If the salt sticks, place a hose over the end of a vacuum and vacuum the flowers clean.
Use a coffee filter to fix scuffed shoes.  It is lint free, easy to hold and disposable.  Coffe filters are also great for cleaning mirrors and windows.
To prevent containers from tomato based stains, mist with nonstick cooking spray before filling them.
Make your jewelry shine by placing it in an old pair of panty hose.  Place it in the top rack of your dishwasher and wash it out.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Upgrade to a better you

Start some new good habits this year.  Here are some ideas.

Do you exercise?  Add yoga or meditation to help reduce the effects of stress.  Having less stress wards off disease, according to research.

Throw on some shades any time you head outside.   Sunglasses help protect against the sun's ultrviolet rays which can damage the retinas over time.  This can lead to macular degeneration which is an age-related eye condition that leads to impaired vision or blindness.

Check your multivitamin for magnesium to help build bone strength and also helps absorb calcium.  Taking cilicon with calcium and Vitamin D improves production of collagen, which gives bone strength and flexibility.  Try taking supplements 3 times a day to give your body a more consistent flow of nutrients.

Steer clear of 2nd and 3rd hand smoke.  The particles left behind in hair, clothing and other surfaces are considered 3rd hand smoke and contain the same harmful chemicals as secondhand smoke.  Thirdhand smoke can become airborne when disturbed...

Give thanks daily to increase your happiness.  People who are happy live longer according to a study from the University of North Carolina.

Try something new this year and keep your brain active.  People who challenge their brain continually will experience less memory loss as they age than those who don't challenge their brain.  Take guitar lessons or do crosswords puzzles.  Get up off the couch and learn to dance!