I don't know about all of you, but when it comes to hanging pictures, I need help. Especially if there's more than one in the arrangement.
I recently decided to redo the wall that all my family pictures are hanging. It just didn't strike me as appealing the way I had it before. So, I did some research, and found a great little page on the net with some great picture hanging tips. I followed the steps, and my new arrangement really pops now! It's much more pleasing to the eye, and I'm very happy with it.
I'm thinking of redoing other walls now.
For some awesome tips on how to hang and arrange pictures in your home, I recommend this:
Hanging Pictures
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
24 Tips To Get You Through The Day
Here is a list of helpful tips to make life a little easier. There's no specific content, just a smattering of tips for health and home.
1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2) Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time.
3) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4) To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan-the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers.
6) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean.
8) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains.
9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake.
10) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant “fix me up”.
11) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks.
12) Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
13) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
15) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17) Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18) If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
19) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.
21) Ants, ants, ants everywhere … Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march - see for yourself.
22) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
23) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
24) NOW Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: Clean a toilet - drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. Clean a vase - to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry - drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle - fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Unclog a drain - clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.
1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2) Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time.
3) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4) To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan-the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers.
6) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean.
8) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains.
9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake.
10) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant “fix me up”.
11) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks.
12) Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
13) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
15) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17) Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18) If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
19) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.
21) Ants, ants, ants everywhere … Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march - see for yourself.
22) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
23) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
24) NOW Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: Clean a toilet - drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. Clean a vase - to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry - drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle - fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Unclog a drain - clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.
Tip For Coughing
Here's a tip I had to use myself just last night. The two youngest children have a spring time cold, and are coughing constantly and stuffy. Last night, Rebecca, my middle child, couldn't stop coughing after going to bed. I had her come down and I gooped the bottoms of her feet up with Vicks Vapor Rub. An old pair of socks, and she was off to bed.
Within five minutes, she had quit coughing and was able to breath through her nose better. This is a tip I learned years ago, and believe it or not, it works! It even works on Timothy, my youngest, when he's coughing due to an asthma attack. The Vicks is absorbed through the bottoms of your feet really quickly, and within minutes the coughing stops. I don't know how many times I have been thankful for this little miracle!
Next time you (or your child) has a cough that won't quit, smear some Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottoms of your feet, cover with an old pair of socks, and enjoy the peace and quiet that soon follows.
An added bonus to this tip is in the morning when you wake up, you'll find that the bottoms of your feet are as soft as a baby's bottom!
Within five minutes, she had quit coughing and was able to breath through her nose better. This is a tip I learned years ago, and believe it or not, it works! It even works on Timothy, my youngest, when he's coughing due to an asthma attack. The Vicks is absorbed through the bottoms of your feet really quickly, and within minutes the coughing stops. I don't know how many times I have been thankful for this little miracle!
Next time you (or your child) has a cough that won't quit, smear some Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottoms of your feet, cover with an old pair of socks, and enjoy the peace and quiet that soon follows.
An added bonus to this tip is in the morning when you wake up, you'll find that the bottoms of your feet are as soft as a baby's bottom!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
All About Eggs!
How many
times have you boiled eggs only to have them not peel nicely? Or had them crack during boiling and run out all over the pan? Well, there's a couple tips that will help you in your quest for perfect eggs and then some.
1. Use this handy little tip to find out if your eggs are fresh or stale.
Immerse your eggs in a pan of cool, salted water. If they rise to the top, they are stale. If they sink, they are fresh.
2. Raw or hard-boiled?
Spin the egg. If it wobbles, it is raw. If it spins easily, it is hard-boiled.
3. Poached eggs
Add a couple of drops of vinegar to the water when poaching eggs. It will keep the egg from running all over the pan.
4. Cracked shell?
A couple of drops of vinegar in the water will also keep the egg from running out of its shell if cracked during boiling.
5. Do you want more meringue for your buck?
Add one tablespoon of water per egg white to increase the quantity of beaten egg whites when making meringue.
6. Peeling hard-boiled eggs
Quickly rinse boiled eggs in cold water after boiling and the shells will peel beautifully.
7. Another peeling tip
Fresh eggs usually do not peel nicely. Buy your eggs one week before boiling them and they should peel nicely (don't forget to rinse them in cold water after boiling!)
8. Fresh yolks
Cover egg yolks with cold water and store them in the fridge to keep them fresh for days.
9. Great tasting coffee
Add eggshells to coffee after it has perked for a great taste.
times have you boiled eggs only to have them not peel nicely? Or had them crack during boiling and run out all over the pan? Well, there's a couple tips that will help you in your quest for perfect eggs and then some.1. Use this handy little tip to find out if your eggs are fresh or stale.
Immerse your eggs in a pan of cool, salted water. If they rise to the top, they are stale. If they sink, they are fresh.
2. Raw or hard-boiled?
Spin the egg. If it wobbles, it is raw. If it spins easily, it is hard-boiled.
3. Poached eggs
Add a couple of drops of vinegar to the water when poaching eggs. It will keep the egg from running all over the pan.
4. Cracked shell?
A couple of drops of vinegar in the water will also keep the egg from running out of its shell if cracked during boiling.
5. Do you want more meringue for your buck?
Add one tablespoon of water per egg white to increase the quantity of beaten egg whites when making meringue.
6. Peeling hard-boiled eggs
Quickly rinse boiled eggs in cold water after boiling and the shells will peel beautifully.
7. Another peeling tip
Fresh eggs usually do not peel nicely. Buy your eggs one week before boiling them and they should peel nicely (don't forget to rinse them in cold water after boiling!)
8. Fresh yolks
Cover egg yolks with cold water and store them in the fridge to keep them fresh for days.
9. Great tasting coffee
Add eggshells to coffee after it has perked for a great taste.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Featured Tip - Hydrogen Peroxide
Here's our first featured tip from reader Dawtch. We've been emailing back and forth for a couple of weeks now. She's given me some great recipes, and sent me this great list of tips using that inexpensive little brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Its multitude of uses, both medically and around the house, make this a staple to never be without!
This is what Oxy clean is...Did you know that..? 
3% peroxide
3% peroxide
This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana
"I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars."
1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe)
No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)
2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs.
3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.
4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.
6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.
7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.
8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.
9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.
10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.
11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.
12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this.
I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.
Dawtch is the author of the blog The Life and Times.
A Couple Issues
Due to some technical difficulties with my template, I was forced to forgo posting in order to fix the problem. I spent the last two days trying everything under the sun to restore my template to its previous glory. I'm happy to say, it's finally fixed and we're up and running again.
To my fellow Entrecarders that had ads scheduled to run on my blog the last couple of days, I'm sorry your ads didn't get to run. If there were some way for me to run your ads again without using your credits, or for me to refund your credits, I would gladly do it. Just know that I'm incredibly sorry.
On a more upbeat note, I've decided to make a slight change in the direction of this blog. I don't know if you've noticed, but I bought my own domain, and the blog is now called "Health to Home". The new address is www.healthtohome.net, for those of you that want to save it. While this blog will still feature helpful household tips and recipes, I've decided to add some health tips in the mix also. After all, if you're not happy and healthy, it will be difficult to have a happy, healthy home.
Something else I would like to start doing is to feature a reader's submission each week. It can either be a household tip or a health tip. I think it would be fun to hear what you all have to say. I don't know everything, and I'm sure there are things that I could learn from all of you. So, if you'd like to have one of your tips featured on this blog, email me at Shawn@healthtohome.net. Be sure to include your first name, and the address of your blog as I'd like to send a little traffic your way as a way of saying "thanks" for your submission.
To my fellow Entrecarders that had ads scheduled to run on my blog the last couple of days, I'm sorry your ads didn't get to run. If there were some way for me to run your ads again without using your credits, or for me to refund your credits, I would gladly do it. Just know that I'm incredibly sorry.
On a more upbeat note, I've decided to make a slight change in the direction of this blog. I don't know if you've noticed, but I bought my own domain, and the blog is now called "Health to Home". The new address is www.healthtohome.net, for those of you that want to save it. While this blog will still feature helpful household tips and recipes, I've decided to add some health tips in the mix also. After all, if you're not happy and healthy, it will be difficult to have a happy, healthy home.
Something else I would like to start doing is to feature a reader's submission each week. It can either be a household tip or a health tip. I think it would be fun to hear what you all have to say. I don't know everything, and I'm sure there are things that I could learn from all of you. So, if you'd like to have one of your tips featured on this blog, email me at Shawn@healthtohome.net. Be sure to include your first name, and the address of your blog as I'd like to send a little traffic your way as a way of saying "thanks" for your submission.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Manwich Noodles
Here's a quick meal idea for those nights when you just don't have time to make a big meal. My family loves it and actually requests that I make it every so often.
It doesn't really have a name, and if it does, I don't know what it is. I call it Manwich Noodles.
What you'll need:
1 lb. ground beef
1 green pepper seeded and cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion diced
1 can of Manwich
1 can of tomato soup
1 box Mostaccioli noodles
Brown the ground beef with the green peppers and onions.
Bring a pot of water to a boil while doing this.
Add the can of Manwich and the can of tomato soup to the ground beef mixture. You can also add a small can of mushrooms at this point if you like. I've made it with and without.
Turn the heat down and simmer on low until hot and noodles are done.
When your water comes to a boil, cook your noodles until desired consistency.
Drain noodles and return to pot.
Add ground beef and sauce mixture to the noodles and stir.
This recipe makes a huge pot of Manwich Noodles. I always have left overs. What's good about this concoction is it reheats beautifully in the microwave the next day!
It doesn't really have a name, and if it does, I don't know what it is. I call it Manwich Noodles.
What you'll need:
1 lb. ground beef
1 green pepper seeded and cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion diced
1 can of Manwich
1 can of tomato soup
1 box Mostaccioli noodles
Brown the ground beef with the green peppers and onions.
Bring a pot of water to a boil while doing this.
Add the can of Manwich and the can of tomato soup to the ground beef mixture. You can also add a small can of mushrooms at this point if you like. I've made it with and without.
Turn the heat down and simmer on low until hot and noodles are done.
When your water comes to a boil, cook your noodles until desired consistency.
Drain noodles and return to pot.
Add ground beef and sauce mixture to the noodles and stir.
This recipe makes a huge pot of Manwich Noodles. I always have left overs. What's good about this concoction is it reheats beautifully in the microwave the next day!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Get Started On Your Spring Cleaning
With warmer weather just around the corner, it's time to start spring cleaning. Get ready inside and out with this great list. It's sure to help you remember everything that needs to be done!
Spring Cleaning Chore Checklist
Spring Cleaning Chore Checklist
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