Barb’s Corner – by Barbara Seidman

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2809 NE 32 Street, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

They will be featured in the following month's newsletter.

If you don't enter, you've no chance of winning -- I just won two raffles (Petco gift certificate; and three month supply of Frontline, all for Lexi-girl) - one more to go, as things usually happen in three's.   And, keep writing those letters - if you don't ask, you don't get.........

This & That

Open the curtains and light some candles.  Everything will look cleaner and brighter, and it doesn't look like you're trying to hide something. 

Great music also distracts guests from seeing clutter.  

Put lights on dimmers. Change your lampshades - going from white to soft natural linen can make the room look tailored.

Just moving the furniture can make a room look entirely different; same goes for accessories. 

High quality products last longer and save money in the long run.

 Use supermarket gift cards - they'll force a spending limit.

 If you run out of toilet bowl cleaner, use some orange drink powder, like Tang, to do the job.  The citric acid works in the toilet, and if the dog drinks out of the toilet, the worse that can happen is an orange mouth.

Mask pet odors with room fresheners, or chop lemons in your garbage disposal and simmer apples or oranges with cinnamon on the stove. (From Judy:  I use a cinnamon stick in a small saucepan and keep it on my stove-just when I know the house needs a little freshener up).    It smells natural and is comforting, not like you've just used cleaning products.

Have two doormats - one outside and one inside - to keep floors free of leaves and other debris. 

Make your own all purpose household cleaner by mixing water, baking soda and vinegar together, and store it in an old mason jar or jelly jar.  You can whip up a jar in less than 60 seconds and save yourself at least $250 a year in the process. 

  Write it down - you'll see a big difference between "wants" and "needs."  And consider your "rathers" -- I'd like that pair of designer shoes, but I'd rather save up for a weekend away

 Save gas - pretend like you're driving with an egg under the pedal; pressing harder on the gas pedal doesn't actually help your speed, it just sprays wasted gas into your engine.  (Judy’s Note:  Or buy a hybrid – and really save).

Use rubber bands as bookmarks (long, thin ones).

One or two will make an excellent non-slip grab ring for a jar that is difficult to open

If an eraser on a pencil is hard and shiny and won't erase, wrap it in a wide rubber band and it'll work.

Credit cards - Ignore the minimum payment on your bill.  You should be paying the maximum you can afford.  If you can find a credit card with a better rate somewhere else, switch.  Pay with cash or checks when possible.

When doing projects around the house, do you really save money by doing it yourself? Unless you have the expertise and like doing that type of work, is it really something you want to be doing?  Same with making a new recipe from scratch.  It is a good idea to weigh your options first.

FORGIVENESS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO FOR OTHER PEOPLE; WE DO IT FOR OURSELVES TO GET WELL AND MOVE ON…

Until next time,

Barb

 February 2010 - Barb's Corner

Don’t forget your vitamins!  Most people need a multi-vitamin, extra Vitamin C, Calcium (with Vitamin D to help absorption), and 1g of Omega 3 each day.  

Here’s a fun deodorant hint from Consumer Reports.  For best results, apply at night (preferably after a shower).  It will sink into your skin and do its thing while you’re sleeping.  In the morning, no need to reapply (as long as it’s not August and you don’t ride your bike to work.  It will work all day and best of all, no deodorant marks on your clothes!  This is a great time of year to try it.

Water Works for Weight Loss - Nothing quells the appetite like water, lots and lots of water. Start out with two quart bottles in the morning and carry one with you to work or wherever you go. If you like, divvy up the 64 ounces of water into eight (8-ounce) bottles or four pint (16-ounce) bottles to carry around with you all day. Freeze half of them the night before and they will last all day, even in a hot car. Keep some unfrozen so they will be ready to drink immediately.

Yes. You will have to make more frequent bathroom trips, but it is worth it. Drink your 64 ounces of water before dinner, if possible, so you're not up half the night going to the bathroom.

Water not only fills you up and lessens your appetite, it prevents those "hungry horrors" we all encounter when our blood sugar drops and we reach for cookies, candy, ice cream, fries or other high-calorie treats. Water also flushes out the system, rids the body of bloat and toxins and rosies up the complexion. Now, start splashing

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids  peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose. 

Achy muscles  from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive  oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil  for instant relief for aching muscles. 

Use sea salt because it provides healthy iodine, magnesium, selenium and other minerals not found in table salt.

Wine.  Hmmm, one glass if you must.  Make it red.    Avoid fried food.

Only have a bisel (a little) of the potato latkes or mashed potatoes, because the carb rush will send your pancreas (and insulin levels) into a tizzy.  Elevated insulin can lead to memory los, heart disease, inflammation and cancer.

Eat only one dessert.  Don't nosh on everything.  Eating sugar makes you crave more sugar and contributes to poor GI function. 

A nylon bristle broom doesn't splatter walls or lose its bristles.  Sweep your rug; it often works better than a vacuum.

A microfiber mop - on a tight budget, it's cheaper and less wasteful than disposable mops.  Great for picking up dust in high and low corners.

_____________

MEN WHO KISS THEIR WIFES IN THE MORNING LIVE FIVE YEARS LONGER THAN THOSE WHO DON'T!

GOOD EXECUTIVES NEVER PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW WHAT THEY CAN GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO TODAY!

Until next time, Barb
 

January 2010 - Barb's Corner

This & That

Epson salt can also be used as a plant food and fertilizer instead of expensive Miracle Grow or Peter's, etc.

To solve a sticky problem, if you do not have any Goo Gone on hand, use a hair dryer on a warm setting to remove price tags from gifts or garage-sale items (things you cannot wash to remove).  They will almost always remove quickly, cleanly and easily without damaging a plastic bag or the item the tag is sticking on.

Baby oil removes thick and sticky oil that your car picks up from the road.

When flying, take along a plastic, zipper-lock bag for each person.  Put all of your change, watches, jewelry, etc. in before going through the x-ray machine.  That way, everything is together and you don't have to worry about losing or forgetting anything.

Don't shop on an empty stomach.  Walking into a supermarket when you're hungry can make you more inclined to buy food you don't really need.  Eating a light, nutritious snack before shopping could easily save you $'s a year, not to mention several hundred calories a week.

Don't sign up for insurance, service contracts or extended warranties on things like cell phones, which you probably won't lose or damage, and are likely to use for only a couple years.

Drinking tap water (use a filter if you'd like) can save you hundreds of dollars a year on what you might spend on bottled water, power drinks, juices, soft drinks, etc.  Only drink water when dining out - big savings on drinks.  Soda is a want; no one in this world needs it.  Water is a need.  Save soda as an occasional treat.     

SELF-HELP

BREATHE. Practice conscious breathing exercises ten minutes a day. This will keep you calm and relaxed when you face stressful situations. Any time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, taking a few deep breaths will help you separate mentally and emotionally from the stresses. This is particularly helpful when dealing with demanding relatives, friends, or co-workers who want you to come to their house or –worse – come to yours.

LEARN TO LET GO. Remember you can't control the behavior and attitudes of those people around you. You can't control their drinking, smoking, eating or inappropriate remarks. It’s not your fault if your first cousin loudly insults the rest of the family or if a friend makes the wrong comment at the wrong time. Remember your deep breathing exercises.

DON'T COMPARE. When you talk to friends and family at get-togethers, make a concerted effort not to start comparing yourself to others, no matter how great their clothes, lifestyles, appearance, or jobs seem to be. Don't knock down your spirits with comparisons like these and push these thoughts out of your head if you find yourself starting to make them.

SCHEDULE TIME TO BE ALONE. When you consciously plan to have alone time, it keeps you empowered and reduces possible feelings of melancholy. You will also be less overwhelmed by external stimuli.

AVOID THE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SET-UP. Resolutions should not be focused solely on “fixing” yourself. Your number one resolution should be to continue to do the things that make you happy. Think about the people and activities you enjoy and commit yourself to spending more time with these people and activities and less time with people and projects that add stress to your life.

SHOW YOU CARE. Finally, take some time to think about the people you love and care about. Give them the gift of a phone call or note just to let them know how important they are to you. Most people need this type of nourishment in general.

Until next time, Barb