Swine Flu Information

As we all know, the Swine Flu has become an issue here in the United States as well as other countries around the world.

Please click here for direct information and up-to-date statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on the Swine Flu.

A Great Use for Old Teapots and China

I found this article in the April, 2009 issue of Country Living after the link was sent to me by one of my friends. I think it's a great idea for using old unique items and making something new with them rather than throwing or giving them away.





You start out with a box of old bowls, china and teapots and end up with this adorable teapot lamp.



Click here to get to the original article with the instructions.

Tip Tuesday - Keep Your Books in Tip-Top Shape

Frequent dusting and handling of your books will keep them in better shape than just leaving them untouched on the bookshelf. Keeping them clean will keep them from deteriorating as will opening the books and turning the pages occasionally.

Real Simple Quote for Today

Here's a new quote from Real Simple Magazine's Quote for the Day which I wanted to share with you:

Work hard to improve your mind and body. Nourish your spirit. Do the things you fear.

―Robin S. Sharma

Small Living Journal

I came across this blog through my daily Google alerts. It's called the Small Living Journal and the April 4, 2009 entry titled "The First Step to Downsizing Your Life", written by Christina Nellemann, really spoke to me. I wanted to share it with you.

Click here to read this wonderful blog post.

Tip Tuesday - A Useful Tip for Ginger Root

About two years ago I burned my finger badly on a hot pot on the stove. I was soaking it in ice water and every time I took it out of the water, I was in terrible pain.

My sister called while I was soaking my finger and she recommended that I send my husband down to the market and buy a piece of ginger root. "Take the ginger root and cut a fresh piece from it", she said. "Take the piece and place it on the burn and wrap a piece of first-aid tape around it".

I tell you, the pain from the burn went away immediately when I put the ginger root on the burn. I kept it on there for about an hour, replaced it with a fresh piece, and went to bed. In the morning, I had no pain at all when I removed the ginger root from the burn.

So, your tip for the day is to keep some ginger root in your refrigerator. Not only is it a great spice to cook with, you never know when it might come in handy for some first-aid.

Spring Cleaning - Organizing Your Linen Closet

Here's a Spring Cleaning project that can be tackled in a few hours that will make a big difference each time you open the doors of your linen closet.

Start by taking everything out of the linen closet and placing on a nearby table or bed.

Sort the linens by type – towels, tablecloths, sheet sets, etc.

Once you’ve sorted by type, it’s easy to see what’s still worth keeping and what’s ready to be cut into rags or donated to charity (if still in good shape). Donate old towels to your local animal shelter or grooming facility.

The rule of thumb is to keep two sets of sheets per bed. Store the unused set folded inside the pillowcase so all parts of the set are kept together.

A similar rule applies for towels – three good sets (bath towel, hand towel and washcloth) per person. Keep older towels on hand if you have pets or wash your car at home.

Fold all items neatly by type and size. Don’t over crowd shelves. Keep your linens fresh smelling by allowing air to circulate. Keep piles small and make sure that your linens are completely dry before storing away to prevent musty odors.

When placing items back on the shelves, place the items you use most frequently at eye level. Place the freshly laundered items on the bottom of the appropriate pile to ensure that everything wears evenly. Store seasonal and infrequently used items on upper or lower shelves.

Store out of season quilts, blankets and comforters inside space bags (large plastic bags which can be vacuumed sealed to half their original size). Make sure all items are clean before storing.

Label each shelf with its contents (e.g. master bedroom sheets, guest towels, winter blankets, etc.) to keep the linen closet neat and organized.

Here's What I'm Doing Tonight

Two words - THE BOSS!

Tip Tuesday - One Bad Apple?

Did you know that apples contain a gas called ethylene gas? This gas can speed up the ripening process in other fruits and vegetables when they are stored together with apples.

Your tip for today is to store your apples in a separate bin in the refrigerator to prevent your other fruits and vegetables from ripening too quickly.

Avoid the Lines - Mail Your Tax Returns Today

I know, it's ONLY April 13th but trust me, you'll be glad you followed this advice. Mail your tax returns today instead of waiting until Wednesday, April 15th and avoid the horrendous lines which are inevitable on Tax Day.

And be sure to send your returns by Certified Mail to ensure that they arrive in a timely manner - especially if you're sending a payment along with the return.

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter today. Enjoy your time with your family and don't eat too much Easter candy!

An Organizing Quote from A.A. Milne

Here is another daily quote which I received from Real Simple Magazine. It is by one of my favorite children's book authors, A. A. Milne, the author of "Winnie the Pooh".

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

―A.A. Milne

I couldn't have said it better myself. Have a great day!

Tip Tuesday - Magnetic Photo Albums Are a No No

Do you still have your pictures from the 60's, 70's and 80's in those old photo albums with the magnetic pages? Get them out and into new acid free albums to prevent any more discoloration or fading. Those old photo albums will ruin your photographs.



If you don't have time to set up new photo albums, put the pictures, in order, into acid-free photo boxes.



Check out Michaels.com for more photo albums and boxes like those pictured here.

Batter Up!

Baseball opening day is here and I wanted to share a quote from George Will that basically says it all:

"Baseball is a habit. The slowly rising crescendo of each game, the rhythm of the long season - these are the essentials and they are remarkably unchanged over nearly a century and a half. Of how many American institutions can that be said?"

Enjoy another great season of baseball. Go Angels!

Spring Cleaning - Part II

Spring is a great time to lighten up your closets. Consider donating any heavy winter clothing that you and your family did not wear. Store sweaters in containers with cedar chips to keep them safe from clothes loving bugs during the warmer months. Before storing, be sure to wash or dry clean any coats or sweaters so they’ll be free of stains that bugs love to explore.

Make sure to clean or replace the filters in your air conditioning system.

Removing and washing the window screens can make a big difference in the amount of dirt that enters your home. Try doing this on a warm weekend when you can enlist the help of other family members. Use a strong hose and soft brush along with soapy water. Let the screens dry all day and return them to the windows before the sun goes down. You’ll be surprised how much more light will come through when the window screens are clean.

Hose down your outdoor furniture and clean out the rain gutters. Sweep the porch thoroughly and brush down any spider or cobwebs that have accumulated in the overhangs and porch lights.

Get the garage ready for summer. Take stock of your gardening tools and supplies and replace anything that’s broken or missing parts. Throw away any broken flowerpots and old seeds from previous years. Start fresh with new bags of soil and plants.

Remember, take just 30 minutes a day and you’ll be ready for Spring and Summer in no time.