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Baking Soda and Its Uses

I like baking – I have a sweet tooth. Among my baking ingredients, amidst the flours and vanilla extract and eggs, there is one thing that I consider to be very important in the household that I always make it a point to stock on it and that is baking soda. For a couple of years now, I have collected some uses of baking soda from online sites and have even tried some of them myself. In this article, I will share with you some of the benefits of baking soda.

  1. Facial Scrub – This is something that I have done and still continue to do to this day. I make my own baking soda facial scrub by mixing one and a half tablespoons of warm water to three tablespoons of baking soda. The consistency should be that of a paste. Use this to scrub dead skin cells and germs off your skin. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes. It stings.
  2. Room or Fridge Freshener – Let’s admit it. Our fridge is the source of a mixture of odors from leftovers and other stuff we put inside it – not all of them pleasant. The simple solution I have is to put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a small container (something that will not take too much space in your fridge) and let it sit there for a few days. I find that odors inside the fridge are neutralized when I do this. You can also try this out in your rooms.
  3. Kitty Litter Deodorizer – As a pet lover, this is something I do. Before filling your litter pan with kitty litter, sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom and then add the kitty litter. This helps the kitty litter from getting too stinky.
  4. Minor Insect Bite Treatment – I cannot attest for this because I have not tried this myself, but baking soda is said to be a good treatment for insect bites. You have to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
  5. Brush and Comb Cleaning Agent – Your brushes and combs collect dirt from your hair. It also gets oily from your scalp and residue from your hair products. You can easily get rid of this by soaking your combs and brushes in warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda for about half an hour to an hour. After that, you can simply rinse it and let it dry.

Baking soda has been very helpful around the house and not just for baking purposes. It can clean surfaces, act as a beauty product and can keep the air fresh. So the next time you run to the grocery store, drop by the baking goods aisle and make it a point to keep your shelves stocked with it.

 

New Year, New Look – Four Decorating Ideas For Your Home

The new year is often associated with change – a time to put the negativities of the past and change for the better. People are often inclined to change something in themselves at the start of the year – from something small like getting a new hair color to something substantially larger, like changing careers or planning to get married to their significant other. We have all done it at some point since we believe there should be progress in ourselves or at least there is hope for progress, so why not include the look of our homes in that change as well?

In this article, I will share some decorating ideas that will hopefully spark your creative side. I should say that not all of these ideas are trendy and whatnot, some of them may even be classics in their own, but if you have not applied them in your home, the change can be beautiful. If you have not tried them, I encourage you to do so. If anything, the new look should be an interesting change in your humble abode.

  1. Go green. Plants can instantly change the look of the room. Plus, they take in carbon dioxide and help produce oxygen. I’m sure we have seen those small plants placed in bathrooms. What’s the first thing you notice? I myself have always noticed that the room looks more alive. Most of us don’t have picture perfect bathrooms worthy of being featured in magazines, but we can add color and life just by adding a plant or a terrarium. It’s not just for bathrooms. Terrariums look great on desk tops and since they can be small, they don’t take up much space.
  2. Pick a theme. If you have a bit of extra budget and time, you can pick a theme for some rooms in your home. Do your children love the beach? Why not pick a nautical theme for their room. Decorate it with anchors or a ship’s wheel and pick some starfish-printed curtains for them? Make sure that the room does not get too cluttered with the same stuff. Gold looks wonderful and classy in a living room, but too much gold will make it look overpowering and quite tacky.
  3. Frame it up. I’ve always told my friends that living in the digital age has made it easier for parents to take snap shots of their little ones any time of the day. We all have our favorites and the ones we won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Get those pictures printed in a bigger size and have them framed. They look especially nice on staircase walls. After some time, you will see how your baby has grown over the years and you can look at the images wistfully.
  4. Lights. It’s no secret that lights and their settings can instantly make a difference in a room and a person’s mood. Sunlight in the morning looks cheerful and happy; dim light looks romantic. There are many affordable chandeliers in the market today and you can even make one of your own if you’re handy with electrical wires. This does not just apply to living rooms and bedrooms. You can even change the lighting in your kitchen if you think your overhead light is too bright. 

Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s crucial for your well-being that it looks like a place you want to be in at the end of a long day. Don’t neglect it and try to make it look pleasing with the resources that you have so that when you come home after a day outside, it will welcome you into the comfort of its arms.

Spice It Up! – Herbs and Spices You Should Stock Up In Your Shelves

“If you are careful,” Garp wrote, “If you use good ingredients, and you don’t take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, I find, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane.” ― John Irving, The World According to Garp

Do you love to cook? Perhaps planning to learn? Does the idea of stocking up your shelves with spices with names you can’t even pronounce properly sound intimidating to you? Well, you’re not alone. I believe most people who are still starting up with their journey to the wonderful world of stews, spices and stoves have found that choosing the basic spices quite daunting. After all, you don’t want to spend that much money on saffron  while you still don’t know what it does and therefore would not even know where to use it.

As someone who has once faced the task of feeding a small family with what little knowledge I have had with cooking – basically limited to three ways of cooking eggs and nuking ready-made dinners – I want to impart some advice: learn while it’s still early. In this article, I will attempt to share with you the basic herbs and spices that you should get while you’re still learning to cook. I’m no expert, mind you, but over the years, I have gained some knowledge of cooking, so I feel compelled to write this piece. Get your paper and pen ready and let’s begin…

  1. Bay Leaves. Typically sold dried, bay leaves give off that aromatic scent, which makes it ideal for stews and marinades. You will need to remove this from the food before serving.
  2. Cayenne. This has got to be one of my Top 5 Must-Haves when it comes to spices. Cayenne is made from tiny spicy red peppers. It gives off that extra kick you want in your dishes without interfering with the overall flavor. It’s also ideal for boosting your immune system and a great ingredient for a healthy juice recipe.
  3. Parsley. It’s a no-brainer that the world’s most popular herb would make this list. Afterall, parsley is both great for pasta and pizza, plus it’s healthy too! As a source of anti-oxidants, you can never go wrong by stocking up on parsley.
  4. Garlic Powder. I find it strange that I’m not a fan of garlic, but a huge lover of garlic powder. I love marinating barbecues in it; I love it with my bread. If you love grilled food as much as I do, then you should definitely get yourself some garlic powder.
  5. Basil. I have a basil plant – that should pretty much tell you how much I adore the herb. It’s great for soups, pasta and meat – how can you afford not to have it?

There you have it – the basics – at least according to me. Some people might have more herbs and spices in their list, but to each his own. As you grow more confident in your cooking skills and become more willing to try experimenting on new recipes, you will find that your shelves will also have more jars and packets of spices with varying flavors and textures. Who knows? It has not happened to me yet, but you may one day have enough reason to take a deep breath while you order saffron from the spice shop. Good luck!

When Should You Have Your Brakes Inspected?

We all know reliable brakes are a crucial part of safe driving, but how do you know when you should have a brake inspection?

Your car’s braking system is complicated with many interactive parts that need to be in good working order to bring your car to a stop when you need it to. For the safety of your own passengers and for that of any who should cross your path, brakes that will stop thousands of pounds in gross vehicle weight are the most important safety precaution you should take.

One of the most obvious signs that a vehicle’s brakes need inspected is when you hear that awful squealing, scraping or grinding sound when braking. If your car’s brake warning light stays on is also a sure sign that it’s time for a brake inspection as well. Somewhat less noticeable indications are when the brake pedal feels “soft” or spongy or even when it feels quite hard to depress. And finally, if your car pulls to one side or the other when braking, it may be a sign that your car needs a brake repair job.

Aside from these clear indications that you already have a problem, having a brake inspection regularly is a smart part of good car maintenance and vehicle safety. Regular inspections help prevent braking failure as well as heavier damage that would require a more costly repair.

Suzuki Piano – Musical Instruction

We began our journey in the Akron area with the Suzuki method by pure chance. Finding a piano teacher I believe is quite simple. Finding one that can inspire, nurture, and teach a child is quite difficult on the other hand. For us, finding a Suzuki trained teacher for our daughters was the beginning of a learning experience that encompassed many other areas of their learning.

The Suzuki method believes that every child can learn. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the creator of the method was a violinist himself that believed parental involvement, repetition and loving encouragement from parents and teachers could teach a child how to play an instrument beautifully. The idea that by listening to the music taught, and practicing it every day, the child could acquire skills that no other method could teach.

Every child is different and learns things differently too, but I believe the Suzuki method approach is for every child that wants to learn to play an instrument, and play it well. The misconception that Suzuki students do not know how to read music is only that, a misconception. Before reading music, children learn how to play the instrument of their choice first. By the time sight reading and music theory are introduced, the child has learned how to play his instrument, and is ready for another skill to learn.

A Suzuki trained teacher knows these steps, and knows how to teach them. They have special Suzuki teacher training, and they put their training to use when teaching young children. Your job as a parent is to find a good teacher, but the hardest part I believe is to encourage your children to practice daily. Parental involvement is a very hard and important part when using this method, but the rewards are worth it.

What are some of the benefits of learning to play an instrument or to listen to classical music? There are many. A myriad of studies have shown the direct link between playing a musical instrument and better performance in math. Even listening to a Mozart Piano Sonata improves a students ability to perform reasoning and spatial skills right away.

For our daughters, the Suzuki method taught them how to play piano beautifully, but most importantly, it taught them that with consistency and daily work they can achieve almost anything.

If you are interested in learning more about this method or to find a Suzuki teacher, click on this link to take you to the Suzuki Association of the Americas to learn more.

Planning a Momentous Wedding

Probably the best advice for planning your wedding, would be to have fun! Expert wedding planners all agree that setting the budget is an essential thing; yet this can also be quite challenging given each of your preferences, so a bit of ‘give and take’ — Even before budget conversations take place — can be very helpful in trying to order priorities. In a way, it’s one of the first collaborations you both will be closely engaged in, so a great attitude toward this adventure can signify your life ahead, and your love, between each of you, and among all of your family and friends for years to come.

Questions to ponder will include a list of guests, so try to think honestly about who it is that you each want to be there to share this day with you; and where and when this most memorable moment will be taking place. A traditional venue is the bride’s Church; but outdoor and indoor weddings very often occur now in other places that the couple both find to be meaningful to them.It is very useful to keep an initial list of various things to be considered, as you make the plan. Organizing items such an album or binder to gather into one place any images that represent your own taste, even if it may take some inspiration from others. Also included might be brochures of possible venues or destinations, and notes relating to services (such as catering, for example, and photography or videography, florists, cakemakers, and others), or of executing any contracts relating to the marriage. Also helpful would be notes relating to any certificates or legal documents relating to Church or State requirements for the marriage or Federal documentation for foreign travel.

A checklist of each of these items, also, along with contact information for the individual responsible for coordinating each of the deliveries and the services that will be taking place on the wedding day, itself, is also essential, as is a tentative “rainy-day” plan, just in case!

Take a few breaths before you decide on all the variables, and take time to think about your shared vision of what characterizes the best-possible wedding, for the best-possible marriage of a lifetime.

Options to Improve Retirement Prospects

According to  the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), many Americans are falling short when it comes to saving for retirement. In 2015, 28% of Americans had less than $1,000 dollars saved, and a whooping 64% had less than $50,000.  And although the savings so far are not much, the confidence of those interviewed believe they will have enough money saved by the time they retire. How can that be possible you may ask? One of the reasons they believe they will have enough saved for retirement,  is because they have started a retirement account and have started contributing to it.  They believe that now that they have started, they will continue saving till the time comes to retire.

While retirement plans are not always available through their employers, many individuals should be happy to know that the ease to open a retirement account through other mediums is fairly easy and pain free.  There are many companies out there that can have an account open for you within minutes, and can give you a list with a few steps to follow to roll over a 401(k) retirement account from another brokerage firm.

Remember to do a bit of checking to find  out which companies offer you the best deal for you.  If your current brokerage firm’s management  fees are eating up your earnings, remember there are many companies with lower fees that can do better, or comparable to what your current firm is doing. There is no need for you to stay with an investment company that takes all your earnings, and the initial capital invested has not grown.

Wealthfront is an online investment company where investment for a new person should be pretty easy to understand. They advertise zero trading fees, zero hidden fees, and if you need the help of an advisor, their cost is a fraction of other traditional advisors. Wealthfront is an example of the many investment companies that you can turn to when beginning to invest for your retirement.

If you are wondering whether you need to keep or buy a life insurance policy for when  you retire, talk to an advisor right away, specially if you have no other dependents to take care of, or your children are all grown up.

Long-term care insurance coverage is probably one of the many concerns Americans have for when they retire, and many  are unaware of the costs.  But even if you managed to saved enough for retirement, needing long-term care at a hospital or nursing home can eat up your savings pretty quickly.  So planning for long-term care insurance coverage now, can help protect your savings in the future.

Protect your investments and your retirement by making good decisions now. Talk to a professional advisor to find out what you need to do now, to retire comfortably.

Study Tips For The Middle Schoolers

Whether your children is in a posh, high performing district or a more challenged district, Middle School is a difficult time for kids because it is a big adjustment.

The grammar stage of the elementary school child begins to give way to the logic stage of their learning by the middle school years. Your child cannot be satisfied with parroting facts and figures anymore without questioning the logic behind it.  These are very fun years as parents, because our children are beginning to  question our knowledge and our answers to the questions they ask.  Taking that into consideration, they still need our help in school, and will seek help from us and from teachers alike.

What can you do at this stage to help them prepare for high school and beyond?

Here is a list to help your middle schooler achieve her/his potential.

  1. Make sure they have a place to study, keep materials handy, and have a comfortable chair and lighting available to them. Some children prefer having a quiet space, while others do not mind doing their homework on the kitchen table. Ask them their preference.homework
  2. Labeled folders for all their classes where they can keep materials organized is imperative. Homework, handouts, and quizzes and tests should be kept in that folder.  They can use them as study guides later in the year.
  3. A planner where they can keep their assignments’ due dates is so important for them. Make sure they write when homework due on their planners as the teacher assigns them. Forgetting it at the bottom of their backpack won’t help them at all, ask them to use it
  4. Time management. If they have a 10 page paper to write and is due in three weeks, what can they do?  Ask them and make sure they do a bit every day. It will ensure that the paper will be done and ready by the time is due. Begin by taking a trip to the library to check out books to research the topic, ask them to read about it, and then to begin writing an outline. A bit of writing every day will make it easier and less daunting for them, and perhaps they will start understanding the power of preparation.
  5. Regardless of what their assignment is for the day, ask them to read. Remember that the more they read, the more they know.

I hope this list gives you, and your child a starting point to develop better skills to succeed in their middle school years and beyond.

Small Breed Dog Health Issues

Whether you like a Great Dane or a Chihuahua for a pet, there are many problems associated with each breed that you need to consider before heading out to a dog breeder or pound.  Small Breed Dogs tend to live longer, but do have some common health issues.  Every family is different and their choice of dog reflects their lifestyle, likes or dislikes. If you are intent on having in your family a Lhasapoo or any other small breed dog, then you need to read the health related issues related to them.

Small Breed Health Related Issues:

1.Dislocated Kneecaps

Although any breed can suffer from this condition, small dogs seem to be more prone to this         health issue than other dogs.

2. Upper respiratory Problems

Small dogs with flat-faced, button-flat or short noses tend to have this issue more frequently than bigger dogs.  When over heating by a sunny spot, or over exercising,  give your small dog fresh cool water after their hacking passes and leave them alone as they control their breathing.

3. Small bladders

As your small dog ages, it is more difficult for them to hold it for too long.  Frequent outings to relieve themselves are necessary, and recommended.

4. Hip Problems

Many small dogs have hip related issues that eventually makes walking painful, and laying down an ordeal. Providing your pooch with a vitamin that helps support bone and joint health can help them live longer, and live with less pain.

5. Teeth and Stomach

Teeth and stomach problems seem to be persistent issues with these small pooches. Keeping them on a healthy diet that contain antioxidants can help them live a longer, healthier life as they aged.

Before you decide the type of dog you want, visit the local animal shelter to see what kind of dogs they have, and see if you can save a life. If not, you can visit a reputable breeder that has taken care of the puppies with all the responsibility and concern they deserve.  These tiny puppies need to be with their mother for 12 weeks at least, as they need frequent feedings as they grow.  Avoid breeders that offer to sell you puppies only a few weeks old.  These puppies can grow with an array of health related problems in the future.

Enjoy your new addition to your family whether you choose a small or big breed.

3 Ways to Boost Your Home Value on the Cheap

It’s now a good time to buy or sell a home. However, overspending many times to boost a home’s value is not a good idea. Some things can be done at a lot cheaper price, but the outcome will be a lot better than expected.

With that in mind, the following are three ways to boost one’s home value for more affordable prices. And even though some of these steps may seem minimal, the value will spruce up greatly:

1. Clean up thoroughly.

From a few bucks to a few thousands dollars depending on the amount of clutter, weird smells, and grime, cleaning thoroughly from top to bottom, inside and outside the home, and in garages and other areas outside the home go a long way. And the potential return from doing this step is three to five percent.

When cleaning thoroughly, one must depersonalize the space so that potential buyers can visualize how they can use that space. Even the opening of the curtains and blinds to let sun in will give them a better feel, and it would make the space appear bigger. For spaces that are severely cluttered, a professional organizer can help, and there are places like the Salvation Army who are willing to pick up belongings that are in good condition but is no longer needed. And with the harsh winds causing dirt marks and debris on homes in the Midwest, it’s important to do some power washing on the exterior of the home. One would be amazed of the significant difference after the thorough power washing.

2. Paint the rooms selectively.

Painting the walls a neutral color is always a good idea because potential buyers can visualize how they would use the space. Also, neutral colors go with any type of furniture they may want in that space. With this said, depersonalization is key here. Having purple walls may be great for the current residents, but it may be a turnoff to potential buyers who may automatically be withdrawn from buying the house because of that. Also, painting the walls are important because it makes the place appear bigger, cleaner, and fresher.

3. Fixing minor fixtures.

Whether it’s caulking the tub, fixing light fixtures, getting the burnt mark off the counter-top, or replacing some shingles that are more affordable and with a warranty, these steps would definitely make a great difference. It only costs a mere $100 to a few thousand dollars, depending on what all needs to be done. However, the potential return would amount from two to seven percent, depending on the work done.