I'm running out of clever titles for these...

Since I have started the habit of just blogging once a week (I need to leave something to do while I sit and do nothing at work...), I will once again do 2 LETTERS today! Wow...I am so nice to you guys.

F
FABRIC SOFTENER:
*Remove baked-on foods--if you're left with a baked-on mess to clean up, don't despair. Put a fabric softener sheet in the offensive pan, fill it with water, and let it sit overnight. The next morning, cleanup should be a breeze.
*Shocking solution to static electricity--if winter time means you're constantly generating static electricity in you carpet, try this easy solution. Mix one part fabric softener with five parts water into a spray bottle. Spritz your carpet and no more shocks. Your carpet should stay cleaners as well.
(Dryer sheets also repel mosquitoes. My grandpa would swear by it. At our annual family reunions, he always brought a box with him and handed them out to everyone. He was a champ)
FILM CANISTERS:
*Never be locked out again--put a house key in a film canister and bury it in your garden. It's safe there than under the welcome mat.
FLOUR:
*Track your fertilizer--when fertilizing your lawn, if you mix a little flour in with the dry fertilizer, you'll be able to see exactly where you've spread it and identify any areas you missed. Use this tip when you're planting seeds, too, and you'll never overseed one particular area.
FOOD COLORING:
*Test your toilet--you suspect a leak somewhere in your toilet,but you can't find it. To check if the leak is coming from the inside valves, dribble a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Now don't flush, just wait it out. If the coloring comes into the bowl without your flushing, you've found your leak.
FURNITURE POLISH:
*Help shower doors stay cleaner--spraying your glass shower doors with furniture polish or lemon oil will help keep them clean longer.

G
GARDEN HOSE:
*Make buckets easier on your hands--if you've ever had to carry a heavy bucket with a wire handle, you know it can really dig into your fingers. Next time, make it a little more comfortable with a piece of old garden hose. Just cut a short piece, slit it, and slip it over the handle of the bucket. You'll have a little cushion and a lot more comfortable grip.
GARLIC:
*Repair a cracked vase--if you've got a hairline crack in your favorite vase, take a clove of garlic and rub it along the inside. Let it dry. The crack should be sealed.
*Wage war on weevils--place a few cloves o garlic in with your dried beans and grains, and you'll never seen another weevil again.
GLASS CONTAINERS:
*Resize a vase--you've chosen the vase that has the look you want, but it's too large for your bouquet. No need to look for another container. Just put a slender olive jar inside the vase. It won't be noticed, even in a clear vase. And the flowers inside will stand up instead of flopping over the sides.
GLOVES:
*Give pet hair the brushoff--pet hair on the furniture can be a mess and an embarrassment. An easy way to get rid of it is to put on a rubber glove and rub your hand over the upholstery. You'll find the pet hair rolled up into an easily removable ball.
(WATCH OUT! Don't wear rubber gloves when you polish your silverware or use rubber bands to hold pieces of it together because rubber will darken silver.)
GLUE:
*Tighten a screw hole--holes sometimes get too large to hold in a screw. Here's the solution. Soak a cotton ball in ordinary white glue, stuff it into the hole, and let it dry for 24 hours. Then try your screw.
GLYCERIN:
*Wash away oily fabric stains--glycerin is a grease cutter that can usually be found with laundry products at the supermarket. It works well to remove oily stains on most washable fabrics except acetate, triacetate, and rayon. Make a solution of one tablespoon each of glycerin and liquid dishwashing detergent ad eight tablespoons of water. Shake these together in a squeeze bottle, then apply directly to the stain. Let it work for several minutes before rinsing.

2 for the price of 1!

Since I have been slow on getting these out, I will do 2 LETTERS today! You lucky dogs! So...here are D and E.

D
DENTAL FLOSS:
*Easy way to layer a cake--want to make a fancy, multi-layer torte? Allow your cake to cool and remove it from the pan. Take a length of dental floss and gently saw your cake into the number of layers you need. You can use this technique to slice cakes and cheesecakes into perfect, no-mess slices, as well.
*Stitch a strong hold--heavy buttons won't come off coats as easily if you sew them on with dental floss. If you need a color to match the fabric, a colored marker should do the trick. The strength of dental floss is also a plus for repairing things made from heavy-duty fabrics, like tents, duffel bags, and convertible tops.
DENTURE TABLETS:
*Bubble away toilet stains--if you've got stubborn stains in your toilet bowl, try dropping in a few denture cleaning tablets. Let it soak for awhile, scrub the bowl clean, and flush those stains away.
DETERGENT:
(If you think detergent and soap are the same thing, think again. While they may perform similar tasks, they are chemicall different. Soap is made from fats or oils and alkali, but detergents contain surfactants and builders. Surfactants dissolve dirt, and builders softenwater so the surfactants can do their job better. That's why detergents work better in hard water than soaps do.)
*Protect electric cords--rub down your electrical and extension cords with liquid laundry detergent to keep curious pets from munching on the cords and shocking themselves.
DISHWASHER:
*There really isn't anything that fantastic about dishwashers in here. It basically just says you can wash your car wheel covers, kitchen sponges, dish drainer, greasy filters, and dustpan and brush.

E
EGG CARTONS:
*Store Christmas decorations safely--when it's time to take the tree down, don't just toss your Christmas lights into any old box. Place the bulbs inside an old egg carton, and wind the cords around the outside. Next year, no breaks, no tangles.
EGG SHELLS:
*Clean stains off glassware--do you have stains on your glassware or even your china? Try soaking them in a solution of vinegar and eggshells. They should come out squeaky clean.
EMERY BOARDS:
*Rough up slippery soles--if a new pair of hard-soled shoes has you slipping and sliding, give them a few scrapes along the bottom with an emery board or nail file.
ERASERS:
*Give glass a glistening glimmer (great alliteration) --use a blackboard eraser to make all kinds of glass surfaces shine. You can clear a fogged-up mirror or wipe a car windshield clean as a whistle.

If anyone has tried any of these handy hints, let me know how they work out!

Thank You

IN HONOR OF THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR MY FREEDOM AND TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO PROTECT ME AND THIS COUNTRY THAT I LOVE.

On this Veteran's Day, I would like to thank all of the brave men and women who are fighting to protect me and the great United States of America.

When I was younger, I never really understood the importance of Veteran's Day. When I was younger, it was just another one of "those" holidays. Now that I am a little older (and wiser, I might add), I truly understand and appreciate the sacrifice that these people had to make.

My brother has been in the National Guard now for a year and a half. About a month ago, he got his orders and will be deployed in March to Afghanistan for a year. I am so proud to have a brother that is willing to risk his life to protect me and my fellow Americans.

I feel so blessed to live in this beloved country. Sometimes I think we all take our freedom for granted. We have so many wonderful luxeries that most people feel they are entitled too, or feel that it is their "right" to have. I spent the entire summer without a job and without any money, and yet, I still had clothes to wear and food to eat. I whine about not being back in school this semester, but kids all around the world don't even have basic education.

I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN. And I am GRATEFUL for these SOLDIERS who FIGHT for my FREEDOM.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Next comes C

I have been slacking on my blogging of awesome uses for common household products. I know you have all been patiently waiting for the C's. So here we go...

CANDLES:
*Help drawers slide smoothly--if you have a desk or chest with drawers that stick, remove them and rub the runners with a candle. Slip the drawers back in place, and they should move smoothly in their tracks.
CARDBOARD TUBES:
*Save that artwork for posterity--if you have children, yo know that each drawing they bring home is precious. But pretty soon you can be up to your neck in finger paintings. For easy, safe storage, save all your empty paper towel and wrapping paper tubes and roll the artwork up inside. Stick a label on the outside with the child's name and date. These tubes are much easier to toss into storage, and you don't have to worry about ruining those little treasures.
CARPET REMNANTS:
*Be prepared for winter emergencies--stock your trunk with a few pieces of old carpet in case you get stuck in the ice or snow. They'll slip under your tires to provide extra traction.
CAT LITTER:
*Keep your garbage can fresh--nothing smells as bad as garbage, right? Think again. A cat's litter box might be worse, and if not, it runs a close second. If commercial products can keep litter boxes from smelling bad, they should be able to keep your garbage positively fragrant. Just sprinkle some in the bottom of the can, and change it occasionally.
CHALK:
*Prevent silver from tarnishing--you love using you grandmother's good silver when company comes but hate having to polish it after every use. Try putting a piece of chalk in the drawer with the silver. The chalk will absorb moisture and slow down the tarnish. Put some in your jewelry box, and your jewelry won't tarnish as quickly, either.
CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES:
*Stamp out stumps--save money when you have a large tree cut down. Instead of paying extra to have the stump ground out, you can get rid of it gradually yourself. Each time you cook on the charcoal grill, when you finish the steaks and burgers, put the remaining live coals in the center of the stump surface. Each time it will burn a little deeper until finally the stump will disappear.
CLOTH SCRAPS:
*Feed your plants from afar--going away for a few days? Keep your houseplants watered with this handy trick. Line the bottom of your tub with several thick layers of old towels, then soak them well with water. Put your houseplants in on top of them, and they'll have water when they need it.
CLOTHESPINS:
*Use all your toothpaste--it's frustrating to throw away a tube of toothpaste when you know there's more inside. A clothespin can help hold the back of the tube flat as you use up what's left in the front of the tube.
COFFEE:
(I don't drink coffee, but I think that some of these are good ideas)
*Restore faded cottons--if black, cotton garments are looking brownish and dull, add two cups of strong Maxwell House coffee to the rinse water when doing laundry. They'll turn dark again.
*Highlight dark hair--add some highlights to brown or red hair with black coffee. After shampooing, just douse your head with cold, black coffee, then rinse with water.
COFFEE CANS:
*Keep toilet paper dry--when you're camping out there "in the rough," one luxury you don't want to be without is dry toilet paper. And empty coffee can makes a perfect waterproof travel container for this precious commodity.
COFFEE FILTERS:
*Keep the flavor, lose the fat--if you've got delicious beef or poultry broth to use for soups or gravies, don't worry about the fat. Simply strain it through a paper coffee filter, and you're left with flavorful, fat-free broth.
COINS:
*Buy extra time for your posies--keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase of water.
COOKING OIL:
*Pet food supplement--if you add a little Crisco to your pet's food every day, it will help his coat become shiny and lustrous. If you have a cat, it will also help prevent hair balls.
*Keep the crows away--fight crow's feet with olive oil. Just dab a couple of drops around your eyes each night before bed.
CORK:
*Keep your keys afloat--whenever you go boating or swimming, attach your keys to a cork. Then if they fall overboard, they'll float and you can easily retrieve them.
CORNSTARCH:
*Handy dry shampoo--when you go camping, does it drive you crazy not to wash your hair for several days? Take along a box of cornstarch, and you can at lest give yourself a dry shampoo. Just work it into your hair and brush out.
(It works. I don't like to wash my hair every day, but if I don't, I can't wear it down two days in a row. The cornstarch helps. In fact...I used it this morning.)
CORRECTION FLUID:
*Make scuff marks disappear--you are all dressed to go out when you notice a dark mark on your white shoe. With a dab of correction fluid (also known as white-out), you can perform a neat emergency touch-up.
CRAYONS:
*Cover bleach spots--you can recolor spots on fabric that got splashed with bleach. Choose a crayon that matches the color. Heat the area to be repaired by ironing it. Color in the spot white it's warm. Then cover with waxed paper, and iron again to set the color.
CUCUMBERS:
*Repel mosquitoes--for a natural mosquito repellent, try this trick. Peel and puree a cucumber. Strain the liquid into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Before you go outside, rub your face and hands with the ice cube. Mosquitoes will stay away.

I'll try not to make another week before I post the D's...

B is for...

I know that you have all been waiting for this next one...so on to the B's!

BABY POWDER:
*Silence squeaky floors--if a certain spot on your hardwood floor sings to you every time you step on it, dust the area with a little talcum powder. Sweep back and forth until the powder has settled down into the cracks. (Makes sneaking out a lot easier!)
*Polish scratches off glasses--if your eyeglasses have tiny scratches on them, don't toss them out. Make a paste of talcum powder and water. Rub this gently onto the lenses and wipe it off. You'll be seeing things in a whol new light!
BABY WIPES:
*Remove mildew from books--to remove mildew from books, wipe the covers with baby wipes and apply powdered sulfer to the pages.
BAKEWARE:
*Bake potatoes--potatoes will bake more quickly and evenly if you stand them on end in muffin pans. Stuffed green peppers, apples, and tomatoes also bake better in muffin pans.
BAKING SODA:
*Drain cleaner--here's the recipe for an all-natural drain opener. Mix together one cup baking soda, one cup salt, and a half cup of white vinegar. Pour this down the clogged drain, wait 15 to 20 minutes, then pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain. A word of caution- don't use this method if you've already tried a commercial drain opener that is still standing in the drain.
*Ease acid indegestion--baking soda helps neutralize stomach acid, which can cause indegestion and heart burn. For quick relief, drink a half a glass of water mixed with a half teaspoon of baking soda.
BALLOONS:
*Practice clean and safe hunting--nothing is more dangerous than a dirty gun. To keep debris and foreign matter from getting into your gun barrel, slip a balloon over the end.
BANANAS:
*Shine your shoes--banana peels can make your shoes shiny. Just rub your leather shoes with the inside of the peeling, then buff with a soft cloth.
PS...contrary to popular belief, you should store bananas in the refrigerator. Although the peels will turn dark, the fruit will stay fresh and firm longer.
BASTING SYRINGE:
*Clean up spilled egg--if you drop an eff on your floor or counter, us a basting syringe to quickly such up most of the slimy egg, and just wipe the rest away.
BEDSHEETS:
*Scare deer away from your gardens--want to keep deer out of your garden without hurting them? Run a string around the perimeter, about three or four feet off the ground. Cut strips from a white sheet and tie them along the string every few feet. A flash of a white tail is a warning signal to deer. The white strips, hung about tail height, should frighten them away from your peas and corn.
BELTS:
*Make a temporary hinge--you can fix a broken hinge temporarily by nailing a short piece of a leather belt to the door and door frame.
BERRY BASKETS:
*Use as a colander--berry baskets make great colanders for draining small amounts of pasta or washing fruits and vegetables.
BLEACH:
*Save your garbage from marauders--are dogs constantly exploring your garbage and strewing it from one end of the neighborhood to the other? Sprinkle a bit or chlorine bleach inside the bag before you close it, and your canine friends will turn thier discriminating noses upat the smell.
BOBBY PINS:
*Protect your fingers from an angry hammer--don't try to hold a small nail with your fingers because your fingers are what you'll end up hammering. Instead, grip the nail between the prongs of a bobby pin.
BREAD:
*Wipe away lipstick stains--ue a slice of white bread to remove lipstick stains from fabric.
BUTTER:
*Keep your pasta in the pot--to prevent boiling pasta from boiling over, drop a lump of butter in the water before heating. The extra oil will help keep your pasta from sticking together, too.

Stay tuned for our next adventure...the C's!

Best Book EVER.

Ok...so I am already bored with that A-Z blogging idea that I had. Forget that. I have found something even better!
When my Grandpa passed away, we had to go through everything in the house. I found this book called "Uncommon Uses for Common Household Products"...basically the name says it all. My mom told my I was stupid for taking it home...psssh, what does she know. It is the best book I have ever read! There are literally HUNDREDS of things to do with all of these products that you already have at your house...it blows my mind! There are 128 items, plus a completely seperate section called "Uncommonly Good Ideas to Make Your Life Easier", not to mention fun little tid-bits of totally random facts about everything.
This book blows my mind (yes, I am aware how totally nerdy I sound right now). So, instead of doing the A-Z blogging, I have decided to share some of these awesome facts that I didn't know could be done with cooking oil, garlic, ice cubes, peanut butter, spices, yogurt, and 122 other things! I'll probably do a letter each time I blog, and one or two things from every item within that letter. Unless there is nothing cool for that product.
Hopefully, something I post could maybe help you one day! I'm going to be such a good little wifey one day...

Let's start with the A's...
ALUMINUM FOIL:
*Sharpen dull scissors--layer several thicknesses of aluminum foil and cut through them a few times times with your dulls scissors. They'll come out nice and sharp.
*Twice the heat for half the effort--iron your clothes from both sides and cutyour ironing time in half. Simply slip a piece of aluminum foil between your ironing board and your cover. The foil will absorb the heat from your iron and reflect it up into your clothes.
AMMONIA:
*Remove stains from washable fabrics--ammonia will help remove nonoily stains- like those from blood, milk, perspiration and urine-from most washable fabrics. Make a mixture of equal parts ammonia, dishwashing liquid, and water. Shake it together in a plastic squeeze bottle. Apply it directly to the stain, let it stand for a few minutes, then rinse. This should not be used on acetate, acrylic, silk, spandex, or wool. For fragile fabrics, do not apply ammonia directly. Instead, hold the stain over the mouth of an open bottle of ammonia, and let the fumes permeate it. Then gently wash.
APPLES:
*Clean aluminum cookware--dull pots and pans will become bright again when you cook apples, rhubarb, or lemons in them.
ASHES:
*Cut the glare--if you don't mind looking like a football player, you can reduce the glare while driving or working in your yard. Moisten your finger with oil, dip it in ash from your fireplace, and draw dark half-circles under your eyes. (Please, please someone do this. Please)

A-Z Blogging...A is for ADRENALINE

I like to blog, but I always have a problem finding things to blog about. So. I have decided to blog about something from every letter of the alphabet. I first thought about doing one a week...and then I realized it would take me 6 MONTHS to get through everything. Then I thought every day, and I'm not sure I have the motivation or dedication to that. So I am now thinking every other day...or whenever I get around to doing it.

A...ADRENALINE.

I know a lot of people who are adrenaline junkies...they will do anything for a thrill. I am the complete opposite. Don't get me wrong, I like the feeling that I get in the pit of my stomach when I go on a roller coaster, but that is about it. I am so afraid of heights, that I get that feeling when I am on the top floor of the mall.

Some people will even break the rules or the law to get that thrill. I have always always always been a rule follower...I HATE to get in trouble or even have the potential of getting in trouble. In high school, I never sluffed a class (except mayebe seminary). If I didn't want to go, I would call one of my parents and get permission. Or I got permission from my teacher.

I know that a lot of people think of me as a goody-goody...you know what I have to say? GOOD! I like being known as the one who is responsible and reliable, someone you can count on whenever you need a friend or a helping hand. I like knowing that if something sketchy happens, people won't suspect me because they know I am not one to do something like that.

So, for now, I will stick to roller coasters and walking close to the railing on the second floor of the mall.