Tips...Archives...Page One
Want to De-Fog Your Bathroom Mirrors ?
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Next, cover the entire stain with milk and let sit for about five minutes.
Next, wring out the water from the garment and pour about a tablespoon of clear liquid laundry detergent (or 2 tablespoons if the stain is bigger) onto the stain.
Rub the stain out with your fingers and rinse off with clean water. That’s it!
Break in new shoes by spraying a mix of 50% of rubbing alcohol and
Run the swab over the damaged area and let it set for 10 minutes and gently wipe away.
You find the scratch literally disappearing !
Try this !
What you're going to need:
1. Place lemon and lime slices in a muffin pan.
2. Carefully fill the muffin plan and place it in the freezer.
Why There's an Indentation on the Bottom of a Wine Bottle !
Toss a couple of marshmallows in a bag or canister to keep the brown sugar from turning hard.
Clean your makeup brushes
The Easiest Way to Cut
Summer...and...Watermelon...there's nothing more refreshing !
Put the strawberry flat side down onto the cutting board and place the straw over the corner of the berry.
Looking for a few ideas how to stay cool...that won't cost you a fortune?
We have a few that you may never had considered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zBZrPfqQYA
21 Great Uses for Ice Cube Trays
An ice cube tray is great for making miniature desserts, storing things like herbs or stock for easy use later on, and making unique ice cubes for cold drinks.
Once whatever you’re making is frozen, you can transfer the cubes to a zip lock bag for storage in the freezer.
Here are some things to try.
1. Make chocolate covered cheesecake bites.
Great for portion control. Vegan and non-vegan recipes.
2. Freeze your herbs in olive oil so they don’t go to waste.
Hard herbs like oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary work best for this.
You want to pack the ice cube trays with ⅔ herbs and ⅓ olive oil. Find more information on when to use these herbs.
3. Make coffee ice cubes for your iced coffee.
No more watered-down iced coffee!
4. Make chocolate-covered strawberries.
For the one you love or just for yourself.
5. Pretend you’re a master sushi roller by using the ice cube tray as a mold.
Blasphemous, sure, but also maybe a little bit brilliant.
6. Freeze homemade tomato sauce.
This won’t take long to thaw in the microwave.
7. MAKE THICK SMOOTHIES OUT OF FROZEN YOGURT AND BANANAS.
Freeze Greek yogurt and bananas in ice cube trays to make your smoothies super creamy AND healthy.
8. Make Jell-O shots.
9. Freeze buttermilk for future use.
Never again let half a container of buttermilk go to waste (it will last up to three months frozen).
Just be sure to measure out how many tablespoons of buttermilk there are in each ice cube.
When you’re ready to use in a recipe, just thaw and add.
10. MAKE DELICIOUS SLUSHIES THAT WON’T TASTE WATERED DOWN.
Freezing and blending cubes of juice means more flavor and less hassle.
11. Make your own peanut butter cups.
12. Make mini ice pops for a small treat.
13. Make chocolate ice cubes and add them to vanilla milk.
A prefect way to cool off in the summer.
14. Make ice cubes with leftover wine.
If for some reason you have leftover wine (er, never), make ice cubes for sangria or to cook with in the future.
15. Freeze homemade pesto for future use.
For a little bit of summer during the winter.
16. MAKE CRAZY INTERESTING COCKTAILS.
The piña colada ice cubes are alternating layers of pineapple juice and coconut milk.
17. Make hot chocolate on a stick.
18. FREEZE FRUIT JUICE AND ADD IT TO SELTZER WATER.
19. Use your ice cube tray to portion out homemade cookie dough.
Next time you make cookies, bake half of them and put the rest into an ice cube tray to freeze. Then when you want something sweet, you can just take one cookie out and bake it.
20. FREEZE GREENS TO ADD TO SMOOTHIES.
Using raw greens in a smoothie is nice, but can take some extra work (and make for some weird fibrous mouthfuls) in the morning.
Try cooking your greens first, puree in your food processor or blender, and freeze in ice cube trays.
When you’re ready to make your smoothies, just pop in a couple green ice cubes.
21. MAKE EASY FROZEN YOGURT.
Bon Appétit recommends Yoplait Whip because it maintains a fluffy texture even when it’s frozen.
22. Freeze homemade chicken and vegetable stock for future use.
Only thaw what you need! It should be OK to use for up to two months.
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Want to De-Fog Your Bathroom Mirrors ?
Just wipe them down with dish washing soap or disinfectant spray.
or
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An Easy Way to Clean Your Microwave
To clean the the inside of a microwave, place a water soaked sponge in the oven, heat for 3-5 minutes, and let stand for 1-2 minutes.
The steam and moisture loosens all the "gunk".
To get rid of odors, use the same method with a bowl of water, baking soda or lemon.
Video help?
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10 Costs you can Eliminate in Retirement
Health care costs also tend to increase as people age, but there are many costs that decline in retirement – and a few you can eliminate entirely. Here are some expenses you will no longer have in retirement.
Mortgage
Paying off your mortgage eliminates one of your biggest monthly bills.
While you will still have to lower expenses pay for insurance and property taxes and continue to maintain your home, these costs are likely to be a fraction of what you were paying for your mortgage.
There's also a big emotional payoff when you own your home mortgage-free.
Commuting costs
Gas for your car or train fare is a big expense for employees with long daily commutes to work.
In retirement, all your driving is for personal errands or pleasure, and some retirees are able to completely avoid traffic by skipping outings during peak travel times.
A second car
Dual-income married couples often need two cars to get to their respective jobs. If you're willing to coordinate your respective schedules, you might be able to get by with one car in retirement.
This will also reduce your insurance and car maintenance costs.
Professional clothing
Some jobs require expensive professional attire, stylish haircuts and makeup and formal clothing for special events.
Dry cleaning and professional tailoring cost even more.
Retirees get to trade in their suits for jeans and don't have to keep up with the latest fashion trends unless they want to.
Time-saving costs
Time-strapped working people often spend money to save time. This might mean buying expensive convenience food because you don't have time to cook and outsourcing household chores so you don't have to spend your weekends doing them.
Retirees can invest their time to save money by comparison shopping for good deals and taking on the home improvement chores they used to pay someone else to do.
Office costs
Being involved in office social life comes with some costs. You might pay for lunch out with coworkers, chip in for gifts for colleagues or get drawn into the office pool.
These costs are often a necessary part of team building with coworkers, but retirees don't have to pay them.
Paying full price
The senior discounts available for hotels and car rentals are well known. but you may also qualify for discounts on necessities such as groceries.
Not all senior discounts are advertised. Sometimes you have to ask, and be prepared to show ID.
Peak travel costs
Many working people cram their travel plans into long weekends and national holidays, and parents tend to vacation during school breaks.
Airlines and hotels know this and set prices accordingly.
Retirees can travel during weekdays and off-peak seasons, when the prices are lower and the crowds are smaller.
Unnecessary fees
Make a note of the expense ratio of each fund, and challenge yourself to find a lower cost fund that meets your investment needs.
You could be retired for several decades.
Don't allow your investment returns to be dragged down by unnecessary costs.
A high tax rate
Many people drop into a lower tax bracket in retirement.
There are tax breaks specifically for people age 65 and older, including a bigger standard deduction.
Some jurisdictions also have property tax breaks for older homeowners.
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Robert in NevadaNovember 15, 2017 at 7:46 AM#11 - STAY OUT OF THE CASINOS
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Removing a Decal or Sticker
The Easy Way
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Lay a few sheets of paper towel on a table and set the stain on top of them.
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*Milk ~magically~ lifts the chocolate from the clothing fibers.
Place the stain in a tub of cold water and rub the stain out with your fingers.
Here are some videos:
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Break in new shoes by spraying a mix of 50% of rubbing alcohol and
50% water in the inside of each shoe and wear wet for about 20 minutes.
Repeat as necessary to stretch out the new shoes.
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Fixing Furniture Stains
The "Cheating" Way
Fix Dark furniture scratches with a cotton swab dipped in used coffee grounds.
Run the swab over the damaged area and let it set for 10 minutes and gently wipe away.
For Light furniture scratches, rub a walnut on the worn spots to buff out dings.
You find the scratch literally disappearing !
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Got a Problem Falling Asleep?
Try this !
Our feet and hands are major factors in maintaining a constant temperature.
Blood runs away from the heart in arteries to vessels then capillaries to cells and then back to the heart in veins.
When it's hot, blood flows more freely; and when it's cold, vessels constrict and heat is conserved.
When you feel uncomfortably cold, the somatosensory cortex of your brain triggers the thermoregulation process:
Your body temperature increases by shivering or opening blood vessels.
Inside the feet are arteriovenous anastomoses, which connect arteries directly to the veins, bypassing the capillaries.
When you're warm, vessels in your feet dilate allowing more blood to get to the skin's surface, where heat is lost to the air (a process called vasodilation)...
...But when you're cold, those arteriovenous anastomoses become narrower, minimizing the amount of heat loss (vasoconstriction).
This is why putting one foot out from under the cover...
This is why putting one foot out from under the cover...
..can cool off your entire body !
Try it next time you're having a hard time falling asleep !
Check out this video !
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How About Something Refreshing
on a
Summer's Day or Evening
Lemon & Lime Ice Cubes
What you're going to need:
1. A Muffin Pan
2. Six lemons and/or limes
3. Water
4. Time Needed to Prepare: Overnight
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Some additional tips:
1. Make sure there's a big level space in your freezer for the muffin pan.
2. The lemons and/or limes should be thinly sliced.
3. Carefully fill the muffin pan with water.
4. Freeze overnight.
5. Pop out a few of the ice cubes and place them in a large pitcher.
6. Add water and/or ice tea.
(You can also make these ice cubes with ice tea...your ice tea won't dilute as it melts)
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Why There's an Indentation on the Bottom of a Wine Bottle !
That little dimple at the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt.
The reason punts exist is that when glassblowers would make the bottle, the seam would start to point through the bottom.
The glassblowers would push them inward to make sure the bottle could stand upright and preserve the bottle's structural integrity.
Now, the only wine that really still needs a punt is sparkling, because the punt allows for more distribution of pressure and keeps the bottle from exploding.
So just remember, folks, it isn't the size of the punt the matters, it's the size of the bottle.
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Toss a couple of marshmallows in a bag or canister to keep the brown sugar from turning hard.
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First, scrape the excess ketchup off gently with a butter knife.
Cover the stain in a thin layer of clear dish soap.
On top of the dish soap, pour an equal amount of white vinegar.
Soak the stain in cold water (or run it underneath a faucet and rub the stain out with your fingers).
Some videos:
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First, run cold water through the back of the stain. This way, the water will run out the fabric the way it came in to avoid spreading.
Mix clear laundry detergent with a bit of cold water, and set onto the stain. Let sit for three to five minutes.
Mix clear laundry detergent with a bit of cold water, and set onto the stain. Let sit for three to five minutes.
*Use clear, dye-free detergent because it won’t dye your clothing.
Place the item in a tub of cold water and rub the stain with your fingers.
Let the item soak for 30 minutes ! No more coffee stain.
Here are a couple of videos for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOarvqjvuMc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mak0DFE1lOE
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mak0DFE1lOE
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19 Ways to Make the Most
of
Baby Shampoo
Clean your makeup brushes
All it takes is one drop of shampoo mixed with a little bit of water, a quick dry, and your brushes will be like brand-new.
Make your shoes sparkle
Baby shampoos, especially those with mineral oils, are good at revamping the look of leather shoes and accessories.
Dab a drop of shampoo onto cloth and rub gently for the best effect.
Wash the pup!
Baby shampoo is hypoallergenic and formulated to be gentler than regular shampoos, so it’s safe to use on your other, furrier babies, too.
Remove your makeup with it
Since it’s tear-free, baby shampoo is better to use around your eyes.
With a cotton ball or cloth, dab the shampoo and warm water on your face to take off the day’s makeup.
Mix it with baking soda
A baking soda and baby shampoo mixture, paired with a little bit of elbow grease, will polish up your chromes and metals for a perfect shine.
Revitalize your skin
Before going to bed, put a bit of shampoo on your feet and legs, then sleep in a light pair of leggings and socks.
You’ll wake up with clean, soft and fresh-smelling skin.
Ease the pain of Band-Aid removal
Put a small amount of shampoo on and around Band-Aids and let the liquid seep through the small holes. Then work off the Band-Aid painlessly.
Remove oils from brushes and combs
Fill a glass or pot with warm water and mix a bit of baby shampoo in.
Let your combs and brushes soak for a few minutes, and then dry them off with a towel.
Hair and skin oils will be washed away.
Use as dish or hand soap
Clean hands and faces with the mild, hypoallergenic liquid. It’s great for making dry skin smoother and softer.
Lubricate metals
If nuts, bolts — even zippers — are a little rusty or prone to getting stuck, squirt on some baby shampoo, and it will help get those metals moving.
Baby shampoo works particularly well on chrome.
Resize your sweaters
Did you accidentally shrink your favorite sweater?
Don’t worry, baby shampoo can bring it back to its regular size.
Fill a tub or basin of warm water, and mix some shampoo in.
Then, place the sweater on top of the water and let it sink and stay in the water for 10 to 15 minutes.
Then wring it out and repeat the process with just water, no shampoo.
Let the sweater dry flat on a towel and reshape as you see fit. Voilá! It will be as good as new!
Remove water-based paint
Baby shampoo acts like regular soap when used to remove water-based paints from skin and paint brushes.
Use as shaving cream
If you’re running low on shaving cream, lather up your legs, face or underarms for a very smooth shave.
Clean bathroom faucets
Nothing is better than having your cleaning supplies handy when you want to give the tub and sink a quick scrub, so simply grab some of the shampoo and wipe down bathroom faucets — it will work wonders!
Remove stains
Are you plagued by a bright white shirt with yellow stains around the collar and armpits?
Put baby shampoo on the problem areas before wearing.
If that doesn’t work, try removing the stains by pouring shampoo directly on the spot and letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.
If you catch it in time, it can even get blood stains off white clothes.
Make a slip and slide
Lather up a large roll of plastic with shampoo and water, and lay it out in your yard for your grandkids to have a homemade slip and slide to surf down on summer days.
You’ll have happy — and...clean little ones... as a result.
Clean your stove and other greasy surfaces
Baby shampoo is perfect for getting rid of tough grease on stove tops, countertops and inside refrigerators.
Use a clean cloth with water and shampoo to wipe down your surfaces for a spotless kitchen.
Wash your delicates
The gentle nature of baby shampoo makes it ideal for your laundry items that need special attention.
Have a car wash
The sudsy shampoo cuts grease and grime on any kind of surface, including the exterior of your car. Grab a bucket of water and mix about 1/4 cup of shampoo in with it, then get to work on making your vehicle squeaky clean.
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The Easiest Way to Cut
Watermelon
Summer...and...Watermelon...there's nothing more refreshing !
But...what's the best way to cut one ? Start by grabbing a chef's knife and cut your watermelon in half. Once your watermelon is cut, you will have two halves.
Place one half cut side down on a cutting board.
Now, you'll want to cut some horizontal slices along your watermelon half.
Once that has been completed, rotate your watermelon 90 degrees and cut again.
That's all there is to it!
Now that you know how to cut a watermelon you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Some videos?
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Removing the Hull from a Strawberry
First of all...what's a hull?
The hull of a strawberry is what makes up the leaves and the core beneath the cap of the berry.
What's the easiest way to get past it...and enjoy that mouthwatering treat beneath it?
All you need is a plastic straw ...and do the following:
Put the strawberry flat side down onto the cutting board and place the straw over the corner of the berry.
Gently push the straw through the strawberry and through the top until you have the hull cleanly taken out of the strawberry and at the end of the straw.
Pull the hull out and you're all set!
You now have this great little tunnel where you can put some delicious dark chocolate ganache, whipped cream, or any other filling that will work well with a strawberry.
These will make a great dessert for a hot summer day!
Videos ?
Of course !
Now Enjoy !
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Staying Cool in the Summer Heat
Looking for a few ideas how to stay cool...that won't cost you a fortune?
We have a few that you may never had considered.
Strategically applied ice
Apply flat, compact ice packs you keep in your freezer to your joints or other areas that tend to perspire a lot – your neck, forehead, wrists, lower back, and backs of your knees .
Not only will it cool those areas quickly, but you’ll focus on the burst of frigidity, instead of the overall heat.
Time your activities
The hottest time of a summer day is usually mid-afternoon, not noon, says the National Weather Service. That’s because there’s a delay of up to three or four hours between when the sun irradiates the earth-atmosphere system and when the temperature begins to increase on the planet’s surface.
This delay, known as the thermal response, means you should get summer outdoor activities done before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Drink the right fluids
Dehydration is a key factor in heat illness.
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water, which helps your body sweat and cool down.
If you exercise intensely, a sports drink, rather than water, can replace sodium, chloride and potassium you lose through sweating.
Alcoholic drinks, however, actually promote fluid loss.
Eat cooling foods
Fruits and vegetables hold lots of water to help keep you hydrated in the heat.
They include celery, cucumbers, apples, watermelon, and strawberries.
And don’t forget spicy foods, like chilies, mint and ginger.
Spicy dishes may make you feel like you’re burning, but actually can help cool you down by making you perspire, giving your skin the feel of evaporative cooling.
It’s a question of comfort — and health
From the Mayo Clinic....this is what doctors has to say as to why hot weather puts extra stress on your body.
“To help cool itself, your body sends more blood to circulate through your skin.
This leaves less blood for your muscles, which in turn increases your heart rate.
If the humidity also is high, your body faces added stress because sweat doesn’t readily evaporate from your skin.
That pushes your body temperature even higher.
Under normal conditions, your skin, blood vessels and perspiration level adjust to the heat, but these natural cooling systems may fail if you’re exposed to high temperatures and humidity for too long, you sweat heavily, and you don’t drink enough fluids."
Enjoy these videos !
From the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
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Mirror Mirror...On The Wall
Making A Room the Fairest of All
In a previous article, we gave you some ideas as to how mirrors can make a room look larger.
Now...lets take a look at how and where to install those mirrors.
Mirrors are not just for shaving or putting on make up anymore; now they are part of essential home decor.
Before you do anything else, you need to evaluate your space.
When evaluating your room or space you need to keep in mind how much wall space you have and what size of mirrors would be appropriate.
Bedrooms should have at least two mirrors, one full length for checking yourself out and one smaller mirror for decoration.
Mirrors have a way of bringing needed light into a dark room and can create an illusion that a room or space is larger than it actually is...and COLOR has a lot to do with it !
But...do you know what color a mirror actually is ?
If you're of the "scientific" persuasion, you might find this video of interest... !
You'll find out that the larger the distance between the mirrors, the color GREEN will be predominant.
Check out your local home decorating store, flea market, garage sales, yard sales or antique stores for unique mirrors that properly fit your personality.
Keep in mind that not all mirrors require a frame to be beautiful and classy.
In order to save time, look for hanging attachments.
Once you have picked your mirrors and have been able to properly visualize them in your new space, it is time to take a quick trip to your local hardware store.
If you do not own (or can't borrow) a hammer, measuring tape, raptor anchors or nails, you will need to purchase these items.
If you wish to hang several mirrors in a row or as a set, you will want to also purchase a leveling device.
It is now time to begin the placement of your mirrors.
If you have purchased a non-framed, full length mirror, you may wish to hang this behind a door or on a closet so that it can be used functionally.
If your full-length mirror is not necessarily to be used as a functional piece, you may wish to hang it more as a focal point of a room, or a place in the room where light is lacking.
In order to make a space seem larger than it is, you may wish toposition two identical mirrors on opposite walls facing one another; when these two mirrors reflect anything (light, objects, movement) they reflect off one another and seem to expand the living space.
When you hang your mirrors you will want to check if you have drywall.
If you have drywall, when you drill your hole into the wall you will want to use raptor anchors (found at your local hardware store).
Most mirror hanging jobs will not require any extensive drilling at all; usually a hammer and nail will be sufficient.
If your mirrors do not come equipped with wall hooks or cords then you may need to install these.
Use your level to hang a set of mirrors or multiple mirrors in a row.
Place ribbons or decorations on your mirrors, and you are done!
Here are a few ideas how to hang a mirror.
What about a LARGE framed mirror?
Want to build your own framed mirror? No problem !
Things You May Regret When
You're Older
How many can you relate to ?
1. Not traveling when you had the chance.
Traveling becomes infinitely harder the older you get, especially if you have a family and need to pay the way for three-plus people instead of just yourself.
2. Not learning another language.
You’ll kick yourself when you realize you took three years of language in high school and remember none of it.
3. Staying in a bad relationship.
No one who ever gets out of a bad relationship looks back without wishing they made the move sooner.
4. Forgoing sunscreen.
Wrinkles, moles, and skin cancer can largely be avoided if you protect yourself.
5. Missing the chance to see your favorite musicians.
“Nah, I’ll catch him/her next time they come through town.”
6. Being scared to do things.
Looking back you’ll think, what was I so afraid of?
7. Failing to make physical fitness a priority.
Too many of us spend the physical peak of our lives on the couch. When you hit 60 and beyond, you’ll dream of what you could have done.
8. Letting yourself be defined by gender roles.
Few things are as sad as an old person saying, “Well, it just wasn’t done back then.”
9. Not quitting a terrible job.
Look, you gotta pay the bills, but if you don’t make a plan to improve your situation, you might wake up one day having spent 40 years in hell.
10. Not trying harder in school.
It’s not just that your grades play a role in determining where you end up in life. Eventually you’ll realize how neat it was to get to spend all day learning, and wish you’d paid more attention.
11. Not realizing how beautiful you were.
Too many of us spend our youth unhappy with the way we look, but the reality is, that’s when we’re our most beautiful.
12. Being afraid to say “I love you”.
When you’re old, you won’t care if your love wasn’t returned...only that you made it known how you felt.
13. Not listening to your parents’ advice.
You don’t want to hear it when you’re young, but the infuriating truth is that most of what your parents say about life is true.
14. Spending your youth self-absorbed.
You’ll be embarrassed about it, frankly.
15. Caring too much about what other people think.
As the years pass, you won’t give a darn about any of those people you once worried so much about.
16. Supporting others’ dreams over your own.
Supporting others is a beautiful thing, but not when it means you never get to shine.
17. Not moving on fast enough.
Older people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but...wasted time.
18. Holding grudges, especially with those you love.
What’s the point of reliving the anger over and over?
19. Not standing up for yourself.
Older people don’t take "sh_t" from anyone. Neither should you.
20. Not volunteering enough.
Nearing the end of one’s life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.
21. Neglecting your teeth.
You only get one chance after the first set fall out...unless of course, you want to spend thousands on fake ones.
Brush. Floss. Get regular checkups.
It will all seem so maddeningly easy when you have dentures.
22. Missing the chance to ask your grandparents questions before they die.
Most of us realize too late what an awesome resource grandparents are. They can explain everything you’ll ever wonder about where you came from, but only if you ask them in time.
23. Working too much.
No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.
24. Not learning how to cook one awesome meal.
Knowing one drool-worthy meal will make all those dinner parties and celebrations that much more special.
25. Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment.
Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing.
26. Failing to finish what you start.
“I had big dreams of becoming a ____. I even signed up for the classes, but then…”
27. Never mastering one awesome party trick.
You will go to hundreds, if not thousands, of parties in your life.
Wouldn’t it be cool to be the life of them all?
28. Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.
Don’t let anyone ever tell you, “We don’t do that.”
29. Refusing to let friendships run their course.
People grow apart. Clinging to what was, instead of acknowledging that things have changed, can be a source of ongoing agitation and sadness.
30. Not playing with your kids enough.
When you’re older, you realize your kid went from wanting to play with you... to wanting you out of their room in the blink of an eye.
31. Never taking a big risk (especially in love).
Knowing that you took a leap of faith at least once...even if you fell flat on your face ...will be a great comfort when you’re older.
32. Not taking the time to develop contacts and network.
Networking may seem like a waste of time when you’re young, but later on it becomes clear... that it’s how so many jobs are won.
33. Worrying too much.
As Tom Petty sang, “Most things I worry about never happen anyway.”
34. Getting caught up in needless drama.
Who needs it?
35. Not spending enough time with loved ones.
Not spending enough time with loved ones.
Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count.
36. Never performing in front of others.
This isn’t a regret for everyone, but many elderly people wish they knew...just once...what it was like to stand in front of a crowd and show off their talents.
37. Not being grateful sooner.
It can be hard to see in the beginning, but eventually it becomes clear that every moment on this earth...from the mundane to the amazing ...is a gift that we’re all so incredibly lucky to share.
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4 Steps in Keeping
Your Kitchen Knives Sharp
Part of making sure that you have tools that are in good working order is to ensure that they are nice and sharp.
While you can always spend some money to get someone else to do the job for you, it doesn't hurt to learn how you can do the job yourself.
Be aware that sharpening your own tools can very easily lead to a mistake that requires you end up purchasing a new tool.
In addition, be aware that each tool will typically require its own unique method for sharpening so the guidelines listed here will give you some general information only.
1.Use the right tool.
There are several items that you can use to ensure that you get a nice sharp edge on your tools. Make sure that you use the right sharpening item for the right tool.
For most tools you will be able to simply use a file to get the job done.
Some tools (such as knives and scissors) will require that you use a special hand held sharpener.
Stay away from using a powered sharpener or grinder until you have plenty of experience with this task.
If you don't, then you can easily end up destroying a tool.
2. Follow the factory bevel.
Run the file, or sharpener, along the pre-made factory bevel.
Gently run the sharpening tool along the beveled edge, pushing it a direction that is away from you.
Take a break after each time that you runt he sharpening tool along the edge to check your work.
Once you notice that you have exposed fresh steel all along the edge, begin working away any burs that you may have created.
3. Don't grind too much.
Be careful that you do not grind too much of the blade away, or you can easily find yourself with a worthless hunk of junk.
Don't be afraid to test the edge of the blade frequently, being careful to not cut yourself while doing this.
4. Wipe down the blade.
After you have achieved the edge that you want, it is time to clean the tool.
This will not only help remove any remaining steel dust (which could damage the tool), it will help to protect the tool from rust.
With the tool now sharpened store it properly so that you can grab it and use it when you need to use it.
We have some videos how to sharpen a knife properly.
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What's Your Home Worth Today ?
If you've recently purchased your home or are currently in the process of selling it, chances are really good that you know how much your house is worth; however, if you have been living in the same home for a while, chances are you have asked yourself at least once...
"How much is my house worth?"
There are several ways that you can go about getting this question answered.
Before listing these different ways though, a small word of warning. Since there is a varying degree of accuracy between these options, you are going to need to be careful with how you use the information.
1. Online
The easiest way to find out what your home is worth is to go online.
You might check out these FREE websites as a starter.
Eppraisal.com
Homegain.com
Realestateabc.com
These estimates can vary pretty wildly, but good enough to give you a general idea.
Unfortunately, you cannot usually use these types of estimates when getting a home improvement loan, and are definitely not good enough to get a mortgage loan.
2. Realtor
A realtor is a good way to get a fairly accurate price range for your home. Usually these professionals are going to charge you a small fee, but often this is worth it since many banks can use a realtors' estimate when you are asking for a home improvement loan.
The way that a realtor makes their professional estimate is to take the average property value, or sales records, from the surrounding area, and compare your house to similar properties.
Often, they take the average of several similar properties to come up with your estimated price range.
You are still going to be given a range (as in the option above), but this range is going to be much narrower.
3. Appraiser
The best, and also quite frankly the most expensive option that is available to you is hiring an appraiser.
An appraiser is an expert that has been trained in being able to properly price property.
When a full on appraisal is going on, the appraiser comes out and inspects every inch of your house and property.
The initial examination is going to take several hours, and the results can take up to a few weeks before you get them back. While this process is more time consuming, it is the most accurate available, and the results can be used for any legal purpose.
If you have the time and money, then this is definitely the method you should use.
Here are a few videos for you.
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Know a Vet who is in need of help?
We have a comprehensive listing of various agencies that do their best to help or heroes.
We've also included telephone numbers and links for each one as well.
Community Pride Veterans
Resource Guide
GOVERNMENT
Nevada Office of Veterans Services
The state of Nevada hosts the first website to point veterans to services and benefits, job opportunities, the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City and suicide prevention.
Links for female veterans also are provided, as is information on the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.
702-224-6025 or 702-791-9000, ext. 46025 (Veterans Advocacy and Support Team-Las Vegas).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
and
These federal government websites provide information on health care, home loans, life insurance, pensions, business opportunities, vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities, crisis prevention, survivor benefits, burials and memorials, as well as locations where services are available.
The following link provides toll free phone numbers for contacting the VA depending on the issue:
EMPLOYMENT
America's Heroes at Work
This Labor Department program provides job assistance to returning service members living with traumatic brain injury and/or post traumatic stress disorder.
866-487-2365
Employers who seek assistance related to job accommodations for veterans with disabilities:
800-526-7234
Career One Stop
Career One Stop
Sponsored by the Labor Department, here is another option for veterans who are searching for employment services, including links for veterans who want to become teachers or join the construction industry.
1-877-348-0502
Gold Card
This program, a joint effort of the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, provides unemployed post-9/11 era veterans with job readiness skills, career guidance and referrals to jobs and training.
877-872-5627
Goodwill of Southern Nevada
Goodwill of Southern Nevada's Veteran Integration Program enables veterans to receive job services from a Goodwill team member who is also a veteran.
Helmets to Hardhats
As a nonprofit organization, Helmets to Hardhats helps veterans enter the building and construction industry.
866-741-6210
(Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Hire Heroes USA
This nonprofit organization provides free employment services for veterans.
Hiring Our Heroes
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation sponsors this program, which helps find jobs for veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses. Website tools include help with resumes, connection with a mentor, and location of hiring fairs and employment workshops. 202-463-5631 (executive offices).
My Next Move for Veterans
The Labor Department sponsors My Next Move for Veterans, whose website is intended to help veterans make smart decisions about the careers they pursue.
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation
The state's Employment Security Division uses this website to provide information on job referral and placement for vets.
702-486-6632
Outlook Foundation
The tax-exempt foundation issues computers to veterans returning from deployment with the hope that it will help those men and women reconnect with their communities.
702-380-4006
Troops to Teachers
Sponsored by the Defense Department, this website gives military personnel the information they need to pursue teaching careers.
800-231-6242
U.S. Department of Labor
Job-related links for vets can be found here.
866-487-2365
(Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Veteran Recruiting
This website helps match employers with veterans and their spouses who are looking for jobs.
Vet Success
This Veterans Affairs website bills itself as a one-stop site for veterans seeking employment.
HEALTH CARE
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
This agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps veterans, active duty personnel and their families gain access to behavioral health services.
877-726-4727
TRICARE
877-988-9378
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
http://www.lasvegas.va.gov/
Veterans seeking information on medical services can search this website for locations of area health care clinics and medical centers. There are also health care links for homeless vets.
702-791-9000
HOUSING/FINANCIAL AID
Edward Kline Memorial Homeless Veterans Fund
Veterans facing poverty or homelessness who have contacted the Veterans Administration may be eligible for a screening process at which time they will receive a stable place to live for up to 10 days with three meals a day, and access to public transportation and clothing.
702-560-1748
Nevada Military Support Alliance
The tax-exempt alliance provides comfort and support, both personal and financial, to the families and survivors of fallen patriots who lost their lives in a combat zone.
Operation Homefront Nevada
This organization provides emergency financial assistance and other resources for families of service members and wounded warriors.
866-642-3148 or 702-449-9987
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This HUD web link provides information for veterans on housing-related resources. Also included are links for homeless vets (1-877-424-3838) and for veterans' job opportunities.
702-366-2100
(Las Vegas HUD field office)
U.S. Vets
or
Homeless and at-risk veterans receive help with housing, counseling, career development and job placement through this nonprofit organization. The first web link is to the national organization.
213-542-2600
The second link is to the Las Vegas chapter
702-366-0456
Veteran's Village Las Vegas
This website provides information on a retrofitted downtown motel that serves as transitional housing for veterans. Also offered are job placement resources, access to medical services from Veterans Affairs and other providers, career and life planning counseling and transportation services.
702-624-5792
CRISIS LINE
Veterans Crisis Line
Veterans and their loved ones are encouraged to use the crisis line at 1-800-273-8255 and press the number 1, chat online (available through the website)
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
BUSINESS CONTRACTING
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
This is where information can be obtained by service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and veteran-owned small businesses that want to participate in the Veterans Affairs' Veterans First Contracting Program.
202-303-3260
(Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
EDUCATION
GI Bill
This is for veterans seeking educational benefits.
888-442-4551
(Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
The American Legion
Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion is a veterans organization that mentors youth, sponsors community programs, advocates patriotism and honor, and promotes strong national security.
317-630-1223
Army Women's Foundation
The foundation honors women who served in the Army or continue to do so, and also supports the Army Women's Museum at Fort Lee, Va.
804-734-3078
Blinded Veterans Associationhttp://www.bva.org/
The association helps veterans and their families meet and overcome the challenges of blindness.
800-669-7079 or 202-371-8880
Directory of Veterans Service Organizations
This directory is published by the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Disabled American Veterans
This tax-exempt advocacy and assistance organization has been aiding vets since 1920.
877-426-2838Horses4Heroes
http://www.horses4heroes.org/
Based in Las Vegas, Horses4Heroes is an equestrian service organization for troops, veterans, first responders and their families. The organization provides recreational, instructional and health and wellness equestrian programs for all ages and riding levels.
702-645-8446National League of POW/MIA Families
The nonprofit organization, incorporated in 1970, seeks "the release of all prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for the missing and repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War."
703-465-7432
Nevada Veterans Foundation
The foundation, run by a board that represents a variety of veterans and civic organizations, is seeking funds for a respite home in the Las Vegas area for family members of hospitalized veterans. Richard Small, chairman.
702-513-0215
Veterans of Foreign Wars
and
This advocacy organization works to build camaraderie among veterans who were engaged in overseas conflicts.
816-756-3390 or 202-543-2239
The second link enables web users to find a VFW post close to where they live.
Vietnam Veterans of America
Since 1978 this nonprofit group has served as an advocate for Vietnam-era veterans and their families.
800-882-1316
GENERAL INTEREST
Allies in War
This website contains links to websites for Army, Navy and Air Force vets and for individuals interested in military history.
Military Women Veterans
http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb
Women who served in the military or remain on active duty are celebrated on this website.
National Resource Directory
This website connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans, their families and caregivers with links to information on benefits and compensation, education and training, employment and health care. There are also links for family and caregiver support, homeless assistance, housing, transportation and travel, volunteer opportunities and crisis hotlines.
Veterans History Project
http://www.loc.gov/vets/
The American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress hosts this website to help collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that their stories can be preserved for future generations.
888-371-5848 or 202-707-4916
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The Easiest Way to Get Rid of a Nasty Bruise !
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Why Do We Sneeze in Multiples ?
There's really never a good time to sneeze.
Judgmental eyes note how well you've covered your mouth.
And that second and third sneeze?
That's when people start scooting their chairs away from you, fearful of the contaminated air that surrounds you.
So why can't we just sneeze once and be done with it?
According to Popular Science, it's because we're "whimpy sneezers" whose first go at clearing our nasal passages is apparently low on our list of evolutionary achievements.
Sneezes are caused by irritation in the lining of the nasal cavity, which releases inflammatory histamines.
These in turn stimulate the nerve endings that produce the actual action of sneezing — the explosive push of air that is meant to clear irritants from the nose.
Follow-up sneezes occur because the irritant is still there.
Sometimes it takes successive efforts to blow out that last lingering particle.
For those who suffer from allergies to things like pollens and pet hair, it's very common to need multiple sneezes to do the trick.
Other non-illness-inducing sneeze-causers include perfume, dustand even cold air.
Unfortunately, when irritants are blown from the nose, it often comes with mucus.
And this is probably why sneezers get a bad rap.
If the sneezer is sick with a virus like a cold or the flu, the infected mucus can spread the illness.
But don't assume that someone sneezing a bunch is carrying a virus.
As mentioned, airborne allergens can easily cause a multi-sneeze attack.
Then again, you don't even need to have an irritant in your nose to sneeze.
Popular Science reports that there is something called "photic sneeze reflex," which is a genetic condition that causes one to sneeze simply by looking at bright lights.
It's estimated to affect 18 to 20 percent of the population, and while scientists aren't exactly sure why it happens, they think it may have to do with the pupil's rapid adjustment to brightness.
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Storage Furniture
Space is one of the most precious commodities around the home.
It doesn't matter if you are living in a one bedroom apartment, or 4 bedroom house storage space can quickly become an item that you don't have enough of. With this truth in mind, over the past several years many furniture and home decorating companies have started to design new styles of furniture that I like to call "storage furniture."
One example of such a company is IKEA, where just about everything that they sell is designed for small or limited space, and with multiple uses in mind.
Here is a brief description of some of the more common items that you can find in most furniture stores that you can turn into your own type of storage furniture.
Bookcases
One of the greatest examples of furniture that can pull double duty is the bookcase.
This great piece of furniture can be used to store just about everything under the sun from books, to knick-knacks to clothing.
When using such a piece furniture, the biggest thing that someone needs to do is just use a little imagination.
Sideboards
Sideboards (more commonly known as buffets) are more typically seen in the dinning room; however, these items can be used in places other than just the dinning room.
These items are useful for storing more than china and other dinning ware; these would be perfect for storing such things as blankets and board games.
Chairs
More and more often, you are able to find chairs that have built in storage compartments.
Depending on the style you decide to go with, you can use these chairs in the dinning room, kitchen or even the living room.
Benches
Some of the more interesting types of furniture are along the lines of benches.
You can usually found these pieces of furniture in stores that cater to individuals that have a taste for the southwest, or that desire the look of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
If you utilize these benches in hallways then they are great for storing blankets and out of season coats.
Ottomans
Recently there has been a fairly new innovation in home storage design.
That innovation was in turning ottomans into something like an oversized chest.
While it is possible to use a real chest as an ottoman, why not use something that is actually designed for your feet to go on that you have the added bonus of being able store just about everything in.
These units are absolutely wonderful for storing games and game systems.
Here are a few videos to give you some ideas as to storage furniture.
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Common Tactics for Lowering Utility Bills
If you use your common sense, you'll most likely think of ways to reduce your utility bills.
For example, no one is probably using the kitchen as you read this article, yet probably the lights are on.
The light over the kitchen table might also be on, so get up now, check it out, and turn them off !
It's also chilly lately and instead of turning the heat higher to 70 or 72 degrees, go find a sweater and put it on instead of sitting there in a teeshirt or pack of PJs or slacks.
Here are some things you might wish to consider to help lower your utility bills and conserve energy.
1. Lower your thermostat at night and use extra blankets on your bed.
You can probably set your thermostat to automatically turn the temperature down at night, and up again after you awaken.
You can probably set your thermostat to automatically turn the temperature down at night, and up again after you awaken.
2. If you plan on leaving your home for a long weekend or extended vacation, lower your water heater thermostat to 80 degrees.
Actually, most water heaters have a "vacation mode" that you can simply adjust the dial.
3. Instead of turning on the air conditioning at the onset of warmer weather, try living without it for at least 2 weeks.
Instead, open all the windows in you bedroom and enjoy the breeze. At night, place a fan to circulate cooler or warmer air when the seasons change.
4. To help lower your water bill, install low-flow showerheads and toilets.
Take shorter showers and turn the water off while brushing your teeth. When it rains you can also place a container on your patio, using the water collected to water your indoor plants.
5. Use your microwave as much as possible instead of heating up the stove or oven.
6. Don't use night lights that remain plugged into an outlet.
Instead, use motion sensor lights that only light when they detect motion.
Here are a few helpful videos that can give you 50 ways to save energy and money.
How about this one?
Got a swimming pool? This one's for you.
Stay comfortable...and...wealthy !
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Saving Money on Airfares
ONLY FLY ON TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND SATURDAYS
THIS IS A GUARANTEE: THE SAME ROUTE, SAME AIRCRAFT, SAME AIRLINE, SAME EVERYTHING WILL COST YOU MORE IF YOU DEPART ON A MONDAY THAN IF YOU DEPART ON A TUESDAY.
WHY?
BECAUSE MONDAY IS A PEAK TRAVEL DAY WHEN MOST PEOPLE, INCLUDING BUSINESS TRAVELERS, NEED TO FLY.
TUESDAY IS FAR LESS BUSY.
WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS ARE EQUALLY INEXPENSIVE;
THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, AND SUNDAYS ARE EQUALLY PRICEY.
THE BASIC RULE IS THAT IF YOU FLY ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR SATURDAY, YOU WILL SAVE MONEY.
SCHEDULE YOUR VACATIONS FROM, SAY, TUESDAY TO TUESDAY RATHER THAN SUNDAY TO SUNDAY.
IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
FLY WHEN OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T LIKELY TO FLY AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY LESS.
DON'T FLY IN THE AFTERNOON
IN ADDITION TO AVOIDING FLIGHTS ON MONDAYS, THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, AND SUNDAYS, YOU SHOULD ALSO CAST A WARY EYE TOWARD AFTERNOON DEPARTURES.
THIS IS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY'S VERSION OF RUSH HOUR.
THE SKIES ARE CONGESTED, DELAYS ARE COMMON, AND FARES ARE HIGHEST BECAUSE IT'S WHEN MOST PEOPLE WANT TO FLY.
TO AVOID HIGH FARES AND DELAYS, ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DEPARTURE.
KNOW YOUR BLACKOUT DATES
IT'S CRITICAL TO KNOW WHICH AIRLINES ARE OFFERING SALES AND FOR WHICH TIME PERIODS AND BLACKOUT DATES, IN ORDER TO GAUGE HOW TO FIND THE LOWEST FARES.
NEARLY EVERY WEEK, THE MAJOR U.S. AIRLINES LAUNCH COMPETING PROMOTIONS.
BE SURE TO READ THE FINE PRINT WITHIN THESE PROMOTIONS, AND YOU'LL FIND A WEALTH OF USEFUL INFORMATION, SUCH AS WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL NEED TO SPEND AT LEAST ONE SATURDAY NIGHT AT YOUR DESTINATION OR RETURN WITHIN 30 DAYS.
MOST SALES END BY THURSDAY OR FRIDAY IN A GIVEN WEEK, SO AVOID BOOKING ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.
MANY AIRLINES PULL THEIR DISCOUNTED AIRFARES AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND SHOPPING PERIOD, ONLY TO OFFER THEM AGAIN BY THE MIDDLE OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
TAKE A CONNECTING FLIGHT
YOU SOMETIMES CAN SAVE MONEY SIMPLY BY BOOKING A FLIGHT WITH A CONNECTION RATHER THAN A DIRECT OR NONSTOP ROUTE.
CONNECTING FLIGHTS TAKE LONGER (AT LEAST TWO ADDITIONAL HOURS), BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ABSOLUTE DOLLAR SAVINGS, YOU MAY FIND IT WITH THIS STRATEGY.
(CAVEAT: CONNECTING FLIGHTS CAN OCCASIONALLY INCREASE THE TOTAL PRICE BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE AIRPORT FEES.)
BOOK A ONE-WAY FLIGHT
HERE'S A TIP THAT MAY SAVE YOU MONEY ON A COMPLICATED OR LONG-TERM TRIP:
MANY AIRLINES DRASTICALLY INCREASE FARES FOR STAYS LONGER THAN 30 DAYS, SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING A LONG STAY YOU MAY DO BETTER BOOKING A ONE-WAY FLIGHT RATHER THAN A ROUND-TRIP.
MANY MAJOR U.S. CARRIERS (AND SOME INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES) TODAY SELL ONE-WAY FARES FOR HALF OF THE COST OF THE LOWEST-PRICED ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE.
GET A REFUND ON A NONREFUNDABLE FARE
NONREFUNDABLE FLIGHTS ARE GENERALLY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY COME WITH A STEEP PENALTY FOR CHANGES OR CANCELLATION.
BUT HERE'S A HELPFUL LITTLE SECRET:
NONREFUNDABLE FLIGHTS ACTUALLY ARE REFUNDABLE, WITHOUT PENALTY, FOR 24 HOURS AFTER YOU BOOK.
THEY ARE ALSO FULLY REFUNDABLE IF THE SCHEDULED FLIGHT IS DELAYED OR CANCELED OR IF THE FLIGHT'S SCHEDULE IS DRAMATICALLY ALTERED AFTER YOU BOOK.
THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY, THOUGH, SHOULD BE THAT 24-HOUR WINDOW.
SEE A NONREFUNDABLE FARE THAT LOOKS GOOD?
BOOK IT—BUT DON'T STOP LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER UNTIL 24 HOURS LATER.
KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL GATEWAYS
WHEN FLYING OVERSEAS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR GATEWAY AIRPORTS.
IN EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, DUBLIN, AMSTERDAM, FRANKFURT, MADRID, LONDON, AND VIENNA ARE SERVED BY MAJOR AIRLINES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC, WHICH IN TURN GENERATES MORE PRICE COMPETITION.
ANOTHER TIP IS TO LEARN WHICH INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS FLY DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HOME AIRPORT TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
ANOTHER TIP IS TO LEARN WHICH INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS FLY DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HOME AIRPORT TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
AS USUAL....WE HAVE SOME VIDEOS THAT CAN HELP YOU GET THAT BEST DEAL !
GOOD LUCK...AND HAVE FUN
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REMOVE A SPLINTER EASILY BY APPLYING A PASTE OF BAKING SODA AND WATER.
THEN WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES FOR THE SPLINTER TO POP OUT OF THE SKIN !
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SWIPE YOUR NAILS WITH VINEGAR BEFORE APPLYING NAIL POLISH.
IT WILL MAKE YOUR MANICURE LAST FOR 2+ WEEKS.
SILK LAMPSHADES
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF A HOME IS THE LIGHTING. THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT YOU GET IN YOUR HOME CAN IMPACT THE INTERIOR EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, AND YOU SHOULD BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BALANCE IN EACH ROOM.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHT IN A ROOM IS TO USE LAMPS.
LAMPS ARE OFTEN PORTABLE AND CAN BE TURNED ON OR OFF ACCORDING TO YOUR LIGHTING NEEDS.
MORE THAN THAT, THOUGH, LAMPS AND THEIR SHADES CAN MAKE AN ARTISTIC IMPACT ON AN AREA, ADDING TO THE OVERALL DECOR OF YOUR HOME.
WHEN IT COMES TO LAMPS, YOU HAVE MANY STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM. YOU MIGHT NEED SOMETHING SMALL ENOUGH TO SIT ON A DESK OR TABLE, OR MAYBE YOU NEED SOMETHING TALL TO SIT ON THE FLOOR.
YOU CAN ALSO FIND VERY BEAUTIFUL LAMPS FOR YOUR CEILING THAT CAN ADD A LOT OF OVERHEAD LIGHT WHILE SHOWING OFF YOUR DECORATING STYLE.
WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED, YOU CAN FIND BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE SHADES TO GIVE YOUR LAMPS A LOOK THAT SUITS YOUR HOME.
ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR THE MATERIAL OF THE SHADE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER SILK.
SILK LAMPSHADES ARE LIGHT, DELICATE, AND MAKE A GORGEOUS ADDITION TO YOUR ROOM'S LOOK.
SILK LAMPSHADES CAN BE FOUND IN DIFFERENT SHAPES.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SHAPE AND OVERALL STYLE OF A LAMPSHADE LOOKS BALANCED WITH THE REST OF THE LAMP.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THE LAMP STAND IS AN ANTIQUE STYLE, IT MIGHT BE ODD TO PLACE A VERY MODERN-LOOKING SHADE ON IT.
YOU CAN GET SILK LAMPSHADES IN VARIOUS COLORS AND PATTERNS, FROM BOLD TO SIMPLE OR ANTIQUE TO CONTEMPORARY.
MANY SILK LAMPSHADES HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN LIGHTER IN COLOR, BUT NOW THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS TO MEET YOUR DECORATING NEEDS.
YOU CAN EVEN CREATE YOUR OWN LOOK USING SPECIAL PAINT ON SILK !
(A TERRIFIC IDEA FOR THE ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB TO CONSIDER)
YOU CAN FIND SILK LAMPSHADES AT MANY STORES AS WELL ONLINE.
FOR AN ANTIQUE LOOK, VISIT AN ANTIQUE SHOP OR THRIFT STORE AND SEARCH THE SELECTION FOR A UNIQUE PIECE.
CLEANING YOUR SILK LAMPSHADE
TO CLEAN YOUR SILK LAMPSHADE, FIRST REMOVE IT FROM THE FIXTURE.
START BY WIPING OFF ANY LOOSE DIRT OR DUST WITH A DUSTER OR CLEAN TOWEL.
USING A SUDSY, WET TOWEL, CLEAN SPOTS CAREFULLY USING A CIRCULAR MOTION.
DIP THE LAMPSHADE IN A TUB OF SOAPY WATER UNTIL IT BECOMES DIRTY; THEN REFILL THE TUM WITH CLEAN WATER AND DIP AGAIN.
LET THE LAMPSHADE DRY, THEN REPLACE IT ON THE STAND.
ENJOY ELEGANCE AND BEAUTY IN YOUR HOME'S DECOR.
TRY USING A SILK LAMPSHADE TO ADD A LITTLE EXTRA CLASS TO A ROOM.
HERE ARE A VIDEO TO HELP YOU ALONG.
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STORING GROCERIES IN THE RIGHT WAY...CAN MAKE THEM LAST A LOT LONGER
INSTEAD OF WASTING TIME, MONEY AND GAS EACH WEEK, HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO MAKE YOUR GROCERIES LAST LONGER:
1. Toss spoiled produce
BEFORE STORING, EXAMINE THE CONTENTS OF EACH BAG AND PROMPTLY REMOVE ITEMS THAT ARE BRUISED, OVERRIPE OR ON THE BRINK OF SPOILING.
ITEMS IN THIS CONDITION RELEASE ETHYLENE GAS THAT COULD SPOIL GOOD PRODUCE. (YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE AN ETHYLENE GAS ABSORBER TO DELAY THE RIPENING PROCESS OF YOUR PRODUCE.)
2. DITCH PLASTIC FOR MASON JARS
WITH GLASS MASON JARS, YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING EXPOSED TO THE BPA (BISPHENAL A) THAT CAN BE FOUND IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS.
BPA, WHICH IS ALSO FOUND IN PLASTICS AND CANNED FOOD CONTAINERS, HAS BEEN LINKED TO HIGHER RATES OF ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE,OBESITY, AND CANCER.
MASON JARS ALSO DO NOT STAIN, AND YOUR PRODUCE WILL LAST A FEW DAYS LONGER. MASON JARS WORK WELL FOR PRE-PORTIONED SALADS, EXTENDING THE SHELF LIFE TO UP TO 10 DAYS.
3. Butter and wrap sliced cheese
TIRED OF CHEESE QUICKLY DRYING OUT? APPLY A THIN LAYER OF BUTTER TO THE EXPOSED SIDE, WRAP THE BLOCK IN WAXED PAPER, AND PLACE IT IN A PLASTIC BAG.
4. PUNCTURE PLASTIC STORAGE BAGS
POKE A FEW HOLES IN THOSE PRODUCE BAGS YOU GET AT THE GROCERY STORE. OTHERWISE, THEY’LL TRAP MOISTURE THAT WILL CAUSE PRODUCE TO BREAK DOWN FASTER.
5. Consider the freezer
FROZEN BANANA POPS ARE MY FAVORITE FOR TWO REASONS: THEY PRESERVE UNUSED BANANAS, AND THEY TASTE GREAT.
FREEZING ALSO WORKS WELL FOR MOST FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AS LONG AS THEY ARE CONSUMED WITHIN EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS.
JUST REMEMBER TO LABEL THEM SO YOU DON’T FIND YOURSELF EATING SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN HIDING IN THE BACK OF THE FREEZER FOR A DECADE.
6. Shrink-wrap the crown of bananas
IT ONLY TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO WRAP SOME PLASTIC AROUND THE CROWN OF A BUNCH OF BANANAS, AND IT WILL CURB THE RELEASE OF ETHYLENE GAS.
THIS GAS MAKES ANY OTHER PRODUCE IN THE VICINITY SPOIL FASTER.
7. Bundle up herbs
HERBS CAN BE DISPLAYED LIKE A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET OF FLOWERS IN A VASE OF WATER. DOING THIS KEEPS THE HERBS ALIVE A LOT LONGER WITHOUT TAKING UP REFRIGERATOR SPACE. JUST BE SURE TO TRIM THE STEMS FIRST.
8. Store counter items away from windows
IT MAY BE CONVENIENT TO STORE MELONS OR PEARS ON AN AREA OF THE COUNTER CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW, BUT DON’T DO IT. SUNLIGHT SPEEDS UP THE RIPENING PROCESS.
9. Pantyhose are best for onions
DROP AN ONION IN EACH FOOT, TIE A KNOT IN BETWEEN AND CONTINUE THIS PATTERN UNTIL YOU FILL THE LEGS.
10. Don’t immediately slice and dice
YOU MAY BE PLANNING FOR THE WEEK AHEAD, BUT SLICING AND DICING TOO FAR IN ADVANCE REDUCES THE LIFE OF PRODUCE.
OF COURSE, IF YOU MUST GET CHOPPING, A LITTLE LEMON JUICE WILL HELP PRODUCE LAST LONGER BEFORE IT STARTS TO BROWN.
11. Wrap greens in foil
WHEN WRAPPED IN FOIL, BROCCOLI, LETTUCE AND CELERY WILL LAST IN THE FRIDGE FOR A MONTH OR MORE.
12. Stabilize the refrigerator’s temperature
AIM FOR 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TO PREVENT THE GROWTH OF TOXIC FOOD BACTERIA.
YOU DON’T WANT THE TEMPERATURE SO COLD EVERYTHING IS FROZEN.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A REFRIGERATOR THAT IS TOO WARM RESULTS IN SPOILAGE. THAT IS LIKE THROWING MONEY AWAY.
13. Paper bags are ideal for mushrooms
PLASTIC BAGS ARE A HAVEN FOR MOISTURE, CAUSING MUSHROOMS TO MILDEW.
14. Place tomatoes upside down on the counter
IF THE STEM WAS REMOVED BEFORE PURCHASE, PLACE THE TOMATOES UPSIDE DOWN SO AIR WON’T SEEP INTO THE SMALL OPENING, WHICH EXPEDITES RIPENING.
15. Tidy up and organize the refrigerator
IT MAY BE CONVENIENT TO LEAVE EXPIRED ITEMS IN THE CORNER OF THE FRIDGE UNTIL YOU HAVE TIME TO PURGE; HOWEVER, THE MOLD CONTENT WILL EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS AND CONTAMINATE OPEN PRODUCTS.
ALSO, TOO MUCH CLUTTER REDUCES THE CIRCULATION OF COOL AIR AND CREATES WARM SPOTS.
16. Don’t store milk in the refrigerator door
THE COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE FOUND ON THE MIDDLE SHELF.
17. Segregate produce and meats
ALLOWING FRESH PRODUCE AND MEATS TO MINGLE RUNS THE RISK OF CROSS-CONTAMINATION, WHICH CAUSES RAPID SPOILAGE.
ALL MEATS SHOULD BE WRAPPED AND STORED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER (IN CASE THEY LEAK).
TO BE EXTRA SAFE, PLACE MEATS IN A BOWL TO CATCH ANY LIQUID RESIDUE.
18. Reseal prepackaged goods
WHEN YOU KEEP GOODS SEALED, AIR WILL REMAIN IN THE PACKAGE AND ITEMS WON’T QUICKLY HARDEN.
19. Freeze bread
FREEZING BREAD ELIMINATES THE ONSET OF MOLD, WHICH SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE AND CAN QUICKLY CONTAMINATE AN ENTIRE LOAF.
YOU CAN ALSO TRY STORING HALF OF THE LOAF IN THE FRIDGE AND THE OTHER HALF IN THE FREEZER.
20. Store leftovers in airtight glass containers
AIRTIGHT LIDS KEEP AIR OUT; AND WITH GLASS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY CHEMICALS LEACHING INTO YOUR FOOD.
21. Maximize pantry and counter space
NOT ALL PRODUCE SHOULD BE REFRIGERATED.
HERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE STORED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, PREFERABLY NOT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT:
BANANAS
LEMON
LIME
MANGOS (IN A BROWN BAG)
MELON (IN A BROWN BAG)
PEACHES (IN A BROWN BAG)
PEARS
PINEAPPLE (UPSIDE DOWN)
PLUMS
IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS BEGIN TO RIPEN AND YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM AROUND, PLACE THEM IN THE FRIDGE.
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FIVE WAYS YOU MAY BE PREMATURELY AGING YOUR CAR
WINTER IS TOUGH ON CARS, BUT YOUR BAD HABITS MIGHT BE MAKING THINGS EVEN WORSE.
A CAR IS THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM MOST PEOPLE WILL EVER BUY, AND YET WE TREAT OUR CHARIOTS LIKE TRASH.
HERE ARE FIVE WAYS YOU MAY BE INCREASING WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR VEHICLE.
HERE ARE FIVE WAYS YOU MAY BE INCREASING WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR VEHICLE.
THEY CAN REDUCE YOUR COSTS NOW, DECREASE WHAT YOU'LL GET FOR IT WHEN YOU SELL IT, OR INCREASE HOW MUCH YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT INTO IT TO DO SO.
WARMING CAR UP OR OTHERWISE LEAVING IT IDLING.
TODAY'S ENGINES HAVE ENOUGH LUBRICATION THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE WARMED UP.
IF YOU LIKE THE SEATS AND INTERIOR A BIT TOASTY BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF IN THE MORNING...KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM, AS IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
ENGINES AREN'T DESIGNED TO SIT IDLING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
KEEP IT IDLING TOO LONG AND A BUILDUP CAN DEVELOP ON YOUR SPARK PLUGS, WHICH CAN MAKE THEM LESS EFFICIENT, WHICH WASTES GAS.
PRACTICING POOR TIRE MAINTENANCE.
PRACTICING POOR TIRE MAINTENANCE.
DRIVING A CAR WITH IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRES WASTES FUEL AND WEARS DOWN YOUR TIRES' TREAD.
KEEPING YOUR TIRES TOO FAR UNDER THEIR IDEAL INFLATION, AND YOU'LL BE DRIVING ON TREAD TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, AND WILL ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT YOUR CAR'S HANDLING AND BRAKING.
WORST YET, ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS CAN CAUSE YOUR TIRE TO BLOW OUT.
AUTOMD, A MECHANICREFERRAL SERVICE, RECOMMENDS TESTING YOUR TREAD BY INSERTING A PENNY – WITH ABE'S HEAD FIRST – INTO THE TREADS ON YOUR TIRE.
IF OUR FORMER PRESIDENT'S HEAD IS COVERED AT ALL, YOU'RE SAFE.
IF THERE'S SPACE ABOVE HIS HEAD, OR YOU CAN READ "IN GOD WE TRUST," IT'S TIME FOR TIRE SHOPPING.
DRIVING TOO FAST.
IT CAN DO FAR MORE THAN GET YOU TICKETED, INJURED OR KILLED.
DRIVING TOO FAR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT FORCES YOU TO BRAKE HARD, FAST AND ABRUPTLY, WHICH TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR TIRES' TREAD.
FEW THINGS WEAR YOUR TIRES OUT FASTER.
ALLOW EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRAKE – ESPECIALLY HARD – JUST BECAUSE THE GUY IN FRONT DID SO, PERHAPS UNNECESSARILY.
TEACH YOURSELF TO SCAN THE ROAD FAR AHEAD SO YOU CAN REACT WITH PLENTY OF TIME IN AN EMERGENCY.
RIDING THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH.
PERHAPS YEARS OF $3-A-GALLON GAS TAUGHT YOU TO DRIVE MORE RESPONSIBLY.
HOPEFULLY THERE AREN'T TOO MANY OF YOU LEFT OUT THERE, BUT FOR ANY TWO-FOOTED DRIVERS OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES, IT REALLY IS TIME TO STOP DOING THAT.
WE CAN ALL TELL WHO YOU ARE BY THE FREQUENT FLICKERING OF YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN WE RIDE BEHIND YOU.
ALONG WITH DRIVING MANY PEOPLE CRAZY, YOU'RE WEARING YOUR BRAKES DOWN FOR NO GOOD REASON.
THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF CLUTCH-RIDING IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVERS WHO KEEPS YOUR FOOT PRACTICALLY ON THE CLUTCH WHILE DRIVING.
YOU'LL WEAR THAT DOWN TOO, WHICH CAN REQUIRE COMPLICATED AND COSTLY FIXES.
IF YOU'RE GUILTY OF EITHER OF THESE, TRY THIS:
PLANT YOUR LEFT FOOT ON WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE "DEAD PEDAL," TO THE LEFT OF THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH. DOING SO WILL BRACE YOU DURING SHARP TURNS AND KEEP YOU FROM RIDING THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH.
BAKING THE DASHBOARD.
CARDBOARD SUNSHADES NOT ONLY KEEP YOUR CAR COOLER INSIDE FOR WHEN YOU GET IN ON A HOT DAY, BUT THEY DO FAR MORE THAN PROTECT YOUR COMFORT.
THEY ALSO KEEP DASHBOARDS FROM BLISTERING, CRACKING, FADING OR GETTING OTHERWISE DAMAGED BY THE HARSH RAYS OF THE SUN.
KEEP IT IN THE TRUNK FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN YOUR CAR ISN'T IN A GARAGE.
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TAKING CARE OF YOUR CAR
1. CLEAN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAR EVERY MONTH.
Why It’s Important:
Keeping your car clean is like keeping a room clean, except everyone can see your car and gauge how dirty (or clean) you are.
Grab ArmorAll’s cheap but awesome vacuum, to clean the inside of your car, a bottle of Optimum’s car wash for the outside of your car, and make your car look brand new.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
An unclean car will eventually attract dirt and grime that can damage your interior and exterior, and probably won’t earn you any extra props from that person you like.
2. CHANGE YOUR OIL EVERY 5,000 TO 7,500 MILES AND USE A RELIABLE BRAND.
Why it's Important:
Every car maker has different things to say when it comes to oil, but must experts agree that it's good to change it regularly. If you're confused as what to use, most cars work well with synthetic oil like Mobil 1, and it's usually cheaper to get your oil replaced at a shop versus doing it yourself.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Your car needs oil to lubricate your engine and stop detergents, socheck your oil every other month or so.
If your car doesn't have fresh oil, dirt will build up and eventually kill your engine, which will cost thousands of dollars and your happiness.
3. CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE EVERY MONTH AND ROTATE YOUR TIRES EVERY 7,500 MILES.
Why it's Important:
Incorrect tire pressure can lead to a ton of problems including poor breaking, instability, less gas mileage, and of course, a flat tire.
Check your tire pressure with a gauge.
Also, rotate your tires often to make sure that they wear evenly, making sure you get the most of them before replacing them.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Replacing your tires will cost anywhere from $350 to $700, while a tire pressure gauge and rotation cost about $10 and $50, respectively.
If your tires need to be rotated, simply take them into a dealer or auto body shop.
4. GET YOUR BRAKE PADS REPLACED EVERY 25,000 MILES OR SOONER IF YOUR BRAKES ARE WEARING DOWN.
Why It’s Important:
It’s always a good idea to have your brakes checked out every so often by a professional, as a nasty grinding noise can bring an unpleasant worry.
A big part of this are the brake pads, which resist loss of brake power at high temperatures and can be replaced by a mechanic if needed.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Neglecting your brake pads will eventually lead to your brake rotors failing, leading to a $300 to $600 replacement and at worst, an emergency you don’t want to deal with.
5. Make sure your mirrors are always good to go.
Why It’s Important:
Having eyes in the back of your head would be the driving advantage, but unfortunately we’re only human and the next best thing we have are mirrors.
A good, clean set of front and rear view mirrors can save you from a lot of trouble on the road.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Driving with dirty or no mirrors at all makes you everyone’s least favorite driver on the road, and that’s probably the last thing you want to be.
6. Maintain your car’s interior to keep its resale value high.
Why it's important:
Grime has chemicals that will eat away at things like your leather dashboard or vinyl seats, eventually making your car looking like a filthy time machine.
Thankfully, products like Megular's Quik Interior Detailer and Leather Honey are relatively inexpensive and help keep clean everything like the day you bought the car.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
A dirty, unkept interior can lead to you losing hundreds of dollars when you try to resell your car, meaning you’ll have less money towards the dream of something new.
Keeping your car’s interior fresh isn’t that big of a commitment, so you should get it over with.
7. REPLACE ANY BAD HEADLIGHT BULBS AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
Why It’s Important:
Driving home in the dark can turn into an absolute nightmare if one of your headlights isn’t working correctly or showing a very dim light.
Most of the time, this is caused by a dead headlight bulb, which can be checked and replaced with something like a Sylvania High Performance Bulb that will last much longer.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
You should never consider the risk of driving at night without proper headlights, and you’re also bound to be pulled over with the cops if you try.
Generally, replacing a headlight bulb yourself is pretty simple and
8. If you’re not going to drive your car for a while, make sure it’s properly stored.
Why It’s Important:
If you’re going to be away for a bit, make sure your car is covered, clean, topped off with gas, and started every so often to keep the battery fresh.
If no one’s around to drive or start your car, you can buy a battery tender which stops a discharge.
The Cost of Not Doing It:
Not keeping your car properly stored can lead to a dead battery, hurt engine, and even some unpleasant creatures living under your car’s hood.
Those rats and spiders won’t help you pay your repair bills if anything happens, so it’s best to store your car the right way.
9. CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER EVERY 30,000 MILES OR EVERY YEAR.
Why It’s Important:
Think of your car’s air filter like your lungs: It’s important you keep them clean and healthy so that you breathe easier and harmful things don’t affect your breathing.
For a car, a dirty air filter will hurt your acceleration and make your car less efficient, making an inspection and new air filter every so often important.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Your car isn’t going to explode from a dirty air filter, but it’s possible that leaving one in can cause your engine to fail and damage your combustion chamber.
10. GET SOME RAIN-X PRODUCTS FOR YOUR WINDOWS TO GUARD YOURSELF FROM WATER.
Why It’s Important:
Rain-X makes two products that deserve your attention, one being a spray for your car’s glass that repels rain and another being windshield wiper blades that do their job well.
Spraying your car with Rain-X is pretty easy, while you should inspect your wipers every six months and change them if necessary.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Rain-X isn’t essential for your car, but nothing beats the peace of mind you get watching rain drops fall of your windshield or watching your wipers deflect everything.
11. KEEP YOUR ENGINE’S TEMPERATURE BALANCED WITH ANTIFREEZE EVERY 15,000 MILES.
Why It’s Important:
Antifreeze and coolant, which are together in many products, help keep your engine from overheating or freezing in all kinds of temperatures.
A reliable gallon of antifreeze usually runs for about $10-$15, making it easy to keep everything running well in your radiator.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Without any sort of antifreeze in your radiator, your engine will overheat, killing its seals and gaskets, causing leaks and leading to a really expensive repair.
12. CHECK IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON YOUR CAR THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.
Why It’s Important:
Currently, General Motors is recalling a massive 1.3 million cars because of power-steering failures.
If you didn’t know this, or are concerned for your own car, it’s a good idea to take your Vehicle Identification Number (usually found on the top your engine or driver’s side door) and put it on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s website to see if you fall under a recall.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Faulty cars often lead to really bad things, like leaks that cause fires, broken accelerators that don’t allow someone to stop, and even air bags that go off for no reason.
Spare yourself the depressing thoughts and get your car checked out for a recall.
13. Save your car maintenance receipts to make future repairs much easier.
Why It’s Important:
When you take your car into a shop for a check up, mechanics will often ask you about the last time your changed your oil or rotated your tires, so it’s good to keep receipts from past work.
Also, having those receipts will help you get more money for your car if you ever decide to sell, acting as proof that you took care of it.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Not being able to prove that you’ve taken care of your car with work can knock you out of a warranty, leaving you with a tremendously costly repair at almost any dealer you go to.
If you have trouble keeping receipts, at least snap a photo with your phone to have some proof.
14. CLEAN BIRD DROPPINGS OFF OF YOUR CAR AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
Why It’s Important:
You may not know this, but bird droppings are very acidic and eventually burn and ruin any paint job they come across.
If you see it land on your car, quickly clean it off, and if that’s too hard, consider a car polisher or compound to fix the damage.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Getting a brand new paint job over some bird’s bathroom break on your car is a bit crazy, but it can push you toward that idea if it’s been too long.
New paint jobs are not cheap, so it’s best to clean your car’s exterior often to keep everything looking new.
15. CONSIDER GETTING SOME ADD-ON GADGETS TO PROTECT YOUR CAR FROM DAMAGE AND THEFT.
Why It’s Important:
A lot of us see our cars as our children, so like any good parent, we want to protect them from the crazy world out there.
Specifically, add-ons like Bumper Bully’s bumper protector, blind-spot mirrors, or Magnasonic’s steering wheel security lock are all worth considering.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
While everything listed above aren’t completely needed for your car, the added peace of mind you get from knowing your bumper is protected or knowing your car has a decreased chance of being stolen is priceless.
16. KEEP THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CAR CLEAN BY GETTING SOME RELIABLE FLOOR MATS.
Why It’s Important:
Not only do car mats provide cushion and relieve your feet from heat, they also keep dust and water from causing an absolute mess in your ride.
Investing in quality, easy to clean mats like the ones made byOxGord help ensure that you aren’t bringing anything into your car you don’t want.
The Cost of Not Doing It:
Letting stuff like sand, water, and dust fall onto your car’s interior is probably going to cost you a lot of time in cleaning, and can have some unintended effects on your car if left long enough.
5 minutes cleaning a mat or an hour cleaning your car’s carpet, your choice.
17. CHECK YOUR SPARK PLUGS EVERY 30,000 MILES AND REPLACE THEM EVERY 60,000 MILES.
Why it's Important:
Spark plugs are necessary for any car to function well, and while most last for a long while, it's still recommended that you make sure yours aren't affecting your engine as a whole.
Every 30,000 miles get yours checked by a shop or dealer and make sure to replace them if they have gone bad.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Bad spark plugs can lead to horrible gas mileage and a lack of acceleration, along with a whole host of other problems.
Eventually, bad plugs can greatly impact an engine, leading to what could be a lot of troublesome repairs.
18. DON’T CHEAP OUT ON CAR INSURANCE.
Why It’s Important:
You might be the best driver in the world, but all it takes is one bad driver to leave you and your car out of action for a long while.
Top rated car insurance companies like State Farm, Amica, Hartford, and USAA (if you’re eligible) allow you to stay covered for accidents and repairs, while cheap insurance may not cover all the harm to you, your car, or to other people’s property.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
While it’s common sense that you should never drive a car without insurance, you should pay for quality when considering a company to cover your car.
Good insurance can get a bit expensive, but it’s ultimately worth the peace of mind you get knowing you’re covered if anything happens.
19. PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR BY PARKING IN THE SHADE AND USING A WINDOW SHADE.
Why It’s Important:
Letting your car roast under a hot sun can cause some unwanted heat damage to your interior and paint job.
Find a nice tree and park under it, and if there isn’t a tree, buy a nice sun shade to stop the burn.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
In addition to causing interior damage, UV rays from the sun can melt plastics, crack your dashboard, and cause fading on your paint job.
It also isn’t the most pleasant thing to sit in a scorching hot car, so for the sake of you and your butt, find some shade.
20. KEEP COPIES OF IMPORTANT PAPERS IN YOUR GLOVE BOX AND LEAVE SOME ORIGINALS IN A SAFE PLACE.
Why It’s Important:
If you’re ever pulled over or something happens to you on the road, it’s important to have documents like your registration, proof of insurance, and medical information on hand
.
It’s fine to make copies of all three specifically for your car; however, make sure you leave other documents like your vehicle title and other personal papers somewhere safe, as they might contain information for thieves to sell your car or find where you live.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Replacing any original documents can be a pretty big hassle, and no one wants to subject themselves to their local DMV more than they already have to.
The same goes for personal papers, so make sure you leave the ones with sensitive information at home and make copies of the ones you need to.
21. ASK AN EXPERT ABOUT CAR TROUBLE WHEN YOU’RE NOT SURE YOURSELF.
Why It’s Important:
Cars are just as complex as they are wonderful, and you shouldn’t ever force your way into fixing a problem if you don’t know exactly what’s wrong.
When in doubt, take your car into a dealership or a shop to see what’s going on and save yourself the trouble and frustration.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Sometimes, attempting to fix one thing by yourself can lead to breaking more things, which just makes it a mess for you and your mechanic.
At the end of the day, you don’t want to be the person hitching a ride in a tow truck because you poured antifreeze directly into your engine.
22. CAN’T KEEP TRACK OF WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR CAR’S PARTS?
USE EDMUNDS WEBSTE.
Why It’s Important:
Your owner’s manual usually shows you what you should be doing at a certain mileage, but who wants to actually go through that?
Thankfully, you can easily enter your car’s year, make, and model on here and easily see when something like your spark plugs or your brakes pads should be replaced.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Not knowing your maintenance schedule at all and can lead to a neglected, unhappy, and ultimately broken car.
You don’t want to walk everywhere, do you?
23. DON’T DRIVE RECKLESSLY.
Why It’s Important:
Sometimes, you really need to drive somewhere and you can’t help but to go full speed; however, driving like the world is ending all the time will eventually take its toll on your car, while driving a bit more calmly will only help to preserve your vehicle’s life.
The Cost Of Not Doing It:
Playing "Speed Racer" trip after trip will eventually lead to more stress on your car, leading to repairs on your engine, brakes, and more that you would rather not pay for.
On the other hand, driving with a more normal attitude will save you these repairs and even add to your gas mileage.
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To keep your hair dryer from "dying", suck the debris out of the back vents with your vacuum nozzle.
This will keep the hair dryer from overheating, which can lead to your dryer shorting out.
__________________________
Keep the colors in your clothes brighter by adding a pinch of salt to your laundry load.
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24 Reasons to Buy....
This stuff has more uses than you could ever imagine...and here are some of them !
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
It also repels mice.
2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in cars that are sitting.
It keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
4. It repels mosquitoes.
Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
6. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors.
Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
7. It freshens the air in your home.
Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
8. Put a Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner to kill fleas and freshen the air.
9. Prevent thread from tangling.
Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
10. Prevent musty suitcases.
Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
11. Freshen the air in your car.
Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
12. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan.
Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
13. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.
Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
14. Collect cat hair.
Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
15. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds.
Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
16. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering.
A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
17. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry.
Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
18. Deodorize shoes or sneakers.
Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
19. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to repel bees, gnats, and mosquitoes.
20. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them.
It will keep them smelling fresh.
21. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.
22. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling.
It will help keep mites and any other critters out of it.
23. When traveling use several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed.
It will cause all the critters (including bedbugs) already in your bed to run.
24. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to keep bugs from nesting in it.
Here's a great helpful video
with some additional uses
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Keep your bread fresh with this celery trick.
