100 Tips in 100 DAYS - Day 19

Whew! The heat here is killer! How many of you like cooking in a hot kitchen? Me neither. Most of us  pull out and dust off our crock pots in the fall when the temperatures cool down but this little cooking tool can be a real time saver, even in the summer. Now you 're probably asking yourself why I would suggest using a crock pot in the middle of summer because, like an oven, crock pots do put off some heat. I have a friend who has the nickname "Suzy Homemaker" and it fits as her name really is Suzy. We were talking one hot afternoon and I was basically whining about doing dinner because it was just so warm that day. She kinda giggled and said, "Use your crock pot next time". Before I could say a word, she then stated,"I know it's warm but I have been known to put my crock pot on the porch or even in the garage." Can you say genius? This was probably one of the BEST tips I have ever received. I tried it and it worked beautifully. There are also tons of crock pot recipes available. I found the following article on momswhothink.com along with a ton of healthy and yummy crock pot recipes.

Click on the link below. You will be glad you did!
http://www.momswhothink.com/crock-pot-recipes/crock-pot-recipes-for-the-crockpot-and-slow-cooker.html

Recipes for the Crockpot and Slow Cooker

Crock pot recipes are perfect for busy cooks. Cooking dinner after a long day is something a lot of people don't look forward to, so they end up eating unhealthy take out food or they throw something in the microwave just to get dinner over and done with. A great slow cooker recipes stash and a crock pot will solve the dinner dilemma.

There are an incredible amount of recipes for tasty main dishes, side dishes and desserts that are easy to make. You can get everything ready in the crock pot in the morning, and then walk in the door in the evening to a wonderful home cooked meal.

We gathered over a thousand crock pot recipes with a great selection of different ingredients and meal types. There are main dishes with beef, ground beef, pork, chicken and turkey; plus desserts, and vegetables. You're sure to find the perfect crock pot recipe to help you create a great tasting meal that is easy to make.

100 Tips in 100 Days - Day 18

When the local weather forecast shows excessive heat with no rain over an extended period of time it can make a lawn lover a little nervous. My husband and I both love to work in our yard. This is a favorite way for us to spend time together especially in the spring and fall. This summer has proved to be just the opposite due to a heat wave we have experienced here in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.Temperatures have consistently stayed well over 100 degrees during the day and hovered between 79 - 82 for a low with almost no rain during this entire summer.  Frustrating. When I was sharing with my husband how concerned I was over the whole situation while looking out at an entire neighborhood that is beginning to resemble a hay field one evening, he had a great point. He said, " Yeah, this is bad , but you can bet one thing is for sure, the yards and plants that do make it through this rough year will be stronger than ever." Way to keep the glass half full!  I want to this opportunity to strongly encourage each of you to conserve water as much as possible by watering late in the evening or early in the morning no more than three times a week. I found the following article on about.com by Colleen Vanderlinden which has some helpful tips how to relieve some stress from your garden and lawn during these dry, hot days.

photo rueters.com/bing images


Heat stress in garden plants is a real problem during July and August in much of the country. Extended periods of high heat (particularly when the heat index roars over the 100 degree mark) can take a real toll on your garden.
Here are a few tips for helping different plants in your garden through a hot, dry spell and keep them healthy and productive.
Vegetable Gardens
Vegetables need a reliable, steady water supply to stay productive. However, even with careful watering, your veggies may suffer from heat stress. The most common signs of heat stress in vegetables are sunburned foliage and fruits (usually yellow and crisp to the touch), blossom and fruit drop, and wilting. There are a few things you can do to help your vegetable garden through a prolonged hot spell:

• Water regularly and deeply.
• Mulch the soil with at least three inches of organic mulch to reduce moisture loss and help regulate soil temperature.
• Shade certain crops, such as leafy greens and lettuces, to slow bolting. They will bolt, no matter what, during periods of intense heat. However, giving them some shade may buy you a couple of days before plant quality is diminished.

Lawns
Many lawns, including bluegrass, fescues, and ryegrass, naturally go dormant (turn brown and stop growing) during periods of high heat and drought. The easiest thing to do is just let nature take its course. Once temperatures return to normal, and the lawn starts getting adequate moisture, it will green up again.
However, if this is not an option (due to homeowner association bylaws or other issues) you can keep your lawn green by providing at least an inch (up to two inches during high heat) of water, delivered slowly and steadily, per week. Don't just throw the sprinkler out there for an hour -- if the soil is very dry, chances are likely that most of the water you apply will simply run off. Give the lawn a slow, short watering first to let the moisture soak into the soil. Then, later on or the next day, give it a long, deep watering. If you start seeing water running off onto your sidewalks, STOP -- you're just wasting water at that point.
It would also help to avoid cutting the lawn (it's not growing much in the heat anyway) so that you don't stress it further.
Trees and Shrubs
Newly-planted trees and shrubs (less than two years since planting) can be hit particularly hard by heat and drought. To keep them alive and healthy:

• Give them between two and four inches of water per week during very high temperatures (heat index above 100 degrees) and drought.
• To water, a long, slow trickle is best. This will allow the water to soak deep into the soil without running off, ensuring that the water is going to the root zone where it is needed.
• Shrubs can be misted several times per day to increase the ambient moisture -- this will prevent the foliage from drying out too much.

100 Tips in 100 Days - Day 17

I just LOVE the smell of fabric softener. My husband once heard a joke how fabric softener is the way we gals 'mark our territory'. Funny how this might be true for many of us. Smell is probably our most powerful sense linked to emotion and memory so why not make it a good one? Along with enhancing your life with great aroma, fabric softener has some other clever uses as I discovered in the following article by T. Barber on www.rd.com.

 photo from bing images

I will add my own tip this time. If you have a difficult time getting your clothes to dry due to humidity, use softener every other time you wash. This will speed up your drying time and save you some money.

Fabulous Uses for Fabric Softener

Remove old wallpaperRemoving old wallpaper is a snap with fabric softener. Just stir 1 cap-full liquid softener into 1 quart (1 liter) water and sponge the solution onto the wallpaper. Let it soak in for 20 minutes, then scrape the paper from the wall. If the wallpaper has a water-resistant coating, score it with a wire-bristle brush before treating with the fabric softener solution.

Abolish carpet shockTo eliminate static shock when you walk across your carpet, spray the carpet with a fabric softener solution. Dilute 1 cup softener with 2 1/2 quarts (2.5 liters) water; fill a spray bottle and lightly spritz the carpet. Take care not to saturate it and damage the carpet backing. Spray in the evening and let the carpet dry overnight before walking on it. The effect should last for several weeks.
Remove hair-spray residueDried-on overspray from hair spray can be tough to remove from walls and vanities, but even a buildup of residue is no match for a solution of 1 part liquid fabric softener to 2 parts water. Stir to blend, pour into a spray bottle, spritz the surface, and polish it with a dry cloth.
Clean now, not laterClean glass tables, shower doors, and other hard surfaces, and repel dust with liquid fabric softener. Mix 1 part softener into 4 parts water and store in a squirt bottle, such as an empty dishwashing liquid bottle. Apply a little solution to a clean cloth, wipe the surface, and then polish with a dry cloth.
Float away baked-on grimeForget scrubbing. Instead, soak burned-on foods from casseroles with liquid fabric softener. Fill the casserole with water, add a squirt of liquid fabric softener, and soak for an hour, or until residue wipes easily away.
Keep paintbrushes pliableAfter using a paintbrush, clean the bristles thoroughly and rinse them in a coffee can full of water with a drop of liquid fabric softener mixed in. After rinsing, wipe the bristles dry and store the brush as usual.
Remove hard-water stainsHard-water stains on windows can be difficult to remove. To speed up the process, dab full-strength liquid fabric softener onto the stains and let it soak for 10 minutes. Then wipe the softener and stain off the glass with a damp cloth and rinse.
Make your own fabric softener sheetsFabric softener sheets are convenient to use, but they’re no bargain when compared to the price of liquid softeners. You can make your own dryer sheets and save money. Just moisten an old wash-cloth with 1 teaspoon liquid softener and toss it into the dryer with your next load.

RELAUNCH!

                A set back is an opportunity for a come back.-(Bishop T.D. Jakes)

The above statement was recently posted on a friend's facebook page and I had to display it as I am relaunching my site. After a few 'set backs' I was able to re- group and line up an array of wonderful ideas to pass along. I cannot wait to share share more tips, photos, stories, recipes and links to remarkable products and deals with you, along with a peek at some truly incredible homes. I sincerely appreciate all of you and your interest in my site. Please continue to follow 'My Southern Haven'. I know you will enjoy it.


-Melissa Tennery

100 Tips in 100 Days - Day 16

I love to ustilize natural cleaning producets. Harsh fumes can really be irritating.  I found the following article on http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/. As usual, they had lots of great tips for working baking soda into everyday cleaning along with other household and personal uses. I can't wait to fluff my omlette!


Baking soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. It releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It’s most commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent. The following are 75 other uses for baking soda aside from making muffins soft and fluffy.
Health Uses
1. Use it as an antacid.
2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.


3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste.
4. Use it as a face and body scrub.
5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.
8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.

13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
14. Use it to relieve bee stings.
15. Use it to relieve windburns.
16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.
17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.
In the Home

18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.
20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.
22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.
25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.
27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.
34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.
In Cooking
35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it.

37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.
38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.
40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid.
41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.

43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda.
Cleaning Purposes
44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.

45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs
46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.
47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
48. Remove grease from pots and pans.
49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.
53. Clean your shoes with it.

54. Clean garbage cans with it.
55. Use it to wash diapers.
56. Clean the fridge with it.
57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.
58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.
59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.
60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica countertops with the sponge.
61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.
64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.
65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.
67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.
68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.
69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.
70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rug to clean the toaster.
72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.

73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.
74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.
75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.
The most amazing thing about baking soda is that it’s very cheap. You can do all these things for a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not.

100 TIPS IN 100 DAYS - DAY 15

Last Friday night I was about to begin dinner and, like millions of other Americans, I pulled out the olive oil to use in my dish. I'm sure you know by now what comes next.......I wanted to know other uses for this incredible product. I found the following article by Chris McAndrew on hubpages.com. This guy really did his homework.

30 Unusual Uses for Olive Oil

By Chris McAndrew

So, you have bought your bottle of Olive Oil to drizzle over your salad or maybe to cook with but did you know that this wonderfully versatile product has a few other uses?
1. Substitute for shaving cream. Olive oil can provide a safe and natural lubricant for a close shave. Rub in an extra teaspoon after washing your body or face once finished.
2. Make your own furniture polish. Restore the lost lustre of your wooden furniture by whipping up some serious homemade furniture polish that's just as good as any of the commercial stuff. Combine 2 parts olive oil and 1 part lemon juice or white vinegar in a clean spray bottle, shake it up, and spray on. Leave on the mixture for a minute or two, and then wipe off with a clean cloth or paper towel.
3. Fingernails. Use a bit of olive oil to moisturize cuticles, or mix oil and water and soak your hands before a manicure.
4. Lubricate Measuring Cups and Spoons. Rub or spray olive oil on your measuring tools for easy clean-up of sticky substances like honey, grain mustards, and sugar syrups,
5. Control hair frizz. Comb a bit of olive oil through dry hair to tame the frizz and flyaway's on humid days or in the winter.
6. Free a stuck zipper. Use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the teeth of a zipper, then gently ease the tab down.
7. Care for your cat. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat's food to help prevent hairballs, and provide a shiny coat.
8. DIY Lip balm. Mix olive oil and melted beeswax in a 1:1 ratio, with an essential oil for fragrance, and say goodbye to dry and chapped lips.
9. As hair conditioner. Is your hair as dry and brittle? Put the moisture back into it by heating 1/2 cup olive oil (don't boil it), and then liberally applying it to your hair. Cover your hair with a plastic grocery bag, and then wrap it in a towel. Let it set for 45 minutes, then shampoo and thoroughly rinse.
10. Shine stainless steel and brass. Rub a bit of olive oil on a clean rag to prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.
11. Exfoliate your face and hands. Rub your skin with olive oil, and then scrub with sugar or coarse salt, and rinse.
12. As you bathe. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to your running bath water. You'll be amazed when you towel off.
13. Remove makeup. Dab a bit under your eyes, on your cheeks and forehead, then wipe with a damp cloth.
14. Cure an earache. Very carefully, use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax.
15. Remove paint from your skin. Rub on olive oil onto messy hand and arms (or faces) and allow the oil to soak into the skin for five minutes, and then rinse with soap and water.
16. Treat lice. Apply olive oil to your youngster's hair, and leave on for at least 40 minutes. Shampoo twice, and then apply a preventative.
17. Stop a throat tickle. Take a sip of olive oil to stop the itchy flicker that is making you cough.
18. Fix a squeaky door. Use a rag or cotton swab to apply olive oil to the top of a problematic hinge in your home or automobile
19. Shoe polish. Rub down your shoes with just a spray of olive oil to maintain their shine.
20. Clear up acne. So, the idea of applying oil to your face to treat acne does sound a bit strange but many people swear this works: Make a paste by mixing 4 tablespoons salt with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Pour the mixture onto your hands and fingers and work it around your face. Leave it on for a minute or two, and then rinse it off with warm, soapy water. Apply daily for one week, then cut back to two or three times weekly. You should see a noticeable improvement in your condition. (The principle is that the salt cleanses the pores by exfoliation, while the olive oil restores the skin's natural moisture.)
21. Soften your skin. Rub olive oil daily on notoriously dry areas, such as your feet or elbows, especially after a shower, shaving, or waxing.
22. Easy clean up of garden tools. Spray some olive oil on your tools to cut down on dirt build-up.
23. Condition leather. Rub olive oil into worn leather, such as a baseball glove, and let set for 30 minutes, and then wipe away any excess.
24. Clean your greasy hands. To remove car grease or paint from your hands, pour 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt or sugar into your palms. Vigorously rub the mixture into your hands and between your fingers for several minutes; then wash it off with soap and water. Not only will your hands be cleaner, they'll be softer as well.
25. Cure nappy rash. Gently wipe on olive oil to your baby's bottom to help with the irritation of diaper rash.
26. Remove paint from hair. Did you get almost as much paint in your hair as you did on the walls in your last paint job? You can easily remove that undesirable tint by moistening a cotton ball with some olive oil and gently rubbing it into your hair.
27. Floor polish - Mix three parts lemon and one part vinegar for well working wood polish.
28. A mixture of 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/4 cup water used as a night cream will make your skin glow. The olive oil softens and moisturizes and the vinegar lightens discolorations, kills bacteria and loosens dead skin cells. Splash water on your face before applying.
29. To prevent your pasta from overflowing, try pouring a tablespoon of olive oil into the water before boiling.
30. Replace butter - When cooking, try adding a little bit of olive oil instead of butter for a healthier and better tasting meal.
All of this from the 'stuff' you just bought as a salad dressing! (Don't try any of this with Mayo!!)

100 TIPS IN DAYS - DAY 14

APOLOGIES, APOLOGIES....I apologize that I haven't posted in awhile. Summer break and life seemed to take over for a stretch of time but I am back in full swing now so here I go!
Every girl knows that with warmer temps come one thing....shaving all the time! Electrolysis seems more desirable every time I shave. I also have two teenage boys who (thank goodness) shave regularly . This made me wonder what else shaving cream could be used for. I found the following article by Persophone Rose on
http://gomestic.com . I never knew about the whole gun thing!

10 Outstanding Uses for Shaving Cream

by Persephone Rose on Sep 09, 2007 with 8 Comments

This guide details how shaving cream can save you time and money around the house.

We all know that shaving cream can be very useful for aiding in unwanted hair maintenance. However, it also has many excellent uses for cleaning many things around the house as well. Just check out some of these helpful uses!

1. Cleans Dirty Hands

   Next time you are out camping, don’t use your drinking water to wash off those dirty hands, use a small dollop of shaving cream and wipe your hands off with a towel!

2. Clean Your Bathroom Mirror

   When toothpaste is speckled all over the mirror, don’t grab glass cleaner; the ammonia in it can be harmful to some mirrors. Instead, put some shaving cream on a paper towel and rub it in. wet the paper towel and rub it off. This will leave you with a streak free shiny mirror.

3. Cleans and Shines Water Faucets

   If you are having guests over, you may want to clean and shine the faucets in your kitchen, bathroom and shower with shaving cream. Scrub shaving cream in with a sponge and wipe off with a damp cloth. Leaves you with faucets that look like new!

4. Removes Carpet Stains

   Read more in Homemaking

   « 12 Surprising Uses for Cat Litter

   Stains: How to Remove Them? »
   Having children in the home can be a messy business. But you can quickly and easily get that chocolate stain off your white carpeting with a dollop of shaving cream on the stained area and an old toothbrush to scrub it in. Afterwards, a damp towel will wipe up any excess shaving cream.

5. Breaks In Baseball Gloves!

   If the kids want to break in their new baseball mitts with a game of catch it the yard, have them rub some shaving cream into the palm, squeezing mitt together and let sit for about four hours.

6. Safe and Fun Paint for the Little Ones

   If you are caring for young children and need a fun project that is easy to clean up, consider making many colors of finger paint by placing a palm sized dollop of shaving cream into a bowl with some colored drink mix as the coloring. It’s a fun texture to paint with, its not harmful if accidentally swallowed and it cleans up nicely if it gets on clothing. (Side note: this project can also be done with whipped cream)

7. That Old Door Shall Squeak No More!

   If the hinges on your doors are starting to squeak when you open and close them, it’s time to put a little shaving cream on it and scrub into tiny cracks with an old toothbrush.

8. Shines That Engagement Ring Right Up

   If your jewelry is starting to look tarnished, grab that old toothbrush again! Scrub shaving cream in, leaving your jewelry shiny and your gems sparkling!

9. Cleans Guns Nicely

   If you are having trouble getting the carbon buildup to come off your bolt or barrel, consider shaving cream, that well used toothbrush and wipe off excess with a very slightly damp rag. Dry completely with dry rag to prevent possibility of rust.

10. Cleans Dirt From Under Your Nails

    If you’ve been working hard, it shows… as dirt underneath your fingernails. Use shaving cream and a toothpick to get those nails looking freshly manicured!

Read more: http://gomestic.com/homemaking/10-outstanding-uses-for-shaving-cream/#ixzz1SPXYezpi