Friday, July 26, 2013

Harvard scientists say coffee ‘could halve risk of suicide’


Harvard scientists say coffee ‘could halve risk of suicide’ http://t.co/Kibhm0OK4p

45 Uses for Vinegar


45 Uses for Vinegar

Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled und...er your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.


1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore shower head pressure. If your shower head gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

Like~Share~Tag Yourself~ Find More Great Ideas, recipes, crafts and weight loss support Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/charlottesskinnyfriends/ Please share with others & feel free to add Charlotte J Walker as a frind or follow either profile 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Greek Eggplant Casserole

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 pound 97% lean ground beef
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 eggplants, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/4"-thick slices
6 tablespoons safflower oil
2 cups 1% milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese


Directions

Heat the broiler. Coat a 9" x 9" baking dish and a large baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.

Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and garlic for 3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften. Add the beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often, or until the beef is browned and cooked through. Stir in the tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, cinnamon, and allspice. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place half of the eggplant on the prepared baking sheet and brush with 3 tablespoons of the oil. Broil 6" from the heat for 10 minutes or until browned, turning once. Repeat.

Whisk together the milk and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, whisking, for 8 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese.

Layer half of the eggplant in the baking dish, then half of the meat sauce. Repeat. Spread the cheese sauce on top. Broil for 3 minutes, or until just starting to brown.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Simple Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life.

Simple Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life.

http://weorganizeu.com/simple-ways-to-uncomplicate-your-life/

Overwhelmed by life’s complications? It seems we have more and more things in our lives, but less and less time to spend with them. Simplifying your life will save you time, money and energy. Try some of these ideas:
100 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life
  1. For every item you bring into your home, take one out.
  2. When adding a new activity to your schedule, choose one to discontinue.
  3. Stop watching news on TV.
  4. Spend less time on personal calls. Learn how to end conversations graciously.
  5. Cancel magazine subscriptions.
  6. Lower your expectations about how clean your house has to be.
  7. Wear clothes more than once before washing (if still clean).
  8. Use bath towels more than once before laundering.
  9. Rather than rushing to the store when you run out of something, shop only once a week for groceries, toiletries and other items.
  10. Clear out your fridge and pantry before going grocery shopping.
  11. Take a list when you go shopping, and stick to it.
  12. Become more resourceful. Find creative solutions instead of shopping for more things.
  13. Eliminate impulse-buying by keeping a list of anything you see and want; wait 30 days before purchasing it.
  14. Cut ties with people that drain you.
  15. Don’t accept invitations to social events you’d rather not attend.
  16. Let go of all but one or two volunteer obligations.
  17. Stop volunteering to do things out of guilt.
  18. Reserve one weekend a month (or at least one day) as ‘down time’. Do only what you feel like doing – even if it’s absolutely nothing.
  19. Just because the phone rings doesn’t mean you have to answer it. That’s what voicemail is for.
  20. Put together two weekly menus and rotate every second week.
  21. Avoid automatically turning the TV on when you enter the room.
  22. Limit the time you watch TV – and only do it purposefully.
  23. Trade babysitting duties with another parent on a regular basis.
  24. Set aside one morning or afternoon a week to run all your errands at once.
  25. Avoid buying things you have to assemble.
  26. Stop watching infomercials.
  27. Reduce the amount of credit cards you own – or at least that you carry.
  28. Pack only half of what you think you’ll need when you travel.
  29. Drop any activity you are only doing to meet someone else’s expectations
  30. When someone offers helps, accept it.
  31. When you need help, ask for it.
  32. Before purchasing things you will only use occasionally, consider borrowing or renting instead.
  33. Simplify your time management system so you’re not spending too much time keeping it up to date.
  34. Delete (or delegate) any task that has been on your ‘to do’ list for over a year.
  35. If you’ve been meaning to have a garage sale for years, call a charity to pick up your stuff instead.
  36. Let of go perfectionism.
  37. Give yourself extra time to get to where you’re going.
  38. Refuse to engage in gossiping.
  39. Eat your meals at the table (not in your car, at your desk or standing over the countertop).
  40. Stop trying to do two things at once.
  41. Learn to say ‘no’. Feel the guilt and do it anyway.
  42. Go to bed half an hour earlier.
  43. Get up half an hour earlier and have a leisurely breakfast.
  44. If you can walk there, don’t drive.
  45. Shop early in the day to avoid crowds.
  46. Explore options to work closer to home or from home.
  47. Do what you can to avoid travelling during rush hour.
  48. Let go of trying to control everything and everyone.
  49. Let someone else do it for a change, even if it’s not done to your standards.
  50. Stop living in the past.
  51. Stop living in the future.
  52. Each time you do a task, ask yourself how you can do it easier and in less time.
  53. Make bed-making easier: Reduce the number of decorative pillows. Use a duvet instead of several blankets. Eliminate the top sheet.
  54. Let go of the expectation that you have to read everything you come across. Be selective.
  55. There are many situations when closing the door is the best option.
  56. Get rid of high maintenance plants.
  57. Get rid of worn-out towels, chipped plates, and warped food containers.
  58. Limit the amount of decorative items on your shelves and tables, to make dusting simpler.
  59. Resist buying so-called ‘convenience’ items you don’t really need (bread maker, pasta machine, food dehydrator).
  60. Create more breathing space in your kitchen cupboards by getting rid of all the ’convenience’ gadgets you seldom use.
  61. Buy all-purpose cleaning products and put one on each floor of your home. Use up or get rid of all the others.
  62. Don’t let the dishes pile up. Rinse plates as soon as you’re done using them.
  63. Wipe spills right away.
  64. If you use something, put it back where it belongs as soon as you’re done.
  65. Sort the mail daily.
  66. Get off mailing lists and phone lists.
  67. Simplify your wardrobe. Avoid trends. Limit your color scheme.
  68. Move to a smaller home.
  69. Move to a home with less property.
  70. Borrow books from the library instead of buying them.
  71. Eat the same thing for breakfast with a little variation. (Oatmeal, with blueberries today, raisins tomorrow).
  72. Buy pre-packaged snacks. They cost a little more but save you time.
  73. Shop closer to home.
  74. Before you bring something home, decide where you’ll keep it.
  75. Request that your friends and family stop buying you (and your kids) gifts, and instead spend time with you – or contribute to your favorite charity.
  76. Reduce your gift list. Stop overloading other people’s lives.
  77. Look at where you are doing things ‘over the top’ in your life and scale back.
  78. Resist taking on other people’s problems.
  79. Take steps to stop the worrying habit.
  80. Give yourself permission to let go of that unfinished project you never get around to.
  81. Stop doing things you feel you ‘should’ do in order to be other people’s idea of ‘perfect’ (perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect employee).
  82. Stop rushing. Drive slower. Eat slower. Live slower.
  83. Go for a walk every day. Preferably in nature.
  84. When you have something to say, speak up – don’t suppress.
  85. Don’t wash your hair every day if you don’t have to.
  86. Reduce the amount of make-up and skin care products. Do you really need 10 different eye-shadows?
  87. Look for ways to simplify your grooming routine.
  88. Streamline your household chores by focusing on just one thing each day. (Dust every Monday, vacuum on Tuesdays).
  89. Wash your colors with your darks. (Use cold water)
  90. Adapt to your natural rhythm. Work when your energy is high and relax when it’s low.
  91. Get enough sleep.
  92. Have breakfast foods for dinner on nights you are busy or too tired to cook.
  93. Get ‘caller display’ and let unfamiliar callers leave a message.
  94. If you answer the door or the phone to a sales pitch, save your time and their’s by immediately saying ‘no thank you’.
  95. Make sorting socks simpler. When buying socks, buy several (7-10) identical pairs – so you don’t have to mate them. Wash and dry each family member’s socks in their own mesh bag.
  96. Avoid buying clothes that have to be ironed.
  97. Don’t print things if you can save them on your computer.
  98. Resist bringing papers into your home if you don’t have a specific use for them. (Brochures from a show, pamphlets collected on vacation, business cards from people you’ll never contact.)
  99. If you’re not already using online banking and automatic bill payment, consider setting it up.
  100. Resist scheduling every last minute of your day.
Let me know which of these ideas you’ve tried and how they worked. Also, feel free to share other ways you’ve simplified your life, in the comment section below

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Top 10 Ways to Live Long and Be Healthy



http://www.realage.com/anti-aging/top-10-ways-to-live-long-and-be-healthy?eid=1010668970&memberid=50107815&cbr=evi_tod
Top 10 Ways to Live Long and Be Healthy


By Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen,

1.Stay active. That daily 30-minute walk is vital to keeping you young.2.Get enough of these to keep body and brain humming: whole grains, fruits, and veggies; vitamin D3 (1,000 IU; 1,200 after age 60); DHA omega-3s (600-900 mg); low-dose aspirin (talk to your doc first).

3.Get next to none of these: saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars.

4.Sleep 7 1/2 hours to 8 hours a night. Every night.

5.Manage stress. Meditate (here's an easy way) or take two 10- or 15-minute deep-breathing breaks daily.

6.Do. Not. Smoke.

7.Stimulate your brain. Do puzzles, learn languages, and take on new challenges. Stay sharp with these nifty (and fun) brain games.8.Support "village" movements: neighbors-helping-neighbors programs that let people live independently at home.

9.Harass your legislators to get health costs under control and affordable. At some point, you'll need it. Meanwhile, here are 6 ways to cut your own healthcare costs.

10.Move to North Dakota, Hawaii, or California. They're meccas for 90-year-olds.

Then plan on blowing out more than 90 candles. Once you hit 90, your average life expectancy is 95!

Add these 3 anti-aging superfoods to your menus.
http://www.realage.com/anti-aging/top-10-ways-to-live-long-and-be-healthy?eid=1010668970&memberid=50107815&cbr=evi_tod