Happy Holidays

A VERY Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Merry Kwanzaa,


AND a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2012!

With All My Love,

Sarah

What Is The Deal With Plastic?

PLASTIC....WHAT'S the word on the street about this plastic-y stuff? What actual kind of plastic are things made with? What is the number on the bottom really mean? Is it BPA free?  What does BPA stand for?  The list just goes on and on..... I looked into it a little and here are some of my not so scientific findings.

BPA is an organic compound and it's true name is Bisphenol A. It's a chemical used to make some hard, clear, plastic products such as reusable bottles, and is in the resin that lines food and beverage cans along with many other things.  I found an article in the magazine Vegetarians Time, which I love because not only do they have great vegetarian recipes, but they also have really interesting articles like.....plastic and BPA exposure.  Manufacturers love to use BPA because it is tough, heat resistant, and can be produced in enormous quantities- more then 7 billion pounds annually. The article referenced a study published in Human Reproduction which found male workers in factories who were producing BPA products (@ a high exposure), had a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction, loss of sex drive and other sexual problems.  Whoa, that isn't good. While of course sexual dysfunction is not life threatening, researchers looked at it as a hormonal problems, perhaps something that could even lead to cancer.  This is also just one study, one set of conclusions, and I am sure there are many more out there, but I don't have the results for you, other then the one. What a great researcher!

Things that are recommended for the use of plastic (or canned) products- If you reheat food in the microwave, use a glass container.  Try to buy frozen over canned because even if your exposure to BPA is a very miniscule amount, it could be often enough depending on one's eating habits.  When buying plastic products, of course look to see if it is BPA free, which a lot of products available today are.  Check recycling labels on plastic (usually inside of the triangle on the bottom or side of the product). Products with 3 or 7 'may' contain BPA, unless specifically indicates that it is BPA free.

The trickiest part is they do not know exactly what levels of BPA are harmful. One water bottle is not going to do anything, but it being aware of the products and their ingredients.  The more you know.....

Thanks again!

Less Clutter, More Love

I found a few more places to donate things if you are looking for a little something more.  This is most likely overkill, but I am hoping that you will read, then down the line remember this as a resource and it will help you as a reference.

>Bicycles:  The International Bicycle Fund (http://ibike.org/encouragement/youth.htm) offers an extensive directory of youth bicycle recycling programs.

>Books:  There are so many different book drop offs in so many communities. At local libraries, drives during the holidays, BUT if you are looking for somewhere else to ship a few books to and don't mind paying the shipping costs here are a few.  A majority are to inmates looking to read, and/or there are American Indian Reserve book programs, along with many others http://adoptalibrary.org/.

>Cars: If you are an Illinois resident, here is a very popular car donation site http://www.kars4kids.org/car-donation-illinois.htm.  Also, hundreds of charities accept used (running or not) cars to sell at auctions. Here is a website that lists if a charity in your area (state) that could accept it http://donatecarusa.com/.  PS- It is also a tax write off if you donate your vehicle.

>Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids: If you are willing to ship, this is also a great website.  I know that places like Pearl Vision will accept old eyeglasses, but this website also includes sunglasses, hearing aids, watches, and more, so I figured if you need a place to donate for these things look no further.  http://neweyesfortheneedy.org/how-you-can-help/

>Fur coats: IF for some reason you have inherited some fur coats and they are not really your style, you can donate them to http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/donate_fur_coats_for_cubs_11042010.html and your coats will be redirected to a wildlife sanctuary to help comfort orphaned and injured animals.  Thought this was a pretty cool thing.

Happy De-cluttering, and Happy Post Thanksgiving!

BA- Part Deux

Blogger Anonymous Part Deux- this is more of a kid friendly edition if you want to use some things from around the house to do art projects,  WHICH was also sent to me FROM MY DAD. I didn't give him credit, specifically, for the vinegar uses specifically and he was a little sad. Thank you DAD!


"Americans create an average of 4.5 pounds of trash a day and much of it is created in our kitchens. Recycling is an option to reducing trash and composting is another, but sometimes there are items that can be kept around for a multitude of reasons. Here are five tips for reducing kitchen 'trash'.
1) Egg Cartons
Whether the eggs you buy come in paper, foam, or plastic packaging — you can reuse it all. These containers are perfect for preschool art projects, storing and sorting small items like nails and screws or as seed starters. Or, give them to the golfer in the family because each slot is the perfect size to hold and store a treasured golf ball.
2) Wine Corks
If you are a wine lover, chances are you've thrown a few wine corks away. While you can recycle them at Whole Foods Market and a few other places, there are lots of other ways to give them more life. There are easy ways to turn them into bulletin boards, coasters, or even funky picture frames. They can also be cut into slices and put under furniture to keep pieces from sliding.
3) Milk & Juice Cartons
Those wax-coated milk and juice cartons can be difficult to recycle but there are an endless number of ways to reuse them. They are easily turned into bird feeders that will last outdoors for months. The base of these waterproof containers is also perfect as paint containers for small projects or as seed starters.
4) Cereal Boxes
A creative project for school-aged kids is to turn a cereal box into an organizer for school papers. Any tall rectangular paperboard box will do. You simply cut off the top and decorate the outside with glued on magazine clippings. The size and shape of the box is perfect for keeping all of their papers in one place where you can find them when needed.
5) Plastic Food Containers
All of those lunchmeat, yogurt, or similar plastic food containers with lids are too useful to wind up in the trash. Use them in place of all those plastic baggies to help pack waste-free lunches. You can also use them to store leftovers or for organizing small items throughout your home."

Here is the article: http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?eetype=Article&eeid=7859911&render=y&Table=&ch=fh&cat=hgarti&dcatid=2036&topcat=Article

Also, just today a patient came in and had something shoved in between two teeth and could not get it out for the life of her.  A great way to get that wedged, hard to reach piece of something IS.....tie a knot into a piece of floss and put it right up in the business of the irritated area.  Then swishing with water or mouth wash usually is enough to dislodge it.  If this doesn't work then you are going to your dentist.  The #1 thing to get stuck in between your teeth is popcorn kernels, so watch out for those bad boys.  Or just don't chew on them at all because they can also cause some serious cracks, which then turn out to be expensive cracks. My boss suggested that I add this 'bit' to the blog, so thank you to her.  More importantly, thank you to everyone for reading and supporting.

Flanagan out.

BA- Bloggers Anonymous.

It is almost my 4 month blogging anniversary, and now people will think of something and say, "that would be great for your blog!"  So.....this episode is brought to you by are all things that people have contributed or shared with me, which I am going to share with you. Thank you for thinking of me, and allowing me to share your knowledge.

I learned last night while carving these pumpkins (pictured above).     Dry erase marker removes permanent marker because of the chemical make-up of the ink. It worked.  We drew the outline onto the pumpkin with permanent marker, then after we carved and there was some still on the pumpkin, we used the dry erase to get it off. Pretty cool, and so is the person that showed it to me.  He is just a world of knowledge, it's remarkable.

I now use vinegar as my house hold cleaner, so here are 20 different (unusual) uses of vinegar that were sent to me.


1. Condition hair- Just add half a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water, plus a few drops of essential oil if you like. I prefer the lavender castile soap.
2. Killing weeds-Spray those suckers.

3. Remove underarm stains- Ironically, if you use aluminum-based antiperspirants, they’re even more likely to appear, thanks to a reaction between aluminum compounds in these products and salts in your sweat. Spray full-strength white vinegar on the stain before washing, and it will disappear. **Thought this was really interesting. 

4. Soften fabrics- Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle, and not only will it prevent lint from clinging to your clothes and keep colors bright, it’ll also remove soap scum from both the clothes you’re washing and the washing machine itself. Vinegar is also recommended in place of dryer sheets -- simply add 3/4 cup to your washer during the final rinse cycle.

5. Remedy sore throats- Many people recommend sipping or gargling with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water to soothe a sore throat. Add a few tablespoons of honey to this mixture in order to make it even more effective and far more palatable.

6. Deter ants-Spray where those suckers roam around. 

7. Soak sore muscles- Apple cider vinegar helps draw out lactic acid, which accumulates in muscles after exercise, causing that sore feeling. Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar into a cup of water, dip a cloth in the mixture, and apply it to sore areas for 20 minutes.

8. Freshen air- Whether it’s smoke, mildew, pet odor, or lingering whiffs of burnt casserole, bad smells can make a home less than welcoming. Acetic acid in vinegar absorbs odors, so spritzing it around the room will neutralize the smells. You can also use it to wipe down surfaces in the room that needs freshening. We always used to put it in dishes and let it sit when we had smokers in the house. Worked great!

9. Remove stickers- Warm a little bit of white vinegar on the stovetop or in the microwave and then dip a rag into it. Hold the rag over the sticker until it’s thoroughly saturated, and it will peel right off without leaving sticky residue behind. This trick also loosens wallpaper adhesive. As mentioned before, a blow dryer works as well.

10. Cure hiccups- maybe?

11. Clean crusty paintbrushes- Fill a saucepan with undiluted white vinegar and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Dip the paintbrushes into the boiling vinegar, one at a time, dragging the bristles along the bottom of the pan. Continue this process until the paint is dissolved.

12. Dissolve rust- The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with iron oxide to remove rust from small metal items like hinges, nuts and bolts. Simmer them in a saucepan full of vinegar, then rinse well with water to prevent the vinegar from further affecting the metal.

13. Eliminate stale odors- Kinda the same thing as above. 

14. Remove mineral deposits- Run a mixture of half water, half white vinegar through your coffee machine to remove them. Use straight vinegar as a rinsing agent in your dishwasher to prevent buildup, and wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth around stained faucets until the deposits can be easily scrubbed away. To clean a clogged showerhead, remove it from the pipe and place it in a saucepan full of white vinegar. Simmer for just a few minutes, being careful not to allow it to boil, and then wash off the stains.

15. Neutralize spice in foods- Add white or apple cider vinegar to your food, one teaspoon at a time, to neutralize the spice.

16. Prolong the life of cut flowers- Squeeze a little extra enjoyment out of your arrangements by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water in the vase, which will keep them perky just a little bit longer.

17. Clean glass, plastic, chrome, and floors- A half-and-half solution of water and white vinegar will cut the grime on the shelves and walls of the refrigerator and eliminate spoiled-food smells too. Full-strength vinegar will remove tough smudges on glass and make porcelain sinks shine. Make it into a paste with a little baking soda to scrub chrome, or mix 1/3 white vinegar with 1/3 rubbing alcohol, 1/3 water, and 3 drops of dishwashing liquid for an economical floor cleaner. Just be sure not to get vinegar on marble, granite, or slate surfaces.

18. Treat fungal infections- Such as athlete’s foot, toe nail fungus, and dandruff are definitely no fun. White vinegar and apple cider vinegar can both be applied topically to affected areas of the body to kill fungus. For foot-related ailments, soak in a solution of one part vinegar to five parts water for about 30 minutes a day.

19. Tenderize and kill bacteria in meat- Marinate meat overnight in apple cider vinegar, and it will be delectably tender. This can reportedly also kill the bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses, including e. coli.

20. Open drains and freshen garbage disposals- Clear a clogged drain without the nasty, headache-inducing chemicals. Dump about 3/4 cup of baking soda down the drain and chase it with 1/2 cup white vinegar, then plug the drain. Leave it for about 30 minutes before rinsing with a kettle full of boiling water. You can use the same trick to clean and deodorize garbage disposals, or freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray and grind them up in the disposal to clean and sharpen the blades at the same time.

How Many Is Too Many?

I absolutely love this ad on the radio, come to find out that it is on the television as well (of course), and the singing broccoli just gets me every time.  Probably because if Aretha Franklin were a vegetable, that would probably be her diva dancing with her vegetable back up singers.  The spell checker just wanted to change 'Aretha' to Urethra.  It fascinates me at times what is spell check appropriate or accepted.  

Props to the advertising team at Jewel-Osco Enterprises, and my middle sister for sending it to me. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-9MaUhStg

As mentioned before, my parents have a fourth daughter, the horse, and we had the pleasure of watching her race on Sunday.  Unfortunately, she was claimed on the same day and my parents are now down to 3 daughters again, which I am sure they would rather have the ONE horse, then THREE sarcastic twenty something human beings. She did show though (third place), and we were very proud.  That was pretty neat, but the real treat was after the race got to witness/experience a camel race which I have never even thought was a thing.  Let me set up the scene so we can be on the same page, for those of you who are interested.  If not, thanks for reading those couple paragraphs.

Yes, the camels did have jockeys, but they were not trained professional jockeys, they were just chosen from the 'crowd' it appeared.  No, you could not bet on the camels, which I originally thought that you could, but instead they gave you a card that had a pre-determined camel on it when you initially entered the track.  Mine was Jo Ro Ain't Slo, and yes he did end of winning.  No, there was not a cash prize, but in honor of Svengoolie ---------->
being there, I won a rubber chicken key chain.  Amazing, right? Yes, they were face painting kids faces to have a Svengoolie face, and yes it was INCREDIBLY creepy.

I am still trying to figure out how many blogs posts are too many or too little, so thanks for bearing with me.  I have not really set any amount, let's say, two per month, it's when I come up with good/amazing/mind blowing things to write about.  The winter is coming, aka hibernation, so I am sure there will be plenty to go around :)








Back to the camels....they just ran a 50 yard dash. They did go into the starting gates and were released to run right down that track, and they are surprisingly speedy.  It was such an incredible sight to see I had to take a series of pictures.  Unfortunately someone did fall off their camel at the finish line and an ambulance came on the track and carried her off on a stretcher.  I suppose a camel racing hazard, who knew?  All and all I believe she was ok, and she had the honor or riding that speedy camel.  Here are some shots I snapped.

Jo Ro Ain't Slo is the one on the right.  Look at those Champion legs.

My computer's desktop background. A little insight into my life.

The Different Places to Dispose of Things

In a magazine my mom gave me, Family Circle, there was an article about places to recycle just about everything if you can't find where to properly dispose of things from around the house.  Of course there are always local organizations that will take certain things, but if not, here you go:

>For Formal Wear: you can log onto http://donatemydress.org/ to find a dress drive in the area.

>For Winter Jackets: http://onewarmcoat.org/ Most of these drives start in October, and you can search on this website for local coat drives.  They also accept sweaters, sweatshirts, hates, and gloves.

>For Most Old Tech Supplies (Computer and Parts):  They matche used tech equipment with local organizations like school or non-profits http://www.cristina.org/donate.html.  The site also will take a lot of things  http://www.gazelle.com/ ALONG WITH this one http://nextworth.com/

    ***For those of you in the Oak Park area, I know the last Saturday of every month (excluding the winter months) they collect old electronics at the OAK PARK PUBLIC WORKS  201 S. Blvd. from 9 am til 1 pm

>For VHSs and Old Floppy Disks:  You can send it to this organization http://actrecycling.org/donations/ which is a non-profit based out of Columbia, Missouri that trains and employs disabled people.

>For Cell Phones: http://wirelessfoundation.org/ProgramsAndInitiatives/GreenWireless.aspx  gives charities the proceeds from selling cell phones.
                          
         -Donate cell phones for calling cards for overseas soldiers at http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

         -http://digitaltips.org/green/default.asp
  
         -Retailers like Target and Best Buy also have drop boxes for used cell phone equipment.

>CDs and Other Media: You can sell or swap them at sites like http://www.gamestop.com/gs/specialty/tradeins/  OR http://www.secondspin.com/.  Best Buy also has a program where you can recycle them for free.

>TVS, DVD Players, iPods, Camcorders, Remotes, Speakers, or Video Game Equipment: All these things can be brought to Best Buy for free.  TV's larger then 30" cannot be hauled away, but can be in exchange for purchasing a new set.  If you trade in an old iPod for a new one, you will recieve 10% off. Certain items can be traded in for gift cards or cash.  You can visit http://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/  for more details.  More recycling questions on these types of items can be found on http://earth911.com/

>Batteries: RadioShack, Lowe's and Home Depot recycle RECHARGEABLE batteries for free, as well as Ikea.  For other drop off centers near you, check http://www.call2recycle.org/home.php?c=1&w=1&r=Y

       ***A FUN FACT: Single use batteries no longer contain toxic metals, so it is ok to trash them.  Although, the acid can leak through the casings so before you do trash them please do seal them in a plastic bag.

>CFL (compact florescent) Lightbulbs:  These light bulbs do have mercury in them, so please seal them in a plastic bag and toss them in a designated bin at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Ikea. For more places you can check http://earth911.com/


Of course always support your local non-profit organizations, but hope this list helped with items that you just didn't know what to do with.

--Sarah

Once you pop, you just can't stop

 
Do you ever have a problem remembering what meal you requested for the wedding you RSVP'ed for a couple months ago?  Now the big day is here and you don't know what delicious meal is heading your way. I started to write on the back of the invitations what I requested this way if you want to save the invite it is not on the front, and you will be able to remember what delectable meal is in store for you. Incredibly easy and simple.

One of my absolute new favorite things that I just learned for around the
house, but for this case more around a bonfire IS.....LINT.


>The Story of my Lint: I went to my friends lake house and her mom saves the egg cartons and shoves the lint inside the egg carton for a great fire starter.  I am a fire starter!!  In our long camping trip this weekend to Sleeping Bear Dunes, we tested our new 'science project', and by golly it worked!  It really is a great idea, and now all the egg cartons are going in a special place all year long until the summer camping trips. THEN I started thinking, why not just save toilet/paper towel rolls and shove lint into there for another great fire starter. It is a great replacement for those harsh, chemical filled starter logs, and you are re-using things from around the house.  Also, a small side note, is it doesn't seem to produce the ash that newspaper or cardboard does, which is plus because no one wants to eat that.

>Another good little tid bit that is for around the house is saving the plastic bread closers when you get a loaf of bread because it is a great way to label that mess of cords you have. This way you can distinguish which one is which, and never again play the unplugging guessing game.  I have not personally done this one yet, but my amazing boss has started her cord management with this method and it has been a great success.  Hope I can spread the same success onto you!

Good night, and good luck.

Let's go back to the Olden times

The window is open for the first time in a while, and the crisp air is feeling pretty good right about now while under my blanket.  It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.....I love the cooler weather, and I loved today (slightly sarcastic) how people were coming into the office saying how chilly it was outside and complaining they had to wear a jacket all day.  What are we going to do? FALL IS COMING!!!!

I think I would like to chat about elders driving. Your thoughts and/or concerns?.....

For a while now I have been a big proponent of aging, elderly people NOT getting behind the wheel and driving themselves to where ever their little hearts want to go.  My grandma was notorious for that, and she was the WORST driver you could possibly imagine, and now these 85+ year old people are driving themselves when they can barely walk or have to use some sort of other assistance to get themselves around.  A 92 year old woman came today with a walker who just passed her drivers license because once you pass the age of 87 you HAVE to take a test every year to renew your license, and they felt she was up to Illinois standards.  She then proceeded to scramble for her keys and when she couldn't find them realized they must be in the car! Come to find out they were still in the ignition with the car on because she is 92 and just a little forgetful.  I, in all seriousness, want to be able to drive these people to their destinations so it is not another place that they have to worry about getting too.  Of course, some would probably say my driving is not any better, and there are no references for this statement, but I have to think that I am a little better then most 87 year olds out there.

I watched my grandma's independence be taken away from her when she was told she couldn't drive anymore, and it was very hard.  It is not easy to be told that you are getting old and you can't do the things you want or used to be able to do, regardless of how simple the task may be.  Everything slows down, their reflexes, sight, and I just wish it was easier for them to accept the outside help that could be given to them.  This costs money, which nobody is a fan of.  I actually bought my current car from an 82 year old lady who barely drove it at all.  A 1996 Saturn, with 17,000 miles on it, how's that for steal or what?  But, I was the one that took her car and self reliance and she was about ready to cry when handing me the car key.  I still go visit her to let her know the car is doing well, and to assure her that it misses her old owner, dearly.  The new owner had a new stereo put in and plays that terrible music way too loud!

Tomorrow is my first assignment (outside of my family) where I get to go pick someone up, who is in his 80s, drive them to a DRS. appt., maybe stop for a few other errands along the way, and take him home right after.  I am keeping him off the road, helping his family feel better about the way he is getting to and from the doctor, and I love talking to people who have had so many more experiencing that I have. The list of topics is already formulating in my head.  Hopefully this is the start for many, and helping get some of the old folks off the road and into my sweet saturn where the music is blaring.

Until next time.

Science is MIND BLOWING!

It is crazy when you stop and think about the advances, more specifically science related advances, we have discovered in in the last 40 years or so.  One of my favorite stories I like to tell about a patient was relating to her twin girls that were born and she didn't even know that she was pregnant with not one, but TWO babies.

This was before the time of sonograms, so maybe between 30 to 40 years ago, and she went to her doctors appointments are scheduled, but at that time they would take an x ray when you were about 7 months pregnant, and this was the first and usually the last image of your child in utero. Well, usually when someone is pregnant with twins they do not go to full term due to sharing a uterus between two baby bodies, there is simply not enough room.  The patient never was able to get her x-ray to discover that she was pregnant with twins because one day right before month 7 of her pregnancy she started getting terrible pains.  Before long she was giving birth to a beautiful baby girl.  My absolute favorite part of the story is the nurses were cleaning the delivery room, and she looks down and all of a sudden there was another arm sticking out of our patient.  With in seconds, she was delivering baby #2.  Not only did she deliver two months early, but she gave birth to two babies, and the best/worst part was that her husband was at work the entire time and didn't even know that his wife was giving birth.  She likes to add that when the hospital called to inform him of the news, he didn't believe it and was convinced they had the wrong person.  He finally believed it, and went to the hospital to his now family of 4.

Soon, doctors discovered that radiography was actually causing incredibly harmful birth defects, and often time miscarriages, and the use of this method was discontinued as the way of 'photographing' the baby.  Again, this topic was mentioned in documentary The Business of Being Born, which I am a huge proponent of.  While we are on the subjects of documentaries, I would also highly recommend Catfish.  Such a great time!

My parents have recently taken interest in horse racing, and are now shared owners of a female mare name I Want Out.      (That's her------>)
She is great fun to watch, but it definitely peaked my interest in horse racing, especially since it was something that I was not educated about before. One interesting fact that I was told by yet another patient, this post is specializing in the knowledge patients have schooled me with, horse racing seems to be a dying sport.  The reason for this is people, with advances in technology and probably the increase prevalence of ADHD in our society, like the instant gratification of betting which leads to a win or loss rather quickly. With horse betting the actual race does happen rather quickly, but the time between each race is about a half hour which is too long for people to wait to start the process all over again.  Race tracks started loosing money, so to mend this problem, they started installing slot machines so in between races the 'bettor' could still satisfy their need to gamble.  I just thought this was a little interesting tid bit, and I hope you also enjoyed.

Thanks again for coming and hanging!

Things that were on the tip of my brain....

Have you heard about the award the Scarecrow got?  No?  Oh yeah, he was written up in the papers, and all over the news.  He got the award for Outstanding In His Field.

I know, it's a real good one.

A few short things while I am thinking about them.

>ANTS- they are great outside and no so hot inside the house.  For most it seems to be the little ones that work their way into the house, and it seemed to be concentrated by the sliding doors.  A simple, easy, and chemically friendly solution is spraying the entire edge or baseboard of the sliding door (or whereever they are coming in) with, once again, PAM olive oil spray.  It definitely seemed to work, and when reading about this method they suggested to start spraying under the sink because for some reason or another that is where they seem to congregate.  Hope it helps, and get those cute little buggers out of your house and into their little underground worlds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqdtoRHacWw&feature=related

There also seems to be a very big increase of the amount of spiders, all shapes and sizes, in the house so if anyone knows of a reason why that might happen, I would be MORE then happy to know.  I again, think they belong outside in their wonderfully designed webs. I enjoy them very much there.


>Just a side note about the shower drain in regards to nasty hair getting sucked down in it..... After I pulled out my disgusting but kinda cool clump of stuff I bought a hair catcher that fits right inside the drain.  For some tubs, it will insert into the drain and create a bowl like shape made out of wire, and in my particular shower, the plug for the bath tub jets out above the drain, so there are also ones that are inverted and then will sit on top similar to a top hat made out of plastic.  Personally I prefer the ones that sit in the drain like a bowl, but you can't escape the drain design.

The fantastic technological computer whiz that I am just figured out how to attach a link, and now all the ones from past posts should work.  Sorry about that.

More stories to come about the things I hear from all sorts of people......stay tuned.

It's been a long time, shouldn't have left you!

I pulled a Conan, so please pardon the slight hiatus.  There were some weddings, good friends visiting, holidays and of course birthdays.  I am back and ready to spread house-ly knowledge if you care to read just a little bit more about random things for around la casa.

1.  I just want to make a little side note that I have been using my vinegar mixture for cleaning around the house for LONGER then a month, and honestly I am loving it.  Yes, if the smell of vinegar does bother you then it is probably not the best solution to you, but I very much have enjoyed to experience, and would recommend it to others.

2.  This next one is probably a very well known fact, but it is new to me and could potentially be new to you after reading: Microwaving your sponges for about 2 minutes instantly sanitizes them.  Did your mind just get blown?  I have to give credit to my dear work friend because she shared this knowledge with me, and I have been using it ever since.  The sponge has always been a dilemma with me because it grosses me out how much bacteria can harvest in those things, so this very simple solution was very welcomed with me.

Loofas still kinda gross me out...










C. There was a bad case of squeaky doors, on almost every single one, and at 6:30 in the morning it was starting to become THE Squeakquel!  The SOLUTION:  Pam olive oil spray on every single hinge you can find that has the 'squeak factor.'  Spray it pretty good, wipe off the excess, and BAM you have a silent door opening/closing experience.  Unfortunately, on the bedroom door hinges it did a real good job and now slowly closes so we have adapted a new door stopper.



5f.  With three girls (my sisters and I) who have a substantial amount of THICK hair we were always very familiar with the plumber coming right up to the bathroom tub to unclog all of the disgusting hair that we had an amazing ability to accumulate.  The show is still going on......but this time in a new house and instead of calling a plumber I decided to grab the problem by the proverbial _____ and do it myself.  Of course, the first sign of stuff getting clogged down there was the slowing of water drainage.  My solution was a hanger!  I just unbent that sucker (actually my assistant did), kept a little hook at the end so it would be able to grab anything that was down there, and VOILA!!! It did take a couple times, but be patient and try to put it in as many different directions as possible.  The results were astounding, disgusting but so incredibly cool.  I wish I took a picture because although some might have vomited looking at it, others might have found it kinda neat.  I'm talking a solid 6 inches.

Thanks again for reading and supporting.

Flanagan out.

TEETH!!!

Teeth.  It has been a passion of mine since I have been exposed to it starting in high school.  The do's, the don'ts, and much, much, more.

Oh, where to begin?  Probably the most important thing, and what I usually drill into everyone upon first meeting is: YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO FLOSS!!!!  Even if you don't want to brush your teeth because it is just too hard to add those two minutes before you fall into bed, always always always floss.

The are so many different kinds of bacteria in between your teeth that can develop into other kinds of problems all over your body, which makes it absolutely worth wrapping your fingers around that tiny thread every day.  I was watching Conan one night and there was a guest he had on that was talking about all the ways to increase years onto your life.  I am completely blanking on his name, but he was saying that flossing everyday can add 2 to 3 years onto your life because of the bacteria that can just fester and rot up in there.   Basically, it is muy muy importante.

If you absolutely HATE to floss, there is a great product out there called the Reach Flosser, and I have changed some minds for doing the deed <references definitely available if needed>.  It is a plastic hand held device that attaches a floss piece every time you want to floss.  Check it out:

It pretty incredible how much we ask of our teeth.  There are so many things that are really bad for our teeth that I think many don't realize.  One of the top no no list to chew on is popcorn kernels, AND ice cubes.  Both have a terrible habit of cracking teeth, and or taking off other restorations you already have going on in your mouth, so try to avoid chewing on either if possible.  Crowns are expensive, yet they are so teeny tiny.  Lemons are not great either because the acidity can essentially break down the teeth and over time.  Basically you want to stay away from anything really really hard, and don't forget about all those delicious juices and candies. They can get ya.

All the teeth in the mouth are numbered to make dentists lives organized.  The numbers go from 1-32 because that is the maximum amount of teeth a person can have, including the wisdom teeth.  Hardly ever do people actually have all 32 teeth grow in, and the other day my doctor and I were able to see inside a mouth with every single tooth grown in and completely functional.  It was nerd, in a tooth nerd kinda way.

And just remember that sensitivity to heat, a cup of hot water or coffee, is never a good thing, so get to your dentist before it gets too late and pay them a grand ole visit! Chances are the pain is not going to go away until treated.

As quoted from West Wing, "Teeth are the best friend you can get.  You be good to them, they'll be good to you."

What kind of bees make milk?

Yes, this is going to start with a really cheesy joke, but those are the BEST kind.

What kind of bees make milk?   BooBees!


Earlier, I mentioned different random things for around the house and I forgot to mention the little trick of what to do if a light bulb shatters while you are trying to take it out of the outlet.  What is suggested to do IS- if you have a potato laying around the kitchen, cut it in half, jam the jagged/broken end of the light bulb right into it, twist and it should come right out.

The potatoes are apparently firm enough for this process as opposed to other vegetables or fruits.  Hope it helps.


Speaking of BooBees (in a way), there is a great documentary about the entire process of child birthing called The Business of Being Born.  Ricky Lake produced and starred in the film about hospitals view on the procedures of getting babies and their mothers in and out;  BUT before you judge and not want to give it a shot, I can assure you she is very tolerable and it's very informative throughout the whole thing.  A very small part of the film talks about the natural way of having a child at home sans doctors, and one of the bodies most soothing and comforting ways of dealing with pain is the sound of your own moan.  The vibrations allows your body, in some strange way, to handle the stress of the pain that is being inflicted.

With all the patients that come in and out of the dentist office that I work at, many of which walk out numb because they needed an injection for the procedure they had.  Time after time, as the shot goes into their mouth immediately they start to moan because of the pain, and absolutely instinctually.  It is their way of processing and handling the pain and I thought it was interesting because it was the exact same idea behind child birthing.  No matter what the extremity of the pain, the moaning is a sure way to help all in need........ AND pinch your finger with your fingernail because it distracts your brain from where the pain is coming from.  That's a fact, Jack!

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.php

Until next time.

PS- For those of you who are Netflix users, you can stream the movie instantly.

What do I do with my Viagra!?

Were you thinking just today how you have a drawer full of old prescription drugs and you don't know what to do with them? Now it's crazy that I am even talking about it?  Sweat no more because there is an answer for you.  We were talking the other day about how to properly dispose of them, and what I did know what you NEVER flush them down the toilet.  That will only lead to it seeping into the water system and that is never a good thing for our Mother Earth. Ok, check, then what do I do with it? Here is what is recommended:

In the best case scenario, you are supposed to go to a community drug take-back center, or try to find out when a collection is in your community for hazardous waste such as paints, etc and they will be able to take your drugs as well.  WHEN that is not available, and you need an easy fix at home, there are two simple solutions.

1.  Take the drugs out of the container and make sure you remove any personal information from the bottle. Duck tape or permanent marker can work really well with this process.  The containers can always be reused for things around the house like nails, or tacks, but if not they can always be recycled.

2.  Put the drugs into a re-closable bag or a container (preferably with a lid) with a big ole' heap of KITTY LITTER or USED COFFEE GROUNDS.

3. Then simply seal it up, and toss it in the trash.  BAM, BAM, BAM, and you are done.

In case you want to double check what I spat at you:  http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf


Flanagan out.

Random things for around the house

I have a couple random things for around the house:

1.  First, and possibly most useful, you ever hate those pesky stickers that come on the bottom of cups, containers, anything that you can imagine. My boss shared her knowledge and showed me that all you had to do was heat it up with a blow dryer for about 30 seconds, and it peels right off.  It amazed me, and I have already used it more then once, so no longer scrap off those nasty stickers using goo gone or a razor. The answer is in this blog spot!!!!

2. I am trying to use home made cleaning products at home because when I go to the store to buy a few groceries and I tack on some cleaning products and all of a sudden my bill is way higher then I wanted it to be.  A while ago I purchased a book called the Urban Homestead, and went to it for its wisdom to help me.

For Bathroom: Half water, half white vinegar (this can also be used for cleaning floors)

For Kitchen: 1/3 of the bottle Vinegar, the rest with water but some space at the top for 1 Tablespoon of Castille Soap

I am not a huge fan of vinegar, and was only given a month before I would give up, but it's better for your pocket and probably for your health.  I also used the peppermint Castille Soup.

http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Homestead-Self-sufficient-Process-Self-reliance/dp/1934170011

3. In trying to change a light bulb that burnt out in the shower, the glass pane came right down with it and went shattering all over the bathroom floor and bath tub.  How the hell was I going to clean up all that glass?  There is nothing more frustrating then glass everywhere, so in the process here is a great help. First a vacuum and dust pan, THEN take the butt of a loaf of bread, and skim the area to get all the little shards that you could not see with the naked eye.  IT worked amazingly, consider yourself learned.

4.  Here is a really neat article about mold on food, and eating it or rather, not.

http://lifehacker.com/5808164/its-not-ok-to-eat-that-mold-goes-deeper-than-the-surface

#2 down the hatchet....I'm just going to keep going.

The first can only happen once

Hello,

I hang out with a lots of people everyday who are always spreading their knowledge onto me, so I wanted to spread the wealth even further and blog about things/those who I have pleasure of talking to everyday.   All sorts of information comes my way about all shapes, colors, techniques, so HERE IT IS! MY organizational blob turned it into one big url of mind blowing useful/useless things for all to read.

The first item on the menu: OBERON.

One of my favorite beers is called Oberon by the Bell's Brewery based out of Comstock Michigan.  To me, it is the perfect blend of flavors to create the light, refreshing brew that will quench the greatest of thirsts but only during the summer months. Every year they come out with a mini keg that has a different artists design surrounding the entire thing in all of its glory.  They always seize to impress, so much so that I have made one a planter, and the second is sitting in my fridge for another project soon to commence.

Thanks to one who also took interest in Oberon, HE is actually the legendary king of the fairies in Medieval and renaissance literature.  He is most famous in his break through role in Willy Shakespeare's A Mid Summer Nights Dream.  Next time you are out, take a look at the mini keg......you will see Oberon chilling on the tree around the back of the can.  Neat.

http://www.bellsbeer.com/files/7212/9900/9825/Oberon%202011%20MiniKeg.jpg

Are you one for little fact about Bell's?  The popularity of this brewing company grew at an incredible rate, and soon it was available in many states outside of Michigan.  One of which was of course Illinois. Unfortunately though, Bell's was pulled from the shelves in October of 2006 when a Chicago distributor tried to sell the it's Bell's distribution rights to a competitor.  Due to this Bell's, was re-named Kalamazoo Brewing Company but lost of lot of it face value just due to the fact that everyone was looking for Bell's and more specifically Oberon.  New brew names, that did not taste the same, and couldn't due to law's (rights) restrictions.  In the end in August 2008, the distributor that 'owned' the rights of Bell's Brewery exited Illinois and it was able to return to the shelves as we all knew and loved.  Random beer fact of the day.

This is what I would like to do, spread my love with words and hope that you sit back, read, and enjoy.  Thanks for supporting!

Flanagan out.