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Must Have Items for Multi-Cat Households

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As a cat caregiver who took over responsibility for my Mother’s cats after she passed, I know how important it is to have the right tools and products to manage them easily and properly. You also want to keep your home clean, comfortable, and smelling nice.

Below, find some of the products I’ve purchased and use in my multi-cat household. You can probably get them all for around $100-$150 total, and they’re worth every penny. Hope this helps!

Must Haves for Multi-Cat Households:

It’s a little unrealistic to think that you can supply your multiple cats with new food and water every single day. After all, you may not even be able to do that for yourself sometimes. These high capacity food bowls and waterers will help give you some relief. Yes, the dog is featured in the photo but they are also useful for feeding and watering multiple cats.

Choose whatever food you feel is right for your cat (because this is a very important decision). A grain free food like this one offered by Wellness is a good pick in my opinion. Consult with your trusted vet to be sure.

A cat Litter Genie is an absolute must if you have multiple cats. The box allows you to trap waste in a secure location, inside of a bag, where you can spray with bug spray or deodorizer to keep the smell in check. You can then empty it once or twice a week. While pet waste bags are provided and can be reordered, you may also choose to use your own biodegradable bags.

When you have to scoop up after 3, 4 or more cats in a day, especially after work and other household duties, who wants to lean over? This standing cat litter scooper makes things much easier.

Cats love to dig just like dogs do. When they are trying to cover up their waste, they will kick the litter everywhere. Find a litter box preferably with an open top that has high sides to prevent litter from getting on your carpet or floor.

Just about any cat litter will do as long as you’re pets like it, but this one is convenient because if you have multiple floors and kitties it is easier to carry one or two bags at a time. Compare that to lugging a 40 lb container up your stairs.

I like to use peppermint spray for litter boxes and other areas in the cat area because it is considered safer than spraying with other pest control products.

Pet freshener for the carpet is a must-have if you have multiple cats.

This cat litter mat captures a lot of the excess litter that comes out of the litter box when your cats are finished doing their business. You can pour the litter back into the box, or dispose of it.

If you prefer a classic cat litter mat, this one will capture the granules and give them a satisfying place to scratch.

Tent beds can be a hit with cats. It’s like a little house within the house.

I have had to transport my cats around on many occasions in my car, whether for vet appointments or road trips. This cat backpack allows you to take them around your neighborhood or to the park or anywhere you wish, like the pet store while ensuring that they are safe and secure.

Products for Multiple Cat Households
Image by luxstorm from Pixabay

Easy Home Life Hacks

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Managing your life is multi-faceted. There are so many things you have to take care of in the course of a day. On top of that, you also have to keep your home in order, so any tips for how to keep things simple will help. Here are a few easy home life hacks that will help you keep things in order, clean, organized, and well maintained.

Kitchen Stuff

Bowl Covers

You can find simple bowl covers at your local dollar store that will help preserve your food and leftovers more efficiently than trying to cover it up with a piece of plastic or Reynolds wrap. They are usually divided up in different sizes.

A Slice of Lime Helps Preserve an Open Avocado

You know how an avocado gets really brown and unappetizing when you finally decide to open one and store the rest? You can prevent the browning by placing it in a Ziplock bag with a slice of lime. Be sure to change the slice of lime out every few days.

Put Your Strawberries on Ice

Just about everyone likes strawberries, but they tend to lose their freshness so quickly. One way to revive your strawberries is to add them to a bowl with ice. Put the bowl in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy them. Also, remember that you can always freeze your strawberries and use them in Nutribullet smoothies.

Spritz Your Drain with Antibacterial Spray

They say that besides table tops, the drain is one of the dirtiest places in your household. Keep it disinfected by simply spritzing it every now and again with an antibacterial spray.

Freeze Your Food Trash

I learned this from someone. When you put food in your garbage can, it spoils after a few days and could attract pests. Plus, it smells. Instead, put a bag in your freezer to store food trash before garbage day.

Managing Recyclables

You probably know by now how important it is to properly dispose of recyclables, and many areas offer convenient pick up of recyclables on certain days. During the week, use a separate indoor recycling trash can or a secure trash bag that you can use repeatedly to store items. If the items contain the remnants of food waste, try to find room in your freezer to store them there until recycling day.

Pet Stuff

Invest in a Litter Genie

When I was first introduced to the litter genie, I did not know what its purpose was, and pretty much ignored it. What I really thought I wanted was someone who could just scoop the litter for me! But this simple investment was something I needed all along as a long-time cat owner. It traps the waste in a bag so that you can isolate it and dispose of it easily. You can also use a natural cat spray or bug spray in the trapped waste to keep flies away.

Click here for more tips about managing cats, especially if you have a multiple cat household.

Cats Love to Be Brushed or Combed

If you are a busy person, you might not have too much time to spend playing with your cat. But the time you do spend with them, do something that they will really love. Get a cat brush or comb so that you can give them a gentle massage. They love it. Consider this glove for grooming cats that will make things even easier.

Bathroom Stuff

Bleach It

Even if you are the laziest person when it comes to cleaning up your bathroom, you can cut a lot of corners by simply using bleach. Yes, the bleach cleaners can help. But common regular bleach poured on just about anything will help it get white and clean in a matter of minutes. Then you can spray and scrub the surface down easily.

Mini Washer for Small Laundry Loads

Tired of making runs to the laundromat to get your underwear or t-shirts clean? It’s especially annoying to have to wait around for your load to finish and then dry. Instead, invest in a mini washing machine, which you can keep in your bathroom or bedroom. Add water, and just a bit of detergent (not too much), then let it wash, drain, and spin.

Floor Maintenance

Spin That Mop

If you haven’t already heard of it, put a spinning mop on your to-buy list. A spinning mop allows you to spin the soiled water out of your mop so that you aren’t just transferring dirt around your floor.

Clorox Swiffer

Sometimes you just don’t feel like going through the motions of filling up a mop buckets and cleaning your floor that way. In between moppings, use a Swiffer with Clorox wet mopping cloths to keep things tidy and fully sanitized. It takes about 5 minutes to finish up a room.

Beauty Care

Comb Straightening Iron

If you have a bed of hair that doesn’t want to cooperate, all you want to do is get it to a place where it feels soft and manageable. A straightening comb iron for your hair will help do the job. It works on just about every grade of hair. If you’ve been spending the pandemic not liking the way you look because of haircare issues, isn’t $50 or so worth getting things back into place? Be sure to use a heat protectant spray for hair before using a blow dryer or straightening comb.

Hair Removal Strips

Instead of spending $20 to have your eyebrows waxed or sculpted, spend about $15 and do it yourself week after week. Use facial hair removal strips, which you can purchase at your local pharmacy or online and will probably last for up to a year. Cut each strip into eyebrow shapes, with your desired curvature. Carefully apply them above and below your brows, then pull them off quickly to get the look you want.

Use these easy home life hacks to make your daily tasks easier. You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to get things in order.

No Air Conditioner?: Ideas for Staying Cool this Summer without A/C

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Also included: tips for keeping your cat or dog extra cool during the summer.

Not everyone has access to an air conditioner, whether it’s because of having windows that aren’t large enough to hold an A/C unit or because the bills will be out of budget. Or maybe you just don’t have the funds to invest at the moment in a good energy efficient air conditioner.

I think this goes without saying, but nothing will cool you quite like an air conditioning unit, BUT there are ways that you can manage 80 to 100-degree (or warmer) summer weather in the absence of one. You just have to get a little creative. If you don’t have an air conditioner, you might want to consider these ideas for keeping cool this summer.

Get a Mini Portable Ice Machine for Your Bedroom or Living Room

Portable Ice Maker Machine

Do you know how good it feels to crunch on fresh cold ice cubelets when it’s a hot, summer day? It’s a bit of heaven. You also have a cold cup to hold onto, or you can use the ice to fill up a plastic baggie and press against your skin. Instead of running to the freezer in your kitchen every 15 minutes, get a portable mini ice machine that you can set up in your bedroom or living room. Most units only take a few minutes to make ice cubes that you can scoop into your cup. Just fill the reservoir with your favorite water and stay ultra-hydrated with cold, fresh ice all day.

Get a Cooling Blanket

It might seem counter-intuitive to buy a blanket to help you stay cool in the summer, but retailers now offer cooling blankets that keep you comfortable in the heat. They’re designed with a cooling technology that absorbs body heat, wicks away moisture, and is breathable to keep air circulating. You can drape it over your shoulders while relaxing in your living room, or cover yourself with it when you’re sleeping.

Floor Fan, Bucket of Ice

There’s a really neat trick offered by The Farmer’s Almanac. Get a good quality floor fan and fill a bucket or large bowl with ice to place behind the fan. The cool air that emanates from the ice will come through the fan, cooling a small room. You might have to switch out the ice every hour or so, but at least you’ll feel some comfort on those hot summer days until you can get an air conditioner. Just make sure you remember to buy a couple of $2 bags of ice from your local convenience store!

For Your Pets: Cooling Pads and Cooling Bowls

Your pets have biological and innate methods of staying cool indoors–even when it’s pretty hot outside. But if you want to give your cat or dog something that will keep them extra-cool throughout the afternoon, give them a pet cooling mat. It’s made of a gel that has a cooling effect, which lasts for hours.

Also, see the cooling pet bowl, which keeps water colder for longer (about 15 hours) without the need for electricity.

Bonus Tip:

If the reason why you’re not using an air conditioner this summer is because your windows are too small for a window unit or you can’t open them wide enough, consider getting a portable A/C instead. It uses a hose that fits in most windows to direct cool air into a room.

Enjoy your summer and stay cool!

Posted by Jade

Things That Are Making Your Home Look Dated (And How to Update Them)

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When you move into a home that has been around for over 30 years, it’s normal for it to have some features that look dated. If you take a closer look, you’ll find that there are probably a few specific things around the house that are making the home look old-fashioned. Here are a few things to look out for if you want to modernize your home. You can overcome some of these issues yourself—just add them to your do-it-yourself project list.

 

Old-School Kitchen Cabinets

Old Kitchen Cabinets

Image: Flickr/lisa_yarost 

 

One of the first places to check for dated features in your home is the kitchen. Worn down cabinets with frayed edges that are made of plywood or an inferior grade of wood should be replaced if you want the home to look more modern. You don’t have to do an entire kitchen remodel to rectify this problem—just update the cabinets for now.

Updated Kitchen

Image: Flickr/frederickhomesforsale 

 

Peeling, Chipped Paint

chipped paint‘

Image: Flickr/deanhochman 

 

After years of adding new layers of paint to your walls and ceilings, eventually the paint will begin to chip. Chipped away paint will make your rooms look old and unfinished. Peeling paint on the exterior of a home is also a sign of an aging home. You’ll either need to sand down the chipped areas and repaint them or completely remove the paint from your surface and start anew. However, keep in mind that older homes may contain paint that was made with lead, so it’s not always advisable to sand layers of paint for health reasons.

 

Old-Fashioned Wallpaper

ugly wallpaper

Photo: Flickr/9979792@N04 

 

Designer wallpaper can be a beautiful addition to a room, but keeping old-fashioned, floral wallpaper in a room, especially the kitchen, will make it look outmoded. This is especially true if the wallpaper has browned or looks dirty. Clean, smooth, painted walls will instantly make a room look more modern. If you insist on wallpaper, choose bold prints that have a clearly defined solid background color. Here is how the rooms in a more modern home look (bright colors, painted, clean):

painted room

Photo: Flickr/strocel 

 

Unfinished or Painted Wood Floors

old wood floor

Photo: Flickr/ninjanna 

 

One common trait of older homes is unfinished wood floors. To make them look more attractive, homeowners of the past often painted them. Sanding the floors, staining them, and finishing them with a polyurethane coating will help bring old wood floors up to date. If the floor boards are beyond repair, laminate wood flooring will cover up the problem.

restored hardwood

Photo: Flickr/shawnhenning 

 

Air Conditioners Hanging Out of Windows

air conditioner hanging out window

Photo: Flickr/quinndombrowski 

 

Nothing makes the exterior of a home look dated quite like multiple air conditioners hanging out of the windows. Over time, the back of air conditioners become dirty and start to drip fluids. If you want your home to look and feel more modern, invest in a cooling system that will manage the temperature throughout your house from one central unit. For a more affordable fix, place portable ACs in your rooms–

portable air conditioner

Image courtesy of Amazon

 

Aging Wooden Window Frames

old wood windows

Image courtesy of Pixabay 

 

In the past, the standard for homes was wooden window frames. The frames were crudely nailed together and mounted with glass panes. Over time these frames begin to chip, crack, and allow drafts to come into the home. One easy way to update a dated home is to have the windows upgraded to vinyl. Vinyl replacement windows are the new standard for homes and they are relatively easy to install.

new vinyl window

Photo: Flickr/cjscott69 

 

Popcorn Ceilings

popcorn ceiling

Photo: Flickr/96831183@N08 

 

A mildly textured ceiling can be attractive, but a “popcorn” texture should be avoided if you want your rooms to look modern. Popcorn ceilings have a bumpy, pilled surface. This texture was popular in homes built as early as the 1930s. Not only do they make the room look older, they can also make it look smaller and feel less comfortable. Remove the texture and paint your ceilings with a high gloss paint for a more modern look.

Smooth Ceiling

Photo: Flickr/mufan96 

 

Linoleum Flooring in the Kitchen or Bathroom

linoleum floors

Photo: Flickr/vvasquez 

 

Linoleum flooring is easy to install and relatively attractive, which is why so many homeowners opt for it. But some of the patterns can make a kitchen or bathroom look older than it really is. Also, over time linoleum will begin to peel around the edges of the room and get scratched or scuffed by foot traffic. For a more modern kitchen, go for durable stone tile or laminate flooring.

 

Dated Lighting Fixtures

dated light fixtures

Photo: Flickr/clairity 

 

Antique, old-fashioned lighting fixtures around your home can make it look dated. This includes milk glass globes and ceramic flush mount ceiling fixtures. Replacing fixtures, which sometimes takes just a few minutes, can significantly modernize your rooms. Opt for brass wall sconces, recessed lights, and hanging pendant lights.  Use stylish lamps in bedrooms and living areas. Also, consider installing track lights in rooms where you often entertain guests. Here’s an idea for a more modern light fixture:

Modern Light Fixture

Photo: Flickr/chiropractic 

 

Doors and Doorknobs

modern doors

Photo: Flickr/budda 

 

A clear sign of an older house is the quality, material, and design of the doors throughout. Consider replacing a single door with double doors where appropriate. Go for a solid wood or brightly painted door over fiberglass, steel, or aluminum. Replace plain wood slab doors with hand-crafted doors. You can also upgrade a door by simply changing the doorknob. Levers and key-entry locks are preferable to standard knob styles if you want a more modern looking home.

 

Once you take care of these issues that may be making your home look dated, you’ll probably have more of an eye for how to modernize your home. Time to get to work!

 

 

10 Things Every Single Lady Should Have in Her Home or Apartment

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It ain’t easy being a single woman who lives by herself. You have to take the garbage out, get rid of bugs, and look out for yourself. You have to be a maverick of sorts—resourceful and resilient.

But living on your own can also be very peaceful and relaxing. I mean, for one, there’s no need to argue with a crazy roommate or boyfriend who leaves their stuff around the house and piles up dirty dishes. You can dress however you want when you’re cooking eggs in the morning. You have privacy, and your home stays exactly the way you want it to be every day.

I’ve enjoyed this way of living for years now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way (unless an ideal soulmate were to float from the heavens maybe?). I still enjoy spending time with people and socializing, but when I come home I like being in my own private “queendom.”

So here are 10 items every single lady should ideally have in her home or apartment. They’ll help you feel more comfortable, protected, relaxed, and contented.

Door Stopper or Jammer

Get a door stopper for all of the doors on your first floor. They come in several designs—one fits inside of the door jamb and another adjustable version reaches from the door knob to the floor. You’ll feel more secure in the evenings knowing that there’s no way for the doors to be opened from the outside (it’s scientifically impossible). It’s also a really good idea if you have a pesky ex-boyfriend who disappeared with a set of keys to your apartment.

 

A Canopy Over Your Bed

Your bed becomes an oasis of sorts when you’re single. You can spread out over the whole thing, stretch out and enjoy every inch of it. You’ll feel like a princess when you go to sleep at night under a bed canopy. What is that? It’s an elegant covering that is usually made of chiffon, linen, or some similar lightweight fabric. It’s easy to hang from the ceiling above your bed. Another benefit is that it keeps pesky mosquitoes away, so you can open your window at night in the summer and feel the gentle breeze.

A Good Pot and Pan Set That Will Encourage You to Cook More

A lot of single people order takeout or eat out almost every day, which can wreak havoc on their budgets. Sometimes all you need is a nice pot and pan set to get motivated to cook more at home. Invest in a non-stick frying pan and a set of cooking pots (small, medium, large). Use the frying pan for breakfast and frying meats. Use the small pot for rice and oodles of noodles. With time, you’ll find a use for the medium and large pots. I use them for making stews and steaming veggies.

* While you’re at it, head to your local Dollar Tree and pick up small rectangular aluminum cooking pans. They’re perfect for roasting veggies just for you, and baking chicken or steak with onions and potatoes.

 

A Wireless Monitoring System

You will have more peace of mind when you’re away with a wireless video monitoring system in your home. As long as you have Wifi running in your house at all times, you can set up a system in minutes. Some wireless monitoring devices allow you to check an app at any moment of the day to see what’s going on at home. It can be particularly useful if you have pets you want to look after.

 

A Reliable Bug and Pest Repellent

One of the most annoying things you’ll have to deal with as a single woman is having to kill pests and bugs on your own. That’s something that we usually count on the guys to handle, but when you’re on your own you have put on your big girl pants and get the job done! It gets easier over time.

Get these three things to minimize drama with pests:

  • An ultrasonic pest repeller (keeps bugs and rodents from invading your space in the first place).
  • A fogger (kills bugs that are hiding in places you can’t even see — must leave house vacant for over 4 hours).
  • A quality bug spray (Raid Max is the best in my opinion—a little expensive but worth it. If you can’t find it only, look for it at a Shoprite or a similar supermarket).

 

A First Class Recliner (The Queen’s Seat)

When you aren’t spending time in your bed, you should have a really comfy recliner as your second option. Couches can be uncomfortable, and they might make you feel a little lonely with all that extra, unnecessary space. A recliner is for the contentedly single lady who wants to lay back in luxurious comfort while reading a book, watching Broad City, or working on her blog.

 

Bluetooth Speakers in Your Most Frequented Rooms

When you’re single and on your own, you constantly need motivation to stay in a good mood when you’re at home alone. Make sure you have Bluetooth stereos (or a little mini FM radio) set up in every important room of your home (kitchen, bathroom, dining area) so that you will always have some tunes playing. It may seem like a small matter, but it really makes a difference.

 

A Really Amazinggg Showerhead

After a long day at work, you want to come home and take a long, satisfyingly sensual shower. You can’t do that when your shower head is pitifully weak and barely spouts out any water. Invest in a quality showerhead that gives you multiple options when it comes to water flow. Some are easy to install on your own.

 

Pepper Spray

Did you know you can buy all manner of pepper spray products online at Amazon and other sites? There are items you can carry on your person and that you can keep in your home. It’s a peace of mind purchase for single women who live alone.

 

An Elegant Vanity Set

You should pamper yourself even more than usual when you’re a single girl. Self-care is important. Back in the day, our moms and grandmoms would sit at elegant vanities when they brushed their hair, did their makeup and painted their nails. A proper vanity consists of a stool, mirror, and small table. Try to find one with lights around the mirror so that you can see your face more clearly.

Check out these things that a single lady should have in her home, and get a few if think they’ll make your life easier. From one single lady to another, they are an investment in your peace of mind and happiness.

10 Things You Should Clean with a Lysol Disinfecting Wipe Every Now and Then

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I am a big fan of disinfecting wipes because they are easily accessible and a replacement for paper towels/spray bottles. They also make things feel and look clean. Here is a list of 10 items in your home, car, and office that you should definitely clean with a Lysol Disinfecting Wipe on a fairly regular basis.

1. Your Car Keys and Supermarket Cards

I’m sure I’m not the only one who still carries a set of keys full of supermarket cards. Cashiers handle money from so many different people throughout their whole shifts, so every time they grab your card keys, germs get transferred. Wipe them and your keys down with a Lysol wipe at least once a week.

Set of Keys

2. Your Doorknobs

Every time you take the trash out, you have to touch the doorknob to get back in before you have a chance to wash your hands. Wipe down those doorknobs often.

Door Knob

3. Your Remote Controls.

You’re sitting on the couch or bed, snacking on your favorite brand of chips, popcorn, or Cheetos. Then you use those same orange cheesy or buttery fingers to pick up the remote control and turn the channel. How many different traces of snacks do you think are on that remote control right now? Give it a quick wipe down!

Remote Control

4. Your Computer or Laptop Keyboard.

If you ever eat while working on your computer or laptop, you’ve surely transferred some food (maybe even a little saliva) to your keyboard in the process. Also, your fingers are probably a little dirty after touching everything around you — your desk, your drawers and your paperwork. Keep a container of Lysol wipes nearby for everything! Remember to clean your mouse too.

Laptop Work Space

5. Your Cellphone or iPad.

Many of the modern cellphones we use don’t have physical keyboards anymore, but the screen still needs cleaning every now and again. Think of all the gnarly places your cellphone or reader device ends up–in the bottom of your purse, the floor of your car and between the seat cushions of your couch.

iPhone iPad

6. The Cup Holder Area in Your Car

I love enjoying a cold Wendy’s frosty on a hot summer day, but when it melts and finds its way into the cup holder, it creates a sticky mess. Lysol wipes are the best way to clean up sticky messes, which is why I like keeping some in my car. They’re also good for keeping the dashboard, steering wheel and seats clean.

cup holder car interior

7. The Floor Area Where You Feed Your Pets

Of course you clean your pet’s bowls regularly, but what about the area where they eat? If you don’t have time to mop the floor, just clean it in a jiffy with a few Lysol wipes.

Cat After Eating

8. One of Your Favorite “Seats” in the House

Depending on how many people live in your house, the toilet bowl seat probably gets ridden more than any other seat in the place. Make sure you keep a container of wipes in there so that you can wipe the seat and lid down every other day.

Toilet in Bathroom

9. Your Kitchen Counters

Do you really need a reason to clean off your kitchen counters and table every day? It gets splashed with eggs, veggies, soda, meat juices and countless other food matter in the course of an afternoon alone. I recently made pasta from scratch and after all was said and done, I was so glad to have some wipes handy to clean up the floury mess. Also, use them to clean all of the handles in your kitchen (fridge, oven, cabinets, etc).

Comfy Kitchen

10. The Bottoms of Your Shoes

If you have a tendency to walk through your house with the shoes you wore outside (I admit, I do it sometimes), keep them as clean as possible by wiping the bottoms down with Lysol disinfecting wipes. Keep them by the front door so you’ll remember. Use them to wipe down your house shoes and slippers too for good measure.

Shoes Outside

These are just a few reasons why I like to keep several containers of Lysol disinfecting wipes around the house. They help give your living spaces a “clean feeling” in between actual top to bottom house cleaning days.

Posted by Jade

Photos courtesy:

Flickr/CGAphoto

Pixabay