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Humorous (Yet Very Practical) Reasons to Wear a Face Mask

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Besides the obvious reason to wear a mask (to protect yourself and others from covid, colds, and other respiratory infections), here are a few fun, practical reasons why you would want to wear a face mask when you’re out on the town.

You Get to Talk to Yourself and Not Look Crazy

“Damn it, I forgot to pick up the cheese.” With a mask you can talk to yourself in peace without worrying about what other people may think about you. So, when you forget the cheese, you can mumble it to yourself, head back to the store, and then talk to yourself some more. As much as you want.

If Your Lips Are Chapped, No One Will Know

If you have struggled with chapped lips at any point in your life, you’ve probably spent a grip on chapstick, lip butters, lipsticks, and all sorts of solutions. With the mask on no one can see your lips! 

When It’s Cold Outside…

Baby, it’s cold outside. Yes, this has been identified as a very problematic song, but the sentiment rings true when temperatures drop and the wind or snow is whipping against your face. When it’s cold outside, wouldn’t you rather have a mask on your face? It protects you from the wind, rain, snow, and cold.

No Worries About Anyone Telling You to SMILE

This will be particularly useful to women who are tired of random men commenting on their appearance when they’re out in public. “Why don’t you smile?”

You don’t have to smile because no one can even see your mouth!

It’s Halloween All Year Long Baby

How much do you love Halloween? So much that you start celebrating it in August? If so, you can be the Halloween Queen or King all year long when you have a mask on. Explore all sorts of spooky and fun ways you can wear a mask.

Same is true for Christmas and other holidays.

Also, you get a chance to express your individuality and creativity with face masks. Love your cats? Have a photo of them imprinted on a customized mask. Member of a fraternity or sorority? Display your Greek letters or symbols.

It’s a Shield from Annoying People Recording or Taking Pictures

Nowadays, you can be recorded at any time by anyone for any reason. If you’ve got a mask on, at least you have some level of privacy when you’re out and about.

Hide Your Laugh (Ki Ki)

We have probably all had our moments when we are caught in a situation that makes us want to laugh, but it is inappropriate. Maybe you just saw your boss trip in the middle of the sales floor, or you were told something by someone in a serious way, but it was very funny. When you’re wearing a mask no one can really tell at least for a moment that you are smiling or beginning to laugh.

A Few Downsides of Face Masks

Of course, there are always a few downsides to wearing a mask, as is the case with anything. Almost everything in life comes with some type of minor inconvenience:

  • Can’t enjoy a lollipop while you’re in the store.
    (That sucks.)
  • If you sneeze in the mask, the juices will be
    marinating in there until you get to your car (but at least they won’t be floating
    around in the air or marinating on someone else).
  • Your ears don’t always hold up the mask while you’re
    in the store.
  • Getting a close whiff of your breath and it’s not
    quite minty fresh. But then again, good thing that no one else can smell it,
    right?

All in all, the upsides outweigh the downsides though, don’t they? It’s smart to mask up as much as possible. Protect and take care of yourself and others.

High rated masks to protect you, the people you care about, and others:

N95 Masks (Best)

N95 Face Masks
N95 Face Masks

KN95 Masks (Good)

KN95 Face Masks
KN95 Face Masks

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

The Cat Backpack: Take Your Indoor Cat Outside with You Safely

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I learned about this neat pet cat backpack while browsing social media posts. It makes a lot of sense if you have an indoor cat and want them to experience outside safely every now and then.

The mesh sides and top front allow them to enjoy the fresh air comfortably while being safe inside. Zip it up just as you would a regular backpack. There is a zip up pocket on the side for storing small items, like treats. 
This cat backpack makes it easy to take your kitty on a short hike or walk in the park on a sunny day.

This Cat Backpack Lets You Take Your Indoor Kitty Outside to Experience Mother Nature Up Close

Take your cat on a test run in your backyard first to make sure she/he is comfortable and ok being inside of the backpack.

You might also want to treat your cat with Revolution or your trusted flea treatment if you plan to have a picnic or let her/him out during your outing. 

Cat lovers who visit pet stores that allow pets can feel a little more relaxed bringing them inside when there are dogs around.

If you have kittens or small cats it might be ok for two, but I’d probably recommend one cat at a time.

It’s a well-made, good quality backpack. Another smart solution for cat lovers!

LOH Reviews 

An Air Fryer Thanksgiving: 4 Easy Meal Ideas

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When you are living alone or just with one other person, it makes very little sense to plan a Thanksgiving where you will have to make a huge spread.

Thanksgiving prep and cooking comes with its benefits and challenges. You have to marinate things, chop vegetables, decide on the order of baking or frying various dishes. Then you have to make room in the refrigerator for your leftovers.

One benefit that is surely now clear is that you can use your air fryer to create a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for you and your loved one, or just yourself, that will require minimal effort. See these easy meals that you can make in an air fryer to make Thanksgiving easier.

*You might want to use a small aluminum baking pan that you can buy at your local dollar store for these cooking ideas for your air fryer.

Turkey Wings with Juicy Sliced Potatoes

It can take an entire family to finish off a whole turkey. Not to mention, you have to start thawing it out, brining it, and cooking it very early in the morning on Thanksgiving Day. So instead, if you are celebrating Thanksgiving on your own or with one other person, get a couple of turkey wings. If it’s frozen, thaw the turkey out, which should take a few hours, and brine it in some kosher salt and water. Create a seasoning mixture with garlic powder, onion, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, and pepper and any of your other favorite seasonings. Work it into the meat along with some olive oil and let it sit in the fridge for a while. Cook it for about 30 minutes in a pan to get the juices flowing, then place each turkey wing in your air fryer. Cook on medium at about 300 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, then increase the temperature as needed so that it has a nice crisp.

If you must have stuffing with your turkey, just cook it quickly in a pan on your stove and then add to the air fryer in the turkey juices afterwards. You can also use the leftover juices in the pan to make a quick turkey gravy using flour or corn starch.

Air Fryer for Thanksgiving

Air Fryer Lasagna

What is lasagna except some pasta, meat, cheese, and sauce that is baked together? Why not bake a small pan of lasagna in your air fryer?

Prepare your lasagna as usual, layering it with sauce, pasta, and cheese, and place it in a small baking pan that will fit in your air fryer. Cook it for about 45 minutes on medium, then increase the temperature as needed so that it has a nice crisp on top.

Grilled Veggies

Chop up a mixture of your favorite veggies to enjoy during Thanksgiving dinner and grill them in your air fryer. So quick and simple. Douse with chicken or vegetable broth along with some olive oil. Keep an eye on the veggies so that they don’t get overcooked. You might even decide to add sliced sausage or kielbasa to the mix—just grill them on medium heat for about 15 minutes beforehand, then add veggies.

Mac and Cheese in the Air Fryer

Transfer your favorite mac and cheese recipe for Thanksgiving into a small pan and bake it in your air fryer. Again, so simple. You just want to make sure that your noodles are 80 percent cooked and all of the ingredients are mixed in before you add them to your small pan.

What else do you think you can make in your air fryer for a single Thanksgiving meal, or just for you and a friend? I’m sure you have some ideas!

How to Increase Your Water Pressure | High Pressure Shower Head

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Though this shower head may not give the desired water pressure I would LOVE to have (the feeling of tiny beads raining on my skin like a gentle massage), it has significantly increased the flow compared to my old one. I can feel more comfortable getting into the shower and washing my hair now.

Have lower water pressure in your shower? This shower head just might help increase your water pressure.
Increase the water pressure in your shower.

In the past, for some reason I thought that changing out a shower head was something complicated, but it’s actually very easy.

“Leftie loosie,” turn the old one off the spout, then “rightie tightie” the new one on, preferably with a wrench. The box also includes sealant tape that you can wrap around the spout to ensure a snug fit. If you’re dealing with low water pressure issues in your bathroom, I would recommend this water pressure boosting shower head until you can get a handle on what might be causing the issue.

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.