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Simple Home Tips and Solutions

Things That Make Life Easier

A Holiday Tip if You’re on a Budget

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Here’s a simple holiday tip that saves me a lot of money every year. It actually benefits my wallet the year after the purchase: buy all of your Christmas stuff in January.

One year, I was browsing in my local pharmacy and found incredible sales on all remaining Christmas items. I mean everything you can think of. For example, holiday lights, wreaths, wrapping paper, figurines, tinsel, stocking stuffers, candy canes etc…. They were all at least 40% to 75% off the original price. You can basically cover 2 to 3 Christmases at once. I quickly filled my cart!

My last purchase was a large storage bin with a lid to keep my items organized and stale free for the next year. It has now become my after the holiday ritual.

Posted by Eve

Tips for How to Make Grocery Shopping Quick and Easy

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I use to spend most of my Saturdays shopping for groceries. I was so tired when I got back home that I did not even want to take the groceries into the house. So, I came up with a plan that drastically cut much of my shopping time, by at least 60%. EUREKA!!!

First, I never leave home without a shopping list. I first look through my pantry to see what I am lacking.

Next, I research all of my local grocery circulars to locate the best sale on those items. Then on a piece of paper, I put the store names on top (no more than three or four) and proceed to write down what I need from each store.

To make my experience even less time consuming, I write my list of needs according to each store’s layout. For example, I begin in the deli then proceed directly to the fruits and vegetables, so on and so forth. More importantly, I avoid that aisles that I don’t need to walk down, which saves massive time and money.

My last stop (if needed at that store) is to visit the freezer section. Finally, I proceed to check out and then I am off to the next store.

Each store should take no more than 15-20 minutes of shopping time if planned out correctly. Hopefully, by following my tips, you will be amazed at how much time you have left to enjoy your day and relax!

Posted by Eve

How to Convince Aging Parents that Assisted Living Can Be a Good Thing

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For years my siblings and I have been trying in vain to explain to our aging parents that they require assistance with their daily activities. We first had an in depth conversation with our parents on the benefits of assisted living. We explained that the most important factors are their safety and security. They are both currently experiencing major health issues, that makes it dangerous for them to venture out into their neighborhood.

We felt that it was dangerous for them to do the basics, such as: grocery shopping, banking, doctors appointments or just enjoying a beautiful day outside. For example, our dad’s vision has been steadily declining for years. He even shared a story of how he was harassed by a group of teens (or so he thought), while simply getting the mail. They had rummaged through his pant pockets in the hallway on the way to the mail box in his apartment building. Worst of all was that he could not identify his attackers to the police. Needless to say, we were all sad to hear that story. Our mom then shared an unfortunate story of how during one icy winter day, she had an issue of her own. She went out to purchase groceries and as she was about to step off the curb, she slipped on black ice falling to her knees. Keep in mind that she had just had reconstructive knee surgery two months prior. That fall had set her healing process back for weeks. We were extremely concerned after hearing both of their stories.

So with love and compassion, we began to explain how living in a senior-assisted living home would benefit them. First, we explained to them that they would have round the clock care from a nurse on duty. They would also have transportation available to take them to doctors appointments, purchase groceries, social outings etc. They would also have a dining hall to socialize with other seniors. We even told our dad that they would teach him how to navigate in and outside of his apartment with his walking stick.

At the end of the loving conversation our parents finally admitted that the senior living facility sounded like a good idea. Thankfully, they are now awaiting their move-in date and are excited to have a better quality of day to day life.

It takes patience and understanding, but with basic reasoning it’s possible to convince even a stubborn elderly parent that assisted living may be the way to go.

Posted by Eve

How to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers: Simple Solution

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There are so many people who want to know how to get rid of mouth ulcers. I’ve tried everything — this was the simple solution that worked for me.

A couple of years ago I started to get an annoying problem — mouth ulcers. These are non-contagious sores that appear in your mouth suddenly and seemingly out of no where. Though they aren’t a serious issue, they can be painful and annoying, so of course I immediately looked up how to get rid of mouth ulcers.

I quickly found that a lot of other people have this problem. Here are a few theories about what causes mouth ulcers:

– IBD (irritable bowel disorder) symptoms

– Crohn’s disease and Coeliac  (also related to digestive issues)

– allergies (dietary and skin irritants)

– hormonal changes

– some type of immune system deficiency

– vitamin B12 deficiency

– iron deficiency

– certain medications like NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

There are many theories online for how to get rid of mouth ulcers and ease the pain. The only solution that actually worked for me was to gargle with Peroxyl.

Peroxyl is an oral rinsing agent that kills bacteria that can lead to inflammation and gum disease. It clears the bad bacteria to give the mouth ulcers a way to heal more quickly. I just swished with it every night (twice a day might even be better) and a few days later the symptoms were almost completely gone. Read the directions completely and consult with your dentist to ensure that this over the counter (OTC) dental product is right for you.

So if you’re desperate to know how to get rid of mouth ulcers, try Peroxyl. It’s a little expensive for a mouth rinsing product, but totally worth it to heal your mouth ulcers faster.

Also, to prevent mouth ulcers try changing your diet first, taking more vitamins, investigating possible allergies and then see your doctor about other possible causes (like IBD and Coeliac).

 

Posted by Jade

 

* Always consult your doctor before trying a new product, diet or diet.

Recipe Tip: For Juicy, Tasty Chicken

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The quickest and easiest way to get juicy, tasty chicken is…

Robusto Italian Dressing

I personally prefer Wish-Bone brand, but you can experiment with others.

Poke a few holes in the raw chicken thighs, breasts or drumsticks and let them marinate in a ziploc bag for at least 15 minutes. Pour the chicken and excess dressing in the frying pan or pot on med-high heat to cook for extra flavor. Add additional seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc) to taste.

Enjoy!

Posted by Jasmine

Home Tip: Cleaning When Company’s Coming Over

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If you are having company over and want the house to appear clean focus on your main rooms and 1 bathroom. You don’t have to give everyone a tour so don’t worry about cleaning the rooms that have doors on them!

Go room by room focusing on removing laundry, dishes, and clutter. Then wipe down all surfaces, run the vaccuum, and wash/dry all dishes. Bam.. you are ready for company in about 45 minutes! Don’t sweat the small stuff. No one notices if the floors are not mopped!

Submitted by Elicia Hill
Elicia’s Website: http://www.lifewith2under2.com
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