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Simple Home Tips and Solutions

Meatball Stroganoff with Rotini Pasta

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This is a delicious dish to make and rather simple to prepare. You can use ground beef, turkey, pork or chicken when making your meatballs. The meatballs and sauce in this recipe for Meatball Stroganoff with Rotini Pasta — full of herbs. #YUM

Ingredients for Meatballs

1 Lb Ground Beef
1 1/2 Tablespoons Basil (dried)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Oregano (dried)
1/2 Teaspoon Rosemary (dried)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

Stroganoff Rotini

Ingredients for Sauce

2 Cups of Beef Broth
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 Tablespoon Basil
1/2 Tablespoon Oregano
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

Preparing Meatballs

In a large bowl place ground beef and spices. Mix together using your hands. Make individual meatballs the size of golf balls. Then, in a large skillet on medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil. Place meatballs in skillet and brown on all sides. When done remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.

Preparing Sauce

Now, in that same skillet add beef broth, to deglaze and bring to a boil. Allow broth to reduce by half. Then lower heat, add herbs, salt, pepper, whipping cream and sour cream. Whisk ingredients together. Place cooked meatballs into the sauce. Allow to simmer for five minutes.

Serve over rotini pasta, that is al dente.

You can use what ever type of pasta you like. I prefer rotini because it holds onto the sauce better than the traditional egg noodle. The choice is yours!

Enjoy

Posted by Eve

 

 

4 Ways to Better Manage Your Depression

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Depression is a very serious issue that can negatively affect a person’s life in a number of ways. It can have negative effects on both the mind and body. You may feel tired, sad, lacking energy and sometimes like life doesn’t have much meaning. If you’re having a chronic problem with how to manage your depression, of course the first course of action is to seek the help of a professional because in some cases it can be the result of a chemical imbalance, hormonal issues or even heredity.

Manage Your Depression

 

However, depressive disorder is also often caused by outside forces, like stressful life events and eating bad foods, so a holistic and natural approach to managing this condition may help as well. You can also try implementing a few new stimulating activities into your daily routine to better manage your depression.

Change Your Diet

Did you know that some foods can actually exasperate your feelings of depression? Researchers from the University of Navarra and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canariain in Spain found that eating foods high in trans fats and saturated fats can actually make depression worse.

You may also be missing necessary vitamins and minerals from your diet. Buy a daily pill container and fill it with vitamins, including a multi-vitamin, vitamin C-ester, vitamin D, vitamin B and any others that your doctor says you need for proper nutrition.

Read

When you’re depressed, your mind is unhappy with your current surroundings and situation. So if you’re feeling down, try sending your mind elsewhere for a while by picking up a good book or other type of reading material. Be careful not to read negative things, such as sad news stories, depressing articles and magazines that advertise things you can’t have at the moment; that could depress you even further. Read positive stories of triumph, feel good news and if possible, stories about other people who have overcome depression.

Do Just 5 Minutes of Yoga

The mind-body connection is a very real thing. Sometimes exercising or simply stretching the muscles in your body can help you manage depression. If you aren’t motivated enough to do a full workout, just pause and do about 5-10 minutes of yoga stretches. Here’s a quick beginner’s yoga video you can follow. This one helps energize you. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much better you feel after doing just a bit of yoga. The more you do it, the longer you’ll probably want to do it, but don’t feel pressured. Just take it one day at a time.

Talk to Someone (Or Even to Yourself)

If you have someone in your life that you can confide in, it helps to tell them what you’re going through. Sometimes just getting your feelings out can help relieve negative tension. It’s not wise to keep all of those depressed and repressed feelings bottled up for long stretches of time. If you don’t have someone else to talk to, sometimes talking through it with yourself (or a Higher Power that you believe in) each day is just as effective. And of course, talking to a qualified therapist who understands depressive disorders is also a good idea.

If you’re suffering from depression, you certainly aren’t alone. Even high profile celebrities with lots of money and fame, who seem to have great lives, report that they have experienced bouts of depression. Try changing up your routine, lifestyle and diet to manage your depression and overcome those negative feelings. It’s also important to seek the counsel of a trusted professional if it gets worse — talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can really help you get some relief and see things in a more positive light.

Seeing the Light

Posted by Jade

 

 

How to Take Power Naps

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Power naps (quick naps during the daytime) are magical. Experts say that short naps during the day can give you a boost of energy and more memory power. They also help you to make better decisions throughout the day. The “power” in a power nap is that you get just enough rest to re-energize yourself for the rest of your day, yet you get that energy in a minimal amount of time that doesn’t disrupt your day. A good daytime nap is also better for you than drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee. Here are a few quick tips for how to take a power nap.

  1. Limit your power nap to 40 minutes.

It can be tempting to keep hitting the snooze button when you’re napping (just 10 minutes more), but for a power nap to work while not disrupting your daily schedule it shouldn’t last for more than 20-40 minutes. During that time frame, you’re in what is called “slow wave sleep,” which boosts your decision making skills and memory. If you sleep longer than that, you may find it more difficult to wake up in time to resume your day. So schedule your alarm to wake you up in exactly 40 minutes. Get right up and get back to work.

  1. Turn off the television during your nap.

When you close your eyes to take a power nap, you shouldn’t be distracted by things that could make you want to open your eyes again. You need to be completely relaxed. So if you’re taking your power nap at home, turn off the television. If you decide to take a power nap in your car, turn off the radio when it’s playing loud music or news shows.

  1. Listen to a motivation tape while you nap.

If you do choose to keep something on in the background while you’re taking a power nap, it should be a motivational tape or audiobook. Not only does the sound of your favorite author soothe you to sleep, it also helps implant positive messages in your mind that you can carry with you for the rest of the day. If you decide to wear earphones when listening to the audiobook, just make sure that the same device you’re using (such as a cellphone or iPad) has an alarm set to wake you up in 40 minutes, and that the sound is set at a safe, optimal hearing level.

  1. Keep the light on, but dimmed.

If you are taking a nap in a dark room, you may find it more difficult to get up after just 40 minutes. So when you’re taking a power nap, do so in a room with a dimmed light on or with a bit of fresh sunlight shining into the room.

  1. Don’t get TOO comfortable.

This goes with the last point, but don’t get too comfortable when you’re trying to take a power nap. Just lay back somewhere quiet and relax, whether it’s a reclining chair or a futon couch. Avoid getting snuggled up under the comfy comforter in your bedroom where you might feel as if you’re going to sleep for a full eight hours.

  1. Press pause on the stresses of the day.

This is possibly the most difficult part of successfully taking a power nap. You have to clear your mind and release stressful thoughts in order to fall asleep quickly. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself thinking for 40 minutes instead of slow-wave sleeping. When you need help relaxing, try this breathing technique for falling asleep in 60 seconds. Here are some meditation exercises you can try as well.

If you’re having a problem with staying focused or you’re lacking energy, try taking a power nap. It might become your go-to solution for being more productive and attentive as you navigate your day.

 

How to Save Money on Paper Towels

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Confession: I am a habitual hand washer. Yes, I admit it. I wash my hands at least 15-20 times per day—especially when I’m cooking or cleaning the kitchen. And because of this, I use a whole lot of paper towels. I could go through a whole roll of towels in a day if I spend enough time in the kitchen. This can become a very expensive habit being that a multi-pack of paper towels at BJs or Costco costs well over $20.

So I decided it was time to figure out how to save money on paper towels. Here is a simple 9-point plan to reduce your usage of paper towels.

  1. Place a large hand towel near your sink to dry your hands.

This should be a towel that’s bigger than a standard hand towel and extra fluffy, so invest in a good one. Hang it from a towel rack over your sink so that you have easy access. Throw the towel in the laundry every week or so.

 

  1. Place another absorbent small towel in a convenient place that’s only for drying dishes.

Dedicate this towel just to drying your dishes—no hand drying or wiping the counter tops with it. Hang it on your stove or dishwasher. Keep a pile of clean, dry ones handy.

 

  1. Reserve a few large old towels to do big clean ups.

For those big messes, keep an old or tattered large towel or two under your sink. Wipe up the mess and throw the towel in the laundry pile (preferably with similar dirty cloths that come into contact with the floor or your pets).

 

  1. Purchase only rolls of paper towels that have half-perforated sheets.

When you’re shopping for paper towels, choose select-a-size rolls that allow you to take a half a sheet instead of a whole one. You may find that in most cases, a half of a sheet is more than enough.

 

  1. Place a basket next to your paper towel holder for sheets that can be used again.

There are some instances where you might use a sheet of paper towel for a quick, clean job, and it can be used again for wiping something down. Put a small basket near your roll of paper towels to hold these re-usable sheets.

 

  1. Get a bottle of hand sanitizer to use whenever you feel the urge to wash your hands.

When you’re cooking, cleaning up, and handling raw meats, use the hand sanitizer to quickly disinfect your hands. Shake them out a little and let them hand dry instead of using a sheet of paper towel.

 

  1. Keep a $1 box of tissues in your kitchen for sneezing.

When you need to blow your nose or sneeze, a sheet of paper towel really isn’t necessary. Just go to the dollar store and get a $1 box of tissue for those moments.

 

  1. Use paper bags to drain excess oil out of fried foods.

Instead of using a bunch of paper towels to sop up excess oil from fried foods, use leftover paper bags. You might not want to put your food directly on the bag, so just lay one or two paper towels on top of the paper bag as a buffer and then put the food on top. (Reducing or eliminating fried foods from your family’s diet is also a great idea!)

 

  1. Use disinfectant wipes to clean off your countertops and surfaces.

Chances are, you use disinfectant wipes (like the Lysol brand) a lot less often than you reach for paper towels. Use one wipe each day to disinfect your countertops in the morning before you start cooking—that way, you can feel more confident that your surfaces are clean throughout the day. Resist the urge to use a paper towel or another disinfecting wipe unless you accidentally spill meat juice on your counter top.

 

You may find that there aren’t many good reasons for buying and using paper towels on a regular basis if you take these simple steps to save money on paper towels. Simple solutions!

Posted by Jasmine

Yard Workout: Burn Calories Doing Yard Work

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It’s estimated that you can burn as many as 450 calories per hour while doing yard work.Think about that the next time the grass needs trimming or the garden needs some tending!

How awesome is it that you can burn calories while beautifying your property. Here are a few ways to turn common yard work duties into an intense full body workout.

Preparing for Your Yard Workout

Before you begin any exercise it is of the utmost importance that you are well hydrated before, during and after the activity. You should also consume a well-balanced meal a couple of hours before beginning. It’s also important to stretch your legs, back and arms before getting started. If you have health concerns, consult a doctor before beginning any new health regimen.

Raking the Yard

Flickr/donhomer

One common outdoor chore is raking the yard when it’s full of leaves. Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart while maintaining good posture. Use long sweeping motions to gather debris with the rake, and as you stretch forward bend your knees and engage your core. Make sure that you alternate sweeping motions from left, right and front. Do this at a pace that will raise your heart rate. These motions also force you to engage your legs, back and arms. Make small piles of debris and move onto the next area.

When all the piles are completed, it’s time to throw the debris into the trash bin. Do squats. With your feet shoulder width apart, stand over the pile of debris, do a power squat down as low as you can go, grab debris with both hands, lift your body up and throw the leaves into the bin. Repeat these steps for all piles (take a break if needed).

Tidying the Yard

Even if it’s not the fall season, you probably have debris on your property that accumulates throughout the week, such as papers, branches and sticks. Every time you find something new, do five jumping jacks or 10 standing leg lifts (put your hands on your hips and alternate lifting your legs forward or to either side). When you’re done doing your reps, bend at the knees to pick up the debris.

Mowing the Lawn

Flickr/seanhobson
Most modern day stand up mowers are self-propelled, meaning there is no need to actually push the mower (it goes on its own; you just guide it). Turn off the self-propelling feature so that you’ll be forced to actually push the mower for a period of time. You can always turn it back on if you get tired. Mowing the lawn using your own power will raise your heart rate and make you burn calories. Remember: it’s important that you periodically take breaks and rehydrate with either cold water or a sports drink that contains electrolytes.

It’s totally possible to get a great full body workout when doing yard work. When you think about your chores in this way, they are less daunting and go by faster. While doing your yard workout,  concentrate on your breathing, good posture and hydration.

Have fun losing those pesky pounds!!

Posted by Eve

 

Photo credits: Flickr/donhomer, Flickr/seanhobson

 

 

How to Clean and Deodorize a Musty Carpet

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Whether you have pets or not, musty odors can find their way into your carpets or area rugs. The removal of these odors requires a little effort, but is well worth it compared to the cost of replacing your carpets. Here are a few ways that you can eliminate these odors before spending hundreds on a brand new carpet at your local home improvement store.

Vinegar Mist

Flickr/anneh632

Removing a stubborn, musty odor that has set into your carpet fibers can be a challenge, but it’s not an impossible feat. You can accomplish the removal of odors with a common household ingredient. Purchase an extra large spray bottle that has a “mist” setting. Add 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Spray your entire carpet with this solution liberally and refill it necessary.

Your house will smell like vinegar for a while, but the smell will soon leave. Allow your carpet to fully dry for at least 24 hours. When carpet is fully dried you can add a fragrance easily in the same way. Add 1-2 tablespoons of either vanilla, orange or lemon extract to an empty spray bottle and fill the bottle with water. Spray the mixture over the entire carpet again using the “mist” setting. You want the carpet damp, but not soaking wet. Again allow the carpet to fully dry for at least 24 hours. You may be very pleased with the new scent.

Baking Soda Tip for Musty Carpets

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. It absorbs bad scents from the carpet so that you can easily remove them. So just sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet liberally. Allow the baking soda to remain on the carpet for at least two hours to absorb the odors. Then slowly vacuum the entire area. Do this at least twice per month to keep the funk away. This product (Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh) is great for carpets if you have pets (I’ve seen a version of it at Dollar Tree).

Resolve Easy CleanFoam Carpet Cleaning Solutions

Foam carpet cleaners are also available on the market that basically do the same job as baking soda. Just allow the foam to totally dry and absorb the odor, and then vacuum. Running a hard bristled janitor’s broom over the carpet might help the process of pulling odor and dirt out of the fibers before vacuuming.

Resolve sells an easy-clean carpet system for about $20 that includes the foam and upright cleaning brush. It may take a while to clean a large carpet with it, but it’s a good way to get some exercise.

Carpet Shampooer

Flickr/flossyflotsam

The best way to thoroughly rid your carpet of a musty smell and give it a good cleaning is to use a carpet shampooer. The carpet cleaning machines that you might find at a department store are pretty expensive, but Amazon sells a few for under $100 (like this one and this one). You can also rent one at a grocery store once or twice per year. Use a vinegar solution or another cleaning solution to thoroughly clean and deodorize your carpet.

When the dirt and grime is completely removed from the carpet after shampooing, there is one last step. A “trick” to totally removing odors from your carpet and replacing them with a fresh scent, is to add a capful of your favorite liquid fabric softener to the cleaner reservoir and add warm water. Redo the carpet as if you are shampooing. By doing this you will not only soften the fabric of your carpet, but also create a long lasting fragrant aroma throughout your home. (You can also put 1/2 of a cap of fabric softener in a large spray bottle filled with water and spray it manually about 6″ away from the carpet.)

Flickr/jeepersmedia

Good luck getting that musty odor out of your carpet!

Posted by Lorraine

Photo credits: Flickr/anneh632, Flickr/flossyflotsam, Flickr/jeepersmedia