8 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags

Though you may try your hardest to avoid them, you might find that plastic grocery bags still float their way into your life.  When friends and family visit us towing gifts and the occasional casserole, these items always seem to arrive in plastic grocery bags.  But even if you have purchased reusable grocery/shopping bags, you can find alternate uses for the plastic bags you have acquired.

1. Stuffing For Crafts:  Use plastic bags (along with other materials) to add "bulk" to your craft items.
2. Stuffing For Accessories:  Stuff into unused purses and/or shoes to help retain their shape.
3. Protect Hands:  Use plastic bags as "gloves" to protect your hands when cleaning with harsh chemicals (such as bleach or ammonia) or when using polishes/dyes.
4. Protect Shoes:  Use a bag to cover your shoes when going into a particularly muddy area.
5. Inhibit Ice:  At night, tie a plastic bag around your car's side mirrors to keep them ice-free in the morning.
6. Paint Protectors:  When painting, use masking tape to affix plastic bags to items that you don't want covered in paint.
7. Suitcase Protectors:  Use a plastic bag to keep dirty soles off of other items in your suitcase.
8. Line Garbage Cans:  Use plastic bags to line small garbage cans (such as in a bathroom).

Condiments That Are Good For You

I stumbled upon this article when searching for healthy benefits of sauerkraut: 9 Condiments That Are Good For You.

1. Ketchup (lowers risk of cardiovascular disease)
2. Buckwheat honey (fights aging)
3. Rosemary (eliminates foodborne carcinogens)
4. Horseradish (detoxes your body)
5. Olive oil (boosts long-term memory)
6. Cinnamon (stabilizes blood-sugar levels)
7. Hot Sauce (curbs appetite)
8. Sauerkraut (eases digestion)
9. Black pepper (guards against cancer)

Visit the article link (above) for recommended daily doses and detailed information on each condiment.

Organize Your Baby Bibs

When we first brought Emmy home from the hospital, we used to store her bibs in her dresser.  Needless to say, I got sick of running back and forth from her room just to grab a bib or a burpcloth.  I wanted to store her bibs in the kitchen.  To me, that was the most logical and practical place.  I looked all over the place trying to find a "bib organizer" that would hold all of her bibs.  I seriously considered hanging one on the back of her high chair (the kind with pockets).  But, if you know anything about me, you know that I like things out of sight when not in use.  Especially baby stuff.  That's when I thought of a simple and super-cheap way to make my own.  I had an unused curtain rod lying around, and I decided to mount it directly to the back of one of our cupboard doors, hanging the bibs on the rod.  It's also quite versatile.  Later when bibs are no longer needed, you can use it as a kitchen towel bar, a mug holder (hanging mugs from their handles), or a pot/pan lid holder (depending on how low it hangs and how much room you've got).

Living Greener with SodaStream

This nifty little product helps you to make your life a little greener - and still drink the soda you love.  No more plastic bottles and/or cans to throw away!  SodaStream carries soda makers (that add carbonation), soda mixes (in a variety of flavors, including diet flavors), reusable bottles (useable for up to 2 years), and extra carbonators (for when you need a CO2 refill for your maker).

Soda mixes start as low as $4.99 depending on where you find them.  Each bottle of mix makes 12 liters (equivalent of 33 cans) of soda.  There are also Flavor Essences that make lightly flavored sparkling water, Sparkling Tea mixes, Energy Drink mixes, and Sparkling Juice mixes.

To find out more about SodaStream, and where to buy it, please visit the SodaStream website by clicking here.

Story Time for Children

The public library in our old hometown used to have a phone service especially for children.  Parents could call in for their children and a recording would play, reading the child a story.  It got me wondering if other libraries did something similar, and I started searching for all the story-by-phone services that I could find. 

Here is the list I've compiled:

Ada Public Library
(208) 362-0181 x7

Arapahoe Library District
(303) 220-8935

Bemis Public Library
(303) 795-3960

Benicia Public Library
(707) 746-4339

City of Corona Library
(951) 739-4989

Community Library (Ketchum)
(208) 726-0033
Visit their website

Denver Public Library
(720) 865-8500

Elyria Public Library
(440) 323-3333

Henry County Library
(660) 885-4400

Indianapolis Marion County Library
(317) 275-4444

Montrose Regional Library
(970) 249-9302

Mountain View Library
(650) 903-6771

Newton Free Library
(617) 796-1415

Reading Friends Telephone Line
(206) 279-5359

Rodman Public Library
(330) 821-8355

Sacramento Public Library
(916) 441-1234

Salem-South Lyon District Library
(248) 437-6431 x543

San Leandro Library
(510) 577-6067

Santa Cruz Public Library
(831) 420-5780

Sunnyvale Library
(408) 730-7333

Winston County Library
(662) 773-3566

Woodruff Community Library
(928) 524-4748

Please keep in mind that many of the stories change weekly.  Also, you should have free long distance before letting your children call any of these numbers (as they are not toll-free).

Organizing Your Kitchen Spices

This is a great way to utilize the unused space on the side of your fridge.  You can organize a magnetic spice rack - one that can "grow" as needed.  You can use it for just your staple spices, or you can put your entire spice collection in one convenient space:

There are tons of different magnetic spice jars to choose from.  As I am always looking for a bargain, I went with the cheapest ones I could find.  I found mine at Pfaltzgraff.  The best thing about these jars is the clear lid.  When labeling them, you can just write with a Sharpie if that's your preference.  I personally like a more "professional" look.  I opted to purchase clear labels for my jars, because in most cases I prefer things uniform and simple.  Though, I think making your own artistic labels would also be incredibly pretty.  I bought my labels at Organize.com.  I altered them by cutting off the rounded edges (I like straight lines).  Incidentally, this was also the largest collection of printed labels I could find (set of 96).

I've had a few people ask where I purchased my stainless steel kitchen magnets (that appear to the left of the spice jars).  I bought them here and there from different places, and I honestly can't remember where because it's been a while.  But I did manage to find them on Amazon.  I've included them in the product carousel below (with a few other neat little matching stainless steel accessories).

 

8 Uses for Baby Wipes

I have often told my husband that when our little girl is no longer wearing diapers, I will still keep baby wipes in the house (regardless of the addition of any children).  Why?  Because they are AWESOME!  There are so many little uses for baby wipes that I never considered until we had Emmy:

1. After Dinner Wipe - After eating a terribly messy meal (such as ribs or bbq chicken), baby wipes make the perfect "cleaner-upper" for hands and faces.
2. Soothing Wipe - Baby wipes make great soothing solutions to a nasty sunburn.
3. Makeup Wipe - The perfect makeup remover!  No time spent putting solutions onto wipes or cotton, and no icky "oily" residue left behind.
4. Cleansing Wipe - When you can't wash a cut or scrape in a sink, these make great cleansing alternatives to use before applying ointment and a bandage.
5. Dusting Wipe - Everything from keyboards to bathroom sinks can be "dusted" with a baby wipe.
6. Blotting Wipe - Baby wipes can blot up small spills from upholstery and carpet.
7. Auto Wipe - Keeping wipes in your car can provide you with cleanup from pumping gas or eating on-the-go.
8. Workout Wipe - Baby wipes are great for cleaning up after a workout.  Use them to wipe your brow (or other sweaty parts, if needed) or to clean off equipment.

BONUS:  You can also use the empty baby wipes containers to store small items such as: sewing supplies, loose change, plastic bags, first-aid supplies, et cetera.

Free LEGO® Magazine

Get the LEGO^® Club (or LEGO^® Club Jr.) Magazine free for 2 years!  Go here to signup:  LEGO Club Magazine.

Dishwasher Energy Savers

Here is a list of things that you can do with your dishwasher that will save you energy (and money) in the long run:

1. Stop washing your dishes by hand.  Dishwashers actually use less water, and subsequently, less heat.
2. Let dishes air dry in lieu of heat drying.
3. Rinse dishes in cold water.  Oftentimes, cold water will do the same job with less energy.
4. Do not use the "rinse & hold" feature on your dishwasher.
5. Fill the dishwasher completely before running it. 

Perpetual Produce Calendar

I have always wanted to grow things: spices, fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, you name it.  Alas, I do not have (nor will I ever likely have) a "green" thumb.  In fact, I have a downright brown, wilted thumb.  However, if I was good at managing any kind of garden, I would use this handy little produce calendar.  It tells you (by region) which months are best for planting and harvesting.  Actually, they also tell you when certain produce is in season (for buying), so I might get some use out of this little calendar after all...

To check out this perpetual calendar, click here.

Scrapbook Deals

I have always wanted to scrapbook, but truth be told - I would probably not have the patience.  I may try my hand at it eventually, but for now it's not something I feel confident enough to venture into.  In the meantime, I will share with you some of the great scrapbook deals that can be found online everyday.  The following websites offer one scrapbook-related deal each day:

Crop Chocolate
Peachy Cheap
Flowers to Flourishes
Scrapbook Steals

Free MP3 from eMusic

Here is another music freebie.  Gotta love these!  I've found so many interesting artists that I never knew existed - simply by visiting these free music sites.  Everyday eMusic offers a new, free MP3 available for download.  You can't listen to the entire song before you download it, but they do offer short clips to listen to (around 30 seconds-ish).  To see what song is available today, click here.

Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil

I use essential oils for tons of things around our house.  This is a list of some of my favorite things to do with peppermint essential oil:

1. Energize Your Workout:  Mix about 50 drops of peppermint essential oil with 1 cup of water and place in a spray bottle.  Use the bottle to spritz your yoga mat or exercise equipment.  Alternatively, you can skip the middleman and just inhale the oil scent prior to working out.
2. Freshen Your Home:  Use the same mixture above to make a spray for your home.
3. Stay Alert When Driving:  Take an old, worn out, hanging automobile air freshener (or make a brand new one out of simple felt).  Place a few drops of peppermint oil onto the air freshener and hang from the car mirror or in front of vents. 
4. Keep Socks/Shoes Fresher:  Place a few drops on the bottoms of your socks.
5. Wake Up:  Drop a tiny amount onto the shower floor about 1-2 minutes before entering the shower.
6. Calm Stomach:  Inhale a bit of peppermint oil from the bottle when you have slight stomach upset or sea sickness.
7. Relax:  Mix 1/8 cup water with 12 drops peppermint oil.  Use the mixture to rub on temples or to massage aching muscles.
8. Remain Sharp at Work:  Purchase a diffuser (a reed diffuser is recommended for safety reasons) and use peppermint oil with it.  Keep it at your work station to inhale as the day wears on.
9. Bath Time:  Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with some epsom salt and add to running bath water. 

Free Munchkin Music Downloads

The Munchkin website is currently offering free musical downloads (mp3 format).  There are two albums being offered: "Mozart Wombsong Collection" and "Mozart Toddler Collection."  Head on over to this link and download them before the offer expires:  Click HERE for Free MP3s.

B&N Kids' Club Birthday Freebies

When you join the Barnes & Noble Kids' Club, you can receive discounts, rewards, and (YAY!) birthday freebies!  On their birthday, your child will receive a free cupcake (from the in-store cafe) and a free digital book (created on tikatok.com).  To join, click here.

Free MP3 at VolumeVote

Every single day VolumeVote gives away 1 free MP3.  There is a handy little "play" button, so you can hear the song before you download it, to be sure it's something you might want in your playlist.  While you're there, don't forget to give the song a vote.  To see what song is being offered today, click here.

Makeup Palette Organizer

The UNII makeup organizer is a must-have for those of us who like to carry multiple makeup items with us at all times.  This neat little palette is magnetic and holds onto each metallic makeup "pan."  It can hold brushes, shadows, blushes, glosses, et cetera.  The best feature is that all your makeup can be stored in one place to make the transition from "day" to "evening" makeup that much easier!  Nifty!  Click here to check it out!

Nature's Cure Acne Treatment (Tablets and Cream)

For those of you who know me personally, you know that once a month I tend to breakout - horribly.  And these are no "normal" breakouts; I get terrible cystic acne along my jawline.  It's incredibly painful and it lasts for weeks.  It starts about a week before my "aunt" visits, it stays for the duration of "her" visit, and it doesn't go away until about a week after "she" has left.  So... THREE weeks with a broke out face, and ONE week of near-clarity.  That's an appalling ratio!  I had very mild acne as a teenager, but after Emmy was born, my skin just became a mess.  I have tried more acne products than I can count on both hands, and I was getting fed up and desperate.

A friend of mine recommended that I try Nature's Cure Two-Part Acne Treatment System (for Women).  I have to say, it worked tremendously for me - in the beginning.  After only 3 days of taking the tablets, my face was smoothing out considerably (acne marking/scarring still remained and needed additional products to treat, but that's to be expected).  The cream that comes with this kit is your standard benzoyl peroxide (5%) cream and does what all the other ones do - dries existing pimples out.  It should be noted that the cream does nothing for cystic acne, because that acne is too deep under the skin. 

On the third day of taking the tablets, I noticed a red rash developing across my clavicle (right under my neck).  I really wanted the rash to have a different origin, because the pills were working phenomenally.  I continued taking the pills and the rash continued to spread - downward.  I stopped taking the pills, almost hoping that the rash would get worse (or at least remain) so I could know that the pills weren't causing it.  The rash went away after a few days of not taking the pills.  Once my acne flared-up again, I resumed the pills.  The rash came back after 2 days this time.  I thought I was having an allergic reaction, and it resulted in me doing a bit more research on this product.  I found out that one of the active ingredients is "candida albicans," in layman's terms... yeast.  After further research, I discovered that an abundance of yeast in your system can actually cause a rosacea-like rash in individuals who are sensitive.  :(

I have since moved on to other products, but I may try the men's formula in the future.  According to the website, either formula can be taken by any sex (as per their FAQs page).  The men's formula does not contain yeast.  The differences between the two formulas is 3 ingredients.  The men's formula has omitted the (1) yeast, (2) potassium bromide, and (3) frost weed and replaced them with (1) marigold, (2) golden seal, and (3) wild licorice.

I did not get the results I wanted with Nature's Cure, but I'm not ready to close the door on them just yet.  After all, the tablets did do their job initially.  They still have a 3-part facial cleansing system (similar to other 3-part anti-acne systems), the men's formula tablets, and a 2-part cleansing system.  With the additional products that they offer, I'm not ready to write them off.  And I'm not completely at a loss.  If nothing else, this ordeal has taught me to be extra-mindful of products that I put into my body.

Zapzyt Maximum Strength - Acne Spot Treatment

This acne gel boasts 10% benzoyl peroxide (the highest concentration you can currently buy over-the-counter).  It worked to dry out existing pimples, but did nothing to actually prevent acne from rearing its ugly head.  It also does not dry out cystic acne, as it is so deep beneath the skin.  Because it has a tendency to dry out the skin, it is best used as a spot treatment only.  Some people swear that benzoyl peroxide dyes fabrics, but I have never had issues with it.  I let it dry before I put anything near my face.  As with all benzoyl peroxide products, avoid excessive sun exposure and wear a sunscreen.  Overall, this product seems to be a suitable spot treatment, but other steps are needed in my personal skincare routine to prevent acne and to reverse acne damage.