Author |
Message |
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - 7:08 pm
Thank you Karen! Another tip about your drains: Coca-Cola is so corrosive that it makes an excellent, less-chemical drain-cleaner. It is not going to break stuff up and scour the inside of the drain like Draino and it’s compatriots, but it works pretty darn well for general drain maintenance. Here’s what you do: After everyone has showered in the morning (or at night when you are done using the bathroom), pour 1 can to 1 liter of Coke down the drain. Don’t add any water - the coke will splash and leave brown sticky spots, but those will rinse off the next time you shower. Do this for 3 or 4 days running. If you do this every two months (or so - more often if you leave a lot of hair in the bathroom, etc.), your drains should stay free and clear. To take this up to the next level, pour 1 cup of baking powder down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar, and follow that with 1 gallon of boiling water. But if your drain is generally okay and you just need basic maintenance, Coca-Cola should work just fine. Coca-cola will dissolve a nail in four days. You can use it to clean off corrossion on your car battery terminals, too.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 7:21 am
What do you know about carbon monoxide poisoning? #1. It's deadly #2. It is a silent killer #3. You can protect yourself from it #4. Get prepared! Install an alarm. #5. Click on this website for all the details,TIPS AND HINTS, and warnings. Keep your family safe!
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 8:19 am
How to Find the Fuse Box or Circuit Breaker Box The circuit breaker box or fuse box is the site that receives your main electrical services and regulates the flow of electricity into different parts of the house. If you're performing electrical maintenance or experience a loss of electrical power in only one part of the house, you'll need to find the circuit breakers or fuse box. Steps Look for your box now, before you are in the dark! Check the garage first. If service is fed from above ground, follow the wires from the pole on the street to the box. The fuse box or circuit breaker box will be a metal or plastic box attached to the wall, about the size of a shoebox. Look for the breaker box (fuse box) in the basement next, if you didn't find it in the garage. In some homes or apartments you will find the breaker box in a bedroom. Ask a neighbor where his or her fuse box is located if the box is neither in the garage or basement, or if you are in an apartment building. Open the box and look inside for the fuses or circuit breakers. The most typical fuses are screw-type fuses. They look like bottle caps and usually have an amp rating written on the side. Do not remove them. Breakers are small slide-switches labeled "ON" and "OFF." Tips & Warnings Circuit breakers and fuses guard against fires and electrocution by tripping (breakers) or blowing (fuses) to cut off the power supply if wires are in danger of overheating. Older houses usually have fuse boxes instead of circuit breakers. Working with an electrical system is potentially dangerous. If you are not sure of your abilities, call an electrician. Get a licensed electrical contractor to help with complicated repairs. Never stick a penny behind a fuse and screw it back in. This will disable the fuse's safety feature by not allowing it to explode when it needs to. Write down next to each breaker switch what area of the house it controls. If it is the Master Bedroom the label should say that. If it is just the microwave and refrigerator, put that on the label. Overall Things You'll Need When Looking for the Box or Working on the Box Flashlight
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 8:21 am
Hope everyone was ready for this huge cold front!
|
Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 9:21 am
Oh, that brings to mind another tip (to me anyways) know where the water and gas shut off are, have the tools to do it, and know you can before there's an emergency. Living in California, the gas shut off, having a wrench the right size and knowing where it is is something I think most of us know to do, but I'd never given a thought to the water shut off. Why would I need to do that? We'd lived in the house a couple years and had had some bad freezing temp nights several nights in a row. Darren left for work early in the morning and I'd gotten the kids ready to drop off at grandma's and then head to work myself. As I was getting ready to leave, I noticed water shooting from the sky and went out back to investigate. The pipe for the backyard faucet had frozen and broke. I ran out front and it took me twenty minutes to find the shut off thingie, then I had to search for the two pronged long metal pole thingie (dontcha love my tool terms, lol?) that we used to turn off the sprinkler valves. When I got back to the shut off, I spent several minutes trying to turn it off and couldn't and got soaking wet. My nieghbor works for the water company and usually when he's out running around town in the morning he'll stop by his house to fill up on coffee or ice water. I got lucky that he pulled up as I was struggling. He grabbed the big turn off pole thingie they use and came running to help. I felt incredibly stupid. We'd lived here long enough I should have known where the shut off valve for the water main was. I should also have known where the tool was to turn it off. That afternoon I had Darren show me how to turn it off, then we made sure the wrench for the gas shut off was in the right place, checked that I could indeed shut off the gas in an emergency, and put the water tool thingie in the garage with the gas shut off wrench. Neighbor guy came over and helped Darren wrap the faucet pipes and brought us some boxes to set over the valves for the sprinklers so we wouldn't have any more burst pipes too.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 2:47 pm
Thanks for the tip, Wargod! Yes, we all need to be better prepared.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, October 13, 2006 - 2:59 pm
Cleaning Products From Your Kitchen! 1. Non-stick cooking spray: If you own a lawnmower, spray the blades with it before you cut the grass. The grass will come right off. Non-stick cooking spray on the grill of your car will ensure bugs wipe off easy too. 2. Olive oil: Take one cup of olive oil and add it with a quarter cup of vinegar...you' ll have a great furniture polish. 3. Dry mustard: Great for removing odors! Whether your plastic dishes have a smell, or even your hands if you’ve been dealing with fish...this will remove the smell. 4. Lemon flavor drink mix: Great for removing rust in your dishwasher. 5. Mayonnaise: Fantastic for removing heat or moisture marks on wood. 6. Molasses: Will remove grass stains from white leather shoes. 7. Meat tenderizer (the unseasoned kind): Don’t use seasoned tenderizer! Put this on blood stains for removal. 8. Potatoes: Great for rubbing on red mud stains. 9. Vodka: Great for cleaning jewelry. Good for cleaning grout in tile too.
|
Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, October 13, 2006 - 3:27 pm
Lemon flavor drink mix: Great for removing rust in your dishwasher that's really scary!!!! thanks for the reminder about mayo!
|
Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Friday, October 13, 2006 - 8:02 pm
Vodka: Great for cleaning jewelry. Good for cleaning grout in tile too. Good to know! I have tiled countertops in the kitchen and I've tried everything to clean between them. Awesome! Mayonnaise: Fantastic for removing heat or moisture marks on wood. Again, good to know! I can never be bothered to use a coaster... Molasses: Will remove grass stains from white leather shoes. I can't even imagine what kind of brave soul actually figured this one out. I don't know if I'd try it, even if someone promised me it actually worked, LOL.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 1:41 pm
The Things Shampoo Can Do! Shampoo makes an excellent all-purpose stain remover. Shampoos contain grease cutters and ingredients to lift grime and dirt away. It's also great to use if clothing gets stained while traveling. Most hotels put small bottles of shampoos in the rooms. Shampoo will remove ring-around-the-collar stains from dress shirts. Simply rub the shampoo into the stain and wash as usual. Add a teaspoon of baby shampoo to a quart of water and water seedlings. This solution will soften the soil and make it easy for seedlings to push through.
 Soak hairbrushes and combs in warm water with a capful of shampoo for 20 minutes. The shampoo will remove the hair oils. Shampoo makes a great substitute for shaving cream. Another option is to pour it into the tub for a nice bubble bath. Use shampoo as a makeup remover. Just rub it on and remove with a cloth, then use skin cleanser as normal. Dilute leftover baby shampoo and use to remove eye makeup. Use VO5 Herbal Shampoo (the pear-mango-passion one for dry hair) as a shower gel for a fraction of the cost of "real" shower gel.
Mix a good smelling shampoo and water together for the kids' bubble maker. Bubbles go everywhere. The soapy bubbles might as well make the house smell good too.
Use "human" shampoo for washing horses. The "purple type" the women use to keep their hair whiter works wonderfully on the red and white paint horses.
Divers and snorkelers often use a drop of baby shampoo on the lenses of their diving masks to keep them fog free for a long time. Just rub one drop on the inside of each lens, rinse briefly in seawater and you're good to go. Use shampoo on my laundry to get out blood stains. Rinse the blood stain with cold water, apply any kind of shampoo, then wash as usual. Use shampoo for cleaning your arts and crafts paint brushes. Just put a drop in the palm of your hand and scrub the brushes vigorously and rinse and repeat until all the paint is gone. The cheaper the shampoo the better, though do not use shampoo with conditioner.
It works well for cleaning the cork handles on old fishing poles.
Kittens and puppies under 6-8 weeks are too young for almost all pet shampoos and flea treatments, but baby shampoo will do the trick. It will not burn their eyes if they are fussing and get splashed, and it will not irritate their very delicate skin. Fleas are not happy with the baby shampoo, though, and the ones that aren't washed away are easily removed from the wet fur. An eye specialist says to wash your eyelashes and brows with baby shampoo several times a day for "dry eye." It sounds ironic, but dry eye is caused by our natural oils, and washing the lashes several times a day and using liquid tear products can help dry eyes. Wash away crusts from your eyes using cotton ball or a small gauze pad well moistened in a solution of a few drops of baby shampoo in an ounce of warm water. Be sure to wash your hands before and after this treatment and to use a separate solution and cotton ball or gauze pad for each eye to prevent cross infection. Liquid antibacterial soap is expensive and maybe not that good for your health. Buy Suave scented shampoo when its on sale at a rock bottom price. Fill a liquid soap dispenser 1/3 full of the low cost Suave and then fill the rest with water. Rotate a few times to mix the solution and you have pretty, scented, soap that's designed to cut grease and oil. An inexpensive bottle of shampoo lasts a long time and costs about 10 cents a refill in your bathroom dispenser.
Swishing in shampoo water followed by a rinse in well-blended hair conditioner water is great for sweaters. A cap or two of conditioner in a sink a little more than half full of semi-warm water will do. After a little swishing, add a little vinegar (or add the vinegar to a whole new rinse) to close the fibres. Keep the water at about the same temperature. Temperature differences will cause the wool to felt. Air drying is best. Pull the damp sweater into shape and size and drape it over a laundry basket or screen, or lay it flat on a surface outdoors where the air is moving, and turn occasionally. This technique will take out some of the scatchiness, though not magic and if sensitive will still probably bother you. Much better than laundry detergent (which can be very harsh) and less expensive than special sweater washing liquids. Shampoo is good for removing marks from sticky labels. From HGTV : My car broke down, and I needed a way to get around, so I rented a car. I came out of the store to find orange paint on the side of it. I drove home in a panic, and tried to think of what could remove it, since plain water and elbow grease wouldn't. I remembered all the other hints for shampoo and figured it wouldn't hurt. It took the paint right off.

|
Racsan
Member
04-09-2004
| Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 7:39 pm
Coca-cola will dissolve a nail in four days. . FALSE - it will NOT dissolve a nail in four days. Either fingernail or iron nail. These and other claims of Coke are Urban legends. There is a much lower concentration of acid in coca-cola than in the healthy orange juice, do we see anybody saying that we shouldn't drink orange juice? You can use it to clean off corrossion on your car battery terminals, too This is an irrelevance, it is well known that any acid will react with metalic oxides. is this suddenly a new thing? of course their are better ways which wont turn you're battery into an iced battery. http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp 1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident. 2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days. 3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl . . . Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. 4. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china. 5. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola. 6. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. 7. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes. 8. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan;rap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. 9. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. FYI: 1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It's pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. 2. To carry Coca Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly Corrosive materials. 3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years! Drink up! No joke. Think what coke and other soft drinks do to your teeth on a daily basis. A tooth will dissolve in a cup of coke in 24-48 hours.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 10:41 am
Thank you Racsan! Any and all tips are welcome. More coke tips: Here is a recepie for the most moist, guilt free cake ever. 1 boxed cake mix 1 can diet coke (not on a diet? any cola works, even no-name brand - try 7-Up for white cake or root beer in spice) Mix and bake at 350º for about 17-20 minutes (no I am not kidding) Eat hot or cool, add fat free cool whip (or real whipped cream) According to Weight Watchers this diet recipe snack is only 3 POINTs a slice. For you Angel food cake lovers 1 Angel food cake mix 1 can of diet Sprite or 7-up (generic works as well) Mix and bake as above and enjoy with Strawberries and free cool whip. (this is also 3 Points for the cake an cool whip, just add points for fruit) Coca Cola Barbequed Chicken is simple, delicious, and brings back sweet memories. Once you try it, you’ll have a tangy sweet memory too! Coca Cola Barbequed Chicken 2/3 stick butter or margerine 1 small onion (diced) 2 cloves of garlic (minced) 1 cup ketchup 1 ½ T. of your favorite yellow mustard ¼ C. brown sugar 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 can Coca Cola 1 3 lb. chicken, or two smaller ones cut up salt and pepper to taste Mix butter or margerine, onion, garlic, ketchup, mustard, and Coca Cola in large heavy sauce pan. Bring to a boil and turn heat down to simmer. Simmer for about 25 minutes stirring often. Place salted and peppered chicken pieces in a heavy casserole dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook at 350 degrees for one hour (covered.) Turn the chicken after 30 minutes. Take the cover off the chicken for the last 20 minutes of baking time.
WARNING: This chicken always gets rave reviews, however, no one believes you when you say you made the sauce with Coca Cola!
|
Callasin
Member
06-21-2005
| Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 2:37 pm
Mythbusters did a great show about all the Coca Cola myths. I think they tried to disolve a coin but it only shined it up.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Monday, October 16, 2006 - 6:30 pm
Click Here! For Virtual Carving Click Here If You DARE! 
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Monday, October 16, 2006 - 8:11 pm
Anyone going to try virtual carving? I'd like to see your results.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 7:48 am
NOVICE DECORATOR'S STYLE NOTEBOOK from Trading Spaces! 1. Shop for New (and Old) Furniture First things first—add these "grown up" basics to your shopping list: Sofa or sofa bed/slipcover Coffee table One comfortable, upholstered club chair One or two wood or metal chairs Add several basic, but stylish, wooden chairs to your shopping list. Tall bookcases or shelving in metal or wood/armoire Side table or small cocktail table next to club chair Table lamps, floor lamp, wall lamps (hung on the wall, these save space) Bed and headboard (could be homemade, a beautiful old door hung horizontally, a piece of shirred fabric on the wall, an old floor screen or shutters) Nightstand Style Tips Don't spend top dollar on a new sofa—scour your local second-hand shops for a deal on that old chesterfield. Relatives are always worth asking: Will your aunt let you have that spare couch stored in her basement? As long as it's clean, its condition doesn't matter. That reliable decorator's staple, the slipcover, hides a multitude of sins. Slipcovers come in a great variety of fabrics and styles. Handsome plaids, funky stripes, romantic florals inject new life to an old piece. Or create your own slipcover using a colorful quilt—tuck and pull to cover for loose, shabby-chic results. A coffee table may serve double duty as an eating and entertaining area so make sure it's sturdy. Opt for the unusual to add flair. A large, old drum found at a flea market, an upholstered ottoman where you can also set a serving tray, a large piece of beveled glass set on two stacks of oversized books. Tall bookcases or open shelving are surefire ways to add instant warmth to your living room. Use two for impact. Make it a point to hunt for discounted hardcover books so you can fill up your shelves with interesting titles. Don't cram too many knick-knacks in with the books—let them speak boldly for themselves. If you're lucky, your small television might fit on one of the shelves where it can hide among the bindings. A club chair found at a tag sale looks great opposite the sofa and provides seating for a visitor, and two traditional wood or modern metal chairs are great for pulling up to the coffee table when guests arrive. Try slipcovers for wood chairs and create an upholstered, Parson's chair effect. Get out the paint and whitewash for a rustic cottage look. Lighting is very important in apartments. Use plenty of low-light lamps with crisp ivory shades for your tables. Lamps can cost hundreds of dollars, so take that pretty old flea market vase to your local electrician—he can wire it and fashion a custom-made lamp for a fraction of the cost. One tall floor lamp is essential for uplighting. And place several inexpensive but effective floor lights, found at hardware superstores, on the floor. They cast an upward glow that instantly brightens. 2. Accessories for Warmth, Color and Style Low-maintenance large plants like philodendron in a handsome pot Realistic silk ficus tree tree tucked in the odd corner Row of live topiaries on a windowsill A beautiful vase for fresh flowers Pottery, porcelain or glass filled with long-lasting, tall green bamboo stalks for drama An elegant, Oriental rug in warm tones or a bright abstract will anchor your room Area rugs can even be placed over boring beige, wall-to-wall carpet to personalize the space A big, rustic floor basket for storing magazines Textured, down-filled sofa pillows that don't match the sofa; try needlepoint, woven tapestries or damasks Plenty of photos of family and friends framed in varying sizes and placed on tables, shelves and countertops A cozy mohair throw strewn over club chair or sofa Clean, crisp, colorful sheets. 3. Walls, Windows and Floors The designer's motto is: If your walls, windows and floors are well taken care of, all else will fall into place. You'll be surprised how attractive curtains, a tasteful arrangement of artwork and thick, quality rugs on your floors really make your room feel warm and complete. Put these on your shopping list: Collection of a series of old botanical prints, maps, paintings of animals or ceramic plates Curtains or shades in colorful, quality fabrics Architectural salvage to create a "built-in" dimensional feeling Paint on the walls, if your landlord agrees Large area rugs in living room and bedroom, even placing on top of wall-to-wall
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, October 20, 2006 - 8:32 pm
New Study by The Federal Government Says Cell Phones Are the #1 Distraction Learn more, click->Drive Now, Chat Later Cell Phones and Driving: Safety Tips You'll survive a missed phone call; you might not survive a collision! Using cell phones while driving is distracting and increases the risk of collision. Your primary concern is the safe operation of the vehicle. To avoid collisions arising from the use of cell phones:
Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message. If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call. If you're expecting an important call, let someone else drive. If you have to make or receive a call, look for a safe opportunity to pull over and park.
If for some reason you have no alternative but to use a cellular phone while driving, here are some tips:
Use only a speakerphone or a hands-free phone. Make sure you put on the hands-free accessories before you start driving. But be aware: hands-free is not risk-free. If you must use a hand-held phone, place it where it will be readily accessible. Trying to retrieve a phone from a briefcase, handbag or pocket can be especially dangerous. Don't answer the phone until you have checked that it is safe to do so.
Use speed dial options. If you know you will need to call an unprogrammed number, dial the number before starting off and send the call at your convenience. Driving and talking on a phone at the same time is difficult. Don't make it worse by trying to read or take notes. Do pull over and stop. Keep calls short and factual. Emotional or thought-provoking conversations are distracting. Recent research suggests that decisions made while driving and talking on a cell phone are not always good decisions.
It's good etiquette to ask a caller to hold until you can park, or to say you'll return the call as soon as it's safe to do so. Stay in the right-hand lane, where driving may be less demanding. When reporting an emergency situation from a cell phone, pull over and ensure you are not in the flow of traffic. If you must keep driving, remember your primary concern is to avoid causing another emergency.
    Free Cell Phones for Emergency 911 Use Many people buy cell phones to keep in the car for "emergency use only." They often pay rates such as $15/month, one-time sign-up $150 service fees. These fees are NOT necessary. You can use a used cell phone to call 911 without paying anything at all. Cell phones are regulated by the FCC. The FCC requirements state that ALL cell phones, regardless of the status of service (or even the lack of service,) shall be able to dial 911. Whether you have a telephone number or not, whether you have signed up for service or not, the cell phone can connect to 911. There are two kinds of cell phones: analog (the old, thick cell phones) and digital (the new, slim phones.) Analog phones are out of fashion because the signal wasn't very clear. But they still work. This means that you can buy an old analog phone for $10 or less at yardsales or the small shops that sell cell phones and pagers. Insist on buying it without service. Be sure to get a cigarette-lighter adapter cord with it (you can buy these at any cell phone store, Target, Walmart, and so on.) You can also buy cell phones without service at www.emergencycellphones.com or eBay.com. Used analog and digital phones sell for less than $25. In many areas, you can place other calls as well. Test this by dialing a friend's number and see what happens. You may get an operator who will offer to place the call for you and bill your credit card. The call may cost as much as $3/minute. You can use this if you have a flat tire or similar. Note about Reprogramming: In some areas, if you press 0 (zero) or dial a number, an operator will answer and ask if you want to charge the call to your credit card. In other areas, no connection will be made. If you want to be able to call roadside assistance, AAA, the police, or a friend, then it's possible to have the cell phone reprogrammed. The reprogramming enables the cell phone to make credit card calls. If you test your phone in your area and it works, and you plan to travel around the country, you may end up in an area where cell phones can't make credit card calls. www.emergencycellphones.com can reprogram phones for about $30. (I have no connection to that company.) Keep the phone in your car under the seat (not in the glove compartment, where things are often stolen.) You don't need to recharge it or keep it charged. Just plug the phone into your car's cigarette lighter. Just plug it in, turn it on, dial 911, and it will work.
 
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 8:41 am
Ten Tips To Decorate For Autumn Autumn is my favorite time of the year! A time for the harvest and for surrounding yourself with the beauty of the warm colors. Your interior should reflect the changing season. Check out these ten home decorating tips for bringing your seasonal senses alive this Autumn! 1. In cooler months, you need warmer colors! Look all around you to discover the harvest colors-pumpkin, cinnamon, amber, wine reds, harvest golds, nutty browns, deep salmon, etc. 2. Time to switch out that summer decor! Bring back the ornate picture frames, deeper colored throw pillows, and fabrics to warm up an interior when the temperature outside is dropping!
  
 3. Candles are a must! Cinnamon Bun, Hazelnut, Pumpkin Spice, Biscotti, Maple-Talk about awakening your senses! 4. Baskets symbolize giving, and Autumn is the beginning of the giving season. Ancient beliefs say that the Harvest is a time to give offerings to nature. Fill beautiful wicker baskets with leaves, twigs, or fruits! They will be a great addition to your decor. 5. Bittersweet, yarrow, berry vines, pumpkins, gourds, golden pears, dark red apples, nuts of all sorts, artificial leaves and flowers are some other great filling ideas for baskets, shelves, bowls, and vases around the house.
  6. Pull out the nature inspired rugs, table top, and linens. Berries, fruits, cornucopias, stripes and patterns in any of the previously mentioned colors! 7. Switch your drapes or blinds. Prepare to keep the cold out, and do it in style! Vintage laces and crochets are a great addition to your seasonal window treatments. 8. The trees seem to age in this season. Follow that theme by switching some of your metallic furnishing (frames, lamps, chimes, hardware) from silver to brass and rust. 9. PATTERNS ARE BACK!!!! Put away your summer solids and geometrics and bring out the inviting patterns. 10. Not many people I know can afford to repaint their walls with the changing seasons! If not, reinvent by changing out your artwork. Happy Harvest and Happy Decorating!!

|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 9:37 am
Maris posted in the Boo thread: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 8:09 am (am reposting here for todays tips) TIPS FOR MOTORISTS: · Motorists should exercise extra caution during peak trick-or-treating hours between 4 and 9 p.m. · Stop for pedestrians · Slow down and obey the speed limit and all traffic signs/signals in residential areas. · Enter and exit driveways slowly. · When driving children to trick-or-treat or to a costume party, make sure all seat belts are fastened and let children out of the car on the curbside. · Be alert for children crossing and darting across the street. · Watch for children crossing between parked cars. · Always look out for pedestrians, especially before turning at a green light or making a right turn on red. · Remember, every time you exit your vehicle, you become a pedestrian too. · Exercise your flex time to beat the afternoon traffic TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS: · Cross at marked crosswalks and intersections. · Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. · Be sure to see and be seen. Avoid dark clothing, wear bright colors and use reflective devices such as vests and blinking lights. · Avoid costumes that may impair vision. · Make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street. · Stay alert and be on the look out for cars traveling above the speed limit.
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 8:27 am
From Versace to Liz Claiborne to The Dollar Store Brand Do You Know What Is Really On The Outside Of Your Purse? It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our purses, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Shauna Lake put purses to the test - for bacteria - with surprising results. You may think twice about where you put your purse. This would also include any briefcase or bag you carry frequently. Purses are carried everywhere. Most women won't be caught without their purses, but did you ever stop to think about where you put your purse? On the floor of your car, on the office break room floor, in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls or on the counter in restrooms near the diaper changing station, restaurants, airports or any other public transportation, and of course in the home which should be clean." We decided to find out if purses harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, then we set out to test the average woman's purse. Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables & counters where food is prepared. Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their purses were at least a little bit dirty. It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist Amy Karren of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, & salmonella & e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick. In one sampling, 4 of 5 purses tested positive for salmonella, & that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the purses," says Amy. Leather or vinyl purses tended to be cleaner than cloth purses, & lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with 1 exception. The purse of 1 single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all; "Some type of feces, or even possibly vomit or something like that," says Amy. So the moral of this story - your purse won't kill you, but it does has the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home & in restrooms, & don't put it on your desk, on a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop. Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. "If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your purse on the countertops, " says Amy. The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help. Wash cloth purses & use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses.

|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 8:38 am
MYTH: The danger from mold is over-hyped. FACT: The following health problems have all been associated with toxic mold: allergies arthritic-like aches asthma bloody noses chronic headaches coughing "crawly" feeling skin depression dizziness or stuffiness epileptic-like seizures equilibrium or balance loss fatigue flu-like symptoms irritation of the eyes, nose or throat loss of memory loss of hearing loss of eyesight nausea restlessness runny nose sinus congestion skin rashes sneezing trouble breathing unexplained irritability upper respiratory distress If you, your family members experience any of these conditions, it may indicate that mold is present in their environment. (Adapted from The National Association of Mold Professionals.) MYTH: You don't need to test for mold because it's easy to find. FACT: If you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions, there could be hidden mold in your home: Is there a musty smell? Can you see a substance that you suspect might be mold? Are there visible signs of water damage anywhere? Does your house suffer from constant moisture or poor circulation? Has your house ever suffered a roof, plumbing or basement leak? Has your house ever suffered a sink or sewer overflow? Has your house ever suffered other water problems? If there are small children or anyone with a compromised immune system living or working in the space, or if you are moving to a new home that you want to make sure is safe, then you should check for mold. Mildew Prevention and Removal In this time of the year you might begin to see mildew, because you've closed up the house for the arrival of winter. Mildew is a thin, often whitish to bluish-green growth produced by molds on many surfaces. Molds are simple plants belonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always present in the air, those that cause mildew only need moisture and a certain temperature in order to grow. Molds that cause mildew to flourish in areas that are damp, warm, poorly lighted or where air is not circulated: basements, crawl spaces of houses without basements and closets. They also grow on draperies, rugs and shower curtains -- anything from which they can get enough food. This includes cellulose products such as cotton, linen, wood, paper and protein substances such as silk, leather and wool. In addition to an unpleasant musty odor, molds and mildew cause considerable damage if permitted to grow. They discolor fabrics and sometimes eat into them until the fabrics rot and fall apart. Leather, paper and wood also become discolored and are eventually damaged by mold and mildew. Prevention is the best mildew policy. If things are kept clean, well- ventilated and dry, your chances of having mildew are greatly lessened. PREVENTION Keep Things Clean Keep closets, dresser drawers, basements - any place where mildew is likely to grow - as clean as possible. Soil on articles can supply enough food for mildew to start growing when moisture and temperature are right. Greasy films, such as those that form on kitchen walls, also contain many nutrients for mildew-causing molds. Get Rid of Excess Moisture 1. Remove the cause. The first step in mildew control is to try to control the dampness inside the home. Cooking, laundering and bathing, without adequate ventilation, adds three gallons of water to the air everyday. Dampness in any structure is caused by condensation of moisture from humid air onto cooler surfaces. 2. Dry the air. Mechanically. Cool air holds less moisture than warm air. Properly- installed air-conditioning systems remove moisture from the air of the living space by taking up warm air, cooling it (removing the moisture) and circulating cool, dry air back into the room. Use dehumidifiers in areas that are not air conditioned, especially the basement. If necessary, heat the house for a short time to get rid of dampness. Then open doors and windows to let out the moisture-laden air. Use an exhaust fan to force it out. Dry air in closets and other small areas with a continuously- burning electric light (60 to 100- watt bulb). The heat from the bulb will prevent mildew if the space is not too large. 3. Circulate the Air. Air movement is very important to removing moisture. When the air outside is drier than the air inside, the dry air enters, takes up excess moisture and then travels back outside. When natural breezes are not sufficient, you can use electric fans. Poorly-ventilated closets get damp and musty during continued wet weather, and articles stored in them are apt to mildew. Try to improve the air circulation by opening the closet doors or by installing a fan. In addition, hang clothes loosely so air can circulate around them. Cooking, laundering, and bathing may add three gallons of water a day to the house, which can cause the moisture build-up unless circulation is adequate. It is often necessary to use some type of exhaust fan. -> Get Rid of Musty Odors Musty odors, which indicate mold growth, are sometimes noticeable in basements and shower stalls. Take special precautions to get rid of musty odors as soon as possible to prevent further objectionable and damaging mold growth. Usually musty odors disappear if the area is well heated, ventilated and dried. If odors remain, the following treatments may be necessary. Basements. Use chlorinated lime (commonly called chloride of lime or bleaching powder) to remove musty odors in basements. Sprinkle this chemical over the floor. Leave it until all mustiness disappears, then sweep it up. Cement and Tile. Scrub cement floors, tiled walls and bathroom floors with a very dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite or any chlorine bleach available in grocery stores. Use one-half to one cup of liquid household bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse with clear water and wipe as dry as possible. Keep windows open until walls and floors are thoroughly dry. Aerosol sprays for cleaning and sanitizing bathroom walls are also available. REMOVAL Clothing and Fabrics Remove mildew spots as soon as you discover them. Brush off surface growth outdoors to prevent scattering the spores in the house. Sun and air fabrics thoroughly. If any mildew spots remain, treat washable articles as described below. Dry-clean non-washable articles. Wash mildew-stained articles once with soap and water, rinse them well and dry them in the sun. If any stain remains, use one of the following bleaches: 1. Lemon juice and salt. Moisten stain with lemon juice, spread on salt and place in the sun to dry. Rinse thoroughly. Use with care on colored fabrics. 2. Perborate bleach. Mix one tablespoon sodium perborate bleach and one pint of water. Use hot water if it won't damage the fabric, otherwise use lukewarm water. Sponge or soak the stained area. Allow to remain one-half hour, then rinse. Test on colored garments first. 3. Chlorine bleach. Mix two tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach with one quart of warm water. Sponge the stain or soak the stained area in the solution. Allow the bleach to remain on the fabric from five to 15 minutes, then rinse. An additional soaking in weak vinegar (two tablespoons to a cup of water) will stop further bleach action. Never use a chlorine bleach on silk, wool, or Spandex fabrics. Some fabrics with wash-and-wear or other special finishes may be damaged by chlorine bleaches. Articles with such fine finishes usually have a warning label or on a hang tag attached to the garment when it is sold. Upholstered Articles, Mattresses First, remove loose mold from outer covering by brushing. Do this outdoors if possible. Run a vacuum cleaner attachment over the surface to draw out more of the mold. Do everything conveniently possible to dry the article, such as using an electric heater. Sun and air the article to stop mold growth. Another way to remove mildew from upholstered furniture is to wipe it with a cloth wrung out in a solution of one part denatured alcohol to one cup of water. Dry thoroughly. Use a fungicide available in aerosol cans to get rid of musty odors and mildew. You can use vapors of paradichlorobenzene or paraformaldehyde in closed areas. Mildew that has reached the padding of cushions and mattresses must be cleaned by a storage company that has facilities for fumigation. Rugs and Carpets To remove mildew stains sponge rugs and carpets with thick, dry soap or detergents suds and wipe clean with a damp cloth, or clean them with an electric shampoo machine. If they are soaked through, the best recommendation is to have it professionally cleaned. Leather Goods To remove mildew from leather goods, wipe them with a cloth moistened with dilute alcohol (one cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to one cup water). If mildew remains, wash with thick suds made from a mild soap or detergent, saddle soap, or a soap containing germicide or fungicide, then wipe with a damp cloth and dry in an airy place. Polish leather shoes and luggage with a good wax dressing. Paper, Wallpaper, Plaster and Books Remove any dry, loose mold from paper with a clean, soft cloth. If mildewed paper is damp, dry it first. To dry wall paper, heat the room for several hours or even days to dry the plaster as well as the paper. Plaster should be dried slowly to prevent cracking. If the mildewed paper is washable, wipe it gently with a cloth wrung out of thick soapsuds, then with clear water. For more stubborn stains, wipe the area with a solution of one quart household bleach in one gallon of water then rinse with clear water. A commercial ink eradicator may also be useful for small stains. To dry books, spread the pages out fan-wise to air. If the books are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder between the leaves to take up the moisture. Leave starch or powder on for several hours, then brush off. Wood Thoroughly clean mildewed surfaces, woodwork, and other wooden parts by scrubbing them with a mild alkali, such as washing soda or trisodium phosphate (eight to 10 tablespoons to a gallon of water), or with disinfectants, such as a quaternary disinfectant or pentachlorophenate. Paint and grocery stores and janitors' supply houses sell these products under various trade names. Rinse the wood well with clear water, and allow it to dry thoroughly, then apply a mildew-resistant paint. Mildew-resistant paints in all colors for outdoor wood surfaces are available for use in untreated paints. If the mold has grown under the paint or varnish, remove all the paint or varnish from the stained areas, then scrub with a solution containing eight to 10 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate and one cup of household chlorine bleach to a gallon of water. Use stronger solutions if necessary. Wear rubber gloves. If the stain remains, apply oxalic acid (three tablespoons to one pint of water). Finally, rinse the surface thoroughly with clear water. Dry well before refinishing. (The acid is poisonous, so handle it carefully).
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Monday, November 13, 2006 - 5:37 pm
Be aware of a vicious fraud that is targeting seniors via email. A series of emails has been circulating, usually with the subject line: "Cost of Living for 2007 Update" and purporting to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). It requests that readers click a link to "update your personal information." Once you click, you go to a site that looks like the official Social Security site, and you're asked to type your Social Security number. The Social Security Administration issued a press release about this. In general, you should NEVER put your Social Security number into a web site, and in general you should be very careful about web sites that are linked from emails. http://www.ssa.gov/
|
Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Monday, November 13, 2006 - 8:55 pm
Thank you, Urgracie!
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 8:42 am
YW Babyruth!
|
Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 2:10 pm
Here's a link to free information on Pet Health Care and Tips. There's a free video and you can also download a free book. http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/videoebook/
|
|
|
|