Berry Dessert

In a beautiful glass or bowl, add a dollop or two of custard, top with fresh berries (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries), and sprinkle confectioner's sugar on top. It's delicious, simple, and a sweet treat. I also think it's a good way to limit custard consumption especially if you share this decadent treat with others. This is a great brunch dessert.

Incorporate Mini-Exercises

Do you think that you have no time to exercise? Think again. Park your car further away from your destination. The additional walking will be good for you.

Strengthen Buttons

To keep your buttons in place for longer, dab the back of the bottom with clear nail polish.

Don't Pop Blisters

Unsightly blister burns should never be popped. As unattractive as they area, popping them will not expedite the healing process. In fact, it can prolong it. By puncturing the blister and opening the wound up, you make it susceptible to infections. Plus, you've now damaged your skin. So your body will have to regrow its skin, which will add to the healing time. Your body will, in its own time, drain the blister. Rinse the blister, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover with a bandage.

Do Not Butter Burns!!!

An outdated, traditional and severely damaging remedy is to apply butter on burns. Butter will retain and raise the heat levels because the butter will start to melt and sizzle. That sizzle is full of heat. Heat that's sitting over your burned skin. Not a good idea. Instead, run cold water over the affected area. Do not, I repeat, do not use ice. Ice can cling to the skin, but it's also an extreme temperature. Going from burning hot to icy cold is a shock to the system. Your body only interprets burn, hot and freezer burns.

Moisturize a Burn

After you've cleansed and thoroughly dried the affected area, with gentle pressure, apply a light layer of moisturizer over the affected area. Burned skin is dry skin. It's important to replenish the moisture its loss to return to its natural state.

For an Eclectic Potluck

For a truly diverse selection of foods, designate everyone to a specific region. (Indian, Japanese, French, Mediterranean, etc.) It's always interesting to see what others arrive with.

Potluck Dinner Parties

A great way to save money and have an eclectic selection of foods is to invite your friends over for dinner and ask everyone to bring a dish. I suggest being organized and assigning everyone a type of dish to bring, so you aren't overwhelmed with four desserts or something like that. (I have an ungrateful friend who constantly bitches because he expects everyone to bring all main dishes, but potlucks are supposed to be freestyle. More importantly, not everyone has the amino acids to break down foods without other accompaniments. For example, some people need rice or vegetables combined with chicken in order for the body to properly digest it. You never know how other peoples' bodies work, so I highly suggest a variety of food. Plus, people are more likely to enjoy it. Four types of chicken for someone who doesn't enjoy chicken isn't very logical or nutritious).

Buffet: Always Have Something Available

When you're serving a buffet, it's best to have two dishes for each item on the menu (two main dishes, two side dishes, etc.) So if one dish gets consumed, there's something else available for others.

One-Utensil Dishes

If you have a buffet, serve one-utensil dishes. It's much easier for your guests to eat off of their laps if they don't have to worry about using a knife and fork to consume their meals. Casseroles, stews, salads, and vegetable accompaniments are ideal. You can also serve satay or other foods on skewers such as tomatoes and mozzarella with basil leaves in between, vegetable kabobs, etc for convenience, both for the guests and the host(ess). Foods served on skewers often taste great at room temperature, an added benefit for buffets.

Eat a Hearty Breakfast!

Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are more alert and energetic, eat less throughout the day, can sustain healthier food choices (because the body isn't over-compensating from low blood sugar levels), and maintain a healthier weight.

A Light and Quick Breakfast

For a light and quick breakfast, make yourself a smoothie in the blender. Milk bases are always favorable, nutritious, and flavorful. For a thicker consistency, try using Kefir milk, which is like yogurt. I recommend getting the plain flavor and adding your flavor of choice with fresh fruit. Frozen blueberries or bananas give it a nice icy texture to it. You can also add strawberries if you'd like. For a healthier boost, you can also add some flaxseed.

Remedy Burned Bread Tops

If your bread burns, use a grater or a good serrated knife to remove the charred area. Then brush the exposed area with egg polk and return the loaf to the oven for two minutes or until brown.

Uses for Stale Bread

Don't throw out stale bread. There are plenty of ways to use them. Depending on the stage of staleness, toasting the bread can reduce the stale flavor. French toast actually works best with stale bread. You can also make your own Croutons and dried breadcrumbs for a chicken recipe. They also work well in creamy soups such as tomato or chowder. Just cubed them and let it soak up the liquids.

Clarify and Establish a Goal

While brainstorming shouldn't be restrictive, it should also be productive and ultimately achieve a goal or come to some sort of conclusion especially with group brainstormings. To prevent too many floaty ideas from dominating everyone's time, a clear goal should be established and acknowledged by everyone present. By understanding what goal(s) they're trying to achieve, their thoughts are more likely to focus and refine to relevant solutions.

Encourage Brainstorming

Sometimes we're overwhelmed by great ideas unpredictably, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't designate time out of your day to focus on exclusive brainstorming. We need inspiration, but we also need to be in a state of mind that's receptive and open to ideas. We have to slow down and take the time to formulate our thoughts. Experts reveal that walking at least thirty minutes every day stimulates cognitive thoughts because it activates both the left and right brain hemispheres that aren't normally engaged when we're sitting still. So I highly recommend taking a walk. This walk is supposed to be freeing and calming, so walk at a steady speed. Always try to walk at the same pace and preferably the same time everyday. This way your body will learn that this is the time to stimulate thought. Then return home to a space designated to brainstorming with all of the necessary supplies, free of clutter.

Brainstorming Supplies

Create an environment that welcomes brainstorming by having the necessary supplies: notepads, pencils, erasers, highlighters, etc. in every room. I'm talking bedroom, bathroom (not pleasant but you never know when an inspiration thought will arise), kitchen, living room, dining area, office room, and even your purse. Always be prepared to be open to innovative ideas.

A Mentally Stimulating Environment

For group brainstorming sessions, select a relaxed environment that's quiet enough that thoughts can form but not uncomfortably silent. Neutral locations are favorable. Don't choose a spot where someone got dumped by a serious signature other. If it isn't too windy, too sunny, and no one isn't suffering from allergies, the outdoors can be a liberating and reinvigorating environment. The sun is a natural energizer. In fact, the color yellow increases mental stimulation. Have food and beverage sources nearby. It's also important to pick a location that's accessible to restrooms.

The Shelf Life for Bread

Fresh bread generally keeps for five to seven days, but the details depends on the weight. The lighter breads evaporate moisture faster, so it get stale quicker. You can prolong its shelf life by storing your bread in the refrigerator. It won't taste as fresh, but you can remedy that by toasting your bread or making French toast with it. For longer shelf life breads, rolls and bagels are preferable.

Recyle an Old Bookcase

Recycle an old bookcase that has weak shelves or one that you want to retire for a better bookcase into an under-the-bed storage unit. Obviously I'm referring to the bookcases with backings. Just add casters on the bottom. You already have built-in shelves and everything.

Breaking in Hiking Boots

It's important to break in your hiking boots before using them. They're stiff and painful just to walk on. Hiking in them can be a recrudesce nightmare. To prevent this experience from occurring, position your boots so only the toe area is on the ground and the back area of the boots are standing upwards. Place your foot on the back of your boots and use your body weight to bend the heel of the boot over the toe. Repeat this process on both sides multiple times until they feel comfortable. Be sure to walk around in them sufficiently before a hiking trip.

Book Swaps

If you have too many books you're no longer interested in, you can throw a book swap among your friends. You can offer a finger food menu or ask everyone to bring a dish and any books they're willing to swap. There are also book swaps available in many cities, as well. Check with your city or local library.

Go Easy on Your Blender

When making frozen beverages in a blender, substitute ice with one or more of the ingredients that's been frozen such as frozen bananas or blueberries. If ice is non-negotiable in your recipe, blend with liquid. The liquid will serve as a buffer. Using the blender as essentially an ice crusher will bend and dull the blades over time.

Layer Blankets for Added Warmth

If you're cold, two light blankets will keep you warmer than one heavy blanket because each layer increases your warmth by about 3%.

Find the Right Blanket

Blankets come in thermal or conventional styles. Thermals are made of cotton or synthetic materials, intended for cooler temperatures and have an open weave design. Conventional blankets are usually made of wool, wool blends, or synthetics and have a tighter weave for warmer comfort.

Growing Charts

Watch your child grow up by marking his growth on a designated wall as he gets older each year on his birthday. Photograph him at the current height each year and add them to your scrapbook.

Gifts of Lessons

Rather than giving a one-time gift, consider offering a gift that keeps on giving such as dance lessons, cooking classes, singing lessons, poetry class, etc. A lot of us have these interests but don't always justify paying for it ourselves, rationalizing that our money should be spent more wisely. It'd be a great treat for a friend.

Gift of Time

If you're handy around the house, you're artistic, or you think you possess something of possible value to others, consider offering the gift of time. I have a friend who's considered the handyman out of our friends, and I've gotten end tables, stools, chests, coffee tables, and seats. I have another friend who's an artist, and I love receiving her art pieces.

Movie Lovers

For movie lovers, consider creating a gift basket centered around that theme for birthday or Christmas presents.

Two or three favorite movies and I like adding a wild card (a movie you think s/he might like)
Gourmet Popcorn
A selection of concession stand candy (I recommend a combination of chewy, chocolately, sweet, and sour combination)
Soda
Maybe even something salty and crunchy like chips

Pick a Birthday Theme

Pick a theme. It creates a focal point. The menu, card invitations, and decorations can be centered and organized around it. Here are some ideas:

Baker (Cookie Theme)
Beauty Party
Bookworm
Food Lover (Pasta, Sushi, Hors 'd Ouevres, Lemons, Apples, Cheese, or Chocolate Theme)
Knitting
Jewelry Making
Movie Marathon
Scrapbooking

Baby Pictures

Here's a simple and adorable card invitation idea. Scan an image of baby pictures and using that as part of the birthday invitation.

Birth Certificate on Hand

Keep each family member's birth certificate in one designated area, preferably a security deposit box or some sort of box that requires a password to open. Consider using a fireproof box. If your home becomes dilapidated from a fire or over flooded, you'll need your documents more than ever.

Name Changes

If you change your name by court order, rather than marriage or divorce, update your birth certificate to reflect your current name. It'll make legal procedures a smoother transaction.

Baby Feet or Hand Images

Copies of imprints made after your baby's birth or replicating the images can be used for birth announcements, birthday card invitations, or scrapbook images.

Raspberry Sauce

Make fresh raspberry sauce by pouring raspberries into a blender and adding just enough sugar to thicken and sweeten it up. You can pour this over vanilla ice cream, plain cheesecake, or mix it into plain yogurt or cottage cheese.

Yogurt and Fresh Berries

For a healthy snack, go for plain yogurt and add some natural flavors with freshly picked raspberries or another type of berries.

Freeze Berries

Wash fresh berries, thoroughly dry them, lay flat on a parchment paper over a cookie sheet, and freeze them until the berries are hard. It'll take about an hour. Make sure that the berries aren't clumped together. Once the berries have hardened, you can transfer them into an airtight container. Once they've frozen, putting them in the same bag isn't a problem. But do this before you freeze them, and you have a beautiful chunk of fruited ice that won't be very usable. Frozen berries will last up to nine months. One more thing worth noting, don't sugar berries before freezing them. Leave that to the last minute. The sugar breaks down the fruit and can make them mushy.

The Best Way to Wash Berries

Chill berries before washing them, as cold berries are less likely to bruise or bleed. And don't wash them until the last minute. Berries last longer this way, as they have a high moisture content. The berries will soak up the water and rot quicker.

Flip the Berries

When you store the berries in your refrigerator, turn the basket upside or on its side to relieve pressure from the bottom of the berries. They're soft and lie on the same bottom for a prolonged period. This can significantly reduce mushed berries.

Elongate Your Torso

Give the illusion of a longer torso by wearing a belt slightly higher than normal, above your hips.

Hang Belts

Store belts on hooks hidden in your closet, behind your door, or any other discreet area of choice. It's preferable to laying them flat or rolling them up and risk creating an oddly indented shape. Key holders on sale or from the Dollar Tree store can do the trick.

Preserve the Color of Belt Buckets

Preserve the color of your belt buckets by applying a coat of clear polish nail. This will also prevent scratches.

Blend Your Blender Clean

Many modern blenders have a clean feature. But if you don't, add some warm water and dish detergent to your blender. Then blend it until the detergent suds. It makes cleaning much easier. Continue to do this until stuck on food and residue dissolves. Then wash the outside of the blender as you usually do and rinse the inside thoroughly.

2. Chamomile Tea Bags for Puffy Eyes
3. Caffeine and Aspirin for Menstrual Cramps
4. Caffeine for Muscle Pain
5. Fruits for Natural Bowel Movements
6. Aloe Vera for Skincare
7. A + D Ointment Doubles as Cuticle Treatment
8. Stop Running Stockings with Clear Nail Polish
9. Preserve the Color of Belt Buckles by Coating with Clear Nail Polish
10. Drink milk to neutralize spicy flavors
11. Baking Soda Added to Cleanser for a Facial Exfoliator
12. Baking Soda as a Cleaning Scrub
13. Zinc Oxide as a Blackhead Remover
14. Lemon Juice and Salt to Clean Cutting Board
15. Vinegar Cleans Cutting Board Most Effectively and Effortlessly - Most Effective and Effortless Way to Clean Your Cutting Board
16. Freeze White Wine
17. Turn a towel into a lodger to keep the cold out
18. Ginger Can Treat Nausea
19.

Ornamental Visual Aid Speaks for Itself

Wrap Christmas lights around cardboard or another thick material. When you reach the end of the lights, just loop it inside one of the lined lights to keep it in place. Wrap a towel around this storage solution or place towels on top to serve as a buffer and stack remaining Christmas lights the same way.

Headboard Alternative

If you don't want a headboard, you can hang a decorative quilt or a large collage image instead.

Seating Area and Storage Unit

If you have limited closet space, consider investing in a bed trunk that can serve as a seating area and storage unit for bedding collection, clothes, towels, or whatever else requires storage.

Store Beans Beautifully

There are so many different shapes, colors, and texture of beans available (yellow split peas, green split peas, red kidney beans, pink kidney beans, adzuki beans, etc.) Store them in decorative containers and display them for their visual aesthetics and accessibility.

Color Code Your Towels

Designate specific colors for each family member for a cohesive appearance and ease of use. You can also incorporate this practice for guests. Select a bold color that's easy to remember and distinguish from residents.

Anti-slip Feature

Bathroom safety is so important especially considering how slimy the bathtub is. A bath mat's anti-slip feature is such a priority because of the potential danger. But the slime buildup underneath the mat and the tub's surface is so disgusting. A more sanitary but safe alternative are anti-slip stickers. It's also a good idea to sew some skids under your bath rug to create a little resistance. It'd be unfortunate to shower safely only to come out and fall on your bathroom floor because you're wet and your bath rug has no anti-slip features.

Decorative Baskets

Decorative baskets are a great storage solution for items that usually clutter such as a hair dryer, straightening iron, curling iron, and other hair appliances. Because the bathroom is a moist environment, I don't recommend wooden boxes or other materials that aren't resistant to moisture.

Prolong Your Bathing Suit

Rinse your bathing suit in cold water after swimming to remove any salt or chlorine residues. It's preferable to wash your bathing suit by hand, but if you'd rather use the washer, put it in the gentle cycle with a mild soap. Don't put it in the dryer, as the dryer will damage the elasticity. Of all things to have destroyed elasticity, a bathing suit should never be one of them. Dry them by placing them over a towel and rolling it up like a sushi. Then gently squeeze the towel. Don't twist or wring the suit around, which could also break down the elastic.

A Citrusy Bath Experience

If you have oily skin and some leftover citrus fruits, place them in your bath water. I like adding lemon, lime, and orange slices. The vibrant colors are so invigorating.

Roses That Keep on Giving

I love fresh flowers, but I can never rationalize buying myself some. They're unnecessary, and there are so many other things I need. But sometimes when they're on sale, and I'm feeling down, I make an exception. Make sure that they're organic and fresh. I justify my indulgence by getting the most use out of it by buying a bouquet of roses. I begin by keeping them in a beautiful vase and change them up from time to time. Sometimes I place a single rose petal in a tall vase in my bedroom. The remaining roses get cut down. I trim the stems, so I can place them in a round vase in the middle of my dining table. A collection of short rose petals are more practical and modern than a tall a bunch that obstructs vision in an overcrowded small vase. If there's not enough space or after I get tired of the centerpiece, I completely remove the stems, leaving only the beautiful rose still intact. I float them in a transparent bowl with water and tealight candles. The final use is in the bathtub. I toss loose rose petals in my bath for a fragrantly relaxing experience. The natural oils will your skin so soft. What a luxurious experience. The color of the roses sometimes depends on the sale price. But if I have a choice, it depends on my mood. I use pink to relax because it's a soothing color. For a romantic experience, I use red because it's a stimulating color. I don't use red roses in my bath before bedtime.

Gift Baskets: For Food Lovers

For a simple and affordable gift for food lovers, create a gift basket that contains homemade jam, bread, vinegar, marinated olives, beef jerky, etc. You can even narrow it down to a specific ingredient such as raspberries (raspberry jam, raspberry jellies, raspberry vinegar, dried raspberries, etc.)

To Ripen Bananas

To ripen bananas quickly, put them in a brown paper bag with an apple or two.

Bananas Do Not Ripen in the Refrigerator!!!

I'm so sick and tired of stopping guests from removing bananas out of my refrigerate because they're misinformed and believe that the bananas are ripening. Refrigerators are cold, and the cold helps preserve freshness. That's what the refrigerator is used for. Follow me so far? So if you want fresh bananas and slow down the ripening process, you should put them in the refrigerator. The outer skin will discolor and darken the way bananas ripen on the counter at a much faster rate, but the inside is unaffected. It's by far the best way to keep them fresh.

Make It Easier to Be Healthier

It may seem like a waste to buy prepackaged, precut fruits and vegetables, but if you find that your fresh produce goes ignored, it may not be so frivolous. Your health is top priority. If you don't have or make time to eat nutritiously, make it easier for you. I usually recommend this for vegetables, though, not fruits, as the fruits taste rather bland. Berries such as blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries can be eaten as is. Buying produce that can be consumed easily is the way to go. Baby tomatoes are much more accessible than Roma tomatoes or Heirloom tomatoes that require chopping.

Baking Soda: Sunburn Soother

Just like baking soda takes the heat out of a fire by extinguishing it, you can use baking soda to soothe burned skin. Draw a cool bath and fill it with a cup of baking soda.

Baking Soda: Natural Fire Repellant

Place a box of open baking soda near your kitchen stove, not only as a deodorizer, but also as a natural fire repellant. Just sprinkle baking soda over the fire accident to put it out quickly. Having a closed box or a box that doesn't have a wide opening is useless if the fire spreads by the time you have it opened.

Treat Bad Breath

1. Hydrate yourself with water! A dry mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, responsible for bad breath.

2. Steer clear of minted sugars. The minty freshness is only a brief experience, but the sugar contributes to the production of bad breath, which is long lasting.

3. Munch on carrots and celery. **

4. Fresh herbs such as mint or parsley is also a great breath freshener.

5. Consider switching toothpaste. Some ingredients don't do an effective job treating bad breath. Experiment with other brands.

6. Chronic bad breath may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem. If bad breath is severe and home remedies are unsuccessful, visit your dentist. It may be periodontal disease.

Buy a Name Brand Scientific Calculator For Only $1!!!

99 Cents store or the Dollar Tree store offers an abundance of products we normally get at K Mart, Target, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart for no more than a dollar! Some of you may consider their products to be inferior, but that's not necessarily the case. I've found fresh produce (blueberries, raspberries, bananas, apples, garlic), known and loved candies such as chocolate (Baby Ruth, Hershey's, Kit Kat, Milk Way, Snickers, Twix) and other candies (Fun Dip, Mamba, Nerds, Pop Rocks, Sour Belts, Starburst, Sugar Daddy) to just name a few. Heintz and Hidden Valley are also common brands. I'm a die hard when it comes to the right ketchup or ranch dressing. But there are some ingredients where the brand doesn't matter much such as canned tomatoes, coconut flakes, seasoning salt, etc. that are also available. You can also find Oscar Meyer ham. Caution: I recommend staying away from products that don't offer an expiration date. This applies to any place, though. I still haven't convinced you? What about Colgate, Glade, Lysol, Sally Hansen, Totally Juicy, and Windex brand products? I know someone who found the Texas Instrument scientific calculator valued at around $50 for only a $1! For binder papers, folders, and stuff like that, you can go for the cheap stuff. It's all the same. It's definitely worth investigating. Go there. If it's not your thing, then go elsewhere. I like to stay away from their generic brands because I don't know if it'll work well or not, so I go for the tried and true versions. If you want to experiment with new products, don't go overboard. Spending $5 on five products you'll never use isn't money well spent. You're better off buying one product that you actually use.

Be Resourceful with Your Space: Off the Ground

If you have limited floor space, be resourceful. Modern twists offer innovative concepts by taking advantage of wall space. I think many of us ignore the advantages wall space can offer. It's far more abundant and usable if you think creatively. Rather than a CD/DVD rack or a bookshelf, consider wall shelves that can serve the same function. You can even mount a table onto the wall that can drop down when you need a seating area. This can serve as an eating or study area. Just invest in a laptop, which takes up less space. Storage cubes can also serve as decorative pieces and clothes or towel storage units. Instead of purchasing a small table for your knick knacks, you can invest in wall shelves.

Aquariums for Stress Reduction

Studies have found that the calming sights and sounds of an aquarium may lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate. But be sure to buy an aquarium that's easy to manage, so you don't become overwhelmed, defeating the whole process. For your first aquarium, freshwater fish is preferable. It's the inexpensive choice and much easier to maintain than marine fish. You can begin with a mix of non-aggressive tropical fish such as guppies, tetras, barbs, and small catfish.

Preventing Apple Oxidation

When apples are exposed, it starts to brown. That's called an oxidative process. To prevent this from happening, soak them in salted water overnight. When I was a child, my mother was the only one who packed apples that still looked appetizing. She would cut my apples the night before, leave them in the salt water overnight, and dry them before packing them up. It's a great way to store your kids' snacks and actually encourage them to eat it because it looks fresh!

Eat Less

Most of us are over-consuming, binge-eating, while managing to neglect healthy food consumptions. To eat less, begin by munching on a handful of almonds or another type of nuts. The natural oils in them tricks your stomach into feeling fuller. Then begin your meal with a soup. The liquid content fills up stomach space. For your main dish, serve yourself a smaller than usual portion in what I like to call trick plates. Spread your food out into a plate to give the appearance of more food than there actually is. Have a generous portion of vegetables with your food. Fiber has a very filling effect. And focus only on your food, if time permits. By propping yourself in front of the television, you're not paying attention to what you're consuming. If you can, eat with good company and eat at the same time everyday. If your body is expecting food at a certain time, it'll properly prepare itself. And chew food thoroughly. When you chew your food, your body produces saliva, which breaks down your food. By chewing it thoroughly in your mouth, your digestive system doesn't have to work as hard. And the food becomes accessible much quicker, rather than leaving residual fats in your body. By exercising regularly, too, your body uses the energy you get from food more efficiently. It'll really help reduce your excessive consumptions. Sleep more, too. When you're awake, you eat. The longer you're awake, the longer you eat. Your body ends up overcompensating for not getting a recuperative sleep. It's also important to eat breakfast. By having a big breakfast, you eat less throughout the day. And don't forget to snack. Snacks are supposed to hold you over until the next meal and regulate your appetite. Desperately avoiding food to lose weight is illogical especially snacking. By not snacking, you end up overeating.

NOTE: Although it makes sense that you would eat less if you're paying attention to your consumptions, but I used to be suspicious about the scientific data behind it. Is it a real physical result or is it psychologically influenced? After some investigation, I learned that studies reveal, when you focus on one of the five sensations at a time, we're more focused. That makes sense. Splitting your attention such as listening to someone and reading something online isn't as successful as doing one thing at a time. Studies also reveal that multitasking is strenuous on the brain.

Antiseptic Alternative

If you don't have wound cleaner, substitute mouthwash to disinfect an affected area.