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.

How To Make Buttermilk

To make one cup of buttermilk, add one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of regular milk. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. After that, it's ready for use. So, basically one tbsp of vinegar for every cup of milk. Make as many cups as necessary.

I love this recipe b/c I rarely use buttermilk. So whenever a recipe calls for it, I end up purchasing more than I use.