How To Properly Wash Towels

I am in need of new towels and will soon be replacing my old ones with nice quality towels.  Since good quality towels are expensive and an investment, I want to keep them in good condition for as many years as possible.  This led me to do some research on how to properly care for towels and I discovered the following tips:

• Wash white towels in very hot water and colored towels in cold water with about 1/2 the amount of laundry detergent that you would  normally use.  Too much detergent can make your towels stiff;
• If you like to bleach your towels, use only non-chlorine bleach as chlorine will damage the fibres;
• Place 1/2 cup of vinegar in the wash to remove soap buildup and keep your towels fluffy;
• Avoid using dryer sheets because they coat towels with a waxy residue that affects how towels absorb water.  You can use a dryer ball instead;
• Ensure that you dry the towels immediately after being washed so that they don't develop a mildew odor.

I can't wait to buy my new towels and try out these tips.

I think I will get white ones as they feel spa like and can easily be bleached, if necessary.

Reporting Stolen Bank or Credit Cards

I have attached a video from ctv news about an elderly lady who lost her wallet which contained a bank card and her health card. Whoever found her wallet figured out her bank code which the bank assumed was the lady's birthdate which the thief found on her health card. $8,800 was taken from her account without her knowing. The lady stated that she had forgotten about the bank card and didn't realize what had happened until the bank contacted her to advise that some cheques had bounced. The lady then explained that she had lost her wallet 6 weeks prior and expected that the bank would reimburse her for the stolen money. However, the bank (Scotiabank) advised that they would not reimburse her because her pin was too easy and that she waited 6 weeks to report her card lost/stolen.

Although I feel very sorry for the lady for losing so much money, I do have to side with the bank that she waited too long to report it lost/stolen. It would be interesting however to see what a judge would say if the lady takes it to court.

This is definitely a lesson that if you lose a bank card, credit card, or any type of identification that it should be reported lost/stolen immediately since the banks will only reimburse for funds stolen after a lost/stolen report is filed. It is also a good idea to keep a list of all of your card numbers and phone numbers of the bank or credit card company on the card so that you can quickly call to report them lost or stolen.

Click here to watch video on sympatico.ca.

How To Coverup Scratches On Dark Hardwood

I noticed this morning that there are some noticeable scratches on my hardwood around an armchair that sits in my livingroom. It was really bugging me because I don't want to show the house with these visible scratches. So I did some research and came across a great tip on ehow.com. All you need to do is mix a couple of teaspoons of coffee grinds with a small amount of water until it forms into a thick paste. Then carefully rub the paste into the scratches and voila, the scratches are covered up.

This is only a temporary fix however but will do the trick in an emergency. The coffee makes the floor somewhat sticky on the area that I covered but this does not matter because it is under a chair where nobody steps. I will properly fix it when I get some wood stain that matches the colour of my hardwood. Please also remember that coffee only works on dark shades of hardwood.

Growing Pains

For the past few months my 5 year old is sometimes awakened at night with pains in his legs. It happened again last night. The pains occur in his calf muscles and thigh muscles. My older son also complains of leg pains occasionally, but they rarely wake him up at night. Apparently growing pains affect children until their teenage years. It seems if they have an overactive day their tired muscles will start aching once they settle down in the evening or when they are asleep. I remember that I had them as a child as well. To ease the pain I massage his leg muscles and put a hot pack on it. If he is really uncomfortable with the pain, I will also give him an Advil to settle him down so he can go back to sleep. I wish I could get back to sleep as easily.

Growing pains will not be accompanied by any other symptoms so if your child has a fever, swelling, limping, rashes, loss of appetite or weakness, or uncharacteristic behaviour then you should go to the doctor.

Battling Tooth Decay in Children

My two youngest children have weak tooth enamel and they develop cavities easily. My daughter had dental surgery at age 18 months to fix her front teeth and my son is scheduled for surgery in June. I feel guilty that they are having dental problems and feel that it is my fault. They brush their teeth once a day but what I haven't done is floss their teeth everyday. The dentist has told me that I must floss their teeth to prevent tooth decay. I do not have dental coverage so I have to pay for their checkups and cleanings. Luckily the Canadian government has a program called CINOT (Children In Need Of Treatment) which covers the cost of their surgery and fillings. It is recommended now that children start going to the dentist as soon as their teeth appear. I know that as a child, we never went to the dentist unless we were in pain. My parents did not have a dental plan either. My teeth are relatively healthy and I have not had major decay. It is believed that weak teeth are hereditary and they could get this from my mother because she lost most of her upper teeth in her mid twenties and had to get dentures. I didn't even realize that a child could be born with weak tooth enamel until my daughter's teeth rapidly started decaying.

As a preventative measure I now floss my kids' teeth everyday and limit their sugar intake. I do not buy pop so they rarely drink that but they do drink juice and they do have candy like any normal child. I am also giving them more raw vegetables to eat because this also strengthens their teeth. It is an ongoing battle and hopefully their adult teeth will be stronger. My oldest son does not seem to have weak enamel but he will need braces in a couple of years. If you have young children, please take them to the dentist early on so that any decay can be detected early. I think I should have become a dentist or married one! Dental care is so costly.

10 Ways To Help A New Mom

Mother's Day is next Sunday and I thought I would post about ways that you can help out a new mom. Bringing a new baby home is a very exciting time but it is also stressful and exhausting. Here are some things you can do to take some of the stress away from a new mom:

1. Prepare some casseroles and freeze them so that she will have a quick and healthy meal at her fingertips on those really hectic days.

2. If you are going to visit the new baby, ask the new mom if she needs you to pick up milk, bread, or any other staple. Trying to get out the door with a newborn is a challenge and I am sure she would appreciate this gesture.

3. Help out with laundry and cleaning. It is difficult to find time to do household chores especially if a new mom is trying to rest when the baby sleeps. I remember when my kids were newborn that I didn't rest when they slept because I felt I had to cook and clean. I didn't have any help and I soon became exhausted.

4. Bring a basket full of healthy snacks, bottles of water and herbal tea. If she is breastfeeding, it is important that the foods she eat are easy to prepare and packed with good nutrition. Its also important to drink lots of fluids.

5. Offer to look after the baby while mom has a bath or shower or to allow her to go for a quick walk. It is amazing what a 30 minute to 1 hour break can do to give you an energy boost. This will also give you some bonding time with baby.

6. Give her a gift certificate to a cleaning service. Who wouldn't want their house professionally cleaned a couple of times?

7. Give her a gift certificate to a popular pizza place or other restaurant that delivers for those nights that she just simply doesn't feel like cooking. Its also helpful if you include a menu with it.

8. Help her write thank you cards to those who attended her baby shower, dropped off baby gifts, or sent gifts while she was in the hospital.

9. Bring a basket full of things to make her feel good like her favourite bubble bath, a great book, magazine or movie, lotion, facial masque, nail polish, hair care products, and so on. If you look good, you feel good.

10. Have friends and family write babycare tips and advice on index cards and arrange them into a card container. Sometimes people have valuable tips that you don't come across in books. This will also make a great keepsake that she may pass down to her baby.

Before the baby arrived, all the attention was on how mom to be was doing. Once the baby is born, most of the attention is shifted to the baby. Its nice to do something thoughtful just for the new mom to make her feel special and less stressed.

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

Easter is fast approaching and I thought I would re-post my post on Easter Egg Hunting Tips from last year. I am excited that all of the snow has melted where I live and we will be able to have our Easter egg hunt outside this year.

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

Dealing With Sleep Deprivation

After 5 years I am finally getting a good night's sleep. My 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter were both terrible sleepers. Now that I am getting more sleep I feel so much better because I'm not as short tempered, I have a better memory, I'm not overeating to compensate for being sleep deprived, and I look more rested. Nobody can understand what it is like to suffer from sleep deprivation until they go through it themselves. When you are under prenatal care, nobody really sits down and teaches you how to function on little sleep.

If you are experiencing sleep deprivation, here are some tips which may help you get through it:

1. Nap when your baby sleeps. If you can't actually fall asleep then lay down and rest and recharge. A bubble bath is also a great idea. I had a difficult time doing this because I thought I should use this time to do housework and cook.

2. Accept any offers for help with household chores or babysitting.

3. If you have no one to help you around the house, hire a cleaning lady for the first couple of months (or longer) after your baby is born.

4. If you have a spouse, ask him to look after the baby and other children for just half an hour so you can do something that makes you feel good.

5. Try to get some form of exercise. A nice walk in the sunshine should give you some pep.

6. Drink lots of water and eat healthy foods. Try to limit the amount of caffeine you consume because you do not want this to interfere with your sleep when you actually do get to settle in at night.

7. Develop a support system through friends and family or even by meeting other sleep deprived mothers online.

When you are sleep deprived it is hard to function normally. You walk around in a daze and it is hard to concentrate and focus. You can become irritated easily and suffer from post-partum depression. When your body is tired, you are also more susceptible to catching an illness. It is important to look after yourself first so that you can be healthy mentally and physically for your baby. You have to let go of the fact that you can't do it all. I have always had a hard time accepting that because I am very independent and find it difficult to accept help. If I could do it all over again, I would lower the expectations for myself and just enjoy my baby. Dirty dishes and dust can wait.

Please feel free to share your experience with sleep deprivation.

Preparing for Christmas

I find that it is always a big rush on Christmas morning to try out electronics and toys that contain batteries and computer downloads. So this year, I am taking the toys and electronics out of the boxes and putting batteries in them and downloading any software that comes with them. That way, I can be assured that the product works and also that I can use the software and have it set up for the kids on Christmas morning. Then I will carefully replace the product back into the package. The kids aren't going to notice in all the excitement if the box has been opened. Another thing that bugs me on Christmas morning is the wires that the companies use to package toys. The kids on jumping up in excitement to get the toy out of the box but have to wait 5 or 10 minutes for me to unwind all of those wires. So this year, I am going to try to remove those wires and again inspect the toy before I wrap it up. We'll see how that goes over on Christmas morning!

Saving Money on Electricity

I just recently got a huge reconciliation bill from my hydro company. It seems that they underestimated the amount of power that I use and undercharged me over the past year. Now they have readjusted the bill and I owe a lot of money. I have always been somewhat conscious about keeping lights turned off when not using them but I never thought of appliances using "phantom" energy. Appliances with clocks and timers draw power even when you are not using them because they have to keep time. If you leave your phone or battergy chargers plugged in they also draw energy even though you are not charging anything. Another thing that I should be doing is to shut down my computer at night. I haven't been doing that because it takes a while to restart in the morning and I get impatient. I also have an older fridge and older washer and dryer and I know that they are not energy efficient. I would love to upgrade to newer models but cannot afford to do so right now. I have not tried the CFL lightbulbs because they cost more than the incadescent bulbs but I think I will switch to those and see if they make a difference. I am going to start recording my meter reading on a daily basis to see how much energy I am using per day.

Getting Kids To Brush Their Teeth

It is always a battle in my house to get my kids to brush their teeth - even my 8 year old has to be reminded to brush his teeth. I always stress to them how important it is to brush their teeth to avoid cavities and toothaches (and also to save money on dentist bills!). I have found a few tips on how to get your kids to brush their teeth and they have worked so far!

1. Let your children pick out their toothbrushes and toothpaste.
2. Use a timer when they brush their teeth so that they can hear it beep.
3. Set a time each day for them to brush their teeth so that it becomes routine.
5. Brush your teeth with your kids and they will learn how to do it properly.
6. Use the new mouthwash for kids that shows them where the plaque is.
7. Buy the kids flossers which come in different colours and fun designs.

Remember to buy your children and yourself a new toothbrush about every 6 months. They would make a great stocking stuffer!

Getting The Most From Your Icing

I have found another way to stretch your dollar. If you like to bake and buy pre-made icing, try taking the icing out of the container and put it in a mixing bowl and beat it with your mixer for a few minutes. You will find that it will almost double the amount of your icing and will make it creamier! I used to need 2 containers to frost a double layer round cake and when I beat the icing first, I only use 1 container!

Let me know if it works for you!

How to Speed Up Your PC

Recently, my computer has been really slow to the point that it freezes and I cannot do anything with it when I am online. Instead of calling my tech guy to come and look at it, I did some research into how I can make it run faster and came across the following tips from microsoft. I performed the Disc Cleanup and Disc Defragmentor and it made a huge difference in the speed of my PC! It suggests that you do this every month to get rid of unnecessary files that slow down your computer. I also cleaned off a lot of junk in My Documents that I no longer need.
Click here to go to the Microsoft article.

Healthy Lunchbox Ideas

It is always a challenge to come up with healthy ideas for the lunch box that actually get eaten by your kids and that are peanut free. I try to stay away from convenient packaged foods when packing my children's lunches. Here are some things that I pack that actually get eaten:

Hardboiled eggs - gives a great energy boost!

Sliced apples with cinnamon sprinkled on top - I like to add a squirt of lemon juice to keep the apples from turning brown

Homemade oatmeal cookies (an alternative to granola bars)

Diced fresh peaches, pineapple, grapes, mandarin oranges. I like to buy the small Glad containers with a lid which is great for packing these in.

Cubed cheese, sliced pepperoni

Sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, or celery sticks

Homemade rice krispie squares or cheerio squares, pretzels, mini muffins, popcorn

Leftover pizza, bagels with cream cheese, wraps, sub sandwiches

Soup, macaroni & cheese, chili, or pasta packed in a thermos.

How To Bake The Perfect Cookie

Over the years I have had ups and downs in baking cookies. Sometimes they would turn out too crispy, too soft, or they would stick to the pan. In the past year, I have learned a few techniques on making the perfect cookie.

I always use real butter, regardless of what the recipe calls for. I also soften the butter in the microwave but I do not melt it. I use a good quality vanilla extract and I like to double the amount of vanilla the recipe calls for. This gives them a great flavour. It is also important to mix your dry ingredients well in a separate bowl from the wet mixture and then once your wet ingredients are mixed well, then you can add your dry ingredients. It also helps to have a good quality mixer. I have a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer and it is awesome for mixing cookie dough.

Another great tip for perfectly browned cookies is to line your cookie pan with parchment paper. Your cookies will never sick to the pan and they will cook evenly and brown nicely on the bottom. If you like a soft cookies, bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes, depending on your oven. If you like crispy cookies, bake them for 12 to 15 minutes, again depending on your oven.

I hope these tips will help you make a perfect cookie!

Reusable Grocery Bags

Since a lot of the grocery stores are now charging for plastic bags, I switched to the reusable cloth grocery bags. I like using them and find that they are quite strong and hold a lot of groceries. I have been reading about the health risks associated with using them and the bacteria that can grow inside them. I have found some tips in maintaining the bags and keeping them relatively clean.

1. Hand wash the bags frequently in hot soapy water and hang to dry.


2. Designate 1 bag for carrying meats and poultry. Place the meats in the clear plastic bags found in the meat section. Then place them into your cloth bag.


3. Ensure that your vegetables and fruits are not carried in the same bags that your meats are.


4. Do not use your grocery bags for carrying items such as books, toys, clothing, or baby items.


5. Always clean your kitchen counters after placing the bags on them to unpack your groceries.

I sometimes forget to bring my bags to the grocery store so to prevent this from happening I return the bags to my car after unpacking my groceries so that they are always there when I need them again.

Having A Successful Sleepover for Tweens

My 8 year old is at the age where he wants to have sleepovers. We have tried it a couple of times and I have done some research on tips for having a successful sleepover.

Communicate with the other parents to let them know when they are to drop off their child, what they should bring, what you have planned, and provide a specific time that they are to pick up their child in the morning. 10:00 a.m. is the suggested time. Keep a list of phone numbers and warn the parents that they may have to call if their child gets sick, homesick, or misbehaves. Also, find out if their child has any allergies, food aversions, bedwets, or has any fears.

Friday nights seem to be the best day to have a sleepover because the kids are tired from a week of school and it is easier to get them to wind down at night. They will also have Saturday and Sunday to catch up on sleep before they go back to school.

Keep the number of kids even so that no one feels left out.

Serve food such as mini-pizzas, veggies & dip, fruit, pretzels and popcorn. Limit the amount of sugary foods like pop and chocolate. You definitely don't want an over-hyper or ill child from eating too much sugar.

Ensure the kids know the rules of your house and set boundaries of where they are to eat and drink.

Plan a few activities to keep them busy such as playing board games, karoke, making forts, doing crafts, watching a non-scary movie, flashlight tag outside at dusk, a campfire, or fashion show.

Specify the time for bed ahead of time and stick to it. Gather their sleeping bags in the living room on the floor and darken the lights and perhaps put a movie on to settle them down.

Have a few extra toothbrushes on hand just in case a child forgets one.

Keep breakfast simple and quick. Things like bagels, fruit, cereal, and frozen waffles or pancakes are easy to make with little mess.

Make sure that everyone is packed by a certain time in the morning and double check to ensure that no one has forgot anything. You don't want to be spending the next day or two making arrangements to return clothing or other items.

Streetproofing Your Children

Recently, an 8 year old girl, Victoria Stafford, went missing after school in Woodstock, Ontario. A video surveillance camera shows a woman casually walking with Victoria near her school. My 7 year old walks or rides his bike to school most days except in the Winter. We live in a quiet country subdivision and the school is only about 1 km away. I now feel that I should go over streetproofing with him as well as my 4 year old who also attends JK and that I shouldn't take for granted that we live in a safe area. Below is a list of streetproofing tips for children and yourself.

1. Teach your child their full name and telephone number as soon as they are old enough to retain that information. It is also a good idea to teach them your cell phone number.
2. Never go with a stranger even if they call your child by name or say that there is an emergency and that they will take your child home.
3. Teach them to dial 911 in an emergency.
4. If someone tries to grab them, teach them to yell "You are not my mother (or father)!" and to make as much noise as possible. Also teach them to scatter their backpack or belongings if they are being forced to go somewhere.
5. If they get lost in a mall or store, teach them to go directly to a cashier or counter clerk.
6. Tell their teacher about anyone suspicious looking on the school playground.
7. Provide the school or daycare with lists of authorized persons who may pick up the child and ensure that your child knows the names of people on the list. It is also prudent to create a password and give it to the child, authorized persons, and school and daycare staff to use in case of emergency. That way, when a person other than yourself has to pick up the child, the correct password must be given.
8. Do not write your child's name in a visible spot on clothing and backpacks. Write it on an inside label.
9. Know where your child is playing at all times and keep a list of all of his/her friends names and phone numbers. Also, set a time for them to be home and to call home if they are playing at a friend's house.
10. Never leave a child alone in a public place or car.
11. Tell them to never take shortcuts through parks or fields, or or play in any isolated buildings or areas.
12. Have them walk with a buddy to and from school.
13. Take note of what your child is wearing everyday. (I am guilty of being so busy in the morning that I don't notice what my oldest is wearing because he dresses himself.)
14. Keep a child identity kit with your child's recent photo, medical and dental history, and fingerprints.
15. If your child does go missing make a careful search of your home and property, check with playmates and play areas, check with all closeby relatives, friends, and neighbours. If you do not find them then call or visit your police station.

I am praying for the safe return of Victoria and cannot imagine what her family must be going through.

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

Today I bought my eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend. I thought I would make a list of things that will make your egg hunt run smoothly.

1. First determine how many kids will be participating and the age groups.


2. Also determine if it will be inside or outside.


3. Estimate at least 10 eggs/child when calculating how many eggs you will need.


4. If you will be inviting guests to your egg hunt, you can ask them to bring a basket or bag and ensure that you have extras on hand for the hunt.


5. Foil eggs work well for egg hunts and so do plastic fillable eggs. You can fill them with jelly beans, chocolate eggs, M&M's, stickers, erasers, tatoos, and tiny toys. Just keep in mind that small objects will be choking hazzards for toddlers. You can also put a special message in a fillable egg that will win a child a prize (like a chocolate easter bunny).


6. Make a set of rules for the hunt and determine if the eggs will be pooled at the end and divided evenly among all children.


7. You may want to designate an area for the bigger kids so that the little ones will be able to find some eggs. It is safer to keep the eggs at or below eye level of the children.


8. If the eggs are being hid outside, ensure that they are not being placed near thorny bushes or on grass that has pesticides on it.


9. Decorate the area with streamers, balloons, and paper bunny and easter egg cutouts.


10. Prepare some refreshments for afterwards. Have water and punch ready to drink and carrot sticks and mini sandwiches for a snack.

Have fun!

Childproofing the Bathroom

Here are some tips on childproofing your bathroom:

1. Use a faucet guard to protect your child's head from the sharp edges of the faucet.
2. Place a full-length bath mat into the tub to prevent slipping.
3. Keep the toilet lid closed at all times so that your baby/toddler can't fall into it.
4. Place a latch lock on the outside of the bathroom door so that your child cannot get into the bathroom without you knowing.
5. Store things such as razors, nail polish, cleaners, mouthwash, medication, vitamins, etc. up on a high shelf or cabinet. Child resistant caps aren't always childproof.
6. Keep the garbage can in a cabinet or put a lock on it so that your child cannot get into discarded razor blades or plastic bags.
7. Do not use baby bath seats. They give a false sense of security and can often tip over or your baby can slip through the spaces of the seat and fall into the water. This happened with my first child and luckily I saw it happen right away. I never used a bath seat for my other children.
8. Reduce the temperature of your water heater to decrease the chance of your child getting scalded by hot water.
9. If your bathroom door has a lock on it ensure that you can unlock it from the outside. If not, you my want to consider changing the style of lock or removing it completely.

You have to always be one step ahead of children and never underestimate what a child is capable of doing. It is best to always supervise babies and toddlers when they are in the bathroom.