Kathy Zengolewicz

If you are using pinecones, be sure to get the scented ones, or better yet visit my blog here in the Home & Living section this Sunday.  I’ll be showing you exactly how to set your table.

I always take special care with my table at the holidays. As a rule we’re not very formal, but at Thanksgiving I pull out all of the stops. I will give you a couple of hints for creating a beautiful holiday table. Always start with a cloth table cover. You can find some buys, especially if you choose a white cover. I always use white at thanksgiving because it gives off just the right balance of color once I have everything put together. The contrast can be stunning.

I don’t have more than one set of dishes, so I use my everyday dishes and they look fine. I do, however, use hand made napkin rings and placecards in a variety of colors. I place candles strategically around the dinner table and light them when family and friends are ready to sit for the meal. I top the table with a fresh bunch of flowers, noting expensive, just simple blooms.

Setting your table is one way to make Thanksgiving day a special. I’m sure that you can think of a few others. Here is hoping that your Thanksgiving holiday is a memorable one.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon.

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you should have on hand:

• A first aid manual or guide
• sterile gauze
• adhesive tape and bandages in different sizes
• An elastic bandage
• A pair of goggles or other eye protection
• A manual aspirator or suction unit
• Antiseptic wipes
• Topical medications such as iodine, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil
• Anti-itch ointment
• Soap
• An antibiotic cream like triple-antibiotic ointment
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Hydrocortisone cream
• <Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• A pair of tweezers
• A sharp pair of scissors
• Safety pins
• Instant cold packs (disposable)
• A bottle of calamine lotion
• Alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• A thermometer
• Plastic gloves (2-3 pairs)
• A flashlight and extra batteries
• A mouthpiece for administering CPR
• A list of emergency phone numbers
• A blanket (on hand)

Make sure to read through your first aid manual or guide to ensure that you understand how to use the contents of the kit. It is a good idea to have all members of the family be familiar with the kit and how to use it.

Store the kit in a safe place out of a child’s reach, but accessible for an adult. Check the kit regularly to replace any items that have been used or that have expired.

You can assemble a first aid kit in almost any type of container. Make sure that the container is clean and waterproof. It is always better to hand a kit on hand. You never know when it may be needed.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

sxc.hu

Most weatherproofing can be done by you, no need to call a professional. Here are a couple of easy jobs that will make a big difference when the cold weather blows in. Clean all gutters and downspouts in early fall and check them again, to make sure they are clear, before winter. Clean or replace the filter in your house heater. Make sure to turn off all outside water spigots and turn the water flow off from the inside.

Buy snow shovels and any other winter supplies early, before the snow hits. Always keep extra bottled water and canned goods on hand in case of an emergency.

Make sure that attic and basement walls are adequately insulated. Look under your doors for gaps where the warm air can escape or cold air can find it’s way into your home. Caulk all window or door frames that are in need of repair.

Feel around the electrical outlets and switch plates for cold air. Insulate where needed. Have your chimney cleaned and test the flue of your fireplace to make sure there is a tight seal when it is closed.

These are just a few ideas to help you save money and to keep you warm throughout the winter season.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

sxc.hu

It is not a good idea to use a commercial cleaner since most of them contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets and humans. Some of those chemicals contain ammonia or vinegar and those odors will probably encourage your pet to return to the same spot. Use a regular carpet soap on the area. Bissell makes a carpet shampoo especially for pet stained or soiled carpets. Whatever you do, do not use a steam cleaner. The heat from a steam cleaner will set the odor and stain into any carpet that has man made fibers.

Animals have an excellent sense of smell and since pets mark their spots they may seek out the same area again and again.  If your pet has an accident here is what you can do. The best way to soak up the urine is with newspaper. After soaking up any excess urine, clean the area thoroughly. You will have to neutralize the odor with baking soda. Let the carpet dry for about an hour and sprinkle the stain with baking soda, let it sit overnight and vacuum it up.

Once the area is clean, you may want to check out any pet odor neutralizing products available in your local pet supply store and treat the area with a neutralizer. If you get the scent out of the carpet, chances are your pet won’t be attracted to that area.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

sxc.hu

Do you know what’s in your medicine cabinet? When was the last time you checked the expiration dates on any medications that you have? I can’t say that I ever thought about it before, but I took the time recently to to do just that and I was surprised to find that so many of my over the counter medications were expired. I don’t mean recently expired, I’m talking being expired for some time.

Aside from any prescription medications you may be taking it is a good idea to have some of the following items on hand.

Aspirin, for use as a painkiller and a fever reducer.  Although it is not wise to give aspirin to children, you should still keep some on hand for when it is needed.

Ibuprofen like Advil and Motrin and naproxen like Aleve and Naprosyn are also effective painkillers for adults and children over 12 years.

Decongestans and over the counter cold medicine is another must. Cough syrup for adults and children are sometimes needed in the middle of the night, so keep those handy. The same thing goes for antihistamines and allergy medications.

Keeping antacids tablets, calamine lotion, antihistamine cream and cortisone creams available is smart.

Bandaids, bandages, gauze pads and medical tape should be in every medicine cabinet. As well as an oral thermometer, toothpaste, floss and a spare toothbrush.

We don’t always think about things like medicine cabinets and what should be in them. Don’t be unprepared and make sure to check for any expired medications which can make you sick, and replace them with brand new supplies. You’ll be glad that you did. Make it a point to check your medicine cabinet regularly.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Kathy Zengolewicz

Indoor gardens can be made to exude beauty in a room.  They are the perfect solution for apartment dwellers who don’t have room for an outdoor garden. Believe it or not, indoor plants actually filter the air in your home. They do require some maintenance, but if you choose the right plants the maintenance time will be drastically reduced.  Let’s take a look at a couple of different ideas for an indoor garden.

These plants need a minimum of care and are inexpensive to buy.

A pothos plant, or devil’s ivy as it is sometimes called, is the most common indoor house plant. It has even survived bachelor pads, now what does that tell you? It can survive and flourish with changing  levels of light, temperature, humidity and watering. It is one of a few species that can survive without any natural light source.

A spider plant. Everyone knows how easy it is to care for a spider plant. Why not start your plant from a small cutting/clipping and see how big it grows in a few months time.

A bromeliad is another excellent indoor plant. The have colorful foliage and they adapt nicely to growing conditions that exist in most houses.

Another good idea is to create an herb garden to sit on your kitchen counter or window sill. Make sure  to grow only the herbs that you will use in your cooking.

This should be enough information to get you started on your indoor garden.

Indoor plants, however, do need consistency with watering and feeding. I will blog about watering, feeding and decorating with indoor plants at a later time, so stay tuned!

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Kathy Zengolewicz

Changing your curtains or getting a new window treatment can completely change the look of a room. It doesn’t matter whether you choose sheer curtains, heavy draperies or a sheer curtain with an over drape. Window treatments express your style and also provide privacy. You can choose anything from a simple linen curtain to a faux silk drape for a stunning effect.

For the kitchen, you don’t have to go to a lot of expense. I did a makeover on my kitchen and it cost me next to nothing. Throw some paint on the walls to brighten and freshen them and change your drawer pulls. My kitchen theme is apples so I looked around and found small apple knobs and I replaced my old drawer pulls with those. Go to a linen outlet and choose a few colorful, seasonal dish towels, hand towels and dish cloths. They will definitely make your kitchen bright.

Living rooms were made for candles. Arrange a couple of pillar candles, different sizes, around the room to give it a rich look. Around this time of year you can get seasonal paper plates in all sizes to set the candles on to give them a festive charm.  If your sofa is looking a little shabby, try a new slip cover or better yet arrange a favorite quilt or afghan, corner facing down towards the cushions, across the top of the couch. This will give your living room a warm and inviting look. Remember to keep you living room lamp and coffee tables free of clutter.

Always make sure that your entry way, at the front door, is free of clutter. When the path is clear, your home will feel more welcoming.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Kathy Zengolewicz

I love to listen to music and dance, well it’s what I call dancing, while I dust and straighten up. I am sure that you have mismatched socks around the house so put on aside for dusting. Spray the sock with furniture polish, put it on like a mitten and dust your lamp tables, chair and table legs, knick knacks, etc. When dusting always dust from the top down.

Use a bucket of bleach water (but be very careful, you don’t want a spill) and a clean cloth, or Clorox disinfecting wipes for cleaning down you light switch plates, phones, door jambs, etc. In winter months it’s especially necessary to wipe your door knobs to rid them of virus and flu germs.

Save the vacuuming for last. Using a handheld vacuum for the chair and sofa cushions is a lot easier than dragging the larger vacuum around. Handheld vacuums are great for picking up crumbs and dust in between cleanings. Some housekeepers vacuum multiple times during the week, especially if there is a pet in the house, but once or twice a week should be enough in most circumstances.

Keep the clutter to a minimum on the coffee table, keep books and magazines in a neat pile. Fold afghans or sofa throws when you finish with them and give any pillows a quick fluff. Throw out old newspapers and put video equipment away after playing. If you do these things daily, you home will never be in a state of disarray.

Finally, make sure to have a good sturdy door mat for wiping your feet. The mats made of artificial grass do the best jobs of getting debris from shoes so you track less dirt inside.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Kathy Zengolewicz

Hang a quilt on the wall behind your headboard. It’s a simple step that looks great. You don’t have to match the quilt with your bedspread, but do keep the same color scheme.

Mix and match some pillows to brighten up the room. Your décor should express your personality so find a favorite print and use a dollar store picture frame and you have instant art for your bedroom walls.

Not a print kind of person? Take pictures of your children or other loved ones, yes that does include you pets, and frame those photos. Make a collage of those pics. I like that kind of art!

Redecorate or replace your lampshades to correspond with your new décor, or better yet, install wall lamps. That will keep some of the clutter off of your bedside or night table.

Change the position of your bed. Placing your bed on an angle, where the corner of the room is in the middle of your headboard, that gives a unique semblance to the room.

If you’re a snuggler, top your bed with a soft down comforter. If you just want to inject some color into the room do it with a few accessories like a new lampshade or knick knacks.

You can add a homey look to your space by draping your quilt or comforter over the headboard or footboard using your bed as a quilt stand.

So, you see there are many easy and inexpensive ways to change a room using your imagination. Have fun trying some of these suggestions.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

sxc.hu

When you use scouring soap pads like Brillo or SOS, if you’re like me you never seem use the entire pad and it sits on your sink and rusts. From now on when you buy soap pads cut them in half and use half at a time. It keeps your sink cleaner and your soap pads last twice as long.

Here’s a great tip for removing blood from fabric. Take a little bit of milk in a saucer and an old toothbrush. Pour a little milk on the stain and brush with the toothbrush. Rinse in cold water and launder as usual. All of the blood will be gone.

Do you have a lot of artificial plants at home that get very dusty? Try this: spray the leaves of the plant with hair spray. That will keep the dust from accumulating.

Here is a tip to save you time, especially if you have a two or three story home. When emptying waste baskets in your bathroom, bedroom or family room, before putting the clean bag in the basket, put in a few extra bags and a fabric softener sheet. That will save you time and keep your baskets fresh. If you don’t like using fabric softener sheets then take a man’s old white handkerchief and put a little bit of lemon, almond or vanilla extract on it and place that in your basket to keep it fresh smelling.

Have a coffee bean grinder? A great way to clean that is to grind some rice in it. The rice will make it fresh and clean.

When you store left over spaghetti sauce in a plastic bowl it is hard to get that stain out. Try making a paste of cream of tartar and water. It takes a little bit of elbow grease, but it will remove the stain.

I’ll have more household tips for you in the coming weeks.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle