Every home and car should have a first aid kit in case of emergencies. I have a list of what should be included in your first aid kit.
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 …read more

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 …read more

A lot of people love to keep a garden in spring and summer, myself included, so it is always a little sad when you have to cut back the garden and prepare it for the winter. I seem to get a little grouchy when this happens. So, after mulling this over for a bit I thought, “why not start an indoor garden?” That is exactly what I did.
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 …read more

Are you thinking of redecorating or just freshening up your home for the holidays? I have a few tips that may help.  No one  has a lot of money to spend at this time of year, so let’s look at some practical solutions available for the least amount of spending cash.
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 …read more

What can I say about the living room? After the kitchen, my living room is the busiest area in the whole house. The only ones living in the house are my husband and myself, but at times it looks like there’s a whole tribe camped out here. Yes, it get’s that dirty.
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 …read more

Do you have a bedroom that is in dire need of change or face lift? If so, I have a few ideas that may help. There never seems to be enough money to do exactly what we want to do, so I tried to keep these ideas as inexpensive as possible.
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 …read more

It’s that time of year when some of us have family and close friends visit for the holidays. Most of my family lives within an hours drive, but we do have a few relatives who live out of state and spend the night when they do visit.
Don’t be stressed out at the thought of hosting family or friends overnight. I have a few tips to help you make your guests feel right at home.
Make sure to air out your guestroom a few days before. When I say air out I mean just that. Open the windows slightly to let the …read more

It’s the end of another month and so once again I have put together a list of this month’s articles for easy access.  I tried putting them into categories, but some of the categories overlapped a little.  I hope this helps to find what you need or missed this month.

Food, Cooking, and Holidays:
Cooking with a Little This and That
10 Ways to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Your Last Minute Stop for Halloween Ideas
17 Halloween Cupcake Ideas
20 Pumpkin Inspired Recipes
Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner
30 Fall Inspired Desserts and Treats
Organization and Declutering:
Do You Have an All or Nothing Attitude
Tips to Get Your Organization …read more

Many times when I go to a party, potluck or some other function, I end up finding a great new dish that I’d like to make myself.  When I complement the person, they say, “Oh, it’s really easy.  You just need a little broccoli, some onions, a little this, and a little of that.”  It’s so frustrating because you can’t repeat the dish without the recipe.

Then Wednesday I made a sausage and spinach quiche.  Wouldn’t you know it, someone asked me what was in it.  I think I said something like, “Uhhhhh, some sausage, eggs, spinach, cheese, uhhhh.  Hmmm. Let …read more

Some people have an all or nothing attitude.  They feel that if their house can’t be perfectly clean and organized, then there’s no sense in trying.  Rather than taking the clutter one pile at a time, they let it pile up and overwhelm them.  As promised, here are some tips for tackling the clutter.

1.  Commit to 15 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and commit to work for that amount of time.  Give yourself permission to stop working when the timer buzzes.  This will help get you started and the time you’re working doesn’t seem so overwhelming.  This way …read more