Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Tips for you (4)

Paper Towel Tube as Plastic Bag Storage


Contain plastic bags in a drawer or under the cabinet by stuffing them into an empty tube and pulling out as needed.





Tissue Box as Plastic Bag Holder

Dispense plastic grocery bags with ease. Stuff your empties into and old tissue box and store under the sink. Then pull out one at a time when you need it.
Beatriz da Costa

Which Comes First, Vacuuming or Dusting?


 To stop your sneezing, wipe your surfaces first using a damp cloth or a microfiber duster, which will trap the dust. 

Dust first, then vacuum. Dust, allergens, and other particles are constantly floating through a home’s air.


No technique can remove all the dust, so vacuuming afterward helps to remove any remaining dirt, says Sonia Alexander Hill, a spokesperson for Merry Maids.

 If you save dusting until the end of your cleaning routine, dirt particles will linger in the air and eventually land back on your surfaces, meaning your next dusting will come sooner than you’d like.

http://www.realsimple.com

Caesar Salad


TOTAL TIME: 20 MIN

  • SERVINGS: 4
  • BASIC-EASY
  • FAST
  • MAKE-AHEAD



      Caesar Salad
    1. 1 1/2 cups baguette cubes (1/2 inch)
    2. 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
    3. 1/3 cup mayonnaise

    4. 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings (1 1/2 ounces), for tossing
    5. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    6. 1 tablespoon water
    7. 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    8. 1 oil-packed anchovy fillet, drained
    9. 1 small garlic clove
    10. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
    11. 3 hearts of romaine (about 12 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
    1. Preheat the oven to 350°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the baguette cubes with the olive oil until coated. Toast for about 8 minutes, until crisp. Let cool.
    2. In a mini food processor, combine the mayonnaise, grated cheese, lemon juice, water, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy and garlic and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
    3. In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the croutons, dressing and cheese shavings and serve.
    sourse:

    CONTRIBUTED BY MELISSA RUBEL JACOBSON


      Monday, April 29, 2013

      Tips for you (3)


      Stuffed Animal as Bookend

      To ensure your child’s favorite books stand at attention: Replace the stuffing with dried beans to weigh down the toy, sew up the opening, and display on a shelf. You'll end up with a sturdy, furry guardian of Goodnight Moon.



      Action Figures as Hooks

      Use action figures (that aren't seeing action anymore) as Herculean hooks. Position the arms of each toy straight out in front and apply a two-part epoxy (available at home-improvement stores) over the arms, the shoulders, and the torso, following the package directions. The epoxy will make the outstretched limbs strong enough to support clothing, hats, and even towels. Mount a figure on the wall using two screws placed through the torso.





      Natural ways to induce labor


      Are you done with being pregnant and ready to have your baby? Whether your due date is quickly approaching or it’s already come and gone, you’re probably eager to get things moving along. But sit tight, experts say. A full term pregnancy is anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks, and most women will go into labor naturally between 41 and 42 weeks. And if your cervix isn’t ripe, your chances of having a C-section increase.

      “We know if someone goes into spontaneous labor they’re more likely to have a successful vaginal delivery,” said Dr. Myra J. Wick, a board-certified OB/GYN at the Mayo Clinic and co-editor of the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.
      Once your provider has given you the green light, there are some things you can try. Find out what works and what doesn’t.


      Sex

      The prostaglandin in semen can soften the cervix and get it ready for labor, and an orgasm can definitely cause the uterus to contract – but it may not lead to labor, Wick said. In fact, there is no evidence that sex can induce labor, but it’s not harmful either, according to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. If your membranes are ruptured, you have bleeding or your doctor told you not to have sex because of other complications, then heed that advice and hold off.


      Walking

      “Anytime a woman can be upright, it’s optimal for labor,” said Dr. Michelle Collins, a certified nurse-midwife and director of the nurse-midwifery program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. Although walking won’t start labor, if you’re already in labor, it can definitely make the contractions more frequent.  

      Nipple stimulation

      When the nipples are stimulated, the pituitary gland releases oxytocin, the hormone that makes the uterus contract. According to an article in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, women who had a ripe cervix were more likely to go into labor within 72 hours if they used nipple stimulation than those who didn’t.
      There are actually a variety of ways to stimulate the nipples, according to Collins, who said your provider might suggest using a breast pump, standing in a hot shower, or stimulating your nipples like you’re winding a watch. Be sure to get the OK from your provider first.

      Food

      Tempted to go out for Mexican food in hopes that it might jumpstart your contractions?  Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down collagen and can ripen the cervix.  However, you would have to eat a ton of it for it to work. Some restaurants even tout special dishes made with eggplant, vinegar or spices that claim to induce labor, but there’s no scientific data to suggest that it actually works, Collins said.

      Acupuncture and acupressure

      Known to promote healing through the energy pathways of the body, some research suggests that acupuncture and acupressure may help to induce labor.  If you opt for these methods, be sure to use a practitioner who specializes in pregnancy.

      Evening primrose oil

      Taken orally or massaged on the cervix, there are NO benefits to using evening primrose oil to induce labor, Collins said. In fact, women who use the oil are at increased risk for prolonged rupture of membranes, arrest of descent—or the baby not coming down the birth canal despite having contractions—and higher rates of vacuum assisted births, according to a report in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Evening primrose oil can also put you at risk for having seizures so it’s best to avoid it altogether.   

      Massage

      A prenatal massage can do wonders for back pain, soreness and stress, especially during labor when the contractions get stronger.  But unfortunately it won’t help to start labor.  

      Castor oil

      “When you stimulate the bowel, it can stimulate the uterus,” said Collins, who also noted that drinking castor oil is one of the most overused and unsafe methods women have used. Not only can it cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but you can also become severely dehydrated.
      A study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found castor oil didn’t affect the time it took for a woman to go into labor nor did it have any adverse effects. Yet there have been case reports of fetal distress, and it can potentially increase the chances of the baby passing meconium.


      Black and blue cohosh

      These herbs may start contractions, but they’re not safe and using them can actually be potentially life threatening to you and your baby, Collins said.  In fact, babies whose mothers used these herbs suffered heart and cardiovascular complications, seizures and kidney damage, according to an article in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

      Red raspberry leaf tea

      Used by Native American women for centuries, red raspberry leaf tea can help to tone the uterine muscles, and it may shorten labor and reduce hemorrhaging – but it won’t start labor. Collins suggests drinking the tea three times a day at 36 or 37 weeks of pregnancy to reap the benefits.


      -------------------------------------------------------------

      Natural ways to induce labor



      Read more

      Integrated food for a healthy pregnancy


      Did you know that all the possibilities available to you to influence your child during the months of pregnancy before he see the light, what are the best ways to be ahappy when you hear your baby's first cry, and appeal with a sound infrastructure, and in good health?
       following these instructions:


      Diet:
      your normal mixed diet that was before pregnancy make you feel that you are in a good health is appropriate, provided that increase servings of vegetables and fruit, and to ensure the metabolism of good diet, you need to:


      1- Synovial  materials: They build your baby's bones and muscles, and are found in vegetable protein, such as: (lentils, string bean, Cowpea) and animal protein (meat, fish types, and eggs.



      2- Fats rich in vitamin A:,  do not do a lot of fatty foods, especially in the second stage of the pregnancy, including margarine, and oils. Avoid carbohydrates; so as not to cause you obese, and straighten eat sugars; to maintain the level of sugar in the blood.



      3- vitamins and minerals
      a- Including folic acid: which prevents neurological abnormalities in the child is present in (oranges, cantaloupe, dark greens, grains) and advised to take folic acid tablets three months before pregnancy.

      b-Iron: Studies show that 10% of pregnant women suffer from anemia that their diets do not contain vitamin iron, which can be compensated eat: (vegetables, red meat, dried fruit, beans, grapes, and nuts)

      c- Vitamin B: There is frequently in wheat, brown bread, and here you eat one loaf of brown bread a day.

      d- Vitamin C: nourishes the human cell for your child, and strengthens immunity, which is found in citrus fruits.

      e- A variety of vitamins: There are all kinds of vegetables, such as: «carrots, green beans, cabbage, grape leaves, spinach, peppers, watercress, parsley, and tomatoes

      f-  Water «fluid»: You must drink from 8-10 glasses a day, and milk  is best for pregnancy; to contain a quantity of calcium, protein, and minerals needed to build bones of the fetus, and muscles, and also contains essential vitamins for your body, and you need one liter per day, you can replace milk with 250 grams of cheese.

      Avoid these foods and drinks
      1- liver and mushrooms; may contain a bacterium that causes botulism, then drop, or stillbirth.

      .2- unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, and blue cheese.

      3- raw meat, or half coocked of the possibility it contains germs, or raw eggs, or half coocked of the possibility it contains salmonella.

      4- Vegetables which unwashed well.

      5- Cut down on stimulants, and refrain them in the first three months of pregnancy.

      6 Stop smoking  and does not exist in smoking places; in order to avoid an early birth or a lack of fetal weight

      Sunday, April 28, 2013

      Mental relaxation techniques for pregnant

      Many symptoms appears on some women during pregnancy, to know cause of excess nervousness, loss of concentration and tension as a result of stress, so dear pregnant organize your time better allows you to take several periods of rest on a daily basis whenever you get the chance.


      Has not been scientifically proven yet that long naps are required in the pregnancy, but is sufficient for you to relax for a quarter of an hour several times during the day where notify actively uncharacteristic.

      There are steps to help you to relax, and effect will be like magic to provide you with very active after a few minutes:
      1.  Arrangement the bed and comfortably pillow.
      2.  Relax sitting or lying comfortably in bed.
      3.  Close your eyes.
      4.  Take a deep breath and slowly count to five then take out air after that.
      5. To expel any disturbing thoughts try to focus in restoring the beautiful memories and demand happy and playful ideas, this means you will develop your ability to imagine giving your body the ability to relax. This will help both of pregnancy and childbirth. As a general rule do not wait until your body complains of excessive pain due to the accumulation of fatigue before they become most pain. Listen to your body even and rely to rest whenever you get the chance. You should note that the principle of relaxation does not mean relaxing only physical but also mental.
      6. Close your eyes and imaginary scene quiet and comfortable like a large green field and beautiful flowers, and has a clear sky or view of the sea and pacific blue color (blue color that is known to help relax).
      7.  Sure, you now will feel that your temper his vice and that your mind quiet.


      9 Things You Need to Know About Maternity Leave


      Having a baby soon? Learn how to maximize your benefits when taking time off from work.



      What You’re Entitled To

      Whether you’re thinking about having a baby or simply curious about the distant future—what’s the deal with maternity leave? Federal law requires your employer to give you at least 12 weeks off, but it only mandates unpaid leave. The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they’d like to is because they can’t afford to go without their salaries any longer.

      Here’s what you need to know.

      Family Leave Isn’t Just for Pregnant Women

      The Family & Medical Leave Act requires most employers to give employees up to 12 weeks off for “family leave.” You don’t have to be pregnant to qualify, either; this applies to both mothers and fathers, and can be used for those who are adopting or must care for a sick relative.

      You Don’t Have to Take Your Leave All at Once

      You can take intermittent leave in which you leave for a while, return, and then take more leave. You can even work part-time until you’ve taken the equivalent of 12 weeks off.

      Some Employers Don’t Have to Give Leave

      Your employer doesn’t have to give you family leave if you’ve worked at the company for under a year, or if you’ve worked fewer than 1,250 hours during that year (that is, fewer than an average 25 hours per week, assuming two weeks’ vacation). A company is also exempt if it has fewer than 50 employees. And if you and your partner work for the same company, it’s only obliged to give the two of you a combined 12 weeks off, not 12 weeks off each.

      You Must Request Family Leave in Writing

      At least, in order to get your unpaid leave under federal law, you need to request it in writing at least 30 days in advance. We suggest you discuss your options with your company’s human resources department much earlier than that, such as at the end of your first trimester. Your employer must notify you within two days of the request if you are ineligible under the federal law.

      One Solution to Unpaid Leave Is Short-Term Disability Insurance

      This sort of insurance is relatively common: New Jersey and California provide short-term disability insurance to residents, usually funded through a payroll deduction, and a few others—including New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii—mandate that employers offer this insurance. Short-term disability insurance can provide a portion of your salary if you are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition, including pregnancy. Private disability insurance may cover between half and all of your salary.

      Disability Insurance for Maternity May Cover Only Six Weeks, or Less

      Though federal law guarantees you 12 weeks of unpaid leave, disability insurance may only cover six weeks, or even less. Also note that some employers require that you use up any vacation or sick days (during which you would collect your full salary) before disability insurance kicks in. If you’re not yet pregnant but considering a baby, now is a good time to make sure that you have short-term disability insurance and to find out the details.

      Employers Must Maintain Your Insurance—But You May Have to Pay

      The law requires your employer to continue your health insurance coverage during this time, but you may be required to pay for it out of pocket; after all, when you’re on unpaid leave, you’re no longer earning a paycheck from which insurance premiums can be deducted.



      Know When and How to Add Baby to Your Coverage

      You’ll typically have to do this within 30 days of birth in order to cover the new set of medical bills. These may arrive addressed to your child shortly after his or her birth.





      Do You Have a Financial Maternity Leave Plan?

      Unless you’re very lucky, taking maternity leave will mean losing at least half your salary for at least several weeks. So, while you’re still in the planning stages, get your finances in shape by setting aside a portion of your pay to use during your leave.

      Ideally, we’d like you to be able to take as much time as you want for family leave, up to the federally-mandated 12 weeks, without running out of money for the things you and your baby need. If you plan ahead, you should be just fine!

      This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.







      Tips for you (2)


      Iron clothes with a hair straightener

      Touch up your ironing job with a hair straighter. It’s great for getting in between buttons and smoothing our minor wrinkles when you don’t have time get your ironing board out. Go for a model with adjustable heat, set it low, and make sure there’s no residue hair product on the straightener first. 



      Velcro as Toy Storage

      nspire housekeeping habits that will stick. Affix the rough sides of a few strips to the wall, and the soft sides to the backs of stuffed animals. The act of putting away toys will gain all-ages appeal.



      Saturday, April 27, 2013

      6 Easy Lower Abdominal Exercises


      Tone your lower abs with a 15-minute workout, three times a week.

      The Routine

      Sure, a more toned midsection can ease your bathing-suit anxiety. But it can also protect you from injury: Research shows that a strong transversus abdominis—the muscle that wraps around the torso—stabilizes your back, which makes it easier to lift anything, whether it’s kids or grocery bags. To work this tricky-to-target area, try these moves created by Melissa Miller, the owner of M2 Personal Training, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Do the series two times through, three times a week.



      Move 1: Warm-Up: Ab Prep

      Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Inhale and tuck your chin to your chest. Exhale and slowly curl just your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor as you lift your arms and reach toward your feet. Pause and breathe in. Slowly return to the starting position, breathing out as you go. Repeat eight times.

      Move 2: Roll Up

      (A) Lying on your back, stretch your arms and extend your legs so you form a straight line. Inhale, bring your arms overhead, and begin to curl your upper body off the floor. (B) Exhale when halfway up and continue rolling forward to reach your toes. Inhale and reverse the move, exhaling halfway down, to return to start. Repeat 10 times.


      Move 3: Leg Drop

      (A) Raise both legs toward the ceiling. Breathe in and tighten your abs. (B) Exhale and slowly lower your legs until they’re about four inches above the floor (or as low as you can go without lifting the small of your back). Pause and breathe in. Breathe out as you raise your legs to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.

      Move 4: Scissors

      Raise both legs toward the ceiling. Keeping them straight, lower your left leg until it’s about six inches off the floor. Lift your head and shoulders off the floor and grasp the back of your right leg, gently pulling it toward you. Switch legs and repeat on other side. Quickly complete 10 reps (no pausing!).

      Move 5: Hip Lift

      Raise both legs toward the ceiling and extend your arms on the floor at your sides, palms down. Inhale and tighten your core muscles. Curl your hips toward your ribs as you exhale, lifting your hips off the floor and reaching your feet straight up. Breathe in as you slowly lower. Repeat 10 times.
       

      Move 6: Torso Twist

      (A) Sit cross-legged and stretch your arms out in front of you, with your fingertips touching. Breathe in. (B) With your hips square and abs tight, breathe out as you slowly rotate your upper body about 45 degrees to the right. Return to the center and repeat on your left side. Complete 10 reps.
       

      By Sharon Liao

      via:realsimple

      You may also like:
      Exercises During Pregnancy

      Pregnancy and Exercise 

      A Few Tips To Help You Lose Some Weight
      Practic your sport like Hollywood stars








      Tips for you (1)


      Dropped Egg

      If you dropped an egg on the ground, Spray it immediately with salt and then leave it for several minutes, clean it with towel and you will notice the ease of cleaning.





      --------------------

      Blender cleaning

      put a few drops of dish washing liquid after usage, and then fill it to a half with hot water, turn it on for seconds and then rain it.