Pumpkin-Carving Basics

Check out Martha Stewart's 5 basic steps for carving a pumpkin!

http://www.marthastewart.com/275075/how-to-carve-a-pumpkin/@center/276965/halloween#

Now get out there and decorate those porches!

Freezer Fail Detector

I found this on Pinterest!

"Here's a simple one: what happens if your power goes out while you're on vacation? Well your food will thaw, then go bad, then refreeze, and you'll be none the wiser when you go to eat it. The freezer fail detector is just a jar filled half-way with water then frozen on its side. Put the jar upright and glance at it whenever you open your freezer. No more salmonella!"

Brilliant, right?

Summer Pool Tips

For pool owners:

• Point your jets slightly upward and to the left. This will help your water flow clockwise and not fight mother nature. You will achieve better circulation.
• Toss a tennis ball into your pool. The fibers absorb oils (like sunscreen and BBQ grease) and keep your pool clean longer. (Want to know what else you can do with a tennis ball? Check out "Tennis balls: Little. Yellow. Useful.")

For pool/beach-goers:

• Always lose your keys when you get out the pool/beach bag? Use an extra metal shower curtain holder. Loop the ring around the handles of your beach bag, then just hook your key ring on when you get out of the car! (Thanks to Martha Stewart for this one.)
• Stay safe in the sun: Wear sunscreen on overcast days, and try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm (when the sun is hottest). For more sunscreen tips, check out: 10 Sunscreen Tips.
• Feeling a little sandy after the beach? Sprinkling baby powder on your feet (or affected areas) loosens the hold sand has on your skin and helps it brush off faster. Bonus: you smell good AND your skin feels nice and soft!

Spring Clean Your Mattress

Check out this article from Make It Do: http://www.make-it-do.com/clean-it/spring-clean-your-mattress/

Energizer Bunny

9 Tips for Instant Energy:

1. Eat citrus or use a citrus-scented body wash or perfume.

2. Listen to music that pumps you up.

3. Stand up straight.

4. Drink more water. Add a lemon to it!

5. Eat a peppermint or use peppermint chapstick.

6. Try a 30-second nap:  It's simple: Sit in chair with your feet firmly on the floor and rest your elbows on your knees while holding your key chain in one hand. Let your head hang down. Exhale slowly and try to shut out distractions. The minute you nod off, you'll drop the keys and wake back up. (Courtesy of The Joy of Laziness by Axt and Axt-Gaderman)

7. Take 3 deep, diaphragmatic breaths (your stomach should be moving).

8. Laugh. At something, of course. Randomly laughing at nothing will get you thrown in the loony bin.

9. Wear red. Paint your nails for a little pick-me-up right on your fingertips!

Bananas, Peppers, and Brownies

• Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.
• Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
• Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
• For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Laundry Day

What! Who knew folding a fitted sheet could be so easy?

No Peelers Allowed!

Just when you thought you knew everything about peeling potatoes!



If you have tips about cooking, cleaning, family life, health and beauty, Visiting Teaching, or anything else you can think of, send them to 33reliefsociety@gmail.com and we'll post them on the blog as part of our Tip Jar!