With the economy becoming more volitile by the day, consumer confidence is getting shakier. One never knows from one day to the next if his or her job will be there, if there will be anything left of investments and even how to survive each day. Are there things that you can do, even as a hardworking citizen with a moderate income? Absolutely. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Starfrit springform pan elevates the serving of tortes or cheesecakes too delicate to be moved from the base they’re baked on. The pan has a white ceramic bottom with a lip to which a nonstick springform side attaches; it’s more stylish than a traditional metal base, so you can use it as a serving plate. The pan comes in 8-inch ($24) and 10-inch ($28) sizes, at Amazon.com.
Fat-free gravy
Traditional grease separators make it impossible to get all the flavor-packed drippings without letting some fat down the spout. The Swing-A-Way separator tackles the problem by putting the spout on the bottom. Pour your pan drippings through the plastic strainer lid and then squeeze the handle to unplug the hole in the bottom; the clear sides let you see when to release your grip and plug the hole. It costs $15 at Solutions.com.
Silicone mitt, improved
Since they appeared on the market several years ago, silicone oven mitts have been our choice for the awkward job of flipping the turkey—they go right into the dishwasher, cutting down on concerns about bacteria from handling raw poultry. But the mitts were never ideal, since they couldn’t withstand heat for very long and they made for sweaty hands. Trudeau’s cloth-lined silicone mitt update solves these problems. The comfy cotton liner, which removes easily and can go in the washing machine, makes it more heat resistant. The lined mitt costs $24 at Entertainingluxury.com.
Photos: Scott Phillips
As the weather gets cooler and your lightweight summer maternity clothes are no longer warm enough for chilly mornings and evening, you know it is time to go shopping. If this is your first pregnancy, chances are there is nothing in your closet you can wear as pre-pregnancy clothes stop fitting by the 2nd trimester, if not sooner. Instead of panicking or spending a bundle all at once at your closest maternity store, take your time and just fill in the main necessities as you need them. Here are a few suggestions for stocking up your Fall maternity wardrobe.
Buying baby bedding for the first time can be both exciting and scary. You know you want only the best for the new arrival to your family, yet it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the multitude of choices that are available nowadays. If you have ever wished for a plain words list of what baby bedding items to buy that are necessary and what items are merely helpful or desirable accessories, you can consult the categories below help you distinguish between the two. Even within the necessities category, there is plenty of room for innovation so long as you keep safety and temperature control in mind in your selections. Read the rest of this entry »
People are becoming more conscious of the products they use every day. Chemicals, toxic products, and insecticides are falling from favor as individuals search for more friendly methods of resolving issues. Flea treatments are one of these areas.
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Whether you’re decorating an empty kid’s room from scratch, freshening up their room with a little paint, creating a functional storage system or simply trying to clear the clutter –it’s important that you work as a team. Decorating and organizing kid rooms takes teamwork. Of course, with babies and toddlers you need to take full control but as your children grow so should their responsibility in caring for their room.
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As the New Year quickly approaches, one of the resolutions topping lists again this year will be to lose weight and get fit. So many folks will start out gung-ho, completely devoted to the fitness cause, yet fizzle out before spring approaches. What is the key to being successful in a weight loss journey? Noone should make a life-altering decision without research, thought and preparation. Losing weight and becoming fit is just that … a change of lifestyle. Set a starting date and use the time prior to prepare yourself!
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What is it about Grief & Loss that upsets us so much? Is it the heavy duty emoting that we have to do to get through our suffering? Is it the fear we have about opening ourselves to all this pain? Because, let’s face it, it’s hard down there, in the land of grieving where all those emotions toss us around like a cork on a stormy sea.
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It may seem a daunting task but getting your toddler to eat healthy isn’t actually the difficult task it seems. In fact, the toddler years is the perfect age to instil good eating habits in your toddler.
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Watching The Westminster Dog Show had me thinking about various breeds and the many reasons people get a dog in the first place. I’m paraphrasing something that Jon Katz the author of Katz on Dogs wrote, “people will shop around, test drive and read all the stats and figures before they buy a large screen TV or new car, but they tend to buy or adopt a puppy on a whim.”
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