A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that downing a whole bag of potato chips makes you fat faster than just about anything else, ice cream and soda included. A single potato chip has enough fat/oil that it can burn for up to 3 minutes! Potato chips are perfect fire starters used for camping or in any emergency situation.
Click on this link to watch the video:
The idea of having a supply of food and water is to help us during times of personal and natural disasters. In my about us page, I’ve mentioned witnessing a natural disaster and how it affected many people. It was devastating to see homes split in half by big trees, homes submerged in water and loved ones lost by their family.
I’ve definitely didn’t bother getting my Food Storage started until I was in a situation of need. How about you? Are you prepared for any unexpected emergencies?
Now is the time to prepare for:
Protect your most valuable assets….
Your Family
Having a baby on the way made me think of the cleaning chemicals that I use to keep my home clean. I thought those chemicals that I might be detrimental to my baby’s health so I started looking at more baby friendly solutions that I could use instead.
Here’s what I found out:
Floor Cleaner: (courtesy of my mom)
1) Vinyl Type Floors:
2) Hardwood Floor Cleaner:
Window cleaner:
*Shake well before using because the cornstarch will settle at the bottom (and subsequently plug the spray mechanism if it’s not mixed in well).
Disinfectant Spray for Surfaces:
1) Using Herbs:
2) Without Herbs:
*This works especially well for counter-tops but may also be used to clean showers, toilets and sinks. Great for most cleaning needs.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
Carpet Cleaner:
Sun is out and it’s time to have fun! It’s the best time to play, unwind, and maybe even hit the beach. But too much sun exposure can be really harmful so here is a quick tip on how to rejuvenate, heal and sooth those sunburns. Use Aloe Vera Ice Cube!
It’s healing and soothing; this will save you from being lobster colored in the summer!
I have noticed that from time to time, I find rotten fruits or vegetables at the bottom of my refrigerator. This aggravates my husband a lot so I tried to look for ways to keep our food fresher and longer. Here’s what I found out:
1.) Prevent potatoes from sprouting by putting them in a brown bag with a whole apple. This will keep them good for up to 8 weeks.
2.) Keep eggs in their container and place them in the middle shelf. The top shelf is too cold, and bottom shelf should be for anything that might leak and contaminate anything underneath.
3.) Do not cover the cheese with plastic because it needs breathing space. Wrap it in a paper towel and place your cheese in the warmest part of the refrigerator which is the door. You can also add a dab of butter to the cut side of cheese to prevent it from drying out.
4.) Store tomatoes at room temperature. Do not cover and place it upside down, this prevents air from entering through the stem and prevents moisture from getting out.
5.) Onions can be kept in a brown bag like the potatoes or you can place them in a panty hose legs and hang it up on your ceiling.
6.) Keep Fruits and vegetables away from each other. Fruits emit ethylene gas which can make your vegetables ripen faster. Placing a baking soda at the back of the fridge can help keep vegetables fresh at a much longer time.
And lastly….
7.) Design meal plans and clean out your refrigerator regularly before grocery shopping. Shop for items that you only need, and use what you have in the pantry and refrigerator. With a little creativity, and an eye toward vanquishing waste in our lives, we can make use of more of our food before it goes to waste while saving money at the same time.
Elder Robert D. Hales, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, former President of Papermate and a former Executive at Hughes Television Network, outlined some ways we can become self-reliant:
Well… that’s a tough one. If you’ve tried getting rid of the squirrels in your garden, you know it’s not an easy task, so here are some tips from Family Food Storage that might help.
1.) Use garlic as a repellant
Vinegar smells strongly, and squirrels have extremely sensitive noses. It smells worse to them than it does to us. Vinegar applied to solid surfaces remains pungent for several days, even after it dries. Squirrels also find hot peppers and garlic highly offensive.
2.) Quench their thirst
Though it may sound silly, placing a source of water near your garden boxes helps. Most often, squirrels try to quench their thirst by eating fruits and vegetables like tomatoes or pumpkins. Doing this reduces the risk, but it does not guarantee that they will completely stay away from your garden.
3.) Feed them
Install a Squirrel feeder a distance away from your potted plants, and keep the feeder filled with corn, nuts, and seeds. You can enjoy watching their antics without them digging in your plants.
So I was browsing around different DIY items that I can make and I came across this broom that is made out of 2 liter recycled bottles. Though it may be easier to buy a $6 broom from Wal Mart, other countries could use a lot of the upcycling ideas to improve their lives. Even simple things like a broom are convenient and useful. This ideas I think, are things we need to be teaching across the globe.
Anyway, here is what you need:
20 plastic soft drink bottles 2 liter PET
broomstick
scissors
wire
hammer
nails
Instructions:
1.Remove the label.
2.Cut off the bottom of the bottle.
3.Cut thin strips up to the most rounded part of the bottle. You will have strips about .5 cm. (about 3/16ths of an inch).
4.Remove the neck of the bottle with scissors.
5.Repeat on 18 bottles, but leave one with the neck in tact
6.Insert all the bottles (without necks) over the top of the bottle with the neck. This is the base of the broom.
7.Cut the top portion of another bottle and place over the base of the broom you just prepared.
8.Drill two holes and insert the wire through all layers of bottles.
9.Pull the wire to the other side and twist the ends to fasten
10.Insert broom stick into the top of bottle neck and nail in place with two nails.
11.The broom is complete and you can believe it works.
I know organizing your pantry might seem overwhelming, but you are really just 30 minutes away from a clean and organized pantry (depending on how big your pantry is of course). Getting your pantry organized is going to make your life a lot easier. Here’s how you can start:
1.) Remove everything you have from your pantry so you can see how much space you have and how much stuff you have to fill it.
2.) Look at the expiration date and get rid of anything past its date. Also, see if you have multiples of everything and consolidate them into one container.
3.) Now arrange your shelves like they do in the grocery store. Put all the spices, cans, grains and condiments on separate areas. The items you use the most like cereals should be place at an eye level. Everything that comes in space hogging boxes should be place in a plastic Tupperware container. They help food stay fresh and safe from insects, plus they stack up well so you can have more space in your pantry.
4.) Store the heavier items on lower shelves so you can grab them without straining your back. Also, store anything you don’t want your children to lay their hands on, on the top shelf where they can’t be reached.
The few minutes you take each time to clean up will really pay off and hopefully, you won’t have to do this again for a long time. Stay organized my friends.
