Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 5 2013

House Cleaning Myths Debunked

Thorough and regular cleaning goes a long way in making any house a home. Cleaner can mean safer and aestheti-

cally pleasing when it comes to your home. However, people usually go about cleaning with false notions about what they are actu-ally doing. This can lead to more harm than good in many instances. Watch us debunk several house-cleaning myths.

Coffee grinds clean garbage disposals: Where in the world did this tip come from? Apparently from plumbers and handyper-sons who are waiting for you to call and tell them that your plumbing system is clogged up. A much better way to freshen up your disposal is to keep a dedicated old dishwash-ing brush under the sink. When your dis-posal starts to give off that garbage aroma, pour some of your dishwashing liquid on this brush and put it into the disposal (not running of course!) and scrub the sides and the blades. Rinse thoroughly, running cold water through the unit. To freshen up, throw a small lime or lemon rind in with some ice cubes to sharpen the blades, and you're done.

Vinegar can Clean Anything: Vinegar is a great green cleaning product that can be found in your home. Not only can it remove small stains and disinfect, but it also is great at deodorizing bad smells. The problem with vinegar is that it is very acidic and can be damaging to some surfaces. Hard surfaces

such as marble and stone, waxed surfaces, electronic screens and light metals such as pewter or aluminum can all be damaged from vinegar.

More soap equals more clean: It's a common misconception that the more dirty something is, the more soap it needs. It seems to make sense, more dirt needs more soap. In reality, while soaps and de-tergents are great and necessary for clean-ing too much of a good thing can create its own problems. So if more soap doesn't equal more cleaning power, what does it equal? Using too much soap makes it harder to fully rinse away soap residue. And one of the reasons soap/detergent is so great for clean-ing, is that it attracts dirt. This is great if all the dirt is rinsed away from the surface we were trying to clean. But if all the soap isn't gone...then the surface will continue to at-tract more dirt.

Bleach is the ultimate cleaner: The heavy scent of bleach in the air must mean that something is really clean. After all bleach is the ultimate cleaner...right? Not so fast. Bleach may be great at a lot of things, but cleaning isn't really one of them. Bleach is a disinfectant and not a cleaner. Bleach does a fantastic job of killing germs. It re-moves tough stains. But bleach doesn't really clean dirt and residue from surfaces. To do that, you'd need to scrub and rinse surfaces.

For many household cleaning jobs, bleach just isn't the right cleaning solution. It has heavy fumes that can make you sick. Contact with bleach on your skin is irritating and can be very harmful. Mixing it with many other cleaners can give you toxic results. Bleach can also damage surfaces and remove color.

Frequent vacuuming will damage the carpet: There’s no such thing. The dirt and grime, soiled in the carpet’s fibres is capable of damaging it permanently, causing wear and tear to show in less time. Vacuuming can only save your carpet more time to look good. However, you should be careful with the attachments - use proper ones depend-ing on your carpet’s type. Also, don’t forget to mop kitchen, bathroom and other uncar-peted floor in the evening to avoid spread-ing dirt to other rooms.

Polish Should Be Applied Directly to Furniture: Always spray the cloth, not the furniture. Overspray may damage surfaces nearby like painted or wallpapered walls. Use a microfiber cloth for dusting for the best possible clean and to minimize spread-ing dust back into the air.

Newspaper is a foolproof alternative to paper towels for window washing: Newspaper may take lint out of the equation, but it can also leave smeared newsprint ink on the glass and frames of the windows.

LIVING QUARTERS

www.abstracthome.com APRIL 2013 ABSTRACT HOME 1

Laundry Room Thrift Tips

There are a lot of places you can go to waste your money. Your laundry

shouldn’t be one of them. Try saving your hard-earned bucks with these tips.

Replace fabric softener with white vinegar. A good

500ml bottle of fabric softener is roughly $13-$15 at your local grocery. A similarly sized bottle of white vinegar costs up to one third of that cost. Guess what? The vinegar does the same thing your softener does (minus the choice of scent). Adding quar-ter cup of white vinegar to each load during the rinse cycle can save you big bucks. The vinegar softens clothes and helps pre-vent static cling. Not to men-tion, you can still use the re-maining vinegar to season meat, clean tiles or make an antifungal foot soak. Can you say the same of your softener?

Capitalize on the weather. Line drying is free. Free is good. Purchase a drying rack or an in-terior clothes line if you don’t have backyard space. There are also those retractable lines you can place outside your kitchen window that are very handy. If

you insist on using an energy consuming dryer, don’t over-dry your clothes. Be sure to check the lint filter by hand be-tween every load. Lint buildup prevents your dryer from oper-ating efficiently, making it take longer to dry your clothes.

Be wary of ‘dry clean only.’ “Dry clean only” materials are often more expensive than regular ones. Therefore, your wardrobe is automatically more expensive. Plus, the cost to maintain them is ridiculous. In-stead of paying $20 bucks per shirt, you can wash an entire load for a fraction of the cost.

Wash full loads. It sounds ob-vious, but if you only run your washing machine and clothes dryer when they are full, you'll save in the long run. Also, check your clothes washer settings; try quick cycles to reduce wash

times and high-spin modes to reduce the need for drying.

Use cold water. Today's deter-gents are formulated to clean in cold water. Unless you have ex-tremely dirty or greasy clothes, you may be surprised at how well it cleans. Changing to cold water saves big bucks on energy costs.

Learn ironing tricks. Stop getting your wallet flattened by ironing costs. The irony is iron-ing can be done faster with less effort for less bucks by trying some simple pressing tips. Try inserting aluminum foil be-tween the ironing board and the cover. This helps to conserve heat and gets the job done fast-er. Also, get an inexpensive bot-tle sprayer and add some water. Spraying to moisten items helps to soften wrinkles and requires less time to press. You don’t have to buy starch.

The Ideal Garden PondFe things add serenity and

elegant outdoor style to a backyard like a pond. This

will make the landscape of any garden appear more tranquil and beautiful while providing you with the capacity to keep aquatic pets. However, there is a lot more to the ideal pond than digging a hole and putting wa-ter and fish in it. Here are some considerations.

Ensure The Right DepthA mix of shallow and deep wa-ter provides a variety of habi-tats for plants and animals but a pond need not be too deep. For a small pond, 1ft deep is enough for wildlife to flourish. The edg-es should also be gently shelving.

Don’t Be Too TidyA good wildlife pond has a mix-ture of different habitats for animals to live and hide in so

don't over-manage it. A mixture of mud, leaves, twigs, stones and lots of plants provides plenty of places for wildlife to live in.

Situate Your Pond CorrectlyTry not to have your pond at the lowest point of the garden, as rain from the garden will not only overflow the pond, it will also pollute the water with gar-den rubble and dirt. And don't install a new garden pond di-rectly under a large tree as fall-

ing debris will make it tricky to keep the pond clean. It's use-ful to line the ponds edge with rocks to stop dirt and plants ac-cidentally falling into the water, and if your garden pond is built in direct sunlight, have some taller plants are around the edge of the pond to help keep the wa-ter cooler and a bit shaded dur-ing warm and sunny weather.

Monitor Fertilizer UseFertilizer is often a necessity for lawns and landscapes but it can, when used to excess, cause problems for nearby wa-ter sources including backyard ponds. When excess ammonia, nitrogen and other elements found in man-made fertilizers are washed into ponds with rain runoff, they can make tempting targets for waterborne bacteria and algae. Over time, this can lead to blooms of algae that rob

the water of oxygen and create havens for anaerobic bacteria which are harmful to plants.

Pumps and Filters are a mustA good water pump and filtra-tion system is important for any pond, particularly if you're going to keep fish and for the wellbeing of pond plants. The pond pump basically keeps the water mov-ing, circulating oxygen, while the filter's job is to act as a mini-sewage system for the pond. The components in the filter offer a vast surface area which becomes home to lots of helpful bacteria produced. When waste (such as fish excretion and left-over food) starts breaking down and releasing toxins into the water, the same water will eventually pass through the filter, with the helpful bacteria breaking down the invisible toxins trapped in the filter.

LIVING QUARTERS

ABSTRACT HOME APRIL 2013 www.abstracthome.com2

Clean Your BrassFor some, brass is merely a

Carnival fete that used to be. For others it is a beau-

tiful metal which can add shine to your accent pieces throughout your home. The operative word of course is shine. Many brass products need to be cleaned and polished to provide the desired look whereas some antique brass pieces develop a patina and weathered finish which works well. If you want to clean your brass pieces, this article can help.

Before getting too elaborate, try cleaning the piece with a lint-free cloth. One of the best types for this is a microfiber cloth. Some effort is required in terms of elbow grease, but you might be amazed that you don’t have to do anything further!

Another option is to wash your brass in soapy water. This can be done by immersion or wiping, depending on the nature

of the piece. Proper drying and buffing is essential to the final finish.

There are also some natural al-ternatives for cleaning brass…

• Ketchup: Squirt some ketchup on a clean cloth and rub over tarnished brass. Then wipe clean with a damp cloth and buff dry.

• LemonJuice: Straight lem-on juice can be used to clean

brass and bring back shine. After cleaning with lemon juice, wipe with damp cloth and buff dry.

• Vinegar, Salt and Flour: These versatile home staples can be combined to make a paste to clean tarnished brass. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt into one-half cup of vinegar, and add flour until the mixture becomes a paste. Rub into the brass, leave for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water and buff dry.

• Water: Heat a pint of water, and add 2 tablespoons each of salt and white vinegar to create another natural rec-ipe for polishing tarnished brass. Rub the mixture onto the brass and then dry with a clean rag.

Keeping Your Computer In Top Shape

Everyone and their grand-mother’s great aunt has a personal computer

these days. While it says a lot of the technological literacy of mankind, most know very lit-tle about the general upkeep of their treasured devices. Here are six tips to maintaining your pc properly.

1Be certain to have good antivirus software in-stalled in your computer

and make sure that it is always updated. Viruses are among the primary reasons behind computer failure. A complete virus scan should be performed frequently. Avoid visiting web-sites that are thought to be plagued with malicious soft-ware. Do not open e-mails whose sender looked shady, they could contain lethal ma-licious software that can put your system at risk.

2Regularly get updates for your operating sys-tem and other critical

software. Some software does not offer automatic updates so it is recommended to regularly check with their site and down-load and install updates by hand.

3Uninstall programs that you do not use. These programs occupy space in

your hard disk. The more space you have in your hard disk the speedier your computer runs.

4Always run your com-puter on a UPS. Sudden electric powers are dan-

gerous to your personal com-puter.

5If you are familiar with the interior of the tower case, physically clean your

computer. Remove dust that may gather in the housing with

fabric or vacuum. Take care not to hurt any part though.

6Defragment your disk continually. Defragment-ing your disk once in

every 2 or 3 months is a good way to make certain that your

personal computer stays in first-class condition. Fragmentation occurs when your computer’s operating system fails to allo-cate enough contiguous space to store a total file as a unit and instead places parts of it in gaps between other files. To explain this, let us compare it to a library where some users don’t return the books to the proper place after they read them. The books in the library are prepared in a way that would make it straight-forward to locate any especially book simply. If many books are now not in their correct places it would most likely take longer to find them. Windows XP and Vista have their own built in de-fragmenting software but they are terribly slow. There are good defragmentation software that may do the job in a fraction of the time it would most likely take for the Windows default defragmenter to finish.

LIVING QUARTERS


Let’s face it; the “Water For All” rhetoric that politi-cians pushed in our faces

in the past has not come to pass. Many homes do not have a regu-lar enough supply of water. Not to mention these harsh dry sea-sons require us to be extra careful with our water usage. You never know when our water reserves can become critically low. Plus natural disasters are a threat to our water supply. When a dis-aster has been forecasted, or does occur, people will be rush-ing frantically to prepare. What happens when you discover there isn't one bottle of water left at any market or convenience store? You and many others will be in a real panic. It is important to have water storage options available when that happens. In this case, we aren’t talking about your large tank located in the yard. Here are some tips to storing water in the house when an emergency oc-curs. It is important to:

Store water containers in a dark and cool areaLight and warmth will promote algae and bacteria growth, so store water in a basement, clos-et, shed or food storage room.

Do not store water bottles on top shelves; lower to the ground is preferred. Storing your bar-rel outside could have an effect on the life of the barrel. It is not recommended to store any water container in direct or indirect sunlight. Also, it is best to store water barrels with a non-porous insulation barrier (such as wood) between a cement floor and the barrel.

Water stored in plastic con-tainers should be kept away from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances because va-pors from these products can penetrate plastic. Containers which have top-mounted screw lids should have the tops covered with a cloth or similar barrier to keep lids clean of mice or insect waste.

Store water in containers in a variety of sizesFor example, large drums work well unless you have to leave your home. 16.9 oz water bottles work well unless you need a sink full of water to bathe or wash dishes in. If you do store water in large drums, make sure you store a siphon so you can effectively get the water out.

Replace stored water once a year for freshnessWater stored properly can last for years. However, to ensure freshness it is recommended to replace stored water once a year. Old stored water can still be used for watering the garden or shrubs, car washing and other purposes. It’s usually easiest to siphon water out of the barrels if drain plugs are not provided.

Identify additional sources of waterIn addition to stored water, other sources include melted ice cubes, water drained from the water heater faucet (if the water heat-er has not been damaged), wa-ter dipped from the flush tanks

(not the bowls) of home toilets, and liquids from canned goods such as fruit and vegetable juices. Unsafe water sources include ra-diators, hot water boilers, water-beds, and swimming pools and spas.

Ifnecessary,chemicallytreatwater If your water is treated commer-cially by a water utility, it is not necessary to treat water before storing it. If you have a well or public water that has not been treated, disinfect the water prior to storage using liquid household bleach containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented or color-safe bleaches or bleaches containing soaps

• Add six drops (1/8 teaspoon) of unscented bleach per gal-lon of water.

• Stir and let stand for 30 min-utes.

• If the water does not taste and smell of chlorine after 30 minutes, add another dose of 1/8 teaspoon and let stand an-other 15 minutes.

• Seal the containers and label with contents and date of preparation.

LIVING QUARTERS

Water Storage Tips


Is it just me or has the busi-ness world become a bit more competitive as com-

pared to twenty years ago? Is it that the small-business own-ers, the ones actually generating profits, are making the task seem simple by using innovative mar-keting strategies or is it that the new-comers whose businesses are not very profitable, have not learned the secret behind ensur-ing a successful business? The secret, as many successful busi-ness owners would tell you, is that of a solid marketing strat-egy. Not just solid but one that is affordable, easy to maintain and able to reach the masses; a wider audience to garner more market share.

Understand and identify your target market before im-plementing any tangible mar-keting strategies. Am I really only advertising for newly-weds or engaged couples because of my photography service? Should I target the 18-25 age bracket as they would, more than likely, be the ones with more purchasing power as compared to teenag-ers? Should I target the more sophisticated among us because of the cost and brand of my

product? These questions need to be answered before a market-ing strategy is devised so that the final approach will be beneficial to the business. Understand that every customer is different and although the product may re-main the same, each customer’s need for the product will differ based on their preferences.

Technological advancements have aided businesses in mar-keting their products to a wider group of consumers while re-maining cost-effective to the business. These include advertis-ing online via several social net-working sites, such as Facebook, especially if the business is small or new. Facebook has been used by many small-business owners as a way to market their prod-ucts or services. One it’s free, two it’s free and three, yes, it’s free!! No middle-man or adver-tising cost. A fan page is created, photos of the desired products are advertised (shoes, clothes) or if it’s a service (photography, music production) it’s posted on the business’ profile page, or in Facebook jargon, their “wall”. To generate more attention, the option to tag friends in the photo is available so that their

friends can view and, as soon as someone likes it, the questions come: cost, availability, size and in no time the first sale is done. Small business should capitalize on Facebook not only because it saves money, but also because it promotes awareness of products and services.

Word of mouth is a strong advertising tool. Although the economy is permeated with countless marketing strategies, this can be very useful especially to small businesses. Ensure cus-tomer satisfaction: from the first customer to the twentieth en-sure that the customer is happy with his or her purchase. In most cases, if this happens, you get positive feedback from your cus-tomers and they spread the word about your business thus, gener-ating more profits. Give samples to family and friends so that they can use the products and be the first to critique it; the more your product is out there, the more free advertising there is available to get prospective clients.

Don’t be afraid to go out and get customers. Remember, the more the public is aware of your business, the better chance you have of becoming success-

ful. Generate call cards and dis-tribute them throughout the city. Start small, maybe at a local grocery or even post posters up in transit stations. Any business owner will tell you that you need to spend money to get money: don’t be afraid to spend money on adverts, whether print or ra-dio, as these are the two most economical and they reach the masses.

Understand your customers and their needs. Being a small-business owner gives you the advantage of being a bit more intimate with your clients. Hu-mans crave attention and bask in exclusivity; customers love the idea that they are part of a select group or the only person who owns something. Ensure that loyal customers are treated with care and that their needs are met. This promotes customer loyalty to the business and ensures prof-its via sales for the business.

Marketing strategies, if used correctly and based on the com-pany’s and customer’s selections, can be beneficial to businesses and customers. Small businesses need to use these carefully as they can assist with the success or failure of a business.

hoME oFFICE

Marketing Your Home Business


This colourful kitchen island adds the right

amount of brightness to

this room

ELEGANT IDEAS

The Little Things…

11www.abstracthome.com APRIL 2013 ABSTRACT HOME

The wallpaper not only adds colour but texture to this bedroom

ELEGANT IDEAS


This earthy area rug brings the entire dinner space together

ELEGANT IDEAS


Attention to detail is important to this room’s brilliance. The furniture matches the curvature of the structural design

ELEGANT IDEAS

14 ABSTRACT HOME APRIL 2013 www.abstracthome.com

The little things like the matching

artwork and pillows help to

create this room’s homely feel

ELEGANT IDEAS

KITCHEN

The tiniest mistake made in the kitchen can have the biggest repercussions

for you and your family. Proper food safety can be the difference between life and death. Food safety requires knowledge, spe-cial utensils and extra careful-ness. But most of all, you need to know what mistakes to avoid, so you can keep your food and yourself as healthy as possible.

1. CUTTING BoARD CAREIf you use your cutting board to remove fat from chicken and then immediately begin chop-ping carrots on it, the vegetables may become contaminated with salmonella. Toss the carrots into your salad and, before you know it, all of your vegetables are con-taminated with bacteria from the chicken. It is important to keep raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood - and the utensils that have come into contact with them - separate

from other food during meal preparation. Use wet disposable paper towels to clean up meat and poultry juices, and wash food thermometers with hot, soapy water after each use.

2. YouWaSHmEaT,pouL-TRY oR EGGSI know it sounds counterintui-tive, but it`s better not to wash raw meat, poultry or eggs be-fore cooking, for two reasons. The first is, rinsing won`t kill bacteria that give you food

borne diseases. Secondly, water will spread the bacteria all over your sink (and other dishes, if there are any in the sink), your countertops and other surfaces in the kitchen. So omitting to wash meat & co. before cook-ing doesn`t mean you`ve missed a few hygiene classes, it means you`re spearing time and health.

3. ThAWING FooD oN ThE CoUNTERTo thaw food, you should take it out of the freezer and slap it

on the counter - right? Wrong. Harmful germs can multiply ex-tremely rapidly at room temper-ature - making your food unsafe to eat. To thaw food safely, let it defrost in the refrigerator, cold water, or pop it in the micro-wave and use the defrost setting.

4. EaTINg raW CooKIEDoUGh (oR oThER FooDS WITHuNCooKEdEggS)What may be the yummiest part of making cookies is also the most dangerous. Uncooked or raw eggs may contain Salmo-nella or other harmful bacteria. Always cook eggs thoroughly - the cookies will still taste good.

5. TASTING FooD To SEE IF IT’S STILL GooDYou can’t taste (or smell or see) the bacteria that cause food poisoning. Tasting only a tiny amount can cause serious illness. Instead, throw food out before harmful bacteria grows.

The Many Uses Of LimeWe use limes and lem-

ons to remove the freshness of fish and

add flavor to a variety of our meals. However, there are a lot more uses to this beautiful citrus than just being the base in your glass of juice. Here are some more ways limes can come in handy even outside the kitchen.

ThE ULTIMATE DEoDoRIzERLemon or Lime Juice in a little spray bottle will stop underarm smell all day and even after a late night at the gym...As a matter of fact, if you forget to shower you will still smell like lemon the next day. Bear in mind that we do not advocate non-showering. The thing is, lime is a great an-tifungal and the acid neutralizes odour causing bacteria. Why not spray lime/lemon juice in your shoes and let it air dry for

a clean citrusy scent? You can even grind a whole lime in an electric garbage disposal to get rid of unpleasant odors.

FoR REMoVINGFACIAL BLEMIShESLemon juice can be applied di-rectly onto freckles and dark blemishes to help lighten them. The high acidic content in limes helps exfoliate the top layer of skin, which increases new cell production, helping to lighten mild pigmentation over time. This is a much safer alternative to the skin bleaching products which have taken over the mar-ket.

AS hoMEMADEFURNITURE PoLIShIn a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, mix 1/4 cup lemon juice or fresh squeezed lemon juice with

1/2 cup pure vegetable oil. Ap-ply to wood furniture witha cotton cloth, rubbing in a small amount at a time. Kept out of direct sunlight, this mixture can be stored for several months.

AS A hoMEMADEGLASS CLEANER3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 up isopropyl rubbing alcohol, 1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid.Add all ingredients in a spray bottle, then fill remainder of bottle with water, shake well to mix. Use as you would any com-mercial window cleaner. Be sure to clearly label the bottle before storing.

Five Food Safety Mistakes People Make

16

That awkward time be-tween breakfast and lunch when you don’t

want breakfast or lunch, but you are hungry just the same. This time is known as brunch. Meals at this time usually consist of a little of both breakfast and lunch. Some of them even bor-der the fine line of dessert. Here are some recipes that are perfect for brunch. Bon appétit!

BRUNCh SCoNES

Ingredients1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour4 teaspoons baking powder5 tablespoons unsalted butter5 tablespoons white sugar2/3 cup whole milk1/2 cup currants1 egg yolk, beaten

DirectionsPreheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with bak-ing parchment.Sift flour and baking powder into a medium bowl. Rub but-ter and sugar into flour to form a fine crumble. Make a well in center, and add milk and cur-rants. Knead gently together, being careful not to over mix. Dough will be sticky.On a generously floured sur-face, roll out dough to 3/4 inch thickness. Stamp out 2 1/2 inch rounds with a plain pastry cut-ter. Transfer to prepared pan, and brush tops with egg yolk. Allow to stand for 15 minutes.Bake in preheated oven until risen and lightly golden on top, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.

BaKEdBruNCHoMELET

Ingredients1/2 (1 pound) loaf white bread, cut into cubes1 1/2 pounds Cheddar cheese, shredded1 cup cubed cooked ham8 eggs2 cups milk1 pinch salt1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste1/4 cup chopped green onion

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.Place half of the bread cubes on bottom of baking pan. Sprinkle with half of the ham and then half of the cheese; repeat.In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, salt, hot sauce and green onions. Pour egg mixture into pan.Place pan on top of a baking

sheet with a rim and place in oven. Pour water into baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes, or until eggs have set.

CHICKENSaLad

Ingredients1 pound skinless, boneless chick-en breast halves1 egg1/4 teaspoon dry mustard1/2 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons hot water1 tablespoon white wine vinegar1 cup olive oil2 cups halved seedless red grapes1 cup coarsely chopped pecans1 cup coarsely crumbled blue cheese

DirectionsBring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the chicken and sim-mer until cooked through, ap-proximately 10 minutes. Drain, cool and cut into cubes.While boiling chicken, make the mayonnaise: Using a blender or hand-held electric mixer, beat the egg, mustard, salt, water and vinegar until light and frothy. Add the oil a tablespoon at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Once mixture begins to thicken, you can add oil more quickly. Continue un-til mixture reaches the consist-ency of creamy mayonnaise. The more oil you add, the thicker it gets; you may not need the full cup of oil.In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, grapes, pecans, blue cheese and 1 cup of the mayon-naise. Stir until evenly coated, adding more mayonnaise if nec-essary. Refrigerate until serving.

PEANUT BUTTER ChoCoLATE ChIP BANANA BREAD

IngredientsCooking spray1 cup whole wheat flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt2 ripe bananas, mashed1/3 cup unsweetened crunchy peanut butter3/4 cup brown sugar1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt1 large egg1 tablespoon canola oil3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.Whisk whole wheat flour, bak-ing powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and stir mashed bananas, peanut but-ter, brown sugar, yogurt, egg, and canola oil thoroughly in a separate bowl.Stir the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until thor-oughly combined; stir in choc-olate chips.Spoon the batter into the pre-pared loaf pan.Bake in the preheated oven un-til the loaf is lightly browned at the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.Cool the bread in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes before re-moving bread to finish cooling on rack.Slice when cool.

Care For A Brunch Binge?

RECIPES


Choosing A Wedding Dress

Every bride to be envi-sions the perfect wed-ding day and having

the perfect wedding dress is a major part of what makes that dream day flawless. The prob-lem is, getting the ideal wed-ding dress can be somewhat of a hassle and can heighten your stress leading up to that date. Here, we share some informa-tion that will help brides as they shop for the right dress.

The first thing to take into account is the style of the dress and finding an appropri-ate style to suit the ceremony. For a formal evening wedding, a floor-length dress in ivory, white, cream or champagne, often worn with gloves and a train, is an elegant choice. Semiformal ballerina-length dresses can be also be in pas-tels, with a short veil and no train. For less-formal nuptials, the bride has a choice of a long or short dress, or even a two-piece suit. A short veil may be

very stylish paired with a classic pillbox hat. This is common in many second weddings.

Apart from the general look of the dress, your silhou-ette should also influence what type of dress you purchase. There are five major types of dress and each should be cho-sen according to body type. The Princess Dress is fitted in the body, then flows out to-ward the ground. Ball Gowns are fitted in the body with a full skirt. Mermaid Dresses con-tour the body from the chest to knee, then flows to the hem. A Sheath Dress is straight and form-fitted from the shoulders to the hem. The Empire style has a raised waist line that sits below the bst. Find out which suits you best. A sheath dress, which hugs every curve, would not flatter a full-figured wom-an. A ball gown, which bells at the bottom, might overwhelm a petite woman's figure.

The next thing to con-

sider is your budget. Just be-cause it’s a once in a lifetime spend doesn’t mean you should spend a lifetime’s worth of money. Off the rack dresses can be relatively cheap while custom made dresses can be very expensive according to the designer. Buy according to what looks good on you and what you can afford. Don’t let brand names dictate your buy-ing. Also, budget for altera-tions which can add significant bucks to your price. Be sure to ask if pressing is included and if they'll store your dress until the big day.

With that said, beware of salespeople. Don't let the sales consultant talk you into any-thing. Remember that many consultants work for commis-sion. Sadly, many sales consult-ants won't care if you really do look beautiful -- they'll want you to purchase the most ex-pensive dress, regardless of how it looks on you. Some of

them will have a genuine inter-est in helping you find the dress of your dreams. But don't take a chance, and stick to your own opinion and that of the people you take with you.

Let common sense be your guide and consider practicali-ties and accessories. If you want to a wear a veil, for example, try one on with the dress. Equally, put your hair up if you think that's how you'd like to wear it on the day.

Finally, don’t rush into buying anything. Bring the entourage when you go dress shopping. Your friends, sister or mom can help with your choice and help you avert the pressures of overzealous store clerks. It is important to have a clear head. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you've bought it, you've bought it. Carry a digital cam-era and have a friend take notes while you shop, to help you re-member each gown.

BRIDAL


For most couples, the next stage of any marriage is to start a family; to pro-

create. Although some make the transition to this stage pretty easily, others may strug-gle to cope with the challenges of maintaining a marriage and a family. Proper planning is the key to making this work and both partners must come together to decide on the best possible solution. As a newly-married couple you may want to consider a couple things be-fore you make such a decision. Remember, having children is a lifelong commitment and one that can be enjoyed as long as there is co-operation and an understanding of what is ex-pected and what needs to be done.

1Have you experienced life enough to sacrifice the next 18 years? Most

persons think about sacrificing parties or having to reach home early, but there are other things to consider. What about shop-ping trips with your friends or dinner dates? These would all be affected.

2Have you experienced taking care of children before? If you grew up in

household with younger broth-er and sisters with you being the oldest, then chances are you are

very experienced in child-rear-ing. If not, you may want to do some research on raising a child and what it entails. For women, their maternal instincts kick in but knowledge is power.

3Have you considered the possibility of twins or having a child with dis-

abilities? Most couples are ex-cited for twins, but what about the cost of having 2 or more children at the same time. Also, what would happen if the child is born with a disability? Have plans in place for unknown sit-uations like these.

4Do you have the support of family of friends? As a new couple, you may

think that you can do it on your own, but it s always wise to get the advice from parents who have been married with chil-dren for years. They give the best advice, helping when nec-essary and providing support.

5Am I living in a ‘good’ area? ‘Good’ is relative but it basically means if

you’re living in a community that has Day Cares or is close to a daycare, a school, a hospital even a park for recreation.

6How will they fit into my career plans? For men, this may not be a grave

concern as no time-off from work is needed if your wife is pregnant. But for mothers, how will this affect your job? Your education? Your plans to return to school? Will you be able to study and maintain a family, better yet to provide a stable home? Really think about this before making such a decision.

7Do you both agree on the right ways to raise a child? Communication

is one of the most important factors to maintain a strong marriage and a family. Don’t be afraid to talk to your partner about this issue and if any disa-greements arise, find fair solu-tions that suit both parents and the child.

8Have you had enough time to develop a strong foundation? Most cou-

ples give themselves at least 3 years before making the big-step into parenthood. Some even more as they seek to de-velop a strong bond. Remem-ber children demand a lot of attention and sometimes either spouse can feel neglected. By creating a bond it ensures that both spouses are able to ‘stand on their own’, having the assur-ance that the love and compan-ionship is still there.

9Can you afford them advantages in life such as college or car? Many

people often admit that they do not want their child to live the type of life that they lived. But, easier said than done. Be-fore having kids, ensure that you have enough money saved or can have enough saved by the time your children gets older, to help them live a full, happy life.

10How many kids do you want and at what age? Most

people leave it up to chance but family planning should be dis-cussed especially as a new cou-ple. This can make decision-making easier as you can plan your life around having kids and not the other way around.

Questions Every New Couple Should Answer Before Having Kids

FAMILY


Budgets are tight these days, but that’s no rea-son to stop being fash-

ion conscious – this is a lifestyle not an on-again off-again fling. Jewelry will always be one of the best ways that you can stay cur-rent with today's trends with-out dipping into your savings account (but if you have to you have to!) To really get mileage you should know what the top trends and styles are going to be so you choose quality pieces that update your style.

Statement jewelry is actu-ally one of the largest trends right now. These pieces may not be the most expensive pieces in your wardrobe, but they pack a lot of punch. You’ll want to choose pieces that are a bit more outrageous than your every day jewelry (note the “a bit” part.) Explore fun shapes, rich colors, and spar-kle. The key to making this look work for you is to keep your statement down to one piece per outfit. You do not want to have a large statement ring paired with a chunky arm-ful of bangles, and some chan-delier earrings. Choice, my good fashionable people, we have the power of choice let us use good judgment.

On the mention of earrings, chandelier earrings are back in the spotlight. They bring an instantly feminine and glam-orous look to any outfit. Typi-cally, chandelier earrings have

some sort of sparkle to them, and this makes them the per-fect addition to any going out look. However, do not think you can only wear chandelier earrings in the evening. They are actually really beautiful when paired with simple jeans, heels, and a spaghetti strap vest or halter. These sparkly babies add a bit of glamour to our mundane days.

A side note of encourage-ment to pay attention to detail. If it looks chunky and clumsily put together in the showcase it may very well still look that way on your arm later. Exam-ine pieces closely, they cost a lump sum you don’t want to reach home and gems begin to come unstuck. Look at com-fort – some designs have sharp edges that can be irritable with long wear.

Don't forget to incor-porate the colors into your choice of sparkle as well. Jewel tones are very popular as long as they are rich and lush. You can choose to incorporate gemstones into you collection that are very rich in hue. These do not need to be the most ex-pensive stones either. You can choose amethysts or citrines to give your accessories that glitz and glam that you are looking for. Additionally, you might want to explore pieces that have multiple stones in multiple hues to add to your collection.

Don't have time to run to a salon for a perfect manicure? Treat yourself

to an at- home manicure.

Manicure Tools needed: Nail polish remover, cotton balls, nail clipper and nail scis-sors, nail file, bowl, nail brush, cuticle clipper, orange stick, cuticle oil, hand cream, nail strengthener, clear nail polish, colored nail polish

1Start by taking off any re-maining nail polish. Use

cotton balls and nail polish re-mover. Nail polish remover can be very damaging to your nails so try to use a nail polish remov-er that is acetone free. Another option would be to use a salon brand nail polish remover; they work a lot better and remove the polish very easily.

2The next step is to shape your nails. If your nails are

weak or damaged it would be better to keep them short. Use a file for this step unless the nails are very short and you need to trim off a lot with scissors or clippers before. Remember to file your nails in one direction to prevent damage to your nails.

3Clean your nails with a nail brush and soak for a couple

of minutes to soften your cuticles.

4Next take an orange stick with a tiny piece of cotton

wrapped around it and push back cuticles. If you have hang-nails or rugged cuticles, clip them with cuticle scissors. Mas-sage cuticles with cuticle oil and apply hand cream.

5Use the nail polish remover one more time and remove

any oil or lotion that may remain on your nails from the previous step. This will help your nail polish to stay longer and better.

6Apply a base coat or nail strengthener, depending on

what you need. Never forget this step if you enjoy dark polishes as this will help prevent staining. For a simple look, you can stop now.

7Pick out your favorite color of nail polish and apply two

light coats.

8Last but not least, apply a clear nail polish or top coat

to help make your at home man-icure last longer.

At Home Manicure Tips

PoWDER RooM WARDRoBE

Let Your Accessories

Save Your Outfit


Keeping a well-aligned, stainless smile is some-thing that is important

to several people. Dentists know that, so they capitalize on it big time. But are they capitalizing at your expense? Here are three things your dentist may not want you to know.

You may not need visits twice yearlyYou are generally reminded to make biannual dental appoint-ments. This actually originated almost two centuries ago in a comic book. The fact is, eve-ryone has specific needs and may not be required to see the dentist that often. A six-month checkup means eve-rybody has the same risk for disease, and that doesn't make very much sense. However, the majority of the typical mid-dle-class population is not at high risk for lots of decay and gum disease so they probably don't need to be seen every six months.

dentalcareiscostly,butthematerials used may be cheap. How many of us have thought

about price over performance when we consider a dentist? Well a lot of us do. The sad thing is several dentists use the cheapest materials avail-able and charge you for the best. At the end of the day a dentist is a businessman and he will be looking for ways to cut down expenses where neces-sary. Therefore, if that filling of yours came out (a common problem) it may not be the actual work, but the product used.

one brush and floss per day is all you needYou've been trained since childhood to brush and floss in the morning and evening and even after meals. Surprise: One good and thorough brushing and flossing per day keeps the plaque away. The unpleasant breath may be another issue though. Plaque bacteria take 24 hours to grow back in numbers great enough to cause a prob-lem. Don’t forget that several dentists have a lot invested in the oral hygiene industry. It is important that they help sell products.

The Benefits Of Circuit Training

Many people who go to the gym make regular use of circuit

training. In circuit training, you have to go through 8 to 10 exer-cises consecutively to complete a round or circuit. It sounds difficult, but there can be no “workout” without the “work.” If you do decide to put in the effort, here is how circuit train-ing can benefit you.

It saves TimeFinally, since you will move through this workout quickly, you won't have to spend long hours in the gym, and you will be able to spend your time do-ing the things that you never seemed to have time for when you were making the gym your second home.

It Beats BoredomBecause circuit training is such a flexible format, the options in how you set up your work-out are limitless. Whether you like to stick to one routine for a while to measure your pro-gress or prefer mixing it up every time you go to the gym, having a plan will make you more confident and efficient.

It Gives Multiple Workouts In oneDue to the lack of rest that cir-cuit training demands, exer-cisers maintain elevated heart rates for the entire period of exercise. The combination of weight training and increased cardiovascular effort makes circuit training a beneficial type of cross training. The ex-erciser gains muscle through the resistance training. The exerciser increases his/her car-diovascular endurance during the slightly elevated heart rate that is maintained in between sets and throughout the over-all program. The exerciser burns high amounts of calories during the high exertion peri-ods of his/her sets.

Three Things Your Dentist

Won’t Tell You

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If you are a new dog owner, you may be concerned about whether you can take care of

a dog. After all, a new dog is a big responsibility. Luckily, it is not really that difficult to take care of a dog. If you just keep these simple tips in mind, you and your new dog will have a suc-cessful and happy relationship.

1. Visit the vet - Dogs need to have yearly physicals and up-dated vaccines, just as people do. In fact, since dogs age more quickly than people, it is best to take your dog to the vet every six months for a quick physical. If your vet sees your dog regularly, he may be able to spot changes in your dog that signal illness or disease.

2. Train your dog - A well be-haved dog is welcome almost an-ywhere. Make sure other people can enjoy your dog's company by teaching him good manners. If you are unsure about how to train your dog, take an obedi-ence class so you can learn to-gether. Teaching your dog to sit, stay, heel and come is very im-portant. If he ever starts to run into the street, these commands could even save his life.

3. Feed your dog right - Feeding your dog the right

food can keep him active and healthy for many years. Feed-ing him a cheap dog food may save you money today, but may cost more money in the long run. Veterinary care for obese or diabetic dogs can be very ex-pensive.

4. Remember to neuter your dog - Unless your dog is an exceptional representative of his breed, please neuter him. This is one of the most impor-tant ways to take care of your dog, since neutering a dog at six months of age can prevent many common dog cancers.

5. Groom your dog - Dogs feel better when they are well groomed, just as people do. Brush your dog regularly, even if he has a short coat. Trim his nails or ask your vet to trim them so that he can walk com-fortably. You can even brush his teeth with a special dog brush and toothpaste to be sure he doesn't develop dental problems.

Finally, don't forget to give your dog plenty of love and attention. If you follow these tips on how to take care of a dog, you and your new pal will be well on the way to a happy and successful relationship.

Some people treat their cars better than their own family members. It’s

true; some folk would let their child walk around in a dirty dia-per for an hour while they deli-cately wash their car. With that said, though they may profess to love their cars, they may love it wrong in the cleaning depart-ment. Here are some common mistakes during car leaning.

Not using car care productsDish soap is made for dishes. Tire dressing is made for tires. Do you get the picture? What-ever you’re using, be sure it’s for cars. Dish soap and other household cleaners can dam-age your vehicle. Be sure to use premium car shampoos and tire shine products. Simi-larly, Make sure you are using the right kinds of towels on the right areas of your car. Washing mitts, micro-fiber cloths, and chamois cloths are all ideal for scrubbing down your car. New, clean terry cloth towels should be used for drying. Window towels, obviously enough, should be used on windows. Don’t leave your towels and cloths on the ground where they can pick up dirt and grav-el. The last thing you want is a deep scratch on your car from drying it.

Letting it dry naturallyMany car owners will let their car dry naturally after they have

washed their car. This is a nor-mal thing that most car owners do and can be quite damaging to a car. Allowing your car to dry naturally will leave water spots on your car. These wa-ter spots are normally miner-als such as calcium, magnesium and metals from tap water. Removing them with car wash shampoo is very hard. Profes-sionals normally use mild acid to remove them. My suggestion is dry your car with chamois or cotton cloth. If you want to dry it faster, use a good squeegee.

Washing it in the SunIf you have the option, wash your car in the shade. Although direct sunlight may be tempt-ing, it can potentially burn spots in the paint. Plus, it is dif-ficult washing a car in scorch-ing sun. The soap dries on the car before it can be rinsed, leav-ing white residue and making rinsing difficult.

Ignoring the InsideDid you know that the average steering wheel contains nine times the number germs on a public toilet seat? Yes, the in-side of your car is easy to over-look, but it may be one of the most important parts of clean-ing your car. Be sure to vacuum the carpet, polish the dash, clean windows, and certainly disinfect your steering wheel, shifter, and anything else you routinely touch.

PETS

Common Car Cleaning Mistakes The New Dog

Checklist

GARAGE


There is so much natural beauty worldwide that nature lovers are hav-

ing a hard time trying to decide which destination they should choose for their next adventure. Places such as China, India and the islands of the Caribbean have attracted and will contin-ue to attract tourists for many years; not only because of their matchless beauty, but because of their breathtaking sights . Though some have visited the countries above, there are still many destinations that have not been explored or discovered. It was a difficult task, but we have narrowed it down to the top four travel destinations for nature lovers, with tips and sug-gestions on why we believe they head the list.

Antigua and Barbuda- from its bird sanctuaries to its beach-es, this country has countless at-tractions for bird watchers and historical enthusiasts. The Frig-ate Bird Colony is one of the country’s key tourist attractions second only to its white, sandy beaches. With 170 species of birds living at the sanctuary, it is also home to the largest Frig-ate Bird (Fregata magnificans) gathering in the world (ap-proximately 2500); a perfect sight for bird lovers. Darby’s Cave also located in Barbuda possesses very lush vegetation and is full of tall trees. Over the

cliff ’s rim hawser thick roots of mighty lianas fall together and interlace the trees; ferns cluster on the damp soil and birds are abundant. The scene is similar to that of a tropical rain forest. If in Antigua, be sure to check out English Harbour which hosts a rich collection of his-torical sites: restored buildings, hilltop forts and museums.

Dominica- with 22 species of whale sited in the Domini-can waters it is no wonder this country is known as the ‘Whale Watching Capital of the Carib-bean’. It is possible to see the ra-diant Sperm Whale close to the shore since its waters run deep from that point. Scuba diving is a national pastime and encour-aged as divers can view firsthand the splendid walls and pinnacles, pristine reefs, and amazing crea-tures (seahorses and frogfishes) that make the ocean their place of abode. For active nature lov-ers who enjoy the hands on experience, hiking is strongly encouraged as there are count-less trails available for hikers at all levels. Whether doing an easy walk to take in the view or a more challenging one to steal a fun exercise routine, there are beautiful sights along the way and an even more spectacular one on concluding the hike.

Australia-for the nature lover interested in sightseeing then

this country is THE place to vis-it. Mountains, sea, rivers, lakes, plateaus, plains, valleys, forests and much more are to be found in this scenic country. The most significant places of tourist in-terest are, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. Sydney has been blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna and the plush green Royal Bo-tanic Gardens. The picturesque Opera House in Sydney with its magnificent structure will have you amazed; similarly, the Syd-ney Aquarium is a must see for marine lovers, with a wide range of sea creatures available to ad-mire. The scenic parks in Ad-elaide along with the Cottlesloe and Scarborough beaches in Perth instantly attract sightse-ers because of their white sands and clear waters. To really expe-rience natural beauty at work, you must see the lovely sunset at St. Kilda and Brighton beaches.

Equador- though it’s the small-est country in the South Ameri-can continent, the name is syn-onymous with the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon (notably the Napo Wildlife Center), Andes (highlands and cloud forests) and the Coast (par-ticularly during whale mating season). The Galapagos Islands are a year round destination for those who enjoy wildlife. The inhabitants do not fear humans and a close-up view is always

welcomed. The Amazon rain-forest spans almost 40% of the land mass in South America and the NAPO wildlife cen-tre in the Amazon is a MUST see! Run purely by the natives, the centre sets a standard for others to follow. The wildlife here is so magnificent that it has been featured on PBS and Healing Seekers and boasts one of the best parrot clicks in South America. It is located in the Yasuni Biosphere where im-maculate primary rainforest still exists.

It is no wonder that the Spanish colonials previously owned several houses or ‘castles’ along the Andes highlands; a drive through the Valley of the Volcanoes is simply awesome. Birders, you are not forgotten; the reserves located in Cloud forest are magnificent. There are even reserves such as the Mindo-Nambillo, with avail-able living accommodations for true birdwatchers. One of the most overlooked regions in Ecuador is the coast which fea-tures beautiful beaches, dry for-est, coastal scrubs, the world’s tallest mangroves, wet lands, and surprising levels of natural flora.

Naming the top four travel destinations was a task but we hope that you enjoyed reading about and plan to visit these countries soon.

Destinations For Nature Lovers

TRAVEL


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Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 5 2013

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Transcript of Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 5 2013