Quote of the day...

Some day someone is going to make a fortune putting out a breakfast cereal that will drain the energy from kids!

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Not Enough Fruits & Veggies in Your Diet?

Are you Getting Enough Fruits & Veggies?  The answer is unless you are vegetarian, or very health conscience....probably not.


For a few weeks now I have been taking this supplement that I ran across at  Sam's Club.  I eat prolly an average amount of fruit & veggies, but it's still not enough.  You need alot and face it, if I didn't eat so many processed foods, I'd eat more fruits & veggies.  But until then, I'll take these. :-)

---

FruitFestiv & VeggieFestiv

With 46 Fruits, Vegetables, Spirulina, Wheatgrass, Barley Grass,plus Antioxidants, Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes

Features Super Fruits: Pomegranate, Mangosteen, Noni and Açai & Super Veggies: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts & Cabbage

Includes SelenoExcell®, a clinically tested form of Selenium

Made with Organic Fruit and Vegetable Blends and Rice Flour

 

The Ultimate Fruit and Veggie Super Food
With a nutritional profile equivalent to the followingservings of fruits and vegetables*:

Beta Carotene = Cup Carrots + 1 Mango

Vitamin C = 2 Apples + Cup Oranges +1 Cup Strawberries

Vitamin B6 = 9 Cups Broccoli +8 Bell Peppers + 8 Tomatoes

Vitamin E = 8 Cups Spinach + 2 Cups SweetPotatoes + 5 Cups Mangos + 5 Cups Papayas

Folic Acid = 4 Cups Brussels Sprouts + 4 CupsSpinach + 6 Cups Oat Bran + 4 Oranges

Calcium = 1 Cups Broccoli

Selenium = 4 Cups Oat Bran

* USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release20. Equivalence based on standard medium, uncooked servings.

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Quote of the day...

The great thing about cake mixes is that future generations will have no trouble making treats just like Mom used to make.

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Quote of the day...

Life is like a Buffet ~ Some things may not be great, but there's plenty of it.

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Japan, China.....what's the difference?

With all the news coverage of the tragedies in Japan, youngsters all over facebook are making comments. Some good, some bad. Unfortunately, most of these kids don't know the difference of the countries in the far east. China, Japan, Korea...they are not interchangeable. 

I'm sure Canadian's wouldn't want to be called American, or the Turks to be called German. Kids aren't learning their geography, or other country's cultures. They are learning segregation. 'Orientals' seem to be one culture/country to them. The countries of the far east are separate entities. 

You cannot complain about the shotty work of all our 'made in china' toys, and say that's a reason not to donate to Japan. You can't comment on the Vietnam war, and say Japan has no right to international assistance. There are 21 different territories and regions in this area of the world.

The Far East consists of:

• People's Republic of China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Macau
• Mongolia
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Republic of China
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• East Timor
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar (Burma)
• New Guinea
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Russia (Russian Far East)

Map of the Far East

It just proves to me how bad the public school system has failed when I see so many 'kids' referring to the Chinese when speaking about Japan.

Learning the different countries of our Earth should not be a foriegn concept in our schools. We are a very international country. If I was a visitor to another country, I can bet that I wouldn't be called French, or Mexican. Why do our children not know the difference? It's sad.

It's fine if you do not want to donate to other countries. It's fine if you choose not to assist others in need.  But, if you choose to make a reason for your decision, please make sure you have all your facts straight, and know WHO you are talking about. Otherwise, you just look.....stupid.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Because tomorrow marks the sixth year that I've been married, I thought it would be appropriate to post the traditional gifts for each wedding anniversary  year.  Not that I will receive a gift...or ever have, mind you, I just thought it would make an interesting and informative blog post.

Each year of every couple's marriage is marked by a specific item. 

1st anniversary: Paper
Can it really be a year ago you said 'I do'? Time flies when you're having fun…

Paper weddings have an edible tradition. If you opted for a fruit wedding cake, you can freeze the top tier and have it re-iced to eat on this day.

2nd anniversary: Cotton

3rd: anniversary: Leather

4th anniversary: Linen

5th anniversary: Wood
In Wales, elaborately carved wooden 'lovespoons' have been given for centuries. The term 'spooning' - meaning 'romancing' - originates from this Welsh tradition. 

6th anniversary: Iron
In his famous diary, Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) writes of going home 'to be merry, it being my sixth wedding night'.

7th anniversary: Wool

8th anniversary: Bronze

9th anniversary: Pottery

10th anniversary: Tin
At ten years old, your marriage is getting all grown up and hopefully, more mature. But not too mature!

As a gift idea, tin may not sound too promising. Fortunately, there's also a gemstone or precious metal associated with each wedding anniversary. According to this tradition, you can celebrate your first decade together with diamonds. Any excuse!

11th anniversary: Steel

12th anniversary: Silk
In Denmark, it's traditional to make a big fuss of the 12-and-a-half-year anniversary. Called a copper wedding, friends and family build the couple half an arch made from spruce (you get the other half when you reach your 25th). The arch is decorated with flowers and lights and positioned at the door of your home.

13th anniversary: Lace
Romantic lace is often associated with weddings. The veil made for Queen Elizabeth's 1923 wedding to George VI required 12,000 hours of work and 12million stitches.

14th anniversary: Ivory

15th anniversary: Crystal

Anniversary symbols vary worldwide. In some cultures, your 15th wedding anniversary, for example, is called a 'glass' wedding.

16th anniversary: Topaz

17th anniversary: Amethyst
Why are certain materials associated with different anniversaries? As the years pass, you'll see that the materials become more durable and more valuable the longer the marriage - just like your relationship! Another theory is that they are designed to help you replace wedding gifts at the time they wear out…

18th anniversary: Garnet

19th anniversary: Aquamarine
Aquamarines are the colour of the sea.

20th anniversary: China

21st anniversary: Brass

22nd anniversary: Copper

23rd anniversary: Silver plate

24th anniversary: Musical instruments

25th anniversary: Silver
Silver weddings have a long tradition. In medieval Germany, husbands gave their wives a wreath of silver when they had been married for 25 years. 'Sylver brydells' are mentioned in an English church record of 1624, and the term 'silver feast' is attributed to the Germans in a letter to Dr Samuel Johnson in 1806.

26th anniversary: Original pictures

27th anniversary: Sculpture

28th anniversary: Orchids
In China, orchids symbolise nobility, friendship, elegance and perfection - making these exotic, mysterious blooms an ideal anniversary present.

29th anniversary: New furniture

30th anniversary: Pearl
In Indian mythology, pearls are said to be dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea. These jewels represent peace, nobility and beauty.

31st anniversary: Timepieces

32nd anniversary: Conveyances (vehicles)

33rd anniversary: Amethyst
The Victorians were fond of making rings with a message conveyed in the first initial of each jewel. So a ring with a Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz on it spelt 'dearest'.

34th anniversary: Opal

35th anniversary: Coral
Jewelery is the natural choice for this anniversary gift, as coral goes so well with jade, the gemstone associated with 25 years of marriage.

Jade was once used as currency in China and is considered to be lucky. Red coral is the most valuable kind.

36th anniversary: Bone china

37th anniversary: Alabaster

38th anniversary: Beryl
Beryl is a little known, colourless gemstone in it's pure form. Aquamarine is it's blue versiou and it's green is one of the most
precious gems of all - emerald.

39th anniversary: Lace
There is no traditional material for the 39th wedding anniversary but the modern lists state lace, which also marks the 13th. 26 years on, it may be time to replace that tablecloth!

40th anniversary: Ruby
Life begins at 40, and the 40th wedding anniversary is considered to be one of the most important after the 25th. Not surprisingly it's been attached to one of the world's most precious gems. Rubies are said to be rarer than diamonds - they symbolise health, wealth and wisdom and, of course, passion.

41st anniversary: Land
In 1659, John Evelyn wrote in his diary about going to a 'forty-first wedding day feast', one of the earliest references to wedding anniversaries in English literature. It looks as if all anniversaries were an excuse for a celebration back in those days - what a good idea!

42nd anniversary: Real estate

43rd anniversary: Travel
This couldn't be easier. Enjoy a day or weekend away, or head off on the holiday of your dreams!

44th anniversary: Groceries
Groceries don't sound too exciting, but they can make a great present. Just remember to avoid standard supermarket fare and go for a luxury hamper instead.

45th anniversary: Sapphire
Sapphires come in an array of colours - pink, yellow, white, green and red as well as blue.

46th anniversary: Poetry

47th anniversary: Books

48th anniversary: Optical goods

49th anniversary: Luxuries

50th anniversary: Gold
You've spent half a century together - what better cause for a celebration? Golden weddings have been marked for many years. In medieval Germany, men would present their wives with a golden wreath on their 50th anniversary. This was said to symbolise harmony.

Going for gold is the obvious choice for a 50th wedding gift and you may want to use the opportunity to buy each other new wedding rings to add to your old ones. You could even have special inscriptions made inside the rings to mark the occasion.

55th anniversary: Emerald
These precious stones symbolise love and rebirth and make beautiful jewelery.

60th anniversary: Diamond
The word 'diamond' originates from the Greek adamus, meaning unconquerable - which, if you've lasted 60 years, is the perfect epithet for your own marriage. Splash out in celebration of this fantastic event and buy a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery.

70th anniversary: Platinum
After 70 years together, you've earned your own platinum record. And like the metal, your marriage is strong, precious and rare.

Eternity rings are a popular anniversary present. Of course, you can buy one whenever you feel like it, but it might be an ideal gift to mark a special anniversary like the 70th.

75th anniversary: Diamond
Although the 75th is the second diamond wedding in the anniversary calendar, it was actually the first to exist - the 60th was added in 1897 when Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. There's no modern symbol for a diamond wedding.


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

"Money is the root of all evil"

"Money is the root of all evil" - The apostle Paul


Perhaps the most misquoted passage of scripture actually says, "The love of money is the root of all evil."  Thus Paul was focusing not on the possession of wealth but rather the heart condition that goes along with it.


- Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History. Pg 67


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Are you dehydrated?

Most of us associate dehydration with hot summer months, sweaty bodies, and lots and lots of sun and heat.  But that's not necessarily the case.  Dehydration is a very common problem, and you might not even know you are dehydrated!


Severe dehydration is when you start to feel lightheaded, you might be nauseous or even vomit, and your pee is dark.  But what about mild dehydration, or chronic dehydration?  Mild/chronic dehydration won't throw your body into shock, but it can leave you feeling irritable, tired, achy, and just plain under the weather.


What exactly is dehydration?  Simply put, it's loss of water from the body from fluid deprivation. 


But, I'm not thirsty, how can I be dehydrated? You can be dehydrated and not even know you were even thirsty. Women over the age of 30 start to lose the ability to register thirst. Many women can end up being dehydrated for years and because of that, start to gain weight and develop chronic fatigue.


Do you drink lots of coffee, tea, or diet soda?  Yes, the main 'ingredient' in these drinks is water.  However, caffeine is a diuretic.  A diuretic is a chemical that increases flow of urine from the body.  Many women use diuretics during their menstrual cycle to help with the water weight, or bloat.  However, if you are constantly intaking a diuretic into your body, you are expelling the body's much needed water from these beverages, which leaves you dehydrated.  But that's not all.  The aspartame in your diet drinks works like a magnet on water molecules, drawing fluid from body cells.  Thus leaving you...you guessed it, dehydrated.


Other factors that can leave you dehydrated besides age, sweeteners & diuretics, are chronic stress and low intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Without this 'brain food', the sensors in your brain that let you know you are thirsty are impaired. Also add to this list, is constant dosing of anti-histamines such as Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec.  These medications suppress the actions of histamines, which is great for those suffering from allergies.  However, histamines are also a safeguard against dehydration.  If your water intake drops, histamine levels rise to slow fluid loss from the body. This is a good thing. So if you are constantly taking anti-histamines, your body cannot fight against dehydration.


OK, so what are the symptoms of dehydration?  Well, from a medical standpoint, if you are frequently urinating, and it is not pale or almost clear, you might be dehydrated.  Some of the most common symptoms seen of chronic are weight gain, brain fog, exahustion, forgetfulness, stress, aches, tiredness, depression, and anxiety.


Wow, so I may be dehydrated.  What can I do?  Well, this is an easy one.  I mean, if you are really worried about it, you can visit the doctor and get some blood work done to test for dehydration.  However, you don't need to jump to extremes yet.  Just increase your intake of water.  But be careful, and don't go overboard.  You can become water intoxicated....and that's bad.  What happens, is when you get too much water in your system, you dilute the sodium your body needs, and that is called hyponatremia. But it's not only how much you drink, but how fast you drink it. Sip your water throughout the day, don't gorge yourself all in one shot.  And if you are exercising, make sure some of your water beverages include much needed electrolytes.  This will help prevent hyponatremia.


But how much water do I need? A healthy adult kidney can process fifteen liters of water a day, over the course of the day. Your body needs a total of about three quarts of water per day to stay hydrated.  Some of this water you get from fruits and veggies.  It is a good idea to eat lots of watery fruits and veggies if you are trying to discern if you are dehydrated.  Lettuce and watermelon contain 90% water.  One doctor suggests dividing your weight (in pounds) by 2.  This is the water, in ounces, your body needs throughout the day. (Ie: a 160lb woman would need 80oz of water a day). This concurs with the 8-12, 8oz glasses we often hear is the recommended amount. If you are outside, sweating, or exercising, you need to up that by one glass per hour of exertion.  Just remember...throughout the day....sip your water!


So, if you feel tired, achy, or cranky....you might just be dehydrated.  Take a closer look at your water intake. Try to lay off the caffeine, diet beverages, and anti-histamines for a couple weeks, and adding more fruits & veggies and water to your daily diet.  If you are dehydrated, you should see immediate results.


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Happy Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine's Day, we often think of red roses, candy in heart- shaped boxes, mushy valentines, and winged cherubs flying about shooting starry-eyed lovers with arrows.

February has long been a month of romance. It is the month associated with Valentine's Day celebrations. We have, time and again, heard the name St. Valentine being uttered before us in this season of love. But just who is this St. Valentine? Why is this month associated with love and romance?

Every year, the fourteenth day of the month of February has millions across the world presenting their loved ones with candy, flowers, chocolates and other lovely gifts.

But did you know that the origin of Valentine's Day, or Saint Valentine's Day, comes from the life and death of a Christian martyr?

It is not exactly known why the 14th of February is known as Valentine's Day or if the noble Valentine really had any relation to this day. The modern St. Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. The fullest and earliest description of the tradition occurs in Chaucer's "Parliament of Fouls" composed around 1380. Since that time it has been traditional to connect St. Valentine's Day with love.

You can read one story here:
http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm
Another story can be found here:
http://www.ethnic2020.com/MeaningofValentine.htm
Of course, there's Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

Today, Valentine's Day is one of the major holidays in the U.S. and has become a booming commercial success. According to the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year are Valentines. 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine's Day.

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.

There may be doubts regarding the actual identity of Valentine, but we know that he really existed because archaeologists have recently unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to a Saint Valentine.

On a lighter note....

Flowers.  Flowers given on Valentine's Day have different meanings.  Here are a few:

• Red roses are the color of passion and love.
• The yellow rose symbolizes a deep friendship.
• The white rose can also be a symbol of remembrance for a loved one lost.
• Pink roses are a great way to say that you are interested in someone without being over bearing.
• Peach roses speak of appreciation and gratitude.
• White Roses + Yellow Roses are a symbol of harmony.
• Red Roses & Yellow Roses sends a message of happiness and celebration.
• Red Roses & White Roses shows an indication of bonding and harmony.
• Orange roses are the symbol of passion and attraction.
• The lavender rose is usually used to express that feeling of seeing someone and having a love at first sight moment.
• Single Red Rose means, "I love you".
• Single Rose Any Color is an, "I thank you".
• Two Roses Entwined is foreshadowing of an engagement or marriage is imminent.
• Regardless of the original color, dead roses say "It's over" loud and clear.

Jewelery. One of the most common Valentine's gifts. Here's what the stones mean:

• Diamond – fidelity, love, commitment, trust in relationships
• Moonstone – love, new beginnings, good fortune in love
• Sapphire – wisdom stone, brings lightness, joy, and peace of mind
• Pearl – innocence, sincerity
• Blue Topaz – truth, wisdom, clear communication
• Ruby – passion, zest for life, joy, laughter, courage
• Amethyst – powerful protection, transmutes negative energy into love
• Aquamarine – courage, tolerance of others, protective in pregnancy
• Garnet – brings serenity and passion as appropriate, love and devotion
• Peridot – alleviates jealousy, opens heart to joy and new relationships
• Quartz – amplifies and balances energy or thought
• Topaz – known as the stone of love and good fortune. It brings joy, and promotes forgiveness and truth.

Read more here:  http://www.suite101.com/content/valentines-day-gift-jewelry-gem-and-crystal-meanings-a338107


Other Valentine's gifts:

• Men typically get lingerie for women if they want them to feel sexy. 
• Perfume is intimate. It means I’m going to be smelling you for a while.
• A heart-shaped box of chocolates is for your grandmother, your sixth-grade teacher, or a friend.
• Bath gel, lotion sets means that he thinks girls are soft and pretty and smell good but are also mysterious and need special potions to get that way.
• You get your girlfriend a massage because you want her to slow down, stop worrying and take a minute for herself.
• Nothing fosters romance more than a weekend away. Men will typically give plane tickets or even a night at a hotel somewhere nearby when you’re in the first phases of a somewhat serious relationship. 

http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2010/02/what-his-valentines-day-gift-says#slide=1

In conclusion, no matter if you are coupled, or single...  Celebrate Valentine's by giving cards, chocolates, going out to dinner, or staying home with a good book...  I hope all my friends out there have a wonderful February 14th!


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Pantry Moths

I've recently noticed some small moths fluttering around.  I didn't think much of it, as we always have moths.  Then the other day, I went to feed Charlie, our hamster, and I noticed one of these moths in his food.  OK.  Then, when I went to poor some out, I realized there was a 'webbing' over some of the food.  Odd, I thought. Mold? Maybe it had gotten wet.  Then, after closer inspection, I found little worms crawling in it.  Ewwww!  I am such a neat freak, and this, had me feeling, well, icky!  Today, I was pouring all my many partial bags of rice into one container.  Then I saw it.  The rice on the last package was clinging to the inside of the package, with the silky webbing.  Sigh.  Sure enough, I looked in the container, and there was a moth, flitting around.  I ended up throwing away one new bag, and several partial bags of rice.

An adult moth is roughly half an inch, and is 5/8 of an inch with wings extended. Adult moths will only live 1 or 2 weeks because they don't feed as adults.

Two Steps Forward, One step back

Alright, I thought I should make a post.  It's been two days, and I haven't blogged anything.  Bad me.  One of my 'promises' to myself was that I would make a post at least once a day.  Why?  To keep me motivated.


Three days ago I decided to go off my meds.  My anti-depressant medication.  It just wasn't doing enough for me.  It was keeping my head above water, but that didn't justify (to me) putting all those brain chemicals into my system.  So, I went through withdrawals.  Ugh.  You think PMS is bad?  Try anti-depressant withdraws....PMS x 100!


So, anyway, I haven't felt like doing anything...except maybe for crying, or smashing my computer for no reason.  I haven't been doing my 21-day challenge, my weekly challenge, hell, I haven't cooked dinner.  But it's wearing down.  Thankfully very quickly because I had already halved my dose some time ago.


I actually did a little shopping today for some shelves and things.  This weekend I'm hoping to get back on track.  Hoping.  I could slide back a little.  But it's OK.  I'll get back up, it just might take a little longer.  My house is a disaster, I need to finish what I started.  I am going to try very hard to post every day, even if it's just some small silly anecdote, or link, or maybe even personal journal entry like this.


Anyway, thank you everyone for visiting.  I hope more of you will make some comments.  I like to hear what you think!!


Toodles~


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

2011 Holidays

Ever get confused about when a holiday is?  I thought I would post a quick reference of 2011 holidays.  Now, this is by no means a complete list of all holidays....I mean there is practically some holiday every day, somewhere!

• New Year's Day: January 1
• Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday: Monday, January 17
• Groundhog Day: February 02
• Lincoln's Birthday: February 12
• Valentine's Day: February 14
• President's Day: Monday, February 21
• Washington's Birthday: February 22
• Mardi Gras: March 08
• Ash Wednesday: March 09
• Purim (Begins at Sundown*): March 19
• St. Patrick's Day: March 17
• Spring : March 20
• April Fool's Day: April 01
• Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 17
• Passover (Begins at Sundown*): April 18
• Good Friday: April 22
• Easter: Sunday, April 24
• Eastern Orthodox Easter: Sunday, April 24
• Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) (Begins at Sundown*): April 30
• Earth Day: April 22
• Cinco de Mayo: May 5
• Mother's Day: Sunday, May 08
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 30
• Shavuot (Begins at Sundown*): June 07
• Flag Day: June 14
• Father's Day: Sunday, June 19
• Summer : June 21
• US Independence Day: July 04
• Ramadan: August 01 (Depends on the sighting of the moon in North America)
• Labor Day: Monday, September 05
• Grandparents Day: September 11
• Fall / Autumn : September 23
• Rosh Hashanah (Begins at Sundown*): September 28
• Yom Kippur (Begins at Sundown*): October 07
• Sukkot (Begins at Sundown*): October 12
• Columbus Day (observed): October 10
• Diwali: October 26
• Halloween: October 31
• Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): November 1
• All Saint's Day: November 1
• All Soul's Day: November 2
• Veterans Day: November 11
• Thanksgiving Day (US): Thursday, November 24
• Muharram 1 (Islamic New Year) : November 25
• World Aids Day: December 01
• Day Without Art: December 01
• Chanukah (Begins at Sundown*): December 20
• Yule (Wicca): December 22
• Winter : December 22
• Christmas Day: December 25
• Kwanzaa: December 26 - January 01, 2011

The Linen Closet

We continue with the 21-Day Challenge.  Today is day #4 - The Linen Closet.  


Getting bored of my posts about my house & my crap?  I know, I know....but until I get my house organized, how am I supposed to make honest posts about tips & tricks to cleaning & the household, if I, myself, am a total mess?!  If you have any dis-organization, have too much clutter, or just can focus or think straight because you have too many things 'to do;, then I encourage you to take the challenge!  It really helps.  It takes 21 days to form a habit.  We're trying to form a habit of organizing.  Keeping things neat and in their place so that you can find them.  It's kind of hard to dust & vacuum, if there is so much clutter, you can't get to what you want to clean.  If you too want to challenge yourself to 21 days of organization, feel free to comment here, or post on the House-wise facebook page.  We'd love to hear your trials & tribulations regarding your stuff!

Day 3 & 5 of the 21-Day Challenge

So, I'm still working on that A Bowl Full of Lemon's 21-Day Challenge.  And boy, am I!  My house is a disaster... I'm practically doing all 21 organizational projects at once!  My family keeps tripping over things, and it looks horrendous, but my hubby says, "It's OK, because the finished product looks awesome."  Ain't that sweet....even though I know in his head he's saying, "Wow! There's alot of crap everywhere!"  I know I'm supposed to be doing one a day, but I get....neurotic. Ambitious.  Crazy!  I'll start one, and get a little tired of it, so I'll start another, get a little bored, and go back to the first, etc.  I have many projects going at once, yet I have finished more than I thought possible in seven short days!

Before (Lazy susan bottom shelf)

Week #1 Challenge - Household Binder

I'm finally posting Weekly Challenge #1, The Home Management Binder, from "A Bowl Full of Lemons".  It's taken me some time because I think I have re-done the notebook 4 or 5 times since starting.  I just couldn't get the right 'feel' or 'look' I wanted.

So, if you haven't read any of my previous blog entries, you are probably asking, "What is she talking about?!" Well, in trying to simplify, organize & clean, I have taken on A Bowl Full of Lemon's Weekly Challenge.  Week #1 is to get a Home Management Binder working.

Day 2 of the 21-Day Challenge

What happened to day #2 challenge you ask?  Did I give up already?  No.  The second day of the 21-day challenge I've dedicated myself to doing is the top of the computer desk.


Day #2 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Computer Desk)


However, I don't have a computer desk.  Both my hubby & my laptops sit on laptop stands...no surface area to hold any junk or to clean.  Our two desktops are hooked up to the TV's...again, no desktop to clean.  But, I didn't dismiss the day!  I took day #2 to go shopping for baskets, and bins, and folders (for the Weekly Challenge).


Today, I will do Day #3....The Tupperware cabinet.  I'll post that when I'm done with it later today.


I hope some of you have checked out A Bowl full of Lemons and started your own 21-Day Challenge!


Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

Effects of (CFLs) on Health and Behavior

In green efforts to conserve energy with CFLs we may actually be compromising our wellbeing.

The toxic effects of this type of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) have been associated with a variety of health and safety concerns internationally, cancer being the most profound.  Studies through Global Health in Canada, Dr. Havas, and others detail how and why CFLs cause health and behavioral problems, pointing toward Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as the current safe and green lighting solution.

      CFLs are energy efficient because they generate radio frequency radiation and Ultra Violet (UV) radiation, without the vast amount of heat emitted by incandescent bulbs (Dr. Havas’s report).  UV radiation occurs when mercury is excited by electricity.  It interacts with chemicals inside the bulb to create light (Dr. Havas’s report).  The CFL bulb, unlike CFL tubes (larger fixtures often seen in offices and warehouses), does not have an enclosure to filter the UV rays.  Radio frequency radiation falls under what is known as Intermediate Frequency (IF), as classified by the World Health Organization.  Concerns have risen over electromagnetic interference (EMI) by IF because IF is biologically active.  Scientists currently speculate on adverse health effects in relation to this biologically active frequency (Dr. Havas’s report).

Aside from preliminary concerns raised over UV and radio frequency radiation, CFLs contain dangerous levels of mercury that pose a threat to the home or work place if broken, and are difficult to recycle (Dr. Havas Interviews, by environment columnist Geeta Nadkarni; http://www.magdahavas.com/2009/10/06/the-dark-side-of-the-cfl/).  According to Bryan Nelson of the Ecolocalizer, “Some tests have demonstrated concentrations of mercury in factory workers that were 150 times the accepted standard, and many are frequently hospitalized. In one Chinese factory, 121 out of 123 employees had excessive mercury levels.” Clearly, the production of CFLs extends beyond environmental hazards.

Dr. Magda Havas took part in comparative studies concerning the use of CFLs and individuals suffering from health disorders. CFLs fall under the Umbrella of “Dirty Electricity”  Those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) saw an improvement in neurological symptoms in an electromagnetically clean environment, and experienced an adverse reaction when dirty electricity was introduced.  School students suffering from asthma were able to relinquish use of inhalers around clean electricity.  Diabetics experienced an increase in blood sugar levels around dirty electricity and normalization when the environment was electromagnetically cleaned.  Noted symptoms from CFLs fall under the following categories: Neurological, cardiac, respiratory, dermatological, ophthalmologic, and other (Dr. Havas’s report).  Individuals may suffer from light or electro sensitivity, headaches and migraines, worsened skin conditions or rashes for those with Lupus or sensitive skin; fatigue, difficulty concentrating, aches and pains, and more.  A highly speculated link to continued CFL exposure is cancer.

According to MSNBC’s coverage of the Prevention Magazine article “Is ‘electrosmog’ harming our health?” numerous cases of cancer at La Quinta Middle School were reported.  The school had installed Compact Fluorescent Lights throughout the property.  “By 2005, 16 staffers among the 137 who'd worked at the new school had been diagnosed with 18 cancers, a ratio nearly 3 times the expected number.  Nor were the children spared: About a dozen cancers have been detected so far among former students. A couple of them have died” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34509513/ns/health-cancer/print/1/displaymode/1098/).  Epidemiologist Sam Milham visited the school to find that the high frequency voltage transients that polluted many of the classrooms were higher than he could gauge on his meter.  His conclusion was that continued exposure to those transients could increase the risk of cancer by 64%, and by 21% in a single year of work at that location.

Abraham Haim, a chronobiologist from the University of Haifa, was part of a study that compared breast cancer rates between areas of low, average, and high artificial lighting.  The study concluded a positive relationship between breast cancer rates and exposure to artificial light, with the bluish light emitted by CFLs being especially dangerous.  Abraham also stated that fluorescent bulbs stifle the production of melatonin more than incandescent bulbs (http://reason.com/blog/2008/02/20/compact-fluorescent-lights-cau).

With the push for energy independence as major as it is necessary, LEDs have become a key proponent toward a solution.  LEDs do not emit toxic radiation, do not contain mercury and are not a health hazard if accidentally broken (http://www.magdahavas.com/2009/10/06/the-dark-side-of-the-cfl/).  With the highest quality of light, LEDs burn brighter, last longer and emit farther-reaching light, all at a fraction of the voltage of the average incandescent bulb.  The payoff is greater than the investment due to a decrease in energy and utility bills.

Compact fluorescent lighting, composed of UV and radio frequency radiation, contributes electromagnetic emissions harmful to both humans and the environment.  With the phase-out of incandescent bulbs in the near future and a surge in activities and appliances that contribute to dirty electricity, the path is paved for potential health disasters.  LEDs are undoubtedly the track to be on for safe and efficient lighting.

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34509513/ns/health-cancer/print/1/displaymode/1098/
• http://reason.com/blog/2008/02/20/compact-fluorescent-lights-cau
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7661462.stm
• http://www.magdahavas.com/2009/10/06/the-dark-side-of-the-cfl/
• http://www.cflimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/havas.pdf
• http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/04/energy-efficient-lightbulbs-poison-hundreds-of-chinese-workers/
• http://biotech.about.com/od/biotechindailylife/a/dirtyEinterview.htm

Taken, in part, from this post on: http://theswap.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1271786884/ All of which I have sat and researched.

I have long been opposed to CFL, not only because I know first-hand that they induce migraines, but also the contained mercury issue. I was unable to read in school during my entire school career due to fluorescent lighting. When I tried CFLs in my home, the migraines I struggled with as a student, returned exponentially. If you were to break a CFL on your carpet in your home, the mercury exposure causes such a health hazard, that you need to cut & remove the carpet on which it was exposed. The mercury exposure in CFLs are dramatically worse than that from canned tuna.  I will not have CFLs in my home and risk my children's health 5, 15, 30 years into the future.  Incandescents have been used since their invention, and when they become unavailable due to the government's intervention, I will use LEDs.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! <3

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"

The 21-Day Challenge

Simplify  *  Organize

So, to continue on my 'New Year's resolutions', I found this blog, "A Bowl Full of Lemons"  On Jan. 1st she started something called "The 21-Day Challenge".  It has to do with simplifying, organizing & cleaning.  Hey, right up my alley! So, I've stepped up to the challenge.  Easy peasy. It's 21 days of pre-determined steps, to get you started on the lifestyle change of a more 'breathable' home.

So, I started with day #1 today, "The Junk Drawer".  OK, I'll be honest, a couple of months ago I already did the junk drawer, so I decided to tidy it up a bit, and also do the 5 other kitchen drawers!  During the last month, I had simplified these drawers already, donating doubles & unused items, which made my task one step shorter.

Here we go....

New blog. New Month. New Year. New attitude!

Hello Tuesday!  Or... Hello February!

I am trying a new blog site.  I was using Tumblr, and although it's a good one, there was just something about it I didn't like.  So now, I'm going to try Blogger/Blogspot.  My Facebook's House-Wise will stay the same.  Any posts I make from either of these blogs will be posted to facebook.  After I decide which blog I will permanently use, I'll let ya'll know.  Let me know what you think about this new one. http://housewise-triks.blogspot.com/

So, New Year's was a month ago.  That month went by fast. Too fast.  I had made a simple list of 'resolutions', but lost it. January was a rough month anyway, so we're gonna start the "New Year" in February instead.  Why not?!