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How to Exercise your Cat

Lots of people need ways to exercise their cat in a short amount of time that is efficient and easy. It is hard to create fun games for your cat while getting them fit, so here are some tips to keep your cat exercising for fun.

The easiest toys for cats are the soft hair ties that you find at any store. You can throw these across the room, and your cat will most likely play fetch. You can find anything that a cat will want to chase and that can fit in their mouth. Toys that should fit in their mouth without danger of choking like  bracelets, toy mice, and even fluffy balls for cats.

Your cat will also have fun with cat lasers. The laser can also go on the walls to make your cat jump and swat at it. But be careful that you don’t do this too often because it frustrates your cat if they cannot catch the toy.

Cats will also enjoy cat towers or little mazes to run around in which they thoroughly enjoy. They will even climb and jump at anything they see which is entertaining for both you and the cat.

Motorized mice are a great way to get your cat’s attention, and start running everywhere in a frenzy for the mouse. The feathered birds on a stick will help you a lot with getting your cat jumping and leaping to try and chase it everywhere. The feathered toy is also very good to help your cat lose weight while having fun chasing it. Some of the toys come with bells to catch your cat’s attention, and to be aware of where the toy is.

If you want your cats to get some fresh air, a harness is the perfect solution. You have to get a leash and harness to walk your cat outside, but it is really fun for both you and the cat to walk around your neighborhood or park. Some cats do not enjoy this type of exercise. But those who do, are thrilled to have a walk outside.

If your cat does not enjoy the outside, then you can even get a treadmill or wheel and let them run. This is only an exercise to do with supervision to make sure nothing goes wrong. This is a fun way to exercise your cat without having to be outside if you can get them to stay on it.With a little bit of time you and your cat will enjoy spending time together.

Exercising  your cat will be beneficial for your cat’s health while forming a strong bond with you.

 

Sweets For My Sweet

Valentine’s Day Sweets That You Can Whip Up Easily For Your Loved One

If I have to pick out a holiday in which chocolates reign supreme, it would have to be on Valentine’s Day. Of course, I’m a woman and chocolate reigns supreme to me pretty much of all the days of the year, but I’m talking about serious skyrocketing sales here. Every year, billions of people around the world spend their money on flowers and chocolates for the Love Day. While many will argue that the holiday is being promoted by florists as well as chocolate and greeting card companies for the purpose of profit, no one can deny that a lot of people out there are inspired by Valentine’s Day to tap into their romantic side and whip up something for their significant other.

In Japanese culture, it is common practice for young women to give out chocolates to the guy they like – some of which they make themselves. As Americans, we pretty much have the luxury of ordering our chocolates beforehand, but considering the influx of orders in this time of the year, you have to properly schedule when you order your treats. However, if you’re like me who wants to add a personal touch to your V-Day gift, you can whip up your own sweet treat for your significant other yourself. In this article, I will share recipe ideas that will help you decide which treat to give your loved one this holiday season.

  1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries – You will need strawberries and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Heat some water in a pan and put a bowl over it. When the water boils, turn off the heat and place the chocolate chips into the bowl. Let the heat from the water melt the chocolate. Dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate and place in a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Let the chocolate cool and harden.
  2. Peanut Butter Balls – Ingredients are chunky peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter and melted chocolate. Mix peanut butter, butter and sugar in a bowl. Form into a ball. Place in a baking sheet covered with wax paper and slowly pour melted chocolate over them. Let the chocolate cool and harden.
  3. Easy Nutella Cupcake – You will need a chocolate cake mix and a jar of Nutella. Mix the cake mix according to the instructions in the box. Using a regular size baking pan lined with cupcake cups, pour two tablespoons of cake mixture into each cup and add a tablespoon of Nutella. Cover the dollop of Nutella with another tablespoon of cake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and let it cool. 

There you have it ladies and gents – three easy desserts for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Of course, you can pretty much make these any day you want and not just for the holiday. Whether you’re single or with your significant other this season, remember to fill every day with love as if it’s Valentine’s Day.

Stop The Mess – Three Ways to De-clutter Your Child’s Bedroom

I will be the first to admit that the holidays can be a seriously messy season. Usually in our household, the mess starts around November and doesn’t stop until the decors are neatly packed and stored in the attic for another year. I’m not talking about regular household mess, but we have those, too. I am pertaining to all the garbage that seem to accumulate within the house during this season – from candy wrappers that are remnants of the kids’ trick or treating to the gift bags and toy boxes that arrive in the house together with my in-laws and other relatives.

Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the gifts and the holiday visits. However, after all our loved ones ride their cars out of our driveway, I am usually the one who has to clean up after the wrappers and tags from gifts. This is by no means an easy task as the children get a substantial number of gifts from their aunts, uncles and grandparents. Over the years, I have learned to form a system when it comes to the mess during the holidays, particularly in my kids’ rooms. As a mother, I felt the need to share some ideas on how to de-clutter rooms to other mothers out there who might need these ideas just as badly as I did years ago. So, to all mothers out there, listen up…

  1. Put up shelves. Since I’m not handy with tools, I asked my husband to do this for me. We had to get those wood planks from our local home improvement store; they have those that are perfect as shelves. You may or may not need to sand them, it depends how rough the planks’ surface are. My kids have a collection of storybooks that they received from my parents and sisters, so we put them all in there. If one of them wants to read one, they need to inform us since the shelves are out of their reach. That pretty much controls at least a quarter of the mess in their room.
  2. Contain them. This is another helpful way to de-clutter your child’s bedroom and it works best with toddlers and preschoolers. At that age, they tend to scatter all their toys around the house and just leave them everywhere when they lose interest. I have found plastic veggies in my shoe once and another one in the bathroom. Basically, what we did was purchase those plastic boxes with lids on them. We placed their toys in boxes and just gave them one box-full of toys to play with. It may not sound that efficient, but we were able to lessen the mess by doing that. That way, they don’t scatter all their toys around the room. I also saved my husband from stepping into LEGO parts and for anyone who has had that misfortune, you know how much that actually hurts.
  3. Donate. This is not an easy thing to do and I understand it. I watched Toy Story movies from 1-3. Believe me, I understand. However, it is a sad reality that kids will outgrow their toys and rather than leave them to gather dust, we donate them. It wasn’t easy at first and you just have to let them understand that other kids with no money for new toys would love to play with their discarded toys. This also goes for clothing. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment you’ll feel when you see your kids saying goodbye to their well-loved toys knowing that they will cheer other children up is priceless.

There you have it, folks. I’m sure some of you have used these methods in the past with varying success. While the task can be quite daunting, I find that it’s really just a matter of reaching out to your children. Talking to them and making them understand how important it is not to make a mess in their rooms is something that parents must not neglect to do. While the above methods have all worked out for me, it will not be possible without my children’s willingness to work with us.

Do you have other ideas on how to de-clutter your child’s room? Share it with us by commenting down below.

Baking Soda and Its Uses

I like baking – I have a sweet tooth. Among my baking ingredients, amidst the flours and vanilla extract and eggs, there is one thing that I consider to be very important in the household that I always make it a point to stock on it and that is baking soda. For a couple of years now, I have collected some uses of baking soda from online sites and have even tried some of them myself. In this article, I will share with you some of the benefits of baking soda.

  1. Facial Scrub – This is something that I have done and still continue to do to this day. I make my own baking soda facial scrub by mixing one and a half tablespoons of warm water to three tablespoons of baking soda. The consistency should be that of a paste. Use this to scrub dead skin cells and germs off your skin. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes. It stings.
  2. Room or Fridge Freshener – Let’s admit it. Our fridge is the source of a mixture of odors from leftovers and other stuff we put inside it – not all of them pleasant. The simple solution I have is to put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a small container (something that will not take too much space in your fridge) and let it sit there for a few days. I find that odors inside the fridge are neutralized when I do this. You can also try this out in your rooms.
  3. Kitty Litter Deodorizer – As a pet lover, this is something I do. Before filling your litter pan with kitty litter, sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom and then add the kitty litter. This helps the kitty litter from getting too stinky.
  4. Minor Insect Bite Treatment – I cannot attest for this because I have not tried this myself, but baking soda is said to be a good treatment for insect bites. You have to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
  5. Brush and Comb Cleaning Agent – Your brushes and combs collect dirt from your hair. It also gets oily from your scalp and residue from your hair products. You can easily get rid of this by soaking your combs and brushes in warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda for about half an hour to an hour. After that, you can simply rinse it and let it dry.

Baking soda has been very helpful around the house and not just for baking purposes. It can clean surfaces, act as a beauty product and can keep the air fresh. So the next time you run to the grocery store, drop by the baking goods aisle and make it a point to keep your shelves stocked with it.

 

New Year, New Look – Four Decorating Ideas For Your Home

The new year is often associated with change – a time to put the negativities of the past and change for the better. People are often inclined to change something in themselves at the start of the year – from something small like getting a new hair color to something substantially larger, like changing careers or planning to get married to their significant other. We have all done it at some point since we believe there should be progress in ourselves or at least there is hope for progress, so why not include the look of our homes in that change as well?

In this article, I will share some decorating ideas that will hopefully spark your creative side. I should say that not all of these ideas are trendy and whatnot, some of them may even be classics in their own, but if you have not applied them in your home, the change can be beautiful. If you have not tried them, I encourage you to do so. If anything, the new look should be an interesting change in your humble abode.

  1. Go green. Plants can instantly change the look of the room. Plus, they take in carbon dioxide and help produce oxygen. I’m sure we have seen those small plants placed in bathrooms. What’s the first thing you notice? I myself have always noticed that the room looks more alive. Most of us don’t have picture perfect bathrooms worthy of being featured in magazines, but we can add color and life just by adding a plant or a terrarium. It’s not just for bathrooms. Terrariums look great on desk tops and since they can be small, they don’t take up much space.
  2. Pick a theme. If you have a bit of extra budget and time, you can pick a theme for some rooms in your home. Do your children love the beach? Why not pick a nautical theme for their room. Decorate it with anchors or a ship’s wheel and pick some starfish-printed curtains for them? Make sure that the room does not get too cluttered with the same stuff. Gold looks wonderful and classy in a living room, but too much gold will make it look overpowering and quite tacky.
  3. Frame it up. I’ve always told my friends that living in the digital age has made it easier for parents to take snap shots of their little ones any time of the day. We all have our favorites and the ones we won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Get those pictures printed in a bigger size and have them framed. They look especially nice on staircase walls. After some time, you will see how your baby has grown over the years and you can look at the images wistfully.
  4. Lights. It’s no secret that lights and their settings can instantly make a difference in a room and a person’s mood. Sunlight in the morning looks cheerful and happy; dim light looks romantic. There are many affordable chandeliers in the market today and you can even make one of your own if you’re handy with electrical wires. This does not just apply to living rooms and bedrooms. You can even change the lighting in your kitchen if you think your overhead light is too bright. 

Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s crucial for your well-being that it looks like a place you want to be in at the end of a long day. Don’t neglect it and try to make it look pleasing with the resources that you have so that when you come home after a day outside, it will welcome you into the comfort of its arms.

Kid Proof Your Home Office

Here are a few tips to kid proof your home office if you are a work from home mom:

1. Keep as few wires as possible reachable to little hands. That means position your furniture to cover outlets so wires are not exposed and inviting little hands to pull at them. Also, you can get cable covers and wire clips to hold several wires together.

2. Keep as much away from the edge of surfaces where little hands can reach. For instance, keep your computer monitor far back and when you are not using your keyboard put it above your monitor if possible. Also, unplug your printer and fax machine when not in use so that even if little hands get on them they can’t do much damage.

3. Your file cabinet will be hard to keep organized if your little one keeps getting into all the papers. The easiest solution is to get locks for the drawers. However, be careful that they cannot lock themselves in the drawers.

These are a few inexpensive tips to help you if you are trying to earn extra money at home. Of course the ideal would be to lock your office door when you are not working and only work when your little one is not around. However, this is not always practical and therefore I hope these simple tips are helpful as you set up your home office.

Spice It Up! – Herbs and Spices You Should Stock Up In Your Shelves

“If you are careful,” Garp wrote, “If you use good ingredients, and you don’t take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, I find, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane.” ― John Irving, The World According to Garp

Do you love to cook? Perhaps planning to learn? Does the idea of stocking up your shelves with spices with names you can’t even pronounce properly sound intimidating to you? Well, you’re not alone. I believe most people who are still starting up with their journey to the wonderful world of stews, spices and stoves have found that choosing the basic spices quite daunting. After all, you don’t want to spend that much money on saffron  while you still don’t know what it does and therefore would not even know where to use it.

As someone who has once faced the task of feeding a small family with what little knowledge I have had with cooking – basically limited to three ways of cooking eggs and nuking ready-made dinners – I want to impart some advice: learn while it’s still early. In this article, I will attempt to share with you the basic herbs and spices that you should get while you’re still learning to cook. I’m no expert, mind you, but over the years, I have gained some knowledge of cooking, so I feel compelled to write this piece. Get your paper and pen ready and let’s begin…

  1. Bay Leaves. Typically sold dried, bay leaves give off that aromatic scent, which makes it ideal for stews and marinades. You will need to remove this from the food before serving.
  2. Cayenne. This has got to be one of my Top 5 Must-Haves when it comes to spices. Cayenne is made from tiny spicy red peppers. It gives off that extra kick you want in your dishes without interfering with the overall flavor. It’s also ideal for boosting your immune system and a great ingredient for a healthy juice recipe.
  3. Parsley. It’s a no-brainer that the world’s most popular herb would make this list. Afterall, parsley is both great for pasta and pizza, plus it’s healthy too! As a source of anti-oxidants, you can never go wrong by stocking up on parsley.
  4. Garlic Powder. I find it strange that I’m not a fan of garlic, but a huge lover of garlic powder. I love marinating barbecues in it; I love it with my bread. If you love grilled food as much as I do, then you should definitely get yourself some garlic powder.
  5. Basil. I have a basil plant – that should pretty much tell you how much I adore the herb. It’s great for soups, pasta and meat – how can you afford not to have it?

There you have it – the basics – at least according to me. Some people might have more herbs and spices in their list, but to each his own. As you grow more confident in your cooking skills and become more willing to try experimenting on new recipes, you will find that your shelves will also have more jars and packets of spices with varying flavors and textures. Who knows? It has not happened to me yet, but you may one day have enough reason to take a deep breath while you order saffron from the spice shop. Good luck!

Volunteering is Beneficial for the Whole Family

The benefits of families volunteering together are substantial.  Of the adults, teens and children who volunteer about 75% report being more physically, mentally and emotionally healthier than those who don’t.  They have lower levels of stress and are better able to manage it.

Volunteering can teach life skills such as time management, teamwork, effective communication, goal setting and developing compassion for others.  Family members are working toward a common goal, which leads to them functioning better as a unit. They’re more likely to feel that life has a purpose, and develop a deeper connection and commitment to their community, family and friends.

Families who volunteer together may be more productive at and satisfied with work and school.  The experience is a good addition to a resume and gives an edge over another candidate who doesn’t have it.  And it’s a given that good colleges are looking for more than test scores and grades on applications, volunteering is a must.

In addition to all these benefits volunteering together can also address an on-going issue for today’s families, “With everyone going off in different directions how can we spend some time together?”  A sound strategy for getting children and teens invested in it is to get and keep them involved in the decision making, even young children can contribute.  Be open-minded to their interests and don’t dismiss nontraditional ideas.

One family, of self proclaimed non-running couch potatoes, organized a 5k walk/run for a son’s terminally ill classmate.  They enjoyed the experience so much they do it as an annual event, donating the money to a different charity each year.  Another family adopted the local no-kill animal shelter as their project.  The 5 year old’s job was “petting coordinator”, which she was quite diligent and serious about.

A Greek proverb states, “A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit.”  Families flourish in the same way; think about creating a tradition of volunteering for your family today and a legacy for your descendants of tomorrow.

Nicole Abbott – writer, educator and psycho-therapist

Is Your Car Heater Not Working?

There can be several reasons why your car’s heater could be broken or simply just not working. The following reasons may help you to understand why it is not working and why you need to take it directly to a mechanic to have it fixed.

It could be as simple as the engine thermostat, the fan motor, or simply a fuse that is out or simply not working properly. You will need to take the vehicle to a car repair shop right away to have them diagnose the problem and get your heat flowing properly once again. If you decide to fix the problem yourself you may be doing more damage to the vehicle by not knowing the correct diagnosis. Car repair shops can easily diagnose the problem. So take the vehicle to a mechanic and save yourself the headache and money of making it worse off.

Many people think that they may just be low on coolant in the radiator and try to fix it themselves. By doing so you can cause yourself and your car some serious damage. The cap could release and intense amount of steam that has been built up by pressure and burn you very badly.

So the best remedy if your car heater is not working properly is to take it to a car repair shop and let a real mechanic fix it.

Jobless But Earning – Three Ways To Earn Money Online Without Actually Being Employed

Intriguing title, isn’t it? After all, a lot of us would want to earn money without having to work, but hold up. Don’t get me wrong here. This is not one of those posts that say you can earn money just by lying in your bed all day. Don’t confuse the phrase “not being employed” to being lazy because I’m pretty sure those two are not the same. And just to be clear, I do not know of any way that you can earn money just by doing nothing.

This post, however, will provide you three ideas where you can possibly make money online without actually being employed. By employed, I mean that you have your own employer with definite working hours throughout the day. I would also like to clarify that this is not for everyone and not every person who will read this post and try out these ideas will be successful at it. This will still take some effort on your part and perhaps, a little bit of luck. Are you ready to hear out these ideas? Let’s begin then.

  1. Set-up an online business. I know, very original, but seriously, consider the perks of this. You are your own boss. The success of your business, however, will depend on how much you work for it, but if it’s something that you love doing, it’s not work at all. If you love baking, you can set up a small cupcake business. Cupcakes are so in these days, so you may have a lot of competition, but if your products taste absolutely amazing, word will spread. Don’t be shy. Ask your friends for help, they can recommend prospective clients to you. You don’t even have to own a bakery to do this. In fact, I would suggest starting a homebased business. It will cut your initial costs while you’re still starting up. Another great online business would be selling knick-knacks, especially if you love visiting thrift stores for collectibles. You can set it up in an online marketplace like eBay and start earning.
  2. Sell gigs. What are gigs, you ask? Gigs are simply things you offer to people who need to outsource work online. There are many websites where you can sell gigs, like Fiverr and Gigbucks. Are you a writer? Offer to write a 1000-word story for a gig then. Do you like making crafts? Great, you can offer to make a scented candle for a fixed price. You don’t have any talent except that you look cute and quirky on cam? Not a problem! Gigs can be serious or wacky, it doesn’t matter. If you’re good at something (wholesome, please), offer your services in the site. Who knows? Someone might find the video of you singing Happy Birthday adorable and will hire you to make one for him.
  3. Sell items at an online consignment shop. Are you one of those people who like to buy designer bags or shoes, but get bored after wearing them twice? Well, there are a number of online consignment shops that offer to sell your gently-used clothing or bags. The shop will have to take a percentage off the sale, but that’s normal. Besides, you can get rid of you stuff to make room for more and earn money to pay for your next designer item.

So, there you have it. While these ideas will work, success will not be possible without some effort on your part. These may not be actual jobs, but it requires hard work and ability to make it possible for you to earn some money from it.

Do you have other ideas on how to earn money online? Share them with the other readers by commenting below.

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