Annie's Savvy Cafe

Savvy Saturday Post #20

Burn Remedy (It's worth a try)

A woman's experience with burns . . ...
 Some time ago I was cooking some corn and stuck my fork in the boiling
 water to see if the corn was ready. I missed and my hand went into the
 boiling water.... A friend of mine, who was a Vietnam vet, came into the
 house, just as I was screaming, and asked me if I had some plain old
 flour... I pulled out a bag and he stuck my hand in it. He told me to
 keep my hand in the flour for 10 minutes which I did. He said that in
 Vietnam, there was a guy on fire and in their panic, they threw a bag of
 flour all over him to put the fire out...Well, it not only put the fire
 out, but he never even had a blister!!!!

 ... Long story short, I put my hand in the bag of flour for 10 minutes,
 pulled it out and did not even have a red mark or a blister and
 absolutely NO PAIN. Now, I keep a bag of flour in the fridge for every time I burn myself.

*Cold flour feels even better than room temperature
 flour.

 I use the flour and have never ONCE had I ever had even a red spot/burn
 mark, or a blister! I even burnt my tongue once, put the flour on it for
 about 10 minutes ... the pain was gone and no burn.

 Try it . . . Experience a miracle! Keep a bag of flour in your fridge
 and you will be happy you did!

 BTW, don't run your burn area under cold water first, just put it
 directly into the flour for 10 minutes.

 

You might be a Redneck if...

you tie up your falling tree with a garden hose and a broken hot water heater!

During a recent storm, part of our tree was stuck leaning over too far and couldn't get back up. We think it is top heavy as it is a tall, thin, yet bushy tree. I don't know what kind it is exactly. I used to know but we refer to it lovingly as the "ShadeMaster 2000" because it has been doing a great job of providing shade where shade needed to be provided. When I saw it leaning and not being able to get back up, there was no way anyone was going to convince me to chop it down. I figured if I could just get it back up in the air, and tie it up somehow, then in the winter when it loses it's leaves, it shouldn't be quite so top heavy.

My first plan was to lean out of the upstairs master bath window with a hook tied on the end of a rope. I could swing it over to the tree and hubby could hook it and I could pull it up while someone wrapped some rope or something around it. (I was grasping here...!) I couldn't find the hook I had in mind and everyone figured one good breeze and I was sure to fall out of the window, so we scrapped that idea.

Finally I told hubby one day that I knew we had an old garden hose that we could use to tie up the tree without damaging it. In my mind, I saw hubby climbing a ladder, wrapping the hose around the tree, then retreating down the ladder to assist me in tugging on the hose to lift the tree, then wrapping the hose the rest of the way around the tree several times to hold it in place...simple, right?

No, not so much. We got as far as both of us tugging on the hose to pull up the tree when we realized it took both of us to hold it. Hubby looked at me calmly and asked "now what?" I thought I knew, but apparently that plan was quickly going out the window.

As luck would have it, we had recently replaced our hot water heater and had yet to dispose of the old one. (I was trying to hide it behind a bouganvilla bush but it wasn't working.) As we stand there holding the tree up wondering "now what?", hubby had a brilliant idea. He leaned a little closer to the hot water heater and screwed the end of the hose on to the drain valve at the bottom. So, I guess our poor tree gets to spend the Fall months hooked up to the hot water heater until such time that it can hold itself upright.

This is what I call Redneck Landscaping. I wish this had happened when Jeff Foxworthy had his show and had the segment where they picked the Redneck "yard of the week". That I think we could have won.

Savvy Saturday Post #19

"Bugs! Why did it have to be bugs?"

Ahh...another great movie quote from one of my all time favs - The Mummy!

Well, it doesn't have to be bugs if you follow these tips:

Keep mosquitoes away with catnip - According to scientists at Iowa State University, catnip oil is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, the traditional ingredient in bug spray. Look for all natural bug shields or essential oil blends that contain nepetalactone (pure catnip oil)

Spritz on the soap solution - Fill a spray bottle with one quart of water and a teaspoon of liquid soap and spray wherever you spot ants or roaches, then wipe dry. This erases the chemical trails they leave behind, stopping the rest of the colony from following, say pest management experts at the University of California.

Stop ants, fleas, or flies with these kitchen items - The National Safety Council suggests placing chili powder at the entrance to ants' holes to keep them away. And flies steer clear of basil - all you need is a sprig in a small bowl of water or a small basil plant near the window. Finally, to keep fleas off pets, talk to your vet about gradually adding brewer's yeast to their diet.

Try the sweet-spicy oil that will keep bugs from biting - Add a few drops of clove oil - a proven bug repellent - to your favorite shampoos and lotions; it will mask their naturally appetizing scent, making you much less appealing to hungry insects. Insects are attracted to sweat, so apply the lotion near underarms, behind ears and knees, and on feet to maximize protection.

Savvy Saturday Post #18

When our house was being built, we insisted on a stainless steel kitchen sink. Even though I am still happy about my decision, I can't seem to keep it very bright and shiny. While searching for a solution, I came across this tip:
Use white vinegar to remove stains on stainless steel sinks and use carbonated water to brighten up the shine.
I can't wait to try this!!

Hey wait a minute....doesn't stainless mean, well...stainless?

Savvy Saturday Post #17

If your family is anything like mine, one of the many things you can count on finding in the medicine cabinet is Vaseline. I guess I should refer to it as petroleum jelly to be politically correct, but we all call it Vaseline. It is what we put on our lips and nose after using an entire box of Kleenex tissues for a bad cold. Anyway, there are so many uses for this product that now I see why every household should have some.
Here are just a few:
Moisturize your feet - Just rub some Vaseline onto your dry feet before bedtime and put on a pair of socks to sleep in. Your feet will be much softer in the morning. This works for hands too! You can also do this for your pet's paws if their pads are dry and cracked.
Stop shampoo tears - rub a fair amount of Vaseline into your child's eyebrows and this will help to keep the shampoo from running into their eyes.
Extend the life of your perfume - Before spraying on your favorite scent, apply a few dabs of Vaseline to your pulse points. This will make your scent smell fresh for much longer.
Makeup woes - Not only can Vaseline be used for makeup, but it can also remove it. You can take a small amount of Vaseline and add some food coloring to it and you have instant eye shadow or lip gloss. Later, you can use regular Vaseline to remove foundation, eye liner, mascara and more. You can also use it to remove lipstick stains from clothing or dinner napkins. WOW!
Diaper Rash - smooth a layer of Vaseline on baby's bottom to help sooth diaper rash and allow it to heal pain free.
Remove Gum - Did you know that you could apply Vaseline to gum that is stuck to furniture? Just rub it on the sticky gob until it starts to disintegrate. (That could be a new detention chore for kids who have misbehaved in class).
Restore leather - use Vaseline in place of fancy leather moisturizer on jackets and handbags and other leather apparel. Just rub on, wipe off excess and the job is done.
Baseball mitt - Take a new baseball mitt that is too stiff to use and apply liberal amounts of Vaseline. Work it into the glove, then tie it up with a baseball inside of it and it will be ready to use for Spring Training. You may want to start this project in the Winter and let it sit for awhile.

Well, I hope this week's Savvy Saturday post makes up for last week when I just never got around to posting one. I am hoping someone noticed...ha ha!

Savvy Sunday?

I am sure you have all noticed by now that the days occasionally get away from me. It happens to everyone. I just wasn't feeling very savvy yesterday. Today is a different story. I woke up with a whole new savviness (is that a word?). I credit the juice. The juice is invigorating, the business is inspiring, and the cause is unbelievably heartwarming. So, my best advice today is...

Drink it. Feel it. Share it.

Savvy Saturday Post #16

Butter...margarine...butter...margarine! Well, whatever it is, here is a few good ways to put it to use that won't go to the hips:
Keep mold off of cheese - Give semi-hard cheeses a light coat of butter to keep them fresh and mold free. Every time you slice the cheese, give that end another coat of butter before putting it back in the fridge.
The same principle works for onions. After only using half of an onion, spread butter on the remaining half where it has been cut, then wrap it in aluminum foil before putting in the fridge.

Savvy Saturday Post #15

For the household handyman...
The best way to clean your saw blades is to soak them in acetone or turpentine. An easy way to do this would be to cut away all but the bottom 2 or 3 inches of a 5 gallon bucket. The saw blades can then safely soak in the short bucket of solution with the lid on to contain the fumes. Be sure to have a stick or tool available to assist you on lifting the blades out of the bucket.

Savvy Saturday Post #14

I am going to kill two birds with one stone on this week's "Savvy Saturday" post. This week's tip is about a cheap toy for your dog that you already have at home. I found out that dogs (puppies named Dexter in particular) love the crunching sound when they chomp down on an empty water bottle. Not only does it make strange noises, it works it's way out of your hold and sometimes you have to chase after it as it slides along the floor. This remarkably unpredictable toy also floats in the kiddie pool where some spoiled dogs (also named Dexter) play during the day. Make sure to remove the paper wrapping on the bottle and the cap so puppy cannot choke. Another way I put this to good use is by filling it with water and freezing it. Dexter, my 15 1/2 week old little man loves the feel of it on his puppy teeth and it helps him stay cool on hot summer days. Make sure to replace it frequently as it gets chewed up so puppy doesn't get any little plastic pieces in his tummy.
So there you have it....a puppy update and a savvy tip.

Savvy Saturday Post #13

Did you know there are about a gazillion ways to use Baking Soda? Since I don't have that much room to write and you don't have that much time to read, I figured I would just list a few of my favorites here for you.

• Wash your produce - a few tablespoons in a pot of cold water does the trick
• Better Omelets - 1/2 tsp. of baking soda for every 3 eggs makes a fluffy omelet
• Cutting boards - clean your cutting boards with a paste made of equal parts baking soda, salt and water
• Stovetops - wet the stovetop, then sprinkle baking soda over it. Let sit for a few minutes, then rub off with a damp sponge
• Fireplace - clean the smoke stains from your fireplace bricks by scrubbing them with 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 quart of warm water
• Bee stings - make a paste using 1 tsp. baking soda and a few drops of water. Apply to bee sting and allow to dry ( I used this one a lot when I was a kid)
• Hair - Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to your hair while washing and it will remove all the build up from the conditioners and gels and sprays that you use all week
• Feet - sprinkle your shoes, socks and feet with baking soda to help alleviate athlete's foot
• Battery terminals - remove the corrosive build up from your battery terminals with a paste of 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water. Scrub with an old toothbrush. Dry terminals thoroughly afterwards
• Weeds - sprinkle baking soda in the cracks of your driveway or sidewalk to keep the weeds from growing there

Savvy Monday?

IMO there is nothing savvy about Mondays, but I was so busy relaxing on vacation that Savvy Saturday came and went without so much as a "boo" from me. Of course, a savvy blogger would have had a post prepared ahead of time and scheduled for auto-post. Me, on the other hand, had just that on my list of things to do before my trip, but I have yet to get to that part of the list. Not good since the trip is now finished.
So, here is some savvy advice that I came up with while on my trip:

• Check with someone in the local area to see which cell phone coverage works the best. You may have to purchase a pre-paid phone from a different company than your chosen carrier if you want to stay in touch with home.
• If attending a family event, try to book your hotel a few miles down the road from the rest of the bunch so as to allow yourself a "buffer zone". (I know I am going to pay the price for that one)

That's about it....I promise this Saturday will be savvier....is that even a word?

Savvy Saturday Post #12

Since this weekend is widely known to be very popular with the beer connoisseurs of the country, I thought I would share some helpful tips involving the many uses of this patriotic libation.
First of all, you probably already know about beer being good for hair. You should mix 3 tablespoons of beer in 1/2 cup warm water. Work the solution into your hair and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off. (This is very unlike the method I used as a teenager which consisted of pouring a beer over my hair while in the shower).
Beer also makes a good meat tenderizer. Pour a can of beer over your meat and let it soak for about an hour before cooking.
Do you have any coffee or tea stains on the rug? You can lift that stain right out by pouring beer on it, then rub lightly and the stain should disappear. (Makes you wonder how you get beer stains out of the rug).
And this is my favorite...some garden pests such as slugs and snails find beer irresistible, like some people. If you are having trouble with these slimy critters (the snails, not the people), bury a container (such as a juice container cut in half lengthwise) in the area where these pests frequent. Pour in half a can of leftover warm beer, and leave it overnight. In the morning you will find a new collection of these critters all drunk and drowned.

Savvy Saturday Post #11

There is always a wood working project or a radio-controlled airplane build going on in my family so one thing you will always find, either in the garage or the Hobby Room, is sandpaper. What I didn't realize is that it had so many more uses than just sanding down rough edges.
Next time you have a small piece of fine grit sandpaper that you think should go in the trash, tuck it away in your sewing box instead. Poking your sewing needles through sandpaper a few times or twisting them between a folded piece of sandpaper will sharpen them in seconds..
You can also remove those annoying fuzzy pills from your sweaters. Use any grit size sandpaper and rub lightly in one direction until they are all gone. One thing I can't wait to try is using a piece of sandpaper as a jar opener for better grip. Why didn't I think of that?

Savvy Saturday Post #10

I have been so busy today that I almost forgot to do my Savvy Saturday post. I have been cleaning the house in preparation for a "going away" party for the kiddo of mine that will be leaving for the USAFA this week. Well, my helpful hint to anyone cleaning house before a mob of anxious teenagers runs through it is......DON'T!!!!!

Savvy Saturday Post #9

I never have wax paper in the house. I always have to buy or borrow some if I need it. My Mother always had wax paper available and so did my Grandmother. Maybe it is a generation thing. Well, from what I have been reading lately, I will definitely be having wax paper available because it has way more uses than I thought.

You can stop water spots from forming on your shiny clean faucets if you rub them with wax paper after cleaning them. The wax will deflect water spots at least long enough for any company (or in-laws) that might be coming over.
If you have a car with an auto retracting antenna, you should occasionally rub the antenna with wax paper to coat the shaft and help it repel the dirt that gets it all grimy and makes it stick.
Those snow slides will zoom down the hill a little faster too if rubbed with a balled up piece of wax paper first!
Who knew?