I would use more substantial anti-break-in devices in my own home, but this might be useful if you’re in a not-so-safe motel. I generally put a chair up against the door when I travel alone and have to spend the night somewhere.
Do you ever take extra precautions when you’re in a motel/hotel?
I have to admit, Magic Eraser works. When I read what it was, I dug deeper and discovered it was nothing more than melamine foam. This is the stuff they use in big sheets for insulation and sound proofing. Here the Wiki link on melamine.
It didn’t take long for other vendors to undersell Magic Eraser by a huge margin.
As of this posting, Magic Eraser sells for $10.75 for a box of eight.
Yet a generic brand of the same material sells for $7.95 for a box of One Hundred.
Obviously, I know which one I’ll be buying next. And this includes FREE shipping.
To buy, click any of the pictures or product links on my blog.
It took me a long time to try Magic Eraser, but I’m hooked on it now. Although they wear out quickly, they do the job of cleaning beautifully without any odor or residue. Have you ever tried it?
I’m definitely going to freeze some grapes next time for my drinks and see how it is. I think it would taste great.
Have you tried it?
You don’t have to grow your own food to dehydrate fruits and vegetables. I had a dehydrator for years before I started using it regularly. Part of me couldn’t believe that such a small amount of heat could make food edible let alone more delicious than before.
It’s true! Drying foods concentrates the flavors.
This is beef jerky halfway through the drying process.
My first foray into dehydrating was making beef jerky. But I’ve since dried tomatoes, okra, beans, peas, strawberries, and squash.
There are few rules to dehydrating.
• Always slice your meat, vegetables, or fruits the same thickness. If some are thinner than others place those on the top trays so they don’t dry out too quickly.
• For best results, freeze your meat until it’s firm (but not frozen through). It will make it so much easier to slice.
• Wash fruits and vegetables, then pat dry.
• Never let your food touch each other. You want air to circulate freely on all sides.
• You can make fruit leathers if you blend fruit into a puree then pour (carefully) into liners on the dehydrator trays.
• Check for doneness. They should be flexible but not rock hard. You can dry them until hard if you plan to pulverize them. Many people do this for onions and garlic, but also for tomatoes and celery. Heck, I’ve seen people dehydrate tomato skins alone and turn them into tomato powder.
***
For meat, you can add a dry rub from any number of prepared mixes from the store. I’m a purist. I prefer salt and pepper.
For veggies like green beans, I coat them in a little olive oil and toss with fresh ground salt. They are DELICIOUS! Greg and I polished off an entire batch in one sitting. (That ended up being our dinner.) They’re great snacks when you want something other than potato chips or popcorn.
I don’t season tomatoes at all. I dehydrate until semi soft and put them in the freezer. When I make soup, stew, pasta or pizza sauce, the dried tomatoes go in the pot and I let them reconstitute there. It will take your meal to an entirely new level of flavor. Every year I dehydrate tomatoes rather than can them now. They are that good!
Dehydrators come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very fancy, others are nothing more than a light bulb at the base of the machine.
The one on the right is the same brand but about $50 more. It also has a 10 year warranty compared to the one above with a 5 year warranty. You can click on the pictures to take you to the Amazon page.
The dehydrator I currently have is pretty old. It doesn’t have the nicer trays or higher wattage of these newer models. When it finally dies on me I’ll probably opt for the Excalibur since all my gardening friends speak so highly about it.
If you have teenagers, jerky and dried treats are way healthier for them. Better for junk-food eating husbands too. 😉
Oven drying: You can dry food in your oven but between you and me, it’s kind of a pain. Not only do you waste a lot more money on energy usage but it pretty much monopolizes your oven until the drying is done. I don’t recommend it unless you have no other choice.
Outdoor drying: There is one other option for you heartier, back-to-the-land folks, and that’s solar drying. If you live in a climate like mine where it’s hot and has relatively low humidity, you can dry your food outdoors. 
Oiled and salted. Ready for drying.
Same green beans, dried and ready for snacking.
Have you ever tried making jerky or dried fruits or vegetables? I always say I’m going to dehydrate snow peas, but somehow I never have enough left over. 🙂 The green beans were the real surprise though. 
They were absolutely delicious. Greg wanted more but I only planted a few token green bean plants. Next year, I’m doing a big bed of them.
The cabinet people called Friday to schedule their crew and install my new kitchen cabinets. I was no where near ready. I had hoped they would give me a week’s notice, but no such luck.
All weekend, I rushed around emptying my cabinets and putting everything into boxes. –Didn’t think I’d be doing that again for a long time! Thankfully, the boxes only have to move into the next room.
I moved here almost eight years ago, yet I still managed to accumulate a ton of clutter. The kitchen seems to be a catch-all for anything coming into the house.
Some of the clutter are duplicates or things that get tossed in a drawer for “safekeeping” then quickly forgotten, but some things are bulky items I might use only once or twice a year. There’s a punch bowl, a literal ton of cast iron cookware, Christmas serving pieces, and a large and odd collection of glassware.
There are the fancy water goblets that I’ve used maybe twice since I’ve been here. Then there are the pots and pans from Greg’s house. When mine wear out I’ll replace them with his. Until then, they’ll be stored in the attic. There were also entire drawer full of kitchen utensils that I use so rarely I’d forgotten I had them.
I have an insane amount of cookbooks. I didn’t realize I had that many. I’d hate to get rid of them, but I use maybe three or four–tops.
There are a lot of antiques in my clutter stash too. I found a gravy boat that I bought an antique auction decades ago. I never thought much of it. It was sold as part of a box lot. I looked it up and it’s worth $80 now. I think I spent five bucks for the whole box.
I’m sick of clutter, but I’m not ready to have another garage sale, so I’ll just store all this stuff for some other day. Before I put anything back in that kitchen, I plan to take a long hard look at what I’m putting back. If I don’t love it, or I haven’t used it in a year, it’s going in the attic.
Wish me luck this week. We’ll be without a working kitchen for at least 5-7 days. They’re supposed to put up plastic to keep the dust down in the rest of the house, but I suspect the entire house will need a thorough airing (and dusting) by the time they’re done. It’s bad enough our routine will be disrupted, but the poor dogs will be upset with strangers in the house too.
How are you with clutter? Do you sort out your junk drawers regularly? And if you don’t have a junk drawer, I don’t think we can be friends. LOL! You’re too perfect!
A couple of these are definitely unethical, but the fire extinguisher is just dumb. If Greg ever has to call Apple Customer Service I’ll be curious to find out if that hack works.
I could see doing this as a great party decoration. It looks pretty easy too.
• Plastic bottles, or paper lanterns
• Glue gun, glue
• Fishing line and hooks to hang them from the ceiling
• Cotton batting
• LED light strip with controller
I saw a DIY project for soda caps on Facebook, but when I went back I couldn’t find it again so I looked up something similar on YouTube. This is really easy to make and really useful.
I always keep a couple of small containers for aspirin or other meds in my purse. It’s also handy for trips when you don’t want to lug whole containers of pills for a short trip.
I keep an assortment of med kits for man and beast. Some are pocket-sized for quick fixes. Others are bigger for short day trips and vacations. The biggest ones are for the farm animals. Those I keep in full sized buckets and carry everything from syringes to plastic tubing to birthing supplies.
For this post though, I want to concentrate on mini kits. The kind you can stick in your pocket or luggage.
Only you know for sure what you’ll need so your mileage may vary.
The bigger your kit, the more you can vary your medical arsenal. If you have kids you might want to include kid-specific products, like thermometers and baby aspirin.
Even if you never travel with a kit, you should build one just for home use. When someone is sick or injured, you don’t want to be scouring all over the house for this or that. I’ve been there and it’s frustrating. If someone is bleeding, you don’t have time to search for bandages and antiseptic.
The first part of a good kit is the container, and it can be anything that closes tightly and preferably waterproof.
I’ve used sturdy Tupperware and an assortment of smaller containers for quick fixes and short trips. Look around your house and see what will fit the bill. I’m willing to bet you’ll have something that’ll serve.
The next step is to list the things you’ll probably need depending on your situation. Here are some suggestions:
• adhesive bandages
• moist towelettes
• aspirin or ibuprofen
• Benadryl cream or pills
• Neosporin
• antacids
• antiseptics like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
• cotton pads (good for cleaning wounds)
• gauze pads or roll
• small pair of scissors
• latex gloves
• tweezers
• thermometer
• waterless cleaner
• dental floss
• hard candy (for dry mouth or hypoglycemics)
If you’re absent minded like me, you’ll also carry a small notebook and pen in case you need to take down information.
If you feel safer buying a real first aid kit, here’s one from Amazon that’s a best seller. The nice thing about a pre-made case is that it’s easily identifiable in a crisis.
Check out my blog on Friday when I’ll showcase a DIY video for making a container. In the meantime, be sure to recycle little containers when you get them. They’re immensely useful.
Last week Greg and I had lunch with a friend. She works in a nursery (the kind with plants). She had mentioned she was retiring soon and leaving the day-to-day business to a very enthusiastic 21 year old.
Every one should have a sewing kit. This would make a good gift for kids going off to college.
I was floored because I couldn’t fathom how anyone could not know how to do such a simple task. My friend (who’s around young people a lot) told me it wasn’t all that unusual. They know how to change code to a web site, but they don’t know how to change a tire. It boggles the imagination.
I’ve mentioned before that I have no real skill with needle or thread, but even I have a sewing box. They’re cheap insurance. The one shown even has a book for the rank beginner.
If I were to list fifteen things everyone should know by the time they’re twenty-one, these would be my top choices.
I was on my own by eighteen, but I think most of the skills from the list above were already honed while I was still a child. I didn’t learn home maintenance or car repair until I actually had a car and home. We were too poor to hire anyone, so we had to learn to do things ourselves.
Poverty teaches you to be very self-sufficient. 😀
What would you add to the list? If you have children, did you teach them any of the skills on the list before they left home?
I did not know the one about Febreze. And I am definitely trying the almonds next time I have a headache. Have you tried any of these? Do they work?
Some interesting hiding places for your stash. I especially like the last one.
I once put my spare keys under some brick in the dog run, thinking no one would be crazy enough to enter a dog run with rottweilers in it. It was safe…until a certain border collie came to live with us. She must’ve caught my scent under the brick because she went for that brick only and pulled out the keys. And she was only a puppy!
A quick tutorial on recycling empty cardboard rolls.
• Take your empty and cut 1 inch slits across one side.
• Fold the slits down until it forms a flat surface.
• Pack a little potting soil inside each tube.
• Plant your seed.
• Stand them up in a tray and water regularly.
• Once sprouted, plant tube and all directly in the ground.
Not only does it provide a collar against cutworms, but you never disturb the root system. The tube will disintegrate within the season and provide additional mulch to the soil.
Roomba 880: Straight out of the box.
I bought the iRobot Roomba 880 a couple of weeks ago but I didn’t want to review it until I had run it through all its paces. It’s pricey so I thought long and hard before I spent good money on it.
I also did a lot of research, talked to a couple of friends who had one, and read some of the inquiries on a message board. When I spend this much money I want to make sure it’s worth it.
We got the second from the top of the line. As much as I wanted the extra “Carpet Boost” function of the Roomba 980, I didn’t think it was worth the extra money. The 980 has other options, like an app for your cell phone and a “Remember and Resume” function that is really nice, but not a deal breaker for the 880.
There are good and bad points about the Roomba 880 so let me tell you what I found.
PROS
• It really does clean.
• It’s not as loud as I thought it would be, though I’m told the “Carpet Boost” function of the Roomba 980 is loud.
• The dust bucket though small seems to pack a lot of dirt, but check the caveat in the Con column.
• It talks! It tells you when it’s stuck or caught in a tight space. If you pick it up before turning it off it’ll tell you it needs to be put in another room. I think this is because its sensors can’t detect the ground.
• I love that it docks on its own when power is low. It gives you congratulatory music when it’s successfully docked too.
• It is equally good on wood, carpet, and tile floors. And it has no problem traversing the various heights of each.
• The real bonus is that I can do something else while it’s vacuuming. I have not used my regular vacuum cleaner since getting the Roomba.
CONS
• If I could change one thing, I’d make the docking station heavier so it doesn’t move around when the Roomba is trying to dock to its charging station.
• The bin is ample (for such a small machine) but beware that it might give you an error message that the bin is full even when it’s not. The first time I used it, it caught so much dust and fur from the places I couldn’t reach, the Roomba pushed the debris into the machine. It wasn’t hard to clean out but it’s something to keep in mind. Now that I vacuum every day, it’s not an issue.
• This probably isn’t a con but it drives me crazy anyway. The Roomba seems to go over the same area many times. I can’t complain because eventually it does clean the whole floor, but it’s going to do it in its own fashion.
• It has a hard time sucking dirt from very deep grooves in floor tile. I have one bathroom with deep grooves and that’s the only one I noticed where some dirt had been left behind.
A short clip to give you some idea of the noise level. Surprisingly, it’s less noisy than my regular vacuum cleaner.
Da Dogs: The dogs’ reaction was the biggest surprise of all. I expected a lot of yelling correction to leave the machine alone. Nope.
We have it scheduled for 9am everyday. It chimes to let you know it’s going to work. The dogs bark at it once, and then they walk away. Even Nana (the border collie who wants to rule the world) was totally cool with it. I’d like to think it’s because we ignored it and they took their cues from us.
The big test was when we were gone during the cleaning cycle. I half expected the Roomba to be in tiny pieces all over the house when we returned. The first time it had gone back to its docking station all by itself. The second time it trapped itself and the dogs in my studio. All I can figure is that it probably nudged the door closed. (The door swings pretty easily so one tiny push could close it.)
The dogs stayed outside (their run is attached to my studio) while the machine kept vacuuming. I suspect they’ve reached détente with it.
In all, I am very pleased. The dust and fur is down substantially. We are sleeping better because now dust never lingers.
I think I could’ve been just as happy with the 780 but I liked that the 880 claims it is virtually maintenance free, while the 780 said it required minimum maintenance. Someday, I’d like to get a second machine. It’s a big house!
I tested the 880 thoroughly. If you know me, you already know I’m hard to please, so I can honestly say this surpassed my expectations. How long it operates this well has yet to be seen, but I’ll let you know if anything changes.
The next thing on my Wish List is the iRobot Brava Mopping Robot. If I get one I’ll be sure to report on that too.
This is the one I got.
This post may contain affiliate links. Clicking on these links cost you nothing, but they do help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting MariaZanniniHome. I appreciate you!
We always keep a few tools in the car. I’m in awe what Greg could accomplish with nothing more than a pair of channel-locks (tongue and groove pliers) and a couple of screwdrivers.
Not that I can perform the same kind of magic, but it’s nice to have a few tools in case I need to fuss with the battery cables or change a tire. Tires, battery, and windshield wipers are the extent of my automotive experience–and that’s only if my auto club can’t help me.
No one should be stranded though. I find even a couple of these tools prove handy for everyday situations. Here is what I keep in my tool bag.
First, a tool bag. They’re not terribly expensive, so make the investment. I’ve found it’s a lot easier to find things if they’re all in one place instead of scattered all over my car. If I’m stuck somewhere I’m already rattled so I don’t want to waste time looking for a wrench in the boneyard I call my back seat.
The tools:
• Screwdrivers: One flat head and one Phillips head. You can invest in one of those screwdrivers with tips that can be changed. I have one, but I still prefer a regular screwdriver. It’s stronger and there’s no chance of losing the tips.
• Flashlight: A regular
Greg bought GRDE Zoomable Headlamp. I didn’t want to spend $20 on a headlamp (I use a cheaper one) but his is far superior to my cheapo version. Very sturdy, secure on any size head, with a tremendous amount of light. We use this a lot more than I expected.
• Bungee cords: Buy a pack of them. We used them ALL the time to keep things from shifting inside the car, or to tie things to the roof.
• A good knife: Greg always carries a knife on his person, but I prefer to keep mine in the vehicle.
• Pliers: If you don’t have a multi-tool, toss in an extra set of all-purpose pliers.
• Leather gloves: I never know if I’ll be hauling lumber or untangling wire. Saves the hands.
A tool bag doesn’t need a lot of tools, just the right tools. Most of us can’t work on our cars, so you need only enough for the mundane tasks that crop up. Go with the bare minimum tool kit if you must but if you’re on the road much I recommend the more stocked bag. I’ve been stranded on more than one occasion (despite the auto club!) so it pays to be prepared.
On the left: The bare minimum tool bag.
On the right: The fuller tool bag–but don’t
forget the screwdrivers like I did in that picture.
In the picture on the left, I added a measuring tape. They come in handy if you shop garage
sales like I do.
Do you keep any tools in your car? Have you ever been stranded?
This post may contain affiliate links. Clicking on these links cost you nothing, but they do help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting MariaZanniniHome. I appreciate you!
Every year it gets harder and harder for me to find something unique and fabulous for my mother.
In the first place I have five other siblings and we all strive to find something she’d like–something she doesn’t already own. At her age too, she’d rather have experiences than another bathrobe or flowers.
I try to focus on what means the most to her–her grandkids, travel, and Elvis, in that order. 🙂 One year I got her one of those frames that runs a carousel of photos. I downloaded a few photos of Greg and me and then asked my brother to download all the pictures from her camera. She LOVED it. To this day, she brags about her photo frame.
Another gift she loves is her cell phone. My brother bought her that. He pays for her monthly bill too. I always thought it was funny that she learned to text before I did! Shop Amazon – Contract Cell Phones & Service Plans
Last year, I got her a Keurig. You’d think she had died and gone to heaven. She loves trying out different coffees.
This year I think I’ll probably take the easy route and send her a gift card. Is cash crass? Not in my book, and not when you get to be that age. She’s a stone-cold shopaholic. (How is it possible we’re even related?!) I’d rather she use a gift card for mad money than dip into her savings.
Here are some links for the things I’ve bought my mom and a few more for consideration. By the way, have you seen the price on Kindles lately? I never thought they’d go that low. Time to start thinking about graduates too.
I should check to see if mom has Amazon Prime. She likes to watch her telly. Might be worth getting her this instead.
Keurig Rivo: Cappuccino and Latte: Hope Greg doesn’t ask for this one too. He only gets so much counter space in my kitchen.
K-45 Coffemaker: This is the one I got my mom.
Digital Photo Frame: Two things to remember: Make sure it’s big enough. There’s no point in choosing the smaller frame especially if it hangs on a wall. Secondly, make sure it has a goodly amount of storage capacity.
Elite 8 qt Pressure Cooker: I posted this before, but I stand by it. If you or your mom likes to cook, you will love this.
Books
Seasons’ Beginnings, by Sandra Ulbrich Almazan FREE! Psst: If it looks familiar, I also designed the cover. It’s a series so check out the others.
Doctor Wolf by Jenny Schwartz: A werewolf in London romance
Becoming Queen Victoria: Pricey for digital, but I’m a glutton for royal biographies.
LIMITED TIME OFFERS
These were listed for a limited time. I think most of the sales end this week.
Kindle: Now that B&N nuked its Nook, it might be time to switch to Kindle.
Fire Tablet: Maybe I should stop hunting these bargains. I want this too. I’ve been looking for a tablet. The best I’ve found comparable to this was on sale for $250 at Costco.
Prismacolor Pencils: Speaking as an artist, I’ve always liked Prismacolor. This is an excellent price for this package.
Gardener Mom
I really wanted this post to be about gardening so I’m going to sneak this in here in case some of you have moms who are gardeners too.
Pruners: Every gardener needs a good pair of pruners, preferably in two sizes. I can’t live without mine.
Gloves: I keep a pair of gloves socked away everywhere. This has two sets, so great price.
Gardening Seat/Kneeler: My knees have reached a point where this might become a necessity.
Rose Pruning Gloves: If you’ve ever pruned roses, you don’t need to ask why you need these kind of gloves.
Well, I hope I picked out some good buys for you. These posts take a long time to research, but I try to find the best deals I can. In my book, it’s a cardinal sin to spend more money than necessary.
What are you getting your mom for Mother’s Day? What would you like for yourself?
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting MariaZanniniHome. I appreciate you!
Even when our plates are full, those of us who understand balance know we have to make room for our hobbies.
Hobbies can be expensive. I speak from experience. Every time Greg started a new hobby, it cost big bucks. Over the years he’d taken up many hobbies. Off the top of my head, there was photography, karate, guns, swords, a boat, and motorcycles.
After seeing the price tag for some customizing he was doing to his bike, I complained there was no way he could find anything more expensive than motorcycles.
That’s when he took up flying.
Oy! I will never make such a challenge again. I think he did that purposely!
Hopefully, you don’t have an expensive hobby.
My hobbies tend to be on the creative side. I’ve b
uilt miniature furniture, dioramas, and dabbled in clay. Mostly I paint–or I used to. I was looking at my brushes the other day and thought it was time to paint my Tanky’s portrait.
Painting is not particularly cheap but I’m good about catching sales and buying quality materials so they last a long time.
Side Story: We adopted Iko to rouse Tank out of a pit of lethargy and depression after my Chelly died. Boy, did he ever do a good job! He was a typical puppy. Before Tank knew it he was playing tag and mopping the floor with the little monster. It pulled him out of his doldrums. This first photo of all teeth looks menacing, but it was all show and bluster. Those two loved each other dearly. Iko grieved just as much as we did after Tank passed away.
Back to hobbies. Check out the list to see how many you’ve done.
• Reading, of course. That’s why libraries exist, but if you can channel your reading into reviews you can also get free books from places like Library Thing and Net Galley.
Public Service Announcement: If you like a book, be a pal and leave a review. Authors can use all the reviews they can get.
• Journaling: All you need is a journal (paper or on your monitor) to record your daily thoughts.
• Drawing or painting: Quality paint can get a little pricey but a piece of charcoal or a few pencils won’t break the bank. Even if you think you have no skill, you might be surprised what your doodles reveal about you.
• Photography: I’m including photography only because every cell phone has a camera now, but it can still run big bucks for those who do their own prints and enter shows.
• Meditation: I’ve never been able to meditate except when I was in yoga class. My mind is always racing. But meditation is free and you can do it anywhere.
• People-watch: Writers do this all the time, but it’s fun to do it for no reason at all. Sometimes I try to guess what people are thinking as they go by.
• Puzzles: Good for all ages. Word puzzles, picture puzzles, number puzzles. Number puzzles? How did that get in there?
• Walk: I like to walk, especially in the woods or by gardens. It’s so relaxing.
• Card games: All you need is a deck of cards.
• Board games: I bought a Monopoly game over Christmas. We still haven’t played it yet!
• Chess, a board game requiring some skill: Greg was a chess master once. And this is why we don’t play.
• Watch tv: Hey, movies and television count as a hobby. As long as moss doesn’t grow on you, you’re not overdoing it.
• Museums, Zoos, and Arboretums: I love all three but we so rarely go. We must make amends to that this year.
• Gardening: That’s not a hobby for me. It’s a way of life.
• Scrapbooking: I’ve always marveled at scrapbooks. Although all the tools and doodads can get expensive, with a little recycling I’m sure it can be done for pennies.
• Needle craft: I have no skill with needle and thread besides base training. My mother taught me how to embroider when I was a child, and a neighbor taught me how to crochet left-handed. She was right-handed but she noticed I was having trouble following along. Compassionate woman that she was, she practiced crocheting with her left hand and then taught me. That’s when I picked it up.
I was forced to be right handed all my life, and although I do it by rote now, anything I learn has to be tried left-handed first or it doesn’t stick. Weird, huh?
What’s your hobby? Is it expensive?
Are you right-handed or left-handed? I’ve become ambidextrous by default though I might’ve grown up less stressed if my teachers had allowed me to be left handed.
This is something new I’m trying. It might be my innate search mojo, but I’m a wiz at finding bargains. Once a week, I’ll do a post on things I’ve either bought or have put on my wish list. I’m also going to include books and dvds that catch my eye. (We have a huge library of both so we’re always looking for new additions.)
I use Amazon most, but not exclusively. If you shop off my page, always double check the price. Prices can change without notice.
It’s spring, so my brain has been on home improvement, gardening, and reading (for those rainy days). Here’s what I found this week.
Hori Hori Garden Knife: I bought one of these. They’re great for tough weeding and ripping open stubborn bags of dirt.
Smart Pots: They come in different sizes. I’ve heard good things about these pots. Roots won’t penetrate the bag.
Sprout House: I need to do a post on sprouting. You’ll love it once you’ve tried fresh sprouts.
Folding Shovel: This little shovel caught my eye. Might be nice to have in the car’s tool bag.
Pyrex Storage: Excellent price for five containers with lids.
Roomba: This! I want this so bad I can’t stand it. We’ve put it off a long time but I think it might be worth the investment–IF we can keep the dogs from chasing it. It’ll save me from having to move the beds every time I want to vacuum. I’m hoping daily vacuuming will cut down on the dust and fur.
Kindle Reads
Insects Coloring Book for Adults
Summons, by AL Brown, Children’s Fantasy
Five Ingredient Cookbook
Well Fed: Paleo Recipes
Dead Maybe, R. Mac Wheeler
Print Books
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Sounds like this is the script for the play. The eighth story, 19 years later.
Art Nouveau coloring book: I’ve always liked Dover publications, and I’m a sucker for art nouveau.
Hooked: One of my all time favorite writing books. I even gave away a copy as a gift.
Sarum: LOVED this novel. Highly recommended for history lovers.
Parent Hacks: This looked good and I don’t even have kids!
I hope I picked out some interesting things for you.
Does anyone own a Roomba? What can you tell me about them? I’ve read good reviews about this one from various outlets so now I’m really motivated.
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting MariaZanniniHome.
I mentioned the other day that dusting was the bane of my chore list, so I did some sleuthing on the best way to dust. This video shows how to dust using stuff I already had around the house.
In my last post, Jenny Schwartz recommended a static duster. I replied that I thought they were gimmicks. Then it struck me that I actually bought one once. I had forgotten all about it! I stopped using it thinking it didn’t work.
But guess what? I was doing it wrong!
I admit it. I was wrong. (Greg never hears me say this often enough.) The trick to a static duster is that you have to charge it by cupping your hand around the duster and running your hand up and down. This recharges the static electricity so it picks up dust bunnies and dust.
Thanks, Jenny, for making me take a second look at static dusters. I figured if it worked for you, there must be something to it, so I did some research on why and how they work. It might’ve even said to recharge the bristles on the package instructions but who reads instructions for a duster?
Yes, I was wrong. (That should hold Greg for a while.)
