Stubborn Stains

Take advantage of this handy reference chart from Better Homes & Gardens. You can handle all sorts of stains with this useful info. Print it off and place it in the laundry room for convenience. Click on the link below to get your own.


http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-remove-stains-from-laundry/

Breakfast of Champions

We've all heard about the importance of eating a nutritious breakfast, but when choosing between a glazed doughnut and a bagel.... opt for the doughnut! According to Shape, even a medium bagel has around 320 calories (without the cream cheese), where the doughnut has only about 260 calories. Brace for the potential sugar crash with something like a glass of milk. If the bagel really is calling your name, cut it in half or go with one that is whole-grain.

Germs Where You Least Expect Them...

I had never really considered this, but apparently soap dispensers in public restrooms are breeding grounds for bacteria. Prevention Magazine reports that often the dispensers themselves go uncleaned, allowing dirty hands to transfer bacteria effortlessly. Scrubbing thoroughly for 20 seconds with warm water should be effective, and they recommend using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as well.

Mmmmmm... Maggiano's

If you've never been to Maggiano's before... you are missing out on a treat! They may be a little pricey, but it is well worth it. The food is delicious, the portions are huge, and the service is great. If you join their "E-mail List", you'll start receiving money saving coupons right away, including a $10 off coupon! I haven't been a member for long, but I've already gotten several beneficial offers. You can click on the link below to sign up:

http://maggianos.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&_Theme=36507222054&InputSource=ReferFriend_Jan11&ReferrerID=princessmc981%40yahoo.com

Bye-bye Borders!

After filing for bankruptcy, Borders will be closing more than 200 of it's 600+ stores. The Richmond store will be closing soon, so if you have some gift cards that you want to take advantage of before this location closes it's doors, you'll need to act quickly. Be prepared for long lines and selections that are already looking picked over. A sales associate said that they would probably stay open for a few more weeks, with sales continuing to increase over time. Magazines were 40% off this weekend, and most books were 10-30% off.

Getting Paid to Shop

Target has a lot of frozen foods on sale this week (Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine, etc...). In addition to that, when you buy 7 selected frozen foods, you get a $5 Target gift card. When we got in the store, their tags advertised that if you buy 6 Smart Ones, you'd get a free insulated bag. We asked at the register and the lady told us that they had been giving out the gift cards instead. I'm not sure about the miscommunication there, but we gladly took the 2 gift cards we earned.

Remote Holder

Having a hard time keeping up with your remote control?... Or do you have so many that you can't tell one apart from the next? Try slipping your remote into a Vera Bradley eyeglasses case that will serve 3 purposes.

1. You can quickly identify specific remote controls.
2. You can easily spot a remote that is MIA.
3. You've found a new excuse to get more Vera Bradley.
Not to mention that this super cute coozie will add a little extra padding for those accidental drops on the floor. If you order on their website between now and Monday (2/21), you can save an extra 10% on everything already on sale. (www.verabradley.com)

Dinner for $1

Next Tuesday, February 22nd, go to your local Qdoba for a $1 burrito! That's right.... one buck!! If you dine between the hours of 5 to 7 PM, you can get either a chicken or vegetarian burrito for a dollar. Essentially, you "donate" a dollar as part of a fundraiser they are having (and the charity escapes me...) and they give you a burrito in return. Think of it as your altruistic deed for the day. We partook this past Tuesday and it was well worth the $1.

Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, 34 years ago today, Michael and Darlene went to get their marriage license. It was snowing and very cold. Four days later, on February 18th, 1977, on a cold and snowy day, they were married.

On this day focused on love, here's to loving and embracing those we care about and remembering those who are missed.

Salon Effects Nail Polish

Normally I like to share products that are fantastic buys, however, I'm sharing one that is disappointing. Sally Hansen has a new product called "Salon Effects Polish Strips". If you can find a color that doesn't look like something a 12-year-old would wear, you'll have to meticulously follow the multi-step directions to apply the strips. Now I'm an avid DIY-er, but I can't justify spending an hour on a manicure at home!

You have to file/buff your nails first, and then pick from one of the 16 strips that come in a pack that best fits your nail. You peel off a clear protective sheet, then peel off a backing, and then you'll have to break off the end of the strip. You'll carefully apply the sticker strip to your nail and smooth it out. Unless your fingernails look like Cat Woman, you'll have to use their file again to effortlessly (or not) file off the excess polish. Despite gallant efforts, the polish is not adhering to my nails and chipping after less than 24 hours. So much for the advertised "10 days of chip-free wear".

The bottom line... even after using a coupon, this was not worth the trouble! The only plus was that a little cuticle stick and nail buffer came in the package. This has nothing on the salon!

Famous Dave's Slims Down

Famous Dave's is offering a new low-cal menu. They're promoting 6 new "Citrus Grill Platters" that have under 600 calories. The bigger news is that when you order one of these dishes, you'll get a FREE 30 day pass to Snap Fitness and an assessment with a personal trainer (a $140 value).

Hat Tricks

The next time you're going to be wearing a winter hat, give it a rub on the inside with a dryer sheet before you put it on. This should alleviate some of the static (and who doesn't love that "fresh from the dryer smell"??). If you wear a hat that is slightly larger than your head, you might spare your hair some volume and avoid unwanted indentations when the hat comes off.

Magic Eraser

If you've never tried a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, you're missing out. These foam "sponges" do wonders! You can find them for around $4 for a 4-pack at places like Wal-Mart. (So... about a $1 each.) They'll disintegrate after repeated use, which means you're doing some serious cleaning! Here are just a few of their clever uses:

Removing...

- crayon, magic marker, or grease from painted surfaces

- adhesive glue/residue

- grime/dirt from hub caps

- scuff marks from walls

- stains from grout and tile

- scuff marks on shoes

- dirt/dust/grime from baseboards

- soap scum from tubs and showers

- burnt on messes from grill grates

- spills inside the microwave

- dried paint

- debris from tiny crevasses- i.e.- can openers and computer keyboards (because the eraser is quite pliable)

... and there are countless more! I've heard that you can use them clean and polish gold jewelry, but I wouldn't rush out and try it on a family heirloom.

Heart Healthy

With the current push for awareness for women's heart health, it's noteworthy to acknowledge the symptoms that women experience prior to having a heart attack. Prevention Magazine encourages women not to ignore these symptoms, which may seem very unrelated to the heart.

- fatigue
- pain from someplace other than the chest (neck, jaw, back, shoulders, etc...)
- sweating
- nausea or dizziness
- breathlessness
- sleeplessness
- anxiety

Trust your instinct, and if you experience unusual symptoms (or know someone who does), see a doctor to rule out something serious.

Sweet Solution

With the stomach flu showing no mercy, here's a solution that sounds sweet. According to Prevention Magazine, "children who had a teaspoon of honey in their drinks experienced 40% less- let's just say unpleasant stomach bug side effects- and recovered a whole day faster than those who didn't have any honey". They believe adults would experience the same effects thanks to the antimicrobial properties of honey.