Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation

Toxins in your home?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Are there poisons under your sink? According to a 15-year study presented at the Toronto Indoor Air Conference, it was found that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. The study concluded that this was a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products. Check your cleaning supplies to see if you have any of the most common household toxins lurking under your sink:

Carpet Cleaners - Carpet cleaning products are extremely toxic to children if ingested. The fumes given off can cause cancer and liver damage.

Chlorine - Chlorine is the one chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings and a potent pollutant. It may cause reproductive, endocrine, and immune system disorders.

Degreasers - Many commercial degreasers may contain petroleum distillates and butyl cellosolve. These chemicals can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells.

Drain Cleaners - Drain cleaners are one the most hazardous products in the home. They can contain lye, which is a strong caustic substance that causes severe corrosive damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and stomach. These chemicals can be fatal if swallowed.

Glass Cleaners - Many glass cleaners contain ammonia. Fumes from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

Mold and Mildew Removers - Mold and mildew removing products often contain an acute respiratory irritant. These products may damage your lungs, eyes, and skin.

Oven Cleaners - Oven cleaners are one of the most dangerous cleaning products. They can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, and throat.

Scouring Cleansers - Cleansers may contain butyl cellosolve, a petroleum-based solvent that can irritate mucous membranes and cause liver and kidney damage.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners - Another dangerous cleaning product. Toilet bowl cleaners can contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid with is harmful to your health by simply breathing the fumes during use.

Tub and Tile Cleaners - These cleaners can contain chlorine and may contribute to the formation of organochlorines; a dangerous class of compounds that can cause reproductive, endocrine and immune system disorders.

What can you do to stay safe?

The best way to avoid poisonings, headaches and potentially fatal situations, is to switch to green cleaners. You can make them yourself from household items such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon. You can buy eco-friendly cleaners from health and grocery stores or from an online green seller such as Shaklee (www.wellnessisez.com).

Anne Litz

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Facebook and MySpace Pages Can Affect Chances of Landing a Job

Employers are becoming more and more internet savvy and checking out applicants via their Facebook and MySpace pages. According to an article on SmartMoney.com, it has become a common practice for employers to check out applicants’ pages on these two sites. This practice has sparked a debate - should these sites have some kind of privacy tool integrated to keep the information private? For example, if a college senior wants to put photos of a keg party on her MySpace page, should that affect her chances for employment years down the road, or is this an invasion of her privacy?

According to a 2006 study by Career Builder, 25% of the 1,150 hiring managers surveyed reported using search engines like Google to screen job applicants. 150 of these managers admitted to using social networking sites to check up on applicants. The survey also indicated that 50% of the managers surveyed admitted to not hiring an applicant because of information obtained from online searches.

So, this begs the quesiton - is this process an invasion of privacy? Should applicants be asked for their permission to allow potential employers to poke around on their MySpace and Facebook pages, or are these pages considered public domain? Let’s face it, we all did things as young adults that we regret today. But, is it the employer’s place to use this information as a hiring tool?

Regardless of if it is right or wrong, be careful what you put on your MySpace and Facebook pages. It could come back to haunt you in the future.

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Watkins Spring Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Watkins Spring Giveaway is Leola Butler! ! She wins this assortment of Watkins products.

The assortment includes:
Aloe and Green Tea Shea Butter
Peppermint Foot Cream
Peppermint Room Freshener
Shredsoap Linen Spray
Vanilla Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Clear Vanilla Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Hazelnut Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Cinnamon (6 oz. tin)
Sesame and Garlic Snack and Dip Seasoning
Oregano (tin)
Ginger (tin)
Paprika (tin)
Soup and Vegetable Seasoning (jar)

The value of the assortment is $80.87! All are full-sized products, not samples.

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

Check back next month for another Watkins Giveaway!

Independent Watkins Associate

Contests and prizes are offered by me and not Watkins, Inc. or other Independent Associates.

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Favorite Ingredients Friday Easter Edition II - Maple French Toast

Welcome to Favorite Ingredients Friday sponsored by Overwhelmed With Joy. Today is Favorite Ingredients Friday Easter Edition II!

Our family usually gets together for Easter Brunch or Easter Dinner. This year we are planning an Easter brunch. We are having Eggs Benedict, Maple French Toast, orange juice, and fresh fruit. Here is a yummy french toast that you can make the day before and pop in the oven Easter morning while you are hiding the Easter eggs or preparing the rest of the meal!

Maple French Toast

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup maple-flavored syrup
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
10 (1-inch-thick) slices French bread
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sliced strawberries
1 to 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1. Spray 13×9-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. In medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, syrup and margarine. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute.
2. Pour syrup mixture evenly in bottom of sprayed pan. Arrange bread slices in even layer over syrup mixture. Set aside.
3. In large bowl, combine eggs, milk, vanilla and salt; beat with wire whisk until smooth. Pour evenly over bread in pan. Cover; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
4. To bake, heat oven to 350°F. Uncover pan; bake 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. To serve, top each serving with 1/4 cup sliced strawberries; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter!

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Real Moms Talk About Child Safety

A Review By Real Moms Review Panel Member: Julie Miller

Every year at least once, my husband and I travel to Orlando with our 2 young boys. It is a trip that the boys REALLY look forward to. We do a lot of fun things while we are there but the highlight for the boys is visiting Universal Studios. They are both avid Spiderman fans and we cannot go to Orlando without spending at least one day at Universal.

If you have ever been to a theme park, you know just how many people can be there. And if characters are out and about, there can be A LOT of people in a very small area.

Last September we were once again at Universal and at the time our boys were 4 and 2. And Spiderman, Captain America and a host of other super heroes were in the street greeting people. In all of this hubbub, our 4yo disappeared. I mean, he was just gone. Both my husband and I were freaking out. I was so panicked I started crying. Luckily we found him in a store looking at Spiderman toys, but it was so terrifying. He had absolutely no identification on him nor did he know our phone numbers or even where we were staying.

This spring our trip to Universal was a slightly bit different. It seems almost eerie that I was asked to reviews these two products, right before I left on my trip.

Chicks & Cubs has come up with a unique solution to that terrifying experience that we had back in September. They have created an Identification Card that is perfect for our now 5yo to carry with him. Each card holds a child’s photo, thumbprint, name, address, weight, height, birth date, emergency contact numbers, doctor’s name and number, dentist’s name and number, insurance info, plus a medical release signature allowing immediate medical treatment when a parent is not available or cannot speak for the child. This kit provides enough cards for multiple children and/or yearly updates. We filled out one of these ID cards for our son and placed it in his pocket. We told him if he got lost, he could give this to someone to help him find us.

Chicks & Cubs also has ID inside Child Identification Bracelet. This wristband has a hidden pocket that is waterproof. With the reusable ID cards provided, we wrote down our information and had our younger son wear this if he decide to repeat his older brother’s vanishing act.

Chicks & Cubs has been in business since 1999 and is operated by a fantastic WAH Mom of 3 boys. Thanks to Chicks & Cubs we felt a little safer on our trip to Universal this last time.

Chicks & Cubs is also running a sale of $2.00 off using voucher #312673550

I highly recommend both of these products to anyone.

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Choosing a Ham - Baked Ham Recipes

Are you planning a baked ham dinner for Easter? Before you head to the supermarket or butcher to pick up a ham, here’s a rundown of the types you’re likely to see.

Bone-In
A traditional pear-shaped ham that has at least part of the shank bone present. Bone-in hams are sold whole or cut into halves, rump or shank portions, and as center-cut slices (called ham steaks.) Whole hams weigh between 10 and 18 pounds.

Spiral-sliced bone-in hams are available at many supermarkets. The ham is precut in a spiral pattern so you don’t have to slice it. Be careful not to over bake this type of ham as it tends to cook faster than an uncut ham.

Semi-Boneless
A ham with the shank and hipbone removed, leaving only the round leg bone.

Boneless
A ham with the bone, outside skin, and fat removed that is shaped by placing it into a casing or a can before processing.

The most popular kind of ham is a fully cooked ham. It is ready to eat when you buy it. To serve the ham hot, heat it to 140 degrees F. Hams labeled cook before eating are not completely cooked during processing and should be cooked to 160 degrees F. If you’re unsure whether a ham you’ve bought is fully cooked, cook it to 160 degrees F.

Country or country-style hams are distinctively flavored and specially processed. They are cured, may or may not be smoked, and usually are aged. Country hams generally are saltier than other hams and often are named for the city where they are processed. Follow package directions for these hams.

For any of the following recipes, bake ham 15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees F. You do not have to use a meat thermometer if one isn’t available.

Boneless hams are easy to slice and have no wasted meat or bone. I like this kind of ham for dinner, breakfast slices with pancakes, eggs or waffles or for eggs benedict. The slices also make great sandwiches.

I prefer bone-in hams because they have more flavor and if cooked at a low temperature are very tender and juicy. The cloves and glaze on the scored ham add a delicious flavor.

This recipe blends rosemary, mustard, and pineapple for a ham glaze. If you use canned pineapple for the glaze, reserve the canned juices for the 1/2 cup pineapple juice for this recipe.

Pineapple and Rosemary Glazed Ham

1 8- to 10-pound cooked bone-in ham, rump half or one 4- to 6-pound cooked boneless ham
1-1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar, divided use
3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
2 tablespoons snipped fresh rosemary or 2 teaspoons Watkins Rosemary
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
1 medium (4 lb.) pineapple, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped (4-1/2 cups) or three 20-ounce cans pineapple tidbits, drained (reserve 1/2 cup juice)
1 recipe Grilled Pineapple Slices (see recipe below) (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Score ham by making diagonal cuts, 1/4-inch deep, in a diamond pattern. Insert an oven meat thermometer into center of ham; the thermometer should not touch the bone, if present. Roast for 1-3/4 hours if using bone-in ham or 1 hour if using boneless ham. (Bake ham 10 to 15 minutes per pound.)

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl combine 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the 3 tablespoons mustard, and rosemary. Brush mixture over ham. Roast for 15 minutes more. Meanwhile, for glaze, in a 2-quart saucepan combine the remaining brown sugar, the pineapple juice, and 1/4 cup mustard. Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove 1/2 cup glaze to brush over ham. Set aside.

3. Bake ham 30 minutes more or until thermometer registers 140 degree F, generously brushing with the 1/2 cup glaze several times during baking.

4. Meanwhile, add pineapple to remaining glaze in saucepan. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Transfer ham to serving platter. Slice ham and serve with pineapple sauce. Makes 16 to 24 servings.

Grilled Pineapple Slices

Cut two peeled and cored pineapples into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush each slice on both sides with a little cooking oil; sprinkle lightly with some snipped fresh rosemary. Heat an indoor grill or grill pan. Grill pineapple slices just until they start to brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side, turning once.

Sweet and pungent are perfectly balanced in this clove-studded baked ham. A glaze of brown sugar, honey, orange juice, and some mustard make a lovely crust for this main course.

Glazed Baked Ham

1 5-to-6 pound cooked ham (rump half or shank portion)
Watkins Whole Cloves (about 1 tsp.)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

1. Score ham by making diagonal cuts in a diamond pattern. To stud the ham with cloves, push in the long end of a clove at intersections of each diamond. Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer, making sure the thermometer does not touch the bone.

2. Bake ham in a 325 degree F oven until meat thermometer registers 125 degree F. For rump half, allow 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours; for shank, allow 1-3/4 to 2 hours.

3. For glaze, in a medium saucepan, stir together brown sugar, honey, orange juice, and mustard. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Brush about 1/4 cup of the glaze over ham. Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes more or until meat thermometer registers 135 degree F. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. (The meat’s temperature will rise 5 degree F during standing.)

4. Reheat remaining glaze and serve with ham. Makes 16 to 20 servings.

This traditional Easter ham gleams thanks to a glaze that balances the deep-flavored sweetness of brown sugar with the tang of red-wine vinegar.

Brown-Sugar-Glazed Ham

1 5- to 6-pound cooked bone-in ham (rump half or shank portion)
1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1-1/2 cups red wine vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. If desired, score ham by making diagonal cuts 1 inch apart in fat in a diamond pattern. Place on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer. Thermometer should not touch bone. Bake until thermometer registers 125 degrees F. For rump, allow 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours; for shank, allow 1-3/4 to 2 hours.

2. Meanwhile, for glaze, in a medium saucepan stir together sugar and vinegar. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until reduced to 1 cup. Remove from heat. Brush ham with some of the glaze.

3. Bake ham for 20 to 30 minutes more or until thermometer registers 135 degrees F, brushing three more times with additional glaze. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. (The meat’s temperature will rise 5 degrees F during standing to the safe temperature of 140 degrees F.) Bring any remaining glaze to boiling and serve with ham. Makes 16 to 20 servings.

Eleisia Whitney has a Watkins Home Business. She enjoys cooking and baking with Watkins extracts, spices, herbs, and sauces for healthy meals. Eleisia publishes a Watkins Newsletter, Around the Kitchen Table, that brings you recipes, cooking and health tips, and contests for free Watkins products.
Read the current issue at http://www.everydaynecessities.com/march15-08newsletter.htm
Visit her at http://www.everydaynecessities.com and
http://www.WatkinsOnline.com/eleisiawhitney

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Want Huge Traffic to Your Website? Use StumbleUpon Religiously!

Ok, Moms, Dads, business people, anyone reading this. Get on the StumbleUpon bandwagon! StumbleUpon is a social networking / bookmarking site that increases traffic to your website, blog, product pages, eBay store, anything with a URL. It is free, easy, and you don’t have to be social if you don’t want to. But, if you aren’t using it, you are missing one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to drive traffic to your website.

If you aren’t familiar with it, just go to the site at StumbleUpon.com, and download the toolbar. This takes about 30 seconds. All of your internet windows will close and then you will get an internet window with the toolbar at the top. You will see the SU icon, and a blue thumbs up, and a blue thumbs down. You will now see this toolbar on every URL that you visit.

Once you get that, stumble a few of your own pages, or stumble sites you like or visit frequently.

**WARNING. DO NOT STUMBLE ONLY YOUR OWN STUFF, IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF YOU DON’T MIX OTHER SITES IN, YOUR IP ADDRESS WILL BE BLOCKED OUT AND YOU CAN’T STUMBLE YOUR SITES ANYMORE. (I learned this the hard way!)**

The first time a page (yours or anyone else’s) is stumbled, click the thumbs up icon on the SU toolbar. A box will pop up with the link in it and you will enter info about the site, in your own words. Choose the best category for the target market you are trying to reach, such as family, fashion, children, education, travel - whatever fits best. The idea is to get your pages in front of an audience that will be interested in what you have to say.

After you enter everything, hit “SUBMIT THIS SITE.” You will get another box that says “RATING SUBMITTED.” That is the important part - make sure you get the confirmation box.

Need proof that this works? I write for an online auction blog called Power Seller King. Over 1/3 of my traffic comes from StumbleUpon, because I am religious about stumbling my posts, and ask visitors and friends to stumble them also. Below is a copy of recent daily stats from Power Seller King - you can see the huge amount of traffic that StumbleUpon sends.

Get the toolbar, and try it. And don’t forget to stumble this post if you found it helpful - or if you found this post on StumbleUpon and you’re just addicted!

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

How To Decorate Easter Eggs

Easter is just about here and one of the fun activities to enjoy this and every Easter season is to decorate Easter eggs. Easter eggs are easy and enjoyable to decorate; you just need to adhere to the following hints.

Easter eggs generally start with hard boiled eggs, so shop for a dozen or two for adorning. Put them in boiling water for about 10 minutes. The eggs will cook and become hard boiled. Now just let them dry.

The easiest way to color your Easter eggs is to buy an Easter egg coloring kit. These kits most likely include dyes to paint your Easter eggs several colors, templates or stickers to decorate and design them, and an Easter egg holder to conveniently allow them to dry. Most kits only cost a few dollars and are very practical.

You can also create your own colored dye. You can mix about 1 tbsp. of food coloring with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar, then add about 1/2 cup to a third cup of water. Now just soak your Easter egg into the colored cup of water. The longer your egg sits in the water, usually the deeper and darker the color.

In addition you can hand paint your Easter eggs. You can find many water color paints or other types of paints to design and decorate your eggs. Even undiluted food coloring generally works. It is important to note that you shouldn’t eat any eggs that you have used paint on.

Designing or coloring your egg is fun and easy as well. Once the eggs are hard boiled, you can affix stickers to the egg, use a brush to carefully coat a unique design, or adhere construction paper cut outs to your egg. Some people even dress their Easter eggs up with doll or handmade costumes made from cotton or other types of fabrics.

Article by:

 

For a cute free Easter coloring page visit www.dinewithoutwhine.com/easterbunny.pdf. For clever healthful Easter Basket Ideas take a look at www.dinewithoutwhine.com/article-easter-basket-idea.htm

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Around The Kitchen Table - Watkins Newsletter - March 15, 2008 Issue

Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

If you enjoy trying new recipes and celebrating holidays you are in luck this month!
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17.
The first day of spring is March 20.
Easter is March 23.

This heart healthy recipe is included in this issue.

Banana Oat Breakfast Cookie

Watkins nonstick cooking spray
1 large banana, mashed (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup chunky natural peanut butter (unsalted and unsweetened) or regular chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 teaspoons Watkins Ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat cookie sheet with cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, stir together banana, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine oats, flour, milk powder, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir the oat mixture into the banana mixture until combined. Stir in dried cranberries.

Using a 1/4-cup measure, drop mounds of dough 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. With a thin metal or small plastic spatula dipped in water, flatten and spread each mound of dough to a 2 3/4-inch round, about 1/2-inch thick.

Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months; thaw before serving. Makes 12 cookies.

I chose most of these recipes especially for your spring cooking, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter - Banana Oat Breakfast Cookie, Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage, Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Vegetables, Hot Corned Beef Buns, Cider-Glazed Honey-Baked Ham, Flower Power Cupcakes, Mint Brownie Pie, and Minty Ice Cream Shamrocks.

Enter to win my Watkins Spring Giveaway! Just place an order by March 20th and you could win an assortment of products valued at $80.87! See details in this issue.

Each month one of you is chosen to receive a free full-sized product so enter the contest. You might be the winner!

Join Watkins for just $39.95. Join for the 25% discount on your own products and earn a 25% commission on sales. If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at Watkins Business Details (http://www.vanillasage.com). Join for the discount or for part time or full time income!

Join for the 25% discount on your own products and earn a 25% commission on sales. If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at Watkins Business Details (http://www.vanillasage.com). Join for the discount, for part time income, or a full time career!

Read this issue. Around the Kitchen Table Watkins Newsletter for more recipes and cooking tips.

Eleisia Whitney has a Watkins Home Business. She enjoys cooking and baking with Watkins extracts, spices, herbs, and sauces for healthy meals. Eleisia publishes a Watkins Newsletter, Around the Kitchen Table, that brings you recipes, cooking and health tips, and contests for free Watkins products.
Read the current issue at http://www.everydaynecessities.com/march15-08newsletter.htm
Visit her at http://www.everydaynecessities.com and
http://www.WatkinsOnline.com/eleisiawhitney

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Increase Blog and Website Traffic by Strategically Naming Images

If you’re writing a blog, or running a website, no doubt you’ve got alot of images on those pages - products, buttons, banners, personal photos, badges, and more. Here is a strategy for getting more traffic to your blog posts or website by naming the image and adding some text laden with key words, rather than leaving your images named “pic.786579A.”

Before uploading an image, take a few minutes to think about the key words you are using in your blog post or on your product page, and name the image accordingly. For example, let’s say Rebecca is selling hand-painted children’s furniture and has this photo of a step stool on her website:

Rebecca should name this image something like, “Handpainted childrens step stool blue polka dot.” Seems like a really long title, right? The name you create for your image becomes the alt tag for it, and search engines can pick it up. So, if your site or blog is loaded with images, each one is an opportunity to put more key words out there in cyberspace that will work for you and attract visitors.

Have you heard of this technique before? Are you using it?

, ,

Looking For Affordable Advertising? Join Our Banner Rotation - ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!

Next Page »