Simple Living

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• 9 Surprising Ways to Use Coca-Cola

  What to do with Coke.

  

  Did you know that Coca-Cola (or Coke, as you may call it) can be used for things other than drinking and cooking with? It’s true! It’s surprisingly good at tackling big, annoying problems.

  So, the next time you see it on sale, pick up a few bottles (even if you don’t drink it) to use for the following issues:

  1. Have the best looking lawn on the block. Add 1 can of beer (not light), 1 can of Coca-Cola (or any other kind of pop, not diet), 1/2 cup dish soap (not antibacterial), 1/2 cup liquid ammonia and 1/2 cup mouthwash into a 10 gallon sprayer attached to your garden hose. Apply every 3-4 weeks.

  
  

  2. Remove grease stains and odours from clothing. Empty a can of Coca-Cola into your washing machine (along with your laundry detergent) and run through a normal cycle.

  
  

  3. Remove gum from hair. Dip hair into a small bowl of Coca-Cola, and leave for a few minutes. Gently wipe gum off of hair.

  
  

  4. Remove marker from carpet. Apply a bit of Coca-Cola, scrub, and then clean with warm, soapy water.

  
  

  5. Remove rust from items. Completely cover item with Coca-Cola and leave overnight. Remove and wipe with a dry towel. If there are still some spots of rust, repeat this process.

  
  

  6. Cure nausea. Sipping a glass of flat Coca-Cola every hour can really help to relieve nausea.

  
  

  7. Clean a toilet. Pour Coca-Cola inside your toilet bowl (not in the water, but around the bowl), leave for a few hours and then flush.

  
  

  8. Clean oil stains from a garage floor. Simply pour and completely cover a stain with Coca-Cola, allow to soak for a few hours and spray it clean with a hose.

  
  

  9. Clean blackened pans and pots. Allow the pan or pot soak in the Coca-Cola, then rinse. Wash as usual.

  
  Can you believe that Coca-Cola soda does all of these things? I was a skeptic, until I tried almost all of them myself and found that these tips really do work!

  Give these ideas a try for yourself – you’ll be amazed (in a good way, of course).

  Have you ever used Coca-Cola for anything other than drinking or cooking with?

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• Spring Cleaning for Busy People

  Easy Spring Cleaning Tips!

  

  Let’s face it – we’re all busy. We all want a clean house, healthy meals and an organized life, but we’re busy. We make excuses as to why things don’t get done and why tasks aren’t completed the “right” way. We’re allowed, because, we’re busy.

  Right?

  Thankfully, you can be busy and still do an entire spring cleaning in your home, without feeling burnt out at the end of it all.

  Here’s how:

  Vacuum & sweep daily

  There’s something about a dirty floor that just makes an entire space look messy. If you get into the habit of sweeping and vacuuming on a daily basis, it will be much easier to maintain and your home will automatically look a heck of a lot cleaner. (Also, invest in a good quality vacuum for the best cleaning. We use a Dyson Animal and love it!)

  Get rid of your junk

  I hate to be blunt, but you need to really think about getting rid of everything in your home that you haven’t used in at least 1 year. Tackle one room or closet per day and purge everything that you don’t need. The more stuff you own, the more stuff you have to clean and maintain – so get rid of all the excess!

  

  Use one cleaning product for everything

  You don’t need to have half a dozen bottles of cleaners to clean your home. One all-purpose cleaner is enough. You can buy one at the store, but making one yourself is very simple. Combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup white vinegar in a spray bottle and you’re good to go! You can add a few drops of essential oil too, for a better smelling cleaner.

  Use plenty of baskets and bins

  Storage bins and baskets are a lifesaver when trying to keep your home organized. Use them to store toys, food, medicines, toiletries, tools, craft supplies, and so much more. Get them from the dollar store, too – they’re much cheaper there (and pretty good quality!).

  Don’t get distracted

  Something that often happens when we start spring cleaning is that we like to look through boxes and bins and start reminiscing about the items that we find inside. Photo albums, memory boxes… they are fun to look through, but not while you’re spring cleaning! Set aside time to reminisce later. Right now, it’s time to clean!

  Share the work

  Unless you’re the only one living there, spring cleaning tasks should be evenly distributed between each member of your home. Don’t do all the work yourself! And if you do live on your own, seriously consider hiring outside help for bigger jobs, such as junk removal and outdoor work (you can usually find independent contractors on Kijiji and Craigslist for these jobs and they are often very inexpensive).

  

  Set a timer

  Personally, I prefer the “one hour a day” rule when it comes to spring cleaning. I choose one week of the month (usually the first week of April or May) and do 6 hours of cleaning – one hour per day, for siz days. I like to take Sunday off to rest. This six hours is more than enough time to get everything done and by doing it for just one hour per day, it doesn’t feel like too much work.

  Keeping your home clean doesn’t need to be a huge chore. When you break it down into small jobs, stay focused and eliminate the extras in your home, it really is possible to clean your home fast.

  Most people think that spring cleaning means you have to completely overhaul your entire home and clean every nook and cranny. This is simply not true. To spring clean your home effectively (and without going crazy from working so hard), clean little by little until the job is done.

  Other Posts You May Like:

  • How to Shine a Stainless Steel Sink
  • 30 Ingenious Ways to Use Baking Soda
  • 5 Simple Household Cleaner Recipes
  • 10 Shortcuts for Cleaning Your Home in Record Time
  • 36 Ways to Use Vinegar

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• Prep Once, Eat Healthy All Week Long

  Healthy Eating by Prepping on Sunday!

  

  Something new that I am starting this month is cooking as much as I can on Sunday, for the week ahead. I am hoping that this will help me to eat healthier and also save time in the kitchen.

  As much as I love menu planning, that alone was not preventing me from eating unhealthy snacks and meals. Honestly, I was simply too lazy to whip up the healthy foods that were on our menu for the week.

  I am hoping this new Sunday food prep idea will help.

  Here’s what I made yesterday, in about 3 hours time:

  

  • Cut up carrots, celery and cucumber for snacks
  • Cup up strawberries and pineapple for snacks and adding to oatmeal or yogurt
  • Homemade hummus for veggies
  • Hard-boiled eggs for lunches/snacks
  • Healthy peanut butter balls (added a bit of cocoa for some chocolate flavour)
  • Garlic & parmesan roasted chickpeas
  • Cut up broccoli & cauliflower for dinner sides
  • Healthy bran muffins for breakfast and snacks
  • Homemade granola bars
  • Homemade granola for granola bars and yogurt topping

  I felt so accomplished once I finished everything and my husband was very surprised that I cooked/baked for 3 hours straight – but it honestly didn’t feel that long. I was too caught up in how awesome it was going to be to have all of this food made for the week ahead!

  As you can see, I mostly focused on snacks this week because snacks are my weakness (where I do the most unhealthy eating). Next week, I am going to also try cooking up some meat and side dishes (quinoa, rice, etc.) to make dinner and lunch prep easier and more healthy, too.

  

  Do you do “sunday prep” or something similar in your home?

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• 30 Ingenious Ways to Use Baking Soda

  Baking Soda Uses.

  

  Baking soda is one of those “must-have” household items. It’s not just used for baking – in addition, you can also use baking soda to clean, make your own health & beauty items and deodorize just about anything.

  Just like vinegar, baking soda is a very inexpensive item that can help you with so many different things.

  Health & Beauty

  1. Make homemade toothpaste with baking soda and a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
  2. Make your own mouthwash with 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 glass water. Add a drop or two of mint extract if desired.
  3. Clean retainers, dentures and other mouthpieces by soaking them in a solution of warm water and 1 tablespoon baking soda.
  4. Use as deodorant by patting baking soda on your underarms.
  5. Remove residue in your hair from styling products by adding a sprinkle of baking soda to your regular shampoo.
  6. Clean combs and hair brushes by soaking them in a solution of warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda.
  7. Make your skin feel soft by adding 1/2 cup baking sodato your bath and soaking for at least 20 minutes.
  8. Relieve your baby’s diaper rash by adding 1 tablespoon baking soda to their warm bath water.

  Cleaning

  9. Clean your bathtub and sinks by sprinkling a light coating of baking soda and scrubbing. You can also add a bit of salt and some dishsoap if you need the cleaner to work a bit harder (soap scum, anyone?).
  10. Clean painted furniture and walls by sprinkling baking soda on a clean, damp sponge and scrubbing lightly.
  11. Get cleaner clothes by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to your load of laundry, along with your regular laundry detergent.
  12. Clean cloth diapers by soaking in a solution of 8 cups warm water and 1/2 cup of baking soda.
  13. Sprinkle baking soda inside gym bags to deodorize.
  14. Clean car lights with a solution of 4 cups warm water and 1/4 cup baking soda and scrub lightly with a clean rag or sponge.
  15. Remove odours from carpet by sprinkling baking soda on the spot that you find smelly. Leave overnight and vaccuum up the next day.
  16. Deodorize your closet by placing an open box on a shelf inside.
  17. Deodorize your cat’s litter box by covering the bottom of the [clean] box and adding litter as usual.
  18. Deodorize footwear by sprinkling a bit of baking soda inside. Shake them out before wearing.
  19. Deodorize stuffed animals by lightly sprinkling with baking soda, letting it sit for about 30 minutes and shaking off.
  20. Keep your cut flowers fresh longer by adding 1 teaspoon baking soda to the water in your vase.
  21. Clean and deodorize your toilet by adding 1 cup baking soda, letting it sit for about an hour and then flushing.

  In the Kitchen

  22. Remove burned-on food from pots & pans by soaking it in a solution of warm water and about 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda.
  23. Deodorize your refrigerator by placing an open box inside.
  24. Deodorize your cutting board by scrubbing a sprinkle of baking soda and rinsing clean.
  25. Deodorize garbage cans by sprinkling a bit of baking soda on the bottom of the can.
  26. Clean your dishwasher by sprinkling baking soda on the inside before running a wash cycle.
  27. Clean your microwave by sprinkling baking soda on a clean, damp sponge and scrubbing. Rinse with water.
  28. Clean kettles and coffee pots by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to 4 cups warm water.
  29. Clean your stove oven with a vinegar and baking soda solution.
  30. Clean your fruits and vegetables by sprinkling a bit of baking soda on them and lightly rubbing with clean, damp sponge or rag. Rinse with water.

  If you start using baking soda often (which you likely will after you’ve read all of the different things it can be used for!), consider purchasing it in bulk to save on costs.

  I have found both Costco and The Bulk Barn to have the best prices on bulk baking soda (especially Bulk Barn when they have their $3 off $10+ coupons available to use).

  Besides baking, how do you use baking soda?

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• 13 Unique Gift Ideas Based on Books

  Unique Gift Ideas.

  

  I love creating unique gifts based on children’s books. My boys once received a hilarious book from their auntie called An Undone Fairy Tale by Ian Lendler with matching items. It was an instant hit and is sure to be a lifetime treasure.

  If you wanted to create a theme gift with that book, you could add pencil crayons, pretzels and a jar of pickles (aren’t you intrigued to read it now?). This post will present ideas for creating unique gifts based on books suitable for any child.

  Choose a book that inspires

  You can often find immaculate children’s books at thrift stores for a few dollars. Tuck a few away that would lend themselves well to this gift-giving idea and watch for sales on items to supplement the theme. Many schools send home the Scholastic catalogue that also offers reduced books. Don’t forget about yard sales in the summer, too!

  If you are planning your gift well in advance, I recommend ordering books from either Amazon.ca or the Book Depository’s extensive selections. They both ship quickly and are reasonably priced (prices below are from Amazon.ca).

  Gift Ideas

  For Babies & Toddlers

  
  Love You Forever ($5.95)
  Include: Facial tissues (it’s a tear-jerker!), a baby book for their story, Usborne Parents’ Cards

  

  That’s Not My Monkey ($10.76)
  Include: Monkey pajamas or a stuffed monkey

  

  Dr. Seuss’s ABC ($6.50)
  Include: Magnetic alphabet letters, flash cards, place mat with letters

  

  

  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? ($10.82)
  Include: Flashcards with colours or animals, stuffed teddy bear

  

  For Older Kids

  
  For the young animal lover
  Curious George Goes to the Zoo ($4.95)
  Include: Zoo passes, or passes to a local farm (along with quarters for animal feed machines)

  

  For the bug enthusiast
  1001 Bugs to Spot ($10.76)
  Include: Magnifying glass, plastic bugs, passes to a Butterfly Conservatory

  

  For the budding artist
  How To Draw Princesses and Ballerinas or How To Draw 101 Funny Animals ($6.96): Include: Pencil crayons (shop back-to-school sales), artist-grade pencils, quality sketch pads (found at Dollarama)

  

  

  For the inquisitive child
  A to Z Mysteries: Detective Camp ($6.99 PB)
  Include: Ink pad, word search, magnifying glass, Yes & Know spy book (use 40% off coupon at Michael’s)

  

  For the creative child
  The Party (any Barbara Reid book would be suitable; she is a talented Canadian author and illustrator specializing in plasticine artwork) ($8.99)
  Include: Package of modelling clay + empty CD cases (dollar store), so the young artist can display their own clay artwork.

  

  

  For the movie enthusiast
  If You Take a Mouse to the Movies ($13.36)
  Include: Movie passes (buy with Air Miles!), popcorn, popcorn seasoning, snacks

  

  For the chocolate lover
  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ($7.99)
  Include: Various chocolate bars and a chocolate puzzle ($5.99 at Toys R Us)

  

  For the chef
  Kids’ Cookbook (Various Prices)
  Include: Cooking class from Real Canadian Superstore, an apron, kid-friendly kitchen items

  

  For the adventurer
  Guinness World Records 2013 ($21.91)
  Include: Journal to document their own records, stop-watch to time their feats

  

  Once you have compiled your theme gift, wrap it in cellophane with some tissue paper. For the finishing touch, make a gift tag that relates to the theme. Your gift is sure to be well-received with any child that loves to read!

  Of course, these ideas can readily be adapted for older (teenage) children or adults, too.

  A thoughtfully chosen book becomes a timeless keepsake – I still cherish a childhood classic I have from my grandma called Junk Day On Juniper Street. Perhaps that is where my love for a good bargain began.

  Which books would you recommend for this project?

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• I Failed at Winter Glove Stockpiling

  I am always on the lookout for a better way to do things as a mom.

  More effective. More efficient. Just more.

  When I stumbled upon another mom’s suggestion to buy several pairs of the same gloves at year end, I thought that was sheer brilliance.

  

  If one gets lost, you can swap it out for another one. Crisis averted.

  Because I am a quick understudy, I did exactly that. Scored three pairs of black/blue waterproof gloves.

  Entered this winter season practically invincible.

  Even my most frequent loser (los·er: noun 1. a person who permanently misplaces items their mama purchases) would not be able to thwart this well-stocked glove collection.

  Apparently I was wrong.

  

  In spite of my best efforts to stockpile gloves, my son lost all 3 right-hand gloves.

  So, does anyone have a DIY project that involves 3 lefties?

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• 20 Everyday Items You Can Put in the Dishwasher

  Items You Can Put in the Dishwasher.

  

  photo credit

  If you have a dishwasher in your home, you own one of the best cleaning machines out there. Dishwashers are great for cleaning your dirty dishes, but they can do so much more than that. There are a variety of different items you can put in the dishwasher.

  Here are 20 of them:

  1. Clips and Barrettes – You can put these in a mesh laundry bag (found at most dollar stores) or in the cutlery tray.
  
  2. Hairbrushes – Remove all hair so you don’t clog the drain, and place the hairbrush on the top rack.
  
  3. Plastic Toys – These can go anywhere in the dishwasher, but thin, plastic toys should go on the top rack.
  
  4. Vent Covers and Fan Grills – These things are a pain to clean, so why not let your dishwasher do all the work instead?
  
  5. Bottle Brushes – If you have a baby that drinks from a bottle, it’s likely that you use your bottle brush on a regular basis. Sanitize it by running it through the dishwasher periodically.
  
  6. Scrub Brushes - Those brushes that you use to scrub caked-on food off of your dishes? Yeah, those need to be cleaned (and cleaned well) to prevent bacteria from growing on them. Throw them in your dishwasher to sanitize them.
  
  7. Switch Plates – Light switches get a lot of use. This means that they can get dirty rather quickly. Put a bunch of them in a mesh laundry bag and wash on the top shelf.
  
  8. Shoes - That’s right, you can wash your shoes in the dishwasher. Not just any shoes, though. Jelly and canvas shoes, as well as rubber boots, all can be put into the dishwasher to be cleaned.
  
  9. Baseball Hats – You can put these in your washing machine, but they will usually end up coming out mishapen. Instead, clean and sanitize your baseball hats by putting them in the dishwasher.
  
  10. Stove Knobs – Pull them off your stove, toss in a small mesh laundry bag and wash on the top rack. You could also put your stove knobs in the cutlery tray.
  
  11. Potatoes - Yes, you really can wash your potatoes in the dishwasher. This comes in handy when you have a large amount of potatoes to clean. Put them on the top rack, don’t add any soap, and turn on the “rinse cycle” (may be called “quick rinse” on your dishwasher).
  
  12. Soap Dishes and Toothbrush Holders – These items can get pretty gunky over time, so make sure to keep them clean by putting them in your dishwasher every once in awhile.
  
  13. Fake Flowers - To get rid of all that dust that can accumulate on decorative flowers, put them on the top rack of your dishwasher.
  
  14. Dustpans – They assist you in cleaning your floors, and because they have such a dirty job, they end up very dirty themselves. Dishwasher to the rescue!
  
  15. Makeup Brushes – Makeup brushes need to be cleaned often to get rid of any bacteria that may be lingering. You can put these on the top rack of your dishwasher. Let them air dry once clean.
  
  16. Garden Tools – Scrape off large chunks of dirt and then let your dishwasher do the rest of the work needed to clean your tools.
  
  17. Shower Heads - Your shower heads get you clean, but have you ever considered cleaning them? If not routinely cleaned, shower heads can under perform, so take care of them.
  
  18. Pet Bowls – Your pets need clean dishes, too! They can go in the dishwasher, just like your own dishes can.
  
  19. Salt and Pepper Shakers – Handled on an almost-daily basis, salt & pepper shakers can quickly become grimy and gross. Make sure to keep them clean by sticking them in the dishwasher sometimes.
  
  20. Desk Accessories – Note paper trays, pen & pencil cups and magazine holders are just a few desk accessories that can be put in the dishwasher to be cleaned.

  
  Did you know that you could put those items in the dishwasher? That magical machine can do so many wonderful things, but many of us just don’t know what they are capable of.

  Instead of spending much of your time cleaning, have your dishwasher do the bulk of the work for you.

  What is the last “everyday item” you put in the dishwasher?

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• The Secret to Getting Your Kids to go to Bed

  

  Do you want to know the secret to getting your kids to go to bed at night?

  Stop telling them to go to bed!

  That’s right, stop telling your kids to bed and they will go to bed at a reasonable hour – on their own.

  I have been doing this with our 3 1/2 year old for the last 6 months and I really wish that I had started doing it earlier because it really does work.

  

  Let me explain…

  Before trying this method of getting our toddler into bed at a decent time, we used to have a bed time set for him – 8 o’clock. No later. When 7:45 came around, he would get into his pajamas, brush his teeth and I would read him a bedtime story. Right around 8pm, he’d be fast alseep. This worked from age 1 until about age 2 1/2. After that, Elliott simply refused to go to bed when we asked him to.

  As soon as he learned the word “no”, that was his response to everything we asked him. Bedtime became a huge struggle for my husband and I, because when Elliott went to bed, that was our alone time. Now our alone time was eliminated because our 2 year old wanted to stay up and watch cartoons or read books or play with toys or scream about something that he was unhappy about.

  It felt like torture. We just wanted to spend some time together, without a loud child in the background, but it seemed impossible. “He’ll get over it eventually”, we said.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t get over it. He got worse. He would stay up as late as we did, and when we told him we were going to bed, he would throw a fit. He would scream and cry for hours. It wasn’t unusual for him, and us, to go to bed as late as 2 o’clock in the morning.

  It was awful.

  Then, one day I was talking to a friend about our problem and she suggested letting Elliott decide when it was time for him to go to bed.

  “Are you crazy?”, I asked. “He’ll be up all night if we let him to decide when he wants to sleep!”

  She told me that ever since her kids were 2 years old, they picked their own bedtime. At 8pm, she would tell them that mommy and daddy needed their quiet time and that the kids had to go into their bedrooms. They didn’t have to go to bed, but they had to be in their rooms and they had to be quiet.

  

  There was only one rule – if they came out of their bedroom, that meant that they were ready for bed, and my friend would turn their bedroom lights off.

  Most of the time, her kids would play quietly, and then call her or her husband up to tuck them in, because they were ready for bed. Can you believe that? They actually asked to go to bed!

  I figured this plan was worth a shot, but to be honest, I didn’t think it would work at all.

  The first few nights when we put Elliott in his room at 8pm, he would come out about 10 minutes later and ask for a drink, a book, a hug, a song… whatever he could think of at the time. Those nights were rough because there was a lot of screaming and whining from him when we would turn his light off after he came out of his room.

  But then, things got better. After about a week of letting Elliott decide when he wanted to go to sleep, he was actually doing it on his own! He would sometimes come out of his room and say he was ready for bed, but most of the time, he’d fall asleep in his room – all on his own.

  This is how it has been for the last 6 months now. He knows that when 8 o’clock rolls around, it’s time to go in his room. He reads a story or plays with toys, and usually falls asleep on his own in under 30 minutes.

  

  Sure, there are days that he doesn’t want to go in his room. There are days where he puts up a fight and argues about everything, but for the most part, this system works amazingly well for us. I’m so glad we gave it a shot!

  Do you have any secrets for getting your kids to bed?

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