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8 Quick Tricks for a Clean Kitchen

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We all know cleaning your kitchen can be a chore, that often takes time, harsh chemicals and money. I’m here to tell you that tackling that kitchen doesn’t have to be so overwhelming and hard! Try these quick and easy tricks for a clean kitchen.
  1. Reuse Your Sponge Over and Over:

Many of you have heard you can throw your sponge in the dishwasher with the dishes for a cheap disinfection tool to make your sponges last. This is great if you do this on a weekly basis and remember to throw your sponge in every so often. As for those who don’t have a dishwasher, or when you are in a quick pinch, you can put your sponge in the microwave for 2 minutes, and heat kill any bacteria off your sponge a lot quicker. Just be careful grabbing the sponge afterwards! It will be hot!

 2.      Clean Your Microwave in a Snap:

Cleaning the microwave can be a royal pain. Of course the longer you wait to do it, the more crusted the food gets on your microwave, and the more scrubbing you will have to do, right? Wrong! Try putting cup or small bowl full of water in the microwave and putting it in for 5 minutes, or until it starts boiling. Remove the bowl and wipe down the inside with a paper towel. The humidity should make most of the remnants much easier to wipe off!

3.      Sharpen Your Garbage Disposal Blades:

Dispose of orange peels in the garbage disposal. Done. The texture of the orange peel actually helps to sharpen the blades of the disposal, and will also give your sink a fresh, natural orange scent!

4.      Clean  Counters Without Chemicals:

Areas that commonly have food around them such as the refrigerator or counter tops might need a little different kind of attention than your bathroom. If you worry about cleaning your kitchen with harsh chemicals, try cleaning with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Hydrogen peroxide is a little less toxic to the environment and your children

5.   Cleaning That Tough Tile Floor:

Use baking soda! For another less harmful alternative to toxic cleaning chemicals, try mixing baking soda and water together as a homemade cleaner. Pour a quarter cup of baking soda into a gallon of hot water. Then scrub with a string mop or sponge.

6.      Making Your Wood Floors Shine

Vinegar is a wonderful household product that cleans wood well and really makes it shine. You want to get a lovely clean shine on your wood floor? Try mix nine parts hot water with one part white vinegar. It doesn’t take much to make those worn out floors shine like new!

7.      Remove Tarnish With Ketchup

This is no joke! Try taking using ketchup on your copper and brass pots and pans, or whatever else you have around the house that is starting to tarnish! Try dabbing some ketchup on the rough spots and gently rub it in, then rinse afterwards with some warm water! How easy is that?!

 8.      Use Steel Wool for Removing Scratches

Try using steel wool to remove scratches from Stainless steel appliances and marble and granite counter tops. The key is to use grade 0000, which is the finest steel wool there is. It is even fine enough to use on your windshield! Be sure to go with the grain of the material you are working with.

Know of any other great ways to help with kitchen cleaning? Comment below!
~HealthyGirl

Tips to Better Brush Your Teeth

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How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush?

Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months. Normal wear and tear breaks down your bristles on your toothbrush. This renders it less effective at removing plaque and surface stains. It also makes it harder to reach those tricky areas, and less effective in general.  When you start to notice bent or frayed bristles, its time to change your brush.

Should I Change My Toothbrush After A Cold?

YES! It is important to change your toothbrush after a cold, flu, throat or mouth infection. This is because harmful bacteria can hide in your bristles, and you can re-infect yourself. These bacteria can build up, as well as fungus, making your toothbrush an easy access tool to get you sick again, possibly with something worse than you had in the first place!

What Is The Best Way to Take Care of My Toothbrush?

After you brush your teeth, it is a good idea to rinse it with hot water before storing. Make sure it is in an upright position where it can dry easily. A wet toothbrush is a dangerous invite for microbes, so be sure it can dry easily.

Can I Sterilize My Toothbrush?

Absolutely. You can sterilize your toothbrush easily in boiling water  or by putting it in the dishwasher if you have a good heated dry cycle. You can also soak it in a solution of 4:1 water and bleach for 15 minutes. (Be sure to rinse it well!) There are even sterilizing cases you can buy that use UV light to sterilize your brush. Just be aware that some of these processes can start to break down your toothbrush, especially if it is a cheap one.

What Can I do With My Old Toothbrush?

The most common use for an old toothbrush is to clean nooks and crannies in your house like baseboards, doorways, locks, handles, and other small items in your house. They are also great for cleaning behind faucets, windows, and on tools. Just be sure to label your toothbrush so you don’t accidently use it to brush your teeth!

Happy Brushing!

~HealthyGirl

 

The Truth About Vitamins

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As a young child you may remember taking little Flinstone’s vitamins or maybe Gummy Vitamins. You were told to do so, and they probably tasted good, so you didn’t question it much. Now as an adult, you may still have this habit, but it is important to be asking yourself some questions. What is the truth about vitamins? Do I need vitamins? Can I take too many? What vitamins are best? Here are some simple questions answered when it comes to vitamins.

Do I Need Vitamins?

Vitamins are designed to fill in the holes of the vitamins you don’t get enough of naturally in your diet. Your body prefers to get the vitamins naturally from your foods, as they are absorbed better this way. Then a multivitamin can be used to fill in the gaps you did not quite reach. Vitamins can be in the form of a single nutrient, such as Iron, or a multi vitamin such as Centrum. It might be a good idea to talk to your diet or a nutritionist to evaluate your diet to see what type of supplement you may need. In most cases a daily multivitamin is sufficient, However, many people chose to go without and do just fine. If you are a healthy eater and get most of the vitamins you need naturally from your diet, then supplements may not be necessary. The decision is up to you.

Can Vitamins Be Harmful?

If you have ever heard the phrase “Too much of anything can be a bad thing,” it applies here as well. Although it is rare, it is possible to take too many vitamins. Many vitamins have upper limits, meaning at a certain point they start being more harmful than helpful. Although you do urinate out your water soluble vitamins, the process does take a few hours to get to the bladder and too much can potentially be harmful. Vitamins are not regulated by the FDA, so they are not required to put an upper limit on the label. In most cases, just following the directions and not taking more than the suggested amount works great.

What Vitamins Are Best?

As you may have noticed, vitamins come in all different formulas, shapes and sizes. When seeing your doctor, be sure to talk about your diet, and they can help you find the appropriate vitamins for your body type. In general, vitamins are better absorbed with food, and work in small supplements throughout the day. For example, a vitamin that recommends you take one with each meal might work better than one capsule a day. This is because your body rids itself of the excess water soluble vitamins it does not use every FOUR hours! These are your B vitamins, folic acid, Biotin, and vitamin C. If you take smaller supplements throughout the day, your body is likely to get more benefit from them.

~HealthyGirl

Manage Stress in College

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Causes of Stress…

    With life in general, there are many causes of stress. Many causes have to do with family problems, deadlines, and social issues. It is important to take care of long term and short term stress right away because it can have a major effect on your health. The best way to combat stress period is to avoid it when possible. For example, if you know you are going to have a stressful semester at college, try taking fewer classes, or a fun class in between some hard ones. More prevention you do, the better it will help your stress levels. We cannot usually avoid all stressers. For these times, here are a few helpful tips.

Time Management

    Many of us already know it is important to manage your time. But how well do you do this? Do you plan out your days, weeks and months? Make sure you have a calendar on your computer, desk, phone, or any item that works for you. Make sure you know all the major events going on about a month in advance. Also keep track of smaller daily tasks, and know what is coming up about a week in advance. Be sure to have a general idea of how your day will go, and give yourself breaks and some downtime. The more knowledge you have about potential stressers, and the more time you have to prepare for them, the easier it will be to handle them.

Working Out

    Working out is a wondeful way to combat stress. Sometimes stress is a regular symptom you have to combat, other times it can show up as an occasional occurrence. In any case, working out at least three times a week will help your stress levels tremendously. You can also try yoga or pilates with videos or classes. Be sure to set time aside time three times a week, if possible. If weight is something you struggle with, this will be an added destresser as you work on self improvement. If you do not have time to work out, try going on small walks during your breaks between classes or at work. A quick walk daily can help combat stress as well.

Setting Aside Social Time

    Although it may not come to mind at first, spending time with people you care about is an important tool to help manage stress in college. Most people have friends or family they enjoy being around close by. Even if they are far away, try communicating with them through a web cam, or calling them. In any case, be sure to set aside time to spend with them. It is important to keep up with social aspects of your life. Often it helps vent to these people about your problems to blow off steam. In other cases you can forget about your troubles and have some quality time with people that matter most. Which method works better is up to you and how you feel.

~Healthy Girl

Dealing With Your Fears With Your Child Moving Out

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Healthy Relationships are part of a healthy lifestyle. As a resident Assistant at the University of Nevada, Reno, I have been dealt with many issues between parent and child after they move away from college. If you are concerned your relationship will change, you have a right ot be, because it will. The hope however, is that it will change for the better! This article has some great information about common fears, and how to make sure they don't come true.

Your Fears

First, lets talk about some fears of parents. There are many different fears parents have, each are unique to each relationship a parent has with their child. However, they can generally be categorized down to some common fears.

Common Fears :

  • My Child and I won't be as close as we used to be
  • My Child might not be sucessful on their own
  • My Child's need for me will diminish
  • My Child might make bad decisions on their own

 

Your Child's Fears

Many of us "adult" Children have similar fears. They fear losing touch, failing on their own, and losing their vital resource they have depended upon for almost two decades! As a young adult who moved out from her own home not too long ago, I can easily relate to these fears. This is an important time for both parties to lean on each other for support, as young birds leave the nest for the first time.

Simple Resolutions

Fortunately, there are many solutions to help diminish theses fears or at least help them to stay in the mind and not become a reality. Here are some suggestions to help this process.

Fear: We Won't Be as Close as We Used to Be or My Necessity Will Diminish…

Respect

Be sure to respect your child's new adult status. The helicoptor syndrome is a very common behavior we see in the Residence Halls and in other parts of the community. Give them the proper spaces they need, and respect their new found teratory. A good example would be knocking before entering their new residence.

Now that you have suceeded in not pushing your child away, here is your chance to keep them close. If you still live close, suggest weekly lunches, or family dinners where you meet up and enjoy a good meal. Stop by to drop off some supplies you think they might appreciate or need every month or few months. If they live far away, send them care packages, and set up a time to talk and get updates every few days or weekly, to keep in touch.

Become a Resource

A great way to keep your necessity is to keep being a resource for things they need. For many of you, this may mean money or supplies, but there is more to it than that. Parents serve as great counselors for room mate conflicts, decision making, and general de stressers and they are realizing things about their new environment.

Fear: My Child Might Make Bad Decisions or Fail On Their Own…

Following the tips above is a great start to reducing the chances of this occurrence. Communicate openly with your child, and be a resource for them. You don't have to be a constant cash flow, but you can suggest ways for them to make extra money, or ways to make their living costs go down, ect..

As for bad decisions, they are going to make some. The fact is, everyone makes mistakes or a bad decision at some point in their life. The important thing is that we learn from them. Once again this goes back to the communication with your child before and after and incident may occur. Gently warn them from your own or other experiences, or help them to realize what they can learn from their situation. If you see them struggling, don't be afraid to reach out and help.

 

 

Time To Let Them Go

When it is finally time to let them go, it will likely be a sad and happy moment for everyone. Help them pack and move out if you can, and if they would like…maybe help them settle into their new place. Just be sure to respect it as their own space. There are usually a few important memories that children miss from home, whether it be family meals, movie nights, game nights, or what ever be the case. This can be a great opportunity to invite them over for dinner or some family time, and make your own nest feel not as empty.

 

 

Coming Soon: Homemade Heat Packs

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Coming soon for sale are my very own heat packs! People will have the options to have a customized heat pack  with choices of:

Three Filling Choices:

Beans                        Flaxseed                       White Rice

I-beans-pinto Flax-seed-1Rice

Choose from 3 different types of material to put the filling in.

Choose from several different types of material as a removable case that can be washed

Chose from two different shapes: 10 x 10 squares or 12 x 5 rectangles.

These heat packs are neat, because they just need to be popped into the microwave for 2 minutes for heat, or put in the freezer for cold. When they get dirty, simply remove the casing, wash it, and put it back on. My heat packs are hand made by me and my family. By purchasing one you will be supporting a struggling college student and a product made in the USA! How cool is that?

Pictures will soon be posted here and on my new shop on etsy.com!

If you want to take a look around, copy and paste this website into your address bar:

www.etsy.com/shop/dandmhomemade

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or requests, -HealthyGirl

Home Remedies for UTI

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Urinary Tract infections are more common in women because of their anatomy. If caught early enough, there are some home remedies for UTI’s that you can start using right away to help fight this painful infection.

Some common symptoms of a UTI include:

  • painful urination
  • lower back or abdominal pain
  • Fever and chills
  • frequent urination
  • nausea or vomiting
  • Many of these symptoms besides painful urination are common in more sever infections, and you should consult your doctor about whether a home treatment is safe.

 A UTI can be caused by holding the bladder often, as this weakens the bladder, and not all the urine is excreted, which can lead to infection. Another common cause of UTI’s is frequent sexual intercourse. To prevent this experts recommend urinating frequenlty and completely, as well as urinating before and after intercourse to best prevent infection.

A urinary tract infection can get out of hand quickly and cause many more problems if it reaches the bladder or wose, the kidneys. This is why it is important to get started on a home remedy right away before the problem gets worse. Before you start drowning yourself in treatment, it might be a good idea to get an at home UTI testing kit. You can pick them up at most grocery stores for around 10 to 15 bucks.

UTI Most experts recommend trying to treat a  UTI at home for a max of one to two days before going on to get more help. Be sure to stay on top of the infection, and your treatments. Here are a few things you can do, which in combined effort, can stop UTI’s without antibiotics and doctors appointments. These tips can also be combined with antibiotics to help the process go smoother and faster. 

  • Drink 8 glasses of water each day
  • Drink Cranberry juice or take a cranberry suppliment
  • Take a daily vitamin suppliment (vitamin C is especially important)
  • Avoid sugar, caffiene and alcohol
  • Use a heating pad on the lower abdomen

These procedures are in order of importance with the first three being a very critical home remedy for UTI’s. If symptoms do not ease up or go away within two days, it is a good idea to consult your doctor and get further action with possible antibiotic use. 

~ Get better soon!  -HealthyGirl

References:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/urinary-tract-infections-in-teens-and-adults-topic-overview

http://www.wellsphere.com/healthy-living-article/home-remedies-for-uti-how-to-treat-a-uti-without-antibiotics/633720

Time to Replace Your Eye Makeup!

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There is much confusion about when to replace your eye makeup as different materials have different amounts of time they are good for. Most makeup is good for about 3-6 months. So, like many other things in life, makeup presents us with a use it or lose it situation. Is it time to replace your Makeup? Here is a simple guide to help you know when to throw what out.

Mascara-Most health experts suggest replacing your mascara every 3 months. Mascara is a favorite breeding ground for many different types of bacteria. They originate from our eyelashes and get caught on your brush, and find the wet, sticky surface of mascara a decent breeding ground, unlike our eyelashes, which also have good bacteria that keep them at bay. This is a common item I always keep on hand for Mary Kay orders, which comes in three types:

Mascara Ultimate Mascara -For longer looking lashes that lasts all day with up to five times the volume. ($15)

Lash Lengthening Mascara – Delivers longer-looking , and thicker looking lashes Lash lenghthening ($10)

Waterproof Mascara – Made with a derivative of vitamin B for stronger looking, softer feeling lashes  ($10)

Pencil Eyeliners- These items last anywhere from 3-6 months, because they come in contact with our eyes and have a slightly moist environment for bacteria. Health experts also recommend not using eyeliner on the inner rims of eyelids, as this is creating more and more health problems for people. Mary Kay offers 8 varieties of pencil eyeliner colors that give you waterproof, smudge resistant, and fade resistant wear.

Eyeliner Eyeliner Pencils – (8 Different Colors) $10

Liquid Eyeliner – (Black only) $11

 

Eye Color- This type of make up also needs to be replaced about once every 3-6 months, since they are dealing with the eye area. Liquid eye makeup can be replaced after a year of use if dispensed from a tube, such as Mary Kay Eyecicles Eye Color. Be sure to replace your eye brushes as well, unless you clean them. Compact

 Mineral Eye Color – $6.50 a color

Eyesicles

 

Eyecicles Eye Color – This wonderful product goes on in liquid form for ease of application and dries to powder for maximum comfort and smudge resistance. ($10)

 

 Have happy, healty eyes,    ~HealthyGirl

As always, I offer free samples, free shipping ,and free gift with purchase!

For Ordering, Please visit www.marykay.com/DestinyKeller

Why Go Green?

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There are millions of articles about HOW to go green. But What about Why?

Many people around the world are passionate about going green, saving the planet, and creating a better world for our children. However, there are still many of us who don’t see or care about the point. Who cares about all the tree hugging hippie stuff anyways? Here are a few things to keep in mind about going green. Try to keep an open mind, and try to see why others are so passionate about this topic.

What About This Hippie Hybrid Stuff?

Car manufacturers, government, and even regular citizen are looking for alternate sources of fuel for our transportation. Why? Not only does out current system pollute the earth, help deplete the ozone, and helps increase free radical damage, but fossil fuels will run out anywhere from 50 to 70 years. That means pretty soon countries are going to be fighting over this down to the last few drops. Do you want to be in that fight? Especially since America is has hardly any oil compared to other countries. Hybrids, electric cars, and other inventions are attempts to get America running on some other fuel type so we don’t have to be in that fight.

What’s With All This Recycle Stuff?

If we didn’t start recycling, soon all the land fills would be filled up. They are still currently closing at a rate of 1 per day. Also, there are only two structures on earth that can be seen from space. One is the great wall of China, and the other is the Fresh Kills Landfill. However, little changes can make a huge difference. It’s a choice between the blue bin and the black one. Recycling is made so easy these days. All you have to do is pick your can, or call someone to pick up your batteries. Almost everything can be recycled. All you have to do is take one look at a smelly, giant, destructive landfill, and one thought should cross your mind. We can do better!

Why Should We Care About Stopping Global Warming

Without getting into the big debate about the actual cause of global warming, we do know that we are creating huge amounts of Co2 and cabon emissions by burning fossil fuel. We do know we are polluting our cities as we make the sky grayer, our lungs more damaged, and our earth harmed. Reducing our fossil fuel use, and Co2 emission will help make all these things better, and if we help slow down global warming in the process, so be it.

Happy Green Living,    ~HealthyGirl

Natural Sleep Remedies

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Up to 1 in 10 people suffer from insomnia on any given night. With this kind of prevalence, many people may be wondering about natural sleep remedies to help them with this problem. But which ones work? Which ones are safe? Here are a few helpful strategies if you decide to get a little help from natural sleep aids.

 Valerian
According to WebMD, this herbal extract is one of the leading natural supplements in the market for insomnia. It is often found in pill form as valerian root. There are some limited studies showing it may reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, and could improve quality of sleep, without the side effect of grogginess. However, when compared to a placebo, valerian did no better than the placebo in helping with insomnia. There is also evidence valerian is more effective when taken by people who regularly have trouble sleeping who then take it over a period of time, versus people who normally sleep well, and need it for a one night sleep aid.

Chamomile
Chamomile is another popular natural supplement for sleep, and has been used for centuries. The great thing about this sleep aid is it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is often found in teas and lotions. This herb has a soothing and calming effect for most people, which can help them feel more relaxed and ready for bed.

Kava
Ther herbal remedy, also known as kava kava, has been used for stress and anxiety relief and insomnia. Although kava has been found to have mild sedative properties, it is now considered unsafe to use due to a few reports of people with cases of cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver failure.

Tryptophan
Remember how sleepy everyone feels after eating turkey on thanksgiving dinner? Why not put that into a natural supplement? Unfortunately research animals have shown that it can destroy parts of the brain containing serotonin, and could produce permanent insomnia. People who have taken this as a supplement have had symptoms of a disease called scleroderma, where they would get tightened skin, joint pain, muscle aches, anxiety and depression. Some people even died. Your safest bet? Keep tryptophan in foods like it is naturally found, and enjoy a nice glass of milk or piece of warm turkey as late night snacks before bed until more studies can be done.

Lavender
Lavender has similar effects to chamomile, which gives you a calming, soothing effect. Lavender can be found in all sorts of properties. Many of  which can help you sleep, such as bath salts, teas, oil, fragrances. Try a few of these and see what works best for you.

What helps you get to sleep at night? Comment below!

~HealthyGirl