HOOT HOOT HOTTIES TREASURY

Check out more cute owls in

etsy treasury !

Wall Art Print

by

Jolinne

Clay Buttons

by

Tessa Ann

ABC Art Poster

by

Kid O Baby Accessories

Personalized Charm Necklace

by

Lilly Ellen 

GUIDE FOR EXPIRATION DATES FOR HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

I came across this handy guide of expiration dates for 

Household Products

Batteries, alkaline 

7 years

Batteries, lithium 

10 years

Bleach 

3 to 6 months

Dish detergent, liquid or powdered 

1 year

Fire extinguisher, rechargeable 

Service or replace every 6 years

Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable 

12 years

Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered 

Unopened: 9 months to 1 year

Opened: 6 months

Metal polish (silver, copper, brass) 

At least 3 years

Miracle Gro, liquid

Opened: 3 to 8 years

Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble 

Indefinite

Mr. Clean

2 years

Paint 

Unopened: Up to 10 years

Opened: 2 to 5 years

Spray paint 

2 to 3 years

Windex 

2 years

Wood polish (Pledge) 

2 years

By Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith Keate, RealSimple.com

GUIDE FOR EXPIRATION DATES FOR FOOD

I came across this handy guide of expiration dates for

Food

Brown sugar

Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

Chocolate (Hershey bar)

1 year from production date

Coffee, canned ground 

Unopened: 2 years

Opened: 1 month refrigerated

Dried pasta 

12 months

Frozen dinners 

Unopened: 12 to 18 months

Frozen vegetables 

Unopened: 18 to 24 months

Opened: 1 month

Honey

Indefinite shelf life

Ketchup

Unopened: 1 year (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Maple syrup, real or imitation 

1 year

Maraschino cherries

Unopened: 3 to 4 years

Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

Marshmallows 

Unopened: 40 weeks

Opened: 3 months

Mayonnaise

Unopened: Indefinitely

Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Mustard

2 years (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Olives, jarred (green with pimento)

Unopened: 3 years

Opened: 3 months

Olive oil 

2 years from manufacture date (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Peanut butter, natural 

9 months

Peanut butter, processed (Jif) 

Unopened: 2 years

Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

Pickles

Unopened: 18 months

Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

Rice, white

2 years from date on box or date of purchase

Salad dressing, bottled 

Unopened: 12 months after “best by” date

Opened: 9 months refrigerated

Soda, regular 

Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from “best by” date

Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but taste is affected

Steak sauce 

33 months (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Tuna, canned 

Unopened: 1 year from purchase date

Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

Vinegar 

42 months

Worcestershire sauce 

Unopened: 5 to 10 years (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)

Opened: 2 years

By Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith Keate, RealSimple.com

GUIDE FOR EXPIRATION DATES FOR BEAUTY PRODUCTS

I came across this handy guide of expiration dates for

Beauty Products

All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

Bath gel, body wash 
3 years

Bath oil 
1 year

Body lotion
3 years

Conditioner 
2 to 3 years

Deodorant 
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

Eye cream 
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year

Face lotion 
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years

Foundation, oil-based 
2 years

Foundation, water-based 
3 years

Hair spray
2 to 3 years

Lipstick
2 years

Mascara 
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months

Mouthwash 
Three years from manufacture date

Nail polish 
1 year

Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely

Perfume 
1 to 2 years

Rubbing alcohol 
At least 3 years

Shampoo 

2 to 3 years

By Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith Keate, RealSimple.com

WILD ANIMAL TREASURY

Ruchla

Thank you 

for including me in your

Wild Animal Etsy Treasury 

A TIP FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL GURU, PETER WALSH

Organizational  guru Peter Walsh, author of Enough Already! Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You, says the single most important thing you can do to be organized is:  Set aside ten minutes at the end of the day to clean your desk and get ready for tomorrow.

When I was in the teaching profession, I did this and set out everything I needed for the next day.  It always worked out so much easier for starting the new day.

MY DREAM KITCHEN

JOHN F. KENNEDY'S FAMOUS INAUGURAL QUOTE

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Fifty years ago yesterday, on a frigid morning in Washington, D.C., newly sworn-in President John F. Kennedy offered those iconic words to the nation in his inaugural address.  My parents watched it on TV.  Then a 10 year old, and now a 60 year old, I am still impressed with his famous quote. 

CHEERLEADER GRANDDAUGHTER

Our little cheerleader.

Last Saturday

she cheered for her cousin's 

basketball team.

RED RAZZLE DAZZLE ETSY TREASURY

Check out these beautiful creations

 from my

RED RAZZLE DAZZLE
Etsy Treasury

Rose Headband

by

Tutu Chic

Shirt
by
Snuggle Bug Kidz

Red Shoes
by
Pink 2 Blue

HAPPY HOUR TIPS

Have Fun at Happy Hour

Your favorite watering hole is a great place to get swept away in a sea of liquid calories, so it’s best to head to happy hour with a game plan. Decide how many drinks you will have—and how many calories you can afford—before you arrive, then order accordingly.

A glass of wine (125 to 150 calories) is generally a smart choice, as long as the glass is moderately sized and isn’t brimming with vino. A light beer is a good pick (the average has about 100 calories), as it contains the same amount of alcohol, but fewer carbs.

Ordering a mixed drink can get dangerous, and not just because of the hangover. Starting with the liquor, the higher the proof, the higher the calorie count. For example, an 80-proof vodka contains 64 calories per ounce while an ounce of 100-proof has 82 calories.

Then come the mixers, which can easily carry any drink into dessert territory (key lime pie martini, anyone?) if you’re not careful. Smart choices are diet soda or tonic water or light fruit juice.

Another sneaky calorie-saving tip is to counter each cocktail with a mocktail, a zero calorie non-alcoholic—but totally authentic-looking—drink, like sparkling water with a twist of lime. It’ll keep you hydrated and your inhibitions in check. Read: No post-bar pizza delivery.

TAKE OUT TIPS

Tacke Take Out

Your ethnic options may be enticing, but don’t travel too far astray on take-out night. Keep calories in control by sticking to items similar to what you’d cook at home—if only you had the time. Find a way to work plenty of veggies into the meal and start with a cup of broth-based soup or a salad with low-fat dressing.

Japanese. Sushi and sashimi rolls are prepared with little to no oil and are packed with fresh ingredients, making Japanese one of the most diet-friendly take-out choices available. You’ll get plenty of protein and nutrients from the seafood and veggies and the bite-size portions make it seem like you’re eating more than you actually are.

Opt for vegetable rolls or salmon or tuna rolls. Avoid anything labeled “spicy,” as it usually has a mayo-based sauce. The Philadelphia roll’s another no-no—it’s packed with a generous helping of cream cheese. Tempura and tonkatsu spell trouble, too, as these rolls have been breaded or fried.

Chinese. Learning the lingo is key. Look up mystery words like Jum (poached), Chu (broiled), and Kow (roasted) so you know what you’re getting yourself into. Steer clear of fried dishes—General Tso’s and sweet and sour chicken are diet-wreckers—or anything loaded with nuts.

Smart picks are lettuce wraps, stir fry, or a steamed dish. Pick chicken, tofu, or seafood as your protein and request that your dish be cooked using light oil. Even better, ask the chef to use vegetable stock, which can save you 150 to 300 calories and 15 to 30 grams of fat.

Mexican. Choose soft tortillas over fried shells and when building a soft taco, load up on lean protein, plenty of lettuce and as much salsa as you’d like. Cut extra calories and fat by resisting cheese, sour cream, refried beans, and guacamole. Instead of nachos as your side, ask for steamed rice or beans.

Italian. Skip anything breaded or fried, parmigiana (dripping with cheese), Alfredo (heavy cream sauce) or Bolognese (meat sauce). Instead, look for words like marinara or pomedoro, which are tomato-based sauces.

Keep in mind that Italian restaurants offer much more than pasta. You can probably order grilled chicken or fish with a side of steamed vegetables without being the most annoying patron ever. If you decide on pizza, stick to one slice of mushroom or vegetable and the thinner the crust, the better. Blot excess oil using a paper towel.

PROTEIN CHOICES

Pick the Best Protein

Protein is essential for any healthy diet. You need it for energy, tissue and cell repair, moving nutrients throughout the body and feeling full during the day. And fortunately—or maybe unfortunately—you have a lot of choices, from soybeans to strip steak, in terms of where to get it.

To make the best choice, use your eyes—visible fat means extra calories. Opt for lean cuts of red meat, white-meat poultry, or seafood. Anytime you see skin, skip it. The stuff’s loaded with saturated fat. Seafood is lower in fat and calories than meat, and it contains heart-healthy omega-3s. Choose a piece of fish that’s been broiled or steamed, and steer clear of blackened or fried varieties, which again mean extra fat.

A few low-calorie, high-protein options include pork tenderloin (143 calories, 13 g protein for 3 oz), salmon steak (215 calories, 24 g protein for 4 oz), grilled chicken breast (130 calories, 27 g protein for 4 oz) and water-packed tuna (50 calories, 11 g protein for 2 oz).

CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS

Chocolate Cravings

You’ve either got world-class willpower or you’re occasionally going to need something sweet to pull yourself out of a mid-afternoon slump. By making a few quick calorie comparisons, you can have your cake and eat it, too—just leave the frosting on your plate. Here’s the correct way to cave.

Pick a sorbet—yes, including chocolate—over ice cream and save 140 calories. Haagen-Dazs Low-Fat Chocolate Sorbet has 130 calories per serving while a half-cup of the brand’s chocolate ice cream has 270 calories. An even better choice is a Fudgsicle No Sugar Added Fudge Bar—they’re only 40 calories a pop. If you’re going out for dessert, order ice cream in a dish instead of a cone and cut 60 calories.

When tempted by that 200- to 300-calorie candy bar in the vending machine, reach for low-fat chocolate milk (158 calories per cup), chocolate soy milk (120 calories per cup), or fat-free chocolate pudding (102 calories per serving), instead.

PRAYERS FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER

Prayers that God helps to expertly guide everyone involved in my younger brother's surgery today and that his recovery is uncomplicated and his health restored.  May God Bless.