removing garlic smell

My hands smell! From the garlic I used for the marinade I made for the chicken barbecue we had for lunch. Ugh! I have watched my hands numerous times, and used alcohol but the smell is still there. So I went online to find the best ways to get rid of the garlic smell. And here are the tips I found:
Use lemon juice to wash your hands. It not only removes the odor but it also softens the hands as well.
Mix in salt with the water when you wash your hands.
Rub your hands with stainless steel. Whether it be your spoon, your fork, or your sink just make sure that it is stainless stell and it will remove the garlic odor.
Baking soda also removes the odor. Just rub your hands with it and rinse.
Squeeze toothpaste on your hands, rub, and rinse.

couples money wars

When you get married you also marry the financial aspect of your partner. That means the riches and the debts. So what happens when you marry someone who has the opposite money sense as you do? Chaos ensues.
Of course, a spending habit which has been going on for the longest time will be difficult to change. But like everything else in a marriage, compromise is neccessary.
When you are opposites like us, one is a spender while the other is a saver disagreements are commonplace. While the other spends too much the other would like to scream like a banshee (can you guess which of us is which?). Fortunately for us we've solved this by setting an amount that can be spent without resulting to world war III.
Being married, when one applies for a loan the other is of course involved too. So a poor credit history by one will definitely affect the other. So when we apply for a housing loan both of our banking and credit history will be perused upon. Good thing both of us have good credit standing. Of course this did not come naturally for us. We worked on that too. Again, the saver took an active role in making sure that the spender pays the debt.
Decide on your financial goals as a couple. Early this year we talked about what we want to achieve financially. We had year-long goals and long-term goals. Because we have a tangible list on hand it is easy for us to determine whether we are right on track or if we are so far-off the mark.
As I said earlier, financial "peace" just like marriage can be achieved with communication and compromise.

tomatoes

I try to cook using tomatoes as much as I can. Why? Because it is rich in lycopene and it contains lutein and zeaxanthin. Lycopene lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. While lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that decrease the rish for macular degeneration. When buying tomatoes make sure that you choose the deep red ones with no cracks or bruises. And it is best stored in room temperature. Yup, not in the fridge. This is a common misconception. I myself am guilty of storing our tomatoes in the vegetable bin of our refrigerator. If the tomatoes are ripe it can be stored in the fridge but in the warmer part only (the butter compartment). And make sure to wash it gently in cold water before you use it for cooking.

marriage thoughts from helen rowland

"When you see a married couple walking down the street, the one that's a few steps ahead is the one that's mad."
Helen Rowland

difficult

I know that raising a child is a tough job. But all the more when one is dealing with a problem child. V has been with us for a couple of months already and lately she has been talking back to me. Others might think that it's bibo the way she talks back but for me it is not. I find it disrespectful. The talking back is not the only problem too. There are a lot more. I pray for patience to continue guiding and taking care of her but I am near my breaking point. I have never encountered a more difficult child like her.

10 Trying To Conceive to-dos

1. Get An OB-GYN Check Up
Let your doctor know your pregnancy plans are on the horizon. Talk about any meds you take for chronic conditions (like diabetes, acne, or hypothyroid disease), update your immunizations, and find out what medications are safe to use while pregnant.

2. Get Your Genes Tested
Ask your gyno or a genetic counselor to check your DNA to see if you carry untreatable genetic disorders like Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell anemia.

3. Start Taking Vitamins
You’ll want to start a vitamin regimen that includes folic acid. The sooner you start these positive habits, the easier your pregnancy will be.

4. Go To The Dentist
All of the extra blood flow and estrogen in the body can lead to more plaque production and bleeding gums. Get a cleaning and any X-rays done before you get pregnant and make sure your smile is in optimal condition.

5. Create A New Budget
Ask friends with babies how much they spend on junior each month, including diapers, baby food, clothes, and splurges. Try factoring this into your budget now, saving the rest for the baby just-in-case fund, and see how you adapt.

6. Get Rates For Disability & Life Insurance
Disability must be purchased before you get pregnant if you want it to cover your birth and postpartum time. Beware: Most policies require several months before you're actually eligible. Also, meet with a few agencies to find a good rate on life insurance (your car and health insurance companies may give you the best deal).

7. Learn Your Cycle
Women typically ovulate mid-cycle. This is your most fertile time and when you’ll have the best chance of conceiving. But the timing of it differs from woman to woman—and possibly even from month to month. The first day of your cycle (day 1) is the first day of your period. Therefore, if you typically follow a 28-day cycle, you would most likely ovulate on day 14. Track your body over the course of a few months to get an idea of the best time to try. To determine when that is, visit our ovulation calculator at TheNestBaby.com/ calculators/ovulation.aspx.

8. Find Out About Family Leave
Have you been at your current job long enough to be covered by the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act? Every employer has its own policies on top of the law regarding how much maternity leave is paid (or partially subsidized). Get your man in on the act and have him find out about paternity leave too.

9. Create A Will
Make sure your baby-to-be is as covered as possible in case something horrendous were to happen to either one of you. Enlist a Plan A and a Plan B person with power of attorney so your financial and medical affairs are in good hands if one of you becomes unable to handle them. While you’re at it, consider a health-care directive or health-care proxy that will make your wishes clear if any kind of medical situation arises.

10. Quit Your Vices
You’ve heard it a zillion times, but you have to stop smoking and drinking heavily. See if you can do it now—so there’s no worry when the test is positive.

as posted here.

saturday classes

It's a saturday and I'm up bright and early. Why? Because of school! V has makeup classes today because they didn't have classes for 2 days last week. (grumble rumble) Whatever happened to sleeping late during weekends?

breakfast is important

Breakfast. Now more than ever I find it important to prepare one.
I wouldn't send V to school on an empty stomach. That just isn't done. But did you know that when children eat breakfast they perform better in school, get higher grades and spend less time being sick? Yep eating breakfast does that.
I usually serve pancakes, oatmeal or bread/sandwich to V for breakfast.
I don't let her eat rice during this time because she tends to vomit when she gets too full. Plus her recess time is just 2 hours after getting to school so I reckon she won't have much of an appetite for recess if I feed her rice for breakfast.
Now when hubs is home I definitely have to prepare more than that for breakfast for hubs like to eat rice in the morning.

mommy thoughts from doris day

Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.
-Doris Day