Kokabella » tips

40 Tips to a Better Life

Kokabella — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:34:31 +0000

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’

5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the nagative blues away.

18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Remember God heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often.

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.

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Food Ingredient Substitutions

Kokabella — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:34:36 +0000

This is so handy! If you’re like me, you don’t have the average June Cleaver stocked cupboards of baking necessities! Here’s a list of ingredients which can be used to substitute for a missing one.

Allspice(1 tsp): 1 tsp. cinnamon plus 1/8 tsp. ground cloves.
Apple Pie Spice: 4 parts cinnamon, 1 part nutmeg and 1 part ginger.
Baking Powder (1 tsp): 1 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tartar.
Balsamic Vinegar (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp cider vinegar.
Bread Crumbs (1/4 cup): 1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs, corn flakes or quick-cooking oats.
Butter (1 lb): 7/8 Cup solid shortening plus 1/2 tsp. salt
Buttermilk/Sour Milk (1 cup): 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand 5 mins before using. Or use 1 cup plain yogurt.

Capers (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp chopped green olives.
Chili Seasoning: 2 parts chili powder & 1 part paprika.
Chocolate Semisweet (1 square): 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate plus 1 Tbsp sugar.
Chocolate Unsweetened (1 square): 3 Tbsp baking cocoa plus 1 Tbsp shortening or margarine.
Cornstarch (1 tbsp): 2 Tbsp flour or 4 tsp quick-cooking tapioca.
Corn Syrup Light (1 cup): 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup water.
Corn Syrup Dark (1 cup): 1 cup light corn syrup; 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup molasses; or 1 cup maple-flavored syrup.
Cream, heavy (1 cup): 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter.
Curry Powder: Combine equal parts coriander, cumin, pepper, turmeric, and ginger; 4 parts coriander, 2 parts tumeric, 2 parts cumin & 1 part ginger.

Eggs (1 large): 2 egg whites; 1/4 cup store-bought egg whites; 2 egg yolks (for custard or puddings); or 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water (for cookies or bars); 1 tsp. cornstarch;. or 4 extra tbs. of whatever liquid was used in the recipe.

Flour
- All-purpose (1 cup): 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp cake flour.
- Cake (1 cup):Ã‚Â 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
- Self-rising (1 cup): 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.

Garlic, finely chopped (1 medium clove): 1/8 tsp garlic powder or 1/4 tsp instant minced garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic salt.
Ginger Root, grated or finely chopped (1 tsp): 3/4 tsp ground ginger.

Herbs, chopped, fresh (1 tbsp): 3/4 to 1 tsp dried herbs.
Herbes de Provence: 4 parts thyme, 4 parts savory, 2 parts lavender & 1 part rosemary.
Honey (1 cup): 1- 1/4 cups sugar plus 1/4 cup water or liquid used in recipe.

Ketchup: 1 cup of tomato sauce, 1 -1/4 cups brown sugar, 2 tbs. vinegar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves and allspice.

Leeks, sliced (1/2 cup): 1/2 cup sliced shallots or green onions.
Lemon, 1 medium: 1 tsp. grated rind plus 2 tbs. lemon juice.
Lemon Juice, fresh (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice or white vinegar.
Lemon Peel, grated (1 tsp): 1 tsp dried lemon peel.

Milk (1 cup): 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water; or nonfat dry milk prepared as directed on pkg with 2-1/2 tsp melted butter added.
Molasses (1 cup): 1/2 cup honey (flavor will be milder).
Mushrooms, fresh (1 cup cooked): 1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained.
Mushrooms (1/2 pound): 4 oz. canned mushroom caps or 1 – 1/2 oz dried mushrooms.
Mustard (1 Tbsp): 1 tsp ground mustard (dry).

Onion, 1 small: 1 tbsp. instant minced or 1 tsp. onion powder.
Orange Peel, grated (1 tsp): 1 tsp dried orange peel.
Oregano (1 tsp): 1 tsp. marjoram.

Poultry Seasoning: Equal parts sage, thyme, oregano and marjoram.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: 4 parts cinnamon, 2 parts ginger, 1 part nutmeg, 1 part allspice and dash of cloves.

Red Pepper Sauce (3 or 4 drops): 1/8 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne).

Seasoning Salt: 1 cup salt, 2-1/4 tsp paprika, 2 tsp dry mustard, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder.
Sesame Seeds (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp finely chopped blanched almonds.
Shortening, melted (1 cup): 1 cup salad oil (cannot be substituted for 1 cup solid shortening)
Sour Cream (1 cup): 1 cup plain yogurt.
Sugar, brown, packed (1 cup): 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses or dark corn syrup.
Sugar, granulated (1 cup): 1 cup light brown sugar (packed) or 2 cups powdered sugar.
Sugar, superfine: Blend regular granulated sugar in the blender.

Tomato Paste (1/2 cup): 1 cup tomato sauce cooked uncovered till reduced to 1/2 cup.
Tomato Sauce (2 cups): 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water.
Tomatoes, canned (1 cup): About 1- 1/3 cups cut-up fresh tomatoes, simmered 10 min.

Vanilla Extract: Grated lemon rind, orange rind, cinnamon or nutmeg combined with a small amount of the liquid called for in the recipe to make up the amount of vanilla extract specified in the recipe.

Whipping Cream (1 cup): 1 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping or 1 cup prepared whipped topping mix.
Wine, Red (1 cup): 1 cup apple cider or beef broth.
Wine, White (1 cup): 1 cup apple juice, apple cider or chicken broth.

Yeast, regular or quick active dry (1 pkg or 1/4 oz): 2 1/4 tsp regular or quick active dry or 1 package (6 oz) compressed cake yeast.

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Awesome Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets

Kokabella — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:32:30 +0000

This list comes in pretty handy around my house!

Caked On Food
If you are having trouble getting baked on food out of a casserole dish, fill it with hot water. Add a fabric softener sheet. Let it soak for a couple of hours and then rinse. Most of the caked on food will slide right out, and the rest will come out with a swipe of the sponge.

Pots
Food that is burned onto a pot or skillet works the same way. Just fill with warm water and throw in a few dryer sheets. Let it soak for at least a half hour, but a couple of hours works best.

Sticking Clothes
During the dry months, put a used fabric softener sheet in your pocket. This helps prevent static cling. You can also rub it over your hair to get those flyaway strands.

Repel Bugs
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loopwhen outdoors during mosquito season.

Used sheets are great for:

Dusting the washer and dryer, tv and computer screens.

Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.

Stick one in your pillow case for a fresh scent while you are sleeping!

Put a sheet in your vacuum cleaner (bag).

Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

Remove Soap Scum Use to wipe soap scum off your tub, tile and shower doors. No chemicals, no messy sprays or soaps, just wipe down your glass and tile walls with a dryer sheet and the soap scum is gone.

Clean those Blinds – Just clean each slat with a sheet. You’ll probably need more than one, but it will clean, shine and deter future buildup.

Freshen Drawers and Closets

Handyman’s Helper – Keep a box of dryer sheets on the workbench for quick cleanup after messy woodworking projects. A dryer sheet will pick up sawdust like metal to a magnet.

Tangle Free Sewing – If you sew or do needlepoint, you’ll appreciate dryer sheets as a detangler. Just run your thread across a dryer sheet and you won’t have to worry about those frustrating knots and tangles. Always keep a dryer sheet or two in a zip lock in your sewing basket.

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The Optimist Creed {Awesome Video}

Ways To Find Cheaper Gas

Kokabella — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:22:47 +0000

I was thumbing through Military Spouse magazine this morning and came across these tips and links to finding cheaper gas in the local area. We can all use these tips! I don’t support gas stations that price gouge and checking through a website that monitors current gas prices is one way to prevent that.

Online:

Websites that provide a database of gas station prices across the country. Search by zip code or city to find the cheapest gas prices across all grades of gasoline and diesel.

GasPriceWatch.com

GasBuddy.com

FuelEconomy.gov

Club Benefits

Wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club are often able to offer their members lower gas prices, while unbranded, independent stations are not required to buy their gas from specific suppliers so they too can shop for the lowest-priced fuel and pass the savings on to consumers.

iPhone

Apple iPhone and iTouch users have a high-tech tool for locating cheap gas. After downloading the iGas app. for $2.99, users can touch the iGas icon on their iPhone to locate the 10 cheapest fueling stations in an area. Now how cool is THAT?!

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