Mother Nos Best

10 Tips to Keep Your Clothes Dryer Running Efficiently with Less Energy

2012-01-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

Clothes dryers need to intake air from the inside of your home and exhaust heat and moisture to the outside in order to dry clothes. Dirty lint trays and clogged dryer vents cost consumers millions each year. Statistics state that there are over 15,000 dryer fires each year causing 15 deaths and $99 million in property damage. Failure to clean is cited as the main cause of fires. Add to these losses the energy costs of running the dryer over and over for the same load. A dirty dryer vent can add $10-$25 to your energy bill each month. By following a few simple steps, you can make your dryer safer and more efficient saving you time and money. Find our more at Factoidz.

How to Make Homemade Toothpaste

2011-10-15T06:22:00.001-04:00

While it may sound like a complicated process, learning how to make your own natural homemade toothpaste couldn’t be easier. Learn how at dkMommy Spot!

Fall is around the corner!

2011-10-06T19:26:00.002-04:00

Fall is a great time of year for Acorn Squash. This squash can be served for a holiday meal or a Sunday dinner. It's easy to cook, and goes well with any main dish. Check out recipes and other great info at Old Fashioned Tips.

Kitty Litter Cake!

2011-09-16T08:49:00.000-04:00

I'm a cat lover and I also like silly, unusual things so I had to share this. This is a Kitty Litter Cake and you can find out how to make it by checking out this site... KITTY LITTER CAKE

5 New Uses for Milk!

2011-09-11T15:49:00.001-04:00

As a child our mother always told us to drink our milk. As adults the doctors are always telling us we need more calcium. Milk’s not only good for you but here are 5 uses for milk that you might not have thought of.

1. Stain Pretreater
No use crying over spilled…wine. If you dribble some red on a shirt or dress, submerge the soiled part in whole milk, squeeze out the excess immediately, then launder as usual. (If the item is dry-clean only, leave it for the pros.)

2. Bath Soak
Add 1 cup of milk to a tub of warm water before you slip in to zone out. The lactic acid in milk softens skin –so it really does a body good!

3. Shoe Shine
Moisten a cloth with milk and buff dull patent leather back to gleaming glory – minus harsh polish fumes.

4. Burn Soother
Curling-iron mishap? Cover minor burns with a washcloth soaked in whole milk. The fat in the milk calms inflammation and helps skin heal.

5. Plant Rescuer
Mix 1 part milk with 9 parts water and spray on plants dotted with powdery mildew. Repeat weekly to keep leaves fungus-free.

31 Uses For Baking Soda

2011-09-10T20:29:00.001-04:00

Baking soda can do a lot more than just sit in the back of the fridge. Try these easy tips and put baking soda to work in every room of your house!

1. Skip produce washes—just put some baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub and rinse.

2. Soak hair brushes and combs in a mixture of 1 teaspoon baking soda and a small amount of warm water. Rinse and dry.

3. Before you store your patio furniture for the season...SEE MORE HERE!

How to test an egg for freshness |

2011-07-28T05:47:00.002-04:00

How to test an egg for freshness |

Why Don't You Throw That Stick?????

2011-06-25T07:03:00.001-04:00

Ever felt like you weren't getting your point across????? Hey Mister!!!!!

My City Mommy « $2 Tanks at Old Navy Friday & Saturday!

2011-06-23T20:06:00.001-04:00

My City Mommy « $2 Tanks at Old Navy Friday & Saturday!

Redeem Your Empty Starbucks Bag for FREE Coffee!

2011-06-23T19:58:00.001-04:00

Great way to get free coffee!!!! Check it out.

Coupon Katarina » Redeem Your Empty Starbucks Bag for FREE Coffee!

Busting The Myth Of Organic Food

2011-06-07T06:13:00.001-04:00

Organic food is 8 times more likely to have ecoli!!!!! Busting The Myth Of Organic Food

Pink Princess Floating Necklace

2011-03-30T20:28:00.000-04:00

2011-03-23T06:47:00.000-04:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
It's time for critters to start crawling!!!!!

Found this bad boy hanging on the ceiling over the front door! "SHIVER"

Pearl Necklace

2011-03-20T19:44:00.001-04:00

Went to a "Ladies Day Out" about a week ago and they had an Image Consultant there to talk to us and give us ideas of how to put ourselves together! One of the things she said was the "chunky" necklaces were in fashion and a great piece for your wardrobe so I decided to create my own. Here is my new accessory. What do you think? I need to start making more jewelry!!!!

36 uses for vinegar - AllYou.com

2011-02-28T19:43:00.002-05:00

Wow!!! Didn't know there were so many uses for vinegar:

36 uses for vinegar - AllYou.com

Press Release - Keller Williams Realty Announces Numbers for 2010, Continued Growth During Real Estate Downturn

2011-02-27T19:27:00.001-05:00

Even with all the bad news about the economy, the company I work for is thriving and moving ahead!

Press Release - Keller Williams Realty Announces Numbers for 2010, Continued Growth During Real Estate Downturn

Are You A Good or A Bad Egg?

2011-02-24T18:46:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl my grandparents had chickens, pigs...etc. You get the point. Now some 50 years later I have chickens again, or should I say my son and his family have the chickens and I reap the rewards. LOL

With all the talk about eggs today and all the benefits and objections I thought you might glean some information from this article I found called "Shopping for Eggs." It's written by Dr. Russ and Beth Avery, R.D.

"Eggs are a staple of many people's meals, whether by themselves or as a significant part of a favorite recipe. Nowadays, however, with mixed messages about the health benefits of eggs in the media and increasingly crowded labels on the boxes, buying eggs can get a little confusing. This week I've put together a video to help you make the best choices for your family when it comes to buying eggs. So click here and let's shop and learn together!"

OH NO…School Is Closed Again!

2011-02-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

We've heard this a lot this winter and what a winter we've had! I’ve heard people say they moved to North Carolina because they heard we had mild winters. HA! Who told them that? Also heard someone say we had never had this much snow. Again…HA! I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. In 1960 some areas had as much as 60 inches of snow. Now that's deep! I should know...I was 8 years old and couldn't go outside because I would disappear in the snow!!!!!

To this date Buncombe County has missed more school than the State has allotted so now we are looking at Saturday School and classes up into June!!!! Bummer.

As a mother, and grandmother, I understand the frustration. Been there, done that...but some of the comments on Twitter and Face Book really have me wondering. Are parents upset because they have to deal with the children at home...or...are they mad because it may mess up their summer vacation????? It sure doesn’t sound like they are concerned about the safety of the children.

I'm certainly glad that someone is concerned for the safety of the children! I'd much rather they err on the side of caution than see the results of a school bus accident due to ice.

As a child I was on a school bus that hit a patch of ice and slid out of the road and was tilted at the edge of an embankment just waiting to flip over and roll down to the bottom. We were trapped there for SEVERAL hours before they could rescue us! I remember thinking I was going to die!!! No child should ever be in that situation!!!!

Someone at our school board had deemed the roads to be in good shape and had not closed or delayed school that day. They had not taken into account that some areas and roads might be in worse condition than the main roads so therefore everything was good.

Thanks you Buncombe County School Board for being concerned for the safety of our children. I know it's not an easy job! Saturday and Summer School isn't what we were hoping for and I may have to change some of my plans...but I'd much rather have my child in school than in the hospital or in a grave!

I’ll get off my soap box now!

Relaxing on a Sunday Afternoon!

2011-02-06T17:12:00.000-05:00

Sometime you just need to slow down, sit back, and enjoy life!

Soup Weather!

2011-02-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

SOUTHWESTERN BEAN SOUP

You have to try this recipe! I love it!!!!
This classic soup features ground beef, taco seasoning, and traditional Southwestern vegetables like corn, cilantro, chiles, and jalapeños. It's the perfect supper solution on chilly weeknights. For more Southwest-inspired dishes, see our full collection of Mexican recipes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (16-oz.) cans light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced tomatoes and jalapeños, undrained
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes and mild green chiles, undrained
1 (14-oz.) can beef broth
2 cups frozen yellow and white whole kernel corn
1 (1-oz.) envelope taco seasoning mix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Toppings: sour cream and chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 to 12 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink and onion is softened; drain.
2. Stir in kidney beans, next 8 ingredients, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in cilantro just before serving. Serve with desired toppings.

Southern Living, JANUARY 2009

Recharge Your Battery!

2011-01-30T12:33:00.002-05:00

We all need a "pick-me-up" from time to time and here is a quick and easy solution. Massage peppermint oil on your temples and wrists! Aromatherapy studies show the scent cues your brain to wake up and focus. Another benefit - you'll smell good too! To find essential oils check with your local health food stores or online Amazon.com.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-01-12T07:33:00.001-05:00

DIY Ice Packs

2011-01-08T05:22:00.001-05:00

Forget about paying big bucks for ice packs ever again. It's easy to do and anyone with a Ziploc Bag and some cheap dish soap can make them by the dozens if you like.

DIY Ice Pack Recipe
1.    Select Ziploc Bag size of Choice (double or triple bag to protect against leaks)
2.    LOTS of cheap Dish Soap
3.    Load up the Ziploc about 1/2 – 3/4 full. Close, re-bag a couple of times squishing out the air each time and freeze.

Being frugal, you can do the same thing with Ziploc Containers for your food. Just fill a Ziploc bag pretty full and fit into a Ziploc Container. You could seal shut with a few drops of Super Glue to ensure no leakage.

Thanks to Attention Deal Shoppers for this great tip.

So Lucky to be an American!

2011-01-07T05:45:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-01-05T05:48:00.001-05:00

Proud Otter Mom!!!!