Today's Household Silly Tivia

1. Reheat PizzaBlock quote startBlock quote startHeat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove,set the heat to medium-low and heat till warm.This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.2. Easy Deviled EggsPut cooked egg yolks in a zip-lock bag.Seal, mash till they are all broken up.Add remainder of the ingredients,reseal the bag, keep mashing it up, mixing thoroughly,cut the tip of the baggie, and then squeeze the mixture into the eggs.Just throw the bag away when done -- easy clean up.3. Expanding FrostingWhen you buy a container of cake frosting from the store,whip it with your mixer for a few minutes.You can double it in size.You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount.You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.4. Reheating refrigerated breadTo warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated,place them in a microwave with a cup of water.The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.5. Newspaper keeps weeds awayIn your garden, when you start planting in your plants,work the nutrients into the soil. Then put layers ofwet newspapers around the plants, overlapping as you go.Cover with mulch and forget about weeds.Weeds will grow through some gardening plastic,but they will not grow through wet newspapers.6. Broken GlassUse a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick upthe small shards of glass you can't see easily.7. No More MosquitoesPlace a dryer sheet (e.g. Bounce) in your pocket.It will keep the mosquitoes away.8. Squirrel Away!To keep squirrels from eating your plants,sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plants,but the squirrels won't come near it.9. Flexible vacuumTo get something out of a heat registeror under the fridge add an empty paper towel rollor empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum.It can be bent or flattened to slip into narrow openings.10. Reducing Static ClingPin a small safety pin to the seam of your slipand you will not have a clingy skirt or dress.The same thing works with slacks thatcling when wearing panty hose.Place the pin in the seam of the slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.11. Measuring CupsBefore you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water.Then dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup.Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter,and watch how easily it comes right out.12. Foggy Windshield?Hate foggy windshields?Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep itin the glove compartment of your car.When the windows fog, rub them with the eraser!!It works better than a cloth, a Kleenex or your smudgy hand!13. Reopening an envelopeIf you seal an envelope and then realizeyou forgot to include something inside,just place your sealed envelope in the freezerfor an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.14. ConditionerUse your hair conditioner to shave your legs.It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream andleaves your legs really smooth. It's alsoa great way to use up the conditioner youbought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...15. Goodbye Fruit FliesTo get rid of pesky fruit flies,take a small glass fill it 1/2" with apple cider vinegar and 2 drops ofdish washing liquid, and mix well.You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!16. Get Rid of AntsPut small piles of cornmeal where you see ants.They eat it, take it "home", but can't digest it,so it kills them. It may take a week or so,especially if it rains, but it works and youdon't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!17. Info about Clothes DryersThe heating unit went out on my dryer!The gentleman who fixes things around the housefor us went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter.It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.) But he told us thathe wanted to show us something, whereupon he took the filter over to the sink, and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material, and the hot water just sat on top of the mesh!It didn't run through it at all!He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh,and that film is what burns out the heating unit.You can't SEE the film, but it's there.It's the ingredient in the dryer sheets that makes your clothes soft,static free and fragrant too -- that waxiness on the dryer sheets --which builds up on your clothes and particularly on your lint screen.This is also ! what ca uses dryer units to catch fire and potentiallyburn your house down! Our handyman said the best way to keep your dryer working for a long time (and simultaneously reduce your electric bill) is to take that filter out andwash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.He said that can double the life of the dryer!Block quote endBlock quote end

"Our Most Cherished Responsibility"

I found this quote this morning and it slapped me in the face! I have to keep reminding myself again and again that being a mother to my cute boys is really so important and worth the struggle. More important than everything else I want to do or get done. When they drive me crazy, which is most of the time, they are still my priority.
I wanted to share these fantastic truths.
"We should cherish and care for our children with unwavering dedication. The older we grow, the more precious our family becomes to us.
We come to see more clearly that all of the wealth, honor, and positions of the world pale in significance when compared to the precious souls of our loved ones. You young parents who are beginning your families must guard against seeking financial gain, worldly comforts, or achievement at the expense of your children. You must guard against being so anxious to get to work or to a meeting that you do not have time for your family, especially time to listen to anxious little voices. . . .
"We cannot and we
must not allow the school, community, television, or even Church organizations to establish our children's values. The Lord has placed this duty with mothers and fathers. It is one from which we cannot escape and one that cannot be delegated. Others may help, but parents remain accountable."

(M. Russell Ballard, "Teach the Children," Ensign, May 1991, 79-80)