Ah Ha Uses

My favorite feature in Real Simple Magazine is their New Uses for Old Things section. Posters and pony tails beware, your rubber friends have found new homes. Check out Real Simple's new uses for Rubber Bands:

1. Open jars with ease. When a small lid won’t budge, wrap a rubber band around it several times to give you a better grip.

2. Decorate Easter eggs. Arrange rubber bands in a pattern around hard-boiled eggs, then dip them into dye. Remove the bands when the eggs are dry.

3. Bring order to your dishwasher.Tether stemware and other delicate, wobbly items to the rack.

4. Wrap a gift. Use multiple colored rubber bands instead of ribbon to add modern flair to a small present. (Particularly handy when you can’t find the tape.)

Another excellent idea:

Wax Paper as Dust Remover

Original purpose: Preventing baked goods from sticking to the pan.

Aha! use: Picking up dirt and dust. Rip off a piece roughly the size of your sweeper and attach it just as you would a cleaning cloth. As you sweep highly trafficked or dirty areas, the gunk sticks.

Reward: Wax on, dirt off.

© The Simple Wife

Saving

{ courtesy of  www.uwe.ac.uk }

Of course we are all in need of a little CPR in the wallet-area, right? My life Bible, Real Simple, is featuring 20 ways to save some moo-la in your everyday expenses. From checking your insurance premiums, to going paperless with bills, all those little expenses add up. Go visit their money-saving secrets to see how to keep a couple more bucks in your sad little purse.

© The Simple Wife

Winterizing the Plants

Today I worked outside for a change. I planted new annuals in my whiskey barrel planter and I got my plants ready for the winter ahead and I even prepped for the Spring. I blew lots of leaves out of the landscaping beds and trimmed the shrubs one last time. New mulch will be laid soon to give them a warm cozy bed for the cold months.

I also purchased allium bulbs for the spring. These tall purple snowball blooms will be a whooping 3ft high! Doc really wanted to help me plant them.

{What's that?}

First you have to dig a hole for them,

then plant them pointed side up.

Then everyone got a good meal courtesy of Miracle Grow Shake and Feed, then it was washed down with a cold drink of water. Now they are ready for a warm, full-bellied winter!

But Wait!!!  Real Simple has some more wonderful tips for getting your garden ready for the winter:

Remove and discard annual plants — flowers, herbs, and vegetables — and clip green-stemmed perennials back to just above the soil. If you don’t, insects and disease can infest your garden, says Charlie Nardozzi, a senior horticulturist for the National Gardening Association.

Do one last sweep for any remaining weeds, and spread any type of compost (available at garden centers) over your beds to insulate them from winter’s freezing and thawing cycles.

Remove and discard plants and the potting soil from containers. Then stash the empty pots inside a garage, a basement, or a shed so they won’t crack during the winter cold. If you have perennials or evergreens in pots, move them to an unheated garage or shed.

Drain and unhook garden hoses. Roll them and store indoors to extend their life span.

© The Simple Wife

Real Simple Workouts

Mr. Grubbs and I are kicking butt on our quest for a more healthy lifestyle. We are averaging 4 workouts days per week, with 2 days of strength training and 2 days of cycling + strength training. Our workouts last anywhere between 1 hr. - 1 1/2 hr. But I know that not everyone is as spoiled as us- living only 5 minutes from our gym, and having the extra time to get some sweating in, so Real Simple is here to help. They have a 5 minute workout routine that uses multi-tasking moves to get you going in 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Perfect for those who don't have a gym membership, or just can't peel themselves away from the day to go and sweat. They use minimal equipment that is easy to find. Try them out:

• 5 minute Workout: 

• 10 Minute Workout:

• 15 Minute Workout:

Even though we have a gym membership, we have also invested in some simple equipment to store at the house for the days we just can't to the gym:

Stability Ball:  Make sure that you get the right size for your body. They have a chart to help you. HINT: When you are seated on the ball, your legs should bend at a 90 degree angle.

{ $19.99 Target }

Resistance Tubes, or Bands: You can usually get these in sets, 1 low, 1 medium, and 1 high resistance so you can increase your resistance as you get stronger.

{ $15.39 Target }

{ $10.29 Target }

8-10 lbs. Dumbells: A good middle of the road weight for just about everyone.

{ $13.99 Target }

A Yoga Mat: I use mine just as a good surface to stand on with a little cushion so I'm not sliding on the hardwood floors.

{ $7.99 TJ Maxx }

I hope that this helps those of you who need an easy step to jump start your healthy life!