What do reading and Six Flags have in common? Kids who log 6 hours of recreational reading can earn a FREE ticket to Six Flags! Teachers and schools can participate in Read to Succeed, a program that encourages their students to read. Registration deadline is 3/17/17. Click here for more info.
It’s a universal law that I just can’t explain, but every load of laundry will give you at least one lonely sock. There are other ways to accumulate lonely socks- you start off with a pair and one gets used up before the other, and you’re left with a lonely one that’s still too good to throw away. Being lonely is sad, but what can you do with one sock that has no pair? Don’t even think of throwing it out, because with a little creativity you can put it to pretty good use!
Protect golf clubs: Just put a sock over your golf clubs to prevent them from getting banged around
Clean your car: An old sock is soft and won’t scratch your car, and when you’re done, you can just toss it.
Potpourri: Fill a sock with potpourri and place it in your car, closet, gym bag, or any place you want to keep fresh.
Dusting: Place a sock on your hand and use it for dusting; it will attract dirt and dust without scratching. You can make it damp or get a little furniture polish and wipe away.
Sock puppet: Have fun with the kids and make cute sock puppets.
Heating pad: I love this one! Fill a sock with rice and knot to close. Microwave for about 30 seconds and use as a heating pad.
Cover an ice pack: This is a great idea for applying an ice pack directly to your skin because it won’t be too cold and it will absorb drips so you won’t get all wet.
Crafts: Sock puppets are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many crafts you can do with socks- just Google or check out Pinterest.
Mix it up: Who ever said you can’t wear two different socks?
And with a little ingenuity and creativity, the lonely sock finds a new life and is lonely no more!
As if you need an excuse to buy new beauty products! Click here to use this coupon in stores and online and get $3.50 off when you spend $15 at Ulta Beauty. Coupon expires 3/11/17.
Get great savings on shoes at Shoe Carnival! Click here to check out the page of coupons and choose your savings. Expiration dates vary so pay attention. Happy shopping!
Get an afternoon pick-me-up for half price at Peet’s Coffee. Now through March 7 get 50% off any espresso beverage from 12 PM to closing time. Click here for your coupon.
Hairspray was absolutely necessary for big 60′s and 80′s hair. Today’s hair has a more easy, casual vibe, but we all know that sometimes what looks really easy actually does take some work. Which is why hairspray is still a staple beauty product, and in my experience the more expensive brands are not always better. It’s good to know that you can get a good product that works for you without breaking the bank. And since you already have the can of hairspray around, you might as well get the most from it. Here are 12 new ways to use hairspray:
Kill bugs: Spray those suckers with hairspray; it smells a lot better than bug spray!
Preserve sidewalk art: Your kids work hard on their sidewalk chalk creations, and you can help it last a little longer with a coating of hairspray.
Stop a run: There are few things more annoying than a run in your stocking. Stop it before it gets too big with a spritz of hairspray.
Clean pet hair: Spray on a paper towel and run over the hairy surface. This works great for removing lint, too.
Remove lipstick stains: Get those stains off your clothes with hairspray! Spray the stain, let it sit a little, wipe off, and wash in the laundry.
Dry nail polish: Wait a few seconds after applying top coat and spray your nails. Just be careful not to spray too close.
Fix a loose zipper: Keep it from sliding down by zipping up and spraying.
Protect recipe cards: Coat with hairspray and you’ll be able to wipe off spills and splatters.
Keep flowers longer: Spray them.
Remove ink from clothes: Make the stain damp and then blot it with a towel you’ve sprayed with hairspray. The ink should transfer to the towel.
Control static: Spray on the sticky things.
Tame eyebrows: Eyebrows are hair, after all! Spray a little hairspray onto your finger or an eyebrow brush for a neat look.
Stress eating is a concept that lots of us are familiar with: you feel stressed, so you eat. You want comfort food, and the sad part about that is that most comfort food is not all that good for you. You might feel better in the short term, but then there’s all that guilt! There are healthy ways to eat to calm stress, though. It’s all about eating foods that have properties that affect mood, and letting that do the work to calm you down. Here are some foods that calm stress:
Avocado: Avocado has magnesium, which can boost mood and lower anxiety.
Nuts and seeds: Also a great source of magnesium, as well as healthy fats which help with brain health.
Whole grains: Carbs help produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone, and to get the most of carb eating, eat complex carbohydrates which help keep you feeling full longer. Complex carbohydrates keep your blood sugar levels steady, which has a great effect on your mood.
Green leafy vegetables: They have the nutrient folate, which produces dopamine, another pleasure brain chemical.
Turkey: All proteins contain amino acids, which help you relax, but turkey specifically has tryptophan, which has a particularly calming effect.
Salmon: Salmon’s anti-inflammatory properties counteract the effects of stress hormones.
Dark chocolate: Eating dark chocolate can reduce levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Dark chocolate also lowers blood pressure and creates feelings of euphoria!
Berries: Because they’re packed with vitamin C eating berries calms stress.
Cashews: A good source of zinc- a natural mood booster.
Asparagus: Eating asparagus can be calming, due to their folate content.
Yogurt: The protein and probiotics are helpful for calming you down and controlling anxiety.
Stress eating is something we can all understand, and you won’t catch me bashing comfort food! But if you’re eating to soothe yourself, try the foods that can have the biggest impact on your mood.
Celebrate Presidents’ Day with some serious shopping! Click here for your coupon and get 20% off almost everything at Lord & Taylor. Coupon expires 2/27/17.
