A friend of mine told me that she just watched a soap drama that featured a young girl in her teens that was afflicted the cerebellar degeneration. Basically what happens is that she loses control of every muscle in her body – walking, writing, speaking and even swallowing. It is irreversible and has no cure even up to this day. In the end of the story, she had to use power wheelchairs to get around. It really is a sad movie. I wonder how much a power wheelchair costs these days. I can check it out at AllegroMedical.com. I have been thinking to get one for a family friend whose elderly grandmother is immobile already.

Snagged this from House+Made and thought I would post it here.

1. Use as a on-toxic, natural scouring powder (use like Soft Scrub or Comet, but you don’t need gloves!)
2. Create a ‘foam gun’ by mixing vinegar and baking soda in a soda bottle (DO NOT put the lid on!); aim it at a friend for full effect.
3. To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.
4. Makes a last-resort fire extinguisher, great for grease fires (to which you should NEVER add water), also.
5. Add 1/4 cup when re-washing a load of stinky laundry that sat in the washer too long.
6. Soda absorbs kitty-litter stinkiness. Cover the bottom of the litter box with a layer of baking soda then add kitty litter on top.
7. Wash out thermoses, sippy cups, and other closed containers with soda and water to get rid of stale odors.
8. Clean your coffee maker by running it through its cycle with a solution of 1 part baking soda to 4 parts water.
9. Polish your silver with a bit of soda on a damp rag.
10. Rub a solution of baking soda and water on your windshield to keep it from fogging up.
11. To remove strong smells from your hands wash with baking soda and water, then rinse.
12. Add 2 Tbsp. of baking soda to baby’s bath water to help relieve diaper rash irritations.
13. Make a paste of baking soda and a little water and apply directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort.
14. Make a smooth, white playdough: mix together 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch. Sprinkle on carpets or upholstery and vacuum up to remove pet smell and other disagreeable odors.
15. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
16. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
17. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
18. Sprinkle it in your slippers, boots, and shoes to alleviate shoe smells.
19. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel crawling insects.
20. Sprinkle around the garden to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies and to sweeten your tomatoes.
21. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
22. Use a paste of baking soda mixed with water as an anti-acne face scrub.
23. Scrub fruits and vegetables with baking soda and water to remove pesticide residues and wax.
24. Mix 1 tsp. baking soda with your usual shampoo to remove styling product build-up and to relieve oily scalp.
25. Make ‘invisible ink’ by mixing equal parts baking soda and water; paint on paper then hold up to a lightbulb to read the message (the heat will brown the baking soda)
26. To open up a partially clogged drain, pour 1/2 c baking soda in, then add 1 cup of vinegar; let bubble for several minutes, then run hot water down the drain.
27. Combine equal parts baking soda and borax to make your own dishwasher detergent.
28. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in the bottom of your trashcan to alleviate stinky trash odors.
29. Scour crayon and pencil marks off of your wall without damaging paint with a bit of baking soda on a damp cloth.
30. Freshen up your toothbrushes by soaking in a solution of equal parts baking soda and water.
31. Sweeten your breath by using a solution of baking soda and water as a mouthwash.
32. Brush your teeth with baking soda to whiten and remove stains naturally.
33. Make a solution of 1 Tbsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. liquid soap, and 1 gallon of water; spray on plants to keep powdery mildew at bay.
34. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your washing for whiter whites and brighter colors.
35. Pretreat clothes with a paste made from 4 Tbsp. baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water to remove stains (even perspiration!).
36. Sprinkle on steps and sidewalks as a wintertime de-icer.
37. Keep weeds from growing out of cracks in your concrete walk- or driveway by sprinkling generous amounts of baking soda into the cracks.
38. Rid your pet of earmites by washing out their ears with a cotton ball dipped in a solution of 1 tsp baking soda in 1 cup warm water.

1. Streakless windows:
Simply wash with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. This solution will make your windows gleam and will not leave the usual film or streaks on the glass.

2. Clean the microwave:
Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

3. Clean the refrigerator:
Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar.

4. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards:
Wipe with full strength white distilled vinegar.

5. Bathtub film:
Bathtub film can be removed by wiping with white distilled vinegar and then with soda. Rinse clean with water.

6. Toilet bowl cleaner:
Stubborn stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.

7. Kill weeds:
Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have starved.

8. Keep Flowers Longer
Keep flowers fresh longer. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-quart vase of water. Trim stems and change water every five days.

9. Cleaner for Gold Jewelry (Winner of June 2007 Vinegar Online Use Contest)
Use one cup apple cider vinegar. Submerge solid gold jewelry item in vinegar for 15 minutes. Remove and dry with cloth.

10. Freshen baby clothes:
The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

11. Clothes washing magic:
Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents.

12. Keeping colors fast:
To hold colors in fabrics, which tend to run, soak them for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar before washing.

13. Fruit and vegetable wash:
Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables.

14. Get rid of cooking smells:
Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.

See more uses of vinegar at The Vinegar Institute.

I love jewelry! I try to have as many as possible because I want the layered look of jewelry. It’s a great deals that I found some fabulous discount fashion jewelry at Holsted Jewelers! Now, I can not only get things for myself, I can get things for my mom, relatives and friends on special occasions. Since 1971, Holsted Jewelers has provided exclusively designed jewelry, gifts and accessories to millions of satisfied customers. In the last five years alone, they have shipped over 15 million products to style-conscious shoppers in North America and abroad.

That is saying something, right? When customers come back to order, there is a high level of customer satisfaction right there!

I love Martha Stewart – love her ideas, her crafts and I love how she has encompassed everything from cooking, gardening, home decorating, and now – weddings! I try to get a copy of her magazine from time to time and this one is no exception! I love seeing gorgeous eye candy!

It’s everywhere! Parents are getting paranoid and schools are shutting down to take precautionary measures.

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway.

More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with novel H1N1 flu. This number has been increasing over the past few weeks, but many of the cases reportedly had links to travel or were localized outbreaks without community spread. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of world.

WHO’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus.

You can get more updates here.

I always thought that June is perfect for weddings – spring is just ending and summer just beginning. There are so many wedding ideas, details and gowns these days that are so pleasing to the eyes that it makes me want to get married again! Plus, wedding favors have evolved into something that the guests will really appreciate and use after the wedding. There are so many nice ideas over at the TheKnot.com. As the largest retailer of wedding supplies on the Internet, The Knot Wedding Shop is stocked with over 1000 hard-to-find wedding supplies at the best prices around. The Knot Wedding Shop offers brides 24-hour accessibility and quick turnaround delivery for all those last-minute orders before the big day.

It’s amazing how often "just the right" affirmation comes to just the right person. Try it for yourself!

Got this here! Try it!

So true! Life is good – I could not ask for anything more!

“Select a free affirmation card from our pack of positive affirmations. Just be prepared to listen to your inner voice when you pick one. Be alert for affirmations that you have a strong reaction to.”