Helpful Hints from "Good Housekeeping"

Every month I am so excited to receive my new "Good Housekeeping" magazine in the mail. There are always several little household tips and tricks to take away-and actually use! Last month I received a very handy(and simple) chart for the laundry detailing the different kinds of stains and how to get rid of them. I was initially planning on tacking it above the washer and dryer, but I'm ashamed to report that I'm not quite sure where it is at the moment-and even sadder is that it has very likely made its escape from our home via the recycling bin :/

So in an effort to better document and save these awesome household hints, recipes, book recommendations, ect, I've decided to blog about them. :-)

This month in GH:

Quotable quote: "Home is where one starts from." -T.S. Elliot

• Ever get those annoying little scratches on your finished wood furniture? Coffee tables, dressers, ect...turns out there's a very natural and budget friendly way of salvaging them-nuts! Fresh walnuts or Brazil nuts have natural oils that can darken the wood to hide scratches. Simply crak the nut open, then rub the meat over the scratch in the direction of the grain of the wood. Buff w/ soft, clean cloth, repeat as necessary.
  
• Speaking of wood woes, I also enjoyed this tip on how to undo water damage on a wood surface with just a clean towel and iron (not that this is necessary for me, we always use coasters in the Scott household..haha). Place the towel on top of the stain, then with low-medium heat press with iron for several seconds. The gentle heat will warm the wood finish enough to release the moisture into the towel. Lift towel to check results, and repeat if necessary.


• Chocolate is good for you (In moderation of course)! Studies show that just a little bit of the good stuff each day can lower your blood pressure, lessen bad cholesterol, inhibit the formation of blood clots and reduce stress hormones(duh!).
  
• Kale is apparently "the new pink" of vegetables. Wonder where to sneak that one in...
  
• Last but not least...For those stinky sponges-they should be washed in cold soapy water, not hot as that can encourage the spread of bacteria-and also dried vertically so as to more evenly air out and avoid mildewing.

Resolved to Read

My new years resolution this year is to read more. I love reading. Unfortunately, like so many other things that are good to and for us, reading for me is often pushed to the backburner. I can be completely engrossed in a book one week, and then not turn a single page for another two. This is for lack of trying. So in this new year, I am resolved to read more-specifically one book for every two weeks. That's roughly two a month at minimum. A realistic and achievable goal indeed!

To keep me accountable to my goal, I've roughly outlined(and themed!) the months and which books I'll be reading in them. So fun! I have a few empty spots still, and am open to suggestions, wink wink.

This month is a bit scattered since I've had a few books in limbo. On the heels of "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde and "The curious case of Benjamin Button" (a short story and nothing like the movie), I am currently reading "Because he loves me" by Elyse Fitspatrick. Obviously there is no rhyme or reason to January, lol. In February though, I'll be delving into the classics with the Bronte sisters for "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights." I hope to do a short blog on these books as I read them, maybe a simple quote from each of the monthly books, who knows. For now, here's a fun one from good ole' Dr. Seuss.

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”