Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Archives for October 2012

Halfway through my courses

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I am so ready for my college courses to be over! I’m about halfway through my two courses and it seems that all I do is study study study. I suppose you could say I’m a good student, but I’m due for a break.

My worst problem with going back to school is that I’m taking online course and my husband is home quite a bit and since we’re doing renovations it’s quite distracting. I seem to study best when he’s not around.

I’m also concerned that I’m not moving around as much as I was before I “went back to school”. What with all this studying that I’m doing there’s a lot of sitting around going on. So .. I’m trying to get up at regular intervals and go up and down the stairs a few times, do some stretches and even go out for a walk with the dog. Anything to get up and get moving. It gives me a chance to stretch for a few minutes and gets my head out of the books.

Last weekend I was so busy studying for one of my midterm exams I wasn’t even cooking meals! I was totally glued to my books and the computer until I decided it was time to take my exam. The only interruptions I allowed was to get up and feed my dog, let her outside, or to open the door to the delivery person with the food that I’d ordered! Oh and my mother in law called and I had to talk to her briefly, but when she started talking about some new worship chairs that they’d just purchased for the church that she works in I decided it was time to get off the phone or else I’d be talking for a long time … back to the books for me!

Now I’m busy doing my regular studying and getting ready for a mid term in another course … oh and a big project in one of the courses too. I’m so ready for this to be done! Maintaining all of my websites and doing these courses takes ALL of my time. I’ll be sleeping a lot come mid-December!





Use Caution When Using Insect Repellents

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Many types of pests are not just irritating. Some creatures are scary not because of how they look or how much damage to property they can bring; these animals are terrifying because they can transmit life-threatening illnesses to people. Mosquitoes, for instance, are well-known vectors of several forms of viruses that cause encephalitis or brain inflammation. Other species cause malaria, dengue, and other dangerous diseases. Ticks also transmit microorganisms that cause typhus and Lyme disease. This is also the creature that carries the dreaded Crimean-Congo Viral Hemorrhagic fever virus that can easily decimate mankind in a few years.

With all these virulent organisms being carried around by common household pests, it’s really very important to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and especially our children from insects. However, we must also use insect repellents cautiously because these contain chemicals, such as permethrin, DEET, P-menthane 3.8 diol, and other alcohol derivatives. Such elements, in large and continuous applications, can cause not only skin irritation, but also cancer, kidney lesions, muscle spasms, seizures, and other grave disorders. So, here are some safety tips when using insect repellents.

1. Follow recommended use.

When instructions say that a product must only be applied every 4 hours, then do so. Do not reapply every 15 minutes because, generally, saturation will not improve a product’s effectiveness. In addition, you’ll be exposing yourself and your loved ones from higher doses of dangerous chemicals. In case you’re using permethrin or other chemicals that should not be applied on the skin, then be careful during application. Do not spray products on the clothes that you’re wearing, and make sure that you don’t spray the inner part of your clothing because this section touches the skin.

2. Be cautious when using repellents on children.

Always ask your pediatrician about what sort of repellents can be used on your kids. Some insect repellents, such as those that contain DEET, must not be used on infants. In addition, children below a certain age must only be exposed to a certain concentration of DEET. Therefore, ask your doctor about the level of DEET concentration that you can use on your child.

3. Obtain more information about insect repellents.

For more information regarding insect repellent use, you can visit the AAP or American Academy of Pediatrics website. The site has a lot of information regarding types of insect repellents, recommended frequency of application, and several safety tips. There, you’ll also be able to read about some common and serious adverse reactions that could be caused by regular and improper use of repellents.

AAP Recommendations:

– Repellents used on children should not exceed 30% DEET. Generally, the higher the DEET, the longer the protection lasts. But studies show that products that contain more than 30% DEET don’t provide extra protection.

– Insect repellents should never be used on infants, especially babies that are younger than 2 months.

– Insect repellents must never be sprayed directly onto the face. Also, it should not be used on open wounds or cuts.

Claire Brent is a freelance writer and a mother who also uses insect repellents on her child for mosquito and tick protection. She’s written this article in hopes of offering more information to everyone regarding the proper way to use insect repellents, especially on children. She also blogs for Preventive Pest Control, which is a reliable company that can help you out in case you’re place or grounds are inundated by ticks or mosquitoes.

5 Simple Ways to Prevent Unnecessary Weight Gain

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Whether you are in college or at your first desk job, weight gain can sometimes be inevitable. There are ways to prevent it, you just need to be cautious of your actions. Here’s some of the most effective ways in preventing unnecessary flub.

Cut Out Fried Food

Yes, fried food is delicious but it certainly isn’t necessary in your daily diet. Opt for grilled food options rather than downing a basket of fried chicken fingers. If your restaurant order comes with fries, ask for a healthy alternative. This simple change can save you hundreds of calories, especially if you eat out a lot. Your body will thank you, and more importantly your waistline will love you.

Drink Water

Drinking water can save you so many calories throughout the day. Water has absolutely no calories and it helps filter the junk out of your system. It will also keep you hydrated and it even will make your skin look younger. With all of these benefits, there’s no reason to turn it down. Shoot for at least 8 glasses of water each day. If you need to jazz up your water with flavor, purchase strawberries or cucumbers to give your water a sweet taste.

Find More Reasons to Walk

Avoid being lazy at all costs. If your office or school has an elevator, opt for the stairs instead. Walk longer routes to class, and walk on your work breaks. The extra movement will keep your body active. Avoid parking your car close to any doors. There’s no excuses to sell yourself short. If it’s raining, just bring an umbrella.

Gym Membership

If you don’t want to walk more at work, invest in a gym membership. If you are at college, there is absolutely no excuses for not going to the gym since they provide students with a gym. Gym memberships can range in price so buy one that meets your needs. If you don’t plan to use group fitness programs, you can save yourself some serious cash by purchasing a basic membership. Commercial gyms like Planet Fitness offer $9.99 per month memberships.

Don’t Eat At Your Desk

When you are eating at your desk, you are not taking calorie consumption into account. Never have a bag of crackers, chips or anything to that extent open at your desk. This will cause you to reach into it for a handful every few minutes. Snack during your breaks. Avoid snacks like chips, and opt for healthy snacks like apples and granola. These snacks are healthy and they won’t hurt your waistline.

Marissa Bruce is very particular about her diet. She studied diet and nutrition before deciding to take her education a step further. She is now researching online nurse practitioner programs.

 

Knife Skills: What You Can Learn From Cooking Schools

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Admit it. The most impressive parts of any cooking programme are where the TV chef fillets a fish or finely chops a bundle of fresh herbs, showing off their rapid and adept knife skills. Slicing and dicing with speed and accuracy isn’t just extremely useful from a technical, time-saving perspective; it also looks fantastic. Whether you’re looking to save time in the kitchen or simply show off to your date, it makes sense to learn how to use a knife expertly. Whilst it’s possible to read about these methods in cookery books, it’s undoubtedly more effective to get some hands-on experience.

Knife Classes at Cooking Schools

For professional chefs, the ability to wield a knife efficiently is a core skill, being amongst the first assignments they are given in the kitchen. It makes sense, then, that amateur foodies receive some instruction in cutting – allowing them to slice and incise rather than hack and slash. You’ll learn the techniques involved in preparing herbs, spices and vegetables first. Whether it’s potato julienne or carrot brunoise, precisely cut plant matter is an essential part of a well-presented and tasty dish. Once you’ve got this aspect of knife competence under your belt, you’ll be able to move on to meat and fish. This is where the magic happens. Keen students will learn to adroitly portion these staple foods, deboning fish and seeking out the best cuts of chicken or beef. A good knife skill course will also teach you how to select the right knife for each task, and let you know what’s involved in keep them in tip top condition, meaning that you’ll be able to keep a keener edge for longer. If you’re interested in getting to grips with proper knife technique, you’ll want to look for a reputable class – cooking schools in London are probably the best bet at finding high quality suitable courses.

Cooking Schools in London: a Real Experience

A good cooking course will be an adventure that students undertake together. Keen cooks will have the opportunity to make new, like-minded friends as they take part in an interactive learning experience. As you would expect, a knife skills class is very hands-on! The course will be taught by an accomplished professional chef, with the class size kept at an appropriate level so that each student is able to fully benefit from their tutor’s knowledge. As well as specific direction from the head of the class, the teacher will be able to offer individualised hints and tips, ensuring that everybody is able to refine their technique. Everything you dissect will be provided by the school, making the class easy to fit within your timetable – no need to go shopping in advance! What’s more, you’ll get to consume your creation at the lesson’s conclusion alongside your new acquaintances, making it an ideal tasty prelude to a night out.

Sharp Skills

No need to be jealous of those famous chefs anymore. With some interactive teaching provided by one of the many cooking schools in London, you’re sure to impress your friends with your new abilities. Here’s to a fillet-filled future!

URL Image: http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd378/tlblazer/chefknife.jpg

Michael Doherty is a blogger with a passion for food. After a spell as the head chef of an acclaimed gastropub, he has settled into life as a full-time writer.

The Art Behind Receiving Freebies

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Everyone loves a freebie, what’s not to love right? If it’s easy to access and won’t cost you money to claim, then why not. There are however some rules to stick to when freebie collecting, the obvious being don’t go out of your way to get something for free or you might just end up spending money you wouldn’t have otherwise. Another useful tip is to only claim freebies when they relate to your lifestyle and can be used, what’s the point of collecting a sample diaper pack if you don’t have a kid right? Of course there are exceptions to these rules, when freebies could be saving or even making you money in other areas of your life.

The Great Karmic Clearance Sale - Image courtesy of Dr Stephen Dann from Flickr

Selling On

Some freebies will be so sought after that people are willing to actually pay for them. On sites like Ebay or Amazon you’ll often find freebie-sized makeup samples being sold for a bit of cash, it’s worth trying to flog what you get because every penny in this case, every penny is a profit!

Gift Giving

So you might be thinking this sounds a little stingy, but just imagine you received a bag full to the brim of samples of your favorite perfumes/makeup/dinner vouchers/snacks? I don’t think you’d be complaining too much about the cost of said present would you? This tip can even work on a larger scale, just look at the quality of freebies you can get when you take out your phone contract these days; laptops, cameras, games stations and sometimes even cash could see you winning best present giver of the year, and it cost you nothing!

Refurbishing

Free-cycle networks are becoming ever popular at the moment; someone uploads a picture and a description of an item they want to give away and consumers ‘bid’ by saying how much they want the item and when they can collect it, a genius solution to the expensive task of refurbishing your home.

Holidaying

Technically couch surfing isn’t a free holiday, as you still have to pay for the flights, but with so many couch surfing networks around you no longer have to worry about accommodation costs. Couch surfing sites are usually registered and as such are generally safe to use, they feature testimonials from other surfers and way to contact potential hosts. You may even find that couch surfing enhances your holiday, as many of these couch-lenders are often keen to show you around their hometown, giving you a more traditional experience of where you’re holidaying. It’s also worth noting that more often than not couch is a loose term here and often hosts are more than happy to provide a room for you.

What Now?

Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to be stingy. By using freebies in sensible ways you can save money for the bigger things in life and the things that will ultimately make you happy. Whether you use your freebies to re-gift, sell on or just save yourself forking out for something you need freebies are a great way to maximize your saving potential, just make sure you use them wisely.

Author Credits | Amie is passionate about personal finance – in her spare time she enjoys looking for the best savings account rates(fairinvestment.co.uk/savings-accounts) and high interest savings accounts such as fixed rate bonds  (fairinvestment.co.uk/fixed-rate-bonds).  Follow her @amielaroux on Twitter for more of her money saving tweets.

 

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