Volume 7 December 2007

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Welcome to TAKE-A-MOMENT!

The Take-A-Moment newsletters strive to provide quick-to-read content to improve and enhance the quality of life at home and in the work place...for when you can "take-a-moment" from your hectic schedule. Take-a-Moment is provided by the Louisville Area Cooperative Extension Agents. When you have "more-than-a-moment" visit our web site for expanded articles, article archives, sign-up and contact information, and links to other web sites of interest.

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C O N T E N T S

Stain Removal --  Alcoholic Beverages &, Beer
Financial Fitness --  Consumer Alert: FCIC Warns About Overpaying For Certified Deeds
KidsKorner -- Homemade Toys For Toddlers And Preschoolers
Family Life -- Wishing You A Restful Holiday Season
Nutrition & What's Cooking -- Keeping Holiday Foods Safe
Home Tips --  Storing Holiday Decorations
Ways to Wellness -- Why are More People Overweight in the 21st Century?
In The Work Place -- Good Health at the Health Club

STAIN REMOVAL
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES & BEER
stainremoval@take-a-moment.com

This is for Washable Fabrics. If in doubt, have the article professionally dry cleaned.  This stain needs to be treated immediately. Alcohol may remove the fabric dye.

Sponge or rinse stain promptly in cool water. Pretreat by:

dampening the stained area with a pre-wash spot and stain remover or

rubbing with a liquid laundry detergent or paste of granular laundry detergent and water.

Launder using chlorine bleach if it is safe for the fabric. If not, use an oxygen bleach.

Soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water, ½ tsp detergent and 1 Tbsp white vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse with water. If stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol, rinse thoroughly and launder. Add bleach which is safe for fabric to laundry.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
CONSUMER ALERT: FCIC WARNS ABOUT OVERPAYING FOR CERTIFIED DEEDS
finances@take-a-moment.com

Your friends at the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) want to warn you about solicitation letters that are being sent out nationwide by a private company regarding buying certified copies of deeds. The letters refer to information found in FCIC’s ”Managing Household Records” 2003 online consumer focus article. The company cites that article as a reason for purchasing a certified deed. FCIC wants to make sure that consumers know it is not necessary to use a private company to obtain a certified copy of the deed to your home. You can obtain one from your local Register of Deeds for free or at a low cost.

A copy of your deed is just one of the important documents that you should keep in an organized records system. Whether they’re kept in a shoe box or scanned into your computer, there should be one place where you and your loved ones can quickly locate all your important documents during an emergency. In addition to your deed, you should also include your birth and marriage certificates, wills, advance directives, titles of cars, and passports. It’s a good idea to store the original papers in a safe deposit box, and keep copies in a secure place at your home.

Get even more information and read, print, or download hundreds of Federal consumers publications for free at www.pueblo.gsa.gov.

KIDS KORNER
HOMEMADE TOYS FOR TODDLERS AND PRE-SCHOOLERS
KidsKorner@take-a-moment.com

Holiday gifts do not have to be fancy or expensive to please two to five year olds. In fact, with a little bit of creativity and time, you can easily make enjoyable, educational toys in your home for the toddlers and preschoolers on your holiday list. Most of the suggestions below can be made using common household or recycled items. You can also try discount stores, flea markets, and garage sales for inexpensive materials to use with your own ideas.

Picture Books in Bags. Use zip-lock plastic bags as pages, and insert interesting magazine pictures, photos, or drawings glued to tagboard, old file folders, or cut-up cereal boxes. Pictures can be added and changed according to the child's interests and developmental levels. Young children love to look and to talk with you about pictures of their families, friends, pets, feelings, alphabet or numbers, and familiar happenings. This homemade present will help them further their language development, enjoyment and handling of books, creativity, and counting skills.

• Materials needed: 4 or more zip-lock plastic bags, small or large; tag board or thin cardboard; glue; bias tape or mending tape (optional); pictures, photos, or drawings
• Tools needed: scissors, needle and thread or sewing machine, ruler, pencil, marker for labeling.
• Instructions: Cut the tag board or cardboard to fit in the plastic bags with 1/8 inch to spare on each side. Glue the photos, pictures, or drawings to each side of the tag board and write words if you like. Arrange the pages in the order you would like them to go. Fit the pictures into the plastic bags, leaving the openings at the top. Stack the bags in order. To make the book stronger and more durable, sew bias or mending tape to the binding side of the pages. Sew pages together through the tape. Change the pictures as desired.

Puzzles. Puzzles are easy to make, fun to put together, and have many learning benefits. They encourage problem solving, reasoning, language development, color identification, shape identification, eye-hand coordination, creativity, social skills, and self-esteem.

• Materials needed: Magazine or calendar pictures, photos, or drawings; tagboard or cardboard; glue; clear contact paper; flat box or large envelope for storage.
• Tools needed: scissors, ruler, pencil or marker.
• Instructions: Find a picture, photo, or drawing. Cut it to the size you would like. If desired, photocopy it and save the copy to paste onto the storage box or envelope for easy identification. Glue the original picture to the tagboard or cardboard and carefully place clear contact paper over it on both sides. Cut the picture into pieces: The younger the child, the fewer the pieces. For two and three year olds, three to five pieces are best. For toddlers, one piece for a whole object, fitting into a background, may be most suitable. As children grow older, pieces that fit together to form a whole work well. By age four, four to eight pieces generally are appropriate. Each child is unique, however, and will advance in puzzle-working skill at her own pace.

Airplanes from Junk. You can make a model styrofoam airplane for your preschooler as a gift. Later, you and your child may want to have fun making one together. Flying a plane outdoors is good physical exercise. It also teaches principles of air movement, construction skills, interest in many aspects of aviation, and language development. When you give your boy or girl the airplane, show pictures and tell stories about types of planes and flying adventures.

• Materials needed: tagboard or cardboard from file folders or cereal boxes; styrofoam trays; clear contact paper (optional); markers and stickers (optional)
• Tools needed: ballpoint pen, scissors, paper clips.
• Instructions: Trace airplane parts onto tagboard or cardboard. You might want to take apart a model airplane to use as a pattern to start with. Cut out the patterns. Trace them onto the styrofoam trays with the ballpoint pen. Cut them out. For more durable planes, place the pieces onto the sticky side of the clear contact paper. Place another sheet on the other side of the piece, sticky side down. Press the two sticky sides of the contact paper together, sealing them carefully. Cut out the pieces, leaving 1/4 inch of contact paper around each piece. Draw lines along the side of the plane where you want to insert the wings. Carefully cut slits along the lines with the points of your scissors. Gently insert the wings. Stick the paper clip on the nose of the plane. Decorate the plane with markers and stickers if desired.

SAFETY TIPS

• Clean toys. Carefully clean all materials and containers by washing and rinsing. Disinfect after washing with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach to one quart of water, then air dry the item.
• Smooth any sharp edges. Make sure there are no sharp points or splinters on the item. Use tape to blunt corners and rough edges. Thoroughly sand and oil wooden surfaces.
• Avoid choking and suffocation. If the item can fit inside a toilet paper tube (about 1 ½ inches in diameter), it is small enough to cause choking and should not be used for children under 3 years of age. Make sure there are no parts of a toy that could be pulled or sucked off, such as buttons, googly eyes, ribbons, or other decorations. Do not use staples. Instead, sew or tape items together. Use big styrofoam pieces, not chips or pellets, and cover them with contact paper to prevent small bits breaking off.
• Use nontoxic materials. Carefully check all labels on markers, paints, glue, finishes on cloth or other surfaces for nontoxic components before using materials.

Resource: Rhoda Redleaf and Audrey Robertson (1999). Learn and Play the Recycle Way. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
Prepared by Carole A. Gnatuk, Ed.D., Child Development Specialist
 

FAMILY LIFE
WISHING YOU A RESTFUL HOLIDAY SEASON
familylife@take-a-moment.com

Tired bodies, frantic minds, and faces that do not reflect peace and happiness--these are some of the telltale signs of trying to do too much too quickly without getting sufficient rest. Like nature herself, our bodies and minds thrive on balanced rhythms of rest and activity.

For a healthy, enjoyable holiday season, honor your body's need for an abundance of high-quality sleep and occasional periods of rest during the day. In a gentle way, also encourage family members and friends to get adequate rest. This is particularly important for very young children, who easily become irritable when their needs for rest are ignored.

Adults, too, tend to become edgy and short-tempered when they haven't been getting enough sleep. Tiredness weakens our immune systems, dampens our creativity, and slows our reflexes. Sleepiness and the related lack of alertness are principal or contributing factors in accidents of all kinds. American drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel account for nearly 50,000 collisions and 1,500 deaths annually, and many of these occur during the holidays.

According to Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest, "Our culture invariably supposes that action and accomplishment are better than rest, that doing something--anything--is better than doing nothing. . . . Because of our desire to meet ever-growing expectations, we do not rest. Because we do not rest, we lose our way. . . . We miss the quiet that would give us wisdom. We miss the joy and love born of effortless delight." Particularly during the holiday season, many of us can benefit by keeping this simple principle in mind: Do less with more love.

Consider giving less expensive gifts with more love. Put fewer things on your daily "To Do" list, but carry them out in a calmer, more peaceful, more loving way. Instead of going to three major get-togethers on a given holiday, why not go to just one or two, but do so in a more relaxed, wholehearted and loving way?

When we are weary, it's so much harder to be sensitive to others and to listen really well. When family members are tired, fights are more likely to break out, children are grumpier, discipline becomes more of a problem, and the healing power of laughter is heard less frequently.

Simply getting enough rest can drastically improve our individual and collective well-being. Sleep doesn't cost money, it's not controversial, and, for most of us, it's a pleasant, no-effort activity with lots of positive aftereffects. For a happy holiday season, do less and enjoy it more. Arrange for some personal and family quiet time--perhaps a tranquil walk out in nature, a time of family silence, or a pre-sleep period for journaling, prayer or meditation. Turn off those lights a little earlier and, if you haven't already discovered the pleasure and productivity-enhancing effects of a daytime nap, try it the next time you're feeling draggy.

This holiday season, pay very close attention to what your body is asking for and listen carefully to the whispers of your heart. As often as you are inwardly led to do so, take time to rest your body and recharge your spirit. In her simple, wisdom-filled manner, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta has given us words that seem particularly appropriate for the holidays: "It's not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing. And it's not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving."

Prepared by Sam Quick, Ph.D., Human Development & Family Relations Specialist

NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING
KEEPING HOLIDAY FOODS SAFE
whatscooking@take-a-moment.com

Food safety becomes increasingly important around the holidays because we often prepare larger meals, leave food out of the refrigerator longer and can overload the refrigerator.

Following these guidelines will ensure a happy holiday season, unmarred by foodborne illness.

• Never thaw a turkey or other frozen meat on the countertop. The preferred method is to thaw it in the original wrapping on a tray in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. When thawing a large piece of meat or poultry, allow 24 hours for each five pounds. So you’ll need to plan ahead if you have a big turkey or ham.

• Do not cook a turkey overnight in an oven set at less than 200 degrees F, because it takes too long to kill disease-causing bacteria that may be present in the center of the bird. Instead, cook turkey, or any other meat, no lower than 325 degrees F.

• Use a meat thermometer to be sure meat dishes are thoroughly cooked. The thermometer should reach 180 degrees F on a whole turkey, and 170 degrees F for turkey parts or a breast. A ham should cook to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F; a leg of lamb, to 160 degrees F.

• It’s best to bake stuffing separately in a casserole dish for uniform doneness and safety. Place a food thermometer in the center to be sure stuffing reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

• If you do decide to cook stuffing inside the turkey, remember the stuffed bird will take longer to properly cook than ones that’s not stuffed. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey and the stuffing.

• Open mail-order food gifts immediately and read the storage and handling instructions. Perishable meat products should be partially frozen; cheese, cold to the touch. If a food gift is labeled “Keep Refrigerated,” it must be stored at a temperature of 40 degrees F or below to prevent growth of any bacteria that may be present.

• Putting leftovers away probably is the last thing you want to do after eating a big holiday dinner. However, if turkey and trimmings and other perishable foods are let at room temperature for more than two hours, harmful bacteria can rapidly multiply to levels that can cause foodborne illnesses.

• Remove meat from the carcass or bone and cut it into small pieces to allow it to cool quickly in the refrigerator. Put leftover foods in small containers, or wrap them in small aluminum foil packages, so they will cook quickly when refrigerated.

• Putting too many large containers in the refrigerator can overload its cooling capacity, resulting in an unsafe temperature.

• If your traveling with food, remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

• It’s not safe to travel with a stuffed turkey or warm stuffing. Remove stuffing and put it in small, shallow containers that will hill quickly.

• Pack all perishable foods in a pre-chilled, insulated cooler with a cold source such as ice or frozen gel packs. Immediately transfer foods to a refrigerator when you reach your destination.

• Reheat foods in an oven set at 325 degrees F., or a microwave oven, until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees R, or are steaming hot.

HOME TIPS
STORING HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
hometips@take-a-moment.com

Many of our seasonal decorations represent a great investment in time, money and fond memories. They deserve proper care and storage and should be cleaned and organized to preserve them. Look them over as they are taken down from display. Some washable decorations, such as tablecloths, should be laundered before storing. Dusty ornaments or other decorations should be wiped clean. Tree lights should also be wiped clean, but be sure to disconnect any electrical items before doing so. This is also a good time to check for and replace burned-out bulbs.

Since many holiday decorations are fragile, be sure they are well packed and stored properly. Use large, sturdy boxes for storing bulbs, ornaments and lights. Select boxes that are fairly shallow, but large enough so that two or three boxes hold all tree ornaments.

Wrap fragile bulbs and ornaments in tissue paper. Stack the remaining ornaments (from heavy to light) on layers of tissue paper. Remove hooks and hangers from each ornament, and store them separately in a small box or envelope. Gather strings of tree lights carefully to avoid tangling. Wrap loosely around a large, flat piece of cardboard. Store the tree stand in its own box.

After the boxes are packed, clearly label the contents on the outside of each box and then fill the box with the same items from year to year. Designate an area in a closet, basement, attic, or garage as holiday storage, and use the same space every year. Clean the storage area thoroughly each year before returning the decorations to it. Keep boxes off the floor to keep moisture out. If stored in an attic or outside garage, be sure that extreme temperature and humidity changes will not harm any of the items in the boxes.

WAYS TO WELLNESS
WHY ARE MORE PEOPLE OVERWEIGHT IN THE 21ST CENTURY?
wellness@take-a-moment.com

Access to foods, especially those high in fat and calories, has never been easier or less expensive. Opportunities for physical activity are rare. The preparation and consumption of foods are a less meaningful part of life today than they were in years past. Time for food preparation, consumption, and clean up is the most limited resource for consumers. Today’s U.S. food consumers have fewer cooking skills and eat at home less often than their ancestors. Serving sizes are generous and inexpensive to increase. We eat larger, less frequent meals than U.S. food consumers did in the past. Some of us eat only one meal a day.

Americans spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about food, but food, cooking, and eating are a less meaningful part of our lives than they used to be. We are likely to eat alone and in a hurry. The rituals associated with family and social eating occasions are practiced with less frequency. The practices which support a healthy role for eating as a part of a full life are increasingly uncommon. Food and eating are commonly used to fulfill needs unrelated to hunger, such as a reward for hard work or relief after a stressful day.

These and other factors contribute to the growing prevalence of overweight people in the U.S. population. Both children and adults are much more likely to be overweight than their relatives from an earlier time. Our daily lives require much less activity than they did even ten years ago. Consider how much more activity would be required to get up and change a television channel, reheat a meal without a microwave, or cook from scratch without convenience foods. The time we spend on a computer doing work and school-related activities has increased. If we are to win the battle of the bulge, we must put food, eating, and physical activity into our lives in a way that is meaningful and integrated.

Source:  Janet Tietyen, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

IN THE WORK PLACE
GOOD HEALTH AT THE HEALTH CLUB
workplace@take-a-moment.com

Going to the gym may be part of a personal program for better health, but when fellow gym goers bring their coughs and colds with them, the result may not be what's expected.

Cold viruses can live on hand rails and handlebars, on benches and barbells and on exercise mats and water fountain buttons. Then these viruses can easily transfer from these infected surfaces to hands and from there to the eyes, nose and mouth, thus spreading the cold. Frequent handwashing as the most effective means of preventing colds. At the gym wash hands after using exercise equipment. If warm water and soap aren't available, gel formulas and antimicrobial wipes are an effective substitute. Sanitize weight-training gloves after using them. Launder them if they are washable or wipe them with a disinfectant spray.