take a moment
 Volume 6 February 2006Important Reminder: Many users and ISPs are adding SPAM filters to their computers or servers. If you already have one, or will shortly be implementing a SPAM filter please remember to configure the filter to ALLOW email from take-a-moment.com domain, or you will not be able to receive your newsletter. 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. ("Netiquette" statement is at the end of this email, see below.) Email subscribers@take-a-moment.com and request the PLAIN TEXT VERSION of the newsletter. Did You Know...?
C O N T E N T S
STAIN REMOVAL Do you think you have mildew in your home? It may be that you see it growing on walls or floors or perhaps you smell a musty odor. It's important to correctly identify mildew before taking steps to remove it. Sometimes dirt on paint, tile or wood also looks like mildew. To be sure if it is mildew, put a few drops of household bleach solution on the discolored surface. Mildew will bleach out in a minute or two but most dirt will not. Mildew grows when it is warm, moist and dark. Mildew grows on clothing, other textiles in the home, leather, books, paper, upholstery, mattresses, rugs, and wood.
Treatment varies depending on the type of item or surface you need to clean. If papers or books are mildewed, begin by drying them in a well-ventilated area. Then take them outside and brush off any loose mildew. Damp wallpaper can be dried either by heating or air conditioning the area. Then rinse the area with a cloth soaked in suds and rinse with clear water. For stubborn stains, use the chlorine bleach solution mentioned earlier. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first. Painted areas can be scrubbed with a solution of 3/4 c. bleach and 1 gallon water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. According to Iowa State University chemists, painted areas can be scrubbed with a solution of 1 quart chlorine bleach, 1 T. liquid detergent and 9 quarts water. Use a brush to scrub grout lines. Ordinarily we suggest not mixing chlorine bleach with any other cleaning products. So be sure that when you're working in the bathroom with this solution that it's well ventilated and that you avoid being directly in the line of the fumes. Rinse areas with plenty of water. Dry thoroughly. Never mix ammonia products with bleach. For more detailed information, contact your local Extension Service Office. Further information can be found at the Extension Disaster Education Network. www.eden.lsu.edu.
FINANCIAL FITNESS If you expect to receive an income tax refund, it’s a good idea to think about wise uses for this money before you spend it. Review your debt situation before buying something new. This may reveal substantial savings on interest payments by using the refund as a one-time extra payment on a loan or credit-card debt. Say you have a $3,500 credit card debt at 16-percent interest with a minimum monthly payment of $50. It will take over 17 years, making the minimum payment, to pay the balance to zero. During this time, you will pay more than $6,700 in interest. However, if you receive a $750 tax refund and apply this as a one- time payment you can pay off the balance in eight and one-half years. The payment will save you $4,445 in interest changes. When evaluating your debt situation, pay attention to credit card balances with the highest rates and focus on paying these down or off first. If you receive a substantial tax refund, eliminate as many high-interest credit card balances as possible. As you pay off credit card balances, close out all accounts but one for extreme emergencies. Start or add to an emergency savings account, putting money in each pay period, to keep from having to use the credit card. If you do use the credit card, set a goal to pay the entire balance before the grace period ends. Even better, develop a budget so you can pay cash for all purchases. There are other wise uses for your income tax refund. You could use it for major purchases or home repairs postponed due to poor finances. Invest the money in a savings or money-market account for an upcoming payment or possible emergency, or apply it to an Individual Retirement Account. This will help you become more financially secure now and in the future. Another wise financial option is to invest in yourself by taking courses or other job training to improve your knowledge and skills at a community college or job-related trade association. This could lead to raises or promotions that would pay back your tuition payment many times over. Review your withholding statement to determine if the refund resulted from excess withholding, or was a one-time refund due to unusual deductions. If it was from excess withholding, consider reducing the withholding and put the difference in a savings or money-market account.
FAMILY LIFE It's no secret that exercise builds healthy bodies. But now there's more than a little evidence that aerobic exercise -- such as swimming, jogging and brisk walking -- can strengthen our emotional well-being and tone our mental capabilities. Any good aerobic exercise routine, carried out a minimum of three times a week for about 30 minutes each session, may help build emotional hardiness by:
HUMOR & PLAYFULNESS It feels wonderful to laugh. It's fun to play. Not only are humor and playing around enjoyable, they are great for your health and mental outlook. Laughter relaxes, eases strained relationships, and builds trust. Laughter also opens our minds and promotes creativity. It brightens our mood and can reduce pain. It can ease depression and anger. A full-blown belly laugh actually gives the body a mini-workout. Laughter may even encourage healing and contribute to a long life. If you're all grown up and serious, it's time to play again. Write a silly note and hang it on the refrigerator. Roll down a hill. Swing, play in the sand, or hug a tree. Sing, blow bubbles. See if you can still skip a pebble over the water. Look at the funny side of life, and take time to smile and chuckle. Let yourself play and goof around. It makes life a lot more fun. And it will do wonders for your well-being.
NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING During the cold and flu season, we're reminded to drink plenty of water. The absence of perspiration and heat conspire to make drinking water during the winter less likely. Increased sickness in the flu and cold season disrupts normal eating and fluid consumption patterns. Fever and diarrhea also cause fluid loss. Water makes up 60 percent of the human body. We need an adequate supply of water each day for a healthy life. Water transports nutrients through our blood, keeps us mentally alert, assists food digestion and waste elimination and regulates our body temperature. The body loses water through kidneys, large intestine waste removal, perspiration and exhaling when breathing. If someone loses more water than consumed, that person will become dehydrated. Common symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, headaches, dry nasal passages and cracked lips and overall discomfort. By the time you have these symptoms, you're already dehydrated. Dehydration can occur more rapidly in the elderly. The percentage of water in their bodies increases as people age. Also, the mechanism that triggers thirst becomes less sensitive with age. In fact, dehydration is a leading cause for hospitalization of people older than 65. It's important to drink water all year long. Be proactive for yourself and your elderly family and friends by being sure water and other fluids are readily available and are a part of everyone's usual routine. The following tips will help increase the amount of fluids in your diet, as well as that of your family and friends.
HOME TIPS Which is safer to use, a plastic or a wood cutting board? What's the best way to clean and sanitize the board? The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends using a non-porous surface, such as acrylic, plastic or glass. You might consider having two cutting boards: one for other foods, such as produce and bread, and one for raw meat and poultry. Whatever type you use, be sure it doesn't have a lot of deep cuts and grooves, as these areas are difficult to clean and can harbor bacteria. Even plastic boards wear out over time. Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, they should be discarded and replaced. Clean a cutting board after using it and before cutting other foods. Use hot water and a hand dishwashing detergent, then rinse with clean water. If the board is dishwasher safe, use the dishwasher. Sanitize your cutting boards occasionally, by using a solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water:
WAYS TO WELLNESS February is American Heart Month and Snack Food Month. Take-a-moment to choose snacks that are heart healthy and that meet part of your nutritional needs for the day. Have you ever been so busy with work and family that all you had time for was to grab a quick snack (a mini-meal)? All the more reason to choose snacks that provide you with the nutrients you need for energy, mental alertness, and a healthy body. Snacks that are high in refined carbohydrates such as cookies, chips, and pastries are often high in sodium and fat and low in fiber. These snacks do not make the healthiest snacks. This is especially important if you are trying to watch your weight, lower your blood pressure or control your blood sugar. Here are some healthy, delicious snack ideas:
These are just a few of the many healthy choices that are available for each of us. Next time you head to work, put those vending machine quarters in your "vacation" piggy bank and take a planned snack from home. You will save money and not accumulate unwanted calories.
IN THE WORK PLACE With cold and flu season now upon us, many people use common sense cleaning practices at home to defend the family against harmful germs. But what about the place we spend most of our waking hours - work? Handwashing is recognized by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the most important means of preventing germs from spreading. While most people can employ good cleaning habits to fight germs at home, they have much less control over their work environment. That makes proper handwashing the first line of defense against germs in the workplace. Washing often, about five or more times a day, is the first step. But, you also need to wash your hands the right way, washing thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Recommendations: When To Wash Hands At Work
Waterless products, such as hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes, are useful alternatives if soap and water are not available (for example, when traveling in the car or taxi on the way to a business meeting, before eating an in-flight meal or snack, outdoor work setting, etc.)
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