Volume 5 May 2005

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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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Did You Know...?

C O N T E N T S

Stain Removal -- Window Cleaning: Alternative Cleaning Products
Financial Fitness -- Women and Money: Remaining Financially Literate
Family Life -- Exercise And Emotional Well Being
Nutrition & What's Cooking -- Tips to Maintain Stored Food Quality
Home Tips --  Bring Outdoor Furniture Back to Life!
Ways to Wellness -- May is National Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month
In The Work Place -- Stress Management – Part 1

STAIN REMOVAL
WINDOW CLEANING: ALTERNATIVE CLEANING PRODUCTS
stainremoval@take-a-moment.com

To clean windows and mirrors, put two tablespoons of vinegar in a quart of water and apply the mixture with wadded-up newspaper.

Another method is to fill a clean spray bottle with a solution of three tablespoons of ammonia, one tablespoon of white vinegar and three-fourths cup of water.

Use a mixture of one-fourth cup of cornstarch, one-half cup of ammonia and one cup of vinegar to remove rust or lime deposits from the outside of windows. Since vinegar is a mild acid, you may want to wear gloves when applying a mixture with this ingredient. Mix cleaning solutions in a well-ventilated area. Always clean up after making them. Always add the cleaning chemical to water first, rather than adding water to the chemical. For example, the splashing produced from pouring water into an acid product could have disastrous results.

Never put a cleaning product in an empty food or drink container. Be sure other containers are properly labeled. Store all cleaning solutions out of children's reach. If there is an accidental poisoning, call the nearest poison control center at 1-800-222-1212. Post this telephone number with other emergency contacts.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
WOMEN AND MONEY: REMAINING FINANCIALLY LITERATE
finances@take-a-moment.com

There are many reasons for women to keep up-to-date on money management knowledge whether they’re experiencing a change in marital status, helping children learn about money, or caring for elderly parents’ finances.

One easy way to remain financially literate is to follow these four money management steps.

1. Develop measurable financial goals, such as wanting to pay off a specific credit card balance in 12 months. Research shows that people who write out their goals are more successful money managers. Some goals might be short-term, while others might be for a medium time span or well into the future. Review and, if necessary, adjust your financial goals from time to time. As a reminder of your goals, review your goals at least once a month.
2. Have an organized method to keep financial records needed to file taxes, make insurance claims, and maintain other information such as all pay stubs on how much you paid into a retirement plan.

It’s also important to know how long you need to keep financial records. For example, retain tax records and returns for seven years because this is the length of time the Internal Revenue Service can audit your returns. Certain life event records never expire. These can include birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and separation or divorce papers.

Other records good to have readily available, or a listing of, include all life insurance coverage; bank accounts; credit cards and numbers to report lost or stolen cards; retirement and brokerage accounts; safe deposit box locations, and the names of advisors including attorneys, brokers or financial planners and accounts. A bank safe deposit box is the best place to store irreplaceable or sentimental records. Otherwise, use a fire-proof, locked container. Until you make arrangements for it, use your refrigerator or freezer for fire-proof storage.

3. Financial transactions are increasingly done with electronic transactions, bank debits, checking accounts or credit cards, rather than with cash. Thus, it’s especially important to keep track of available funds and how much you’re spending on “cashless” transactions. Be sure to balance your checkbook and reconcile your monthly bank statement. Irresponsible credit card use can create monumental financial problems before you realize it.
4. Savings should be a part of your financial plan, whether for an emergency situation or long-term financial security. Even if you save a small amount weekly or monthly, it will mount up over time. One rule of thumb is to put aside the equivalent of six months’ salary.

FAMILY LIFE
EXERCISE AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
familylife@take-a-moment.com

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:

• Energizing
• Relieving tension and anxiety
• Strengthening the body's stress-coping mechanism
• Counteracting hostile, Type A behavior
• Clearing the mind and improving concentration and memory
• Encouraging a more positive self-image
• Contributing to feelings of exhilaration and physical well-being
• Improving sleep
• Alleviating depression

Source: Sam Quick

NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING
TIPS TO MAINTAIN STORED FOOD QUALITY
whatscooking@take-a-moment.com

It's wise to periodically check the quality of condiments and foods stored in your pantry and cupboard. Proper storage is a good way to maintain food quality.

Follow these tips on good food product storage practices:

• -Store baking powder and baking soda in a tightly covered container and put it in a dry location. Always use dry measuring utensils to dip these out of the container. To check baking powder freshness, mix one teaspoon with one-third cup of hot water. If this vigorously foams, the baking powder still has rising power. For baking soda, put one and one-half teaspoons of baking soda in a small bowl and add one tablespoon of vinegar to determine freshness. If this mixture fizzes, it still will help leaven a food. Old baking soda can be used to dispense odors in the refrigerator, drawers and closets.

• -White flour should be kept in an airtight container or freezer bag to preserve its moisture content that might influence the outcome of a recipe. At room temperature, white flour will keep six to 12 months. Refrigerated all-purpose and bread flowers will keep up to two years at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Frozen, they will keep indefinitely.

• -Honey stores best at room temperature and will maintain the best quality for up to 12 months. When refrigerated, honey will more rapidly crystallize but dissolve upon heating.

• -Opened cans of shortening will maintain its quality for three to eight months; unopened, eight to 12 months. Store shortening in a cool, dark place.

• -Vegetable oil opened will keep one to six months; unopened, six to 12 months. Store in a cool, dry place.

• -Brown sugar keeps four to six months, but is critical to keep in an air-tight moisture-proof container so it will remain moist and soft.

• -Granulated sugar will keep indefinitely in an airtight container.

• -Walnut, sesame, hazelnut and almond oils have a shorter storage life. Smell before using.

• -Spices rapidly lose their potency with heat, air, light and moisture. Store herbs and spices in a tightly-covered container in a dark location away from sunlight, such as a cupboard or drawer. A sniff test helps determine the quality of spices and herbs.
  Crush a small amount in your hand and smell.

• -Canned foods should be eaten within two years of processing for best quality. After opening a canned food, never refrigerate in the can because food can develop an off-odor from the opened container.

HOME TIPS
BRING OUTDOOR FURNITURE BACK TO LIFE!
hometips@take-a-moment.com

Outdoor furniture should be washed at the beginning or each outdoor season. Dust each item, then wash and dry thoroughly. Make certain all nuts, bolts and screws are tight. Missing, broken or rusted fasteners should be replaced with rustproof ones made of aluminum, galvanized steel or stainless steel. Lubricate all hinges and wheels with a silicone lubricant. Oil should be avoided because it tends to cake and attract dirt.

Clean aluminum furniture with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner. Molded resin furniture, including resin-weave wicker, should be cleaned with mild detergent and water. Don’t use abrasive powders, chlorine bleaches and silicone cleaners on resin surfaces.

If wood furniture is exposed to moisture and dirt, spotting or mildew may occur. If this happens, sand with a fine-grade sandpaper, clean with a wood cleaner, then re-oil the surface. Teak wood is extremely dense and can be periodically scrubbed, using soap, water and a brush. Always follow the furniture manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedures.

Acrylic, polyester and cotton fabrics should be spot-cleaned by sponging with a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water. Rinse with clear water to remove soap; air dry.

WAYS TO WELLNESS
MAY IS NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS & PREVENTION MONTH
wellness@take-a-moment.com

What is Osteoporosis?
Due to current trends in dietary intake and the lack of regular physical activity in the U.S., bone health and the risk of osteoporosis are becoming major health concerns. Osteoporosis means porous bones; it is a disease that is defined by a weakening of the bone structure and low bone mass. Osteoporosis leads to fragile bones which can increase the risk of fractures to the hip, spine, and wrist. In the U.S., about 10 million people over 50 years of age have osteoporosis of the hip. It is estimated that one in two Americans over the age of 50 will develop or be at risk for developing osteoporosis of the hip by the year 2020.

What Can You Do to Prevent Osteoporosis?
There are many risk factors that can lead to osteoporosis. Some of the factors cannot be changed. We cannot change our gender, age, a small bone structure, ethnicity, or family history, all of which can influence the risk of developing the disease. The good news is that we do have some control over the risk factors associated with osteoporosis. Below is a list of the factors you can control that may reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis:

• Be sure your diet contains enough calcium and vitamin D.
• Be physically active everyday.
• Some medications can weaken bones, such as those taken for thyroid problems and arthritis. Talk with your doctor about any medications you are taking.
• Keep your body at a healthy weight.
• Smoking can decrease bone mass, so stop or don't start.
• Limit your alcohol intake. Heavy use can decrease bone mass.

Source: May 2005 Health Bulletin, H.E.E.L., University of Kentucky.
Call your local county extension office to request a free copy of the entire Health Bulletin.

IN THE WORK PLACE
STRESS MANAGEMENT PART 1
workplace@take-a-moment.com

The t-shirt hanging in the store said it well: “There are only two times I fell stressed out – day and night.” If you’ve ever felt that way, you have a lot of company. In today’s society, feeling pressured is common to people of all ages. Stress, if responded to in a positive way, can be a stimulating, healthy force. With practice, you can learn to keep life’s stressors from harming you. Because over time negative stress can contribute to heart disease, strokes, intestinal problems, and even cancer, we need to control its impact on us.

With “hurry sickness” almost a national epidemic, good time-management skills are essential. Write down in order of priority what you want to accomplish; let go of the least important items and concentrate on your top priorities. Do less better and learn when to say no. As much as possible, give full attention to one task at a time. And build in periods for quiet time and having fun.