Volume 7 October 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.

("Netiquette" statement is at the end of this email, see below.)

Did You Know...?

C O N T E N T S

Stain Removal --  Bluing by Fabric Softener
Financial Fitness --  Credit Card Interest
Family Life -- Nip Conflict In The Bud
Nutrition & What's Cooking -- Baking Light Tips
Home Tips --  Low Cost Ways to Save Home Energy
Ways to Wellness -- October is Nat'l Home Indoor Air Quality Action & Awareness Month
In The Work Place -- Tips to Feeling Good

STAIN REMOVAL
BLUING BY FABRIC SOFTENER
stainremoval@take-a-moment.com

This is a blue-gray, greasy-looking stain that results from undiluted fabric softener poured directly on fabric or an overuse of softeners in the dryer.

1. Rub stain with a bar of soap and launder.
2. Saturate stain with concentrated detergent and water. Launder in hot water. If stain remains, sponge area with rubbing alcohol or a commercial cleaner that has petroleum distillates in it.* until the stain has lightened. Launder with detergent and warm water. If several items are stained, take to a drycleaner.

*Products containing petroleum distillates or hydrocarbon such as trichloroethane, xylene, methylenechloride, methane, benzene or naphtha. These chemicals may be found in such spot removers and cleaners as Guardsman’s Afta, Dap Cleaner and Thinner, Goof Off, M-1 Remover, Goo gone, K2r.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
CREDIT CARD INTEREST
finances@take-a-moment.com

There are a couple of different ways to calculate interest accrued on a credit card, and there are ways that will cost you more than others. Let’s look at the different calculations!

Previous Balance Method

• Interest is charged on the balance at the beginning of the new billing period.
• This is one of the more costly to cardholders because it charges interest on the beginning balance even if part of the balance has been paid off during the billing period.

Average Daily Balance

• Take the balance at the beginning of the day and subtract any payments made, then determine the average daily balance for the month.
• This is the most common type of interest accrual.

2-Cycle Average Daily Balance

• The average daily balances of the two prior periods are used but interest is charged only on the amount over the current cycle’s average daily balance.

Adjusted Balance Method

• Interest is charged based on the balance at the end of the billing period.
• This is the least costly to the cardholder because it charges interest to only the amount not paid of during the month.

FAMILY LIFE
NIP CONFLICT IN THE BUD
familylife@take-a-moment.com

Conflicts are like weeds in a garden. They are much easier to deal with if you catch them when they are small. Here are some tips for resolving conflict before it grows into a monster:

• Catch a growing problem while it is still small.
• Look for a win-win solution. Expect that both parties will feel good about the result.
• Listen with your heart and your full attention.
• Summarize what you hear the other person saying to make sure you understand.
• Instead of attacking, calmly ask questions with an open mind.
• Say what's on your mind, but be friendly.
• Don't blame. Use "I Statements" such as "I feel . . . " or "I want . . . ."
• Deal with one issue at a time. Stay focused.
• When it feels right, be big enough to say "I'm sorry" or "I like your idea."
• And remember: Often it's more important to be loving than to be right.

NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING
BAKING LIGHT TIPS
whatscooking@take-a-moment.com

With Holidays approaching, cooks are always thinking ways to reduce calories in holiday goodies, especially cookies...Most cookie recipes rely on fat from margarine, butter or shortening as well as sugar for their appetizing taste and texture.
Alterations can be made but must be done carefully not to ruin the original recipe to the point that quality is affected. Simply reducing fat and sugar by no more than 25% should result in a good quality product.
Here are some other tips:

• Adding an extra egg white gives crunch to a low-fat cookie. In recipes that call for several eggs, substitute two egg whites for one of the eggs in you are concerned about cholesterol.
• Light cookies do not brown like their higher-sugar counterparts. Adding a little baking soda 9in addition to any other leavening in the recipe) will promote browning.
• A little corn syrup will produce a browner cookie with a crisp surface and soft interior. Substitute the corn syrup for the same amount of sugar called for in the recipe.
• Use cocoa instead of melted or grated chocolate to help reduce fat. Three tablespoons cocoa plus 1 tablespoon water or other liquid equals 1 square or 1 ounce of melted baking chocolate. Mix the cocoa with the dry ingredients and the liquid with the wet or creamed ingredients.
• Using butter or a high-fat content margarine produces a better quality cookie that using reduced-fat ones that contain water.
• Overbaking will result in dry hard cookies. Most low-fat cookies should be removed from the oven while they're still soft and lightly browned around the edges.

HOME TIPS
LOW COST WAYS TO SAVE HOME ENERGY
hometips@take-a-moment.com

Have you finished caulking and weatherizing your home but still looking for ways to save energy? Here are some things to consider:

• When was the last time you changed the air filters? Don’t reduce your furnace efficiency because a $3 or $15 air filter is clogged! Change the filters once a month or according to the filter manufacturer's instructions. Use a marker to write the date on the filter so you’ll know when it was last changed.

• Another idea is simply to turn off lights when not in use or no one is in the room. Switch to compact fluorescent lighting whenever possible. They use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, yet provide the same amount of light. CFLs last up to 10 times longer and will save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime. They’re available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any indoor or outdoor fixture.

• Consider buying a "smart" thermostat. If you’re the kind of person who forgets to turn the temperature down at night and before leaving for work, but who doesn’t mind programming things like the TV remote control, a “smart” thermostat can be set to automatically adjust the temperature for you. If you have a heat pump, be sure the smart thermostat is labeled for use with a heat pump.

Small changes such as these will add up to significant savings over the year.

Reference: Saving Energy in Your Home, UK Cooperative Extension Service
Source: Linda Adler, Extension Specialist for Home Furnishings, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

WAYS TO WELLNESS
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL HOME INDOOR AIR QUALITY ACTION AND AWARENESS MONTH
wellness@take-a-moment.com

October is designated as National Home Indoor Air Quality Action and Awareness Month. This is an excellent time to think about the quality of the air that you breathe inside your home everyday.

Most people have heard about the hazards associated with radon gas, asbestos materials, and lead products in the home. Learn more about recommended testing, detection, and remodeling procedures related to these pollutants from your local county extension office.

Keep in mind that almost all homes also contain furnishings, combustion appliances, and household products that result in questionable air quality. Frequent headaches, itchy eyes, congestion, nausea, asthma attacks, and fatigue are some of the health problems resulting from poor indoor air quality. Young children, the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and those with asthma, allergies, or respiratory problems are especially susceptible. Take action now toward creating a healthy home for you and your family by identifying and removing potential indoor air pollution sources in your home.

Keep track of the humidity level and temperature inside your home. Biological pollutants, such as mold, mildew, dust mites, and pet dander can be made worse by high humidity, inadequate ventilation, and poorly maintained humidifiers and HVAC systems. Keep the indoor temperature below 80 degrees F. and the humidity between 35 percent and 55 percent for the best environment. If carpeting is water-damaged, clean and dry or remove as quickly as possible. Fix leaks and moisture problems promptly, maintain adequate ventilation, and change furnace/air conditioner filters on a regular basis. (Check and follow manufacturer recommendations.)

Combustion by-products include carbon monoxide from unvented fossil-fuel space heaters, unvented gas stoves and ovens, and back drafting from furnaces and water heaters. Have professionals inspect your chimney, gas burning appliances, and gas burning furnaces and water heaters every year. For added safety install a smoke detector in the hallway near each bedroom. If you have gas or other fossil-fuel burning appliances in the house, install carbon monoxide detectors in these locations as well. Remember to check the batteries frequently, such as on your birthday each year or on the first day of each season. Installation and use of exhaust fans is a good way to reduce indoor air quality problems from combustion by-products as well as from other pollutants.

Formaldehyde is used as a preservative and adhesive in building products and furnishings. Common sources include draperies, upholstery, paneling, and particleboard products used for cabinets and furniture framing. To reduce your exposure, ask about content levels before buying furniture or cabinets. Open windows after installation and air out draperies before hanging.

Household products that may contribute to indoor air problems include household cleaners, paints, solvents, air fresheners, hobby supplies, dry-cleaned clothing, aerosol sprays, adhesives, moth repellents, pesticides, and paint strippers. Select non-aerosol, low-odor, fume-free products whenever possible. Open windows or use an exhaust fan when working with these products.

Take action now to make your home a healthy one. Contact your county extension office for more information about indoor air concerns and other questions concerning your home.

Source:  Linda Adler, Extension Specialist for Home Furnishings, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

IN THE WORK PLACE
TIPS TO FEELING GOOD
workplace@take-a-moment.com

First, take care of your physical health.

1. Push yourself to exercise daily – take a walk
2. Try relaxation exercises when you feel tense.
3. Try to eat 5 fruits and vegetables daily.

Take care of your emotional health.

1. Plan some unscheduled time twice each day to do things you like.
2. Focus your efforts on things that matter. Set priorities for yourself, taking things one at a time.
3. Laugh more often. Enjoy the moment.

(more tips next month)