Sunscreen - Part 7 (End)

7. A bigger price tag doesn't equal better results.  Price sunscreen is not necessarily more effective.

One of the most interesting results from The Sweethome's study is that a pricier sunscreen is no more effective than a drugstore find.

Sunscreens that are more expensive are packed with expensive but irrelevant ingredients (think extracts and fragrances) that are not present in high enough amounts to make a difference in effectiveness.

There's also the issue of branding. According to Johnston, products with a fancy French name or a couture design house might not sell an inexpensive bottle of sunscreen simply to stay on brand. The moral of the story? Don't buy tiny expensive bottles you're afraid to use liberally. 

Sunscreen - Part 6

6. Avoid the "sensitive skin" myth for kids. There’s no such thing as sensitive skin sunscreen.

According to two experts Johnston consulted, Perry Romanowski and Patricia Treadwell (a chemist and dermatologist, respectively), there's no such thing as "sensitive skin" — it's simply another marketing term.  Everyone can be irritated by different things.  If a sunscreen is irritating you, it's most likely to be the fragrances or dyes in the sunscreen.

Which touches on the topic of kids: What type of formula should they be using? First off, babies under 6 months of age should not be in the sun at all. Second, sunscreen marketed for babies and children are basically the same as all other sunscreens, they just come in child-friendly packages and scents. "Unless your child needs to smell like a banana to be convinced to wear sunscreen, there's no need to pay more for them,"

Sunscreens - Part 5

5. Skip the sprays (go for lotion instead).

The convenience of a spray may seem tempting, but spotty application is almost guaranteed — just think about windy gusts blowing half of your sunscreen away. Sprays have recently become a popular offering, because it seems like they save you from having to rub them in.  But if you check the label, you actually must rub them in to work.

Plus, you can't actually measure how much you've applied on your skin (remember, at least a shot glass worth each hour!). Another drawback? They are easy to inhale, which isn't ideal. Lotion is the safest format, and if you're using enough of a good product, like our picks, it should not be difficult or tedious to spread. 

Sunscreen - Part 4

4. There's no such thing as a "waterproof" or "sweatproof" sunscreen.  Waterproof sunscreen is an urban myth.

When shopping for a sunscreen, the "waterproof" feature is somewhat of an urban myth. You should never count on sunscreen to stick to your skin after swimming or working out — plus, per FDA regulation, sunscreen can only claim water-resistance for up to 80 minutes before reapplication.

If you do go in the water, it's important to reapply immediately after you get out. If you plan to be in the water for longer than an hour or so — say, if you're surfing or long-distance swimming — wear protective clothing instead.

Sunscreen - Part 3

3. Not all sunscreens use the same method protection. Try a chemical sunscreen to avoid looking chalky.

There are two main sunscreen formulas on the market: physical (which reflects beams away) and chemical (which soaks up rays before they hit your skin). Some companies even offer a hybrid version of both.

Generally speaking, physical sunscreens (those with zinc oxide and titanium oxide in the ingredients) are the ones that tend to appear white on the skin,  Chemical sunscreens, that use oxybenzone and avobenzone, [usually] dry to a much more subtle finish. If a physical sunscreen is making you look chalky, try a chemical sunscreen instead.

Other than that, the only reason to choose one over the other is personal preference.

Sunscreens - Part 2

2. But, how you apply matters more.  Apply a shot-glass worth every hour

According to a dermatologists The Sweethome spoke to as well as multiple academic papers and studies they referenced, you should apply a shot-glass-size worth of sunscreen (or about an ounce) every hour that you're outside. According to the research, most of us only use about a quarter to a half of what is actually needed to receive the advertised SPF benefits.

To make the most of your sunscreen, you should apply at least 30 minutes before you go outside, then once again each hour and every time after you swim and/or sweat. Sound like a lot of lotion? It is. Which means the more affordable your sunscreen the better.

Sunscreens - Part 1

This is an article from Today.com and with summer hear we all need to take note of this information if we plan on being in the sun.

1,  Yes, SPF matters – Go for SPF 40 or above and apply liberally

 Let's start with the basics. While Consumer Reports recently discovered that some SPF 60+ sunscreens didn't meet the claim on their label, you should still pay attention to that little number on the bottle. Use SPF 40+ as a benchmark and apply liberally (more on that later) to help reduce your chances of reddening, sunburn, wrinkles, liver spots, skin sagging and, most of all, skin cancer.

SPF stands for 'sun protection factor' and is a rough measure of how well the sunscreen can keep your skin from getting damaged by the sun.  SPF 50 blocks 98 percent of the rays attacking your skin, and lower SPFs block less.

Equally as important? The amount of UVA and UVB protection listed.  It's not hype at all! UVA and UVB rays cause different types of damage; Generally speaking, UVB rays cause sunburn, and UVA cause deeper, longer-term damage like wrinkles. "Both UVA and UVB contribute to skin cancer, so it's important to have a sunscreen that can block both

The Many Uses of Coffee Grounds - Part 4

Clean smelly hands

Rubs hands with a scoopful of spent grounds to eliminate odors from fish, garlic, and other strong-smelling foods. "There's no need to mix with soap," says Maker. "Your hands may have a coffee smell, but it will remove the more unpleasant odor, and you can wash with soap after rinsing the grounds off your hands."

The Many Uses of Coffee Grounds - Part 3

Attract earthworms to your garden

Just like sleep-starved teachers and long-haul truckers, earthworms L-O-V-E coffee. And you know what happy earthworms do to soil? Make it a whole lot richer! "They're attracted to organic material like coffee grounds, and they help distribute it through the soil," says Melinda Myers, a gardening expert, author, and host of the How to Grow Anything DVD set. A healthy worm population enhances the quality of garden soil by stimulating microbial activity, churning the soil, improve water-holding capacity and water filtration, providing channels for root growth, and burying plant residue, according to the USDA.

For optimal results, sprinkle your soil with a 1/2-inch-thick layer of coffee grounds, says Myers.

The Many Uses of Coffee Grounds - Part 2

Scour pans, tools, etc

Eliminate stubborn, stuck-on grime by scrubbing with a couple spoonfuls of coffee grounds. The gentle abrasion provides extra scouring power to clean the dirtiest of dishes and pans. "You don't need to mix in soap, just use a thin cloth to get the abrasive action working," says Melissa Maker, host of the Clean My Space channel on YouTube and founder of a Toronto-based cleaning service of the same name. Before scouring the whole pan, test a small area to make sure the grounds don't stain the surface—and never use on delicate ceramic or non-stick surfaces.

The Many Uses of Coffee Grounds - Part 1

Deodorize your fridge

After your coffee is brewed, put the grounds to work again—this time as a powerful odor absorber inside your fridge. Leaving a bowlful of used grounds in the fridge overnight will rid your icebox of icky odors, according to Apartment Therapy. Repeat as often as you'd like. If you're battling particularly potent odors, feel free to leave the grounds in the fridge until the job is done.

Info from Grandparents.com

Sweet Potato Hash Browns

1 medium sweet potato
3 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. sugar
Pinch of cloves - to taste

Peel the sweet potato and grate as you would for hash browns.  Melt the butter.  Stir the sugar into the butter.  Toss melted butter into the grated potato.  Spray a non-stick frying pan with non-stick spray.  Over medium high heat 'fry' the potatoes until done, allowing some to actually brown.  Sprinkle with cloves.  Serves 2

Comment:  When I was a kid my Mom would make fried sweet potatoes.  She would cut them into strips and fry them in butter allowing some to brown.  When they were done she would sprinkle them with sugar instead of salt.  This was a delicious dessert for us.  I decided to try grating my potatoes and see if I could get the same taste without all the butter that was required when she fried hers.  This worked perfectly!  I could eat these every day!  If you don't like cloves you can sprinkle a little nutmeg or cinnamon or nothing at all.

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #15 Areca Palm (End)

Areca Palm

Why you want it: This pretty indoor house palm is a great inspiration if you're dreaming of tropical climates—or just trying to conjure the look in your home decor. It can grow to about seven feet for a dramatic touch in a room, but a smaller pot will keep it contained if you'd like it to stay smaller.

How to care for it: The areca palm does well in indirect light. Keep the soil somewhat dry, only watering on alternate weeks or so. 

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #14 Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Why you want it: This lovely indoor tree (actually a species of ficus) has large, dark-green leaves that seem to form the vague outline of a fiddle or violin—that's how it gets its name.

How to care for it: This indoor plant likes room temperatures between about 65 and 75 degrees, and exposure to bright to medium light. The surface of the soil should dry out slightly between watering. If it starts to look a bit pale, try moving it to somewhere less bright. 

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #13 Shamrock Plant

Shamrock Plant

Why you want it: This jaunty indoor house plant has bright green leaves that look like shamrocks, plus sweet white flowers on tall stems.

How to care for it: This house plant loves bright but indirect or filtered light. Allow the soil to dry out a bit between watering thoroughly about once per week. 

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #12 Peperomia

Peperomia

Why you want it: A whole array of small indoor house plants with textured, shiny, often colorful leaves fit into this category. Some popular and attractive—and easy-to-manage—indoor varieties include watermelon, red-edge, and ripple peperomias.

How to care for it: Peperomias favor indoor temps from about 60 to 75 degrees and medium or low lighting conditions. The surface of the soil should dry out between watering. 

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #11 Heart-Leaf Philodendron

Heart-Leaf Philodendron

Why you want it: This is a trailing indoor house plant that loves to make its way down from mantles or bookshelves. Its perky, dark green leaves come to a heart shape where they meet the stems.

How to care for it: This may be the quintessential easy indoor plant. It thrives in a range of lighting conditions from low to sunny, preferring indirect light. It does well anywhere close to standard room temperature. Let the surface of the soil dry between watering; it should not be constantly wet. 

Comment:  I have a pot of this growing on a shelf above my computer.  It started running across to a picture to its left.  It then climbed up the wall and has started running across the wall above the window.  Really beautiful.

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #10 Ficus

Ficus

Why you want it: This indoor tree has shiny leaves to add cheer to any indoor space. Its stems can be braided for a tidy topiary effect we love.

How to care for it: This tree likes full sun, or at least bright filtered light. Most varieties (there are about 800!) prefer several days of dry soil in between thorough watering. Room temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees work best. 

Comment:  The one thing I've learned about this plant is that it doesn't like being moved.  Once it gets use to a spot - light, etc. - mine always started losing its leaves if I moved it until it gets use to the new spot.

Indoor House Plants That won't Die On You - #9 Snake Plant

Snake Plant

Why you want it: It doesn't get much easier than this indoor house plant—also sometimes known as mother-in-law's tongue! It has variegated leaves that grow upright, and some varieties' leaves have yellow or white edges. It has small white flowers that bloom only rarely.

How to care for it: This indoor plant grows well in a whole range of lighting conditions. The air should be somewhat dry, as should the soil. Any normal room temperature should suit it just fine. 

Indoor House Plants That Won't Die On You - #8 Peace Lily

Peace Lily

Why you want it: Surely you've seen this indoor house plant in many homes, since it has such pretty, curving white blooms and dark leaves—and it's super easy to grow.

How to care for it: This house plant favors low humidity and also low light, making it great for rooms with few windows. It prefers moist soil throughout the pot and tolerates standard temperatures ranging to about 85 degrees.