How to Open Hard Plastic Packaging - With a Can Opener

For Christmas I received some art supplies, that were packaged in those hard plastic sealed packages that are so hard to get into!  Also known as "clamshell" packaging.

I managed to cut myself on this hard plastic when I used the scissors, which bled like crazy!  I knew there were openers you could purchase, but was there a way to open them with something you probably have in your home already?

YES.  Your trusty can opener!

It has to be a portable can opener as pictured, not the electric one that sits on your counter.

If you are tired of trying to get into this style of packaging referred to as 'CLAMSHELL PACKAGING"  then check out this video below on just how to use your can opener.

Clamshell Packaging is Awesome at Protecting Your Products, but....

But when it comes to opening them, they can be downright dangerous!  Sometimes you get lucky and are able to get a corner open and then yank the entire packaging just in time to watch your product go flying out of the container.

That trusty can opener now has a second job!  If you don't own one, this is a worthwhile investment as opening cans and now clamshell packaging make it a useful item to have.  You can get an awesome one online with great reviews or click on the picture at the beginning of this post.  I just replaced mine as they do tend to get dull after a while.

If you are a Gadget Lover....

Maybe you prefer to have a gadget that is strictly for blister packs and clamshell packs, so yes, you can get these online too.



These are perfect if you get a lot of things in those hard plastic containers or packaging. But if like me, you simply wanted to open the nice gift that was given to you or you purchased for yourself, then go to the kitchen drawer and haul out that trusty can opener and enjoy your product without blood!

There is no Reason to Cut Yourself Anymore!

After I saw this video, I was quite excited to try this out, and yes it works!  So I just felt I needed to share this tidbit, since my blog is about "life hacks" and creative ways to make life easier!

How to Make Homemade Dry Shampoo for Cats - DIY Cat Shampoo

I have 3 cats, there I have said it... I am officially a cat lady!

But saying that, I have also noticed that 2 of my cats are not the best at grooming themselves.  Many people think cats are self caring when it comes to grooming, but not all cats...

That being said, they have started to leave shadows on my furniture of old dry fur and dander, and since my daughter in law is allergic, I thought maybe if I helped to groom them, there would not be so much fur and dander floating in the air when you simply pet them and the shadows would stop forming on my couch.

I fear for My Life to Even Consider Wet Shampoo! 

If your cat looks at you like this, then you don't want to be torn to ribbons by trying to dunk them in water.

It can be done, but why stress yourself?  Save your skin and give this a try!

DIY Cat Shampoo - Dry

Since no way in "beep beep" my cats would let me come anywhere near them with water, I decided to try this dry shampoo recipe.  You may already have these things in the house, but if not they are affordable.

• Recipe
• 
  
• Equal parts of:
• 
  
• Flaked rolled oats (not the steel cut ones, nor the flavored ones, just the plain rolled oats usually sold in a bag for making breakfast oatmeal)
• 
  
• Cornmeal (this being slightly abrasive, helps to remove ground in dirt, since my cats do go outside this can be a problem for me)
• 
  
• 2 x tablespoons of baking soda (perfect for controlling odors)

Method:

In a bowl stir together the above 3 ingredients.  I started with a cup of each oats and cornmeal and then added the baking soda.  You can keep this in a airtight container for next time.

Brush Your Cat First

This will get rid of lose fur and dirt.  If your cat loves to be groomed he/she should already be relaxed by this process.

Place a Relaxed Kitty on a Towel or Sheet To Catch Excess or be Prepared to Vacuum

Grab a small handful of the mixture with one hand while petting with the other hand and start to rub in the mixture quickly but gently over their body the best you can and as close to the skin as you can.

Stay away from the face, they are usually pretty good at taking care of their own face.

Start Brushing the Dry Shampoo Out

Hopefully kitty is still purring and loving all the attention.  I don't let my cats see me adding the mixture to their fur for fear of spooking them.  Continue brushing it out as they are probably rolling all over loving this attention.

That is all there is to it.  You will have helped to loosen dirt and excess dander.  My one cat tends to have dry skin and dandruff and I found this helped loosen dead skin as she is 14 and doesn't groom herself as well as she should.

If you are not a fan of this Homemade Dry Shampoo for cats, but like the idea of washing them without water, you can purchase specialized  "waterless cat shampoo" online for a good price.

This is another affordable option. My kitties do not like any kind of "spray noise" anywhere near them, so for me I would spray this into my hands away from them, and then rub it in. It doesn't take much to spook a cat and the last thing you want is a half washed cat running around.  It looks like foam.

The Trick Really is to Get Them Relaxed and Purring

Carve out some time for you and kitty time, don't be in a rush, but using either the diy dry shampoo or the waterless shampoo will keep them groomed and smelling fresh.

The added bonus ... no more fur shadows on my couch or fur floating in the air.

What if I Don't Want the Mess of Dry Shampoo or the Fuss of the Waterless Shampoo?

Don't give up on having a nice clean cat, you can also get these quick wipes.  These remove excess dander and are good for the older cat or non grooming cats.

You can do this very quickly. Simply wipe your cat down with these wipes. Everything is safe and is a quick way to give them a instant bath.

So, there are 3 good options above for helping to groom your cat.  This can also keep excess fur to a minimum and dander.

This would be like a spa day for your cat!

How to Organize Cat Supplies and Toys - Organizing the Chaos

I figured I would always have just one cat, and when my cat Muffin became 13 years old, I figured I would just enjoy her in her senior years, and that would be it for pets.

But life doesn't always work out the way you think, and I ended up with 2 additional cats under my roof.  One feral kitten that I tamed in my yard and now lives indoors and one almost frozen cat on the coldest night of the winter.

How to Organize Cat Supplies and Accessories?

I quickly realized that having 3 cats instead of just one became an organizing nightmare.  I started to purchase cat food and litter in bulk, and the toy population increased as well.  I had large bags of food out in the open and bulk litter with no place to go and toys just everywhere.  So when I stood on one toy, I felt it was time for some organizing!

Pick a Corner of the kitchen, closet or just a corner.  (I found by doing this I could keep things neat and tidy)

Purchase a Food Bin on Wheels and Container For Toys Together

I actually found this pet food container online with this matching container on top which can be used for cat toys, and there grooming supplies, such as the brush and bags of treats etc. This way you get rid of that unsightly bag floating around the kitchen, and you keep bugs out as well as keep the food fresh. I found in the summer months, ants would find their way into these bags.

As soon as you purchase the food, dump it into this container, and add a measured scoop so you don't overfeed them, and keep the other container on top for literally everything else.

Rotate Cat Toys for Stimulation

Don't put all the toys out at once.  Cats need stimulation and love to pretend to hunt the toy.  This also keeps them busy and not so much scratching of furniture and carpet.  But not only does it take over your living space, but they get bored.

Every so Often Rub the Toys in Some Cat Nip

This will get them excited about a toy they have cast aside. Rotating the toys is the perfect way to keep them stimulated. I also got myself an interactive toy for my slightly tubby kitty.

This type of toy keeps her interested as I put a few of her kibbles in it and she rolls it around and every so often one falls out and she gets quite excited about finding the kibble. So she literally works for her food like she would outdoors.

Interactive Toys Keep them Stimulated

Now Back to Organizing Cat Supplies!

 Now that we have the toys figured out and a place to gather them, your floor should look at little cleaner. I still find the rogue toy mouse under the couch with the dust balls. I now have them all in one place in the container along with bags of treats, cat brush, and everything else you may need besides the food.

Litter Disposal System

With 3 cats, and 3 litter boxes ( one on each floor of my house) I didn't want my house to smell like a cat house!  I realized that no matter how often I scooped the litter boxes, the smell would linger.  I was using a bag lined pail with a lid but it wasn't very efficient.

I came across these litter lockers that keep the smell out of your house.  As long as you scoop at least daily, you house doesn't need to smell like a cat house!

These are well worth the investment.

 Cat Litter in Bulk

I found it was much cheaper in bulk, but was awkward to use.

 So I simply sit the box in the corner with a scoop inside and I decant it to a plastic juice container I got from the dollar store, that I can carry with me to the different floors for adding to my litter boxes as I take out the used. This has worked well.

You can get this brand in sizes up to 40 pounds. I like that it is a square box and will sit in the corner of my closet. You could dump it into a container on wheels, but I found it was just easier to scoop it out straight from the box into the juice container. But if you don't like the look of the box, you could do this.

Food, Toys and Litter Organized

Doesn't that feel a bit better?  It still may not be pretty, but by having your food in a container instead of a huge bag, all the toys, grooming brush and treats in the container on top, and all on wheels, makes it a bit easier to use.  I you use canned food you could also store them in the second container.

Now all the Chaos is in One Spot Things Should Seem Calmer and Organized!

I find it actually doesn't take up much room.  Simply changing out the bag for the larger kibble container and smaller container on top organized 90% of everything!

Making the Investment into just a few pieces made all the difference in the world for my kitties!  Obviously they didn't care but I did!

Pet Records

This was the last thing on my list but a necessary one.  With 3 cats I needed to keep track of Veterinarian visits, shots etc.  I had a file folder, but I thought it would be better to have a journal for each cat.  I found this one online.


This is a fun little book that keeps track of everything.

Even if you invest in only one thing, consider the food container on wheels.  The food stays so much fresher and you can see how much is left.  The matching container that sits on top can hold everything else.  This way you can get rid of the ugly food bag.

Once you have that part figured, then take a look at your litter disposal system.  This litter bin is also worth the investment for odors.

I had things in my kitchen cabinets, in the closet, and the bag of food on the floor, so getting everything into one spot simply made life easier.

ENJOY YOUR KITTIES!

A Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Almost Cost me my Life - BEWARE

A few years ago my doctor mentioned my blood pressure was slightly elevated and that maybe I should monitor it a bit more, lose some weight and consider medication.

I was using the drug store machine occasionally , and then one day my hubby saw these home wrist blood pressure monitors and thought it was less bulky and would be perfect for home monitoring.  BIG MISTAKE!

On January 8th, 2016 I felt off, and my ears were ringing and my head aching.  I thought I was coming down with the flu.  Laid down for a bit and it went away but decided to go shopping and it came back, but I also realized that my left side was tingling.

We went home, and my hubby got out the "wrist blood pressure machine", and it said 125/80 and we did it twice (once on each wrist with similar readings).  But finally my left leg and arm felt heavy and numb and I didn't look right so we took one last reading and it still was in normal range.

Went to Walk In Medical Clinic

Hubby took me to the walk in clinic, as I was still convinced in my altered state that it was the flu.  Not sure why I would think having one side of your body tingling and numb would be the flu, but as I said, you are sometimes not in your right mind.  The doctor took my Blood Pressure with the normal arm cuff and it read 205/119!!.

I was sent to the hospital right away and given drugs to bring it down.  I mentioned that I had monitored it with a wrist monitor and the Doctor said not everyone has strong veins in their wrist and therefore I should consider a proper approved arm blood pressure monitor.   This shocked me, that not everyone would get an accurate reading from a wrist monitor.

I was diagnosed with a TIA  (Transient Ischemic Attack).  I was lucky that day, as the blood pressure came down quickly with the medication and my body felt normal again.  This could have been much worse had a I delayed medical attention.

I purchased an approved blood pressure monitor for your arm at the drug store, and have monitored it at home with this and record the readings for different times of the day.  These readings help to create an average profile to see if the medications and lifestyle changes are doing their job.



OMRON makes an approved blood pressure monitor.  The numbers are big and it also takes your pulse.

To make sure your machine reads properly, take it to your pharmacy or your doctor to compare the readings.

Our local pharmacist will take a blood pressure with their arm cuff, and this way you know your home monitor is reading properly.

You can get them at your local drug store but you can also get them online.  This one has over 5100 reviews at the time of this writing.  Such a simple device but worth every penny!

There are a few approved models on the market now, but this one is the most popular.  I like that it also takes your pulse.

Take Charge of Your Health

Many things can cause high blood pressure, even the Doctors are not totally sure of everything.  It may be your weight, salt consumption too high, or many other factors.  No matter what the cause you need to stay on top of it before you have a scare like I did.

Everything went back to normal for me, but I am on two medications.  I was almost put on a third, until I discovered by monitoring daily in those first few weeks that caffeine was a huge issue with my blood pressure.  Take a look at your foods and your drinks, there may be a hidden irritant, in my case caffeine.  So I switched to decaff.  Try different things.  High blood pressure is a warning that things are not right in your body.  Don't just rely on the medications.  They are necessary, but you can also help with your diet, exercise and so much more.

Watch Stress

Stress is handled differently by everyone.  If you don't release it, it can raise your blood pressure.

It is something I had to come to terms with and for me it was "letting go of the little annoying things" that would build up in my day.

I learned to take deep breathing breaks and simply calm down.  It can be hard at first but it does work.



Do Your Own Research - It is Your Body!

You have to do your own research.  It is not a "everything fits one size" when it comes to your health.  If you use a drug store blood pressure machine, many have cards that you can insert so as to keep a printed record you can show your Doctor.  If you use a home monitoring system, such as the one pictured, many will save the readings.  If not, get yourself a note book and record the date, time of day and the reading.

White Coat Syndrome - Why the Home Blood Pressure Monitor is a Good Idea

This is when your blood pressure goes up simply because you are at the Doctors office, maybe a bit nervous.

Either way it is good to show your print outs or your notes, so that you don't end up on more medications than you need.

If your doctor sees that you are using an approved blood pressure monitor and you can show her/him consistent readings, she/he will be able to have more accurate information.

Take care of your body.  Don't just assume everything on the shelf in the store is right for you.  Since a wrist monitor is not accurate for everyone, then why use it?  It almost cost me everything that day.  If it was not for my hubby I would have stayed home assuming the flu since the so called "wrist monitor" was telling me my blood pressure was normal.

Be proactive.  Get a proper arm monitor, just like your doctor would use and USE IT so you will know when things are not right.

CASIO Piano Keyboard - Review - CTK-3500 - Perfect for Beginners or Anyone Wanting to Learn Piano

Since I grew into a "mature person of a certain age"  I decided it was time to learn a few new things to help keep the brain cells working.

I had read that learning new things creates pathways in your brain, which to me sounds like a good thing.  So, I started knitting, and different crafts, but I had always wanted to play the piano since I was a kid, but our family home simply did not have the room or the money.

Fast forward to present, and it still doesn't have the room!  So, my hubby purchase a CASIO CTK-3500 for me for Christmas and said it was time to practice!  Which sounds like work... but it is not!

CASIO CTK-3500

I was a bit skeptical at first that I could even learn how to play anything until I hauled out the manual and discovered there were built in songs that you could learn.  Even showing where to put your hands.  I just used this button below:

Don't Get Overwhelmed by the Amount of Buttons on this Keyboard!

If you are very new to this, like me, start with the SONG BANK button.  It is to the right of the screen in the center of the console.

In the song bank you will find all kinds of songs to try out, perfect for beginners and upwards.  I started with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Start with the Right Hand First

I have never played piano, so I didn't know what to do with the left hand yet, so I simply followed the diagram of the hand showing which fingers and which keys to use.  To make it so that it only plays with the right hand I pushed this key below:

PART SELECT Button

This allowed me to have both hands showing in the screen or just one hand playing.  The START/STOP button is what you use if you need to stop or repeat.

Just work on this for a while.  My Biggest suggestion is don't let the console overwhelm you!  Taking it a bit at time gets you familiar.

It is Fun to Be Able to Play Something Right Away with Your Choice of Accompaniment!

 I didn't offend the ears of others in the house, there were no scales to practice, just dive in with the song bank. Of course if you already can play then you can have a lot of fun with this keyboard. It can carry a lot of sound.  So below is my Pros and Cons list.  I hope this can help anyone deciding what to do.  I am telling you the price is right!  This model I have.. is the CASIO CTK-3500

PRO:

• Awesome keyboard to learn on
• Sounds like a piano (or anything you want it to sound like, but I wanted the piano sounds)
• Song Bank full of songs you can start on right away
• Perfect for anyone who want to play the piano but without the room and investment of a actual piano!
• Super light weight

CONS:

• There instruction manual is way to small.  It is a bit to shrunken for me.  Blame my age maybe, but I at first found the manual overwhelming, so I simply looked up each button and its use and went from there.
• 
  
• Doesn't come with a stand.  I am presently using my Dining table (as you can see in the picture it was setup for Christmas dinner with the festive table clot!)
• 
  
• I think they should create a package deal so you can have the option of a stand for it.

At the time of this post, there were 1475 reviews of this product.  I mean for anyone wanting to learn the piano, organ or keyboard, and who doesn't want to invest to much, you have to check this out.  I am super enjoying the learning process.

I have been enjoying playing from the SONG BANK, but have decided to purchase a proper keyboard book so that maybe one day I can read music.

But for right now it is fun to be able to play songs along with the instrumental background music.

By being able to play something right away, this keeps you interested, and is fun not a chore!  I am totally enjoying this and hope my brain pathways are turning into roads.

For under 150 bucks, you can't go wrong with the quality.  For all ages!