How to Quickly Get Rid of Leaves on Your Small Lawn

 If you have a small lawn but it is full of leaves every autumn, then it becomes that annual chore of raking and bagging.

It can easily become 10 or more bags easily, depending on the trees in your area.  But after years of tackling this chore, I decided on a different approach.

Rake some (small layer, not too thick) into your flower beds and veg gardens to rot and be ready to dig into in the spring to help nourish the soil.  That should take care of some.

But What To Do with the REST?

I am not big on spending money, as most who know me, say I am somewhat "frugal" but sometimes it actually is the best investment.

What am I Talking About?

Leaf Lawnmower or Lawn Sweeper...

Earthwise LSW70021 21-Inch Leaf & Grass Push Lawn Sweeper, Width, Black

Yep, I said it.  If you don't have a huge property or lawn to deal with, you can upgrade your lawnmower to one that actually vacuums and sucks up leaves, mulches them into the bag and now you simply empty it into those leaf bags to put at the end of the driveway.

This is totally opposite to those leaf blowers, which are super noisy especially on a weekend morning!  These mowers actually suck up pine needles and leaves rather than just blow them around.

With the leaves falling now, it might be something worth investing in.  You end up with way less leaf bags for pickup or drop off.

Just something to think about :)

HAPPY FALL 

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Fast

 I love my fruit and I like to keep it at room temperature, so of course, this tends to invite the dreaded fruit flies!  Especially late summer.

There are all kinds of things you can buy, but personally the best and easiest way for me was these two steps.

Step 1 - Apple cider vinegar with a couple drops of dish soap in a little dish on your counter or near where the fruit is living. 

Step 2 - I purchased mesh picnic covers that are kind of cute and cover the fruit bowl.

By doing both of these steps I have completely got rid of those nasty little flies.

You can purchase all kinds of traps, but I found using these 2 steps, they are completely gone. 

 If you don't have any apple cider vinegar, regular white vinegar will work too. I find the smell of the apple cider vinegar actually refreshing in my kitchen. 

 I change out this little dish every few days and they simply disappeared. You don't need a huge dish, just a little candy dish type thing.  

I found using the picnic mesh food covers worked well for the stubborn ones that still give it a try to get to the bananas!

Get Rid of Other Attractions

 I find once the little buggers have got into your kitchen they start looking for other spots such as garbage, or dishes in the sink especially.  

Keep on top of dishes or at least get them into the dishwasher or rinse any food residue off them if they must remain in the sink.

But between the mesh covers and the vinegar dish, you will find them gone.

DIY Popsicles or Should we Say Pupsicles for Dogs

 Dogs feel the heat like we do, and when we crave a cold treat maybe your dog would love one too!

You can do the basic treats of freezing dog food, or broth, but I found this awesome recipe that your pooch is sure to love, with simple clean ingredients.

What you Will Need for PUPSICLES!!:

1 x large banana cut into pieces

4 x tablespoons peanut butter

4 x cups of plain yogurt ( use the nonfat one if your dog is a bit "pudgy")

Some favourite dog biscuits for the sticks

Popsicle molds or ice cube trays

Method:

Step 1:  Mix all the ingredients (except the biscuits) in a blender or food processor until creamy.

Step 2:  Pour into molds.

Step 3:  Use the dog biscuits as the "stick" for the popsicle.

Step 4:  Freeze overnight or at least 4-5 hours.

Step 5:  Take out of mold and give to your dog to enjoy!  Preferably outside with you so the drips are contained to the outdoors.  

You can change of the ingredients if you prefer other flavours for your dog. You could add crumbled bacon, or take the biscuits and add as a crunch topping before freezing.

Let your poochie enjoy the cool treats on that hot day with PUPSICLES you have made with love.

You can use your ice cube trays, or you can get dog specific molds that can be frozen into dog themed treats below online:

Cool down this summer with some cool treats for you and your best friend!

How to Clean a BBQ Grill Easily

 It's that time of year with the sun out, drinks on the patio and that bbq cooking your favorite foods..  ahhhh summer living!

But after a few meals, that bbq grill tends to build up burnt on food and grime.  You can try and burn it off by keeping the bbq going after you have cooked your food, but that is not super efficient and I find it simply cakes up on the grills.

You could take them inside and use oven cleaner, 

or 

you can use this simple method:

VINEGAR and TIN FOIL

This really works and then there are no fears of harsh chemicals transferring to your next meal.

What You Will Need:

Spray bottle filled with plain white vinegar

Balled up pieces of tin foil.

Method:

1.  When your BBQ is cold, spray white vinegar onto your grill.  

2.  Wait about 15 minutes

3.  Use your balled up tin foil to go back and forth along the grills and you will be amazed at what comes off!

The tin foil is basically your scrubber brush.  Works super well.

Have an awesome summer!

How to Trim Your Calories to Lose Weight - No Fuss No Muss

 As with many people, the silly saying that is going around is how "I gained the Covid 10 or 15 or 20"!!  

Without the activities,  going to the office, the gym and socializing many people took to the couch and Netflix and gained a few pounds!

If this is you (and me!) then here is a brilliant way that has worked for me in order to lose the stubborn pounds without counting every bite, depriving yourself or working your butt off in exercise.

I find counting calories super stressful and the minute you take away any treats I will constantly think about them, so to me trying to lose weight seemed stressful until I found this idea.

PORTION CONTROL

Now before you hit the back button as visions of scales and measuring spoons come into mind, I came across these portion control plates.

You simple fill the spaces with your favorite foods and you are using portion control!

Portion control is the best way in my opinion to ditch some calories without feeling deprived.  A came across an article that stated our dinner plates have seriously grown in size since the 1950s, and of course we tend to fill them.

I despise measuring and weighing food, so this idea has been working for me.  I don't cut anything out I simply control the size, which is easier when you use a premeasured plate.  You get used to eating less.

Hope this helps!

How to Make Brewed Coffee Less Bitter

 If you love brewed filtered coffee, but some brands just seem to have a bitter taste?  Try this old fashioned trick to mellow out that brew and start your morning off right.

This life hack will even take that pound of coffee you got on sale and turn it into a decent cup of joe!!

What you will Need:

Egg shells

Vinegar

Coffee Maker (type that uses paper filters)

ground coffee

water

Method:

After your next batch of eggs, don't throw out those shells.  

Step 1:  Take the egg shells and place in a bowl of water with some added vinegar and give them a little wash and then rinse.

Step 2:  Place on a paper towel to dry.

Step 3:  Prep your coffee maker as per usual with filter, water and coffee grounds.

Step 4:  Crush the dried egg shells of one or two eggs and place on top of the ground coffee.

Step 5:  ENJOY!

The eggshells are alkaline which neutralizes some of the coffee acidity that tends to make it bitter.

This way you can purchase some of the cheaper brands and still enjoy a mellow cup of coffee to start off your day right!

Maybe it is time for a new coffee maker?  Especially if the water runs through yours very slowly.

You can get all kinds of models online. Some will help to make your coffee taste much better. But if you can't swing a new one right now, keep and wash those egg shells!!

Homemade Nail Polish Remover DIY

 With this pandemic going on, we do have to get creative with some of our personal care.  

If you have been doing your own nails/pedicures then you know just how stinky and toxic that nail polish remover can be.

I found this recipe, and it really does work!  So if you find yourself wanting to work on your personal grooming ie: nails! ... and you don't have any remover at home, or don't want to use harsh chemicals...  Check this idea out.

What you Will Need:

Lemon juice (the stuff in the bottle works well too)

white vinegar

cotton balls 

Method:

1.  Mix equal parts of lemon juice with white vinegar.  

2.  Soak some cotton balls in the mixture.

3.  Then press a cotton ball soaked in the mixture against your nails and hold it for at least 30 seconds.

You will see that the mixture has begun to dissolve your polish.

That is It!!!!!

It does work.  It does take slightly longer, but you get the same result without the harsh chemicals.

If this is not your idea of fun, you can also purchase complete nail care packages online.

Have fun and spend some time and effort on yourself. Doing your nails or a pedicure can make you feel like a million bucks! Take care and stay safe!