Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 377

As Prices Rise, Try These Tips to Save on Gas

Rising gasoline prices put a damper on consumers' mood in January, according to a survey released January 14 by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan. The spike at the pump to more than $3 on average nationwide also has more people worried about inflation. Overall consumer sentiment slipped to 72.7 compared to 74.5 in December. Here are some tips to save on gasoline.

 

Comparison shop: Sites such as GasBuddy.com, GasPriceWatch.com, and MSN Autos allow you to enter your ZIP code to see what local stations are charging. If you're on the road and don't have a web-enabled phone,  steer clear of affluent areas, where customers are generally less price sensitive and station prices higher. Also avoid stations directly adjacent to major freeways; you'll get a better deal a few blocks away.

 

Fill up at a warehouse club: Discount warehouse clubs such as Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale have gas stations across the country, and their prices are typically lower than independent operators. (Just factor in the cost of your annual membership when analyzing the savings.)

 

Choose regular: Buy the lowest (and cheapest) octane of gasoline. As long as the engine runs quietly -- no knocking or pinging -- regular unleaded should be fine. Just double-check your car's owners manual for the manufacturer's fuel recommendation.

 

Don't top it off: You'll likely pay for fuel that spills or dribbles back into the station's tanks.

 

Take it easy: Accelerate smoothly, decelerate and brake gently. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, driving aggressively can lower gas mileage by up to 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town. Use cruise control on the highway, and don't exceed the speed limit. The Energy Department suggests that each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 mph is equivalent to paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.

 

Avoid excessive idling:  In one test, drivers for the auto Web site Edmunds.com drove a 10-mile route, stopping 10 times for two minutes each, and then repeated the route without stopping. Driving straight through saved up to 19 percent on gasoline. If you expect to be idling for more than a minute, shut off the engine.

 

Pay cash or get cash-back: Many stations offer a discount for paying in cash. Alternately, consider a credit card that offers cash back on fuel purchases. The web site PumpAndSave.com lists some of the best gas cash-back credit cards as chosen by gas consumers and car owners.

 

Keep your ride in tune: Schedule regular engine tune-ups; make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure; and clean out the trunk. According to the Department of Energy, an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your miles per gallon by up to 2 percent.

 

Setting Up a Working Home Office

I've been working from home for almost six years now, and for the most part, I've enjoyed it. I find I can be just as productive at home as I ever was in an office. While I certainly miss the camaraderie, I don't miss the mindless meetings or sitting in traffic knowing I was going to be late to pick up the kids. Again.

Working from home has its many benefits—convenience, zero commute time and easy access to the kitchen among them—but it's not something that's done easily from a laptop on the sofa. To work well from home regularly, day after day, you will need a good set up. Before we moved, I worked out of a spare bedroom on the second floor of our house. This was ideal. Now that my husband and I both work from home, I've been banished to the so-called "formal living room" which does not have a door I can close or very good light in the late afternoon.

This is about to change.

At the minimum, a working home office should have:

A spacious desk, complete with drawer storage and task lighting
A full-sized computer monitor (or two depending on the type of work you do)
Ergonomically correct keyboard
A quality office chair--expect that the prettiest ones are never the most comfortable
Separate business phone line with headset
All-in-one printer/fax/copier--wireless is best if you have others in the house who might need access during the workday
Filing cabinet or file boxes

Your biggest expense in outfitting a home office is most likely going to be the computer monitor and the chair. When shopping, consider devices that multi-task: the computer monitor that can also be a TV, the printer that sends and receives faxes, a storage ottoman that doubles as a filing cabinet.

If you don't have the luxury of a spare bedroom in your home, try to partition off the work space with a folding screen or a pair of long curtain panels. Even a large potted plant will do the trick. You'll find that leaving the office takes on a whole new meaning when you're trying to relax in the same space an hour later. One trick is to leave your home at the end of the work day—even if it's just for a quick walk around the block—to send your mind and body a message that the office is now closed.




photo: Knoll MultiGeneration Hybrid Chair

Kick-Start Your New Year: Test Your Smoke Detectors

Take five minutes this weekend to test the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

 

 

If you install new batteries on any of your smoke detectors, set up two reminders of when to replace them.

 

First, take a piece of masking tape, and write the today's date on it. Then wrap it around the middle of the battery, being sure not to cover the ends. That way you'll know at a glance when the new battery was put in.

 

Second, if you use the calendar on your computer or on your phone, create an alert for one year from today. If you haven't replaced the battery by the time the alert goes off, you'll know to replace it on that day.

 

Related:

How to Prepare for an Emergency
25 Timely Tips for the New Year
A Room-by-Room Guide to Making Your Home Safer

 

A Quick (Beauty) Recipe

We all can agree that there isn't always 30 minutes or an hour to take out of your day to go to a spa and get a relaxing facial. Sometimes making the time is more stressful, than not going. Yet, don't you still want to treat yourself for even just a few relaxing minutes?

 

I spoke with Melissa Shea, a brilliant facialist at a spa in NYC, and got her to spill her at home spa facial treatment. She explained to me why this papaya based facial will awaken your skin and keep it healthy from the outside in. In addition to being quite tasty, this facial is  super easy (less than 30 minutes) and all-natural!

 

 

Enzyme Brightening Treatment**:
 
Supplies:
1 Papaya, (very ripe)
1 oz Pineapple juice
1 Steamy hot hand towel, (damp, but not soaking wet..)

 

Instructions:
1. Slice papaya in half; remove pit. Mash entire papaya into a bowl, add pineapple juice.

2. After mixing thoroughly, apply on entire face avoiding eye area, (but,it is safe to apply over lips,and quite yummy!) You can also feel free to apply this goodness using your hands.

3. Ensure that entire face is evenly covered with mask

4. While lying down, apply steamy towel over entire face, (this will keep the enzymes in the papaya moist and active), and relax for about 15 minutes.

5. Remove mask with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.

6. Apply a gentle, yet effective moisturizer.

7. Always wear SPF before walking out the door, especially after an exfoliating treatment like this, try something ranging from SPF 30 to SPF 70.

 

(image by love♡janine on flickr)

 

 

Melissa also explained why it works:

 

The active enzymes that naturally occur in papaya have been know for centuries to clear out digestive congestion when ingested. The same concept applies when using papaya in a treatment mask; the enzymes work like little "pac-men", and literally digest away accumulated dead skin and cellular congestion. The pineapple juice creates a more acidic treatment.

 

 

Do you have at home treatments that you regularly do? Share your recipes! Also, let me know what you think of this one. I did it last weekend and loved it.

 

 

**Note: Always check with your dermatologist before trying home skin care remedies such as this, and ask your doctor to perform an allergy patch test if you are trying something new on your skin. Do not perform this or any other at home treatment if you are currently under a doctor's care and taking medications prescribed for dermatological conditions. 

A Question for the May Issue

Happy Friday, Bookies:

Here's something to mull over as you start your weekend: Which fictional character would you like to befriend?

That question, of course, comes from our friends down the hall on the print side of Real Simple, which means that your answer may appear in the May issue. Just write a line or two below on the character—telling us what you like about him or her and why you think you two would click—along with the title and author of the book in which he/she appears. Thanks, Bookies, and enjoy your weekend.

Are you reading this via an e-mail or RSS feed? If you wish to comment, please click here.

Found ring around the Xbox game?

During a recent marathon Rock Band 3 game with friends, we broke the disc without removing it from the Xbox.

 

How, you may ask, did we accomplish this feat of magic? While I'd like to tell you it was because our stellar head banging skills caused the disc to spontaneously combust, the real cause is much more mundane. . .

We shifted the Xbox while it was running.

It turns out that when an Xbox is moved, jostled, or nudged while running, the disc can slip in the tray, rubbing against something inside and causing a ring-shaped scratch around the disc. The scratch, which forms a perfect circle and is referred to as the "Ring of Disc Death," renders the disc unusable and, in our case, ruined a night of rocking out.

Visiting our local GameStop gave me an explanation for the why (the associate told us that vacuuming near a running Xbox could also cause the problem), and a couple of solutions including buffing out the scratch or, for future purchases, buying scratch protection for the games ($3 - $5 per game).

A Manic Mommies listener, Jennifer D. also passed along a few tips from her husband:

#1: Don't store the Xbox standing up. The design is really cool and looks pretty sweet standing up but if you leave it horizontal like the old school Xbox, it prevents the disks from skipping like they do when they're stored vertically. 

#2: Install the games to your Xbox hard-drive.  This way, when you're playing the games, they aren't actually spinning the disk the entire time, it just reads the game and then plays it off the hard-drive.

Of course the easiest way to avoid the Ring of Death? Turn off the Xbox before moving and handle with care.

Have you discovered 'ring around the Xbox game?'

Cozy Kitchen Accessories for a Cold Winter Day

We've been getting a lot of snow lately and the weather has been freezing, so I'm always looking for ways to warm up. Here are a few food-friendly items I spotted that make me feel warm and cozy just by looking at them. It's going to be a long winter…

 

Knitted Coffee Sleeves, $18, in white or red at Curiosityshoppeonline.com
These cable-knit accessories are both stylish and functional.

(image: curiosityshoppeonline.com)

 

Buddha Bowl, $23, in assorted colors at Flavourdesign.com
I actually have one of these bowls; cradling some hot soup or tea in your hand is incredibly comforting.

(image: flavourdesign.com)

 

Apple Sweater, $14, in assorted colors from Handmaidenbc.etsy.com

How adorable is this? Throw your dressed-up apple in your tote or purse and the hand-knit sweater will help protect your fruit from punctures and bruises.

(image: handmaidenbc.etsy.com)

 
Soup and Sandwich Tray, $30 at Uncommongoods.com
It might be the tomato soup and grilled cheese that's drawing me in, but let's face it—there's nothing like a soup and sammy combo to comfort you on a chilly day.

(image: uncommongoods.com)

 
Latte Bowls, $30 for six at Anthropologie.com
Sip a café au lait or hot chocolate out of these oversize bowls for a warm treat that'll make you feel oh-so-French. I'm especially partial to the yellow—it's just the thing to perk me up on a gray winter day.

(image: anthropologie.com)

 

Kick-Start Your New Year: Add More Veggies to Your Diet for a Better Complexion

No doubt several of you made the resolution to eat healthier this year. And aside from all the benefits you normally think about when it comes to eating vegetables, there is a new study that claims they help improve your skin tone as well.

 

 

The study, which was conducted by a doctor at the University of Nottingham, found that people who eat a greater number of servings of fruits and vegetables containing carotenoids (antioxidants) have a more  golden skin color. And that based on surveys done, a veggie-rich complexion was judged more beautiful than a normal complexion and a tanned complexion.

 

Read more about the study here: Looking Good on Greens from University of Nottingham

 

Try these fruits and vegetables for an extra does of carotenoids: carrots, cantaloupe, tomatoes, spinach, and kale.

 

How do you add more fruits and vegetables into your diet?

 

Related:

10 Delicious and Surprising Salads
Vegetables in Disguise
The 30 Healthiest Foods

 

Short Attention Span Health/Fitness News

I honestly don't know where this first half of January went, but in the 13 days since the New Year, I've been stashing away bits of interesting, odd, and/or helpful health news for future use.

Well, the future is now, so without further ado, I present "The Short Attention Span Health/Fitness News" of early January 2011. (I hope to rustle up enough noteworthy items for a stunning sequel in a week or two.)

1. The secret to a happier marriage: be thinner than your husband! According to new research from the University of Tennessee, women were more satisfied in their relationship when they had a 'thinner' Body Mass Index than their partner. Men, too, were similarly content in their nuptial status when their wife stayed trim. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about this or even if this is all that revelatory. Of course, staying healthy means staying within your BMI range. But somehow tethering your happiness at home with the numbers on the scale skeeves me out, even if I understand that the link may involve a host of other factors.

2. Meet me by the chuck roast: Finally, the USDA is requiring that the 40 most popular cuts of meat and poultry products bear the standard Nutrition Facts label. This is great news for anyone (like me!) who's interested in the fat, calorie, cholesterol and nutrient content of my meat products, but long wondered where the panel was. (And those % lean stickers on some items don't really help. I want the facts, just like I get on a bag of Doritos!)

3. A new kind of chest protection: The following news seems like a bit of a stretch, but the makers of the rather crassly-named Racktrap—a petite pouch designed to tuck right into your bra cup, to hold your keys, ID and a wad of cash—claim that this itty-bitty invention has actually foiled a mugging. According to the folks at Racktrap, professional stand-up comedienne Shawn Pelofsk was recently in Barcelona, Spain when her wallet was snatched from her purse on a crowded subway car. But wait! She'd stashed all the really good stuff (cash, credit cards) discreetly under her shirt. And under her bra. Nice thinking Shawn! A three-pack of the Racktrap which is particularly great for taking on a walk or run when you don't have pocket, sells for $16. (I think I'd prefer to call mine the Cash Cache.)

4. Top Tunes: While it's a new year, that doesn't mean we're only listening to music from 2011. In fact, the workout music database site RunHundred.com has released its of the most grooved to tunes for the past year. The top five are: "Club Can't Handle Me" (Flo Rida & David Guetta), Bad Romance (Lady GaGa), We R Who We R (Ke$ha), After the Love (R.I.O.) and Shut It Down (Pitbull & Akon). I'm not going to admit how many (or few) of those I even recognize, but the bigger point is that the RunHundred site is great in that you can select songs based on BPM, to better align with your workout and help stay motivated. (After all, research has shown that working out to music with 120 to 140 beats per minute can lead to better performance as well as more stamina.) To liven up your playlist, go to runhundred.com for the top picks from the month of January.

5. Signs of the times: I'm not entirely sure what case I can make for this item to be health- or fitness-related, but to some people, this is BIG, life-changing news. Apparently, the zodiac signs have changed. Not the actual signs, but the dates that tell you what sign you are. It's sort of complicated astonomical mumbo-jumbo but the long and short of it is that today's planetary system is in a different place than it was back when these important matters were first set, some 3,000 B.C., in astronomy's infancy. To find out if you're now a Taurus, not a Gemini (Which is what I found. Ahh! What does this mean?!?) Check out the full list of changes here.

Getting Your Bookshelves In Order

Marketplace, a show produced by American Public Media that runs on many National Public Radio stations, reported earlier this week that "Hardback books are still thriving." Apparently, even though sales of electronic books have skyrocketed in the past 12 months, so have purchases of hardcover books in both the U.S. and U.K.



If you're a hardcover book buyer, you may be finding yourself knee deep in books and looking for some organizing solutions. Here are my tips for some rules to apply to your bookshelves to keep them clutter free and organized from my book Unclutter Your Life in One Week (which, happily, is now available in paperback and on Amazon for just $8.33):

Give away any books that you don't plan on reading or referencing again, are in the public domain, and can be found in their entirety online.
Keep the leather-bound copy of The Scarlet Letter that your grandmother gave you on her deathbed.
Give away or recycle out-of-date reference books. They're full of inaccurate data.
Keep books that you love and books that provide you with significant utility.
Give away books that you've been storing for the sole purpose of impressing your houseguests. If you've never read the complete works of Shakespeare, and you never plant to read the complete works of Shakespeare, get rid of the complete works of Shakespeare.


Once you have purged all of the books from your home that don't meet these guidelines, think about organizing your books in a way that makes the greatest sense to you: Invent your own cataloging system, use the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress method, alphabetize by author last name, or loosely cluster them by subject. Since the books that are left in your collection are ones that you have use for or derive information from, you should be able to find them on your shelves when you need them.

How do you keep your bookshelves under control and organized? Share your methods in the comments.