Ahhhh, 7-11 Coffee - it is addicting! And we have the absolute secret to finding the freshest pot of coffee. Look at the inside rim of every coffee pot. The one with the most condensation on the inner plastic spout is the freshest!

So the next time you are in 7-11 getting one of those amazing cups of coffee, look for the condensation. Then fill your cup to the brim with steaming hot fresh coffee, french vanilla cappuccino, or any of the other condiments you have a fancy for - and enjoy!

Is your computer, well, slower than dirt? Does it take twice as long to open a program than it used to? That means it is time to clean up your pc!

These are instructions for Windows 2000 and Windows XP users. First, look on your desktop. Do you see the icon that says, “My Computer?” Double click on that. Now, on the top of the window, look for the word Tools. Click on that, and then go down and click on Folder Options. Click on the tab that says View. Look for the sentence that says, “Show Hidden Files or Folders.” Make sure that is checked, and then click OK.

Double click on c:\. Then, “Documents and Settings.” Do you see your name in there? It will be the name you use to log in to the computer. Double click on that. Now double click on Local Settings, and then Temporary Internet Files. Wait until all the files appear in the window. Now click Edit, Select All then File, Delete. Now we can close this whole window and move on to the next step.

Double click on “My Computer.” Double click on “c:\.” Look for the windows directory – it will either be called Windows or Winnt. Double click on that. Click on “show the content of this folder” if you need to. Scroll down to the directory called, “Temp.” Double click on that. Click on Edit, Select All and File, Delete. Close this window.

Look on your desktop for the Recycle Bin. Right click on it. Select “Empty Recycle Bin.”

Now connect to the internet with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Click on Tools on the top menu, and then click on Windows Updates. Follow all of the instructions to download and update your computer.

Finally, we want to look at what programs are starting up in the background when Windows starts up. There are two ways to look for this, depending on how your Start Menu appears. Look for “Start” on the bottom left hand corner of your screen. Click it. Now, if only one column appears, click Programs and look for the folder that says, “Startup.” If two columns appear, click on Start, All Programs and then look for the folder that says, “Startup.”

Look at what shows up when you are on “Startup.” All of these programs are actually launching when Windows loads. You want as little as possible in here. Highlight anything you want to remove and right click your mouse. Find “delete” and click it. Note – this is NOT deleting the program! It is only stopping it from running automatically when you start up your pc. The fewer things you have running when the computer boots up, the better. To finish this whole process, shut down your pc and turn it back on.

Now that you have your pc spic and span, it is time to look for spyware and blast it away! Read further for our article on removing spyware. Happy Computing!

A study was conducted under the careful eye of Dr. Kristen Wickens of Wellington Asthma Research Group, based in New Zealand. The study followed 1,321 children between the ages of 10 and 12 years old. Diet was recorded, along with the prevalence of asthma and it's symptoms. The children were also given skin prick tests for common environmental allergens.
The study found that children eating more than one fast food hamburger a week were 75% more likely to have asthma and 100% more likely to suffer from wheezing. Other fast food meals will increase chances of wheezing as well.

Dr. Wickens suggested the high salt content of these hamburgers may be the culprit, but this has yet to be studied. So if your child suffers from asthma, wheezing or allergies, consider a healthier alternative to fast food meals - particularly hamburgers.

It only takes one accidental click to completely infest your computer with spyware. And once it’s there, it is very difficult to remove! But have no fear, I am going to walk you through the process I use at work to clean spyware off of a pc.

The first thing you want to do is bring your computer up in safe mode. Print these instructions and shut down your computer. Now, as soon as you turn it back on, begin hitting the “F8” key several times until you get a menu with the option “safe mode.” Use your arrow keys to highlight “safe mode” and hit enter. It takes a few minutes to boot up this way, and you may even receive a message asking if you are sure you want to do this. Say OK or yes, depending on what it asks.

Once you are in safe mode, you need to bring up your control panel. Click on Start and then click on “Settings” and then “Control Panel” or just Start and “Control Panel,” depending on which operating system you have. Now double click on add/remove programs. Start reviewing the list of installed programs. You need to find the spyware that is installed, highlight it and remove it. Some examples are programs that offer coupons, that “optimize your pc,” speed up the internet, help you play games online and so forth. Also remove weather programs and any other “helpful” programs that you don’t actively use that look like spyware.

Once you have removed all of these, it is time to do some cleanup. Close the control panel and double click on the icon “My Computer.” On the top of that window you will see Tools. Click on that and then “Folder Options.” Click on the tab “View” and make sure “Show hidden files or folders” is checked. Now close that and double click on c:\. Now double click on “Documents and Settings.” Find the name you use to log into the pc. If you aren’t sure, double click on all the names and look for your documents to figure out which one is yours.

Once you have double clicked on your name, go to Start Menu, then Programs and then Start Up. Do you see any programs in there that look like spyware? Remove them by right clicking on them and selecting Delete. This will not remove the software from your computer – it will only stop that program from automatically starting every time you bring up your pc. It is important to look at the name, “All Users” as well as your own name. Again, under the “All Users” name, go to Start Menu, Programs and Start Up.

In the same area, under your name, you will see the folder “Local Settings.” Double click on that. Now you will see a folder called “Temp” and a folder called “Temporary Internet Files.” Double click on each of these, and then click “Edit” and “Select All” then “File” and “Delete” within both of those folders. Now close all of these windows. Right click the icon on your desktop that says Recycle Bin and select “Empty Recycle Bin.”

Phew, that was a lot of work!!! Now you can shut down your computer and then bring it up as you normally would. Go to the internet and find the site, www.lavasoft.com. Download the free version of Ad-Aware and run it on your pc. This is a wonderful free program that finds spyware and removes it.

If you are still plagued by spyware, you can follow the instructions for editing your registry found in our “Cleaning up your Slow PC” entry – but be careful, and good luck!

If you have products containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol, be sure to keep them away from your dog. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has issued a warning against Xylitol, found in many common food and household products. Dogs who ingest even a small amount of this sweetener may see a sudden drop in blood sugar, loss of coordination and finally seizures.

The APCC saw 170 cases in 2005 involving Xylitol, with 114 cases already having occurred in 2006. Some products that may contain Xylitol are sugar-free gums, hard candies, gum drops, toothpastes and mouthwashes. If you are a dog owner, look at the labels of all your artificially sweetened products. If they contain Xylitol, keep them out of reach of your dog.

The American Cancer Society has reported that eating a healthy diet and getting more exercise can help to prevent cancer. Here are some of their guidelines in eating well to reduce your cancer risk:

Is your AOL hanging on “Initializing Modem?” Then your phone lines are probably old enough that they cannot use the latest versions of American Online. But out of great frustration and plenty of tech calls, I have figured out how to get around the problem.

Uninstall your AOL software. Now, put the AOL cd in your computer. If it asks to install the software automatically, tell it no and close out the window.

Look for the icon on your desktop that says “My Computer,” or click on Start, Settings, Accessories and Windows Explorer. Double click on your CD-Drive, usually “D” but not always. If the AOL install program starts every time you click on your drive, then RIGHT CLICK the drive one time and then click “Explore.”

On the top menu, click on Tools, then Folder Options, then View. Click “Show Hidden Files or Folders” and say OK.

Once you have asked to look at all the hidden folders, you will see AOL’s special secret – many of the newer CD versions have the older versions hidden on them! Simply click on an older version of America Online and install it. The version 7.0 should work much better with your modem and will stop America Online from hanging on “Initializing Modem.”

A surprising new study has linked cola to osteoporosis in women. Findings indicated the type of cola did not matter, whether it was diet or regular. Other fizzing sodas did not have the same reaction in women as cola did. Scientists think the cause might be from the phosphoric acid found in cola. It seems the phosphoric acid can cause the body to excrete calcium from the body.

Women, talk to your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis. And to help prevent it, be sure to get plenty of calcium, exercise, and yes – avoid cola drinks!

Having trouble coming up with new, healthy ideas for your child’s lunch? Is your son or daughter eating the dessert and skipping the carrots? How about serving up some Kid Sushi!

This is especially fun for younger children who enjoy the novelty of "sushi" in their lunches. Take a piece of bread and flatten it out a bit. Put on anything that your child enjoys that would wrap well – cheese, peanut butter, tuna, ham, pimento spread, shaved carrots – whatever sounds fun and healthy. Now, roll the bread along the longest edge and pinch it so it won’t unroll. Take a serrated knife and cut off pieces to resemble sushi. Pack two blunt wooden chopsticks to make the lunch even more unique!

Wanna learn a neat trick? Stand close to a wall and extend your right arm out far enough to touch the wall with your fingertips. Now, rub the inside of your right arm quickly for at least ten seconds. Extend your arm out again and voila! Your arm shrunk! How does this happen? We have no clue - but it's pretty cool!

Do you need to remove a wallpaper border but you just can't face the task? We have a homemade solution that is so easy you won't believe it. Simply mix 3/4 cup water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the border until it is wet and let it sit a few minutes. This mixture will allow the wallpaper border to actually slide right off the wall. You can use vinegar and water to remove wallpaper from entire walls by increasing the amount of solution you make.

What happens to the wax when you burn a candle? Where does it go? Up in smoke! When a candle is lit, the fire burns the hard wax and melts it. Then the heat vaporizes the melted wax, sending it up in the smoke.

Long drives can be difficult – especially if you have children or are traveling at the end of the day. The next time you find yourself feeling drowsy while driving, stop and get yourself a bag of sunflower seeds. As simple as it sounds, sunflower seeds require enough individual attention that they can help you to stay focused and alert while you drive.

Now a wonderful excuse to drink hot cocoa during the cold winter months. Research has shown that the antioxidants in cocoa are twice as strong as those found in red wine and green tea. And at only 100 calories per cup, a steaming cup of cocoa is a good choice for a yummy afternoon treat.

The next time you grill kabobs, add some extra flavor to your seafood or meat. Cut a few branches of rosemary and rinse them thoroughly. Pinch the top of the branch and pull it downward, stripping off the rosemary pieces. You can leave a few rosemary pieces on each end for a nice look to your final meal. Now, use the cleaned branches for your skewers! This gives your grilled food a unique and delicious flavor that won't overwhelm the overall taste. The rosemary branches will also add a beautiful look to your kabobs.

My 9 year old had his first crush – a little blonde girl named Melody. One day in the car, he excitedly told me that he knew what he wanted to be in his life – a farmer! And that it would work out perfectly, because Melody wanted to be a Pharmacist!

Does your newborn seem to cry constantly? Has your pediatrician told you that your baby just has “colic” and will grow out of it? If so, it is time to pursue your baby’s tears further, possibly with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Your baby might be suffering from reflux.

Reflux occurs when the sphincter, or muscle that keeps food in the stomach, is weak. Stomach contents seep into the esophagus, causing what adults know as heartburn. Unfortunately, all too many reflux babies are diagnosed with colic. With many infants, refluxing corrects itself as the baby’s stomach muscles strengthen, so it appears they are just “growing out of colic.” But in the meantime, both Mom, Dad and baby have had far too many sleepless nights and needless pain.

Some symptoms of reflux include crying, screaming, choking, spitting up, kicking, straining and constipation. Doctors can diagnose reflux by giving your baby barium through a bottle and watching the stomach by x-ray to see if the contents leak into the esophagus. Treatment for mild reflux is usually one or two medications, giving your baby much needed relief.

For constant crying, you may also look into your baby being intolerant to dairy. For more information on reflux and dairy intolerance and allergies, go to http://www.babyandkidallergies.com.

Here is something you probably won’t hear on the street. A radiologist from a local children's hospital told us this. Did you know that skittles are one of the only foods that show up clearly on an x-ray? Not very useful information, but certainly interesting – and we are sure they see quite a lot of skittles!

Are you sick of all those annoying solicitation calls right in the middle of dinner? Here is a tip to get off of their list. A bit morbid perhaps, but it works. The next time you get a sales call, tell them you are deceased. Simple as that. “I’m sorry, John Smith is deceased,” and then hang up. Companies (and charitable organizations) do not want to waste their money calling houses that won’t make them money. The minute an organization finds the name is deceased, they will mark the name in their database as a “do not call – deceased.” Have some fun with it and sound REALLY sad!

It has been reported that pre-school aged children are beginning to develop more dental problems than ever seen in the past. It is important to make brushing and flossing a routine, even early in life. Our dentist gave me a flossing tip that is very simple and makes things incredibly easy. When you are ready to floss your child’s top teeth, stand behind your child and have him or her tilt the head back. This gives you a clear path to those top back molars, making flossing a breeze. This simple tip has saved me a lot of time and makes flossing more “productive.”

When the holidays approach, children will often start to think about themselves. “I want this and that and that….” With commercialism so widespread, it is no wonder their minds are filled with visions of toy stores and presents.

This year, start a tradition that will go down in neighborhood history. We began this several years ago, and have still been able to stay anonymous – the best part of the whole process.

A day or two before Christmas, make several pies or plates of cookies. We always choose a “no-bake” pie that can be easily made in one batch, such as lemonade pie or no bake cheesecake. With things being so busy, we even use pre-made pie shells, which still taste delicious. Wrap with pretty plastic wrap and tie a bow around it. Now comes the fun part. When it gets dark on Christmas Eve, send each child out in “stealth mode” to a neighbor’s house. Tell them to sneak up to the porch and lay the pie down where the neighbor will see it in the morning.

I have one child that is absolutely hysterical to watch. He always picks the hardest house – the one directly across from us. They have several families in and out of the front door all night long, and do not have an easy path to hide on. It took my son 30 minutes to slowly sneak around the side of the porch, up over the porch and over toward the door. My other children and I were in tears, laughing as we watched Michael in his best of stealth modes deliver the pie.

In the morning, your neighbors will find a wonderful surprise on their doorstep. They won’t know who it is from, and believe me, it will make some of them crazy! So use our tactic - the next time you see them after Christmas, blurt out, “Did you get a pie too!!? Who do you think did it!?” My elderly neighbor can hardly stand it – not knowing who sneaks the pies every year. I just play along and walk away smiling. These pies teach my children something very important.. giving is best, and giving anonymously is even better.

Christmas ornaments, Hanukah gifts and birthday party activities – there is nothing better for this than salt dough decorations. We have salt dough Christmas Ornaments from years gone by, all handmade and each one precious.

Preheat your oven to 240 degrees. Mix together 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of all purpose flour and one cup of water. Place dough on a floured counter and kneed until it is smooth and stretchy. If it is sticky, add a bit more flour until you get the correct consistency. Do not add too much flour or your decorations will crack.

Roll your dough about ¼ inch to ½ inch thick. Cut out your decorations with cookie cutters, or hand mold creations – keeping them within the same thickness. Use a toothpick to draw faces, lines or other decorations. If you plan to hang these, use the toothpick to make the hole before it is baked.

Bake the salt dough items for 2 to 2 ½ hours. You should take them out just as the sides are beginning to brown. Once cooled, these can be painted with acrylic paint. Be sure your children know these are not cookies. They won’t hurt them, but they sure will taste yucky!

My coworker told me she cashed in her yearly change jar yesterday, and was excited to announce she had saved $475. WOW! She has a special jar that she throws all her loose change in. In less than a year, she had already made that much.

I am starting my own change jar with my children. We will plan on what we will spend the money on and save the coins together. We will give some of the money to charity, and probably use the rest for a higher ticket item that we normally would not buy or for a special family outing that we otherwise could not afford.

This will be a good lesson for them on the benefits of both saving and giving – and will teach them how to make a little money go a long way.

I have just discovered an amazing group of people who give away things and ask for what they need. It is called Free Cycle, and was created to help keep things out of landfills. I’ve seen everything imaginable change hands in the last week. Beds, bedding, bikes, refrigerators, chainsaws, a wood burning stove, dog crates, clothes and building materials – you name it! I even saw someone giving away two 2-liters of diet coke – and someone took it!

It is absolutely worth the time to look at http://www.freecyclefinder.org/ for a yahoo free cycle group near you. You can get rid of unused things that are treasures to others (with a quick, free pickup!) and find some wonderful items for yourself along the way. This is better than recycling – it is free cycling!

This tastes delicious and will last if sealed tightly in the fridge. Cream together 1/2 pound softened bleu cheese and 8 oz softened cream cheese with a fork or pastry blender. Stir in 1/8 tsp. nutmeg and 1/3 to 1/2 cup of brandy. Serve at room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nothing can be better than a homemade lemon square!





1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
grated rind of one lemon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make a crust combining butter, flour and confectioners sugar. Pat into the bottom of a 9" square pan and bake for 15 minutes. Prepare filling by combining remaining ingredients, mixing well. Spread over baked crust and return to oven for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

If a raw egg spills on the floor, don't wipe it up with a paper towel. That will only smear the egg and make more of a mess. Instead, sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the egg and let it dry. Then sweep the egg up with a broom.

To keep your house smelling fresh, keep a mint plant in rooms that tend to get musty. Besides being decorative, the mint will absorb stale odors. This especially works well in a nursery, bathroom or kitchen. And when you want a boost to your iced tea, pick and rinse off some mint leaves from the kitchen plant - very tasty!

How many times have you burned the top of your arm trying to get individual baked potatoes out of the oven? The next time you plan on baking potatoes, place them in a muffin tin and slip them in the oven. When they are done, simply take out the one tin with all the potatoes.

The next time you are baking or frying breaded meats, prepare them and then place them in the refrigerator four about five hours before frying. This will retain the breadcrumbs, making your meal fit for a king!

Is your soup or gravy too salty? Too much salt in your broth? Add a quartered white potato to the pot and boil for ten minutes, then remove the potato pieces. This will help to take away the salty taste.

French scientists have found that a child's early exposure (including in utero) to pesticides may double the risk of developing acute leukemia. To help avoid pesticide exposure, buy organic fruits and vegetables. Although pricey, these are pesticide free and well worth the cost.

Fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticides are apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, strawberries and spinach.

Those with the least amount of pesticide residue include asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mango, onion, papaya, pineapples and peas.

If you have a tight budget, try to purchase the higher pesticide residue fruits and vegetables organically, to decrease your child's risk for developing leukemia.

Did you know that 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to ultraviolet rays occurs in the first 18 years of life? That is why you should take great care protecting your children from the sun's harmful rays. When purchasing sunscreen, be sure it says "broad spectrum" and is at least 15 SPF or more. If your children will be in the water, use waterproof sunscreen and reapply every hour.

Remember the days when your mother slathered on a thick coat of pure white zinc on your nose? She actually knew what she was doing. Zinc oxide should be applied to nose, ears and cheeks if your child has fair skin. But lucky them - zinc comes in lots of fun colors. Remember big floppy hats, sunglasses and tightly woven clothing. And keep in mind, if it is a cloudy day, the sun will still reflect off of surface such as water or concrete - causing burns that are just as bad as those from sunny days.

I did not know who the Psychedelic Furs were until I spent a week in London and was taken by a friend to the Hammersmith Odeon to see the Furs. Within the first few minutes of Richard Butler's gravely sweet rendition of "Sister Europe," I was hooked. Interestingly, I have met him twice and found him to be one of the most pleasant artists I've been introduced to.

I've followed Richard Butler's work over the years, and was pleased to read he recently released a solo album entitled, "Richard Butler." After hearing it several times through, I can tell you that it was money well spent. This cd is not the type I would want to review song by song. I look at this as an entire piece of work - something that one takes as a whole rather than track by track. From the moment I hit play, I was taken on a journey with Richard Butler at the wheel. This cd cannot be compared to the old days of "Pretty in Pink" and "Alice's House," but rather the more mellow sounds of "Sleep Comes Down." Yet, this album has a matured sound with rich overtones that can't help but carry you away.

Don't look to this cd for the hard, fast "old Furs" style - but rather - for an escape to a delicious place that only Richard Butler can take you to. Trust me, you won't be sorry.

Diet Coke and Mentos - the two just go together! This is a simple trick with a huge bang - and if you do this in front of your house, you will instantly be named the coolest parent on the block.

First, purchase a few liter bottles of diet coke and several packs of mint mentos. Then, create a tube out of cardboard, plastic... anything that will hold the mentos in place in a row, one on top of the other. Cut a square of cardboard bigger than the bottle opening, and you are ready to go.
Place your diet coke bottle, unopened, outside where you won't worry about a mess. Put your square over the hole. Position your tube full of mentos on top of it and quickly slide the square out so the mentos drop one by one into the diet coke. Now run!

What is the science behind this? This is called the "surface effect." Diet coke has lots