Texas Cooperative Extension
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Volume 1, Issue 12 August, 2001 WilliamsonSusan Richey County Extension Agent Family and Consumer Sciences Williamson County 512-930-4400 sg-richey@tamu.edu williamson-tx.tamu.edu  |
 How to Always Have Something to Wear1. Stop impulse buying. Every $10 mistake you would have picked up in the bargain bin goes to a really great wardrobe.2. In the first step of cleaning out your closet, eliminate everything that doesn't fit or that you haven't worn in a year. 3. A few weeks later, go back and get rid of all the stuff you fudged on the first time around. 4. With what's left, begin identifying a theme to your wardrobe, relying on favorite looks, colors and lifestyle pieces... 5. Decide on three colors that either match or will coordinate with what you own and buy only those three colors for apparel. 6. Establish a workable budget. 7. Make a list of all the items you need in your wardrobe. (For example: solid blazer, wool pants, white shirt) 8. Set aside an hour of time each week to shop -- online or off. 9. Avoid trendy items. 10. Buy clothing that will span two to three seasons -- like wool crepe or matte jersey. 11. Purchase only clothes that work with something that you already own. 12. Pass on anything that doesn't fit -- no matter how great a buy. 13. Try to add only one or two well-thought out items per month. 14. Add punchy color and trendiness with accessories, shoes and handbags. 15. Continually eliminate and replace essential wardrobe pieces once it is built up so that you are never caught without a necessary item. Tips:1. Ignore that advice about buying "the best" of everything. Regardless of how well-made a garment is, moths, coffee spills and kids take their toll. Never choose between a mortgage payment and a cashmere sweater.2. Try to plan your wardrobe around three neutral colors like black, white, khaki, navy or brown. 3. Buy more solids than prints - you won't get tired of them as quickly. |
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| Eustress is the type of stress that results from a positive stressor, such as anticipation about a date, the first day on a new job, or the mild stress that keeps you alert during a midterm examination. This type of positive stress can enhance longevity, productivity, and life satisfaction. Distress is the type of stress caused by a negative stressor such as a flat tire, bad grade, or argument with a spouse. Distress that goes unresolved or uncontrolled can result in physical and psychological problems, sickness, and even death. The right balance of stress can keep you going strong. Stress energy can be used to positively meet life''s challenges. Stress is not all bad; positive stress can create a rich and satisfying life. |
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| People may respond differently to any given stressor. It is important, therefore, to look at different options for stress management, including the following:
• Time management - Time management can be an effective strategy for individuals who respond to stress by doubling their efforts and increasing their speed. • Assertive communication - Use of assertive communication can be an effective strategy for individuals who become easily irritated or angered at a situation, themselves, or others. • Physical Activity/Exercise - Exercise can be an effective strategy for individuals who experience stress physically and need to learn to relax. • Social support - Creating a foundation of social support can be an effective strategy for individuals who feels they have to "go it alone." |
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Keeping Children Healthy |
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| In a recent survey, 9 in 10 adults (94%) said they washed their hands after using public restrooms; but, upon observation only 6 in 10 (68%) actually did so.
Keeping our kids healthy and in school throughout the school year can often be a challenge. With so much contact with other children, it seems inevitable that our children will wind up sick. For many, this means, not only lost days at school for our children, but lost time at work for us. It can even result in the entire family becoming sick. This does not have to be the case. Simply washing our hands and teaching our kids to do the same can prevent numerous germs, viruses, and bacteria from infecting our families. But... Running our hands quickly under a few drops of cold water is not going to do the trick! We are often in such a hurry to eat, pack lunches, rush the kids off to the school bus and ourselves back to work that we either forget or "don''t have time" to wash our hands thoroughly. Our children watch us and learn these same hurried practices, which are not effective in eliminating germs. So...what works? First we have to understand that our skin constantly makes oil, which stays on the surface of the skin. Germs that get on your skin get trapped in this oil. Washing your hands with soap and warm or hot water is the best way to sluff the germs off of your hands and keep you healthy. Remember that washing and drying your hands appropriately makes a big difference • Use soap and water or hot running water: Soap and warm water help the germs to be removed from the oil in the skin. The running water is important for the germs to drop away from the skin, rather than being mixed around the skin, such as in a wash bowl. To help your kids understand, try putting some glitter ("germs") on their hands. Let them try to wash off the glitter in a sink or mixing bowl filled with water. Try this with and without soap. They let them try again under a running faucet with and without soap. In this way, they can see how germs can stay on the skin without appropriate hand washing. • Take at least 10 seconds to do the washing.Teach your children to say their ABCs or a favorite song while washing their hands to make sure they wash them long enough. (If you cannot get to a facility that has warm water, wash for at least 20 seconds in cold water.) • Wash all surfaces, including the wrists, palms, back of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails. • When you''re away from home, use disposable paper towels, or hot air dryers if possible. Community towels may maintain some germs. • When you're at home, provide a separate towel for each member of the household. Be sure to wash towels regularly in hot water and detergent.
We also need to teach our children when to wash their hands. We can do this by using "before" and "after" to help them remember. Wash hands BEFORE...• eating• inserting or removing contact lenses • handling or serving food Wash hands AFTER...• using the restroom• blowing nose, sneezing, or coughing • touching an animal • handling garbage • you've been touching things many people have handled (e.g., community toys, objects passed around the classroom, etc.) |
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Creating a Plan of Action To Reduce Debt |
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| The following suggestions can help your family be successful:
Review the last 1–6 months of your expense records, including all charges on credit cards and other charge accounts. Identify any pattern of spending with these purchases. Record - as accurately as possible - all the income for the last 3-6 months. Also record - as accurately as possible - all expenses incurred by the family or household members. Subtract the monthly expenses from the monthly income to get a picture of your cash flow. Calculate your family's monthly debt payments, such as credit cards, mortgage, etc. Compare them with your income and expense information. Identify ways to reduce spending by eliminating unnecessary purchases, buying less expensive goods and services, reducing the costs of your utilities, and other money saving options. Leave credit cards at home when shopping. Or, if that's too hard to do, cut up the credit cards and send them back to the company so they won't be a temptation. You probably will want to keep one or two for emergencies or to use when traveling. Think about the times when buying something on credit is very tempting. List the factors that trigger a "spend" response for each of your family members. Then, identify specific ways to avoid the temptation to buy on credit for each situation. You probably won't be able to think of all of the possible circumstances that will be tempting, but your strategies may work for more than one situation. Look for ways to save money instead of spending. Some general techniques include:• Do things that keep you away from shopping, such as exercising, reading, or taking a long, soothing bath. Relax and "let go" in a quiet, comfortable setting. |
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Drink More Water-10 Suggestions From Real People |
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| 1. Start today
Make a commitment to start drinking more water today. This is the cheapest diet aid in the world. Just drink more of it. Make this a personal challenge. I tell myself to drink four quarts a day. I try to encourage myself to drink more each day. 2. Save a gallon of money I used to drink a lot of soda and sugary juice throughout the day. I realized I was spending $3 a day on beverages. I switched to water, and now I am saving almost $1,200 a year. That is enough money for a new wardrobe. 3. Use a straw Believe it or not, use a straw. I seem to drink faster and more often out of a straw, and I can get down up to about a gallon of water a day without thinking twice about it. A strange Jedi mind trick? Yes -- but an effective one. 4. Drink and drive (water, of course) I drink water in my car on the way home from work. My commute is about 45 minutes, and I manage to drink two 16-ounce bottles every day going home. 5. Drink water when you are hungry Whenever you get a hunger pang, try drinking a large glass of water. I'm not suggesting that you always ignore those hunger pangs and replace food with water, but sometimes all your body is really craving is fluid. 6. Make bathroom and water cooler trips into a break You should look at getting up to get water and going to the rest room as a positive part of the day. With computers being an important part of our daily lives, too many people do not get enough time away from their desks. 7. Freeze your water overnight Freeze a 20-ounce bottle of water every night. In the morning, take that frozen bottle to the office. You can sip cold water all day long. I buy the large bottles of water and freeze them half full of water and put one in a sock to keep it from sweating all over the furniture, and it stays cold most of the day. 8. Make it count I drink two glasses of water upon rising in the morning, two glasses about one hour before lunch, two glasses about one hour before dinner and two glasses about one hour before bedtime. Which gives me the eight glasses of water that I need daily. 9. Bigger is better I try to drink enough water every day by drinking out of a 16-ounce container rather than an 8-ounce container. That way I think to myself that I only have to drink four containers' worth of water in the day. 10. Drink water for energy I find water actually keeps me more alert, and I experience no 'crashes' after drinking it like I do with coffee or soda. |
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Three Simple Storage Ideas for Kids' Rooms Techniques |
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Trellis DisplayA painted garden trellis is an imaginative way to store and organize a young girl's handbag collection. Fancy drawer pulls can be used to decorate the wooden pegs of the trellis. Sand, prime and paint the trellis in the color (or colors) of your choice, then screw it to the wall at child's height.Toys for TotsA divided bookshelf filled with storage baskets is an easy and attractive way to organize toys.Simple Space SavingUse a transparent shoe holder for Beanie Babies and they peek out from their ingenious display. |
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We have included some of the recipes from our "Fun With Foods" workshop for kids in this months newsletter. These are all easy recipes, and we hope you enjoy them.
| Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps 1 pint fresh strawberries, chopped 1 large banana, chopped 1 Red Delicious apple, chopped 1 kiwifruit, peeled and chopped 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided 4 (7 ½-inch) flour tortillas Vegetable cooking spray 2 tablespoons sugar Combine first 4 ingredients. Stir together lemon juice, 1/4 cup sugar, nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon; toss with fruit. Chill. Cut each tortilla into eighths. Arrange pieces on baking sheet. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Combine remaining 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle over tortilla chips. Bake at 350° for 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve with fruit salsa. Yield: 4 servings. Prep: 35 min., Bake: 8 min. Per serving: Calories 310 (11% from fat); Fat 3.8g (sat 0.8g, mono 1.5g, poly 0.7g); Protein 5.6g; Carb 67g; Fiber 4g; Chol 0mg; Iron 1.6mg; Sodium 168mg; Calc 122mg. 2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese 2 teaspoons light mayonnaise 1/8 teaspoon dill seeds 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes Dash of garlic powder Dash of dried basil 1 small carrot, diced 1 small celery rib, diced 1 (7 ½-inch) flour tortilla Stir together first 6 ingredients. Stir in carrot and celery. Spread on 1 side of tortilla. Roll up, and wrap in plastic wrap; chill. Unwrap and slice. Yield: 1 rollup. Prep: 10 min. Per rollup: Calories 292 (37% from fat); Fat 12g (sat 4.5g, mono 2.9g, poly 0.7g); Protein 9g; Carb 38g; Fiber 2.8g; Chol 20mg; Iron 1.8mg; Sodium 492mg; Calc 173 mg. |
| Green Bean Bundles Canned whole green beans (1 can equals 10 bundles) Bacon slices Garlic powder Worcestershire sauce Brown sugar 2 Tbsp. margarine Honey Cut bacon slices in halves. Lay 8 to 10 beans across each bacon slice and roll up. Lay each bundle in baking dish. Sprinkle the bundles with garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Pour melted margarine over them and drizzle with honey. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.
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