MAKING EASY ICED TEA

Ever had ice tea and upon finishing your glass you are hit with that icky sugar stuff that did not dissolve? Or find yourself putting too much instant ice tea in your glass but there is no more room for more water to balance things out?

I have a 6-yr-old and he loves ice tea and is also fiercely independent.. always wanting to do things on his own. So what did I do to make sure that he does not waste any of the powdered tea? I made ice tea syrup! Now what is that you ask? I just put one pack of instant tea in a lock and lock bottle, added enough water and shook it very well to dissolve the stuff especially the sugar.

This way my son can just get the syrup bottle, shake it well and add the concentrate to his glass of water a little at a time. No need to stir as vigorously since it is already a liquid! When he has adjusted it according to how he likes it.... then he just pops the lid back on the bottle and returns it to the refrigerator.

Nothing wasted. Works for us. Perfect tea all the time. Yey!
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Losing Weight

I have reached rock bottom. Do not want to feel this way anymore. So tired. So lethargic. Always sleepy. No energy. As this new year started, I decided to take charge of my health.

I am glad to say that I have lost 7lbs so far! I will NOT tell you how heavy I am. TOP SECRET! hahahaha. I will just tell you how much I have lost and what I am currently doing to lose the weight.

I am taking......bangkok pills! NOT!!!! DEFINITELY NOT! I am taking LVE 8-in-1 Coffee Mix with Mocha Flavor and L-carnitine.

It is a great-tasting, all-natural 8-in-1 instant coffee with Mocha flavor which consists of the following ingredients:

- Agaricus Blazei that has anti-tumor properties
- Spirulina is one of the superfoods, has lot of vitamins and minerals
- Ginseng for anti-stress and energy
- Omega-3 which is good for the heart
- L-carnitine for weight loss

Yummy way to lose the weight, don't ya think so? hehehehe. One box is just 180p and delivery is free if you get two boxes (for Cebu City only). Otherwise we can meet up at Jollibee Guadalupe.

If you are interested, please leave a comment or email me at tuesdayzabala@yahoo.com or you can text or call at 0922-4344181.

Till the next update! Wahooo!
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"I need to lose weight!" That is what 99.99% of the people say when the new year rolls in. I am no exception to that. I really reeaaaallllyyyy need to lose major poundage haha. So...check out these exercises....easy on the joints...now all I have to do is find a pool! HAHAHAHAHA

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PUPPY LULLABY

What a cute video this one is! Wish it was as easy to put my son to sleep hahaha.

Puppy Lullaby @ Yahoo! Video

Paint Drop Cloths

Do you have old flanel-backed vinyl tablecloths that have seen better days? Do not throw them away! You can use them as paint drop cloths when you do any painting. Just place the vinyl side on the floor and that acts as a barrier with the flannel acting as an absorbent material for the paint that might spill from the brush or the can.

When you are done painting, just hang the tablecloths to dry and re-use for next time. :)

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Are Our Plastic Containers Safe?

Are you someone who keeps take-out food containers and re-use (and re-use) them till they crack? Do you have lots of nest-in-each-other storage containers of all shapes and sizes which swear will make your refrigerator, pantry and kitchen life organized? Are you like me? Then this article is for us.

Environmental Journalist Lori Bongiorno talks about the Safest Plastics For Food and Beverage. A must-read for us moms who want our lives as toxin-free as possible.

Some plastics are safer to eat and drink from than others. Here's a quick guide to help you make informed choices. If you want to dig deeper, take a look at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Smart Plastics Guide (PDF).

It's worth avoiding the following plastics when you can. You can identify a plastic by looking at the recycling code number that appears inside a triangle at the bottom of many containers.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can leach phthalates, known male reproductive toxicants. It can be identified by code 3. One way to avoid it in the kitchen is by choosing plastic wrap made from polyethylene rather than PVC. If a box is not labeled, find a brand that is or call the manufacturer.

Polystyrene is used in Styrofoam products. It may leach styrene (a neurotoxin) when it comes into contact with hot, acidic, or fatty foods. It's marked with recycling code 6.

Polycarbonate can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor associated with a long list of health concerns. Baby bottles, "sippy" cups, 5-gallon water jugs, and reusable beverage bottles are typically made out of this plastic. Products may be marked with recycling code 7 (also includes any plastic that doesn't fit into the 1 to 6 recycling code categories) and/or the letters "PC."

In response to the widespread concerns about BPA, baby bottles and other items made from alternative materials are springing up. Experts say stainless steel is your best bet for reusable water bottles right now. ThinkSport and Klean Kanteen are two widely available brands.

The following plastics are considered safest for food storage. Glass and stainless steel are also good options.

Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene (PETE), code 1.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE), code 2.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), code 4.

Polypropylene (PP), code 5.

Here are some tips for using all plastics safely:

• Don't microwave food plastic containers. Chemicals are more likely to leach out when plastic is heated. "Microwaveable plastic" doesn't guarantee that chemicals won't leach. Cover foods in the microwave with wax paper or a plate. If you do use plastic wrap, then make sure it doesn't touch the food.

• Avoid putting hot foods in plastic containers. Let leftovers cool off before storing them in plastic.

• Take good care of plastics by not washing them with harsh chemicals, and dispose of scratched and worn containers. Research has shown that older, scratched items will leach more, says Kathleen Schuler at the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy. (Don't put them in the dishwasher if you want to be completely risk-averse, she suggests.)

Create Your Personal Recipe Book

Have you ever bought a recipe book wherein you loved all 100 or so recipes? Chances are---NOT!

So here is something that I have discovered that will surely tickle your culinary fancies. Introducing the TASTEBOOK!

Each TasteBook that you order is tailor-fit to include only those recipes you want....from the thousands of recipes on the website and can even include your very own family recipe! How cool is that?

TasteBooks start at only $19.95 ---- now that is a small price to pay for a chance to have your family treats finally come to print. So dear friends...give yourself a treat... go get your TasteBook now!

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