An Easier Life

Life has been challenging at the least in the past 2 years. There is a song that could apply to the chaotic mess the world was thrown into in late 2019. Hmm. Lockdown for COVID19 began in 2019.

Hmm.  

Coincidence or manipulated serendipity?

Hmm.

Back to the song by Rodney Atkins, it's his property, I could have written it, Rodney wrote it. This is the chorus.

"If you're goin' through hell, keep on going

Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it

You might get out before the devil even knows you're there"

It makes me wonder, though the song came out in 2015, if he had to deal with the TP shortage, because, he's a celebrity.

As one who self describes as a creative thinker, there are many things that I think of, put the idea to the test. If it gives good results, it's a keeper. If it's unsuccessful, oh well, I tried. These life hacks make my life more pleasant. Others might know about them, already.

Now to the meat of the topic.

(Mmm, meat, good!)

1. If you have ever "lost" your vehicle in a parking lot, you might activate the alarm on a key fob, then, follow the music. 😎

If you are fobless or prefer to wander the parking lot, hoping that your vehicle will magically appear, good luck. Most large parking lots have a firetruck lane. A long red line, often, it will be yellow.

I park up against the red line. NOT IN FIRE LANE. Against it.

When you exit the store, follow the red or yellow line to your vehicle.

It will look something like this.

2. Battery operated devices are nice to have in a power outage or if you are somewhere, outside of a building, where there is no electricity. Maybe you have been binge watching your favorite shows, a lot!

You trundle on down to the store, park against the red line of course, to re-stock your batteries. 

Do you need AA size batteries or AAA? Flip a coin. AAA it is! You go home, get ready to change the batteries on your device. Whatever you may be thinking while reading this. Just to be clear, I'm talking about remote controls for lights, TV, DVD Player.

Leave BOB out of this!  😇😇😇😇

(My cheeky side surfaced)

It's then that you discover you actually needed size AA. 

If you have aluminum foil (hope you do), tear off a small piece. Put your batteries in their proper order, the batteries are too small.

What the french, toast?

Crumple a bit of the aluminum foil, push it into the gap between the battery, on + or - side so the battery is in contact with the foil.

Pop the popcorn, fire up the boob tube, continue binge watching!

3. This next one involves bugs, insects, whatever, a double header!

Most stinging, biting insects are repelled by lavender oil. It's a common oil that is widely available, inexpensive. The quality is less important. If you can smell the scent of lavender, the bugs can, too! When I need to step outside, either close to or after sundown, I have a 10 ml bottle with a roller ball. It only takes a little. One dot of it on each wrist, then, one dot on each ankle.

4 dots at night, the buggies won't bite. 

I keep one bottle in my purse, one in my home.

Peppermint oil works, also, if you prefer that.

So, you're out of lavender oil, peppermint oil or never had it to begin with.

tsk - tsk

Do you have a metal spoon?

A bunch of biter - stingers decided you would be a great snack! The itching is horrible, making you irritable. If you have a metal spoon, heat it with hot water. Test it for temperature. Lightly press the back or convex side of the spoon on the bite. It will disperse the venom which will alleviate itching.

You can also run a bath of water as hot as you can stand it. Lay in the tub of hot water for 5 - 10 minutes. The heat of the water has the same effect. For an enhancement to the experience, put some soft music on, fantasize about whoever or whatever tickles your fancy.

4. If you have children or are going to spend time with one (or more), cooking or baking is a great way to have fun while spending time with children. It can be tricky, messy. It's best to keep it simple.

Make certain that the child or children don't have allergies to ingredients before you cook or bake with them. It's important to make happy memories without injuring or killing cookie crunchers!

It's best to keep it as simple as possible, to hold the child's interest plus makes clean up easier as you will most likely be doing it solo.

This is a simple recipe that seems like it won't work, but it does.

Not this! Unless you really want to. Report back if it works!

This!

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of peanut butter (or any nut butter)

1 egg

Heat the oven to 375, coat a cookie sheet with shortening or butter.

Use a tablespoon of the dough, rolled into spheres. Place the spheres on the cookie sheet, flatten ever so slightly with a dinner fork, bake for 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from oven, using an oven mit, it will be HOT!

Let the cookies cool for 10 - 15 minutes as they will be similar consistency to softened butter. They become firm when cooled.

If you or the little one has nut allergies, here is an alternate recipe.

2 - 4 cups white or wheat flour

2 sticks or 1 cup of butter

1 cup table or white granulated sugar

Heat oven to 375 c

Start with 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter, 1/2 cup of sugar. With a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter & sugar together until it's creamy. Add the flour a tablespoon at a time, using the mixer until the dough becomes thick enough to be made into a firm ball or rolled flat then cut into shapes. If you only want a small batch such as 1 or 2 dozen cookies, stop adding flour, butter or sugar. If the dough is too thick, a few drops of warm water will soften it. Sprinkle some flour on a cutting board, roll the dough flat, use cookie cutters or your imagination for different shapes. Bake on a buttered cookie sheet for 8 - 10 minutes. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes as they will be fragile until cooled.

I hope the power of 4 will make your life more enjoyable, easier.

If you're so inclined leave a comment if any or all of these worked for you or you just feel like saying something silly!