Keep your cool and Save Money too....

• Keeping cool and saving money too may seem like a bit of stretch, definately  if you live below The Mason Dixon line. I think this is the hottest June we have ever seen on record, but here are some little tidbits to help you do just that. Change the filter in your heating and cooling system.The harder the system works against itself, the more money you are gonna fork out. Keep curtains and drapes closed in the heat of the day, especially those that are facing the brightest sunlight. Dial back your thermostat 2 or 3 degrees, and crank up that ceiling fan! This can make a 1-3% difference on your utility bill, but remember, if you are not gonna be in a room, turn the light and the fan off. Fans cool people, not rooms. Turn the thermostat down so it won't kick on when you are not at home. What's the use of cooling a house when no one is there? If you have a pet in the house however, you need to make it a few degrees cooler than necessary, and make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool water. Also, turn down the thermostat at night, and open some windows up and put in a fan to draw the cool,night breeze in. Seal up any cracks you can find where your cool air could be escaping from, such as around windows and doors. Lastly, stay hydrayed with plenty of water and those wonderful cool treats the South is so famous for. Any excuse for ice cream, right ladies?!

Saving that Precious fuel...

Even though the gas prices have crept ever so slowly downward, gas is still high. I have a few tips for ya  today to help you save that 'liquid gold' once you have  acquired  it.First, air up your tires and keep them at the recommended air pressure. Second, limit hard breaking, so slow down!{that one liked to have killed me myself!I have a heavy foot!}and if you know you are gonna be in that long drive through line at the bank,turn the car off and don't sit iydling while the air runs. It actually takes less gas for you to start the car back up than to sit,wasting, for minutes at a time. Third,if you can take the heat,use the vent and not the AC.{You are a far braver,better soul than I if you do this one!} Fourth, lighten your load. The things  you have stuffed in the back seat, and trunk{yes, I swear, you CAN live without some of it! Guilty as charged!}get it out. The lighter the car is, the less fuel you will use. Lastly, if you think your car is not getting the proper gas mileage, try a fuel injecter cleaner added to your fuel as your injecters might be stopped up. Have fun ,stay cool, and stay safe out there y'all!

Put out the burn on sunburn....

Summertime is here again. Everyone knows what that means. Outdoor barbeques, picnics, family outings. Here in the heart of The Deep South, it is already hotter than blue blazes. I happened to stay out too long in the sun the other day,and boy, did the back of one of my arms get cooked! After a cool shower that night, my arm was as red any lobster you have ever saw. Being a soapmaker, I had an inkling of what to do about it. I headed into the kitchen, with my soap supplies. I put pure vitamin E in all my handmade soaps. I popped two 400IU capsules with a knife, and rubbed the contents of the vitamin E into the sunburn. After that, I rubbed a lotion that had aloe vera in it  onto the sunburnt skin. Before you try this, do be aware you need to do this 'BEFORE' you go to bed so that the soothing agents have time to soak into your skin over night. I would also advise wearing something old, and maybe even sleeping on a towel cause after all,it is still an oil, and any oil will stain. However, it did wash out of the dark tee shirt I was wearing. The next day, I would say it looked 50% better, and almost all the heat and sting was gone. I only had to repeat this once more. I did not peel, nor did I lose my tan. So, remember where you put those vitamin E's before you head out in the  sun; you just may need them when nightfall appears.