Sweet Silly Sara

Handy Hacks for Your Home

If you’re a nerdy homeowner, you’re going to love these handy hacks to make your life easier and dodge some common issues; whether it’s peeling an orange or clementine with ease or a handy trick to avoid looking foolish at the fuel pump, we have you covered; read on for more.

Peeling Oranges

Winter is an excellent time to eat oranges, that’s because there is far less sunlight in the winter and, therefore, less vitamin D. We need vitamin D in our bodies to maintain the health of our bones, teeth, and muscles. There’s good news; oranges are easier to peel than first thought.

To peel an orange, the easy way set it down on a chopping board and select a sharp knife; next, cut slices from the top and bottom of the orange along with a cut down the side of the fruit. This method allows you to unroll the orange in a strip and choose the segments instead of peeling it.

Washing Blender

Another useful item to have in your home over the winter is a blender; people mostly make use of their blenders in the summer when there are more fruits in season, but don’t pack them away in the autumn; again, winter is a time when you need to increase nutrient and mineral intakes.

If you have some trouble washing a blender and it ends up congealing in the kitchen sink, there is an easy solution, fill the jug with soapy water and put it back on the hub, then hit the button and blend the soapy water to wash the jug. It’s recommended by Highland Park Housekeeping.

Fabric Scraps

When you buy new items of clothing, you might notice small fabric scraps on the inside seams and wonder what they are for; if you’re like most people, you might assume they are for making minor repairs, but actually, they are used for testing the fabric with different laundry detergents.

If you want to avoid stains and blemishes on your new clothing, test the laundry detergent and washing style on the fabric scrap first before committing your clothing to the wash. That said, some clothing comes with repair patches as well, but these are usually bigger than the scraps.

Wooden Hangers

Wooden hangers are better to hang clothing in the wardrobe and not only for aesthetic purposes. Naturally, wooden hangers look nicer in your wardrobe and hang your clothing better, but there are actually designed intelligently to protect your clothing from moths and pests.

The last thing you want is to take one of your favorite clothing items from the wardrobe only to find that it has a large hole in it from a moth. Wooden hangers are made from a particular type of wood that repels moths and pests; they are also shaped better to protect your clothing.

Fuel Gauge

Have you ever parked your vehicle at the gas station and got out only to find you are at the wrong side for the pump? If so, there is an easy solution, look at the fuel gauge on your dashboard; whatever side the dial points to empty is the side you need to fill up your vehicle at.

6 Ways To Keep Your Cat Happy And Healthy Indoors

Sometimes, it might be too cold outside to let your cat explore the outdoors, so they need to stay in. Keeping your cat happy and healthy indoors does not need to be complicated. With enough attention, toys and entertainment, the kitty will be able to stay busy and get all the exercise they need. Here are our top ways to keep your cat happy and healthy indoors.

Make Sure They Have A Balanced Diet

To make sure that your cat stays happy and healthy, you should pay attention to the pet’s diet. Cats should not eat too much dry food, and their diet needs to be meat-based. Companies such as Reveal offer food made of a variety of different meats. Choosing the right food for your pet can only help you to improve their health and overall quality of life.

Let Your Cat Watch The Birds From The Window

Even domesticated cats can be a danger to your local wildlife and birds, even if they are well fed. However, you can let your cat enjoy the beauty of wildlife even from the comfort of your home. Try making them a perch by the window where you have a bird feeder. From there, they can watch birds safely without being able to attack them, and it might entertain them for hours.

Allow Them To Climb

It is only natural for cats to climb. Therefore, you should allow them to do so even indoors, where they cannot climb up the trees. Instead, install a cat tree that will allow them to exercise their muscles, have fun and rest. You can find cat trees in many pet stores. But if you are good at DIY, you can try to build a cat tree from scratch.

Look For The Right Vet

Most vet clinics are busy with dogs. To keep your cat relaxed and happy, try to find a vet who has a clinic that is cat-friendly. Ideally, they should have separate areas for cats and dogs. That way, your kitty will not be scared or need to worry about other animals, especially if you expect to be in a waiting room for an extended period of time.

Accept Their Affection

Some people might say that cats are mean. However, they are only pets that need to be loved, and with enough attention, they return the affection. The ways cats show affection might differ, but some of the most common is when they bring you their favourite toy or follow you around. And if the cat falls asleep in your lap, it is a great display of trust and love.

Ensure They Feel Loved

Unlike wild cats, domesticated cats need your attention to stay happy. Therefore, you should make sure that you have time to play and snuggle with your cat every single day. As long as you pay attention to your pet, the kitty will stay healthy and happy. Even with a few moments of attention, you will be able to make a significant difference to their well-being and happiness.

Haunting Halloween Cocktails

If you are planning for a party, or maybe just want to treat yourself to something extra this Halloween, then you are in the perfect place to be inspired! I have gathered 10 of my favorite festive cocktails for the Halloween season to share with you. You can find a bonus of a few of my favorite cocktail recipes below too.

Hocus Pocus Cocktail by Easy Party Cocktails

Black Widow Martini by Burrata and Bubbles

Monkey Brain Shots by Aleka’s Get Together

Devil Margaritas by Sula and Spice

Witches Brew by Sugar and Charm

Wicked Things Cocktail by Like MK Library

Halloween Sangria by The Forked Spoon

Bloody Cosmos by By Andrea Jansen

Lychee Gin Cocktail by Emily Fabulous

Green Appletini by The Art of Natural Living

Which of these sounds best to you? Those witches brew drinks look fun!

You might also want to try this sour apple margarita recipe

The Night King Cocktail is always a favorite!

5 Types of Seafood You Don't Know You Love

Red lobster on a white ceramic plate - Image Courtesy of Pexels

The ocean offers many minutes when it comes to food. But shockingly, over 80% of Americans don't eat seafood. So here is some seafood you don't know you love until you try it.

Crabs Aren't Just Funny to Watch

There are many different types of crab, each with its own distinct flavors. There's king crab, snow crab, and blue crab. And if you've never had crab before, you must give it a go. The sight of crab and how you eat it can be off-putting for some people. But you can get more traditional-looking dishes such as deep-fried crab claws that might be more like what you are used to. Crab is a great first step on the road to sampling all the ocean has to offer.

Seaweed is a Great Salt Alternative

Seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals like iodine, and it's high in antioxidants that help keep your gut healthy. If you go to the beach, you'll find a lot of different kinds of seaweed. While they all need different ways to cook and prepare, it's easy to get enough snacks for a year in just one afternoon. It's deliciously mixed into stir fry, just like you would with cabbage. Or you can even dry it out for a stronger taste that you can use to enhance a dish instead of using salt.

Expensive Seafood You Don't Know You Love

A lot of seafood is more expensive than meat because of the work that goes into catching and producing it. And if you want to treat yourself now and then, here are some of the best to try:

Caviar is a delight that comes in many varieties, and some are affordable.
Maine lobster is among the finest because of its softer shell and more meat.
Swordfish steaks are a meaty delight and something a little different if you love beef.

Caviar is cheaper than it once was, making it available for all of us these days. While lobster is sold by the pound, you can try smaller ones. And swordfish is available at most fishmongers.

Bouillabaisse is a Classic for a Reason

Most of the time, "bouillabaisse" just means "fish soup," and it can be terrible. Even in some parts of France, bouillabaisse isn't as traditional as it used to be and can be a challenge to find. But you can find authentic bouillabaisse in coastal towns, made from four essential ingredients that include rockfish, fresh tomatoes, a dash of olive oil, and aniseed fennel. And there are spices you need, such as turmeric for color and saffron, the latter of which is rather expensive.

You Have to Try Gravlax before You Die

Gravlax is a great alternative with a familiar taste. It's just a fancy name for salmon that has been cured, but it's not cold-smoked. So ordering gravlax is like getting a strange yet familiar version of smoked salmon. But buying a salmon filet and curing it yourself with salt, sugar, and a mix of spices is a great way to sample it. If you try it once, you will never look back. And you might start making your own as a new foodie hobby since it's seriously addictive.

Summary

Expertly-prepared crab dishes, expensive delights like caviar, and the strange but equally familiar gravlax. These are seafood dishes you don't know you love until you try them.

Strawberry Ghosts

Trying to eat a little healthier this fall? You are in luck! With this simple recipe you can make a serving of candy coated fruit to satisfy your cravings.

I am always trying to make fruits and veggies more appealing to my kids. This recipe is a sure way to get kids excited about strawberries, while giving them a little of the candy they desire.

Supplies:

Strawberries

White candy melts

Candy eyes

Parchment or wax paper

Directions:

Wash the berries and dry them on a paper towel.

It is very important that you remove all the exterior moisture before you dip into the chocolate.

If there is still water/moisture on the berries when you dip into the chocolate; it will clump up fast.

When the berries are dry melt the white chocolate/almond bark according to the directions on the packaging.

Dip the berries into the melted chocolate, working fast.

Place the berries on the wax paper.

Before the chocolate has a chance to harden, drop 2 candy eyes on each berry.

When all of the berries have eyes, you can place them in the fridge to help the chocolate harden.

You can enjoy these within 15 minutes or so.

These are perfect for sharing at a Halloween party! What a sweet little spooky ghost!

I bet you can't eat just one!

These are delicious, easy to make, and while they do have a candy coating, they are so much healthier than some of the options Halloween is best known for!