Since Winter is coming up very soon, we should know what to do in case of fire.
A fire is something one wishes will never happen – but that does not mean we can be complacent with the idea. It is best to practice safety measures so in case a fire does break out (knock on wood), you will know what to do. Better be equipped with the necessary knowledge and be paranoid than to be sorry. Here are some of the things that have to be done in case of a fire.
First and foremost – invest in fire extinguishers and learn how to properly use them.
If you are in a room, keep yourself as close as possible to the floor and crawl to the closest exit, or away from the fire.
If possible, put a wet cloth over your face to minimize smoke inhalation.
Move as far away from the fire as possible. Close any doors between you and the fire.
Do not open the door and move as far away from it as possible if you see smoke coming from under it.
If the fire is a small one, try your best to put it out before it spreads.
When you think the fire is getting a bit bigger than you can handle, sound an alarm and immediately call for help.
In case your clothes catch fire, resist the urge to run. Drop to the ground and roll over to put out the flames.
Warn the people around you of the fire, so they too can run to safety
If possible, guide the fire fighters by telling them exactly where the fire is. This will save them precious time in trying to locate the fire.
Let the fire fighters do what they do best, and try to stay out of their (and harm’s) way.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
How To Get Ready to Play The Guitar
The guitar is an easy instrument to pick up, but there are many variations to how you can improve and master the guitar. Most beginners follow a general idea of how to start practicing, but eventually branch off into their own unique style that works best for them. Here is a practice plan that is efficient for most beginning guitar players:
1) The first step is to choose your guitar. The guitar you choose shows how determined you are to play that instrument. Some people will choose inexpensive guitars to practice with, but the serious ones will usually start off with a very good guitar to get accustomed to the high quality of guitars beginners will experience later in their guitar playing careers.
2) The next step is to choose your type of strings. There are many different brands of strings but they are all divided into three categories: light, medium, and heavy. Whatever kind of string you choose depends on whether you want a light sound or a deep sound.
3) Another thing you can do to get prepared to practice the guitar is to get a chart of chords for easy accessibility; whenever you don't know how to hold a chord, you can simply look at the chart. Also, many beginners will get a tuner, as their ears aren't accustomed to the musical scale yet and won't know how to tune the strings. Also, a capo is handy to control the pitch of the playing and for simple transposing.
4) To get started, you need to first learn the parts of the guitar. The guitar is like a human. The top where the headstock is. The heads are the knobs that tune your guitar and change the pitch. Then, there is the neck, or the fretboard, where you hold the chords. Finally is the body, where you strum the guitar, and the pick guard, so that you don't damage the body of the guitar.
5) There are two choices available when starting to learn the guitar. You can either start off by mastering the chord positions on the fret, or you can practice your scales. There are many different ways to practice your scales, and every different variation of the scales you master allows your finger to move faster.
6) The best method to learning the guitar is to consistently practice the guitar. That way, your finger grows callouses so that your fingers don't hurt so much when playing.
7) Another good option is to buy a book of tabbed songs, or search for them online. Tab reading is an essential skill in skilled guitar players, and many people prefer using tabs to chords when finger picking.8) Another way to improve is to start playing in bands. Playing in bands helps you to help find beats quickly and also help with your improvisation skills, as every band will not sound the same twice.
How To Make Stuffed Mushrooms
How To Make Stuffed Mushrooms
This great appetizer can be served in trays as hors d’oeuvres or as a side dish. The recipe needs 16 large brown mushrooms (fresh), 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup cream cheese, 2 minced green onions and ½ cup minced chives. This yields yummy 16 mushroom pieces, which can serve about 6 to 8 persons.
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Carefully wash the mushrooms under cold running water. It’s best to use a vegetable brush to get all the dirt out from the mushroom grooves. Pat dry afterwards with a clean towel.
3. Remove the mushroom stems and discard (or save them for another recipe, if you have one in mind).
4. Combine together the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, minced green onions and chives. Mix well until every ingredient is well-incorporated.
5. Take about a spoonful of the mixture and carefully pack it inside the mushroom cap.
6. Arrange the mushrooms in a round baking dish (to ensure even cooking for all of the mushrooms).
7. Put the shredded cheddar cheese on top of each mushroom cap (depends on your taste, in general more cheese is better!)
8. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, just until gets melted and a little bubbly (if you want a crunchy cheesy top, wait until the cheese turns a bit brown/burnt before taking the mushrooms out of the oven).
9. Cool the mushrooms slightly before serving – you don’t want your guests to burn their mouths with the piping hot cheese.
This great appetizer can be served in trays as hors d’oeuvres or as a side dish. The recipe needs 16 large brown mushrooms (fresh), 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup cream cheese, 2 minced green onions and ½ cup minced chives. This yields yummy 16 mushroom pieces, which can serve about 6 to 8 persons.
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Carefully wash the mushrooms under cold running water. It’s best to use a vegetable brush to get all the dirt out from the mushroom grooves. Pat dry afterwards with a clean towel.
3. Remove the mushroom stems and discard (or save them for another recipe, if you have one in mind).
4. Combine together the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, minced green onions and chives. Mix well until every ingredient is well-incorporated.
5. Take about a spoonful of the mixture and carefully pack it inside the mushroom cap.
6. Arrange the mushrooms in a round baking dish (to ensure even cooking for all of the mushrooms).
7. Put the shredded cheddar cheese on top of each mushroom cap (depends on your taste, in general more cheese is better!)
8. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, just until gets melted and a little bubbly (if you want a crunchy cheesy top, wait until the cheese turns a bit brown/burnt before taking the mushrooms out of the oven).
9. Cool the mushrooms slightly before serving – you don’t want your guests to burn their mouths with the piping hot cheese.
How to Make Sushi
How To Make Sushi
You don’t need to train with well-known chefs to make your own sushi. Here are simple ways to make fool proof sushi:
• Hold the nori and look for the smooth and rough sides. Make sure that the rough side is facing upwards (towards you) on the mat.
• Keep your hands wet and make balls out of rice. At the same time, make sure that the nori stays dry – a bowl of water for the rice and a dry towel for the nori by your side will be the best option.
• Gently place the ball of rice in the middle of the nori sheet and start spreading it evenly, almost coating the entire sheet except for a portion of about 2 cm on the top part.
• Place a slice of fish (preferably not more than 1) on the edge of the nori, together with about 1-3 slices of vegetables (be as creative as you want with the vegetable choices).
• Starting with the edge of the mat closest to you, enclose the filling with the nori, making a small hill shaped like a rectangle and press it to tighten from above.
• Go forward and continue with the rolling, keeping everything tight with every step of the rolling process. Keep on doing this until you reach the end of the nori. Keep the roll tight from all 3 sides by applying pressure as you move along.
• Using a wet, extremely sharp knife, cut the roll into little sushi pieces. You can make 6 to 8 pieces from each roll, it’s entirely up to you!
You don’t need to train with well-known chefs to make your own sushi. Here are simple ways to make fool proof sushi:
• Hold the nori and look for the smooth and rough sides. Make sure that the rough side is facing upwards (towards you) on the mat.
• Keep your hands wet and make balls out of rice. At the same time, make sure that the nori stays dry – a bowl of water for the rice and a dry towel for the nori by your side will be the best option.
• Gently place the ball of rice in the middle of the nori sheet and start spreading it evenly, almost coating the entire sheet except for a portion of about 2 cm on the top part.
• Place a slice of fish (preferably not more than 1) on the edge of the nori, together with about 1-3 slices of vegetables (be as creative as you want with the vegetable choices).
• Starting with the edge of the mat closest to you, enclose the filling with the nori, making a small hill shaped like a rectangle and press it to tighten from above.
• Go forward and continue with the rolling, keeping everything tight with every step of the rolling process. Keep on doing this until you reach the end of the nori. Keep the roll tight from all 3 sides by applying pressure as you move along.
• Using a wet, extremely sharp knife, cut the roll into little sushi pieces. You can make 6 to 8 pieces from each roll, it’s entirely up to you!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
How to Control Wedding Expenses
Preparing for a wedding is one of the busiest and most exciting times for an engaged couple. Naturally, they would want what’s best for the wedding ceremony, down to the smallest details. However, costs could soar to great heights if not controlled. Here are some tips on how to control wedding expenses.
1. As much as possible, do not set your wedding date during peak season months for weddings. There is a huge possibility that suppliers and venues would have higher rates for these months as well.
2. Decide on how many guests you want to invite, and if it is really necessary to invite them at all. Keep in mind that the wedding should be for the bride, groom, their friends and family – not for people who “should be” invited.
3. Choose flowers which are grown locally, or those that are in season.
4. You may also look into using silk flowers instead of fresh ones. Depending on the quality, they may look as nice as the fresh ones and will cost considerably less.
5. Look into less-expensive materials for the wedding gown. There will always be a cheaper alternative to the material to be used. Be sure to choose a good design and an even better designer/dressmaker, though.
6. Don’t spend too much on the rehearsal dinner. Again, ideally this one should be for the bride and groom’s family and close friends.
7. Talk to your suppliers/vendors and be honest with them regarding your working budget. Most suppliers offer flexibility in terms of materials used, freebies thrown in, etc.
8. Take advantage of your friends’ talents and you may cut down on paying for some suppliers. You can ask your friends if their services can be their wedding gift to you. It’s best to consider all your options.
9. Consider going for scaled-down or simplified versions of some of the products or services you need, like going for a simpler cake, invitations, etc.
10. You may also want to consider not serving any alcoholic beverages on your wedding. This may be a shocking idea to some, but it will cut the food/beverage costs significantly. This will also help make sure that all guests are sober enough to really enjoy your special day.
1. As much as possible, do not set your wedding date during peak season months for weddings. There is a huge possibility that suppliers and venues would have higher rates for these months as well.
2. Decide on how many guests you want to invite, and if it is really necessary to invite them at all. Keep in mind that the wedding should be for the bride, groom, their friends and family – not for people who “should be” invited.
3. Choose flowers which are grown locally, or those that are in season.
4. You may also look into using silk flowers instead of fresh ones. Depending on the quality, they may look as nice as the fresh ones and will cost considerably less.
5. Look into less-expensive materials for the wedding gown. There will always be a cheaper alternative to the material to be used. Be sure to choose a good design and an even better designer/dressmaker, though.
6. Don’t spend too much on the rehearsal dinner. Again, ideally this one should be for the bride and groom’s family and close friends.
7. Talk to your suppliers/vendors and be honest with them regarding your working budget. Most suppliers offer flexibility in terms of materials used, freebies thrown in, etc.
8. Take advantage of your friends’ talents and you may cut down on paying for some suppliers. You can ask your friends if their services can be their wedding gift to you. It’s best to consider all your options.
9. Consider going for scaled-down or simplified versions of some of the products or services you need, like going for a simpler cake, invitations, etc.
10. You may also want to consider not serving any alcoholic beverages on your wedding. This may be a shocking idea to some, but it will cut the food/beverage costs significantly. This will also help make sure that all guests are sober enough to really enjoy your special day.
How to Childproof Your Kitchen
A house should be safe and ready before a child is brought inside it. Household dangers that were not evident before may be life-threatening if a child has improper access to them. Here are some of the things to do to make the kitchen a safer place for your child.
1. Keep alcohol, soaps, detergents and other hazardous materials out of your child’s reach.
2. Put safety latches on cabinets or cupboards that can be reached by children. However, keep in mind that children may still find a way to open the doors, so it’s best to keep harp and heavy objects out of reach.
3. Place the easily-breakable items like chinaware out of reach as well.
4. When not in use, keep the appliances unplugged. Put the electrical cords out of reach as well.
5. When cooking, it’s best to use the back burners, and to turn the handles away from the edge of the counter.
6. Do not use tablecloths which can be reached by children. This can cause accidents, when the contents of the table are pulled along with the tablecloth.
7. Always secure the latches of dishwashers and compactors.
8. Keep a fire extinguisher ready to be used in the kitchen. However, remember to put it away from any heat source.
9. If you cannot avoid having your child with you while you are in the kitchen, place wooden and plastic utensils inside a cupboard that the child can reach. This will provide sufficient entertainment for the child while you are busy with chores.
10. Place a safety gate at the kitchen entrance so children cannot go there when you are not with them.
1. Keep alcohol, soaps, detergents and other hazardous materials out of your child’s reach.
2. Put safety latches on cabinets or cupboards that can be reached by children. However, keep in mind that children may still find a way to open the doors, so it’s best to keep harp and heavy objects out of reach.
3. Place the easily-breakable items like chinaware out of reach as well.
4. When not in use, keep the appliances unplugged. Put the electrical cords out of reach as well.
5. When cooking, it’s best to use the back burners, and to turn the handles away from the edge of the counter.
6. Do not use tablecloths which can be reached by children. This can cause accidents, when the contents of the table are pulled along with the tablecloth.
7. Always secure the latches of dishwashers and compactors.
8. Keep a fire extinguisher ready to be used in the kitchen. However, remember to put it away from any heat source.
9. If you cannot avoid having your child with you while you are in the kitchen, place wooden and plastic utensils inside a cupboard that the child can reach. This will provide sufficient entertainment for the child while you are busy with chores.
10. Place a safety gate at the kitchen entrance so children cannot go there when you are not with them.
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