The Tak Team Blog

Did you have any power problems at your house? Did you fridge break overnight? Do you have concerns regarding the stuff you had in your freezer?

When that happens you just need to follow a few simple guidelines to insure food saftey, so don’t fret.

If the food has been completely thawed or even warmed to room temperature, throw it away. If your food has been setting out for more than a couple of hours, it needs to be thrown out.

If the food is mostly thawed, but still cold, cook it immediately. Foods that have been cooked may then be consumed or refrigerated for later use.

You may notice ice crystals on your food and if so, it’s okay to freeze it again. You can put it in a cooler with some dry ice if there is no freezer available to you. The food will need to be cooked, because it won’t last as long as with a normal freezer.

Once food starts to show off the markings of freezer burn they need to be thrown out immediately.

Sudden power outages cannot be avoided, but there are things you can do to prepare for them.
If your current refrigerator or freezer isn’t working like it should, your best bet is to purchase a new one. Definitely consider a large refrigerator/freezer as used in America is if there is space for it. Any kitchen will be much better by having this. A broad selection of American refrigerators and freezers is available for viewing at this site.

There is nothing as special or personal as a homemade
Valentine’s Day card. Surprise your friends and family with your
handmade creations. Here are some ideas to get you started. The
link at the end of the article shows photographs of the finished
cards.

Materials:

Four blank greeting cards (available at craft stores), dark red
piece of scrapbooking paper, white piece of cardstock, cream
colored piece of cardstock, red and white gingham piece of
scrapbooking paper, paper cutter, scissors, glue stick,
computer, printer, sewing machine.

Card #1

For this card you will need a dark red piece of scrapbooking
paper, a red and white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper (or
other coordinating piece of paper), and a piece of white
cardstock. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of
the greeting card and glue it in place. The dark red is the
background of the card. Cut two strips of the gingham paper,
approximately an inch and a half wide. Cut them to the width of
the card (this card will open horizontally). Tear a freehand
heart from the gingham paper, large enough to fill up
approximately three quarters of the entire card. Next glue the
strips of gingham paper to the front of the card with space in
between them. The idea is that there is a “strip” of gingham, a
strip of red, a strip of gingham, and then a strip of red. Use
your sewing machine to stitch* along the edges of the strips of
gingham paper, and then stitch around the edge of the card. Glue
the heart in the middle of the card. Type “Happy Valentine’s
Day” on your computer and print out on white cardstock. Cut out
the phrase (narrow strip) and glue to the center of the heart.

* Stitching tips: If you have never used your sewing machine to
make cards, it is easy! Just sew on the paper like you would on
fabric. You might want to reserve a needle just for paper so you
don’t dull the needle for your fabric projects. There are two
ways you can include stitching in your card making projects. You
can either stitch directly on the card, or you can stitch on a
separate piece of paper and then glue that piece to the card
(then the stitching won’t show through the card).

Card #2:

This Valentine’s Day card is quick and easy. Cut a piece of dark
red paper to fit the front of your blank card and glue it in
place. Type “Happy Valentine’s Day” on your computer and print
it on the cream colored paper. Mat the cut-out phrase first on a
dark red piece of paper, and then mat that piece on another
piece of cream colored cardstock to create a layered look. This
card will open horizontally, so turn it in that direction and
glue the Valentine’s sentiment to the top third of the card. For
the bottom portion of the card cut three small freehand hearts
from the dark red paper. Glue these hearts to three torn scraps
(in the shapes of squares) of cream colored paper. Space these
pieces across the bottom of the card and glue in place. Stitch
around the outside of the card and around the “Happy Valentine’s
Day” if you wish, but it isn’t necessary.

Card #3:

This card is made from a dark red piece of paper and a cream
colored piece of paper. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit
the front of your blank card and glue it in place. Cut a large
square from the cream colored paper and glue it just above the
center of the card. Glue the piece of paper in place. Tear a
large heart from the dark red paper and glue it in the center of
the cream colored square. Type “Happy Valentine’s Day” on your
computer. Print on cream colored paper and glue in the center of
the heart. Stitch around the cream colored square and the edge
of the card, if you wish.

Card #4:

This card is made from a dark red piece of paper, the gingham
paper, and white card stock. This card will open horizontally.
Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of your
pre-made card and glue it in place. Cut two strips of gingham
paper and glue them to the top and bottom of the card so that
there is a red strip in between. Cut three freehand hearts from
the gingham paper and space them out in the red portion of the
card. Glue them in place. Type “Happy Valentine’s Day” on your
computer and print on white paper. Cut out into a narrow strip
(narrower than hearts) and glue in the center of the card on top
of the hearts.

Notes: - The terms “card stock” and “paper” are used
interchangably here, but it is up to you which kind of paper you
use, depending on the look you are trying to achieve - A sewing
machine isn’t necessary for this project, it is just a nice
added touch - You don’t have to use your computer for this
project, you can handwrite the words if you wish.

Photos of finished cards:
http://www.crafty-moms.com/valentines-day-cards.shtml

If you have decided to get rid of you excess unwanted hair, then you have several choices available to you. The first thing that you have to do is to choose whether you want a permanent solution or a temporary one. Especially for men, usually temporary solutions are more sought out as it allows them to change their minds later on.

Thus if you are more inclined toward temporary solutions, then you will have to choose shaving, waxing or depilatory creams. If you are thinking of using shaving or depilatory creams, then you will have to make sure that you shower with warm water before the hair removal process. In the case of waxing, you don’t need to take a shower as the area that is going to be waxed must be moisture free. Also in all the tree methods stated above it is usually a good tip to have your partner assist you in the process.

If you are looking for a more permanent solution, then you should think about solutions like laser hair removal or electrolysis. These can allow for more permanent hair removal, but it is best that you get some professional advice from an expert to see if they are suitable for your skin.

More hair removal tips and advice on this page

WHAT DO MOTHERS WANT?

I had a mom, I am a mom and two of my daughters are moms. I
loved mother’s day. It was a wonderful contest —which mom
could call the other first. Gifts galore and all the love
expressed was wonderful. But, that’s only one day. What do mom’s
really need and want the rest of the time?

1. Family love and respect and help in the kitchen, make your
own bed and take out the trash without being asked.

2. An unexpected hug and “I love you mom.”

3. Peace and quiet every once in a while.

4. Good child care for those who work.

5. Adequate health coverage for her family.

6. Equal pay and no glass ceiling.

7. Good education for her kids.

8. Safe streets.

9.Adequate after school care.

10. Her own choice about how she wants to teach their kids.

11. A family that cares and shows that they do.

12. Breakfast in bed, even when it’s not mother’s day.

Honoring mom on her special day, is a wonderful opportunity to
say and do something special. But, please remember Mom the other
364 days of the year. That’s even more special.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.

If you are wondering what to buy for a baby gift or baby shower
gift, then you may be faced with something of a dilemma. You
will know that the parents probably need practical things, as
does the forthcoming or newborn baby. The parents will probably
also like items that are attractive, while a new baby will not
care one little bit what their clothes, bedding or any other
baby items look like. An attractively presented baby gift basket
helps the gift buyer to reach a compromise, and solve their
dilemma.

It is certainly fine, if not desirable, to focus on practical
baby gifts, whether they are to be presented at a baby shower or
directly at some other time; before or after the new baby is
born. That then leaves the desire of the parents, and the person
giving, to receive or offer a gift that is attractive. With a
gift basket, you can combine the practical gifts with some
pretty and attractive necessities, thus making an ideal gift
offering to celebrate the birth.

Many of the things parents will really need for a new baby are
quite mundane, to say the least. Diapers, baby powder, baby soap
and other seemingly trivial items are really necessities, and
will be welcome gifts for a new baby. However, individually they
do not make gifts that most of us would like to give. Despite
that, mixing the baby powder, diapers and wet wipes with some
toys, and then presenting them nicely, can bring about a
transformation. That is where baby gift baskets really come into
their own.

For example, you could have a diaper bag as a “basket” and
include a few baby toys, such as plastic ducks, baby rattle, and
cuddly bear, together with more practical items like a wash
cloth set, baby manicure set, picture frame, flannel baby
blanket, gel teether, comb & brush set, and baby wash.

Another type of example would be an educational mix in a
coloured wicker basket. You could use blue, pink or neutral
colours for the basket, then for the gifts choose items like
board books, soft toys with classical sounds, colouring crayons
and a colouring book. Such gifts will be appreciated more later,
of course, but they are good to have in hand when the baby is
born as babies soon take an interest in pictures.

There are many permutations of gifts once you have made that
decision to give a baby gift basket either at a shower, or after
the baby has been born. There is also one plus for you: it can
be great fun making up a basket gift yourself, or even choosing
one online. For a baby shower, a cookie gift basket could
offered as an additional basket, to provide part of shower
feast.

Many of us at times, become very helpless about a problem and
leave the work to God. Let God do whatever He wants now. I am
out of this. I cannot do anything anymore. I leave this to God.
This happens many times in our life when we feel helpless. Talk
to a terminal cancer patient who has given up all the hopes, and
you will hear only about God. Am I correct? Download these
screensavers to get enchanted with the compassion of God. 1, and 2. We also leave many others to God.
Sometimes knowingly and many more times, without any knowledge.
Let me elaborate. There is so much misery in the world, so much
poverty and sickness. A majority of us have left these suffering
people to God. Am I making sense? We make no effort to help.
This is what I meant by saying unknowingly. We are not bad, but
we are so overwhelmed with our own life and have become so
immune to misery around us that we make no effort to help these
people, but leave them to God. Some of us don’t take this
attitude, but try and do whatever we can. Like Mother Teresa
did. Such people become saints.

Now let us talk of something very cruel. How can leaving someone
to God be cruel? This sounds contradictory. But this happens.
Let us see how. A mother leaving her new born child on the
street corner. Why? She never wanted the child. She does not
know what to tell the world about the child. She has prestige to
keep in society. She has her own problems. So what can she do?
She leaves the helpless child to God. Oh, Lord, In all your
mercy, please take care of my child. I leave my child to you.
And she walks away acting as if nothing happened. How do you
look at this?

Why did she sacrifice a newborn to her false sense of prestige?
Why did she give society more importance than her helpless
child? Why did she want to keep this facade of truth? Did she
make God happy with her action? What do you call this. If this
is not cruel, then what else is this?

Why did she not pray to God - Oh, God, I have this lovely child.
I don’t know how to bring up this child. I don’t know what to
tell my relatives about this child. I don’t know how to face
many problems that will come while bringing up this child?
Please help me. I cannot leave my child alone. I will bring up
my child myself. Please help me. Please have your mercy on me?

Why don’t such people leave themselves to mercy of God? Why do
they try to get up, try to earn, try to prepare food, and try to
feed themselves? Why do they go to a doctor when they are sick?
Why don’t they always say, God, I am sick, please take care.
God, I am hungry. Please take care. They don’t. Because they
don’t have total faith in Lord. The faith and surrender that
makes them leave their every life issue to God is absent. But
these same mothers leave someone totally helpless to the mercy
of God. Such mothers are cruel and ruthless. God does not love
them, but sends them to hell forever.

Many of us leave our beloved to God and walk out. Leaving behind
a shattered life, we justify our action saying - I leave you to
God. There is no bigger cruelty than leaving one’s beloved when
they need one most. God never forgives such evil people.