What is can you freeze?

Here's what I found for fruits and veggies.

Veggies: fresh beans and peas, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Make sure you blanch them before you freeze them.

Fruits: berries, stone fruits, apples, pears, pineapples, mangos, figs and rhubarb are the best for freezing. Make sure they're not over ripped or damaged before you wash and freeze them.

You don't need to thaw and they have 3-6 months of shelf life.

This is a great tip to save money and when you have too much of something.

Choose your words wisely!

The other day, I had asked a friend how she was.

Their direct response: "I'm surviving. Struggling for financial independence."

My immediate emotion wow, you're having a rough time right now aren't you?

The mere fact that she chose to use the word struggle created an image of pain, difficulty and discomfort. I thought the journey to independence was suppose to fun and exciting. It's the fun and excitement that would actually drive you into action. The prospect of being free is the core of why we do what we do - isn't it?

However, when we actually take the journey to do something new, we forget that it will take time and work. In turn, we think that it's no longer fun and it turns into a struggle. When I use the word struggle, it would drive me to sit on the couch and avoid work because it's hard and no longer exciting. 

Believe it or not, the words we use to describe anything will evoke a certain emotion, behavior and ultimately an action. If you find yourself struggling with something new that you're taking on, take a moment and pay attention to the words you're using to describe it. You'll be surprised to how you're disempowering the whole situation therefore producing an undesired result, ultimately leaving you with the experience that you're a fool for doing something like this, you're a failure and you will not succeed.

To shift that experience, you must first shift what you say.

Strawberries that Last LONGER!

They are in season and if you're paying attention, you can find some really great sales on berries.

For someone like me who likes to eat a little at a time, they will start rotting before I get to half of my pint. Not to fret, I've found a great tip on how to preserve them.

When you get them at home, wash them with vinegar first.

Follow the recipe of 1 part vinegar (white or apple cider works best) and 10 parts water.
Pour berries in the mixture and swirl around.
You can rinse if you'd like, but the mixture won't affect the taste of the berries.
Pop it in the fridge and eat when you're looking to satisfy that craving!

The vinegar will actually kill off any mold spores and bacteria that may be lingering in the surface.
This should make raspberries last a week and strawberries last two weeks.

How would you finish this?

One bite at a time!

The summer heat is starting up and it's very easy for us, especially me, to say, you know what? I'd like to just sit, relax and eat some ice cream! While at the same time, the piles on my desk are doing nothing but expanding. At a time like this, where the attention span isn't any better than a 4 year old, I tell myself that it's okay. I just need to take it one bite at a time, after all that is the only way you're going to finish "The Kitchen Sink Challenge" (Referenced from MVF)

So if you're in the same mood as me and the heat is doing something to your work ethic. Just remember that it's okay. One bite at a time and that's all you need. After all, a little work is better than no work!

Hair Care: Myths or Truths

I have long hair and it's hard to keep with taking care of it. There are days where just chopping it off seems like a great idea - but I know that I LOVE my long hair. I found this great article from Good Housekeeping that goes through each myth and does a quick fact check. Click here if you want to read the whole article.

Here's what they found:

Myth #1: Frequent trims makes hair grow faster. Hair on average, grows a half an inch a month. But it will help with split ends.
Myth #2: On average, you lose about 50 to 120 strands of hair PER day. When a big life changing event happens, you'll lose a little more. But it will grow back.
Myth #3: Changing shampoo can make hair look healthier. Your hair won't know the difference.
Myth #4: Pluck out 1 gray hair will spout out 2 or 3 more strands. My mom used to tell me that all the time! Even though this is not true, plucking can damage the roots, cause an infection or leave a scar, so it should be a no no.
Myth #5: You can't make flat, fine hair look full of body. All you need is 5 minutes with hot rollers!
Myth #6: To get really clean hair you must lather, rinse and repeat. Once does the trick.
Myth #7: Rinsing with ice-cold water after shampoo will give you hair a healthier shine. It will probably just wake you up.
Myth #8: Coloring your hair causes major damage. Always consult a professional stylist if you have any questions, but products these day contains ingredients that are gentle enough to not cause damage.
Myth #9: You can mend split ends with the right products. Once they're split, they're split. You can always try and prevent.
Myth #10: You should brush your hair 100 times a day. Now this one is a conflicting one for me. Good Housekeeping says that it may pull hair from their follicles and damage individual strands whereas another hair stylist I know said that it would stimulate my scalp. I wonder if the type of brush you use would make a difference.

There's more to a banana than just eating it!

I love bananas but sometimes they get ripe faster than I can eat and I'm always left wondering what I could do.

Here's some simple quick planning tips to do with bananas other than eating it. :)

1. Smoothie Base: When making smoothies, have you ever added crushed ice to the blender only to end up with a watery, diluted smoothie? That’s because the ice melts during blending process. For a creamy, non-diluted smoothie, use slices of frozen, overripe banana instead of ice. Cut your  peeled banana into bite-sized slices. Lay out the slices on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze them for 40 minutes. When the slices are frozen, place them in a freezer bag for storage. This method prevents the slices from sticking and also allows for single portions.
2. Baked Goods: Overripe bananas taste as good as ever in baked goods. Mash the peeled bananas with a fork and transfer to freezer bags. Label with the number of mushed bananas. To use, defrost and use as you would regular banana.

On top of that, if you're about being green, you can use the banana peels and extend the life of a banana.

1. Shoe Polish: If your dress shoes are looking a little scuffed,  buff them using a banana peal. Banana peels contain oil and potassium—two of the main ingredients in shoe polish. But unlike store-bought shoe polish, a banana peal is cheap, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Place your palm against the peel and rub it all over the exterior of a leather shoe. Use a clean, soft cloth to remove any excess oil, banana pieces, and those stringy things (FYI: in case you’re ever a contestant on Jeopardy, the technical name for the stringy things inside bananas is phloem bundles.)
2. House Plant Fertilizer: Put a banana peel in 12 ounces of water to make “banana juice.” Add one part “banana juice” and five parts water to your watering can. Use this solution to water your houseplants as normal. The banana-fortified solution contains phosphorous and other beneficial compounds.
3. Rosebush Fertilizer: Add banana peels to the soil around a rosebush soil as non-toxic fertilizer. The peels, just like store-bought garden fertilizer, contain potash and phosphorous to nourish your delicate flowers. To make fertilizer, finely chop the peels and then spread the pieces around the base of the rosebush. Sprinkle some dirt on top to promote decomposition. Water.