Courtesy of Michelle Steele

Compliments of STEELE Michelle Direct: 613-858-7253 www.michellesteele.ca

2004-2012

Team Realty Independently Owned & Operated

“The highest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of family, friends and co-workers. Thank you for your continuing trust.”

VOLUME 347 ISSUE 84

FIREPLACE TILE MAKEOVER When you're thinking about a fireplace tile update, but you’re not sure if you want to replace the whole surround, consider painting the tile instead. It's a relatively easy project that should just take a day or two for even a beginner DIYer. Head to your local home improvement store and look for a bonding primer that will adhere to tile and an interior epoxy paint or another tile-friendly paint. You'll also want to pick up some fine-grit sandpaper, painter's tape and tarps, paint brushes and paint rollers. After thoroughly cleaning the tile, use the sandpaper to remove any finishes that may be on the tile so the primer and paint will be more prone to adhering. Once you're sure any glossy finishes are removed, make any repairs to the tiles (fill in chips) and give it another thorough cleaning to remove dust and debris left over. Once dry, use painter's tape and tarps to cover up areas you don't want paint to end up. Then comes the fun part of painting - follow the manufacturer's instructions to apply a coat or two of primer and then paint ensuring each coat dries completely before you add another.

OREO MICROWAVE CAKE INGREDIENTS: • 5 Oreo Cookies • ¼ cup milk DIRECTIONS: 1. In a microwave safe bowl, crush

4 Oreos in the milk. Mix until blended. 2. Add sugar, flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Mix well. 3. Sink final Oreo into batter. 4. Microwave, on high, for a minute until the center of the cake is set. Let sit for 30 seconds before digging in.

• 1 tbsp sugar • 1 tbsp flour

• ½ tsp baking powder • 1 tsp cocoa powder

Courtesy of Ian M.

With summer vacation winding down, those with school age children might be at their wits end trying to find activities to minimize screen time and keep the "I'm bored" moments at bay. Here are a few crafty ideas for your teens or tweens. Polymer Clay: Found at your favourite craft store, polymer clay is fun to use and can be easily molded into a variety of things from teddy bear statues to plant pots to jewellery or magnets or wall art. Painted Door Mat : Allow your teen's personality to shine in a personalized door mat. Acrylic paints and a paintbrush are all they need to transform a regular rectangular door mat into a work of art. Paint Splatter: A little messy, but so fun, creating a paint splatter picture (or plant pot, or shirt) will be entertaining for any age. Try different tools to splatter the paint like brushes, sticks, water guns or balloons filled with paint. String art: The idea is to create a work of art by wrapping thread around small nails. The nails can be hammered into a piece of wood to create a simple shape (for beginners) or a word or a flower or animal (for those more advanced.) Look online for templates or let your child have free reign to create their own design.

ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR TWEENS AND TEENS

RIVERS KNOW THIS; THERE IS NO HURRY. WE SHALL GET THERE SOME DAY.

An English writer most famously known for creating Winnie-the-Pooh, was also a poet, playwright and served in both WW1 and WW2. A.A. Milne (1882 – 1956)

- A.A. Milne

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP Any number of factors can affect your sleep from noisy neighbours to illness and stress. While you cannot control everything, there are some ways you can try to improve your sleep. You've probably heard it before, but maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is key. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day (even on weekends) goes a long way to reinforcing your body's natural sleep cycle (your circadian rhythm). Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night; an average adult won't need more than that to feel rested. Prepare your body for sleep by including physical activity at some point during the day, limiting heavy or large meals in the hours preceding bedtime, avoiding caffeine later in the day and saying no to daytime naps. Getting outside into the sunshine can regulate your circadian rhythm as well. Be sure to turn off electronics in the hour before bed and use the last 30 minutes of your day for relaxing - taking a bath, meditating, journaling or even low-impact stretching can ease your body and mind and get you in the right frame of mind for sleep. Furthermore, aside from preparing your body for sleep, creating the ideal sleeping conditions will also promote a better sleep. Your bedroom should be dark, cool and quiet. You can use earplugs, fans and light blocking curtains to help create the ideal environment. Choose a mattress, pillow and bedding that not only support your body properly but make you feel relaxed and comfortable.

WORD CHANGE Can you morph one word into another by just changing one letter at a time? It isn't quite as easy as you think!

P O R T

L A S T

HOUR LAST – LOST – LOOT – LOON – MOON

H O U R

M O O N

ANSWERS: PORT – POUT – POUR –

Courtesy of www.thinkablepuzzles.com

HARVESTING TIPS Did you know that harvesting the fruits and vegetables from your garden in the early morning will result in crispier, juicier and sweeter produce? The cooler temperatures overnight allow the fruit or vegetable to retain more water which leads to the crispier texture and sweeter taste. If you're unable to get to the garden first thing in the morning, the next best time of day is in the evening after the heat of the day has passed. After harvesting, you'll want to move your produce to a cool, dry and well ventilated area until you're ready to eat or preserve them. Check the produce regularly for signs of mould or disease and remove spoiled ones immediately to prevent contamination. Look online or check with your local gardening expert to determine how long each type of produce can last to help you organize your preserving schedule. Some vegetables like potatoes can last for months when stored properly, while others like lettuce need to be consumed within days. Knowing what needs to be dealt with first can help prevent you from being overwhelmed when it seems that everything is ready at once.

WHAT’S YOUR PASSWORD? 123456, according to a cybersecurity company Nord Security, is the most popular password used today. The word “password” is also among the top 10 most commonly used passwords. When you’re prompted by yet another website to choose a strong password, what should you use? Experts suggest using a different password for each site as it makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your other accounts if they do happen to steal one password. Stay away from common phrases (qwerty, admin, password, unknown, etc.) and personal information (phone number, birthdates, names of family members, hometowns, etc.) as they’re easily hacked. Do choose long passwords that consist of random uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. You will likely not be able to remember every password you create, so using a reputable password manager can help you stay organized. An additional layer of security that is becoming more common is a multifactor authentication meaning the website will send a one-time use code to your email or cell phone that you must enter prior to being granted access. Biometric authentication (face scan or fingerprint) is also gaining popularity as a security measure. Take a few minutes to audit your passwords and change any that may be easy to hack or guess and give yourself a bit more confidence that you’re being safe online.

Q: Why shouldn't you tell a secret on a farm? A: Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn has ears! Q: What do you give to a sick lemon? A: Lemon aid! Q: Why shouldn't you tell an egg a joke? A: Because it might crack up! Q: What do you call cheese that isn't yours? A: Nacho cheese! Q: How do you make an apple turnover? A: Push it down a hill! Some jokes to take a bite out of summer

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