What's In Your Frosty Flakes?

Discovering "bugs" in your breakfast cereal may be disgusting, but it isn't unusual -after all, pantry pests (a.k.a. stored product pests) enjoy munching on the same type of foods that we do.  We recently received a text from a young lady panicking over the worm-like things appearing on her counter top.   What she thought were maggots, actually ended up being a sign of pantry pests.  No one is exempt from the infestation possibility.  In fact we brought them into our home a few months ago.  We purchased some dog treats at a specialty pets store and discovered upon getting home that the bag was  a-l-i-v-e.  We were fortunate to have found the problem right away, rather than after the treat munchers infested other items in our pantry.
There are several different varieties of pantry pests and whenever possible it is best to determine which one is causing havoc in your home.  It will help narrow down possible food resources that they are using and harborage areas.  Typically the first signs of a pantry pest problem are moths, small brown beetles or tiny worms on the wall, counter, shelf or pantry floor.
Of course these insects can't roll up in the McDonald's drive thru for their next meal---that's why they are at your house.  Their favorite foods include dried goods-especially those containing grains, dried fruits and nuts.  Baking mixes, flours, spices, cereals, powdered milk, pastas, bird seed, dry pet food and pet treats---(obviously-refer to 1st paragraph).  Even unopened boxes of cake mixes, puddings, cereal, crackers, popcorn, etc. can have an infestation.  Some varieties will even feed on dried flower arrangements and some eat...chocolate-Oh ya-I went there!  Chocolate! 
Ok...So what do you do about it?   First thing is inspect.  Everything.  It is time consuming, boring and yep tedious, but you will never get rid of the problem if you try to skim thru it.  Empty your pantry, your beloved cookie or cereal cabinet or the pet food/treat stash.  You are checking for holes in unopened packages, looking for bugs (or parts of them) in clear bags, check areas where crumbs gather-behind appliances or canned goods, look for any webbing and check the shelves-and above them in each of these areas.

Infested items need to be sealed up and removed from the home immediately.  Your other option is to throw the item into a freezer bag then in to the freezer to kill off the bugs.  Items not infested need to be sealed in an air tight container.  Thoroughly vacuum -all areas including crevices and wash cupboards, pantry shelves, floors, etc. to remove any spilled food stuff and any insect fragments.  Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag immediately after vacuuming and take it outside.
The bright side?  Once you locate and eliminate all infested foods, you have cleaned thoroughly, and repackaged the remaining items in sealed containers, any remaining adults (beetles or moths) will be looking for another food source to deposit their eggs.  -But you have done your job, which means they can't do theirs.  Nice.
Yeah, It's a pain in the butt to get rid of them. But... once you have eliminated your problem you can help avoid future infestations. Repackage materials in properly sealed clear containers.  Inspect new items-as soon as you bring them into the home, especially discounted or nearly expired products.  Rotate your food products to use older items first.
Now you can sit back and enjoy that bowl of cereal once again....and know -it's just a bowl of cereal.

Thanks a lot butt head!

Acme Termite & Pest Control throws out a big giant thanks a hell of a lot Mr. semi trucker dude!    That is...for loosing a sheet of ice from your rig which smashed our company truck window in, dented our hood, broke our wind shield wiper, etc....not to mention scare the CRAP out of poor Tyler, our driver.  Who was, luckily, uninjured.

A view from inside the Acme truck

Semi driving away

Oh....and thanks a lot for not stopping after he followed you beeping his horn.  Not exactly what we expect to see in the middle of Florida (sheets of ice being thrown from vehicles)...but none the less, the pic of your rig & your plates should help the insurance company find and thank you personally.  We will think of you daily until our repairs are made and the vehicle is back in service.  Have a nice day!

Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip

If you are looking for something new to try this holiday season I have a suggestion for something easy, a little different and a bit spicy.  Stop by Richard's Whole Foods and pick up a jar of Robert Rothschild Farm all natural gourmet dip.  The Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip mixed with  cream cheese and served on crackers is a fun and interesting combination.  Give it a try...hope you enjoy it. 

The Smell Of Love Is In The Air

Oh...wait a minute maybe that is the smell of chocolate.  Yep it is!   
Whether you love it or hate it...Valentines Day is on its way.  If your day is going to include some chocolate (whether from your special someone or you buy it yourself) we hope you enjoy it while keeping this in mind.
Your special treats can be harmful to your furry friends.  Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cats and must be kept out of their reach. Enjoy your day while keeping them safe.

Just Do It!

How often do you try to accomplish something? Perhaps weight loss, exercising more, getting organized, spending more time with the kids/pets, nixing the smoking habit, saving more/spending less or something business related?  Do you ever give up and walk away from the new idea saying "well at least I tried?"
I believe it is important to try new things and not avoid starting a new project or diet just because you don't want to fail. ....but here is an interesting perspective... Dr. Steven Gundry (a wellness team expert for Jillian Michaels) has made a very interesting point in his post..about Not trying.  He is discussing his ideas on becoming healthy/losing weight BUT his point could be applied to anything in your life even your business.

Want to know what it is? Check it out here!

Whose running the show?

Welcome to 2010! We hope every one's new year has started off great.
Are you still getting used to writing 2010 on all your paperwork or are you one of those people that will continue to absentmindedly write 2009 for the next 6 months on every check you write? I came across a great article from dollar stretcher.com about setting and achieving goals. (Perhaps the first one should be to remember that it is now 2010...lol).

Do you find yourself sitting around waiting for life to happen to you or are you planning, setting goals and heading towards the things you want to achieve in life? Whether your goals include family, financial, getting organized, traveling or millions of other ideas, a vision board may help you reach them. Need a little help getting started? Check this out: Setting Goals, Goal Setting, Achieving Goals

Getting There

Are you getting ready yet for the holidays? We had some cooler weather in Florida and took advantage of it by bringing home and setting up the tree. It is always more enjoyable decorating when its not 90 degrees outside. lol

As you prepare your home for the holidays don't put your pets in harms way. Remember that some plants, common cleaning products or prescription medication can be poisonous to your furry friends. While things are hectic around the home and new guests may be staying with you it can be easy to overlook the dangers. Keep in mind that Christmas tree water may contain fertilizer or bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal upset. Electrical cords, batteries, glass ornaments and our own special treats need to be considered, as well as, ribbons and tinsel which can become lodged in the intestines (mostly in felines). For their sake {and your sanity!} keep a list of emergency numbers on hand...just in case. If you live in the Manatee/Sarasota, Fl. area here are some numbers.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435

Sarasota Veterinary Emergency Hospital (941) 923-7260

Animal ER of University Park (941) 355-2884

Keep those 4 leggers safe while you enjoy this holiday season.

I haven't listed any freebies or good deals lately, so here is a few.

Here is a coupon for $1.00 off Naked Juice. Ya-I know...sounds weird, but they have several different flavors-all packed full of fruits and veg's and some are really good. {try the blueberry}

Get a free sample of Scope Outlast....and feel fresh up to 5x longer. Too bad they don't make a version for dogs (lol)

I know you are interested in natural products... Get a free sample of Burts Bees Natural Acne Solutions, with willow bark. I haven't tried it yet, but my order for a sample is in.

12 Tips to keep joy in the holidays

Bah Hum Bug! Not everyone enjoys this time of year, (gasssppp..I know it's hard for others to believe or understand)...but it's true-and for many different reasons. The holiday season can also lead to depression for some people (either during the busy time or after the celebrations are all over). If you feel yourself slipping into the "holidays blues" try some of these suggestions from Psych Central for keeping the joy in the season.