Really Cool Life Hacks

Nothing excites me more than finding really cool ways to do things I’ve always done but in a better and more efficient way. I just loooooove trying hacks and finding out that they work. It’s almost like winning the lottery. Almost.

In my mind, all of the life hacks I accumulate are helping to run my tornado of a life into a manageable mess.  …and when I luck onto something that just seems like the best thing since someone said, “I know! Slice the bread!”…well, that’s just the icing on the cake.

Below you’ll find a quick and dirty list of some of my favorite life hacks. I use these every time an occasion calls for it. It never fails that when someone notices my little moment of genius, I get a thumbs up, or a “OMG! I never thought of that.”

I’m sure you’ll see one or two things in the list below that you can start using right away. If not, just print this blog post and keep it for future reference. And, if you have a Pinterest account, feel free to follow our Life hacks board @jbmhhfmwr.

On to the list!

Velcro Strips

I used these bad boys to keep the rug on my balcony from flapping in the wind. Every time we got a little wind, the corners of the rug were waving and blowing around like they wanted to be rescued from the storm. Now, those corners just lay there and weather the storm. …and here’s another little tip about these…don’t use them on wooden floors. Use a rug mat to keep area rugs in place.

Can Tabs

Maybe this is a phenomenon that happens only in my closet but it is seems more and more that the amount of clothing in my closet exceeds the amount of space in my closet. Using a can tab as a way to double the efficiency of a hanger, thereby providing more space. You can also prep your wardrobe for the week using this little tin treasures.

I Don’t Care. What Do You Want To Do?

“Tale as old as time. True as it can be…” How many times have you had this very argument with your significant other? It’s finally time for Date Night and no one knows what to do or where to go. If you’re up for a little adventure, give this a try.

The Devil in Eggs
The holidays will be here before you know it and you may be called upon to make your famous deviled eggs. Oh, wait. That’s me. My family, church, and friends like my deviled eggs. What can I say? I’ve mastered the deviled egg. What I haven’t mastered is being able to get the shell off the egg without ripping it to shreds. It’s a crap shoot, really, as to how many eggs out of a dozen will make it to the serving tray. Hopefully, this will help save time and money.

The Scent of the Season
Sometimes, adding a scent to the air isn’t about removing the smell of boys and wet dog from the house. It’s about adding just the right scent to enhance the season or occasion. Try one of these for an inexpensive, creative, and natural way to make your home smell like a memory in the making.

Keystroke Shortcuts

Ever wonder how people are able to put a symbol like this ”©” into their Word document. The illustration below shows you the keystrokes to use.

There’s No Crying In The Kitchen
Although there are many, many alternatives to you cooking a meal (carry out, take out, meal prep, fresh meal delivery, etc.), chances are you’ll still have your time at the stove. Chances are also that many a recipe will include onions. Rather than cry into your food, try this tip for holding back the onion tears.

Big Bang For Your Buck
A coat or two of paint is an inexpensive way to freshen up the look of a room. It’s the fumes that can make the new and improved room hard to handle. Here’s a way to enjoy a new color on the walls and not have to deal with the fumes that linger behind.

Double Duty Shower Caps
A lot of us have to travel for our jobs. If not, we travel for pleasure. How many of us have taken pause when it comes to packing shoes? No need to scratch your head over this. Use a cheap plastic shower cap to pack your shoes in.

Keep It In The Closet
One of my all-time pet peeves about my kitchen is under the sink clutter. I can never find or reach anything without pulling everything out first. It’s maddening. Then, I saw the idea to re-purpose a hanging shoe organizer. Now, now only is the under the sink clutter gone, cleaning supplies are safely stored and organized in a location that was previously not being used. Win!

Commandment #11 - Carry Straws!
Not that I’m a germophobe but I do wonder just how clean can tops, bottles, and glasses are.  …and don’t start with “but if the glass isn’t clean then the contents are contaminated.” I can’t think about that now. I’ll think about that tomorrow. In the meantime, carry clean straw in a toothbrush holder. Cool, huh?

Lucky Number 13…And The Best Hack of All
If you have kids or a husband/boyfriend, you absolutely need a bottle of this homemade solution around at all times. Who knew white vinegar, the blue Dawn dish soap and hot water was a miracle cleaner?? I’ve actually used this recipe to clean the upholstery in my husband’s car.  IT WORKS! Now we use it to clean the shower, the oven (when mixed with baking soda) and so many other things. Trust me! You’ll want to try this!

Not everyone gets the joy I do out of learning new tips and tricks to doing everyday things. I get that. But, I have to say, I’m a little bit of a rock star in my circle because people are always wanting to see the newest thing I’ve discovered. Try one of these jacks and tell your friends about it. You’ll be amazed at how people will react to your “genius.” Have fun and use your fame for good!

Cut The Cable Cord

For years, the only way to watch the most talked about TV shows and biggest sporting events was with cable TV. But with prices that are increasing at 4 times the rate of inflation, paying well over $100 a month for a huge bundle of channels that I mostly didn’t even watch just didn’t make sense. I knew it was time to cut the cord and get rid of cable TV. These days, there are several great cable TV alternatives that give you access to all your favorite channels without the high cost, long-term contract, or other drawbacks of traditional cable TV.

I’ve spent hours researching cable TV alternatives and I finally I cut the cable cord. And, unless something really miraculous happens, I’m never going back. I’m saving about $150 a month since I cut the cord.

Believe it or not, getting rid of cable is easy and it doesn’t require advanced technical skills. There are only a few simple steps (more or less) to cut the cable cord. Your time will be spent learning how to work your devices and apps. But that will come later.

Baby Steps

1) Choose your streaming service

All of the streaming services offer pretty much the same things, access to TV and movies. But first, what is a streaming service?

A streaming service is the conduit which will stream (deliver) TV and movie content to your TV, smartphone, or PC. Netflx and Amazon Prime are probably the most popular streaming services. Other options include Hulu, Direct TV Now, PlayStation Vue and Sling TV. You will always access these streaming services to watch your entertainment content.

Please be aware that streaming services do cost. You can pay anywhere from $7.99 to $60 a month for your service depending on what packages your purchase. Content packages include local stations, sports, kids programming, HBO channels and other traditional cable networks, and other genre configurations.

Pay close attention to this. This is an important piece to the puzzle. When you cut the cord, DO NOT FORGET TO GET/KEEP WIFI. Nothing will be able to stream to any device if there is no WiFi. You must have WiFi to cut the cord and access your streaming service. You’ll want to make sure there are no data cap on your internet downloads so you can stream as much as you want.

2) Get a streaming player

A streaming player, such as a Roku or Apple TV, will let you watch streaming services like Sling TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, and other cable TV alternatives right on your TV. Think of this as your cable box replacement, only it’s much smaller, gives you access to way more content, and you own it, so say goodbye to equipment rental fees!

Streaming players like Roku and the Amazon Fire Stick are hand held remotes that deliver your streamed content to your chosen device via USB. You plug a piece of equipment into your TV or PC, open the player and watch the selected programs.

3) Select an antenna

Another one of the best cable TV alternatives is the tried-and-true antenna. Most people don’t realize just how many FREE TV stations they can get with a quality antenna. Chances are that you’re in range of dozens of great over-the-air (OTA) broadcast channels, including NBC, ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, PBS, ION, and a host of other smaller regional stations. Many of the most popular TV shows, local sports games, and local news come on OTA TV in crystal-clear High Definition. And get this – the broadcasts you can pick up with an HD antenna are HIGHER QUALITY than what cable provides because their broadcasts are compressed! And did I mention these channels are totally free?! One of the best antenna’s on the market is the Mohu Leaf Indoor Antenna. Another option is Flatwave. This is optional as some streaming services will offer local channels.

What To Watch

Now that you have a streaming service (Sling TV), a streaming player (Roku), and internet service, we can talk about what you’ll watch.  Let me just say, the possibilities are endless.  Not figuratively endless…literally endless. It will take you some time, and a few recommendations from friends and family to decide which channels you’ll download – but that’s part of the fun!

The channels you watch now will still be available to you a la carte style. I use Sling TV. There are two package option with this service. One package offers X channels. The second offers X channels plus Y channels. Then, you can add on additional packages as mentioned above (cable movie channels like HBO, comedy channels, sports, channels, Spanish language channels, lifestyle and entertainment channels and more)…all for a fee of about $5 to $15 a month.

How Much Will It Cost

Obviously, that will depend on which streaming service you select, the cost for the internet service provider, and the packages you add to your streaming service. Here’s how it breaks down for me: Streaming Service: Netflix $10 a month, Roku streaming stick $50 (one time), internet $50 a month, Sling TV $60 a month for both channel packages and two or three add-on’s.

So, for the initial outlay of cold hard cash, I spent $170. My monthly fees are roughly $120. That’s a saving (for me) of about $180 a month.  Just … WOW!!

But don’t trust me. Seriously, don’t trust me. I’m not as tech savvy as most and I’m certainly not an expert on cutting the cord. Do your research and really see if cutting the cable cord is feasible for you and your family. The biggest advantages for me cutting the cord were saving money and only paying for channels I actually watch.

Lastly, don’t be intimidated by not having cable. True, the idea of not watching TV the way you’ve always watched TV may seem daunting but just remember, the way you watch TV is changing…not what you can watch or when. All of your favorite shows, channels will still be available to you…only you won’t be paying through the eyeball to see them!

Comment down below and let us know if you cut the cord or if you still need a little more time to get used to the idea.

In a World of Browsers, Be a Reader!

The JBM-HH Library, although small, is mighty and the staff is not your average, old-school librarians. Oh, if you haven’t been to the JBM-HH library or gotten your library card, you are soooo missing out!  Our library offers a wide range of services and resources to the community. We know other businesses and companies say that all the time but we really mean it.

As a member of the JBM-HH workforce, be you service member or civilian, you and your family have access to paper books, audiobooks, and DVDs, including Blu-rays. For those with e-readers, we offer downloadable content including eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, eMusic, and eVideos. We can also help you access online databases for research and homework help. The library’s dedicated staff will make sure you find what you are looking for and are able to utilize all of the resources available to you.

Let me just interject a little sidebar about our librarians. They aren’t just people off the street who needed a job. They are college educated and trained librarians. They have degrees in the Library Sciences. They are passionate about education, reading, and the importance of libraries in the community.  …and they have a sense of humor! It’s not like in school when Mrs. Turtleneck and Vest would frown at you over her glasses and look down her nose at you. You will absolutely feel comfortable working with and like talking to our librarians. They’re even up-to-date with the latest technology. Oh, my friends, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you haven’t visited our library, you are soooo missing out.

…and here’s the part you’ll find pretty cool…

You already have our library card. Yep! You probably aren’t even aware that you have the Army’s library card in your possession already. The Common Access Card (CAC) you have to enter the installation…the CAC you use to access your computer…THAT’S your library card! Unbelievable, right? How convenient is that? There’s no additional card to keep track of. All you need is your CAC and you’re ready to take advantage of, well, all of this: computer stations with internet access, personalized help with your projects and questions, meeting/study rooms, a kid’s room, a young adult’s room, plus copy, fax, and print services.  And it’s all free for you and me!

Now, for the fun part. You probably want to know exactly what you can access with your CAC library card. Am I right? Check out the following list of just a few of the super cool things that outside of the gate may cost money to use.

Novelist Plus

How many times have read and loved a book and want to try something similar? Or you’ve read one book in a series and you want to read the others? Novelist is an online resource that allows you to search for an author, title, series, and/or keyword and find more about books and get suggestions on similar titles.  Each page includes a short synopsis of the book, as well as reviews from sites like Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. No need to wait for the Sunday book review (if the even still have those. I think I just dated myself.)

Overdrive

OverDrive Media is a free application that will unlock the Matrix of libraries for you. Basically, it’s an app that enables users to access eBooks and audiobooks borrowed from libraries and schools—or purchased from book stores. What’s really awesome about this app is that you don’t need a tablet or smartphone to use it. It will open on your PC.  Awesome sauce!

Zinio

I’m a magazine reader. I love pretty images so I’ll always have a magazine tucked somewhere. Zinio is a multi-platform app that provides you access to well over 5,000 magazines from a wide range of publishers. It’s an e-newstand!...at your fingertips.

Ancestry.com

Who doesn’t want to know from where they hail? We’re affiliated with the military so I don’t mean the place of your birth but the birthplace of your family? I knew a woman who was able to trace her family tree back to 1600’s Scotland. She even found out what her family tartan looked like. Imagine the information you can find about you and your family!

Rosetta Stone

In today’s world, if English is the only language we speak, we’re missing the opportunity to know and love another culture! You can learn Latin American Spanish, French, Italian, German, American English, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Dari, Dutch, Filipino Tagalog, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Spain), Swahili, Swedish, Turkish, Urdu, and/or Vietnamese. Imagine all of the good food you can try when you can read the menu!

Visit the JBM-HH Library and let one of our Super Hero Librarians register your CAC for an account today. It is, after all Library Card Month. After registering, you can use the catalog to manage your account. The “My Account” feature allows you to renew and request books, access online content, create wish lists, write reviews, and more.

Go, on! Those literary classics aren’t going to read themselves…although, audiobooks are pretty close!

Back to School ... The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Back to School Hacks

I’m a nerd. I’ve always been a nerd. I will be always be a nerd. In fact, going back to school was always my own little personal holiday. I looked forward to getting my class schedule, getting lost in the “hall maze,” organizing my school supplies (cuz that’s what OCD nerds like to do), and eating square cardboard with little drops of white stuff on it the Cafeteria Ladies tried to pass off as cheese pizza… I loved it all but I think I may have been the only one.

 Who knows? Maybe with today’s technology kids are eager to go to school, what with teacher’s using Power Point presentations to teach, passing out assignments on jump drives, and virtual libraries, it actually seems like students should really enjoy the learning process.

 In the end, though, school is still school. Kids still have to get up early, do homework, write papers, and memorize things. Although how kids learn may have changed, they still need to study and pass tests. So in the end, I guess things haven’t changed that much.

 As a life-long student and step-parent, it’s important for me to keep up with the best ways to learn new information and (this is where being a government employee comes into play) ways to improve current processes. I’ve done a little research and found a few school hacks that may benefit you and your student. Some are pretty cool, too!

Learning The Schedule

This seems like a “no brainer” but I’ll bet so many students have never thought of it! Have your student take a pic of their class schedule and use the pic as their lock screen wall paper. Voila! No searching for a paper schedule. Just look at the phone screen to know which class is next!

Emergency Pack

In this case “emergency” doesn’t mean a condition that requires medical attention. This emergency pack is meant for the little social crisis that may erupt during third period. A little bag that can be kept in a backpack or locker is just the thing for handling minor situations (bad breath, arm pit fumes, stains, etc.).  Boys may not want one but, it’s not a bad idea to pack one for them, too.

Google

When searching the internet, it is so time consuming to sift through multiple pages to find useable information. This tip should cut search times to a minimum and produce relevant results.

Essays

Proofing one’s work can be difficult. You’ve been looking at the same text for so long it’s hard to spot the errors. …not anymore!

Writing the long, long paper

This is a great formula for attacking the writing of a long paper. The formula breaks down the writing process into manageable bites and helps with organizing the final piece. Bravo to the scholar who discovered this little nugget!

Angles

If it’s not a 90 degree or 45 degree angle, I have no idea what it looks like or how to measure it. This picture did wonders for my understanding of how to recognize various angles.

Studying

I’ve always heard there was a more efficient way to study as opposed to the way our parents made us study. Pulling a kid away from Speed Racer or MTV (hypothetically J) and threatening to serve okra for weeks is not the way to encourage study time. My ADD step-son really responded to a system like the one illustrated below. Give it a try!

When All Else Fails, Memorize

Sometimes, we just don’t organically learn the material and we must resort to memorizing. Or, the material just requires memorizing, like learning the Periodic Table. See if this method of memorizing information is helpful.

Lunch

Why, oh, why, does it cost a monthly car note to feed your kid at school?!...especially when the food isn’t healthy or tasty? Try these hacks to save a few dollars and keep your kid healthy.

Not Lunchables…Mason-ables

To me, this is the best lunch idea since the Ziploc bag. Empty the fruit cup (this is the one of the best parts!). Wash the empty fruit cup container and make sure it’s totally dry before refilling it. Once it’s been refilled with dry food (crackers, granola, cereal, etc.) stand the cup upright so nothing spills out. Take the inside piece of a mason jar lid and place it on top of the cup. Put the lid rim on both pieces (the cup and lid insert). Once the mason jar has been filled with its contents (milk, yogurt, meat and cheese, soup, etc.) just place the lid on as usual. The dry food won’t spill out and lunch is ready to go! Wanna really up your masonable game? Use a second cup on the inside of the jar. You can fill this cup with anything (dip for veggies, nugget sauce, ketchup, etc.). Put the filled up on the inside of the jar and close as instructed as above…and enjoy! …and because of the packaging, you can prep a few of these masonables in advance to have ready whenever they’re needed.

No More Brown Apples, Mom!

Rather than soaking or sprinkling citric acid on your apples to keep them from browning, just cut the apple, “reattach” it and secure with a rubber band.

Hopefully, one or more of these tips will help you and your student be efficient and successful throughout the school year. If you have a helpful tip or hack, leave it in the comments below. As working parents, these little nuggets of helpful information are always appreciated!

Good luck this year and may the force be with you!