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How To Get Bacon Out Of The Package

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Love bacon? Hate it when the bacon shreds as you try to take each slice out of the package? Here the easy way to do it so that it comes out of the package perfectly every time. 

How to unwrap bacon perfectly #tip
Of all the foods I love the most, bacon has to be top of the list. Bacon and eggs. BLT’s – either bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches or salads. Bacon wrapped scallops on the grill. Juicy bacon burgers with Swiss cheese. The list goes on and on.
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.❤️
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Not long ago, I discovered an almost painless way to prepare a whole pound of bacon at one time: oven frying. Easy and cleanup is a breeze. (Did I mention that I hate cleaning up skillets?) Now that I know this easy way to cook it, I make bacon much more often.  How to Cook Bacon in The Oven The Easy Way       
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Air Fryers: 
Have you heard that bacon can be made in an ☑️ AIR FRYER? It can! There are a lot of air fryers to choose from. This one is about $144 and is Amazon’s choice with 94% verified customer reviews of 4 and 5 stars!

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PROBLEM:  I had been finding that the bacon was not coming out of the package properly. Parts of the pieces were clinging to the others, causing them to pull apart in strips and shred. Who wants tiny slices of shredded bacon? Not me!

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So, my dad and I were passing the time one day watching our favorites on Food Network when they shared this neat little bacon-unpackaging trick. I tried it. It works! Here is  the right way to get bacon out of the package in perfect strips.

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Cooking Tip: How To Get Bacon Out Of The Package

  1. Do NOT open the plastic package.
  2. Hold the package with both hands one long-side of the package.
  3. Roll it into a roll, just like rolling up a newspaper.
  4. Unroll it.
  5. Now, cut the package open and gently remove each slice.

      Perfect, every time.

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NOTE: this technique works well for getting bacon out of the package when it is refrigerated and is a way to separate frozen bacon after it has been thawed.

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5 Best Books For Little Boys Who Love Big Moving Vehicles!

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Best selling books for truck loving little boys #kids

Little boys just love big moving vehicles. Dump trucks, bull dozers and diggers are what their dreams are made of! These vividly illustrated storybooks about heavy duty moving vehicles delight children over and over again. Each book would make an excellent gift or an amazing birthday party favor for your little guests!

5 best books for little #kids who love trucks, bull dozers and diggers! #ad #toys #books #gifts Share on X

This blog contains  Amazon   affiliate links. ♥

 

Where do diggers sleep at night? Story book for little boys who love trucks and big moving vehicles #ad

Where Do Diggers Sleep At Night?

 

The Truck Book for little boys who love heavy vehicles #ad

The Truck Book

 

Digger Dozer Dumper book for kids #ad

Digger Dozer Dumper

 

My Truck Is Stuck book for little kids #ad

My Truck Is Stuck

 

ABC's For Boys book your little guys will love! #ad

ABC Book For Boys

 

If your little guy is more hands-on, add this Lego Duplo set to make his truck-filled world complete!
LEGO DUPLO 10812 Town Truck & Tracked Excavator Best Toy For 1 – 4 year olds #ad

LEGO DUPLO 10812 Town Truck & Tracked Excavator Best Toy For 1 – 4 year olds

 

Are your kids builders at heart? Check out these ☑️ super building toys and dress-up sets for little builders!

 

Toys and props for children to pretend to be builders

 

Enjoy!

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5 BEST Books For Little Boys That Love Trucks #ad

Great vacuum cleaner to keep up with your whole family!

Does such a great job on cleaning up pet hair…people hair, too. ❤️

lab puppy with a toy

5 Super Simple Ways For Pet Owners To Get Organized

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We love our fur babies, don’t we! Yes, we love them, we cuddle them, we play with them and we buy them toys. Heck, I just bought my puppy a sweater! Never thought I’d see the day that I would buy clothes for my dog but she looks so cute in it.

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5 simple ways to organize your pet's stuff

With all the joy our beloved pets bring to our lives they also bring more paraphernalia to stash and lots more cleaning to do. But we don’t mind. It’s part of being a pet parent.

Just as with our own stuff, there comes a time where we need to find a place for all the gear. Organizing your pet’s things can be fun – really! Here are five simple ways to keep your puppy’s [or kitty’s] belongings organized and easy to find:

Hooks – use decorative hooks for hanging leashes, collars and dog apparel. Aren’t these little doggie behinds adorable? For those who like a subtler look, a nice pet command station may be up your alley.Hooks to organize dog stuff


Baskets – wicker baskets – and fabric ones, too – are lovely to look at and so convenient for stashing pet toys. They are perfect for Fido’s or Fluffy’s vitamins and medications, too.Storage baskets are perfect for your pet's stuff


Cleanup Pail – place a large pail just outside the door to the house or in  your mudroom that will hold their shampoo, pet cleanup bags, brush ( I love the furminator!)  and towel for those muddy paws!


5 simple ways to get your dog's and cat's stuff organized! #pets #dogs #cats #organizing #tips Share on X

Doggie Travel Bag – keep a “doggie on the go” bag packed for your pooch. Whenever you want to hop in the car and take your dog with you, it will be packed and ready!

Pack a bag for your dog - perfect for families on the go! #travel


Treat Jar– make it easy for you – and not so easy for your fur babies – to get to their treats by putting them in a decorative container right on the kitchen counter. I really like this one!

Jar for dog treats #organizing


Got any great tips on how you organize for your furry friends?

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Enjoy!

 

 


5 Reasons You Will Love Teaching Your Kids How To Cook

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Create fond memories while you make great family meals. Teach your kids how to cook. This special time will be a favorite part of your week that is worth repeating again and again – I promise!

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Five reasons why you will love teaching your kids to cook #kids #cooking

5 Fringe Benefits Of Teaching Your Kids How To Cook

As you explore the world of cooking together, you will discover there are fringe benefits. Teaching your kids to cook can lead to…

 

  1. Quality Communication – it is amazing what you will learn as you listen to your kids share at the kitchen counter. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other better. Be a good listener and ready to laugh! Nothing is too trivial to chat about. Just let them talk.  
  2. Peace – i.e. a technology-free zone! Yes, you can finally get all those devices  TURNED OFF! Make a team agreement that you will turn off the phones, laptops, video games, etc. for this special time together. Everything can be recharging while you are cooking something spectacular in the kitchen. Have the power cords and docking station ready before you start.  Turn off the phones, plug them in, and get busy.
  3. Teachable Moments – cooking is educational. Teach your kids how to read the recipes. Show them how to prepare for cooking by pulling together the ingredients, bowls, pans, measuring cups, spoons and other tools.  Learning how to cook teaches children how to:
    1. Read accurately
    2. Pay attention to detail
    3. Use math skills for measuring and timing.
    4. Organize
    5. Take turns
    6. Follow through on projects from start to finish.
    7. Appreciate each others work.

 

Children love to #kidsactivities #homeschooling

  1. Team Work – cooking together encourages cooperating with each other. Learning to work on a team is a great life-lesson. Let your kids make grocery lists, check for ingredients, plan menus, and help them learn how to implement their plan.The Pride of Accomplishment – Congratulations! You have made something delicious together. Consider putting a collection of the recipes together in a binder. Eventually, you can publish a family cookbook of your very own.

 

Create your own in-home curriculum for teaching your kids how to cook or buy one already set up for you! The cooking class curriculum from Kids Cook Real Food  is highly recommended and will cut your planning time way down!

Apron set for kids #cooking #kidsactivities #ad

Here is a list of fun tools:

 

5 reasons you will LOVE teaching your kids how to cook! #cooking #kids #recipes #food Share on X

 

More fun than you can imagine - teach your kids how to cook! #familyfun

However you decide to put your cooking lessons together – just do it. You and your kids will value this precious family time together as you build lasting memories.

Enjoy!

 

 

 



 

How A Cheap New Set Of Curtains Rescued Me

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How a cheap pair of curtains rescued me from embarassment! #tips

I was so embarassed when I really looked at my garage window. How could so many years have gone by?   I had not given any thought to what that window might look like to anybody – from the inside or outside.  That’s what happens when a person gets really busy.  You pick and choose what will get done and what must wait. This one waited for … 33 years? Yikes!  THIRTY THREE YEARS! My dear neighbors. What they had to put up with!

 

You can imagine what a shock it was when I really looked at those dirty, stained curtains in the window. They looked like sails on a ghost ship. Remember Pirates of the Carribean? Yep, that bad. But, I still had no time to do much with them.  I was over-booked as ever. So what made the difference? I was now MOTIVATED!

 

Ugly Curtain Photo Inside the Garage

 

Ugly Curtain Photo Outdoors (ghost ship sails!)

 

With no time to purchase fabric to make them, I needed a very inexpensive NEW pair of cafe curtains for cheap and FAST! So, I looked on Amazon and ordered some cute gray and white cafe curtains for $14.99 plus shipping (I misspoke in the video – this particular purchase was not on Prime but very reasonably priced and came in a flash!) Saving time and gas by shopping Amazon felt great. They arrived in just a few days. I pulled down the old ones and threw them away – wiped the window clean and hung up the new ones. See you in another 33 years! LOL

Pretty New Cafe Curtains Inside

Pretty New Cafe Curtains Outdoors

Do you ever make emergency online purchases that rescued your situation? We’d love to hear about it!

Enjoy!

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Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. What does that mean? Well, anything that you buy from Amazon by first clicking on an ad, link or using an Amazon search window on Ducks ‘n a Row will, at no extra cost to you, result in a small commission for me. In advance “thank you!” … Sinea


Make Your Flowers In a Clear Glass Vase Look Fabulous With Stones

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Take your indoor clear glass vase floral arrangements to the next level with stones!  
flowers, stones, home decorating, home and garden, tips
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️
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Start with a colorful bouquet of flowers plus a clear glass vase and fresh water. Add stones to the bottom of the vase and you have the prettiest display with very little effort. I wish I had thought of it sooner.
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You see, the inspiration for this new way of displaying fresh cut flowers came when I received an absolutely gorgeous floral bouquet from my husband. It was so large that it needed to be split up into four different vases. This vase, being the largest, surprised me. The bouquet lost some of its pizzazz. Something was wrong. I think it was because every stem was clearly visible.
Then I got an idea! I had just brought home a collection of stones that I used in my O is for Ocean fizzing preschool activity. I wouldn’t be needing them again for a while so I took a handful, rinsed them off and put them in the bottom of the vase. Next, I filled it with water and put the flowers back in. Beautiful! The stones made all the difference in the world. Don’t you love it?
flowers, decorating ideas, tips, stones

 

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small river rock stones
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glass vase with stones
white rocks white stones for plants and terrariums
flowers, bouquets, vases, home decor
 
Got some great little decorating tips for us?
Share them in the comments!

Enjoy!

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The Many Amazing Uses For Dryer Sheets

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When you do the laundry, do you use fabric softener sheets? Don’t they do a great job of freshening and softening your clothes! And they remove the static while they do it. Towels fluff up so nice–what a great invention.
(Who did invent dryer sheets? Conrad Gaiser  When? Late 1960’s First company to introduce it? Proctor and Gamble  Click for more)

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There are a multitude of great other-uses for dryer sheets – new and used. After you read this list, you’ll want to go right out to the store and stock up on a bunch of them.

The Many Amazing Uses For Dryer Sheets

Bee Repellent: bees chasing you? Dryer sheets will chase them away. Either pin one to your clothes or place it nearby. I’ve tried this myself and it works like a charm!
household hints and tips
Candle Wax Remover: Don’t scrape the candle wax off your furniture, wipe it away with a fabric softener sheet.

Computer and TV Screen Cleaner: before throwing them away, take your used dryer sheets for a “once around” the house to clean the screens on your computers and television screens. There will be enough anti-static left to get the dust easily.


Deodorizer:
  • Keep clothes fresh in drawers, luggage, diaper bags.
  • Cigarette smell in your car? Tuck a new dryer sheet away to kill the smell.

Dust furniture with a used dryer sheet. The anti-static properties of the sheet removes dust so much neater and faster.

Fight Mildew: if you have outdoor furniture that has been tainted by mildew from the moisture, don’t throw it away. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the furniture and scrub using a little water and the dryer sheets. Rinse and wipe dry. You’ll find that the smell is gone and replaced with a lovely light aroma.
Ironing: clean your iron by rubbing it with a dryer sheet to remove residue.
Kitchen Miracle: use softener sheet to clean cooked on food from pots and pans. Just put a little hot water in the bottom of the pan and lay a dryer sheet over it. Let it soak for a while. Now, wipe away with a scrubby sponge. Also works on stove tops and in ovens.
Nervous Pets: some dogs get particularly nervous when a storm is coming. They can feel a prickly sensation in their fur. If this is the case with yours, gently rub her fur with a dryer sheet before the storm arrives and see if she makes it through in peace.
household hints, hacks
Painter’s Best Friend: Makes your paintbrushes like new! Soak your used paint brushes in warm water with a dryer sheet soaked in it. Latex paint will slide off in minutes Sewing: use as embroidery backing, store threaded needles to keep them tangle-free.
Pest Repellent: Bugs, bees and rodents all flee when dryer sheets are around! Hide a dryer sheet in your pocket, if you are a person that the bugs just “love” to bite. Landscapers have discovered that if they keep some dryer sheets on them when they work, mosquitoes take a hike—far, far away!
household hints, hacks
Soap Scrum Remover: Scrub your bathtub and shower stall with a new dryer sheet to melt away built up soap scum.
Smelly Gym Bags? Sweeten the smell of gym bags, golf club carriers, sports bags, old luggage, trunks of cars.  Put in a new dryer sheet inside once in a while to keep things smelling fresh.
Static cling? Reduce it fast! Rub a sheet on clothes that cling or even fly away hair!
Tree Sap: Ever get tree sap on your hands? It is miserable to get off. Guess what? Yep, dryer sheets get it off in no time!
Wet dogs smell yucky! After a bath or coming in from the rain, towel dry your canine and then rub the surface of his fur with a dryer sheet. He’ll smell great.

Windshields: Got dead bugs stuck to the windshield or your car or truck? Fabric softener sheets get them off fast!

The many amazing uses for dryer sheets - you won't believe some of them! #tips Share on X

Do you have some more uses for dryer sheets? We’d love to know. Tell us your experiences and ideas in the comments below!

Note: remember that dryer sheets do have chemicals on them. Use them wisely when applying them to human beings and pets. There are green versions on the market. I have no idea if all the listed uses will be as effective when using them. If you try it, let me know!

Enjoy!



Photo Credits: Freedigitalphotos.net
  • Bee by James Barker
  • Paint Brush by Suat Eman
  • Bathtub by sixninepixels