Soulful Thoughts of Rachel

Here are some simple energy saving tips that you might find helpful:

• Avoid ironing clothes everyday.  Segregate clothes that need to be ironed.  Attend to ironing chores once or two times a week.
• Limit the use of the air-conditioner.   Take advantage of the cool weather during the rainy season. Turn off the air-con when the the weather is a little cool and when not in use.
• Change bulbs into energy-saving light bulbs.
• Avoid constant opening and closing of the refrigerator.
• Turn off excess light at night.
• Unplug appliances at night. Some appliances left connected to electrical sockets are electricity “vampires”.
• Turn off the light, electric fans and air-con when leaving the room.
• Do not leave laptop unattended very long. Put laptop on sleep if you’re going to leave it open for a while.

Early today, an earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude was felt in Mindoro while milder tremors rocked some areas in Luzon.  I was in front of the computer when I felt a little woozy. I thought I was getting dizzy because of prolonged computer use but I soon realized it was an earthquake. I only felt a low intensity earthquake but I was still frightened of the possibility of a stronger earthquake. I’m glad no stronger quakes followed suit.

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself during an earthquake:

• Drop down onto your hands and knees. This position will enable you to protect your body from falling objects.

• Cover your head. If possible go under a strong table or desk. Stay away from glass windows and furniture that might fall on you.  Cover your head with your arms and hands.

• Hold on to your shelter (e.g. table) until the earthquake stops.

Food poisoning is a major concern especially during summer.  The extreme heat can easily cause food to spoil.  Food poisoning can be avoided through these simple tips.

1. The first thing to remember is to wash your hands properly before eating.  You do not want bacteria and germs contaminating your food.
2. Wash raw foods before cooking the particularly fruits and vegetables.
3. Cook food thoroughly especially fish, meat and chicken.  Cooking food at the right temperature can eliminate any bacteria or other harmful organisms.
4. If possible, store leftovers inside the refrigerator.  Letting leftovers sit out at room temperature during the hot summer season can make the food prone to spoilage.
5. When you are out, make sure the food are properly covered to keep them protected from insects like flies.

When you live in a small area like a condominium, it is advisable to choose furniture and fixtures that do not occupy a lot of space. One great space saver are the ceiling fans. You can install a ceiling fan instead of buying the usual desk fan or stand fan. You can use from different colors and styles to compliment your home.

Moving to a new house can be very exciting; however, it can also be quite stressful.  Avoid worries and headaches by finding dependable moving services. Planning your move ahead of time will give you the opportunity to organize your things.  Create a list of things as you pack them.  It is best to pack similar things together and label each box accordingly.

I heard that it is starting to snow in some countries already.  Snow can bring some road risks.  Here are some basic safety tips when driving in the snow.

• Drive slowly but surely.  Avoid driving fast and sudden breaking to avoid skidding accidents.
• Make sure you have proper light.
• Keep your windshields clean.
• Make sure you put on tire chains to ensure safety while driving in snow.  This feature can help prevent road accidents.

My family loves watching movies both at the cinema and at home.  Watching a movie at the cinema can be quite expensive especially when you factor in money for gas and food.  We love going to the cinema but sometimes we choose to just stay home and enjoy a good movie.

Here are some simple tips on how to enjoy a movie at home:

1. Choose a good movie that everyone in the family likes.
2. Prepare treats for your movie viewing like popcorn, nachos and some dip.
3. Make sure you have cold drinks like juice or soda.
4. If you have speakers, you can connect them to your TV to keep you that cinema-like sound.
5. Make sure everyone is seated comfortably. If you have the luxury of home theater seating then it would be perfect.
6. Put the VCD/DVD in the player and enjoy the movie.