The Bed Bug Revival: Unwanted Guests Make a Comeback

Oh, the joys of travel! Exploring new places, tasting exotic cuisines, and collecting memories. But hold on to your luggage, folks, because there's a little traveler that's making a big comeback on the global scene - the infamous bed bug. These tiny terrors have been biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to stage their resurgence, and now they're back in the spotlight. So, let's find out why they're all the rage again, and, most importantly, discover how to get rid of them if they've decided to crash your slumber party.

Meet the Bed Bug😱

Picture this: you're snuggled up in a cozy hotel bed, dreaming of sunny beaches or snowy mountains. But unbeknownst to you, you're not alone. Meet the bed bug - the uninvited, blood-sucking, tiny vampire of the insect world. Bed bugs are wingless insects, about the size of an apple seed, and they have a penchant for feasting on your blood while you're blissfully asleep.

The Bed Bug Resurgence

Bed bugs have made a dramatic comeback in recent years, and they've become quite the buzzworthy topic in the news. But why are these little bloodsuckers stealing the spotlight once again? Let's uncover the reasons behind their resurgence.

• Climate Change and Travel Trends:
  
  
  Thanks to our ever-warming planet and the growing popularity of international travel, bed bugs are finding more hospitable environments than ever before. These globetrotting hitchhikers are making themselves at home in hotels, motels, and even public transportation, catching rides on luggage and clothing.
• Ineffective Pest Control: Bed bugs are notorious for developing resistance to common pesticides over time. As a result, the traditional methods for exterminating them are becoming less effective, allowing these pests to thrive.
• Lack of Awareness: Many people may not even realize they have a bed bug problem until it becomes a full-blown infestation. Lack of awareness and misidentification of these critters can allow them to spread unchecked.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Before you start googling "How to get rid of bed bugs," you need to confirm their presence. Here are some telltale signs that these unwanted guests may be sharing your space:

1. Red, itchy bites: Bed bug bites often appear in a line or cluster, typically on exposed skin while you sleep. They can be itchy and cause discomfort
2. Tiny dark spots: Look for small, rust-colored spots on your bedding, mattress seams, or furniture. These are often excrement stains left by bed bugs.
3. Musty odor: Bed bugs release a musty odor that's often described as sweet or sickly. If you notice an unusual smell in your bedroom, it could be a sign of an infestation.
4. Visible bed bugs: Though they're small, you might be able to spot adult bed bugs or their tiny, translucent nymphs hiding in crevices, folds, or seams of your mattress, furniture, or luggage.
   
   
   

Eliminating Bed Bugs - The Battle Plan

Alright, so you've confirmed the presence of these uninvited guests. What now? Fear not, intrepid homeowner or traveler! It's time to muster your wits and embark on a bed bug-banishing adventure. Here's your battle plan:

1. Isolate and Quarantine: If you're in a hotel, request a different room far away from the infested area.
At home, isolate your infested bedding, clothing, and belongings in sealed plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from spreading.

2. Clean and De-clutter: Wash all infested bedding, linens, and clothing in hot water (at least 120°F) and dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
Vacuum your mattress, carpets, and any affected areas thoroughly, then dispose of the vacuum bag or clean the vacuum thoroughly.

3. Heat and Cold Treatment: Bed bugs are sensitive to extreme temperatures. You can use heat or cold to kill them. Use heat by placing infested items in a sealed bag and leave them in direct sunlight or use a portable heating device to raise the temperature to around 130°F.  Or use cold and place infested items in the freezer for at least 4 days.

4. Professional Extermination: 

If the infestation is severe or you're unable to handle it yourself, don't hesitate to call in professional pest control services.

5. Prevent Reinfestation: Use bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements. Regularly inspect and clean your home, especially after travel.
Be cautious when buying second-hand furniture or clothing, as they may carry bed bugs.

Bed Bug Prevention - The Best Defense

While battling bed bugs can be a pain in the neck (and elsewhere), preventing an infestation is a much easier and preferable option. Here are some handy tips to keep these critters at bay:

1. Be Cautious When Traveling: Inspect your hotel room for signs of bed bugs, such as bloodstains or dark spots on bedding.
Keep your luggage on luggage racks or away from the bed.
Consider using a bed bug travel spray to treat your luggage before and after your trip.

2. Launder Your Clothes After Travel: Wash and dry your travel clothes on high heat to kill any potential hitchhikers.

3. Avoid Second-hand Furniture: If you're a fan of thrift stores or online marketplaces, inspect used furniture carefully before bringing it into your home.

4. Educate Yourself: Learn about bed bugs, their habits, and how to identify them. Knowledge is your best defense.

In the age of global travel and changing climate, bed bugs have made a triumphant return to the headlines. These tiny pests may be a nuisance, but armed with the knowledge of how to detect and eliminate them, you can sleep soundly, knowing you won't be on their midnight snack menu.

Remember, the key to dealing with bed bugs is early detection and swift action. So, stay vigilant, take preventive measures, and don't let these unwanted guests turn your dreamy vacation or cozy home into a bloodsucking nightmare. Sweet dreams, bed bug-free travelers!😊

Tuesday Tutorial -- Halloween Ghost Garland

With Halloween so close, I thought I'd showcase a quick and easy craft for decorations for Halloween.

I've seen these before and I always thought they were cute, so here you go.

For this craft, all you need is a pencil, recycled paper of which one side is white, and a pair of scissors and Scotts tape.

The craft instructions are pretty straight forward:
1. Fold the paper length-wise
2. Cut into two long strips along the fold.
3. Fold each strips in four equal parts.
4. Make 4 to 8 pages worth of folded strips.
5. On the front of one of the folded packages, draw a ghost. 
Garland Making Tip: Make sure that the ‘hands’ of the ghosts are right at the edge of your paper section, so that when unfolded, it will look like the ghosts hold hands.
Can’t draw? Print my free Halloween ghost template, cut it out and overlay it onto the paper. You may have to scale it to fit your exact paper. The good news is that ghost drawings are pretty ‘forgiving’ and free form. You can’t really make a mistake with them.
6. Cut all the packages following the template or your own drawing.
7. Use the Scotts tape to attach the ghost garland sections to each other.
8. With a black marker, paint on the two spooky eyes on each ghost.
Your garland is ready to be hung.

Tip: To make it hang properly and not ‘fall over’, you might want to give the ghost hands in the center of the garland a little folding squeeze.
BOOO!! Well, actually, these ghosts are rather friendly and cheery. As there are good spirits and bad spirits in the world,  I guess we only want the good ones to join our Halloween Party. So, these little white spooks are invited!

This garland is of course also a perfect decoration for ‘Dia de los Muertos’, or the Day of the Death, which this year will be celebrated October 26-November 2, 2009, but most people celebrate it November 1.

More Halloween Garlands

If you want to create a whole bunch of garlands, here are some other ideas for you:
1. Use black crepe or tissue paper to create cats, bats or witches, and use orange paper for pumpkins.  Use the instructions as above. The sections will be much larger, so you may not even have to tape any together.  
2. No skulls will be found in my home (it’s bad Feng Shui) however the recycled white office paper would be good also for skull garlands. Or crepe paper.
4. For bats, cats and pumpkins you can probably find Cookie Cutters
to help you create your shapes, or you can simply draw them.


5. Consider keeping the design or the garland simple. 
If you are not throwing a party, but simply want just a touch of Happy Halloween shimmer in your home, consider using the above techniques for a small garland, such as this.  This one is made with just 1/2 a sheet of white paper, folded 4x. 
I left it white, however, you could use glitter glue and/or a few markers to add a splash of color. (With this self-created ‘coloring page’, you actually have created a fun Halloween craft project for your kids.)
For more color, use recycled ocher yellow or orange paper and add green curls of rag pipe cleaners, for a little bit more dash. Finish it off with drawing in the black detail lines.

6. That’s all I can recommend, besides have fun. Enjoying the Holidays, is all about the process, the time in between, so have fun crafting. HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

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Tuesday Tutorial -- Cobbler baked in jars -- Um, um, good!

I found this on a blog called Not Martha.  I know I usually post a craft tutorial here, but this looked too good to miss out on.  These are actually little individual fruit cobblers baked in half-pint jars with lids.  Who would ever have thought of this?  The recipe looks easy and quick, the pictures are great and I only wish I could have smelled the aroma of the results!  This is a great tutorial for school and church bazaars, for quick little presents to give friends, for a wonderful picnic luch, to pack in lunch boxes, etc.  I want to try this with apple (my favorite) or maybe with peaches.  I'm not much of a berry girl, but who knows, with this recipes I may have to convert.

to make: cobbler baked in jars

I made these for the Seattle Bake Sale for Share Our Strength organized by Frantic Foodie (thanks Keren!). I had so much fun making pies in jars that I figured this was the perfect opportunity to bake something else in jars. This time I used half-pint wide mouth jars, a nice size for a bake sale.

(Half pint jars washed and drying.)
I used the blueberry cobbler recipe from Baking Illustrated. I was making 24 portions so the first time I tried to divide each recipe [...read more...]

Please go here to see the post on these wonderful cobblers.  Leave her a message to tell her how yours turn out.  I know I will be doing so.  She also has a link to Pies in Jars you might try.

I love spa treatments as much as the next girl (perhaps more).

Here's 3 lovely spa recipes I found that are wonderful and decadent.  These come from the-coveted.com and I have to tell you I am in love with the sugar body polish.

I hope you enjoy a spa day on your next day off!


If your skin needs a little rejuvenating, try one of these ultra-easy D.I.Y. skin treatment recipes and let the pampering begin.

Sugar Body Polish

1 1/2 cups raw or brown sugar
1/3 cup real maple syrup
1/3 cup olive oil or sunflower oil
Drops of your favorite essential oil (Optional)

Prep: Mix ingredients together and put in a closed container.

Use: Apply scrub to wet skin in a circular motion to exfoliate. Remove thoroughly with water and a wash cloth.

Refreshing Cucumber Toner

1/2 large or 1 medium cucumber (unpeeled but washed)
2 tablespoons witch hazel

Prep: Puree cucumber in a blender or mixer. Next, strain the cucumber pulp into a bowl. Mix the liquid from the cucumber only with the witch hazel.

Use: Soak a cotton ball with the toner and apply to face, neck and chest.

Calming Oatmeal Mask

2 tablespoons oatmeal (regular, not instant)
2 tablespoons full fat plain yogurt
2 teaspoons honey

Prep: Mix ingredients together in a bowl.

Use: Apply mask mixture to clean skin and let sit for 10 or 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

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aunt jane's nut roll

With Christmas closing in, there's really not much time to do anything extravagant, but there is always time and sincere appreciation for home-baked goodies.  This recipe is easy, makes 4 loaves, is easy to freeze, and tastes delicious.  Just the thing when you remember that you forgot to get that present for your Aunt and Uncle and they will be arriving soon!  Even if you are not a baker, you can gather the dry ingredients into a decorative tin and print the recipe on cardstock and give it to your favorite teacher.  Great last minute gift!
Enjoy!

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If you need a rich & tasty baked good to offer a hostess or to have on-hand for your own snuggly winter moments, this one is a surefire winner! For years and years, my mother-in-law has baked her heart out each and every Christmas, making enough pizzelles, almond crescents, apricot dandies, date & nut bread, Hungarian nut roll, cut-out cookies and biscotti to share with her immediate family and her 3 siblings. It's a generous handmade tradition from handed-down recipes (like Aunt Jane's nut roll) that my husband carries on for our family. He knows nut roll sends me to the moon, and he always makes sure we have a lot of it around!
I had hoped to post this recipe download on Friday, before those along the east coast had gone out to buy their "bread & milk" and were hunkered down for the weekend awaiting the snowstorm of the decade...thinking there might be some baking going on! But hey, maybe you have 7 C of walnuts waiting around your house for the perfect recipe, then you can just whip this out at your leisure!
* download pdf recipe cards here, print onto cardstock and trim *
Includes: 1 recipe card with Aunt Jane's Nut Roll and 1 blank recipe card for you to add your own recipe.

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What's wonderful about this recipe is that it makes A LOT - you'll get 4 nut rolls out of this recipe without duplicating your efforts like you might if you have to double or triple a batch of cookies. It freezes really, really well, too - just wrap it well!

December 19, 2009 in cooking, making | crafting, tutorials | Permalink

For the original post and for more quick gifts and recipes>>CLICK HERE

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The Santas are coming along!

For anyone who remembers my posting earlier about making little santa ornaments for your tree, I am now going to post some pictures of my progress.  I know, I know.  I am moving at the speed of a slug, but I'm just pleased to be moving at all. 

I hope to finish these this week and get my tree up.  I have mixed feelings about doing that, but I know I will get the tree up before long.  Anyway, here are three pictures of my progress with these cute little ornaments!