Common Microwave Problems & How to Fix Them

A microwave, when it comes to baking, cooking and otherwise preparing food, is a pretty indispensable kitchen item that most of us can't do without. Especially useful for people on the move who don't have time to prepare a long and time-hungry recipe, microwaves also provide a great way to cook healthy and nutritional meals quickly.

But given the popularity of this household appliance and the sheer number of people that now own one, it's not surprising that a few common microwave problems exist when it comes to using them and keeping them maintained. Here we take a look at some of the more frequent ones while also offering suggestions on how to fix them.

Microwave Isn't Working

A machine not working is usually the fault of either the fuse, the safety device that cuts off the electrical current, or the door switch, the thing that seals your appliance shut and allows it to work. A faulty fuse is the more tricky of the two to fix. First you'll want to check this is definitely the problem by switching the mains power on and off and seeing whether it functions. If the case, then replacing the fuse is the only way forward.

The microwave door on the other hand might just be a case of not being closed properly. Check it by opening and closing. If defective, replace it.

Seeing Sparks

Seeing sparks occurring inside a microwave is never a particularly pacifying experience and could mean that something is wrong inside the appliance itself. What you'll want to do is check the internal cavity of your appliance. Has any food leaked, splattered or dripped into the machine causing it to spark? If so remove it and clean.

Grease can also be a culprit possible of causing sparks. Make sure you keep your microwave thoroughly clean and pay close attention to the potentiality of grease accumulating on the ceiling of the appliance.

Sparks might also be caused due to the unequal concentration of energy. A microwave only functions correctly when energy is evenly distributed across a unit. If your microwave stirrer isn't working as it should this can be the reason. Replace either the fan motor or stirrer belt to get it going again.

Turntable Not Functioning

Another frustrating problem can happen when your microwaves turntable fails to work and spin what you place inside of it correctly. This can be amended by checking out the turntable guide in your appliance manual and making sure it is lined up properly in the appliance itself and that nothing is caught in it or under it. Cleaning it can often help as sometimes grease can prevent it moving in the correct manner.

All common microwave problems can be easily solved with a little time and patience. Keeping your appliances clean, well-maintained and fully understanding how they work all help in preventing problems in the first place.

My Top 8 Subscription Boxes

When I was younger, I loved when they had grab bags at stores. I used to buy them every chance I got. They had them at the dollar store and sometimes at the drug store full of teen toiletries. It was always exciting to get a surprise. You never knew what you would find inside. You usually knew what kind of items you would find, but never what. I used to love when I went to a party and they would give you a wrapped up surprise as a party favor or as a party game. Now companies have updated the same idea of surprises in the form of subscription boxes. They are monthly boxes that you don’t know what is inside but they usually have a theme like kids, pets or beauty items. You pay a small monthly fee and every month you receive some awesome goodies.  They also make a great gift!

 
 There are so many different types of subscription boxes. If you don’t know where to look you may miss some really great subscription boxes. Thankfully there is CrateJoy who has them all in one place. Sometimes I hear about them from TV or a friend but I always forget which one they are mentioning. CrateJoy makes it so easy, gives ratings and you can even sign up for multiple subscriptions really easily.

Here are my top 8 subscription boxes:

Box O’ Munch is a subscription box for those who love to snack. I love to snack but, I don’t always like to have healthy snacks. Box O’ Munch contains things like candy, chips and cookies. You receive 10-15 pieces of awesome treats a month. https://www.cratejoy.com/box-o-munch

Nerd Block is a monthly subscription box that is full of nerdy things. My son would love this subscription block. It could have Star Wars items, Pokémon, and other “nerd” items.  It would be a fun monthly surprise for kids or anyone who likes Star Wars, comic books, or Pokémon. It also comes in its very own block which is really cool. https://www.cratejoy.com/nerd-block

Benko Box is a box full of everything you would need to make a masterpiece for kids. Noah is a great artist. This box contains 10-12 art supplies each month. This box is great because buying art supplies can be expensive. You also have to plan out what you want to make. Benko Box gives you other art supplies to use that you might not think about using. https://www.cratejoy.com/benko-box

Faithbox is a subscription box full of items that will help inspire Christian living. It contains items that are good for the planet and others. They also feed a needy child for every box you buy. Faithbox is truly inspirational and would make a great gift for my neighbors who are always helping others. https://www.cratejoy.com/faithbox

A Little Bundle would be a great gift for a new baby. A Little Bundle is a subscription box full of items for baby and mom. It contains items that your baby will love. It’s a great way to keep the gifts coming after they are home from the hospital.  There is a clothing item in each bundle. Such a fun surprise for any new mom. https://www.cratejoy.com/a-little-bundle

 

Hamptons Lane is the ultimate kitchen monthly subscription box. You can find recipes, kitchen gadgets and Artisan food items. I love to cook and try new things. This box would be something fun for me because I have a kitchen gadget collection. Each month there is a different theme so you will always get a great variety. https://www.cratejoy.com/hamptons-lane

Flicker Box is a really cool artisan candle subscription box. You receive candles from candle artists from around the United States. I love candles and I really think that they help make your home warm and welcome.  I don’t think you can ever have too many candles. https://www.cratejoy.com/flicker-box

Darby Smart is a mystery monthly box full of DIY items. You never know what you are going to get to make that month. It could be perfume or it could be a cool craft for your kids. I would love this box because I love to make things and I love surprises. I know I would wait each month for it to arrive. https://www.cratejoy.com/darby-smart

What are your favorite subscription boxes? For more information and many more subscription boxes check out Cratejoy.

National Healthcare Decisions Day: Taking the Time to Plan #PlanNowOptum

National Healthcare Decisions Day: Taking the Time to Plan

Tips on How to Begin Necessary Conversations with Loved Ones about Their End of Life Care Wishes

By Dr. James Mittelberger

 

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day – A day set aside to encourage all of us to discuss important advance planning end of life health care wishes.  It’s an opportunity to begin the process of documenting those wishes before a stressful health crisis arises.

 

It can be tough to get started.  It may even feel a bit awkward, but powerful conversations with family members today can assure end-of-life preferences are honored and reduce stress and uncertainty in the future.  Planning today can help ensure that your loved ones will receive the treatments they want, and avoid the care that they don’t want at the end of life.

According to a national survey by The Conversation Project, more than 90% of the people think it’s important to talk about their loved ones’ and their own wishes for end-of-life care, but fewer than 30% of people have actually had the conversation.   Many people simply haven’t gotten around to taking the necessary steps to crystallize what they want and to formalize it.  Sometimes it’s because people don’t know how to start the conversation with their loved ones. 

A great way to start is by thinking about what is most important to you if you or your loved ones were facing a life threatening or progressive illness.   You would start planning and reflecting on what you and your loved ones would want, expressing those desires and having the thoughtful conversation.   After all, no one wants to be scrambling for paperwork, evaluating care choices or putting their families through uncertainty.

Here are simple steps to begin the conversation and planning for important end of life health care decisions:  

·          Start with your loved ones. Honest communication can help families avoid the stress of guessing what a family member would have wanted. You may find that you and your loved ones may see some things differently. That’s okay. Be open with each other and focus on really understanding the views of those you love.

·          Think about what is most important to you. What are your greatest fears, hopes and goals? Who would you prefer to make decisions on your behalf with your physicians if you could not? How sure are you of your choices? Do you want your chosen proxy to have leeway to change your decisions? Discuss these topics with your loved ones to reach a shared understanding of your desires.

·          Make it official. Once you’ve had the conversation, formalize your decisions by putting them in writing. There are several ways. An advance directive can help describe your medical wishes when you no longer can. Special medical orders can be developed with your doctor. Finally, a health care proxy identifies your health care agent—the person you trust to act on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions or communicate your wishes.

·          Get help. You can find valuable resources to help you think through these issues and make decisions more manageable at theconversationproject.org and agingwithdignity.org.

This is something that takes time, but well worth it.  I have seen firsthand the sense of peace, calm and satisfaction families experience knowing their loved ones wishes are granted giving you more precious and memorable time to spend with your loving family member.

 

Dr. James Mittelberger, is Chief Medical Officer of Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, who is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Click to listen to Dr. Mittelberger's interview: National Healthcare Decisions Day (12 minute interview)

Natio

Zany and Wacky Driving Laws

There are some crazy driving laws that have been around for years. I love to read them because some of them are just so out there and funny. Most of the laws we have for driving are very serious and important. We even have to take a test to prove we know them before we can drive. I wonder why none of the silly laws are on there? By silly, I mean the crazy ones about animals or dress codes. I have never seen an elephant in the US outside of the zoo or the circus. They usually don't wander the streets.

Laws are so important to keep us safe. I am not sure if someone would really get a ticket for driving barefoot in Alabama or not. Some of the sillier laws are kind of common sense. I am not even sure how some of these laws even were passed. They are definitely worth a look. I wonder if they were bets that were lost or if there was alcohol involved. Some seem impossible. There are no whales in Tennessee, except at the zoo.

You will probably get a good laugh from my post about crazy driving laws.

The Importance of a Gas Budget

I love to save money on purchases and in general. I have learned somewhere in my adulthood about being careful with money. It really started when I started blogging. I learned quickly that it wasn't always steady each month like a job outside the home. It became something I started doing very quickly. Using tools like coupons and fuel budgets are a great way to really know what you are spending. It will help you know where your gas money is going or even how much you are spending. You can easily cut down.

We budget for food, entertainment and clothes. We often forget about car related expenses like gas. Even with the lower gas prices depending on your mileage you may spend $45 each time you fill up. If you do a lot of driving that has to add up quickly. If you drive a half hour each way to work that can become expensive. Most jobs don't offer reimbursement on fuel. It's just part of having a job. The only way they will reimburse you is if you are traveling for business. I am pretty sure pizza delivery drivers aren't reimbursed for their gas while working. Hopefully they make more to factor in their fuel costs. A fuel budget is pretty important to them because they may find out that delivering pizzas is no longer worth it to them.

Making a fuel budget is really easy and can help you know what you spend on gas each month. Learn how to create a gas budget.

Preserve Memories with a Travel Journal

I love to scrapbook and create pretty things. I have started making travel journals where I write down things like where we ate and take a lot of photos. I love to design the pages and add all the cute things I can find. Sometimes I just add shells I found to the pages.  I wish I would have started doing this earlier in life. I also scrapbook old photos from trips too.

Noah loves to make his own travel journals. He loves to write notes and reminders. He is a pretty good photographer once he stopped taking pictures of the tv screen. He is learning a lot. He has quite the talent for writing and photography. He already makes fish journals and space journals. He is a great illustrator too. I can't wait to see what he creates for our next trip. It's also a great way for him to remember trips we have been on.  My grandma Rose used to write down everything. We still have her travel journals. That's where it really started for me. They used to go cross country in my aunt and uncle's RV. My Grandma Rose's journals were so detailed  it felt like you were there. She didn't skip a beat. I love to read them even now. I can imagine my grandchildren looking at my travel journals some day, imagining they are off with me on one of my adventures.

Check out my post on how to create your own travel journal.

I used to be the Car Sick Queen

I used to be the car sick queen. I used to throw up every time we were in the car for an hour or more. I vomited almost every time we drove to my grandparents. I was getting really good at vomiting in a plastic bag. I hated it. I guess it started when I was two. We went to Santa Claus Land and I got so car sick that my mom had to throw away my car seat at a rest stop in the trash can. My mom said it smelled too bad to keep it.

Noah is unfortunately following in my footsteps. It's become a running tally about how many states Noah has thrown up in. My mom used to give me car sickness medicine hidden inside a spoon of peanut butter.  I used to not be able to swallow pills so this was her "remedy" for this. I still can't eat a spoon of plain peanut butter without gagging. I really think that car sickness is something you grow out of as you grow up. Hopefully Noah will get over his bouts of car sickness soon.

Check out my post about preventing car sickness for tips and tricks.

I need a Kid Free Vacation ASAP

I love being a mom, it brings me such joy but sometimes I just need a vacation away. I love taking time and traveling to different places usually to see friends. I love going to New Hampshire and spending girl time with my best friend Brandy. Of course her sweet little ones are there which is fine. Her daughter is so amazing and since I only have a son it's fun to have a little girl time with Brandy's daughter. I would love to go on a trip where there's only adults. It's really important to have some me time or girl time. I am hoping sometime I can get Brandy away from her daily life and go somewhere fun together where neither of us has to but our mom hat on and we can just hang out and do whatever we want to.

It's easy to feel guilty especially if you are seeing families together but it is an important and vital part of parenthood. It's not going to be the end of the world if you spend a couple days away from them. If you can't afford a vacation, how about a night in a local hotel? That one night doesn't sound like much but it is a big deal and you will feel like new. You may even want to add another night to your hotel stay.  It's really important and a requirement to have some time to yourself every so often.

Enjoy your kid free vacation!

Sheilacakes Family Travel Traditions

Traveling traditions are great. Every time I hear the phrase travel tradition, I think of the movie Home Alone 2 because forgetting Kevin has become a Mcallister family travel tradition. My family has always had travel traditions. We always listen to the same music. Even now, we still listen to Billy Joel and Carly Simon when we travel as a family. When I was a teenager and in my early twenties, I used to collect shot glasses. The best places to get shot glasses is in souvenir shops. I didn't use them I just liked to collect them.
My Grandma Rose collected salt and pepper shakers and postcards from her travels.  My Grandma Rose and my Grandpa were always traveling somewhere out west. We also found salt and pepper shakers for her when we were traveling. We would send postcards too. We used to always get a new book or magazine when we traveled. I really want to start this tradition with Noah soon. It was pretty neat to get a special book just for our trip. Sometimes it was a coloring book instead.  Do you have special travel traditions?

Check out my post for more ideas for travel traditions.

HomeHero finds Great Caregivers for Seniors

How HomeHero’s Senior Home Care Services Saved Our Family Vacation

By Danielle Estrada

When you are the primary caregiver for a loved one finding the time to take a family vacation can be extremely difficult with all the responsibilities you have on your plate at home. I am the primary caregiver for my mother and was recently faced with this challenge when planning our annual family vacation with my husband and kids. Luckily, I found HomeHero and they were able to save the day and facilitate our trip.

My first concern when searching for a senior home care company was finding a caregiver I could trust. There is no sense in hiring someone if you are going to be stressing about the care your loved one is receiving while you are on vacation. The point of vacation is to relax! HomeHero help put my mind at ease when they explained the process they go through to vet their caregivers.

HomeHero puts their caregivers through a rigorous screening process.

Each HomeHero caregiver must pass anin-person interview and background check and provide three professional references.

Once I found a company I could trust my next priority was finding a senior home care company I could afford.When doing my research on senior home care companies near me I found they all either required long-term contracts or had hour minimums for care. These policies made the cost to hire a caregiver add up extremely quickly. I was relieved to find HomeHero did not have these types of policies. I was able to hire one of their caregivers for only three hours a day for the five days we were on vacation. Their caregiver stopped by my mom’s everyday at noon and made sure she had something to eat and was comfortable. One day the caregiver even took her to the grocery store to help her do her shopping.  That was nice and my mom really enjoyed it.

My favorite thing about using HomeHero was their user friendly website. I was able to put in a request to find a caregiver online and check out their caregiver profiles prior to choosing someone. Everyday our family was on vacation I received a receipt from their billing department via email that included a voice recording of the caregiver giving me a summary of the day’s events. This saved me from having to check in everyday while on vacation.


I can go on and on about how great my family’s experience was using HomeHero. When you are the primary caregiver for a loved one taking time away to unwind is important. Sometimes making that time is easier said then done. HomeHero saved our family vacation and I am very happy I got to introduce their great service to you guys today.