Welcome To Kendra Cooke's Monthly e-NEWS - August 2008

Who can believe it is school time again!  I can’t believe summer is over already and Christmas is four months away!!!!!!  I hope you are getting your routine back in order.  I will be the first one to say it hasn’t been easy!  Kory is a big 5th grader, still at Ezell Harding!  We are adjusting to changing classes, having a locker and no more KIDS STUFF!  The teachers are “making them more responsible” this year, which mean we have all kinds of drama going on.  All the kiddie stuff is going out the window and I am not sure Kory was ready for all this just yet!  Anyway, he is having fun and trying to adjust to going to bed early and getting up early all over again! 

Speaking of early – the alarm clock seems to be waking me up way to early since I am staying up late every night watching the Olympics way past my normal bedtime!  I would like to say, what an honor it is to be a citizen of the United States of America.  We have been so well represented at these games and I have been a LOUD cheerleader for Team USA since they started.  I would be so remiss if I didn’t mention a few of my favorites.  How about Micheal Phelps – what a machine!!!  Talk about determination!  Then our lady beach volleyball team.  Those girls are amazing and quite the scrappers!  Mays and Walsh were very impressive with their come from behind and never give up attitudes!!  The gymnastics is always a favorite of mine.  I am so intrigued by these young people, how they really put the teenage years of their lives on hold, and focus on their hobby.  I also watched a lot of the diving, the marathon, the cycling, the women’s swimming and what about the track and field.  Can you believe the speed in which these athletes’s perform?  Their drive to always be faster and better just blows me away!  I not sure some of them even break a sweat out there!  I hope you and your families have enjoyed this spectacular event as much as I have!

In closing, I want to let you know we are just a phone call of away if we can be of service to you or anyone you know needing a Real Estate Professional!!  We are determined to be Your Realtor for Life!!

Sincerely,

Kendra Cooke  

Kendra Fact

Kendra was recently honored by the United Way of Rutherford County at a High Tea.  She was honored as one of the top 20 leaders in the County under 40!  The event was to honor young women who are committed to impacting many lives and that help to maintain the “giving culture” in our Communtiy.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

The Queen shares tips on cleaning stainless steel flatware and cookware.

Materials:

• bowls for mixing ingredients and soaking
• rubber gloves
• non gel toothpaste
• lint-free soft cloths
• paper towels
• water
• Calgon water softener
• 1/4 cup measure
• bleach
• ammonia
• silver polish
• stainless steel cleaner: 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener, 1 gallon very hot water

Cleaning Stainless Steel

Note: Only use these tricks on stainless steel, not real silver!

Mix 1/4 cup chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup Calgon water softener, and 1 gallon of very hot water. You can mix this right in the sink or in any non-aluminum container.

Immerse the stainless steel cutlery in the solution for 30 minutes and then wash as usual, whether this be the dishwasher or by hand with dishwashing soap and a rag.

Tip: You only do this when the stainless really needs it—when it has that blue tint, etc.—probably every couple of months.

For really tough spots, use a little non-gel toothpaste, or one part silver polish mixed with one part ammonia. Apply with a soft cloth, rinse and dry.

Tip: When you are loading stainless steel and real silver in the dishwasher, keep them separated because the stainless steel will pit the silver.

For burned on food in your stainless steel pan, fill it up with hot water and then take a dryer fabric softener sheet and drop it into the water. Let it soak for a half hour or overnight if it is really bad. The food will come off easily—without scrubbing!

If the inside of your stainless steel pots gets discolored, take crushed tomatoes, or old tomatoes that you are going to throw out and put them in the pot with some water. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes and it will clean the pan out beautifully.

If the bottoms of your stainless steel pans get discolored, use a piece of very fine steel wool (from the hardware store) and rub in the direction you can see the pan going. The food build up, oil, etc. on the bottom of your pan will effect the cooking because the pan won't be able to heat as well as it should. Just use it dry (do not use soap-filled pads) and rub until you get everything off and then wash the pan.

To clean your stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, mix 50 percent rubbing alcohol with 50 percent water and place it in a spray bottle. Spray onto your appliances, and then clean with a paper towel.