MICROFIBER CLOTHS DIRTY? - Machine-wash them in warm soapy water – but wash separately from towels or other lint givers, because the microfiber will latch onto lint in the water, and stay on the cloth. Don't add fabric softener or chlorine bleach because they can make the cloth loose its effectiveness. Dry on low heat.

CONTROLLING HUMIDITY IN YOUR HOUSE - Experts say to try to keep humidity between 30 to 50 percent. If your home is damp, that can create a happy breeding ground for insects, along with molds, mildews and bacteria. Be sure to air out the attic and crawl space.

All of our county schools can earn money if we will collect the small symbols on various food items. The Box Tops program keeps getting better! As always, you can find the familiar Box Tops coupon on hundreds of your family's favorite products from General Mills, Ziploc® and Kleenex® products! Collect them and drop them off at the Extension Office. Look for the symbol!

Cindy Burk from Richland Memorial Hospital called to say she is available for 30-minute programs on Breast Health Awareness. If your Unit is interested in having her do a program, please call her at 618/395-7340, ext. 4045. Or you might also call Crawford Memorial Hospital at 618/544-3131 and ask them if they have anyone doing programs for the public.

FABULOUS FOLIAGE WEBSITE - U of I is pleased to launch an updated Fabulous Foliage site plus a new Spanish version of the site - Follaje Fabuloso. The site contains information about guidelines for using plants with colored foliage, as well as a plant directory of 23 plants to consider. The site was created by Greg Stack, Extension Horticulture Educator.

Please visit the site at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/foliage/

HORTICULTURE WEBSITE - U of I is pleased to release the new Hort Answers website. It is a comprehensive guide to help homeowners living in the USDA Hardiness Zones 4, 5 & 6. It provides localized information to help select and care for plants as well as identify and manage plant diseases, insects and other problems.

The site was developed by Bruce Paulsrud, former Extension Specialist, PAT; Jim Schuster, Extension Specialist, PAT/Plant Plathology; Maurice Ogutu, Extension Educator, Horticulture; Sharon Yiesla, Extension Unit Educator, Horticulture, and Greg Stack, Extension Educator, Horticulture. It will be an excellent resource for Master Gardeners, media, libraries, garden center personnel, and home gardeners.

You can visit the site at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hortanswers/

Many people make resolutions at the beginning of each New Year. Often these resolutions are related to health and well-being. Unfortunately many people have trouble keeping these resolutions for more than a couple of weeks.

You probably have thought about what your resolutions for 2008 are, but have you thought about how you are going to keep them? Here are some ideas to help you keep those resolutions this year.

♦ Do One Thing at a Time – You will have better luck at keeping your resolutions if you concentrate on one or two things at a time. Once the first resolution has become habit you can add another one to your list.

♦ Make a Plan – Once you have decided on your resolution make a plan for how you are going to accomplish it. For example if your resolution is to eat more vegetables your plan might include the following:

• Try one new vegetable every week.
• Prepare an old favorite in a different way.
• Have at least two servings of vegetables at dinner everyday.

♦ Write Resolution Down – Write not only your resolution, but also your plan of action. Put it on the refrigerator or some other place where you will see it everyday as a reminder.

Healthy Resolutions

Here are some ideas to help you make a resolution to be healthier in 2008.

• Trade TV hours for some kind of activity. You only burn about 70 calories per hour watching TV, you burn about three times that much doing light house cleaning.
• Invite a couple of friends to exercise with you. This could be walking inside or outside. It's more fun to do it with a friend and you are more likely to keep at it.
• Eat at least 4 to 5 servings (2-½ to 3 cups) of vegetables every day. They are very low fat, low sodium, rich in vitamins.
• Eat at least 2 cups of whole fruit everyday. They are naturally sweet, full of flavor and a good source of fiber.
• Include more whole grain foods like whole grain cereals and whole grain bread.
• Eat breakfast everyday. It is the most important meal of the day.
• Try a new food each week. This might be a new vegetable or fruit or an ethnic food you have never eaten before.
• Choose healthier snacks like fruits, vegetables, low fat popcorn, pretzels, rice cakes or graham crackers.
• Eat fried food less often, only once or twice a week.

Remember, start with only one or two resolutions and when you feel you are doing well with those add another. Success with one or two is better than no success with many.

- Barbara Farner, U of I Educator

1 cup water

½ cup old-fashioned oats

¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 banana, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 tsp chopped pecans

½ cup skim milk

Bring water, oats and cinnamon to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly until oatmeal reaches desired consistency. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped bananas, cover and let sit 5 minutes before serving. Serve with chopped pecans and skim milk. Serves 1. Nutrition information: 260 calories, 3.8 g fat, 2 mg cholesterol, 72 mg sodium, 47 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 11 g protein.