The Cup Of T

Category: Tips & Tricks

  • Spiders Are Out!

    Spiders Are Out!

    I hate spiders. Can’t stand them, can’t look at them, let alone have them in my house! But let’s face it, they exist and we’ll probably encounter them every once in a while. I usually spray my house with pesticides at the beginning of summer but realized that it worked on all insects except spiders (They’re actually “arachnids” not insects, go figure). So, I thought I should make my house a very unappealing place for them, by knowing what attracts them in the first place. Here are a few tricks I found very easy and useful to get rid of those intruders.

    1. DIY Spider Repellent

    I put this mixture to the test and can honestly say it works like a charm! All you have to do is put 2 cups of water in a spraying bottle, add to it 1/2 tsp of washing soap powder or liquid, and 10 to 15 drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, or Citrus oil. Spiders hate their smell the most.

    Shake the bottle and spray the mixture directly on cobwebs, around the house entrances and windows, and most importantly on your plants! I sprayed it on my balcony plants and you won’t believe the result! So many tiny spiders suddenly started coming down the leaves. Shoo! It was creepy but satisfying to watch. Ever since I do this once a week, and sometimes use it to wipe the dust off around the house. I mean, it’s a spider repellent, with soap and a very pleasant aroma. Need I say more? Just remember it contains drops of oil so don’t use it on cloth furniture. Use it on wipeable surfaces.

    2. White Vinegar

    I already use white vinegar to clean surfaces around the house. Turns out it can also serve as organic pest control! The acetic acid it contains gives a sour odor that spiders are highly sensitive to. Mix equal portions of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and spray around. But be careful, there are some surfaces that you shouldn’t use vinegar on. Here are a few:

    • Granite, marble, and quartz countertops. Acids make natural stones lose their shine.
    • Stone floor tiles. Natural stones don’t do well under acidic cleaners like vinegar and lemon.
    • Wood surfaces. It leaves watermarks and the acid might damage some wood finishes.

    3. Organize Your Home

    Do not give spiders a reason to stick around! Since they like dark, dusty, and cluttered spaces, keep your floors clear, organize your belongings neatly, and seal your storage areas perfectly. You also need to dust and vacuum often. They seek out sheltered places like woodpiles or leaves, and from there find ways into your home. I recently removed a pile of leaves on the terrace outside my kitchen and cleared the area out. A number of them ran out of their hiding place. Bottom line, the cleaner your house and outdoors, the fewer reasons you give spiders to stick around.

    4. Cut Their Food Source

    This comes in the form of other pests. For example, if you have a bad smell issue due to piping problems, you will see flies or other pests flying around. Fix such problems as soon as you can to avoid inviting spiders in. Several bugs are attracted to damp areas and moisture, hence the perfect hunting grounds for spiders in search of food. I cannot stress this enough, the cleaner and dryer your home, the fewer pests, the fewer spiders.

    5. Keep Them Out

    Try and keep them out in the first place. I know spiders can get in through anything, but you should simply do your part of the deal by making sure your house is sealed. Fix any openings, cracks, broken pipes, or holes spiders might be using to get inside.

    There are plenty of ways to get rid of spiders, but I found those ideas to be pretty simple and effective. And if once in a while I find one of those creatures lurking around, I can always call out my husband for help, or use the broom in case he was not around and I really really had no other choice.

    Voila! I would love to hear your feedback, and let me know what other tricks you have tried!

  • Clueless In My Kitchen – 6 Tips To Get You Motivated

    Clueless In My Kitchen – 6 Tips To Get You Motivated

    (Haha “My” Kitchen) If only my younger self knew. One of the main challenges I faced when I got married was beginning to cook. The first couple of weeks, my parents and in-laws spoiled us with our share of lunches, snacks, dinners, etc. One day, I felt famished and realized if I don’t step into my kitchen and prepare something to eat, we weren’t going to eat at all! Regardless of the delicious meals we gratefully get from our families, I wasn’t always going to depend on them right? But as much as I felt like preparing all the best recipes out there, I also thought it was going to be very difficult. I was clueless in my kitchen! I mean I never really cooked anything all by myself, but I chose to turn that into motivation as I refused to maintain that status. And so it began! If you want to start preparing your own meals, here are 5 tips to get you motivated.

    Choose Your Motivation

    If you are anything like me, I advise you to start with something your family loves. Preparing something that will make them happy is a HUGE motivator to get in there and do your very best! The first meals I prepared were actually my husband’s favorites: “Kebbe bl Saniyeh” (Lebanese dish that consists of minced lamb meat mixed with Bulgur and spices, spread in a tray), and “Kousa Mehshe” (Zucchini stuffed with rice, tomato, and minced meat). Also, the first cake I made was my family’s favorite: Double chocolate cake. And they were a big success because they were made with lots of love and anticipation!  

    Find Some Inspiration

    Follow cooking pages online especially on Instagram where you can find pages that you relate to based on the cooking style you want. There are plenty to choose from: different cooking styles, chefs, dietitians, healthy living, as well as cooking enthusiasts that share awesome recipes. The short step-by-step recipe videos, as well as all the healthy recommendations out there, inspired me and I immediately felt like trying things I’ve never prepared before! 

    Try Familiar Recipes

    The best gift I ever received is my remarkable grandma’s recipes notebook. In addition to its emotional value, it includes recipes and tastes that I absolutely love and am familiar with. The same goes for my amazing mom’s cooking. I always ask her for recipes and ask a ton of questions every time I try one. It felt so good to find the same taste and smell of my mom’s cooking in the dishes I prepared. It actually smells like hugs and good memories. This honestly gave me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction because, to me, I learned from the best.

    Go Easy On Yourself

    There are days when the last thing you feel like doing is step into your kitchen. Sometimes you’re just too tired to make a healthy meal that takes forever to prepare. It’s totally fine. If like me you try your best to cook and eat healthily, don’t be too hard on yourself. On days like this, simply prepare some pasta (carbs to the rescue) or get that pizza out of the freezer. You can also pass by your parents, your in-laws, see what’s cooking, or just order some delivery. Give yourself a break and you’ll feel more motivated sooner or later.

    The Magic Freezer

    I SO underestimated freezers. Let me just say I discovered it takes a LOT of work off your back! You can freeze anything. This includes chopped fruit and vegetables, raw or cooked meat, herbs, stock, pizzas, desserts, etc. The list is long and I will definitely elaborate on those in a separate post later on. Meanwhile, what you need to know is that stacking up your freezer helps you save time when cooking. Instead of spending so much time washing, chopping, and getting all your ingredients ready every time, you will simply defrost and cook. Knowing you have everything ready motivates you to get meals done. Also, as mentioned earlier, meals that are ready in your freezer are perfect for lazy days. Get that pizza out, that Kebbe tray, and those pancakes. Heat and eat!

    To sum things up, if I was capable to make it in my kitchen, you absolutely can! Hey, the worst that could happen is you burning lunch! Overcome your fear of kitchen fails by accepting that you WILL fail sometimes. God knows I did! Laugh it off, get your back up dish out of the freezer, and try again tomorrow. The only way we learn is by making mistakes. Now go have fun being as clueless in your kitchen as I still am in mine! (What? It’s a long learning process you know and I still got a lot to learn!) Let’s do this together and feel free to share with me your favorite motivation tips!