Category: Around the house

Toilet Train your Dog

Apparently people are toilet training their dogs too! Here’s an excerpt from Step 2:

“Take a plastic tub or wee wee pad, at least two inches deep, and put it in your dog’s “out” spot. When you take Fido out, continue using the code word and get him used to peeing and pooping near the tub or pad, Then, even if you ease him in, one paw per-day, get him to pee and poop while standing in the plastic tub or wee wee pad. You’re going to have to give it a rinse out, and I’d suggest using dish soap and water to keep it clean while you’re going through this process. Going to the bathroom in a tub or wee wee pad is not a natural feeling for your dog, so give him/her lots of love, praise and encouragement while it figures it out. Princess probably thinks you’re crazy, but she loves you, so she’ll follow your lead eventually. When she gets into the tray to do her business without flinching, you’re ready to move on.”

Complete INSTRUCTIONS here

Toilet Train Your Cat

Move the cat’s litter box so it is right next to the toilet, keep it like this for about a day.
Then gradually raise the litter box up by placing phone books (or something similar) under it. Repeat daily until the box is of equal height to the toilet. Whenever you raise the box take a little bit of the litter out of the box. You may need to secure the litter box to the phone books or whatever it’s sitting on so that it doesn’t move when the cat jumps onto it.

Move the box over 1 inch onto the seat. Repeat daily until the box is directly over the seat. Continue gradually decreasing the amount of litter in the box until there is only a thin layer (less than 1 inch) of it left.4Replace the litter box with a “training box”. You have a few different options here, but the important thing to remember is to make sure the “training box” can hold your cat’s weight if they step or jump onto it:
Lift the toilet seat and tape a piece of wax paper over the hole so that the toilet looks like a drum. Lower the seat over the wax paper. Add flushable litter.
Lift the toilet seat and tape a bowl or aluminum pan to the edges. Put the seat down so that it holds the bowl in place. (See video below.) Add flushable litter.
Use a commercial training device, sold specifically for this purpose. via

Magnetic Catch All

Materials

  • 1 jumbo-size muffin pan
  • Self-adhesive magnetic sheeting (sold at craft stores)
  • 6 (16-ounce) plastic cups
 

Instructions
  1. Simply cut out circles of self-adhesive magnetic sheeting and stick them to the bottoms of the plastic cups. This will make them tip-resistant once you set them in the pan.
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10 Ways to Destress and Have More Leisure Time

  1. Live simply. By reducing the amount of stuff you maintain, you can increase the time available for leisure. 
  2. Plan unoccupied time. Schedule two hours on Wednesday afternoon and plan to do nothing. See what happens. That is leisure time. Do not do anything responsible or dutiful.
  3. Say no. It is okay to miss a co-worker’s daughter’s bridal shower. Send a gift card. Three to four hours become instantly available.
  4. Schedule days of the week for the important people in your life, which includes yourself. For every family commitment, make a commitment to yourself. Make leisure time a priority. Work and chores will always be there.
  5. Live close to work. Decreasing commute time in the car increases leisure time.
  6. Live close to play. Decreasing the driving time to a favorite leisure spot like the family cottage, or a ski resort increases the frequency of a favorite leisure activity.
  7. Maximize your schedule by coordinating errand runs and reducing driving time. Do errands during lunchtime to free up evenings.
  8. Eliminate unwanted mail. Cancel unread magazines, newspapers, email groups and junk mail. Set your spamblocker to keep out unwanted email. Time is wasted on undesired communications.
  9. Delegate chores and tasks. Let go of the need for perfection or control. More is accomplished and more time becomes available.
  10. Throw out the watch or quit looking at it so often. There are no time police.

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