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May 2009 Keep-It-Together Checklist

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  • Keep pests at bay. Starting now, hose down garbage cans (common breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes) once a week, and dump and refill anything that contains standing water, such as a birdbath.

    Related: Dealing with Mice, Bats, and Other Pests

  • Throw out old beauty products. It’s time to toss that mascara you’ve been using for more than four months. Find out when it’s time to part with other cosmetics.

    Related: When Do Beauty Products Expire?

  • Find the best interest rates—for checking, mortgages, and more. It’s never been more important to make the most of your bank account. Log on to bankrate.com and use the “Compare Rate” tool. It will give you the highest rates for CDs, checking accounts, and home equity lines of credit in your area.
  • Interview your mother. Mix up two Cosmopolitans, then ask your mother these 10 questions, including “When did you realize you were no longer a child?” and “What’s the one thing you would have done differently as a mom?”

    Related: 10 Questions to Ask Your Mother Now

  • Stock up on strawberries. For perfectly trimmed berries, slide the tip of a paring knife around the leaves and cut a cone shape just beneath the surface. Remove the greens and the hull. Then whip up Strawberry Shortcake, Farmers’ Lemonade, and Summer Fruit Pie.

    Related: Favorite Strawberry Recipes

  • Participate in composting in your town. Don’t throw your vegetable and yard waste in the garbage bin; compost them instead. Many municipalities will pick up organic waste and turn it into free compost. Check with your town’s recycling center to find out if your community participates.
  • Make spring-cleaning green. Don’t let household chores keep you from enjoying the sunshine. Find out which cabinet staples will make your house sparkle without the chemical stink.

    Related: 66 All-Natural Cleaning Solutions

Related Content

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6 Steps to Stop Overthinking Your Life

Are you lost in thoughts about what you could have, would have, should have done differently? Here are directions to help you find your way out. 

Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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