In honor of spring cleaning and green cleaning, here is our BEST CLEANING TIP EVER!

Do you have yucky food gunk stuck to the inside walls of your microwave? Put away the harsh chemicals, and try this method of cleaning it out:

1. Open your microwave

2. Fill a microwave safe mug with water. Most ceramic mugs are microwave safe, if they don’t have a gold or metallic design. Pyrex 2-cup measuring cups work for this too. Fill it about 3/4 of the way.

3. Place the mug in the center of the microwave.

4. Close the microwave door.

5. Turn on the microwave for 6 minutes. Water will steam and bubble.

6. When 6 minutes is up, open the microwave and using an OVEN MITT remove the mug. Be careful, it will be hot!

7. The steam from the mug has now loosened the gunk on the microwave. Wipe it clean with whatever cloth you usually clean with.

8. Enjoy tea or hot cocoa in your already filled mug of hot water to reward yourself for a job well done!

Now go teach this to every bachelor and college kid you know…

Pomegranates are all the rage right now for their high vitamin and antioxidant levels. The flavorful, fuschia juice is being used for juices and cocktails.

INSIDE a pomegranate are tons of little seeds, and each one is surrounded by squishy juicy stuff you can chew up. They are tart like sour candies and Hot Pink! They are great eaten plain or topping a salad. But how do you get those little yummy bubbles out? Just watch! It’s easy…

Stacy Berman, of Stacy’s Boot Camp in NYC, offers these quick tips:

Be Prepared to Prep!

The place where money is wasted the most is in the pre-packaged food aisles, says Stacy. “Spending extra money on things like pre-washed and pre-cut lettuce, for example, is a huge money pit,” says Stacy, “buying whole foods and preparing it yourself will not only cut back on costs but it will ensure you are not eating extra preservatives or additives in packaged foods.”

Every Little Bit Counts

The world is your playground – literally! Stacy is a big fan of using everyday activities to burn extra calories. She runs her out outdoor boot camp, Stacy’s Boot Camp, in the public parks of New York City, and her classes use no more than their bodies and a few water bottles to garner outstanding results. “You don’t always need fancy gym equipment to get into great shape,” says Stacy, “just a set of dumbbells and a chair can get you to your fitness goals without breaking the bank.” As the holiday season approaches, take advantage of calorie burning activities like raking leaves, building snowmen and ice skating!

For information on Stacy’s Boot Camp, including registration details and full schedule, visit www.stacysbootcamp.com.