You never know when you’ll have a mishap in the kitchen or take a spill, and the best way to prepare for these types of at-home injuries is by preparing a well-stocked first aid kit. To be truly prepared, you should store one of these personal injury kits in your car, as well. Here are a few essentials that every good first aid kit should contain:

1. A first aid instruction booklet in case of complex injury or illness
2. Adhesive bandages in a variety of different sizes
3. Adhesive cloth tape
4. Sterile gauze pads for administering medications or creams
5. Antiseptic wipe packets for treating small cuts or burns
6. Roller bandages in a few different sizes for wrapping sprains or pulled muscles
7. Sharp scissors
8. Tweezers for removing splinters or other shrapnel
9. An oral thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass)
10. Non-latex gloves
11. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen, for headache or other muscle aches
12. Instant cold packs
13. Safety pins
14. Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
15. Calamine lotion for poison ivy, sunburn, and insect bites
16. A flashlight (plus extra batteries)
17. A list of emergency phone numbers (include your physician, children’s physician, emergency contacts, etc.)

Anatomy of a First Aid Kit [Red Cross]
First Aid Kit [Kids Health]
First-Aid Kits: Stock supplies that can save lives [Mayo Clinic]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/medisave

Although you may think of craft beers when you think of Austin’s drink of choice, the Austin Wine Merchant proves just how much the city loves its wine. This locally owned bottle shop has served the Austin area since 1991, and once you talk to the friendly, knowledgeable staff you’ll quickly realize that wine is their passion.

Weekly wine tastings bring the city’s wine enthusiasts together to taste the shop’s seasonal bottles, and the Austin Wine Merchant even carries beers and spirits for those who prefer something other than vino. The shop stocks a large selection of French wines, local bottles, and reserve wines at all price points, and it is kept at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit in order to preserve the wines' taste. Bring a jacket along on your visit and peruse the shelves for that perfect bottle of gin or that elusive aged port wine.

The Austin Wine Merchant is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, and it is closed on Sundays.

The Austin Wine Merchant
512 W. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 499-0512
www.theaustinwinemerchant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-austin-wine-merchant-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Jeff Kubina

Whether you have guests coming over or you’re simply exhausted after a long day at work, sometimes a deep apartment cleaning just isn’t in the cards. Don’t fret, because it is entirely possible to clean your living space without spending a lot of time doing it. Here are a few tips to help you clean your apartment in 20 minutes or less.

1. Remove clutter. The easiest way to create the illusion of a clean apartment is by removing all of the unnecessary clutter. Hang up the clothes that are lying on the floor (or at least toss them in the closet), and gather up all of the food or magazines scattered around the living room.
2. Empty the sink. A sink full of dishes is a sure sign of an unclean apartment. Even if you don’t have time for much else, wash the dishes!
3. Take out the trash. Nothing will blow your clean apartment cover faster than a smelly garbage can. Empty the trash in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen.
4. Freshen up. Spray couches and chairs with a neutral scented fabric refresher, and place some candles throughout the most high-traffic rooms. Even if you didn’t clean every nook and cranny, this will make things feel fresh.

Clean your home in less than 20 minutes [She Knows]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cdsessums