Saturday, February 25, 2012

7 EXTREME COUPONER LADIES

Ever wonder how extreme couponers save so much money? They spend a lot time matching up coupons with store sales. Don’t have time to do this but still want to save money? Follow these extreme couponers and get the same deals that they get. Why reinvent the wheel? They put together the best deals, match up coupons and current sales, to share with you! Check out theses extreme couponer blogs and subscribe to their daily emails to see how they do it.
1. Money Saving Mom - Not only does this mom of 3 feature the latest coupons and deals, but Crystal also includes recipes for delicious snacks and meals as well as recipes for homemade household things like soap and laundry detergent. And she has a freebies and giveaway section. 2. Deal Seeking Mom - Tara is a mom of 5. As a former career-oriented professional turned stay-at-home-mom, she gathers the latest deals and match-ups for you. 3. The Frugal Find - I like the Frugal Find because she lives in California. Her deals pertain to me. Julia is a homeschooling mom of 4 and The Frugal Find is their main source of income. She shares the latest deals at popular stores as well as deals that can be found at the 99 cent store. 4. The Krazy Coupon Lady – Joanie Demer was featured in TLC’s hit show “Extreme Couponing”. She was the one who dumpster dives for her stacks of coupons. Joanie Demer and Heather Wheeler put together daily deals for food, toiletries, clothing, bath and body products, etc. They share deals found at Albertson’s, Safeway, CVS, Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart. 5. Stockpiling Moms - I just recently started to follow them on Facebook. Best friends, Melissa Jennings and Shelley King, blog about the latest deals, coupons, freebies, gluten free recipes, menu planning, and of course, how to stockpile. 6. Healthy Life Deals – Jennifer puts together deals for healthy and organic foods and products. She uses coupons and saves at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. I love this! You can eat healthy and save money at the same time. 7. Organic Deals – Susan shares coupons and match ups for organic foods and products. She also features ways to earn coupons on organic products. Susan shops for deals at Co-Op Advantage, Henry’s, Publix, Ralph’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

BACON CANDY-(only in Kentucky) :)~

What can I possibly say about this that you havent already imagined. Just two simple words...BACON..,and...CANDY. Might make little sense to the unenlightened few, but once you've crossed the line and seen the light, this concept makes all the sense in the world. As a matter of fact, all seems right in my world once sweet and savory are put into play. This is a quick, simple way to get that fix. Come on...you know it's true..bacon makes everything better. BACON CANDY lots of versions out there, but this is how I roll... I like to use THICK sliced applewood smoked bacon Cover a sheet pan with parchment or foil for easier clean up Put slices on a rack that fits pan Sprinkle brown sugar on each slice, a few lumps are fine, they will melt Sprinkle with a little cayenne pepper or cinnamon if you can't take the heat. Put in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until it's good and crispy. Let cool completely before attempting to devour. Melting sugars and sizzling bacon can be a tad detrimental to the palette. ENJOY !/b>
What I learned from a chemist. Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During a discussion, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed’s answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe. "It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the summer picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick. Ed says that, when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). He says it’s not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the ONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES. He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator. It's already contaminated enough just being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!). Ed also says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you’ll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down. Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning. ( I am so guilty of doing this..no wonder we have stomach problems and blame it on other things!) Forget the onions on the salad bars for me!!! ugh!

Monday, February 20, 2012

TRUE History Lesson on KENTUCKY- INTERESTING READ!

Since I am from Kentucky, born & bred.....I had to share this on my blog!!!! All is TRUE and very INTERESTING about my wonderful state!! Enjoy as I have!!! A long read ... but if you're from Kentucky, you might enjoy!!! History Lesson on Kentucky For those of you who live in Kentucky you might find this interesting! And for those of you who don't, YOU might also find this interesting!!! Today's history lesson: 1792 - Kentucky was the first state on the western frontier to join the Union .. 1816 - (first promoted) Mammoth Cave , with 336+ miles of mapped passages, is the world's longest cave. It is 379 feet deep and contains at least 5 levels of passages.. It's second only to Niagara Falls as the most popular tourist attraction in the US .... It became a National Park on July 1, 1941. 1856 - The first enamel bathtub was made in Louisville .. 1883 - The first electric light bulb was shown in Louisville . Thomas Alva Edison introduced his invention to crowds at the Southern Exposition. 1887 - Mother's Day was first observed in Henderson by teacher Mary S. Wilson . It became a national holiday in 1916. 1893 - 'Happy Birthday to You', probably the most sung song in the world, was written by two Louisville sisters - Mildred and Patricia Hill. Late 19th century - Bibb lettuce was first cultivated by Jack Bibb in Frankfort , Kentucky 1896 - The first (known) set of all male quintuplets was born in Paducah .. 1934 - Cheeseburgers were first tasted at Kaelin's Restaurant in Louisville ... 1937 - The first Wigwam Village Motel, with units in the shape of a 'teepee', was built by Frank A. Redford in Cave City ... The world's largest baseball bat, a full one hundred twnty (120) feet tall and weighing 68,000 pounds, can be seen at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville (Jefferson Co.). Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured only in Bowling Green . Covington (St. Mary's Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption) is home to the world's largest hand blown stained glass window in existence. It measures an astounding 24 feet by 67 feet and contains 117 different figures. The world's largest crucifix, standing at sixty (60) feet tall, is in Bardstown (Nelson Co.). Fort Knox holds more than $6 billion worth of gold - the largest amount stored anywhere in the world. The JIF plant in Lexington is the world's largest peanut butter producing facility. Kentucky has more resort parks than any other state in the nation. Middlesboro is the only United States city built inside a meteor crater.. CHECKED IT OUT ON GOOGLE EARTH. APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 4 1/4 MILES ACROSS AND 360 FEET DEEP. Newport is home to The World Peace Bell, the world's largest free-swinging bell. Pike County is the world's largest producer of coal. Pikeville annually leads the nation (per capita) in consumption of Pepsi-Cola. Post-It Notes are made exclusively in Cynthiana , Ky. Shaker Village ( Pleasant Hill ) is the largest historic community of its kind in the United States Christian County is 'wet', while Bourbon County is 'dry'. ('wet 'sells liquor; 'dry' does not) Barren County has the most fertile land in the state. Lake Cumberland has more miles of shoreline than the state of Florida ... Kentucky is best known for its beautiful blue grass. And, let us not forget about the basketball and the Race Horses !! And Sunny California is no longer where the beautiful people come from, its from under the Blue Moon of Kentucky where many of 'em start! Turns out us Hillbillies are Mighty Purdy to Y'all!! : Celebrities Born and/or raised in KY: George Clooney (Sexiest Man Alive) Johnny Depp (Sexiest Man Alive) Tom Cruise (Sexiest Man Alive) Ashley Judd (one of the sexiest women alive!) Nick Lachey Kevin Ricardson (Backstreet Boy) Brian Litrell (Backstreet Boy) Lee Majors Muhammad Ali Victor Mature Annie Potts (Designing Women) Sean Young Dwight Yoakam (singer/actor; Slingblade, Roswell ,Panic Room) Diane Sawyer John Carpenter (Director) Ned Beatty (Back to School, Deliverance, Life) Harry Dean Stanton (Molly Ringwald¢s Dad in Pretty in Pink) Florence Henderson (Mrs Brady) Billy Ray Cyrus (thus his daughter "Hannah Montana"....once removed!) Chuck Woolery James Best (sheriff on Dukes of Hazard) Charles Napier ("Bureaucrat tryin to save his ass" in Rambo II) Don Everly Naomi Judd Winona Judd Bill Monroe (Father of Bluegrass ) Tom T. HAll John Michael Montgomery Loretta Lynn (First Lady of Country Music) Dwain Messer Patti Loveless Ricky Skaggs Keith Whitley Rosemary Clooney The Trollinger Brothers Just to name a few... And then there more interesting things about this state..............For example, Below are some 'rules for rural ' Kentucky '. THE RULES OF RURAL Kentucky ARE AS FOLLOWS: Listen up City Slickers: 1. Pull your droopy pants up. You look like an idiot. 2. Turn your cap right, your head isn't crooked. 3. Let's get this straight; it's called a 'dirt road.' I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way. 4. They are cattle. They're live steaks. That's why they smell funny to you. But they smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? Rt. 80 goes east and west, I-75 goes north and south. Pick one. 5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $150,000 corn pickers and hay balers that are driven only 3 weeks a year. 6. So every person in Southern Kentucky waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept. 7. If that cell phone rings while an 8-point buck and 3 does are coming in, we WILL shoot it out of your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time. 8. Yeah, we eat taters & gravy, beans & cornbread. You really want sushi & caviar? It's available, at the corner bait shop. 9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November. 10. We open doors for women. That is applied to all women, regardless of age. 11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak. Or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham & turkey. 12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup.. 13. You bring 'coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. 14. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair. 15. We have a whole ton of folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. So don't mess with us. If you do, you will get whipped by the best.. 16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers. Refer back to #1. 17. 4 inches isn't a blizzard - it's a flurry. Drive like you got some sense in it, and DON'T take all our bread, milk, and bleach from the grocery stores. This ain't Alaska , worst case you may have to live a whole day without croissants. The pickups with snow blades will have you out the next day. 18. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. ... It's about learning to dance in the rain!

80 + Amazing Uses for BAKING SODA

Baking Soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. It releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It’s most commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent. The following are 75 other uses for baking soda aside from making muffins soft and fluffy. Health Uses 1. Use it as an antacid. 2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.
3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste. 4. Use it as a face and body scrub. 5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin. 6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn. 7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water. 8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash. 9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations. 10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations. 11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water. 12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water. 13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash. 14. Use it to relieve bee stings. 15. Use it to relieve windburns. 16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom. (see a doctor if redness & swelling last more than 12 hrs.!) 17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer. In the Home 18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase. 19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood. 20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors. 21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering. 22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor. 23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch. 24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor. 25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain. 26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water. 27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor. 28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags. 29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda. 30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants. 31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies. 32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants. 33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor. 34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin. In Cooking 35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar. 36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it. 37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white. 38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible. 39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution. 40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid. 41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge. 42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.
43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda. Cleaning Purposes 44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs 46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops. 47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier. 48. Remove grease from pots and pans. 49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum. 50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes. 51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome. 52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls. 53. Clean your shoes with it.
54. Clean garbage cans with it. 55. Use it to wash diapers. 56. Clean the fridge with it. 57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution. 58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers. 59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture. 60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica countertops with the sponge. 61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles. 62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse. 63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles. 64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off. 65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse. 66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing. 67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution. 68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water. 69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water. 70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean. 71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rug to clean the toaster. 72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.
73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel. 74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven. 75. Use it to unclog gas stoves. The most amazing thing about baking soda is that it’s very cheap. You can do all these things for a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not. Many more found to share when I started some research on this: 76. Remove cradle cap from infant/toddler's head... 77. Use to put out small kitchen fires. 78. Mix with tepid water, make paste, apply to sunburn, insect bites to remove sting. 79. Mix in spray bottle with water, 1/4 c. to rest of water, spray on corroded battery posts...let sit about 10 mins. then take a brush and remove. 80. Neutralize oily hair by applying dry into hair, let ''rest'' for few mins., then flip head over, shake & brush out. Many folks use this strictly as their shampoo...then rinse with vinegar. No build up of chemicals on hair, and sooo shiny!! 81. Keep a paste of part baking soda, water...then when brushing teeth, apply to brush...rinse mouth with warm 1 part peroxide to 2 parts water. Not only kills bateria with this peroxide but is both used as teeth whitener. (got this from dentist but he recommends doing this only every other day due to wearing down enamel) 82. (a friend wrote me) I use baking soda to wash my dreads. I mix a big bucket of warm water, a hit of lemon, and a hit of salt.. soak them in that for 5 minutes or so, let them sit in a towel then rinse rinse rinse. They feel clean and smell fresh. 83. Another friend writes, ( did check this with family doctor who said yes but he said all green recommendation would be IHO-white vinegar drink) 1 Tbsp mixed w/about 32 oz. water is good for aleviating pain from a urinary tract infection. Neutralizes the acid of the urine and helps prevent kidney infections! I swear by it! 84. Yet again, another friend sent this to me. I will be trying this one myself too. Works great in a recipe for iced tea as well…keeps the tea clear and not bitter! Just a pinch with which ever recipe you like!

Rock Candy Recipe-ummm...love this

Rock Candy
Rock candy is always a fun favorite of children, and it's a fantastic way to disguise a Summer science lesson as a sugary treat! All it takes is a few simple tools, lots of sugar and even more patience! Rock candy ingredients & supplies: Wooden skewers (cut in half), water, sugar, clothespins and glass jars/drinking glasses.
The amount of water and sugar you need depends on how many pieces of rock candy you would like to make and the number of jars you have available (I recommend no more than 2 pieces per jar) - the standard ratio is 2 cups of sugar to 1 cup of water, but we found that we had to add a bit more sugar than our recipe called for. In the end, we used 10 cups of sugar to 4 cups of water. To make our batch of rock candy, we started with 4 cups of water and 4 cups of sugar. Put it all into a large saucepan, because once you put it on the stove it will expand while boiling. Once your pot is on the stove, bring it to a low boil over medium heat, and continue to add sugar one cup at a time until you can no longer dissolve any more of it (making a completely saturated sugar solution). Turn off the heat and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. While your sugar is cooling you can prep your sticks. Soak them in water and roll them in a coating of sugar to give the new sugar crystals something to "seed" to. Be sure to let them dry all the way! If they are still too wet when you put them into the hot sugar solution, all of the sugar coating will fall off, and the new crystals will have nothing to grow on. CAREFULLY pour your sugar solution into your glass jars.
If you'd like to add food coloring or flavoring to your rock candy, now is the time to do so. We added color, but we kept the flavor all natural. (You can add your food flavorings such as watermelon, banana, strawberry,blueberry, etc at this time) Slowly insert your sugared skewers into the solution. You can use a clothespin as shown to keep your sticks in place. Smaller mouth jars/glasses work best, but only allow room for about two sticks per jar. Be sure that your sticks are not touching the sides or bottom of the glass or each other! They need room for the new crystals to grow! Set them up in a warm, sunny location where they won't be disturbed, and wait......and wait.(still with me?)...and wait some more... After about a week you will have made yourself a batch of sparkling sugar rock candy!
Rock candy ingredients & supplies: Wooden skewers (cut in half), water, sugar, clothespins and glass jars/drinking glasses. The amount of water and sugar you need depends on how many pieces of rock candy you would like to make and the number of jars you have avail...

Sunday, February 19, 2012

50 Tried & True Hints for Kitchen Handed Down

50 TRIED AND TRUE KITCHEN HELPFULS You know all of those helpful kitchen-related suggestions that old-timers are so willing to share with the younger generations? These little tips and tricks might be called “kitchen hacks” these days, but they’re still the same good old nuggets of wisdom that they always were. As with any old wives’ tale, hack, or tip, your mileage may vary. Some of these gems have been around for several lifetimes - and according to most grandmas, they really work. 1. For cleaning smelly hands after chopping onions or garlic, just rub them on a stainless steel spoon. The steel is supposed to absorb the odor. 2. Fresh coffee beans can also absorb nasty odors from your hands.
3. If you happen to over-salt a pot of soup, just drop in a peeled potato. The potato will absorb the excess salt. 4. When boiling eggs, add a pinch of salt to keep the shells from cracking. 5. Never put citrus fruits or tomatoes in the fridge. The low temperatures degrade the aroma and flavor of these persnickety fruits. 6. To clean cast iron cookwear, don’t use detergents. Just scrub them with salt and a clean, dry paper towel. 7. Will milk curdle if it is allowed to boil? It turns out that this age-old piece of wisdom isn’t true, after all. Milk that has been boiled is perfectly safe to consume. 8. To clean an electric kettle with calcium buildup on the heating element, boil a mixture of half white vinegar and half water, then empty. 9. When storing empty airtight containers, throw in a pinch of salt to keep them from getting stinky. 10. If you are making gravy and accidentally burn it, just pour it into a clean pan and continue cooking it. Add sugar a little at a time, tasting as you go to avoid over-sugaring it. The sugar will cancel out the burned taste. 11. Burned a pot of rice? Just place a piece of white bread on top of the rice for 5-10 minutes to draw out the burned flavor. Be careful not to scrape the burned pieces off of the bottom of the pan when serving the rice. 12. Before you chop chili peppers, rub a little vegetable oil into your hands and your skin won’t absorb the spicy chili oil. 13. If you aren’t sure how fresh your eggs are, place them in about four inches of water. Eggs that stay on the bottom are fresh. If only one end tips up, the egg is less fresh and should be used soon. If it floats, it’s past the fresh stage.
14. To banish ants from the kitchen, find out where they are coming in and cover the hole with petroleum jelly. Ants won’t trek through the jelly. If they are coming under a door, draw a line on the floor with chalk. The little bugs also won’t cross a line of chalk. 15. Before making popcorn on the stove or in an air popper, soak the kernels in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water, then pop as normal. The additional moisture helps the popcorn pop up quicker and fluffier with fewer “old maids.”
16. Don’t store your bananas in a bunch or in a fruit bowl with other fruits. Separate your bananas and place each in a different location. Bananas release gases which cause fruits (including other bananas) to ripen quickly. Separating them will keep them fresh longer. 17. To keep potatoes from budding in the bag, put an apple in with them. 18. If you manage to have some leftover wine at the end of the evening, freeze it in ice cube trays for easy addition to soups and sauces in the future. 19. To clean crevices and corners in vases and pitchers, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. The bubbles will do the scrubbing. 20. After boiling pasta or potatoes, cool the water and use it to water your house plants. The water contains nutrients that your plants will love. 21. When you clean your fish tank, the water you drain can also be used to water your house plants. The nitrogen and phosphorus in fish droppings make aquarium water a great fertilizer. 22. When defrosting meat from the freezer, pour some vinegar over it. Not only does it tenderize the meat; it will also bring down the freezing temperature of the meat and cause it to thaw quicker. 23. The substance in onions that causes your eyes to water is located in the root cluster of the onion. Cut this part out in a cone shape, with the largest part of the cone around the exterior root section. 24. Taking the top layer off of a onion can also reduce the amount of eye-watering misery. 25. Toothpaste is a great silver cleaner. 26. Baking soda isn’t as effective a deodorizer for the fridge as that baking soda company would like you to believe. Activated charcoal is much better at absorbing fridge and freezer odors. 27. Baking soda is an extremely effective cleaner, though. Use it with vinegar to deodorize drains and clean stovetops and sinks. 28. A favorite tip of thousands of grandmas: when you nick your finger while cutting veggies, wait until the bleeding stops and paint on a layer of clear nail polish. It will keep juices out of the wound and won’t fall off into the spaghetti sauce like a bandage. 29. The jury is still out on what to put in the bag of brown sugar to keep it from going hard: a slice of apple, a piece of bread, and a shard of a terra cotta pot have all been used. 30. Got a nasty invisible splinter from your kitchen tools? Put a piece of adhesive tape on the area and then pull it off to remove the splinter. 31. When you burn yourself in the kitchen, just spread mustard on the affected area. Leave it for a while and it will ease the pain and prevent blistering. 32. For aluminum pans that are looking dull, just boil some apple peels in them.This will brighten up the aluminum and make your house smell yummy. 33. To keep cookies fresh, savvy grannies like to put some crumpled-up tissue paper in the bottom of the cookie jar. 34. If your salt is clumping up, put a few grains of rice in with it to absorb excess moisture. 35. To clean fruit stains off of your fingers, rub them with a fresh, peeled potato. White vinegar can also do the trick. 36. Keep iceberg lettuce fresh in the fridge by wrapping it in a clean, dry paper towel and storing lettuce and paper towel in a sealed baggie in the fridge.
37. If your loaf of bread is starting to go stale, just put a piece of fresh celery in the bag and close it back up. For some reason, this restores a fresh taste and texture to the bread. 38. Always keep an aloe vera plant in your kitchen. It’s invaluable when you scrape your arm or burn your finger. Just break off a leaf and rub the gel from the inside on the injury. 39. When making a soup, sauce, or casserole that ends up too fatty or greasy, drop in an ice cube. The ice will attract the fat, which you can then scoop out. 40. To reuse cooking oil without tasting whatever was cooked in the oil previously, cook a 1/4″ piece of ginger in the oil. It will remove any remaining flavors and odors. 41. If your milk always goes bad before you can finish it, try adding a pinch of salt to the carton when you first open it. It will stay fresh days longer. 42. Water that has been boiled and allowed to cool will freeze faster than water from the tap. This comes in handy when you’re having a party and need ice pronto. 43. Remove tea or coffee stains from your fine china by mixing up a paste of baking soda, lemon juice, and cream of tartar. Rub it over the stains and they’ll come off easily. 44. If two drinking glasses become stuck together after stacking, it’s not impossible to unstick them. Just put ice in the inner glass and dunk the outer glass in warm water. The warm glass will expand and the cold glass will contract, making the glasses separate easily. 45. For splinters under the fingernail, soaking the affected finger in a bowl of milk with a piece of bread in it is said to draw out the splinter. 46. Did grandpa ever give you a drink of cola for an upset tummy? It turns out that this is actually a pretty effective remedy. The sugar and carbonation can soothe many tummy problems - but it can also exacerbate others. 47. Putting salty bacon on a boil is said to “draw the poison out” of boils. 48. To help old wooden drawers (without runners) open and close smoothly, rub a candle on the tracks. 49. A cotton ball soaked in white vinegar and applied to a fresh bruise will reduce the darkness of the bruise and help it disappear sooner. 50. Drinking cranberry juice and eating blueberries regularly will help stave off urinary tract infections.

27 Coffee Filter Uses-Amazing!

COFFEE FILTERS Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, even the large ones. 27 IDEAS TO USE FOR COFFEE FILTERS 1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers. 2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling. 3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish. 4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter. 5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust. 6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter. 7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter. 8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale. 9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods. 10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes. 11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter. 12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.. 13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.. It soaks out all the grease. 14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers..” 15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics. 16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors. 17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews. 18 Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.. 19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills. 20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash. 21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage. 22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls. 23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout. 24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book. 25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc. 26. Great in the tool room when separating nails and screws then use in to bottom of containers to remove moisture and prevent rust. 27. Use to clean glass such as windows, mirrors, etc. No lint! 28. OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS, TOO~

Friday, February 17, 2012

Crafty Adhesives & Sealants to use.

I have tried many different adhesives and sealants in my day, and these are my faves that make up the contents of my shelf/crafting kit. There is nothing worse than being so ready to finish a project, then not having the right glue or spray, so I keep these in stock at all time. Please if you have one I’ve overlooked or you think I need to try, share it in the comments! Get the full low down on the Best Crafting Adhesives and Sealants after the jump… World’s Best Crafty Adhesives and Sealants That Should Be In Your Kit *in my humble opinion* Glue Aleene’s is one of those brands that you just know makes good stuff. If you’re ever in doubt just get Aleene’s and you’ll be fine. No, they don’t pay us to say things like that. But if you work for Aleene’s and you want to send me a giant box of magical glues and sprays, please go right ahead. The ones I can’t live without: Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue, $1.72 for four ounces. The fall back glue for when you don’t know what to use. Super strong and it’s very useful that it is clear when your attention to detail is poor like mine. Aleene’s Crystal Clear Tacky Spray, $4.49. Spray Adhesive is one of those things you don’t think you need until you use it, then you’re like, oh i should have always had this. It allows you to glue paper to paper (or other non-pourous stuff) with no lumps and bumps, and dries almost instantly. I like this one the best because you also have a few seconds to lift the item and re-position it before it dries. Aleene’s Stop Fraying, $2.88 for four ounces. This is a white glue that dries clear that you use for fabric edges to keep them from fraying. It is handy if you serge to place a dot where two stitch lines meet. Also useful if you have a tiny hole in something and you want to keep it from getting bigger. I also use it on the edges of cotton webbing (like when I made the replacement Doll Stroller seat). It’s just a great thing to have if you sew. Aleene’s Fabric Stiffening and Draping Liquid, $5.70. This isn’t something you MUST HAVE but it’s pretty fun. It hardens fabric, from a little hard to hard-as-a-rock depending on how you use it. You can make firm bows and doily bowls and snowflakes, which make lovely gifts and cost so little. Just a fun thing to have! Best Test Rubber Cement - $7.19. Honestly I just love this because it reminds me of being a kid in school and getting it on my fingers and peeling it off into a little ball. And of course a Hot Glue Gun, $4.85. I’ve had a super cheap mini one for over six years and it’s all I’ve ever needed – from little paper projects to my king size headboard. Sealants Krylon Clear Polyurethane, $4.79. This sealer basically puts a plastic coating on top of whatever you spray it on. It’s very thin but it protects your finished project from moisture and the elements. I have noticed over time that it turns a slight shade of yellow, possibly only visible to me, but I have stopped using it for mod podge projects that are white or bright. I think it is best for wood projects and things meant to go outdoors and get rained on, in which case it is invaluable. I just picked up the can and it says “adds a warm luster” so I think that means “turns it slightly yellow” ha. Aleene’s Spray Acrylic Sealer, $7.02. This is what I now use to seal all those Mod Podge coasters and vases and step stools any other decoupage project. Dries quickly, easy to apply, keeps the moisture out and retains the original color. If you decoupage you NEED THIS. If you don’t use it your decoupaged items can suffer water damage, or worst of all, melt. Mod Podge. I’m not going to bore you by explaining why you need this again. Just get some in glossy and matte and make some stuff! POSTED BY JAIME |

Friday, February 10, 2012

Homemade Sno Balls-ummmmm!

My husband has never eaten a Hostess Sno Ball. I know, shocking! I, on the other hand, have had my fair share. With the news that Hostess has filed for bankruptcy, I'm sure there are people fretting over where they will get their cakey, cellophane-wrapped snacks. Worry no more! Homemade sno balls coming right up! Homemade Sno Balls Cake: ½ c plus 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ½ c cake flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp baking powder 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 ½ c sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature ½ c brewed coffee ½ c milk Marshmallow coating: 1 lb sweetened, shredded coconut Pink gel food coloring (if desired) 1 ½ packets of unflavored powder gelatin (about 9 grams) ¼ c cold water 1 c sugar ⅓ c corn syrup 2 Tbs water ¼ tsp salt ½ tsp vanilla Creme filling: ½ tsp warm water Dash of salt Half of a 7 oz. jar of marshmallow fluff ¼ c shortening 2 Tbs powdered sugar ¼ tsp vanilla extract For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour the wells of 2 mini-rounded cake pans. Sift the cocoa powder, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the coffee and milk. Stir half the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Stir in the coffee/milk mixture. Add the remaining dry ingredients and stir to blend. Pour batter into prepared cake pans until ⅔ full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean, about 18 minutes. Let cakes cool completely before turning the pan over to remove them. For the marshmallow coating: Pour coconut into a bowl. Mix with a teeny bit of food coloring. Mix well to evenly tint the coconut. Set aside. Place the ¼ c of cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water, and let set. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 2 Tbs water. Bring to a rolling boil. Fit the whisk attachment to the stand mixer, and turn to low to break up the gelatin. Pour the corn syrup mixture into the stand mixer with the gelatin and beat on high for 4 minutes. Stop the mixer and add the salt and vanilla. Continue beating on high for another 6-8 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer. Using a spoon or an off-set spatula, dip the rounded side of the cakes into the marshmallow. Quickly roll the marshmallow-coated cake in the coconut, making sure to cover the entire marshmallow surface. Place uncoated side down on a sheet to set. For the creme filling: Combine salt and water in a small bowl. With a mixer, combine fluff, shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Add the salt mixture, and beat until combined. Using a large plain decorator’s tip, pipe the filling into the center of each cake, from the bottom.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

5 Tips that Could Save Your LIFE & HOME!



Last week, when I posted about how to make your own homemade fabric softener, there were quite a few comments and concerns about fabric softeners in general leaving residue on lint screens, etc.

The concerns ranged from the dryer being less effective to actually catching fire!

Luckily one of the comments left was from a Mom and firefighter who had some GREAT SAFETY TIPS and dryer maintenance rules to follow.

So I decided to be a good little soldier and follow the rules the nice firefighter lady gave us! (Her comments are in red.)




Anonymous said...I am a mom and a fire fighter as well. This comment is for the questions concerning your dryer lint screen and softeners. Many dryer fires are started by lint screens and clogged dryer vents. Quite common. BUT here is a simple rule of thumb to prevent a dryer fire due to build up. About once a month, depending on the amount of laundry you do, take out your dryer lint screen. Rinse it with warm water and use a soft tooth brush to scrub it clean. It is simple maintenance we should all do regardless of whether we use softener or not. The tell tale sign it is time to soak and scrub, put your screen under running water. If it holds water, it needs cleaning. There is more than one reason for this "clogging" effect:   fabric softener, type of fabrics, laundry soap not rinsing completely out, lint build up not releasing when you swipe.


So, here is the lint screen from my dryer. I decided to put it to the test...and sure enough...look at the water beading up on it! Time to give it a bath!


I soaked it for a little while in warm, soapy water and scrubbed it with a kitchen sponge.


And here it is after. I did the same thing....poured some water on it....went straight through!Success!

General rules to always follow and you will have an efficient long life and fire hazard free dryer. 
1. clean lint trap after each dryer cycle.   (Already doing this, so I'm feeling pretty good about myself.)
2. wash lint trap after about 20-30 loads or once a month (let it air dry on counter before putting back in dryer).  (NOT doing this nearly often enough!)
3. follow manufacturer instructions on clothing and heat settings. (I do OK with this.)
4. get dear hubby or assistance for this one, open the top of your dryer (if front loading) get the old shop vac or vac cleaner and use the hose to suck out the excess lint inside of your dryer, staying clear of wires and belts, Oh and unplug your dryer from outlet first!




As usual, I was too impatient to wait for the hubster to come home and help with this....so I just found a REALLY BIG SCREWDRIVER out in the garage and gently pried the top off the dryer. It popped off quite easily!  


Under the hood.
I took a LOT more pictures...but somehow they got deleted. :-/
And as you can see, I didn't have a whole lot of dust built up inside of mine, but I gave it a thorough vacuuming anyway.




There was a LOT of lint down inside where the lint screen goes in that I vacuumed out!

On the above mentioned you can also call an appliance repair service and get general maintenance cleaning for a fairly reasonable price. This should be done once a year.You will be amazed at what lies inside your dryer that you don't actually see.
5. while doing number 4, clean and clear out the hose to the dryer for discharging vent, this is a commonly forgotten area and causes alot of fires itself.




Awkward angle to try to snap a picture...but the long, black thing is my vacuum attachment. I gave the length of the hose and the opening where it connects to the dryer a thorough vacuuming. After I was done vacuuming I checked the debris cup in the vacuum and even though I couldn't see much dust and lint while I was vacuuming...there was probably about 2 cups of dirt in it!

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Magic of Manure-How to use it in garden




Years ago my grandparents would have a truck from the farm come into town and dump a load of fresh cow manure over their garden. They would do this each year after everything was harvested and had died back. A few days later my grandfather would then take a small plow and walk up and down each side of the garden to work it into the soil.
The smell was wow-ee (no kidding) but to a child, it was pretty entertaining having a cow patty minefield in the backyard (there was no such thing as Nintendo way back then).
At the time it was something my grandparents “just did” and I didn’t question why. Fast forward years later and now I understand and appreciate their wise old ways.
Manure is an old-timers trick that can help bring out the best from your garden. It provides rich, nutrient content and also helps build carbon compounds (organic materials) that build soil structure. That translates into big, beautiful and bountiful vegetables.
I’m sure this isn’t anything new to many of you, but do you know how to apply it to the soil and when you should do so? Or which types are ok to use and which aren’t? Or that you can make an all-purpose fertilizer from it? Here’s a quick tipsheet that answers those questions and more.
What kind is best to use? Cows, horses, goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits all provide good, rich product that the soil will appreciate. Avoid using any from cats, dogs, pigs and humans since they may contain parasites or diseases that can transfer to humans.
Can it be fresh or should it be aged first? A fresh batch will be too strong to use on tender plants and will likely burn their leaves and stems. If it’s well-rotted, you can use it immediately.
How to apply: When using a fresh batch, layer it over the soil in the Fall after everything has died back. Spread evenly about 2″ to 3″ thick. You can then till it into the soil if you wish but leaving it as-is over the winter is fine too. Till in the Spring before planting. For a well-rotted batch, apply to soil about a week before planting…till into the soil so it can really get in there and work its magic.
High-Nitrogen Compost Pile Recipe: Layer fresh horse manure with old, partially rotted alfalfa hay. Leave it alone until it turns a dark brown (will take a few months), no tossing necessary. Can be used to feed and mulch everything including shrubs, trees, roses, vegetable plots, flowerbeds, etc. Source: Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening: Month by Month.
Making Tea: We’ve talked before about compost tea making a nutrient-rich treat for plants, you can do the same with manure. A quick recipe is to fill a 5-gallon bucket with a shovelful of well-rotted manure then top with water (fill the pail). Leave it to sit overnight for several hours. Use as an all-purpose fertilizer every 2 or 3 weeks. Note: Careful to apply this brew to the soil only and not let it come in contact with leaves or stems since it will be too strong for them.
Notes:
  • Make sure to wash all produce well before consuming and avoid using fresh manure after the garden has been planted (since disease carrying pathogens may contaminate them). Using well-rotted or aged instead reduces this risk.
  • There is a pitfall to applying fresh manure (aside from the smell), it may contain viable seeds from weeds and plant life that you don’t wish to be present in your yard.

Ah....manure....that sweeeet sweet smell. :)~


My grandmother always had the most beautiful roses and won many fair with them and her other flowers. Her 'secret' she said was the use of manure...(rotted & dried) each fall worked into the soils before she put them to rest for the winter with straw. She would save her coffee grinds, egg shells and potato peels, carrots, then put in old coffee cans, freeze or store out in barn up in rafters...then use them around her plants, flower beds come spring. I call this the new ''compost''....my papaw would take old leaves and grass clippings around to back of barn, pile them up....in fall. Come spring, he would dig there for the fattest, roundest of worms to go fishing.
I believe in the 'old' ways..and think everyone was much healthier back then. We had cleaner water, creeks were not contaminated, nor was our livestock filled so with pro-biotics, forced chemical grains...etc....Could go on and on about how things were so different but worked from the days as a child, along with stories I've been told. Wish for those days back. Always will, but gone forever. So sad.

Homemade Fabric Softner













Homemade Fabric Softener

Ingredients:
6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner

Directions:
1. Mix water, vinegar, and hair conditioner in a 1 gallon container; stir. Do not shake it; it will cause foaming.
2. Use the same amount you normally use in a rinse cycle or spritz it on a wash cloth and throw in dryer.