Cleaning Tips I Tried From Pinterest

          Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all of the posts to pinterest, they all sound like great ideas but how many of them can actually be true? Well this weekend I went through everything I had pinned and gave them a go.


Dryer Sheets 

   Personally I use off brand gain because I am cheap and I don't think it matters. I have tried all of these and they have worked. I also tried to use them in my back pocket for bug repellent, I don't believe it worked but as far as their cleaning ability, I am completely convinced they work better than other methods.

• dusting, they totally work! I use them on all of my base boards and blinds and don't have to dust for 2 to 3 weeks. 
• ring around the toilet, just put on a pair of gloves and go to town. 
• soap scum in the bathtub 
• polishing faucets 
• wet dog smell 
• cleaning glass top stoves    

Hot Vinegar

• Hot vinegar and dawn.  Fuck that shit. Don't heat vinegar in the microwave unless you are looking for ways to make mustard gas. I tried hot vinegar and dawn to clean my bathtub after giving my dogs a bath, I do not believe that it made any difference and it just made us choke from fumes. 
• Hot apple cider vinegar, and honey.  I use 1 tablespoon of each in about a cup of water whenever my throat feels sore. This has cured my strep throat without the use of antibiotics in 2 days. It doesn't taste great but you can't beat those kinds of results. 

Vinegar

• Vinegar and newspaper. For mirrors and windows, totally works. 
• Vinegar and mildew. Put it in your washing machines pre-wash with towels and pillows and takes the stink out, added bonus, it keeps your washing machine clean. 

Homemade Dishwasher Soap

      I use this recipe below and have for about a year now. I had some trouble with it in the beginning because my dishes came out with that white film, I tried adding vinegar, which worked but it seemed like I was going through a lot of vinegar. What works the best is simply adding rinse agent. This recipe also works as a soft scrub for cooked on foods, and garage needs like rims and greasy hands. (Ryan tested.)

• 1 cup borax, 1 cup baking soda and 1 package of sugar-free lemonade (for citric acid) 

Homemade Laundry Soap

     I found that most recipes were the same with just small variations. I made myself a big 2 gallon bucket of the powder for my he front load washing machine. I was surprised to find that my machine could use powder but apparently all front loading ones can, you just have to take out the cup where you put the liquid.  

     So let me get real about this stuff. Ryan and I went to three different stores to find everything we needed to make it, partly for price, partly because we live in an extremely small town and partly because fels naptha soap is hard to find. If you wan to make the stuff go to Wal-mart, normally I wouldn't advocate doing that but they had everything and lots of it. 

     After we got back home with all of the stuff I needed, I had the tiresome act of making the shit. Grating the bar of fels naptha, the hardest soap in the world, made my arms weak but the good news is that everything else is as simple as opening a box and pouring it in your bucket. The part I enjoyed the most about making my laundry soap was that I was able to choose how it smelled. The Purex washing crystals come a few verities and add most of the smell but you can also add essential oils. 

    It's cleaning abilities were pretty great. It was able to get waxy deodorant residue out of a couple of mine and Ryan's t-shirts. I have long been a fan of borax and baking soda in my laundry so I wasn't surprised that it did get my laundry clean. I do have concerns about whether it is too harsh of a detergent over time or not. 

Everything cost about $35, which is a lot of money if you ask me because it made about 1 1/2 gallons. You use 1/3 cup for a normal sized load, so really if you are doing a load of laundry a day, its not very cheap. Personally I choose to coupon for my detergent and I use this stuff more like an additive to my regular laundry. 

    I do also use this as a carpet freshener, sprinkle it on the carpet about 10 minutes before I vacuum and it smells nice. 

     Those are the few I have tried and liked. Oh also water in a ziplock bag for flies is bullshit. 

Hot Italian Beef

   

      I know what you are thinking and yes, I am being lewd. This is a recipe for a hot sandwich, that tastes sinfully delicious. It's juicy, warm, filling and as good as the tender meat is, I feel the veggies are even better.

     Don't you just want to eat the monitor or phone or other device that you might be using? Damn, I just put that in my belly and I am still salivating. Okay here is how you make it. 

     Start off by heating olive oil in a heavy, oven safe pot over medium high heat. I chose my favorite kitchen purchase of all time, Les Creuset. Generously salt and pepper your roast, for this recipe I chose a chuck because it has decent marbling and its cheap. There is really no reason to worry about the fat since the method used to cook the meat is a slow heat that pulls out most of the fat. 

    Add your beef to the pot and sear each side until golden brown. Note, when using cast iron, enameled cast iron or stainless cookware, your meat will stick to the pan until it has formed this crust as shown above. Just be patient and let your tools do the work for you. When the crust has formed the meat will release from the pan. 

      While your meat is doing its thing, chop celery into crescents. Cut onion and bell pepper into slices and mince garlic. Leave the basil leaves whole. Once the meat has seared on both sides add water,  worcestershire sauce, vegetables and Italian seasonings. 

      Bring up to a boil, cover with lid and place in an oven preheated to 325 degrees for one hour, reduce heat to 250 and continue cooking for another 2 hours. Add more water if the meat is less than half way covered. Cook longer if the meat doesn't pull apart easily with a fork, because it should. 

      Pull apart meat into chunks and serve on a hoagy bun. I like to let the juices soak into the bread before eating it. 

              Ingredients

• 3lb chuck roast beef
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 2 cups water
• 1 package of Italian salad dressing mix
• 2 TBSP worchestershire sauce 
• One 14.5oz can diced tomatoes, Italian 
• Pepperoncini and Jalapenos, as many as you like about 6 or 8 each
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 celery stocks
• half an onion 
• 20ish fresh basil leaves
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves 
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 
• salt and pepper 

     Pre-heat oven to 325. Heat oil in heavy oven safe pot over medium-high heat. Add salt and peppered beef to pan. Sear on each side until golden brown. Add water, chopped veggies, seasonings and tomatoes.  Bring to a simmer, cover and place in oven. Bake for 1 hour, reduce heat to 250 and continue to cook for another 2 hours. Serve over hoagy buns. 

     *this recipe easily converts to a crock pot recipe for all you busy house makers. Just brown the roast then add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours. 

DIY Sunburn Relief.

     
       Boy! has it been a long time since I wrote a post. I have no excuse, other than life in general. Spring seems to be a busy time in my life and that rolls right into summer which tends to get even busier for me.

       The warmer weather means more yard work for me and more time spent in the sun. Having skin that is more milky white than red heads may sound appealing to most but it has its disadvantages. I literally get burnt inside cars, with tinted windows. More than five minutes outside and I am toast, well actually that wouldn't so bad, I am more like a lobster.

      If you didn't read the first two paragraphs, they don't matter, seriously.

 A list of items to relieve and heal sunburns found around the house. 

•  Glycerin- as well as being useful in moisturizing and the active ingredient in my diy make-up setter, it has even more healing benefits for the skin. Helpful in healing minor cuts, and burns, moisturizing skin, and its an ideal personal lubricant. 
• Witch Hazel- this is my favorite toner because it draws out dirts and oils without drying out your skin. When you apply it to a burn, you can feel it pulling out the burn. It is also great for relieving the pain in new tattoos and it wont mess with your ink. 

I'm a foody who loves my home state. Idaho Potato Tattoo.

•  Apple Cider Vinegar- great for drawing out the burn and healing the skin. Also its pretty amazing as a toner if you have acne. Annnnd its good for your hair and the lady parts and softening your scaly feet. Just basically bath in the stuff, I do. Draw a bath and add a cup of vinegar and soak. You wont come out smelling like vinegar, I promise and as an added bonus it cleans your bath and jets if you have them. 

  A few tips. 

      You can find glycerin in the pharmacy, if you can't find it there, ask them to order it for you or look at KY, I am not 100% sure but I think that is just glycerin and maybe added flavoring. Also you might find it in the suppository section. Just look at the ingredients list. 

  Witch hazel will be wear the alcohol and hydrogen peroxide is, usually on the bottle shelf.  The way I apply glycerin to my burns it by making a mix of water, glycerin and witch hazel and putting it in a spray bottle, just like my diy make up setter. It makes it really easy to get it on your back. 

     Apple cider vinegar just take a bath in it, its awesome. 

   Oh and use sun screen on your sun burn, try upping your SPF. And please don't be stupid and think that if you get burnt just once then it will turn into your base tan and you won't get burnt again. You will get burnt again and you will get skin cancer and die. Stay safe this summer ya'll! 

    

The Great Burger Tax

   

      Quickly I would like to jot down a couple thoughts I have about how universal healthcare might work for the United States. I, myself am not for it because I know that a lot of the people who are for it, are exactly the type of people that would abuse government help. Like welfare, unemployment and food stamps, all really great ideas that were meant to help our people in times of need, and not be a form of income....
      I have visited other countries that have healthcare, I have also visited countries that don't believe in welfare checks. In the UAE, they will give anyone any job to care for the poor. They have people who literally sweep the streets with brooms. Women who sit in the bathroom just to fill the toilet paper twice a day. It might not sound like a glamorous job but these people are not going hungry and they are doing a job that is suited to their abilities. Not dealing drugs, getting their nails done every week, new tattoos and still collecting $800 in food stamps because they don't know how they got pregnant five times...
      The only way I see healthcare working is by taking away freedoms. Specifically the right to choose what we eat and I hate to say it but have children. Maybe not as bad or extreme as China, like not a limit on children but more of who is allowed to have children.
      I see fast food becoming a controlled substance. Seriously though, when I have visited other countries, I always try their McDonald's because I am curious how it differs from what the true American version, if at all. McDonald's in different countries isn't as greasy and it tastes more fresh like a burger made from 85/15 ground beef and I have to admit, I like it a lot better.  Germany's McDonald's is amazing plus they have beer.
      But what if the American people don't like fresher, less greasy food? I think eating fast food will be a lot like the process of buying certain allergy medicines. You will have to present your id and it will go in a computer check base and if you are over your limit then you will be denied the sale.
      The burger check will be denied to everyone with high cholesterol and diabetics.  What if obese people were required to exercise as a form of parole? Easy meals would disappear from the shelves and frozen sections in the grocery store. Our children would have and learn all the precautionary steps to take to avoid totally avoidable diseases.
        Just some ideas I had, although I seriously doubt fast food corporations, drug companies and doctors will let any of that happen so don't worry too much fatties. No one is going to take away your cigs and start taxing your burgers.

Asparagus Bisque

       Spring brings so many wonderful flavors to our table and my favorite by far is asparagus. It's easy to find at your local grocery store but did you know that its actually a weed that grows in ditches along the road?
       When I was growing up in Idaho, I remember driving real slow out in the country. The doors of my sisters van open and our eyes were sharp to spot the flowered weed. We would come home with grocery bags full of it and have big bbqs with sautéed asparagus dipped in lemon mayonaise.
       Asparagus season is upon us and this recipe is a great way to use up the bunches in your fridge. It will also give you a good reason to use your immersion blender, I am always looking for ways to use that handy tool.
     

    Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs Asparagus (two big hand fulls)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 bell pepper, I used yellow. 
• 1 small onion, use whatever color you have. 
• 1 stalk celery 
• 2 cups chicken or veggie stock. I used home-made because its FREE, for the recipe check Free Stock
• 3/4 cup heavy cream 
• salt, pepper 
• croutons and asparagus tops for garnish. 

   Directions:

  Coarsely chop all veggies and add to stock in a sauce pan, bring to boil then turn down to a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes or until veggies are tender but still vibrant in color. Blend with immersion blender or by adding veggies to blender or food processor until its pureed. Add your cream and adjust seasonings. Serve with croutons, asparagus and a dollop of cream. Enjoy within 5 days or freeze.

DIY Sugar Wax Hair Removal

     Ever spend $20 at the salon to get your eyebrows waxed and then been less than satisfied with the results? Yeah, me too but now I just do it at home and don't have anyone else to blame my eyebrows on other than me. Just kidding, my eyebrows rock and my uni-brow is smooth and  non- existing.
   
    Alright, enough with my babbling here is the recipe and instructions.

    Add 1 tsp of honey to 2 tsp of brown sugar.

     Add a little drop of oil to your measuring spoon before you put the honey in it and it will come out smooth.

    Microwave on high for 30 seconds and let it cool for 5 minutes.

     While you are waiting, cut up some scrap fabric into strips.

     Next apply the sugar wax to your problem areas in the direction of the hair growth. Mustache, eyebrows, armpits, toes, what have you. Although I would suggest making more if you are going to do your legs.

    Brace yourself and pull against the hair growth.

   Eww, uni-brow hair.

    And mustache fuzz, no more!

   Have fun! And no, I didn't cry.

OMG I WON!!!

    So about six or eight months ago I decided to look for a replacement for my falling apart purse. I have had this Louis V knock off for about three years now and the straps are unraveling and it just looks cheaper and cheaper every time I see it. I try to avoid eye contact with this thing, it's getting pretty bad.

    As embarrassed as I am to carry it, I still can't find a suitable replacement in the reasonably priced purses. I continue to carry this dirty old bag as a constant reminder of what I must do to get the ONE and only purse great enough to replace it. Seriously  this is like the one purse to rule them all, at least it is in my book. 

    This is Dooney and Bourke's Floretine Satchel. Look at it! LOOK! It is the most amazing purse ever and I can't get it out of my mind. I found this purse about six or seven months ago when I went to Dillard's to find a replacement for my current purse, yes it looked bad that long ago... I was being sensible at first, looking at the fossil bags and clearance. But when I didn't find anything I liked there I ventured to the other side of the aisle and found a bag worth waiting for.

     This last weekend I went down to Birmingham and went to the Macy's, we don't have a Macy's in Huntsville, anyway I showed this bag off to Pam who thought it was very nice but could never spend that money on a bag, did I mention its $398? Well, since I can't spend that money on a bag either I asked the salesman if he knew of any sales coming up and you know what, they go 25% off! Then I just happened to remember that my sister works at Macy's in Idaho and she gets an employee discount!

     I know that I am suppose to own this bag and I will tell you why. It's not only because my wonderful, beautiful and talented sister is going to help me get it for cheap but its also because I won.

     I was at Costco buying a couple things for the house. There were of course lines to the movies and the lady in front of me had a whole shopping cart full of stuff, like an uncommon amount of stuff even for Costco. When she went to pay, she handed the cashier a printed check that the cashier scanned and it took off the money. The lady behind me commented on it saying that she hadn't gotten her rewards check yet and that it was at the end of your statement, which I just so happend to have in my purse. 

      My items rang up for $21 dollars and I used the check I had to pay. I noticed my check was for more and I just assumed that I would have a credit towards Costco. Nope, she handed me back $370 dollars! I WON!! OMG! I WONNN!

   

      The exact amount of money I needed. Why thank you universe, I will buy that bag.