(loose translation "hallelujah")
I kid you not when I say that in 5 years we have been in our house, that we have never changed a single one of our recessed light bulbs. There are 8 recessed light fixtures on the main floor and they are almost always on in the evening. How can that be you say? DIMMERS I say. Ask anyone who knows me, I love dimmer switches. When you get to be a certain age, they are a necessity but they are also kinda green, who knew? Forget those bad fluorescent light bulbs (truly, they cast a bad light and they are ugly to look at) and invest in dimmer switches, you won't be sorry. Jai Ho!
BRIGHT IDEA FROM JUDY
Use empty egg cartons to store jewelry-perfect for pendants and rings!
FIND A FRIEND
Do you sew or know someone who does? My 5 year old still fits into pants that are too short for her--what to do? I extend the legs on her pants with fun fabric or grosgrain ribbon. My 8 year old son blows through the knees in most of his pants, time to sew on some patches! If you can't sew, swap with a friend for another chore/errand.
Swap babysitting with friends. You each get one Saturday night out a month for free and the kids get to hang with friends.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Our Daily Bread
Sometimes we go through 2 loaves a week here at O'Dwyers Family Restaurant, sometimes the loaf stays untouched in the bread drawer for days. What to do with that still good but slightly dry loaf of bread?
When life gives you stale bread, make bread crumbs!
Line cookie sheets with single slices of bread, "toast" in a 200 degree oven until slightly dry (if you want to use then right away) or very dry (if you want to freeze them for later use). Let them cool. Process the slices in a food processor. Experiment with garlic salt, onion powder. sea salt and/or herbs. Store in a air tight container in the freezer.
When life gives you stale bread, make bread crumbs!
Line cookie sheets with single slices of bread, "toast" in a 200 degree oven until slightly dry (if you want to use then right away) or very dry (if you want to freeze them for later use). Let them cool. Process the slices in a food processor. Experiment with garlic salt, onion powder. sea salt and/or herbs. Store in a air tight container in the freezer.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Homemade Cleaning Products That WORK!
Vinegar Distribute partially filled saucers of
vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of white
vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking
odors. I have used this technique after a party to get of the smoke smell.
Baking Soda Sprinkle a teaspoon or two in the bottom of your dishwasher before using. It really helps with hard water spots.
Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Mix 2
parts oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply and polish with a
soft cloth. This leaves furniture looking and smelling
good.
vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of white
vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking
odors. I have used this technique after a party to get of the smoke smell.
Baking Soda Sprinkle a teaspoon or two in the bottom of your dishwasher before using. It really helps with hard water spots.
Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Mix 2
parts oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply and polish with a
soft cloth. This leaves furniture looking and smelling
good.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Don't Say I Never Gave You Any Good Advice!
A recent headline caught my eye while surfing the web.
No kidding.
The virtues of the public library are numerous and all are free! Those of us who are library fans have known this for years. Let's face it, our government doesn't get it right often but when they do, like the public library system, it is a winner.
Go online to your local library's website and reserve some books, they will call you or email you when they come in. Need tax forms? Go to the library, some even offer tax help. Check out some new release DVD's for the weekend or get some CD's from the music section. You will be surprised at how current the offerings are. Even my local library, housed in a skeevy little strip mall, has some great offerings and they will get almost anything else I want from within the library system here in Cincinnati.
I remember my first trip to the library with my mother when I was about seven. My hometown of Eden Prairie, MN had a small library that was about the size of a mobile home set out in a field near the high school. I thought it was wonderful. The smell of the place, the shelves and shelves of books and children's section with the small tables and chairs was all magical to me. I left with a load of books that day and my mother checked out a few for herself. Neither my mom nor my dad ever complained or said no when I wanted to make a trip back to the library. My kids now love going to the library and checking out books and helping choose some DVDs to watch at home.
Your public library-go check it out!
Really cheap beauty treatment!
Vaseline. A big tub is less than $5 and if you buy the store brand (which is the same stuff) it is even less and a tub will last an entire winter. If you have dry skin, rub some all over your face before going to bed at night. Coat your hands and feet with it too and wear those cotton socks and gloves to bed at night, all that itchy, rough skin will be gone in the morning. It is definitely a look to go to bed that way but worth it! Also, if you use waterproof mascara that is hard to get off, coat your lashes before bed and the make-up just swipes off in the a.m. You'll look like a raccoon but the added benefit is that it moisturizes your lashes and mascara will go on better than ever!
Etsy.com
Buy and sell handmade goods. This site is amazing! You can find jewelry, clothes, gifts, stationery and much more. All handmade and usually pretty reasonable. Support the handmade arts! Some of my favorite Etsy sellers
foofooandmore.etsy.com
BoutiqueMiaByCXV.etsy.com
decalmonograms.etsy.com
Marang97.etsy.com
crazeecrafteez.etsy.com
dollcloset.etsy.com
"Library services boom as the economy fizzles"
No kidding.
The virtues of the public library are numerous and all are free! Those of us who are library fans have known this for years. Let's face it, our government doesn't get it right often but when they do, like the public library system, it is a winner.
Go online to your local library's website and reserve some books, they will call you or email you when they come in. Need tax forms? Go to the library, some even offer tax help. Check out some new release DVD's for the weekend or get some CD's from the music section. You will be surprised at how current the offerings are. Even my local library, housed in a skeevy little strip mall, has some great offerings and they will get almost anything else I want from within the library system here in Cincinnati.
I remember my first trip to the library with my mother when I was about seven. My hometown of Eden Prairie, MN had a small library that was about the size of a mobile home set out in a field near the high school. I thought it was wonderful. The smell of the place, the shelves and shelves of books and children's section with the small tables and chairs was all magical to me. I left with a load of books that day and my mother checked out a few for herself. Neither my mom nor my dad ever complained or said no when I wanted to make a trip back to the library. My kids now love going to the library and checking out books and helping choose some DVDs to watch at home.
Your public library-go check it out!
Really cheap beauty treatment!
Vaseline. A big tub is less than $5 and if you buy the store brand (which is the same stuff) it is even less and a tub will last an entire winter. If you have dry skin, rub some all over your face before going to bed at night. Coat your hands and feet with it too and wear those cotton socks and gloves to bed at night, all that itchy, rough skin will be gone in the morning. It is definitely a look to go to bed that way but worth it! Also, if you use waterproof mascara that is hard to get off, coat your lashes before bed and the make-up just swipes off in the a.m. You'll look like a raccoon but the added benefit is that it moisturizes your lashes and mascara will go on better than ever!
Etsy.com
Buy and sell handmade goods. This site is amazing! You can find jewelry, clothes, gifts, stationery and much more. All handmade and usually pretty reasonable. Support the handmade arts! Some of my favorite Etsy sellers
foofooandmore.etsy.com
BoutiqueMiaByCXV.etsy.com
decalmonograms.etsy.com
Marang97.etsy.com
crazeecrafteez.etsy.com
dollcloset.etsy.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Success!
I am very happy to report I was able to rent and use the Rug Doctor yesterday after all. The Rug Doctor is easy to use, the directions are right on the handle and it did a decent job on my carpets. Not as good as a professional but for about $200 in savings, it will do. The hose attachments to do upholstery and stairs was another $3 and I couldn't get the hose part to work so that was a waste of time. In the future, I will schedule my usual carpet cleaning company for the heavily soiled areas, like the stairs and hallway and do the rest myself. The cleaning solution was $12.99 and I still have some in the bottle after 3 good sized rooms and a hallway. I am going to tackle the basement this morning and then return the machine. What a riveting life I do lead!
RUG DOCTOR RESULTS
Cost A+
Ease of Use B
Results B+
RUG DOCTOR RESULTS
Cost A+
Ease of Use B
Results B+
Friday, January 30, 2009
DIY Project Postponed
Due to 6 inches of snow, school is closed for the 4th day in a row! I came to my senses and realized the Rug Doctor would not be a good idea with both kids home and 70% of our house being carpet. "Okay kids, let's stay in the kitchen and play board
games while the carpet dries." No one can play that much "Guess Who" or "Junior Monopoly".
games while the carpet dries." No one can play that much "Guess Who" or "Junior Monopoly".
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, January 29, 2009
DIY or Gerald Pays
Get ready for the upcoming DIY post on carpet cleaning Friday. After paying a professional around $250 to clean the carpets in my house twice a year for the past 5 years, I am going to rent The Rug Doctor! Talk about saving a dime. The Rug Doctor rents at my local Kroger for $24.99 for 24 hours and there is something called the "wide track" that rents for $26.99. I think I may just spring for the wide track, whatever that is.
Cross you fingers and hope for success, otherwise Gerald's life will be hell if this little adventure in DIY doesn't pan out. By the by, Gerald is out of town and has no knowledge of the Rug Doctor scheme. He will just bear the brunt of it if something goes wrong. For better or worse and all that crap. Hey, life ain't fair!
Cross you fingers and hope for success, otherwise Gerald's life will be hell if this little adventure in DIY doesn't pan out. By the by, Gerald is out of town and has no knowledge of the Rug Doctor scheme. He will just bear the brunt of it if something goes wrong. For better or worse and all that crap. Hey, life ain't fair!
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