CHOCOLATE TIP

Did you know that 48 Chocolate Chips is 1oz of Chocolate?

When eating healthier, but craving a little sweetness of Chocolate - 

experts say 1oz of chocolate is ok, and typically helps you not feel deprived.

One week out of the month 

or 

7 individual days per month 

is a great way to get a little fix & keep in mind the darker the chocolate the better!

ENJOY!!

How to get Paint OFF of Hinges, knobs, etc.

I have found over the years, that Baking Soda, Vinegar, & Hydrogen Peroxide can pretty much do everything! :) They have been Green for years! lol

So here's a quick tip that you might need someday.

I don't know about everybody else, but many times I'm starting a project I'm in a hurry, i'm always squeezing stuff in, in my life.  Like recently I decided to paint my vanity in my bedroom & my hutch. I did not have time to talk someone in to moving them for me, & I really didn't care about the pieces enough to truly prep them. Both are things that I have been wanting to get rid of for years, so any improvement in the items great.

One thing tho, I tend to change my mind OFTEN.  I like such a gamut of things that I tire of things easily, and my creative mind always wants to try something different.

So this tip is how to strip paint OFF of hardware, hinges, screws, knobs etc.  Anything that you might of decided to paint over without the necessary prep work, because at the time you didn't really care and it wasn't going to show anyway. 

All you need to do is...

Put a quart of water onto the stove, add in 1/4 cup of Baking soda & let it boil.
Drop in your hardware with paint, it will most likely start to fizz & you will feel like a mad scientist doing a science project! ;)  Wait about 15minutes, and then use tongs to pull out the first piece. The paint should show signs of peeling.  lay it on a paper towel, & allow it to cool for a few minutes.  Trust me that metal gets HOT - don't touch! Once it feels cool enough, You should be able to peel the paint right off.  If not, do the process over. 

This trick is something my Grams has sweared by for years. 
Her favorite motto (& mine too!) ... If it doesn't move - Paint it! lol :)

Blowing thru the JASMINE in my mind...........

I'm not sure anyone really knows how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of fresh Jasmine.  There is something about that scent that is completely intoxicating to me.  For some reason it reminds me of vacation.  As soon as I smell it I perk up and am in a better place. 

Awhile ago when shopping for vitamins, I found they also sold essential oils there.  Low & behold they had the Jasmine Essential Oil.  Open the cap and Mmmm the smell takes me to that place instantly.  It was 7.99 fo the bottle, which at first glance might seem like a lot, but you only have to use drops or half drops when putting it on. At first I was rubbing it on my wrist everyday, crazy I know but if it makes you happy well... you know the rest. DO IT

So yesterday I was at Michaels picking up more silver paint for my hutch redo, and I found these little spray bottles.  I immediately thought, perfect size.. I can make some homemade air freshner!

So in literally less than 5minutes this morning. I gathered a 3 items, the bottle, vodka, & the Jasmine oil.

I put about 20drops of Jasmine oil in the bottom of the bottle, then I took some old cheap Vodka, and poured it in the same bottle, shake well, and let sit for a minute. 

Voila, a really inexpensive air freshner or perfume, that I can't get enough of.  :)

The awesome thing with this recipe is, essential oils come in all scents.  Many have aromatherapy benefits.  Choose the one you love and follow the steps above. 

These would also make inexpensive hostess gifts, etc.  Get a pretty bottle, make a nice label, a little bit of ribbon. Today I went down the Vodka aisle at the grocery store and found you can get quite a nice size bottle for 3.99.  A bottle that size along with some essential oil could make several dozens of these. 

I so love this project. My whole house smells like fresh vacation.  I'm thinking I'm going to go back and pick up some lemon oil.  Another clean fresh smell I love.  Lavendar would be great in guest room, as Lavendar provides a cozy and restful benefit. 

If you try this, let me know what scents of essentials oils you love best.  Now I'm going to start looking for some pretty bottles, so I can keep this all over the house.  Can you tell I'm in love. :)


NOTE:  Another quick way to use a few drops of essential oil is to put it on a cotton ball and then wipe on to your lightbulbs. When your turn on the light, it will emit the smell.  Also works on candles, sprinkle a little bit and when you light them, it will also give off the scent.

Great Green way to freshen up your home.

Ten + One Surprising Uses for Lemons

In my home, I almost always have a big bowl of bright yellow lemons. Partially just because I love the way they look, they just bring a little "zest" into a space. Really lemons, aren't just for show- lemons serve a million purposes around the house from cooking ( I use the frquently) to cleaning. Here are just some of the myriad things you can do with them.

This is my favorite tip as it can be a real life saver, so I'm calling it THE Plus One Tip:

Truly it is one of the best tips I have ever come across, as I used to have chronic ear infections. My Allergist (Dr. Kriendler) once told me to mix equal parts of lemon Juice & Rubbing Alcohol, and put into my ears after I bathe, or swim. I started using this so much that I put the mixture into a little squeeze bottle, & kept it in the medicine cabinet. I stopped having ear infections ever since, and when I feel one coming on, I start using this immediately. The Lemon juice kills the bacteria, & the rubbing alcohol dries any water in your ear canal. This worked for my niece at Disney a few years ago, when they couldn't get to a doctor fast enough, my kids, and countless friends.

1. Sanitize: Lemons are acidic enough to kill most types of bacteria. Rub a half a lemon over a cutting board, countertop, or butcher block to sanitize and disinfect without putting nasty chemicals near your food.

2. Whiten: Add a 1:1 mixture of water and lemon juice to fade tough stains (like those yellow underarm ones), or add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the washer to whiten a whole load.

3. Shine: Sprinkle half a lemon with salt and scrub to shine up the insides of copper and stainless steel cookware or sinks.

4. Soothe Your Throat: Mix a 1:1 ratio of lemon juice and hot water for a tea that will soothe a sore throat. Follow with a teaspoon of honey.

5. Freshen Your Breath: for an impromptu mouthwash when you feel like you've been sucking on dirty gym socks, rinse your mouth with lemon juice- the acid will kill the stinky bacteria. Afterward, be sure to rinse with water to protect your teeth from the acid. Or, chew on a bit of the rind.

6. Clear the Air: When you follow your nose to find last month's Chinese leftovers in the back of the fridge, or the garbage can starts getting rank, soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and put it in the fridge or can. After a few minutes the bad smells will have disappeared.

7. Highlight Your Hair: Mix a 1:3 ratio of lemon juice to water and wet your hair with it. Sit in the sun until your hair dries completely. Results will be subtle. (Not recommended for brunettes).

8. Drive Away Pests: Wash your floors with a 1:10 ratio of lemon juice and water to drive off ants and roaches (no, it won't make the floor sticky).

9. Heal Bug Bites and Cuts: Rub lemon juice on bug bites to kill the sting or itch, or into cuts (if you can stand the pain) to disinfect and heal.

10. Fix Up Your Hands: Rub a lemon wedge on your hands to remove the odor from cutting onions or garlic, or stains from beets or berries. This also works to whiten fingernails that are yellowed from polish.

In other words, when life gives you lemons, clean your house, beautify, and heal yourself. Or, you could just make Lemoncello, I will post this recipe next time! :)

Rid Your Dog of Skunk Spray Smell

Caution: DO NOT seal or store this concotion in a container or spray bottle as it can explode.

Mix in an open, plastic pail and use immediately. Wear latex gloves when applying.

1 quart of fresh (not old or out-dated) 3% hydrogen peroxide (from a pharmacy)
 store bought is only 1.5%

1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) – to act as a buffer

1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap – to alkalize the peroxide
(use Soft Soap or Ivory Liquid, don’t use shampoo)

NOTE: For a LARGE DOG, add 1 quart of lukewarm water.

Be careful to keep this formula out of your pet’s ears, eyes and mouth. Lather thoroughly and deeply into pet fur. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse well with water.

Do this cleaning procedure outside, and if you have plastic goggles–wear them. Dogs especially are notorious for shaking their fur out when wet, you don’t want this stuff spraying in your eyes.

This recipe can be used on people, pets, clothing, or outdoors where needed.
Be careful when applying and don’t let it get into eyes, ears or mouths.

NOTE: Skunks can carry rabies, so probably a good idea to take to vet immediately if you find any bleeding or open wounds while washing your pet.

Garlic Trick

It's frustrating to wrest a garlic clove from its skin only to have half of it stick to the knife when you chop it. Try this: sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt and a drop of olive oil over the cloves before chopping; the salt acts as an abrasive, helping to pulverize the garlic, and the oil lets it slide off the blade. To make a paste, lay the side of the knife on the garlic and, applying even pressure, drag it across the garlic several times.

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

How to cope with the itchy, bubbling rash that you do have? Wash the oil off your hands and clothes after you come in contact.


There are many topical creams like Calamine lotion that can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better.  My son was given steroids after I took him to the doctor, but as they grew it seemed my kids used to get this when the wind would blow... Tea Tree Oil is the answer!!


                  THIS                                         +                              THIS                               

= RELIEF/HEALING

You can find Tea Tree Oil these days at many places, health food stores, Like Susan World, or Whole Foods.

Wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and water first. Let the area dry completely and then sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the infected areas. Use a Q-tip to spread it around. Apply twice a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has drying properties, that's why it's also used to treat acne. It also has antifungal properties, so it's also used to heal minor cuts and scrapes

FYI:  You can get a little paranoid when you get this, because you don't want it anywhere else!
Just Remember, the liquid that oozes out of the blisters isn't contagious.

Hiccups

If you get the hiccups, go get a spoonful of peanutbutter and eat it slowly.  This has never failed, it works every time trust me.

Honey & Hot Water.... does it make you better?

I wasn't feeling today, and my sweet honey brought me a cup of hot water with a tsp of honey in it, swearing that it would make me feel better.  He said his Grandma always gave this to him when he was a boy and it worked. Not being a big honey fan, but very grateful that he cared enough to take the time to think of me. I drank it, kind of slowly but I did drink it.  I'm not sure if it really helped me but I did like the hot part, it seemed to soothe me from the inside. 

I did a little checking on it and it does appear that honey has amazing bacteria-killing properties, which supposedly increase two fold when mixed with water. 

So what do you think.... has this ever worked for you? Weigh in, how has HONEY helped you when you aren't feeling well?

I also learned that...

To make one pound of honey, a swarm of honeybees flies about 24,000 miles

 and visits 3 to 9 million flowers. Yes another reason to bee thankful! :)

Removing Red Wine From Carpet

This is a life saver product, Mr. Clean's MAGIC ERASER removes Red Wine off creamy carpet, like a charm! It's amazing!

It also removed Red Wine from my Cream Silk comforter.

On other occasions I have also used it to remove permanent magic marker from wood tables, floors, & walls.

This is an item to buy stock in! :)

Another unusual item that removes permanent sharpie marker from furniture is Bianca Breath spray. Spray a little and wipe, and keep doing it until its all gone.

Build your own shopping search engine in 10 minutes

If you don't have your own website, you can save your search engine to you personal Google homepage!

Ok so I'm the kind of girl that still lovessssssssssss the thrill of a deal!  Somehow that never gets old.  Growing up my Mom always looked for them.  Now, It's almost like a game, & I don't like to ever pay full price unless I have to.  Here's a really easy way to customize a new search engine to search only the top bargain sites - these are the ones I like & trust the most.

Have you ever been frustrated with Google when you're trying to find the latest deals and coupons? Or did you even know you could do this? Trust me, a lot of times the search results are cluttered with spam and advertising. I hate that!

Sure, you can just go to Fatwallet directly, but then I always get that nagging feeling that I'm missing out on something. What if Slickdeals has a slightly better coupon? Who wants to pay  $15 for a 6 GB flashdrive when you just know that if you searched hard enough there's gonna be one for $12!  Hey $3 bucks is $3 bucks & that could buy my drink today! ;)

Using Google Co-op, I was able to customize Google to search only the following top websites for deals, coupons, and freebies:

• anandtech 
• bargainist 
• bensbargains 
• clipfire
• couponcabin  
• couponcraze  
• couponmountain
• currentcodes 
• dealcatcher
• dealmac 
• dealnews
• dealofday
• deals2buy
• dealsea 
• dealslist 
• dealsofamerica 
• dealspl.us 
• dealtaker
• edealinfo
• fatwallet
• flamingoworld 
• gotapex 
• gottadeal
• judysbook 
• quicktoclick 
• resellerratings
• savvies  
• slickdeals  
• smarter 
• spoofee
• techbargains
• trezr 
• wisebread
• xpbargains 

Building Your Own Search Engine

1. Modifying the search engine only took me 10 minutes or less.
2. After creating a Google account (you already have one if you have Gmail):  
3. Go to Google Co-Op and read the short introduction. 
4. Create your custom engine by entering a list of sites you want to search. 
5. Enter some keywords to help refine the search. For example, if your search engine is for DVDs, then you should put in words like DVD, coupons, movies, blu-ray, etc.  

Bonus tip:
If you have a Google Adsense account, make sure you put your ID in there so you can earn money from your search engine.

ECHO ... LIVE

Had THE best weekend with my family! They all surprised me, really got me good!

Here's an idea that I did a long time ago, & please make time to do it, you will always be glad you took the time.

• Recording device is all that is needed.

Get each of your family members laugh on tape.  Someday when they are gone, you will have this to listen to, and believe me it takes you back to every moment in between!

This is great to for family that has distance between them. Start saving up the moments now. You never know when it could be the last time. Life is a precious gift - I am so thankful to all my family. This weekend was a much needed FAMILY FILL UP!

This is certainly an Idea 2 Do!

AUTOBEEF

I was helping a friend try to determine what is a good used car.
In the process came across this interesting website -  Seems pretty packed with info.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/ 

http://www.motorpits.com/

http://www.sitejabber.com/

If you have any other suggestions on the "How to's of buying a used car", please comment.

Always a daunting task figuring out what's best to put your money down on???

Here's my secret to instantly removing the smell on your hands.

If you are working with "smelly" items in the kitchen. Onions, garlic, fish. I have heard to use, metal or lemon to remove the smell. Instead here's my secret.....

Pour a capful of scope into a shot glass and keep it in the kitchen while you are working. When your finished with all the ingredients. Just pour over your hands over the sink, wipe into your hands as if you are washing them. Viola! It's gone! Works like a charm! Antibacterial properties too.

NEED MORE SPACE? INGENIOUS BED IDEA FROM IKEA

FROM IKEA - SULTAN box springs and mattresses match, so your entire bed set will have a coordinated look.

Saw this today and thought it was a great idea for more storage in a small room.  Never seems like we can get enough of that! I fell in love with my current house because of all the closets. Seriously, I really did. :) It's a girl thing, huh.

You can find this bed at IKEA - SIZE RANGES - From Twin to 1/2 King - priced accordingly - $175 to $300 
Check out the link to IKEA site:  http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10098893

17 slats of layer-glued birch provide support for your body.  The slatted base can be lifted and the space underneath utilized for storage.  A box spring lifts the bed higher off the floor, making it easier to get in and out of bed.

SILVER JEWELRY CLEANER

I love Silver jewelry! It goes with everything and always looks nice. I learned from a dear family friend who passed away much to early, never save anything for a special occasion.  I don't! I wear all my silver regularly and like to clean it myself & am very conscious of doing it the best way.

If you are fortunate to own anything from Tiffany & Co one of your most important objectives is appropriate care and storage of your Tiffany & Co. silver treasures. Silver jewelry, dazzling diamonds in silver settings, cufflinks, key rings, watches, or gift items from Tiffany & Co. are highly valued valuable. You want to keep them tarnish and scratch free.

Here are some of the following tips for caring for your silver that I have learned through the years, whether it's Tiffany and Co. or inherited silver wear that has been in the family for years. Keep your silver well polished and the sparkle will help maintain the value over time.

Cleaning your Tiffany & Co. silver Tip #1: Never use bleaches or abrasives.

Bleach seems like the answer to most household cleaning problems, but not when it comes to silver. Bleach and abrasives can cause irreparable damage to silver and stones. You've probably read or heard that it is okay to use toothpaste or backing soda on your silver and jewelry. It is not a good idea. I did it for years to my rings, and then realized, It will not polish your silver, and that is the last thing you want to when cleaning silver from Tiffany & Co. Jewelry experts also recommend steering clear of scouring powder and even creamy opaque jewelry cleaners.

Small brushes are useful, but I have found more success with soft, new toothbrushes than used ones. I used an old toothbrush to clean the nooks and crannies around a Tiffany & Co. bracelet given to me by my boyfriend. It was not very noticeable, but apparently there was enough toothpaste residue to make miniscule scratches in the silver. The scratches couldn't be seen unless you examined it closely, but it took away significant luster. I thought this could never be repaired and was crushed.  I took it in to T&CO Store downtown and they cleaned it, it looked like NEW! I was so HAPPY.  The Tiffany & Co. silver bracelet is still an heirloom, at the time I affected its shine, which ultimately can affect its value. Learn from my mistake and don't ruin your family silver.  When in doubt take it into them.  They are always super nice, friendly & helpful. Besides who doesn't like to go in and scope out new goodies! =)

Cleaning your Tiffany & Co. silver Tip #2: Water, Salt, and an aluminum plate.

Maybe you would like to clean your sterling silver with a jeweler recommended solution.

Take an aluminum plate, one tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of baking soda, and hot water (not boiling). Pour the hot water in the pie plate to dissolve the powder solutions. Once the cleaner is mixed, dunk your silver jewelry, or any silver piece from Tiffany & Co. This is guaranteed by some silver aficionados as a tried and true method.

They do caution, however, that if your item is highly tarnished, it may still require polishing after tarnish removal.

Cleaning your Tiffany & Co. silver Tip #3:

When using commercial products buy silver specific cleaners.  There are so many jewelry and silver cleaners available, some claim to clean everything from your silver to your kitchen sink. When purchasing a commercial product for silver cleaning I recommend sticking with name brands that have been proven over time. Don't buy products that promise to clean everything: silver, gold, titanium, aluminum, steel. Those products are out there.

A brand name commercial product designed to remove silver tarnish can usually be trusted to safely remove tarnish from Tiffany & Co. silver. I have also used commercial polishing clothes, which I prefer to paste, to clean silver ware and silver serving pieces. This worked quite well. I prefer clothes to paste because it doesn't make as much of a mess. Either will get your silver polishing job done.

Jewelry experts even warn that you should be careful with polish, because it can wear away some of the silver. So these are probably not your best options for keeping Tiffany and Co. jewelry clean and polished.

Cleaning your Tiffany & Co. silver Tip #4: Steer clear of ammonia cleaners.
Some people have used ammonia to recapture the shine of silver. This works only on real silver, such as most items purchased from Tiffany & Co. However, ammonia products are used on sterling silver it will oxidize the finish. One day your beloved sterling silver baby spoon or duck bank will show signs of tarnish and rust.

I used ammonia for years, until I began to notice the tarnish on silver returning more quickly. Perhaps the use of pure ammonia or products containing large amounts of ammonia make a difference, but I have ceased to use ammonia altogether.

Cleaning your Tiffany & Co. silver Tip #5: Keep Tarnish away with Pacific Cloth
If you are storing your silver, store it in an airtight container lined with anti-tarnish cloth, also known as Pacific Cloth. This can be purchased at most fabric stores. Once you take the silver out for display, or to wear, wipe it clean with a soft polish cloth and replace it in the airtight Pacific Cloth lined container. If you do not wipe it clean, you may be disappointed to find tarnish the next time you pull out your Tiffany & Co. silver pieces.

Whether your silver pieces are from Tiffany & Co., grandma's heirloom collection, or any other silver producer store them carefully and clean them gently to ensure long life and brilliant shine.

***Do NOT use these methods on silver jewelry which contains gemstones. The delicacy of the gemstone may result in scratching, or other permanent damage.

*** ALSO - Chlorine can damage gold, platinum and some types of gems.
Don’t wear jewelry in hot tubs, swimming pools or wear when cleaning with bleach.

NOTE:   In addition to above tips - TIFFANY & CO.  SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:

Between professional servicing, most gold and platinum jewelry can be maintained with a non-abrasive cleaner. Examine your jewelry regularly to make sure settings are snug and clasps and joinings are secure.

Sterling sliver tarnishes rapidly, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur,
such as rubber bands and some papers. Tiffany & Co. recommends a non-abrasive silver polish to keep your silver looking its best. 

Jewelry storage is important as well. At the time of purchase, all Tiffany & Co. jewelry is wrapped in a protective box, case or tarnish-resistant pouch. Between wearings, we recommend that you place it back in its original case or another suitably lined box or pouch.

BEST FOODS.........

• FOR YOUR BRAIN                     Eat Blueberries
• FOR ALL DAY ENERGY            Quinoa
• FOR AFTER A WORK OUT       Greek Yogurt
• BOOSTING YOUR BRAIN         Salmon
• HEALTHY SKIN                          Almonds
• SURVIVING FLU SEASON        Red Bell Pepper
• FIGHT CAVITIES                        Cheese
• SEXUAL HEALTH                       Dark Chocolate
• KEEP YOU JOINTS FLUID        Spinach
• SQUASH STRESS                        Strawberries

For more packed info on all of the above facts as to why these foods are the best. I suggest buying a copy of the book COOK THIS NOT THAT.   Its a great resource that can really help your waistline while you still eat good!

Ants & Mosquito Repellants

SPRING IS COMING

Ant Control:

• Spread some ground cinnamon where you think the ants are coming in to the house.
• Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. To deter ants, use catnip. Sprinkle it in their paths.
• Make a mixture of 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 2-3 Tablespoons dish soap. Spray where the ants are marching.

Natural Mosquito Repellents:

• Splashing plain rubbing alcohol on yourself and allowing it to dry will deter mosquitoes from biting you.
• Rub Vick's Vaporub® on your pants and legs to ward off ticks.
• Use half vanilla (has to be pure vanilla) and half water and for a mosquito and tick repellent.
• Dab lavender oil on your pulse points; it smells great on you but repels insects.

Lipstick - How to make your own shades & use up old lipstick

Have too many lipsticks and want a better option to carry them around? Did you know that you can buy empty lipstick palette trays, & you can make your own at home.

All you need is:

1. Your favorite lip balms or lipsticks & a palette with however many wells you would like.                (you can find some great empty palettes at Target, Sally Beauty Supply) 
2. 1 teaspoon stainless steel measuring spoon Note: You can also use a medicine cup that comes with kids medicine.
   Nuke it in the microwave for 20seconds, and then pour into the palette. 
3. floss and flame

The first step is to take the product you’ll be adding to the palette and use floss to slice through it as shown. Be sure to not do all the product at once or it may overflow when it melts. After slicing the product, place it into the stainless steel measuring spoon.

It will soon look like this. Stir the mixture using a coffee stirrer. This isn’t necessary for lip balm, but for lipstick it is recommended. This keeps the shimmer (if applicable to your product) even throughout the mixture. Otherwise it may sink to the bottom of the measuring spoon.

Your final product will look like this. Do not disturb it while it solidifies. You will need to repeat this process with each item you add to your palette.

  

Name your new lipstick shades!

In addition to a palette, this would be a fun way to store it in weekly pill dispensers with 7 small wells... How fun to have a lipstick for every day of the week!

Use your lipstick to the max by ensuring you consume every last smudge of color

1. When your lipstick runs low, scrape out the tube and put leftover lipstick in a small container with Vaseline to create a tinted lip gloss. Add honey or vanilla for a natural and appealing fragrance! 
2. Scrape out several old lipstick tubes and mix them for your own custom color. 
3. When lipstick accidentally melts in the car or the sun, place in the freezer for a few minutes instead of throwing it away and it will reform. 
4. Get creative. Use a few of the ends of your favorite shade & create one whole new one, OR try taking a few different shades and make brand new shade. Once you get started you'll find its pretty fun, to take something you had a hard time using and turn it into a brand new favorite lipstick! 

Sticker Removal

Here is a nice chemical-free option for removing the most stuck on stickers. It comes in handy if you'd like to remove a logo sticker from something to give it more clean design. As a bonus, all you need is a hairdryer! The heat from the hairdryer relaxes the heavy duty commercial adhesives that hold on the stickiest of stickers.