Blog Archives

Laundry Solutions Exposed

7/21/2016

There are hundreds of laundry solutions online, but do they really work?
I have researched and tested some of the more popular ones. Here are the results...

Wash

Vinegar-Adding one cup of vinegar at the beginning of the cycle will result in softer, fresher smelling laundry? TRUE

Baking Soda-Adding one cup baking soda will whiten your whites? TRUE
However adding 1/2 cup works just as well.

Blood Stains-Your own saliva removes blood stains? FALSE
The enzymes in your saliva do not break down the protein in your blood, however the water in your saliva does work to help remove the stain, so rather than spitting on your clothing, just use soap and water.

Dry

Fold

Aluminum Foil-Using a small ball of aluminum foil in the dryer is a good substitute for dryer sheets? INCONCLUSIVE
This I can tell you, my towels felt just as fluffy as if I were using a dryer sheet. The towels smelled clean, however there was no additional scent since the dryer sheet was not used. (This may be a good solution if you or your loved ones are sensitive to perfumes used in products.) Although I am skeptical, it is said that the foil ball can be reused for six months. I will have to wait and see on that one.

Fluffy Towel-Using a towel in the dryer will make your wet clothes dry faster? FALSE
While it is true that a fluffy towel will absorb much of the moisture during the first half of the drying process, it will take just as long, if not longer, for your entire load to dry. This is because the towel takes up surface area in the dryer, causing the entire load to dry at a slower pace.

Sun Drying-Drying clothing in the sun brightens whites? TRUE
Hanging your clothes in the sun brightens whites, gives your clothing a fresh scent, and helps to naturally press them. The sun will bleach anything that is left in its rays, so be careful not to leave colors in the sun too long.

There are not many folding hacks or tips online that prove untrue, so here are some of my favorite tips and solutions for folding clothes with ease.

Remove clothes immediately from the dryer. Letting them sit will cause wrinkles to set in.
Shake and smooth each piece as it comes out of the dryer to reduce wrinkles and to maintain fluffiness in your towels.
If the clothing is slippery or hard to fold, it should be hung.
Do not fold bras in half. This will shift the padding and misshapen your undergarments. Lay them flat, one behind the other like you would see in a lingerie store.
Use organization products from stores like The Container Store to keep your drawers and closets neat and tidy.

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Living Large in a Small Space

7/19/2016

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I am currently obsessed with the idea of tiny house living. I have several solutions in mind for my own tiny space, however before I or anyone else take the plunge and downsize to 800 square feet or less, here are some things to consider.

1) Priority counts
Personally, I love to cook, so a full size kitchen will have to be included along with an outdoor one. I desire a full-size oven, stove and refrigerator along with a dishwasher and plenty of counter space. However if cooking is not your passion, you may want to use that square footage for what matters to you.

2) Quality counts
In a tiny space, make every decision a quality one. Splurge on the light fixture you love, because chances are you are only buying one. Textiles and hardware should be chosen with long term usability in mind.

3) Color counts
Whether you like light or dark colors, bold or neutrals, choose colors you can live with. I absolutely love the colors chosen in the above tiny house found on tinyhouseswoon.com.

4) Comfort counts
No one can determine what you find comfortable but you. Are you most comfortable in a hammock or a bed? Do you love recliners or sofas you can sink into? Be practical in choosing where you and your family will spend your downtime together. Just because you will be in a tiny place, make sure everyone in your family has a place... including your pets.

5) Research counts
Determine to be as informed as possible about the process to make your tiny living dreams come true. Be diligent, and do your homework. Research and compare companies who can build your home for you vs. the cost of building your own. Most importantly, tour tiny homes in your area and like myself, spend hours online looking for the best ideas and solutions. As I find them and come up with my own, I will be sure to share them.

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COLOR DIFFERENCE

7/18/2016

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"All colors are the friends of their neighbors
and the lovers of their opposites.” Marc Chagall

Incorporate colors that make you happy. Start with a small space first—powder room, accent wall or a hallway—to get a feel for what you like.

Three things to consider before deciding on colors for your home.

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Summertime Sweetness

7/17/2016

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A simple entertaining solution for summer that works for kids of all ages is a milk & cookie bar. This is a perfect set up for outdoor parties by the pool because they take seconds to eat and leave only crumbs behind.

Use beach buckets and frisbees as serving platters for your cookie bar, along with galvanized buckets for drinks.
Everyone knows milk goes with cookies, so have iced individual cartons on hand. Don't forget to have water available for those guests who are lactose intolerant.
In order to error on the side of safety in regards to nut allergies be 100% sure there are NO NUTS in anything you serve. Either make them yourself or order them from a bakery. Whatever you do, do not buy store bought cookies, as majority of them do not disclose if they were made in the same bakery as those containing nuts.

Milk & Cookie Bar

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to one week.

Chewy Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups margarine

2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup white sugar for decoration

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

No Bake Chocolate Crunch Cookie

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons red liquid food coloring
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Parchment paper
2 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1/4 cup white chocolate morsels, melted according to package directions and cooled
Garnish: white chocolate morsels

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325°. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and food coloring; beat 30 seconds.
Sift flour with next 2 ingredients in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until combined. Stir in vanilla.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and place 1/2 inch apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Press thumb or end of a wooden spoon into each ball, forming an indentation.
Bake at 325° for 10 to 15 minutes or until cookies are fragrant and dry. While cookies are still warm, press indentations again. Cool cookies completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes).
Stir together cream cheese and melted white chocolate in a small bowl. Fill centers of cookies with cream cheese mixture.

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A Superhero Birthday

7/8/2016

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Who wouldn't want a super hero birthday party?
Here are a few ideas to make your birthday party a success!

Dress Up
Provide capes, shields, masks, and weapons of your child's favorite superheroes.

Provide superhero themed food
Use jello as kryptonite, fruit and marshmallows to make Captain America's shield, flag subs with phrases from the classic comic books, fill cones with "power pretzels," and thinly slice "veggies of virtue" for both children and adults to enjoy.

Use frames and superhero themed scrapbook paper to make it easy to give these everyday foods superhero themed names.

Let them eat cake!
Whether professionally done, or homemade like the one above, add superhero catch phrases to give your cake that classic feel. BAM, BOOM, KAPOW!!

Document your memories
Use a photo booth to capture images of all of your guests. Use selfie sticks to get group shots and set up a superhero news cam for guests to report superhero sightings.

Provide activities
Bounce houses are always a favorite and can give your superhero the feeling that they can "fly." Use Hulk fists and have a cone crushing contest. My personal favorite, give every child a can of "Spidey string" and tell them there is a villain on the loose. Once they find the villain, let them attack. This will be the highlight of the party, so save it for the end.