Sticker Shock!

Disclaimer:  I wrote this right after Christmas, but I am just getting around to posting it.  Fortunately this isn't a post about punctuality.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking…another post about saving money.  While saving money is a favorite pastime of mine, this post is about something totally different.  With the holidays winding down, I’m sure all of you are still organizing and putting away all your goodies.  Unfortunately, the dreaded task that comes with this is removing all those price stickers!  They can be such a nightmare, right?  Picture frames and shoes are the worst, but those stickers come on lots of things. 

Speaking of Shoes!  I got these this past weekend...love them!  BCBG Paris, Available at DSW $69.95

Well!  I have the perfect remedy that works every single time-guaranteed.  No soaking, no solvents, no broken nails!  All you have to do is heat the sticker or label with a hair dryer for a few seconds and it peels off without a drop of residue.  If the label resists, just heat it longer.  It also helps to heat it underneath as you peel…but be careful not to burn yourself! 

If by some chance you have a particularly stubborn tag, or you are having trouble with an old tag you tried to peel off, then Goo Gone works like a charm.  Bonus:  it has a fresh citrusy scent.  I actually saw it at Dollar Tree the other day.  That tiny bottle they sell will last you a lifetime.  I think I still have mine from college, and that was longer ago than I would like to admit.  You should probably just get this anyway; it’s good for a million other things. 

I can not tell you how happy I was to discover this amazing solution.  Just one of the many tricks I picked up from working as a photo stylist.  I hope it helps you too!

Since we are talking about hair dryers, I want to mention the awesomeness of velcro rollers.  They are super easy to use, require little heat, and offer fabulous results!  For amazing volume that will last all day, allow your hair to air dry or either blow dry until it is only slightly damp.  Next, roll your sections with the largest rollers, making sure to roll them straight up away from your scalp, this will provide the most volume.  The rollers will secure themselves, no clips necessary.  Leave the rollers in for as long as you can afford to.  I like to sit out in the sun and let my hair dry, but obviously it is a little more practical to use the blow dryer.  To get maximum results, point the dryer inside the roller while it's in your hair, this will ensure that you hair dries thoroughly.  When you feel that your hair is fairly dry, gently pull out the rollers by pulling and wiggling them out at the same time.  Fluff your hair with you fingers and style as you wish!

These rollers are very inexpensive and are available everywhere.  I got mine at CVS. 

My hair, good and flat-no rollers.

After velcro rollers-much better!

Kiss The Cook!

A pic of me from this past Christmas...I don't know what it was, but I'm sure it was delicious!

Anyone who knows me knows that there is no place I’d rather be than in the kitchen.  That’s because I get to do my favorite thing…...no, not cook-EAT!  I have a few tips that will help you get to the eating part and through the cleaning up part a little bit faster.

Pasta Sculpture by Sweet Paul

Pasta is pretty much one of my favorite things EVER, but cooking with it can be a little tricky.  If you find that your noodles are stuck together in one big clump after dinner, just run some hot water over them in the strainer and they will be good as new.  When it’s time to do the dishes, you will find that mozzarella and parmesan are pretty stubborn.  The best way to get your lasagna pan clean is to wash the cheese with cold water instead of hot.  The hot water just makes it stick to your brush or sponge.  Using cold water allows the cheese to harden and wash away.  This also goes for the cheese grater.  

  

OXO Salad Spinner, prices vary

I also have some handy tips for leafy greens and veggies.  First of all, whoever invented the salad spinner is a genius; I don’t know how I ever lived without it.  If you don’t have one, prepare to be amazed.

Living Butter Lettuce, my favorite!  It comes with the root ball attached, so leave it in tact and pull it off as you need it.  It's worth the extra trouble, trust me.

When you shop, make sure to buy tons of fruits and vegetables.  As soon as you get them home, wash them and put them away.  You will just get annoyed if you see a dirty bag of lettuce every time you open the fridge, and you certainly won’t feel like making a salad.  I fill the sink with water and rinse my lettuce, toss it in the spinner, then put it in bags or containers lined with paper towels.  Do the same with herbs, grapes, and celery.  The paper towels are essential for drawing moisture away from the produce keeping it from molding.  You will be amazed at how long your food will last this way.  Berries are an exception, wash them as you go, otherwise they will get mushy and moldy.

Picking oranges in Temecula, November 2009

Speaking of fruit...peeling oranges is the worst.  The best way to peel an orange while not getting stressed out is to use a spoon.  Just dig the spoon under the skin to get it started, and continue all the way around until it is perfectly peeled.  Save your manicure and your sanity!

The perfect consistency!

If you find that you have some fruit that is overripe or going bad, just save it in ziploc bags for smoothies.  I especially do this with bananas (make sure to cut them up before freezing), blueberries, and strawberries.  Frozen fruit is the best way to go when making smoothies.  You don’t use ice, so the drink is way smoother and less watery.  One of my favorite smoothies to make:

Frozen peaches (about ½ cup)

A few frozen banana pieces (about ¼ cup)

Greek yogurt ( 2 or 3 tbs)

Milk (about 6 oz)

A splash of OJ

Honey or agave nectar if you want more sweetness

It is de-lish and healthy!!!  I don’t measure; I just kind of know what the consistency should be like.  If you have trouble with the measurements, just experiment until you get it right.

Onion Saver, set of 2 $9.99

My eyes are really sensitive, so needless to say, cutting onions is no fun.  I got tired of crying, so now I wear "onion goggles".  Looks pretty ridiculous, I know…but it really helps.  My husband stole mine from his work, but I’m sure you could pick up something similar at Home Depot.  They are foam-insulated and look like ski goggles.  Also!  I got the Onion Saver for Christmas, and it's AMAZING!  Works like a charm for leftover onion.  No more stinky fridge.  Brilliant!

Cool egg art, Amazing Only

If you drop eggshell pieces when you crack an egg…use the shell in your hand to fish it out.  The pieces will act like magnets to each other.  When boiling eggs, in order to make sure they are hard-boiled to perfection, boil for exactly 13 minutes.  If you can’t watch them, as soon as they begin to boil, turn off the burner and put a lid on the pot.  Let them sit for at least 20 minutes.  It’s ok if you leave them longer…but after 20 minutes, they are definitely done.  To cook the perfect egg sunny-side-up, fry on low with a lid until it’s to your liking.

Tortilla warmer by Noritake $189.95(yikes! do not buy that!)

When you cook in casserole dishes in the oven, put tin foil under your dish to save your oven from bubbly overspill.  Cleaning an oven is no fun! 

Tortilla warmers are excellent for keeping pancakes, eggs, etc warm…not just tortillas!  Make sure they are not Styrofoam, they could melt if there is grease on the food.

Strainers are excellent for squeezing lemons.  They are also handy for straining juice off foods you are discarding so that you don’t have to put liquid in your trash. 

If you aren’t a milk drinker, keep powdered milk on hand for any recipes that may call for milk as an ingredient. 

I save rubber bands from the newspapers to close frozen vegetable bags, flour, powdered sugar, beans, or anything that needs to be resealed. 

I can not mention waffles without paying homage to my favorite place.  Oh how I miss thee......

Frozen waffles make perfect French toast.  Just let the waffles sit out for a minute to defrost, dip in milk and egg and pan cook as you would bread.  Top with fruit and powdered sugar.  This way you don’t have to worry about having fresh bread in the house.  You could also freeze your favorite bread.

Milk Eggs Vodka, awesome compilation of "found" grocery lists....high-larious! Available at Amazon.com

I plan my menus every week before I go shopping.  I buy what’s on the list and I cook what’s in the house.  This will keep you from dining out too much or wondering what to cook for dinner every night.  It will also make your shopping trip less of a headache.  I may switch between days depending on my mood, but I always cook every meal on the list to make sure nothing is spoiled unnecessarily.  I know some things will have leftovers, so I plan for that accordingly.

Use a shaker to easily sprinkle powdered sugar.  You can also use a sifter.

Layered cream pie, mmmm

Powdered sugar makes everything extra fancy.

Everything. 

You Shouldn't Have!

Everyone loves getting flowers, but not everyone knows what to do with that vase of blooms once it’s on your dining table.  Some of these arrangements may look pretty “as is”, but some may need a little makeover! 

For example: the grocery store bouquet.  The best way to handle this bunch is to get rid of the fillers and put like flowers together.  This will give your flowers a more high-end feel, and it will also help spread the love…and fragrance!

Roses look great in short vases with a little greenery.

Stargazer Lilies are leggy, so a little bit of filler won't hurt, just be selective.

I love daisies alone or in groups of three.

Be creative with your vases, it doesn't have to be a "vase", you know.

Fluff like baby’s breath can really dilute and cheapen an otherwise beautiful bouquet.  If your flowers come with some green leaves, you may want to save those for adding to the arrangements to create more texture and dimension.  Separating all the blooms will really extend the life of your flowers, and this way you can throw each stem out as it dies without having to destroy an entire vase full of flowers.  Recently, I had a vase of gerbera daisies that lasted almost a month!

I got a bouquet of roses similar to this last December.....red vase and all.

So, I chopped the roses and arranged them into several short glass vases, and I took them to a Christmas party where they were a big hit!

I added some leaves around the edges of the vases that I cut off the tree outside my window.

So, make the most of your bouquets!  Nothing makes me happier than walking into every room and seeing fresh flowers.  You’ll see, it will make you happy too!

Ikea is a great place to pick up inexpensive vases for all your little arrangements.  These are $2.50 each.

I don’t care what anyone says, carnations are the most underrated and fabulous flowers out there.  They are like adorable little pom poms.  So charming, delicate, and feminine.  Bonus- they are super cheap!  Peonies are considered one of the most desirable flowers for weddings, yet they aren’t available year-round, they are fragile (meaning they fall apart), and they are expensive!  My wedding arrangements were composed of carnations and roses in full-bloom, and they were so beautiful.  Peonies schmeonies!

Carnations...so pretty.

Carnation bouquet!

The centerpieces from my wedding

Peonies

Peony bouquet...pretty, but not worth it.

A few tips for extending the life of your flowers... 

Cut the stems at an angle before putting into vases; this allows them to better absorb the water.  Replace the water every couple of days, and throw away any dead blooms.  Adding a drop of bleach to your vase will keep the algae away, keeping your flowers fresher longer.  Make sure no leaves are submerged; this will also prevent the growth of bacteria. 

Have fun, and enjoy your flowers anyway that makes you happy!

Calendar Girl

My very first job was in an office, so I’m super organized about filing and paying bills.  I have a fool-proof system to help get your clerical life in order once and for all.  Being disorganized can keep you from paying your bills on time, and there is absolutely no excuse for late fees.  They are a huge waste of money and do nothing for your credit. 

Here is a summary of what I do to keep my bills managed and under control. 

The second that a bill arrives, I open it, put the return portion in the envelope, and set the statement aside to be filed.  I have a mail caddy inside my pantry door where I keep bills that are to-be-paid as well as statements to-be-filed.  I write the due date in the stamp section of the bill (so it will be hidden later, and so I don’t have to open the envelope to double check). Next, I write the due date on the calendar, which is hanging on the opposite pantry door.

You can pick up caddies like this at places like Ross & Marshall's or even thrift stores.

The most important tip here is not to just write down the date when the bill is due, but to make a note of when to mail it.  So if American Express is due October 15^th, then I write “mail AMEX” on October 7^th.  Give the payment at least a week to arrive at its destination on time.  Also, when you are calculating the timing….exclude weekends, this will ensure that you aren’t late or that a business isn’t closed.  If you pay bills online, throw away (recycle!) the actual bill afterwards so that you don’t get confused about whether it is taken care of.  Note: If AMEX was due on a Saturday or Sunday, I would make it due on the Friday before.  Weekends and holidays are your enemies!!!

I keep the bills organized by their due dates and pull them out as necessary.  Don’t leave your mail lying around….it’s an eyesore and it can make you feel frustrated and overwhelmed just looking at it.  Throw away any junk mail right away, as well as all the extras that come in a bill.  The calendar system allows the bills to be out of site but not out of mind.

Go to http://www.ecocycle.org/ to find out how to opt out of junk mail.

In my mail caddy there is a section where I keep the statements to-be-filed…and I just file these when the caddy gets too full.  I use fabric storage boxes filled with file folders for filing the statements.  Alphabetize all your bills….adding in folders for other helpful items such as receipts, tax info, and menus. 

Set of 3 Storage Bins/$20/Walmart 

This calendar system is also great for remembering birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, and parties.  Just use the same method of writing down the date of the birthday, then going backwards a week to remind yourself to mail a card.  Another tip with birthdays…make sure to write these on your calendar at least a month in advance so that you aren’t late for the people who have their special days the first through the fifth.

I look at my calendar every morning to see what needs to be mailed.  This may seem slightly OCD, but I haven’t had a late bill in like a hundred years.  Once you try this system, you won’t believe you ever lived without it!

The Art of Elvgren Pin Up 2011 Wall Calendar/$19.95/Amazon.com 

When You Gotta Go...

Go for fast food.  Confused?  Don’t be.  Fast food restaurants are your best bet for clean, reliable rest stops.  If you’re on a road trip, or if you’re just around town and have a bladder that’s a little uncooperative, then you will be very relieved to hear this advice. 

I have been in two separate situations where I was traveling with others….and we found ourselves in desperate need of a pit stop. Against my wishes, they chose gas stations over the fast food places I suggested.  One bathroom was out of order, and the other gas station didn’t even have one.  So now, we have to get back into the car, go to another gas station and hope for the best.  Why won’t they just go to a restaurant, they are completely ignoring my requests!  Buy something at the restaurant if you want, but don’t feel obligated because they don’t really care. 

Gas stations are terrible excuses for rest stops because as I mentioned above, some of them do not even have restrooms, they can be out of order, they are notorious for being disgusting, you have to ask where they are, you sometimes have to get a key, and there can be lines.  How many more reasons do you need???  On the other hand, you always know where the restrooms are located in a fast food restaurant, stalls=no waiting, and generally I find they are pretty clean.  I usually choose Wendy’s because they seem to have the highest standards.

 

So, if you find yourself in need of a tinkle, skip the gas station and go for the burger joint!

The first Dairy Queen/Joliet, Illinois 1940 

The first McDonald's/San Bernadino, CA 1940



Ps, DO NOT use rest areas if you are alone, they're super creepy!

Tips for the Jetsetter

"Journey" Fine Art Print/$25 on Etsy

Ok, if you’re like me, you travel...a lot.  Flying can be pretty stressful, so I have a few tips to make your trip much more relaxing!

My most important tip is to have a permanent list of your items that need to be packed.  Your best bet is to type one up on your computer so you can print it each time you travel.  This works best because you are able to mark through your items as you pack.  If you realize that you forgot something while you are away, be sure to make yourself a note to add it to your list when you get back home.  Ok, ok, I know what you’re thinking…..”How can I make a note and keep up with it while I’m traveling?”  What I do is send myself an email via text message, that way it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle….if you can’t do that, just stick a note in your wallet.  You will thank me next time you remember not to forget your Q-tips! 

'Pack Me' Travel List on Lobotome.com

I am a consummate over-packer….so how do I know if my bag is going to be overweight at the airport?  Believe me, nothing irritates travelers more than someone in front of them opening their luggage and proceeding to pull things out left and right.  Everyone is in a hurry, and you don’t want to be “that person” who is holding up the line.  Weighing my bag on the scale at home is really tough because it’s generally so heavy I can’t lift it while looking at the numbers.  So, what I do is go to one of the counters at Ticketing & Check-in that's closed and weigh my luggage.  The scales are always working whether there is an attendant or not.  Generally I have some shifting to do, so this gives me the opportunity to do so without having people breathing down my neck.  So, I move a few things to my carry-on or my purse and I’m on my way! 

'Hello Weekend' Fine Art Print $25 on Etsy

The next tip that has saved me a lot of hassle AND money is bringing an empty water bottle to fill.  I am addicted to water, so I just throw an empty bottle in my purse and fill it once I get through security.  If you don’t like water from the fountain, you can go to a restaurant and order a water with no ice and then pour it in your bottle.  The water there is always filtered.  This may seem like a bit much to some, but water is $3.50 MINIMUM at the airport, and I am not trying to hear that! 

Fiji Bottled Water/$100,000,000

Oh!  My last tip….don’t forget your earphones!  Planes either have personal TV’s or a movie playing, and you don’t want to get stuck buying them on the plane. 

xoxo!

'Kitty Beats'/Watercolor $12 on Etsy