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.