A Striking Idea (with Guest Blogger Lea)

 Out of the blue this week, I got an email from my childhood friend, Lea (who you might remember from this post or this post), with a couple of pretty great ideas for blog posts (with even the photos included!) that she just whipped up 'cause she felt like it. I have been busybusybusy (so what else is new?) and this little unexpected surprise arrived in the nick of time. Check out yesterday's post for the best method for cleaning waxy, smokey, dirty old glass votive holders. And read on today to see some of the unexpected ways Lea has used them around the house.  Candle holders: They aren't just for holding candles anymore. Thanks, Lea!

I hate throwing things away and, just like my mother, I have nightmares of landfills filling up. So, instead of trashing the old votive candle holders I collected for my wedding, I cleaned them and repurposed them. I even turned a hexagonal votive into a great matchstick holder and striker- just the thing to accompany all those candles. Here's how to do it: 

 

Step 1: Cut the striking strip off a box of all-purpose strike anywhere wood matches.

Step 2: Use an all-purpose glue stick to adhere the strips to the side of a glass holder. 

Step 3: Wait until glue dries,  then fill the votive with matches. Much cuter than a matchbox, you can keep this match holder close at hand for whenever you need a light. It's one way to really strike a bargain.

And even if you aren't feeling quite so crafty, you can find a million uses for glass votive holders all over the house. Votives are so pretty, match with any decor, and are very useful for holding all sorts of things. They make great bud vases, cotton swab holders, toothpick holders, mini bins for office, sewing, or art supplies, and whatever else you can think of (the possibilities are endless).

Snow Jobs and Staycations

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. A lot sure has happened since the last time I posted, huh? First, I spent a week in New York City running around like a headless chicken buying and wrapping Christmas gifts, decorating and cleaning our apartment, cooking, buying booze, and getting organized for our holiday party, cleaning up from said party (it was a blast), packing for our two-week bi-coastal holiday tour, baking six raisin coffee cakes, and readying the apartment for our absence. Then, we loaded up the car, drove up to Boston, and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas cooking, shopping, putting up Christmas trees, eating, drinking, opening gifts and playing with them, and visiting with JM's family (we also saw The King's Speech-amazing- run, don't walk, to the theater. But I digress). Then, on Sunday, we packed up all our stuff and gifts, and got ready to fly to California, only to learn that there was a huge snowstorm coming, and there was no way we were getting out. What followed was a circus of scrambling to re-think and re-book our plans ("Do you have any flights from Providence to Las Vegas?"), set to the mellifluous tones of 12 continuous hours of airline customer-service hold music. Somewhere in the madness, my in-laws' golden retriever ate one of the aforementioned raisin coffee cakes whole, and had to be driven through the blizzard to the animal hospital (raisins are potentially toxic to dogs, as you know if you read this, but he's fine now). Then, yesterday, as we carefully drove our way back to New York City (in a rare and precious rental car) to make our flights, we got word that they had been canceled again.  So, we decided that sometimes you can't fight fate, that we weren't going anywhere, and we settled back in to our own cozy apartment, from which I am writing this.


But all is not lost! If we can't have a vacation, at least we can have a STAYcation, and enjoy ourselves while we are holed up. We plan to take long walks in the Park, read our books by the fireplace, go to the movies, play board games, get drinks at fancy hotels, and generally try to ignore/put off non-pressing responsibilities until later. So for those of you who can't get out of town, be it for meteorological reasons, or logistical or financial ones, here are some tips for the perfect staycation. As a bonus, you might actually end up relaxed at the end of it.


1. Plan Ahead
he real trick to a successful staycation is getting yourself to treat it like a real vacation. Obviously, we didn't really have the luxury of doing this ourselves, but, if you can, set beginning and end dates for your staycation. Let your office know you won't be in or available during that time. Resist the urge to say, "I'll just be at home, so if you really need me..." Then, start scheduling things you want to do for each day. If you really want to unplug, schedule a cleaner to come in on the last day of your staycation, to do all the laundry and dishes, and change the sheets. That way you can completely ignore your chores, guilt-free. 

2. Do Research
You may think you know everything these is to do in your own town, but do some research on the internet, or in guidebooks for fun activities. You may be surprised by how many local tourism attractions you have never seen or done.  I've lived in New York City for seven years, and the list of museums, art galleries, tall buildings, boat and walking tours I've never seen or been on is far, far, longer than the one of those I have. Not to mention all of the cool shops, restaurants and neighborhoods I haven't yet explored. Like pretty much all of Brooklyn.


3. Do Activities
Sitting around the house watching TV does not a memorable vacation make (no matter how much you want to catch up on the last season of Dexter). To make a staycation work, you have to get out of the house. Think of what you would do on your ideal day (other than watching TV)- be it ice skating, skydiving, or reading in a coffee shop, and find out where to do it (if you have kids, make sure to ask them what they would like to do, too, and incorporate it into the plan). Buy tickets to a local theater production, amusement park, sporting event, festival or concert. Make reservations at restaurants and write out a plan and schedule for each day, and then follow it!


4. Be Nice To Yourself
Schedule a massage, spa day, or manicure and pedicure one day of your break. Go to that yoga class you've been wanting to try but never had the time for. If you eat out and order take-out during your break (as you should, unless grocery shopping and cooking are your idea of a fun vacation activity), just be mindful of not overindulging- a dessert or two is fine, but at the end of your vacation, you should aim to feel well rested, healthy, and good about yourself.


Stay classy, everyone!

Go Ask Alice

Sometimes I feel like my husband's and my dog's personal assistant-  if I'm not picking up the one's dry cleaning, I'm keeping track of the other's vaccination appointments. Which is all well and good (I mean, I know what I signed up for with this homemaker gig), but sometimes I wish I had my own personal assistant to remind me to schedule a haircut or that we are running out of paper towels.

Thankfully, I have discovered, whatever one's problem might be, there is some internet geek out there working on a solution in the form of a genius new website. So while I still have to monitor my own split ends (for now), the brilliant minds behind Alice.com have got me covered on the paper towels (and toilet paper, and dishwashing soap, and moisturizer...)  Alice.com is like the dry goods/drug store of your dreams- they carry thousands of great products (a huge number of them eco-friendly), and deliver them to your door with quick, free, shipping (and the prices are lower than my neighborhood brick-and-mortars).  What's more, they keep track of your favorite products and how often you go through them, so they can send you a reminder to stock up on tissues seconds before you pull the last one from the box. It would almost be creepy, if it weren't so darned helpful.

Hey, internet nerds, can one of you come up with a website that puts away my husband's socks next? Thanks.

Mail Management

When I was a kid, I loved getting the mail. I loved looking through my mom's magazines and catalogs and I was over the moon when a letter actually arrived with my name on it. Over the years, as I was introduced to the concept of credit card bills and guilt-causing charity drive letters, and watched as unchecked catalogs and magazines have piled up into cluttery mountains in my kitchen, that love has faded into something more akin to dread and loathing.
Don't get me wrong- I still get excited when the new New Yorker shows up, or when the odd calligraphed envelope slips out with it's tidings of wedding celebrations to come.  But with the majority of my mailboxes contents, I would rather just not deal, please. And when I think of the environmental impact of all of that wasted paper ... well, that just does me in.

But it's not like me to introduce a complaint without providing a solution, is it? Happily, there are lots of things you can do to reduce the amount of unwanted mail that makes it's way into your apartment, and slowly erodes your happiness.  Cutting down on your junk mail will help save your sanity, keep you organized and help save millions and millions of trees.

1. Go online and get your name on  junk mail prevention websites. They won't prevent every scrap from showing up, but they don't hurt, either.
For credit card offers: www.optoutprescreen.com
Catalogs: www.catalogchoice.org
 Or sign up for a paid service to stop the junk:
www.41pounds.org
www.dmachoice.org
www.proquo.com

2. Sign up for online billing statements: Instead of receiving paper bills in the mail that are vulnerable to theft and pile up and need to be shredded, sign up to get your statements via email instead. You can save them in a file on your computer for future reference.

3. Recycle, right away: When the mail arrives, walk directly to the recycling bin (do not pass GO, do not collect $200), and weed it out. Make sure you shred anything that has personal information (bank acct #s, or your social security number, for example). Get rid of catalogs immediately- this will also keep you from spending money on things you don't need.

4. Sort the rest: We use these task clips, $9.50 from Knock Knock to sort and folders to file. Something about having these clips tell me what to do really kicks me in the pants.  Keep a file for financial statements (didn't I tell you to start getting them online?), personal letters you want to keep, and tax documents. So much better than riffling through piles and piles of unsorted papers on April 13th. Trust me...

Money Bags

Plastic grocery bags are so money, and you don't even know it. Not that I agree with non-biodegradable bags being produced in the first place and collecting in landfills and into that huge garbage island in the Pacific, and yada yada yada.  But, being that the world is a flawed place, and plastic bags do exist (and seem to spawn in my pantry during the night), the least we can do is use them, preferably more than once, to the full extent of their capabilities.
No, I'm not going to suggest that you tie a bunch of them together to make a wind sock, nor film one floating in the wind while expounding on the beauty of the universe (wow- two nineties movie references in one post- I am on fire, today).  Here are just some of the ways you can use your plastic grocery bags (other than carrying groceries- that one seemed kind of obvious)- they'll save you money, and make you feel a little better about your carbon footprint and whatnot. Show me the money.

15 Alternative Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags

PACKING
Plastic bags can be your best friend on a trip. Just throw a bunch in your suitcase and watch all the ways you'll end up using them. Best of all, they are super-lightweight, and take up hardly any space in your bag. And did I mention they're free?

1. Undies: The grossest thing about living out of a suitcase is when your clean unmentionables get mixed up with your dirty ones, and you aren't sure what's what. The solution to this vexing problem is to bring along some (lightweight, take-up-no-space) plastic bags. Once you wear a pair of socks or undies, throw them in the bag, and you'll never have to do the sniff test again.
2. Wet Bathing Suits: This one's obvious- double-bag your wet bathing suits and beach clothes to keep the rest of your stuff from getting mildewy or sandy (especially if you took your vacation on the Trash Island).
3. Shoes: My husband wraps each of his shoes in a plastic bag before he puts it in his suitcase. It keeps them from getting scuffed by zippers, etc, and keeps the rest of his stuff from getting dirty.
4. Toiletries: Even if you use my fancy "vacuum" trick, liquids sometimes have an uncontrollable urge to leak all over your suitcase. Rein them in with double plastic bags.

IN THE CAR:
I don't even have a car, and I can still imagine all the wonderful ways plastic bags can help you on the road.

5. The Glovebox: Keep all your important car documents, maps, and other papers together and dry by tying them up in a grocery bag.
6. In The Trunk: Keep your emergency kit safe, clean and and together in a bag. Also, any greasy or wet car products (is it obvious I don't have a car?) like oil or wiper fluid can be wrapped up to prevent leaking.
7. Trash: When you finish that breakfast burrito on the road, wouldn't it be nice to have somewhere to put the wrapper without getting refried beans all over your upholstery? Voila- a grocery bag.
8. Car-sickness: It's always a good idea to have a disposable receptacle available should someone start turning green in the backseat. I'd double-bag.

FOR PETS:
 Your dog doesn't care about status symbols. You could wrap your dog in plastic bags instead of that fancy raincoat, and she wouldn't care (I'm not counting that as an idea, but it's not a bad one). That's the best thing about dogs.

9. Walks: If you live in a city, where you are required by law to, ahem, pick up after your pet, then you should have no problem using up those grocery bags. Just put it over your hand like a glove, hold your breath, and go for it.
10. Toys: Within a few minutes of entering our house, new dog toys are covered in slobber, caked in dog hair and filthy/gross/disgusting. When our dog is not playing with them, I wrap the toys in plastic grocery bags and stow them out of sight and mind.

IN THE HOME:

11. Garbage Liners: I use old grocery bags to line to small garbage cans under the sinks in our bathrooms. No one sees them anyway, unless they are throwing something away, and that way I don't have to see their garbage up close when I empty it. So everyone wins.
12. Packing Material: I wrap delicate Christmas ornaments and other tchotchkes in plastic bags before storing them, and stuff extra bags in between. Much cheaper than bubble-wrap (although admittedly less fun).
13. Garbage Bowl: When I am doing something gross, like removing the narsty bits from inside a whole chicken, or trimming fat off a steak, and line my garbage bowl with a plastic bag. That way I don't have to touch the nastiness twice (when cleaning out the bowl), and it keeps the bowl from getting too much bacteria on it.
14. Fridge Clean-Out: When I steel up my courage and clean out the random leftovers and tupperwares in my fridge, I always dump the smelly, rotting food into a plastic grocery bag first, and then the garbage. It helps prevent your kitchen from smelling like someone died there, until you take the trash out.

OR JUST:
15: Recycle: At the very least, if you aren't reusing your grocery bags, you should recycle them. Most major grocery and drug stores have receptacles to collect them.  If your store doesn't have one- ask a manager to get one. That way, your grocery bags really can spawn more grocery bags for me to use.

Soda Damn Good: 7 Unexpected Uses for Baking Soda

In this topsy-turvy world, one thing you can count on is that there will always be scores of new cleaning and beauty products released to the market each year.  And most of those are overpriced and so full of chemicals and additives that they are secretly poisoning you and the environment while they do their job (which is fine if they actually work - I mean, I'll do just about anything for very white sheets). But, meanwhile, little did you know that there is a completely non-toxic, inexpensive cleaning and beauty product that has been in the market for years, and that you probably already have in your pantry: Baking Soda.  Your grandparents knew that there isn't much this miracle powder can't do around the house (but somehow they forget to pass that info on to you). Here's just a sampling of what it's good for- it's versatility will blow your mind. Oh, and it's good for baking stuff, too.


7 Unexpected Uses for Baking Soda

1. Smell You Later: For some scientific reason I don't entirely understand, baking soda absorbs odors. I explored it's incredible ability to de-stinkify my husband's boat shoes in a post last summer, and it also works to keep your fridge and freezer from smelling too foody (just open the lid of a box and place it on the shelf), can make your pet smell more bearable (just sprinkle it directly on them and brush it through their fur). Or use it to deoderize your garbage can, gym bag, or laundry hamper (just sprinkle directly in there, and wipe out a few hours later), or throw a layer down onto your rugs (then vacuum it up) to make them fresher. Basically, if something stinks, the answer is baking soda.

2. Don't Get Burned: When you accidentally overcook something, and it leaves a burnt-on crusty residue on your pans, you can either spend hours developing carpel tunnel syndrome scouring it off by hand, or you can leave the job to your new friend, baking soda. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the pan, fill it with water, put it on the stove and bring to a boil. The gunk will come right off. This method also works for the rack on your grill (no need to boil, just soak overnight). How does it work? I don't know! Stop questioning the baking soda!

3. Silver Metal: Baking soda works as a gentle silver polish, too. Just mix six tablespoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of water to form a paste. Rub the paste onto the silver with a soft rag, and then rinse. Oooh, shiny!

4. I Feel Pretty: If your hair feels weighed-down with product or artificial color, add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your shampoo to revitalize it. You can also pat some under your arms as a deodorant, use it as toothpaste, use it as a facial scrub, add it to your bathwater to soften your skin, or mix it with water and use it as a mouthwash.  Who knew one product could look so good?

5. The Best Medicine: Would you believe me if I told you baking soda can also work medicinally to cure what ails you? Well, it can. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with water and drink it to relieve heartburn or indigestion, or make a paste with water and rub it on burns and bug bites to take out the sting or the itch. It will also dry out rashes from diapers or poison oak or ivy.

6. You're Fired. I know what you're thinking- "What else can baking soda do for me?" Don't worry, I'm going to tell you. You can use baking soda to put out small fires from grease, ashes, or candles. Just dump the powder on the flames to extinguish them (using water or trying to smother the fire with a towel might spread the flames).

7. Arrest Pests: Despite how awesome it is, not everyone likes baking soda. Sprinkle it on your window sills or near door jams to repel ants and other bugs. Sprinkle it around your garden plants to repel rabbits and other animals from eating them. Amazing!

Bag That Thing Up

So, about a year ago, I wrote a post about reusable shopping bags, and, at the time, I felt like that would be my final word on the subject. I thought I knew all there was to know, and that I really delved deep in my analysis. Looking back now, though, I can laugh at my own foolishness; my folly and my naivete. It's hard to believe that the girl who wrote that post is even the same person who writes this one. A lot of things happened in 2009 - just think, a year ago, Jon & Kate were still going strong, we'd never seen Lady Gaga wear this hat, and Snookie and The Situation were strangers to us. It's hard to imagine. And, personally, I've grown up a lot: I'm a little older, a little wiser... I became an aunt and a dog-parent, I endured a 26.2 painful miles in self-contemplation, I learned all the lyrics to the girl part of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and how to wallpaper. Big stuff.
But, perhaps most importantly, I discovered these awesome reusable shopping bags from Flip & Tumble. The bags are huge, made out of washable ripstop nylon, can hold 25 lbs, have a strap that stays on your shoulder, and, like magic, they roll up into themselves to form a small (smaller than a peach) ball. I have stashed one in all my handbags, and even in some of my coat pockets, so I always have one with me. And, as a result, I find myself using them every single day. And they're cheap (okay, not cheap, but reasonable)! Just $9, or $8, if you buy three or more (which you should, because they're awesome). Who knows what 2010 holds in store for us, but whatever it is, I know one thing: It's in the bag.

Tiny Bubbles

There are a lot of pros and cons about living in a fifth floor walk-up. For example: my butt has never looked better (pro). On the other hand, we have gone whole weekends using paper towels in the bathroom, because we were out of toilet paper and too lazy to go out just for that (con). And not all of my reasoning is butt-related. JM and I both drink a lot of seltzer water, which, it turns out, really starts to weigh a lot when you take it above ground level. Not to mention the bi-weekly lugging of the empty bottles down the stairs on recycling day. I was starting to get freaky Madonna arms from all that heavy-lifting, when my brother and sister-in-law took pity on me and bought us a SodaStream seltzer maker ($100-200) for my birthday last year. This cute, ingenious gadget is shaped like a penguin and turns ordinary, boring old tap water into delicious, sparkly, festive seltzer water with the push of a button, er, rather, beak. It also comes with a bunch of syrups and flavorings so you can make your own colas and sodas, if that's your thing. Unlike bottled "club soda", the SodaStream seltzer has barely any sodium or additives (it's literally just whatever is in your tap water), so it's hydrating and as good for you as drinking water- but so much more fun!
The maker comes with a canisters of CO2 which carbonates the water. When the canisters run out, they can be exchanged for new, full ones at a retailer near you, or by sending them in (we've had our seltzer maker since June, and have only gone through three canisters). They also come with 1-liter glass carafes, which are machine washable, totally hygienic, and can be re-used forever, so they're good for the environment, too. Plus, they lend your seltzer a really classy vibe. So invest in one and enjoy a little bit of the bubbly.

Hanky Panky

Of all of the "outdated" items that are making a comeback these days, the last one you might expect is the handkerchief. Mention the idea of a hanky to a lot of people, and it will inspire disgusted memories of infrequently-washed loogie-filled rags carried around in a great-uncle's pocket. But with the trend towards green living, suddenly new, attractive hankies are showing up everywhere. And if you can look past the "snot factor," they are actually really useful and functional objects. I carry hankies around in my purse all the time- not for nose-blowing (I have tissues for that), but because they are great for a million other uses, from cleaning up spills to wiping off my sunglasses or camera lens to drying my hands in public restrooms. Once you put one in your pocket, you'll be amazed at all the ways you find yourself using it. So get hip to the hanky.

For cute hankies, check out these sites:
Atishoo
Hank and Cheef
Elegant Linens
Giftwagon
Ebay (for pretty vintage ones!)
Happy Hanky

P.S. Sorry I missed last Friday's post- now it can be told that we were on vacation last week. Haha- I outsmarted you, Twitter-and-blog-reading house-robbers!

Not Just for Flaming Jagerbombs Anymore

In an effort to get more "green" and also to reduce the amount of "toxic" "chemicals" I have floating around in our house, I am trying to cut back on noxious cleaning products that we use. Leave it to my mom (the party animal) to point out a great alternative that was hiding in my liquor cabinet all along: Everclear alcohol. You probably think of it as the last thing you remember seeing before you woke up with a screaming headache and a new scalp tattoo, but it actually also works wonders as a sterilizer (pour some on your kitchen sponges to keep them from getting moldy or mildewy, or dilute it and use it to wipe off the counters). You can also pour it over a cut to clean and disinfect it. And it's totally non-toxic, so it won't make you sick. Unless, of course, you drink it.

Ace A/C

Now that the dog days of summer are finally here (literally for us), and suddenly your air conditioner is reminding you why you keep it hanging in your window all year, it's time to do your a/c unit a favor, and clean out the filters. Chances are, if you have used them at all this year, they are gunked up with all kinds of disgusting stuff- mostly dust and dirt, which is then getting blown all over your house or apartment. Lovely thought.
Not only will this save you from inhaling God knows how many dust mites, but it will also help your a/c work more efficiently, allowing you to run it at a lower setting and get more chill for your buck.
And it's super easy to do, if a little gross. I recommend doing all the units at your house at the same time because this is not a job I enjoy doing more than once a summer. Also, maybe do it right before you are planning to take a shower, like after you work out or something, because it's a messy job.
1. Remove the filter from your unit- it will either be vinyl mesh or foam, depending on the model, and should slip right out the front of the unit. Make note of how it goes in, since you are going to have to put it back the same way. Yecch, right?
2. Take the filter outside and rub off the linty dust with a clean dry rag or brush- it will resemble the lint from your dryer, only dirtier. I use an old toothbrush. You might want to wear a mask for this if you suffer from allergies or are just not that psyched about inhaling dust particles.
3. Run the filter under water to rinse off any residual dust. An outdoor hose is ideal, but you can do it in the bathtub if you are an apartment dweller. Just be prepared to clean the tub after.
4. Allow the filter to dry completely before putting it back in the a/c unit. No fooling- putting it back wet could encourage the growth of mold, or cause a short in the unit. And then how much better off are you?
5. Enjoy the newly-invigorated chilly relief and comfort from the sweltering heat. Oh, and take a shower.

photo credit: Kyle Lambert on flickr