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Other uses for nail polish!
Have a teenage girl in your house? I do and that means we have an absolute ton of nail polish here. There are all kinds of colors, all kinds of textures, all kinds of finishes. There are base coats, top coats, crackle coats, magnetic coats, glitter coats, gel coats, and so many more! There is so much nail polish in my house that I’m sure I have lost count on the number of bottles we own. There are way too many to count. Thinking about all of this nail polish led me to wonder what other uses for nail polish are out there.
There are actually lots of other uses for nail polish. There are a few I have heard of before and some that I learned about after asking a few friends. I think most of them are really great ideas.
Stop runs in tights
I think this is probably the most popular of the other uses for nail polish. We probably all learned this tip from our mothers or grandmothers. Apply a little bit of nail polish to the end of a run in tights or pantyhose and the run will stop and not pull apart any further.
Thread needle
Have a piece of thread that you just can’t get through the needle? Use a tiny bit of nail polish on the end of the thread and it will go right through the needle. This is a useful one of the other uses for nail polish.
Paint keys
This is a fun and useful of the other uses for nail polish. Have trouble telling your keys apart on your key chain? Paint the ends with different colors of nail polish and you will be able to tell them apart with ease.
Coat costume jewelry
This one of the other uses for nail polish was brand new to me when I started asking for ideas. Cute, cheap costume jewelry is popular now, and coating it with a little clear nail polish will help the finish stay looking good longer. Great idea!
Paint jewelry
Want to change the color of a piece of costume jewelry? Use nail polish and change it up! This is such a fun idea.
Paint bobby pins
Just like the costume jewelry, bobby pins can be painted. Don’t pay too much for colored bobby pins to match outfits. Take some nail polish and make your own colored bobby pins. This is such a fun idea – I love these other uses for nail polish!
Color on shoe soles
Give your high heeled shoes a designer look by painting their soles. A popular trend in designer shoes is to have bright colored soles. Grab some red nail polish and give your bargain heels a designer feel!
Cover scuffs on shoes
This idea is just genius. Have cute colored shoes with scuffs or chips in the finish? Use a matching nail polish to cover the scuff or chip. This is a money saver and a great one of the other uses for nail polish.
Keep laces and rope from fraying
We’ve all tried burning the end of laces and ropes to keep them from fraying and sometimes that just doesn’t work. Take some clear nail polish and apply it to the ends of the laces or ropes. This will help keep them from fraying. Another great idea!
Do you have other uses for nail polish? Let us know about them – we love to hear from you!
Get your yard ready for spring! – Part 2
Yesterday I started telling you about how getting my yard ready for spring always seems like a HUGE task. It seems like it will be impossible to get done. Then I try to look at it differently. Getting your yard ready for spring seems much less complicated if you break it into smaller pieces. Looking at the parts individually make the big task seem doable and less daunting. I talked about some of the things I do to get the actual yard ready. I also talked about trees, bushes and plants. After you talk about and take care of the trees, bushes and plants, there is still so much to do. Like I said yesterday, I’ve made myself a list and it really helps. Here are the some more items on my get your yard ready for spring list:
Unwrap trees and plants
Wrapping trees and plants was a task that I overlooked for years. A tour of a local nursery opened my eyes to wrapping trees and plants. Not all trees and plants need to be wrapped but there are many that will survive cold winter much more easily if they are wrapped. Once the dangers of snow and deep freezing are over, you can go outside and unwrap your trees and plants.
Rake flower beds
Bark and other flower bed coverings can get compacted and settle over the winter. A quick raking will help your flower beds look better and help you identify areas that may need more covering added.
Prepare sprinkler systems
If you have a sprinkler system this is one thing you can do to get your yard ready for spring. Locate and inspect your above ground sprinkler system parts. Many times sprinkler heads get covered in mud and muck during the winter. Some parts of systems get broken from snow, ice, shoveling or snow blowers. Inspecting, cleaning and prepping now will save time later when you are ready to begin using your sprinkler system.
Uncover water faucets
This is a quick and easy item to check off your get your yard ready for spring list. Remember those outdoor faucet covers you put on last fall? Hopefully they did their job and guarded against frozen pipes. Take them off and inspect your outdoor faucets for damage. You’ll be ready to go when you need to use your faucets and hoses.
Check sprinklers and hoses
Did you leave any sprinklers or hoses outside this winter? It is really quite easy to forget about them and have ruined sprinklers and hoses in the spring. Check for items like this that were left outside. If you find any, check them for damage and repair or replace if needed.
Inspect toys and play things
If you have outdoor play equipment you can get your yard ready for spring by making sure these are in good repair. As soon as they can, kids are going to want to get outside and play. Winter weather can cause damage and dangerous situations on outdoor play equipment. Find it and fix it as soon as possible.
Inspect sidewalks and decks
Now is a great time to give your sidewalks, decks, patios, retaining walls, and other outdoor structures a quick inspection. Identifying problems now will help you set a plan to fix them. You will love already having your yard ready for spring once it is warmer and ready to be enjoyed.
These are just a few more of the many things you can do now to get your yard ready for spring. Have more ideas? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
Get your yard ready for spring!
I love it when it starts to feel like spring outside. I love the greening grass, the warming temperatures, the buds on the trees, the flowers popping up from the dirt and so much more. I love being outside and enjoying the fun almost spring weather and surroundings. But when I am outside in my yard I realize there is something I don’t like about spring. When I look around my yard I tell myself “Get your yard ready for spring.” Ugh! That’s no fun. Fun or not, it has to happen.
Getting your yard ready for spring always seems like a HUGE task before I start. I dread it because it just doesn’t sound fun. Like so many other things, getting your yard ready for spring seems much less complicated if you break it into smaller pieces. Looking at the parts individually make the big task seem doable and less daunting. I’ve made myself a list and it really helps. Here are the items on my get your yard ready for spring list.
Trim trees
I actually like doing this once I start. Spring is a great time to trim and prune many trees. A simple internet search will yield many resources for instruction and tips on your kinds of trees. I think of it like giving a tree a haircut – go slow and don’t take off too much at first. You can trim the tree back further but you can’t reattach cut too short limbs and branches.
Trim plants and bushes
This is a lot like trimming the trees. Spring is usually a good choice for trimming. Another simple internet search or two and you’ll have lots of information on your specific plants. Many plants are much happier all season if they were trimmed the right way in the early spring.
Remove debris
Winter seems to be great at blowing debris into your yard and flower beds. A quick walk through the yard with a trash bag will help you get the trash, leaves and other debris out of the yard.
Clean out flower beds and pots
I’m always hesitant to do this job. Cleaning out the dead growth and the overgrown plants is a very important part of getting your yard ready for spring, especially if you didn’t get to it before winter. Make sure you know enough about your plants. Are they annuals or perennials? Don’t pull out the plants that are sure to come back in the spring. If you have plants you want to split or divide do another quick internet search. Many plants prefer to be split in the spring.
Rake the grass
I think this is one step in getting your yard ready for spring that is often overlooked. Don’t skip it! All winter the grass has gotten matted, muddy and mashed. The grass may have even served as a home for rodents and other icky wildlife. Yikes! Your grass needs help! Rake the yard deeply and get it cleaned out and loosened. It will be happier in the spring and summer if you rake it very thoroughly when you are getting your yard ready for spring.
This is only part of what needs to be done outside to get your yard ready for spring. Watch tomorrow for part two of my tips! Have tips to share? Let us know! We love hearing from you!
Get better sleep!
Yesterday we talked about that growing group of Americans; the people who are getting too little sleep. Is that you? Do you nod off while reading or watching TV? Do you ever feel like someone sucked the energy right out of you? Do you find it hard to concentrate or be productive? If you can answer yes, you are like me and part of that sleepless group. I feel like that more often that I should. I’m often sleepy and tired and just worn out. I need to get better sleep!
How do you know if you actually fit into that growing group of people who are getting too little sleep? Studies are continually changing recommended sleep times; in fact, another change to recommended sleep times was announced just recently. Recommended sleep times vary with your age. The National Sleep Foundation has released these guidelines: for younger adults, ages 18-25, the sleep range is now 7-9 hours. For adults, ages 26-64, the sleep range remains 7-9 hours. For older adults, ages 65+, the sleep range is 7-8 hours. Remember these are general guidelines and some people will need more sleep. Sound familiar? You need to get better sleep!
If you aren’t getting the recommended amount of sleep, there are lots of things you can do to change your sleep habits and make a difference. The answer to this growing health problem isn’t as simple as just going to be earlier. There are lots of things that can be done to get more sleep or better sleep. Here are a few ways to improve your sleep:
Regular schedule
Set and keep a regular sleep schedule. You can get better sleep by going to bed at about the same time every night and waking at the same time every morning. Make sure you are including enough time in your schedule to get the recommend number of hours of sleep.
Dim the lights
Too much light in the room can decrease the quality of your sleep. You can get better sleep by reducing even small amounts of light. Be aware of light from nightlights, alarm clocks, electronic devices and other sources you might not expect.
Routine
Establish a bed time routine, just like you might do for a child. Eliminate the things that will cause you to stay awake longer or go to bed feeling hyped. Get a relaxing routine established and you will get better sleep.
Reduce distractions and stress
If you are watching television or listening to loud music before bed or as you fall asleep, you could be hurting your ability to sleep well. Try to reduce bedtime distractions and stress and you will get better sleep.
Avoid eating and drinking before bed
Eating and drinking before bed can keep you from getting good sleep. Especially avoid things that contain alcohol, caffeine and lots of sugar will help you get better sleep.
Limit naps
Do you nap during the day? Too much daytime sleeping could be keeping you from getting good sleep. Get better sleep by limiting the amount of naps you take.
Exercise
Adding more exercise in to your daily routine can help you get better sleep, along with all of the other great benefits of exercise.
Have more ideas or tips on getting better sleep? Let us know, we love to hear from you!
Is it time to clean your dishwasher?
Be honest, we’ve all done it. You open your dishwasher only to be met with an awful smell. How can something that is so clean smell so bad? Or maybe you open your dishwasher and can’t miss the film that coats everything. How can something that is so clean look so dirty? Or maybe you open the dishwasher and the dishes just don’t seem clean. How can something that is so clean leave such a mess? I think we have all asked ourselves at least one of these questions. Dishwashers should be clean but like so many other things in our houses, they just get dirty. Is it time to clean your dishwasher?
Time to clean the dishwasher? Really? Of course! Those things get dirty, stinky and grimy. If your dishwasher is not looking, smelling and cleaning it’s best, it is time to clean the dishwasher. There are lots of tips and tricks to cleaning a dishwasher. They range from easy to hard and cheap to expensive. Let’s talk about some of the ways to clean the dishwasher.
Check your filter
Did you know that your dishwasher has a filter? There are lots of people who don’t know this and subsequently lots of filters that don’t get cleaned. If you haven’t checked or cleaned your dishwasher’s filter, you may be in for a nasty surprise. It can be ugly in there if it has been left unattended. If you have a weak stomach or strong gag reflex you may need someone else to do this for you – I’m semi-serious. Dishwasher filters are usually on the bottom of the dishwasher, near the middle. Food, debris, bits of wrappers and plastic – there are usually lots of icky bits down in there. Many filters are very easy to clean. If yours looks hard to clean or reach, a quick online search will usually point you to directions for your exact dishwasher. Checking and cleaning the filter is a very important step when you want to clean the dishwasher.
Buy a dishwasher cleaner
There are a lot of different kinds of dishwasher cleaners out there. When it is time to clean the dishwasher, a quick trip down the soap aisle will give you lots of options. I’ll admit to trying most of these. Some work great and others, not so great. A quick search of dishwasher cleaners on Amazon will show you lots of the options and you’ll be able to read reviews too. If you want to buy a readymade dishwasher cleaner, it is a great place to start.
Use a homemade cleaning method
There are lots of ways to clean your dishwasher with ingredients that you have around the house. Another quick online search will provide you with lots of ideas. Some people use white vinegar or baking soda. Others use bleach and yet others use Borax. Some people even recommend unusual options like lemon Kool-Aid or Tang. Yes, you read that right, those are drink mixes. The citric acid is great at cleaning the inside of your dishwasher.
Use a rinse aid
Once your dishwasher is clean, use a rinse aid like Jet Dry to help keep the inside of your dishwasher clean. There are lots of other rinse aids and lots of store brands that do a great job.
Have another tip for when it is time to clean your dishwasher? Let us know. We love to hear from you!
Crazy Uses for Toothpaste – Who would have thought?!
Have a tube of toothpaste sitting in your bathroom? I bet you do! Have you got multiple tubes? If you are at all like me, the answer will be absolutely, at least two or three. Have you ever thought or wondered about using toothpaste for something other than brushing your teeth? I’ve got a favorite other use for it and recently learned of quite a few more. Check out these crazy uses for plain white tooth paste, some of them are funny and some are genius!
Fill holes in the wall
This is a time tested use for toothpaste and is one of the most popular crazy uses for toothpaste. Plain white toothpaste works great for filling in little holes in your walls that may be left when you rearrange the décor. Remember that less in more when doing this and don’t overfill the holes.
Remove scuffs from your shoes
Have scuffs and marks on your favorite shoes? Another of the crazy uses for toothpaste can take care of that for you! Use a small dab of toothpaste and a damp rag to gently rub the scuffs off of your shoes. Remember to rub softly so you don’t damage your shoe.
Clean your jewelry
Use a small dab of toothpaste and an old toothbrush to make your jewelry sparkle. Rinse the jewelry well so no toothpaste is left in grooves. I think this is one of the best crazy uses for toothpaste.
Clean your iron
Is the face of your iron getting a bit dirty? Use a small dab of toothpaste and damp rag to make your iron look like new. (Personally I hate ironing so my iron looks new – haha!) If you try this one of the crazy uses for toothpaste, let me know how it works.
Clean and deodorize baby bottles
This is a great way to get that stinky and sour smell out of baby bottles. I always hated the idea of leaving a soapy residue in the bottles so toothpaste seems like a great idea. Crazy uses for toothpaste are for young and old it seems so dab a bit of toothpaste on the bottle brush and scrub the smells away.
Clean the bathroom
The mild abrasive in toothpaste makes it a great choice when cleaning the bathroom sink, faucet, mirror and other surfaces. This useful seems smart and one of the less crazy uses for toothpaste. Dab a little toothpaste on a damp rag or old toothbrush and make everything shine.
Clean crayon marks from walls
Crayons marks on walls, if you have kids you’ve probably had them. Just like in the bathroom, the mild abrasive in toothpaste makes it a great choice when cleaning walls. Use a small dab of toothpaste and a damp rag to gently scrub the marks off of your walls.
Remove water marks from furniture
Just like the other uses, the mild abrasive in toothpaste makes it a great choice when cleaning water marks from your furniture. Use a small dab of toothpaste and a damp rag to gently scrub the water marks off of your furniture. Use a furniture polish after the area is dry.
Have more crazy uses for toothpaste? Share them with us! We love to hear from you!
Free shipping from Target! New $25 Free Shipping Minimum!
Big news from Target this week – have you heard? Target has announced that they will now offer FREE SHIPPING on $25 ORDERS! This is really big news and puts them in competition with websites like Amazon that free shipping with low minimums. In fact, Target’s $25 minimum beats Amazon’s $35 minimum by $10! That’s a lot! I think free shipping from Target will be a real game changer in the online shopping world!
When I heard there was a new $25 minimum for free shipping from Target, I was interested and wanted to see if there was a catch. Good news – there isn’t! The details are pretty simple:
- Spend $25 or more using any payment method. Handling fees may apply.
- The $25 minimum to qualify for free shipping is based on your cart subtotal. It does not include gift wrap, tax or handling fees.
- You’ll see free shipping listed in your cart summary.
- Free shipping when you spend $25 or more is valid for orders shipped to the 48 contiguous states, as well as APO/FPO addresses.
- Check to see that you chose a qualifying shipping method (Standard or To-the-Door).
- A handling fee is only charged when an item requires special care during shipment. This handling fee will be waived when you pay with your REDcard, or if you choose Store Pickup instead (if available).
Did you know there is another a way to get all of your Target orders shipped to you for free? There is! You get free shipping on any order with the Target Red Card.
Lots of retailers have store credit cards that come with different perks like points back and discounts. Very few offer the perks you can get for having a Target Red Card. Customers paying for their purchases with a Target Red Card get FREE shipping on any order from Target.com. Using a Target Red Card to pay will also get you an additional 5% off your purchase. If that isn’t enough, you will also get an 30 extra days for returns!
These Target Red Card perks sound great don’t they? Add those perks to a super easy online application process and having a Target Red Card sounds like a no brainer. There is actually one decision you need to make before signing up for a Target Red Card. Target offers a Target Red Card in the form of a credit card and a debit card. They are very different so it is important to decide which you want and sign up for the right card. You can compare the cards below:
Target Debit Card
- Works like a check by drawing from your existing checking account
- No annual fee
- Secured PIN access
- Cash withdrawal up to $40 at checkout in store
Target Credit Card
- Charge your Target and Target.com purchases
- No annual fee
- Manage account and make payments online
Most people pick just one of the Target Red Card but I do know a few people who have both. I personally use the Target Red Card debit card. I love how easy it is to use and I love that there are no monthly bills to remember to pay. It works just like using the regular debit card from my bank. Such an easy way to save money! Free shipping and 5% off can really add up after even a few small purchases.
Have you decided to get a Target Red Card? The online application process is really very quick and easy. Most of the time you will get an instant decision on your Target Red Card application and you will be able to shop right away. Some Target Red Card debit applications may take a few days, depending on your bank. Whichever you choose, get a Target Red Card and enjoy the savings and free shipping.
BIG News – Chicken Breasts are Back at Zaycon! Don’t know about Zaycon – here’s your chance to hear all about them!
Attention Zaycon Meats fans – have you seen that the chicken breasts are back? This is BIG news – I know there are SO MANY of you who love Zaycon and most of the people who love Zaycon love their chicken breasts. So when Zaycon opens ordering for their chicken breasts it is BIG news!
Not familiar with Zaycon? This is the perfect time to learn more about it. This is by far one of my favorite money saving things – I love ordering meats from Zaycon Foods. It saves money and I think the products they sell are really great!
Why would someone buy from Zaycon Foods? For me, there are so many reasons. They sell great fresh meats including chicken, beef, turkey, pork and fish. I think buying meat in bulk saves money and time. My reasons sound a lot like the three great reasons that Zaycon lists on their website:
1) Quality: We only sell what we eat ourselves— high-quality, healthy food products
2) Price: Fresh, high-quality retail food products sold for wholesale prices
3) Customer Service: Exceptional service all along the way, from order to reminder to convenient, efficient pickup.
I have to say that I agree with what they claim. Their meats really do seem to be top quality and their customer service it great! It is so easy to get the great deals from Zaycon. You go online to ZayconFoods.com and place your order. You will love how much great food you can get for such low prices. On the day of your local Zaycon sales event, you bring your order confirmation to your pick up location and you get your fresh, delicious, nutritious food!
Details about two of the most popular Zaycon products:
The Zaycon chicken breasts are sold by the case. Each case weighs 40 pounds and includes four separate bags of chicken breasts, which are not always sealed and not uniform in weight. The larger outer bag is sealed in the cardboard case. The chicken is 100% natural chicken with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients. The chicken is fresh directly from the farm to the sales event and has never been frozen.
The Zaycon ground beef is fresh 93/7 and super lean. It is 100% grown in the USA. There is no pink slime in the Zaycon ground beef. There are no chemicals, additives or water added to meat during processing. The beef cattle have a grass diet which is supplemented by grain after they reach approximately 700 pounds.
Available for ordering now from Zaycon:
A few of these deliver in the couple of weeks – there is still time to order them!
* Chicken Breasts (Fresh Boneless Skinless) – 40 lbs
$1.99/lb | $79.60/case
* Fresh Ground Beef, Lean (93/7) – 40 lbs
$4.49/lb | $179.60/case
* Carvemaster Boneless Applewood Smoked Ham
$3.79/lb | $83.38/case
* Chuck roast, patio steaks and puller pork are also available!
QUALITY FOOD AT UNBEATABLE VALUE, FRESH FROM THE FARM TO YOUR FAMILY TABLE. THAT’S ZAYCON.
Crazy Uses for Hair Spray – Who would have thought?!
Have a can or bottle of hairspray sitting in your bathroom? I bet you do! Have you got multiple cans or bottles? If you are at all like me, the answer will be absolutely, at least two or three. Have you ever thought or wondered about using hair spray for something other than your hair? I’ve got a favorite other use for it and recently learned of quite a few more. Check out these crazy uses for hair spray, some of them are funny and some are genius!
Bug control
This is my personal favorite when it comes to crazy uses for hair spray. I am super tough about lots of things but not about bugs! A quick hit of hair spray will slow a spider down just enough to be squished by a chicken like me. Flying bugs can be rendered flightless by a shot of hair spray. Bug killer would work but in my house it always seems to be easier to find hairspray when a bug needs to be dealt with.
Preserving cut flowers
This is a brand new idea to me and it sounds like a really great one. One of the many crazy uses for hair spray is to use it on cut flowers. Just like it preserves your hairstyle, a quick spray of hair spray can preserve your cut flowers. You need to hold the can about a foot away from the flowers. Give them a quick spray, trying to spray just on the undersides of the leaves and petals.
Thread a needle
This one makes sense and I can’t believe I never heard of it before. Another of the crazy uses for hair spray is helpful when you need to thread a needle. Just give the end of the thread a little spray and once it dries it will be more stiff and easier to thread through the needle. Such a smart idea!
Fur and lint remover
Have fur or lint on your clothes or carpets? It can be so hard to pick up. Spray a little bit of hairspray on a rag and use it to wipe up the fur or lint. The hairspray will help it stick to the rag and make it so much easier to pick up. Another one of the crazy uses for hair spray that seems to be such a good one!
Stain protector
Want to protect a recipe card in the kitchen? A couple of quick coats of hair spray will help repel stains and keep your recipe cards looking great. Crazy uses for hair spray? Yep, this is another great one.
Ink remover
This is one of the crazy uses for hair spray that we all have heard a time or two. Ink stains can be removed much more easily if they are sprayed with hairspray.
Have more crazy uses for hair spray that aren’t mentioned here? Share them with us. We love to hear from you!
Chinese New Year Recipes!
Yesterday I talked about Chinese New Year and how my family loves to celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about the new year and the animal of that year. I told you that I am pretty sure one of the reason my family likes it is because they like the food we eat when we celebrate Chinese New Year. Tomorrow, Thursday, February 19th is the first day of the Chinese New Year. Do you have plans to celebrate? How about cooking some of that great food? Here are two of the easier Chinese New Year recipes I have that will let you make some yummy food to celebrate Chinese New Year with your family. One has a couple of uncommon ingredients and the other has things many people already have in their kitchens. Let us know if you try these recipes. We love to hear from you!
Chinese New Year Recipes – Beef and Broccoli
Makes 4 servings
1/3 cup oyster sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/3 cup apple cider
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 pound beef round steak, cut into 1/8-inch thick strips
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more if needed
1 thin slice of fresh ginger root
1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
Directions:
1. Whisk together the oyster sauce, sesame oil, apple cider, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Place the steak pieces into a shallow bowl, pour the oyster sauce mixture over the meat, stir to coat well, and marinate for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and stir in the ginger and garlic. Let them sizzle in the hot oil for about 1 minute to flavor the oil, then remove and discard. Stir in the broccoli, and toss and stir in the hot oil until bright green and almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the broccoli from the skillet, and set aside.
3. Pour a little more oil into the skillet, if needed, and stir and toss the beef with the marinade until the sauce forms a glaze on the beef, and the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Return the cooked broccoli to the skillet, and stir until the meat and broccoli are heated through, about 3 minutes.
Chinese New Year Recipes – Sweet and Sour Chicken
Makes 8 servings
1 8 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained – save the juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 3/4 cups water, divided
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2 drops orange food coloring
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes
2 1/4 cups self-rising flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 egg
1 1/2 cups water
1 quart vegetable oil to use for frying
2 green bell peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups water, sugar, vinegar, reserved pineapple juice, and orange food coloring. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat. Combine 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup water; slowly stir into saucepan. Continue stirring until mixture thickens.
2. Combine flour, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, salt, white pepper, and egg. Add 1 1/2 cups water gradually to make a thick batter. Stir to blend thoroughly. Add chicken pieces, and stir until chicken is well coated.
3. Heat oil in skillet to 360 degrees F. Fry chicken pieces in hot oil 10 minutes, or until golden. Remove chicken, and drain on paper towels.
4. When ready to serve, layer green peppers, pineapple chunks, and cooked chicken pieces on a platter. Pour hot sweet and sour sauce over top.
Get the best of live TV for $20 a month AND get a free Fire TV Stick or $50 off Amazon Fire TV when you sign up for Sling TV! *Update: Get the Fire TV for just $34!
I first brought you this deal over the weekend but I realize many of you may have missed it, deals don’t always start with the best timing. I want to bring you the deal again but with a very exciting update added! The popular Amazon Fire TV is now on sale for $84.00 a discount of $15.00 from the regular price of $99.00! That means if you get the deal below and decide to buy the Amazon Fire TV you’ll pay only $34.00! That’s a savings of $65.00! Wow! That makes this deal even better! (Prices at Amazon can change at any time – get yours now if you want it. This discount could be gone at any time!) Here’s the HOT deal from Amazon and Sling TV I brought you over the weekend:
I talked before about how much I hate paying for cable. In fact, I hate it so much that about a year ago my family ditched cable and went to using an antenna. At first it was a hard transition, we missed a few of the cable channels and programs. There was a time or two that we missed a college football game, but overall we’ve been happy. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a few of those channels back. I’ve looked at going back to a basic cable package but that is still about $60.00 a month – more than I want to pay for sure! I’d pretty much written the idea off until I saw this new promo from Amazon and Sling TV.
We already have an Amazon Fire TV Stick and we LOVE it. We use it with our Prime and watch so many fun shows. It is a purchase I don’t regret at all. We I heard we could use Sling TV with the Amazon Fire TV Stick for just $20 a month I was interested. We would be able to watch most of the channels we missed. That would be great. In the fall we can add an extra sports package on for just $5 more a month if we want to – awesome! To make things even better right now you can get a free Fire TV Stick or $50 off Amazon Fire TV when you sign up for Sling TV for three months! What an awesome deal!
Here are the details from Amazon:
Sling TV delivers live TV—without the cable company—directly to your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. Get the best of live TV—sports, current shows, movies, and breaking news—instantly. No hidden fees, just a clear-cut monthly rate. And for a limited time, sign up for Sling TV for three months and get $50 off your purchase of Amazon Fire TV or get a Fire TV Stick FREE.
Get the best of live TV for $20 a month with ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, TNT, CNN, TBS, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Best of Maker, plus more channels to add on.
How to do it:
- Sign up for your subscription on the Sling TV website and prepay three months of Sling TV service.
- After signing up, you will receive a promotion code that can be used for $50 off Amazon Fire TV or a free Fire TV Stick.
- Copy the promotional code, go to www.amazon.com/redeemslingtvoffer, and add one Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick to your shopping cart.
- Proceed to check out. Paste or enter the promotional code in the “Enter a gift card or promotion code” field, click the ‘Apply’ button and complete your order.
- When your device arrives, simply plug it in, connect to the internet, and start enjoying instantly.
Doesn’t this sound like a great idea? I’m signing up today. How about you?
Make Your Own Valentines!
I know you have heard me say it before; I hate spending money on cards. Valentine’s day is no different! I’ve talked about how strolling down the card aisle with all of the pictures, jokes and sappy lines makes me a bit nauseous. It isn’t the silly sayings and bad jokes that turn my insides around. It is the crazy prices on the backs of the cards that always make me feel a little ill. With greeting card prices on the rise, you can easily spend over $5.00 buying just one card. If you add music, pictures, embellishments the prices climb toward $10.00. It’s crazy – if you have to buy a few valentines you can easily spend $30 or more! No way! I’ve decided to go the make your own Valentines route this year and try to save some money. Want to try it too? These DIY card ideas are sure to save you some money!
Paper cards
This is a super easy and fun idea if you want to make your own Valentines. You don’t have to be really crafty, even a simple homemade card can be nice. Use a couple of different textures or colors of paper and layer for depth. Color it with colored pencils or markers. This is a super idea for children. If your kids make their own valentines for family members, you can even save them as a reminder of their writing and drawing skills. It is so much fun to go back and look at things my kids made when they were little. Love this easy idea to make your own Valentines.
Print a card
A quick internet search will provide you with so many options for printing a card. You can make your own Valentines so easily by printing one of the thousands of free cards available online. There are cards for all ages available to print online. You will find some online retailers who charge to print a card but you won’t need to use a pay website. Keep looking and find a great card to print for free.
Books
Give a small book instead of a card. Write a note inside and the card is now also a gift. I think this is a fun and useful way to skip the store bought cards and make your own Valentines.
Magazines
This idea is the same as using a book for a card. Easy, inexpensive and fun!
Cookies or Cake
Try baking a cookie or cake and writing a note to your sweetheart on the top of it. Who says a cookie or cake can’t be a card? I think a big chocolate chip cookie with a sweet note written in frosting would make a cute and yummy valentine. This is a super sweet and tasty way to make your own Valentines!
Write on the mirror or window
This is a fun way to make your own Valentines. Write a note or poem on the the bathroom mirror, shower door or window. You can write on any other glass or mirror around the house. You could also try writing the note or poem on the car windows.
Have more ideas or a way to make your own Valentines? Share the ideas with us, we love to hear from you!
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Tips for arranging fresh flowers
Yesterday I talked about traditional Valentine’s Day gifts and I mentioned that flowers are one of the biggest and most popular traditional gifts. I mentioned that I always encourage my husband to skip the flowers because they are so expensive this time of year. It is true; Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and the prices on fresh flowers and arrangements are climbing higher and higher the closer it gets to February 14th. Flowers are a favored gift for Valentine’s Day and retailers seem to know this and prices reflect the increased demand. What do you do if you still want to give flowers to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day? Try arranging fresh flowers yourself!
The prices on fresh flower arrangements are crazy around Valentine’s Day but sometimes you can find good prices on stems and bunches of flowers. If you can find good flowers, arranging fresh flowers might be your answer. Try arranging fresh flowers yourself using these tips:
Cut the stems
Right after you bring the flowers home , cut about an inch off all of the stems using a sharp knife. The fresh cut on the stems will help the flowers absorb the water better.
Put them in water
Put flowers in water as soon as you get them home. Fill vases with lukewarm water, add floral preservative and then add the flowers. Warm water helps tightly closed flower heads open more fully. This will help your flowers look better every time you are arranging fresh flowers.
Recut the stems
Recut stems just before you add them to the arrangement you are making. Be sure you strip off any leaves that will be below the water line as you begin arranging fresh flowers.
Use florist’s foam
Using florist’s foam when you are arranging fresh flowers will help keep flowers in place and will keep them constantly hydrated which will help them last longer. Soak the foam for 15 minutes and then cut it to fit the container. Remember to water the foam.
Size matters
Your bouquet should be about one and a half times taller than its container. The width and the height should be balances when you are arranging fresh flowers.
Work evenly
Remember to turn the arrangement when you are arranging fresh flowers. This will help ensure even flower placement on all sides.
Flower selection
When you are arranging fresh flowers, p lace your larger heavier flowers in the arrangement first. Then fill in the arrangement with smaller flowers. Remember to include flowers with various shapes, sizes and stem lengths. Leave space between the stems which allows individual flowers to be seen more easily. Use the leaves and stems with leaves on them to fill in around the flowers.
Keep them fresh
Keep the flowers away from both sunlight and heating vents. Recut their stems and add water to the arrangement often.
Think you can succeed at arranging fresh flowers? Follow these tips and you’ll do great. Have more tips to share? Let us know – we love to hear from you!