One of my favorite brunch staples is Eggs Benedict. The combination of creamy hollandaise and tender poached eggs is just irresistible! But I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve attempted to make poached eggs at home.

Making poached eggs is a tricky thing to do at the best of times, and making enough of them for the whole family seems downright impossible! But I recently came across a method of poaching eggs that claimed to be “foolproof,” so I thought it would be a good time I give poached eggs another try!

Rather than a pot, this method utilizes a muffin tin. The eggs turned out great, and it was easy to make several at once. Armed with my newly discovered poached eggs method and my simple blender hollandaise sauce, I’m ready to put Eggs Benedict back on our breakfast menu!

How to Make Foolproof Poached Eggs in a Muffin Pan

You’ll need:

• Muffin pan (preferably non-stick)
• Cooking spray
• Eggs
• Water
• Vinegar (optional, see note below)

Directions:

Start by spraying your muffin pan with cooking spray.

Add a tablespoon or so of water to each of the cups.

Then crack an egg into each of the cups in your muffin pan (or just as many eggs as you want to make).

Bake the eggs at 350 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes. You want the egg whites to be firm, and the yolk should still jiggle a bit when touched. (The eggs may appear underdone when you take them out of the oven, but that’s just the extra water floating on the surface of the eggs. No need for alarm!)

Use a slotted spoon to scoop the eggs out of the pan. If you have a nonstick muffin pan, the eggs should come out easily.

Note: If you don’t have a nonstick muffin pan, you may want to add a bit of vinegar to the water in the cups, which will help congeal the egg whites and make them easier to scoop out of the pan. Use one teaspoon of vinegar for every 6 tablespoons or so of water. Just mix the water and vinegar together in a small bowl, then distribute the mixture evenly between your muffin cups.

Not only can you use these poached eggs as the start of your Eggs Benedict, you can also put them on a salad, over polenta, on asparagus, in ramen, and even on sandwiches. Happy brunching! :-)

Here’s another poached egg hack — I can’t get enough of them! :-)

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Is there anyone out there who doesn’t get swept up in the excitement of an exciting new kitchen appliance? I frequently remind myself that my current kitchen gadgets work perfectly well, so there’s no need to get new ones. And not only do I not need new kitchen appliances, but I also don’t have the storage space for them!

While those two arguments are usually enough to keep me from clicking that “Add To Cart” button, I’m not always able to resist the temptation. Needless to say, my kitchen cupboards are full of small appliances that perform a variety of tasks. I figure as long as I can find ways to use those appliances, they’re useful enough to keep around.

If you try to approach your kitchen appliances in the same way, then you’re in luck! Because today I’ll be sharing some creative uses for those small kitchen appliances that are tucked away in your kitchen cupboards. Hopefully these ideas serve as a reminder that any kitchen gadget can be useful and versatile if you’re willing to think outside the box! :-)

9 Unique Uses for Your Kitchen Appliances

1. Use Your Ice Cream Maker for Slushes

Your ice cream maker is capable of making all kinds of frozen treats, including cola slushes! Start by setting up your machine according to the directions, then pour a 12-ounce can of cola into the bowl and turn the machine on. Once a thick slush has formed (which should take about 10-15 minutes), scoop your cola slush into two glasses and serve!

2. Use Your Rice Cooker for Oatmeal

You can use your old rice cooker to make oatmeal and other hot cereals! This is not a time-saving measure though, and it will take twice as long to cook compared to other methods (if not more!) But you don’t have to stir or keep watch over it, so you can just turn it on and walk away, which frees you up to do other things.

The cooking instructions for oatmeal varies between rice cookers, so check the owner’s manual for details. (If you don’t have the manual anymore, you can often find them to download online! Just do a search for the brand and model number of your particular rice cooker.)

3. Use Your Blender for Dressings

Whether you have a regular blender or an immersion blender, you can use it to make condiments, dressings, and marinades! Using a blender is particularly useful for these sorts of things because it eliminates the need to mince garlic, shallots, and other aromatics. You can just give them a rough chop beforehand, and the blender blades will take care of the rest!

Related: How to Make Great Tasting Homemade Mayo in Seconds

4. Use Your Dishwasher for Cooking

You can use your dishwasher to cook foods, especially ones that should be cooked gently at low temperatures. Just make sure your item (whether it’s fruits, veggies, etc.) is sealed up tightly in ziplock bags, tin foil, or a jar, then place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a wash cycle, and the food will be perfectly hot and ready to eat!

5. Use Your Coffee Maker for Instant Noodles

If you have access to a coffee maker, you can make all sorts of “instant” foods, like noodles, oatmeal and more. Just run water through the coffee maker with an empty basket, and you’ll have hot water in minutes. (This is a particularly useful tip to use at the office!)

6. Use Your Microplane for Mincing

Any time a recipe calls for something to be minced, just grab your microplane grater instead! Grating things like garlic and ginger is much quicker and easier than mincing, and the grated bits mix in easily to sauces and dressings.

7. Use Your Crockpot to Bake Bread

Apparently you can use your trusty old slow cooker to bake bread! I’ve never personally attempted it, but it seems like a pretty straightforward process. Check out this post from The Kitchen for tons of details, tips, and tricks for making bread in your slow cooker.

8. Use Your Popcorn Maker to Toast Nuts

Some recipes call for raw nuts while other call for toasted nuts, so I usually compromise by buying raw nuts and toasting them as needed. One really simple way to toast nuts at home is by using your popcorn maker!

Just place a handful of nuts in the machine and turn it on for 5-10 seconds. Shake the machine to keep the nuts moving, and repeat the process until the nuts reach your desired level of toasting. (They toast surprisingly quickly, so keep an eye on them!)

9. Use Your Microwave to Warm Plates

Putting food on a warm plate can help keep it warm until the rest of your meal is ready to serve, and you can easily warm plates up using your microwave! Place no more than 2 or 3 microwave safe plates in the microwave along with a small dish of water. Start low and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute, and you’ll soon have warm plates ready to go!

Do you use any of your kitchen appliances in non-traditional ways?

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Shrunken sweaters, static cling, deodorant marks, scuffed shoes… I could go on and on! There’s a nearly endless list of wardrobe malfunctions and clothing catastrophes that like to crop up from time to time to cause chaos. But before you throw in the towel and burn the offending piece of clothing, stop! Take a break, as well as a few deep breaths, and read this post first. :-) There’s almost ALWAYS a cure for what ails you and your clothing, and today I’ll be sharing a couple dozen of them!

So without further ado, here are 24 ways to fix common clothing catastrophes and wardrobe malfunctions. (And if you have a clothing fix that isn’t listed here, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section!)

Related:  8 Clever Clothing Hacks That Will Help You Beat the Heat

24 Solutions to Common Clothing Catastrophes

1. Stains

If you’re in need of an all-purpose stain remover for everyday clothing stains, look no further! My very favorite stain remover is one you can make right in your own home! I’ve used it to remove all kinds of different stains, and it hasn’t failed me yet!

Related: How to Make My Ultimate Stain Remover Spray

2. Buttons

Dab a bit of white glue on the threads of the buttons on your dress shirts. This will help prevent the threads from fraying, and will keep your buttons on longer. If you don’t have any white glue, clear nail polish works just as well!

3. Zipper Fix

If you have a pair of pants with a zipper that just won’t stay up, here’s an easy fix. Attach a key ring onto the edge of the zipper, then pull the zipper up and hook the key ring around the button of the pants. The key ring will keep the zipper in place! (You could also use a paperclip if you don’t have a key ring to spare.)

4. Static Cling

To get rid of static cling, spray the inside of your clothing with a light layer of hair spray. Another option is to run the long side of a wire hanger over the outside and inside of your clothing, or you can rub your clothes down with a dryer sheet!

5. Shrinking

Accidentally shrink a favorite piece of clothing? Follow the link below to learn my favorite trick for “unshrinking” clothes. It’s easier than you’d think!

Related: How to Unshrink Your Clothes in 3 Simple Steps

6. Wrinkles

No time to drag out an iron and ironing board to fix a wrinkled shirt? A straightening iron works perfectly for smoothing out collar creases and minor wrinkles. It also fits between shirt buttons nicely! You can look perfectly pressed, even when you’re pressed for time. (Another option is to make my simple homemade wrinkle release spray! Check it out at the link below.)

Related: Homemade Wrinkle Release Spray

7. Leather Shoes

Use the inside of a banana peel to erase scuffs on your leather shoes, then buff them to a shine with a paper towel. To erase water stains on leather shoes, use a toothbrush dipped in white vinegar. (For more tips on caring for leather shoes, check out the post below!)

Related: How to Clean and Care for Leather Shoes

8. Too-Tight Shoes

Use a hair dryer to help you stretch out a pair of too-tight shoes. Pull on a pair of thick socks, then put the tight shoes on too. Point your hair dryer at the shoes for a minute or two, then keep the shoes on until they cool off. Here are more ways to stretch too-tight shoes.

9. Glasses

Whether you’re wearing reading glasses or sunglasses, it’s really annoying to have them slipping off your face! Just grab your trusty hot glue gun to add some extra grip. Apply a line of hot glue to the inside of each arm of your glasses, near the back where they rest above your ears. When the glue dries, the glue will add some extra grip and keep them from sliding. (And you can peel the hot glue off whenever you want without damaging your frames.)

10. Sweat Stains

Because of the proteins present in your sweat, sweat stains on your clothing can be tricky to remove. But with the right ingredients and method, it’s easier than you’d think! Check out my post on removing sweat stains from clothing by following the link below. (And to help prevent sweat stains in the first place, spray the underarms of your shirts with lemon juice before you wash them.)

Related: How to Remove Sweat Stains the Easy Way

11. Dingy Whites

Are your whites not so white anymore? My favorite method for whitening whites is surprisingly simple, and incredibly effective – much more effective than just using bleach! Get all the details from the post below.

Related: Make Your Own “Miracle” Laundry Whitening Solution

12. Pilling

I wrote a whole post about ways to get rid of pesky pilling on sweaters and other clothing. Check it out at the link below!

Related: How to Save Your Sweaters From Pesky Pilling

13. Sneakers

Clean the hard surfaces of dirty sneakers with a magic eraser. It’s an easy way to make shoes look brand new! And check out my post on how to clean sneakers — even white ones!

14. Suede

You can clean dirt off of suede shoes with a piece of stale bread crust or a pencil eraser. For more detailed instructions on how to clean and care for suede, read the post below.

Related: How to Clean Suede

15. Hems

Hold up the hem of your pants or skirt in an emergency using paper clips. For a more permanent solution, check out this post about how to hem jeans while still keeping the original hem.

16. Pantyhose

Use clear nail polish to stop a run in a pair of pantyhose. You can also prevent the run in the first place by spraying pantyhose with a bit of hair spray before wearing them.

17. Ink Stains

Ink stains don’t have to be a death sentence for your clothes. You just need to know what stain removal methods work best on ink! Get the details below.

Related: How to Remove Ink Stains From Clothing With No Effort

18. Bleeding Denim

A new pair of jeans can quickly become a nuisance if the dye starts transferring to your hands, furniture, and other clothes. Use the methods in the post below to lock the dye into your denim and stop the messy dye transfer.

Related: How to Stop Denim Dye From Bleeding

19. Stuck Zipper

To keep zippers from sticking (or to loosen one that’s already stuck), lightly rub the zipper’s teeth with a small piece of wax paper (or a bar of soap). The wax from the paper will help the zipper move smoothly, and reduce the chances of it getting stuck again.

20. Extra Grip

If you need a bit of extra grip to power through a slippery trail (or just to get across an icy parking lot), grab a zip tie! Loop the zip tie around the toe of your shoe, with the fastener facing down towards the ground. Clip the excess length, and the clasp will give you that extra traction you’re looking for.

21. Ring Around the Collar

Apply cream of tartar directly to stains around shirt collars. Dampen the collar area with water, sprinkle with cream of tartar, then rub the powder into the stain. Launder as usual.

22. Treating Stains in a Pinch

Club soda is well known for its stain-removing abilities. Dab club soda onto a stain with a clean cloth to help absorb the stain before washing the item.

Related: 10 Ways That Club Soda Is the Ultimate Folk Remedy

23. Deodorant Marks

Wipe away deodorant stains with an old pair of panty hose, without leaving tissue bits behind.

Related: Best Ways to Remove Deodorant Stains

24. Keep Clothes Fresh

Hang a bag of chalk in your closets to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Chalk is excellent at absorbing moisture and odor. Or you can make some DIY sachets to keep your closet smelling fresh!

Do you have any clothing emergency remedies? Share them below!

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The time you spend cooking or baking in your kitchen should at least be pleasant, if not enjoyable. But cluttered countertops, jammed drawers, and a total lack of available storage space can make it anything but!

If you’ve been struggling with any or all of these symptoms of clutter in your own kitchen, then you’ve come to the right place! :-) Because today I’m sharing a list of 11 things to get rid of in your kitchen in order to cut down on clutter.

Even if you kitchen is so cluttered and chaotic that it sometimes feels like a lost cause, I’d encourage you to start by tackling all the items on this list. Addressing just these items will go a surprisingly long way, and will motivate you to continue on in your journey toward a kitchen you love spending time in!

11 Things You Should Get Rid of in Your Kitchen

1. Duplicates

I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of buying a new kitchen tool to replace one that was broken or dysfunctional, only to forget to actually get rid of the old one. Having two of something can be useful in certain cases, but for things like can openers or potato mashers, you really only need one.

Go through your drawers and cupboards and pull out any duplicates you can find. Then keep the one that works better, and get rid of the other one!

2. Takeout Freebies

When you get takeout or order delivery, the food is usually packed with extras like chopsticks, seasoning packets, sauce packets, and utensil bundles. Many people hang on to these freebies because it feels wasteful to throw them away, but at a certain point, that stuff is just contributing to clutter!

Get rid of the freebies you don’t actually use, and put that extra space to good use. If you do actually use them, cut your collection down to reasonable size to save space.

3. Mismatched Food Containers

Keeping food storage containers organized is hard enough without dealing with a bunch of containers without lids (or vice versa) too! Performing an inventory of your food storage containers is a great starting point for streamlining your collection.

First, go through all your lids and containers and get rid of anything that’s broken, warped, or otherwise damaged. After that, go through and match each lid to a container. If you end up with any lids or containers that aren’t part of a matched set, get rid of those too.

4. Fridge Clutter

Fridge magnets can be a fun and functional way to dress up the front of your fridge, but they can also make your kitchen look messier than it actually is. Get rid of any fridge magnets, wedding invitations, business cards, and anything else from your fridge you don’t need or want, then rearrange what’s left into a more organized display.

For magnet collectors who can’t bear to part with their collections, consider displaying them on a rotating schedule. Choose a reasonable number of your magnets to keep on the fridge, and store the rest in a cupboard or in another room. Switch them out for a new selection of magnets once a month or so to continue enjoying your collection without cluttering up your fridge!

5. Expired Foods

If your pantry always seems to be cluttered, you may be able to clear up a considerable amount of space simply by getting rid of anything that’s expired. Once you’re done going through your pantry, you’ll know that everything in there is still fresh, and you’ll have more storage space to work with!

6. Neglected Gadgets

Ever bought a kitchen gadget that you thought was going to be a game-changer, only to realize it wasn’t actually that helpful? It doesn’t make sense to continue storing gadgets you know you’ll never use, so toss your neglected gadgets in a donation box, or look for a willing buyer online.

7. Chipped Dishes

If you have any chipped ceramic cups or plates, now may be a good time to part with them. And it isn’t just about presentation or aesthetics—chips expose the ceramic’s porous interior, inviting germs and bacteria to make themselves at home in your dishes.

8. Old Sponges

According to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, one minute in your microwave is enough to kill 99.9% of bacteria present on your kitchen sponge. But even with regular cleanings, the average kitchen sponge isn’t built to last forever!

If you have any old or smelly kitchen sponges hiding somewhere, replace them with fresh ones.

9. Unread Cookbooks

Sometimes the beautiful photographs and mouth-watering recipes in a cookbook are enough for us to convince ourselves that we’ll actually use it. But lo and behold, it’s still sitting untouched in the kitchen a year later.

Reclaim the space that your unused cookbooks are taking up in your kitchen, then sell or donate them so someone else can enjoy them.

10. Water Bottles

Between the impulse buys, the freebies from conferences, and the ones you bought to replace the other ones you thought were missing, it’s easy for a collection of reusable water bottles to get out of hand! A good rule of thumb is to keep one water bottle per person living in your house, plus one or two extra. Wash the rest, then donate or recycle them.

11. Reusable Shopping Bags

Don’t get me wrong—reusable shopping bags are great and I use them all the time! But if you keep every free tote you’re ever given at work, conferences, or elsewhere, it’s highly likely you have way more of them than you’ll ever actually need!

So gather all your shopping bags and totes together, then choose 10 of the best ones to keep and get rid of the rest. And store your shopping bags either by the garage door or in the trunk of your car, so you’ll be more likely to remember to use them!

What are usually the main sources of clutter in your kitchen?

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If you’ve ever tried to buy a Father’s Day gift for your practical husband or dad, you know it’s not always an easy task. Often, they either don’t want much or already have what they want! And even if you do manage to find a promising option, it can be hard to know if they’ll actually use it.

That’s why I wanted to share a Father’s Day gift idea that’s a little unexpected.

It’s not a gadget. It’s not another tool, wallet, or grill accessory.

It’s a really good set of microfiber cloths.

I know — it’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Father’s Day gifts, but hear me out! When a product genuinely makes life easier, men notice, and I’ve heard from scores of women whose husbands have become faithful fans of my favorite microfiber cloths.

Those stories made me realize that a set of microfiber cloths would make the perfect Father’s Day gift, and I think you’ll agree once I’ve argued my case!

Why Microfiber Cloths Are the Perfect Father’s Day Gift

If you want to get the men in your life something they’ll actually use, a set of quality microfiber cloths makes the perfect gift. They’re not particularly flashy, but they’ll quietly make his life easier by simplifying everyday tasks like washing the car, cleaning his glasses, and drying dishes.

The beauty of this gift is that it won’t be something he stuffs in a drawer and never uses. It will solve everyday problems he didn’t even know he had, which means he’ll keep reaching for them (and thinking of you whenever he does!)

Will Men Actually Use Them? These Women Say Yes

Skeptical that your husband, dad, or brother would actually use a set of microfiber cloths? Here are just a few of the many testimonials of husband approval I’ve received from women who purchased these cloths:

“I started using these, and my husband was observing how well they dried everything and asked if I could get more so he could take them up to his hunting camp. That in itself speaks volumes since everything I buy from the internet he poo-poos.” – Gail H. 

“I have never been a fan of microfiber cloths because they catch easily on the skin on the palm of my hand. However, these are the best I’ve ever used. My husband has callouses and commented how much he liked these because they’re soft and don’t catch on his calluses. I will be buying more of them.” – Lilly

“I love these towels for their ease of cleaning things, drying my dishes, the list is endless. What’s even better, my husband asked where I got them, and I told him. He said, ‘These are some of the best towels we have bought, can you buy more??’ We would highly recommend these to anyone looking for a great towel.” – Linda P. 

“I share with my husband because he likes using them in the garage on his truck.” – Barb

“Immediately upon use, my hubby started raving about these dishcloths. He has ruined my other ones, cleaning up super-greasy pots and pans. He commented after one particularly bad session, ‘These are good!’ Coming from a former restaurant dishwasher, this is the highest compliment you can receive on these gems.” – Donna G. 

“Husband approved! He offered to make work rags out of the old towels to make room in the drawer for these.” – Tara C.

“My husband, a devout squeegee user, says these towels work even better. Glad I have them!” – Sharon K.

“I hung one near the kitchen sink to dry our hands on. My husband liked it so much that he asked if he could have one in his bathroom for his hands. That is quite a compliment since he rarely asks to use any specific item. I was happy I had purchased a few packs.” – Hilda B.

Notice the pattern here? These women didn’t have to convince their husbands to use these cloths. Their husbands noticed how much better they worked than standard towels and embraced them on their own!

These waffle weave microfiber cloths are seriously absorbent, gentle on surfaces, tough on grime, and hold up well wash after wash. To give you a better idea of how these cloths can benefit the dad(s) in your life, here are a few ways real men are using them in their daily lives:

7 Ways Men Use These Microfiber Cloths

1. Cleaning Up the Kitchen

Since I usually do the cooking and Dave takes care of the dishes, he’s acquired some strong opinions about dish towels. These microfiber kitchen towels check all of his boxes: they’re super absorbent, dry quickly between uses, and don’t leave streaks or lint behind!

2. Cleaning Their Cars

For men who take pride in a clean car, these cloths solve common frustrations like lint on the dashboard, streaks on chrome, and stubborn windshield grime. Equally useful for washing, drying, and quick touch-ups, these cloths get the job done without leaving behind scratches, swirls, lint, or residue.

3. In the Great Outdoors

If your husband loves fishing as much as mine, these cloths are sure to find a home in his tackle box. Dave keeps a stack of them on his boat to dry his hands, clean his knife and cutting board, and wipe down the console and seats of his fishing boat after a day on the water.

If the man you’re shopping for is more of a camper, hiker, or hunter, he’ll still find plenty of ways to use these cloths during his outdoor adventures. They’re great for cleaning dishes at camp, wiping down picnic tables, and taking care of any other mess he may encounter!

4. Wiping Glasses and Screens

Eyeglasses, sunglasses, tablets, TV screens… these cloths get a lot of use in our house! We both wear glasses and find these cloths perfect for cleaning smudged lenses without worrying about scratches. They’re also great for cleaning phones, computer monitors, and TVs without damaging sensitive electronics or leaving lint behind.

5. In the Garage

Whether he’s a weekend warrior or a serious DIYer, these cloths are tough enough to handle messes in the garage or workshop! They’re soft enough to polish delicate materials, but tough enough to handle grease and sawdust (and they’ll wash clean afterward!)

6. In the Backyard

Grill masters and groundskeepers will find plenty of ways to use a set of quality microfiber cloths. They’re great for wiping grill tools, sopping up spills, and cleaning grimy mower handles or headlights. (Dave keeps one by the grill and another in the garage for just such situations!)

7. Polishing Prized Possessions

For men who take pride in their possessions, these cloths are the perfect gift to make cleaning and maintaining those possessions a breeze. He can use them to clean and polish his wristwatches, golf clubs, sneakers/shoes, collectibles, or any other item he cares about!

The Microfiber Cloth Kit: Everything Dads Need in One Convenient Package

This kit includes everything he needs to tackle messes, cleanups, and wipe-downs with ease:

• 2 Kitchen Towels (16” x 23”) – for drying dishes, countertops, or the car
• 4 Cleaning Cloths (13” x 13”) – perfect for tools, screens, and dusty dashboards
• 4 Dishcloths (10” x 10”) – for everyday spills and messes, indoors or out

Choose his favorite color (or yours!) for each style: grey, cream, blue, or pink. Black is also available for the kitchen towels and cleaning cloths.

These aren’t the cheap, scratchy microfiber cloths you might have tried before. They’re made to last through hundreds of uses and washes while staying soft and effective.

And during our Father’s Day Sale, the whole kit is 40% off—just $33!

Ready to give a gift that works as hard as he does?

Whether you’re shopping for your husband, dad, or father-in-law, this is one of those rare gifts that’s both thoughtful and genuinely useful. He might not know he needs better towels, but once he tries these, he’ll wonder how he ever managed without them.

Just don’t be surprised if he asks for a second set.

Shop the Microfiber Cloth Kit →

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I can’t believe it’s already June! I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly ready to finally enjoy some warm, sunny weather. :-) And even if you’ve been lucky enough to have already been enjoying summer weather, there’s still plenty to get excited about in the coming weeks!

With Father’s Day around the corner and all kinds of other fun celebrations going on, there are sure to be plenty of sales, deals, and low prices worth taking advantage of in June. And today I’ll be sharing some of the notable deals going on this month, so you can stock up on the things you want and need for less!

7 Things to Stock Up on in June

1. Pain Relief

June is National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month. You’ll find savings on aspirins, sinus medications, pain relief, and other medicines this month, so it’s a great time to restock your medicine cabinet.

2. Iced Tea

Tea lovers rejoice, because National Iced Tea Day is coming up on June 10th! Look out for low prices on tea products, including tea bags, mixes, and bottled teas. (And be sure to visit your favorite tea/coffee shop on June 10th to take advantage of any special deals they may be offering!)

3. Seasonal Produce

June also happens to be National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month! So it should come as no surprise that you’ll be able to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables at great low prices in the coming weeks.

You can get the most value for your money by stocking up on fruits and vegetables that are in season right now, including apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, nectarines, potatoes, red onions, summer squash, and strawberries. Eat what you can now, and store the rest in your freezer for later!

4. Dairy Products

If you thought June couldn’t possibly support another month-long event, you thought wrong, because it’s also National Dairy Month! :-) And that’s good news for you, because you’ll be able to stock up on dairy products like milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, and more at great low prices.

Did you know that most dairy products freeze surprisingly well? Find tips on how to freeze dairy products at the link below!

Related: 20 Ways to Use Your Freezer to Save Time and Money

5. Barbecue Supplies

In the weeks leading up to July 4th, you’ll start to see prices drop on everything you might need for a summer barbecue. Be sure to plan a shopping trip sometime during the last two weeks of June to stock up on the following barbecue essentials:

• Hot dogs
• Hamburger patties
• Buns
• Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, salad dressing, etc.)
• Potato chips
• Soda
• Charcoal
• …and more!

6. First Aid Products

Keep your eyes peeled for low prices on first aid products and health essentials this month! It’s a great opportunity to stock up on summertime necessities like bandages, antibacterial ointment, bug spray, sunscreen, and more.

7. Frozen Treats

Summer officially begins on June 21st, and what better way to celebrate than with a tasty frozen treat? Keep an eye out for sales so you can stock up on ice cream, popsicles, frozen yogurt, and more!

… and More!

Looking for more information about sales and deals during the month of June? Check out the blog post at the link below!

Related: June Is the Best Month to Buy These 9 Things

What will you be stocking up on this month?

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We have more options than ever before when it comes to makeup and beauty tools. There are plenty of gizmos and gadgets you can use to help you get the hair and skin of your dreams!

But even with all the modern formulas, technologies, and equipment that we enjoy, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn anything from the past. In fact, there are plenty of beauty hacks that would be considered “old school” today that still work just as well as they did back in the day!

Today I’ll be sharing 11 effective beauty hacks from decades past. These solutions are quick, cheap, and easy, and often rely on natural ingredients. My hope is that these tips prove that when it comes to beauty, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel—sometimes all you need is a great tip that people have been using for years. :-)

11 Old School Beauty Hacks That Still Work

1. Soften Eyeliner

Remember that old lighter trick for softening up an eyeliner pencil? It’s still one of the easiest ways to get your eyeliner to glide on smoothly.

Just light up a lighter and pass the tip of the eyeliner through the flame for a second or two, then blow on the tip of the eyeliner to cool it off and apply as usual. The heat softens the tip and makes it much easier to apply, and it won’t tug on your eyelids either.

2. Tighten Pores

If your face is looking a little red, tired, or puffy, use the magic of ice water! A good old fashioned dunk in cold water will restrict the blood flow in your face, making your skin look less puffy and more awake. Just fill a bowl or your sink with cold water and a few ice cubes and dunk your face right in. Hold it in the water for 8-10 seconds for best results.

3. Soothe Eyes

Staring at a computer screen for hours can make your eyes look puffy and irritated, but previously brewed tea bags make a soothing de-puffing treatment. Just steep two bags of tea in 1/2 cup of hot water for about 3 minutes or so, then remove the bags and refrigerate them.

Once they’re cold, apply a bag to each eye and relax for 10 minutes. Your eyes will feel refreshed and look less puffy!

4. Tone Skin

Apple cider vinegar makes a great toner that not only leaves skin feeling softer and smoother, but can help dry out blemishes too. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 4 parts water together and apply the mixture to your face using a cotton ball or pad.

5. Add Shine to Hair

If your hair is looking a bit dull and drab, you can use olive oil to infuse moisture and shine back in. Heat up 1/2 cup of olive oil in your microwave for about 10 seconds, until it’s warm but not hot. Apply the warm oil to your hair, then put on a shower cap and let it sit for 20 minutes.

Wash your hair as usual (though you will likely need to shampoo it more than once to get all the oil out). Once your hair is clean and dry, you’ll notice it looks softer and shinier than ever!

6. Amplify Lashes

When your lashes need some extra convincing to curl, grab your hair dryer and use it to warm up your eyelash curler for a few seconds. (Make sure you don’t get it too hot—you don’t want to accidentally burn yourself!) Use the warm eyelash curler to curl your lashes, and say hello to your perfectly fanned and flirty lashes!

Related: 23 Unexpected Things You Can Do With Your Hair Dryer

7. Scrub Away Dead Skin

You don’t need a fancy or expensive scrub to exfoliate your skin when sugar from your kitchen works just as well! Combine 2 parts sugar to 1 part coconut oil or olive oil. Rub the mixture gently into your skin, then rinse with warm water. (This mixture also works well as a lip scrub, so you can get two benefits in one!)

8. Reduce Redness

Some blemishes have so much redness that it’s impossible to cover them up. In these cases, it pays to keep a bottle of eye drops handy! Eyedrops are meant to reduce redness in your eyes, but they can have a similar effect on pimples too.

Soak the end of a cotton swab in eye drops, then apply it to your blemish for a few minutes. It won’t make it smaller, but it will mask some of the redness for a few hours!

Related: 11 Practical Uses for Cotton Swabs Around the House

9. Hydrate Skin

Using avocado as a facial treatment can help hydrate and nourish your skin. Just mash up an avocado and spread it evenly over your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes or so, then rinse clean with warm water. You won’t believe how smooth your skin feels afterward!

10. Treat Dandruff

Dandruff can stem from a variety of issues, many of them involving the balance of oils and chemicals on your scalp. You can use apple cider vinegar to rebalance the pH level of your scalp to help eliminate dandruff. Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water, then pour over wet, shampooed hair. Rinse thoroughly, then condition as usual.

11. Deodorant Substitute

If you’ve run out of deodorant and you’re in a bind, use baking soda to help neutralize bacteria and odor in a snap. Mix 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda with 1/4 teaspoon of water and apply the mixture to your underarms. (You can also add a drop of tea tree essential oil to the mixture for added deodorizing and antibacterial power.)

Do you have a favorite beauty hack from back in the day?

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