...Tips & Tricks...

Homemade Liquid Soap

2011-12-06T12:07:00.001-08:00

Just a little favorite thing I found on good ole pinterest ... It makes a gallon of liquid soap from 1 bar of Meyer's Clean Day soap! The hardest part of this was actually finding the bar soap. Amazon only sold it in packs of 6, 2 Ace Hardware stores only sold every other thing of Meyer's, and the grocery store did not carry the bar soap either. My sister told me her Ace sold the bar soap, but this time I called before I went... Yay, they had it! So here is the recipe:

1 gallon of water
2 Tablespoons of Glycerin (found near the band aids at Publix) - $3/bottle
1 bar of Meyer's Clean Day (I chose the lavender scent) - $5/bar

I used a cheese grater to grate the soap & put it in a pot with 1 gallon of water & the glycerin.

Over medium/high heat, it becomes soapy water once the soap dissolves. (this happens in a matter of minutes) Turn off the heat & let cool for 10-12 hours. If it a little harder than liquid soap once you have let it cool (like mine did), add a little water & use beaters to get the consistency you would like.

The savings is incredible & I can't wait to use this in my homemade mason jar soap dispensers!

Next time I will try it with my other favorite soaps... Keep you posted!

Evernote....

2011-09-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

I have been obsessing over my "to do" lists to organize my craft ideas, grocery lists, work & general things floating in my head... (basically re-writing it everyday!)

I have decided to go back to Evernote! It has gotten even better.

You don't have to carry lists anymore, you can retweet something & it will go directly to your evernote page (& it will sync with your phone app automatically). Like Pinterest, there is a "web clipper" that can clip an article, save images, email notes or to-do lists!

So throw away your pad of paper or post its & check it out!

Crafting Ideas From Pinterest

2011-09-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, but for a good reason. I am loving Pinterest so much... maybe a little too much! It is a wonderful way to learn more tips & tricks, but also for home improvement, craft ideas, or recipes. Here are a few of the projects I have been working on.

The 2 plain doors above my fridge are now painted with magnetic paint (4 coats) & then chalkboard paint. I have a little touch up to do, but the finished result is so fun!

Chalkboard paint on my planters... :)

I had bought glossy white spray paint to make porcelain vases, but my originally black planter was screaming for an update.... (btw, I found the same spray paint at Home Depot for half the price that I paid at Michael's!) So when I bought more white, I also got spray paint in silver. I love the way it turned out!

I have many more projects in mind & I occasionally tweet some of my favorites! Check them out!

Pinterest is my new favorite thing...

2011-08-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about this one? My friend, Lainey, introduced me to it... (check out her blog if you want some great recipes) It is a virtual pinboard where you can post anything from decorating ideas, recipes, workouts, or travel ideas. No more magazine rip outs for me. :) I now have a place where I can store all my ideas & feel organized doing it! Check out pinterest when you can. Right now, I am putting up all my magazine "rip outs", but soon I will be checking out other boards for new ideas. You can also find your friend's boards via twitter, facebook, or email! Let the creative juices flow!

Want an eyeliner that won't smudge??

2011-08-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Honestly, this is the best eyeliner I have ever used! It is Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes... Usually by the middle of the day my eyeliner has traveled to the crease of my eyes & I look like a raccoon. (winter & summer) I read about this eyeliner for something to wear while at the pool, but it mentioned it was good with the heat. At first, I bought it in the black color and loved it as a base. It was a little too drastic for a daytime look. Then, I got it in the brown (2L)... LOVE!! Can't wait to try other colors! I got them at Sephora, but here is the link to Make Up For Ever.

Coconut Oil!!

2011-08-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

The latest health craze.... Coconut oil! Not only is it better to cook with because it has a high smoke point, but the other benefits are almost uncountable! Here is a list of 80 uses for coconut oil. These include moisturizer, eye cream, hair conditioner, deep treatment, bug bites, skin problems, & so many more! Check out the link - you will be surprised how many there are. I have done the hair treatment for 30 minutes & loved the results! (very keratin like!) I have used it as an eye cream & it absorbs immediately. (btw, there is literally no smell)

Initially, I bought a cheap bottle from the International Farmer's Market. I was so impressed that I have bought a "name brand" & "organic" bottle! I will update you on the difference. Here are the bottles I have purchased:

I will post here under comments as I continue to find more fun, useful uses! Here is an answer to how coconut oil is good for you & how it also helps burn fat. Let me know how it works for you!

Better 'n Peanut Butter

2011-07-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

I LOVE peanut butter.... like cheese, I think it should be a food group! It is a little distressing to me that it not considered a "healthy" fat. So when I found Better 'n Peanut Butter at Whole Foods, I was over the moon.

I was even more ecstatic when I thought it tasted great & Rob likes it more than regular peanut butter! It is 100 calories per serving instead of 200-220 & 85% less fat. It comes in a low sodium version as well (which I found at Trader Joes). They taste pretty similar, but that is probably because it is already low in that department. It is a little more expensive than its fully loaded counterpart, but worth every penny!

If you love peanut butter like me, you gotta try it!

Citrus Squeezer

2011-07-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, you might think this isn't necessary in the kitchen... BUT, I think I lack the ability to squeeze a lemon or a lime without causing it to go in every direction (or in someone's eye)! So while I was at Bed, Bath & Beyond, I picked one up that was about 3 or 4 dollars...

I love it! I cut the lemons down so they fit in this cheaper squeezer, but I think I am getting more juice out of the fruit this way & I am preventing the mess I made the other way! This one is a keeper!

A Better Salt?

2011-07-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have picked up several tips from nutritionist Kimberly Snyder & her book, The Beauty Detox Solution. One of best tips I have found was to change my salt! I know it sounds silly, but she explains why here on her blog. My husband actually thinks it tastes better than sea or kosher salt! (that is saying a lot) She also recommends the Himalayan Pink Salt in her book, but I prefer the Celtic in my recipes and dishes. I found both at Whole Foods, but Trader Joe's in Atlanta only carries the Himalayan. Here are some pictures of them which might make it easier to find:

All New Look at Shampoo...

2011-07-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have had a problem with tangles for years! To the point where if it is growing out, I have it cut to a bob length every time. I also have a very sensitive scalp which some conditioners leave too much residue. I actually turned to YouTube for this one... and found this video where the girls describes the difference between shampoo that contains sodium lauryl sulfate (bad) vs sodium laureth sulfate (good). I bought the Dove & Aveeno shampoo brands that she mentions...

Love the difference! I don't even use conditioner anymore! I can tell a huge difference in the texture of my hair & scalp. Now I use my Aveda Shampure as body wash!

The Blog is Getting a New Spin

2011-07-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I don't travel enough to make my focus on the blog just about travel tips. I am not leaving that topic completely... However, I will be adding tips & tricks I have learned about skin care, diet, food substitutions, & other everyday topics! I will basically be highlighting all the top suggestions I have found on twitter, blogs, & other advice from friends. I am excited because I think everyone should have this knowledge at their fingertips! Here goes...

Belle of the Blog: Enjoy Applebee's New Unbelievable Under 550 Calorie Entrées for Free

2011-01-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

Belle of the Blog: Enjoy Applebee's New Unbelievable Under 550 Calorie Entrées for Free

New Year Resolution...

2011-01-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

I miss my Blog!! I haven't even posted about our October trip to England... Besides a fantastic time with old friends and family, we were able to use SkyMiles to pay for our room in London. Unfortunately, it used all my skymiles and I have been trying to rebuild my account with surveys from e-rewards and American Express. I wish I could find a way to get paid to travel since we practically fly for free.... More pictures and details about England soon!

Did we make our budget of $150 for 3 days...??

2010-08-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we went a little over our budget....

We spent $230 (with train tickets) which is still pretty good! We had a few things that put us over the top. I had a nightmare that I ordered a bottle of water that was $10.... oh yea, we did. Another way to save is to buy single tickets for the rail system. You really don't need a 3 day pass for the train/tram/bus. Including the airport transfers, we only rode the rail system 4 times and at a $1 a ride, we could have saved about 20 dollars. This being said, a couple times I wasn't sure where you could buy a 1 way pass especially for the tram. By the way, we got checked 2 times for our tickets. I was aware this could happen, but one time the guy was in plain clothes and his "license" is a metal type coin attached to his belt! Not what I was expecting!

We probably could have cut back on the beer, but what fun would that of been? This picture was taken at the Strahov Monastery. One of my favorite places! It did cost a little more for food and drink, but the views were worth every penny.

The food was usually pretty reasonable in price, but it is all so rich in flavor that you will eat less than you expect. The summer market in Old Town Square was a great resource for local cuisine... You could buy kielbasa, chicken kabobs, crepes and other local favorites for $2-5.

These were open whenever we went buy and you could buy local souvenirs and handmade jewelry.
Look at the blacksmith and his children... adorable! The people watching on Old Town Square was phenomenal... Watch out for the homeless people digging through trash! They will eat whatever they find right in front of you... ;) More on the hot spots to check out in my next post!

Beware the water in Prague...

2010-08-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

I am still downloading the 900 pictures we took in Prague... So meanwhile, a quick lesson learned while dining out in Prague!

Who would have thought that the water in Prague cost more than beer, wine, or soda?? I ordered a large bottle of water with dinner one night when I found some yummy Italian wine... this would be normal in any other European country and I completely didn't look at the price on the menu. When the bill came, I learned that the bottle cost $10 US dollars... I started looking at the price of water at restaurants compared to street vendors or markets. I don't know if they import the water from a hidden spring in Russia, but I thought it was hilarious that the water was more than 2-3 cocktails!! ;) There was another time I ordered a water with a beer at a cafe, and I should have had this revelation when the water was a shot in a bottle and cost as much as the beer.......

Note to self: buy water at the market and carry it with you even if you are out to dinner on a budget!!

3 days in Prague...

2010-08-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, the hotels are booked... To save a few bucks, we are at the Marriott for 2 nights (1 free and 1 with a $100 Marriott gift card) and 1 night at the Hilton. Luckily, they are right across the street from each other so it shouldn't be too much of a pain to switch. We got a great rate at both. Always ask for a discount and when we get there, we will be asking for upgrades... all they can say is NO. :) We are staying very close to Old Town Square. My main concern is going to be the weather... I have a back up plan of touring on a Tram which is suppose to take you around the entire city! SO I guess I shouldn't wear my dark skinny jeans that stain my legs?? Rain would probably not help with that one.

We are going to take out $150 when we get there (at an ATM, always the best rate) and try to stick to all cash and $50 per day. Also, we are trying to work around when certain things are closed so that will dictate our schedule.

I will try to update the blog while we are there. We will be taking our mini computer and looking for free wifi cafes/pubs!!

Going to Prague...

2010-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Rob and I are going to Prague on Friday... (yes, benefits from Delta rock) The more I research about the city, the more I realize how economical our trip will be! We still haven't booked our hotel, but we are trying to weigh the benefits of using hotel points versus priceline.

What I am wondering is if we can do 3 days in the city for $150 or less.... (minus the hotels) The transportation from the airport can be done easily via a bus and metro. We plan on buying a 3 day pass for about $15! Fares for the metro in Prague

We are hoping to stay near Old Town Square, but we are willing to stay on the other side of the bridge in Mala Strana (which is near the Prague Castle). We shall see! :) It is suppose to rain the entire time we are there, but the guide book I got has an itinerary for rainy days. Great website for travel guides!

Promise to write more and post pictures soon!!

Need a good idea for a thrifty Italian vacation??

2010-07-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ever think that Italy is too expensive for a family or a romantic getaway? I can show you how to see one of my favorite cities for less than you would think.

Varenna is an elegant little village on Lake Como.

You fly into Milan and take the train directly to Varenna (about an hour north). Not only can you rent an apartment in Varenna for about $500-700 for a week, but you can visit all the other cities on Lake Como via the ferry! Bellagio, Lake Como, Menaggio! No need to rent a car or even rent a cab... unless you don't want to hike up hill to see the castle! (however, the view can not be beat and there even is a little cafe at the top!!)

If you don't want to spend the money on dinner out, there are plenty of markets to buy your groceries. A day trip is also possible to St. Moritz via the Bernina Train!

A family friend went there for his honeymoon and did a day trip to a cooking class!

I will post try to pictures and links to the rentals in Varenna. Don't miss this hidden gem!!

Found a new website for booking cheaper hotels!

2010-07-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am not sure I would ever stop using PriceLine for booking hotels, but I found a great website with great deals! Check out www.getaroom.com ! If you need to find a great rate for a specific hotel, I would definitely check this one out.

Some other favorites are:
www.booking.com
www.hotels.com
www.booked.net
www.kayak.com
and of course - www.priceline.com

Always look for last minute deals! Even if you have your flight booked, wait to book your hotel till the week before... The hotel does not want to be empty and would rather give you a lower rate than have a room sit empty.

New twist for my blog!

2010-07-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have decided to change things up a bit... I now will be blogging about something I know how to do well, travel on the cheap! I will share tricks and tips I have learned through the years. Can't wait to get started!!

Some of my favorite Wedding Pictures!

2009-09-18T13:00:00.000-07:00