Homemade Furniture Polish

So I'm not buying any new home furnishings or clothing/shoes/accessories for the whole year. I've made it so far (23 days). However, that doesn't mean I have to accept the condition of the things I have, right? 

I won't be buying new cabinets this year, but with a homemade furniture polish, I can feel like I have brand new cabinets. 

These are my master bathroom cabinet doors...

The recipe for a homemade furniture polish is simple:

2 parts vinegar

1 part olive oil

(in other words, 1 C olive oil + 2 C vinegar)

Ready to polish my cabinets

Part way through...compare the left door (unpolished) to the right door (polished)

Compare the next two pictures.

They are both of the same drawer. The top is before, the bottom is after!

My brand new cabinets!

Tips:

• You may want to start with smaller amounts, say 1 C vinegar and 1/2 C olive oil.
• If your fingernails are dear to you, wear gloves. After I did my entire kitchen without gloves, my fingernails were flimsy and broken. 
• If you have divots in the wood, this homemade furniture polish will not get rid of them, but they will be far less noticeable. 
• If you have a special glaze or colored stain on your cabinets, try a small, inconspicuous spot before polishing them. 

Better Take a Seat...

My 2011 resolution was to drive slower...that's it. I have a teenager who will be 16 soon, and I can already hear him calling me on my hypocrisy. I was pretty successful slowing down.

This year, I'm upgrading my efforts. I want to be happier with what I already have. So, I decided to NOT buy anything for my home or my closet for the entire 2012 calendar year. 

My husband was speechless. My daughter is less than supportive (this will decrease her influx of fashion possibilities). I'm confident and determined.

Here's to 2012!

Bargain Cooking Class

This is my blog, so I can promote myself, right? A friend and I just started a cooking class for locals. We have talked to a lot of people who don't cook, because they don't know where to start.

We teach a basic lesson each week for 8 weeks, demonstrate a meal to cook, then eat and socialize. It's a blast!

Check out the pictures from our first class: Cooking 101--Essentials Tools and Ingredients

Tips:

• If you are local and interested (and not a crazy person), give me a holler and I can give you info.
• If not, check craigslist or local newspapers for programs near you.

$15 Credit at One King's Lane

...just for signing up!

Click here to sign up. It's free! You will automatically receive a $15 credit on your account. It can be used towards shipping, too. Thanks again to www.mydfwmommy.com for the heads up. Here are my favorite items:

Large Square Bamboo Bowl, Onyx

Retail price: $35

One King's Lane Price: $15

Free with account credit! All you pay is shipping.

Small Shallow Round Bowl, Slate

Retail Price: $30

One King's Lane Price: $12

Free + a little left over to go toward shipping!

Set of 4 Jasmine Teacups, color: Pure

Retail price: $20

One King's Lane price: $12

Free + a little left over to go toward shipping!

Lunch Cooler, Silver

Retail price: $30

One King's Lane price: $15

Free with account credit. All you pay is shipping.

Tips:

• Sign up here first to receive your account credit. Then go shopping.
• Check product description for dimensions and other specs to make sure you know what you're getting. When you see "Large" in the title, you might be thinking the item is 18" in diameter, when it might be 11".

Daily Shower Spray

My shower is a beast to keep clean! Using 4-inch tile with white grout, the builders must have decided to play a sick joke on the housekeeper. So I often spend my shower time scrubber in hand, especially in the spring and summer.

A daily shower spray, like Clean Shower, appeals to me as a solution. Not a bad deal for $3.

Wanna go even cheaper? Make it yourself. You probably have everything in your house already.

Daily Shower Spray (from Thriftyfun.com)

For a 24-oz spray bottle:

1/2 c rubbing alcohol
1/2 c hydrogen peroxide
6 drops Dawn dish detergent
1 capful (about 2 tsp) Jet Dry
fill to 24-oz with water (distilled or purified if you have it)

It takes about 5 minutes to gather supplies and mix them together.

alcohol & peroxide = $0.50
dawn = $.03
jet dry = $0.20

Total = $0.73 for 24 oz (75% savings)

My 24 oz bottle lasts about a month for my shower that has approximately 75 sqare feet of surface area that needs spraying (I don't spray what doesn't get wet) twice a day (after every shower). Whereas previously my shower got all nasty after 3 or 4 days, with the daily shower spray, my shower only needs a little touch up here and there after an entire month.

Tips:

• "Don't make up a big batch to refill because the H2O2 doesn't last very long and turns into good-old H2O. The H2O2 dissolves proteins (like sloughed skin and body fluids), the alcohol and Dawn dissolve oils, the Jet Dry suspends the minerals."
• The daily shower spray doesn't work on clear glass. But I have gathered ideas I will share soon.
• But it does clean stainless steel appliances, too. "Spray and wipe with microfiber cloth or paper towels. No streaking! I tried at least seven other cleaners before hitting upon this inexpensive method."--By digby from PA (from thriftyfun.com)
  

Dyson DC-14

My dream came true--I got a Dyson DC-14! My old vacuum doesn't suck at all, which is precisely the problem. I have had my eye on the Dyson DC-14 for a while--did the spreadsheet a couple of years ago. The lowest price I have found is $399, and they rarely go on sale. That's why I haven't bought one...until now.

Why did I finally pull the trigger? My old Bissell and I got into a devastating argument--he wasn't pulling his weight. So I told him, "One of us has to go. It's either you or me."

The deal I found on my new Dyson came from Craigslist. The story goes: the couple got 2 new Dyson vacuums as housewarming gifts from their parents, but lost the receipt and couldn't return it, so she sold it to me for $250. The box was still sealed, and I called Dyson to register for my 5-year warranty. I can't wait to vacuum!

Here it is after assembly (which was a snap).


Before I say goodbye to the Bissell, a head-to-head competition--Bissell vs Dyson DC-14.



Brand new, completely empty Dyson canister.

A thorough vacuuming by the Bissell.

A follow-up by the Dyson.

Look at all that crud the Dyson picked up that the Bissell didn't. Granted, the Bissell is older and worn out. However, my parents and a few others did the same test and got the same results.

The Dyson DC-14 really sucks! Which is why I love it.

Tips:

• One friend of mine found the same Dyson at Kohl's for about $199. It was 40% off, and she had a coupon to use as well. There are Dyson deals out there. You just have to watch like a hawk.
• Be careful meeting someone selling through Craigslist (or the newspaper, ebay, etc). I never go by myself and always arrange to meet somewhere public in daylight.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Homemade Fabric Softener

You will need:

2 C hair conditioner

3 C vinegar

6 C water

container

Add 3 C vinegar


Add 2 C hair conditioner (find the cheapest--I paid a little over $1 for 2 C)

Add 6 C water

Mix/shake, then pour into a container with a lid.

Use the same amount you would use for regular fabric softener.

vinegar: $0.52

conditioner: $1.12
Total cost: $1.62 for 2/3 gallon, which will last for 44 loads

At the store you'll pay about $3.45 for 44 dryer sheets or $7.13 for 44 loads of Downy. That's a savings of at least 50%

Tips:

• Lower the cost even more. Soak a sponge in the fabric softener. Squeeze out most of the excess. Throw it into the dryer with your load instead.
  
  
  
  

Homemade Furniture Polish

From Thriftyfun.com:



Homemade Furniture Polish


"This is an excellent furniture polish and most everyone has these two products in their home. Use equal parts of olive oil and vinegar (like 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup vinegar). It cleans and shines at the same time!"


By laniegirl from IA

GE Toaster

Sometimes it's not worth the spreadsheets, the time spent deliberating, the trips to several stores, and the visits to a multitude of websites.

Sometimes, you just go to Walmart, choose your favorite, and make the purchase.

Case in point: a toaster. Prices range from $20 to $300, but if you're not in the market for a gourmet toaster, the time spent researching is not worth the savings. There are thousands of toasters out there--all very similar, and all priced competitively.

Here's my new one:

$35 @ Walmart. Works great!

Tips:

• Small kitchen electrics in general are not worth a "bargain hunt."
• Some GE Appliances @ Walmart include a 2-year warranty where you can bring it back to the store if it breaks within the two years--a nice little bonus.
  
  

Sale at Ikea

Save up to 60% at Ikea.

Ends July 5th.

Check out these special weekend offers, including kids eat free!

Find a store near you.

Tips:

• Give yourself a budget before you go. A lot of great deals can add up by the time you reach the checkout.
  

Homemade Fabric Softener

You'll need:

3 C vinegar
2 C hair conditioner (any kind)
6 C water

Measure 3 C vinegar

Pour into a container big enough to mix all the ingredients (11 C + bubbles).

Add 2 C conditioner.




Then add 6 C water.

End result...

My cost for 44 loads = $1.62

Dryer sheets for 44 loads = $3.45

Downy for 44 loads = $7.13

Tips:

• Read this article to make it last even longer.
• Is the cost savings worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. But if you're in a pinch, it's easy to make from items you have at home and takes maybe 5 minutes.
• And you can always claim you're helping the environment.
• If you have a household member that is sensitive to store bought fabric softener, this method will allow you to control the additives.
  
  
  
  

Recycle Waste Water in Your Garden

Tip from Thriftyfun.com:

"A great tip for water drought areas. When taking a bath, save the water! Plants love the soap to kill off insects and salts for the nutritional value. We drink tea, soft drinks, milk, etc. and save those containers. After your bath, emptying your kids pool, after boiling potatoes, corn, eggs etc. let the water cool down. Then water your plants. I will get about 12 gallons from one bath. Why let it go down the drain? Use it on your flowers or veggies. Reuse your dishpan water also. When you get in the habit of doing this you would be amazed on how much would have gone to waste down the drain."

By Doreen from Bartow, FL

Shark Bite Connection System

Fortunately, my husband and I took a wonderful trip to New Zealand and Australia.

Unfortunately, our upstairs water heater leaked during our trip.

Fortunately, it stopped on its own.

Unfortunately, it still needed replacing.

Fortunately, my husband is a do-it-yourselfer.

Unfortunately, do-it-yourself projects NEVER go as smoothly as a book/tv show/magazine article/website makes it seem.

Let me illustrate....We had replaced our downstairs water heater previously, so we thought this would be a straightforward project and proceeded to buy a new water heater. When Jared turned the cold water shut-off valve, nothing happened--it just spun around. That meant we would have to turn off the water to the house and cut and sweat copper pipe--a project that takes more time than our sport and activity filled Saturdays allow.

When we went to Home Depot for parts we discovered the Shark Bite Connection System.

(Hallelujah chorus)

All you do is insert the pipe until it clicks. No teflon tape, no pvc cement, no sweating with a torch. Visit the plumbing aisle of Home Depot and try it out. Even I can do it. Watch the video for a demo (it's a little cheesy, but gets the point across).

We asked the Home Depot employee repeatedly, "Is it really that easy? Does it really work?" He reassured us, so we bought the connector for less than $10.

Installed in our attic:

No leaks. The connection took less than 5 minutes.

Tips:

• It really works.


• It's really that easy.


• While the price may not be typical of a bargain, the savings in time, effort, and frustration definitely make it a bargain.
  
  

Why I Hunt for Bargains

Set of vases from Costco: $10.

Not coming unglued when they break: priceless.

Tips:

• Note to self: Make sure to untangle floral arrangements before moving a vase.
• If you can't find any children to blame (because it wasn't them this time), blame the dog.

Hitachi Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill and Impact Driver

I'm a planner (in all caps). So if Father's Day is 2 months away and I haven't figured out my husband's gift, I'm behind schedule.

In truth, I'm working on a rain barrel (post coming soon!) and our drill died. I need a new one to finish it, and Father's Day is conveniently close, but...shh! Don't tell him.

Shopping for a drill turned out to be like shopping for a digital camera or a computer--the choices overwhelmed me. Prices range from $30 to several hundred dollars. There are many different brands. And each brand has a variety of cordless drills.

So, I called my brother, a tried and true handyman, who also makes purchases very carefully. He guided me on my choice--he loves his Makita. However, he said, "If you're in the market for a cordless drill, you might as well get an impact driver." Huh? What's an impact driver? He explained that it makes driving screws easier, that he uses his 95% of the time (his drill the other 5%), and that he could never work without one again.

So I proceeded to look for a set: cordless drill + impact driver. Finally, I narrowed it down to two:

Hitachi KC 10DFL

• 10.8 V Lithium Ion Cordless Drill (DS 10DFL)
• 10.8 V Lithium Ion Cordless Impact Driver (WH 10DFL)
• 2 batteries that are interchangeable, a charger, and a nifty bag
• @Lowe's for $139
  
  
  

Makita LCT203W

• 10.8 V Lithium ion cordless drill (DF030DW)
• 10.8 V Lithium ion cordless impact driver (TD090DW)
• 2 interchangeable batteries, a charger, and a nifty case
• $149 in-store @ Costco (or @ Amazon.com)
  
  

My brother told me to get the Makita. He's had his for 10 years and has loved it. I read this review and this review. Both sets include the same features. Costco has an AWESOME return policy. The Hitachi set has a 10-year warranty.

I bought the Hitachi. Why? It's hard to say. I'm quite sure I would be happy with either one. I think the Hitachi edged out the Makita, because it was $10 less, and I was already at Lowe's. (Costco's next door, but I was tired...)

Tips:

• The voltage levels were a little confusing to me. The Hitachi and Makita at 10.8 V is actually the same as many other drills advertised as 12 V. You get 12 Volts at maximum power, but the average over the life of one charge is 10.8 Volts.
• Here are some other resources I used: Consumer Reports Home and Garden Blog, HomeImprovementWatch.com, Cordless-Drill-Reviews, Popular Mechanics, Consumer Search, How Stuff Works.
• To all the women out there: Don't be afraid of power tools! Just start off by squeezing the trigger a second or two. Pretty soon you'll be the next female version of Bob Vila.
• The combo kit provided the best value. Priced separately, the Hitachi runs $200 or more. The Makita tools separately will cost you about $200 as well.

Bavarian Fruit Torte using blackberries on sale at Sprouts

Starting tomorrow blackberries are on sale at Sprouts for 88 cents (per 6oz container). I'll be hitting the store tomorrow so I can get last week's deals, too (cantaloupe, 2 for $1)!

Need ideas to put the blackberries to good use? Try Bavarian Fruit Torte. I have added it to my repertoire of favorite dessert recipes.

Bavarian Fruit Torte

Shortbread crust:

1 1/4 C flour
1/3 C sugar
1 t grated lemon zest
1/4 t salt
2/3 C finely ground pecans
8 T butter
1 large egg yolk
1/4 t vanilla

Bavarian filling:

1/2 C fresh lemon juice
1 C sugar
3 T water
1 1/2 envelopes gelatin
1/2 t orange flavored extract
2 C whipping cream
2 C strawberries (diced)
2 C seasonal berries

For crust:
Whisk together in a bowl or process in a food processor for 10 seconds the flour, sugar, lemon zest, salt and grated pecans. Add butter. Mash with the back of a fork or process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Mix with a spatula or process just until the dough comes together in a ball. Pat the dough evenly over the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Thoroughly prick the bottom with a fork. Bake in a 400 F oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or a deep golden brown. Chill 15 minutes.

For bavarian:
Stir together juice, sugar, and water. Sprinkle gelatin over and soften 1 minute. Heat over moderate heat until sugar is dissolved. Add orange extract and set pan in cool water. Whip cream separately; add gelatin mixture when cooled. Fold in strawberries and pour into springform pan. Chill for several hours and serve topped with mixed berries.

This recipe comes from a few different sources. I got the original recipe in the mail as a realtor's advertisement; however, I didn't like the crust in that recipe. I combined Joy of Cooking's recipe with another one I found online.

Speaking of blackberries, would like to know how my garden grows?

These are the wild blackberries that we have trained to our side of the fence. They should produce bountifully this year. I can't wait!

Tips:

• Here are some healthier modifications to the Bavarian Fruit Torte recipe: use whole wheat flour in the crust and substitute light whipped topping for the whipping cream.
• Make sure you chill the torte long enough. It may end up slumping off your springform bottom and all over the counter, perhaps even dripping onto the floor. How would I know, you ask? No comment....
• I have tried using just blueberries, just strawberries, or a mixture of strawberries and blackberries. I think any combination of berries would taste great!
• I highly recommend Joy of Cooking. You can find it for less than $10 here.

Urban Outfitters $5 Sale

Urban Outfitters has a bunch of stuff on clearance for $5 or less--mostly accessories, but worth checking out.

Here are my faves:

Kiss Me I'm Irish Tee (this one's for you, Heather)

Bird House Charm Necklace

Snatch Sunglasses

Tips:

• The sale is online only. To make it worth the shipping, get a lot, or share an order with a buddy.
• Even though this sale is advertised as online only, my guess is that the store has a lot of great clearance, too!
  
  

Kirkland Stainless Steel Cookware

Goodbye, old friends. You have been with me for many years, through thick (stews) and thin (crepes). Alas, it is time to move on. Farewell.

I have been eyeing Costco's Kirkland Signature 13-piece Stainless Steel Cookware set for a little while now. When I walk by the kitchen goods aisle at my local Costco, the cookware set shimmers beautifully, beckoning me to take it home.

Fortunately, it's almost my birthday, so my parents and my in-laws were happy to oblige me. Now the Kirkland Signature 13-piece Stainless Steel Cookware set (broccoflower, yellow bell peppers, and greens not included) resides in my kitchen. So far, I have used the larger skillet, the dutch oven, and the larger saucepan. I'm anxious to try the steamer.

The dutch oven is my favorite so far. Look how shiny and pretty:

I like this cookware, because...

• It heats up quickly (about twice as fast as my old pans).
• It cooks evenly.
• It washes easily.
• It's dishwasher safe.
• It includes an 8-qt dutch oven (see picture above). I had planned on buying just a nice larger dutch oven (my old one was 5 quarts--not large enough to feed a family with hollow-legged teenagers), but found that a nice stainless steel one would run at least $60. I thought it a good deal to pay $100 more for a whole new set!

Check out some others' perspectives:

Chowhound.com

Epinions.com

Tips

• Use lower heat settings. These pans retain heat well, so low to medium heat should cover most, if not all, your cooking needs. My mom and I made a vanilla sauce and overcooked it a little, because the pan got too hot.


• Cancel your gym membership. These babies are heavy. I thought I'd show off a little and carry the box to the checkout, then proceed to carry it out to the car. I barely made it to the checkout. I feel reassured, though, of their durability.

Back from San Marcos: Part 1

We arrived in San Marcos Friday night.... Isn't it beautiful? It should be named one of the 7 wonders of the world.

We shopped Friday night, stayed at La Quinta in San Marcos (not impressed...I don't recommend it), then arrived back at the Outlet Malls by 9am. We shopped amongst other Spring Breakers, including travellers from Mexico, all day Saturday and arrived home by 10 pm. It was a busy place, but not overcrowded.

Evidence of a happy trip:

Full trunk (see above)

Empty wallet (see below)

Here are a few of my favorite purchases:

Original outlet price: $80.

Original price for the sweater: $99

Shorts: originally $69

Dress: originally $78

Roxy hats for bad hair days: originally $22 each.

Tips:

• Avoid traffic. We left at the wrong time, hitting Austin just before rush hour, which added an extra 2 hours to our trip.
• Bring snacks. Dining options are slim at the outlet malls.

This is only part 1, because in May I'm headed back for a birthday/Mother's Day trip with friends. Wanna come?