24 Everyday Uses for Mayonnaise!

1. Does your piano have dull ivory keys?  Brighten those dull keys up with a little dab of mayonnaise!  Rub a little bit of mayonnaise on each key, and leave on for about 5 - 7 minutes.  Wipe off, and buff with a micro fiber towel for brighter keys!

2. Got Dry or Brittle Hair?  Mayonnaise will soften and smooth your hair for a sleek look.  Shampoo and towel dry your hair normally.  Then using a wide tooth comb, comb in about a tablespoon of Mayonnaise, making sure to coat each strand of hair.   Leave in for about an hour.  Rinse, and shampoo and condition once more!

3. Rough Patches of Skin?  Apply a small dab to those rough elbows, knees, and feet.  Leave on for about 15 minutes.  Then simply wipe with a damp towel.  Moisturize as normal.

4. Got little ones that "accidentally" drew on the wall with their crayons?  Simply apply a small amount of mayonnaise to the colored area, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, and watch the coloring magically disappear!  Wipe down with a damp cloth.

5.  Weak Nails?  Soak your fingernails, and cuticles in some mayonnaise for 10 minutes a week.  Rinse and after about a month your nails will be 50% stronger!  Mayonnaise will also help to reduce future hangnails!

6.  In a Sticky Situation?  Mayonnaise is great for removing sticker residue, sap, and tar!  Cover the affected area with mayonnaise, let sit for a few minutes, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Apply a small amount of lemon juice to your mayonnaise mixture for added sticky cutting strength.

7.  Water Rings?  If you've got water rings on your wooden furniture, use a small amount of mayonnaise on a dry cloth to buff out the rings!

8.  Stained Furniture?  Just like the crayon effect, apply a small amount to the affected area, and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.  You may want to try it first in an inconspicuous spot before applying to something that is out in the open for all to see, as sometimes, you may end up with an oil stain.

9.  Removing rings.  Mayonnaise is great for being able to remove a ring from your finger!

10.  Polish Your Houseplants.  Yes it's true, people actually do polish their dull house plant leaves!  I don't, well because I am lacking the green thumb gene entirely!  However, if your houseplants have seen better days, and are looking dull.  Try dabbing a small amount to the leaves, and buff.

11.  Kill Head Lice.  I wish my mom had known about this one when I was little.  Yes, when I was a kid, I had head lice, and boy did I hate those chemicals!  Massage mayo into the scalp, covering all the hair as well.  Apply a shower cap, and leave in overnight.  Wash out mayo the next morning, and using those fine tooth combs, comb the scalp.  Repeat every 2-4 days if needed.  It really does work!

12.  Fix Cracked Furniture.  If you have small cracks in wood furniture, apply mayo to the crack, filling it up.  Wipe off any excess.   Leave mayo to set for several days.  The proteins and oils from the mayo will make the wood swell up, thus shrinking the crack.

13.  Relieve Sunburn.  Don't have Aloe?  Apply a thin layer of mayonnaise onto the sunburned area.  It moisturizes and cools the skin!

14.  Remove permanent Marker from Skin!  Apply mayo to mared up skin let sit for 5 minutes and wipe off with a damp cloth.  Permanent No More!

15.  Give Yourself a Facial.  No more need for expensive creams.  Apply a thin layer to your face, and leave on for about 20 minutes.  Wipe with a damp cloth, and you'll be amazed at how well your skin looks!

16.  Use Mayonnaise as a substitute for Eggs.  When you are baking, and realize you have no eggs... Simply add 3 tablespoons of mayo as a substitute!

17.  Remove Fingerprints from Stainless.  Wipe a thin layer of mayonnaise on your stainless stell appliances, and gently buff away!

18.  No More Squeaky!  Got a squeaky hinge?  Apply a small amount to that hinge and open and close the door a few times to quiet the squeak!

19.  Gum?  Get gum out of hair! Take a small glob of mayonnaise and rub all around the gum with your fingers, gently sliding the gum down the strand of hair.

20.  Polish Your Silver.  Giving your fine silver a once over with a buff using mayonnaise on a dry micro fiber towel, and bring the shine back to all your silver.

21.  Have some dried up paint drips on door knobs, windows, or your skin?  Apply a small amount of mayonnaise to the drip, and let sit for 3 - 4 minutes.  Wipe clean.  It's less harsh than those over powering paint thinners.

22.  Use Mayonnaise to coat fish fillets or chicken breasts to lock in moisture, and help your desired breading adhere.

23.  Use mayonnaise as a base for your tater sauce

24.  Combine mayonnaise and a teaspoon of basil pesto for a zesty chicken sandwich spread

Stop Poisoning Yourself & Switch to DE!

FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth. 

This was an earlier post that I believe strongly in, and am reposting a few select posts as we are on vacation this week!  However, as an update to this, we are now 100% completely using Food Grade DE as our pest control.  

What does it do?  Well the better question may in fact be what doesn't it do?  This is not a sponsored post, I am merely passing along probably some of the best knowledge that I have come across in a very long time. 

Okay so what is Diatomaceous Earth, commonly referred to as DE, for those of us who use it?  DE is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS. 

We began using this in our home just about 2 years ago, and the more I read, the more amazed I am by this universal product. 

First, let me strongly express that there are 2 different grades of Diatomaceous Earth.  Food Grade and Pool Grade.  Pool grade DE is toxic, and can be extremely harmful to pets and people.

For the purpose of this post, I will only be discussing FOOD GRADE DE. 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth has loads, and I mean loads of benefits and uses.  I do believe that if this was more widely available in stores, many of the pesticides, and flea control products would lose millions of dollars and be out of business entirely! 

How does Food Grade DE work?  It works by physical action, not by chemical action, and because of that, garden insects NEVER, EVER become immune to it.  It works on all exoskeletal insects.  As insects and pest walk across the DE, the fine powder gets into the joints of them, scratching off the insect's waxy coating, and dehydrate it.

Believe it or not, Food Grade DE is in fact widely used, and IS FDA approved for humans and animals.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is 89% Silica, which is one of the most important trace element in human health, according to Dr. Barbara Hendel. 

What are the benefits and uses?  Get ready for this amazing list!

♦ Pest Control.  Food Grade DE is used in the control of Roaches, ALL types of Ants, Silverfish, bedbugs, flies, scorpions, box elder bugs, crickets, fleas, ticks, mites, lice, and many other types of insects.  Best of all it will not harm earthworms!

♦ Flea Control.  Sprinkle in a dry yard as well as on your pets.  In order for this to work in your yard, it is best to use two - four times a month

♦ Metal Cleaner.  Make a paste with water and use to as a metal polish. 

♦  Use the same water and DE paste and use as a body scrub.

♦ Whiter Teeth?  Yep.  Sprinkle a small amount on your toothpaste and you'll notice a "just went to the dentist" feeling when your done brushing!

♦ Can be used int he same way baking soda is when reducing odor in the freezer or refrigerator.  Just replace every two weeks or so. 

♦ place a cup of DE inside a tube sock, tie at the top, and place inside foul smelling shoes when not in use, for fresher smelling shoes!

♦ Cover a newly stained area on carpets with DE, slightly work into carpet, let stand for at least 2 hours, then vacuum up.  Works great on new pet stains!

♦ Out door garbage bins?  Sprinkle a cup or so in the bottom of your cans to deodorize.  This will also kill any bugs and larvae that are present. 

♦ Food Grade can reduce arthritic inflammation in your elder pets joints.

♦ Depending on the size of your pet, a 1/4 to 1 teaspoon daily in the food will also act as an organic dewormer for many types of internal parasites. 

♦ Although there has yet to be any real studies done to prove this, many people who take DE internally claim their metabolism has increased, and they have more daily energy. 

♦ Although, I cannot speak for any of THESE uses, there is a website that is receiving loads of emails from their consumers claiming all kinds of health benefits, many of which I believe. 

Too Good To Be True?  I used to think it was, until I started to use it and see for myself the reults we were getting for just flea and tick control!



Cleaning on a Dime!

We spent this past Friday night helping my mom fix a pipe under her bathroom sink, which prompted me to write this post on Homemade cleaning supplies.  First and foremost, making your own cleaning supplies isn't brain surgery.  It can be as easy or as complex as you like.  Secondly, you will know exactly what your spraying in your house.  And lastly, you'll have more money back in your pocket!

Turns out, she had a clog in the bathroom sink, so she did what many of us do.  She went out and bought a name brand drain cleaner, went home and poured it down the drain.  After several hours, she saw that the water had all gone down.  Though after looking under the sink, she realized that the drain cleaner had eaten right through the pipe!

Now do you really want to be using something so strong that it can eat right through metal?  I know I don't!

Main ingredients you'll need for most of your household cleaning:

White Vinegar - Cuts Grease. Removes Mildew, odors, works on some stains, and removes wax buildup.
Rubbing Alcohol - works well on windows, and morrors, also acts as an excellent disinfectant.
Table Salt - Scouring agent, and works well as absorbant to unset stains
Hydrogen Peroxide - Clean your cutting boards, wipe down your fridge shelves, clean your sponges, and removees baked on pieces from pots and pans.  Whitens bathtub grout.  Removes stains.
Borax - Deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, and cleans painted walls and floors
Baking Soda - Cleans Deodorizes and scours.
Lemon Juice - Works well against most household bacteria.  Freshens garbage disposals, disinfects.
     *You can buy lemons if you can find them 10 for $1.00 and squeeze the juice out of them and freeze into small packages.  Don't throw the rinds away if you have a garbage disposal either, freeze them, and I'll explain more in this post.*



Garbage Disposal Cleaner:

1/2 lemon chopped into quarter size pieces
2 cups ice cubes
3 tablespoons of Table Salt

Combine all three ingredients in mixing bowl, dump down into garbage disposal, turn on.  Run cold water through while it's running.  All you should smell is lemons.  The salt will act as a scouring agent.

Clogged Drains:

1/2 cup Baking Soda
1 Cup White Vinegar

Dump the dry Baking Soda down into the drain, add the White Vinegar, let stand for 1 hour.  Run boiling hot water into the drain.  You may still have to plunge the drain to release the clog.
However, don't wait for a clog, instead follow the above recipe and do this once a month to all your drains, to avoid a clog!

Streak-Free Mirrors and Windows:

Rubbing Alcohol

Simply pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto clean paper towels, and begin wiping down your mirror or window.  You will need to rub until dry, so make sure not to use too much.  You will see streaks if you don't wipe until dry.

Clean Your HE Washer:

1/2 Gallon Vinegar
2 cups Borax

Combine ingredients, and run through a Hot Wash.


Floor Cleaner:

1 teaspoon dish liquid

equal parts of:
   Vinegar
   Hot Water
   Rubbing Alcohol

Optional, add a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil, which also has anti-bacterial properties!

Combine the above ingredients, and start cleaning wood, laminate, or tile floors.  I use the Libman mop, which is similar to the Swiffer, but you can add your own cleaner to the mop.


Counter Cleaners:

Equal parts:
   Vinegar
   Water
   Rubbing Alcohol  or Hydrogen Peroxide

Several drops of Lavender Essential Oil

Combine all ingredients into a spray bottle, and use on all your counters!

Hidden Away Jewelry Organization! ~ Easy DIY!

A while back I had scored a beautiful oak jewelry armoire at a consignment shop for under $70.  Well having been through a house fire, I lost it, and most everything inside.  So in the recent months, I have been on a "full on assault" to find another one.  In the mean time, the majority of my jewelry is being stored in a Ziploc storage container.  Hot, right?

Well that was until I had an idea.

To turn this $9.99 Home Goods find into my temporary jewelry storage!  That's right, a spot where I can store all my bracelets, necklaces, rings etc. 

Here's what you'll need:

A canvas print that has an open back

Hinges

Screws and anchors

Hooks

screw driver power tools always make things go faster, and smoother!

Make sure that you're using flat screws, because when you go to close this, you'll need to make sure the screws aren't hitting each other.  (You'll know when the frame doesn't fit flush against the wall!)

Once you know where you'll be placing it, you'll want to pre drill holes in your walls and hammer in the anchors for added support.  

Once you have it attached to wall, you're almost done!  

Add hooks, which you'll want to make sure you're placing well within the open area behind the frame.  To make this easier, you can use a pencil and trace the area around the frame, making sure to stay clear about 2 inches from your pencil line, should be more than enough room so when your frame is in the closed position, there won't be any jewelry preventing it from closing all the way.  

I realized when I was finished that on the bottom of the frame, there is a lip that will accommodate my rings!   You can add more hooks as time goes on, or you can even add a second matching frame for a second one! 

Winter's Coming! Save on Your Heating Costs This Year!

 

Every year thousands, if not millions of people are missing some great opportunities to save on their heating bill.  Here's a list that I have put together to help keep money in your wallet.

 

 

1. Turn your thermostat down to 68 degrees. If you can't remember to turn turn down the thermostat, you may want to invest a little money and buy a programmable one like this one here at Target. 

 

 

2.  Remember that your air filters should be replaced once a month for maximum efficiency. 

 

 

3.  Turn down your hot water tank temperature.  You can save up to 10 percent of your water heating costs by using the standard "normal" setting, which is right around 120 degrees. 

 

4.  Invest in a little window caulking and make sure there are no leaks coming in through windows.  Also, it's a good idea to check the areas in which you have electrical outlets on outside walls, to make sure there isn't cold air coming through as well.  Areas that should be checked:  Electrical Outlets, Switch Plates, Door and Window Frames, Electrical and Gas service entrances, baseboards, Fireplace Dampers, attic entrances, Wall or Window mounted AC units, Cable and TV lines coming into your home, and Dryer Vents.

 

 

5.  While a little on the more expensive side, consider replacing older appliances ( more than 12 years old) with newer, more efficient ones, that are ENERGY STAR rated. 

 

 

 

6.  With Day Light Savings time soon here, many people are using lights for longer periods of time.  Consider replacing light bulbs that will be in higher usage with CFL or LED bulbs.

 

7.  Head up to the attic and make sure you have adequate insulation.  A standard home in the Northeast should have about 12 inches, depending on your R value. 

 

8.  Another more expensive, but big saver is to consider replacing your old windows with newer replacement windows.  If that's not an option, use plastic window sheets over windows. 

 

9. Can't tell whether your doors or window are leaking?  Try the Paper Test.  If you can slide a piece of paper out from a closed door or window, you're losing energy!

 

10.  If your Hot Water Tank is more than 10 years old, consider buying a water heater blanket to install over your water tank. 

 

11.  Forced Hot Air?  Be sure to check your ducts to ensure they are all working properly.  If you have rooms in your home that aren't used, close off those air vents. 

 

12.  Keep window shades open during the afternoon, to allow the sun warmth in, and closed at night.

 

13.  Move drapes or furniture away from floor vents to allow the heat to flow in without obstruction.

 

14.  Remember that heat rises, turn ceiling fans on low to move the heat down.  (Turning them clockwise will help to push the wrmth down.)

 

15.  When hosting a party, turn down the heat!  Each guest is the equivilant of a 150 watt heater! 

 

 

Did I miss some?  Leave a comment and help everyone to save even more!

ScotchBlue DIY Bulletin Board Project

I love DIY projects, and this one is not only decorative, but extremely functional! 

Here's what you'll need.

1.5" ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape w/EdgeLock (2080 EL)

Paint Tarps & Paint Rags

1” & 2” angled paint brush, 2” square brush

6” Foam roller, 9” roller, Paint tray, can opener

Pencil for design layout on board

Measuring tape, pencil

2” & 3” foam brush

6” or 12” Speed Square” is very helpful

Instructions:

1. Tape off the bulletin board with ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape and paint the frame in the color of your
choice

2. Select a coordinating chalkboard paint

3. Paint the inset with magnetic black paint.

4. Create desired layout and lightly line out with pencil. Use a 6” speed square to insure boxes are truly square

TIPS:
• Play with the orientation as well as color options. Design may work both vertically and
horizontally
• Everything is fair game – think of all textures and colors. When it feels “right” you will
know

5. Once design has been laid out with a section for chalkboard color and a section for cork, isolate and
mask out areas to be painted using ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape.

TIP
• When taping out along a pencil line, follow to the outside of the pencil mark – so you will
actually paint the line out instead of having to comeback and clean up a pencil mark. A big reason why I say “lightly” mark your layout with a pencil is two-fold. A) By pressing hard
with the pencil you can dent or bruise the grain. B) By lightly marking with a pencil you be
able to paint over it easily to “erase it”.

6. Using a damp foam brush – paint sections dedicated to chalkboard area. Load brush and work from
the center of your paint area toward the edges. End with brush strokes in one direction and keep a
wet edge (see below for description) as you work the paint.

TIPS:
• Lightly wet the foam brush before you use it and pat dry it so it is merely damp when you
dip it into the paint. Moisture in the foam brush will allow the foam pad to have flexibility
and will also make for easier clean up as the paint will always be on a “wet edge” and
won’t dry up and crust over quickly
• Use a foam brush for a nice even application. One must be careful and work with a light
hand as these brushes are easily damaged and can create a mess when they start to fall
apart in your paint. However, in small quick art projects foam brushes are great. Their
biggest advantage as a painter? They don’t leave brush marks when the paint dries!
• Let paint dry well before applying next coat. It’s always better to build up coats as
opposed to applying a thick layer of paint. Paint applied in one thick coat will have a
tendency to sag or droop or drip

7. Once paint has fully dried, gently pull tape back on itself and by angling the edge back at 45 degrees to reveal crisp edges and lines and corners.

TIP:
To help move along time, I often use a fan to coax the paint along with its drying time.

and there you have it! 

Turn ANY Bed Frame into a Waterbed Frame!

Soft-sided waterbeds have come a long way in technology. The frames, not so much. It used to be that if you wanted a waterbed, you would would be stuck with an ugly, metal frame to which you would just lay the box spring on top of, and then the mattress.

My husband and I have had a waterbed for the last 15 years, and we wouldn't have any other type of bed. We went from a hard sided bed, which was great, to a soft sided waterbed, only because we could no longer find a hard sided bed frame.

Now if you know me, I can't just use a metal frame with a flimsy head board. I like stylish bed frames. The problem was, it was almost like they didn't exsist for a soft sided waterbed.

So what's a girl to do? Make your own! It's really not that difficult, once you find the bed frame that you really like. The best part of this transformation, is that if, after 10 or 15 years, you no longer want a waterbed mattress, you won't be ruining the frame. In fact, you're actually making the frame of your bed even stronger!

Here's what you'll need, in addition to having a bed frame all set up.

(This is for a king size bed)

2 - 8 foot pieces of 4x4's ( NON pressure treated!)

2 to 3 - 8 foot ferring strips - also NON pressure treated.

2 sheets of half to three quarter thick ply wood.

Most bed frames will come with 3 ferring strips and several small legs for the center of the bed. These will NOT be strong enough to hold up a waterbed. First measure the width of your bed, and cut the ferring strips you purchased to the desired width. Secondly, cut the 4x4 pieces to the same height as the other legs, and attach them to both the ferring strips you purchased, as well as to the ferring strips the bed came with.

You should end up with 5 rows of ferring strips and legs.

(What you are doing is taking ALL the pressure off the side rails of the bed.)

Now you'll need to measure again for the sheets of plywood. Most likely you'll will need to cut both pieces to the correct length. Once you have the correct length, you can lay the first piece of plywood directly into place.

Now you'll need to measure the width of the other side of the bed. It will be okay if you make the second side slightly smaller, and leave a small gap between the pieces. Remember all your weight of the waterbed will be dispersed on the legs of the bed. (Which is why it's important to use 4x4 pieces)

Once you have both sheets of plywood cut, and into place, and have checked under the bed, to ensure all your legs are carrying the weight, you can now add your box spring, and waterbed mattress to your frame, and begin to fill your new waterbed!

How We're Rebuilding... Making It Easy

There are so many different colors, different hues of colors, and different tints of colors, how do you know what you're choosing will fit with colors you've already chosen?  Are you the type of person that wants your whole home to flow together?  Or do you want each room to reflect a different type of personality? 

I'd like to think that I am a little of both.  I like fluid in my home.  I have multiple tastes when it comes to colors.  I am also one that gets bored with colors after a short period of time.  How do I pull it all together, and choose a color that will stand the test of time? 

I start with something that has struck my eye.  In this case, I have found several pairs of curtains that I just fell in love with, for a couple of rooms.  And yes, I have already purchased them, they're hanging in the closet in the mobile home right now as I speak. 

Secondly, I find the colors of the curtains in those color charts you find for free in the paint stores, and grab a few.  Why?  I put together a color scheme  inside a small notebook to bring with me, everywhere I go. 

(This color scheme is of our kitchen.  We have the color of the floors we have chosen, cabinets, and furniture in the adjacent dining room, as well as a couple of choices that we like for countertops, and wall color.)

Lowe's has a great free kitchen design on their website, that can really help you to visualize your ideas.  Whether you're doing a complete remodel, your just have an idea to change a few minor things, this tool can really be a huge time and money saver. 

( Here we have put together our Master Bedroom, including the curtains we have purchased, furniture color, carpeting color, and some accent pieces.)

In addition to the color schemes that I have put together, I have also joined a site called Polyvore.  This site has really helped me to put together pieces of furniture, colors, and accent pieces that I have found either in the stores or online.  Here's what I have put together for our Master Bedroom.

Being able to see all the items together as a set, really helps me to decide whether or not I will like the item or color, especially for items that aren't easily changed out like flooring, big ticket items like a bed frame, and wall colors.  I can also add in other accent colors that I like, to make sure that when my tastes change, they will go with the major colors that I have put into the rooms. 

Want to see more rooms and ideas that I'm thinking about?  Follow me on Polyvore!