Household Management Tip #3 - Water Rings

It's an inevitable fate of almost every piece of wood furniture: the dreaded water ring. Either someone forgot to use a coaster, or the plant was over-watered. Without fail, it seems these ghostly white rings tend to pop up in the most obvious spots. In my case, it was dead center of my less-than-a-year-old espresso wood table.

My search for a cure to these unsightly marks began a few days ago, when I decided my ceramic tart burner needed to be cleaned. I carefully removed all the old, excess wax and proceeded to wash with warm soapy water. I towel dried it completely, but apparently that wasn't enough. The porous unglazed ceramic base trapped water very nicely, so that when placed on the table it slowly transferred it's moisture. After nearly two days, I went to dust, and there it was. A bright white ring against my dark espresso table.

Ugly water mark :(

Furiously, I began searching for a solution, besides succumbing to a lifetime of tablecloths. I found toothpaste solutions, salt scrubs, and all kinds of potentially abrasive ideas. Being that my table is not solid wood and has a sheen, I was worried what all these solutions might do to its surface. I then remembered and old cure-all for carpet stains using an iron and lots of kitchen towels. I had no idea if this would work on furniture as well, but for the sake of blogging and Domestic Diva's everywhere, I put my poor table to the test.

DIY Removing Water Rings From Wood Furniture

What you need: Absorbent cloth (I used a Sham-Wow), and a hot iron

• Set iron to Cotton, or similar heat setting. NO STEAM (this is very important!)
• Place cloth over the water mark and press down firmly with hot iron for 10-15 seconds
• Repeat several times, this may take 20-30 tries
• Table needs to get very hot, so be careful!
• CAUTION: Some veneers may not be able to withstand high heat, so use this method with caution

Using an absorbent cloth and hot dry iron to remove a water mark

 After about 10 minutes of moving the iron back and forth, I learned that simply pressing down firmly (actually with all my weight) was the best method. After a that, the ring seemed to disappear before my eyes! Of course, the logic behind this is that heat causes the remaining water molecules to evaporate (turning from a liquid into a gas) and is trapped by the absorbent cloth. Interesting, right? 

The water mark-GONE!

Not to say I will forgo the use of coasters, but I do feel at ease knowing there is a simple solution to a longtime problem.

Super Bowl Quickie: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers!

For an impromptu invite to a Super Bowl party, I decided to make bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. It's one of the easiest appetizers to make, and a huge crowd pleaser! The most difficult task is removing the seeds from the jalapeno and remembering to not rub your eyes. That never ends well! To prevent the post-seed removal sting I have heard everything from soaking hands in milk, to rubbing vigorously with a scrub brush using soap and water. A sure fire method is to use rubber gloves. Once finished, just remove, and throw away. No hidden jalapeno heat under the nails to worry about.  So simple! 

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

 

prep time :	15 Minutes
yield :	15 each
baking/cooking time :	30 Minutes

Ingredients

• 15 jalapeños (cut in half, seeded)
• 2 packages cream cheese
• 1 package bacon
• Light Brown Sugar (1/4 of box or so will work)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

1. Fill jalapeño halves with cream cheese. (I mix a few tablespoons of brown sugar in with the cream cheese before filling the halves.)
2. Wrap two halves back together with bacon, secure with toothpick.
3. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, then 5 minutes under the broiler for a crispier bacon.

I hope everyone enjoys their Super Bowl Sunday!

Blog Giveaway at Keep it Classy, Alabama!

The wonderful Miss Lindsey Leigh is having a blog giveaway! If you love Lilly Pulitzer, this is your lucky day! Check her out at Keep it Classy, Alabama!

Rue La La

If you've never heard of Rue La La, then you might as well be living under a rock. They are known as a "Flash Sale" site, where every day a new shop opens at 8AM PST and closes a short time later. Access to these sale shops are by invite only. You can obtain a free personal invite here.

I'm so very excited, tomorrow is a Vineyard Vines sales for the entire family! Just a warning though, once you start shopping at Rue La La, it's kind of hard to stop!

Suggestions for Success

I don't think anyone could say it better.

Household Management Tip #2

Every house has a cleaning cabinet, stocked with all the necessary cleansers and disinfectants. At one point, mine was overflowing into the garage. I looked like a hoarder of cleaning supplies, except every one was for a different purpose. I honestly though it was necessary to have a specialty cleaner for everything. It wasn't until after a hundred dollar shopping trip and countless times of gassing myself out with potent cleaners, that I knew there had to be an alternative.

As a collector of vintage home-management books,  I scoured the pages for articles on the best cleaning knowledge. And lo-and-behold, I read nothing about needing any specialty cleaner. In fact, most homemakers relied on three (yes, only three!) items. There was an all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, and an abrasive cleaner. These were the foundation for a clean home. The staples necessary in everyone's closet. And the best part? They were cheap. Really cheap. I've listed the items below and have made a selection of my favorite products, as well as inexpensive and super easy DIY versions!

Cleaning Closet Staples

1. All-Purpose Cleaner

• (Ready to Buy) Mrs. Meyers Lavender being one of my personal favorites. Useable on almost any surface, non-abrasive, and gentle around children and pets. Plus it instantly makes your house smell amazing!

•  (DIY) 
• 2 tablespoons of a mild dish-washing liquid
• 2 cups of water
• Mix together in a spray bottle. Voila!

2. Window Cleaner

• (Ready to Buy) I previously used Windex religiously, but the chemicals began to irritate my skin and eyes, so I tried Seventh Generation. I've never looked back! This brand is fantastic and I surprisingly use much less than other brands! Seventh Generation is sustainable and eco-friendly, but more importantly wallet-friendly!

• (DIY)
• 1 part white vinegar
• 1 part water
• Mix together in a spray bottle.

3. Abrasive Cleaner

• (Ready to Buy) Bon Ami is one of the best gentle abrasive cleaners on the market. It really works! Whenever my pots and pans are looking kind of dingy, I'll simply use this and they look practically new. Truly amazing stuff!

•  (DIY) 
• Baking Soda
• Water
• Combine and make a paste. Works great as cleaner and deodorizer!

So there you have it, just three items you need for use in your home and not one do you need to worry about around your children or pets! By switching to these three formula's I've not only saved time and money, but my cleaning cabinet is remarkably more organized! What could be simpler?

Puppy Tales

Right before Christmas, we were blessed with the opportunity to rescue a wonderful beagle through the Northern California Beagle Rescue. These puppies were used for laboratory testing at a facility in the San Jose area. We found out two days prior that the facility was releasing eight male beagles. My sister (visiting from Wisconsin) and I, made the four hour trip North to foster and adopt one of beagle boys. It was such an exciting moment, I could hardly wait! Those four hours in the car could not go fast enough.

Once at the holding facility, which was a local veterinarians office, we were introduced to each beagle. They were shy, awkward, and very unsure. Each one had a slightly different personality, yet only known by the federal identification number tattooed to the inside of their ear. I know people say that animals choose you, but it wasn't until meeting the eighth beagle, that I knew this to be true. 

Jackson came bounding out the door and straight into my lap, putting his two front paws on my chest and kissing my nose. It was love at first sight! There was no question he would be coming home with us and our lives have never been the same. He has fit in so well with our family and loves his beagle sister, Penny. It hasn't been easy. There are aspects that can be challenging, but it is all worth it in the end. There's nothing Jackson needs more than love and patience.

Even though I will never know the details of his life as a research animal, I do know that he was not allowed to be a real dog. He had never seen grass, the sun, cars, or even cats! Whenever he sees (or hears!) new things he'll stop in his tracks, pause and cock his head to side, trying to figure everything out. Seeing the world through this little boy has given me a new outlook on life. Like Jack, I pause to take it all in. 

 

Jackson (aka Jack) The sweetest, bravest, gentlest puppy around. 

 

The only name, Jackson ever knew. A constant reminder of his past.

Please, think of Jack the next time you're out shopping and stop to see if that product is Cruelty-Free. 

Jack and I thank you!

Household Management Tip #1

When I moved into my home, the first thing the man and I did was tear out the majority of the carpet. We both have pretty bad allergies, and living with dogs and cats made wall to wall carpet a pretty terrible idea. So we replaced the builders beige carpet with dark wide-plank hand-scraped wood, leaving only the bedrooms with carpet. Recently, my craft room carpet was met with acrylic craft paint. Hot pink paint, actually, and dead center in the room. Tiny splotches of pink all over, made it look like a Barbie massacre. Determined to find a solution short of ripping it out, I found a very simple cleaning technique using basic rubbing alcohol.

Here's my hot pink stain and the only supplies you'll need: Isopropyl Alcohol and a cotton rag.

Pour plenty of alcohol over the acrylic paint and rub liberally. Make sure you change up the spot on the rag so you don't smear the paint around.

In about 5 minutes, the stain was gone!

While the method isn't foolproof, I'm sure there's some materials you may want to avoid, it definitely worked in this case! Now to clean up the 100 other spots!

Hair Day Morals

Growing up, my mother always said, "Be the type of person you would like to meet." Along with a hundred other mantra's she proudly quoted, I ignored them all. It's not until later in life that situations present themselves where you realize, hey she was right. That situation happened only moments ago.

Like every good client I dutifully make my appointments for every 6 weeks. I arrive 5-10 minutes early, and always provide a 20% tip. I understand tipping is optional for some, but for routine services by the same provider, for me it's a must. A tip will guarantee you a last minute spot when your hair  suddenly decides to grow two inches before a big holiday party.

Anyways, it has been my experience with most salons, that anything you say or do within those four walls will never remain. And while there is an unwritten rule of client-stylist confidentiality, you can guarantee that any amount of gossip will always find it's way back. With that in mind, I've typically kept my chatter to a minimum. I discuss neutral topics such as decorating, travel, or even current events. Once in a while we'll chat about family, but just to highlight the achievements or recent accolades. Not all ladies feel the same way and often use their stylist as a fill-in psychologist.

As, I sat in the dryer perusing the pages of a six months old US Weekly, I was suddenly distracted by a woman complaining about her husband. She proceeded for the full ten minutes I was under the dryer to ridicule and criticize everything her husband was (in her opinion) doing wrong. Now, I understand all relationships can be rocky and venting is normal, but this was pretty uncomfortable! I actually began to feel kind of sorry for the husband, even though I didn't know either of these people. Mid-judgment, I realized I probably shouldn't be listening in on her conversation, but a woman who was loud enough to be heard over my dryer, was obviously wanting to be heard! I tried to get back to my article about Charlie Sheen and his Goddesses, but it was nearly impossible to focus. I cringed and reminded myself never to speak poorly about others in a public setting.

As I was walking out of the salon, I overheard two of the employees whispering about the lady. Apparently, she made quite the impression, even long after she had left. While I'd like to give that woman the benefit of the doubt and hope she was just having an off day, it's a reminder for us all to act like ladies in public, especially when you never know who may be overhearing.

Ring Shopping!

I didn't expect my first real post to be about ring shopping, but it is! Before I start rumors, let me elaborate. NO I AM NOT ENGAGED! (yet!). It simply was an available opportunity for the man and I to take a look at all the wonderful sparkly items at American Jewelery Company. As one of the premier Bakersfield jeweler's, this place had everything one could want: Rolex, Scott Kay, Roberto Coin, Tacori, they have everything! And in fabulous presentation.

Like most young women, I've had my dream ring built in my mind since childhood. It may have varied a little over the years but it has always been a simple solitaire with pave stones. In fact, for the last five-ish years I have been drooling over this exact Tacori setting.

I know that whatever comes my way, I will love. Big giant rock or not. Wedding rings are about a promise, not a material possession...but it sure would be nice to blind people while driving around town! Ha!

Speaking of Jewelry, do you know your four five C's?

1. Color - Color is graded on a scale from D to Z, D being perfectly colorless and Z being a very light yellow. Any specialty diamonds (ie canary, chocolate, cognac, pink) are graded differently. Most well known jewelers, such as Tiffany & Co., do not purchase diamonds under I. 
   
2. Cut - Referring to the facet of the stone. Probably one of the biggest "make or breaks" for a man. If you happen to choose the wrong cut, God help you. Always ask your potential fiance her preference, and PLEASE stay away from marquis. Those haven't been popular since...well...never! If you truly have no idea and simply must buy a diamond stick with the most popular choices, round and Princess.
3. Clarity - This indicates the flaws present inside the stone. When setting, the natural handling may ding the stone causing minimal abrasions. This is completely normal, so when speaking of clarity is refers to the "internal clarity" only. This scale ranges from VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, very slight imperfections), to SI1 and SI2 (slight imperfections) and then to Imperfections 1 and 2. Noticeable imperfections with the naked eye will only start to really show until I1 and I2.
4. Carat - So what exactly is a carat? It's exactly one fifth of a gram to be precise! So yes, math wizards a 5 carat rock would be 1 gram! And remember, a Carat may be a jewelers measurement for stone mass, but it does not always indicate size. This could depend on the several factors including density and once set, the cut can always make the stone appear larger.  
5. CUTENESS - This is most important and never mentioned! It truly does not matter how perfect all the above are if the ring is not cute! No woman is going to wear something if it's hideous.

When it comes to buying a ring, there's no perfect science. You buy what you like (or in this case, what your potential fiance likes). Keep the budget in mind as well, because this is only the start of a long road of expensive purchases. More importantly, have fun! This should be an exciting time for the both you. Drink the free champagne and try on all the baubles you can! Enjoy!

The Stepford Project

Welcome to anyone that may be reading my blog! The new year has settled in, and this is the perfect time to begin my project. What started as a humorous idea, evolved into a full on mission. It's a mission to research and discover, through trial and error, all the domestic (and some *not so domestic*) duties one might find in and around the home. Modern life may have driven most women out of the house and into careers, but it's my goal to find the delicate balance between modern women and the Stepford wife. Thus began the idea of The Stepford Project.

Just a quick overview of the site that was so wonderfully designed by Carolyn V., currently there are links to quickly access recipes, household management, and my etsy shop (I'll be adding some great home items very soon!). If for any reason you would like to contact me with any tips, tricks, or suggestions for future topics please do not hesitate to do so! I would love to hear any ideas, this is all a learning process and I could use as much help as possible. In order to make this project a success I need motivation to continue posting, which will entice me to continue learning. So spread the love, folks!

Cheers to new beginnings!