Saturday, April 30, 2011

Revive Your Hair With Two Homemade Conditioners I'm Nuts About!


This first one I'm sharing  is a fantastic and easy treatment to help remedy your dull and brittle hair without much effort.  The second is a deeper treatment that you can apply and wear all day when you're alone or overnight when you do not have anyone sleeping beside you.

Get a container and mix up 1/4 cup of olive oil with the juice of one whole lemon and 2 tablespoons of coarse salt.  Apply this while you take your warm shower or linger in the tub soaking with your bubbles for at least ten minutes. 

Rinse and then style your hair as you usually do.  This will give you back your manageability and shine.

The second treatment is for when your hair is brittle enough to crack when you rub the strands together.  When this happens, you need to take desperate measures with the plastic wrap and  mayonnaise treatment.  

You may laugh, but applying some healthy gobs of mayo to your freshly washed hair, then wrapping plastic wrap, followed by a scarf to wear as long as possible, does help soften and improve problem hair.  

Another interesting way to shorten up the mayo-plastic wrap treatment is to grab your blow dryer and warm up your head so that mayo penetrates the hair thoroughly.  

As I also mentioned, you can go to bed wearing your salad smelling plastic helmet wrapped head, only if you are sleeping alone.   Overnight treatment in this fashion I only recommend if hubby is away or you will risk alienating him.

Friday, April 29, 2011

My Equally Yummy Vanilla Cream Pudding From Scratch!


Those of you that are more fond of vanilla pudding will jump for joy once you taste this recipe. Like the chocolate one, this is another simple pudding you can make from scratch.  It does require eggs, however, unlike the chocolate.  Nonetheless, it is so creamy and just the perfect way to satisfy that urge for that velvety goodness of warm pudding when it strikes!

Another wonderful thing about this pudding recipe is that you can transform it into a butterscotch pudding just by substituting 2/3 cup of packed brown sugar for the white sugar.  Imagine the praise you, chief cook, will get when you serve up a new fabulous dessert.

As I mentioned yesterday when making the chocolate pudding, you can reduce some of the calorie content by using skim milk or low-fat two or one-percent milk.  Also, you can cut back on just a little of the sugar and sample the sweetness after it thickens.  If you find it needs the normal amount of sugar, you can still add it while it's hot on the stove without ruining anything.  The sugar will still dissolve.

You're going to need to use two eggs for this recipe and separate them into yolks and whites.  For the best results, those eggs must sit out on your counter for a few minutes.  Eggs always are easier to separate at room temperature than straight out of the refrigerator.  Get your bowl and pot handy for later cracking.

Try to avoid getting those egg whites in with the yolks.  However, if a little portion of the white fall in with your yolks, there is no major disaster created.  All that happens is you'll get a tiny strand or two of cooked white decorating your pudding. 

Successful egg white removal can be reserved for a future omelette, perhaps, for breakfast or lunch.  Just add some more egg or whites, your cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and you will have a masterpiece on your plate!


My Vanilla Cream Pudding to be Nuts Over!

1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla


Add your milk to the egg yolks in your pot and mix.  Use your whisk and add the cornstarch and mix thoroughly before gradually mixing in the sugar.  Cook this over medium heat while stirring constantly until it starts bubbling and thickens.  Remove from the heat and stir in the margarine and vanilla. (Never add the vanilla while on the stove or it will cook away).  Pour into four dishes and enjoy hot or cold, whipped cream topped or plain!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Make My Delicious Eggless Chocolate Pudding From Scratch!

dish-of-chocolate-pudding.jpeg
This pudding is delicious and easy to make.

Some people automatically assume that you need to go to the grocery store and buy a box of pudding mix in order to cook up a batch.  However, you can save yourself the expense by making your own not to mention how simple it is to cook. Furthermore, you don't need many ingredients and probably have most of them in your refrigerator or pantry already.  If not, just jot down what you need to make this pudding and take it to the store with you.

This particular chocolate pudding is better tasting than any package variety and perfect for anyone with an egg allergy or just any chocoholic in need of a pudding fix!  In addition, this is cheaper than recipes requiring eggs, which often have been expensive lately. 

If you want to cut down the calories but still crave something sweet, you might try reducing the sugar as I suggested and using skim milk instead of one or two-percent milk. You can also eliminate the tablepoon of margarine.  Taste for sweetness after it thickens because you can always stir in more.


My Homemade Eggless Chocolate Pudding to be Nuts Over!

1/2 cup sugar  (can reduce this to 1/3 cup) 
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon of margarine (optional)
Whipped Cream (optional)

Dissolve your cornstarch in your cold milk with a whisk before you add the sugar and cocoa to your pot.  Cook this mixture over medium heat until it thickens, stirring often so not to burn.  When it becomes thick enough, take off of the heat and stir in your vanilla and margarine (optional).  Pour into four small serving dishes and serve hot or cold with or without whipped cream.


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My recipe makes four decent size servings.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Need Some Cheap Eye Beauty Fixes for Puffiness?

One of the most common complaints we all have is with our eyes.  Sometimes, we can wake up with puffy, swollen eyes like saucers.  Other times, we tend to have those dark under eye rings like a human raccoon.  Crying or fatigue could be behind this new look.  Unfortunately, many of us have allergies and these extra bits of beauty are constantly on our face, only to add more joy and, of course, challenge to our lives.

If you find yourself suddenly needing to experiment with a remedy for those eyes, I do have a few things that you might want to try.  For puffiness, you can try placing chilled wet tea bags on your closed eyes for about ten minutes.  Be sure to keep your head elevated on a pillow while using this to help with the blood flow.  The released caffeine in any typical tea from the black to the green works the same way to help those eyes deflate.

Another helpful  tip for puffiness is to grate some raw potato (about half of a small to a medium size depends on how good of a grater you are without getting your fingertips bloody) and apply to a clean dampened piece of gauze.  Wrap this potato gauze into a strip.  Place this strip on your closed  eyes and chill out on your bed for about five minutes while the potato does its work. Again, you should keep your head slightly elevated for the most effectiveness.

Anything from your freezer wrapped in a clean cloth that is flat enough for you to apply to your eyes, can often take down some of the puffiness.  Cracked ice works nicely wrapped in cloth. 

Believe it or not, Preparation H is recommended by some plastic surgeons to use under your eyes to bring down swelling. 

Something else that is useful is dabbing some castor oil to the skin under those eyes. 

Sometimes, you could to resort to sleeping on two pillows to lessen the puffiness.  However, you might wake with a stiff neck.  I only suggest this for those desperate individuals born with a long, graceful neck.  Those with a short one like myself do better with other methods. 

You also might want to consider the type of pillow you're using.  Feather pillows may be comfortable, but they can be the culprits behind dark allergic shiners and the puffiness.  Sometimes, you could switch and find that was the best beautifier of all for your eyes!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Are You Aware of What Foods Fight Fat?


The swim suit season will soon be here.  Is your body ready for the exposure or do you need to lose a few pounds?  If the answer is yes, I have some helpful foods for you to consider.


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A half of a grapefuit is enough to help speed up your metabolism to initiate weight loss.

Foods That Help Wage a War Against Fat


Grapefruit is the usual staple on most diet plans for a reason.  Every half of a grapefruit serving is loaded with three grams of fiber and plays a part in helping your metabolism work better. 

Another helpful food is avocado.  The reason avocados work in battling fat is because your body burns their monounsaturated fat faster than any saturated fat.  Olive oil is another monounsaturated fat.  Saturated fat comes from animal products like beef, pork, butters, etc.

According to one study, subjects given the same equal-calorie diet over a month period with foods rich in saturated fat while another was fed the same menu except with foods rich in monounsaturated fat that the monounsaturated participants lost more weight.

Vinegar is something to take a closer look at because it can help cut your blood sugar.  Four teaspoons before a high-carb meal can help if you use it on your salad for instance.  Here's a tasty suggestion if you want to use creamy salad dressing and cut down the fat, just transfer half to another container and return to the refrigerator.  Add vinegar to the original jar that is half filled.  

Chili powder and hot peppers have capsaicin, a natural appetite suppressant, which gives it the heat.


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Capsaicin in hot peppers helps the body burn calories faster and fight fat.


Nut butters like Artisana, (which is currently on a giveaway), have the perfect blend of fat, protein, and fiber to keep you full while also taking your body longer to break them down.  The type of fat found in them also is the healthier variety to help speed up that metabolism.

Coffee always gets a bad wrap.  However, it has caffeine to help metabolism. 

Of course, we can not forgot about the value of legumes.  Beans are great for any diet.  They will satisfy your hunger, provide lots of fiber, and are delicious when you learn how to cook them.  Another thing about beans is using them saves you money in that grocery budget.


My Theory on the Negative Effects of Bread


Earlier on, I wrote about my horrible root canal experience in my post on the importance of getting a second dental opinion.  For months, I needed to heal ligament damage and went toothless without any temporary crown.  I only ate soft foods, mostly yogurt, cottage cheese, soups, eggs, lots of ice cream, but no bread.  I did carefully manage crackers on one side of my mouth.  

The point I'm trying to make is I lost 20 pounds without trying.  Although I don't have any science behind this, I believe the yeast in bread has to play a part in losing that weight.  For the amount of ice cream I ate, my family thought I would have expanded while I only lost.  This may sound ridiculous, but this is a true story.  Try just giving up bread in your diet and see the pounds melt off if you're serious about dropping weight. 

Monday, April 25, 2011

Simple Ways to Stop Wasting Money and Pocketing More!

One of the best pieces of advice if you want to stop wasting money is to never cash your paycheck and pocket that money.  If you carry cash, then you are more tempted to use it on little things without realizing where that paycheck went. 

Deposit your check directly in your checking or savings account that does not charge a fee to hold your money.  Some banks charge $3 a month or more for handling your money.  However, there are still banks that do not charge for either checking or a savings account.  Always make sure you do your homework and check out bank fees first.

Keep a special notebook dedicated to your expenses.  Jot down and subtract all your monthly expenses such as rent, mortgage, health insurance, food, car payments, gasoline, clothing, etc. When you write down each expense, you will see more clearly how that money was spent.

Try to not buy convenience foods.  Learning to cook more from scratch will always be cheaper than already prepared items. 

Next time you go to the grocery store be prepared with a list of items that are on sale.  Try to utilize recipes around the sale items, if possible.  If not, just make sure you buy only items that are on your grocery list to make those recipes you planned for that week.

Coupons can be a great way to save--only if those products are really worth to buy in the first place.  Figure out the itemized cost to see the true price.  Take in consideration, the size of the product with coupon and without.  Often, the smaller sizes are more cost effective when couponing. 

Generic products are often as good or better than the name brand products.  Often these same products are manufactured by the same companies--only without the fancy, colorful packaging.  My advice is to experiment and taste test.

Rebate programs at the drugstores  are also a wonderful way to save and often result in free products!

Avoid those early morning coffee runs or even eating breakfast out before you go to work.  Eat at home instead or take advantage of a coffee maker on the premises or bring your own.  Pack your lunch or also use the microwave at your workplace if one is available.  For every cup of coffee, breakfast, or lunch you skip out, the more money you will save.

Resist impulse shopping.  Don't watch those infomercials and buy something that you see on the screen.  If you hate this product, you will pay either return shipping, which can also include a restocking fee. 

Try to buy items that you physically need to touch.   Be sure you don't get lazy if you need to return something; otherwise, you could end up with an expensive mistake!

A tremendous way to save is to ask this one question.  Do you really need the item you plan to buy--or do you just want it?  Of course, we all love pretty things, but how many of us can really afford everything?  If you practice that one little rule, then you will reduce stress from overspending, accumulate more money, and simplify your life. 

There are lots more great things you can do to stretch that dollar and cut out that waste.  These are just a few tips that can put you back on track because often you don't know where money goes until it's gone. 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Garden Botanika Tea Rose Eau De Parfum Review and Giveaway!--Ends May 11, 2011

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


Garden Botanika Tea Rose Eau De Parfum.jpeg
Garden Botanika Tea Rose Eau De Parfum 
Whether you're young, old, middle-aged, beautiful, average, or on the plain side, the best cosmetic you can rely on to transform you into the most elegant diva in the room is when you wear the perfect perfume like the one Garden Botanika sent me for this review. 

Their Tea Rose Eau De Parfum Spray is a romantic delight to wear, besides one of Garden Botanika's custom single note fragrances.  This long lasting perfume will warm your heart just like it did mine because it surrounds, not overwhelms you in the intoxicating beauty of tea roses.  

If you prefer other scents, Garden Botanika does not disappoint you.  Their single notes are divided into musks, cool & crisp, warm & spicy, fruits as well as other single floral choices.  You can mix your own perfume from up to three different fragrance notes to form a total of six parts. 

Another option is trying one of their pre-mixed blends.

What  is even nicer is this company offers a $3.50 deal to test drive a fragrance in  0.17 fl. oz. size for those unsure what scent would be best to choose. 

Thanks to Garden Botanika, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States or Canada wins a bottle of their own Tea Rose Eau De Parfum Spray in the 3.38 fl. oz. size ($32 value)!


Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Garden Botanika and tell me another product or scent you would love to try or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Garden Botanika Tea Rose Perfume #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Garden Botanika on Facebook--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends May 11, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Friday, April 22, 2011

Artisana Raw Organic Nut Butters Review and Giveaway!--Ends May 9, 2011

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Artisana Raw Organic Nut Butters.jpeg
Artisana Raw Organic Nut Butters

If you have a peanut allergy but still crave a nutritious similar type of spread, you might need to look into nut butters.  The Artisana organic raw nut butter assortment provided to me for review could be the answer to solving that difficult allergy problem.  All are strictly manufactured in a peanut and gluten free facility and are delicious substitutes.

I received a Coconut Butter and a Walnut Butter, both 8-oz. jars and a variety of their 1.19 oz pouches with Almond, Cacao Bliss, Cashew, Cashini, Coconut Oil, Mac-Cashew and Pecan as well.

My favorite was their Walnut Butter, which would please any peanut butter lover.  This butter spread well in a sandwich or on crackers and tasted deliciously nutty plain. The Cashew, Almond, and Pecan varieties also were top contenders in the taste department.   The Tahini had a stronger flavor, slightly more bitter alone.  However, I added some grape jam to the Tahini butter and made a wonderful sandwich.  The Coconut Butter definitely tasted of coconut and by adding a bit of Tropical Traditions raw organic honey, (which is currently on giveaway), I created a new lunchtime treat.  Plain or with some honey, I experimented with the Cacao Bliss, Cashini, Coconut Oil, and the Mac-Cashew, with pleasing results.

Whether a peanut allergy is your problem or not, Artisana nut butters are wonderful changes for any nut lover wanting new taste possibilities.  You can do a lot with these nut butters and  from eating them plain to adding different jams, cream cheese, sliced bananas, etc. 

Furthermore, they come in both jars and in pouchs, which are perfect to pack in your handbag or briefcase, for some quick energy. 

Thanks to Artisana Organics one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States or Canada wins the same assortment of products I received:  10 squeeze pouches, (1 of each flavor), and the two jars (8-oz. size), a ($30 value)!


Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Artisana Organics and tell me which product you would love to try first or something you learned from the site in another comment.


Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Artisana Raw Organic Nut Butters #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Artisana on  Facebook--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends May 9, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Thursday, April 21, 2011

How to Simplify Your Gardening

In the winter, I start saving my food containers and recycle them to start growing my seeds indoors.  Yogurt, cottage cheese, or mushroom containers are free planters and work nicely to get those delicate seeds a healthy start by the time they're ready to weather outdoors.

If you have flowerpots and want to prevent any mess, you might try adding a coffee filter to the bottom of the pot before adding your soil. 

Go to your grocery store and head to the bakery department.  Chances are if you ask them for a bucket that came with icing or filling they will give you one for free.  These cleaned buckets can store your potting soil indoors before you start planting.

Any time you work with soil and want to save yourself a lot of aggravation in cleaning your fingernails, I have a suggestion.  Get a bar of soap and scrape your fingernails against it.  This soap barrier will help save you that ugly brown dirt look on your fingernails that never seems to completely wash clean regardless of how hard or long you scrub.  I like to do this soap trick even when wearing gardening gloves for any dirt that escapes inside and attacks my fingertips.

I found that if you paint your gardening tools bright colors or even buy tools that are an eye-popping shade of red or yellow, then those you drop will be easier to find.  Those dark colors are often harder to spot.

Here's something helpful to remember before you attach your gardening hose to the spigot.  Rub the end of the hose with petroleum jelly first as well as adding some around the spigot itself first before screwing it on.  This simple precaution will help the hose screw on and off with relative ease. 

Before you use your pruning shears again, you may want to try this tip to clean them for better cutting action.  Save an old toothbrush and dip it in some kerosense outdoors to rub against the blades of your old pruning shears.  Afterwards, wipe the blades clean with a rag and then apply a light lubricating oil such as WD40.

These are just some shortcuts to save you time and money while gardening.  I hope you find them helpful.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey Review and My Honey-Lemon Icing + GIVEAWAY!--Ends May 4, 2011

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

organic raw honey.jpeg
Organic Raw Honey

I was surprised when I received my jar of Tropical Traditions Organic Canadian Raw Honey to review.  This product was different from typical golden-brown, syrupy varieties of honey I tried in the past.   Raw honey is thick, white,  more solid and gathered from bees in the remote parts of Canada and carefully monitored.   Furthermore,100% Organic Honey means it is never heated above temperatures that the honey is naturally exposed to in the beehive.

At first, I was not sure what I was going to do with my honey.  I always love adding some to my tea, especially in herbal teas.  Another thing I find helpful about honey is adding a tablespoon to a glass of warm milk when you're unable to sleep.  Adding a spoon of honey to cooked oatmeal with a little bit of Silk Vanilla Soy Milk is out of this world delicious! 

However, today I was in the mood to bake and experimented with a new icing recipe with honey to compliment from my No Work Yellow Sheet Cake recipe that I already posted.  

The margarine for any icing recipes will never work if it's labeled spread.  You will get a soupy mess no matter how much confectioners' sugar you add.  Just be careful and always avoid the word "spread" on those margarine packages if you plan on creaming.  This happens because there is too much water added to that product.

My Honey-Lemon Icing!

3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons margarine (not spread)
1 tablespoon zested lemon peel
2 tablespoons Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream everything until it's a nice spreading texture.  You can spread your icing on your cooled cake thin and store any extra in your refrigerator or freezer for another smaller cake or cupcakes or just use it all.

Thanks to Tropical Traditions, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff wins a 17.6 oz. jar their own delicious Organic Raw Honey (a $19.50 value)!  This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only.

piece of my no-work yellow sheet cake.jpeg
Here's a piece of my No-Work Yellow Sheet Cake.

my no-work yellow sheet cake with honey-lemon icing.jpeg
This is before cutting my No-Work Yellow Sheet Cake with Honey-Lemon Icing.



Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me so in a comment.

2. Go to the Tropical Traditions and tell me what you would love to try from their site in another comment or something else you learned.


Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Add @Tropical Traditions to your Twitter and tell me so in your comment--1 extra entry

Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook and tell me in a comment--1 extra entry

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends May 4, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Repair As Well As Beautify With Clear Nail Polish!

When you think of nail polish, you naturally assume a bounty of glorious color to adorn your fingernails.  However, nail polish can also be used for common little repairs around your house.

For one, I found dabbing some clear nail polish on a small hole in a screen can work wonders.  To be truly effective from keeping things out, the hole can't be bigger than one-third inch in diameter, for a coat of polish to hold.  I've used this on a screen door and a window screen with excellent results.

Another interesting help is using some nail polish to tighten loose screws on a pot handle.  Remove the screw and brush some of the polish on the screw threads.   Once painted with some clear polish, insert the screw and allow it to thoroughly dry before attempting to use again.

This technique also works the same way on loose screws in your cabinets.

If you have wooden hangers that get a rough spot either buff with some fine sandpaper or coat on some clear polish, whichever one you have in your house.  Plastic hangers with a jagged edge or spot can also be saved by applying some clear polish to the problem area as well.

Do you have a piece of costume jewelry constantly turning black?  A clear coat of nail polish could have helped prevent that from happening. 

Tiny holes on hosiery can be slowed down also by a dab of clear nail polish. 

These are just several ideas that sprang to mind.  I'm sure there are countless other ways to use nail polish around your home.  Regardless, I think to have a bottle just for that unexpected repair is worthwhile.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Learn How to Allergy-Proof Your Home!

If you're like me and suffer from allergies, then you know how miserable you can feel from seemingly innocent sources like dust or mold to countless triggers inside your house.  Though you won't be able to stop the problem, you'll be more equipped to manage your symptoms if you take proper precautions.

Invest in a high-efficiency air conditioner or a unit for a room where you can go when the weather gets hot instead of opening windows.  Keeping those windows closed will prevent letting outdoor irritants in such as tree pollens, flowers, and grass to flow in. 

Another air conditioner benefit is that it helps stop indoor mold and mite growth if the humidity level stays below 40%.  To find out how much moisture the air in your house has just go to your hardware store and buy a cheap tool for about $6.00 called a hygrometer, which measures the levels.

Here's something important you also might want to consider the next time you buy furniture.  Those prone to allergies are better off choosing leather, wood, metal or plastic pieces if possible because they are easier to wipe clean than fabric couches and chairs.  If, however, you want that upholstered set make sure that you can pick up one with washable, removable slipcovers so they can be cleaned more often.

Carpeting is not ideal for anyone with severe allergies.  In fact, new carpeting can cause a bounty of new pain for those unfortunate sufferers from all the unseen vapors that escape from some synthetic fibers.  Regardless, vacuuming often helps if your home is carpeted.  A cyclonic machine (like a Dyson) or the variety with a micro-pore or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, can help remove particulates and allergens.

Avoid cluttering up your bedroom especially with too many cloth items where airborne allergens love to attach themselves.  For instance, cushioned headboards, an upholstered chair, throw pillows, heavy draperies, hanging clothes on the back of your door, a wicker basket where more clothes seem to land, etc. are bad ideas.  A simpler bedroom with less is best.  Blinds are also a better choice.

Use allergen-resistant covers on your mattress, box spring, and pillows to help control allergens more.  Labels with "perspiration-vapor transmission" are the best because they breathe and  sweat so that mold can't grow. 

Avoid feather pillows and down comforters on your bed as well.  Also, it is a good idea to stick to cotton sheets instead of synthetic materials when you make your bed. 

Wash your bedding weekly in hot water and any comforter, the mattress pad and the blankets monthly.

These are just a few suggestions to help you feel better with allergies.  Trust me, I know what it feels like to hurt from them and wanted to share.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Essie's Resort 2011 Collection Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Essie's Resort 2011 nail polish Collection.jpeg
Essie's 2011 Resort Collection for well-dressed nails


Explore earthy, sultry colors as Essie unleashes their 2011 Resort Collection.  The bold new shades inspired by wild and remote destinations dazzles with mineral-rich hues that blend with lush flora and fauna so you can stalk your terrain like the sexy predator you are! 

Trust me, but you'll definitely feel like a sleek jungle cat on the prowl once you wear any of these dangerous new shades.  These nail colors shouldn't be worn by those that like to stay in the background because this line commands attention.

The professional-only shades include:  your hut or mine? (a glittering golden poppy), lion around (a regal peach), fair game (a pearly platinum), or da bush (sun-drenched khaki green).

So have fun and be adventurous exploring each of the 2011 Resort Collection shades.  Essie does not put formaldehyde, DBP or Toluene in any of their products so good hunting!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

1500 Threads Luxury Bedding Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

1500 Threads Luxury Bedding.jpeg
1500 Threads Luxury Bedding

With all the hours you spend in bed you depend on comfort to make sure you get a good night's sleep.  Imagine how much cozier it would be to settle in against the softest sheets you ever felt!  Recently, I got to experience the pleasure of climbing into bed with a set of 1500 Thread Count 100% Egyptian Cotton Luxury Sheets that I was sent to review.

Let me tell you how spoiled you will become once your body cuddles up against these silky soft sheets with a lustrous finish.  You'll just want to crawl into bed earlier and linger longer.

What else was nice about these sheets was how easy it is to care for them.  All you need to do is wash them in cold water with items of similar colors, then tumble dry on low heat.  No need to bleach, dry clean or iron these babies!  Even after initially washing them, the color stays true and wrinkle free like my vivid green set due to their remarkable high strength micro fiber yarns.  

You can select from thirteen shades to match your own decor.  Each set comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet with deep fitted pockets from 15" to 18", and two pillow cases.  Trust me, you would expect a set of this quality would be much higher priced.  But 1500 Threads wants people to get acquainted and offers a 50% discount of your total price at checkout if you use NUTS4STUFF50.  They're even offering free shipping when you buy two items or more right now to make it even sweeter for you to try their luxury bedding.

Become a fan of 1500 Threads on facebook and discover other great deals when they become available.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Hard Candy Cosmetics Review (Undercover Agent, Glamoflauge Concealer, Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss and Giveaway!--Ends May 2, 2011


**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Hard Candy Cosmetics Undercover Agent, Glamflauge Heavy Duty Concealer, Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss.jpeg
Undercover Agent, Glamflauge Heavy Duty Concealer, Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss



Hard Candy Cosmetics is a brand of makeup that I never tried until now when I was sent a few products.  Since most women suffer from dark under eye circles, I was particularly interested to see how well two of that company's under eye concealers would handle the problem.

The first product I tried that I was sent was the Undercover Agent (undereye brightener & concealer duo) in Light.   For $6.00 price, this concealer worked surprisingly well to cover the dark area without caking or that chalky look.  The cream brightener made the spreading easier and provided a nice finish.  The color, which looked darker than I normally use for a light shade, looked natural and presented no difficulty.

What I didn't like about Hard Candy  Undercover Agent was the size of the concealer itself.  You get a sample size of what you need compared to the full size tube of the brightener.  I think Hard Candy should have provided equal portions of concealer to brightener.

The second Hard Candy concealer I tried was their Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer with Concealer Pencil in Light.  For starters, this shade of light hardly matched the other shade of light.  It was paler in color when applied. My opinion of this product was that it was thick enough to cover darkness, but it also settled into some fine lines.  Using this to conceal an under eye problem would not be my choice.  However, I do love the way this product can hide a blemish. 

The last Hard Candy product I experimented with was their Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss in Cake Walk 333.  This left my lips with a shimmery wash of pale pink shine while moisturizing.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products to review so I may express an opinion.*

Thanks to Hard Candy Cosmetics, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States and Canada wins all of the same three products I was sent:  Undercover Agent, (undereye brightener  & Concealer Duo (Light), Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer with Concealer Pencil (Light), and the Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss in Cake Walk 333.


Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Hard Candy Cosmetics and tell me which product you would love to try first or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Hard Candy Cosmetics Undereye Concealers and Lip Gloss #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Hard Candy on Facebook--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Follow Hard Candy on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends May 2, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Get More Mileage Out of Your Meals With Ham!

Easter is usually the best time to get ham on sale.  If you want to save money, you can do what I do.  Either buy an extra ham if you're having lots of company to feed or get a ham sliced into one-inch thick slices to make soup and then casseroles.  The butcher can even slice part of a whole ham into one-inch slices and leave half for your holiday dinner.

Whatever way you decide, you will love how easy it is to pull a slice of ham out of your freezer when the urge for soup or just a slice of ham as the entree for dinner calls to you. This soup is a light meal in itself with enough vegetables, a few varieties of beans, ham, and noodles or rice depending on your mood. 

When my soup is finished cooking, I like to remove all fat and cut the ham into pieces for another meal.  This way is how I can get double duty out of the ham.  I can flavor my soup while feeding my family another meal out of it through anything from casseroles to ham-stuffed crepes.

However, I never eat homemade soup on the first day I make it.  I always put it in the refrigerator so that the grease hardens and can be scrapped off the next day.  After all, why waste calories eating artery-clogging grease when you can save those calories on things that taste good?  Surprisingly though, ham soup cooked this way doesn't seem to have all that much fat to skim off compared to chicken  or beef soup, which attracts it like a magnet.

If you have cabbage on hand, you can clean and chop some up for this soup.  The more cabbage you add, the sweeter your soup will become.  Try putting about one-fourth of a medium size cabbage in your soup for a nice change. 

My Favorite Ham-Bean Soup--Nuts Style!

12 cups of water
1 ham slice (one-inch thick)
4 carrots, peeled, cleaned and sliced
1 medium onion (about 1/2 cup chopped)
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped into pieces
2 stalks of celery, chopped into pieces
1 cup Northern Beans, (sorted for stones and soaked overnight first)
1/2 cup lentils  or 1/2 cup dried split peas (don't have to soak overnight)
1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons of salt  (add more or less depending on your taste)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
2 cloves chopped garlic
1/4 of a medium cabbage, clean and chopped (optional)
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of flour

Brown your chopped onions and garlic in the olive oil until golden brown.  Set aside from the heat to stir in the flour to coat.  Return to the heat and add the rest of the ingredients with the water.  Cook until the beans are soft.  Add some cooked noodles, rice, or even dumplings for a change. 

The ham can be used for another meal.  If you like, you can take it apart and throw the pieces back in your soup.  However, I always make another dinner like pot pies, crepes, or another casserole.



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for Combination Skin Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Purely Nourishing Moisturizer.jpeg
This moisturizer is great for combination skin.
When I was sent a Purely Nourishing Moisturizer by Bare Escentuals and asked to try it, I was not sure how the combination formula would react on my dry skin.  However, I found the lightweight formula was gentle and hydrated thoroughly enough to please my sometimes sensitive skin. 

The product contains 100% pure RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, which is clinically proven to improve the skin as is the rest of the Bare Minerals Skin Care line.  I found my pores did appear smaller while using this moisturizer while keeping my face soft and supple. 

The surprising comfort of such non-greasy emollients and the antioxidants for environmental protection please me as well.  I do think Purely Nourishing Moisturizer is now a welcome addition on my vanity top.  If you care for your skin, then this product is worth a try!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Natural Double Duty Cleaning to Be Nuts About!


Some people love to clean for reasons only they know.  A friend of mine is one of those people who cleans every window in her house once a week without fail whether all fourteen need them or not. 

However, I am not one of them.  I clean only because I must to preserve my sanity.  This means I do not enjoy spending time with bucket, mop, vacuum cleaner or an assortment of cleaning products, etc.  The time I put to cleaning is just a needless chore I know I must do out of necessity--never out of pleasure. 

With that thought, I always am on the lookout for ways to shorten my time on the cleaning front so I can do other more enjoyable things instead of cleaning toilets and the like!  This is why I am nuts about using cheap, environmentally friendly natural product combinations like white vinegar and baking soda that cut the work while still getting the job done.

I like to pour a cup of white vinegar in the toilet bowl.   Give it a swish with the toilet brush and watch the bowl start to shine!

Save an empty spray bottle and clean it thoroughly before filling it with white vinegar.  This is a great inexpensive spray cleaner for a bounty of surfaces from countertops to shower doors. 

Beside being a green cleaner, your lungs will also appreciate saving them from those powerful chemicals that often overwhelm you, especially when locked in closed quarters like the bathroom.  Use it straight or to lessen the vinegar smell I like to dilute the bottle with a little water (about one-fourth) to help the aroma. 

Baking soda is wonderful to sprinkle on your carpeting or rugs.  Leave it there while you go have a cup of coffee.  By the time you're finished, the soda will have done its magic to remove any odors, maybe from your dog or cat and you can vacuum it up. 

If your pets happen to have an accident on the carpeting, you should try dampening the area with equal parts white vinegar and water before blotting dry.

Baking soda is also super cheap to use in your wet tub as a nonabrasive cleaner that won't scratch.  It does a fine job of getting rid of soap scum and dirt--and costs pennies compared to the commercial alternative. 

Adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle saves you battling a lint buildup on your clothes.

You can remove tea or coffee stains inside cups by wiping with a paste made of baking soda and water.  Another good stain remover for that problem is salt and white vinegar.

Perspiration stains can be difficult to remove.  However, you should try saturating the stain with white vinegar before you throw it in the washing machine. 

These are just a few simple tricks to save you some money and time while doing your part to help the environment so your day will be freed up for more pleasant things!

 

Monday, April 11, 2011

One Love Organics LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL Youth Preservation Serum Review & Giveaway!--Ends April 29, 2011

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL Youth Preservation Serum.jpeg
LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL Youth Preservation Serum


One Love Organics is a natural skin care company that will transform the way you care for your skin through their amazing philosophy of using no water, only 100% pure natural and effective ingredients that you can feel good about.  Nothing extra is added to seep into your pores only the best of nature to create luminosity and younger looking skin. 

I can tell you this company knows what they're doing because I recently got to evaluate one of their anti-aging products, Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum, and witnessed how after just a few times of use changed the look of my skin's tone and even shrunk pores!  My complexion was softer as well.  This serum seemed to rescue my face from a few small unwanted lines while giving my skin the moisture it craved.

I don't know how these ingredients such as watermelon seed oil that provides the essential fatty acids for smoothness, the Bulgarian Rose Oil for toning and moisturizing, or the D'Orientine S that's clinically proven to fight aging and wrinkling work together to accomplish skin miracles in one jar, but I liked what I saw in the mirror.  I think if my skin looked dramatically improved in a short time, I can't wait to see how gorgeous it's going to look when I finish this jar!

Thanks to One Love Organics, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader wins a full-size bottle of Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum ($98)!



Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me so in a comment.

2. Go to One Love Organics and tell me either a product you would love to try or something you learned in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet One Love Organics Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Follow One Love Organics on Twitter--1 extra entry in a comment

Like One Love Organics on Facebook--1 extra entry in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open only to residents of the United States.   Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends April 29, 2011.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Lemon Ladies Orchard Review + My Lemon Sweet Buns & GIVEAWAY!--Ends April 23, 2011

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

lemons.jpeg
Lemons from Lemon Ladies Orchard

Have you ever heard of the Meyer lemon?  It is an unusual, but pleasantly less bitter variety, a cross between a Mandarin orange and a lemon.  It was discovered in 1908 before it was brought from China to America.  As you might guess, I was excited to review these Meyer lemons sent to me from Karen Morss in Emerald Hills, California.

The Lemon Ladies Orchard is where these wonderful Meyer lemons are grown from among  forty dwarf trees.  Each tree has a name and represents a woman in Karen's life that had inspired the orchardess in some way.

The first thing I did after I cleaned them was to take a taste.  Though not sweet like a Mandarin orange nor bitter sour like lemon, the taste was more in between.  I was tempted to make a Lemon and Sour Cream Pie but decided to make a sweet raised dough with a recipe I usually make when I have oranges with those thick skins.

Karen suggested I use a vegetable peeler instead of a zester and finely chop to get the most flavor.  I followed her advice when I made the sugar-lemon topping for these buns.  However, I prefer zesting to spread out the flavor, instead of being intense in tiny pieces.

You can make this recipe ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until needed. 

Lemon Sweet Buns--Nuts Style!

3/4 cup sugar
5-1/2 to 6-1/2 cups  unsifted flour
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons dry yeast
1 cup hot tap water (about 125 degrees)
3 eggs
lemon-sugar coating ingredients below

Mix thoroughly 1-1/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and the undissolved dry yeast.  Add oil. Slowly add the hot tap water.  Beat with your electric mixture for a few minutes until well combined.  Add eggs and another 1/4 cup of flour.  Continue beating and scrape the sides of the bowl. 

Now stir in more flour gradually until it becomes a soft dough.  Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes until pliable.  Divide dough into 3 equal parts. From each part, you can make 8 balls. 

Roll each ball into the melted margarine, then dip into the lemon-sugar coating on all sides.  You can cluster them in greased 8" round cake pans or any size you want.  I need to use the 15" x 10" x 2" pans due to limitations of still baking in my toaster-oven!

If using stainless steel or glassbake, you can store this in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap and foil overnight, if desired.  Or you can finish letting it rise after you make the sugar-coated dough balls. 

Let the dough balls rise in a warm spot for about 2 hours until doubled before baking.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes.


Lemon-Sugar Coating:

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup grated or zested (use the vegetable peeler and chop into tiny pieces if you want a stronger flavor)
2 tablespoons of melted margarine

Mix together in a bowl and set aside until ready to use to coat.

Lemon Sweet Bun with Lemon-Sugar Coating.jpeg
My Lemon Sweet Buns with Lemon-Sugar Coating are delicious!



Thanks to the Lemon Ladies Orchard, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins a giftbag of their own Meyer lemons ($25 value)!


Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me so in a comment.

2. Go the Lemon Ladies Orchard and tell me something you learned in another comment.


Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Lemon Ladies Orchard Meyer lemons #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like the Lemon Ladies Orchard on Facebook--1 extra entry in another comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  This giveaway is only open to United States residents. Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   Do follow the rules because I check entries. This giveaway ends April 23, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time.