For most of my life, tomato sauce was made for me, either from a jar or at a restaurant. As much as liked what I got from a jar, it wasn't really great. So I end up making the jar sauce more exciting by adding sauteed mushrooms, soy sauce, peppers and whatnot. At restaurants, I often find their tomato sauce either too acidic or just bland. So for most of my life, tomato sauce makes and easy dinner, but not a very exciting one.
Then one day, I ran out of store-bought sauce. I had a big can of peeled tomatoes so I thought, maybe I should just try making my own? I wanted to keep things as simple as possible and the ingredients list as short as possible. So I diced an onion, minced a couple of cloves are garlic and sauteed them in some butter. Yes, butter is fatty, but butter also makes the sauce taste smoother and less acidic, which is what I'm afraid of. Anyways, after the onion and garlic have cooked for a few minutes, I pour in the can of tomatoes. You can get the can with crushed tomatoes or whole tomatoes. Using whole tomatoes requires a bit more work, but not much. Anyways, once the sauce has cooked a bit, if you're using whole tomatoes, just start mashing them to bits with your spoon. This is great if you like your sauce chunky. If you like your sauce super smooth, you can run the sauce through a blender or use an immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook until you get the desired consistency. I will confess now that I also seasoned with soy sauce to taste. I know it's weird, but I kind of like it that way.
After having made this, I can never go back to store-bought sauce without turning my nose up at it! It was SO good! It was packed full of bright, fresh tomato flavor without being too acidic. Hubby loved it too and we both kept eating more and more of it until it was gone. Hubby likes a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan on top, which is also really good, but certainly isn't necessary. So if you've never tried making your own tomato sauce before, I highly recommend it!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Living efficiently
Right now, my goal is to settle into an efficient lifestyle and routine. That means refraining from impulse buys, minimizing waste and being all-around frugal. Of course, this is easier said than done.
I have found that ever since we have moved into our cozy little house, I am more and more tempted to shop for the house. I feel the urge to accessorize it the way I accessorize myself with bags and jewelry. There are a number of things that we don't really need, but would be nice to have. For instance, I would like to get a new bamboo hamper, but we already have a hamper left to us by the previous owners. The old hamper is a perfectly serviceable hamper, but I keep thinking a nice bamboo one would just be so much nicer! Other desirable, but unnecessary items include a vanity organizer, a wine cabinet, extra flatware, serving platters, a big vase, an accent table, etc.. The good news is that I haven't indulged too much yet.
I try to ask myself a few things before I buy. The first question is, do I really need it? Often the answer is no because everything we need to use to live comfortably in the house, we already have. However, in a recent scenario, we had to buy a sump pump for our basement. Although it was something we wouldn't use often, it was definitely needed. So the second question is, if I get it, how often will I use it/enjoy it? Asking this question puts the hamper above serving platters or extra flatware because it would be something we'd use every day. This doesn't negate the fact that we already have a hamper and getting another one would be rather frivolous. So the third question is, do I have anything that can serve the same purpose? For instance, I want to get a vanity organizer, but I already have my combs toiletries placed in random glass cups on my night table. In a way, I already have a makeshift organizer so really, I could just save myself the money and not get a vanity organizer. On the other hand, there's that very last question, how bad do I want it? Another form of this question is, if I don't get it, will it haunt me? To be very honest, I am haunted by the stuff I want because I am being haunted by "the hungry ghost." The being with a huge stomach and tiny neck and is always hungry and never feels like enough is enough.
At the crux of all these questions that I ask myself before I purchase anything is, is it worth it to spend the money? At this point, I haven't bought too many of my desired items. I am thinking that in time, when I realize I still haven't bought these items and the house is still a great place to live, I won't want them anymore. Desire and consumerism is a tantalizing duo, but I think I'd rather not break the bank indulging in my consumerist impulses. Hmm... I guess we'll see. :-)
I have found that ever since we have moved into our cozy little house, I am more and more tempted to shop for the house. I feel the urge to accessorize it the way I accessorize myself with bags and jewelry. There are a number of things that we don't really need, but would be nice to have. For instance, I would like to get a new bamboo hamper, but we already have a hamper left to us by the previous owners. The old hamper is a perfectly serviceable hamper, but I keep thinking a nice bamboo one would just be so much nicer! Other desirable, but unnecessary items include a vanity organizer, a wine cabinet, extra flatware, serving platters, a big vase, an accent table, etc.. The good news is that I haven't indulged too much yet.
I try to ask myself a few things before I buy. The first question is, do I really need it? Often the answer is no because everything we need to use to live comfortably in the house, we already have. However, in a recent scenario, we had to buy a sump pump for our basement. Although it was something we wouldn't use often, it was definitely needed. So the second question is, if I get it, how often will I use it/enjoy it? Asking this question puts the hamper above serving platters or extra flatware because it would be something we'd use every day. This doesn't negate the fact that we already have a hamper and getting another one would be rather frivolous. So the third question is, do I have anything that can serve the same purpose? For instance, I want to get a vanity organizer, but I already have my combs toiletries placed in random glass cups on my night table. In a way, I already have a makeshift organizer so really, I could just save myself the money and not get a vanity organizer. On the other hand, there's that very last question, how bad do I want it? Another form of this question is, if I don't get it, will it haunt me? To be very honest, I am haunted by the stuff I want because I am being haunted by "the hungry ghost." The being with a huge stomach and tiny neck and is always hungry and never feels like enough is enough.
At the crux of all these questions that I ask myself before I purchase anything is, is it worth it to spend the money? At this point, I haven't bought too many of my desired items. I am thinking that in time, when I realize I still haven't bought these items and the house is still a great place to live, I won't want them anymore. Desire and consumerism is a tantalizing duo, but I think I'd rather not break the bank indulging in my consumerist impulses. Hmm... I guess we'll see. :-)
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Minimalism
On and off, I get fascinated with the minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism, in my opinion, is the reflex action against a consumerist and materialistic culture. It has become a trend featured in newspapers, magazines and blogs. The idea is to de-clutter your life to the bare essentials and to resist acquiring new things that you don't actually need.
For instance, this blogger here:
http://www.missminimalist.com/
is an example of someone who advocates a clutter-free life. She recommends a bare 10 pieces of clothing as your "core" wardrobe, which is reminiscent of:
http://consumerist.com/2010/07/woman-wears-6-items-of-clothing-for-a-month----nobody-notices.html
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/
and trying to pare down the number of items you own down to 100, like this one:
http://guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge/
Now some of the goals in these challenges seem a bit extreme to me. I'm not sure I can actually pare down my wardrobe to 10 core items and the total number of things I own down to 100. However, I do love the look of minimalism. If you peek into the bathroom of a minimalist, there is almost nothing sitting on top of the sink or tub. Everything looks so clean and airy. In truth, I enjoy relaxing in a room filled with almost nothing.
So with the minimalist lifestyle in mind, I am going to think about how I want the rooms in my house to look. Everything should have a place and at the end of the day, everything should be put back into its place. It's easier to maintain a clean look and feel if there is less stuff to take care of and move around.
Currently, I think our bathroom has the most minimalist look. Everything is put away neatly and there's a place for the stuff we need for our daily routine. For a while, the bathroom was without a garbage can. The room was so small that no regular trash can would fit anywhere. So I bought a plastic magazine holder, placed it open side up, put a liner in it and voila! bathroom wastebasket problem solved!
The room I'm still struggling to get right is the kitchen. We have a lot of kitchen items. Not only are there pots and pans and lids and utensils, there are also lots of stocked food. I'm still trying to find a way to place and organize things that make sense and work well with how I cook and bake. We have a lot of cabinet space, but much of it I can't reach even with the small step stool. So this room will probably take a few or several more different configurations before I settle on one I like.
Of course, in the back of mind is always the question, what can I get rid of? De-cluttering is key to keeping things neat and organized. Like I said earlier, the less things you have, the less you have to worry about and maintain. I would say my hubby is more of a pack rat than I am, so it's more of a struggle for him than me. Still, I'm going to keep trying!
For instance, this blogger here:
http://www.missminimalist.com/
is an example of someone who advocates a clutter-free life. She recommends a bare 10 pieces of clothing as your "core" wardrobe, which is reminiscent of:
http://consumerist.com/2010/07/woman-wears-6-items-of-clothing-for-a-month----nobody-notices.html
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/
and trying to pare down the number of items you own down to 100, like this one:
http://guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge/
Now some of the goals in these challenges seem a bit extreme to me. I'm not sure I can actually pare down my wardrobe to 10 core items and the total number of things I own down to 100. However, I do love the look of minimalism. If you peek into the bathroom of a minimalist, there is almost nothing sitting on top of the sink or tub. Everything looks so clean and airy. In truth, I enjoy relaxing in a room filled with almost nothing.
So with the minimalist lifestyle in mind, I am going to think about how I want the rooms in my house to look. Everything should have a place and at the end of the day, everything should be put back into its place. It's easier to maintain a clean look and feel if there is less stuff to take care of and move around.
Currently, I think our bathroom has the most minimalist look. Everything is put away neatly and there's a place for the stuff we need for our daily routine. For a while, the bathroom was without a garbage can. The room was so small that no regular trash can would fit anywhere. So I bought a plastic magazine holder, placed it open side up, put a liner in it and voila! bathroom wastebasket problem solved!
The room I'm still struggling to get right is the kitchen. We have a lot of kitchen items. Not only are there pots and pans and lids and utensils, there are also lots of stocked food. I'm still trying to find a way to place and organize things that make sense and work well with how I cook and bake. We have a lot of cabinet space, but much of it I can't reach even with the small step stool. So this room will probably take a few or several more different configurations before I settle on one I like.
Of course, in the back of mind is always the question, what can I get rid of? De-cluttering is key to keeping things neat and organized. Like I said earlier, the less things you have, the less you have to worry about and maintain. I would say my hubby is more of a pack rat than I am, so it's more of a struggle for him than me. Still, I'm going to keep trying!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Furniture
We bought furniture for the new house. Yes, we did! We got rid of most of the old furniture and got new stuff. It was expensive, but at least we don't have any unstable night tables and couches with the stuffing already scratched out in certain places. Having a cat around does mean that I have to resign myself to the fact that our new furniture will probably see some more tear than wear, but so be it. Our cat is worth it!
Anyways, I'm just glad it's done. Going through the process of shopping and buying furniture is a real pain the rear. First of all, there are tons of choices out there and like a kid with too many crayons, I end up freezing like a deer in headlights. What the heck do I want? In the end, I chose convenience over everything else and tried to order as much furniture from one place to be delivered on one day as much as possible. I simply can't be taking multiple days off to get furniture delivered from multiple places on multiple days. It wasn't cheap, but it's done!
Now all that's left are the little pieces such as shelving, place mats, wine racks, etc.. Those are much more manageable and often don't require someone to be at home to sign for the stuff or watch them install and move things. Anyways, obviously if you don't have the money up front (we saved and saved for this), you'll need to buy piece by piece, which is also good because you'll have more time to really figure out what you want and how you want your place to look.
So right now, the house is still a work in progress. It probably will always be a work in progress as I've re-organized the stuff in the kitchen a couple times now and we've only been living there for about two months. The basement is still disorganized and so is the spare bedroom. There's lots to be done, but at least the big deliveries are over with!
Anyways, I'm just glad it's done. Going through the process of shopping and buying furniture is a real pain the rear. First of all, there are tons of choices out there and like a kid with too many crayons, I end up freezing like a deer in headlights. What the heck do I want? In the end, I chose convenience over everything else and tried to order as much furniture from one place to be delivered on one day as much as possible. I simply can't be taking multiple days off to get furniture delivered from multiple places on multiple days. It wasn't cheap, but it's done!
Now all that's left are the little pieces such as shelving, place mats, wine racks, etc.. Those are much more manageable and often don't require someone to be at home to sign for the stuff or watch them install and move things. Anyways, obviously if you don't have the money up front (we saved and saved for this), you'll need to buy piece by piece, which is also good because you'll have more time to really figure out what you want and how you want your place to look.
So right now, the house is still a work in progress. It probably will always be a work in progress as I've re-organized the stuff in the kitchen a couple times now and we've only been living there for about two months. The basement is still disorganized and so is the spare bedroom. There's lots to be done, but at least the big deliveries are over with!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sausage, the riot dog!
Interesting article. Cute, excitable dog! Watch the video!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-greece-dog-idUSTRE7952LX20111006
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-greece-dog-idUSTRE7952LX20111006
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Older sister saves younger sister, bus driver saves older sister
How great it is to know that great acts of selfless heroism still exists today:
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/25/anaiah-rucker-9-saves-sister-by-taking-blow-from-oncoming-truc/
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/25/anaiah-rucker-9-saves-sister-by-taking-blow-from-oncoming-truc/
Monday, October 10, 2011
Recipe for just two cupcakes
So let's say you've read my mayonnaise and aioli post and tried it out. Now you're probably left with an egg white thinking, ugh, I guess I'll have to make an egg white omelet now. Normally, I'll make a regular omelet and just whisk in the extra egg white, but sometimes, I don't want to eat an omelet. Sometimes, I want cake!
Awesome online recipe to the rescue!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
This recipe makes enough for just two cupcakes and they are sooooo light, fluffy and vanilla-y. Not only is it yummy and easy to make, it doesn't generate a lot of dishes to clean afterward - always a plus! So anyways, there are a couple of things to note. I use turbinado or raw sugar in place of white sugar. Raw sugar has some molasses in it, which has the effect of creating a more chewy, denser texture than white sugar. I've tried this recipe with both types of sugar and personally, I like the raw sugar version better. Also, the more baking powder you use, the more the cakes will fluff up and rise.
I've made the recipe a few times and each time, hubby and I would scarf them down before they've had time to cool. They're really good and easy, and can be made on a whim with just a little effort. Highly recommend giving this recipe a try!
Awesome online recipe to the rescue!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
This recipe makes enough for just two cupcakes and they are sooooo light, fluffy and vanilla-y. Not only is it yummy and easy to make, it doesn't generate a lot of dishes to clean afterward - always a plus! So anyways, there are a couple of things to note. I use turbinado or raw sugar in place of white sugar. Raw sugar has some molasses in it, which has the effect of creating a more chewy, denser texture than white sugar. I've tried this recipe with both types of sugar and personally, I like the raw sugar version better. Also, the more baking powder you use, the more the cakes will fluff up and rise.
I've made the recipe a few times and each time, hubby and I would scarf them down before they've had time to cool. They're really good and easy, and can be made on a whim with just a little effort. Highly recommend giving this recipe a try!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Aioli
Simply put, aioli is nothing more than garlic mayonnaise. So if desperate, you can try crushing fresh garlic into some store-bought mayonnaise. However, if you want really, really good aioli, or mayonnaise for that matter, you need to make it from scratch.
Making mayonnaise from scratch does a couple of things for you. First, all that whisking will pre-burn away some calories before you ingest it. Second, it just tastes soooo much better than the store-bought stuff! Plus there's the added bonus of making the mayonnaise taste however you want it to by experimenting with different herbs, flavorings and oils.
Most mayonnaise recipes will call for a neutral oil, such as safflower oil. Mayonnaise made with pure olive oil has a very distinctive taste and smell that some people might not like right away. I happen to like olive oil mayonnaise, but most of the time, I prefer to use half olive oil and half neutral oil.
Anyways, a basic mayonnaise recipe starts with on egg yolk. If you have any concerns about eating raw eggs, don't make homemade mayo unless you can get those pasteurized ones in the shells. Start whisking the yolk and add some dijon mustard (or whatever kind you have, about a half teaspoon), salt, white pepper and a few drops of white vinegar or lemon juice. Keeping whisking and start adding the oil drop by drop. Once the emulsion looks pretty stable, you can increase the flow of oil to a thin, steady stream. Keep whisking until you've whisked in about a cup to 1 and half cup of oil. By the time you're done, your arm is probably ready to fall off. There is an easier way if you have a stick blender, but that takes the work out of making something so fatty and delicious!
Now that you've got the gist of basic mayonnaise down, let's talk aioli. David Lebovitz has an awesome aioli recipe that I've used over and over:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/07/aioli-garlic-mayonnaise-recipe/
I usually make it my little porcelain mortar and pestle and my mother-in-law's awesome home-grown garlic. The store-bought garlic just doesn't have anything on my mother-in-law's garlic! Anyways, you start by crushing a few cloves in your mortar and pestle and grind it into a paste with some coarse sea salt. Then add the yolk and start whisking. Then add about a cup of olive oil while whisking.
If your emulsion breaks, start whisking an egg yolk in a fresh bowl and then slowly add the broken mix, drop by drop, into the new emulsion. Personally, I have not had an emulsion break on me so far (knock on wood) probably because I get so tired from whisking and just can't keep it up. Lol!
Anyways, homemade aioli tastes awesome on zucchini faux crab cakes, whose recipes can be found here:
http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/recipes/those-curious-zucchini-faux-crab-cakes/
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1611
Aioli also tastes great on plain old toast as well. How about next time you make eggs benedict, instead of hollandaise, spread some aioli? Personally, I prefer making aioli over hollandaise because I find making hollandaise even more labor intensive since I have to whisk over a stove.
Anyways, that's my post for today!
Making mayonnaise from scratch does a couple of things for you. First, all that whisking will pre-burn away some calories before you ingest it. Second, it just tastes soooo much better than the store-bought stuff! Plus there's the added bonus of making the mayonnaise taste however you want it to by experimenting with different herbs, flavorings and oils.
Most mayonnaise recipes will call for a neutral oil, such as safflower oil. Mayonnaise made with pure olive oil has a very distinctive taste and smell that some people might not like right away. I happen to like olive oil mayonnaise, but most of the time, I prefer to use half olive oil and half neutral oil.
Anyways, a basic mayonnaise recipe starts with on egg yolk. If you have any concerns about eating raw eggs, don't make homemade mayo unless you can get those pasteurized ones in the shells. Start whisking the yolk and add some dijon mustard (or whatever kind you have, about a half teaspoon), salt, white pepper and a few drops of white vinegar or lemon juice. Keeping whisking and start adding the oil drop by drop. Once the emulsion looks pretty stable, you can increase the flow of oil to a thin, steady stream. Keep whisking until you've whisked in about a cup to 1 and half cup of oil. By the time you're done, your arm is probably ready to fall off. There is an easier way if you have a stick blender, but that takes the work out of making something so fatty and delicious!
Now that you've got the gist of basic mayonnaise down, let's talk aioli. David Lebovitz has an awesome aioli recipe that I've used over and over:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/07/aioli-garlic-mayonnaise-recipe/
I usually make it my little porcelain mortar and pestle and my mother-in-law's awesome home-grown garlic. The store-bought garlic just doesn't have anything on my mother-in-law's garlic! Anyways, you start by crushing a few cloves in your mortar and pestle and grind it into a paste with some coarse sea salt. Then add the yolk and start whisking. Then add about a cup of olive oil while whisking.
If your emulsion breaks, start whisking an egg yolk in a fresh bowl and then slowly add the broken mix, drop by drop, into the new emulsion. Personally, I have not had an emulsion break on me so far (knock on wood) probably because I get so tired from whisking and just can't keep it up. Lol!
Anyways, homemade aioli tastes awesome on zucchini faux crab cakes, whose recipes can be found here:
http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/recipes/those-curious-zucchini-faux-crab-cakes/
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1611
Aioli also tastes great on plain old toast as well. How about next time you make eggs benedict, instead of hollandaise, spread some aioli? Personally, I prefer making aioli over hollandaise because I find making hollandaise even more labor intensive since I have to whisk over a stove.
Anyways, that's my post for today!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Am back!
It's been a while since my last post and that's because I had been busy moving and settling into our new house! Also my workload has increased and between working and settling into a new home, the last thing I wanted to do was post a blog entry. We still have things to do around the house and not everything is put away yet or organized how I like it, but settling in, I think, is more like a constant work in progress. I imagine that there will be lots of little adjustments made as time goes by.
Anyways, things have finally calmed down and we have some semblance of a routine going now as well. We're still adjusting and a bigger place means more to clean, but so far, I think we're managing okay. The cat was surprisingly quick to adjust to her new environment and was out and about within the first day of the move. She's still exploring a bit, but is mostly settled in now.
So far, we love living here. Despite having experienced a mild earthquake and a hurricane that threatened to flood our basement during the first week we were in the house, things have been good. Within blocks of us, is our bank, a decent supermarket and a small green market that opens on Saturday mornings. There are also a variety of restaurants, sizeable drugstores, little mom and pop shops and a beautiful park by the water. I couldn't ask for a more convenient location in a residential neighborhood. As for the house itself, I am totally enjoying the larger kitchen and the laundry room. No more extreme shortage of cabinets and countertop space! No more dreading how laundry will eat up half a day! We also have a front porch we can hang out in and a small back yard we can barbecue in. We don't actually have a grill yet, but I'm sure we'll get one for next year.
So far, we've been really happy in our house. It is certainly a lot more work, but part of loving your home is loving your house and maintaining your home is a way to show love. My mom always said a cluttered home reflected a cluttered mind. Personally, I do feel better when things are neat and tidy and clean. I still need to settle on a cleaning routine that is manageable. Right now, I still feel less than settled in our new home, but I think I'll eventually get there. It just takes a little effort every day.
Anyways, things have finally calmed down and we have some semblance of a routine going now as well. We're still adjusting and a bigger place means more to clean, but so far, I think we're managing okay. The cat was surprisingly quick to adjust to her new environment and was out and about within the first day of the move. She's still exploring a bit, but is mostly settled in now.
So far, we love living here. Despite having experienced a mild earthquake and a hurricane that threatened to flood our basement during the first week we were in the house, things have been good. Within blocks of us, is our bank, a decent supermarket and a small green market that opens on Saturday mornings. There are also a variety of restaurants, sizeable drugstores, little mom and pop shops and a beautiful park by the water. I couldn't ask for a more convenient location in a residential neighborhood. As for the house itself, I am totally enjoying the larger kitchen and the laundry room. No more extreme shortage of cabinets and countertop space! No more dreading how laundry will eat up half a day! We also have a front porch we can hang out in and a small back yard we can barbecue in. We don't actually have a grill yet, but I'm sure we'll get one for next year.
So far, we've been really happy in our house. It is certainly a lot more work, but part of loving your home is loving your house and maintaining your home is a way to show love. My mom always said a cluttered home reflected a cluttered mind. Personally, I do feel better when things are neat and tidy and clean. I still need to settle on a cleaning routine that is manageable. Right now, I still feel less than settled in our new home, but I think I'll eventually get there. It just takes a little effort every day.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Garden thieves
Apparently, garden thievery is enough a problem for the NYTimes to write an article on it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/nyregion/community-gardens-find-theft-is-a-fact-of-life.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/nyregion/community-gardens-find-theft-is-a-fact-of-life.html?pagewanted=1
Friday, August 5, 2011
Patent madness
When I was young, I assumed you only patented things you actually invented. The truth is the practice of patenting things that might be invented by someone else some day somewhere, is what's really happening. There is no way, as long as this madness continues, that this is not going to destroy start-up companies, stifle innovation and suffocate healthy competition.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/07/26/138576167/when-patents-attack
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/07/26/138576167/when-patents-attack
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Daily kitchen cleaner
I love my daily kitchen cleaner. It works much better than the water and washcloth combo I grew up using and it leaves no soapy residue. What is it? It's equal parts vodka and vinegar in a spray bottle! I used it on all my kitchen surfaces and keeps everything nice and clean. Hubby hates it though. I think one time he said the smell makes him gag. I think he just hates the smell of vinegar because he complained about the smell when I used to use it in the shower. Unfortunately for him, vinegar is one of my favorite cleaners!
Still, I suppose I can understand that he doesn't like the smell. I dunno. I am loathe to change the formula since it works so well, but I suppose I can try making the spray mostly vodka with some lemon juice. Hubby will just have to deal with the smell until the spray runs out. Then, if I remember and have some lemon juice on hand, I'll think about trying a different formula.
By the way, don't use this spray on grout because vinegar and lemon is acidic and might eat away the grout.
Still, I suppose I can understand that he doesn't like the smell. I dunno. I am loathe to change the formula since it works so well, but I suppose I can try making the spray mostly vodka with some lemon juice. Hubby will just have to deal with the smell until the spray runs out. Then, if I remember and have some lemon juice on hand, I'll think about trying a different formula.
By the way, don't use this spray on grout because vinegar and lemon is acidic and might eat away the grout.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Hunting for a Home, part 5
So where were we...?
Oh yes, so we got our loan approved and after that, we were just waiting to close. It turns out that the sellers were willing to close at the end of July rather than in early August like we were told originally, which is good news for us because of our arrangement with the bank to lock our rate. Hubby went back to the bank to renegotiate our rate since it went down and all was well. We agreed to let the sellers stay in the house after the closing until early August. So then came the long wait where nothing interesting happened.
Before we knew it, it was one week before the closing and we were waiting for our lawyer to tell us how much money we will need to bring for the closing. Unfortunately, he was waiting for the bank lawyer to tell him. The walk through was scheduled for the morning of the closing at 9am and the closing was to take place in another borough soon after. On the morning of the closing, we still had not received the number from our lawyer, who still had not been able to get the number from the bank lawyer. We were still waiting after the walk through and I must say was getting irritated, anxious and nervous. While we slowly made our way home after the walk through, our lawyer called with the number. We rushed to the bank to get the cashier's check and then rushed to our lawyer's office for the closing. Finding parking made us late, but we got there in the end. Whew!
Once at the office, we had to start signing stacks of paperwork. Our lawyer explained the important points of each stack of paperwork before having us initial and/or sign every page. Everyone there was very friendly and there was nothing contentious or non-standard. It was a pretty simple, straightforward closing and yet, it took 4 hours! That made it so that we were just in time to hit rush hour traffic on the way home and a 35 minute trip took 2 hours!
By the time we got home, we were exhausted. We still went out one more time to pick up boxes for packing and then went out to dinner. The next morning, we were still exhausted, but at least, we are now homeowners!
Oh yes, so we got our loan approved and after that, we were just waiting to close. It turns out that the sellers were willing to close at the end of July rather than in early August like we were told originally, which is good news for us because of our arrangement with the bank to lock our rate. Hubby went back to the bank to renegotiate our rate since it went down and all was well. We agreed to let the sellers stay in the house after the closing until early August. So then came the long wait where nothing interesting happened.
Before we knew it, it was one week before the closing and we were waiting for our lawyer to tell us how much money we will need to bring for the closing. Unfortunately, he was waiting for the bank lawyer to tell him. The walk through was scheduled for the morning of the closing at 9am and the closing was to take place in another borough soon after. On the morning of the closing, we still had not received the number from our lawyer, who still had not been able to get the number from the bank lawyer. We were still waiting after the walk through and I must say was getting irritated, anxious and nervous. While we slowly made our way home after the walk through, our lawyer called with the number. We rushed to the bank to get the cashier's check and then rushed to our lawyer's office for the closing. Finding parking made us late, but we got there in the end. Whew!
Once at the office, we had to start signing stacks of paperwork. Our lawyer explained the important points of each stack of paperwork before having us initial and/or sign every page. Everyone there was very friendly and there was nothing contentious or non-standard. It was a pretty simple, straightforward closing and yet, it took 4 hours! That made it so that we were just in time to hit rush hour traffic on the way home and a 35 minute trip took 2 hours!
By the time we got home, we were exhausted. We still went out one more time to pick up boxes for packing and then went out to dinner. The next morning, we were still exhausted, but at least, we are now homeowners!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Interior design
I do not know anything about how to design anything. I can't even say I have much of a personal style. In the end, I just want my home to be functional, efficient, clean and uncluttered. Never in my life have I had so much free reign to decorate a space this big, meaning a house.
So of course the first thing I do is to research for ideas from design blogs and online magazines. I had already been a regular of apartmenttherapy.com and its sister sites, but I was hungry for more ideas. I needed to see more photos of furniture layouts, color combinations, space-saving solutions and so forth! In the past few days, I've become addicted to perusing the photos of houzz.com on my iPad. I even downloaded the app so I can look through the thousands upon thousands of unattainable design photos to see if I can possibly use one scrap of what I like in my own life. I went through a list of shelter magazine sites and blogs, including:
http://decor8blog.com
http://www.designsponge.com/
http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/
http://ifthelampshadefits.blogspot.com/
http://brightbazaar.blogspot.com
I saw many, many unaffordable/unpractical options that I love. I was also completely overwhelmed by all the options and decisions in front of me. Like a kid with too many crayons, I can't pick one! Overall, I get the distinct impression that these magazines favor the houses of millionaires. What I need is practical advice and guidance. What I need is visual inspiration that can be applied to my own personal situation. However, I did find out a little about what I liked and didn't like:
- I am not into the rustic look, particularly if the room begs for an animal head on a wall.
- I don't like modern design. Yes, it's clean and very neat-looking, but it looks hard and unyielding.
- I want my decor to maximize sunlight. The house does get sunlight, but more so on the upper floor where there is a sky light and fewer buildings and trees blocking the windows. I don't mind there being less light in the dining room or kitchen, but I want the living room to be bright.
- I don't like clutter and prefer rooms where things are packed away with only a few display items placed neatly around the room.
- I like things to look either roomy and airy or cozy and intimate.
Some things that I have decided upon:
- Our living room is not very big, which means that we have to keep it on the more intimate and cozy side. In order to maximize what sunlight we do get, I plan to paint the walls either white or white with a blue tint.
- I want to keep our spaces clutter-free. This means throwing things away and also putting things away. So that means providing storage. I love furniture that has hidden storage or does double duty. I really wanted to get a bed with under-bed drawers but it's considered bad feng shui. I think a storage ottoman is okay though.
-We're getting a very modular sectional couch: 2 corners, an armless chair and 2 storage ottomans. I prefer a white or near-white couch, but hubby says it will stain easily so we're getting one that is a bit darker.
- We will hold off on getting a dining set, coffee table and a new bed until we see how everything we currently have fits and whether we will have the funds for it.
- As much as I would like us to get matching desks that are light and bright in color, hubby's preferences for something more solid and heavy-looking won out. So he will get his big, solid desk and I will get something that is more "leggy" and compact.
It's been difficult to plan for a space we're not actually living in yet or have easy access to. It's also difficult trying to find furniture that fits our needs and preferences. We figured a month is enough time to find stuff and fill a space, until we found out the couch we want would take 10 to 12 weeks to deliver. I don't think we want to live without a couch until mid-October since we're moving into the house in late August. Given that, we had to compromise and get an in-stock couch in a color that would be my second choice. Not terrible, really. That's just how some things go.
So of course the first thing I do is to research for ideas from design blogs and online magazines. I had already been a regular of apartmenttherapy.com and its sister sites, but I was hungry for more ideas. I needed to see more photos of furniture layouts, color combinations, space-saving solutions and so forth! In the past few days, I've become addicted to perusing the photos of houzz.com on my iPad. I even downloaded the app so I can look through the thousands upon thousands of unattainable design photos to see if I can possibly use one scrap of what I like in my own life. I went through a list of shelter magazine sites and blogs, including:
http://decor8blog.com
http://www.designsponge.com/
http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/
http://ifthelampshadefits.blogspot.com/
http://brightbazaar.blogspot.com
I saw many, many unaffordable/unpractical options that I love. I was also completely overwhelmed by all the options and decisions in front of me. Like a kid with too many crayons, I can't pick one! Overall, I get the distinct impression that these magazines favor the houses of millionaires. What I need is practical advice and guidance. What I need is visual inspiration that can be applied to my own personal situation. However, I did find out a little about what I liked and didn't like:
- I am not into the rustic look, particularly if the room begs for an animal head on a wall.
- I don't like modern design. Yes, it's clean and very neat-looking, but it looks hard and unyielding.
- I want my decor to maximize sunlight. The house does get sunlight, but more so on the upper floor where there is a sky light and fewer buildings and trees blocking the windows. I don't mind there being less light in the dining room or kitchen, but I want the living room to be bright.
- I don't like clutter and prefer rooms where things are packed away with only a few display items placed neatly around the room.
- I like things to look either roomy and airy or cozy and intimate.
Some things that I have decided upon:
- Our living room is not very big, which means that we have to keep it on the more intimate and cozy side. In order to maximize what sunlight we do get, I plan to paint the walls either white or white with a blue tint.
- I want to keep our spaces clutter-free. This means throwing things away and also putting things away. So that means providing storage. I love furniture that has hidden storage or does double duty. I really wanted to get a bed with under-bed drawers but it's considered bad feng shui. I think a storage ottoman is okay though.
-We're getting a very modular sectional couch: 2 corners, an armless chair and 2 storage ottomans. I prefer a white or near-white couch, but hubby says it will stain easily so we're getting one that is a bit darker.
- We will hold off on getting a dining set, coffee table and a new bed until we see how everything we currently have fits and whether we will have the funds for it.
- As much as I would like us to get matching desks that are light and bright in color, hubby's preferences for something more solid and heavy-looking won out. So he will get his big, solid desk and I will get something that is more "leggy" and compact.
It's been difficult to plan for a space we're not actually living in yet or have easy access to. It's also difficult trying to find furniture that fits our needs and preferences. We figured a month is enough time to find stuff and fill a space, until we found out the couch we want would take 10 to 12 weeks to deliver. I don't think we want to live without a couch until mid-October since we're moving into the house in late August. Given that, we had to compromise and get an in-stock couch in a color that would be my second choice. Not terrible, really. That's just how some things go.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Removing rust and polishing metal
Need to remove some rust? Rub it with a cut potato!
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/hot-tip/tip-remove-rust-with-a-potato-108090
I honestly don't know how someone decided to try using a potato to remove rust, but apparently it works!
Need to polish some metal? Make some home-made metal polish!
http://lifehacker.com/5821394/make-your-own-metal-polish-with-salt-vinegar-and-flour
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/hot-tip/tip-remove-rust-with-a-potato-108090
I honestly don't know how someone decided to try using a potato to remove rust, but apparently it works!
Need to polish some metal? Make some home-made metal polish!
http://lifehacker.com/5821394/make-your-own-metal-polish-with-salt-vinegar-and-flour
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Hunting for a home, part 5
Okay, so when I last left off, our loan application was approved to be underwritten. However, the current owners were having trouble buying the house they wanted to move into. In fact, I think their deal on that fell through. So they asked to push back the closing date, which we were okay with since we're currently renting.
So when we agreed to that, we went to the bank to try to lock in our interest rate in case it rises while we're waiting to close. We had to pay extra for it, but in the long run, it could save us money. So while we're waiting for things to get settled, we learn that the current owners are willing to close a little earlier if we let them stay in the house, rent-free until the original delayed closing date. Again, we accommodated, but now we had to go back to the bank and re-negotiate the rate because the rate went down and our target closing date changed. Hubby was the one that handled all of this. Personally, I have no head for these things.
So anyways, the rate was successfully renegotiated and the bank had to re-review our loan application and accounts and stuff before they can give us the clear to close. Once the bank gives us the clear to close, we can schedule the closing date as a done deal. The whole thing has been a pain the rear so far.
With the tentative closing date coming up and the potential moving date creeping in, we have decided we should start furniture shopping so we can ditch most of the stuff we currently have and move into a house with new stuff. I'm not particularly worried about getting a new desk or a new bed, but I am worried about getting a new couch. Couches can take as long as 6 weeks to deliver and possibly longer for something custom made.Generally, it's a good idea to shop around anyways so we have an idea of what we like and don't like.
Unfortunately, hubby and I don't always see eye to eye on stuff. His aesthetic, in my opinion, leans towards the look of the old-fashioned man's smoking room or den. You know, dark furniture, mahogany desks, navy blue couches and dark drapes. My aesthetic is more towards bright, airy and cool. My hope is to be able to coordinate stuff so all the pieces work together and look good together. Right now, all our furniture is completely mismatched with many needing repair. The placement of the furniture was set before I moved there and there had been no plans to really re-arrange the place and actually think about the look and feel and coordinating stuff.
I'm hoping to have a nicely decorated house. The reality is that decorating and re-decorating requires a serious amount of money. That is, money that we're not going to have once we pay everything off on Closing Day. Well, one step at a time, I guess.
So when we agreed to that, we went to the bank to try to lock in our interest rate in case it rises while we're waiting to close. We had to pay extra for it, but in the long run, it could save us money. So while we're waiting for things to get settled, we learn that the current owners are willing to close a little earlier if we let them stay in the house, rent-free until the original delayed closing date. Again, we accommodated, but now we had to go back to the bank and re-negotiate the rate because the rate went down and our target closing date changed. Hubby was the one that handled all of this. Personally, I have no head for these things.
So anyways, the rate was successfully renegotiated and the bank had to re-review our loan application and accounts and stuff before they can give us the clear to close. Once the bank gives us the clear to close, we can schedule the closing date as a done deal. The whole thing has been a pain the rear so far.
With the tentative closing date coming up and the potential moving date creeping in, we have decided we should start furniture shopping so we can ditch most of the stuff we currently have and move into a house with new stuff. I'm not particularly worried about getting a new desk or a new bed, but I am worried about getting a new couch. Couches can take as long as 6 weeks to deliver and possibly longer for something custom made.Generally, it's a good idea to shop around anyways so we have an idea of what we like and don't like.
Unfortunately, hubby and I don't always see eye to eye on stuff. His aesthetic, in my opinion, leans towards the look of the old-fashioned man's smoking room or den. You know, dark furniture, mahogany desks, navy blue couches and dark drapes. My aesthetic is more towards bright, airy and cool. My hope is to be able to coordinate stuff so all the pieces work together and look good together. Right now, all our furniture is completely mismatched with many needing repair. The placement of the furniture was set before I moved there and there had been no plans to really re-arrange the place and actually think about the look and feel and coordinating stuff.
I'm hoping to have a nicely decorated house. The reality is that decorating and re-decorating requires a serious amount of money. That is, money that we're not going to have once we pay everything off on Closing Day. Well, one step at a time, I guess.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Cake for two
Lately, I've been having serious cravings for dessert. Cookies and candies just didn't cut it. I wanted a cake or pie or something that counts as an actual after-dinner dessert! I thought about baking my favorite vegan chocolate cake, but I didn't want to have to eat a whole cake, or even half a cake!
Fortuitously, as I was struggling with this dilemma, I came across a recipe that bakes just enough cake for 2 people. It's a simple, easy recipe that makes a really light and fluffy cake. It was so good, I made it twice this weekend!
For the recipe, check it out here:
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
My only issue is the use of an egg white rather than the whole egg. I hate having leftover ingredients because then I have to think of something else to make with them before it goes bad. This past weekend, I just mixed the yolk in making some omelets or scrambled eggs.
Anyways, I'm sorry I don't have any photos of my cakes. They were eaten before I remembered I had a camera. The first try, I used buttermilk instead of milk and turbinado sugar. For the second try, I ran out of milk and used half and half and white sugar. I like the first try better. I felt like the flavor and texture was better in the first try. Both tries were yummy and hubby and I ate our cakes while they were still warm. I did not use cupcake liners or cupcake tins. I lightly oiled and floured 2 small ramekins and baked them in the toaster oven.
I highly recommend this recipe!
Fortuitously, as I was struggling with this dilemma, I came across a recipe that bakes just enough cake for 2 people. It's a simple, easy recipe that makes a really light and fluffy cake. It was so good, I made it twice this weekend!
For the recipe, check it out here:
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
My only issue is the use of an egg white rather than the whole egg. I hate having leftover ingredients because then I have to think of something else to make with them before it goes bad. This past weekend, I just mixed the yolk in making some omelets or scrambled eggs.
Anyways, I'm sorry I don't have any photos of my cakes. They were eaten before I remembered I had a camera. The first try, I used buttermilk instead of milk and turbinado sugar. For the second try, I ran out of milk and used half and half and white sugar. I like the first try better. I felt like the flavor and texture was better in the first try. Both tries were yummy and hubby and I ate our cakes while they were still warm. I did not use cupcake liners or cupcake tins. I lightly oiled and floured 2 small ramekins and baked them in the toaster oven.
I highly recommend this recipe!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Homemade scrubs
Scrubs are actually pretty easy to make. At its simplest, it's just oil with some kind of sanding element like sugar, salt or coffee grinds. From here you can add glycerin, liquid soap, essential oils, powdered oatmeal, cocoa powder and all sorts of stuff. In the end, you want the scrub to slough off some dead skin and leave you feeling soft and clean.
Personally, I find that the plain oil and sugar/salt recipe leaves my hands feeling too oily. I've experimented with adding liquid soap a few times but always hated the resulting smell of mixing soap with oil. Instead, I've been adding baking soda, which has some cleaning properties like soap in it, but doesn't create a weird smell.
I also love using glycerin in my skin recipes. You can get vegetable glycerin at health food/pharmacy stores and online. Glycerin leaves your skin feeling hydrated which helps to keep your skin feeling soft for a while afterward. I use it in all my lotion recipes and it's also a great addition to scrubs.
As for the sanding element, my current favorite is white sugar. Turbinado sugar granules are too big and too rough. Sea salt is also too rough and harsh for me. I have white sugar in the pantry for certain baking recipes that absolutely must use white sugar in order to get the right texture. So hence, I make white sugar scrubs. Probably, I can make the same scrubs using fine salt, but I don't know if we have those. I stopped using the salt with the umbrella girl on it ever since I discovered how much better my food tastes using sea salt.
Anyways, so here is my favorite recipe to date:
1 part vegetable glycerin
1 part sweet almond oil (grapeseed oil will do as well. I like sweet almond oil because it is light and absorbs quickly into the skin)
Sugar (as much as it takes to get the consistency you like)
Generous sprinkling of baking soda
The above recipe happens to be one that I like. The thing about skin care stuff is that everyone has different needs. You should experiment and create a recipe combination that works for you.
Personally, I find that the plain oil and sugar/salt recipe leaves my hands feeling too oily. I've experimented with adding liquid soap a few times but always hated the resulting smell of mixing soap with oil. Instead, I've been adding baking soda, which has some cleaning properties like soap in it, but doesn't create a weird smell.
I also love using glycerin in my skin recipes. You can get vegetable glycerin at health food/pharmacy stores and online. Glycerin leaves your skin feeling hydrated which helps to keep your skin feeling soft for a while afterward. I use it in all my lotion recipes and it's also a great addition to scrubs.
As for the sanding element, my current favorite is white sugar. Turbinado sugar granules are too big and too rough. Sea salt is also too rough and harsh for me. I have white sugar in the pantry for certain baking recipes that absolutely must use white sugar in order to get the right texture. So hence, I make white sugar scrubs. Probably, I can make the same scrubs using fine salt, but I don't know if we have those. I stopped using the salt with the umbrella girl on it ever since I discovered how much better my food tastes using sea salt.
Anyways, so here is my favorite recipe to date:
1 part vegetable glycerin
1 part sweet almond oil (grapeseed oil will do as well. I like sweet almond oil because it is light and absorbs quickly into the skin)
Sugar (as much as it takes to get the consistency you like)
Generous sprinkling of baking soda
The above recipe happens to be one that I like. The thing about skin care stuff is that everyone has different needs. You should experiment and create a recipe combination that works for you.
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