Ever go to buy something online and see that little box to enter a promotional or coupon code? Well now you never have to wish you had something to enter into that box again. At RetailMeNot.com, you can find hundreds of codes that will give you savings at a large variety of websites, including Kohls.com, Amazon.com, and JC Penney online.
Tip of the Day: Stop Topping Off
Have you ever “topped off” your car’s gas tank to round out the price at the pump? You should know that since the pump is only pumping out vapors at that point, they’re automatically sucked back into gas station’s tank. In other words, even though you now have exact change, you didn’t get any extra gas!
Holiday Decorating on a Budget
Tip of the Day: Perfect Lampshade Cleaner
If you have a pleated lampshade, you know how hard it can be to clean the dust out of those crevices. Our secret weapon? An old paintbrush. It’s the perfect size for its soft bristles to get between each crease.
Tip of the Day: Toothbrush Sense
Never cover your toothbrush between uses. Allowing the brush to air-dry is better than creating a closed, moist environment for bacteria to grow. You should also keep your toothbrush at least six feet away from your toilet, to keep it safely away from any bacteria that can become airborne when you flush.
Tip of the Day: Deter Thieves
If you park your car on the street, make sure to remove any electronics from it, as well as their holders. Thieves will often break into cars if they have a GPS holder attached to the windshield, assuming that the unit is in the glove compartment
Recipe of the Week: Santa Fe Turkey
It's that time of year again! No, we're not talking about Black Friday; we're referring to the time where you have to figure out what to do with all that leftover turkey. Thanks to the blogger at Body As Art, we have at least one great idea.
Ingredients:
3 cups shredded turkey breast
1 roasted Anaheim chili, diced
1 cup black beans
1 cup kidney beans
1 tomato, chopped
1 roasted red pepper, chopped
2 shakes cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tsp chili powder
salt (optional)
lemon wedges
How to Make It:
1. Combine all the ingredients except the lemons and warm in a saucepan or serve cold.
2. Squeeze the lemon wedges over the mixture and enjoy!
Do you have a turkey recipe to share? Let us know!
Ingredients:
3 cups shredded turkey breast
1 roasted Anaheim chili, diced
1 cup black beans
1 cup kidney beans
1 tomato, chopped
1 roasted red pepper, chopped
2 shakes cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tsp chili powder
salt (optional)
lemon wedges
How to Make It:
1. Combine all the ingredients except the lemons and warm in a saucepan or serve cold.
2. Squeeze the lemon wedges over the mixture and enjoy!
Do you have a turkey recipe to share? Let us know!
Tip of the Day: Prepare for Black Friday
Our favorite website for the best Black Friday tips and deals is FatWallet.com. They even have an app you can download for your iPhone!
Tip of the Day: The Best Way to Dispose of Grease
When flushing grease down the drain, don’t use hot water (like many of us were taught). The grease coats the pipes, cools, and will collect bits of debris. Instead, use cold water. It will make sure the grease solidifies in chunks that will easily get flushed through the pipes. Better yet, empty your grease into a soda can and throw it away!
Tip of the Day: Make Thanksgiving Last
Now is the time to stock up and save! Go to your grocery store and grab bargains on things like turkey, stuffing, canned pumpkin, and baking supplies. Then freeze the turkey and store the rest. When you’re missing Thanksgiving food, you’ll have a bunch in your cabinet, all bought at a bargain price.
Tip of the Day: Extra Garbage Space
Having guests over and need an extra trash bin? Repurpose your hamper. (Your dirty clothes will be fine in a garbage bag in the closet.)
Tip of the Day: Small Business Saturday
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is now known as Small Business Saturday, a day for all of us to support small businesses. Use your American Express Card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26, 2011 and American Express will credit your account $25. Get more details on the Facebook page for Small Business Saturday.
Tip of the Day: Wax On, Wax Off
If you’re waxing off hair, you know it’s not going to feel pleasant. But you can take a little of the “ouch” out of the job with some baby powder. Sprinkle it on your skin before you wax, and it will form a barrier that protects your skin and makes the hair adhere to the wax better.
Tip of the Day: Eggshells to the Rescue
If you’ve ever gotten eggshell in your bowl of cracked eggs and tried to fish it out with your finger, you know how hard it can be. A better tool than your finger, and even a spoon? An eggshell half that you were able to break cleanly. Its edge cuts through the egg whites easier than other implements.
Tip of the Day: Misleading Sales Circulars
Don’t be fooled by sales circulars, especially the ones from supermarkets. They often advertise a product just to call attention to it, not because it’s on sale. So before you snatch up what you think is a deal, make sure to consider the prices of similar items.
Tip of the Day: The Fullest Lashes
To make your mascara last longer (and your lashes look fuller than ever), apply two coats every time you do your lashes. But here’s the secret! In between the first and second coats, apply a thin layer of baby powder with a make-up brush. The mascara will adhere to the powder, making it stay on your lashes longer.
Recipe of the Week: Stuffing with Sausage and Apples
In the tradition of our favorite cranberry sauce recipe, here's a recipe for Thanksgiving stuffing that's fast, easy, and delicious. We owe it to blogger and photographer Tara Whitney, who's participating in a fun project called Lazy Susan. She and a handful of other bloggers are sharing their favorite seasonal recipes for you to click through as though you're spinning a lazy susan. Visit her blog for photos of the stuffing dish.
Ingredients:
1 box of dressing, such as Mrs. Cubbison’s Class Seasoned Dressing (or two 6 ounce bags)
1 pound sage sausage, chopped
2 green apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup butter
1 cup pecans
How to Make It:
1. Saute the sausage and the onions until the sausage is browned and the onions are golden.
2. Melt the butter in a large bowl and add the stuffing to the bowl. Stir and coat. Add the celery, apples, and pecans. You may want to crush the pecans first with the butt of a knife, which is easier to do while they're still in the bag.
3. Add the chicken broth to the bowl and stir everything, coating it well. Drain the sausage and onions and add those to the mix.
4. Cook it in a casserole dish or stuff your turkey with it, following the directions on the box.
Do you call it stuffing or dressing? How did this recipe turn out for you? Post your comments here!
Ingredients:
1 box of dressing, such as Mrs. Cubbison’s Class Seasoned Dressing (or two 6 ounce bags)
1 pound sage sausage, chopped
2 green apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup butter
1 cup pecans
How to Make It:
1. Saute the sausage and the onions until the sausage is browned and the onions are golden.
2. Melt the butter in a large bowl and add the stuffing to the bowl. Stir and coat. Add the celery, apples, and pecans. You may want to crush the pecans first with the butt of a knife, which is easier to do while they're still in the bag.
3. Add the chicken broth to the bowl and stir everything, coating it well. Drain the sausage and onions and add those to the mix.
4. Cook it in a casserole dish or stuff your turkey with it, following the directions on the box.
Do you call it stuffing or dressing? How did this recipe turn out for you? Post your comments here!
Tip of the Day: Winterize Your Deck Furniture
To keep your metal deck furniture free from rust and wear all winter long, reach for the petroleum jelly. Just apply a thin layer (especially in areas where the furniture tends to rust) after cleaning the surface with simple soap and water.
Five Easy Tips for Hassle-Free Thanksgiving Turkey
Tip of the Day: Sneak A-tack
Hanging a picture? Make it easy by first taping a thumbtack (pointy side out) to the back below the hanging bracket. Perfectly position your picture, then give it a bit of a push into the wall. You’ll now know where to put the nail or tack because there will be a small hole in the wall.
Tip of the Day: Gimme Some Sugar
If you have ink stains on your hands from a marker or pen, try this: Just add a bit of sugar to your hands when washing with regular soap, and the granules will act as a gentle abrasive to help wash the ink away.
Tip of the Day: Garlic A-Peel
Here’s an easy way to remove the skins from garlic! Just break the cloves off from the head and place them in a bowl or mug. Place another bowl on top and shake heartily. The skins will start to come off, making the garlic easy to peel.
Tip of the Day: Quick Purse Cleaning
Even after you’ve cleaned out your purse, it stills has crumbs, grime, and little pieces of god-only-knows-what at the bottom. Quickly clean it out with a lint roller. Just roll the inside and you’re done!
Tip of the Day: Put Plastic Bags to Use
Here’s yet another use for larger plastic bags you get from the store: Put one over a roller tray anytime you’re painting with a roller. When the job is done, just pull off the bag and turn inside-out to throw away, and the tray is ready to be used again!
Recipe of the Week: Spiced Cranberry Sauce
This month, we'll be giving you new and interesting Thanksgiving recipes that will spice up your traditional menu while still being quick and easy to prepare. We were excited to find a group of bloggers who have embarked on a project called "Lazy Susan." Much like the revolving tray it's named for, this project allows you to spin through a virtual wheel of recipes posted by women all over the country. Blogger Amy of A Boring Photo shared her recipe for spiced cranberry sauce.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup agave or 3/4 cup honey
2 whole cloves
1 tablespoons orange zest
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 bay leaf
12 ounces cranberries
How to Make It:
1. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the cranberry cocktail and the agave over medium heat until the agave dissolves. Set 1/4 cup of the juice aside.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients except the cranberries and let simmer for 5 minutes or so.
3. Add the cranberries and simmer on medium heat until the berries burst and the sauce thickens.
4. Remove the bay leaf, and remove the sauce from the heat. Add the remaining cranberry juice. It will thicken once it’s cool.
This can be made up to three days in advance! Keep it refrigerated.
Do you have a Thanksgiving recipe to share? Let us know!
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup agave or 3/4 cup honey
2 whole cloves
1 tablespoons orange zest
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 bay leaf
12 ounces cranberries
How to Make It:
1. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the cranberry cocktail and the agave over medium heat until the agave dissolves. Set 1/4 cup of the juice aside.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients except the cranberries and let simmer for 5 minutes or so.
3. Add the cranberries and simmer on medium heat until the berries burst and the sauce thickens.
4. Remove the bay leaf, and remove the sauce from the heat. Add the remaining cranberry juice. It will thicken once it’s cool.
This can be made up to three days in advance! Keep it refrigerated.
Do you have a Thanksgiving recipe to share? Let us know!
Tip of the Day: Linen Prep for Thanksgiving!
If you have a white linen tablecloth or other cotton item that has turned yellow over time, bring it back to its original brightness with baking soda and salt. Just bring a gallon of water to a boil, remove from the heat, stir in ¼ cup each baking soda and salt, and add the fabric. Let it soak for at least one hour. Then rinse and launder as usual.
Tip of the Day: Best Time for Coupons
Companies release more coupons in November, December, and January than in any other months. More coupons are also available at the beginning of the month, so make sure to get a Sunday paper during these times for the most savings!
Tip of the Day: Save on Gas... Tomorrow
The cheapest time to refuel your car is on Tuesday and Wednesday. People fuel up on Thursdays and Fridays for weekend trips, and on Monday for their workweek. Therefore, most gas stations do their weekly price changes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Tip of the Day: Well-Bread
If you have a precious oil painting in your home, it’s important to keep it clean without damaging it. Our surprising cleaning tool of choice is a piece of white bread! White bread has the perfect about of moisture to easily pick up dust, without being so wet that it will ruin your painting.
Tip of the Day: Easy Steak Tenderizer
To tenderize a tough steak, salt it generously for an hour before cooking, which will break up tough proteins. Then just wipe off the salt before cooking.
Tip of the Day: Clean Electronics
If your MP3 player has seen better days, give it a quick clean. Our favorite method? A bit of rubbing alcohol or astringent on a clean make-up sponge. Just rub it over the player and it will look as clean as new!
Tip of the Day: Smart Cooler Storage
Before stashing away your cooler for the winter, stuff it with a few balls of newspaper. The newspaper will absorb any lingering odors, so it won’t be a mildewy nightmare when you open it back up in the spring.
Tip of the Day: Booze It Off
If you’re having trouble removing a pesky label, just soak the spot in rubbing alcohol. Leave on for up to a minute, then wipe right off. Don’t have any rubbing alcohol? The kind of alcohol you drink — like vodka, rum, or gin — works well, too.
Five Ways to Take Care of Your Home This Winter
Halloween has come and gone, the snow has been falling here on the East Coast, and we can no longer deny that winter has arrived. The silver lining to this cloud is that it’s a perfect opportunity to share our favorite household tips for the season. Visit our new website for five simple ways to save money and take care of your home this winter.
Recipe of the Week: Snickers Caramel Apple Salad
What to do with all those mini Snickers bars your kids brought home from trick-or-treating? Make a salad, of course! Siggy Spice is quick to point out that this recipe is more of a dessert than a salad, but hey, the addition of apples can only make it healthier, right?
Ingredients:
6 (2 1/4 ounce) Snickers candy bars, chilled and chopped
6 apples, cored and chopped into bite sized pieces
1/2 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
1 twelve-ounce container of Cool Whip
1 tablespoon instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding mix
caramel sauce for garnish
How to Make It:
1. Mix the dry powdered pudding mixtures into the Cool Whip container until well combined.
2. In a large bowl, add chopped apples and Snickers Bars. Add the Cool Whip mixture to the bowl and fold gently, making sure to coat all the pieces evenly.
3. Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave, just to make pouring easier. Drizzle the top of "salad" with the caramel. Chill for one hour. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
6 (2 1/4 ounce) Snickers candy bars, chilled and chopped
6 apples, cored and chopped into bite sized pieces
1/2 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
1 twelve-ounce container of Cool Whip
1 tablespoon instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding mix
caramel sauce for garnish
How to Make It:
1. Mix the dry powdered pudding mixtures into the Cool Whip container until well combined.
2. In a large bowl, add chopped apples and Snickers Bars. Add the Cool Whip mixture to the bowl and fold gently, making sure to coat all the pieces evenly.
3. Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave, just to make pouring easier. Drizzle the top of "salad" with the caramel. Chill for one hour. Enjoy!
Tip of the Day: Oil Change
To treat dry ears and eliminate earwax buildup, use a glass dropper and put five drops of olive oil into each ear, then put cotton balls in your ears for five minutes to allow the oil to soak in. It will nourish the skin and reduce your body’s need to produce wax.
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