New York Chica

It’s hard to think about Spring when it has been so cold but believe it or not, it’s just around the corner.  So with Spring ahead of us, there is also some cleaning & projects that goes along with it.  I am always on the look out for new cleaning tips and ways to make the dreadful deed easier so here are some “very” useful tips.

Tip #1: If you have a bag less dust buster, don’t empty it until you have vacuumed a strip of used dryer sheet.  Let the dryer sheet swirl around for a few seconds and you’ll see less dust.  The sheet combats static and prevents dust from sticking to the canister.

Tip #2: To keep the rim of your paint can clean while applying a fresh coat; Stretch a large, wide rubber band across the opening, then use it to wipe the excess paint from your brush.

Tip #3: Remove white water rings from wood by turning on the heat; Cover the stains with a cotton cloth, and press with a dry iron (don’t use steam!).  It may take a minute or two, but the watermarks should disappear.

Tip #4: Remove stubborn toilet rings by scrubbing them with a pumice stone – the abrasive rock gets rid of stains with damaging the porcelain.

Tip #5: Got a splinter?  Before you grab your tweezers, grab some white glue instead.  Spread the white glue (Elmer’s) over the splinter, let it dry, then peel it off to pull the splinter out.

*Thanks to ReadyMade magazine

This is the information I received in an email from E.L.F. cosmetics.  I decided to post it on Works For Me Wednesday because it makes perfect sense.

Did you know that old makeup can have contaminants?  That means you can keep lipsticks for no more than a year, eye make-up for up to 3 months, blush for 6 months and nail polish for 2 years.

I had makeup that was well over their due date so I threw out a lot.  Although I threw out a bunch of stuff before taking this picture, you can still see I had a lot of old makeup.  Not good at all.   I still have to go thru my nail polish box.  I know I have nail polish in there from the 90’s.  Yikes!

Anyway, take a look:

Now I have more room for new makeup, especially the mineral makeup I’ve been wanting to buy.  Also, there are no more worries if my skin will break out or get pink eye because of the makeup having germs in it.  This definitely worked for me!

BONUS TIP: If you have flyaway hair, try swiping a dryer sheet over your hair to minimize static.  If you don’t have a dryer sheet handy, then try using a little bit of your favorite hand cream.  My favorite one to use is Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works.  This definitely works for me and my hair smells wonderful!

*Check out my Beauty Review update for a great deal on makeup!

For more great tips, be sure to stop by Rocks in my Dryer.

I have three tips I would like to share:

1. When you roast a whole chicken, freeze the whole carcass (after you are done carving the meat out) in a large freezer Ziploc gallon size bag and save it for another dinner – Soup.  You can also boil the carcass with onions, celery, carrots, parsnips, salt, pepper and herbs for at least 4 hours to make a stock.
2. To save time on cleaning your refrigerator, place a long piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of each drawer.  When it’s time to clean out the fridge, all you have to do is remove the foil and replace it with a brand new piece.  Also, clean with a hot, soapy sponge so the dirt can lift up easily.
3. If you’re a coffee lover like me, place the empty coffee mug under hot water, pour the creamer, half and half or milk in the mug (or if you like it black, no cream, then skip this part and just place the mug under hot water), place it in the microwave for about 15 seconds, then add your hot brewed coffee.  You can also do this in a small pot if you don’t have a microwave.  The coffee will stay hot longer and you won’t have to worry about the coffee getting cold too soon.

If you’d like more tips on household, check out my buddy here: http://www.mamistimeout.com/.  She has some great tips for any woman and/or mom!

PS: Another funny pic: