A Pair of Bartletts

2011 And So Much To Say

Wow.  It's 2011...where did the last 20 years go? is it me or is time just flying by at warp speed?  To those reading this right now, thank you for being a faithful reader of this blog.  I will keep this post short since we have to head out the door shortly.  But, I wanted to let everyone know that MUCH has been going on and I have LOTS to fill you in on since my last post.  There has been so much to happen (good and bad, but all for God's glory).  Stick with me...and I'll try and catch you all up to speed over the next couple of weeks.  The hiatus from the blog has been good, but OH I HAVE MISSED IT!

If you don't do anything else the rest of the day, I would ask that you do one thing.  Please pray for my sweet friend, Joanne Heim from The Simple Wife.  Many of you may know her and already know the happenings of the last few days.   Joanne suffered a massive stroke a few days ago and is in very serious condition.  I cannot begin to tell you how Joanne's life has impacted my life in the last few years, so right now, I beg of you...PRAY for her in earnest!  The details of the last few days have been chronicled by her precious husband, Toben, on her blog.  You can click the hyperlink above if you would like to visit her blog.

I can't thank you enough for the prayers on her behalf...and I'm sure Toben and her sweet girls are even more appreciative.

I am looking forward to visiting with you in the next few days to "catch up".  I hope to see you soon,

 

 

In Joanne's honor, I will forever remain

What Kind of Pumpkin Are You?

I LOVE FALL!  I love EVERYTHING about it!  I love the COLORS, I love the SMELLS and the FLAVORS!   God was so good to us when He created such richly colored and flavored things like pumpkins.  I think pumpkins are beautiful to look at and I love their flavor....in both sweet and savory things.  I also love pumpkins because they remind me of the Glory of the Lord.  Have you ever seen two pumpkins that look just alike?  If you have, then we're ALL going to be rich!  You can't show me two pumpkins that are 100% identical to each other...YOU CAN'T DO IT!  

Pumpkins are beautiful things...they come in  an incredible palette of colors, some have bumps, some have ridges and lines, and sometimes, they are as smooth as silk.   Some have knotty stems and some have really beautiful stereotypically formed pumpkin stems.  Some might even have a worm hole or two!

God's children are a lot like pumpkins.  We have lumps and bumps and we have things that to some, are "not so beautiful", but to others, are just breathtaking.  We have lines and ridges...and we can be rigid when we want to be...and at times, we can be as smooth as silk in the outward showing of our personalities.  But lumps, bumps or otherwise, God created us uniquely and as incredible individuals...each of us being a total masterpiece in the eyes of the Father.  It's hard to remember sometimes that God created the beautiful and the not so beautiful...but to HIM....total perfection.  After all, we are created in HIS image!

         "So God created man in his own image, 
       in the image of God he created him; 
       male and female he created them."

                                 Genesis 1:27

Well, believe it or not, this was what I was pondering today as I made a batch of some really fabulous pumpkin soup.  I hope that you will consider it all "food for thought", no pun(kin) intended!

I'll leave you with the recipe that I used, and yes the pictures above were from today's batch of soup.  I hope that you'll try it!  The recipe is adapted from one that belongs to one of my favorite Food Network chefs, Robin Miller.  You can find her exact recipe for this soup by clicking here.  I will include my recipe below, since I have a couple of things that I add in addition to Robin's INCREDIBLE recipe.  I hope that you enjoy it!  And if you are looking for economical...THIS IS YOUR RECIPE!  For those of you who are fellow American Frugal Housewives...you'll love it!

SMOKY PUMPKIN SOUP WITH CUMIN

1 can (15 oz.) of canned pumpkin**, ~OR~ 15 oz. of fresh cooked pumpkin

1 ½ cups of reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup milk (I use Horizon Organic 2%)

1 pinch ground sage

1 pinch ground cinnamon 

½ tsp Sun Crystals (or other sugar substitute like Splenda)

15 turns of the peppermill

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 pinch ground bay leaves (or 2 whole bay leaves)

**MAKE SURE that you do NOT buy the pumpkin pie mix!  It should be the PLAIN canned pumpkin!

Whisk all of the ingredients together over medium heat. Serve hot!   If you like a smoother texture, you can process the soup through either a food mill or a food processor for a smoother puree.   If you are not a cumin fan, or if you are not sure if you are, then you may want to start with ¼ tsp. of cumin and then work up from there.  I love it, so I use the 1 tsp. that it calls for.

Enjoy!

 

 

Pantry Painting & Organizing Project~The Beginning

Well, just to let you know, I am typing this post with semi-blistered hands.  I am also typing this post with a body that's aching a little as well...but it is worth every blister, ache and/or pain that I have incurred!  There is bliss...even with blisters!  My pantry is ALMOST finished!  I started painting at 1:00 today and wrapped up about 4:00, with only a little bit left to do....and as soon as I finish it tomorrow night, I will have successfully repainted the pantry in our new house~and a pantry that I'm about to stand on my head to organize and decorate!  I ordered the cutest rug that's a picture of an old-timey tomato sign.  And, I have some cute aprons to hang up on the wall.  Also, reminiscent of Julia Child's kitchen, I have a peg board on the wall (in her honor) that is just waiting to have all kinds of accessories hung about it from the holes-a-plenty.  

 
 

It's just so satisfying to complete a home project, especially one that is labor intensive.  I know that when I go to one of its many shelves, my fingers will feel the smooth semi-gloss paint and I'll remember this afternoon over and over in my mind.  

Projects = pride in the accomplishment.

And the picture above was a huge accomplishment for me, considering that the nine shelves of this pantry had been painted in a flat paint that had seen a pretty good amount of wear.  But even in the wear, I know that there was a lot of love in those shelves.  There was love being put into the items either taken from or re-stocked from it's wooden shelves.  There was certainly a HUGE amount of love in just the construction of this pantry by the man of the house.  The shelves appear to have been painstakingly hand sanded and the wood until they were smooth as silk....and the wood and molding, well they were chosen from the finest quality.  There was a husband and a wife (both now deceased) who poured a lot of love into the details of this house, with the pantry only being one of the many.  

(I am painting them a fresh solid white...you'll see some of the green left behind on the shelves that I'll be finishing tomorrow)

As you can see from the pictures, I've still got to finish the bottom half, which I'll be doing tomorrow evening.  But I've included the pictures for a different reason.  The reason is that I noticed so many details today that the former owner put into the construction of this pantry for his beloved wife.  There are sections of the pantry that are different sizes, more than likely because she had items that were special to her that went in different special places.  One detail in particular stood out to me more than any of them....and that detail you can really see illustrated above....it's just a simple clothespin, mounted about midway down one of the walls.  I was just about to rip it off of the wall to paint over it, and something stopped me.  You know, there was a special reason that the woman of the house placed that clothespin there with such purpose (the picture doesn't do it justice...it's mounted on there quite firmly).  Something within me just didn't have the heart to take it down...so I'm painting around it.  I have no idea what I'll use it for, but I promise, I'll find a use for it.  

Why all the rambling about a pantry?  Well, first of all, I believe that the Lord wants us to take pride in what we do, especially when it is caring for our home.  Secondly, I love learning about utility discovered by others (like the clothespin).  And thirdly (and the most important), I'm reminded of the Lord's constant provision in our lives, for every little tiny need....and how He always exceeds our expectations when He meets that need.  And the Lord knew (down to the detail) how I would want a pantry constructed.....and He not only gave me that, but He gave me about 5 more shelves than what I ever thought I would find.  NINE SHELVES I TELL YOU!  And they wrap around not one, but TWO walls!  And a pegboard...just like the one that Julia Child had! Julia's kitchen was totally utilitarian.  But back to the Lord....He totally and completely exceeded my expectation, as is the usual way of the Lord that I serve.  

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."   Philippians 4:19

What are the projects that you are working on now and what has the Lord been teaching you through your projects?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to go find some icy-hot to rub on my sore muscles!

 

P.S. I'll post more pictures of the finished decorated and organized results! And in the spirit of being an American Frugal Housewife, my project came in at under $20!

 

 

Spatchcocked Chicken 1 (Asian Style)

spatch·cock

 

–noun

1.

a fowl that has been dressed and split open for grilling.

–verb (used with object)

2.

to prepare and roast (a fowl) in this manner.

When I first read about the spatchcock method of chicken preparation, I'll have to say that I was a bit overwhelmingly intimidated.  After all, it looked like a method that only the incredible Julia Child or maybe Alton Brown could pull off.  I first read about it in a magazine and then began to look around on the internet.  Apparently, it was a consensus. All I should need would be the chicken (of course) and a pair of poultry shears.  Why is it that the things that are really the most simple can really seem the most difficult?

At any rate, I was determined to climb what I thought was a culinary mountain. Mountain?  Well, it was more like a mole hill.  I will tell you though, you must have a very strong pair of poultry shears that will easily cut through bone.  If you have that (and the chicken...don't forget the chicken!), then you're all set.  As for the flavor profile that you choose for the roasting, the possibilities are absolutely endless.  I happen to be using an Asian flavor in my bird, but you may like something as simple as some salt, pepper and garlic.   Or, you may like some white wine, thyme and rosemary....or even just a simple Italian dressing marinade.  Like I said, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

 

Okay...onward and upward!  This post is going to show you the method itself.  I will be cooking my Asian marinated spatchcocked chicken tomorrow evening.  So, make sure and check back here on Tuesday to see the pictures of how it turned out!

SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

1.  Using a 3-4 pound chicken, turn the chicken breast side down on the work surface.  When looking down at the chicken, the wings should be at the top and the legs should be at the bottom.

2.  Use your fingers to trace the backbone up and down the bird so that you know where you will be cutting.  Start on one side of the backbone and cut up and away from you straight to the top of the chicken.  Then take the shears and place them on the other side of the backbone and do likewise.  (Sorry, I had cut the chicken before I realized I had not taken a pic of this step, but you'll see the outcome below)

3.  Here is the finished product.  You can see the size of the backbone that was cut out at the bottom of the picture.  The legs should lie down flat now.

4.  Now when you turn the bird over, you should be able to press everything down flat.  At this point, your bird is ready for whatever flavor profile your little heart may desire.   

5.  Roast in your desired dish in a preheated 500° oven for 30 minutes (yes, I said 30 minutes!), or until the internal temperature is 165° on an instant read thermometer (in the thickest part of the thigh) and the juices run clear.  

When you get ready to roast, you can choose to put vegetables around it, or you may choose to do the chicken by itself.  Whatever way that you choose, I'm sure that it will be delicious.  And please, by all means let me know if you try this method and let me know what flavor profile that you chose.  I would love to post some of the results!  And send pictures too!  

For now, my method was an Asian marinade.  As I type, my freshly spatchcocked little bird is resting for the night in a gallon sized zip lock bag, swimming in some mighty yummy Asian flavors!

JEN'S YUMMY ASIAN MARINADE

1/4 cup extra light olive oil

1/8 cup soy sauce

1/8 cup rice wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. Hoisin sauce

2 tsp freshly grated ginger root

Wisk the above ingredients together thoroughly.  Salt and pepper the chicken and place in a gallon sized zip lock freezer bag.  Pour the marinade over the chicken.  Press the extra air out of the bag and seal.  Squish the chicken around in the bag and make sure that the marinade has covered all of the pieces.  Marinate at least 2 hours or overnight. Cook using the method above.  

See you back here on Tuesday!

 

Price Matching Payday

 

After church, Rob and I made our regular Sunday visit to Mom and Dad's for some lunch (which by the way was fantastic...thanks Mom!).   When we were through with lunch, my Mom and I decided to make a run over to the Eastern Shore to go to Sams, Barnes & Noble and Shoe Station.  It just so happened that prior to leaving for our little outing,  I picked up the sales ads from the paper.  While thumbing though the ads, I noticed a tiny little remark in the Best Buy ad that said "15% off of all steam washers and dryers".  As my late Aunt Rhetta would have said, "Well honey hush!"  Guess what?  The ones that I purchased 2 weeks ago....well they have the steam functions, so that means cash back for me!  WA-HOO!  I'm singing the praises of Best Buy's price matching policy!  I just got $277.95 back today!  You heard me.....$277.95!!!!!!!!!!!!  All I had to do was take in my receipt and they pulled it right up and immediately credited my bank card for the difference.  I didn't even have to take my bank card out!  

I have to say a special thank you to the sales associate whose last words to me after the sales transaction were to "watch every Sunday ad for the next 30 days"!  She was right!  Best Buy rocks!  

 

 

 
 

The Results Are In--BRAVOS!

 Well folks, the results are in.  It's unanimous.  It's done.  I am the proud owner of a Maytag Bravos series washer and dryer!  Thank you to those who emailed me your suggestions and feedback when I posted recently regarding my search!  I had narrowed the search down to the Whirlpool Cabrio series and the Maytag Bravos series.  The only thing that won me over in the end was that the Bravos had steam settings and the Cabrio didn't.  Other than that, they were relatively similar in function and in price.  And I'll be able to see my laundry swishing and tumbling about through the super cool glass lid and door.  The washer doesn't have an agitator, which is great.  It's actually works just like a front loader, except it loads from the top.  And even better, it's high efficiency, so we'll reap some benefit as well with reduced energy costs.  Unfortunately though, they are back ordered and my set won't be in until at least the 18th....so it's the waiting game now.  I am about to stand on my head for them to get here, but I've waited this long to replace the old ones, so what's a few more days?  And can I tell you, they were SO easy to work with at Best Buy!  Not only will they deliver the entire set, washer and dryer, for the low low price of $29.99, but they are going to haul off my old ones for FREE!   I'm SO excited! 

 

 

 If you need me after the 18th of March, I'll be washing...and drying....and steaming....and washing....and drying....and steaming......but I assure you, it will be with a smile on my face!  

 

Books for Bucks! (in the spirit of Proverbs 31)

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

 I have been so anxious to get this post written! In the spirit of trying to be a Proverbs 31 woman, I'm so excited about my new little endeavor and thought I would share the secret of my new little "business".  Do you have things in your house that you need to get rid of?  Of COURSE you do!  Well, for us, we are book junkies.  We read everything that we can get our hands on.  My husband and I absolutely LOVE to go to the bookstore and to the library together.  As a matter of fact, that's one of our favorite things to do on a date night.....dinner out and then a cup coffee or hot tea at the book store.  

 Well, after all those trips to the bookstore, the bookshelves around here are pretty full...bulging at the seams actually.  So, about a month ago, I decided that after as many times that I've ordered books from other people via Amazon, why couldn't I join their ranks?  So guess what?  I DID!  And that's when The Wifes Books was born!  The best thing is that I no sooner listed about 20 books the first time and cha-ching!  They started selling like hotcakes!  The more I listed the quicker they sold.  In one month's time, I have made over $100 with NO EFFORT! 

And the method behind my madness?  Well, now that there is so much new technology out there with the book reading devices (like the Barnes & Noble "Nook" or the Amazon "Kindle"), I thought that it would be great to turn my books into cash and trade them in for a reader  of my own.  And the best part to having my (our) reader is that it doesn't take up any space!  And....it will hold like 1500 books!  What's more, there are thousands and thousands of free books available, and even the ones that you buy are so much cheaper than buying the regular books. 

 As of today, I'm over half way to the price of getting the reader.  I mailed out three books today and before I could even get home from the post office, another one sold!  Since we have two post offices very close to home, it's no inconvenience at all to drop them in the mail each day that the sales are made.  

So do you want to know how easy it is and how the money works?  Well, all you have to do is create a "Seller" account on Amazon (super easy).  Once you create your account, then you're ready to start listing your books.  Every book has an "ISBN" number on the back of it (or maybe inside the cover, or within the first couple of pages of the book).  All you have to do it type in the ISBN number and that's it!  The computer finds your book and matches it to the ISBN number.  Then the system will let you list the condition of the book and tell you what the "going rate" is for that book.  You choose your price and hit "submit".....BAM--you have inventory!  And each time a book sells, you get an email from Amazon advising you to ship the purchase within two business days.  There is a button on the order to print out a packing slip to include with the shipment.  And, once you ship it, you will go back to the order and mark it "shipped" with the "confirm shipment" button.  When you confirm the shipment, Amazon then charges the buyer's credit card and ZAP.....they put the money in your "payment account".  IT'S THAT EASY!  

And this just happens to be what I have chosen to sell...it is certainly not limited to books.  You can sell virtually anything on Amazon.  So, what have you got that isn't being used around your house that you could turn into cold, hard cash?  You have absolutely nothing to lose but you have everything to gain!  

 

  

Calling all Sisters! (The Great Washer-Dryer Debate of 2010)

In the spirit of my blog friend Joanne's prompting some months ago to become an "American Frugal Housewife", I'm calling on you for help!  I love a bargain, but I also want top quality as well.  And, the time is here....what time is that you ask?  

Well, it's that time..... time to send the old washer and dryer out to pasture (or, should I say "out to scrap") and time to purchase some shiny new appliances (don't you just love new appliances?).  I certainly don't want to have to resort to the antiques in the picture above!

I can't help but think of that old Cosby Show episode when Claire told Cliff that he was addicted to appliances and that they had "an appliance graveyard" underneath the counter.  You remember the episode...she scolded him because he is the one that bought the shiny new juicer, the one that Rudy and Peter decided to load full of grapes(to make grape jelly) that created the "great grape explosion" in their kitchen. And then cute little Peter said "I was just holding the bread"!  Ah...memory lane! But I digress....

Okay, but back to the task at hand.  Who better to ask opinions from than those who are in the trenches with me?  Ladies...I ask you, what are your favorites in the way of washers and dryers? Like I said, quality is a must, but I do love a great deal.  I have had Whirlpool for many years (those are the ones that are out the door), but my options are open.  I want efficiency, I want quality, I want ease of use, I want a FABULOUS price, and most of all, I want very clean clothes!  

So, what works for you....what have you been pleased with in recent times?  In the meantime...I'm off to do some washer and dryer research!  Onward and upward!

 

 

 

 

Don't You Like Free Money? (An American Frugal Housewife Article)

If someone came up to you in the grocery store and handed you a fist full of dollar bills for free, with no strings attached, wouldn't you take them?  They were free...so why wouldn't you?  That's EXACTLY what you get when you use coupons....a fist full of free dollar bills!  Who can't use free money? 

I have always loved bargain shopping and I have always loved coupon-ing.  As of late, I have really tried to get back into it full swing.  As a matter of fact, I have not been to the store in the last several weeks without using coupons.  And it's so great when they hit that button and then you say..."oh wait, I have some coupons"...and then that total starts to drop!  I have this little ritual of wanting them to hit the total button first, before the coupons come off....I LOVE seeing the total start to drop!  Admit it...you know you love to see that total drop too!  I believe that the Lord gives us opportunities to be good stewards, and further, I fully believe that being able to use coupons and bargain shop can be an integral part of being a good steward.  

So, in the spirit of trying to be a an American Frugal Housewife, I'll leave you with this interesting and thought provoking little article that my sweet husband sent to me from the Wall Street Journal.  I thought that this was some really great information and hope that you will benefit from it too!  

 

Doing the Math on Coupons

They're back in fashion, with good reason: An hour spent cutting and clipping can yield about $100 in savings. Time well spent.

By BRETT ARENDS 

Clipping coupons hardly sounds like the subject of high finance–or even medium finance.

Save a dollar on cat food, some detergent or a couple of boxes of cereal. Who can be bothered? Who has the time?

A growing number of people, it turns out. And they're shrewder than it may at first appear.

The Great American Coupon is making a big comeback–thanks to the Great American Recession.

We redeemed some 3.3 billion coupons last year–a remarkable 27 percent leap from 2008, and the first year-on-year increase in 17 years, according to a report issued at the end of January by Inmar, a coupon-processing agent. (Online coupon use skyrocketed–companies issued twice as many as in 2008, but redemptions rose 360 percent.) The big upturn took off in October 2008, just after Lehman went belly up.

At first blush you can see why coupons fell out of fashion for so long–and why so many consumers still ignore them.

You have to make time to visit a coupon Web site or collect the flyers from your mailbox, the supermarket or newspaper inserts. You need to sort through to find the ones you want, cut them out, stick them in your purse or wallet–and remember to use them when you are at the cash register and you are trying to remember whether you bought everything on your shopping list and where you parked the car.

Average saving per coupon: Just $1.44, according to the Inmar report.

But let's treat this low finance topic for a moment the way we treat high finance. Let's subject it to the same math.

How long does it actually take to clip and use a coupon? Certainly the more you use, the less overall time you will spend per coupon, because so many of the costs–getting flyers, sorting coupons and so on–are generalized. Let's assume you spend a minute per coupon.

Saving $1.44 for a minute's effort is the equivalent of saving $14.40 for 10 minutes'.

Hourly rate: $86.40.

Associated Press

Maybe this would be as good a time as any to point out that the typical American working stiff–those lucky enough to have jobs right now–climbs out of bed each morning, goes through the miseries of commuting and endures the daily grind at the workplace for about $20 an hour.

Furthermore, money saved comes with an additional benefit. Unlike the money you earn at work, it is tax free. No payroll taxes. No federal or state income tax.

If your marginal tax rate were, say, 20 percent, you would have to earn $108 before tax to take home $86.40. If your marginal tax rate were 30 percent, you'd have to earn $123.

Very few of us ever do this kind of math, because we tend to treat low finance differently from high finance, and small sums differently from big ones. No wonder, even today, 99 percent of coupons are thrown away unused.

Yet finance isn't a separate topic from the rest of our personal lives. For all of us, our scarcest resource is time. Putting the right value on it, and putting it to the most productive use, is a financial challenge, as well as a personal one.

And the individual amounts of money may seem small, but they prove the old adage about tiny acorns and mighty oaks. Someone who saves $25 a week will save $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. Over a lifetime that can easily grow to $100,000 or more–even after accounting for inflation.

If motivation is an issue, the next time you find yourself facing a stack of coupon booklets and flyers don't ask yourself if you can be bothered. Try asking yourself if you'd like to earn more than $100 an hour for a job you can do, at home, while sitting on the sofa watching TV.

Write to Brett Arends at brett.arends@wsj.com

 

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal

 What says love on a cold night more than a hot steamy bowl of oatmeal?  Well, it's been cold here again, so for supper tomorrow night, we are going to try a new spin on oatmeal...how about some Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal?  Honestly, there's not that much to it, but I thought it sounded pretty yummy.  The idea was on the Taste of Home website.  Not only does it sound great but it's a pretty frugal dish to make.  Add some toast on the side and we're done!   This is also great for me because Monday's are SO hectic at work.  It really is nice to have something quick on Monday's...then I don't mind cooking the rest of the week! And hey, not only is it quick, but it's definitely in the spirit of the American Frugal Housewife!

What's your quick fix for hectic Monday's?

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 3 cups milk or water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large saucepan, bring milk and salt to a boil. Stir in oats; cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the bananas, peanut butter and vanilla. Yield: 4 servings.

 

 

 
 

   

 

Rubba Dub Scrub! (Homemade Buttermilk Bath Salt Scrub)

Admit it.  You've spent LOADS of money on those store bought salt scrubs that promise to deliver "glowing skin", "renewed skin", "beautiful skin"....fill in the blank skin.  "Get better sleep!", "Wisk away to the islands!", "Calgon....take me away!!!!!!!!!!"  

They are all great, they all smell really nice, but cheap, they're not.  I ran across a tip a few years ago that I thought I would share with you.  I promise that it will deliver the same results, but you will find it FAR cheaper by making it for yourself at home.  There are only 4 things (maybe 5) that you need and PRESTO....extra cash in your wallet and nicely sloughed,  glowing skin in the process.

What you will need:

• Course Kosher salt
• Buttermilk
• A small mixing bowl (not glass, since you will be using it in the shower or bath)
• A spoon
• Essential oil of your choice (optional)

Pour the Kosher salt into the mixing bowl and pour out only as much as you think that you need for your application (don't mix up vast amounts of the scrub since it does contain buttermilk, which will spoil).   Add the buttermilk, a tablespoon at a time.  Mix the scrub until it resembles the consistency of grits or cream of wheat.  I mix it in a disposable plastic ziploc or gladware bowl since it's going to be used in the shower.  That way, if there is any left, I can put the lid on it and leave it in the bathroom.  You don't want to leave it for more than a day due to the buttermilk, but carrying leftovers to the next night's shower will not be an issue.  Also, if you want to add fragrance to the scrub other than the scent of the buttermilk, add a drop or two of the essential oil of your choice.  If you are trying to mimic some of the trends in scents like the "sleep" scents, try using a drop or two of lavender essential oil.  

One last thing, this is not just for the ladies!  Ladies, you can mix this up for your husband!  The salt is a natural healer and the buttermilk is a great skin softener.  Hope you try it....let me know how you like it!

 

 

 
 

Thank you Mrs. Meyers!

   

Okay Okay Okay...I promise that I'm trying not to sound like a broken record.  But I REALLY REALLY REALLY like my new bottle of Mrs. Meyers Clean Day!  And as much as I like it, my husband, who has a very sensitive and discriminating olfactory system, has made quite a few comments about how much he likes the scent.  This is coming from someone who NEVER likes the scent of any cleaning products!  Rest assured, I sniffed ALL of the scents when I picked this up at World Market, but found the geranium to be SO uplifting (the rest are great too, but I fell in love with the geranium).  Even better, I got a steal of a deal at Drugstore.com on a few more of these products.  Turns out, if you haven't ordered before and you order at least $25, the shipping is free!  In addition, you can still get some great prices on Mrs. Meyers direct site here.  You can even get a $5.00 coupon when you sign up on her site for the first time.  But, since my first order was a little larger than a "maintenance" order, I decided to go with the cheaper deal at Drugstore.com.   Aside from the great smell, these products are also very earth friendly and safe around kids and pets. 

Okay...I'm done now.  Just go buy some!