Berry Helpful

I love strawberries, but I hate having to cut the leaves off! Ladies Home Journal featured this in their June 2010 issue:


BERRY Helpful:

One of our favorite things about this time of year? Strawberries are at their sweetest. So we were excited to discover a gadget that makes hulling a breeze. With its shapr claws, the StemGem removes stems and leaves in one quick twist; $8 at williams-sonoma.com



Looks like I'm headed to Frontenac tomorrow... :)
P.S. It gets great reviews too!

No-Talk Technology

I'll admit it - I use my cell phone while driving. But I'm a hypocrite because if I see a driver acting stupid on the road and then find they are on their cell phone...I get pissed and "yell" at them. Kids are the worst at this!

The May 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine featured this:

"Want to make sure your teen doesn't use her cell while driving? Consider the new iZUP application ($4.95 per month; getizup.com). It stops outgoing and incoming calls and texts (except for emergency contacts you program) when your kid's phone is in a car going above a speed you select, and can be deactivated if your child is a passenger. GHRI testers gave it a thumbs-up.

Double Duty - Pillowcase

Real Simple magazine has a piece every month called "New Uses for Old Things". I love reading these creative strategies, usually for items we already have!

The May 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine gave this tip:

Double Duty - Pillowcase
"When storing coats or special-occasion clothes, cover each item with an old pillowcase (cut a hole in the closed end to slip over a hanger). It won't hold in mildew-casuing moisture like plastic does.

A Suggestion: Birthday Party Candles

This was reprinted in the May 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine...

Good Advice...Never goes out of style
From Good Housekeeping, May 1994:
"Use creamy mint patties as candleholders on birthday cakes. Just make a hole in the center of each patty and fit the candle in. Place candle and patty on top of cake."

What a great idea - no wax on the cake! and no holes from those silly little candle holders that still drip wax on the cake!

Reusable Dryer Sheets

As much as I love my Bounce dryer sheets, they sure are a lot of waste! So I was curious when I saw these...has anyone tried them?

From the May 2010 issue of Real Simple magazine:
Reusable Dryer Sheet
"The eco-friendly, hypoallergenic Static Eliminator reduces cling and softens fabric just like traditional dryer sheets but without cluttering up your trash can. Each cloth withstands hundreds of loads. TO BUY: $15 for two, amazon.com

A New Book: The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex

I saw this title and laughed out loud...I'm totally intrigued! Has anyone read it?

From the May 2010 issue of Parenting Magazine:
If you're looking for a little more excitement in the sack, check out "The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex, by Kristen Chase. You'll laugh, probably blush, and be totally inspired to shake things up in the bedroom (or the laundry room, or the bathroom...). $14.95, Adams Media; mominatrixbook.com