CasaSugar

10 Powerful Pet Hair Vacuums (Even on Hardwoods)!

Sara Yoo — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:24:11 PDT

Will the fight against pet hair ever end!? Short of shaving your furry pal, the solution to the problem seems like a losing battle. Never fear: we've found 10 vacuum cleaners with powerful suction to suck up this hairy situation.

See one you love or hate? Share your opinions or reviews on the corresponding slide!

Source: Thinkstock

Make Perfectly Grilled Vegetables Every Time

Susannah Chen — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:55:15 PDT

Need a refresher this grilling season? Seasonal vegetables are an easy place to start, and whether you're prepping your veggies or preheating your grill, we've got you covered. The key? Timing is everything! We demonstrate our technique for cooking zucchini, asparagus, and portobello mushrooms, although this technique can be applied to your choice of produce. Watch our tutorial to master perfectly grilled Summer vegetables every single time.

Pack a Compostable Picnic

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:30:23 PDT

It's shorts-wearing season, and what better way to catch some rays than to pack a leisurely, afternoon picnic? Keep Mother Nature looking good by loading your picnic basket with compostable dinnerware items. It's easier than ever to purchase plates, cutlery, and cups that are 100 percent biodegradable and made from natural sources like corn and sugar-cane fiber. Click through to take a look at all the recommended items you'll need. Now go dust off the checkered blanket, and start whipping up your favorite picnic treats.

5 Ways to Reuse Your Dryer Sheets

Emily Co — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

I find it such a waste to throw away products you only use once, so I'm always looking for ways to recycle them. A used dryer sheet is actually a really versatile product with a ton of different applications, so don't throw it away after the dry cycle is up! Recycle your dryer sheets in these ways:

Freshen your suitcase: Leave a dryer sheet in your suitcase when you're traveling so it'll stay fresh and smell it too.
Reduce static cling: Get rid of static cling by rubbing dryer sheets on the problem areas.
Clean irons: Rub the iron on the dryer sheet while the heat is set to low, and the sheet will clean the residue off the plate.
Remove pet and human hair: Run the dryer sheet over fabrics with a lot of fur or hair on them, such as clothing or furniture.
Clean bathroom gunk: If it's time to clean your bath or shower, then grab a dryer sheet for scrubbing. Apparently, dryer sheets help to keep showers and baths free of mineral buildup, so they serve the dual function of cleaning and protecting!

In Season: Cherimoyas

Sara Yoo — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:07:06 PDT

Don't be fooled by the cherimoya: though this fruit resembles a tiny dragon curled up for a nap, it's quite the opposite from a sour-tempered, fire-breathing reptile. With a texture that resembles custard or ice cream, the cherimoya surprises with a sweet flavor that tasters liken to a blend of bananas, pineapple, papaya, and strawberry. And fortunately for us, it's in season for another few weeks. To learn more about how to prepare this produce curiosity, just read on.

20 Things to Do With All Those Leftover Glass Baby Food Jars

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:47:01 PDT

Recycling's great, but upcycling is both fun and productive! Baby food pouches may be slowly overtaking traditional glass jars when it comes to lil ones' pureed food, but that doesn't mean the ubiquitous jars aren't taking up precious space on mama's countertop. Before dumping them in the recycle bin, check out some interesting ways the jars can live a second life - your counter and the environment will thank you!

Rev Up Warm-Weather Recipes With Radishes

Susannah Chen — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:40:45 PDT

At first blush, the humble root known as the radish may not look like much. But take a closer look (and taste) at these diminutive vegetables (which are in season across the country), and you'll discover they're just what you need to add flair to your springtime meals. Humble and plentiful, they impart a peppery, almost horseradish-like zing to anything from salads to sandwiches. Not sure what to do with your bunch? Then turn to these six recipes for inspiration.

Radish Tartines	Taco Salad	Jicama Coleslaw
Roast Chicken With Radishes	Butter-Braised Radishes	Steak and Pineapple Salad

8 Cool Uses For Lemons

Emily Co — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:05:41 PDT

You can make more out of lemons than lemonade. In fact, lemon juice is a really useful liquid that can be used to clean your home, can treat cold symptoms, and can even be part of your beauty regimen. Here are a couple of other uses for the yellow fruit:

Wash your hands: When you're serving messy food like crabs or ribs, put out little bowls of lemon water for guests to wash the smell and gunk off their fingers.
Relieve flu symptoms: If you have a sore throat or a cough, mix lemon with honey and water for a drink that will soothe your throat.
Clean a chopping board: Add some lemon juice or use a lemon slice to wipe the chopping board to deodorize and sanitize it.
Lighten blemishes: If you have some blemishes or you notice your face darkening in pigment in some spots, put some lemon juice on it every day until it lightens.
Brighten white loads: To make the whites even brighter, add a quarter cup of lemon juice with the clothes that you throw into the washing machine.
Brighten fingernails: Soak your fingernails in a lemon water mixture to whiten and brighten them.
Freshen household equipment: Make your appliances fresh by adding lemon juice or lemons to them. For example, microwave slices of lemons to freshen it up. Add lemon juice to the dishwasher when it's empty and let it run a cycle and clean itself with the lemon juice. Add a bit of lemon juice to the humidifier or vacuum bag if those appliances are getting a little smelly and old.
Disinfect wounds: Stop bleeding and clean small cuts and scrapes with lemon juice.

10 Items That Will Make Your Clothes Last Longer

LearnVest — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:15:55 PDT

We spend time trying to save money on shopping for clothing, but what will really help us save is learning how to lengthen the life of the clothes we already have. LearnVest gives tips on how to make our clothing last longer.

After spending time thinking about how to maximize our wardrobes and analyzing what our clothes say about us, we've got our eyes on making our closets as cute and long-lasting as possible.

Because there are little tricks to make your clothes fit better, look better, and last longer. And not taking the best care of the items you already own means you're not getting the most bang for your clothing buck.

We put together our list of the top 10 most valuable items worth spending a little money on. From the $9 do-it-all tool that takes care of fallen hems, gaping holes, and visible bra straps to the successful way to bypass dry cleaning bills, these little fashion fixers won't disappoint.

Plus they're all under $30 . . . So you can still afford that sundress you've been eyeing on Pinterest.

Save Money, Help the Planet With These DIY Healthy Snacks

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:48 PDT

Eating healthy isn't always cheap, but it's a must if you want to improve your overall health. If you choose to buy organic or exotic options like dried blueberries - $13 for a small bag! - snacks can quickly eat up your food budget. Find out how to nosh on healthy nibbles and still have money left in your wallet.

Cheese sticks: Instead of buying individually wrapped cheese sticks, save money and avoid plastic packaging by making your own. Buy a block of your favorite cheese for a few bucks- mozzarella and monterey jack work well - and cut the block into long wedges for a grab-and-go snack.
Nut butter: Nut butters are great on toast, crackers, or sliced fruit, but if you buy organic jars, you can spend almost $8. Try this instead: buy huge bags of unsalted raw nuts, pour a cup in the food processor, and make your own. You can even make mixed nut butter with a few of your fave nuts and seeds. Spoon the creamy mixture into a glass container to store in the fridge.

Keep reading for more money-saving snack tips.