CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Lemon Fresh Kitchen

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well.

If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

How-To: Safely Dispose of Prescription Meds

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0800

No matter how diligent I am about trying to keep my bathroom shelves clutter-free, they still seem to eventually get overrun by prescription medications that have a pill or two left in the bottom of the bottle. It's definitely a no-no to keep prescription medications sitting around your home, especially if they're past their expiration date.

To find out the right and wrong ways to rid your home of this potentially dangerous clutter, check out my tips when you read more.

Take all out-of-date prescription meds off your shelves, but not so fast - if you’re considering tossing them down your drain, think again. Medications such as Zoloft have been found in lakes and rivers and are inhibiting algae growth and aquatic health. Trace amounts of antibiotics and estrogen are also showing up in your drinking water. To prevent further contamination, don't flush your medication down the sink or toilet.
Ask your pharmacist if he or she can take back medications. Some pharmacies, such as Elephant Pharmacy and Kaiser Permanente, are taking back medications.
Call your city or state to ask about drug disposal programs, such as this one in Maine..
If you must put your medications in the trash, keep them in their original childproof and watertight containers. Leave the label on, but scratch out your name, your doctor’s name, and your address to protect your privacy. Add some water or vinegar to pills to render them useless. For liquids, add some flour or kitty litter. You can conceal the bottles by tying them up in plastic bags before throwing them out.
The bottom line is that there's no perfect way to dispose of prescription medications. The EPA is currently working on a more comprehensive drug recycling program, but for now, try to keep your meds out of the water and waste stream, and organize on the local, city, or state level to demand a better solution.

Source

Casa Quickie: Garbage Disposal

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:00:07 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well. If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

Source

Disposal Do's and Don'ts

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 09:47:13 -0800

We've all been there (unless you don't have a garbage disposal, and in that case I feel your pain, my current place doesn't have one either), you clean up the dishes, you scrape off the food, you run the disposal and ACK! you're hit in the face with a horrible smell. The onions from tonight's dinner are wafting back through the sink and your otherwise beautifully spotless kitchen is beginning to stink. Well, I'm happy to say, this problem can be easily eliminated. To read my simple disposal tip and other garbage disposal hints, read more

To prevent the nasty garbage disposal smell, I simply take a quarter of a lemon and toss it into the disposal. When I run it, the oils from the lemon permeate through and you're left with a lemony-fresh scent. If you think it's a waste of a lemon, then be sure to squeeze out the juice first (you can save it for salads, etc.) I'll actually keep the leftover lemon parts in a bag in the fridge and use them as needed.

To help keep the disposal in good condition, try the following:

Occasionally toss a few pieces of ice into the disposal. The grinding of the ice will help to keep the blades sharp.
You can also freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and run those down the disposal. You'll keep your blades sharp and get rid of any lingering odors.
For stubborn odors pour baking soda into the drain and let it set for several hours before running the water/disposal.
Don't put too many peels (especially potatoes) down the disposal. The starches in the potatoes will turn into a thick paste and may cause the blades to stick.
It's fairly obvious, but don't run glass, plastic, metal and other non-food items down the disposal.
The remains from crab, oysters, etc. should also not be put down the disposal.
Avoid grinding fibrous food like onion skins, celery and corn husks.
Small amounts of eggshells or small bones are actually good for the disposal and can help scour the sides of the grinder.
Be sure to run cold water before, during and after using the disposal. This will help run debris through the pipes. The cold water will help solidify any grease in the pipes.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or drain cleaners. If there is a clog, check and clean out the disposal unit first.

Simple Tip: Use Plastic Bags as Disposable Garbage Bowls

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:50:44 -0800

Rachael Ray may have popularized the concept of the garbage bowl, but I have my own version that I think is even better. When peeling, trimming, and chopping vegetables, I like to cut open a plastic bag - the kind you get the produce in works just fine - and use it as a makeshift container for all the vegetable scraps.

Not only do I feel like I'm getting one more use out of a plastic bag that would sooner be trash, but I also don't have to worry about washing another dish. Cleanup couldn't be easier: dump the scraps into a compost pail, or wrap the mess into a plastic ball and toss it away.

How do you dispose of kitchen scraps?

Gisele Opens Up About Pregnancy, Birth, and Returning to Work

babysugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:05:03 -0700

We already know about her bathtub waterbirth that didn't hurt a bit and how safe she felt during delivery. Now, in her first US interview, Gisele Bundchen graces the April cover of Vogue with a photo shoot showing off her six-week-old son, Benjamin, and her post-baby body. She also discusses how she kept her weight gain to 30 pounds, how the baby got his name and who was at her side during the birth – her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, her mom, and a friend from Brazil who served as a midwife. Here are the highlights:

On keeping out of the public eye: “I felt like my pregnancy was a sacred moment for me. I stayed in Boston and I didn’t work apart from the contracts I have, and then I only let them use my face.”

On staying in shape while pregnant: “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds.”

On her baby’s name, Benjamin Rein: “I wanted him to be called River because I wanted something always flowing, immortal. My husband said, ‘There’s no way we’re going to call him River.’ But my father’s name is Reinoldo, so it’s a homage to him. And it’s like water.”

On having a big family: “I’m so lucky to have my little munchkin, and I have two because I also have John.”

On returning to work for the first time: “I got to the studio and I felt like I was E.T.-whoa, what’s going on? Hair and makeup? I hadn’t looked at myself in a mirror for a month and a half… Usually, as I walk through the door into that atmosphere, I already feel different. There’s a button that goes On and I’m On. And when I go On, there is almost no me; there is just a character who is doing all this. This time it wasn’t like that… For the first time, I think I actually saw me-the inside-instead of the persona.”

On the secret to getting through each day: “The first is wake up in the morning and be grateful you are here, alive and healthy. And the second is: Give.”

Source: Patrick Demarchelier/Vogue

View 4 Photos ›

Gisele Shares Her Post-Baby Body and Son Benjamin With Vogue!

PopSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:04:37 -0700

Gisele Bundchen is back from her modeling hiatus with a big appearance on the upcoming April cover of Vogue. The accompanying photo shoot also features the supermodel posing in her bikini, but the most exciting part is that she brought adorable and naked baby Benjamin along! Gisele opened up to the magazine about how she stayed in shape during her pregnancy, her new skincare line and discussed what it's like working again as a new mom. She said:

On naming their son Benjamin Rein: “I wanted him to be called River because I wanted something always flowing, immortal. My husband said, ‘There’s no way we’re going to call him River.’ But my father’s name is Reinoldo, so it’s a homage to him. And it’s like water.”
On staying in shape while pregnant: "I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds. I think it's muscle memory."
On keeping out of the public eye: "I felt like my pregnancy was a sacred moment for me. I stayed in Boston and I didn’t work apart from the contracts I have, and then I only let them use my face."
On her first time modeling post-birth: "I got to the studio and I felt like I was E.T.-whoa, what’s going on? Hair and makeup? I hadn’t looked at myself in a mirror for a month and a half… Usually, as I walk through the door into that atmosphere, I already feel different. There’s a button that goes On and I’m On. And when I go On, there is almost no me; there is just a character who is doing all this. This time it wasn’t like that… For the first time, I think I actually saw me-the inside-instead of the persona."

View 4 Photos ›

Ask a Geek Girl: How Can I Make My Battery Last Longer?

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:47:23 -0800

That's certainly one question that stumps (and annoys!) this geek girl all the time. A recent piece in The New York Times hits the spot with a guide to increasing your gadgets' battery life. Among the article's suggestions are to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth functions, and check your "push" function at the door - it's a battery drainer for sure.

But I also have a few suggestions of my own. To find out what they are, just read more.

Use a cotton swab - Swipe a cotton swab dipped in alcohol across the battery contacts (make sure it's not dripping with alcohol) to maintain good connections. This will help your battery go the distance.
Fashion a DIY battery pack - If you're in the mood for a geeky project, you can purchase a kit that includes all the electronic parts necessary to build your own battery pack that will charge any gadget with a USB port.
Keep your MacBook alive - I have plenty of tips to keep your MacBook alive and chugging for hours, like dimming the display, disabling startup items, and making sure your battery is optimized from the get-go.
Get some help - I recently talked about a case that keeps your iPhone juiced up - it's worth the cost if you're a battery hog, since you can't replace the battery in your iPhone!
Toss it out responsibly - If it's time to get a new battery (it happens), be sure you properly recycle or dispose of it, instead of tossing it in the garbage!

The NYT article also gives us a helpful reminder: lithium-ion batteries (found in most new gadgets) don't suffer the same battery "memory loss" that batteries of yore suffered, so no need to worry about overcharging.

DEARSUGAR Needs Your Help: Deodorize My Disposal

DearSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:52:27 -0800

DEARSUGAR and Grossed Out Gretta need your help. She has a smelly garbage disposal and wants to know how to fix the stink in her sink. I can't imagine what it must be like to live with that kind of a stench, ew! YumSugar, has quite a lot to say on this subject actually.

Check out a post she's written called, Disposal Do's and Dont's for tips on how to combat garbage disposal disasters. Does anybody have any other helpful tips on how to remedy this kind of icky invasive aura?

Dear Sugar
My garbage disposal smells really badly. Do you have any suggestions on how to either disinfect and how to prevent the smell from coming back again once it's gone? Grossed Out Gretta

Bella Book: The Beauty Diet

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:00:12 -0800

You are what you eat, right? That's what nutritionist Lisa Drayer will have you believing (and then some) in her new book, The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious ($15.61).

A registered dietitian, Bayer devotes the majority of this read discussing the nutritional value of foods, naming 10 of the best for a beautiful appearance. (Psst. One of them is chocolate.) She also spills the beans (literally) on what you should eat to provide the best nutrients for hair, nails, skin, teeth, and eyes. And if you tend to get purpley under your peepers, like me, say no to extra salt. Capiche?

While some advice is common sense (get adequate rest, exercise, let go of tension), I found this book to be a great reminder of what it takes to stay healthy - while looking good in the process, of course.

See what other goodies you'll find, along with my opinion, when you read more.

Seeing that I'm a bit of a foodie, the recipes and menu plan towards the end of the book were a personal favorite. I made the sweet potato, zucchini, and goat cheese frittata and it's an 11 out of 10 - delish. I appreciated that her ideas were creative, fresh, and gourmet without the fuss. Green tea frozen yogurt, anyone?

Overall, this read provides a great way of looking at food in a different light. While there's lots of information to digest (ha), it's well-organized, and has some solid advice on maintaining your health and gorgeous self. It's true what they say. Garbage in, garbage out - and this one's not headed toward the disposal.