Hamburger Press

 

So you all know I’m the gadget queen, right?  So, when I saw this hamburger press, I was all over it like mayo on white.  It’s such a simple thing, but oh I do love this.  I use two sheets of wax paper sheets that I buy in a pack, one under the patty, one on top so it keeps the press clean, and you have perfectly formed patties every time.

Quit rolling your eyes, this thing is a game changer.  I make multiple patties at once to freeze or put in the fridge for another meal, it’s quick, fast and with the waxed paper, cleanup is easy breezy.  Don’t cheap out and not use the waxed paper, it would be a pain in the patootie to clean without them.

It’s not expensive, $20 and change, you spend that much for one meal at a fast food joint.  Just buy the darn thing, trust me, it’s so worth it.  ~ Jan

Here’s the link, go for it...

And here are the squares, it’s a big pack, they last a long time.  

Here’s the link for the squares

Parchment Paper Liners for Muffins

 

 I love all things to do with cooking, and I have a feeling I’m a little late to this parchment paper game, but last month when we were visiting Ryan and family, we went every morning for breakfast at The Dixie Diner, a great little restaurant not far from their house and every morning I had a Jumbo Blueberry Muffin (don’t judge me) in a parchment paper liner like this one above.  I was intrigued, the muffin didn’t adhere to the paper like it does with a regular muffin liner and it was so darn cute.  It’s all about the presentation for this old(er) girl.

So I did a little research and it’s a pretty simple thing to do.  For jumbo muffins or cupcakes you need 6” parchment paper squares and for regular sized muffins or cupcakes you need 5” squares. Now you could cut your own, but seriously, who wants to do that when you can buy them precut already.

If you want the tulip effect like the one above, it does take a little work, but they look so good they are totally worth it.

It’s pretty simple really, just pleat the muffin around an overturned glass the same size as the muffin tin and then plop them in the tins.  I suppose you could just pleat them inside the tin itself, but this is much easier.

You can buy these liners, bleached or unbleached.  I’ll do easy links for you below.  AND since yours truly, who buys everything kitchen related just realized that I don’t have jumbo muffin tins, I’m going to remedy that today by ordering them.  Oh, I am a sucker for Amazon Prime, but aren’t we all.

So, here are the links, happy baking, and now your muffins will look just like the ones in the bake shops. 😋
 

 

The ones I ate were in these unbleached liners, which looked great.  Here’s the link for the 5” ones

And the 6” ones, are actually marketed to use as squares between hamburger patties, which brings up a whole other subject that I will address in another post.

Here’s the link for the 6” ones

And now for those jumbo muffin pans, Wilton sells them on Amazon for $11.99 Prime.  Here’s the click

 

Whoosh Screen Cleaner

 

Fingerprints on your Smart Phone, smudges on your tablet, it’s a constant battle and manufacturers tell you not to use anything but water to clean them.  If you’re like me, you end up with oily, smeary screens most of the time.

I read about Whoosh on Flipboard and decided to try it.  Wow, does this stuff ever work.  It’s safe to use, cleans everything perfectly, gives your screens a glossy shine and helps protect from smudges coming back so quickly.  Whoosh had great reviews, it will last a long time and it’s definitely money well spent.  There are several sizes, I’ll give you a link and if you want a smaller size just scroll down and you will see several options.  This is a 4 Star product for sure!  ~ Jan

Here’s the Whoosh Link

If your hair is thinning, you need this!

Okay, sharing my very favorite finds from this past year.   Yeah, I’m a little late to the game, I keep forgetting (it’s age related) 🤨  We can’t be like Maxine and wear a ball cap, there has to be a better way, well there is and I found it!

First is dry shampoo.  This stuff is seriously, seriously awesome.  I first started using it last fall when I purchased Herbal Essence Dry Shampoo.  I was using it on day old, or two day old hair since I no longer shampoo my hair daily like I have all my life.  Shocking, isn’t it, but now that I’m older, it’s dryer, the texture is different and I just don’t have to.  When I started using dry shampoo  I immediately noticed my hair looked thicker and it smelled wonderful.  I have tons of hair in the back, it’s just the top and the sides that are thinning.  You know how it is, your part just keeps getting wider and wider.  And you think it’s hopeless, but it isn’t.  Read on...

We were on our way to Lexington to visit Ryan’s family and I realized I had left my Herbal Essence at home, so hubby took a quick detour, I ran into CVS and they didn’t have it.  So instead I grabbed a bottle of Beach Babe and it was a total game changer.

It smells like coconut, and at first it was overpowering, and like perfume, use it a few times and you barely notice it.  But using this dry shampoo gives you so much oomph, yep, thats the only way to describe it, your hair looks thicker and it has oomph.  I quickly went from using it the next day to using it on wet, freshly shampooed hair.  Then I dry it and I spray even more on it.  And wahlaa, no more limp straggly hair, I use a root booster first on my wet hair, then spray the front and sides liberally with Beach Babe and my first day hair looks decent, the next morning I spray again before styling and it looks even better.  The third day, spray again and it’s FANTASTIC!

This is the root booster I’ve been using, it’s a good one, I’ve tried a lot of them and when I use this with the dry shampoo I think it’s magic.  But wait, I forgot a step.  When my hair is freshly shampooed the first thing I do is to apply Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oi & Restore Leave-In Conditioner.   
 

I did a review of this, and here’s the link for you.   You might want to click on my link and watch Elle’s video, she explains it really well.  At first I only applied the Shea Moisture to my ends, thinking that if I put it all over it would make my hair flat like conditioner tends to do, but one day I took a walk on the wild side and applied it to the top of my hair and sides as well.  And it didn’t make it  flat at all, it just made it feel thicker.  After doing this I used the root booster and my holy grail Beach Babe Dry Shampoo and it looked even better than when I didn’t use it.  So now that’s the first thing I do, and I apply it liberally.  This Shea Moisture might not work for you if your hair is very fine, but if it isn’t, give it a try and see what you think.

I know, this is a lot of product to put in your hair, but it’s totally worth it.  Be realistic, this isn’t going to make your hair look like it did when you were young, but it will make what you do have look noticably thicker and not be limp and flat.  Hubby took a new Facebook picture of me yesterday, and you can see that the top of my hair doesn’t look too bad.  But if you could see my hair without any product in it, you would quickly understand what this does.  This is second day hair, I didn’t do much with it, just twisted it up, and also my hair is really long. Middle of my back long, and I debate daily as to whether or not to cut it.  I would never wear it down, I look like a hag, but it’s so quick and easy to just put it up and go, and it’s off my face,  I look at pictures of myself from five years ago when I had a bob and I realize that this makes me look older, it’s not trendy, but I am older now. And that bob with bangs didn’t look so great either, Abby would always tell me, “Grammie, your hair is floppy.”  Out of the mouths of babes...

These products are very inexpensive, you can purchase all of them for under $25.  If your hair is driving you crazy, too, give this a try, I bet it will work for you, too.  ~ Jan

Oh, links, I have links for you.

Beach Babe Dry Shampoo

John Frieda Root Booster

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave In Conditioner 

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Review

 

Is your bathroom cabinet like mine?  Is it filled with products that promise to be the latest and the greatest but do absolutely nothing for your hair?  Well, ladies you are in for a nice surprise with this inexpensive Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Smoothie.  This stuff really does add body, elasticity and moisture to your hair without weighing it down.  AND, it’s inexpensive, so it won’t break the bank to try it.

 

I learned about this on Elle Is For Living’s YouTube channel, and I’ll link her video below.  A word of caution though, tread lightly with this when you first use it, she uses a huge glob of it in her video and unless your hair is extremely dry you will end up with an oil slick like someone who shall remain nameless did 😳 A little dab’ll do ya to begin with.  I also use it between shampoos on the ends of my hair, this is something I will purchase again and again.

 

Grab it on Amazon here -  it’s a large container and it’s under $11.  You can’t beat that and it smells good, too.  It has over 1800 reviews, and the majority are excellent.

 

And now for Elle’s video, the lady knows what she’s talking about, just be careful with the amount you use until you find your rhythm with this.

 

Does your Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Have Clumps???

 

I’m a big fan of anything that’s 25 calories, and this Swiss Miss Coca Mix works for me.  Sometimes I add a splash of vanilla, sometimes a grating of nutmeg, a few mini marshmallows, and it soothes the soul.  The problem with instant hot chocolate is the clumps.  Oh, the clumps, I whisk, I stir, and I always end up straining it and by the time I drink it, I’m frustrated!   So much for soothing the soul with a hot relaxing cup of hot chocolate!  But now I have a fix for those annoying clumps, it cost me $15 and was worth every penny.

It’s a frother, for me it was the Bean Envy Handheld.  I ordered this bad boy on Amazon and it’s a game changer.  It works so well, every single clump disappears and you are left with silky smooth hot chocolate.  Of course you can use it to froth milk and make those fancy pants latte’s with the cute little designs too.

And never, ever ever, ever under any circumstances turn it on until it’s fully immersed in the cup of hot water and cocoa mix or you will have a mess!  How do I know this?  It should be obvious, right?  Uhhhh, let’s just say, not always… :-( 

I’m a researcher, I love to research products and this one gave me the most bang for my buck.  It’s battery operated so it has no cord, it has a powerful little motor, it has a stand, so you can sit it on the counter instead of losing it somewhere in the vast recesses of a drawer and it looks good.  That’s important you know, it has to look good. ;-)  I never use more than 6 oz. of water, I don’t like weak hot chocolate, and I use the hot water brewer on my pod coffee maker to do it quickly.  I said “pod coffee maker” instead of Keurig because mine is a Cuisinart actually I think it’s the third one I’ve had because they keep conking out.  But when this one bites the dust, and it will, I think I’m going to switch to a Keurig.  Didn’t you want to know that?  Quit rolling your eyes, I know I’m being talky...

Okay back to the frother, you want one, too???  Of course you do.  Here’s the link, good ole’ Amazon Prime 

Now, do you also want to know how to make those fancy pants designs.  Um hmmmm, yep, you got it, here’s a video. 

Want even more how to make latte art videos - here’s the link - enjoy...

Now go, order this gadget, colder weather is coming, ’tis the season for hot drinks and Happy Frothing.  ~ Jan

 

 

 

Citi Cash Rewind

 We just got back $499 from Citi Cash Rewind!!!!

We’ve had a 2% cash back Citi Double Cash Back Card for a couple of years now.  We like it because there is no cap, you get 1% on anything you purchase and another 1% when you pay the bill.  We put everything on it, monthly expenses, utility bills, insurance, we use it instead of a debit card and pay it off at the end of the month and the cash back adds up really fast.

But the best part is the Price Rewind, if you buy something using your card and find it cheaper within 90 days, you mail them proof of purchase and they give you the cash back.

Hubby found these red garage cabinets, they were exactly what they wanted but they were sold out online EVERYWHERE.  You could get them in grey, but not in red.  I called the factory, talked with their sales rep, he checked his computer and told me the only place that had stock in the USA was Menards, and since LC is not known for his patience, he didn’t wait to see if anybody had a better price when the red was restocked, he went ahead and bought them.  $1499, free shipping, no tax.  BUT,  he had seen them online at Costco earlier for $999, same exact cabinets, but of course you couldn’t get them, they were sold out.  So I kept watching Costco and sure enough, they popped up for sale again for $999 a few weeks ago.  So I sent all the necessary documentation to Citi Cash Rewind Department via the post office, registered mail, called them a couple of times to make sure the order was being processed and a couple of days ago, our account was credited for $499.

That’s a chunka change, and you can do this with anything you buy using their credit card.

Just a heads up, who doesn’t love a good deal and this is definitely one . good . deal !

Here is a link if you’re interested in their card

And here is the Costco link for the cabinets

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, and remember it’s not about the picnic...

~ Jan

85% of All Women Wear Wrong Bra Size

 

Do your boobs hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Chances are they do if you’re of a certain age and a full figured girl —eight out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra!  When you actually know your exact size if you're a busty lady, trust me it’s a humbling experience.

I just read an article about this today, and it jogged my memory because I’ve meant to blog about this for some time now.  

Here’s what works for me, Wacoal Underwire Sports Bras.  They’re a little pricey and they aren’t pretty but they hoist the girls, you won’t sag and you won’t bounce.  When you first put a new one on, it’s quite a feat, you will think this will never work because they are tight and unyielding.  But don’t give up, once they’re on, they aren’t really uncomfortable, just feel a little snug, and after a few wears they relax.

If you don’t know your size, and trust me, you probably really don’t, go to your local department store for a measurement or use Wacoal’s guide.  Just don’t faint when you realize what size you really wear, we are all in denial.   Wacoal makes more than one style of sports bra, but this one is the holy grail, it works better than anything I’ve ever found.

It’s a good idea to buy your first one from Nordstroms, free shipping, free returns, and I do find them new on eBay for less money, but whatever you pay if you don’t go around with your tata’s hanging to your waist and flopping in the breeze, it’s worth it.  Pinky swear it is.  ~ Jan

Here’s the Nordstrom’s link for you...

Style Stick

 

No more gaping blouses, collars that stay down, temporary hemming your pants, all using this water soluble glue stick - isn’t this a great idea?  I saw this on People Magazine this morning, and found this video on QVC.

This product is not available right now on QVC, but you can get it from Joyus.

Two sticks are $22, it doesn’t break the bank, and no more gaping blouses.  Whoohoo, works for me.

Here’s the link, this looks like a winner...

S'well Bottle Review

Okay, 

Okay, I did it, after contemplating over this for weeks, I coughed up the big bucks and bought this water bottle.  It was $35, way beyond my threshold of pain for a water bottle, but I have four friends that have it and it’s a hit with them, so I jumped on the band wagon, too.

S’well’s claim to fame is that it keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours, and hot drinks hot for 12 hours.  And does it, yep, sure does.  If I put ice in one morning and don’t drink it all, it still has ice the next morning.

But, who doesn’t drink it all in one day, I refill it multiple times, and since I’m not a water drinker, I squirt liquid flavor enhancer in it.  My brand of choice is Crystal Light Liquid, favorite flavor seems to be Strawberry Lemonade.  I’ve tried them all and like them, but I reach for the Strawberry Lemonade more than the others.  I started with Mio, they’re both made by Kraft, the hype is Crystal Light appeals to the older generation, Mio, the younger.  Need I say more...

So once I made the monumental decision to spend $35 on a water bottle, for some reason that price just seemed excessive, next came color choice.  I got opinions from my girlfriends, waffled back and forth between this color, Blue DenimOpal Marble and Lily Wood were all in the running.  The problem is that they have a badzillion fifty-seven choices.  I finally decided on Birds of Paradise, pretty melon color, catchy name, I ordered it (free shipping, no tax) it arrived, I took it out of the box and whoa doggies, was it ever bright.  NEON MELON DAY GLO BRIGHT.  I was horrified at first and was going to return it for a more subdued color, but then I realized I was just being silly and the color is now growing on me.  It is definitely a summer color!

Would I purchase it if I had to do over?  Sure I would, I’m a bells and whistles girl and this meets all the necessary requirements.  In fact, I’m such a fan I’m thinking of ordering hubby one in Teak Woodgrain.  So that would be $70 dollars for two water bottles.  I just won’t think about the cost, seriously, it’s well worth the money, I’m a huge fan.

You interested?  Here’s the click, go for it, see if you can decide which color you want. :)

Sharing the Good Stuff

 

 

Sometimes I’m a little late to the party, but thanks to the ladies of YouTube, I’m finding all sorts of things I’ve never tried before.  Case in point is this e.l.f. Smudge Brush from Target or e.l.f. online. It’s the best eyeliner brush I’ve ever used.  I was always a fan of the pricey little MAC angle brush, but this one beats it hands down.  It’s stubby, stiff, and it not only lines my eyes, but smudges and softens at the same time.  And the cost of this bad boy, $.99, yes, that’s right ninety-nine cents.  Crazy cheap, huh….

 

But I’m not finished yet.  See these baby wipes, they’re from Aldi’s and a pack of 72 costs $.85.  Yep, that’s right eighty-five cents.  You may be thinking that I’m using these to remove makeup, nope, I use baby oil on a warm washcloth for that, Martha Stewart shared that tip, but I may give these a try.  What I use them for is to clean my hands while I’m putting on makeup.  I always have foundation all over my hands, which transfers to drawers, door frames, you name it, I seem to smear it everywhere.  Sometimes I keep a wet washcloth at my makeup table, but I’m old(er), I forget and don’t want to get up and get the washcloth, so I wipe my hands on a Kleenex and that obviously doesn’t work.  But these do work, really well, and they’re in a little flexible pouch, handy dandy, right next to my makeup, unreal that they cost just a little over a penney each.  Great deals, huh...

I’m normally not this cheap, we don’t even want to discuss the pricey water bottle I’m going to buy if I can ever decide on the color, but that’s for another blog entry.  Just sharing the good stuff with you, that e.l.f. brush is so awesome and to think that I paid $32 for that MAC brush that doesn’t work nearly as well, and I bought two of them over the years.  Silly me…

I also just paid $3.50 + free shipping on eBay for a blush brush that Elle is for Living on YouTube recommended.  I’ll let you know about that if it’s a goodie.  Oh, I got another one, too, same brush they sell at Ulta, this little tip was from Hot and Flashy on YouTube, and I got it for under $5.00, too.  It's a big fluffy brush for loose powder, just waiting for both of these to arrive in the mail.  I also bought a great set of brushes for $25 to travel with, higher end than e.l.f. and they’re wonderful - I’ll tell you all about these products soon.

Here’s the link to the e.l.f. brush, I’m very surprised at all of their products, I’ve always been such a snob, thinking that you have to pay a lot of money for these things, but boy did those women ever enlighten me.  You wouldn’t think e.l.f. brushes could be good because they’re so inexpensive, but they are.  Lots and lots of videos on YouTube about e.l.f. products.  When you register, you get free shipping on your first order, you can get quite a haul for $20 with on their website.  Enjoy ~ Jan

http://www.elfcosmetics.com/p/smudge-brush

Sunbeam Faux Leopard Heating Pad

This thing is just simply amazing.  Trust me, it’s wonderful.  

I was at my friend, Angi’s house and she has one, she draped it over my shoulders and I was hooked.  Oh, how do I explain how great this is.  Well first of all, it’s pretty, it’s doesn’t scream old lady heating pad.  It has 4 heat settings, turns off after 2 hours, you can put it over your shoulders, you can lay it vertically on your back, you can wrap it around your legs, lay it on your lap, need I say more?  Are you sold, too?

It’s so snuggly warm when you’re sitting in a chair watching tv or reading.  It soothes those tense muscles, it’s just the best thing I’ve had in a long time.  The price - $37.95 Amazon Prime and worth every . single . penny !

Christmas is coming, I’m sure somebody you love would enjoy this heating pad.  Give it to your mother, your grandmother, an aunt, a friend,  trust me whoever you give this to will love it!  You can thank me later.

Click here for the link

Angi’s is grey fox, but the only one they’re showing on Amazon is from a third party seller, it’s not Prime and it’s $81.68  No, no, no, that’s too spendy, but I’ll give you the link, surely you can find it cheaper.

Click for the link here

And finally, it’s also available in micro plush brown.  Kinda boring, compared to the others, but hey, whatever floats your boat.  It’s a bit cheaper.

Here’s the link for it

Treat yourself, spend a little of your stashed mad money and go for it.  You won’t be disappointed, pinky swear you won’t.  ~ Jan

Gardener's Supply Deep Seat Garden Kneeler

 

Spring has sprung in Evansville and the warmer temps last weekend made me realize that I really needed a new garden kneeler.  My old one bit the dust, last year I used a bucket and it was quite a feat getting on and off the darned thing.

This isn’t my first rodeo with garden kneelers, some have wheels, which are good in theory but they don’t work in flower beds and they roll when you’re just trying to rock, so that was out.  My last one was too narrow, it wasn’t stable and easy to tip over, and yes of course I tipped the darned thing over, more than once I might add.

So I did the research online and was instantly smitten with this bright purple beauty.  It’s from a reputable company, and best of all it’s deep seated, which is perfect for the mature derriere, oh for Pete’s sake Jan get real, it accommodates big butts!  And best of all it’s purple, bright, vivid, glorious purple!!!

So I ordered it Sunday evening, it arrived today, folded into a cardboard box with no assembly required.  Whoa doggies, hubby was excited about that.  

It’s perfect, it really is, it’s nice and wide and stable, easy to get on and off of, and I also coughed up an additional $10.99 for the pouch that slips over one side to hold my gardening tools.  

Of course the cart is available in green, but why would anybody want green when they can have purple!

And the cost, not bad,  $49.95, plus $10.95 for the tool pouch, plus shipping.

And in retrospect I probably should have ordered their gloves, too.  Gardener’s Supply Company’s online catalog is just chocked full of amazing things, I have a feeling I’ll be ordering those gloves plus a few other necessities.

Okay all of you gardeners, I can see your wheels turning.  I know you like this spiffy purple cart, too.

Here are the links, go for it!  Just cruise their whole site, you’re gonna love this!

Deep Seated Garden Kneeler

Deep Seated Tool Pouch

Nitrile Gloves

And then there are the purple clogs.  Overkill, Jan, o.v.e.r.k.i.l.l, I don’t need purple clogs to match my purple cart.  Just fuggedabout it….

But you might like them, they come in lots of colors, too.

Here’s the link

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

Thinning brows, just another problem for old(er) women.  I’ve been a fan of Anastasia products for awhile now, and have regularly used their Brow Wiz pictured below.  It’s a great product, a retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end, it’s worked well for me.  

But I do like to try other products so I bought this Dipbrow Pomade ($18) at Ulta even though I was skeptical because it’s kind of a gooey consistency.  It wasn’t love at first try, either and I didn’t cough up the money for their brush/spoolie combo.  I already had a spoolie on the end of my Brow Wiz, and I had a thin angle brush, in other words, I cheaped out!  Well, that other angle brush didn’t work for so well, and after a few tries I was starting to get the knack of using the pomade, so I coughed up another $18 for the darned brush.  So worth it, if you’re going to do this, buy the brush!

 

I’ve used it for a few weeks now, and really like it.  The trick is to use it lightly and brush it out with the spoolie after you put it on.  What’s the big attraction?  It fills in your brows really well, looks good and it stays on all day.  I finish it off with Anastasia Clear Gel Brow Gel to keep everything in place, and I’m good to go.

If you think you might be interested, watch this video, this girl explains how to use it perfectly.  The only con I’ve found is that the blonde shade is dark.  I wish it went more toward golden blonde instead of brown, but it doesn’t so I deal with it.  If you try it, just give yourself some time, it’s a bit of a learning curve.  I think I’m making it sound harder than it really is, the trick is to have a light touch.

It’s a good product, I will buy it again, probably not for a really long time, though because you use so little of this it will last forever.  Watch the video, see if it’s for you, it really is a good thing.  ~ Jan

 

The Pioneer Woman's New Product Line

 

Ree is in Chicago at the Housewares Show. and this is her booth showcasing her new product line.  I’ve pointed arrows at some of my faves.  The Charlie the Cookie jar is a winner, also love the polka dot mixing bowl, the ramekins, just look at the arrows, you will get the idea.

I just bought the cow pitcher in a robin’s egg blue when we were in Franklin, TN. I’m sure there are other goodies in here as well, I need to zoom the image and check it out further. 

Here is her cookware line.  I’m a fan of the flowered covered casserole top left under the horses.  And I love her cast iron dutch oven with her signature butterfly on the lid.  Oh, the possibilities...

So here’s a first look Pioneer Woman fans, the line is debuting in stores this fall.  I’m sure you all can find a few goodies you like, as well...

Photo Source: Facebook

Pioneer Woman's Kitchen, Cooking & Dinnerware Products

 

 

Pioneer Woman’s new kitchen line debuts soon, how exciting is this?  Well it is, quit rolling your eyes!  I’ve always been such a fan of Ree Drummond, and yes, I know, I have enough kitchen products to last me beyond this lifetime.  But how will I be able to resist snapping up some a lot of her goodies.

Well, I won’t resist, I just won’t.  I’ll be at the head of the line!  That is all.  ~ Jan

Beauty Blender, is it really worth $20

 

You bet your bootie it is!  It’s worth every penny.  If you’re not familiar with a Beauty Blender, it’s a makeup sponge, and you’re thinking, "Jan, you’ve lost your mind, no way am I going to pay $20 for a little pink egg sponge."  Okay, hang onto that $20 but you’re missing out on something really great, you know I always share the good stuff, and trust me, this one is a winner!

 

I researched this extensively, cause that’s what I do, the majority of the reviewers say to not even try buying a knock-off, the foam isn’t the same, the knock-offs are hard and stiff and don’t absorb the makeup like the Beauty Blender, so you don’t get the same results.  C’mon ladies, it’s like going through Starbucks four times, just cough up the money for this.

 

What it doesn’t do is turn back time.  There is no way that we are going to take our aging skin and make it look young again.  You still have the sags, the wrinkles, oh aren’t I Miss Merry Sunshine this morning.  But what the Beauty Blender does is blend your makeup flawlessly.  I’m attaching Kandee’s video below, I did just what she did.  Got it wet, squeezed it dry with a towel and got started.  The only thing I didn’t do was apply the foundation directly to the Blender, I think you get more control by putting it in your palm and then dabbing the blender in it.

 

So I stippled on my foundation like she did in the video, wow, it did to go on smoothly, just like she said, no lines of demarcation, no unevenness, it worked amazingly well.  But did I quit, oh heck no, I just kept going.  I dabbed my concealer in it, put it on, went on smooth as silk, then I dabbed my loose powder in it and did the same.  And I still kept going, I used it to apply my powder blush and I actually dabbed it in my beloved MAC eyeshadow and applied my eyeshadow with it.   Smooth, smooth, smooth, totally blended, easy, fast, it’s a winner.  This thing rocks!  I didn’t spend more money for their cleanser, I just used baby shampoo to rinse it in, and yep, it immediately stains, but  who cares.  The reviewers also say it works great to rinse it in Dawn Dishwashing Liquid.  They also sell it in white and red.  White, I don’t think so, and I’m not a fan of red, pink works for me.

 

This thing is a staple from now on for this old makeup junkie.  Do you want one and not leave your house?  Get it from Nordstroms, free shipping, it will arrive in a few days.  Why not Amazon?  Because reviewers say that sometimes they are knock-offs from Amazon, and I didn’t want to chance it.  I didn’t want to wait, so I got mine at Sephora, don’t try Ulta, they don’t have it. But it’s a cold day,  it’s snowy, it’s winter, just order the darn thing.  You can get it from Beauty Blender’s site, too, but they don’t have free ship like Nordie’s does.

 

Here’s the click to order, take a deep breath, fork over $20 for a sponge that’s hideously overpriced and you too can have flawless makeup.  Some things are just worth the money.  Know what I mean, Vern...

 

Oh, you can email me and thank me after you buy it, you’re gonna love this one, trust me.  ~ Jan

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Galloping Gourmet Spurtle

 

 

Do you need a laugh today?  If so, read on and be sure and watch the videos.  Guaranteed giggles.  Pinky swear...

Does anybody remember this blast from the past?  I’ve always been a foodie and back in the early 1970’s, Graham Kerr’s tv show “The Galloping Gourmet” started the trend, he was the first cooking show I ever watched.

He was this goofy English guy who cooked food that I would never make, but he did have great wooden kitchen spoons that he called “Spurtles.”  They even gave them away in cereal boxes, but I bought a set of them from an address he posted on his show. They’ve always been my favorite kitchen tools and they’re still going strong all these years later.

Pictured above is my collection, and yes I use that Bakelite Grease Jar.  I low carb, I always have bacon grease.  I’m going back to my roots, people, my mother always had a jar of bacon grease next to her stove, I bet yours did, too.

But back to the Spurtles.  I’ve picked up additional sets and individual pieces when they’ve been available on eBay through the years and now have quite a collection.  Some of them have holes in them, some are shorter, some are angled,one is a spatula,  but the traditional Spurtle is the one I use over and over again.  It’s the long one with a curved bottom and straight side.   They all have the GG Emblem burnt into the handles and they’re my treasures, I’ve used them daily since the 70’s.

If you do nothing else today, click and watch this video below, and if it doesn’t make you laugh until tears roll down your cheeks, something is seriously wrong with you.

Oh, The Galloping Gourmet, he was one of a kind, there were no retakes on this old television show, they were taped before a live audience and what you see is what you got.  Funniest thing I’ve seen in ages.

And then I found this other video of a lady demonstrating her Spurtle.  She’s a little, ummmm “odd”  and she totally cracked me up just watching her.  She’s very passionate about her Spurtle, but she does a fair job of explaining how it works.  Oh, my, the things you find on YouTube.

 And finally, if all this talk of spurtles is making you think you have missed out all of these years, you can still get one.  Not the original, but this guy on Etsy has copied the design and is selling them for $20.  

Here’s the click, I would so invest $20 in one of these if didn’t have my original collection.  What’s so good about them other than nostalgia?  They are just designed so well, they have a curved bottom that gets in the corners, a straight edge that cleanly stirs sides of pots.  Oh, just buy the damn thing, trust me it’s a good thing.  ~ Jan

One Cup Coffeemaker Review

 

 Yesterday morning hubby announced that my Cuisinart SS-700 Single Serve Coffeemaker was officially kaput.  He took it apart, blew out all the lines, cleaned the filters, it was the pump, it was dead, Fred!  My gut reaction was to go screaming through the streets, because this is the 3rd Cuisinart SS-700 that has bit the dust.  That’s right, the third!!!  The first two broke within a short window and Kohl’s replaced them, this one has been chugging along since 2012, and research says that the life of these machines is about three years, I guess it was time.

So yesterday I was on a mission.   I had a $55 credit at Kohl’s, and a 30% off coupon, but they had jacked the price on the SS-700’s up to $269 and it was only available in black, they no longer carry it in silver.  Well, black + yours truly = disaster.  I detest black appliances, they show spots and I’ve got better things to do than wash the darn thing daily.  That’s why I went to K-Cups in the first place, convenience and no clean-up except for sporadic maintenance.  So Kohl’s was out, I’ll just use that $55 credit for some new jeans.

Now being the logo queen that I am, I did go to Starbucks and check out their Vessimo.  After all they have a retro one that is pretty cute!

It also makes expresso and latte’s, but that’s where the wow factor ends.  Here’s the cons:

• It has a 33 ounce water storage capacity.  My Cuisinart has an 80 ounce, resulting in almost three times less to fill the tank than the Vessimo.
• It only uses Starbucks pods.  They don’t have a large selection, and here’s the worse part, the darn things are $.99 each.  That’ way more spendy than buying my favorite Green Mountain Breakfast Blend at Sams in the bulk.  I don’t want to spend a dollar for every cup of coffee I make at home.
• It only says Vessimo on the top, nowhere does it say Starbucks.  Now this is the deal breaker, I know, I know, it’s ridiciulous and I’m just kidding, well, sorta.  I talked to their customer service rep yesterday and informed them that they need to come out with a white unit with the retro Starbucks Logo plastered on the side.  Now how cool would that be?  I would be all over that in a New York minute! She was probably laughing her rear off when she hung up the phone, but I just had to throw that out there, being the mouthy old(er) broad that I am.

Next is the Keurig.  Now I don’t want to offend anyone, probably 99% of people who read this and have K-Cup coffeemakers have a Keurig.  And they’re really good units, they really are.  But for some reason they don’t appeal to me, it’s all about the appearance.

It’s not a bad looking brewer, but it’s too futuristic looking for my taste.  And yes, I know it comes in red, but it just doesn’t ring my chimes.  Just a matter of taste.   Keurig’s look great in other people’s kitchens, they’re just not for me.

And now for the not so trustworthy Cuisinart.

I’m sure a lot of you think the Cuisinart is ugly, but for me it’s the best option, there aren’t a lot to choose from.  And it’s familiar, I like the look of it, the square lines instead of being round, and most of all I like the color and the backlighting.  I like how it makes a cup of coffee faster than the Keurig, too.  I just don’t like the fact that it’s undependable.  But doing my research, I’m finding that none of them are that reliable.  And it’s been a few years now, hopefully they are doing a better job with them.  

The price for the 80 oz. Keurig and the 80 oz. Cuisinart is pretty much the same, they’re both top of the line, so you’re gonna pay too much for them.  But that’s what you have to do to get that 80 ounce reservoir.  And where did I find the best price, good old Amazon Prime of course, $184.42.  Ouch, it’s spendy but it’s a must have.  I’m drinking a cup of leftover Starbucks from yesterday this morning and it just isn’t cutting it.  One more day and this little beauty will arrive in Heavensville, and will be plugged in and brewing a great cuppa joe.

So now I’ll go on to my next rant, I’m sure I have one.  I know you can’t wait...

Antique Farmhouse Cow Print

I found this on Antique Farmhouse today.  It’s a reproduction of a vintage 1899 print by F. E. Wright, and I thought Clover was a bit lonely a needed some friends.

So I scooped it up, price was right, it’s either gonna be a hit or a miss.  It will be here in a few weeks, I’ll update.  

Seems that my kitchen and dining room are turning into a virtual barnyard.  Now if hubby could just find our old cow bell in the attic to put around Clover’s head...

Does it ring your chimes, too?  Probably not, but here’s the click just in case.  ~ Think Spring!!  ~ Jan