Best dishwasher detergent

I became concerned some time ago that my dishes always have a film of soap/residue on them when I unload the dishwasher.  Not sure I want to be eating that?

I am using this recipe to make my own and I like it 200% better.  The dishes come out squeaky clean and it costs much less than buying Cascade.

Ingredients in Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Your environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent is going to have four main ingredients.

– Washing Soda—This stuff has been around forever. It is a natural substance, made from salt and limestone. Scientifically it is known as sodium carbonate. It cuts grease on anything and can be used for many (if not most) of the cleaning projects in your home. Arm and Hammer puts it out in the United States. If you can’t find it at your grocers you can find it on Amazon and other places online.

– Borax—Borax occurs naturally in the environment and can be mined as well as created in a lab. It is toxic in concentrated amounts, and you should keep it out of the reach of children. You can find it by the laundry detergent; Borateem is one brand.

– Kosher Salt—Kosher salt is a pure salt. I use it for cooking because the food tastes cleaner. I have also used regular salt, when I was out of the kosher salt.

– Citric acid—You can buy food grade citric acid like Fruit Fresh.  You can also use unsweetened lemonade packets (like Crystal Light); the main ingredient is citric acid.

– 1 T rice (prevents clumping)

Recipe for Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

– 1 cup Washing soda

– 1 cup Borax

– ½ cup salt

– ½ cup citric acid

Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add white vinegar to the rinse dispenser as a substitute for rinse agent.

My fav new car – Fiat Gucci edition

The only thing better than one iconic Italian brand is the pairing of two stylish companies, which is why fashionistas and car lovers are both buzzing about the new Gucci editions of the Fiat 500.

The first release of Fiat 500 in the United States and Canada on 1 April sold out almost immediately, so the fashionable partnership is expecting to be well-received.

“Traveling in style has also been at the heart of Gucci ever since Guccio Gucci founded his company as a producer of leather trunks, suitcases and handbags in 1921. So … it struck me as a perfect opportunity to create a new modern travel statement in Gucci’s 90th anniversary year,” explained Creative Director of Gucci, Frida Giannini.

The Gucci models will be available in black or white, and include the brand’s signature stripe of green and red down the side of the car or along the convertible roof. The seatbelts will have the same green-and red design, while the hubcabs will contain Gucci’s interlocking Gs logo.

Priced at around $23k.  Amazing!

Spirit Airlines Sale

Are there similar sales in other cities?

DALLAS–APRIL 03, 2012– For the next 96 hours, Spirit
Airlines is cutting nonstop fares from Dallas/Fort Worth to
popular cities for spring and fall travel. This sale
includes flights to Phoenix for $48.79 each way, including
tax — the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this route.

Sale prices are available most Tuesdays and Wednesdays,
April 10 – May 22 and Sept. 5 – Oct. 31. Each-way fares from
Dallas, including tax, are:

– Phoenix (Mesa) … $48.79
– Fort Lauderdale … $48.79 in April ($88.79 other dates)
– Las Vegas … $88.79

In addition, prices are also discounted for just the fall
travel window to the following cities, each-way, including
tax:

– Chicago … $75.79
– Boston … $78.79
– New York … $98.79

These prices knock as much as $350 off fares by competing
airlines even when factoring in Spirit’s additional fees of
$30-$45 per carry-on bag.

Click the link below to book with Spirit Airlines. Note:
Fares are based on roundtrip purchase. Sale ends at 10:59
p.m. CT Friday, April 6. (Fort Lauderdale April fares must
be booked by 10:59 p.m. CT April 4.)
http://www.travelzoo.com/newsflash/90314558-1214712/

Note: Today, Spirit also announced new service to San Diego
and Detroit from DFW, offering introductory fares from $29
each way, including tax, on select June and September dates.
Use the link above to search for fares.

Buying organic – EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce

My boyfriend buys most things organic.  But I shriek when I get to the register and see the bill for organic items.  So, I try to pick and choose what I buy organic.   The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list every year of the worst offenders as well as the cleanest fruits & veggies.  You can lower your pesticide intake substantially by buying organic for  the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables.  An example – celery tested positive for 57 different pesticides.

These are the Dirty Dozen.  You should consider buying these organic:

• Apples
• Celery
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Nectarines (imported)
• Grapes – imported
• Sweet bell peppers
• Potatoes
• Blueberries (domestic)
• Lettuce
• Kale/collard greens

These are the Clean 15 and tested lowest in pesticides.
I buy these in the regular grocery section.

• Onions
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Sweet peas
• Mangoes
• Eggplant
• Cantaloupe 
- domestic
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Watermelon
1
• Sweet potatoes
• Grapefruit
• Mushrooms

Saving Money for Better Things

This post details how I’m changing how I watch television – goodbye cable bill!

1) I am streaming TV thru the Roku LT – cost, $50 ( I used my Amazon Visa rewards points, so did not actually cost me anything).

CNET reviewed the Roku 5 days ago and here is their summary:

The Roku LT earned our Editors’ Choice Award for two major reasons: price and content. Roku’s $50 streaming box has a truly impressive lineup of content, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Pandora, HBO Go, MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter, Epix, Crackle, Picasa, Flicker, Mog, Rdio, TED Talks, Revision3, TWiT.TV, NASA, and CNET. You can see a full list on Roku’s site, and the company has been aggressive about continually adding more content sources. YouTube is strangely missing from that list.

All of the content sources are great, but the Roku LT also gets many of the little things right that competing products don’t. The user interface may be a little bland, but it’s simple and easy to navigate, plus you can customize the layout of the channels. The same goes for the remote, which keeps only the essential buttons. (Roku’s remote now includes direct-access buttons for Netflix, Pandora, and Crackle.) The separate Channel Store is also a great way to offer a ton of content from partners without cluttering the main home screen.

Roku also offers several pricier models, but we think the Roku LT is easily the best value. The core streaming functionality is what makes Roku great, so most buyers don’t need to pay extra for a Bluetooth remote, microSD card slot, or USB port.If your main goal is to stream video and music from a ton of high-quality content sources, there’s no better value than the Roku LT.

2) I have a subscription to Hulu Plus (less than $9 a month) and to Amazon Prime ($79 per year; includes streaming TV/movies & ebooks).

3) I bought a HDTV indoor TV antenna – Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception.  It’s $38.79 on Amazon (I used my Amazon Visa reward points for this too) and it ships free with 2-day delivery … another perk of the Amazon Prime membership.  It has received 1582 reviews and a 4-star rating.

It’s small in size (inconspicuous) and will allow me to view all local TV free.  To see what stations you should be able to get with the antenna in your area, go to http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps.

I absolutely hate paying for cable and this will net me about $600 the first year (due to equipment purchases) and a higher amount in year two.  Hmmm … I wonder what shoes Valentino has put out for Spring.

The Beauty Oscars

With the Oscars coming up on Sunday, it got me thinking about the Oscars of the beauty world.  I hate to spend money on something that isn’t very good, and I rely on several sources for product recommendations.  People often ask me, “Where do you find about about all of these products?”  These are my favorite sources:

• Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) Beauty Awards www.cew.org
• InStyle Magazine’s Best Beauty Buys www.instyle.com
• Allure Magazines Best of Beauty Awards www.allure.com
• Makeup Alley website – If 600 people reviewed a product and gave it 4-5 stars, you can be pretty certain it’s a buy. (www.makeupalley.com; click on product reviews)

Some of my favorite products I’ve found thru these sources:

• CeraVe cleanser – has both peptides and hyaluronic acid to add moisture to the skin and is less than $10
• Burt’s Bees cuticle cream – has been one of my favorite nail products for years.  I keep it at my desk and apply daily.
• L’Oreal Voluminous mascara – It is great on the budget and is great for anyone who needs volume for their eyelashes (i.e. too thin).
• Garnier Fructis anti-puff eye roller – really gets rid of puffiness with caffeine and other ingredients.
• Sonia Kashuk brightening powder – adds a nice radiance to the skin and makes you look instantly better
• Laura Mercier radiance primer – really does what it says – adds a radiance to your complexion that you might not normally have.
• Sephora foundation brush #55 – gives you a flawless airbrushed finish to your foundation – no obvious lines or uneven finish.
• Cover Girl & Olay Positively Ageless corrector – the yellow toned corrector minimizes dark circles prior to applying your concealer.

Saving Money for Better Things

Today’s Groupon is a great deal.  For the Dallas market, the regular ticket price is $12 per ticket and the matinee price is $9.00 per ticket, so you get a nice savings either way.

AMC Theatres – Up to Half Off Movie Tickets AMC Theatres Location: Online Deal Our Promise To You If the experience using your Groupon ever lets you down, we’ll make it right or return your purchase. Simple as that. Movies are one of three things that keep people awake in the dark, the other two being boogeymen and debates about which pet to include in the inheritance. Keep eyes and ears open with today’s Groupon to any one of AMC Theatres’ locations nationwide. Choose between the following options: For $12, you get two AMC Silver Experience movie tickets (up to a $24 value). For $24, you get four AMC Silver Experience movie tickets (up to a $48 value).

homemade cleaning products

I read recently that everyone should set a goal for 2012 for how they will be more green.  I have decided to experiment with making some of my own cleaning products.  Some of my favorites I’ve found so far:

Carpet Freshener

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup cornstarch (improve the mixing of the essential oils)
• 15 drops pine essential oil
• 15 drops lavender essential oil

Shake to mix the ingredients and let sit overnight before using it.

When ready to use, sprinkle the mix over your carpet, let sit for about 20 minutes, then vacuum.

Bathroom Cleaner (countertops)

• 2 oz white vinegar
• 2 oz distilled water
• 8 drops cinnamon bark oil
• 10 drops lemon oil
• 8 drops cloves

Mix in a spray bottle and use on bathroom countertops.

Furniture Polish

• 1/2 oz white vinegar
• 12-15 drops orange or lemon oil
• Olive oil, to fill 2 oz container

Mix the 3 ingredients in a 2 oz container and use on wood furniture.

Cleaning Blend

• 20 drops eucalyptus oil
• 10 drops lemon oil
• 20 drops tea tree oil
• 1 oz white vinegar
• 3 oz distilled water

Mix in a spray bottle and use on kitchen sinks/countertops.

Saving money for better things

According to Clark Howard (Living Large in Lean Times), if you blow dry your shaving cartridge dry after you use it, it will last a very long time.  One reader reported using a single cartridge for a year!  Apparently, it is not the use of the razor that wears it out, but the moisture.  I’m going to try it and will let you know the results.

While I have tried many more expensive department store products, my favorite facial mask continues to be Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Mask.  It deep cleans and exfoliates without drying my skin out at all.  Best of all, it’s less than $4 at Sally Beauty Supply and some drugstores.

Go to Product Reviews on Makeup Alley’s website to see the review:  3500 people have rated it, the average score is 4.1 out of 5.0, and 81% said they will buy it again.