Tips on Tuesday - The perfect Christmas Lunch!

Hello again girls

Well here we are at that magical time of year again. The countdown has officially began to your Christmas dinner, so it is time to get planning!! 

1. So the number one key to the perfect Christmas meal is planning!! Sit down with your books and decide what culinary delights will be on the menu this year. To keep things interesting, mix some new recipes in with your trusty old traditional dishes ones. Maybe try a new starter or a new side dish. But remember, Keep it Simple, the last thing you want is to spend all Christmas morning slaving in the kitchen!!!
2. Make sure you get loads of help. It is Christmas time, the house is full of people that should be able to peel a potato, so make sure you delegate any jobs you can.
3. OK, so it is Christmas Eve, the menu is planned and the shopping is done. It is time to pour yourself a glass of Baily's and start the prep work for tomorrows feast. Prepare any food you can in advance, peel the vegetables and leave them soaking overnight in water, prepare the stuffing (it will taste better the next day anyway) and remember to leave your turkey at room temperature overnight ( this will reduce the cooking time, leaving you time to enjoy a glass of ANYTHING before dinner).
4. Lay the table the night before, so everything is ready to go for the big event. Remember to set the plates with a small treat such as walnut whirls yum! this makes the table setting look super special.
5. Make sure you are cooking recipes you have tried out and are comfortable with the timings. Timing is the second key ingredient to a perfect Christmas dinner, the last thing you want is your veggies getting all soggy while waiting for the turkey to finish cooking.
6. Serve your meal with some nice wine, it is the one meal of the year you can splash out a few extra dollars on a special bottle of wine to accompany all that delicious food you have spent hours preparing.
7. Don’t make too much food. I know it is hard to do, but just think the money you save from not overbuying food, you can spend on that special bottle of wine!
8. The final key ingredient is to relax and enjoy yourself. There is no point in stressing out in the kitchen, armed with some basic tips you are guaranteed to enjoy the perfect Christmas meal.

Tips on Tuesday - Are you a Shopaholic???

Hi there girls,

I went shopping again today, and got totally sucked in by this young German guy who got "me" to buy skin care........ do you get it, yes the Beauty Therapist/owner of salon/skincare shop......... oops! I am starting to think I am a shopaholic, so I looked up some tips on how to save money (yeah right), but although you may not believe me I am going to put some of these ideas into practice...... it will be my New Years Resolution!
So here goes......


1. Free Stuff

Enter rewards programs to get free stuff, but be discerning some schemes don't offer anything you want and some you have to spend too much to receive a reward. Just go with the ones that give you points for spending on what you normally would purchase. Instead of saving on purchases, you can avoid having to pay altogether. Sounds good right?


2. Banks

Check the banks for a different interest rates for both savings and loans. Don't just go with anyone, get the best rates possible.


3. Sell Sell Sell

Everybody has unwanted goods lying around their home gathering dust - Well, you might as well sell them and with the cash you get you can invest for the future. See this is what happens when you do shop too much, you need more space to put things in don't you??


4. Budget (help!!)

The first way to save money is to identify what you have to spend and what your weekly costs are. Budgets aren't boring, saving hard earn cash can be exciting when you have a long term plan.


 and controlling your spending is the first step towards saving more money.


5. Eat At Home

Stop eating out and coffee-ing all the time and start eating at home you will save a lot this way and you will know what is in the food. Help save money by preparing your food at home and creating fresh food.


6. Haggle Existing Loans

Threaten to take your business elsewhere and you'd be surprised how flexible lending institutes can be.


7. Repair Things

Repair your goods before they become very expensive to replace. Wait too long and it may cost you dearly.


8. Quit Vices

Quit smoking and other vices that not only hurt your health, but they also cost your a lot of cash in the long run. Quit Shopping?????


9. Leave Your Money At Home

Don't take your wallet or purse with you when you go window shopping. At worst take a few dollars with you but leave the plastic at home, this was the most brilliant idea yet!


10. Buy Generic

Often generic brands are equal in quality to their higher priced competition. Buy Generic and save cash. One of the classic strategies to save money


11. Bake A Cake

Actually, bake anything you want - The more the better - cakes, bread and cookies they taste better too.



12. Evaluate Grocery Items

Are the items you buy useful? Don't just buy from habit, make educated product comparisons and you will save money in the long run.


13. Make Large Meals And Freeze leftovers

By making extra you can save on waste and avoid extra electricity costs.


14. Pack Your Own Lunch

Don't buy lunch every day or you'll rack up the costs when you could save money by making lunch yourself.


15. Buy A Slow Cooker

Having a slow cooker means you can use cheaper cuts of meat and still have tender, delicious meals.


16. Home Brew

Make your own beer it's fun and you will save a lot of money.


17. Use Power Saving Appliances

Keep your power bills down by using energy saving appliances.


18. Buy Goods In Bulk

Bulk buy stores are great just don't buy too much or you may just end up throwing food away.


19. Pay Bills Online

Why drive to the store to pay bills when you can save fuel and pay online.


20. Buy A Home Gym

This may keep you at home instead of at the shop...... what do you think??

xx A

Tips on Tuesday - The Magic of Vinegar!

Hello gorgeous girls,


I hope your having a great week so far , I found these fabulous tips on how to use vinegar in many ways shapes or forms, I already use it to clean the tiles and have been told many different ways of using it at other times, I just haven't put it into practice yet. Now is the time....... Some of these tips are amazing.  xx A

Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled under your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.

1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.

2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).

3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.

6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.

7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)

8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.

10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.

12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.

13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.

14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.

15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.

16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.

17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.

18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.

19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.

20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily come unstuck

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.

32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.

34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.

35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.

36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.

37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.

38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.

39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.

40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.

41. Restore shower head pressure. If your shower head gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.

42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.

43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.

44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.