Keeping the Castle - Housekeeping & Homemaking Tips

June 29th, 2008

Online Sales this Week (6-29-08)

In the run-up to the summer and July 4, many online merchants have sales and promotions. Here are just some this week at two of my favorite stores:
Macy’s
Summer Choice Sale. Choose from Incredible Savings at Macys.com! Valid 30-June-08 through 1-July-08.
July 4th Sale. Free Shipping with $100 purchase at Macys.com! Valid 2-July-08 through 6-July-08. Exclusions Apply.
Linens […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 29th, 2008

Quick Barbecue Tips

Summer is the time for barbecues. Here are two quick tips to make this warm season ritual even easier:
* Use cardboard egg cartons and charcoal briquettes to start up the grill. Place the briquettes in the sections of the carton. Close it and place in the bottom of the grill. Light it up. The […]

By Maricar -- 2 comments

June 27th, 2008

Rice Cooker Meals

I know about crockpot cooking and pressure cooking. But it’s the first time I’ve heard about cooking entire meals in a rice cooker. Sure, I have a rice cooker (can’t live without it!). But I use it for one thing and one thing only: cooking plain (aka steamed) rice.
I didn’t even realize that a […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 26th, 2008

Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard

Two manufacturers of baby cribs put out a recall this week for some of their products, due to entrapment and strangulation hazards.

* Jardine Enterprises announced a voluntary recall of more than 25 models of their cribs. The crib slats and spindles on these models can break, leaving gaps which pose strangulation and entrapment dangers […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

June 25th, 2008

Frugal Links (6-25-08)

* 7 easy ways to lower your summer cooling bill (via USNews)
* Coupon crazy: Shoppers finding steals and deals online (via Statesman)
* Festival of Frugality #131 - Summer Savings Edition (via Broke Grad Student)
* Thirteen ways to save money on your grocery shopping (via Frugal Fridays)
* Tips to offset gasoline expenditures (via AZ Central)
* Food […]

By Maricar -- 1 comment

June 24th, 2008

Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Everything is more expensive these days. It is harder and harder to stretch a budget and still check off every item on the grocery list. There are ways to cut down on food bills, and still have healthy food for the family.
Today’s food editor Phil Lempert has listed ideas to “fill your grocery cart […]

By Maricar -- 3 comments

June 23rd, 2008

Homemade Granola Recipe

I love granola, but I don’t buy it often because of the nuts that are commonly included. I was therefore motivated to try out a recipe for homemade granola that I found at Slashfood.
Here’s my first try, a simple combination of easy-to-find ingredients. Nut-free, dairy-free and completely healthy and delicious!
Tags: food, granola recipe, […]

By Maricar -- 3 comments

June 21st, 2008

Make a Smoothie with a Sour Mango

 
Have you ever sliced a mango open and found it to be too sour to eat? I have. Here’s a fix that will let you enjoy it. It’s easy, and healthy too!
Mango-Banana Smoothie
1 mango, sliced (with seed discarded)1 banana1/2 cup milk1/2 cup ice1-2 tablespoons sugar
Put all ingredients into a blender. Pulse for a few […]

By Maricar -- 1 comment