Caring for Stainless Steel Appliances

September 14th, 2007

We have been gradually making the switch over to stainless steel appliances. The cost on these is higher, but I have been doing bargain shopping to get the best prices on these. I am hoping that when we sell our home that it will make our kitchen look a little higher end and I love the look of the appliances for our family.

My best friend also has stainless steel appliances and when she found out that I had gotten a stainless steel stove, she told me she was going to bring a special gift over for my new stove. She showed up on my doorstep with a bottle of her favorite stainless steel cleaner that she had sworn by. She had picked up a bottle of Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish that she had purchased for me from Wal-Mart. She said it was the best cleaner out there and instructed me to spray a very tiny bit on a soft cloth and wipe the appliance off going with the grain of the steel.

Thanks to this little bottle of cleaner (and my extremely smart friend!) I have been able to keep my appliances gleaming clean, requiring very little cleaner and effort on my part. The bottle of cleaner was $5.99, but I have had it for over two years and have barely made a dent in it.

Scotch-Brite recently contacted me though to see if we would be interested in reviewing a new product that they had come out with for stainless steel appliances. They recently came out with two new cleaners, their Stainless Steel Cleaner & Cook Top Cleaner. These cleaners have handles for gripping, making it easier to get in all of the nooks and crannies of your appliances. They are ergonomically designed and offer streak-free cleaning.

After trying these out, I was impressed with how it could into all of the grooves of my stove and I was able to deeply clean the crevices of the appliance that had not been ever cleaned. There was definitely some hidden areas that needed attention and the handle made the cleaning very easy.

Unfortunately, the Scotch-Brite pads are not reusable and would require additional refill purchases, much like the Swiffer systems and other similar products. I am not as big on products that require additional purchases and this is why I stay away from systems such as these.

The Scotch-Brite pads would be great for someone who just wants to do a quick touch-up, but with starter kits at $6.99 and refill pads an additional $3.99, this is not the most cost-effective option.

Scotch-Brite is offering a $1 coupon on their website though, if you would like to give their new products a try.

I am pretty hooked on the Weiman cleaner, but would be interested to hear how you all care for your stainless steel appliances. Do you use any special cleaners? Do you have any tips that you have found work the best for your appliances? How about cook tops? This is an area that I know nothing about!

Check It Out: An American Hedge Fund by Timothy Sykes

September 14th, 2007

Timothy Sykes sent me an advance copy of his new book, “An American Hedge Fund” for review. We were so thrilled to have our review included in his new book. We wish the author much success with his book launch and hope that you can get an opportunity to check this book out!


Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to play the stock market? In, “An American Hedge Fund” Timothy Sykes takes you on a roller coaster of ups and downs, sharing his wild experience of how he was able to make two million dollars as a stock operator and by creating a hedge fund.

Timothy takes you on the journey from the beginning, sharing his passion for making money quickly at the tender age of twelve. With hopes of making money with his baseball collection and then trying his hand at stringing tennis rackets to make some extra cash, Timothy always possessed a desire to make money fast and had the entrepreneurial spirit to make it happen.

While his classmates were making dates and planning for their prom, Timothy was dreaming of investing money and winning the stock market game. With his $12,415 Bar Mitzvah money, he was able to turn this sum of money into $1.65 million dollars in the course of just four years, all while finishing his high school career and beginning his college career at Tufts University.

Timothy shows how his good research and great gut instinct gave him the skills to know which companies to invest in and when to pull that money out. He shows how he was able to obtain his financial success, but also is wise enough to share his mistakes and what he wishes he would have done differently when looking back upon his youth.

I loved this book for a number of reasons, but the one thing that I really appreciated about Timothy’s story was that playing the stock market was a game for him, not necessarily that he wanted to be wealthy. He seemed to enjoy the thrill of investing and winning the game, but did not seem to be trying to achieve great wealth or notoriety. For him, investing was a fun hobby and his parents supported his dreams, but also wanted him to stay grounded and levelheaded about his fame and fortune.

This really struck a chord with me in my own financial journey. For me, saving money isn’t necessarily because I have to, but it is a game for me to see how much I can save by making changes in my life. It is not necessarily that I have to make my own bread, for example, but when crunching figures I find deep satisfaction in knowing how much I could save by making that small change in my life. For me, it is about saving money and the satisfaction I get from keeping money in my account. For Timothy, it is about how he can take that money and make that money grow by making wise financial investments.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in seeing how to work the stock market and also how one young man was able to turn a small investment into an amazing career as a millionaire hedge fund manager.

Freebie Friday: September 14, 2007

September 14th, 2007

Look for our mention this Sunday in the New York Times! We got the opportunity to chat with a reporter about our experience with the HP Touchsmart Computer. Very cool! Here’s hoping for lots of new readers!

As always, everything on Fridays is FREE, FREE, FREE (*in my best car salesman voice*)! I am excited about the Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, and Nylon Magazine this week.

Have a wonderful weekend and may your mailboxes be overloaded with freebies!

Health & Beauty:

Eucerin Redness Relief Creme

Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner

Jergens Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer
(Must fill out a 100-200 word essay on beauty)

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser and Pore Unclogging Scrub

Food:

7 day supply of Coffee-Mate Creamer

12 Months of Cranberry Recipe Guide (paperback or in PDF format)

El Paso Taco Seasoning & Recipe Guide (use PIN NUMBER: 11005-194063)

Just Like Sugar

Free popcorn from Clearview Cinemas

Entertainment:

Nylon Magazine

Opera News Magazine

Jet Magazine

Throw a Cartoon Network House Party (includes lots of freebies)

AT&T; Customers can get a free ringtone download (valued at $2.49 or less)

Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

Climbing Magazine

Pet Care:

Friskies Cat Food

Entertainment On a Budget

September 13th, 2007


Kim, from Frugal Hacks & Life in a shoe, has asked me to guest blog on Frugal Hacks and I am so excited to be joining their team of bloggers. She has put together some really great writers and we each are covering a topic of our choice.

Meredith from Like Merchant Ships will be covering the topic of Cheerful Frugality each Monday. The Headmistress of The Common Room will be discussing What is In My Hand? each Friday. My topic, each Tuesday, will be discussing Entertainment & Entertaining on a Budget.

I have posted my little introduction today, but will begin our entertainment posts on Tuesday. I hope you will join us and add us to your feed! It should be some great discussions and all content will be unique from each of our blogs.

Is there anything you guys would like me to cover on this topic?

New Article: Frugal Halloween Time

September 13th, 2007

It is that time of year again! I have been getting lots of emails asking how to save money on Halloween costumes so I wrote an article to answer the questions.

Check out our new article, “Scary Deals on Halloween Costumes” that we have added to our site!

Sound Off: How do you save money on your children’s Halloween apparel?

Amy’s Notebook 09.13.07

September 13th, 2007


I just want to thank you all for your awesome comments this week and for all of your encouragement to our family! I truly feel blessed to have you all and it is such a pleasure to have a format like this to share on.

Here are my picks for top reads this week:

Apartment Therapy shares some great tips for a great bento lunch box experience.

Wise Craft has a cute idea for getting your kids to do what they are supposed to in the morning.

My Byrd House turns an old pair of jeans into a cute apron.

Parent Hacks has some great ideas for what to do with those old baby bottles.

Inside a Black Apple has a yummy recipe for Rosemary & Olive Oil Bread.

Storybook Woods has a great tutorial for making a beautiful autumn project.

Baby Cheapskate shares the scoop on Craigslist.

Blogging Away Debt shows the difference in their electric bill just by switching to CFL light bulbs.

Chronicles of a Curious Cook makes mini quiches that are a roaring success in their house.

Frugal Upstate tells you how to feed your baby inexpensively.

GoodyBlog features some of the cutest cupcakes ever!

My Home Redux shares the best type of paint to use when painting your kitchen cabinets.

Tip Nut shares a great tutorial on making homemade gift baskets.

Thrifty Treasures: Pampered Chef Bread Tubes

September 12th, 2007

Does anyone have one of these? I just picked two of them up for $2 each at our thrift store.

I was wondering what you use yours for? Do you have any recipes to share?

I was so excited to have found them…now what do I use them for?

Frugal Subversive Award & My Nominess

September 12th, 2007


Kim, known for her talent at Frugal Hacks and Life in a shoe, has tagged me for the Frugal Subversive Award. This has been circulating on all of the blogs that I read so I was thrilled to get a nomination. Thank you so much for including me!

I am supposed to pass this on to three bloggers who consistently turn their backs on consumerism to live frugally in a creative and authentic way. Here are my nominees for the award…

1. The Homespun Heart– Has anyone nominated Monica yet? She deserves it for all of the creative ways she inspires others. I love her ideas for inexpensive birthday parties, her crafty crafts, and the recipes that she so generously shares with the blogging world. Did I mention that I consider her one of my dearest friends in the cyberspace?

2. Homespun Living– Not to be confused with the first nomination! This blog focuses on simple living and the sweet country life. I find the photos to be inspiring and they bring me back to the days spent in my great grandmother’s country kitchen. The pictures just make me happy! What more can I say?

3. Simply Thrifty– An excellent resource to anyone who is looking to lead a life of frugality. Deb has so many ideas and she links to excellent information on how to be thrifty. She is great for someone who is just beginning to learn to save money and for those who are more experienced in the art of stretching a buck.

Enjoy the reads and feel free to pass on the award to others!

Day 28: Get To Know Your Freezer

September 12th, 2007

Today I was working on some items to put in my freezer when I realized just what kind of savings a person could cash in on just by learning what they can freeze and how to store the items in their freezer.

Here is the view into our freezer in our refrigerator. We also have a small chest freezer in our basement, but it isn’t as easy to view as the one upstairs.

What might one find in our freezer?

– Ice cube trays filled with ice to make our favorite Slushies and Magic Milkshake from Miss Maggie at Hillbilly Housewife. These make great frugal treats for the kids and save us a lot of money by not going to places like Dairy Queen in the summer.

– Coffee ice cubes to make my frozen coffee treats.

Mashed bananas in measured containers for all of my baked goodies that might need this ingredient.

Pizza sauce in measured containers for our Friday night pizza nights.

Banana pops made to help the kids beat the summer heat.

Lunch meat packets that I made for my husband’s lunch and quick dinners using our panini maker.

– Self-Rising & Cake Flour- which I use less regularly, but wanted to keep the ingredients fresh and on hand when I needed them.

– Homemade soup

Homemade waffles

– Items that I got on sale- hot dogs, shredded cheeses, butter, margarine

Cupcakes

In our downstairs freezer you would find loaves of bread, meats purchased on sale, gallons of milk, and homemade spaghetti sauce. I also stockpile anything that I can when it is on sale

Your freezer can be your wallet’s best friend if you use it. For example, when an item goes on sale and you want to stockpile that item, make some space in your freezer for the extras instead of letting them go bad in your fridge. You will have the item when you need it and you will pay a lot less money for those items.

Freezers can also be handy for bulk cooking and preparing meals in advance for your family. Prepare a meal that can be eaten by your entire family or prepare single serving dishes that can be eaten for just one. Veto the middle man and do your own freezer sessions in your kitchen and make dishes that can be eaten later. Dream Dinners even has a cookbook out that you can use to do your own freezer cooking. Check this book out from the library and see if you can come up with your own menu plans. You could start a group with girlfriends or trade meals with a buddy. (Note-This did not work for my picky family, but is great for families that are open to more types of foods).

Need help navigating the freezer? Here are some helpful resources for getting started:

Feed the Freezer Cooking Guide
Sneak Up on Freezer Cooking
Freezer FAQ
30 Day Gourmet
Recipezaar’s Freezer Recipes

Books to Check Out:

Dream Dinners Cookbook
Frozen Assets
Super Suppers
Don’t Panic- Dinners in the Freezer

Potential Monthly Savings- $30 or more

Sound Off: What could I find lurking your freezer? Is there anything that people might find unusual in your freezer?

Perfectly Pantry: Spiced Pumpkin Waffles With Honey Butter

September 12th, 2007

Growing up, I remember that if my mom was really upset about anything, she would begin a white tornado through our house. Her therapy was cleaning and it was a quick way to know if something was wrong because she would clean the house from top to bottom. My therapy when I am upset? Cooking! I start a cooking frenzy and work all my issues out with a mixing bowl and a spoon. Hey, at least it isn’t shopping, right?

Right now I am riding the wave and stocking the freezer for the winter and getting some food ready for my mom for when she comes home from the hospital. I have also been testing some new recipes to add to our Aldi Queen blog, which I have been struggling with keeping up on. A girl only has so many recipes and so I am needing to try some new ones in our house.

Last night I tried a recipe out for Spiced Pumpkin Waffles and they were perfection! The spices are perfect in these and there is just a hint of pumpkin in them, which makes it a great choice for people who don’t like pumpkin (crazy people, I should say!) I followed the directions exactly except I added 1/4 cup white sugar to the batter, in addition to the brown sugar that is listed, because they weren’t sweet enough for my taste. If you are watching your sugar intake, then you can prepare these as is. I made a double batch of these and froze half of them for later. I thought they turned out beautifully, but make sure to spray the heck out of your waffle maker or butter it really well or they will stick. I added 2/3 cup batter to my Belgian waffle maker and cooked each waffle for four minutes.

I had to try this recipe though for a Honey Butter to go on top because it just sounded like heaven. Honestly, this just set the waffles over the top and made them taste even better than I could begin to describe. This butter reminded me of the butter at Texas Roadhouse or Logan’s Steak House, that they serve with those cinnamon rolls. I used margarine so it was a little softer than the butter when I mixed it so I popped it in the freezer while I made the waffles. When the waffles were ready, this came together beautifully.

I am going to use the honey butter on top of those Buttery Bread Machine Rolls and make a roast chicken in the slow cooker for dinner.

If you aren’t up for making the cinnamon butter, my other “kitchen trick” is to heat store-bought maple syrup (I like the lite version from Aldi) for one minute in the microwave and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and one teaspoon vanilla in it. It would make a great substitute for the butter.

But if you have time- make these recipes! Heaven, I tell you!