Favorite "Real Simple" type tip

boymamaco · December 2010

Any fans of Real Simple magazine? If so, or if you have a favorite tip about how to make things easier/simpler in life, would love to see it posted here.

It could be anything - fitness, cooking, beauty, tips to simplify an overloaded schedule, whatever you feel like has helped you in your life.

boymamaco · December 2010

~ Keep a box of dryer sheets in/near your closet and put one in your stinky shoes to help keep them smelling nicer

~ Use a special photo album to keep track of all of your holiday cards. It will be fun to look back over the years and remember what you sent and also see how everyone has grown.

~ For those who are susceptible to bruising and/or workout hard. Keep a bottle of Arnica tablets in your purse/medicine cabinet. It does wonders for reducing bruising and inflammation.

XXXXX222 · December 2010

I meal plan and grocery shop once per week. On shopping day, I come home and wash and cut up all the produce and get all the ingredients ready to throw in a pot/pan/slow cooker for the week.

Something we just started doing is putting serving sizes of everything (chips, nuts, carrots, grapes) into zip-loc baggies. It's easier to eat appropriate portion sizes and food lasts a lot longer now. We even store left overs in individual tupperwares.

Gingham · December 2010

My tip is fitness related - I always bring my workout clothes to work so that I can go directly to the gym after work. If I go home first, I will never go back out. I also keep an extra pair of clothes and running shoes in my car so I have no excuses!

HappyAardvark · December 2010

Use an ice cube tray to freeze cube-sized portions (which amount to about a tablespoon or so) of items like good chicken or beef stock, tomato paste, pesto, etc. Once frozen, empty them out into a labeled ziplock baggie and keep in your freezer for handy use whenever you need just a tablespoon of tomato paste and don't want to waste a whole can.

And this maybe isn't exactly "real simple"-esque, but it's a funny old housewives' tip that my MIL taught me that I use constantly... since we all know eggs are good for usually a few weeks past their carton date, if you're making something that calls for an egg and want to make sure an egg is good before cracking it open, simply fill a small tumbler glass with tepid water, and gently drop in the egg. If it sinks to the bottom right away, it's still fine to use. If it floats, throw it out. Seriously, it works!

XXXXX222 · December 2010

HappyAardvark:
Use an ice cube tray to freeze cube-sized portions (which amount to about a tablespoon or so) of items like good chicken or beef stock, tomato paste, pesto, etc. Once frozen, empty them out into a labeled ziplock baggie and keep in your freezer for handy use whenever you need just a tablespoon of tomato paste and don't want to waste a whole can.
And this maybe isn't exactly "real simple"-esque, but it's a funny old housewives' tip that my MIL taught me that I use constantly... since we all know eggs are good for usually a few weeks past their carton date, if you're making something that calls for an egg and want to make sure an egg is good before cracking it open, simply fill a small tumbler glass with tepid water, and gently drop in the egg. If it sinks to the bottom right away, it's still fine to use. If it floats, throw it out. Seriously, it works!

Ooh I love the freezing tomato paste idea! Thanks! And yes, the egg thing does work.

HappyAardvark · December 2010

Ooh, and here's another... if you're ever in a desperate situation where you have something stuck in your teeth and no floss handy, look for a loose thread somewhere in your clothing, like on a side seam of your shirt or around the cuffs of your pants. Pull or snip it off, and use that thread as makeshift floss. Great in case of an emergency poppyseed-in-the-teeth-before-an-important-business-meeting kind of situation!

nickelpickelpink · December 2010

HappyAardvark:
.
And this maybe isn't exactly "real simple"-esque, but it's a funny old housewives' tip that my MIL taught me that I use constantly... since we all know eggs are good for usually a few weeks past their carton date, if you're making something that calls for an egg and want to make sure an egg is good before cracking it open, simply fill a small tumbler glass with tepid water, and gently drop in the egg. If it sinks to the bottom right away, it's still fine to use. If it floats, throw it out. Seriously, it works!

I like that egg trick! I'm always nervous to use expired eggs even though I have heard they are fine for a while after their expiration date. Thanks Smile

tweedle29 · December 2010

sulfababy:
I meal plan and grocery shop once per week. On shopping day, I come home and wash and cut up all the produce and get all the ingredients ready to throw in a pot/pan/slow cooker for the week.

This. I can't I always prep the produce, etc., but meal planning has made life a lot easier. And reduced the amt of food we waste.

I can't say I do this every night, but I try to get ready for the morning the night before. Make lunch, decide what I'm wearing, etc.

mego36 · December 2010

lucyspeople:
~ Keep a box of dryer sheets in/near your closet and put one in your stinky shoes to help keep them smelling nicer

I always keep a dryer sheet handy in the bedroom as well, but I use it to get those pesky deodorant marks off of my shirt.

It works so well!?

boymamaco · December 2010

sulfababy:
I meal plan and grocery shop once per week. On shopping day, I come home and wash and cut up all the produce and get all the ingredients ready to throw in a pot/pan/slow cooker for the week.

I so wish I could do this. I think it would make life a ton easier. I used to pre-wash and chop veggies so they would be handy but never made it all the way to meal planning. I need some discipline! lol

jdsprincess116 · December 2010

These are great! I love tips like this! I also use the egg test and we've been bagging our crackers/grapes/etc. into single serving sizes as well, which helps me a lot with my WW plan!

One of my favorites is if you're in a hurry to get ready and out the door, and your pants, dress, skirt, blouse- anything- has wrinkles and you don't have time to iron, throw them in the dryer with a damp towel (I usually soak a hand towel with water and wring it out so it's not dripping) and throw it all in the dryer. The steam created from the water in the towel and heat from the dryer will loosen up your wrinkles while you shower and get ready! It doesn't work for major creases and wrinkles, but for anything else it works great!

Also, baking soda works wonders to get stains and rust out of stainless steel items- cookware, knives, sinks, etc.

To freshen up your sink, throw half a lemon or orange down your garbage disposal and run it, you'll smell citrus!

To get smells out of your hands rub them on something stainless steel- works great especially for onion smells on your hands!

I know there's more but I can't think of any right now!

Keep them coming ladies!

Nwlywed07 · December 2010

Buy your meat in bulk at places like Costco and Sams. Bring it home and then freeze the meat individually in sandwich baggies. Then whenever you need only 2 pieces of chicken or 3 hamburger patties you don't waste the rest! It's also hand for when you have that unexpected guests for dinner. (Tip from my MIL) I can spend about $55 on meat for the entire month, with the exception of special occasions and holidays. My blog in my siggy is devoted to stuff like this! : )

dogparkdiva · December 2010

If you are making gravy and you accidentally add to much salt...put a potato in the gravy (and remove before serving) and it will help soak up the salt.

onesandtwos · December 2010

I keep a flour sifter filled with baking soda and a spritz bottle filled with lemon juice in my bathroom. When the tub or shower tiles start to get icky, I sprinkle them with the baking soda and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then I go back over it and spray with the lemon juice. It takes every stain out of white porcelain, kills germs, eliminates mold/mildew/soap scum, and even unclogs the drain! It's my miracle cleaning solution for just about everything, plus it's all-natural and super cheap!

reinstone · December 2010

onesandtwos:
I keep a flour sifter filled with baking soda and a spritz bottle filled with lemon juice in my bathroom. When the tub or shower tiles start to get icky, I sprinkle them with the baking soda and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then I go back over it and spray with the lemon juice. It takes every stain out of white porcelain, kills germs, eliminates mold/mildew/soap scum, and even unclogs the drain! It's my miracle cleaning solution for just about everything, plus it's all-natural and super cheap!

This! I use baking soda, water, and vinegar for almost every cleaner. Vinegar + water for hardwood floors. Baking soda + water for getting stains out of my crappy countertop. I love that it's simple and without harsh chemicals.

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