* Maria’s Self *: DIY Toilet Bombs – Deodorize & Kill Bacteria! Just Drop Them in the Bowl;-.
Love this simple recipe for homemade toilet tablets (or ‘bombs’ as the blog writer calls them, lol). So easy and very inexpensive. You can use essential oils to scent them. She uses a blend of lavender, peppermint, & lemon. I subbed rosemary oil for lavender. If you don’t have cute silicone molds as demoed, try using a muffin tin or any such mold.
Homemade Antiperspirant/Deodorant
I like to purchase natural and organic products as much as possible. But, sometimes they are not as effective as products laden with harsh chemicals, etc. There are so many brilliant DIY tips out there, so I figured I would look up some for a homemade antiperspirant/deodorant — one that would actually work. What sold me on this particular recipe was the fact that the blog writer lives in Arizona as I do. She tested it out in this desert mega-heat and gave it a thumbs up. And, her husband even requests it, to boot. It only has has 3 ingredients, with an optional 4th if you want an essential oil scented version. Coconut oil is one of the ingredients, and you can DIY that as well. I chose to make mine with an essential oil. Even though I love to eat coconut, it’s not my fave body scent. I love the feeling of doing something healthier for my body!
Kitchen Equipment List | Elle A Cooking.
I thought I would share this link about basic equipment for your kitchen. I absolutely love any type of kitchen gadget, and it’s probably one of the only things I don’t mind spending a bit of money on. But, my blog is called ‘La Cashionista,’ so I thought I would throw out a few inexpensive substitution ideas. I thought some of you may be just starting to stock your kitchens (or know someone who is), or you may just want some ideas for simple swaps.
Before I get to that, though, I want to gush about a few kitchen items that I love, love, love (just basic stuff, not the fancy gadget-type things). The first thing anyone who knows me will tell you is that I absolutely adore my Forschner Victorinox bread knife. I gave away a couple thousand dollars worth of knives in lieu of this one. Not kidding. I use it for nearly everything (even if it’s not “proper”), except perhaps paring and boning. I have already written about my fondness for cast iron pots and pans. Besides being easy to clean, they can double as a serving dish. A few other faves that come to mind: my rubber spatula with curved up edges (spoon/spatula), food processor, blender, mandolin with julienne blades, slow cooker, veggie peeler, zester, graters, chinois, and misto sprayer. These are some of the items I wouldn’t want to be without.
As for equipment substitutions, here are a few I’ve thought of:
1) I mentioned in an earlier post about subbing a soup can for a cookie cutter.
2) I often use the food processor for doughs instead of a stand mixer, as it can be quicker. They are easy to use and will also slice, chop, mince, grate, shred, and julienne with the attachments. If you are lacking space, though, a mandolin and a small and large grater can be useful (and a cheaper purchase). Also, look for ‘no-knead’ recipes if you prefer not to knead dough by hand (and a mixer or processor is not an option).
3) Don’t have a fancy tortilla press? Just use a heavy object like a book to smash your little balls of dough. Or, if you’re crafty, make one yourself: DIY Tortilla Press. If you enjoy woodworking, you might also try making your own cutting board. Really crafty, try making your own wooden spoons.
4) OK, I know you already know this, but…just use the pot lid to strain out your pasta water instead of a colander. And, if you’re already in a lazy mood, just use the biggest frying pan you have to boil your spaghetti water (vs. that mammoth stock pot). I know it’s not proper, haha, but the water will boil faster. Plus, who cares about proper when we need to get to eating!
5) If you don’t have an actual pasta machine, use a pizza wheel to cut your homemade dough for pastas like fettuccine (I saw this somewhere, but don’t have the link). Good for homemade tortilla chips, too.
6) A good blender is a great investment. But, if you’re only going to make protein shakes for the gym, try buying a bottle with a ‘blender ball’ inside to save a little cash.
7) Use a thin linen tea towel if you run out of cheesecloth. Also, a chinois is nice, but it takes up a lot of space. Sub a smaller strainer with cheesecloth if you need to create a silky smooth sauce.
8) Use any thicker sheet of flexible plastic that you may have (like a placemat) in place of a sushi roll mat.
9) Lastly, these are not really sub ideas, but I thought I would include them: if you are just starting to stock your kitchen (but you want to get a little more creative with your cooking) try purchasing small, inexpensive gadgets such as veggie peelers, melon ballers, small ice cream scoops, and zesters. These types of items will allow you to garnish and create interesting shapes for your dishes without a lot of expense. You will obviously need to make a few larger purchases when first setting up a kitchen, so you might try items that have several uses. For example, I love slow cookers for a good stew, etc., but you can also make things like homemade yogurt or essential oils in them. Food processors also do a host of tasks.
I am sure there are a lot of other substitutions you can make, but that’s my list for now. I will post more as I have time. The blog link I shared also offers cooking classes, so take a look to see if you might be interested (if you’re in the area).
OK, I admit I probably recycle too many containers. I periodically have to go through them (usually when there is no more space) to decide which ones I should keep…and let me tell you — it’s an inner battle! If I start thinking about all of the things I can do with them, it will never happen. I have to just hold my breath and do it cold turkey. I also admit I sometimes just buy products for the container they are in and not the actual product itself. So, I usually keep those.
I have way more, but about a few of the ones I’ve pictured: My current fave containers are my Noosa Yoghurts (The BEST Yoghurt! SO good!). The 8 oz. is a perfect one portion meal size (and the 16 oz. for two) — great to go in the fridge or freezer. They are also great for organizing smaller objects like ‘shop’ type items (nails, screws, nuts and bolts), office supplies, craft supplies, etc. I also love the large containers that many spices come in with a 2-sided flip top (see pic, with the green top). They are designed to be easy to hold, so you can grab them quickly out of the cupboard. I usually store bulk grains or rice in mine, but they could be used for a number of things. I have other purchased storage containers I can (and do) use, but I like that the ‘pour’ side of the top makes for easy measuring. Also, even if it’s not your brand of choice, check out the pic of the cute soy sauce bottle. It has a stopper inside, so you can take it with you to the office or wherever for lunch. If you don’t do soy sauce, it’s great for vinaigrettes, etc.
You can also always use your containers for your own homemade versions of what you purchased. I do that with hot sauce, mustard, nut butters, mayo, and more. You can use a soup can in place of a cookie cutter, but I also collect them around the holidays to bake quick breads in to give as gifts. I’m not the only one recycling, though. My fave coffee shop recycles their jelly jars into customer to-go juice jars. So, of course I keep those. 🙂
Lastly, if you are a container recycler like I am, here’s a link for a homemade chemical-free adhesive remover. It’s just a mixture of coconut oil and baking soda. I found links that also called for a few drops of essential oil or just essential oil and baking soda. I have used nut butter and baking soda and found that to be successful (and possibly cheaper). I tried just nut butter first because I remembered it is advised to put it in kids’ (or perhaps adults’) hair to remove chewing gum. It was OK, but the addition of baking soda really helped it along. I always soak the label in hot water first to see if that will do the trick. If the adhesive is fairly old and sticky, try using a scrubby or stainless steel sponge after applying the oil and baking soda.
La Cashionista 
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