GLUE TIP- OH NOOOO!! Oh. It's ok.

Simple Glue Removal TIP!

I was just doing the finishing touches on an engagement ring holder order when my hand slipped and I got glue all over the place.  Seriously.  I freaked OUT.  If it was something for myself or a gift for a family member I wouldn't care but this is an order for a customer and I take extra care for orders that I make for customers.

I was adding the pearl accents on the metal when I smeared the
glue completely across the "DO".  

There are some things that I do that are ok.  An example of this would be my metal punching.  I don't want that to be perfect.  If you look at the letters they are all wobbly.  I like it that way.  It shows that I am not a machine.  It gives it a rustic hand made look.  A big glue smear across the ring holder is not acceptable in my book.

If you would like to remove glue from a project that is still wet (I am assuming that this would not work on anything paper based)

1. Dip Cotton Swab in Acetone based Nail Polish Remover.

2. Gently rub over glue area.

3. Watch in amazement as all of the glue goes away.

4.  Thank ME.

If you are doing this on a painted surface you should know that the acetone in the nail polish remover will most likely strip the paint off of your project.  Use the nail polish remover sparingly.  You should always do a small test spot!

So far I have used this for only Arlene's Tacky Glue and for WARNING TOWING Stickers.  That is another blog post to come... Just know.. I was really angry that day.

Magical Household Cleaner

11/28/2012 UPDATE:  The oven pictures and the you tube video are a quick little view.  I only spent about 10 minutes cleaning the door.  My fiancé walked into the kitchen and announced that he wanted to broil a steak so I didn't see the point in super cleaning it.    Sorry that the video isn't the best.  Cleaning with one hand and video taping with the other isn't very easy!  I was excited to find a pocket of filth to be able to share a before and after with all of you!  I had never washed the oven glass and I don't know if the people that lived in the apartment before me did.  I know, I'm gross.  Whatever.  It's an oven.  All germs die in it.  Get over it.

Hey Everyone!  I saw this post on pinterest and had to give it a try:

http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275

I didn't actually go to the website and read their instructions.  I saw the ingredients used and decided to add to them... Here is what I found.  I have no idea if what I added is necessary.  It works and is cheap so I am stickin' to it.

OH MY WORD!  I actually used this solution to clean my whole fridge by candle light with cold water to rinse during Hurricane Sandy and my fridge has actually never been cleaner!

I did just read their instructions and have found that I didn't have to heat up the vinegar at all.  I also didn't have to leave the solution to sit on anything for a long amount of time.  It took everything right off!   I didn't have anything that was really filthy but it did get a lot of things that are annoying to clean spotless in seconds!  I think it is important to mention that I rinsed the surfaces off after using this to not leave anything on them and when cleaning I wear fashionable pink rubber gloves from the dollar store.    I did not think to take before and after pictures (good thing so you can't see the filth that I live in on a day to day basis... haha).

Mixture:
6 Cups White Distilled Vinegar
2/3 cup DAWN Power Clean
2/3 DAWN ULTRA


Directions:
 Pour Vinegar in a mixing bowl.  Add DAWN ULTRA and then add DAWN POWER  CLEAN.  I then stir them with my whisk slowly so they don't bubble up and then put them into 2 spray bottles that I got at the dollar store (as seen below**).  If mixture has been sitting for a bit you have to swish it around to blend it together again.  I wouldn't recommend shaking it.  This should be safe on all surfaces but as it is just dish soap and vinegar but just to be safe you should always do a small test area.

AMAZING RESULTS:
STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
CAST IRON BROILING PAN-- Imagine how well this will work on  the grill in the summer!
STOVE TOP
GRANITE
MICROWAVE
BATHTUB BUILD UP
TOOTH PASTE
MARBLE
MIRRORS (specifically food debris stuck from flossing. It came off in one quick swipe and then I used windex after just in case there were streaks)
DOORS and frames
ELBOW GREASE-  No more scrubbing!

My fiancé doesn't like the smell of the vinegar so I am alway sure to rinse everything down right after I have cleaned it so there isn't too much of a lingering vinegar smell.  I did attempt to make this mixture with another type of dish soap that was scented and vinegar.  It did smell better but I think it did not work nearly as well.

I have found that the OXO sponge brush with handle is the best way to clean with it so far.  It has the release button which is key.  Otherwise the solution will just leak out.  Plus it has the scrubber on it.  I think I only paid like $8 for it.  It's well worth it.  I have one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen.

Oxo Good Grips Soap Squirting Dish Scrub (Google Affiliate Ad)

**I actually emptied one of my other household cleaners and cleaned out the bottle and have found that it sprays better than the dollar store bottles so if you really trust me you will safely dispose of your old cleaning agents and reuse the bottle for this great magical cleaner!!!  Please make sure that you completely rinse out the bottle before pouring in this mixture.  If there is any kind of bad harmful combination call posion control or 911 immediately.

*Yet ANOTHER UPDATE 2/23/2013 Sprayed it in my toilet bowl.  Worked wonders.  I don't know why I didn't think to use it in my toilet before.

Chocolate Coffee Trifle

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything that I have baked so I have looked through my phone/facebook and found the most requested picture and recipes It is a huge hit at family gatherings and is quite easy to make! This is a recipe that I originally found on the internet (possibly from allrecipes.com) and then made many of my own adjustments to. Feel free to find the original.
You will need:
Trifle Dish/Glass Bowl
Boxed Chocolate Cake
1 small box instant chocolate pudding (sugar free to keep it healthy- haha)
1 package heath bar crunch
heavy whipping cream (as much or as little as you want)
instant coffee grounds
chocolate syrup
Kahlua liquor
powdered sugar

Bake cake in 9" round pans as directed and allow to cool-- SO SIMPLE, RIGHT?

Make Pudding in a bowl and allow to cool in fridge -only needs a few minutes. -- STILL EASY!

Pour whipping cream into mixer on low setting with whisk attachment. gradually bringing the speed up. When is starts to thicken i sprinkle in about 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and then 3 tablesppons of coffee gournds. it may be more coffe. you want the whipped cream to be a light tan color. it looks gross at first but the coffee will dissovle. i promise. I should have my meaurements in front of me for you... I usually buy the 8 oz containers. I find one to be enough.-- THIS IS IMPPORTANT! YOU WILL WANT TO ADD A LOT OF SUGAR TO YOU WHIPPED CREAM. DO NOT DO THIS. The whipped cream alone does not taste amazing. I know. Just you wait until it parties with everyone else... By the way you, should have whipped it good.




Here comes the hard part... Layering.

Cut the cake so that it fits into your trifle dish. I actually use the trifle dish as my guide to cut the cake. When cutting the cake you want to remember that you will be fitting two-three layers of cake into that dish. It seems easy now... Just you wait.

Once the first cake is nicely placed in the trifle dish I coat it in kahlua. Don't be shy with the booze.   Every time I make this I add more.  I find the more I add the better it tastes!

Now put a layer of your chocolate pudding on. I plunk it in the middle and then smooth it outward with a spoon so you get cleaner edges. Do the same thing with the whipped cream. Do a layer of heath bar also.

Repaet your cake layer again. Repeat the Kahlua again and the following steps. Top with choclate syrup drizzle and heath on top.


You must refridgerate this for a couple of hours before serving. You can make all of the ingredients ahead of time. You have to assemble the day of delivery.

I have also assembled this in single servings and cooked the cake in a cupcake pan.  I bought my big trifle dish at Kohls.  It is made by the food network.  It looks like they make the individual trifle dishes (posted link below) now.  I don't know if they still make the big trifle dishes.  :)

Food Network 4-Pc. Glass Trifle Bowl Set (Google Affiliate Ad)

GOOD LUCK!

So I've made this numerous times now.  This past time I had the genius idea to cut the cake circle in half.  The difference was amazing.  It was so much easier to assemble this way and much cleaner looking.  You also will not be able to see that you cut it as you coat it in pudding anyway.  I also baked my cake 2 days ahead of time and did basted the Kahlua on it though out those days.  It was amazing.

This is the big one I just made.

 Once again I had an extra cake layer so this time I use my pastry rings and cut small cake circles and did the layering in the cups and took them to my brother's house for a gathering.  I think they were upset I only had 6.  Haha.  These bad boys are always in high demand!

If you are using plastic cups like I did make sure that they aren't broken!  I guess one of the rims broke on one of my cups into a trifle and ended up in someone's mouth.  He survived and still liked the trifle... So I was let off the hook easy.  :)