How to Clean a Flat Screen TV

Our house is not large, and the entrance to the house is just off the living room and very close to our flat screen TV.

We have it sitting on a base, and this makes it the perfect height for the family dog when she does her "shake rattle and roll" after a walk in the rain!

I didn't notice right away until a bright sunny day was upon us and shining on the screen from the window, there were the offending spots of dirt that I thought were a part of the program I was watching.

Although we would towel her dry, she still managed to send muddy wet drops in the direction of the TV.

Homemade TV Screen Cleaner

Step 1 - Purchase a couple of clean microfiber cloths (dollar store carries these or Amazon).

Step 2 - Dust the entire screen with this cloth.  If the marks were not heavy duty or it is simply dusty this type of cloth will do better than paper towels which actually can be abrasive and simply move the dust around.

If Marks are More Stubborn...

Step 3 - Slightly dampen the microfiber cloth in warm water and super wring out.  DO NOT spray anything on the screen.

Step 4 - Lightly rub at the stubborn spots to remove them, and then buff with a dry one.

Step 5 - If the slightly damp cloth still doesn't remove it, then dip in a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water.  Wring out well and gently rub at the spot in a circular motion.  Then buff with the dry one.

This worked for me as the spots were dried on mud.  Most people probably won't get that kind of dirt on their TV screen, especially if it is mounted on the wall, but if like us, it is sitting on a stand, then pets and kids tend to be free range when it comes to marks.

If you Don't Feel Comfortable Using the Homemade TV Screen Cleaner Ideas, you can purchase commercial wipes specifically designed for all screens.




What NOT to Do:

DON'T spray anything on the TV screen, water is the enemy, just picture drowning your cell phone in water.. same idea..

Slight dampness on a cloth without anything toxic usually does the trick.  Plus you have control if it is on the cloth rather than spraying.

DON''T use window cleaner..  This has chemical cleaners and is abrasive to a TV screen as it is not the same material as a window pane or those old tube TVs!!

Always use a dry soft microfiber cloth to buff away any residue.  Now your TV should be clean and clear.  Electronic screens are magnets for dust.  A microfiber dusting cloth with pull it away quickly.  This is the same for your computers.

Stove Top Stuffing - Quick Recipe That Tastes Awesome

Something a Little Different for the Chef in the House

If you happen to have a leftover box of Stove Top Stuffing kicking around, or something similar, then check out this quick recipe that I created last week.  It is not just for turkey dinners!

This is a bit of a twist on your typical Shepherds Pie

What you Will Need:

• 1 x lb ground beef (or turkey or chicken)
• 1 x chopped small onion
• a bit of cooking oil
• 1 x cup of chopped mushrooms (optional)
• 1 x Beef OXO cube dissolved in a 1/2 cup of water
• 1 x tablespoon corn starch or soup thickener
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup x HP Sauce or A1 steak sauce (my secret ingredient!)
• 1 x Box Stove Top Stuffing

Method:


Pre-Heat Oven to 400 Degrees F.

• Heat the cooking oil and add the chopped onion and mushrooms.
• 
  
• Cook until softened
• 
  
• Add the ground meat and cook until no pink is showing.
• 
  
• Add the OXO mixture, salt and pepper and the HP or A1 sauce.
• 
  
• Stir well
• 
  
• Add the corn starch (this thickens the gravy)
• 
  
• Pour into a casserole dish and set aside

Make the Stuffing

• Make the Stove Top Stuffing
• 
  
•  in a separate pot following the package directions.
• 
  
• Spread the stuffing over the meat mixture when it is ready.
• 
  
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until the stuffing is crispy on top and meat is bubbling.
• 
  
• Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• 
  
• Makes great leftovers too!

Change it Up Depending On What you Have Leftover in Your Fridge

The best part about this recipe is that you can mix and match too!  Add different flavors, different sauces or spices.

I just find that the layer of stuffing on top instead of the traditional mashed potatoes really adds a nice flavor.

I had a box laying around from Christmas, and didn't just want it as a side dish and I wasn't planning a turkey anytime soon and it wasn't quite enough to stuff one!

Add the stuffing over any casserole, I have even used it on tuna casserole it tastes great.

I have been trying to re-create some of my favourite restaurant recipes and found this awesome book.

Click Here

This is a book  that reveals many of the secrets of your favorite restaurants so that you can recreate some of them at home.

Anyways enjoy!

How to Cover an Ugly Wall in a Rental - On the Cheap - 2 Fast Options

So, you have just moved into a rental apartment, house, trailer or room, and right in front of you is an ugly wall.  Pitted, wallpapered a thousand times, 10 layers of paint and more.

Exaggerating just a little bit maybe... but there are many ugly walls, and this is one of the cheapest ways to cover them and add your own personality to them.

POSTERS and RECORD ALBUM COVERS

1.  Record Album Frames

Many of those album covers are classics.  I found that you can get actual Album Frames online.

Top Rated Record Album Frames

You could get your old albums out of the closet. Leave the records inside to preserve them and simply frame the entire album. Then hang them super close together and before long the ugly wall is now your gallery of your old albums.

 If you don't have any album covers, head to the used books stores, and thrift shops or garage sales.  There are so many out there for super cheap.  Being 12.5 x 12.5 they will cover that ugly wall very quickly.

Online seems to be the best place to find these frames in bulk.   Album Frames 6 Pack.

Personalize that Ugly Wall in the Rental

Add all your record collections of the groups you love now and back then.

This can be your own personal gallery wall.  If your landlord thinks its a gorgeous wall and tells you NO HOOKS you can get 3M no marking hooks to hold them on the wall.  When you leave, it will be like you were never there and the landlord can get his ugly wall back!

2.  Poster Frames

Next quick idea, is poster frames.  I would look at the fancy ones in the camera shop but super expensive, until I found some affordable options online.  You could mix and match posters with album cover frames to totally cover that ugly wall.

24x36 Poster Frames x 2

The above pictures are for the larger 24 x 36 inch posters, but you can get different sizes.  This comes in a package of 2.

You could mix and match posters with album covers and for not a large investment have that ugly wall totally covered with something that you will enjoy looking at.

Once again you can use the 3M hooks that leave no marks or holes.

There are many other ways to cover and hid an ugly wall in a rental such as removable wallpaper and fabric frames, but I really thought this was an awesome way to fix it with some personal items that did not require any DIY other than framing them.

I hope I have inspired you to get those rolled up posters out of your closet and those old albums off the shelf or at the back of your closet!  Get them out front and center to be looked at and enjoyed instead of starring at an ugly wall.

Upcycle Sweater Scarf - Create a One of a Kind Winter Scarf to Stay Warm

Recycling and upcycling are awesome ideas that we all try to practice.  But what about those worn out sweaters?

I usually donate gently used sweaters and clothes, but sometimes they are not fit for anyone to wear, and instead of throwing them out, check out one of the cutest upcycling ideas, a warm winter scarf!

What You will Need:

Old sweaters that are about the same weight to make your project uniform.

ZigZag Sewing machine, or hand sewing

Imagination!

Unique and One of Kind Just for You!


For this unique looking one of a kind creation, you will need to do a bit of sewing, but check out the video and see if this doesn't get your creative juices flowing.

You create a rectangle pattern from cardboard of the size you want and then simply cut out rectangles from the decent parts left of your old sweaters!  Scour the house and find anyone's old sweaters or check with your friends and family.

You decide the length and color combinations.

Upcycling into a Winter Scarf

This totally uses up an old sweater.  I found a few old sweaters at the Thrift Store that the manager was going to throw out due to holes.  I asked if I could have them and I washed them and got creative.

This means it actually was recycled twice!

Keeping as much out of the landfill as possible not only helps our environment but also creates awesome recycling projects.

Upcycling Ideas for Clothes

There are so many cool ways to upcycle and even get a new look from your old clothes. This book offers all kinds of neat ideas that not only look good but can save you money for a bit of time and creativity.

Get a new wardrobe without breaking the bank, or simply add to the one you have.  Reusing old clothes is an awesome upcycle project as they don't break down to well in the landfill.

How to Make Homemade Crispy Oven Fries - This One Step Makes All the Difference Between Soggy and Crisp

I love fries, but not a fan of oily soggy ones or the dry oven ones!

That being said, I don't have a deep fryer and basically never served potatoes this way as I found the commercial store bought already made oven fries to be a bit on the dry side and not that tasty or crispy.

My background is British, so I was raised on"chips" as they call them and my Mother used to deep fry them in lard to get crispy.

Not really wanting to go down that road, and being a bit more health conscious, I put them out of my mind until now...  I find I don't need a big serving, but they definitely add to a meal and are a nice change from mashed or boiled.

Seven Steps to Perfect Crispy Oven Fries

Step One - Slice your potatoes into fries, the slimmer the better.   Check out this video to see just how the Pro's do it:

Step Two - Soak!  Don't skip this step.  This is the apparent secret to crispy fries.  Take your freshly cut French Fries and place them into a bowl and fill with cold water.

Leave them for at least an hour.  Some people let them soak overnight!  So you will need to plan this out for your meal.

I have never soaked potatoes before.  My mother literally used to just throw them in the deep fryer after cutting them years ago, but I don't have a deep fryer, so I added this step.

This apparently helps to get rid of the starches, that tend to make oven potatoes a bit softer.

Step Three - Drain and Dry with Paper Towels or a Clean Tea Towel.  Get off as much of the moisture as you can.

Step Four - Using a baking sheet, place a piece of parchment paper on it and preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Step Five - Place the fries into a clean bowl and add a little bit of vegetable oil, coat them.  Using your hands move them around in the bowl until they are lightly coated.  Don't use too much oil, we don't want to drown them, just a light coating. 

Step Six - Lay them out on the parchment paper and not touching the best you can.  If they clump together they won't get a chance to get crispy.  At this point sprinkle salt and pepper if you wish on them.

Step Seven - Place in the hot oven and depending on how thick you cut the potatoes, this can take from 15 to 30 minutes to cook.  You can turn them half way, but I didn't bother.  Watch them carefully until you get used to how long they need to cook.  We don't want burnt ones!

Result - Crispy Oven Fries without a Deep Fryer

If you are not a fan of cutting and shaping your own potatoes, you can get automatic potato cutters online such as this one:

Potato and Carrot Cutter

I am left handed and not always the best with a sharp knife in my right hand, so using a veggie cutter would make quick work.

Another option is to leave on the potato peel.  Just remove any eyes or buds and give it a good scrub and dry before slicing.  Just another option.

Will Never Use Store Bought Oven Fries Again

After this little experiment of soaking the potatoes, which to me is new, I will continue with this.  Maybe I have been living under a rock, but I just was not aware that soaking the fries was the secret to crispy oven fries.

Plus you know exactly what are in your fries cooking them from scratch.  No additives other than the oil and seasonings of your choice.  Check out the ingredient list on that next bag of store bought ones.

ENJOY!

Organizing a Small Kitchen - 10 Ways to Find Counter Space On the Cheap

I have done my share of downsizing and organizing a small kitchen can be difficult if you were used to lots of counter space and many cabinets!  Below are 10 ideas that you can make yourself or purchase online.

1.  Over The Sink Shelf

This is one of the easiest ways to get clutter off the counter, especially in a small space.  It is designed to avoid the faucet and is a great way to store everyday items you may need, which of course frees up counter space for food prep etc.

Over the Sink Storage

2.  What if You Have No Storage for Dishes at All?

You can get these tall racks that actually sit over the sink and are not only great for drying dishes but can also be used to store them.  This will get many things off your limited counter space by using the space behind the sink.  Who would have though of this?  This is such a cool storage idea and looks good and stylish!

Steel Dish Rack and Storage for Over Sink

3.  Using More Vertical Space with Chic Counter Shelves

You can get stacking shelves from the dollar store or you can also invest in the stainless steel look of shelves like these that are not only functional but good looking!

Stainless Steel Counter Storage

For under 25 bucks you can have the stainless steel modern look that can store a lot of supplies neatly on the shelves and under them.

4.  Get Awkward Appliances Off the Counter

The worst offenders are the small appliances.  Things like the coffee makers and the coffee pot can take up huge space.  There are ways to deal with this, and one of the best ways (beside's giving up your toast or coffee!) is to use the space under the upper cabinets.  I was pleasantly surprised by what you can get.

Spacemaker Toaster Oven

I know my posts are generally about saving money, but I really must admit this is an awesome use of wasted space!

5.  Add Shelves to the Shelves

Another option is to add under cabinet shelves to house those little things that take up so much room in the cabinets.  By using the vertical space under the shelves in your cabinets you can store things without stacking them on top of one another.

Under the Shelf Basket

6.  Under Sink Storage Around Plumbing

Under Sink Adjustable Shelves

Many people, including me, don't tend to utilize the storage under the sink in the kitchen.  With dishwashers, double sinks, and trash compactors, under the sink can be a mess of plumbing, and therefore cleaners tend to sit on the bottom of the cabinet.

These shelves work around the plumbing, and this way you can use the vertical space well as you can see in the picture.  It doesn't have to be cleaners, it can be anything you need to get off your counter but still have easy access to.

7.  Can Rack Organizer

Next place to really get organized to create more space is the food storage, in particular, canned goods.

If your shelves are taken up with canned goods, then storing them in a more useful way will not only make it easier to find what you want, but will give you more space for other items.

Can Rack Organizer

This is a very popular item, and you can totally organize your can storage and at the same time see just what is in the cupboard and not have them work their way to the back (like mine!) I found cans on moving day I didn't know I had!

The better organize the cabinets you have are, the less things that have to sit on the counter, creating more room.

8.  Magnetic Fridge Organizer

This one is super cool.  Using the side of the refrigerator for storage of spices, paper towels and more.  If you have the side of your fridge exposed as in the picture, this rack has heavy duty magnets to hold it in place.

Magnetic Fridge Organizer

As you can see in the picture, this will store quite a few things that might be hanging around your counter top, especially paper towels.

9.  Microwave Rack and Storage

If like many people, including me, your microwave oven takes up space on your counter, then instead of piling things on top of it, why not add some shelves?   This is a great way to use the space over the microwave in a more organized fashion!

Microwave Shelves

10.  Over Cabinet Door Organizer

If you have any cabinets, then using the doors is another awesome storage spot.  You can store hard to stack things like baking trays, cutting boards and muffin tins.

Over Cabinet Door Organizer

This rack doesn't cause any damage to the doors, as it simply slips over the top.  The trick is to utilize as much cabinet space as you can in an organized fashion so that the counter top remains clear.

A cluttered counter space makes it hard to do food preparation.  If you look closely at the things you need daily and come up with storage solutions, then you can make a small space work with very little investment of money.

I Hope the 10 Ideas Above Have Inspired You To Find that Extra Space in a Stylish Manner in Your Small Kitchen

If you implemented even half of the above ideas, you would be able to store a lot of kitchen supplies and in such a way that it is off the counter and easy to find.

In a small space you have to get creative with every square inch.  I hope I have inspired you to take a second look at your small kitchen and get organized for good!

Make your small kitchen an enjoyable space!

Tiny Bathroom Storage - 2 Instant Storage Ideas for That Small Space Without DIY and Under 200 Bucks

If you have a tiny bathroom, whether rented or owned, trying to find storage can be an issue.  If like me, you want everything you need in the bathroom to stay in there, then check out some of these two awesome ideas I came across.

Beside the Toilet Storage

Yes!  You know that little space between the toilet and the wall?  It can be utilized!  I found this cabinet that can house a lot of things, especially the toilet paper an other incidentals you may need while visiting this room.

Beside the Toilet Bathroom Storage - Only 6 Inches Wide!

At only 6 inches wide it can fit into some pretty tight spots and house a lot of supplies.  It is 24 inches tall and 16 inches deep.

This will get many things off the floor or the back of the toilet.  Looks slim and neat.  No DIY or damage required.  I found this one online with Amazon.


Over the Door Shelves

This is one of the easiest ways to create a ton of room, by utilizing the back of the door if you can.  You can get pocket style ones and others, but I especially like the idea of these shelves to house products, bottles and more.




Over the Door Baskets

There are 6 baskets in this unit and it fits over any standard door. Totally cool space saving idea, rather than those plastic pockets which can be awkward for bottles and awkward sized products.

The above two items will instantly create a lot of storage for your tiny bathroom, without damage or any DIY.

So if your tiny bathroom is looking "full" or you have to "plan" your visit based on supplies you may need from the hall closet, then consider investing in these 2 items..

For under 100 bucks you will have storage that makes life easier, and keeps bathroom supplies where they belong.

Start Thinking About Other Doors As Well?

This got me thinking about closet doors too!  This would be great in a bedroom or even a kitchen pantry or laundry area.

If Your Living Space is Tiny Beyond the Bathroom...

If your living space is tight, then take a look at any room doors, closet doors and such as a way to utilize vertical storage and get organized this year!