Thriftism

We've all been there. You're pulling out a freshly dried load of laundry when you find that empty chapstick or lipstick. You're devastated that a whole load of clothes is potentially ruined. Fret no more. While this method of stain removal is not fail-proof, it does give you the opportunity to save your favorite khakis or blouse from even the worst of stains. This potentially saves you hundreds of dollars versus buying a new wardrobe to replace that which has been stained and saves you from taking your clothes to a professional. What You'll Need: Old Toothbrush Dish Soap Stain Remover Elbow Grease Begin by putting dish soap on each of the stains (grease spots).  Use the toothbrush to work the dish soap into the fabric on each spot. Soak your clothes overnight in hot water. Hot water helps to release the grease. Finally, spray your clothes with your favorite stain remover before throwing in the washing machine and runnin...

HOW TO PICK BASIL Ideally, you will be picking basil before the plant flowers. If the plant begins to flower, you can cut off the stem on which the flower is growing to force the plant to keep producing leaves. Leaves will be tougher and possibly less tasty after blooms have occurred. 1/3 Method: Use a scissors to cut off the top 1/3 of the plant down to the set of leaves below those being harvested. I end up getting two large handfuls of basil every week or two depending on weather. Basil will branch into two new stems where you cut off the existing stem creating even more leaves to use! Single Leaf:  Pinch off individual leaves as needed. Watch for buds forming if you are not using basil regularly.  For fullest flavor, use fresh basil immediately. Basil can also be dried for later use. You may use a dehydrator, low temp oven, hanging stems, or cookie cooling rack. If laying to dry, flip the leaves every few days until dried to prevent mold from formi...

Chamomile has a wide variety of uses from tea to soap to face masks. No matter it's use it reduces inflammation and makes a great addition to any herb or flower garden. HOW TO PICK CHAMOMILE Try to avoid picking flowers directly after a rain event or before morning dew has evaporated. Picking wet flowers may lead to mold developing on your flowers, while picking drier flowers will allow them to dry out more quickly. You will know when to pick flowers by their appearance. Petals will be fully extended. This occurs for most flowers in the morning and they begin to close up into  the afternoon. If the petals begin to bend backwards, you may still harvest, however the best essential oils are in the fully extended blossoms. Pick by gently pulling the head of the flower from the stem below. Continue carefully pulling off the heads of the flowers. If you have waited too long to harvest, let the head turn to seed and you will be able to spread your chamomile ...

Is there anything better than grilled chicken? Maybe not once you add some fresh cilantro and garlic. This quick and simple recipe is sure to be a new favorite if you're already a fan of cilantro and can easily be adapted to an appetizer if need be.  This goes great with fresh greens (lettuce, kale, spinach) and potatoes, but would taste amazing with just about anything. Try using fresh garden veggies for optimal taste this summer! What you'll need: 1 Chicken Breast (~1lb) 3 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro or 6 Tbsp Dried Cilantro 8 cloves garlic 1/3 Cup Tomato Sauce 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar 1 Tbsp Cider Vinegar 1/2 Cup Raisins Food Processor 1.Combine all ingredients except the chicken in your food processor. Pulse until a fairly smooth sauce is formed. 2. You will now need to cook the chicken. Grill Chicken on medium heat. Apply half the sauce over chicken once you have flipped it the first time. Another option is to marinate the chicken with half the sauce before...

So you've decided to grow your own herbs? Awesome!! But how do you know when to pick them or how to pick them without killing the plant? We are going to go through a series of herbs this summer so that you too can grow your own and have a tasty, healthy, and successful garden season. Cilantro is a great herb to try your hand at if you're just starting out as it is very fast-growing and fairly tough. It does grow better in spring and fall with the cooler weather, but is not frost resistant. It can be a bit confusing though as the seeds are actually called coriander, while the leaves are called cilantro. Cilantro is a great source of potassium, aids in digestion, and is a low calorie way to add flavor to your dishes. It is often used in salsas and Mexican dishes, but has plenty of options. Coriander meanwhile is often used in curries, middle eastern dishes, pickles, and with poultry. Check out links to our recipes at the bottom of the post! Growing cilantro is fairly ...

It's that time of the month... time to check in on goals you know? :) Have you been sticking with it or have your goals fallen by the wayside? Here's where we at Thriftism stand: Take 6 Courses Online (3 of 6) Teach English: Foundational Principals (Completed FEB 2016) Teach English: Theories of Second Language Acquisition (Completed MARCH 2016) Teach English: Lesson Design & Assessment (Completed MARCH 2016) Signed up for marketing class and pre-calc. I'm trying to brush up on my math skills so I could possibly become an online tutor to earn more cash. Install Kitchen Backsplash and Cabinet Pulls INSTALLED!!! We finally put our backsplash up in May. We have to grout one more section, but it looks pretty sweet. See the how-to videos below if you're looking to put up backsplash in your home.  We also put in all the cabinet pulls. It sure is nice to have a handle on the drawers. :)              Construct Capt...