The Best Stain Remover EVER!

This is no joke!

I LOVE me some white clothes. In fact, it just may be my favorite color to wear. But, as everyone knows white don't say white for long. I hang on to my old, armpit and NYC-street-water stained clothes out of sentimentality. But I was just coming to terms with the fact that I'd probably have to stop buying white - it was becoming too expensive and wasteful - and throw out my prized pieces.

But then, as a last ditch effort, having scoured the internet over and over again for some kind of miracle whitener I gave it one, final, google: Best Stain Remover Ever?

And I found this:

Best Stain Remover Ever

July 17, 2008 in Homekeeping

You’d never know that a toddler ate played with blueberries in this shirt.

When our white t-shirts start to look a little grungy by midsummer, it’s time to freshen them up. For stains that don’t go away after trying other stain removers, here is what works for practically anything:

1. Heat up some water in a big pot on the stove. Make it hot, but not boiling.
2. Add 2 scoops of an oxygen base cleaner and a small squirt of liquid dish detergent.
3. Put the clothes in the pot and cover it with the lid.
4. Turn off the heat and soak for 4-6 hours, or more if needed.
5. Wash clothes as usual in the washing machine.

Tip! The generic brand of oxygen cleaner at the dollar store works just as well as Oxi Clean. It’s the same thing.

I like that it doesn’t fade colors (but it wouldn’t hurt to test a small spot first, just to make sure). It can remove the yellow storage stains from vintage linens. It can even help to lighten perspiration stains. I’m not kidding, I tried it.

[This is the link to the actual site: http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/17/best-stain-remover-ever/]

I had a go. Collected my old, dingy, yellowed, nasty, used-to-be-whites and did the procedure on them. IT WORKED!

Some things to keep in mind though:

1 - Put the Oxiclean in a bit at a time. I threw both scoops and the dishwashing liquid in as soon as the water was hot, gave it a stir then watched as the foam grew and grew eventually spilling out over the rim and all over my stove and, as I moved the pan to the sink, all over the floor. So take heed, it gets VERY FOAMY at first.

2 - The clothes will naturally float to the top so you should a) make sure that you saturate them in the solution, and b) give them a good stir a few times over the course of their soak.

3 - if you use an aluminum pan the solution will react with the bolts that attach the handles, which, in turn will stain your clothes.. don't fill the pan too high.

4 - If you're soaking an item which has an iron-on logo or any other kind of non-ink logo it will peel off.

I also left my clothes in the water for about 10 hours as I had to go out. I don't know if that extended time had anything to do with my success. In addition, I gave the clothes a good rinse in cold water before washing them primarily because I don't own a machine and didn't want to ruin the other clothes in the laundry bag as i took them to the laundromat.

But, sincerely. This works.

2 thumbs up to the lady who wrote the blog that saved my whites.

Now to figure out how to do my bed sheets!

The Best Facewash

Epicuren Citrus Herbal Cleanser

It's made from organic ingredients. It's gentle. It actually cleans your skin.

The only downside is that is't pretty expensive. $24/2oz

But you don't need a lot of it to make it work.

I've tried every other face wash I can find that'd be OK with my sensitive skin. But this is the only one that actually cleans my face AND protects it (i.e., doesn't irritate it).

Highly recommended.

The BEST MASCARA - I swear!!

MAC Mascara X

Why isn't this the top-billed mascara in every magazine in the word?

Forget everything you've heard about every other mascara out there. This stuff truly NEVER CLUMPS and it always looks natural. It comes in a number of colors and is basically what every woman has always wanted in a mascara.

It's $14 but you will use it happily from the moment you buy it until the bitter end.

You know when you get a new mascara and it takes a few weeks for it to get to the consistency you want it? Well not this. From the get-go it's perfection.

Thanks to Shannon for telling me about this truly great product!

The Best Lip Balm in the WORLD!

Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick

Generally, lip balm is made with a petroleum-based product which always make my throat tickle and my lips crack. This is not. It's all natural and just simply heavenly. You can use it for a number of things and I always carry it in my purse. It has a rough texture to it when you've had it for a while and under the delightful, citrus scent it can smell a little like weed.. BUT it is a miracle product. I hope Josie Maran continues to make this and the Argan Oil even if everything else fails because it is pure magic - cosmetically speaking.

The BEST moisturizer in the world!

Josie Maran 100% Organic Argan Oil

Expensive ($48/50ml btl), but WORTH IT!

Put a couple drops straight on to skin or mix it in with a cheap cream moisturizer like Cetaphil and you're in business. It's amazing. My skin loves it. You can put it straight on your lips, on your hair, you can even eat it (although I never had and feel weird about it). It smells a little like olive oil. I don't think I could live without this stuff.

The Best Blusher

Vincent Longo Day Play Cheeky Cherub Compact Blush

Again, thanks to Kevin and Nicola for exposing me to this stuff.

I'm not sure if VL still makes this color combo (Cheeky Cherub) so ask them. I don't like the look of the colors in the image above - too orangey - but it might be worth a try.

The Cheeky Cherub color combo is perfect for me. A little more of a blue base to the pinks and it looks so lovely - just like I'm ever so slightly flushed. Old school french-style cheeks.

As with the other products I mentioned, VL is on the expensive side. I've gone through this blush over about a year and a half, so in that time frame it sort of makes up for it.

The Best Cover Up IN THE WORLD!!

Vincent Longo Creme Concealer

Thanks to my friends Kevin and Nicola I discovered this product.

It is amazing. You only need the teeniest amount and the whole pat lasts for ever.

The coverage is perfect and it's so creamy that you can use if for varying degrees of issues: under-eye circles, a pimple, a little redness, etc.

There are also a good number of shades to choose from - I use #1

It's $28 which seems like a lot for this tiny little thing, but it's worth it because you'll have it for ages.

The Best Foundation

Vincent Longo Liquid Canvas Dew Finish Waterproof SPF15

This stuff is amazing. It's light but covers well without looking like you're wearing foundation. It's build-able so you can have varying degrees of coverage. And there is a light shimmer to it. It's not like it has sparkles in it or anything, I actually don't know what makes it do this, but it does hold light on your skin somehow so that it looks like you're fresh. Love it!

My face drinks up makeup, but because this stuff is waterproof, I get a little more play from it than other products.

Only downside is the price! $50 and it doesn't last long so use sparingly if you can.

Erdaicate that stinky fart or wafty poop smell!

Grapefruit Mate Mist

This is THE most effective product for toilet smells. Seriously.

In fact, it is my wish for the world that every public restroom have a can. Grapefruit scent in particular. The others are fine, but for some reason grapefruit just cuts through that stench better than anything.

Thanks to my brother for having some in his crapper 3 years ago!

More Wine!! (part II)

Found this little red for cheap at an amazing restaurant called Kashkaval. More on the restaurant later!

I didn't try this rosé, but it was on sale at my local liquor store and was getting raves. Plus I heart provence!

Think I had this rose at my friends Josh and Larissa's house for my birthday..

My man Seamus discovered this $9.99 divine red at our local. We had it with fondue for my birthday. Yum!

Can't remember, for the life of me (!!) where I had this. But if I took a photo of it, I must've liked it!

A cheap and cheerful pasta salad

Easy, quick to make and super cheap.

1/4 lb Penne Rigate cooked al dente

1 small can solid white albacore in water

Head broccoli

Green Peas

Sweet grape tomatoes (sliced into 3rd length-wise)

Red onion thinly sliced (like so ╰ ╯)

Dollop mayo

Crushed garlic

Fresh mint

Fresh Tarragon

Salt and pepper

Cook Penne in boiling water. Add a little olive oil and salt before placing pasta in water to season and prevent from sticking. Whilst pasta is cooking, get a large serving bowl. Throw in the tuna (including the water), onions and mayo.

After the pasta has been boiling for about 6 minutes quickly (as in 10 seconds) blanche the broccoli in the water (best done by dipping a metal colander into the boiling pasta water - the water is already seasoned and the veggies will take on the flavor.) Then toss the broccoli and peas into a skillet with olive oil and crushed garlic in it and add a spot of the starch water from the pasta pan. Cook for 30 seconds to barely a minute or until the green of the peas and broccoli is very vibrant. Any longer and both vegetables will become soft. You want them to both be almost raw. Then throw them into the serving bowl with the other ingredients.

When the pasta is cooked al dente drain it and throw it in the serving bowl with the other ingredients. Stir everything together. Finally, rip the mint and the tarragon into pieces directly onto the salad. Grind some fresh, black pepper and give a final mix.

This dish is best served immediately. A little warm. You can refrigerate it, but it is most delicious when there is a creamy sauce at the bottom. Cooling it can make it a little thicker. It'll still taste great but all the flavors come out best with the slight warmth.

It is also not a portable dish so I wouldn't recommend it for pot luck. I know this 'coz I tried... and it was lame!

Enjoy!

Recipe ©Angela Dee 2010

Photo ©Angela Dee 2010

Schnippers!

Cheese fries.

6 month ago I would've said "Don't make me barf!"

And then along came Schnippers!

In a word.. yum!

I'm not sure how they make it but it's not your usual, velveeta, yellow-goo brand of cheese cheese-fries. It seems like use real, cheddar in their sauce. Tangy, textured in the same way a home-made mac'n'cheese sauce would be and OH so tasty. I took a picture of it with my iPhone (not a good one I hasten to add!). Hopefully it looks good enough to eat.

Pair these with one of their burgers or the Market Salad (the best salad in town with beets, chick peas, avocado, corn, croutons, mesclun, etc) and don't forget to fork out an extra $1 for a side of chipotle ranch dressing. It's stupid that they charge extra for it, but it is delicious.

Sticky Toffee Pudding!

Not so cheap at $4 a pop, but frick - this stuff is too good to pass up!

So that you're clear, Sticky Toffee Pudding is a traditional English desert of a cakey consistency with a gooey, toffee/caramel/syrupy sauce that it sits in. It's best served piping hot and with a good dose of heavy cream or vanilla ice-cream.

You can find it at Whole Foods but don't expect anyone to help you find it in the store. They'll say they don't have it, but they're just lazy/mis-informed.

When you go to check out, there is a fridge section that has food to go in it as well as little tiramisu's and other deserts. It'll be there, tucked away. Waiting to be discovered by you. This applies to every Whole Foods I have ever been in in NYC.

Here's the link to the company just incase you need it (I would!)

http://www.stickytoffeepuddingcompany.com/48/where-to-buy

And if that wasn't decadent enough, they have a Molten Chocolate Babycake and a Ginger Toffee pudding to boot. And sometimes at Whole Foods they'll have larger portions than the easily consumed one-header.

Bon appetit!

Eating cheap (and well) before 7pm in Chelsea/Penn Station Area?

I do a lot of improv around the city but most of it takes me to the upper chelsea and Penn Station areas. If you've ever tried to find quality food for a good price in this neighborhood you'll know how IMPOSSIBLE it is. So here are a few places I recommend to save you time and money:

**Guy and Gallard

333 7th Avenue, New York - (212) 695-1346

Mooncake

263 West 30th Street
New York, NY 10001-2811
(212) 268-2888

Chef Yu

520 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10018-4195
(212) 736-6150

Schnippers

620 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10018-1618
(212) 921-2400

More Wine!!

I keep an ongoing photograph-list of my favorite wines as I experience them.

Here they are in all their glory.

Eventually I will try to describe them and notate how much each one costs. But for the time being, here's what they LOOK like..

Bought this to my mother-in-laws house. Good, Malbec for around $15

Went upstate to our friends house. They bought this yum rosé with them. Don't know where they got it or how much it cost. But 'twas 'lishty.

This was our staple red for a while. Used to be $12/btl now $16 and it doesn't taste as good as I remember. But it's worth a try. We LOVED it back in the day.

I found this from our local. It was smooth and quite light for a red. Think it was $15

Again, this was a choice from our friends. Don't know where it came from or how much it was BUT it was robust and peet-y. Nice with meat.

This was a gift for either a birthday or something someone bought over when we had our English Sunday Roast on Friday meal. It is definitely expensive and THE MOST delicious wine I've had in ages. I haven't seen it around. But if I ever do, I might break down and buy a bottle!

My Dad's house. It was a very mellow red. Perfect with our meal.

I don't remember where I took this pic. BUT I do remember liking the Kaiken for sure. Don't seem to remember the other one. But, as per usual, if I took a snap of it, it means I liked it.

We're in France now. Literally. This was probably $4. And divine. Ho-hum. Wish we appreciated wine here like they do en France..

Um... France, and gasmic. Probably $8. Never seen it here.

OK. This was my favorite wine I experienced on our trip to france. It was in Frejus. And it was EXPENSIVE. We had it with Foies Gras. And I nearly cried. Mmm-mmm-mmmm!

Just an ordinary, $5 bottle of rose in the middle of the day Souther-france-styleee. If you ever see it here... TRY IT!

The PERFECT baby-shower gift

THE PATEMM PAD!!

I don't have kids, but I've bought this for many an expectant Mom and I ALWAYS hear how amazing it is about a year later. Its affordable (well.. relatively) and ecologically sound. And its cute, too. Also, depending on the pattern you get, its good for both male/females (both baby and parent). My favorites are the Jack Martin (sadly discontinued), The Lulu and the Manhattan Moma.

Manhattan Moma

The Lulu

The Jack Martin