Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Contract Congratulations Card

When our children were very young they each signed a 'contract for their future' vowing not to smoke, use drugs, or consume alcohol.  My husband and I decided to add the incentive that if the commitment was followed through until his or her 19th birthday (legal drinking age in Ontario, Canada) we would offer a bonus of $500 cash to be used in any way they wish.  While many people poo-pooed our idea and said it would never 'stick', we held firm in our belief that the contract offered 'an excuse' for the kids to use in their decision making, an expectation of behaviour, and 500 darn good reasons to be strong and make it to the end!  I skimmed off a small amount from every pay cheque for YEARS and put the money in a Quicken savings goal for each child.  Now, after all these years of saving, the time arrived to actually pay out to the eldest child who just turned 19!  We are so proud of her and the lifestyle she has chosen to live throughout her teen years.  She has achieved the goal and, although it was really hard to withdraw such a large amount of cash, she totally deserves the money!  Time has flown by and I can't believe she is a grown woman now!  Yet the milestone has also made me realize how long it's been since she signed the pledge in her little girl hand-writing...how much saving we've done to realize this long-term commitment and how determined she was to fulfill it!

Above is the simple card I made to present the money and tell her how proud we both are.  Inside I added play money...but the real cash was handed over too!  She has decided to save the money to use for a university graduation trip with her friends...no, not Cancun...Disney World! :)  Happy momma!

Revlon Paraffin Bath

One of the benefits of having a slightly shop-a-holic mother with a short attention span, is that I get to make use of the rarely-used, long forgotten gadgets and 'gizmos of the moment' which have found their way into the depths of her closets.

My newest acquisition is this Revlon Moisture Stay Paraffin Bath.  Since I am 'into' my nails and hands at the moment, and do not go to the spa for spa-manis, I thought I would try out a wax dip at home.  The unit is like a specialized crock-pot which holds 3 pounds of melted aromatherapy paraffin wax, holding it at the 'recommended for heat therapy' temperature range of between 131 and 142 degrees Fahrenheit.  The warm wax removes dry skin cells from the hands (and/or feet), smoothes the skin, and the gentle heat can ease everyday aches (and even arthritis pain).  The scent of the wax (this particular one is 'rain scented', lol!) and the process itself also 'help soothe senses' and promote relaxation.  Great for the cuticles, too!

It takes about 2 hours to fully melt the wax in the unit so a bit of pre-planning is necessary before using this appliance.  When the wax finally melts it's time to enjoy the pampering of a paraffin bath.  You have to take off jewelry, roll up sleeves, wash and dry hands, and apply some lotion.  Then you dip your hands in the melted wax, with fingers slightly spread.  Immediately you remove your hand and let the wax solidify...then repeat the dipping steps 4-5 times to build up the layers.  Then you cover your hands with disposable bag liners and slip them into the insulated mitts which come with the bath.  Next is the fun part!  Relaxing for 15 minutes!  When you're all done, the mitts and bags are removed and the wax is easily peeled away.  While you can re-use the wax, it is recommended to discard the used wax from your hands.  This allows you to use the remaining wax in the bath 40 times before cleaning thoroughly (20 times if you re-use the wax, ie. return the wax peeled from your hands back into the rest of the melted wax).

At first I found the temperature of the wax a bit hot and was nervous about immersing my hand into it completely, because I have sensitive skin.  The directions warn of this and it is recommended to test the wax on the inside of the wrist first.  I was fine, and really enjoyed the whole experience.  After the wax is removed, you massage in the oils left on the hands.  My hands felt sooo soft afterwards!!  It was a lot of fun!

I searched to find whether it was ok to wear nail polish when doing the treatment.  I found one professional who preferred giving the paraffin bath after the nail polish was dry because the oils left after the dip are hard to remove and that would affect the polish adhesion.  Others recommend the bath as part of a manicure before polish is applied.  I tried it with polish on already and the wax did not affect the polish at all and the polish did not affect the wax either.  When I called the manufacturer with a question, the representative said it didn't matter either way.

These paraffin baths run about $65 and the wax refills are about $15 for 2 pounds of wax and more disposable liners.  I think it would take a long time before needing refills - even when you discard the wax after each use as I do.  I easily sliced off chunks of the extra wax which came in the box with a knife to replace the discarded, used wax and get the level of melted wax up to the 'minimum' line.  This is an older model unit.  The newer model has a graduated heat switch (not just an on/off switch like this one) and a 'keep warm' setting.  It also has a prettier design with some pink plastic on it!  I plan on using the bath once a week when I do my manicure.  I haven't tried it on my feet yet but I bet it will feel very nice as I always have very cold feet!  It will surely get used more in the winter, when we Canadian ladies get very dry skin from our cold season!  I am storing the bath in my bathroom cupboard, not in the box in the basement closet, so it is easily accessible and will actually be used.  It's fun to be able to do these kinds of things at home and, like the bread maker or power washer or treadmill...if it's packed away and too much of a pain to get out and use, you won't!  The only downside with the paraffin bath is that it takes so long for the wax to melt.  I figure if I'm going to the trouble to melt it I will let my friends know and they can come over and have a dip too!

i-Skin Pore Perfecting System

I recently became interested in the Clarisonic electric skin cleaning brush but with a price tag of over $200 I just wasn't willing to purchase it.  (That seems like an awful lot to me for a brush!)

As I always do, I began to research and investigate more affordable yet comparable alternatives to what I wanted.  What I found was the i-Skin Pore Perfecting System.  I purchased it at Sally Beauty for under $40 (cheaper in the U.S. and on-line).  The kit comes with the battery operated tool, brush head, and Foaming Deep Pore Cleanser.

The product claims to reduce the appearance of visable pores, fine lines, and wrinkles; reduces oily patches, dry skin, and blemishes; leaves skin feeling and looking smoother and clearer.

I have used the i-Skin (you apply the cleanser to wet skin and rotate the brush, which vibrates, in a circular motion around your face) several times a week for a couple of weeks so far.  It definitely deep cleans the skin and removes all traces of dirt and make-up.  When toner is applied after using the system, there is no visible residual make-up on the pad.  I feel my skin is super clean and clear and very, very soft and smooth after use.  Apparently, this also allows any products used after cleansing (ie. toner, night-cream, SPF, etc.) to penetrate more readily and function better.

While $25-$40 may seem like a lot for a brush to some, it is a far cry from the $200+ for the original Clarisonic.  The i-Skin is virtually the exact same product and achieves the results I was looking for.  It is very convenient that the tool is AA battery operated (as opposed to the Clarisonic which must be charged in a base unit), making it perfect for travel.  Although it's listed as waterproof (allowing it to go in the shower for use), I just use mine at the sink and wipe it dry afterwards.  The brush head pops off for rinsing and I dry that as well.  Almost all the reviews I have read about the i-Skin are favourable, and I am extremely pleased with the product and am very happy I decided to try it.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! 

Salt

I think we are a continent of salt addicts and I know I tend to be heavy-handed when it comes to salting food.  I use coarse, Kosher salt most often for cooking, table salt for baking, and sea salt occasionally in recipes.  I keep a ceramic pot of salt right beside the stove for easy access...but perhaps I should move it!

Most of the salt people eat comes from sodium chloride (table salt) and most people get far more than they need.  Obviously, it is best to limit the sodium and salt in the diet - too much can be linked to high blood pressure.  With all the processed foods consumed, and hidden salt in those foods, it can be a real challenge to reduce that intake, but it's so important for good kidney health.

*Some tips for cutting down on salt are:

• Remove the salt shaker from the table
• Taste food first to see if it really needs salt
• Use more spices and herbs in cooking
• Avoid salting the cooking water for vegetables and pasta
• Try unsalted snack foods or prepare your own
• Use fruits and vegetables as snacks
• Try to make things from scratch so you can control the amount of salt added
• Try to use leftover roast meats for sandwiches instead of processed luncheon meats (which are high in sodium)
• Read labels and choose unsalted and reduced sodium foods

(* Food Guide Facts 6. Background for Educators and Communicators.  A Closer Look at Other Foods. Health Canada, 1992)

I actually incorporate most of the above strategies in our family's routine...but I still could improve!  Not salting the pasta water would be tough for me (I don't salt veggie water - probably after watching my mother dump salt in the pot and then boil the vegetables to death when I was a kid), and I always leave the salt in if it's listed in a recipe.  All we can do is be more aware and try to do better...

 

 

 

Exercise

My 2nd healthy tip for 2010 is to try to add more movement into your day...