DIY Life

Planning a dinner party, but can't stand the sight of your dull pots and pans? Follow this simple tip to bring the shine back onto your pot rack (and make your home smell fresher than an autumn orchard!):

Boil a few apples and/or apple peels in water to get that aluminum shiny and new. That's it! Easy enough, right?

Have a few other pans to clean? Follow this easy guide:
Cast Iron pans: Wipe out with a damp cloth rather than completely wash them, dry completely to prevent rust.
Copper pans: Dip the bottom of the pot in leftover pickle juice. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes and rinse well.
Burnt pots & pans: Make a paste from equal parts water & baking soda, rub into burnt area and let it sit for an hour!
Enamel ware: To remove discoloration, mix equal parts salt and vinegar, clean area & let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse well.

Why not print this out and tape it to the inside of your kitchen cabinet for a no-fail cheat sheet? Happy cleaning!

Brr.... the weather is getting chillier by the second. Time to winterize with these handy tips from our friends at ShelterPop!:

Doors
1. Check to see if your door is out of alignment. If it's uneven at the bottom or along the side then you'll have gaps that allow cool air in. You also won't get a good seal if you apply weatherstripping. Check the hinges and adjust the strike plates and latches to bring your door back to alignment.
2. If your door doesn't have a bristle sweep at the bottom, consider adding one. It will help insulate and keep the floors cleaner.
3. Check the door threshold and replace it if it's worn.
4. If the rubber sweep at the base of your garage door is worn or too compressed, replace it.
5. Rubber compression strips are great for patio and sliding glass doors.
6. Replace screens on storm doors with plastic or glass fill-ins.

Windows
1. Apply neoprene strips or rubber compression strips to the base of window sashes as well as along the side of sliding windows.
2. Use clear silicone caulk to seal around the interior and exterior casing.
3. Use basement window well covers to prevent heat loss.
4. Check for broken or cracked panes and replace them. The will break even more in the winter once moisture freezes.

Expensive gym membership draining your bank account? Home gym equipment isn't cheap either. But, wait! There is a DIY alternative. Some creative fitness enthusiasts are making their own strength training equipment ... and saving big bucks in the process. Coming up: three examples that demonstrate how easy budget home workouts can be!

1. DIY Ab Bench. A step-by-step guide tells you how to make a simple abdominal strengthening bench. This one requires just a sturdy plank and PVC pipe screwed to the rail of someone's deck. – Fitness Training at Home

2. Bulgarian Training Bag. An inner tube filled with sand makes a versatile – and cheap! – half-moon shaped training bag. It's a fraction of the cost of dumbbells but can be used in just as many different ways. – DIY Strength Gear

3. DIY Medicine Ball. Stab a basketball, fill with sand then glue it up with Liquid Nails and tape with duct tape. It ain't pretty, but it does the job of a real medicine ball ... without the expense. – Washington Post

I've heard a variety of different methods for keeping your brown sugar de-clumped, and to be honest, I'm a bit wary of each one. Here's a breakdown of what the grapevine says about keeping your brown sugar fresh --- why not give it a shot and report back with your findings?:

According to ThriftyFun:
Store brown sugar you plan to save for later baking in an airtight container with a fresh slice of bread. The moisture in the bread will keep your sugar soft, moist, and ready-to-use. When the bread dries and hardens, simply replace it with a fresh slice. You can feed the old, dry one to the birds and squirrels.

From WiseGeek:
If your brown sugar is hard as a brick, you can restore it to a usable consistency by placing it in a tightly sealed container with an apple wedge for one to three days.

From WiseGeek:
You can purchase a terracotta disk at many kitchen supply stores that will keep your brown sugar free flowing.

Which sounds like the real deal to you? Any brown sugar tips you swear by?

I'm on bread duty this Thanksgiving and would love to bake a few homemade creations. Looks like I'll be tuning in to this great video -- and stat!:



Here are your step-by-step instructions!:

Step 1: Mix the flour and salt
Mix the flour and salt in a medium-size bowl.

Step 2: Combine yeast and water
Put the yeast, water, and half the flour mixture in a large bowl and mix it together with your hands until it's doughy. Cover with a clean dishcloth and let it sit at room temperature for three hours, until it more than doubles in size.

Step 3: Add remaining flour
Using your hands, mix the remaining flour mixture into the dough.

Step 4: Knead it
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Oil a bowl
Place the dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl, turning the dough around in the bowl so it gets covered with oil. Cover with a dishcloth and let it sit for another hour. It should nearly double in size.

Step 6: Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and knead the dough one more time for about five minutes before dividing it into three parts. Roll each part into a long baguette with your hands, and let them rise in a warm, draft-free spot, for another half hour.

Step 7: Slash and moisten
Make four lengthwise slashes on top of the loaf with a sharp knife, going no deeper than ¼ inch. Lightly spritz or brush the top with cool water. If you're not using the baking stone, cover an upside-down baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle it with cornmeal.

Step 8: Bake
Place a medium-size bowl filled halfway with water on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake the baguettes in the middle of the oven on the baking stone or sheet. Remove the bowl after 15 minutes. Continue baking the bread until golden, 20 to 30 minutes total.

Good luck!

It's time to break out the silver and buff out those tarnished serving pieces, but first --- your DIY guide to cleaning silver, using mostly items you already own around the house!

For small items, slightly tarnished:
Use white toothpaste. Dab a bit on your index finger and rub the toothpaste directly onto the tarnish. Wipe clean and presto -- new silver!

For medium-sized, more tarnished items:
Use baking soda and a damp sponge. Mix equal parts baking soda and water, then rub the mixture onto the silver with a clean sponge. Rinse with hot water and polish dry with a soft cloth.

For large or badly tarnished items:
Using the same mixture as above, coat the silver with the baking soda paste and let sit for a few hours. Then, run the silver under hot water and rub with a clean, damp sponge. Repeat if necessary.

You'll silver will look shiny and new -- just like your holiday baubles!

Face it; your furry friends are as part of the family as anyone, and this year, keeping them safe is top of mind. Just the same, keeping your Christmas tree safe is a priority, too. Holidash shows us how to protect both Fido and the christmas tree this year! Read on!:

* That pan of water that is keeping your tree from drying out can be very attractive to thirsty pets. But that sticky water can also make them very sick. Discourage drinking by cutting a piece of screen or other sturdy mesh fabric to fit and duct tape it over the pan. This will keep little tongues out while still allowing you to replenish the water supply.
* Cats love to bat balls around -- especially bright, shiny ones that are attached to a Christmas tree. Prevent breakage and possible injury by decorating your tree with plastic or wooden ornaments.
* That little metal stand that is holding your tree in the vertical position is no match for a rowdy pet with a running start. Get rid of it and invest in a large, sturdy tree stand. For extra protection, attach a string of fishing line from the top of the tree to a small hook in the ceiling.
* Puppies like to chew on things and those lower limbs of your Christmas tree may prove irresistible even to the most well-behaved little dog. Surrounding your tree with a baby pen might not be the most attractive solution, but is surely the safest. Otherwise, don't allow your puppy to be alone in the same room as the Christmas tree.
* Avoid tinsel. Cats find it delicious and fun to chew, but it can cause serious damage to their digestive systems.
* To discourage chewing on your light cords, spray them with bitter apple. Unplug the lights when not in use.
* Clean up fallen needles regularly. Some dogs will eat just about anything and these sharp pine needles can cause internal injuries if ingested.
* Don't decorate with edible ornaments. If it smells like food, a determined pet will find a way to reach it.

Aussie-style Christmas wreaths, resplendent with fresh and fragrant blue gum or succulent leaves. Definitely doable in warmer climates. – Absolutely Beautiful Things

Planning a room redo? Shelter Pop predicts next year's hottest home colors. – Shelter Pop

Give little ones a worthy seat at the kids' Thanksgiving dinner table this November. This example in Country Living shows how it's done. –via It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home

Blogger Nicole reveals the yummy and relaxing paint colors used throughout her home. Pretty pinks and "Chocolate Froth" really speak to me. – Making it Lovely