DIY Life

I'm thinking of switching up the holidays this year and gifting presents for Thanksgiving, rather than Christmas. Why not offer up some DIY pumpkin facial masks to a few of your favorite lady friends? The tutorial is simple and easy to do:

Pumpkin Face and Body Mask
* 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
* 1/4 cup bentonite clay (available at health food stores)
* 1 tbsp honey
* 2 tbsp water
* 1 tbsp almond oil
* 2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and apply evenly to your face or anywhere else you'd like to smooth. Leave on 10 minutes before rinsing. Almond oil moisturizes, clay draws out impurities, honey replenishes collagen and cinnamon improves circulation.

And guess what? "Pumpkin contains antioxidants such as vitamins A and C, as well as phytonutrients that help keep you looking young," says Michelle Schlekewey, spa director at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego.

An extra serving for me, please!

Keeping tomatoes and citrus fruits in the fridge is a big no-no. Besides the fact that I hate cold tomatoes, their shelf life will be so much longer if it's not refrigerated. But did you realize that you should be storing them as far away from the refrigerator as possible? It's true --- keep tomatoes and citrus fruits away from the fridge (preferably on a sunny window's shelf) for the longest shelf life possible.

I don't know why it works, but it does. You should see your fruit's shelf life almost double if you test the theory. Plus, your fruit will be juicier, which means it will taste yummier. Bonus!

Want more kitchen hacks for smart food storage? Read on, friends:
-Like to buy in bulk? You need a vacuum in the kitchen! Make an 'Alvin' Vacuum Sealer.
-Want to know how to store cheese (and yes, there's a special way!). Cheese: There's More to it Than You Think.

Wow, that sounds a lot more harsh than necessary. Did you realize that you can remove the scent of onions and garlic from your fingers by gently sliding the face of a stainless knife across them? Sounds like a joke, but it's true! Gently is the operative word, guys -- unless you'd like to get a bit bloody for Halloween this year.

And yes, it's kitchen hack week here at DIY Life. For more fun and inventive ways to make things easier for you in the kitchen, check out a few of my favorite DIY Life articles below!:

1. Out of cleaning supplies and no time to re-stock? Clean your entire kitchen with one lemon.
2. Have an extra towel rack laying around and collecting dust? Turn your IKEA towel rack into a condiment spice shelf.
3. Learn your freezer know-how: 20 Foods That Freeze Surpisingly Well... and 20 That Don't.

Tis the season to be jolly... and cook like a maniac. I find myself spending more and more kitchen as the weather drops a few more degrees, and although I don't necessarily enjoy cooking, I do love the smell of homemade dinner on the oven! What I don't love is the amount of finger burns I've accumulated from my hot cookie sheets, scalding tea kettles and fireside marshmallows. No worries; in my adventures, I've learned a secret tip to keeping those digits pain-free after a burn! Hint: It's in your pantry!

Curious? I'll give you another hint: You put it on a hot dog and it rhymes with custard. Yep --- mustard! But not just any mustard will do the trick; you want to rub spicy mustard on the burn directly. Works like a charm, and I have a funny feeling it heals the wound just as fast as the leading drugstore brand.

First aid from the condiment aisle? Sure!

I'm being literal here --- I once vowed to grocery shop only at the 99cent store in Los Angeles for an entire month. Although I filled up on quite a few Teddy Grahams, generic Goldfish crackers and granola bars, I found that it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to put together a few nutritious meals every now and then. And after stumbling upon this video, I've learned even more tips to use! Want to see for yourself (of course you do!)?:



A few key tips to keep in mind!:
1. Always check expiration dates. Dollar-store items sometimes have a short shelf life.
2. Keep your pantry stocked with staples that are not always available in dollar stores, like butter.
3. The five best dollar-store buys are cleaning supplies, gift wrap, snacks, shampoo, and kitchen accessories.

That's it! You'll be a dollar store shopping pro in no time!

Everything's better with bacon, whether we're talking bandages, mints or even [eek!] air fresheners. As a massive pork fan myself, I'm amazed to find these yummy looking bacon cups, courtesy of NotMartha. Want the recipe? You got it...

To create the cup shapes, Megan used the back of this Wilton King-Size Muffin Pan, which are the width of jumbo muffins but are almost twice as tall (see this cupcake for a visual). Megan used two layers of bacon on the sides and wove it like a basket. She notes that for as floppy as the bacon is when trying to weave it, it keeps its shape really well once cooked to the point that it is crisp.

Megan then set the oven at 400 degrees and carefully formed foil over the back of the muffin pan. She cooked the bacon, moving the pans around, until it was crisp and waited for it to cool before removing the foil and shaped bacon.

Genius, right? I'm amazed. Go, Megan!

I invested in my first Costco membership two years ago, despite my reluctance to do so. I'm a firm believer that living simply is the way to go, and shopping at a mega-warehouse such as Costco just seemed to contradict my "Simplify!" mission statement. After all, there's nothing simple about 200 rolls of toilet paper in a 900 square foot apartment.

Yet I was pleasantly surprised when my grocery bill was cut in half at the end of the year. It turns out that by following a few key rules of bulk shopping, you really can save in a huge way. Here are the ground rules I stick to --- whether I like it or not:

1. Only purchase items that you regularly buy. My mother always told me "It's not a sale if you don't need it," which I realize now as an adult, is the truth. Start out buying household items that you use often, such as toilet paper, hand soap, trash bags, paper towels and shampoo/conditioner.

2. Only purchase items that you have room to buy. My first Costco trip was an incredible waste, as I found myself handing out boxes of minute rice, bottles of ketchup and packages of TV dinners after realizing my kitchen cabinets couldn't sustain the sheer amount of food I had brought home. So if you don't want to hand out mustard to your Trick-or-Treat'ers this year, be sure to follow this important rule.

3. Only purchase items that you won't eat in bulk. The truth of the matter is that if it's in your home, you'll eat it. If you're trying to cut back on your portion sizes, bulk food shopping may not be for you. The temptation is to finish off the remaining food in your home, and no one needs a triple-super-sized pack of Oreos. If you find that bulk shopping is truly cheaper for your family, try storing the excess food in a separate area of the home or a less-visited pantry. Keep it out of immediate reach, but in a consistent place so that you won't forget you've already purchased it!

And of course, the golden rule? If you find yourself throwing away a regular-sized item, don't ever purchase this in bulk. Seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how often I've toted home fresh blueberries and promised myself I'd eat them all...

Have a look at this party. You think you know who's designed it, don't you? Could your first guess be Martha, perhaps? WRONG! Looks like Amy of Eat, Drink, Chic is giving Ms. Stewart a run for her money -- buffet style. How lovely is this ice cream party, complete with DIY-inspired tutorials, printables and adorable personal touches? I'd love to throw a similar occasion to welcome in the fall, with a different color scheme but the same chic style! Amazing!

I'd include fall-inspired M&M's with autumn colors like orange, red, brown and yellow, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sprinkles and the like. Wowza. That sounds so good just typing it all out! I doubt it would be as pretty as Amy's party, but at least it would taste luscious!

For more party-inspired ideas, why not check out a few other inspired ideas from DIY Life?:
-How to Host a Progressive Dinner Party
-Daily DIY: Green Your Child's Birthday Party

I've got apples on my mind this week, and it's not just because I visited an orchard yesterday. There's something about fall that makes me crave the delicious red fruit in any shape or form, whether it be bobbing for apples, sipping a warm cup of cider or engaging in a few, fun apple-icious crafts! I've rounded up a few of my favorites (for every room in your home!) below for your autumn enjoyment. Let the apples begin!:

In the kitchen:
For a delicious apple recipe, try apple and cheese pancakes. They sound a bit odd, but are both healthy and indulgent at the same time. I love waking up to a Saturday morning batch of these yummy pancakes when the weather turns colder!

In the bathroom:
Try Grandma's Apple Pie lip balm! All you need is a few key ingredients, including apple scented oil, beeswax and jojoba and aloe vera oils. The tutorial is right here and is easy as pie. Grandma's Apple Pie, to be exact.

In the craft room:
Have a spare paperback book? Why not turn it into a statement piece with this easy paperback apple tutorial from Cheeky Magpie. Better yet, surprise your favorite teacher or librarian with this homemade gift. They'll be touched... if not offended you've defaced literary work. But probably just touched.

In the bedroom:
You've closed your windows with the cooler weather, and now your room smells stuffy and stiff. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and tap water into a spray bottle and mist your room with the solution. The vinegar will absorb any unwanted stenches and replace the odor with apple cider goodness!

In the backyard:
Of course, there's a use for rotten apples, as well. Ever heard of apple golf? Pretty self-explanatory, so head to your backyard driving range and let the games begin! (Watch out for disgruntled neighbors and play fair. No one wants surprise apple juice on their property...)

In the living room:
Want instant artwork with pizazz? Take a cue from this first grade classroom's recent art project and create apple prints worthy of framing. Put your own spin on the craft by experimenting with colors, textures and frame sizes.

I'm a bit of a coffee addict; so much that I've recently been second-guessing my aversion toward home coffee makers. I suppose I assumed that if I didn't have a coffee maker, I wouldn't drink coffee. Clearly, I didn't factor in the massive Starbucks right around the corner...

Anyway, I learned this simple coffee maker cleaning tip over the weekend and couldn't wait to share it with you! Each week, grind a 1/4 cup of dry, white rice. Not only will your blades rid themselves of coffee bean grime, but the appliance will smell fresher, too! And I have a funny feeling that a fresher appliance means fresher coffee. And fresher coffee means a fresher morning! See how that works?

And of course, for coffee recipes, tutorials and related DIY how-to's, check out Make's caffeinated round-up of DIY Coffee tricks and tips! Careful, though; you'll be getting jitters in no time.

So, your cutting board is antique, beautiful and a family heirloom... but incredibly blemished. After all, it's been through countless salads, pastas and dinners and once hosted your aunt's prize-winning ham. Now that you've finally got it in your kitchen, your can lighting has revealed quite a few nicks from the years. Don't worry; here's a quick tip for covering any unsightly dings. And you'd never have guessed the surprising fix is in your pantry...

Split a walnut or pecan in half and rub it directly onto any wooden surface with dings and/or nicks. Feel free to snack on the remaining half while the oil from the nut absorbs into the wood. Your wood's blemish will disappear right before your eyes, making the original, pesky nick virtually nonexistent.

How's that for a snack? Boosting your protein and making over your cookware -- all in one step? Those are some pretty brilliant nuts.

School is back in full swing and chances are, your schedule is bursting at the seams. Why not delegate snacktime to your children with these easy, handy-to-make treats for your kiddies?

1. Ants on a Log
Keep a few strands of celery available in the refrigerator. Add peanut butter and raisins to the "log" for a fun and nutritious snack!

2. Crunchy Apples
Store some sliced apples in your fridge, along with some granola and peanut butter. Have your children roll the peanut-butter covered apples in loose granola over wax paper. It tastes delicious!

3. Tortilla Rolls
Roll ham, turkey, cheese and lettuce in tortilla wraps. Add your favorite condiment or sandwich spread to spice it up!

4. Cinnamon Toast*
Place a slice of whole-wheat bread in the toaster, top with butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar sparingly.

5. S'Mores**
You know the drill; graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows make this fun treat. Place in a microwave on medium temperature for ten seconds.

6. Parfait
Add some vanilla yogurt, loose granola (or GrapeNuts cereal) and fresh blueberries or strawberries into a cup or mug. Top with whipped cream for a sweet surprise!

7. English Muffin Pizzas**
Divide an English Muffin into halves and spread tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or your favorite toppings!) onto each half. Microwave for twenty seconds and enjoy!

8. Banana Dog
Spread peanut butter onto a hot dog bun and sandwich a banana between each side of the bun. I've never met a kid that didn't love this recipe!

9. Trail Mix
Encourage your child to create their own trail mix by keeping pretzels, peanuts, granola, dried fruit and yogurt chips on hand.

10. Frozen Grapes
This takes some prep time, but teach your child the art of preparation with this handy treat. Place a bag of grapes in the freezer overnight, and by the time they arrive home, frozen snacks will await them!

With these yummy recipes, your kids will stop badgering you about dinner and start helping themselves to nutritious snacks. A win-win situation if you ask me!

*requires use of toaster
**requires use of microwave

So, you know you're supposed to pitch that mascara after three months, but what about your body souffle that's been hiding in the back of your cabinet for... oh, a few years. Check the label. Many products have a PAO label, which stands for "period after opening." You can spot the PAO by looking for a number followed by the letter "M", which stands for months (i.e. 36M).

Cool, right? Now if you can only remember when you purchased that souffle in the first place...

Actually, we have a solution for that, too! Simply place a sticker dot with the date of any beauty supply product you've purchased. Keep a few sticker dots in your bathroom to remind you, and you'll never forget another expiration date again.

Try the same trick in your kitchen to combat your son's yogurt-turned-scientific-experiment! Your entire family will consider you a genius, and the food poisoning hotline will happily agree.

Sure, you see the logo for Marine Stewardship's Council on your local market's salmon filet, but what does it all mean? Here, we'll walk you through four popular organic food labels, why they're great for you, and what they truly mean.

CERTIFIED VEGAN:
These products contain no animal ingredients or byproducts in its manufacturing, as well as contain no ingredients that have been tested on animals.

AMERICAN HUMANE CERTIFIED:
This label contains ingredients from farm animals that engage in normal behaviors, are not caged and are raised by employed trainers.

FOOD ALLIANCE CERTIFIED:
The Food Alliance certification ensures that food producers involved in the making of the product experienced safe and fair working conditions, reduced pesticide use and conserved energy and water.

FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED:
This label is most often found on coffees and/or teas and signifies that the growers received a fair, above-market price for their goods.

Next time you're in the grocery store, look for these important labels and make a difference --- the DIY way.

Etsy seller Ideaka loves take out food enough to incorporate the packaging into a fun new DIY lighting kit. Chow mein never looked so good (unless you're on a diet, of course).

To win this lighting goodie, comment below with your favorite take-out-food-inspired DIY and keep your fingers crossed. Good luck, and hurry -- contest ends Friday!

CONTEST RULES

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us your favorite take-out-food-inspired DIY project!
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Friday, September 11, 2009.
  
• You may enter only once.
  
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one Take Out Light (valued at $40).
  
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
  
• Click here for complete Official Rules. Winners will be notified by email, so be sure to provide a valid address!