Rhubarb Cream Cheese Hand Pies

Read article : Rhubarb Cream Cheese Hand Pies

Everything is better in bite-sized form! Eat your favorite spring fruit in these juicy two bite rhubarb cream cheese hand pies.
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From what I can tell, baby-wearing is the new little black dress.

Which is why ALL THE COOL KIDS are doing it.

And by that I mean, almost everyone I know is set to bring a wee bairn into this world within two weeks of my wedding date.

Which basically means the probability of someone is going to go into labor AT MY WEDDING is pretty much 100%. No pressure to all those with due dates in and around November 29th. (But seriously, make it happen. Bride’s orders.)

My friend Georgia is set to enter the world of mommydom a biiiitttt sooner than that. Like, any day now.

And I couldn’t be happier for her!

Neither can all of her blogger friends, which is why we’ve all banded together to throw her a surprise baby shower!

Georgia is such a sweetheart, and I can always feel her warmth and compassion shining through in her posts and comments.

Or maybe that’s just the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I look at her delicious food. Hmmm.

Either way, I’m sure the little girl she is about to bring into this world will be just as delectable as any of her culinary creations, if not more so.

And to restrain myself from nibbling down on her sweet cheeks, I’ll need something equally as appetizing to shove into my mouth. Like these hand pies, which pretty much make for the perfect sweet sour creamy buttery bite.

Being that these only require one hand to eat, they leave ample opportunities for baby holding, baby cheek pinching, and playing pin-the-tail-on-the-umbilical-cord (an age old baby shower game). So no matter whether you have a baby, know someone with a baby, or just want to get in on some hand pie double fisting action, these are the sweet treats for you.

And if they also happen to win you “Daughter of the Year” award on Mother’s day…then don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Congratulations, Georgia! Can’t wait to meet your sweet baby girl.

I wish you and your growing family all the happiness and hand pies your hearts can take!!

Rhubarb Cream Cheese Hand Pies

Eat your favorite spring fruit in these juicy two bite rhubarb cream cheese hand pies.

Yield: 24 hand pies

Ingredients

For the crust

• 3¾ cups all purpose flour
• 1½ tbsp sugar
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1½ cups unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
• ¾-1 cup buttermilk

For the rhubarb filling

• 1 lb rhubarb stalks, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
• ⅓ cup sugar

For the cream cheese filling

• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 large egg yolk

For assembly

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp water
• coarse sugar

Instructions

1. To make the pie dough, in the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter pieces to the bowl and pulse until the pieces are pea-sized. Add in ¾ cup of the buttermilk and pulse until the dough starts to come together. Turn out onto a clean surface and knead until it is fully combined, adding more buttermilk as needed.
2. Split the dough in half and pat into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight. Repeat with second half of dough.
3. For the rhubarb filling, put the rhubarb and sugar in a medium pot. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, no need to stir. Increase the heat to medium, remove the lid, and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until running a spoon across the bottom of the pot leaves a trail. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. For the cream cheese filling, whisk together the cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and egg yolk. Chill until ready to use.
5. Heat oven to 400. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat remaining egg and 1 tbsp water. Set aside.
6. On a well-floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about ⅛th-inch thick. Using a cookie or biscuit cutter, cut the dough into 2 or 3-inch circles.
7. Brush half of the dough circles very lightly with the egg wash. Top with 1 tsp rhubarb filing and 1 tsp cream cheese filling. Top each with a second circle that has been vented by making small cuts in it. Press the edges together so that they form a seal. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough. Brush the tops with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Allow to cool before serving.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 pie

3.5.3208

For more cute hand pie ideas, check out these:

Caramel Pecan Hand Pies

Cherry Nutella Hand Pies

Mini Caramel Apple Hand Pies with Brown Sugar Glaze

Frosted Berry Hand Pies by Foodiecrush

Vanilla-Cardamom Pear Hand Pies by An Edible Mosaic

Mini Lemon Hand Pies by Lemons for Lulu

More from my site

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

(Like what you're reading? Sign up for our newsletter to get health insights, clever kitchen tricks, gardening secrets, and more—delivered straight to your inbox. And follow along on Facebook and Instagram.)

How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

(Like what you're reading? Sign up for our newsletter to get health insights, clever kitchen tricks, gardening secrets, and more—delivered straight to your inbox. And follow along on Facebook and Instagram.)

How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips : TipNut.com

Read article : Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips : TipNut.com

It’s mosquito season and I have buffalo sized ones zipping around the backyard as I type this.

Thanks to their first feast on my ankles tonight and an earlier comment from Kim, I was inspired to dig through every tip I had regarding mosquito bites and relief from the itching. Scritch Scratch.

I haven’t tried most of the suggestions below, but I’ll note which ones have worked for me.

Here are more than 40 tips organized in one neat file, each bullet point is a single method:

Household Items:

1. Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory soap) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar of soap directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz with water first and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
2. Place a piece of scotch tape on the bite; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the area first then stick on a piece of tape.
3. Hot water: Take a hot shower, or a hot bath, or apply a hot compress. As hot as you can stand it without burning you.
4. Ice cube, ice pack or very cold water

Dabbers

The quicker you can apply one of the remedies below, the faster the relief. These are topical suggestions, apply directly to the area.

1. Nail Polish
2. Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
3. Toothpaste (works for me)
4. Mouthwash
5. Vinegar (apply directly or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar in the water)
6. Honey
7. Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on) – apply directly to skin
8. Rubbing Alcohol
9. Ammonia
10. Bleach
11. Tea: Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on skin

Paste Applications

Mix these fresh then apply as soon as possible. The consistency should be nice and thick so it won’t run, yet will still stay in place on the affected area. You could also spritz bite with water then apply grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in.

1. Baking Soda & Water (works for me)
2. Meat Tenderizer & Water
3. Salt & Water (works for me)
4. Epsom Salt & Water (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot area affected)
5. Tums Tablets: crush and add a few drops of water
6. Aspirin: crush then add a few drops of water
7. Aspirin – crush then apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol

Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Applications

*Apply directly

1. Calamine Lotion
2. Benadryl Cream
3. Orajel
4. Anbesol
5. Caladryl
6. Vicks VapoRub (works for me)
7. Preparation H (works for me)
8. Lucas Papaw Ointment
9. Tiger Balm
10. Bag Balm
11. Gold Bond Medicated Cream (or the Gold Bond Medicated Powder)
12. Mylanta (heartburn relief product)
13. After Bite

Essential Oils

Apply full strength. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.

1. Tea Tree Oil
2. Lavender Oil
3. Witch Hazel (astringent)
4. Cedar Oil

Leaf Applications

*Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply

1. Basil
2. Plantains (Plantago)

Fruity Applications

*Use fresh fruit & apply directly to skin

1. Lemon Juice
2. Lemon Slice
3. Lime Juice
4. Lime Slice
5. Banana Peel (rub with the inside of the peel)

Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite remedy, please add them below.

Notes

• If a remedy doesn’t provide fast relief, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.
• The itch is a reaction from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species and you may react to some species bites more than others.
• If large swelling occurs (like welts), contact a doctor or pharmacist for suggestions (especially if it’s a child with a strong reaction). It could be an allergy to the bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling and get treatment asap.

Update: You’ll find tips on repelling mosquitoes here.

Published: June 14, 2007
Updated: September 8, 2012

16 Ways To Deep Clean Your Bathroom - And Keep It Clean

Read article : 16 Ways To Deep Clean Your Bathroom - And Keep It Clean

If there were one room in the house you were to hate cleaning the most, it would be the bathroom. Somehow it just always seems a little dirty, yet it’s the room we clean ourselves up in. All the dirt just somehow manages to find a way to store up in the little nooks and crannies we often forget about, where it gets worse until you eventually do something about it.

With just a few household items and these helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to effectively deep cleaning your bathroom in no time.

1. Make shower grout sparkle again

With a baking soda and bleach concoction, a toothbrush, and some time to scrub, you’ll have immaculate shower grout in no time.

2. Easily get rid of stubborn mold in caulking

By soaking cotton balls in bleach, you can get rid of stubborn mold the easiest way possible. Simply set the cotton balls along the stained or moldy caulking, allow it to sit overnight, and presto!

3. Accomplish a clean jetted tub

You don’t need the help of dish detergent or harmful cleaners to clean the small crannies of tub jets. With just the help of a little baking soda, vinegar, and water, you can let it soak and easily scrub it with a toothbrush and towel.

4. Clean out the bath drain

Throwing some Draino in there is an easy, quick fix, but it doesn’t get down to the root of the problem. By cleaning out your drain the old-fashioned way, you can. All you’ll need is a few tools to disassemble the tub stopper, vinegar, and baking soda.

5. Create a spotless plastic shower curtain

Did you know a plastic shower curtain can be cleaned in the washing machine?! Just add one or two cups of white vinegar to the load and a couple of towels to avoid the shower curtain clustering together. Make sure to allow it to air dry as the plastic will melt in the dryer.

6. Say goodbye to deep stains in the sink

This will take a little more time, as it is a three-step process. But you don’t have to worry about scrubbing until your hands burn with the help of a product known as “Bar Keeper’s Friend.”

7. Fix a slow draining bathroom sink

If you have a U-shaped trap, you know just how easily grime, hair, and other crap builds up. To ensure your sink works better for a longer period of time, you can completely clean it out with the help of this tutorial.

8. Remove hard water buildup with ease

Forget about CLR or other cleaners that promise to remove hard water buildup. With a mixture of white vinegar, dish soap, and lemon juice, the grime will be gone in no time.

9. Keep the toilet clean all year without scrubbing

Try making your own DIY tablets to clean the toilet. All you need is citric acid from the canning aisle, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and any essential oil you prefer. PopSugar

10. Abolish hard-to-clean toilet rings

Did you know Kool-Aid actually contains citric acid that can break down grime and even hard water deposits?! Just sprinkle a little Kool-Aid (lemonade flavor only) around a toilet bowl, let it sit for a couple hours, and stubborn toilet rings are gone in no time.

11. Eliminate grout stains in the floor

To make your home look brand new again, a little powdered oxygen bleach and water can go a long way. Scrub the mixture into the floor, and watch it transform.

12. Make your own floor cleaner

Not only do store bought floor cleaners smell like chemicals, they don’t always clean as well as we’d like them to. You can make your own that will leave your floors in squeaky clean condition by mixing equal parts vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol with a few drops of liquid dish soap. It will cut through grease easily, and you can even personalize it by adding your favorite essential oils to aid in the process and make your house smell wonderful. Tea tree oil, for example, is great for disinfecting.

13. Don’t forget to clean the bathroom exhaust fan

As one of the most neglected things probably in your entire home, it needs a good cleaning from time to time too. Because you’re taking the cover off to clean the entire fan, make sure you turn off the breaker to make sure you don’t accidently shock yourself. You can find a full tutorial here.

14. Rejuvenate your bathroom storage cabinet

Whether you have a cabinet under your sink, or on the other side of the room, go through your bathroom storage area. Consolidate products, get rid of anything you don’t use or need, clean it out, and add a shelf liner. You can make it more productive and organized by adding baskets, hooks, or a lazy susan.

15. Disinfect your toilet plunger often

After uses, rinse off the plunger by flushing the toilet a few times. Then, mix dish soap with bleach directly in the toilet, swishing the plunger around in the mixture. Your toilet and plunger can all be cleaned at the same time.

16. Remember to clean the toilet brush too

If you think about it, the toilet brush is probably one of the dirtiest things in your bathroom. Combine hot water with two caps of bleach, let the brush soak for an hour, and then rinse it off with hot water.

 

30 Ways To Upgrade Your Apartment On A Budget

Read article : 30 Ways To Upgrade Your Apartment On A Budget

So you’ve just moved into your first apartment on your own (or with roommates), and you seem to be baffled by how expensive everything is! Well don’t worry, because there are ways to upgrade your apartment on a budget. Sure, you pay electricity and internet.. and water..and heat. There is some serious budgeting needed in order to live comfortably. I also understand that you want to know more than just “put baking soda in your fridge to avoid it from stinking up.” So here are 15 great ways to upgrade your apartment while on a budget! Good luck!

*This article is in collaboration with Kayla Nannariello.

1. Use Command Hooks!

The most standard tool among students! Command hooks have a universal purpose, to make life easier. I have command hooks for clothes, I have command hooks for lights, I have command hooks for my whiteboard and anything else I want to hang. they can hold a lot of weight depending on the size of hooks you get. I have hooks for my keys, my umbrella, any dangling wires and even my night light! These little life and space savers not only make it easier to find stuff, but also make your place look so much cleaner and organized…something you definitely want to see when you come back from a long day of classes. This way you will have a place to put your keys instead of throwing them around and regretting it the next morning when you’re rushing around.

2. Use the free cups and bottles you get around campus fairs (housing fair, clubs and organizations fairs, career fair.)

Don’t just use them to drink; use them as pen stands, stands to hold your dish washing brush, fill them up with change that you don’t want in your wallet. I covered my cup with three layers of paper on the top and made a slit through the center and there you have it, your college piggy bank (you’re going to need that money for laundry and err..)
The bottles particularly, can be used to store pretty much anything. One of my bottles is filled up with paper clips. The other is in the fridge so I have cold water when I need it, and another one makes for an easy lime-juice dispenser.

3. Don’t hold back, get a huge trash can.

This is by far the most convenient thing I have done for myself in the apartment. We bought a 55 gallon trash can from Walmart and now we save on trash bags all the time…and the best part? We don’t have to take it out very often. If you want to budget and you’re lazy, this is a win-win. Moreover, these giant cans have a cover, so they don’t stink up the apartment even if you decide to dump food that’s days old because, come on, let’s face it, every college student forgets to throw away old food for a long time because they actually forgot or they’re just procrastinating.

4. Keep those twist ties you get with almost anything you buy.

You know when you buy a loaf of bread or something that has wound up wire over it? And you decide to throw it away? Don’t. These things can come in handy at any time in your apartment. Leaving for summer and don’t want to let the cutlery just lie around? Use this to wind up the spoons together and store them away. Phone charger too long for where its plugged in? Wind it up a bit and hold it together with this! Tape can make it sticky, very easily. Opened a pack of Doritos and want to save it for later? Don’t leave it open, use these!

5. Use an old or cheap blanket as a window blind.

I’m not kidding, some blankets at Walmart go for less than $8, and if you are renting an apartment, it’s highly unlikely that it will come with fancy blackout curtains. Get a blanket, and use command hooks to hang it up right around your window. Put two loops at the bottom corners so you can roll it up and hook it to the hooks on the top to make a blind, there you go! Cheap and easy blackout curtains to help you sleep in after that rough Friday night.

6. Use over-the-door hooks.

You don’t want to have to deal with putting 5 command hooks up when you know you need them there, and you want something that you can load up more than just the capacity of those sticky magicians. They’re cheap and there are so many options on Amazon. There are no restrictions for these and you do not need to do any work, just stick the hooks over the door so they hold on and hang away! In any case, most rental apartments will not allow you to drill holes and screw in hooks and this is the only alternative to get hooks as strong.

7. Get LED strip lighting for your apartment.

Ever get that feeling when you don’t want any lights on but also want to be able to see and move around your room? Here’s your solution, and it’s pretty cool. These lights go for anywhere between $15-$25, and they come in lengths up to 32 feet! You simply put them across the top of your room’s walls with command hooks (of course) or if the wall is flat enough then you can even use their built-in adhesive. They have a remote, and they are LEDs, so they’re barely using any electricity. They have brightness control and color changing capabilities for when you’re throwing that Saturday night party. It’s easy, cheap and will impress any guests. They can set the mood, become an ideal everyday light and even become party strobe lights.

8. When life gives you lemons, CLEAN!

You know how after you make a glass of lemonade, you throw out the squeezed lemon…right? Wrong. This is the perfect way to save yourself from over-spraying the kitchen with Febreze. Just throw that thing into the sink disposal, run it and run warm water as you do so. Crushed lemon will release a fresh aroma, much better than using any spray since it’s acidity will clean as well. Got a dirty or stinky microwave? Grab any microwavable mid-sized bowl and fill it halfway with water, cut a lemon in half and squeeze both halves only a little into the water, not all the way. Now dump them into the water and microwave for 3 minutes. Once it’s done, your microwave will smell fresh and will be much easier to clean!

9. Use a giant bowl of water to keep your room air from being too dry.

The weather gets dry and cold in the winter, which means we all start having dry hands, and feel really dehydrated. Our apartment heaters can be the culprit in this dry air problem. A simple solution is to take a large bowl, fill it with water and simply place it in your room. This works, and it works well. It will keep the air slightly humid and especially if you’re from a less cold region, you will be saved from terrible and painful dry skin. Save your money and don’t buy those heavy and space hogging humidifiers, do this instead!

10. Use Brita filters!

If you’re the kind that likes to drink bottled or filtered water, you’d be spending at least $4 a day or more than those who drink tap water. But what if I said you could drink filtered tap water? Look no further! If you don’t already know about Brita jugs and filters, you need to know. These things have filters built into them, so it’s as easy as filling up a jug by turning on the faucet. It even reminds you when to change a filter, and no its not every week, it’s around every 4 months.

11. Buy everything in bulk.

If you’re at Walmart and you love getting orange juice for that night, it is very likely that you will come back to get more. Instead, save yourself the trouble and the money…buy a giant jug of it, or even four jugs of it. Buying bigger packs saves more than you think, and you will have to make less trips, so there’s time and energy saved too! This applies to pretty much anything from frozen food to toilet paper. I would even recommend buying the large boxes of laundry detergent/pods. You’re not going to stop doing laundry, so you might as well stock up.

Using Amazon’s ‘dash buttons’ is a pretty neat way to be lazy too. Just press the button when you’re running low and there you have it, delivered supplies to your doorstep. They even have these things for Red bull and Gatorade cases, and they don’t cost anything extra. You get a discount on your first order that matches the amount you paid to get the button so that’s pretty neat and convenient.

12. Buy Windex, a lot of it.

This magical solution we all know is much more useful than you think it is. You can use it to clean counters, tables, wall stains, floor spills and pretty much anything that your apartment life can throw at you. Simply buy a refill after your first spray bottle. Fear not, Windex can even clean your stained bathroom mirror very easily so you can look good and feel fresh every morning!

13. Buy space-savers for literally everything.

I have one for snacks, one for stationery and one for cutlery. We also have one in the living room which helps when we simply leave our stuff out. There are sizes that fit on a table to keep small items and sizes that stand alone and can even be used as a bedside table or in my case, a place to keep the bowl of water so the air doesn’t get too dry!

14. Look into Mainstays products.

They make inexpensive household items such as the space-savers I mentioned. They also make furniture, so if you’re looking for a desk in your room, a chair, a comfortable chair to watch TV in, sheets, blankets and anything else you might need, they probably have it. Remember, most of these items are the cheapest when the semester starts and the large stores are having their sales. Most of my kitchen, including plates, cooking vessels and cutlery is from Mainstays, they have great deals and it’s definitely worth it.

15. Add some Throw Pillows!

Throw pillows are a great way to spruce up your apartment without spending too much     money. They come in millions of prints, so you’ll always be able to find ones that match your personal style and the look you’re going for!

16. Use decorative baskets as opposed to plastic storage bins.

Baskets are a great alternative to plastic storage bins. They act as decor but keep your things organized just as well! There are so many cute basket options out there whether you enjoy wired baskets, canvas, or woven ones and they come in all shapes and sizes to fit into whatever space you need!

17. Wall art makes a huge difference!

Dress up any boring drab walls you have in your apartment with some wall art. The possibilites here are endless! You can even buy just the prints or download prints from sites like Etsy and add your own frame.

18. Add slipcovers to your furniture.

Do you have an old beat up couch and can’t afford to buy a new one? No worries, just buy a slipcover. Slipcovers are awesome because they come in so many different colors and designs, and you can switch them out whenever you want a new look!

19. Make your space more inviting with picture frames.

Another cheap way to spruce up your apartment is to buy cute picture frames and fill them with your favorite pictures! It’s a great way to add a personal touch to your apartment. This will make your living space feel more cozy just like the home you grew up in!

20.  A rug.

If you don’t like your flooring, area rugs are a great way to cover it up. They come in so many different sizes that you’re bound to find one that will fit your space. A good rug can do wonders for an apartment by covering up any messed up flooring and making your apartment look bigger than it actually is.

21. Set out some candles.

They’re cheap, they smell good, and they act as decor. Candles have a great way of turning any drab apartment into an inviting atmosphere!

22. Decorate with artificial succulents.

Fake succulents are great because they require no maintenance. And unlike real plants, you don’t have to worry about replacing it when it dies.

23. Your table lamps can make a statement.

Instead of buying simple lamps for your end tables, get more interesting ones. Not only will they dress up the room, but they are bound to be a conversation starter.

24. Buy simple furniture.

When buying furniture, don’t buy anything crazy. Go for things that are neutral colors and won’t go out of style and can look timeless in any setting.

25. Choose the right comforter.

Your comforter can make or a break a room, and unless you are absolutely in love with a printed comforter, I wouldn’t buy it. Instead, go for a solid color, preferably a neutral. This way you aren’t limited on how you decorate your room. The solid color also gives the room a very clean feel.

26. Opt for placemats.

Placemats are a super cheap way to make your dining room or kitchen look instantly more put together.

27. Get a shower curtain.

Shower curtains take up the most room in a bathroom, so make sure yours is something that people won’t mind looking at. Resist the crazy printed ones and instead, go for a simple print that will dress up your bathroom and make it seem brighter and bigger.

28. Add a good throw blanket into the mix.

Throw blankets are great because they give a cozy feel to the room and it’s always great to have a blanket nearby, but they also work as decoration.

29. Add some mirrors to your walls.

Mirrors are amazing because they make the room look bigger and they tend to draw in people’s attention.

30. If you ever need anything for your apartment, always look it up Amazon first.

When I was setting up my apartment, there were many things I found that I didn’t even know would help me so much! For example, many of my sockets have a switch extension, so I can turn them off while I am not using them, without unplugging them. This is especially useful for behind the bed and under the desk sockets, since unplugging requires a lot of effort and plugging it back in is even worse…you might even have to move the entire piece of furniture. Power strips, USB adapters and anything you can think off, it’s probably cheaper on Amazon.

Do you have any other good ideas on ways to upgrade your apartment on a budget? Share in the comments below!

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Featured Image source:http: //homelk.com/apartments/cute-college-apartment-bedrooms-for-girls

Tags: apartment essentials, apartment hacks, things you need for your first apartment, upgrade your apartment, upgrade your apartment on a budget, ways to upgrade apartment

Brennan’s Mountain Saga (i.e. Brennan Attempts Camelback … Mountain Wins) - Division of Nephrology

Read article : Brennan’s Mountain Saga (i.e. Brennan Attempts Camelback … Mountain Wins) - Division of Nephrology

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December 2, 2016

A Little Time to Kill

The talk at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, had gone well. Back at the hotel, he answered some emails and finished preparing for another meeting the following day. The dinner with his cousins who live nearby was not for a few hours. Dan Brennan, MD, FACP, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Renal Diseases, had a little time to kill.

Since Camelback Mountain is located just behind the Phoenician Hotel where he was staying, Dan decided to take a little hike. That was what he had done 20 years ago when he last visited the area. In fact, he remembered being able to “practically run up” Camelback with his friends. He changed into his khakis and well-worn, duct tape-patched New Balance running shoes. At around 3 p.m. he started the trek up Camelback.

View from the Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ.

Something else he remembered from 20 years ago was how crowded the trail was at the time. Not now. He passed only a few people on the trail. He exchanged pleasantries with one woman, joking about how easy the climb was many years ago. She encouraged him on. After the next few switchbacks, she disappeared from view. He thought that maybe she had turned back.

The trail itself was not quite as he remembered, either. The trail was becoming more and more narrow the higher he went. Before long, he was practically climbing up the rocks. He kept going, though, determined to prove he still “had it in him” to make it to the top.

Dan eventually realized that, time wise, he probably wouldn’t make it to the top of the mountain and get back in time for his dinner. This is a memorial dinner for his Aunt who died a few months back, and it is not something he’s going to miss. He tells himself that he will hike another half hour or so and then head back down.

At about 4:15 p.m., he decides to call it quits. He stopped, turned around, took a selfie, took a picture of Phoenix in the distance. He turned to step back on the trail … and realized it wasn’t there.
Amazed, he walks around … looking … thinking, Where’s the trail? I was just on it! The trail is simply gone.

That is when he felt the first bit of panic.

He decided the only thing to do was to start descending, trail or no trail. After only a few steps, though, the loose shale gives way under his feet and he starts slipping. He instinctively reaches out to grab onto anything to help him stop his 20-foot slide down the mountain. When he finally does stop, a “lemon-sized” nettle and multiple cactus needles are embedded in his left palm. He tries to pry them out with a stick, and when that doesn’t work, tries to tweeze them out between two rocks. Making the matter even more painful is that the cactus needles have penetrated his running shoe and are embedded in his foot.

Camelback Mountain from the ground.

He pushes on, alternating a cautious descent with sliding down the mountain, picking up more nettles and cactus splines as he goes.

One last slip sends him shooting down the mountain.

Dan must have put his foot out to break his fall. When he stops, he is on his back in severe pain. Looking down at his right foot, he sees that it is completely inverted at a right angle. The talus bone has dislocated under the calcaneus bone.

Though he doesn’t see any protruding bone or blood, he can’t rule out a compound fracture. Nevertheless, he can’t bear weight on the foot. He checks his cell phone. No reception.
Now he is in full-mode panic.

“Somebody might see a body and come investigate”

Dan notices that maybe 1000 – 1500 feet below him is one of the Phoenician Hotel’s golf courses. He starts working his way down, inches at a time. After about half an hour of this slow, tortuous descent, Dan says he simply “ran out of juice”.

He started shouting and whistling for help. Exhausted and in pain, he lay back on the slope. OK, God, is this it? Because I don’t have any more strength, Dan recalls thinking. “I thought I was just going to die on the mountain,” he says. “Lord, give me a sign.”

He got one. He hears a golf cart and sees a groundskeeper. Dan starts yelling and whistling again and thinks he has gotten the man’s attention. Dan keeps shouting, “Help! Help me! I’ve broken my ankle!”

Brennan’s duct-taped “not the best hiking” shoes.

Maybe the man in the golf cart didn’t hear Dan after all. Maybe there was a misunderstanding. Whatever the reason, the groundskeeper drives away, never comes back, and never relays that someone was in big trouble on the side of the mountain.

By this time, it is about 5:30 p.m., and Dan realizes that if he doesn’t get off the mountain NOW, he might not be getting off at all … alive, that is. He starts sliding down the mountain, again, inches at a time for about another hour. “I just keep going and going,” he says.

And the only thing that kept him going at this point was the thought of his children. I have to get down for the kids. I have to get down for the kids. “There was no more to it than that,” he says. “I just had to get down for them.”

Finally, Dan makes it to within 20 feet of the golf course and reaches for his cell phone.
He can’t find it. In one petrifying moment, he thinks the phone has fallen out of his pants higher up on the mountain. But his pants are ripped and bunched and twisted around him to the point that the pockets aren’t where they are supposed to be. With some frantic searching, he finally finds the phone in his side pocket, which is now in his lap.

He is just shy of the fairway. He turns on his phone. Again, no reception. This is not good.

It occurs to him that if he could roll himself into the middle of the fairway, someone from the clubhouse “might see a body and come investigate”.

There is one big problem, though. Straight ahead of him is a big patch of cacti and nettle plants. He has to decide whether to go straight down 20 feet, or go more than 30 feet to the left, backtrack and then go forward.

Cacti view of Camelback Mountain.

Dan admits that he does not remember which path he chose, but says, “I must have taken the direct
route.” His doctor later told him that when they took him to the operating room, they pulled out hundreds of needles from his thighs and back. Even days later, when he got back to St. Louis, they were still pulling out cactus needles, some three inches long.

He finally makes it down the mountain, and, yes, rolls himself to the middle of the fairway. He is unable to stand and is in incredible pain.

“I get my phone out and I am shaking like a leaf. I try to dial 911. I can’t,” he recalls. He presses the Siri button.

“Siri, I need 911.”

When the 911 responders come on line, Dan tries to explain that he is in bad shape and is on the golf course at the Phoenician hotel.

“Which one?” they ask. “We have a lot of golf courses in Phoenix.”

At about 6:30 pm, with daylight fading, help finally arrives. With some difficulty (involving a heavy ambulance, a soft golf course and multiple golf carts), the paramedics were finally able to get Dan off the fairway and to a hospital in Scottsdale.

Getting off the Mountain was Just the Beginning

Brennan broke bones in both legs. Surgery included excising necrotic tissue and a subsequent skin graft.

And so began Dan’s months-long, ongoing recovery. There have been multiple surgeries for broken bones in both legs (tibial plateau fracture in the left leg, broken talus in right ankle), a surgery to excise necrotic tissue and a subsequent skin graft, and an impromptu home procedure he and his aide Alexis performed to extract a cactus needle from his toe nearly two months after the accident. On the relief of finally being rid of the inch and a half long “pesky thorn”, he says, “You can’t believe how happy this makes me.”

As a patient, Dr. Brennan now has a first-hand understanding and perspective of the ordeals that, unfortunately, are common for many patients.  Being cared for by overworked residents. Talking to hospital personnel who don’t listen to you. Suffering the side effects of unwanted medications. Dealing with healthcare services (impossible on the weekend!). Knowing that there is a likelihood of lingering, if not permanent, physical problems. Being totally dependent on others. Bedpans. Sponge baths.

And the traumatic Foley catheter incident? Well, that is an entire story in itself.

Nearly two months after the accident, Dan is making progress. He ticks off all the “positives” from his last orthopedic appointment: All the stitches are out; he doesn’t have to wear the brace on his left leg and only on his right leg if he is up and about; he can wash the whole right leg with soap, but can’t soak it yet; he might get the pins removed from the right leg soon. Helping him through this whole ordeal is his wife, of whom he says, “Susan has been wonderful.”

Dan discovered that two weeks before his accident, someone died on the mountain.

He also learned that the trail he started on that day, the Cholla Trail, was not the wide trail he had run up with friends 20 years ago. “That trail was the Echo Canyon Trail,” he says. “I later learned that the Cholla Trail requires a significant amount of ‘rock scramble’ and the descent often requires sitting down and going down very slowly.” In addition, Dan admits that his old running shoes patched with duct tape were probably “not the best hiking shoes”.

Dr. Brennan’s World Series winning beard.

Despite the long recovery, Dan hasn’t lost his sense of humor. “I grew a beard for a month, but shaved it off after the Cubs were down 3-1 to change their mojo,” he says. “It worked. They won the next three. They owe me big time.”

Dan hopes to be able to get back to work soon, hopefully by January, 2017.

In the meantime, there is one thing that would really make his life a little better … a shower.

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RSVP'S Beauty Awards 2016 - RSVP Magazine

Read article : RSVP'S Beauty Awards 2016 - RSVP Magazine

Welcome to your essential beauty bible. Alex Hatton, together with Ireland’s leading beauty experts, brings you the definitive collection of the most effective skincare, body and make-up products on the market.

MEET THE JUDGES
Alex Hatton,  Maura Derrane and Sarah Keary

Our columnist Alex Hatton brings you a collection of the most effective buys in skin and body care. These gems are a must for every beauty buff.

BEST VALUE CLEANSER

Simple, Micellar Water, €4.99 A star budget buy. An express, easy and efficient no-rinse cleanser and make-up remover solution.

BEST TONER

Urban Veda, Purifying Hydrating Toner, €18.99 www.urbanveda.co.uk A simple spritz of this light facial toner hydrates, refreshes and soothes skin.

BEST DAILY EXFOLIATOR

Dermalogica, Daily Microfoliant, €53 An RSVP favourite. This hard working rice-based powder exfoliates dead cells, leaving skin smoother and clearer.

BEST FACE MASK

SkinCeuticals, Hydrating B5 Masque, €58 Beauty editors stock up on this gem because it’s packed with deeply hydrating vitamin B5 to help restore the skin’s natural moisturising factor. Skin genuinely becomes softer and more radiant.

BEST DAYTIME MOISTURISER REFORM

Everyday Moisturiser, €39.99 Everything you need in one jar: it reduces moisture loss, restores the skin barrier function and protects the epidermis against free radicals.

BEST SPF FACE

Eucerin, Sun Protection Sun Fluid Mattifying Face SPF 30, €18.50 A matte melting formula that delivers UVA-UVB protection. Specially formulated for the visage and ideal under foundation.

BEST NECK CREAM

NeoStrata, Skin Active Triple Firming Neck Cream, €63.95 This cream is your only answer to directly targeting the appearance of wrinkles and creases on the neck and décolletage.

BEST FOR RADIANCE

Murad, Intensive-C Radiance Peel, €65 This at-home peel treatment is packed with a powerful cocktail of glycolic acid, vitamin C and indian fig to brighten, smooth and hydrate.

BEST SERUM

Emma Hardie, The Midas Touch Face Serum, €80 This treatment serum is packed with powerful antioxidants – it’s also super hydrating – and skin feels more subtle, toned and radiant after application.

BEST EYE CREAM

Kinvara, Eye Wow Eye Serum, €29.95 Perk up your peepers with this newbie juice that contains a powerful blend of 11 plant extracts targeting dark circles, fine lines and puffiness.

kinvaraskincare.com

BEST ANTI-AGEING PRODUCT

Eau Thermale Avène, PhysioLift Precision Wrinkle Filler, €39 Completely fuss-free, just one simple click helps to visibly correct deep wrinkles and furrows around the mouth and nose, the eye area and forehead in just three weeks.

BEST LIP BALM

Nuxe, Rêve De Miel Lip Balm, €12 It soothes, softens and helps rejuvenate your pucker with intensive moisture and a kiss of honey.

BEST VALUE LIP BALM LIDL

Cien Bodycare Lip Balm, €1.59 (for a pack of three) A purse-friendly buy that instantly hydrates parched pouts.

BEST BEAUTY SUPPLEMENT

Viviscal, Maximum Strength tablets, 30 capsules, €49.95 The daily cosmetic supplement that nourishes hair from within to give you the luscious locks you’ve always wanted.

BEST DETOX TEA

Miss Fit Skinny Tea, 14-Day Teatox, €24.99 The #1 natural, laxative free teatox programme that allows you to lose up to five pounds in five days. You just sip your way to a slimmer you.

BEST FACE OIL

Kiehl’s, Midnight Recovery Concentrate, €44 A Hall of Fame beauty buy! Just a few drop of this elixir and you’ll wake up to a fresher more radiant face: fact!

Kiehl’s.com

BEST NIGHT CREAM

Lancôme, Visionnaire Nuit, Beauty Sleep Perfector, €74 The skincare launch of the year: this nightly number transforms the quality of the skin while you slumber. it is smoother, more elasticated and radiant upon waking.

lancome.com

BEST PRODUCT INNOVATION

Elizabeth Arden, Superstart, Skin Renewal Booster, €59 Meet the next gen in skincare: the beauty booster! Used just before serum or moisturiser this booster works on the surface layer of the skin to increases its natural defenses and ability to renew.

elizabetharden.com

BEST CLEANSER

Liz Earle, Cleanse & Polish, €21.87 A beauty icon. This hot cloth cleanser leaves skin clean, soft and radiant. Ideal for your morning or evening cleanse.

lizearle.com

BEST MOISTURISER

Crème de la Mer, The Moisturizing Cream, €138 Experience the comforting richness of the famed “miracle broth” in a rich, lux cream. Expect an immediate improvement in moisture levels and radiance. It’s worth every single cent!

cremedelamer.co.uk

BEST BUDGET BODY MOISTURISER

Vaseline, Spray Moisturiser, €7.49 This is the business: a snazzy spray system, that dispenses a moisture rich lotion quickly and evenly for an all over coverage in seconds. Just spray and go!

vaseline.us

BEST BODY MOISTURISER

L’Occitane, Almond Milk Concentrate, €44 A cult classic. Enriched with powerful almond extracts, this milk melts into the skin to help it look firmer and smoother while delivering a 48-hour hydration hit!

uk.loccitane.com

BEST VALUE BATH WASH

Radox, Muscle Soak with Sage & Sea Minerals, €4.44 This bubble bath leaves skin refreshed, soft and squeaky clean. It’s the beauty equivalent of a hug.

BEST BATH OIL

Neom, Tranquility Bath & Shower Oil, €48 This elixir is packed with 19 essential oils including lavender, sweet basil and jasmine. A real beauty treat.

BEST VALUE BODY SERUM

Dove Derma Spa, Uplifted+ Massaging Body Roll-On, €11.99 A nifty roller-ball serum that moisturises and massages as it rolls to improve firmness and elasticity. It also smells divine!

BEST BODY BUTTER

The Body Shop, Spa Of The World, Hawaiian Kukui Cream, €39 The bodycare product of the year: this deeply nourishing emollient is packed with famed kukui oil to restore the skin’s natural suppleness.

BEST DAYTIME BODY OIL

Waxperts, Beautiful Body Oil, €9.99 This multi-usage dry oil contains a cocktail of star active ingredients to nourish, repair and soften skin.

BEST EVENING BODY OIL

Holos Skincare, Good Night Body Oil, €16.90 This Irish holistic hero is all you need for night-time skin moisturising and is made up of a calming trio of essential oils: lavender, chamomile and rose.

BEST BODY SHAPER

Thalgo, Stomach and Waist Sculptor, €44 We love this: it helps to firm the deeper layers of the skin for a tighter and firmer looking waist. Just in time for summer!

BEST BUST TREATMENT

Palmers, Cocoa Butter Formula Bust Cream, €9 A must-have beauty weapon for a perkier pair; specially formulated with pure cocoa butter cream and vitamin E that smoothes on like gel.

BEST HAND WASH

The Handmade Soap Company, Lemongrass & Cedarwood Hand Wash, €12.95 Nourish and revive your paws with this zingy and refreshing hand wash. Buy Irish!

BEST HAND CREAM

Green Angel, Seaweed & Lavender Hand Cream, €20 We’re dedicated fans of this luscious cream packed with minerals and essential oils to nourish your mitts.

BEST VALUE HAND CREAM

Ziaja, Goat’s Milk Hand & Nail Cream, €3.49 A brilliant budget buy: this intensive hydrating formula keeps your paws soft and supple.

BEST FOOT CREAM

Aveda, Foot Relief, €26 For happy hoofs, slather on this deeply nourishing cream designed to sooth the roughest and toughest feet!

BEST NAIL TREATMENT

Sally Hansen, Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment, €10.99 Whatever your nail dilemma this is the solution: after just three days, nails look shinier, stronger and brighter.

BEST DEODORANT

Sure, Max Pro, €7.35 A summer essential. Simply use before you hop into bed, wash off in the morning and rock off knowing this number will keep you dry all day.

BEST BODY SCULPTING TREATMENT

CoolSculpting, River Medical Group, from €840 A great non-invasive way to reduce fat by up to 40% after one treatment. Results can be seen within 4-6 weeks but as your body ‘gets rid’ of the fat cells you will continue to see results for up to 3 months.

BEST NAIL VARNISH RANGE

SoSu, Nail Polish Collection, €7.99 A digit game changer: gives the look of a gel finish without the need to visit the salon.

sosueme.ie

BEST HAIR REMOVAL PRODUCT

Waxperts Wonder Pads, €9.99 for 40 discs These little wonder pots are a bathroom must-have. Use daily in between waxing, or after shaving to avoid ingrown hairs.

waxperts.bigcartel.com

BEST BODY EXFOLIATOR

Organic Surge, Tropical Bergamot Skin Perfecting Body Scrub, €16.99 This uplifting wonder pot is packed with natural pumice, sweet orange and bergamot essential oils to gently polish and smooth your skin.

organicsurge.com

BEST SHOWER FOAM

Molton Brown, Dewy Lily of the Valley and Star Anise, Bath & Shower Gel, €22 This scrumptious, sudsy shower gel is blended with delicious Lily of the Valley: it leaves a light floral scent while deeply cleansing the skin.

moltonbrowne.co.uk

Sarah Keary is one of Ireland’s most established make-up artists with a background in fashion, television and bridal. Her celebrity clients include Pippa O’Connor Ormond, Kathryn Thomas and Sharon Corr.

BEST VALUE PRIMER

Flormar, Illuminating Primer Make-Up Base, €9.95 Prep and prime to selfie ready skin with this brilliant illuminating base.

BEST EYE PRIMER

Smashbox, Photo Finish 24-Hour Shadow Primer, €23 An eyelid primer that instantly makes your shadow look more vibrant and locks on color for a full 24 hours – no fading, creasing or smudging!

BEST VALUE FOUNDATION

L’Oréal Paris, True Match Foundation, €14.99 This lightweight and silky texture glides on seamlessly for an all-day, buildable coverage.

BEST POWDER

Giorgio Armani, Luminous Silk Compact, €45 We covet this chic compact; it delivers a flawless finish with a gorgeous touch of the famed Armani illumination.

BEST FACE CONCEALER

NARS, Radiant Creamy Concealer, €28 Partied a bit too late last night? Mum’s the word with this lightweight concealer!

BEST UNDER EYE CONCEALER

Clarins, Instant Concealer, €26 This buy just might be your new best friend. It instantly brightens dark shadows so you look refreshed and revived.

BEST EYESHADOW

M∙A∙C, Eyeshadow, €16.50 A highly pigmented powder that applies evenly and blends seamlessly. Available in a host of hues.

maccosmetics.com

BEST GEL LINER

Inglot, AMC Gel Liner No.77, €15 This black glam gel eyeliner glides on like a dream, making it ideal for creating the perfect feline flick.

BEST VALUE LIQUID LINER

Essence, Easy 2 Use Jumbo Eyeliner, €2.89 One of the thickest eye marker pen on the market; accurate lines are super easy to achieve, even if you’re an eyeliner newbie!

BEST VALUE MASCARA

Catrice, Glam & Doll False Lashes Mascara, €4.50 This number scores extra points with its curved brush, which reaches each individual lash in one swift swipe.

BEST BROW FILL

Benefit, Brow Zings, €34 Put your best brows forward with this mini brow salon, it’s complete with all the tools you need for perfect brows!

BEST VALUE BROW FILL

WetnWild, Colour Icon Pencil, €2.49 Give the brows in your life the special attention they deserve with this versatile dual-ended pencil.

BEST VALUE POWDER BLUSH

Sleek, Blush in Rose Gold, €5.49 A brilliant beauty dupe! This longlasting and highly pigmented blush glides on smoothly and packs a great colour punch.

BEST LIPLINER

Maybelline, Colour Sensational Lip Liner, €5.99 Mirror like colour with reflective shine formula. This literally does not budge!

BEST RED LIPSTICK

Max Factor, Marilyn Monroe Lipstick Collection, €10.99 each This is so special: a beautiful edit of four lux lippies inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s signature rouge pout.

BEST LIP GLOSS

Rimmel, Oh My Gloss, €6.99 Perfect glam on the go! Your lips are instantly drenched with a seriously sexy shine.

BEST FALSE LASHES

Fuschia Make-Up, Faux Mink Lashes, €15 The most glam false lashes a girl can get – and they’re so lightweight, you’ll forget you’re wearing them too!

BEST CELEBRITY COLLABORATION

UD | Gwen Stefani Blush Palette, €42 Such a chic cheek collection developed and designed by the iconic Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay. You need this in your beauty wardrobe!

BEST POWDER BLUSH

Charlotte Tilbury, Cheek to Chic Swish & Pop Blusher, €39 This delivers a flattering flush of colour in two easy steps. Blend it on the apples of your cheeks for a just-pinched look. We love it!

charlottetilbury.com

BEST HIGHLIGHTER

Rosie for Autograph, Marks & Spencer, Highlighter Powder, €20 This gorgeous creamy highlighter boosts skin radiance in seconds. A highlight for the highlife!

marksandspencer.com

BEST FACE SCULPTOR

IsaDora, Face Sculptor, €25.95 This wheel of wonder contains a richly pigmented bronzing powder and highlighter, and blush. A musthave for your bag of tricks.

isadora.com

BEST PRIMER

Yves Saint Laurent, Touche Éclat Blur Primer, €38.00 This glitzy gel-based formula creates the perfect canvas for flawless, longer lasting make-up – simply apply and glow!

yslbeautyus.com

BEST MASCARA

Lancôme, Hypnôse Volume à Porter, €27.50 Let your eyelashes take centre stage with this wonder wand that gives lashes length, lift and va-va voom.

lancome.co.uk

BEST LIPSTICK

Shiseido, Veiled Rouge Lipstick, €25 Pucker up with this creamy, satin lippy that locks on to lips in one swipe, delivering an intense colour payoff.

shiseido.com

BEST FOUNDATION

Clinique, Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer, €32 This new formula provides a medium coverage, yet it’s so light in texture it almost feels like you’re not wearing foundation.

clinique.com

BEST PALETTE

Pippa for Blank Canvas, €34.99 This is the business: it’s packed with five matte nude toned shadows, a highlighter, peachy toned blusher and contouring powder.

blankcosmetics.com

BEST TAN TREATMENT

Guinot, Huile Mirific, Gold Nourishing Dry Oil, €39.25 A luxurious dry oil that delivers a stunningly sexy shimmer to the skin. A real tanning treat and officially our favourite find of the awards!

Guinot.com

BEST GRADUAL TAN

Karora, Gradual Tan Face & Body, €14.99 Get glowing with a daily dose of natural colour and a burst of hydration. Layer it up for a richer honey-dipped tan.

karoracosmetics.com

BEST BRONZER

Bobbi Brown, Face & Body Bronzer in Medium, €46 A beach bag essential, we adore this light-weight bronzing powder that highlights, colour and contours.

BobbiBrown.com

BEST INSTANT TAN

Cocoa Brown, Instant Tan Bronzing Gel in Shimmer & Matte, €6.99 each This delivers an instant, faux flawless tan and comes in a matte and shimmer finish. Every girl should try this!

cocoabrown.ie

TAN FOR FACE

Garnier, Ambre Solaire, No Streaks Bronzer, Dry Face Mist, €12.20 An ultra fine mist which dries instantly to give a streak free, gorgous golden hue to the face and neck area.

BEST TANNING SUPPLEMENT

Pharma Nord, TanCare, €18.95 (for a twomonth supply) Packed with beta-carotene, these clever capsules enhance the appearance of your skin and will give you a gorgeous golden tan with less sun exposure.

Maura Derrane believes that a spritz of perfume can lift your mood, make you feel confident and indeed evoke happy memories of times past. Maura is also mum to Cal who is nearly two years old. Maura places a lot of emphasis on what skincare products she use on Cal and herself: here are some of her all time favourites.

Perfume –

BEST DAYTIME

Shiseido, Ever Bloom, EDP, 50ml, €76 Modern and feminine, this musky white floral scent is a timeless addition to any perfume collection. It’s a very intimate and smooth scent – and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.

BEST FRESH

Tom Ford, Neroli, Portofino Acqua, 50ml, €120 This is Tom Ford’s original Neroli scent with additions of citrus notes like orange and lime. It is the Italian coastline in a bottle and conjures images of orange groves and warm sea breezes.

BEST CELEBRITY

Britney Spears, Fantasy, EDP, 30ml, €27.50 If you like really sweet and chocolaty fragrances this one is for you. With notes of sweet fruits – lychee and kiwi –and gourmande notes of white chocolate, this is a really girly perfume.

BEST SCENTED BODY WASH

Viktor & Rolf, Flowerbomb Perfumed Shower Gel, €45 If you love to start your day with your favorite scent, then a shower gel is the way to go, especially this one with its uplifting notes of bergamot and rose.

BEST SCENTED BODY LOTION

Jo Malone London, Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Lotion, €50 No need for any perfume when you wear this body lotion. It has a brilliant silky consistency that totally envelopes your body with powerful notes which include clove, raspberry and pomegranate.

BEST SCENTED BODY CREAM

Roger & Gallet, Fleur d’Osmanthus Precious Revitalising Balm, €23 This is one the most revitalising scents, with the beautiful fleur d’Osmanthus at its heart, which has a peachy and orangey smell. The balm itself is enriched with precious oils like almond and shea butter, and literally melts into the skin.

BEST REED DIFFUSER

Max Benjamin, Tea Diffuser, €24.95 We adore this reed diffuser; it’s warm, comforting and the on-trend tea notes coupled with the fresh zest of lemon provide a delicious scent for your home.

BEST LUXURY CANDLE

L’Occitane, Lavender Candle, €25 Enriched with relaxing lavender essential oil, this scented candle fills your home with a soothing, aromatic atmosphere for up to 23 hours.

myloccitane.com

BEST NEW FRAGRANCE

Brooke & Shoals, Lemon Leaves, Grapefruit and Green Tea, EDT, 50ml, €60 A totally uplifting and invigorating scent. The lemon and grapefruit are to the fore when this is first sprayed, but it settles on the skin as a soft cologne.

brookeandshoals.ie

BEST ROSE

Juicy Couture, Viva La Juicy Rosé, EDP, 100ml, €85 This is a zesty mix of fruit and jasmine with powdery rose and woody notes at its base. It is a modern and youthful take on a rose scent.

juicycouture.com

BEST FLORAL

Lancôme, La Vie Est Belle Florale, EDT, 50ml, €63 A totally different compilation to the original fragrance. It has more of a zingy scent thanks to the additions of osmanthus and bergamot. A stunning scent.

lancome.co.uk

BEST EVENING

Marc Jacobs, Decadence, EDP, 30ml, €62 A sweet deep perfume with top notes of plum and iris with a woody and amber base. The sweetness still comes through when it settles on the skin. This is a good night time choice and the bottle is a perfume collector’s dream.

marcjacobs.com

Mother and Baby –

BEST BABY WIPES

Water Wipes, Baby Wipes, €2.99 These Irish wipes are perfect for newborn babies as they contain 99.9% water and the only other ingredient is grapefruit seed extract. They don’t have any scent and are very moist, which is exactly what you need for the little ones.

BEST BABY BODY WASH

Mothercare, Little Softie, Top to Toe Wash, €2.50 A paraben-free, no-tears wash that is gentle on both baby and mum’s skin. Suitable to use from birth.

BEST BABY MOISTURISER

La Roche-Posay, Cicaplast Baume B5, 40ml, €7.50 This is a multi-tasking hero product. Mum can use it as a body cream and as a nappy cream for their little one. It can also be used on dry or irritated skin. It contains vitamin B5, shea butter and thermal water to soothe the skin. We love it!

laroche-posay.com

BEST SUPPLEMENT FOR MUM

Cleanmarine, Krill Oil for Women, €47 (one month supply) Each capsule is packed with essential Omega 3 Phospholipids combined with vitamin D3, B1, B2 and B6. They help regulate hormonal activity and reduce tiredness. Ideal for women of all ages.

BEST CHILD MULTI-VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT

Vivioptal Junior, €9.95 It is hard to get all the right vitamins into your kids if they are fussy eaters. Vivioptal has a good broad section of vitamins and minerals to help growth and bone development.

BEST BALM FOR MUM & BABY

Nía, Just Balm, €12.95 This balm is a real find: it’s a 100% natural healing moisturiser and is suitable for use on all itchy, dry skin conditions and rashes. Suitable for babies, children and adults.

BEST SPF FOR CHILDREN WITH SENSITATIVE SKIN

Bioderma, Photoderm Kid SPF 50+, €20.50 This not only contains a high protection sun screen but also protects sun sensitive and intolerant skin. Visible when applied, it is also water resistant and fragrance free.

BEST BABY OIL

NAIF, Soothing Baby Oil, 100ml, €14.95 Baby oils are great to use after a bath when baby’s skin is still a little damp. This one by NAIF is perfume and preservative free, and is really gentle with ingredients like cottonseed oil, which is easily absorbed into baby’s skin.

naifcare.com

BEST SPF FOR CHILDREN

Vichy, Idéal Soleil for Children, SPF 50, €21.50 This milk gives vulnerable skin high protection from the sun with mineral ingredients. It can be used on face and body and is very easy to apply.

Vichy.ie

BEST SLEEP AID FOR MUM

This Works, Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, €19.50 This is a great product to help you get some valuable shut eye. It contains essentials oils of lavender, vetivert and wild chamomile to relax both body and mind.

thisworks.com

BEST FOR STRETCH MARKS

Clarins, Tonic Body Treatment Oil, €47 This oil is amazing. It is full of pure plant extracts like rosemary and hazel to protect the skin’s barrier. It also smells really therapeutic and is really soft and silky.

clarins.co.uk

Gadgets –

BEST MAKE-UP BRUSH

Cailyn, O! Wow Brush, €29.99 This brush is incredible: it feels like velvet yet it is densely packed with ultra fine fibers that facilitate an airbrushed foundation application.

cailyncosmetics.com

BEST PRO MAKE-UP BRUSH SET

Blank Canvas, 12-piece “My Face and Eye” Professional Set, €89.99 This brush set has every tool you need for painting the perfect face. From blending and contouring to lips and eyes, your make-up application will be a joy.

BEST BRUSH TRAVEL SET

Nima Brush, “Girls on Tour” Travel Set Collection, €55 This is the best travel size pro brush kit on the market. A gorgeous edit of seven must-have brushes for on-the-go application.

BEST SONIC SKINCARE KIT

Clarisonic, The Smart Profile Kit, €249 The original and still the best. The oscillating head cleanses six times better than hands alone and is so effective that skin on the face and body is more receptive to creams, serums and moisturisers.

BEST NEW SKINCARE BEAUTY GADGET

Darphin, L’Institut Facial Sonic Cleansing and Massaging Expert, €149 This sonic cleanser and massaging expert works on two levels. Firstly, the brush cleanses the skin. Now for the magic: the kit contains a smooth steel massaging head that deeply delivers moisturiser to boost microcirculation and relax the facial muscles. Genius.

BEST HOME PEDICURE

Emjoi Micro Pedi Nano, €39.95 It exfoliates and removes dry, rough skin while being gentle on your feet; leaving your heels and soles soft and so summer-ready.

BEST WONDER WAND

M2 Beauté, M2Brows, €130, from The Derma Clinic, Dublin A precisely engineered brush with a rich serum that you apply to those places where you would like to optimize your eyebrow growth. Expect supermodel bushy brows in just four to six weeks!