I'm looking for something like this, but preferably melamine (or something else that's less breakable):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001671PV4/ref=s9_simx_gw_s0_p79_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=03BHCRKRAGK097PFJPY8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Also, the cheaper the better!

Any ideas?

I live in an apartment where the HVAC unit is in it's own closet on the balcony.

Last year I noticed during the summer, when the AC was running, there would be water coming out of the closet, making a damp area on the balcony. And it's doing it again this year.

The damp area can sometimes be big if the AC has been running a lot (or I guess if it's not hot enough to evaporate quickly). It's not a puddle, just the cement is damp if that makes sense. Sometimes it's just peaking out from under the door, and sometimes it extends a good two feet.

I've been living here 5 years and I don't think this ever happened until last year. The AC isn't running harder than usual to cool the apartment and I don't believe my electricity bill is affected.

But, seeing as how much this complex sucks with maintaining the HVAC units, is this something I should be concerned about? Has it happened to anyone else? I mean, I know AC units do drip water, but this seems a little out of the ordinary.

So our baby carseat is done. Like, through three giant babies done. The handle is starting to pop off. So we got the toddler a new seat and moved the baby into hers. So. What do we do with this old carseat? I have such a hard time throwing something like that in the garbage? Can they be recycled or something? Anyone have any ideas? It really shouldn't be used by anyone else.

I have a sweet tooth tonight and it's way too hot to turn on the oven. I want to try out that recipe where you combine a box of yellow cake mix, a jar of pie filling, and a stick of butter in the crock pot.  I have the cake mix and the butter, but no pie filling.  What could I sub for that?  I have FRESH cherries--could I combine those with something (more) sweet, say, sugar or jam?  What do you think?

ETA: I washed and pitted some cherries, then mixed them with some red raspberry jam I had hanging around the fridge. I'll let you know how it turns out, but so far it's smelling reeeeeally good!

With luck, our house will be on the market in the next few days. We've done the typical de-cluttering and cleaning. The closets look half-empty, the bathrooms are sparkling. The paint scuffs have been covered. We replaced the doormat and added flowers by the door.

I'm looking for any additional small tricks or suggestions that you may have tried with success. Do people really bake cookies and leave a tray on the counter? Have you seen something on TV that made you say wow, I wish I had thought of that?

Thanks in advance!

In an attempt to save money, I`ve really been paying close attention to shutting electronics off when not in use, but is that enough? Should I just unplug unused items altogether? Does leaving the tv, fan, and microwave plugged in use as much energy as when they are in use, even though the power is "off"?

I`m curious. I wonder what would happen if I just start unplugging everything when not in use. Seems like a pain, but if it`ll save some money, I`m willing to do it.

Is there any trick that will help me tell apart plain and self-raising wholemeal flours?

I have a feeling that the stuff I have in a container labelled as SR is actually plain. But I can't be sure.

My body waxer uses this fantastically unique wax that is sugar based. The thing that makes it unique is that it does not require the use of removal strips. It is a very thick, almost gooey texture that my waxer uses her hands to apply and remove. It doesn't harden, it just lathes on and is pulled off. This stuff works better on me than any wax I have tried before.

I was talking to my waxer about it and how unique I think it is, and she told me she buys it from a middle eastern woman who makes it in her home then sells it to some few body waxers. My waxer has no idea what is in it, and none of the recipes I am finding on the net are helping me to make it at home.

SO! Do any of you know how to make a leg wax at home that is natural-based, thick, gooey and strip-free?

x-posted to naturalliving

ETA Thanks! I found the recipe with use instructions. I appreciate the help!

i have various wasps in my yard - the normal yellow jacket, these lovely big red wasps and mud-dobbers. i dont want to out right kill or trap them them because i read they control the webworm population and i dont want to use chemicals that might kill bees or other beneficial bugs.

ive seen the waspinator and wondered if anyone has used it and if it worked.

thanks

x-posted to gardening 

So, this question might be overly simple, or even just ridiculous as I'm a 21 year-old woman whose had a checking account since she was 16, but I need to start sticking to a serious budget. Up until this point a more foot-loose-fancy-free method of "uh, I know I have roughly 'x' amount in my account so I better not spend more than that" has worked without major consequence, but as I've gotten older I've taken on more and more of my expenses, and I am becoming more and more aware of the potential peril of my unreliable mental math.
Do you have any good tips for starting a budget and sticking to it? Better yet, starting a budget and tracking it? I know the obvious answer is "just frickin' do it," but aside from that, any friendly tips?
Thanks in advance!

Every week I'll usually thaw a bag or two of frozen veggies - either the mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn) or spinach and eat them as a side for dinner throughout the week. Hot sauce is my typical flavoring but I'm interested in any other suggestions for what I could use to change up the flavors. a couple things though: I'm lactose-intolerant so no cheese/butter/cream unfortunately. I do drink almond milk though. I'm also not a big fan of curry. Anything else is game

Edit: thanks for all the suggestions so far, I already have a short list of seasonings/spices to get (I probably should have these on hand anyways). I appreciate any other ideas!

What is your fabric refresher of choice? Especially if you have pets. Febreeze (even the extra strength) doesn't work for me. I have two cats and two dogs, and my couch is stinky. What do you use that works best?

Hello hipsters!
i am having problems w/ my gas grill, and i have tried google w/ little success, so i thought y'all could help!

( Cut for your convenience )

 

I checked the Pets tag but didn't find anything that addressed this question sooo....

Background: I have a smallish one-bedroom apartment (720 sq ft). I have three cats and two guinea pigs. Yes, that's alot of pets, but they enhance my life enough that I put up with the hair on the furniture and the occassional accident on the carpet.

My question is about the guinea pigs, or the cage, more specifically, so anyone with small animals might be able to help. Currently my pigs are in a cage in the main living area, in the dining nook that serves as my office. I'm looking for a way to keep that living area pleasant for me and any guests I might have.

I know the biggest step is regular cleaning of the cage itself, which I do -- once a week, complete tear down, wash with soap and baking soda, fresh litter, etc. But the fact is, given that the pigs are not litter box trained, things do get messy fast, and they are musky little animals.

What can I do to keep my place from smelling like OMG GUINEA PIG? There's currently not another place to put them in the apartment. When I search for my next place, I will be keeping this in mind. Moving them into a smaller enclosure isn't really an option, either, and I think that would ony exacerbate the problem.

So in an attempt to learn how my new stovetop works (I figured out that low means high and high means low *shakes head*) I burned some rice in a pan. Now this happened nearly two weeks ago and I cannot get the burned bits out of the bottom of the pan. I`ve tried to boil water in the pan to loosen up the bits and that didn`t work. I`ve tried to soak the pan with warm, soapy water and that didn`t work. I`ve tried to scrub, scrape, and fork off the bits and that didn`t work. It seems fused to the bottom of the pan.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

any ideas on how to thicken up a turkey chili quick? i know i could let it could a bit longer but i'm hungry! hehe. any help appreciated! also, if it's helpful i used this (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Simple-Turkey-Chili/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=14764065&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2009-01-03&prop28=DailyRecipe&prop29=FullRecipe&me=1)recipe.

thanks!!

edit: added some cornstarch which thickened it up after about ten or so minutes. will definitely look into adding these other ingredients just because they sound sooo good!!

I have sewn for close to 40 years but every once in a while i se an idea that i think is great simple and smart thats new to me.

Basically you make a smallish pillow as a pin cushion ok thats fairly normal the one they showed was perhaps 10x6 and the cover is a sampler of all the stitch your machine can make, so you can see what they really look like. If you have a simple machine you can just stitch in rows on a 10x12 bit of fabric and fold it over other wise do one thats 20x6 and fold the short end. figure about a half inch wide per row of stitching.

On a bit of different note. If you want to start home sewing but your not sure if its for you before you spend a lot of money on a machine and supplys ask around a lot of people have ones they dont use or really want and will be glad to see it going to a good home. Make sure you get it tuned up but thats often less than $50. If you put the word out you might be surprised at what comes back. (I got mine like this from an aunt and now I buy  and tune up old ones and give them away to locals who want to learn)

ash

Hi everyone,

I just bought a house a couple months ago. It's about 5 years old, and 2 stories. I believe the water heater is about as old as the house, maybe a little younger. It takes FOREVER to get hot water in the sinks and the showers- at least 2 minutes of continuously running water. This is wasting a lot of water, and is frankly annoying. Is there anything I can do to make the water heat up faster?

Thanks!




ETA: Thank you everyone for all your replies. I will try some of your suggestions. :)

I placed an order with with a reputable seller from China (MANY orders to USA, everyone seemed satisfied) for something about $50 USD. He gave me the tracking # via EMS and the estimated delivery (for: 7/1). It says on the EMS tracking site that it was delivered AND signed for. I have not signed OR received the package and neither has the person I live with. Has anyone ever used EMS or received an EMS tracking number and had something like this happen to them? I'm concerned. I used Paypal to pay, so if I don't receive it I will open up a dispute.. but I wanted to check and see if anyone else has ever heard of this or had it happen to them. I know ordering overseas can be tricky and whatnot but I know tons of people who have bought from this person and it be fine. TIA!

ETA: This is the info on the site:

Your item was delivered (QINGPU) at 2009-07-06 15:08:00
Signed for by：ADDRESSEE SIGNED

Timing Site Status
　 2009-07-04 14:36:00 QINGPU Posting
　 2009-07-04 14:55:00 700 Despatch from Sorting Center
　 2009-07-04 19:34:44 SHANGHAI Arrival at Sorting Center
　 2009-07-04 21:10:35 SHANGHAI Handed over to Customs
　 2009-07-05 04:37:32 SHANGHAI Arrival at Sorting Center
　 2009-07-05 04:41:56 SHANGHAI Released from Customs
　 2009-07-05 04:43:07 SHANGHAI Despatch from Sorting Center
　 2009-07-06 15:08:00 QINGPU Delivery


ETA #2: I googled "QINGPU" and it seems to be a district in China.. weird? Is it possible my tracking number got messed up?
　

Hi there,

I have a problem with my drier. Recently clothes have been coming out of it smelling like...well...poop. We have a puppy and sometimes if we leave clothes on the floor he'll poop on them. I make sure to clean up any solids of course, and I always wash the items more than once (I use vinegar along with my regular detergent) and then dry them. It hadn't been smelling before, and now it has randomly started, even with loads that had no waste on them to begin with. The clothes smell fine coming out of the washer.

I've looked around in my drier for evidence of poop, but I can't find anything! How can I clean the drier or get the smell out?

Thanks!