Right now I’m into saving money (who isn’t?), getting ready for the fall semester at college, and splurging a little on some summer refreshments. Accordingly, here are my five favorite things at the moment:
Almost-Free French Tips – Buy the french-tip white, paint on your best first try-tips, and don’t fret when your lines aren’t good. Or even if they’re pretty bad. Get out a small, flat makeup brush (I use an eyeliner brush) and your nail polish remover. Dip the brush in the remover and drag the brush back and forth carefully along your nail to create a perfect, clean edge. I’ve been happily painting my own french tips almost weekly since catching this neat trick.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce – Cheap and incredibly tasty, homemade spaghetti sauce is also extremely easy to make. I haven’t bought pre-made sauce since discovering this recipe: Mince 1 clove of garlic, then heat in a few tablespoons of olive oil. When the oil starts to bubble, add a can of tomato sauce (crushed tomatoes also work nicely),na dash of salt and pepper, 1 bay leaf, a dash of cajun seasoning, and a few teaspoons of basil. Simmer for 30 minutes but stir often. Remove bay leaf, and you’re done! You can also stir in cooked ground beef or turkey for a meat sauce, or add cooked frozen ravioli for a semi-homemade twist.
Bolthouse Farms Soy Drinks – I discovered this brand by accident while browsing the produce aisle a few summers ago. The drinks come in varieties from smoothies to veggie juices, but I love the soy milk kind the most – especially the Vanilla Chai Tea. This type has the light taste of chai tea with a creamy vanilla aftertaste. It always seems like I’m drinking something very bad when it’s actually fairly healthful (a little sugary, true, but I like to pretend the other nutrients balance it out).
Cramster.com – This website is a lifesaver for students, especially distance learners who tend to lack the advantage of working out practice problems in groups or in class. Find your textbook (they have over 200 listed) and browse through thousands of fully-worked solutions to practice and homework problems. I practically lived on this website while taking a math course online, and I know I’ll be coming back for the fall.
Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash – Most of the time my body wash selection during trips to the store could be one of a few kinds. I’d never really settled on a particular brand or scent. After finding Caress’s Evenly Gorgeous, I’ve been hooked and have made a bee-line to it on the aisle every time I run out. It smells heavenly – not too perfume-y and not too soapy — and the scent stays on your skin for hours.
