HATE TO IRON? I have the solution!

If you hate to iron or just don't have the time, The Downy Wrinkle Releaser might be your answer to prayer.

What is it? Downy Wrinkle Releaser is an easy-to-use spray that smoothes out wrinkles in seconds and leaves clothes with a light fresh scent. Just spray, tug, and smooth any time you need to quickly reduce wrinkles without the hassle of an iron. Its unique formula relaxes fibers to help release wrinkles.

Although I'm notorious for ironing just about everything; sweatshirts, jeans, sheets and actually enjoy ironing, it can be a total time suck. So when I came across this product at Target ($6.99), I had to give it a try, especially since there is nothing but rave reviews on Drugstore.com and Amazon.

My thoughts: This stuff is pretty spectacular. It's perfect for those shirts that are a crinkled mess from sitting in the dryer too long or have been shoved in the closet for some time. But I do need to set your expectations - it won't get them perfect. For deep creases and more substantial wrinkling, the spray alone isn't enough. I found that by spraying clothing and then tumble drying on low, most could be made wrinkle free without ironing. But for those that are super anal about having perfectly pressed clothing or for heavily crinkled clothing, you're going to have to still bust out the iron.

Overall, I give this product a B+. It does what it claims to do and can be a big saver in a time crunch. And how genius is it that they make a travel size for those annoying suitcase folds and wrinkles?!? Quick tip: If you really want to get rid of wrinkles for good, turn the hotel shower on really hot, close the door and let the bathroom get super steamy. Then spray the Wrinkle Releaser on your garments and hang your clothes on the shower rod with the water running for about 10 minutes. The steam combined with the Wrinkle Releaser will loosen the wrinkles just as good as an iron.

Beware: The product can leave waterspots on special fabrics like silk and rayon. And some of the reviews I read said it left a sticky film on their clothing.

Sweet Treat: CANDY CORN CUPCAKES

Since I didn't get to posting a "Sweet Sunday" dessert recipe this week (or for the past two months that is), I thought I'd do a mid-week dessert so you can stop worrying about what you're going to bring to your child's classroom Halloween party.

When I think Halloween, I think Candy Corn. Whether you love it or hate it, it's a Halloween staple. Did you know they now have caramel candy corn? Um yumm! Thanks to Our Best Bites, you can look very Martha Stewart'esk with these festive Candy Corn Cupcakes.

~Candy Corn Cupcakes~

Ingredients:
1 18.25-oz. white cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
Yellow and orange Wilton food gel (about a heaping 1/2 tsp. of each)
A double batch of Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 24-cup muffin tins with white paper liners (although you may not make it to 24 cupcakes). Combine all ingredients except for food coloring in a large bowl and beat on low speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat on medium for 2 additional minutes.

2) Divide batter equally into two bowls; you should have about 2 1/4-2 1/2 c. of batter in each bowl.

3) Mix about 1/2 heaping tsp. of yellow coloring into one bowl of batter and 1/2 heaping tsp. of orange coloring into the other bowl.

4) Divide the yellow batter evenly among the muffin tins. I used a standard cookie scoop, which measures about 1 Tbsp. I only had enough to make 20 cupcakes with the cups filled about halfway. Holding the edges of each pan firmly, bang the pan a few times on the counter to level out the batter. Repeat the process with the orange batter. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan and then allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.

5) When ready, frost the cupcakes and garnish with a candy corn. When you cut them open, they look like this:

CHEAP FUN: Glow Sticks

A girlfriend of mine text last week with this fantastic idea to make bath time more fun during the month of October. I thought it so fabulous that I thought you should try it too...

In the spirit of Halloween, Target is selling glow sticks in packs of two in their Dollar section (front of store right when you walk in). Go spend $5, fill up the bathtub, turn out the lights and throw the glow sticks in the water. The kids will go c.r.a.z.y!!

Thanks for the fun idea Jodi!

DEAL ALERT: Piperlime Sale

If you're in the market for some fall/winter warm weather necessities; adorable kid's rain jackets, beanies, winter boots for the entire family, you've got to peruse the Piperlime website. If you watch Project Runway you are familiar with the "Piperlime Accessory Wall." But don't let that fool you - they too sell clothing.

Their Fall Sale is going on now until Oct. 23rd. They offer free shipping and returns on every order - no minimums. They have the latest styles and an amazing selection of riding boots for her, Hunter rain boots for the kid's puddle jumping fun and the most adorable rain jackets to match! Check it out!

Jacket: $36 Umbrella: $15.00 Boot: $25.00

If you do ONE thing this week...

CLEAN YOUR CHILDREN'S TOYS.

There may be a few surprises lurking in your child's stuffed animal, bath toy or train set. Think dust mites and molds that can trigger allergies and asthma, and infectious germs that spread viral illnesses. "We know that the majority of cold viruses are transmitted on objects and hands, for instance," says Dr. Clifford Bassett, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. "Your child can develop a rhinovirus within 12 to 24 hours of contact." Clearly, cleaning our kids' hands, house and toys is good for their health. Here's how to do it right and help keep allergies, asthma, colds and flus at bay:

1) Choose toys carefully. Look for washable toys and throw out items that won't come clean, says Dr. Bassett, who is also vice-chairman of public education for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Where possible, avoid porous, stuffed or otherwise difficult-to-scrub items.

2) Wash 'em regularly. You don't need to scrub toys weekly, as many daycares do, but perhaps once a month or at least when toys are visibly dirty. Throw toys into the top rack of a dishwasher or the washing machine, or hand wash them in dish soap and water. Not all toys indicate whether they're dishwasher safe, so use your judgment. If you're concerned that something might melt, wash it by hand.

3) Blast germs when required. Disinfect toys and other surfaces (say, toy boxes or crib rails) if you, your child or a visiting playmate has been ill. Note that if your dishwasher or laundry machine uses 130-degree water, disinfectant is unnecessary. Wondering what products to use? Keep reading...

4) Give stuffed toys the deep freeze. If your child has tested positive for dust-mite allergy, put their stuffed toys in a plastic covering and freeze them for three to five hours once a week. "This kills most living dust mites," says Dr. Bassett. These microscopic, spider-like mites are one of the most common allergy and asthma triggers. To find out if your child has a dust-mite allergy, ask your family doctor for a blood- or skin-prick allergy test.

5) Ditch bath toys with holes. Sure, you can and should squeeze water out of tub toys, hang them to dry in a netting bag and wash and disinfect them as above. But bath toys with holes can become a breeding ground for mold, so why not avoid them altogether?

6) Keep washing those hands. This is important especially after school or visits to the playground. A recent University of Arizona study found that children's playground equipment and daycare centers were the most frequently contaminated public places of over 1,000 surfaces tested. Washing hands before kids play with their home toys can keep them from spreading bacteria around. "The average child has up to six colds a year, but regular hand washing can cut that in half," says Dr. Bassett. The good news? "People are more aware of environment and disease," he says. "We're all doing a better job of fighting germs these days."

In need of a gentle, kid-friendly cleaner to get started? You can't go wrong with good ol' baby wipes for a quick daily wipedown but for a deeper clean, I suggest one of these two specific toy cleaners: Dapple Toy Cleaner spray and wipes and Babyganics The Cleaner Upper Toy & Highchair Cleaner.

Both are perfect for cleaning what little hands touch – and not just toys. High chairs, swings, car seats and more. Great on countertops too! These cleaners are made from naturally-derived ingredients that are biodegradable and environmentally safe. Neither use any parabens, phthalates, SLES, bleach, alcohol, dyes, synthetic fragrances or other harsh chemicals. Basically just spray, wipe and play.

Other products that are sold as non-toxic carry the warning that if swallowed contact poison control, but not these. The product warning says if swallowed drink a glass of water. Within seconds of wiping down you won't have to worry about the toy going straight into babies mouth. I consider these products a must have for all moms with small kids.

Dapple is available at www.dapplebaby.com www.diapers.com http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/

Babyganics is available at http://www.babyganics.com/ http://www.drugstore.com/ http://www.amazon.com/ http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/ http://www.babiesrus.com/ http://www.diapers.com/

MUST HAVE: Beauty Trimmer

Ok so you're going to learn a tid-bit of personal information about myself that may have you thinking I'm a total whack job but this is pertinent background information for this post...

I detest body hair. And no I'm not just talking about nasty back hair on men. I'm talking about my own body hair.

It started at an early age. My mom refused to let me shave until I was in 6th grade. She says she was protecting my youth. Yay-yay. As if the pre-teen years weren't the most self-conscious, awkward times in and of themselves, I strutted around with an excessive amount of glowing platinum blonde hair on my arms and legs. And peach fuzz like crazy. Ohhh how I hated that stuff. On my face, neck, earlobes, tops of my toes, small of my back, around my belly button. And no I didn't have a hormone imbalance. I can't tell you how bad I wanted to punch people in the face when they'd say - "at least it's blonde." {scream}

You better believe the day before my first day of 6th grade, I stood in the shower for hours ridding my legs and toes of this unwanted hair. Happiest day ever. It was then in the 10th grade, I shaved my arms. Yep, you read right - I shave my arms. And hands. And tops of my fingers. Not that I have a ton; it's just I don't want any.

Thanks to my Clio Beauty Trim (a MUST HAVE), I am able to get a precise shave on the delicate areas with the extra fine, stainless steel blade that painlessly trims unwanted hair quickly and effectively. What I love about this grooming tool, is I can take it anywhere. It's perfectly sized for travel and only takes one 'AAA' battery. Great for eyebrows, ears, tip of your nose, chin, upper lip, toes, tops of your fingers, bikini line and neck.

Oh and speaking of necks; there's nothing worse than a man with a hairy neck. C'mon ladies, help a brotha out and keep your man looking well groomed in-between trips to the Barber Shop. This grooming tool works wonders on cleaning him up in seconds which is another reason this is a MUST HAVE product.

You can find the Clio Beauty Trim on Target shelves for $7.99.

On the Menu: TORTILLA SOUP

Piggybacking on yesterday's post, I thought it would be helpful to give you a recipe that just might get you to embrace the "one vegetarian meal per week" idea. Packed with veggies and a powerful burst of flavor, this Vegetarian Tortilla Soup is one you could eat over and over again. Especially on those cold, dreary winter days when a colorful, warm soup might just brighten your day. The ingredient list looks long but most of it is spices.

~Vegetarian Tortilla Soup~

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons oil
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced (*Or you can just buy a one pound package of frozen pepper and onion stir fry mix to make it easier)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (10 ounce) cans RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Lime & Cilantro 

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (32 ounce) containers Swanson Organic Vegetable Broth
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed (*You can omit black for kidney or pinto beans or add a can of all which is equally as good.)

Directions:
1. In a small bowl mix together cumin, sweet paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large pot heat the oil over medium high. Add the onions and bell peppers. Sauté until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the spices and garlic; cook for 2 minutes.

3. Add the RoTel, corn and vegetable broth. Cook until warmed through. Add the beans and cook for 2 minutes before serving. Squeeze in lime juice. Serve in bowls and garnish as desired.

Garnish Ideas:
Tortilla chips

Shredded Cheddar, Mexican blend or Cotija cheese
Diced Avocado

Chopped Cilantro

Sour Cream

Hot Sauce

If you do ONE thing this week...

MAKE ONE MEAL ALL VEGETARIAN.

No I am not Vegan. Nor am I telling you to become one either. But one meal isn't going to kill you. In fact, do this and you'll protect your heart, help prevent cancer and if you can incorporate this into your weekly routine, you'll lose up to five pounds this year!

To me, lunch would be the easier option to cut out the meat. If you're like me, you have a handful of standby lunch meals on rotation. Turkey sandwich at Subway. Grilled chicken salad. Instead of ordering the usual, do your figure a favor and add a veggie option to your repertoire. Veggies are low in fat and calories but high in fiber, which keeps you feeling fuller longer. Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D, director of the John Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore found that when people ate a veggie-based lunch, such as meatless chili, they took in 371 fewer calories and 28 fewer grams of fat throughout the day than when they had a similar meal made with ground beef. Studies show occasionally going vegetarian also boosts your cardiovascular health and lowers your risk of breast cancer.

So sometime this week when you're reviewing your midday options, consider loading up that 6 inch sandwich with a mound-full of veggies and avocado. Or try a hummus and cucumber pita, lentil soup, or black bean and cheese burrito. I already fulfilled my week's goal with a bowl full of steamed broccoli and mushrooms. Mmmmm. Jealous??

FANCY FRIDAY

Gosh it feels like forever ago that I did a Fancy Friday post. Sorry. I know it's one of your favorite posts but I've been really trying to focus more on my family and being "present" with my kids. This entails not being glued to my computer. The result; less blogs but less stress. To refresh your memory; this post is about something that tickled my fancy (aka; to enjoy, adore or be satisfied by ) during the week.

Something this week that tickled my decor senses was Urban Outfitters online home catalog. Most of you know Urban Outfitters as a funky, trendy clothing store. What you might not know is they carry an extensive line of home decor products ranging from kitchen and bath accessories to bedding and furniture. Just like their clothing, Urban Outfitters offers a home line that is a collaboration of vintage, bohemian, retro, and hipster. Curious what that all means? Check out their website under 'Apartment' and the items will speak for themselves. You will be pleasantly surprised at all the eclectic pieces. They offer free returns and free shipping on orders over $50 everyday.

Some of my particular favorites:


Zig Zag Printed Rug $39-69 depending on size


Vintage Wood Calendar Chalkboard $49.00


Industrial Stencil Letter $8.00


Big Garden Printed Rug $34.00


Ziggy Chair $279 (comes in 6 different colors)

Got ANIMAL hair??

While the holidays are still a few months away, it's best that you start thinking about what you need to do now to prepare your homes for company. Whether you're having out-of-town guests for a long period of time or just a party for a few hours, there's nothing more embarrassing than having a guest stand up from your couch only to find them covered in your dog or cat's hair.

If you've been searching for the best way to remove pet hair from their floors and upholstered furniture or need to replace your ineffective vac for something with a little more umph, I think I might just have the answer...

The DC34 Animal.

The Dyson DC34 Animal is the perfect handheld vacuum cleaner that has twice the suction power of any other handheld on the market. Powered by the new Dyson digital motor, it is ideal for pet-hair pick-up, tight hard to reach corners in furniture, inside your car and high dirt areas.

How it works: First you must charge it for about 3.5 hours to get the full run time out of it. That’s 15 minutes on normal power, or 6 minutes at ‘max’ power. Once it’s fully charged, you press and hold the red button and … use it like a vacuum cleaner. Because that’s what it is. The DC34 Animal comes with a button on the back that says ‘MAX’. Essentially it’s a booster button, giving you an extra bit o' suction… and noise. In my mind, the bigger the sound, the better it's working.

The first thing that strikes me about the handheld DC34 Animal is it's shape. It's unlike any other handheld vac I've ever seen. It kinda screams ‘I mean business’ and boy oh boy, does it!

What I like best is that it's small and convenient. You can store it in the kitchen cabinet or pantry without any problem. I'm all about the quick pick-up and the thought of having to lug around the heavier vac to pick up a little hair or dirt, makes me irritable. I also like that it's cordless which makes it easy to maneuver and use in your car. Like all Dysons you get to see the crap that gets picked up in the clear-containery-thingy (technical term) so that's always a good visual that your effort is actually doing something.

There are two downsides I see to this product: 1) The vacuuming time vs. charging time is well, a lot. For every minute you charge it, you only get 4.28 seconds of run time. But again, other whimpier handhelds don't have good battery longevity either. 2) It's a pretty penny at $350 (or $299 for the slightly less powerful DC34). But with the fastest, highest power density motor ever developed for a domestic appliance and up to 15 minutes of constant cleaning power, the units are hard-wearing and an excellent value if you can find room in the budget.