How much fun are these adjustable denim KitchenKuffs!!

There are several statements that take place in our house over and over again:

• Pick up your dirty clothes
• Chew with your mouth closed
• Throw away your trash

And my all-time least favorite:

• Can someone come push up my sleeves?!?! PLEASE!?!?

Well, Kate, bar the door, those days are gone. May I present:

KitchenKuffs!!!

That’s right, people. It’s time to say goodbye to soggy sleeves!

The brainchild of Barbara Doran, KitchenKuffs mean you’ll never have suds-soaked cuffs (or anything else, for that matter) on your long-sleeved tops EVER AGAIN! I was so impressed when I first saw this product that I contacted Barbara. She gave me a pair of regular and a pair of adjustable KitchenKuffs to review for you guys. I’ve had ample opportunity to try them, and as far as I’m concerned, they are a must-have in every kitchen, bath, basement and garage. I’ve used them while cooking dinner, washing dishes, painting a bookcase and potting flowers. They go on with total ease, and stay right where you put them.

Here’s a video from Barbara showing the myriad of ways she’s put her KitchenKuffs to good use:

To me, this is true American ingenuity – entrepreneurship at its finest! The product has even caught the eye of Martha Stewart’s Dreamers into Doers, where Barbara was recently featured as Doer of the Week.

Shown here are the denim KitchenKuffs (adjustable) and the pepper pattern regular KitchenKuffs

I highly recommend that you pick up a pair and give them a try. They’re machine-washable cotton, made here in the USA, very affordable, and come in a variety of patterns in the regular and adjustable KitchenKuffs. I think these will make great gifts for teachers, gardeners, moms and sisters, dads and brothers – anyone who needs to “Keep their sleeves up!” And at a time when many families are pinching pennies more than ever, KitchenKuffs are a unique and thoughtful gift they’ll use time after time, without having to break the bank!

I love ‘em, Barbara – I know our readers will, too.

-Liz

Visit www.kitchenkuffs.com for a patterns, pricing and sizing.

Related articles

• Lining Up Yer Linens (alidoesit.wordpress.com)
• Interview with Barbara Doran – Inventor of the KitchenKuffs (theworkathomewoman.com)
• Raising a Foodie? (thedailymeal.com)

Maybe you’ve run into them. They’re the ones who hunt down every person who passes by their booth with a seemingly innocent, “May I ask you a question?”

Memorize this word, dear readers: No.

Because should you answer in the affirmative, or even acknowledge their presence, you’ll be sorry. Just ask my daughter Hannah.

She and one of her friends were spending the afternoon at the mall, with pockets full of birthday money and mall gift cards – a teenager’s paradise. All was well with the world.

Until they passed the kiosk from you know where and made eye contact with their new stalkers.

“Do you have acrylic nails?” they asked.

“No,” she answered.

“Good,” they said. I imagine they were cackling with delight as they grabbed her hand and began shining one of her nails with their “magic” buffer pad.

Within seconds, they revealed her nail that looked as if it had about 20 coats of super shine on it.

Then, they went in for the kill, and began writing up a receipt for the cost of the item, adding how they “usually charge $40 for the nail kit,” but for her, they’d knock off 10 bucks.

Next thing my daughter knew, she had a brand new nail kit, which included a buffer pad, cuticle oil and a bar of soap. She also had a receipt that carried the words, “All sales are FINAL. No exchanges or refunds.”

Of course, Hannah was crushed – mad at herself for being sucked into their evil little scheme, and mad at them for taking half her cash. Granted, it was a learning experience for her, albeit a bit pricey. It was also an eye opener for us both.

I called the mall after she arrived home, practically in tears over the whole episode. Apparently, they get hundreds of calls complaining about this kiosk on a regular basis. And for whatever reasons, no one does anything about their “business practices.”

I mentioned the incident to my neighbors, and the husband admitted to having fallen prey, as well. In fact, he’d purchased four (yes, four…) kits one day.

“She was hot!” was the only defense he could muster.

Men…

Anywho, since that day, we’ve developed a tried and true system for avoiding the nail girl plague. For the benefit of you, our readers, and your loved ones, here are the Top 10 ways to just say no:

1. Hold your cell phone to your ear and pretend to be carrying on a conversation.
2. Talk non-stop to the person you are with.
3. If you are shopping alone, grab the nearest shopper and start a conversation with them.
4. If the above methods fail, send a text message. Even if you run head first into another shopper, it’ll be better than getting sucked in by the nail stalkers.
5. Focus on the stores on the exterior walls as you walk, pretending to be interested.
6. Duck into one of these stores, wait for the stalker to reel in another unsuspecting shopper, then make your get-away.
7. Pretend like you don’t hear them (one of my favorites, which shouts, “You don’t exist, evil nail people.”
8. Know the kiosk locations (in our mall, there are at least two such kiosks, and strategically map out your store-to-store plan to avoid running into them
9. Don’t go to the mall.
10. Look them in the eye when they say, “May I ask you a question?” Just say, “No” – and whatever you do, keep walking!

-Liz

Enter exhibit A. The coupon drawer. (You know you have one, too. Admit it. It will make you feel better.)

Oh, sure, I’ve tried those little pouches with a slot for all the dairy and all the frozen and all the meats and all the beverages. But the fact of the matter is, I still had no clue what coupons I possessed. Just because all dairy was in one slot, that cute little coupon organizer wasn’t helping my cause at all. And nine times out of 10, by the time I found that coupon that had been hiding from me, it was expired. Trust me. It’s easy to develop a hate-hate relationship with coupons.

Well, people, I’ve outdone myself on this one. I’ve come up with the B.E.S.T possible way to organize (one of the) biggest messes in my kitchen. A three-ring binder with clear business card or baseball card sheet protectors! (For those of you who’ve been utilizing this method for years, is it too much to ask you to give me a little moment in the sun, here?!?)

Time to check out my masterpiece! Can you stand it? Each little coupon gets its own spot, and is placed into a broad category:

• Produce
• Dairy
• Canned and packaged goods
• Meats
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Dairy
• Bakery
• Deli
• Cleaning products
• Personal hygiene
• Paper products
• Office supplies

This brainchild actually came from my friend Summer, so credit where credit is due. But I decided to take it to a whole new level. I’ve also inserted some full-sheet size protectors in the back to house take-out menus, and another protector to keep rebate offers, sales receipts and UPC codes.

But wait! There’s more! (This is where I wish we had a video blog here on Coffee Break…) You know those little pockets on the inside of the binder? Guess what goes in there? That’s right! Your SHOPPING LIST!

I am a genius I tell you. (Whatever. It’s Monday. Let’s just roll with it.) Total cost? $4.80 – $3.88 for the sheet protectors and .92 cents for the el-cheapo binder (find ‘em everywhere that offers a wide selection of school supplies – better yet, use an empty binder you already have on hand). Cost to regain my shopping sanity? Priceless, of course.

And while we’re on a roll, I thought I’d also give you my Coupon Commandments. Do with them as you will.

• If you see a coupon for a product you don’t like, don’t bother clipping it. Saving money on it will probably not make you like it anymore than you did before.
• If a coupon is for an item you usually don’t purchase, think long and hard before clipping and allowing it to take up space.
• Instead of clipping every coupon, refer to your new binder for coupons you already have. That way you won’t be stuck with seven coupons for bleach that all expire at the same time.
• If a coupon for toothpaste expires in a month and you just bought a case of toothpaste, chances are you aren’t going to use that coupon before it expires. So why waste time and space?
• Pay attention to out-dates on existing coupons as you clip. While you may want more than one coupon for certain products, if you can’t use more than one by the time it expires, don’t bother with it.
• If you use generic brands, and have a coupon for the name brand, make sure the coupon will actually save you more money versus buying the generic you always use.

Whew! Who can stand all this fun mixed in with a little bit of common sense? Now all I have to do is figure out how to put a cute little cover on this white binder! But that’s another post, entirely.

-Liz Follow @lizrants

• Are Ticonderoga really the best pencils? (Turns out that  yes, they are. And much to my child’s chagrin, mechanical pencils are still off-limits.)
• Does our county actually have a large enough stock to supply each child with one large bottle of hand sanitizer?
• Will this be the year we discover whether or not demerits are issued if we buy a 48-count box of crayons instead of the 96-count box?
• Is the request for a set of ear buds just a lead up to the near future, when the school list includes a nice laptop computer?
• Do we really have what it takes to make it through fourth grade while maintaining our sanity as a family?
• Would home-schooling really drive me that crazy?

As it turns out, some of these questions will be answered tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ll be doing my nails while I wait to see how the back-to-school shopping trip goes. Because my dad, in a gutsy show of courage, offered to take my son and my nephew shopping. I say,  “never look a gift horse in the mouth”. And why bother telling Dad beforehand that while my nephew’s list has a whopping five items on it, my son’s list has 21 items. That’s right – 21 (twenty-one) items. And that’s just the list from the fourth grade in general. The individual teacher lists have yet to surface.

So maybe it’s time to tweak this year’s back-to-school questions, in honor of my dad’s unflinching bravery:

• Was his offer to supply shop a knee-jerk reaction? Or did he really think this one through?
• Will he be able to maintain his own sanity more than 45 minutes in?
• Will he tell stories of walking five miles to school, uphill both ways, in three feet of snow?
• Will he still be speaking to any of us after this male-bonding adventure?

I have the strangest feeling that my second set of questions will be much easier to answer than the first. I’m just sayin’.

-Liz Follow @lizrants

A new 100-watt LED light bulb has recently been introduced to replace those incandescent bulbs we all know and love. For the low (low) price of $50, you, too, can own one of these bulbs. That’s right. Fifty dollars for a light bulb. I guess we really shouldn’t be surprised. If you’ve priced those dastardly curly-q bulbs, you already know they’re not cheap, either. Running roughly $4 and up for a single unit, many people could end up sitting in the dark if money’s tight. Let’s see. Shall we buy this whole chicken and feed the family or get a light bulb? Hmmm.

If you think this forced choice isn’t coming soon, think again. The 100-watt incandescent won’t be available as of this coming January. (Note to self – hit the dollar store and buy a few more packs of light bulbs before they’re all gone.) By 2014, they’ll be all but non-existent. Of course, there’s also the issue of the new bulbs not necessarily fitting in old lighting fixtures, but don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Just like most other things in the realm of all things government, the incandescent ban came before anyone thought things through. Many more of their bright ideas and we won’t be able to afford our own existence.

-Liz

The 137th Running of the Kentucky Derby

And while for many, this day is all about the horses, any self-respecting woman will tell you it’s about much… much more. It’s all about the hat.

Enter Exhibit A: A recent trip to Louisville found Mom and Dad at one of Mom’s go-to stores in the city – Dee’s. While I will be the first to say that it’s probably one of the last places my dad wanted to shop, even he was amazed at the spectacle that was taking place two weeks prior to the Derby. Although Dee’s offers a wide variety of crafting items, it isn’t just for the scrap-booker, knitter or gift-buyer.

Come Derby time, you’ll find Dee’s filled (and I do mean filled) with customers designing the hat they’ll don for the Kentucky Derby. Whether you choose wide brim or narrow brim – or even a headband – Dee’s can help you design a one-of-a-kind chapeau. Last year, Dee’s sold some 1,200 hats for the day – 950 of them were custom made! After all, everyone who’s anyone knows that from satin and sequins to flowers and feathers, there is but one mission in the minds of all female Kentucky Derby attendees – out-do all the others . So with no further ado, may I present a few of this year’s masterpieces, courtesy of Dee’s:

Okay, okay – that bottom hat is my handi-work (I should probably go ahead and make an appointment for next year at Dee’s right now…) Anywho, for any of you who aren’t comfortable being seen in public donning a giant peacock atop your head, perhaps you could consider a little liquid courage. Since this is the Kentucky Derby, follow tradition with the official drink:

Early Times Mint Julep Recipe:

* 2 cups sugar

* 2 cups water

* Sprigs of fresh mint

* Crushed ice

* Early Times Kentucky Whisky

* Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Knock back a couple of those and you’ll have no problem singing My Old Kentucky Home:

Be sure to visit the Ketucky Derby website for up-to-the-minute info on horses and jockeys, a party planning guide, Derby traditions, cuisine and a whole lot of cool stuff. And whatever you do, don’t forget your hat

-Liz

Maybe we should call it what it is for me. Procrastination. Avoiding the inevitable as long as possible. Because as my kids get older, I find it increasingly harder to stay within a reasonable budget. Which means I tend to put off spending the money. What if they change their minds on what they want? What if I find something on sale for a better price next week? Don’tcha just hate the what-ifs of life sometimes?

Anywho, I started thinking about what the “big ticket” items were when I was a child versus the “big ticket” items of the 21st Century. My, how times have changed. I also wonder where my head was on some of my Christmas requests…

Here are the biggies I remember (and I don’t really remember that much to be honest). One year, I got a pogo stick. Another year, it was a unicycle. I must’ve had dreams of joining the circus at some point… I remember getting an Easy-Bake oven one year, lots of Barbies, and a phone. (I’m sure that to this day, Santa still rues that gift, although he mistakenly thought that

This was my first phone. No, I'm not kidding...

getting me a Lily Tomlin phone would slow me down. HA!)

Back then (you know, back in the Dark Ages), Santa could do a lot  with a Ben Franklin. A hundred dollars could be stretched in myriad ways. Today, not so much.

Let’s take Colton’s Christmas wish list:

• I-Touch
• Lego Boba Fett ship
• Air Hog Hawkeye with camera
• Playstation 3 Move bundle
• Three PS3 games
• PS3 bluetooth
• Camcorder

I’m not even gonna address the other things, like a few books, movies and the like. Just a rough cost estimation on the above comes in at no less than $650 – and in reality, my estimation is probably at least $100 shy. By simply purchasing the PS3 Move bundle, Santa’s C-note is spent.The whole wish list thing is really not that different for my other children, either. But with my youngest, the quandary is a tad more complicated, because he’s still a believer, if you know what I mean. And Santa’s purse is endless… right???

Note that we haven’t even addressed stockings. Clearly (in case there’s any question), Santa doesn’t spend upwards of $500 per child – at least not at my house. So where does one begin? Well, that’s what I try to figure out every year. And $100 just doesn’t seem to cut it, anymore.

At the risk of going off on the materialistic state of society (and don’t get me wrong – I like material things, too), I’ll end my rant here. I’m really hoping you guys will let us hear from you, though. I’d love to know what you’ll be doing, how you make ends meet, and other creative ways of making the most magical time of year come to life. So bring it on- Kate and I are waiting!

-Liz

So in my dream…

It was about 10pm and everyone was nestled all snug in their beds with visions of…well, I’m probably better off not knowing what they were having visions of, but my point is…I was the only one awake.   I was sitting on the couch wrapped up in a blanket reading a book, and all of the sudden it dawned on me that it was Christmas Eve.  Until that moment, I had absolutely NO idea that it was Christmas Eve.  Somehow I had miscalculated how close it was , and I had lost two weeks.

I was completely unprepared. I didn’t  have any presents for my kids.  My heart started to pound and I went into full panic mode. I was thinking, ‘How could I have forgotten, and more importantly, how was I going to fix it?’ …because we all know that’s what moms do…fix things.   I made a list of my kids names, and took off for WalMart to try to buy presents for the kids before they woke up in the morning and saw that there would be nothing to open. Nothing from mom and dad, and nothing from the “Big Guy” either.

Once inside the store, I made a mad dash through the aisles with my list of kids names in hand.  But then, I  lost the list and I couldn’t seem to remember all their names, so I kept trying to make new lists.  And then I would loose the new list and have to make another, and another, and another until I ran out of paper.  I ended up stealing a notebook to get more paper for lists.

I was wandering around the store up and down the aisles and could find nothing to buy, so finally I gave up and drove home at 4am Christmas morning, empty-handed and crying.  Then, still in my dream, I woke up and thought, ‘thank goodness it was just a dream’.  I looked at the date on my phone just to double check and it said Dec 25!  What! It wasn’t a dream? It was real?

It was at this point that I really did wake up in a complete and utter panic. I just lay there for a few minutes feeling so confused and disoriented.  I finally got brave enough to look at the date on my phone and saw it said Dec. 1. I was awake…and it was a dream.

This was my sign…time to pull out the old trusty Christmas binder.  Yep, I have a Christmas binder.  It’s the only thing that gets me through the holiday season with my sanity relatively intact. Writing everything down helps me to unclutter my mind (stop laughing, Liz!) and transfers the responsibility from my mind to the paper.

It’s just a regular red three ring binder with some wrapping paper glued to the front and covered in contact paper.  Each kid has a separate page with color coded lists of…

1) what they want

2) what I have bought

3) what I have left to buy

m

The binder also has sections for

• family gifts
• addresses for cards
• gift exchange lists
• a calendar for the month
• a pocket for my receipts

The binder has been perfected down to a science over the years, as a way for me to survive Christmas without going absolutely crazy.  The binder goes everywhere with me because you never know when the shopping bug may hit, AND , because we wouldn’t want curious eyes to stumble  upon  it’s secret contents.

FYI…this year I’ve decided to add a new column to the kid’s pages…

4) where the gift is hidden

This is due to a Christmas Eve missing present incident last year…a wii Rockband from you-know-who that was hidden a little too well. (I did find it at about 2am.)

So dear readers, here’s to a happy start of the holiday season…and here’s to my beloved Christmas binder, may you help me survive yet another Christmas.

~Kate

Enjoy your Coffee Break!

*Add a comment to this, or any post, and be automatically entered in this week’s giveaway.

Before any of you start with me, understand that I love Christmas. It’s by far my favorite time of the year – and indeed the most wonderful time of the year (thank you, Johnny Mathis).

Just not in September.

Seriously, I about dropped my teeth as I walked through a couple of  stores last week and spied the zombie and Freddie Kruger costumes right next to the over-sized inflatable Mickey’s Christmas Carol yard ornaments. At that point, we hadn’t even crossed into the first official day of the fall season, for crying out loud!

And now that is officially Fall, what’s wrong with celebrating this season? Why not watch the leaves change and pick a pumpkin or two, eat a caramel apple and make a Halloween costume?

Why must we be inundated with Christmas before the first frost? I’m just not ready – not yet.

And the worst part of this whole deal is that the Christmas seed has been planted – I’m already starting to think about Christmas. I wonder how I’ll do everything that needs to be done. How I’ll pay for the gifts, what I’ll get the people on my list who have everything already, when I’ll actually be ready to think about any of this.

We can argue this all you want, but I have to believe this extreme early-birding of the season was not the intention for the person who suggested keeping the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year.

So if you’ll excuse me, I have a few pumpkins to carve…

-Liz

Enjoy your Coffee Break!

Want to submit your own story to be considered for the Guest Headline post to run on Friday’s????  Just send your story to: lizandkate@live.com and check back on Friday to see if your story was selected.