buzzybee's Profile

Thawing is the tricky part - watch it! I just had to serve a mushy carrot cake last week b/c I didn't thaw it properly! It was more like carrot pudding. Oh well. Next time I'll know!

do the little loops around the dowels allow the elephant to stay up when you roll the toy? or does he fall forward? It's darling and I love it, but I'm confused if it's actually a toy or just decor?

i was thinking the same thing Pinko - why not just hang peppermint tea bags (complete with string) -- anybody know how well this works?

Make sure your outdoor trash cans have tight lids or are covered by a bungee cord. I cannot tell you the heart attack I nearly had one night when I heard banging outside. The motion detector light went off and as I cautiously peeked out my 2nd floor bedroom window I looked down upon 5 massive raccoons having a party in the two big trash cans. (the light didn't deter them. I had to go downstairs and bang on the kitchen window to get them to run off!)

Know what wildlife is native to your neighborhood and prepare your home against it. Watch out for snakes down there. Growing up in NC we always had to watch out for copperheads - they're pretty bold!

Hard water is very common in Europe and if you mention a water softner you may has well be the devil incarnate - cries of "those are so bad for the environment!" make you shrink in guilt.

That said - almost every soap (for dishwashers, clothes washers, shower gel and shampoos) talk about how they're good to use in hard water situations. I don't have a issue for the most part. I just hate breaking out the white vinegar concentrate to de-kalk the faucets and sinks/tubs. Makes the tub super slick so we had to buy a rubber mat thing.

unfortunately this doesn't help the US readers that much...

How not to hurt spiders, but keep them out of your home:

1 quart of vinegar 1 tablespoon warmed up coconut oil (asian grocery for cheaps) 1 tablespoon dishwashing soap (emulsifies the solution and keeps coconut oil from solidifying again) - swirl around, put in a spray bottle, and off you go!

I haven't sprayed IN my house, just all around the window and door frames outside. It lasts about 4 weeks or until a heavy rainstorm, and then needs a repeat spray. The amount of oil in the spray shouldn't cause damage, but the acid in the vinegar might. Test a small area first if you're concerned. Spiders won't cross the barrier, letting you keep your house to yourself.

I love this stuff!

aside from the fact that I, too, thought of the Fritzl case when seeing thise creepazoid pix....seriously! I'm laughing at the images of 'wineyards' across Switzerland. lol

wow, I had no idea....I just thought everybody used their toothbrush or credit card type thing to get the last bit out.

I have better things to spend my money on.

which one has the red chandelier in it? i love it!

I just think the fabric over the bed must be a dust factory. I agree w/pp who says the decor looks a little college-esque. I think they're probably very fun people to be able to call friends.