Tip: Hard Boiled Eggs

I am 27 years old, and I love to cook all kinds of foods. However, one thing that seemed beyond me is, quite possibly, the simplest thing in the world: hard boiling eggs!

I never trusted that they would come out right so my theory was to boil the hell out of them. This often results in too firm yolks in the middle and even discoloration. I never minded too much, because it was better than raw! However, I recently learned a trick and I was impressed that it has evaded me all of these years. So... I thought I would share with you!

For the perfectly hard boiled egg:

1. Place the eggs in water and turn on the stove (Med High is good)

2. Wait for them to boil

3. When they boil, turn the burner off and cover the pot with the lid

4. Wait 10-12 minutes... then they are done!

Who knew? Probably you did.... but at any rate, I learned something new!

Laundry VS Purex Complete Softener Crystals

For those of you that know me, I am fascinated by new household products. Kind of silly? Maybe so!

I don't know about you guys but I have always struggled with laundry softener. It seems I never have a washer that has a compartment for softener ... so what do I do? I tried the downy ball... it wasn't all bad although I sincerely question whether or not it releases at the right time. I also hate dryer sheets! I don't know why but they seem too waxy and over-chemically. Most recently though, I discovered the Tide dryer bar. The theory is you replace the bar every three months. This seemed to work great... although the smell left something to desire. However, over time the bar seemed to get nasty and it still seemed a bit too chemically.

Most recently I saw an ad for Purex Complete Softener Crystals and it made me want to try it! The theory here is there are crystals you pour in at the beginning of the wash when you do the soap. I'm assuming they slowly dissolve through the cycles. For those that care, Purex boasts that the crystals are 92% natural... whatever that means. They come in three scents: Fresh Spring Waters (blue), Lavender Blossom (purple), Tropical Splash (yellow). I like a clean scent and I have a man in the house so I chose the Fresh Spring Waters scent which is pretty good.

At any rate, after I used this I was hooked! Not only is the clean smell pleasant but I can actually SMELL it. Static is gone as well, which seems to be a large problem here in Colorado.

I recommend anyone that faces the softener dilemma like I do, to check it out! It cost me just under $4 at Walmart. Not bad!

Laundry and other exciting adventures

So today olivia and I ventured out to find a laundromat. Why you ask? Because I have a king sized comforter that needs to be washed that will not fit in mu washer..which I learned the hard way.

So I found a laundromat ... no thanks to my gps which is currently riding shotgun in jareds car.  This laundromat has bars on the windows and is blaring latin music.  I finally found a large machine...it costs 7 dollars. I am thinking at this point that it might not be much more to dry clean ..which would certainly be more convienent.  So I ask the lady at the counter, whom im not entirely sure understood me and she tells me it would coat 45 dollars!   Back to the expensive machine.

Meanwhile...olivia thinks this is big fun and is dancing to the marriachi band.  The next thing I know she spots a gumball machine to which I give her a quarter..upon further inspection the inside of the machine appears to have years of filth.  Yuck!  But she it her gumball an couldn't bite it. After several tries she had red dye all over her shirt because her mouth is too small and it kept popping out. At this point I did what any good mothr would do... I put tha filthy gumball in my mouth and bit it in half and gave her half.

So here we sit... in dirty chairs chewing dirty gum. What fun and its only 11!