My friend Jannie has this awesome DIY blog where she tests out different DIY products/techniques, and evaluates them. There are several that I've wanted to try, and one day I opened up her blog to do a workout she recommended. As I was scanning her blog I decided to procrastinate my workout for a few hours be productive, and get some things done around the house! Here are my results!
Jannie's Post: Microwave Cleaner
Jannie says to put a microwave safe bowl/container of water in your microwave and let it run for 10-20 minutes. Then wipe the crud out.
Verdict: I turned it on for only 10 minutes, I was a little worried about my plastic measuring cup melting in there. The crud wiped off pretty easily from the roof and top half of the walls. I had to use a little more elbow grease to wipe the bottom half of the microwave. I think if I'd let it run for another 5 or 10 minutes, I wouldn't have had this issue. All things considered, super easy, super successful. Except for that part where I thought it would be great to use that hot water to wet my rag, and shoved my whole hand into that measuring cup full of boiling hot water. That is not what I would call super successful. This is my before (Shame on me, I know...)
And this is my after. Voila!! Go look in YOUR microwave... Shame on YOU!
Next up, Jannie's Post: Make up Remover
Read that post for specifics, but you mix water, tear free kids soap, and a teensy bit of olive or coconut oil. Mix it up, and whammo blammo, you got yerself beauty in a mason jar, hot darn!
My verdict: Jannie said to mix it up in the jar, and then pour some in a 3oz squeeze bottle to get it on your cotton square/ball for application. Being the genius that I am, I mixed it up knowing full well that I did NOT have a 3oz squeeze bottle. I wouldn't recommend doing this, because that will mean that you have to stick your arm, nearly up to your elbow, in that big jar to get this makeup remover onto your cotton ball. Which I did. The product itself is quite nice. I need to rinse my face (and hand. and forearm. and elbow. and shirt sleeve.) afterwards because I don't like the suds on my face. But I have been stuck in a rut trying to find a new facewash that works well with my awesome dry/flaky/greasy complexion. This is a good product I'm using to mix it up a little bit. I like it so far.
Moving on, Jannie's Post: Headlight Cleaner
Jannie says wipe some toothpaste on your headlights with a rag to restore and clear your headlights. Rub it around til it looks like its doing something. Then wipe it off with a clean rag.
My verdict: Works like a charm. Fair warning - When you sneak out into the garage, your children WILL notice, and they WILL lock you out of the house, and they WILL turn off the lights so that it takes you several minutes to locate and remove the spare key from its spot, and they WILL stand on the other side of the door laughing at you hysterically as you yell Mother Goose versions of curse words and threats at that them. Don't say I didn't warn you.
And then there was, Jannie's Post: Grips
Here, Jannie talks about three different kinds of grips, one that I really wanted to try. She says that to grip-ify the bottom of your kids' socks, put puff paint on the soles.
My Verdict: Works like a charm. Izzy can now run freely through the kitchen, and we have less incidents where she looks like that puppy from that toilet paper commercial. Anyone? Anyone? However, Izzy has been picking at it a bit, and I don't know how long it will stay on with her picking at it... who knows!!
We're almost done, Jannie's Post: Teeth Whitener
In her post, Jannie describes an epic fail she had with a teeth whitening system she bought. So here, she says to mix together baking soda and a few drops hydrogen peroxide. Let sit until it forms a paste, then spread on toothbrush and apply to teeth without touching gums or lips. Do not swallow, and do not leave on your teeth for more than 1 minute before rinsing mouth completely. Repeat every other day for 10 days.
My Verdict: Jannie warned that this substance would BURN your gums and lips, so I was super cautious when applying, which meant that I got it everywhere. I was expecting it to burn real bad, like you know, make my lips hurt real bad, bad enough that I might have to call Kip for some chapstick. But it didn't burn at all. So, either Jannie is a wussy, or my gums and lips are just really buff. You decide. Anyway, I left it on for about 40 seconds before I started drooling, and almost swallowed some. I think I noticed a difference, but I've only done it once so far. I'll report back later after the 10 days are up (or in 5 months, that's how I blog, yo.).
And last, but not least, Jannie's Post: Miracle Workout
After nearly 3 hours of other projects, I finally banished the children to the basement buckled down and got to work on creating a new and healthier me. Jannie says she found this awesome workout, it only takes 15 minutes a day. It will make you win competitions, and money, and generally make you awesomer than anyone else, ever. And apparently when you're done, you'll still have enough energy to do five minutes worth of other stuff, too.
My Verdict: I hate you, Jannie. And my hamstrings hate you double.
