April 9, 2012 at 11:11 am
· Filed under domestic affairs
I know… this looks like the beginning of a fun weekend, right? A bit of gin. A bit of jewelry.
Well, believe it or not, I wasn’t gearing up for a party or relaxing after a long day… I was cleaning my wedding ring! Gin + dirty, dingy diamond = brilliantly bright stone!
It couldn’t be easier or more effective. Drop your ring into a small vessel and cover it with gin. Let soak for about an hour, scrub with an old toothbrush, rinse with water…. and you will be shocked by how shiny your bling will be!
I mean, have you ever??? Shine on!
POST BY DEANA BRACKEN
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January 28, 2010 at 2:57 pm
· Filed under domestic affairs, home design, shopping (other than GwG)
My latest piece for The Green Girls:
I have to admit, I’m not typically a huge fan “rustic” decor… but ’tis the Sundance Season and I got caught up in the hoopla! As long as your home’s look is not uber-formal, a piece or 2 of “rustic” can look amazing just about anywhere and really warm up a space. AND so much of it is made from reclaimed woods and recycled materials… it’s almost silly not to take the plunge!
To shed a little warm & woodsy light on the subject, the Light Block by Brave Space (at Vivavi) is a rustic-meets-modern head turner. Made from EcoResin, this stylish light comes complete with a low-heat, energy-efficient light bulb.
Salt and Pepper, Cinnamon and Sugar, Rosemary and Thyme… whatever your pleasure, rustic-up your dinner table with the sleek, yet nature-inspired
Spice Block by Domestic Aesthetic (at
Green With Glamour). Made in Brooklyn from reclaimed wood, who’s tabletop couldn’t use a little extra spice?
And what Sundance-inspired story would be complete without a little something from the Sundance Catalog? The
Recycled Pickle Barrel Nightstand may be intended for the bedroom, but I think it would look stunning anywhere from the powder room to the den!
POST BY DEANA BRACKEN
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June 1, 2009 at 8:26 am
· Filed under domestic affairs
You all know… other than cooking & entertaining, I’m not a bit “domestic”. Anything cleaning-related makes me cringe – and that includes laundry. I don’t want to do it, I don’t care about it and I certainly don’t want to write about it, right? Well, just this once…
I was assigned to write about the Green Wash Ball for Ecostiletto and the good GWB people were kind enough to send me one so that I actually could experience it for myself. It’s crazy! It’s a non-toxic plastic ball filled with tiny pieces of ceramic that actually cleanse your clothing sans detergent. I swear… this is not snake oil! Read their pitch:
Forget harmful detergents that damage your clothing and irritate sensitive skin. GreenWashBall is antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, leaves clothes smelling fresh and it softens your fabric without any harmful chemicals. The GreenWashBall is composed of natural ceramics contained in a plastic non-toxic sphere for washing purposes without chemical detergent. The friction of the ceramics in the GreenWash Ball and the water in the washer cause the pH level to rise which unlocks the stains. GreenWashBall can remove chemical, grease and organic stains in just one cycle.
I’m sold. I love this little thing – and no lugging home huge detergent bottles that, when empty, eat up half the space in your recycler (not to mention the amount of plastic your saving from being manufactured/recycled period). I will be honest, it was a bit hard getting into the swing of GWB (and my husband still doesn’t trust it), but I can attest that our laundry IS fresh-feeling, clean and odor-free. Now if I could just get it to fold.
POST BY DEANA BRACKEN
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