YumSugar

Perle Table Mat: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:14:01 -0700

I ran across the Perle Table Mat the other day and I'm really not sure what I think of it. It's designed to function much like a trivet/hot plate by keeping hot dishes away from the surface. The creative part is that the strand of "pearls" can be formed into several different configurations (circle, large oval, double circle) in order to accommodate for small, large or multiple serving dishes. On one hand it's very Claes Oldenburg, but on the other it looks like the pot is sitting on top of a bunch of boiled eggs - I can't tell if I like it, or want to smash it. Also, it looks like it would take up a bunch of storage space when not being used. So what do you guys think? Love it or hate it?

Source: Apartment Therapy SF

How-To: Reuse Your Super Bowl Beer Bottle Caps

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:46 -0800

Once a year (at least), we all get a little carried away by the excitement of watching our favorite football teams duke it out, or by dance machine Justin Timberlake on stage, and we finish off a few too many beers (and hot wings). Not only are we left with a pounding headache but also dozens of aluminum bottle caps. Of course, you can recycle them. But there are also plenty of other ways to reuse those pesky caps. You might want to let your hangover wear off before you attempt some of these crafty projects, though. To hear them, read more.

Crochet an adorable bottle cap trivet, or use these trivet patterns.
If fishing is a hobby of yours, superglue a lollipop stick to the top of the cap, and scale fish with its spiky edge.
Turn them into fishing lures.
Stop by a local brewery and donate your caps to be reused on new bottles of beer.
Superglue small round magnets or thumbtacks and use them on your fridge or cork boards.
Glue them onto the border of a mirror or frame and turn them into folk art.
Make coasters out of them.
Drill or punch holes in them, and thread wire or string through them to make wind chimes.
If you have a large collection of bottle caps, fill an apothecary jar with them to add some color to your digs.
Or, check out these unique bottle cap ideas from Craft.

Source

The Cheapest, Simplest Ikea Laptop Stand

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:03:27 -0700

I thought my lovely Dave was cheap ($20) for a laptop stand, but I've been proven wrong by Ikea Hacker, who has taught me that a genius trip to Ikea can be accomplished by looking at products with a mutable, creative eye.

Here, a user submitted this hack for the Lamplig trivet ($6) - accustomed to keeping hot pans off surfaces - where the hacker simply affixed $2 rubber feet to the trivet and achieved an angled laptop stand with airflow underneath. You'd have to use this on a surface though, otherwise I'm getting a visual (and a physical, ouch) of a metal grid print on your thighs.

Source

How-To: 7 Ways to Protect Your Countertops

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:15:06 -0800

With all the cooking and entertaining we do during the holiday season, our countertops, along with the rest of our homes, take a beating. But, they’re pricey and tedious to replace (whether yours are Carrera marble or not) so it’s best to keep a few simple rules in mind when carving that turkey and whipping up those glasses of egg nog. First and foremost, you should follow any care instructions that came with your countertop, as each material requires different attention. To learn seven ways to protect your countertops, read more.

Use coasters under any glasses or bottles holding a liquid (olive oil, vinegar, etc. included) to prevent sticky surfaces and ring marks.
Some countertops are more water resistant than others, such as tile, but you should always immediately wipe up spills and splashes with a clean, slightly damp cloth. The sooner, the better.
Use a tray or plate to rest any spoons, cooking utensils, or knifes while you’re cooking.
When giving your countertops a deep cleaning, avoid using abrasive solutions or materials such as steel wool and heavy duty nylon sponges. Instead, use mild dishwashing soap, a damp cloth or basic sponge, and a good dose of elbow grease.
When pulling a hot pot, pan, or casserole out of the oven or off the stove, always place it on a trivet or even an oven mitt if that’s all you have handy. This will prevent scratches, burn marks, and the general wearing down of your counter.
Whether you’re slicing a tomato or a 32-ounce steak, always use a cutting board. No exceptions!
Likewise, always pound your meats on a cutting board. This will prevent scratches and cracks from the mallet.

Source

Yummy Links: From Pickling Pointers to Beer Mixing

partysugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:00:47 -0700

Into pickling? Here's how to choose the right vinegar. - The Kitchn
What does "heirloom" mean really? - Chow
The incomplete but oh-so-true guide to beachside eats.- The Epi-Log
Don't these brownie chunk peanut butter cookies sound divine? - Baking Bites
Bacon-cheese hot dogs: a brunch dish for the adventurous. - Serious Eats
Use your old wine corks to make these cute trivets. - Sweet & Sticky
Are you a health foodie? - FitSugar
Bored with beer? Try getting creative with fizzy flavor blends. - Slashfood

Deck the Haus: Dove Table Art

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:49:05 -0800

What better way to say Peace on Earth than with some lovely doves ($34) flocked together on your holiday table? These 10 shearling doves have been handsewn together, and decorate a table with 10 shearling doves hand sewn together. This functional art piece measures approximately 15" x 9". I wonder if it can be used as a trivet?

Wood Disk Placemat: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:28:19 -0700

There's something about these Wood Disk Placemats that I find wonderfully striking. The symmetrical circles, and beautiful wooden tones are really alluring. However, they're sort of retro, in that weird trivet on your grandma's table sort of way, and I'm not sure I would actually want them in my house. What do you guys think of them?

Moment of Geek: CPU Desk

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:00:22 -0700

Talk about a geeky DIY project! A guy named Matt spent the last couple of months collecting scrap CPUs and creating an elaborate CPU desk. The project began this spring when Matt and his co-workers started upgrading a customer's computer and realized several hundred Itanium CPUs, in perfect working order, were going to be scrapped. Inspired by a computer chip trivet article, he decided to improve his desktop by tiling it with the old CPUs.

"I’m well pleased with the result – this is probably one of the better-looking things that I’ve ever made," Matt says on his blog. "The chips glow nicely in the light of the monitor, when working in a dark room at night (shows dirt badly - I had to take the glass out again to clean those chips in front of the screen one more time). I had thought about putting some sort of lighting under the glass (LEDs or cold-cathodes), but I’m glad I didn’t. I think it works just fine as it is."
Source: Neatorama

Relax Already: Eucalyptus Steamer

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:25:00 -0800

For a relaxing steamer when you're starting to feel a bit under the weather, try this using:

6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
6 cups of water

Bring the water and oil to a near boil. Using a towel, make a tent over the water and steam your head for 5 minutes. I would recommend turning the burner off and putting the pot on a trivet away from the stove starting to steam.

The eucalyptus steam will help ease symptoms of bronchitis, colds, coughing, fever, flu and sinusitis.

Fit's Tip: If the steam is too hot on your face, use a bigger towel and move further away. You can get the oil at most health stores as well as online. Buy it here for $11.95.