The Wonders of Vinegar!

Some of you may be thinking "What can vinegar do apart from be used in cooking?" Alot apparently. 

I recently acquired a new book called '501 Hints & Tips with Vinegar' by igloobooks and wow what a handy guide! Vinegar seems like one of those products that you keep in your cupboard just in case for that special meal or just as a basic ingredient but actually it has so many applications that are just mind boggling. 

This is a book I highly recommend reading, you will not be disappointed. So to encourage you I thought I'd pick out a few of my favourite tips...

1) Want clean mirrors? Don't use a simple duster, get a soft cloth and wipe mirrors with a water bottle containing a 50:50 mix of vinegar and water. Keep the cloth damp not wet.

2) If anyone in your family has allergies then use vinegar when washing your bedsheets instead of fabric softener! This will make them extra clean.

3) Do you drink alot of tea? If so limescale on your kettle is a nightmare! just soak it in white wine vinegar overnight or even for just 10 minutes then wash off.

4) When making pizza sauce add a splash of red wine vinegar, this brings out the flavour of the tomatoes. 

5) Hate de-scaling fish? Find it tricky? rub vinegar on it first. Not only does it help remove the scales it also helps eliminate fishy smells on your hands.

6) To stop doughnuts from soaking up too much grease add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the oil.

7) Add a spoonful of white wine vinegar to pastry to make it extra light and flaky!

8)  Keep moisture in your cakes when baking by adding a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the mix.

9) Want fluffier American pancakes? Add some vinegar!

10) Spray ice cold vinegar on minor skin burns to prevent blisters and reduce pain.

11)  Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water as a daily tonic!

12) Hayfever is a horror in summer! To help take a glass of water daily with 2 teaspoons of honey and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in.

13) Hate spiders? Ugh me too! Spray vinegar in crevices like windowsills, room corners to keep them at bay. They are put off by the smell. This also works for repelling mosquitoes and nats. 

14) Prolong the life of hosiery by adding a tablespoon of white wine vinegar to the water when washing.

15) Use vinegar and a cloth to help peel off stubborn stickers from shoe bottoms, furniture and packaged goods!

There you have it! There are so many applications for vinegar that I never dreamed of and now that I know them I am going to go vinegar crazy! That spider trick is definitely a good one! 

Have an awesome day everyone and keep alert for my next post will be my New Look and Superdrug Haul! <3

-Tasha 

   

Movie Review: My top 5 re-watchable movies!

Recently we have all been bogged down by so many amazing movies that have or are going to be released this year and I personally have been daydreaming about Sebastian Stan for the last two months...and I got to thinking what are the movies I always go back to watch again? Well I have compiled a list and without further ado I present them to you my wonderful readers!

1)Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) (2002)

This hands down is probably the movie I have watched the most ever since I first saw it. The story is relateable despite being set in a fantastical and slightly evil world and the characters are really well developed; Chihiro an innocent and eager girl who is determined to save her parents and is a caring friend and Haku a mysterious and tormented boy who despite having a dark secret, does everything he can to protect Chihiro. Spirited Away is such a beautiful movie with stunning animation that brings the characters to life like no animation I have seen. This is a movie I will still be watching way into my eighties.  

2) Speed (1994)

I have always been a fan of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock and the chemistry between them is undeniable whether you watch Speed or The Lakehouse. Speed is an action thriller that has me on the edge of my sofa every time I watch it even though I know what happens! The villain played by Dennis Hopper is cunning and malicious but with an unusual twist in terms of his conscience. I can't really put into words how much I love this movie but I really love it...like ALOT.

3) The Lakehouse (2006)

Now you know that I love Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock...so here is one of my absolute favourite movies I can watch over and over and over...The Lakehouse. Both Sandra and Keanu are the main stars in this movie and despite the gloomy looking poster above I can tell you that this film whilst sad and heartbreaking is also fiery and passionate and funny, due to not only the amazing acting and chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock but the emotional plot with its twists and turns and the perfect mix of coincidence, fate, happy and sad. I highly recommend this movie.

4) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

This is one of my more recent finds, I first watched it about a year and a half ago, and I fell in love with it instantly! It is such a clever movie with stunning animation and a thrilling story that keeps you guessing all the time. Some parts I'm shouting at the screen yelling "NO DON'T GO THERE!" It is that suspenseful....or maybe I'm just weird...hehe. It is such a confusing story to explain without revealing the ending or any plot twists so I won't even go there.

5) Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)

I can just hear alot of you groan because the old Star Wars episodes are better than the new ones and I agree to an extent but I have many fond memories of Star Wars. I practically grew up playing lightsabers with my brother and pretending to open doors with my force abilities and I remember watching Star Wars Phantom Menace in the cinema with my dad and rewatching it on video years later. The plot is brilliant and the actors are really good, especially Liam Neeson one of my favourite actors who plays Qui-Gon Jinn my favourite Jedi out of all the movies old and new. One of the aspects that make this movie awesome is the music. Oh the music. John Williams composes the most beautiful music that really strikes a chord with you in each scene it plays in. My favourite being the duel Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi have with Darth Maul one of the coolest Sith to ever live. The music creates such suspense and I get so excited when that part of the movie approaches. Seriously watch it. Watch all of the Star Wars movies because Liam Neeson may be amazing in The Phantom Menace but hot damn Harrison Ford as Han Solo is one beautiful man.

Well thats it for this post! It was so difficult picking just five as there are loads of other movies I watch over and over, but these are my favourites. For example I would have included The Bourne Series, Lord of The Rings, Underworld series, Resident Evil series, Constantine (another Keanu Reeves movie yes I know I have an addiction) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and many more. Agree with me? Let me know what movies you can watch over and over in the comments below and we can fangirl over them! 

-Tasha