Measuring Up: Bubby’s Matryoshkas Measuring Cups

I am terrible about measuring. As a Weight Watcher for many moons, you'd think it would be second nature. But I also think that because I've done WW for so long, I tend to know what a tablespoon looks like or how much 1/2 a cup is, just eyeballing it.  But when I really need to buckle down, I bust out the measuring cups.

Unfortunately, I've yet to find measuring cups I don't curse at least once.  If I buy the metal ones, they make so much noise and they're always clanging around in the drawer. Even if I use the loopy ring that comes with it, you've got to either endure the clashing sound of metal-on-metal or undo the ring and take it off.  Then, of course, I lose the ring and the cups end up banging about in the kitchen tools drawer until I buy another one to add to the carnage.  And the plastic ones? Same problem except they're quieter about their less-than-ideal qualities. I also don't like rooting around in my drawers for them and often am missing just the one I need because it's in the dishwasher, it fell in the trash, someone put it away where it doesn't go (I won't name names).

I was perusing ModCloth today and saw these totally adorable Russian nesting doll-style measuring cups that are cute enough to stay on the counter all the time. Bubby's Matryoshkas Measuring Cups are food-safe plastic and measure 3.5 - 5inch tall. They stack inside each other, naturally, to take up little space on your counter, but still be super cute. According to the site, they "accurately measure 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup".

I totally just ordered some. They're so sweet!

Relax with Flower

I'm always on the lookout for ways to unwind and relax.  Normally I go out and garden or take the dogs for a long walk.  But lately, we've been experiencing temps in the 90's and I don't find gardening and sweating at all relaxing. I do sometimes find gaming relaxing, but usually nothing involving First-Person shoot-outs or exploding aliens with green blood smeared all over the screen.  Now if you ask my husband, those are the very things that he would find relaxiong and that's why about 95% of the video games we own are First-Person Shooters. The other 5% are games that I generally play.  One of those is Flower, a new-to-me game for the Playstation 3.  It costs $9.99 and you can buy it through the Playstation Store with your PS3.

DIY Spa Treatment: Make Your Own Sugar Scrub

A little sugar on top makes everything sweeter, right? I'm going to go right ahead and say it.  Scrubs are awesome.  Let us count the ways.  For starters, anything that makes you feel good even if it's not really doing anything super beneficial is worth the trouble. I love stepping into a hot shower with a good sugar scrub waiting to be dipped into.  Sugar scrubs are an effective and gentle way to exfoliate and invigorate skin.  It helps bring circulation to areas we tend to neglect otherwise and circulation is key to that healthy glow we all strive to achieve.

As a personal rule I prefer sugar scrubs over salt scrubs because sugar granules tend to be finer and they dissolve, as you scrub, a bit faster.  Salt scrubs are a little drying to my skin but I know many people love the benefits of a salt scrub down. The beauty of adopting a "DIY" approach to simple skin care is that you have more control over what you use.  You are also avoiding a lot of unnecessary chemicals and preservatives (and saving yourself a bunch of money).  You can also custom tailor your scents to your preferences.  Hate lavender? Pick different oils that suit your tastes. Love citrus? Zest a lemon or lime into the mixture to give it an earthy fresh scent.