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Thanksgiving Tip: Refill Your Ice Trays

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:50:35 -0800

Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor - yet impactful - things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left.

Add a note to your Thanksgiving planner: The morning of the big dinner, fill your trays with distilled water, which will prevent ice from appearing cloudy in the center. When guests arrive, you'll be able to serve them drinks with a just-made batch of ice. What little tasks help you stay on top of all the Thanksgiving mania?

5 Fabulous Gifts For the Do-It-Herself Hostess

partysugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:50:27 -0800

She's the girl who makes snake cakes in her sleep. The gal who sends twenty-five handmade birthday invitations to a four course sit-down dinner that she cooks. She's already obsessing about her Thanksgiving menu and testing out Christmas cocktails. You know who I'm talking about, she's the hostess who does it all and she's giving Martha Stewart a run for her money. Always on top of things, this fun-loving gal is easy to shop for. Here are my holiday gifting suggestions for the party-princess in your life.

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Burning Question: Why Are Ice Cubes Cloudy in the Center?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:09 -0700

When I pulled out the ice tray to make a whiskey lemonade over the weekend, I couldn't help but notice that the ice had a cloudy white spot in the middle of it. This prompted me to ask: why is it that some ice I buy at the store is crystal-clear, but the frozen cubes at home in my freezer appear murky and white in the center?

Ice cubes develop cloudiness when water is frozen quickly. As ice begins developing on the surface of water, certain gases can no longer remain dissolved and begin to surface as microscopic bubbles. An already-developed outer layer of ice traps all the bubbles inside the frozen cube. Another reason for the white color may be traces of calcium carbonate or impurities, which are small and flaky in appearance but are completely harmless.

Ice makers are able to achieve a clear, see-through effect by distilling water, then freezing it in stages, and by using a mechanism that allows bubbles to be washed away as ice cubes develop.

Got a burning question? Contact us.

Happy Hour: Save the Ice Until Last

partysugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:00:44 -0700

Earlier this week I learned a great tip from one of San Francisco's best bartenders, Marco Dionysus of Clock Bar. We were chatting about the proper way to build a drink in a cocktail shaker.

His advice is something of a no-brainer, but definitely worth mentioning: when it comes to making any drink, from a mojito to a martini, always place the ice in the shaker last. Adding the ice before you incorporate the other ingredients can severely dilute a drink. Within the time it takes to walk to your liquor cabinet and grab the vodka, the ice is already melting in the cocktail shaker. It makes perfect sense, and I hate to say it, but I've been sipping diluted drinks for years!

Do you always save the ice for last?

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5 Things: Icing an Injury

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If you've ever pulled a muscle, you know it can hurt like crazy and interfere with future workouts. One of the best, easiest, and cheapest ways to treat a muscle strain is with ice, which reduces both the pain and the inflammation. Ice is also a great treatment for chronic, nagging pain like runner's knee. But although it's a simple process, it's very important to do it right. Here's how:

Start icing ASAP. Icing is most effective if you do it immediately after the injury and continue over the next 48 hours.
Do not apply ice directly to your skin; instead, wrap it in a towel or place it in a cute ice pack.

To see the rest, read more.

No cute ice pack? Bags of frozen veggies, such as corn and peas, make great ice bags. Not only are they already packed and frozen, but they also conform easily to the body.
Ice for no more than 20 minutes at a time. If your tissue gets too cold, it can cause further damage, so be sure to warm up for at least 45 minutes between icing sessions.
If you're training hard for a marathon or other big event, icing after workouts can prevent future soreness. You might even try an ice bath if you're prone to full-body aches.

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Winter Walk Time? Grab the Cooking Spray First!

PetSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:00:24 -0800

If your pet's still hesitant about wintertime walks, and not as willing to wear the booties as you'd hope, try the tip I was emailed just this week: Prevent those painful ice balls between paw pads and spritz the paws with a cooking spray before talking that next potty break. You'll still need to wash his feet when he gets back in (which you should be doing anyway because of the possible poisons on the sidewalks), but this will at least combat the pain that makes summertime scampering look more like slinking down the street these days.

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Do Tell: How Do You Treat Icy Sidewalks?

PetSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:30:12 -0800

I've already mentioned the dangers of ice melts but what do you do when faced with steps full of snow?! I want to hear your best recommendations for environmentally (and pet) safe products to prevent slipping in wintry weather.

I know that some people use eco-tastic sand, grit, or gravel to add traction but keep plants and waterways safe, yet I imagine that can get kinda muddy, too. If you've made a home in a place with the white stuff, what will you sprinkle on the steps, driveway, and sidewalk this season?

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PetSugar Street Team: Neo-Paws Keep Paws Good As New

PetSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:40:15 -0800

If your dog's trudging through snow or scampering on icy sidewalks treated with salt, it's important to keep their paw pads protected. Granted this can look a bit silly to nondog owners, but it's important since the lime-rock or calcium chloride melts are poisonous to pets. Shoes prevent the risk of a pup cutting or licking his feet, but I can tell you from experience, it's hard to find ones that stay on! If you're in the market for a new set, the ones Reuben wears here come personally recommended by the Goldendoodle's human mom, Beaner, who says:

My husband did a bunch of research and other booties seemed too short. These Neo-Paws Regular Performance Dog Shoes ($34 and up per pair) have a long strip of velcro you can wrap around the dog's legs. They take a little more effort to get them on, but they're so worth it.

I'm happy knowing this pup's protected and love hearing firsthand reviews of your pets' product picks. If you've got great things to say about your furry friends' fave items, keep sharing them with PetSugar's Street Team!

Casa Quickie: Just Say No to Slippery Steps

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:15:35 -0800

If you plan on hosting any dinner parties or holiday gatherings, the last thing you need is a guest with a head injury. Unfortunately, slippery, icy walkways and steps are often the culprit in Winter accidents. Stop slips before they start by making sure to keep your steps free of ice and snow. First step: Always shovel any ice and snow away as soon as it lands on your steps and walkways. Then, if there's still a problem, use sand or kitty litter to provide traction. Using rock salt is also an option, though if the temperatures get below 25 degrees, it won't work. Do you use these methods, or do you have another way to keep your steps slip-free?
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Off to Market Recap: Ice Bucket

partysugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:00:58 -0700

An ice bucket is essential to any home bar. Since I'm trying to make my bar perfectly party ready, I've decided to invest in one. You helped me by heading off to market in search of a functional yet stylish ice bucket. You bookmarked your ice bucket finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Ice Bucket. Pink is my favorite color, so naturally I love this raspberry-hued ice bucket that sofi saved. This easy-to-clean bucket is ideal for Summer entertaining. Divine discovery, sofi! To look at the entire collection, scroll below.