Summer may still be making things sizzle in Texas but I'm daydreaming about fall. Bring on the cooler days, football-focused nights and the chance to wear something other than the shorts that have been my hot-weather staple.
I'm thinkin' tweedy skirts, long-sleeve dresses and leggings to start then skinny jeans, sweaters and scarves. I haven't gone near that part of my closet for months thanks to our famous Texas heat so it'll seem like I have a new wardrobe. But wouldn't it be nice to have a quick and easy way to freshen up my favorites for fall without dry cleaning expenses or the trouble of hand washing?
The folks at Dryel want to offer five lucky readers some help doing just that. They've joined us to give away five starter kits for their in-home dry cleaning system. It safely steams clothing and cleans soils, stains and odors while removing wrinkles and saving considerable time and money.
We're giving away five coupons for Dryel starter kits including everything you need to freshen up your favorites for fall ... FREE.
Read on for details on how to enter. Contest ends Aug. 23.
Dryel is great for dry clean only things because it cleans them for as little as 25 cents a garment. Wow! And you can use it on most fabrics (excluding leather, velvet, suede, fur, silk and rayon).
I also like using Dryel for special care items like dresses, dark jeans, sweaters and blouses that call for hand washing and/or line drying and pieces that are difficult to wash like my go-everywhere jean jacket. (That's a must for every woman's wardrobe!)
Since Dryel works in your dryer, it's easy to use and avoids harsh dry cleaning chemicals. You simply spritz any spots with the included Booster Spray. Zip your clothing in a special bag that holds up to five items. Use the dryer to activate Dryel's steam cleaning environment. Hang up your things immediately once the dryer's done to avoid wrinkling. And voilà, you're finished except for an occasional ironing touch up.
What's more, Dryel cleans clothes in record time. I'm talkin' 30 minutes on medium heat in the dryer for deep cleaning. Make that 15 minutes if your clothes are like the things I need to prep for fall and only need freshening up.
Before using Dryel, I refused to let my dark skinny jeans get anywhere near the dryer. I was worried their color would fade, or worse, they'd shrink and I wouldn't be able to squeeze myself into them no matter how many desserts I skipped. So I washed them on delicate and let them line dry.(What a time sucker!) But Dryel won't fade, stretch or shrink clothing - even skin-hugging skinnies like mine. So instead of requiring a full day to wash and dry, my skinnies can be ready for action in 15 to 30 minutes. Nice!
As Texans, Bob and I grew up thinking every meal should include a little grease. Our iron-skillet-wielding mamas often fixed fried eggs and sausage for breakfast, burgers and fries (my weakness!) for lunch, and chicken fried steak, fried okra and apricot fried pies for dinner. Talk about heaven!
My mother tried teaching by example. When I was growing up, she swept our tile kitchen floor after every meal (or had me do it ... a natural consequence of being the oldest child.) But somehow the habit never stuck.
Bob and I got the middle-age crazies after Cole graduated high school. So bad that while he toured with his band Verae, we bought a lot and began building our "dream" home. (We're still trying to explain that one.)
Everyone encouraged me to journal when I was down last year. My sister Pam sent me a small, sweet spiral notebook including some of her favorite Bible verses, which I still add to and keep with me. My friend Bev gave me a gorgeous, gemmed book perfect for recording the many thoughtful gifts I received so that I could send thank-you notes.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoomerBrief
and @CharlotteBoomer
Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
Matt Drudge gets the goods and his site ain't bad either.
You don't have to live in Dallas to enjoy D Magazine.
