Live it up...

Love your latte? Check out this DIY on dressing up your coffee and saving your wallet from the coffee shop in the process! Set up your own private Starbucks at home and indulge in a tasty cup of java. Here's how...

1. Brew It Bold.
A great coffee drink starts with a strong cup of coffee. If you have an espresso machine, you're set. Otherwise, you can make double-strength coffee using a drip coffee machine. Depending on the strength of the brew, 4 - 5 tbsps per 1.5 L is enough to make 6-8 cups. Experiment with putting a scoop and a half of coffee for every scoop that you normally use.

2. Spice Things Up.
If you like flavored coffees, try adding a scoop of spice (cinnamon,, nutmeg, cocoa powder, or vanilla bean) to the coffee before you brew it.

3. Milk It.
For lattes, Stock up on whole or low fat milk, or soymilk -- whichever suits your tastes. For hot drinks, whole milk, or 1:1 ratio with low fat milk makes the creamiest blend. For cold coffees, whole or low fat milk makes a smooth, icy treat.

4. Mix and Match.
Aside from milk, experiment with other goodies to mix with your java -- powdered hot chocolate or Chocolate Syrup makes a luscious mocha,
while Vanilla Syrup offers a yummy touch of sweetness. Try it with mint extracts, hazelnuts, or even fruits like strawberries or cherries. There are also available flavored brew blends, like choco raspberry and the like.

5. Top It Off.
A little topping goes a long way, so treat yourself to a spoonful of fresh whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon or chocolate powder, stemmed cherries
or a dose of choco sprinkles or shaved chocolate.

6. Get Iced.
For iced versions of your favorite drinks, make a strong pot of coffee, place it in an airtight pitcher (to keep it from becoming bitter) and refrigerate. Mix in a blender with ice and a scoop of vanilla powder or sweetened cocoa powder, along with some milk. Add a straw and slurp to your heart's content.

7. Fancy Finale
Part of the allure of going to a gourmet coffee shop is the presentation. Buy some muffins/cookies and invest in trendy coffee mugs or tall stemmed glasses, one that's "grande" sized and makes you feel like you're indulging in something decadent.


Go ahead, and impress your friends too. ^_^
Cheers!

I find this article very useful in our everyday life:

Chores such as cooking, kitchen cleaning and washing the dishes can leave odors behind on our hands. Nothing is worse than garlic. When it comes to removing garlic from your hands, prevention is key. A good way to eliminate this problem is to wear disposable rubber gloves, like surgical gloves, keeping a stock in the kitchen. If you choose not to wear gloves, wash your hands in cold soapy water, since hot water tends to seal in the odor. Rub your hands with either a cut lemon, baking soda or table salt, then wash them again with cold soapy water.Rubbing your hands over a stainless steel bowl or utensil under cold running water or rubbing your hands on the stainless steel faucet of the sink will also help. Washing dishes in a lemon-scented dish soap and warm water also helps to remove unpleasant odors from hands.