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A Look Back at Method Over 2012

Heather says:

I want to thank Method for being a sponsor of Home-Ec 101 this year. I’m choosy about who I want to work with here. I care about the influence I may have over some of your consumer choices.

Adam Lowry and Eric RyanAfter flying out to San Francisco last March and meeting the founders of the company and hearing their story, I felt comfortable with my choice to work with Method. When I met and spoke to Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, the founders of the company, I felt even better.

I care about what your bring into your homes.

From the beginning I have advocated making healthier, greener choices when it comes to cleaning your home. The most economical of which is vinegar and water, which I still offer up as a useful choice.

However, not everyone wants to smell vinegar. I get that. (Also acidic cleaning solutions are not always the answer)

Method, as a company, makes products that are non-toxic and eco-friendly.

They only offer anti-bacterial cleaners where it makes sense. No, you do not need Tri-closan in your hand soap.

And pthalates, you remember pthalates, right? Yuck.

Remember their Ocean Plastic campaign from last month?

No, one small company can’t make a huge dent in the obscene amount of plastic in our oceans, but they can certainly be the example. They can set the bar and we can consciously choose to use their products and vote with our dollars. As an average citizen and consumer, all the phone calls in the world won’t make a difference, but consciously and consistently choosing to purchase products that align with our values does.

I’ve said it before when I talk about buying locally:

 I see this as frugality in the broadest sense of the term, it’s making an informed choice to purchase the most beneficial product rather than the one offered at the lowest immediate cost. There can be long-term financial impacts caused by short-term savings. . . 

And really this is part of why I don’t advocate the extreme couponing lifestyle. Please don’t take this as a condemnation, because that’s not where I’m going with this. I am -now- speaking from a place where I can make financial decisions that don’t feel desperate, it would be hypocritical to say NEVER do [X ] because in my life I have probably done [X] at some point and have no room to talk or finger point. If -and that is a big, big if- the budget allows me to make a choice based on my conscience, I will. Sometimes there isn’t a choice and I understand that, too.

December marks the last month of Method’s sponsorship of Home-Ec101 and other fine websites you may know (and love). I was -and am- proud to have been a part of their team during 2012 and am giddy with their news coming in 2013.

All I’m going to say, is you may not have to look as hard to find this little start-up that could. Breaking into the consumer product market is an incredible feat and as a company you deserve this.

Congratulations and thank you for all the soap¹.

¹Award yourself one Internetz if you can understand why that line reminds me of Douglas Adams.

Method Launches Ocean Plastic 2-in-1 Dish + Hand Soap

Heather says:

I have a summer rule, as soon as the water is warm enough, I take the minions to the beach at least once a week.

Not everyone is lucky enough to live near the ocean, we are privileged to live here, and it would be silly to not take advantage. Often while there, I make the kids pick up whatever trash we find, much to their annoyance.

But mom, they say.

There’ll just be more, they say.

Why bother when there will just be more trash and it’s only is a small gesture toward a very large problem.

For me it comes down to this:

At least it’s doing something.

We can complain, we can sign petitions, or maybe, whenever we have the chance, we can make the small gestures that set a good example.

Why are you talking about the beach in November, Heather?

What does this have to do with Method, dish soap, and people against dirty?

A lot.

This month Method is launching, in cooperation with Whole Foods Market, the new Ocean Plastic 2-in-1 Dish + Hand Soap.

 

Ocean Plastic 11.6oz bottle

The bottles are made from recycled ocean plastic and post-consumer recycled plastic or PCR for short.

Over the past year and a half, Method employees and volunteer groups have been collecting plastic from the beaches of Hawi’i, this plastic has been used to make the ocean plastic bottles which are only available at Whole Foods Market and methodhome.com.

How cool is that?

I’ve mentioned before how much thought Method puts into design. Look closely, do the bumps on the bottle remind you of anything?  The ocean plastic bottles are designed to look like sea urchins and they remind me of the shells I used to buy each year in Myrtle Beach at the souvenir shops on the strip. The dark grey color occurs naturally as a result of the production process. I like the interesting blend of industrial and organic that results from the design.

Why is Method bothering with using ocean plastic?

Much like the effort I put into making my kids pick up trash on the beach, the effort isn’t about the initial result. The effort to use plastics from an alternative source is undergone because it’s the principle. It calls attention to something that needs to be changed and it demonstrates responsibility, as people and as companies.

These Ocean Plastic bottles are about proving a point. Companies, even small ones like Method, can choose to responsibly source their materials and they can call attention to environmental concerns.

No, Method isn’t going to be able to clean up the estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic in each square mile of ocean. They can however remind people to recycle responsibly. This month they are asking Fans of Method to take the Clean Oceans Pledge. (By taking the pledge you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card each Friday during the month of November -be sure to read the official rules available on that Facebook page.) Pretty cool, huh?

Oh and for reading this far, you get to learn about the 15% off on Smarty Dish Plus Products available through methodhome.com (for US residents) and well.ca (for our Canadian friends). Just use the coupon code: SMARTDISH -and just as a quick FYI that code won’t be valid until the 15th and will only last until the 30th of November.

This post has been sponsored by Method. The opinions contained therein and reference to the use of child labor -picking up trash on the beach-, however, are my own.

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month #PinkYourSink

“Do not go gentle into that good night,”
Dylan Thomas

It’s been a tough year. Home-Ec 101 recently lost a friend to head and neck cancer. My stepbrother began, and as far as we know, is winning his fight with testicular cancer.

Every October, it seems, I add another reason, another person, another story, to the list of why we should help raise cancer awareness.

I’m tired of adding to it. I don’t want to add anyone else

We don’t need to lose any more Gene Glaves.

Tonight my son will be playing in his midget football game with pink shoelaces and a pink mouth guard. He doesn’t get why we “think pink” every October. He just doesn’t understand. Frankly, I don’t want him to, at least not yet. All he knows is that it’s okay to wear pink because it’s about making sure someday other people’s moms and dads won’t get sick like his Uncle Nigel.

Sometimes we do little things to fight in little ways against big things.

Awful things.

Things that feel insurmountable and unwinnable.

Randal Munroe has a fantastic illustration of this. Since some of you object to bad language, I am linking rather than embedding the image. I share the sentiment of the illustration, language and all. 

When we are fighting these things, we keep on keeping on. We do the little things. Sometimes things as little as washing our hands.

Today Method soap is launching their Pink Your Sink campaign.

Method is asking its fans on Facebook where it should donate $10,000 in support of breast cancer awareness and research. Fans will have the chance to submit and vote on a breast cancer affiliated non-profit organization in the U.S. and Canada for consideration. At the end of October, four charities will be chosen to receive a $2,500 gift.

I really like this tactic, not only will four charities receive a $2,500 gift, but who knows how many breast cancer affiliate non-profits will be promoted as their supporters spread the word in a ripple effect.

Method believes in “design for good” and is using these limited edition designs to help raise breast cancer awareness. And if you haven’t heard, Method is now available in a lot more places than it was just a few months ago.

Little things add up to big things and until we win. . .

Pink your sink, tie your shoelaces, put in your mouth guard, and

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own, the poetry is not.

Q-Tips Quick Tip: Detail Your Car

Heather says:

Here we go, it’s the final installment of Quick Tips from Q-Tips® . You’re excited, I can see it in the way your eyes shine. . . And hey, I’ve come a long way over the past year with talking on camera. Maybe I’ll eventually get around to making it a regular thing. Heck, if you want, send me a video question and I’ll do my best to respond in a timely manner, kind of like the end of that cooking show that is always on when I go to the allergist. What’s her name? She’s got dark hair? We can totally pull that off.

Q-Tips Precision Tips are great for detailing all of those tiny crevices in your vehicle. Since I always used to get the Armor All Spray all over the windshield I switched over to the wipes and have never looked back. When the air vents in my car need (okay so I should probably define need as, get really disgusting) I use an Armor-Alled Q-Tip to get those places my grown up fingers can’t fit and the child labor always overlooks (those would be my minions, no one else’s).

To celebrate the final installment of Quick Tips from Q-Tips®  we’re (Q-Tips®  and I) are giving away 3 $50 Amazon gift cards, selected by random drawing.

So cool, right?

How do you get in on the $50 goodness? It’s simple, be 18 or older, live in the US, and leave a comment before Sunday September 23, 2012 at 9pm EDT.  While you’re at it, go ahead and Fan Q-Tips®  on Facebook (this is not a condition of entry nor an additional entry) and find many more great tips for these handy cotton swabs.

This post was sponsored by Q-Tips, all opinions, especially the inappropriate joke about child labor are mine.

Detail Your Washing Machine: A Quick Tip from Q-Tips®

Heather says:

If you haven’t realized by now, I’m human. I neglect some chores and then occasionally get a little OCD when I remedy that situation. This week I’m bringing you another quick tip from Q-Tips® and we’re in the laundry room. Yes, you get a sneak peek at my washing machine and the lint it collects! If you’re actually excited by that, I may be a little creeped out.

Please note I’m not suggesting that you detail your washer every week or every month. As I note in the video this is a special occasion kind of cleaning, perhaps I haven’t done it often enough (judging by the lint), but don’t think I’m trying to get you to add this chore to your already overwhelming to-do list. Maybe detailing your washer should be done whenever you get around to deep cleaning the laundry room. I try to give mine a once over when I do the kitchen since they are attached.

For more ideas and tips head over to the Q-Tips® Fan Page
You win one Internetz if you know where I bought my shirt. Yes, Googling is cheating.

This is a sponsored post.  Q-tips® product was provided by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®; my tips and usage suggestions are my own.

Back-to-School and Back-to-Work? with a Tupperware Giveaway

Heather says:

Did you know that I’m currently looking to re-enter the whole 9 – 5 world? It’s true, I’ve been sending out applications, going to interviews and while nothing has happened, yet, I’m sure at some point I’ll find a good fit.

Don’t worry, Home-Ec101.com isn’t going anywhere. Home-Ec 101 represents more than 5.5 years of work, that’s not something I’m willing to just drop. Did you know that it was just in March that I mentioned that 3 million people have visited this site? Hang on to your hat, because we crossed the 4 million mark earlier this month. A million people in 5 months? Consider this mind, blown.

My kids have all started school and the plan is to pack lunches four days a week. For me it’s less about the cost savings than knowing that they are getting whole grains (and not popcorn style -has anyone else seen the whole “Made from whole grains” label on popcorn and chuckled?) and fresh fruits and vegetables (I’m sorry, ketchup will never count as a serving of vegetables in this house, not today and not ever). I’m trying not to be uptight, but I find it weird that my youngest seems to come home with more food than I sent with her, seriously the food I send is gone and in its place are Cheetos, Goldfish and other random things. I sort of wish I could see what’s happening, her explanation is “They just give it to me.” Weird.

When I finally land that gig, that’s not in a restaurant, I will also be packing my own lunch. We’ll be up to four lunches each day. That’s a lot of packing and a lot of potential waste, if we’re not conscientious about how we pack.

I was contacted by Tupperware earlier this month, they wanted to know if I had heard of their new Crystal Wave Meal  and Healthy Salad Lunch Solution Sets. I hadn’t. Tupperware hasn’t been on my radar for years.

I do have vague memories of my mother hosting a couple of Tupperware parties. Mostly, I remember playing in my room with other kids and some moms sitting in the living room and telling us to go play. I also know that it was *cough* a longlongtimeago *cough* and that some of those pieces are still being used. A few were tossed before we knew that avocado greens and harvest golds would have a kitschy, retro appeal, but there was nothing wrong with them. And really, that’s the difference between a brand like Tupperware and much of what’s available in big box stores today.

 Currently, I do have a lot of glass storage containers because I worry about things like BPA and pthalates. However, I learned that in the USA and Canada, Tupperware products do not contain BPA or pthalates. NICE.

I hear you, I understand that Tupperware products are not cheap, but they are not purchased with the intention of using a few times and then being tossed into the recycling bin. You are aware that recycling isn’t without its own environmental costs, right? Recycling IS less wasteful than throwing away, but it’s not exactly a panacea. When done with thought, investing in items that will be used for years may not only be the most cost effective, but least wasteful option.

Do you have any memories associated with Tupperware?

I’m giving away a Healthy Lunch Salad Solution which retails for $55 to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite item to pack for lunch at work, school, or heck, even a picnic

I’ll close the comments at 9pm Eastern on Sunday September 2, 2012 (if I have to work, I’ll just stop counting those that arrive after 9pm) and I’ll announce the winner sometime Monday morning.

Good luck!

Tupperware is providing one Healthy Salad Lunch Solution Set, all opinions are my own, especially the neurotic weird ones. 

Method and Pattern Maker Orla Kiely

Heather says:

So, I know this post is out of my normal scope of coverage, but as you know I’m working with Method ( #CleanHappy) and this is their news for this month*.

Transparency: I know very little about style and fashion -home or otherwise. I tend to make things up, ask other people if I look ridiculous, and if given the right feedback I stick with it.

This is why I have the whole retro thing here and in my closet. I know I look kind of cute in A-line dresses and no one has ever pulled me aside and said, “Heather, you really need to stop wearing that.”  Related, I got to do a photo shoot with Skirt! Charleston not too long ago and here’s what they published. So that’s enough about me and how I muddle through trying to be trendy and cool. . .

Orla Kiely Method products simply are trendy and cool. It’s part of their strategy, they know consumers want beautiful, effective products and they want consumers to use ecologically friendly stuff.  To accomplish this Method has teamed up with Pattern Maker Orla Kiely for an exclusive, limited edition product line only available at Target and the MethodHome website. Orla Kiely is very eco-conscious and strives to share her sustainability values, so this partnership is a win for everyone.

If the patterns don’t catch your eye, perhaps the scents will catch your nose.

(Did I seriously just write that? Yes, and quit with the parenthetical asides, some people hate them, you know. Fine, whatever.)

Bay Leaf Hand Soap GelBay Leaf Pear Ginger Gel HandwashPear Ginger**
Primrose Handwash GelPrimrose Vanilla Chai

Pretty, right?

Quite. And just like all the other Method soap products, they are free of dirty ingredients like: parabens, pthalates, triclosan (y’all know I rant about there being no need to kill every germ out there), and EDTA. The bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (and oh, I can’t wait to tell you about some really cool stuff they have coming up later this year) AND the formulas are biodegradable so you don’t have to worry about the water supply. Hey, some of us do.

Did you know you can talk to Method on their Facebook Page? Seriously, they’ll answer your questions. I’ll also be happy to answer your questions, too.

AND later this month there’ll be a sweepstakes on the Facebook page. Here are the details (Yes, just stopped myself from writing deets. Apparently I’m channeling a 20-something this morning and not stopping with the parenthetical asides.)

When: August 22 – August 31
What: US residents may enter to win 5 grand prizes of an Orla Kiely handbag filled to the brim with the limited collection Method + Orla Kiely line. 30 runner-ups will receive various Method + Orla Kiely products.  (If you don’t know what her stuff looks like, I googled it for ya. Muy cute!)
Where:  Facebook.com/method

*yes, that’s called disclosure, folks.
**My favorite -I’ll be stocking up on the dish soap for my kitchen sink.

Dry BBQ Rub for Pork Ribs #DibsonmyRibs Contest, Recipes, and Suggestions

Heather says:

Pork spare ribs cooked low and slow on the grill -whether propane or charcoal–  are one of the great joys of summer. I’m currently in Erhard, MN visiting family; and for yesterday’s special occasion I made three kinds of ribs: my rib rub, McCormick’s Sweet & Smoky Rub, and for the youngest in the crowd Kraft Honey BBQ. I’m not in my own kitchen; and I’m not exactly at a place where running to the store is convenient. (Yes, Fergus Falls isn’t that far away, but I’m in a cabin and technically this is my vacation, so cut me some slack. Just be glad I’m cooking, and not making the minions forage for gooseberries and fish for their own dinner from the lake.). I really did like the Sweet & Smoky Rub; and recommend it for those not willing to make their own. I read the ingredients, and other than their inclusion of cinnamon and pepper, it really isn’t that far off from mine.

McCormick asked that the ribs be Tyson spare ribs; but the person sent to the store returned with back ribs and I honestly do my best to be a gracious guest. Read this post if you want to learn about different types of ribs. The cooking style for back ribs, baby back, ribs, and spare ribs is more or less the same.

Yesterday, while teasing on Twitter about this upcoming post, a friend had a specific question about cooking these ribs:


The short answer is no.  I do not remove the membrane when I cook ribs, as I cook them over a long period of time with a low and slow heat. When you cook in this manner, the proteins in the connective tissue (mostly collogen) dissolve rather than changing structure and becoming tough. Fast, high-heat cooking is one of the biggest reasons why some ribs come out tough and chewy. Repeat after me: “Low and slow is the way to go.” Do you need to boil ribs before cooking? My reccomendation is no, and feel free to read the whole post for the full explanation.

Before I get to the whole, “how to grill ribs” thing; I’ll share my latest version of the dry rub I’m making. (I have another version I use, it’s this sort of Memphis style dry rub recipe for ribs, but I’ve been tweaking it a bit and I’m not so sure we’re in Memphis any more, Toto.)

Pork Spare Ribs

Dry Rub for Pork Spare Ribs

Spare Rib Dry Rub

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup Paprika (for a twist on the flavor try roasted or toasting the paprika)
  • 1/4 cup McCormick Chili Powder
  • 1/4 cup McCormick Chopped Onions
  • 2 TBSP Whole Coriander
  • 2 TBSP McCormick Ground Cumin
  • 1 TBSP McCormick Garlic Powder

Instructions:

Homemade rib rub #dibsonmyribs recipe coming soon on Twitpic

Now take all of those ingredients, put them in a food processor or blender, and give it a whir.  I personally don’t care if some of the coriander seeds remain whole (look in the picture up there), but that’s definitely up to you.

Liberally cover your ribs, pork loin, or chicken with this rub before cooking as usual.

Store whatever is not cross-contaminated in an airtight container until the next time you crave spare ribs.

How to cook spare ribs on a gas grill:

 

BBQ enthusiasts will argue until the meat has dried out, died, and become inedible about the proper way to grill ribs.

NEVER cook your ribs over direct heat. (Do you remember the difference between direct and indirect grilling). Always have a thermometer for your grill, the goal is to try to treat the grill like an oven and keep the heat somewhere around 225°F -stay on the positive side of this, we want the meat out of the bacterial danger zone in a reasonable amount of time. Try not to open the grill often.  This makes the temperature fluctuate drastically, and increases the cooking time.

Ribs on Gas Grill

I always cook my ribs bone side up first, others insist on bone side down. My theory is that the melting fat works its way through the meat, acting as a marinade, while carrying the flavor of the rub and sauce with it. Remember, fat carries flavor. With the Kraft Honey BBQ sauce, I did not slather the meat side of the ribs until after they were nearly done. All told, the back ribs only took about two hours on the grill; but there were two factors that played into this shorter cook time. The gas grill was running a little hotter than 225°F, and I allowed the ribs to come almost up to room temperature before starting. Add another thirty minutes if your ribs are straight from the refrigerator; and longer if they aren’t fully thawed.  I turned and shuffled (rearranged so the ribs closest to the heat source were moved to the coolest spot) one time. If it had been spare ribs, it would have taken about another hour due to the size of the slabs

Do You Have a Rib Recipe?

You can enter the Dibs on My Ribs! Pork Recipe Cookoff Check out here for the full official guidelines, but here’s the quick and dirty:

  • All recipes must incorporate a minimum of three ingredients, including at leats one 5–rib portion of pork spareribs
  • At least one McCormick spice or seasoning product and at least one Kraft Foods BBQ Sauce (unless you are submitting a rub-based recepie, in which case you are not required to use a sauce)
  • Your recipe must be categorized as indoor or outdoor cooking
  • You must have a name for your recipe. Your name may not include any person’s or brand name (ie my above recipe couldn’t be Heather’s Magnificently Awesome-tastic Rib Rub, nor Home-Ec 101 Rib Rub) You can use the co-sponsor’s brand names in the recipe. McCormick’s Awesome Rib Rub would work just fine
  • The recipe cannot be previously published, awaiting publication, or submitted for publication.
  • Your pork spare ribs must be served as spareribs, they cannot be chopped, shredded, or served in any way unrecognizable as pork spareribs.
  • You cannot be a professional chef or enrolled in culinary school to become a chef.
  • You must be a resident of the United States (Other exclusions apply, read the full rules).

What prizes are involved?

How about a year supply of groceries; and the opportunity to attend the Memphis in May BBQ Event in Memphis, TN in May of 2013? (How cool would that be?)

The contest ends August 12, 2012 at 11:59pm EDT. Whee! Good luck!

This post was sponsored as part of the #DibsonmyRibs campaign. All opinions are my own, especially the persnickety ones on the specific ways to cook ribs, your mileage may vary. No children were harmed in the production of this post, although patience may have become frayed on all parts, as swimming was significantly delayed.

Quick Tip from Q-Tips and a note about Q-Tips for Good

Heather says:

As you know, Home-Ec101.com works with Q-tips®. Did you know that Q-tips® cotton swabs do a lot of good?  This summer Q-tips® cotton swabs brand is donating 1 Million Q-tips® cotton swabs to 3 charities that can use them daily – Operation Gratitude for care packages, Ronald McDonald House of New York for arts & crafts and Glamour Gals for intergenerational manicures & makeovers.

Visit Facebook.com/Qtips and SHARE to show your support!

And that’s not all, here’s another quick tip from Q-tips®. This month my suggestion is to use Q-tips® Precision Tips to apply grout sealant to stained grout (obviously this is tiled surfaces with thin grout lines). I have previously talked about How to Fix Stained Grout (and there is a video demonstrating the technique, SWEET!) You’d use the same technique, just with a small brush or disposable Q-tips® for smaller lines.

Just for fun I wanted to know what those of you on Twitter suggest as uses for Q-tips®.

@HeatherSolosUmmm. . . I’m rather fond of using Q-tips®  for booger removal. I learned this watching boxing. . .works great!

 

 

 

And the lovely @janlnye said they make great cat toys, but she had a potty mouth, don’t mind her, she’s writing a book or three and that gets stressful. And someone else said they make great blow darts, but I didn’t think Q-tips would like that suggestion, no matter how much it made me giggle.

What uses do you have for Q-tips®?

This is a sponsored post. Q-tips® product was provided by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®; my usage suggestions are my own and those of the Home-Ec101.com Community.

When Is Clean Too Clean? Method Launches High Five a Rainbow

Heather says:

It has never been a secret on Home-Ec101.com that I am not a fan of trying to create a germ-free home. There is a big difference between clean, sanitary, and sterile. While there are definitely times where you should spend effort sanitizing -in the kitchen, for example- many people in our culture spend far too much money, time, and effort trying to rid their world of all germs.

Method Botanical GardenThe FDA believes that the ingredient triclosan is unnecessary for hand washing. Germs do not contain super powers allowing them to cling to skin with proper hand washing; soap, warm water and friction are sufficient. Have you noticed the posters in every restaurant that demonstrate proper techniques never say a word about Triclosan? It’s simply not necessary and it’s use may be harmful to the environment. You see, Triclosan not only cannot differentiate between good bacteria and bad, it also may be partially responsible for the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Yes, consumers’ hearts are in the right place, after-all they are trying to protect their families, but they may be doing more harm than good.

Remember Noah from last month? He’s back today with another Method video, check it out and High Five a Rainbow:
 

Over on Facebook Method fans can guess, without going over, how many bottles of hand wash it took to create the backdrop used in the promotional video. The fan closest to the correct number will win a $100 gift certificate to soap.com and their very own rainbow of Method (7 flavors). Ten runner ups will also win a $50 gift card. Pretty cool, huh?

I’ve seen some people asking where they can find Method products, they are carried at Target, Soap.com, and Amazon.com. If I remember correctly, they will soon be carried by other distributors. If you are an Amazon Prime member (I am, I find it very convenient for some recurring purchases) you can set up to have your household items (like Method handsoap, naturally) delivered on a regular basis. Isn’t living in the future cool? I usually think so, but I won’t be totally sold until my self-driving car gets here. (And Google is working on that.)

While this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.