Abetrujillo

For families that travel overseas, there is the small but repetitive problem of handing out passports at borders/railroad stations/hotels/etc. To manage this, we put a one-letter label on the outside back of each passport. Any label will do: we use the first letter of our first names. The point is to be able to hand out the right passport without having to fumble to find the ID page.

-- Ed Murphy

My wife and I searched the length and breadth of the land in search of a bottle for our kids that meets the following criteria:

• easy for a toddler to operate, but big enough for older kids
• easy to thoroughly clean (no crevices that are accessible to milk but inaccessible to cleaning, will fully dismantle into a few pieces, amenable to cleaning tools such as the OXO Good Grips Bottle Cleaning Set). The real test: how quickly can I go from a bottle full of milk that rolled under the couch four days ago to clean and ready to use?
• tough, will survive being dropped and thrown and stepped on and used as an impromptu weapon
• insulated, will keep milk from spoiling for the better part of a day
• unlikely to spill or leak

The Thermos Funtainer meets these criteria better than any other bottle we have found over the last 5 years, with some caveats. The following is gleaned from about 1 year of daily use.

• easy for a toddler: may take a few frustrating tries for younger toddlers to operate the opening button, but within a day our two-year-old got it down.
• big enough for older kids: the 12oz size is ideal, not too big for youngsters to carry around but large enough for anybody else with a moderate thirst. I find myself using it from time to time. A 16oz version also exists.
• easy to thoroughly clean: Time from curdled mess to clean is ~30-60 seconds. Dismantle (4 pieces total: lid, body, silicone straw top, plastic straw stem), dump, rinse, soap & brush bottle, soap & brush straws, rinse again, reassemble. No complaints here. This is perhaps the Funtainer’s greatest strength.
• tough: overall yes, bottle built quite solidly, has survived much abuse, but we have had to replace the silicone part of the straw due to chewing. Thermos has replacements available for ~$1/piece, cheaper than replacements on Amazon. We have also had success with snipping off the chewed part once or twice before needing a replacement, though this somewhat reduces leakproofing (explained below). In one year of use with two bottles, we have replaced two silicone straws.
• insulated: More than once, when straightening up in the morning before leaving for work, I have found a bottle wedged in some crevice, tasted the milk, found it to my satisfaction, and put it back in the fridge with no complaints from or ill effects to the children. Protip: nobody has time to prechill the bottle as directed, so throw in an ice cube with your liquid to approximate the effect if you want to assure all-day cold. Most of the time even this is unnecessary.
• unlikely to spill or leak: – – if the lid is closed and the straw is full length, leakage is minor and rare even if upside down. Ensure the silicone straw is well seated for best protection. – – If the lid is open and the kid shakes the bottle vigorously, liquid will fly. – – If the lid is open and the bottle tips or is held upside down, a leak may or may not occur. If it does leak, it will be slow. We do not use these bottles for nighttime bedside water any more, but otherwise have not had reason to restrict use. Once or twice it ended up upside down with the lid open in the carseat for an extended time, which required cleaning, but a trivial amount of subsequent vigilance on our part has solved the problem. – – Part of the antileak mechanism is the lid pinching the rubber straw, such that if you have shortened the straw or it has chew holes it is more likely to leak despite a closed lid. – – Lastly, and very occasionally, I have found that as liquids warm they sometimes track up the straw and cause a (minor and slow) spontaneous leak even if the bottle is upright with the lid closed. This is more of a curiosity than a bother.

Additionally, though far less important than all of the above, the Funtainer comes in a range of solid colors and themed wrappers, including both branded characters and generic decoration. The “Color” drop down list in Amazon is staggering. Brick-and-mortar stores such as Target also sometimes have seasonal or otherwise targeted versions. Overall, this bottle has allowed us to stress much less about which bottle we use for a particular liquid, kid, or environment. It is not onerous to clean, even in the worst of situations. It is the best workhorse bottle we have come across, and will likely serve us well for years

-- Beau Hilton

Thermos Funtainer 12 Ounce Bottle ($15)

Available from Amazon

Pepper mills are easy to find. Some are electric, some are pretty, some are expensive, but the Ikea spice mill is none of those things. What it is, is about the size of a 12 ounce soda can, which means it’s very easy to grab hold of, and torque down on to grind out a lot of whatever it is you’ve got in the spice jar, and that matters a great deal for hands that are older,or arthritic, or have other issues working grinders that have smaller components. The grinding size is easily adjusted by way of the black knob on the top, and while I have no issues reading the dot sizes on the knob, the lack of contrast may prove an issue for some. And they’re durable. I’ve had my two grinders for nigh on 15 years. A glass jar means you can see what’s inside, and it’s a top loader with a wide mouth that makes for easy filling. And it’s the same jar as their IHÄRDIG Spice jar, which they sell in a four pack, so you can just take the grinder top off its regular jar, and put it on another if you have a need to.

-- Bruce Dykes

IKEA IHÄRDIG Spice Mill ($6)

Home inspectors tend to exaggerate a bit when it comes to their estimate of repairs needed in a home, which is something homeowners and real estate agents have come to expect when they ask for an assessment.

But if a home inspector showed you some of the photos off this list of 100 Super Scary Home Inspection Nightmare Photos there would be no exaggeration involved in his estimate, only a suggestion to demolish and reconstruct!

The photos are fifty percent Tweeker fixes, aka slipshod repairs never meant to last, 30% severe deterioration seen in old homes, ten percent damage caused by animals and ten percent duct tape. Make that twenty percent duct tape, then adjust the other estimates as needed.

See 100 Super Scary Home Inspector Nightmare Photos here

Read 9 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Hummus masabacha is a popular variant of the Middle Eastern chickpea spread in which most or all of the chickpeas are left whole and tossed with the tahini sauce, instead of being puréed into it. There are endless variations on it, but at its heart, it's as easy as can be, and lots more interesting than your average hummus spread. Read More

I noticed one of these affixed to the back of a friend’s phone and was intrigued enough to try it out. When you pull out the Popsocket’s ring, you can rest your mobile phone in the V-nook between your pointer and index fingers. It’s made a big difference in reducing hand fatigue from holding/using my phone for long periods of time, both for talking and typing. I also find myself dropping my phone less (despite using less muscle effort). The friend who showed it to me has trouble gripping things with her hands, and for her this widget has been a godsend. The Popsocket also works as a stand to prop your phone up in landscape/cinema mode. Mine is black, but it comes in a few different color variations (some more gaudy than others).

-- Rayan Parikh

[This is a Cool Tools favorite from 2017]

PopSocket ($8)

This morning, we shared a recall notice from grocery chain Trader Joe’s that its kohlrabi salad mix had been recalled after a supplier let the company know about potential listeria contamination. It turns out that recall was much bigger, involving other retailers including Albertsons, H-E-B, and Walmart, and vegetables that are less fun to say than “kohlrabi.”

What happened

The company behind the recalled products, Mann Packing, exports some products to Canada, and routine testing of those exports turned up Listeria. While there have been no reported or confirmed illnesses from these products, note that the incubation period for Listeria ranges from three to 70 days, so people could get sick more than two months from now.

What to look for

There are a lot of products included in this recall. They were sold under Mann’s own brand name, and also under the store brands of Archer Farms (Target), H-E-B, Little Salad Bar, Signature Farms (Albertsons), Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Western Family. You can find a table with all of the items listed at the bottom of this post, and images of the Mann’s packaging for each product is available on the company’s website.

What to do

Mann’s asks that you throw affected products away or return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. If you have any questions about the recall or the products, contact the company at 888-470-2681 or use its email form.

Product	“Best Before” Date	UPC
Mann’s Family Favorites Broccoli Carrots, 12 oz bags	10/14, 10/15, 10/16	716519013058
Mann’s Family Favorites Broccoli Cauliflower Florets, 16 oz bags	10/14, 10/16	716519012174
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Broccoli Cauliflower Florets, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013034
	10/16/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Broccoli Cole Slaw, 1 lb bags	10/15/2017	716519011009
	10/17/2017
Mann’s Broccoli Cole Slaw, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013072
	10/15/2017
	10/17/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Broccoli Wokly, 1 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519010163
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Broccoli Wokly, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013010
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Culinary Cuts Shaved Brussels Sprout, 9 oz bas	10/14/2017	716519036859
	10/15/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites California Stir Fry, 2 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519020186
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites California Stir Fry, 1 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519012181
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites California Stir Fry, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013065
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Cauliflower Florets, 3 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519020292
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Culinary Cuts Cauliettes Chopped Cauliflower, 14 oz bags	10/15/2017	716519069017
	10/14/2017	716519069017
	10/15/2017	716519069017
	10/16/2017	716519069017
Mann’s Family Favorites Cauliflower Florets, 10 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519014031
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Snacking Favorites Cheddar Pretzel Veggie Tray, 19.6 oz tray	10/15/2017	716519020445
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Fiesta Vegetable Tray, 35.5 oz tray	10/14/2017	716519088728
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Snacking Favorites Honey Turkey Cheddar, 20.3 oz Tray	10/14/2017	716519020483
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Kale Beet Blend, 8 oz Bags	10/14/2017	716519000287
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowls Southwest Chipotle, 10.5 oz trays	10/18/2017	716519036958
	10/19/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowls Bacon Maple Brussels, 7.15 oz Tray	10/12/2017	716519036941
	10/13/2017
	10/14/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/17/2017
	10/18/2017
	10/19/2017
	10/20/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowl Monterey Risotto, 8.75 oz Tray	10/11/2017	716519036798
	10/12/2017
	10/13/2017
	10/14/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/18/2017
	10/19/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowls Sesame Sriracha, 12 oz Tray	10/12/2017	716519036811
	10/13/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/17/2017
	10/19/2017
	10/20/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowl Cauli Rice Curry, 11 oz Tray	10/11/2017	716519036897
	10/12/2017
	10/13/2017
	10/14/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/18/2017
	10/19/2017
Mann’s Nourish Bowls Southwest Chipotle, 10.5 oz Tray	10/12/2017	716519036859
	10/13/2017
	10/14/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/18/2017
	10/19/2017
Mann’s Vegetable Tray, 54 oz tray	10/15/2017	716519014055
Mann’s Power Blend, 20 oz bags	10/17/2017	716519000416
Mann’s Power Blend, 10 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013119
	10/16/2017
	10/17/2017
Mann’s Rainbow Salad, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013089
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
	10/17/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Vegetable Medley, 2 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519020155
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Vegetable Medley, 1 lb bags	10/14/2017	716519012150
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Family Favorites Vegetable Medley, 12 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519013041
	10/16/2017
	10/14/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Vegetable Tray, 2.5 lb tray	10/15/2017	716519014079
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Snacking Favorites Hummus Tray, 16.5 oz trays	10/14/2017	716519014758
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Mann’s Snacking Favorites Veggie Ranch Tray, 16.5 oz bags	10/14/2017	716519020575
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Archer Farms (Target) Broccoli Slaw 12 OZ bags	10/16/2017	85239343142
Archer Farms Broccoli Cauliflower Florets, 12oz bags	10/14/2017	085239341148
	10/15/2017
Archer Farms Broccoli Florets 12oz bags	10/14/2017	085239319147
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Archer Farms Broccoli Medley 12oz Bags	10/14/2017	085239339145
	10/15/2017
Archer Farms Brussels Sprouts, 12oz bags	10/14/2017	085239301142
Archer Farms Shaved Brussels Sprouts, 9oz bags	10/15/2017	085239193143
Archer Farms Cauliflower Florets, 10oz bags	10/14/2017	085239030141
H-E-B Broccoli Carrots, 12 OZ bags	10/15/2017	4122097508
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Broccoli Cauliflower, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122097503
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Broccoli Florets, 12 OZ bags	10/15/2017	4122097505
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Broccoli Slaw, 12 OZ bags	10/16/2017	4122097512
	10/17/2017
H-E-B Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, 10OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122065112
	10/15/2017
H-E-B Veggie Toss Kit Caulibit Mushroom Sauce, 11oz bags	10/15/2017	4122017706
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Caulibits Chopped Cauliflower, 14oz bags	10/15/2017	4122009327
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Cauliflower Florets, 10 OZ bags	10/15/2017	4122032278
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Fiesta Salad, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122097501
	10/16/2017
	10/17/2017
H-E-B Power Slaw, 10 OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122083223
	10/17/2017
H-E-B Stir Fry Medley, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122097504
	10/16/2017
H-E-B Vegetable Medley, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	4122097506
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Little Salad Bar Broccoli Florets, 12 OZ bags	10/15/2017	041498216030
Little Salad Bar Broccoli Slaw, 12 OZ bags	10/16/2017	041498216047
Signature Farms Meat & Cheese Tray, 36 OZ trays	10/14/2017	021130110964
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Cauliflower Florets 4/28 OZ bags	10/14/2017	021130984497
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Cauliflower Florets 6/12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	21130983407
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Slaw 12 OZ bags	10/15/2017	21130983391
	10/17/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Stir Fry 28 OZ bags	10/14/2017	021130984459
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Florets 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	021130983407
	10/15/2017
Signature Farms Broccoli Stir Fry, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	21130983322
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip, 24 OZ. trays	10/14/2017	021130299553
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip, 24OZ (NS) trays	10/14/2017	021130299553
	10/15/2017
Signature Farms Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip, 54 OZ. trays	10/16/2017	21130299560
Signature Farms Vegetable Medley, 28 OZ bags	10/14/2017	021130984466
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Vegetable Medley, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	21130983322
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Signature Farms Veggie & Hummus Tray (NS), 16.5OZ trays	10/14/2017	021130984282
Signature Farms Veggie & Hummus Tray, 16.5 OZ trays	10/14/2017	021130984282
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Trader Joe’s Kohlrabi Salad Blend, 10 OZ Bags	10/14/2017	0058 6146
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Broccoli Cauliflower Florets, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	681131328852
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Broccoli Florets, 32 oz bags	10/14/2017	681131122344
	10/16/2017
Walmart Broccoli Florets, 12 OZ bags	10/14/2017	681131328845
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Broccoli Slaw, 16 OZ bags	10/14/2017	681131148207
	10/15/2017
Walmart Stir Fry Medley, 12 OZ bags	10/13/2017	681131457460
	10/14/2017
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Cauliflower Florets, 10 OZ bags	10/14/2017	681131091381
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Cauliflower 6/16 oz	10/14/2017	681131122320
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Super Blend, 10oz bags	10/13/2017	681131148368
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Vegetable Medley, 2LB bags	10/14/2017	681131457378
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017
Walmart Vegetable Medley 9/12 OZ WM	10/14/2017	681131328791
	10/15/2017
	10/16/2017

Shakshuka is already a brunch superstar. I mean, does it get any better than perfectly poached eggs in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with plenty of herbs and feta cheese? Yes, it does — if you add spaghetti squash to the mix, that is.

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In recent years, schools have been celebrating “Crazy Hair Day,” a day when students are encouraged to wear their hair in the wackiest way possible. It’s both fun, and a great way for both parents and kids to showcase their creativity. And we’re not talking about just throwing some gel in your hair and shaping it into a mohawk. Some of these crazy hairdos are so elaborate and detailed you wonder how a kid could even walk around like that. We don’t know how they do it, we just know we’re impressed.

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The post 10 Of The Best Hairdos From “Crazy Hair Day” appeared first on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

LEGO's new Star Wars Millennium Falcon set is the biggest LEGO set ever. It contains 7,541 pieces and will cost $799. Even if you have that much money, you still won't be able to buy one until December, unless you are a LEGO VIP member. WIRED managed to get one, and recorded its crew putting the set together. Watch this time-lapse video to see how they do it, so you won't have to deal with the huge instruction book, which could be as heavy as the finished model.  

(YouTube link)

Even with teams working in shifts, it took them four days to compete the spaceship. If it was me, there would be a piece or two left over at each step, or else way too many missing. -via Tastefully Offensive

Big-box stores like Sam's Club and BJ's already fuel your bulk-shopping and pantry-stocking addictions — you know, so you don't run out of any essentials when you need them most. But Costco is taking this to an entirely new level by offering customers an entire year's worth of food.

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Did you cancel your Hulu subscription, but are thinking about going back? In a deal that just happens to begin at the same time as Netflix’s upcoming price hike, Hulu is offering a discount on its service for new and returning subscribers for the coming year.

The discount is only available for the lowest tier of service, the plan that includes commercials, and cuts the price from $7.99 to $5.99. The more expensive ad-free and “live TV” skinny bundle service aren’t part of the offer.

The $2 discount stays in place for a year, and is available until Jan. 9, 2018. It’s not clear whether you can cancel your Hulu subscription now and sign back up on the same account, but you probably can’t.

The discount is the same as last year’s version of the same deal, but now former subscribers are included so Hulu can try to entice them back.

The streaming services compete, but their offerings differ slightly: Both have original content, movies, and old episodes of broadcast and cable series, but only Hulu has programs from current seasons. Hulu has no service tiers that are fully free of commercials, while Netflix programming includes no commercial breaks.

Back in the '90s, a Friday like today would've brought me endless excitement. Obviously, it meant the weekend had arrived and thus no school and no waking up early. But it also meant TGIF -- the best chunk of programming of the entire week in the opi...

I don't even.

We are all busy people in our own ways. Some of us have busy jobs, some manage busy families, others go to school or volunteer — for most of us, there's no shortage of things to fill the day. So it's a bit daring then to write about an oatmeal method that takes two hours — even for me, someone who writes about whole grains and experiments with different recipes as part of my job.

At first this one seemed like a stretch — that is, until I finally tried it.

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“Bought the gf a new camera lens for Christmas. This is my life now.”

(via source)

The post Just Another Prop appeared first on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

“My grandma has a spatula she uses to move around completed sections of her jigsaw puzzles.”

(via source)

The post Puzzle Master appeared first on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

This deceptively simple mix of cabbage, peanuts, and rice vinegar with oil is one of the easiest ways to round out a meal. It's all in how you cut the cabbage: the mix is light and feathery yet satisfying at the same time. This is my attempt to imitate it, and it's also a basic element in one of my favorite meals for a crowd, slow cooker hoisin pork wraps.

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Meet the spicy pickled carrots that are about to forever change your Taco Tuesday or even just your snack-dinner Wednesday. These crunchy, spicy, tangy pickles are made for serving with (or on top of) Mexican staples like tacos and enchiladas, or even just alongside a cold beer.

And because these carrot pickles are made just like our favorite quick refrigerator pickles, they are as easy to make as they are to eat.

READ MORE »

Check out our 22 favorite dishes to get you to the end of zucchini season. Read More