One of my very best friends is a transplant from England, and we recently discovered that she had never seen any of the Godfather movies. Tragedy! Insisting that she see them, we decided to make an entire party out of the viewings. We planned a huge Godfather-themed weekend (homemade pasta, red wine, Bolognese sauce, oranges, cappuccino, cannoli, etc.) and invited over our friends to pop over to watch when they could. We managed to watch all three (over two days) and had a blast picking out quotes, noticing cameos, and having “ah-ha!” moments. After we finished, we were already talking about what the next movies would be — Star Wars, Brat Pack era, Almodóvar-directed — and who would get to pick! It was a great way to spend a rainy weekend with friends, and we cant wait for the next one. What kind of movie-themed weekend would you throw? — Rebecca F.

Photo credit: IMDB © 1972 – Paramount Pictures

I grew up with a mom who was an expert bargain hunter. She knew exactly which stores had the best prices on what things and kept a meticulous file of coupons. She wasn’t as extreme as those women you see on the news who get a huge cart full of groceries for practically free, but she definitely instilled in me a passion for frugality. I try my best to find and use coupons for whatever I can; be it online, in stores, dining out, or the newest rage, Groupon-style discounts. It’s getting to the point where if I can’t get what I’m shopping for at a discount I won’t get it at all. I know I’m not the only one who scours sites like Coupon Cabin for promo codes and signs up for every email list just for the juicy deals. Are you as bargain-obsessed as I am, or do you end up paying full price occasionally? Any hot money saving tips or sites you’d care to share? — Megan B.

image courtesy of Preparedness Pro

In an effort to simplify and be more budget-conscious, I decided not to replace my very loved Gaggia espresso machine when we recently moved back to the States. Instead, I make my morning coffee the Italian way, with a very affordable stovetop espresso maker. And I’m OK with that. But a girl can still have her thick, luxurious froth, can’t she? With the Capresso Froth Pro, that’s a resounding “si!” I had been lusting after a Nespresso Aeroccino Plus ever since my friend bought one a few years back. But the Capresso won me over with its lower price (around $50-60) and ease of cleaning (it’s even dishwasher-safe.) I’ve been using it for about a month now, and I have never enjoyed such rich foam outside a coffeehouse. The unexpected bonus is that it turns a package of Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix into something out of a Swiss après-ski place. And when iced coffee season rolls around, the Capresso can do cold froth, too. Thank you, Capresso, for putting a little barista-ness back in my morning latté. — Ginny F.

Winter is annoying. My coats are wrinkly and dirty from wet bus rides, and I’ve lost 3 gloves this season. Not to mention my favorite scarf got stuck in a train seat and now has a nasty snag in it. Hrumph. I feel like I can only take small steps to stay tidy during the season, and just wait for spring to come. Something that makes me feel better is to take a few minutes every weekend to clean the salt off my shoes and boots (it’s geeky, I know). The process couldn’t be easier — mix one part white vinegar and one part water in a small bowl, dip into with a terry cloth rag, buff those pesky salt lines off, and let dry. I’ve done this on leather clogs and shoes, canvas boots, and man-made materials and everything came out clean. Try it for yourself. And think spring! — Rebecca F.

I saw a mention online to a NYC restaurant that served Bill Blass’ meatloaf. My first thought was, “Bill Blass? Meatloaf? Seriously?” My next thought was that I really didn’t know much about the man so a quick jump over to Wikipedia and low and behold, Bill Blass was a Midwest boy, the son of a dressmaker and traveling hardware salesman. From there, it was another quick jump over to the recipe. I substituted 1/2 pound of pork for the veal and have to admit, this is about as good as meat loaf gets. My favorite part of any meatloaf though is the leftovers. With a little extra bacon, cheese and more chili sauce on the side, it makes the perfect grilled meatloaf sandwich. — Sarah L.

Recipe after the jump. (more…)

Or is it pommelo? Pummelo? Whatever you call it, I call it delicious. Don’t be scared by this massive, fragrant, thick-skinned citrus: what lies beneath is special: sweet/tart citrus segments reminiscent of grapefruit, but without any of its nasty bitterness. The texture also makes this special, with a crunchy bite from its large, easily separated vesicles — those individual cells in citrus fruit that contain the juice. And pomelo is the ancestor of most citrus we enjoy today, according to LA Times food writer Russ Parsons, so that navel orange you enjoyed this morning got its genes in part from the noble pomelo. They’re at their peak right now, so look for a green or yellow rind, with a nice heft. I cut them in half and slice the segments out with a paring knife when I’m feelin’ fancy, but for out of hand eating, you can just lop the top part of the rind off, and once you reach fruit, it’s as easy to peel as any orange. The segments separate easy, revealing tons of tiny citrus capsules that burst with juice when crushed between your teeth. It’s a highly addicting experience. Have you tried it? — Megan B.

Whether they be Geography Bee finalists or dinner party hosts, design duo Amy and Bill Stringer-Mowat may have a little something for everyone in their state cutting boards, $40 in their etsy shop aheirloom. Constructed of Plyboo, a plyboard made of 100% bamboo, cutting boards fashioned in the shapes of specific states and countries can be made to order and customized with a star or heart in a location the buyer specifies. Whether making a tongue-in-cheek statement with a Wisconsin cheese array, or pondering the display challenges associated with Hawaii, the boards are a creative, fun way to appreciate your home state. Here’s looking at you, New Jersey. –Sarah C.

I have become my Grandmother. I can remember standing in her kitchen, watching as she washed out Ziploc bags. That she would do this for a disposable item seemed odd to me so when I was 12 or so, I asked her why. In a typical response from someone who lived through the Great Depression, she looked at me and said, “What else would I do with a perfectly good bag?” What seemed quaint or odd to me at the time is now, of course, just a fact of daily living — not so much to save money, but to conserve resources. So yes, I wash out bags when I can. And instead of tossing out new toothbrushes after someone comes down with strep or some other bug, we sterilize them in the dishwasher. For toothbrushes that are past their prime, we mark the handles with a Sharpie and put into use elsewhere in the house. My favorite uses?

1. Microplanes. Before you hand wash, use a clean, dry toothbrush to remove any remaining nutmeg, hard cheeses or vegetables. From there, it’s only a matter of a quick scrub and rinse in the sink.
2. Sink drains. Pour a little vinegar down the drain and use a toothbrush to scrub away all the gunk in the drain and around the finished edge where it meets the sink.
3. Dishwasher. Dipped in vinegar, a toothbrush can remove buildup from around the door hinges and seals. Or dip in a kitchen cleaner to scrub off food deposits from the bottom screen or door seals.
4. Window screens. Try using a dry toothbrush on a dry screen at first. If that doesn’t remove the debris, give the screen a quick spray, then follow with a toothbrush dipped in vinegar.
5. Window frames. Whether dirt, bugs or mold have collected, a small container of soapy water to frequently rinse the toothbrush in is the only other supply needed — besides a little patience and elbow grease.
6. Sink edge or any other caulk line. A slightly damp toothbrush does the trick. Simply follow behind with a soft rag.
7. Coffee maker burner. Take dry toothbrush to the burner and you can easily remove all the burned on spots. Follow with a wet sponge. You’ll be amazed at how dirty a burner can get.

Of course, there’s always the old standbys, too — grout and linoleum, fireplace bricks, lampshades — but let’s hear from you. What’s your favorite reuse of a toothbrush? — Sarah L.