Whenever I make my favorite, garlic-ridden hors d’oeuvres I glean the added benefit of protection from every vampire in the tri-state area courtesy of the garlic that inevitably stays under my nails for weeks. No matter how much I scrub, I can’t seem to conquer the smell. Rubbing your hands with salt or baking soda is a tried-and-true remedy, but for another quick fix, look no further than Crate & Barrel’s Rub Away Bar, $7.50. Incorporating simple chemistry, the stainless-steel bar reacts with odors on contact to banish them for good, and the clever soap-shaped design is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Stainless steel silverware will also do the trick, but as many happy reviewers note, the small investment might be a useful addition to any wedding gift. — Sarah C.

Instead of dumping your coffee grounds in the trash, save them! Spring’s the perfect time to go green. For any acid-loving plants — think evergreens, roses and tomatoes — coffee grounds spread around the base of the plant will give a nitrogen boost. But take care; as with any fertilizer, coffee grounds are toxic to both dogs and cats, so make sure you’re applying them in a pet-free zone. (Just to be safe, I usually water the grounds in or place mulch over them.) For indoor potted plants like gardenias, skip the messy grounds and simply pour any leftover coffee on the plant. Once every other week or so is plenty. — Sarah L.

New favorite site alert! An “online homage to offline correspondence”,  Letterheady is a blog that chronicles fantastic stationery from the likes of Nikola Tesla to Harry Houdini and it is marvelous! I’m the type of girl who can spend hours in a stationery store. (Candy colored envelopes! Butterfly-shaped confetti presses! Monogrammed thank you notes!) So, for me, the blog has just as much eye candy as Twihard’s bedroom ceiling. Click to indulge your love for old fashioned lines of communication. –Katie D.

1) Creamy vegetable pasta dishes always have fans. Megan B. shared this one from one of her favorite cookbooks and it is no exception. Mary-Grace says: “Mmmmmm that sounds really good. And ditto ellobie … pasta + mushrooms + cream = I will probably love it.” Commenter Jake C. substituted bacon and Greek yogurt for his pregnant wife with great results!

2) Spotless bedrooms are an elusive dream for many of us, but we do feel great on those good days! Jilliana says: “My bedroom looks like a bit of a war zone lately, mostly due to laundry I can never seem to get from the dryer to my closet. I almost never “make my bed” per say, but I do make a point of straightening out my tangle of blankets every day, if only so I can slip more easily into bed. Even that little bit of effort seems to make a difference in how I view my bedroom.” Do you reap the benefits of a clean bedroom?

3) Our dessert dream has become a reality thanks to Bake It in a Cake. Think of your favorite desert. Now put it in a cupcake. Yes, we’re obsessed too. Anna says: “That looks terrific-ly delicious and absurd all at once. Fantastic! I may just have to try them at home.”

4) Our readers have impeccable taste…buds. Give Shelterrific readers a whiff of a bake-off and they’ll counter tenfold with incredible recipes. Mark Bittman’s brownies. Martha Stewart’s chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies. Mini cupcakes made with marscapone cheese? Check out the comments for more ideas than you could bake in a week!

5) Denture cleaner removes stains from antique linens. It’s not just for dentures anymore! Alyson says: “I have a vintage doily that is in desperate need of cleaning, so I will definitely try this!”

Image courtesy of Kletia Garies

Rent the Rock Reach House in Joshua Tree, featured in the most recent CB2 catalog. We’re intrigued by the decking material (pictured above) — gotta figure out what it is! At CasaSugar.

OhJoy! is showing off the wares from Wolfrum: napkins and coasters in fabulous mix-and-matchable patterns.

A great weekend DIY: make your own faux zinc letters, over at Curbly.

We want to go to there — there being Tulum, Mexico, where these photos at the Selby have us dreaming of haute cuisine, open air markets, and warm sunshine on our skin. Sigh.

We LOVE our greens here at Shelterrific. Here’s another way to eat them from Simply Recipes: Swiss chard with olives. Yum.

ShelterPop has some great tips for easy revamping of small bathrooms — even some ideas that would work for renters, too!

If you haven’t seen it yet (it’s been making its way around the blogosphere), a very cool video of Vitra assembling an Eames lounger, via Juxtapoz.

Ever wonder when the best time is to make household purchases? From groceries to gas grills, turns out there is a right time. Although some purchases can’t be planned (I’m looking at you, hot water heater), waiting can pay off. — Sarah L.

Groceries: Sunday evenings
TVs: after the Super Bowl through March
Appliances: holiday weekends
Grills: September and October
Carpeting and flooring: December
Trees, shrubs: September and October
Furniture: Holiday weekends
Chairs: May and June
Mattress, box springs: May through September

Image credit: Crate and Barrel

I was recently gifted the gorgeous Irish linen tablecloth that my great-great grandmother hand stitched. It’s flawless — no stains, no tears, no fraying in any bit of the meticulous handiwork. Though honored with the heirloom, I was hesitant to accept it, especially after my mom’s conditions for possession: I had to use it. I was dizzy envisioning the inevitable accidental splash of a latte or merlot, until my mom shared her secret for removing stains out of delicate vintage linens: denture tablets. Simply dissolve 5-10 tablets (depending on the size of the item) in a warm bath and soak your delicate fabrics until they are white and stain free. Rinse gently, air dry, and press, and it should be as good as new! It should be noted that this only works on white fabrics, please don’t try this with colors! I’m proud to report I’m enjoying the tablecloth and won’t let any fear of stains keep it hidden away anymore! — Megan B.