The kids are playing about a dozen organized sports right now, not to mention being at camp most days of the week and running around outside more now that the weather is nice. To get the stink out of their sneakers, try tea bags, baking soda or dryer sheets to neutralize and absorb stench.
The polyphenol oxidase, an enzyme that reacts when exposed to oxygen, in avocados is harmless, but takes on that unsightly brown color. But guac is precious; you don't want to just toss leftovers. So, smooth out your leftover dip, pour a thin layer of water on top and cover tightly with plastic wrap. When you're ready to dig in again, the water mixes right in without sacrificing any taste!
Oysters are a fab summertime appetizer, but shucking them yourself can be exhausting. Experts say to soak the bivalves in club soda for a bit before you get to work. It'll loosen 'em up and make it easier to get to the good stuff.
The kids want frozen treats all summer long, but they're terrible at eating them fast enough -- next thing you know, there's ice cream spots and fruity drips all over your floor and couch. Next time, pop a paper cupcake liner through the stick of the pop. Consider those droppings caught.
You already know toothpaste works to dry out any blemishes that may pop up on your face, but it works to neutralize the sting of an itchy mosquito bite, as well! Next time you find yourself rummaging around for that hydrocortisone cream, stick to the basics.
I always look forward to cherry season, but I also have to plan ahead before diving into a bright red bowl -- my fingers will be stained for the rest of the day after wrestling the pit out of the fruit. It's tough to completely bypass this particular obstacle, but you can make it a bit easier: Use a chopstick (or other sturdy, poke-y utensil) to stab through the cherry and pop the pit out quickly.
We've all been there -- you go to grab a refreshing glass of Chardonnay or rosé wine buuut you forgot to pop it in the fridge to chill an hour ago. Well, if you have a cup of frozen green grapes at the ready, problem solved! It won't water down your vino, but will probably enhance the flavor instead.
Flip flops are fragile little things that require frequent replacements anyway, but there's nothing worse than when the straps on yours pop off before the end of the season. Have a loaf of bread and super glue, though? You're set.
Swing sets, porch swings, lake docks -- there are tons of places you hit up in the summer that would just love to shove a shard of wood into your hand. If it happens, cover the area with baking soda and a little water and put a Band-Aid on it overnight. It'll lift the splinter a bit, allowing easier access to dig it out. That part, unfortunately, can't be avoided.