Category — Kitchen & Home

Whew, life has gotten a bit insane lately!  Tomorrow will officially be 8 solid weeks of at least one person in the house sick… and 7 weeks that my ears have been plugged up!  I’m hoping that with the sunshine that finally decided to come for a visit we will start to get over this crud.

That is the reason for my absence as of late – I’ve been sick, the girls have been sick, and the weather has been nasty.  Did I mention that we had snow last Wednesday & Thursday?  And today it’s sunny & 65 degrees.  Strange.  Oh, and last week was Spring break too – even though it felt much more like Winter.

So, now that the girls are both back to school and I’m feeling about 75% better, I’m getting back into the swing of thing and posting again.

So, the giveaway that we did for Milkshake swag a bit ago… the winner was contacted today (sorry for the delay!) and I hope to get that shipped out this week.  I have some bags to complete and taxes to finish up.  Oh, and Easter weekend services to finish up!  Should be an eventful week…

A couple of updates:

Gardening Fun – I found a great site this morning that actually helps you plan out your garden, and tells you when you should be planting all of those seeds (or, in my case, when I should have planted some of them!)  It’s called PlanGarden.com and they have a free 45 day trial that is FABULOUS.  I was able to diagram our little subdivision lot and put in the plants that we have already planted as well as those we are getting ready to get into the ground.  I was also able to put in the things we plan to add in structurally – something other sites I have found don’t allow for.

Another garden planning site I found (which is free) is WorldFoodGarden.com – they offer a service to plan out a veggie garden that fits into a pretty small space that will feed a family of 4 and more.  It’s pretty cool – it shown you how many plants of each variety will fit into a 1′x1′ square of space, enabling you to fit a LOT more than you would normally think!

So, yes, that is being added to my list this month as well.  I need to get the seeds planted!  We spent Saturday leaning up the yard from Winter, and garden area #1 is ready to be planted.  THe onions & garlic are already growing like mad, and the berries are starting to bud out.  Hopefully I got to the raspberries soon enough tis year and they don’t develop the leaf mold they got last year… I kinda forgot to get out there and take care of them last Spring.  oops!   The currants and blueberries did very well last year though, so we didn’t miss them too much!

Eric has also set a goal to have the garage and my office cleaned up this month… I’m almost tempted to take a picture of my office so you could truly understand, but I’d be too embarrassed!  Yes, it really is that bad.  At the moment is is a giant pile of papers, boxes and fabrics.  I think there is a cutting table, ironing board, desk and chair in there somewhere… I just haven’t seen them for such a long time that I’m not sure anymore.  I will be posting some fabrics on etsy.com over the next 2 months, as I go through them.

Selling fabrics?  Yes, I will be going through the fabrics for Mimsi Bags and culling out the ones that I want to keep and selling off the rest.  I’m taking a leave of absence – a hiatus if you will.  With the job at church and everything around the house I just don’t have the time to devote to it that I used to.  That and I have been having a few health issues in the past year that have seriously hampered my ability to churn out the number of bags that people have ordered at times.  Not major health issues, but enough to make life interesting.  Migraines being at the top of that list…

So, if you or someone you know has a desire for some fun fabrics, check back from time to time over the next few weeks.  I have a couple of bags to complete (once I uncover the sewing table) and then I will be measuring and posting fabrics.  I’ll let you know when they go up.

Let’s see… the rest of the list for April includes a minor kitchen remodel – basically a coat of paint, curtains sewn and some tile for a backsplash.  Depending on what the taxes offer up we may put down tile floors in the kitchen and bamboo flooring in the upstairs as well, but that remains to be seen.  I’m open to any tips you may have to offer for that!  Yes, we will be doing it ourselves.  The floors also means that the garage HAS to be cleaned out post haste – gotta have some place to put all of the furniture!

Well, that covers most of the updates!  We are almost healthy again – M still has a cough & I still have partially plugged up ears, but Eric & A are both doing well.  The cat seems to be healthy too – a good thing ’cause she doesn’t get trips to the vet.  Now that the sun us here we will be eating healthier again too – something about warm weather just makes a person hungry for fruits and veggies instead of soups, stews and breads.  I am getting back into the habit of baking our bread again – I had paused that for about 2 months as well.  I just didn’t have the gumption to do it.  Whatever the crud I had was (cold, flu, etc) it just wiped me out energy-wise.  Add in TWO double ear infections (yes, back to back – big fun) and the vertigo that came with them and moving wasn’t much of an option some days.  Seriously.  Not the most fun I’ve ever had, but (crossing fingers and knocking on wood) it seems to be on it’s way out the door.

Well, the island in the kitchen is taunting me again – I need to give Eric an excuse to buy me flowers!  Yes, we have a deal that if it is cleaned off he will bring home flowers to set on it.  Unfortunately I haven’t gotten many flowers for the island because I haven’t held up my end.  Bummer.  I’m trying to work on that too!  

Thanks for walking through life with us!  I hope Spring is visiting you as well, and if you have any tips for gardening or painting (especially cabinets!) or de-cluttering, I’m all ears!

Happy Easter!

10 Quick Home Decorating Ideas
By Michael J. Holland

Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you’re looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

3. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don’t have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

4. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

5. Hang Pictures or Mirrors – Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

7. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

8. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

9. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.

For figurines and vases, you’re certain to find something you like at Go Collect. And for quality prints and posters, browse through All Posters. They’ll even frame your choice.

Reprinted with permission.
About the Author:
Michael Holland is the founder of ImagineQuest Information Products, Inc., which is dedicated to providing FREE advice and inexpensive infoproducts that will enhance the lives and lifestyles of its customers. Be sure to visit his web site
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com to sign-up for his FREE ezine called DecoDreams. Michael is also the coauthor of a very unique set of home decorating eBooks that are available on his web site.

Are you looking for an inexpensive (frugal) way to decorate your home for fall? This leaf garland is one that will combine a fun outing with your family, and a great craft for all ages!

Leaf Garland
Supplies:
Leaves in a variety of colors
fishing line or ribbon
needle

Gather leaves from a variety of trees in lots of different colors.
String the leaves on the fishing line or ribbon in any order you prefer (all one color, totally random, red, yellow, brown, green, etc). Tie a loop at each end & hang them on the wall!
It is a very inexpensive and very lovely Autumn decoration for your home.

I recently purchased one of these at Costco, and it is so lovely that I have to share about it!

We are a family of 4, and the only crock pot that we had was a small one that was all one unit – the pot was NOT removable. This Smart Pot was a much needed upgrade for our family!

When I took it out of the box, I was again amazed at the size – and dreaming of all of the things that I would be able to make in it (as opposed to our little one). The first thing that I made was a Corned Beef brisket, and I have to say that I am totally impressed!

I can actually fit a whole roast or brisket, or 2 whole chickens(!) inside of this crock pot – which will be a lifesaver on days when I either have a ton of bags to get out the door or I have to spend the day at the girls school helping out! No more “Eek! It’s 5:00, and I haven’t even thought about dinner!” nights for me!

My favorite feature, though, is the removable pot. Can I just say how much easier it is to clean your crock pot when you don’t have the electrical issue to deal with? WOW! The pot, lid and spoon clean up very easily, and the stainless steel outside looks fabulous sitting on my kitchen counter!

If you are a busy mom who wants to have one less thing to worry about on those days, I highly recommend the SmartPot from Crock-Pot!

Now through March 31, you can get free shipping on a similar model, the Crock-Pot Portable Slow Cooker – Free Shipping!.

The next use will be Tortilla Soup – one of our families favorites! Only now I can make enough to have leftovers…

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, bringing with it the official arrival of the Holiday Rush. There will be Christmas parties, teacher gifts and more in the next month, and you want to be prepared!

Illuminations will be there to help you with a hostess gift or a wonderful gift for those candle lovers on your list. They have some wonderful seasonal candles as well as their regular offerings. Take a look at some of these below!

This fry pan is a fabulous addition to any kitchen. I have the 14″ one of these that I have put through the ringer – everything from frying spring rolls & gyoza to pan searing steak to frittata’s and curry’s and it always cleans up like a dream.

This is the description from cooks.com:
All-Clad LTD cookware contrasts a matte black hard-anodized aluminum exterior and gleaming 18/10 stainless steel.
• Smooth exterior won’t scratch, chip, or peel.
• Cooking surface is nonreactive and stick-resistant.
• Pure aluminum core that extends across the bottom and up the sides for superior heat conductivity with no hot spots.
• Three metal layers are bonded together for exceptional performance and durability.
• Stainless steel handles are secured with matching rivets. Stick handles stay cool during normal stovetop use.
• Oven safe to 500 F.
• Hand-wash using chefs™ Anodized Cleaner.
• Made in the USA.

Why am I suddenly bringing up my favorite fry pan? Because it is currently on sale! You can get a great deal on one of these – and the rest of the All-Clad lineup at cooks.com!

Head over there to find your new favorite All-Clad pan!

As the kids are going back to school, and we are looking towards the holidays – yes they are just around the corner – we thought we would help you out with some decorating ideas for your home. This is the first in a series that will take you through your home and make it “in-law’s worthy” just in time for the rapidly approaching holidays!

There are 5 popular themes for decorating your living room which will be discussed in this article. While some may prefer the more traditional colors and lines to accentuate their living room, others may opt for a more earthy or contemporary design. Here are a few ideas which you may wish to think about if you plan to redesign your living room.

Black and white has always been a classic style. You can effectively combine this style with geometric shapes and designs. There are a number of living room pieces which have become quite popular today. Among them is a yin yang sofa. The sofa itself is white, with a black cushion encompassing the yin yang white circle. In addition, it comes with a white on black, and black on white side cushions which are quite attractive and useful. Considered a contemporary style, you can paint the walls of your home white, and add a touch of red to accentuate the décor.

Another popular color being used in some living rooms today is Chinese red. While it can be used to design a living room in Eastern décor, it has become the color of choice for most modern and contemporary living rooms. Using Chinese red to paint one wall of the living room, you can certainly choose a modern theme to accentuate your room with white slip covers; or whatever you choose to enhance the overall scheme of the room.

An eclectic style encompasses many colors, but is brought together by different fabrics, textures and patterns. Using red, gold, cream and brown, you can use a multitude of pieces from a variety of periods. While this may not be to your taste, you certainly have a myriad of shapes to work with.

The country style is still popular today, using an array of soft blues and red plaids in combination with paisley prints to accentuate an entire room. The cozy, warm feeling is further demonstrated by an area rug complimenting the furniture’s rustic look and window treatments which accent the brown woodwork within the room.

Perhaps you’d like to look into Shabby Chic! This is a very popular theme in which slipcovers are used throughout the living room; accompanied by painted furniture (pieces which may have come from a flea market); it is literally a mix of old and new; mixed and matched; plain and stunning; with white being the central theme. Interesting concept, don’t you think? If this appeals to you, you can check online for Shabby Chic stores and decorative ideas. It’s intriguing enough to take a look.

Whatever you choose out of the 5 popular themes for decorating your living room, there is such a variety today that you will no doubt find one that expresses your particular style.

If you are looking for a great gift for a family on your list – or your own kids – you need to take a look at a new book by Sara Ann Denson called Christmas Turtles. This great story is about Sara’s own grandmother, and the wonderful turtle candies that she used to make every year when Sara was growing up – even though her grandmother couldn’t eat them herself!

This is a wonderful and heartwarming story that may bring back fond memories for you Moms, Dad’s and Grandparents, and it includes a recipe for turtles and a wooden mixing spoon to help you create new memories of your own!

Christmas Turtles is available from Purple Sky Publishing, and if you use the coupon code “cottagegiftspecial” you can save 15% on your total purchase. Hurry over to check it out – there may still be a few autographed copies left to order!

Christmas Turtles is also available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and borders.com, however the 15% off coupon is good only at purpleskypublishing.com

Do you want more info about the author & illustrator?

Sara Ann Denson has been a nationally published author since the age of 18. In 1995, she received the first place One-Act Play Award at the annual Alabama Writer’ Conclave and she went on to publish three books of scripts and play along with various magazine credits. She currently lives in Jefferson City, Missouri with her husband, Boyd, and their two sons, Samuel and Gideon. She is a member of the MOMpack.

Tara McMillen as always had a special love for art. Tara is a painter who has done numerous murals in the Kansas City area. Her attention to detail and her intuitive nature makes her the perfect illustrator for children’s books. Tara has been married for seventeen years and has two wonderful children, Ericka and Kyle, who have also been blessed with their mother’s artistic ability.

For additional information regarding the author and illustrator, as well as other authors and illustrators employed by Purple Sky Publishing LLC, please visit purpleskypublishing.com