Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Relief Stress This Holiday Season

Are you stressed about the holidays? There is a way you can have a stress free holiday season. In part two of this blog, we will discuss how you can relieve some stress in your meal preparation. Make sure to go back and read last week's blog on decorating if you missed it. You can learn more at moneycrashers.

Food


While turkey is now the most common dish served during Christmas Day dinners around the world (replacing Tiny Tim’s roasted goose), fried chicken, ham, and fish remain popular. Our childhood memories of Christmases past often include aromatic, mouthwatering, belly-filling, belt-busting meals of savory meats, fresh vegetables, and sugary, meringue-topped desserts, but rarely the hours of exhaustive preparation, mounds of dirty pots and pans, and obligatory cleanup by those responsible for our repasts.


Try the following to save time in the kitchen this year:


Bake and Freeze in Advance. Rolls, coffee cakes, muffins, and breads can be made, shaped, placed in pans, and frozen up to six months before serving. Unbaked pies and cookies can be prepared up to two months before a meal. Appetizers and casseroles taste just as delicious even if they have been frozen for months. Spreading your food preparation over several weekends before the crunch of the season can help to keep you sane and rested.

Use Professionals. Many grocery stores and restaurants offer holiday specials where complete meals are delivered or can be picked up the day before Christmas, so your only duty is to pop them in the oven and serve. The ability to choose à la carte allows for a selection of not only different foods, but different caterers.

Share Cooking and Cleaning Duties. To spread the workload around, one member of the family can bring appetizers, another can supply a vegetable dish, and another can provide dessert, already agreed to beforehand to ensure everyone’s favorites will be available. Cleanup is also shared – those who eat but don’t cook must clean.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Stress Relief Part 1

The holidays can be a stressful time for any family. This is part one of our stress free holiday series. However, in this blog we will focus on the planning of your holiday. These helpful tips will help you with that stress free holiday of your dreams. You can learn more at moneycrashers.com.











Plan the Perfect Holiday

It’s important to remember that there is more to Christmas than the giving and receiving of gifts – there are decorations to be made and hung, food to be prepared and served, and homes to be cleaned for guests. However, if you can stay within your budget and set aside sufficient time to complete all these tasks, you and your guests will delight in a stress-free and memorable holiday.
Gifts


The bulk of time and money spent each Christmas revolves around gifts – choosing, buying, and wrapping presents for those we love. This year, consider the following: 

A Family Gift Exchange. As families get larger, the costs of buying gifts can be a financial burden. To reduce costs and the time spent shopping, establish a dollar limit for the individual gifts, as well as any other desired criteria (for example, only clothes, toys, books, and gift cards).

Gift Cards. Gift cards allow the receiver to pick his or her perfect gift. In fact, more than 77% of shoppers gifted cards in 2011. Most retailers offer their own, and also accept gift cards issued by major credit card companies, which can be combined to purchase more expensive items. However, when choosing a gift card, be aware that some may charge inactivity fees after one year if the card isn’t used.

Internet Shopping. Shopping online is faster, often cheaper, and far more convenient than visiting brick-and-mortar stores. It is easy to compare prices, gift wrapping is often available, and your purchase can be delivered wherever you choose. 

Most Internet retailers also guarantee delivery by a certain date.

Price Comparison Apps. Shopping apps enable in-store price comparisons and an easy way to verify and obtain discount coupons to save more money. Consider free apps, such as Price Check for Android devices and Google Shopper for the iPhone.

Personalized, Inexpensive Gifts. These are unique and meaningful. For example, the small illustrated book “I Like You” with a personal note to a family member, business associate, or friend will be cherished and kept for a lifetime. A letter to a friend recalling a special time together or simply telling a loved one how much they mean to you will be remembered for years and always appreciated.

Paid Gift Wrapping. Paying to have your gifts wrapped can save you time as well as money spent on excess wrapping paper, tape, bows, and gift cards. Many retailers offer an in-house service and include free gift wrapping with each purchase. Professional gift wrappers charge a different rate for different sizes of packages, which can run as low as $5.

Charitable Donations. Making donations to charity in lieu of buying and receiving gifts can make you feel good, and it teaches your children the joy of giving while helping those less fortunate. Consider 

Alternative Gifts International, where $45 feeds an American family of five for a week;Heifer International, which provides domestic animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, and chickens to poor families around the world; or Kiva, which makes micro-loans to third world entrepreneurs. 

If your holiday includes children, involve them in the gifting process so they can learn how much better it feels to give than to receive. Take them shopping to buy inexpensive Christmas gifts that they can wrap themselves. Let them print their names on the gift cards and pass out the presents they’ve purchased and wrapped.

Be A Good Houseguest

Are you traveling for the holidays?  If you are staying with a friend or family member, it is very important to be a respectful houseguest.  Hosting guests is very stressful, but you can help make it easier for your loved one.  Read over these tips, and you can comment below with some tips of your own.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.





Keep your belongings, neatly, in your room.

As someone who aspires, at least, to keep her house in order, I really appreciate it when my guests do their best to keep their suitcases and extra belongings in their designated areas. Of course, items like coats and shoes (which we don't wear in the house), are left out, and I am happy when guests take it upon themselves to notice where they belong and put them there.

Take care of your own special needs.

If your hostess asks about things you can't (or prefer not to) eat, it's okay to be honest— to a point. But if you have specific dietary or health needs, it's nice to take care of them yourself rather than expecting your hostess to learn about and provide for your needs. For instance, before I was more familiar with gluten-free diets and before gluten-free alternatives were ubiquitous, a houseguest of mine brought her own gluten-free pasta. I appreciated her foresight and consideration — and that, for the sake of my preparations, she told me she would do this beforehand.

Fit in.

Try to notice the rhythms and rituals of your hosts. If their habit is to sit and eat around the table together, join them rather than grazing, even if that's what you're used to. If your hosts enjoy conversation once all the kids are down, spend some time with them even if all you want to do is go to bed yourself! On the other hand, if you know your hosts go to bed earlier than you do, assure them that you're fine up on your own or even retreat to your space so your hosts feel comfortable leaving the common area as well.

Strip the sheets.

This could depend on how well you know your hosts, but this act, to me, shows a thoughtfulness about the practical side of having houseguests and a willingness to help however possible — and this means a lot. If you're not on a do-my-laundry-in-your-washer level of familiarity, leave the bed linens and towels in a tidy pile. Otherwise, if you can swing it, do the sheets and put them back on the bed. My mother always does this, and recent houseguests did this for me and what a relief! How nice to leave your host's place even better than when you got there.

The Four Best Herbs For Thanksgiving

Do you know what herbs need to be in Turkey for the best stuffing and taste? The Kitchn has instructions on how to use these four herbs to make the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. These herbs are easy to find, and they will bring the perfect taste to your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Want to stuff the Thanksgiving turkey with some fresh herbs or chop some up for stuffing and are not sure which ones to use? Here are the four traditional herbs you should pick up and use in your cooking to really give it that authentic Thanksgiving aroma and taste!

1. Parsley

There are two types of parsley sold in the store: Flat-leaf and curly. Choose Italian flat-leaf parsley since it has a more pronounced flavor, although many people like to decorate with the curly variety. Strip the tender leaves off the stems before chopping them up, but you can always save the stems to flavor stocks and soups. Parsley is a great all-purpose herb to have around to add fresh, delicate flavor. Add the leaves into your dish at the last minute for the freshest flavor and brightest color.

2. Thyme

Thyme is one of my favorite herbs and the one I most associate with Thanksgiving. I especially love it in stuffing and to flavor the turkey. Thyme stems are woody, so you should strip the tender leaves off of them for cooking. Thyme benefits from some cooking time to bring out the oils and aromas of the leaves.

3. Rosemary

The piney scent and flavor of rosemary helps conjure images of Christmas trees and cozying up to the fire. A little goes a long way with rosemary, so err on the side of starting out with less and know that you can add more. Like thyme, the needle-like rosemary leaves should be stripped off the woody stems and chopped up finely, and they also benefit from some cooking time, especially since the coarse leaves aren't great eaten raw.

4. Sage

I love the feeling of soft, velvety sage leaves. Its leaves are extremely tender and have an aroma reminiscent of pine and eucalyptus, but again, make sure to strip the leaves off the tough stems first. Sage is a member of the mint family and pairs well with poultry, pork, and sausage, and it also pairs well with butternut squash and other sweet flavors.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family!

Emergency Kit For Holiday Parties

Are you starting to prepare for the season? Do not get stuck with a wine stain on your couch.  Here is the perfect emergency kit to remove any stains or spills you may encounter hosting a party.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

It's hosting season and you know what that means: your home will soon be getting a workout. Be it parties or houseguests, lots of traffic means lots of messes. Since you know spills are inevitable, do yourself a favor this year and put together an emergency cleaning kit so you'll be prepared to act fast when someone slips up.

Having this quick kit on hand has two benefits. Firstly, it'll help you deal with those messes quickly (and therefore more effectively) and more importantly, it lets you avoid the drama and embarrassment that can go along with an accident. Keeping these key things close means there's no need to frantically empty everything from under the sink in the middle of a party or family dinner (and make the spiller feel worse then they already do!).

The Emergency Kit

• Sponge or microfiber cloth
• Small handheld broom and dustbin
• Countertop cleaner
• Soda water (to dilute a stain but it's also handy to have on hand in case you run out during your party)
• Salt (combine with soda water as an effective natural stain remover)
• Laundry stain stick or wipes for clothing spills
• Masking tape for picking up those final, invisible shards of a broken glass
• Put these things in a caddy and get ready to be the graceful host who can dispatch spills and get back to the party that much quicker.

Keep the Laundry Monster Away

Do you find yourself at the end of the month or week with piles of laundry.  The "laundry monster" is something that no one wants to see.  However, there are ways to prevent this giant pile up of dirty clothes.  Here are some great tips on how to keep away the laundry beast from showing up in your home.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy. 

Anyone else at war with piles upon piles of laundry? It never occurred to me how much motherhood and laundry go together, but here we are! While it's still an uphill battle, I have learned that some things (when I actually do them) help keep the relentless laundry situation under control.

Five steps to taming the laundry beast:

1. A load a day.

   Obviously, this will be way too excessive for some people, but for anyone with a couple kids or more, this amount of laundry is just about right —and will save you from a day or more that's consumed by catching up with laundry. Early on in my homekeeping life, I came across Flylady. Her mantra of "A load a day keeps CHAOS away" has been burned into my memory, in large part because I've found it to be true in my experience. (Note: "CHAOS" stands for "can't have anyone over syndrome.")

2. Follow through with each load.

   Load goes in the wash, then the dryer (or hung to dry), then gets folded or hung and then gets put away. My laundry troubles come when I linger too long between steps and loads begin to pile up at the clean end. I like to "save" folding for when my kids are in bed and I watch a TV show, but if I'm behind at all, then this means piles that I probably won't get through will be waiting for me... and grow and multiply. If I really mean business with keeping up, I'd fold right after the load is dry and then put it away. Honestly, this never happens. I'm still learning.

3. Address your sticking point.

   Usually there's a part of laundry that's a bit more of a mental block and this is what makes the piles grow and multiply. For me, it's putting the clothes away. I like putting the clothes in to wash and dry. And I even enjoy folding. But putting the clothes away is just not my favorite thing to do, and, alas, I often end up with several baskets of clean, folded laundry waiting to be put away.

4. Set up strategically.

   For me, this means that I have to think about putting clothes away before I start folding them; I have to make putting them away as painless as possible. I set out separate empty laundry baskets per room or person and put folded clothes in piles according to which drawer they go into. I also have hangers at the ready for clothes that need to be hung.

5. Make it fun.

   As with many chores in life that just have to get done, take a page out of Mary Poppins's book and make it fun. Turn on some music, make a party out of it, or reward yourself with a treat (chocolate, 15 minutes of pleasure reading, staring at the miraculously empty laundry baskets, whatever) when you accomplish either the laundry task as a whole (is anyone out there ever caught up with laundry???) or the part you dread most.

I'm going to go take my own advice and put away the piles of folded kids' clothes so my son doesn't have to dig for clean Ninja Turtle undies after bathtime tonight.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Fun Facts: The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human. Learn more here.

A Spooky Halloween Drink

Ghosts, goblins, and delicious treats are some of our favorite things about Halloween.  We have found a spooky recipe for you to try next week.  This recipe is perfect for a themed drink at any party. You can learn more here.

Closet Inventory

Have you ever tried to work on a closet inventory?  It will only take a few hours, and it will help organize and clean out your clothes.  Read over this blog to learn how to start a closet inventory.  You only need a few supplies and help from a friend.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.


Do you know what's in your closet? Like, way in there? Do you ever find two or three of the (nearly or exactly) same clothing items because you didn't realize you had already bought one? Do you not buy items you really like because you know you already have something — even though you don't really love it? A closet inventory is more than just a cleverly disguised way to declutter your closet (though it is that, too). It's a way to get a handle on your wardrobe so that future shopping and dressing is easier.

It's also the best thing to do each time the seasons switch and the temperature begins to change. Here's how to do one in an afternoon this weekend:


What you'll need:

A few hours

A full-length mirror, a friend or a camera

Two boxes: one labeled "maybe" and another labeled "donate"

A list of clothing basics that resonates with you. (Here's a good example).

A list of items you want to have in your closet (dream items or need items!)

Step 1: Take out everything in your closet and pile it on the bed. (Or, depending on closet size or volume, tackle this step in chunks.)

Step 2: Begin trying clothes on in front of a mirror, taking a picture of it to look at or showing outfit items to a trusted friend. You're going to want to rate everything on a scale of 1 - 10 in your mind.

Step 3. Items that rate an "8" or above — say those articles that are in good shape, fit you well and make you feel good, get to stay. 5 to 8 ratings go in the maybe box. Anything lower (damaged items, items you haven't worn in years or things that just don't make you feel confident), goes directly into the donate box. Consider putting high rating clothes back by the "hanger trick."

Step 4: While you're trying things on, consider making a quick tally list of types of clothing you have. That way at the end you'll have a good idea of whether or not you have 20 pants and 1 skirt or your tank top to long sleeve shirt ratio is way off. With cooler temperatures on the way, make sure you have what you consider to be enough warm weather clothing items.

Step 5: Along with tallying what you own, as you find items that are on the clothing basics or dream items list, check them off. When you're finished, you'll have two lists: One of the amounts of types of items you have, and a list of things you'd like in your closet but don't have. You'll have a good idea of what you're lacking in your closet and, combined with the informal tally you took while trying everything on earlier, what you've got way too much of.

Step 6: After you go through all your clothes, reevaluate your maybe box with the help of a friend or based off of your new knowledge with the tally list or basics list. Donate, sell or put aside to reuse the stuff from your donate box.

Step 7: Keep your lists close at hand so the next time you're shopping you know what to look out for and what to not splurge on because you've already got too much of!

Step 8: Repeat every few months as necessary so you don't waste money on unneeded items!

Ten Ways to Use Wax Paper In Your Home

We love secret uses for everyday household items.  There are many items in your home that can be used for more than one purpose.  Here are ten great uses for wax paper in your home.  There are problems on this list that wax paper can solve easily!  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Add wax paper to the long list of items with surprising applications and usefulness well beyond their original purpose. Wax paper (as opposed to parchment paper) has a thin layer of wax on each side, and was designed to keep food fresh longer. Its both water resistant and non-stick — two attributes that make this handy item versatile and helpful, even outside the kitchen.

Rub a sheet on the teeth of a zipper to discourage snags.

Roll it up and insert in the neck of a bottle, and use as an impromptu funnel. The wax keeps the paper stiff.

Rub it on bathroom and kitchen faucets to both buff the metal, and make them more resistant to future water spots.

Layer the tops of kitchen cabinets with the stuff, and replace every so often instead of dusting that hard-to-dust spot.

If you have a door that stubbornly sticks, rub the edges to keep it from jamming as much.

Keep wooden salad bowls and cutting boards in good shape by giving them an extra layer of wax protection.

Protect the fridge from spills by covering the shelves. It makes it infinitely easier to clean.

Lost your wine cork after opening a bottle? Make an plug out of a wad of paper, and stick it right in there.

Cover bowls and plates when you use the microwave to prevent splatter. 

If your shower curtain has trouble moving over its rods without squeaking or catching, a light rub with wax paper will help it move smoother.

Use it as drawer liner in your dresser.

Before you close up paint cans, add a sheet over the top of the paint to keep skin from forming.

Swipe non-stick appliances , to give it a little more non-stickiness.

Wrap up paint brushes to keep them from drying out in between coats.

If you have drafty windows in winter, use it to plug up holes. Again, the wax wards off precipitation.

Wrap up any delicate fabrics when you store them. The wax keeps out light and keeps colors from fading or turning yellow.

If you are out of kindling, wax paper makes a good fire starter.

Get Those Stains Away

Do you have clothes that you dread getting a stain on?  There is always a way to get the stain out you just have to know the right ingredients.  Apartment Therapy has found a great list on what items take out which stains.  Keep reading to learn more about the database below!.

I recently took a favorite silk dress of mine to the dry cleaners. It had a new mystery stain, right next to a faint old stain still slightly visible after an unsuccessful laundering attempt. This time around I was asked what the stain was, because I was advised, it would be far easier to remove if the source was known. I told her my best guess was wine or a cocktail, crossed my fingers and left.

Low and behold when I picked up the dress this time around, BOTH stains were gone. Of course I knew determining the cause of a stain makes it easier to remove, but I guess I never realized how crucially important that fact is! If you're armed with that knowledge and attempting this task solo, there's a searchable database that has just about every stain solution covered.

The University of Illinois has developed a database that catalogs stain solutions in an alphabetized index or searchable format. The database covers common stains like wax or wine, right next to stains you thought you might never encounter. Calamine lotion stain anyone? They've got you covered. Black walnut or bird dropping stains? Yup, that too. As long as the stain is on carpet, upholstery, or washable fabrics, they should be able to provide you with an answer.

Curious about my wine or cocktail mystery stain, I looked it up. It appears that both stains are removed with the exact same treatment. So the next time you're tackling a tough stain, try consulting the University of Illinois' stain solution database. It's a handy website that's probably worth bookmarking!

Don't Worry About Defrosting

We always forget to take our dinner out of the freezer. However, there are certain foods that you can cook right out of the freezer. You do not need to worry about defrosting or setting these ingredients out. They are ready as soon as you take them out of the bag. You can learn more at The Kitchn.


The more hectic life gets with work, friends, and family, the more grateful I am that freezers were invented. A well-stocked freezer full of fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals has enabled me to eat more healthy and not spend money on takeout.

The downside of a lot of frozen foods, however, is that they usually need to be thawed in order to cook or reheat well. But did you know there are still plenty of foods out there that you can cook straight from the freezer, no thawing necessary? Here are our seven favorites!

1. Bacon

Whether you want to fry up a big batch of bacon for a leisurely weekend morning or just need a slice or two to flavor a dish, there's so much fat in bacon that it can thaw and start cooking in a pan in just a few minutes. Make sure you freeze the bacon in individual slices first so that it's not frozen into one big block.


2. Fruit

We all know that frozen fruit is a great way to add texture and keep smoothies cold, but if you bake with frozen fruit, there's no need to defrost it — just mix it straight into batter or dough. If you're making a compote or fruit syrup, just throw it straight into the pot and start simmering.



3. Vegetables

Because frozen vegetables are usually frozen at the peak of freshness, they're a great, healthy choice to always have a stash of. Small vegetables like peas and corn can quickly cook and cool down in soup, and you can even throw mixed frozen vegetables straight into a skillet pasta.










4. Dumplings

Since Asian dumplings can be a bit time-consuming to make, make a big batch and then freeze them for a quick and satisfying snack or weeknight meal. Dumplings cook best straight from the freezer since thawing them will make the wrappers sticky and cook up soggy.


5. Pasta

Similar to Asian dumplings, fresh uncooked pastas and filled pastas like ravioli and agnolotti freeze extremely well. Don't thaw them or the pasta will start to stick together. Frozen pasta only takes a minute or two longer to cook than fresh before it's ready to be tossed in your favorite sauce.

6. Cooked Rice

Did you know that day-old rice makes the best fried rice? It's a great way to use up leftover steamed rice, but if you're not ready to fry up the rice just yet, stash it in the freezer. If frozen properly, the rice freezes into individual grains that you can just toss right into the wok or frying pan when the fried rice craving hits.


7. Fish

Skip the thawing of frozen fish — all you have to do is rinse the fillets off, pat them dry, and get cooking. It'll take a few more minutes to cook than a piece of fresh fish, but now you have no excuse not to have fish for dinner on a weeknight!

A Simple Test for Sorbet

Do you know that it is super easy to make sorbet?  This simple test will help you figure out what you need in the recipe!  Keep reading to learn about the "egg test" for the sorbet you make this weekend.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.


Bet you didn't know that you can make dreamy sorbet without once looking at a recipe. All you need is fresh fruit, sugar, water — and an egg. That's right, an egg. Don't worry, that egg isn't actually going into the sorbet. We need it for another purpose: we need to see if it floats.


The perfect tool for testing the sugar levels in sorbet? An ordinary, large-sized egg.


The Egg-Float Test for Sorbet
Egg sinks below the surface: Add more sugar
Egg floats above the surface: Add more water
Egg floats in the middle (1-inch, nickel-sized patch of shell showing above the surface): Sorbet perfection

A sorbet is a simple mix of pureed fruit, sugar, and a bit of water. Strain that mix, churn it, and freeze it, and you have delicious no-fuss sorbet. One catch: you need to make sure you have the right amount of sugar in the sorbet base so that when it freezes, you get smooth sorbet without annoying, chunky ice crystals.

The perfect tool for testing the sugar levels in sorbet? An ordinary, large-sized egg.

Once you've strained your base and are ready to churn it, gently lower a large egg into the liquid. If it sinks or if you can barely see any shell above the surface, you need to add more sugar. If it floats above the liquid with a large patch of liquid, you need to add more water. If it floats in the middle, with just a 1-inch, nickle-sized patch of shell showing above the liquid, then you're sorbet is just right.

This all has to do with the density of the liquid. Sugar increases the density of liquids — allowing an egg to float — while water decreases density, which makes the egg sink lower. For whatever reason, when an egg floats just-so in the sorbet base, we know that the sugar levels are perfect for making sorbet.

Check out the gallery above for what this egg-float test looks like at each stage. Don't forget to strain the sorbet base before you start (otherwise the fibers and other fruit solids throw off the density reading) and give your egg a quick wash and dry, so it's clean when you float it in the sorbet.

Creative Ways to Use Adhesive Strips

Do you use adhesive strips or hooks in your home? These can be used for hanging posters or picture frames. However, there are many more creative uses for these adhesive strips. Take a peak at all the uses for these strips below. You can also learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Two important notes:

Always check that the product you're using matches up to the weight of what you want to hang.

To avoid damage, make sure that the product you choose is right for the surface on which you're hanging something.

Above ? Sarah of Boxwood Clippings made this beautiful mirror display from $12 worth of Dollar Tree mirrors and adhesive strips.

Caroline of Organized Simplicity used Scrabble tile holders as mini picture ledges, affixed with adhesive strips.

Marissa of Marissa Waddell Interiors devised this simple renters' solution for hanging a curtain rod - she hung it on adhesive hooks.

Not crazy about cushions with ties? Morgan of Pepper Design Blog cleverly used adhesive/velcro strips to secure these kitchen cushions.

This fabric headboard cover disguises a metal headboard with the help of adhesive strips. (By the gals at Sypsie Designs, seen on Hometalk.)

The wall where Erin of House of Earnest wanted to hang her sconces is where her chimney is so to avoid drilling into it, she used adhesive hooks to hang the sconces instead.

Beth of Sunshine on the Inside used inexpensive oil drip pans to create magnetic, chalkboard learning/play spots for her children. She hung them with adhesive/velcro strips.

Earlier this year I shared my renter-friendly solution for a hanging, magnetic knife rack and Lovely Crafty Home has solved this problem in her home too: using adhesive strips to hang a knife rack from tile.

How about some temporary (or not so temporary if you love it) party decor? Glory of Glorious Treats hung a lightweight wood frame from the ceiling with adhesive hooks and strung ribbon from it.

Sparkle lights hung with mini adhesive hooks create a charming decorative heart shape and add warmth and coziness to this girl's bedroom onPopsugar.

Author and blogger Janet Lee of Living in a Nutshell created attractive storage for shoes with decorative molding hung with adhesive strips.

Christina of No. 29 Design diy'd this pelmet box and hung it with adhesive strips.

Albuquerque Wine Festival

What are you doing this weekend?  Take your friends out for a night at the 27th Annual New Mexico Wine Festival.   The event will be held this weekend at Camino De Pueblo in Bernalillo.   You can learn more about the event at Abqjournal.

t’s that time of year again to raise your goblet to the last of the warm summer weather and welcome the upcoming fall season with a nice glass or bottle of wine.

27th Annual New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo
WHEN: Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, Sunday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 1
WHERE: 243 S. Camino del Pueblo in Bernalillo
TICKETS: $16 online with early entry at 11:30 a.m.; $15 general admission includes wine glass; $40 three-day bonus pass, $5 ages 13-20, must be accompanied by legal age guardian. Visit newmexicowinefestival.com

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Aug. 30:
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. The Keys Band with Briana Perez
1:15-2:15 p.m. Joanie & Combo Special
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego
3:15-4:30 p.m. Ziatron
4:45-6 p.m. Ryan Montaño Band

Sunday, Aug. 31:
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. Ben Martinez Project with MJ Wilde
1:15-2:15 p.m. Good Green
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego
3:15-4:30 p.m. Zoltan Orkistar
4:45-6 p.m. Hillary Smith and the All Star Lineup of Hip Pocket

Monday, Sept. 1
11:30 a.m.-noon Los Compadres
Noon-1 p.m. Goddess of Arno
1:15-2:15 p.m. E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier
2:30-3 p.m. Ballet Enfuego with Frances Lujan
3:15-4:30 p.m. Cathryn McGill
4:45-6 p.m. Floozy

A number of the best wineries in the state will be participating in the New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo this Labor Day weekend.

Numerous New Mexico wineries will not only offer tastings of their best wines, but also provide information and insight on each wine.

The participating wineries are Acequia Vineyards & Winery, Amaro Winery, Anasazi Fields, Black’s Smuggler, Corrales Winery, D.H. Lescombes, Don Quixote Distillery & Winery, Dos Viejos, Gruet Winery, Jaramillo Vineyards, Las Nueve Niñas, Luna Rossa, Matheson, Ponderosa Valley Vineyards, Skarsgard Farms, St. Clair, The Grove, Tierra Encantada Vineyards & Winery and Wines of the San Juan.

This year’s commemorative poster is “Early Morning Harvest,” an acrylic image by artist Nicholas Montaño. Signed and unsigned versions will be sold at the festival.

A number of food vendors including Bread, Cheese & Grapes, Mr. Powdrell’s BBQ and French Riviera Bakery will offer tasty treats to accompany your favorite wines.

Also, peruse and purchase products from area agricultural vendors or pick up a piece of art from a variety of artists and crafters who specialize in ceramics, glasswork, pottery, metal art, woodwork, paintings, photography, clothing and accessories.

St. Clair is celebrating a milestone this year and will be serving its special wine, La Clairette.

“La Clairette is a commemorative wine we made for our 30th anniversary,” Southwest Wines regional supplier representative Christian Gallagher said. “It’s a blend of ruby Cabernet and Malvasia Bianca. It has some very nice earthiness and a little bit of minerality and some dark berry undertones, primarily blackberry. We want people to try it.”

St. Clair’s sister labels Soleil Mimosa and D.H. Lescombes will be serving up their signature concoctions.

The Soleil Mimosa Classic, Soleil Mimosa Pineapple, Soleil Mimosa Mango and Soleil Mimosa Pomegranate add a different twist to wine tasting.

“It is a high-quality product that speaks for itself,” Gallagher said. “We knew it would be a successful product, but we didn’t realize how successful. We are extremely pleased with the popularity of the mimosas.”

5 Ways to Save Money In Your Home

There are certain areas of your home that can save you money.  You do not need to use a service or hire someone with every problem that comes up in your apartment.  These quick tips will help you save money in the long run.  You will also learn something new in the process.   You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

No matter how small your paycheck, you can always save money by doing things yourself that you would otherwise pay someone else to do. Below are five skills you should have in your domestic toolbox, ideally when you're just starting out on your own, but it's never too late to learn (and to save).

1. Cooking

Cooking is probably the most effective money-saving domestic skill you can possibly have. My cooking skills have improved a lot since my 20s when I was first living on my own, but even then I was able to (and did) cook for myself. Growing up, I spent a fair amount of time observing and helping my mom in the kitchen and I really believe this is the best way to learn. But I also came of age when the Food Network was taking off and I learned many basic techniques and was inspired to try new ingredients and recipes from watching food tv.

Nowadays, the internet offers so much cooking inspiration and instruction—there's no excuse not to learn.

2. Sewing and mending

Sewing your own clothes is usually not a money saver because clothes are relatively inexpensive these days compared to the price of fabric, but the ability to alter and repair your own clothes can save you plenty of money at the tailor's. (I'd love to know what percentage of people don't have to have new pants hemmed.)

Sewing for your home is where you can really save money though. Making your own pillow cases, placemats, napkins, curtains, etc. as well as gifts for others are places where sewing for yourself can amount to a lot of savings..

3. Gardening

Gardening takes time and patience, but pays you back with "free" food and herbs. Grow what you love to eat and "shop" from your garden before meals. I love snipping a bit of herbs to put in a meal knowing I'm not buying a huge bunch of basil, for example, when I only need a few leaves. Saving money is only one benefit of having your own garden—easy access to fresh, homegrown food when it's in season—may have you eating better, too.

4. Plumbing

Unless you are an experienced plumber you should not attempt big plumbing fixes, but everyone should know some very basic things like how to stop a running toilet, unclog a drain or toilet, fix a drain stopper, turn off a water valve, etc. Year ago someone gave me the book Dare to Repair by Julie Sussman & Stephanie Glakas-Tenet and I turn to it whenever I'm facing a very basic plumbing task.

5. Painting and Wallpapering

If you have more money than time, go ahead and hire someone to paint or wallpaper for you. But you will save a lot of money by learning to do it yourself. Painting is not as easy as buying paint and a slapping it up with a brush - do some research (or ask an experienced friend to help you) to learn the best techniques for both. And don't be intimidated to learn how to wallpaper. It takes patience, but is actually quite easy.

Finally, before you hire - see if you can barter.

You may not acquire all of these domestic skills, but even learning one or two, especially as a young person, will save you a lot over the years. For things you've yet to learn, try bartering with a friend or neighbor. A basket of veggies from your garden for shortening some pants, perhaps.

Easy Ways to Clean a Blender

How do you clean your blender? This is not the easiest appliance to clean.  Scrubbing all of the blades and taking the blender apart could be a giant hassle.  This blog will give you an easier way to clean the dreaded blender. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We're sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today's helpful hint, and links to tons more...


When you're finished with the blender, pour some hot water inside and add a squeeze of liquid dish detergent. Then BLEND WITH SOAPY WATERon high for about 15 seconds. It's that easy! When you think about it, it's your blender's mixing that got the goop stuck in that unreachable place anyway. If you're not getting it all clean, try different blend settings—including whichever you used (ice crush, pulse) for mixing.

Try to Pickle These Fruits and Vegetables

Do you pickle anything in the summer?  You can pickle more than just the occasional cucumber pickle! There are many great fruits and vegetables that are great to pickle and use as a relish or addition to your favorite recipes.   Keep reading to check out the ten fruits and vegetables below!  You can learn more here.

1. Corn: Pickling tames the sweetness of corn and turns it into a great summer relish to serve with grilled meats or fish.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Corn - Bon Appetit

2. Eggplant: Don't like eggplant because you think it's bland? Use eggplant's spongy texture to your advantage since it'll readily soak up pickling liquid and take on new flavors.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Eggplant - CHOW

Canned Soy & Wasabi Pickled Green Beans

3. Green Beans: Green beans are some of the easiest vegetables to pickle since you don't even need to cut them up. Use these as a fun garnish for cocktails like bloody Marys.

→ Get a recipe: Canned Soy & Wasabi Pickled Green Beans - Cook. Can. CSA.

4. Okra: Okra pods are hollow and soak up a lot of pickling liquid, turning any unpleasant slime into a thing of the past.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Okra - Simply Recipes

Quick-Pickled Cherry Peppers

5. Peppers: Pickled peppers add a winning combination of spicy sourness to sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, or burgers.

→ Get a recipe: Quick-Pickled Cherry Peppers

6. Peaches: This may seem like an unusual fruit to pickle, but juicy pickled peaches go well with pork, ham, or fried chicken.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Peaches - Saveur

7. Radishes: Pickled radishes are tangy, sweet, crunchy, and have a natural spiciness, plus the skin on red radishes dyes the pickles into a beautiful shade of pink!

→ Get a recipe: Pretty-in-Pink Pickled Radishes

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

8. Sugar snap peas: These may seem like an unusual thing to pickle, but crunchy, super sweet sugar snap peas take well to garlic and vinegar and make them even more snackable.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Sugar Snap Peas - Smitten Kitchen

9. Summer squash: Skip zucchini bread — pickling is a healthier way to use up that bumper crop of summer squash.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Yellow Squash

10. Tomatoes: If you're tired of eating tomatoes raw or turning them into sauce, try pickling and using them as bruschetta topping instead.

→ Get a recipe: Pickled Red Tomatoes - Serious Eats