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.