Friday Favorites

Epicurious Thanksgiving - recipes, menus and videos

Kaboose Thanksgiving - recipes, decorations, crafts

Thanksgiving Crafts - BHG thanksgiving crafts - paper crafts, table top crafts and crafts to do with kids

Handmade Gift Guide - a huge list with links to handmade gifts to make for kids, grandparents, men, co-workers and so on.

Martha Stewart Christmas - Christmas crafts, cards, decorations, cookies, gift wrapping ideas, gift ideas

(Photo from BHG link - easy table decorations)

Book Review: The Art of Giving

This is from description from publishers:

Gift giving is a universal custom, but in today's harried world many of us have moved away from the more considered and creative aspects of what should be a very personal act. It should be a gesture of love, friendship, celebration, acknowledgment, and thanks. The Art of Giving is filled with inspirational ideas and practical information for the discerning gift giver on how to achieve beautiful, artful, and thoughtful gifts.

Taste, smell, and touch are the pivotal chapters. They draw on our capacity to indulge ourselves and those we love through each particular sense. Each chapter is filled with ideas and tantalizing images, as well as practical information on how to create and present wonderful gifts. Another chapter, on wrapping, will show you how to achieve expert finishing touches and inspired solutions to the most awkward of gift shapes. From handcrafted soaps and homemade potpourri to beautifully wrapped candies and an entire picnic for two, the endless variety of ideas in this book offer something for everyone. Turn to the back of the book for recipes, templates, diagrams, labels, and other do-it-yourself essentials to tell you how to do it all. For anyone who wants to create and give gifts that are more expressive, meaningful, and heartfelt than something grabbed off the shelf or ordered over the phone, The Art of Giving offers a wealth of inspiration and practical advice.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the photos and the style of the gifts and ideas. The Art of Giving is filled with lots of DIY gift ideas that are inexpensive, attractive and simple to make. Also this is a great book to find ideas for those on your gift list that are impossible to shop for people. The book I previously reviewed about green giving...was good but this book has better ideas that could be implemented with green options. Such as it has tubes covered with paper, photos or postcards. Or gifts wrapped in news paper and then tied pretty ribbon that don't look cheap but look like it was wrapped professionally because the folds are so crisp. Or wrapped with felt and embroidery thread to do simple stitches to close it. All their examples were lovely and I can't wait to try some of them out this year for holiday giving.

The book includes recipes, craft templates and instructions and label templates in the back of the book also.

Some crafts and recipes I want to try and give....
Milk & Honey Bread
Infused Brandy
Fresh Feet Bath
Shoe Bags
Sewing Kits (that would be good for men or women)
Beaded Coasters
Hot Chocolate Cream

Plus MANY MANY more ideas.

If you can't get to the book before the holidays, here are a few links to help inspire and create.....

Felt Sewing Kit by Martha Stewart

Altoid Tin Sewing Kit - I don't think this one is done as well as it could be but it does provide inspiration

Mending on the Go Kit

Cocktail Times - Pear Infused Vodka - look at the related links too - they have herbal infused vodka, cranberry spiced infused vodka and a couple others.

Married with Dinner - Pear Brandy - I like the tag she did on the bottle too

Amateur's Guide to Drinking - Infuse This - Pear and Vanilla Infused Sake & Strawberry and Cherry Infused Brandy

Betz White Shoe Bag Tutorial

Craft Ideas - Shoe Bag Instructions

Beaded Coasters by Martha Stewart

Book Review: Simply Green

I am going to do these reviews together since they are very similar books by the same author. These are books I wouldn't necessarily buy but check out from the library. Both give some really creative green alternatives.


Simply Green Parties: Simple and resourceful ideas for throwing the perfect celebration, event, or get-together by Danny Seo

I really enjoyed the photos/styling of this book. I enjoyed many of the ideas. Seo brings the concept to reduce, recycle and reuse upfront in party planning. Very nice ideas about reusing household items or getting items at thrift stores to repurpose for party decor. Many of the ideas are very chic and can be adapted to fit your needs.

Okay so the bad things....There were some things I didn't get why he felt they were green. I mean there shouldn't be a lot of trash after a green party. And he suggested using bamboo paper plates. Now that is more eco-friendly then the plastic disposable plates or regular paper plates...but what would be even more eco-friendly is using real everyday plates. Getting a plain white porcelain plate - and you can plan any party around that. Or picking up odd sets at thrift stores and mixing and matching is always to me a better choice then paper. He also did bottled water. Plastic bottles water bottles....I loved what he did with them making flavor waters but why not pitchers of filtered tap water with fruit in them instead of plastic water bottles.


Simply Green Giving: Create Beautiful and Organic Wrappings, Tags, and Gifts from Everyday Materials by Danny Seo

I liked this book better then the party book. Again I really enjoyed the photos/styling of this book. He really hits the concept to reduce, recycle and reuse over and over. Some nice ideas about reusing household items or getting items at thrift stores to repurpose to wrap your gifts, make handmade gifts and gift tags.

I enjoyed seeing him make bows from the scented perfume cards in magazines. He tore them out very carefully. And then opened up the scented edge. He cut 1/2-inch strips across the sheet, starting at the scented edge and stopping an inch from the end. Then you fold it up accordion style - neatly stacking the strips on top of each other. With a pair of sharp scissors take each strip and curl by pulling it over the blade. The quicker you pull it over the blade the curlier it will get. And then attach to gift. The colors and images on the bow turn into a bouquet of colorful ribbon.

He also used the same concept of curling ribbon by pulling VHS tape out of the plastic tape cassette. And he wrapped a wine bottle in newspaper leaving 5 inches extra on top and cut that into strips and curled also.

Some things I didn't feel looked great. He took an old string of christmas lights to tie around a package but I just didn't think it looked good. I believe it probably could have but I just don't feel it was styled right in the book. Something else I wasn't sure about was that he used the inside of silver foil part of potato chip bags to wrap gifts. He washed them of course and then wrapped so the silver was showing out. But I just wonder how someone would feel opening a gift wrapped in a potato chip bag? I guess if they knew you were going green maybe they would accept it but would they think you were weird? Does it matter to save the environment? I don't know. But I thought it was odd. It looked pretty in the book - just wasn't sure how someone would feel opening a gift wrapped in it.

Overall the book did give me ideas for wrapping and decorating gifts more eco-friendly. I think often people forget repurposing is a green option. I will be posting a few things I did last year to wrap gifts by repurposing containers - nut containers, frosting and even a grated Parmesan cheese container.

Meanwhile check out these links for gift wrapping and especially green gift wrapping...

Gaiam Life - 10 Green Gift Wrapping Ideas

Passionate Homemaking - Frugal and Green Gift Wrapping

Green Package Wrap Ideas

Earth Easy - Gift Wrapping Alternatives

Also I posted these links before but are good ones at the holidays...
Paper bow making - Recycling magazines, old books and scrapbooking paper

There is also a great article on gift wrapping in Simply Service Holiday 2008 issue by marg_it.

Book Review: Lotta Prints

Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum by Lotta Jansdotter

I keep going back and forth on if I would give this book 3 or 4 stars. The style of the prints, the photos, the set up of the book - inspiring. Just lovely. The actual instructions to techniques used - lacking. Most of it is basic printing information that is found online or in other books - with better instructions. So it didn't give me any new ideas as far as techniques but as far as inspiration - yes it did! Really easy designs that would leave anything you print on looking so pretty. One such inspiration I can't wait to try is the wall hangings. They were ceiling to floor simple cloth wall hangings with a simple print on them. Very pretty - giving a room a splash of color with a minimalistic approach. Another plus to this book - many of the print designs could go for either male or female. They are very unisex friendly. Often prints books I have seen are very hearts, flowers and sunshine type designs but this book often has geometric designs put together in a very pleasing way that would work for any gender. I don't know if it is a book I need to own but I do think it would provide me inspiration on print design if I had it on my shelf but wouldn't teach me anything new about print techniques.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA: Take plain tea towels, ties or totes and do potato printing on them. Here are a few links with how to's and also inspiration: Craftzine Tater Stamping, Creative Kismet Potato Printing and Creative Kismet Lotta Inspiration

Simple Pancake Recipe

I usually like to make buttermilk pancakes but for that rare occasion when I am out of the powdered buttermilk....I just go to this recipe.

This makes 18 to 20 pancakes. I often take the leftovers and freeze. I defrost and heat in microwave.

* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 2 1/4 cups milk
* 2 egg
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 6 tablespoons butter, melted


In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center. Pour in the milk, eggs and melted butter and mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Happy Halloween!

Friday Favorites

Last weeks Friday Favorites was Autumn and Thanksgiving type links and now this will be the next big holiday push....

7 Thanksgiving into Christmas Planning Tips - On my browser this one starts half way down the page. But some just tips on creating decorations that work from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Holiday Planning Notebook - I have one of these. I might take pictures of it and do a whole post on it. But for now this link will get you started if you want to do one. I like it to keep track of things I might not ever remember if I didn't write it down. Such as last year I used Yukon Gold potatoes for my creamed potato recipe for Christmas Eve dinner. And they turned out better then they ever have so I made a note and actually stuck the label of the potatoes in there. I like keeping track what gifts I give because at times I repeat a craft. So if I gave them a decoupaged picture frame last year I really don't want to give them one again this year.

Organized Christmas or (also here Christmas Planner mirror site) - lots of articles on how to organize your Christmas....printable forms, recipes, craft ideas, decorating ideas and so on.

10 Things to do before the Holidays - quick list of tips to prep for the holidays

Christmas Checklists - has quite a few checklists from get a head start on the holidays to printable gift lists

To Do List for Christmas - same place I listed for Thanksgiving last week but this one is for Christmas. It starts 2 months ahead up until Christmas day

The 5 Holiday Senses - This is really important to Master. He wants me to create an environment that touches all his sense. He loves to just sit and take it all in. And of course that makes me happy to see him so pleased and happy.

Photo from: 7 Thanksgiving into Christmas Planning Tips

Vegetable Pizza

This was one of my favorite things to see on the relish table at Thanksgiving.




First, make the crust. Spread a can or two of crescent roll dough onto a cookie sheet. Bake until puffed and golden brown, let cool. It doesn't even have to be pretty; no one will see it anyway!




There are a couple of different ways to make the pizza "sauce". Pretty much however you like regular vegetable dip is how to make your spread. I make mine with mayo, dill weed, cream cheese, garlic, and a little minced onion. Mix the ingredients in a bowl and spread it on your crust.



While the crust is baking, chop up whatever raw vegetables you like. I like to keep mine pretty simple. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and I'm a happy nom'er. My mom tosses on onions and celery and peppers and blech.



I don't want to say to mince the vegetables exactly, but you want them in pretty small pieces. Smaller than bite size because you want a couple of each veggie in each bite.

Sprinkle them on your crust.



Top with shredded cheese.



The best way to accomplish clumps of cheese in spots while other spots are bare while also sprinkling as much cheese on the table as landed on the pizza? Have cheese-sprinkle-fights with your kid. Lots of mess, but hella fun, too.

(I won, btw. Mom always wins.)

Slice up and eat.



It's always a hit. :)

Vegetable Pizza

Ingredients
2 (10 oz) cans crescent roll dough
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Approx:
1/2 cup chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1/2 cup chopped carrots
shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 400F
Unroll crescent roll dough and spread on a cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned.

In a bowl, mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed, onion and garlic.
Spread over the crust. Layer with cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. Top with shredded cheese. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Book Review: Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Last-Minute Christmas Gifts: Crafting Quick & Classy Presents for Everyone on Your List

Last-Minute Gifts to me in implies that it would be gifts I could make with things I have on hand at home. At least that is what means to me to me. So I was expecting quick easy gifts made from what I have at home without having to go out and buy a lot of items to make it. And it had a few projects like that but the majority are things I don't normally have at home. So it wasn't a book that helped me.

The instructions and photographs were good though. Many of the ideas were quick and easy if I would have had the supplies. And many of the projects didn't require a lot of supplies so that was nice too.

I think if I want to make a gift though and can't think of anything or needed something quick and easy, I would go to Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

Menu x3

I have posted menus in a while so here is 3 weeks worth of menus.

10/12 Monday - Italian sausages, peppers, onions buns served with salad

Tuesday - pork roast with roasted veggies

Wednesday - cashew chicken over rice with stir-fry veggies

Thursday - baked potatoes with veggies, cheese and bacon on them

Friday - penne tossed with pesto, diced tomatoes and chicken

Saturday - left overs

10/18 Sunday - homemade pizza - veggie and pepperoni - salad and wine

10/ 19 Monday - chicken and black bean tacos

Tuesday - turkey tomato pesto paninis and oven fries

Wednesday - left overs

Thursday - pork chops sauteed in balsamic, served with wild rice and green beans

Friday - out to eat

Saturday -frittata (potatoes, eggs and veggies) served with salad with balsamic vinegar dressing

10/25 Sunday - spaghetti and homemade meatballs served with salad and garlic toast

10/26 Monday - left overs

Tuesday - chili and homemade cornbread

Wednesday - chili cheese burritos and spanish rice

Thursday - pancakes and sausage with fruit

Friday - going to a party

Saturday - going out of town

11/1 Sunday - grilled cheese and homemade soup (not sure what kind yet but maybe beef barely)

Friday Favorites

Entertaining in the Fall by Country Living - good recipes and ideas. I love the idea of using the picnic basket for an ice bucket (line the basket with plastic). (Photo of Potatoes Anna - from this link.)

Pomegranate-Apple Cider/Cocktails - a recipe that can be used both cold or hot. Looks so yummy! Would be pretty for Halloween or Thanksgiving entertaining.

Fall foliage wreath by MarthaStewart.com

Nature Inspired Fall Decorating Ideas by BHG - Some very pretty but simple ideas. (Photo of wheat stocks from this link)

Thanksgiving Check List - I haven't downloaded their list just read it and liked it. It seems to cover everything needed to plan Thanksgiving

OR

6 Week Thanksgiving Plan by Epicurious - also a very good list

Fast, cheap and easy.

No, not me!

Well. Okay. I AM all of those things but for the purposes of THIS post-- not me.

I'm talking about food. I'm talking about hot, filling comfort food. I'm talking about reaching a man through his belly.

And, I'm talking about a lazy slave who found a delicious shortcut and I aim to pass it on to you. :)

Maybe, on a cold and blustery Monday morning you look outside and see something like this:




Maybe you just want to sit on the couch, yank the pillow over your head and pretend you live in Hawaii.

Maybe you don't WANT to have to go butcher the cow, shell the beans, knead the dough, churn the butter and puree the tomatoes.

Maybe you're thinking PB&J for dinner sounds wonderful and then your Man calls and he's working outside and he's tired and cold and hungry and he says "What hot meal are you making for me tonight, slave?" and you have this rush of guilt and figure perhaps it's time to take the pillow off your head.

But you're no more motivated to butcher cows and shell beans.

So what do you do??

You cheat, that's what. You cheat and you enjoy the fuck out of it because, as the title said, it's fast, it's cheap and *bonus!*, it's easy.

It's magic.

Chili magic, that is.



First, slave over that can opener opening all of them cans. It's turrible hard work I tell you.

Dump the can contents into a pan. Preferably you'd empty them into your slow cooker so it has several hours to blend the flavors together, unless you're like me and really took the whole couch/pillow/Hawaii fantasy to late afternoon. Oops.



So, dump the magic and the 'maters together so they've got some time to blend and cook together. In the meantime, dice up your onion if you like them and toss that in with your ground beef.



If you like that raw onion taste, you could dump the onions in with your canned stuff, but I loathe raw onions so I cook them down.

Then drain it and dump that into your canned mess of magical goodness.



Stir it in and let it simmer for a bit. You really need to let the burger chunks soak up some chili-tomatoey sauce, let the tomato chunks soften, let the onions blend in- just let it simmer.

Add spices if you want. Master and I aren't spicey kind of folks (except in the bedroom! Ha!) so I don't add much more than salt and pepper, maybe a dash of chili powder.



If it were already in your slow cooker and you hadn't spent the day having sex on the beach with Anakoni and his well-placed lei... *ahem*

Nevermind.

Next, (after you've washed your hands because Anakoni made you do filthy, filthy things to yourself), gather up some toppings. Sour cream, shredded cheese, Fritos(!), oyster crackers- whatever floats your little chili boat- and ladle it all up.

Then, slice up that $0.99 loaf of french bread that you got on the bakery clearance rack and slather it with butter.

Serve that hard-working man.



Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT call him Anakoni. Impressed as he may be with your chili magic, he won't like it. Trust me.

All in all, for a couch potato, blustery fall day- fast, cheap and easy works out well. And, nobody has to know! Toss out those magic cans and everyone thinks you're a chili goddess! I have no freakin' clue how to make chili from scratch but Master takes this to work and, by God, they worship my mad kitchen skillz.

Cheating. It's what's for dinner. ;)

ps. Total cost for me (chili only, not including toppings) was well under $15.00, for enough chili to feed 5, plus Master's lunch the next day, plus enough leftovers to toss in the freezer for chili-topped baked potatoes one day next week. Also, I saved half the ground beef and onions that I'd cooked up and used that in a ground beef stew I made the next night.

pps. I understand the Chili Magic is being (has been?) discontinued. I'm still finding it on my grocery shelves, but not for long, I gather. I consider this one of life's greatest tragedies.

Winner!

Thank you EVERYONE for entering! I will be emailing the winner tonight!

I created a numbered list of everyone that entered....


And then had it pick a number....

Congratulations Patricia!

Book Review: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration by Martha Stewart

If you have read Martha Stewart's magazine, then a lot of these projects will look familiar. I don't get the magazine very regularly but always enjoy her crafts. So having many of those crafts from the magazines in one place is extremely convenient.

This book is a comprehensive book on crafting with a wide range of difficulty levels so even someone new to crafting would be able to find plenty of projects. I really enjoyed the appendix of tools for crafting. It has full color photos and then descriptions of every crafting tool you could need for the projects in the book. It is very helpful, especially if you've never used something before. Looking there will let you know what to look for. The book also includes a resource list, buyers guide and many useful templates.

A few of the types of crafts that are included:
Albums, Scrapbooks, and Memory Boxes
Beading
Block Printing
Botanical Pressing
Calligraphy
Candlemaking
Decoupage
Etching Glass
Fabric Flowers
Glittering
Jewelry Making
Marbleizing
Mosaics
Nature Crafts
Origami and Paper Folding
Painting China and Glass
Paper Flowers and Birds
Photo Crafts
Quilling
Rubber Stamping
Silkscreening
Soap Making
Tin Punching
Wreaths

and MANY MANY MORE projects.

There are a lot of crafts to make as gifts or make with kids. I think having it on my shelf just for needing to make a gift - would be worth having it.

Although the photographs are great, my only complaint is that some of the directions aren't detailed enough for me. But over all it is a great comprehensive craft book.

Friday Favorites

I bet you all will be glad when Halloween has passed and I go back to other links...I love all holidays but Christmas and Halloween are my favorites. And so I do tend to go a little crazy. When I first moved here Master, didn't really pay attention to the holidays although he liked them especially Christmas. And at the time much of my decorations were packed in boxes in storage. But the second year when things where easier to access, I asked to decorate. Master kind looked like he was going to say no. But I asked if I could just do it at least once so he could see if he liked it. And he said yes and ended up enjoying it. And actually looks forward to the holidays.

So on to Friday Favorites...
Delish No Carve Pumpkins - some very cute ideas - the top picture is from the website. They also had some painted black and then scratched out designs that I really liked.

Two Fall Wreaths at Something to Do - I really like the Halloween one. Really easy just black tulle tied on a ring and orange ribbon to hang it.

How to Gild Pumpkins at delish - They would make a really pretty centerpiece. Second pictures is from Delish in this slideshow and are gilded pumpkins.

Trick or Treat Banner - very easy. Could easily do variations to it too - even printing out lefts on the computer.

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies by MarthaStewart.com - I am going to do these for sure. Easy and cute. I will be able to package some up for neighbors and friends. We are going to party at the end of the month too - so might be a good idea to make for that besides a side dish that I need to bring too.


9 Painted Pumpkins - several cute ideas (last picture is one of them from this link)

Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding from Food Network - just cute!

Mini Pecan Pumpkin Pies from Food Network - another good recipe for a party

Funny Bones from Epicurious - they just would look cute on a table - but I am sure fun to eat too!

Pumpkin Seed Brittle from Epicurious - I like pumpkin seeds and peanut brittle so seems like a good combination

Fall Cleaning: Kitchen and Dining Room

KITCHEN
* Dust above cabinets, baseboards, door and door frame
* Dust and vacuum all moderately dirty curtains and window treatments.Start by dusting from top to bottom using the upholstery or brush attachment for the vacuum. For blinds take a dampened microfiber cloth to them wiping them top to bottom.
* Very dirty curtains and window treatments - Wash or clean according to labels.
* Wash all windows - Using vinegar and water solution with a microfiber cloth. Remember to clean window sill and on top of window sill as well as the tracts and screen. Use toothbrush for hard to reach areas
* Take heating vent cover off - scrub heating vent cover and then using vacuum hose vacuum in the shaft and surrounding area.
* Clean ceiling-mounted light fixtures and ceiling fans.
* Dust, wash and dry all walls and baseboards. Dust Wallpapered walls.
* Cupboards and pantry - 1) remove all canned goods and spices - toss expired items. Non-perishables that you don't feel you will use before they expire donate. 2) empty cupboards of dishes, pots and pans. Things that are not needed - give to charity. Things that are broken - throw out. 3) Wipe down the inside and outside of cupboards and pantry - shelves and doors. 4) replace and reorganize - place like items with like items. 5) Holiday baking is coming up so remember to pull items used for that upfront - a special cake pan, cookie cutters, food coloring and such.
* Drawers and counters - 1) empty 2) wipe down inside and outside of drawers and tops of counters 3) replace and reorganize - clipped recipes, coupons, silverware, the "junk" drawer - organize to be useful.
* Wipe and clean all kitchen appliances from coffee maker, microwave, stand mixers, oven and so on - Use a magic eraser on small and large appliances (it makes them look brand new)
* Run dishwasher empty with vinegar - wipe down
* Clean garbage disposal - Sprinkle baking powder down garbage disposal - heat 1 to 2 cups vinegar to boiling and pour into garbage disposal. After fizzing has died down, run hot water while disposal is turned on. Then add some lemons slices and ice cubes (or just frozen lemon slices) and run the garbage disposal.
* Clean out and reorganize fridge and freezer - 1) throw out expired items or left overs that are too old to eat 2) Wipe inside of fridge and freezer 3) put items back in - organizing like items with like items and putting items that are going to expire first front 4) Clean outside of fridge - top, door, handle, back coils and behind front vent
* Clean inside and outside of trash can
* Clean all door handles, cupboard knobs, light switches and phones
* Wipe down table and chairs
* Wash dishes and clean sink
* Sweep and wash floor

DINING ROOM
* Declutter and reorganize - Make piles for charity items, trash and mend/repair - Get out holiday dishes and linens - clean and repair
* Polish silverware
* Dust furniture, baseboards, door and door frame
* Dust and vacuum all moderately dirty curtains and window treatments. Start by dusting from top to bottom using the upholstery or brush attachment for the vacuum. For blinds take a dampened microfiber cloth to them wiping them top to bottom.
* Very dirty curtains and window treatments - Wash or clean according to labels.
* Wash all windows - Using vinegar and water solution with a microfiber cloth. Remember to clean window sill and on top of window sill as well as the tracts and screen. Use toothbrush for hard to reach areas
* Take heating vent cover off - scrub heating vent cover and then using vacuum hose vacuum in the shaft and surrounding area.
* Clean ceiling-mounted light fixtures and ceiling fans.
* Dust, wash and dry all walls. Dust Wallpapered walls.
* Vacuum and spot clean upholstery
* Sweep/Vacuum and wash floors
* Decorate - replace summer table linens with fall/winter warmer colors


Download and Print: Fall Cleaning List - Kitchen and Fall Cleaning List - Dinging Room

Fall Cleaning: Outside Your House

* Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior faucets if needed. Have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
* Garden beds need to be cleaned out of summer dead plants and flowers. Prep beds for winter.
* Clean the deck/patio furniture and then put it away for the fall and winter months.
* Check and clean the gutters.
* Check, repair or replace weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer's recommendations to re-caulk if needed.
* Check if external doors and garage doors close correctly. Install weather-stripping and door thresholds if needed.
* Wash exterior windows
* Air Cooling system - ours needs to be drained and covered for winter
* Touch up exterior paint on house, shutters and door


Download and Print: Fall Cleaning List - Outside

Fall Cleaning: Living Areas

Living Areas include - Family room, living room and home office

* Declutter and reorganize. Make piles to donate or throw out. Go through all movies, books, video games, music and get rid of those don't like or want anymore and reorganize the rest
* Dust and vacuum all moderately dirty curtains and window treatments.Start by dusting from top to bottom using the upholstery or brush attachment for the vacuum. For blinds take a dampened microfiber cloth to them wiping them top to bottom.
* Very dirty curtains and window treatments - Wash or clean according to labels.
* Wash all windows - Using vinegar and water solution with a microfiber cloth. Remember to clean window sill and on top of window sill as well as the tracts and screen. Use toothbrush for hard to reach areas
* Take heating vent cover off - scrub heating vent cover and then using vacuum hose vacuum in the shaft and surrounding area.
* Vacuum dusty cloth lampshades - using a brush attachment.
* Dust all other lamps - Using a solution of water and vinegar to lightly dampen a microfiber cloth
* Clean ceiling-mounted light fixtures and ceiling fans.
* Dust, wash and dry all walls and baseboards. Dust Wallpapered walls.
* Dust tops of doors. door frames, door knob, light switch covers and outlets
* Wipe down phone and remote controls
* Dust all shelves, coffee/end tables, TV/electronic equipment and knickknacks
* Wipe down glass surfaces such as tv screen
* Vaccuum and spot clean upholstery
* Steam Clean Carpet
* Decorate - Change out throw pillows and blankets, candles to warmer scents such as mulled cider and vanilla cookies and other summer decorations for fall and winter decorations.

For Home Office all of the above but also:
* Organize bills, manuals and receipts
* Shred papers that are out-of-date or not needed
* Make sure supplies are stocked
* Clean computer - mouse and keyboard included

Download and Print: Fall Cleaning List - Living Areas

What can I do with five bucks?

A link given to me by a friend. There's an entire list of meal ideas for under five dollars.

$5.00 Dinners

I can't wait to explore this one!

Giveaway: Once-a-Month Cooking Family Favorites

I have an extra copy of Once-a-Month Cooking Family Favorites by Mary Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson to do a giveaway here.

So here is the rules...

• You need to leave your email address so I will be able to email you at if you are perhaps the winner.
• You need to be a resident of the US (sorry to those that are international)
• You need to answer one of these questions (or all if you want): What do you cook that freezes well? OR What is your favorite meal to make when you are short on time to prep and cook? OR Have you ever done a Once-a-Month Cooking type plan and if so what is your favorite dish when doing such a plan?

You can enter this contest until October 19th at 10pm mountain time just by leaving a comment to this entry. I will just use a random generator to pick the lucky winner.

If you want to know more about the book please read my review of it here.

Book Review: Once-a-Month Cooking Family Favorites

Once-a-Month Cooking Family Favorites by Mary Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson

I read the Once-a-Month Cooking from the same authors and although I liked the concept and their instructions but I was less then thrilled with the recipes. The main reason was many of the recipes weren't things I would cook as they used lots of processed and pre-packaged foods. But this time around with Family Favorites they use a lot more fresh ingredients and just have a better selection of recipes. There is still some pre-packaged foods but much less then the last book - at least it seems that way to me. I was very pleased. And I can't wait to try out many of the recipes as well as try to do a 2 week plan for do-ahead dinners. They have 4 week and 2 week plans. Two week plans for those of us with smaller freezers. Although this book is called Family Favorites and serves 4 to 6, I wouldn't pass by it if you are cooking just for two as it has many recipes that could work for two or be adapted for just two. We like leftovers here so that it would work as is for us.

Again this book really pleased me with its recipes. But besides the recipes they have a really great introduction to the concept of Once-a-Month Cooking with tips and tricks. It includes 2 one month plans, 2 two-week plans and 3 two-week specialty menu plans: summer, gourmet and gluten-free plans. Each plan includes menu charts, pantry list, shopping lists and lists on what to prep and in which order.

Just a few recipes out of many that I look forward to making...
Red Mesa Tacos
Apricot Chicken
5 Cheese Spinach Quiche
Grilled Southwest Chicken with Cilantro Sauce
Pozole Soup
South of the Border Ground Beef and Corn Pie
Barleyburger Stew
Penne with Chickpeas
Pork Roast with Apples and Mushrooms

I will come back and do another update on this book once I do a 2 week plan. But overall I feel this book is going to be one I enjoy using.

On Monday I will be announcing a giveaway - a copy of this book. So please stay tuned!