Holiday Past

Just a couple posts from holidays past....

Gearing Up for the Holiday Baking
After the Party
Tips for Staying on Budget

Tips for Staying on Budget the Holidays

Holiday spending can put you in debt for the rest of the new year. Create a budget that is affordable to your bank account.  The best thing is to be putting away for it all year and then staying on budget with the money you have saved. If you don't save all year, still stay within a budget so that you aren't creating more stress for you in the new year ahead. So the most important thing to do is stay on budget. 

Here is some tips to help you stay on budget for the Holidays...

1. Make a List - Make a list of those you need to give too with ideas of what you want to buy/make.

2. Trim Your Gift List - It is time to look at the list and make sure you aren't stressing yourself out in the long term by adding more debt. 

3. Make Gifts - with Pinterest you can find so many great ideas for handmade gifts. 

4. Online - If you really need to get something that you feel is out of your budget and you can't think of anything else to give to that person, buy it online. So you really want to give Aunt Alice that $200 scarf look online as you most likely will find it for less. Find places that have free shipping or direct shipping of gifts to your recipients so that you save money on mailing. Use places like Retailmenot.com to help find coupons and free shipping codes.

5. Been Shopping Already - I buy things throughout the year to give as gifts. I have them all put in a plastic crate in the closet, but sometimes I forget about the things I have bought. So make sure you look around your house before you do any shopping to see what you can mark off your list. 

6. Thrift Store- It has to be the right gift: collectibles, vintage items, books or new items. I have found very pretty things that are just perfect for the right person. 

7. Family Gifts - It helps cuts your gift list down by purchasing one gift instead of 4. Such as if you have a your whole brother's family why not just do a family gift instead of 6 gifts for every person in the family. Good family gifts are board games, a classic movie on dvd and a box of microwave popcorn, a popcorn popper with some popcorn and popcorn seasoning (that is good to make at home too), tickets to a play or movies, family memberships to the zoo or a museum, a box of fruit, a basket of different hot cocoas and teas or a basket of hot cocoa (make it homemade) with different add-ins homemade marshmallows, caramel syrup, red-hots or peppermint sticks, or candied ginger. 

8.Co-workers - Do you have to give to all your co-workers? Why not just bring in food. Bring in breakfast - make an egg casserole or muffins and fruit salad for something different during the holidays. 

9.Friends - Get all your friends together for brunch or lunch. The get together is your gift to each other. One year all of a group of friends and I got together to go to the local museum and then to lunch and that was our gift to each other - quality time together during the holidays. It was much needed during the stress of the season so was a great gifts to have fun and laugh with my favorite girlfriends.

10. Gift Exchange - Doing a Gift Exchange can help you cut down on expenses during the year and keep on budget. Pick names, rotate names with your family. One year have Aunt Sue and then the next your brother-in-law or do a secret santa. If you are only buying for cousin Joe instead of 13 family members that is going to cut your holiday shopping list down. 

11. For Others - Sometimes finding a great deal can make it hard to do not want to buy one for yourself, but if you do that then you will go over your budget. Stick to buying for those on your list and remind yourself that you are not on that list. If you really want to take part of some of the holiday deals, make sure you put a certain dollar amount into your budget for spending on yourself. 

Here is a Holiday Gift Planning List to download and use in your making sure you stay within your budget.

Download a Printable Gift Planning List

Gearing Up for Holiday Baking

Right before I start my holiday baking, I pull all the recipes together. If they are in a cookbook, I scan the page in and print it off so that I can clip them all together and get through each recipe without having to search for them. I keep them from year to year so that I am not reprinting anything but new recipes I am trying that year.

After pulling all the recipes together, I go through and write down the ingredients. Making note of how many sticks of butter, how much milk/cream or how many eggs so I can keep a general count of it when making my shopping list.  

Here is a general list of baking supplies (ingredients and gear) that I keep handy around the holidays. There are of course some other things that I end up needing for a few recipes such as: wheat flour, peppermint extract, cream cheese and so on.  This is just a list of the basic list of ingredients and gear to help you get started in gathering your supplies.

INGREDIENTS

* all purpose flour

* baking  powder

* baking soda

* butter

* brown sugar, confectioners’ sugar, and granulated sugar.

* pure vanilla extract

* eggs

* milk or half-n-half

* sweetened condensed milk

* chocolate – bittersweet as well as semi sweet and milk chips, baking squares, cocoa powder

* nuts – pecans and walnuts

* spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger

BAKING GEAR

* mixer – hand or stand mixer

* mixing bowls

* measuring cups and spoons – more than one set during the holidays is always nice when baking

* rubber spatulas  - to scrap bowls

*plastic or metal turners – to lift cookies off baking sheets and on to cooling racks

* pastry bush

* rolling pin

* cutting board – to roll out cookies

* cookie cutters

* pans – muffin pans for cupcakes, baking sheets – both rimmed and rimless sheets, cake and loaf pans – regular size and mini

* cooling racks

* parchment and wax paper

* cupcake liners and candy wrappers

* tins and containers to store baked goods

Printable PDF of Baking Supply List

Remember during the holiday some gift-recipients or guests might have food allergies or are just trying not indulge in all the sweet treats being offered.  Substituting healthier ingredients and trying to do some recipes that fit a special diet are always a nice idea. When I am sending a goodie tray to someone for the holidays, I like to list each sweet treat and their ingredients so that people know exactly what they are eating.   

Friday Favorites

Feta, Cheddar and Spinach Muffins - They look pretty and sound tasty
Plywood Painted Floor - seems like a way that would be inexpensive but able to cover up some ugly flooring 
Guide to Knives that you Actually need - getting my knives up to what I think I need has been a task I have been working for several years. 
Blank Printable Calendar - to help get more organized - would be great if you do a household binder. 
Adding a New Tree to your Landscape - video has tips for planting trees

Spring Cleaning

It is Spring Cleaning time and I am sick as in actually not feeling good. I mean sicker then I have been in 10 or more years. It is driving me crazy as I really was all ready to tackle my Spring Cleaning lists. We have a very special someone coming to visit us in April so I wanted all my Spring Cleaning to be done and things to be organized and refreshed in the house.  I have been sick a lot this year already, so has put me behind schedule in my normal cleaning routines. I haven't been able to clean like I usually do on a daily basis so things add up.  I mean simple things that are just part of my routine like filing are stacked so they are falling over into a bigger mess. I usually shred things 2 to 4 times a year and I haven't at all since last Spring. So I am behind and it is driving me crazy (luckily this last year didn't have that much shredding so the pile isn't completely out of control).  I am hoping today that I can get some filing done because at least it doesn't require a lot of moving around which has been creating coughing attacks.

But in the mean time while I heal and get healthy,  I am sharing with you some Spring cleaning lists, how-to guides, and just some general tips and tricks to maybe help you in your Spring Cleaning.

Spring Cleaning lists...
Living Areas
Dining Room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
Closets and Laundry Room
Basement, Attic and Garage
Outside


How-to...
Cleaning the Toaster
Cleaning the Microwave
Cleaning Your Computer
Washing Pillows
Cleaning your Dishwasher
Folding Towels
Folding Fitted Sheets Video and Folding Sheets photos (plus to ways to fold to store them neatly)



Tips...
Overhaulin  - some spring cleaning tips
Spring Cleaning Tips - links to more spring cleaning lists too
100 Reasons to Get Rid of It - a great source for if you are recycling and need places to donate or dispose of items
A Quicker Clean House
5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Clean
Tackling the Endless To-Do List

Friday Favorites

Fixing Scratches on white plates - there are other things in this post but what I really was focused on was how she fixed the scratches in her white plates - we have those on our plates so I want to try this as nothing I have tried so far has worked
Free Labels - really great labels all different sizes and shapes
Should I keep that Paper? -  gives you a graph and then some tips on what to do with the papers
14 Ways to Spruce up Your Bedroom - some very simple things to change up your bedroom
Beef Wellingtons with Gorgonzola and Madeira Wine Sauce - looks like a really good recipe

Friday Favorites

Cookie Dough Fudge - someone in this house is obsessed with cookie dough so I thought of him when I saw this recipe. I suppose I should try to make it :)
Basil Banana Pepper Jelly & Banana, Walnut, Carrot Muffins - both of these recipes look so good. But I can't stop thinking about this jelly. I think it would make a great gift too.
Homemade Lotion Bars - I think these not only would be just great to have around the house but great gifts
100 Days of Homemade Christmas Gifts - there are some handmade gifts for kids on this link as well as adults
Kraft Food and Family Holiday Magazine - this is the digital version of the paid paper subscription
12 Days of Christmas Printables - Free Christmas Printables
20 Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas - Babble gather links to some DIY decorating ideas

Friday Favorites

10 Dressed Up Jello Shots - these don't even look like jello shots they look like desserts

DIY Wire Baskets - Ballards and Pottery Barn inspired wire baskets. I see so many places these baskets could be used to organize.

Dealing with Conflict: Knowing when the Battle is Internal - a TinyBuddha.com post that although doesn't pertain Domestic Servitude directly - I feel this is still a good one to share

Canning Homemade - a blog devoted to canning that I feel has lots of interesting and useful advice

Free Printable Storage Labels - all sorts of printable labels

Friday Favorites

NY Times DIY Cooking Handbook - small kitchen projects that any cook can tackle

Meat Charts - "These meat charts for beef, pork, lamb and goat are a great resource to help you understand where various cuts of meat are located on the animal."

Make Custom Color Chalkboard Paint -I do wonder if this works as chalkboard paint is expensive. And this would be a good less expensive solution

Scone Tutorial - looks like a good recipe and step by step directions with photos

Tax Prep - for those who haven't been done taxes yet this list might help you start gathering things together

Spring Cleaning

It is now officially SPRING! And that means spring cleaning is here. I honestly think that it is one of my favorite times of the year. I started a little early this year as I knew I was going to have a busy spring. I have been going through closets and dressers. I have piles ready to donate, mend/repair, repurpose and toss. I have had my toothbrush out scrubbing all the grooves of the faucet and cupboard door handles. And it made me feel so good....see I must a masochist?

Once again I thought I would share my spring cleaning lists. I have done just slight updates to the lists. A few little changes/additions.

Spring Cleaning Lists
Living Areas
Dining Room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
Closets and Laundry Room
Basement, Attic and Garage
Outside

Fall Cleaning

I have these on the blog already but stored in a different place. The other links might not work much longer so please use these. Included in these links is one that is a more whole house general list instead of broken down into detailed room lists.

Download and Print:
Kitchen
Dining Room
Closets and Laundry Room
Living Room, Family Room and Office
Bedroom
Bathroom
Basement, Attic and Garage
Outside
Smaller General List

Friday Favorites on Saturday

It has been a busy week so a little late on Friday Favorites....but thought I would at least share things I found of interest this week.

Recycle Old Magazines into Coasters

For the Love of Cooking - quite a lot of vegetarian recipes

Dry Erase Board - how to make your own dry erase board

Want to Throw a Party? - Someone breaking it down how to throw party without breaking the bank and enjoying your time with friends

The Household Planner - I have only looked at some of the printables but looks like it could be an interesting site for that at least if not more

Spring Cleaning

Unfortunately I am getting this out late. I apologize for that but it couldn't be helped.

These lists are very similar to the fall cleaning lists but with just a few changes for spring.

When doing spring cleaning, open the windows up to air out the house but also just let the sun in after winter. Think of placing vases of flowers throughout the house just be mindful of household member's allergies.

Spring Cleaning Lists
Living Areas
Dining Room
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
Closets and Laundry Room
Basement, Attic and Garage
Outside

I also found this link helpful for just getting motivated to start.

Friday Favorites

Homemade Sugar Scrub for Gardeners - A homemade, all natural scrub, perfect for getting those hands grime free after a day spent digging in the dirt.

Homemade Frozen Calzones - I'm always looking for ways to keep things on hand for those unplanned, hectic nights when you just want something quick to eat. These sound just about perfect.

Kind & Free Printables - Free printable labels, cards, art, and much more. Lots of great ideas, too, including one for water bottle lablels - imagine sticking that in someone's lunch box!

Transforming an Old Lamp - I'm not sure that I would have thought of silver-leafing an old lamp, but the results look great. It looks like a relatively easy process and frugal too.

Hot Cross Buns - The kind you eat - it is Easter after all. Although does anyone really need an excuse to make or eat homemade rolls?

Friday Favorites

Celebrate with Cake: Icing a Cake - not only good tips on how to ice a cake just and overall good blog.

Make Your Own Work Table Out of a Pallet - I really like this table - looks easy to make. And with spring coming and people preparing gardens it would be a good garden work table.

Need a Weekly Meal Planner, Grocery List...? - Cheap Healthy Good has compiled a list of links to weekly meal planners, grocery lists and price book.

Creative Uses for Kitchen Scraps

Home Basics - Cleaning a Ceiling Fan Video - This is a very quick video of how to clean a ceiling fan. We have one ceiling fan in our home and I do what they do except I don't lay down newspaper because I clean it first and then clean the rest of the room so any dust that falls get vacuumed up.

Friday Favorites

Country Living Soup Recipes - These are soup recipes for every seasons....including Cool Cantaloupe Soup with Basil Cream, Tomato and Garlic Bread Soup, Ginger-Pumpkin Soup, Cuban-Coffee Chili and so many other delicious looking recipes. I am all about soups this time of year but they had some combination that looked great for every season.

Grocery Store Planner via Design*Sponge - not only does it have how-to on covering the clipboard and the pencil holder but also pdfs to download and print for the grocery store lists and menu planning lists

Project Calculator - It has calculators for figuring out how much paint, wood flooring, vinyl flooring, tile, grass see and several others ones. I am horrible in figuring out those type of things so I see this coming in handy when we start remodeling our bathrooms.

Girl's Night Casserole Swap - First I wouldn't limit this to just girls but friends in general. So how about getting several of your liked minded friends together to do a casserole swap. So that you get something to freeze and have a dinner made some night. And you will have left overs too. I not only like this idea for getting a night off from cooking but the camaraderie and just being able to hang with other liked minded women is always a good thing to mental health.

Declutter Your Bathroom - a list of 11 things to help declutter your bathroom.

Friday Favorites

Lisa's Kitchen - After posting yesterdays review of the Moosewood Restaurant cookbook, it made me realize that I hadn't posted this website before. It has a lot of really good recipes for vegetarians. I also look at them for meals for us when we go meatless or some to add as a side dish.

Free Printable Book Plates - We love books around here. And in the past I have lost a few books due to lending. But having a book plate in them helps those you lend them to remember the owner of the book. These are also stylish without being overly girly.

Wine 4 Beginners - I saw this website mentioned by another blogger so checked it out. It is what it says it - Wine 4 Beginners.

Appreciate your Imperfect World - I don't think we shouldn't strive for excellence in everything we do but there are some things here that I know I should remember.

Vintage Sewing Info - Okay this is a wealth of information on vintage sewing. It has many books online that I know I would never get to see in person. And I am sure I could learn a lot from many of these books.

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

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