I am always looking for new ways to help organize or multitask or even just to make my job as a mom to go smoothly. So when I received an email today I knew this would help with a few things, maybe not holiday related but something I can place in my "files" and remember for another day.
I hope you find these helpful...
hull strawberries easily using a straw.
Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.
Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).
Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match. martha stewart
Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.
Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!
Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.
Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.
Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door
A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!
A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.
Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.
Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!
Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Sugar-Cookie-Bowls
Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.
Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.
Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.
http://www.marthastewart.com/
http://www.wilton.com/
http://www.realsimple.com/
http://www.stephmodo.com/
Enjoy and be blessed
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Getting ready for the holiday season
No way do we need stress at this time of year...fast and easy and fun is what I want. Here are some tips to getting ready for the holiday season, courtesy of
1st Week of December
•Finalize gift list.
•Buy wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, gift tags and all other gift-wrapping essentials.
•Start shopping. Be sure to place all online orders this week to guarantee gifts arrive in time.
Tip: For less stress later, wrap gifts as you buy them. Just be sure to finish each with a gift tag so Grandma doesn’t accidentally open your youngster’s new toy.
•Shop for handmade holiday gift supplies.
•Take an inventory of dishes and decorations, testing lights and tossing anything that’s broken.
•Buy replacement platters, strands of indoor and outdoor lights, decorations, etc.
•Buy or make greeting cards (don’t forget to pick up extra stamps!). By the end of the week, have all cards written and envelopes addressed.
•Finalize your holiday meal menu and write a detailed shopping list.
•Order turkey or ham, if serving.
•Send holiday party invites. While you’re at it, go ahead and send the invitations for your New Year’s celebration. Calendars fill up quick this time of year—your guests will appreciate the advance notice.
Tip: This season’s all about peace, joy and casual gatherings, so it’s okay to send email invitations instead of formal paper ones. Just be sure to call and extend the invitation to family and friends outside the digital world.
2nd Week of December
•Mail greeting cards.
•Shop for non-perishable items, from canned goods to flour, sugar and spices.
•Buy live decorations, such as sprigs of evergreen.
•Decorate your holiday home.
•Clean your home, especially high-traffic areas—bathrooms, entryway and kitchen.
•Buy batteries for electronic gifts like alarm clocks and toys.
•Double check that your camera or video recorder is in working order.
•Start making cookie dough.
3rd Week in December
•Clean your home, especially high-traffic areas—bathrooms, entryway and kitchen.
•Buy batteries for electronic gifts like alarm clocks and toys.
•Double check that your camera or video recorder is in working order.
•Start making cookie dough.
Tip: Most cookie dough can be made ahead of time and baked later. Tightly wrap rolls of sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator, then freeze. For drop cookies, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw both for 30 minutes before baking.
4th Week of December
•Bake and package cookies.
•Shop for fresh items like flowers and produce.
•Wash your special occasion dinnerware.
•Preset your holiday table. Label platters and bowls with the names of the dishes to be served on them.
•Charge camera and/or video recorder.
•Take photo albums and scrapbooks out of storage and ready them for post-meal reminiscing.
•Finish last-minute wrapping.
•Cook.
•Freshen your home before guests arrive.
•Clean before, during and after your party.
•Rejoice with the ones you love.
5th Week of December
•Take down holiday decorations.
•Organize decorations and wrapping supplies.
•Decorate for your New Year's party.
•Plan your New Year’s menu. Keep it simple with bite-sized snacks, like crostinis and French macaroons.
•Cook.
•Ring in the New Year with your nearest and dearest.
Enjoy and be blessed
1st Week of December
•Finalize gift list.
•Buy wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, gift tags and all other gift-wrapping essentials.
•Start shopping. Be sure to place all online orders this week to guarantee gifts arrive in time.
Tip: For less stress later, wrap gifts as you buy them. Just be sure to finish each with a gift tag so Grandma doesn’t accidentally open your youngster’s new toy.
•Shop for handmade holiday gift supplies.
•Take an inventory of dishes and decorations, testing lights and tossing anything that’s broken.
•Buy replacement platters, strands of indoor and outdoor lights, decorations, etc.
•Buy or make greeting cards (don’t forget to pick up extra stamps!). By the end of the week, have all cards written and envelopes addressed.
•Finalize your holiday meal menu and write a detailed shopping list.
•Order turkey or ham, if serving.
•Send holiday party invites. While you’re at it, go ahead and send the invitations for your New Year’s celebration. Calendars fill up quick this time of year—your guests will appreciate the advance notice.
Tip: This season’s all about peace, joy and casual gatherings, so it’s okay to send email invitations instead of formal paper ones. Just be sure to call and extend the invitation to family and friends outside the digital world.
2nd Week of December
•Mail greeting cards.
•Shop for non-perishable items, from canned goods to flour, sugar and spices.
•Buy live decorations, such as sprigs of evergreen.
•Decorate your holiday home.
•Clean your home, especially high-traffic areas—bathrooms, entryway and kitchen.
•Buy batteries for electronic gifts like alarm clocks and toys.
•Double check that your camera or video recorder is in working order.
•Start making cookie dough.
3rd Week in December
•Clean your home, especially high-traffic areas—bathrooms, entryway and kitchen.
•Buy batteries for electronic gifts like alarm clocks and toys.
•Double check that your camera or video recorder is in working order.
•Start making cookie dough.
Tip: Most cookie dough can be made ahead of time and baked later. Tightly wrap rolls of sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator, then freeze. For drop cookies, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw both for 30 minutes before baking.
4th Week of December
•Bake and package cookies.
•Shop for fresh items like flowers and produce.
•Wash your special occasion dinnerware.
•Preset your holiday table. Label platters and bowls with the names of the dishes to be served on them.
•Charge camera and/or video recorder.
•Take photo albums and scrapbooks out of storage and ready them for post-meal reminiscing.
•Finish last-minute wrapping.
•Cook.
•Freshen your home before guests arrive.
•Clean before, during and after your party.
•Rejoice with the ones you love.
5th Week of December
•Take down holiday decorations.
•Organize decorations and wrapping supplies.
•Decorate for your New Year's party.
•Plan your New Year’s menu. Keep it simple with bite-sized snacks, like crostinis and French macaroons.
•Cook.
•Ring in the New Year with your nearest and dearest.
Enjoy and be blessed
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