For the last few weeks, my dehydrator has been running non-stop as I dry the herbs I have growing in my backyard. Growing herbs is incredibly easy and helps save you a ton of money. Those little bottled herbs and spices cost a fortune! Using fresh herbs and spices in your recipes help you boost flavor and cut down on salt usage. Of course, you want your herbs to stay flavorful as long as possible, right? Well, here are a few spice storage tips to extend the life of the herbs you grow (or buy!) so they stay as flavorful as possible.This … [Read more...]
Preparing for a Power Outage – Are You Ready?
April 28, 2017 by · 4 Comments
When my son was 6 weeks old, the Atlanta area was hit with a massive ice storm. We lost power for several days in the middle of January. The temperature in my house was in the 40s. Needless to say, we were cold and miserable for a while. As soon as we recovered, we decided we would never end up unprepared for a power outage ever again. Preparing for a power outage is important to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. You will need different supplies for a winter power outage versus a summer power outage. With summer storms … [Read more...]
Best Closet Organizing Ideas to Keep Your Wardrobe Neat
April 19, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
For the last year or so, I have been trying to clean out and organize my closet. I have adopted the 'one in, one out' rule when buying to clothes and fashion items. Most of the items I have not worn in a year have been donated to charity. Plastic tubs and shelving systems have been added to try and keep my closet organized. In my quest for fashion order, I have been searching for the best closet organizing ideas that I can find to help keep my wardrobe neat. I will include a few closet organization tips that have helped me as well as some … [Read more...]
Spring Yard Care Tips to Increase Curb Appeal
March 17, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
With the onset of spring comes an intense need to get my yard cleaned up. After months of neglect, the grass, trees, and shrubs are all screaming for some attention. My teenage son is thrilled to start some spring yard care since it means that he can once again get paid for mowing the lawn. It's a chore that neither my husband nor I really enjoy. Paying the boy to do it is a win/win for all of us! If you are wondering what sort of chores you need to tackle this month to increase curb appeal, here are a few things to get started on. I will … [Read more...]
Uses for Shredded Paper After Your Home Office Decluttering is Finished!
March 1, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
When the new year rolled around, I decided it was time to do some home office decluttering. I have an overflowing filing cabinet and a computer desk that has way too many piles of stuff on it. I have been sorting, purging, donating and recycling quite a number of things over the last few weeks. Of course, many of the documents I have in my home office require shredding to protect personal information. Now that I have purged the files, though, I am trying to figure out a few uses for shredded paper rather than throw it all away. If you find … [Read more...]
This is the Easiest Way to Clean the Microwave!
February 1, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Over the years, I have found the easiest way to clean the microwave and I wanted to share it with you. Am I the only person who lives with an individual that is incapable of covering a dish prior to putting it in the microwave? Is it too much to ask that you put a piece of parchment paper or a lid of some sort over your plate of spaghetti before cooking it? Why is it that I am the only person who apparently has this much-needed skill yet *I* am the one stuck having to clean the microwave week after week? It annoys me to no end! I think … [Read more...]
Easy Kitchen Organizing Ideas for Even the Messiest Chef!
January 10, 2017 by · 3 Comments
With the start of the new year, I find that home organization is high on my to-do list. I have been searching the Internet for a few easy kitchen organizing ideas to make my life a little bit easier. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in my home. It's more than just a place for us to cook and eat together. It is a place for the kids to do their homework, an office where I pay the bills, and often a long term storage place for things that rarely get used. This week I am focusing on getting my kitchen organized and creating a more open … [Read more...]
Gift Wrapping Station Ideas to Help Keep You Organized
December 22, 2016 by · 2 Comments
If your holiday wrapping is as chaotic as mine, I wanted to share a few gift wrapping station ideas that might help us both keep our heads above water this year. The holidays are a magical yet very busy time of year. There is baking to do, parties to plan, outfits to shop for and gifts to buy. With all of the gift buying that is going on this month, I will soon be neck deep in holiday wrapping. Every year I swear to myself that I am going to set up a gift wrapping station so that my holiday wrapping isn't quite so chaotic. Usually, the … [Read more...]
How to Prevent Christmas Tree Fires for a Safer Holiday Season
December 16, 2016 by · Leave a Comment
As I sit here typing this blog post, our Christmas tree is lit up with lights behind me, just waiting for a few ornaments to be put on. If you put a Christmas tree as well, you should take some time to read this post about how to prevent Christmas tree fires. Christmas trees and other assorted holiday decorations are common in many households this time of year, however, they present a very real fire hazard and can have deadly consequences if certain precautions are not taken. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), … [Read more...]
10 Uses for Coffee Mugs When They Are Taking Over Your Cabinets!
December 2, 2016 by · 5 Comments
Over the years, I have acquired a whole lot of coffee mugs. I got them from students when I taught preschool, as gifts from friends and family, and they come in sets of dishes when I really only needed the plates and bowls. Now I find myself looking for creative uses for coffee mugs because my cabinets are overflowing with too many mugs! Since I pretty much only use one or two a day, this leaves me with dozens of the darn things just taking up space. If you have too many coffee mugs like I do, here are a few ways to reuse them, rather than … [Read more...]
