Tips, Tricks, and a Bunch-a Whatever

Last year a friend passed on a list of tips and tricks to me and here are some of my favs.  I have actually used some of them and they work!  I hope you find some useful ones as well...so here goes:

*Store sheet sets in pillow case in your linen closet; it keeps closet neat and tidy and easy to get when you need a clean set
*Clean your chopping board (wood) with coarse salt and a sponge
*Use nice, thick washcloths instead of hand towels in the bathroom; they are cheaper to buy, easier to handle (especially for children) and are much nicer to use than those small, thin guest hand towels
*Microfiber cloths are great to use to dust windows in between window cleanings; use them inside and out then just toss in the wash
*Use a belt or tie holder for necklaces and other jewelry
*Make breakfast for dinner once a week. Serve omelets with a salad or serve pancakes or waffles with turkey sausage and a fruit/veggie smoothie
*Microfiber cloths work well for dusting without using a spray cleaner; you don't get any build up on the furniture and you can use the same cloth to wipe off wood, ceramic, glass, and other surfaces
*Use dryer sheets in drawers or closets to freshen air
*Put extra (unused) ice cubes in plants; waters the plant as the ice melts
*Organize food in your fridge with plastic bins or small desk organizers from a discount or dollar store; it is a good way to keep everything corralled and looks super-neat
*Color code sheets, towels, etc., by room; makes it easy for sorting when doing laundry
*Avoid buying food items in bulk if you do not use quickly...really a waste of money, and if you are like me, I forget what I have and end up tossing anyway...better to buy small quantities for freshness
*Purge your closets twice a year...if you haven't worn it donate or toss out
*Add beans or tofu to a dish, as a protein supplement, instead of meat, fish or poultry; stretches your dollars and is a healthy alternative to animal proteins
*Sandwiches are good alternative to traditional breakfast foods; try mixing pureed carrots with peanut butter for a delicious sandwich spread, or try candying mild tasting veggies like carrots zucchini or even kale in the oven  (spray veggies with cooking spray then sprinkle with sugar and bake on a parchment covered cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 15-20 min turning once)

And one of my favorite tips....

Create a secret hiding place using the spines from old book covers and glue to a box...cleav-ah!

I'm sure you all have your own tried-and-true tips and tricks.  I hope you can share them with us on the blogosphere...

Holiday Magic

I "heart" Christmas.

Plain and simple.

Love it.

The tree, Santa, cookies, the hustle and bustle, and all the music.  Ahh, the music maybe most.  All those familiar carols, the silly, campy jingles, and the sentimental songs.... they are all wonderful.  And I cry every year.  Whilst decorating the tree (fancy right) I turn on my favorite music, which these days are from my Mariah Carey holiday playlist on Pandora.

Inevitably "I'll be Home for Christmas" or "White Christmas" or some other really sentimental song will start playing and there goes the water works.  It happens every year, but it's all good.  Everyone could use a good cry once in a while...it clears out the pent-up emotions and always feels cathartic (SAT word) for me.

So this year, of course, is more sad in some ways because of my mom's recent passing.  Holiday traditions will have to be re-worked to fit our new "normal" but that's okay.  It is life going forward, as it should.  This year hubby and I will be hosting the Christmas Eve family get together that had always been at my mother's house.  She loved all of the pomp and circumstance of the holidays.  Especially having the family all together at her home...our childhood home.

I am actually looking forward to having a house full of family, squeezing our aging buns into our smaller abode...we'll manage because being together is so much more important than resting our aching backs on all of the sofas and many chairs in my mother's living room.

Epilogue:
Okay everyone...I have been quite remiss to post on my blog for the last few weeks.  Here I am actually posting my holiday entry and Christmas was over a month ago.....Yikes!  So sorry dear friends.  I promise to be do better for the rest of the year (and my fingers are not crossed so I really mean it!)

Both hubby and I are SO glad to have 2013 behind us and we are definitely looking forward to a great 2014.....I hope you are too.

So here's a belated champagne Happy New Year toast to you and your loved ones.