It’s the end of another month and so once again I have put together a list of this month’s articles for easy access.  I tried putting them into categories, but some of the categories overlapped a little.  I hope this helps to find what you need or missed this month. Food, Cooking, and Holidays: Cooking with a Little This and That 10 Ways to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Your Last Minute Stop for Halloween Ideas 17 Halloween Cupcake Ideas 20 Pumpkin Inspired Recipes Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner 30 Fall Inspired Desserts and Treats Organization and Declutering: Do You Have an All or Nothing Attitude Tips to Get Your Organization Started Simplify Your Life:  Do Not Call Registry Homemaking and Housekeeping: Ideas for Repurposing... [Read more]

Many times when I go to a party, potluck or some other function, I end up finding a great new dish that I’d like to make myself.  When I complement the person, they say, “Oh, it’s really easy.  You just need a little broccoli, some onions, a little this, and a little of that.”  It’s so frustrating because you can’t repeat the dish without the recipe. Then Wednesday I made a sausage and spinach quiche.  Wouldn’t you know it, someone asked me what was in it.  I think I said something like, “Uhhhhh, some sausage, eggs, spinach, cheese, uhhhh.  Hmmm. Let me think.”  Honestly, I have no clue the amounts of each thing in the quiche.  I just kept adding more eggs, milk, seasonings, until... [Read more]

During the past few weeks, I have given a lot of thought to this post. I’ve wondered what I would say and how I would say it. For once, I am at a loss for words. So I’ll just come out and say it . . . this is my last month at Keeping the Castle. I have been writing for Keeping the Castle since December 2008. During this time, I have had a great time sharing recipes, homemaking and housekeeping tips, organization troubles and solutions, holiday ideas, ways to save money, and so much more. This blog has allowed me to dig deep to remember homemaking tips that were taught and modeled to me by my mother. Sometimes we just find ourselves going through the motions and not realizing or remembering why we do the things that we do. Many posts... [Read more]

Some people have an all or nothing attitude.  They feel that if their house can’t be perfectly clean and organized, then there’s no sense in trying.  Rather than taking the clutter one pile at a time, they let it pile up and overwhelm them.  As promised, here are some tips for tackling the clutter. 1.  Commit to 15 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and commit to work for that amount of time.  Give yourself permission to stop working when the timer buzzes.  This will help get you started and the time you’re working doesn’t seem so overwhelming.  This way you can conquer the clutter one small pile at a time.  And it’s amazing the amount of work that you can get done when you diligently work with no distractions. 2. ... [Read more]

I’ve been pondering this whole Halloween thing for weeks now.  I’ve done a tad bit of preparation, but nothing like I needed to.  I know the kids will be off from school the rest of the week and that will give me some time to finalize everything.  If you’ve procrastinated like me, you’ll appreciate these last minute Halloween ideas.  If not, then bookmark it for next year.   Bridget at Bake at 350 gives step-by-step instructions for making these cute spiderweb cookies.  You’ll also want to know how to make her perfectly black icing for the spiderweb cookies and other Halloween treats. Thrifty Mommy is always interested in saving money.  Check out 33 do-it-yourself costume ideas, ways to save money... [Read more]