What can I say about the living room? After the kitchen, my living room is the busiest area in the whole house. The only ones living in the house are my husband and myself, but at times it looks like there’s a whole tribe camped out here. Yes, it get’s that dirty.
I love to listen to music and dance, well it’s what I call dancing, while I dust and straighten up. I am sure that you have mismatched socks around the house so put on aside for dusting. Spray the sock with furniture polish, put it on like a mitten …read more

With the holidays so close, and so much shopping, cleaning and decorating to do, I thought I might share some of my household tips with you. Some of these tips may be familiar, but I hope some will be new to you and help you with a lot of your household chores.
When you use scouring soap pads like Brillo or SOS, if you’re like me you never seem use the entire pad and it sits on your sink and rusts. From now on when you buy soap pads cut them in half and use half at a time. It keeps …read more

There never seems to be enough time in a day for me and I’m sure it is the same for you. I came to the conclusion recently that I needed to set up a time schedule for myself and it really helps. We all need to make the most of our available time in a way that is constructive.
Here are a few tips to help you spend your time wisely.
Create a schedule and stick to it. It will be hard to do at first, but will become easier; make it a habit.
Prioritize chores and activities daily. Do the …read more

Keeping your work space organized will help you to keep your work flowing. It doesn’t have to be a work space, it can be the place you go to do sewing, crafting or any hobby. If you have a blank wall in your laundry room you can use a pegboard. It will keep all of your supplies intact.
Place a small table under the pegboard to hold a couple of baskets. I save any gift bags or bows that I receive, that look nice, and re-use them for gifts that I give to others. You can use the baskets to …read more

If there is one thing that really bothers me its a smell, dingy looking sink. I can always tell when my garbage disposal needs to be cleaned, the nasty smell kits me right between the eyes. I am what is known as a sniffer. I sniff everything and can detect even the slightest odors. If it doesn’t smell clean then, in my opinion, it is not clean. I have tried a lot of things to clean and deodorize my garbage disposal, but I wasn’t satisfied. I could always detect a slight odor even after cleaning.
I just found what …read more

Once again, I’ve been plumbing the wealth of knowledge available on the blogosphere. Here are some of the downright useful posts I’ve found:
* Find out how to make your own baking powder, brown sugar, coffee creamer, non-stick vegetable spray, sour cream, and potato chips over at Your Coupon Buddy.
* Creative ideas for making your own soap, stickers, finger paint, sidewalk chalk, also at Your Coupon Buddy.
* I love this collection of unique and creative sofa designs featured at Freshome.
* Here’s an easy recipe for Penne with Chicken, Spinach and Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinaigrette at Making a House a Home.
* …read more

There have been reminders going my way about the coming school year: back-to-school sales, which I’ve been taking advantage of, as you should; my son’s list of things to bring to the first day of class. Everything he needs would fit nicely in a backpack. Not so for the college student, especially one who will live away from home for the first time.
To help you along, here’s a list of basic essentials:
For your comfort:bedsheets (at least 2 sets, one to use and one to launder)pillowsblanketsbed risers (to increase under-bed storage)mattress pad/coveralarm clockfannight lightpajamasstorage containers

Thanks to everyone who threw their names into the hat to win a 1-year subscription to Domino magazine!
I picked the winning comment using random.org. And the number that was picked was:

#85! Congratulations to Patti!
PattiJul 30, 2008 at 6:26 pm
This magazine is wonderful. I’ve picked it up a few times, but don’t subscribe! Thanks for the chance!

I hope you enjoy this magazine as much as I do. I will send you an email about the details.

I’ve been reading some useful info at several blogs today. Here are some, which I know you’ll enjoy too!
* 101 green changes to save some green (written for small business owners, but totally applicable to the home) at Greener Assets
* No-bake Mango Griddle Scones from Baking Delights
* Turn old uniforms into a cool diaper bag, at Craftster (thanks to Tangled Thread!)
* 30 ways to use baskets for storage at Declutter It

Even coffee-makers are smarter these days. As example is the Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker can deliver coffee, tea, espresso, hot chocolate, cappuccinos and lattes. Discs containing measured ingredients for your drink of choice are brewed perfectly each time. The secret are barcodes in the discs. The machine reads the barcode and knows the temperature, amount of water, and brewing time needed for the perfect beverage.
Products like this take the guesswork out of the perfect cup of coffee, or tea.
Spotted at Macy’s.
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