I’m been surfing around the web and here are some articles that I’m enjoying or might be helpful to you. 

Easy Patriotic Dessert Recipes

Too Many T-Shirts? Transform Them!

Recycle Your Old Books

5 Ways to Save Money on Kids’ Party Decorations

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Pork & Veggies Kabobs

A Simple Raspberry Sauce

How to Freeze Blueberries

Southwestern Style Potato Salad

Deep Fried Mash Potatoes

How to Make Paper Floofs for Your Party

How to Make a French Fry Cake

Enjoy! 

Do you have any links to add?

image from kraft

Here are links to some of the articles I enjoyed this week.

Cindy at My Recycled Bags has recycled old t-shirts to make a really cute purse.

Erika at CraftStylish shows how to make tote bags from vintage bed sheets.

Mornings with Mom has a tasty looking homemade apple crisp that she says is quick and easy to make.

This newspaper hut is pretty cool.  Be sure to bookmark this for those summer days when the kids are bored out of their minds.  Whip out this idea and your kids will probably call you “the coolest mom ever”.

During the summer, my husband and I enjoy using our fresh tomatoes to make tomato casserole.  Michelle Smith also has a recipe for Greek tomato pie. 

Charity & the JAMband have seven songs that you can download for free.  Thrifty Mommy has more information about this.

For those of you that like to make handmade gifts, you might like this tutorial on making watermelon soaps.

I have a pot rack that hangs from my ceiling above my kitchen island.  I had never seen one that hangs on the side of your cabinets until I saw this DIY Simple, Modern Pot Rack tutorial.

I hope you enjoy these ideas.  If you have a recipe, cleaning tips, craft, etc, please leave your link in the comments.  Thanks.  Have a great weekend!

image from sxc.hu

I knew Martha Stewart had her own show, magazines, and website. I’ve also seen her on twitter, but it wasn’t until today that I discovered she has a blog.

On The Martha Blog, you’ll find more of her tips for gardening, entertaining, holidays, collecting, home, pets, giving, travel, and more.  This week, she has posted some promised pictures of her honey bees.  She discusses an issue with the bees not building the hives correctly and tells what the problem was the hive, and also gives 18 pictures for our viewing.  After discovering The Martha Blog, I realized that it’s been around for a few years.  lol  I guess you learn something new every day. 

Martha Stewart has built quite a name for herself.  She must have an army of people working for her, but even still, I wonder when she has time to sleep!  Most of her tweets (on twitter) seem like they are actually from her personally.

Do you enjoy the tips that Martha Stewart offers?

image from the martha blog

I rarely get to watch television, so when I do I am amazed at some of the great shows out there.  Last week while flipping channels I found Primal Grill with Steve Raichlen.  Steve was grilling swordfish, onions, and bay leaves.  He showed that you’re supposed to soak the bay leaves before grilling them to avoid burning the leaves.  He also made a tasty sounding marinade for the fish.  Of course, after watching all his grilling tips I had to see if a website existed.  Indeed, it does!

Primal Grill website has many tasty sounding recipes.  Primal Grill tells you how to make Kansas City Style Ribs with Spicy Apple Barbeque Sauce,  Smoke-Roasted Raspberry Pear Crumble, Smoke Salmon, and other delicious dishes.  You’ll find categories for fish, vegetarian, steaks, kabobs, and more.

Now that it’s grill season, I hope you’ll take the time to check out the Primal Grill website for new recipe ideas.  Let me know how they turn out.  Enjoy!

image sxc.hu

For me, one of the toughest parts of cooking is deciding on a menu.  My problem is that I’m not nearly as organized as I should be.  Preparing a menu in advance would certainly take a lot of stress from the issue.

The Charlotte Observer has an online menu planner. Plan your meals one week at a time or pick and choose your favorites. The Charlotte Observer food site has something for everyone. Choose from budget friendly meals, kid friendly meals, meatless meals, meals for entertaining, leftover ideas, entertaining ideas, recipes, and so much more. Here’s an example of one of their express meals:

Make it quick tonight with CHICKEN PARMESAN SANDWICHES. Top cooked, breaded chicken cutlets with a slice of mozzarella cheese and a slice of tomato. Spread marinara sauce on Italian bread; assemble and bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts. (Adapted from Woman’s Day magazine.) Serve with packaged GREENS. Try FRESH STRAWBERRIES for dessert.

When you visit the Charlotte Obsever food site, simply click on the green button that says “7-Day Menu Planner by Susan Nicholson” and you can get started.

Do you have any favorite sites for meal planning?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Have you all missed me?  I know that I’ve missed you.  After a few exhausting weeks and over 20 hours on the road, I’m happy to be back at home.  Here’s a few links I’m enjoying today.

I’m craving burritos since reading about these Brown Bag Burritos at The Finer Things in Life.  I need to find the time to make some of these and freeze them for quick meals.

A few years ago, I could have used this recipe for frugal potting soil.  I had some flower beds to build up and fill with dirt.  I remember buying the cheap potting soil and even then, it was pretty expensive.

Summer is just around the corner and that means cook outs with baked beans.  Passionate homemaking has a recipe for homemade baked beans.  I’m looking forward to getting another freezer so that I can begin to make large batches of foods to freeze.

These bacon wrapped hotdogs would go great with the homemade baked beans.  It’s time to fire up the grill.

I have been thinking a lot lately about my balance between computer life and home life.  It is a daily struggle.  How much time is too much?  Homemaker Barbi has part 1, part 2, and part 3 of Crystal’s interview.  

Hope you enjoy the links.  Do you have any homemaking links to share?  Please leave them below.

image (c) Karen Weideman

A few years ago, my mother-in-law made  no-sew fleece blankets for my children.  Since they are made from two pieces of fleece, they are so warm.  Be on the look-out for fleece when it goes on sale.

Sandy has posted about a free subscription to Organic Gardening.  Hurry before they’re all gone!

FamilyLife Culture has an article on How NOT to Treat Your Mate.  All of us could probably use a reminder in these areas.

Each Easter, I look forward to buying a package of Peeps marshmallows.  Thig & Thistle has come up with a recipe for making your own.  You might want to bookmark this recipe for next year.

Melanie gives new meaning to naturally dyed eggs.  These eggs are beautiful!

I thought this list of wacky pet names was cute. Enjoy a smile or two.

These “pickled worms” would make a nice and funny treat or gift.

I’ve been saving all of our empty peanut butter jars and now I’m looking for cute crafts using the jars.  Any suggestions?

image by Karen Weideman

We’ve been talking a bit about laundry lately and I found some tips from Better Homes & Gardens.  Enjoy!

Stain Removal Tips

Lively Laundry Rooms

Hidden Laundry Rooms

Install a Built-In Laundry Cabinet

Storage-Smart Laundry Rooms

Innovative Laundry Room Helpers

We also have some laundry tips posted here at Keeping the Castle.  Please let us know if you have any laundry tips.

image sxc.hu

Easter is only two days away. Where has the time gone?  I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the nice weather and beautiful flowers blooming.  It’s such a beautiful sign of life.

I’ve been collecting some Easter and spring articles for your enjoyment.  Have fun and let me know which ones are your favorites.

20 Last Minute Spring and Easter Party Treats @ The Kids Birthday Fun Review

Lead Me to the Cross:  Reflections for Good Friday @ Way More Homemade

Easy Last Minute Easter Egg Dyes @ Bostom Mamas

Jelly Bean Poem @ Little Fun; Little Learning

Bird’s Nest Spring Treats @ The Kids Birthday Fun Review

Kids’ Easter Activities @ Thrifty Mommy

Two Tales of Bunnies: Easter Reads @ Alpha Mom

Super Cute Bunnylicious Cake @ Bostom Mamas

Paper Plate Easter Basket @ Little Fun; Little Learning

Growing Bunny Prints Easter Craft @ Blisstree

Finger Puppets, Decoupaged Easter Pails, and More @ Alpha Mom

A Natural Way to Dye Eggs @ Thrifty Mommy

Adorable Rice Krispies Treats Bunnies & Eggs @ Blisstree

Simple Easter Table Decoration @ She Knows Parties

10 Recipes for Your Easter Brunch @ She Knows Parties

Easter Ham Recipe @ Blisstree

Braided Easter Bread @ Blisstree

Emeril’s Easter Feast Roasted Asparagus @ Good Morning American Recipes

Easter Outfits on a Budget @ Thrifty Mommy

Recipes to Celebrate Spring @ Thrifty Mommy

Keep Your Pets Safe This Easter @ Thrifty Mommy

Easter Safety Tips @ Blisstree

Spring Party Centerpieces - Egg Flower Cups @ She Knows Parties

Egg Songs @ Little Fun; Little Learning

Handprint Flower Craft @ Little Fun; Little Learning

If you have an Easter link, please leave it in the comments.

Happy Easter!  Enjoy!

image: Karen Weideman

Sorry there aren’t as many link as I had planned.  Don’t you just love it when Internet Explorer closes all of your windows?  Anyway, here are some links I’m enjoying.

Marye’s goat had babies over the weekend.  She just put up some new pictures and they are so cute!  I live out in the country and this has me thinking about getting some animals.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  Here are some unconventional ways to celebrate.

Did you know that’s it’s American Chocolate Week?  Hooray for one of my favorite foods!  Stop by Chocolate Bytes for some tasty recipes and info about chocolate.

A Healthy Balance has freebies posted each Friday.  Stop by and see what you can get for free.

Did you know that Dora the Explorer is changing?  Yes, she’s growing up.  It’s different, but she’s cute.  So long as she’s modest and doesn’t look sassy like those Bratz dolls.

Are you thinking about having a yard sale this spring or summer?  Before you do, you might want to check out these 30 yard sale tips.

It’s important to stay connected with those I care about.  I use email and phone calls a lot to stay in touch.  Notb4coffee has another idea for staying connected.

What links are you enjoying?

image from pecanknollfarm.com