Hangin' Out

Lined Hangers

Not only decorative, these bandanna covers also prevent strappy tops and dresses from slipping off hangers.

1. Fold a bandanna in half; slip a hanger in between fabric so its bottom meets the fold (fabric should cover the hanger's front and back).
2. Trace the shape of the hanger's arms on the bandanna; cut, leaving room for the hook and a 1/2-inch hem on the side of the bandanna facing up.
3. Fold hem over the hanger's arm, pulling the back side of the bandanna up to meet it, and secure with fabric glue; let dry.
4. Trim any remaining excess fabric.

Tuesday Tip

Tip Talk from WomansDay.com

5 things to do with ...flour

my favorite for baking that is...

1. CLEAN PLAYING CARDS - When those queens are looking gray, put them in a plastic gag with a half-cup of flour. shake for a minute. Remove the cards, and shuffle the deck a few times over the sink to clear.
2. UNSTICK A LID - Have a plastic container that closes a little too tightly for your taste? Dip the container edge in flour to prevent sticking.
3. CLEAN HEAVY WHITE FABRICS-Spot-clean white canvas, leather, faux leather, vinyl and even curtains by rubbing flour into the dirt lines, then brushing clean.
4. MIX UP SOME GLUE - Whip up craft glue for kids by mixing 1 part flour with 3 parts water. Boil, stirring, until it becomes a paste; store in the fridge.
5. MAKE CLAY - Knead together 1 cup water, 3 cups flour and 1 tsp vegetable oil. Add food color. To store, moisten and wrap it in plastic, and put in the fridge.

Pralines

Texas-Size Pralines photo via home sick texan

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbls butter or margarine
• 2-2 1/2 cups pecan halves

Combine sugar, buttermilk, soda, and vanilla in a heavy Dutch oven; cook over med heat to 234 degrees (softball stage) stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Beat 2-3 minutes, just until mixture begins to thicken. Stir in pecans. Work fast and drop mixture by tablespoons onto lightly buttered waxed paper; cool.

Tuesday Tip

8 Ways to Bring on Spring

Prepare for spring with these tips on sprucing up your home and yourself.

photo couresy of Country Living

I know in some parts of the country you're (you know how you are)patiently/ or not so- waiting for Spring to arrive.

If winter weather has you singing the blues, it’s time to add some color to your life~ with these 8 tips for bringing on spring.

I hope these ideas will lift your spirits!

1. Place pots of forced spring bulbs (hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, crocuses) throughout the house.
2. Swap curtains for white sheers.
3. Dress your bed in pretty floral-patterned cotton linens. Add a pretty pillow.
4. Ditch lipstick in favor of gloss with a hint of color, like peach.
5. Opt for knits—just choose lightweight versions in citrusy colors.
6. Carry a cute canvas or fabric bag. Instead of boring brown, add some color.
7. Slip on a pair of floral flats .
8. Put pretty-scented soaps in the bathroom.

These great ideas are brought to you in part by Woman's Day Magazine

Baked Pasta e Fagioli

Photo byCheryl Zibisky

Ingredients :

• 8 ounce(s) (about 2 cups) mini penne or elbow pasta
• 1 can(s) (28 ounces) whole tomatoes in puree
• 1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 stalk(s) celery, chopped
• 2 clove(s) garlic, crushed with press
• 2 can(s) (15 to 19 ounces) navy or other small white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Ground black pepper
• 1 package(s) (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1/2 cup(s) freshly grated Romano cheese Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat large covered saucepot of water to boiling over high heat. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes less than label directs. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Return pasta to saucepot.
2. Meanwhile, drain tomatoes, reserving puree. Coarsely chop tomatoes.
3. In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion and celery and cook 9 to 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute.
4. Stir in tomatoes with their puree, beans, broth, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; stir in spinach.
5. Add bean mixture, reserved pasta cooking water, and 1/4 cup Romano to pasta in saucepot and toss until well mixed. Transfer pasta mixture to 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining Romano.
6. Bake 15 minutes or until center is hot and top is golden.

Recipe from Good Housekeeping - A FAVORITE

Fluffy Key Lime Pie

This pie is light and refreshing.

Recipe from Taste of Home

Ingredients:

• 1 package (.3 ounce) sugar-free lime gelatin
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 cartons (6 ounces each) reduced-fat key lime yogurt
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
• 1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (8 inches)

Directions: In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Whisk in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set. Yield: 8 servings. Print this Recipe Full Page 3x5 Card 4x6 Card

Tuesday Tip

How to Add an Hour to Your Day

Easy ways to streamline your daily routine:

It is possible to save up to an hour a day, if you cut out four daily time wasters says Jamie Novak, author of 1000 Best Quick and Easy Time-Saving Strategies.

• Dozing Off

Most people hit the snooze button three times. Plug in your alarm clock across the room so you’re not tempted to sneak in extra shut eye. Time Saved: 21 minutes

• Rooting Through Cosmetics

Group morning and evening makeup in separate clear bags. Now, when you want your neutral-colored lipstick, not your saucy-red evening shade, you’ll know just where it is. Time Saved: 10 minutes

• Getting Caught in the Web ( I never do this!)

Minutes can turn into hours when you’re Googling. Set a timer, and when it goes off that’s it. Time saved: 40 minutes

• Opening Mail

Speed up the process with a letter opener and don’t even bother with junk mail. Toss it straight into the recycling bin or shredder. Time saved: 6 minutes

Total Time Saved: 1 Hour and 17 Minutes by Jennifer Matlack, Woman's Day

EASY Easter Ideas

Easter Bunny PopsLadies Home Journal

Recipe HERE

Sentimental Sweets Better Homes and Gardens

Use scrapbook supplies to dress up a box filled with Easter treats. Trim patterned papers to fit the interior and exterior of the lid and embellish with stickers and painted chipboard.

Easter Bunny Garland

Martha Stewart

How-To HERE

Oh So Easy Dragonfly Toppers from Chic Cookie Ideas

Instructions HERE

Tuesday Tip

It's Time to Get Ready for Summer

photo courtesy of Snippet & Ink

Home Tips

by Robert Martin

The summer months are upon us, and that can only mean two things-high temperatures and higher utility costs. But there are some measures you can take to cool off without draining your wallet. The next time you're tempted to turn down the thermostat, consider these tips. Ingredients of a Southern Summer While there's never a shortage of sun in the South, the same can also be said about humidity. These combined forces create an oppressive, stifling effect that can quickly turn a nice day into an unpleasant one. To make your home a retreat from the sweltering heat, check these items for maintaining comfort.

• Use blinds, screens, draperies, window films, and awnings to prevent excess sunlight-and heat-from entering your house. Large expanses of glass may provide great views, but they also contribute to indoor heat gain.
• Check the weather-stripping and caulking around doors and windows. The smaller the amount of condiboned air that escapes to the outdoors, the better.
• Make sure that kitchen hoods, clothes dryers, and bathrooms are vented to the outside. Any appliance or activity that produces heat or moisture within your house will naturally add to your struggle to stay cool.
• Set your refrigerator temperature between 38 and 40 degrees, and the freezer no colder than zero. Some fridges have energy-efficient settings that are already programmed or that can be switched on.
• Use foam insulation or inexpensive gaskets behind the covers at wall outlets that connect to hot attics, basements, and crawlspaces. Walls dividing these areas may not be adequately insulated, and any unsealed openings could allow cool air to escape.
• Turn on ceiling fans only when you are present in the room. Because they circulate air instead of cooling it, their operation is of little use if you're not around to enjoy it.
• To keep moisture from getting into the crawlspace, and subsequently your house, cover the underlying dirt with a 6-mil-thick plastic. This protective measure will also help reduce the growth of mold and mildew.

Paul M. Photography

Be Kind to Your A.C.

Have your unit examined and serviced by a reliable maintenance center that specializes in such work. These checkups should be done on a regular basis, preferably in the late spring.

• Change out interior air filters according to their recommended replacement dates (usually about every month). Clogged, dirty filters not only fail to keep indoor air clean, but they also force your a.c. unit to work that much harder.

(Note: For more information on air filters, see page 146 in the March 2001 issue of Southern Living.)

• Verify that your attic is properly ventilated and insulated. Air circulation among the rafters will lower the temperature during warm months and prevent damaging moisture buildup year-round.
• Installing an attic exhaust fan can also help. Be sure also that boxes, insulation, or other items do not block the soffit vents at your eaves.

Marvelous Monday

And the WINNER is......... ANDREA {Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers

...10 Timestamp: 2009-04-06 17:22:16 UTC} Congratulations! e-mail me asap: pineapplehilldesigns at gmail dot com

with your shipping info.

Eggstra-Special

Make your Easter Eggs extra special this year.

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Marbleized Eggs

Matthew Mead

Epicurious March 2009

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Completely Glittered EggsMartha Stewart

how-to instructions

Glittered Eggs from Better Homes and Gardens

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Elegant EggsCountry Living Make these pastel beauties last for years by first blowing out the eggs' whites and yolks. (Need a refresher? Just insert a long needle into the bottom of each egg; make a small hole, then make a slightly larger one in the top. Move the needle around inside the shell to break the yolk. Blow over the smaller hole — feel free to use a straw if you don't want to touch the egg directly — until the liquid drips out of the larger hole. Run the egg under water. Blow the water out, and let the shell dry overnight.) After coloring the egg, attach fabric scrapbooking flowers ($7/150; memoryvilla.com) with tiny dots of glue. Lightly press each flower with your finger, then release.

 

Stenciled Eggs

Martha Stewart

How To

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Egg Dying with Silk Ties picture courtesy of Griffeth Family Blog

Marci's friend found this wonderful idea. I LOVE it!

Check it out HERE

If you'd prefer, I found somewhere to buy a kit.

Silk Tie Easter Eggs by Martha Stewart Martha Stewart How-To ***********************************

Paper Napkin Eggs Martha Stewart

Paper-Napkin Decoupage Eggs

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Gilded Eggs

Martha Stewart

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Monogrammed Eggs

Matthew Mead

Robin's-Egg Place Card

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Pearlized Easter Eggs

Better Homes and Gardens Step by Step

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Thanks so much

The sweet Peace, Love and Applesauce bestowed this lovely award to me!

Per the rules: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

My Eight Picks:

1. All Things Wonderful
2. Southern Hospitality
3. The Pleasures of Homemaking
4. Chronicles of a Mommy
5. Be Different, Act Normal
6. The Sadliers
7. A Bushel and a Peck
8. Cherry's Jubilee

Check out their great blogs. You'll be inspired♥

Nest - Part Two

"A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to live or raise offspring. "

I think you'll love these beautiful designs. Eye Inspiration

Painted White

Martha Stewart

Frippelous

Pineapple Hill Designs Heaven in the Home

CHR Deisgns Etsy

Out on a Whim

LoveLee Soaps

TLG Creations

Lizix26 etsy Art Work by Andrea

Nest

NEST

"A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to live or raise offspring. "

Edible Inspiration

MARTHA STEWART LIVING

Country Living

Nest Place Setting

Colorful Candy Box

Better Homes and Gardens

recipe

Nest Eggs

A package of crunchy wonton noodles, melted chocolate, and some Jordan almonds are all you need to create these tasty treats. In a bowl, toss noodles with melted chocolate and use your hands to form nest shapes with an indentation in the center. Work quickly and in batches to form nests before the chocolate sets. Set on waxed paper to dry. Serve with a few Jordan almond "eggs" in each nest.




via bake at 350



via patsyaffair