Ducks 'n a Row

Centerpieces - The Secret Weapon of an Organized Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

By Sinea Pies/ Follow her on FACEBOOK here.

One of Ducks 'n a Row's most popular posts...
Centerpieces are the secret-weapon of an organized mom! They make a statement that says "this table is decorated and off-limits." Try it sometime.

Sunflowers
Photo credit: healingdream freedigitalphotos.com

Clear off a table that otherwise collects clutter and place a stunning centerpiece right in the midst. It dares anyone to mess with the look. You'll have a clutter-free table for days. Switch up the centerpiece once in a while to re-establish authority. Who knows, a clean table could become a family tradition! (More in How to Declutter Your House and Keep It Organized.)

What kinds of centerpieces do you like? They can be simple or ornate, depending on your tastes and decor. Here are some centerpiece ideas for you to consider:

Flowers - a fresh bouquet or arrangement of flowers in a decorative vase is a beautiful centerpiece for any dining room, kitchen table or accent table in your hallway. Artificial plants or flowers can work well, too, just remember to dust them.

Candles - a centerpiece arrangement of candles is an elegant addition to any room. Concerned about fire? Don't light them or, use floating candles or electric candles. Each one is lovely.

Candles, Pinecones and Berries
sxc.hu

Candy - a candy dish on a smaller table can be a centerpiece. You may want to frame the look with candles on either side. Fill it with colorful M&M's or foil wrapped candies. Stash a supply in the cupboard to replenish for your centerpiece will disappear!

Fruit - place a stunning ceramic bowl or graceful wicker basket in the center of your table and fill it with colorful fruit, fresh or artificial. Again, fake fruit needs to be shined up once in a while.
Need a Bowl? Fruit Bowl Ideas

Marbles, Stones or Sea Shells - shiny marbles or colorful stones can make a great centerpiece. Arrange them on a shallow decorative plate or in a clear, glass vase.

A Simple Sea Shell Centerpiece: For a totally original seashore kind of feel, try making this simple centerpiece, featured as Elle Décor’s August centerpiece. Start with a cluster of green Hydrangeas inside one hidden vase of water, all set inside a slightly larger glass vase filled with white sand and sea shells.

Fish - yes, you read it right. FISH! Using a clear glass vase with marbles at the bottom, add an underwater plant, water and a dazzling Betta Fish. Kids will love it. Take good care of that fish, though, and kee him alone or your centerpiece will become a crime scene! How to Make a Betta Fish Centerpiece

Photo: Betafishguru.com

Note: fish are living beings and should be treated with care. This centerpiece is best reserved for a short-term event such as a wedding reception or dinner party. Be nice and transfer him to larger, more fish-friendly environment soon thereafter.

What kind of centerpieces do you like? Share your ideas with us! You're welcome to add your links in your comments, as well.

You are Invited: join us every Wednesday for our Wonderful Wednesday BLOG HOP!

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Wonderful Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:50:00 +0000

Welcome!

Today's Blog Hop is dedicated to spring!

Link up any lovely thing that has some springtime in it.

Great recipes for warmer weather?

Crafts that brighten the day?

Lawn & garden tips?

Outdoor fun?

Be sure to visit other sites and leave a nice comment.

If you aren't a follower or subscriber, why not join today?

Still looking for some great guest posts!

Please feel free to email me at sinea77@gmail.com if you're interested. Please put "guest post" in the subject line.

Got summer on the mind?

Here are some summery posts:

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Finishing the School Year Like a Champ

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:29:00 +0000

One year ago on Ducks 'n a Row...
By Sinea Pies/ Follow her on FACEBOOK here.

Finish Like a Champ!

Feel like you're in a race against time? The final months of the school year can seem like an endless marathon of events and obligations.
Two important goals should be to:

1. Finish the race, and

2. Finish it well!

Nothing feels worse than rushing through life and not enjoying the scenery along the way! Wonderful people, whom we love, have great milestones taking place in their lives. Instead of really enjoying each moment, though, we hurry along just counting the time till it's all over!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you don't even remember the drive? I'm serious! On a rare occasion, I have found that my car got me there but I don't remember how. A little bit scary, I would say.

So, combat Springtime Burnout and enjoy the journey! Make a plan.

As we said in Part One: "Preparing for the Rest of the School Year", get out your personal planner, family calendar and the school calendar. I am adding one more thing. Bring out your children's book bags, as well. There may be nuggets of valuable information stuffed in there. :)

SCHOOL EVENTS:
Start with the school calendar. What are the important dates on that calendar that you have to plan for?

Spring Concert?
Teacher Appreciation Day?
Science Fair?
Field Day?
Prom?
Final exam week?
Sports banquet?
School play?
Graduation?

Why the book bag? Schools send home newsletters with reminders, changes and details. Your child may be perfect at getting them to you on time (if so, please tell us your secret --- every parent and every teacher would love to know) but many times the newsletter gets squished somewhere between the Math book and remainder of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, never to be seen or read. Look in the book bag for hidden information that it would be good for you to know!
Next, add events generated by family and friends. Find the mail (which has been beautifully sorted and filed, right?) Or simply read the refrigerator door, if that's where you post invitations. Wherever they are, bring the invitations together and collect vital information.

FAMILY EVENTS:
Where do you have to be?

Birthday Parties
Bridal Showers
Baby Showers
Rehearsal Dinners
Weddings
Graduations

Preschool?
Kindergarten?
Middle School
High School?
College?

Retirement Parties
Awards Ceremonies
Charity Fundraiser
Dance Recital

HOLIDAYS:
Record the obvious and where you will be celebrating them, if you know where that will be.

Easter / Passover
Cinco de Mayo
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Memorial Day

Now, do not panic. Take a nice deep breath. Now, look at the calendar. Is there anything you need to do for each event, besides just showing up? Clothing that needs to be ready? Gifts to buy? Refreshments to be made? Invitations to send? Pieces of a future Science Fair project to be located or bought?
Think ahead. This is where a checklist comes in handy. In addition to your grocery list, a checklist is essential in keeping you on track with the finer details. As you make your list, questions may arise. If you can't find the answers that you need, now's the time to make that phone call or send a friendly note to find out.

When it comes to making food for an event, mark your calendar when to buy the ingredients and when the food should be made. Some recipes must be made a day or two in advance. Plan for it.

The most important thing to remember is that you are taking part in making memories for yourself and others as you travel through this event-laden season. Perfection is not possible, so don't even try. Do your best and enjoy it all as you go along!

Happy Spring!
Sinea

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Controlling Your Clutter - How to Organize Your Closet

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Closet Getting Smaller?

By Marlene Devine

Does it seem like your closet has grown smaller? Are you struggling to fit
just one more thing in? It may be time to declutter your closet.
No matter what the size, you can organize your closet so it works for you.

Although a custom closet solution is a great idea for maximizing your space, it

isn't necessary. You can gain control of your closet clutter with some simple

reorganizing. Regardless of which path you choose, whether custom redesign or

working with what you have, the following steps will get you to an orderly space.

Purge - Review each item in your closet. Ask yourself, "Do I like it?
Does it fit? Do I feel comfortable in it? Is it in style? Will I ever wear this again?"
If you don't answer "Yes" to at least one of those questions, it's time to part with
it. Don't forget to include shoes in the purge.

Be brutally honest here. Shoes that still fit but you've been wearing for a decade may need to go. Remember, just because you CAN wear something doesn't mean you should. If something is truly shabby, toss it.

Donate everything that's in good condition, toss the rest. As part of the closet purge, clear out other items that are out of place as well. Are there items that don't belong in the closet? Things such as items that belong to other family members, stuff that got tossed in there as part of a cleanup in other parts of the house (I know, it happens), clothes that are waiting to be donated/repaired/sewn...move them out and bring them where they belong.

Group Like-Garments Together

Group - The next step is to put similar items together. For hanging clothes, group all shirts, pants, dresses, etc. You may find you can group further: casual shirts, work shirts, long-sleeve, and short-sleeve. Take a look at what you have and you'll probably see groups that make sense. Do the same for folded items: sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and so on. Then group other small items such as hats, belts, scarves.

Neaten - Put the clothes back into the closet with some thought as to what you wear most often. It sounds obvious, but put most frequently worn items in front. Don't waste prime closet "real estate" with clothes you rarely wear but need to keep. That little black dress you may need someday should be in the back, with everyday items within easy reach.

Hanging all the clothes in the same direction on matching hangers creates a clean look that adds to the feeling of order. Putting a little attention into neatly folding your clothes, and maybe even arranging by color on the shelves, will make getting dressed every morning feel like a high-end shopping experience. Well, maybe not, but it is pleasing to look at and just a little fun. Shelf dividers are a great way to keep those folded clothes from toppling over when you remove a sweater.

Accessories may be helpful to keep the rest of the items in check. Shoe organizers come in every shape and form and make the most of precious floor space. Over-the-door racks keep a baseball cap collection in line. Hooks keep belts and scarves neat. All of these little tricks will help you make the most of your space.

Rubbermaid Closet Organizers

One last tip to keep your closet looking great once it's de-cluttered: keep empty hangers together. As you remove clothes, remove the hangers too, then put them at the end of the rod. It makes putting clothes back easier when there are hangers handy, and it keeps the rods from getting "cluttered" with empty hangers. It's a small point, but when it comes to closet organization, sometimes it's the little things.

Marlene Devine is the owner of So Squared Away, a professional organizing company dedicated to helping people reclaim their spaces, "find" time, and live a more organized life. So Squared Away will work with you to declutter your spaces and set up organizational systems that work for you.

Get your free organizing tips at http://www.sosquaredaway.com and 'like' us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sosquaredaway
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marlene_Devine

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Photo Credit: Closet of Everyday Life by SnarkyParky on flickr.com

Photo Credit: Shirts on Hangers by Worakit Sirijinda Freedigitalphotos.net

Photo Credit: Rubbermaid Closet Organizers on flickr.com

Thrift Store Makeovers with Jamie

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This Wonderful Wednesday spotlight is my friend, Jamie Brock of Frugal Home Design. Jamie and I both write for HubPages. That's where we met and now we follow each other's blogs. Jamie is totally into home decor and crafts that look oh-so expensive but aren't. Her most recent post is: Thrift Store Makeovers-Desks!

My favorite is the white desk.

Elegant Desk Remake by SavVy Decor

You'll have to stop by SavVy Decor to see the different stages of transformation that this white desk took before it reached current gorgeous self!

Another post on Frugal Home Design that I particularly like is DIY Baby Shower Decor Ideas. Jamie has so many great articles there, and on Hubpages, too. When you stop by her site, be sure to leave a nice comment and let her know that you found her on Ducks 'n a Row!

Remember....today is our Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. One of you will be our featured site the following week so, link up your best!

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"NO Kind of Menu" Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:28:00 +0000

You know, I just love you guys.You put up with me when I'm challenged and yet you still let me challenge you. That's friendship!

I've got to tell you, I was just preparing my Friday night grocery shopping list* and started to chuckle as I saw what my menu plan for the week looks like! It's the Anti-Menu! It includes THREE nights of take-out! This is a good case of "do as I say, not as I do". I would never recommend take-out three nights in a week, bad for the budget as well as the waistline, but this week this is how it's looking!

My Menu Plan:

Saturday -Rib eye steak on the grill with baked potatoes and tossed salad
Sunday -Pork tenderloin, also on the grill, with natural applesauce, rice or noodles and green beans
Monday -Hamburgers and hot dogs, on the grill, with baked beans
Tuesday -CHINESE FOOD
Wednesday -fake it (Leftovers? Drive-up? Call out for a pizza?)
Thursday -Teriyaki Chicken on the grill with yams and peas
Friday -FISH FRY (a Friday night tradition in our town)

Now...for my "reasons" (excuses)
This weekend is my niece's baby shower (It's a girl!) and I am helping to prepare it on Saturday, as well as attending it on Sunday. I won't be home much so grilling each night makes sense.

Tuesday night we are having a friend come for dinner. He is an amazing painting contractor and is going to talk over what we want to do with painting the interior of our house. (We are renovating and decorating in a big way and I want to try something a little bit daring...I need expert advice!).

That night I will be zooming home from work without enough time to prepare dinner. So, Chinese it will be!

Wednesday nights I don't come home in time for dinner. Instead, I go to this awesome "how to get out of debt and build a BIG nest egg class" called Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. I go straight to class from work so Wednesday night dinner is whatever we each can think of at the time.

Friday? Cooking is just yucky on Fridays. LONG week...plus, grocery shopping on Friday nights. I really have a hard time talking myself into cooking on Fridays.

*Why do I shop on Friday nights if I'm that tired? To get a little more weekend time at home. It's working. In addition, I've switched to attending the 12:45pm Sunday service at church which gives me two mornings in a row that I don't have to be anywhere when I first wake up. Yay! It's almost like getting a vacation. (almost!)

So...there are my excuses. Linking up with Menu Plan Monday on one of my favorite websites "I'm an Organizing Junkie".

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Chef with Hamburger by Grant Cochran
Chinese Food by Suat Eman

My Gardening Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:25:00 +0000

Guest Post by Shirley of Motivated Mommy of Two

First of all I would like to Thank Sinea from Ducks ‘n a Row for allowing me to guest post on her blog.
Hello, my name is Shirley I am a mom to the two most wonderful kids and a wife to the most loving and understanding husband. I really enjoy cooking, baking, blogging and spending time with my family.

At Motivated Mommy of Two I love to write about what motivates me to keep going with my weight loss journey, the awesome times I spend with my family. And of course all of the different projects I like to work around the house.
One of the projects this year was my third attempt to grow a vegetable garden, you know how they say, “Third time's a charm.”

And this has been true for me. Today I wanted to share with you some gardening tips that I believe have allowed me to be successful.

1. The first thing I did was buy some pots (8 inch) and painted them with chalkboard paint, making it easy to label.
2. I bought a green house kit to be able to start my seeds indoors. I followed the directions provided in the kit, I placed the green house by the window where it would get indirect sunlight.
3. Once the seeds started to sprout, I removed the lid and allowed them to keep growing indoors until the weather was just right to transplant.
4. When most of the plants were getting big enough that they were starting to tip over, it was time to transplant to the already painted pots. I bought organic potting mix and started the process. One by one the plants were transplanted to their individual pot and labeled them.
5. They were placed outside where they would get the morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Since the weather was still a bit cold, I watered them every other day.
6. My husband felt that they needed to be moved to a better location in the back yard, once they were moved they started to bloom beautifully.

I believe that following all of these steps this time around have helped me in being successful with my vegetable garden.

I recently transplanted them one more time to bigger pots (10 inch), since the roots of every vegetable were starting to come out at the bottom.
Here they are in their new pots and they continue to grow.

TIP: Advice I received at the Home Depot gardening center.

When using pots for planting vegetables, always start with small pots and when they are ready to be transplanted move up the next size. Do not get a big pot at the beginning or they will not grow.

Thank you

Note from Sinea: I don't know about you but I am itching to get outside and do some gardening.!! Shirley's post with these beautiful photos have awakened the garderner within me!

The weather where I live just had a crazy touch of summer (we usually have SNOW on the ground in March) which is so misleading. It was a brief tease of 80 degree days. Now our nights are back to producing record-breaking lows so I'll have to hold back a few weeks and wait till my plants will have a better chance of survival. You can count on it though, by Memorial Day I'll be out there digging the soil and getting those plants in the ground.

Be sure to stop by Shirley's site "Motivated Mommy of Two" and say "hi"!
Facebookers, hop on over to "like" her fanpage, too: Shirley's Fanpage I did!

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Blessed Couponer in the Spotlight

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Tina, "The Blessed Couponer", is our featured blogger this Wonderful Wednesday. Her heart is for the Lord and helping others save a few bucks, finding great deals, maximizing their time and even take some strides to being debt free! A worthy mission.

And Tina does find the best offers! This week you can get a FREE tote bag (a really nice one) with the purchase of a Couponizer System. All the tools you'll need to conquer the grocery jungle and save lots of money. In another recent post she found a $30 SAVINGS on a Kindle e-reader at Walmart! Check it out! Be sure to leave her a nice comment and let her know you found her on Ducks 'n a Row!

Flashback: We've really been enjoying our three part series on saving money on groceries, especially tough to do for families with those on special diets. If you missed any of the parts, check them out here:

Part 1 - Money Saving Tips - Special Diets Don't Have to Break the Bank

Part 2 - Grocery Saving Tips for Your Family

Part 3 - Save Money, Grow It Yourself

Coming Soon: This Friday, be sure to stop back for a great post that will help make your GARDEN grow! Fresh for springtime!

And, finally, please add a link or two on our Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop (below). Take a few moments to visit some others and leave a lovely comment. And... "Like" their Facebook pages, subscribe to their blogs...become a new friend.

More from Sinea...

Help Wanted...Writers - looking for great guest posts
Get Facebook Fans for Free -tips for you plus the amazing story of Coca-Cola's fan generated fan page (41.5 MILLION fans!)
Stains - Getting Laundry Really Clean the First Time - complete with list and remedies
Notebooks - The Organizing Tool I Won't Do Without - you totally digital? Paper notebooks... gotta have 'em!

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Photo credit: Home Garden by winnond on freedigitalphotos.net

Save Money, Grow It Yourself!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Welcome to Part 3 of a three-part series by Mary Hudak-Collins of Living With Food Allergies and Celiac Disease!
Thanks, Mary, for teaching us so much!

Photo credit: Dan on Freedigitalphotos.net

Zucchini. This is one of my favorite food items! It grows plentiful and can be used in a variety of foods. Fresh from the garden, it can be used in stir-fry, sauteed with yellow squash and onions for a side dish, sliced in half and baked, or add to a gluten free cornbread mix for a twist of flavor. We all know that if you plant one zucchini plant, you will have enough to share plus have left over leaving you wondering what to do with it.

Have you ever tried to purchase gluten, corn free sweet relish? I never could find any, so I make my own.

Directions: Take about 10-12 cups of shredded zucchini, approx. 3-4 cups of chopped onion, 3 tablespoons of salt, 4 cups of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard (if you cannot find gluten free, you can grind mustard seeds in a coffee grinder), 2 1/2 cups rice vinegar, and 3 cups green and red peppers (mixed for color). Put your zucchini and onions in a very large bowl and add salt. Let it sit overnight. Put in large strainer and rinse well. When drained, transfer to pot and add the sugar, dry mustard, rice vinegar, and peppers, boiling for 5 minutes. Pack in jars and seal. Makes approx. 7 pints.

I'm sure you can't spend your entire summer canning in the kitchen, so if you don't want to throw your extra zucchini away, just shred it and freeze it. Measure out about 2 cups more than what you need in the recipe because when you thaw out and drain, your total amount of zucchini will decrease when you lose the water content. During the winter, when you have a free weekend, take out a couple of bags and can up a batch of relish. This is always a great Christmas gift and they don't have to have a special dietary need to enjoy it!

Cabbage

Cabbage. This past summer, I experimented with freezing cabbage. It's wonderful! We had a whole row of green and red cabbage. When they were ready for picking, I chopped them up and froze them. I use it primarily for frying and found that it is best that my pan be heated prior to removing the cabbage from the freezer to cook.

Green Beans

Throughout the summer, we grow green beans, but this is a favorite, so I supplement with store bought. I wash them thoroughly and trim before freezing in gallon freezer bags. Again, I have found that if I wait until my water is boiling before removing the beans from freezer to add, they maintain their freshness. You can't tell they were ever frozen.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers. This is not an item that I have ever tried to freeze. This is a food item that doesn't last long in our house. I do make bread and butter pickles about every other year and serve as a side condiment.

Pumpkin

One of the most exciting foods I worked with this year is pumpkin. You can purchase pumpkin inexpensively around Halloween, especially if you wait until Oct. 30th, or even the 31st. Baking pumpkins included. The pulp can be removed and canned or frozen.

Pumpkin Muffins

The pulp can be used for other than pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Pumpkin muffins and pancakes are a wonderful change for breakfast. Check your recipes ahead of time, measure out the amount needed (marking your bags with amount in each), and the night before you plan to make your muffins or pancakes, just pull out of the freezer and thaw.

Pumpkin Seeds

If you like pumpkin seeds roasted or baked, don't throw away that pumpkin you used for a Halloween decoration. The Internet has so many different recipes for just about every kind of pumpkin seed, it's incredible. I tried 2 or 3 new recipes, stored the seeds in canning jars, then gave them away as Christmas gifts.

Potato

Last, but not least...potatoes. Potatoes are easier to purchase a 50 or 100 lb. bag in the store than to garden them, in my opinion. But this versatile food is so easy to freeze any way you like. Do you like mashed potatoes? Make several pots and freeze for an evening meal. Fried potatoes? Prepare you potatoes as you would to make home fries. Do not cook completely though, only until they begin to get brown. Remove from oven, cool completely, place in bag and freeze. When you are ready to use them, preheat oven to 425 degrees, remove potatoes from freezer and place on baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes (or until done).

French Fries...yum!

Who doesn't love french fries? Although you can buy gluten free fries in the freezer section, I love having my own and knowing what is in the coating. In a gallon baggie, pour some oil (approx. 3/4 cups for 10-15 potatoes), add salt and pepper to your taste. I use grape seed or olive oil.

You can peel or not, this is a personal preference, and cut your potato slices the size you prefer. Place on a greased baking sheet in a preheated 425 degree oven, and bake until slightly brown. Remove and cool completely. Place in freezer bags and freeze. When you are ready to have french fries, preheat oven to 425 degrees, remove bag of potatoes and bake till crisp (about 30 min.).

I suggest that if you decide to take on the potato project, you recruit some help. It is best is you have someone that can peel, someone to slice, and someone to watch the oven. It is nearly impossible to do by yourself!

I hope that this post has been informational in it's content. Please feel free to share your comments in the comment section, hope to see you back again soon.

Grocery Saving Tips for Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

This is Part 2 of a enlightening three-part series by Mary Hudak-Collins of "Living With Food Allergies and Celiac Disease". Did you miss Part 1? Here it is: "Money Saving Tips-Special Diets Don't Have To Break The Bank"

In my last post I discussed buying in bulk and this carries over to today's topic: making your own foods as often as possible.
Foods such as cookies, cakes, sauces, pizza shells, pizza with pizza toppings, meatloaf, lasagna, cabbage, corn, green beans, onions, pumpkin, squash, broccoli, etc. can be frozen for future use. Again, I can't emphasize enough how buying in bulk will save $$ down the road.

Visit your local farmer's markets for fresh food items. Don't hesitate to bargain shop, even at a farmer's market. The local flea market's in my area now offer fresh vegetables and fruits at great prices. Be sure to check yours.

As Seen on TV

6. Grow a Garden. You don't have to have a huge piece of land to grow foods. Last year, I grew tomatoes and strawberries using the Topsy Turvy (which I found on sale in a Dollar Store). Of course, there is costs with buying the plants and soil but the cost is nominal compared to what you spend buying these already packaged in a store. It does take time though, as they need watered and tended to on a daily basis. If you do have a small piece of land available, plant zucchini, summer squash, pumpkin, broccoli, cabbage, beans, and depending on your space, corn. These are all food items that can be easily stored.

Herbs

7. What are the herbs you frequently use? Why not grow them? It takes very little space, and again, requires daily attention. There is nothing that compares to using fresh herbs (but use less than called for) in a recipe but, it's very easy to dry and store, or even freeze your herbs for later use. We love chives. It's funny how that when I brought them in for the winter, they are still growing in my kitchen! Mind you, they don't grow as fast, but they are still flavorful.

Freefoto.com

8. Buying meats is another expensive adventure. Most stores have one day during the week that they clear out meat products that are about to expire. First, you need to make sure that the store you are shopping in has meats that are free from additives and preservatives. Next, ask your grocer what days they mark down their meats. There is nothing wrong with these meats other than their expiration date is getting close and there are great savings to be had by shopping like this. Once you make a purchase, you will need to either cook or freeze the meats before the expiration date on the package. This is when I make up meatloaf and meatballs and freeze in meal portions. I try to look for 'family size' packages of chicken and pork chops so that I can break them down and freeze in portions.

Flour blend

9. Make your own flour blends. I find this to be a great $$ saver. The Internet is flooded with recipes for flour blends. Once you begin to get comfortable with different gluten free flours and their taste, you will begin to choose which blend is best for your cooking/baking needs. Most sites recommend that you store your blend in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or in a cool, dark storage area.

Canning

Okay, you have either purchased your food items, or you have grown a garden.
Now, what do you do with them?

a) One choice is to can your food. This is a great way to store food and save money. It does take your time, but you don't have to have a huge kitchen to can, and a lot of foods can be done in a hot water bath which eliminates purchasing a pressure cooker. I keep things simple. Anything that can be done in a hot water bath gets canned. Anything else, gets frozen. But that's just me:)

Dehydrator

b) Another alternative is dehydrating your foods. My sister purchased a dinky little dehydrator for me this past summer for $10.00. It was a great deal! I have already used it for making jerky. We also made dehydrated bananas, put them in individual pint freezer bags and froze them. They make a great snack to just 'grab and go' when you need them.
This is not an area that I have much experience at just yet, but am looking forward to working with it much more this summer. It's my understanding, that just about anything can be dried and stored. Again, there are several good books on the market giving you step-by-step instructions.

11. Make your own condiments. Salad dressings, Honey-Mustard Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Tarter Sauce, etc. It is not at all hard, and you probably already have the ingredients in your cabinet. I hope to get my recipes posted on my recipe page this week, but the internet is a great resource if you need help. Be sure to check a previous post on making your own GF Vanilla and Almond Extract.

Be sure to stop back here for Part 3 this Monday!

Want to start making your own foods at home?

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Stars & Sunshine in the Spotlight!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Our Wonderful Wednesday spotlight is on a sweet little blog called "Stars and Sunshine". Its creator is Julia, a lovely engineering student with a talent for crafts and organizing.

Julia linked up a post last week entitled "Bobbins and Thread" and the photo caught my eye. If you sew, you know that keeping thread and bobbins straight and untangled is challenging. Mine have never been so neatly displayed. She has a knack!

Be sure to stop by Julia's blog this week and leave a nice comment. Let her know that you found her on Ducks 'n a Row. Follow her by RSS and Pinterest, too!

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Check these out:

How to Win

Best Coffee-How To Make It At Home

Chocolate Cheesecake Recipes

Help Wanted - Writers!

Diet and Weight Loss - Pick a Plan!

Be sure to post your links on today's

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

Money Saving Tips - Special Diets Don't Have to Break the Bank!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Freefoto.com

Diets are expensive! This three part series by Mary Hudak-Collins of "Living With Food Allergies and Celiac Disease" will help us learn how to stretch a grocery budget to go a long, long way...especially those who have someone on a special diet!

It seems everywhere you turn today, someone is on some type of diet. Whether it be due to food allergies, health reasons, or weight loss. For whatever reason the diet exists, it doesn't come without a price tag. You would think that if a company left out gluten, dairy, egg, corn, nuts (especially), sugar, or any other ingredient, that the price of the product would be less. But it's quite the opposite. These 'specialty' foods have a high price tag.

Freefoto.com

Individuals can spend in excess of $600.00 a month on specialty foods (for a family of four), and literally put someone in the hole just to eat! I find that absolutely absurd, and I for one, had to find someway to eat allergy/gluten free less expensively.

Shopping can be challenging, but here are a few helpful ideas to keep it simple:

1. First, know what you can eat on your particular diet. The informational links page on our site has several web sites that will help. Other information is available on the Internet, as well as diet sheets of allowed food provided by your doctor's office and/or nutritionist. Check Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble Book Store for books available on your diet needs.

Freefoto

2. Develop a menu. Start small at first, maybe a week or two, gradually building up to a month. Putting it on paper allows you to see what left-over food items can be used in two different meals ie., left-over baked potatoes can be used for fried potatoes at breakfast; left-over chicken breast can be used for tomorrow's chicken salad for lunch. Also, cooking a little extra can mean a meal or two to put in the freezer for another day when you may not have the time to cook. Try to incorporate as many naturally allergy/gluten free foods in your menu.

coupon images

3. Next, search for coupons. Allergy and gluten free foods don't always have coupons available, and sometimes you will find them but they will only be available for on-line purchases (see section on buying in bulk). Be sure to search the name brand web sites of the foods you can eat.

Freefoto.com

4. Buy in bulk, if possible. Find a friend, relative, or even a neighbor that has special diet needs similar to you. There are so many on-line stores available (Amazon, GlutenFree.com, and Glutenfreemall.com) to name just a few. There are some on-line stores that offer allergy/free coupons for their stores, although I haven't shopped there yet. Even some of your local Walmart, Sams, Cosco, and Health Food stores offer bulk purchases if you speak to them directly. If you have access to an Asian store in your area, you will find gluten free rice flours and products at a greatly reduced price. Be sure to tell them it needs to be gluten free. Don't assume that it will be.

Freefoto.com

5. Buying bread on a gluten free diet can be very expensive. If you find a brand that you like, it is cost effective to buy in bulk and freeze. I have found the Tapioca Light by Ener-G foods and Udi's gluten free bread to be the best for our family. Another great idea is to substitute corn or rice tortillas or lettuce as a wrap in place of bread. Tortillas can be frozen and taken out as needed. Leaf lettuce can be grown in a planter just about all year long depending where you live.

This is Part 1 of a great three-part post by Mary Hudak-Collins. Please be sure to check back for Friday's post (part 2) which will cover growing foods, buying meats, and storing your own foods.

See you back here at Ducks 'n a Row for Wonderful Wednesday!

In The Midst of a Mess

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:30:00 +0000

Guest post by Kristen Campbell of The Road to Domestication.

I meet regularly with a particular business associate and, though the meetings are filled with creative ideas and inspiring conversations, I often dread them. Why? Because it all happens in the midst of a mess.

Now, it has been said that “a messy desk is the sign of a creative mind”…and I’m inclined to agree with that, to a certain extent. But has it EVER been said that “a clean desk is a sign of a stale consciousness”? I don’t think so and I wouldn’t believe that for a moment.

What a mess!

Here’s the thing: how can you be productive, and unleash all of your creativity to make a positive difference in the world, when you can’t even find a pen to write yourself a reminder? Moreover, find a clean sheet of paper to write the reminder on? Even worse, a much needed flat space on the desk is missing! You know, that place on which you will put that piece of paper to write?

Whether it’s a small space on your kitchen counter, a cubby under your stairs, a home study or a corner office with a view of downtown, there MUST be some form of organization if you are to ever thrive in your environment.

Neat work space promotes creativity!

So here’s a simple task for today.

Make stacks.

That’s all! Make stacks! Three stacks, to be exact. You can make three stacks!

Stack #1: Garbage And don’t say that everything you have is important and can’t be thrown away…that’s a whole different post! I guarantee that you will find at least 3 things to put into your garbage stack!

Stack #2: Action Whether it is a bill to be paid, a paper to grade, software to return or a picture to hang on the fridge, it requires action. Don’t go DO it…just put it in the stack.

Stack #3: File To keep yourself from having to continually work in the mess, some things will simply need to be put away. Again, don’t DO it right this minute…just put it in the stack.

Hey, guess what? You’ve just made sense of the mess! Shred your garbage stack, and come back tomorrow! When you return, file a few papers and take action on a few items.

If something new arises, add it to one of your stacks! Before you know it, your work area will be wide open and even more conducive to creative genius.

Try it. It’ll work. I promise!

Related Posts:

Take Control - Clean a Drawer

Organize-Become an Organizing Genius in 5 Easy Steps

Speed Clean Your Email

Organize and Lose Weight
Home Office - what does yours look like?

Visit Kristen Campbell at www.theroadtodomestication.blogspot.com

Photo Credit: Messy Desk by mrsdkrebs on flickr.com

Photo Credit: Business Woman Sitting by Ambro on Freedigitalphotos.net

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Chocolate Chip Cake From Scratch

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Oh, this Chocolate Chip Cake recipe is just too good, if that's possible! Mary Hudak Collins of Living With Food Allergies and Celiac Disease shared this delicious dessert recipe on last week's Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

It is our spotlight post of the week.

Chocolate Chip Cake

Thankfully, I have not had to deal with severe food allergies, nor Celiac Disease, but I have had friends who have and it changes your whole life. Every bit of health depends on the right choices when it comes to food. Mary's beautiful daughter Michaela, was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and Celiac Disease just three years ago.

Mary's blog was born as a result of their journey. You'll be inspired by their story and amazed at all the wonderful ways food is prepared in a gluten and allergy-free world!

Please take a moment to stop by her blog and check out her many great posts. Leave a comment and subscribe, too! Let her know you found her on Ducks 'n a Row!

Of course, today is also Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

We welcome you to share links to your favorite posts (below)!

Recent Posts for Writers...and would-be writers:
Help Wanted-Writers!
Readers- How to Keep Them
Email List - How to Increase Your Subscribers Bigtime
Read Aloud-A Key To Writing Success and Excellence

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Help Wanted..Writers!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:59:00 +0000

Ever hit a place in your life where you finally had to cry for help? Circumstances were pressing in from all sides and there just wasn't enough of you to go around?

Well, I'm feeling a little bit like that right now. Writing on Ducks 'n a Row is such a joy to me. I have so many wonderful readers, many of whom share my posts with their friends and come back again and again. It's just so much fun.

But right now, I'm in over my head. I am over-booked and I no longer can keep up at a level that I feel good about. Family and day-job have to take priority and, well, you've gotta sleep SOMETIME, right? So I'm having to pare back in the writing department for just a couple of months.

Calling All Writers! "Help!"

That's why I am calling upon my many writer friends. If you would like to guest post on Ducks 'n a Row, I would love it! Just email me and let me what you'd like to do. My readers are not likely to be familiar with your work so we could even post one of your best "oldies but goodies". Let's talk about it. As you know, there are several themes that we focus on, which should give you a lot of flexibility.

We can use posts on any of the following:

Organizing
Cleaning
Gardening
Recipes
Parenting
Crafts
Pets
Smart Buys
Time Management

Just email me at sinea77@gmail.com or add a comment here with your email address so that I can contact you. Make the subject line "guest post", please.

I can use the first post immediately, so don't hesitate to send it along. Word format would be good. When it posts, I promise to broadcast it loud and clear to all of my Facebook and Twitter friends. Please feel free to do the same. Include your links in your post, too!

Wonderful Wednesday continues.

And, I will still be writing myself. Just a little less often for a few months.

Much love,

Sinea from Ducks 'n a Row

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For your reading pleasure:

Best Coffee--How to Make It At Home

Quick Breakfast Recipes

Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe -- $250 Cookies

Photo by photostock on freedigitalphotos.net

Getting Children Organized-Tips for Starting Them Off Young

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:55:00 +0000

Guest Post by Marlene Devine of So Squared Away

Some people are more organized than others, starting practically from birth. Others struggle with it. All is not lost if one is not born with the organizing gene. Organizing can indeed be a learned behavior. How can you give your children the best chance at being organized adults? Start them off young. Like all life lessons, big and small, kids pick up on their surroundings and take some of their habits from their environment. Some may be more effective for you than others, but the following tips can assist in teaching your children good organization habits.

Photo credit: Elegant Room by Maggie Smith
Freedigitalphotos.net

Lead by example. The easiest way to get children organized and keep them that way is to lead by example. When children see you using systems to organize your papers, your closets, or your life, it will become an ingrained part of their lives. I can't guarantee that the more organized your home is, the more organized your children will be, but it also seems unlikely that your child will find organization out of chaos, unless of course he/she is one of those children I mentioned earlier with innate organization skills. In that case, you don't need this article.

Incorporate organization into their lives. Once you have a system for something, talk through it with your children. Not a formal sit-down discussion, of course. It's more of a background commentary as you talk to your children while you go about your day. State that you're putting the pens away in the drawer, or the snacks on the snack shelf, or the laundry in the drawer where it belongs. Announcing that you're putting something back in its place (and that it indeed has a place) makes a big difference in empowering children to emulate your behavior.

Photo Credit: Dan @ Freeditigalphotos.net

Of course this applies to their toys as well. When cleaning up their toys, be specific about what you're doing. "I'm going to put the blocks in the bin with your other blocks. Let's put the ball away with all of the other ones."

Give them ownership. Involve them in the process of setting up their play spaces and have them clean up with you. It won't work perfectly at the beginning, but young children love to make a game of clean up. Label their storage spaces and containers with pictures (such as Lego blocks, stuffed animals, trucks, balls, and cars) so they can tell where items belong, then ask them to find the picture that matches and put the toy there.

Make donations part of your routine. For as far back as my children can remember, we've donated items regularly. It's just part of our family's routine. I tend to schedule donation pickups at my house about every other month, and as the date approaches, we all pull unwanted clothing items into bags. Sometimes we're actually doing this the night before the scheduled pickup..."just in time" donating!

For toys, we do this a little less often. At a minimum, we have always purged the toys before gift-receiving holidays. The kids essentially make room for incoming toys. This can be a little challenging for young children at the beginning, so have them put toys in a "maybe" box. This box MAY be donated, but not yet. It allows them time to go back to the toys before they're gone forever. Very rarely has anything ever been taken out of the "maybe" box. It's important to stress the benefits in very simple terms, such as the fact that other boys and girls who don't have great toys to play with will be very happy to play with these.

I'll leave the detailed discussions of generosity to you, but you get the idea. If they resist, don't fight it, it shouldn't be viewed as punishment. Keep trying and as they get older I think you'll find it gets much easier until it's just the norm.

One of the easiest ways to stay organized is to not let the situation get out of control in the first place. Having your children involved from the beginning and getting accustomed to a habit of regularly donating their unwanted things will pay big dividends in their organized adult life.

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Wonderful Decluttering Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:30:00 +0000

In honor of the new 15 Day, 15 Minute Organizing Challenge we are featuring a blog from last week's blog hop that will help us clean up and save money too.

Filled with great savings ideas, Saving Cent by Cent is now featuring a Proctor & Gamble giveaway to win a FREE washer and dryer plus a year's supply of Tide! Can't beat that.

(Anyone taking on our challenge in the laundry room? You can make room for that washer/dryer combo just in case you're the winner!)

Keep up with the savings...visit Saving Cent by Cent and subscribe today!

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Organizing Lady "Comes Clean"

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

The 15 Day, 15 Minute Organizing Challenge starts TODAY!

First may I start on a positive note? This is what my dining room table looks like right now. The flowers and foil wrapped candy are it. The rest of the table? Totally bare. Neat and organized. Ah...pretty!

Now, the "why" of this organizing challenge!
This is a personal confession.
Chaos and clutter have taken over my house!!!
"Excuses...excuses."

Yes, there are reasons. Though the weather where I live has been very mild this winter, it's been a "sick winter" for me.

Out of 8 consecutive weekends, I was sick for six. Two colds, the yucky stomach flu and two weeks of bronchitis.

Since I have a day-job, weekends are my best and almost only chance to get anything done. Though I wasn't at all well, I did get simple chores done (kind of) but there was no way that was I going to keep clutter at bay. I'd grocery shop, put the frozen and perishable foods away and the canned and paper goods stayed in their sacks in the "pantry" room. What I urgently needed was SLEEP and for good health to return...so that was my focus. Everything else went on hold.

Then there was the first "well weekend" after bronchitis but I couldn't be at home. Instead, I was helping my family clean out my dad's house to get it ready for sale. Time is of the essence and it was "all-hands-on-deck".

Six hours and 18 bags of donations to Good Will later, the little energy I had left was used to eat dinner (take-out), chill in front of the TV with my hubby and go to bed.

Another non-cleaning weekend and the evil clutter continued to grow.

And THIS is what happened!

Yikes! What a mess!

So this is the room I am going to tackle in the Organizing Challenge.

It is a room that I use for a pantry and an overflow room for cupboard space that I do not have.

The 15 Day, 15 Minute Organizing Challenge
is for
ME!
How about you? Will you join me? Let's have fun and tackle it together.

First, pick a room or storage area that is in deep organizational need. This should be a place that may NEVER get done if you don't deliberately plan to do it. Other rooms may also need help but work on space that often gets skipped.

The Rules

The rules are easy and designed to give us success that will build momentum to do more!

During the next 3 weeks, declutter that room at for least

15 days just 15 minutes per day. That's it!

You may want to do 5 days per week KNOWING that some days may not happen but you are welcome to do 15 days consecutively.

The Tools

Two empty trash bags, one empty laundry basket and your kitchen timer.
Wear SNEAKERS or tie-shoes so that you don't get hurt when you step on something (this is a practical safety-issue if your room looks like the one I'm cleaning).

How to

Use ONE trash bag for garbage.

One trash bag for donating or giving away.

And a laundry basket to cart away items that don't belong in that room.

Set your timer for 15 minutes.

Now, as quickly as possible, SORT!

Do not get hung up on "what if I need this someday?" If you haven't used it in a year or two, you probably won't miss it at all. Bless someone else with it or throw it away.

When the timer rings, STOP.

Stop right in your tracks.

Tomorrow is another day.

Teamwork: let's check in with each other at the comment section or on Facebook and share the journey. Have friends who would like to join us? Send them the link right away so that we can all start together.

What room will you do?

Are you aiming for 15 days in a row or another plan?

Got any words of wisdom to help us on the way?

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Stop by on Facebook Tuesday for a tip and our first update!

Spring Holiday Chocolate Chip Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Today I was wondering just what to share in this Easter weekend post.

Let us first rejoice and celebrate the death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Where would we be without Him?

So, what are your plans for Easter Dinner?
My friend, Jan, who is an amazing baker, sent me this recipe this morning. Knowing that, when it comes to making incredibly delicious desserts, Jan nails it every time, I asked her if I could share it with you.
She was delighted!
If you were wondering what to make for Easter dessert, this might be just what you were looking for.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Heat Oven 350 degrees – Time: 45 minutes

Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan or bundt pan

Ingredients

1 ½ cups sugar

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sour cream

2 eggs

2 Tablespoons of milk or cream

1 Tablespoon of Vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

6 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Cream first two ingredients until very smooth.
Add eggs to shortening and sugar and beat till eggs are light.
Add sour cream, milk, and vanilla and beat in well until well blended.
Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a small bowl.
Add dry ingredients to liquid mixture and mix till flour is blended.

DO NOT OVER MIX AFTER FLOUR IS IN MIXTURE.

Add in chocolate chips.
Turn mixture into tube pan and bake for 45 minutes.
Let cool in pan 10-15 minutes and then invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely.
Dust with cinnamon and sugar or confectionery sugar.

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Reminder...Monday begins our 15 Day, 15 Minute Organizing Challenge!

Get your garbage bags and timers ready. See you there!

Photo credits:

Jesus photo by Stuart Miles freedigitalphotos.net

Bundt Cake by Melissa Chromick flickr.com

DIY Inspiration by Wilma

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:01:00 +0000

Wilma is a "DIY fashionista" with a flare for the dramatic. Her blog called "By Wilma" is our featured blog of the week on this Wonderful Wednesday!

Easter is right around the corner. You'll definitely want to take a look at her Decoupage Easter Egg tutorial. Isn't it just beautiful? Who thinks these things up, anyway? Should you decide to step into the daring and try it, send us the link to a photo of your creation, OK?

DIY Decoupage Easter Eggs By Wilma

And welcome to our

Wonderful Wednesday

Blog Hop!

Please link up your favorite posts and stop by some others, too.

Share your family-friendly blog posts or your preferred social network page like FACEBOOK or TWITTER.

Your call!

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Recent Posts

Centerpieces - An Organized Mom's Secret Weapon
Ice Cream Cakes
M and M's
5 Best Organizing Tips I've Ever Learned
Weight Watchers Points Plus Calculator --includes link to the free online calculator

Oh yes...don't forget that this MONDAY starts our 15 Day, 15 Minute Organizing Challenge.

What to have on hand? Garbage bags, a kitchen timer and Ducks 'n a Row!

See you there!

Sunflower photo: by healingdream on freedigitalphotos.net

Long-term Benefits of Getting & Staying Organized

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:02:00 +0000

This "instant replay" post is leading up to the launch of our 15 Day Decluttering Challenge, premiering Monday. To get ready, be sure to have plenty of garbage bags and your TIMER ready.

Long Term Benefits of Getting & Staying Organized

Believe it or not, becoming organized both at home and at work can accelerate your travel on the Road to Success. Think it through. Maintaining a neat, orderly, uncluttered environment is liberating. It creates an atmosphere of low-resistance. Your surroundings no longer clamor for your attention. It is more pleasant –peaceful-- to be there and it frees you up to do other things!

Being organized and efficient:

Reduces stress
Increases your potential for productivity – things aren’t getting in your way.
Puts you in a state of readiness –anyone can drop in.
Widens the door for opportunity – you can answer “the call” when it comes.
Prepares the stage for success – you have set habits in motion that are foundational to a great work ethic!

After you’ve cleared the clutter and set your house in order, now what?

Photo credit: Dreamstime.com

Pursue your dream like a bulldog! Your current occupation may not be your dream but you can now invest this freed-up time into following your real dream because STUFF is no longer getting in your WAY!

Word to the Wise: do not let your guard down. Keep things in place and maintain a “clutter free zone”.

So, what does this have to do with bulldogs?
Bulldogs have the reputation of being stubborn and determined—they dig in and don’t give up.
Whether that is truly the case with this gentle, misunderstood breed, the point is well taken. Not every dream comes to pass quickly, or easily, but it is worth the pursuit as long as that dream is what lights your fire. If there is anything good in it, and if it energizes you, chase it and don’t let go. It could prove to be your very purpose in life!

Irma courtesy of sxc.hu

Awesome Inspiration from Giants in the Organizing Industry:

How to give up some stuff in exchange for more freedom, from Leo Babuata of Zen Habits: "A Simple Strategy for Simplifying"

It's all about time, from Erin Doland of Unclutterer: "Are You Losing Time?"

Planners save time and money from Cynthia Ewer of Organized Home: "Get Organized: Tap the Power of Planners"

Get your mind set for our 15 Day Decluttering Challenge: Organize-Become an Organizing Genius in 5 Easy Steps

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Photo credit: email @ sign by jscreationzs on freedigitalphotos

Photo credit: RSS feed sign by renjith krishnan on freedigitalphotos

Meatball Stroganoff Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Beef Stroganoff dates back to Russia and is named for a 19th century figure named Count Paul Stroganov. History of Beef Stroganoff. The beef was sauteed with onions and mushrooms and combined in a sour cream sauce. This creamy, comforting mixture is usually served on noodles or rice. It tastes delicious but takes so much time and effort to make. That's why many of us have opted for a simpler version.

Meatballs Stroganoff

Photo by My Kind of Cooking

My recipe is one of the "cheaters versions"-- quick, simple and low cost.

Ingredients

1 bag precooked Homestyle meatballs

1 cup-ish of sour cream

1 can condensed Cream of Mushroom soup

2 tsp. cooking sherry (to taste)

Parmessan cheese (optional)

Egg noodles (extra wide)

Directions

Precook the meatballs in oven, according to directions.
Precook noodles according to directions (1/2 bag serves 2 people)
Combine other ingredients in a large skillet or sauce pan and heat gently on
medium heat.
Add meatballs.
Serve on cooked egg noodles.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (optional).

The Meal

Now, one of the points to this recipe is to make a delicious filling, warm meal with little effort. So, what do you serve on the side? You may want to simply microwave some peas or green beans.

Green Beans

Photo by Ian Britton on Freefoto.com

If you'd like to get a little fancier, though, here are some great ideas:

Green Beans with Almonds from Simply Recipes: easy to make green bean recipe with a nice little twist.
Easy Yams: this takes the time to bake them but is almost effortless. Yams have a natural rich, sweet flavor that need little to no attention and it still tastes great!
Homemade Biscuits by Paula Deen: if it's Paula Deen, you know it's delicious. These DIY biscuits only take 12 minutes to make!
Apple Crisp: great dessert recipe served with vanilla ice cream.

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Elegant Cupcakes? You bet!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:05:00 +0000

I was in the mood to show you something truly beautiful this Wonderful Wednesday. So, I looked through the links from our guests on last week's blog hop and knew instantaneously that this was the one! Cupcakes!

Debbie from "Life is Sweets" makes most spectacular cupcakes...and she photographs them beautifully, as well. A work of art.

Each cupcake is the picture of perfection. And she shows you HOW to do it, too.

Be sure to check it out: Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Cupcakes. There are many more lovely pictures to see, in addition to this one.

Gorgeous Mothers Day Cupcakes

Photo: Life-is-Sweets

And, of course, today is another Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

Add your links, like and follow, leave great comments, spread the news.

Subscribe to Ducks 'n a Row Here
And by Email
And "LIKE" us on Facebook, too.

More for you...

Get Followers-Tips for Bloggers

Scarf Tying -How to Add That Special Touch to Any Outfit

Post It Notes-Those Nifty Little Gadgets

Mops, Brooms, Dustpans...Oh My!

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Here's a blast from the past that's been a favorite with our readers.

If you like it, please share it with your friends:

A place for everything, and everything in its place. Everyday cleaning tasks are a real chore if you don't have the right tools--and if they're not handy.

Today we are going to talk about the tools that get our floors clean and shiny, and where to put them when they're not in use.
Martha Stewart shared her storage tip for mops and brooms on her website this week. How to keep an Orderly Utility Closet

Organizers for your Mops & Brooms

There are several styles of organizers available to keep your mops and brooms neat, and conveniently handy.

Here are some easy to install space savers: BROOM ORGANIZERS

KINDS OF BROOMS

FLAT BROOM

Traditional broom with even-trimmed bristles at bottom attached to a wooden handle.

ANGLE BROOM

Similar to the traditional flat broom except that the bristles are cut at an angle for cleaning debris out of corners, as well as sweeping the central part of the room. This style is more versatile than the flat broom variety.

PET HAIR SECRET: having trouble getting pet hair off of your carpeted stairway? Use an angle broom! Sweep back and forth, starting that the top stair, and watch the fur fly! Once it is loosened up, use an electric broom or vacuum cleaner to finish the job! Works brilliantly.

PUSH BROOM Often depicted in cartoons being used by street-cleaners, this wider and thicker broom covers large open areas well. Especially big, open rooms, hallways or garages.

WHISK BROOM

This broom has a short handle and is therefore well suited for cleaning the interior of vehicles or uncarpeted stairs. Be sure to use a dust pan.

ELECTRIC BROOM Closer to being a vacuum cleaner, this broom is a bit less powerful but very useful for short jobs.

TYPES OF MOPS

Flat Mops and Dust Mops

Similar in nature, these dry mops quickly clean up light debris and pet hair from hard surfaces floors. Sweep and shake em outside or over a garbage can. The latest version is the Swiffer Duster. Cover with disposable sheets and dust your floors in no-time.

Sponge Mops

Wet mops that absorb dirt and distribute cleaning solutions. The sweeper just wets the sponge end in water, and squeezes it dry with a metal device that is built in, applies cleaning solution to the floor and wipes it clean. Many of today’s solutions do not require rinsing. Sponge mops are most often used on kitchen, bathroom and hallway floors. A contemporary version of the traditional sponge mop, is the Swiffer Wetjet.

String Mops

String or rag mops are often depicted in old-time movies
where the janitor is cleaning a linoleum floor in an office building or a navy seaman is cleaning the ship. Bucket at his side, he “swabs the deck” with steady, large back and forth motions. String mops do the job but can get yucky pretty fast and it takes lots of elbow-grease to use them.

Steam Mops

A home executive’s dream come true! Black and Decker has a Steam Mop with smart technology that is oh so neat. No cleaning solutions necessary—just use tap water! Gotta check this video out.

What are your favorite "tools of the trade"? How do you store them? What do you like, or not like, about the ones that you use?

I think we can all agree that, after the floor is clean and shiny, we stand back, admire our work saying "Yes! Now that's much better! Gee, I'm really gonna miss this when I hire a maid!" :)

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5 Best Organizing Tips I Have Ever Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Sinea) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:01:00 +0000

In the World of Organizing, we have so much to learn, don't we? I know I do. That's why I fortify myself with reading great material on decluttering, organizing, cleaning, decorating, time management, and so on. It is encouraging, invigorating and brings focus.

The 5 Best Organizing Tips I Have Ever Learned are

fundamental keys to getting the job done!

1. Shine Your Sink - this one came from the Queen of Organizing, Marla Cilley. Otherwise known as the FlyLady, Marla has started zillions of us off on the path to an organized life. I'm proud to say that I've met Marla personally...by phone but we spent 90 minutes talking one afternoon about organizing and writing. She has taught me so much.

The Shiny Sink 101 lesson was monumental. Somewhat skeptical, I took it on. Following her instructions almost exactly, I emptied my very full and grungy sink, shined it up real pretty and WOW! It looked so good, I just had to do the counters, too.

Keeping my Windex nearby, I continued to keep it empty and shined and it really did what she said it would do...REPELS DIRTY DISHES! No one wants to be the first to put a dirty dish in it. Check out her tutorial Shiny Sink 101 and try it. (BTW, the same concept works in other areas of the house, like the dining room table.)

1950's Kitchen Remodeled

2. You Can't Organize Clutter - Clutter is just that...CLUTTER! And clutter cannot be moved, regrouped or organized. It must go. It MUST go! Recognizing the truth is a huge step toward conquering it for good.

Erin Doland on her website "Unclutterer" shared an eye-opening reality in her post "Single Socks and How They Can Help You To Process What-if Clutter." We've all experienced the paralyzing thoughts that oppose throwing or giving things away. "What if I might need it later?" torments us till we do absolutely nothing but maybe move it aside. Fact is, that thing MUST go. Be brave. Be strong. Get rid of it!

"View from the Floor"

3. Do A Little Bit Every Day - organizing projects take time. Especially if decluttering has to take place first, don't try to do it all at one time. Why not? Because you'll fail. You'll give up and then the clutter will start to climb again. If you set a habit in place and let it become a lifestyle, soon whole rooms, entire closets and finally your entire dwelling will be neat, clean, manageable and "drop in company ready".

Laura Wittmann teaches an easy to follow "How to Get Organized" process on her website "Organizing Junkie" and she even provides a beautifully designed bookmark with the steps right on it (free printable pdf). Even the top organizers refer to her process and it's a good thing for all of us to learn from. Then, while we are doing a little bit every day, we'll know WHAT to be doing! :)

4. Many Hands Make Light Work - if you can get the family involved in the process, do it. Not every family falls into line like we might wish but Organized Home writer Cynthia Ewer has some great suggestions on how to make it work in her Five Tips for Spring Cleaning With Kids post.

5. Don't Let New Things In The House - Yep! Sounds severe but sometimes you've got to really attack the situation. How'd the clutter get in? You LET it in. Leo Babauta of Zen Habits has a great article entitled "15 Great Decluttering Tips" that tells it like it is. Point #2 is don't let new stuff in! Makes sense. Until you get the other stuff out, don't compound the problem. It'll make you want to get control faster, too because, let's face it, we all love new stuff!

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"1950's Kitchen Remodeled" by NancyHugoCKD.com on Flickr Creative Commons.
"View from the Floor" photo by Puuikibeach on Flickr.com

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