Spring Cleaning: Week One

Week one: De-Clutter & Buy Supplies
Use this week to go through your closets and demon drawers and purge! You should also head out and buy your cleaning supplies.

Last week I started on my clothing. I was amazed at how great it felt to go though and toss things that I no longer need. It’s a great way to begin the cleaning process. Start in your clothing closet and then work your way through the other closets and demon drawers in your house. Take on one space per day. It’s nowhere near as overwhelming that way.

You could also arrange a fun girlie night with this. Invite over a good friend or two, pour some wine and have them help you go through your closet. It’s great to have an objective pair of eyes for this exercise so don’t invite that amazing friend that thinks you look great in everything. Play with her another day. Try on the things you are second-guessing and get their opinion.
Because I have such limited closet space I’m a big fan of packing away seasonal items I no longer need. Sweaters, scarves, gloves, etc all get packed away. I open it back up when the weather gets cooler and it’s like a treasure trove of things I forgot I had!

When you’re going through your clothing and shoes you’ll want to make several piles:

Donate
These are pieces you just will no longer use for whatever reason. They should be in good shape though. It’s a good practice to only donate clean clothes in good repair. Pack this stuff up and donate it to your favorite charity shop or sell it on ebay. I’m hoping this will be your biggest pile

Repair
These are pieces that you would wear “if.” You know, IF the missing button was sewn back on, IF the zipper were fixed, IF it were a different color. Be careful here. IF you really would wear them then go ahead and put them in this pile. IF you really will make the necessary repairs put them here. If you aren’t sure, don’t keep them. The idea is to purge.

Throw away or Repurpose
These are items that are either so old or in disrepair that you can’t donate them. A great shirt with a huge rip might not be wearable but maybe you could use that fabric to create something else. Think creatively. Although we’re trying to purge we don’t want to be wasteful. Besides, making things is fun.

Keep
These are the ones you love and can’t wait to wear. Hang these babies back up on their hangers. They should have more room now.

Now, apply these principles to other closets and drawers in your house. Be very honest with yourself. Do you REALLY need those orphaned pen lids? Will you ever really find their mates? If in doubt, throw it out. Once you’ve discarded all of the unnecessary items in your life it will make it a lot easier to organize the things you need in your life.

As for cleaning supplies, I'm about to test out the new Green Works line from Clorox. Have any of you tried them yet? I'll be sure to post a review and make sure cleaning shopping list in the coming days. I think you have enough to keep you busy until then. *wink*

Spring Fever

Ahh after what feels like months of rain and dreariness the sun is out and the temperatures are getting a little warmer. It's harder and harder to concentrate at work. We have a wraparound deck at the office, complete with patio furniture and a BBQ. Who wants to sit inside at a desk with that around?

Spring fever = Spring cleaning. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be posting tips and tricks to break the spring cleaning out into pieces rather than a weekend of a deep scrub down. Think of it as a way to nab a few more hours at the park rather than with your hands in hot water.

Housewifery Hearts

Housewifery Hearts


My new electric kettle
I always loved the look of a real kettle on my stove but I have to admit I’m a changed girl these days. I finally caved and bought an electric kettle and I’m never going back. My super cheap (thanks Target) kettle sits in the corner and boils my water quickly and quietly, perfect for my impromptu cup of tea. I love the auto-shutoff too, no more screaming whistle! This is a great time saver ladies!





Firecrackers
No not the ones that go “boom” but the ones that make me go “Yummmm.” Over the last month or so we’ve had a few get-togethers here at our house. Firecrackers have been a staple. If you aren’t familiar with them they are these amazingly tasty hors d’oeuvre things that bake up in about 15 minutes. It’s shredded beef, cheese and jalapenos wrapped up in a crispy tortilla twisted to look kind of like, you guessed it, a firecracker. You can serve them with Salsa or Sour Cream but they are just perfect on their own as well. They were a big hit at our parties and because they were frozen there was little to no prep time and clean up. That’s my kind of snack!




British Foods
I grew up in Scotland and even though I’m all the way in California now I really do miss my British Food Favs. I hands down believe that the UK has the best candy and crisps (chips). I was lucky enough to find a tiny little independent Brit Foods shop one day while driving home. It was like a little bit of Heaven. Everything I could think of was there, Crunchies, Irn-Bru, Hob-Nobs, frozen steak & mushroom pies, even British flour, bread and cheese. I definitely spent more there than I intended to but I hope to keep that sweet lady in business.



Butters
Butters is our 2 year old Chihuahua/Jack Russell that we adopted from the Humane Society a month ago. He’s also to blame for me not posting as soon as I would have liked to. He’s the most adorable little boy but he’s frightened of everyone and everything that he doesn’t know. He’s about to enter some private training to help with that but in the meantime he likes to burrow under covers, wear the latest doggy boy fashions, eat beef jerky and snuggle on our laps.

Testing mobile blogging

See... I told you I would be better about posting. Testing out Blogger's mobile blogging feature.

a very lazy year

Oh dear 2007 was a very lazy year for the posting! I made very few resolutions on Jan 1 2008 but one of them was that I would be a million times better about posting here. This may mean a few "personal" postings creep over here now and again. I hope you won't mind.

So, I do resolve to post here more frequently...and add pics, tons more pics.

Here's to 2008 - the year of recipes, cleaning, pictures and posting. :)

*pinkie swear*

Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Soup

It's fall and so I've been starting to crave warm and hearty soups. I wanted something that was easy to make, would provide a few meals and was also low in calories/fat. Enter Tuscan White Bean Soup. I found a recipe online and modified it a bit to make it lower in calories/fat.

Tuscan White Bean soup

3 cans white navy beans (drained)
5 stalks celery (diced)
1 onion (diced)
3-4 carrots (diced)
Dried oregano, thyme, rosemary
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Olive oil
5 cups vegetable broth


Heat Olive oil in heavy bottomed stock/soup pot. Add diced onions. Cook onions, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes or until they begin to soften.
Add chopped celery and Carrots. Cook for 10 minutes. Add spices and salt and pepper. Pour in beans and stock. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat, let simmer for an hour. Stirring occasionally. Take out 3 cups of soup and put into blender (or use hand blender). Puree and then add back into remaining soup (to thicken).

I garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and it's a great final touch. You can also drizzle a little extra olive oil on the top if desired.

This is an easy recipe to modify and make your own. Spinach would be great in this, as would chicken. I'd even add some elbow pasta in to make it even heartier.

We interrupt this break for some chili

Oh my my I have been awful about updating! My regular life has been incredibly busy as of late and I'm desperately trying to clean those things away to make room for lots of Housewifery updating.

Right now I'm about to sit down to a nice big bowl of homemade chili and that got me to wondering....

What is your favorite "go-to-in-a-pinch-need-to-whip-something-up-quickly" meal? You know, the one you always seem to have most of the ingredients already on hand for and can make on the fly? I love my chili because it takes no time at all to actually prepare it and then I can just walk away and let it cook.

Generally, I love to let it brew away in the crock-pot but some nights there isn't enough time (or rather I haven't planned enough in advance) and so I just let it cook on the stovetop for an hour or so. Sprinkle loads of cheese on top and I'm a happy camper.