Wicker Chairs

One of my next projects is to clean and seal the wicker chairs (see pic) on my front porch. You can tell the sun has taken its toll when you lift the seat cushion. I'm not sure what I should use to clean and seal, but it needs doing so I'll be looking into that soon.

If you have any ideas, let me know!

Review of Atum de Cebolada (Tuna Steak with Onions and Tomatoes)

DH and I bought tuna steaks the other day and were looking for a good recipe for them b/c we've never eaten tuna steaks before. So over to Food Network we went and settled on Emeril's Atum de Cebolada (Tuna Steak with Onions and Tomatoes).

Overall the recipe is really good. Tasty. Smells wonderful. The potato fries are a nice touch. Our tuna steak could have been a little tastier, but I imagine it was the steak, not the recipe. If we make it again, which we probably will, I'd probably marinate the steaks in oil and garlic for 30 minutes or so before cooking.

Overall rating: A-

Domestic Divas meet Not so Domestic Men...

It could be the reverse, I suppose. Domestic Men and not so Domestic Divas. Anyway... I read this post over here about Marriage and taking care of your man. I was always under the assumption that we should be taking care of each other...

It makes me feel great to take care of my dh in little or big ways. And I know he appreciates it. The problem is, sometimes I wonder why we don't tell each other we appreciate what the other does for us. If your dh is the breadwinner, when's the last time you thanked him for that? And when's the last time he thanked your for cooking dinner every night this week? :)

Sorry, rambling... I just find one of the most important things about this job as a woman, domestic or not, is the relationship with your SOS. I think I need to tell him more often all the little things I appreciate, rather than correcting him or trying to help him.

Alice's Mashed Potatoes

There are probably a dozen people who make mashed potatoes this way but I stumbled across it yesterday while making lunch for my dh and parents. I washed 5 regular baking potatoes. Peeled four. Then chopped them up into chunks and put them in a big pan with enough water to almost cover them. Then I put in two chunks of butter. A bit of salt and pepper. And a bit of roasted garlic (the kind you get in the jar.), just the tip of a knife full. Boil until fork tender.

Drain the water. Then put in more butter (hey, we're southern!), about half a cup of milk. And a half full of mozzarella cheese. Mash. Add more butter or milk if needed.

These were so yummy. And I just came up with it on the fly. Yum. Yum. Yum.

A little help please? Lemon meringue pie

My neighbor's birthday party is two weeks away. He's not a big fan of cake so I offered to cook his favorite, lemon meringue pie.

So, what's your favorite lemon meringue pie recipe???

Thanks for the help!

A look at sponges

I was cleaning up after lunch today and as I was putting away the sponge I wondered when I should switch to a new sponge. So I looked it up on Real Simple. They've done a few sponge studies, definitely worth checking out.

So when should you switch sponges? They say it depends on how often and how well you clean and disinfect them. Visit this page to learn how to do that.

Not enough sponge info four you? Check out these four great alternate uses for your trusty sponge. I've personally used it as a pet hair picker upper. :)

Ahah Moment # 1 - cookbook bookshelf

My husband said to me one day "Why don't we have a cookbook bookshelf in the kitchen?" My reply... "we have one upstairs in the library." We stared at each other for a minute. Ahah! A bookshelf in the kitchen for cookbooks... where I actually read and use the cookbooks. That made sense!

I'd actually been thinking about this quandary for a while. I'd reorganized a counter so that I could in fact put some favorite cookbooks there.

Out entry table is a bookshelf. It's where I keep the books that have just been finished that I may want to loan out. They wait there until I take them upstairs to the library and put them away. Hubby mentioned putting the cookbooks on there. Then he mentioned moving the bookshelf. I'm a bit territorial over that little bookshelf and it's location. I've always wanted an entry table with a welcoming lamp and a small arrangement of fresh flowers. Moving the bookshelf meant I'd have to move the lamp and flowers... until I can get a replacement.

Well, we moved the shelf. Stacked cookbooks on it. And I love it.

And... I love the new home for the lamp and flower arrangement. So I'm not totally pining away for the entry table. I do miss it. And I've got my eyes open for a better one. But don't tell dh that. ;)

An organized closet

I've been touring the blogosphere looking for good organizing tips and I came across a post about organizing your closet. I totally agree that it's a necessity. I spent most of last year hardly able to step foot in my closet (no, I don't have any before shots, thank God. It's embarassing enough just admitting it.). So, after the irritation mounted, DH and I cleaned out. Completely reorganized everything. It's going much better. I'll post pics soon.

My number one piece of advice is take everything out of your closet.

Then only put stuff back in that you have worn in the last 6 months to a year. Formal were doesn't count.

Don't wait to lose weight. Chances are, by the time you do the clothes you saved will be out of fashion or you'll be older and should you really be wearing short shorts? :\ And yes, when you drop the weight you do deserve new clothes. Go shopping!

Donate, donate, donate! You'll be amazed how good it feels to bag stuff up and take it to Good Will (or wherever.) We donated about 15 bags of clothes and stuff. Crazy, huh?

Spring Cleaning for your Bookmarks

Today would be a great day to organize your bookmarks/favorites. Divide them into folders, putting like with like. It’ll only take a few minutes and you’ll be ready for the rest of the year.

Spring Time

It’s a gorgeous day, almost too pretty to stay inside. It’s got me thinking of all the outside projects I want to tackle.

One thing on my list is window box style planters for the back deck. I have two older ones that I’ve been using for years and I’d like to get matching ones to go all the way around. Probably five all together… but what to put in them.

Southern Living has a great idea for winter boxes. I wonder if some of those plants could work for summer as well.