I received my Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Magazine yesterday and found a recipe for blueberry-almond granola.  I love granola, especially in my yogurt, but it's so expensive at the market...this is easy enough to make and will definitely save money instead of buying the containers of granola!!  Though the recipe is for blueberry- almond, the recipe is easy enough for you to modify and make whatever kind is your favorite...


 
 

The New England Bloggers are having a May Day Giveaway Carnival!!  Elizabeth from Thoughts from an Evil Overlord organized our group and carnival so be sure to give her a big thanks when you visit!!  There are 13 N.E. bloggers participating and giving away all kinds of cool stuff...you can visit all the New England Bloggers in my blog roll on the left and the participating giveaways here!

You do not need to be a part of the New England bloggers group to enter these giveaway, our group is simply hosting this carnival.  Please visit each blog for their individual entry rules.  Now on to the goods...


My giveaway is for a surprise grab bag full of goodies!!  There's a cook book by a famous (and rather handsome) celebrity chef, some cute paper scrapbooking papers and elements, a digital scrapbooking surprise and a hybrid craft gift I think you'll enjoy!  What do you have to do to enter?

• For 1 entry, post a comment here.
• For 2 additional entries, become a follower of my blog then come back here and tell me you did.
• For 2 more additional entries, snag my button and display it in your sidebar.  If you do, come back here and let me know.
• Want 3 more chances to win?  Blog about my New England Bloggers May Day Giveaway with a link back to my blog and then leave me a comment with your post url...

all additional entries need to be seperate comments and posted here by Friday @ 11:59pmEST.  I will choose a winner at random and announce them here by 2pmEST on Saturday.  Make sure your email address is available through your blog profile or leave your email in your comment so I can reach you if you win!!  If I do not receive a reply from the winner by Monday May 4th, I will choose another winner at random. 


Ok, now that all the technical stuff is explained, let's go visit some giveaways!!!


Participating Blogs


Art from the Heart - Catherine in ME
Basia-Spirit Space - Barbara in MA
The Book Kitten - Kitten in CT
Fabric 'N Fiber Fanatic - Sara in NH
Life, as it is... - Tara in MA (you are here)
Living the Local Life - Virginia in NH
Loving Mom 2 Boys - Liz in RI
My Secret Garden - Sue in MA
Penny's Art Room - Penny in ME
Penny-Wise People - Colleen in NH
Raise Your Hand If... - Carol in MA
Seriously, No Seriously - Michelle
Thoughts from an Evil Overlord - Elizabeth in MA (our awesome coordinator)


Good luck!

For whatever reason I was in a blog fog today and forgot about my Favorite Family Foto!!

If you saw last weeks post, then you know what these pictures are...

*Note to readers:  I don't know how I messed up my posts and scheduled them for next week (????) so I'm combining Thursdays Organizing and Friday's Laundry posts...sorry!*


Spring cleaning is the best time to organize!!  You've got everything out and cleaned so why not get it in order, right??  I've found some great tips, tricks and projects to help you get organized!

• 
  
  Clipping Magazine Articles: Instead of piling up stacks of magazines, flyers and newspapers because you want to save or clip certain articles when you have time, just tear out the article you want, store the torn clippings in your household inbox or file folder to cut neatly later and toss the magazines, flyers and newspapers (recycle). Really helps cut down on the magazine and newspaper piles.
  
  

• 
  
  Cluttered Refrigerator Notes: With a hole punch handy and a magnetic hook for the refrigerator, it’s easy to keep the refrigerator paper clutter at bay. For the paper items you like to stick on the refrigerator (like school newsletters or team practice times), just give them a quick hole punch and organize it by subject (or date) on one single magnetic hook. It’s so easy to flip through the items to find what you’re looking for and keep the rest of the refrigerator paper free.
  
  

• 
  
  Organize Take Out Menus & Coupons: Keep a file folder for menus from your favorite restaurants as well as restaurant flyers and coupons you receive in the mail. Highlight the dishes that your family liked and note the items you didn’t care for. This not only saves time from flipping through the yellow pages, it also keeps your coupons organized and saves you a bit of money since they’re not forgotten in a pile of flyers.
  
  
  

• 
  
  Treat stain as soon as possible, a fresh stain is easier to remove.
• Test treatment on a hidden or unseen area of the clothing, test for color fastness before treating stain in a visible spot.
• Avoid hot water on the following stains: blood, egg and milk.
• Follow directions of commercial cleaners, be aware of any precautions noted.
• Do not dry garments in a hot dryer until you have removed the stain, this can set the stain and makes it harder to remove.
  

Here's a few tips for some common stains:

• Blood Stain Removal

Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain, cover with salt, then sit for several minutes. You should see the blood draw up from the garment. Remove salt once stain has lifted and launder as usual. Test a small, hidden area first to make sure the color won’t be bleached.


Try rinsing the stain area in cool water then sprinkle on meat tenderizer. Sit for a few minutes then launder as usual.


You could also use hydrogen peroxide plain, apply to area, sit for a few minutes then launder in cool water (first test a small hidden area to make sure the garment color won’t be bleached).

Make a batch of cold, salty water and soak garment overnight. General guideline is 1 TBS salt per 2 1/2 cups of water. Launder as usual.

• Chocolate Stain Removal

Mix 4 TBS borax with 2 1/2 cups of warm water, soak garment in solution. After soaking, place stained area under cool running water, if stain doesn’t disappear, rub with a bar of laundry soap. Launder as usual.

• Grass Stain Removal

Before washing items with grass stains, try dabbing a generous amount of vinegar into the stain first. Launder as usual. This should help lift the stain right out.


Wet stain with water and cover with sugar. Leave for at least 1 hour then launder as usual.

• Lipstick Stains

Saturate a clean white cloth with household winger, rub lipstick stain lightly until it is removed

• Perspiration Stains

Mix a solution of water and vinegar (60/40) then sponge onto stain areas. Launder as usual.


Mix a solution of 1 quart warm water with 4 TBS table salt, soak garment. Wash as usual

• Ring Around The Collar

Try rubbing toothpaste along the stain before tossing in the washing machine. Careful on items that aren’t white, the toothpaste could cause discoloration.


Use 3 parts baking soda to 2 parts vinegar to make a paste, rub into stain and allow to set for 60 minutes, launder as usual

• Rust Spots On Cloth Items

Try treating the stains with a 50/50 mixture of lemon juice and water. Let sit for about 30 minutes before washing.


Rub powdered Cream of Tartar into stain, then wash in hot soapy water. You can also boil garment in water mixed with Cream of Tartar (4 tsp Cream of Tartar per pint of water).


Rust stains on laundry can happen if your washing machine or dryer has a part that’s rusted. It can also be caused by hard water or if the clothing was accidentally washed with something metal that rusted in the wash.

Did you know: Chlorine bleach will make the rust stains harder to remove or even permanent?

• Wine Stains

Mix 1 1/4 cups of water and 2 tsp borax, apply over stain. Soak for 15 minutes, launder as usual.




I hope my posts help you during your spring cleaning, I know they're going to make my cleaning a little bit easier!!

Here are Tipnut's Quick Tips for Mattress Care:

1. Use a mattress cover to protect the mattress and wash at least once a month.

2. Remove stains by lightly dabbing with liquid dish detergent that has been well diluted in water. For tough stains like blood spots, try blotting with hydrogen peroxide.  (If you've got bedwetting stains, check out this guide to cleaning bedwetting stains from mattress also on Tipnut.)

3. When stripping the beds down for laundry, freshen up the mattress by sprinkling a thin layer of baking soda directly on top of the mattress. Leave sit for a few hours then vacuum the powder up.


4. Air out the mattress by letting the sun in, open up the curtains and bedroom windows when the bed is stripped down.
 
5. Turn the mattress over every few months to help prevent permanent wear spots (flip top to bottom and side to side).
 
 
 
This is the best tip, by far, I've ever read on Tipnut.  It keeps your bedding sets organized together and saves space in your linen closet!!
 
Fold sheet, matching top sheet and 1 pillow case as you normally do. Then slide each into the 2nd pillow case to store. Stack these in your linen closet. When you change bedding, simply pull out the pillow case pack and the entire set is together. 
 
No more digging around your closet looking for matching bedding items, plus the sets stay well pressed rather than getting wrinkled and bunched up in your closet from being tossed around everytime you’re looking for a match!!
 
 
 
Almost done spring cleaning, but not quite!!  Come back tomorrow for Organization Tips!

Be sure to visit http://www.wearethatfamily.com/ to join in the fun!

I found these 10 Quick Tips for a Shiny Bathroom on Tipnut

1. Apply a thin layer of lemon oil to shower doors. This helps keep soap scum from building up by making the soapy water bead up on the glass and slide on down the drain. Pour 2 tsp of lemon oil on a clean cloth then wipe the doors. Do this every other week for best results. You can also try rubbing baby oil or shaving cream on your clean shower doors to keep them shiny and fog free. Shaving cream can also be used to remove built up soap scum on shower doors, walls and fixtures.

2. After each shower spray shower walls with cleaner to keep soap scum and grime from building up, really saves on cleaning time and keeps your shower shiny .

3. Remove rings inside the toilet bowl by applying a paste of borax and lemon juice to the stain (first flush toilet to make the surface wet). Allow to set for 2 hours then scrub.  For a toilet ring preventative measure, try pouring about 2 cups of vinegar in the toilet bowl and allow to sit for a few hours before flushing (do a quick brushing before flushing). Do this every 2 or 3 weeks.

4.  Bring a sparkle back to those shower curtains by laundering them with a bath towel. Add 1 cup vinegar during the rinse cycle. You could also wash them by hand using a household sponge soaked in vinegar (will help remove mildew and soap scum).

5. Remove nasty hard water buildup around tap fixtures using paper towels soaked in vinegar. Wrap them around the base of the taps for several hours to break down the crud, then wash clean.

6. Remove hairspray and splatter buildup on mirrors by buffing with a lint-free cloth and a bit of rubbing alcohol. Two earth friendly homemade cleaners for glass and mirrors: one cup cold strong black tea with 3 TBS of vinegar; or one part vinegar added to four parts water. 

7. No need for harsh cleaners to loosen up gobs of dried toothpaste and heavy grime in the sink, try this homemade cleaner that’s gentle on porcelain and brings back a shine- Homemade softscrub cleaner

8. Use your favorite liquid dish detergent to brighten grout between tiles, just drizzle on a sponge or wet cloth and scrub. You can also use toothpaste.

9. Bathrooms have lots of little nooks and crannies that hide germs and hold grime, use old toothbrushes to get right in there and gently scrub caulking, around faucets, vanity design features, shower tracks, baseboards, etc.

10. Things get pretty humid in the bathroom making it a perfect environment for mildew. Keep it at bay by spraying walls and ceilings with a 50/50 solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water, leave on (it will dry itself) and do this a couple times a year. Careful not to get this solution in your eyes when spraying. You can also use this to scrub away any mildew spots (or try a straight dose of hydrogen peroxide for tough spots).


I know these tips sure will help me get my bathroom sparkling, I hope they do the same for you!!  Check back tomorrow for tips to clean THE BEDROOM.

The kitchen is the room in your house that you probably spend the most time in.  I know everytime I have company, we all end up in there around the table chatting!!  Even though your kitchen gets cleaned everyday, it still needs to be tackled during spring cleaning time because let's be honest- how often do you clean inside your cabinets or under your fridge??  Same as me, close to never!!


Besides all the regular cleaning we'll all do in our kitchens for spring, I've found some great tips for cleaning almost everything that's in your kitchen!!  Of course, we all clean our counters, cabinets and drawers...but then what??  Here's some tips to clean some of those "other" things in your kitchen that need to be cleaned. 



The first thing you should tackle is your stove hood.

How to clean your coffee pot

Fill your coffee tank with 6 cups of vinegar and the rest with water.  Turn on your coffee pot as if you were making coffee (minus the coffee grounds).  When your "coffee" is done brewing, pour the hot vinegar and water back in the tank and run through again.  After your second pot is done, dump the vinegar/water and scrub the pot with hot soapy water and all those brown coffee stains should be gone!  You should make another pot using only water to flush out any vinegar...if you decide to do it twice, use fresh water the second time. 


If you have burnt coffee stuck on the bottom of your coffee pot, fill it with vinegar and let it sit overnight.  In the morning, dump the vinegar and wash the pot as normal.


How about those stubborn coffee/tea stains in your favorite mug?

Wet a cloth then rub the inside of the mug with baking soda.  If they're really stained, soak the mug overnight in hot water and baking soda...see, didn't I tell you baking soda cleans everything???
You could try making a paste of corn startch and vinegar, apply it to your favorite mug, let it sit for a few minutes then scrub away those pesky stains.
My favorite method is to drop 2 denture cleaning tablets in the mug, pour hot water into the mug and then soak overnight!!


Make that microwave look brand new with these tricks:

Place a bowl of water in the microwave and heat for 3-5 minutes.  When done, leave in microwave for 5 minutes to let the steam loosen all the stuck on bits of food.  Remove bowl and wipe microwave with a damp cloth.

Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in a bowl.  Follow instructions above.  The vinegar freshens and deodorizes the inside of the microwave.  You can also add a few lemon wedges to the bowl of water instead of vinegar to freshen the inside as well.

Soak a thick clean sponge or hand towel with vinegar and water, microwave for 3-5 minutes.  Follow same intructions as above and use sponge or towel to wipe down the insides, but be sure to wear rubber gloves so you don't get burned!!



I hope some of these tips help you in your spring cleaning, they sure have helped me!!  Check back tomorrow when we tackle THE BATHROOM.

Here in my house this week we're doing our Spring Cleaning!!  This is really one of my favorite times of year...I know, I'm crazy- who loves spring cleaning, right?  Well if you know me, then you know I love to clean and organize!!  Spring cleaning is like Christmas to me!!!

Rubber gloves
Clean rags
A duster (I use the Swiffer Duster)
Window and Glass cleaner (*see homemade recipes below)
All purpose cleaner (*see homemade recipes below)
Wood cleaner
bathroom cleaner
Spray bottle of water
kitchen sponges
baking soda (it cleans everything)
lots and lots of plastic bags (for trash)



Did you know you can make your own window/glass cleaner?  Well you can, and here's a couple of recipes that actually work...


Recipe #1
2 cups water
3 TBS vinegar
1/2 tsp dish detergent (liquid)


Recipe #2
1 gallon water

1/4 cup vinegar
2 TBS lemon juice
squirt dish detergent (liquid)



You can even make your own all purpose cleaner...

Recipe
1/4 cup baking soda

1 cup household ammonia
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Mix ingredients and store in tightly-capped container.
Can be used for cleaning counter tops, appliances, tile flooring, etc.


*be very careful when using ammonia and always wear rubber gloves*


If you prefer to purchase your cleaning supplies, check out this great offer from Lysol for $3 back when you purchase 3 products.  Do you love your Swiffer as much as I do??  Check out these money saving deals from Swiffer!!


Well, now that we have all our cleaning supplies we're ready to clean!  Check back all week for cleaning tips for everything in your house!!  Tomorrow, we tackle the kitchen!!

Some of you may not like NASCAR, but I do and it's my blog, so there!!



Saturday night, they drove under the lights at the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.  From the pole position, Mark Martin had his 36th career win and snapped his 97 race losing streak by passing Ryan Newman and holding off Tony Stewart with 6 laps to go!!  He led 157 of the 312 laps for his first win since Kansas 2005 and his first win for his Hendrick's Motor Sports team!!

When I was contacted by Stephanie from My Punchbowl to review their newest release, Birthday Reminders,  I admit- I had never heard of My Punchbowl!!  Not only do they have this great birthday reminder program, they also specialize in party planning and have tons of free e-cards for you to send to your friends and family!!  Check out their personalized candy too!!


After looking around the site, I decided to give it a try.  I have used many different programs and sites to help me remember those important dates of friends and family but nothing quite compares to My Punchbowl Birthday Reminders.  A great feature they offer is to link it with your Facebook account to pull birthdays, as well as sending out requests to friends and family for you to add to your list. 

Once you start building your list which is done by requesting info from friends and family or using their super easy import feature, you can customize your reminder options and add to-do's for birthdays such as buy gift for Maria, pick up cake for Joe....how cool is that??  When you get your birthday reminders, you can even send one of their free e-cards!!  Once you've built your birthday reminder list, My Punchbowl makes it super easy to organize your list!!  They let you seperate your list into family, friends, co-workers even pets because their part of the family too!!! 


When you've organized your list, use My Punchbowl's easy Share option to help other friends and family remember important dates too!!!  My Punchbowl Birthday Reminders is one of the easiest to use and most customizable programs I've ever used to organize those important dates in our lives. 


The awesome folks at My Punchbowl have let me offer you a special giveaway!!  They are offering a 1 year free upgraded Premium Membership to one of my blog readers (valued at $29.95)!!!  Their standard membership and everything I've explained is offered totally free!!  What do you get with a premium membership?


In addition to all the award winnig features I've explained and hundreds of design features, you also get advertising free access as well as priority tech support, premium designs, more fonts, papers and ribbons plus exclusive partner offers!  This is definately worth it!!  So how can you win a 1 year Premium membership to My Punchbowl Birthday Reminders??


Leave a comment here for an entry to win.  Want additional entries?
Blog about this contest, come back here and tell me you did with a link to your post for 1 additional entry.
Subscribe to my blog for 2 additional entries (if you're already a subscriber, you'll automatically get your 2 additional entries)
Grab my blog button and post it in your sidebar for an additional entry, come back here and tell me you snagged it!

Be sure to leave seperate comments for each additional entry.  Also, be sure that if your blogger profile doesn't have your email address, that you leave an email for me to reach you if you win!! 


This contest will run until Friday April 31, 2009 @ 8pm EST.  I will choose a winner using random.org and announce the winner on Saturday May 1st !!

I found this yummmmy (and healthy) recipe from Whole Grain Gourmet for homemade multi-grain energy bars.  Whip 'em up, don't tell anyone how healthy they are and watch them disappear!!


Ingredients:

1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup dried tart cherries
1/4 cup dried currants
1/4 cup dried blueberries
1/4 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup of your favorite 7 grain cereal
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup honey
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 cup peanut butter (the original recipe calls for organic pb, but I prefer regular!)
1 tsp vanilla extract



Toast oats and almonds in pan over low heat until they begin to turn a light golden brown.  Remove and set aside to cool.  In a food processor combine apricots, cherries, currants and blueberries, pulse to mince making sure you don't over mix and turn them to paste!! 

Add minced fruit, oats, almonds and sesame seeds to a large bowl and mix well.  You may want to use your hands to be sure the dried fruits seperate and everything is evenly distributed.  While mixing, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan.  Add cereal, stir thoroughly and remove from heat.  Allow it to sit for 2 minutes.

Add peanut butter, honey, salt and vanilla to the pan and return to a low- medium heat stirring frequently for 7 minutes.  The mixture will begin to glisten and roll of the sides of the pan as you stir it.  Be sure not to overheat the mixture. 

Add the peanut butter mixture to the oat mixture and combine thoroughly using your hands to incorporate everything.  Firmly press the mixture into an 8"x8" glass baking dish, pressing firmly on the top to be sure it's level.  Allow the dish to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours, the longer you wait, the firmer the bars will be when you cut them.  Cut into bars and enjoy!!!  Makes 12 bars.

I have been a bad blogger!!  I've neglected this here blog and I'm sorry...I've been extremely busy here at home, as well as scrapping and was having some computer problems to boot!  All is well, computer's been fixed and I am ready to blog away!!  I have a TON of stuff to share with you this week, including my 100th post!!!  I'll be celebrating that on Wednesday (though I think I'll hit 100 on Monday) so be sure to pop in!! 


Now, I have an Easter Egg-stravaganza for you!!  First are a few cute crafts from around the web- I know it's a little close to Easter for some of them, but they will definately be on my list for next year...they're just too cute not to be!!

 

I don't know why, but alot of people assume that I'm a pushover and won't (or can't) stand up for myself...that I'll just keep on lettin you pile it on while I sit and suffer in silence.  You got the wrong chick!!


I am the last person to sit back quietly and let someone walk all over me, or my friends for that matter!  If I'm unhappy with a situation, trust me- you'll know, I don't hold back!  I have no problem voicing my opinions and standing up for myself, I never have.  To be honest, I've never really understood how people could sit back and let themselves get sh*t on.  That's just not my personality. 


Maybe it's because I'm 5'1" (if I stand up real straight) and like 110 lbs...since I'm so small I must be easy to bully?  People who think that are in for a rude awakening!  I promise you, I will not just sit back and take it- I'm gonna stand up for myself and you better be ready!  It's not just for myself either.  If my friend's being treated badly and won't (or can't) speak up and tell ya where to go, I will.  I have.


My very best friend in the whole wide world is very non confrontational, and for whatever reasons, isn't the greatest at sticking up for herself and voicing her opinion when someone's not treating her the way she should be treated.  That's when I step in.  I'm not going to stand by and watch someone I care about get treated like crap by someone who knows their in an unfair fight.  I will fight a friend's battle if their not able to, and I'll fight like it was my own!


I am a strong person, I might not look like it, but I am.  Don't let my size fool you...I won't take your shit!



This post is part of the Weekly Writing Assignment hosted by Kat @ Mama's Losin It.  This week's assignment that I chose was to write about a common misconception about yourself.  For more weekly writing assignment posts, visit Mama's Losin It.