Home Ever After » Holidays and Seasons

Winter Eye Candy: New Years’ Michigan Avenue

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

We’re on the verge of a new year, and what better look to celebrate than beautiful white lights and snowy Christmas decor? This week’s photo of Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue (where I went shopping while I was at BlogHer this summer) was taken by smaedli.

Winter Eye Candy: New Years’ Michigan Avenue

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Winter Eye Candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Winter Eye Candy: New Years’ Michigan Avenue is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Remembering Our Troops: Christmas Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

This stunning photo of the graves at Arlington National Cemetery decorated with matching Christmas wreaths is so moving that we just had to share. Thank you to all of our soldiers, past, present, and future, that serve our country to preserve the freedoms we hold so dear.

We hope that all the military wives and husbands with spouses overseas fighting the war right now have the grace to enjoy the holiday with your children and we pray that your families are united soon.

Remembering Our Troops at Christmas

This week’s photo was created by BL1961 using an original photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi, US Air Force.

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Winter Eye Candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Remembering Our Troops: Christmas Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Winter Eye Candy: Christmas Poinsettias Cottage

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

Our Winter Eye Candy photo today is a warm and cozy cottage bedecked with red Christmas poinsettias everywhere! We love the poinsettia garland above the mantle, poinsettia garlands trimming the windows, and even the simple small potted poinsettia on the table as a centerpiece.

Notice also that the Christmas decorations on the tree include a poinsettia theme, with blossoms added to the branches along with red metal baskets as poinsettia holders.

I can imagine this beautiful Christmas cottage at nighttime with the lights out, the fireplace roaring, and the Christmas tree lit. Cozy! This week’s photo was taken by CoffeeDrip.

Winter Eye Candy: Christmas Poinsettias Cottage

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Winter Eye Candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Winter Eye Candy: Christmas Poinsettias Cottage is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Winter Eye Candy: Snow Covered Joshua Trees

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

The final season of the year is here, and our Winter Eye Candy photos have been specially selected to showcase the beauty of these snowy days! The beautiful colors of the sunset behind these snow-covered Joshua trees is stunning. These winter Joshua trees were growing in Lancaster, California.

This week’s photo was taken by Rennett Stowe – thank you!

Winter Eye Candy: Snow Covered Joshua Trees

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Winter Eye Candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Winter Eye Candy: Snow Covered Joshua Trees is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Winter Eye Candy: Color Hanging On

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

The final season of the year is here, and our Winter Eye Candy photos have been specially selected to showcase the beauty of these snowy days! This photo of a deer next to a snowy apple tree is just too beautiful not to set as your desktop wallpaper. The red of the apples is set off so amazingly through the soft snow in the orchard. This poor apple tree just doesn’t want to let go of its color, even though winter has arrived.

This week’s photo was taken by Jan Tik – thank you!

Winter Eye Candy: Color Hanging On

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Winter Eye Candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Winter Eye Candy: Color Hanging On is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

How to Cook a Turkey: Recipe

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:21:29 +0000

How to Cook a Turkey

Everyone should know how to cook a turkey. The teaching of this basic skill, however, is often neglected in our upbringing! This step-by-step tutorial on how to cook a turkey is designed for cooks of all levels. Even if you’ve never attempted any major cooking projects before, this will allow you to produce a beautiful bird for your family’s holiday meal.

We have also included a video tutorial for the visual learners: How to Cook a Turkey. The video even includes some helpful hints about cooking times, temperatures, stuffing, and more. (Subscribers will have to click through to HomeEverAfter.com to view the video.)

How to Cook a Turkey: Step by Step

1. Start with a defrosted turkey. Thaw a frozen turkey in your refrigerator for 3-4 days before cooking.

2. Take the plastic off the turkey.

3. Take the neck out of the body cavity. You can save the turkey neck if you like to eat it or throw it away.

4. Remove the giblets from the neck cavity. If you want to make gravy out of the giblets, set them aside for later. Otherwise, throw them away.

5. Rinse the outside of the turkey with water. The goal is to remove any plastic pieces left on the turkey from the packaging or debris that may have picked up at the packaging plant.

6. Rinse the inside of the turkey with water. Make sure the inside of the turkey is clean by running water from the faucet into the empty body cavity, then dumping the water back out.

7. Pull the wings over the breasts. As if the turkey is doing a yoga pose, bend the wings up and over the breasts to keep them from burning during cooking.

8. Put the turkey in a roasting pan. If cooking the turkey neck, add it to the pan as well. Follow the directions below, depending on if your roasting pan has a lid or not.

When Using a Roasting Pan with a Lid

Preheat oven to 325°.
Bake the turkey covered for approximately 1 hour per 5 pounds of turkey.
When the time is up, check the temperature with the meat thermometer. The goal is to reach 170°.
When 170° is reached, raise the oven temperature to 450°.
Put back into the oven uncovered for 15 minutes.
Remove the turkey from the oven when it is golden brown. Check the temperature again to make sure it has reached 185°.
Let sit, covered, for 15 minutes to seal in the juices.

When Using a Disposable Pan (or Pan with No Lid)

Preheat the oven to 325°.
Mold aluminum foil over the front half of the turkey, covering the breasts.
Make a handle on the foil over the turkey’s neck area.
Take the foil shield off the turkey.
Cook the turkey uncovered for approximately 1 hour per 5 pounds of turkey.
When the time is up, check the temperature with the meat thermometer. The goal is to reach 185°.
If the turkey is as golden brown as you want, then put the breast shield on over the breasts to keep them from getting too dark.
Continue cooking the turkey with the foil shield in place until it is the desired color. Make sure the internal temperature is 185°.
Remove from oven.
Cover loosely with tin foil for 15 minutes to seal in the juices.

The final step is to serve a wonderful, golden brown turkey on your holiday table. Wasn’t that easy? Great work!

Turkey photo courtesy of stock.xchng. Video courtesy of IS World Media.

How to Cook a Turkey: Recipe is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Autumn Eye Candy: All Creatures Great and Small

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:57:00 +0000

We all love to enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons, and our Autumn eye candy photos have been specially selected to bring you something gorgeous to look at all week long! Apparently, we’re not the only ones who are thrilled by the gusts of wind blowing the changing leaves here and there.

Next week, we reluctantly turn in our fall jackets and put on our winter coats as we say goodbye to Autumn Eye Candy for the year. With the start of December, it will be time to begin Winter Eye Candy, with plenty of fantastic photos to gaze at showcasing the beauty of the season!

This week’s photo of a dog enjoying the Autumn leaf piles was taken by darkpatator.

Autumn Eye Candy: All Creatures Great and Small

“For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.”

-Edwin Way Teale

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Autumn eye candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Autumn Eye Candy: All Creatures Great and Small is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

The Day After Thanksgiving – Recipes to Use Turkey Leftovers

Nessa — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000

Nessa is a full time wife and mother of two, living the small town life in rural Texas. She loves cooking everything from tried and true recipes to her own wonderful creations. Catch her blogging at Ramblings of a Texas Housewife and on Twitter @Nessa_TX.

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful day of food, family, and fellowship. The day after is often the day of turkey leftovers. So, I decided to share some of my favorite ways to use up all those delicious bits you have left after the big meal is done.

There are so many things you can do with cooked turkey! A good rule of thumb is that if you can use chicken, you can most likely use turkey instead. I’ve done everything from turkey salad to turkey enchiladas with great results. Here are a few more ideas for you. Enjoy!

Nessa’s Favorite Turkey Sandwich Recipe

This is wonderful on homemade bread, a bagel, or a croissant.

Ingredients

Whipped cream cheese
leftover turkey breast
leftover cranberry sauce
bread of choice

Directions

Spread the cream cheese on the bread, one or both pieces is up to you.
Add sliced turkey breast.
Top with cranberry sauce and second slice of bread.

Yum! This is also good with onion & chive cream cheese or garden blend. Just omit the cranberry sauce and add some sliced avocado or your favorite cheese. We like cheddar or Swiss.

King Ranch Turkey – Leftover turkey is fabulous in place of the traditional chicken in this Texas casserole favorite.

Turkey Tetrazzini – This is a great dish that my family loves when it’s cold outside. There are lots of good recipes available on the web for this. I make mine by making a simple white gravy with lots of onions, garlic, and black pepper. This casserole is great when topped with bread crumbs and/ or cheese before baking.

Cook a pot of pasta while you are making the gravy.
Add a bag of frozen mixed vegetables to the pasta right before you drain it, the heat from the pasta will help defrost the veggies.
Add shredded up turkey tot he gravy once it’s done, then mix it into the pasta veggie mixture.
Pour all into a greased casserole and bake at 350 degrees until heated through.

Turkey Chowder Recipe

Ingredients

1lb. leftover turkey, skin and bones removed, chopped
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced
2 larges carrots, sliced
1 can whole kernel corn
4 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp. dried dill (optional)
1 cup half and half
3 T. corn starch

Directions

Place all ingredients other than half and half and corn starch in a large pot and cook on low heat until potatoes and carrots are tender.
Mix half and half with the cornstarch, whisking until well blended. Add to the chowder, stirring well.
Cook until the broth is as thick as you like. If you like a thinner chowder, feel free to add more chicken broth or water.

Stay tuned next Monday for In the Kitchen with Nessa to read Cowboy Brunch. Make sure you subscribe to our free updates so you don’t miss any of her great kitchen how to articles!

Find more cooking articles at Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays, and Homemaker Mondays.

The Day After Thanksgiving – Recipes to Use Turkey Leftovers is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Thanksgiving Already? Stop the Hustle and Choose What is Better

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:57:00 +0000

If you’re like me, you probably looked at the calendar sometime this week and asked, “Thanksgiving is next week? How did the month go by so fast?” That’s right, Thanksgiving is next week already, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to kick it into the high-stress, high-gear, faster-than-the-speed-of-life mentality to start off the holiday season!

At left, you can see a shot of the kids’ tables at our family Thanksgiving a few years ago. This only pictured some of the children and their tables were downstairs – now imagine all the adults upstairs! A packed house, tons of people, chaos, food… you get the idea.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in making the preparations – so wrapped up, in fact, that you ignore the people who are there to see you, not just eat your food!

It reminds me of the biblical story of 2 sisters named Martha and Mary (you can read the whole story in Luke 10:38-41). Mary sat with the guests and visited, while Martha did all the work in the kitchen of getting a meal ready. Martha was so preoccupied with preparing food for her unexpected visitors (one of whom was Jesus) that all she did was work the whole time they were there. Mary, on the other hand, knew that it was more important to spend time with them than to serve the finest meal they had ever had!

When Martha complained to Jesus, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”, he replied, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:40-41

Don’t be a Martha! Choose what is better – to keep in mind the reason for the day. Remember the most important thing: Thanksgiving is NOT about food. Even if Thanksgiving dinner is at your house and you have tons of family coming in from out of town, the point of the day is spending time with your loved ones and be grateful for all the wonderful things in your life. Your family will not care if the food you prepare or the table you set for Thanksgiving is the best you’ve ever done in your life! Give your guests the gift of your presence and let them know that you are thankful for them being there with you.

It’s important to keep things in perspective in order to maintain your own peace and sanity on what, for many people, is an incredibly stressful day. Choose what is better and stop hustling and bustling to get every detail perfect. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Already? Stop the Hustle and Choose What is Better is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Get Ready for Thanksgiving the Frugal Way

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:29:25 +0000

Get ready for Thanksgiving the frugal way with these great tips. Let’s plan ahead to work smarter, not harder, and to stay organized. That way we can focus on what’s really important, the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Keep turkey day stress-free, budget-friendly, and family-focused.

Tips For A Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Hitched Magazine shares these great stress-reducing Thanksgiving tips with us:

“* Set your table the night before.

* Purchase your turkey, ham or both in as far advance as you can without sacrificing quality. If you need to buy frozen to save yourself the hassle of holiday crowds then by all means do so.

* Decide right now what you are going to prepare and what time your gathering will be. Be sure to consult your family members as to what works for them and try to pick the best time for everyone.

* Make a list of who is bringing which dishes and send it to everyone if you have a big family. They’ll be grateful for the reminder.”

-Read the rest of their frugal and time-saving Thanksgiving tips here.

Keeping the Thanks in Thanksgiving

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving in the blogworld than by posting about your gratitude? You can participate by telling the world what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving on your blog or on twitter or facebook. My friend Patty posted her gratitude list here at Little Bytes News.

“Many times through the years I’ve gotten caught up in the preparation and busy-ness of this season and missed the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Thanksgiving until we sit down for grace.

“Now that I have a little one underfoot, I’ve been thinking about the memories I want her to have of this holiday and the traditions I’d like to start for our family. I’ve done some advanced planning, and come up with some fun and easy activities to help remind us of the true spirit of Thanksgiving.”

- Keeping the Thanks in Thanksgiving from Problem Solvin’ Mom

Momstoppable brings us a great recipe for the sweet potato leftovers we’re bound to have after Thanksgiving.

The link treasury: check out Thanksgiving on a Budget where people from across the blogworld have left their best Thanksgiving tips!

Get more frugal Thanksgiving Tips at Frugal Friday! This article was originally published November 25, 2008.

Photos courtesy of stock.xchng.

Get Ready for Thanksgiving the Frugal Way is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Winter Checklist – 99 Ways to Get Ready For Winter

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:19:31 +0000

Get Ready for Winter with Home Ever After’s Winter Checklist

Are you ready for winter? As the winter season slowly approaches for you (or quickly for those of you in colder climates), it brings on a whole other host of duties delegated to the household manager (usually Mom or Dad).

In addition to your everyday chores, there are many tasks that need to be done to prepare for winter, from the front yard to the kitchen to home heating maintenance. How can you remember to do everything?

We have created the most comprehensive winter checklist on the internet to help you get ready for winter (prepared by lifelong Alaskans who know what winter is all about!). Home Ever After’s Complete Winter Checklist – 99 Ways to Get Ready for Winter covers the common areas that need to be addressed to bid farewell to fall and welcome to winter.

Print this list and include it in your Household Management binder. This will not only make it easy to check off what has been completed, but also to delegate the remaining tasks to family members. Welcome the winter season now with these 99 ways to get ready for winter!

The Complete Winter Checklist – 99 Ways to Get Ready for Winter

How to use the Winter Checklist: 99 items are a lot to get done! But don’t worry, not everything on the winter checklist will apply to everyone. Print out the list, 3-hole punch it, and put it in your Household Management binder. Then you can cross out the items that don’t apply to you, highlight the items you’ve already completed, and be left with a list of things that still need to be done. Take your time, highlight or cross off items as you finish them, and have peace of mind that you haven’t forgotten anything while getting ready for winter!

Clothing

1. Pack away summer clothes. Box up tank tops, shorts, swimwear, and lightweight pajamas. Store clothing in sealed plastic storage containers with mothballs or natural insect repellant.

2. Box up summer shoes and sandals.

3. Unpack winter outer wear. Unpack coats, snow pants, snowsuits, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots from the previous season. Launder or dry clean all items (except boots) before they are worn.

4. Unpack and wash winter inner wear, such as wool socks, flannel pajamas, sweaters, and robes.

5. Donate adults’ and kids’ old coats, snow pants and boots that are too small to a local shelter or Goodwill. You’ll help make someone’s winter warmer in body and in mind.

6. Switch to heavyweight pajamas. Opt for sleepwear made of thick insulating fabrics such as flannel. Wool socks, chenille socks, and even footed sleepers for children will help keep in as much body heat as possible at nighttime.

7. Switch out your wardrobe’s summer colors to richer winter colors. Pack away pastels and bright summer colors such as orange and yellow. Rich, saturated colors are more akin to the season, such as red, deep blue, purple, burgundy, emerald green, and other jewel tones.

8. Buy mitten clips to attach small kids’ gloves to their coat sleeves. Purchase one pair of clips and mittens for each coat or snowsuit.

9. Print out the free Kids’ Getting Dressed to Leave the House Checklist and hang in your entryway.

10. Check holiday outfits to make sure they still fit (formal gowns, men’s suits). Have cleaned if necessary or altered if sizes have changed.

11. Unpack or purchase thermal underwear (long johns) to wear under clothes as extra layers.

Kitchen / Food

12. Stock your dining table with a variety of hot drink mixes. A container filled with teas, apple ciders, and hot chocolates is sure to be a hit after school on chilly days.

13. Switch your menu plan to include cold weather foods. Hotter and heartier foods are back in season, such as thick stews and chowders. Plan hot meals to warm your loved ones from the inside out.

14. Get baking! From homemade breads, rolls, and biscuits to cakes, cookies, and pies, nothing says cozy winter like a kitchen full of baked goodies. Your oven will help add heat to the house too, making the kitchen a place your family will gladly gather to taste your latest creations.

15. Can vegetables, jams and jellies from your garden to preserve through the winter. For more information, read The USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning.

16. Freeze fresh vegetables, fruits, and berries that will not be canned.

17. Clean under and behind the refrigerator. Vacuuming the fridge’s vents and coils will greatly improve your appliance’s efficiency until spring cleaning time comes.

Organization

18. Declutter kids’ toys to make room for holiday presents. Donate extras or pack away.

19. Declutter kids’ closets to make room for holiday gifts of clothing. Donate extras or pack away.

20. Declutter your house to put together a batch of donations for charity.

Health

21. Stock up on Vitamin C to keep immune systems prepared for seasonal germs.

22. Purchase echinacea and other herbal supplements to keep colds at bay.

23. Purchase cold medicine, cough syrup, cough drops and honey to be ready for cough season.

24. Test out humidifiers and vaporizers to make sure they’re working properly before you need them. Or, if you don’t have any to test…

25. Purchase a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to dry indoor air.

26. Get flu shots and/or pneumonia shots for the family. Learn more about flu shots.

27. Bring out heavy moisturizers and lip balms to protect against dry skin and chapped lips.

28. Clean off exercise equipment and dust off the workout DVDs. You’ll need easy access to indoor physical activity during the long winter months.

29. Consider buying a tanning package. Individuals in extreme northern locations can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter from a lack of sunlight. UV tanning beds, used in moderation, can help combat SAD. There are also special lights that can be used in your home to ward off SAD.

Family

30. Go on your last family walks to admire the autumn before cold weather sets in.

31. Move board games, card games, trivia and flash cards, and family story books to a convenient location, such as a bookcase in the family room. You’ll be spending a lot of family time indoors this winter; make sure the main focus isn’t television!

32. Make a list of books you’d like to read over the winter, whether as a family or on your own.

33. Make an appointment with a portrait studio to have family photos taken. Family portraits can make a great Christmas gift or cover for your Christmas cards.

Indoors

34. Get out winter blankets and flannel sheets. Add wool blankets, comforters and quilts to beds for use on cold winter nights. The more insulation you can pack around a person at bedtime, the more body heat they will retain. And a higher body temperature means you can lower the thermostat a few degrees at bedtime, saving hard earned money on heating bills.

35. Test batteries in smoke detectors.

36. Test batteries in carbon monoxide detectors.

37. Have a series of family fire drills in case a real fire evacuation is needed later. Visit US Fire Administration for Kids for fire safety information.

38. Clean laundry vents – learn how to clean a dryer vent.

39. Pack away indoor fans.

40. Prepare for power outages by stocking flashlights with fresh batteries in convenient locations throughout the house.

41. Stock candles and matches in convenient (but childproof) locations throughout the house for use in prolonged power outages.

42. Mark Daylight Savings Time. Circle the date on your calendar to switch your clocks for daylight savings time on November 2 (before bedtime on November 1), 2008. The time change only applies to our friends in the USA (except AZ & HI), most of Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and some of Australia.

43. Make sure your home’s address is lighted and/or reflective. In case of emergency, rescue vehicles will have an easier time finding your home if the address numbers are visible from the road.

44. Schedule a checkup for your furnace.

45. Adjust vents. For those with central heating, close vents near the ceiling and open vents near the floor to improve heat circulation. Cleaning vents now will keep the air flowing smoothly through the cold winter months.

46. Clean air filters (or replace if needed). Here’s how to clean an air filter.

47. Have your chimney and flue cleaned. If you use a woodstove, a clean, clear chimney is necessary for safety.

48. Order firewood if you use a woodstove / fireplace for heat.

49. Clean the ashes out of your woodstove / fireplace. Learn how to dispose of fireplace ashes.

45. Schedule an energy audit for your home through your utility company. They can identify which areas in your house are costing too much and how to fix them.

51. Weatherize your home. Weatherizing supplies are inexpensive and will save you money on energy costs without a doubt. Install foam insulation behind electrical outlets, switch plates, and phone outlets. Install weather stripping around windows and on exterior doors.

52. Seal up window and wall air conditioners. Certain styles will be able to be covered with a winter cover; check your local hardware store for details.

53. Rethink insulation. If you didn’t have proper insulation last winter, make it a priority to have it evaluated and corrected before the snow flies. Your heating budget will thank you for it.

54. Cover your water heater with a water heater blanket.

55. Insulate exposed pipes. Read about different types of pipe insulation to get a general idea of what is available. Not sure which pipes need to be insulated? Hire a licensed plumber now to go over your system and tell you which pipes need insulation. No money for pipe insulation this year? Even newspaper can be used to insulate pipes.

56. Print out 2 copies of this short guide: How to Unfreeze Pipes. Make the guide easy to find in an emergency:

Hang the 1st printout on the wall in the area most likely to have pipes freeze this winter (in a basement, crawl space, boiler room, attic, kitchen cabinet, or garage).
3-hole punch the 2nd printout and put it in your Household Management binder.

57. Windows as fire exits. Test all windows for proper opening in case they are needed as exits during a fire.

58. Put up storm windows.

59. Consider replacing old leaky windows with new energy efficient windows.

60. Clean rain gutters, guards and down spouts to ensure no leaf blockage. Learn how to clean rain gutters.

Outdoors

61. Pack away gardening tools and supplies. Don’t let valuable garden tools rust from the snow; put them in a covered dry storage space.

62. Remove dead plants and add to compost.

63. Pack up pots and planters in a covered space or garage.

64. Put away lawn and garden equipment such as lawn mowers and rototillers.

65. Drain water hoses and pack away.

66. Pack away lawn chairs, yard umbrellas, and patio furniture.

67. Pack away mosquito nets and screens.

68. Put away the barbecue grill. If you don’t have a garage to move it into, consider using a BBQ cover.

69. Rake leaves. Cleaning up the dead leaves now will ensure that you aren’t left with a soggy mess during breakup.

70. Store bicycles in a garage or other covered area to prevent rust.

71. Pack away kids’ summer outdoor toys.

72. Put sleds and snow toys outside for kids to play with.

73. Move skis, ice skates and/or snowboards out of storage.

74. Set out ice melter, de-icer (Calcium Chloride) or sand by exterior staircases to keep stairs, sidewalks, and driveways free of slippery ice buildup.

75. Get snow shovels and snow blowers ready.

Vehicles

76. Clean out the car interior. Big coats and boots mean less room for junk in the vehicles. Clean them out now before it’s too cold!

77. Put an extra blanket in the back seat of the car for kids to use while waiting for the car interior to heat up.

78. Lay out large bath towels across the floor in the back seat of the car. Kids’ snowy boots will melt off their ice, snow and dirt onto towels that can be thrown in the washer periodically, not onto your car’s carpet.

79. Wash the car exterior and clean the windows.

80. Clean headlights and tail lights. Removing dirt from lights will improve visibility.

81. Put on snow tires. Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles or similar agency to find out what dates you can drive with snow tires on your vehicle. Get tires changed over as soon as possible for added security driving on icy winter roads.

82. Get an oil change and have the fluids checked.

83. Put an ice scraper and snow brush in the trunk.

84. Make sure there are jumper cables in your trunk. Winter can be hard on car batteries, and you never know when you ((or someone else) will need a jump start.

85. Pack a winter emergency car kit and put it in the trunk / cargo space.

86. Read up on winter driving safety to refresh your memory about driving in and on snow and ice: tips at weather.com, essortment.com and Road and Travel.

87. Consider enrolling yourself or your teens in a winter driving safety course.

88. Put an extension cord in your card to plug in your car. This only applies if you live in extremely cold weather and have an engine heater installed in your vehicle that requires plug-in.

Holiday

89. Ask kids and relatives to start working on their Christmas wish lists. The sooner you get ideas about what they’re hoping for, the sooner you can start watching for sales that take place before the holiday shopping rush.

90. Hang holiday lights. If you’re really ambitious, hanging your Christmas lights before snow and bitter temperatures can make it a much more enjoyable (and speedy) process. Learn How to Decorate Outside With Christmas Lights.

91. Start watching stores for sales on children’s holiday dresses and suits for your little ones.

92. Print our your Christmas card address list from last year.

93. Remove old names from and add new names to your Christmas card list. Last year’s teachers and PTA parents that have moved away are two examples of people you may want to remove from your list.

94. Buy Christmas cards early so you can write them out when it’s convenient, instead of rushing at the last minute. Try carrying your Christmas card list and 5 blank Christmas cards with you in your purse / car / briefcase to make use of spare time.

Other Lists You Might Need

95. Horse Owners: Fall/Winter List

96. Winter Checklist for Closing Up a Vacation Home

97. Pond Owner’s Fall and Winter Checklist

98. Motorcycle Owners: Winter Motorcycle Storage Checklist

99. Winterizing Your RV

If you liked this guide, please consider subscribing for free by RSS or email. This article was originally published October 12, 2008. Winter House, Window, Fall Leaves and Christmas Card photos courtesy of stock.xchng.

Winter Checklist – 99 Ways to Get Ready For Winter is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Autumn Eye Candy: Leaves Changing Color

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:57:00 +0000

We all love to enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons, and our Autumn eye candy photos have been specially selected to bring you something gorgeous to look at all week long! This truly breathtaking closeup of fall leaves was taken by kaibara87.

“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many.”

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Autumn eye candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Autumn Eye Candy: Leaves Changing Color is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Autumn Eye Candy: Misty Fall Leaves

Danelle Ice - Home Ever After — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:57:00 +0000

We all love to enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons, and our Autumn eye candy photos have been specially selected to bring you something gorgeous to look at all week long! I can certainly imagine sitting out on this porch and soaking up the final moments of fall. This beautiful rainy moment captures the Autumn colors of the leaves beautifully – I even love the mist in the background.

This week’s photo was taken by jez.atkinson.

Autumn Eye Candy: Misty Fall Leaves

If you love looking at gorgeous photos, check out our other eye candy here or specifically Autumn eye candy here. Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

Autumn Eye Candy: Misty Fall Leaves is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

5 Holiday Treat Recipes You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About

Nessa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:30:00 +0000

5 Guilt-Free Holiday Treat Recipes

The approach of the holiday season has many of us returning to our kitchens. Now that the heat of summer is a thing of the past, we look toward preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

Usually the holidays are filled with good food, but food that is not necessarily good for you. I set out to find some seasonal dishes to satisfy my family’s sweet tooth without packing on the fat and excess calories. I was pleased with the recipes I found and hope you will be too.

1. Pumpkin-Bourbon Pudding – Pumpkin is one of my very favorite things and this recipe is a delicious way to prepare it. You get all the rich taste of your favorite pumpkin dessert for only 169 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.

2. Heavenly Baked Apples – These warm, spicy apples are a treat that is easy enough to whip up for a week night after-dinner treat. The addition of dried fruit makes this recipe a nice change from your everyday baked apple recipe. These have just 142 calories per serving and are fat free.

3. Orange Angel Food Cake with Fruit Compote – I love angel food cake and I adore orange anything, but to me it is the fruit compote that makes this recipe a star. It is such a luscious blend of apricots and cranberries and a wonderful compliment to the citrus flavor of the cake. This is a dessert that will wow your holiday guests.

4. Cinnamon Sugar Snickerdoodles – This is a wonderful cookie to have on hand for after school snacks, bake sales, or even your holiday cookie platters. The cinnamon flavor is just the thing for fall. This recipe makes 24 cookies that are only 63 calories each.

5. Irish Coffee Meringues – Meringues are one of my favorite treats and since they are very low in fat you can have a few without feeling guilty. These Irish Coffee meringues taste like a decadent indulgence, when truly they are not full of fat and calories. Topped with chocolate covered coffee beans, these are great on a cookie platter or as a gift.

These recipes can help you to make sweet treats for your family during the holidays without all the excess calories, sugar, and fats. They are great for all those watching their weight or just trying to make healthier choices when it come to eating. I hope you enjoy them!

Stay tuned next Monday for In the Kitchen with Nessa to read Quick Comfort Foods. Make sure you subscribe to our free updates so you don’t miss any of her great kitchen how to articles!

Find more cooking articles at Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays, and Homemaker Mondays. Snickerdoodle photo by jimw.

5 Holiday Treat Recipes You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.

Budgeting for Wedding Planning

Staff Writer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:57:00 +0000

Budgeting for Wedding Planning

If you’re planning a holiday time wedding like lots of brides and grooms right now, it’s time to make sure your wedding budget is in place.

The average wedding in the United States costs somewhere between $28,000 and $35,000. When you consider that a typical wedding (from ceremony to the last dance) lasts an average of 8 hours, you realize what an astronomical amount of money that is to spend for one day.

Many couples are now opting for less elaborate affairs and reducing that number by 50% or more. Regardless of whether you are planning an intimate destination wedding or an elaborate grand affair, to help plan and not overspend, it is crucial that you decide on a wedding budget.

Wedding costs can accumulate quickly. Documenting all deposits and down payments as well as remaining balances will help you keep track of everything you spend. When calculating final payments, remember to include gratuities. This is an often overlooked expense that will end up costing you money and sending you well over budget.

Decide on Your Wedding Priorities

When planning your wedding, decide what is important to you. Make that a top priority in your wedding, but explore alterative options to cut costs. If you believe that music is the life of the party, you may want to spend top dollar on a professional DJ service. It will be less expensive that a full 4 piece band, but by hiring top quality performers you will have top notch music while shaving thousands off the price of a band.

If a dress is your top priority, set aside some time to visit a variety of stores. Before you head to the pricier designer gowns, check out discount wedding gown retailers. Many knock off gowns are so similar to brand name designs that you would never know the difference. You can still choose a gorgeous gown and save money without sacrificing style.

Creativity and DIY Wedding Projects

When it comes to invitations, centerpieces and favors, be creative and see what DIY ideas you can come up with. Instead of spending $5 per person for gourmet chocolate favors, explore the idea of making your own chocolate lollipops or chocolate dipped plastic coffee spoons. It is these little ideas that can help you shave thousands of dollars of your final cost, keeping you well below your estimated wedding budget.

You can still be flexible as long as you stay within the range. For example, it you have set aside a budget of $500 for your wedding cake but the one that you have your heart set on will cost you $650, see if there is anywhere else in the planning where you can swap out the $150 difference. You may want to reconsider the wedding day massage package you have planned or cut one day off of your 10 day honeymoon. Regardless of where you shop and what you spend, the key is to stick with the budget that you set for yourself in the beginning.

This article is linked to Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom. Hillary and Jake’s wedding photo by e Mill.

Budgeting for Wedding Planning is an article from Home Ever After.
Copyright 2007-2009 HomeEverAfter.com by Danelle Ice/IS World Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in this feed is prohibited.