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Simply Sweet Home’s New Features

January 8, 2008 1 Comment

Hello everyone,

I’ve been brainstorming over the past few weeks to come up with some new features for this blog. I’ve come up with several ideas and have narrowed those down to about four or five. I’ve decided to try out these ideas and let you help me decide which ones to keep as regular features on the blog. I’ll decide which features to keep and how often to have the features based on how well I do on writing the post and based on the amount of positive post comments and emails I get.

The “unveiling” of the new feature ideas will be spread out over the next two or three weeks, and then I’ll be making my final decisions some time next month. Rather than going into the details of what each new feature will be right now, I’ll explain them individually later as they come up in future postings.

I’ll be working to get the first couple of features out this week, along with a few “regular” posts. The first new feature is “Simple Tips.” (yes, it is exactly what it sounds like.) I know it’s a common feature and even a weekly feature on a lot of blogs, but I figure I should give it a shot. After all if so many people use this feature it must be a good one.

Be sure to stop by again soon to see the new features and other news. Thanks!

Filed Under: announcements

The Small Things & My Housekeeping Mission Statement

January 5, 2008 Leave a Comment

This week I ran across a blog called Home Sanctuary. The blog’s writer Rachel Anne has come up with a great idea for 2008. She is challenging her readers to become “company girls” and participate in “Sanctuary is in the Small Things.” Each day she assigns a small task to help you make your home a sanctuary. And she’s even giving away prizes to participants. I think it sounds like a very fun and interesting concept; not to mention it could be very helpful in helping you to maintain a nice clean home. (and may even help those of you with “home” blogs to come up with new post ideas)

One of the first “Small Things” is to come up with a housekeeping mission statement. I’ve never thought about it, but most business’s have a mission statement of some sort, and blogs generally have some sort of stated purpose or mission statement. Why not have a housekeeping mission statement? Below is mine:

“I will work to maintain a neat and simple home that is organized and clutter free. It will be a warm and loving place that we will always feel happy to come home to.”

If you guys have made a resolution to organize your home or work to keep your home cleaner this year, you should definitely check it out.

Filed Under: announcements, cleaning

Recipe of the Week: Slow Cooker Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

January 4, 2008 5 Comments

There’s nothing like a fresh, warm piece of cake or cobbler to satisfy your hunger on a cold winter’s day. I was digging through my cookbooks and internet files for the perfect wintery dessert when I ran across this Hot Fudge Sundae cake from Betty Crocker. The name of the dessert alone made me hungry and the picture was simply mouth watering. And the actual prep time is only 15 minutes! (plus baking time of course) I just had to share this one with you!
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 cups hot water

1. Spray inside of 2- to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, the baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread batter evenly in slow cooker.
2. Mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa in small bowl. Stir in hot water until smooth. Pour evenly over batter in slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on high heat setting 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

4. Turn off slow cooker. Let cake stand uncovered 30 to 40 minutes to cool slightly before serving. Spoon warm cake into dessert dishes. Spoon sauce over top.
Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.

Filed Under: desserts, Recipe of the Week, recipes

Dealing with After-Christmas Clutter

January 3, 2008 Leave a Comment

I’m generally a very organized person, but I admit my home organizing skills have a few weak areas, largely because I just have too much stuff. I’m a packrat…what can I say? Last week we began moving in to our new apartment, and I was completely overwhelmed by a lack of space and a seemingly endless sea of boxes. (and the crazy thing is I have ton of stuff in storage at my dad’s house to deal with in the future.) Well, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to improve my organizing skills in my “problem areas” (and of course, maintain & improve organization in all areas of my home and life).

This week I’ve been unpacking all my home decor and other items, and on top of that I had to unpack and find a place for Christmas presents we recieved, and at the same time I had to work on packing up and storing Christmas decorations. (take it from me, if you can help it, don’t ever move in December!) But whether we had moved or not, I always have a tough time with after Christmas clutter. The decorations, the presents….even the extra candy and food. Here are a few simple solutions to rid yourself of after-Christmas clutter.

1. Return any unwanted Christmas gifts to the store. Or if you’re feeling charitable give some of your unwanted presents away. (I don’t mean regifting necessarily. You could simply ask a friend or family member if they’d like to have the item (maybe the item is more their style anyway…) Or you could always give away unwanted presents to charity.

2. Excess Clothes – Out with old, in with the new. Use your presents as replacements for older items and get rid of the older items. (For instance, if you get a new sweater, find an old sweater in your closet to get rid of.) You could sell the old item in a garage sale or perhaps at a consignment shop, if the item still looks good. Or you could give the old item away to charity. Personally whenever I get a new pair of jeans or new sweaters, I’ll sometimes “retire” an older item. That is, I won’t get rid of it, but if I’ve had it a while & I have some new clothes to replace it, I’ll decide I’m no longer going to wear it out to dinner or anywhere nice, and it becomes an “around the house” shirt. (or if you have kids, “play clothes.”)

3. Christmas and home decor – You can use the same “out with the old, in with the new approach) used for clothes to deal with knick knacks and Christmas decorations. (ie – you get a new Christmas figurine, look for an old one to get rid of.)

4. Toys – Consider getting rid of old toys that your kids no longer play with. (give them away or sell them) Or box up some of the toys and put them in the attic. Either you can save them for a younger child in the family to play with in the future, or in a few months when your kids say they have nothing to play with, you can pull out their old toys from the attic, and watch their eyes light up with joy.

5. Food – We’ve had tons of candies and desserts from the holidays. (largely because my parents insist that we take to go plates.) For this, I have a few advisements. First of all, if you know that you’ve got more food then you’ll ever eat, give some of the food away. Take it to a family member, a neighbor, or to work. (especially work, those people will eat anything! Plus you’ll be the hero for the day, and you’ll have decluttered your kitchen without wasting food.) If you plan to eat the food yourself, be sure to write the date on your goodies when you get them so you’ll be able to remember how long you’ve had the item. You may also consider creating your own expiration date for the food. (ie – give it a week for cake or pies or longer if you freeze them) This will help you to know when it’s time to throw the item out.


Filed Under: Uncategorized

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2008 Leave a Comment
I’d like to wish you all a happy New Year. I hope 2008 proves to be a safe, happy, and prosperous year for everyone.
I haven’t had much time to devote to postings for the past week or so, as I was out of town and then immediately began moving in to a new home right after Christmas. Needless to say, things have been kind of hectic, but I have a lot of great ideas and plans for new features for the coming year & I hope everyone will come back soon! Happy New Year!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Favorite Posts of the Year 2007

December 30, 2007 3 Comments

I’ve been to a few blogs that have countdowns and lists of favorite posts for the year. In the spirit of the New Year, I decided to do the same, as it seems like a fun tradition. So here is list of some of my favorite recipes and other posts for 2007.

Filed Under: cleaning, crafts, recipes

Tips for Making and Keeping Resolutions

December 30, 2007 Leave a Comment

The time has come to make resolutions for the new year. Just about everyone makes promises to themselves to accomplish some goal in the New Year, whether it’s to lose weight, keep the house clean, take vitamins, or start a new business. Unfortunately the vast majority of people don’t follow through with their resolutions. Why? It’s true that a lot of people procrastinate on various projects throughout the year, yet we still manage to accomplish a lot. Why is it so difficult to keep New Year’s resolutions? I believe one reason is that we choose the wrong resolutions to make, and the other reason is poor planning.

Here are some tips on choosing and keeping your resolutions:

1. Resolve to do something that’s actually important to you. If you choose to do something that is actually important to you, you’ll be more likely to make your resolution a priority and stick with it. (For example, you cannot lose weight or stop smoking unless you actually want to.)

2. Make specific goals. (For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to lose weight,” say, “I’m going to lose 25 pounds.”)

3. Make realistic and obtainable goals. It’s okay to aim high, but pick something you can actually do.

4. Take a few minutes to write down your resolutions on paper. Consider posting the list on your refrigerator or at your desk, or some other place where you can see it. You’ll be much more likely to do the items on your list if you see a constant reminder.

5. Create a plan of action. Think about how long it will take you to achieve your resolution and what you’ll have to do to make your resolution a reality. Then write it down. One main reason a lot of businesses fail is because they do not make a plan; the same can be said for resolutions. When writing down your plan be very specific. Consider creating a timeline for your goals: What do you want to accomplish by the end of January? By the end of May? (and so forth)

6. Keep a calendar/planner. Keeping a calendar can be a helpful tool for you to write down your goals in, and a calendar will help you to chart your progress.

7. Make an extra effort in January & make the resolution a part of your daily/weekly routine. Just like with anything else, the first few days and weeks are the toughest. But after you’ve made your a plan and made your resolution a part of your routine and you’ve gotten in the habit of working on your resoultion, the rest should be a down hill effort. (For example, if you resolve to take a multi-vitamin everyday, and you decide to take your vitamin first thing every morning, then after just a couple of weeks, the resolution should be second nature to you. This concept will also work with other resolutions that are a continuous effort, such as quitting smoking, changing your diet, keeping your house clean or organized, exercising, ect.)


Filed Under: Misc Holidays, organizing, planning

Recipe of the Week: Sausage Balls

December 29, 2007 Leave a Comment
For the recipe of the week, I chose to do one of my favorite appetizers…sausage balls. This is an easy and tasty recipe for a party or for a quick snack at home.

1 lb. mild or hot sausage
2 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 c. Bisquick (biscuit mix)
Allow cheese to come to room temperature. Combine all ingredients (easier done by hand). Shape into 1 inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Filed Under: appetizers and snacks, Recipe of the Week, recipes

Seasons Greetings

December 22, 2007 1 Comment

I’d wanted go ahead and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I’ll be taking the next few days off, as I’ll be going out of town to visit my family. When I get back I’ll be posting on some ideas for New Years and winter, and I have a few special announcements to make about the blog and other upcoming projects. Thanks for visiting and please come back soon!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Recipe of the Week: Rudolph Cupcakes

December 22, 2007 8 Comments

Here’s another favorite from Taste of Home. These cupcakes will be loved by kids of all ages, and they are very easy to make and decorate! In fact, this would be a great last minute dessert item for you to prepare, and it’s something fun that your kids could help with.

Ingredients:
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) cake mix of your choice
1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting
48 animal crackers
24 miniature marshmallows, halved
48 miniature chocolate chips or raisins
24 red jelly beans

Directions: Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for cupcakes, using foil or paper-lined muffin cups. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cupcake tops. Insert two animal crackers into each cupcake for antlers. For the eyes, place two marshmallow halves, cut side up, with a chocolate chip in the center of each. Add a jelly bean for nose. Yield: 2 dozen.

My Suggestions – If you’re a fan of the Rudolph movie, you could make cupcakes of Rudolph’s girlfriend Clairice by use white frosting, and add a piece of red twizzlers to make a bow.

Pretzels could also be used for ears, and you could use a number of candies for the nose including M&Ms, Skittles, and Red Hots.

Filed Under: Christmas, cupcakes, desserts, Recipe of the Week
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