Are you staying in your apartment for the holiday break? Take a look at
these ten ways to have a great holiday even if you are away from home.
You can learn more at Yahoo.
Tip #1--Remember the real "spirit of Christmas" is one of giving and sharing.
Nothing gets you in the "Christmas spirit" more than being able to help
someone else and make their day a little brighter. Just because you
can't share Christmas Day with loved ones doesn't mean you can't send
cards, letters and packages that let them know you care.
Tip #2--Call home.
Yes, it isn't the same as eating a piece of mom's Christmas pie, but
calling and visiting over the phone, or on-line, is the next best thing
to being there.
Tip #3-- Attend a Christmas church service.
If you are away from home at Christmas, you may enjoy attending a
Christmas church service. Use the local phone directory to find churches
in the area, or ask someone for recommendations.
Non-Catholics
may even enjoy attending a traditional mid-night mass on Christmas Eve.
Most Christian churches of all denominations have special services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It serves as a time to celebrate Christ's birth, the true purpose for the Christmas holiday.
Tip #4--Contact the United Way and volunteer for community service.
If you are in the United States, there are local United Way Agencies
that can provide you with information on non-profit groups in your area
needing Christmas volunteers. Many non-profit groups will gladly welcome
you to help with various Christmas activities. They might even find a
family to "adopt" you and invite you for a traditional Christmas dinner.
Tip #5--Visit a local nursing home or assisted living center.
Many elderly residents in these facilities are lonely and alone at
Christmas time. It can be extremely hard for them to watch other
residents being picked up and taken home by their families for the
holiday, while they are left behind. From personal experience, I know
many would love to have you visit and warmly welcome a little
conversation and company.
Ask a nurse or the facility's
activities director who could use a little one-on-one attention. If the
facility is having a Christmas party, volunteer to help with the
festivities. It will help you, and the residents, both feel less lonely
making Christmas more joyous for all concerned. If you are going to be
in the same area for awhile, you might even choose to "adopt" a foster
grandparent to regularly visit during your stay.
Tip #6--Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen
Many non-profit groups need extra help with serving Christmas dinner
to the homeless. It would give you an opportunity to stay busy,
spending the holiday with others doing a community service that is much
appreciated. It also will make you a little more thankful for the
blessings you do have.
Tip#7--Postpone traditional Christmas celebrations until you can return home.
This might be an option for those working away from home, but returning
soon. Just because the calendar says December 25th doesn't mean you
can't wait and practice your own family traditions and celebrations
later.
We once postponed Christmas until my husband, who was
working and going to an out of state training program could return home.
I made a video tape Christmas morning of the boys opening presents in
front of the tree and we each recorded a message for him. We sent him
the tape to watch, but left the Christmas tree up for two more months until he returned home. Then we had a second celebration when he returned home.
Tip#8--Visit shut-ins.
One of my more memorable Christmas Days was spend four hour's drive
from home. My sister-in-law belonged to a community service organization
that cooked and delivered free Christmas dinners to the community's
shut-ins. The "Meals-on-Wheels" Christmas made us feel better knowing we
spent the holiday helping make others' Christmas just a little
brighter.
Tip #9--Adopt a child or family for the holiday
If you can afford the added expensive, a wonderful Christmas gesture is
to provide Christmas dinner fixings and gifts for a struggling family,
especially a single parent with young children.
The Salvation
Army and other community service organizations often provide this
community service from their donations, but might still need help
packaging and delivering these items and might welcome your assistance.
#10--This Christmas, reflect on your blessings
Rather than feel sorry for yourself because you are away from your home
and family this holiday, stay busy and count your blessings. You'll
feel less blue if you have something constructive to do.
It
really doesn't matter where you are or how you choose to celebrate
Christmas. It's really a celebration of love and sharing. Its personal
significance depends a lot on the traditions you grew up with or
practice in your home; they aren't set in stone. Build your own
traditions and make Christmas a holiday of love celebrated in your heart
no matter where you may be this Christmas Day.
The
holidays are a time to spend with friends and family. Make sure to
look over these great tips on how to be a great houseguest for your
friends and relatives. We hope that everyone has safe travels this
season! You can learn more at the Metro.
Being
a houseguest can involve more discomfort than than a fold-out couch and
a lumpy pillow. Sharing space with friends and family is often a given
during the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be as awkward as a
midnight trip to an unknown bathroom. As the CEO and founder of the
design and lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy, Maxwell Ryan knows his way
around a cramped apartment, which is why we asked him for his best
advice on how to survive a stay at with in-laws.
A smooth arrival
The first step of any stay as a guest is the planes, trains and
automobiles that get you there. Ryan says these transitional moments can
be loaded with tension for hosts, and it’s on guests to be clear and
consistent about their arrival times. “If you’re supposed to be arriving
at 6 p.m. on a Friday and you don’t get there until 7 and there are
multiple text messages about where you are and being on your way, it’s
exhausting,” he says. “What’s really helpful to a host is if you arrive
and depart on time” — meaning that guests should figure out how to get
to where they’re going.
Arriving with a gift in hand is another thing Ryan recommends: “I
think it’s better to show up with a gift than to leave a gift. A gift
given at the beginning ‘covers’ your stay, if you will. There’s no
reciprocity if you give first.” Sure, leaving a bottle of wine isn’t an
insult, but arriving with a token of appreciation shows a host that you
thought of them beforehand (though Ryan agrees with your mom — don’t
skip the thank you note.)
During your stay
Routines and schedules can seem like no big deal until you’re hopping
and dodging them like a game of double dutch. Ryan says the simplest
way to ease scheduling mayhem as a houseguest is to respect and adapt to
the routines of the hosts, which can mean asking for specifics and
communicating clearly about schedules. “What’s interesting perhaps is
that the point of it is to be a great guest, because you might not have a
great host,” he says. “There are going to be some geat people out there
in the world who are not the best hosts.”
Towels on the floor might work in your apartment, but they’ll render
you persona non grata in another person’s home. Ryan’s advice is simple:
“Leave the house cleaner than you found it. Put away all the dishes,
wipe down the counters, clean the floors.” While you’re at it, get in on
some sous chef duties — or whip up your own contribution to any shared
meals. It doesn’t hurt, Ryan says, to offer to chip in for groceries or
pick up a nice dessert or bottle of wine to go with a meal.
Go away
Giving your host some time off can be key to making a stay
comfortable for all parties involved, Ryan says. “No matter what your
situation is, plan to have some time away from your hosts, and let them
know that they don’t have to take care of you the whole time,” he
suggests. “Being independent is a really nice strong signal to send to
your hosts.”
Quick tips to houseguest heaven
Be observant of how your host’s household runs. If you’re observant, you won’t have to ask too many questions.
Keep the bathroom clean and dry. “In our own homes we don’t mind if
the water sputters so much, but when you’re a guest it means you
probably are using the bathroom more than it would be used, so give
everything a little wipe down when you’re done.”
Offer to chip in for groceries. “[The offer] doesn’t have to be
accepted to be effective — some hosts like to do everything themselves
and that’s OK, but at least you can say you offered.”
Always make a good effort to figure something out before asking your host — be a quick study.
- See more at:
http://www.metro.us/newyork/lifestyle/home/2013/12/02/houseguest-101-apartment-therapys-tips-for-how-to-ace-a-visit/#sthash.oOYskD7E.dpuf
Being a houseguest can involve more discomfort than than a fold-out
couch and a lumpy pillow. Sharing space with friends and family is
often a given during the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be as
awkward as a midnight trip to an unknown bathroom. As the CEO and
founder of the design and lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy, Maxwell Ryan
knows his way around a cramped apartment, which is why we asked him for
his best advice on how to survive a stay at with in-laws.
A smooth arrival
The
first step of any stay as a guest is the planes, trains and automobiles
that get you there. Ryan says these transitional moments can be loaded
with tension for hosts, and it’s on guests to be clear and consistent
about their arrival times. “If you’re supposed to be arriving at 6 p.m.
on a Friday and you don’t get there until 7 and there are multiple text
messages about where you are and being on your way, it’s exhausting,” he
says. “What’s really helpful to a host is if you arrive and depart on
time” — meaning that guests should figure out how to get to where
they’re going.
Arriving with a gift in hand is another thing Ryan
recommends: “I think it’s better to show up with a gift than to leave a
gift. A gift given at the beginning ‘covers’ your stay, if you will.
There’s no reciprocity if you give first.” Sure, leaving a bottle of
wine isn’t an insult, but arriving with a token of appreciation shows a
host that you thought of them beforehand (though Ryan agrees with your
mom — don’t skip the thank you note.)
During your stay
Routines
and schedules can seem like no big deal until you’re hopping and
dodging them like a game of double dutch. Ryan says the simplest way to
ease scheduling mayhem as a houseguest is to respect and adapt to the
routines of the hosts, which can mean asking for specifics and
communicating clearly about schedules. “What’s interesting perhaps is
that the point of it is to be a great guest, because you might not have a
great host,” he says. “There are going to be some geat people out there
in the world who are not the best hosts.”
Towels on the floor
might work in your apartment, but they’ll render you persona non grata
in another person’s home. Ryan’s advice is simple: “Leave the house
cleaner than you found it. Put away all the dishes, wipe down the
counters, clean the floors.” While you’re at it, get in on some sous
chef duties — or whip up your own contribution to any shared meals. It
doesn’t hurt, Ryan says, to offer to chip in for groceries or pick up a
nice dessert or bottle of wine to go with a meal.
Go away
Giving
your host some time off can be key to making a stay comfortable for all
parties involved, Ryan says. “No matter what your situation is, plan to
have some time away from your hosts, and let them know that they don’t
have to take care of you the whole time,” he suggests. “Being
independent is a really nice strong signal to send to your hosts.”
Quick tips to houseguest heaven
Be observant of how your host’s household runs. If you’re observant, you won’t have to ask too many questions.
Keep the bathroom clean and dry. “In our own homes we don’t mind if
the water sputters so much, but when you’re a guest it means you
probably are using the bathroom more than it would be used, so give
everything a little wipe down when you’re done.”
Offer to chip in for groceries. “[The offer] doesn’t have to be
accepted to be effective — some hosts like to do everything themselves
and that’s OK, but at least you can say you offered.”
Always make a good effort to figure something out before asking your host — be a quick study.
What are you making for your Thanksgiving side dishes this year?
Check out this new and creative side dish for Sweet Potatoes. It is
delicious and people will be amazed at the presentation. Keep reading
and check out my recipes for more information.
Do you need a quick dinner recipe for when you are on the go? Check out this great one from the Food Network. This is great for the nights that you have errands to run, and you need a quick thirty minute meal!
Check out these great Halloween decorations that you can make yourself.
Here are ten great decorations that are affordable and fun! There are
outdoor and indoor options that will sure to make your guests enjoy the
party. You can learn more at Money Crashers.
1. Backyard Cemetery
This
classic Halloween decoration idea turns your yard into a creepy
cemetery. Use reclaimed materials to create a free graveyard. To create
your haunted cemetery, cut different shapes out of cardboard and paint
them to look like aging tombstones. Once they dry, you can arrange them
on the lawn to look like a miniature graveyard. You can also use the tombstones to denote a haunted pathway for
trick-or-treaters. As they approach your front door, they have to pass
by the tombstones, making for a thrilling Halloween nighttime walk. Directions
Flatten several shipping boxes.
Use a Sharpie to draw tombstone shapes. I made a few rectangular, cross, and oval tombstones to give my graveyard some variety.
Cut the shapes out of with a pair of scissors.
Paint the shapes a dark grey and allow the paint to dry.
Once dry, add on sayings like “R.I.P” to the front of each
tombstone. Glue a wood or plastic yard stake to the back of the
tombstone and plant it into the ground.
By using real wood, you can partially waterproof the tombstones, so
they last for more than one Halloween season. The project works best if
you use thin pieces of composite wood, which you can buy at any home
improvement store. The thin pieces are easier to cut and stand up better
in the grass. Pro Tip: You can blend white paint onto the edges of the
tombstone, or glue on some artificial moss, found at craft stores, to
make them look more aged and authentic.
2. Haunted Trees
Make your yard come alive with this spooky craft. If you have trees
in your yard, you can use oven-baked clay to give the trees spooky
faces. Simply create a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth for each tree,
and attach them to the trunks. Place a portable radio or speakers near the tree and play your
favorite eerie soundtrack to draw even more attention to your haunted
trees. Directions
Purchase oven-baked modeling clay, like Fimo or a similar brand. You
can buy modeling clay for about $12 a pound online. Buy colored clay,
such as green, brown, or black, to give the face more character and to
make each face more noticeable.
Create basic shapes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Use a butter
knife to carve out more details like eyelids or teeth, and bake them in
the oven.
Use removable putty or double-sided hanging tape to arrange the face on the tree.
Pro Tip: You can purchase a clay glaze at most craft stores
that prolongs the life of thes faces. The glaze adds a protective
coating, which keeps them safer in the rain.
3. Reusable Jack o’ Lanterns
Jack o’ lanterns are staple Halloween decorations, but some of us
would rather not deal with cutting and carving pumpkins every year.
Hobby and craft stores sell artificial pumpkins you can carve and light.
Best of all, you can store them for next season. Directions
Purchase an artificial pumpkin from a hobby store. They come in
several different shapes, colors, and styles, so pick one you think will
look best at your front door.
Use an Exacto knife to carve a small hole in the bottom of the pumpkin, and to create a design on the front.
After you finish the design, use a small piece of sandpaper to gently sand down any rough edges.
Place a small flashlight or electric candle in the bottom to make
your design glow, and pop your Jack o’ Lantern on the front porch.
If you use small reusable jack o’ lanterns, you can place them in
the windows of your home, to cast an eerie light on your front yard.
Pro Tip: If you’re not artistically inclined, you can use a
stencil to create a Jack o’ Lantern design. A few websites offer free
stencils you can print. Places to get free Jack o’ Lantern Stencils:
Celebrating Halloween has a selection of traditional Halloween designs you can print.
Stoney Kins
has an eclectic mixture of stencils, offering everything from Cookie
Monster to Humphrey Bogart, and they’re free to print and use.
Pumpkin Glow has a large selection of “un-Halloween” stencils, which includes everything from commercial icons to famous people.
Better Homes and Gardens has a large selection of free stencils, ranging from the classics to different breeds of dogs.
4. Coffin Cooler
With a little imagination, and some wood and nails, you can create
your own life-sized coffin, which you can use in a dozen different ways.
I turned mine into a cooler to hold drinks for an outdoor party. My
neighbor used his to create a gravedigger scene in his front yard on
Halloween. You can also use your coffin for a spooky planter or as a
table during a party. For Halloween, use the coffin to strike fear into the hearts of your
neighbors, by hiding someone inside, who pops out from time to time to
spook the older trick-or-treaters. Talk to friends and family members to
find free 4×4 boards for this project; someone you know likely has a
stack of these boards collecting dust in the garage. Directions
You need seven 4×4 boards, varying in length depending on the size
of coffin you want. Two boards make up the sides, one board makes the
bottom, and you’ll cut the other four to fit the shape of the coffin.
Cut the bottom board into a coffin shape. You can use Google images to get an idea for the design.
Cut two boards to fit the length of the coffin. The boards should extend from the first angle on the top to the bottom.
Cut two smaller boards so they fit at an angle on each side of the top.
Cut the last two boards to fit the top and the bottom.
Nail each piece to the bottom board, starting with the sides.
Paint the finished product black, brown, or grey to make it look more authentic.
Pro Tip: If you plan to use the coffin as a drink cooler,
line the inside with black trash bags. The trash bags help make the
coffin more waterproof when the ice starts to melt.
5. Giant Spiders
Spiders fit right into a spooky Halloween theme. You can transform a
few black trash bags into a giant spider that fits on your front porch,
or up in a tree. You can also make multiple giant spiders and cluster
them across the front and sides of your home. Directions
You need nine black trash bags and stuffing such as newspaper, left over packing materials, or even leaves.
Fill one trash bag with stuffing and tie it closed to create the spider’s body.
Hold the second trash bag on its side and fill the length with stuffing.
Wrap the empty bag around the stuffing several times, so that it
looks like a spider’s arm, and secure it with a tie. Repeat this for the
other seven legs.
Use a glue gun to secure the legs to the body.
Pro Tip: You can cut off the bottom of Styrofoam cups and glue them onto the body to make eyes.
If you have a collection of milk jugs in your recycling bin, you
can
create a ghost-lit walkway that your trick-or-treaters will love. Look
online to get inspirations for designing your ghosts’ faces. The Scream
mask makes an instantly recognizable, scary ghost face that you can
easily replicate on your milk jugs. Directions
For this project, you need several milk jugs, some black construction paper, and enough artificial candles to fill the jugs.
Wash and dry each milk jug.
Once dry, use a knife to cut a small hole in the bottom of each jug.
Make ghost faces for each jug by cutting out a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth from the black construction paper.
Turn the jug so that the handle faces the back. Glue the faces onto the front of the jug and place an artificial candle inside.
Line the jugs along your walkway and turn the candles on. The jugs light up, illuminating the faces.
Pro Tip: You can also use white Christmas lights to light up
the ghosts. Line the ghosts along the pathway, and insert a handful of
the string lights inside each jug.
Indoor decorations are great way to make a Halloween party feel more
authentic. In one afternoon, you can turn the inside of your house into
an eerie mansion.
7. Floating Hands
You can turn clear plastic gloves into severed hands, and then place
them around your house, sneak them into a chip bowl, or even make a
garland out of hands. Whenever possible, use a fake hand to shake hands
with arriving guests, and then release the hand and feign dismay. Directions
Fill a plastic glove with tissue paper, popcorn, or small shredded
paper waste. You can also open up the gloves and fill them with freshly
mixed JELL-O, for jiggly, realistic-feeling hand.
Tie the open end of the glove with a clear elastic band to secure its contents.
If you want to hang your hands, slide a paperclip through one loop of the elastic band.
Pro Tip: You can fill the plastic glove with shredded red
scrapbook paper to create a “bloody hand,” or tan or brown scrapbook
paper to create a more realistic-looking hand. You can also fill these
hands with candy corn to create Halloween-themed treat bags.
A simple Halloween banner is an artsy and cheap way to add some
festive decorations to the inside of your house. Depending on the look
you’re going for, you can make your garland eerie or more fall-oriented
and cheery. These instructions focus on making a garland with a message, but you
have unlimited options when creating your Halloween garland. String
paper pumpkins, ghosts, and vampires to make an eerie garland for your
party. Use oversized paper cutouts of candy corn, candies, and popcorn
for a garland over the snack table. Directions
Decide on a saying for your garland. For example, you can do a simple “Happy Halloween” or “Trick or Treat.”
Select a color palette for the paper. If you want an eerie look,
black, red, and green work well. If you want a festive look, brown,
orange, red, and purple work nicely.
Cut the paper into small squares or triangles, until you have one piece for each letter of your saying.
Use paint markers or a sharpie to draw each letter on to the paper.
Punch a small hole in the top with a hole punch. Slide a paper clip through each hole.
Attach the letters to a long piece of twine.
Hang your garland over a doorway or a mantle.
Pro Tip: You can add decorations between each letter block
to give the garland more detail. For example, I wrapped artificial
spider webs between the letter blocks on my garland.
9. Specimen Jars
With a few leftover glass jars, you can convert a table into a
scientist’s lab. By tossing just about anything you can imagine into a
glass jar with some food coloring, you can quickly create a cheap
Halloween decor piece. Look online for craft ideas for fingers,
eyeballs, and other body parts to fill your specimen jars. Make the jars
and the rest of your decor seem even creepier by using mood lighting.
Turn off overhead lights or switch them out with colored light bulbs, to
increase the creepiness factor in your home. Directions
Collect a few glass jars in different sizes, such as mason jars, spaghetti jars, or old baby food containers.
Find an object to place in each jar. For example, I popped the head off an old doll and stuck it inside a mason jar.
Wash and dry the jar. Place the object inside.
Fill the jar with water and drop in two drops of food coloring. The
food coloring will make the object look like a specimen at a lab.
Pro Tip: Around the Halloween season, hobby stores sell
small, plastic party favors. These party favors, including miniature
skeletons, eyeballs, and severed limbs, all work well in specimen jars.
With a few pieces of felt and some tape, you can have a gang of bats
flying around your living room in no time. You can easily make bats and
put them up just about anywhere.
Are you living on a budget? Check out these great tips to
save your budget week by week! These tips will help you have a great financial year. You can learn more at
Kiplinger.
--Keep
your budget and your goals simple. What is the one thing that you most
want to accomplish? See where your money is going? Pay off credit card
debt? Find spare cash to start a college fund for the kids? Zeroing in
on your main objective will help you stay on course.
--Know your
plastic personality. Do you prefer using a debit card or a credit card?
Each has its advantages (and disadvantages), and there’s no right or
wrong answer for everyone, as long as you know which suits your spending
habits.
--Don’t discount cash. Along with debit cards, hard
currency has gained fans post-recession because it literally helps you
stay in touch with your spending -- when it’s gone, it’s gone. In fact,
studies show that when no physical currency changes hands, consumers are
likely to spend more and have less sense of buyer’s remorse. --Limit your trips to the ATM. To make sure you don’t lose track of
all that cash, make just one ATM withdrawal per week, and make your
money last till the next time. Another trick: Pay with the small bills
first; it’s painful to break the big ones. --Track your spending. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and you
don’t have to do it indefinitely. Tracking it even for a month or two
should be enlightening. Use your debit and credit card statements as
guides, and toss cash receipts into a container in your kitchen or
office.
--Pinpoint the one area where you’re leaking cash. Maybe
it’s restaurant meals, the computer store or, as in the case of a friend
of mine, something as mundane as dry-cleaning bills. My friend
habitually neglected to hang up her suits after work, so she was racking
up a big tab sending them to the cleaners to have them pressed.
--Use
any budgeting tool that works for you. It could be one of the top
budgeting Web sites, such as Mint.com, an Excel spreadsheet, or even
paper and pencil. And don’t dismiss that old standby, the envelope
system: Divvy up your cash, and put the amount for each expense into a
separate envelope.
--Give yourself a grace period to pay your
bills. This trick comes courtesy of the father of one of my co-workers,
who makes it a habit to pay his bills ten days in advance of when
they’re actually due. He’s always on time, and never incurs a late fee.
--Don’t
shop alone. If you lack self-discipline, go with a list, a plan, a
buddy -- anything that will make it tougher for you to spend
impulsively. And leave the credit or debit card at home, or carry a
limited amount of cash. I once interviewed a self-employed young woman
who carried an American Express card that she paid off every month and
left her other credit cards with her accountants. “If I want to use one,
they ask me if I really want to spend the money. That makes me stop and
think.”
--Be positive. Don’t think of a budget as a straitjacket
that limits your spending and takes the joy out of life. Think of it as
a way to control small expenses now so that you can buy bigger stuff --
and have more fun -- in the future. Allow yourself a little splurge. If
you decide to brown-bag your lunch at work, treat yourself to a
fast-food Friday.
Are you living on a budget? Check out these great tips to
save your budget week by week! These tips will help you have a great financial year. You can learn more at
Kiplinger.
--Keep
your budget and your goals simple. What is the one thing that you most
want to accomplish? See where your money is going? Pay off credit card
debt? Find spare cash to start a college fund for the kids? Zeroing in
on your main objective will help you stay on course.
--Know your
plastic personality. Do you prefer using a debit card or a credit card?
Each has its advantages (and disadvantages), and there’s no right or
wrong answer for everyone, as long as you know which suits your spending
habits.
--Don’t discount cash. Along with debit cards, hard
currency has gained fans post-recession because it literally helps you
stay in touch with your spending -- when it’s gone, it’s gone. In fact,
studies show that when no physical currency changes hands, consumers are
likely to spend more and have less sense of buyer’s remorse. --Limit your trips to the ATM. To make sure you don’t lose track of
all that cash, make just one ATM withdrawal per week, and make your
money last till the next time. Another trick: Pay with the small bills
first; it’s painful to break the big ones. --Track your spending. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and you
don’t have to do it indefinitely. Tracking it even for a month or two
should be enlightening. Use your debit and credit card statements as
guides, and toss cash receipts into a container in your kitchen or
office.
--Pinpoint the one area where you’re leaking cash. Maybe
it’s restaurant meals, the computer store or, as in the case of a friend
of mine, something as mundane as dry-cleaning bills. My friend
habitually neglected to hang up her suits after work, so she was racking
up a big tab sending them to the cleaners to have them pressed.
--Use
any budgeting tool that works for you. It could be one of the top
budgeting Web sites, such as Mint.com, an Excel spreadsheet, or even
paper and pencil. And don’t dismiss that old standby, the envelope
system: Divvy up your cash, and put the amount for each expense into a
separate envelope.
--Give yourself a grace period to pay your
bills. This trick comes courtesy of the father of one of my co-workers,
who makes it a habit to pay his bills ten days in advance of when
they’re actually due. He’s always on time, and never incurs a late fee.
--Don’t
shop alone. If you lack self-discipline, go with a list, a plan, a
buddy -- anything that will make it tougher for you to spend
impulsively. And leave the credit or debit card at home, or carry a
limited amount of cash. I once interviewed a self-employed young woman
who carried an American Express card that she paid off every month and
left her other credit cards with her accountants. “If I want to use one,
they ask me if I really want to spend the money. That makes me stop and
think.”
--Be positive. Don’t think of a budget as a straitjacket
that limits your spending and takes the joy out of life. Think of it as
a way to control small expenses now so that you can buy bigger stuff --
and have more fun -- in the future. Allow yourself a little splurge. If
you decide to brown-bag your lunch at work, treat yourself to a
fast-food Friday.
Having a go to dessert is crucial for any dinner party. Check out these top ten desserts from apartment therapy that everyone should know how to make. What is your go to dessert?
What are the desserts you know by heart? The sweets you make over and
over, to the point where you barely need the recipe? Dessert can be a
special treat to end a meal, or a simple comfort during a tiring week,
and we have a few we love enough to memorize. These are often the
simplest and the easiest to remember, like a batch of warm chocolate
chip cookies or that light-as-a-feather one-ingredient ice cream.
Others of these sweets have a classic elegance, like the chocolate
layer cake that your friends always beg you to make for their birthdays,
or that most perfect of all desserts: panna cotta. Here are 10
desserts, big and small, that we think are worth knowing by heart.
Chocolate Layer Cake
A "by heart" dessert really means two kinds of
recipes to us: Those that are so easy that they barely require a recipe,
like One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream and fruit poached with wine and
spice. And then the recipes that are maybe a little trickier — like a
good pie crust or a batch of ice cream — but that we make so often that
the process feels intuitive.
Both kinds of desserts form the bedrock of our dessert
repertoire. Know how to make a pie crust and you can whip up a galette
or a fruit-filled pie on a whim. Memorize the formula for a creamy panna
cotta and you have an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert whenever you need
one. The process for making a chocolate cake is more or less the same
for any kind of cake — take this muscle memory with you as you take on
new recipes. And so on with just about every recipe on this list.
What desserts do you know by heart? Which ones do you think are essential for the home cook to know?
TOP ROW
1
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies - You just can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies. With this version, you don't even need a mixer.
2Chocolate Layer Cake
- Does a chocolate cake sound intimidating to you? It shouldn't! This
fluffy, tender, and deeply chocolatey cake is ready in about an hour and
couldn't be easier.
4 How to Make Panna Cotta
- This is Faith's ultimate dessert for everything from a weeknight
treat to a big dinner party. It's easy, it's elegant, and it's endlessly
adaptable.
5 Roasted Strawberry Goat Cheese Squares on Puff Pastry - This
is the perfect example of what you can make with a package of puff
pastry in the freezer. If strawberries aren't in season, go for apples, a
few black berries, or any other ripe fruit — even just a dollop of jam
and a sprinkle of nuts!
Chocolate Wafer Icebox Stacks
BOTTOM ROW
6 How to Make a Pie from Start to Finish - Knowing
how to make a good pie crust is one of those essential skills that's
always handy to have in your back pocket. And it's not as intimidating
as you might think!
7 Chocolate Wafer Icebox Stacks-
These ¨ber-simple little cakelets are more delicious and more addictive
than they have any right to be. Just trust us on this one. Switch it up
with different cookies or by flavoring the whipped cream.
8 How to Make Ice Cream at Home
- Use this base to add any other flavorings your brain can imagine —
fresh blueberries, a swirl of chocolate fudge, candied nuts,
peppermint... Plus you can still make ice cream without an ice cream maker.
10 Honey and Spice Poached Pears
- Last but not least, we have poached fruit. It's amazing how decadent a
simple piece of fruit can feel once you've poached it in a little
simple syrup or leftover wine with a handful of spices. The method in
this recipe applies to any tree fruit you have in the kitchen — apples,
apricots, peaches, plums... You get the idea!
Does the upcoming holiday season already have you stressed out? Check
out these great tips on how to reduce stress in a healthy way. You can
start practicing these methods now, so you are ready for the holiday
season. Keep reading to learn more and check out OxyFresh for more information.
Unplug – Turn
off the cell phone, power down your computer. Today, many people feel
that they are ‘on call’ all the time. Sever the ties and enjoy some
quiet time. Grab that book you’ve been meaning to read and head to the
park, or just stay at home and relax in a comfy spot. Enjoy a little
peace and quiet.
Start saying No
– Most people are pulled in about 20 different directions all of the
time. Help out here, volunteer there…while they are all good causes and
they all need help, you aren’t the end all answer for them all of the
time. Today, many people volunteer or serve simply because they feel
obligated to do so. If you volunteer somewhere, do it because you want
to and enjoy it. Learn to say no every once in awhile and use the time
doing something you enjoy.
Exercise–
You don’t necessarily need to go enroll in a gym or start a detailed
exercise regime. Just get out for a walk, take a bike ride, or go for a
swim. Whatever type of physical activity you enjoy; get out and do it.
Exercise is an excellent way to relieve stress. Physical exertion is
also a great way to ward off insomnia as well.
Positive Thinking–
It may not sound like much, but it is helpful. This may be hard in the
beginning, especially if you are a cynical person, but give it a try
for a few days. Stress and anxiety is tiring. Positive thinking enables
you to overcome your anxiety and find happiness and serenity. You may
find that simple mundane things that caused stress before no longer
adversely affect you.
The Big Picture–
When something starts ‘stressing you out’, take a step back and
evaluate it in light of everything else going on in the world. Is it
really significant enough to cause problems for you? In the grand
scheme of things, how important were those two or three extra minutes
that you had to wait in line at the store? Let the little things slide.
Are you a fan of electronics? There are ways to get all of the high tech
toys you love without breaking the bank. Check out these six steps on
how to tighten your electronics budget without sacrificing anything!
You can find out more great tips at Apartment Therapy. Ditch the Expensive Cable Plan If you're on the fence about cutting cable, read through our helpful guide to walk you through the pros and cons of ditching cable. Streaming TV is definitely here to stay, and there are great ways to find what's available and where it's playing online. If you can't live without cable TV, at least stop paying for your expensive monthly cable box rental and purchase a cheap over the air antenna. Perhaps even ask yourself if you can survive without TV at all!
Stop Buying Movies The
writing has been on the wall for physical media for quite some time,
yet many of us just can't quite let go of our media collections. But
since many of us are leaving cable subscription, it might be time to
migrate over to streaming services and pare down your media collection (a great opportunity to sell it for a little extra cash). Highest quality
playback still requires discs at this time, and latest releases are not
always immediately available online (though this is becoming
increasingly not true), but there's always Netflix or Redbox for
occasional affordable disc rentals.
Stop Buying Music and Stream It! Online
streaming music is everywhere. Yes, commercials are part of the
agreement when you stream free, but honestly there aren't actually that
many commercials on Pandora, Rdio, Spotify, or other alternatives.
It's not like the olden days of radio where you had to hunt around for
something to listen to, there's pretty much a streaming station or
playlist for every musical taste out there.
Take Advantage of Rebates Government
and utility companies often offer rebates for energy efficient
appliances and devices. Before you buy, check around to see who's
offering what kind of discounts if any. For example: Pepco provides the electricity in our area and they provide up to $2,750 in rebates with the ENERGY STAR program.
Be a Smart Consumer Most important for anyone on a budget is to eliminate/limit impulse purchases. Buy smart
and don't be swayed by every little iDevice that gets marketed as the
next best thing. In instances when you do need to purchase electronics
or appliances, consider buying last year's models. Usually year to year
changes between models are modest to moderate. This is especially true
with HDTV sets, where prices between last year's model can be hundreds
of dollars cheaper than the latest release.
Slim Down The Cell Phone Service We're not necessarily saying you have to completely ditch the cell phone, but paying thousands of dollars
a year for a mobile device can cost a decent percentage of income
across a year. Considering moving away from a contract agreement and
moving over to a prepaid service to stop hemorrhaging money each month.
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Tip #1--Remember the real "spirit of Christmas" is one of giving and sharing.
The
holidays are a time to spend with friends and family. Make sure to
look over these great tips on how to be a great houseguest for your
friends and relatives. We hope that everyone has safe travels this
season! You can learn more at the Metro.
This
classic Halloween decoration idea turns your yard into a creepy
cemetery. Use reclaimed materials to create a free graveyard. To create
your haunted cemetery, cut different shapes out of cardboard and paint
them to look like aging tombstones. Once they dry, you can arrange them
on the lawn to look like a miniature graveyard.
Giant Spider – WatsCraft
Spirit Jugs – eighteen25
Candy Corn Popcorn Hands – Kimbo’s Crafts
Specimen Jars – Paper Dolls for Boys
--Keep
your budget and your goals simple. What is the one thing that you most
want to accomplish? See where your money is going? Pay off credit card
debt? Find spare cash to start a college fund for the kids? Zeroing in
on your main objective will help you stay on course.
