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Scarf Control

May 28, 2012 · by · 13 Comments

Although the weather is pretty mild here in California, often the mornings and evenings are chilly, so I wear scarves several time a week.  I have quite a few (so my hubby says), so I needed to find a way to organize them that would allow for quick searching as I run out the door.  This weekend I decided to organize my scarves.

This is what I did.  I took  a 5-pair pants hanger from my closet.

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Then I tied each scarf around the rungs.  I have the loop of the scarf in front, for easy access when I pull one out.  (see photo below).

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This hanger will allow me to hang about 30 scarves, so the nice part is I have room for more :) !

DIY Scarf hanger from Organized Island

What are your accessory organization tips?

Tip Junkie handmade projects

TidyMom

Filed Under: Closet Organization · Tagged: , ,

High School Graduation Gifts on a Budget

May 24, 2012 · by · 27 Comments

Graduation season is here!   We happily receive announcements of friends and family that are graduating from preschool to high school.  While I wonder, how does it all happen so fast?  I am also thinking, how can I acknowlege them all? While I realize that the gift of money is probably the most popular (and maybe desired), my budget is telling me to look for other options.

Most of the announcements I received this year are for high school graduations.  I thought I would share with you some other gift options that are still very useful and all the suggestions are less than $15.

  • Journal book – for their notes, action items, with a sentiment written inside
  • Travel Mug – with some coffee, tea or hot chocolate packets
  • Books – a finance  or cookbook (or a local guidebook if recipient is going away to college)
  • Framed Inspiration – take a favorite quote or inspiring poem and frame it
  • Tote or sports bag – people always need these
  • Gift Bag – with highlighters, post-its and supplies from the dollar store
  • Advice Jar – collect advice from friends and family on index cards and put them all in a jar to send off with the student

What are your suggestions for non-cash graduation gifts?

Filed Under: Gift Ideas · Tagged: , ,

Strawberry Festival Inspired Crepes

May 22, 2012 · by · 11 Comments
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This weekend my family were on our way to Santa Barbara and we happened to be near a Strawberry Festival in Oxnard.  We decided spontaneously to check out the festival.

There were lots of craft booths, entertainment booths, game booths and of course lots and lots of strawberry food items.

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They even had strawberry beer and wine! 

We especially liked the chocolate covered strawberries – they were dipped in white, dark and milk chocolate and oh and they tasted so good!

I would recommend checking out the festival if you have an opportunity.  Seeing all of the strawberries made me want to recreate some strawberry love at home so I decided to make some crepes.  I am all about easy and these can be made in just a few minutes.    I filled mine with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, but you can use any combination of fruit, ice cream, cheese, nuts, etc…

BASIC FRUIT CREPE RECIPE

1 1/2 cups fresh fruit

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons melted butter.

Whipped cream (I used canned)

First wash and prepare fruit.  Slice or chop fruit an set aside.

Mix flour and eggs until combined.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Heat a smidge of butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat.  When pan is warm, pour in batter to cover pan bottom.  As pan heats, tilt pan so that batter is spread around and can set.

Cook about 1 1/2 minutes, then flip with a spatula and cook another 1 1/2 minutes.  Flip out of pan and fill with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, whatever & enjoy!  Makes about 4 good sized crepes.

Cook about 1 1/2 minutes, then flip with a spatula and cook another 1 1/2 minutes.  Flip out of pan and fill with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, whatever & enjoy!  Makes about 4 good sized crepes.


Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: , ,

Another School Year Ending

May 16, 2012 · by · 4 Comments

Now that we are mid-way through May, school will be out in just a few weeks.  During this busy season with Fathers’ Day, graduations and Open Houses, it is a time when we are all so busy that the days fly by and before you know it, summer is here.  I am a list maker, so I keep a checklist to help me remember all of the things that I want to accomplish before the end of the school year.

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The list has changed over the years as my kid got older, but the gist of the list is still the same.  Do people still say gist?  Anyway, here are some of the things on my list of what I would like to accomplish in the final month of school:

  • Purchase/Make Gifts  - Thank you gifts for teachers, coaches, Graduation, Fathers’ Day
  • Summer calendar – Finalize kids’ summer activities, VBS, swimming, camp etc, plan vacations or day trips. Have kids make a summer to do list (it is a great resource when the kids complain that they are bored during the summer).
  • Schoolwork – Go through school work for year and keep a portion of it or take photos. File report cards and awards in memory book.  (If you have a memory book for your child, update it at the end of this school year.  If not, you may want to start one now.)
  • Medical – Schedule summer dentist and doctors appointments for kids.
  • Clothing – Donate clothing that the kids have outgrown to make way for summer wardrobe.
  • Capture – Ensure camera is charged at all times. (Whether your child is 8 months or 18, trust me, you will wish later that you captured more moments.)

What is on your to do list this month?

Filed Under: Entertaining & Celebrations · Tagged: , , ,

Easy Macaroni Salad

May 13, 2012 · by · 10 Comments

The weather is beautiful here in California this weekend, so we are having a BBQ at my mother’s house for Mothers’ Day.  I am making a macaroni salad becuase there is nothing like comfort food when seeing my parents.  This recipe is quick to put together, which fits in with my schedule.

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Macaroni Salad

2 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 cup chopped celery

3/4 cup chopped bell peppers (any color)

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/4 cup yellow mustard (prepared)

1 10 oz. can black olives (sliced or chopped)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 16 oz. package elbow macaroni

1.  Cook the macaroni according to package directions.  Rinse in cold water and set aside in refrigerator.

2.  Mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Once combined, add cooked macaroni and mix well.

3. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight.

 

Want more salad recipes?

Come join The Salad Social at TidyMom sponsored by The International Olive Council’s Add Some Life

For more BBQ recipes:http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2012/06/link-up-picnic-or-potluck-recipes.html

Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: , ,

Brain Basket

May 6, 2012 · by · 4 Comments

I am preparing a Mothers’ Day gift for my mother this weekend.  She is in her eighties and her doctor has recently recommended that she keep her brain challenged and active.

When I visit my mother, we often will make cards or scrapbook, but when she is not with family or friends, it is just her and my dad.  I wanted to give my mother something different than the usual clothing and flowers this year, so I decided I wanted to make her a “Brain Basket”.

I picked up some brain teaser books:

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A combination game set:

Then some snacks (because all that thinking makes you hungry):

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And put it all together in a shoe box to look like this:

Hopefully, my mom will enjoy it.  These items really good for any age, they come in a variety of age-appropriate levels.  Here are some items that might be good for a Brain Basket:

  • Cards
  • Crossword/Word Search
  • Suduko
  • Bible/Bible Study books
  • Hand-held brain teasers
  • Wii games
  • DS with brain games
  • Journal
  • Checkers/Chess
  • Jigsaw puzzles
  • Playing cards
  • Magazines
  • Biography/History Books
 The entire gift cost about $20 to put together.  I hope she likes it!
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Filed Under: Gift Ideas · Tagged: , , , ,
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