Easy and cute crocheted scarf – the perfect Fall craft project

In the Fall, I usually get bitten by the craft bug. I wander craft stores looking for that ONE craft that will bring me nearly instant gratification, and this year, it’s crochet. It’s been years since I picked up a hook, but I decided to do a simple project to refresh my memory, and possibly give me something cute to wear. I have been noticing cute crocheted scarves here and there, and online, so when I ran across a free pattern flyer for this Classic Wool - One-Skein Scarf I grabbed it. I made mine in a rich brown, and had a lot of fun making it. I worked on it for about an hour one evening while watching television, and finished it up in a couple of hours on a Saturday while doing laundry. It’s done in all double crochet stitches, so it’s simple. You can go here to learn learn to crochet. The site has good illustrations of stitches. Now that I have one project under my belt, I’m going for another – this time a simple cloche hat in a brown wool tweed. Looking for a quick, easy and fun project for this fall? Try something crocheted!

Quick, easy, cheap and CUTE Halloween pumpkin idea

If I had time (and patience), I would definitely carve pumpkins to rival Martha Stewart. Unfortnately, I don't have a staff to help me with that, so I am on my own when it comes to holiday decorating.

Bob brought home several pumpkins to decorate our porch this year, and I did a cute fall arrangement of them with a straw bale and some fall foliage. But I wanted to do something a little special with them just for Halloween. My idea is to keep them whole, so hopefully they will last a bit into November.


So, here's the TRICK. I gave my pumpkins "costumes!" Believe me this is so cute, and fast, and cheap! And your neighbors will RUN to the store to copy you next year.

I lined up three pumpkins – two short guys on either side, and a tall "girl" in the center. On each one I put a black plastic mask, which I found at the craft store for about $1 a piece. The elastic holds the masks in place. Then on the center one, I found a black, foam witch's hat that I put on and secured in place with a couple of long nails (T-pins would work as well). The foam makes it weatherproof, too, which is a bonus!

They have adorable "personalities" now!

I'm telling you, try this. You will get lots of comments on your "trick or treaters." This would also work well for a centerpiece for your holiday party. It takes about 2 minutes and less than five bucks. That's a trick and a TREAT!

Botox for your clothes – Magic Sizing

I tried embracing the intentionally-wrinkled look. You know the one I'm talking about – shirts that look like they've been slept in. No. Not for me. I wanted botox for those shirts.

So, I iron. I actually enjoy ironing, (when I'm not running late, then not so much). There's something therapeutic about it. And the end result feels so Martha.

I recently rediscovered a really old-school product that helps me get that fresh, crisp look I am going for. Magic Sizing. I use the light body formula, so it's not at all stiff, but it helps get out the big wrinkles and smooths away the tiny surface wrinkles, too.

Check out their site, which was recently updated. While you're there, download their PDF on "How to Iron." It's a one-pager on how to iron a shirt (yes, believe it or not, there really are steps to ironing a shirt).

Give your shirts the professional treatment. Botox for clothes – Magic Sizing.

Who plays you in the movie of your life? Find out here

If you haven't seen this yet, it's an Internet phenomenon. It's called Face Recognition on MyHeritage and it's pretty amazing. Using some very advanced technology, faces in photos are scanned and matched to faces in a database. It is used for geneology research to identify family members, or even find relatives years later through face recognition.

For me, it was just downright fun. They have a free demo that compares your photo to their database of celebrity photos, and calculates the percentage match. I did both Bob's picture and mine, and here's how we did.

Bob was matched to:
Joey Fatone (N'Sync) (66%)
Alec Baldwin (63%)
Travis Tritt (61%)
Adam Sandler (56%)
Brad Delson (Linkin Park)(55%)
Tom Green (51%)
Barry Williams (Partridge Family)(51%)
David Hasselhoff (51%)

I (can't believe I) was matched to:
Reese Whitherspoon (78%)
Jane Curtain (75%)
Kate Hudson (74%)
Adrianne Curry (74%)
Eva Longoria (74%)
Debra Messing (73%)
Audrey Tautou (73%)
Diana Ross (73%)
Nia Long (72%)
Amanda Holden (72%)

Go, upload away and have some fun!

Pick a pair of pork chops

Growing up, I was the salad and side dish kid. Subsequently I can make a killer Waldorf, but I struggle with the main course, particularly if it's meat. I could spot a boneless, skinless chicken breast, but when it came to various cuts of pork or beef I couldn't tell which chop or steak was which.

I found a nice handy pork chop identification chart that actually shows each kind of pork chop, describes what they are used for and generally what to expect in terms of tenderness. What is shown here is a boneless loin chop – these are what I threw in the oven last night. I covered them in mesquite marinade and baked them at 350º for about 45 minutes and they were tender and juicy.

Now I am the salad and side dish queen – and someday I will be an expert on cuts of meat, too. Check out the chart and let me know what you think!

Hair color and shine booster, without all the trauma

I am hair handicapped. I have always struggled with hair styling products and appliances. Coloring my hair at home is entirely too traumatic for me and I would never attempt to add highlights on my own (think Bride of Frankenstein). So, I'm always on the lookout for products that are easy to use and give me a little confidence boost.

John Frieda® - Luminous Color Glaze™ may be the perfect product for someone like me. While you're still in the shower, you put it on your hair like conditioner, distributing it from roots to ends. Leave it on for three minutes, then rinse. That's it. No mixing. No gloves. No haz mat suit.

This isn't like a major transformation (which is perfect for me), it's just supposed to give your own color a little boost. The company claims that the color will build up over time, and they recommend using it at least three times a week. I have used it for two days now and my hair feels very silky and shiny and I notice today that my color is just a little richer somehow. It's a hair product with no trauma.

Let me know if you try it and how it works for you!

Easy one-skillet meal – Reuben Bake

This was easy. Ridiculously easy. Perfect for a dismal, drizzly Tuesday night. I'm calling it a Reuben Bake, but it starts life in an oven proof skillet.

1 lb. package fully-cooked smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4" disks (I used Beef)
1 15 oz. can sauerkraut, drained and squeezed
1 cup (or so) thousand island dressing
8 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 t. (or so) carraway seeds (opt.)
1/2 t. (or so) paprika (opt.)

Here's all you do.

Heat your oven to 350º. In an oven proof skillet drizzled with some olive oil, brown the smoked sausage over medium heat, then pour off any excess grease. Spread the sausage evenly in the pan. Layer in the sauerkraut, the spices, the dressing and the cheese. Pop into the oven for about 1/2 an hour until it's bubbly and the cheese is lightly browned.

I toasted some dark rye bread for Bob and spooned the Reuben bake over, making open-faced sandwiches. I had it right out of the pan with a small salad. Easy to make, easy to clean up.

Ridiculously easy Reuben Bake.

Mini-Review – X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Synopsis: Finally. The cure for the common mutant.

It's very hard for me to be critical of comic book superhero movies (okay, except for Fantastic Four, that was easy). So realize that while I found a lot in the latest installment of the X-Men to like, it pains me to say that there was also a lot I didn't like. Likes: the special effects are impressive, Jean is back (and man, is she pissed) and Wolverine is still crush-worthy. Dislikes: characters with no discernable super powers, characters with useless super powers, super powers that suddenly don't seem very super (come on, if you can FLY, why do you have to move the bridge?), too many new characters to care about and favorite characters that disappear or die for no apparent reason. I guess all that makes me sound like a stickler, but I do appreciate a movie with a good plot, and that was what was missing for me in this film. I recommend it for its main attribute: mindless fun. Some younger kids might find the Jean Grey scenes scary (I did!), so keep in mind the PG-13 rating.

The most important thing I learned from my high school job at McDonald's

Like a lot of people, my first job was working at McDonald's in the small town I grew up in. One thing I learned was humility – because we were required to wear horrible, greasy, polyester uniforms. All these years later I am almost over it.

I did learn one thing that has stuck with me and truly makes a difference in my life. Clean as you go.

In the kitchen. I simply will not start dinner if there are dishes in the sink. Letting the dishes pile up until after dinner just means that I'll still be washing dishes halfway through "Survivor." Taking the few minutes to wash those things up gives me a clean slate to start with. I also run a sink full of soapy water, drop things in as I work and, depending on the cooking time, wash them up while dinner's in the oven. Clean as you go, and you will be out of the kitchen and on the couch much sooner.
In the bedroom. I don't leave for work until the bed is made. If that brings back bad memories of your parents' rules, I apologize. Truth is, they were right. Making the bed only takes a couple of minutes. Then it's done. It makes the room look and feel cleaner. It also makes the room feel calmer. Clean sight lines are important after a long day at work. You will be surprised.
In the living room. One quick pass through a day is all that's needed to tidy up, corral magazines and toss newspapers. I suggest keeping a small trash can in the room – the fewer reasons you have to avoid straightening up the better. Remember: letting the clutter pile up makes for a much bigger chore later on.
In the bathroom. I keep a container of disinfecting wipes right on the counter day to day, and stow them below when company's coming. Keeping them on the counter makes it easy for me to swipe down the counter and sink while I'm brushing my teeth. It smells fresh, too, making the whole bathroom seem cleaner.

My parents told me getting a job at 16 would pay off someday. They may have meant something different, but they were right in one way. I learned – Clean as you go!

Mini-Review – Friday Night Lights

NBC.com - Friday Night Lights

Synopsis: Football isn't the most important thing. Oh wait. Yeah, it is.

Right off the bat I have to tell you that I cried, not once but twice, during the hour-long season premiere. It's a little embarrassing because this show wasn't particularly original. You take a small Texas town, add a brand new high school football coach, a shot of team infighting, shake with one golden-boy quarterback, garnish with who-will-sleep-with-the-head-cheerleader and you've got the makings for your typical football movie.

What got to me was that it had some darn good acting (for the most part), looked like a film rather than a TV series, and was a good story (even if it was familiar), complete with a tear-jerking plot twist and a Hollywood ending. I'm not sure how they will sustain that level throughout the season, but we're willing to watch and see. I will just keep the tissues closeby.

Crikies! I have been critiqued!

CRITIQUE MY BLOG!

Billy Mac, of "Critique My Blog" has posted what I consider to be a very nice review of Home Ec. for Grownups. He likens my content to a class he had in high school called "Bachelor Survival."

I make an effort to cover a wide variety of topics that appeal to men or women, so hopefully everyone finds something practical that they can try. That's what I am all about, gang!

Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to visit CRITIQUE MY BLOG!

The least sophisticated way to organize your monthly bills (that really works)

If you're looking for bill organization tips from a CPA, you're at the wrong site. But if you're looking for an easy, albeit unsophsticated, way to start getting your bills under control, take a look at this. I have been using this method for years now and it works. Many of my recurring bills I have withdrawn automatically, but this is for the bills I still want to pay "the old fashioned way."

1. Open your mail. This may seem silly, but I know how easy it is to let the mail pile up. If you just open it when you get it, it won't turn into a big chore later on.
2. Make three piles. A pile for bills, a pile for trash and a pile for "other" (magazines and whatnot). Be ruthless about the trash.
3. Open the bills. Here's my method. I open each bill, tear off the payment stub, check the balance/total due, tear up the rest and put it in my trash pile. Statements are always available from the company, and for me, keeping all that turns into a storage issue. (By the way, I tear up anything that has an account number on it, just in case. A shredder would work, too.)
4. Set them up. I buy preprinted return address labels that I slap on each envelope right then to save time later on. I write the date due on the envelope, in the upper right hand corner. Then, and this is the unsophsticated part, I take my "Bills Due" clothespin and pin them together, in the date order they are due, the most recent on top. That's right. I use an old, wooden clothespin with a hang tag marked "Bills Due". It goes on my desk in a basket and it's visible, but not a messy eyesore. You could use a big binder clip from the office supply store, or something prettier if you choose. I recommend something bigger than a paper clip, so that it doesn't get lost on your desk.
5. Check the clothespin. Once a week, pull the bills that are due, write out the checks, put in the pre-addressed envelopes, toss a stamp on and mail! That's it!

If you have struggled with keeping bills organized, this could be a place to start, and then you can advance to a more "twenty-first century" method. I'll stick with my clothespin method. It works for me precisely because it isn't sophsticated.

Chicken curry my way.

This is a takeoff on a chicken curry recipe I found on All Recipes. I swapped coconut milk for the water called for in the original recipe, and I added the cilantro. I think these changes improved the overall taste and texture of the dish. Bob said, “we can have this again” so I know it’s a winner.

Here’s what you’ll need:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into about 1” cubes
1 big onion, chopped
1 t ground cinnamon
1 bay leaf
2 cloves garlic, smashed
¼ t ground ginger
1 t paprika
3 T curry powder – I used a hot madras curry, but mild would work fine, too
½ t Splenda (or sugar)
Pinch of salt
1 T tomato paste
¼ c olive oil
1 can unsweetened coconut milk
½ t cayenne pepper (or more if you like it extra spicy)
The juice of ½ lemon
A handful of cilantro, roughly chopped

Here’s how you make it:
1. In a big, deep skillet with a lid, sauté the onion in the oil until browned. Add the cinnamon, bay leaf, ginger, paprika, curry powder, Splenda and salt. Cook the spices with the onion for a couple of minutes, stirring to combine well. The mixture will become like a paste.
2. Add the chicken and mix to coat each piece with the yummy spices. Add the tomato paste and stir. Pour the coconut milk over all and stir to combine. Cover the skillet and simmer for about 20 minutes.
3. Right before serving, squeeze in the lemon juice, cayenne and about ½ the cilantro and stir to combine. Garnish with the rest of the cilantro.

I served this with a simple boxed cous cous (with about a teaspoon of curry powder added) and pitas to mop up the delicious sauce. Plain rice would also work. It was great the next day, too. It’s impressive enough to serve for company, but quick enough to make on a weeknight. Try it!

Easy one skillet meal – Teriyaki pork chops

Bob loved this, and I loved the cleanup. Everything in one big skillet saves time and dishes!

You will need:
4 pork chops about 1/2” thick
1 green pepper, rough chopped
1 medium onion, rough chopped
4 pineapple rings (I used the kind with no added sugar)
Teriyaki marinade/sauce
1 package teriyaki rice (I used Knorr/Lipton brand, shown)
Red pepper flakes to taste
2 T olive oil
Soy sauce

1. Marinate the chops in teriyaki sauce for about 30 minutes. I used a plastic zip-top bag to save on cleanup. Just put enough marinade in to cover them, and turn the bag over and over to coat.
2. In a big, deep skillet, heat the olive oil until pretty hot. Place the chops in the oil, don’t crowd and don’t mess with them. When you see some juices come to the top, flip them. When you see the juices coming up on the second side, move them to a plate and loosely cover with foil.
3. In the same skillet, put the pepper, onion and red pepper flakes with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and sauté until the veggies are just tender.
4. Add the water/oil per rice instructions into the skillet and add the contents of the rice package. Stir to make sure the rice is all coated. Bring to a boil.
5. Place the chops on top of the rice/veggie mixture. Top each chop with one pineapple ring. Put a little teriyaki sauce in the center of each pineapple ring. Cover and cook until the rice is tender (about 7 minutes according to package instructions).

Add soy sauce to taste. I served this with a simple salad topped with an Asian style dressing and crunchy chow mein noodles.

You could easily substitute chicken for the pork. This technique would work for any packaged rice side dish you can find at the grocery. Just change the marinade and veggies to match the flavor of the side dish you choose. Nothing to it!

A cup of joe for a lot less dough.

I have about a 20 minute commute to work in the morning. For a long time I stopped at our local drive-thru coffee shop and got a 20 oz. black coffee to go. Where I live, that cost me about $2 with tip. I was spending at least $40 a month on my morning coffee! Once the jitters wore off, I decided to find a way to reduce that cost – but going without my wakeup cup was not an option.

I tried making coffee at home and taking it in a travel mug. The drawback was, I would often forget to bring the mug home. On the days I did bring it home, I had to wash it, which made me miss the throwaway convenience of the coffee shop cups. No muss no fuss.

So I had an idea! I went to my local club store and purchased the exact same Dixie® 20 oz. cups and lids I got from the coffee shop – for an average of about 10¢ per cup. You can find the lids and cups at club stores or restaurant supply stores, or even online. So I save money and I have the convenience of a disposable cup.

I am not always the best at money saving, but this idea made very little impact for farily significant savings, without any complicated budgeting routine. And this way, I can justify that new top I need for this fall!

I'm through with mildew. Thanks to Lysol®.

No one likes to admit that they have a mildew problem. But, it happens. We live in a 100 year-old house with a small, enclosed bathroom and limited air circulation – the perfect the environment for mold and mildew to grow.

I have tried a lot of different products, but
Lysol® Mildew Remover with Bleach really works. I was honestly doing the touchdown dance in the bathroom because the telltale dark stain of the mildew disappeared before my eyes. The product has other benefits, too – it disinfects and removes soap scum, and has a very pleasant scent that is clean but not too antiseptic. Even when and if I live in a newer home, this is one product that is going with me.

To get rid of the mildew and stains I sprayed it liberally around the shower stall, waited about 10 minutes and then rinsed. To keep the mildew from coming back, and to prevent the buildup of soap scum, I am now routinely spraying around the shower about 2-3 times a week.

Try it under sinks, around toilets or wherever you may have a high-humidity or moisture problem and see how it works for you.

The Bestest Blog of the Day – Who me?

The Bestest Blog of All-Time

Hey, kids! I am very pleased and proud to have been named "Bestest Blog of the Day" for 9/27/06 on Bestestblog.com!

My goal with this site is not to just publish ideas from other sources, but to actually try things myself and write about what works. Some things I have been doing for years (like How to fold a fitted sheet) and some things I just invent (like my recipe for French Country Steaks), but my mission is always the same – I don't write about it unless I've tried it.

I hope you'll come back often, and be sure to visit Bestestblog.com!

Thanks so much!

The old school way to shop for vintage clothing.

If you have been looking at ideas for fall fashion lately, you know that a lot of the new styles have a vintage flair. Check out Style Bakery's Fall Trend Report and you'll see what I mean. This inspired me to check out some shops in my area to try to pick up some vintage items to add a unique, personal touch to my fall outfits.

I had a couple of things in mind when I went: men's vests and anything tweed. I scored two items. The first is a long, wool, sweater vest with leather buttons and a belt with a tortoise-shell buckle, which I will wear like a belted tunic over jeans or slacks. The second was a tweed pencil skirt with awesome twin kick pleats in the back. The skirt will look great with a black turtleneck and boots, or a classic white blouse, a sweater and a pair of Mary Janes.

Here are some tips when shopping for vintage pieces.
Study the trends. Check out magazines or sites like Style Bakery to get ideas, and make a mental note of what one or two items you could add that would give new life to your outfits. Then go shoppping.
Narrow your search. If you know you don't need another tooled leather purse, skip the purses.
Scan for high quality fabrics. If it looks and feels like high quality fabric, it may be. Check to see if there is an original label still inside the garment to confirm that. I think the best investments are wool or cashmere.
Check the size. Sizing has obviously changed drastically over the years, so don't rule it out if it's not your current size. Best to try on if the shop provides a dressing room.
Think versatility. The belted sweater vest I picked up can be worn with multiple outfits, with or without the belt, and can be layered with a lot of different blouses or sweaters.
Don't buy it if it's damaged. This may be just my rule, but if I take it home with the intention of repairing it, it will probably never happen.

For good quality vintage finds, expect to pay a little more. If you feel like scavenging, sometimes you can find nice pieces at a flea market, a resale shop or even a Goodwill store. Wherever you go, have fun and get ready for the compliments on your signature style this fall.

Silicone basting brush. I will never go back.

I am usually drawn to the old-world look of the old-school kitchen gadgets. Take the basting brush. I like the way the old wooden handles and natural bristles look. But, I have never been a fan of how hard they are to clean. The bristles retain a greasy feeling, and eventually, even with hand washing, a bit of rust develops around the metal part.

I happened to be in a Crate & Barrel store, and happened to have a gift card with me, so I picked up a few little gadgets, including this silicone basting brush. It was super inexpensive and came in cute colors, so I snagged a red one to try. I will never turn back. The material can withstand very high temps, and cleans up in super-hot water with lots of soap and never feel greasy. It actually holds quite a bit of sauce in it's "bristles" so it's ideal for mopping ribs or chicken on the grill. If you haven't made the leap to silicone, start here. For the price of a latté, you will have a handy little kitchen helper that does its job very well.

Creamy-cheesy chicken & prosciutto rollups.

Philadelphia® Cream Cheese

I always know it's a winner when Bob takes a bite and says, "We can have this again." That's exactly what he said after tasting a new recipe I made up, which I am calling creamy-cheesy chicken & prosciutto rollups. This is similar to a recipe I saw in a back issue of "Every Day with Rachael Ray." I didn't write the recipe down at all, just remembered a few basic ingredients and a technique, and then made the rest up. It was easy.

For the rollups:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
About 2T Philly soft chive and onion flavored cream cheese per chicken breast
1 thin slice of proscuitto per chicken breast
Salt, pepper & poultry seasoning
Olive oil for the pan

For the sauce:
About 1/2 cup white wine
2-3 T Dijon mustard (I used the grainy kind)

The method:
1. Pound the breasts as thin as you can without tearing them, about 1/4" thick. To make this easier, I put the chicken inside a heavy-duty gallon zip-close bag with one side slit open (it's heavier than plastic wrap). I also "butterflied" the breasts – cutting horizontally halfway through the thickest part of so that the meat is closer to the same thickness throughout.
2. Spread each flattened breast with about 2T cream cheese, depending on the size. Be generous with this. Then put a slice or so of proscuitto on top of the cream cheese.
3. Roll each breast up, tucking in the ends, sort of "burrito style." Take a couple of toothpicks and "sew" the seam up. Salt, pepper and poultry seasoning all sides of your rolls. They may not be the neatest looking, but don't sweat it! They will be delish!
4. Run some olive oil around an oven-proof skillet. Once the oil is pretty hot (medium high), place them in the pan (don't crowd). Brown on all sides. You'll know when it's time to turn them b/c they will "let go" of the pan.
5. Put the skillet in a 400º preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, until the rolls are cooked through.
6. Take the skillet out and remove the rolls to a plate, loosely cover with foil. Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping up the brown bits. Whisk in the mustard and reduce slightly. Put the rolls and their juice back into the pan, and simmer for just a few minutes, coating the rolls with the sauce.

These were tender, juicy and the flavored Philly® added a real rich and creamy texture. I may consider trying other varieties of the cream cheese, and might swap out the proscuitto for something like olives or ham. But I will be making these again!