Spring Into Action

Spring is right around the corner and traditionally it's the time of the year to organize, declutter, and spruce up your home, a home which for the last year has been not only a dwelling but an office and meeting room, a school (and probably a playground), a 24/7 diner, a laundromat, a fitness center, an entertainment spot, and a home spa-jk about the last one😉! Really though, your home has seen some things this past year, and it's well overdue for some TLC. It can be overwhelming to narrow down the gigantic whole home to do list, no matter if you have a suburban mansion or modest townhouse, but breaking duties down into manageable chunks can make handling the home cleaning chores all the more easier.  

I like to begin with the high traffic, high visibility, high touch places of the home first.  For example lets say the carpet in the living area is worn and stained, I would recommend a good steam cleaning followed a few days later by throw rug that adds protection and a bit of style to your space.  Another must clean thing is kids toys-I would make sure they get physically cleaned and then get them placed into a tote or bin when not in use rather than just pushed to the edges or walls of the room.  Demonstrating good cleaning habits has the added bonus of showing little ones the important practice of cleanliness and neatness.  What I would tackle after that is washing the interior glass surfaces that can become dusty, streaked, and dirty, such as bathroom and bedroom mirrors, lighting fixtures, kitchen cabinets, and more.  Then I would move to cleaning handles, knobs, faucets and fixtures, and and anything else that is touched frequently.  Tip: a great cleaning tool is a carry caddy, these handy plastic helpers allow you to tote various cleaning products up, down, and all around the home without the need of burdening your arms with cleaning clutter.  Don't forget the car!  The car is one of the most neglected parts of Spring cleaning, due in part I believe to the exhaustion of cleaning the actual home😄.  Emptying your vehicle of the accumulated junk of the year can feel liberating, and vacuuming your vehicle out, washing it, and cleaning under the hood can make it feel almost new car like refreshment. Lastly don't forget the exterior of the home!  Accumulated dried or dead vegetation and debris have usually built up over the course of the year and make for a very sad and neglected looking home.  Dirty and spotted windows also lack the touch of curb appeal, and reduce visibility.  And depending on the composition of your home's exterior a good old fashioned cleaning may be in order there too.  Tip: A pressure washer is an amazing tool in the cleaning repertoire, the before and after joys are a thing of beauty and amazement.  So there you have it, some ways to jump into the Spring cleaning fever!  Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Top 10 Kitchen Gifts for Christmas

Christmas 2020 is about two weeks away! It sounds unbelievable right?! While some people may have already selected, bought, wrapped, and organized their gifts you might still be searching for the right present. This year has turned a lot of people into involuntary homebodies, and as the old saying goes the kitchen is the ❤️ of the home. That being said kitchen gadgets, gizmos, and goods are more in demand than ever. Read on for some popular kitchen gift ideas! 

1. Dutch Oven. Probably the most cliched kitchen item on the internet with more glamorous photos on social media sites than any influencer. Its reputation is well earned however as dutch ovens can be both beautiful and practical moving from stovetop to oven to table. So many comfort and holiday meals can be made in a dutch oven, from bone broths, to soups and stews, roasts, and so much more. Dutch Ovens come in a variety of colors and sizes, and if you are a true fan you know one isn't enough. Fond family memories of mealtimes can be recalled as a Dutch Oven is gifted and can even be passed down the generations. 

 2. Cocottes. Its as if the Dutch Oven had a cute little baby!  These tiny darlings resemble miniature Dutch Ovens and are primarily used to serve food in.  They are so great for a variety of reasons.  One of the reasons being that it's not your typical way of serving food.  Portions can be evenly distributed among each Cocotte and can be delivered to the table upon a tray, making both delivery and after meal cleanup a breeze.  They can also be great for keeping hot food warm by keeping the lid on the dish.  These little gems make storing leftovers easy as well, whatever food someone doesn't finish at mealtime can simply have the lid placed back over it and then stored in the fridge.  It's also great for outdoor dining as the lid makes keeping pests off food easy, and it's good for those who can't make it to the dinner table and have to eat elsewhere in the home.  A set of 4 Cocottes make an excellent foodie gift.

3.  Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls.  Mixing bowls are a vital part of any kitchen.  Plastic bowls can degrade with time and use, and ceramic bowls are prone to chips, cracks, and breaking.  Stainless steel mixing bowls can endure a long and hardy life in the kitchen.  They can be used for everything from mixing up recipe ingredients, to making salads, and even storing leftovers.  They're also a great space saver as they can be stacked to take up less storage.  

4.  Stand Mixer.  A stand mixer is one of the most eye catching small countertop appliances that can add razzle dazzle to the most dreary kitchen.  The colors, size, and even the name brand of a stand mixer can display culinary personality, not to mention the fact that it's such a great time saving tool.

5.  Utensil Holder.  A utensil holder and sometimes more than one is a necessity of any functioning kitchen.  They can be made up of different materials from cast iron to pottery to metal and can be different patterns, textures, colors, shapes, and sizes.  A clever gifting idea would be to include some basic utensils such as a spatula, whisk, laddle, and tongs within the utensil holder as an additional bonus.

6.  Ice Bucket and Ice Tongs.  Gift giving an ice bucket and tongs isn't as boujie as it sounds.  Although it may evoke images of hotel suites and chilled champagne, ice buckets in a home have many practical applications.  Having a bucket of ice at hand during a family meal gathering eshews the need for repeat trips to the kitchen.  It's also handy when someone is watching the game, or if you're outdoor dining.  Ice bucket tongs themselves can even be conversation pieces as there are so many creative designs out there.

7.  Square End Grain Cutting Board.  A focal point of the kitchen, a cutting board can be a make or break piece of kitchen ware.  This type of cutting board offers up a traditional feel in a kitchen and is great for cutting, chopping, slicing and dicing a variety of food on.

8.  Bread Box.  The Bread Box is one of the staples of a kitchen and can hold anything from homemade to store bought bread, french bread, rolls, and so much more.  Like most pieces in the kitchen it can show a lot about it's owner.

9.  Agate or Geode Coasters.  The internet has gone wild for these beautiful coasters that blend the elements of natures artwork with the practicality of a drink protector.  Coasters aren't just for coffee tables and can be used on dining room tables, end tables, nightstands, countertops, patio tables, and more.  Each coaster has its own personality and no two have the same size, shape, cut, or color.

10.  Gift Card.  What may seem like the easy way out of selecting a particular gift for someone, a gift card given for a shop that stocks household goods can allow the recipient the freedom of personal choice to choose something that fits their aesthetic, as opposed to being gifted with an item that they may not want or need, or that they already have.  Gift cards can also be a great choice when mailing a gift is the only option.

Thank You...

Thank you all for following my humble blog throughout the years. Its been a while since my last post but I hope you continue to check in every now and then for new posts. I also hope you are staying happy, healthy, and safe, and that brighter days are on your horizon.

Tips For Decorating On A Budget

Hello world I’m back with a new post! Here are a few simple and affordable ways to add touches of vintage chic to a room. Upcycle a beverage bottle into a wildflower vase. Change a boring lampshade into one with patterned fabric and fringe. Switch out plain knobs on a dresser or sideboard for rounded crystal or glass knobs. Use a length of lace as a sofa shawl. Use a quilt as a cover or a throw. Instead of keeping a tea service stored in china hutch place it out on a buffet or dining table. Use a scarf or dress cord/fabric drawstring as curtain tiebacks. Place a sheer curtain in opaque or pastel colors overage a regular curtain. Dine and drink on mismatched china tableware. Hopefully more to come soon.

Yay New Post!

So this is the first post in a really long time so sorry everyone! Well as most if not all of you know I did a free promo on Sunday and gave away a huge amount of books. (le sigh) Am glad that my writing is enjoyed but is everyone a cheapskate nowadays and nobody wants to pay for anything? Anyways...the other day I was browsing around at a TS and ran across the cutest most kitschy collection of dime store 1950's Made In Japan figurines ever! There was cats, dogs, fish, you name it it was there. Sadly they were beyond my price range in terms of my willingness to spend. Translation: quit bumping up the price on junk just b/c you think it looks old and valuable ppl. Case in point too I saw an old mothball smelling sad looking Teddy Rugsby a while back and it was going for $50. Really. Just finished a really good Jennifer Crusie novel. Now I've got Jackson Browne's 'Somebody's Baby' stuck on internal repeat. :) Had to snip of quite a bit of length from one of my favorite skirts b/c of a bad accidental rip. I'm now contemplating whether to sew another piece of material around the new hemline to extend it ala Pinterest project style. Am trying to overcome the urge to bake due to the want to lose lbs. Crescent rolls and choco chip cookies how I miss thee so! Have tried the newest craze and sipped coconut water. Found it meh. Still writing now and then. That is all.

Dear Diary...{Not Really}

Went shopping the other day and lusted over adorable sparkly Juicy Couture clip on charms at the jewelry counter. Had a weak moment where I contemplated buying a few. Did the sensible thing by ignoring the gems and went off to shop for clothes instead. Also I decided to swear off chocolate. Then a couple hours later bought a Mr. Goodbar and devoured it. And...I wanted to stop consuming caffeine. Then someone gave me a Starbucks giftcard. I promptly redeemed it and had a Grande Caramel Frapp.

Books!

So I've read some really good books lately. Here are a few: 'Acheron' by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It was freakin' epic and awesome. 'Bait' by Karen Robards was fantastic, the characters had excellent chemistry and the plot was very fast paced. I read a really cute Regency yet all of the sudden I can't recall the name of it, I'll post it when I remember it. I also read the first chapter excerpts on Susan Elizabeth Phillips two new books each centering on her characters Meg and Lucy. Now I really want to go and buy those books! Also still into the first half of 'Out Of Eden' by Beth Ciotta. And I discovered Jennifer Crusie's blog which is totally excellent. Ltr..

New Post!

Hi everyone! Does absence make the heart grow fonder? I went on hiatus for a bit, living life and such. Anyways, I'm back now. Not much to elaborate on except that I recently read what I would call a novel of epic proportions that was well crafted, delightful and six hundred plus pages long. I got it on a Sunday and finished it on a Tuesday night, reading it whenever and where ever I could, it was that good. Sometimes a good book is like a pint of ice cream, so awesome you just can't put it down. Speaking of ice cream, last year I had I think it was Thrifty's Ice Cream Savannah -erm I can't exactly recall the name and whew it was good! It tasted like a delicious slice of peach cobbler in ice cream form. More later...

Sunday!

Hello my legions of adoring fans...ha ha. Sorry I've been rather absentee lately. I've been caught up doing a bit of this and that IRL and being away from the internet for long amounts of time makes me realize there's life away from a screen. Also I've slacked off slightly on my writing a bit due to being a little under the weather and that left me feeling kind of meh. Anyways I got a second comment recently-it was rather nice. More to come later...

The best classic Hollywood noir films: 'Love With The Proper Stranger', 'North By Northwest', 'Rebel Without A Cause', 'Rear Window', 'Pillow Talk', 'The Grapes of Wrath', 'It's A Wonderful Life', 'Bell, Book & Candle'...

Happy Monday! I've had a somewhat busy weekend so hence the woeful lack of posting. Last Friday I was perusing the antiquated, cavernous confines of one of my favorite haunts and came across two absolutely delightful pieces of furniture and a lovely looking glass edged in gilt trim with a design of roses. I was discussing with one of the employees the furniture I was considering and she informed me that it had came from the estate of someone who had recently passed away and the person had been born in the 1800s, the late 19th century. As I wandered around more I came across a delightful array of fabulous hats obviously from the 30s, 40s, & 50s. I also noticed a pair of beaded clasp purses and various glass objects. They had all belonged to the same person. Anyways to end my long rambling story I found it quite sad that one's family would dump one's lifetime collection of things so callously. I also felt as if I had suddenly strolled into an episode of 'Antiques Roadshow.' And in other events I satisfied my thrifty, intellectual epicurean side by purchasing cookbooks that I will probably never use since they were on sale. And I'm thinking about changing the cover on 'Pistols, Whiskey & Corsets', I like the current one however my skills as a photog aren't as adroit as I wish they were.

Hello world Happy almost Tuesday! In random news I was out and about the other day and purchased a whole excellent box full of books for only $2! Not only that but the quality of the books were quite wonderful-Amanda Quick, Diana Palmer, and Lisa Kleypas. They most were of a romantic variety but there were a few other suspense slash action thrillers thrown in for good measure. In a rather unusually slow day I polished off a quirky, mystery novel set in the Thirties London by Rhys Bowen called 'Her Royal Spyness' and it was charming. I also partook of a friend's homemade seven layer dip- I can't wait to attempt this on my own however I fear it may not turn out all that smashing. I also spent too much time saturating my brain on Pinterest. In my haste I also threw on a blouse that I vaguely recollected later had a slight rip in the elbow area and was thusly the reason for elicitng slight stares. It is quite too bad that one is judged by one's clothing, alas. And I am falling for all things retro in the rockabilly subculture once more. Now I'm off to write...

New Book

Hello everyone, I have a new novella that I've written and uploaded on Amazon, it's called 'Pistols, Whiskey & Corsets' so check it out! It's a genre mashup of cowboy western, with a bit of romance, and vampires thrown in for some fun!

The official start of summer is almost here, is your house ready for it? Summer is more than just a change in your wardrobe, its a frame of mind. Its also a great season to mix up and air out your living space to reflect an easy, breezy new you. Whether you have a mansion or a modest dwelling like myself its easy to change a few things and spruce up for summer. The first change and one of the easiest you can do is put up new curtains. Muslin, cotton, and linen are some of the best material fabrics for summer. Choose light or soft bright colors and if you like prints use them but don't over do it-you don't want to blare you want to be more muted. Tie them back in the daytime to allow sunlight in. Switch some furniture pieces our and for example replace them with a rattan foot rest, or a white wicker loveseat. Put a fresh bouquet out every week- not something elaborate and expensive, just something simple like a mix of peonies and carnations. Put a few seashells out, maybe on a fireplace mantle, a table, or in the kitchen. When you have company put out a clear glass pitcher of pink lemonade mixed with ice and lemon slices. Use a different, simple set of dishes. More to come... :)

Summertime...

Hey everyone I'm back again! Twice in the same day-are you as shocked as me?! Anyways, just some news I wanted to impart. I was reading the L.A. Times online this weekend and read an interesting fashion related article. Apparently Quiksilver is opening a lady surfer geared boutique along the beach-yay! Also I was reading THR today and saw that WB bought a studio near London. I saw on TV the other day that the Twitter bird is getting a makeover. In other random news the trailers for the newest Batman movie, Skyfall {James Bond}, and Looper look great. Also am kind of disappointed there may not be another Batman movie...Christian Bale is an excellent Batman. I've also been reading about speculation as to a Justice League flick which would be totally awesome. I also learned via LAT that a certain major designer's newest pet is all the rage on Twitter. It's a fluffy kitten and its name is Choupette and its Twitter handle is ChoupettesDiary. And...that's all for now.

Happy Monday again y'all! I don't have that much to say except late last week I wrapped up a couple of new stories I was working on. Then after making sure everything looked okie doki I went to go and upload it and I got an error message. {headdesk} Now I'm having to wait until the computer place reopens so I can go try again. I really wish I could've gotten it done sooner in the year but it seems there's never enough time in the day for me to write. By the time I've done everything that needs doing and work etc it's usually late and I have to fight falling asleep at my computer with the aid of Dr. Pepper or McDonald's Sweet Tea to stay awake. And now I'm worried if the format'll look alright b/c I don't really have a way to check after I upload..ah well. More later when I have time.

Good Morning! Did anyone watch the MTV Movie Awards last night? It was awesome! Anyways I know this is an early post but who cares? I have some book recommendations today! Having spent every free moment this weekend consuming a decadent Regency by Galen Foley called 'Devil Takes A Bride' I must say it did not disappoint. In her usual fashion she weaves an exquiste tale of action, adventure, and love against the glittering backdrop of the Regency era. Even the cover on this is superb; it rather reminds me of a Nicholas Sparks movie poster yet slightly more daring and with beautifully costumed Regency people. I also unearthed a book I hadn't seen in quite some time, 'Ten Things I Love About You' by Julia Quinn. It's a light and fluffy confection of love during the Regency. I'm also wishing I had a new Lisa Kleypas novel or Eloisa James one to keep my voracious reading tendencies occupied. In the meanwhile I at least have a new Theresa Medeiros novel 'The Devil Wears Plaid' to busy me. I've adored Regency Romances forever and I am trying to write one but it is quite a feat and I've been plodding along at it off and on for a few years now. Garters, Gunslingers & Grace began in Oct. a couple years ago before I put it away for a year and then picked it up and finished writing it last year. Anyway I bid you adieu!

Happy Friday readers! I just want to give a shoutout to the anonymous person who left a comment the other day! I'm glad some people find the little anecdotes I write about entertaining and interesting! And in other news I really am trying to diet but find the afternoon munchies hard to beat especially when one is used to supplementing ones diet with Dr. Pepper and Cheetohs Puffs. Sigh. Today I watched some of GH and absolutely adored the Todd/Tea scenes. I spent some time browsing the KDP Board forums. Then I wandered over to Cheezburger and I think I was looking at the Party Fails section when I stumbled across the most awesome L.A. based manga-ka who makes the most kawaii, glomp worthy doujinshi (manga/anime) fan art ever! The site is omo-cat.com and it's so freakin` fantastic. I really like the Cowboy Bebop artwork. And I was surfing for makeup later and re discovered Shu Uemura. Good quality makeup but you have to be willing to spend a little bit too. And...I'm contemplating tweeting more actively. I created it back in like Jan. yet since then I haven't said a peep on there!

Happy Tuesday all! Wow I can't believe I haven't posted anything in like a week! I've been busy w/ RL misc. And I've been spending too much time on Pinterest my newest guilty pleasure. I now aspire to make Peach Cobbler Dump Cake in a dutch oven and create cute little artsy objects. People are so creative and crafty sometimes I look at their projects and think why haven't I thought of this before? And I've learned some cool new things in MS Excel like how to convert text to columns. That is like the coolest thing ever! At least it is if you're like me and work with that program a lot. And here I thought I knew it all about Excel ha ha. In other news I went to a few Memorial Day sales and such nothing much of interest except I did pick up some books and clothes half price. And I used some old Loreal Jet Set polish that I re-found and gave myself a manicure. Bye