Having a yard that is friendly to wildlife does involve certain techniques and approaches to lawn care, some of them unconventional. The perfectly-groomed, square-cornered lawn with the carpet-like grass that never gets above 2 inches tall is not, unfortunately, the ideal environment for wildlife. So you may need to re-think things a bit to make your yard attractive to wildlife! Here are some tips.

What Kind of Wildlife?

First, identify what kind of wildlife you want in your yard. Bees? Deer? Birds? Making this decision early on will help you be able to be more focused in your yard care and design. Also, another first step you’ll want to take is determining what kind of wildlife is in your area. Then you can tailor your yard to fit the needs of local wildlife.

Let It Go

It’s been said that mowing, trimming, weed-killing, and other typical yard care regimens may actually repel most wildlife. If possible, let your yard or a part of your yard simply go to weeds. You could fence it off and label it “For the Birds” or some such if you are worried about what the neighbors will think. But many sources say that simply leaving an area of your yard alone and letting nature re-claim it can make a nice area for attracting birds, bees, and small animals.

Water

No matter what kind of wildlife you want to invite to your yard, water is important. Every living thing needs it and is attracted to it. Ground-dwelling animals like chipmunks enjoy water sources placed on the ground, whereas birds appreciate water sources a bit higher up (making it safer from predators).

Make sure the containers are heavy enough to accommodate an animal’s weight on the edge, and putting a rock in the center also helps to weight the container and to provide a safe “island” in case a small animal goes in too deep. Sources say water should be no more than about 2 inches deep, and that you should empty the water container daily and refill with fresh water.
   
Provide Food

There are several different ways to do this. You can hang out a traditional bird feeder, invest in deer feed, or plant fruiting shrubs or other plants that provide food for foraging animals. Some plants to consider are:

• Sunflowers (many birds like sunflower seeds)
• Flowering and fruiting shrubs, like cranberries, blueberries, elderberry, and raspberries will attract birds and small animals. They may even attract bears and deer.
• Flowering and fruiting trees such as dogwood, hawthorn, and conventional fruit trees such as pear and cherry attract birds.
• Flowers such as Echinacea (purple coneflower), thistle, and black-eyed Susan appeal to small, seed-eating birds like wild canaries and finches.

You might want to invest in a notebook to record what creatures visit your yard once you begin making it more wildlife-friendly.

Water is a precious resource. All living things need it, and in the summer it can become scarce. Gardens can use up a lot of water in the heat, especially if you’re growing fruits and vegetables. Here are some ideas on how you can save water in your garden this summer.

Rain Barrel

If you can invest in a rain barrel, it can end up saving you a lot of water. Rain barrels connect to your home’s downspout, filling more quickly than you might think! A rain barrel can provide hundreds of gallons of rain water that you can tap into when the rain is not so frequent. Plants also tend to thrive when given rain water.

Sunken Garden

A sunken garden is a garden that is set into the ground. Typically, a large area is dug out and the garden planted within the sunken area. Rain water collects in this natural reservoir rather than running off as it would in raised or sloped beds. (You can also put raised beds within the sunken garden.)

Drought-Resistant Plants

Consider replacing your conventional garden plants with drought-resistant ones. They require a lot less water to look attractive. Clover is a nice addition to a yard or garden. It takes little water and adds nitrogen to the soil. Both red and white clovers also attract bees.

Also, you might want to consider native plants in your garden. Natives have centuries of experience in surviving your local area’s weather conditions, and native plants tend to require much less watering and maintenance overall.

Soaker Hoses

Rather than using a sprinkler system, sources suggest soaker hoses for better water conservation. These porous hoses lie on the ground and are arranged around the plants’ bases.

Soaker hoses deliver a slow, steady supply of water directly to the roots rather than spraying water all over the leaves and surrounding area. This helps cut back on water loss due to evaporation, and it also tends to use less water since plants receive the water directly at the roots and get what they need sooner (less is wasted).

Mulch

Applying mulch to your garden helps retain moisture and keep plant roots cool.

Compost

Working a lot of compost into the garden’s soil helps improve the overall condition of the soil, which helps retain moisture and provide nutrients. Strong, well-fed plants tend to require a lot less water than those in poor soil.

Making your own compost can be an economical way to use kitchen scraps and yard waste, and it is a natural means of keeping your yard, garden, and plants healthy. If you’d like to get started composting, here are some simple guidelines.

How Much?

Before you begin, sit down and think about how much compost you need, how much kitchen and yard waste you generate, and what kind of space you have. Depending on these factors, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to go with indoor or outdoor composting, whether or not you want to use worms, and whether or not you want a bin.

Indoor composting is recommended for people whose space is limited, such as those with small houses and yards or apartment dwellers.

Worms are often used in small, indoor compost systems.

For those with larger outdoor areas, compost bins can be built outdoors for little money and effort. You can also compost without a bin and simply make a pile in a sheltered corner of your yard.

Build the Bin

If you are going to compost indoors, you will need a container of some sort, and worms are considered essential for indoor composting. You can purchase a ready-made worm composting system, or you can make your own by poking holes in an opaque, plastic container and setting it on a drainage tray. The worms initially feed on wet, shredded newspaper; then you begin adding kitchen scraps and more newspaper. The worm bin should never be allowed to get below 55 degrees.

For an outdoor bin, a low-cost, easy method is to use wooden packing pallets. Most stores that receive shipments in these slatted containers are fine with people taking them (use packing pallets are usually discarded). You just need four of the pallets to make an open-topped square to hold your compost. You can wire or nail them together; just make sure one side is easily removed so you can access the compost.

Piles of Compost

If you don’t want to build a bin, you can just make a pile of yard and kitchen scraps. You will need to turn it often to keep its heaped shape, but this basic method can work. It seems to work best if the compost pile is against a house or other building.

Compost Care and Feeding

Excepting dairy products, fish and meat, you can put most kitchen scraps into your compost, including egg shells, tea leaves, and coffee grounds. Any organic matter from your yard can be added, such as hay, straw, cut grass, leaves, mulch, wood chips, and slender prunings from shrubs. You can also add a modest amount of shredded newspaper. Any paper, however, takes longer to decompose.

If you have chickens, the cleanings from their coop can be added to the compost. Chicken manure makes the compost rich and full of nutrients. However, the waste from other pets (dogs, cats, etc.) should not be added to compost.

Turn your compost once a month or so, stirring to aerate it and get the top layer down into the middle.

Water your compost briefly with a garden hose if the weather is very dry. Better yet, water it with rain water from a rain barrel.

There are many benefits associated with natural lawn care. Here are some of them.

Healthier

If you stop spraying your lawn with chemicals every season, your lawn will be free of these dubious substances. This may make your whole family healthier in the long run. It is probably healthier for the environment, too – lawns that are not doused with chemicals are lawns that do not shed these chemicals into the surrounding ecosystem and water supply each time it rains.

Also, caring for your lawn naturally usually results in lush, green grass that is healthier. Healthy grass absorbs more carbon dioxide from the air and puts out more oxygen.

Saves Water

If you engage in natural lawn care, you will probably set up a rain barrel to provide water for your lawn. Even if you don’t, you may find that you water a naturally-maintained yard less, because the grass is healthier, longer, and able to withstand dry conditions better.

Easier

As you engage in natural lawn care, you may find it’s a lot easier. There is less mowing involved, for one thing; natural lawns are generally allowed to grow to four inches or more. You can use your grass clippings as mulch, and you won’t have the added chore of pouring on synthetic fertilizer and pesticides.

Saves Money

Synthetic chemicals cost money. If you switch to natural lawn care, you will no longer be paying annually for chemical treatments and sprays.

Biodiversity

If you go “all the way” with your natural lawn care and decide to let nature take over, you will find “weeds” setting in. Many of these “weeds” are valuable plants that are important to the surrounding ecosystem. Some of them are edible or medicinal, too.

Beneficial Insects and Birds

A lawn that is cared for naturally will tend to attract wildlife, especially bees and birds. These important members of the ecosystem appreciate a sanctuary that is free from chemicals and where there is suitable habitat.

Green Cleaner #1 – Baking Soda

Believe it or not, simple baking soda can come in handy throughout your home for spring cleaning. It is a great substitute for many of those chemical laden cleaners. Baking soda works as a slightly abrasive cleaner and it also is a deodorizer. You can use it on the stove, in sinks, on counters, and more to help clean away grime. Sprinkle on the carpet and allow it to stand for awhile and then vacuum to eliminate odors in the carpet.

Green Cleaner #2 – White Vinegar

Another great green cleaner that can be found in your home is white vinegar. It is useful for helping to get rid of stains, it removes grease, deodorizes, and it is great for cleaning any glass. You can also use it along with baking soda to help clean out any drains that are backing up.

Green Cleaner #3 – Hydrogen Peroxide

This ingredient is probably somewhere in your home, but you may never have thought about using it for your spring cleaning. It bleaches, can disinfect, and also helps to sanitize things. Shower walls and the counters can be wiped down with peroxide. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse away. You can mix some peroxide with a bit of cream of tartar to help you remove rings on the tub. Make a paste, apply to the ring, and then allow it to dry. Once it is dry, then use warm water to wash it off.

Choose a theme for your bathroom. Some people love the nautical theme for a bathroom, and you can find shower curtains with lighthouses or seascapes. Others like something more feminine such as flowers. Cartoon characters can be a good choice for your children’s bathroom. Try to find accessories and paint the walls to match that theme.

You don’t have to do a major renovation to dress up your bathroom. One way to change the look and feel of the bathroom is with paint. Instead of using a single color, why not use a wall treatment similar to what you’ve used in another room of the house? Paint the walls one color and add glaze to another and rag it over the basecoat. Don’t be afraid to use bold colors in this small space. It’s amazing how much a coat of paint or two can spruce up even the dreariest bathroom!

Even if you don’t paint, you can buy new coordinating towels to make your bathroom look fresh. Depending upon the color of your bathroom, you may be able to find several towels which will coordinate so you can transform the look by changing out the towels.

Matching shower curtain, soap dish and trash cans that compliment your towels and theme will bring the look together. There’s no need to spend big money for pre-made accessories. Consider adding items such as seashells to a plain trash can or soap dish if you’re using a nautical theme. You can also hot glue flowers or other items on them to match the theme you’ve chosen.

Rather than spending a premium on coordinating decorations, save a little bit of money by creating your own artwork for the bathroom. Use a closed shadow box with items that match your theme, rather than a painting which can be damaged by the moisture in the bathroom. You can also find non-traditional items as conversation-starting bathroom decorations.

Find an antique mirror to replace the plain beveled mirror that was in there. An old window frame can be modified by adding a mirror where the glass should be. Either of these inexpensive ideas can change the way your bathroom looks without breaking the budget.

Improve or change the lighting in the bathroom. Most bathrooms are small and dark but they don’t have to be. Place the new lighting on a dimmer so you can increase lighting while applying make-up or reduce it to create a spa-like atmosphere when you’re soaking in the tub.

Even small bathrooms deserve a makeover once in a while. By using these inexpensive ways to dress up your bathroom, you can make changes and not break your budget. Be creative and you can probably think of other ways to dress up the smallest and often used room of your house.

There are a number of companies that manufacture bins of every shape, size, and material.  You may have heard of companies such as Rubbermaid, Space Saver, and Sterlite, but if you search around you can also find others.  In fact, you can find bins for any organization and storage need you may have.

If what you need to organize is small, look for clear plastic bins with lids on them.  Not only will your items be organized, the lids will keep them from coming out if the box falls and will also protect them from becoming dusty.  Storing items that are similar will make them easier to find.

Many people have music collections.  Look for storage bins that can be hung on a wall.  You can find ones that hold CDs in various sizes and shapes.  Organize your collection or color-code the bins so you can more easily find the CD you’re looking for.

There are multiple bins available that can be used for organizing craft materials.  Scrapbooking, arts supplies, tools and supplies for beading, and other crafts can all be kept in bins.  You can find many that are made specifically for crafts in craft stores, but they can be expensive.  There are cheaper bins that would work as well if money is an issue.  Shoe boxes and over-the-door shoe pockets are a few inexpensive ideas.

Larger bins and totes can be used for storing clothing that is out of season.  You may want to label the bins so you have an idea of what is in each one.  Bins with lids will keep out water and bugs if they are stored in a basement or garage.  This size bin can also be used as a toy box for your children’s larger toys.  Get a wooden case with open areas to organize and store smaller toys such as building blocks, cars, or doll’s clothes.

Use open bins to help organize the shelves in your kitchen cabinets to keep smaller boxes, spices, and flavorings together.  You can also use tall plastic bins with lids to store different varieties of noodles so you can quickly find the right type for cooking.

Storage bins can be used in virtually every area of your home for organizing.  Use shallow open bins for organizing office supplies in your desk drawers.  These types of bins can also be used in the bathroom to keep your medicine chest in order.  Plastic “jars” can be used for nuts, bolts, screws, and nails and clean catsup squirt bottles can be used to store a small amount of excess paint.  Empty baby wipe containers also make great inexpensive containers to hold small objects.

If you want to get your home organized, bins can be a great way to accomplish this.  Look for the best bin for the job among the many to choose from.  Bins and totes can be found at discount stores, dollar stores, as well as in home improvement stores and on the internet.

The price of gasoline is on the rise. This is a huge concern if you are following a firm budget. So how can you save on gas? Here are some gas saving tips.

The carpool system

This is the perfect idea for employees and students. If you will be traveling in the same direction, there is no need to bring separate vehicles if you can all fit in one. If you have children that you drive to school or sporting events, see if other parents would share in the transportation.

Commute to work

If available, you can take public transportation when going to the office. This is also a great time to relax since you are not driving. You can catch up on reading or even take a short nap while on your way.

Compare gas prices at other stations

Take time to investigate the pump prices of the gas stations near your neighborhood. The radio stations tend to keep track and announce the prices around town.  A quick internet search may also prove to be beneficial.  Many stations also have reward cards that can save you money. 

Bike or Walk

A good way to save money on gas and keep yourself healthy at the same time is by walking or riding a bike to your destination. This alternative will also keep you from getting stuck in traffic which will surely waste a lot of your time and gas.

Keep your car in good condition

It is necessary to keep your car’s engine in good running condition so that it will not consume a lot of fuel. Plan out your route for running your errands before you even get out of the house. This will minimize your trips going back and forth.

Check your car’s tire pressure

Make it a habit to check your car’s tires so each one has the right amount of pressure. Having unequal pressure can greatly affect the car’s fuel economy. It is also advised for you to refrain from accelerating too fast since this will burn more fuel.

These are a few of the things that you can do to save on gas. Gasoline is not a renewable resource; therefore using it wisely is very important so we can conserve this valuable commodity.

Choose a theme for your bathroom. Some people love the nautical theme for a bathroom, and you can find shower curtains with lighthouses or seascapes. Others like something more feminine such as flowers. Cartoon characters can be a good choice for your children’s bathroom. Try to find accessories and paint the walls to match that theme.

You don’t have to do a major renovation to dress up your bathroom. One way to change the look and feel of the bathroom is with paint. Instead of using a single color, why not use a wall treatment similar to what you’ve used in another room of the house? Paint the walls one color and add glaze to another and rag it over the basecoat. Don’t be afraid to use bold colors in this small space. It’s amazing how much a coat of paint or two can spruce up even the dreariest bathroom!

Even if you don’t paint, you can buy new coordinating towels to make your bathroom look fresh. Depending upon the color of your bathroom, you may be able to find several towels which will coordinate so you can transform the look by changing out the towels.

Matching shower curtain, soap dish and trash cans that compliment your towels and theme will bring the look together. There’s no need to spend big money for pre-made accessories. Consider adding items such as seashells to a plain trash can or soap dish if you’re using a nautical theme. You can also hot glue flowers or other items on them to match the theme you’ve chosen.

Rather than spending a premium on coordinating decorations, save a little bit of money by creating your own artwork for the bathroom. Use a closed shadow box with items that match your theme, rather than a painting which can be damaged by the moisture in the bathroom. You can also find non-traditional items as conversation-starting bathroom decorations.

Find an antique mirror to replace the plain beveled mirror that was in there. An old window frame can be modified by adding a mirror where the glass should be. Either of these inexpensive ideas can change the way your bathroom looks without breaking the budget.

Improve or change the lighting in the bathroom. Most bathrooms are small and dark but they don’t have to be. Place the new lighting on a dimmer so you can increase lighting while applying make-up or reduce it to create a spa-like atmosphere when you’re soaking in the tub.

Even small bathrooms deserve a makeover once in a while. By using these inexpensive ways to dress up your bathroom, you can make changes and not break your budget. Be creative and you can probably think of other ways to dress up the smallest and often used room of your house.

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked ham, cubed

½ cup water

½ cup sugar

2 tbsp butter

1 ¼ cups fresh cranberries, washed

2 tbsp grated orange rind

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

Melt the butter in a large frying pan and sauté ham until browned. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan und stir constantly. Add ¾ cup cranberries, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Then add the orange rind and season well.

Add the cranberries to the ham and combine. Transfer ham mixture into a baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes. Add the remaining cranberries to the baking dish and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.

Serve immediately.

Maybe it’s the same everywhere, but here in the South you start seeing Christmas decorations in the stores not long after the back-to-school sales are over. You might even find some stores that have Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving decorations, and Christmas decorations separated only by an aisle. Yep, you can take care of all of your holiday decorating needs at one time and at one store.

It’s not uncommon to see outside decorations in the South. Painted deer sculptures with garland and lights stand guard on lawns. You may find Santa waving from the porch and ten foot snow globes. Don’t forget to look for the Grinch on other lawns to give you an idea of how the homeowner feels about Christmas.

One thing you may see in the South that you may not see in other parts of the country are decorated doors. Homeowners wrap their entry doors with wrapping paper. Find an extra wide wrapping paper, wide enough to go around your door, and tape it so the tape can’t be seen. If you can’t find wrapping paper large enough, piece it together the best you can. Then find a large ribbon and bow to cover any seams. If the wrapping paper is too much for you, you can also use only the ribbon and bow to give a simpler look that won’t block your being able to see out of your door windows.

Some people in the South go overboard when it comes to Christmas lights. Not only are there major attractions with thousands of lights, but some individuals will do something similar but on a smaller scale. It’s not uncommon for Southerners to drive around in a city to see the many homes that have Christmas lights.

Wreaths are popular Christmas decorations all over the world. In the South you may find Christmas wreaths with Magnolia flowers in them regardless of the fact that Magnolias are no longer in bloom in the winter. You can also find them with greenery and pine cones along with normal Christmas ornaments.

Gingerbread houses are common decorations at Christmas time. Some gingerbread houses are large enough to be placed as centerpieces. Children can create smaller gingerbread houses to decorate Christmas trees. Look online to find directions to make them out of clean white meat trays or foam board, cereal boxes, and t-shirt paints.

Even though it’s rare to have snow at Christmas in the South, that doesn’t mean Southerners don’t enjoy the holidays. Deep South decorations for Christmas aren’t really that different from other areas in the country. They may have their own Southern charm, but that’s how people in the South are, too.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
6 links spicy pork sausage, sliced
1 cup water
2 pounds frozen green beans
Seasoning salt to taste

Instructions:

Sauté the garlic and onion until tender. Add sausage to skillet and brown all over. Add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Now add the green beans. Cover, reduce to a simmer and let cook for about 30 minutes until green beans are ready. You may need to add a little more water about half way if it starts to get low. Season to your tastes.

Prep. Time-10 minutes or less:

Egg Roll Ups

Scrambled eggs take only a few minutes to make, like 5 or less, making for a quick and healthy way to start the day because they are packed with protein. Roll scrambled eggs into a flour tortilla or a slice of bread. Add other ingredients on hand for flavor and nutrition, like shredded cheese, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, diced ham, crumbled sausage or sliced jalapenos while cooking.

Quick and Easy Breakfast Sandwiches

You can use either microwavable bacon, or pre-cooked bacon that you’ve saved. While the bacon is heating in the microwave, toast two halves of an English muffin. Then place two slices of bacon and a slice of cheese between the muffin halves. Wrap in a paper towel and go. This breakfast sandwich is easy to handle and delicious! You can do the same thing with a sausage patty if you so desire.

Pancake Roll Ups

Use pre-made pancakes, frozen or refrigerated. After re-heating, spread your favorite ingredients like peanut butter, your favorite jelly, honey or butter. Roll up and go. You can also use a sausage link or a slice of bacon if you have some already cooked in the fridge or freezer that will only take a few seconds to reheat.

Not So Typical Bagel

There are many ways you can turn an ordinary bagel into a hot breakfast on the go. Instead of just spreading cream cheese or butter on your bagel, top it with a slice of warm ham, pre-made sausage or bacon. You can also scramble some eggs with cheese if you prefer for a nice, warm and tasty on-the-go breakfast.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be skipped or cold incorporating the ideas above. With a little planning and imagination, you can start your family off with a hot breakfast that is faster and healthier than going through the drive through.

Save Time And Money By Planning Your Meals

To help with the issue of not enough time to make breakfast and to give you some added motivation to encourage you to eat breakfast, here are some great tasting breakfast ideas that you can make ahead and freeze. Then all you have to do is grab them, heat up quickly in the microwave, and go!

Quiche Cups

Quiche cups are easy, quick and healthy to make. You can use a wide variety of ingredients and they heat up in as fast as 30 seconds in the microwave. Plus they are easy to eat on the go.

Simply whip up some eggs in a bowl (you can use egg substitutes if you desire). Then add any of the following ingredients you wish.

• Shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Colby)
• Chopped onion
• Chopped, cooked spinach
• Mushrooms
• Diced ham
• Crumbled sausage
• Bacon, chopped
• Chopped green peppers

You can use any combination of vegetables, meats and cheeses to suit your taste buds.

Mix well, and then pour the egg mixture into a muffin pan lined with small cupcake holders. Bake on 350F for 20 minutes. Let cool. Place two to four cups in quart size freezer baggies and freeze. When re-heating, place in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Grab and go!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancake Roll Ups

Another idea for a quick, easy-to-reheat, on-the-go breakfast is to make extra pancakes on Saturday morning. Freeze the extra pancakes in a large freezer bag. When you need a quick, hot breakfast, grab a couple, place on a paper towel or paper plate, then microwave for 30 seconds to a minute. Spread with peanut butter and jelly, roll up and go.

Sausage Biscuits

When you are making Sunday morning breakfast, be sure to make some extra sausage patties for these delicious, on-the-go sausage biscuit sandwiches.

Prepare a can of refrigerated biscuit dough (usually makes about 8 biscuits) according to package directions. Place a cooked sausage patty between two biscuits and freeze in a quart size freezer bag.

To microwave, remove from freezer bag, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. You can add a slice of cheese if you prefer before heating. Grab and go.

Breakfast Burritos

Growing up in the Southwest, I usually like to throw a Mexican or Spanish twist to lots of the foods my family eats. Here’s a favorite that can be made ahead, frozen and reheated.

Combine scrambled eggs with your favorite ingredients, like: chopped onion, chopped green pepper, diced ham, crumbled sausage, mushrooms, olives, diced tomato, sliced jalapenos and shredded cheese. Place on flour tortilla and sprinkle with hot sauce. Roll up and secure with toothpick if necessary. Place in freezer bag and freeze. When reheating, place burrito in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Grab and go!

With a little planning and thinking ahead, breakfast doesn’t have to be a cold bowl of cereal, or non-existent!

Learn How To Plan Your Meals

1 (3 pound) whole chicken
4 carrots, halved
4 stalks celery, halved
1 large onion, halved
water to cover
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules (optional)

Put the chicken, carrots, celery and onion in a large soup pot and cover with cold water. Heat and then simmer, uncovered until the meat falls off of the bones (ocasionally, skim the foam off). Take everything out of the pot. Strain the broth. Pick the meat off of the bones and chop the carrots, celery and onion. Season the broth with salt, pepper and chicken bouillon to taste, if desired. Return chicken, carrots, celery and onion to the pot, stir together, and serve

Most people have a junk drawer in their homes. Whether it is a drawer in the kitchen or in your bedroom nightstand, it’s always there gathering more and more junk as the years progress. Cleaning out the junk drawer can be fun. Really; it can. You never know what you may find.

Well, the day has finally arrived. You have to clean out the junk drawer because it’s driving you nuts, right? Well, let’s get to it then.

The first thing not to do is try to take the drawer out. Get a large box and begin transferring all of the junk items into the box. Now you can take the box to the kitchen table or just sit on your bed and go through each item. Ensure you have a plastic bag ready to throw out whatever you don’t wish to keep. Which brings up another point: some people just hate to throw away anything. But, you have to make the effort.

Ready? Let’s begin. After you’ve put everything into the box, begin the sorting out process. What did you find? Small photo frames, costume jewelry, boxes of paper clips, pens, recipes, a few soft covered books, mementos, paper and index cards, unused greeting cards or cards you’ve saved from loved ones, figurines, new wallets still in boxes, lotions, pictures, perfumes, notes of all kinds, well……you get the picture, right?

After you have made your neat little piles, you have to decide what you want to keep. Ideally, all of the old stuff should be tossed. However, if you are a saver, that’s unlikely. If you must save anything, why not put them in a scrapbook. For example, the old cards, letters, pictures, and notes can be neatly preserved by starting a scrapbook. Frames can either be utilized or given away. The books can be donated to the library. All of the lotions and perfumes can be tossed, especially if they are very old. Put the mementos way in a shoe box and be sure to label the box and place it on a shelf in your bedroom closet. Everything else which does not have sentimental value can be tossed.

You can convert the junk drawer for that which it was intended such as another lingerie drawer or a utensil drawer if the junk drawer was in your kitchen. You can give away any of the new things you find that you will never use. Well, what do you think? Look at it this way, you’d just taken a few hours to clean out a drawer that wasn’t mean for junk and can be used for other things you may have scrunched into other drawers. Feel better now?

Chicken Baguette Salad

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
1 large chicken breast, cut into bite-sizes pieces
Half a baguette, cut into bite-size pieces
1 large tomato, cut into bite-size pieces
Olive oil
Handful of arugula or other lettuce leaves
½ packet feta cheese, cut into cubes
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Preheat the oven to 375F.

Put the chicken pieces, baguette and tomato pieces in a roasting dish and drizzle with a good amount of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the chicken pieces are no longer pink.

Divide the lettuce leaves on two dinner plates and place the warm chicken and tomato salad on top. Sprinkle with feta cheese and enjoy!

This warm chicken salad makes a very tasty and light lunch.

There are a number of quick and easy ways to prepare healthy snacks which you can do given that you have such a tight schedule. And even if you it appears that you have an uncompromising schedule, it would be best to slip in a few minutes each day to consider your health.

Now if you’re an adult you take responsibility for your own state of health, but if you’re kids are snacking as well, then the more you should be responsible for their health relies on your hands as well. In order for your kids to eat healthier snacks, what you should try to do first off is prepare something interesting.

Keep your kids and your self interested. If you find a banana ordinary, serve it with peanut butter or jelly. Make sure to keep colorful foods like apples, orange, and carrots part of your snack time. Search for healthy dips or fillings for sandwiches and even for rice cakes, carrot and celery sticks. Be inventive and look for other combinations that can spice up your healthy snack time.

Those packed of potato chips can be quite unhealthy so why not go with tortilla chips and a homemade salsa. By just combining tomato, and chili you can create a pretty awesome salsa. This beats the processed, too salty chips you buy off the supermarket shelf.

Fruit smoothies are pretty good snacks as well. You will have to prepare the fruits in advance. Place the fruits inside your freezer. When you crave for a snack, get a frozen banana, for example, and pour in milk and just blend. You can produce a really creamy drink.

If you want something heavy to match your smoothie, then why not prepare several pieces of ham, cream cheese and bell pepper slices. What you do is spread the cream cheese, this should be the fat free one, on top of the ham. Put a bell pepper slice on it and roll the ham. Or if you’re not a ham person, try baby carrots with hummus. Actually, you can dip other vegetables in your hummus as well. Cherry tomatoes and sliced red bell peppers are quite good when dipped into hummus.

A fresh salad is also a refreshing and very healthy snack. All you need is some romaine lettuce, slices of carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, a little bit of salt and pepper to taste or better yet just use vinaigrette. You might want to prepare the vegetables in advance if you want to have your salad faster. There are salad ready vegetable packs available in your neighborhood supermarket but can be quite pricy. It would be better if you prepare the vegetables yourself.

Now the key in this healthy snack routine is to keep your health snack near your reach at all times. When you begin to feel the urge to snack, you take your snack pack and start munching. This way you will not have the urge to buy that chocolate bar or a bag of chips from the vending machine. With the quick and easy ways of preparing healthy snacks, I don’t see why you have to resort to the unhealthy ones.

Get organized

First thing’s first, obtain your credit card records to have a better idea of your spendings. Be sure to double check the records for errors and ensure its accuracy.   Check the dollar amounts and also any unauthorized charges.

Evaluate your credit card

Go over your recent credit card records and look at the interest rates. Some credit card companies have promos where they offer lower interest rates for a period of time and this promo may already be over yet you have no idea and are already paying at a higher interest rate. Also take note of the membership fee which they charge annually since some have very high membership fees. Consider cancelling this if you are not using it frequently.

Pay on time

It is important to pay your bills on time since it can have a negative effect on your credit record or rating. You will also be able to avoid getting charged because of not paying on time. Try asking the credit card company to remove the overdue charge if you have forgotten to pay it on time for the first time.

Manage your debts

If you see that you have more debt than what is comfortable, think ahead and plan out how you will repay it or at least reduce your debt. Devise a way to pay more than what is required so that you will have a reduced payment schedule. Prioritize the card that has the highest interest rate. If you have a hard time with shopping temptations, leave the cards at home.  If they are in your wallet, you are much more apt to use it.

Don’t bite more than you can chew

As the saying “don’t bite more than you can chew” goes, do not spend more than you can afford. True, a beautiful gold bracelet may be enjoyable to wear but, unless you pay that card off the following month, that gold bracelet could end up costing twice as much.

Don’t worry too much on the chicken parts you are using. Believe me when I say that you won’t run out of recipes for each chicken part. All you need are the right ingredients and you can have a delicious meal in no time. You can combine these simple recipes with some useful cooking techniques which will make the whole process even easier and the resulting dish much tastier.

For example, when baking or grilling chicken, it would be best to leave the skin on first to make the meat tastier. You can remove the skin afterwards when you serve or eat it. Most of the fat of the chicken is stored in the skin. You can have a low fat chicken dish just by removing the skin. When you do prepare chicken dishes, I would suggest sticking with baking, broiling, and grilling. As much as possible, avoid frying the chicken. There are a lot more delicious and healthier ways to prepare and cook chicken aside from frying so let’s do that.

Let’s see, you can cook a tasty chicken dish with cream of mushroom soup. What you do is place sliced and skinned chicken on a pot and mix a can of cream of mushroom soup. Add another can of mushrooms but make sure the water has been drained. Add water and onion soup mix into it. You can cook this in low fire until the chicken is tender. Add salt to taste. And that’s it. Although, this recipe may take longer since you will have to cook the chicken in low fire to get that taste but the recipe is easy and the preparation is simple.

If you’re craving for pasta, you can add chicken into it to have a fuller meal. What you do is cut boneless and skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and sauté it together with garlic, green pepper, some onions and mushrooms. Make sure the chicken is cooked already when you add the vegetables. In a few minutes the vegetables should be done as well. At this point mix in your tomato or spaghetti sauce. You can cook your pasta while you’re doing this so by the time you’re done with the chicken, the pasta is firm and ready to be served. Sauce your pasta and top with grated cheese or parmesan cheese.

If you like a different approach, mix olive oil to your pasta instead of spaghetti sauce. That sounds interesting. When you combine pasta and chicken it seems that you can’t go wrong. Both dishes are very easy to prepare individually and combining the two is just simply mixing the dishes.

You see, by having some quick and easy chicken dishes in mind, you can save your family and yourself a lot of time in preparing your meals. Start reading and looking for those quick recipes.

To those experienced in the kitchen, this kind of meal is easy to make. But to the novices might still find pasta a little daunting or troublesome. One thing that you should watch out when cooking pasta is the noodles. You need to test every now and then to see if the noodles are done. The pasta cooks pretty quickly and leaving it too long can result to soggy noodles.

Avoid placing the pasta when the water is not yet boiling. This will help prevent the pasta from becoming all mushy, soft and sticky. Also, keep the water at a boil at all times. You can help make the pasta firmer if you add salt into the boiling water. Note that you should not cover the pot when you already placed the pasta. When the pasta is done, take it off the boiling water. The pasta will continue to cook if you leave it there. With that, one half of your pasta meal is done. The other half would be the sauce.

The good thing about pasta is having several choices for sauces. Actually, at some point you will be stomped on what kind of sauce to make due to the varieties. If you’re a pasta person then having a couple of sauces stored in your refrigerator would be the best ways to go. If you have pesto, you can use that to sauce your pasta. Add additional garlic, some mushrooms or even Italian sausages and topped with cheese and you can have a good meal.

Bottled or canned sun-dried tomatoes can go well with pasta. I always try to have some sun-dried tomatoes ready since you can just pour it over your pasta and voila! A tomato based pasta without the traditional tomato sauce and pastes. Top with grated cheese and partnered with bread and you can have a fulfilling meal in no time.

If you want a cream-based sauce, just prepare some sliced olives, cream, oregano and grated cheese. Mix the cream, olives and oregano together with your pasta and finish off with grated cheese on top. A simple cream-based pasta but can be quite joyous to the palette.

Olive oil is also a staple sauce for pasta and can be quite easy to use as well. You can mix olive oil with canned seafood or slices of meat or sausages to create a sauce for your pasta. You can add basil for flavor and don’t forget the grated cheese. If you want to experiment, try adding spicy flavored meat or canned seafood. Spicy pasta may not be for everyone but still a good dish in my account.

A pasta meal in a flash is really just that. In a span of 15 to 20 minutes you would have already prepared a good, hearty meal of pasta in either tomato, cream or olive-based sauce. It is a quick meal that I personally won’t get tire off.