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Menu of the Week: April 21

It has been a long five or six months without a meal plan. I was nauseas for the first 4 months of my pregnancy and the past month or so we’ve been working on our kitchen remodel. I finally have a working kitchen again and I have a great appetite. I also feel extremely guilty [...]

It has been a long five or six months without a meal plan. I was nauseas for the first 4 months of my pregnancy and the past month or so we’ve been working on our kitchen remodel. I finally have a working kitchen again and I have a great appetite. I also feel extremely guilty for totally copping out on any cooking for so long. My family and myself have definitely suffered…and I am so sick of eating out. So, this is the week that I am starting back into my meal planning. I cannot wait to start working in my brand new kitchen!

Monday: chicken taco salad with cilantro ranch dressing

Tuesday: spaghetti and turkey meatballs, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: shrimp with mango cilantro dressing, salad, corn

Thursday: pizza and greek salad

Friday: chicken curry with chickpeas and tomatoes, rice, zucchini

What’s cooking at your house this week?

Kitchen Remodel Steps

I know we’ve been talking about this for a while, but we are finally really knee-deep into the process of remodeling our kitchen.  I’ll post about each step individually in more detail, but for now, I wanted to post a list of all the steps we’ve been taking and still need to complete in order [...]

I know we’ve been talking about this for a while, but we are finally really knee-deep into the process of remodeling our kitchen.  I’ll post about each step individually in more detail, but for now, I wanted to post a list of all the steps we’ve been taking and still need to complete in order to finish this entire project! It definitely takes a lot of time and energy, but I know it will be worth it.

1. First of all, we had to come up with a kitchen design.

2. Pick out kitchen cabinets. The hardware can essentially come later, but needs to be done at some point too.

3. Buy new appliances. This needs to be done in order to measure correctly for the cabinetry.

4. Find contractor(s). J and I are working as the general contractors, but we needed to find people to do the actual work. I wrote about this step here.

5. We figured since we would be replacing our cabinets with taller ones that go up to the ceiling, we needed to scrape the popcorn off the ceilings and of course repaint.

6. Pick out granite for the counter tops.

7. Pick out tile back splash.

8. Choose new sink and faucet. We are going to keep our current garbage disposal and let it run it’s course.
9. Decide on whether or not we are getting new lighting fixtures and get an electrician for some other minor electrical changes.

10.  Speak with phone company to see about adding a new phone jack. We changed things when doing the design and need to make sure that what we planned will actually work.
11.  Empty all of the current kitchen cabinets to get ready for demolition. What a job!!!

12. DEMOLITION

13. Install the new cabinets, reconnect all of the appliances, sink and counter top installation.

14. Putting it all back together……..

Stay tuned for photos and updates.

Questions To Ask Contractor And His References

 We are currently in the market for a contractor to install our new kitchen cabinets. We have looked up different contractors on Angie’s List and Craigslist. I prefer Angie’s List since it is legitimate. People need to pay for their listings. They are based on a rating system and are reviewed by customers. Anyone can [...]

 We are currently in the market for a contractor to install our new kitchen cabinets. We have looked up different contractors on Angie’s List and Craigslist. I prefer Angie’s List since it is legitimate. People need to pay for their listings. They are based on a rating system and are reviewed by customers. Anyone can place an ad on Craigslist and it’s up to you to make sure they are legit.  We are speaking with people from both lists and getting estimates. One major thing I intent on doing is asking for and speaking to references.  I’ve come up with a list of questions to ask the contractors and their references.

To ask contractor:

Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance?

Are you licensed and registered with the state?

Do you give written warranties?

How long have you been in business?

To which professional associations do you belong?

To ask references:

Were you able to communicate well with the contractor?

Were you happy with the job?

Did the crew show up on time? Were they pleasant?

Was the project completed on schedule?

Were there unexpected expenses?

Would you use the contractor again and refer them to others?

Did workers clean up after finishing the job?

———-

I know many people suggest asking to see a finished project that the contractor has done, but I’m not sure how I feel about going to someone’s house and seeing their kitchen? I suppose it is the only real way to get a feel for the quality of work, since quality is relative and you really do need to see for yourself to decide if it is up to par.

What do you think? Would you mind having strangers come to your house to check out the work that a contractor did? Can you think of any questions I’m missing?

HowTo Clean Laminate Floors

Personally, I prefer the look of hardwood over laminate flooring, but after doing some research we decided to get rid of our ugly tile and go with a nice wood laminate.  I love it and am very happy with the result, but I must say it looks dirty very easily. Granted, I am not the [...]

Personally, I prefer the look of hardwood over laminate flooring, but after doing some research we decided to get rid of our ugly tile and go with a nice wood laminate.  I love it and am very happy with the result, but I must say it looks dirty very easily. Granted, I am not the best cleaner and don’t maintain it as I should, but laminate floor is made to look good for many years with a minimum of effort.  I’ve read that all you really need for cleaning are a broom or dry mop (like a swiffer), vacuum cleaner, and a damp towel for more difficult stains. I would add to that list a swiffer wet-jet with the wood floor cleaning solution.

Big pieces of furniture or toys can cause visible scratching. Also, dirt, sand and rocks that you may bring in with your shoes. These are usually easy to catch by having floor mats and foot brushes at outside doorway entrances. Dirt which gets past the mats and brushes can cause invisible scratching that eventually leads to dullness.  We are having this problem right now. To prevent the grit, you should vacuum and mop regularly.  Microfiber pads are also quite effective for cleaning and picking up dirt and dust.

Damp clean laminate flooring using a vinegar or ammonia-based solution.  If you don’t have the pre-made solution, you can pour 1/4 cup of vinegar into a 30 to 32 ounce empty spray bottle filled with plain water for a quick solution. Then, dampen a terry mop or a swiffer with water and mop, spraying the floor as you go along. When damp mopping, avoid standing fluids so you do not saturate the floor and wipe dry immediately.

Sometimes you will find hard to remove spots or stains. I have found many on my floor and have not yet been able to remove them all. To remove oil, paint, permanent marker, tar, rubber heel marks, use a neutral cleaner on a clean light colored cloth. If needed, use alcohol or a nail polish remover containing acetone. To remove blood, fruit juice, wine, beer, soda pop, pasta sauce, use warm water. If needed use a neutral cleaner on a light colored cloth. To remove candle wax or chewing gum, first harden with ice and then scrape very gently. Wipe the rest with warm water on a clean light colored cloth.

Have any floor cleaning tips I may have missed?

Sell Or Recycle Your Old Gadgets

My husband and I both recently got new cell phones. In the past, I think I would’ve just left my old one to lay around or gave it to my kid to play with. Not anymore. The new phone came with a recycling bag that I can just send it back to the company to [...]

My husband and I both recently got new cell phones. In the past, I think I would’ve just left my old one to lay around or gave it to my kid to play with. Not anymore. The new phone came with a recycling bag that I can just send it back to the company to be recycled. Love that idea. I could also sell it back and get a credit to my account. Either way, I’m doing something with it, rather than ignoring it and collecting more unneeded and unwanted junk.

Everything from cell phones to laptop computers are full of hazardous materials that pose serious risks to human health and the environment. The growing concern is that gadget hoarders will eventually run out of space and “take a bunch of stuff at once and fill their landfill.” Don’t do it. Resell or recycle them instead.

Get more info on how to do this….you will be reading a good article too.

Menu of the Week: January 7

It’s a new year and I plan on making an effort to get back into my weekly meal planning. I really notice a difference in the way we eat and spend money on food when I don’t meal plan. This week, I am doing a very simple and kid-friendly menu. Here goes:
Monday: Chicken Nuggets ….. [...]

It’s a new year and I plan on making an effort to get back into my weekly meal planning. I really notice a difference in the way we eat and spend money on food when I don’t meal plan. This week, I am doing a very simple and kid-friendly menu. Here goes:

Monday: Chicken Nuggets ….. but not just any. These are from Jessica Seinfeld’s book Deceptively Delicious and they really are delicious. Here’s the recipe. I make them with pureed broccoli. I will serve a salad on the side for my husband and I, and some cut up cucumbers, tomatoes and olives for my son.

Tuesday:  Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Wednesday:  Beef Stew (also from Seinfeld’s book, although it will be the first time I’m trying it so I can’t comment yet)

Thursday:  Grilled Chicken, Black Beans and Rice, Caesar Salad

Friday: Spinach Pizza, Wedge Salad

What’s on the menu in your house this week?

Home Security Tips

Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything [...]

Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything worth stealing?

One of the best and most obvious home security tips is to always lock your doors before leaving. Windows and sliding glass doors should also be locked. Doors should be metal or have a strong wood core with hinges placed on the inside. A deadbolt lock that extends at least an inch into the door jam can deter the majority of thieves who do not want to take the time to mess with it. A blocking device, like a sturdy piece of wood or a steel bar to hold your sliding glass door shut is a wonderful extra safety measure.

Next is to make sure you have an alarm system. A motion detector light is helpful too.  A robber does not want to call attention to what he or she is doing. Anything that disturbs secrecy, like a loud dog, a bright light, or an alarm system can deter them.  Even if you don’t actually have a dog, you can put up a sign in your yard that says “beware of the dog”.

Do not leave your computer, amusement system, or additional valuables where they can be well seen through your windows. The less temptation you give robbers, the less probability that they’ll make you one of there targets.

Fashionable Canvas Shopping Bags

We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can [...]

We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can last up to 1000 years.

Check out these stylish “bring your own bags”:

You can get 5 for $35 at Envirosax. If you spend $20 on Method products, you can get their cool canvas bag for free. Yansny has some really chic ones, although a bit on the pricey side. Then of course there is reusablebags.com and I’m sure if you ask your local supermarket, they have them available as well.

Stay Young by Eating

Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.
Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and [...]

Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.

Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and cancer.  It also contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.

~ I always cook with and use olive oil 

Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains “good bacteria” that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.

~I try to eat a low-fat yogurt every day as a snack 

Fish
Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.

~I’m definitely improving in this area. I love fish and try to eat at least 1-2 servings per week. I should up it though. 

Chocolate
Cocoa is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.

~Yum! I can easily consume a piece of chocolate per day. 

Nuts
Those who eat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They’re also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.

~Nuts are an excellent snack. I take a tiny handful with a big glass of water and I’m good to go. 

Wine
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverage seems to provide such benefits, but red wine has been the focus of much of the research. Red wine contains resveratrol, a compound that likely contributes to its benefits—and, according to animal studies, may activate genes that slow cellular aging.

~I’m not a big drinker, but when I do drink, it is almost always a glass (or 2) of red wine. 

Blueberries
Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.

~I do love berries and try to eat a few servings of blueberries and strawberries every week.

So, you see….I’m doing my best to stay young without even realizing it. How are you doing? 

source

Menu of the Week: November 12

I’m still following the South Beach Diet way of life, but not really doing the set meal plans or anything like that. I’ve just eliminated almost all of the sugar from my diet and limit the amount of carbs, making note to pick healthier choices.
Here’s our dinner plan for the week:
Monday 

chicken curry
brown rice
steamed broccoli

Tuesday 

baked tilapia [...]

I’m still following the South Beach Diet way of life, but not really doing the set meal plans or anything like that. I’ve just eliminated almost all of the sugar from my diet and limit the amount of carbs, making note to pick healthier choices.

Here’s our dinner plan for the week:

Monday 

• chicken curry
• brown rice
• steamed broccoli

Tuesday 

• baked tilapia with chermoula
• zucchini and yellow squash
• green salad

Wednesday 

• chicken quesadillas (w/ whole wheat tortillas)
• fresh salsa and avocado

Thursday

• mini greek meatballs
• greek salad

Friday - we are going to a rehearsal dinner at an Italian restaurant so I’ll probably have a chicken entree with a salad and small serving of pasta

What’s cooking at your house this week?