The new contest begins today but first just one announcement:
Sarah is the winner of last week’s “Teal at Twilight” Earrings. Thanks again so much to everyone for the great comments, suggestions, and ideas! I’ll be sure to use lots of them in future blog posts!
Did you know that you can always find details on the current giveaway, and also see the winners from previous weeks by clicking on the “Giveaway Info” button on the top right of this page?
This week’s giveaway will be these fun and flirty earrings which feature baroque-shaped CZECH glass beads in a fabulous, girly girl shade of FUCHSIA!
Flirty Fuchsia Dangle Earrings
I’ve accented the Czech beads with sparkling SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS in both fuchsia and clear aurora borealis. All metal embellishments & findings are made of STERLING SILVER! They measure approximately 2″ long, including the sterling earwires.
They would make a wonderful holiday gift – maybe for you!! 😉
Contest Rules and How To Enter
1. Leave a comment with a tip for getting organized at home or at work. That will give you one chance to win.
2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment with hint or a tip for saving money.
3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment with a quick and easy recipe – maybe something you make for a “quick meal” when you are short on time!
You can choose any one or all of the above chances to enter.
A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old.
The name of the winner will be added to this post after the completion of the contest and the winner will be notified by email. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen.
All entries must be received by midnight EST on 11/30/08, and the winner will be selected on or about 12/01/08.
Thanks for participating and Good Luck to all! 🙂
Contest is CLOSED!
The winner is Joy. Congratulations Joy! Please check your email. I will be contacting you for your shipping address.
i like to label my cupboards in the kitchen and in the office so that i can keep my things in order. i also have labels in my bedroom drawers so i can organise my clothes, socks, makeup, hair stuff, etc. Trust me…it works! 🙂
I try to keep clear plastic bins, all sizes, for sorting or storing or keeping things-of-a-kind together….helps me find something quick!! also keeps things looking organized…very helpful for everyone in the family, and dog toys too!
For being organized at home when it comes to bills I keep everything (I mean everything) written down. Then as I pay bills I highlight them. I dont even remember the last time I had a late bill or the horrible “OMG! Did I remember to pay that?” feeling. 🙂
A tip for saving money that I follow is dont eat out. When it comes to work, school or road trips I pack lunches. It may take a little extra time but when it comes to a family of 5 (like mine) it SAVES alot of money. 🙂
I right a list of the things I have to get done around the house to get organized and when I’m done with one of the tasks I just mark it off!
1. tip for getting organized: use a day planner, I live by it, and so does my husband!
My husband and I play this game where we see how far we can stretch a dollar! It’s always fun cause we find ways to save all kinds of money!!
2. hint or a tip for saving money: turn the water heater temperature down, and use a toaster oven instead of a large oven to save energy
3. a quick and easy recipe-
Beef Cups
3/4 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1 TBSP brown sugar
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
1 container refrigerated biscuits (like grands or something)
Preheat over to 400 degrees
You brown up the beef, drain off all the fat. Add the BBQ sauce and brown sugar to the ground beef, mix all together.
Take a jumbo muffin pan, coat with cooking spray, put a refrigerated biscuit in each cup and stretch the dough up the sides a bit to make a cup. Spoon beef mixture into cups.
Sprinkle with the cheese, pop in oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden
My tip for getting organized is to have a large wall calendar where all the family members write their events in a set color ink. This way I can tell who is where at a quick glance
Money Saving tip: Use a room heater at night instead of turning the heat on in the whole house
Quick recipe:
HomeStyle Chicken and Rice Casserole
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups small broccoli florets
• 4 (2-1/2 lbs.) bone-in/boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. thyme leaves
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 2 cups (8 oz.) Sargento® Fancy Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
DIRECTIONS
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Baking Time: 1 hour
• Serves: 4
1. Combine rice, broth, onion and broccoli in 11×7-inch baking pan. Place chicken over rice mixture. Combine paprika, thyme, garlic and salt in small bowl; sprinkle over chicken.
2. Cover with foil; bake in preheated 375°F oven 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes more or until liquid is absorbed, rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
3. Sprinkle chicken and rice with cheese. Bake 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.
Once a month set aside an afternoon, pick a room in the house and DECLUTTER. Get rid of any extra ‘stuff’ you have that you don’t really need/want. Be ruthless. It’ll be hard but you’ll feel much better once that stuff is gone.
Oh, what fun! To declutter, I never leave a room without taking some misplaced item with me. Leaving the kitchen to go to the bedroom? I take that book that should go on the nightstand. Leaving the bedroom to go back to the kitchen? The empty waterglass goes too!
Saving money: This is a biggie! I don’t buy processed food. But it’s cheaper, you say? Fresh is more expensive, you say? Nope. Processed, when broken down, is a lot more expensive. It’s healthier so we save on dr. bills. There’s no empty boxes, cans, wrappers etc. with fresh food so we have one tiny bag of garbage a week, which costs us $1 to have picked up! We don’t need medicine very often because whole food is healthy food. Okay, long complicated answer, but it really, really works!!!
Third comment!!! Here’s my quick recipe for a stirfry dish: Make a good batch of white or brown rice. Take a large bunch of organic kale, wash and tear from thick stems. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and add about 4 – 6 elephant garlic cloves, chopped or sliced. Before they even start to brown, throw in the kale (watch out – the water in the leaves spits in all that hot oil.) Stirfry until just soft. Serve on the rice with soy sauce and toasted sesame. High in calcium, cheap, really healthy! Sesame lowers cholesterol too. Oh! And there’s protein. And iron…. and….
1) For getting organized at home, I’ve been washing out empty milk jugs/ juice containers, cutting off the bottom and using them to organize smaller items in my kitchen drawers.
2) To save money, I’ve been buying the store brand for groceries instead of the name brand, also I’ve been cutting back on my coffees out and making coffee at home to bring in a travel mug, it seems just like a dollar here or there, but it adds up!
3) A fast, easy recipe: apple/dijon pork chops:
1 tbsp olive oil
4 boneless pork chops, 1/2 in. thick
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup dijon
1 apple, cut into small chunks
Heat oil in skillet (med. heat), Cook pork chops for 4 minutes (until browned on both sides), Stir in everything else, Boil, Reduce heat, Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes or until sauce thickens.
My best suggestion for being organized is clean as you go. Its so easy to let things get out of hand if you say ‘oh I will put that away in a little bit’. Those little things add up, and before you know it, there are things everywhere. This is something I am trying to get better at, because I have always been a horrible procrastinator.
The best way to keep organized is to tell your partner where you put all your important things like bills, cards etc. Or even better, give them to the partner (that works for me!).
For getting organized at home or work I set aside one day a week where I do full-time cleaning. That way no messes add up!
I collect piggy banks for different coins and when they fill up I count them and deposit the rolled up coins to a savings account!
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese (seems long but sooooo isn’t!)
1 (1-ounce) slice whole wheat bread
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda cheese
1/3 cup (about 1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
5 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
4 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked)
Cooking spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1/2 cup.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook until thick (about 2 minutes). Add cheeses; stir until melted.
Add spinach and macaroni to cheese sauce, stirring until well blended. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly.
to organize my closet and to make sure there is less clutter, i store my shoes and handbags in boxes with the picture of the shoe or handbag on the outside, so that i know which is in which box and they are easy to find if i am in a rush!
the best way to save money is to leave my wallet in the car when i am window shopping, so that way when i have to purchase something i can think about if i really need it and how many times i will use it before i actually buy it! it has saved me a lot of money cuz i get lazy!
Chicken Tostadas
Ingredients
6 tostada shells (6 inches in diameter)
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 1/2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey
1 cup picante sauce
1 medium avocado
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
3 cups shredded lettuce
Lemon juice
Sour cream and salsa, if desired
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Knives
Sauce pan
Heat tostada shells as directed on package. Heat beans in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Mix chicken and 1 cup salsa in 2-quart saucepan; heat until hot. Peel avocado and cut lengthwise into slices; sprinkle with lemon juice. Spread beans and chicken mixture over tostada shells. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with tomatoes, avocado and lettuce. Serve with sour cream and additional salsa. Serves 6.
Its soooo good!! =)
My tip for getting organized is: Use storage containers with lids for storing out of season clothing. That way it frees up space in the closet and you can see what you have. Thanks for the giveaway!
How I stay organized at work:
Before I go home every day I survey my desk and my appointment calendar and get things in order. I create a list of unfinished things and things to do the next day. That way I don’t stress about stuff when I go home, and I come in to work the next day knowing exactly what I need to prioritize.
Quick recipe:
I love the crock pot and this easy recipe has saved me many times.
Soft Chicken Tacos
4-5 chicken breasts
1 large jar of salsa
2 cups sour cream
Put the chicken breasts and salsa in the crock pot and let cook for several hours. Shred. Add sour cream and let heat up again.
Serve as tacos or nachos. SO good!
When I am really trying to save money I only go shopping with a list or with something specific in mind. And then I only allow myself to look for that item or buy that item. It helps me to not get sidetracked in Target or the mall!
The best tip for getting organized is something my dad taught me. First get a big notebook binder….the bigger the better. Second, get laminated sheet protecters. Assemble.
Next time you get a new applicance, or ANYTHING with instructions or a warranty…put it straight into your binder.
I can not tell you HOW many times this has saved me. You will have all of your information in one place AND you will know where to find it in a hurry.
My hubby thinks I am a genius and it is all due to dear old dad. Thanks, dad:)
My tip for getting organized is keeping a trashcan near the door and when you bring the mail in open it immediately and throw all trash away. Then have a mail sorter next to the door and immediately sort all the mail you need to keep into categories – like bills to pay now/bills to pay later/coupons/husband’s stuff/etc. Well, this works for me in terms of keeping the clutter down!
My tip for saving money is to insulate your windows and insulate your doors to keep your heating bill down (if you live in a cold climate). Replacing old windows can really cut $ off of your heating bill, but if you can’t do that you can buy the special plastic to go around your windows.
A quick recipe I make for my daughter is a doctored up version of mac & cheese: Cook 1/2 box of fusili pasta per directions. Cook 2 cups of frozen peas. Slice 20 slices of pepperoni into thin strips. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add peas, pepperoni, 1/2 c. parmesian cheese, 1/4 c. milk and 2 Tbsp of butter. Mix briefly over low heat. And serve!
My tip for organization is to keep like items together. I am a huge fan of totes and containers to keep things together and organized.
My tip for saving money is COUPONS & SALES!! I love to sign up for all my favorite store’s e-mail and get their coupons. I put all my resturant and shop coupons in an organizer in my purse. I have gotten many a free meal places….esp around our birthdays. I also buy my kids clothes off season. People laugh sometimes, but my daughter is 2 and has up to size 5 in the attic….Jeans never go out of style.
Ooh – more lovely earrings! But what really caught my eye about your post was the teapot. I collect tea-for-ones, the little teacup and pot all in one. I’ve always been a tea drinker too. I like coffee but not as much and it does not like me. One cup nauseates me but I can drink about 3 cups of decaf before it does the same thing. Tea, on the other hand, is very soothing.
A quick recipe? I eat a lot of salads. I use the packaged variety lettuces and these days, there are even small containers of mixed diced veggies to throw in. I usually have boiled eggs on hand and I also buy small packages of diced ham. I can throw a large salad together in 5 minutes and while I’m doing that, toast some frozen garlic bread. That’s my whole meal.
To get organized I have one huge calendar on my desk and make sure to write down all schedules and appointments!
I unplug all my appliciances to save money on my electricity bills!
1 – 2 – 3 STEP CHOCOLATE
1 stick butter
3 1/2 tbsp. cocoa
1 c. water
1/2 c. shortening
Put in pan and bring to a boil.
STEP 2:
Sift 2 cups flour. Add 2 cups sugar; mix well. Pour step 1 in step 2.
STEP 3:
2 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. buttermilk
Mix together in separate bowl. Add step 3 to step 1 and 2. Bake in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. After cake has been baking for 15 minutes start preparing icing.
ICING:
1 stick butter
3 1/2 tbsp. cocoa
1/3 c. milk
Bring this to boil, add: 1 box powdered sugar 3/4 c. pecans
Ice cake while hot in pan.
To save money, we don’t eat out. Cooking yummy recipies I find on allrecipies.com is so much cheaper and sometimes yummier. If I eat out, I’m basicly paying someone to do my dishes…
to get oraganized at home I use a daily planner. I create a to-do list and make an appointment for all my chores. a half hour per task. If I don’t finish it in a half hour, I come back to it later. Then I don’t get burned out.
If I’m in a pinch for a meal I usually just stick with tried and true spaghetti. I boil noodles, brown a pound of burger, dump in a bottle of ragu, and slap some garlic on buttered taost. My family likes it and it’s quick and simple.
Those earrings are adorable. I recently discovered those hanging shelf like cloth thingys where you can store sweaters, tank tops etc….they are so helpful. It will save you room in the dresser.
I use lists for everything that I do and when I discover clothes that I haven’t been wearing for a long while, I sell them on ebay.
A way I stay organized is by keeping all my crafting supplies in boxes with a label on the front listing the contents of the box. This way, I get rid of the clutter and never wonder where anything is!
My tip for saving money is to only buy what you NEED. Some coupons can really make you end up spending more than you need to. If you only need 1 of something, but get sucked into buying 2 to get one free–you really aren’t saving anything! You ended up spending money to get 2 things you really didnt need!
The quickest and easiest (and most delicious) recipe that I made recently is “Chicken Enchilada Casserole”
Ingredients:
Boneless Chicken Tenders, cut into cubes
A can of diced tomatoes
A can of stewed tomatoes
Brown Rice
Shredded Cheese
Can of corn
Enchilada Sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Cook the chicken in a frying pan until cooked fully through. In a glass casserole dish, layer the can of corn, diced tomatoes, chicken, shredded cheese, stewed tomatoes, brown rice, a little more cheese if you wish, and top it all off with enchilada sauce. Cover with tinfoil and bake for 30 minutes! The chicken is SO tender and it’s absolutely delicious! Great for lunch the next day too!
To stay organized at work & home, I live religiously with Frank, my pink day planner. Not only does Frank help me stay sane, he also makes me look very professional at conferences. Thanks!