I’ve been in a major food preserving mode lately. Partially because I’m teaching a workshop on the subject in less than 24 hours, but also because the weather here in West Michigan is just screaming “Fall” — and fresh produce is aplenty! I’ll be the first to admit that food preserving CAN BE overwhelming. I’ve …
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Blog
Peaches, Pears, and Apricots
I don’t think there is anything more delicious than opening up a can of homegrown, home-canned fruit in the middle of winter. There is just something about it that tastes even better than fresh fruit — but that might be the added sugar! If you’ve never tried to can your own fruit, now is a …
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Berry Jams = ‘Berry’ Delicious
Berries are my favorite foods to preserve each year. And I can’t think of a better way to preserve delicious sweet berries than homemade jams and jellies — can you? Not only are jams and jellies relatively quick and easy to master, they are also inexpensive to make, and far superior to any variety you …
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Apple Butter
Have you ever tried apple butter? If not, you are missing out on one of life’s greated condiments! OK, well maybe that’s a little extreme, but take it from someone who loves apples as much as I do — which is a lot — this recipe is to die for! If you’ve never tried apple …
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Clutter-Free Gift Wrap — 90 Days and Counting
Don’t you just love looking through magazines and seeing gorgeous pictures of perfectly organized spaces like this amazing Gift Wrapping Station featured in Country Home Magazine?? Talk about eye candy! Photo: Country Living OK, so maybe your gift wrap isn’t so creatively organized — {but isn’t it lovely!} I suppose it wouldn’t be difficult to create a gift wrapping station …
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Simple Fall Decor
I’m a big fan of decorating with disposable items; mainly so I don’t have to store them all year round. Since fall is my favorite season {I live in Michigan — it’s gorgeous!} it would be so easy for me to accumulate gobs of fun decor items, but I don’t. I only allow myself one …
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Space-Saving Freezer Tip
I freeze a lot of food — especially this time of year when we have so many fresh fruits and veggies around. We do have an extra freezer in the garage, but it still seems like I need more space {or maybe just less stuff} Either way, I make the most of my freezer space by …
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Holiday Batch Shopping — 95 Days and Counting
Want to know how I save time, energy, money and stress? I practice Holiday Batch Shopping — and it works for me! –> NOTE: even if you aren’t interested in saving time, energy, stress, or money you should still keep reading because there are cookies below! What is Batch Shopping? Basically, batch shopping is just like …
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What’s In My Purse
1. Wallet: I love all the different compartments for money, checks, cards, ID, change, ect. etc. 2. Planner: I couldn’t live without this — yes, I know I’m old fashion, but I just LOVE crossing my list off! 3. Gift Cards: We always have a good assortment of gift cards — one the benefits of marrying a …
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Reader’s Tip: Clearing Bathroom Clutter
Some of the best things about running this website are the emails and comments I get from all of YOU — and my heart felt happy when I got this email from Becky: “I did it!!!!! I organized my linen closet and made room for so much more stuff. I like to shop sales and I found this …
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Holiday Cards — 98 Days and Counting
Planning Ahead — 99 Days and Counting
It’s day 2 of our Clutter-Free Holiday Countdown — are you excited? It’s Time to Start Planning: Are you tired of running around during the holiday season? Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays are so full of activities; it can be difficult to fit is all in. So even though you might think the holidays are …
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Lemon Pound Cake
I’m a sucker for anything lemon — drinks, desserts, breads, even this delicious lemon hand cream! My recipe for Lemon Pound Cake is so full of lemony goodness; it’s a crowd-pleaser anywhere I take it! I often make several loaves at a time and freeze them for whenever I’m asked to bring a dessert. Then, all …
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It’s “Greener” on the Other Side
I like to think I embrace life and take time to enjoy where I am right now — this very moment — but I know that’s NOT always true. I’m a competitive person and I’ve always pushed myself to be better, do more, and work harder. While I’m proud of my accomplishments, I also see the value …
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Save Time with Routines
I’m often asked how I keep my house clean and organized — and do everything else I do. While I AM super busy, my house is NOT as clean as you think! I also don’t have any kids, and my husband is pretty organized {yup, I know how to pick ’em}…so I have a few …
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Why I Married a Math Teacher
The start of the school year always gets me thinking about teachers…probably because I’m married to one and I see all the work he puts into lesson plans, tests, and grading every day. Dave is a high school math teacher and absolutely loves his job — which I’m thankful for. And while he loves math, he really …
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Look What I Found in my Fridge
I was in the middle of making lunch the other day, when I found a piece of fruit that was a bit past it’s prime. Ok, it had mold growing on it! So naturally, I threw it out. Then I got to thinking — it was probably time I cleaned out the produce drawers in our …
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Canned Tomatoes
If you are new to canning, tomatoes are a GREAT way to start. They are so quick and easy. They don’t require any special ingredients {just tomatoes and salt}, and you can usually find them for FREE this time of year! I promise…you can totally do this! I’ve been canning tomatoes for several years now …
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