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Time for the holiday's- do you have guests flying/driving in and staying with you and your family? We do, and I am in the midst of re-calibrating the home for guests. Everything changes for a few days while guests live-in and these tips below might help you keep the cog running smoothly (as well as keep your mind chugging along sanely ;) I plan on trying out a few of these tips for the Master Bedroom, where our guests will stay. We have a 3 BR house for 2 adults and 3 kids so we don't have an extra room to make into a guest room; these tips for making our usual bedroom bit more luxe and welcoming for a guest will come in handy! I already have a nice comforter and bedding set,pillows and little bedside-table baskets that I take out for guests ( they are filled with mini hand-lotions, mints, a reading-light and a book, one for each side of the bed.) But I would like to make things even less like 'our' room and even more like a relaxing retreat away from visiting. In the meanwhile, I plan a big sleepover party for us downstairs- that I have to have cleaned up by 7am each morning when the coffee get's going for everyone ;) blarrgh that means I have to get up at 6:30 instead of 7; yes I know you all feel so sorry for me! lol!! We all sleep downstairs when we have guests so it's pull-out couch and dvd rentals fun for us; the kids love it because they get to sleep downstairs and they like their sleeping bags. My husband doesn't mind the floor, but he hates lying down to sleep on the couch(go figure, since he can sleep for hours sitting up in the recliner and show no signs of soreness,lol ) so I get lucky at these times of year; I get the couch and a splendid couch it is. I still love it, and we purchased it 4 years ago! It's a Lane, it's a sectional(with 3 parts, so it's huge- seats 7) and it is a velvety, mossy green- with a pull-out drink table. And it's VERY cushiony. What's NOT to love?? Didn't mean to hijack my own holiday organizing and readying post with an ode of love for my couch, but...yeah, it's mine so, I can do that and not get yelled at ;) Hope some of these tips can help you with something~! I enjoyed reading them ;) 5 Tips for Preparing Your Guest Bedroom for Overnight Guests Company coming? We're here to help with ways to turn your spare bedroom into a cozy retreat. Preparing a stylish guest suite is a snap with inspiration from 5-star hotels and these five tips: 1. Create an environment that promotes a great night's sleep. Make the bed super comfy by adding a thick duvet and lots of fluffy pillows. High thread-count, 100 percent cotton sheets are also a must. 2. Stock the guest room with magazines and books, and put together a snack tray or basket filled with light snacks and bottled water. 3. Lay out bathrobes and place rolled bath towels at the foot of the bed in case your guests would like to freshen up upon arrival. 4. Hang a small mirror in the guest room to provide a spot for touching up makeup or putting on jewelry. A long dressing mirror is also a nice addition. 5. If your overnight guests are family or close friends, it's always a nice touch to display photos of time spent together in the past; everyone enjoys a trip down memory lane. Cluttered Master Bathroom Makeover Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-212 -- More Projects » Nancy and Larry Fittons' large master bathroom, measuring in at 14 feet by 9 feet with a 4-foot hallway, is in desperate need of a makeover. It's plagued by a poor layout and piles of clutter and confusion. The closets are overflowing, and the counters are piled high with miscellaneous items. Amy Rehkemper, a professional organizer is brought in to help clear out the clutter and transform the chaos into a functional stylish room. The soaking tub is not used very often. Nancy doesn't like the fact that she can't stretch out in it, so she has opted to use it as clothes rack instead. The vanity and supply closet, one of three in the bathroom, are also in disarray. The clothes hamper in the middle of floor is just in the way. This closet does double duty for shoe storage and cleaning supplies. This one has clothes in the upper half and more cleaning supplies below. Nancy has made an attempt at organizing with this rolling cart. The problem is that some of the drawers don't even open properly. Miscellaneous items fill the shelves and baskets in this closet, making if difficult to find anything quickly. So what to do? As usual, sorting through everything is step 1. Rehkemper brings in a bin for each type of product/clutter to help Nancy see what she has and decide what to keep or toss. She also brought along a little cheat sheet she devised to help with the task: To Keep or not to Keep Love it? Need it? Live without it? Last used it? Worst-case scenario? Damaged? Duplicate? Would you buy it? Is it expired? Out of style? Cluttered Master Bathroom Makeover Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-212 -- More Projects » (Continued from Page 1) The new his-and-her sink and vanity unit, done in rich earth tones with dramatic wooden accents, adds texture to the room. There's also plenty of drawers below for storage. This medicine chest was placed conveniently by the sink. To the right of that is an entire wall unit of closets, cabinets and drawers to house Nancy's clothes, costume jewelry and supplies. The toilet has been moved to a more private location within the room. There's yet another storage cabinet above it. Cluttered Master Bathroom Makeover Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-212 -- More Projects » (Continued from Page 2) Once the sorting is complete, Rehkemper reveals some of her remodeling ideas. The sweeping changes include removing the single sink and dropping in a double his-and-her-sink and removing the standup shower to add a combined shower/tub unit. Contractor Steve Waldhauser and his team of professionals are brought in for the construction. Three weeks later, the results are in: As for all those clothes, Nancy has an abundance of closet space now, and she's learned some spacesaving tricks to boot. Clothes are now neatly hung with ample space between each piece, and clear bins on the shelf above hold even more supplies. One of the spacesaving tricks Rehkemper taught Nancy is to have a hanging scarf rack. It's inexpensive and keeps everything in plain view. Cluttered Master Bathroom Makeover Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-212 -- More Projects » (Continued from Page 3) Rehkemper's Tips When organizing any drawer, use drawer dividers. Use sliding drawer trays in drawers. When possible, store the extra stock of things with the supply you're currently using so you see how much you still have and know when you need to get more. Store lipstick standing up so you can see the name of the color; easy solution: Punch holes in a necklace lid top and push through the lipsticks. Don't be afraid to use things other than drawer organizers--she used a kitchen spice rack to organize the nail polish. Use candy trays for organizing jewelry. Put a magnetic strip inside a cabinet door for holding tweezers and nail clippers. There is even room for a shoe rack below the hanging items. Note that it is clear so that Nancy can see exactly what is in there. The new laundry chute in the wall replaces the clothes hamper that was in the floor and leads to a hidden hamper in a hall closet. Benjamin Moore paint colors used: Muresco Ceiling White Fresh Start 100% acrylic primer Providence Olive HC-98 flat, #1520, semigloss Products from The Container Store: shoe drawer shoe bin wire pull-out recycling basket trays necklace organizer drawer organizers clear boxes folding skirt hanger mesh bins sweater boxes shower caddy easy liners mesh laundry bag EVA storage stool tie and belt rack This article also has some good tips, for neatening up those 'junk drawers'(as much as that is possible ;) : 3 Tips To Clearing Clutter In The Kitchen For Holidays and Every Day by Marilyn Bohn When you think of clearing clutter what do you think of? I know from my experience as a professional organizer many of us think of getting rid of things but this is just part of clearing clutter. I was given some plates for Christmas that are for everyday use that I love. I put them in the cupboard but I rarely ever used them. I wanted to use them and felt bad because I didn't, so I came up with a simple solution.I simply moved them to a different shelf in my cupboard. I had one of those corner shelves that doubled my cupboard space and I just changed places with some other plates I had had there for a long time and only used infrequently. What a difference such a simple exchange made. I can now use my plates and eat on them too. (Just like having my cake and eating it to). We don't always have to get rid of things to think we are clearing clutter. With a few organizing tips and organizing ideas we can create a home that is organized, functional and welcoming to us and to our guests. As the holidays approach by starting early to look at each room in our homes to see if we need to do some clutter clearing we will be less stressed not only during and before the holidays, but actually all year around. Here are some of my favorite organizing tips. Let's start with the kitchen: junk drawers can be a hassle and junky or they can be resource drawers. Because so many people in our homes use them and are in and out of these drawers, make it easy for them to put things away after they use it. Have you noticed it is easier to get things out than put things away? In the resource drawer the key to clearing clutter is to have plenty of containers, you can use several different sizes, depending on your needs. In one container place the pens and pencils. In another have glue and tape. I recommend having one place for every kind of tape your family uses. Then if you ask someone to get tape for you they will know exactly where to go to get it. Check out your utensil drawer or holder. Are there utensils there you never use and are just clutter? Are there too many spatulas and pancake turners? Are any broken, stained, or rusty that could be thrown away to give you more room in your drawer or holder? If your utensils are in a drawer, install a drawer divider to keep them contained in one place so they don't slide all over. Do your cupboards hold more dishes that you use making your cupboards crowded and let's say not user friendly? Divide your shelves by type of space. Premium spaces are the places you get into to use the items stored there on a daily basis. The dishes you use about once a week place in a secondary space.And dishes you use about once a year, such as holiday dishes place in semi-storage. You know where they are but they aren't visible on a monthly basis. By using a few organizing tips and organizing ideas you will feel more confident with clearing clutter, creating space and end clutter in your homes for the holidays and for everyday. Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Visit her website www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips. Article Source: WAHM Articles

Top on the menu of course, is a bottle of Sparkling Wine- some are made with just as much care as Champagne, and full-size bottles of sparkling wine made in the methode- champenoise method can be had at BJ's for under $30.00 ;) Put that baby on ice and make sure those wine flutes are on the tray with the bubbly or nearby ..... Get out one of your prettiest , round serving platters- or a big, pretty plate!- and arrange gourmet chewy cookies and decadent brownies in a circular fashion winding all the way into the middle, where one fabulous brownie will hold down the center of the fort ;) Next, set out fabulously warm and yummy appetizers, like those from BJ's and Tastefully Simple, and time them to be ready to pop out of the oven 10 minutes before guests are expected to begin arriving. I always include a big, festive bowl full of warm, spiced nuts -----(a whole tin of mixed nuts, tossed with 1 tbsp. melted butter(salted if salted nuts, unsalted if not ) and: 1/4 tsp. each Cumin, Ground Allspice and Chili Powder, 1/2 tsp. each Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon, and 1 tsp. brown sugar, toss gently and spread out on baking sheet, bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.) --- and mini chicken eggrolls(from BJ's) with the Apricot Dipping Sauce from tastefully Simple, which I make a very tasty variation of myself- it's one whole 5 oz. jar Apricot Jam(not jelly), 1/2 tsp. brown mustard, 1/2 tsp. worcestersire sauce and 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, mixed well, and do not chill. Serve room temp. Everyone always loves these app's...... <3 I will choose 2 or 3 additional appetizer choices, and .... Set out pretty, winter-themed paper party napkins or rolled in cigar-shape and napkin-ringed cloth napkins in pretty winter colors(periwinckle, light gray, ice blue, ivory or off-white, a combonation of 2 shades or more is best) in a nice basket lined with a pretty piece of cloth, draped over the basket and lying half-way outside of the basket all around the sides. Set forks and spoons in another, smaller basket that has been similarily set-up. Put on a good cd and spray the sitting room(s) with a pretty room spray, like Bed, Bath & Beyond's Pumpkin Pie Room Spray. Set out photo albums on the tables and small, lined baskets filled with pens and blank, unlined index cards that have been decoratively punched with a snowflake punch and had an ice-blue stretch of ribbon tied through one punched hole. Leave one card written on already in each basket, it should have a note on it from you explaining how to use the cards. Ask guests to write holiday memories or well wishes on the cards, even funny holiday jokes or little sketches and expalin that these selections will be hung on the holiday tree, or strung along the kitchen or living room wall on festive ribbon (with your basic clothespins, of course ;) Enjoy the fun with your family and friends!

Good cooking starts with good ingredients.... and it's market season! Farmers' markets are a great place to find the freshest sweet corn, the reddest, ripest tomatoes and the most fragrant, flavorful strawberries... You can taste heirloom varietals and sample hard-to-find items like ramps, morel mushrooms, cardoons and quince.... Many market vendors provide recipes and cooking tips for their products. Some markets sell house-made jams and hearth-baked breads, free-range chickens and fresh eggs, making gathering ingredients for tonight's dinner a snap.... .. Make the most of your Summer dining with these 10 recipes to try out in which fresh fruits and vegetables play a starring role: 1.Grilled Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Toast and Balsamic Vinaigrette You'll need: 1 medium head garlic, unpeeled 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar 1 1/2 pounds thick stemmed asparagus 4 slices sourdough bread Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat the head of garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a baking sheet, and roast 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Once the garlic is roasted, cut the head in half horizontally, exposing all the cloves. Squeeze both halves into a bowl, discarding any skin. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside. While the garlic is roasting, place the minced shallot in a bowl with the balsamic and red wine vinegars for about 30 minutes to let the flavors blend. Whisk in remaining olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place asparagus spears in the mixture until ready to grill. Preheat grill for medium-high heat. Place asparagus in a large skillet or directly on the grill. Grill the asparagus, turning over once, until tender, about 10 minutes. While asparagus is grilling, spread the roasted garlic mixture on the bread. Grill bread until toasted. Arrange the bread and asparagus on a plate, and drizzle with the remaining shallot and vinegar mixture. Oh my gosh this is sooooo good!!! Make it for your friends, they will love you even more :) 2. Cool Cucumber Salsa You'll need: 2 medium cucumbers - peeled, seeded, and chopped 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced 1 small onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley 2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 (12 ounce) package tortilla chips In a medium bowl, stir together the cucumbers, tomatoes, green pepper, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, lime juice, parsley, cilantro, dill, and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips. Yum-O!! 3. Japanese Style Seseme Green Beans 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil 1 pound fresh green beans, washed 1 tablespoon soy sauce garlic ( to your preference) 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds Warm a large skillet or wok over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, pour in canola and sesame oils, then place whole green beans into the skillet. Stir the beans to coat with oil. Cook until the beans are bright green and slightly browned in spots, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce; cover, and let sit about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Very Good! 4.Cajun Style Stuffed Peppers INGREDIENTS 6 large green bell peppers 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning black pepper to taste 3/4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 1/2 links of andouille sausage, diced 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 lemon - cut into wedges, for garnish (optional) Louisiana-style hot sauce Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x12 inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove tops and seeds from peppers. Blanch in boiling water 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until translucent. Stir in garlic, and season with oregano, Creole seasoning and black pepper. Stir in shrimp and sausage, and cook until shrimp turns pink, 5 minutes. Stir in rice, and cook 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and tomato sauce. Cook until thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Fill peppers with stuffing mixture, and place in baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until heated through. Serve with lemon wedges and hot sauce. These are great! 5. Escarole and Beans 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 large heads escarole salt and pepper to taste 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 clove garlic, minced 2 (16 ounce) cans cannellini beans, undrained 3 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in escarole, turning to coat with oil. Season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes, or until tender. In a separate skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Stir in garlic. Pour in beans with juices, and simmer until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in escarole and parsley; simmer 10 minutes more. Great with warm crusty bread! 6. Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar 16 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and large berries cut in half 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste Place strawberries in a bowl. Drizzle vinegar over strawberries, and sprinkle with sugar. Stir gently to combine. Cover, and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour but not more than 4 hours. Just before serving, grind pepper over berries. I like them by themselves, but they are great over cake or ice cream too. 7. Fresh Tomato Salsa 3 tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup finely diced onion 5 serrano chiles, finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons lime juice In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, onion, chili peppers, cilantro, salt, and lime juice. Chill for one hour in the refrigerator before serving. Just like at the restaurants! 8. Crab and Corn Chowder 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups whole milk 2 cups half-and-half 1 3/4 cups whole kernel corn 1 cup chopped green onions 1 pound fresh crab meat 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/4 cup chopped parsley In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter, add flour, and stir gently until blended; do not burn or let it darken. Add milk gradually, stirring all the while, then add half and half, stirring gently while blending. Add corn and green onions, and cook for a few minutes until tender. Add crabmeat, pepper, salt, and soy sauce and simmer until very hot and small bubbles form around the edge; do not let boil. Adjust seasonings to taste. Garnish with sprinkles of chopped fresh parsley when serving and serve hot. Variations: You may use 4 cobs of fresh corn instead of frozen or canned. Cut the kernels off the cob, scrape cob for juices, and then add to soup. Cook until corn is tender. Canned crabmeat or imitation crab may be used instead of fresh crabmeat. Use one 7 1/2-ounce can crabmeat (drained) and 8 ounces imitation crab (cut into small pieces). Combine the two and cook as noted above. Great Soup! 9. Stuffed Grape Leaves 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves 2 quarts chicken broth 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, divided 60 grape leaves, drained and rinsed hot water as needed 1 cup olive oil In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, saute the rice, onion, dill, and mint for about 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Pour in 1 quart of broth, reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until rice is almost cooked. Stir in 1/2 of lemon juice and remove from heat. Take one leaf, shiny side down, and place 1 teaspoon of the rice mixture at the bottom (stem) end of the leaf. Fold both sides of the leaf towards the center, roll up from the broad bottom to the top, and place into a 4-quart pot. Repeat with all leaves, leaving no gaps as leaves are placed in pot (to prevent from opening while cooking). Sprinkle with remaining lemon juice and with olive oil. Pour chicken broth over all to cover grape leaves. Cover pot and simmer for about 1 hour (do not boil, because this will make the stuffing burst out of the leaves). Remove from heat, remove cover and let cool for 1/2 hour. Transfer to serving dish and serve. They go great with some warm crusty bread and great alongside a big greek salad. At the farmers market is where you'll be alble to find grape leaves! 10.Baba Ghanoush 1 eggplant 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup tahini 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 2 cloves garlic, minced salt and pepper to taste 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place eggplant on baking sheet, and make holes in the skin with a fork. Roast it for 30 to 40 minutes, turning occasionally, or until soft. Remove from oven, and place into a large bowl of cold water. Remove from water, and peel skin off. Place eggplant, lemon juice, tahini, sesame seeds, and garlic in an electric blender, and puree. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer eggplant mixture to a medium size mixing bowl, and slowly mix in olive oil. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving. Good with pita wedges or veggies(I like it with baby carrots personally). Just like in the restaurants!