In my world summer equals rhubarb and blueberries. We've always had a rhubarb patch and blueberries grow wild around here, so .... :)
Yesterday was a little cool, so I decided it was a good day to bake! I made the first rhubarb pie of the season.... Mmmmm hello, summer!
I guess I was in the mood to experiment. Instead of following the recipe exactly, I decided to check how much rhubarb actually fits in a pie. (I love my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, but the pies always seem to be full to overflowing.) Guess what? 2 to 2 1/2 cups fits nicely in a Tenderflake crust - not the 6 cups called for in the recipe! (Yes, I cheat, but it's yummy and fast!) Made a note of THAT. Next time, I think I'll divide the whole recipe down to 1/3 or 1/2 of what it says. Last night I only changed the rhubarb. Turned out well, DH had no complaints! :D
While I was experimenting, and since I had picked more rhubarb, I decided to try making rhubarb stew in the crock cooker! Now I've been eating this since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and I've only ever made it in the microwave - not good, I know! (Plus it's boiled over in the microwave too many times.) My sister found a good stovetop recipe that she uses. So I coarsely chopped the rest of the rhubarb, put about 1/2 cup of water in the bottom of the crock, and poured some sugar over the top (no measurements... sorry). If you haven't had this before, you'll need way more sugar than I do, you can add to taste at the end, or in your bowl even. Crocked it on low for 2 hours, opening to stir a few times (I was pretty paranoid about it burning or something). And it turned out perfect! It was more liquidy than normal, so next time I'll put in less water, but it doesn't effect the taste - rhubarb stew is very forgiving.
I've been keeping an eye on the blueberry bushes in the backyard (heck yeah!) and neighbourhood... soon!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Summer Fun!
The weather is beautiful, and I'm slipping into a more relaxed routine. Yay!
We 'baby-sat' a dog for 2 weeks while friends were in Finland, and because she's a little... excitable, I kept all the 'extra' doors closed. One great habit I established was LEAVING my home office and closing the door for my lunch break and when I'm done for the day. Doesn't sound like much, but I used to spend my 'lunches' on facebook. And while I do still go on facebook several times a day, I also need to get off my butt, because I sit a LOT (for work and for play, then there's driving, watching tv...)
Anyways. I've found taking a real lunch break is beneficial to me. Getting up, standing for a bit, and getting one or two things done around the house is great. I've been getting outside, starting to do a little gardening.
I've also started doing 'spa dishes' again. I have two pairs of cotton gloves. (One I got for about $4 at a drug store, the other about $1.50 at a dollar store.) I take my rings off, put on hand cream, put on the cotton gloves, then put on the rubber gloves and do the dishes! It's great for the skin (especially with the heat of the water amplifying things) and if I do it consistently, it should save me some money on rubber gloves - My one fingernail always seems to wear a hole... now with the extra layer, the gloves should last longer. Taking care of myself, taking care of my family, and being frugal!
How is your journey towards balance going?
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
We 'baby-sat' a dog for 2 weeks while friends were in Finland, and because she's a little... excitable, I kept all the 'extra' doors closed. One great habit I established was LEAVING my home office and closing the door for my lunch break and when I'm done for the day. Doesn't sound like much, but I used to spend my 'lunches' on facebook. And while I do still go on facebook several times a day, I also need to get off my butt, because I sit a LOT (for work and for play, then there's driving, watching tv...)
Anyways. I've found taking a real lunch break is beneficial to me. Getting up, standing for a bit, and getting one or two things done around the house is great. I've been getting outside, starting to do a little gardening.
I've also started doing 'spa dishes' again. I have two pairs of cotton gloves. (One I got for about $4 at a drug store, the other about $1.50 at a dollar store.) I take my rings off, put on hand cream, put on the cotton gloves, then put on the rubber gloves and do the dishes! It's great for the skin (especially with the heat of the water amplifying things) and if I do it consistently, it should save me some money on rubber gloves - My one fingernail always seems to wear a hole... now with the extra layer, the gloves should last longer. Taking care of myself, taking care of my family, and being frugal!
How is your journey towards balance going?
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Selfish, In a Good Way
I'm adding myself back into the equation!
No I don't think the world revolves around me, but it was my birthday on Thursday, so what better month to be nice to myself?
This is not having a spa day and letting the kitchen pile up. This is taking a little time for hobbies and taking care of myself. Too often, I put myself last, and while I shouldn't be first, I should be in the top three.
My ideas for the month are simple things like actually making an appointment with the eye doctor because I've been noticing things getting a little blurry; getting a haircut (trim) because it's been a while and the split ends are bugging me. And fun things, like actually taking time to scrapbook at home and working through the learning to sew book I have.
Even practical things like knocking out a bunch of home small things I've been procrastinating on (I know I'll feel so much better as each is done); figuring out some systems for my new position at work; and staying caught up on the dishes.
...
There! I just got up for 5 minutes (less, actually) and got the bananas that were past their prime (WELL past) peeled and into the freezer. It's nice not to have to look at them ;)
These are the kind of small things that I don't bother doing and then every time I walk into that room I get bombarded with all the little things that need to be done. This month, I'm doing them!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
No I don't think the world revolves around me, but it was my birthday on Thursday, so what better month to be nice to myself?
This is not having a spa day and letting the kitchen pile up. This is taking a little time for hobbies and taking care of myself. Too often, I put myself last, and while I shouldn't be first, I should be in the top three.
My ideas for the month are simple things like actually making an appointment with the eye doctor because I've been noticing things getting a little blurry; getting a haircut (trim) because it's been a while and the split ends are bugging me. And fun things, like actually taking time to scrapbook at home and working through the learning to sew book I have.
Even practical things like knocking out a bunch of home small things I've been procrastinating on (I know I'll feel so much better as each is done); figuring out some systems for my new position at work; and staying caught up on the dishes.
...
There! I just got up for 5 minutes (less, actually) and got the bananas that were past their prime (WELL past) peeled and into the freezer. It's nice not to have to look at them ;)
These are the kind of small things that I don't bother doing and then every time I walk into that room I get bombarded with all the little things that need to be done. This month, I'm doing them!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Sunday, January 8, 2012
A Clear Space
I mentioned last time that I was focusing on finding balance this year. And step one is a clear desk. Well, today, it's clear! I took about an hour this morning and put things away, decluttered, dusted, filed, dusted,... And now I have some nice space surrounding me.
It really is a big change. The plan is to keep it clear, and put things away as I'm done with them. The really big factor to all this is keeping a list of things I need to do and putting the object away, instead of plopping the object on my desk as a 'reminder'. And then following through with taking care of the things on my list. (That's the kicker!)
I've been trying to figure out how to establish routines when my schedule is so odd... it can make your head spin, if you're not careful. Night shift, day shift, DH having days off when I still have to work, crazy Mondays, laundry marathons based on hydro rates.... erg! So no straight-up, you-always-do-this-on-Tuesday-at-10am-type routines. Balance.
Balance..... balance.... wherefore art thou, balance? I am seeking you. :D
I need to stop thinking of my life as a calendar, and try and think more as a pie-chart. I'm going to work on that and see how it goes... a pie chart visual of my day in balance. :D
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
It really is a big change. The plan is to keep it clear, and put things away as I'm done with them. The really big factor to all this is keeping a list of things I need to do and putting the object away, instead of plopping the object on my desk as a 'reminder'. And then following through with taking care of the things on my list. (That's the kicker!)
I've been trying to figure out how to establish routines when my schedule is so odd... it can make your head spin, if you're not careful. Night shift, day shift, DH having days off when I still have to work, crazy Mondays, laundry marathons based on hydro rates.... erg! So no straight-up, you-always-do-this-on-Tuesday-at-10am-type routines. Balance.
Balance..... balance.... wherefore art thou, balance? I am seeking you. :D
I need to stop thinking of my life as a calendar, and try and think more as a pie-chart. I'm going to work on that and see how it goes... a pie chart visual of my day in balance. :D
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Finding Balance
It's January, and many people are making resolutions. I'm not making a resolution per se, but I'd like to take this time to reflect and set some goals.
My main goal for 2012 is Finding Balance. And that's a huge undertaking, but I have a whole year (actually the rest of my life) to work on it. Balance isn't a destination. It's a journey. You can never really be done. It's something to consider everyday. If I have a wonderfully balanced day today, that does not guarantee me a balanced day tomorrow.
I need to seek this balance so I can love the life I have and live the life I love.
So my overall goal for the year is to find balance - between work, home, DH, and play. For January I'm working on clearing my desk (by Friday) and keeping it clear. I spend a LOT of time here at my desk, so having clear space really will make a clear mind :)
Today I have worked on clearing my desk, started a goals binder/control journal/thingy-whats-it and I do see progress, and that's always a good thing.
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
My main goal for 2012 is Finding Balance. And that's a huge undertaking, but I have a whole year (actually the rest of my life) to work on it. Balance isn't a destination. It's a journey. You can never really be done. It's something to consider everyday. If I have a wonderfully balanced day today, that does not guarantee me a balanced day tomorrow.
I need to seek this balance so I can love the life I have and live the life I love.
So my overall goal for the year is to find balance - between work, home, DH, and play. For January I'm working on clearing my desk (by Friday) and keeping it clear. I spend a LOT of time here at my desk, so having clear space really will make a clear mind :)
Today I have worked on clearing my desk, started a goals binder/control journal/thingy-whats-it and I do see progress, and that's always a good thing.
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Friday, December 23, 2011
Almost Christmas!
OK people, it's the day before Christmas Eve!
Challenge #1: This is the LAST day that you WANT to do any shopping, so triple-check your fridge against your list (if you don't have a list, you want a basic plan/idea of what you will eat from now until at least breakfast on the 27th). And check your presents if they're not done and get going! You want to enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family. Besides, many places will be closed, have weird hours, or be packed because they're the only ones open.
Challenge #2: Take something OFF your list! Make one less side for Christmas dinner, do one less activity, clean one less area (just close that door). YOU need enjoy Christmas also :)
Challenge #3: Pre-prep! What can you do today so you don't have to do tomorrow? What can you do tomorrow that you don't have to do Christmas Day? What can you do in the morning so you don't have to do right as Christmas Dinner is being served?
I have most of my wrapping done, just the gifts for my nieces and nephews left, but they're for the 2nd, and I HAVE the gifts. I'm hosting Christmas Dinner with my in-laws Christmas Eve. I'm making Saving Dinner's white bean dip today and one of my sides today. I'm going to make the mashed potatoes in the MORNING and put them in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' (this is a FABULOUS tip, but you really should TEST your crock before you try this for a meal, different crocks have different temperatures and as Leanne Ely says: 'Your mileage may vary' you don't want them to scorch). I'm also going to arrange my 'goodie tray' while the potatoes are boiling (and stick it covered in the garage).
So that means I'll only have one SIMPLE side to make while the turkey is 'resting' and I'm making the gravy :)
Saving Dinner's Christmas Morning Strata has become a tradition for us. (I usually half the recipe because we're only 2 people and then we eat it for a few days - love the toaster oven for re-heats!) It's super-good, decadent but easy AND you prep it the night before, and just pull it out of the fridge and bake in the morning! LOVE that!
Here's to a less stressful time! Merry Christmas!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Challenge #1: This is the LAST day that you WANT to do any shopping, so triple-check your fridge against your list (if you don't have a list, you want a basic plan/idea of what you will eat from now until at least breakfast on the 27th). And check your presents if they're not done and get going! You want to enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family. Besides, many places will be closed, have weird hours, or be packed because they're the only ones open.
Challenge #2: Take something OFF your list! Make one less side for Christmas dinner, do one less activity, clean one less area (just close that door). YOU need enjoy Christmas also :)
Challenge #3: Pre-prep! What can you do today so you don't have to do tomorrow? What can you do tomorrow that you don't have to do Christmas Day? What can you do in the morning so you don't have to do right as Christmas Dinner is being served?
I have most of my wrapping done, just the gifts for my nieces and nephews left, but they're for the 2nd, and I HAVE the gifts. I'm hosting Christmas Dinner with my in-laws Christmas Eve. I'm making Saving Dinner's white bean dip today and one of my sides today. I'm going to make the mashed potatoes in the MORNING and put them in the crock cooker with a little butter over the top on 'keep warm' (this is a FABULOUS tip, but you really should TEST your crock before you try this for a meal, different crocks have different temperatures and as Leanne Ely says: 'Your mileage may vary' you don't want them to scorch). I'm also going to arrange my 'goodie tray' while the potatoes are boiling (and stick it covered in the garage).
So that means I'll only have one SIMPLE side to make while the turkey is 'resting' and I'm making the gravy :)
Saving Dinner's Christmas Morning Strata has become a tradition for us. (I usually half the recipe because we're only 2 people and then we eat it for a few days - love the toaster oven for re-heats!) It's super-good, decadent but easy AND you prep it the night before, and just pull it out of the fridge and bake in the morning! LOVE that!
Here's to a less stressful time! Merry Christmas!
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A Simple Christmas - December First
Christmas can get so busy... I love FLYlady's babysteps... Holiday Cruising is what she calls it. I'm aiming for a simple Christmas this year.
December 1st!! We're embracing DH's Scottish heritage this Christmas :) Today we did 3 small Christmas things:
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
December 1st!! We're embracing DH's Scottish heritage this Christmas :) Today we did 3 small Christmas things:
- Added plaid bows to the wreath and put it on the front door
- Put up the tree (pre-lit, simple) with just the lights and our new angel for now
- I brought up the Christmas dishes (OK, mugs and 1 glass, plus some hot pads and tea towels) and put the dishes in the dishwasher, put 'regular' mugs right back into the same box and put the box back downstairs :)
So anyway, thank you for joining me, and I hope I can help you! It really is fun to be a Homemaking Diva!!
Please comment or send your questions to me at homemakingdiva@hotmail.com
Have great day!
Valerie :D
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