Use a squirt of lemon oil (click for link) on a cotton cloth (click for link) or a diaper and wipe away minor scratches and blemishes. It adds a beautiful healthy shine to all you hardwood furniture! So simple, natural, and it smells fantastic.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Spring Cleaning - Cleaning wood furniture
For everyone looking for a low cost and EASY way to keep your wood furniture looking beautiful; look no further than Lemon Oil!
Use a squirt of lemon oil (click for link) on a cotton cloth (click for link) or a diaper and wipe away minor scratches and blemishes. It adds a beautiful healthy shine to all you hardwood furniture! So simple, natural, and it smells fantastic.
Use a squirt of lemon oil (click for link) on a cotton cloth (click for link) or a diaper and wipe away minor scratches and blemishes. It adds a beautiful healthy shine to all you hardwood furniture! So simple, natural, and it smells fantastic.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Almost Homemade Shepherd's Pie
Almost Homemade Shepherd's Pie
The recipe is almost all homemade because I cheat and use a seasoning mix, frozen pie crust, and I use steam and mash potatoes. It's such a time and dishes saver.
1 frozen pie crust
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
2-3 large carrots
1/2 medium white onion
1 small can of peas (early/young peas)
1 packet of beef stew seasoning
1/2 cup of water
4 medium to large potatoes
(or 1 bag of steam fresh potatoes)
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of milk (we use 1%)
1 tsp parsley
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
*Slice carrots into 1/4 inch thick disks, and chop the onion. (as large or small as you like - remember they cook down - my family likes a small chop (about an eraser tip size)
*In a large pan brown the meat with the carrots and onion. Drain the fat.
*Add the 1/2 cup of water, the beef stew mix, and the peas and simmer until thickened. (you may need to add a splash of water here and there) approx 10 minutes
Potatoes:
*peel dice and boil for approx 10/15 minutes (until they are fork tender)
OR
*microwave the steam and mash potatoes - add butter, 1/4 cup milk, and parsley while mashing
*taste test potatoes, if they are dry add more milk and/or butter
*put the meat in the pie crust, then use a rubber spatula to add (smear) the mashed potatoes on the top.
Bake for 30 minutes and enjoy!
Also: I make two at a time and freeze one!
The recipe is almost all homemade because I cheat and use a seasoning mix, frozen pie crust, and I use steam and mash potatoes. It's such a time and dishes saver.
(this is a default image - we ate ours before I could take a picture)
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
2-3 large carrots
1/2 medium white onion
1 small can of peas (early/young peas)
1 packet of beef stew seasoning
1/2 cup of water
4 medium to large potatoes
(or 1 bag of steam fresh potatoes)
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of milk (we use 1%)
1 tsp parsley
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
*Slice carrots into 1/4 inch thick disks, and chop the onion. (as large or small as you like - remember they cook down - my family likes a small chop (about an eraser tip size)
*In a large pan brown the meat with the carrots and onion. Drain the fat.
*Add the 1/2 cup of water, the beef stew mix, and the peas and simmer until thickened. (you may need to add a splash of water here and there) approx 10 minutes
Potatoes:
*peel dice and boil for approx 10/15 minutes (until they are fork tender)
OR
*microwave the steam and mash potatoes - add butter, 1/4 cup milk, and parsley while mashing
*taste test potatoes, if they are dry add more milk and/or butter
*put the meat in the pie crust, then use a rubber spatula to add (smear) the mashed potatoes on the top.
Bake for 30 minutes and enjoy!
Also: I make two at a time and freeze one!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Fall and Halloween ideas
Because Fall/Autumn is my FAVORITE season, it comes early in my home. ;-) Yesterday I started decorating for fall/halloween. Then it got me thinking about halloween costumes. Normally my husband and I go with a couples costume. (We throw a big halloween party every year and our friends and I take costumes seriously! We love it!) I already have some ideas for next year, but I thought I would share some homemade costumes from years past. :-) Thank God I can use a sewing machine or else it would be so $$$$$
Loofah and Soap couples costume
(Just to clarify that is my friend's son who is now 2! OMG!)
I made an elastic band topped tube dress out of the least expensive red fabric at Joann's and hand sewed tulle loops onto it until it was loofah like. I had some rope/chord at home i used for the loofah's string. For Chris' soap I used a box and spray painted it white. I cut holes for head and arms and opened the sides so it went on like a sandwich board with flaps to cover his sides. I even glued on styrofoam balls as soap suds!
Chiquita Banana couples costume (repurposed the tulle from the loofah.... it was too expensive not to!)
i reused last year's dress and made it a skirt about calf length and added the layers of tulle loops. For the top i made a very crude tube top that I tied around the front and sewed on some straps, then tulle puffs on the straps. (and wore a nude tank top underneath) For the hat I had a sombrero at home and got walmart and dollar tree plastic fruit, and used the handy dandy glue gun! I bought Chris' banana from walmart but made the chiquita sign out of craft foam that comes in 8x11 sheets and precut letters. (it's like foam paper)
Loofah and Soap couples costume
I made an elastic band topped tube dress out of the least expensive red fabric at Joann's and hand sewed tulle loops onto it until it was loofah like. I had some rope/chord at home i used for the loofah's string. For Chris' soap I used a box and spray painted it white. I cut holes for head and arms and opened the sides so it went on like a sandwich board with flaps to cover his sides. I even glued on styrofoam balls as soap suds!
Chiquita Banana couples costume (repurposed the tulle from the loofah.... it was too expensive not to!)
i reused last year's dress and made it a skirt about calf length and added the layers of tulle loops. For the top i made a very crude tube top that I tied around the front and sewed on some straps, then tulle puffs on the straps. (and wore a nude tank top underneath) For the hat I had a sombrero at home and got walmart and dollar tree plastic fruit, and used the handy dandy glue gun! I bought Chris' banana from walmart but made the chiquita sign out of craft foam that comes in 8x11 sheets and precut letters. (it's like foam paper)
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Turkey Quinoa Chili
Turkey Quinoa Chili
I recommend this recipe for crock pots or low cooking on the stove but you can rush it in about 45min/1 hour if needed.
Also, I don't really have a chili recipe, I just add relatively the same ingredients each time. So all measurements are "good guesses"
Also, this recipe is beanless, but only because I ran out of beans! So add them if you like them.
Ingredients :
1 package of ground turkey (16 oz)
1 28 or 29 oz can of tomato puree
6 oz tomato paste
2-3 cups of beef stock (or chicken or veggie)
1 cup quinoa
1 very finely diced carrot (my need to sneak veggies into dinner - omit for picky eaters)
1/2 white onion- chopped
approx 3 tbs chili powder
approx 1 tsp cumin
approx 1 tsp garlic powder (or add fresh minced garlic when browning the meat)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon corn starch
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
My family enjoys this with corn bread or biscuits, sour cream and cheddar cheese.
Enjoy!
I recommend this recipe for crock pots or low cooking on the stove but you can rush it in about 45min/1 hour if needed.
Also, I don't really have a chili recipe, I just add relatively the same ingredients each time. So all measurements are "good guesses"
Also, this recipe is beanless, but only because I ran out of beans! So add them if you like them.
Ingredients :
1 package of ground turkey (16 oz)
1 28 or 29 oz can of tomato puree
6 oz tomato paste
2-3 cups of beef stock (or chicken or veggie)
1 cup quinoa
1 very finely diced carrot (my need to sneak veggies into dinner - omit for picky eaters)
1/2 white onion- chopped
approx 3 tbs chili powder
approx 1 tsp cumin
approx 1 tsp garlic powder (or add fresh minced garlic when browning the meat)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon corn starch
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- in your big pot brown the turkey and chopped onion. When the turkey has browned drain the fat
- add you tomato paste and blend into turkey meat
- when the tomato paste smells 'woken up' and smells ,well, tomatoier add the tomato puree
- after turkey and tomato puree are combined add spices
- add quinoa and 1 cup of stock
- in a separate bowl add your corn starch and a small bit of stock or water to make a corn starch slurry. Corn starch should all be dissolved into the liquid
- add corn starch mix
- quinoa takes approx 20 minutes to cook so simmer for at least 20 minutes
- add 1 cup of stock at a time as chili thickens
My family enjoys this with corn bread or biscuits, sour cream and cheddar cheese.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 9, 2014
wedding photos
Here are some of my favorite pictures from my "victorian peacock" wedding. Hunter green, babies breath, vintage, Oh my!
a corset and ring shot, and my awesome victorian inspired shoes. (I thought the collar arond the booties looked so victotian/vintage with a modern twist)
all my girls wore the same designer, length, and color, but picked their own style bridesmaids dress. Every looked and felt great! (Bill Levkoff dresses in "euro holly" a hunter green color)
My adorable flower girl! She has a babies breath halo/crown and a babies breath and spray rose kissing ball to carry.
The groomsmen had peacock feathers and a denro orchid boutonniere (peacock feather instead of greens) And wore tails! So vintage and handsome!
Rainy wedding day photos. These came out so sweet.
Signs I made. Please pick a seat not a side and in loving memory sign.
Some funny groomsmen pics:
Three generations. My maternal grandmother, my mother, and me!
Here's all those family photos I blogged about. We had the table
displayed at cocktail hour and in the back of the reception room.
DIY Mr and Mrs sign with craft store letters, paint, and some eye hooks.
our reception room . Ivory linens, hunter green table runners, black chiavari chairs, white floral arrangements
a close up of the centerpieces. A ball of "party time" babies breath, white spray roses, and peacock feathers in a large hurricane vase with a white dendro orchid in the vase
handcuff shot - police wedding photo (for the police officer)
Some tea set shots! (with my family's heirloom tea set)
you can't see it but my something borrowed was a family ring from my mother-in-law, attached to my bouquet)
My gown :-) Maggie Sottero "Monterey" sorry ladies, it's discontinued. But she makes some similar gown.
I wore my mom's veil to the church. We cut off the daisy chain trim and tea stained it to match my alabaster gown. (see earlier post on how to tea stain a veil)
I wore my mom's veil to the church. We cut off the daisy chain trim and tea stained it to match my alabaster gown. (see earlier post on how to tea stain a veil)
Some funny groomsmen pics:
our reception room . Ivory linens, hunter green table runners, black chiavari chairs, white floral arrangements
a close up of the centerpieces. A ball of "party time" babies breath, white spray roses, and peacock feathers in a large hurricane vase with a white dendro orchid in the vase
Some tea set shots! (with my family's heirloom tea set)
This ring was my something old (above) - my great-great-grandmother's engagement ring!
Something blue was my ring
Something new was my dress/shoes
Thursday, May 29, 2014
From MISS to MRS! Changing my last name
Hello there! So much has happened since my last blog post!
1. We bought a house!!!
2. We got married!!!
3. We got a dog!!!
4. Aren't 1-3 enough?! lol
More on all of that later though. For now: here is my journey through changing my name. Which IS GREAAAT because right now I sigh everything Michelle DiFalco-Velthuizen. Yeah. It's a blast...
First things first!
STEP 1 Marriage License
Get a certified copy of your marriage license from your town clerk's office. There may be a small fee ($20ish) The certified copy has a raised seal on it.
STEP 2 Social Security Card
Bring your marriage license and this form to your local social security office. (just print page #5) Along with your valid drivers license (I brought my passport too, just in case)
GO THERE IN PERSON. Find your local office here. Do not mail the forms as you will get them back. They need to see your actual driver's license (not a photocopy that I tried to send) And unless you feel comfortable mailing your license, in person it is!
I have to say I got there at opening time and it took about 20 minutes including a 10 minute wait. They check your stuff and give it all right back. They mail your new card to you in about 2 weeks. Easy as pie! FYI it is a new card with your new name but you keep your original S.S. number (thank goodness!)
Here is a link for more details: click here
STEP 3 New License
The dreaded DMV. I am still in this process as I moved and changed my name... so I have postponed doing this task. But this is what you need to do:
Bring you current license or ID card, a change of name request form, and your marriage license with you. And a check because it costs $30. I got lucky and my license expires this year so I think I only have to pay the $75 renewal and not the $30 on top of that... but I will let you all know.
*Update: I only had to pay $70 to renew my license! I changed my name and address and renewed it in only about 30 minutes! If you bring your passport or birth certificate you can get a verified license for (i believe) $30 more. Apparently in the next few years you will need either a verified license or a passport to fly EVEN domestically. So if i had know I would have brought my passport with me and bit the bullet.
I was in and out in 30 minutes. I went at 11:30 and beat the lunch rush!!! :-) Easy and pain free - who would have thought?!
STEP 4 Passport
First you will need a new photo. GO TO AAA. It only costs $12 (even if you are NOT a member) and they will retake it a few times if the first try comes out horribly! And they are so so nice there!
The new passport: It will cost $110 to change your passport (because you are essentially renewing it) UNLESS you got year passport within one year of changing your name. Then it is free. If you didn't have one before this, it might be a little more. You need to fill out a DS-82 and provide a certified copy of your marriage license, a photo, your most recent passport, and a check. It takes about 4-6 weeks to get your new passport. Call your town clerk's office to see how/where to submit your passport stuff or look it up here.
To fill out your DS-82 try this link
STEP 5 The rest of your life... lol
Change everything else! lol.
Suggestions:
Bank Accounts (you have to go in for that one- bring your ID, Marriage License
and new Social Security Card *note: I only needed my marriage license
for my bank)
Credit Cards (i just called mine and verified myself, and they sent me new ones)
Pay role at work
Maybe a new email address (mine had my maiden name in it)
Life insurance policies (update your name and the beneficiary)
Investments
Best of luck to anyone changing their name and congratulations on getting married!
1. We bought a house!!!
2. We got married!!!
3. We got a dog!!!
4. Aren't 1-3 enough?! lol
More on all of that later though. For now: here is my journey through changing my name. Which IS GREAAAT because right now I sigh everything Michelle DiFalco-Velthuizen. Yeah. It's a blast...
STEP 1 Marriage License
Get a certified copy of your marriage license from your town clerk's office. There may be a small fee ($20ish) The certified copy has a raised seal on it.
STEP 2 Social Security Card
Bring your marriage license and this form to your local social security office. (just print page #5) Along with your valid drivers license (I brought my passport too, just in case)
GO THERE IN PERSON. Find your local office here. Do not mail the forms as you will get them back. They need to see your actual driver's license (not a photocopy that I tried to send) And unless you feel comfortable mailing your license, in person it is!
I have to say I got there at opening time and it took about 20 minutes including a 10 minute wait. They check your stuff and give it all right back. They mail your new card to you in about 2 weeks. Easy as pie! FYI it is a new card with your new name but you keep your original S.S. number (thank goodness!)
Here is a link for more details: click here
STEP 3 New License
The dreaded DMV. I am still in this process as I moved and changed my name... so I have postponed doing this task. But this is what you need to do:
Bring you current license or ID card, a change of name request form, and your marriage license with you. And a check because it costs $30. I got lucky and my license expires this year so I think I only have to pay the $75 renewal and not the $30 on top of that... but I will let you all know.
*Update: I only had to pay $70 to renew my license! I changed my name and address and renewed it in only about 30 minutes! If you bring your passport or birth certificate you can get a verified license for (i believe) $30 more. Apparently in the next few years you will need either a verified license or a passport to fly EVEN domestically. So if i had know I would have brought my passport with me and bit the bullet.
I was in and out in 30 minutes. I went at 11:30 and beat the lunch rush!!! :-) Easy and pain free - who would have thought?!
STEP 4 Passport
First you will need a new photo. GO TO AAA. It only costs $12 (even if you are NOT a member) and they will retake it a few times if the first try comes out horribly! And they are so so nice there!
The new passport: It will cost $110 to change your passport (because you are essentially renewing it) UNLESS you got year passport within one year of changing your name. Then it is free. If you didn't have one before this, it might be a little more. You need to fill out a DS-82 and provide a certified copy of your marriage license, a photo, your most recent passport, and a check. It takes about 4-6 weeks to get your new passport. Call your town clerk's office to see how/where to submit your passport stuff or look it up here.
To fill out your DS-82 try this link
STEP 5 The rest of your life... lol
Change everything else! lol.
Suggestions:
Bank Accounts (you have to go in for that one- bring your ID, Marriage License
and new Social Security Card *note: I only needed my marriage license
for my bank)
Credit Cards (i just called mine and verified myself, and they sent me new ones)
Pay role at work
Maybe a new email address (mine had my maiden name in it)
Life insurance policies (update your name and the beneficiary)
Investments
Best of luck to anyone changing their name and congratulations on getting married!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
bridesmaids hair clips
So I made these cute peacock hair clips for my bridesmaids to wear. Even though some of them aren't crazy about the idea... lol... I told them they have to wear them for the ceremony and pictures. ;-)
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