Category: Dish-y Tips

101 Spring Cleaning Tips

It’s the time of year for spring cleaning again. Here are 101 Spring Cleaning Tips to help you up your cleaning game. It's the time of year for spring cleaning. Here are 101 Spring Cleaning Tips to help you up your cleaning game.This list of tips is split into helpful categories based on the area of the home to be cleaned.

Are you looking for ideas using common or natural household items in your spring cleaning? Maybe you need tips for getting the job done more efficiently or finding the spots that are commonly forgotten. You’ll even find ideas for getting more organized. This complete spring cleaning list has you covered. Take a look and find ways to help you get started and tackle the tasks in a whole new way.

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101 Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

  1. Don’t forget to clean the inside of your dishwasher. It can harbor lots of nasty bacteria. Dishwasher Magic is a great product for cleaning the inside of your dishwasher.
  2. After cleaning your sink apply a few drops of mineral oil to a towel and rub into the sink. It will prevent water from building up which can create mold.
  3. Clean the garbage disposal with lemons, salt and ice cubes. Or you can buy these.
  4. To clean a glass range, use this product. It’s a lifesaver. Simply apply to glass range, let sit for 10-15 minutes and then buff clean with a microfiber cloth.

  1. To avoid burnt on stains in the first place on your glass range, clean up a spill immediately with a damp cloth.
  2. To clean stainless steel appliances use these wipes. They don’t leave streaks and are safer for stainless steel than most cleaning products.
  3. Always wipe stainless steel in the direction of the grain. Take a close look at your appliance. You should be able to tell the direction.
  4. Don’t forget to clean out the inside of your trash cans. Just because you put liners in them doesn’t mean they don’t have gross bacteria lurking in them. Take them outside and pour some Dawn dish soap inside. Then fill with a garden hose and let sit. You may have to scrub to get stubborn stains out. Then rinse clean and air dry.
  5. Clean small stainless steel appliances like a toaster oven or coffee maker with a damp sponge and a little cream of tartar.
  6. Have a half-filled garbage bag? Pull it out of the garbage can and use it to throw out old food from the fridge. This way you don’t fill up a bag unnecessarily and it doesn’t smell up the house.
  7. If you’ve ever burnt something you’re cooking and the odor is lingering, take an oven safe dish and add a few drops of vanilla extract. Place in a 300 degree oven for 2 hours. The burnt smell will disappear, and your house will smell like baked goods!
  8. If you’re like me, I’ve always just put the whole blender in the dishwasher never taking it apart. Imagine to my horror what it looked like when I did! It’s important to take the bottom piece and the blade out. Gunk builds up in between the seal. Just toss in the dishwasher to clean.
  9. Do you have cooking pans with burnt on greasy grossness? Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap and 1 to 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the pan and let sit for about ten minutes. Take a sponge and get to scrubbing! Rinse and the stains disappear like magic.
  10. Clean a regular coffee maker with equal parts water and vinegar. Add into the water tank and run through. Then run through 3 more times with just water.
  11. You can also clean out hard water stains from the glass carafe by mixing 1 cup white distilled vinegar with ½ cup salt and the juice of a lemon. Add a handful of ice cubes. Swirl the mixture around in the carafe for a minute and rinse clean.
  12. Coffee and tea often leave stains on the bottom of coffee cups (just think what it does to your teeth!). Rinse your mug with hot water. Add a small amount of salt and a small drop of Dawn dish soap to a damp cloth. Rub the mug until the stain disappears and rinse.

  1. Clean a coffee or spice grinder with stale bread. Tear up the bread into pieces and then grind. The bits will stick to the bread which you can then dump out and throw away.
  1. Do you have burn stains in the metal part of your crock pot? Spray the metal part with oven cleaner and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Wipe clean and rinse.
  2. Clean and freshen your microwave with a steamy mix of water, citrus and vinegar: Mix together ¼ cup water, ¼ cup vinegar and a couple tablespoons of lemon juice. Saturate a washcloth and place it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Let the washcloth sit in the microwave for another 2 minutes. The steam created will loosen stuck-on food so you can wipe it clean. Your microwave will be left smelling fresh as new!
  3. Get hard to remove baked on stains from your muffin tins by soaking the pans in hot water with a dryer sheet for a few hours. The stains will wipe right off.
  4. Clean rust from old loaf pans by cutting a potato in half. Apply dish soap to the cut end of the potato and scrub the loaf pan. Rust stains will disappear!
  5. Clean your stainless steel sinks by applying baking soda. Scrub with a sponge. Rinse with vinegar. Scrub again with a sponge. Take a lemon or orange peel and scrub the sink against the grain of the stainless steel. Finally, buff with a paper towel and a few drops of olive oil.
  6. You can clean out the inside of your toaster with a small paintbrush or toothbrush. Just make sure the toaster is unplugged.
  7. Remove mineral deposits from the water dispenser area of the refrigerator by soaking a washcloth with equal parts hot water and white distilled vinegar. Set the washcloth in the dispenser and soak for 5 minutes, then wipe clean.
  8. If your glass oven door is covered with grimy, baked-on spatters, make a paste with baking soda and hot water. Apply to the glass, and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Using a scouring pad, scrub in circles until the grime is removed from the glass. Wipe clean with a wet washcloth. For tough spots, scrape with a razor blade. Enjoy being able to see into your oven again!
  9. If your cast iron skillet needs a good deep cleaning (since you can’t use soap!), scrub in a little vegetable oil and salt with a tough-bristled brush.
  10. Mix white distilled vinegar with some salt to polish tarnished copper cookware or serveware.
  11. If your blender is made from thick plastic instead of glass (like Michelle’s Ninja Professional Blender), make it shine like glass by rubbing a super thin layer of olive oil all over the surface after a good cleaning.

Spring Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom

  1. If you have glass shower doors follow this tip our builder told me when we built our house. Treat the glass with Rain-X to repel water and keep the glass clean.
  2. Do not use bleach tabs in the back of your toilet. I’ve had a plumber to my house several times and he told me they break down the plastic pieces of your toilet.
  3. Is your shower head spraying every direction but down? Take a large Ziploc bag and fill it with vinegar. Submerge the shower head in the vinegar and tie the bag on to the nozzle. Leave to soak overnight. Remove the bag in the morning and let hot water run for a few minutes to clear the shower head of the vinegar.
  4. Nasty shower curtains or liners? Wash them in the washing machine with regular laundry detergent and a few towels. The towels will help scrub the curtain/liner clean.
  5. Clean the grout in your shower by dipping an old toothbrush in bleach and scrubbing. Just make sure to throw the toothbrush away. You definitely don’t want to get those confused.

  1. Did you know that a damp pumice stone is abrasive enough to remove stains without harming the porcelain of your toilet?
  2. Clean your toilet brush between each cleaning of your toilet. Add bleach and hot water to a bucket and submerge the brush for a few minutes. Pour the bleach water down the toilet and rinse the brush out with hot water.
  3. You can clean your sink drains by pouring vinegar or baking soda down them, and then flushing with hot water.
  4. Bacteria can lurk in bathroom hand towels. Replace them every few days. Wash them using the sanitizing setting on your washing machine if you have one. If you don’t have that setting, use regular bleach for whites or color-safe bleach for colors.
  5. Don’t forget to clean the ventilation fan in the bathrooms. First, flip the circuit breaker for safety. Remove the cover and soak in warm soapy water. Use your vacuum nozzle attachment or a dust buster to clean the fan blades. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and let dry. Once dry, replace the rinsed and dried cover. Don’t forget to flip the circuit breaker back.
  6. Clean your makeup brushes with baby shampoo. Run them under warm water. Then place a small amount of baby shampoo in the palm of your hand. Next, swirl the brush around in your hand. Rinse the brushes and re-shape them. Lay out on a dry cloth to dry.
  7. Remove hard water stains from your glass shower doors or bathtub by mixing 1 cup of Epsom salts, ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of liquid dish soap and applying the mixture to the dry surface working in a circular motion. You can even let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub again. Rinse clean and dry.
  8. When cleaning the bathroom, spray down all the surfaces with a disinfecting cleaner first. Allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes before wiping to help remove stubborn stains and work its magic on the lingering germs.

Spring Cleaning Tips for the Laundry Room

  1. Clean your dryer cleaner vent by removing the tray (along with its contents) and then vacuum using your hose attachment.
  2. Your iron can sometimes hold onto residue from the clothes you’ve ironed. You can buy a cleaning product to remove it, or you can try the salt method. Take a piece of paper or old towel and sprinkle salt on it. Then (using a hot iron) iron over the salt several times. Let the iron cool and wipe clean.
  3. Lint can accumulate in the dryer vent hose. Remove it with an extendable duster or vacuum it out with the crevice attachment.
  4. Clean flip flops by sticking them in the dishwasher. Just make sure to turn off the heated drying cycle.
  5. Club soda will remove almost any stain. I bartended in a restaurant and khakis were part of our uniform. Anytime I spilled red wine on them I just sprayed down a towel with club soda and applied to the stain. Once you wash the item the stain is gone.
  6. Clean your washing machine. It seems like an oxymoron but it’s necessary. Some washing machines have a tub clean cycle. If not, fill the tub with hot water and add two cups of vinegar. Let sit one hour. Then turn the machine back on and cycle through all the way. Fill the tub up yet again and add two cups of bleach. Let sit one hour. Turn the machine on and cycle through all the way again.
  7. Clean blood stains out of clothing by rubbing salt on it and then washing normally.

Spring Cleaning Tips for the Living Room

  1. Nasty carpet stain? Mix 1 part Dawn dish soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide. Apply to stain and allow to sit for a few minutes. Scrub and blot. The stain will disappear.
  2. If you’re like me, you may have candles sitting out that you don’t burn. They can collect dust. Wipe them clean with an old pair of pantyhose.
  3. Believe it or not, dust builds up on light bulbs, as well. Unscrew the light bulb, and wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth.
  4. To clean the tracks of your windows or sliding glass doors, dip a Q-tip in white vinegar and run it along the track.
  5. Dust lamp shades with a lint roller.
  6. Pesky dog or cat hair tumble weeds? I went old school and bought myself a dustbuster for spot cleaning.
  7. Cloudy glass vases can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Add a few drops in the top of the vase and swirl around. Pour out the alcohol and let air dry. Simple as that!
  8. Dust the top of ceiling fans with a dryer sheet secured around a clean extension rod paint roller.
  9. When sweeping out of your fireplace, sprinkle some used coffee grounds in to minimize dry ashes from circulating into the air.
  10. Clean leather furniture with a mix of ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup vinegar and 10 drops of any citrus essential oil. As always, test on a small area first. Then apply to a rag and work in circular motion to apply to the leather. Wipe dry with a clean towel.
  11. Cleaning the walls becomes a little easier using a Swiffer. Either use the damp cleaning cloths designed for the cleaning head, or simply attach a damp, soapy cloth.
  12. Baseboards and molding with intricate patterns can be difficult to get really clean with only a sponge or cloth. Use a slightly damp soft-bristled brush to scrub away sticky dust for all the grooves, then wipe clean with your cloth.
  13. Dust the blinds easily using an old pair of cotton gloves or a sock. Run your fingers over each rung to wipe the dust away.
  14. A soft-bristled paint brush can be used to gently brush dust out of the corners of delicate picture frames.
  15. Clean out narrow glass vases with a mixture of white distilled vinegar, rice and lemon juice. Place your hand over the open end and shake vigorously to scrub away water stains on the inside.

Even More Spring Cleaning Ideas

  1. Use microfiber cloths vs. paper towels. They don’t leave behind streaks and are better for the environment and your wallet. These come in a variety of colors.
  2. Disinfect your sponges by wetting them, squeezing out the excess water and nuking them in the microwave for 60 seconds.
  3. Magic Erasers work on virtually everything. I use them to clean marks off walls, to clean the baseboards and to scrub the tubs, showers and sinks.
  4. Start cleaning from the top down. Start in the highest part of your house and work your way down but…
  5. Focus on one particular task vs. one particular room. For example, start with dusting and begin upstairs. Work your way to the lowest level dusting only. Then move back up to the top and move to the next task. Much quicker and more walking=more exercise for you!
  6. Keep cleaning supplies in a shoe holder in an out of eyesight room. It helps to keep you organized with all supplies in one place.
  7. Make the time go by quicker by enlisting a friend or family member to help.
  8. If you can’t find someone to help you, listen to music. Choose something with an up tempo or beat and your cleaning will go much more quickly.
  9. Believe it or not, your mattresses need to be freshened up. Add 1 cup of baking soda and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Mix well. Then take a mesh strainer and sprinkle over your mattress. Allow the mixture to sit for one hour and then vacuum.
  10. If you have any brass in your home (family heirlooms, kitchen accessories, etc.) clean them using half a lemon and a teaspoon of baking soda. Mix into a paste and buff into the brass. Rinse and wipe clean.
  11. Clean your granite countertop with a 50:50 solution of warm water and 91% isopropyl alcohol. Mix in a spray bottle and let sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Then rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
  12. Remove mold from plastic water bottles by filling the bottle up ⅔ of the way with hot water and a splash of bleach. Put the lid on and shake. Then let sit for a few hours. Simply rinse out and run through the dishwasher. Good as new!
  13. Scuff marks on linoleum or tile floor? Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and rub over the mark. It will lift right up.
  14. Don’t neglect your air vents. Carefully, remove the vent plate. Vacuum out the duct. Wipe around the vent with a damp sponge
  15. Your mattresses hold dust mites, skin, etc. Vacuum the mattress. Then spray a mix of equal parts of hot water and vinegar. Allow to dry and good as new!
  16. Dehumidifiers are great during the winter months. Take it apart. Add vinegar to the base and the tank. Then use an old toothbrush to clean around the small pieces of the machine. Then rinse with hot water several times.
  17. People forget their pillows. Simply clean them by sticking two in the washing machine. Adding two keeps the machine balanced.
  18. Clean your rings with a baking soda and water paste. Simply use an old toothbrush to apply and scrub.
  19. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a new air filter when you replace the old one. The essential oil will permeate throughout your house.
  20. Have a funky cooking odor in your house? Simmer a pot of water with a few drops of cinnamon or clove essential oil. The smell will disappear.
  21. Wipe your computer monitor clean with equal parts distilled water and vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle, spray on a microfiber cloth and wipe your screen down.
  22. Unclog slow drains by mixing ¼ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of salt and ¼ cup of cream of tartar. Shake together in a small jar. Sprinkle half the mixture down the drain followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Allow the mixture to sit for at least an hour and then rinse with cool water. Your drain should be free of debris.
  23. If your drain is still slow, try pouring one cup of baking soda down the drain followed by one cup of vinegar. The bubbles created should attack and clear any debris.
  24. Glitter can be especially difficult to remove. You can easily pick it up from floors and carpet by taking a ball of Play-Doh and rolling it over the mess.
  25. Clean plastic toys by running through the dishwasher with ½ cup of vinegar.
  26. Your car dashboard can seem to hold on to every piece of hair and dust. Simply wipe with a coffee filter to remove dust and debris.
  27. Yoga/Pilates mats can harbor bacteria if not cleaned properly. Add distilled water to a squirt bottle. Add 2 drops of tea tree oil and 1 drop of lavender oil. Spray down a down and wipe your mat clean.

  1. My garage doors are always open it seems. Old leaves blow in during the fall and seem to build up without my knowledge. Move your cars out and use a large push broom to make a pile. Then using gloves (those hands are delicate!) put them into trash bags.
  2. Speaking of the garage, we live in a wooded area with spiders. They love to create webs all across my garage. I purchased one of these for those webs way up high.
  3. You can also use Rain-X Glass Treatment on the exterior of your windows after a thorough cleaning to keep them sparkling longer throughout the year.
  4. Need to soak your faucets with white vinegar to remove lime buildup? Put the vinegar on your rag and wrap it around the faucet, securing it with an old hair clip. Let it sit for up to an hour until the stains wipe away easily.
  5. A product like Quick Shine Floor Finish is a great alternative to refinishing floors. Apply to clean floors and dry for 30 minutes, and your hardwood or laminate will shine like new!

Spring Cleaning Organization Tips

  1. The easiest way to keep a pantry clear of old items? Organize it. The Container Store sells some great items to keep your pantry uniform. Keep all canned goods together. I even organize those by what the item is and keep those together. It’s much easier to go right to the sauces to see if any are past their expiration date.
  2. Throughout the day, I pick up items around the house that need to go upstairs. I place them at the base of the stairs until the end of the day and take them all up at once.

  1. Closets need spring cleaning, too! I go through section by section (assuming they haven’t all melded into one!) and take out anything I haven’t worn/used in over a year. I put everything into three piles. Donate, sell (re-sale boutiques are hit or miss but you can try), and throw out.
  2. Then I organize everything into its proper section. Tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shirts, pants, dresses, shorts, etc. Then I put like colors together. Nothing feels better than looking at an organized closet!
  3. The most annoying part of my house? The infamous junk drawer. It seems like everything my husband doesn’t know what to do with ends up in the junk drawer. I take every single thing out and put like items together. I also throw out things I don’t need. I’m looking at you, old ketchup packets! I purchased drawer organizers like these from The Container Store.
  4. When in doubt…alphabetize! I do this with my spices, air fresheners, etc. Helps to keep them handy and easy to grab.

5 Reasons I Started Meditating and So Should You

Honesty time. I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. They set us up for failure. Every year, it seems people are focused on changing their body physically. I try to focus on fitness throughout the year, but I’ve never really sat down to think about what I need to be doing for myself mentally. As women, we tend to focus on ourselves last which can be downright detrimental to our health. I’m not immune to this taking care of everyone else before I take care of me. It causes me terrible stress and anxiety. When I feel this way I start to lash out at others.

Recently, I came across Eat Pray Love on Bravo. If you aren’t aware, it stars Julia Roberts as a woman going through severe emotional trauma after getting divorced. She decides to take a year long sabbatical to travel the world and find herself. She spends 3 months in India working on her spirituality by meditating. I was curious about meditating as I tend not to be able to control my thoughts—read anxiety. I decided I would look for a meditation app and give it a try.

 

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Here are my top 5 reasons why I have began meditating and so should you.

It gives me 20 minutes to myself. As women, we tend to put ourselves last. I’m not a mother to children, but I do have an aging parent and in-laws, a husband, friends and dogs. A variety of people who need something from me. You get the point. Some days I get through the day, and I feel like I haven’t done one thing for myself. Meditation forces you take 20 minutes of alone, quiet time to think about your mind and body.

It forces you to look at how your thoughts, positive or negative, have a cause and effect. Look at thoughts as a seed. If you plant a seed, a flower will grow. If you plant a positive thought (the cause), you will have a positive outcome (the effect). The same goes for negative thoughts. Once you plant that negative thought, only negative effects can come out of it. It all starts and ends with your one thought. Meditation teaches you that you have the power to choose.

 

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It’s a great way to begin and end each day with positivity. How many of us wake up in the morning dreading what we have to do that day? I know I do. If you begin your morning with meditation, you’re forced to start out with positive thoughts, positive seeds. It gives you the mental capacity to get through the workout or meeting you’re dreading. At the end of most days, I’m exhausted. Mentally and physically. Meditating before bed helps to control your central nervous system which helps you relax. Relaxing means you’re able to fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

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It helps me control my emotions throughout the day. I have a tendency to spiral out of control in my own head. When I get emotional or stressed, I tend to lash out at those closest to me. I don’t like it at all, and am working to control it. When I start to feel annoyed and before I lash out, I focus on why. Thinking before reacting. I’m a very reactionary person. Forcing myself to think first helps me to not be ruled by emotion.

It eases my anxiety both physically and mentally. If you’ve never dealt with anxiety before, you’re lucky. It’s very hard to understand if you’ve never experienced it. I get anxiety about EVERYTHING. It’s crazy. I worry about things like a plane crashing into our house and then a fire starting and then the dogs dying and then Austin being upset. See how quickly that spiraled out of control? That’s an every day thing for me. Meditation focuses on breathing along with controlling your thoughts. Anxiety takes a physical toll on the body, as well as mentally. It helps calm me and get my heart rate under control. I’m not sure I ever get rid of having anxiety, but with meditation I can help to control how far I let it go.

 

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Meditating certainly won’t change what is going on in your life, but it will help you deal with the things in life causing you stress. Take 20 minutes out of your day to check it out.

Love,

Your Resident Mental Basketcase ; )

Renee

 

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Dish-y Author Renee tells all about how meditation has helped her to reel in time for herself on a daily basis and keep excessive anxiety under control.

13 Rules to Live By When Hosting Thanksgiving

It can be a little daunting hosting Thanksgiving at your home. Will the turkey explode into a dried mess when you cut into it? Will your drunk uncle go off on a tangent about those Starbucks cups? Will people like the new chef-y recipe you came up with for stuffing stuffed artichokes? I have now hosted Thanksgiving in my home for the last three years. Here are a few rules to live by to make sure you end the day with your sanity and everything turns out beautifully.
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Determine Your Menu Well in Advance

First, brainstorm your menu. If you love to cook, (I hope you do! You’re hosting!) Thanksgiving is your Super Bowl. Many of us plan the menu months in advance, and more than likely, change the menu several times. With that being said, be flexible with changing it, if need be. Oh, your cousin who doesn’t eat meat is now coming? No problem! Add another veggie side dish. Always plan on extra, last-minute guests.

Have a Plan of Action for the Week of Thanksgiving

Have your grocery list ready to go the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Get your groceries on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Cut and prep veggies on Tuesday. Make your side dishes and pies on Wednesday. I make my dishes up until the point of needing baked. Then I refrigerate until Thursday.

Have a Written Plan of Action for the Day of Thanksgiving

I try to work backwards from the time I’d like to have dinner served. So, if I’m planning on serving dinner at 2pm, I need to work backwards to determine what time to get up, prepare the turkey and cook it. In a 325°F oven cooking times varies based on the weight of your bird.

  • An 8-12 pound turkey takes about 3-4 hours
  • 12 to 16 pound turkey takes about 4 hours
  • A 16-20 pound turkey takes about 5 hours
  • A 20 to 26 pound turkey takes 6 hours or more

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Remember, you should let your turkey rest for an hour at room temperature before roasting. Roast at 475°F for 30 minutes. Then turn the oven down to 350°F for the remaining time. If the skin is browning too quickly, simply cover it in foil. Should also let your turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving. The temperature of the turkey should be around 155°F, and no higher than 165°F. To take the temperature, place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.

Invest in Space Saving Gadgets

I am lucky enough to have a double oven. With that being said, the turkey takes up one all on it’s own. I buy a 24 pound turkey, and yes, I’m crazy. So, there is no way all the side dishes can fit in the other oven without a little maneuvering. I found these handy dandy gadgets at Williams-Sonoma, and they are a life saver. They create vertical racks so that all your dishes fit.

Use Post-It Notes to Organize Cookware

If you want to use your favorite Rachel Ray dish for the green bean casserole, stick a Post-It Note in it that says green bean casserole. It just helps to visualize and keep you on track while cooking.

Have a Space for Guests to Hang Out

I know everyone loves to hang out in the kitchen. It’s the gathering place, and I get why. However, on Thanksgiving day, put your apps and snacks in a different room—the dining room, the living room, anywhere but your kitchen where you’re working. There is nothing worse than being stressed about the dinner, and having too many people in the kitchen seeing you cry into your lumpy gravy with your glass of Pinot Noir.

Create a Signature Cocktail

If you’re worried about your uncle getting too drunk before dinner, simply create a signature cocktail where you control the amount of alcohol guests consume. I usually create a sangria with a little wine, a little orange liqueur and club soda. This keeps guests out of the mixed drinks and straight up wine. It doesn’t keep me out of the Pinot Noir, but I’m hosting. I make the rules.

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Stick to What You Know

In my opinion, Thanksgiving isn’t the time to get crazy creative with your food. Risk taking is great. Just do it on a weeknight or well in advance of the big day. Don’t try to get too chef-y with your food. On Thanksgiving, most people are big on tradition. Stick to the basics. This will help alleviate stress when something new doesn’t turn out.

Always Have Snacks for Guests to Munch On

I always put out a veggie tray and a protein of some sort. Shrimp are a great option. The veggies will help fill them up with fiber and the protein will help keep hunger at bay. Stay away from serving bread. This fills the stomach, and you want them eating your perfectly cooked turkey and sumptuous side dishes.

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Don’t Focus too Much on Decor

If you’re hosting, the food is the star of your Super Thanksgiving Bowl—not the decor. Focus on the food. If you have a particularly creative or craft friend or spouse enlist their help. After all, most people care about the 3 F’s on Thanksgiving—food, family and football.

Don’t Be Afraid to Cheat Where You Can

Go ahead and use pre-made pie crust. It’s a time saver, and most of the time people only notice what is inside the crust anyway. I often buy frozen rolls. Again, it’s a time saver and no one really notices the difference.

Keep Track of Your Menu from Year-to-Year

Write down your full menu in a journal each year along with notes touching on what worked and what didn’t. I noticed after the first year, no one ate the sweet potatoes or pecan pie. So, not I don’t make a sweet potato side dish, and only serve pumpkin pie. This cuts down on waste, and helps with your planning.

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Enjoy the Moment

Remember, this is your Super Bowl. You’ve prepared for the big day months in advance. Take a minute to step back, look at your surroundings, listen to your screaming fans (your family) and just enjoy the moment. You did it! You hosted Thanksgiving without any major issues, and you deserve to find happiness in it.

9 Traits of Kick-Ass Friendships

Dish-y was born out of a friendship. Michelle and I have been friends for close to 18 years now. Wow, we’re old. In all seriousness, our friendship means a lot to us and we’ve learned a few lessons along the way. I’ve compiled a list of 9 characteristics that all kick-ass friendships have.

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships grow as each person does.

Life changes quickly. One minute you’re getting your driver’s license and the next minute you’re getting married. Good friendships should grow over time.

They should mature as each friend’s life changes. Maybe you don’t feel the need to be married or have kids but your best friend does. Just because you’re both at different places in your life doesn’t mean you can’t maintain a friendship.

Sure it’s going to be different but if everything stayed the same that would be pretty boring, right?

 

  1. Kick-ass  friendships aren’t formed out of convenience.

We’ve all been there. You start a new job and meet a super cool chick and you two start to commiserate at work about the horrible smells of people’s lunch or your co-workers incessant smacking of their food.

Sure, these kinds of friendships are great. It’s always nice to have someone you can rely on in the office. However, what sometimes happens is that when one person leaves the job the friendship falls apart. Kick-ass friendships sometimes aren’t convenient. It can be downright inconvenient to see a friend that moved to a different city, however, you have to make those friendships worth it.

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships can withstand periods of inactivity.

Michelle and I became friends in high school (if you’re good at math here is where you put together how old we are…I’ll keep my fingers crossed you’re like me and math isn’t your strong suit). College kept us separated because Michelle chose to attend IU and I chose to attend Ball State.

We each made the choice that was right for us. During this period we didn’t see each other a ton but we worked it out to see each other sometimes. After college, Michelle made the move to Nashville, TN. During that time we fell out of touch.

In fact, I fell out of touch with a lot of people. I had a lot of personal tragedy during that time and looking back was probably struggling more than I realized. Friendships and relationships suffered.

I was selfish but at the time all I could see was my own struggle.

At some point it hit me…I needed to get back in touch with Michelle and some of the others that I let slip away.

During that first reunion it was like nothing had changed except everything had changed. We both had been through so much and really could have used each other during those times. When we came back together it was like it had only been a day that had passed.

 

Michelle and Renee's Reunion

Michelle and Renee’s Reunion

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships don’t end because someone meets a guy.

Knowing a friend for close to 18 years means you can remember every guy she dated or had a crush on. Sorry, Austin and Rob…yes, we dated other guys before marrying you two.

I cannot remember a time during those 18 years where we ever let a guy come between us. Even when we had boyfriends we made time for each other. Now that we’re married we make time for each other!

That should never change because you have a significant other. I’m not saying your friend should take priority over your husband but showing her that she is still important to you goes a long way. Guys come and go (clearly) but your girlfriend is always there for you. Possibly with shots or wine if need be.

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships remember and celebrate important life events.

A kick-ass friendship should always celebrate life’s important events. Michelle and I were in each other’s weddings. We know each other’s birthdays. I may sometimes need to be reminded of her son’s birthday but I at least always ask.

Have you heard the saying “It’s the little things in life”? Well, the same holds true for friendships. Sending a card to cheer a friend up, texting her happy birthday, being there when a family member passes away are all things good friends do.

And guess what? They don’t involve much money. Telling a friend you’re lucky to have her once in a while is a great reminder of why you two are friends in the first place.

 

  1. Good friendships know that they are for a lifetime.

What I mean by this is simple. If you know going into something that it’s going to be a lifelong endeavor you work harder to maintain it. Look at marriage…if you go into it thinking this is forever, the only marriage I will ever have you are more likely to try and resolve misunderstandings.

If you ever have doubts about a friend in the beginning or they don’t show you how kick-ass they are at being your friend straight out of the gate then don’t waste your time because it will only get worse as life goes on.

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships can withstand misunderstandings.

In all the years I have known Michelle I don’t recall us ever having a misunderstanding. That’s not to say there hasn’t been one but if I can’t remember it then it must not be that big of a deal, right?

Look, disagreements, fights, whatever you want to call them happen sometimes in life. We can’t all agree 100% of the time. Again, if we did life would be so boring. However, when you do have a disagreement with a friend it’s important to know how to handle it.

 

Cat Fight

Cat Fight

 

If the situation is heated or people have been drinking it’s not the time to discuss a disagreement. Nothing gets accomplished. Take a step back and discuss it at a later time when everyone has had time to clear their head and really think about things. Address the argument head on and as adults.

Ignoring it only leads to bigger problems down the road. Explain your point but don’t argue. Apologize when necessary.

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships know how and when to apologize.

Okay, so you’ve a minor or even major disagreement with your friend. A kick-ass friend knows when it’s necessary to apologize. Even if you don’t think you’re wrong sometimes an apology is necessary.

I will repeat…even if you don’t think you’re wrong sometimes an apology is necessary.

If you’re going to apologize call your friend on the phone or speak face to face. Do not send a text or an email. It’s the chicken shit way out (for lack of a better term). Do not ever say “I’m sorry if you felt…”. No, do not say that. I’ve had this conversation with my husband before.

That is not how you phrase an apology because you’re placing the blame back on the friend for how she felt. Not on what you said or did.

I’m a big believer in remembering little things about your friends. Maybe she likes a certain kind of candy bar, drink at Starbucks or a flower. Offer the sincere apology with one of those little things that you know your friend likes. It shows you’re adult enough to apologize and a good friend who listens when she speaks.

 

Life-of-Pix-free-stock-photos-roses-bouquet-pink-sweet-Sarah-Babineau

Favorite Flower

 

 

  1. Kick-ass friendships celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

Kick-ass friendships celebrate each person’s accomplishments.

There is no place for jealousy in a kick-ass friendship.

Did your friend get promoted yet again and you’re still stuck in a job you hate? A. You’re two different people. Meaning, you’re always going to be at different places in life. Just because she got promoted doesn’t mean you have to be doing stellar in your career. And B. If you’re unhappy about part of your life, you need to do something about it.

Take a risk.

Look for a job you love. Do things that will make you happy.

It’s one thing to vent your frustrations to your friend, however, if you’re always venting about the same thing it’s time to make a change. Be truly proud of your friends for their accomplishments because more than likely they’re proud of you, too!

 

In my 34 years of life on this planet I have learned that my personal relationships are the things that make me the happiest.

Life is all about the relationships you cultivate.

Here’s to another 18-plus years of friendship to Michelle and I.

And I wish that for each of you, too! Go kick ass in your friendships today!

 

 

8 Habits You Need to Focus On to Take You from Effectiveness to Greatness

Here at Dish-y we think being your best self is important. We’re constantly striving to better ourselves. In doing so we’ve noticed some habits that we as a people are slowing losing and why they’re important in our daily lives. Listed are 8 habits you need to focus on to take you from effectiveness to greatness.

1. Greeting People with Pleasantries-Do you walk right past your co-workers without saying “Good Morning”? Do you greet the Starbucks barista with a “Good Afternoon”? People like to feel like you notice them. When you walk up to the counter to order your latte and just spit out your order it makes the barista feel like you think you’re better than them and less likely to make your drink correctly.

 

Greet co-workers with a good morning!

Greet co-workers with a good morning!

 

2. Arriving on Time-Let me just say…I HATE being late. It drives me crazy and yet I’m married to a perpetually late man. I have friends who couldn’t make it on time to their own funeral. However, when you’re to an appointment it comes across as disrespectful, disorganized and unreliable even if you’re not. When you’re habitually late to meet your friends it say you don’t respect their time. I mean, don’t we all have crazy lives and lots on our plate? Sure, we do but lots of people still show up on time.

3. Handwritten Thank You Cards-Thank You cards aren’t just for wedding and baby shower gifts. I think people seem to have forgotten that in recent years. Have you had someone go above and beyond for you at work? If so, thank that person with a handwritten thank you card. You can show your appreciation for the time they’ve given you by giving them some time of your own.

 

Send Handwritten Thank You Cards

Send Handwritten Thank You Cards

 

4. Eating Dinner Together-I think maybe I should re-phrase this to say…eating dinner together without any interruptions such as television, phones or computers. In a time when we’re all available 24/7 it can be easy to get caught up in checking your emails while eating dinner. Family is the most important thing we have in this short life. Do you really want to spend your time on your email or spending time with your family?

5. Using Proper Grammar-In the digital age of texting and emails, we’ve lost our sense of the proper use of the English language. Sure, abbreviating words and phrases to “YAW” (You Are Welcome) or “BTW” (By the Way) is quick and easy in a text message, however, they have no place in a business email. When you show attention to detail by using proper grammar, it tells your employer you will show attention to all of your work.

 

Use Proper Grammar

Use Proper Grammar

 

6. Welcoming New Neighbors to the Neighborhood-Typically, when a new neighbor moves into the neighborhood you should, at the very least, knock on the door and introduce yourself. I was shocked when we moved last June. We received pies, bottles of wine and cards on our doorstep. Our previous neighbors never once stopped by, waved or ever brought over food! Now, I like to meet the new neighbors first and then put together a basket based on my guess of their likes.

7. Please and Thank You-It sounds silly but you can never use please and thank you too much. You should be using please and thank you in your day-to-day conversations with your spouse or parent. Using these words shows respect for the person to whom you’re speaking.

8. Actually Speaking to Your Friends-I’m guilty of this habit. I admit. All too often, I will text a friend rather than picking up the phone and calling. It’s true there are certain times when texting is more appropriate…while you’re at work, for example. If you’re intent is to catch up with a friend then pick up the phone and call them!

Choose one of these 8 habits each day you’ll be on your way from effectivess to greatness in no time!

 

 

Mini Peep Pies

Mini Peep Pies

2 packages of 6 mini graham cracker pie crusts

9 ounces (three small packages) of Peeps

8 ounces of Cool Whip (one small container)

Sprinkles or Small Easter Candies

Mini Peep Pies

Mini Peep Pies

 

The next recipe I love for Easter dessert is Mini Peep Pies. Melt 9 ounces (three small packages of Peeps) with ½ cup of milk. I used pink, purple and blue but you can use whatever colors strike your fancy.

 

Melting Peeps

Melting Peeps

 

After melted, let the mixture cool completely. Once the mixture has cooled fold in 8 ounces of Cool Whip (one small container). If you’re more ambitious than me you can make your own whipping cream and the graham cracker crusts but I’m all about efficiency when I’m making food for other people. Spoon mixture into mini graham cracker crusts and top with sprinkles or any other small candy you choose. Just make sure it’s nothing too heavy as the candy will sink into the Mini Peep pies. Enjoy!

 

 

Creating Your Own Compound Butters

Creating Your Own Compound Butters

I love shopping at Whole Foods for their great, organic meats and veggies. I’ve been known to peruse the cheeses while there, as well. The last time I went I bought a couple of different compound butters purely out of convenience. I’m all about making things easy on myself while entertaining if I can. Plus, it was an impulse buy. I’m sure we’ve all been there, done that! I purchased a bleu cheese butter and a roasted garlic butter. Well, as I’m sure has happened to everyone else they sat in my fridge until they were expired. Wow, I thought. I just wasted $7 or $8 on that when they’re something I could easily make.

Roasted garlic and bleu cheese butters from Whole Foods.

Roasted garlic and bleu cheese butters from Whole Foods.

According to Dictionary.com, a compound butter is a chilled mixture of whole butter and flavoring ingredients such as herbs, used to flavor and color dishes. Herbs are great. I love them. A dill butter sounds fabulous on a hot, freshly baked roll but I got to thinking why do herbs get to have all the fun? I mean, Whole Foods understands and offers the aforementioned butters. So, I’m sitting here thinking about all the things I like to eat.

I LOVE olives of all different kinds. Maybe a Kalamata olive butter would be delicious so I tried it out. Here’s what I did. First, I purchased a good quality, pitted Kalamata olive. Buying the pitted olives just saves time and energy that you could be using to concoct your own versions of a compound butter. Also, I bought a good quality unsalted butter left out at room temperature. Next, I finely diced the Kalamata olives in my handy dandy food processor. Man, I love that thing but I digress. After letting ½ cup of butter come to room temperature, I whipped it with a hand mixer just until it became slightly fluffy. Then I added ¼ cup chopped olives, a pinch of garlic salt and a pinch of pepper and mixed gently with a spatula until combined. Let the butter mixture rest at room temperature for about half an hour to allow the flavors to marry. Finally, you can either place the butter on plastic wrap to form into a log for freezing or you can use any container you already own (you know the crazy Tupperware mess you have hidden in your kitchen cabinets). If you choose to use your own container just scoop the butter into the container and place in the fridge. Freezing is a good idea if you think you won’t go through the butter quickly. If you think your family will plow through it or you’re using it for entertaining I’d recommend the Tupperware container. Next enjoy that salty, buttery goodness.

The finished product!

The finished product!

Here are some other compound butter ideas I had. Roasted Red Pepper Butter Dill Butter Jalapeno Butter Bacon Butter

5 Kitchen Tools I CAN Do Without

5 Kitchen Tools I CAN Do Without

If you’re anything like me you can get easily overwhelmed in the kitchen accessories section of any store. Once I’m overwhelmed I don’t make good decisions. I will buy anything on a whim to get out of there and to stop the sensory overload.

I went through a dirty martini phase for a while a few years back. What is a dirty martini without bleu cheese stuffed olives, right? It always seemed like a such a waste of time and a pain to pull the pimento without ruining the olive. So, I got the idea in my head that I need an olive pitter. Once I have an idea in my head, it rarely leaves until I act on it. I went to my local Williams-Sonoma and picked up a pitter that did double duty—cherries and olives. That evening I decided I had to have a dirty martini. Any excuse to have an adult beverage will do for me! So, I pulled out the cherry and olive pitter and got to work. The pitter seemed to rip the olives in half worse than I did with just using a fork. I haven’t used it since.

Cherry and Olive Pitter

Cherry and Olive Pitter

I love to watch the Food Network. During one episode of “Thirty Minute Meals” with Rachael Ray I noticed she was using a garlic press rather than go through the painstaking process of chopping garlic. So, naturally, I went out and bought one. For my next Italian dinner I decided to make use of the garlic press. I put the garlic in and pressed but barely any garlic popped out. I ended up having to use a knife to smash it through the press. The real problem with the garlic press is cleaning it. You can’t really just wash it like you would any other utensil. It takes a lot to get that garlic out. Too much work for me.

Garlic Press

Garlic Press

Not only do I love watching the Food Network I also secretly love those info-mercials on TV. I found one particularly interesting—the herb savor pod. I will typically buy fresh herbs, stick them in the fridge, use them once or twice and then forget about them until they go bad and I have to throw them out. So, when I got married I registered for the herb savor pod system. You just put the herbs in with a little water and according to the commercials your herbs stay fresher longer. Guess what? When you’re forgetful with the herbs in a plastic container you’re probably going to be forgetful of the herbs in the pod savor. I had the same problem I had before and they took up more in the fridge.

I love my kitchen. I love it. However, the pantry is just a little too far away every time I need olive oil, a spice or foil. In order to make things easier for myself, I bought one of Rachael Ray’s EVOO containers. They’re cute and colorful but seemed to be easy to sit next to my stovetop so my olive oil was right there when I needed it. Cut to three weeks after I filled it…I hadn’t used it once. In fact, I would still walk over to my pantry grab the bottle of olive oil and walk it over to my stove. The purple EVOO container ended up being just a decoration in my kitchen.

EVOO Container

EVOO Container

These four items ended up being a waste of money for me. They sit in my cabinets and take up precious shelf or drawer space. As any woman knows those two things are a commodity that is hard to come by in most kitchens! As with anything else you should try a product out and see how it works for you.

What are some of your least favorite kitchen gadgets you’ve purchased?

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