Keeping the Castle

July 24th, 2008

You’re Invited to the Lifestyles Channel Picnic!

This month, the b5media Lifestyles Channel decided to have a little fun with one of summer’s favorite pastimes - picnics. We brought together favorite recipes, tips, and lots of fun!
You can tell we love desserts with these offerings:
Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch by Robust Cooking
Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade at All Holiday Cafe
Rice Krispie Treats […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

July 24th, 2008

Product Recalls (7-24-08)

This summary of recent product recalls issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission includes lighting fixtures, pacifiers and baby toys, and a vacuum attachment.

* Indoor Lighting Fixtures made by Lithonia Lighting of Conyers, Ga.
Hazard: A thermal protector could be missing from the lighting fixtures, posing a risk of overheating and fire.
Description: […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

July 22nd, 2008

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

This is a newly discovered favorite treat at our house. I don’t know why I never made this before, it’s so good. :) I got the recipe right out of a package of Campfire Marshmallows.
Rice Krispie Treats
1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 10 oz bag Marshmallows6 cups crisp rice cereal
Melt margarine or butter in […]

By Maricar -- 9 comments

July 20th, 2008

New Page: Dairy-Free and Nut-Free Cooking

I’ve been writing about allergy-free cooking  since the very beginning of this blog. I know that a lot of families also have to deal with the challenges that dairy- and nut-allergies pose. So I’ve put together a list of recipes and tips for cooking without eggs, milk or nuts. The page is “Dairy-Free and Nut-Free […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

July 20th, 2008

When to Replace Pillows, Mattresses and More

MSNBC has recommendations on when to replace 14 common items. Here are the life spans of some of them:
Pillows - 1 year of nightly use. If you use pillow protectors, 2 years.
Mattresses - 5 to 7 years
Smoke Alarms - 10 years (batteries should be replaced yearly)
Vitamins - 2 years after purchase if there are no […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

July 19th, 2008

Scrubbing Bubbles for Stubborn Dirt

At first, I wasn’t too sure about admitting to a dirty bathroom in public. However, in the interest of helping other homemakers in battling stubborn spots of dirt, here goes:
For a while now, I’ve seen a dingy looking area in our vinyl bathroom floor. It’s hardly noticeable except when I remove the bathroom rug […]

By Maricar -- 1 comment

July 18th, 2008

Odd Job of the Day (071808)

Occasionally, I’ll post an odd job that we can all do for the day. These are small tasks that can be easily forgotten but take only a few minutes to complete.
Today’s odd job is to wipe down the front of the cabinets in the bathroom you most often use. Get rid of toothpaste drips, soap […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments

July 17th, 2008

Homemaking Links (7-17-08)

* When gifts become clutter (at Clutter Control Freak)
* Turn your clutter into cash (via Best Syndication)
* Cloth napkins can save you money (via Philly Burbs)
* Shopping strategy (at Bend Bulletin)
* Freezer cooking and frugal living (at Filling my Freezer)
* Tips for sprucing up your home (via Suntimes)
Tags: clutter control, Frugal Living, home blog, home […]

By Maricar -- 0 comments