10 Things You Should Not Refrigerate

I found this list on things that should not be refrigerated this morning.  Actually, I found it on the Comcast website as I was paying my bill.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/news-thingsshouldnotrefrigerate/1/

I cannot take credit for putting this together, but I thought it was very interesting.  I did not know some of these items either did not need to be refrigerated or should not be refrigerated.  I share it for your information.

10 Things You Should Not Refrigerate

I found this list on things that should not be refrigerated this morning.  Actually, I found it on the Comcast website as I was paying my bill.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/news-thingsshouldnotrefrigerate/1/

I cannot take credit for putting this together, but I thought it was very interesting.  I did not know some of these items either did not need to be refrigerated or should not be refrigerated.  I share it for your information.

Pumpkin Cheescake

I made a pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving.  It was absolutely delicious.  I followed the recipe, but like I so often do, I added a touch here and there.

Here is a picture of said cheescake on my sister's sideboard.  Not only was it delicious, but it came out of the springform pan without any problem.  I made this the day before Thanksgiving.  I let it cool completely on a wire rack.  Then I refrigerated it, covered, overnight.  I finally unmolded it just before we set down for lunch on Thursday.  I will post the recipe for this under the "Food and Entertaining" tab.  The recipe is one that I have had for many years, so I do not know who ultimately gets credit for this taste sensation.

Pumpkin Cheescake

I made a pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving.  It was absolutely delicious.  I followed the recipe, but like I so often do, I added a touch here and there.

Here is a picture of said cheescake on my sister's sideboard.  Not only was it delicious, but it came out of the springform pan without any problem.  I made this the day before Thanksgiving.  I let it cool completely on a wire rack.  Then I refrigerated it, covered, overnight.  I finally unmolded it just before we set down for lunch on Thursday.  I will post the recipe for this under the "Food and Entertaining" tab.  The recipe is one that I have had for many years, so I do not know who ultimately gets credit for this taste sensation.

A New Scheduler for Projects

Things are so busy at Welcome to Crest Avenue.  Yesterday I decided we needed a new way to keep track of our projects, so I devised a new daily scheduler.  In the past I have depended on 4 x 6 index cards to keep track of everything.  That system has worked quite well for me.  However, recently I have found myself adding yellow sticky notes to the index cards.  Then some ideas were on sticky notes and some were on index cards and some index cards had items lined through that were completed with another yellow sticky note over top of that.  UGH!!!  It was driving me crazy.  I cannot stand to lose control.  I cannot afford to lose control.

So, I spent a little time yesterday getting some organization to things.  You do not need some fancy, advanced software to do this.  It can be done in Microsoft Word using the "Tables" feature.  It took a couple of hours to get my tables set up and all the information moved.  And here is what we are using now.

We start out with the names of retailer's that we frequently use and list what we need from each.

Page two lays out a To-Do List, Short-Term Projects and Long-Term Projects.

Page three has our Business Model and Product Ideas.

And page four contains blog post ideas and notes about the book.

Why, you might ask, don't you keep track of all this on your iPhone or tablet.  I cannot.  I am not of that generation.  I do not feel that either of those devices is going to work to keep me efficient.  They can help with efficiency.  But they cannot, on their own, keep things running smoothly.  Don't get me wrong.  I am never without my iPhone.  I keep it with me at all times to keep track of ideas that come to mind when I am without pen and paper.  And I will soon join the ranks of those who own a tablet.  More on that later.  But lists and charts are the only way I can keep track of what I need to keep track of.  I have been making lists and charts as far back as I can remember.  These four sheets also give me ample space to jot down ideas which can then be added to the chart at a later date.

If you are feeling you need a little more organization to your life, spend a little time with your word processing program and put together a chart.  It doesn't have to be four pages long.  You may be able to get hold of your life with a one page document.  It will ease your mind to have everything on paper.  It is also a wonderful feeling to be able to physically line through items with a pen or pencil as you get them done.  Then you get a second chance to feel you are accomplishing your goals when you log on and delete the rows that you have marked through.

A New Scheduler for Projects

Things are so busy at Welcome to Crest Avenue.  Yesterday I decided we needed a new way to keep track of our projects, so I devised a new daily scheduler.  In the past I have depended on 4 x 6 index cards to keep track of everything.  That system has worked quite well for me.  However, recently I have found myself adding yellow sticky notes to the index cards.  Then some ideas were on sticky notes and some were on index cards and some index cards had items lined through that were completed with another yellow sticky note over top of that.  UGH!!!  It was driving me crazy.  I cannot stand to lose control.  I cannot afford to lose control.

So, I spent a little time yesterday getting some organization to things.  You do not need some fancy, advanced software to do this.  It can be done in Microsoft Word using the "Tables" feature.  It took a couple of hours to get my tables set up and all the information moved.  And here is what we are using now.

We start out with the names of retailer's that we frequently use and list what we need from each.

Page two lays out a To-Do List, Short-Term Projects and Long-Term Projects.

Page three has our Business Model and Product Ideas.

And page four contains blog post ideas and notes about the book.

Why, you might ask, don't you keep track of all this on your iPhone or tablet.  I cannot.  I am not of that generation.  I do not feel that either of those devices is going to work to keep me efficient.  They can help with efficiency.  But they cannot, on their own, keep things running smoothly.  Don't get me wrong.  I am never without my iPhone.  I keep it with me at all times to keep track of ideas that come to mind when I am without pen and paper.  And I will soon join the ranks of those who own a tablet.  More on that later.  But lists and charts are the only way I can keep track of what I need to keep track of.  I have been making lists and charts as far back as I can remember.  These four sheets also give me ample space to jot down ideas which can then be added to the chart at a later date.

If you are feeling you need a little more organization to your life, spend a little time with your word processing program and put together a chart.  It doesn't have to be four pages long.  You may be able to get hold of your life with a one page document.  It will ease your mind to have everything on paper.  It is also a wonderful feeling to be able to physically line through items with a pen or pencil as you get them done.  Then you get a second chance to feel you are accomplishing your goals when you log on and delete the rows that you have marked through.

Pretty Outdoor Decorations

This was the scene last night at Washington Harbour in Georgetown as I was leaving.

Isn't that beautiful.  They are in the spirit of the season.

Pretty Outdoor Decorations

This was the scene last night at Washington Harbour in Georgetown as I was leaving.

Isn't that beautiful.  They are in the spirit of the season.

Glittered Paper and other Christmas Essentials

I found this really wonderful glittered paper at the Paper Source today.

Once folded into cone shapes, these will make beautiful Christmas trees is different sizes for the mantel.  And the good thing with this paper is, the glitter doesn't rub off.  I don't know how the paper is made, but you cannot rub off the glitter.  And they are only $2.50 per 12" x 12" sheet. 

Here is the name of the manufacturer in case you do not have a Paper Source store near you and would like to see about ordering the paper directly or finding a local retailer in your area.



I also picked up the vellum that I will need to make the Christmas cards this year.  Stay tuned for the final product.  I have designed what I think is a simple and beautiful card.  I just need to get them printed.

This year, I decided to order a stamp to use to apply the return address on my Christmas cards.  I found this really cute stamper at www.Expressionery.com.  They have an abundance of different styles to choose from.  This is an item which can and will be used year after year,  So while intially a little pricey, in the end it will pay for itself.

A quick look at an unaddressed envelope.  I think this is going to work just perfectly.

I do not know what Emily Post or Letitia Baldridge recommend as suitable for mailing, but I like to send out Christmas cards any time after the first day of December and no later than the tenth day of December.  Of course, those cards going across country or to foreign locales should be mailed first.  What a fun time of year!

Glittered Paper and other Christmas Essentials

I found this really wonderful glittered paper at the Paper Source today.

Once folded into cone shapes, these will make beautiful Christmas trees is different sizes for the mantel.  And the good thing with this paper is, the glitter doesn't rub off.  I don't know how the paper is made, but you cannot rub off the glitter.  And they are only $2.50 per 12" x 12" sheet. 

Here is the name of the manufacturer in case you do not have a Paper Source store near you and would like to see about ordering the paper directly or finding a local retailer in your area.



I also picked up the vellum that I will need to make the Christmas cards this year.  Stay tuned for the final product.  I have designed what I think is a simple and beautiful card.  I just need to get them printed.

This year, I decided to order a stamp to use to apply the return address on my Christmas cards.  I found this really cute stamper at www.Expressionery.com.  They have an abundance of different styles to choose from.  This is an item which can and will be used year after year,  So while intially a little pricey, in the end it will pay for itself.

A quick look at an unaddressed envelope.  I think this is going to work just perfectly.

I do not know what Emily Post or Letitia Baldridge recommend as suitable for mailing, but I like to send out Christmas cards any time after the first day of December and no later than the tenth day of December.  Of course, those cards going across country or to foreign locales should be mailed first.  What a fun time of year!

A Wreath

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I hope you all had a wonderful day.  I wanted to do a wreath for the front door this year.  I started going through my inventory and found the items I thought I would need to put something new together.

A rectangular styrofoam form.  A hot glue gun.  A box of fall leaves from Michael's.  And, of course, my big "N" that I bought at the Paper Source last week.  I little while later, here is what I had.

It's really not that hard to put together.  I sprayed the "N" with spray adhesive and then glittered it using gold glitter.  You can use any color you want.  Then I started hot gluing the leaves on the styrofoam form.  I positioned the "N" and then traced around it with a black marker.  Using a utility knife, I cut out the shape of the "N".  Then, using a butter knife, I scooped out the styrofoam so that I could recess the letter.  I glued some more leaves on around the perimeter of the letter outline so they would fill in the edges when I place the letter inside the cutout.  Then I finished gluing leaves on the form.  Once that was done, I hot glued the letter in place and, voila, a new wreath for the front door.  A festive wreath without spending an enormous amount of money.  Plus you will take pride in knowing you put it together.

A Wreath

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I hope you all had a wonderful day.  I wanted to do a wreath for the front door this year.  I started going through my inventory and found the items I thought I would need to put something new together.

A rectangular styrofoam form.  A hot glue gun.  A box of fall leaves from Michael's.  And, of course, my big "N" that I bought at the Paper Source last week.  I little while later, here is what I had.

It's really not that hard to put together.  I sprayed the "N" with spray adhesive and then glittered it using gold glitter.  You can use any color you want.  Then I started hot gluing the leaves on the styrofoam form.  I positioned the "N" and then traced around it with a black marker.  Using a utility knife, I cut out the shape of the "N".  Then, using a butter knife, I scooped out the styrofoam so that I could recess the letter.  I glued some more leaves on around the perimeter of the letter outline so they would fill in the edges when I place the letter inside the cutout.  Then I finished gluing leaves on the form.  Once that was done, I hot glued the letter in place and, voila, a new wreath for the front door.  A festive wreath without spending an enormous amount of money.  Plus you will take pride in knowing you put it together.

Drying Gourds

We are drying gourds at Crest Avenue.  I bought these at the Cheverly Farmer's Market the weekend before Halloween.  I have placed them on newspaper and I turn them periodically.  I think to speed up the drying process, I will move them to metal drying racks.  That way the air can circulate all around them and help speed up the process.  Some will dry and others will not.  If you see mold forming on the outside, scrape it off and continue to let the gourd dry.  Mold is formed as the gourds release moisture.  If a soft spot forms, throw the gourd out.  You will know when they are completely dry when you hear the seeds rattling when you shake it.  They are most fragile once they are dried, so handle with care.



Drying Gourds

We are drying gourds at Crest Avenue.  I bought these at the Cheverly Farmer's Market the weekend before Halloween.  I have placed them on newspaper and I turn them periodically.  I think to speed up the drying process, I will move them to metal drying racks.  That way the air can circulate all around them and help speed up the process.  Some will dry and others will not.  If you see mold forming on the outside, scrape it off and continue to let the gourd dry.  Mold is formed as the gourds release moisture.  If a soft spot forms, throw the gourd out.  You will know when they are completely dry when you hear the seeds rattling when you shake it.  They are most fragile once they are dried, so handle with care.



A Little Window Dressing

Sometimes you don't realize you need something until you realize you need something.  I decided that I needed curtains at the window in the tv room.  So I bought a new curtain rod and put it up.  I already had the panels.  After going over them with a steam iron to get out the wrinkles, here is what I ended up with.  A nice fresh look.  Previously this window was left bare.  I am not averse to leaving windows bare if it works with the decor of the room.  But it did not work in this room.

They did not have the matching tie backs when I bought the curtain rod, so I improvised, which I often do.  I found some fall berry garland in my inventory and used that to add a little flare.  I really do not mind this look.  However, I have ordered the matching tie backs.  Maybe we can incorporate the garland and the tie backs together once they arrive.  We'll see about that.  Oh, for anyone who is in love with the wall sconce, it came from Pottery Barn.  I have two of them in this room.  Really beautiful.



A Little Window Dressing

Sometimes you don't realize you need something until you realize you need something.  I decided that I needed curtains at the window in the tv room.  So I bought a new curtain rod and put it up.  I already had the panels.  After going over them with a steam iron to get out the wrinkles, here is what I ended up with.  A nice fresh look.  Previously this window was left bare.  I am not averse to leaving windows bare if it works with the decor of the room.  But it did not work in this room.

They did not have the matching tie backs when I bought the curtain rod, so I improvised, which I often do.  I found some fall berry garland in my inventory and used that to add a little flare.  I really do not mind this look.  However, I have ordered the matching tie backs.  Maybe we can incorporate the garland and the tie backs together once they arrive.  We'll see about that.  Oh, for anyone who is in love with the wall sconce, it came from Pottery Barn.  I have two of them in this room.  Really beautiful.



We Have a New Addition at Crest Avenue

Last night Baxter and I were watching television when I heard a noise on the deck.  I was not alarmed because we frequently hear noises on the deck in the evening.  We have some neighborhood kitties who visit from time to time.  One of the neighborhood kitties wasn't feeling well last week, so I went to the kitchen door to see if he had come back home for a rest.  And what do you think was on the deck staring back at me?  An opossum!!

It really freaked me out at first, because I wasn't sure what it was right away.  I don't think I've actually seen an opossum more than once or twice in my life.  They move very slowly and deliberately.  It was eery to say the least.  Baxter finally made his way into the kitchen and let our new friend know that he should move along.  I've done some research on opossums today.  From what I can tell, they are a nomadic bunch.  So just because you have one today, does not mean you will have one tomorrow.  If you leave out trash, it will attract them.  They will set up under a porch or deck.  They are not aggressive and, as we all know, will play "possum" if cornered rather than fighting back.  They are not aggressive.  I don't want to harm him.  I just want him to move on to greener pastures.  Let's hope this problem resolves itself and we do not have to resort to calling animal control and traps and all of that.

We Have a New Addition at Crest Avenue

Last night Baxter and I were watching television when I heard a noise on the deck.  I was not alarmed because we frequently hear noises on the deck in the evening.  We have some neighborhood kitties who visit from time to time.  One of the neighborhood kitties wasn't feeling well last week, so I went to the kitchen door to see if he had come back home for a rest.  And what do you think was on the deck staring back at me?  An opossum!!

It really freaked me out at first, because I wasn't sure what it was right away.  I don't think I've actually seen an opossum more than once or twice in my life.  They move very slowly and deliberately.  It was eery to say the least.  Baxter finally made his way into the kitchen and let our new friend know that he should move along.  I've done some research on opossums today.  From what I can tell, they are a nomadic bunch.  So just because you have one today, does not mean you will have one tomorrow.  If you leave out trash, it will attract them.  They will set up under a porch or deck.  They are not aggressive and, as we all know, will play "possum" if cornered rather than fighting back.  They are not aggressive.  I don't want to harm him.  I just want him to move on to greener pastures.  Let's hope this problem resolves itself and we do not have to resort to calling animal control and traps and all of that.

The Birds

The birds like to have organization and things in just the right place too.

You have to wonder how they all perched themselves so perfectly spaced along this street light this morning. Of course there is always the one who stands out from the crowd, that being he who sits on the lamp and not the arm.  The Rebel!!  Maybe he was the one who was responsible for lining them all up.  Sort of the "choreographer" of perching.  "A one, .. two, .. three,  AND ........ !

The Birds

The birds like to have organization and things in just the right place too.

You have to wonder how they all perched themselves so perfectly spaced along this street light this morning. Of course there is always the one who stands out from the crowd, that being he who sits on the lamp and not the arm.  The Rebel!!  Maybe he was the one who was responsible for lining them all up.  Sort of the "choreographer" of perching.  "A one, .. two, .. three,  AND ........ !

Winter on the Water

For those in the area who are interested, and those who are visiting:

I just walked by and they have completed construction on the rink and the ice is already formed.  It was interesting, over the past few months,  to watch them assemble the underlayment and yards and yards of tubing that is necessary to make this happen.  This should be a really fun event!

Winter on the Water

For those in the area who are interested, and those who are visiting:

I just walked by and they have completed construction on the rink and the ice is already formed.  It was interesting, over the past few months,  to watch them assemble the underlayment and yards and yards of tubing that is necessary to make this happen.  This should be a really fun event!

A Trip to Paper Source

I stopped by the Paper Source on M Street, NW in Georgetown yesterday.  I was looking for a big "N" for a project.  I checked their website and found that they have paper maiche letters, uppercase and lowercase, that they refer to as "craft letters."  Fortunately, they had a big "N" in stock.

Of course, you cannot just walk into the Paper Source, find your big "N", pay for it and leave.  At least I cannot.  On the table where I found the big "N" were all sorts of other paper maiche items.  I ventured a little further and found some cocktail napkins.  A little further and some Christmas tree ornaments for my Saks Fifth Avenue tree.

So, by the time I left I had a few things more than just a big "N", which is how it should be.  You never know when a creative idea will pop into your head.  These paper maiche trees will look wonderful all glittered up.  The ornaments are not clear in this picture, but will be clear once I get the Saks tree decorated.  They are tiny versions of the old glass bulbs that my mother had for our tree when I was but just a little interior decorator in the making.  The cocktail napkins say, "She decided to try Naughty this year."  Now to get busy and get all these things ready for the season.  I might have to throw an open house this year after I get all the decorations out.  Fun!!

A Trip to Paper Source

I stopped by the Paper Source on M Street, NW in Georgetown yesterday.  I was looking for a big "N" for a project.  I checked their website and found that they have paper maiche letters, uppercase and lowercase, that they refer to as "craft letters."  Fortunately, they had a big "N" in stock.

Of course, you cannot just walk into the Paper Source, find your big "N", pay for it and leave.  At least I cannot.  On the table where I found the big "N" were all sorts of other paper maiche items.  I ventured a little further and found some cocktail napkins.  A little further and some Christmas tree ornaments for my Saks Fifth Avenue tree.

So, by the time I left I had a few things more than just a big "N", which is how it should be.  You never know when a creative idea will pop into your head.  These paper maiche trees will look wonderful all glittered up.  The ornaments are not clear in this picture, but will be clear once I get the Saks tree decorated.  They are tiny versions of the old glass bulbs that my mother had for our tree when I was but just a little interior decorator in the making.  The cocktail napkins say, "She decided to try Naughty this year."  Now to get busy and get all these things ready for the season.  I might have to throw an open house this year after I get all the decorations out.  Fun!!