Alas, we can only have one winner. I used random.org to select our winner, and that person is our 22nd commenter:

Aisling!

The comment this person left was:

I’d love to read this and share with several family members. Who doesn’t need some mentoring in self-confidence?

My thoughts exactly!

For those of you who didn’t win, we’ve still got some awesome contests going on here, so feel free to check them out.

Post from: Blisstree

Think Confident, Be Confident Winner

Perhaps the following tips will help you save time for one of those busy Christmas items, and that’s is the sending of cards. How to cut back? Read on.

Send Only to Those You Don’t See
Do you really need to send a Christmas card to that friend you see every Wednesday or the next door neighbor? Rather than send to your entire list, focus on the people you rarely see. Those are the folks that will cherish an update.

Forget About Cards Entirely
It’s a radical concept, isn’t it? You’d think you’d want to see some…. but once you make up your mind to stop sending cards, you can focus on other great things like giving of your time to a good cause.

Send an E-Greeting
While I’m not a fan of email greeting cards, you could send an electric note to friends telling them you are going green this year and skipping handwritten cards.

Make Some Phone Calls
How about a few phone calls to loved ones in the days before Christmas? There is nothing like hearing the sounds of someone you love on the phone. It makes everyone feel closer together and far less lonely.

Make a Website Greeting
Many people have a website or blog of some sort today. Why not direct your friends and family to the website, and write out a nice thought or note to each one.

There are many ways to cut back on Christmas cards, but most of all, don’t feel guilty about your choice. Send the cards if you are really in the mood and have the time. If you decide not to, do so happily and don’t let guilt ruin your holiday.

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

Ways to Cut Back on Christmas Cards

Before you begin a remodeling project, take careful measurements and be sure you measure in more than one spot when you are measuring the distance between points. This helps you avoid that, “Oh, no!” moment when you realize the 24 foot by 24 foot garage you are turning into an in law apartment is 24 by 24 in the front corner, but is 24 by 23 in the back corner.

Once you see if the dimensions of the space you are remodeling are off, you will be able to compensate for the difference during planning instead of struggling to fix the problem when you are halfway through the project. For example, the space between a crooked wall and a row of cabinets can be shimmed with increasingly wider pieces of wood so that the final result is a perfectly square set of cabinets topped by a custom cut piece of granite that fits the crooked space perfectly.

Have you ever tried to remodel a crooked room?

Photo: SXC/Wouter Onbekend

Post from: Blisstree

Measure Everything During a Remodel

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to start:

• A light blue, or any color of paint for use on wood (I used  black)
• Envirotex Spray Sealer
• A can of gloss spray, any brand
• A flat ¾ inch brush
• A foam plate
• <Painter's tape
• A 5/8 inch round foam pouncer brush (at any craft store)
• A stencil of your choice (I found a free rose stencil online)
• Scrap paper
• Unfinished wooden magazine holder (at any craft store)

Using a ¾ inch flat brush paint the inside of the magazine holder any color and let it dry completely. Using black, paint the outside and edge of the magazine holder and let it dry. Using the painter’s tape to hold the stencil in place, use the pouncer brush dipped in the black paint and dab it lightly on the scrap paper to remove any excess paint before stamping over the opening in the stencil.

Make sure to clean your stencil after each use and alternate the position on the magazine holder if you will be doing more than one stencil. Repeat using the stencil on the rest of the holder and let it dry.

This makes a really cute addition to your desk or on a lamp table in your living room. Remember to coordinate the colors of your project to the room where you will be using the magazine holder.

I hope you enjoyed making this project as much as I enjoyed showing you how.

Post from: Blisstree

Thrifty Magazine Holder

So why on earth do I want to use an alternative energy system then? Some good reasons for considering solar or wind energy are:
1. Having your own energy source is great in an emergency. I do have a generator and a battery pack, but having something that can power my refrigerator for a few days after a big storm would be nice.
2. You’re doing something green. Being able to help the environment we live in is always a good idea.
3. You’re learning something new and useful. Simply hooking up a single solar panel, an inverter and a battery is something a lot of people struggle with. If you learn how to install a system that powers an entire house, you have a very valuable skill set. I am still fearfully trying to figure out the whole inverter thing, but some day…
4. It makes a great hands-on science lesson. Making your own solar panel or wind turbine with your kids is a great way to show them that electricity comes from somewhere and is something they should work to conserve. I plan to start with a lemon powered light experiment and work our way up. (You need a lot of lemons to power one led bulb, by the way.)

Are you planning to use an alternative energy system for your home?

Photo: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Should You Consider Alternative Energy Systems?

Since 1954, kids’ letters to Santa addressed to the North Pole were sent to the small town of North Pole, Alaska to be answered by Santa and his elves. Of course, the responses always had the “North Pole” postmark, but that tradition may be interrupted for some this year.

The program isn’t being stopped because of budgets, but because a postal worker realized that one Operation Santa volunteer there was a registered sex offender! Not all programs will be affected, but generic letters addressed to Santa in the North Pole may not be answered this year. Read the full story at msnbc.com: “No more letters from North Pole? Ho ho oh no!”

Drop-Dead Shipping Dates

Online shopping is becoming more popular each year, but you have to make sure you get those orders placed in time to receive your gifts for the holidays. Coupon Sherpa has published and is still updating a comprehensive list of drop-dead holiday shipping deadlines for delivery in time for Christmas. For the complete list, visit Coupon Sherpa’s Holiday Shipping Deadlines for Christmas 2009. Dates are included for standard, express and fastest shipping options for many retailers like Apple Store, Best Buy, Fossil, Gaiam, Lego Store, Macy’s and more.

Free Shipping Day

You may also want to mark December 17 on your calendar as Free Shipping Day! Free Shipping Day is a one-day only online shopping event. On December 17, participating merchants will give the gift of free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Just a few of the merchants involved with Free Shipping Day include Toys R Us, Nike, Sears, Eddie Bauer, PacSun, PetSmart and Adidas. More than 500 merchants are expected to participate. Visit FreeShippingDay.com for all the details.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Holiday News- Santa Letters, Shipping Dates

Bring Your Own Pillow
You may be staying on the couch or a pull-out bed, and bringing your own pillow will help you get a good night’s sleep.

Bring a Hostess Gift
Even if your lovely hostess refuses, you should bring a simple gift to let her know that you appreciate the fact that she’s opening her home up to you. Ideas for this gift could be candles, gift cards, stationery set, food items, wine, or something personal you know your hostess would like.

Watch What You Say
Resist the urge to offer helpful “tips” to your hostess while she is baking or preparing your room. Even if she refuses help, don’t badger her about “making you feel bad” that she’s doing it all herself. She’s trying to be hospitable, so make sure you do the same and gauge what you say. A simple suggestion might be taken as bossiness or rudeness on your part.

Be Mindful of Your Hostess’ Time
You may feel comfortable gabbing until two or three in the morning, but pay attention to signs that your hostess may be tired and not up for it. After all, she’s not going to tell you “no,” so it’s up to you to be mindful.

Offer to Help
It’s not unreasonable to help out with the meal or cleaning when you’re staying with someone. Always offer a hand, which your hostess will probably decline. But that’s okay. Just making the offer will make her happy.

Don’t Overstay Your Welcome
Just because you’re welcome for “a few days” doesn’t mean you should stretch it to a week. Get a hotel or stay with someone else if you need to extend your trip.

Send a Thank You Card
Thank you cards may seem old-fashioned to some, but I believe it’s still a nice way to acknowledge the effort your hostess put forward in order to accommodate you. She didn’t have to do that, so be sure to let her know you appreciate it with a handwritten note she will cherish long after you leave. A thank you card also leaves a lasting, positive impression. So if you committed a gaffe or two during your stay, she’ll remember your gratefulness instead.

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

How to Be an Awesome Houseguest

Here are the things about my house I am most thankful for:

• Plenty of room.
• Cool old fireplace.
• Big, old fashioned front porch instead of a tiny stoop.
• Nice view.
• Good, new roof.
• Claw foot tub for soaking.
• Awesome banister.
• The tops of my kitchen cupboards. (I don’t like those soffits that keep you from displaying cool things on top of your cupboards.)
• Sturdy walls that keep things so cool in summer that I only need air conditioning a few days a year.

What do you love about your house?

Photo of part of my banister by K. Thomas

Post from: Blisstree

Are You Thankful for Your House?

I have to admit, I do agree that caring for children is more important than housework. And I don’t have an immaculate house. As I mentioned in yesterday’s eyeball post, when you have kids and pets, you simply can’t have things as tidy as when there were none. However, I also don’t know if I’m ready to throw in the towel and say things are clean enough instead of trying to squeeze in one more wipe down of the stairs. (If you live anywhere near a quarry, prepare for a dusty, dusty life…) Instead, I try combining the two. We sit and tell a story, with each person adding a sentence as we match socks. We race to see who can put away their toys fastest. We sing and mop.

What about you? Do you think we should let go of the guilt and not worry about keeping our homes tidy?

Photo: Morguefile

Post from: Blisstree

Messy Houses Are In

This is also a nice recipe to make in anticipation of an event where you won’t have time for much cooking. Perhaps you work late one night a week and just need a quick recipe to pop in the oven. Or maybe you’ve got company coming for the holidays and want a meal to fill them up that doesn’t also involve you slaving over the stove all day. This is the recipe for you.

• 16 oz penne pasta
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 (15 oz) jars of spaghetti sauce (any flavor)
• 6 oz sliced provolone cheese
• 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 c. sour cream
• 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick cooking spray, and set aside.

Parboil the penne pasta in boiling water with one teaspoon salt until it is just softened. Do not overcook. Drain pasta and set aside when complete.
Cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain.

Now it’s time to layer the dish. Take half of the drained, cooked pasta and place at the bottom of the dish. Add all the provolone, layering evenly. Spread the sour cream evenly across the top. Take half the meat mixture and place over top. Add entire jar of the spaghetti sauce. Then add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella cheese, and remaining meat. Empty contents of second jar of spaghetti sauce on top of that. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over all.

Cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, until heated through. If you are taking this dish from the freezer, make sure it has time to thaw a bit before placing in oven. Then cook for slightly longer, about 45 minutes.

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

Penne Pasta Bake