Maximizing Space

The First Electric Mixer and A Frosting Recipe
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The First Electric Mixer and A Frosting Recipe

Fluffy Frosting Meets the Electric Mixer

My Grandmother’s Fluffy Frosting Recipe

I was going through an old recipe box and found this scrap of paper. My grandmother (Clara Alice) wrote this recipe for Fluffy Frosting to share with someone…no idea who that would have been, but I had to chuckle when I read the last two sentences,

“It makes a lot of frosting. I suggest you have someone around to help beat unless you use that electric mixer. It’s just the thing for whipped frosting.”

I mean, isn’t that “just the thing”?

Picture of a hand crank egg beater wtih a bowl of eggs

My Grandma’s Egg Beater

That got me to thinking…when did she write this recipe? And when were electric mixers invented?

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Compact Dishwashers for Small Kitchens
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Compact Dishwashers for Small Kitchens

Why you might need a compact dishwasher:

Countertop Dishwasher beside kitchen sink

If you actually like washing dishes by hand, you have my utmost respect! I personally don’t know anybody who really likes to wash dishes by hand.  It’s time consuming and messy, right?

That’s where buying a compact dishwasher for small kitchens might make sense.

Compact dishwashers are eco-friendly because they use much less water. If nothing else, just saving water is a bonus!

Did you know that hand washing dishes uses up to 27 gallons of water for each load?

A compact dishwasher uses between 1 and 3 gallons!

So, you’d want a compact dishwasher if:

  1. You rent or own an apartment or home without one.
  2. Your kitchen is small with no space to install a standard dishwasher.
  3. You have an office with a kitchen and a sink but no dishwasher.
  4. You have an RV or a summer cottage and a dishwasher would be so good to have.

Portable or Countertop?

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Best Kitchen Storage Ideas
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Best Kitchen Storage Ideas

Kitchen Storage – A Universal Dilemma

Well, if any room in the house is almost guaranteed to have a lack of storage, I’d say the kitchen wins, hands down! It takes a little thought to figure out the best kitchen storage plan but it’s doable.

There are a couple of tricks you can employ to ease the situation but first and foremost, it’s back to that pesky “purge what you don’t really need” task.

I don’t know about you, but I have to confess to having a kitchen drawer filled with odds and ends…stray cookie cutters, a knife sharpener, jar openers, the odd canape knife, twist-ties, plastic forks or knives, straws, pencils, pens, a screwdriver, odd nails & screws…you get the idea.

If you’re like me, half of the pens in that drawer don’t even work…you scribble a little on a piece of paper and if it’s not working you just toss it back in the drawer. And when was the last time you used that knife sharpener?

My point is, that drawer could be put to MUCH better use!

Vertical Storage Solutions

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Small Outdoor Living Spaces
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Small Outdoor Living Spaces

How do you make the most of a small outdoor space?

One of the most clever ways to maximize living in a small home is to add outdoor living wherever possible.  If you have a deck or patio area, you’ve got a start on creating a small outdoor living space!

A picture of a pretty stone patio with

A pretty stone patio that’s almost maintenance free.

Decorating an outdoor space can be accomplished on most any budget whether it’s a small budget or “the sky’s the limit”.

We all would love to have a comfortable and inviting place to relax at the end of a long day or at the weekend with friends and family. Spending time on a summer evening on your deck or patio is just the ticket.

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Multi-Purpose Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
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Multi-Purpose Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

Multi-Purpose Furnishings = Smart Storage = Smart Decorating

It’s true!

It doesn’t matter one whit what size room you’re furnishing but it’s especially smart when your space is small.  

It’s all about Smart Storage

In the living room, bedroom, study…

  • Small chests make great side tables in the bedroom or living room.
  • A small chest is a good place to store books, magazines, and that remote control that’s forever getting lost.
  • Place a small chest by your front door, hang a mirror over it, add a small lamp and you’ve created an attractive and useful entryway.
  • A basket for mail could sit on top.
  • Mittens, hats, keys, maps, etc. can be stashed in the drawers for use when you need them but out of the way when you don’t.

In the Kitchen…

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Unique Modern Area Rugs and How to Choose Them
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Unique Modern Area Rugs and How to Choose Them

Unique modern area rugs as a focal point

Handwoven Unique Modern Area Rug

Handwoven Area Rug from Etsy

If you have a small home without a lot of wall space, a unique modern rug can stand in as a focal point.

It’s a great way to choose colors for accessories, too, to tie the room together. It’s all about area rugs that complement your design style without overwhelming the room.

Notice in this picture that the coral color in the rug has been carried into the throw pillows on the sectional. Just the right pop of color.

 

 

So what are some considerations to think about when choosing area rugs?

#1 Color

Color is a good place to start. Assuming that the floor is a hard surface like hardwood, laminate or tile, you’ll either want to match the color of the floor or contrast it. Continue reading →

Tiny House Designs in 2019
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Tiny House Designs in 2019

Tiny houses are perfect multi-purpose dwellings.

They’re incredibly popular and, although most people think of them as just tiny houses, I know a writer who has one in the family’s back yard and it’s her writing studio.

The average size of a tiny house is 500 to 700 square feet which is about the size of a studio apartment but many of them are much smaller and still meet their owners’ needs.

A tiny house could be a lake home, a guest cottage or a yoga studio. They’ve even been constructed for businesses as retail kiosks.

Here’s how a family in Massachusetts built an amazing backyard building on their $10,000 budget! It’s amazing.

A backyard building on a budget

This is a beautiful backyard addition to their home. It even has an outdoor shower.

And that’s just one great idea…read on for more inspiration. Continue reading →

Using Mirrors in Small Spaces
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Using Mirrors in Small Spaces

Loddon Weathered Wood Scrollwork Wall Mirror

Lodden Weathered Wood scrollwork Wall Mirror

Why You Should Use Mirrors in Small Spaces

Regardless of the size of the room, light is an important element in home decor. Light enhances the furnishings and the colors in the room.

Natural light is ideal but sometimes it’s lacking in a space so including mirrors in room design is a favorite choice by many interior designers.

Mirrors and Light

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Gifts Under $40 from Etsy

Here’s the thing about Etsy. On the website, there’s this definition:

Etsy is a global online marketplace, where people come together to make, sell, buy, and collect unique items.

There’s no Etsy warehouse – just millions of people selling the things they love. We make the whole process easy, helping you connect directly with makers to find something extraordinary.

So it’s a great place to buy gifts because there’s a better than even chance there won’t be duplicates.  Whether you’re shopping for gifts for the home or jewelry, clothing, things for pets, artwork, you’ll find just the right gift.

A Few Suggestions

I’ve found a few examples for you, all under $40.   Continue reading →

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6 Simple Money Saving Kitchen Tips

Saving Money in the Kitchen – 6 Simple Tips

(Updated 3/36/2019)

Photo by hue12 photography on Unsplash

I’ve been thinking about some of the little ways I’m saving energy and there are several items that I use that have become second nature.

Living in a small space is an added incentive.  That’s it. Nothing too expensive or fancy involved. Just plain old common sense tools. If it was good enough for Grandma, it’s good enough for me. What do you think?

Money-saving Tip #1

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