#Parents aspiring to minimalism (or at least hoping to keep chaos at a minimum) will want to #organize anything that comes home at the end of the #school year and prepare for the next, says Your Mom Village. Have your #kids empty their backpacks and sort out the supplies. Broken crayons and used-up pencils and pens can go in the trash; notebooks can be saved if they still have lots of unused sheets left. Group useful items together for storage — and into bins labeled by child, if necessary — until the #fall. Launder the backpacks, and start shopping for any #school supplies you’ll need in the fall to beat the #back-to-school rush. #SchoolsOut
Tag: fall
Cook Your Thanksgiving Feast Ahead of Time
The easiest #Thanksgiving #feast is one you don’t have to #cook. But let’s face it: You won’t get the same satisfaction or quality out of a catered meal unless you spend a lot of money. To take the stress and expense out of preparing the #holiday feast, limit the number dishes you plan to serve and create a timeline of what you can make ahead and what need to cook that day, says RecipeTinEats. For example, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie will be taste just fine — maybe better — if you make them ahead of time and reheat or plate them just before serving. #NoFailFallCooking
Fall Appetizers That Outshine the Mains
The #Thanksgiving feast has grown to encompass so many signature dishes that it takes hours or days to stage and rarely starts on time. More problematic, some guests will hold off on food until they arrive at the festivities, risking “hangry” attitudes. Appetizers and snacks can fill those voids during the holidays, and many are so tasty that you can skip the mains altogether. Try cooking up seasonal starters such as a pumpkin hummus, baked brie or sweet potato rounds, The Every Girl suggests, for your next dish to pass or serve at a holiday feast, decorating night, gift-wrapping party or casual get-together. #NoFailFallCooking
Soup Is Good Food for Fall
“Soup is good food,” the ads used to say. And really, is anything more satisfying in the #fall and #winter than a big pot of hot soup on the stovetop? The regular rotation at The Organizing Blog’s kitchen includes split pea, black bean, chili, white-bean chicken chili, curried butternut squash, tomato bisque, shrimp and corn chowder, lentil sausage and gumbo, but there are dozens of recipes that can satisfy a crowd with seasonal ingredients. Long story short: If it’s edible, you can make soup out of it, so brainstorm the ingredients you like and go to the search engine for ideas! #NoFailFallCooking
Beat the Holiday Shopping Crowds
With prices rising rapidly and the #holidays on the horizon, you might want to start #shopping early. Stock up on any ingredients you might need for your #fall feasts and baking before the supplies run out, and hit the malls ahead of the crowds. You can #save #money and beat the rush by looking for lightly used cold-weather gear such as sweaters and coats (and maybe a few #gifts) at the local #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by your generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org now. Resale proceeds go toward the support of valuable #veterans programs nationwide. #FallActivities