Easter Brunch for Chocolate Lovers
by Coryanne Ettiene
We all have those moments when our maturity escapes us and we find ourselves regressing into our 7 year old self…for me, it is the Easter candy selection that generally comes out in January and finally grabs hold of me in April to the point that I start dreaming about the 3 foot tall chocolate bunnies that are so prolific this time of year. While I a not really a chocolate lover, I have been known to binge on this heavenly creation from time to time….and Easter is one of those times when I thank the Easter Bunny for the new pair of Spanx he left me, and look for everything imaginable to cover in chocolate. … {Read More…}
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How to Create The Perfect Guest Room
by Coryanne Ettiene of Housewife Bliss
In my experience as both a guest and a hostess, the happiest guests are those that have their own space, the luxury of idleness and are met by a relaxed hostess. Nothing says welcome as much as a well ordered home, a happy hostess and a calm space to enjoy friends and family.
Decorator: Kris Hermance, Photographer: Jeff McNamara, Courtesy of: Better Homes & Gardens
The onset of house guests can send most people into a frenzy, however a well planned arrival will give you time to enjoy your guests and create a welcoming environment for them that will no doubt have you all enjoying your time together.
In the week prior to a guest arriving, plan your meals, stock your drinks cabinet, have your windows cleaned, your garden tidied, your house scrubbed and ensure that all your laundry is done—in other words, do your shopping, your errands and ensure your home is haven from the outside world. I find that by getting everything in order the day before they arrive, I can enjoy the calm before the ‘storm’.
How to Create the Perfect Guest Room:
Like the kitchen is the heart of your home, the guest room is the heart of your guest. If you layout an inviting guestroom, your guests will spend more time in it, and that is always a good thing. These are the essentials I find for making a guest room inviting:…………….
Dress the bed with freshly laundered and ironed linen; not only does it look nicer, it also feels divine. Nothing says you care more than an inviting bed, iron sheets and fluffed pillows.
Stack books you think your guests might enjoy
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Prepare a personalized stack of bedside reading. I make a point of finding out what they like to read and in the run up to a visit, I keep an eye out for magazine articles that my guest may find enjoyable. When I find one, I clip a note to the front of the magazine letting them know I think they may enjoy reading it. I also make a trip to the local library and hunt a few books that might be of interest to them; again I make a note as to why they might like it, and clip it to the book. I leave both the books and the magazines on the bedside table for them.
A small bouquet of flowers makes any guest feels special!
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Brighten the room with fresh flowers – choosing flowers from the season ensures that they will be fresh for the duration of the stay. Be careful not to over burden the room with heavy scents, if you are going for a scented floral bouquet, limit the scented sprigs and fill the remained of the bouquet with bright stems. A bright and lightly scented bouquet always makes the room inviting
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Pamper Them With Chocolates
Treats keep them sweet – I make a batch of chocolates a few days before and keep them in the fridge. On the morning of their arrival, I place a few in a nice jar and leave it on the bedside table next to a single serving bottle of a nice tipple. Going off the dream-land with a nice tipple and a sweet morsel is decadent and the sort of thing one would never do for themselves.
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Chocolate making is simple and takes less time than you may think. Here is the basic recipe to follow, use imagination and experiment before you guest arrive to ensure you have mastered your own delightful chocolate assortments.
- 1 bar of milk melting chocolate, 200g will make 8 molded chocolates.
- 1 tablespoon of clear honey (used to bind the mixture)
- 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter (used to clarify & soften the mixture)
- 1 silicone chocolate mold
Break chocolate into small pieces (I use a rolling pin) place in glass mixing bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Once it begins to melt, stir in the butter and honey. Stir until completely melted to avoid burning the chocolate. Once melted, use a spoon to ladle the mixture into the molds. Add dried fruit, finely chopped nuts are anything your heart desires to the mold and layer with chocolate to seal them in. Once the molds are done, pop in the fridge, let sit for 2 hours and then remove them from their trays. Leave in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Enjoy your guests, build those friendships, and take pride in your efforts at creating a memorable stay. Once they leave, your home will no doubt feel ‘hungover’ and in need of your attention; for a quick home recovery guide click here.……….
For More on Guest Rooms you Might Enjoy:
The Cutest Little Houses You’ll Ever See (Guest Houses!)
Have You Ever Thought About Living in a Tent
Read More »The Laundry Witch
by Coryanne Ettiene, Housewife Bliss.
create a place for orphaned socks
One of the down sides of going from single socialite to married in the suburbs is that your relationship with your dry cleaner suffers and you become well acquainted with your laundry room. Keeping your family in clean clothes is an endless task and enjoyed by few, however having a clean and well organized laundry room will make your life as a laundress a bit more enjoyable, your white goods last longer and maybe even save you a bit of time.
Top tips for becoming a modern day laundress
Deep Clean Action Plan
- Clean your dryer vent: Remove the lint from your dryer’s lint trap at the end of each drying cycle, and for a deep clean remove it, washed it in warm sudsy water and let air dry before returning it to the dryer. While the lint trap is drying, use your vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the trap area, removing all stray lint lurking in the corners, and finish by wiping the area down with a damp cloth.
- Clean your washing machine & dryer: Use warm sudsy water to clean the rubber gaskets on your machine doors, your buttons and the surface of your machines. Once this is done, run a cleansing cycle by filling the washing machine with hot water and a cup of white vinegar to remove any grime on the surface and deep within the machine. Once done move both the washer and the dryer away from the wall, unplug them and use your brush attachment to clean the back of the machines.
Keep it tidy and organized
Everything in its place in this Laundry Room - Don't forget to notice tthe wallpaper! Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens (bhg.com)
1. Create a hold all for orphaned socks.
2. Have a piggy bank for all that loose change jingling about in those pockets.
3. Keep your dryer sheets and detergent within easy reach of your machines.
4. Hang a bulletin board for washing instructions, stain removal tips, and any other laundry knowledge that you want at your fingertips.
5. If space allows, hang a shower rod/hanging rod. They make a great air dryer and waiting space for items in need ironing. And if space is not an issue, go all out with a garment rack.
6. Don’t give yourself any excuses for not folding your laundry the second it is dry.
7. Create a comfortable folding space near the dryer.
Everyday laundry solutions:
- Static is messing with my hair: While doing laundry, separate the synthetic fabrics (especially nylon—are people still wearing nylon these days?) from the natural fabrics (like cotton) when putting clothes into the dryer. A load of all-natural fabrics, is unlikely to produce static.
- Lint on clothes is spoiling my look: Separate clothes that tend to produce lint like towels, sweatshirts, chenille and flannel, from corduroy, velvets and other clothes that attract lint.
- Paper Debris is spoiling my wash: If you do find that you missed an elusive tissue or note and your laundry is covered in paper debris, go over the clothes with a dry sponge or your rubber cleaning gloves. If all else fails, put the offending items on a rinse cycle.
- I need it dry now: Your wet clothes will dry faster if you put a dry towel into the tumble dryer with them.
- I am scared of running colors: Add 1/2 cup of salt to the wash cycle to prevent new colored fabrics from running.
Organize your laundry room for easy access Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens (bhg.com)
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