The Etiquette of Hosting
November 19, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurabloom Whether hosting the family Thanksgiving feast of a holiday cocktail party, it is easy to become overwhelmed or feel unsure of proper etiquette rules. Here are a few tips to make the event run smoothly and earn you a reputation as a wonderful hostess. Send invitations (or make phone calls) two weeks in advance. [...]
Table Runners
November 18, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
Table runners can be a great accent to a holiday table. http://www.flickr.com/photos/via The most popular way to use a table runner is to have it run length-wise down the entire table. In this arrangement, it can supplement the centerpiece. It can also be a place to set candles or other decorations. A table runner can [...]
A Few Fall Centerpieces
November 17, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
© http://www.flickr.com/photos/hangele In this month’s issue of Fayette Woman, I wrote about some creative ways to set the the table for the Thanksgiving. To supplement that, here are a few ideas for some creative, relatively simple centerpieces to add a little style to the Thanksgiving table without overwhelming the table. While the centerpiece should be elegant [...]
Maintaining an Energy Efficient Home
November 16, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanegorski Making sure your home is energy efficient is not only beneficial to the environment; it can also save you money, especially during colder months, when the heat is running more ofte. Here are a few tips for saving energy in the home: Cook with small appliances like an electric skillet or slow cooker. (Small appliances = [...]
The Kitchen Sink
November 13, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
Popular Materials for Kitchen Sinks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo Stainless Steel is one of the most popular materials for kitchen sinks. It is durable, long-lasting and does not rust. However, it can scratch. Copper and brass sinks have become somewhat popular recently. They evoke and old-world atmosphere and are also very durable. Glass sinks are another somewhat trendy [...]
Track Lighting
November 12, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
© http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo A relatively low-budget, minimal-mess project for updating the kitchen is to remove fluorescent box lights and replace them with track lighting. In addition to updating the kitchen with a more modern, en vogue look, track lighting has the added benefit of being adjustable so homeowners can angle the lights as needed. While often modern [...]
Kitchen Cabinets
November 11, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
© http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo Studies indicate that cabinets have the most significant impact on homeowners’ perception of a new kitchen. While replacing kitchen cabinets can be an expensive endeavor, there are a few less expensive options for updating the kitchen and sprucing up the cabinet design. Oak cabinets are no longer in style, but they can be [...]
Cleaning out the refrigerator…
November 10, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
Yesterday’s post offered a guide for how long baking ingredients last. Today, we’ll do the same for condiments, a few long-lasting fresh foods, and some frozen foods. © http://www.flickr.com/photos/barron Selected Fresh Foods Potatoes – 2-4 months Onions – 1-3 months Apples – 1-2 months Grapes – 1-2 weeks Condiments Salad dressing – 3 months Mayonaise – [...]
Flour, Sugar and Baking Soda…
November 9, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
© http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron With the brisk fall air and Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, the scent of pumpkin pie and holiday cookies will soon be wafting through the air. For the baker who finds a container of lumpy granulated sugar or a bag of flour they can’t remember buying, here’s a guide to the length [...]
Fun with Fleece
November 6, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
® http://www.flickr.com/photos/twopinkpossums Fleece technically means wool, which is hair from various animals including sheep, llamas and al pacas. The strands of hair on these animals are coarse and become interlocked and matted together, trapping in heat and keeping the animal warm. The fiber is also slightly water resistant. When the animals are sheered, the fur [...]
A Few Knitting Stitch Patterns
November 5, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
Here are a few pretty basic stitch patterns using just a regular knit and purl stitch. © http://www.flickr.com/photos/versicolor The above photo depicts a stockinet stitch, the most basic and common stitch pattern. Stockinet Stitch Row 1: knit Row 2: purl Box Stitch: Row 1: k2, p2, k2, p2 Row 2: p2, k2, p2, k2 Row 3: [...]
Yarn Guide
November 4, 2009 by Krista Franks
Filed under Thoughts of Home
An Overview of Yarns for Knitting Wool is the most popular fiber among traditional knitters. While some think wool to be itchy and uncomfortable, many types of wool, like merino wool are softer than some of the older 100% wool fabrics. Also, many wool blends are very soft and comfortable for scarves and sweaters. Wools [...]