Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:09 AM
Are you ready for some warm weather? If you are, you can start
prepping now for your apartment's spring cleaning. Check out this week
by week chart to get your house ready for summer and spring. Keep
reading to learn some tips and tricks for your spring cleaning marathon.
I don’t know about you, but by mid-February each year, I’ve had it
with winter. I’m tired of the short days, the cold weather, and flu
season. Maybe most of all, I’m tired of the dirt and grime that seems
the settle on everything — my house, my car, my kitchen floors — after
the snow becomes mixed with road salt, soot, and dirt and finds its way
into every nook and cranny. You can imagine, then, how delighted I am to
say that spring cleaning season is just around the corner. (See also: Control Your Allergies with Regular Cleaning)
Don’t know where to start with your own spring cleaning? Try breaking
it up into small, manageable bits by assigning just three tasks to each
weekend in March. Follow my week-by-week checklist below to restore
order and cleanliness to your home and prepare for a relaxing,
rejuvenating spring!
Week One: De-Clutter Your Kitchen
1. Fridge
I know, I know. We all hate to clean the fridge, but what better time
to do it thoroughly than spring cleaning? Start by cleaning out the
freezer. Although the USDA says frozen foods remain safe to eat indefinitely, you do start to sacrifice taste and food quality after a certain amount of time. Use their chart
to determine whether to throw away that casserole in your freezer.
Next, clean your freezer with a sponge and 1:3 mixture of vinegar and
water (vinegar is safe on areas that touch food and will remove stains
and odors). Repeat with your refrigerator. Finish by dusting the top of
the fridge, wiping down the sides, and vacuuming your refrigerator coils. Added bonus: Keeping your coils clean can help your refrigerator run more efficiently, saving you money.
2. Cabinets
“Cabinets” is a broad area to clean, I know. My advice pertains more
to organizing your kitchen cabinets than to cleaning the outside of
them, however. Attack your spring-cleaning cabinet organization by
assessing the problem areas (junk drawer, Tupperware cabinet, or pots
and pans cabinet, for example). Try to articulate what the problem is, and why
it’s a problem for you. For example, my pots and pans cabinet is in
shambles because my BF loves to throw things in there all willy-nilly
after they come out of the dishwasher. Think of a solution that might
address the root of the problem. For me, that would involve either
buying a pot rack to hang my pots and pans (one per hook; problem
solved!) or making clear dividers in the cabinets (skillets on the left,
sauce pans on the right, thank you very much). It could be as simple as
delineating the spaces with two tablecloths, or could be solved with an
organizational tool from the store.
3. Oven/Dishwasher
OK, there’s nothing really similar between an oven and a dishwasher,
but I said just three tasks per weekend, right? Plus, all you really
need to do for the oven is turn on the self-cleaning feature or, for a
lighter cleaning, use these oven-cleaning tips from Good Housekeeping.
To clean your dishwasher, start by wiping down the outside and work
your way in. Wipe the front, sides, and bottom (none of which gets
washed during a normal cycle), and then clean debris out of the spinning
arms and the grate/grill under the arms. Finally, run an empty cycle
with distilled white vinegar to help remove hard water deposits and
other grime you can’t reach. Week one: done!
Week Two: Beautify Your Bedroom
1. Thin the Herd (in Your Closet)
I clean my closet every six months or so but still seem to find a
bounty of clothes to discard after each go-round. To decide which pieces
to keep and which to give away, I go with the six-month rule: If I
haven't worn it in six months, I probably won't miss it if it goes. In
fact, I can't ever remember thinking, "I wish I had kept that
out-of-date white sweater; it would go great with these shoes!" After a
healthy wardrobe trimming, switch out your winter clothes for the
lighter-weather wear. Decide whether you’re a person who likes to
organize by color or by type. Store out-of-season clothing under the bed
or in an out-of-the-way spot.
2. Organize Dresser Drawers
Dresser drawers are kind of like kitchen cabinets and luckily, you
have experience organizing those from week one. Do the same for your
boudoir boxes and systematically identify problem areas, causes, and
solutions. In my case, my sock drawer is a real pain. I have trouser
socks, warm fuzzy socks, and running socks all jumbled together in one,
socky mess. A simple solution is to sort socks by use (work, casual, and
running) and divide the drawer according. For a budget-friendly
solution, try using shoe boxes, pencil organizers, or tissue boxes.
3. Tend to Bedding
There is conflicting advice on whether you should flip your mattress
every so often in order to lengthen its useful life; I’m in favor of the
practice. You might also want to vacuum your mattress using the
upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner and then cover your
mattress with a good cover to help keep dust mites and allergens at bay.
While you’re at it, either replace old pillows or check to see whether
you can wash them (most types of pillows, whether made from natural or
synthetic materials, are machine-washable). Lastly, change out your
warm, winter blankets and comforter for lighter bedding.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
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Week Three: How About That Home Office?
1. File, File, File
Of all the tasks on my spring cleaning list, this is the one I dread
the most. On the other hand, I know it will feel amazing to finally have
my file drawers organized. During week three of March, organize your
file drawer. If you don’t have a designated file cabinet or file drawer,
you should. Motivate yourself to organize by buying brightly colored
labels (I love Post-It® Filing Tabs! Download coupons here.)
and hanging file folders. Then, get to filing — my folders are divided
by categories like insurance information, taxes, medical bills,
receipts, coupons, etc. If you already have a filing system in place,
use this time to go through documents and shred what you no longer need.
Here is a list of how long to hold on to important documents.
2. Clean Up Your Computer
Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning your physical space; it’s
about the electronic sphere, too. There are a number of quick tasks you
can do to improve the speed of your PC or Mac, including getting rid of unused files and programs, cleaning up your desktop, and defragmenting your hard drive.
3. Update Antivirus & Anti-Spyware Software
After you’ve improved the speed of your computer, keep it safe by updating your antivirus and anti-spyware software. Top Ten Reviews has a comprehensive list of the best antivirus and anti-spyware programs available, while PCWorld has reviews of the best free antivirus and anti-spyware out there. Finally, don’t forget to put a file backup strategy in place, so you don’t lose all your important electronic documents or programs.
Week Four: Tackle Outdoor Spaces
1. Clean Gutters
If you’re a homeowner, you’ll want to periodically clean out your
gutters in order to prevent water damage to the roof and walls of your
home. DIY Network has a great tutorial on cleaning and repairing your gutters yourself.
2. Clean Outside of Windows
As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, let in more
sunlight by cleaning the outside of your windows. Start by clearing away
cobwebs and debris using a soft cloth, then clean the glass itself
using a window-cleaning product or a 1:1 mix of vinegar and hot water (vinegar to the rescue again!). Make your job easier by purchasing a squeegee to wipe of excess water and prevent streaks. Wipe dry.
3. Clean Patio Furniture
Nobody likes to sit on a dirty, mucky patio chair. Increase the
chances that you’ll make use of your outdoor spaces this season by
cleaning your patio furniture. Mix dishwashing liquid with warm water
and use this with a brush to scrub tables and chairs. While you’re at
it, clean up your porch or patio by clearing away debris and sweeping
the area. Treat stains with a 1:3 mixture of bleach and water and
scrubbing the area with a hard-bristle brush.
There, you’ve made it! Four short weeks of three tasks per week. Now
sit back, and enjoy the weather! Or, if you have extra time, take care
of some other miscellaneous once-a-year tasks:
- Change your air filter
- Clean out your dryer ducts to help prevent fires
- Inventory items in your home in case of theft or fire
- Discard old beauty and bath products
For more information see Wisebread.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:55 AM
These are your last days to see the Winter Fire Colors Show at the Mediterranean Conservatory. The event runs until February 24th at the ABQ BioPark Botanical Garden. It is even included in your admission price!
Warm up with the blaze of colors in the Mediterranean Conservatory starting Jan. 19.
When
Jan 19, 2013 09:00 AM
-
Feb 24, 2013 05:00 PM
Where
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
2601 Central NW
Albuquerque,
NM
87104
Description
Join us each day for the annual Winter Fire Colors Flower
Show. Warm up with flowers in hot colors from the Mediterranean
climates. These fiery hues provide welcome relief from winter's chill.
More Information
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:19 AM
Do you always make the same brownies for dessert? Check out this great recipe for double chocolate cherry recipes.
I
have my go-to brownie recipe and I generally don't mess around with it.
If I'm going to make brownies, it's what I reach for. But then there
are days (like today) when there are dried cherries in the pantry and I
begin to wonder what would happen if I jammed a few different kinds of
chocolate, some quinoa flakes, and said dried cherries into one pan of brownies? The answer: something quite wonderful.
In the most recent issue of Cooks Illustrated, they featured a
Classic Brownie recipe, discussing in great length what makes them
different. I tend to be of the camp that thinks, "What's new under the
sun when it comes to brownies?" but the thing that caught my attention
was the mention of cake flour. The recipe testers insist, "Cake flour
makes tender brownies with a delicate chew." I was intrigued.
As
you well know, there are many different kinds of brownie folks out
there. There are the fudgy folks, the cakey folks, and the chewy folks —
and all of you who fall in between, happily straddling one or the
other. I tend to prefer a pretty fudgy, rich brownie, but I also love
them to have a bit of a chew and that nice crackly layer on top. So I
decided to give it a go with cake flour. I amped up the quantity of
chocolate that I usually use, relying on both chopped chocolate and
cocoa powder, and experimented with one of my new favorite ingredients:
quinoa flakes.
If you're not familiar with quinoa flakes, you
can find them in a box at most well-stocked grocery stores (I buy
Ancient Harvest brand); they're essentially quinoa that's been pressed
flat into quick-cooking flakes. Many folks use them as a speedy warm
breakfast cereal, but I've been folding them into cookies and quick
breads lately. And now brownies. I love quinoa flakes because they're an
easy way to get an extra little hit of protein in unexpected places and
they don't change the taste or texture of a recipe very much.
While
this recipe has a few unexpected ingredients, it doesn't stray far from
simplicity. That's one of the things I love about brownies: you should
be able to whip them up in under 30 minutes. Always. I don't believe
even the most deluxe brownie recipes warrant multiple dirty bowls or
kitchen thermometers. I don't really even believe in sifting the dry
ingredients, actually. So these brownies reflect my desire for a simple,
decadent brownie — yet one into which we can sneak a few grains and
dried fruits when the urge strikes. Enjoy!
Quick recipe note: I
used chocolate feves for this recipes — they're essentially nice, round
disks of dark chocolate that make it easier when it comes to baking as
you can eliminate all that chopping. But use whichever chocolate you
really like. A nice dark chocolate is my preference.
Double Chocolate Cherry Quinoa BrowniesServes 9-12
3/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup cake flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces dark chocolate (between 60-72% is ideal), finely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to top
Soak the cherries in warm water for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours. This will help plump them up nicely.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch square baking pan (or spray with a little cooking spray)
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the two flours, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
Combine
the chopped chocolate and butter into a small saucepan and warm over
low heat until the mixture is melted completely and smooth. Remove from
the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside.
In the bowl
of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the
sugar and the eggs on medium speed until quite pale and aerated, about 3
minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add 1/3 of the dry
ingredients, mixing just long enough to incorporate them. Add 1/3 of the
butter/chocolate mixture and mix to combine. Repeat, until the dry
mixture and butter/chocolate mixture are both fully incorporated. Turn
off the mixer and fold in the quiona flakes by hand. Drain the cherries
and fold them in as well.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula.
Bake
for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted into the center and
comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool at room
temperature for at least 45 minutes before slicing. Using a fine-mesh
sieve of sifter, sprinkle the tops with a little powdered sugar before
slicing.
For more information see
The Kitchn.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:18 AM
Do you love Nutella? Check out these great recipes you can use with
Nutella! Yesterday was World Nutella Day, and tell us how what recipe you plan
to try!
I don't spend a lot of time pointing out so-called "food holidays"
that celebrate specific foods, like National Hot Chocolate Day, because
they always seem a little fake and to be honest, they make me a little
grumpy. But I can make an exception for one of my favorite treats: the
creamy combination of chocolate and hazelnut, more popularly known as
Nutella.
Yes, it's World Nutella Day. How are you going to celebrate?
Lest you also become
grumpy and point out the ingredients in Nutella you object to, remember
that we're just using Nutella as a stand-in for any spread made with
chocolate and hazelnuts, even homemade.
It's like saying Kleenex instead of tissue, or Hoovering instead of
vacuuming. Except better, obviously, because you're talking about
Nutella.
• 1 Nutella Banana Ice Cream at The Kitchn
• 2 Hot Baked Nutella & Cream Cheese Sandwich at The Kitchn
• 3 Banana Nutella Granola at Sally's Baking Addiction
• 4 Two-Bite Nutella Chocolate Cookies at The Kitchn
• 5 Chocolate Nutella 2 Minute Microwave Cakes at Ichigo Shortcake
For more information see
The Kitchn.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:57 AM
Do you want ways to decorate and organize your work space? Cork is the
new way to make something new in your work space. Keep reading to learn
about how you can incorporate cork into your office.
Cork in an office space is not a new idea; you've probably got a
bulletin
board up in your workspace right now. But using this flexible,
functional material in other neat ways around your workspace means every
surface becomes a memo board. Better stock up on push pins.
A Cork Pencil Holder
IKEA cork trivets become a cool desk command station in this DIY project from Design for Mankind.
Cork Vases and Cups
Another clever DIY, these
vases and knick-knack cups are crafted from aluminum cans and a roll of
thin cork. Check out the full isntructions from papernstitch.
Cork Planter Bookends
This bookend set from Canoe is a triple threat, offering to give your books order, your plants a home, and your notes a pinboard. Grab the set here for $48.
A Cork Tray
A cute tray is a great way to visually anchor desktop neccessities, and this one from Ferm Living can pull double duty as a memo space (€31, $42).
A Corkboard (duh!)
It's the most common use for cork in the office, but it doesn't have to be predictable. Go nuts with different sizes and shapes, or give your bulletin board a new look with some paint, like Belinda of The Happy Home Blog.
For more information see
Apartment Therapy.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:57 AM
Congratulations Albuquerque! They have been ranked in the top 25 places to go in
2013. This city is known for it’s
great events and affordable nature.
It has something for all ages and families. The city has also been boosted because of the filming of the
show Breaking Bad.
The experts at Fodor’s
Travel announced today that Albuquerque has been named among the Top 25 Places to Go in 2013. Fodor’s editors have
chosen Albuquerque as a hot travel destination because of our excellent value
for visitors, calling the city an affordable getaway for nature lovers and
families. Albuquerque’s visibility on the AMC show “Breaking Bad” has also
helped elevate the destination’s profile for travelers.
"The places on our Go List are our ‘must-dos’ for the coming year.
Travelers should add these far flung and domestic destinations to their 2013
itinerary," said Arabella Bowen, Executive Editorial Director at Fodor's
Travel. The cities were selected by Fodor’s senior editorial team who began with
an initial list of 75 global travel spots, narrowing them down to the final 25
locales on the Go List after heated internal debate.
The story highlights a slower pace of life and calls out the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta,
the ABQ BioPark and Gruet Winery as highlights. Two local
lodging boutique properties were called out by the editor – Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
and the Hotel Andaluz - and
appropriate for this time of year, Fodor’s mentions the Luminaria Tour at the
holidays as a special time to visit Albuquerque. The complete story is
available here: http://www.fodors.com/go-list/2013/.
Albuquerque has also been highlighted as one of 20
Awesome Winter Foodie Destinations by Zagat.com again focusing
on Los Poblanos. The story, which is available here: http://blog.zagat.com/2012/12/20-awesome-winter-foodie-destinations.html,
says “If you haven’t experienced the great Southwest, now is the time and
Albuquerque the place to start.”
Just west of Albuquerque, the Acoma Pueblo was also named one of “12 most extreme places in America worth visiting”
by BudgetTravel.com and showcased on FoxNews.com. The list is a compilation of
longest, coldest, hottest, biggest and oldest. That’s where Acoma “Sky City”
Pueblo comes in; it is said to be one of the oldest sites in North America.
For more information see
It’s
a Trip
Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:52 AM
