Simple Decor and Fun for Garden Parties

Summer brings memories different memories for many, including vacations at the beach, amusement park, going to the town pool. One of the things I love most about summer is spending time in the backyard with family and friends. I'm not sure why, but food always seems to taste better outside. Gather neighbors and family and have a summer garden party. It can be a simple throw some burgers on the grill get-together or an elaborate multi-course affair. Whichever you choose, the décor and activities will really make your party memorable.

You don't have to spend a lot of money or time to create beautiful decorations with ribbon. Start by making mini maypoles to create a path to the party. Select colorful ribbon, any variety is fine, but make the lighter they are, the more the wind will make them move. Cut them into a variety of lengths. Next, affix the ribbons to wooden garden stakes and place around your yard. What a lovely sight to see the ribbons blowing in the breeze.

A bonfire always makes an outdoor party more festive. A fun activity and great conversation starter to go along with this is to have your guests write down on a piece of paper something they want to get rid of -- from house clutter to a negative emotion. Then have everyone throw the slips of paper into the bonfire, symbolizing the disappearance of whatever was written on it. This is sure to get everyone talking and sharing. You might have more in common with your neighbors than you thought! Then, of course, a bonfire also means time for some s'mores! So, gather those sticks for the gooey marshmallows and share some summer favorites while sharing your thoughts.

Want to make your simple backyard get-together even more memorable? What about making a simple take home favor for your party guests? Yes, even if it's just a simple cookout! Here's an easy gift to give and accept. Gather some smooth, small river rocks and inscribe them with a positive verb such as "laugh," "explore" or "love". Wrap the rocks in a simple white cloth and tie them with colorful ribbon. Your guests can take the rocks home and keep them tucked away in special places or set within easy view to serve not only as a summer memento but also a reminder of the bonfire activity. Keep those positives in mind this summer and enjoy your friends and family in the great outdoors!

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What Is Stoneware Dinnerware?

What is stoneware dinnerware made of?

Stoneware is a hard ceramic material made from 25% ball clay, 15% china clay, 35% flint and 15% china stone that is fired to a high temperature (about 2185 degrees Fahrenheit) giving it a dark, rich textured look of hand made pottery. It can be glazed in a wide variety of colors and finishes (matte, satin and shiny) for diverse designs or left undecorated, but dinnerware pieces should be glazed to keep them water and chip resistant. If you are looking for a bullet-proof dinnerware material that can handle any family, then this is as close as you will get.

Why is Stoneware a great choice for kitchen dinnerware?

Stoneware is so incredibly durable and tends to be thicker, heavier than porcelain or china. These casual dinnerware sets can handle everyday use and still keep there original beauty for years. The variety of color, patterns and styles make it easy to find a dinnerware set that will match any kitchen decor. You can use then in the oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher without harming them. They are able to stack on top of each other in the kitchen cabinet without scratching. This table ware has a sense of character that can only be appreciated by our individual taste.

Stoneware retains heat from the microwave, making it effective for warming food, but cautions should be used with ovens. Don't ever take a dish from the freezer and place it directly in the microwave or oven. Let it reach room temperature before placing it in the over or it will crack from thermal shock. Never use Stoneware on stove tops and broilers. Don't place hot dishes on cold or wet surfaces, as this can cause breakage too.

Most stoneware dinnerware sets come in a basic 16 pieces set that includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four coffee mugs/cups and four bowls. Some 16-piece sets exchange mugs for the glasses, but you can purchase as many sets of four as you will need for your family. Another great thing about casual stoneware dinnerware set is that you can mix and match them to create a unique set that fits your kitchen decor. They are reasonable priced and broken dinnerware can be replaced.

How to Care For Stoneware Dinnerware?

These are one of the easiest type dinnerware to own since a good quality stoneware dinnerware set can be put in the dishwasher or immersed in mild soapy water because it has a protective glaze, but always read the manufacturer's instructions before you put your dinnerware in the dishwasher.

Never put any piece of dinnerware in a microwave oven if it has metal bands or metallic paint in its design or decoration. It may destroy the microwave oven.

If your stoneware casual dinnerware set is to be the only set that you purchase, consider a simple white or off-white set that can be used for everyday, as well as for more formal occasions. It's easy to add bold decorative accents in order to spice up a table setting.

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A Cookie Assembly Line: Efficient Cookie Baking for Busy Cooks

As a busy working mother, I'm short on time, especially during the holidays, but baking Christmas cookies is a family tradition I'm unwilling to give up. Over the years, I've come up with many ways to make the process of baking a large variety of cookies go much smoother and take less time out of my busy life. You may want to start by checking out my 6-day program for hassle-free Christmas cookie baking ( http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com/hassle-free.php ). In addition to the 6-step method, I've found an efficient way to prepare a large variety of cookie dough with minimum fuss by setting up a cookie assembly line. The best part about this process is that you can make 12 different batches of cookies and only have to wash the dishes once!

This process assumes that you have already chosen your recipes and gone grocery shopping. You will want to use your longest available expanse of countertop for this. My assembly line turns two corners as it winds around my small kitchen, but that is fine.

You may need to make some adjustments depending on your individual recipes, but for most recipes, you can set up your assembly line like so:

Flour Line:

-Large mixing bowl -Measuring cups and spoons -Fork for stirring -Flour -Baking powder and baking soda -Salt -Cocoa powder -Spices -Any other dry ingredients that are added to the flour in your recipes

Butter Line

-Another large mixing bowl (or the bowl from your stand mixer) -A second set of measuring cups and spoons -Electric mixer -Wooden spoon -Rubber spatula -Butter, shortening, margarine and/or cream cheese -Sugar (white and brown) -Eggs -Vanilla and other extracts -Chunks such as raisins, nuts, chocolate chips -Rolled oats -Any other ingredients that are added to the butter and eggs in your recipes -Plastic wrap -Felt-tip marker

To avoid transferring flavors from one recipe to another, you will start with basic recipes that have no spices, chocolate, or other strongly flavored ingredients. Starting with your first recipe, go down the line measuring out the amount of flour, baking powder/soda and salt into one bowl. Then, combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla in your larger bowl as directed. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. After that, stir in any chunks.

Next, scrape down the edges of the mixing bowl so that it's fairly clean, shape the dough into a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Identify the recipe by writing its name on the plastic wrap with a felt-tip marker, and refrigerate it. If it is a slice-and-bake refrigerator cookie, form it into a log instead of a ball, according to the directions in your recipe. If you plan to bake much later, you can even freeze the dough. Most cookie doughs freeze very well. Defrost at room temperature while still wrapped in plastic wrap, and unwrap only when dough is thoroughly defrosted. Otherwise condensation could add too much moisture to your dough.

When your first batch of dough is prepared, wrapped, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, return to the beginning of your assembly line, without washing your dishes, and begin preparing the next batch of dough. When you have prepared all the recipes that contain no spices or cocoa, move on to the recipes that contain cocoa, and finally those that contain spices. This way, you will only have to do dishes once at the end of the process, and you will have several different kinds of dough waiting to be baked.

When all your dough is prepared, then you can finally put away all your ingredients, clean up the kitchen, and do your dishes. Now if you plan to finish your baking today, you'll have lots of space for rolling out your dough or setting out your cooling racks. If you plan to bake another day, you're done!

Copyright 2004 Mimi Cummins. All Rights Reserved.

Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   

A Cookie Assembly Line: Efficient Cookie Baking for Busy Cooks

As a busy working mother, I'm short on time, especially during the holidays, but baking Christmas cookies is a family tradition I'm unwilling to give up. Over the years, I've come up with many ways to make the process of baking a large variety of cookies go much smoother and take less time out of my busy life. You may want to start by checking out my 6-day program for hassle-free Christmas cookie baking ( http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com/hassle-free.php ). In addition to the 6-step method, I've found an efficient way to prepare a large variety of cookie dough with minimum fuss by setting up a cookie assembly line. The best part about this process is that you can make 12 different batches of cookies and only have to wash the dishes once!

This process assumes that you have already chosen your recipes and gone grocery shopping. You will want to use your longest available expanse of countertop for this. My assembly line turns two corners as it winds around my small kitchen, but that is fine.

You may need to make some adjustments depending on your individual recipes, but for most recipes, you can set up your assembly line like so:

Flour Line:

-Large mixing bowl -Measuring cups and spoons -Fork for stirring -Flour -Baking powder and baking soda -Salt -Cocoa powder -Spices -Any other dry ingredients that are added to the flour in your recipes

Butter Line

-Another large mixing bowl (or the bowl from your stand mixer) -A second set of measuring cups and spoons -Electric mixer -Wooden spoon -Rubber spatula -Butter, shortening, margarine and/or cream cheese -Sugar (white and brown) -Eggs -Vanilla and other extracts -Chunks such as raisins, nuts, chocolate chips -Rolled oats -Any other ingredients that are added to the butter and eggs in your recipes -Plastic wrap -Felt-tip marker

To avoid transferring flavors from one recipe to another, you will start with basic recipes that have no spices, chocolate, or other strongly flavored ingredients. Starting with your first recipe, go down the line measuring out the amount of flour, baking powder/soda and salt into one bowl. Then, combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla in your larger bowl as directed. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. After that, stir in any chunks.

Next, scrape down the edges of the mixing bowl so that it's fairly clean, shape the dough into a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Identify the recipe by writing its name on the plastic wrap with a felt-tip marker, and refrigerate it. If it is a slice-and-bake refrigerator cookie, form it into a log instead of a ball, according to the directions in your recipe. If you plan to bake much later, you can even freeze the dough. Most cookie doughs freeze very well. Defrost at room temperature while still wrapped in plastic wrap, and unwrap only when dough is thoroughly defrosted. Otherwise condensation could add too much moisture to your dough.

When your first batch of dough is prepared, wrapped, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, return to the beginning of your assembly line, without washing your dishes, and begin preparing the next batch of dough. When you have prepared all the recipes that contain no spices or cocoa, move on to the recipes that contain cocoa, and finally those that contain spices. This way, you will only have to do dishes once at the end of the process, and you will have several different kinds of dough waiting to be baked.

When all your dough is prepared, then you can finally put away all your ingredients, clean up the kitchen, and do your dishes. Now if you plan to finish your baking today, you'll have lots of space for rolling out your dough or setting out your cooling racks. If you plan to bake another day, you're done!

Copyright 2004 Mimi Cummins. All Rights Reserved.

Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   Little-known Tips for Easy Holiday Baking   

Disability Insurance For The Long Term

Disability insurance covers you for an extended period of time. Should you be injured or take ill and as a result be unable to perform the duties of your employment, you will be covered under short term disability, then long term disability insurance will cover you. The coverage can be for a period ranging up to five years or until the disabled individual turns sixty five.

Long term disability insurance is often provided by your employer as part of your benefits package. If you purchase it on your own, the benefits are tax free.

Disability insurance on an individual basis makes great sense as if involved in an accident you are more likely to be disabled than die. Therefore it can be argued that it makes more sense to buy long term disability insurance than life insurance.

Disability insurance policies differ from one provider to the next. It is important that you do your research and find the disability insurance policy that best meets your needs with the insurance company that you trust the most. Insurance companies, through an independent insurance broker, will gladly offer you disability insurance quotes free of charge. You can get quotes online now which is the easiest way as you are not being pushed by an agent.

It is important to purchase your insurance from a company that you trust, because you need the company to be there if you need them. When you get your quotes, be sure to ask questions about the company and the specifics of the policy. Disability insurance needs to be tailored to meet your needs and complement any existing insurance policies that you may already have. Again, be certain that you are buying the plan that meets your needs completely.

Probably the most important thing for you to do, is to read all the provisions of the policy before you buy it.

Disability Insurance in Depth   Do I Really need Disability Insurance Coverage?   Disability Insurance in Depth   

Disability Insurance For The Long Term

Disability insurance covers you for an extended period of time. Should you be injured or take ill and as a result be unable to perform the duties of your employment, you will be covered under short term disability, then long term disability insurance will cover you. The coverage can be for a period ranging up to five years or until the disabled individual turns sixty five.

Long term disability insurance is often provided by your employer as part of your benefits package. If you purchase it on your own, the benefits are tax free.

Disability insurance on an individual basis makes great sense as if involved in an accident you are more likely to be disabled than die. Therefore it can be argued that it makes more sense to buy long term disability insurance than life insurance.

Disability insurance policies differ from one provider to the next. It is important that you do your research and find the disability insurance policy that best meets your needs with the insurance company that you trust the most. Insurance companies, through an independent insurance broker, will gladly offer you disability insurance quotes free of charge. You can get quotes online now which is the easiest way as you are not being pushed by an agent.

It is important to purchase your insurance from a company that you trust, because you need the company to be there if you need them. When you get your quotes, be sure to ask questions about the company and the specifics of the policy. Disability insurance needs to be tailored to meet your needs and complement any existing insurance policies that you may already have. Again, be certain that you are buying the plan that meets your needs completely.

Probably the most important thing for you to do, is to read all the provisions of the policy before you buy it.

Disability Insurance in Depth   Do I Really need Disability Insurance Coverage?   Disability Insurance in Depth