It’s that magical time of year when Mother Nature reinvents herself. I love watching everything come to life after a long winter. Spring is also the time when people take a look at their homes and decide to tackle long delayed projects. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the inside of your home bloom along with the outside? Most of us feel overwhelmed when we look at a large project that we just can’t get started. Here are some ways to declutter and spruce up the inside of your home.
Clean & Declutter: Just take one room at a time. Get rid of all the extra “stuff” that has accumulated and give each room a good cleaning.
Paint: It is amazing what a new paint job in a pretty updated color can do for a room. Are any of your rooms looking a bit tired? Wake them up with a new color.
Window Treatments: If you don’t have a privacy issue and have a nice view, take everything off the windows and let the sun shine in. The view will be Mother Nature’s artwork in the room. If you do need window treatments, keep them simple. Side panels on a pretty rod, roman shades, or plantation shutters are fun options.
Kitchens & Baths: New faucets, light fixtures, handles, and pulls on the cabinets and new towels in the bathroom will add sparkle without breaking the bank.
Lamps: New lampshades and bulbs are quick fixes that can brighten things up.
Foyer: Do your guests feel immediately welcome when they enter your home? Open your front door and what do you see? Perhaps a rug, mirror, small bench or chair. Flowers can create a warm, cheerful welcome.
Rugs: For a quick update to a living or family room add a new area rug that will define the conversation area.
Pillows: It is amazing what a couple of pretty new throw pillows can do to add sparkle to a room. This is an easy and inexpensive update.
“Work With What You Got!”
©Tiny New York Kitchen © 2018 All Rights Reserved
Table Manners Dos and Don’ts
I believe it’s always best to start with the positive so let’s start with the “Dos.”
Table Dos
Do place your napkin in your lap, and use it to blot your lips and wipe your hands.
Do wait for your hostess to be seated before you start eating, unless requested to do so earlier.
Do cut food into manageable, bite-sized pieces, and swallow before you speak.
Do say, “Please pass the…” instead of reaching across the table and igniting yourself on an open flame.
Do place fork and knife diagonally across the upper right hand corner of your plate when you are finished eating.
Do remove hot or inedible substances from your mouth with your fork, not your fingers or napkin.
Do eat drink garnishes after draining your glass, not before.
Do use a fork when sopping up gravy or sauces with chunks of bread.
Do use finger bowls to clean fingers, and hot towels to clean hands and mouths.
Do refrain from making or receiving phone calls at the table.
Table Don’ts
Don’t grasp eating utensils as you would a garden trowel or hammer, or place used utensils directly on the table.
Don’t tuck your napkin into your shirt collar.
Don’t primp or clean your teeth at the table.
Don’t fidget or make loud noises while you eat (slurping, burping, lip-smacking).
Don’t slouch or otherwise lean on the table.
Don’t scoop ice from your water glass to cool hot soups or beverages.
Don’t season your food before you taste it.
Don’t push your plate away from you when you are finished eating.
Don’t leave your spoon in your mug while drinking from it, or wring tea bags with your fingers.
Don’t dunk donuts or scones into beverages.
“Work With What You Got!”
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen
