A – I am at work, on my lunch break
2 – The internet is down at home and I won’t get another chance today (btw Virgin Media, you suck)
Charlie – I had considered posting my disgust regarding for the riots in London, but it equals wasted energy.

A, 2, Charlie is a bit of an inside joke with the Mr and I, I was absolutely trying to get my point across during a debate and rather than point 1,2,3 or A,B,C it came out “A, 2, Charlie” – that’s just how I roll!

So, without further ado I am sharing my latest little purchases which make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Behold the BHS Home bargains!!! (BHS stands for British Home Store for my international readers).

First up we have a delightful plastic jug, that looks like it cost far MORE than the £1.40 I paid for it. Isn’t it lovely? Of course it’d be so much nicer if it was real glass but from what I have seen in homeware stores recently, it’d be way out of my budget if it were real cut glass. I SO didn’t need it, but I wanted it all the same. Mr S stated that ‘It doesn’t even fit in our refrigerator’. Fair point hubby, but it looks pretty displayed atop the cabinets with the OTHER items that I hardly ever use but look pretty nonetheless. There was a space for it, so I filled it….

P.S – the jug also came in pink but I restrained myself, and spared Mr S all the same…

My other pointless items (L-R)
New BHS Home Jug
A Jamie Oliver lidded roasting dish, never used but inherited from the previous tenants *how could they forget that, it cost £55 – I know, I checked*,
A beautiful Mason Cash mixing bowl with decorative hearts – I have actually used this one, it was a gift from one of my besties, Mrs E. You know, the one that upped and left for Australia…. bitter? me? noooo!
ANOTHER jug this time from Ikea which is only ever used for flowers
A white square vase
A fluted clear vase
and lastly a lovely glass milk bottle from Cox & Cox that I bought on a whim but has only ever housed single-stem flowers…..

See, I didn’t really need a jug, or anything else to house flowers.

Perhaps I should be given more flowers so that these items will be given a sense of meaning. Reading this Mr S?

Next up is a lovely vibrant green salad bowl and salad servers which we DID need. They were from the ‘Outdoor Living’ range meant for picnics. £2.40 for the lot. Yup, £2.40!

And a Leaf Platter! £1.19…

This thing is huge! As you can see it takes up most of my counter space. I thought it’d be useful for storing fruit on my dining table too. If fruit stayed in it long enough. Hmmm, that has got me thinking about buying some faux fruit to display…. Oooops!

I have a baby shower to attend in early September for an old school friend and I absolutely bought the salad dish and platter with that occasion in mind. We each need to bring a dish, but I think I’ll take 2 (one to substitute as an offering from one of my best friends, who despite being good in the kitchen, just won’t really be all that bothered to make something).

I am thinking of making my Mormor’s Potato Salad (to die for) and perhaps a Hot Brocolli dip.

Not sure if a Hot Brocolli Dip is suitable for pregnant people? Any advice would be welcome? Or suggestions of other dips/finger food which is baby shower acceptable.

P.S – This is what Pinterest does to you. It makes you spot oppotunities in Olive Jars, soak them free of their sticky labels and put tealights inside them to creat a little ‘ambience’ in your home. Doing so will also make your husband laugh at you.

So, on with the daily grind and to check in with friends and family in London. My prayers are with those that have lost thier homes and businesses. xxx

I could try and give you some cleaning tips – which would be as frank as “Go to the store, pick up Dettol/Mr Muscle/Febreze, buy, take cleaning agents home, follow instructions, clean” but that would be naff.

Instead I will share with you an organization tip. I love learning them, coming up with ideas and having that sense of pride and an uncluttered mind.

This time it is about DVDs. Ridding yourself of DVD’s – you don’t need them.

What!? No movies!

Nope, that isn’t what I meant – I meant you don’t need them hanging out in full view every day!

Once you have accumulated a great movie collection, you have also un-accumulated shelf space, more things to dust and a very ‘colourful’ (read: messy looking) display around your entertainment center.

Disclaimer: This photograph has been sourced from Google – because I no longer have a messy DVD rack to photograph! ;o)

So, grab your DVD’s, one of those old CD wallets you used to use (it’s all MP3 downloads nowadays gals) and set to work.

I literally grabbed all of my DVD’s down from the shelves and out of the drawers and from under the beds – we had so many there was no room for them.

I took each one out and began filing them into the wallet. The artwork is printed on the front of the disks so you can do away with the sleeves too.

A stylish way to store your DVD collection.

I managed to reduce our 200+ DVD collection into 2 large CD wallets. I saved so much space! The wallets are stored in the drawers underneath the TV. Always to hand, our entire collection in one space and we can take it all with us for trips away etc.

Now, if you are ruthless, you can chuck out all of the cases if you want. The wallet will keep them safe and dry, and honestly, in the future, we will be downloading films as well as music so there will be no need for the PHYSICAL item unless you are a sentimental little bee, or an absolute hoarder!?

You can box up all the empty cases and store them in a garage or attic if you really can’t let go just yet.

We chucked ours out – and we don’t miss the cases at all.

It really is a great way to look through all your DVD’s and decide which one to watch.

Your kids will benefit too, because they have the DVD’s all in one place and won’t get yelled at for not having put the DVD’s back in the original case, or having pulled them all down from the shelf – and we know who usually has to put them away, don’t we Mom’s?

It’s such a simple tip, but an awesome one at that.

You are welcome! ;o)

P.S – don’t know what to do with all that new shelf space? Put up more family photos. There is nothing more precious.

This case holds 336 DVD’s!

What is the English cooking term for…..?

Oh, how I know it is frustrating when you see an amazing recipe on a blog or a website, and think “I’d love to make that”, it looks so yummy. Wait…….wait! What is cilantro? I don’t think I have a broiler. What are broad beans? Are they like Fava beans?

Will I like that ingredient and how ever will I find it in my local Tesco’s or Grocery store!?  Do they even have that ingredient in my country?

Here is a quick and easy cheat-sheet some of you may find useful, especially if you an American ex-pat in the UK, or vice versa….

Now go forth and collect as many recipes from your friends across the pond and wow your local friends with your ‘exotic’ ingredients.  Wink, wink!

Ingredients

All-purpose flour = Plain flour

Andouille sausage = Smoked sausage

Baking soda = Bicarbonate of soda

Bouillon granules/cubes = Stock cubes/stock

Cilantro = Fresh coriander

Confectioners’ sugar = Icing sugar

Frozen whipped topping = Long-life whipped UHT cream

Corn syrup = Golden syrup

Cornstarch = Cornflour

Egg substitute = Egg white

Eggplant = Aubergine

Fava beans = Broad beans

Frosting = Icing

Garbanzo beans = Chickpeas

Graham cracker = Digestive biscuit

Granulated sugar = Caster sugar

Great Northern beans = Cannellini beans

Green onions = Spring onions

Ground beef (ground lamb, turkey, pork) = Minced beef (minced lamb, turkey, pork)

Half and half = Single cream

Ham steaks = Gammon steaks

Heavy cream = Whipping cream

Instant pudding mix = Whipped dessert mix

Jell-O® gelatin = Jelly

Jelly = Jam

Lasagna noodles = Lasagne sheets

Molasses = Treacle

Non-fat milk = Skimmed milk

Oatmeal = Porridge

Pie crust = Pastry crust

Pizza crust = Pizza base

Pork tenderloin = Pork fillet

Potato chips = Potato crisps

Reduced fat milk = Semi-skimmed milk

Semisweet chocolate = Dark chocolate

Shortening (e.g., Crisco®) = Butter or Margarine, or Vegetable fat spread (e.g., Stork®)

Snow peas = Mangetout

Tomato paste = Tomato puree

Whole wheat flour = Wholemeal flour

Zucchini = Courgette

Cookery Terms

Appetizer = Starter

Entrée = Main Course

Biscuit = Scone

Broiler = Grill

Canned = Tinned

Cookie = Biscuit

Cookie sheet/baking pan = Baking tray

Hard-cooked eggs = Hard-boiled eggs

Mold = Mould (as in a shape maker, not out of date)

Noodles = Pasta

Pie pan = Pie tin

Plastic wrap = Cling film

Rack = Shelf (oven)

Shortdough pastry = Shortcrust pastry

Stovetop = Cooker/hob

Let me know if you have found this useful?

I will be sharing my version of metric/imperial conversions for cooking shortly.

Let me know if I have missed anything else or if anything isn’t quite right!?

Happy cooking!

]]> http://www.mrsstepford.com/recipes/american-english-ingredient-conversions/feed/ 5 http://www.mrsstepford.com/featured/folding-shirts-like-stores/ http://www.mrsstepford.com/featured/folding-shirts-like-stores/#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:06:53 +0000 Mrs Stepford http://www.mrsstepford.com/?p=812

Have you ever wondered how to fold shirts, t-shirts, tops and knitwear so neatly like they do in stores?

Before I worked (for a brief time) in fashion retail, when shopping, I’d want to look at items on the shelves, but could never put them back on the stack how they were folded.

This was embarrassing for me, I know others are quite happy to leave it for the shop assistants to sort – but I always felt bad about making a mess, and later, rather sorry for the poor assistant who had to fold and re-fold day in, day out.

I learnt this technique and thought I’d share it, because it not only saves me from the shame of messing up a store display, but it keeps my closet so organized, everything in a uniform size, and makes it easier to find the shirts I want to wear in the morning.

This technique works for vests, tops, t-shirts, shirts and knitwear. It’s also good for packing for your travels.

Step One

Lay the shirt face down on a flat surface smoothing out any creases. (Excuse my un-ironed shirt).

Step Two

Fold in the right-hand side into the center of the shirt – use the outside of the neckline as the ‘fold’ guide. It may not reach into the center if they are a small size. Don’t fold further in than the neckline.

Step Three

Fold in the left-hand side just the same.

Step Four

Now fold the bottom of the shirt one third up (it should reach just about under the sleeve).

Step Five

Fold the top of the shirt over the meet the bottom fold. Then you might need to spin it round to face you!

Et Voila!

Your shirts will now stack neatly they they do in the stores. Your drawers will be more organized and if you are like me, you’ll no longer feel guilty about putting back a shirt in the store if it started off beautifully folded.

Extra Folding Tip

For longer sleeves, just fold them down along the length of the shirt.

Ahhh, sometimes it pays to be slightly O.C.D.

Is this how you fold your shirts?

I did a little research on the internet and found a fab way to fold towels that keeps them orderly, neat, and well, less embarrassing to look at should my Mother open my closet. She always had her particulars on how even what was behind closed doors reflected your organized (or dis-organized) mind.

They also look lovely sat at the foot of your guest bed – much like a 5* hotel would present towels (unless they like to present them in ornate swan shapes, in which case, I am afraid I can’t help you here gals)!

How to fold towels – Step-by-step guide

You can take your crumpled towel and turn it into a thing of beauty. I see beauty in the simplest of things. Can’t you tell? Who’d have thought I’d find learning how to fold towels an ‘exciting’ topic.

Step One:

Take your towel and lay it out face-down on a flat surface, making sure the longest edge is facing across you. I find fresh from the dryer or line is best as the shape will ‘set’ better.

Step Two:

Take the edge facing you and fold it one third (1/3) into the center of the towel.

Step Three:

Take your other third and fold it over the first third, not quite reaching the outer edge leaving the slightest gap. If it were to reach the edge you’d see the ‘hem’ in the finished shape – not pretty.

Step Four:

Now take the edge on the right and fold that inwards almost to the middle.

Step Five:

Take your left side and also fold this into the middle, but make sure to leave a 1cm gap in the middle to allow for the height of the fold.

Step Six:

Now fold one half on top of the other, and viola, you have a beautifully folded towel with no hems showing and it looks gorgeously neat.

Your towels will now stack neatly.

Or, if you prefer to, you can lay them in your closet to stand and face you. They are so neatly packed they’ll even stand to attention. How cool is that? Even towels will obey your every command, even if the kids and dog won’t!

Step Seven:

Now go make your self a coffee or pour yourself a glass of wine and revel in how you are such an amazing Domestic Goddess with a perfectly organized linen closet.

If you enjoyed this article on how to fold towels and you like to keep a super organized home, check out my other post on How to organize and store your DVD’s.

So there it is, how to fold towels beautifully.