Category: domestic goddess

domestic goddess · food · Germany · happy holidays y'all · yum

Christmas Butterplätzchen

GOING NINETY MILES3 Comments

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Time to make Mama N’s famous Weihnachten cookies again! These melt in your mouth cookies are so easy and everyone will love them. Make them for a party, for your family, for friends or just for yourself! Because you know what, you are worth it!

Here is the recipe in German but if you no entiendo Deutsch 🙂 then here’s the recipe in English.

Ingredients:

150 grams Flour                         75 grams sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Sugar      1 egg yolk

100 grams butter (it says or margarine but REALLY?! do the butter already)

Clean off a countertop and starting at the top of the list make a pile of the ingredients. Then, when you add the butter grab a large knife and cut up all the ingredients together in a pile. Next, with clean hands (!) knead/mix the ingredients. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and set it in the fridge for one hour. Hour is up, roll the dough until it is 3 or 4 millimeters thick. Grab your cookie cutters and place the dough on a floured cookie sheet. Stick it into an oven at 180° C (350°F) for 8 – 10 minutes. Then take out to cool. Violá!

ps – I love the adorable side notes from Mama N in German. Warms my heart!

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domestic goddess · just do it already · love love love · making money · Things and Stuff · tue Gutes und sprich darüber

Decluttr and Make Cash

GOING NINETY MILES4 Comments

Hey, do you like to make a little more money on the side AND get rid of some things that are just taking up space and growing dustballs?

Yeah, I thought so.

Every time I go back to the USA I try to put up things on eBay to make some extra cash to spend on my travels. Sometimes things sell and sometimes they don’t. But don’t worry this isn’t an eBay post.

This is a Decluttr post! Have you heard of Decluttr? I just recently found out about it and made $25 by getting rid of things I didn’t want or need. It is seriously amazeballs. Amazeballs, dustballs …… I am seeing a ballsy theme here.

It’s so simple too. Decluttr buys CDs, DVDs, books, cell phones, Kindles, tablets, MacBooks, computer games, Smartwatches and even LEGOs! I know you have some of these gathering dust in your closets. Why not make some money on them?

I sent in CDs, DVDs and a few books. You download the App and it’s so simple, all you have to do is use the barcode scanner to see what Decluttr will pay you for it. Most books I actually only got .01 but I added them to just get rid of them. Some CDs and DVDs were only 5 or 10 cents but some I got $3.00. My Elton John – Remixed CD I got $2.24. Sweet! I believe you have to have a minimum of $5.00 of items before you can send them to Decluttr.

And, shipping is free! All you do is print out your shipping label, attach it to the box and take it to your nearest UPS location.

And I have one more exciting thing for you (and me) with this. If you click on the link, you and me will both receive $5 after you complete your first order. I am never one to say no to free money. Here is the link:

https://decluttr.mention-me.com/m/ol/op0se-kim-ransom

And of course, I thank you too.

So, here are the easy steps.

  1. Click on the link above on register on Decluttr.
  2. If you have a Smartphone you can download the App to easily scan the barcodes on your items.
  3. Don’t forget books, Legos, CDs and so much more! Time to clean out those closets.
  4. Print out shipping label and attach to box.
  5. Take box to nearest UPS location
  6. Get paid!

Let’s get going! Time to Marie Kondo your life and make some pocket money. Woot!

domestic goddess · drinkin' · fun in the sun · love love love · she's crafty · yum

Watermelon Lemonade

GOING NINETY MILES4 Comments

Man, has it been hot here and the forecast says even hotter this weekend. I need a refreshing drink to cool me off!

My newest favorite summer drink is watermelon lemonade. If you love watermelon and you love lemonade then this siree is the drink for you! And it’s pretty easy to make. Plus if you want to make it more “adult” just add a little vodka for you to chill with by the pool.

Ingredients:

1/4 to 1/2 cup simple syrup                                           1 lemon

3 cups water                                                                     1 watermelon (seedless)

First, cut up the watermelon (I like the seedless ones or with very small seeds like this one) and blend the watermelon pieces until smooth.

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Next, strain through a sieve into the pitcher or container. This is very important! If you don’t do this your drink will turn into a big pulpy disaster. And nobody likes big pulpy disasters.

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Then add the simple syrup. I like to make my own simple syrup, it’s simple! 🙂 Hence, the name. Just add equal parts sugar and water in a pot, heat on medium until the liquid is clear and the sugar has dissolved and let cool. I like to make a jar of it to use in my whiskey sours and other drinks. Keep it in the refrigerator!

So, add the simple syrup (I use 1/4 cup but if you want things a little sweeter than use 1/2 cup), 3 cups of cold water and fresh lemon juice to the watermelon puree. Give it a good stir and you’re done. Serve over ice and with a slice of watermelon. Enjoy! And seriously try it with a splash of vodka. You deserve it.

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architecture · domestic goddess · just do it already

Workspace Inspiration

GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Easter is coming up and I will have a free week to concentrate on life outside of the regular j-o-b, take a break and put my focus elsewhere.

And what exactly may I be focusing on?

Ah, so glad you asked. I also work on writing, creating designs for clothing, caps, mugs, etc., and just my general business of having 104 other things on my plate that I am thinking about doing, creating, trying. And for this, I need a nice office space in my home.

So that is what I will be doing in a few weeks. Making a space that helps get my creative juices flowing. I like a large desk with things that inspire me. But not TOO many things. Just the right amount. Tricky, no?

Here are some ideas I’ve found that I like…. or my dream home office:

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Patti Smith drew my eye on this workspace. She is the coolest rock star evah. I like this workspace, it’s a lot what mine will end up – a bit messy, a little chaotic but still with flair – the cool chair with a fur (fake please), some inspiration on the walls, a plant or two, headphones and some storage with books and bags. I always strive for clean lines and simplicity BUT let’s be real folks. This is me! And I will never be able to keep my space completely free and clear.

But a girl can still dream.

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Like this space. Good Lord, that is one organized office!! I bow down. It is very nice, so very tai chi. I love the shelves.

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Such organization! HOW DO THEY DO IT!? And there is that fur on the chair again. Is that the latest cool thing in your workspace? For me only if it’s like sheep or something that didn’t have to die to be made.

All that white is so comforting. Ahhh, breathe, create, focus.

I like it.

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This is a bit of a mixture of the first and the next two. I wish my room had a big window, I love that so much about this room. Plus the plants. Plants I can do! Making a huge window in my room, not so much.

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I need some kind of inspiration board on my wall. Something where I can pin pictures or ideas or what not. I love the glass of light pink roses on the desk.

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Another idea for an inspiration “board”.

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I really REALLY love this inspiration area. The huge frame where you can pin or paint or write whatever things make you feel happy, creative, ready to work! And I already have that screen saver on my computer – so one thing already checked off the list!

Well, I will give an update to how I changed my workspace in a few weeks. So don’t forget to come back and check it out.

How about your workspaces? At your home or at your office? What inspires you?

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domestic goddess · just do it already · Things and Stuff

30-Day Minimalism Challenge

GOING NINETY MILES2 Comments

I really like this y’all. I have never been into the writing of New Year’s Resolutions. They always seem to disappoint or frustrate because you never end up keeping most of them. So this year I decided to keep trying to be a better person. That’s it. Full stop. I’ve been trying to make a very conscious effort to find a little more balance and to simplify my surroundings. My boyfriend constantly feels I have these “piles” of things here, things there. Which maybe I do, but maybe I don’t. I know where everything is but I also know that I have too much stuff.

Trying to disconnect from the internet world is a biggie for me. Too much time spent on the computer with being dragged into a post on Facebook or a YouTube video that leads to more videos or all those fantastic ideas that I rarely look at again on Pinterest.  Even just checking things – your email, your bank account, your credit cards, your blog! Let’s try to step back from these and make more time for you. Maybe meditate, maybe a bike ride, maybe some lovely quiet time to read a book. All of those latter ideas sound so much better than than the former. Right?

When I saw this post, the 30-Day Minimalism Chart on the blog Into Mind, I knew this was awesome. Sign me up. “30 one-day assignments to help you dip your toes into minimalist living, discover lots of new things about yourself and get a big head start.”  I am going to print this out and do one assignment a day, in no particular order but never to skip a day. Who is with me?

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domestic goddess · Things and Stuff

Domestic Goddess

GOING NINETY MILES3 Comments

Yup, that’s me.  Domestic Goddess. My house is always sparkly clean and smelling of roses. Okay, maybe not. But every once in awhile, I do love to get down and dirty with a good house scrubbing. And my latest purchase makes it even more fun.

Introducing my Hoover FreeJet. It ROCKS man. It is cordless (it recharges on a stand) so no messing with plugging in, unplugging, moving the cord out of the way. And there’s a dustbuster that is attached for use. The Hoover FreeJet lasts to vacuum my house in one go! Plus, it is super light.

Mine is in Oklahoma State Cowboy Orange, so it is even better. Off to vacuum!

domestic goddess · Girls run the world · happy happy joy joy · she's crafty

Time to refresh

GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Shhhhhhhh, do you hear that? Listen. There! That sad voice pleading, “please help  me”. That would be my workroom crying out for attention.

So gross! And depressing. And a new room can be only errrr, a few days away! Well, it took ME three days to paint three walls. It’s not like it was a need-it-done-now situation. Relax, it’s fun!

And so easy. All you need is to choose a color, buy some painter’s blue tape, a paintbrush, a roller brush and a plastic tray for the roller.

My color choice – tomato red. But it turned out a teeny bit darker, which I still liked. I also did a quick touch up with white paint where the ceiling meets the wall area. Painting the entire ceiling was unnecessary so why do it?

Some sites say to prep the walls, meaning paint them white first. I can see where that would be important if you were painting a light color but with red, I forgo that step.

Step ONE: Clean the walls to remove dust and dirt with water, a little mild dishwashing detergent and sponge.

Step TWO: Tape the trim, window, outlets and door frame. Remember to take off the tape before the wall dries so you don’t peel off any paint with it.

Step THREE: (This would be when you would prime the walls if you were going to) Brush on paint around trim and in the corners of walls, where your roller can’t reach, with a two-inch angled brush. Extend out two to three inches from windows, doors, and moldings.

Step FOUR: Use the W technique. For efficiency, start in the corner of a wall and roll on a three-by-three-foot W pattern, then fill it in without lifting the roller. Continue in sections until you’re finished. Paint one wall at a time.

Step FIVE: Paint the trim. When the walls are completely dry, tape where the trim meets the wall. Paint the moldings and the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush. But I have tile trim and metal window frames, so this did not apply to me.

AND FINITO!! You are done! Good job!! Here are my fabulous new walls. Ahhh, zen, so much better. Ohhhhmmmmmm.

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