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  • Date Snowdrops: A Timeless Holiday Treat

    Date Snowdrops: A Timeless Holiday Treat

    Do you have a favorite treat that you enjoy each year at the holidays? This simple confection brings together dates and Brazil nuts in the form of small snowballs or “snowdrops” for a timeless holiday treat to enjoy with family and friends. This recipe is for baking beginners and can easily be whipped up in fifteen minutes from start to finish once you familiarize yourself with the process. The Brazil nuts in this recipe can be substituted with macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, or walnuts, depending on what you have on hand. To begin, follow these steps:

    • Wash and dry fresh dates and remove the pits.
    • Blanch Brazil nuts for 5 minutes in boiling water.
    • Remove the skins of the Brazil nuts and stuff each date with nuts.
    • Top each date with powdered sugar glaze, also known as confectioner’s sugar glaze.
    • When partially set, roll each date in shredded coconut and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
    • Allow the dates to cool before serving or storing in cookie tins lined with parchment paper.

    A quick and easy powdered sugar glaze can be found below:

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2-4 tablespoons of milk

    Add milk to the powdered sugar and whisk together in a bowl until a glaze consistency is reached and the mixture can be drizzled. Extracts, spices, and other liquids can be used to create unique glaze flavors. Strong, black coffee can be substituted for the milk, and vanilla extract is another great addition. Experiment with different combinations until you find the perfect glaze to suit your needs. Include these snowdrops in your seasonal cookie tins, and enjoy them any time you need a heartfelt, homemade treat to remind you of home.

  • Daily Lemon-Infused Hydration

    Daily Lemon-Infused Hydration

    Incorporating a daily ritual of drinking lemon water is a simple yet powerful step towards improving your overall well-being. The benefits of this refreshing combination go well beyond a delicious, zero-sugar drink option. First and foremost, lemon water is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vital nutrient known for its immune-boosting properties. A strong immune system is crucial for warding off illnesses, making a daily dose of lemon water a proactive choice for bolstering your body’s natural defenses.

    Staying adequately hydrated is essential for numerous bodily functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and skin health. The addition of lemon not only infuses water with flavor, making it more enjoyable to drink, but it also stimulates saliva production, aiding in the overall digestive process. The natural detoxifying properties of lemon further contribute to cleansing the digestive system, promoting a healthier gut environment. We both struggle with maintaining our gut health, and this simple switch to lemon water has improved our digestion. When our schedules are busy, packing thermoses of lemon-infused water prevents us from drinking sugary carbonated beverages.

    Beyond its nutritional benefits, the ritual of drinking lemon water daily can have positive mood-boosting effects. The simple act of taking a moment for yourself to savor a warm cup of lemon-infused water can be a form of mindfulness, setting a positive tone for the day. A chilled glass of lemon-infused water is equally invigorating. The subtle energy boost provided by the natural sugars in lemon, along with its uplifting scent, can help start your morning with a sense of grounding vitality. Embracing the habit of drinking lemon water daily is a small, yet impactful, step towards cultivating a healthier lifestyle with benefits that extend far beyond the simple pleasure of a flavored beverage.

    If sensitive to the acidity of lemons, opt for rosemary-infused water instead. Rosemary is rich in antioxidants, which play a crucial role in neutralizing free radicals and supporting overall cellular health. Additionally, this aromatic herb has been associated with improved digestion, potentially helping to alleviate bloating and indigestion. Rosemary is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to reduced inflammation in the body. The scent of rosemary has been linked to enhanced cognitive function and mood, making it a great addition to your daily hydration routine in lieu of or in addition to lemon water.

  • How to Prevent Holiday Overspending

    How to Prevent Holiday Overspending

    In years past, we have struggled with overspending for gift-giving holidays. We have a large list of family and friends that we give gifts to each year, and we always want the gifts to be personalized for each recipient. Some family members may have long wish lists of items. However much we want to buy every item on every list, we have slowly learned over the years that rushing out to purchase popular, expensive items at big-box stores leaves us with little room in our holiday budget. To combat this annual overspending, we have implemented a simple strategy: buy less.

    Instead, we spend much of the year crafting and thrifting. For birthdays, we cook special meals or bake favorite treats. One of our favorite traditions that we have recently adopted includes a thrifted Swedish candle ring that we also light on special occasions. Rather than accumulating a large amount of items, we focus instead on creating lasting memories and gifting memory-making moments. Follow some of these easy tips to check overspending in your own holiday budget:

    • Crafting: Share skills like knitting and crocheting with loved ones, especially during gift-giving holidays. One of the best presents I have ever received is a crocheted sweater made with all of my favorite colors. I know how much care and thought went into the making of the sweater and always feel loved when wearing it because of that great effort.
    • Thrifting: Check out your local thrift and consignment stores for any items that you do intend to buy before purchasing them at full price. You will be surprised at how many gift components can be thrifted and combined to create a truly unique present for loved ones. Our local thrift store often sells beautiful baskets for less than $1.00. Depending on the interests of the recipient, other items can be added to a thrifted basket to make a personalized gift. Baking baskets filled with cook books, aprons, tea towels, and cookie cutters are always a big hit, but a gardening basket or hobby basket would be just as easy to pull together from thrifted items.
    • Cooking and Baking: Find out what each friend or family member loves. Everyone has a favorite meal or baked good, and they love to receive these gifts on special occasions and holidays. The best part? Consumable gifts leave less clutter behind after the occasion or holiday. We love the “giving plate” tradition and fill one up every year.
    • Memory-Making: This is a big one for us. We love to gift passes to places that we know a friend or family member will love. Annual passes often end up being more cost-effective for large families, especially if visiting frequently.
    • “Coupons”: This is an easy one. Make and print out “coupons” on card stock that align with the needs or wants of the recipient of the gift. If you play the guitar and a family member wants to learn, gift them a guitar lesson coupon. We have gifted coupons for music lessons, knitting lessons, and a homemade movie night or pizza party. Children especially love receiving these coupons and love spending quality time together even more.

    Gifting is so personal, but we hope these ideas give you a starting point when planning your holiday budgets and bring you closer to your spending goals. Although some spending is unavoidable, these practices have helped us drastically curb our holiday overspending. For us, making memories now takes precedence over endless lists of material possessions.

  • Simple Homemade Stain Remover

    Simple Homemade Stain Remover

    Are you tired of struggling with stubborn stains on your clothes? With just a few common ingredients, you will be able to tackle tough stains and restore your favorite garments to their former glory with this budget-friendly, stain-fighting recipe. This simple recipe went viral for a reason: it works wonders.

    To make this powerful stain remover, you will need:

    • 1 tablespoon of baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon of dish soap
    • 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide

    Combine these ingredients in a small bowl or container, and mix them well to create a paste. The baking soda helps to lift the stain, while the dish soap and hydrogen peroxide work together to break down and remove the stain.

    Once you have your stain remover mixture ready, apply it directly to the stain. Make sure to fully saturate the affected area, allowing the solution to penetrate the fabric. Let it soak to allow the stain remover to work its magic.

    After the stain has had time to soak, rinse the clothing item under cold water. Cold water reduces wear on fabric and keeps clothing looking its best for longer, while being more energy-efficient. Rinsing under cold water will help to remove any excess stain remover and loosen the stain further. Using a stain brush also helps lift stains during this step of the process. I have had the same stain brush from The Laundress for several years and use it on a weekly basis. Finally, wash the garment as you normally would by hand or in the washing machine in cold water.

    With this homemade stain remover, you can say goodbye to those pesky stains that have been ruining your clothes. Give it a try and see the difference it makes in removing even the toughest stains. You will be amazed at how effective and budget-friendly this DIY solution is. Have you tried this simple stain-fighting solution yet?

  • 6 Frugal Wedding Planning Tips

    6 Frugal Wedding Planning Tips

    Those that know us know how frugal we are. I managed to find my dream gown for under $100, a vintage reception dress for under $1 (yes, you read that correctly), used a coupon for florals, found a way to secure a venue for $0, and my incredibly talented sister is making our wedding cake from scratch. We refuse to incur any debt from a single day that is really about our shared future together. For our top six cost-saving wedding tips, check out the latest post at Home on Harrington.

    Top 6 Cost-Saving Wedding Planning Tips 

    1. Think Small: Curate the Guest List

    Modern wedding planning can easily become an overwhelming task. Something as simple as creating a guest list can quickly turn into a gargantuan endeavor to include everyone nearest and dearest to us. Suddenly, that small list includes distant relatives and acquaintances we’ve met in passing. Other decisions also begin to crop up as the list continues to grow with each new addition. Controversial questions concerning whether or not children should be permitted to attend the ceremony or reception and issues pertaining to childcare become a pressure point in discussions with friends and family.

    Although not possible in every circumstance, do your best to curate a guest list that best reflects your wedding preferences. If the thought of a growing guest list is becoming overwhelming, give yourself permission to edit that list and choose a smaller one. It really is that simple. Although we dreamed of a large wedding with hundreds of friends and family in attendance, that dream quickly evaporated after viewing venue after venue so far beyond our budget. An intimate ceremony will be just as meaningful as a large one to our cherished loved ones. For those unable to attend, they will understand. Love conquers all.

    2. If possible, elope.

    If the possibility of eloping hasn’t crossed your wedding planning radar yet, pause and give it proper consideration when weighing all of your options. Even a small wedding ceremony and reception can quickly become an expensive endeavor with some serious logistics involved. When orchestrating hotel accommodations and travel arrangements, even for close friends and family, a modest budget is decimated.

    Eloping may seem like monumental news to break to disappointed friends and family that were eagerly waiting for their wedding invitations, but a more intimate day with that curated guest list discussed earlier means BIG savings elsewhere. Use that wiggle room in the ceremony budget on a reception for friends and family wanting to share in your special day.

    3. Skip the Catering 

    Chicken, beef, fish, and a vegetarian option? Add in an option for a choice of dessert? Should the bar be open or cash-only? Will light hors d’oeuvres be served? Questions of catering lead to costly decisions! With an already overwhelming amount of decisions to make to begin with, skip this step in the process entirely if possible.

    If opting for a small ceremony or elopement, consider making reservations at a favorite restaurant instead. If your ceremony venue takes you off the beaten path, consider booking a local food truck for an evening event. If these options are still beyond the big-day budget, check with family and friends. You may suddenly find yourself inundated with an outpouring of love in the form of casseroles to taste test for your special day!

    4. DIY for the Big DAY

    Price comparisons on even the most inexpensive floral arrangements, bouquets, and boutonnières will eat away at any budget. Hiring a professional florist to create signature designs for a more elaborate ceremony can cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. When considering florals, consider making your own for the big day! Whether you decide on faux-florals or fresh-cut stems, making your own creative arrangements will be one more cost-saving strategy in your wedding plan.

    If family and friends want to be more involved in the wedding design process, this is a great jumping off point! Have them help in the design for florals if you find yourself overwhelmed or completely at a loss on how to move forward. Block of an afternoon or a weekend for crafting, watch tutorials online, and hit the ground running. This gives everyone space to make some great memories and equally great floral designs. If DIY is just not for you or your loved ones, remember that something as simple as a bouquet of fresh eucalyptus from the grocery store can be just as elegant and inexpensive on the big day.

    5. Find the Perfect Venue for Pennies 

    When you envision the perfect venue, what do you see? For us, we knew we wanted a natural setting. We briefly considered a backyard wedding, but settled on a wedding at one of our favorite national parks instead. National parks generally require permits for special occasions, including wedding ceremonies. Check with the park of your choice to gather information on pricing. In our case, the venue amounted to $0 for the small number of guests on our list. Conducting your own research during this planning phase is crucial. Selecting a park that you have already visited on dates and day trips will add sentimental value to your final selection. For help with additional research, Lauren Nowack has a great article published on The Knot that shares detailed advice on planning a national park wedding.

    6. Say “Yes” to the Budget-Friendly Dress

    I love bridal boutiques and appreciate the gorgeous designer gowns showcased with each new season, but I also knew that an expensive gown would not have a place in this season of my life. As we are renovating an old house, I could not justify spending thousands on a gown to only wear once. I even balked at the thought of spending hundreds of dollars, but I also knew that the perfect dress would find its way to me if I could patiently wait. Sure enough, I found a sale on heavily discounted bridal gowns. For just under $100, I purchased the Zac Posen gown of my dreams. I was instantly blown away by the buttoned backing and intricate lacework, and knowing that the dress was affordable was the icing on the wedding cake.

    After finding the perfect wedding dress within my budget, I wanted to challenge myself on the reception dress and spend no more than $10. That may seem like such a small amount in the face of modern wedding reception spending, but again, I wanted something practical and timeless. After all, the most important element of any wedding is the person you choose to spend the rest of your days with. Honestly, my partner would say that I looked beautiful even if I was wearing a potato sack. That secure foundation of our relationship definitely gave me added confidence when I stumbled upon a vintage dress in a thrift store for less than $1. I knew that with a little care, the dress would be perfect for our special day.

    Of course the best way to save when spending on a wedding dress is to wear a hand-me-down gown. I am always in such awe of friends that have walked down the aisle in their mother’s or grandmother’s dress. Cost-saving aside, this creates a beautiful tradition that can be passed on for generations. There are so many ways to be frugal on your big day, but feeling your best in what you wear is still a must.

  • Homemade Fire Cider: A Medicinal Elixir From Your Garden

    Homemade Fire Cider: A Medicinal Elixir From Your Garden

    Have you ever considered making your own homemade fire cider? Packed with the goodness of fresh rosemary, garlic, and jalapenos from your garden, this potent elixir offers numerous medicinal benefits. Not only is it easy to make, but it also provides a natural and effective way to support your immune system and overall well-being.

    Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy that combines the healing properties of these powerful ingredients. It is believed to help boost digestion, improve circulation, and provide relief from cold and flu symptoms. To make your own fire cider, start by gathering fresh rosemary, garlic, and jalapenos from your garden. Chop the garlic and jalapenos into small slices and place them in a glass jar. If using fresh rosemary, add the springs in whole. Dried rosemary also works for this recipe. Fire cider recipes vary greatly, but this blend is a great jumping off point for beginners. I rarely measure this recipe and simply fill the jar with what I have on hand until there is little room remaining in the jar.

    Add any other ingredients that you have on hand at this point to make this recipe your own, depending on your personal preferences. Additional ingredients include: onions, ginger roots, turmeric roots, horseradish roots, cranberries, rosehips, raw honey, whole peppercorns, cinnamon bark, citrus fruits, and medicinal herbs from the garden. I tend to use seasonal ingredients that I have on hand, so my most recent batch of fire cider included onion, garlic, hot peppers, rosemary, sage, thyme, whole peppercorns, two sticks of cinnamon, and raw honey. Each ingredient provides its own medicinal benefit while changing the final flavor profile of the cider, so alter this basic recipe to fit your own personal preferences. After all the ingredients have been added, fill the jar with apple cider vinegar until all the ingredients are fully submerged.

    Once the jar is filled, seal it tightly with a cork or lid. It’s important to store the cider in a cold, dark place, away from direct sunlight. This helps preserve the potency of the ingredients and allows the flavors to meld together. Let the cider ferment for at least 30 days, although some prefer to let their cider ferment longer.

    When it is time to use your fire cider, simply strain out the solid ingredients and transfer the liquid to a smaller bottle for easy access. The recommended serving size is 1-2 teaspoons, taken either straight or mixed with water or another beverage.

    Homemade fire cider is a powerful elixir, so it is important to start with a small amount and gradually increase your intake if desired. Enjoy the benefits of this homemade remedy and the satisfaction of creating your own natural health tonic straight from your garden.