The best party food ideas on a budget from pantry staples

Grazing boards are all the rage at the moment. These types of ‘platters’ were around since Adam was a boy but all it takes is something to go ‘viral’ these days on social media and every wants to get in on it. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that but if you’re trying to save money and you can’t afford to buy the ingredients for those types of grazing platters or, heaven forbid, pay someone to put one together for you, there are much better, economical alternatives out there.) Here are the best party food ideas on a budget for entertaining.

What you need to remember, always, is that food is food at the end of the day. You don’t need to follow food ‘trends’ to provide nice food to your guests. It can be the same things you buy and eat on a regular basis but presented or made up in different ways.

Here are a few budget ideas to help you.

Keep a can of reduced cream in the pantry

I used to keep a small can of reduced cream in the pantry at all times when I used to have a lot of parties or had people pop in unexpectedly for drinks.

I would add corned relish, gherkin pickles, a packet of French Onion soup mix (if I had it), diced ham/cheese/onion, avocado, smoked oysters or a small can of salmon and mix with the reduced cream.

Allow to set in the fridge for a quick dip if you’ve got a bit of time. Otherwise, spreadable cream cheese (which can be kept in the freezer), Greek yoghurt or sour cream can be used in the same way.

Another old fashioned dip my mother used to make for a party back in the 1970s was called Mock Chicken. It was basically cooked tomato, fresh breadcrumbs, egg and herbs and remarkably tastes like chicken (well sort of). You should have all of these ingredients in your pantry and fridge.

Alternatives for cracker biscuits or chips

If you don’t have cracker biscuits or chips, toast tortillas, bread rolls sliced and toasted, make Melba toast from sliced bread or if you have time, grissini sticks are easy to make from pantry staples.

Recipe

Even the Greek yoghurt/flour pizza base recipe makes for a quick flat bread that can be cooked on the stove top in a pan.

Add vegetables to your dip platter

Add vegetables to your dip platter. Broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrot sticks, zucchini, celery, capsicum, asparagus, snow peas or any other vegetables you have will make a colourful platter.

Frozen puff pastry for the best party food

Puff pastry in the freezer is your best friend for any unexpected emergencies. Make cheese straws by cutting puff into strips, brush with beaten egg, top with grated cheese of any kind or seeds/nuts, twist and bake until golden brown.

Image by Zozz_ from Pixabay

Sausage rolls using any kind of filling, vol au vents, palmiers, pull aparts, pigs in blankets, samosas, curry puffs, the list is endless on what you can use puff pastry for when entertaining.

Remember to use whatever fillings you have.

Make your own budget grazing board or platter

Make a platter with whatever you have. Sliced ham or other cold meats, olives, gherkins, fruit, chutney/pickles, normal cheddar cheese, pesto, crackers or breads (as above), chocolates, nuts.

Image by AquaSpiritLens from Pixabay

All you have to do is get a platter of some kind (it doesn’t have to be a block of wood) and start adding small piles of the food item. If you have sauces or wet ingredients, add them to small bowls and put them on the platter.

Party food on a stick

A toothpick or skewer is the perfect way to serve individual morsels of food at a party. There are so many creative people out there who have created a way to put just about anything on a stick.

For more Recipes

Instead of the old kabana, cheese, pickled onion and gherkin I grew up with, you can make mini cheese balls coated in nuts/seeds, meatballs (everyone has mince in the freezer I’m sure), Caprese or Greek salad, crumbed fish/potato bites shaped into balls, bites of cheese with whatever, a prune or smoked oyster wrapped in bacon.

Basically, whatever can be poked with a toothpick or skewer can be served at a party. Food like this is also easy to prepare ahead of time so you have time to relax and enjoy the party.

Pinwheels for party food

Using pastry, the Greek yoghurt pizza dough recipe, tortillas, wraps, or sliced bread that has been flatted with a rolling pin, spread with anything like cream cheese or any kind of spread, add any filling (keeping it to a minimum), roll up, and refrigerate until required. Slice and serve when the party is starting.

Fruit as a savoury option

Any kind of melon is good to use as a savoury option. It pairs well with smoked meats and strong cheeses. Cube and serve on a toothpick.

You can also use a melon baller for a cute effect. Cubed watermelon and feta cheese on a stick drizzled with balsamic vinegar is also very on trend but only if you have it on hand. Remember, we’re trying to stick to a budget and use whatever you have.

Eggs are a great party food option

Who doesn’t love a devilled egg? I can remember in my first job, I was responsible for helping with the catering for our work Christmas party. I think I must’ve boiled about 10 dozen eggs, cut them all in half and made about 6 different fillings.

Image by Gesegnetes Neues Jahr/ Blessed New Year/ Bendito Año Nuevo from Pixabay

Some included canned crab meat, curry powder, crispy bacon, relishes, pickles etc. They were a huge success. (Mind you it was 1980 but I reckon they’d still be a big hit today.)

Everybody loves a sandwich

Never underestimate the humble sandwich. I’ve seen grown men demolish plates full of freshly made, plain sandwiches of ham, cheese and tomato, egg and lettuce, salmon & onion etc etc before any of the other food is eaten. Remember all we’re trying to do is to save money, give our guests nice tasting food and use what we’ve got.

Cucumber slices as the base

Use cucumber as the base for a delicious snack. Top with any of the dip combinations mentioned above and decorate with any contrasting chopped vegetables or herbs etc.

Recipe

Always look at what you have before you run to the supermarket. The above is all made from common ingredients you would keep in your fridge, freezer or pantry and you’ll impress people with your ingenuity and good tasting food instead of trying to impress them with the latest trends plus you’ll save money.

Happy entertaining and saving money!

Food Safety Tips for Christmas in a hot climate

With the heat we have here in Brisbane, it’s so important to handle our food and leftovers safely in the holiday season. The last thing we want at this time of the year is a tummy bug. Here are my food safety tips for Christmas in a hot climate.

The same could be said for anywhere in the world really and knowing how to save those leftovers without anyone getting sick will be worth it.

General Food Safety Tips for Christmas

A couple quick tips before I mention specific foods:

• Remember not to overload your fridge too much. It will take longer for food to cool down if your fridge is overload. Make sure there is adequate space around food containers and packages to ensure adequate cool air flow.
• Use eskies or coolers with ice to store drinks allowing more room in the fridge. If you put them onto ice early in the morning, they will be nice and cold by lunch time. (My mum used to line the laundry tub with an old hessian sack then cover the drinks with ice and another hessian sack. Kept the drinks super cold.)
• Instead of ice cubes to keep drinks cold, think about freezing water filled plastic soft drink bottles, wine bladders or large plastic containers. The more solid the ice, the less time it will have to melt.
• To keep food cool when serving (like seafood), lay the serving platter on top of a dish filled with ice and sprinkle salt on top of the ice which will reduce melting time.

Via Food Safety Information Council

• A general ‘rule of thumb’ is to not keep food that has been left out longer than 4 hours if the temperature has been between 5 deg C and 60 deg C.

Food Safety for Seafood

One of the easiest and quickest things to go ‘off’ in the heat is seafood.

Things like prawns, crabs, bugs etc. (Oysters and mussels should be served as soon as possible after being shucked.)

Remember to serve it over ice if you can (as above) otherwise, keep an eye on the time you served it and don’t leave it out for any longer than 1 hour if the temp is around 30 deg C.

Return to the fridge immediately and use within 2 days.

Ham, Turkey & Other Cold Meat

• Put leftovers in the fridge as soon as possible after everyone has finished eating. Any longer than 4 hours should be disposed of.
• Use up leftovers from the fridge within 3 to 4 days otherwise freeze straight from the table.
• Cut larger pieces like chicken, turkey, roast meats into smaller pieces to allow cooling quicker.
• Eat within a couple days otherwise freeze straight from the table.
• To store your whole ham, soak a ham bag, tea towel (that’s all I ever used) or pillowcase in 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Wring out excess water and store ham in fridge wrapped in the bag/towel. Resoak bag every couple of days to avoid ham being dried out.

Salads & Cooked Vegetables

Salads will become very slimy if dressed.

To save any leftover salads, serve them ‘undressed’ with dressing on the side. Remember to be aware of how long salad vegetables have been out of the cold fridge. If it’s been too hot, dispose of any uneaten vegetables.

Cooked vegetables can be frozen and used up in frittatas, quiches etc as needed. Also be mindful of how long they’ve been out in the heat.

Any longer than 2 hours for salad or cooked vegetables on a hot day and they should be disposed of. (See rule above.)

Cold Desserts

Cold desserts that have had cream in them like trifle or pavlova should also observe the ‘rule of thumb’ above. Return them to the fridge as soon as possible after serving, if serving in hot conditions.

People can always go back for more if it’s safely served in the fridge.

Fresh Fruit

If serving fresh fruit at Christmas, remember the general rule of thumb above.

Cakes, Sweets, Nuts, Chips etc

If your place is anything like mine, these things seem to get eaten first. Remember, if you’re serving charcuterie, cheeses, dips etc to observe the rule. Rather put out small amounts and keep topped up as they run out.

Half your luck if you can enjoy your celebration inside air conditioning but if you’re stuck outside, observe these simple rules for food safety in a hot climate so everyone will have any enjoyable Christmas meal and no upset tummies.

Signs of Battery Corrosion in Toys to Watch Out For

Most toys still need alkaline batteries to function. Toys are generally safe for kids, but the instance their batteries get corroded, it already poses a health hazard. Are you aware of the signs of battery corrosion in toys to watch out for?

You don’t want your kids to be next to a toy that can potentially harm them and cause the injuries from battery corrosion like the following:

• Chemical Burns

Chemicalsin corroded batteries can cause mild to severe chemical burns if it comes incontact with bare skin. Thus, you should clean the corroded batteries with aclean cloth and avoid handling them with your bare hands. If you’re unsure howto handle corroded batteries, this guide tocorrosion cleaning will help mitigate further accidents.

Traceamounts of the chemicals from battery leakage may result in skin itching andirritation. If your skin comes in contact with a leaking battery, wash the areawith water. Eye exposure to the chemicals in a battery leak is serious andrequires thoroughly washing the area and visiting a physician. Some people mayalso have coughing fits when exposed to corroded batteries.

Visit your doctor or an emergency room in case these issues arise.

• Poisoning

Ifingested or inhaled, corroded batteries can also cause poisoning. Experiencingabdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea is a symptom of poisoning.If battery chemicals are ingested, go to an emergency room immediately.

Battery Corrosion in Toys to WatchOut For

Beforeany of this happens, this guide to battery corrosion in toys can give you anidea on what to watch out for:

1.                 Slow Start of The Toy

Astime goes by, the components of the battery may wear out and become lesseffective, especially if the toy is not being used. When this happens, it takesslower for a battery to operate the machinery of the toy, and you may have towait several minutes or seconds for it to start.

Aslow start is usually indicative that a battery is failing or corroded.

2.                 Bad Smell

Damageto the battery or an internal short can cause the battery to leak fumes. If yousmell something metallic mixed with the smell of rotten eggs, you should openthe toy and see if the battery has any sign of corrosion.

Removethe battery immediately and replace it as soon as possible.

3.                  Misshapened Battery

Usually, if the battery is very old and has been left in the toy for too long, it gets misshapened. A battery only has a certain lifespan, and exposure to extreme heat and cold affect the battery, causing it to swell, crack, and get corroded.

If you notice that the batteries are already misshapened with a powdery substance on it, it may not work for your toy any longer.

4.                 An Old Battery

Asmentioned, a battery that’s left on a toy for too long gets corroded. Youshould ask yourself when was the last time your kids have used their toys andwhen was the last time they replaced the batteries.

Abattery will last depending on how much you use it. Climate, electronic demandsof the toy, and usage, all play a role in the lifespan of your battery. If yourbattery is very old and the toy is seldom in use, the battery may have leaked,and it’s good to check the battery compartment before using your toy anew.

5.                 Water Damage

Corrosionscan also happen after water damage, so if your electronic toy has beenaccidentally thrown in the water, it may cause the batteries to leak and getcorroded over time. Water and electronics usually don’t mix, so if there’swater in your toy, carefully remove the batteries.

Electronicdevices deteriorate in water, so if you have any doubts, talk to a professionaland see what they can do for your device.

6.                 Signs of Leakage

Abattery is obviously corroded when you already see signs of leakage. When analkaline battery works and releases power, the chemicals inside create a gas.If this happens too often, the battery cell ruptures, and leakage occurs.Usually, the battery seal prevents this.

Normaluse shouldn’t cause a battery to leak since the cells should be sturdy enoughto hold the gases inside.

Leakagehappens when a battery is left in a device for a long period of time. A devicethat’s still left unused periodically gauges its remaining power. This puts acertain amount of stress on the battery, putting it at a greater risk forleakage.

7.                 White Powder

Sometimes you’ll see a powdery substance forming on your batteries, and this substance is called potassium carbonate, which is an electrolyte (potassium hydroxide) that reacted with O2.

Whenyou see this substance on your battery, it’s already totally unsuitable. Youshould note that Potassium carbonate is a very strong alkaline. If there’s skincontact, there’s a chance of chemical burns.

Final Thoughts

Toys are fun to playwith,but they have parts that can be health hazards if not taken care of properly.There comes an age when children will outgrow their toys and will just let themlinger in the storage. Remove batteries promptly after long term disuse becausethere’s a big chance that the batteries inside will corrode and leak.

Where to buy ethical gift boxes in the UK

Let’s face it, shipping is expensive and when you want to buy overseas friends (or even local friends) a gift, the shipping can really add a lot extra onto the price of the gift. If you’re looking to buy a gift in the UK for someone and save money on shipping, here’s where to buy ethical gift boxes in the UK.

Out of the Box Ethical Gift Boxes

No matter where you are in the world, Out of the Box Gifts, can send gift boxes full of beautiful, ethical goods on your behalf.

Located in the United Kingdom, Out of the Box Gifts is an online ethical gift box shop run by Zoe. The gifts are handmade in the UK.

The gifts are packed into care packages with the idea of encouraging the recipient to take some time out for themselves so they make the perfect gift for busy mothers, teachers or anyone else who needs a bit of rest and relaxation.

After starting Out of the Box Gifts in 2017, Zoe wanted to add her passion for mindfulness, organic, natural and ethical products to her gift buying powers and so Out of the Box was born.

All of the items within the gift boxes are hand picked from lovely, ethical, UK brands and put together in packages that complement each other to make a super thoughtful gift.

Check out some of the amazing gift boxes below.

A Box of Happiness

A Box of Happiness is full of the loveliest, ethical products designed to exhilarate and leave you in a state of happiness. This gift box contains:

BeeHappy Votive Candle

Natural plant wax candle, made with essential oils of orange and jasmine. An uplifting fragrance to boost your mood. 

Made By Coopers Rosemary and Eucalyptus Bath Salt Blend

A soothing bath salt blend with eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender essential oils to relieve muscular aches and pains.

Thrive Tea Bags

Positivitea’s Root Chakra blend with hibiscus, strawberry, cinnamon and ashwagandha. Pack contains 12 biodegradable bags, ethically sourced ingredients.

A Big Box for Relaxation

Included in this gift box:

A ‘Sleepy Head’ Atmosphere Mist

This room spray contains Lavender, Frankincense and Chamomile and is so beautifully relaxing, whether you are want to fall asleep or just take some blissful moments of relaxation.

A Calming and Purifying Face Mask by Blushberry Botanicals

With clays, charcoal, chamomile, lavender and tea tree. Perfect for normal to oily skins.

A Bar of Lavender Chocolate by Seed and Bean

The ultimate relaxation chocolate to help you de-stress and unwind. Infused with aromatic French lavender oil, this dark delight is sure to help melt away the hustle and bustle of daily life with each bite.

Vanilla Rose Bath Salts

Relax and unwind with a bath with this nourishing Vanilla Rose Bath Salt Blend with vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils.

Check out the full range of ethical gift boxes at Out of the Box Gifts here.

Gift Wrapping and Personalised Messages

All packages are beautifully gift wrapped with recyclable paper and your personalised message added. You can add your message on the cart page. Please make sure you include your name so that the recipient knows who sent it.

We have a ‘Don’t open until’ sticker, if your gift mustn’t be opened until a certain date, please add the date to the gift message box also and we’ll ensure this is added to the package.

Shipping Prices for Ethical Gift Boxes

There is free shipping for orders over £30.

PLEASE PLACE UK CHRISTMAS ORDERS BY 5PM ON WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2019.

1-2 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3.50 (1st class)

3-5 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3 (2nd class)

3-5 working day Delivery with Royal Mail £3 (2nd class)

If you’re looking to save on shipping and want to send affordable gifts to friends or relatives in the UK that contain ethical, handmade (in the UK) gifts, check out Zoe’s Out of the Box Gifts.

Stress Free Gift Shopping for the Holidays

If you’re looking for stress free gift shopping for the Holidays this year, there are a few ways you can avoid the stress.

Thanksgiving is my absolute FAVORITE holiday. I love to spend time with family and friends as well as catch up with people I haven’t seen in a while.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many have already started their holiday shopping and are worried about overspending. My parents taught me how to create a budget to manage how much I spend and this has helped me to determine what type of gifts to purchase or make.

So, here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re looking for the “perfect” holiday gifts (if “perfect” is the best word to use to spread joy).

Have a plan

Identify what the heck you’re doing. When I go gift shopping, I set realistic expectations and think of the five W’s:

• Who is receiving the gift? Dothey play a significant role in my life?
• Whattype of gift do I want to give this person? Is it a holiday party hostess gift or a roommate yankee swap?
• Whenwill this person receive the gift(s)? Before, during or after the holiday?There’s always those great after holiday sales so do we schedule the workholiday swap after the holidays?
• Whereshould I get the gift? In-person? Online? Is it easy enough to make myself?
• And certainly why should I get that specific gift? Will it be meaningful?

Create a budget

Impulsive buying maydamage your wallet. So, just like grocery shopping, make a list, stick to itand leave the credit cards at home. In other words, when I only use the cashthat’s in my wallet, I’m forced to limit my spending to what I have on hand.

Declutter

I absolutely LOVE decluttering. And when it comes to the holidays, you don’t need to regift quite yet, but think about what you might be able to part with.

Gather items room-by-room so you can determine what you want to sell, throw away and/or recycle.  An option may be to  sell items online or to a local thrift/consignment store. In addition, consider making a donation to a favorite local animal shelter in their name with the money.

DIY

Make a memorable homemade gift. Growing up, my brothers and I would paint ornaments to give to our grandparents.

Before going on a spending spree, look around your house to see what materials you may already have on hand. I’ve seen personal note cards made by repurposing recycled paper or a framed art piece from broken buoys. 

Homemade cookies are always a welcome treat and fun to create memories while baking with friends and family.

Shop Small and Local

I love small, local businesses. You’ve most likely been at work all day and the last thing you want to do is drive around a mall parking lot. 

Browse your local shop for gifts before going to the mall. It may not be something your child asked for, but small business owners create a unique experience and choices based on hand-selected items that customers may like and want.

With less crowds, lines at small businesses will be shorter and the shop owners can assist you with your five W’s.  For example, the HausWitch in Salem, Massachusetts creates their own unique, funky home cleaning products. 

Who would’ve thought that to explore local shops would be a fun experience and not just a chore to find that “perfect”gift.

Give Thanks

The holidays are always a chaotic time of year.  Express your gratitude to those you care about by recognizing simple actions and/or accomplishments and even difficult changes and  transitions they may have experienced over the past year with a handwritten note. 

Not everyone is fortunate to be able to buy even a simple inexpensive gift whether it’s handmade or not.  Maybe the “perfect gift” using the five W’s may not be a gift at all but to give and share your time with someone can also be a blessing for you.

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Other than taking long walks on the beach, Caileigh is a blogger from Boston, Massachusetts. Living outside the city limits (figuratively and literally), Caileigh lives a lifestyle of exploration, curiosity and enjoys helping people of all ages redefine their budgets. She’s redefining what money looks like as a community. For more than money saving tips visit budgetthief.com.

Domestic Goddess REVIVE Essential Oil Roll-On

Ever get to that point in the day when you just feel like you can’t do another thing but there’s the children to pick up from school, supervise homework, get dinner on, bathtime etc etc? Or, if you’re at work, do you go for the chocolate bar or cookies as a pick-me-up in the afternoon? Let me introduce you to Domestic Goddess REVIVE.

As a stay at home mumpreneur most of my days are busy. After the children have gone to school, I set about doing some chores, getting stuck into my business, have a break for morning tea and lunch and come the afternoon, I’m tired. I’m so used to reaching for a high sugar snack with a cup of coffee to get me through the afternoon, I wanted to find an alternative.

That’s when I came up with the idea of an essential oil blend to give me a ‘calorie free’ energy boost.

Why Essential Oils?

Essential oils are organic compounds extracted from plants with amazing healing properties, otherwise known as “aromatherapy”, which is a holistic treatment seeking to improve physical, mental and emotional health.

For over 5,000 years, many different cultures have used these healing plant oils for a variety of health conditions. They are often used for relaxation, beauty care, home cleaning and most often used as natural medicine.

Oils can be blended together for their various properties to use for healing, cleaning, an alternative for preventative medicine and for general mood enhancers.

Which Essential Oils?

Essential oils are extracted directly from the bark, flower, fruit, leaf, seed or root of a plant or tree, and just one drop can have powerful health benefits. They are typically created through the process of distillation, which separates the oil and water-based compounds of a plant by steaming.

These therapeutic oils in plants protect the plant from insects, shield the plant from a harsh environment and help them adapt to their surroundings. By using essential oils for personal use, you are harnessing the protective and healing powers of a plant.

Only CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are used in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula which represent the safest and most beneficial oils available in the world today. For an oil to be CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade the oil must be: 

• Pure and natural, with aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants
• Free from fillers or artificial ingredients; no dilution of active qualities
• Free of contaminants, pesticides, or chemical residues
• Rigorously tested for standards of chemical composition
• Cross tested using mass spectrometry and gas chromatography to ensure exact purity and composition potency
• Sourced by a global network of leading essential oil chemists and growers to ensure correct species, growth in ideal environments, and that raw plant materials were carefully harvested at the right time.

Which oils are in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula?

Wild Orange

Cold pressed from the peel, Wild Orange is one of the best essential oils due to its energizing aroma and multiple health benefits. High in monoterpenes, Wild Orange possesses stimulating and purifying qualities, making it ideal to support healthy immune system function.  Wild Orange will energize and uplift the mind and body and enhances any essential oil blend with a fresh, sweet, refreshing aroma.

Peppermint

The peppermint plant is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint and was first described by Carl Linneaus in 1753.  Peppermint oil may be the most versatile essential oil in the world along with lavender. Literally, there are few body, health, and mind issues that it cannot help. It is known to improve mental focus and concentration and reduce hunger cravings. Perfect to get you through the afternoon.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from the star-shaped flowers of the tropical Ylang Ylang tree and is used extensively in making perfumes and in aromatherapy. Similar to Jasmine, Ylang Ylang has been used for centuries in religious and wedding ceremonies. In aromatherapy, Ylang Ylang is used to lessen tension and stress and to promote a positive outlook.  It has been selected in the Domestic Goddess REVIVE formula to lift your mood while creating a calming effect.

Jojoba Oil

The above three essential oils have been blended with 100% pure organic jojoba oil as the carrier oil. Jojoba oil is a versatile, purely natural oil that penetrates the skin for deep hydration. Our skin is made up of natural wax esters (called sebum) which locks in moisture to keep skin looking healthy and hydrated.  The Jojoba plant actually produces wax esters identical to our very own sebum.  This means that jojoba mimics our skin’s natural oils and can penetrate at a deeper level.

Buy Now

You can get Domestic Goddess REVIVE from the Domesblissity Shop. Order here.

 

Merry Christmas 2017

To all my readers and followers of Domesblissity.com, I’d just like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

I really appreciate the support you’ve given myself and the Domesblissity.com website in the nearly 7 years since I started back on 1 January 2011. It’s been a wild and rocky road sometimes. A death in the family, a marriage break up and a spectacular wedding plus plenty of easy recipes and frugal advice.

I turned Domesblissity.com into a business officially in January 2017 and it’s been a slow and steady progress. I appreciate all the support each and everyone one of you has given me.

Coming in 2018

Next year, starting in January 2018, Domesblissity.com is going to get serious to help you make some serious changes to your life, should you need it.

It’s on the news and in media, every single day. People just aren’t coping financially or they’re drowning in clutter. The two go hand in hand and before you find yourself in a position you can’t get out of, I want you to know that help is at hand.

I’m truly blessed in that I had good teachers in my life and through the bad times and good, I always seem to manage. I want everyone in the world to know this too that’s why I’m going to break it out all down into easy, manageable chunks of information that you can implement slowly and steadily.

I’ll be posting mainly here at Domesblissity.com but if you want to join the community of like-minded ‘domestic goddesses’ and ask particular questions, drop some handy hints yourself or just learn more, send me a request to join the Domestic Goddesses in Training Facebook Group.

I’m starting the year off with Organising You. If you’re not organised then the rest of your home life won’t be nor will your family’s.

Thank you again for sticking by me throughout 2017 and Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you.

 

Much love,

Anne Murphy

Tricks to Throw a Great Christmas Party in a Small Apartment

The Christmas fever is here! Everybody is rambling about their plans and things they have to do; stores are crowded with people choosing presents and preparing for the holiday season.  There’s just something in the air making us all feel excited.

Christmas parties are one more thing to get excited about – choosing the right food, decorating your home, making a guest list, choosing the date, thinking about the right music. Every host would like his/her party to be the one that will be remembered in the years to come by providing great food, a thrilling and cozy atmosphere, great fun and excellent guests. Of course, the location itself dictates some of the things you’ll need to take care of. If you live in a small apartment and you would like to have a Christmas party to remember, there’s a few tricks to throw a great Christmas party in a small apartment.

Here’s how:

Use rooms in unexpected ways

Surprise your guests by giving a different purpose for each of the rooms. Usually hosts tend to serve food in the kitchen while using the living room for dancing and playing games. Be original.

For example, you could put the board games in the dining room and make it a hangout area. Another idea is to use the guest room in a new way by making it a dessert room. Fill it with cakes, candies and other sweets. The patio is another great place for serving food. This is how you will prevent people from piling up in the kitchen only.

The key is to use every available area that you have. If there’s a balcony area, decorate it and put some food and drinks outside. This can be a space for those who would like to smoke or just have a bit of fresh air.

Create new serving surfaces

Serving food can be tricky in a small apartment. Go beyond using only the kitchen table and counters . Any flat surface will do the work. The trick is to cover the surface with a Christmas tablecloth or fabric and it instantly becomes special. If you don’t want to push with Christmas motives on the tablecloth, find a fancy fabric and cut out squares to cover your stereo or any other flat surface. The more level of serving surfaces you have, the better and more interesting it will be visually.

Rearrange the furniture

 

To maximize the space in your apartment you’ll need to rearrange some of the furniture. Your bedroom won’t be occupied that night, so you should move the extra furniture from the living room to the bedroom. The TV, along with the TV stand, the carpet, and all the extra pieces of furniture won’t be needed for the party. People mostly need a comfortable place to sit or stand. Everything else is unnecessary. The rest of it, like sofa and chairs, should be placed against the walls, making room in the center for dancing or having a buffet table.

While you’re at it, consider moving some of your stuff from the apartment permanently,or at least for some longer period. If you realise there’s a large piece of furniture that takes too much space, and it can’t be used for the party, find a storage unit where you can keep it for some time. This way, you’ll declutter your apartment and not just for the sake of the party.

The secret is in the details

Your Christmas party should be unique, so make an effort about the small things. If you’re planning a more intimate party, then forget about paper plates and use the best dishes you have. If you feel creative, make handwritten invitations to let your guests know how much you want them to come.

Gift bags are another way of showing your guests just how special they are to you. You can place a couple of gift bags in each of the rooms and let the guests find them during the evening, while they’re mingling and walking around.

Create mood lighting

If you have that option, don’t use overhead light. They tend to ruin the special atmosphere. Instead, rely on lamps and candles. Put a candle or two on every serving surface.

Tea lights don’t need too much space so you can place them literally anywhere. Lamps should have a warm white light, while string lights give that final touch of a festive atmosphere. Hang them across the room or across the walls and shelves. The more, the merrier.

Find a spot for your guests’ things

This may seem like an obvious thing but is very important if the party is in a small apartment. First thing, forget about the shoes off rule to reduce the clutter. The purses and coats can be placed on your bedroom bed or you can create some extra space for the coats by putting hangers on the shower curtain rod in the bathroom.

In the end, the people are what makes a party good. Still, as a host, you need to do your best in order to set a nice, comfortable atmosphere. Even a small apartment can be a place of joy and great fun for a big number of people. That’s what Christmas is all about.

 

Disclaimer:  This is a guest post by Victoria Lim.

 

Budget Gift Guide for Women

I’ve left the best and most important budget gift guide until last. For women, that’s me! Give me an unlimited budget and I’d be filling my basket with the finest French fragrances, gold and diamond jewelry and shoes, shoes, shoes but I’ve already got those things. By living the way I do, that is by cutting back on everyday spending, I can afford to splash out on those things I really like. But in the meantime, I do love this round up of gifts in the Budget Gift Guide for Women should you wish to buy something for yourself or someone you know.

 

Candles

 

I’ve just recently discovered Soy and Shea, a company local to me who is a home business and Keeley creates the most amazing scented candles, diffusers, oils and burners, body products (for men and women) and artisan soaps. Soy and Shea was a regular contributor to the Domestic Goddess Subscription Box and I chose them because they are an affordable luxury made with the intent of setting the mood and adding fragrance to the home. They are made with soy wax, essential oils and all natural products. Compared to most products on the market, the range at Soy and Shea is very affordable. There is also a flat rate of shipping on all orders.

Coffee & Tea Products

 

Show me a woman who doesn’t at least love a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. There aren’t many of us around but I can’t get started in the morning without a coffee or two.

 

If they have a coffee maker, buy their favourite ground coffee or a nice bottle of good quality instant if they don’t. Same goes with tea. I love a pot of tea brewed from leaves so a nice teapot and box of tea leaves to match is a great gift idea. Beautiful tea pots are available from secondhand stores as are coffee plungers. Pop the coffee or tea inside.

 

For the woman on the go who loves to buy her coffee out, these eco-friendly BYO Takeaway Coffee Cup can be folded down and slipped into your handbag. Get it refilled at your favourite coffee shop and most places are offering discounts on coffee when you supply your own cup. Help save the environment by using a reusable coffee cup. Available in 4 colours from the Domesblissity Shop.

Phone & Tablet Accessories

 

You can go to town with mobile phone and tablet accessories for women. Available in silver, gold, rose gold, sparkles or any colour you want, you’ll find ear phones, chargers, USB drives, cases, covers to coordinate with each other.

 

They are all reasonably priced and any bit of sparkle we can add to our every day we’ll grab with both hands.

Stationery Supplies

 

I lurrve stationery. I love notepads, pens, colouring pens and pencils, rulers, scissors, and anything goes. You can get a good range from the dollar stores, stationery shops and online. You can go cute, like above, or something a little more sophisticated.

 

Desk sets come in gold, rose gold, silver, every colour of the rainbow. There are matching staplers, staple removers, paper clips, letter openers etc etc. Book marks, sticky tape dispensers, pen holders, you name it. There are some really well priced stationery items out there that will make any woman happy.

Bath, Shower & Shaving Products

A woman can never have enough of those luxurious bath and body products, well I can’t anyway but buying them in pre-made kits can be expensive. You can put together a nice kit yourself from dollar store buys or from the supermarket. Look for a nice shower scrub, cake of soap and a loofah and gift wrap in a tin or basket.

There are lady’s shavers and shaving products for underarms and legs. Bath salts and bombs are also a good idea. They can easily be made if you have all the ingredients but buying them individually and putting a gift basket together yourself is a great and budget friendly idea.

Books & Magazines

I don’t read as much as I would like, but I do love to thumb through a magazine or add another cookbook to my collection. There are so many good books (and magazines for that matter) on every possible subject available at second hand shops. You could buy a whole series or a whole set of magazines on your woman’s favourite subject.

There are magazines for craft, cooking, gardening and all the best sellers are at the secondhand stores. Failing that, a gift voucher towards a book she really wants is a great idea too.

I hope you like this round up. These are ideas that would appeal to me and you never know, they might just appeal to the girl in your life.

 

Budget Gift Guide for Teenage Boys

Having a boy who’s nearly a teenager, I have some experience in how difficult it is to buy for him. I’ve found, up until now, that whatever he is into at the moment whether it be Pokemon or Star Wars etc, I can’t really go wrong. But buying those themed items can sometimes be very expensive that’s why I’ve come up with a budget gift guide for teenage boys.

Video Games

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Boys of all ages love their video games but they are expensive, especially the latest releases. There is a way to get them a bit cheaper though. If you buy the brand new game in the case from the gaming store you could be looking at $80 to $100 or more. Depending on your device, you can download directly from the online store onto the device for around $20.

I was looking for a brand new Playstation game for my son and to buy it new was $80 but to download directly onto the Playstation was only $19.95.

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The other thing you can do is to buy your teenage boy a gift card towards from the gaming store and get them to do more chores to get more money towards the game. I know it works in theory but depending on how bad they want that game, they’ll do the chores.

Alternatively, waiting that little bit longer until the game has been around for a while it will always be cheaper.

Don’t forget about the accessories for video games. You can pick up controllers second hand quite cheaply and ‘skins’ are relatively cheap depending on what game they’re into. Chargers will also save you a packet on buying batteries and they don’t cost that much.

Phone & Tablet Accessories

By now your teenager will have either a phone, iPod or tablet of some kind. It’s the same as the girls. They’ll love their favourite characters displayed on their phone or tablet case.

Just Cause Head Phones

There are plenty of USB drives in every character imaginable. Ear phones and chargers in novelty designs are also relative cheap and the boys will love them.

Toiletries

The sooner you can get your teenage boy into using toiletries, the better. I know my son has an aversion to soap or deoderant already but getting their own special toiletry pack, soap or scrub might encourage them to use it. Having their own case to put it in when they go on camps or sleepovers is also a great idea.

Also, if your son is anything like mine, he loves doing his hair now in a spiky style so hair gels, hair wax or brushes/combs are a good budget buy.

Board Games

Boys love playing board games with their mates or the family. The old fashioned Battleship that I knew as a child is still a favourite of my son’s.

Did you know there are literally hundreds of different versions of Monopoly for example? Getting their favourite themed game of Monopoly for around $20 to $30 will be a bit hit. My son loves his Cars version.

Even some board games can be played by one player. My son often plays chess on his own and there are some really unusual chess boards available at second hand stores that could quite possibly stay with him for a lifetime.

Even a deck of cards is a great boredom buster for playing Solitaire or learning new card games with his mates or the family.

Money

Once my son started earning pocket money and receiving it for Christmas and birthday presents, he’s grown really fond of it. He’s not much of a spender so likes to save it. The more they can see their bank balance grow with an end goal in mind, like a car when they get their driver’s licence, they’ll love it. A novel money box or cash tin, with key, is also a good idea for them to keep track of it.

Gift cards to their favourite stores will also allow them to get what they like but most of them prefer hard cash.

The Great Outdoors

Soccer, basketballs or footballs of any kind are always a winner. Even good brands aren’t that expensive. Depending what sport they’re into they might like a new bat or glove but you can sometimes pick up near new second hand from online sellers.

A second hand set of golf clubs aren’t all that expensive either. He’ll love a new set of golf balls or other personalised golf accessories just for him. There are plenty of  accessories available like golf tees, shot counters, ball cleaners etc.

A basketball hoop in the backyard second hand is sometimes only $20 and will give them hours of fun.

Don’t forget if he’s into fishing there is always a tackle box, new fishing line, hooks, lures, knives, scalers and plenty of other things for his fishing creel.

Swimming Equipment

Boys love to swim whether it’s at the beach or the pool. New goggles are relatively cheap, even for the better brands. His own beach towel or small microfibre towel that can be thrown into a backpack is a great idea.

There are always surfboards, boogie boards, skim boards and plenty of other bits and pieces for the beach or pool that will appeal to a teenage boy. Surfboards, in particular, are a great buy second hand.

Art Supplies

Not all boys are into crafts but my son loves to draw. His own set of artist’s pencils and drawing pad are something else to add to a gift.

There are also plenty of themed art supplies for the younger teenage boy whether that’s Star Wars related. I’m sure there’s not a boy out there who would’nt love a Star Wars themed pen in the shape of Darth Vader or Chewbacca.

Books & Magazines

Not all boys love reading but if you do find a topic that interests them, there is a book or magazine for it. My son loves Pokemon and there are books galore on the topic.

There are magazines for all types of sports including fishing, surfing, bicycles, golf, athletics, tennis or general sports.

Personal Accessories

By now your boy will be starting to develop some style (or maybe not) so his own wallet, sunglasses, watch, jewelry like necklaces or bracelets are relatively cheap if you stay away from the well known brands.

Clothes

I’m not sure about all boys but some of them love their brand names and logos. Character tshirts or tshirts with goofy sayings are pretty popular (as long as they are appropriate for their age). I just managed to pick up a tshirt with a print of the Death Star from Star Wars with a Pokemon ball printed over the top. My son is going to love his two favourite things printed on a tshirt.

Socks, jocks, boxers and new pyjamas will never go astray as they’re growing at a rate of knots.

I hope this list of budget gift ideas for boys will help you through their teenage years. (You’ll find most grown men will love a lot of these things. They never grow up do they?)