St. Patrick’s Day Party Planning | Make Your St. Patty’s Day a Hit With These Great Ideas!
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year — THIS SATURDAY, to be exact. If you have yet to plan or prep for your annual celebration of all things Irish, use these tips and be ready in no time.
Put Together a Shopping List
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the anniversary of the saint’s death in the fifth century. The holiday falls during the Christian season of Lent, but the Church waives the rule against eating meat during this time to allow celebrators to eat, drink and be merry.
Irish bacon and cabbage serves as the traditional meal for this holiday. Check out these excellent Irish recipes from Food.com and adapt favorites to your party size. For example, corned beef and cabbage lends itself to an intimate dinner party, while corned beef bites served as hors d’oeuvres with spicy mustard work well for a cocktail party. If you plan on having kids as guests, plan to make them corned beef sliders.
Don’t forget to put Guinness on your shopping list, and pick up Harp Lager and Bulmers Irish Cider for guests who prefer a lighter beverage. And, please, resist the temptation to mar the beauty of these brews with green dye. If you plan on inviting younger guests, pick up the makings for vanilla milkshakes, mint extract and green dye for a copycat of McDonald’s Shamrock shake.
Lastly, call your favorite flower store to order St. Patrick’s Day arrangements. Opt for natural flowers and greenery in traditional colors — Bells of Ireland, green kale, poms and monte casino — over dyed ones. Also, skip the tacky decorations. Instead use colorful plates and napkins to add festivity to your party space. Green tea lights in glass holders complete the look. If kids are on the guest list, plan to put the candles above “hand height.”
Prep for the Party
Plan to cross everything off your shopping list before Saturday, so you have a clean house and supplies ready for cooking and decorating on the big day. Wrap things up at least two hours before guests arrive to not feel rushed.
Celebrate St. Patrick
To truly honor the spirit of the holiday, put together a fact or fiction list of information about the saint. Have guests guess whether or not a statement holds any truth and award prizes for correct answers. For example, St. Patrick did not banish all snakes from Ireland, but he did create the Celtic cross by adding the powerful Irish symbol of the sun to the Christian cross.
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For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises bonded, insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised. Click here to request service in your area.
Common 2012 Home Tax Deductions
If you’re still scrambling to find a few more deductions before you file your taxes, there are a few that are very close to home. In fact, they’re related to your home itself, and are often overlooked.
Mortgage Interest
Interest paid on your mortgage can be deducted, up to a certain loan amount. The interest paid can be from loans taken out to purchase a home, or on loans that have been taken out in order to build or improve upon a home. Mortgage interest can be deducted for multiple properties.
Real Estate Taxes
Real estate taxes that were paid in a calendar year are deductible, too. This applies to all primary or secondary residences, or even undeveloped property. If you own rental properties, this amount is still deductible, but in a different category than a primary residence.
Energy Savings
Improvements made to your home specifically for energy savings are deductible. This includes not only upgrades to more energy-efficient windows or doors, but also basic improvements like adding insulation to an older home.
Alternative Energy
In addition to the tax deduction from energy-saving home improvements, some energy-efficient products and major appliances may be eligible for tax credits. A deduction subtracts money from your total taxable income, while a credit reduces the amount of tax you owe. Tax credits may be issued for the installation of alternative energy equipment, such as solar panels, solar hot water heaters, or wind turbines. Many energy-star rated appliances may also be eligible for this credit.
Home Improvements
In addition to home improvements related to alternative energy and energy efficiency, some other improvements are deductible in specific instances. For example, if changes are made to a home due to a medical condition, such as adding wheelchair ramps or installing medically necessary air filtration systems for severe asthma or allergies.
Home Office
If you’ve joined the growing ranks of those working from home, you can deduct expenses related to maintaining a home office, if that’s where you meet clients or do most of your work. Costs that can be deducted include construction related to building the home office, utility costs related to the office (such as a dedicated phone line, Internet, or fax lines,) and the cost of office equipment you may need to do business.
A Final Word About Deductions
The options listed above are really only the tip of the iceberg as far as deductions go. This post is for informational purposes only and you should consult an accountant or other tax professional before claiming tax deductions and assistance with the specifics. Deductions are terrific, but only if you have all the paperwork to back them up; the right tax professional can save you lots of money and, more importantly, can save you from a potential audit down the road.
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For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises bonded, insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised. Click here to request service in your area.
5 Tips for Pesky Spring Cleaning Jobs
Where the heck did February go? Seriously. How is it already March 1st? It was even a Leap Year and February still seemed to fly by. Truth be told, Molly Maid is completely OK that it’s already March. This is an exciting time of year for us because March means, you guessed it – spring cleaning! Most people dread those two words but we LOVE ‘em. Spring is a time of renewal, making it the perfect time to wake your house up from winter hibernation. And that means taking care of those pesky spring cleaning jobs that you may not know how to clean.Let us know if you find these tips useful in the comments section below!
Storage Space Organization – Solved!
Storage space. Some people are blessed with more than others. And boy have we heard stories about how those who are “storage space challenged” find solutions. Rumor has it some households put their storage items in unused bathtubs, or even the whole bathroom, when they’ve run out of room in their closets, basement or garage. Are you one of these folks? Then I suggest you keep reading.
We’ve discussed how to fold a fitted sheet to tidy your linen closets. And how to maximize your closet space. But to solve your overarching storage space issues, you really need to do three things.
KEEP, DONATE, and TRASH. The most difficult task of getting any space organized is sorting through your stuff. To help you do this in an easy, methodical manner, we recommend you have three bins and clearly mark them with KEEP, DONATE, and TRASH. They don’t necessarily have to be bins, you can just get a pile going for each , but have it clearly marked so you know which one is which. You should set clear rules about what it is that you keep, donate or throw out in the trash. For example, have you used/worn it in the last year? Is it in good AND working condition? Did you have to blow a layer of dust off to actually see what it was? Setting clear rules will make it easier for you to decide which category your items belong.
Photo Credit: johngullo on Flickr
Organizing the KEEP. Now that you’ve gone through all your sorting, it’s time to sort some more and categorize what you kept. Some category ideas include Christmas Decorations, Sports Equipment, Pet Supplies, Toys, Photographs, Vinyl Records, Summer Clothes, etc. Oprah magazine’s Adam Glassman suggests using a label maker, and putting your kept items in clear plastic bins.
—–>WAIT! Before you put your newly organized items back into their places, we highly recommend you clean your storage spaces for dust. One of the best ways to manage dust in your home is by making sure your closet floors are clean. Want more tips on dusting? Check out our Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Dust in Your Home.
Storing the KEEP. Once “Organizing the KEEP” is completed, you should now have more space to store your organized items. If you find you still need to store items in the oven and your kitchen cabinets, reread this blog post and start again at KEEP. DONATE. TRASH., but this time focus more on the DONATE and TRASH as opposed to the KEEP. 
One-Day Deep-Cleaning Projects: Bedroom, Bathroom & Kitchen
The first day of spring is just around the corner. Why not spend at least one day during the long President’s Day weekend deep cleaning your home? That way, you will be ready to tackle whatever the season brings without the distraction of a messy house. Follow Molly Maid’s deep cleaning guide to get the job done as quickly as possible, then enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Bedroom
Pull bedding off the mattress and box spring, including bed skirt if applicable, and take to laundry room; start a load. If you have dry-clean-only items, or a bedspread too large for your washer, set aside to bring to cleaners.
Back in the bedroom, attach upholstery tool to vacuum. Vacuum top and sides of mattress, getting dust in crevices between mattress and bed frame. Rotate mattress 180 degrees. If you have an older mattress that requires flipping, enlist a helper and do so. Smelly mattresses also benefit from a sprinkling of baking soda vacuumed up 30 minutes later.
Dust nightstands and furniture with a damp cloth. Vacuum carpet or sweep and mop hard floors with appropriate product (1 gallon hot water mixed with 1 cup white distilled vinegar for tile or a dry mop for wood). Finally, remake bed with freshly laundered linens.
Bathroom
Pull all bath towels and mats and take to laundry room; start a load.
Back in the bathroom, fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and hot water. Spray shower/tub walls and floor, plus toilet, then let sit. Fill another spray bottle with ¼ cup vinegar, ½ tsp. dishwashing soap and 2 cups water. Apply to mirrors, then wipe with paper towels. Apply the diluted vinegar to countertops and fixtures, then wipe with a cloth. Scrub shower/tub walls and floor, plus toilet, with a hard-bristle brush, then rinse. Sweep, then mop floor with appropriate product. Return freshly laundered towels and mats to their proper places.
Tip: To remove hard-water stains, soak paper towels in undiluted vinegar and place on buildup. Leave overnight, then scrub and rinse.
Kitchen
Pull all dishtowels and take to laundry room; start a load. Take any rugs outside to shake, then vacuum.
Remove all food from pantry and refrigerator, throwing out expired items as you go. Spray all surfaces, including exterior of fridge and pantry shelves, with diluted vinegar used in bathroom, then wipe with a cloth. Put back remaining items.
Place any stovetop burners in a sinkful of soapy hot water. Spray all countertops and appliances, both large and small, with diluted vinegar, then wipe with a cloth.
Pull any appliances you can away from wall, then sweep behind. Push back and sweep remaining floor area. Mop with appropriate product. Bring back freshly laundered dishtowels and vacuumed rugs.
Don’t Forget:
- Light fixtures, ceiling fans, blinds & cabinets — Dust with a damp cloth prior to performing chores in a room.
- Oven — Run the self-cleaning cycle. Avoid fumes by setting the cycle and heading outside with any small children or pets.
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For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises bonded, insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised. Click here to request service in your area.
Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids
When the cold weather arrives and the evenings get dark, it can be a little too tempting to huddle indoors. Kids are left to their game consoles and DVDs, while you wait for the first signs of spring.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Winter can be a rewarding season to explore the great outdoors and enjoy the open spaces in relative peace. The key is to find activities that defy the weather, or, in the case of snow, make effective use of it.
Hiking
Hitting the trails can be a stimulating challenge in winter. Those long hikes that are just too strenuous under a fierce summer sun become great opportunities to get up into the mountains and experience bracing breezes. It’s important to be cautious if there is the danger of extreme weather conditions. Check forecasts and dress appropriately for exposed mountain regions.
Kids have more stamina than they will admit, but the secret to keeping them putting one foot in front of another is a system of rewards. Take a supply of sweet snacks to sustain their energy levels and promise them hot chocolate or pancakes and syrup at journey’s end.
Biking
Encourage your children’s competitive streak with a spot of mountain biking. There are trails suitable for most age groups and this is a sport with growing popularity, meaning new bike facilities are being opened up every year. Combine a bike trip with visits to a National Park or wilderness area.
Camping
A winter camp introduces an aspect of surviving in the raw wild that kids love; not too raw, though. It helps if you are bedding down in a heated cabin, or a yurt with a cozy log-burning stove. Waking up in the cold wilderness and seeing their breath in the crisp air as they build the breakfast campfire is an unforgettable experience for kids.
Sledding
Even if your kids are not into the skiing and snowboarding scenes, everybody can appreciate the headlong descent of a sled over fresh snowfall. Head for your nearest slopes, or check for sledding facilities at ski resorts.
The important aspect to remember is adequate clothing. Little kids love the thrill of a sled ride, but hate getting cold and wet. Pile on the hats, gloves and extra layers to enjoy long hours out on the slopes
Gardening
Even on those days when you need to stay close to home, encourage the kids to get out into the yard. Winter is a great time to start planning the next year’s layout, digging out seed beds, and tidying up the borders. Younger kids will enjoy clearing out debris and weeds and building up a winter bonfire. Their reward for an afternoon’s work might be a potato roasted in the fire’s embers and marshmallows toasted on the flames.
Bird Watching
Winter is a great time to get young kids interested in ornithology. Some breeds of birds are reliant on birdfeeders during extreme weather, and this offers kids the chance to see bird life up close and take an interest in identifying different species. Invest in a bird identification book and keep a record of the birds they spot.
Enjoy a Cookout
Summer is the time for barbecues, right? Not necessarily. A winter meal cooked under the stars over a campfire or bonfire can be a great family bonding experience. Ask the younger kids to gather the sticks and fallen branches to make the fire, while the older ones prepare the frankfurters and burgers, or something more ambitious if your menu aspires to be more than just a weenie roast. It’s winter, so nobody has to pretend to like salad.
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For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises bonded, insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised. Click here to request service in your area.
How to Maximize Your Closet Space
In Gretchen Rubin’s New York Times Bestseller, The Happiness Project, Chapter 1 addresses improvements to “Boost Energy.” One of her challenges to the pursuit of happiness is clearing clutter by organizing her closets! The act of tossing out and giving away unworn items gave Rubin an immediate jolt and she continued on to junk drawers, bookshelves and hot spots like the dining room table to eliminate stress. If you haven’t read her tips for enjoying life more, check out The Happiness Project’s website and sign up to receive daily quotations to improve your smile quotient.
Unleash energy through calming clutter
After removing all those unused items, you’re ready to display, store and simplify the clothing, accessories and purses to make you feel your best.
Corral the Clothes
Use hangers in one color for your items and another color for anyone else lucky enough to share space in this important place! Next, use five-tier hangers for pants. Even though there’s less in there, make the most of the real estate. Lastly, lose the step ladder to reach those sweaters, sweatshirts and layering tops. For less than $17, you can purchase a multiple-level organizer to neatly stack those items!
stack five pairs of pants and save space
Purses on Display
The Hanging Handbag Organizer from Organize.com is an inexpensive tool to get your purses off a shelf in your closet and put them on display on the back of the door. This trick helps you to see your options, which invites you to switch up your purse much more often or could prevent you from buying a third or fourth black, leather bag!
Display your purses on the back of your door
Awesome Accessories
Accessories are the easiest way to add oomph to your outfits. Place belts, scarves and men’s ties on this unique organizer from IKEA to keep them tangle free and make Monday mornings a snap!
Hang ties, belts and scarves on this unique organizer
What do you think of our closet organization tips? Share your questions and ideas in our Comments section.
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas by Molly Maid
Valentine’s Day is a day full of hearts, candies, chocolates, roses, romantic dinners, cupid’s arrow, and the colors red and pink. With so many gift ideas, where should you focus your efforts for your loved ones? We’ve got the answers below.
- Valentine for Kids. This is a cute and creative idea for your kids to give out at school on Valentine’s Day. Plus, who doesn’t love Swedish Fish! Printable Valentine’s Cards – Swedish Fish Bowls are available on Etsy.com.
- Valentine for Spouses. Whether it’s you or your husband who does most of the cleaning around the house, nothing says I appreciate and love you more than a Molly Maid gift card. We know, we know! We’re a little biased. But don’t listen to us, see what one of our Facebook fans had to say below. Interested in a Molly Maid gift card? The Mollys are happy to help!
- Valentine for Coworkers. Sweet treats are a great Valentine’s Day gift for your coworkers. And more than likely, they’ll be gone in a heartbeat!
Valentine’s Day Rice Krispie Treats
What do you think of our Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Which gift would you most like to get on Valentine’s Day?! Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below. <3 Molly Maid
Super Bowl Planning and Clean-Up
Ready to throw a Super Bowl party this weekend, but don’t want a lot of headache to go with it? Molly Maid has a few ideas for decorating, entertaining, and cleaning up after the big game.
Super Bowl Party Decorations
Our friends at Mr. Handyman have put together a great video on building some unique decorative touches for your Super Bowl party. Ideas include a Buffet Table decorated with astroturf to make it look like a Football Field Football, a Football Throw Game and many more Super Bowl Party Ideas. Click the links for detailed assembly instructions, or view the video below for examples of the completed projects.
Super Bowl Menu
According to Google searches for chicken wings hit their peak the week before the Super Bowl. Other popular searches include Chili, 7 Layer Dip, Nachos and Buffalo Chicken Dip. To make Super Bowl entertaining easy, consider making only one or two signature dishes yourself. Either buy or have your guests bring the rest, so you can spend time watching the game and commercials.
Make Clean-Up a Breeze
The day after the Super Bowl is a work day. And the game gets over late, so you’re not going to want to be up until midnight cleaning up the mess. Here are a few tips to keep the mess to a minimum and making quick work of clean-up duties.
Use disposable plates and cups to cut down on dishes.- Provide markers for guests to write his or her name on a cup as they arrive, so hopefully they will use just one instead of three or four. Markers or stickers are also fun for embellishing cups with team logos or player numbers.
- Make sure to have plenty of garbage cans and recycling bins throughout the house. If it is tough to find a garbage can, plates in cups are more likely to get stacked in all sorts of places.
- Did someone make a mess at the party? Here is our guide to removing stains and resources on all sorts of cleaning tips.
- If your guests really did a number on the house, give yourself a break. Molly Maid does offer cleaning services for after special events.
For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team has bonded, insured, licensed, and uniformed housekeepers. Click here to request service in your area.
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet
Photo Credit cogdogblog on Flickr
Admit it. More than once, you’ve left a fitted sheet balled up on top of the dryer. ‘I’ll fold it later’ – you tell yourself. And then you procrastinate until the sheet collects so much dust and lint you have to rewash it. Or maybe you only own one set of sheets so you can avoid the frustration of folding a fitted sheet altogether.
Follow these 10 simple steps and master a household task few people on the planet can do properly:
Step 1 — Shake the wrinkles from your fitted sheet and turn it inside out.
Step 2 — Place one hand in each of the corners of a short side of the sheet.
Step 3 — Bring your right hand over to your left hand. Fold the corner in your right hand over the one in your left. Keep your left hand tucked inside the sheet.
Step 4 — Reach down with your right hand and pick up the corner hanging in front. Bring it up and fold it over the two corners already covering your left hand. Keep your left hand tucked inside the sheet.
Step 5 — Reach down again with your right hand and pick up the remaining corner. Fold it over the other three.
Step 6 — Place the folded sheet on a flat surface with the fitted edges. Pick a clean surface, though, as you don’t want to get the sheet dirty and have to rewash it when you’re already halfway through the folding process.
Step 7 — Fold the fitted edges in until the elastic no longer shows.
Step 8— Fold the fitted sheet into a rectangle or square, whichever you prefer.
Step 9 — Fold the sheet into the size you prefer.
Step 10 — If your folded fitted sheet still lacks the crisp corners you want, hide it from judgmental eyes by stacking the fitted sheet, along with the flat sheet and a pillowcase from the set, inside the remaining pillowcase. Then neatly tuck the extra pillowcase material under to create a store-like effect.
If you simply can’t master the task of folding a fitted sheet, don’t be embarrassed as you’re not alone. Simply ask the experts at Molly Maid. We even have options to make beds with fresh linens on each visit. We will even let you take all the credit. If you are still determined to tackle this task on your own here is a great video that walks you through each step of the process.
For your home cleaning needs, call the professionals at Molly Maid. Call 800-MOLLY MAID now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team has bonded, insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers. Click here to request service in your area.
