Ask Anna

Cranberry Apple Pie

Slightly sweetened apple and cranberry pie with the warm flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. This cranberry apple pie is the perfect dessert to transition from fall to winter. Hi! This is Andrea from Cooking with a Wallflower. I’m back this month to share with you a dessert recipe that’s perfect for both fall and winter. Can you believe that it’s already December? Is it chilly where you are? Are you done with your Christmas shopping? If you are, I’m so jealous! I always have so much difficulties picking out gifts for people. As much as I love the… Read More

How to Organize a Suitcase and take the Stress out of Traveling

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved to travel. When I met my husband and he wanted to live in the town I grew up in, so I told him I’d only live there if we could travel a lot because I didn’t want to get stuck in the same place my whole life, and never see the world. He has held up on his end of the bargain and in our 11+ years of marriage we have visited 6 states and 6 countries (some multiple times). 🙂 Because I love to travel so much, and I’m… Read More

My Merry & Bright Christmas Home Tour 2015

Happy December, friends!!! I am so excited to be sharing my merry & bright Christmas home tour with you today! The longer we are in this house, and the more projects we finish, the more it feels like home. I love decorating for Fall but Christmas is definitely my favorite, and I usually go a little crazy. 🙂 Today I am beyond thrilled, and honored, to be joining Ashley, of Cherished Bliss, and Country Living Magazine for this amazing Christmas tour of homes. If you are stopping by after visiting House of Hoff’s home, welcome, wasn’t her home gorgeous!? Today… Read More

Christmas Tea Party with Vintage Flair

A few years ago for Christmas, my husband bought me this antique tea set to display on the shelf in my gray and white pantry. I’m not a big tea drinker but it’s fun to get out every once in awhile and use, just for fun. This Christmas I thought it would be fun to let my 6 year old host a Christmas tea party/sugar cookie decorating party, with her neighborhood friends, and let them use my “fancy” tea set. You know me, I love a good themed party, and while I was trying to think of a theme for… Read More

How to Clean Baked-on Grease off Pots, Pans & Baking Dishes

I am proud to be a 3M-sponsored blogger, and as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate 3M products. All my opinions are my own and all the results you see in the post are real. I love to cook, and bake, during the holidays. The only problem is that by the end of the season my pots and pans end up looking like this. (YIKES!) Do yours look the same, covered in layers of baked-on grease, and next to impossible to clean? Remember a couple months ago how I showed you how to clean a crock… Read More

How to Organize Holiday Decorations and keep them Organized

I’ve had the same box for my Thanksgiving decorations, for years. It’s one, really big tub, that I shove everything into, and every year when I pull it out I think “man, I need to organize this!” This year I decided I’d had enough, so armed with my new DYMO Label Manager, I whipped myself into shape and decided to organize my holiday decorations. It’s actually really easy to do, the only time it cost me was a trip to Walmart to purchase some better bins. If you don’t have a Walmart near you, these ones from Amazon are the… Read More

7 Must-know Tips to Organize Black Friday Shopping

Happy Thanksgiving and happy baking and cooking this week! This is such a wonderful time of year, filled with food, family, excitement and gift giving. Do you go shopping on Black Friday? Hi, Susan here from Organized 31, sharing 7 must-know tips to organize Black Friday shopping. Taking a few minutes to get organized before you head out early Friday morning, will make all the difference in your comfort while you’re shopping. People are split on Black Friday shopping – some people love it and others wouldn’t do it if you paid them. I only go Black Friday shopping after I have… Read More

Kindness Elf – 24 Days of Elf on the Shelf

Elf on the Shelf has always been about mischief, but this year, our elf is doing 24 acts of kindness. Your kids will love having a Kindness Elf and doing kind acts for others! It’s almost December, and time to bring out the Elf on the Shelf. In the past, Elf on the Shelf has been 24 days of mischievous acts but this past year I’ve been teaching my daughter to really be aware of what people are feeling, or needing, so this Christmas season, I decided our elf would take a different twist, and instead of 24 days of… Read More