The Ask Anna Blog

Linen Closet Organization

We are slowly settling into our new house but the space is so different than our last house that I’m having to go through each closet, cupboard, etc. and find new ways to organize them. I love an organizing challenge so this week I tackled linen closet organization. Before I could organize the space I had to make it pretty, a girl can bling out her linen closet, can’t she? Here’s what it looked like before. And yes, everything is the same color, that’s how the whole house is, it makes me CRAZY!!! Here it is after. A fresh coat… Read More

How to keep a Cake from sticking to the Pan

A friend of mine told me this cake baking trick a few months ago and when she said it I had a major “duh! why didn’t I think of that!?” moment. You’ll say the same thing when you find out what the solution is for how to keep a cake from sticking to the pan. Are you ready for it? The big solution is… Dun, dun, dun… Yep, Parchment Paper!!! Here’s what you do: Step 1: Lay the Parchment paper out on the counter and place the cake pans on top of it. Step 2: Use a pen to draw… Read More

How to Clean a French Press {video tutorial}

My husband is an avid coffee drinker, and he loves rich, dark coffee, which is why he uses a French Press to make coffee in the mornings. If you want to get the maximum flavor from your coffee a French Press is the way to make it because all the delicious oils get brewed with the grounds, rather than absorbing into a filter. Anyways I won’t give you a whole lesson on how to make good coffee (I worked at a coffee shop while I was in college), I’m just here to show you how to clean a French Press… Read More

How to Organize a Kids Room

Hello! My name is Wendy and I am so excited to be here at Ask Anna as a contributor about my favorite topic: Organization! I blog over at Pretty Well Organized about organization, design and overall home management. I work full time in addition to blogging, am married with one very energetic two year old daughter, all of which makes keeping an organized home a top priority. Today I will be sharing how to organize a kids closet…without a closet. We have been in the process of moving our daughter into a “big girl” room down the hall from her… Read More

Dresser Organization Tips

When we moved from our other house I was stressed about what I was going to do with all of Malea’s clothes and toys since we weren’t going to have her beautiful closet from EasyClosets anymore (insert me with a BIG sad face). Her closet at the new house is much smaller than her old closet so I knew her toys wouldn’t all fit the way they used to. On the flip side, our master bedroom closet is much larger than our old one, including a set of dresser drawers that my husband is using for his things. What I… Read More

A Quick and Healthy Dessert: Dairy-free Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding

Quick and healthy dessert anyone? Chia seed pudding is the EASIEST dessert you can make. You just mix the ingredients together, place in the fridge, and let it set. The chia seeds do their magic and soak up the coconut milk, thickening the pudding. Now, if you are unfamiliar with chia seeds, let me introduce you! They are one of those awesome super foods, full of fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Pretty amazing little guys. You can find them at Costco and Trader Joe’s, as well as most grocery/health food stores. I’ve made chia seed pudding many different ways…. Read More