Time to pack up the Decorations...

Everyone has their own schedule and traditions when it comes to putting away the Christmas decorations.

 I take everything down and put it away before New Year's Eve. 

We like a clean start for the New Year. 

Below are a few packing and storage ideas for your Christmas items...

Now if I could only find some Magic Elf's to pack up everything!

My new storage room is "still" being built. I can hardly wait to get everything organized. I will finally have everything (Holiday Decor) in one place. YEAH!!!

Store your Decor with Style...

*All photos are courtesy of Google Free Images

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Lights Out? Problem Solved...

I received an email early this morning from my sister-in-law. "J" received the email from her sister-in-law in Florida. The email had a very simple solution for light when the power goes out! At this time of the year, power outages seem to happen more often. This solution is so simple you are going to wonder why YOU didn't think of it too!

 Solar Light Solution

1. Solar light/s

2. Vase, bottle or jar

3. Sand, rocks, marbles, etc.

 Anything to hold a solar light in place. 

 Place the Solar light in the center of the vessel. Place stone, sand, vase marbles, etc. around the base of the solar light.

Wah-La, light up the night! 

Ta-da...That was simple!  :)

 Use outdoors until you need them inside! Then they will always be ready and waiting.

Oh my, the possibilities are endless.

 Make a style that fits your decor, inside or out. Adjust the height to achieve different levels. 

Provides light for hours if the power is out. A great night light too!

Garnish with the current holiday decor or just about any other occasion. 

I found the "Joy" light along with the other solar lights at Target. I had the vases, sand and rocks on hand. The Christmas garland is part of my holiday decor collection. 

If the power goes out, light up with Style...

Today is National Preemie Awareness Day!

Our Grand daughter Caidee, now 7 years old
Wear Pink/Blue in honor of ALL the Preemies...
(My Dad, myself and Caidee were all preemies)
NeeCee (below)

*All photo's belong to Pine Creek Style by NeeCee

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Kitchen Ready for the Holiday's...

(google image)

This looks like my first kitchen (the first home we bought), only I had turquoise appliances. A 1950's retro kitchen with levered windows and linoleum floors.


The Kitchen is Ready and Open for Business...
the Holidays are here!
Just a few tips to get the kitchen prepared for Holiday traffic. 
* Important to remember...# 12 can and should be repeated often!


1. Remove any clutter. Anything that can be removed to make more counter space. Move to the pantry, cupboards, or box till later.
2. Make a list...write everything down you need from the store.
Keep this list handy, it's gonna grow!
3. Make sure you have all your containers matched up with lids. 
You will want several sizes. 
4. Do you need; foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, zip lock bags, paper towels or napkins. Paper plates and bowls, don't forget plastic cups. Do you have enough coffee cups for coffee and hot chocolate? You might consider paper on these too! Less dishes, girls!
5. If your roasting pan needs a scrub; fill the sink with hot water, immerse the pan add 2 heaping spoons of dishwasher soap and soak overnight. In the morning, drain the sink and scrub with a steel wool pad. Wash, rinse and dry!
6. Make a habit to clean as you go. Wash, dry and put away. Straighten everything you can. This will make your life easier. Enlist family and friends to be Sous chefs, chief bottle washers and in charge of the towel drying. Let them be your clean up crew. NO..., "Wait Staff" sounds better!
7. Clean out the refrigerator, throw out anything thats past it's due date. Make room for all the extra space you'll need; like cookie and pie dough, extra eggs and butter, cheeses, etc. This will need to be a weekly chore through the holidays. If you are lucky enough to have two refrigerators, keep larger items in one, along with drinks. 
8. Plan your meals; making notes, menus, gather recipes, grocery lists, etc.
Read all of your recipes before you shop, and before you cook. Prepare what you can ahead of time. Don't forget to plan for your other meals. Simple, easy to fix recipes work best. Soups, Stews, Hot sandwiches, Pizza, etc. The family eats, 3 squares a day! :0
9. If you have special dishes you use during the holidays, make sure they are clean and ready to use. 
10. Clean the ovens and microwave now. You will want clean ovens for your baking. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen.
11. Set aside a day or two to do your holiday baking of gifts. Get them done and delivered before it gets too crazy. Make simple treats that look like you worked hard! Throw some flour on your face, and deliver. When they say thank you, "SIGH", it adds to you harried appearance! LOL
12. Then take the night off, put your feet up, have a glass of wine...put the "wait staff" to work cleaning up the kitchen! Put on a movie and enjoy that "little bit" of homemade candy you stashed away for yourself! 
I won't tell! :)

Keep your Style by Getting Your Rest...Oh, and Your WINE!

P.S. Happy Birthday to "My Angel Baby"
"She is 7 years old today"
Love you, Nana

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Holiday Check-List for the Bar & Glassware...

As the Holiday's approach, we need to be ready for guests and drop-ins.

 Below is a check list for the bar, barware and glassware. This is a great "To Do" job to get done ahead of time. Take time now, you will have enough to do later. Then all you need to do is replace supplies and change cocktail napkins throughout the Holidays!
(*I know...the dishes too! It's always the dishes....)

Champagne & Strawberries...Anyone?
A great home bar has an array of bar glasses. Every home is different, as is every host & hostess. Barware should reflect you and your style and your home.
You don't have to have every style of barware, some glasses have multiple uses, including serving desserts and appetizers.
By-the-bye...
Did you know...You can chill a bottle of White Wine by plunging it into a bucket of ice water for 30 minutes? Works great!


The basic bar glass wear should include:
Cocktail/Beer Glasses
1. 8-12, Old fashion glasses/on the rocks or short tumblers. 
These hold 8-10 ounces and serve for all types of mixed drinks.


2. 8-12, Highballs; used mostly for juice based drinks


3. 8-12, Y-shaped, Martini cocktails glasses


4. 8-12, beer or pilsner glasses


Wine & Water Glasses 
8-10 per style you choose to use...


1. Water:
A widemouth goblet that has a large bowl.


2. Bordeaux:
Smaller than a Burgundy glass, same size as the water goblet or slightly larger.
This glass is used to serve hearty red wines, such as Cabernets.
Brandy Balloon or Snifter:
 This is a wide base with a narrow chimney, that funnels aroma to your nose.
About four inches deep. This glass is for serving Brandy, Cognacs and such.


3. Flute:
Made for Champagne, it is tall and slender. This glass helps retain the bubbles from dissipating. 


4. White Wine:
White Wines are best served chilled. This glass is usually smaller than the Bordeaux glasses bowl and the opening is narrower, retaining the delicate scents.


5. Burgundy:
A very large, balloon shaped bowl for serving Burgundy's and delicate wines, such as Pinot Noir's. The extra space in the bowl allows the bouquet to gather.


6. Cordial:
This is a small glass used for "before and after" dinner liquor's.

The "Ulupalakua Red" is from Hawaii and bottled on Maui...Oh YUM!

Your entertaining style, entertaining budget and the type of cocktail party will determine how you will stock your bar or liquor cabinet. For cocktails; a variety of liquors, mixes and garnishes will be needed. Also a variety of bar glasses.

Example: 

For a 2 hour party, allow a pound of ice for each guest, 3 drinks and 3 napkins.

Double for a 4 hour party. 

Don't forget to start a pot of Coffee!

Most liquors will keep indefinitely, but port, vermouth, and wine will spoil if left at room temperature once opened, store in the refrigerator.

Basic Checklist for Liquor & Beverages:

__ Hard Liquors: Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey (Irish, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye)

__ Wine; Reds, Whites, Champagne...

__ Beer; domestic, imported, your favorites. At least 2/3 types.

__ Tequila (there are several types), & triple sec

__ Mixers and Soft drinks including water, soda water and tonic, cola, ginger ale,

a variety of juices.

__ Before & after dinner liquors; Cordials, Brandy, Cognac, etc...

__ Bitters, Worcestershire & Tabasco sauces, grenadine, flavored syrups....

__ Fresh garnishes; Mint, Lime, Lemon, cherries, olives, cocktail onions, etc...

__ Non-alcoholic beverages; wine, beer, sparkling cider, seltzer, sparkling and flat water.  

Checklist for Bar Tools:

Basics...

__ Slotted spoon or strainer

__ Cocktail shaker

__ Paring knife and small cutting board

__ Jigger (marked w/levels in ounces)

__ Long handled cocktail spoon 

(slotted is nice because of juices, I use an slotted olive spoon...less mess)

__ Ice bucket with tongs or a scoop

__ Bottle opener

__Cork screw

__ Bottle stoppers and Pour spouts

__ Muddler, optional

__ Blender, optional

__ Bartender's guide, Cocktail recipe book

__ Swizzle sticks

__ Peeler or Zester, optional

__ Wine, Beer, Drink tags or markers, optional

__ Bar Towels and wash clothes or paper towels

__ Cocktail napkins

__ Coffee Maker, Coffee and Coffee Cups

__  And of Course...Assorted Cocktail Glasses

* It is always good to have snacks on hand; nuts, snack mix, etc....

Set several bowls about the room for easy access.

Bar's Open...

Serve Your Holiday Guests with Style...

**So many ways to display your corks. I use a very large clear glass vase. I mark the level of each year's corks with a piece of string and a wine tag. On the wine tag I write the year. On the Piano, I have an over-sized Brandy sniffer with corks, this works well for oversized corks.

 Would love to see or hear how you store your corks!

Leave your comment today, while you're at it, "Join our Site"....

We LOVE new Members...

**Photo's were from Google Images and Pine Creek Style by NeeCee

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Time to Straighten the Pantry....

It is the season to clean, re-organize and stock the pantry. 

The holidays are around the corner.

As I mentioned in May, I clean the pantry from top to bottom in the fall. Before the holidays hit, I rearrange, purge old items and make notes on items needed.

This helps me ready for the busy holidays ahead. And, the cooking that comes with it! I spruce up the pantry in the spring, but in the fall...I really do some deep cleaning.

We all have different sizes and set-ups for our pantry's. Different food items and/or equipment. Each of us need to develop the system that works best for us and our families. We all know being organized will make the kitchen run smoothly. Especially, during the holidays.

 With all the extra's we'll need for baking, food gifts and guests, we'll want to make life easier in the kitchen. I start at the top and work down. Do one shelf at a time. Access items by size, weight and how often they are used. Large items, especially if heavy, need to be placed on the floor or lower shelves.

 Check expiration dates, wipe down shelves, place "like" items together. Make a list of replacements; food or equipment.

Store opened food in sealed containers. Flour, sugar, cereal, pastas, etc. will stay fresh longer when kept in airtight containers. Wipe down any food bottles after each use, such as honey, oil, vinegar etc. Check potatoes, onions and similar items often. They need a cool, dry storage area.

Show-off Your Pantry's Style....

Become a member of Pine Creek Style today.....We love new members!

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My Colander is Flat?...

A NEW favorite kitchen tool... is my food strainer/colander. This kitchen tool is usually a bowl shape, used to strain or wash foods. That allows food to drain whether it is hot or cold. Well,... I found an awesome new strainer while strolling through TJ Maxx! Take a look....I love that I am able to store it without taking up a lot of space in the cupboard! 

 Flat...

 Ready in a snap...

Love these colander's...

A classic kitchen tool with new found Style...

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Artfully Organized...

Kids love to share their art work. But it can pile up fast! 

Create a filing system that works best for you and your family. Organize items in folders, binders, baskets, chest of drawers, whatever looks stylish and is efficient.

A Precious rendition of Nana & Papa
 Prize drawings, awards, school work, photos from school or home projects.

Just about anything you want to save and protect. 

Proud Achievements
 Below is a (past) school homework assignment.

 Great idea, fun to keep and look back on years later.

Homework Assignment
This project is great for all of the treasured trinkets and papers that accumulate from your children, grand children, yourselves or your travels. When they are organized, neatly put away or stored in a clever way, the historical account of your family and their life will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.  

One of many crayon drawings

 I have a box started for each of my grand kids. I've saved all the color crayon pictures, watercolors, home made gifts, photos, school work and awards they have given me over the years. I've included (from my house) their favorite bibs, toys, milk bottles and rattles, etc. Multi-copies of family photos get filed in too!  I have in mind trunks or a dresser to store all the treasures. I haven't found what I'm looking for yet (it needs to be Special)..., so until then I will leave them in the clear storage boxes with each child's name on the lid. 

"When you have nine grand-kids, you gotta have a PLAN!", NeeCee;)

Holiday Baking Party...
 Taking a trip down Memory Lane, while going though the family artifacts, can be awesome. It's a great way to spend quality time together. 

School Projects
When my children were small, I bought them each a trunk. Over the years we filled the trunks with all of their treasures. Years later, when the kids were adults, we gave them the trunks as a Christmas present. They had fun reliving their childhood that Christmas. And, they share the contents with their own children often.
 Treasure your memories with Style...  

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