Raines Realm

Have you ever had that moment where you just finished cooking dinner after a stressful, hectic, crazy day, and its much later than your family's normal dinner time, and as you triumphantly announce that its ready, you realize that the table has not been set? Now dinner is getting cold while everyone pitches in, grabbing the plates, saucers, flatware, glasses, napkins, and condiments. Dinner is now cold. What's the solution? Everyone knows that I am a big planner. I am a firm believer that meal planning can make life so much easier. And meal planning is crucial for this habit to work. Its best if you know what the next meal is going to be, or at least have a basic idea of what it will consist. You can find more information on meal planning and prep  here . After you clear the table following a meal, set it for the next meal. Simple right? At minimum, put out the plates, saucers, and cloth napkins. Then, if you have children they can put out the flatware and condiments whi...

When you're hosting a dinner party and you're the cook, jewelry can become a challenge. You want to look your best, but rings and bracelets can get caked in ingredients. And, necklaces can take unintentional dives in that perfect casserole as you're checking it in the oven. What is a woman to do? I was recently reading an amazing book on entertaining. The Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits is a treasure trove of amazing insights to entertaining. One gem from the book that I want to share is the secret jewelry tip that is a must for hostesses. Earrings! Yes, earrings. Big, statement earrings. When you're cooking for a special event, this is the one jewelry item that is safe from all things cooking. They add to your glamour and will dress up your outfit without getting caked in sauces and flour. They are your safe choice to be a dazzling chef while serving up that traditional secret family recipe to all of your guests. Pick the earrings that you don'...

The holidays bring lots of delicious treats and and decadent dishes filled with nostalgia. And, we want to enjoy everything which generally means we sacrifice a few pounds on the scale to be able to have a little bit of everything. And that's okay, but now we want the weight gone! Here's the best habit to help you bounce back and maintain your weight. Stop snacking. I know, I know, even when it's not a holiday, we are bombarded with snack foods. Chips and dip, snack bars, candies, cookies, cakes, hand-held foods in every shape, size, and color. No food is off-limits, but you need not eat them in between meals to enjoy them. When you snack throughout the day, you're not allowing your body to truly be hungry at meal times. You're also adding in a lot of extra calories that your body really does not need. In a society surrounded by snack foods and the fourth meal drive thru option, we have become scared of hunger. Hunger is good. Not starving, but being hungry f...