the Imperfectly Happy home

Tiffany Davis

Garage Sale Have The Best One Ever

by Leave a Comment

Garage Sale tips are on the agenda today. It will soon be spring and that, to me, is the best garage sale season of all. But now is the time to get ready for your garage sale (yard or tag sale)! I have some tips and tricks to have a successful garage sale…the best one ever!

garage sale tips and tricks

Garage Sale Tips and Tricks

Garage sale, yard sale, tag sale – I know we all call them something different depending on where we live; but it is all basically the same thing. A garage sale is a wonderful way to purge your home of items you no longer need or use and make some money to boot. Win!

There are a few things you can do to go from a good yard sale to an amazing one! I am going to share what’s worked for us in the past so you can implement them in your next sale!

We are getting read for our annual spring garage sale. I love to shop thrifty and yard sales are great for that too. BUT I have never found an easier way to make a little side cash than a good old fashioned garage sale. So what can you do to have a bigger, better and more profitable garage sale? I’m so glad you asked!

10 Tips for The Best Garage Sale Ever!

Garage Sale Tip #1 – Plan Ahead

If you want to have a spring yard sale then you should start planning it in the winter. Sure you can throw together of last minute sale, I’ve done that too. But for the BEST garage sale you want time to plan.

  • Pick a date, put it on the calendar and plan around it. Depending on how much clutter you have to clean out, it could take several weeks or even months to get yourself ready. That’s ok!
  • See if your area or neighborhood does annual or semi-annual garage sale. These group tag sales will bring bigger crowds which is a better opportunity for you to make money.
  • Find out if your city or town requires a permit to hold a tag sale.

Garage Sale Tip #2 – Make a Collection Area

  • Use 1/2 of your garage or a spare room in your house (if you can) to collect and organize what you’ll be selling at your garage sale.
  • Organize items into groups like kitchen items, books, clothing, etc. This will make set-up on the day of your yard sale much faster.

Garage Sale Tip #3 – Get Volunteers

  • It is so much easier to have a great yard sale when you have a helper or 2.
  • Normally this will be your spouse and maybe your kids but if you’re single ask a few friends to help. Make sure to offer friends some food / treats / drinks for their time. You could consider offering your garage sale volunteers a set percentage of the profits as well.
  • Can you yard sale volunteers help you with the pre-sale organization? Even better!

Garage Sale Tip #4 – Make Sure Everything Is Priced

  • There are 2 schools of thought here. One says price high so people can haggle. The other says ask what you want because some people just want to buy without negotiating. I tend to fall a little in the middle. Most shoppers want to walk away feeling like that got a deal so give yourself some wiggle room in the prices.
  • Price as you go. As your organizing and going through your rooms to find items to sell, price them right away.
  • Make sure price tags are visible and shoppers don’t have to search for them.
  • If you’re unsure what to price something check for similar items on Craigslist and Ebay.
  • Yard Sale Kit with Pricing Labels

Garage Sale Tip #5 – Advertise Your Yard Sale

  • You really don’t need a newspaper ad anymore.
  • Find local groups on Facebook to post your yard sale. If you don’t feel comfortable putting your exact address you can ask people to message you for it but that does make more work for you.
  • Announce it on your personal social media.
  • Add it to your local Craigslist with a few pictures of choice items.
  • Post flyers at your local library.
  • The day of, put out clean, easy to read signs with LARGE print.

Garage Sale Tip #6 – Organizing The Sales Area

Keep your yard sale area neat and easy for shoppers to see what is available. Group like items together.

how to organize a garage sale
  • Clothes with clothes – clothes are best seen and sold if they are hung up. Try hanging a heavy rope between trees or in your garage door area to hang the clothes. You can also invest in a garment rack. If not make sure everything is neatly folded on a table.
  • Books with books – consider offering discounts when multiple books are purchased.
  • Household goods
  • Kitchen
  • Bathroom
  • Etc

Garage Sale Tip #6 – Cash and Cashier & Help

  • Have a designated cashier for your garage sale so you can be in with the shoppers.
  • Make sure you have plenty of small bills for change. You may want a way to check large bill for counterfeits (it happens). You can buy a Money Marker for this.
  • Do not work your garage sale alone. In addition to a cashier you want 2 – 4 people “working” the crowd and sadly watching for thieves.

Garage Sale Tip #7 – Free Stuff

I like to have a box of freebies available at my garage sale. This is the stuff I don’t feel like haggling over, may be missing pieces or need repair. I rarely have any of it left.

Garage Sale Tip #8 – Refreshments

You might want to consider offering some drinks and snacks at a reasonable price; it will keep people shopping your yard sale longer! This is a great job for the kids to man. Here are a few ideas that have worked for us:

  • Donuts
  • Water bottles
  • Coffee
  • Hot Chocolate
  • If you’re really ambitious you could do grilled hot dogs (I saw this once but never have tried it personally).

Garage Sale Tip #9 – Don’t Bring It Back In

Have a plan for leftovers when the yard sale is over. Many companies will come and pick up your yard sale leftover items at a specified time. So make that plan in advance and do not bring the clutter back into your home.

The only caveat to that is if you are planning to have a 2nd day or 2nd weekend to your tag sale.

Garage Sale Tip #10 – Where is the Money Going?

I always like to have a goal in mind for the money we make at our tag sales. Maybe savings for a vacation, a new couch, home repairs, etc. But a goal and a plan makes all the prep work and sales worth it!

I hope these tips give you the confidence to have a yard sale, no matter what you goals for the money. I love to have the once or twice a year to keep the clutter down around the house.

Other Articles You Will Love

Hummingbird Food How To Make Your Own

by Leave a Comment

Hummingbird food sold in the stores is not really quality feed for our sweet little friends. First, hummingbirds don’t need to eat red food dye! Not to mention that most of the store-bought hummingbird feed is old and not the best option for these beautiful birds. We can do better and save ourselves some money to boot!

hummingbird food how to make your own

DIY Hummingbird Food Recipe

My grandmother loved hummingbirds. There was always a hummingbird feeder on her patio filled with bright red liquid. I was fascinated with these tiny little creatures, and I still am. I am happy to share what I’ve learned about hummingbirds and hummingbird food with you.

Hummingbirds – Interesting Facts

  • Hummingbirds can weigh anywhere from .07 – .7 ounces.
  • There are over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide and 16 in the United States.
  • They don’t just eat nectar, they also eat small insects.
  • They consume 100 – 200% of their body weight in nectar each day

Attracting Hummingbirds

Are you putting out hummingbird food but not hummers are feeding? Here are a few tips to attracting hummingbirds to your home and garden.

  • Offer fresh, quality nectar
  • In addition to feed offering a shallow area for bathing, preferably with moving water or a mist.
  • Provide nesting material near your hummingbird food. See: Organic Cotton Nesting Hanger
  • Be consistent with your hummingbird food, nesting materials and bathing water. Hummingbirds will return to areas they know these things are available.

Feeding Hummingbird Tips

  • Always use quality cane sugar in your hummingbird food recipes.
  • Never use artificial sweetners or honey!
  • Use clean water – filtered water is your best bet.
  • If you have too many bees on your feeder you need to up your water to sugar ratio and consider a different feeder (more on this below)
  • Keep your hummingbird feeder clean by washing it thoroughly with a light detergent before you refill with fresh nectar. Never top-off your feeders.
  • If your feeder is dishwasher safe it is good to run it through a cycle once a month.
  • Put fresh hummingbird food / necar in your feeders every 5 days. If your temps are higher than 90 degrees F you’ll want to change it every 3 days.
  • If you live in a cold climate you probably won’t need to offer hummingbird food during the late fall and winter because hummingbirds will migrate.

The Best Hummingbird Feeders & Tips


  • Choose a feeder where the feeder ports are above the liquid. This will make it less attractive to bees and roaches because they cannot reach the liquid.
  • Try to keep your feeder in a spot that is shady. This will help the hummers and keep your nectar from getting too hot.
  • Keep your feeders at least 4 feet off the ground and make sure predators will not be able to access it or the birds.
  • Getting the biggest hummingbird feeder isn’t necessary. If you’re finding most of the hummingbird food is left at cleaning times you may need to put in less food.
  • If the hummingbird food begins to look cloudy or you see mold of any kind, you need to empty the feeder and make new nectar immediately.

DIY Hummingbird Food Recipe

Remember if the feeder is attracting too many bees you can change this hummingbird food recipe to 5 cups of water, instead of the 4 cups called for in the original.

Print

The Perfect Homemade Hummingbird Food Nectar Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 cups filtered water spring water is also great
  • 1 cup pure cane sugar no substitutes for pure cane sugar should be used

Instructions

  1. Bring the water to a boil.

    Remove the water from the heat and add the pure cane sugar.

    Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.

    Let the mixture completely cool before adding to your feeder.

    Follow the tips for hanging your hummingbird feeder and attracting hummingbirds to your home.

Learn More About Hummingbirds

Here are a few books I’d recommend for learning more about hummingbirds and hummingbird food. There is so much joy in learning about these sweet little birds for yourself. If you’re a homeschool family you may want to consider doing a hummingbird unit study for a great science study! Or try your hand at a DIY Hummingbird feeder.


Shredded Chicken The Best Recipes You Will Love

by Leave a Comment

Shredded chicken recipes are so versatile. You can make a simple shredded chicken recipe and then use it in all of these delicious dishes! So many shredded chicken recipes… so much time savings! Make your shredded chicken ahead of time and use it in some of the best recipes all week long. Or make a big batch of shredded chicken and freeze for later use.

shredded chicken recipes

Shredded Chicken Recipes You Will Love

Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe

If I have the time I like to make my shredded chicken base in a slower cooker or crock pot. I find this makes the shredded chicken the most moist and tender. You can really use any chicken to do this but I do find it is faster to use boneless cuts of chicken (usually breast or thighs).

Print

Easy Slower Cooker Crock Pot Shredded Chicken

Ingredients

  • 3 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken breast or thighs
  • 1 Cup Chicken or Vegetable Broth you can use water too in a pinch
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt 2 teaspoons if using water instead of broth
  • 2 Teaspoons Pepper
  • Other seasonings to your taste optional

Instructions

  1. Put your chicken meat in the crock pot.
  2. Add the broth of your choice or water.
  3. Add your seasonings.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 – 8 hours for best results. You can also cook on high for 3 – 4 hours if you need them faster.

  5. Shred and use in your favorite shredded chicken recipes.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe

You can make a fast and delicious shredded chicken in your Instant Pot too. I love that I can make a big batch of shredded chicken in a fraction of the time of the crock pot; so if I forget to start the slower cooker in the morning the Instant Pot will still rescue dinner! Not to mention I can make frozen chicken in the Instant Pot FAST!

Print

Fast & Easy Shredded Chicken from The Instant Pot Fresh or Frozen

Ingredients

  • 3 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken breast or thighs
  • 1 Cup Chicken or Vegetable Broth you can use water too in a pinch
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt 2 teaspoons if using water instead of broth
  • 2 Teaspoons Pepper
  • Other seasonings to your taste optional

Instructions

  1. Put all of your ingredients in the Instant Pot.
  2. Secure the lid and make sure the vent is in the sealed position.
  3. If you’re cooking fresh chicken you’ll set the Instant Pot to Poultry, High Pressure for 6 minutes.
  4. If you’re cooking frozen chicken you’ll set the Instant Pot to Poultry, High Pressure for 11 minutes.
  5. Once cooking is completed allow a natural release for 5 – 6 minutes and then do a quick release for the rest of the pressure.
  6. Remove your chicken from the pot, reserve a 1/2 of the liquid if you want a more moist shredded chicken.

Stove Top Shredded Chicken Recipe

If you prefer you can make your shredded chicken on the stove top as well. This method isn’t as hands-off as the slow cooker or Instant Pot but you’ll still get great results.

Print

A Simple Shredded Chicken Recipe on the Stove Top

Ingredients

  • 3 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken breast or thighs
  • Enough Chicken or Vegetable Broth to Cover the Meat Entirely you can use water too in a pinch
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt 2 teaspoons if using water instead of broth
  • 2 Teaspoons Pepper
  • Other seasonings to your taste optional
  • Large Pot

Instructions

  1. In your large pot add the chicken and liquad making sure the meat is entirely covered.
  2. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer for 8 – 10 minutes (chicken juices should run clear if fully cooked).
  3. Drain the lidquid and your chicken is ready for shredding.

The Best Way to Shred Chicken

There are several ways you can shred your chicken!

  • The 2 Fork Method – Using 2 forks you simply pull them across the meat in opposite directions. Continue this process until the chicken is completely shredded to a consistency that works for your recipes.
  • Shredding Claws – Shredding claws are made specifically for shredding meat after cooking. The same principle as the 2 fork method but much faster and more efficient way of getting it down. The shredding claw are inexpensive, don’t require electricity and work well.
  • The Hand Mixer Method – Once I tried shredding chicken with a hand mixer I never used the 2 fork method again. This takes a fraction of the time and energy! Break up the chicken meat with your hands or a knife and place it in a large mixing bowl. You don’t have to break up the meat but I find less flies out of the bowl if you do. Put the hand mixer in and turn on low. Watch the magic happen in just seconds! If you have a stand mixer you can use that too with the paddle attachment.

Storing and Freezing Shredded Chicken

Shredded chicken can be made ahead of time for these awesome recipes. Make your chicken, shred and store in the refrigerator in a zip lock bag or vacuum sealed bag (my preference) for 3 – 4 days and can be stored in the freezer for up to 9 months. Thaw frozen shredded chicken in the fridge overnight.

Using Chicken From a Can

In a pinch you can use shredded chicken from a can in these recipes. I don’t find this to be the most cost effective choice and to me the flavor isn’t as good as home cooked chicken. But if you’re covering it with a sauce or using it in a casserole it should work just fine. Make sure to drain all the liquid out before using it!

Chicken Taco Tostadas Burritos & Bowls

I like to simply take my pre-cooked shredded chicken and toss it with a 1/2 jar of my favorite salsa, heat low to medium on the stove top then add the remaining salsa before serving. Add to your taco shells and top with cheese, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce. Delicious and couldn’t be easier.

BBQ Chicken  Sandwich Recipe

The fastest way to make a pulled chicken sandwich is to take your warm shredded chicken and add a jar of your favorite bbq sauce. You might want to warm up the bbq sauce a bit too before tossing with the meat. But if you have time, make this fast homemade bbq sauce for your pulled chicken sandwiches!

Print

Super Fast & Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Ready in Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Allow it to come to a bubble but not a hard boil.
  3. Reduce your heat to a low simmer and let it cook until it thickens (10-15 mintues).
  4. Use immediately or store in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Chicken Salad Recipes

Another fantastic way to use your shredded chicken is in a chicken salad. This is perfect for leftover chicken from the fridge! Here are some of my personal favorites!

Shredded Chicken Casserole Recipe

Who doesn’t love a great chicken casserole? Use your pre-made shredded chicken in these recipes for a quick and delicious dinner! You can take a couple cans of cream of mush room soup, heated, with shredded chicken, pour over pre-made rice and bake for 30 minutes for the fastest casserole ever!

No matter how you decided to use your shredded chicken, it is a great make-ahead option for many recipes and meals. How do you like to use shredded chicken?

Be sure to check out my other Instant Pot Recipes, Crock Pot Recipes and Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe!

Growing Basil Everything You Need To Know

by Leave a Comment

Growing basil in your garden, raised beds, in a pot or even indoors, is easier than you might think! Having fresh basil anytime you want is great for your kitchen and even has some medicinal purposes. Today we’re talking everything you need to know about growing basil! The only problem I’ve ever had growing basil is using it all!

growing basil in the garden

Growing Basil Everything You Need To Know

Growing Basil Varieties

growing basil

Before we get into the nitty gritty about growing basil in your garden, let’s talk basil varieties. There are types of basil you may never have even heard of, but you should considering adding them to your herb garden.

how to grow basil

Growing Basil Soil Requirements

Basil is a fairly easy herb to grow with very little soil requirements. Make sure your soil in enriched with some good compost, plenty of drainage with a pH of 6 or 7 ( what is soil pH? ).

Growing Basil Planting

I prefer to start my basil plants indoors and transfer them to my raised beds or pots when the soil will stay warm. When starting seeds you only want to lightly cover with soil and keep the soil moist during germination. You can certainly start your basil with an established transplant from a garden store as well. Basil should be planted where it will get at least 6 hours of sun and 12 to 18 inches apart. I have found the more space you give basil, the bigger it gets!

Caring for Growing Basil

Your growing basil should need little to no additional fertilizer as it a light feeder. It likes moist soil but do not let it get soaked too often because this can lead to root rot and fungus. Basil can occasionally have pests like aphids but generally the biggest issue with growing it is making sure the soil isn’t soaking wet for too long.

Growing Basil in Containers or Indoors

Basil will do very well in a container. Make sure your pot can accommodate a large basil plant. The pot should have good drainage as well and be set in an area that gives it the 6 – 8 hours of required sunlight. You can grow more than one variety of basil in a single container if it is quite large.

You can also grow basil indoors! Again you’ll want a larger pot with good drainage. Keep your indoor basil where it will get adequate sunlight – in a windowsill or near a sliding glass door should work if sun comes in for at least 6 hours there.

Your basil plant may require re-potting because they grow quickly and get large. Keep an eye on it.

Harvesting Basil From Your Garden

One of the most wonderful thing about growing basil is the ability to continually harvest the leaves! You’ll want to harvest your basil when you plant is over 6 inches tall and has some leaves to spare. Simply pinch the leaves, gently, from the stem. You can also use scissors but I find pinching goes much faster. You should also pinch off flowers from your basil plant to keep it producing leaves. Pinching the flowers will also encourage the plant to get fuller as well.

You’ll want to harvest all the basil leaves before your first frost! Don’t worry, it is an annual so it will come back!

freezing fresh basil

Storing the Fresh Basil

Once you’ve harvested your basil you’ll need to store what you do not immediately use.

  • Keep Fresh Basil in your fridge is best done by putting them in a mason jar and covering them loosely with a plastic bag. This should keep them fresh for a week or so.
  • Drying and Dehydrating Basil is great for large batches of basil. There are several methods to accomplish this task. See Drying Your Herbs
  • Freezing basil is a wonderful way to preserve the fresh flavor! Wash the leaves then blend in a food processor with just enough water to make it a puree. Pour the basil puree in to ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen you can pop them out and put them in food storage bags for later use. I recommend using silicone ice trays for this task.

Basil as a Companion Plant in Your Garden

Basil can be a wonderful companion plant for your vegetable garden! Plant near your bell peppers, beans, beets, tomatoes, asparagus, tomatoes, cabbage and eggplants. Basil will make your tomatoes taste even better!

More on companion planting!

How to Use Fresh Basil

Most people think pesto when it comes to fresh basil. And pesto is amazing! But you can use it to make infused oils, in your salads, as a pizza topping, and to add lovely flavor to chicken and seafood dishes. Using fresh basil will always give you the most flavor; much more than dried basil.

See Recipes for Fresh Basil

Growing Basil for Medicinal Purposes 

Basil is said to be a powerful medicinal herb with many uses.

  • Can reduce fevers
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Reduces pain
  • May be a cancer fighter
  • Fights the development of diabetes
  • Protects the liver
  • Boosts immunity
  • Reduces stress

Learn how to use herbs as medicine!

Growing basil in your herb or vegetable garden is really beneficial. It is a hearty plant that will give you more than enough basil for your dishes all year long!

Growing Rosemary

Growing Giant Basil

Hens That Lay Colored Eggs

by 3 Comments

Hens that lay colored eggs just seem to be my favorite girls. I have a chicken that lays a light blue egg and one that lays a light olive egg. I don’t know why but there is something extra special about pulling a blue or green egg out of the nest…in fact any color than white it pretty exciting to me. It is like Easter everyday!

chickens that lay colored eggs

Hens That Lay Colored Eggs

So if you’re looking to add some color to your egg basket I’m here to help that happen!  I have listed some great chicken breeds that will offer a rainbow of unique colors to your coop.

I’m sure I haven’t listed every hen that will lay colorful eggs; this isn’t an exhaustive list. However these are the chicken breeds I’ve had personal experience with and I feel comfortable recommending them.

Chickens That Lay Brown Eggs

chickens that lay brown eggs

Brown isn’t just brown in the egg basket. You can get variations from cream to deep dark chocolate brown eggs.  The chicken breeds to look at for brown eggs would be:

  • Rhode Island Reds – one of my personal favorites as they are great layers with a fun personality.  Whenever we have a RIR they are usually the queen of the flock. The Rhode Island Red will lay a lighter brown egg, and usually every single day.
  • Barred Rock – another great brown egg layer. The Barred Rock is one of my youngest daughter’s favorite breeds.  I have found that ours have had great personalities, though they are a bit more on the “flighty” side. Great layers!
  • Wyandottes – lays a big brown egg. The Wyandottes are a truly beautiful bird that come in several varieties! The Wyandotte hens I’ve had tend to go broody more often than other breeds; something to consider when you’re looking for layers.
  • Australorp – lays a large brown egg.  These are gentle giants as hens go. A really sweet, docile bird that can be great if you have the space for them.
  • Marans – The Maran is thought to have originated from several heritage breed chickens. They are great layers who produce a gorgeous dark brown egg; simply stunning. The Maran is known to be a docile bird and a great forager so they’d be perfect for free range chicken flocks.

Chickens That Lay Blue and Green Eggs

chickens that lay blue eggs

  • Cream Legbar – lays a beautiful blue egg.  I don’t have a Cream Legbar yet but I’ve been very impressed with my research on this bird. We are hoping to add in 2 hens this fall.  They can be hard to come by and apparently Martha Stewart keeps some (la te da).
  • Araucana – lays a blue egg. The Araucana is a very rare bird, do your research if you really want a true Araucana.  Your best bet is to find a reputable breeder.
  • Ameraucana – lays eggs ranging from blue to green.  Not to be confused with the Araucana, the Ameraucana is its own breed and lays eggs in a range of blue to green. I have 2 of these birds and they are fun to watch but tend to be a bit nervous and flighty; but that is just my experience.
  • Easter Egger – the EE hen can lay a wide variety of colors from cream to pink and into blues and greens.  This is a hybrid bird so you won’t know what you’re going to get until she lays. Generally a docile bird that lays well.
  • Olive Egger – this hen has the capability to lay a light olive to dark olive green egg.  The Olive Egger is a hybrid bird and most of the breeders won’t tell you exactly which birds they are using in their program. But first generation layers won’t always have an olive colored egg or it will be very light. Further into generations you’ll get truer olive colored eggs.  Fun!

I love having a backyard chicken flock no matter what color eggs they produce. But I do love a beautiful egg shell. There is something special about having a bowl full of blue, green and brown eggs to choose from every morning. I know that I go out of my way to choose chickens that lay colorful eggs. 

I hope my little guide to hens that lay colored eggs will help you choose your next breed. It is like Easter all year long when you have colored eggs in the nest! Do you raise hens for colored eggs? Which breed do you like best?

More Backyard Chicken Articles

The Best Chicken Nesting Boxes
Fight Your HOA For Backyard Chickens – And WIN!
How to Have Happier Chickens
Chicken Facts You Need to Know
How to Make Money with Chickens
Beware of These 5 Backyard Chicken Coop Mistakes

More on Chickens that Lay Colorful Eggs