Fall is upon us, yet a few summer-like days have been sprinkled in for our continued enjoyment.  Personally I love to indulge in Summer salads on warm evenings, so why not embrace the new season & the summer-salad in one healthy dish. . .   

This Greek Spaghetti Squash Salad is one of my personal favorites. I adore spaghetti squash because its so easy, healthy & a great alternative to starchy pasta.  While spaghetti squash is often eaten warm, this particular recipe calls for it to be cooked & chilled prior to indulging.  This salad, mixed together on one plate & served during this transitional time of year, is the perfect meeting of seasons!

Before I share, I must give credit where credit is due.  Thank you Liz (my step-mom) for passing this ahhmazing recipe down to me, and thus giving me the opportunity to share it with my awesome readers.  ENJOY!

Ingredients:
·      1 (3-pound) spaghetti squash
·      5 cups chopped plum tomato
·      1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
·      1 cup chopped seeded cucumber
·      1 cup green bell pepper strips
·      1/4 cup vertically sliced red onion
·      1/4 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives
·      3 tablespoons sherry or red wine vinegar
·      2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
·      1/4 teaspoon salt
·      1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
·      1 garlic clove, minced

*This recipe makes about 10 cups; it stores well in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, and is even better the second day. Here the squash is cooked in the microwave to save time but can also be cooked in the oven, if you prefer.

Preparation:
Pierce squash with a fork; place on paper towels in microwave. Microwave at high 15 minutes or until tender. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Scrape inside of squash with a fork to remove spaghetti-like strands.

Combine cooked squash, tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, bell peppers, onion, and olives in a large bowl; toss well. Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients in a separate dish, stirring with a whisk. Add to squash mixture, tossing to coat. Cover and chill.  Serve & enjoy cold!

Servings: Approx. 8

My silly little secret is out!  Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo is, in my humble opinion, the best way to clean your eyes of makeup thats been applied in the morning and worn all day -  - and get this, the travel size lasts for months & costs less than $1.00!  

The tear-free solution is great when used to remove eyeliner (both pencil & liquid), eyeshadow & mascara (yes, even the fussy water-proof kind).  I figure, if its soft enough for innocent infants, it should be a-okay on my jaded eyes (and it is, I've used it for years)!

Either use this product straight from the bottle, or mix with a small portion of water.  Apply a tiny drop of the solution to a q-tip or atop your finger tip & rub lightly around the eye.  After a short period of lathering, wash the solution away.  The end result = sparkling clean eyes that are as soft as a baby's bottom!

Food/Kitchen/Internal Health:
+ Use when cooking - Coconut Oil is a great oil with a very high smoke point.  Its great for baking, stir-frys or as a dairy free replacement to butter or other cooking oils
+ Use as a replacement to Cream & Sugar in your coffee or tea
+ Slap a little Coconut Oil on your toast or bagel as a replacement to butter
+ Mix a tablespoon of Coconut Oil with a tablespoon of Chia Seeds for an all-day energy boost (there is evidence that coconut oil helps digestion & may kill intestinal parasites or yeast) *Note: Do not take this at night!
+ Apply a thin layer of room temperature Coconut Oil to the exterior of an egg by brushing it on or dipping the uncooked egg in a bowl of the oil - it is reported that this will preserve the egg's shelf life up to 9-12 MONTHS!
+ Rub on your lips as a natural chap-stick (great for children's lips too)
+ Add 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil to your morning smoothie for added flavor and an extra energy boost - Note: The Coconut Oil is not stored as fat
+ Coat your skillet with Coconut Oil (The Trader Joe's Spray works great in this application) to create a non-stick surface
+ Replace Coconut Oil for butter when making a grilled cheese or topping popcorn - yummy!
+ Use as a metabolism booster - its reported that 2 tablespoons daily will increase your metabolic rate
+ Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu
+ A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat
+ Rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose to help alleviate allergy symptoms
+ There is some evidence that regular ingestion of coconut oil can help prevent or reverse Alzheimers
+ Nursing moms can take 3-4 tablespoons a day (and Vitamin D) to increase milk supply and nutrients
+ Can be taken in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea
+ Apply to a mosquito bite, poison ivy or  chicken pox - it will alleviate the annoying itchy feeling
+ As a replacement to Neosporin


Beauty:
+ Use as a shaving lotion - It allows for a close shave while moisturizing the skin
+ Combine Coconut Oil & Sugar for a lovely D.I.Y. Body Scrub
+ Use as a makeup remover - Caution: Wash-off very well when used on eye-makeup
+ Use as a diaper rash cream on babies
+ Use as a sexual lubricant
+ While pregnant, apply a small layer to your stretched skin - it will help to prevent stretch marks and reduce the visibility of those already present
+ Use as a massage oil
+ Use as an all-over body moisturizer
+ Melt approx. 1/4 cup and pour into a full bath - it will soften & moisturize your skin (great for kid's baths too!)
+ Put in a spray bottle and bring to the beach - its a great tanning oil! - Note: Coconut Oil has a natural SPF 4
+ Use as a Hair Mask (rub a small amount throughout your hair, with the majority placed at the ends; wash after 20 minutes)
+ Use in place of expensive Moroccan Oil to soften and protect clean hair (use a very small amount . . .a lot goes a long way) 
+ Use as a static reducer in your hair (apply very liberally to the top layer only)
+ Use as a facial night cream
+ Rub onto dry and brittle cuticles and watch them instantly soften - the oil will aid in nail growth too!
+ Apply to sunburnt skin, it will help speed-up the healing process
+ Oil Pulling: Swish Coconut Oil around in your mouth for 10 minutes - There are claims that it whitens teeth!  Next time try the addition of Oregano (just a drop/pinch), it will aid in gum health
+ When used daily, it can help decrease the appearance of cellulite (some say it actually reduces cellulite)
+ Mix with salt to remove dry skin on feet
+ Can be rubbed into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth
+ Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows


For Pets (daily oral recommendation is 1/4 teaspoon for every 10lbs. of weight): 
+ Put it on your cats paw to keep their coat shiny and cut down on hairballs
+ Clears up Canine Skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis,and itchy skin
+ Improves Digestion in both cats and dogs
+ Aids in the elimination of bad breath in dogs
+ Reduces allergic reactions and improves skin health
+ Helps to prevent or control canine diabetes
+ Helps to reduce weight & increase energy


Other Uses:
+ Rub a small amount into worn leather to help condition and smooth out the appearance
+ Use as a lubricant in place of WD40

Don't you hate when your hangers won't slide across the bar in your closet, thus clothes fall off and can sometimes tear?  Its the worst! Well, if you can relate, need not fret . . .we've got your solution!

Wax paper.  Yep, THAT wax paper; the one you have in your kitchen.  Simply grab a piece (I'd suggest approx. 8.5" x 11"), wad it up in a ball (waxy side out), and rub it along the top of your closet rod (back & forth a few times).  This will coat your closet rod with a thin layer of wax and cause your hangers to slide blissfully along the bar.  

Please note that this works best on metal closet rods.  Unfortunately this application does not work for rubber coated rods.

We deal with a lot of local clients, who deal with a lot of varied companies, and its a rarity when one knocks our socks off - literally.  Real Deal Laundry Service is Chicago's premier delivery laundering service.  Their prices are great, their customer service is even better, and their pick-up/drop-off agents are incredibly kind.  Simply put, Real Deal is The Real Deal!  

So, if you're too busy to find the time for laundry, give them a call.  They'll pick up your dirty items, keep them for a couple days and when they're returned to your door, they're cleaned and perfectly folded.  If you're also too busy to arrange the pick-up or drop-off, give Kensington a call and we'll step-in and be present for your pick-ups and/or drop-offs.  We'll even put away your clothes (if you like).

To find out more about The Real Deal, click the image below:

As a woman who loves to collect baubles and all things shiny, I’m often perplexed about how to organize my goodies.  Take a peek at my favorite 15 ideas for jewelry organization.  Hopefully you can implement one of these ideas into your home.

1.  Strategically place an antique tea set atop your dresser and fill with your most precious jewels.  The uniqueness of the tray and tea set will set the tone for the beautiful jewels that sit stored inside each piece.

2.  What great idea…use a cheese grater for your earrings!

3.  Use an antique dressform to add some style to your room and drape her with your favorite necklaces.  You can also pin a couple brooches into the bust for added storage.

4.  Buy a towel bar or short curtain rod & add “S” Hooks to it as method of organizing your necklaces.  It's clean, simple & an inexpensive solution to your jewelry organization needs.

5.  Picture Perfect!  Utilize some of your unused wall frames as a creative way to display your jewels as wall-art.

6.  Au Natural.  Take a piece of nature (branches from your back yard…or your local Michael’s store), pop into a vase and hang your jewels- its simply beautiful.

7.  Pop into the hardware store and grab a handful of drawer pulls (Anthropologie also has an incredible selection of vintage-inspired hardware).  Screw the pulls into a backer-board (perhaps a piece of wood covered in burlap) and use the pulls as earring displays.

8.  Similar to #7, use knobs as a means to hang necklaces and bracelets.

9.  Stop throwing away those cardboard egg crates and put them to good use!  We’re in love with this idea – its green and super inexpensive…

10.  Another inexpensive tray-style organizational idea is the use of a painter’s tray.  Pick one up at your local art-supply store for only a couple dollars & fill with your bling.

11.  Similar to #5, use small table-top picture frames to display your earrings.  String a short piece of fishing line or chicken wire across the frame & decorate with drop earrings.  You’ll have to remove the back of the frame and lean the frame against the wall.

12.  Pick up some colorful bowls, place in a drawer or atop your dresser/nightstand for a simple and practical jewelry solution.  I like to assign one for rings, a few for bracelets and use #8 for my necklaces.

13.  Put a cork in it and drink! Host a dinner party and put the remaining empty bottles to good use.  Take an old frame, fill with corks (hot glue will be your best friend in this project) and slide your post earrings right into the supple cork.  What a fun idea!

14.  Hang it with style.  Use an old fashioned hanger to hang…jewelry.  This solution works great for necklaces you can unhook and clasp around the bottom bar of the hanger.  Its streamlined and can hang directly in your closet if you’re short on space.

15.  Pull from the kitchen and utilize your muffin tins for a crafty storage solution.

Welcome to Kensington's first blog post.  Please use this blog as your go-to resource for all things helpful in streamlining your life.  We will be blogging about organizational techniques, interior styling, wardrobe trends, and giving praise to our favorite local (Chicago) restaurants, stores and services.  It doesn't stop there; this blog will also feature fabulous travel recommendations and deals, suggest social media tips to enhance your business's success and recap events we've had the pleasure of attending and/or planning.  

Here's to our blogging adventure; we hope you enjoy it too!