10 Cleaning Tips: Cleaning for Housing Pre-Inspection

Cleaning for my Housing pre-inspection has not been fun. My home had been a complete disaster for the past few weeks. I've been so caught up with planning for the move and our Dallas vacation, that cleaning has been the least of my worries. Big mistake! Laundry was everywhere, dishes were piled up and there was toys scattered all over the house. Seriously not a pretty picture! Serenity's room was tore up from the floor up. My Laundry room had mountains of clothes, and floors looked like they hadn't been cleaned in years. Lets not even mention restrooms...a mess. Our first home inspection will be tomorrow. For those of you wondering, "Home inspection?" We will be having a permanent change of station in about three weeks, therefore the on post home leasing office has a policy to make two home inspections before you vacate.  

While cleaning I often questioned, how the heck did this mess get so out of control. This is how I plan to avoiding another cleaning breakdown!

      

1. Hang and fold all clean clothing, never throw clothes on the floor. 
2. Always put away clothes after washing. Please don't let it sit in your washroom. It will come alive and multiply! Also wrinkled clothes calls for a lot of ironing.
3. Wash dishes after every meal. 
4. Keep counter tops decluttered by putting up unnecessary items.
5. Turn picking up toys into something fun for your kids. For example a competition of who spots and picks up the most toys, the winner gets a treat.
6. Have a dusting day. Include window blinds.
7. Put up all restroom items after using. Example: toothpaste, lotion, etc.
8. Sweep/vacuum floors daily.
9. Organize mail and paper work in a certain area.
10. Keep up with trash and recycling.   

            If I had only kept up with these simple tasks I could have avoided so much labor and frustration.                                       How do you manage yourself from having a cleaning nightmare?

Cooking Mexican Taquitos "Flautas": Using Rotisserie Chicken

Mexican Taquitos which we know as "Flautas," is a family favorite in our home. Whether its served as a Dinner Entree, party serving or a snack for Sunday night football, we love it. Flautas is a Traditional dish from Mexico made with corn tortillas and filled with all kinds of fillings,the most typical is a chicken filling. The name Flauta came to be because of the resemblance of the taquito to a flute. In the Mexican culture traditional recipes are passed down through generations some easier to make than others. In my home we love eating good food but sometimes good food can take hours of preparation. I have modified the Flauta recipe so my family can enjoy these crispy taquitos at a short moments notice. Now you can enjoy a Traditional Mexican dish any day of the week without having to prep. for hours!

We will be using a store bought Rotisserie chicken as the filling in our Flautas. Guerrero corn tortillas for our taquitos, and toothpicks to hold the taquito in place. You will also need either corn or vegetable oil to fry them in.

Step One: You will shred the chicken using only the meat and tossing out the skin. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl and season it with onion powder and pepper, I used Fajita Seasoning by Fiesta. StepTwo: Heat corn tortillas in a griddle pan. Flip sides until fully heated for best results. Step Three: Once the tortilla is fully heated place it in a flat surface. Add a thin strip of chicken to the very edge of the tortilla rolling it into a taquito as you see in picture 3. Step Four: When you get your taquito tightly rolled, puncture the closing end of the taquito with a toothpick to hold it in place while it fries.

Step 5: In a small pan pour enough oil to cover most of the taquito, heat oil for a few minutes. Once oil is hot carefully submerge the taquitos into the oil. Please be careful handling the taquitos while they're in the hot oil. Using tongs flip taquitos for an even fry. Step 6: Your taquitos are now nice and crispy, place them in a container or plate to cool off.

Listo!!! Now you have a delicioso traditional Mexican dish ready to eat. Flautas are usually served with a topping of sour cream, fresh crumbled Mexican cheese, shredded lettuce, and guacamole or avocado slices. If you want a bit of a kick you can also add your favorite hot sauce "salsa" to go on top. "Probecho," Enjoy!!