What’s for dinner?

February 21, 2012 in Kitchen, Meal planning with 0 Comments


Does the question what’s for dinner automatically make you feel a bit anxious?  Take a few moments to plan out your meals for the week and you will no longer have to stress over what to make for dinner, make last minute trips to the grocery store, or spend money on take out meals.  The following 3 tips will help you prepare and no longer feel anxious or stressed about dinner.

1. Decide what meals you want to make the next week.  Ask your family for input and for their favorites. Make a list of these meal choices.

2. Find the recipes, if needed, and check your pantry and refrigerator for ingredients you have on-hand.

3.  Make  your grocery list.

That’s it, simple!  Only about 20 minutes of preparation time will make you one happy camper come dinner time!

What’s for dinner at your house tonight?

Organize your spices so you are able to find them

February 7, 2012 in Kitchen with 0 Comments


 

Okay….I have a confession to make.  My spices are alphabetized.  This is a photo of my spices in my pantry.  Before you call me a freak, obsessed or just plain nuts, notice that my spices are loosely alphabetized:)

There are 3 containers, each filled with spices from a segement of the alphabet.  The first container is ‘A’ thru ‘C’, the second is ‘D’ thru ‘O’ and so on.

I used to spend way too much time looking for my spices before I developed this system.  As long as I put them back in the correct containers (and my family members do too) I can find the spices I need in seconds.

I’ve written the name of the spice on their covers with a permanent marker.  This helps me quickly identify the spices when their label is hidden by other spices.

Will this system work for you?  Pull out all your spices, toss the expired spices, and divide into alphabetized categories.  Find containers that fit your space and label.  You may need more containers depending on your space and how spicy your life is!

Do you think you may have some duplicate spices lurking in your cabinets?

 

What’s in your pantry?

January 31, 2012 in Kitchen with 0 Comments


If your answer to “what’s in your pantry?” is “I have no idea” and “I usually have trouble finding what I’m looking for” then I think a little pantry TLC is in order.

Set aside an hour of your time and get ready for a pantry purge.

1. Gather the following supplies: trash and recycling containers, a donation bag/box and a bucket of soapy water and rags.

2. Empty one shelf at a time.  Decide whether each item should be kept or tossed.  Is the food expired, stale or something you no longer want to consume?  When in doubt throw it out.  Recycle glass jars, boxes and cans if possible.  Consider donating food you no longer want, but is still usable, to a local food pantry.

3. Wipe the crumbs and dried on food from each shelf with a rag and return the food you decided to keep to the shelf.

4. After you have finished with all the shelves and cabinets, categorize the food into groups.  I know this sounds nit-picky but it will be a big time saver.  For example, your breakfast items on one shelf or area, pasta/rice in another area, baking items together, and canned goods together.

5. Maintain the organization, because who wants to do this ever again!  Straighten the shelves every time you put groceries away.

Now you will know what you have on hand AND be able to find it quickly.  That’s a great feeling!

What is the most unusual item in your pantry?

Quick closet organization

January 17, 2012 in closet, clothing, Uncategorized with 0 Comments


I caught my 17 year old daughter organizing the other day.  She said, and I quote her “I’m tired of all this crap in my closet.” Of course I pulled out my camera so I could share this proud moment with you:)

She loves clothing and shoes, as you can see by her full closet.   Her job at a re-sale clothing boutique only makes matters worse.

The good news is that Natalie organizes on a regular basis.   She purges items from her closet a couple times a year and places clothing that is in usable condition in a donation area of our basement or resells the clothing at the boutique.  Her system of purging and straightening has helped her maintain an organized closet and from outgrowing her space.

Natalie filled up 2.5 bags with donations and items to sell and said she feels great now that her closet contains the clothing she likes and wears. I’ve already warned her about the tiny dorm room closets!

How often do you purge items from your closet?

Shred it and forget it

January 12, 2012 in paper with 0 Comments


Do you own a paper shredder?  Every house should have one unless you are willing to tear your personal papers into itsy bitsy pieces or burn your papers.

Identity theft is very real.  Once your identity is stolen, it’s difficult and costly to restore your credit and reputation.  I’d like to help you protect your identity with a few shredding tips.

  • Purchase the best shredder your budget allows.  In other words…..you get what you pay for.
  • Don’t overload your shredder.  A piece of paper folded into thirds will count as 3 sheets unless you unfold it.
  • Just because your shredder is labeled “5 sheet capacity”, don’t believe it.  I usually subtract 3 sheets from the shredders maximum capacity, to be safe.
  • Do not shred address labels.  Based on my own experiences–it becomes one sticky mess.
  • If you notice a burning smell coming from you shredder, it’s time to let it rest for a couple of hours.  Same goes if you notice is suddenly stops working.
  • Besides feeding your shredder paper, and in some cases credit cards and CD’s, feed it a little oil to keep it working properly.  Check your office supply store for shredder oil or sheets of paper that are pre-oiled (seriously they do exist).

Now that you have the care and feeding of your shredder down let’s move onto…..What-Papers-Should-You-Shred!

  • Anything that may ruin your reputation….need I say more?

Papers with:

  • Any of your account numbers
  • Social Security numbers
  • Your birth date
  • Your medical record numbers
  • Pre-approved credit card offers
  • Your signature

If you want to take it a step further then also shred:

  • Anything with your address

Do you own a shredder?  If you don’t, consider purchasing one this month.

Something I treasure

January 5, 2012 in Christmas, Uncategorized with 0 Comments


I am a sentimental person but there isn’t a whole lot of “stuff”  I’m attached to or have trouble getting rid of.   This advent calendar, called a Jesse Tree,  is something that I will always treasure.  The felt pieces represent different people or stories from the bible.  Every day, during the month of December, we take a piece out of it’s numbered pocket and place it on the felt tree.

This Jesse Tree is special to me because my mom and I made it together.  I remember cutting out the felt pieces with her when I was about 9 years old.  Then, when our daughter was 2 years old, my mom passed the Jesse Tree down to my family.  I was thrilled to receive it and share it with Natalie.   When Natalie has her own family it will be time for me to part with the Jesse Tree and watch another family count down the days until Christmas.

Is there something from your childhood that you hope to pass down to the next generation?

Make a decision

December 29, 2011 in clutter control, inspiration, Uncategorized with 0 Comments


Your house fills up with stuff, your calendar fills up with commitments, and your papers pile up waiting for the next action.  Deferred decisions, lack of decisions, and procrastination are all causes of clutter.  Start making decisions and you will discover a solution for clutter, piles, and too much stuff.

Purchasing decisions:  Before you purchase an item ask yourself, do I like it, do I need it and where will I store it?

Time management decisions:  Look at your calendar before making a commitment.  Ask yourself, is this really something I want to do?

Decide to take action:  Don’t procrastinate.  Ask yourself, what is the next action step I need to make to move forward on this project?

Deciding whether to keep something:  Do you like it, does it fit, do you use it?

and lastly….deciding where to keep it:  Store things where you are most likely to use it or look for it and put it away after using it.

In 2012 decide to decide.

What decision are you putting off?

Do I ever become tired of organizing others?

December 27, 2011 in closet, clothing, inspiration, Uncategorized with 0 Comments


Do I ever become tired of organizing for others since this is something I do almost every week day?  The answer is NO!  I’m passionate about organization and enjoy helping others feel better.

Since 2003 I have volunteered at a local organization called Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM).

MOM is a non-profit that is leading a community-wide effort to prevent homelessness and end hunger in the Madison, WI area.

I love helping out at MOMs because I use my organization skills to serve others!

Their food pantry and free clothing distribution are among the many ways MOM serves the needy in the Madison, WI area.  When I’m volunteering I have the very fun job of sorting clothing that has been donated by folks in the Madison area.  As a volunteer, I sort through bags of donated clothing and determine which clothing should be distributed my MOM.  We keep clothing that is in good condition and is suitable for the current season.  Clothing is hung up and organized on racks in a area separate from the food pantry. If the clothing doesn’t fit this criteria, it’s passed onto St. Vincent DePaul.

In an average month, MOM’s distributes over 5000 pounds of FREE clothing!

I’m thankful for the opportunity MOMs has given me over the years.  I’m also grateful for all the donations MOM’s receives from generous people in the community who share their excess.

Do you have clothing in your closet that you don’t wear but is still usable?  Pass it on to your favorite charity.

Gift organization tips

December 17, 2011 in Christmas with 0 Comments


If you have a long list of people to purchase gifts for it can get confusing, You’ve purchased gifts for everyone on your list and it’s time to wrap but now you have forgotten what gift is for which person.  Don’t be embarrassed if this has happened to you….it’s happened to me.

The holidays can be a stressful time of year.  Your memory is taxed or maybe your memory isn’t as good as it used to be (as in my case).  I love lists therefore I’ve created a FREE printable gift list for you.  Fill in the list as you purchase gifts.  Keep a copy of this list on your computer or in a “Christmas” or “Gift” file if you think  you may want to refer to next year.  This will help you avoid duplicating gifts and you will know what you spent in the past.

Since gifts commonly need to be exchanged, save gift receipts in an envelope, plastic bag or other container so you are able to track them down. Write the recipients name on every gift receipt; most gift receipts don’t even list the item purchased.

Do you prefer buying gifts or wrapping gifts?  Please comment below.

 

 

Gift ideas that save money

December 13, 2011 in Christmas with 0 Comments


Is your gift budget tight this year or most years?  Budget conscious gifts can be very meaningful and won’t leave you with a large credit card balance in January. Here are some suggestions that will save you money on gifts.

Homemade items.  Do you knit, sew, bake, cook, make cards?

Re-gift items.  Have you received a wonderful gift in the past that just isn’t your taste but you know someone who would be delighted to receive it?  A gift isn’t meant to be a burden.  It’s okay to let it go.

Talent/service gifts.  Do you have a skill to offer someone on your list?  Maybe you are an excellent cook or photographer and someone on your list has been begging you to help them learn the skill.  Is there a charity that my benefit from your service in honor of someone on your list?

Time.  Give the gift of time.  Offer to spend a day with a loved one watching a DVD, baking cookies, hiking, or having coffee.

What is the best budget conscious gift you have ever given? Please comment below.

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