Destressing Christmas, Part 6 - Planning Holiday Meals

You’ll probably be cooking some special meals during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Years, whether it’s just for the family or for guests. Take some stress out of the season by planning those meals or special occasions. Here are a few tips:

- Determine which special holiday meals you’ll be preparing. Will you be hosting any parties?

- Decide what you will serve for each special meal or party. Make a list for each event. Make sure you have a balance of protein, starch, something green and something red/orange/yellow. Try to avoid a lot of last-minute or time-consuming recipes.

- Do you have enough dinnerware, glasses, silverware, linens, and serving pieces?

- Are there some items you could prepare in advance - breads, desserts, cornbread for cornbread stuffing, etc.? Plan when you will cook some of these recipes and write it on your schedule, so you can space it out and avoid last-minute stress.

- If you are having guests, take them up on their offers to bring something!

- For each week, plan your menus and make a shopping list. Try to go shopping only once a week to save those time-costly trips back to the grocery store. During such a busy time, try to piggy-back from one meal to another. Cook a roast, and use the leftovers for beef stroganoff, for example. Plan simple regular meals during the holiday season to reduce your stress level.

- Have some easy-to-prepare foods on hand if you have a disaster day: frozen ravioli, ingredients for wraps, chicken tenderloins, for example.

- Have some ideas in mind for using leftover turkey: chow mein, stir fry, pasta salads, etc. Use leftover ham in soups or pasta salads. Freeze extra turkey or ham in meal-size portions for the future when you are not weary of these meats.

Even though it takes time to plan your holiday meals and your regular meals, you’ll save yourself time and stress by organizing your menus. You won’t be making last-minute trips to the grocery store, you won’t forget ingredients, and you’ll have what you need.

You’ll be able to welcome your guests or have a special meal for your family without stressing! What a refreshing way to celebrate!

Related posts: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think Through Your Expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Smart Gift-Giving, Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Organizing Your Cleaning and Decorating, Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Mapping Out Your Calendar

Posts from 2007: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think through your expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Think through your family/friendship needs and commitments, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Think through gifts, Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Think through cleaning/decorating/entertaining, Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Think through your health, Destressing Christmas, Part 6 - Think through your calendar, Organizing Your Holiday Meals

Getting Organized for Winter - Trees and Gutters

If you live in a part of the country where you experience winter, it's time to take care of a couple of items before it descends on us!

The first concerns trimming tree limbs. If you have limbs that are too close to your house, snow, ice or wind can cause them to break and damage your house. While you're at it, get rid of any dead or damaged limbs.


One year a neighbor's dead tree fell into our yard, damaging our fence (after we had spent hours priming and painting it!). In our area, it is not the responsibility of the owner of the tree to make restitution unless you have written a letter to said tree owner stating his tree is liable to do damage to your property! So you may want to check out your neighbors' trees and your insurance policy as well!

Another preventative measure is to clean out your gutters, especially with all the leaves falling - another reason not to have limbs close to your house. If your gutters are full, your walls, roof, or foundation can be damaged. I found a wonderful step-by-step article at Demesne on cleaning gutters.

The Best Time of Day to Do Your Cardio Workout

According to Real Simple magazine, the best time of day to do your cardio workout is between 5 and 6 pm. Here's why:

" 'For increasing fitness, decreasing the chance of injury, and improving sleep, the best time to exercise is late afternoon or early evening,' says Matthew Edlund, M.D., author of The Body Clock Advantage (Circadian Press, $15, www.amazon.com) and head of the Center for Circadian Medicine, in Sarasota, Florida. At these times, he says, your lungs use oxygen more efficiently, you're more coordinated, and your muscles are warmed up, so you're less likely to suffer a sprain or strain.

Finish exercising at least three hours before bed so that when your head hits the pillow the extra adrenaline will no longer be pumping through your bloodstream (and other factors that keep you awake will also have subsided). Bonus: 'If you're all wound up at the end of the day, exercise may be a great stress reliever,' notes Shirley Archer of the Stanford Health Improvement Program, in Palo Alto, California."

I enjoy knowing the above information and it makes sense. But as a morning person, I start losing steam after 4 pm, so the thought of exercising then is horrible! I find that if I don't exercise in the morning, I'm likely not to do it. With this new information, though, I might be more encouraged to exercise in the evening if I can't get it in in the morning.

A Little College Humor

A friend sent this to me, and since we were talking about college yesterday, here goes:

At Penn State University, there were four sophomores taking chemistry and all of them had an "A" so far. These four friends were so confident that, the weekend before finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party.

They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Penn State until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, they decided that after the final they would explain to their professor why they missed it. They said that they visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire. As a result, they missed the final.

The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day. The guys were excited and relieved. They studied that night for the exam.

The next day the Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet. They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points. Cool, they thought! Each one in separate rooms, thinking this was going to be easy.... then they turned the page.

On the second page was written.... For 95 points: Which tire? _________

I'm a Contributing Author to Campus Calm University

I'm a contributing author to just-released book Campus Calm University: The college student's 10-step blueprint to stop stressing and create a happy, purposeful life by Maria Pascucci! It's a fabulous book every college student should have. Check out Campus Calm University, read an excerpt or testimonials, skim the table of contents, and buy it!

Getting Organized for Winter - Your Garage

If you live in an area of the country where it gets cold, it's time to start winterizing. My daughter in Montana has already gotten snow, so I may be too late for some!

The garage is a great place to start winterizing. The other evening my husband seeded the yard with grass seed (early fall and early spring), and then transferred gardening supplies to the back of the garage. He brought forward the ice melt, snow shovels, snow blower, etc. He took the opportunity to straighten up and clean up. He also put snow scrapers in the cars so we're ready when it snows.

We have been having unusually warm weather for this time of year, so we barbecued last night. It was so nice, I wanted to get one last outdoor dinner in before it gets cold (today!). But I imagine the outdoor furniture is going to the back of the garage, too! How sad.

Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Mapping Out Your Calendar

Unless you plan out your holiday calendar, you can find yourself tossed around by everyone else’s agendas, priorities and events. By determining what is important to you and your family, you will be able to make sure those high-priority events get top-billing on your schedule.

Sit down as a family and talk about what each individual wants to have included in the holiday schedule – decorating, special outside events, baking, making gifts, reading stories, watching movies together, shopping, sending Christmas cards, hosting a party – whatever says celebration to each one.

At the same time, discuss all the holiday events from school, sports teams, church, work, friends and family. Which ones do they want to attend?

Take your list and schedule in those activities your family wants to include in their holiday celebration. Evaluate: Are your scheduled events going to allow everyone to get enough sleep and rest? If not, rethink things.

Create margins and boundaries. Know your own limitations as well as those of your family members. Make sure to schedule in some “breather dates” into your calendar so you won’t over-schedule. If someone invites you to do something else, you can honestly say you have something already scheduled – it’s true!

Making a plan and writing it on your calendar reduces stress – it’s on paper for you and the family to see and anticipate. In addition, you are being intentional about how you are spending your holiday season and doing those things that are important and meaningful to you and your family. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Another Organizing Site

Andrew Yang asked me to pass on info about qlubb.com. It's a secure site with a public website, a group event calendar with reminders, a shared to-do list with reminders, group invites/RSVPs, and more! It sounds perfect for families as well as sports teams, church groups, parent groups, etc.

Let me know what you think!


Related Posts: More Family Organizing Sites, Cozi 2.0, Product Review of Organizers - PDAs, Get Organized for School (or life!) - A Family Calendar, Product Review of Organizers - Daily Home Planner, Product Review of Organizers - The Planner Pad

More Family Organizing Sites

Remember my reviews of time management planners? Here are a few more sites that allow you to organize family activities and information online:

Famundo.com allows you to upload an online library so everyone can have access to critical family information.

Viewmylife.com allows you to send customized invitations to others complete with videos and pictures.

Schoolpulse.com enables parents to discuss school events, sports and PTA meetings.

Google.com/calendar allows you to view your calendar alongside that of your family members and friends either on your computer or on your phone.

Have you found another site you love?


Related posts: Cozi 2.0, Product Review of Organizers - PDAs, Get Organized for School (or life!) - A Family Calendar, Product Review of Organizers - Daily Home Planner, Product Review of Organizers - The Planner Pad

Demystifying Food Expiration Dates

Ever wonder what those expiration dates on foods mean? Is it the last date to buy it? Is it the last date to eat it? Is it safe to eat it after the expiration date?

In these difficult financial times, it pays to be efficient with food to make our dollars stretch as far as possible. I read an article over the weekend in Consumer Reports that led me to a USDA fact sheet that answered many of my questions regarding product dating.

Our girls had asked if it was safe to eat individual yogurts after the expiration date on the package. Although I didn’t get a specific answer for yogurt from the USDA, I did find valuable information on the fact sheet:

- we should keep refrigerator temperatures 41 degrees or below
- eggs can be used 3-5 weeks after the date on the carton
- baby formula should be used by the “use by” date for nutritional value and because old formula clumps and doesn’t go through the bottle nipple well
- the more a food is handled (for example deli meats being taken in and out of the fridge, handled by several people), the more likely it can be contaminated (as opposed to a single-use serving of yogurt)
- the “Best if Used By” date refers to flavor and quality, but is not necessarily a safety date
- canned items that contain high-acid foods (tomatoes, grapefruit, pineapple, etc.) can be kept for 12 to 18 months
- low-acid canned foods (meat, poultry, fish and most vegetables) can be kept for 2 to 5 years, if the can is in good condition and is stored in a cool, dry, and clean place.

The fact sheet also explains the difference between the terms “use by,” “sell by,” and “best if used by.” In addition, it displays charts for meat safety.

Even though I didn’t get my yogurt question answered by the USDA, the Food Goddess of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution did some research and came up with:

“While the National Dairy Council recommends a one-week refrigerated shelf life for yogurt, both Dannon and Stonyfield Farm imply a much longer life. Both clearly state the stamped date is not the date that the yogurt will "expire" or "go bad." It's more of an optimum eating period.”

Sources:
Consumer Reports, November 2008, p. 11
United States Department of Agriculture
The Food Goddess, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Do you have suggestions on food safety?

Getting Organized for School - Online Homework Help

Mary Meehan in her article School Rules: Tips for Parents offers some homework resources for kids:

- "Infoplease is a free reference site including an encyclopedia, dictionary, almanacs and a "Homework Center" that covers English, math, history, geography, science and social studies. Plus it has a "Skills" section to help improve study, writing, speaking and research abilities.

- Need help with homework or a school project? Discovery Education provides "Homework Help" to students in all grades with links to loads of sites. The links are convienently organized according to subject.

- Homework Spot offers links to Web sites grouped by grade level.

- Scholastic's "Homework Hub" offers free tools, tips and activities arranged according to grade and subject. In addition, it provides an online store offering Scholastic brand products.

- Homeworkhelp.com offers live, online tutoring with personalized programs for fourth to 12th grade students. Users must purchase levels of membership ranging from $30 to $175.”

Do you recommend other homework resources?

Source: School Rules: Tips for Parents by Mary Meehan, Dow Jones MarketWatch.

Related blogs: Getting Organized for School - Organizing Homework, Getting Organized for School - Organizing Your Child's Artwork and School Papers, Getting Organized for School - A Successful Day Starts the Night Before, Getting Organized for School - School Supplies and Backpacks, Hope for Disorganized Students!, Homework battles, Getting Organized for School - Backpack Checklist, Getting Organized for School - Learning Style, Getting Organized for School - Document Organizing System, Getting Organized for School - Creating a Hub, Getting Organized for School (and life!) - Getting Enough Sleep, Get Organized for School (or life!) - A Family Calendar, Organizing for School - Papers, Get Organized for School - Clothing Inventory

I'm Cited as a Source in the Wellness Blog

Kati Steindorf cited my information on the importance of sleep in Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student as a source in her article "Increase Sleep, Reduce Stress" on the Wellness Blog. Click the title above to read the entire article.

Scheduling in Clean-Up Time after Projects

Once I'm finished with a project, I'm eager to get on to another one. But if I don't plan in clean-up time after my first project, I have a tendency to just put it in a pile. Can you relate? By taking a few minutes after my project, I can eliminate those piles!

It’s hard to do, but if I force myself to clean up one project before starting another, then I'm not distracted by visual clutter, and I can focus on my new project. My surroundings are peaceful and conducive to creativity and productivity.

Related Posts: Clutter in Your House or Office Means Clutter in Your Mind, Schedule Daily Clean Up Times, Chopping Big Chores down into Bite-Sized Chunks, Decluttering Tips

The Cleverness of Coffee Filters

Real Simple Magazine listed some pretty clever uses for coffee filters, saving both time and money. I use cone-shaped coffee filters, but this makes me want to go out and buy a supply of the cupcake-shaped ones!

Here are some of the ideas I liked:

- Use a coffee filter to soften the flash on your camera for close-ups by placing it over the flash.

- Serve popcorn or other snacks in coffee filters. They are disposable - no clean up!

- Use a coffee filter as a protective covering when you are microwaving leftovers to avoid a mess.

- Place a coffee filter in the bottom of a flowerpot to prevent the soil from leaking out the hole in the bottom of the pot.

- Place flattened coffee filters between fine china or other dishes to prevent scratches when they are stacked.

- Prevent popsicle drips by sliding the stick through a coffee filter.

- Wrap a coffee filter around a pita sandwich for a "to go" option.

- Use coffee filters to clean windows or glass instead of paper towels. They leave no lint or fuzzies on the glass.

Have you discovered other uses for coffee filters?


Source: 101 New Uses for Everyday Things by James Baigrie

Related Posts: Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Salt, Newspaper, Coffee Filters, and Olive Oil, Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Lemons, Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Vinegar, How to Clean the House, Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Baking Soda, Spring Cleaning Using Household Items - Dryer Sheets

Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Organizing Your Cleaning and Decorating

I love having people in over the holidays! But that means my house must be clean and, of course, I’ll want to decorate. If I wait until the last minute, though, I’m stressed! Here are a few thoughts to help you avoid that stress:

Cleaning

- Determine cleaning chores that need to be done for the holidays. Parcel out chores over the weeks remaining before Christmas, starting with the ones that are long-lasting: cleaning the silver or the carpet, decluttering and purging, etc. Save the surface cleaning until closer to your events. Or, if you haven’t cleaned for a while, just get caught up on your cleaning and do it every week.

- If your list of chores seems too overwhelming, work on them in 15-minute segments and do them 2-4 times a day. If they are still too overwhelming, eliminate some! Enlist family/house members to help with the cleaning chores.

- This is not a time for major home repair, sewing projects, painting, or other major projects!

If you don't know where to start, you may want to take a look at Three Steps to Clever Cleaning.

Decorating

When the time comes for decorating, here are a few hints:

- If you have a lot of decorating to do, prioritize your list and schedule the individual items on your list.

- As you decorate, remove your regular decorating accessories and put them in the boxes from which you took your Christmas decorating items. That way, you won’t have to remember where you put them. I have a friend who couldn’t find her regular decorating items for a couple of months after the holidays one year!

- Take this opportunity to purge any decorating items or holiday items you no longer need or want. A great time to declutter! By doing this, the number of boxes you must get out every year decreases.

- Make holiday decorating a family affair, using items that have sentimental value to family members. Warm up some apple cider and put on some music!

- When you put your Christmas items away, make a list of what you have – decorating items, wrapping supplies, paper products, cards, extra gift items, dishes, etc., so you don’t duplicate them. Also make a list of items you need to purchase for next year and pick them up during the sales, if possible. This is a great time of year to get holiday storage boxes at a reduced price, too.

Do you have some great cleaning or decorating ideas you'd like to pass on?


Related Posts: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think Through Your Expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Thinking Through the Needs of Your Family and Friends, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Smart Gift-Giving

Posts from 2007: Destressing Christmas, Part 1 - Think through your expectations, Destressing Christmas, Part 2 - Think through your family/friendship needs and commitments, Destressing Christmas, Part 3 - Think through gifts, Destressing Christmas, Part 4 - Think through cleaning/decorating/entertaining, Destressing Christmas, Part 5 - Think through your health, Destressing Christmas, Part 6 - Think through your calendar, Organizing Your Holiday Meals