Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you have fun making today a special day for those you love. I got up early this morning and made heart muffins for my husband and our foster children. I really enjoyed making their breakfast special. :-)
I'm finally taking my own advice and I decluttered my inbox this morning! What a nice feeling to have gotten rid of the clutter! If it's time for you to do the same, start with one page of emails and get rid of everything outdated or unnecessary. Create folders for those emails you want to keep, and take them off your inbox page. If you're motivated, keep going!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Decluttering in Three
The March 4 issue of Woman's Day magazine (www.womansday.com) suggests decluttering jobs you can do during three-minute commercials:
"- Pick one spot in the room to declutter: a drawer, a shelf, or a tabletop.
- Gather together DVDs or video games left on top of the television, on the coffee table or on the floor and put them all back in their proper places.
- Cut your stack of magazines down to size. Quickly go through the pile and pull out old issues that can be tossed.
- Take any empty glasses and cups back into the kitchen and put them in the sink to wash later.
- Get your kids in on the cleanup with a game of beat-the-clock. Whenever a commercial comes on, have them put away as many strewn toys as possible before the television show resumes."
"- Pick one spot in the room to declutter: a drawer, a shelf, or a tabletop.
- Gather together DVDs or video games left on top of the television, on the coffee table or on the floor and put them all back in their proper places.
- Cut your stack of magazines down to size. Quickly go through the pile and pull out old issues that can be tossed.
- Take any empty glasses and cups back into the kitchen and put them in the sink to wash later.
- Get your kids in on the cleanup with a game of beat-the-clock. Whenever a commercial comes on, have them put away as many strewn toys as possible before the television show resumes."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Organizing Your Passwords
I use a very low-tech way of organizing my passwords. Since you are not supposed to store your passwords on your computer, I use a small address book. I chose one that had practically no writing in it, so I'd have more room for passwords. It's about 3" x 4" - small enough to stick in my purse when I travel. I got it from Walmart (www.Walmart.com) for just a couple of dollars.
Monday, February 11, 2008
More cooking tips
Here are a few more cooking tips:
1. Reheat Pizza - Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
2. Easy Deviled Eggs - Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up, mixing thoroughly. Cut the tip of the bag, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done. Easy clean up.
3. Expanding Frosting - When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
4. Reheating refrigerated bread - To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
1. Reheat Pizza - Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
2. Easy Deviled Eggs - Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up, mixing thoroughly. Cut the tip of the bag, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done. Easy clean up.
3. Expanding Frosting - When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
4. Reheating refrigerated bread - To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Friday, February 8, 2008
What to do with those trophies?!
Do you or a family member have trophies that are taking up space? You don't want to get rid of them, but they are so awkward to store or display.
One solution is to take the plaques off the trophies and put them in an album. You can donate the blank trophies to Special Olympics who will repurpose them for their events.
Another idea is to take pictures of them and place the photos in an album.
One solution is to take the plaques off the trophies and put them in an album. You can donate the blank trophies to Special Olympics who will repurpose them for their events.
Another idea is to take pictures of them and place the photos in an album.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Fun Food Tips
A friend emailed me these tips, and I thought I'd pass them along:
- Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little"stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.
- Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
- Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
- Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
- Add a teaspoon of water when cooking ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
- For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints indouble broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
- Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic andat the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
- Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Placethem in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bakeat 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
- Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little"stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.
- Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
- Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
- Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
- Add a teaspoon of water when cooking ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
- For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints indouble broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
- Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic andat the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
- Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Placethem in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bakeat 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Declutter in Five - Decluttering your Bookmarks or Favorites
Here's a decluttering task you can do in five minutes. Look over your bookmarks or favorites. Are you still interested in the ones on your list? If not, delete them. It will make it so much easier the next time you want to find one!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Chicken Tortilla Soup for the Super Bowl - Quick, Easy, and Different
Up for something different for the Super Bowl? Try this recipe adapted from one my sister, Denise, gave me. It's quick, hearty, tasty, and healthier than the usual Super Bowl fare. You can make it on the stove, or prepare it ahead of time in your crockpot (see the crockpot note below).
Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 ½ lb. chicken tenderloin strips
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes with onions or Ro-tel
1 c. salsa
½ pkg. or 1/8 c. taco seasoning
½ pkg. or 3 T. dry Ranch dressing
1 can (11.5 oz.) V-8 juice
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can kidney beans (or any other bean you choose) (drained)
1 can corn (undrained)
Tortilla chips
Grated cheese, sour cream if desired
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cook in chicken broth. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat. Add water if too thick. Serve over tortilla chips and top with cheese and sour cream, if desired. Serves 6
Crockpot note: If you want to serve it from your crockpot, cook the chicken in the broth. Meanwhile, add everything else to your crockpot. Allow enough time for it to heat up before the game. Or heat it on the stove and keep it warm in the crockpot.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 ½ lb. chicken tenderloin strips
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes with onions or Ro-tel
1 c. salsa
½ pkg. or 1/8 c. taco seasoning
½ pkg. or 3 T. dry Ranch dressing
1 can (11.5 oz.) V-8 juice
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can kidney beans (or any other bean you choose) (drained)
1 can corn (undrained)
Tortilla chips
Grated cheese, sour cream if desired
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cook in chicken broth. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat. Add water if too thick. Serve over tortilla chips and top with cheese and sour cream, if desired. Serves 6
Crockpot note: If you want to serve it from your crockpot, cook the chicken in the broth. Meanwhile, add everything else to your crockpot. Allow enough time for it to heat up before the game. Or heat it on the stove and keep it warm in the crockpot.
Saving Money by Being Organized
Did you know that you can actually save money by being organized? Never thought about it before? Here's how:
- A U.S. News & World Report study found that that Americans spend roughly a year of their lives looking for lost items at home or at work - that's a lot of wasted time which equals wasted money.
- When you're organized, you know what you have and you don't buy things you already have.
- When you're organized, you are aware of the food in your fridge and you use it up before it spoils.
- When you're organized, you plan errands, saving both gas money and your time, which is also worth money.
- When you're organized, you are able to take advantage of opportunities that come your way that either save money or make money for you.
- When you're organized, you know where your bills are, and you pay them on time, saving late fees or reconnection charges.
- When you're organized you service your car and other appliances, saving costly repair bills or replacement costs.
- When you're organized, you have necessities on hand, preventing last minute trips - costing both time and money (especially if you go to the convenience store).
- When you're organized, you plan meals, saving costly take-out meals or eating out. For the price of four combo meals at a fast-food restaurant, you could be eating steak or salmon, neither of which are time-consuming to prepare!
- When you're organized, you pack a lunch instead of eating out. Spending only $5 a day for 20 work days equals $100.
- When you're organized, you keep track of your bank account, saving expensive overdrawn fees.
- When you're organized, you write down business mileage and charitable contributions, saving money on taxes.
Want to get started? Start small. Determine the area that is costing you the most money. Organize that area and move on to another area. Reward youself when you make progress! Give yourself credit for small steps forward!!
- A U.S. News & World Report study found that that Americans spend roughly a year of their lives looking for lost items at home or at work - that's a lot of wasted time which equals wasted money.
- When you're organized, you know what you have and you don't buy things you already have.
- When you're organized, you are aware of the food in your fridge and you use it up before it spoils.
- When you're organized, you plan errands, saving both gas money and your time, which is also worth money.
- When you're organized, you are able to take advantage of opportunities that come your way that either save money or make money for you.
- When you're organized, you know where your bills are, and you pay them on time, saving late fees or reconnection charges.
- When you're organized you service your car and other appliances, saving costly repair bills or replacement costs.
- When you're organized, you have necessities on hand, preventing last minute trips - costing both time and money (especially if you go to the convenience store).
- When you're organized, you plan meals, saving costly take-out meals or eating out. For the price of four combo meals at a fast-food restaurant, you could be eating steak or salmon, neither of which are time-consuming to prepare!
- When you're organized, you pack a lunch instead of eating out. Spending only $5 a day for 20 work days equals $100.
- When you're organized, you keep track of your bank account, saving expensive overdrawn fees.
- When you're organized, you write down business mileage and charitable contributions, saving money on taxes.
Want to get started? Start small. Determine the area that is costing you the most money. Organize that area and move on to another area. Reward youself when you make progress! Give yourself credit for small steps forward!!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Results of our January Poll
The results of our January poll are as follows:
Which room in your house do you struggle the most to keep organized?
- Home office - 32%
- Kitchen - 26 %
- Bedroom - 20%
- Extra room - 13%
- Living room - 11%
- Child's room and Family room tied at 5% each.
I've decided to make our February contest an extension of our poll - organizing ideas for your office. Contest details are to the right.
We have some new sales for the month of February, if you're interested:
- Organizing Your Office/Time Managment - we have 5 packages depending on the time managment book you choose. Just in time for taxes!
- Radio Program Package (realating to the interview I did with Allison Carter on her Organizing Playground radio program) - Planning Meals: Three Steps to Planning Dinner plus Hassle Free Dinners CD.
To check these sales out, go to our website: www.1-2-3GetOrganized.com.
Which room in your house do you struggle the most to keep organized?
- Home office - 32%
- Kitchen - 26 %
- Bedroom - 20%
- Extra room - 13%
- Living room - 11%
- Child's room and Family room tied at 5% each.
I've decided to make our February contest an extension of our poll - organizing ideas for your office. Contest details are to the right.
We have some new sales for the month of February, if you're interested:
- Organizing Your Office/Time Managment - we have 5 packages depending on the time managment book you choose. Just in time for taxes!
- Radio Program Package (realating to the interview I did with Allison Carter on her Organizing Playground radio program) - Planning Meals: Three Steps to Planning Dinner plus Hassle Free Dinners CD.
To check these sales out, go to our website: www.1-2-3GetOrganized.com.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Jewelry
The last day of Get Organized Month! If you haven't had a chance to do all the organizing tasks we've talked about this month, just use them as guides as you get a chance or have an urge to declutter. I know it was a lot of info to digest, but use it as you have need or desire.
Today let's organize some jewelry. If you have a large quantity of jewelry, just attack one area - rings, for example.
I've used jewelry boxes, standing necklace containers, hooks, plastic needlepoint canvas for earrings, and many other systems. There is no right way to organize your jewelry. If your system is not working, you may investigate another one.
I'm currently using divided plastic boxes usually used for embroidery floss for my earrings. I take the top off and can stack them in a drawer. Then I organize according to color and/or season. I use small containers for other categories of jewelry and keep them in the same drawer, so everything is together.
First, take out all the jewelry in the category you are organizing. I had a "decluttering emergency" when I dropped one of my earring containers on the floor and everything went flying! One of those forced decluttering tasks. :-)
Remove everything you don't like, don't wear, is broken, or doesn't have a match (in the case of earrings). If you will repair your broken jewelry, place it in a container to take to the jeweler or put it by your TV chair if you're going to do it yourself. For the rest, repurpose:
- if you make jewelry, take apart jewelry and re-use beads
- if you know someone who makes jewelry, give him/her your old jewelry
- or donate your jewelry to family, friends, or charity.
Toss anything you can't repurpose.
When you've purged your jewelry, organize according to category, color, season, etc. Take inventory - are you missing a color or type of jewelry? If you still have excessive amounts of jewelry, go through the above process again until you have a manageable amount.
Accessorizing your outfits will be so much easier!
Today let's organize some jewelry. If you have a large quantity of jewelry, just attack one area - rings, for example.
I've used jewelry boxes, standing necklace containers, hooks, plastic needlepoint canvas for earrings, and many other systems. There is no right way to organize your jewelry. If your system is not working, you may investigate another one.
I'm currently using divided plastic boxes usually used for embroidery floss for my earrings. I take the top off and can stack them in a drawer. Then I organize according to color and/or season. I use small containers for other categories of jewelry and keep them in the same drawer, so everything is together.
First, take out all the jewelry in the category you are organizing. I had a "decluttering emergency" when I dropped one of my earring containers on the floor and everything went flying! One of those forced decluttering tasks. :-)
Remove everything you don't like, don't wear, is broken, or doesn't have a match (in the case of earrings). If you will repair your broken jewelry, place it in a container to take to the jeweler or put it by your TV chair if you're going to do it yourself. For the rest, repurpose:
- if you make jewelry, take apart jewelry and re-use beads
- if you know someone who makes jewelry, give him/her your old jewelry
- or donate your jewelry to family, friends, or charity.
Toss anything you can't repurpose.
When you've purged your jewelry, organize according to category, color, season, etc. Take inventory - are you missing a color or type of jewelry? If you still have excessive amounts of jewelry, go through the above process again until you have a manageable amount.
Accessorizing your outfits will be so much easier!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
My Organizing Playground Interview on Radio Sandy Springs
I had fun yesterday during my interview with Allison Carter on her radio program, Organizing Playground. She and her co-host Sara had three guests regarding meal prep and kitchen organization. I was a bit nervous, but I guess that's normal for my first radio interview!
If you missed it, you will be able to listen to it on their archives eventually. It wasn't up this morning when I checked. I also hope to have it available here on my blog and on my website at some point.
Thanks to those who listened and offered encouragement and support - even though my voice was faint. I'll try to fix that before I put it up.
You might want to put Allison's show on your calendar for every Tuesday from 12 noon to 1 pm (ET) - I think you'll enjoy her ideas on organizing. There are a number of other interesting shows on Radio Sandy Springs which you might enjoy as well - parenting, interior design, pets, health and fitness, etc. (www.radiosandysprings.com).
I put up a special sale in honor of the radio program - a meal prep package: Hassle Free Dinners CD plus Three Steps to Planning Dinner workbook (www.1-2-3GetOrganized.com).
If you missed it, you will be able to listen to it on their archives eventually. It wasn't up this morning when I checked. I also hope to have it available here on my blog and on my website at some point.
Thanks to those who listened and offered encouragement and support - even though my voice was faint. I'll try to fix that before I put it up.
You might want to put Allison's show on your calendar for every Tuesday from 12 noon to 1 pm (ET) - I think you'll enjoy her ideas on organizing. There are a number of other interesting shows on Radio Sandy Springs which you might enjoy as well - parenting, interior design, pets, health and fitness, etc. (www.radiosandysprings.com).
I put up a special sale in honor of the radio program - a meal prep package: Hassle Free Dinners CD plus Three Steps to Planning Dinner workbook (www.1-2-3GetOrganized.com).
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Linen Closet
Choose one linen closet or one area where you keep your linens - whether towels or sheets, it doesn't matter. If you're feeling extra energetic and you have more than one place where you keep linens, go on to another area!!
Take all the linens (and anything else) out of the closet, drawer, shelf, etc.
- Sheets. If you store sheets in the area you are decluttering, match sheet sets. In order to keep them together, you may want to tie a ribbon around each set and attach a note stating its size (king, queen, full, twin, crib), especially if they are sheets you don't use often.
If you end up with mismatched sheets because you let your child use one as part of a costume, decide if you want to keep them. They might go with other mismatched sheets to form a set (wouldn't that be amazing?).
If they are in poor shape, you can recycle them as rags, kite tails, for tying up tomato plants, or for other uses. If you have an excessive number of sets, determine which ones you will let go.
With the sheet sets you have left, make sure they fit the beds in your house. If you no longer have twin beds, get rid of those sheets! Put them in your sewing cabinet, give them, donate them, but get rid of them! If you sew, sheets are wonderful assets - great for curtains, quilts, and other sewing projects.
- Towels. Do the same thing with your towels - match sets. Determine if you have
too many, enough, the right kind and color for your "philosophy of towels" :
- use a different towel each day philosophy
- use one a week philosophy
- leave the pretty ones up for show and use other ones philosophy
- use them until you can see through them philosophy
- who cares if they match philosophy.
If you enjoy having matching towels, here's a hint to get more mileage out of them: when you purchase towels, buy extra hand towels and wash cloths. They wear out faster and can be replaced without replacing the bath towel.
Now that you've sorted and discarded unwanted linens, arrange them in the linen closet, drawer, etc. in like stacks - all queen sheets together, for example. Place the ones you use most often in the most accessible place and the ones you use least often farther away.
Doesn't that feel good? Is your house feeling lighter?
Take all the linens (and anything else) out of the closet, drawer, shelf, etc.
- Sheets. If you store sheets in the area you are decluttering, match sheet sets. In order to keep them together, you may want to tie a ribbon around each set and attach a note stating its size (king, queen, full, twin, crib), especially if they are sheets you don't use often.
If you end up with mismatched sheets because you let your child use one as part of a costume, decide if you want to keep them. They might go with other mismatched sheets to form a set (wouldn't that be amazing?).
If they are in poor shape, you can recycle them as rags, kite tails, for tying up tomato plants, or for other uses. If you have an excessive number of sets, determine which ones you will let go.
With the sheet sets you have left, make sure they fit the beds in your house. If you no longer have twin beds, get rid of those sheets! Put them in your sewing cabinet, give them, donate them, but get rid of them! If you sew, sheets are wonderful assets - great for curtains, quilts, and other sewing projects.
- Towels. Do the same thing with your towels - match sets. Determine if you have
too many, enough, the right kind and color for your "philosophy of towels" :
- use a different towel each day philosophy
- use one a week philosophy
- leave the pretty ones up for show and use other ones philosophy
- use them until you can see through them philosophy
- who cares if they match philosophy.
If you enjoy having matching towels, here's a hint to get more mileage out of them: when you purchase towels, buy extra hand towels and wash cloths. They wear out faster and can be replaced without replacing the bath towel.
Now that you've sorted and discarded unwanted linens, arrange them in the linen closet, drawer, etc. in like stacks - all queen sheets together, for example. Place the ones you use most often in the most accessible place and the ones you use least often farther away.
Doesn't that feel good? Is your house feeling lighter?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Get Organizing Month - Decluttering Your Bathroom Storage
Shall we look under the bathroom sink? If you have additional storage, put it on your calendar for another day. Let's just take one small area today - under your sink, a drawer, or a shelf in the medicine cabinet.
Take everything out and clean the area. Toss anything that is outdated, you're not sure what it is, or it hasn't been used in a year.
Organize according to categories and replace your remaining items. Are there things you threw out and need to replenish?
That was quick, wasn't it?
Take everything out and clean the area. Toss anything that is outdated, you're not sure what it is, or it hasn't been used in a year.
Organize according to categories and replace your remaining items. Are there things you threw out and need to replenish?
That was quick, wasn't it?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Music
Whether your music is on am mp3 or ipod, your computer, cds, records or 8-tracks - it's time to declutter! Look through your collection and ask yourself if you use it and like it. Get rid of anything that doesn't interest you. If it's in tangible form, give it to a friend or donate it.
Now arrange your music in categories to your liking - style, artist, date, etc.
Do you have enough space to hold your tangible collection? If not, look around for something that works for you. Think outside the box - look around your house and see if you can find a workable solution with what you have - a bookcase, shelves, a dresser.
If nothing works, determine what features are important to you and look online. It will save going from store to store to store - and the selection will be endless.
Congratulations!!
Now arrange your music in categories to your liking - style, artist, date, etc.
Do you have enough space to hold your tangible collection? If not, look around for something that works for you. Think outside the box - look around your house and see if you can find a workable solution with what you have - a bookcase, shelves, a dresser.
If nothing works, determine what features are important to you and look online. It will save going from store to store to store - and the selection will be endless.
Congratulations!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
