Last week was really busy with me working on taxes, working on a jewelry order, and taking a fun day to take four boys to the zoo and basketball practice. That left little time for working in the refrigerator/freezer. I know, I know... Excuses, excuses...
Let's just say I took a week off from the organizing challenge and will get back on track this week. In fact, I've already tossed a few things already today. I know of a few more things that need to be trashed, then I'll start wiping down the shelves and drawers.
I did peek ahead at coming challenges, and I saw one for organizing coupons. Since I don't use coupons (for various reasons...), I can skip that week and jump ahead to the next - and be right on track again.
If I'm really good, I might finish last week's challenge and get right onto this week's: organizing recipes and cookbooks. Yes, that definitely needs to be done around here! If it has to wait until next week, though, that's okay too.
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
New Meal Planning Template
I've been wanting to change up my meal-planning form that I hang on my refrigerator for several weeks now. I got tired of printing out a monthly calendar and writing in our meals for each week. I had to squeeze it all into one block, and most times I couldn't plan in advance for any side dishes because they just wouldn't fit.
I searched a little while on the Internet for meal-plan templates, but I couldn't really find what I was looking for. I decided to make my own. Using Excel (because the Numbers program was too complicated...), I made a two-week plan with enough space for me to write in main dishes and sides. At the bottom I left a place to list the dishes I have ingredients for, things that are ready-to-make. If there happens to be one or two little things I've forgotten to buy, I have a column to the right of that where I can write them down.
To start, I list the main dishes that I'm ready to cook at the bottom. As I put them in place on my two-week calendar, I check them off. If I realize I need something from the store in order to make something, I'll add it to the grocery list space and add that meal later in the calendar, with an asterisk beside it.
I like the way it looks, and I'm really hoping it'll work for me. Something else I've done is to print one page, then put it in a page protector sleeve. With that on my refrigerator, I can easily see what's planned for and wipe off and rewrite as I need to. When the two weeks are up, I can just wipe it all off and start over again without having to print out another form, wasting time, paper, and ink.
I made a PDF file and tried to upload it, but for some reason, I got an error message saying the file was corrupted or unusable. I'm not sure what that means exactly - or how I can change it so I can upload it later. I'll play around with the file and see if I can figure something out...
I searched a little while on the Internet for meal-plan templates, but I couldn't really find what I was looking for. I decided to make my own. Using Excel (because the Numbers program was too complicated...), I made a two-week plan with enough space for me to write in main dishes and sides. At the bottom I left a place to list the dishes I have ingredients for, things that are ready-to-make. If there happens to be one or two little things I've forgotten to buy, I have a column to the right of that where I can write them down.
To start, I list the main dishes that I'm ready to cook at the bottom. As I put them in place on my two-week calendar, I check them off. If I realize I need something from the store in order to make something, I'll add it to the grocery list space and add that meal later in the calendar, with an asterisk beside it.
I like the way it looks, and I'm really hoping it'll work for me. Something else I've done is to print one page, then put it in a page protector sleeve. With that on my refrigerator, I can easily see what's planned for and wipe off and rewrite as I need to. When the two weeks are up, I can just wipe it all off and start over again without having to print out another form, wasting time, paper, and ink.
I made a PDF file and tried to upload it, but for some reason, I got an error message saying the file was corrupted or unusable. I'm not sure what that means exactly - or how I can change it so I can upload it later. I'll play around with the file and see if I can figure something out...
Organized Home Challenge #4: Refrigerator and Freezer
I'm still going strong with Challenge #1 (countertops and sinks). Well, okay, I've been great in the area of my sinks, but I have let the countertops slide a bit. I have a few things I need to put away. I went through some old magazines and clipped recipes, but I haven't put them in my recipe binders yet. And I washed out the canister and filter parts of my vacuum and they've been drying out for a few days now... I'll get all that put away today.
Last week's pantry challenge was fairly easy. I rearranged a few things and threw several things away. Then I went to the grocery store so my pantry wouldn't look so bare anymore. In the process, I came up with an idea I might like to use for my meal planning (but that challenge is 4 weeks away...). I guess I can try it out for the next few weeks and see if it's something I'd like to use more permanently. If not, no big deal. I can always switch again.
This week's challenge is getting the refrigerator and freezer cleaned out and organized. Again, I'm fairly organized in this area, but I do know of a few things I need to throw away. The biggie here is cleaning the refrigerator. I've wiped off the shelves from time to time, but I really need to take everything out and do a thorough cleaning. The pantry challenge only took me an hour; the refrigerator/freezer challenge is going to take several, likely spread out over a few days.
One of the steps is to declutter the front of the refrigerator. After this weekend, the boys' basketball schedules can be tossed, but the AWANA calendar needs to stay. And my current menu planner. I could find another place to keep our cell phone numbers for the sitter... And I really need to get rid of all those magnets on the side of the 'fridge. They're on the hidden side, but I don't use most of them.
Another of the steps is to reload the refrigerator and freezer according to zones, which I already do for the most part. Eggs, jellies, and Billy's snacks stay on the top shelf of the refrigerator. The next shelf is for condiments: mayonnaise, mustards, pickles, salad dressings, etc. (This is the main shelf that needs to be purged.) The next shelf is for opened box mixes (Bisquick, powdered milk for breads, etc.) and leftovers. The bottom shelf is where I keep most of my other bread-making ingredients (flours and yeast), as well as the rare leftover overflow.
My refrigerator drawers are also organized by type. The shallow top drawer holds apples, oranges (when we have them), carrot sticks, and mushrooms. The middle drawer is for leafy greens, peppers, onions, celery, etc. The bottom drawer is for lunch meats, cheese, and flour tortillas.
The door holds butter, milk, juice, other drinks, yogurt and/or pudding for the boys, and more condiments at the very bottom (ketchup, chocolate syrup, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, Louisiana hot sauce, etc.). I'm sure I have some things there that need to be thrown out! Out of sight, out of mind!
Then comes the freezer... I don't think that will be too hard. Most of what's in there is meat, which gets eaten pretty regularly. There are a few bags of frozen purple hull peas that are from the summer, but I want to be sure we eat them soon. (We enjoyed some not long ago. They are so good! I need to remember to buy some more salt pork for when I cook them again...) There's also lots of homemade chicken broth, but most of that's fresh as well. The only really old things I can think of are some mashed sweet potato from over a year ago and a package of crepes that came with us when we moved two and a half years ago. If we haven't eaten them by now...
The final step of the challenge is to develop a system of habits to maintain the organization. I already pay attention to what leftovers we have and make sure we eat them within a week. And I'm pretty good about throwing things out weekly. One idea I'd like to start using more regularly, maybe monthly, is to have an "eat out of the freezer and pantry" week. My pantry isn't very big, so most of what's in there gets cycled through pretty quickly, but sometimes things will stay in the freezer a while. This is something I'm turning over in my brain right now, something I'd like to work into my weekly meal-planning change. I'll noodle on it a while longer and maybe I'll have something worked out by the end of the week.
Last week's pantry challenge was fairly easy. I rearranged a few things and threw several things away. Then I went to the grocery store so my pantry wouldn't look so bare anymore. In the process, I came up with an idea I might like to use for my meal planning (but that challenge is 4 weeks away...). I guess I can try it out for the next few weeks and see if it's something I'd like to use more permanently. If not, no big deal. I can always switch again.
This week's challenge is getting the refrigerator and freezer cleaned out and organized. Again, I'm fairly organized in this area, but I do know of a few things I need to throw away. The biggie here is cleaning the refrigerator. I've wiped off the shelves from time to time, but I really need to take everything out and do a thorough cleaning. The pantry challenge only took me an hour; the refrigerator/freezer challenge is going to take several, likely spread out over a few days.
One of the steps is to declutter the front of the refrigerator. After this weekend, the boys' basketball schedules can be tossed, but the AWANA calendar needs to stay. And my current menu planner. I could find another place to keep our cell phone numbers for the sitter... And I really need to get rid of all those magnets on the side of the 'fridge. They're on the hidden side, but I don't use most of them.
Another of the steps is to reload the refrigerator and freezer according to zones, which I already do for the most part. Eggs, jellies, and Billy's snacks stay on the top shelf of the refrigerator. The next shelf is for condiments: mayonnaise, mustards, pickles, salad dressings, etc. (This is the main shelf that needs to be purged.) The next shelf is for opened box mixes (Bisquick, powdered milk for breads, etc.) and leftovers. The bottom shelf is where I keep most of my other bread-making ingredients (flours and yeast), as well as the rare leftover overflow.
My refrigerator drawers are also organized by type. The shallow top drawer holds apples, oranges (when we have them), carrot sticks, and mushrooms. The middle drawer is for leafy greens, peppers, onions, celery, etc. The bottom drawer is for lunch meats, cheese, and flour tortillas.
The door holds butter, milk, juice, other drinks, yogurt and/or pudding for the boys, and more condiments at the very bottom (ketchup, chocolate syrup, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, Louisiana hot sauce, etc.). I'm sure I have some things there that need to be thrown out! Out of sight, out of mind!
Then comes the freezer... I don't think that will be too hard. Most of what's in there is meat, which gets eaten pretty regularly. There are a few bags of frozen purple hull peas that are from the summer, but I want to be sure we eat them soon. (We enjoyed some not long ago. They are so good! I need to remember to buy some more salt pork for when I cook them again...) There's also lots of homemade chicken broth, but most of that's fresh as well. The only really old things I can think of are some mashed sweet potato from over a year ago and a package of crepes that came with us when we moved two and a half years ago. If we haven't eaten them by now...
The final step of the challenge is to develop a system of habits to maintain the organization. I already pay attention to what leftovers we have and make sure we eat them within a week. And I'm pretty good about throwing things out weekly. One idea I'd like to start using more regularly, maybe monthly, is to have an "eat out of the freezer and pantry" week. My pantry isn't very big, so most of what's in there gets cycled through pretty quickly, but sometimes things will stay in the freezer a while. This is something I'm turning over in my brain right now, something I'd like to work into my weekly meal-planning change. I'll noodle on it a while longer and maybe I'll have something worked out by the end of the week.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Organized Home Challenge #3: Pantry/Spices/Food Storage
Two weeks into my new habit of keeping my countertops and sinks clean is going really well. I haven't missed a day yet! It's been easier than I thought it would be. Not waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes every day is freeing and it gives me a little more time in the mornings to do what I want to do instead of what I have to do.
Last week's challenge went well, too. I found a few things to add to our garage sale boxes, and Billy even cleaned out/reorganized his coffee cabinet! And I made the time to wipe down all the cabinet/drawer fronts.
This week's challenge is to clean and reorganize the pantry, spices, and other food storage areas (except the refrigerator/freezer, which is next week's focus). Since I store my spices on the top shelf of one of my kitchen cabinets, I took care of that one last week. I did realize that I need some sort of wipe-off list to hang there so I can write down what I'm out of. I found that I only have one bay leaf left, and there was something else that I'm running low on... Yeah, I've already forgotten.
That leaves my pantry as this week's area to work on. My pantry is small, which I sometimes don't like, but at least it doesn't give me a lot of space for hoarding things I'll forget about before I get around to using. The four central shelves are the most used, and they're organized according to food type: snacks; breakfast foods and baking ingredients; breads, chips, and crackers; and canned/packaged goods. The top shelf is where I put things I don't use often. I can reach the things near the front of the shelf without having to stand on a chair. The things beyond that are, for the most part, out of sight and out of mind. I wonder what I'll find up there? Since I don't know, I obviously haven't missed it, so I can probably throw it out, right?
The floor of the pantry is where I keep my garbage can, lunch bags, large items that won't fit on a shelf, and new boxes of cereal or bags of chips (all unopened, of course) that are waiting for the others to be finished. Whenever I sweep and mop, I don't take everything out and clean. I just sweep/mop "at" it. This week, I'll get it good!
One suggestion I saw was to keep a pantry inventory list handy so I can know what in there, what needs to be used soon, and what I'm out of. That would be a great help when I'm trying to figure out what to cook (on those occasions that I haven't planned out a menu) or needing to make a grocery list. I'm sure I can find a great idea for a wipe-off board on Pinterest. :o)
Another suggestion is to keep like things together in a basket or box of some sort. I use that idea already, and I find it very helpful! On the top shelf, I keep a plastic tub of my homemade granola supplies, so when I'm ready to make a batch, I can just pull it down (it's at the front of the shelf) and everything is there. Whenever I buy something for my granola, I just toss it in that tub when I'm unloading groceries and it's ready for me. I also use a basket for the boys' snacks. Whenever I unload groceries, I open up the snack boxes they've chosen and put the individual packages in the basket. It's easy to see what and how much is there, and I don't have half-empty (or completely empty!) boxes taking up valuable space. Billy got a red metal basket full of goodies for Christmas, so I've started using it (the basket, not his goodies) in the pantry to hold bags of microwave popcorn or individually-wrapped snacks the two of us like to eat.
There is one basket that holds some unknowns... It's where I put packets of taco seasoning mix, Ranch dressing mix, bags of rice or beans, dip mixes, etc. You know, those smaller things that get lost among the cans and boxes... I cleaned it out not long ago, but I don't remember exactly when or what's in there now. This will be a good time to purge - and replenish.
It's a good thing grocery day is Thursday this week. I have 3 days to prepare - and make a good list!
Last week's challenge went well, too. I found a few things to add to our garage sale boxes, and Billy even cleaned out/reorganized his coffee cabinet! And I made the time to wipe down all the cabinet/drawer fronts.
This week's challenge is to clean and reorganize the pantry, spices, and other food storage areas (except the refrigerator/freezer, which is next week's focus). Since I store my spices on the top shelf of one of my kitchen cabinets, I took care of that one last week. I did realize that I need some sort of wipe-off list to hang there so I can write down what I'm out of. I found that I only have one bay leaf left, and there was something else that I'm running low on... Yeah, I've already forgotten.
That leaves my pantry as this week's area to work on. My pantry is small, which I sometimes don't like, but at least it doesn't give me a lot of space for hoarding things I'll forget about before I get around to using. The four central shelves are the most used, and they're organized according to food type: snacks; breakfast foods and baking ingredients; breads, chips, and crackers; and canned/packaged goods. The top shelf is where I put things I don't use often. I can reach the things near the front of the shelf without having to stand on a chair. The things beyond that are, for the most part, out of sight and out of mind. I wonder what I'll find up there? Since I don't know, I obviously haven't missed it, so I can probably throw it out, right?
The floor of the pantry is where I keep my garbage can, lunch bags, large items that won't fit on a shelf, and new boxes of cereal or bags of chips (all unopened, of course) that are waiting for the others to be finished. Whenever I sweep and mop, I don't take everything out and clean. I just sweep/mop "at" it. This week, I'll get it good!
One suggestion I saw was to keep a pantry inventory list handy so I can know what in there, what needs to be used soon, and what I'm out of. That would be a great help when I'm trying to figure out what to cook (on those occasions that I haven't planned out a menu) or needing to make a grocery list. I'm sure I can find a great idea for a wipe-off board on Pinterest. :o)
Another suggestion is to keep like things together in a basket or box of some sort. I use that idea already, and I find it very helpful! On the top shelf, I keep a plastic tub of my homemade granola supplies, so when I'm ready to make a batch, I can just pull it down (it's at the front of the shelf) and everything is there. Whenever I buy something for my granola, I just toss it in that tub when I'm unloading groceries and it's ready for me. I also use a basket for the boys' snacks. Whenever I unload groceries, I open up the snack boxes they've chosen and put the individual packages in the basket. It's easy to see what and how much is there, and I don't have half-empty (or completely empty!) boxes taking up valuable space. Billy got a red metal basket full of goodies for Christmas, so I've started using it (the basket, not his goodies) in the pantry to hold bags of microwave popcorn or individually-wrapped snacks the two of us like to eat.
There is one basket that holds some unknowns... It's where I put packets of taco seasoning mix, Ranch dressing mix, bags of rice or beans, dip mixes, etc. You know, those smaller things that get lost among the cans and boxes... I cleaned it out not long ago, but I don't remember exactly when or what's in there now. This will be a good time to purge - and replenish.
It's a good thing grocery day is Thursday this week. I have 3 days to prepare - and make a good list!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Deleted
I realized that I just don't have the time right now to keep up with my "Documenting Domesticity" photo blog, so I deleted it. I did import the few posts with photos into this blog, so they're not lost. The other posts, where I described what I was trying to do and explained my various challenges and revisions on my idea, have been deleted since they no longer pertain to anything. As I have the time (and interest and ability) to keep up with the weekly photo challenges at Photo Friday, I'll post them here. Those challenges just aren't meshing with my other goals for this year.
That said, I still intend to be more active with my photography this year. I've taken several food photos the last few weeks, as well as pictures to document my 52-week home organization challenge. Those images will be sprinkled throughout this blog and my recipe blog (Ashley's Cafe), which I fully intend to keep up.
I am considering moving my blog from Blogger/Blogspot to WordPress, but I haven't made a decision on that just yet. It's under consideration as I check out what WordPress has to offer vs. what Blogger offers. I initially wasn't interested in WordPress at all, but since a friend of mine blogs there and I've been visiting it frequently, I'm curious to see how it could change the look and feel of my own blogs. My main reason for moving there would be to better optimize my currently-under-construction jewelry business blog (Ashley's Bead Box).
The possible move to WordPress isn't high on my list of priorities right now, but if I decide to switch, I'll give plenty of notice to you, my faithful reader.
That said, I still intend to be more active with my photography this year. I've taken several food photos the last few weeks, as well as pictures to document my 52-week home organization challenge. Those images will be sprinkled throughout this blog and my recipe blog (Ashley's Cafe), which I fully intend to keep up.
I am considering moving my blog from Blogger/Blogspot to WordPress, but I haven't made a decision on that just yet. It's under consideration as I check out what WordPress has to offer vs. what Blogger offers. I initially wasn't interested in WordPress at all, but since a friend of mine blogs there and I've been visiting it frequently, I'm curious to see how it could change the look and feel of my own blogs. My main reason for moving there would be to better optimize my currently-under-construction jewelry business blog (Ashley's Bead Box).
The possible move to WordPress isn't high on my list of priorities right now, but if I decide to switch, I'll give plenty of notice to you, my faithful reader.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Organized Home Challenge #2: Kitchen Drawer/Cabinet Organization
I was successful with the kitchen countertops/sink challenge last week. From Monday through Sunday, I made sure my kitchen was completely clean every night before I went to bed. Even after last night's major cooking marathon for our delicious Superbowl Snacks, every dish was washed before I went to bed. Of course, there were lots of clean dishes left out to dry, but putting them away (and unloading the dishwasher) this morning was easy. This is a habit I can keep up!
This week's challenge is to declutter and organize kitchen drawers and cabinets. For the most part, that'll be easy. The only drawer that needs organizing is my junk drawer. All the others have organizing trays and are kept in order whenever I put things away. I may need to scan them to see if there are items in there I don't use and don't need to keep, but there won't be many of those, if any.
The cabinets are another issue. I know for a fact I have things stored in some of my cabinets that need to be purged. That will be my big project this week. Luckily we already have some garage sale boxes started, so I can just drop them in there and be done with it. Then there's Billy's coffee cabinet. Mugs seem to multiply around here! I remember we sorted through mugs when we moved into our house 2 1/2 years ago, but we've since run out of space again... Another big cabinet project is going to be the one with all my spices.
One of the organization steps on the linked page is to place the items into drawers/cabinets into strategic zones according to where they will be used. Thankfully I did that when I was setting up my kitchen after we moved in, so that part is already done! And since I already use dividers and trays in my drawers, and most of my cabinets aren't cluttered, I don't have to try to come up with ways to sort/store them to save space. Whew!
It's going to be a fairly easy week, so I think I'll add one more thing to my kitchen drawer/cabinet list: wipe down the outsides of them. You know the dust that collects - and the residue from spills and splashes? Since my countertops and sink look nice, I want the other surfaces to be clean as well. Looks like I've got a plan!
This week's challenge is to declutter and organize kitchen drawers and cabinets. For the most part, that'll be easy. The only drawer that needs organizing is my junk drawer. All the others have organizing trays and are kept in order whenever I put things away. I may need to scan them to see if there are items in there I don't use and don't need to keep, but there won't be many of those, if any.
The cabinets are another issue. I know for a fact I have things stored in some of my cabinets that need to be purged. That will be my big project this week. Luckily we already have some garage sale boxes started, so I can just drop them in there and be done with it. Then there's Billy's coffee cabinet. Mugs seem to multiply around here! I remember we sorted through mugs when we moved into our house 2 1/2 years ago, but we've since run out of space again... Another big cabinet project is going to be the one with all my spices.
One of the organization steps on the linked page is to place the items into drawers/cabinets into strategic zones according to where they will be used. Thankfully I did that when I was setting up my kitchen after we moved in, so that part is already done! And since I already use dividers and trays in my drawers, and most of my cabinets aren't cluttered, I don't have to try to come up with ways to sort/store them to save space. Whew!
It's going to be a fairly easy week, so I think I'll add one more thing to my kitchen drawer/cabinet list: wipe down the outsides of them. You know the dust that collects - and the residue from spills and splashes? Since my countertops and sink look nice, I want the other surfaces to be clean as well. Looks like I've got a plan!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Organized Home Challenge #1: Kitchen Countertops and Sink
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that one of my goals for this year is to get organized. One way I plan to do this is by joining in the 2012 Organized Home Challenge, which I am starting this week.
The first challenge is getting the kitchen countertops and sinks organized. For the most part, the things that stay on my counter are in their right places: the bread machine, the toaster oven, my recipe box, the salt and pepper shakers, the trivet and the spoon rest, the metal stand with the colored dishes, the paper towel holder, the canisters, and Billy's coffee caddy and Keurig. I know it sounds like a lot, but I have 15 feet of walled counter space (not counting the stove and sink spaces) in addition to a 7-foot-long bar, which I try to keep clear.
Jacob does his schoolwork at the bar, and sometimes Caleb does, too. By mid-afternoon, there are usually a few stray books and pieces of paper, a handful of pens, and maybe an art project in progress littering the counter. I'm usually pretty good about getting those things put away when we're done for the day.
Billy drops off my mail on the counter when he comes in from work. I usually try to get to that pretty quickly, but sometimes it'll stay there for a day or two before I take the time to look through it. That's one area I'm working on and getting better at. But what should I do with the sale papers for the grocery stores? I usually keep them on the kitchen counter because that's where my menu planning and grocery-list making happen. I don't like to throw them away; I prefer to take them with me to the store with the discounted items I'm planning to buy circled with my Sharpie. Maybe I need to keep them with my purse...
The biggest thing I need to work on in this area is keeping the dishes at bay. By the time supper is over with, I'd much rather sit in my rocking chair and read or watch TV and knit. I convince myself that I'm too tired to deal with the dishes, when it actually takes less than 20 minutes to get it all done. I also use the excuse that the boys are getting their showers and I don't want to use up all the hot water... (Well, it has happened before.)
My goal for this week is to get into the habit of clearing my sink (and counter) of dishes at least twice a day: after breakfast and after supper - even if it's late and/or there's something else I'd rather be doing. I have to admit that it is more relaxing for me to walk into a clean kitchen each morning - and it gives me the freedom before school to do something I'd like to do (read a little, maybe?) rather than something I have to do. And while I'm at it, I think I'll scrub my stovetop and give my counters a good, thorough cleaning. (I scrubbed out my sinks last week.)
The first challenge is getting the kitchen countertops and sinks organized. For the most part, the things that stay on my counter are in their right places: the bread machine, the toaster oven, my recipe box, the salt and pepper shakers, the trivet and the spoon rest, the metal stand with the colored dishes, the paper towel holder, the canisters, and Billy's coffee caddy and Keurig. I know it sounds like a lot, but I have 15 feet of walled counter space (not counting the stove and sink spaces) in addition to a 7-foot-long bar, which I try to keep clear.
Jacob does his schoolwork at the bar, and sometimes Caleb does, too. By mid-afternoon, there are usually a few stray books and pieces of paper, a handful of pens, and maybe an art project in progress littering the counter. I'm usually pretty good about getting those things put away when we're done for the day.
Billy drops off my mail on the counter when he comes in from work. I usually try to get to that pretty quickly, but sometimes it'll stay there for a day or two before I take the time to look through it. That's one area I'm working on and getting better at. But what should I do with the sale papers for the grocery stores? I usually keep them on the kitchen counter because that's where my menu planning and grocery-list making happen. I don't like to throw them away; I prefer to take them with me to the store with the discounted items I'm planning to buy circled with my Sharpie. Maybe I need to keep them with my purse...
The biggest thing I need to work on in this area is keeping the dishes at bay. By the time supper is over with, I'd much rather sit in my rocking chair and read or watch TV and knit. I convince myself that I'm too tired to deal with the dishes, when it actually takes less than 20 minutes to get it all done. I also use the excuse that the boys are getting their showers and I don't want to use up all the hot water... (Well, it has happened before.)
My goal for this week is to get into the habit of clearing my sink (and counter) of dishes at least twice a day: after breakfast and after supper - even if it's late and/or there's something else I'd rather be doing. I have to admit that it is more relaxing for me to walk into a clean kitchen each morning - and it gives me the freedom before school to do something I'd like to do (read a little, maybe?) rather than something I have to do. And while I'm at it, I think I'll scrub my stovetop and give my counters a good, thorough cleaning. (I scrubbed out my sinks last week.)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Allowance Planning
The boys have been asking to get an allowance for a while now. Billy and I discussed what we thought were reasonable amounts, then we assigned them some chores. Jacob's "new" job was to unload the dishwasher (usually twice a week) in addition to daily things like picking up his toys, his dirty clothes, and his dirty dishes - without being told to do it. Caleb's "new" jobs included helping with the laundry (loading the washer and the dryer) and helping with the Sunday trash-gathering. That's in addition to his dailies, which are the same as Jacob's. They were agreeable to that for the first two weeks, then things were quickly forgotten.
I got tired of having to remind them to do their part so I could get around to doing my part. Sometimes they'd get right to it, but if they were in the middle of a school assignment, I'd go ahead and do it just to get it out of the way. Now they seem to have forgotten we even made the chore assignments. Every once in a while, one of them (usually Jacob) will mention allowance, but it never goes any farther than that.
Enter Pinterest. I found a great idea there where kids can choose the chore they want to do and earn the allowance that is associated with it. Harder chores = higher values. (This is based on Dave Ramsey's idea of kids working on commission instead of giving them an allowance: Teach them to work, to earn money. Don't just give it to them. That's welfare.) I loved it, so I pinned it to my "The Boys" board.
Unfortunately, the link goes to someone's "shout out" to the idea/product that they found on Etsy. I had to click her link to get to the Etsy page to find out anything about it, which ended up being a description of the product, not a list of chore ideas and corresponding amounts. I guess I'll have to come up with that on my own...
This year is my year to get organized - and that includes getting the boys an allowance system in place - but one where they choose to work and how much they'll earn, not one where I have to stay on them to get something done. Earlier today I was browsing friends' pins on Pinterest and found something else that looked great: detailed job cards.
I want to tailor this idea to fit the Dave Ramsey commission idea. I think laminated index cards with the specific tasks and the amounts for them would work. I have a few card file boxes I'm not using, so that would be a great place to keep them. When the boys are wanting to earn some money, they can choose a card from the box. Maybe I'd include a checklist or specific instructions so they could be sure to do the job correctly. I could check it off when I see it's done. Then we'd file their completed task cards until "pay day".
I still need to noodle on it, but I think that's a good start!
I got tired of having to remind them to do their part so I could get around to doing my part. Sometimes they'd get right to it, but if they were in the middle of a school assignment, I'd go ahead and do it just to get it out of the way. Now they seem to have forgotten we even made the chore assignments. Every once in a while, one of them (usually Jacob) will mention allowance, but it never goes any farther than that.
Enter Pinterest. I found a great idea there where kids can choose the chore they want to do and earn the allowance that is associated with it. Harder chores = higher values. (This is based on Dave Ramsey's idea of kids working on commission instead of giving them an allowance: Teach them to work, to earn money. Don't just give it to them. That's welfare.) I loved it, so I pinned it to my "The Boys" board.
Source: kimboscrafts.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Unfortunately, the link goes to someone's "shout out" to the idea/product that they found on Etsy. I had to click her link to get to the Etsy page to find out anything about it, which ended up being a description of the product, not a list of chore ideas and corresponding amounts. I guess I'll have to come up with that on my own...
This year is my year to get organized - and that includes getting the boys an allowance system in place - but one where they choose to work and how much they'll earn, not one where I have to stay on them to get something done. Earlier today I was browsing friends' pins on Pinterest and found something else that looked great: detailed job cards.
Source: madsmemories.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
I want to tailor this idea to fit the Dave Ramsey commission idea. I think laminated index cards with the specific tasks and the amounts for them would work. I have a few card file boxes I'm not using, so that would be a great place to keep them. When the boys are wanting to earn some money, they can choose a card from the box. Maybe I'd include a checklist or specific instructions so they could be sure to do the job correctly. I could check it off when I see it's done. Then we'd file their completed task cards until "pay day".
I still need to noodle on it, but I think that's a good start!
Monday, January 16, 2012
DIY: Wipe-Off Calendar
Once I saw this on Pinterest, I knew I had to have one.
And this weekend, I finally completed my own DIY Wipe-Off Calendar!
Billy called it a work of art. It does look nice, though I'm not sure if he was serious or joking. However it is (or rather will be) the first framed item to hang on our bedroom walls in the 2+ years that we've lived here. (I know, I know... I've had good intentions, but I just haven't made decorative wall items a priority.)
Since my calendar will best be utilized in my bedroom, hanging on the wall above my computer, I decided to go with colors that blend with my comforter. I made several trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart to collect various shades of paint samples. I know they're free, but I couldn't stand the thought of getting all 35+ at once. I felt guilty even taking just 14 at a time! (I need more than 35 - 7 days x 5 weeks - because I'm also wanting to make a coordinating wipe-off to-do-list to hang beside it. I'm still noodling over that project...)
Last week I noticed Hobby Lobby had their wall frames discounted 50%, so I purchased a simple 12x16 brown frame for just a little over $11.50. I used the heavy brownish board backing that came with the frame for my calendar background. (I didn't want white because it would seem too stark for my color palette.)
The paint sample colors blend nicely with colors in my
comforter, and the brown frame adds to the warmth.
My first step was to outline a 2x2-inch square on the back of each paint sample. I was able to get two squares from the larger ones, so I ended up with several extra paint samples to use with other projects later.
This quilter's tool made measuring my squares so much easier than using a ruler!
Once I had all my squares cut, I spread them out on the background to make sure I had a good range of colors that worked well together.
I felt like I had too many lighter squares, so I
cut some more darker ones and swapped them out.
Then I randomly arranged my squares onto my board backing to test the colors and to see how much space I needed to leave between each of the squares and the sides/corners.
This layout didn't have a good feel, so I tried again...
Still not quite right...
I was getting closer. I ended up cutting a few more squares to swap out. After that, I ended up separating my squares into two piles: red/orange/yellow tones and green/brown tones. Then I laid them out in an alternating pattern, trying to keep a good mix of dark and light - and not placing two of the same shade diagonal from each other. I still ended up with an uneven balance, but I liked what I had and didn't want to mess with it. Again.
As I played around with my squares, I noticed they weren't lining up just right. Once I got the colors laid out the way I wanted, I remeasured each square. I found that many of them were slightly larger than 2x2. I didn't account for the gap between ruler and pen when I marked or cut...
Most pieces got a slight trim.
Finally they were ready to be placed! I rolled tape, stuck it to the back of each square, and moved them around until I got them just where they needed to go. My perfectionist tendencies had to be put aside when, after trying to line up all my rows and columns with my ruler, I realized it just wasn't going to be an exact fit. I even trimmed another square or two to get the fit a little better - then I decided enough was enough. I flipped the board over onto the glass, folded down the little metal tabs, and wiped the various fingerprints and smudges off the glass. Done!
I tested my dry-erase marker and it worked like a charm!
Now, I know the month is half over, but I can't bear to have my calendar go from mid-month to mid-month. And yes, I'll go ahead and fill in the things we've already done - just for the sake of it. I just can't help myself. :o)
I'll add a picture of it hanging on the wall once I get it up there. I promise it won't be another 2+ years!
Source: theaestheticwriter.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
And this weekend, I finally completed my own DIY Wipe-Off Calendar!
Billy called it a work of art. It does look nice, though I'm not sure if he was serious or joking. However it is (or rather will be) the first framed item to hang on our bedroom walls in the 2+ years that we've lived here. (I know, I know... I've had good intentions, but I just haven't made decorative wall items a priority.)
Since my calendar will best be utilized in my bedroom, hanging on the wall above my computer, I decided to go with colors that blend with my comforter. I made several trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart to collect various shades of paint samples. I know they're free, but I couldn't stand the thought of getting all 35+ at once. I felt guilty even taking just 14 at a time! (I need more than 35 - 7 days x 5 weeks - because I'm also wanting to make a coordinating wipe-off to-do-list to hang beside it. I'm still noodling over that project...)
Last week I noticed Hobby Lobby had their wall frames discounted 50%, so I purchased a simple 12x16 brown frame for just a little over $11.50. I used the heavy brownish board backing that came with the frame for my calendar background. (I didn't want white because it would seem too stark for my color palette.)
comforter, and the brown frame adds to the warmth.
My first step was to outline a 2x2-inch square on the back of each paint sample. I was able to get two squares from the larger ones, so I ended up with several extra paint samples to use with other projects later.
Once I had all my squares cut, I spread them out on the background to make sure I had a good range of colors that worked well together.
cut some more darker ones and swapped them out.
Then I randomly arranged my squares onto my board backing to test the colors and to see how much space I needed to leave between each of the squares and the sides/corners.
I was getting closer. I ended up cutting a few more squares to swap out. After that, I ended up separating my squares into two piles: red/orange/yellow tones and green/brown tones. Then I laid them out in an alternating pattern, trying to keep a good mix of dark and light - and not placing two of the same shade diagonal from each other. I still ended up with an uneven balance, but I liked what I had and didn't want to mess with it. Again.
As I played around with my squares, I noticed they weren't lining up just right. Once I got the colors laid out the way I wanted, I remeasured each square. I found that many of them were slightly larger than 2x2. I didn't account for the gap between ruler and pen when I marked or cut...
Finally they were ready to be placed! I rolled tape, stuck it to the back of each square, and moved them around until I got them just where they needed to go. My perfectionist tendencies had to be put aside when, after trying to line up all my rows and columns with my ruler, I realized it just wasn't going to be an exact fit. I even trimmed another square or two to get the fit a little better - then I decided enough was enough. I flipped the board over onto the glass, folded down the little metal tabs, and wiped the various fingerprints and smudges off the glass. Done!
Now, I know the month is half over, but I can't bear to have my calendar go from mid-month to mid-month. And yes, I'll go ahead and fill in the things we've already done - just for the sake of it. I just can't help myself. :o)
I'll add a picture of it hanging on the wall once I get it up there. I promise it won't be another 2+ years!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Getting It Together!
I'm excited about participating in The Vintage Apple's "Oh, How Pinteresting!" weekly meme! Each Wednesday (yes, I'm a day late...), you share some interesting things you've found on Pinterest. If you're not a member of Pinterest, you need to request an invitation. If you leave me your email address with your request, I'll send you one!
Each week on Pinterest, I find all sorts of random things that I post to various boards. Here, though, I don't want to be random about the things I've found; I want to categorize them. Since one of my goals this year is to get organized, I thought that would be a great place to start with my first "Oh, How Pinteresting!" post.
Here are some great organizational tools I've found that I've pinned to my "Getting It Together" board:
I'm actually working on this one right now, with colors to match my bedroom. I also want to make a coordinating to-do list to hang next to it.
In my quest for organization, I found several website links on how to break that overwhelming task into smaller, more manageable jobs.
If you want to get things done in just 21 days, here's a great site that takes you through 20 daunting tasks each day, with a "your choice" day at the end.
If you have a bigger challenge ahead of you, check out this one - my personal favorite. This blogger not only assigns tasks for each week, but she breaks each one down into manageable steps, giving advice on how to proceed.
If you'd rather go out on your own and decide what needs to be done where each week, this one provides you with guidance.
If you need baby steps, this site provides downloadable calendars for each month with one thing to accomplish each day. Some are fairly simple (toss out expired skin care products; declutter candles); some are more labor-intensive (sort through pictures and get rid of/give away duplicates; throw out the junk in your junk drawer); and others are just plain fun (take a nap; dance in your living room - yeah, these are the Sunday items).
What organization tips/tools have you found on Pinterest? Share them in my comments section - and leave your Pinterest ID name so I can check out your boards!
Next week's "Pinteresting" things: health and fitness (in conjunction with another one of my goals for the year).
Each week on Pinterest, I find all sorts of random things that I post to various boards. Here, though, I don't want to be random about the things I've found; I want to categorize them. Since one of my goals this year is to get organized, I thought that would be a great place to start with my first "Oh, How Pinteresting!" post.
Here are some great organizational tools I've found that I've pinned to my "Getting It Together" board:
I'm actually working on this one right now, with colors to match my bedroom. I also want to make a coordinating to-do list to hang next to it.
Source: theaestheticwriter.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
In my quest for organization, I found several website links on how to break that overwhelming task into smaller, more manageable jobs.
If you want to get things done in just 21 days, here's a great site that takes you through 20 daunting tasks each day, with a "your choice" day at the end.
Source: abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
If you have a bigger challenge ahead of you, check out this one - my personal favorite. This blogger not only assigns tasks for each week, but she breaks each one down into manageable steps, giving advice on how to proceed.
Source: home-storage-solutions-101.com via Ashley on Pinterest
If you'd rather go out on your own and decide what needs to be done where each week, this one provides you with guidance.
Source: orgjunkie.com via Ashley on Pinterest
If you need baby steps, this site provides downloadable calendars for each month with one thing to accomplish each day. Some are fairly simple (toss out expired skin care products; declutter candles); some are more labor-intensive (sort through pictures and get rid of/give away duplicates; throw out the junk in your junk drawer); and others are just plain fun (take a nap; dance in your living room - yeah, these are the Sunday items).
Source: mysimplerlife.com via Ashley on Pinterest
What organization tips/tools have you found on Pinterest? Share them in my comments section - and leave your Pinterest ID name so I can check out your boards!
Next week's "Pinteresting" things: health and fitness (in conjunction with another one of my goals for the year).
Friday, December 2, 2011
Slowing Down a Bit
I've gotten to the point where I really don't like to go places much. Maybe it's the traffic or the crowds. Maybe it's the price of gas. Maybe it's getting older. Maybe it's that our "busy days" are so long and so busy, they absolutely wear me out. Maybe it's a combination of some or all of it. I don't know why really, but I know I'm ready to slow down our weekly trips into Mesquite/Garland.
I checked the Forney library yesterday to see if it's comparable to our favorite library in Garland. It's not. Not by any means. There are two rows of books for elementary/junior high students: one row of non-fiction and one row of fiction. Still, I talked with the librarian about the possibility of getting a library card, but since we don't live inside the Forney school district, we'd have to drive out to our district, get a card from there, then get a TEX-Share Card so we can get things from other libraries in other places.
I was thinking about skipping it altogether, but Billy came up with a good idea. Get the cards through Crandall, then check the elementary school around the corner from us and see if we could use their library from time to time. It's worth a try! They'd have all the books we'd need, and they're literally right around the corner from us. I think we'll look into that next week. If they say yes, great. If they say no, that's fine, too. We don't always make it to the library each week anyway.
The other issue deals with grocery shopping. I love shopping at ALDI. They have great products (mostly) at low prices - lower than Wal-Mart, even. I can usually get out of there with a week's worth of groceries for less than $70. Sometimes I go a little over that; more often I go under it. The things I'm not so wild about there are their white bread (stale from day 1) and their produce. Some of it's okay, but most of it is packaged in bulk (which I won't use in time) or looks a little . . . old. I end up having to stop by Wal-Mart or Brookshire's to pick up bread, apples, lettuce, bell pepper, etc. A lot of what I buy at ALDI keeps for a long time. Billy made another recommendation: Go to ALDI once every two or three weeks and get the things I need that will keep. The other weeks, go to the nearby Wal-Mart or Brookshire's to get the fresher stuff. Problem solved.
Now I just need to work out a schedule of when we're going where. We went earlier this week to the library, but we didn't stay long. It was mostly to drop off some books and pick up a few others. Now that we'll be going less often, I'll need to check the boys' school topics in advance and make sure to be prepared for two weeks at a time instead of one. I guess we'll start our limited in-town time after next week.
I'll also have to get back to more detailed menu planning so I can buy what I need at ALDI and only have to get the produce and more frequent staples on our "off" weeks from somewhere else.
So there's my plan to slow down a bit. I hope to get the details worked out over the next few weeks so that I can actually implement it soon.
Update: I realized this morning (Thursday, Dec. 15) that a lot of it probably has to do with the fact that there's nowhere I really want to go. If I wanted to go somewhere, I'd feel a lot different about it.
I checked the Forney library yesterday to see if it's comparable to our favorite library in Garland. It's not. Not by any means. There are two rows of books for elementary/junior high students: one row of non-fiction and one row of fiction. Still, I talked with the librarian about the possibility of getting a library card, but since we don't live inside the Forney school district, we'd have to drive out to our district, get a card from there, then get a TEX-Share Card so we can get things from other libraries in other places.
I was thinking about skipping it altogether, but Billy came up with a good idea. Get the cards through Crandall, then check the elementary school around the corner from us and see if we could use their library from time to time. It's worth a try! They'd have all the books we'd need, and they're literally right around the corner from us. I think we'll look into that next week. If they say yes, great. If they say no, that's fine, too. We don't always make it to the library each week anyway.
The other issue deals with grocery shopping. I love shopping at ALDI. They have great products (mostly) at low prices - lower than Wal-Mart, even. I can usually get out of there with a week's worth of groceries for less than $70. Sometimes I go a little over that; more often I go under it. The things I'm not so wild about there are their white bread (stale from day 1) and their produce. Some of it's okay, but most of it is packaged in bulk (which I won't use in time) or looks a little . . . old. I end up having to stop by Wal-Mart or Brookshire's to pick up bread, apples, lettuce, bell pepper, etc. A lot of what I buy at ALDI keeps for a long time. Billy made another recommendation: Go to ALDI once every two or three weeks and get the things I need that will keep. The other weeks, go to the nearby Wal-Mart or Brookshire's to get the fresher stuff. Problem solved.
Now I just need to work out a schedule of when we're going where. We went earlier this week to the library, but we didn't stay long. It was mostly to drop off some books and pick up a few others. Now that we'll be going less often, I'll need to check the boys' school topics in advance and make sure to be prepared for two weeks at a time instead of one. I guess we'll start our limited in-town time after next week.
I'll also have to get back to more detailed menu planning so I can buy what I need at ALDI and only have to get the produce and more frequent staples on our "off" weeks from somewhere else.
So there's my plan to slow down a bit. I hope to get the details worked out over the next few weeks so that I can actually implement it soon.
Update: I realized this morning (Thursday, Dec. 15) that a lot of it probably has to do with the fact that there's nowhere I really want to go. If I wanted to go somewhere, I'd feel a lot different about it.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Real Simple: Shopping List Organizer
When I used my iPhone as my phone/organizer/toy, I had a grocery list program that I used faithfully. I could scroll through the alphabetized list of items and touch the things I needed to add to my list. When I was shopping, I could use just the grocery list portion and tap things off as I put them in my cart. There were a few more features, like adding recipes to create grocery lists and emailing lists, but I didn't use those.
Once I got a new, more simple phone, I'd sometimes forget to take my iPhone grocery list with me. That's not a great thing considering I grocery shop once a week. I don't like having to rely on my memory for all the groceries I need for the week - especially when I have two boys "helping" me.
I saw an interesting possible solution to that in my January copy of Real Simple magazine. They developed a downloadable weekly menu plan/shopping list organizer where you write your menu down one side, then fill in the ingredients you'll need in the adjacent columns (fresh produce, dairy and refrigerated, etc.).
This week is the second time I'm using it, so I'm still undecided.
Pros:
*weekly menu at a glance
*ingredients are categorized
*can post on refrigerator for easy viewing
Cons:
*paper rather than electronic
*weekdays only; no weekends
*wasted white space where no ingredients need to be purchased
Another con, though with my own system instead of theirs, is having to color code things to get from different stores. ALDI is my main grocery store, but because they're so small and limited, there are some things I need to get from Wal-Mart. When Brookshire's is having a good sale, I like to stop by there for a few things as well. What I like about my old iPhone list is that if I didn't get something at one place, it stayed on the list until I was able to get it somewhere else. With this way, I have to hang on to a piece of paper - either in the depths of my purse, in a book (in the depths of my purse), or in my jeans pocket where it runs a risk of being washed and dried...
The pro with that, though, is I don't shop at multiple stores most weeks. I don't plan my menu around what's on sale at Brookshire's; I just pick up supplemental things or staples here and there when I can get a great deal on them.
Time will tell. I'm willing to continue with using their list/organizer for another 2 weeks, at which time I'll revisit the topic to see if the pros outweigh the cons. Right now they seem fairly balanced.
Do you plan weekly menus? How do you organize your grocery shopping? I'd love to hear your ideas!
Once I got a new, more simple phone, I'd sometimes forget to take my iPhone grocery list with me. That's not a great thing considering I grocery shop once a week. I don't like having to rely on my memory for all the groceries I need for the week - especially when I have two boys "helping" me.
I saw an interesting possible solution to that in my January copy of Real Simple magazine. They developed a downloadable weekly menu plan/shopping list organizer where you write your menu down one side, then fill in the ingredients you'll need in the adjacent columns (fresh produce, dairy and refrigerated, etc.).
This week is the second time I'm using it, so I'm still undecided.
Pros:
*weekly menu at a glance
*ingredients are categorized
*can post on refrigerator for easy viewing
Cons:
*paper rather than electronic
*weekdays only; no weekends
*wasted white space where no ingredients need to be purchased
Another con, though with my own system instead of theirs, is having to color code things to get from different stores. ALDI is my main grocery store, but because they're so small and limited, there are some things I need to get from Wal-Mart. When Brookshire's is having a good sale, I like to stop by there for a few things as well. What I like about my old iPhone list is that if I didn't get something at one place, it stayed on the list until I was able to get it somewhere else. With this way, I have to hang on to a piece of paper - either in the depths of my purse, in a book (in the depths of my purse), or in my jeans pocket where it runs a risk of being washed and dried...
The pro with that, though, is I don't shop at multiple stores most weeks. I don't plan my menu around what's on sale at Brookshire's; I just pick up supplemental things or staples here and there when I can get a great deal on them.
Time will tell. I'm willing to continue with using their list/organizer for another 2 weeks, at which time I'll revisit the topic to see if the pros outweigh the cons. Right now they seem fairly balanced.
Do you plan weekly menus? How do you organize your grocery shopping? I'd love to hear your ideas!
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