Organizing Cords

Remember how we talked about figuring out solutions to our own organizational problems? Well I thought I would share one of my problems and how I figured out how to solve the problem. I had a whole bunch of different kinds of cords that are out of control so I thought maybe I could figure out how to get them under control. At the local hardware store (Lowe's in this case) I found these rolls of Velcro strips (quick tie type things) that stick together to form a loop. You can loosen them or tighten them to be as big are as small as you need them to be. I use them for all sorts of things, but for today's hint I am using them to hold together all of my camera cords, Ipod and Zune cords and various types of computer cords. We store all of these cords near our computer because that is where we use them. I found a wire basket that I just throw my cords into after they are labeled and wound up withe the Velcro ties. I use a Brother P-Touch labeler, which I LOVE, and I print out a label for each cord. Each one of our family members have different cameras and different MP3 devices so our cords are always getting confused with someone else's. This has been a wonderful solution for me and the rolls of Velcro ties are only a couple of dollars so it is also a very cost effective solution. I also use these ties to roll and bind the many cords under the computer desk such as the printer cord, the phone cord, the speaker cords etc. to keep them under control. It has been a great solution for one of my organizational problems. How easy is that?

Best Kept Secret

Ok, so this really isn't a secret...but it is something that I don't think people take enough advantage of. THE LIBRARY!

Did you know that you can check movies out from your local library....for Free? They even get new releases!

Did you know that you can keep books for a month at a time?

Did you know that many libraries offer story times and activities for your kids?

Did you know that you can access your library's catalog online? That way you can see if the book you want is available or if it is checked out. Many libraries even let you reserve your books/movies online.

Did you know that you can use the internet at the library for free? Don't you hate it when your computer or internet is having problems...and you are waiting for an important e-mail?

Did you know that you can check out audiobooks online? You can even download them to your computer. Our local libraries allow us to download the books and the file is left on our computer for 1 week. If you cannot listen to your audiobook in 1 week...don't worry! You can burn the book to disks, or download it to your IPOD...where it stays until you delete it! I have a hard time justifying sitting down to read a book, but I LOVE to listen to audiobooks while I clean the kitchen or fold my laundry!

It is free to get a library card...and very easy! If you don't have a library card...make it a point to go get one! How easy is that?

Organizing-- You are Smarter than you think--Figuring Out Your Own Problems

What is your problem? I mean, what is your organizing problem? I have been on a quest for most of my married life (almost 29 years) to be totally organized. Now I have to confess that I have not yet achieved this goal, but I am still working towards it. Something that I finally concluded after many years is that I needed to figure out what MY organizing problems were and what my organizing solution style is. For example, I have tried many filing systems over the years that have been recommended by friends or other professional organizers. I found out that what other people recommend was not always successful for me. After trying several of them and being unsuccessful, I combined some of the the ideas into a system that works for me.

It is kind of interesting to me that it took me so long to figure this out. I had an ah ha moment one day. It finally dawned on me that I could figure out what works best for ME. My lifestyle and habits are not the same as anyone else. I figured I was a pretty smart person and could find solutions to my organizational problems. I still read organizational books and articles and surf the web looking for ideas, but I realized my problems are my problems and I needed to find out what worked for me and my family.

You can do it too. I will give you some of my ideas in upcoming posts and you can use them as they are or use them to spark an idea of your own. What works for me will not always work for you, but you might get some good ideas you could implement into your own organizing style.

How easy is that?

Diaper Cream

My two sons have inherited terrible skin, which brings about many unfortunate bouts of ezcema....and AWFUL diaper rashes. My older son has (and continues to have) very frequent diaper rashes, but unfortunately, we have tried about every cream out there and they all give him Yeast Infections. Ugh! Diaper rashes are awful, but add horrible bleeding "satellite pimples," and every diaper change turns into a screaming, crying, fighting mess.

Each time we finally got rid of a yeast infection, a new one would creep up. We would try various diaper rash creams, and he will end up with yet another yeast infection. The poor kid's bum could have been used for a textbook picture on terrible diaper rash/yeast infections!

We were feeling quite frustrated, and presented our concerns to our doctor. In order to treat the poor bleeding pimples, our family doctor recommended that we quit using diaper cream until the sores were gone...he also recommened that we try using Neosporin + Pain Relief instead.

I LOVE this stuff! It not only helps with the sores, but it hels with the diaper rash....and the pain. Neosporin with pain relief also includes a topical pain-reliever. It works quickly and very well. You can find the neosporin with pain relief in both a cream and an ointment form. Many stores also carry "off-brand" versions, which contain the same ingredients and work just as well. We haven't used diaper rash cream in over a year now, and have not had a single yeast infection! Hooray for that! If you're struggling with diaper rashes with your kids, give Neosporin + Pain Relief a try! How easy is that?

Rosemary Skewered Chicken (or beef) with Orange Glaze

Thank you Chef Curtis Stone (Take home chef, ya know, the cute British guy? He also does recipes for The Biggest Loser). I found this recipe online for the chicken, and thought it sounded easy and yummy. I decided to use stew beef instead of chicken (because that is what I had that was not frozen). I cannot believe how big of a hit it was at my house!! Kellen and Rykker had seconds, and Kellen couldn't stop telling me how delicious he thought it was! So, I thought I'd better share it with you!!

Rosemary Skewered Chicken (or beef) with Orange Glaze

Ingredients
Juice of 3 oranges (you can also use orange juice from concentrate)
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. honey
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. finely chopped peeled fresh ginger (or 1/4 -1/2 tsp dried, ground ginger)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 large sprigs of rosemary about 10 to 12 inches long, with half the leaves removed

Instructions
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan on medium high heat.
2. Place the orange juice into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the orange juice has the consistency of a very thin syrup. Add the Dijon, honey, garlic, and ginger and continue cooking over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat to allow flavors to meld and reserve.
3. Evenly divide the cubed chicken among the rosemary sprigs and skewer the chicken onto the exposed part of the rosemary sprigs. (Beef is a little harder to skew, so I stuck a real wooden skewer through it first to make a hole. Then I threaded the beef onto the rosemary sprig. This recipe wouldn't be the same if you just cooked the meat on a regular skewer rather than the rosemary).
4. Lightly brush the grill with oil and grill chicken for 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
5. Remove skewers from the grill to a serving plate, drizzle with the orange sauce and serve immediately.

I served it with Rice Pilaf...and Kellen was wishing I had doubled the sauce, since he likes to put the sauce on his rice! Hope you enjoy!

No extenstions, substitutions, or refunds...

Have you ever been cooking, and you are missing 1 or maybe 2 ingredients? Ugh! I hate when that happens. You are making a recipe that calls for buttermilk, but you don't have any! What do you do? Do you drop everything, pack your kids into the car, and run to the grocery store for 1 ingredient? Do you call EVERY NEIGHBOR in your neighborhood or complex to see if they have some?

Well, there are better ideas! There are many ideas of substitutions available. Many substituions are available on the internet, or in magazines or cookbooks. Here are a few ideas:

1 medium clove of garlic = 1 1/2 tsp chopped, 1 tsp minced , or 1/2 to 1 tsp bottled minced, or 1/8-1/4 tsp of garlic powder.

1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tbs lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup (let stand for 5 minutes before using); also use 1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup corn syrup = 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup water

1/2 cup chopped onion = 2 tbs minced dried onion or 1/2 tsp onion powder

1 cup dairy sour cream = 1 cup plain yogurt (this is often a healthier choice, especially if you use lowfat yogurt)

1 cup red wine = 1 cup beef brother or chicken both (for savory recipes), 1 cup cranberry of cherry juice (for sweet recipes like desserts)
1 cup white wine = 1 cup chicken broth or 1 cup apple or white grape juice

1 package active dry yeast = 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 tbs Fresh herbs = 1/2 to 1 tsp dried herb, crushed, or 1/2 tsp groupnd herb

Why go to the store if you can use things you have at home? How easy is that?

Apricot Chicken

I thought you might like an easy dinner recipe for tonight!! Spray your crockpot with cooking spray. Place 1 bottle Russian Salad dressing, 1 package dry Lipton onion soup mix, and one bottle of apricot jam in the crockpot and stir together. Place about 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts in the sauce and cook for about 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low, depending on your time and your crockpot. Serve over rice. This is one of my husband's favorite dinners. I love it because it is so easy. ANYONE can make this dish!! How easy is that?

Coffee Filters

I already listed in a previous post about how I love using coffee filters for cleaning windows/mirrors. I received a forward e-mail this morning regarding other uses for coffee filters, and thought maybe you might find them useful:

Better than paper towels and a lot less expensive...COFFEE FILTERS
Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine.. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11.. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls. 23. Use them to sprout seeds.. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
OH, YEAH, THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS :)

Second step to menu planning

Now that you have successfully made your menu list, it is time to tackle making a menu. I have several suggestions. The first one is to download an empty calendar for the month and fill in the calendar with things off of your list you would like to make. You can also use many of the online menu planners that can help with managing your menu and your grocery list. You can plan your menu from things you already have in your freezer or pantry or plan your menu and make a grocery list of the things you need to purchase for the things on your monthly menu. Another suggestion is to plan a six week or eight week menu plan and rotate it. Start with week one and go through week eight and then start over with week one again. This seems to be successful because most people eat a lot of the same things over and over again anyway. You can also make just a weekly menu. Make sure you add in the times you are planning to eat out for a special occasion or date night and also add items you would like to try. After trying something new, if it is successful, add it to your permanent menu list or discard it as tried, but not successful.

When I plan my menu I try to use variety. As you have seen from our menu list, we eat a lot of chicken. It might look deceiving like we don't have a lot of variety because we eat mostly chicken, but we really do eat quite a range of food. I like to do maybe a comfort food dish one night, a Mexican dish one night, an Italian dish one night and maybe a beef dish one night. I try not to do the same type of food two nights in a row so we do have a greater variety. You can get creative on how you plan your menu, but if you know what you are having for dinner before you go out the door for the day, your day will run much smoother. How easy is that?