Baking Sheets, not just for baking anymore 08/10/2010
Too many bake trays, not enough baking going on? Need a way to keep the wet shoes and boots at the door from ruining your floor? Tired of trying to coral and contain the many little spice jars and sticky bottles of oil and vinegar in the cupboard? Let's rethink the possible uses of those extra baking trays... 1. Try using baking trays or pans as cabinet organizers. Gather up those small items such as small spice jars, pouches and small bottles and place them in a spare baking pan. Then treat it as a drawer, carefully sliding it in and out of the cabinet when you need to get items stored near the back. You can also use small to medium sized baskets if you have those instead. What ever you use the beauty of using baking pans or leak proof baskets is that it will catch drips and small spills thus making clean up a lot easier. Tip: For taller glass bottles use deeper trays. 2. Give your old baking pans the 'boot'. Rectangular baking sheets and pans can make wonderful receptacles' for wet boots and shoes. Again the pan or sheet can help catch muck from the street and when it's dry the pans can be washed and replaced easily. If they fit you can even slide them into existing cubbyholes at the doorway, taking their contents out of the way. Add Comment A mother’s work is never done. 05/18/2010
If your mother is like my mother, she always thinks she knows best about how you should run your household. Well, I guess as a mother, she just can’t let go of her baby Regardless of how I feel about my mom giving me advice on my home or life, I have to say, she is the best cheerleader anyone could have. In her eyes I can do no wrong. For this belief in me, I thank her. To get back to my story, not long ago my mother and I were discussing how to cook rice. She was thinking about getting a rice cooker because she dislikes making rice in a pot, like the way I do. She decided she needed a rice cooker, and then decided that I need one too. It was her adamancy that I get one, that was entertaining, in some way. Although I said I can cook perfect rice in my pot and I was happy with that, she insisted rather harshly that I still needed the cooker! I had to insist back, that I had no intention to use a rice cooker, and for her ‘not’ to go out and buy me one. I told her I would simply give it away if she did. I have limited space in my home, I like space, I don’t need a big cooker taking up the space I have. I am sure many readers can relate and want to make the best use of their space, their time and even their discretionary ‘spending money’. So I got to thinking. Was there anything else performing a redundant function in my kitchen? Yes, my Bodem coffee maker. I discovered prior that I can make coffee just as easily by using a pot and a sieve. My fiancé, however, was against the idea that I give the Bodem away, since our coffee ritual is something we enjoy. It still works and we like using it, it stays! In general, we have too much stuff we don’t really, really need, like many of us. If we just learn how to make what we have work for us better, we could cut more clutter form our counters and other places. Simplify is key. Now, I just need to convince my mother to not worry about going out of her way to buy me things. The best gift my mom can give me, is to know that her money can be better spent, or saved. Two Rooms, Two Tips, a great pair! 05/18/2010
Great things sometimes come in pairs. Today for each room here are two tips to help you get more organized. Living or Family Room 1. Consider purchasing multi-purpose furniture such as coffee tables, foot rests, storage cubes, or couches and beds with storage built in for toys, extra blankets and pillows, or board games? 2. List all the activities that will take place in this space and section your living room into zones. Then consider the containment needs for your belongings that make things easy to put away. Baskets are great idea to consider. Kitchen 1. Keep countertops clear. Put away any rarely used appliances such as a deep fryer’s into cabinets. Well in the case of a deep fryer I suggest tossing it altogether, yet, you get the idea. Review your appliances. If you haven't used it in 12 months give it away. Try this with your utensils too. Try putting the items away in a closet or garage and only take out if you need it. Then put back in your kitchen when done using it only. 2. Arrange zones in the kitchen. This can make your life simpler and easier. For example, sugar, flour, baking soda, and confectioners’ chocolate should be near each other to make it easy and convenient to bake when the urge strikes. Another zone may be your coffee/tea zone. Include coffee, sugar, tea bags, tea cups and mugs etc. SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST 03/23/2010
Spring is in the air, it’s time to clean up and make a little more room for happy to sunshine in and bring new life to your home. Don’t try to do it all in a day. Start in one area, finish, and then move on. Getting even just one small area done will have a great impact and leave you feeling like you accomplished something. The Kitchen ___ CLEAN OUT AND ORGANIZE REFRIGERATOR ___ CLEAN INSIDE OF AND UNDER STOVE ___ CLEAN MICROWAVE ___ CLEAN TOASTER OVEN ___ CLEAN AND ORGANIZE PANTRY ___ CLEAN AND ORGANIZE FREEZER ___ WIPE DOWN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF KITCHEN CUPBOARDS The Bedroom ___ WASH OR DRYCLEAN BEDSPREADS ___ ORGANIZE/PURGE MASTER BEDROOM CLOSET ___ ORGANIZE/PURGE CHILDREN'S CLOSETS ___ ORGANIZE/PURGE CHILDREN'S TOYS All Over ___ WIPE DOWN ALL DOORS; CLEAN DOOR HANDLES & MOLDINGS ___ WIPE OFF WINDOW SILLS ___ CLEAN INSIDE OF WINDOWS ___ WASH OR DRYCLEAN CURTAINS ___ DUST MINI-BLINDS ___ CLEAN SLIDING GLASS DOORS INSIDE AND OUT ___ REMOVE MARKS FROM WALLS; APPLY TOUCH UP PAINT ___ CLEAN WALL MOLDINGS ___ DUST CEILING FANS ___ DUST PICTURE FRAMES ___ DUST LAMP SHADES ___ STEAM CLEAN CARPETS ___ STEAM CLEAN FURNITURE ___ WASH OUT WASTEBASKETS ___ DUST ARTIFICIAL PLANTS ___ CHANGE BATTERIES IN SMOKE DETECTORS ___ ORGANIZE LINEN CLOSET ___ WIPE DOWN AND CLEAN UNDER WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER On the Outside ___ CLEAN UP FLOWER BEDS ___ FINISH RAKING LEAVES ___ PREPARE PLANTERS FOR PLANTING ___ CLEAN AND FILL WATER FOUNTAINS ___ STRAIGHTEN STORAGE SHED ___ HOSE DOWN PATIO ___ CLEAN PATIO FURNITURE ___ CLEAN WINDOWS ON OUTSIDE ___ INSPECT AND REPAIR WINDOW SCREENS ___ WASH OUT GARBAGE CANS ___ CLEAN BARBECUE Maximize Your Home 03/16/2010
Opportunities are always available when you keep an eye out for them. When it comes to your living space here are some ways to build in a little extra room where you may need it most.
Tips for the Closet and the Kitchen 02/13/2010
7 Steps to a Functioning Closet 1. Consider visibility, accessibility ad flexibility when planning your closet design. 2. Measure carefully the height, depth, width, and also for the entrance to the closet too. 3. Inventory what you have and what you need more of. Hanging space, shelves, shoe racks, etc. 4. Remove the things you can do without and put seasonal clothes away, preferably in close and accessible storage. 5. Shop for what you need. Talk with a closet designer to get ideas and determine costs for special installations. 6. Put it back together, containerize and label any baskets or show boxes properly. 7. Respect it, maintain it and love it. 4 More for the Kitchen Drawers 1. Designate just one drawer to be a "Junk Drawer." For items like batteries, flashlights, tape measure, paper pad and a pen for example. 2. Sort and Purge the contents once every 6months to a year. Try to keep it for truly important things, not just a free-for-all junk collection as the name would suggest. 3. Use drawer organizers to separate and store "like" items. 4. Keep your flatware near the sink or dishwasher and your cooking utensils near the stove. |  CategoriesAll ArchivesJanuary 2012 |
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