I've been on an organization kick lately so I'd love to share and get ideas. Here's what I've used so far.
The Expedit from IKEA with canvas bins.
An old microwave stand in the closet for extra shelves. (This is not picture-worthy, but let me just say how much I love putting something seemingly useless to good use!)
A puzzle rack. And a hanging shoe rack. All of these items I have used for toy storage, and all but two were about to be thrown away when I realized they worked better for me as something other than their intended uses. I just have to say, there must be a reason every classroom has cubbies, they just go hand-in-hand with kids.
My two questions are:
What have you used a shoe rack for (or seen it used for), other than shoes?
What do you use/reuse (creatively or not) for organizing your "stuff"? I'm still looking for ways to organize my sewing stuff - thread, leftover fabric, patterns, rotary board and ruler, manuals, serger equipment, etc. I'd especially love to get ideas for those!
Most of the decorations I have were given to me by my wonderful mother and mother-in-law. I am grateful to say they have excellent taste, otherwise (not to be rude), they would not be adorning my walls. Here is something I put together recently which I felt quite proud about, not only because I think it looks nice, but the expense was in the single digits for the entire thing (mostly because I was given the curtain rod and blocks), and you just can't beat that.
I realize I didn't do it perfectly, nor did I take a very cutesy picture, but you get the idea. Because I'm not feeling like writing out instructions, I found some places that do. They're obviously not exactly the same as I did mine, (I didn't attach my blocks to the wall, and I used fabric on my foam board instead of scrapbook paper) but if you do it at home, you'll adapt it how you like it too.
For the curtain rod letter blocks look here. For the foam board picture collage look here.
It's one thing to talk about all the topics of taking care of a household, and it's another to live it. My absence has been due to living, particularly in this time when the "economy" and its many negative descriptors are such household words. If you think you and your family have not been influenced, you apparently aren't living. Now, before you go thinking that this is going to be a real downer of a post, let me assure you that is not my purpose. If you're anything like me, I've had enough of those doom and gloom updates. I promise not to bring up that ugly word "politics". Instead, I'll tell you a little about my experiences over the last several months and then I'll ask that you share a few of yours. (So as not to get too wordy, I'll try to summarize in a list of my little family's story.)
1. Life was good: New house, two jobs (though mine was only a few hours a week), a car almost paid off, and plenty of dreams and goals. 2. Laid off - 2 months notice, but no severance. 3. Two months of searching for jobs, getting house on the market, esophagitis due to stress, lots of interviewing, multiplying hours at my job by 3, places interviewing not planning to hire for several months or suddenly not able to hire at all, hoping that we would have a job before our next mortgage payment was due. 4. Last day of work, no job, only what seemed far-off prospects. 5. House sold after only 16 days on the market! 6. Moved out, no job, no place to go, but plenty of money in the bank. 7. "Aimlessly" drove across the country, one job offer each on the way to "visit" family. *I have to add a little side-note here. I was offered my dream job that really couldn't have been more perfect. A home-economist position in my home-town, great benefits including free grad-school tuition for me and my husband, etc. I questioned how it could be the best decision to take a different route. For many, many reasons it was, but there are two and a half that top the charts: my husband, my little girl and the next little one on the way. Though it was difficult to turn it down, I'm glad things turned out the way they did. 8. Chose hubby's offer (which, I have to admit, was much more lucrative, and yes, did make our decision a little easier as well) and moved, yet again, across the country.
In summarizing this I left out a lot of the fear and hopelessness we endured on purpose. Mostly because we feel that the experience (looking back) was positive. Shocking? It certainly was to us. Admittedly, we are religious people and we can't count the blessings that have come pouring into our little family through all of this. But, even if you don't believe in Divine Intervention, you can still see we had some "luck", or whatever you want to call it, sent our way. It was hard, and we're definitely dealing with some struggles because of it still, but we're better for it.
So, my question and focus for this post is, "How has your household been affected in the current economy? How are you different, but more importantly, how are you better?" I know it sounds like homework, but I really do want to know.
Do you only plan a main dish? Me too. Sometimes it's hard to think up a full, balanced meal for me. Especially something more than getting out the can opener for a can of corn or green beans, or the scissors to open up a bag of salad. Not that those don't work sometimes, but every time? I also always justify that casseroles are a complete meal. Well, sure, they have all the food groups, but sometimes I'd like to dress them up a bit with a side. Good ideas for that? What do you do to balance your meals? Tell us some of your side dishes and vegetables that work. Here are a few easy ones I like:
1. Green beans and chopped tomatoes tossed in vinegar based salad dressing 2. Steamed vegetables, whatever is in season, sprinkled with lemon pepper 3. Potatoes, however you like them 4. Rolls, biscuits, muffins (I'll post a family favorite recipe that goes with almost anything when I post your ideas), tortillas, pitas, etc 5. Carrots and celery with ranch dressing or without 6. One that I learned from a restaurant I went to on an anniversary trip is large tomato slices layered with fresh (or not) mozzarella cheese and salt and pepper or salad dressing poured on top. (Can you tell I like salad dressing?) 7. Rice to go with whatever your main dish theme is. (Spanish, curried, sticky, fried, whatever)
Thanks for your recipe ideas! They look great, I'll try them out!
Grilled Pork Tenderloin RUB: 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp dark brown sugar 1 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp chile powder 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp ground allspice
DIRECTIONS: 1. Trim excess fat. Allow to stand at room temp for 20-30 min before grilling. Lightly brush or spray with oil and spread the rub all over, pressing the spices into the meat. 2. Grill over direct medium heat until the pork is barely pink in the center, 15 to 20 min, turning every 5 min. Remove from grill and let rest for 3 to 5 min. (My sister Callie's recipe)
Cut up (or leave whole and break it up before you eat) pork tenderloin and put it in a crock pot with sweet and sour sauce and pineapple chunks.
Pork Burritos Season the pork with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sprinkle all sides. Cook in the crock pot for 8 hours on low. Shred the pork meat and add sauce made with 1/2 cup green enchilada sauce mixed with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Let the sauce heat through. This is so good. You could also use it in a pork salad like Cafe Rio. I've found you can use the whole can of enchilada sauce and it tastes good and you don't have to waste any of the sauce. (My friend Mitzi's recipe)
Marinated Pork Roast
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons unsulphured molasses
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons dry mustard
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 (4 to 5 pound) pork loin
TO PREPARE:
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all ingredients except pork and shake well. Set aside for about 15 minutes, shaking occasionally to blend flavors. Pour marinade over pork, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Turn pork several times. Remove from refrigerator about an hour before roasting. Place meat fat side up on rack in a greased shallow roasting pan; reserve marinade. Roast in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 3 hours or until meat thermometer registers done. Baste pork with marinade 4 to 5 times while roasting. Marinade forms very dark crust on roast.
I bought a pork tenderloin a little while ago because it was on sale AND saved me $.30 per gallon of gas. I've never cooked one before, so I'd love any good recipes you have.
Also, any creative ideas or tips about cake/cookie decorating? I'll doing an activity with the Beehives in May where they wanted to learn how. I'll post the answers you give!
Recently, after looking over my last month’s income and expenditures I was feeling somewhat helpless. After following advice about saving money by buying energy efficient light bulbs, using energy efficient appliances, driving differently for fuel efficiency, etc., you still may feel your bills are out of your control.You still have a base price + tax on the electricity bill, the promotional period on your internet and phone bill are up this month, it was -20 for the month of January so your gas bill is through the roof, even though you’ve been sleeping in your parka because the thermostat is set to 58 degrees.Am I really in control of my budget?I mean, yeah, we could all choose to leave the lights off when it gets dark, live without phones and internet, stop cooking our food and buy Smart Cars to get to work.Would that really make us feel in control?
To feel in control, you have to know what you are spending.
1. Don’t change anything . . . yet.Just observe your spending habits.Look at your bank account over the past several months.How much do you spend on rent/mortgage, electricity, gas, phone, internet, food/groceries, clothes, child care, charity, pets, etc.?The first of the month, when I pay bills, I look over last month as well.
2. Are you spending less than you are earning?If not, than there’s obviously need for a change.If you are, do you want more money left over?Do you want something to be different?
3. Where can you/do you want to make a change? Focus on your expenditures, forget about your income.Choose to believe (at least at first) that you can make things work on your current income. You may notice that you are living as frugally as you want to in most aspects of your budget – maybe you are related to your landlord so rent is great, maybe you talked the cell phone company down to an almost illegal price when you threatened to go to another company, maybe you have a successfully working carpool to work, and of course you’ve saved thousands by switching your insurance.Wonderful!But, you’re still unhappy with the cushion, or lack thereof, left over at the end of each month.
Have you looked at your food budget?
My husband pointed out to me that I have been feeding our family (my husband, our daughter and me) for around $1 per person per meal.Woohoo!I must be doing something right.Here are some simple rules I follow.
1. Eat at home as a family.Eating out is expensive, especially if it’s done often.Every member of the family eating separate meals can also rack up the bill.
2. Plan ahead.Plan meals a week at a time and a week in advance.Make your grocery list (make sure to use store ads/coupons and do your best to remember everything you need when making a list) accordingly and only go to the store once a week.The more often you go to the store, the more money you’ll spend, especially on things you don’t need.
3. Buy basics/necessities in bulk.Basics may vary between individuals/families.Determine your own basic list and buy those things by the case.
4. It’s better from scratch.If you have the time and the desire, make things from scratch.Frozen or boxed convenience foods are, in comparison, a much more expensive alternative that really doesn’t save you much time. You have to cook the meat and pasta anyway, why not make your own sauce.It takes no extra time, it’s healthier, tastier, and cheaper.Baking takes time, but if you have it you’ll save.A bag of rolls can cost a few dollars but from scratch it would cost around $.50.A bagel you buy from the deli costs at least $.80 – from scratch it’s $.09.Do the math.
5.Make plenty for leftovers.Eating leftovers for lunch is much cheaper than buying lunch at the cafeteria or even buying foods especially for lunch.Putting something in a brown lunch bag doesn’t necessarily make it more economical.
6. Choose less expensive substitutes.Is there really that big of a taste difference between generics and name brands?If there is and you have a strong preference, fine.I’ve noticed most things are “perfect substitutes”, so why not save the money.You can use this in the meat department too – buy frozen instead of fresh, turkey instead of beef.In most cases you’ll notice less difference in taste and big differences in price.
7. Avoid buying snack foods.They’re expensive, unhealthy and don’t contribute to feeding your hunger.They don’t have the nutrients your body is craving, so you end up just as hungry as you were in the beginning.We snack on popcorn (not microwave), cheese and crackers, fruit, peanut butter and celery, and other nutritious foods that are heavier in your stomach than on your pocketbook.
These are obviously meant as guiding principles and not commandments.Even if you use only one, or use them most of the time, you will save money immediately.Life and food were meant to be enjoyed, so there’s room in these principles to do that.At least you’ll know where your money is going.
And a hanging shoe rack.
