Cleaning out the Pantry

Decided to clean out the pantry, but not sure when to toss certain items? Here are some guidelines for a few pantry staples:

Mayonnaise, if it’s sealed, it will last indefinitely, but the color and flavor of an opened jar in the refrigerator will be affected in about three months.

Maple syrup will last about a year.

Honey never expires.

Toss a refrigerated bottle of salad dressing after nine months.

Olive oil is good up to two years from the manufactured date.

Tobasco sauce will last five years if stored in a cool, dry place.

An opened bottle of soy sauce should be tossed after three months.

Healthy Snacks Made Easy

When arriving home from the grocery store or farmer’s market, take a few minutes to wash and prepare fruits and vegetables. Cut watermelon and cantaloupe into bite pieces and store in the refrigerator. Cut celery and carrots into snack size and place in zip type bags. If the healthy foods are already prepared, grabbing them instead of prepackaged foods is easier.

Two Quick Organizing Tips

Another Use for a Favorite Gadget - The Timer. Set the timer for 15 minutes and close your eyes until the timer goes off. You will feel revived and function better the rest of the day. If at work, you can do this during your lunch period or afternoon break time.

Refrigerator Have a Bad Smell? Add a teaspoon of lemon or vanilla extract to a solution of mild soap and water and wipe down the insides of the unit.

My sister is doing a major re-organizing of her house. I wish I lived close by so I could help, but she is doing great on her own! She is blogging about her progress. I was posting a comment about her progress and giving "just a few little suggestions" so I thought I better stop and do it here on MY blog!

Here is what I wrote to her:

The kitchen is always the slowest to organize. One reason is because we accumlate so many things in the kitchen we really don't need. (Remember Steve's FIVE whisks?) My sister knew this story, but of course you don't... When my husband and I got married, he had five whisks in his kitchen. He hardly, if ever, cooks! Why in the world did he need five whisks?

Another reason is because it is the heart of our homes...it get used a lot for lots of reasons so it tends to get accumulate lots of clutter. Make the kitchen about cooking and preparing meals. Move your paperwork, your desk, your business (yes, I know someone that keeps their business inventory in the kitchen) to another part of the house, if at all possible.

One way to think about the kitchen when organizing it is to create boundaries by making the stuff fit the kitchen storage space instead of trying to make the storage space fit the stuff. For example, if you only have room in your utensil drawer for two spatulas, get rid of the other 10 instead of trying to cram them in the space.

Use drawer dividers and storage containers to create a "home" for the items in your kitchen. Look back at one of the earliest posts on this blog and you'll see some pictures of what I mean.

Getting Organized for Weight Management

I released 42 pounds in five months and have kept it off for over a year now. People still ask me how I did it, so I wanted to give you some tips on organizing your weight management.
1. Change your thinking. Instead of thinking about losing weight, think about releasing weight. Losing something implies that it is only misplaced and will eventually be found. But, when you release something, you let it go.
2. Organize your kitchen. Clean out the cabinets and the fridge. Get rid of the stash of candy, the sugary cereal, the refined foods, the high fat cheese, the cookies, the crackers, etc. If it is not there, you can’t eat it. An example of this for me is crackers. I love crackers…any kind of crackers. I can’t eat just a few. I don’t stop until I have eaten half the box. So, I just don’t buy crackers….problem solved.
3. Stock the pantry. Stock the pantry with whole grain pastas (spelt pasta or brown rice pasta are my favorites and the closest in taste to the refined kind we all grew up on). Stock up on dried or canned beans and fruit (choose fruits without sugar) for those times when you are too rushed or tired to cook. Stock up on some healthy snacks for those times you just have to have an extra snack. I keep light popcorn, various soups and Cheerios on hand for those occasions.
4. Plan your meals. Leaving your meals to chance helped contribute to the extra pounds. Plan ahead, do your grocery shopping, and cook ahead on the weekend, if you don’t have time to cook during the week. For example, I have been very busy this week, so I made a big pot of brown rice spaghetti, a healthy spaghetti sauce, a turkey breast in the crockpot and cut up a big container of salad. We have had plenty to eat all week without cooking. (I’m heating up a plate of that spaghetti as soon as I finish this article!)
5. Schedule your weight releasing activities. Whether it be a book to read about weight release, a tape to listen to, seeing a therapist about emotional eating, or especially exercise, schedule those activities into your day. Make them a priority and don’t skip!
6. Quit making excuses. Cut out the excuses for your weight woes. You know the ones I am talking about…
“I don’t have time to exercise every day!”
“I am too busy to cook and plan my meals.”
“My mother made me clean my plate so it is her fault.”
“I have to keep refined foods in the house for my spouse and/or children.”
“My parents were overweight so my problem is genetics.”
You have a choice as to what you eat and how much you exercise. Excuses don’t accomplish getting rid of your household/office clutter or getting rid of your body clutter. Eating healthy and exercise do. That is how I accomplished it and so can you.

Freezer Dos and Don'ts

Freezer Dos

Label items before adding to the freezer. Saves time trying to guess later.

Squeeze excess air from freezer bags before sealing.

Store similar foods together.

Freeze foods in individual portions. You can thaw only what you need and
thawing time is shortened.

Freezer Don’ts

Don’t choose containers that are too large for the food.

Don’t take up freezer space with your baking dishes. Line dishes with foil before assembling a casserole. Wrap and freeze the finished casserole and then lift from the dish and store in a resealable freezer bag.

Don’t fill containers to the brim when freezing soups, stews and sauces. Leave one inch of space to allow for expansion during freezing.

Kitchen Organization

As a professional organizer, a question people ask me frequently is "Where do I start organizing?" My reply is the kitchen. We all have to eat and in most families, the kitchen is the family gathering spot.

• First, define your goals for the kitchen. Do you want to have family meals around the table? Are you trying to cut food expenses? Do you want to eat healthy? As with any goal...write them down.
• Look for ways the kitchen can support your goals. Does the fridge need to be cleaned out to make room for healthy food choices? Does the kitchen or dining room table need to be cleared of clutter so you can sit down together as a family? Does the cabinets need to be cleaned and arranged to use the oldest food so as not to waste?
• Clear the counter tops. Food prep is so much easier when you have the room to do the preparation. You will save money and time by clearing the counters.
• Tools? If your knives are dull, have them professionally sharpened or replaced. Having too many gadgets clutters a kitchen. How many spatulas, wooden spoons, can openers or whisks do you really need? Do you use the egg slicer, the cheese slicer, the garlic press, the blender, the juicer and the crockpot that the liner isn't removable? If the answer is no, then purge your kitchen of unnecessary items.
• Get rid of chipped mugs and dishes and those plastic containers that are stained, have writing on them (like old Cool Whip containers) and no longer have lids.

12 Things You Can Do While Talking on the Phone at Home

1. Polish your toes

2. Wrap a gift

3. Organize a shelf or cabinet

4. Set the table

5. Clear the table

6. Fold laundry

7. Clean our the fridge

8. Load the dishwasher

9. Empty the dishwasher

10. Clean out the junk drawer

11. Feed the dog

12. Organize coupons

Plastic Shopping Bags are like Bunnies

Plastic shopping bags are like bunnies...they multiply. Decide how many bags you need to keep and contain them. (I suggest no more than 10.)









Contain them in a wall unit or under cabinet dispenser.



Here are some uses to recycle and use those bags:

• Carry dirty gym clothes or wet clothing


• pet waste container (at the park or on walks)


• small trash can liners


• extra odor protection for diapers in garbage


• give to the local farmers market to use for bagging produce


• ask if your library takes them for patrons' use


• keep a couple in the car for trash and wet umbrellas


• use for shoes in your suitcase


• take a few in your suitcase for soiled laundry

7 Tips for Meal Planning

I attended a ladies brunch at my church last Saturday. During a question and answer session after the two speakers, the topic was brought up about meal planning and what to do for those days when you don't have time to think about dinner plans, much less actually cook! Our pastor's wife asked that we send her tips for meal planning, which she is going to compile to share with our members. I wanted to share with you what I shared with the church ladies.

Tip 1. My mom would be the first to tell you she is not a cook. However, she had three tried and true meals that she could make well and fell back on (a lot.)

1. Baked chicken
Baked potatoes
Baked beans
Brown & Serve rolls

Bake the first three for one hour, add the rolls and serve it all after the rolls are golden.

2. Baked Ham
Baked potatoes
Baked beans
Brown & Serve rolls

Bake the first three for one hour, add the rolls and serve it all after the rolls are golden.

3. Spaghetti
Salad
Brown & Serve rolls with butter and garlic on top

So…the tip here is: Have a couple of tried and true recipes that are quick and easy. Always keep the ingredients for those meals on hand and you’ll be ready for whatever life hurls at you that day.

Tip 2. Crockpot cooking. Defrost and even put the ingredients in the crock the night before and refrigerate. Pop the crock into the pot in the morning, turn it on and forget about it until time to serve.

Tip 3. Cook ahead and freeze for those days. Foods that freeze well: Pasta sauces, most casseroles, baked ziti, lasagna, red beans & rice, soups, stews. The nice thing about most of these type dishes…they cook well in the crockpot so combine Tips 2 and 3 for really streamlining your cooking!

Tip 4. Meal planning is very important. Why? Because if you don’t plan what you are going to prepare, then how do you know if you have all the ingredients on hand? I don’t mean a diehard list that you must have chicken, rice & broccoli for dinner on Monday, May 12th, but just jot down some menus. Then buy the items you need to make all the items on the list. Then on Sunday night, May 11th, you just choose from the list what you want to fix on May 12th. Another reason meal planning is important is to take advantage of the grocery store specials and seasonal specialty items. We can all use some help trimming our food budget these days. Shopping and then using the on-special items really does save.

Tip 5. Plan ahead. Look at your calendar for what is coming up during the week. If you have a late meeting or a sports event on Tuesday night, then you will know and can plan a crockpot meal, or soup/sandwiches or pizza out that night. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide on what to fix. A little planning ahead relieves a lot of stress.

Tip 6. Sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter that has a new recipe plus other tips and information in it every week. The recipes are tested, nutritious and are geared for people with busy lives. You can sign up on the home page of the No More Chaos website at http://www.nomorechaos.biz/

Tip 7. Cooking and meal planning is much easier in an organized kitchen. Check out articles on my website, http://www.nomorechaos.biz/ for kitchen organizing articles such as, Clutter Free Kitchen Counters, What’s for Dinner, Parts 1 and 2 (about meal planning) and Cleaning out the Pantry. Once on the website, click on Article Archives to find these articles and lots more.

New Organizing Product Review - Rubbermaid Pan Stacker

There are several sites that I frequently check out for new organizing gadgets and storage ideas with Rubbermaid being one of them. Rubbermaid has a new kitchen cabinet storage idea called a Pan Stacker. I love it!

The Pan Stacker has room for 5 pans and/or lids. Think of the space this frees up in your pots and pans storage cabinet!

The problem is...I can't find a Pan Stacker to buy. The Rubbermaid website states the Pan Stacker is not for sale on its website. I contacted the Rubbermaid Company about where to purchase the Pan Stacker. They did email me back and said to try Target. My local Target is not carrying the Pan Stacker nor did I find it at Target online. Rubbermaid also said to try the Everything Rubbermaid online store. I did, but they aren't carrying the Pan Stacker either.

So...I have written Rubbermaid again and told them that I would love to purchase a Pan Stacker for my personal use and would like to recommend the Pan Stacker to my clients, but can't if I can't find it. I'll let you know if I get any more response from Rubbermaid.

7 Tips for Organizing the Kitchen

I recently taught a workshop about Meal Planning and Organizing the Kitchen. Here are some of the tips for organizing the kitchen I shared with the workshop participants:

1. Start with surface clutter. Surface clutter is stuff on the countertops, stuff on top of the fridge, stuff on the table and chairs that belongs in the cabinets or even in another room.

2. Clean off the fridge. Get rid of the cutesy little magnets and pieces of paper on the fridge. Your kitchen will look instantly less cluttered.

3. Take baby steps. Start in one corner of the kitchen and work your way around the room. Organize one cabinet or one drawer at a time.

4. Containerize. Airtight containers keep food fresher longer and makes it easier to see what food you have and what you need.

5. Eliminate seldom used gadgets and small appliances. Consider how much room these items take. Ask yourself how often you use them.

6. Purge your cookbooks. Chances are, most of your cookbooks only have a few recipes you really want to keep. Pare down the cookbook collection by donating or giving away those cookbooks. Copy out only the recipes you will use.

7. Make your stuff fit your space. Beware of warehouse shopping. Do you have room for a case of ketchup or 20 rolls of paper towels? Put like items together. Consider creating a pantry if you don't have one. What about making a pantry in a corner of the garage or basement or in a under-used hall or linen closet by adding sturdy shelving.