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Simple strategies for marking items

After Saturday’s simple tape suggestion, PJ and I have been talking about our favorite tricks for marking items. Here are a handful more tips for identifying items in your home and workspace:

Separate new and used sponges by cutting off corners — straight from the package is good for dishes, one corner missing is good for counters and the table, two corners off and it’s perfect for cleaning spills off the floor.
Reader CatServant recommended in the comments section to Saturday’s post something similar to the sponge method, but for other cleaning supplies: “I put a band of duct tape around the handle of any cleaning object that has been ‘demoted’ to ickier jobs: old toothbrushes now used to scrub the bathroom, old dish brushes now used for scrubbing out plant containers, etc.”
After folding the top and bottom bed sheet and one of the pillow cases, many people will then use the second pillow case as a sack to hold the other three pieces. It makes storage simple, and it’s easy to grab the sack from the linen closet when it’s time to make the bed.
We continue to love Alex’s suggestion of putting removable dots on small kitchen appliances to track which items you use over a six month period, and which ones you don’t. Label all small appliances and then only remove the dots when you use an item. At the end of six months, take to charity any appliance that still has a dot on it.
Reader DG e-mailed recently to suggest using strips of blue painter’s tape to label fabric items. Great for labeling sets of sheets so everyone knows which set works with which bed, great for putting reminders on backpacks, and great for marking clothes to identify which ones you haven’t worn (like the kitchen dot suggestion). Since the painter’s tape can be pulled off the item, stuck to the lip of a shelf, and reused for many months, it’s an extremely low-cost marking system. One roll of tape can last for many years.
If neighbors, co-workers, and/or friends have a tendency to borrow tools and not return them, scratch your initials into the metal with the tip of a screwdriver.
Large families often benefit by using colors for each child — a simple dot on an item’s label made with a brightly colored Sharpie instantly says whose item is whose. Older children should be lighter colors (yellow, orange) so if an item is passed down to a younger child, the dot can easily be colored over with the next child’s color (red, blue).

What simple marking strategies do you use in your home? Share your marking methods in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Oct 11, 2010 | 44 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Design ideas for odd space above kitchen cabinets

Reader Bonnie submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I’m facing a bit of a dilemma. I have about a foot, maybe a foot-and-a-half of space between my kitchen cabinet tops and the ceiling. It’s a space that accumulates dust, dog hair, dead bugs, and who knows what, in addition to the random (unsightly) bits and pieces that get shoved up there when we don’t have space for them elsewhere. Well, I finally cleaned and reorganized my kitchen, but I’m now at a loss for what to do with that space. Because I’m fairly short and that space is a magnet for dust and crud, I don’t want to use it for storage or anything that would involve me having to clean it more than once a year (like fake plants, which I’ve seen in a LOT of places). Do you know of any (hopefully attractive) way to use, decorate, or close off this space? Help!

My friend Scott recently collected more than 600 pairs of jeans to be recycled into insulation for a Habitat for Humanity home, and he used that space above his cabinets to store the first couple hundred pairs he collected. When I saw the pictures of his jeans-clad kitchen, I honestly thought to myself, “That’s the best use of that weird space I’ve ever seen.”

The awkward open space usually exists above kitchen cabinets because the cabinets aren’t custom made for your kitchen. The pre-fabricated cabinets you have don’t consider your room’s ceiling height, and were installed to be convenient to reach (resulting in the gap between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling). The cabinets you have were likely thousands of dollars less expensive than custom cabinets, though, which is why you see this problem so often in homes across the U.S. The gap saved your home’s builder a few grand in building costs.

If money grows on trees on your property and you own your home, I recommend paying to have new cabinets installed. Remodel your kitchen using custom cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling (and get yourself a stylish step stool so you can reach the high storage easily.

If you’re a renter or not swimming in dough (like me!), you’re probably searching for less expensive and less permanent options. Here are some ideas:

Dry wall. If you own your place, consider creating a false bolster. Install the dry wall, mud it, sand it, paint it, and make it look like your cabinets simply go as far up the wall as they can.
Glass blocks. If you rent, stack glass blocks to create a false wall up there. You won’t have to dust or clean the space behind the glass blocks until you move out, and you can easily clean the blocks once a year with window cleaner.
Other building materials. If glass blocks don’t match your kitchen’s decor, find another building material that does and install it instead. Bead board, fake bricks, and wood paneling come to mind as options — just be sure to attach a small wood strip to your ceiling so the new wall material has something to attach to for warping prevention.
Nothing. Just resolve that crud is going to collect up there all year, and clean it off every spring. As long as you’re not storing anything up there, you don’t have to worry so much about whatever is collecting. Find a way to be at peace with this space.

Check the comments for even more ideas from our readers. I wish you luck on your home-improvement journey, and be sure to e-mail me with before and after pictures so I can see what you decided to do. Thank you, Bonnie, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Oct 8, 2010 | 75 Comments | Tweet This

Binder clip hack for your wire shelving

Making the rounds on Reddit this week was a great refrigerator hack by Muteboy on Flickr:

Muteboy, a.k.a. Matthew Petty, created an adjustable beverage rack in his refrigerator with a simple binder clip. The clip can be moved to the left for more beverage storage, or to the right for less. It’s a great idea for those of you with wire shelves in your refrigerator.

Since I have glass shelves throughout my refrigerator and freezer, this particular hack won’t work for me. However, it works great in my office closet where I have two rows of these types of wire shelves in my elfa system. I have already put it to use for corralling four poster tubes. It could work wonderfully for wrapping paper and wine bottles, as well.

Oh, and speaking of elfa, the Container Store is currently holding its 25% off shelving sale. Now is a good time to buy if you’ve been wanting a shelving or closet makeover.

Posted by Erin on Sep 25, 2010 | 14 Comments | Tweet This

Simplifying packed lunches

Reader Jon wrote to us asking if we had any tips for preparing lunches at home that he can take to eat at work. He has been spending $100 a week on eating out at restaurants, and is hoping to become someone who brings his lunches to work. Since students are already back in the classroom in many states, and other students are getting ready to go, I thought now would be a great time to discuss the humble brown bag lunch.

Storage Materials:
You don’t need anything fancy, but I recommend items that are at least reusable (especially if you want to save money). You can use Lunch Skins for dry items, Rubbermaid’s plastic Easy-Find Lid containers (they’re BPA free) for foods that could spill or leak, New Wave’s Stainless Steel food containers, or Kinetic’s Glass Lock containers. You might want a thermos to hold a drink, and you’ll want a tote or box to contain it all. I’m a huge fan of bento jars and boxes, and if I carried my lunch to work, I would strongly consider getting the Zojirushi Bento Lunch Jar (the inserts are also BPA free):

Food and Preparation:
Taking your lunch to work or school doesn’t mean you have to eat peanut butter and jelly every day. The best tip I have about making lunches is to prepare them while you’re making dinner the previous night. For example, if you’re grilling hamburgers for dinner, pull aside half a cup of hamburger to cook and season for taco meat. A couple tortillas, cheese, and the meat make a great entree the next day at lunch that keeps your attention and isn’t exactly what you had for dinner.

Making both dinner and lunch increases your time in the kitchen a little, but the money you save is definitely worth it. Plus, you only have to clean the kitchen once, and you’re more likely to pack healthier lunches than you would buy if you ate out at a restaurant. If you’re making lunches for kids, enlist them to help you pack up their meals.

I wish I knew of a great cookbook to recommend for lunch ideas, but I’m completely clueless in this area. Hopefully there will be some recommendations in the comments for ways to find even more exciting meal ideas. Also, if you’re someone who brings his lunch to work every day or makes lunches for your children, add helpful tips you’ve picked up along the way to the comments. Good luck to Jon and to all parents embarking on a school-year full of lunch making.

Posted by Erin on Aug 19, 2010 | 58 Comments | Tweet This

Nest 8 saves space in the kitchen

Joseph Joseph’s Nest 8 collection of nesting kitchen items is a fantastic way to save space in your cupboards:

The Nest 8 collection includes four measuring cups (sizes 1-, 1/2-, 1/3-, and 1/4-cup), a sieve, a colander, a small mixing bowl, and a large mixing bowl.

They also make a nice, lay-flat colander:

We’ve written about the Joseph Joseph cheese grater before, and it seems that the new items in their line continue to be space-saving solutions. Thanks to reader Cindy for tipping us off to these uncluttered kitchen options.

Posted by Erin on Jul 28, 2010 | 14 Comments | Tweet This

Uncluttered admiration: Deglon’s Meeting Knife Set

The Deglon knife company in France and Belgian designer Mia Schmallenbach have brought to market one of the coolest and uncluttered kitchen products I’ve ever seen:

Deglon’s “Meeting Knife Set” is outrageously expensive (more than $1,000 for the metal base and more than $500 for the wood base), so I’m not recommending anyone run out and buy them. Rather, just take a moment to admire their nesting and organized beauty.

Le sigh.

Posted by Erin on Jul 26, 2010 | 20 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Getting rid of knives

Reader Sarah submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

The consolidation of knives between my boyfriend and I has some undesirables. I would like to get rid of them but am not sure how. Also, what is the best way to transport? Thanks so much.

You have a few options when getting rid of knives. (And, since you said the knives were “undesirables,” I’m assuming you mean they are not in good enough condition to be used safely by anyone.)

First, check your local phone book or Google to see if there is a professional knife sharpener or repairer in your area. These people will often take old knives because they can re-purpose them in their work or repair and sell them. They might also have additional ideas for you.

If you have some time, a second option is to learn what type of blade you have and sell its metal for scrap. Most kitchen knife blades are made of iron, steel, or a mixture of metals and carbon. (Some newer knives are made of titanium, but I doubt you’re interested in getting rid of any of those.) A scrap metal shop might take your knives regardless of the specific type of metal its blade includes. You’re not likely to get much money for the blade, but you can be assured that if a scrap metal shop buys it that it will be recycled in some way.

Finally, if you live in an area without these services, my knife skills class instructor recommended that you wrap it in butcher paper, then bubble wrap, and tape it up in an appropriately sized cardboard box. After you’ve made a package of the knife, simply toss it into the trash. The package will keep the knife from inadvertently injuring someone during transportation to the dump. If you need to carry knives to a knife sharpener or scrap metal shop, you can use a similar treatment.

Thank you, Sarah, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Also, be sure to check out the comments to learn of other ways our readers have disposed of knives in the past.

Posted by Erin on Jul 16, 2010 | 29 Comments | Tweet This

Streamlining your morning routines

To know me is to know my love of coffee. My entire morning routine is structured around brewing the perfect cup and drinking it before the busy-ness of the day begins. Hanging on the bulletin board above my computer screen is my mantra: “When in doubt, drink more coffee.”

I’m not really addicted to caffeine, I’m more addicted to the routine of crafting an ideal cup of joe. If there were a caffeine-free drink I savored more, I would be consumed with making it. However, except for a glass of whole milk minutes after coming out of the cow or a Batida from Ceiba restaurant in downtown, D.C., there aren’t any other drinks that capture my attention so strongly.

Why am I telling you all of this? First, it’s a way for me to talk about another of my passions. Second, and this is more applicable to you, I want to share with you my strategies for organizing morning routines.

When we wake up after a night’s sleep (or day’s sleep if you work the night shift), we go through the same steps every time. For most of us, these steps include showering, getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, drinking coffee, and possibly helping a small human go through similar steps. Your routine might vary a little bit, but for the majority of days you do the same things over and over and over again.

How many of the things you use during your morning routine, though, aren’t convenient to access? Are your breakfast items strewn in multiple cabinets across the kitchen, bathroom supplies in five different drawers and cabinets, and clothing kept in three different places across a bedroom?

Think about all of the things you access each and every morning, and reorganize these things to better meet your needs and make your routines more efficient. For example, if your family eats breakfast cereal, put all of your cereal boxes into a basket so that putting the boxes on the table each morning is one simple movement. If you have a shaving routine, store all of your supplies in one container that you can pull out of the drawer, set on the counter, and then return to the drawer all at once. In your bedroom, consider arranging your furniture so that your dresser is next to your closet. Store all of your coffee-making supplies together with your coffee cups, above or next to where you prepare your coffee.

Keep the things you use together, in containers that you can pull out and use in the most convenient location, and store them in the easiest place to access.

It’s also a good idea to time yourself to see how long it actually takes you to get ready in the morning. Many of us are under the delusion that we’re faster at getting ready for the day than we actually are — especially families with children. If you have difficulty getting out the door in the morning, I recommend that parents get completely ready before children (especially young children) wake up and always padding your get-ready time by 15 minutes.

The more streamlined your morning routine, the more likely you are to have a smooth, stress-free morning. And, the more time you’ll have to enjoy that beautiful, rich, amazing cup of coffee.

Posted by Erin on Jun 14, 2010 | 35 Comments | Tweet This

Organizing your home and family with notebooks

On Friday, I wrote about creating an information notebook for every person in your family. Notebooks are great because they keep all of your important papers in one place and they are easily portable. In our home, we have a recipe notebook, appliance notebook (instruction manuals, purchase receipts, maintenance and repair receipts, and warranty information), and important information notebooks for all four of us (our cat even has one).

We store these notebooks in a place where we can find them quickly, easily spot if someone hasn’t returned the notebook to its shelf after use, but in an area that has minimal guest traffic. Our personal notebooks are valuable to us and we would be devastated if we lost them, so most of the information in them has also been scanned and then the files backed up online.

The appliance notebook lives with our house — we got it from the previous owner, who got it from the previous owner, who got it from the couple who first owned our home — and we plan to pass it along to the next resident whenever we move. We know what company and what person at that company has worked on our house and its appliances since it was built, and the second owner of the house even commented on every repair and if he felt the repair person did a good job.

As we’ve mentioned before, all you need to do to build a notebook is get a three-ring binder, a pack of sheet protectors, and you’re ready to go. If you want a more elaborate notebook, you can use tab dividers to separate types of documents, and a zipper pocket at the front of the notebook to hold sticky notes, pens, pencils, maybe scissors and a highlighter, and paper clips. The hardest part of the project is remembering to take out information as it becomes irrelevant. Otherwise, notebooks are a breeze to use.

We don’t currently use a system like this for our car, but I would think it would be simple to create one and use it. It’s uncomfortable to think about, but an emergency notebook that each person in the family creates in case of death or serious injury could be very helpful. Also, a notebook for chores and instructions and images explaining how to do those chores could be beneficial for families with young children just starting to help out around the house.

Do you use notebooks to keep your home and family organized? Tell us about the notebooks you have created and how you use them in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Jun 14, 2010 | 49 Comments | Tweet This

Organizing your refrigerator

Refrigerators, especially in the homes of active families, can be difficult to keep organized and free of expired foods. We’ve talked in the past about using a meal plan to help food move through your refrigerator before it rots. However, using a meal plan doesn’t necessarily keep a refrigerator from looking like it was hit by a very small tornado when its door was closed.

Like any storage space in your home, organizing your refrigerator to meet your needs can save you time and money over the long term. Here are some organizing helpers for inspiration:

If you or your family regularly consumes drinks from cans, you might benefit from a beverage dispenser or a can organizer.
Instead of cans, if you store a lot of bottles, you might need a bottle stacker.
Stackable, removable shelves are helpful for adding surface space in refrigerators and freezers.
And, shelf liners can keep foods from rolling to the back of a shelf and being forgotten. Shelf liners are also nice because they make cleaning shelves easy.

When putting food into your refrigerator, make sure that you’re storing food in its recommended location and cleaning the shelves and door seals regularly as recommended by your refrigerator’s manufacturer. If you’re not familiar with the different temperature zones in your refrigerator, use a thermometer to find out the variances within your unit. You might be surprised to find that there are multiple variances even on a single shelf (the back of our shelves are three degrees cooler than the fronts). Be sure to follow the FDA recommendation and keep your refrigerator set at 40F degrees or below on all shelves to prevent listeria and other food-borne pathogens. Also, check out StillTasty.com if you have any questions about the shelf-life of the food you’re storing.

Posted by Erin on Jun 2, 2010 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Solving the mug clutter problem

In my grandmother’s farmhouse, at the center of the kitchen table, stood a mug tree. From the branches of the mug tree hung four coffee cups in varying shapes and sizes. Whenever her friends or family members would visit, they would have a seat at the table, grab themselves a mug, and my grandmother would pour them a warm cup of coffee.

If you have the kind of life where people drop in on a daily basis for coffee and a chat, I like the idea of a mug tree. A mug tree keeps cumbersome mugs out of the cupboard and is an inviting element in a kitchen. Unfortunately, I live in an area where people write each other e-mails, survey their calendars, and schedule appointments to meet at coffee shops instead of stopping by each other’s homes on a whim. A mug tree in my house would have two cups on it used each morning by my husband and me, and two mugs that would simply collect dust.

As a result, I use a shelf in the kitchen cupboard to store coffee mugs. And, if you do the same thing, you know that coffee mugs and tea cups take up a lot of shelf space. Even if you use an under-shelf storage system for mugs, they still get in the way.

I recently went searching for stacking mugs, in an attempt to reclaim some of our kitchen shelf space and found these from Heath Ceramics:

I’ve ordered a handful to replace the chipped and faded ones in our cupboard. We’ll see if they help save space and keep the cupboards organized.

What do you do to keep mugs from overwhelming your cupboards? How do you organize your coffee cups? What is the “right” number of mugs for your home? And, when was the last time you checked on your mug population to make sure it wasn’t getting out of control?

Posted by Erin on May 27, 2010 | 70 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Storing spices

Reader G. submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I was wondering what you thought of spice racks? I was thinking of purchasing one, but I see a lot of of options and some seem bulky, expensive and unappealing. I am a recent college graduate with a small kitchen in a one bedroom apartment, I’m struggling with space in my kitchen. I may need a kitchen cart and other things too.

I’m not the biggest fan of traditional spice racks. Mostly, I dislike them because they encourage purchasing less-than-stellar spices, take up an unnecessary amount of space, and they encourage storing spices you don’t actually use. Also, spices should be stored in a dark, dry location and many spice racks are made to be out on a counter where the spices will quickly lose their flavor.

I encourage you to simply attach two metal strips to the inside of your pantry door or a kitchen cabinet door. Then, as you purchase good spices from a gourmet grocer or an online store like Penzeys Spices, just stick adhesive magnet tape to the back of the tins so they’ll stick to the strip. Detailed instructions can be found on Instructables.

Alton Brown uses velcro strips, which is just as wonderful as magnetic strips and perfect for renters.

If you own spices already, check out “The shelf life of spices” to make sure your spices haven’t lost their flavor. And, don’t forget to label your spices if you put them in tins so you don’t add marjoram instead of oregano to a dish.

Thank you, G., for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Be sure to check out the comments where our readers will add even more answers to your question.

Posted by Erin on May 21, 2010 | 37 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Food storage containers

Reader Carla submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

After too many episodes of struggling to find a top to match a Tupperware in my mother’s kitchen I’ve decided to buy her a new set of food storage containers. Can you recommend the best type of food storage containers? The requirements I’d like to fulfil are:

a few different size containers all with the same interchangeable lids

stackable

high quality

I seems to be difficult to find all of these qualities in one product. Do you have any recommendations?

Food storage containers, until recently, were some of the most ridiculously designed items for the kitchen. Additionally, they easily stained, warped, and lost their lids like socks lose their mates in a dryer. Research now shows that some were even made of plastics that leeched chemicals into the food — yummy!

Thankfully, food storage containers have advanced quite a bit in recent years. Today, if I were replacing my food storage containers, I would buy Rubbermaid’s Easy Find Lid Containers. They’re BPA free, the lids all snap together and to the bottoms of the containers so you don’t have a giant mess in the cabinets, and many of the lids can be used for different-size bases. Plus, $11 for 24 pieces won’t be too painful on your pocketbook.

I know that not everyone loves plastic storage, but based on your qualifications it’s pretty much the only option available to you. There aren’t any glass or stainless steel brands right now that have interchangeable lids (at least not that I have found). Also, they’re not usually stackable. If any of our readers know of a brand of glass or stainless steel food storage containers that hasn’t yet made it onto my radar, please share that information in the comments.

Thank you, Carla, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column, and good luck taming the kitchen clutter!

Posted by Erin on Mar 5, 2010 | 46 Comments | Tweet This

Three uncluttering activities you can complete in five minutes or less

Do you have five minutes? If so, try one (or more) of these quick uncluttering tasks:

Check the expiration dates on all the food in your refrigerator and freezer. Is anything past its prime? Has something been lingering for longer than it should? Check out StillTasty.com and/or call the manufacturer’s customer service line if you have any questions about a food stuff’s safety. Toss any food that could potentially poison you and your family.
Help your child to gather all the tiny parts of his toys that often get lost or fall to the bottom of their toy chests. Once you have the items collected, use zip-top bags to store these itty bitty pieces. Put doll shoes in one bag and single Lego Blocks in another. Label the bags with a permanent marker and store all the zip-top bags in a basket or bin.
Walk through your living or working space and return as many out-of-place objects as you can to their proper storage place. Set a timer and get moving. Any items that don’t belong or lack a permanent home, decide if you can get rid of them (trash, recycle, donate) or if you need to make room in your home and/or office for the object. When the timer sounds at the end of five minutes, return to your regular activities.

Were you surprised by how much you were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time? What uncluttering tasks do you tackle in five minutes? Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Feb 18, 2010 | 30 Comments | Tweet This

Save cabinet space with stackable stemware

Stemware always takes up far too much space in kitchen cabinets. Even trendy stemless wine glasses can only reduce the shelf height requirement, leaving a full footprint occupied by each glass.

That’s why we were elated to come across these inexpensive and stackable Eddy glasses from Crate & Barrel. They’re only $2.95 each.

Cheers.

Posted by PJ on Jan 25, 2010 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Ice Box Art

It isn’t often that I get Christmas gifts that reduce clutter, but this year my mom gave my family a gift that will help keep our kids’ artwork under control, and since I’d read some questions in the forums on the topic, I wanted to share the idea with you.

The first part of the gift is a simple acrylic sign holder with magnetic tape on the back. There are many ways that you can decorate this, or if your kids are a little older, have them decorate it themselves. Maybe create a decorative border, or include the child’s name. This gives them their own special place on the fridge, which is especially important if you have more than one child, and also helps you teach PEEP (a Place for Everything, Everything in its Place).

The other part of the gift is an album to be used when artwork comes off of the fridge. The album can include pages that hold the actual artwork, or just photographs of the artwork if your kids are very productive and you need to fit more in the album.

My son isn’t even one year old yet, but I can’t wait to start displaying his artwork on the fridge with this uncluttered and fun system!

Posted by Brian on Jan 18, 2010 | 10 Comments | Tweet This

Can a waffle iron make more than waffles?

Back in 2007, the stand-alone waffle maker was listed as one of our first Unitasker Wednesday features. To put it mildly, there was significant “disagreement” from readers with our decision to list it.

I’ve always been of the opinion that a grill with multiple removable plates, of which one is a waffle maker, is the better way to go if you really enjoy making waffles at home. Instead of storing five separate appliances, you store one appliance and five sets of plates that take up significantly less space. We’ve even run a great tip from a reader explaining how to store the plates in an organized manner.

For the first time ever, though, I have come to doubt our Unitasker designation for the waffle maker after learning about the fun new website: Waffleizer.com.

This new website has already featured recipes for hamburgers, bread pudding (pictured), and hash browns. It is a blog dedicated to “alternative recipes for your waffle iron.” The blog promises to post 30 non-traditional uses for a waffle maker, and a month of recipes would certainly turn a Unitasker into a multi-tasker. I’m eager to see the next 27 recipes, and I hope that if you have a stand-alone waffle maker in your cupboard that you consider giving these alternative recipes a try. Bring out that Unitasker and see if it can really make more than Saturday morning breakfast.

(Thanks to Serious Eats for introducing us to this new site. Bread pudding image from Waffleizer.com)

Posted by Erin on Jan 12, 2010 | 23 Comments | Tweet This

A simple Thanksgiving solution

Thanks to Asha at Parent Hacks, I have stumbled upon a simple living suggestion that I will use this Thanksgiving.

Until yesterday, I had no idea that chalk wrote easily on matte-finish oilcloth. The concept is so basic, yet its implications have my head spinning. I’m no longer trying to think of ways to decorate my Thanksgiving table, entertain the kids during mealtime, or am worried about a centerpiece — I have my solution:

Simply buy enough solid-color, matte-finish oilcloth to use as a tablecloth for your dining table. With either regular chalk or chalk pens, write guest names next to their plates. This replaces any need for place setting holders.

Additionally, you can write menu ingredients next to platters, draw seasonal designs down the center of the table, and give young guests chalk pens to play tic-tac-toe and draw pictures with during the meal.

Matte-finish oilcloth is extremely inexpensive (less than $10 a yard most places) and wipes clean with a damp cloth. And, you can redecorate and reuse it again and again. A piece of solid white oilcloth with colored chalk can make it perfect for everyday use — especially in homes with young kids. Just be sure to cure the oilcloth first.

I love simple solutions.

(Anyone know if this works on just regular, glossy-finish oilcloth? If so, the price per yard is significantly less expensive. Image from Yum Sugar.)

Posted by Erin on Nov 19, 2009 | 12 Comments | Tweet This

Cooking and freezing: Ideas for getting past mealtime stress

Since our son surprisingly joined our family two months ago, my husband and I have had weird eating routines. Gone were the days of sitting down and eating a well-balanced meal at the table, and in were sandwiches gobbled over the sink in a groggy, sleep-deprived daze. I don’t like hastily prepared meals that lack major nutritional food groups, so I called my mom and asked her to help me get things back on track.

This past weekend, my mom and I prepared, cooked, and froze about a month’s worth of meals. Beef stew, burritos, pre-mixed ingredients for homemade bread, and dozens of other options now line the shelves of our refrigerator and freezer. It’s nice to once again be working from a meal plan and not feel overwhelmed by the simple act of getting dinner on the table.

I’ve found that extending a formal invitation to a friend or family member to help with an aspect of my life where I need to be better organized can be the motivation I need to get things done. I actually did most of the cooking this weekend while my mom played with her grandson and kept me company. Simply having a set time on the schedule and someone with me meant that I didn’t put off this chore and stayed focused on it. In addition to meal preparations, this idea also works great for closet uncluttering, paper filing, and cleaning out the garage.

If you’ve never worked from a meal plan or used a freezer to help with meal planning, I recommend you read these articles and give these methods a try — especially if you feel stressed out by the question “what’s for dinner?”

Also, last week, the Lifehacker blog ran a wonderful article called “10 Simple Freezer Tricks to Save You Time and Money” that can get you moving in the same direction.

How do you keep from feeling overwhelmed at mealtime? Give us your tips in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Oct 26, 2009 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Space-saving cheese grater

Since I only have two drawers in my kitchen, I’m constantly on the lookout for space-saving versions of the tools I use. I have a collapsible colander and try to use knives instead of small, specific gadgets.

A reader (whose e-mail I unfortunately prematurely deleted, so I can’t give proper attribution) sent us a link to this wonderful collapsible cheese grater that is now at the top of my wish list:

The Joseph Joseph brand cheese grater folds flat for storage and up for use. It’s sturdy and comes in a handful of colors. It’s great for small-space living.

I’m really looking forward to getting rid of the giant cheese grater I have now.

Posted by Erin on Oct 22, 2009 | 18 Comments | Tweet This

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