May 15, 2008
The Monthly Organizer
June 2008
Monthly Motivation
I am very excited this month to announce the launch of The Expert Organizer Community.Since creating Tips to Organize Life back in April 2006, I have been receiving the most wonderful emails from visitors. Often, these emails are sent to ask me a specific question about an organization challenge that a visitor is facing. I am always flattered to receive these emails and I am happy to help. Some of the questions that I have been asked have been incredibly thought provoking and I have often thought how wonderful it would be to be able to share those questions and my answers with all of my visitors so everybody can benefit from them. Well that time has come!
It has always been my hope that Tips to Organize Life will provide you with the information you need to get your life organized, but The Expert Organizer Community gives us all a place to come together as a community and help each other.
- Ask a specific question that you need an answer to.
- Read my answers.
- Submit your own answers.
At The Expert Organizer Community we are all considered organization experts! All you need is the solution to somebody else's problem. Come join The Expert Organizer Community today! Let's all motivate each other to get organized. I hope to see you all there.
Monthly Organization Tip
Do you ever feel that you are fighting a losing battle when it comes to organizing your home? Do you ever feel that you are the only one trying? Well, I have the perfect solution for you: Just DEAL. Let me explain...Delegate: Part of being a good manager is the ability to know when to delegate a task. Being the manager of your household is no different. If something can or should be done by somebody else, delegate the task. There is no reason for you to be the only one working to get organized.
Eliminate: Sometimes we can unknowingly waste a lot of time on unnecessary tasks. For instance, I was making my son's bed after having stripped it and washed the sheets. As I was tucking in the top sheet I began to think about the difficulties my son has fixing that top sheet when I ask him to make his bed each morning. I also thought about how he never stays covered with that top sheet since I find it wadded in a ball at the foot of his bed every morning. Solution? I ripped the top sheet right off his bed, folded it and put it away. Now, with only his comforter to deal with, making his bed is a snap for him and he doesn't have to ask me to come and help him with that darned sheet. Over the next few days think about each and every task that you do. Can you make it easier somehow? What unnecessary tasks can you eliminate from your life?
Alleviate. I always say, the more stuff you have the more stuff you have to put away. Alleviate yourself of your extra stuff. Declutter your home and declutter your life. By limiting the amount of stuff you have you are in complete control of how much time you will spend cleaning and organizing. Choose wisely.
Lighten up. Sometimes the reason that organization does not work is that the system is too complicated. If you need a system just to work your system, your system is too complicated. Get it? Organization does not have to be complicated or time consuming. The best organization is the simplest organization. If your system is not working, it is time to re-evaluate and simplify. You'll have much more luck getting others to participate in your system if it is simple.
Monthly Money Saving Tip
With the rising cost of groceries and the ever-increasing price of a gallon of gas, now is the time to double-up on your money saving strategy. Try combating both of these obstacles at once. Here's how:Start paying careful attention to sales at your local grocery stores. Whenever staple items are at a good price, stock up on them. If you can stock up enough, you can limit the number of times you need to grocery shop in a month. So the savings are doubled: save by buying staple items at a good sale price and save gas by limiting your trips to the store.
Many grocery stores are offering special deals and promotions right now to help keep their business up while consumers are starting to cut back on groceries in an effort to save money. One of my local grocery stores is currently running a promotion to add 10% to the balance of gift cards purchased for certain monetary denominations. If you can spare the extra money up front, the savings could be substantial. By purchasing a grocery gift card and using it for yourself, you could get up to $120 in free money added to your gift card balance. Keep your eyes and ears open for deals and promotions in your area.
Recipe of the Month
Last month we talked about barbecues and fried chicken. In keeping with our outdoor eating theme, this month I want to talk to you about potato salad.I love potato salad. It is such a great side dish for just about anything you could put on a grill, but sometimes the same old potato salad gets boring and if it is too hot outside serving a dish with mayonnaise becomes an issue. I have the perfect solution.
I have discovered a mayo-free potato salad like nothing you have ever tasted before. I made this dish for Easter and it was a huge hit. It is light, delicious and very easy to make. Give it a try with your next barbecue.
Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- 3 Tblsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 Tblsp. red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes
- 10 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 Tblsp. fresh tarragon, sliced thin
Scrub the potatoes. Leaving the skins on, cut the potatoes into 1 inch chunks. Place the potatoes in a large pot filled with enough water to completely cover. Season the water generously with salt. Bring the water to a boil and continue boiling until the potatoes are tender, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Combine the potatoes, tomatoes, red onion and tarragon. Add the dressing slowly, tossing to coat after each addition. You may not need all of the dressing. Save any extra to serve at the table or for another use. Season the salad with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Serve warm.
Monthly Entertaining Tip
Father's Day is June 15th. This year spoil the special father in your life by accompanying him on his favorite activity.Don't worry, you can still make him a hearty, home-cooked meal that will prepare itself while you are out with Dad. Crock Pot Barbecue Beef Sandwiches are always a winner! Smoky flavored shredded beef, smothered in his favorite barbecue sauce, piled high on a bun....what more could a guy ask for?
So whether Dad likes to golf, fish, bike or swim, accompany him on his favorite activity knowing that a delicious dinner will be waiting when you get back.