July 15, 2008
The Monthly Organizer
August 2008
Monthly Motivation
It is always easier to accomplish more when you are feeling good about yourself. When you are feeling down or overwhelmed it is tempting to throw in the towel in walk away from it all.If you find that you are in need of a little encouragement perhaps it is time to change the way you think. Become your own cheerleader and start celebrating all of your small successes. Each pat on the back that you give to yourself will boost your pride and your motivation will gain momentum like a snowball rolling downhill. Read more to learn how to get started.
Monthly Organization Tip
If you have kids, August means getting ready to head back to school. If you don't have children, jump on the bandwagon and use this time as the opportunity to purge your closet and get your wardrobe organized. Here's how to start:- Purge your closet and dressers of unused, outgrown or damaged clothing.
- Assess what you have left and decide what you need to fill in the gaps.
- Create a shopping list to ensure you get everything you need.
For children, depending on the child's age and rate of growth, do not purchase clothes intended to last too far into the future. You never know when your child will have a growth spurt. A good rule of thumb is to buy enough to get them through until Christmas (or the Winter holiday that your family celebrates). Your child may receive new clothing as a Christmas gift and you can add to that whatever they may need to see them through the end of the school year.
For adults a good rule of thumb is to shop one season at a time. Purchase a few new items to get you through the upcoming Fall and then add a couple of new items at the beginning of Winter. Keep your purchases to a minimum to avoid cluttering your closet and choose your items wisely. Adding a few new accessories can give you the same satisfaction as a brand new wardrobe if you are smart about what you buy, choosing only versatile items that can mixed and matched to change the look of a variety of outfits.
Monthly Money Saving Tip
It's Summer and the weather is warm. Are you suffering through the heat trying to minimize your use of air conditioning to save money on your utility bills? Have you followed the advice of most utility companies and set your air conditioning on a program only to find that it is not making enough of a difference.Utilities are expensive, especially with the rising costs of natural gas. We are all struggling to find ways to save money wherever possible. Let's all join together and help each other through this difficult time. Share your best energy conservation tip and learn from the tips shared by others.
Together we can all save money.
Recipe of the Month
Recently I rummaged through my refrigerator trying to come up with something that sounded good for lunch. I had two leftover chicken breasts. One had been roasted and the other had been grilled and covered in barbecue sauce. I decided to use both of them and create a chicken salad. Although you don't typically find barbecue sauce in chicken salad, the result was so delicious that I will definitely be making it again.Barbecue Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup fresh green beans
- 2 Tblsp. fresh tarragon, minced
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup Kraft Sandwich Spread
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Place the chicken, garlic, onion and tomatoes in a large mixing bowl. Meanwhile, bring medium pot of water to a boil. When the water begins boiling add a generous amount of salt and the green beans. Blanch the green beans for two minutes and remove to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Pat the green beans dry and dice. Add the green beans to the mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.
Serve this on top of a bed of lettuce, with lettuce and cheese in a sandwich or just eat it right out of the bowl.
Monthly Entertaining Tip
Host a board game party. I love to get together with friends and laugh over board games, especially when we break out those nostalgic games we used to play as children.Invite some good friends and ask everyone to bring their favorite game. The adults can play one game while the kids play one appropriate for their age, or everyone can join in together. Team games are especially fun when a lot of people are involved.
Put out some simple snacks and finger foods that can be eaten while the games are being played and everyone is sure to have a good time.