April 15, 2009
The Monthly Organizer
May 2009
Welcome to another issue of The Monthly Organizer. I hope that you have all been finding success with your organization goals. This month I hope to provide you with a few more tips to help you along the way.
As always, if you need help with a specific challenge, you can Ask an Expert Organizer. While you are there, see if you can offer a suggestion for a challenge another visitor has posted. Let's all work together to get organized!
Monthly Motivation
I bought a new calendar a few weeks ago because I saw it in the store for 75% off and I thought it was beautiful. Each month has a brightly colored drawing and an inspirational saying. When I hung it up, the saying that was displayed read...
Happiness is found along the way. Not at the end of the road.
What are you doing to find happiness every single day?
Monthly Organization Tip
I recently began using Twitter and it has proven to be a wonderful way to meet up with fellow organizers to share ideas and develop a sense of community. Recently I came across a Tweet made by Allison Carter, of The Profressional Organizer. Her idea is absolutely brilliant and she has given me permission to share it with all of you.
If you are holding on to clutter out of a sense of obligation....your best friend gave you those candlesticks but they are not your style....your grandmother gave you that sweater that you have never worn.....put all of these objects into a box and label the box "Guilt."
How's that for a visual aid to help you see how much of your precious space is being taken up by items that you have never used, but feel you must save for one reason or another? I'll bet that after a while of starting at your "Guilt" box, you'll feel ready to put those items out in your next garage sale.
If you use Twitter and want to follow me there, you can find me under the name OrganizeLife.
Monthly Money Saving Tip
Last month I gave you the recipe for homemade laundry detergent. Have any of you tried it? I have and I am here to tell you that it is working wonderfully!
The recipe was incredibly easy to follow and I was able to make the detergent in approximately 20 minutes. I have been using it for a month now and I have not been disasppointed with it at all. I definitely recommend giving this laundry detergent a try.
Since I was so impressed with the homemade laundry detergent, I decided to try homemade dishwasher detergent next. I added 1 Tablespoon of Borax and 1 Tablespoon of Washing Soda to my dishwasher instead of store-bought soap. I purposely put the dishes into the dishwasher as dirty as possible....no pre-rinsing. To my delight, my dishes were sparkling clean at the end of the cycle, and the best part is that I already had the Borax and Washing Soda which I had purchased to make the laundry detergent, so the cost of my new dishwasher soap.....$0.00.
After my test, I filled an old plastic container with equal parts Borax and Washing Soda and mixed them together thoroughly. I put 2 Tablespoons of this mixture into my dishwasher and filled the rinse dispenser with white vinegar. While I was satisfied with the cleanliness of my dishes, I did notice that my glassware was coming out a little foggy. I have found the best solution to be using half the amount of expensive dishwasher detergent that I used to use and supplementing it with the much less expensive Borax mixture. I am still saving money and I am stretching out the expensive detergent so it lasts me twice as long as it used to. A little experimentation has certainly paid off.
Recipe of the Month
This month I would like to give you the recipe for my son's absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world...banana bread! My 9 year old could eat an entire loaf of banana bread in one day if I would let him. Since he loves the stuff so much, I have looked for ways to sneak some extra nutrition into it. I will give you the basic recipe and then I will share with you some of the ways that I have doctored it up. Maybe you can do the same for your kids.
Banana Bread
Ingredients:- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3 overripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup shortening (or margarine or butter)
- 2 Tblsp. milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with nonstick spray (I prefer the kind with flour in it....works great).
Mix 1 cup of the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the mashed bananas, shortening and milk. Mix well to combine. If you are using an electric mixer, beat on low until just blended and then on high for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and the rest of the flour. Beat until combined. Stir in the nuts if you are using them (I never do because my son doesn't like them).
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Tap the loaf pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles and settle the batter. Bake 55 to 60 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes and then remove from loaf pan to continue cooling completely.
Serve cold or warm each slice in the microwave for about 10 seconds and then spread with butter (that is how my son likes it).
Healthy Suggestions:I have tweaked this recipe many different ways over the years. I have done all of these things at the same time and I have done them in various combinations, depending upon what I had on hand at the time. My son has never once commented that his favorite treat tasted any different. Here are some ways that you can change up the nutritional value of this sweet and delicious bread:
- Substitute whole wheat flour for the regular flour
- Use raw sugar in place of the white, granulated sugar
- Use a heart-healthy spread in place of the shortening, butter or margarine
- I always use fat free milk since it is the only thing I ever have in my house.
- Substitute 1/2 cup apple sauce for the eggs.
Monthly Entertaining Tip
May is the month for Mother's Day. If you are looking for some great recipes or gifts ideas, I've got them for you here.
If you know a mom who brings new meaning to the word "organized" take a few minutes to enter her into this Mother's Day contest sponsored by one of my favorite websites, organize.com.
Whether it is your mother, sister, friend or neighbor, she could win a gift basket filled with $350 worth of cool new products!
Now that's a mother's day treat that I could really sink my teeth into!
