Meal Planning Card System

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Erin Elizabeth Wells

My Meal Planning Story

Many who know me well are aware that for years meal planning has been an achilles heel of mine. It always felt like it was too time consuming and burdonsome to make the effort. I’ve tried numerous systems and solutions including outsourcing the activity!

I think, as a single person, cooking in general was something that was a necessary evil in order to end up with food to eat, but I will admit that my relationship with cooking has shifted somewhat now that I have a partner and there’s someone else who might actually enjoy what I make.

So, while this newfound rapport with cooking has developed in the past year or more… still meal planning has been the challenge. The last installment I posted on this topic in one of our Tuesday Tips Videos about creating a list of your 30+ favorite meals and using that each week to choose what to cook.

That plan worked fine for quite some time, but then in the past couple months I started getting… well… bored. It was time to try some new recipes. So, I was on the lookout for a new system. That’s when this Pinterest post wandering into my world: (and yes, I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings reference)

The Meal Planning Solution

Meals on cards! Something I could shuffle through… even color code. Now there’s an idea! That’s was the spark of the new system that Brian and I have now been using for almost a month. I grant that it took a little time to set up. But, we’ve been eating REALLY well.

Setting up the System

In my system there are four colors:

Red- Our easy everyday standards- The tried and true recipes

Yellow- Interesting new recipes that I want to try, that take less than an hour

Purple- Intensive recipes that take more than an hour to prepare. (but might offer leftovers that make it worth it.)

Blue- For individual wild card days: Brian doesn’t like mushrooms, but I love them. Meanwhile, I’m vegetarian while he’s not. So, on nights when one of us is out for work or with friends, then the other person gets a “wild card” night and can choose a blue card to try a recipe that the partner wouldn’t eat.

Then, I had to add a bit more complexity because in Brian’s world a salad, sandwich, or soup alone does not make a meal, but two together do. So, I put all of those and the veggie side dishes on half-sized cards to make them more “mix-n-match.”

On the front of each card is the name of the recipe. Then, on the back of each card (as suggested in the post from Pinterest) I wrote the source of the recipe (i.e. what cookbook, recipe binder, or website/pinterest it can be found in) and thefull list of ingredients.

How it works

On Sunday morning each week, as part of our family meeting, we shuffle through the cards together and look at our calendar for the week. Then, we select appropriate cards for each day based on who’s eating, how much time we (usually meaning I) have that evening for prep, and what we’re in the mood for.

Afterwards, I take that small stack of cards and can flip them over to review what we have in the pantry and what needs to be added to the grocery list. It’s SO much faster to prep the grocery list this way!

The chosen cards for the week then sit in a stack on the top of my little recipe box, in order (Mon, Tues, Wed, etc). And each evening I file away the completed meal and reveal what’s up next reminding us throughout the following day of what’s “on the docket” for tonight’s dinner.

Then, just to make sure we’re getting variety back into our world, I take the cards that we’ve used each week and they all get clipped together and removed from rotation for several weeks so that we don’t keep coming back to the same thing over and over.

There’s no big board on my wall. Just my little box of cards on the kitchen table, which works well for me. There may be modifications in the future as I use it more… and certainly new cards will need to be added as new recipes appear or some become tried and true favorites and change colors. But, it feels SO GREAT to have a system that works. Perhaps this will inspire you!

Erin WErin Elizabeth Wells is Founder and CEO of Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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My Dining Table Dilemma: An indepth look at the challenges of organizing a shared space

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Gabby Burgman

I’m an organizer and I freely admit that keeping my dining table cleared off is a constant battle that is rarely won(except for days when we have people over for a meal). How can I share such an embarrassing weakness? I’m human and I know I’m not the only person who struggles with this issue. My dining table only has enough space to fit a plate and a cup for each person. The rest of the table is buried under catalogs, to-do lists, coupons, grocery flyers, a small file box, library books, and DVDs. In addition to our table being an embarrassing eyesore, my young daughter can now reach the papers on the table and pulls anything her little hands can grab. So why can’t we keep the dining table cleared?

The challenges:

  • My husband and I are both visual people. We need to be able to see something in order to remember it.
  • The dining table is our command central. Everything from bill paying to family decision making occurs here so naturally all of the accompanying paperwork lives here too.
  • We use the table as a channel for communication. For example, he’ll leave grocery ads, newspaper articles, or other items he wants me to read next to/on top of my placemat. I often shift these items to another part of the table when I’m sitting down to eat.
  • My husband loves to use scrap pieces of paper and the backs of envelopes to write down the current day’s to-do list and things to research later. Unfortunately, these papers don’t always get thrown away at the end of the daydue to that one item on the list that still needs to get done or postponed to another time.
  • I tend to use the table as a temporary holding place for receipts and papers emptied out of my purse, envelopes to be mailed, my current reading material (we both tend to read while we eat), and specific store coupons to go out the door with me.

What have we tried in order to fix the problem?

Gabby Burgman is a Professional Organizer with Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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How To Keep Your Car Organized

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Ellen Miano

When thinking about home organizing, we often forget about our cars.  Many of you spend a significant amount of time every day in the car, commuting to work or chauffeuring your kids around after school.  The car gets cluttered very quickly because you bring so many things into the car and there’s very limited space.  Below are some suggestions for keeping your car clutter-free:

  1. Remove the clutter.  Take a look at what’s cluttering up your back seat and your trunk.  Sort out those things that were inadvertently left behind.  Bring them back into the house and return them to their rightful homes.
  2. Throw away the junk.  Get rid of anything that is no longer useful – plastic shopping bags, empty cartons, trash, chewed up dog toys.
  3. Identify what’s essential.  What do you use in your car on a regular basis?  Don’t keep anything in your car “just in case”.  Chances are you will never use it.
  4. Consider seasonal needs.  As the season change so may your car essentials.  In the winter, you may want to carry a small shovel, some road salt and an extra blanket.  In the summer you may want to keep extra water or sunscreen in the car.  Assess your needs as the weather changes so you won’t be caught off guard.
  5. Determine your storage needs.  Yes, you will need storage in your car to keep all of your essentials organized.  There are many products in the market specifically designed for car storage.  Don’t feel you need to spend money on those.  You likely have containers in your home already that will work in your car.  Keep in mind that you will need something covered so the contents don’t spill out if the car comes to a sudden stop.
  6. Add a trash receptacle.   Having some place to put trash in your car is essential.  You can buy trash cans/bags specifically made for the car.  Or you can improvise.  I use a small paper shopping bag lined with a plastic bag.  As long as you and your family have a defined place to put trash, it won’t end up all over the backseat and the floor.

Now that your car is neatly organized, you’ll have to maintain it by repeating steps 1 -3 periodically.  This will take a matter of seconds if you do it daily, minutes if you do it weekly.  The benefits of an organized car far out weigh the minimal amount of time the upkeep takes.  You won’t dread getting into your messy car anymore.  You will have more room for passengers and cargo.  You and your passengers will be safer because you’ll have what you need at your fingertips.  All in all, your time in the car will be a much more pleasant experience.

Ellen Miano is Professional Organizer in Foxboro MA. For more information see her website at www.OrganizingMA.com or contact her directly at 508.641.0521.

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How to Dispose of Unused Prescription Drugs

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Hillary Adams Case

I received a leaflet from my veterinary clinic with instructions on how to best dispose of unused prescription medications.  While the source of where I received the leaflet was slightly odd, the information is relevent for human and animal medications.

I always remember hearing “throw unused medications down the toilet.”  This is no longer reccommended due to the impact the drugs may have on the environment.  Here is what Smarxt Disposal reccommends:

  1. Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag.  If medication is a solid, add water to dissolve.
  2. Add kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds to the plastic bag.
  3. Seal the plastic bag and dispose in the trash.

Unused prescription medications almost always come up in my work with clients.  I now know the responsible method for disposal.

More information can be found at smarxtdisposal.net.

Hillary Adams CaseHillary Adams Case is a Professional Organizer with Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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Creating a Morning Ritual to Start the Day Off Right

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Amanda Darlack

I love my sleep, but I’ve discovered that I really love having time for a little morning quiet time before getting ready for work.

When the alarm goes off (a little earlier than it used to), I get up, put on my bathrobe, and sit in my chair by the window. It’s dark outside, but as I sit there for about 20-30 minutes, I can see the sky start to lighten. During these dark winter mornings, I turn on my “Happy Light” (like this one) and bask in the blue light as I let my brain slowly wake up. I read a brief daily thought in a favorite book (currently, this one) and prepare myself for the day.  I’ve found that allowing myself time to have this little ritual each day makes a difference in my resilience.

What could you do each morning to prepare yourself for the day?

Amanda Darlack is a Professional Organizer with Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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Create a Strategy for Meal Planning

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Ellen Miano

Meal planning can be a challenge for many people. Do you start to think about dinner when it’s time to eat? By then, you don’t have any food on hand and don’t have time to go to the grocery store. Meal planning is a hurdle that you can tackle by planning in advance and sticking to a schedule.

I cook most nights for my husband and me. I’m a Lifetime Weight Watchers member so eating healthy is important to maintaining my goal weight. I also work full time and have many commitments outside of my work life. Below is my strategy for planning ahead so I have what I need on hand to cook a healthy meal when I get home.

1. Compile an inventory of go-to recipes. These should be recipes that the whole family likes, take dietary restrictions into account and will be quick to prepare. There are hundreds of recipe websites and apps. I like to print recipes from the Food Network after I’ve seen it prepared on TV. Also look through your cook books periodically to “rediscover” favorites that you haven’t cooked for a while. Finally store your inventory where it will be handy when it’s time to cook dinner. A small binder or a photo box are great choices for printouts.

2. Make a grocery list every time you go shopping. Review your recipe inventory and decide which meals you plan to cook in the coming week. Add ingredients that you don’t have on hand to your grocery list. I use a great app called “Shopper” to manage my grocery list.

3. Plan which meal you’ll cook each night. Write this down in a calendar or white board if it will help you stay on track. When you get home from the store, freeze meat or fish that you don’t plan to cook until later in the week. Add reminder to your smartphone or calendar so you don’t forget to defrost items midweek.

Planning in advance will help you manage your time more effectively. You won’t scramble every night to figure out what to eat for dinner. You won’t make multiple trips to the grocery store during the week to buy ingredients. As an added benefit, you will eat healthier and save money because you’ll rely on packaged foods and take out less.

Ellen Miano is Professional Organizer in Foxboro, MA. For more information see her website at www.OrganizingMA.com or contact her directly at 508.641.0521.

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Greeting Card Organizer: A beautiful way to stay in touch

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Erin Elizabeth Wells

I can remember working with several clients who had MASSIVE greeting card collections. A few of them would have needed several bins to contain all these categories, but the principle hold true that at least organizing by type of card and labeling each section clearly will make it MUCH easier to find a good card to send quickly for your nephew’s birthday.

Source: passionatelyartistic.com via Erin on Pinterest

Erin WErin Elizabeth Wells is Founder and CEO of Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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Halting the Catalog Flood Starting Today

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Gabby Burgman

Is your mail box getting stuffed each week with a growing number of catalogs from your favorite stores to those you don’t remember signing up for? Are they mounding up on your counter/table because you think you might look at them or are theyfilling up your recycling bin (and you feel guilty about all those lost trees)? If you answered yes to either question, then take some time now to cut down on the deluge before you get buried.

First, grab all your catalogs.

Sort into 2 piles – keeping and recycling

With the catalogs you keep, set a specific time to go through them, figure out what you are going to order and order it. If you are not going to do this step over the next two weeks, throw all the catalogs out. You will be receiving new ones.

Take your recycling stack of catalogs and take a seat near a computer and phone. You can stop these catalogs arriving in your mailbox in several different ways (from most work to least work):

1. Call up the Customer Service number on each catalog and request to be removed from their mailing list. They will need the customer number located on the back of the catalog (usually it is highlighted in some color). They will probably inform you that you will continue to receive catalogs for the next (insert number) of weeks because they have preprinted their mailings that far ahead. If you notice after that time that you are still getting their catalogs, you will have to call again. Also take note that if you order from them, you might just get added to their mailing lists again. Before hitting the order button or getting off the phone with customer service after you have bought something, make sure you are not being automatically signed up to receive any mailings.

2. Visit https://www.catalogchoice.org/ and sign up for a free account. Input all of your catalog information and they will submit to each company your request to be removed from their mailing list. Or if you have an iPhone, you can use their MailStop Mobile app where you can take a picture of the back of the catalog where you info is and upload it. The company will take it from there.

3. Or if you don’t want to spend the time, you can order a MailStop Envelope ($6.75). As you receive unwanted catalogs, you tear off the back page and put it in the envelope. After you have collected about 15 pages, mail in the envelope. The company will process the cancellations for you.

This process does take some of your time and it can be weeks before you see a reduction in the catalogs but the payoff is well worth the effort.

Gabby Burgman is a Professional Organizer with Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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Product Review: Extra Storage Closet

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Hillary Adams Case

I have used a few different versions of self-contained storage racks with a client recently.  We have been constructing them to store seasonal clothing stored in the attic.  The enclosed nature of the rack provides protection from dust and critters.  My client has a few different brands of the product, but by and large they are equivalent.  I did notice that one product had a canvas cover, while the other had a vinyl cover.  I anticipate they will provide the same level of protection, however I suspect the canvas cover will have more breathability versus the vinyl cover.  Not to mention the vinyl cover smells like a new shower curtain- this may be good or bad for you.

Construction of the product was relatively straight-forward.  Instructions were provided.  There was some confusion at times as to which pieces were being referred to as the rods all look similar.  Having two people to construct the piece was also helpful.  We found one rack less than cooperative when trying to assemble the final pieces.  Ultimately some brute strength from our fists did the trick!

I would recommend this product for storage of seasonal items.  The less expensive models are less sturdy and hold less weight (let’s face it, you get what you pay for).  If you are looking for a product to use on a more frequent basis, invest in good rack.

When loading the racks with clothing, we had to be conscious of the distribution of weight.  One of the models had a support fixture in the middle of the hanging rod, the other did not.  I do not know how much additional support that fixture will ultimately provide.  If you anticipate storing very heavy items, again, consider purchasing a more sturdy rack that can handle the additional weight.

The racks are helping organize seasonal clothing in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way.  My client is very happy with the product thus far.

Hillary Adams CaseHillary Adams Case is a Professional Organizer with Living Peace LLC of Salem, MA and Winchester, MA.  Check us out at www.living-peace.com.  Or call (617) 519-5693.

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Quantum Leap Celebrates Success

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Hildy Neumann

Quantum Leap is NAPO’s community service program, implemented locally by NAPO chapters.  In New England, we work with the Women@Work Plus program at St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children in Dorchester, MA.  Women@Work is a 16-week employment readiness and occupational skills training program for homeless and low-income women in Boston.  Volunteers from NAPO-NE present on time, paper and money management – organizational skills that are so important to the personal and professional success of the students.

As Quantum Leap Coordinator for NAPO-New England, I represented our chapter at the Women@Work Graduation and Awards Celebration on December 18, 2012. Nineteen women completed the program.  It was a lovely, meaningful and moving occasion and I was pleased and proud to attend on behalf on NAPO-NE.

Hildy Neumann, owner of Organizing Strategies, is a professional organizer based in Newton, MA.  Please visit her website at www.organizing-strategies.com or you can contact her directly at hildy@organizing-strategies.com.

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