Home & Office Organizing Blog

Freezer Safety Tip When You're Away

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Here's a tip to save you a post-vacation-food-poisoning-induced-trip to the emergency room.
Food in your freezer could have languished at unsafe temperatures if the power goes out when you’re on vacation,and then returned to its frozen state when the power goes back on.
Use this tip from the Nebraska University Extension service to see if food is safe to eat. When organizing your freezer, keep an ice cube or two in a sealed plastic bag or small container in the freezer. It must be a sealed bag/container so the ice cube doesn't evaporate and disappear. If the ice cube has melted down from its original shape, you'll know the power was off for an extended period of time. And you'll have to toss the contents of your freezer.
For more tips on food safety go to:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/severe_storms_and_hurricanes_guide/

Going Bananas

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0000

My philosophy about organizing kitchen appliances is less is more. But I have to say I'm obsessing over the craziest gadget I've ever seen, the Yonanas ice-cream maker. It makes bananas into ice cream. That's it. It's big, it doesn't multi-task, nothing double-duty about it. But I keep thinking I could make healthy ice cream that the kids could eat without me feeling guilty. How could I work this into my small kitchen? Maybe I could make room by tossing the cappuccino machine? Unfortunately that is a big no, I use that every day. How often would I eat banana ice cream? Probabaly not everyday. That is a lot of bananas, lots of ice cream and some major counter top real estate. OK, I am leaning towards no! On an everyday usage I just don't think it trumps the cappuccino machine. Would love to but I have to be disciplined and say no.

Do you have an appliance you can't live without?

What's In Your Freezer...It's Not Always About the Food

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

As the excitement of National Frozen Food Month continues, we're highlighting the way people organize and use their freezer, and it's not always about food. Some people use it as safe, freezing cash and jewelry. I've seen vodka, batteries, and Apartment Therapy had this post on freezing your jeans instead of washing or dry cleaning them.

What are some of the ways you use your freezer?

Organize Your Freezer

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

March is frozen food month. Really, I can't make this stuff up. It is time to go through that icy box and organize the contents. You might think once you stick something in the freezer it's good forever, but even freezing food has its limits. Here's some surprising facts: Cookie dough only lasts one month, Bacon, sausage - only lasts 2 months. Leftovers, such as casseroles, stews, soups, bread - a mere 3 months. So plan accordingly when you're stocking up on groceries and don't go overboard.

Could Shopping Get Any Easier?

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Have you heard about Walgreens new web pick up service? Where you order your items online and pick them up in store? Talk about a huge time saver. I don't have a lot of time to shop so I appreciate any service that can make my life easier. I just saw a advertisement for this service and I can already see its going to be a amazing. They even have curbside pick up where you dont have to get out of the car! Are you kidding me? Oh, my gosh. What a great service for any busy person. You don't really think about how much time you waste running errands. From driving, parking, shopping to check out. Not to mention all this extra stuff you come home with that you didnt really need. That's a whole other organizing topic. But this is going to save you lots of time and money. Love it!

The Secrets of the Ice Cube Tray

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:18:00 +0000

In my previous post, I decided against getting the Yonanas device for making banana ice cream. I could not afford that counter or cabinet real estate! Instead of purchasing a specialty gadget I needed to see if could get the same results from something I already owned. Sometimes you have to get creative! An essential part of being organized is looking for ways to get the tools you have do double or even triple duty. All I had to do was look to the freezer to find those perfectly proportioned ice cube trays, mash up the bananas and freeze in an ice cube tray. So easy! Now I want to freeze everything in those little trays.

Here's some other ways to use ice cube trays:
Freeze leftover coffee for iced coffee that doesn't dilute when the ice cubes melt
Left-over tomato paste, tomato sauce, pesto, gravy and baby food.

Those are just a few ideas for the freezer.

What do you put in your ice-cube trays?

Recycle Your Christmas Tree by January 17

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

January 17 is the last day to recycle your Christmas tree with the Chicago Park District. You can take your tree to any of the following locations. For questions, call the Department of Environment at 312-744-7606.

Chicago Christmas Tree Recycling Sites:

Bessemer Park: 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.

Clark Park: 3400 N. Rockwell Ave.

Forestry Site: 900 E. 103rd St.

Garfield Park: 100 N. Central Park Ave.

Grant Park: 900 S. Columbus Dr.

Humboldt Park Boathouse: 1369 N. Sacramento Blvd.

Jackson Park: 6300 S. Cornell Ave.

Kennedy Park: 11320 S. Western Ave.

Kelvyn Park: 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Lake Meadows Park: 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.

Lincoln Park: Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave., parking lot east of Cannon Dr.

Margate Park: 4921 N. Marine Dr.

Marquette Park: 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.

McKinley Park: 2210 W. Pershing Rd.

Mt. Greenwood Park: 3721 W. 111th St.

North Park Village: 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.

Norwood Park: 5801 N. Natoma Ave.

Portage Park: 4100 N. Long Ave.

Riis Park: 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.

Rowan Park: 11546 S. Avenue L

Sheridan Park: 910 S. Aberdeen St.

Warren Park: 6601 N. Western Ave.

Wentworth Park: 5625 S. Mobile Ave.

Here's a Quick Way to Find an Extra Weekend Every Year

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Almost everyone I talk to says they waste 10 minutes of day looking for their keys. My #1 organizing tip for everyone is to designate a specific place for their keys by the front door. Whether it's a hook, or a drawer in a table in the hallway, or a decorative box on the shelf, just make sure it's close to the front door. And then for the next three weeks, make a conscious effort to put your keys there every time you come in. I promise, if you do this, you'll save yourself so much frustration. And if you were someone always looking for their keys, you could save up to 2 1/2 days - the equivalent of a whole weekend.

What You Should Know About Expiration Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Here's a quick test to see if the food in your refrigerator passes the fresh test. Take a look at the ketchup and find the expiration date. Is it still good? As surprising as it seems, the life of ketchup once it's been opened is one year. For many people, it's hard to throw things out, especially if they don't seem to be spoiled. But periodically checking all the food in your refrigerator and pantry, means you'll have tastier food and possibly avoid any stomach upsets that can come with food that is not up to par. Many of the products and foods we bring into our homes carry an expiration date of some manner. Some are suggestions like "freshest by", "best if used by" or "best before". These terms are generally guidelines for getting the most out of the product. A box of crackers might have a "best if used by" date that would indicate the crackers might not be as crisp if eaten after the date, however they would still be edible. However an "expiration date" is a completely different kind of date that tells us not to use the product after such a date. Expiration dates are typically reserved for perishables that may not be safe for consumption after the date. So take a look today and make sure everything you're eating is fresh.

Happy Organizing 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Happy New Year Everyone! Its officially 2012 and most of us have made our News Years resolutions. Let us all make 2012 the year we achieve our goals by starting out with something small and attainable. Whether your are planning on getting healthy, saving money or getting organized it is important to begin with a manageable task. Organize a single drawer. In 20 minutes you could be on your way to a more organized home. Make your own coffee everyday instead of going out. In just days you will be saving your hard earned money. Add some healthier food choices to your daily meals. Remember the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"? Are you even getting a single serving of fruit in your diet? What do YOU need to do to get healthier? It is important that you put in the extra effort for your goals this year. You can't push a button for instant results. Do something each day because it takes 21 days to form a habit. By the end of January you should be on your way to progressing towards your goal.

Start Your Organizing Engines!!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:15:00 +0000

It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is this week. It is officially Holiday Season everyone! No messing around, time to get serious with shopping, eating and fun! Do yourself a favor before all of the excitement. Sit down, take a big deep breath and figure out how you will enjoy the holidays but also stay organized with daily life. It can be easy to overlook your current bills, healthy goals and entertainment budget when you are distracted by all the shiny things. Prioritize your calenders for the final months of 2011 so you can kick off the new year with ease.

Your organizing task for today: start clearing out your home of unwanted items you no longer need or want. Donate clothes, toys and food to clothing drives, churches or a shelter.

Gross Halloween Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Halloween was a week ago and we still have some reminders of the holiday. The candy is almost gone, the "Happy Halloween" decorations are put away but the pumpkins and squash are still out on display and will stay there until Thanksgiving. The great thing about these fall decorations is they are colorful, hearty and you can eat them when the holiday is over...bonus! These are the best decorations because you don't have to re organize and store them after the holiday. But you have to be sure to monitor the live decorations just to make sure they are still decorations and don't become "experiments" and ruin your furniture. We had a little issue this year it was the rotting pumpkin. We live in a high rise and carved our 1st pumpkin! It was a wonderful experience. Finding the pumpkin, scooping out the seeds and making a silly design. The problem was we faced the pumpkin towards the sunny window where you could see from the outside but not the inside. Wow was I surprised when I turned that pumpkin around to see how it was doing...Yuck! Next year I will be adding a "throw away" date immediatly after carving next years pumpkin.

Fall Back "To-Do" list

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:12:00 +0000

Today was Fall back. We got to change our clocks and catch a few more z’s. Not only do we change the time on our clocks but it should be a reminder that we need to do something else in our homes like changing the batteries in your smoke detectors!
Try to think of some other things you can do twice a year that happen the same weekend as Fall back and Spring forward and add it to your "To Do" list.

Organized Halloween Candy!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:38:00 +0000

How many pounds of candy will enter your home today? If you are handing out candy be sure not to go overboard with every type of bite sized candy. Get a few bags of popular candy and once it is gone it is gone. If your little ones bring home several bags of candy be sure you have a back up plan. Other wise you will have a lot of leftover candy just taking up space in your kitchen eventually going stale and uneaten. Go through candy when it first comes home to be sure that it is safe and check for candy's containing peanuts when food allergies are present. Divide up your candy and organize it for future consumption! Why not? Here are a few ideas for the extras.

#1 Freeze some of your favorites to use in recipes like Reece's or Junior mints

#2 Keep some of the sugary items like suckers or skittles in the car or work bag

#3 Let someone else enjoy the holiday by donating it

Happy Halloween!

Holiday Separation Anxiety

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:26:00 +0000

As the leaves change, we search for our sweaters and we realize summer is over. Next thing you know we are eating pumpkin pie and opening presents. Get ready the holidays are coming it's time to get organized! I am not just talking about the stuff but the actual dates. A few years ago I was walking downtown Chicago and witnessed the collision of holidays. Too many holidays at one time. It was an unseasonably warm Halloween no jackets required. I looked around to see a variety of costumes and thought how fun! I love when everyone gets into the holiday spirit . Unfortunately my happiness quickly turned to confusion when I saw store windows advertising Thanksgiving specials. I get it, Thanksgiving is the next holiday. Its hard enough to see the Halloween candy filling the isle before Labor Day. But as I continued further down the street...Eeek! One of the major department stores was putting up the Christmas decorations!! Oh my, i was caught is a vortex of holidays I just wasn't ready for. What to do? A hot day with Halloween costumes, turkeys and Christmas decorations. It was confusing. I realize we can not do anything about the stores preparations because they play by different rules. But at least we can control what is going on at home and our own decorations. Keep the holiday decorations organized and labeled in separate containers. And if it helps add your own date for displaying. Maybe the 1st day of October you put out your fall decorations and so on.

Meds In The Kitchen?

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Do you have a toothbrush in the kitchen, vitamins in the spice cabinet and aspirin by the coffee? If those are your "go-to" areas for some everyday items and it works for you...great! It makes a lot of sense to have these items where you use them and if this make your day run a little smoother even better. If you find that you are storing way too much in these areas it might be time for some cabinet or drawer organizing. Get rid of anything that is expired and send some the items you don't need everyday back to the medicine cabinet.

Thrill Of Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:42:00 +0000

My son is at the age where he wants everything he sees in a store. There is no filter. A recent trip to the pharmacy lead us to a basket full of cheaply made toys, handfuls of greeting cards, a broom and several packages of of "D" batteries. None of which we needed. It was clear to me he just wanted everything he saw and that this was just the "thrill" of the shopping experience. I knew going in everything would be distracting. There are balloons on top of the isles, flashy signs and lots of other things that make getting through the store a challenge. In order for us to get in and out of the store quickly and without spending a lot of money I set a spending and time limit before even stepping foot in a store. I do not want to organize stuff at home that we do not need in the first place. So, I do a quick scan of the toys before I leave home to see what we are missing. Most of the stores have seasonal items out on the shelves which makes it easy to grab a go. Finding something we actually need is priceless. This also makes it easier to cancel out items in the basket that he thought we just had to have. Now if we could only make it past the candy at the check out!

Getting Organzed With Free Supplies

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Having the perfect storage container for your space can make your life so much easier. And yes, some containers are so perfect in the way the look and fit in a space we should almost have a celebration when placed on a shelf. But the reality is sometimes you do not have the time to shop, know what you need or have the resources to make it all happen. So instead of avoiding your project, use what you already have around the house as a storage container and get started. Your home or office probably contains many useful storage items that you got for free! Common items are plastic grocery bags, recycled store bags(I love the ones with handles) shoe boxes or any boxes that can be closed and stacked. Start sorting through your items and use what you have to categorize and store. Be sure to add a label so you know what is inside. A label maker does a great job but so does regular paper and tape or a post it note. Just because you don't have the perfect containers to organize, it should never hold you back from getting started.

Going Single

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:50:00 +0000

It important to keep your refrigerator clean and organized. I like to reorganize the refrigerator before the grocery shopping plus give it a quick clean. This way I can see everything I have and what we need. Using a Clorex wipe as I go through each compartment makes this job quick and easy. As I was going through everything, I came across a few containers of foods that had a expiration date but I did not know when they were opened. The expiration date was pretty far out and the contents were already looking questionable. Instead of taking a chance on those items I tossed them. I do not like throwing away food, so just a reminder to write the date you open foods so you can discard if not eaten.
This brings me to another point...oversized packaging! I don't think it is necessary to buy such a large amount of a particular item unless you will go through it quickly. Either it is everyones favorite and you can't stock it fast enough or you plan on using it in recipes. Otherwise it will go bad before you can use it. I do not see the money savings here. Since one of the items I had to throw away was cream cheese I opted for the single serve containers this time around. Normally I would not spend the extra money on a smaller amount and more packaging especially when I can divide items up myself. But what I like about this product is all the other containers are sealed. The smaller serving will not get used quickly and I can use this smaller portion until it is gone. Since the other portions are unopened all I have to do is look at the expiration date if unused. Love it!

What Is Your Morning Routine?

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:06:00 +0000

How organized is your morning routine? Is it typically wake, shower, coffee in that order? Or do you need your coffee just to get to the shower? Whatever it is that you do to get your morning started let us know! We would like to hear from you! And tell us about your ideal morning. Does being organized effect your morning bliss?

Is it On Your List?

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Online grocery shopping still rules my home. All of my past purchases are saved in my account and I can order my groceries in minutes. I don't always have the same order each week so I have organized my home shopping lists into three categories - weekly, bi-weekly and monthly. I have created this list by going through the refrigerator, pantry, medicine cabinet and cleaning supplies to figure out what I use and how long it takes finish. If your laundry detergent contains enough liquid to do 20 loads of laundry you can figure out how long it will last. And do you need to purchase every two weeks or once a month.? Apply this to other areas to figure out your monthly requirements. If you don't have a lot of space and it takes a month to use something don't over crowd your space but stocking up and filling your cabinets every week. Saving a few dollars to stock up on really bulky item isn't worth it to me if my cabinets are busting at the seams. Just create your lists and follow them!

Are You Prepared For The Doctor?

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Making use of the time in the doctors office is critical. Its no fun to go but if you are taking the day off of work, spending money in travel or paying the sitter you have already invested a lot just to get there. It is very important to be organized for your appointment so you can get everything you need from your doctor. First, find out if there will be paperwork to fill out and if you can download at home. Fill out any forms and bring with you instead of filling out in the doctors office. It can take a long time to fill out and it may be easier if you have access to personal information at home. You also dont want to get there right at the time of your appointment to find you will need to fill out forms that take 15 minutes. This could eat into your appointment time. Bring any medical records needed for appointment such as test results or x-rays or be sure the records can be sent to doctors office. And finally make sure you have a copy of your current insurance card. Keep a running list of questions for your doctor and bring with to your appointment so you do not forget! Write down any answers your doctor has given along with treatment, instructions and side effects. Get your days results on your way out the door and be sure to file it with your medical records.

The Ultimate Movie Experience!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Are you tired of the same old Friday night dinner and movie experience? Racing through dinner, the crowds and concession to get good seats at the theater? I like my time to be organized; get there at least 20 minutes early, get a good seat and hopefully not sit in the front row. Those days are over now that I have discovered the ultimate movie experience! Reserved seats, tables and a restaurant in the theater. Now we don't have to spend the extra time and money getting dinner out. It is always nice to do but when you have to leave to "catch a movie" it is just not the same. We can have a great dinner right at our seats from a real restaurant and reserve our seats online before the show. It costs more to reserve our seats and food is more expensive then your typical meal but what a huge difference! This new way of entertainment has just changed the way we see movies. It's the all in one - save time, no rush - love it!

Where's My Car?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Keeping your keys organized so you can get out the door is a challenge. But loosing your car in the parking garage can be extremely frustrating. I believe there was an entire Seinfeld episode centered around this problem. Parking garages all look the same, the floors, stairwells and elevators. Write down or text yourself the location of your car using the signage provided so you can keep track of your car. Some garages provide cards at the elevator with the location. Others name or color the floors to help distinguish from other floors. Some even have music playing, name of artist and picture to help you remember. So if you cant remember the floor maybe you can remember what song was playing over and over and over.

Pre Party Toy Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Kids birthday parties are exciting! They can also be a little overwhelming for kids and parents. Especially when they receive all those new toys. In a blink of an eye the guests arrive, sing happy birthday, eat cake and ice cream and open gifts. And before you know it junior has opened up the toy packages before you have a moment to inspect. Its a lot to keep organized but with good planning and a few extra hands you can keep it all together. Remember some toys are not age appropriate and your kids wont be ready for them for few months or a even a couple of years. Some toys have many parts and pieces and often need assembly. And Finally you have the messy ones. Try to organize current toys before the party so you can see what you already have. If someone asks you what you need...tell them! Its ok to let people know what you want and some stores even have wishlists that you can update. This makes it easier for everyone to shop. Once the party is over make sure you want to keep all the toys. Return any duplicate toys or toys you cannot use. Make is easier on yourself and limit the amount of toys your kids have to choose from. Put away some of the new toys and pull them out on the next rainy day to beat old toy boredom.