Not a fun question when there is no fast answer and it is about 5:30 PM-ish or later. While a grilled cheese sandwich and bowl of soup can work in a pinch, it isn’t the most satisfying option on a dinner menu.

Having some homemade items in the freezer can be a bit of a life saver at dinner time. I enjoy setting time aside to prepare a lasagna or casserole for two meals. One I will cook within a couple of days, and the other is kept in the freezer. I started to use disposable aluminum pans for my freezer meals. They are great for freezing, have lids for notes, and make clean up fast and easy. I discovered them at a local collective kitchen, which was set up to promote the independence for seniors and to prevent social isolation. Also, it’s fun to cook with others!

On any given morning that I answer the “what’s for dinner?” question, I choose my freezer item, and put it in the fridge to defrost. Then close to dinner, I preheat the oven and in it goes. All that is left to prepare is a side salad and vegetables. For lettuce, I either buy it pre-washed, or will wash the salad on the day of purchase and spin dry it to store in the fridge ready for use. For the vegetables, I usually lightly steam them in my double boiler….

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If you want to decorate on a tight budget or just want to be super frugal….then I have some suggestions for you.

Focus on a uniform color theme, second hand furniture, and keeping your place neat & clean & tidy.

If you have bits and pieces of furniture of various wood types, consider painting your furniture white. And use one or two accent colors to introduce “play” or richness to the overall look. The accent color you choose is your fun, a reflection of your personality and creativity.

Second hand furniture can be found everywhere. You don’t need to spend big money…personally my preference is for new chairs and a sofa…but when I had my first apartment I had 2 chairs from an estate sale in my neighborhood, and my grandfather’s old couch…it worked for me. I was lucky enough to have the use of an extra bed from my mom’s house…so my focus was on decorating and kitchenware.

I fondly remember my burgundy polka dot dishes. A set of 8-place settings with serving dishes that followed me for years. I now use only clear glass dishes and crystal so that the colors and patterns of my tablecloths are not hidden from view, and play an important part of my table display.

In terms of neat & clean & tidy, to me this rules over brand name furniture and such. A home can be a real sense of pride and having an inviting environment, uncluttered and clean, to come home to at the end of the day is truly a “Home Sweet Home”.

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Ideally have a place for everything in your home….try to keep things in the same place….room by room….surface by surface

Check your purse or bag and pack it in advance of going out (not last minute)….be sure to have everything you need….and leave the rest

Place your keys and bus pass in the same place…like in a dish on a hall table….easy to find & grab before going out

Put your eye glasses in a glass case and in the same place when not in use….like on a bureau…easy to find

Coat pockets can be a dangerous place to keep money, cards, a bus pass and cell phone….so easy to fall out….best kept in a purse or bag

Keep your wallet organized to hold your bank cards and cash…and make sure it isn’t overstuffed….a risk for things to fall out

Do not use grocery bags to hold your wallet and stuff instead of a purse or travel bag….grocery bags can accidentally be left behind much easier….

Cell Phones

Have it in the same place to charge it at home. When at a friend’s place, keep it in your purse, so it won’t be left behind by accident

When out and texting …do not place your cell “temporarily” on a surface….with distractions it can be lifted or forgotten….and lost forever

When out and texting, give yourself an end-time to put the cell back into your purse for safe keeping….

Taxis

Always call a taxi instead of flagging one on the street and always ask for a receipt. Why? Because if you forgot something you’ll have the contact info needed to call in to report the loss. This gives you a better chance to get your stuff back, let’s you make an official report, and the driver is accountable to the company.

Messaging, use a sticker or printed label with your phone number to put on valuable items, like a digital camera…so if it ever lost & found, you can be called

When Travelling

Don’t put your gloves/hat on your lap. Chances are when you stand up; they’ll fall to the floor

When out and carrying bags… a purse, grocery bags, a carry-all bag…count them regularly to make sure you always have that number

After grocery shopping count your bags; if returning home on public transport….take a seat where you can have the bags on your lap or beside you, and not on the floor where it is too easy to leave behind

When at another house, keep all your stuff in one go-to area… so when you leave… everything will be in one place for pick-up…

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With nothing on the work surface, I automatically have a sense of calm when I walk into the office. I’m not caused to panic… there is no, “OMG I have to handle that file, call that person, or pay that bill”. Because I don’t have piles of paper or files on my desk acting as reminders, there is none of the “visual noise” that a cluttered office can cause.

What I learned works best for me is to divide my days and weeks into categories or blocks of time for when I do a variety of tasks. This way I have control over when and how I spend my time. It causes me to be more pro-active in my planning, and less reactive in responding to visual cues such as files on my desk to inform me of an urgency. I use my agenda for my reminders. And I plan to transition to a more digital calendar approach…in time.

I’ve been through various shredding routines too. I recently placed my shredder with two small bins under my desk, one for shredding items and one for regular recycling. Now I shred as I go or when the small bin is full.

The filing cabinets are orderly, and the categories and sub categories are clearly identified with easy-to-read labels in plastic tabs. This is where I store my projects, and routine documentation. And at the end of the day, my desk looks like this on account of my having created a place for everything. Everything has a home in a drawer or on a shelf. Everything has its own home….

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These items were made by myself and my mom for my daughter. My mom did the knitted outfit, and I did the design and sewing of the other pieces. With the exception of the “My 1st Christmas” piece which is a treasure that she received as a Christmas gift.

I’m following the model of careful storage for these treasured pieces to ensure that they stay in good shape for the long term.

The prime guiding principle is to make sure that all clothing is properly cleaned and aired before storing. Any dirt left on clothing before storage can destroy it over time.

If you want to take an extra step, you can remove metal buttons from clothing to avoid the risk of staining, and store the buttons in an acid-free envelope to be sewn back on later. I’ll do that for this little jacket, my daughter’s first suit.

Ideally, use acid-free paper and an acid-free box for storage. The box should be large enough to allow for air circulation. The acid-free paper can be used to hold the shape of sleeves and such, and prevent creases that can affect the garment over time.

The best place to store the box is in a dark closet way from any drafts or window walls. As humidity is something to avoid in the care of fabrics and clothing.

And about once a year, take out your items to inspect for damage, then repackage them and return to the box. When well cared for, your treasured pieces can serve as fond reminders of days gone by. These items will for me.

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If we want to participate, how about we take some time, in the spirit of Buy Nothing Day to reflect, evaluate, and plan our upcoming purchases. Ask yourself, when you shop, is it based on your needs and wants or just,” I gotta have that – now!”. Shopping requires funds from your bank account to cover the purchase cost. Credit cards make purchasing too easy when you have limited funds…. but the consequences of debt can be so painful.

So back to thinking about shopping for gifts for the holidays. Are the holidays about going into massive credit card debt, or is it mostly about family, friends and good feelings? The critic in your head may say you need to meet a certain spending standard when you shop. On a healthy note, you could think about the person you are shopping for, their favorite color, favorite things, music, sweets…and shop carefully within your defined budget for something you know they’d appreciate. The value is in the thoughtfulness, not the price tag.

Given the current economy, it wouldn’t be out of place to have a discussion with family and friends to suggest a spending limit per gift, or a limit on the number of gifts you exchange. Whatever you are comfortable with can work with a positive attitude and approach.

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It is estimated that between 2% to 4% of the adult population suffers from hoarding. Hoarding includes such behaviors such as excessive saving, excessive acquisition, compulsive shopping, and inability to discard. The failure to discard can begin early, although the average age when people seek assistance or when it is reported at crisis levels is from middle age well into the advanced years. If you are a chronically disorganized person with hoarding tendencies, a family member or a member of the medical or legal professional seeking assistance for a hoarder, we welcome your call or email.

Required: Sorting, Decluttering, Removal of Items, Repairs, Organizing, and Cleaning

Organizing Options provides experienced professional sorting and organizing; onsite household evaluation. We collaborates with health and gerontology professionals to provide compassion and an effective service to carry out the downsizing and major cleaning required for the individual to either remain in their home, or to clear the house prior to a move and/or home sale.

Experience has shown us that being with a connected support team; hoarders can change their lives and sustain change over time. Our services are fee-based. And we make every effort to manage costs by using budget-sensitive services.

Compulsive hoarding is a complex issue, and we ensure that a health professional is involved for the client’s well-being, allowing us to proceed with the client-authorized downsizing, major cleaning, and/or move management required. All inquiries are held in strict confidence.

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As Organizing Options is an eco-friendly company; we share their vision for applying responsible environmental practices. 1-800 -GOT-JUNK? reports as having saved over 2 billion pounds of junk from going into landfill sites! Together we’re making a difference in our communities on the Island of Montreal and beyond!

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Now they can have the joy of the great outdoors, jump after butterflies, and paw around. I bring them outside on a harness and leash set. I’ve tried other collars and they’ve wiggled out of all of them and escaped. So this option is the safest and cutest discovery yet! I got this cute set from Poochey Couture. While this store caters to dogs, a size small harness will fit your average size cat.

As the photos shows, the end of the leash is tied to a garden stake and voila, they are safe and secured. Typically I bring my morning cup of coffee to the back garden with them and their bowl of water and take a few minutes to just relax and enjoy. What a nice way to start the day with your favorite cat.

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And summer is the perfect time to enjoy these local events. The municipalities in and around Montreal have host such activities as Concerts in the Park in the Town of Mount Royal, and plays produced by Shakespeare in the Park in Westmount and other municipalities.

Thinking of stepping out? Why not invite a friend or an older neighbor to join you. As said in a Cantor’s bagel ad way back, “Don’t be shy”. In my recent renovations, I came across an embroidery sampler I did as a teenager. The text stitched was, “The road to a friend’s house in never far”. It’s so true, and while I didn’t keep the framed work (even though it was sentimental!) I did keep that idea and invited a neighborhood friend to hear the 306 Maple Leaf Wing Concert Band at Connaught Park in the Town of Mount Royal. Such a pleasant evening.

So I encourage you to pick up the phone to reconnect with a friend or neighbor and enjoy one of the many events going on. All the best for your summer!

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