tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68704401225365805682024-02-07T22:25:19.374-08:00One Year to an Organized LifeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-22198762362239275502012-05-21T22:44:00.002-07:002012-05-21T22:44:14.865-07:00Oh, the irony!<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">What's a Disorganized Person to Do (317 Ideas, Tips, Products, and Lists to Unclutter Your Home and Streamline Your Life)</span></strong></em> is now one day overdue and I owe $0.25 in library fines. <br />
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Have I read this book? No!<br />
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But at least I was able to locate it so it can be returned to the library. I should get credit for that, right? :)Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-64847488662835204402012-05-21T21:50:00.001-07:002012-05-21T21:50:26.114-07:00Not so organized!Oh my poor, sad little blog and my completely disorganized life. <br />
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I think that the more children one has, the less organized one becomes...at least that is the case if you're not particularly organized in the first place.<br />
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It's funny, because when I approach my work and projects in general, I'm incredibly organized. Not sure why I can't apply that to my home and life in general...but I think it's perhaps because I'm interested in so many different things and have a hard time focusing. I get easily distracted.<br />
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Just musings. I will be back one of these days, when I have the energy to recommit to this project!!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-23696517784681858542011-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:30:43.293-08:00Now for fantasy time: unclutter your life in one week!I just reviewed <a href="http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/2011/02/unclutter-your-life-in-one-week-perhaps.html">an organizing book on my book blog</a>. Although I found it lacking (especially the one-week idea!), it did give me some continued inspiration.<br />
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It also helped me kick up my brutality a notch. Last night I was decluttering in our family/play room, which is inevitably getting trashed. Nicholas (4) had gotten into the games closet again and dumped a lot of games on the floor. Many of these got recycled or dumped into a "donate" bag. So did many toys. An acquaintance recently gave us a child's work bench and a basket of wood pieces, thinking our boys would like it. Last night I suggested to my husband that we donate it to Nicholas' preschool because our kids have hardly touched it since it first arrived...and the wood pieces end up getting scattered around the floor. I'm determined to conquer the "SMALL PIECES PROBLEM"! Well, at least tame the monster a little bit.<br />
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And yes, I realize if I were a better mother, I would engage my children in giving away these toys and games, and I would find a way to convince them that this is going to result in a simpler, saner home. But anyone who suggests that either has children who are saints or does not have children. I'm taking the easy way out. Out of sight, out of mind.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-31707627819654919612011-02-05T15:05:00.000-08:002011-02-05T15:05:56.153-08:00Feeling brutal!It's one of those days when I feel like throwing out (or donating) tons of stuff. I wish I had the kinds of kids who willingly gave stuff away. It's not that they never do that--in fact, Kieran agreed to give away a robot he got for Christmas a few years ago--but if they knew what I got rid of, they wouldn't be very happy with me.<br />
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Mike peeked into my Goodwill and garbage bags this morning, and pulled out a Santa costume a friend made for Nicholas a year ago last Christmas. It's getting too small for him, full of pills, but he still does wear it when he comes across it. My theory is: out of sight, out of mind. But he will probably go looking for it.<br />
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My dishonest parenting methods go like this:<br />
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Kid: "Where did _____________ go?"<br />
Me: "I don't know." (which is, honestly, the truth, even though it's just shades of the truth)<br />
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This approach came back to bite me recently...as I <em>think</em> I got rid of a "High School Musical" CD last year sometime. Chris and Kieran were both into HSM when it came out, and we had the CD and DVD. But when I came across it, I figured that it was definitely OUT (it's not as cool to like HSM as it was when they were younger), so OUT it went.<br />
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Wouldn't you know? The middle school spring play is "High School Musical" and Chris has to learn a song from the soundtrack for the audition. I am not absolutely positive I got rid of it, but it rings a bell. "I don't know, honey."Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-72877044880249896742011-01-29T11:32:00.000-08:002011-01-29T11:32:43.045-08:00Words of wisdom from my mother-in-lawAfter reading <a href="http://oneyearorganizedlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/skeletons-in-my-cupboard-expiration.html">my recent post</a>, she sent me this helpful list of shelf life for herbs and spices:<br />
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Spices, ground: 2-3 years<br />
Spices,whole: 3-4 years<br />
Seasoning blends: 1-2 years<br />
Herbs: l-3 years<br />
Extracts: 4 years (except vanilla, which lasts indefinitely)<br />
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Good to know! She also informed me that dried-up prunes can be soaked in boiling water overnight... "they swell up and you can make a compote from them. Good at breakfast with yogurt. However it is probably late as I note that you have thrown them out..."<br />
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Yes indeed, I do not plan on fishing through the garbage for them! Oh well--next time I will try the soaking-overnight method for dried-up fruits.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-43583220854115712592011-01-27T15:26:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:26:58.031-08:00The skeletons in my cupboard (expiration dates and rancid nuts)Last night I purged and reorganized our microwave cabinet, the spice/canned goods/oil and vinegar cupboard, and the dishes cupboard. <br />
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I found a Costco-sized bag of raw almonds hidden away behind other stuff, rancid. When will we learn? Almonds seem to go rancid easily. What a waste of money!<br />
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I also got rid of some kind of Trader Joe's sauce (pecadillo?) that had an expiration date of 2005!!! How did I miss that last year? (Guess I didn't look at the date and still thought I would use it.)<br />
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I also found some kind of Indian marinade without a date on it, but I know we've had it in the cupboard for years. Out it went. I don't think it would have harmed us if we had used it (my oldest son is very concerned about expiration dates, though!), but it was time to go. We tend to keep our herbs and spices past their best times...and I know they lose their potency, but I don't think they do us any harm. I'm too thrifty to throw everything away.<br />
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I have a bag of culinary lavendar I bought a few years ago at the Farmer's Market. I used it once to make raspberry-lavendar muffins, but they were disappointing. Wondering what I will do with this lavendar or if I should dispose of it.<br />
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Maybe I will really get my kitchen organized in January after all!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-5109220449572063332011-01-26T21:57:00.000-08:002011-01-26T21:57:19.489-08:00What's lurking in the cupboards...I still haven't completely given up on my focus on the kitchen in January. It's still January, right?<br />
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Last night I tackled one of the kitchen cupboards. I didn't take before-and-after photos because I thought I had done that last year...but it appears that I didn't. :) Oh well. It was the cupboard containing baking staples, rice and pasta, Japanese foodstuffs, lentils, dried fruits and nuts, etc. <br />
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<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Gluten-Free-22-Ounce/dp/B000EDBPQ6?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Pancake Mix, 22-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000EDBPQ6&tag=mgettel" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000EDBPQ6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>I found FOUR unopened packages of this: Bob's Red Mill gluten-free pancake mix. I combined them all into a ziploc bag and will store it in the freezer. Just goes to show what gets hidden in jumbled cupboards. I got rid of a variety of other items too--prunes that were too dried out to be edible, wild rice that had never been eaten, root beer extract that we've had for years and have never used, etc. <br />
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Onward!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-64719452900430650002011-01-13T15:48:00.000-08:002011-01-13T15:48:39.864-08:00One simple work organizing task, used with great success so far<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp/1576754227?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1576754227&tag=mgettel" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1576754227" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>I'm reading an unfortunately named book this week, <em><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp/1576754227?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1576754227" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></em> by Brian Tracy.<br />
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Three of the simple principles of Tracy's I've put in place this week, two days in a row so far:<br />
<ul><li>I'm starting out each day by making a list. It's simple--in MS Word, with four columns: priority, task, due date, and status. The next day I dupe and revise the same list (and delete what I've accomplished the previous day).</li>
<li>I am prioritizing the items A, B, C, D, or E. Tracy recommends that you not do ANY "B" items until you accomplish all of your "A" items. This is based on the principle that you must do the important things first (hence the title and unfortunate image about eating the frog). Obviously, as the days pass, some of the B items will move up to become A items. (By the way, "D" stands for delegate, and "E" stands for eliminate.)</li>
<li>When I have another task to accomplish, I add it to the list. He recommends not doing anything that is not on your list. Clearly, I've got to use some judgment. I wouldn't get much done if I had to write down every little e-mail before I responded to it. </li>
</ul>So far, these techniques are helping me stay on task. I've always been a list lover...but I do have a tendency to get distracted from my goals, so this is helping me stay focused. <br />
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I have to confess that writing this blog post was NOT on my list. It was a 5-minute distraction. So back on focus!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-70521406532231259122011-01-11T22:28:00.000-08:002011-01-11T22:28:53.344-08:00I'm certainly not giving up my comforter!Take a gander at <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111797/down-with-comforters#mwpphu-container">this completely ridiculous article</a> in the <em>Wall Street Journal</em>, no less.<br />
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The author, Sara Ruffin Costello, proposes that we all throw out our comforters and replace them with blankets.<br />
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HELLO? It's the bleak midwinter in most of the country! Where does Costello live? Even Florida is experiencing record-low temps right now.<br />
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As Costello writes, "Many aesthetes have been reconsidering the down comforter, some banishing it altogether." A set of sheets and a "coverlet" (such a snob...) just do not do it during the cold weather. <br />
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And I've never had a smelly comforter. Makes me wonder what on earth she has done to hers.<br />
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Her last words are that "Housekeeper or not, I shan't be revisiting my ex, Duvet, unless I find myself in a house without heat." Ironically, the link to the article right below this one is titled "See Energy Steps to Take for a Less Pricey Winter." How about using a fluffy, warm comforter instead of a thin blanket? <br />
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P.S. Just took a peek on Google for the author. Apparently she and her hubby put their VERY STYLISH west village townhouse on the market earlier this year for $13 million. Now, does <a href="http://www.casasugar.com/Sara-Ruffin-Costello-Gallery-8329757?page=0,0,8#8">this look like a warm, cozy, inviting bed</a>? I think not.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-26618122869847538642011-01-05T17:47:00.000-08:002011-01-05T17:47:32.758-08:00Never empty a dirty dishwasher (or load a clean one) again!Do you ever empty the dishwasher when it is dirty or load clean dishes into a dirty dishwasher? I'm notorious for it! We have a very small dishwasher, and we rinse our dishes pretty thoroughly before we load them in. <br />
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I absolutely LOVE this tip found at <a href="http://www.parenthacks.com/2011/01/dishwasher.html">parenthacks.com</a> and have already passed it along to Mike. I'm hoping he can remember to apply it!! It is so simple, you'll wonder why you didn't think of it yourself:<br />
<blockquote><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">When you empty the dishwasher, refill the detergent cup. If you open the dishwasher and see soap, you'll know the dishes are dirty. If there is no soap, they are clean.</span></strong></em></blockquote>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-49502092346303832252011-01-05T17:29:00.000-08:002011-01-05T17:29:49.896-08:0020 iPhone apps to help you get organized!I joined the iPhone revolution last summer after some initial skepticism. What made me take the plunge was that my company changed its cell phone policy and began requiring employees to take on their own cell phone accounts. (Previously I had a BlackBerry.) In addition, I wanted to have a way to combine my iPod with my cell phone, plus have enough memory to keep all my music on one device. (I couldn't do this before with my iPod Nano.) When the iPhone 4s came out, the prices for 3GS phones began to come down. Now I have a 16-GB iPhone 3GS.<br />
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<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="How to Cook Everything, Completely Revised 10th Anniversary Edition: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great Food" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0764578650&tag=mgettel" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0764578650" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>Because I'm so cheap, I haven't purchased many iPhone apps--I tend to go for the free ones. About the only ones I've bought have been <a href="http://blogpress.coollittlethings.com/">BlogPress</a> and Mark Bittman's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/19/mark-bittman-iphone-app-h_n_543570.html">How to Cook Everything</a>. I'm using a free iPhone app to record what I eat--it's called "<a href="http://www.loseit.com/">Lose It!"</a><br />
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So I'm always on the lookout for great free apps that will help me become more organized. <em>Working Mother</em> magazine has just released its "<a href="http://www.workingmother.com/BestCompanies/gallery/2010/11/iphone-apps-to-improve-your-life">20 Best iPhone Apps</a>," many of which I've uploaded. <a href="http://www.mycardstar.com/">CardStar </a>lets you store loyalty and library cards in one place, and <a href="http://www.tangocard.com/iphone">Tango Card</a> keeps track of your various gift card balances (and reminds you to use them)!<br />
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The one I think I'm most excited about the app that allows you to take photos of your sales receipts, <a href="http://www.shoeboxed.com/receipt-capture-iphone-app/">Shoeboxed</a>. I can't stand the amount of paperwork we seem to collect in our house, so this could go a long way toward eliminating that.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-20543480920129384522011-01-03T11:50:00.000-08:002011-01-03T11:50:00.667-08:00Making effective new year's resolutions<em>Happiness Project</em> author Gretchen Rubin provides some excellent pointers on how to make effective new year's resolutions <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/12/5-questions-to-help-you-make-effective-new-years-resolutions.html">on her blog</a>.<br />
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I like the way she thinks. She suggests that we think about what would make us happier. Fortunately, the resolutions I've already made (record what I eat and spend, paint my bathroom and other rooms in my house, write more personal notes and birthday cards, try to be more patient and loving with my family) all would make me much happier. And ultimately, getting my life organized both at home and at work--and living more intentionally at all times--would definitely make me happier!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-22154255793496413642011-01-03T11:47:00.000-08:002011-01-03T11:47:27.701-08:00One Year to an Organized Work Life, Week One: Chart the Course<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Work-Week-Week/dp/0738212792?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="One Year to an Organized Work Life: From Your Desk to Your Deadlines, the Week-by-Week Guide to Eliminating Office Stress for Good" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0738212792&tag=mgettel" /></a>I bought <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Life-Week-Week/dp/1600940560?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>One Year to an Organized Work Life</em> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1600940560" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>last year but just cracked it open today. I'm gung ho again to get my life organized, and as I have some different and new responsibilities at work, it's a good time to begin this book in conjunction with the original <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Life-Week-Week/dp/1600940560?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>One Year to an Organized Life</em> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1600940560" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>book.</span><br />
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<span>In Regina Leeds' introduction to January, she gives us two habits for the month:</span><br />
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<span><strong>Work Habit of the Month: Leave Your Desk.</strong> This is an EXCELLENT place for me to start. I'm very guilty of working through my lunch, and my back often suffers as a result. I need to leave the office every day, either to go to the gym or to take a walk. Or even just to walk up and down seven flights of stairs (I work on the seventh floor). I think I will start today by walking downtown on my lunch hour.</span><br />
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<span><strong>Home Habit of the Month: Make Your Bed.</strong> Check. Already doing this every day. Yay!</span><br />
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<span>In Week One, Leeds talks about how easy it is to find yourself flying on auto pilot, without charting a course for your day. Again, this is me. I'm hoping that the changes in my job responsibilities will supercharge my energy, organization, and motivation to get myself off of autopilot and be more intentional in how I work each day.</span><br />
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<span>She poses some questions for us to ponder, such as the following:</span><br />
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<span><strong>Where am I now? </strong>I am extremely lucky to have the job I do. I get to use my English degree, and I get paid to write, edit, and communicate. I didn't intentionally set out this goal (to work as a writer/editor in an engineering/project delivery firm), but I'm happy to be here. I've been at my company for 20 years now and it's a great place for me. I love my coworkers, and I'm never bored. </span><br />
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<span><strong>How did I get here?</strong> I taught English in Japan for three years after graduating with a B.A. in English Lit. After I returned from Japan, I started temping while I was looking for a job in international relations. I was hired as a temporary receptionist/admin. assistant, and I then discovered that my company had an editing department. That's how I got my start. I fell into it, just as I fell into leadership and management three and six years later. Overall, I feel fulfilled and challenged in my work.</span><br />
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<span><strong>What do I love?</strong> I love what I do, most of the time. I love taking on projects and doing my best. I love finding ways to help people do their jobs better or more efficiently. I love mentoring people and helping them reach their goals. I love helping others communicate effectively.</span><br />
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<span>I often tell my coworkers and direct reports that they need to examine their current work situation on a regular basis and ask whether they are happy in their job more than 50 percent of the time. Being happy in one's job 100 percent of the time is unrealistic. Most people will have days or projects that are not that exciting or fulfilling. The most important thing is to be happy as much of the time as possible. I've always told people that if that's not happening, they need to get out.</span><br />
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<span>Leeds then advises us to make a list of our passions and think about how to incorporate these into our work lives. </span><br />
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<span><strong>My passions (related to work):</strong> </span><br />
<ul><li><span>Expressing my creativity</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Helping people reach their full potential</span></li>
<li><span>Communicating, or helping others communicate effectively</span></li>
<li><span>Streamlining processes or ways to get work done (again, helping people)</span></li>
<li><span>Doing my best work</span></li>
</ul><span>One concrete way I can think of to incorporate these into my work life is to get off of autopilot and be more intentional each day (and not get distracted too much by non-work things). Another is to review each of these at the beginning and end of each week to see if I've been successful. </span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-87900732403365541572011-01-02T22:09:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:09:50.259-08:00Reflections on the year (from Regina Leeds)Questions from my organizing heroine Regina Leeds' first post of the year on her <a href="http://oneyeartoanorganizedlife.blogspot.com/">One Year to an Organized Life blog</a>:<br />
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<strong><em>Did you do anything different this year that yielded great results? Make a note so you remember next year!</em></strong> <br />
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I decluttered throughout the year. I will continue this in 2011, in an attempt to keep on top of the clutter, but I will also try to go back to the book and be more methodical about it.<br />
<strong><em>In the same vein, were there things you realized after the fact could have been done with greater skill, joy and dispatch? Record those notes as well. No point making the same mistakes next year and asking yourself: "Why didn't I remember that ...?" </em></strong><br />
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As mentioned above, I'd like to get back to being more disciplined and methodical in my decluttering and organizing, as I was when I started this blog.<br />
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<strong><em>Are you 'done' with some aspects of the holiday? For example would you like to see another family member host the big holiday meal? I'd wait a few weeks and then have a conversation with key family members about how the holiday can be different next year. Make a note on your new calendar to make those calls. Without a reminder, it will go by the wayside like most good intentions.</em></strong><br />
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Nothing really comes to mind. I don't feel particularly overburdened during the holidays. We did have to holiday gatherings, but both of them were our choice and I enjoyed myself immensely, even though the preparation was a lot of work.<br />
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The other thing I'd like to do in 2011 is make more of my own gifts. This doesn't work very well for small children, who often want the latest and greatest toys, but it's a wonderful option for adults. I made a few gifts this year, but I'm always wanting to do more because I really enjoy making gifts...and so many people appreciate them.<br />
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<strong><em>Finally, was there something in your home that wasn't organized and caused you problems? Were the holiday boxes falling apart? Or were they stored in such a way that you had difficulty reaching them? it's the little, petty annoyances that can rob you of the potential joy in any experience. Tend to those details now. Do it as a present to yourself. Next year you will be so grateful!</em></strong><br />
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My organization annoyances are not really concentrated on one room or in one area. I will feel more rested and satisfied when more of my house is organized in general. Another factor is finding a better way to get my 4-year-old to pick up his toys after he plays with them. We are not very disciplined about that...and it seems that whenever we clean up the living room, it soon becomes cluttered again!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-12351999746780747842011-01-02T22:01:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:01:17.808-08:00Making and breaking resolutionsDay 2 of 2011, and I thought I'd already broken one of my resolutions, but upon further reflection, I guess I didn't. I've found a way to help meet another resolution, and I've added one more!<br />
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<strong>How I nearly broke one:</strong> my visiting mother-in-law offered to take us all out to dinner to our favorite Chinese restaurant, Shanghai Noble House. We've been going there since Chris was a baby, and it's truly like "Cheers," where everybody knows our name. We hadn't been there for a long time (because we are trying to eat healthier), but it was like old home week. They brought us extra crab meat rangoons, free soup, and free almond cookies. Talk about a warm welcome. The food is not the healthiest...as is the case with the yummiest Chinese food. I can't resist the General Tso's Chicken or the Honey Prawns, although we also ordered some seafood and vegetable dishes and Moo Shoo Chicken, which comes with lettuce wraps (a bit healthier!). I was feeling guilty about eating Chinese food on Day 2 of trying to eat healthier, when I realized that my resolution was not to eat healthier, but to write down what I ate. As a result, I did not order beer with my meal...and I was more careful about portions. It still wasn't a particularly healthy meal, but I'll get back on track tomorrow. (And I'm NOT going to taste the almond cookies!)<br />
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<strong>How I found a way to help with one:</strong> I registered on the online financial site, <a href="http://mint.com/">Mint.com</a>, which synchronizes with your credit cards, investments, and checking account. I also have an iPhone app for it. So once I get the hang of the site, it will help me TREMENDOUSLY in tracking our spending...since we use credit cards or checks for most of what we spend. We also need to be more religious in giving the kids their allowance in cash rather than IOUs...hear that, honey?<br />
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<strong>How I decided to add a new one:</strong> I did not have my best parenting moment today. I lost my cool at the mall, when I should have counted to 10 (or 100) and considered how I would react to a parenting challenge. In the heat of the moment, I sometimes forget the impact my words or tone have on my kids. Chris made a mistake today, but so did I. I apologized and told him that I would try really hard not to overreact in the future. So one more resolution. I think I'd better post these in a few prominent places to remind myself! This one is probably even more important than painting the bathroom. :)Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-5018132402421796472011-01-01T22:25:00.000-08:002011-01-01T22:25:46.257-08:00New year, new goalsMy husband noted yesterday that his blog roll <a href="http://theyearofwritingdangerously.blogspot.com/">on his blog</a> changes order, depending on which blog has been updated most frequently. My other blogs, <a href="http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/">Every Day Is a Miracle</a> and <a href="http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/">Marie's Book Garden</a>, are often at the top of the list, but One Year to an Organized Life is always at the bottom. Touche. It seems I haven't been very organized lately.<br />
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In fact, we madly cleaned the house for my mother-in-law's extended visit over the holidays, and we've cleaned it again a couple of times for some holiday gatherings. (Even though cleaning can be a pain in the neck, entertaining is one fine incentive to get your house cleaned!) The study is in passable shape, but it still hasn't been completely marked "organized" so I haven't posted photos yet.<br />
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Here are my plans for 2011--I know I made some similar goals at the beginning of 2010, but you can't fault me for trying! <br />
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1. <strong>Finish renovating our bathroom</strong>. It still looks like we're in the middle of painting--because we hired painters and they did a shoddy job, so we have begun prep work to do it over but haven't finished--for 4 years. Yes, isn't that scandalous? I'm airing all my dirty laundry now. The tiles have never been properly sealed, we need a new bathroom vanity, and the trim hasn't been painted (even for the first time). This is the top priority for my life in 2011. <br />
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And shortly after that, <strong>paint the remaining pink walls in this house</strong>. I despise pastel pink, and these walls are not even pastel any more. They are more of a dirty pink because of the kids. Our house would look so much nicer if we were to paint a number of the rooms, including the ones we've already painted but years ago. In order: bathroom, downstairs hallway, upstairs hallway, upstairs bathroom. Then tackle the kitchen. I'll be lucky if I get half of those accomplished, at the speed I go!<br />
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2. <strong>Write down everything I eat and spend.</strong> I've finished January 1 by tracking my food on "Lose It" (an iPhone app) but am off to a bad start at the spending. I ran to Fred Meyer to buy some fish and other groceries before dinner, and after going through the self-serve checkout, I neglected to grab my receipt. I will have to pull it off our credit card bill and backtrack. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be more deliberate about how we are spending our money and save more. And of course, eat less and more healthily.<br />
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3. <strong>Write more personal notes and birthday cards</strong>. As a child, I collected stationery and wrote a lot of letters. In the days of e-mail, people rarely send snail mail any more, but I know how much it is appreciated. So this is one of my goals, although not as high of a priority as #2 and #3. <br />
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How will I do? Wait and see. And maybe, while I'm at it, I'll actually start <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Life-Week-Week/dp/1600940560?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>One Year to An Organized Life</em> </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1600940560" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>all over again! At least, three years in, it won't be as bad as the first time around. Haha!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-3814573307353923402010-11-09T15:00:00.000-08:002010-11-09T15:00:04.175-08:00Don’t let the holidays waste the planet<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Did you know?</span></strong><br />
<ul><li>Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Years Day? That adds up to an additional <a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html)">1 million tons a week going to the landfills</a>. </li>
<li>December 24 and 25 generate <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/sustainable-holiday-00400000033070/">3 billion extra tons of garbage each year</a>. Gift wrap and shopping bags generate<a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://earth911.com/recycling/paper/wrapping-paper/facts-about-recycling-wrapping-paper/)"> 4 million tons of trash annually</a>, and most are not recyclable. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.eco-action.net/pollution.html">Half of the paper consumed in the U.S. is for wrapping</a> and decorating consumer products. </li>
<li>The 2.65 million holiday cards sold each year in the U.S. <a href="http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html">could fill a football field 10 stories high</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html">At least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted</a> each year (over 100 pounds per person). </li>
<li><a href="http://www.epa.gov/osw/wycd/funfacts/winter.htm">About 40% of all batteries are sold</a> during the holidays.</li>
</ul><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><strong>What can I do to reduce my holiday waste?</strong></span><br />
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<div> </div><strong>Send holiday cards by e-mail or use electronic greetings.</strong> If everyone sent one less card, <a href="http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html">we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper</a>. Reuse holiday cards by creating gift tags.<br />
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<div> </div><strong>Use newspaper, children’s artwork, or fabric bags for gift wrap.</strong> If every American family wrapped three presents in reused materials, <a href="http://eco-chick.com/2006/11/599/eco-wrapping/">it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields</a>.<br />
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<div> </div><strong>Forgo the ribbon, or reuse it.</strong> <a href="http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html">If every family reused 2 feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved</a> could tie a bow around the entire planet?<br />
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<div> </div><strong>Shop wisely. </strong>Take reusable shopping bags when you go shopping. Purchase gifts with minimal packaging or ones that don’t use batteries.<br />
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<div> </div><strong>Use less energy.</strong> Drive less and combine trips: <a href="http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html">if each family used 1 less gallon of gas during the holidays, we'd reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tons</a>. Encourage carpooling to holiday events. Use LED lights to reduce 90% of energy consumption. <br />
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<div> </div><strong>Cut back on gift giving</strong> (read my other blog post on simplifying the holidays). Ask your friends and family to participate in “<a href="http://www.newdream.org/holiday/stats.php">the Hundred Dollar Holiday</a>,” started by environmentalist Bill McKibben and friends (participants limit holiday spending to $100). A national survey found that 70% of Americans would welcome less emphasis on gift giving and spending. <br />
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<strong>Produce less waste while entertaining.</strong> Send leftover food home with guests or donate to a shelter. Set up recycling stations at holiday events. Use cloth napkins and durable goods instead of paper and plastic. Offer water in pitchers rather than bottled water. Serve locally grown, sustainable foods.<br />
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<div> </div>Do you have any suggestions to share on how to green the holidays? If so, please leave a comment.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-62900175295682773182010-11-09T14:39:00.000-08:002010-11-09T16:45:59.376-08:0010 ways to simplify the holidaysDid you know that the average American household <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/8336489?story_id=8336489">spends $1,700 on holiday gifts and accessories each year</a> and carries <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-industry-facts-personal-debt-statistics-1276.php">credit card debt of $15,788</a>? Furthermore, the holidays can be a particularly stressful time of year, especially for <a href="http://www.greenbergresearch.com/index.php?ID=1843">women and people with lower incomes</a>. Here is some good news, though: people can feel <a href="http://www.greenbergresearch.com/index.php?ID=1843">more love and happiness during the holiday season</a> because they connect or reconnect with loved ones.<br />
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One secret to creating more happy moments and minimizing your holiday stress is to simplify your holiday traditions. You can start planning stress-free holidays now by making lists and organizing your family’s gift giving and traditions. Here are 10 ideas to consider:<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Gift giving</span></strong><br />
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1. <strong>Draw names for gifts</strong> <strong>or plan a </strong><a href="http://www.yankeeswap.com/yankee-swap-rules.php"><strong>yankee swap</strong></a>. We have a large extended family, and my cousins and I used to buy gifts for all of our children. Now we have the kids draw names, while the adults do a yankee swap. <br />
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2. <strong>Shop local.</strong> I like shopping in nearby <a href="http://www.multnomahvillage.com/businesses.php">Multnomah Village</a> so I can get my gifts wrapped for free. <br />
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3. <strong>Make your own gifts.</strong> You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give wonderful, personal gifts. My friend Shelia makes unique, wonderful family gifts with her kids, such as a cookbook with their family’s recipes or a painted mirror with her kids' photos on it. Other ideas are tree ornaments or photo calendars. I've been known to paint glassware, do calligraphy calendars, or make candles or jewelry. Search the library or the internet for easy handmade gifts you can make. Making gifts can save you a lot of money, and the gifts are much more personal. <br />
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4. <strong>Give experiences instead of physical gifts.</strong> Last year we <a href="http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-you-need-is-love-and-epiphany.html">gave Chris and Kieran tickets to see “Rain” (the Beatles tribute band)</a>. Other ideas are theater tickets, restaurant gift certificates, sports events, trips to the beach or mountains, or movie tickets. When I was a kid, we would often get one "big" gift for Christmas--like a bike or a stereo. These gifts were nearly always secondhand, of course, but we loved them.<br />
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5. <strong>Give a donation instead of a gift.</strong> You could consider donating to a charity in lieu of gifts. Last year Mike and <a href="http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-you-need-is-love-and-epiphany.html">made a joint donation to Interplast</a> instead of buying gifts for each other. Other worthy organizations are <a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/">Mercy Corps</a>, <a href="http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/?c=129338149035352096">Oregon Food Bank</a>, <a href="http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/Home.aspx">Medical Teams International</a>, <a href="http://www.waterforpeople.org/">Water For People</a>, and <a href="http://www.penniesforpeace.org/">Pennies for Peace</a>. A few years ago my sister and her family signed up to sponsor three children (matching their children’s ages) in developing countries through <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/sponsor-a-child?open&campaign=1193512&cmp=KNC-1193512">World Vision</a>.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Holiday traditions</span></strong><br />
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6. <strong>Give back to your community.</strong> Local organizations look for people to sponsor needy families. Try the <a href="http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf">Salvation Army</a>, <a href="http://www.svdpusa.org/">St. Vincent de Paul</a>, or <a href="http://handsonportland.org/projects/viewProject.php?_mode=occurrenceView&_action=load&ixActivity=1682&_clearFlag=specialevent&_clearFlag=course&ixAffiliateRegion=&sZipcode=&bAvailable=&dtBegin=&dtEnd=">Lutheran Community Services NW</a>. Or surf <a href="http://handsonportland.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html">Hands On Portland’s</a> comprehensive Web site to find a volunteer idea that fits your family. The <a href="http://www.childrensbookbank.org/">Children’s Book Bank</a> is a great local charity that is always seeking volunteers and donations.<br />
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7. <strong>Plan low-stress holiday events.</strong> Can you say “potluck”? It’s the most beautiful word in the holiday dictionary. If you host gatherings, ask guests to bring a food or beverage to reduce your time and cash outlay. Or plan a cookie exchange with friends.<br />
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8. <strong>Look for opportunities to spend quality family time.</strong> We always go to the <a href="http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-love-parade.html">Macy’s Holiday Parade</a> downtown (and it’s especially fun now that our Robert Gray Middle School student marches in it!). It’s a great way to start the holidays. We also like to go out into the sticks to choose a tree and stop by a McMenamin’s afterward. <br />
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9. <strong>If you live near Portland, take in some of the city's great entertainment. </strong>Check out Northwest Children’s Theater Company’s production of “<a href="http://nwcts.org/html/home.php">Annie</a>,” <a href="http://www.pcs.org/">Portland Center Stage’s</a> “A Christmas Story” and “The Santaland Diaries,” or the Northwest Dance Company’s <a href="http://www.nwdt.org/">Nutcracker Tea</a> (a family-friendly, less-expensive, and condensed “Nutcracker”). Have you experienced traditional British pantomime? You don’t have to leave Portland to partake in this hilarious tradition. “<a href="http://www.jane-a-theater-company.org/">Holly Jolly Hullabaloo</a>” is great fun. And it’s FREE, FREE, FREE! (Can you tell how much our family likes the theater?). <a href="http://www.pioneercourthousesquare.org/">Pioneer Courthouse Square</a> hosts a holiday ale fest, holiday artisan market, the “Tuba Christmas,” and a Christmas Carol singalong, in addition to tree and menorah lighting.<br />
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10. <strong>Spread out the fun.</strong> Who says that the holidays have to end on Dec. 9 (Chanukkah) or 25 (Christmas)? Our family has celebrated Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) with a tea party. We leave our tree up until Epiphany and <a href="http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/search?q=Rain+Beatles">continue my husband’s family tradition</a> of leaving our shoes under the tree so the “three kings” can put a small gift in them. Some companies plan holiday parties in January when it’s less chaotic. Think about ways you could spread out your celebrations.<br />
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Here are some more resources:<br />
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<a href="http://www.newdream.org/holiday/">http://www.newdream.org/holiday/</a><br />
<a href="http://fun.familyeducation.com/holidays-and-seasonal-events/stress/35214.html">http://fun.familyeducation.com/holidays-and-seasonal-events/stress/35214.html</a><br />
<a href="http://christmas.organizedhome.com/simplify-your-holidays">http://christmas.organizedhome.com/simplify-your-holidays</a><br />
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/green-your-holidays">http://www.squidoo.com/green-your-holidays</a><br />
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What are your ideas for simplifying the holidays? Please leave a comment and share your ideas!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-60206816157614052112010-11-04T08:57:00.000-07:002010-11-04T08:57:41.109-07:00Nine steps to identify clutterThis great list of "<a href="http://zenhabits.net/identify-clutter/">nine quick tips to identify clutter</a>" by Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project) is not only applicable to clutter in our own homes, but it is also a good list to apply to potential purchases. <br />
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Our vacation habits in 2010 have set us back financially, in addition to preschool fees and costs for children's activities...and we are trying to be even more austere in how we spend our money.<br />
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I am going to print out this list and laminate it so I can carry it around with me!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-43044509794471983822010-10-21T15:47:00.000-07:002010-10-21T15:47:18.112-07:00Unclutter your walletI just found this GREAT uncluttering blog called unclutterer.com. It provides daily tips on decluttering. (Why they didn't call it declutterer.com is beyond me.)<br />
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<a href="http://unclutterer.com/2010/10/21/unclutter-your-wallet-by-keeping-a-second-wallet-in-your-glove-box/">The tip for the day </a>concerns those big bulky wallets people end up carrying around (like my husband). Is it really necessary to have so many cards in your wallet? The blog post suggests keeping another wallet in your glove compartment to hold your loyalty cards. You can just grab the relevant card when you need it that way.<br />
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I actually like the suggestion one of the commenters has: punch a hole in each card and thread them on a keychain, and keep that in your glove compartment instead. Others take photos of their cards and store them in an iPhone app. These are all creative ideas to declutter your wallet.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-27143117193773669552010-10-04T15:30:00.000-07:002010-10-04T15:30:33.406-07:00Apple harvest time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have two apple trees in our backyard, and they typically bear fruit every other year. I wish the trees were on alternate years, but unfortunately all the bounty arrives at once! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Often we have more apples than we can use, and two years ago I am ashamed to admit that many of the apples went rotten, because we didn't get ourselves organized to do anything with them. (This is why this post is on my "One Year (or Five Years) to an Organized Life" blog!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My parents handed down a large homemade food dryer several years ago, and we have dried apples in the past. However, it's powered by a lightbulb (and consequently takes a couple of days to dry the fruit), has to stay in the backyard because of its bulk, and has screens with wooden frames (that are difficult to wash). As a result, it's cumbersome to dry food. I decided that if I were really to actively dry fruit this year, I needed to invest in a more user-friendly food dryer. This is what I ended up with: </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvNzy1hOekVPhS6pnGTjXwEqzxdg3l_2xc-PPIYEMStfee6BG-QDUE206jMoM1IjOVoV0zxZA5DC83f64MpC1YkoJs1BDjGorZa_c5iFKreVlclltzFRuQBsL1exRMdxZv-PqJKcBDe4/s1600/FoodDehydrator.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvNzy1hOekVPhS6pnGTjXwEqzxdg3l_2xc-PPIYEMStfee6BG-QDUE206jMoM1IjOVoV0zxZA5DC83f64MpC1YkoJs1BDjGorZa_c5iFKreVlclltzFRuQBsL1exRMdxZv-PqJKcBDe4/s1600/FoodDehydrator.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nesco food dehydrator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I bought it at Fred Meyer--it was on sale for $45, and I had an additional 10% off coupon...so it was about $40. I put it to work immediately last night. The apples were nearly done by the time I went to bed, with an additional hour this morning to finish them off. SOOOOO easy! I think I'm going to have fun with it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To prepare the apples, I used my trust apple peeler/corer/slicer, which I bought several years ago. It only comes out of the cupboard when we have a lot of apples. I LOVE this thing. It makes the process so much easier and faster.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZHKatcVGY1IGfR5iT4ux9fj1bZUeaWwyW_dO7QDE8axYIwUsLzR_qCeSeyaaIELpW_wEATVUyMN021vbRipXlj2dG0BdimPv_nUYWSUbf-Tv03JXVQ7gV8j-JgT6ethQIZyWfQgbL8I/s1600/apple_peeler_large4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZHKatcVGY1IGfR5iT4ux9fj1bZUeaWwyW_dO7QDE8axYIwUsLzR_qCeSeyaaIELpW_wEATVUyMN021vbRipXlj2dG0BdimPv_nUYWSUbf-Tv03JXVQ7gV8j-JgT6ethQIZyWfQgbL8I/s320/apple_peeler_large4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">The one downside to the food dehydrator is that it doesn't take the quantity that the homemade one does (although I could purchase more trays to do more fruit at once). After filling the dryer, I kept coring/peeling/slicing and made a pot of homemade applesauce. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I followed Mark Bittman's recipe (from my iPhone app of <em><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650?ie=UTF8&tag=mgettel&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">How to Cook Everything</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mgettel&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0764578650" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></em>!), which consisted of cut apples in a pot with 1/2 inch of water and a sprinkling of salt. Then he offers suggestions for additional ingredients. I added peeled fresh ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a couple of spoons of brown sugar. It turned out great, and I won't be surprised if it's gone by Friday. Next time I will make more.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-55159123692949048762010-09-29T11:04:00.000-07:002010-09-29T11:04:18.034-07:00Purging, donating, and giving away!!In addition to the 350 pounds we took to the dump earlier this month, we have also disposed of:<br />
<ul><li>A box full of alcohol and wine, including a fancy bottle that someone gave to us and Mike was hoping to save for the day he got published...turned to vinegar!</li>
<li>More kids' books--posted to paperbackswap.com, taken to the consignment store, donated to friends with a 1-year-old, and donated to the school rummage sale</li>
<li>Two strollers, a high chair, a play yard, and a crib (given to a friend)</li>
<li>Old dresser and wardrobe (that once held my own baby clothes!), given to the same friend when she saw them in our garage and asked us what we were going to do with them</li>
<li>A bike trailer...which we bought at a neighbor's yard sale YEARS ago and never used...our neighborhood has so many darn hills that it's hard to imagine being able to huff and puff up one of those hills hauling a bike trailer behind us...plus, Nick would rather ride his own bike now (given to the same friends with the 1-year-old, who live in a flatter, more bike-friendly neighborhood!)</li>
</ul>We need to find a place to dispose of a pair of cross-country skis, which Mike acquired at a church rummage sale and has never used. They will probably be going to Goodwill.<br />
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Our garage is looking AWESOME. It's not completely photo ready yet...but soon I will post before and after photos.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-55817710775208822472010-09-11T22:35:00.000-07:002010-09-11T22:37:58.896-07:00350 pounds to the dump today!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Today Mike spent plowing through all the junk we had accumulated in the garage, and I spent the whole day on the kitchen.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My great resolution to keep the kitchen counters clean has fallen to ruin.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The dishes had stacked up all over the counter, and it needed some serious, down-and-dirty TLC. I am happy to say that it's clean now...although every time I clean the kitchen I want to redo it. We've been living with the same linoleum, paint, etc., for 11 years now, and it's definitely looking worse for wear. The countertops are still in good shape, fortunately.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photos tomorrow!</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-17176753590446416312010-08-18T22:45:00.000-07:002010-08-18T17:37:08.493-07:00Spending less (and differently) makes people happierI've been off track in my organizing and not keeping this blog up to speed. Vacations and life craziness have gotten in the way, and I need to get back on the wagon.<br /><br />The house and mess in it are getting out of control. Kids' junk piled up everywhere, the little boys' room is a disaster zone, and remnants of my organizing efforts (bags ready for storage or donation) are piled in hallways.<br /><br />Recently I got an iPhone that has enough memory to house all my music. I downloaded as much as I could onto iTunes and am planning to offload tons of CDs. I've posted many of them on swapacd.com, and others I will donate. But that needs to be finished.<br /><br />We have taken three vacations this summer: (1) 20th anniversary trip for the two of us to San Francisco, (2) trip to Orlando, and (3) trip to Vancouver BC. What we had in savings has now been depleted, and we're dipping into our home equity line of credit.<br /><br />A friend posted <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/business/08consume.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all">this article on Facebook</a>: it's about how people are much happier when they change their lifestyles to spend less. In a recent study, researchers found that spending money on "experiences" makes people happier, longer, than buying stuff. "‘It’s better to go on a vacation than buy a new couch’ is basically the idea,” according to Professor Elizabeth Dunn (from the University of British Columbia), citing the research done by her colleagues, Leaf Van Boven and Thomas Gilovich. The theory is that vacations and other experiences offer longer-lasting memories than new stuff, which eventually becomes old stuff.<br /><br />This is timely information for us, as we have always spent a great deal of our expendable income on vacations and entertainment. It also reflects our lifestyle, in which we drive old cars and do not spend very much money on our house.<br /><br />Our plan for the fall is to HALT THE SPENDING! I've started taking this very seriously as we have cut back dramatically on eating out, and I am trying to stay away from <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">shopping</span></strong>. I will try to confine most of my shopping for clothing and personal items to my favorite consignment shop, where I can get credit for what I consign. Last Sunday Portland had an event I was looking forward to attending, Bargain Hunting PDX, where local craftspeople and vendors have a summer bazaar of sorts. Even though I had planned to attend, I decided not to in the end. However, this weekend is our neighborhood festival, and I love their annual sidewalk sale. I think I will inventory everything in my "gift box" before I go to avoid buying lots more gifts for Christmas--that tends to be one of my downfalls!<br /><br />I continue to observe that most of what we own does not get used. And I need to remember that to avoid buying more things we are not going to use.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870440122536580568.post-38614866855967680812010-06-29T09:29:00.000-07:002010-06-29T09:29:31.277-07:0021 things you should never buy new<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poor, neglected blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I like this article on Yahoo, <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/21-Things-You-Should-Never-usnews-2356162080.html?x=0">21 Things You Should Never Buy New</a>. A few comments:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>DVDs and CDs:</strong> I almost always buy these new, but I also do get them out of the library quite a lot, so I'm probably coming up even there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Books:</strong> Typically, the only books I buy new are gifts. Otherwise I get them out of the library, at book sales, or my favorite: Paperbackswap.com. The recent exceptions are the final two books of the Stieg Larsson series, which I just bought new.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Video Games:</strong> Couldn't agree more...when I think of all the $ Chris has wasted buying and selling video games! We have bought some Wii games new, though, when we were too impatient to wait for them to come out used (also, some games rarely get sold back)...namely Wii Rock Band, Beatles Rock Band, Sports Resort, and Fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: </strong>I've found great holiday dresses and boys' sportcoats and suits at my favorite resale shop, Katelyn's Closet in Multnomah Village. Haven't seen too many prom dresses, though, but I don't have to worry about that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Jewelry:</strong> As you might know, I never buy expensive jewelry, so this is not an issue for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Ikea Furniture: </strong>Good point about Craigslist. Assembling furniture is no fun, although it is nice to have that great feeling of accomplishment at the end!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Games and Toys:</strong> I'm gradually learning not to buy very many games and toys for my kids, because so often they do not end up playing with them much. Buying them secondhand is definitely the way to go...but even then, I only buy inexpensive items because I don't want to waste my $.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Maternity and Baby Clothes:</strong> Why buy new, unless you can't find a particular item used?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Musical Instruments:</strong> I agree with this point in general, but after a lifetime of playing used musical instruments, it is great to have a new mandolin and guitar! But for kids, I would never buy new. We bought Chris' drum kit at a music store that sells used musical instruments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Craft Supplies: </strong>One of these days, I will get to the Portland store SCRAP. But not until I use the craft supplies already filling my closet!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Houses and Cars:</strong> Goes without saying. We've never owned a new car or house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This article is a good reminder that many items depreciate in value immediately, or rarely get used and continue to be in good shape. It's easier to get more for your $ if you shop secondhand.</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07604805225366129402noreply@blogger.com0