Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Organize Your Recipes

I love to share a good recipe. For me that is one with a limited number of ingredients, quick to fix and good to taste. If it is low calorie, that is a bonus. One of my good friends doesn’t care how long it takes to cook a recipe. She enjoys the process of combining the ingredients and putting the meal together. Another friend says, if you can't grill it, then isn’t interested. We are also different in the ways we chose to organize our recipes and cookbooks,

There are several methods that work, so pick the one that best suits your style:

Digital Program
There are several programs for organizing recipes on your computer. They offer a selection of categories and search functions for easy access. Some programs allow you to publish your own cookbook. Check out www.cookbookpeople.com and www.cookbooksoftware.com. Some online websites, such as www.recipezaar.com, allow you to enter your own recipes, access other recipes and keep them all together in your account.

Three-Ring Binder
Use magnetic photo sheets or plastic sleeves to protect and store recipes. This works for clipped recipes of various sizes and protects the recipes while being used in the kitchen. Use page dividers with labels to separate the recipes into categories. Some suggestions are appetizers (further divide into meat, fish, vegetable, cheese, other), main dish (further divide into beef, pork, poultry, vegetarian), desserts (further divide into pies, cakes, candy, cookies and bars, miscellaneous). The binder(s) can also be stored on a shelf with your cookbooks.

Recipe Box
Recipe boxes are never big enough for me, but if you have less than thirty recipes that you use routinely, this is a good solution. For more recipes, use a long index cord file box from the hardware or stationery store. Consider laminating the recipe cards to protect them form food stains and moisture. Use index file dividers to separate them into the categories suggested above.

Accordion Folders
Use an accordion pocket folder for each major category of recipe (appetizer, main dish, desert, beverages, etc) and separate into categories within the folder. Label each folder and store them in a convenient spot.

Whatever method you use to store recipes, keep a file folder handy to tuck away new recipes you want to try. After you have tried the recipe, you can decide if it is worth keeping in your recipe filing system.


Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Organize a First Aid Kit for Summer

It is officially summertime.

That means most of us will be spending more time in the great outdoors. In spite of our best efforts, it sometimes becomes the great Ouch!doors. Bumps, bruises, stings and scrapes happen.

Now is good time to review first aid supplies and update the first aid kit. Suggestions for a basic first aid kit can be found at www.redcross.org. Add an extra chemical ice bag, an insect bite remedy, and a soothing lotion for sunburn. Review the contents of the kit to make sure that the expiration dates on the products have not expired. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit in the house and in the car. That way supplies are close at hand when they are needed. When accidents happen it is comforting to know you are ready to handle them quickly.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

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Monday, June 15, 2009

Organizing the Man Cave

Three guys showed me their man caves this week. One was in a finished room over the garage, one was in the garage and one was in the corner of an airplane hanger. These were three really different spaces that served very different purposes and each reflected the personality of its owner.

Two of the guys actually wanted some advice on how to better utilize the space and make room for their favorite past times. Even a man cave needs a sense of order and the tools to support having fun however the man cave dweller defines it.

One of my friends shared with me his belief that every man cave should start with used furniture and state of the art equipment. He does not want to be worried about putting his feet up on the coffee table or getting stains on the furniture. He does want cold drinks and snacks nearby as he watches sports with his friends on a wide screen television. His wife likes the idea that his friends are not cluttering up the family living space but she deplores the shabby and slovenly appearance of the room. Here is how we solved their differences and came up with a space that both of them love.

First, we took a good hard look at the dimensions of the room measuring twelve feet by fourteen feet with a garage door opening. Next we wrote down the activities the dweller planned for the room. Then we divided the space into zones that included media center, workbench and tools, cards and games, food and drink preparation and miscellaneous storage.

As we placed the contents of the room into these areas, we created storage space on the walls with the use of hangers and shelves. They bought inexpensive storage boxes and ottomans that double as extra seating and covered the mismatched furniture with stain-resistant coordinating slipcovers in masculine colors. Trashcans were placed in the food preparation area, the media area and the game area, and the workbench area. A plastic tub was included in the food prep area to place used dishes that need to be hauled to the kitchen. They even put a patio rug on the floor. The cave dweller promised to take it outside and hose it down occasionally.

The room looked so good the cave dweller warned his mate not to try to hold her book club in his space.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A Technique for Organizing Thoughts

Do you ever have trouble pulling your thoughts together? It happens to me every now and then when I am stressed, in a chaotic environment or under a tight deadline. Sometimes all three of those things happen at once and I am really in trouble. Either I cannot recall the information I need or I have a lot of other unrelated information intruding into my thoughts making it impossible for me to put together anything coherent.

When that happens I have a tried and true method that helps me organize my thoughts so I can complete an article, formulate an argument or make a major decision. Maybe it will work for you too.

I get a large pack of 3”x5” index cards and a pen. I sit quietly for a few minutes and think bout the subject that I want to organize. I don’t try to do that in any logical way, but just think of the subject in general. If I were deciding on buying a computer, I would just think about computers for a minute. Then I would begin writing on the index cards, one idea or feature on each card. They might read “laptop”, “memory”, “cost”, “software”, “Vista”, “Apple”, “networking”, and anything else that came to mind. If, in the middle of this exercise, I think, “I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning.” or “I can’t be late for my six-thirty meeting tomorrow.” I write “dry cleaning” on one card and “six-thirty meeting” on another. I keep writing the cards until I am out of ideas and thoughts about computers.

I separate the cards that deal with computers from the cards that have other thoughts. Then I put the computer cards into categories that make sense to me. Some examples of categories might be auxiliary equipment, software, operating systems, and features. Using the categories, I decide what is the most important thing about computers and prioritize the categories. Now I am ready to look at the order I have created from my random thoughts. When I do this I always see a pattern that allows me to determine if I have enough information to continue with the project or if I need to do further research. When I obtain further information, I jot it on a category card and add it to the pile. The finished cards give me an outline to organize my thoughts and make my decision.

The remaining cards with extraneous thoughts can be used to make a to-do list, give yourself a good laugh, or they can simply be recycled.

The next time you need a little extra help organizing your thoughts give this technique a try.


Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

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Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Organize Emergency Pet Supplies

June first marks the beginning of hurricane season. Virginia granted a tax-free holiday for selected supplies and many of us stocked up on the things we need in case of a weather emergency. It is time to look around at the furry, feathered and scaly creatures we call our pets and make sure we have an emergency plan for their care as well. We need to be ready to take care of their needs if we have to shelter in place without water and electricity or if we have to evacuate in the path or aftermath of bad weather.

Many shelters do not allow pets so it becomes even more important to make sure the plan includes adequate food and water and a safe shelter. Put together a kit that includes:
Ÿ Food and water for five days
Ÿ Manual can opener if needed and a containers for food and water
Ÿ Bedding and favorite toys
Ÿ Kitty litter, scoop, paper, deodorizer bags and other materials for elimination disposal
Ÿ Medications and medical records, shots and vaccinations in waterproof container
Ÿ Pet carrier, heavy duty leash and harness for each pet

Place the materials in a container that is easily portable and keep it with other emergency supplies. When weather emergencies occur you will be prepared to take care of your pets as well as yourself and your family.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

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