Cheaper By The Dozen

Not the movie, the book. It's not really anything like the movie (except they have 12 children).

An excellent resource for efficient ideas! And a cute story, too :)

Visual weight takes on fashion

In thinking more about this "visual weight" in my life, I'm reminded of the fashion tip of "get completely dressed and then take off one accessory". That may be the rule that helps get my calendar/checkbook/grocery shopping/desk in order. If I just remove ONE thing from each, life would instantly feel lighter and simpler.

I already feel better about skipping the carbonated beverage aisle in the grocery store.

Visual Weight

I've been reading a whole lot lately on interior design. Most of it is still Greek to me, but I'm intrigued with the concept of visual weight. It's seemingly a basic design concept (but if you're clueless like me: http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/decorating-and-visual-weight.htm), however I think it applies to more of my life than just decorating.

Where is the weight in my weekly calendar? My checkbook? My desk? Is it in balance? Not sure yet, but I'm glad I'm at least paying attention now.

p.s. I have a feeling the 73 choices of carbonated beverages in the grocery store is the heaviest part of my trip. Who needs 73 choices? Maybe I'll skip that aisle from now on.

Waste not, want not

I hate cleaning out my fridge and throwing away food we didn't have a chance to eat. So here's a start:

Buy lettuce for salad, and immediately break it up as you would for salad. Put in large bowl (that has a lid) and cover the lettuce with water. Put lid on and keep in the fridge until ready to eat. Put in colander or dry on paper towels. It will keep for weeks!

Salt it!

Salt has lots of yummy uses :) And some more practical ones...

1. Sprinkle some salt on your napkin before you put your glass on it - this is most useful at restaurants, and only a good waiter/ess will know what you're up to. This will keep the napkin from sticking to your glass when you pick it up.

2. Pour some rock salt in a cooler or ice bucket to keep the ice from melting too fast. (not to be put in ice you are planning to put in your drink, however...)

3. Fill a small cloth bag with salt. When the weather is expected to go below freezing overnight, rub the bag of salt on your windows and they won't be covered with frost in the morning.

What's for dinner? (part II)

Partner up with a neighbor (or friend you see every day in the carpool lane, or football practice, or....) and swap days for making dinner.

You make dinner on Monday and Wednesday - and double it up to bring half to your friend. And your friend can cook for you on Tuesday and Thursday! (or even just a once a week swap)

You know who will work a fair deal (so one doesn't make steak and the other serves PB&J)! Save yourself time and vary your meals. If you can talk two more friends into this plan, you can each take a day from Monday - Thursday and only have to cook once. You just have to cook a LOT on your day, so prepare!

Save on....everything

Save on anything and everything!

Before you buy online, search for a "coupon code". Buying a computer? Search "dell coupon code". Shopping at Target and want free shipping? Search "target coupon code free shipping".

If you don't find a coupon in the first 10 sites you get, there probably isn't an available coupon this week. But save your shopping cart and check back...I got my laptop at 40% off by using a coupon code!

Simple Refreshment

In the mood for some simple refreshment?

1 large pitcher of ice water
1 lemon, sliced
fresh thyme

Ahhh....

Thanks to the Grove Park Inn for this tasty treat.
http://www.groveparkinn.com

Make a right turn

Seemingly a simple idea...but when planning to run various errands, etc. at one time, mentally map out your list according to where you have to travel. And shop in a clockwise pattern - so you will most likely be making right turns.

A simple trick, but a HUGE time saver.

(Thanks, George!)

What's for dinner?

I ask myself that question almost every day. And there are about 5 standard responses. Truth is, I'm bored senseless from eating the same 5 dinners!

So...thanks to my Aunt Pam for this great idea. Keep a piece of paper taped to the inside of a kitchen cabinet. Each time you make something for dinner, write it down on the paper. If you use a cookbook, note the book and page number. (If no one likes it, be sure to cross it off the list!)

Soon you'll have a list of one hundred dinner ideas...and when you wonder, "what's for dinner?", you'll always have more than 5 choices at your fingertips.

Junk Mail

Junk mail ruins my trip to the mailbox about every day! Here are three quick and easy ways to drastically cut your junk mail:

1. The Direct Marketing Association has an opt-out offer, and for $1 you can add your name. http://dmaconsumers.org/

2. Stop the credit-card offer madness! You can ask to stop receiving all those offers permanently or for five years at a time. http://optoutprescreen.com/

3. Cut off the catalogs. Sign up for Catalog Choice's free service and select the ones you don't want to receive anymore. http://catalogchoice.org/

Timeless

The most relaxing days are those where we don't have to be anywhere at any special time...and we lose track of what time it is.

Take off your watch. Set the kitchen timer for an hour and just relax. Schedule that hour if you need to. But just enjoy your time - you know the timer will go off so you won't have to worry you'll be late for your life when your free hour is up.

But how nice not to have to look at your watch for the next hour....

What do you think of me?

"People who worry about what others think of them would be surprised at how little they do."

Such true words in simple fashion. How much time and brain power do we waste worrying of what others think? I'd rather spend time dreaming up big ideas than wondering if the people shopping in the grocery story will notice I'm not wearing eyeliner today.

If you feel yourself wondering what others think of you, try instead to think of a way to save money in your budget or create a new recipe. Clear out the clutter caused by unnecessary worry and find out how much faster you work through your to do list.

Do I really need that?

Easier said than done. But asking "Do I really need that?" on a regular basis can cut down on cost and chaos. Target and Costco are two of my favorite places for a good deal. But they are also the two places where I buy the most stuff I don't need!

Do I really need that? What if I bought only half of the stuff I don't need (that's already in my cart, of course) and put the money I would have spent on the other stuff in a savings account? Makes it easier to splurge when it counts - upgrade to first class without guilt. Stay an extra night on vacation. Make a larger donation to your favorite charity.

The guilt-free possibilites are endless.

Who said that?

If you have kids, especially young kids, you know they are often saying some pretty funny stuff! Here's a quick tip for keeping track of who said what - open each child their own e-mail address.

Use Gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc. and set up an e-mail account with the child's name. When they do/say things you'd like to remember, just type them a quick e-mail.

Think of how much fun it will be when they are 15 and you give them access to this e-mail account!

Constant communication

Ever feel like you spend more time posting updates on Facebook, e-mail, twitter, etc., than actually doing anything? Check out: http://www.digsby.com to keep track of all your communication in one place. You'll literally cut hours of updating out of your life.

Maybe today you'll have time to read that old fashioned newspaper that keeps showing up on your doorstep.

Start with less.

It's time to clean something out - your closet, your computer files, your pile of mail.

Less is truly more. Small victories in this area will get your day started right. If you haven't worn it, give it away, if you won't read it, throw it out. Find the top of your kitchen table so you can actually sit there for dinner tonight!

Simplicity.

Let's face it. We all make a zillion decisions a day, many of which cause us more trouble than they are worth! Creating simplicity out of chaos is essential.

Architecting Simplicity is not simple (thus the complicated name). However, a streamlined approach to the most mundane tasks leaves our lives refreshed with time.

Join me.