Dry Boots

Snow piles up regularly in the winter where I live. Boots can often be a problem - they get wet in the snow and don't dry in time for their next usage. No one enjoys putting on wet boots! The obvious solution is to put them near a heat source. Here's what I do:

I have (yet another) basket by the front door. This one is actually a small clothes basket with a towel at the bottom of it. Anyone who comes in the house with wet boots can put them in the basket and then put the whole basket in front of a heat vent. This dries the boots quickly and keeps the floors dry and clean!

Deconstructing Macaroni and Cheese

When I was growing up macaroni and cheese was the occasional quick lunch out of a box. It was fast and easy, and for some reason I liked it. (Studies show that the color orange makes people hungry. A cheesy marketing ploy by Kraft?) I still like macaroni and cheese, but not the kind I had growing up. I do occasionally buy the boxed kind, but only Annie's. It makes for a quick side dish. I prefer to make my macaroni and cheese from scratch. Here are a few adaptations that make it a little healthier than the white-flour-pasta and powdered cheese variety.

• Use whole wheat pasta rather than white. Believe me, you won't notice the difference unless you really try.
• If you bake your macaroni and cheese make a wheat germ topping.
• Mix in veggies. Peas and broccoli both work well.
• Use soy milk or other substitutes.
• Mix in some tofu - it has the same texture as cheese and absorbs the flavor of the dish.
• Add seasonings like basil, chili powder and curry powder. The more flavor you get out of seasonings the less cheese you'll need.

Now I'm making myself hungry. I might have to change tomorrow's meal plan to include some good old macaroni and cheese!

Folding Laundry

When I do my laundry I try hard to keep the t-shirts (both long and short-sleeved) from wrinkling. I find it incredibly annoying to take a folded shirt out of a drawer only to find wrinkles in it. :) Here's my method:

• If I'm able to fold the laundry as soon as the dryer is done I pull out all the shirts and fold them first.
• If I can't fold the laundry right away, when I come back to it later I take all the shirts and lay them on top of each other, one by one, spraying water on each of them. I hang them over the back of a chair. This is especially handy because when I'm ready to fold them I can put the entire pile on a table and fold them directly from the pile.

Now if only I had one of those handy dandy dryers you can hang clothes in...

Storage Throw Pillows

I love throw pillows. They're handy to have around. A few years ago I received two zippered throw pillow covers free with a purchase I made. I didn't know what to do with them - I didn't need new covers for my pillows! Then I had an idea. I took a bunch of scrap fabric (some small pieces, some large pieces, whatever worked) and filled the pillows. I had instant scrap fabric storage and new pillows! Now I periodically sew zippered throw pillows and fill them with various unused fabrics. This also works for storing underused sheets, blankets and even towels. Keep in mind that the type of fabric and how much you put in will change the comfort of the pillow. I love storing fleece - I often buy fabric long before I use it and the fleece makes for a cushy pillow!

Bookshelf Storage

I previously wrote about book organization, but there are many other uses for bookshelves. If you're low on storage space in your house, think up instead of out. Tall bookshelves are incredibly handy. You can buy relatively inexpensive ones or make your own. They can always be painted or varnished to match the room they're in. Here are some uses I've found for tall bookshelves in the past:

• Kitchen Pantry - I used a tall bookshelf as a pantry by storing cereal, pasta, cookbooks and small appliances on the shelves. (Adjustable shelves made it easy to fit the shelves to their contents.) Having sewn my own kitchen curtains, I sewed a matching curtain to cover the shelves. All I had to do was pull back the curtain to my "pantry" and items I commonly used were at my fingertips.
• Bedroom Closet - I came upon this idea while contemplating the need for another bedroom dresser. We have great clothes storage in the summer, but winter clothing is bulkier and needs more space. Another dresser would have fit but the drawers wouldn't have pulled out comfortably. I took an unused bookshelf and created shelving for sweaters and sweatshirts. I even made the top shelf shorter so it can be used for books - whatever we're currently reading. I haven't put a curtain up in front of this one, but it could easily be done to create more of a "closet" look.
• Game Shelf - Bookshelves are for more than just books. Designating one for board games and puzzles made it easy for me to organize them (a shelf for puzzles, a shelf for family games, a shelf for strategy games, etc.) I find this much easier than digging through a closet (unless the closet has great shelving!)

I am currently only using the Bedroom Closet idea, just because in my current house I haven't needed the others. A useful tip is to buy (or make) the same type of shelves for all around the house. This way you can put two adjustable shelves on one and four on another if it suits your fancy. (If you make your own bookshelf I suggest making the shelves adjustable - you'll love it in the long run.) I love shelves. They make me feel very organized. What can I say? I'm an organizing geek.

Cats in the Rain

I know, I know, I just wrote a cat anecdote. The thing is, when the weather gets cold and rainy the cats get a little crazy. Today it was pouring rain and all three cats were whining at my feet to let them outside. I opened the door, mainly because Brogan sometimes ignores the rain and runs out, but they wouldn't go out. For hours they whined but refused to go out in the rain. Finally I opened a different door. As if the rain wasn't still pouring down, both Brogan and Nola ran outside (Charlie was smart enough to stay in.) I wasn't surprised about Brogan, but Nola rarely goes outside to begin with. She's a stay-on-the-porch-for-15-minutes-and-come-in cat. She ran out in the rain, ran under my car and stayed there for hours. Go figure. Weather changes make them a little wonky.

Brogan's Turkey Dinner

I'm pretty sure my neighbors fed one of my cats, Brogan, some of their leftover turkey. I saw him in their yard and he's such a friendly cat that they like to visit with him. He came back very happy and very sleepy. He didn't touch his food bowl, which he usually does after being outside. Well, I just hope he didn't eat too much. As long as the floor stays clean, I'm happy. I do find it odd that my cat is more social than I am sometimes...

Easy Dough Roll

I find rolling dough on a floured surface annoying. The flour gets on me and the floor. I constantly have to re-flour or the rolling pin sticks to the dough. Not pleasant. My super-easy solution is olive oil. Just pour a tablespoon or so on a cloth or paper towel. Wipe down the surface you'll be rolling on as well as the rolling pin. You shouldn't have any problems rolling out the dough and you might have enough olive oil left on the towel to grease whatever pan you might be using!

Data CDs

I don't have a floppy drive so I save data from my computer on CDs. I don't like to write on the CDs because I rewrite them sometimes. I came up with a numbering system - I assign each CD a number. The numbers are listed in a database on my computer. I type in the files that are on each CD. This way I can look up files by name and find which numbered CD they're saved on. It might seem tedious, but looking up a file in a database is so much faster than searching through a pile of disks and reading each one!

Do You Tofurky?

I am constantly amused by the number of relatives who worry that my vegetarian family will have "nothing to eat on Thanksgiving." I'm sorry, does everyone just eat a plate of turkey smothered in gravy? A typical Thanksgiving table is full of vegetarian friendly options. In fact, Thanksgiving dinner probably has more vegetables than most of my relatives are used to eating on a regular basis.

That doesn't stop me from cooking a Tofurky.

Tofurky seems to be a hot topic in the online vegetarian community this time of year. Is it really necessary to serve a soy replica of a dead bird? Definitely not. In fact, before I tried a tofurky I would cook a vegetarian Thanksgiving with no meat substitute at all. Ever since we tried the tofurky feast my husband and I have looked forward to it every year. I don't know if it really tastes like turkey - I haven't eaten the real stuff in years. What matters to me is that it tastes good.

I would recommend trying tofurky if you're a recent convert to vegetarianism and you don't want to feel left out on turkey day. As for me I'll be eating veggies at the relatives' and cooking a tofurky at home tomorrow. Just because it tastes so good.

Easy Shredded Cheese

I do not enjoy shredding cheese. I also can't bring myself to spend extra money on the pre-shredded stuff. I discovered this little tip by accident one day, when the block of cheese I wanted was still frozen. Take a frozen chunk of cheese and thaw it just enough to cut through it with a knife. If you cut through the partially-frozen cheese it will crumble, creating cheese crumbles in seconds! I can't remember the last time I pulled out my shredder...

Craft Storage

I do a lot of knitting and sewing. And the occasional needlepoint. Or wood craft. Or bead work. Okay, let's face it, I'm a craft junkie. I primarily knit and sew, though, and usually have a multitude of projects going at once. I've found that a great way to store ongoing projects is by using the plastic bags that curtains come in. Some have zipper closures and some have snaps, and most of them have hooks. I stick projects in them along with any notes I have and hang them on hangers. Usually I can fit four or five bags on a hanger, depending on the size of each one. The great thing for me is that the bags are clear so I can always see what's inside them! Now, ironically, I usually sew things like curtains and rarely end up buying the bags. Luckily I have friends and relatives who are happy to part with their packaging!

Moving Tip: Packing the Kitchen Part 3

Okay, your kitchen is packed, minus essentials, and your new kitchen is ready. Now what do you do with the food?

• Scale down your grocery shopping. If you usually stockpile groceries, stop. Save your grocery money until after you move and enjoy having less groceries to move and unpack!
• Use up perishables. Cook your frozen meals, eat your leftovers, and only buy enough fresh food to last until you move. Even if you're moving locally it can be a pain to transport refrigerated and frozen foods.
• Keep coolers ready. You'll most likely have some perishables to move so make sure you keep your coolers at you current house until you move the groceries.
• Turn on your new fridge. If possible, turn your new fridge on before you actually move. This way your perishables can go directly from coolers to fridge without changing temperature too much.
• Pack nonperishables in boxes. If your extra cereals, baking products, etc aren't essential to meals during moving week pack them up in boxes and move them with your furniture. This is particularly helpful if you've hired movers.
• Find a local food pantry. There are tons of organizations that can use nonperishables. If you're cleaning out your pantry, or moving long-distance, consider donating unopened containers. No need to waste the food!
• If you are unable to move your perishable food and have decent fresh food left, check with your friends and neighbors. Most likely someone will be happy to finish up your milk or head of lettuce. Save them some money and the food won't be wasted.

An added tip is to plan meals involving all nonperishables for a day or two before moving. This will give you a chance to unplug and defrost your old fridge and clean it out.

Stay tuned for Part 4!

Quick Cookie Fix

This is a tip I borrowed from a friend who was trying to limit her cookie intake each time she baked a batch! I find it useful for cookie fixes. My husband loves chocolate chip cookies. I rarely bake them and he doesn't enjoy baking. He started buying packages of refrigerated pull-apart cookies whenever they were on sale. I found the ingredient list disturbing and the taste too sweet. Now I occasionally make the dough for a double batch of cookies. Instead of baking them all I bake a few and freeze the rest. Instead of freezing a container of dough I spoon the dough as I would for baking and freeze it that way. Once the balls are all frozen I put them in a Ziplock until the next cookie craving. This works well in warmer weather because you can bake a few cookies in the toaster oven instead of heating up the whole house!

Moving Tip: Packing the Kitchen Part 2

If you have the opportunity to get things ready in your new house before moving day spend some time planning out the kitchen. If you know where everything will go you'll have your kitchen functional on moving day!

• Clean drawers, cupboards and appliances. This will save you tons of time on moving day!
• Put drawer liners anywhere you plan to use them. (You could actually take down the measurements and do the cutting at your old house.)
• Assess your space. What kitchen storage do you have available? Think about a pantry, cupboards, drawers and shelves. Compare the amount of storage with your old kitchen. If you're moving into a kitchen with less storage space you may need to think creatively!
• Get out your post-its! You've already divided your kitchen into categories. Now decide where those categories will go. Start with general spaces, for example, food in the pantry, dishes in the large cupboard, paper products in the bottom drawer. Use post-its to mark what will go in each storage space.
• Keep out those post-its! Make sure that you've taken each category into account. You may want to look through your current kitchen to make sure you're remembering everything. Take into account non-kitchen items that you may choose to store in the kitchen, or kitchen items you may choose to store elsewhere. Add more specific post-its to each storage area.
• Decide if you need more space. If you don't have room for everything you're moving into the kitchen consider what you can use for additional storage. Consider hanging storage (pot rack, baskets,) shelving (wall-mounted or otherwise,) or furniture pieces (rolling carts, butcher blocks, plastic drawers.)

Think creatively! A small space can still yield great storage. If you need to create more space there's no need to blow your budget - yard sales, thrift shops, Ebay, dollar stores, any of these places can offer inexpensive options.

Stay tuned for Part 3!

Moving Tip: Packing the Kitchen Part 1

I was putting groceries away today and thought that I should do a post on kitchen organization. The more I thought about it the more I thought it would actually turn into several posts. Then I started thinking about the amount of stuff in my kitchen, something I've been amazed by each time I've moved. I decided that before talking about my kitchen organization I'll talk about dismantling kitchens during the moving process!

Here's "Packing the Kitchen Part 1," which applies to the packing process several weeks before moving.

• As you plan your move divide your kitchen items into categories: dishes/silverware, pots/pans/cooking utensils, small appliances, cookbooks, tupperware, infrequently used items, perishable food, nonperishable food, furniture and miscellaneous. (Are you reading that list and realizing how much is actually in your kitchen?) You could probably make many subcategories if you really wanted to.
• Think about what you use often. Remember that, not including the bathroom, the kitchen will probably be the last room you use in your old house and the first room you use in your new house. Packing efficiently isn't enough - you'll need your kitchen items to be accessible as soon as you move.
• Pack underused items first. Fondue pot? Waffle iron? Holiday dishes? Anything you use infrequently can be packed early in the moving process and won't need to be easily accessible once you start unpacking.
• Select a few items in each category that you know you'll use - you'll pack these last. For example, keep one plate for each family member, a few pieces of tupperware, a saucepan and a frying pan (or whatever works for your family.) This frees up the bulk of each category for packing.

Stay tuned for Part 2: preparing the new house, Part 3: dealing with the food and Part 4: moving day. Yikes! If moving the kitchen takes 4 posts imagine how many I'll need for kitchen organization!

Mildew Help, Please!

I need some suggestions for removing mildew from wood floors. I have an unfortunate spot where water and rug had a party that I wasn't invited to. There's a small patch of mildew on the floor. I know it hasn't been there for long because I clean the rugs regularly, but I'm concerned that just plain scrubbing won't entirely remove it. I prefer to use natural cleaners, but any suggestions you have will do. Help!

Pine Fresh Cat

You know how it goes with cats (or dogs, or any other animal that plays outside) - they like to roll in the dirt. And the mud. And the gravel. And the litterbox. Normally the last thing I want is to let a cat in the house who has just rolled all over the ground and will track dirt and odor through the house. Well, my rolliest (hmmm...probably not a word) cat recently started rolling under the pine tree, in the pine needles. I love it! The needles get most of the dirt out of his fur and he comes back home smelling pine fresh!

Bulk Groceries

A great way to save money and shopping time is to buy groceries in bulk. I buy dry foods that we use frequently, such as cereal and pasta, in bulk. Many grocery stores offer discounts on bulk order options, particularly small and natural food stores. You can also order directly from some manufacturers. As long as you have room to store the extra food you should look into it. Buying nonperishables in bulk means that your weekly grocery shopping will be limited to fresh products, saving you time. I love a fast shopping trip!

"Fresh" Tortillas

I make and eat tortillas often and always have the problem of keeping them just fresh enough to fold into burritos without breaking them. Whether you buy or make your tortillas here's a tip for keeping them soft:

Take your stack of tortillas and store them in a Ziplock with a piece of wax paper between each tortilla. Freeze them like this. Anytime you want one just take it out of the freezer (it won't stick because of the wax paper) and microwave it for 10-20 seconds. It should be soft and flexible! Keep the wax paper in the Ziplock because you can reuse it with a new batch of tortillas.