I just learned that the first week of August is "Simplify your Life week!" I love these crazy little holidays that give us a reason to act, right?
Let's all post this week one thing we will do to simplify our life. You cannot deny that we all need this. It can be as simple as cleaning our your glovebox in your car. Are there really any gloves in there? Old outdated car insurance cards?
How about cleaning our your purse or briefcase. How about that lap drawer on your desk? hmmm the simplifying is endless.
So, I'm giving you a week to think it over.....come on post blast me. :)
About Me
- Shirley
- Houston, Texas, United States
- Ten things I am or have been: 1 Wife, 2 Mother of five, 3 Grandmother of 16, 4 Hair Dresser, 5 Bookkeeper 6 Bank Teller, 7 Scrapbook Store Owner, 8 Reporter, 9 Gardener, 10 Photographer,
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sorry I've been missing!
Hi to everyone!
I apologize for being gone. First of all I got locked out of my blog somehow and I didn't take to time to try to figure out what I did. I was trying to put everything under one umbrella and sabotaged myself in the process!
If you check my link you will see that I have been busy with a new endeavor! I just seem to like too many things...photography, home staging, organizing, writing, reading, starting a new business.
http://shecompany.com
A new venture my daughter and I are pursuing! I hope you'll stop in. We are stocking product like I write my blog, only tried, true stuff and such fun! :) Please check it out and comment. We can take it.
Well, hope you are still tuned in and willing to wobble with me as I talk about all of my interests.
by the way loved "The Help" Cannot wait for the movie!
I apologize for being gone. First of all I got locked out of my blog somehow and I didn't take to time to try to figure out what I did. I was trying to put everything under one umbrella and sabotaged myself in the process!
If you check my link you will see that I have been busy with a new endeavor! I just seem to like too many things...photography, home staging, organizing, writing, reading, starting a new business.
http://shecompany.com
A new venture my daughter and I are pursuing! I hope you'll stop in. We are stocking product like I write my blog, only tried, true stuff and such fun! :) Please check it out and comment. We can take it.
Well, hope you are still tuned in and willing to wobble with me as I talk about all of my interests.
by the way loved "The Help" Cannot wait for the movie!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Love my All Clad
Primarily, all of my cooking days raising five lively busy children were spent with a hodge-podge of cookware. I have always loved to cook....and bake.....and eat! :) I even loved going to the grocery store. As I moved into "Empty-nestdom", I found myself dreading those tasks. Not baking because we were bulging, trying to cook healthy was a challenge.
In order to encourage myself to eat out less, I decided new cookware might inspire me. I deserved it right? Another little deciding factor for me was questioning whether aluminum in some of my pots and pans could contribute to Alzheimer's. I know the jury is still out on this. As I cared for my aging mother with this disease, I found myself doing research to do anything to avoid this heartbreaking ailment.
I soon discovered the cookware I wanted was All Clad. The construction heats food evenly, clean easily, they polish up beautifully and they are very sturdy. They appear to be the chefs choice. When having lunch with a friend, the conversation turned to cooking. We were both considering our purchase of All Clad! So following lunch we skirted over to Williams Sonoma to check them out firsthand. That is where I ended up purchasing my set. They are less expensive if you buy a set rather than by the piece. Then you can add pieces you want to add.
So if you were wondering, (some were) about the cookware living in my pull-out drawer, that is my set. I simply love cooking in them. They are a bit pricey, but an investment you will only make once in a lifetime. In fact my youngest son has already laid claim to them when I am resting in a place where there is hopefully no fire, and no need for pots or pans! lol But I think maybe he might have to fight his sisters for them! :)
Don't they just look pretty?
In order to encourage myself to eat out less, I decided new cookware might inspire me. I deserved it right? Another little deciding factor for me was questioning whether aluminum in some of my pots and pans could contribute to Alzheimer's. I know the jury is still out on this. As I cared for my aging mother with this disease, I found myself doing research to do anything to avoid this heartbreaking ailment.
I soon discovered the cookware I wanted was All Clad. The construction heats food evenly, clean easily, they polish up beautifully and they are very sturdy. They appear to be the chefs choice. When having lunch with a friend, the conversation turned to cooking. We were both considering our purchase of All Clad! So following lunch we skirted over to Williams Sonoma to check them out firsthand. That is where I ended up purchasing my set. They are less expensive if you buy a set rather than by the piece. Then you can add pieces you want to add.
So if you were wondering, (some were) about the cookware living in my pull-out drawer, that is my set. I simply love cooking in them. They are a bit pricey, but an investment you will only make once in a lifetime. In fact my youngest son has already laid claim to them when I am resting in a place where there is hopefully no fire, and no need for pots or pans! lol But I think maybe he might have to fight his sisters for them! :)
Don't they just look pretty?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Getting to know that little label on your apple
Is it me, or do those annoying little fruit labels send you over the edge? I know, it's not about organizing, but it cuts into my organizing time.....
What exactly does PLU mean? It is fairly simple...Price Look Up
I can hear it now..."Hey Al, can you get me a PLU on this eggplant?"
So what good are they, anyway?
They help the cashier charge the right price for the item, perhaps speed the checkout process, help supermarkets track sales of certain items and control inventory. So they next time we pop in for a 4135 apple, it's on hand.
What good are they to us?
They are difficult to remove.
They sometimes tear the skin of the fruit when we attempt to remove them.
They add to the ever-growing landfill problem.
The International Federation for Produce Standards controls the labels which can assist us in knowing what we are buying. There is also a Produce Marketing Association, and a Produce Electronic Identification Board.
It is said that the adhesive used is food-grade, but the label itself is not edible, although it would not harm you if you ingested it, after all it is reportedly lead-free. I never ate glue in Kindergarten either, although some of my peers did.
Fact is, even though they aren't necessarily designed to assist us. If you crack the code, there is a bounty of information to be had! And I finally discovered the best way to remove them, as they ARE here to stay, or are they?
My research found:
1. A four digit code means the produce was conventionally grown.
These items have pesticides used on them, they
2. A five digit code preceded by a 9 means the item was Organically grown.
3. A five digit code means your food has been genetically modified.
4. The numbers also indicate, country of origin, brand names, etc,.
That number three on the list. If you want to understand more about this code you can find some pretty interesting FACTS at www.ornl.gov
Basically, the GM title means scientists have altered the genetic make up of what you are about to eat. Supporters profess that we might enjoy enhanced taste and quality, they can reach maturity quicker, we might enjoy more dense nutrients, they enjoy more yield since the insects are staying away. hmmm?
There is a lot of controversy surrounding GM. Some fear the human health impact, that include possible allergens, and other unknown effects. It could even affect how our current antibiotic stream works.
In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there is an artist somewhere producing grand amazing works from the lovely little labels. In 2007 there were discussions about laser etching our produce instead. Whether etched or labeled, the authorities like being able to track produce items in case of salmonella outbreaks for instance.
I'm done.Oh, I almost forgot. The best way to remove this pesky little sticker is to take a sharp knife and scrape it along the skin slightly lifting the label. It can then be grasped for removal. If you are knife-less and forgot to remove the label before you were on the run....a dig of a fingernail works nicely, but only after gently trying to pry it loose.
What exactly does PLU mean? It is fairly simple...Price Look Up
I can hear it now..."Hey Al, can you get me a PLU on this eggplant?"
So what good are they, anyway?
They help the cashier charge the right price for the item, perhaps speed the checkout process, help supermarkets track sales of certain items and control inventory. So they next time we pop in for a 4135 apple, it's on hand.
What good are they to us?
They are difficult to remove.
They sometimes tear the skin of the fruit when we attempt to remove them.
They add to the ever-growing landfill problem.
The International Federation for Produce Standards controls the labels which can assist us in knowing what we are buying. There is also a Produce Marketing Association, and a Produce Electronic Identification Board.
It is said that the adhesive used is food-grade, but the label itself is not edible, although it would not harm you if you ingested it, after all it is reportedly lead-free. I never ate glue in Kindergarten either, although some of my peers did.
Fact is, even though they aren't necessarily designed to assist us. If you crack the code, there is a bounty of information to be had! And I finally discovered the best way to remove them, as they ARE here to stay, or are they?
My research found:
1. A four digit code means the produce was conventionally grown.
These items have pesticides used on them, they
2. A five digit code preceded by a 9 means the item was Organically grown.
3. A five digit code means your food has been genetically modified.
4. The numbers also indicate, country of origin, brand names, etc,.
That number three on the list. If you want to understand more about this code you can find some pretty interesting FACTS at www.ornl.gov
Basically, the GM title means scientists have altered the genetic make up of what you are about to eat. Supporters profess that we might enjoy enhanced taste and quality, they can reach maturity quicker, we might enjoy more dense nutrients, they enjoy more yield since the insects are staying away. hmmm?
There is a lot of controversy surrounding GM. Some fear the human health impact, that include possible allergens, and other unknown effects. It could even affect how our current antibiotic stream works.
In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there is an artist somewhere producing grand amazing works from the lovely little labels. In 2007 there were discussions about laser etching our produce instead. Whether etched or labeled, the authorities like being able to track produce items in case of salmonella outbreaks for instance.
I'm done.Oh, I almost forgot. The best way to remove this pesky little sticker is to take a sharp knife and scrape it along the skin slightly lifting the label. It can then be grasped for removal. If you are knife-less and forgot to remove the label before you were on the run....a dig of a fingernail works nicely, but only after gently trying to pry it loose.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Scrapbook Storage News!
I received a coupon via email this morning from Micheal's Arts & Crafts offering 40% off on scrapbook storage solutions!
It appears that a company by the name of Jetmax now offers a modular product line and shelf similar to the ones Making Memories used to produce. I heard from many friends who wished they had bought the items before they were discontinued. If you are new to my blog, I have a number of storage ideas for scrapbook supplies in previous posts. Pictured above is my embellishment center that I painted black to match my Scrapbook Studio. When I searched for who else is carrying the Jetmax Craft Storage Systems I discovered Amazon, Two Peas in a Bucket, and many others. Micheal's 40% off coupon sounds like a pretty good deal though if they are in stock. When I purchased my unit, the coupon was not valid on the embellishment center.
Have fun gathering your supplies together for a creative year of scrapbooking.
It appears that a company by the name of Jetmax now offers a modular product line and shelf similar to the ones Making Memories used to produce. I heard from many friends who wished they had bought the items before they were discontinued. If you are new to my blog, I have a number of storage ideas for scrapbook supplies in previous posts. Pictured above is my embellishment center that I painted black to match my Scrapbook Studio. When I searched for who else is carrying the Jetmax Craft Storage Systems I discovered Amazon, Two Peas in a Bucket, and many others. Micheal's 40% off coupon sounds like a pretty good deal though if they are in stock. When I purchased my unit, the coupon was not valid on the embellishment center.
Have fun gathering your supplies together for a creative year of scrapbooking. Related articles
- Homemade Valentine's Day Gift Ideas (socyberty.com)
- 10 Fun and Simple Scrapbook Layouts (brighthub.com)
- How To Easily Scrapbook Your Memories (mamasbagoftricks.blogspot.com)
- Top 10 Digital Scrapbook Calendar Kits (brighthub.com)
- Fun & Free Digital Scrapbook Paper (brighthub.com)
- Learning Digital Scrapbooking (housewifesutopia.com)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Attack that closet now!
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| When seasons change, it is time to purge clothes in the closet. (You will determine when to do this task from the climate you live in) I am fortunate to have a spare closet to store "out of season" clothing. If you do not have this option, try under bed storage, attic space, or Space Bags are a great way to conserve space. Some people use stored suitcases to store out of season wear. As you can see I group pants by color using hangers that come from the dry cleaners. Additionally, the items are grouped by type, ie., casual, jeans, and dress, etc. Be sure you examine each piece of clothing you are about to store. Are they worn out? Did you wear them this past season? Do they need repair, ripped or missing buttons? And are they clean? Then as you pull out your past season clothes, ask yourself... Do I still like this? Has the trend past for wearing this? Is it really worn? Then purge again. It is nice to keep a pad and pencil handy to make remarks for shopping. If your black tank is snagged and faded, maybe it's time to treat yourself to a new one.
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| This shows the upper rod of the closet where all of my blouses, 3/4 sleeve T's and a few winter color T's are. Check out the nifty belt rack that I purchased at Lowes from ClosetMaid This hides behind the door but is perfect for accessorizing, right inside the closet! I have a full length mirror in the closet for dressing. |
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| Think all of my closet space is organized? Think again! I saw some great acrylic shelf dividers in a magazine that I plan to purchase from The Container Store to remedy this problem I have with purses and bags. I promise to show you the end result! |
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