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It's Tuesday, that means it's time for the next binder in our Tuesday Tutorial Series. This time it's all about recipes. If you're like me, you probably have a number of recipes whimsically pinned on Pinterest, or printed out and sitting in a pile somewhere waiting for the perfect time. A binder can be an awesome solution. This is the place to keep all of your favorite recipes, the new ones you want to try out, and the ones you only use occasionally. This binder is so simple to create it barely qualifies as a tutorial. 😊 Here are the supplies you will need: 1. 1.5" Binder - If you've been following this series you know what I'm about to say. The one I'm using here is...the Better Binder from Staples. You know all the reasons why I love 'em! And as always, go ahead and save a little money and use a binder that you may have lying around at home if you like. Recycling for the win! Do make sure that it is strong enough to hold a lot of paper.  2. Sheet protectors. These are optional, but can really come in handy when cooking to keep your recipe clean. If you spill anything, it will wipe easily off of the plastic sheet. 3. Optional items - a fun sheet to put in the front cover for inspiration. And, a more practical addition is the Kitchen Equivalents that I keep inside for reference.  4. The last item you will need to create this binder are sticky label tabs. These come in all sorts of sizes and colors. The can be labeled officially, or handwritten. These are available in most office supply aisles in your local store.  Now that you have your supplies at hand, you're ready to put your recipe binder together.
1. Gather up those printed sheets and put them each into a sheet protector. 2. Separate those sheets into the categories that make sense for you and your family. 3. Write those categories onto a sticky label and place it on the top sheet for each group. 4. Put everything inside your binder - and don't forget to label that spine. Now get cookin'! I'd love to hear what YOUR favorite recipe is in the comments below. 😋 Welcome to the Kitchen Manuals Binder. This is the one place where you can keep all those kitchen-related appliance manuals. These might include small appliance manuals like an Instant Pot or toaster oven, or larger ones like a dishwasher. Basically, if you use it in the kitchen, the manual can live in this binder. No more wondering where that certain manual has gone. Looking for things is over-rated!! This binder is super simple to create. It will save you a ton of time and reduce aggravation. Sounds good, right? Here are the few supplies you will need: 1. 1.5" Binder - The one I'm using is the Better Binder from Staples. You can read my last post for all the reasons why I love 'em! Feel free to use any binder that you like, or already have on hand. Just make sure that it is sturdy. All those manuals can pack on some weight.  2. A plastic 3-hole punched binder envelope - You may need several depending on the amount of manuals you have. I should probably get myself a second one.  3. **Optional** sheet protectors - These can be useful if you have a larger manual that you want to reference more easily, or just keep separated.  That's it. Now you are ready to create your binder. 1. Gather ALL of your kitchen manuals. This may take some time if they have wandered off around your house. Take the time to search and locate them all if possible.  2. Place the manuals all together inside your plastic binder envelope.  3. Place any special manuals into their own sheet protector.
4. Don't forget to label the spine of your binder. Now you'll know exactly what's inside. That is all there is to it. Going forward, you can easily place new manuals here with their friends. And, if you want extra credit...remove the manuals from the binder when the items leave your home! 😀 Day 21 has arrived in the July Clutter Independence Challenge! It’s our last day in the kitchen. So peek into those drawers and cabinets that you may not have gotten into on previous days. I’ve got a motley crew today. We have a water bottle, coffee mug, some expired spices, paper plates and popcorn 🍿 containers that we just never use. Please share what items you find today! 👍 #julyclutterindependencechallenge #simplyorganizednw #onebagatatime #miscellaneousgoods #popcornyummy  Day 20 is here in the July Clutter Independence Challenge! Today is the day to dive into your cutlery, glassware, dishes and pots. I didn’t think I would find much here. But, yet again, I have a bag of donations. Stray glasses, cute glass canister that I never use, and fun small casserole dishes are all leaving today. Share what you find in the comments!  We’ve made it to Day 18 in the July Clutter Independence Challenge! I am dedicating the next 4 days to the kitchen. This is a hardworking space that deserves some attention. Today let’s look at cookbooks, recipes, and food storage/Tupperware. I found a cookbook I no longer use, and 10 recipes that I won’t be making again. This lunch tote is leaving as well. Please share in the comments what you discover in your kitchen!  This may sound incredibly strict and cumbersome. But, wait! It doesn't need to be complicated. Perhaps the notion of being locked into eating what you wrote down on a particular day is holding you back. One solution is to make your meal plan adjustable. All you need are post-it notes on a sheet of paper. Place it somewhere that is visible for you and your family so everyone can see the plan. With this simple strategy, your dinner/meals plan for the day can be changed by simply moving a post-it! Below is a 6-day example, which works for my family. Saturdays are a wild-card. Feel free to use 7 post-its if that's best for you. How do you plan your meals? Dinner only, 3 meals a day with snacks, or do you "wing-it?" Please share in the comments below!
Happy Wednesday! Here is a question for you... Do you have a drop zone? I'm talking about a command center, or the place you put all the stuff in your hands when you walk in the front door? Where is this place? Did you intentionally choose it, or was it happenstance? With a little focused planning this space could become your best time-saver! This spot should be convenient, easily accessible (visualize dropping things right in), and have room for all your essentials. Things that might live here include a basket for papers/mail, a bowl or hook for keys, a phone charger, and a spot for your workbag or purse. Once you have chosen this zone, you will always know where to find these items when you need them. Here is a pic of my own drop zone. This spot is at the end of my kitchen counter. It is a straight shot from the garage or front door. :) Where is your drop zone? Please share in the comments below!  Have you ever tried meal planning? It may sound intimidating and time-consuming. But it doesn't have to be. It can be a very effective tool for staying organized, saving time and money all week long! If you are looking for motivation, check out the photos below. This is my lunch meal prep that I completed on Sunday morning. This is the spicy, cheesy chorizo casserole that my husband and I will eat for lunches all week long! 😋 Interested in learning more? I would love to chat with you if you want more info about meal prepping or other ways to get organized! Share your favorite favorite lunch in the comments. Prepping lunch and snack food in advance will pay off all week long!  A bit of time in preparation up front will save you money and irritation later when everything you need is ready and waiting. 😋 Do you plan your meals for the week in advance? Let me know in the comments!  Make condiment storage easy! Has anyone tried this trick for storing their condiment bottles for easier use? Seems simple and potentially quite useful! Please share in the comments if you like this idea, or have tried it yourself.  Design a Dining Room for Dual Purposes! Dining rooms are often used not only for dining, but for doing homework, reading the paper, sorting and paying bills, or many other tasks where a table is desired. Keep your dining room functional for dining, as well as these other activities with a few simple ideas. -Incorporate a small dresser into the room. Use one or two drawers for table cloths and napkins. The others can be used for items like pens, pencils, and scissors that might be used frequently at the table. -If you read the paper at the table, keep a decorative recycling basket nearby to avoid stacks of paper on the floor. -If the dining room doubles as a homework zone, hang decorative pegs for backpacks. Or keep a homework cart nearby that can be easily rolled out of sight. -Keep a small trash can nearby by for all of those activities other than dining that leave a mess. What activities occur in your dining room? Do you use any of these tips to stay organized? Please share in the comments!  Have you been thinking that you don't have enough space in your pantry for all the yummy stuff you would like to keep there? Try a lazy susan! They keep everything in sight and make it simple to find what you need in a flash.  Here is a quick tip for today...when you are labeling containers around your home, make it simple and intuitive and it will work so much better. Here is a pic for inspiration! Happy labeling!  Are the water bottles multiplying while your back is turned? In most homes there is at least one cupboard just for dishes, or perhaps one for each type of dish. You can revamp your kitchen cupboard space for your dishes in a few easy steps. Your kitchen will be transformed into a more efficient and less cluttered place. -Empty all of the cupboards and sort the dishes by function and size. -Keep all of the dishes you use most frequently in the cupboard with the most convenient access, or close to where it is used. -Donate dishes that you just don't need or use... they are only wasting valuable space. -Consider cabinet options such as wire shelving units to double the vertical space, pull-out dish racks, or even upright plate storage units. -Line shelves to keep dishes from sliding around as you put them away. Below are some pics to inspire your cupboard creativity. Which kitchen cupboard will you tackle today? I would love to hear about it in the comments. Today's challenge is all about cutting down on kitchen clutter. Cooking and baking are so much easier when the kitchen is organized and free of clutter. Here are a few tips that will help make meal preparation so much easier! 1. Store things that you use infrequently, like Christmas cookie cutters, with the holiday decorations instead of in the kitchen. If you only use them once a year, they don't need their own drawer. 2. Use wall space for hooks and towel holders to save counter or cupboard space. 3. Keep necessary and frequently used items within arm's reach to save yourself time. 4. Make recycling easy and efficient by using a dedicated bin. 5. Store less frequently used appliances in the least accessible cupboard, or even out of the kitchen. For example, if you only use a coffee maker when guests arrive you don't need to have it on the counter all the time. Below is a photo of how I made use of tip #2 using hooks to hold our oven mitts. This change freed up an entire drawer. What is one item that you can remove or relocate in your kitchen?  Use your vertical space! Happy Thursday (its almost Friday)!! It can be tempting to toss the daily mail and incoming papers onto a pile each day. Spending an extra minute, though, to sort it as it comes through the doors will have many benefits. 1. Invest in a small organizing system, such as a small bin with dividers, a divided basket, or a file folder with several pockets. 2. Place the organizer in an accessible location (the best is usually where the pile of mail sits). :) 3. Take a minute to sort the mail by priority or type. You don't need to read it all, just decide to which category it belongs. 4. Once a week grab each stack and act on, or file, each item. It will only take moments each day to sort incoming mail, but that effort will help you pay bills on time, have a more organized calendar, and less clutter! My basket sits on the kitchen counter for easy access. Where will you place the paperwork system in your home? I would love to hear! Refrigerators and freezers can hide a lot of forgotten items. Sorting like items together and plentiful use of labels can change everything! |
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