Holiday Meals and Entertaining 101

With only a few days left until Christmas, everyone is focussed on getting those last few gifts. There will be a lot of eating on the run; but one cannot live on lattes and cookies alone.

Let’s not forget that with school out and a few extra days out of the office, there will have to be some eating at home. If you have a large gathering to attend, you are likely relieved from meal duty for at least one meal. But what happens if you’re hosting? What happens after the festivities?

Let’s start with the party. . .

If you’re hosting, say "yes".  That is, say yes to the offers of help you are likely to receive. No matter how great or small the contribution, it all amounts to less stress for you.  Someone bringing holiday napkins and Christmas crackers means two less things on your shopping list and at least one less line to stand in.

Make it easy to help. Even if you like to prepare the entire meal yourself, you can’t possibly like doing all of the clean-up.  Have a few zip loc baggies or disposable food storage containers on hand.  If you offer guests the opportunity to take some leftovers home, everything needed will be within reach, with less left for you to deal with.

Also, try to have extra rubber gloves and tea towels in the kitchen, for those good Samaritans who want to help with the dishes.

 

Make ahead. Look for dishes that can be made a day in advance.  This will be helpful whether you are taking a dish to a potluck gathering or opening your doors to your loved ones.

Don’t strive for perfection. Holiday gatherings aren’t about trying to impress one another (I hope). Let’s put the focus on enjoying the celebration and each other’s company. A glass may break, a side dish may get overdone.  These are just minor details to be added to the holiday annals.

Embrace catering. Just because you have graciously offered to host an event, doesn’t mean that everything has to be prepared from scratch. Ordering a dessert, side dishes, savoury pies or even a cooked turkey is perfectly acceptable. Just be sure to place your order far in advance to avoid disappointment.

And once the party’s over . . .

Plan for lighter meals. Everyone worries about putting on a few extra pounds during the holidays.  All that home-baked goodness is too good to resist. To combat the effects of over-indulging, stock your fridge with greens. Bagged salads are healthy and easily turned in to a quick and healthy meal. Grilled chicken is readily available in supermarkets and provides a lean source of protein. If you’d rather have soup on these cool evenings, you can stock the pantry with your favourite store-bought variety, or shop for the ingredients that will allow you to prepare a homemade soup with your leftovers.

Freeze. Cooked meat or poultry can be frozen.  You’ll likely want to use it for pot pies or some type of dish that has a sauce or gravy, but it beats throwing it away.

Check out some recipes. Knowing what you want to make in advance is half the battle. I’m including some recipes that I plan to make over the next few weeks, as well as a link to some new ideas.

Turkey Pot Pie (I use a pre-made crust)

Everyday Leftovers

Turkey, Brie and Pear Sandwiches

No matter how you spend your time over the next couple of weeks, I wish you all the best of the season and health and happiness in 2015.  See’ya next year!

The DIY Mover’s Checklist

This is a hot time in the real estate market.  If you’re in a desirable neighbourhood, the sign can go up, and your house can be sold within a week. Then you’ll have 30 – 90 days to move out. If you’re not ready, the whole experience can be overwhelming.

So, how can moving be easier? Here are a few ideas to keep you on track.

OHIO (Only Handle it Once). Before you list your home, it’s best to depersonalize the space.  When you take up all those family photos and quirky caricatures, wrap and pack them for the move.  There’s no point stashing them in a bin or drawer, only to have to pack them later. 

Purge before you pack. Whenever possible, try to eliminate anything you no longer want before you move. So often, people throw belongings into a box saying, “I’ll sort it out in the new place.” Here are two things to consider: If you’re already thinking that you’ll make a final decision after the move, you’re already half way to admitting you don’t want the item.  Besides, putting off all those decisions until after you move prolongs the stress and frustration that often accompanies a move. Until you open and unpack every box, you won’t be truly settled. Why wait and hang on to those feelings of being in flux?

Pack an organized box. Don’t succumb to the pressure to throw whatever you touch into a box, regardless of what will be packed with it.  If you find a valid passport at the back of a kitchen drawer, don’t pack it with your knives and forks; pack it with other vital documents.

Forward your change of address. Once you know your move date, start notifying all necessary parties of your new address. I strongly recommend completing a mail redirect at your local postal outlet.
 

 Contact your utility and service providers. While you’re processing that address change, don’t forget to notify providers of services and utilities of your upcoming move. Find out what can be moved with you and what has to be cancelled. You don’t want to get caught paying for the next guy’s water consumption, and you do want to make sure you can watch TV at the end of a long day of unpacking in your new home.

Label and colour code. Remember to identify which room in the new house each box should be placed in. Some people like to assign a colour to each room in their new house and affix a label of the same colour onto all boxes or furniture to go in that room.  For example, in the new house, hang a piece of red paper on the bathroom door; when you pack anything that should go into the bathroom, put a red sticker/label on the box. And don’t forget to list some of the contents on each box.  You likely won’t get everything unpacked in one day.  When you have to find something in a hurry, you’ll be glad to have a list of each box’s contents to refer to.

Pack a Last day/First day box. When you’ve been packing for days and weeks leading up to your move date, you’ll start to pare down your frequent go-to items. When you only have a day left in your old house, you’ll want to put together a collection of the toiletries and clothes you will need on move day, as well as a box of the cleaning supplies and must-haves for your first few hours in your new home.  Some things to include would be toilet paper, paper towel, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, a mop and pail, hand soap, dish soap and a few hand towels.

Ask about exceptions. When you’re booking your moving company, be sure to ask if they have any exceptions.  Movers generally won’t move hazardous materials, (this can include your household cleaning products), overweight items or even alcohol.  Likewise, be sure that the company you move with can meet any special needs you may have, such as moving a piano or appliances.

 

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your move, it will go more smoothly if you take the steps to be prepared. Good luck!

Just Do It!

No, this is not a Nike endorsement.  I started a blog post a week ago, put it down and had no further inspiration.  Then on Monday night I attended my local chapter meeting of Professional Organizers in Canada.  We had a fabulous guest speaker – Donna Messer, the networking diva.  From her hour-long presentation to our membership, I drew my inspiration for this month’s post.

To clarify, Donna’s in the business of making business happen.  She has an idea for everyone looking to make the right connections. As I listened to Donna’s message, I realized it is easily transferrable. Her philosophy is, no matter what you are asked to do, say Yes. For the purpose of his blog, there’s a bit of a twist: you’re the only one involved in the dialogue. You ask and answer the questions.

Don’t misunderstand.  I’m not encouraging you to overextend yourself to the point that your life becomes unmanageable.  I don’t subscribe to that at all. What I am encouraging you to do is try. Try something new. Not kickboxing or hot yoga – unless that’s on your bucket list. Introduce a new behaviour. Just one at a time. Before you know it, you can do the impossible.

You just can’t get all the dishes washed or loaded into the dishwasher by the end of the day?  Ask yourself, Is there a way for me to do this? The answer is Yes. First you have to want to get the dishes out of sight by day’s end, i.e. make it a priority. Then you have to tell yourself that you can get those dishes out of site, i.e. replace the negative self talk with the positive. Then, start dealing with even some of the dishes. Once it’s easy to address some of the dirty dishes, add a few more into your daily routine. Before you know it, you are that person who wipes down a clear counter at the end of the day and leaves the dishcloth to dry on the faucet – which is suspended over an empty sink!

Think you can’t get out the door on time in the morning?  You can. You ask yourself, Will I ever get out on time? The answer is Yes. Identify what slows you down, or where you might gain some time in the morning. Do you waste time gathering the book you want to read on the subway and the envelope you need to pop into a mailbox? Gather those items the night before and have them waiting for you at the door. Maybe it’s the 15 minutes you lose to your shower once you tumble out of bed.  Would you be able to shower the night before? Try doing one thing differently. If it makes a difference, stick with it.  If it doesn’t make enough of a difference, introduce a subsequent behaviour. Keep tweaking your routine until it becomes easy to walk out the door on time.

I could site any number of examples; I think you get the picture.  Don’t let complacency or self-doubt prevent you from achieving more. Whether it’s training for a triathlon, or introducing the behaviours  that will allow you to live clutter free or stress free, whenever you ask yourself, can I do better, the answer is Yes! Just do it!

What Does "Ready" Look Like to You?

Almost 15 years ago, my husband introduced me to his family cottage.   It’s adorable. Situated on the shore of Georgian Bay, it looks out over all the beauty nature has to offer. The history of the family cottage is equally as beautiful. What is now a modest three bedroom mini home was built single-handedly by my father-in-law, with occasional assistance needed from neighbouring cottagers who helped with some heavy lifting.

My parents-in-law bought a piece of land at auction, with the intention to build on it. My husband, the youngest of three, was six-weeks-old when construction began. The family of five made the jaunt to Georgian Bay every week; all construction materials were carried across the Bay in a 14' cedar strip boat.  The first order of business was to build some kind of temporary living quarters. The picture shown below was the family’s home-away-from-home for two summers. Inside was a wood-burning cook stove, kitchen table and enough floor space for the requisite sleeping bags.

When the family was able to move into the main cottage, this original structure became the shed. As new priorities and alternate storage options presented themselves, the shed became neglected. When I first saw it, I immediately said to my then boyfriend, “We could clean this out for your parents”. “No way! It’s too big a project and we’ve got too many other things to do up here. Besides, it’s all my Dad’s stuff”. Fair enough. Boundaries always need to be respected. I moved on.

As dating led to marriage for my husband and me, it only seemed natural that I play a bigger part in helping at the cottage. But I was limited. I couldn’t find anything in the shed and had to rely on my husband to retrieve and put back anything that was stored in there. I muttered my frustration over the years, but never again suggested that we tackle the project.

Then it happened. Two weeks ago my husband said, “That place is gross! We have got to empty it out and get rid of all the junk.” “Pardon?” “I can’t even go in there anymore. We have to do something.” I don’t know if it was just me, or if everyone heard the angels singing. I was ecstatic!

What had changed? Furry squatters had taken over the shed. My husband worked fervently to eradicate the problem and remind our unwelcomed tenants that this shed was still owned by humans. The ick factor is what finally pushed my husband over the edge—and I was ready for action!

We arrived at the cottage for the August long weekend with grubby clothes, face masks, gloves, a shop vac and trailer. I swept, vacuumed and tossed to my heart’s content.  Then I realized I was all alone.  Everyone else was at the beach. 

I tried to get my husband back on board. I started to share my master plan of peg board, lazy susans, and labeled containers when I was suddenly jolted back to reality. “What are you talking about? We’re done. We have to move on. We’ve done a lot here. I’m going to have a hard enough time justifying what we’ve done to my parents.”

And there you have it: the dream has been shelved until another time. Ready came, we acted, we moved on. I hope my husband’s ready isn’t another 15 years in the making. The best part: no complaints from my inlaws.

School’s Out – and the House is Overflowing

If you have school-aged kids, you are used to the steady influx of paper: permission forms, order forms, art work, etc. I have discovered that kids in grades one and two don’t bring home the art work as often, but they sure bring home a lot of stuff at the end of the year!

I have never felt compelled to keep everything my son brings home.  I just wouldn’t have the space. I apply the keep the best, throw away the rest rule that I use throughout my home. But the sorting and decision making can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure where to begin, or absolutely fall in love with each of your youngster’s creations. While you try to figure out what to do with the books and artwork that arrived home at the end of June, keep these tips in mind.

Quiet your guilty conscience. Deciding to discard something your child made, doesn’t make you a bad parent. It means you are making rational decisions about how to use the space your family shares.

Date it. That finger painting or notebook won't mean as much if you are not able to identify it on the continuum of your child’s development.
 

Scan or take digital pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a lot of square footage! Technology can ease the pain of letting go; electronic images of academic work or artwork, allow you to remember the milestones, without taking up space.

Don't hide it, display it. Not everything has to be immediately tossed. Display artwork in your home using frames, magnetic strips or even a clipboard installation. These latter two options allow for quick and easy changes, allowing you to enjoy new pieces as they are created. See how to make the gallery clipboard wall here. 

Have a designated spot for the things you keep. That’s right, you can keep some pieces. But, be sure to have a system for what you keep.  Clear, portfolio folders accommodate different sizes of books and paper, making it easier for you to deal with the randomness of it all. Keep this folder or portfolio in a spot that is easy for you to access, and that can house a growing collection. A kitchen drawer likely won’t fit the bill. And please play it safe; even if you are going to keep a physical piece of work, be sure to take a picture or scan it as well.  It’s like insurance against damage or loss.

Use electronic images to make greeting cards, photo books, etc. It's a great way to showcase your child's talent and shows how much you value his or her work.

If you have any idea to share about dealing with kids’ paperwork, please comment below. New ideas are always welcome.

The Cost of Procrastination

I know as well as anyone, if you’re not ready to make something a priority, you’ll never give it your all. But when we talk about clutter, the longer you wait the more it is likely to cost you.

Keeping up with your waste and recyclables on a weekly or bi-weekly basis will cost you little to nothing. But when you have something that falls outside of the regular curbside pickup, it’s best to know what your options are and act in the timeliest manner possible.  If not, that one couch or appliance can quickly grow to a pile of two bulk items, an appliance and a few containers of toxic waste. Now it’s an even bigger hassle to deal with, and the overwhelm starts. . .

If you wait long enough that you need to hire a junk removal service, you may embark on a costly venture. I recently contacted several junk removal companies to schedule the pickup of one upright freezer.  I received quotes from $98 - $200.  The big name junk removal companies charge per cubic foot of space your stuff takes up on their truck. In Toronto, prices range from $99, for a minimum charge, to about $550 for a full truck.  A full truckload holds approximately two couches, two armchairs, four book cases and 6 – 8 garbage bags.

So what options are there for someone dealing with a smaller quantity who doesn’t want to pay the big bucks? Read on!

1. Toronto Hydro will still pick up old fridges and freezers free of charge.  The appliance must be at least 20 years old and in working order. Check Save on Energy for details.
2. Habitat for Humanity will also have volunteers pick up larger items that meet their donation requirements.  Working appliances are acceptable. This non-profit group suggests an optional $15 donation at the time of pickup and you may be eligible to receive a tax receipt. 
3. The City of Toronto offers a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) pickup, free of charge. By completing a form online, you can schedule a pickup of 10L to 50L.  I called 311 to verify the rules and was told there is no limit to how many times the service is used.
4. Electronics can be dropped off at many retail or municipal locations. Check www.recycleyourelectronics.ca for details.

Most importantly, it’s always good to be aware of what your local solid waste services are. The chart below provides a comparison between the different regions of the GTA. 

Region	Blue bin	Electronics	Bulk items	Appliances
Halton	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Drop off at the depot or local retailers.	Free monthly pickup at curbside; check your calendar for dates.	Free monthly pickup at curbside; check your calendar for dates.
Peel	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Drop off at the depot or local retailers.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Pick up by appt.; $15 for first appliance, $10 for additional appliances or drop off at depot free of charge.
Richmond Hill	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Must be dropped off at depot.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Monthly pickup by appt.
Vaughan	Drop off excess recycling at the depot. No limit. No charge.	Must be dropped off at depot. See site for limits	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Pick up by appt.; $27 per appliance.
Toronto	20 kg of recycling can be dropped off at the depot per day. No charge.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.	Curbside pickup on regularly scheduled garbage days.

 When in doubt, call or check the website:

Region	Website	Phone
Halton	Recycling & Waste	905-825-6000
Peel	Public Works Waste Management	905-791-9499
Richmond Hill	Garbage & Recycling	905-771-8800
Vaughan	Greening Vaughan	905-832-2281
Toronto	Solid Waste Management Services	311

  Good luck everyone!!

Do You Really Care What it’s Worth, or Do You Just Want Someone to Care?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we all value the things we own. We may place a sentimental value on something, or perceive a monetary value.  Be careful with this latter one: if no one is willing to pay, the item ultimately is of no (monetary) value. Worded differently, an item is only worth what it can fetch on the market.

Something else I have learned: even if you paid a great deal of money for something you will let it go if you feel it is going to someone who will value it as you once did. This is a sticking point. You have concluded the item does not serve a purpose in your life; but you will not donate it to a thrift store, or leave it to be recycled; but if you know it will serve a purpose for someone else, you’re happy to let it go. You don’t even want money for it. You just want someone to value what once brought you some degree of satisfaction.

What we really need to be focusing on is how to make discarding our clutter – no disrespect intended; I’m just saying if it’s not adding value to your life, it does slide down the scale of importance – easier. I’m going to let you in on a little secret . . . schools love to receive donations.  And don’t limit your generosity to just schools; there are day care centres and city run programs for children that would likely be happy to repurpose some of your stuff.

I was surprised when I first learned that schools are happy to receive paper, notepads, writing instruments, office supplies, books, small toys, the list is endless. Remember that teachers are tasked, in large part, with outfitting their own classrooms. Gifts from the community can go a long way to furnishing a classroom and allow teachers and administrators to stretch their budgets further. I’ve recently donated a rocking chair that will be used in a kindergarten classroom.  And yes, I’m happy to know it is appreciated and enjoyed.

And don’t underestimate the creativity of those who work with kids. I’ve seen assorted paper plates, gift bows, cupcake liners and fabric swatches transformed into beautiful art projects.

High schools can also benefit from your unneeded treasures.  Have you found multiples of everything in your kitchen drawers at some point? Or maybe you’re downsizing and will no longer have a full kitchen to prepare lavish meals and bake goodies. Give you local high school a call.  If they have a teaching kitchen, they will probably be glad to receive small appliances, cooking utensils and food storage containers.

And last, but not least . . . seniors’ communities! Most, if not all, seniors’ residences have a library.  If you are like so many people that have accumulated books over the years, see if your nearest seniors’ residence would be interested in receiving a donation.