4 Ways to Organize Your Recipes
July 15, 2019
1. Recipe Box
Is there anything more traditional than a recipe box? Store all of the recipes you’ve gathered from friends and family in one convenient place with a simple recipe box. Most recipe boxes are designed to store standard-sized 4×6 inch recipe cards or index cards. You can also use index-sized dividers to sort recipes into different categories to make them easier to find. Place a recipe box on the kitchen counter, in the pantry, or other easy-to-find location.
A recipe box is often a prized family heirloom, especially when it contains recipes written in your mother’s, grandmother’s or great grandmother’s hand.
2. Recipe Binder
Are you looking for a fancier way to organize all your favorite recipes? Use a recipe binder to store all of your collected recipes! Some recipe binders are designed to hold index cards while others hold full-page recipes, giving you plenty of storage options. You can purchase matching recipe binders and matching recipe cards to give your kitchen a simple yet cohesive design.
Don’t want to spend a lot of money? No problem! With a three-ring binder, a package of page protectors, scotch tape, and a bit of imagination, you can create your own recipe binder! Insert full page recipes into the page protectors and then place them into the three-ring binder. You can glue or tape index cards to printer paper or card-stock to display smaller recipe cards.
3. File Box
Do you have dozens upon dozens of printed recipes? Try a recipe box! Use manila folders and a standard file box to store and organize all of your printed recipes. You can easily pull the recipes out as needed and hang them on the fridge so you can refer to the recipe while you cook. File boxes aren’t just for organizing your finances anymore! This method of storing your favorite recipes gives you more space than standard recipe boxes and binders, and it allows you to easily grow your recipe collection.
4. Go Digital
With the internet at your fingertips you can find all sorts of new recipes to try, but you can also store your favorite recipes on the interweb to save on physical clutter. Websites such as BigOven, eChefs, and Mastercook Deluxe allow you to compile all your recipes into an online database.
You can also use software such as Microsoft Excel to create your own database right on the computer. This allows you to sort recipes by category, length of time to prepare, and so much more. You can periodically print out your favorite or most-used recipes and add them to your recipe binder as desired.
Tip:
Place an index card inside a Ziploc bag or a printed recipe inside a page protector to keep it free of food stains while cooking or baking.
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Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall…
July 13, 2019
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, whose house is the most stylish of them all? Mirrors create the illusion of depth and space to make any room feel larger than it really is. Adding mirrors to your home is also an affordable way to add glamour and style to any room of the home.
Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes to coordinate with any space while adding visual interest to your existing decor. From wall-mounted to free-standing mirrors, you can add a mirror to almost every room of the home. Read on for some great tips and tricks for decorating with mirrors!
“Life is like a mirror.
Smile at it and it smiles back at you.”
Peace Pilgrim
Bathroom
If there is one place in the home you can always count on to have a mirror, it’s the bathroom. A large mirror above the vanity is a must-have for getting ready in the morning. Choose a mirror with a frame for a more traditional look or one without to create a contemporary, modern appearance.
Do you have a double vanity? Consider purchasing two smaller mirrors and hang one above each sink to create a modern look. A huge mirror that spans both sinks provides a modern traditional appearance.
Bedroom
One of the best places to add a mirror is right above your dresser or makeup table. This placement creates a focal point in the room while offering simple convenience. Adding a full-length mirror to the bedroom or walk-in closet allows you to view an outfit in its entirety before leaving the home. The full-length design allows you to view your entire outfit – from the blouse to the shoes – to gauge the entire ensemble.
Child’s Room
Ah, parenting hacks. Where would we be without them? Add a mirror at your child’s eye level so they can study themselves in front of the mirror, which may help them be more conscious of their appearance before they leave home. Place a mirror on the wall near the baby’s changing table to keep your infant occupied while you change their diaper! This will give you a much needed break while you deal with the next biohazard that has appeared in your child’s nappy.
Beside the Front or Back Door
Have you ever left the house forgetting to brush your hair or missing the glob of toothpaste on your chin? Add a mirror next to your exterior door so you can check yourself over one last time before rushing out of the house. A small round or square mirror at eye-level is perfect for last minute glances.
Over a Fireplace
Add warmth to the main living room by placing a large mirror over the fireplace. Add the mirror right above the mantle to create a dramatic effect. You can then add candles, vases, and other decorative items to the mantle to add simple display – and the mirror will reflect the items for a stylish look. No mantle? Don’t worry. The mirror will reflect the other decorations in the room to add depth and color.
Over a Buffet
Add a large mirror above the buffet, sideboard, or server in the dining room to make the space seem larger. Add candles to the sideboard or your dining room table to create a romantic atmosphere. The mirror will reflect the array of food on the dining room table, creating a picturesque scene.
In a Hallway
Hallways and entryways are often the smallest spaces in your home. A
strategically-placed mirror makes the small space seem larger than it really is while adding style to an often overlooked space. Idea: place several small mirrors on the wall to create a visually interesting collage of mirrors.
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Organizing Your Kitchen for a Better Morning
July 8, 2019
Guest blog by Alex DeMarzo
Are you one of those people who feel as if they never have enough time in the morning to accomplish everything? Do you find that you’re always running late no matter how hard you try? Mornings don’t always have to be a frenetic free-for-all leaving you slightly disgruntled and out of breath. Unless, of course, you like it that way (no judgments at all). But, if you’d love to have a calm, organized, and efficient morning that leads to a (hopefully) better and more productive day, start by trying to implement the following tips.
1. First, Make a List
Some people are chronic list makers while others are not, but this is one instance when a list could be of benefit. Begin by listing everything you do every morning. Estimate how much time it takes to do each task or ritual. Then, actually, time yourself doing them.
This exercise may seem silly, but it’ll help you know exactly how much time you really do need in the morning. The list will also show you what you could possibly cut out if you get up later than normal or have to be at work earlier.
2. Set up a Coffee Station
For most people, coffee is the most important part of their morning. Streamline your coffee making by creating a coffee station or beverage station. Gather all of your supplies for your perfect morning cup of joe in one place. Don’t forget your favorite mug!
Some people choose to arrange their coffee station on a tray and use baskets to hold things like sugar, sweeteners, and spoons for stirring. If there’s also a tea drinker in your house, add tea-making accouterments as well. Keeping everything together in one place eliminates the time spent gathering these things every morning, or looking for where you left the coffee grinder or your special tea stirrer from Japan.
In the same vein, you can also create a breakfast station and/or a smoothie station. As well as making these tasks quicker, separate stations also help keep family members from all trying to work in the same space at the same time, which means less arguing and bumping into each other!
Package cereals and bread in airtight containers. Your smoothie station could be a tray that lives in the refrigerator and gets pulled out each morning when its time to make a smoothie.
3. Organize Cupboards and Refrigerator
Get serious about organizing your cupboards and refrigerator. Group similar items together in both your fridge and pantry. Set up the areas and things you use regularly next to each other but not in the same cabinet. Use baskets to corral similar items in one place and airtight containers for crackers, cookies, cereals, and pasta. If you’re looking for some organizational inspiration tinged with some creativity, consider putting together some kitchen vignettes.
And don’t forget about all those things deep in the back of your shelves and cabinets. Install some pull out shelves to fully utilize your available space. Store excess stock on a top hard to reach shelf to keep the clutter down on your oft used shelves.
4. Upgrade your Kitchen for More Efficiency
If you have the time and money, consider a kitchen upgrade with a new refrigerator or new cabinets. Launch a thorough cleaning of your kitchen one weekend and call a junk removal service to haul it all away for you. After your finished, you’ll probably feel more organized already.
5. Plan Meals and Lunches
Try to do all your meal and diet planning on Sunday night so you’re ready for the upcoming week. Prepare all lunches for you and your family the evening before.
Also, empty the dishwasher before the morning so you can quickly load the dirty breakfast and coffee dishes into it.
6. Consider Monochromatic Dishware
Downsizing to monochromatic dishware could free up space in your cabinets as well as reduce any arguments or searching for a favorite cup or bowl. If your dishes are all one color and not seasonal, you don’t have to worry about switching them out with the seasons (if you’re the kind of family that gets into things like that).
Also, most modern dishware is both microwave and dishwasher safe, so there’ll be no more asking, “Can this go in the dishwasher?” Convenience and simplicity will help make your mornings run smoother and leave you more time for the important things, like enjoying the perfect cup of coffee you just made in your perfectly set up beverage station.
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