Organize your refrigerator

How many times have you heard this coming from the kitchen, “Honey…where are the pickles? I can’t find them!”  If it’s not the pickles, it’s the barbecue sauce or raspberry jelly!  If it’s time to get your frig into shape, try these tips.

• Put like items together with the larger ones in the back.
• Separate meats from vegetables/fruits.  Most refrigerators have bins marked specifically for these items.
• If you like putting food items (and leftovers) in storage containers, go for square and rectangular ones.  Some items already come in the perfect shape.  Consider a 12-pack of sodas – these boxes run the length of a shelf.
• Keep the items you use the most front and center.  This is a great location for leftovers since you will need to use them in the next day or so.
• Be sure to date leftovers.  This way, as you search through the frig, thinking “what’s for dinner,” you can decide if you want to use that leftover chicken that’s been there for 5 days or not (and I hoping… “not’).   Dry erase markers can be used on plastic storage containers but I personally like the old standby – masking tape (paired with a pen or marker) – since dry-erase markers can sometimes be rubbed off leaving you with mystery meat.

For maintenance, once or twice a week spend 15 minutes going through the frig to purge expired items or leftovers that have been stored for too long.  Keep in mind safety with leftovers.  Depending on the food, you are generally safe to keep it for 3 or more days in a properly-temperature controlled refrigerator.  Although some guidelines indicate you can save certain foods up to 7 days, do you really want to do that?  Just how tasty will those quesadillas or tuna salad be after a day or two, anyway?

DIY’s in the neighborhood

“It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.”  ~  Mr. Rogers

We have visitors in our neighborhood today and they don’t appear to be from these parts.  They’re from the DIY Network, specifically the show, “Man Caves.”

There’s a buzz down the street – and I’m not just talking circular saws!  Even though I don’t get DIY Network with my Direct TV package, I hope to see what’s going on inside the neighbor’s house one way or another.

White House seal of approval

If you haven’t heard of designer Michael S. Smith, you haven’t been paying much attention to the design world lately.  Michael Smith has an A-list clientele including the Obamas.  That’s right.  He’s the White House interior designer as well as the 2010 honorary chairman of the Red Cross Designers’ Show House in West Palm Beach, Florida.  He is known for his modern take on classic, traditional style.  What I really like about Mr. Smith’s design aesthetic is how he blends “common goods” with expensive pieces.   He’s been referred to as “Mr. High/Low” due to his tendency to include furnishings from stores such as Pottery Barn along side antiques and high end pieces.

It’s all about mixing things in a personal way.  Whether I’m at Pottery Barn or an auction in London, I’m trying to look at things in the same way.  There are beautiful things at the hardware store.  I love going to Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Pottery Barn…I’m a big believer in Crate & Barrel sisal rugs.  When my dogs ruin them, I just change them out.  That said, you won’t find beautiful wood furniture at a lesser price point.  Some things you have to pay for.  You used to see a conventional school of decoration, with rules.  But too much good taste…can be restrictive. (source:  The Palm Beach Post)

Your home should be decorated according to your personal style and taste.  A home is more interesting when it blends a range of furnishings and reflects the homeowner’s personality and taste.  It’s nice to see a designer with the same approach to interior decorating.

Tips for organizing your home office

As the new year begins, so do thoughts of becoming organized.  Yes, it’s dreadful to think that tax time is right around the corner – well, if you plan to be prepared, you are less likely to dread it.  What can you do now to save yourself time and money this April?  Set up a manageable paperwork system now.

Here are some tips for organizing your home office as “Step 1″ to preparing your finances.

1.  Get rid of your paper piles.   It happens to all of us.  Time happens and paper piles up.  It’s difficult to manage all the paper we face on a daily basis but spending just a few minutes a day can make it manageable.  Sort your papers into:  ”to be filed,” “toss (recycle),” “action needed.”

2.  Take action on paper.  How?  See #1:  remember the sorting you did?  Now it’s time to file, toss/recycle, or take action.  (Hint:  Once you’ve taken action, that paper should now become “file” or “toss/recycle.”

3.  Stay on top of it.  It does sound simple…and it is…if you will spend 15-30 minutes daily managing your system of paperwork.  As paper comes in the house (mail, newspapers/magazines, bills, kids’ homework/art, etc.) ask yourself if it is a keeper?  If no, toss/recycle immediately.  (In other words, immediately walk to your trash/recycle bin and dump it.  It’s such a great feeling!).  If the answer is yes, does it need to be filed or will action be needed?  Move in that direction.  If you don’t have time to deal with these steps now, place the paper in files labeled, “To be filed” or “Take action.”  Try to get to these files before the end of the day when possible to carry out the tasks.

You are now on your way to managing paper versus it controlling you and your space.

Stay tuned for more tips on managing paper and preparing for tax time here at the Stellar Spaces blog.

Color therapy in Randyland

This morning I saw an interesting piece on The Today Show.  It’s about a man with a vision and a glass half-full.  His name is Randy Gilson and he lives and thrives in Pittsburgh.  His desire to make his part of the world a better place has brought together a community and his use of color and his creativity have become a type of therapy for his neighborhood.  He has funded his own neighborhood improvement project with the tips he receives as a waiter during his breakfast shift. Randy uses what others have discarded or have sold inexpensively at yard sales to create a one-of-a-kind environment.  Here is his inspiring story.

Randyland

pics

Randy has the attributes to which we all can aspire.  How do you make your community a better place to live?