Save Time with this Laundry Tip: Multiple Baskets

Growing up, I used to throw my dirty laundry into a hamper. I was taught to do laundry all at once, separating the clothes and then doing load after load in one day (usually a weekend). But living alone, I acquired laundry baskets that didn't match, so they didn't stack. And I didn't really want a hamper. So I did what seemed natural, and tossed light colored clothing in one basket and darks in the other.

Sorting laundry as it's created saves a lot of time.

It also makes doing laundry less onerous, since you can do a load as the need arises. The darks basket fills up quickly around here - every day or two, since we have the kids throw their dirty clothes into the baskets in our closet. I suppose that when they're a little older, I'll clear some space on the floor of their closet and install baskets in there too.

Flylady suggests doing one load a day so that "Mt. Washmore" doesn't get too big, and while I don't necessarily follow that guideline (I've done three loads today), I wholeheartedly agree with the principle.

Menu Plan Monday

The cooler weather has me in a baking mood, which is good because we are starting to run low on sandwich bread, and I could use some other goodies in the freezer. So I think Tuesday will have to be a baking day.

Monday - Chicken Cobb Salad, Buttermilk biscuits (and if anyone has any secret fluffy biscuit tips, I'm dying to know them - I can never get mine as light and fluffy as the kind that come in a can, although they taste fine)

Tuesday - Pizza using artisan bread dough, salad; Baking day: Sandwich bread, Applesauce bread, Cereal bars

Wednesday - Chicken Milanese

Thursday - Pasta Bolognese

Friday - Breakfast: Waffles, Eggs, Sausage, Fruit

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Dinner Out

See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

It's not too late to help Musselman's fight breast cancer

I have been meaning to let you know that Musselman's is once again joining the fight against breast cancer by partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation in their mission to raise awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms to those in need. Throughout the month of January, Musselman's will donate 10¢ to the foundation for every package of Musselman's Natural and Healthy Picks Apple Sauce purchased. They hit the $85,000 mark last year, and hope to surpass it this year.

The boys and I have enjoyed every flavor of Musselman's applesauce that we've tried, and I love the special pink packaging that Musselman's comes out with for the National Breast Cancer Foundation promo campaign. The individual cups of applesauce are great in school lunches and even brown bag lunches (which are a great way to save money!). Keep your eyes open on the packaging too, as I have found coupons on the inside of the cardboard that holds the individual cups together.

And of course, applesauce makes a great substitution in baking - a good rule of thumb is to substitute half of the oil in the recipe for applesauce. Keeping some of the oil helps to maintain the desired consistency while still reducing the amount of fat. Also, commercial mixes are pretty forgiving, for lack of a better word, so you can try using applesauce when baking with them.

I recently tried this Whole Wheat Applesauce Bread that was awesome with Musselman's Apple Butter. If you have any great applesauce recipes, I'd love to see them!

Disclosure: Musselman's sent me some of the pink package applesauce and materials to facilitate this post. Any opinions are my own. Read the full CFO disclosure policy here.

My Favorite Internet Tool: Screen Grab

Screengrab is a Firefox extension that captures screenshots, but its true functionality for me is that I can save an entire page, no matter how long it is. I use Screengrab for financial uses all the time. I started about five years ago by saving copies of receipts and payment confirmation for online purchases, as well as the confirmation pages of my online banking activities. This saves me ink, paper and time, because I don't have to print any confirmations.

Recently, I decided it was time to fully switch to paperless statements, so I began saving copies of bank and investment statements. If the documents are provided as a pdf, then they're very easy to save. But last night, for example, I discovered that my credit union statement was in MHTML format, which as far as I could tell was not a format that actually saved a copy of the document. So I simply used Screengrab to save a copy of the entire page.

One last tip: As you make the transition to being paperless, remember to back up your files on one or two other drives.

And a side note: I use a program called Snagit for partial captures. Certain versions of Windows Vista come with a similar handy program called Snipping Tool.

Ten Tips for Decluttering Your House

As I mentioned last week, I've been decluttering like crazy. But the wonderful thing is, I haven't driven myself crazy doing it. Instead, I've embraced the Flylady tenet that you can do a lot in a little bit of time, and that you don't need to be perfect. Here are some concrete tips that I've been following that have helped me get a lot done:

1. Start small, and keep it small. I want to declutter my house from top to bottom, but that's an overwhelming task. What's manageable is decluttering one shelf, one box or one drawer at a time. Even one file at a time, which is how I've been going through my filing cabinet. It also means that I can declutter even when I have only five minutes to kill before I leave the house.

2. Plan ahead on how to re-organize. Planning ahead will help you figure out what to keep, what to toss, and how to arrange the space as you purge.

3. But don't get caught up in perfectionism. Sometimes you just can't figure out what the space should look like, or how it should function as you're working on it. And that's okay. I've been decluttering boxes by pulling out the things that I know I can get rid of. Since I don't yet know what I'm going to do with the stuff that's left, I just put it back in the box and stick the box back where it was. Eventually, I'll figure out what to do with that stuff and it will be easier to put away because there won't be unnecessary extras that I have to weed out.

4. Use three groups: Keep, Donate, Toss. As you purge, separate your things into three piles: Keep, Donate and Toss. The Keep pile should be put away as soon as you're done purging, even if, as I just said, it goes right back into the space. Keep it out of the way for now and find a permanent home for it later if you need to. The Toss pile should find its way into the trash bin immediately. For the Donate pile, you'll need to find a system that works for you.

5. Don't procrastinate on the donating and tossing. As mentioned above, the Toss pile should leave your home immediately. I keep the Donate pile around for a while until I can create an itemized list for tax purposes, but I've learned not to wait too long or the Donate pile itself becomes an energy drain. If possible, plan a regular monthly or weekly run to Goodwill, or schedule a pick up so you have a deadline.

6. Set boundaries on what you're going to keep. Before you start purging, decide on the reasons something makes it into the Keep pile. Among the questions I ask are: Do I need this for legal reasons? (E.g., tax documents should be kept for at least seven years.) How likely will I need this? (I have a bunch of kitchen gadgets that I may not use often but will definitely use again, which makes them keepers.) Can I get another one? (I keep only a few extra towels and sheets, on the theory that it's easy to get more if I end up needing them.) How many do I need? (I finally realized that I don't need a hundred unmatched card envelopes!)

7. Do little projects when inspiration strikes. On the spur of the moment, I have taken fifteen minutes to clean out dresser drawers, a box on my desk, a book shelf, etc. And I felt great afterwards.

8. Shred as you go, or have a place for paper clutter. I am purging a lot of paper clutter, much of which needs to be shredded because it contains personal information. After Alex was born, I started keeping my shredder in a closet for safety reasons, so now I have a box under my desk for papers that need to be shredded. Every so often - preferably when the kids aren't home - I plug in the shredder and shred a bunch of papers at once. It's not a particularly fun task, but I can do it while watching TV, and it feels good to get all of those papers out of the house.

9. Reward yourself. It always helps to have something to look forward to, so whether it's sitting down with a cup of tea and a magazine, or buying something you love for your newly decluttered closet, plan to reward yourself when you're done.

10. Keep the end in mind. Having less stuff means your house is easier to clean, you can bless others with what you no longer want, you have less stress, your house is more comfortable and cleaner for your family, etc. I'm also finding that it makes me think twice about buying more things - even things that we will eventually use, like toiletries. I have a good stockpile thanks to The Drugstore Game, so I've decided that I can wait for absolute rock bottom prices (which often means free) on just about everything.

Menu Plan Monday: Using my oven again

It's been so warm these last couple of weeks that I haven't wanted to use my oven much, and have made an extra effort to consolidate my baking into one day a week. But the temps are supposed to cool down later this week, so I just might go for some casseroles and baked goods then. Also, I haven't been going to the farmer's market but I feel like I'm in a veggie side dish rut, so I want to go this week to see if maybe some inspiration will strike. In the meantime, here's what I've got planned:

Monday - Slow cooker roast beef, sweet potato fries, artisan bread

Tuesday - Pan Bagnat, Sauteed Green Beans

Wednesday - Sausage Strata, Creamed Spinach

Thursday - Dinner out

Friday - Pizza (or maybe fish tacos), Salad

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Dinner out

See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

The Psychology of Empty Space & Saving Money

I've been on a decluttering kick for the last few weeks, and I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff. Enough that there are now empty spaces throughout the house that previously used to be occupied.

It was subtle, but eventually I noticed a subconscious urge to fill the empty space.

And I had to remind myself that it's okay to have empty space in the house.

I think this is one of those times when I have to live with the discomfort, trusting that eventually it will feel comfortable. Because intellectually, I know there's nothing wrong with some empty space. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, in which case we will eventually fill it with something that looks nice. But in the meantime, I have a lot more decluttering to do and it makes sense not to make too many changes until I'm done.

It occurred to me that it's a similar psychology for people who feel that if they have money, they should spend it. I don't have a problem with saving money, but I know people who seem to feel compelled to spend every penny they earn (and then some, in certain cases). Maybe they would benefit from the corollary, It's okay to not to spend money.

And then they too would have to get used to the discomfort. As time passes, they would see that nothing bad happens when they save money, and that it's actually really nice having some money in the bank.

Apricot Puree for Babies

I used to make this when the boys were babies, and wanted to post it before I forget all about it. It's a somewhat time-consuming recipe and requires a decent amount of dishwashing because of the food mill and food processor, but it makes a large batch and is worth the effort. For older babies ready for more texture, you can skip the last skip (with the food processor). You can also make this recipe with prunes. I tried to use organic, unsulfured fruit, which I found at Whole Foods and sometimes at Trader Joe's.

Apricot Puree for Babies

1 pound dried apricots (preferably organic and unsulfured)
6 cups water

1. Combine apricots and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for one hour or until apricots are falling apart (you may need to add more water, depending on how much is absorbed). Remove from heat and let stand 20 minutes.

2. Transfer the apricots and boiling liquid to a food mill resting on top of a large bowl. Process the apricots through the food mill and let cool to room temperature.

3. Transfer the apricot puree to a food processor fitted with a blade and pulse five times. Scrape down the sides and process until the puree is smooth. Freeze in ice cube trays for convenience (don't forget to date and label!).

Tips for saving on only one grocery store trip per week

Back when I was working outside of the home full-time, I still made more than one trip to the grocery store, mostly because I shop at multiple stores to get the best deals at each store. But that doesn't work for everyone, so here are some tips for saving money while making only grocery store trip each week:

1. Start with a good stockpile. You may need to shop at several stores for a few weeks or months, or simply going to Target or Costco to stock your pantry, but starting with a well-stocked pantry will make Tip #2 easier.


2. Decide on which store to shop at depending on that week's sales. If you already have a stockpile of staples, then you can go to Ralphs for the produce and meat deals and not have to pay $3 for a box of pasta. (If you don't have a stockpile, don't want to go out of your way to start one, and don't want to pay full price for that box of pasta, explore the store and tinker with your weekly menu to come up with inexpensive meals based on what's on sale.)


3. Know which store has the lowest price on things you eat that don't go on sale. For example, I would hit Trader Joe's once a month to stock up on things that I can stockpile but don't usually find cheaper than TJ's every day low price. For example, they have organic American cheese at $3.49, which I can't find at Ralphs or Vons, and which is more expensive at Whole Foods.


4. Be willing to pass up some good deals. This is actually a key to maintaining your sanity and preventing burnout under any circumstances. (I've discussed it before in the context of The Drugstore Game.)


5. Be willing to adapt your menu to what's available. Plan on planning your menu and your shopping list after you see what's on sale that week, and you should keep your eyes open as you go through the store and spot the unadvertised specials.


6. Be willing to pay a (small) premium for your mental health. If hitting multiple grocery stores stresses you out, don't do it! Even if it means you have pay a little extra for food each week. Unless your family is watching every penny out of sheer necessity, in which case hitting multiple stores is probably necessary and therefore less stressful anyway, your mental health is worth a few extra dollars.

Menu Plan Monday: Still clearing out my freezer

I cleared out some things from my freezer, but I still have quite a bit in there. Plus, that ham is still taking up space because I never made the soup I'd planned for last week. So, that's back on this week's menu:

Monday - Beef tacos with the fixin's

Tuesday - Ham & Bean Soup (using the leftover bone-in Honeybaked Ham in the freezer), Artisan Bread

Wednesday - Chicken Milanese (it was a huge hit when I made it a couple of weeks ago, so I'll just make it again), Cream Biscuits, some kind of as-yet-undecided veggie

Thursday - Roasted Cauliflower and Sardine Pasta, Artisan Bread, and maybe an extra veggie on the side

Friday - Sausage Strata, some kind of veggie TBD

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Dinner out

See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Must-have Money-Saving Skill: Sew a Button

I think people who can make their own clothes are amazing, and I've tried to learn how to sew, but I just don't have a natural flair for it. It's not that big a deal, although I do get envious when I see Adrienne at Baby Toolkit post her latest project.

What I can do is sew a button back on. It's a valuable skill, since it saves clothes and therefore money. I was reminded of this when a button fell off a pair of favorite shorts and I sewed it back on, thus saving us the expense of buying a new pair of shorts. It seems like a basic skill, but I've discovered that it's not one that everyone knows these days.

The results of my efforts aren't the prettiest, so I'll direct you to these instructions at WikiHow (there's a video at the bottom of the page).

Menu Plan Monday: School's back in session

Today is the first day of school after a three-week winter break, but there was actually enough informal "homework" that I don't feel we're out of practice. Plus, one of the boys in the class had a birthday party yesterday, so it was nice to see some school friends before heading back today. I realized this past week that my pantry and freezer are quite well-stocked, so I am going to try to use up as many things as I can for the rest of the month.

Monday - Pizza (using Artisan Bread Dough), Salad

Tuesday - Miso Chicken, Rice, Sauteed Green Beans; this will also be a baking day for me: roasted pumpkin, sandwich bread, some kind of quick bread, cookies

Wednesday - Tuna Pasta Salad

Thursday - Sloppy Joes (using beef instead of turkey, since that's what I have), Brioche Rolls, Roasted Vegetables

Friday - Ham & Bean Soup (using the leftover bone-in Honeybaked Ham in the freezer), Artisan Bread

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Dinner out

See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Ideas for leftover macaroni and cheese

A couple of years ago, I asked for ideas on using up macaroni and cheese after the boys dissed the mac and cheese I made in the rice cooker. I got some terrific suggestions, but never followed up on them here, so I figured it's better late than never. Thanks to Maranda, Aalarie, Lisa, Camille, Hélène, Katy, Jennifer, Stacee, and the anonymous readers who shared these great ideas:

Fried macaroni and cheese - Refrigerate leftovers in a baking dish, then cut leftovers into squares (or scoop into balls), dredge in flour, egg and bread crumbs (I would recommend panko for extra crispiness), then fry until golden brown on all sides.

Chili mac and cheese - Combine leftover macaroni and cheese with some chili.

Faux hamburger helper - Combine leftover macaroni and cheese with ground beef or turkey. You can add some diced tomatoes, or sneak in other veggies.

No-bake chicken "casserole" - Stir diced chicken and steamed broccoli into the mac and cheese.

Ham casserole - Combine mac and cheese with some diced ham and your child's favorite vegetable, pour into a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs (or crumbled Ritz crackers), and bake until top is golden brown.

Mac and cheese pizza - CiCi's Pizza has a mac and cheese pizza on their menu.

"Confetti" mac and cheese - Shred your child's favorite vegetables and let her sprinkle them on top like confetti.

Martha Stewart's Basic Vanilla Cookie Dough

I have a free subscription to Martha Stewart Living, which might just be my favorite magazine. (I tweeted about the free subscription back when it was available from Rewards Gold - I'll often do that when there's a time sensitive deal that won't be active by the time of Morning Coffee. You can follow me on Twitter here.)

I love to look at all of the lovely crafty things in MSL, which I am unlikely to ever do myself but which are fabulous to behold.

Most of the MSL recipes I've made have been good, though once in a while there's a dud. In the December 2010 issue, I was captivated by the One Basic Dough, 30 Kinds of Cookies feature. The pictures are so much fun, so my saying here that the myriad assortment is colorful and captivating just doesn't do it justice.

I've never liked sugar cookies much, but I made the Basic Vanilla Dough and I'm a fan. You can treat it like a regular sugar cookie dough, so refrigerate and then roll it out and then use cookie cutters. I left it in the fridge overnight and found it was too firm to roll. If I'd had time, I would have let it soften, but instead I sliced them and cut stars out of the center. The dough makes beautiful icebox cookies too.

Martha Stewart's Basic Vanilla Cookie Dough
December 2010 Martha Stewart Living

3 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder (omit if making thumbprint, ball or spritz cookies)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture and beat until combined.

At this point, I rolled my dough into a log, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and parked it in the fridge. I would recommend making two logs or discs before refrigerating the dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 14 to 16 minutes or until very lightly browned at edges.

You can refrigerate the dough overnight or freeze for up to one month.

Financial New Year's Resolutions

I've already mentioned my theme for 2011: Health & Acceptance. But normally, when we start a new year, I'm writing about my financial goals. In 2010, I wanted to save a substantial cash cushion. In 2009, I wanted to pay off all of our non-mortgage debt. In 2008, I wanted to pay cash for a new car.

All of those previous goals, though, were aimed at getting me where I am today: a work-at-home mom no longer making a substantial salary as a lawyer.

We definitely have new financial goals, primarily centered on being able to afford private school when the boys move into middle and high school. As we did with elementary school, we'll explore all of our options, and we want to have the maximum number of options possible.

But for 2011, I feel drawn away from making financial goals my primary focus. In fact, my main financial goal is simply to live well on our reduced income, by continuing to live below our means and save every month.

And that will leave me free to focus on Health & Acceptance.

Menu Plan Monday: Back to the routine

Alex still has one more week off from school, but I feel like things are getting back to normal around here. And I want to get back to menu planning so I have some idea about what's for dinner!

Monday - Chicken Milanese (pounded chicken coated in panko and pan fried), roasted cauliflower, sauteed broccoli slaw, Artisan Bread

Tuesday - Penne with Bolognese, sauteed shredded brussels sprouts, Artisan Bread

Wednesday - Vegetable Tempura, rice

Thursday - Smoked Salmon Pizza, Salad (and cheese pizza for the boys)

Friday - Waffles, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs with Cabbage & Mushrooms

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Dinner out

See more weekly menus at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Happy New Year!

I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011!

Thank you for reading CFO :)