health

Decluttering Your Recipes

I love to cut recipes from magazines and print out ones from the internet. I have good intentions of expanding my culinary skills with mouth watering new recipes. The pictures look so good. I love to bake but I have very little family in town to bake for.

Since my children have grown and moved out of town I find I cook the same old recipes each week. Because my husband doesn’t have a sweet tooth (a real oddity) I don’t have anyone to bake for besides myself (I do have a sweet tooth). Controlling my weight is a problem so not baking is a good thing in the long run. It’s just not much fun when looking at those recipes for cookies (my big weakness) and other sweets in the magazines.

My local grocery store puts out a bi-monthly brochure filled with recipes for the upcoming season. Autumn is just around the corner so recipes for those sweets are catching my eye.IMGP0384_edited-1 But what about all those recipes I already have collected but never tried? It’s time to do some decluttering of the old so I can start collecting the new. The key is to be very discriminating about the criteria for keeping a recipe, whether old or new.

So I am now going through my old recipes in the evening while watching the baseball games (Go Cardinals!) on TV. Here are a few questions I am asking myself with each recipe. I hope you find these questions helpful when decluttering some of your unused recipes.

1. Is this a recipe my family would like, not just me?

2. Are the ingredients ones I have on hand?

3. If I need a special ingredient is it hard to find, expensive, and will it be used up? Is it worth it if I only use a small amount and the the rest gets wasted?

4. Is the recipe time consuming and would I ever want to spend that amount of time on it? I love baking bread and don’t mind the time but other recipes are not worth it to me.

5. Is it a recipe that can be cut down for fewer servings? Rarely do I cook for more than two and my husband isn’t good about most leftovers from the freezer.

6. Is it a recipe where leftovers or extras freeze well? Cookies freeze great but I love them frozen. Not a good thing when watching my weight.

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7. Is it a healthy low fat recipe for everyday? Special occasion recipes don’t need to meet this criteria.

Do you have other criteria for keeping recipes to try? Please leave a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors (please follow me on twitter)

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ACS Relay For Life

Last night I walked in the survivor lap for the first time at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I have walked as a caregiver/family member with my mother (19 year survivor) pictured with me below.

This is also the first time I have worked at fundraising for a cause. I’ve donated to many causes in the past but never asked others to help out. I’m asking now.

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If you can help me reach my fundraising goal I would appreciate it. You can donate at my page on the American Cancer Society website.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Janice.Scissors

Last night I saw many survivors of all ages, gender, race, and nationality. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It was hard seeing a young mother or father wearing a purple shirt walking around with their young children holding their hands. You know those parents want to be around to see their children grow up, go to proms, graduate high school and college, marry, and start a family of their own.

It was especially hard to see all the teenagers wearing the purple shirts. They have already been through more in their young lives than most people will ever experience.

Lets make sure all those effected by this common enemy get the chance to experience all that life has to offer. Please support your favorite cancer charity whether through my fundraising effort or someone else’s. Every dollar gets us closer to a cure.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Janice.Scissors

Thank you,

Janice Scissors

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Deadlines Help Motivate Actions

I have a wedding to attend in 2 1/2 weeks. I rarely get dressed up so I only have one dress that I wore to a couple of weddings two years ago. It’s one of those little black dresses and is still in style.

I tried it on today hoping it still fit. Well, it’s a tiny bit tight but with over two weeks to go and a lot of hard work it should fit good. There’s nothing like a deadline to motivate you to start taking action.

I made copies of my own revised copy of the Flylady Body Clutter Investigator and started keeping track of what I am eating. I have also started using my stickers and putting them on the calendar when I do exercises or activities. I have different stickers for different things. Gardening gets a butterfly sticker. Walking gets a footprint sticker. Aerobics gets a smiley face. And weight lifting/strength training gets a sticker of a hand. My goal is to have a very colorful calendar by the end of the month. Of course I expect a little weight loss and toned muscles too.

On another topic, Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. My newsletter this week had a list of many ideas for gifts that could be considered non-clutter gifts. I’m posting a copy of the newsletter so you can plan your shopping now if you haven’t already done it.

If you are not signed up to receive my free newsletter in your email every week then please do so on the right sidebar (blue box). Thanks

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
Check out my articles at: http://www.ehow.com/members/jlscissors.html?view=3rd

Decluttering Tip Newsletter – Mother’s Day Gifts
Volume 2, Issue 18
May 5, 2009

Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. What kind of gift will you give your mother and/or mother-in-law? What will your own children give you? What would you like to receive that won’t become clutter?

We all want to honor our mother on this special day. We want our own children to honor us. But this is a big gift giving holiday and I don’t want to add clutter to my mother’s home or have my own children add clutter to my home. I know it’s the thought that counts but there are lots of gifts that will be appreciated and used.

If you are not sure which one your mother would like, then ask her. Suggest three or four different ones and then you will have a better idea of what she would like. If she tells you she doesn’t care because all of your suggestions are good then surprise her.

You can even give your children a list and let them shop from it. That will make it a lot easier for them and a better chance you’ll get something you want.
With the economy the way it is a gift card may be a great way for your mother to buy something she’s been cutting back on.

Here are some suggests for non-clutter gifts.

Food Gifts:

1. Sweets – smaller quantity but better quality is the rule here. Most people won’t splurge on that higher price chocolate for themselves so give it as a gift. A small quantity can be savored but not add body clutter.

2. Fruit baskets or a fancy roasted nut mix for a healthier food gift.

3. Take her out for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

4. Give her a gift certificate for her favorite restaurant or the fancy one she loves but rarely goes to.

Other Gifts:

1. Gift card or tickets for a play or movie.

2. Gift card for her favorite clothing store.

3. Bubble bath, shower gel, lotions, scented candle. All these things can be used up and leave little clutter. Create a gift bag (a basket could become clutter) with a bunch of the travel sizes. It’s always fun to play around with different scents.

4. Gift card for a day spa, pedicure, manicure, etc.

5. Create a certificate book for services from you and/or your family such as washing her car, trimming hedges, cleaning out her basement. This is a great no-cost, no-clutter way for grandchildren to give a gift. Just make sure it is something they can follow through with.

6. If you have a Botanical Garden, Museums, or other local places of interest you could buy her an annual pass.

7. If she has a garden you can buy her a pretty flowering plant she will enjoy the whole season. This works for pots on a deck or even a sunny window inside.

8. You can donate to her favorite charity in her honor.

If you would like to have any of these gifts for yourself be sure to let your family know. Don’t keep them guessing. They won’t know unless you tell them.

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Earth Day – Going Green

This week’s newsletter (if you haven’t signed up – please do so on the right sidebar) has lots of links and info to help you go green. Although Earth Day is only one day of the year we need to learn to follow it’s principles year round.

Here is a copy of this week’s newsletter so you can get all the information you need to learn how to go green.

Decluttering Tip Newsletter – Going Green
Volume 2, Issue 16
April 21, 2009

I’m sure you have heard by now that this is Earth Week and Wednesday (April 22) is Earth Day. I remember the first Earth Day in 1970 (I’m showing my age) when you heard about the smog warnings in the big cities and the polluted lakes and rivers. We’ve come a long way with those areas but the toxins in our homes and the waste we send to the landfills needs to get under control.

It is getting much easier to reduce, recycle, and reuse many items to prevent them from filling the landfill. This site has lots of ideas you can use.
http://www.earthday.gov/athome.htm

When you apply a lot of the ideas for reducing and recycling you will find that it is easier to keep your home decluttered. For example: when you use reusable fabric bags for shopping automatically there are less paper and plastic bags filling up the floor of your pantry or between the wall and the refrigerator.

When you buy and use only what you need there will be less clutter around. By using permanent things like dishes, cloth napkins (cheap washcloths work great when you have children), mugs, and durable plastic or glass containers for storage you will get in a habit of washing them so they are ready to use. You’ll save money and the landfills by not using so many disposables.

If you are trying to use healthier cleaning items, etc. in your home, here is a great website with lots of information.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-cleaning/

If you don’t have curbside recycling or don’t know of a recycling center nearby it will take a little more effort on your part to recycle. Here is a site that can help you find places near you for different things, such as papers, plastic, household, etc.
http://earth911.com/blog/2009/04/20/barriers-to-being-green-accessibility/

For electronic recycling check out these sites for a place near you.
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/live.htm
http://www.therecyclingcenter.info/recyclingcenters.php5

Remember, if you reduce the amount of products and items you bring into your home you’ll automatically reduce the amount of clutter. When you find places to recycle the old items you will be able to get rid of them and take away your excuse for not getting them out of your home.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you know who will benefit from this tip.

Be sure to check out my blog this week for more information on Earth Day. http://organizebythemonth.com

Also check me out on Twitter. http://twitter.com/jlscissors I’m starting to get the hang of it.

To a lighter load along the way.
Janice Scissors
https://cutclutterwithscissors.com
http://organizebythemonth.com
http://twitter.com/jlscissors
http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Poison Prevention Week

This week has been designated to raise awareness about the dangers of many products in the home that are poisonous and how to keep your family safe.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/National-Poison-Prevention-Week-2009/

Over 2 million poisonings are reported each year with close to 90% of them happening in the home. It is well worth taking a few minutes to look around your home and do everything you can to prevent a poisoning. Here are some FAQ to help.

http://www.poisonprevention.org/faq.htm

There is now a national phone number you can call if you have questions about a possible poisoning. 1-800-222-1222. This number can help you determine what to do. If someone is showing signs of illness always call 911.

This site has lots of other helpful information.

http://www.aapcc.org/DNN/

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

www.twitter.com/jlscissors

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