what pots and pans are right for you?

Recently, I’ve been doing a bit of research on pots and pans. I currently have nonstick pans, but have been hearing lots of negative talk about potential side affects of the nonstick coating. Apparently, it can cause cancer…but then again, it seems that everything now days can cause cancer. So I’m not too concerned, but I do feel like I should at least research some of my other options.

I’ve learned that there is much more to consider when buying pots and pans beside how well they heat food, how easy they are to clean, how pretty they look on my stove, etc. I should also consider the safety of these pots and pans as they are essentially the surfaces upon which my food will sit.

So here is what I found as far as healthy kitchenware is concerned; however don’t go and throw out everything you currently have. Decide for yourself what is the best cookware for your family and your cooking needs, and then do your research and wait until you find a sale…don’t pay full price!

1. Aluminum: This material has become less popular over recent years as we learned that it reacts to acidic foods like tomatoes and causes leaching, and we don’t need to add even more of this potentially toxic substance. My vote = FAIL
2. Teflon: Teflon was/is very popular as a great non-stick surface. However, Teflon is said to leach toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and obesity. In addition Teflon has a tendency to scratch and chip easily making the pot or pan unusable. My vote = FAIL
3. Copper: It looks great and it gives the impression that you are a fancy chef (even if your not!) It also conducts heat very well. Yet it is hard to care for and keep looking nice. Copper would be nice for occasional or decorative use but not for every day cooking. My vote = NEUTRAL
4. Silicone: This material has really made a splash in recent years. The attraction is mostly due to the fact that it is a non-stick surface that isn’t Teflon. It seems that silicone doesn’t leach but it is also should not be used at temperatures hotter than 420 degrees. Silicone is safe, but personally, I do not like using it. I feel like it has a weird smell…but I have an ultra sensitive nose! My vote = NEUTRAL
5. Glass: Glass is awesome for baking and for the oven. I would even say it is the best material for these uses (although it is definitely breakable and somewhat heavy). It is safe and easy to use and cleans up very well. Glass doesn’t conduct heat well so it is much better for oven cooking than for stovetop cooking. My vote = PASS
6. Cast Iron: An old classic that has been used for generations. It is durable and easy to use once it is seasoned. It has been used for many decades without any connection to ill effects so this option is likely to stick around. My vote = PASS
7. Stainless Steel: It’s safe, but not the easiest for non-stick cooking. Cooked on scrambled eggs are going to require some serious soaking in my experience. It may not be the most convenient but it is certainly safe. My vote = PASS

Just like electronic devices, it seems that there are always new materials coming out for kitchen tools. I recently heard of “Green Pans” that claim to be safe and non-stick alternatives to Teflon. I personally like using non-stick Teflon…but I’m also aware that sacrificing convenience now is a lot wiser that sacrificing health complications later on in life.

So...after my research, I've decided to glass for baking (which I already did) and stainless steel for the majority of my cooking. However, I still have a couple Teflon pans…just for eggs!

How about you? What do you use? What do you love?

some thoughts about cards...on my birthday

Today is my birthday! I'm officially a quarter of a century...which makes me sound old; so I think I'll just say I'm 25!

I love birthdays because, for a day, I reconnect with so many people via Facebook messages... and birthday cards. I love getting and giving cards for all different occasions, but I have to be careful because it is so easy to accumulate an enormous amount of "card clutter".

You know; card clutter...when you continue to buy more cards every time you see one that would be perfect for so-and-so...but then you completely forget to give the card to so-and-so when that time comes. Even with the best of intension and the most organized card files, it's still easy to accumulate card clutter.

One thing that I have done to eliminate the amount of cards I have to purchase (and store) is to simplify my categories. I no longer purchase cards for every occasion. Now, I only have 3 categories:

1. Thank-You
2. Congratulations
3. Blank

I feel that Thank-You cards are a must. Whether you are thanking someone for a gift or for a job interview, a card is 10 times nicer than an e-mail or e-card.

These Thank-You cards are one of my favorites.

I just bought them at the grocery store: 10 for $5.00.

These are a little more professional looking...

again, just from the grocery store!

More Thank-You cards from Night Owl Paper Goods...so pretty!

I also keep a bunch of "congratulations" cards around. Of course, I use these cards for graduations, but I also use them instead of having lots of different cards for weddings, engagements, baby showers, new jobs, new homes, etc. etc. All these occasions are reasons for congratulations...right!

This super cute card can be purchased from The Haystack Needle.

Egg Press also has a HUGE selection of gorgeous custom cards.

And finally, I keep a lot of blank cards handy.

I have a variety of colors and patterns, and I use these cards for everything else. I find that people often enjoy a hand written message versus a generic Hallmark greeting. Blank cards are also much less expensive and usually come in packs of 10-20 cards.

Of course, if you want to eliminate all your cards, here are some fun websites you might want to check out. You can create the cards online, and then mail or e-mail them to the recipients... meaning you never have to store another card again!

• American Greetings:
• Hallmark E-cards:
• DaySprings E-cards:
• Blue Mountian E-cards:
• Care2 E-cards:

Want to create personalized photo cards or stationary? These sites can do that!

• Shutterfly.com
• Snapfish.com
• PearTreeGreetings
• Photoworks.com
• Winkflash.com
• PhotoAffections.com

And those sites are just a few of the many online card resources. They are the ones that I have used and like!

What about you? Do you have a store or website you get cards from? Let me know...and I'll add it to my list.

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

I usually don't encourage my clients to subscribe to any additional magazines, as they somehow seem to stick around for years to come! I personally don't subscribe to any magazines, but I did receive Better Homes and Gardens as a gift for 2 Christmases...and now I'm hooked! However, I'm not going to pay full price for a magazine (or anything for that matter) so I've been waiting for it to go on sale...and it's here!

You can now get a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine for only $2.99 per year right now from Tanga.com. Simply add the magazine to your cart and choose how many years you’d like to receive it. You'll have to enter your mailing information, then use coupon code HOMES at the checkout and it should knock the price down to $2.99 per year. (Tanga sometimes varies the price of an item by a dollar or two throughout the day.)

So get your magazine deal...and then remember; once you finished reading it, get rid of it!

free products from p&g everyday solutions

Have you signed up for P&G Everyday Solutions yet? If not, you’ll want to sign up soon. They are offering some great samples and coupons right now — including free Pampers and Pantene samples.

After you sign up, just log in to your account and click on “Samples and Coupons” to choose which samples you’d like to order. You can order new samples and coupons every quarter.

my latest deal

I’ve been getting loads of e-mails with questions on how I keep my grocery budget so low each week. And this week was no exception…I managed to purchase over $98.00 worth of meat, dairy, fruits, veggies, bread, snacks, etc. for only $2.56!! That has to be some type of record!

And before you even ask… No, I don’t use Savings Angel; No I don’t buy multiple Sunday papers; No we don’t eat Ramen Noodles...ever!

So how do I do it?

1. I spend about 2 hours every Sunday afternoon cutting and organizing my coupons, looking through store ads, and creating my grocery list for the week.
2. I ONLY buy what is on sale…period! When things go on sale, I stock up, when they are not on sale, we eat something else.
3. I pair store coupons (Meijer, Target, Spartan Stores) with Manufacture coupons (Kraft, SaraLee, Aunt Millies). You usually can’t use more than one coupon per item, but you CAN do this when one is a store coupon and one is a manufacture coupon.
4. I use lots of rebates. These are often right in the Sunday paper ads…but sometimes they can be a bit trickier to find. Using rebates is a little work, but these are what can really save you money. Often I find that I can actually get paid for buying an item I was planning to buy anyway.

This might all seem a little overwhelming, but keep in mind I’ve been doing this for a long time…and it definitely get’s easier after time!

So how did I do it this week?

A few weeks ago, I participated in a Kraft Foods' promotion via an online survey from Kraft. Following the survey, I got to pick a handful of products that I would then get free coupons for.

Last week, my coupons arrived in the mail…accompanied by a $10.00 rebate when you spend $30.00 on Kraft Products.

This week, Meijer had a TON of Kraft products on sale and additional Mejier coupons for these Kraft products at MeijerMealBox.com

So, using the Meijer sales, my manufacture & store coupons, and the Kraft rebate I was able to purchase everything you see in this picture for only $2.56!!

Oh...and you can click here for Free Kraft Products at Target!

square foot gardening

Over the weekend, I was able to squeeze in a few hours of time to prepare and plant my vegetable garden. Since we are currently in the process of redesigning and re-landscaping our backyard, my vegetable garden had to be smaller than what it was in previous years. Because of this, I was forced to get a little more creative with the way I planted and what I planted.

I did a little research and found a bunch of information on Square Foot Gardening.
The common practice in Square Foot Gardening is to first make a 4'x4' raised bed of soil (usually about 6" deep) and then divide this raised bed into 16 1' x 1' areas using twine or some sticks. This enables you to divide your crops and physically reach all portions of a particular raised bed without stepping on the soil or affecting the other plants.

If you have a small garden area, you might only be able to accommodate 1 or 2 raised beds. However, if you have lots of space, you could create several raised beds separated by 3' aisles.

Once you have created your raised bed and filled it with good soil and organic matter, you can begin planning!
You should plant a variety of plants in your raised bed, and the number of plants you plant in each square depends on the size of the plant. For instance, if your plant is large (broccoli, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers) you should only grow 1 plant per square food. If your plants are medium sized (onions, head lettuce, chard) you can grow 3 or 4 per square. And if your plants are small (radishes, carrots, herbs, beans) you can grow 8-16 per square.

Here's a great graphic to give you an idea of how to plant your vegetables.
So, the idea is to plant some of the small plants next to the larger plants so they can all "get along" and maximize your gardening space (and effort).

Here is a GREAT website if you want to learn more.

It's a pretty good method and I know others who currently use it. I think I'm going to give it a try this year!

Let me know if you have other ideas for gardening in smaller spaces or if you have tried square food gardening!

spring cleaning giveaway announced!

It's Friday, which means I can announce the winner of our Simplify Spring Cleaning Free Give-away...the Micro Fiber Cloth!!

The winner is: Rochelle H

I will be sending you an e-mail shortly to let you know that you won.

Thank you to everyone who entered to win. I will hopefully be doing several more giveaways this summer so please keep coming back and sharing your ideas, questions, and comments. I love to hear them all.

Also, if any of you are interested in purchasing your own micro fiber cloths, they have a great selection at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart, etc.

15 new uses for odds and ends

Have you ever lost one earring and weren't sure what to do with the other one? How about all your old coffee cans or salt and pepper shakers? It's easy enough just to throw them away...but what if there was a fun and creative way to re-purpose these odds and ends?

This thought got my creative juices flowing and I searched around until I found this great link from REAL SIMPLE magazine...I love that magazine!

The article: 15 New Uses for Your Odds and Ends has lots of creative ways to re-purpose some of the little treasures that might be lying around your house right now.

Check it out and let me know what you think...or if you have other similar ideas!

simplify spring cleaning--free give-away!

Simplify your spring cleaning with a micro-fiber towel! And while you're at it...get one for free!

It’s very possible you’ve been using micro-fiber cloths for years. But for me, this is a fairly recent discovery and I'm delighted!

What’s so great about micro-fiber cloth? Well, it picks up dust like nobody’s business, without using any added sprays or chemicals. It’s also very handy during the cleaning stage of any organizing project.

I love my micro-fiber towels because they save me time cleaning and dusting. They also save me money on dusting sprays and paper towels. Finally, they save me a lot of space because I just need 2 or 3 micro-fiber rags instead of piles of gross rags, paper towel, cleaning sprays, etc. Saving time, space, and money...it's a no-brainier for me!

You can find micro-fiber towels at Target, Meijer, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and lots of other stores near you...or if you want a FREE one, simply leave a comment on why you love your micro-fiber towel or why you would love to try a micro-fiber towel. The winner will be picked at random on Friday, May 14th and notified on May 15th.

Happy spring cleaning!

66 all-natural cleaning solutions

Are you looking for all-natural ways to clean and disinfect your house this spring?

Real Simple Magazine has 66 fresh ideas to help you do just that! Click here for more info.

getting organized is SIMPLE

Since the name of my business is “Organization Made SIMPLE” I focus a lot of energy on creating concepts that my readers and clients can easily understand and implement in their own home and with their own family. The following is just that…a “simple” formula for organizing your home, office, schedule, and life!

S Start Small: Set a timer for 15 minutes and do what you can.

· Clear your counters

· Clean one drawer in your kitchen or bathroom

· Organize one shelve or section of your closet

· File one handful of papers

· Fold and put away one load of laundry

I Immediate Action: Don’t procrastinate…start today!

· Make a goal to do a little every day

· Every time you walk from room to room, take something with you and put it away

· De-clutter for 20-30 minutes before you go to bed

M Make a Space for Everything: If something doesn’t have a “home” it is clutter.

· Make a home for everything in your home, office, car, purse, etc.

· Involved your family and make sure they know where the “home” for each item is

· If you can’t find a home for it, get rid of it!

· Think about where you will put something before you buy it

P Plan Ahead: Anything you can do now will save valuable time later.

· Pack lunches and pick out clothes the night before

· Plan a week/month of meals in advance and make your grocery list accordingly

· Spend 15 minutes at night planning the next days activities

· Plan a weekly or monthly budget to prevent over spending

L Leave Emotions Out: Try to separate your emotional attachment from the physical object.

· Limit the amount of pictures (doubles, triples) you hand on to; only keep your favorites

· Get rid of your “skinny” clothes, when you lose the weight, you’ll want new clothes!

· Don’t feel guilty about donating a gift…your friends will never know

· Realize that you don’t need an object to keep a memory…the memory will still be there

E Enlist Accountability: Have a friends or family member to keep you accountable.

· It’s easier to reach your goals if you have someone who is checking up on you.

· Tell this person your organizing goals (Ex: organizing my kitchen by summer)

· Have a regularly schedule time for this person to call and “check up”

These “SIMPLE” organizing techniques will help you to get started—which is often the most overwhelming part—and finish any organizing project you have on your to-do list right now!

free closet makeover!

Are you interested in winning a free organizing makeover for your home, office, kitchen, closet, etc?? Who isn't!

Well, lucky for you, I am partnering with Wood TV8 and eightWest to give away a FREE closet makeover for one lucky viewer!

To enter to win, e-mail Terri DeBoer: terri.deboer@woodtv.com with a picture of your messy closet.

You can also click here to watch the episode where they describe the contest a little bit more. (It starts at the 5:45 minute mark). I will keep you posted as to when the show airs!

organizing resources for crafters

Crafters always seem to have at least ten of everything — we do love our supplies! But have you ever gone off to the craft store to buy another just because it's easier to find things there? If that sounds familiar, put aside the shame and get organized. If you've got a craft, ArtBin has a storage solution for you. You can even shop their Pink Ribbon line, where proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Fund. ArtBin offers an extensive line of molded storage boxes to organize the craft room of your dreams, or soft-sided products for those projects on the go ... even if "go" just means moving to the couch to finish up that scarf in front of your favorite TV show. Get—and stay—organized. Click here to start.

clutter control workshop

If you’re looking for quick and simple ways to transform your home into an organized and supremely functional space, our Clutter Control workshop is for you!

In just 3 hours you’ll learn how to completely organize your home, making it easy to find and access everything inside! Say goodbye to jumbled piles of papers, clothes, and stuff and say hello to organized bliss!

The class is tonight so contact me immediately if you want to register!

hardworking storage solutions

If you are looking for more space to store your stuff, you might want to check out the website below. Get your creative juices flowing and use items you already have around your home. Who says organizing can't be fun and inexpensive!

Hardworking Storage Solutions in Charming Displays

low cost storage ideas

The holiday season is winding down and you have probably acquired your fair share of gifts, ornaments, decorations, etc. Now, factor in all the “stuff” acquired by your entire family and you need some storage ideas!

Finding affordable storage solutions can be a challenge but is possible for everyone. You just need to think outside the box and become creative--after all organizing doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Before you start, remember that storage is not about being fussy or spending a lot of money but instead is about containing your items in a method that allows you to find and be able to use items easily and quickly. Here are some steps to get your started:

1. Declutter: The first step in finding affordable and easy storage solutions is gathering the items together that need to be stored and decluttering and purging no longer used, needed, or liked items.

2. Group like items together: After decluttering, the next step in the process is grouping like-items together. For example, putting all nails and screws in one central location in the garage Another example could be grouping spices together, for example baking spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, can be stored in one area and thyme and basil in another--perhaps in a cool, dry area near the stove where they are used.

3. Reuse and Recycle: In this era of saving the planet, reusing and recycling are key. There are so many products that can be re-used in the home, like re-using furniture for another purpose (a coffee table may be easily transformed into a bench). Recycle old food containers such as margarine tubs, peanut butter jars, or coffee cans for storage. Cut cereal boxes can be used as magazine holders.

4. Use your space efficiently: It is important to assess your storage needs based on the volume of items to organize. Remember to look at vertical solutions. For example, a narrow, tall bookcase takes less space than a wide, low case. Remember to use the space underneath a couch or bed to store things like blankets or sheets.

5. Streamline your approach: In a front entrance, hooks can be used year round to hold coats, buckets with mittens, scarves, summer items, umbrellas, or bags. Use a cork board on a wall in a kitchen or office space with push pins to hold photos, receipts, coupons, menus for takeout, a calendar, or birthday invitations.

6. Find various solutions for long term and short term storage: Items such as memorabilia, old year books, or out of season clothing do not need to be in an easy to access area. Instead they can be stored in a basement, attic, or garage in air-tight containers. In contrast, everyday items like kitchen utensils can be stored at or near eye level.

7. Be creative: Try to think outside the box. An old candy dish can be used to hold paperclips or push pins in an office space. Shoe organizers can be used for a variety of uses other than shoes, like on the back of a kitchen or pantry door to organize spices, soup packets and other envelope mixes. They can also be used in the bathroom to hold toiletries or in a kid's bedroom to hold socks or small toys.

Now all you need to do is start. Pick one area in your home, one closet, or even one drawer and work to create more organized storage for that area.

repurpose your wrapping paper

Instead of sending your holiday gift wrap to the landfill, try a handy tip that I picked up from a person in my Less Stress for the Holidays workshop. When you’re unwrapping holiday gifts set aside the gift wrap to run through your paper shredder. Use the shreds to safely pack up your holiday decorations or as beautiful cushioning material for any packages you send throughout the year.

Happy holidays!

eliminate your junk mail!

Is your junk mail is out of control? Do you want to significantly reduce or even eliminate the amount of junk mail your received? If so, take a few moments to call the Preapproved Credit Card Opt Line at 1-888-567-8688. This will eliminate receiving all the credit card offers that are sent.

You can also register online with the Direct Marketing Association and request to be removed from junk mail mailing lists.

Just a tip I thought I would pass your way…it really reduced the amount of junk mail I received. Keep in mind that it will take several weeks for you to notice a difference!

new for the holidays

The holiday season is here...full of family, friends, food, fun...and lots of stress!

If you are already feeling stressed, take a few moment to check out the new holiday section of my website.

Whether you simply want a few new recipes or gift ideas, or you need a complete holiday overhaul, we have a bunch of resources to help you out.

less stress for the holidays

Christmas is supposed to be the season of joy, warmth, reflection and good will. Why then, is it such a stressful time for so many people? There's no doubt about it. Once Thanksgiving ends, the season of hustling and bustling is upon you.

There are holiday cards to be sent. Gifts to be purchased or made. Holiday dinners to plan. Church, community and family get-togethers to attend. Holiday treats to bake. Stockings to stuff. Tree trimming, gift wrapping, and getting your house ready for company. The list could go on and on.

It's no wonder there's so much stress and exhaustion this time of year. But the good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. Sign up for my Less Stress for the Holidays workshop next week Tuesday and learn how to eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) all your stress this Holiday season.