Declare Order's Blog is moving!
Please scroll below for archives,
and/or check out Declare Order's
NEW! blog location @
Aug 29, 2011
Jul 25, 2011
Travels of Food Allergic Tween
What does it take for a tween living with severe food allergies to travel? Realistically, it means the responsible adult must be ready for anything. Even with a responsible, well-adjusted, kid...
 |
| Vera Bradley Crossbody |
1. Be prepared! Never allow your young child with food allergies to travel without an allergy pack (containing medical information, snacks, and just-in-case medications.) This makes a HUGE difference down the road when your now tween balks and does not want to draw attention to being different. Our tween has a collection of purses - most recently Vera Bradley crossbody and that helps somewhat. Always carry. No exceptions.
 |
| Twisted Fruit |
2. Be Proactive! My tween headed to Portland with extended family and packed extra milk-free, egg-free, nut-free, sesame-free treats and snacks - just in case. Sure enough, she reported those little extras - Cliff Organic Twisted Fruit helped make mornings special.
 |
| Salmon |
3. Be Open! While in Portland, my tween reportedly tried different food options (fresh salmon, deconstructed mango salad, vegan strawberry cream cheese, crab) she knew were safe. She was thrilled and sent pictures to me via her cell phone (which, by the way, is NOT a substitute for carrying allergy pack).
Cuz you never know...At one of the vegan bakeries, an employee stuck a peanut donut in with an assortment. Tween had a bite (not of the peanut one - thank goodness!) and her throat started to feel itchy. Not wanting to make a scene, she mentioned it in passing to present adult. The adult did not pick-up on the cue.
The story ends without blame (ALWAYS!),
but with a sober reminder and Benadryl.
Jul 6, 2011
The Least I Can Do
The 12 Least Intrusive Ways to
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
in the Suburbs
At least I can:
1. Feel guilty when I don't bring my own bags to the store. - Oh, the guilt when I forget and have too many items to carry out! There I am, doing the walk of shame in the parking lot with two plastic bags in each hand. Do most suburbanites tote their own totes? I really try.
2. Live in awe of friends who have fruitful vegetable gardens right now. - We grew tomatoes in planters on the deck railing last year. My tween really, really wanted to do a garden patch this year. Because we didn't, I am relegated to viewing photos posted by successful gardeners on facebook, enjoying "fresh from the garden" salad at book club, and purchasing other people's homegrown bounty at the Farmer's Market.
3. Use cloth napkins. - This, my family does well. I have a stash of paper napkins to cover food in the microwave, but the rest of the time we use cloth. It has been over 2 years! I even use cloth for entertaining kids, though often feel the need to explain, "Please do not throw the napkins away..."
4. Use cloth towels. - We do this well too. No paper towels in this house - except for the roll in the far bottom cupboard behind the microwave paper napkins. My sister left it when she visited. Cloth kitchen towels just don't work for her, so she brings her own roll. It's the least she can do.
5. Recycle, recycle, recycle! - Our suburb does not charge for recycling, so there is a monetary advantage here as well. I pick paper out of a trash can in our house if my hubby or kids have dropped it in by mistake. Recycling is more work - what with all the sorting of packaging, but it is the least I can do.
6. Hang to dry. - I never thought I would do this one, however...our dryer went on the fritz at the end of December 2010. We hung clothes for a couple of days, and then a couple more days. And then we worked out a system. And then the weather got warmer. And now here we are - over 6 months later. Never got the dryer fixed and have only had to hit the laundromat (which is not spelled "laundrymat") twice for major bedding loads. Gas and electric bill are each about 10% lower.
7. Wear less. - I have written about this on the blog before. Back in September, I attempted the "Six Items or Less" clothing experiment. Now, the average amount of clothing I keep in rotation is about 12 Items or Less - rotated monthly. For example, instead of purchasing a new shirt for "The 4th of July," I purchased a shirt "For July." I have 4 other shirts, 4 shorts, 1 pair of slacks, and one pair of jeans in rotation. That's it (+ a cardigan to ward off air conditioning and an extra tank top or two to catch sweat)! On August 1st, I will prepare another set of items. It really works for me. Oh, and I share clothes with my sister.
8. Avoid buying on impulse. - One of the most powerful weapons stores have is how they market items on the shelves. Have you have ever been tempted to buy a soft blue blanket when walking past an endcap? Remove it. Carry it over to an aisle that has colors similar to the interior of a room in your home. It doesn't look as good when it is not between the green and pink blankets does it? The least you can do is resist the urge. Put it back. Reuse what you already own.
9. Reduce whining. - No means no.
10. Resist spoiling my kids. - Proper nutrition, enough sleep, and plenty of time to play. This is advice I can give other parents: Reduce the number of "outings" you take. Kids don't need constant outside stimulation. I recently read that boredom breeds creativity. Reuse what you have. For example: ball mismatched socks for rainy day sock wars, teach them card games, build forts with couch cushions...make sure they have chores, and teach them help with dinner. You won't regret it.
11. Learn. - Currently considering rain barrels, composting, and a garden plot (or, at least, an herb garden).
12. Is have one responsible car. - Ok, so I drive a 2004 silver Honda Odyssey mini-van. But our other car is a 2008 red Prius. It's the least we can do.
I love creative solutions!
So tell me, "What kind of things do you do to
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle?"
Jul 3, 2011
Fourth of July Pie
Cherry-Blueberry Pie
Milk-free, Egg-free, Nut-free
The Flaky Pastry crust recipe is adapted from the 1982 edition of: Sunset Easy Basics for Good Cooking
Flaky Pastry
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup solid shortening or lard
4 to 5 tablespoons cold water
Stir together flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour until about pea-size. Sprinkle water over mixture a little at a time - stirring lightly with a fork. When just moistened, gather mixture into a ball. Divide ball in half and flatten. Wrap and leave in fridge for an hour.
Filling
4 cups pitted cherries
2 cups blueberries
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons Smart Balance Light
2 tablespoons soymilk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle berries with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Roll out bottom crust and fill with berry mixture. Dot around top with Smart Balance Light. Roll out top crust and cut to create lattice effect. Brush top lightly with soymilk. To prevent excess browning, place strips of foil around edges. Place pie on baking sheet and bake on lowest rack for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 25-30 more minutes.
Bring to picnic dinner at the fireworks!
Jun 29, 2011
Ice Cube Tray
Life Cycle of the Ice Cube Tray
Before kids - the ice cube tray is for ice cubes.
Raising babies - freeze lil portions of homemade baby food in it.
Tween girl - uses the ice cube tray to corral earrings :)
Busy Mom - tidies the junk drawer with it.
Garage - relegated to nails, screws, and bits.
Recycle bin - Recycled - into another ice cube tray?
Raising babies - freeze lil portions of homemade baby food in it.
Tween girl - uses the ice cube tray to corral earrings :)
Busy Mom - tidies the junk drawer with it.
Garage - relegated to nails, screws, and bits.
Recycle bin - Recycled - into another ice cube tray?
Jun 22, 2011
Food Allergy Positives
Read with interest the simple "How To Organize Your Loose Recipes" post on Wikihow from fellow NAPO-Chicago member, Barb Tischler this week. My multiple food-allergic tween and I have been collecting recipes from magazines, on-line searches, and FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) newsletters (from back in the day when newsletters were of the snail-mail variety) for several years. Inspired, we piled our collection and got to work.
My almost-not-a-tween spent her own time culling and sorting, so I stepped aside. Adapting the binder idea, she re-used an accordian-style folder from school. The result is a file of sheets of recipe options she has used, will use, or will adapt to use. The plan is to collect the most successful recipes from the collection and start a new binder with the plastic protectors per Barb's suggestion. It will be her very own Milk-free, Egg-free, Nut-free (except almonds!), and Sesame-free cookbook!
I want to share an excerpt from our former FAAN newsletter binder of recipes. It is an uplifting message from 2003 that my almost-not-a-tween found, highlighted with happy orange marker, and posted on the fridge. It speaks to the value of living with food allergies and we live it every day.
Post as it appeared in 2003:
Raising a child who has food allergies brings many unexpected challenges into our lives. Life would be much easier without having to deal with food allergies. However, think of all you have learned and the positive ways food allergy has affected your life.
Nothing is all bad or good, and food allergy is no exception. Listed below are some of the positive ways food allergy has enriched the lives of families just like yours.
* Your family is aware of what they eat, and is likely to make healthy food choices.
* You are active in your child's academic life; the administration, nurse, and teachers all know you.
* You've become more than you were (stronger, wiser, more assertive) to keep your child healthy and happy.
* Your child knows what it feels like to be different and has learned to be compassionate to others.
* Your family has learned to "look out for each other," allowing children to learn true caring.
* Your child has learned that his or her actions can have extreme consequences and has learned to make responsible decisions.
* Food allergy teaches patience, safety, and restraint as opposed to immediate gratification (e.g., the label must be read before eating an item, food cannot be shared, etc.)
* Your child grows up focusing on activities rather than snacks and meals.
These are only a few ways that food allergy can affect our lives in positive ways. There are many, many others. Feel free to share some of yours with us. We'd love to hear from you.
My almost-not-a-tween spent her own time culling and sorting, so I stepped aside. Adapting the binder idea, she re-used an accordian-style folder from school. The result is a file of sheets of recipe options she has used, will use, or will adapt to use. The plan is to collect the most successful recipes from the collection and start a new binder with the plastic protectors per Barb's suggestion. It will be her very own Milk-free, Egg-free, Nut-free (except almonds!), and Sesame-free cookbook!
---------------------------------------
The Gifts of Food Allergy
Post as it appeared in 2003:
The Gifts of Food Allergy
Raising a child who has food allergies brings many unexpected challenges into our lives. Life would be much easier without having to deal with food allergies. However, think of all you have learned and the positive ways food allergy has affected your life.
Nothing is all bad or good, and food allergy is no exception. Listed below are some of the positive ways food allergy has enriched the lives of families just like yours.
* Your family is aware of what they eat, and is likely to make healthy food choices.
* You are active in your child's academic life; the administration, nurse, and teachers all know you.
* You've become more than you were (stronger, wiser, more assertive) to keep your child healthy and happy.
* Your child knows what it feels like to be different and has learned to be compassionate to others.
* Your family has learned to "look out for each other," allowing children to learn true caring.
* Your child has learned that his or her actions can have extreme consequences and has learned to make responsible decisions.
* Food allergy teaches patience, safety, and restraint as opposed to immediate gratification (e.g., the label must be read before eating an item, food cannot be shared, etc.)
* Your child grows up focusing on activities rather than snacks and meals.
These are only a few ways that food allergy can affect our lives in positive ways. There are many, many others. Feel free to share some of yours with us. We'd love to hear from you.
Tween and I would love to hear from you too!
Eat happy :)
Eat happy :)
Jun 12, 2011
Sprinkle
Keep summer simple.
Hot weather and bored kiddos tempting you to purchase new Super Soaker plastic water guns? Yes, kids find these toys entertaining but you probably have enough on hand - scattered in the back of the garage!
First things first, take stock of your munitions! Rally the troops to test and wipe down your current stockpile. Label the keepers with a sharpie and store them in laundry baskets in the "KID ZONE" of the garage.
If you are still prepared to introduce a new item into your water play arsenal, I stumbled upon a simple option I want to share...
Looking for a replacement garden hose at Target, I discovered a line of PURPLE garden hoses and sprinklers. Fifty feet of lightweight hose was inexpensive and has more creative uses (read: chores - washing car, rinsing garbage cans, watering hanging baskets) than water blasters that require a reload every few minutes and encourage attack play.
Right away, my 9 year-old was inspired to set it up to oscillate on the driveway while he and a friend played basketball in the "rain" in 90+ degree heat! It has also been a water "volleyball net" for a beach ball and a "car wash" for bikes!
Maybe you already have a hose on hand your kids could use? Make it accessible and bring on the fun :) What would your kids do with a sprinkler and a hose?
Jun 7, 2011
25 Random Things About Me
1. Define, "random."
2. I start my day with a healthy breakfast.
3. I can play a drumset and have played one on a stage in front of other people. Twice.
4. I cannot touch my toes.
5. ran-dom adj: CHANCE, HAPHAZARD
6. Diet Coke is not an option.
7. I have not had my 15 minutes of fame.
8. If you didn't see me write it down, I won't remember to do it.
9. Peeve - if you have kids over the age of two, do not tell them to, "Say, thank you." It doesn't mean anything if you say it first.
10. I don't do, "random."
11. My therapist said that fb would be a good outlet for me. I wonder what she meant by that?
12. I mix my lights and darks.
13. Oh, crud, I left wet towels in the washer...
14. Peeve - when people use more than 3 dots.........
15. I make lists to reduce my anxiety. Then I lose them.
16. During his rehearsal dinner speech, hubby told his brother that he loved him more than anyone else in the world. Then they cried.
17. I get a lot of mileage out of #16.
18. I will be a published author - someday.
19. About five years ago, I gave up on the 10 o'clock news.
20. I get current news from Twitter and follow-up the next day with the Chicago Tribune (old-school newsprint version).
21. I have never needed a passport (Though I have been to Canada. Didn't need one back then.)
22. I intend to change #21 before I turn 50.
23. My first kiss happened on the same night as my first hickie. Ewwwww.
24. I am not capable of a one word answer.
25. You're not gonna believe how out of hand it's gonna be.
2. I start my day with a healthy breakfast.
3. I can play a drumset and have played one on a stage in front of other people. Twice.
4. I cannot touch my toes.
5. ran-dom adj: CHANCE, HAPHAZARD
6. Diet Coke is not an option.
7. I have not had my 15 minutes of fame.
8. If you didn't see me write it down, I won't remember to do it.
9. Peeve - if you have kids over the age of two, do not tell them to, "Say, thank you." It doesn't mean anything if you say it first.
10. I don't do, "random."
11. My therapist said that fb would be a good outlet for me. I wonder what she meant by that?
12. I mix my lights and darks.
13. Oh, crud, I left wet towels in the washer...
14. Peeve - when people use more than 3 dots.........
15. I make lists to reduce my anxiety. Then I lose them.
16. During his rehearsal dinner speech, hubby told his brother that he loved him more than anyone else in the world. Then they cried.
17. I get a lot of mileage out of #16.
18. I will be a published author - someday.
19. About five years ago, I gave up on the 10 o'clock news.
20. I get current news from Twitter and follow-up the next day with the Chicago Tribune (old-school newsprint version).
21. I have never needed a passport (Though I have been to Canada. Didn't need one back then.)
22. I intend to change #21 before I turn 50.
23. My first kiss happened on the same night as my first hickie. Ewwwww.
24. I am not capable of a one word answer.
25. You're not gonna believe how out of hand it's gonna be.
May 30, 2011
Order Up!
Know you should be teaching your kids how to prepare meals, but can never find the time?
Resigned to the fact that your family will eat out too often again this summer?
...or are you just tired of doing all the work?
What if you could teach skills that will last a life-time,
save money on restaurants, and
make happy memories with your kids?
Organize summer meals by creating a "culinary school" in your own kitchen
and
save money on restaurants, and
make happy memories with your kids?
Organize summer meals by creating a "culinary school" in your own kitchen
and
Make Dinner Matter!
This summer vacation marks the third year in a row I have made a summer cooking schedule for our family. In the beginning, I decided to have the kids help me - just so I wouldn't be alone in the kitchen. Now my food allergic tween proudly prepares entire meals for the family - on her own! My goal for your family is to keep the expectations realistic and the mood fun. This means writing the toddler into the rotation too!
Sound too complicated? Hey, you've got weeks worth of soccer practice, or swim lessons on the calendar. Teaching your kids independence in the kitchen is important. And less expensive than signing them up for another camp. What if you just scheduled it in?
For example:
1. COMMIT I selected the 7 weeks between Monday, June 20th, and Sunday, August 7th.
2. BE REALISTIC Of the 49 days, I figured 2 per week for special occasions and/or eating out. Subtracting a vacation week left 30 days to make dinner matter.
3. ASSIGN DUTY Who gets to cook/help you cook dinner when...? Put it on the calendar! (Note: Use the phrase, "gets to," rather than "has to!" It will change your attitude too.)
Considering? Read on...
------------------------------------------------------------------
Make Dinner Matter
Step 1 - Menu Plan
One of the benefits of being assigned a night in our house is getting to select the meal! If this is new for your family, you may want to select a few kid-friendly cookbooks from the library for inspiration. It also helps to menu plan once a week and shop for as many items as possible at one time. To save money, you may want to shop first and hit the sales, then menu plan based upon what you purchased. Bonus points - As you schedule the meals, display a few days worth of "menus" on the fridge (or computer screen). Have your kids write (or type) it up. They look forward to their meal nights!...Can't write yet? Kids can glue pictures of items - or draw them.
Step 2 - Make Time
Kids in the kitchen need time to explore. Make sure you allow enough time for food prep, mishaps, and messes! Then teach them how to clean-up...Step 3 - Land the Helicopter
Don't hover. If a particular task makes you nervous, break down the steps and teach your child how to perform it safely. If your child has never cut an onion, for example, you have a lot of groundwork to lay (use a cold onion, pre-cut manageable chunks, and be ready with sympathy if eyes are burning). Learning a new task is nerve-wracking if someone keeps catching you doing it wrong. Above all be flexible, be realistic, and have fun! Think you are going to try it? Have questions? Let me know...
Knife Skills for Toddlers
Food Allergy Organization Tips
Food Allergy Organization Tips
p.s. I have a super-picky eater. On his nights, someone else prepares the meat for the rest of us, as needed, because meat grosses him out!
May 25, 2011
Explore More Day
Kid Magic
First Grade
I, _______________________________________,
(Magician’s name here)
do solemnly swear to uphold the “Magician’s Sacred Oath” by not revealing how the magic tricks I learned today are actually performed.
Tricks
Beginning Magicians:
#1 The Amazing “Guess the Color” Trick
#2 “Cotton Ball Cups”
More Coordination Required:
#3 The “Rubber Band Hop”
#4 The Amazing “Guess the Card” Trick
The Big Finish:
#5 Disappearing “Penny”!
SECRETS - Shhhh…
#1 The Amazing “Guess the Color” Trick (supplies - several crayons)
Hand several crayons to an audience member. Place both hands behind your back. Closing your eyes, ask the audience member to select a crayon and place it in one of your hands. While pretending to think deeply, gently scratch the crayon color onto your fingernail. Have the audience member retrieve the crayon without allowing you to see it. Bring your hand in front of you and glance at the color on your nail. Amaze your audience by announcing, “You selected (reveal the color)!”
#2 “Cotton Ball Cups” (supplies - 3 paper cups, 1 cotton ball, crayon/pencil)
Display three paper cups upside down. Place a cotton ball under the cup that you have secretly marked with a small crayon/pencil mark on the upside down end. Ask an audience member to quickly mix the cups around without lifting them from the table. Pretend to think deeply while watching the cups move. When he/she is finished moving around the cups, look for the cup with the marking. Dramatically lift the cup to reveal the cotton ball.
#3 The “Rubber Band Hop” (supplies - rubber band)
Place a rubber band around your second and third fingers. It will be loose. State, “Watch closely and I will make this rubber band hop to my fourth and fifth fingers!” Bend all four fingers toward your palm while quickly pulling the rubber band out with your other hand. When the tips of your fingers reach your palm, release the band. When you re-open your fingers, the band will have “hopped.” Practice makes perfect!
#4 The Amazing “Guess the Card” Trick (supplies - deck of cards)
Fan out a deck (or half a deck) of cards. Have an audience member remove a card and show it to the rest of the audience. Tell the audience that you can guess which card was removed from the deck. Restack the deck, then open the deck in half and have the volunteer place the card into the deck. Secretly look at the card on the open half. Fan out the deck again, find the card you saw on the open half, and remove the card that follows. Hold it up to reveal your skill.
#5 Disappearing Penny! (supplies - penny, salt shaker, paper napkin)
Remember, the name of this trick is the trick! It is called the “Disappearing Penny,” but it is actually the “Disappearing Salt Shaker!” Perform this trick sitting down at a table across from your audience. Cover the salt shaker with the napkin and put your hands over it. Place the salt shaker (now covered with the napkin) on top of the penny. Say the magic words and take the napkin with the salt shaker off the table. (The coin is still on the table.) Pretend that you are disappointed because the coin didn't disappear and the trick has failed. Meanwhile, release the salt shaker into your lap. The napkin will retain the shape of the salt shaker. Carefully repeat the trick, but this time “accidentally” knock against the napkin and act surprised that the salt shaker has disappeared :)
Have a little magic show of your own!
May 18, 2011
Me - Mom
He is proud to present his...
Mother's Day Comparing Poem
Me Mom
emotional, athletic, energetic organized, unhoarded, talkative
Lover of Lover of
sports, singing in the shower, Declare Order, cooking, and label makers
and rain
Who feels Who feels
love, sweat, and hypnotized by tv organization, sympathy,
and the need for an office
Who needs Who needs
mom, tv, and ipods viewers, clients, and kids
Who fears Who fears
dark, spiders, and losing hoarding, stress, and screens
Like to see Like to see
The USS Enterprise, The Baseball sunny days, happy kids
Hall of Fame, Great Grandma the Queen of Organizing
May 5, 2011
Six Items or Less - I Did It, So You Don't Have To
Put your closet on a diet!
Before I challenged myself to attempt the Six Items or Less clothing experiment last fall, I think I would have said the following about clothes: "It's hard to find clothes that are comfortable." And, "My 9W feet are why I don't wear cute shoes."
What I learned was I actually had bad habits. For example, buying clothes in a hurry that didn't really fit!
Eight months into my journey, I no longer make excuses. I have learned what works for me and make an effort at the beginning of each month to create a set of comfortable, versatile options. Down to the toes.
What bad clothing habits do you have?
Discover what a clothing diet could reveal for you!
I am not suggesting you attempt the Six Items or Less challenge - because I already did that for you! Your goal (as with a food diet) is to eliminate the bad habits and create new ones. You can start by reducing (not eliminating!) the percentage of clothing items you have at your fingertips on a daily basis. Focus on just keeping the good stuff!
Phase 1:
As with any diet - PREPARATION IS KEY!
1. Locate a "staging" area large enough to temporarily accommodate ALL of your clothes. Yes, ALL of them.
2. Sort clothes by type. Yes, ALL of them. T-shirts, Cute Tops, Blouses, Long-sleeve shirts, jeans, pants, shorts, dresses, leggings, long skirts, mini-skirts, costumes, prom dresses, sweaters, cardigans,...
3. Take a break. From ALL of it.
Phase 2:
Prepare the environment by removing distractions. 1. Select a few items from various categories that fit RIGHT NOW and might be useful in the next 30 days.
2. Put everything else away. In your regular closet and drawers.
It's just 30 days! No big deal. You can have them back :)
3. Bonus points - Donate some things. Or give them to your sister. Or whatever.
Phase 3:
Get your CLOTHING DIET PLAN IN ORDER! 1. Try on what you did not put away. Scrutinize the fit. Eliminate a few more.
2. With what remains, try all kinds of combinations together. Eliminate a few more.
3. Set aside an area of the closet to access these items for the month.
Get sweaty items, pajamas, and underwear don't count. Use what you need. :)
Did you pare it down to 10? 15? Put one more away!
Good Luck and Bon Appetit!
Maintenance...
You shouldn't need to pull ALL your clothes out again. :)
You shouldn't need to pull ALL your clothes out again. :)
It just helps the first time to see what you have.
May 3, 2011
What to Wear - The Six Items or Less Clothing Diet
Fourth in a series:
Six Items or Less - becoming a habit.
After applying the Six Items or Less philosophy to my clothes for two months, true change began to set in! No longer racing around in the morning trying to figure out what to wear, I could focus on the task ahead. I learned it's NOT all about the accessories (It's All About the Accessories, Right?) and I certainly learned What NOT to Wear.
I also learned that, because of the temperature controlled world we live in, my clothes did not get THAT dirty. It was rare that I would sweat or play in dirt! without time to change. As a result, I began changing out of the selected items as soon as possible. This way, I could get a 2nd, or 3rd! use out of them before laundering. Two particular cotton t-shirts and yoga pants became my uniform around the house - or when getting sweaty or dirty.
I learned to hang-up my clothes. I know, not a big deal, but it was not my habit. Take it off. Hang it up.
In anticipation of November, I began to scrutinize my wardrobe and add to the donation pile. Sweaters with any trace of wool - gone! Too itchy. Cropped pants - gone! They look all wrong on me because they hike up in back. Cute tops that hung limply at the wrong length no matter how much I liked them - gone!
November was upon me, and I was ready. I thought through my month - Homebound Tutor for special needs child, Battle of the Books coach at the Elementary School, Thanksgiving hostess, Temple Library volunteer...I spent 30 minutes here and there scrutinizing my options. The clear winner was the black stretch pant, as it could be dressed up or down. Two cardigans followed. And my favorite brown corduroys.
In the closet, I pulled 10 brown hangers to use as a guide for my new hanging habit. And culled my November wardrobe to 10. No need to limit all the way to six. I had learned my lessons.
The Six Items or Less challenge reminds me of when I tried the South Beach Diet. Eating consciously and eating the good stuff - spinach, tomato, and egg omelettes. I didn't last two months without cheese mixed in, but I carry habits from that experience to this day. Whenever I need to drop a pound or two, I skip the carbs. And I always have eggs for breakfast!
Thursday...Synopsis and takeaways.
Apr 30, 2011
What NOT to Wear - The Learning Curve
Six Items or Less, cont...
Per yesterday's post (It's All About the Accessories, Right?), I learned from my "Get Really Sweaty" options that clothes should be comfortable and flattering. Common sense, right? It was a message I had not been heeding. It was one of those Oprah ahas - my clothes should always make me FEEL GOOD!
One of the shirts was clingy in all the wrong places, so I avoided wearing it. Unfortunately, that didn't leave many options! The white shirt wrinkled too easily, so it didn't look fresh by the end of the day. I got in the habit of changing out of the six items whenever possible and wearing my Life is Good t-shirt.
The result? At the end of the 30 days, I wanted to try it again! Getting the other six items out of rotation was a relief. The weather was changing and I had more pants options to choose from. And I decided to use eight items instead of six. Just to make it a little less work.
This time, I tried everything on! And scrutinized the fit. Jeans were no longer an option, as I was working and volunteering more often. I had always felt unprofessional in jeans anyway.
During month two, I was no longer thinking about getting dressed, so when someone complimented my clothes (which was happening more often!) I saw it as validation I had selected better items. I looked more "put together" because - I WAS! Pants that poked and shirts that hung without shape were in the back of the closet. The clothes were no longer wearing me.
I learned I had "put up with" certain items of clothing for the sake of variety.
More Tuesday...still going!
Apr 29, 2011
What to Wear - It's All About the Accessories, Right?
When I selected my six September clothing items for the 6 Items or Less challenge last August (see yesterday's - What to Wear), I thought of all the possible combinations. I did the math. Because two tops could also be worn UNDER the dress AND with or without the white button down shirt, I determined there were about 20 possible options. Here are photos of three:
Next up - the accessories! I piled jewelry from various sources (read - tween) and selected color stories. Then I organized them in bags for easy retrieval.
I also selected 6 options to "Get Really Sweaty" in. These were clothes to use when cleaning house, completing yardwork, walking in forest preserves, or doing pilates. I chose to use them as pajamas too.
 |
| Cute top OVER dress |
 |
| 3 items at once |
 |
| White shirt OVER dress |
Next up - the accessories! I piled jewelry from various sources (read - tween) and selected color stories. Then I organized them in bags for easy retrieval.
I also selected 6 options to "Get Really Sweaty" in. These were clothes to use when cleaning house, completing yardwork, walking in forest preserves, or doing pilates. I chose to use them as pajamas too.
 |
| 2 items with icing |
 |
| Etc...etc...etc... |
 |
| 6 "Sweaty" options |
In the end, however, I really only used 4 of the "Get Really Sweaty" options. I just kept throwing the Life is Good t-shirt and the yoga pants in with other laundry. They were comfortable and flattering and I got good use out of them.
It was from my "Get Really Sweaty" options that I began to understand how to achieve success when wearing fewer clothes.
It was NOT:
1. How the items looked in tandem on a bed.
2. How the pieces hung in two feet of space in the closet.
3. How chunky turquoise accessories accented the black.
4. How white floral accessories highlighted the floral print.
5. How creative it was to layer shirts OVER a dress to make it look like a skirt.
The way to achieve success was finding clothes that fit. And only one of the six items was comfortable and flattering and made me feel good. It took me nearly 30 days to figure this out.
Tomorrow...trying again.
Apr 28, 2011
What to Wear
Please join me as I prepare my 8-10 wardrobe pieces for the month of May. What started as an experiment last fall, has become a life-long habit. It changed the way I use my clothes.
WEAR it all began...
In August 2010, I read about the 6 items or less challenge in the Chicago Tribune. The challenge? For people to look critically at their clothing and keep fewer items in rotation. The actual challenge was to wear the same 6 items for 30 days. Inspired by the photos, I spent several days thinking and paring down.
Looking back at the earnest photos (followed by supportive comments) posted to Facebook eight months ago, causes me to shake my head and smile - I have learned so much since then...
September 2010. First attempt at pairing down my wardrobe for 30 day stretches.
WEAR it all began...
In August 2010, I read about the 6 items or less challenge in the Chicago Tribune. The challenge? For people to look critically at their clothing and keep fewer items in rotation. The actual challenge was to wear the same 6 items for 30 days. Inspired by the photos, I spent several days thinking and paring down.
Looking back at the earnest photos (followed by supportive comments) posted to Facebook eight months ago, causes me to shake my head and smile - I have learned so much since then...
September 2010. First attempt at pairing down my wardrobe for 30 day stretches.
 |
| 1. Jeans |
 |
| 2. Black Shorts |
 |
| 3. Colorful T-shirt |
 |
| 4. White Shirt |
 |
| 5. Cute Top |
 |
| 6. Dress |
More 6 items or less tomorrow...
Apr 22, 2011
Eco Easter
Easter baskets are a colorful tradition, but you don't have to spend money for them to be festive. In fact, you do not need to purchase plastic Easter eggs, plastic grass, or baskets. Get in the habit of reusing these items from year to year - think Christmas ornaments (and/or menorahs and dreidels, for double observing households like mine). Make do with what you have on hand.
If you didn't save last year's grass, you can STILL make your own (and toss it into beach buckets?)! Martha Stewart suggests shredding old wrapping paper. Too cute :)
Reuse plastic grass from year to year. About a week after Easter, dismantle the baskets and store everything (baskets too!) in an "Easter" box. Check the plastic eggs for jelly bean crumbs first.
This year, try filling the eggs with loose change and serve the candy in bowls! My mom (aka: Easter Bunny) used to hide jelly beans in cupcake liners. And reuse peeps! For constructing award-winning dioramas (Chicago Tribune Peep Contest).
Declare Order learned something new:
Beeping Easter eggs are available for children with visual impairments.
Inspired!
If you didn't save last year's grass, you can STILL make your own (and toss it into beach buckets?)! Martha Stewart suggests shredding old wrapping paper. Too cute :)
 | ||||
| Martha Stewart |
Shredded paper Easter grass!
Eco Easter made Easy!
Reuse plastic grass from year to year. About a week after Easter, dismantle the baskets and store everything (baskets too!) in an "Easter" box. Check the plastic eggs for jelly bean crumbs first.
This year, try filling the eggs with loose change and serve the candy in bowls! My mom (aka: Easter Bunny) used to hide jelly beans in cupcake liners. And reuse peeps! For constructing award-winning dioramas (Chicago Tribune Peep Contest).
Declare Order learned something new:
Beeping Easter eggs are available for children with visual impairments.
Inspired!
Apr 19, 2011
Kohl's cash
The problem? I pay cash.
Specifically, I tried to pay with cash at Kohl's.
Kohl's is close to my house. I avoid shopping there whenever possible. Last week I needed a particular jacket, in a particular color, for a particular project. In a particular hurry. I found EXACTLY what I needed at Kohl's. What I did not find out - EXACTLY - was the price.
Sure the coat had a price tag but, because I was at Kohl's, this was NOT EXACTLY the price. There were signs everywhere with lists of prices and discounts. Sometimes, the price on an item was listed on one of these signs. Sometimes not. There were numerous options: 30% off, buy 2 get 1 free, buy 1 get 1 50% off...But, even if I found the right sign, this was still NOT EXACTLY the price.
At the REGISTER there were more options dependent upon the day of the week, my age, the method of payment, coupons, etc...
But wait, there was more...
The price on the register screen in BOLD TYPE circled in red - was still NOT ACTUALLY the price.
I, however, read the price on the screen in BOLD TYPE circled in red as the ACTUAL price and handed my cash to the cashier. It turned out the price on the screen in BOLD TYPE CIRCLED IN RED was the AMOUNT OF MONEY I SAVED.
At that point, I still did not even know the ACTUAL price.
Specifically, I tried to pay with cash at Kohl's.
Kohl's is close to my house. I avoid shopping there whenever possible. Last week I needed a particular jacket, in a particular color, for a particular project. In a particular hurry. I found EXACTLY what I needed at Kohl's. What I did not find out - EXACTLY - was the price.
 |
| black quilted jacket |
At the REGISTER there were more options dependent upon the day of the week, my age, the method of payment, coupons, etc...
But wait, there was more...
The price on the register screen in BOLD TYPE circled in red - was still NOT ACTUALLY the price.
I, however, read the price on the screen in BOLD TYPE circled in red as the ACTUAL price and handed my cash to the cashier. It turned out the price on the screen in BOLD TYPE CIRCLED IN RED was the AMOUNT OF MONEY I SAVED.
At that point, I still did not even know the ACTUAL price.
But I could tell you how much I didn't pay.
(Which was a different amount than the price the person in front of me would not have paid because she was a senior, used her Kohl's charge card, and she had some sort of coupon.)
At that point, I felt like a guest on the Kohl's Riverboat Casino. I put out money, but didn't lose too big. The guest in front of me won more, so I was a little jealous. Now, I wanted to stay. See how the next player's cherries lined up. I felt the desire to play again. Try my luck. That's when it happened...
The dealer handed me $10 dollars worth of Kohl's Cash for next time.
Putting it all on black.
UPDATE 5/2/11: Spent the $10 Kohl's cash on a pair of cargo pants from a 70% off clearance rack. I did NOT pay $40. The pants were marked, $8.00, so I exchanged the Kohl's cash and still have $2.00 left. So...how much did I pay for the coat if I got a "$40" pair of pants for nothing?
Jackpot.
Apr 14, 2011
Game, Set, Match
I do not like to waste time looking for mates.
Here is how I store reusable plastic storage containers...
Here is how I store reusable plastic storage containers...
 |
| With the lids attached. |
 | ||
| Stacked by shape and size. |
Caution: This method takes up space and does require assigning an entire cupboard for reusable plastic containers! I am a heavy user, so this solution works for me.
DAILY LEFTOVERS - If your house is like mine, there will inevitably be lidless containers and container-less lids. Keep these stragglers out of the daily rotation. Drop mismatched plastic lids and containers into a separate holding area. The kids can sort through them and find matches as it starts to fill up. Then...just pop the reunited lids with their container mates and return them to the stack in the cupboard.
LEFTOVER SOCKS - If your house is like mine, there will inevitably be mate-less socks. Keep these stragglers out of the daily rotation too! Drop mismatched socks into a Lonely Sock Box. The kids can sort through them and find matches as it starts to fill up. Then...they can roll reunited socks and return them to their rightful owner. OR have a rolled sockball fight.
Tip: If a sock is without a mate for over a year, relegate it to dust bunny duty. (This will not, however, work for plastic lids.)
 |
| Absolute Socks |
Tween girl's socks may not require matching, as mismatched sox are trending.
Apr 9, 2011
#napo2011
My 100th tweet. Whoot!
When I started my professional organizing business on 1/1/11, I did not give Twitter much thought. Declare Order professional organizing was hooked up with Blogger, a domain - www.declareorder.com, and a fb page. That was enough - right?
One day, out of curiosity? I checked out the site. To my delight I fell in - as I tend to do when inspiration strikes. It has been 20 days now. TWENTY DAYS. In those 20 days, I have tweeted 100 times. And I don't even know why!
"Do you feel like you're stuck on the outside while all the cool stuff is inside? Then you're probably a loner. Or a fridge magnet."
Reading Twitterville by, Shel Israel. Followed the NAPO 2011 conference in real time. In awe of this profession. In awe of this communication tool.
@Lifeisgood_.
When I started my professional organizing business on 1/1/11, I did not give Twitter much thought. Declare Order professional organizing was hooked up with Blogger, a domain - www.declareorder.com, and a fb page. That was enough - right?
One day, out of curiosity? I checked out the site. To my delight I fell in - as I tend to do when inspiration strikes. It has been 20 days now. TWENTY DAYS. In those 20 days, I have tweeted 100 times. And I don't even know why!
Tweet #1...
a reply to @normmacdonald. Yes, the comedian. Tweet #10
Link to my blog post.
(Actual URL. Had not yet attempted bit.ly maneuver.)
Tweet #20
Retweet from @GreySkyThinking"Do you feel like you're stuck on the outside while all the cool stuff is inside? Then you're probably a loner. Or a fridge magnet."
Diversions...
I do speak Parseltongue, but with a thick Bronx accent.
I do speak Parseltongue, but with a thick Bronx accent.
I am not going to write about @BronxZoosCobra. I mean, I did. But I am not going to here. Something went awry there. Pre-recaputured tweets had different voice. Unfollowed...
Tweet #50 - Learning To Pound
"Donating Declare Order packages to local PTA silent auctions. Kind of a "Spa Day 4 Closets!" #professionalorganizingFast Forward to this Friday...
Was #FF by 2@s. (Had to Google to figure out what it meant.)
Reading Twitterville by, Shel Israel. Followed the NAPO 2011 conference in real time. In awe of this profession. In awe of this communication tool.
@Lifeisgood_.
Apr 4, 2011
Whose Turn Is It?
"Did anyone feed the dog?"
"The table should be set for dinner."
"Who has time to hang the cloth napkins to dry?"
Managing the day-to-day household responsibilities can be a chore. How to divvy it all up?
When I was a classroom teacher, we assigned jobs by the day: Line Leader, Paper Passer, Attendance... Whenever a need arose, the designated kiddo popped up to help.
Though older kids are less likely to "pop up!" at home, assigning responsibilities by the day has proven effective in our family. My son has Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. My daughter is responsible Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Hubby takes Sunday.
The dog is scratching her bowl. Whose day is it?
Time for dinner, but the table hasn't been set. Whose day is it?
A load of cloth napkins is ready to be hung to dry. Whose day is it?
This system is also helpful because it teaches a variety of skills. When the designated family member is unavailable, I might get a volunteer chirping, "It's not my day, but...I'll feed the dog."
"The table should be set for dinner."
"Who has time to hang the cloth napkins to dry?"
Managing the day-to-day household responsibilities can be a chore. How to divvy it all up?
When I was a classroom teacher, we assigned jobs by the day: Line Leader, Paper Passer, Attendance... Whenever a need arose, the designated kiddo popped up to help.
Though older kids are less likely to "pop up!" at home, assigning responsibilities by the day has proven effective in our family. My son has Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. My daughter is responsible Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Hubby takes Sunday.
The dog is scratching her bowl. Whose day is it?
Time for dinner, but the table hasn't been set. Whose day is it?
A load of cloth napkins is ready to be hung to dry. Whose day is it?
This system is also helpful because it teaches a variety of skills. When the designated family member is unavailable, I might get a volunteer chirping, "It's not my day, but...I'll feed the dog."
Don't call them chores. Call them responsibilities.
Responsibility. A comic thriller by Nigel Cox.
Mar 30, 2011
Plan Ahead Pranks
Today's blog is devoted to harmless April Fool's Day pranks researched around the web...Because we like to amuse ourselves :)
Fake Nail Polish Spill
Speaking of eggs...
Pranks to Play From:
Fake Nail Polish Spill
Pour nail polish on a piece of waxed paper.
Let dry.
Remove.
Place in frustrating location to simulate accidental spill.
Let dry.
Remove.
Place in frustrating location to simulate accidental spill.
Top of Car
Attach cup, newspaper, coat, etc. to the top of your car.
Drive slowly in parking lot.
Act confused when people attempt to help.
Drive slowly in parking lot.
Act confused when people attempt to help.
Replace the lotion in prankee's bottle with mayonnaise.
(Unless victim has an egg allergy! Mayo has eggs.)
Speaking of eggs...
Crack Up
Glue the eggs to the bottom of the carton. Nuff said.
Crack Up Disney Junior Style
Click link to learn how to disguise sweet treats as eggs.
Hard boil eggs. Then return them to the carton.
Dollar Stores are a quick stop for prank item ideas.
Like a whoopee cushion (Youtube video. Cute monkeys.).
Prank happy :)
Chicago Tribune 3/30/11- Mmmmm. This is tasty. April Fools!
Prank happy :)
There is always switching the salt and sugar. If you're in a pinch...
Mar 28, 2011
Hysterical Memorabilia
Parents are downsizing...
Hysterical, historical memorabilia. We're crying. We're laughing. We're all a bit vulnerable processing the objects of our shared history.
After some cleansing breaths (and a few hugs) we prepare to pass the treasured memories along.
If you want to understand today.
Hysterical, historical memorabilia. We're crying. We're laughing. We're all a bit vulnerable processing the objects of our shared history.
After some cleansing breaths (and a few hugs) we prepare to pass the treasured memories along.
 |
| Great-great-great-great Grandpa Milo |
 | ||||
| Delicate blocks. From a time without bells and whistles. |
 |
| Sweet photos of simpler times. |
If you want to understand today.
You have to search yesterday. ~ Pearl S. Buck
Know all the words to this album by heart.
Free to Be...You and Me, 1972
A project of the Ms. Foundation for Women
click to listen to: "When We Grow Up"
A project of the Ms. Foundation for Women
click to listen to: "When We Grow Up"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)