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FlyLady's FlyToon
þÿ<h2><font color="#ff0000">Evict the Clutter</font></h2> <p> Clutter has a way of taking over our lives. Clutter becomes that unwanted house guest that you can't get rid of. It robs us of peace while we are home and it also steals any bit of joy when we leave home; the dread of returning to that mess. <p> When a home is filled with clutter, it takes on a life of its own. Your whole day is spent giving it attention, instead of your family and yourself. Let's look at some of the things we give up, so we can devote our lives to this inconsiderate house guest. <p> 1. Clutter filled homes, are not welcoming to friends or family. We do not invite them over often. When we do, we almost kill ourselves trying to crisis Clean until 3:00 am. Clutter is a very selfish house mate and wants you all to himself. <p> 2. Clutter in your home, does not allow your mind and body to rest. The guilt of all the clutter, keeps you working non-stop. You can't organize clutter; you can only get rid of it, like a cancerous tumor. Clutter causes you to turn down invitations. It yells at you, you don't deserve to have any fun; you have not taken care of ME yet. Oh selfish clutter; like a spoiled child, it requires all your attention. <p> 3. Clutter tells the world that you are not worthy. We have been brainwashed by this clutter to believe that we do not deserve to have nice things, since we can't keep our home looking presentable. <p> 4. Clutter never wants you to leave home. This is why he makes is so difficult for you to pack for vacation. He throws ever obstacle in your path; laundry needs doing, bills need paying and animals need to be fed. Clutter will never allow strangers in his domain. <p> 5. Clutter robs you of your health. It drains you of all your energy. Sometimes you will not allow people to come into your home to help, because clutter has quarantined you or shall we say imprisoned you in your dungeon. <p> 6. Clutter's main sustenance is chaos. So when you are running around your home searching for a document; you end up making a bigger mess during the search. Clutter is celebrating with a feast of chaos. <p> 7. Clutter loves ignorance, because you know no other way to live. If you did, he would not have a home that provides him of all the undivided attention. You have never enjoyed a peaceful afternoon, without clutter vying for your every thought and deed. He knows that if you ever feel one ounce of peace, you will tell him to hit the road, because that peace is so contagious. <p> It is time to put clutter in his place and send him packing. So where does clutter belong and how do you get rid of this unwanted house guest. It is not easy. He keeps pleading with you that, "you need me", and laying many guilt trips on you for what relatives will think if you put him and his unwanted gifts and inherited clutter out into the cold. <p> Clutter did not accumulate overnight and it may take weeks to evict him. With small steps your house guest will have no clue that you are evicting him. Slowly but surely the clutter will leave one bag at a time. Some of you may need to take a "get tough" approach and order a dumpster or set up regular pickups from charity thrift stores. What ever you decide to do, consistency is the ticket to getting him to vacate your premises. Just 15 minutes a day is all you need to set him on the road. When you kick him out your door, you will begin to have your home to yourself again. <p> It is time to pack his bags and send him out into the world to fend for himself. You have wasted enough time and energy on him. From now on, you are going to become very particular about whom you bring home. <p> For more help getting rid of your CHAOS; check out her website and join her free mentoring group at <a href="http://www.FlyLady.net">www.FlyLady.net</a> or her book, Sink Reflections published by Bantam. <p> Copyright 2006 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication. <p> <h2><font color="#ff0000">Perpetual Pantry</font></h2> <p> Feeding your family is a bit of a part time job, especially if you want to make sure they are getting healthy, nutritious food. One of the most important principles in feeding that family is having a well stocked pantry, or what I call a perpetual pantry. Building a perpetual pantry helps you to always have something on hand so youíre able to make dinner or whatever else you want to make, at the drop of a hat. <p> When youíre stocking your own Perpetual Pantry, you are going to want to stock what you use. Keep on hand the things that make up the ingredients for the foods you cook, snack on and need for packing lunches. <p> Want to see what I have in my Perpetual Pantry? Here is a listóbut just remember, these items are all foods that I use for cooking. Just copying my list wonít work unless this is how you too, cook. Check out my website for sample menus that will go with this pantry, at www.savingdinner.com . <p> Canned Items: all manner of tomato products, diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, spaghetti sauces, tomato paste. I keep a variety of sizes available, too. Canned beans: black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, whatever bean you can find that youíll eat. Itís less expensive to use dried beans, but these are still cheap and will work in a pinch. Canned fish: tuna and salmon. Canned fruit and vegetables: stock the ones you like and will use. Canned soups and broths: stock the ones you use. I use a lot of chicken broth (low-sodium has more flavor). Canned milk: sweetened condensed, evaporatedóboth work great in baking, if you need them.<p> Condiments: ketchup, mustards (yellow, Dijon, whole grain), pickles (dill and sweet), relish, mayonnaise, A-1, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salsa, stir fry sauces, soy sauce (low-sodium, if you can find). Once opened, store in fridge (except soy sauce). <p> Oils and Vinegars: Vegetable oil of choice (I like a cold pressed safflower oil by Hollywood), olive oil, sesame oil for stir fry. All oil will go rancid staying out. After it is opened it has to go in the fridge. Olive oil will solidify, so put it in a wide-mouth jar and spoon it out to use. White and red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegars. <Pp> Peanut Butter and Jelly: Peanut butter (crunchy or creamy), jelly, jam and fruit spread or conserve, honey. My peanut butter needs to be refrigerated after opening. Check your label to be sure. <p> Herbs and Spices: To keep the price down on these spices, go to a dollar store or Wal-Mart to stock up as much as possible. Basil, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, ginger, dried mustard cinnamon, peppercorns for the peppermill, nutmeg and curry powder are in my spice cabinet because I USE all of them. Only buy what you use. <p> Baking Center: sugar (white, brown, powdered), flour (white, whole wheat, other), pancake mix (I hope you made mine!), baking powder (should be kept in fridge after opening), baking soda, salt, baking chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, chocolate chips, nuts, baking mixes (cake, brownie, etc.) <p> Pasta and Rice and Grains: an assortment of pastas that you will use. Lasagna noodles, spaghetti noodles, ziti, rotini, fusilli, fettucine, linguineÖonly what you use. RiceóI much prefer brown, but get what youíll use. Oats, split peas, dried beans (white beans, navy beans, black beans, pinto beans), lentils, barley. <p> Breads and Cereals: whatever you use. Bread should go in the freezer if it doesnít get used up right away. Tortillas should be stored in the fridge. <p> Potatoes and Onions: Russets, Red Rose potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash (or other whole squash in season, except summer squashes which need refrigeration) brown onions, red onions. Keep potatoes away from the light or they turn green (and those green parts are poisonous and must be cut off before eating). Also, donít store potatoes next to apples. Apples give off ethylene gas that causes potatoes to sprout. <p> I hope this list helps you get started with your own Perpetual Pantry. Itís only a start and you need to customize it to fit your familyís needs, but having your pantry well-stocked means a meal is just minutes away. <p> For more help putting dinner on your table check out her website <a href="http://www.savingdinner.com">www.SavingDinner.com</a> or her Saving Dinner Book series published by Ballentine. <p> Copyright 2006; Leanne Ely Used by permission in this publication. <p align="center"><a href="Javascript:history.back()">Back</a><br></p> </blockquote>

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