THE PETERSENS » Organization

Organizing Our Bookshelf

Veronique — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:29:30 +0000

As we are getting ready to move into our new home in about three months, I try to do a few organizational projects here and there.

My two goals are typically:
1.) Purge and get rid of stuff.
2.) Cut down on overall clutter. The less we have, the less time we need to put toward taking care of STUFF.

This past week, I did an overhaul on the massive IKEA bookshelf in our living room.
Step One: Go through all of our books and determine which ones to sell on half.com.
Step Two: List these books on half.com.
Step Three: Pack up the books we want to keep, but know that we won’t need to refer to in the next 3 months.
Step Four: Categorize books by subject.
Step Five: Move all books to edge of bookshelf. This cuts down on the need to dust…yay!
Step Six: Go through all of the kid’s toys…throw out anything broken, set aside anything that needs to be fixed, and make a pile to give away.
Step Seven: Put everything back in boxes and shelves categorically (puzzles in one box, balls in another, tools in yet another, etc.)
Step Eight: Take picture of accomplished task.
Step Nine: Sit down and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.
Step Ten: Blog about it!

A picture of the finished bookshelf…believe me, it looks better than it did before!

Weekly Meal Plan 2/14/2010-2/20/2010

Veronique — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:52:31 +0000

So, I have settled on the fact that we are simply in a busy season of life. That’s okay though; it’s kinda nice sticking to simple recipes. Hopefully some of you women will be able to benefit from them.

Sunday
Breakfast:Breakfast Casserole, Brown Sugar Biscuits and Apple Slices
Lunch: PB&Js on Homemade Wheat Bread, Wheat Thins and Baby Carrots
Dinner: Caw w/ Chicken, Tofu, Egg and Spinach; Jasmine White Rice
Snack: Goldfish

Monday
Breakfast: Banana Bread
Lunch: Baked Potatoes with Cheese and Sour Cream; Mandarin Oranges
Dinner: Baked Ziti, Garden Salad with Organic Baby Spring Mix and Biscuits
Snack: Rice Crackers

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal and Applesauce
Lunch: Deli Sandwiches on Homemade Wheat Bread and Yogurt
Dinner: Beef Cambodian Salad and Jasmine White Rice
Snack: Bananas

Wednesday
Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal
Lunch: Homemade Cheese and Italian Sausage Pizza and Boiled Carrots
Dinner with our Community Group: Baked Fries
Snack: Wheat Thins

Thursday
Breakfast: Whole-Wheat Pancakes (from Joy of Cooking)
Lunch: Campbell’s Healthy Request Soup and Biscuits
Dinner: Homemade Pigs in a Blanket and Green Beans
Snack: Yogurt

Friday
Breakfast: Cereal and Bananas
Lunch: Grilled Cheese on Homemade Wheat Bread and Apple Slices
Dinner: Fettucine Alfredo (from the Joy of Cooking) with Broccoli and Italian Cheese Bread
Snack: Applesauce

Saturday
Breakfast: Buttered Toast on Homemade Wheat with Jelly
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Leftovers
Snack: Banana Bread

Weekly Meal Plan for 2/7/10-2/13/10

Veronique — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:40:20 +0000

We have yet another crazy week, with something going on every day and every evening again. This week’s meals definitely have to be simple.

Sunday
Breakfast: Cereal and Apple Slices
Lunch: FELLOWSHIP @ TCC (church)
Dinner: Bean, Cheese and Onion Quesadillas on Whole-Wheat Tortillas
Snack: Rice Crackers

Monday
Breakfast: Bran Muffins (need to find a recipe)
Lunch: PB&J Sandwiches on Homemade Whole Wheat Bread, Goldfish and Grapes
Dinner: Broccoli-Chicken Casserole (pulled from the freezer) with Brown Rice
Snack: Soft Pretzels

Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancakes (from Joy of Cooking, but made with 1/2 all-purpose flour and 1/2 whole wheat flour)
Lunch: Macaroni and Cheese with Baby Carrots
Dinner: Steak Fajita Burritos with Whole-Wheat Tortillas and Spanish Brown Rice
Snack: Applesauce

Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal and Yogurt
Lunch: Egg Salad Sandwiches on Homemade Whole Wheat Bread and Peas
Dinner w/ Community Group: Chicken Pot Pie with Homemade Pie Crust
Snack: Cubed Cheese and Crackers

Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Raisins
Lunch: Spinach Quiche and Applesauce
Dinner: MEAL TO THE HOLLANDERS (we will eat Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Campbell’s Select Harvest Soup)
Snack: Dry Cereal and Almonds

Friday
Breakfast: Banana Bread
Lunch: Baked Potatoes with Cheese and Sour Cream; Mandarin Oranges
Dinner: Herbed Baked Chicken with Saffron Rice and Veggie Medley
Snack: Goldfish

Saturday
Breakfast: Cereal and Juice
Lunch: Deli Sandwiches on Homemade Whole Wheat Bread and Popcorn
Dinner: EATING OUT ON A VALENTINE’S DAY DATE (for me and hubs) and Leftovers (for kids)
Snack: Yogurt

Organize, Organize, Organize

Veronique — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:28:30 +0000

I have organizing spurts. They are good. It means that the house gets in a little better order. This serves my husband and kids well. Personally, I also think it helps create a more peaceful atmosphere. Clutter overwhelms me and makes me feel anxious.

A few months ago, I re-arranged my kitchen. I was trying to make more space in my cupboards and drawers. This entailed:

1) Getting rid of stuff (by giving it away or selling it).
2.) Purging my foodstuffs and organizing it (and getting rid of stuff that we would never eat anyway).
3.) Coming up with creative places to put stuff.

Going along with #3, I found a tutorial for a grocery bag holder. I had been keeping my plastic bags (which we use for our kitchen trash can) in an ENTIRE DRAWER. With the holder now, I added a drawer for cooking stuff and a little splash of color to my kitchen. How delightful!