Pantry Inventory

Hey, hey, happy Friday!

This week, I shared some thoughts on being more eco-friendly at home. These are simple ideas that anyone can do. Today, it's all about food storage.

How's your pantry situation? I must admit, sometimes I forget what's in my pantry, so I'm left with food items past their expiration date. What a waste. Definitely blah!

My solution? Blah scrap paper!

I use the blank side of the paper to make a list of what's currently inside my pantry. I attach this list to the inside of my pantry door.

I do the same for the cupboards where I store kitchen & cleaning staples and bathroom necessities.

Same with the contents of my freezer & refrigerator.

Once I use up the items, I cross them off the list.

I add to the list whatever new item is introduced.

This way, I have a running inventory of food and the stuff lurking in the back of the freezer are not forgotten. This makes meal preparation easier {get creative with what you have on hand!}. Plus the crossed out items are what I need to get on my next trip to the market or grocery.

As an added detail, make a master list of pantry staples that you have and save it as a file on your computer or mobile phone. Refer to it when trying new recipes or planning meals -- it will instantly tell you what you have or don't have without having to rummage around. Update it regularly and allow it to help you avoid wasting food.

I wish you all a weekend full of fun & sunshine!

A Soapy Situation

I'm cleaning up my act and finding ways to

minimize the extras I use at home.

Take for example, liquid soap:

Don't get me wrong, I love using them,

but once the bottle is empty, it goes

to the bin. Very blah.

My solution -- I'll opt for the big refill

packs/bottles and reuse these existing

dispensers by pouring the soap into them.

Less plastic in the long run.

Another option is to commit to decorative

liquid soap pumps like these. They're not

only pretty, they'll last forever.

TADA!

Green and Clean

I'm trying to cut down on the cleaning products I use. This is not only environmentally responsible, it's money saving and frees up space in my cupboards, too.

Here's something I'm doing my best to

use less of: paper towels.

Even if they're made of recycled paper,

they're harder to break down compared

to other paper products. Blah!

I found these small towels at the dollar store.

I use them as cleaning rags.

Another option is to use your old, blah towels.

These are absorbent and the texture works wonderfully when scrubbing off nasty stains. Just throw them in the washing machine & then reuse them. TADA!

Spray away the Germs

Happy Tuesday! In the recent years, I've started to become more consciously afraid of germs because I know they can make you sick. I think I'm in the less extreme end of the germaphobe scale, since I don't mind handshakes {versus fist bumps} and I can still open public doorknobs without getting queasy.

I do have a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a pack of hand wipes in my bag. I use the hand sanitizer before and after eating, when I cough or sneeze or after I use the ATM. I use the hand wipes for instances like cleaning the tray tables on airplanes, the telephone and remote control devices in hotel rooms...you just never know who was there before you!

As mentioned in this post, I like to keep empty cosmetic bottles, clean them up and use them again. I'm doing the same for these blah fragrance spritz bottles.

I fill them with rubbing alcohol.

Here's my spray bottle, properly labeled. I use it at home to disinfect doorknobs and handles. I can also carry it in my bag as an alternative to sanitizer and wipes! TADA!

A Shiny New Year

Happy New Year once again dear friends! I'm now back to regular programming. I like to escort the New Year with thoughts of optimism and plenty, thus the positive words I shared with you in the previous weeks. I hope they gave you that little push to make 2012 the best year yet.

Let's see. What have I been up to? Well, I've been fighting jet lag after a memorable holiday trip to see family. When I'm awake in the wee hours of the morning, I make lists -- grocery lists, things to do, books to read, movies to see, blog ideas...I've even updated my Christmas gift list already. I also made a list of things I hope for this year. They're not New Year's resolutions -- I don't really keep the ones I make. But the few items on that "hope list" require something powerful: COURAGE. As I've told you here, I can be a worrisome mess, and I'd like to change that because I know, everything will be okay.

As for blah to TADA!, I'm working on new ideas about crafting, recycling, thrifting, shopping, even cooking/entertaining, and little things you can do around the house to make Mama Earth smile.

One thing I'm doing at home is using up whatever commercial cleaners I have in my cupboard. These, while very effective, can be harsh and smelly. So blah.

I'd like to go back to basics.

I've started using white distilled vinegar and

baking soda for cleaning. TADA!

They're inexpensive, environment-friendly,

non-toxic and they get the job done.

The acetic acid in vinegar can kill most mildew, bacteria and germs. I combine 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle and use it like any regular cleaning product. You'll find more tips on using vinegar for cleaning, laundry and gardening here.

I keep baking soda on hand for my baking needs, but I buy extra cartons to put in the fridge and freezer {to keep odors away} and another to use for cleaning. I pour the contents in a re-used plastic container {TADA!} with a tight-fitting lid and label accordingly. I use a tablespoon to scoop out the amount I need to bring back the shine to stove tops, faucets, sinks, handles, cutlery and even jewelry. You can also use this with the vinegar-water solution as a scrub for stubborn stains. Check this out for more ways to clean with baking soda.

My dear friends, whether you are new visitors or have been with me since I started blogging in 2009, thank you for visiting! Thank you for your comments, e-mails and showing my little blog some love. Let's make this New Year TADA!, okay?

All in the Mind

A creative soul made this print & sells it on Etsy.

It's so positive that I'm not surprised

why it's been re-incarnated in

different media.

Believe & achieve my lovelies!

Have an awesome weekend, too.

You'll Be Okay

Whatever our current situation,

here's something to remember: