Here’s The Deal…

February 27, 2012 in Balance and Peace, Inspiration with 0 Comments

{image by Shelley Rubalcava}

 

 

Being Disorganized is Costing you

MONEY & TIME.

Questions to ask yourself:

Are you tired of being tired?

Are you tired of losing items?

Are you tired of  apologizing for being late, unprepared, and/or distracted?

Gain TIME and SAVE Money. 

How?

 In one single step- Call me for a Consultation! 

 I offer a wide variety of services, go ahead and take a peek . I can ease the load and lift some of the burden off your shoulders. I can help you through the step by step process of de-cluttering your life. I can simply offer ideas on how to manage your hectic schedule. I can help strategize better systems, custom made for you.

During our consultation we will discuss your concerns, issues and immediate needs. Then together we will look at my services and choose the services that are best for you. You may be thinking ” I should be able to do this myself!” or “ I am so embarrassed of my mess!”  Push those thoughts aside, Life gets messy and you may be in need of some additional support. 

A Free Consultation is not a Commitment,  however it is a step in a productive direction. Set up a consultation, even if it is to merely check out my services, or  call to discuss potential support in the future. 

I am different from other professional organizers in that I offer options, provide resources, and I love to come up with ideas. Organizing is not a one size fits all neither is it a magic 1-2-3 formula.  Organization is different for each individual, my job is to co- create a system that works for you.

It’s time to fill in the gaps in your life!

It’s time to regain balance in your life!

It’s time to harness in your hectic life!

It’s time for you to fill in the blanks!

If I were more__________________  I could feel___________________.

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

Make It Yours!

February 23, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

This last year my husband and I finished  remodeling our kitchen. I could  of expanded and made our kitchen a mega size kitchen with many add-on’s, like a walk in pantry. But after much thought, I decided to keep our kitchen the exact same size,with only one caveat make each cabinet mega functional. In order to achieve that, I had to  create new habits in my shopping,organizing, and planning. 

The more space you have the more you have to manage and the more you have to manage, the more work. When I  hear someone say their home is 4500 sq ft, I  used to think aahhh to have space BUT now I think eeekkk all that space to manage. Don’t get me wrong I like space but most people tend to overfill the space instead of enjoying the space. 

I decided to share in this post my kitchen with you, these pictures were taken just as I woke up in the morning-no staging here, to early to deal with that! 

I wanted to share some tips on how I maintain a small space filled with a lot of stuff. 

There. 

I said it.

Boom.

I have stuff! 

It’s okay to have stuff ,as long as it is stuff  that you USE.  I can say safely say,I do use all my STUFF.

Notice it’s a galley style kitchen-space challenged.

 

Categorize like items

                       Most frequently used oils are placed near my stove which equals an easy grab while cooking. A shorter reach keeps messes to a minimum.

My most frequently used appliances are on countertop

I have hardly any counter space so  I keep most of my appliances in cabinet.

Items that are used once or twice a year should not occupy valuable space. Store them in a far, far away cupboard or garage.

Create zones

I love to chop and prep facing my windows, directly outside is my bird sanctuary and organic garden. This is my chop/prep zone.

Let usage dictates storage

Organize cupboards with access in mind

Position heavy things below the counters, lighter things above them. Place items within reach.  

Frequently used items, keep where you will be using them.

Rearrange the fridge

Keep the coldest items below, delicate vegetables are better in the crisp drawer.

Put items in compartments such as drawers, bins, Zip loc bags etc…

Create Zones

Keep areas consistent, baking together, spices together, sauces together- see the pattern? 

TOGETHER=easy to manage.

Pantry can be any shape, size and still be useful.

Keep your pantry well stocked with frequently used items

It’s happened to all of us at some point, you go to organize your pantry,  you then realize half your food has expired. Don’t worry you can avoid having to throw out future food. Try this, each month start at your pantry when planning your grocery shopping. If you buy something and end up not using PAY IT FORWARD give it to a girlfriend, neighbor, relative let them use it before it expires.

Would you like some support in getting your kitchen organized? Contact me I can help you get your kitchen move from non-functional to mega-functional.

 

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

 

I Love My Boards!

February 22, 2012 in News with 0 Comments

 

I have mentioned in previous blogs I have a limited amount of space in my home. This week I decided to focus on creating a priority station in my kitchen. I found these cute small cork tiles at Staples for a few bucks.  They fit perfectly in the interior of my Kitchen Cabinet door.

 

The top board is for me a place to jot down notes when I am in a hurry or when I have an idea and don’t want it to fade into the seams of your brain.

 

I also popped up a mini calendar and it really is mini, huh? I added page tabs, which I use in my recipe books. 

I placed an in reach pen because I am forever in need of a pen!

 

The second board is dedicated to my hubby. I am forever repeating the same “Honey Please Do!” which is more annoying for me than him. So I decided to create this to do list, now I tell him to look at the list. I also date each item listed, which comes in handy when he asks “When did you tell me about that?” 

Not sure if you can read the card above his list ?

“Has anyone told you how extraordinary you are?”

I figure that subtle message may help get my to do’s completed 

 

It’s a small space but it is  helpful for my  home care priorities. It  is still limited on space that way  I won’t be tempted to junk up. It’s working great and I am  finding it very convenient.

 

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

What You Hold True…

February 20, 2012 in News with 0 Comments


{image by fortune cookie}

Well we are 2 months into the New Year and like many others you probably made some aggressive resolutions and you most likely have had some success. This month is the critical month to see if you will maintain what you originally set out to achieve.

This post is dedicated to “time” –how and what you do with  it. One of my most popular services is Organization. People feel they need to be organized and get their clutter under control. But one of the most important caveats to Organization is Time. You need time to be organized. It’s how you make the most of your minutes that counts. 

 Prioritize your goals.

Sure you have a lot of clutter but what clutter do you find most frustrating? Which is critical to your well-being? Which tasks have more bang for your time invested. Once you figure that out, force rank the rest of the areas in your home and/or life. Believe me, you can have clutter in home and in your mind and both are equally important to identify.

 Keep it Manageable. 

Once you have indentified the areas, you probably are feeling overwhelmed! Where do you begin? That’s where you may need my services. I can help you with the beginning, middle or end of the process. Sometimes you need that push in the right direction and from there things can begin rolling down the road to success.

Plan your time.

You need a plan with that action! The first step in committing to a project is creating time for the project. By setting time aside you will be able to control how your time is used. If you don’t schedule it, it most likely will not get done. Make sure you schedule sessions with me or on your own at your peak energy times. Avoid scheduling time to organize your clutter after a 10-hour work day. Just thinking about that is very un-motivating!

Give to Get.

The hard cold fact is you just can’t do everything. Have some heart-to-heart mental conversations with yourself.  It’s important to find where your Peace of Mind really lies. Decide what is important and also what you’re willing to give up in order to reach your goal. You may need to let go of a responsibility in order to gain control of your cluttered office. 

 There are 24 hours in the day, each and every day.

You can Invest your minutes or Spend your minutes.

You need to decide which one it will be.

 

How are you Investing your minutes lately?

 

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley 

Reclaim the Cooking Space

February 16, 2012 in Budget Saving Ideas, Tips with 0 Comments

{image by Skånska Matupplevelser}

 

Usually when I am cooking with a new recipe I try to plan on doing that recipe when I actually have time to pay attention. If I have no time it goes in my keeper file until time becomes available. Based on experience there is no need to rush a meal just to say you did it- I have been known to take a couple of years to get to a recipe. I don’t sweat it; I made the recipe didn’t I?

New recipes I approach from a methodical point of view. I read and re read and re read, no typo there I really do read the recipe a lot! I then take all requested ingredients out and place on counter top. I then yes you guessed it re read the recipe to find out what ingredients go together. I really dislike cooking a meal and having 20 million (slight exaggeration) plates, spoons etc lying around and we know what lying around means- CLEANING UP.

I don’t enjoy a recipe that requires the clean up to be longer than the food prep, are you with me on that?

When I get a new recipe I usually try to get a comprehensive idea of what I’ll be doing.  I measure, chop, mince, dice etc I get all items in order. This step, referred to as mise en place [miz ɑ̃ plas], has always been necessary for me. I like to understand the recipe and also it allows me to take some notes and potentially coming up with adding other ingredients for the next time.

 How do you approach cooking a new recipe?

Would you like to prepare some new recipes with extra help? My services include food prep, cooking and grocery shopping. 

 

Planting Peacefulness!

 Shelley

Finding Your Peace Plan…

February 15, 2012 in News with 0 Comments

In search of PEACE? I can support you in finding your PEACE.

Pursue your dreams: It takes one simple act of making a decision to live your dream. Allow yourself to be absorbed in the process of going after your goals. If you can make that decision and align it with action you are on your way to reaching your dream. I can support you.

Excuse perfection: Setting the bar high is good but make sure you don’t set an impossible expectation. Remember the rewards do not lie within a life lead perfectly but rather a life lead with passion. I can support you.

Attainable goals with measured increments: If Peace is your objective it is important to be able to measure your progress. Staying on track and meeting your target deadlines is essential to your success. I can support you.

Create your vision into a reality: When you identify what is truly important to you, you become motivated to figure out ways to achieve your dreams. You develop the necessary attitude and skills and you begin to establish a plan that will help you carry out those steps.I can support you.

Excel Beyond: As you pursue peace within your lives you will begin to start living to a different standard and your world may look and feel different than you could ever imagine it. You may find opportunities to share your peace and inspire someone to live a life of peace. I can support you.

 

 Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

What Kind of Cook Are You?

February 13, 2012 in Cook This!, Tips with 0 Comments

My hubby eating some comfort soup

Do you cook to relax and unwind?

Is cooking a favorite pastime for you?

Do you cook to feed your family wholesome healthy meals?

Regardless of the type of cook you are, it’s important to find your own rhythm to cooking. Find recipes that mirror what you enjoy, like, and taste.  Don’t aspire to cook elaborate meals if you only have 30 minutes to prepare a meal. I say this all the time: “every recipe has it’s day.” This may be the day or decade of 25 minute meals but that’s okay. Your day will come soon enough. Don’t get discouraged because there will be time in your future!

All recipes need basic rules to follow:

1. Plan time

2. Prepare

3. Organize

Or just follow this one rule: Set up your mise en place (miz a plas), which is simply doing the above before you begin to cook.

I am sure you have reaped the benefits of being organized and prepared in your life. Consider this: a new area to reap those benefits. Good habits will benefit you in the kitchen.

 


Planting Peace,
Shelley

 

Be Good To Yourself! Rearrange!

February 9, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

Before

 

Sometimes you may find a certain area of your home needs a little bit more attention but what that area is lacking in attention you are lacking in time. That’s where I come in, look around your home do you need some additional support in an area?

After

In this client’s case, her closet was taking over and she didn’t have the time to organize it.

Challenges: 

Cannot locate anything

Holding onto items that she never wears

Needing temporary drawers for odds and ends

No organization

I was able to work thru her clothing and pull out items that were torn or tattered or just worn out. We went thru  her pieces that were no longer of interest to her and we paid it forward by donating to a charity. I classified her clothing and kept like colors together. We created a list of what was missing from her wardrobe enabling her to do some productive shopping in the future.

Sometimes all you need is a little support. Contact me if there is an area you would like some help with.

 

 

Planting Peacefulness!

Shelley

DIY Valentine Gift

February 7, 2012 in News with 0 Comments

Make it special and thoughtful this year

 

 One year I made this gift for my mom  by the time she read each heart she was crying tears of happiness.  I thought I would share it with you for this Valentine Day. Use any kind of glass container, cut out paper hearts and individually write on each heart what you love about that special person in your life. Attach it with a handmade card and you are on your way to a memorable gift. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

An Organized Kitchen

February 6, 2012 in Organization Ideas, Tips with 0 Comments

{image by betsey jean}

     A kitchen that is organized allows you to:

 * Cook more efficiently*

* Clean up quickly*

* Reduces wasting foods*

* Accessible for the family*

Heres some tips to maintain an organized kitchen:

Take Inventory

Group like with like and most used items should be upfront in your shelving and/or pantry 

Donate or Toss: Evaluate all items if you haven’t used in item in 2 years let it go. You can always buy one later if need be.

Items that you cannot repair should be recycled. Recycle ideas go to Think outside the bin

Organize the Freezer

Create sections in your freezer. Use dividers or baskets. Make sure you have leftovers labeled with expiration dates. Only Freeze items that you use often. Don’t freeze random items they will end up frostbitten and you will mostly likely end discarded.

Categorize your items

Group you pots and pans by the smallest to largest and keep in mind most used pans. Try to keep lids with pots easier to use and lids will maintain order. Gather baking items and place together. Items you don’t use should be placed up high or tucked in the back of cabinets. Remember usage vs storage.

 Planting Peacefulness,

Shelley

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