Shop the Freezer

Many years ago, our freezer door accidentally was left open. Everything was ruined, and ruined is a gentle word to describe the scene, dear friends. More graphically, the contents of the freezer had thawed and oozed and congealed into terrifyingly unidentifiable puddles of mucousy juice.

It was traumatizing, not only because it was disgusting, but also because some of that food was in the form of actual meals that I had prepared in advance for days when our schedules would be too hectic to make a decent dinner.

In advance! Advanced planning! One freezer door left ajar killed many of my dreams that day. It was a painful loss.

I try my hardest to consistently meal plan for each week, and I've gotten better at it over the last decade or so. That being said, some days I'm still surprised when I reach 5 PM and I remember that it's nearly dinner, that I have children, and somehow, I'm the one responsible for feeding them.

But not this week. This week I know what I'm doing. It's an official "Shop the Freezer" week.

This operates exactly like it sounds: nearly everything we eat this week will come from the freezer. I've excavated the bottom sliding freezer drawer, inventoried all the contents, and stacked items so the oldest Ziplock bags are in front. We'll have garlic and brown sugar chicken thighs in the crock pot, leftovers from pulled pork and barbeque beef, fried chicken sandwiches from frozen chicken breasts, and leftover roast. I'll finally use up half-eaten bags of frozen veggies. I'll boil, then pan fry the frozen pierogies with butter and carnalized onions. 

By the end of the week, that freezer will be so tidy, so updated, with no lingering unneglected corners. My heart for thriftiness and organization already is singing happy songs as I envision this.

Don't know what do for dinner this week? Do what I'm doing. Shop the freezer.

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Your closet is no match for these three spring cleaning tips.

I once read a piece of advice that stuck with me: If you're indecisive about something (say, the purchase of a new shirt), rank it on a scale of 1-10.  If it's ranked at 8, 9, or 10, then consider the purchase further. If it registers as 7 or below, though, then automatically treat it as if it were a 1.  Don't internally deliberate or waffle.  If it isn't at least an 8, then it fundamentally doesn't make the cut.

I love the clarity of this practice.  It frees you from that painfully nebulous kinda, sorta, I'm-not-really-sure decision-making range that's fraught with second-guessing, unnecessary mental space, or even buyer's remorse.  If you don't love the shirt, don't buy the shirt.  Simple as pie.  (And for me, pie is almost always at least an 8, especially if it's cherry, so yes, please to a slice of pie.)

This advice can be applied to a multitude of contexts, both large and small, like what paint color to choose or which applicant to hire or recommend.  This past weekend, I applied the principle to my closets.

Oh, yes, friends, it's spring cleaning time!  (Central Pennsylvania currently has no outdoor indicators that spring will ever be springing, so cleaner closets will have to suffice as a seasonal marker.)  I've always found that the process of weeding out clutter, reinstating order, and making space to be therapeutic.  Everything feels lighter.  I get verklempt just thinking about it, but then again, I'm slightly weird when it comes to organization.

Here are three spring cleaning tips I regularly apply that make the process efficient:

1) The 8-9-10 practice can be used on items that you already own.  When I rank the clothes already in my closet, it expedites the process of deciding whether an item should stay or go.  Plus, it clues me into whether I've become blind to items simply because they're so familiar.  I loved these pants a long time ago, but if I were encountering them for the first time right now, would they still be an 8, 9, or 10? 

If yes, there's a strong case for keeping them.  If they've dropped to 7 or below, they don't make the spring cleaning cut.  It's so simple, yet it removes a surprising amount of ambiguity.

2) Quality items pass the test of time.  As an avid garage-saler and thrifter, I'm always on the hunt for a good deal, but "good deals" are only actually good if the product lasts.  On more than one occasion I've bought a cheap piece of clothing that I've had to toss because the fabric quickly pilled, or the zipper stuck, or the shape lost its shapeliness.  In other words, there's something to be said for investing in quality pieces from which you'll get ample mileage.

This has proven true with a recent opportunity I was given.  Tommy John, a high-quality men's clothing and undergarment company, contacted me and asked if my husband would like to sample one of their Go Anywhere products in exchange for an honest review.  Of course!  While their line is more expensive than we'd normally invest, the quality of the product -- in this case, a pair of their Go Anywhere Lounge Jogger pants -- speaks for itself.  They're remarkably soft, they drape well, and my husband reports that they're extremely comfortable.

For the sake of full disclosure, I should note that these are not my husband's legs, although he insists that his legs could be substituted for any male model's.  He also added that Tommy John's Go Anywhere Lounge Joggers definitely meet the 8, 9, or 10 criteria, so we have no doubt that they'll remain in our closet -- and in his rotation of regular use -- for years to come.

Quality pays off.

3) Don't let bad logic stop you from letting go of items that you no longer use.  I own things that I don't use regularly, but for some reason, I'm hesitant to part with them.  When I ferret out my rationalization, it's pretty illogical.  Even though I'm not using a pair of boots, for example, I assume that they're still useful (and therefore, still valuable) while forgetting that they're a sunk cost.

I mean, I've already bought the boots.  They've already been paid for.  I just illogically assume that I'd be losing money by getting rid of them, but the truth is that the money already has been spent.  Holding onto a pair of boots that I don't wear isn't saving me any money; it's just taking up space.

So, if the items in your closet aren't being used and enjoyed, let go of the faulty logic and accept that they're sunk costs.  Even better, whenever possible, give them a new life by donating or selling them, no guilt attached.

Spring still feels a long way off, but at least my closet is lighter and brighter than it was before.  Plus, as I continue to apply the 8-9-10 rule with future purchases, I'm more likely to keep it in good order.

Do you have any useful spring cleaning or organizational tips?  Have you ever used the 8-9-10 rule? Drop me a comment below to let me know!

(And, on behalf of my husband, thanks to Tommy John for the opportunity to review the Go Anywhere Lounge Joggers.  If you're ever looking for a male leg model, you know where to turn.)

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Dear Teachers of My Children

Dear Teachers of My Children,

This past week alone, I've seen evidence of the impact you make on the lives of my kids.  I see it when I open my inbox or their Friday folders (a task that always happens late on Sunday evenings... and certain Monday mornings) and read your weekly recaps.  I see the papers that are checked, the stickers that are awarded, and the notes that are written.

What I don't see, of course, is the hundreds of moments that comprise any given school day.  I can only imagine those.  I imagine an elementary classroom full of students all needing something from you at the exact same time, much like when my own children seem to conspire and simultaneously request for me to play a game, prepare a snack, read a book, help with a homework problem, glue something that's broken, find them a band-aid, and answer a mind-numbingly obscure question.

The difference is that I have three children.  You have a classroom full of them.

And yet, you answer the questions, you help with the homework problems, you individualize the instructions, you hand out the tiny plastic treasure chests when a wiggly tooth finally has been lost, you painstakingly explain how to multiply fractions, you measure benchmarks, and you put the pieces of the broken toy that was smuggled into the classroom as contraband in a small manila envelope, safe and secure, so these pieces arrive back at home safely for us parents to glue.

In your spare time, I'm guessing that you also tie a lot of shoelaces.

Even more, you don't just teach addition or long division, reading or writing, science or social studies.  You teach problem solving and responsibility.  You teach planning and preparation.  You teach that growth comes from consistent effort.  You teach test-taking skills and stamina, and even better, you then teach our kids that their test results aren't the most important measure of their worth.

These notes -- the ones you write on Post-It notes during the nooks and crannies of your busy days -- end up coming home and making their way into our children's rooms, their boxes of treasured items, and their hearts.

I can go on.  There's the Title I reading specialist who hosted a special event at a local bookstore and gifted each participant with a book.  There's the kindergarten teacher who deftly discerns whether complaints of a stomachache are from homesickness or from illness.  There's the second grade teacher who speaks encouragement and structure into my daughter's life when learning doesn't come easily.  There's the fifth grade teacher who coaches how to seamlessly transition into middle school next year.

Don't even get me started on the other helpers: the principal who motivates and holds special lunches with students as rewards, the cafeteria workers who know the names of an entire school-full of children, the custodians who mop the floors, the librarians who remember favorite titles, and the bus drivers who listen to their small, yet impressively loud, passengers while navigating traffic.  (Driver of Bus 9, I heard about the vomiting episode that happened in the aisle last week and how you put a plastic bag over the mess until you could deal with it later.  My condolences to you.)

Teachers and aides and helpers and support staff members: Thank you.  You amaze me.

We deeply appreciate everything that we know you do.  And, even if we can't always articulate it, we appreciate everything you do that we'll never see.

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A Lazy Girl's Guide to Ironing

We all hit stretches of life when multiple deadlines, events, and obligations coalesce at once, creating a particularly frenetic daily pace.  I'm there right now.  I know I'm going to make it, but I find myself weary with the most basic tasks, like getting into the shower, or getting back out of the shower, or remembering whether I actually washed my hair or whether I just thought I had washed my hair while I'm in the shower, or putting on clothes, or making myself presentable in the morning. 

On days like this, I seek shortcuts to make even the smallest tasks easier.  Take ironing, for instance. 

When it comes to ironing, I'm admittedly lazy.  Thus far in life, my primary two strategies to make ironing easier could be broadly categorized as avoidance: 1) I don't buy many clothes that require ironing, and 2) I try to reach the dryer immediately after the cycle is done so any slightly-wrinkled clothing can be shaken into submission and declared good enough.

 

Maybe you're like me in this regard.  Maybe you use your iron to seal kid's crafts with melted beads more frequently than to press button-downs.  Maybe you live in knits and jeans and yoga pants. 

But, despite our best avoidance efforts, what if there's one persistent wrinkle on an otherwise acceptable garment?  What if a shirt's collar or a skirt's hem needs a simple touch-up?

Well, if you're anything like me, these minor dilemmas provide the perfect time to rethink what we mean by the word iron. 

On more than one occasion, instead of dragging a cumbersome ironing board from the laundry room, I've headed to the bathroom, heated up my curling iron with the click of one button, and run that iron down the crease.  It's that simple.

 

Real ironing?  Ain't nobody got time for that.  But using your curling iron in a pinch?  Well, that's a lazy girl's guide to ironing.

 

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How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

After hearing about our recent garage sale during which we gained income and reduced clutter (win-win!), a friend asked me for a few pointers to maximize her own upcoming sale.  Let me share with you what I shared with her: a dozen specific tips on how to host the best possible yard sale.

1) Direct customers with effective signs.  Planning and preparing for a garage sale requires a good deal of work, so you want to maximize your customer base.  One of the most effective ways to do this is with easy-to-read signs.  Use bright colors, consistent design, large and legible handwriting (no cursive), and arrows to lead customers to your house.  At your house, place one final sign as the visual equivalent of that pleasing voice from your GPS device announcing, "You have arrived."

 

2) Use free online advertising.  Online advertising permits you to display not only the days, time, and location of your sale, but also to itemize the items that you plan to sell -- often with pictures.  For our recent garage sale, my neighbors and I posted on Craigslist, community websites, and Facebook groups for free.  List items specifically and succinctly ("girls winter clothing in sizes 3T and 4T") and, if appropriate, highlight the quality ("items in excellent condition.")

3) Price to sell.  Without a doubt, pricing is one of the most challenging parts of holding a garage sale.  On one hand, you want to earn a profit.  On the other hand, you want to get rid of merchandise and reduce clutter in your home.  Deftly try to find the balance between the two without over-thinking it and succumbing to deep, philosophical ponderings about sentimentalism and the true value of material possessions.

If you shop at yard sales, use your experiences to guide pricing.  If you're unfamiliar with what yard sales charge in your area, read up on general garage sale pricing strategies.   Research any items for which you don't know the value, such as antiques.

Be sure to keep your price stickers easily visible -- on top, brightly colored.  I've also found that creating pricing charts also can expedite the pricing process.  For merchandise such as clothes, books, and DVD's, instead of pricing each individual item we simply hung a sign with our price list (ex: "Paperback Books: 50 cents, Hardback Books: $1"), which simplified things greatly.

4) Prepare proper amounts of table space.  While some items can be placed on the ground, it's likely that many of your items will best be displayed on a table top.  Given that most people don't own six or spare folding tables, plan ahead.  We often borrow a few tables from neighbors or friends for the weekend, and setting a piece of plywood over two sawhorses creates great space, too.

5) Group merchandise logically and attractively. As you set up your tables, think categorically.  Group pie plates with other housewares, stamps and stickers with other craft supplies, drill bit sets with other tools, and that abandoned tennis racket with other athletic equipment.  You (and your customers) will have a better sense of your merchandise if it's categorized appropriately.

Likewise, dust off or wipe down any merchandise that needs a quick polish.  Make your stuff look good.  Depending on what you're selling, consider staging an areas, like setting a lamp on a desk or placing an end table next to an arm chair.

6) Visit the bank beforehand.  It's probable that one of your first customers will pay for a 50 cent item with a twenty dollar bill.  Be sure that you have ample change and one dollar bills on hand, especially for the first hour of your sale.  We took out $100 in cash -- $50 in singles and $50 in fives -- for this purpose.  Keep a roll of quarters on hand, too.

7) Be friendly. As obvious as this sounds, it's a good practice to greet customers warmly.  Engage in small talk without being overbearing.  If you notice someone looking at a particular item, share what you know about it.  Tell a customer that the dress she's holding was one of your daughter's favorites, or mention that you picked up that vase while on vacation.  Infuse an object with a positive back story -- it might be what tips the customer to buy it.

8) Create ambiance.  Ambiance in a garage or on a driveway?  It's often as simple as adding music.  Create an enjoyable playlist and stream it during the sale.  Music provides comfortable background noise for moments when a person is browsing in silence, and it also creates a sense of privacy for your customers if they're debating a purchase among themselves.

9) Keep supplies handy.  Keep pricing stickers, scissors, tape, a notebook, and a pen handy during the sale, as well as an ample stash of plastic bags to offer customers to carry their purchases home.  Having an extension cord plugged in allows people to ensure that electronic equipment works.

10) Toss in a bake sale or sell drinks.  While someone might haggle over a 50 cent book or a $1 picture frame, it's quite possible that they won't give a second thought to paying a group of children 50 cents for a brownie and quenching their thirst with a $1 bottled water or soda.  (Case in point, my daughters and their three neighborhood friends just raked in $160 dollars at their two-day bake sale that accompanied our yard sale!  Rice Crispy treats never were so sweet.)

11) Keep cash exchanges visible.  I worked as a cashier for one of my first jobs during high school.  My manager advised me to keep a customer's cash visible during each transaction as I made change.  This is a valuable tip for garage sales, too.  Not only does keeping a customer's money lying out in front of you keep you on track with the monetary tally, but it also prevents someone from saying, "I gave you a twenty," when she really handed you a ten.

12) Plan a strategy for unsold merchandise.  There never will be a garage sale where every single item sells; it's inevitable that some merchandise will be leftover.  While cleaning up after our recent sale, I made three separate groups: 1) items to give away for free at the curb (or place in the garbage if it's not taken by trash day), 2) items to donate to Goodwill, and 3) items to save.

I limited the final category to one large plastic bin that I've already moved to my basement storage closet.  If, in a few years, we plan another garage sale, I've already got a good base to build upon -- with price stickers attached, nonetheless.

13) Remove your signs promptly.  I know I promised a dozen tips, but this is a bonus tip, a baker's dozen of garage sale goodness.  If you follow tip number one and hang effective signage, people will come.  And come.  In fact, they'll keep coming as you pack up, sweep out, or eat dinner later that night.  Removing signs brings a definitive end to your sale, plus it's responsible.

There you have it: thirteen tips on how you can earn extra income, free up space, and host your own successful garage sale.  Feel free to share any additional suggestions in the comments below!

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The Perks of Bartering

During the spring semester, I picked up a little girl and drove her to dance class along with my daughter every Monday.  She only lives a few minutes away, making it easy for me, and it saved the mother the hassle of interrupting her baby's nap and driving there herself.

 

On the last day of dance when I dropped off our little friend, the mom greeted me at the front door, child on her hip, with a small envelope.  "Just a little something," she said.

 

I opened the note in the car.

 

 

Let me tell you, she had me at "Dear Robin."  A one-hour massage for driving her daughter each week to dance class?  What a wonderful -- what a downright glorious -- form of repayment for my time! 

Late last night after our collective seven children were tucked into bed, I drove to her house and let this former massage therapist unleash her magic as her deft fingers worked out kinks in my neck and back that I didn't even know I had.

I may or may not have slurred into the face cradle, "I would drive your daughter anywhere."

Turns out, we all have abilities that will bless others, whether it's as simple as offering a ride or as luxurious as offering a massage.  With enough creativity, we can even barter our talents.  I once did promotional writing for my friend's music business, and in turn, I received a photo shoot from his wife, a professional photographer.  Win-win.

If you're a parent, perhaps one of the most obvious services to barter is something that we're already accustomed to providing on a constant basis: childcare.  Offer to watch your friend's children while she runs errands or has a date night, and then swap. 

I don't do this nearly enough, even though I'm well aware of the surprisingly favorable math that can transpire when you temporarily add more kids into the mix at your house but end up with less hands-on work because the kids are entertaining themselves.  (It's a miracle of addition, I tell you.)

After scoring big with last night's massage, I've brainstormed other potential services to barter: house cleaning, home repairs, computer services, tutoring, cooking, grass mowing, yard work, hauling items if you have a truck, or hair styling.  If you have a surplus of goods -- outgrown clothes or toys, vegetables from your garden, coupons for products that you don't use (but your friends do) -- see if you can swap those, as well.

Be creative and inventory the services or products that you can offer, and then round up your friends to see if they're game.

I assure you: there are benefits of bartering.  Especially if you happen to be friends with a massage therapist.

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Humor, hope, and encouragement for moms: Then I Became a Mother.  Available in both paperback and Kindle editions!

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