Summer Cooking Tips: Cool Off In The Kitchen
Summer Cooking Tips
Cynthia Ewer June 11, 2022

Who can imagine summer without summer food? Steaming corn-on-the-cob, each kernel bursting with sweet flavor. Burgers and barbecue. Ice cream sundaes. The crisp red smile of a watermelon wedge, dripping with sweet juice.

There's a darker side to summer meals. Food budgets groan under the strain of substituting quick-cook steaks and chicken breasts for thrifty stove-top casseroles. 

Ravenous children make the refrigerator door thump-thump-thump like a dog's tail. Catch-as-catch-can mealtimes, eaten on the run, substitute convenience for nutritional value. 

Find it Fast: Make a Household Storage Plan
Make a plan for household storage
Cynthia Ewer February 8, 2022

It's here ... somewhere.

Living in close proximity with our possessions means we can't always find the things we need, when we need them. Disorganized, crowded storage spaces make it hard to decorate for holidays, make up a guest bedroom, or find the right tool for the job.

Printable pages for home management

Household Notebook: Free Printables for an Organized Home

So you think businesspeople are the only folks who need a personal planner?  Think again: families need an organizer, too, to keep life moving smoothly on the home front!

A planner for the entire household allows anyone--child, visitor, babysitter--easy access to the information they need. It's a one-stop information center for busy families.

January 30, 2022
Chill Out! Cut Energy Use in Refrigerator and Freezer
Cut Energy Use
Cynthia Ewer January 30, 2022

With power bills on the rise--and hot weather just around the corner--it's time for an energy-saving tuneup for your refrigerator and freezer.

Keeping food fresh while conserving energy can bring a helpful boost to the strained food budget.  An organized fridge cuts waste and preserves foodstuffs for maximum life and freshness.

Take aim on rising prices with a quick refrigerator check!  Try these tips to minimize energy use and save money on groceries.  

Clean House! Speed Cleaning Tips from Pro Cleaners
Cleaning tips from professional cleaners
Cynthia Ewer January 17, 2022

Paid cleaning help can be a wonderful short-cut to a clean and organized home--if the household budget can stand the cost. But what do you do if the Prize Patrol bypassed your door this year?

Take a speed-cleaning lesson from the pros! Paid cleaning services are masters of the art of speedy, efficient cleaning. Watch professional cleaners at work: they don't waste time, cut corners or dawdle over the job--and they know how to clean fast, clean right.

organize the pantry

Organized Pantry: Beginner's Guide to Pantry Pride

A working pantry? It's the secret weapon of a well-organized kitchen. 

A planned reserve of foodstuffs and sundries used in the home, a pantry saves time, money and stress in the kitchen. Tap the pantry for unexpected meals and reduce trips to the supermarket.  Stock it with frugal finds to lower grocery costs. Set aside a supply of food and sundries for a rainy day and protect your family against weather emergencies or financial dislocation. 

Properly managed, the pantry is an integral part of an organized home. Polish your pantry pride with our best hints and tips.

January 14, 2022
Online Subscription Not What You Ordered? You May Be A Victim Of Dark Patterns
Dark Patterns:  Malicious Web Site Design
Cynthia Ewer January 13, 2022

Is a company--for me, it's iStockphoto--telling you signed up for a service or subscription ... when you're sure you didn't?  That business may be using "dark patterns":  the manipulation of Web site design to create confusion and influence user behavior.  

Holiday Clean Up: Clutter Cutting Ideas for Year's End
Clean clutter after the new year
Cynthia Ewer January 3, 2022

Even in the midst of holiday cheer, it's time to look ahead to a clean and organized New Year--if you can see it, over the clutter of Christmas Past.

Ready to swing into the coming year from a clutter-free home? Try these year-end tips to cut clutter and start the New Year on an organized note.

Low-Cost, No-Cost Ways To Celebrate Christmas with Kids
Celebrate with kids
Cynthia Ewer December 1, 2021

Cutting costs at Christmas doesn't mean celebrating like Scrooge. It's not about what you buy--it's about what you do! 

Putting "celebration" at the center of the season--and taking the focus off of gifts and giving--can be the key to happy holidays that don't break the bank.

Better, when it comes to kids and Christmas, cheap is good! Simple, inexpensive family activities can be as meaningful as pricey Nutcracker tickets--and no need for scratchy dresses or dress-up suits. 

Try these no-cost, low-cost ways to celebrate the holiday season with kids:

Do Less, Enjoy More: Simplify Holiday Traditions
Simplify holiday traditions
Cynthia Ewer November 28, 2021

"Tradition" is a powerful force that sometimes pulls an unsuspecting family along in its wake. Do your holiday traditions serve your family, your values and your spiritual beliefs--or are you running a tired and joyless circle during the holiday season in the name of tradition?

To cut stress during the season, it's time to give your family's holiday traditions a stiff scrutiny.  Today, think back to traditions from season's past, with an eye to trimming them.