Mail Central

This was my project for the weekend. I'm not sure what decorator style it is...none! But, it is in a corner...convenient to where I open mail that comes in; prepare mail to go out; and plan the meals and the grocery shopping. It finally dawned on me that I had to run from room to room - or around the table - to get all the things I needed for any one simple task. So now it's all central! 

Oh, and the shredder? I used to dump the shreddings all into a big garbage bag and, accidentally, onto the floor as well. And then I would need to pull out the vacuum cleaner. Do you see a motivation problem here? So this weekend I figured out that a plastic grocery bag will fit into the shredder nicely.

So I located a stash of them next to the mail station. 

Blue pens (my favorite), black pens, red pens, short pens. I finally gave away all the short pink, green, and purple pens that I used to get in a package whenever I bought short blue pens...before I found the short ones that are in the drawer. (I used to work a job where I needed to put a pen in my pocket.) 

My hubby fixed the battery operated pencil sharpener (I can certainly change a battery, but I couldn't get the silly thing open). And of course, a pen and pencil drawer wouldn't be complete without an eraser (hiding near the pencil sharpener) and white-out. Does anyone still use white-out? I still do, just now and then. 

Long ago, I labeled these drawers with verbs. The drawers were useful, already, before this weekend, but they just had become such a mumbo-jumbo that they were neither efficient nor fun. So, anyway, this drawer is labeled: "Calculate and Label". I decided that not only return-address labels but also stamps could fit into the category of "label"...because I needed the stamps handy, and it works for me. What works for you?

This drawer is labeled "Cut and fasten"...stapler, rubber bands, paper clips, scotch tape, even magnets.

But wait! What do I cut with?

It looked so much better before I added the scissors! Well, these scissors are literally falling apart; so, I think I am going to get smaller ones that fit better in the box with the hole-punches (yes, I really would measure the scissors at the store). And I think I will look for scissors with either black handles or white handles. 

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I'm hoping I can now get on top of my mail. How about you? Is there something you've arranged or re-arranged to make your life a little more efficient? Has it worked for you? 

P.S. The only thing I bought (at this time) for this project were the little white organizing bins, which were at Target, all in a package together, near the silverware trays. I had two

 leftover, which I used elsewhere in the house.

P.S. #2. And here's the Cut and Fasten Drawer with the new working black and white scissors.

V-8 Bean Soup

Why not go ahead and give you one more recipe for the little crockpot, while I'm at it today? 

I created this one several weeks ago. As with the others, the idea is that we can make "homemade" soup by using food that we can keep in the pantry. Also, there is a fresh option that you can use if you have it. 

The first time I made this one, it was a little bland, so I added a touch of chili powder next time, and it perked it up nicely.

V-8 Bean Soup

1 can (15.5 ounces) black or kidney beans, drained
1 can (14.5 ounces) green beans, drained
2 cans (5.5 ounces each) V-8 juice
1 cup water with 1 teaspoon chicken or vegetable bouillon
OR 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 pearl barley
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
dash of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Fresh option:

2 tablespoons finely chopped sweet green bell pepper

Put all ingredients into a 1 1/2 to 2 quart crock pot and stir.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir and serve.

Ham and Potato Soup

This is another soup I made "from the pantry" in my crock pot. It makes about four servings. But I'm thinking that you could probably multiply it in a larger crock pot for a larger family. 

This is not a creamy potato soup, as I did not use any milk; however, I think the instant potato flakes give it a nice consistency and add to the flavor. 

Ham and Potato Soup

1 can (15 ounces) peas and carrots, drained
1 can (14.5-15 ounces) cubed potatoes, drained
1 can (5 ounces) ham, drained
1 cup water with 1 teaspoon chicken or vegetable bouillon
OR 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth or stock
1/3 cup instant potato flakes
dash of black pepper

Fresh option:
2 tablespoons finely chopped onions

If the ham is not diced, flake it with a fork.

Put all ingredients into a 1 ½ to 2 quart crock pot and stir.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir and serve.



Note: If instant mashed potato (flakes) are not something you normally stock in your home, and you want to try out the soup, you might be able to find the smaller pouches, which you can buy individually. The pouch I have is 2 ounces and contains 1 1/2 cups of potato flakes.  

Thyme for Chicken Soup

Of course, it's always good to make foods from fresh ingredients. But what if you can't get out to the store? Crackers and peanut butter could get boring. So here's a chicken soup you can make from your pantry. It includes a "fresh option", in case you have it. I made this recipe for a small crock pot (1 1/2 to 2 quart) for my now-smaller family; however, you could probably multiply it with good success.

Thyme for Chicken Soup

1 can (10 ounces) chicken, packed in water, drained
1 can (14.5 ounces) green beans, drained
1 cup water with 1 teaspoon chicken or vegetable bouillon
OR 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
¼ cup (parboiled, long grain) white rice
¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
dash of black pepper
¼ teaspoon thyme

Fresh option:
¼ cup finely sliced celery

Put all ingredients into a 1 ½ to 2 quart crock pot and stir.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir and serve.

Enjoy.

Minimizing the Entryway

Okay, so, yes, the first picture might actually look prettier...what with the wood and the shiny tray and the silk flowers. 

But it didn't make sense. It wasn't cohesive. This entry isn't part of a room; it's part of a hallway, which includes a mop and bucket, a recycle bin, a shoe rack, another shoe basket, and a simple folding chair for...of course, changing shoes. 

This area was - and is - what I call, euphemistically, our "garage". So I decided to switch out the tall, wooden bookcase for the kind of shelving we might have in a garage. It just makes more sense to me. It also was just that much wider that I was able to get the tools out from under the chair and put them here, too.

Do you ever go for simple, or cohesive, over pretty things?