For only four easy payments of $19.95!!!

 I keep seeing all these commercials for the latest gadget….you know the ones, the ones you would use once or twice and then it collects dust on the countertop or takes up space in the cabinet.  I have a toaster oven that I got as a gift that was slowly going down that road until I realized how much cooler the kitchen stays when I use it instead of the oven.  Since the one step kid that lived with us moved out on her own it is only me and my husband.  It’s much easier to cook with the toaster oven when there are only two people so if you have more in your household you may use it for a small casserole or dish. I started taking a good hard look at my kitchen.

I got rid of my electric can opener and I do not miss it at all.   I have a microwave that will soon need to get replaced unfortunately. I really dont want to but I use it too much  I also have 2 food processors a mini one and a medium one.  I use them a lot for things like massive chopping, grating things and making butter.  Of course if they break down I will probably not replace them both.  I could go with a regular grater if need be but my laziness and need for speed intervene here! 

We have a rice cooker since I kept scorching the pan (I get distracted in the kitchen sometimes).  We have a blender for parties, a coffee maker for fall and winter use, a small electric hand mixer with double beaters and a couple stick blenders.  Im keeping at least one stick blender for when I start making soaps the other is being given away. Most all of this stuff can be stashed in one cabinet under the counter.  Most of these things were either gifts or bought at a garage sale.

The only a few things I really want to ADD to my kitchen. Number 1 is a kitchen-aid mixer. Im not sure what model,  Im not sure I can afford all that I want in the way of attachments and Im not sure that I would use it as much as I envision I would.  So I will wait until one of those factors change.  Number 2 is a food vacuum sealing system.  Im still undecided on Food Saver vs Rival.  The only thing really holding me back is I dont want to pay $100+ for something that I end up not liking.  I’d really like to test drive this one.  I know hands down it would be used by me and my husband.

So look around in your kitchen. What can you absolutely not live without?  What do you actually use more than once every couple months?  If you dont use it consistently at least once every three months you should really consider if its worth having.  Some people say pitch it if its less than once a month but Im way nicer than that What can you lose?   What is is that you REALLY want to get and why haven’t you?

Be Prepared

I almost feel like a fraud, posting on Homemakers Who Work. Because I’m a teacher, I have the summers off, time when I’m not working, when I’m a Homemaker On Vacation. Not to worry, though. In a little over a month, I’ll be back in the ‘Bye, love you, off to work!’ mode.

That’s when my little www.flylady.net schedule really helps.

You may have heard of Flylady and be a member of her online group. Back in the day when Flylady was just starting up her website I stumbled on to her very very helpful and encouraging group. I learned a lot about organizing my life and home from her. If you’re not a fan, no problem. You can still adapt a couple of her ideas to fit your schedule. These are the three best life organizing tricks I learned from Flylady.

1. Evening routine. If you’re like me, you don’t wake up bright and cheery in the morning. I’m a slow starter, so knowing I have everything in order the night before helps me sleep walk through my morning routine on automatic.

I pack my school bag and place it in the same spot every evening. That means I don’t have to run around and look for the phonics game or math worksheet in the morning when I’m already running late. I lay out my clothes on the chair next to my side of the bed. Socks and shoes included. (I learned to add the socks to the ensemble after wearing navy socks with brown slacks one day, having grabbed them in a hurry in the inadequate morning light.) Just doing these two things the night before helps make my morning rush go so much more smoothly.

2. Morning routiine. This may sound boring, but I always eat the same things on work mornings. Banana. Oatmeal. Yogurt. Coffee.

3. Laundry. I wash our laundry a load or two most every day. That way I know we won’t run out of clothes on Thursday night. I also read somewhere that laundry marathons aren’t good for your washer, so I’m making my washing machine last longer. Because I hang most of my clothes to dry inside the house, I don’t have a ‘Chinese laundry’ look of having several loads drying at the same time.

These three habits have helped me so much to make getting up and going to work in the morning less stressful.

What habits have you developed to help you be a more organized Homemaker Who Works?