Centerpiece!

Tonight's 15: Let's work on the centerpiece tonight (unless, of course, you are using fresh fruits!). If you decided to make your own, start tonight. This way you have time to actually enjoy the craft! If you are undecided, look in a magazine or the internet for ideas. Keeping it simple? Pull out the candlesticks or what have you and clean them up. If you need candles, put them on the shopping list. This is definitely something the kids can help with, too! And have fun!!!

Recipes!

Tonight's 15: Recipes ready to roll! I've had quite a few clients that keep their recipes in bags, boxes, drawers, etc. Only problem is, it takes a bit of time to find the ones they need. So let's spend tonight pulling those recipes out for the big day. If they are organized in a book or on your computer (yay!), take a look at them tonight, too. Once you have them in hand, double check that you have all of the ingredients in your kitchen or on your shopping list. If you don't, you know the drill...

Countdown to Thanksgiving

Tonight's 15: Next up is the utensil drawer. There may be half a dozen cooks in your kitchen that day...let's make everything easy to find. Go through your utensil drawer and be BRUTAL. Do you really need 2 potato peelers (just in case)? How about that ice pick and all those things you saw on TV that didn't quite work out? Be honest and save only what you use. Try Organizing Expert Peter Walsh's trick: Empty the entire contents of the drawer into a box or container. Keep on your counter for the next month. When you use one, put it back in the drawer. After the month, well, you know...


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Time for the Pantry!!

Time for the pantry!! Empty the cabinets- Keep like with like, baking supplies, soups, condiments so it's easy to find. Get rid of expired items, or open items you are no longer using.  Donate what you and your family won't use, be honest - if nobody likes sardines..why do you have three cans?? Right? Take the time now to wipe it clean. You want to be able to see and find everything that you have. Keep snacks down low and easily accessible so you know who isn't tearing through the pantry! And stick to the one in, one out rule!  Establish limits for how much your pantry can hold. Once you do this, you must use something before you can buy another. If you go shopping once a week- you really only need a weeks worth of an item. No cramming items in- remember- you want to see what you have! You'll save time and money at the market when you are only buying what you need- no roaming the aisles and no duplicates!

Clean As You Go...

Got a sink full of dishes, again??? Clean the kitchen during and immediately after dinner. During preparation, keep things tidy, throw away scraps (Try Rachael Ray's trick- use a garbage bowl) and wipe up spills. After the meal, wash dishes or load and run the dishwasher right away. You're not going to want to do it later either- so do it now and get it over with! Have everyone help before they scatter! You'll never go to bed, or worse!,  wake up to a sink full of dishes. Nothing worse than cleaning before you can prepare another meal. Just imagine tomorrow morning, an empty sink and a cup of coffee...try it!