Feng Shui In The Kitchen

The kitchen is the most important area of your home. It is responsible for nourishing your entire family and keeping everyone happy and healthy. In feng shui, the kitchen is a symbol of wealth and abundance also.

The optimal place for your kitchen is the center of your home. If the kitchen is located near the front or back door, the positive energy can escape.

Food gives us all of our energy and enables us to remain healthy. To keep this food energy positive and healing, the food has to be cooked in an organized kitchen that maintains a good balance of Chi. By having a well balanced and energized kitchen, the cook becomes more energized and the entire family benefits.

The best tips for the kitchen are pretty basic and should go hand in hand with the rest of your home very easily. Lighting is an important part of feng shui and in the kitchen, there should be an abundance of natural light if available and if not, full spectrum lighting is recommended. The air should flow nicely and the kitchen should give off a very welcoming energy.

A great way to add positive energy to your kitchen is by using plants and flowers. When placed on your kitchen table, they are not only beautiful to look at but increase the positive energy level greatly. You should use plants and flowers that are yellowish in color because in feng shui, yellow is a great digestive aid.

Like the rest of the house, clutter should be kept as minimal as possible. Since this is the very heart of the home, keep it as happy and warm as possible.

Adding Style To Your Home On A Budget

There are many ways you can decorate your home when
you are on a budget. You don’t have to have a lot of
money to make your home look nice and stylish.

Many of the things you can do is shop second hand, use
family members, finding less than perfect items, and
more.

If you are hoping to redecorate your home but you are
on a tight budget then don’t worry about hiring
someone to come in and help you. This is where your
family and friends can come in and assist.

You can even hold a party to help you with the efforts
of painting, laying tile, or anything else you have in
mind. Friends and family are always willing to come
and help with a decoration project and if you provide
the food and drinks then they usually will never say
no.

When you are on a budget it is hard to find the best
and you have to be flexible. You can shop at second
hand stores and find really nice furniture, paintings,
rugs, and more.

If you are willing to shop used it will surprise you
some of the neat items you can find at these places
that you can use that will make your home look
fabulous. You might also want to think about finding
less than perfect merchandise.

You can go to furniture stores and find defective
furniture that is still brand new for very low prices.
Some of the furniture might have a scratch that is
barely noticeable at an excellent price. Some of the
furniture you cannot even see the defect and it is
brand new.

When you are on a budget you have to think cheap. Use
your friends and family members to help you and find
low cost items that are not so perfect or second hand.

Eliminate the Chaos of Home Office Clutter

The home office has slowly become the foundation of the modern day household.  We pay the bills, organize recipe files and photo albums and develop calendars and schedules on our computers, and some of us make a living from here.  With so many different activities happening here, it’s easy to see how it can easily become the most disorganized and unkempt area of the home.  A clean organized desk and home office can save time, stress and even money if we work from home.  So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your messy desk and disorganized office, take a good hard look and see what’s overwhelming your order the most.

Mail is probably the biggest contributing factor to our messy desktops.  Get in the habit of dealing with your mail on a daily basis.  Toss what you can, place those things that need to be shredded into a shredding bin and shred them once per week, and file the rest away properly.  This might also be the time to update your filing system and make folders for current years or months.

Another culprit of office clutter is computer storage media such as CDs, DVDs and floppy disks.  Take the time to ensure each is properly labeled and placed in a protective file or case.  Categorize and alphabetize them for easy access.

If you have an office area that is commonly used by all family members, it can easily become cluttered with glasses, coffee cups, food wrappers and dirty dishes.  Since computer equipment can easily be damaged should something spill on it, it’s probably wise to impose a rule forbidding eating and drinking while using the computer.  This would lessen the clutter at the same time.  If you spend a considerable amount of time during the day in your office and your office space is large enough, provide for an area far from the computer and other electronic equipment where food and drink can be set without the fear of ruining equipment should a spill occur.

If you utilize a bulletin board, take the time to make sure all the items posted on it are current.  If not, take them down and file away or toss.  Make sure your calendar is always displaying the current month so you can see the month’s activities and appointments in an easy glance.

Office supplies have a way of easily cluttering up our workspace as well.  Take the extra time to clean out and organize desk drawers if necessary and make sure all office supplies have a home other than the top of your desk.

With some forethought, planning and discipline, your home office can become and stay productive, efficient and serene.

ONE-MINUTE CHORES

Only have a minute for cleaning? No problem. This first set
of tips will give you some ideas for chores that take less
than a minute.
1. Dust One Thing
It only takes a minute to choose one thing and dust it. You can either use a
feather duster, a dust spray and a rag, or a dust wipe. Here are some things
you can dust quickly:
• TV screens
• Shelves
• Blinds
• Ceiling fans
• Air Vents
2. Change Vacuum Bag
It doesn’t take much time at all to change your vacuum bag, and it can
make your vacuum run more efficiently. A good tip is to take your
vacuum outside to change it so the dust from the bag doesn’t go back into
the room.
3. Clean a Mirror
A clean mirror makes a room look cleaner. If you don’t have glass cleaner
and paper towels, try vinegar and old newspaper. This is a lot less
expensive and it works just as well.
4. Change Towels
Fresh towels make a room smell great, whether they’re in the kitchen or
the bathroom. It takes less than a minute, and it freshens up the whole
room.
5. Change Trash Bags
Even if you don’t have time to take the trash all the way out, just taking
full bags out of the cans and replacing them with clean bags can help tidy
up when you only have a minute.
6. Sort Today’s Mail
Mail can really pile up if left alone. If you take 30 seconds every day to
organize that day’s mail, you’ll have a lot less clutter. Don’t be afraid to
throw away junk mail.
7. Treat a Stain
Got an extra minute? Treat that nasty stain that you noticed last week.
Here are some tips:
• Flush stains with water.
• Blot the stain with a dry cloth.
• Apply a mild cleaner and let set.
• Blot again.
8. Take Care of Plants
A minute is more than enough time to care for your favorite houseplants.
If they need water, fill a pitcher so you can water them all faster. Take a
pair of scissors with you to snip off dead vines or leaves.
9. Wipe Down Forgotten Areas
Grab a wet washcloth and quickly wipe down areas that might be
forgotten when cleaning. Areas like:
• Doorknobs
• Remote controls
• Light switches
• Handles
• Telephones
10. Sweep Entryways
Most entryways are small and take less than a minute to sweep. Grab your
broom and dustpan and you’ll be finished before you begin. You can even
cheat and sweep dust onto the carpet, then use the carpet-sweeper to clean
it up.
11. Shake out a Floor Mat
Floor mats are sometimes forgotten during cleaning. If you have an extra
minute, grab a mat or two and shake them out outside. This will reduce the
amount of dust in your home as well as keep those mats fresh and clean.
12. Collect Garbage in a Room
If you don’t have time to clean a whole room but want to make it look a
little bit better, clear out the garbage. Grab a trash bag or a waste paper
basket and start stuffing. You’ll find that this improves the look of a room
dramatically.

GOOD HABBITS TO START
As you start developing simple housecleaning habits, you’ll
notice that your work will get easier and easier. This next set of
tips will give you some great ideas of good habits to start.
13. Delegate
Housework can be a huge job. Learn to delegate. Make chore charts for
everyone in your house. Even small children can help pick up toys and
other things. As you learn that you don’t have to do it all, housework will
become much easier.
14. Fill the Sink
A good habit to start is filling your sink with hot soapy water every time
you start to cook. This way you can “clean as you go.” As you get done
with each pot or dish, wash it quickly. This makes clean-up a snap.
15. Spray the Oven
Time for take-out? If there’s a day when you’re not using your oven, give
it a quick spray of oven cleaner and forget about it. The next day, before
you turn on your oven, give it a quick wipe down. You’ll find that the
baked on stuff comes off much easier.
16. Have a Charity Box
It’s a good idea to keep a box or bag in your front closet that you put
things you don’t need anymore. This really helps get rid of clutter in your
home. When the box is full, simply drop it off at your local good will
store.
17. Rinse Your Plate
This may be a small tip, but it can help in big ways. If you simply make it
a habit to rinse your plate after dinner (and have all family members do the
same), it will make washing them a lot easier. No one likes trying to wash
dried food off of dishes.
18. Tackle the Small Jobs
Housework can be overwhelming. Learn to break it down and tackle the
smaller jobs first. As you do, each job will become easier. Also, if you
clean the small messes before they get big, it’ll be a lot easier to clean up.
19. Keep Cleaner in the Shower
A great shortcut for cleaning your tub and shower is to keep a bottle of
shower cleaner handy. After you take a bath or shower, spray it down.
You can take it a step further and keep a squeegee in it as well.
20. Fast Pick Up Before Bed
If you make it a habit to do a quick pick up before going to bed, it’ll really
help. You’ll find that it’s easier to wake up and feel good about the day if
even one room is clean.
21. Line Your Fridge
If you make it a habit to line your fridge shelves with paper towels, it’ll
make it a lot easier to clean. This will work especially well in the crispers,
as the paper towels will soak up any extra wetness.
22. Take a Trash Bag With You
As you leave the house, make it a habit to take the trash out. This is a
simple tip, but why make extra trips if you don’t need to? This is also a
great job to delegate to a teenager. They’re always coming and going
anyway.
KITCHEN
Your kitchen gets used every day. Without
maintaining small messes, you can have a big
cleaning job every day. This next set of tips will help
you keep your kitchen clean and manageable.
23. Microwave
Here’s a good shortcut to cleaning your microwave: Fill up a cup of water
and put it in there on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will
loosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away.
24. Baking Soda
Baking soda has many practical uses, especially in the kitchen. Here are a
few ideas:
• Put an open box in your fridge and freezer to eliminate odors
and bad tastes.
• Sprinkle some in the bottom of your trashcans.
• Sprinkle some down your drain and garbage disposal to
eliminate odors.
25. Fridge
Cleaning your fridge can be a big job, but here are a few tips to make it a
bit easier:
• Toss out any bad food.
• Start with wiping down the top shelves and work down.
• Baking soda and water make a great cleaner and wont leave
your fridge smelling like harsh cleanser.
• After you wipe out the crispers, line them with paper towels for
easier cleaning next time.
26. Washing Dishes
Washing dishes can really be overwhelming. Here are some tips to make
this grueling task a bit easier:
• Invest in a scrubber that you can put soap in the handle. This
way you can “wash as you go,” eliminating huge piles of dirty
dishes.
• Soak all dishes that have dried on food. This lets you use less
elbow grease.
• Wash in groups—silverware, glasses, bowls, plates, pots and
pans.
27. Wipe Down
After the dishes are done and put away, don’t forget the wipe-down. This
makes your kitchen have that extra clean look. When you’re wiping down,
don’t forget:
• Counter tops
• Stove
• Sink
• Faucets
• Cupboard doors
• Table
• Chairs
28. Sweep and Mop
The very last thing you need to clean in your kitchen is the floor. There are
lots of brooms and mops on the market these days. Make sure to use a
broom and mop that best fit the needs of your floor.
BATHROOM
Cleaning the bathroom is something that nobody likes
to do. Unfortunately, it needs to be done, not only to
make it look better, but to eliminate germs that can
cause illness. Below you’ll find a few tips to make
cleaning your bathroom more effective and easy.
29. Toilet
Cleaning the toilet is a grueling job, but fortunately, it can be done fast.
Here are a few steps to follow to get it done quickly:
• 1st—Pour some cleaner in the bowl to soak.
• 2nd—Wipe down the seat and outside of the bowl with an
antibacterial wipe or spray cleaner.
• 3rd—Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush.
• 4th—Wipe down everything again with a dry cloth to make it
shine.
30. Mirrors
Mirrors can be very tricky to clean because if you don’t have the right
tools, they can look worse than before you started. Make sure you use
glass cleaner (usually blue) or vinegar, and use paper towels or newspaper
to wipe them (not cloth as it will leave residue).
31. Bathtub
Bathtubs can be awkward to clean, because there are many hard-to-reach
places. Here are a few things that may help:
• Use a cleanser that will foam or bubble. This allows you to
“soak” your tub or shower, even if it’s a vertical wall.
• Shop around for a tub scrubber that fits your needs. Whether
it’s a long-handled one or an extra firm one, pick a scrubber
that will be easiest for you to use.
• As mentioned earlier, spraying the tub or shower down after
each use can make deep cleaning easier.
32. Wipe Down the Sink
Wiping down the sink and counter is easier if you first fill the sink with
hot soapy water. Keep dipping your washcloth or sponge into it until
everything is clean. Don’t forget to dry everything so it’ll really sparkle.
LIVING ROOM
The living room is usually the first thing that
visitors see when they come to your home. It’s
also the room that can get the messiest. This
next set of tips will help you keep your living
room clean and inviting.
33. Pick Up
First do a quick pick up. Here are some important points:
• Put everything in its place (remotes controls, magazines, etc.).
• Throw trash in the trash can.
• Put things that don’t belong into laundry baskets, so they’re
easier to put away later.
34. Dust
As mentioned earlier, dusting doesn’t take very long, but it can really help
make your living room look great. Here’s a list of things not to forget:
• Blinds
• Air Vents
• TV screens
• Shelves
• Ceiling fans
35. Vacuum
Vacuuming really finishes a clean room. Use your vacuum’s attachments
to make sure you get the hard to reach places. Don’t forget:
• Couch cushions
• Room edges
• Under the couch
• Curtains
• Window sills
BEDROOM
You spend almost half of your life in your bedroom, so
keeping it clean is important. Here are some tips to
keep your bedroom looking great:
36. Make the Bed
Making the bed will make any room cleaner. It doesn’t take very long, and
it really pulls the room together. It helps to have a thick, lightweight
comforter that can easily be thrown on without a lot of smoothing or
tucking. Pillows really make a bed look good as well.
37. Put Away Clothes
Put away all clothes. Whether they need to be folded and put in a dresser,
hung up, or put in the dirty clothes hamper, managing clothes is very
important.
38. Clean off Dresser
You dresser top can get cluttered very quickly. Make it a habit to clear it
off every time you clean your room, and it will get easier each time. It’s
also a good idea to wipe down your dresser with a damp cloth.
GENERAL SHORTCUTS
You’re almost there! This last set of tips will give you
additional shortcuts for cleaning the house. Some of them
are hardly conventional, but sometimes you just have to get
creative—especially when you’re in a hurry.
39. Fast Window Cleaning
Got a big window that needs to be cleaned super quick? Try only pulling
the blinds up halfway, and only cleaning the bottom half of the window.
As stated earlier, vinegar and newspaper work well in a pinch.
40. Carpet Sweeping
It helps to have a carpet sweeper or a cordless hand vacuum handy. This
way you don’t need to drag the big vacuum out every time your floor
needs a quick clean-up.
41. Pet Hair
Pet hair can be hard to control, especially on furniture. Here are a couple
of ideas for fast clean up:
• Ball up an old pair of pantyhose and rub them all over your
furniture—they’re really great at picking up pet hair.
• Buy a cheap lint roller (the kind with sticky tape) and roll it
over the furniture.
42. Do the Towel Shuffle
Who would have thought a house-cleaning tip would mean doing a dance?
If your floor needs a good mopping but you don’t have time, simply wet
two towels, put one under each foot, and “shuffle” them across the room.
You’ll find this quite effective as well as fun.
43. Cleaner Alternatives
Out of cleaners? Here are some things that you can use to clean instead of
store bought cleaners:
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
44. Laundry Baskets
Laundry baskets aren’t just for laundry anymore. You can get them at
almost any dollar store, and they can really speed up housework. Here are
some ideas:
• When cleaning a room, put all the things that don’t belong in that
room in a basket. Then put the baskets in the rooms that they go in.
• Use a basket to carry dishes from the dining area to the sink.
• Use baskets to separate magazines.
• Give each household member a basket. When cleaning, line up the
basket in the room you’re cleaning and put belongings in
corresponding baskets. Have each family member put away the
things in their basket.
45. Decorative Baskets
Decorative baskets are a great way to hide clutter. Take a trip to your local
dollar store and invest in some fancy baskets of all sizes. Use them to
organize. Here are some things you can use them for:
• Mail
• Magazines
• Couch pillows
• Remotes

47. Spray Dust Mop
No time for a full mopping? Try giving your floor a good spraying with
your favorite cleaner, then go over it with a mop. Depending on the
cleaner, you may need to then spray your floor again with just water, and
mop again to remove any residue.
48. Music
Every grueling task is easier when music is involved. Find yourself some
good music to clean to, and you’ll find that time goes by much faster. In
no time, the CD is over, and your house is clean.
49. Good Smells
A clean house may be the first thing people see as they come to visit, but
what are they smelling? An inviting smell in your home is just as
important as keeping it clean. Here are some things you can use:
• Spray air fresheners
• Candles
• Plug-in air fresheners
• Scented pine cones
• Scented oil lamps
• Potpourri
50. Make a Plan
Housework is a lot less overwhelming if you have a plan. If you divide
chores up into specific time blocks, or even days, they will be a lot easier
to tackle. Don’t forget to make fun chore charts for the kids.
51. Know When to Quit
With housework, there will always be something else to clean and
organize. It’s important to know when to quit. When wiping down a
cupboard door, resist the temptation to pull everything out of that
cupboard and reorganize; save that for another day.

5 Frugal Ideas for Cooking Black Beans

by Nicole Dean

If you have a family budget worked out, you know how hard it is to stick to it without having some real concrete plans and strategies to stretch your money as far as it will go. Usually, the first area we can squeeze a few extra dollars out of our wallets is on groceries. I’d like to introduce you to your new partner in your frugal endeavor, the black bean.

If you find yourself wandering aimlessly through the aisles of your grocery store, looking for something to make for dinner that won’t break your budget, take a detour over to the black bean display and check out the price. Considering that black beans are loaded with nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, and potassium, and they are high in fiber, and low in fat and sugar, they really offer a lot of bang for your buck. It’s obvious that black beans should be a staple in every household, frugal or not. So, let’s think up a few simple meals to create with your new best friend… the black bean.

1) Quick and Easy Beany Soup

You’ll need 1 can each of black beans, garbanzo beans, butter beans, and navy beans (although you really can use any kinds of beans). In a large pot, pour 2 tablespoons olive oil, add 1 cup chopped celery and 1 cup chopped onion. Cook until celery is a little tender. Now add 1 clove garlic, minced or crushed and cook for just a minute. Open and drain, but do not rinse, all four bean cans and pour into pot. Add 1 small can diced tomatoes and 1 small can chicken broth. Simmer slowly for about 20 minutes. It’s ready to eat.

2) Bountiful Bean Salad

You’ll be choosing your favorite canned beans for this salad, keeping in mind color and texture; favorites like black beans, butter beans, navy beans, kidney beans, waxed beans, and whatever else you like. Drain and rinse all the beans and put them in a large serving bowl. To the beans, add some sweet onion, or green onion including the tops, chopped celery, freshly chopped parsley, maybe some fresh rosemary, or whatever herb you like, and top it all with a little shake or two of a very good vinaigrette salad dressing, I use Paul Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette. You’ve got yourself a kid-friendly and nutritious salad.

3) Simple Black Beans and Taco Sauce

Alright, this one may appear a little strange at first, but my daughter actually sold me on its merits. Drain and rinse your black beans, making sure they’re drained well. Put your black beans into a bowl and top them with any favorite taco sauce, even those little leftover packets from take-out. Mix gently and enjoy! You just have to trust me on this one. Of course, you may also use any taco sauce you have in your refrigerator, or even a nice hot salsa will do. But, just a touch, not too much sauce. You want to just flavor your black beans. (Of course you can sprinkle some shredded cheese on top, too.)

4) Black Bean Cottage Cheese Salad

Quick and simple salads are sometimes the best. In a serving bowl, put about 1 cup of cottage cheese, sprinkle some salt over the top and add a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Now, drain and rinse a can of black beans, and spoon about 1/2 cup of the black beans over the cottage cheese. Chop up some celery and sprinkle over the top. You now have a snack or side salad that delicious and nutritious, loaded with protein, iron, calcium and fiber.

5) Quick Black Bean Burrito

If you have a few staples in your pantry you can whip up this simple burrito. You’ll need a flour or corn tortilla, either heated or not, that’s up to you. Drain and rinse your black beans, then start building your burrito however you want. I add black beans, some diced tomatoes, a little onion, lots of shredded cheddar cheese, a little sour cream, leftover rice, some chopped up pieces of chicken from last night, and whatever else I have to use up. Depending on how I feel that day, I go a little heavier on the black beans and lighter on the other stuff. Get your salsa or taco sauce ready and enjoy.

These recipes are just a few ways to use the wonderful, and versatile black bean. All five of these simple black bean dishes can be tweaked easily by you to show off your individual style and to become your own family favorites.

Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane mom and owner of ShowMomtheMoney.com – a fun and informative site to help moms achieve success working from home. She welcomes you to learn more ways to save money in her Frugal Moms section. Be sure to sign up for her free tutorial for work at home moms.

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