Senior Thursday
As we age, our lives and needs change. Our children move out of the house. They may even move out of state.
Suddenly, that house we needed to raise our family is too large for us. It's too large for occasional visits from the out-of-town grandchildren.
And it's too large to keep up as our health declines.
Now is the time to make the decision to downsize. Yes, your house may be manageable now. But what if a catastrophic illness hits you? Who will take care of the house then? Your children have their own jobs, lives and houses. Can your spouse do all the yard work? Or all the grocery shopping?
Start thinking now about what you really need in a house. This is a difficult decision, as there are many friends in the neighborhood, and you are comfortable with your surroundings.
Just keep in mind what is best for you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Organizing Your Research
Writer Wednesday
While writers write about what they love, they don't always write about what they know. This means they have to do research in order to make their writing believable and accurate. Whether it's the geographical location, the clothing of a different era, or the customs of a foreign country, if the facts aren't right, the reader will be disappointed and discouraged. The writing itself may be wonderful, but too many errors, and you will probably lose that reader for life.
The solution? Lots and lots of research. Research that you need to compile and save for future reference. So then the issue becomes--what to do with all this research.
• Any research you do for a project should be kept with that project. For example, you are writing an historical set in Turn of the Century New York. Everything that you research, from geography to architecture to transportation, should be kept in a file with your chapters and synopsis.
• Separate your notes by subject. Keep costume (men's, women's and children's) notes together. Keep culinary info together. Keep society notes together, etc.
• If you copy any information from a book, copy the title page also so you can identify the source.
• When you borrow a book from the library, write down the call number in addition to the title and author so you can easily find it again if you need it.
• When you handwrite notes, keep a running page for each subject. Make sure you identify the source for each note you take.
• You may be taking notes on a variety of subjects from each source, so they will be spread over a number of pages. Create a master file of your sources, identifying them by number. When you cite the source in your notes, you'll just need to write down the number rather than the title, author, ISBN, etc.
Next week: More on organizing your Research
While writers write about what they love, they don't always write about what they know. This means they have to do research in order to make their writing believable and accurate. Whether it's the geographical location, the clothing of a different era, or the customs of a foreign country, if the facts aren't right, the reader will be disappointed and discouraged. The writing itself may be wonderful, but too many errors, and you will probably lose that reader for life.
The solution? Lots and lots of research. Research that you need to compile and save for future reference. So then the issue becomes--what to do with all this research.
• Any research you do for a project should be kept with that project. For example, you are writing an historical set in Turn of the Century New York. Everything that you research, from geography to architecture to transportation, should be kept in a file with your chapters and synopsis.
• Separate your notes by subject. Keep costume (men's, women's and children's) notes together. Keep culinary info together. Keep society notes together, etc.
• If you copy any information from a book, copy the title page also so you can identify the source.
• When you borrow a book from the library, write down the call number in addition to the title and author so you can easily find it again if you need it.
• When you handwrite notes, keep a running page for each subject. Make sure you identify the source for each note you take.
• You may be taking notes on a variety of subjects from each source, so they will be spread over a number of pages. Create a master file of your sources, identifying them by number. When you cite the source in your notes, you'll just need to write down the number rather than the title, author, ISBN, etc.
Next week: More on organizing your Research
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Keep Like Items Together--The Kitchen
Tips for Tuesday
This is one of the basics of organizing tips--Keep like items together. But what does that mean? How can you implement this practice in your kitchen or your bath? Here are some tips for your kitchen.
• Keep all baking items togther--pans, cookie sheets, drying racks, etc.
• Keep all baking ingredients together--flour, sugar, baking soda and powder, extracts
• Categorize the food in your pantry--breakfast items, pastas, canned vegetables, fruits, soups
• Keep paper goods together--plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths
• Keep cooking and baking untensils separate from eating utensils.
• Keep dinner plates, bowls, and dessert plates together.
• Keep glasses and mugs together.
• Keep serving pieces together.
• Keep holiday and entertaining pieces apart and away from everyday dishes.
• Keep all plastic containers together with their lids handy.
• Keep wraps (plastic, foil, etc) together with baggies.
This is one of the basics of organizing tips--Keep like items together. But what does that mean? How can you implement this practice in your kitchen or your bath? Here are some tips for your kitchen.
• Keep all baking items togther--pans, cookie sheets, drying racks, etc.
• Keep all baking ingredients together--flour, sugar, baking soda and powder, extracts
• Categorize the food in your pantry--breakfast items, pastas, canned vegetables, fruits, soups
• Keep paper goods together--plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths
• Keep cooking and baking untensils separate from eating utensils.
• Keep dinner plates, bowls, and dessert plates together.
• Keep glasses and mugs together.
• Keep serving pieces together.
• Keep holiday and entertaining pieces apart and away from everyday dishes.
• Keep all plastic containers together with their lids handy.
• Keep wraps (plastic, foil, etc) together with baggies.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Holding a Successful Garage Sale
Moving on Mondays
Garage Sales can be a great way to earn some extra cash. But they can be a lot of work for the little bit of money you make. Here are some tips for making more money at your sale.
• Have some larger pieces as a draw.
• Have yours on the same day as a neighbor's, or hold a neighborhood sale.
• Advertise with signs (but check village ordinances for placement).
• Advertise on the internet.
• Don't have a sale on a holiday weekend when many people are out of town.
• Thursdays are the best days for drawing traffic.
• Don't close before your advertised times.
• There are always early birds. Be ready a half hour before the advertised time.
• Children's clothing and toys sell well.
• Price items low so they move.
• Price items clearly--either as a table price, or individually with stickers.
• Categorize your items into piles--kitchen, bath, toys, clothes, etc.
• Have someone help you. You don't want to lose a sale because you're busy with someone else.
• Sell drinks and snacks.
• Have some 'freebies' to give away with a sale. For example, those piles of little plastic toys can be a freebie with the purchase of a puzzle or game. Or 'Buy four books, get one free.'
Garage Sales can be a great way to earn some extra cash. But they can be a lot of work for the little bit of money you make. Here are some tips for making more money at your sale.
• Have some larger pieces as a draw.
• Have yours on the same day as a neighbor's, or hold a neighborhood sale.
• Advertise with signs (but check village ordinances for placement).
• Advertise on the internet.
• Don't have a sale on a holiday weekend when many people are out of town.
• Thursdays are the best days for drawing traffic.
• Don't close before your advertised times.
• There are always early birds. Be ready a half hour before the advertised time.
• Children's clothing and toys sell well.
• Price items low so they move.
• Price items clearly--either as a table price, or individually with stickers.
• Categorize your items into piles--kitchen, bath, toys, clothes, etc.
• Have someone help you. You don't want to lose a sale because you're busy with someone else.
• Sell drinks and snacks.
• Have some 'freebies' to give away with a sale. For example, those piles of little plastic toys can be a freebie with the purchase of a puzzle or game. Or 'Buy four books, get one free.'
Friday, June 17, 2011
Use Less to Save More
Frugal Friday
The best part about being organized is that you will need less in your home. You will need to buy less because you will have learned to live with less.
Here are some ways you can save money by using less in your laundry room:
• Cut dryer softener sheets in half before tossing them in with clothes.
• Use slightly less than the recommended amount of liquid detergent in your washing machine. You will still get the same results.
• Wash one larger load rather then several small ones if the fabrics can be laundered together. This will save water and electricity.
• Dry clothes only half way, then hang them to air dry the rest of the way.
• Clip pairs of socks together so you don't lose any.
• Pay careful attention to washing instructions so you don't ruin your clothes.
• Wash delicates in a pillow case tied at the end.
• Wash clothes that tend to pill inside out to prevent this from happening.
The best part about being organized is that you will need less in your home. You will need to buy less because you will have learned to live with less.
Here are some ways you can save money by using less in your laundry room:
• Cut dryer softener sheets in half before tossing them in with clothes.
• Use slightly less than the recommended amount of liquid detergent in your washing machine. You will still get the same results.
• Wash one larger load rather then several small ones if the fabrics can be laundered together. This will save water and electricity.
• Dry clothes only half way, then hang them to air dry the rest of the way.
• Clip pairs of socks together so you don't lose any.
• Pay careful attention to washing instructions so you don't ruin your clothes.
• Wash delicates in a pillow case tied at the end.
• Wash clothes that tend to pill inside out to prevent this from happening.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Places to Donate Clothes
Senior Thursday
Last week, we had you sort through your closet and decide which of your work clothes you didn't need in your retirement years. But what do you do with that pile?
You can:
1. Donate them to your favorite charity. There are several that pick up from your front door, or many have donation drop-off sites. These include The Salvation Army, The Cancer Federation, Goodwill, Amvets and Habitat for Humanity.
2. Donate them to a Women's shelter or to a thrift store supporting women's shelters. This would include places such as your local YWCA and Home of the Sparrow.
3. Donate them to a charity that puts women back in the work force such as Dress for Success.
4. Take them to a local consignment shop. Most consignment shops will set up an appointment with you to go through your clothes. They only take certain garments at certain times of the year, and they have to be in excellent condition. If they do not sell your items after a certain period of time, you can take them back or the store will donate them to a local charity.
5. Sell them online. If you have high-end label clothes, they sell well on sites such as eBay and Craig's List. This takes time and costs money. Determine beforehand if the time you spend will be worth it.
6. Distribute them among family members and friends.
7. If they are in poor condition, throw them away.
Last week, we had you sort through your closet and decide which of your work clothes you didn't need in your retirement years. But what do you do with that pile?
You can:
1. Donate them to your favorite charity. There are several that pick up from your front door, or many have donation drop-off sites. These include The Salvation Army, The Cancer Federation, Goodwill, Amvets and Habitat for Humanity.
2. Donate them to a Women's shelter or to a thrift store supporting women's shelters. This would include places such as your local YWCA and Home of the Sparrow.
3. Donate them to a charity that puts women back in the work force such as Dress for Success.
4. Take them to a local consignment shop. Most consignment shops will set up an appointment with you to go through your clothes. They only take certain garments at certain times of the year, and they have to be in excellent condition. If they do not sell your items after a certain period of time, you can take them back or the store will donate them to a local charity.
5. Sell them online. If you have high-end label clothes, they sell well on sites such as eBay and Craig's List. This takes time and costs money. Determine beforehand if the time you spend will be worth it.
6. Distribute them among family members and friends.
7. If they are in poor condition, throw them away.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Keeping Track of Research
Writer Wednesday
As a writer , you know the importance of keeping track of your research. You may spend hours looking through books or surfing the internet on a particular subject. Then, when it's time to use that information in your current writing project, you need to get your fingers on it immediately. You don't want to spend another two hours looking for the notes you took or the copies you made. Thus, having organized files for your research is imperative.
Here are some basic tips to start:
1. Create a new folder, binder or file box for each project you are working on. Small projects such as magazine articles will have less notes than a larger project.
2. Save all work related to a project within that file. This would include copies you made from research books, handwritten notes you take from books or workshops, or articles you print from the internet. You should also place in there any project outlines, photos or maps associated with the project. For example, if you are writing a thriller set in Paris, you will have maps of the city streets, landmarks and transportation system.
3. For larger projects, create folders within folders. If you are writing an historical novel set in Victorian England, you will need to research clothing, food, geography, language, entertainment, carriages, etc.. Each of these should have it's own folder or section in a binder so it's easy to locate when you need it. For example, if a character is a student at Eton, you will need to know where the school is, what holidays they had, what they wore, and what they were taught--everything you need to make the book as authentic as possible.
As a writer , you know the importance of keeping track of your research. You may spend hours looking through books or surfing the internet on a particular subject. Then, when it's time to use that information in your current writing project, you need to get your fingers on it immediately. You don't want to spend another two hours looking for the notes you took or the copies you made. Thus, having organized files for your research is imperative.
Here are some basic tips to start:
1. Create a new folder, binder or file box for each project you are working on. Small projects such as magazine articles will have less notes than a larger project.
2. Save all work related to a project within that file. This would include copies you made from research books, handwritten notes you take from books or workshops, or articles you print from the internet. You should also place in there any project outlines, photos or maps associated with the project. For example, if you are writing a thriller set in Paris, you will have maps of the city streets, landmarks and transportation system.
3. For larger projects, create folders within folders. If you are writing an historical novel set in Victorian England, you will need to research clothing, food, geography, language, entertainment, carriages, etc.. Each of these should have it's own folder or section in a binder so it's easy to locate when you need it. For example, if a character is a student at Eton, you will need to know where the school is, what holidays they had, what they wore, and what they were taught--everything you need to make the book as authentic as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)