Blog - Graceful Order

The Graceful Refrigerator

January 28, 2014 · by Maria · 12 Comments

Let us begin our 2014 organizing series with the kitchen. More specifically, the refrigerator.

I don’t know about you, but after the holidays my refrigerator is a mess. During the holidays, I purchase food items that are either for Thanksgiving, Christmas breakfast and other holiday get togethers. All these items, in addition to our regular shopping list, culminate in a messy refrigerator.

January is the perfect time to completely empty the refrigerator and start fresh!

The first thing you want to do is remove all sauces and dressings and place them on the counter. This is a good opportunity to look at all the dates and toss out all the expired items. Also, you may have opened a container of ricotta or sour cream, but you only needed half a cup…throw out what has since spoiled.

Once you have the bottles that you are keeping, wipe them clean and set aside.

Next, let’s remove the refrigerator shelves and bins (if they are removable) and soak them in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of warm water. You can use the same solution to wipe down the rest of the refrigerator. Clean, dry and put all the bins back in place.

I use refrigerator coasters from “Fridge Coaster” and I had not changed them out in almost a year. I used this opportunity to pick out a new set. I love the pop of color that they add to the fridge!

This is also a good time to reposition your shelves to better suit your needs. I adjust them fairly often to fit the products I buy.

Start placing all the items back in the refrigerator. Designate a spot for everything.

And the side bins…

I keep clear OXO containers (without the lids) inside the pull out bins so that all the garlic and onion skins that collect at the bottom, can be easily cleaned up. Also, any vegetable that has gone bad doesn’t seep all over my clean bin.

Lastly, the deli drawer. My kids favorite and the only one that my toddler can reach.

I have clear bins in here as well to keep like-items in place. Also, I have a bin for oily items like pesto and other spreads, that would otherwise leave oily circles inside the refrigerator. I keep a larger clear bin in the top shelf for defrosting items.

You can find some bins in my amazon shop under “Refrigerator Bin” and Fridge Bin. You can also find them at Bed Bath and Beyond. Sometimes, even Homegoods will have a few. Just make sure that you purchase bins that are refrigerator safe so that they don’t crack.

Having a clean and organized refrigerator has more advantages than just being visually appealing. If you always put your butter in the same spot, then you know when you are out. Even grocery shopping gets easier.

Stay tuned next week as we move on to the rest of the kitchen, and eventually the whole house!

Happy Organizing!

Maria

Enjoying the Better Part

January 17, 2014 · by Maria · 4 Comments

Let me be the first blogger to welcome you to 2014! Ok, maybe I am the last.

I have a perfect excuse though. My husband surprised me with an apple computer for Christmas. I was so excited to use it, I disconnected my old computer and connected the new shiny silver one. I sat down to start blogging and then…I had no idea how to even open the internet browser.

Of course, it took me ~~20 minutes~~ 2 minutes to figure out how to open the browser but the rest was a new world for me. Basically, I have spent the last week getting acquainted with this computer and I know that I will love it, once I know how to use it.

About the blog…

I want to do something different this year with the blog. I want to go room by room, so that we can organize our entire home together. I didn’t want it to be a “challenge” where you feel pressure to keep up. We have enough pressure from other venues. Not here. Nothing “graceful” about pressure. I just want you to go at your pace and be inspired to start somewhere. In a few days, we will start with the kitchen and then move into the rest of the home.

2014! My biggest resolution this year is to be Present. I don’t want to be in a hamster wheel that keeps me from one event to the next, because I want to enjoy today.

I have two boys that still want to share every aspect of their days with me and I want to cherish that. I want to be more organized so that I can be more spontaneous. I want an organized kitchen so that I can be inspired to bake cookies and get flour everywhere with the boys. I want an organized closet so that I can put things away quickly and I can get back to the things that matter. I want more order so that I can enjoy the disorder. Does that make any sense?

Of course, this means that I have to say “no” a lot more than I am used to because I am, without a doubt, a people pleaser. I want to be liked, loved. Don’t we all want that? But when we say “yes” to too many things, we indirectly say “no” to others. I don’t want to say “no” to spending time with the boys, with my husband. I don’t want to say no to spending time with the Lord and even having some alone time.

And of course, spending time with my apple computer. I seriously need to YouTube some tutorials (as soon as I find the YouTube icon).

So my resolution is simple but difficult for me to execute. I want my focus to be on what I am saying “yes” to. I intend to make memories. I intend to take less pictures. Is that a shocker? It’s kind of crazy because I really see the importance of pictures, but I feel that I stay behind the camera way too much. I want to create the moments and not worry as much about documenting them. Here is one moment I had to document last week. The boys playing at the park and my little one, who insisted on wearing his dino pajamas at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

I want to let go of guilt. I always feel like I am not doing enough. For example, I scrapbook and I am always behind…like years behind. Will the kids not know how much I love them if I don’t have pictures of every missing tooth and a journal entry about it? Think about it. I have like 1 album for my entire childhood…zero journaling…and I feel loved.

We always notice people who seem to do more than us. I recently shared with a friend something that I read and impacted me. “We compare our behind-the-scenes with others’ highlight reel”. No one has it all. We all fall short somewhere. So you didn’t bake cookies with your kids this past Christmas. So what? There were lots of things that you did do. So you didn’t work out as much as you would have liked last year. Don’t let that disappointment keep you from believing in yourself this year.

One of my favorite bible stories is about Martha and Mary. Jesus and his disciples stay at Martha’s home and she is consumed by working on being a good hostess while Mary (her sister) sits at Jesus feet listening to what he was saying. Martha eventually complains that Mary is not helping her by saying “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” and Jesus replies…“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

When I first read that scripture I didn’t understand because I tend to be such a doer. I used to think that her sister should help her and that way she wouldn’t be so stressed out. But I was wrong. This is not a story about how being busy is bad. This is a story about priorities. Martha is not wrong for serving food, she is not wrong for being a good hostess, she is wrong for being worried and upset over trivial things. Her priority at that moment was incorrect.

If you have a choice between listening to words that feed your soul and arranging food perfectly on a platter….well…Mary certainly chose the better part.

So I want to remind myself to be more like Mary.

I will not eliminate taking pictures, or journaling, scrapbooking, cooking big meals or any other thoughtful thing that I do for my family and friends to show love. I do want to eliminate the guilt. The little voice that always says that I am not doing enough. I will never be able to do it all, all the time.

I want to put the serving platter down and sit down and listen. I want to be present. I want to choose the better part.

And I wish the same for you!

Maria

A New Year

December 30, 2013 · by Maria · 4 Comments

Almost 2014. Wow!

The older we get, the faster time seems to pass. Or maybe we are just more aware of the value of time?

Either way, it’s a new year. New goals, dreams and opportunities to make memories.

In our family we start the year by eating together. We end the year the same way…

I see a trend.

January 1st we always make the same meal. Lentil soup and Spanish omelets. They don’t seem to go together but somehow they work. Spanish omelets are hearty and can stand alone. Sometimes we serve it with a salad. Lentil soup can also stand alone or you can serve white rice as a side.

Since we purchase a Ham for Christmas Morning, I freeze the bone with some of the ham and I use it for my soup days later. Here is the lentil soup. Enough to feed the entire neighborhood that I live in.

Or just enough for my family.

I usually make some sort of white cake as a dessert. Either coconut cake or carrot cake. This year it’s carrot cake.

As a refreshment, we serve white sangria.

Basically, this is just another excuse to get everyone together. We are all so busy that if we don’t schedule time for family, we don’t see each other. It is important to make an effort, make traditions, make memories…

Start the year with family.

This year let’s spend more time with family. Let’s extend more grace to others. Let’s add that to the resolution list.

Happy 2014!

Maria

Breakfast Scones

December 24, 2013 · by Maria · 2 Comments

I wanted to take the time to thank you all for your support of Graceful Order and for your comments, emails, suggestions…all of your time!

This blog has been so much more fun than I ever imagined and I look forward to a new year with new ideas to share with all of you!

Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy this recipe for Cranberry Scones. The recipe is from Ina Garten and I have modified it very little by adding extra sugar. These scones are not super sweet, just sweet enough.

I usually make the dough ahead of time, I cut the scones and then freeze them in a single layer with instructions on the bag on how to bake them. I make the drizzle right before I bake them.

Enjoy!

4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar, plus additional for sprinkling
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 cup dried cranberries
1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water or milk, for egg wash
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
4 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 4 cups of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough will look lumpy! Combine the dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of flour, add to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn’t stick. Flour a 3-inch round plain or fluted cutter and cut circles of dough. Place the scones on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Collect the scraps neatly, roll them out, and cut more circles (or triangles).

Brush the tops of the scones with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Allow the scones to cool for 15 minutes and then whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice, and drizzle over the scones. Enjoy!

Love you all!

Maria

Organizing Christmas Gifts

December 19, 2013 · by Maria · 3 Comments

I love everything about the holidays.

Except the long lines at the market, in the department stores and the post office.

I don’t know what it is about me and waiting in line. I realize that no one likes waiting in line but…I could have a shopping cart full to the brim and when I see that there is a long line for checkout…I start to ask myself if I really need anything in the cart (besides my toddler). 🙂 Does this ever happen to you?

Now back to what I love. Back to the merriness of Christmas. Back to the beauty of giving.

Back to how to avoid lines. I avoid the lines by shopping way ahead of time and also shopping online.

I never shop during black Friday unless it is online. With my fear of lines and crazy mobs at the mall, there is no way that I am leaving the house that day. Visions of not finding a parking space and women fighting over the last special edition Barbie doll for their little girls, keep me home, with my doors locked.

I am all about saving money but I find that the deals online match most of the deals at the store and even if I get an extra 5% off on black Friday, it’s just not worth it to me. I need a cup of lavender chamomile just thinking about it.

Whether you are courageous enough to shop black Friday or just shop another time…have you noticed that there is always that ONE gift that drives you back to the mall during Christmas week?

To avoid forgetting that one gift, I started keeping a Christmas list years ago that keeps me on track for purchases and holiday spending. I created a similar list for all of you to use.

I do realize that I should have thought of this a couple of weeks ago but I have been wrapping gifts like a madwoman and I figured it would still be useful. You can either use it to check off the gifts that you already purchased and/or see what you still need to buy.

Here is the list:

” Graceful Order Christmas Gift List Copy ”

I hope the list will be helpful!

I am excited about our Christmas breakfast and in a couple of days I will share with you my recipe for Cranberry Scones, so stay tuned!

Until then…Happy Wrapping!

Maria