Canning at Home

Canning Season is in full swing and folks all over the country are preparing to preserve pickles, relish, jams and tomato sauces at home in the comfort of their kitchens.  I remember my family canning when I was young and it was such an exciting time.  Nothing tastes better on a cool winter morning than some hot cocoa and a piece of toast topped with some fresh homemade jam.

Whether you are an experienced Canner or just a beginner, canning is a great way to take full advantage of the fruits and vegetables you have worked so hard to grow all year long.  Canning produces wonderful snacks, side dishes and even condiments that can be enjoyed for several months after the harvest season is over.

We have put together a fun program this year that includes all the canning supplies, canning tools and recipe books and cards you need for a successful canning season.  We have canning tips, a canning calendar and some yummy canning recipes that will give you a head start.  Also, don’t forget to register for our book giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Canning for a New Generation.

We’d love to hear some of your favorite canning recipes and tips too.

Happy Canning!

-Mrs. O

No Comments July 29, 2010 on 5:09 pm | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Canning, Eco-Friendly, Featured Guests, Featured Products, Holidays, Organization, Parties/Entertaining, Recipes, Special Events

Packing a Lunch for a Pre-Schooler

I remember the tears rolling down my face as I packed my children’s lunches for the 1st day of school. No, I think it was more like sobbing now that I think of it. Somehow I made it through and don’t worry, I know you will survive too.

Packing a lunch that your child will love is easy, once you get it down to what they like to eat and what to have in the refrigerator. Here’s one of my famous lunch recipes for you to try this back to school season:

Peanut Butter + Banana Sushi
By Deborah Shearer

Ingredients:
1-2 Tbl. Peanut Butter
1 Whole Bananna
2 flour tortillas

Directions:
Spread your favorite smooth peanut butter evenly over the tortillas. Lay ½ of the whole banana in the middle of each. Carefully roll up the tortilla tightly around the banana, forming a ‘roll’. Place seam side down and slice into 1” pieces with a sharp paring knife. These are great made the night before and packed for the next day’s school lunch.

Optional: Drizzle with honey, top with raisins and sprinkle with cinnamon for lunches at home or a family snack.

Add their favorite juice box, some veggies with dipping sauce in a fun container and you have a lunch they will love to eat.  Keep everything fresh and clean by putting it in a lunch box or insulated lunch tote and you’re little one is set for another day of a yummy pre-school lunch.

Happy Lunch Making!

-Mrs. O

No Comments July 27, 2010 on 5:04 pm | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Back to School, Featured Products, Kids Storage, NEAT finds, Organization, Recipes, Special Events

Back to School Facebook Party Tonight!

Come join us tonight for the Organize.com Back to School Facebook Party!  We’ll be sharing tips, ideas and solutions to organize a dorm room & giving away $1,000 in prizes!!  The party starts at 6pm (PST), ends at 8pm and will be held on the Organize.com Facebook page. Register for the party and participate in the discussion for your chance to win up to $1000 in Prizes including a $500 Back to School Grand Prize Pack!

If you are new to Facebook or virtual parties in general, we’ve put together some tips that will help you get the most out of your first party.  It’s free to register and participate so pour a cup of coffee (maybe some decaf) and we’ll see you there.

Happy Back to School Organizing!

-Mrs. O

1 Comment July 21, 2010 on 4:26 pm | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Back to Campus, Back to School, College, Dorm, Facebook, Featured Products, Giveaway, Organization, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events

Have you heard the word? Teacher Registry & Discount at Organize.com!

At Organize.com we believe teachers change the world – one student at a time and we are proud to support them. We are on a mission to to help you organize your classroom and say thank you for you hard work and dedication to our children.

We now offer:
-Teacher Registry -Create Your Own Personal Teacher’s Wish List.
-Teacher Discount Program -15% off to our fabulous Teachers!!
-We are also offering tons of tips for teachers to get organized!
-Know a teacher or 2? Help us Share the Love and spread the word!

If you haven’t already, please check out our Back To Campus 2010. Find your style and personality when shopping for College, check out the Dorm Store for all your basics dorm needs and print out our Dorm Checklist for all your college must have’s.  We are really excited to offer Back to School for Pre-school and K-8, High School and of course – Locker Organization.

I’ll be looking forward to your comments and ideas – so let us hear from you and don’t forget about our Back to School Facebook Party on this Wednesday from 6-8pm PST. We’re giving away $1000 in prizes and having lots of fun; the best part is, it’s free to participate.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

No Comments July 19, 2010 on 6:27 pm | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Back to Campus, Back to School, College, Contest, Facebook, Featured Products, Organization, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events

Back to School

Before you know it, College students will be heading off to school and the little ones will be heading back to class. That’s right, Back to School season is here and we’ve got some exciting new programs I can’t wait to tell you about. There’s so much going on at Organize.com this season that I’ll have to split it up into 2 posts.

Today’s theme: Back to Campus – College

I absolutely love, love, love our College Back to School program this year.  Our theme is “Find the Style that Fits You” where we created sections based on 8 unique styles of students that include The Fashionista, The Designer, The Urbanite, Americana, Tutti Fruitti, The Hipster, The Trainer, and The Musician.

No matter what style you choose, moving into a dorm for the first time can be a little overwhelming. The good news is, we’re here to help! We’ve put together a Dorm Checklist that will help you determine what you will need to bring with you for your first year in the dorms. The Dorm Store is your resource for all the items on your shopping list and features everything from Bath, Kitchen and Laundry products, to Closet and Dorm Storage options, to Dorm Accents and Study organization.

The Dorm Registry is a great way to let your friends and family know what items you want for the upcoming school year. The best part is, you can do all your Back to Campus shopping in the summertime and have all your items shipped right to your dorm when you arrive on campus; stress free!  While you are shopping around, check out our Back to Campus Bargains section where we feature budget friendly products under $5, $10 and $20.

As much as we’d love to carry everything you need for dorm living, we realize there are a few items that you just won’t be able to find at Organize.com.  Our 25 Things You Need That We Don’t Have list has been updated this year and is a great tool to help you find the items you won’t want to leave home without.

Before you go, sign up for our $2500 Dream Dorm Makeover Sweepstakes where we’ll be giving out Back to Campus shopping sprees to 9 lucky winners.  The grand prize is a $1000 Dream Dorm Makeover shopping spree to Organize.com!

Stay tuned for more Back to School fun!

-Mrs. O

No Comments July 14, 2010 on 10:03 am | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Back to Campus, Back to School, College, Contest, Dorm, Dorm Registry, Featured Products, Gift Ideas, Giveaway, Holidays, Organization, Special Events

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4^th of July!

Like any proud American, we plan to celebrate our long weekend with a cold something in one hand and grilling tools in the other.  To show our true patriotic colors, we kicked off the holiday weekend at Organize.com with true American spirit and all of us in red, white and blue.

Rita Youmans (an 11 ½ year Organize.commer!) really showed her spirit with her very own handmade picnic table. It was filled with burgers and rolls with all the ‘fixings’, fruits and veggies, set with plates napkins and cutlery. WOW Rita – you really outdid yourself! Honorable mention goes to Liz Ibarra, Miguel Espinoza, and Carol Clarke. Amongst us were American cowboys, cowgirls and patriots of all kinds.

It was a great day at Organize and fun for all of us to show our spirit as proud Americans. Our warehouse was ‘decked’ by our famous warehouse manager, Jeremy Spencer. Well, he’s not really famous – we just think he is!

Speaking of grilling and red, white and blue, my favorite’s this season are our vintage drink tubs to keep those bottles cold and our mesh chef’s pan for grilling up your favorite summer veggies. Try some Japanese eggplant, zucchini, red and green peppers, sliced red onions and mushrooms with some olive oil, fresh garlic, basil, salt and pepper and have you got a great side dish!

I really am proud to be American!

Happy 4^th to everyone.

Mrs. O

2 Comments July 2, 2010 on 4:07 pm | In 4th of July, About Mrs. Organized, All, Facebook, Featured Guests, Featured Products, Fourth of July, Holidays, Parties/Entertaining, Special Events

Organize.com In Parents Magazine

I just received my July issue of Parents Magazine and I had to share this great idea that they came up with for keeping summer “playthings” organized in the yard.

On Page 101 they have a feature called Tidy Outdoor Toys where Associate Lifestyle Editor Taryn Mohrman (Photo, Aimee Herring; Stylist, Jen Everett),  offers great tips on summer organization. Tips include categories like,  Sort the Small Stuff, Put It Out to Dry, Round Up Balls, Park Your Ride, and Hang It Up.  Each segment includes fun, money-saving ways to stay organized.

One of the organizing products they suggested for gathering up pool toys, suntan lotions, kids’ sunglasses, etc is our 12 Pocket Shoe Organizer.  What a fun way to use this product.  I absolutely LOVE it!

Thanks again to all the great folks at Parents Magazine; keep the great ideas coming.

Happy Summer Organizing!

-Mrs. O

No Comments July 1, 2010 on 6:46 pm | In About Mrs. Organized, All, Featured Products, Kids Storage, Organization, Special Events, Spring Cleaning