The Best One Pot Fall Meal

Oct 17th, 2010

I made the BEST one pot fall meal of the century – well maybe the best this month.  It was fast and delicious.  Here’s how I made it (without a recipe so you’ll have to use your intuition like I did).  I’ll give a few guidelines to get you close.

Indian Lentils, Quinoa and Vegetables

5-6 cups water to simmer the following:

• 1 cup orange lentils
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• Several shakes of onion flakes (I was too lazy to peel and sauté an onion)

After about 15 minutes of simmering I added the following for another 15 minutes:

• 1.5 cups of chopped yellow summer squash
• 1.5 cups of chopped zucchini squash

Seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• a few shakes of hot pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup Madras simmer sauce (Seeds of Change Brand)
• 1 tablespoon ginger/garlic paste (again too lazy to make my own) 

So in about 30 minutes I had a fabulous meal with leftovers for the week and only one pot and one knife to wash.  The cost was probably $3.00 for several meals.

Day 2 Leftovers with a Side of Grilled Fresh Pears

I decided to “grill” some fresh pears in my George Foreman grill (picked up for free during the KU Dumpster Diving extravaganza that occurs every year after school lets out and students abandon everything they can’t strap to their backs or put in their cars).

The grilled pears were so s-w-e-e-t and a great accompaniment to the spicy Indian lentils and quinoa.

Is it Time to Get Serious about Conquering Clutter?

Oct 10th, 2010

How would you like to finally conquer clutter…and be more Zen in 2010?  I can help you get serious about doing it!  Seriously, I don’t think there’s anybody who can help you do this more than I can.  I’ve been there, done that.  And I’m serious about helping anyone else who is serious.

I’ve developed a 4-part teleclass series that will help you get there. It’s called Zen in 2010:  Conquer Clutter to Increase the Hum in Your Life

If you have better things to do than push clutter around for the rest of your life, you may be interested in my new Zen in 2010 teleclass series.

The series will include my 4-Step Zen Process to tackle any cluttered or disorganized spaces.  You will also be invited to participate in discussions, self-reflection exercises, and whatever else it takes to help you be successful. The four weekly topics cover the most critical topics: indoor spaces, outdoor spaces, nooks & crannies, and all things paper.

You can will also participate in several “Zen Days and Nights”  for help getting off the dime and getting things done (and who doesn’t need help with that!) Find out what these cool calls are about and how they can help you be more Zen in 2010: www.cherylmillerville.com/zen

And check out the bonuses you get when you sign up to participate including the popular Harmonious Home ebook. This ebook takes you step by step through decluttering your bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom so you can live more harmoniously and succeed with your personal self-care goals. This ebook alone will take you half way to being more Zen in 2010. The class experiences will take you the rest of the way. The program is designed to fully support you (and make it fun!) as you take steps to increase the hum in your life.

You don’t have to be a task master to be successful in this program.  You just need to keep taking steps closer to your ideal life and I’ll help you with that in any way that I can.   I’m there for you for four full “Zen” weeks. When you start now (October 14), you won’t have to put conquering clutter on your 2011 New Year’s Resolution list because you’ll already be on the path. The program is designed to make sure of that. Get the full scoop here: http://www.cherylmillerville.com/zen/

If money is tight, I just added two payment options (2 monthly payments, or 4 weekly payments).  Hope that helps ease the budget!

How Presentable is Your Home…if something were to happen to you?

Oct 9th, 2010

Do you ever think about others coming into your home if something happened to you? And what they would think about how you’re managing your life? Would you be ready to have them step into your life and your home?

I thought about this scenario this week after I was diagnosed with skin cancer. Even though it’s not life threatening, it was a wake up call. If somebody had to step into my life to take care of me and my little domain, would everything be in order? Would they be able to find the important papers they need? Would they feel comfortable in my space? Would I be comfortable having them in my space?

I would not be horrified or embarrassed, but I could be more comfortable and my place could be more ship shape. So every week when I show up to the Zen in 2010 teleclass to Conquer Clutter and Increase the Hum in Your Life, I’ll be sharing how I’m doing with my Zen in 2010 process. I’ll be kicking it into high gear. It’s going to be a singular focus for me. I will get it done! I know you’ll find it inspiring because when I work on my own space, only good stuff comes of it. I get clues about how to help you do it too. I channel decluttering intelligence that will translate into benefits for you-–my beloved village people. When you’re in my orbit, I shine as brightly as I can for you. Let’s conquer this clutter thing.

So if you’re still on the fence about whether you’ll join me in this life-changing series, don’t delay. It starts this week Thursday and you’ll want to be one of the people who makes major leaps (mentally, emotionally, and physically) to conquer clutter.

And if money is all that’s stopping you, I’m willing to offer you an option to divide the payments up – so that it will work for you. Just email me with your preference (maybe one payment in October and the second payment in November—two post-dated checks). If you think some other option would work better for you, let me know. And if you’d like to pay the full thing now, go for it! I aim to please.

So visit this link and make a decision: http://www.cherylmillerville.com/zen. Are you in? Hope so.

Let’s get started on creating a space that you feel comfortable inviting others into.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat?

Oct 4th, 2010

Speaking of unintentional collections, this is a great post from Lena West at Lipsticking.com (it involves a gift to readers worth $97)

I’ve been thinkin’…good marketing makes it really easy to buy.

Especially impulse purchases like gum, tic tacs, mini-eyeglass repair kits, portable sewing kits, and for me, soap. Yes, soap…as in bars of soap.

I’m about to share something I’ve never really shared with many people: I’m addicted to soap -  specifically organic soap. I have coveted suppliers and preferred soap vendors. When I have a bad day, the first thing I do is crack open a fresh bar of soap, it always makes me feel better. Hey, some people head for chocolate, I head for soap.

I’m convinced this soap thing is an addiction. When I see an all-natural bar of soap, I’m completely taken in. Provided I like the smell, I want to use it right away, and in many cases I do.

For the rest of the story . . . visit Lena at Lipsticking.

I Feel Like a Pioneer Woman

Oct 2nd, 2010

Warning to vegetarians – this post involves a roasted chicken.

With the cooler weather I have been baking, roasting, and stewing more.  After baking a whole chicken and eating it for a couple of days, I peeled everything off the bone and made chicken noodle (vegetable) soup. 

The pioneer part comes in here – I boiled the carcass and  used that for the soup broth.  How many people do that any more? Many Kansans and other Midwesterner’s do.   My mom (a Kansan) made us do that when we were kids.  We hated it because we burned our fingers.  Why we didn’t let it cool…I have no idea.  As an adult, I’ve been happy I learned that cooking skill.  Waste not, want not.

The pioneer woman in me feels good that I’m using up every drop of food/nutrients.  In the “good old days,” people didn’t waste food like we do now.  So I am feeling a bit virtuous and happy to have a lovely soup for Sunday.

More on Unintentional Collections

Oct 2nd, 2010

How did I get here – I didn’t intend to be a plastic food tub collector.

Last Thursday I hosted a teleclass on How to Be More Zen in 2010.  We discussed ways we unintentionally collect items that soon become clutter that chokes us out of our free and open spaces.  Before we know it we’re living in a tiny space and the clutter has taken up residence in the rest of the space.

Most everybody collects something, usually without intentionally meaning to collect it.  I call this phenomenon the “accidental collector.”  One day you just ask yourself:  What am I going to do with one too many bottles of hotel shampoo, belts or vases or shoes or Tupperware, pens, t-shirts, pillows, jewelry, ball caps, dishes, pocket knives, packs of greeting cards, National Geographic since 1970, or People Magazine. loose change, purses, keys, CDs, DVDs, books and magazines, makeup, craft supplies, candles, incense, journals, beauty products, perfume, tools, reading glasses, souvenirs, sweaters, fitness equipment, umbrellas, gift bags, grocery bags, plastic containers, remote controls, supplements, take out menus, condiments, pacs-o-catsup, tea, tea pots, tea balls, mugs, phones, rubber bands, twisty ties, plastic bags, software, cards and letters, playing cards, batteries, picture frames, lampshades, spices, salad dressings … pant pant.

If you’re a clutter collector, you probably started out thinking you were doing something good.  But then didn’t put the brakes on your collection.  One example from the teleclass last Thursday was a man who shops sales and unintentionally collected 10 tubes of toothpaste.  Several tubes expired before he was able to use them, so the good idea to shop the sales did a U-turn and the tooth paste was wasted.  Have you noticed that too much of a good thing always has a bad outcome?

Start the clutter cure: 

Take a look at why you’ve collected THAT particular item.  With introspection, you may be able to get clear on what that collection means to you–what need is it fulfilling?  Getting clear on the need you’re trying to fill can help you actually, directly fill that need (instead of indirectly filling it with the clutter collection).  One woman shared after a journal exercise in class that she collects picture frames.  Growing up poor, they didn’t have the money to frame pictures beautifully.  Her unintentional collection of picture frames is trying to fill that need of not having enough when she was a child.  Her new awareness can help her release the picture frame collection.

Ask yourself when and how your harmless accumulation got out of control.

Ask, how much is enough?  Are my collections adding to my life or detracting?  Then, decide to do something different – let go of the excess.  I know that may sound scary.   But it’s  do-able.  I’ve done it and so have many others.

Ways to Let go of Unintentional Collections

• Attrition (don’t buy more and use up what you have)
• Gifts (give some of your stash away as gifts)
• Donate (to your local charitable associations)
• Sell them (this takes time – consider whether it will be worth it)
• Freecycling (advertise on www.freecycle.org that you have these free items)

Join me for the next FREE Teleclass:  Hang It, Dang It:  How to Get Good at Finishing What You Start (Thur, Oct 7).  The title of the class was inspired by my mother who never hung pictures or decorative items on the wall.  She just stacked them near the place she thought she might like to hang them.  At 90 living in a one-room apartment in a nursing facility, she still won’t let us hang pictures – because she hasn’t yet decided the perfect place.  Mom’s challenge has been perfectionism and finishing what she starts.  Seeing the downside of making that choice—and it is a choice-I vowed to become a finisher.  Join me for the teleclass, Thursday, October 7 and I can show you how to become a finisher too.

Info and Registration Here:  http://www.cherylmillerville.com/zen/2teleclass-registration

More on Unintentional Collections

Oct 2nd, 2010

How did I get here – I didn’t intend to be a plastic food tub collector.

Last Thursday I hosted a teleclass on How to Be More Zen in 2010.  We discussed ways we unintentionally collect items that soon become clutter that chokes us out of our free and open spaces.  Before we know it we’re living in a tiny space and the clutter has taken up residence in the rest of the space.

Most everybody collects something, usually without intentionally meaning to collect it.  I call this phenomenon the “accidental collector” who collects things unintentionally.  One day you just ask yourself:  What am I going to do with one too many bottles of hotel shampoo, belts or vases or shoes or Tupperware, pens, t-shirts, pillows, jewelry, ball caps, dishes, pocket knives, packs of greeting cards, National Geographic since 1970, or People Magazine. loose change, purses, keys, CDs, DVDs, books and magazines, makeup, craft supplies, candles, incense, journals, beauty products, perfume, tools, reading glasses, souvenirs, sweaters, fitness equipment, umbrellas, gift bags, grocery bags, plastic containers, remote controls, supplements, take out menus, condiments, pacs-o-catsup, tea, tea pots, tea balls, mugs, phones, rubber bands, twisty ties, plastic bags, software, cards and letters, playing cards, batteries, picture frames, lampshades, spices, salad dressings … pant pant.

If you’re a clutter collector, you probably started out thinking you were doing something good.  But then didn’t put the brakes on your collection.  One example from the teleclass last Thursday was a man who shops sales and unintentionally collected 10 tubes of toothpaste.  Several tubes expired before he was able to use them, so the good idea to shop the sales did a U-turn and the tooth paste was wasted.  Have you noticed that too much of a good thing always has a bad outcome?

Start the clutter cure: 

Take a look at why you’ve collected THAT particular item.  With introspection, you may be able to get clear on what that collection means to you–what need is it fulfilling?  Getting clear on the need you’re trying to fill can help you actually, directly fill that need (instead of indirectly filling it with the clutter collection).  One woman shared after a journal exercise in class that she collects picture frames.  Growing up poor, they didn’t have the money to frame pictures beautifully.  Her unintentional collection of picture frames is trying to fill that need of not having enough when she was a child.  Her new awareness can help her release the picture frame collection.

Ask yourself when and how your harmless accumulation got out of control.

Ask, how much is enough?  Are my collections adding to my life or detracting?  Then, decide to do something different – let go of the excess.  I know that may sound scary.   But it’s  do-able.  I’ve done it and so have many others.

Ways to Let go of Unintentional Collections

• Attrition (don’t buy more and use up what you have)
• Gifts (give some of your stash away as gifts)
• Donate (to your local charitable associations)
• Sell them (this takes time – consider whether it will be worth it)
• Freecycling (advertise on www.freecycle.org that you have these free items)

Join me for the next FREE Teleclass:  Hang It, Dang It:  How to Get Good at Finishing What You Start.  The title of the class was inspired by my mother who never hung pictures or decorative items on the wall.  She just stacked them near the place she thought she might like to hang them.  At 90 living in a one-room apartment in a nursing facility, she still won’t let us hang pictures – because she hasn’t yet decided the perfect place.  Mom’s challenge has been to finish what she starts.  Seeing the downside of making that choice—and it is a choice-I vowed to become a finisher.  Join me for the teleclass, Thursday, October 7 and I can show you how to become a finisher too.

Info and Registration Here:  http://www.cherylmillerville.com/zen/2teleclass-registration