Less Mess, More Yes

5 Foods to be a Super Host

By Adam Saball of Sterilite Corporation

Gear up folks, its Super Bowl season! The game has been set and the cultural phenomenon continues. Since September, 32 NFL teams prepared, battled against the elements and overcame obstacles in pursuit of the opportunity to suit up for the biggest game of the year.  As the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers prepare to kick-off one last time this season, football fans and casual observers alike also have the opportunity to prepare, and celebrate in their own right. The Super Bowl has become an opportunity to dress down, forget about diets, eat junk food and relax with good company. Before the game begins and any points are scored on the field, set yourself up to score points with friends and make this Super Bowl Sunday one their stomachs will remember for a long time.
Hosting a Super Bowl party should be the easiest party you host all year. A good host will have a TV big enough for the whole room to see with an unobstructed view, seating for everybody and arguably the most important necessity, food. Your food selections should be nothing fancy. In fact, the simpler choices are generally better. After all, there is nothing about football that says “fancy”. The best choices are typically those that require a large quantity of napkins or wet naps. If you want your party to be a bigger hit than a Middle Linebacker colliding with a Running Back on the goal line, have your favorite variation of any of these foods on hand:

• Tortilla Chips and Buffalo Dip- In 10 minutes you can make a dip that will please the crowds and disappear faster than the half time show.
• Wings- Be it buffalo, or teriyaki a bowl full of wings is a guaranteed party favorite. I suggest keeping an empty bowl nearby for the bones if you decide to make traditional wings.
• Pizza- Pizza is cheap to order and during Super Bowl Sunday, many restaurants offer extra deals. Cover a few pies in different toppings and let your guests pick away.
•  Slow cooker- Use a slow cooker to make anything! Chili, Beef Stew, Pot Roast, Pulled Pork, etc… Put it together the night before and let it simmer overnight. You will see mouths’ watering as its aroma fills the room.
• Adult Beverages- I’m sure no explanation is needed, however Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of the NFL, and there will be no shortage of advertisements every commercial break. Be ready, be responsible, and if you so choose, enjoy.

When the game wraps up and the party lets out, store your leftovers in the Sterilite Ultra Seal food storage container. They latch tightly so you can continue to enjoy the food long after the stadium lights have turned off. Whatever you do, remember to enjoy yourself. There should be nothing stressful about eating junk food and watching football with your friends and family.

Do you have a favorite party recipe, or a specific Super Bowl dish? Jump on our Facebook page and by all means, do share!

 

MLK: An Inspiration for…Organization

By Adam Saball of Sterilite Corporation

Each year at this time in January, we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Though nearly forty five years have passed since his assassination, the many eloquent words Dr. King wrote and spoke continue to provide a means of inspiration to many. The conviction he held for the cause of equality began an uprising and a movement that changed the country as we knew it. Today, most of us do not have such an extreme cause we choose to fight for, but if honest with ourselves, we all have aspects of our own lives which we can change and improve upon.

In a letter from a jail cell in Birmingham, Dr. King wrote “…the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek”. For a moment, let’s remove the political connotation from his quote and focus on us in present day. If you are reading this blog because of an interest in improving and organizing your living space, chances are an area exists that you feel can be improved on right now. If your basement, garage or home has become cluttered, messy, and unfocused, why not correct it? Be the means to the organized end which you seek. With the proper “can-do” mindset and a little creative vision, you have the power to be the organized home you desire. Speaking of creativity, in the same letter, Dr. King wrote “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that time is always ripe to do right.” Though we may feel as if each day is a blur and at the end of the day we had no time for ourselves, if your conviction to change your space is strong enough, do what is right for you, and simply change it! Plan a few minutes each day, week or month to focus one specific area and organize. Don’t concern yourself with any other area except that which you are organizing. In time you will find everything has been worked on and your goal of an organized end will have been accomplished. You must stop wanting an organized area, and use your time creatively to carve out a few minutes and just do.

Ultimately, we possess the power to be the change we desire. For Dr. King it was equality, but for us it can be as simple as setting aside 15 minutes and organizing a cabinet each night to accomplish our greater goal of an organized living space. Not every cause will be for the greater good of humanity as was the cause of Dr. Martin Luther King, but using his words we can draw inspiration beyond their original purpose for the improvement of our own lives. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."
-Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Are you prepared for 2013?

by Michelle Wood of Sterilite Corporation

We survived the Mayan apocalypse, so now it’s time for a new year and a new beginning. Are you prepared? For many, January can be a harsh month with winter storms and power outages, and there are many potential unknowns beyond January that are worth spending some time preparing for in order to keep you and your loved ones safe. Make a point of starting the new year on the right foot by assembling an emergency preparedness kit using Sterilite storage products.


My emergency kit is assembled into a 22 Gallon Latch Tote. Here are the essentials plus a few other ideas to consider:

• Water – one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation; or at least one gallon of water in a reusable container and purification tablets.
• Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Freeze dried and canned goods work well, just be sure to keep them up to date. You can even buy full meals in chewable tablet form for better space saving.
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit with emergency blanket
• Whistle to signal for help. Flares can also be handy.
• Dust mask for all family members to help filter contaminated air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to help create a shelter and other building and repair uses
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Multitool, or at the very least a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, a knife and can opener.
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Local maps
• Cell phone with charger, inverter or solar charger (Even if it is an old cell phone that you no longer have coverage on, you can still use it for 911 calls)
  

Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:

• Prescription medications and glasses (having an old pair of glasses is better than none!)
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a watertight, portable container. The Sterilite Ultra•Seal™ 16.0 cup rectangular food storage container is perfect for this use. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book 
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire extinguisher
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Car Essentials (jumper cables, tire inflator, emergency equipment)
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children (I used a pencil box to keep these organized in my preparedness kit)

We all hope that the time spent preparing will be in vain and that the future is clear of disaster, but if that storm or other catastrophe presents itself, you will be very happy to have your emergency preparedness kit packed and on hand!

Wishing you and your family and happy and safe new year from your Sterilite bloggers.

Christmas Clean-Up

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com.

The holidays are officially over and it's time to pack up all of the holiday décor. Here are some steps to take to make sure your holiday decorations are properly put away:

1. Before you start taking things down, take photos of the room you've decorated. Print and place a photo right inside the box, or on the outside so you can quickly see the contents.
2. Take a look at the spaces in which you store your decorations. Are they all in one convenient place or are they scattered around the house? If possible, store all your holiday items together.
3. Choose good containers. These Christmas-colored storage boxes are stackable, durable and water resistant. It's also nice and obvious what holiday the boxes are for. They come in three different sizes and are good to contain everything from the ornaments to the tree!