Emergencies -- How Organized and Prepared Are You?Written by Susan W. Miller
Being organized is frequently about saving. It's about saving time … saving money … and saving those things that are precious and important to you so you will readily have them when you want them in future. How prepared and organized are you to save those important things when an emergency strikes? Natural and man-made disasters are in news almost every day -- fires here, floods there, an earthquake somewhere else, and a tornado touching down in your own backyard. Sometimes you are fortunate enough to have 30 minutes notice to leave your home. Other times there is no advanced warning at all. For survivors of these horrors, life must go on once clean-up begins. Before an emergency presents itself in your life, and to ease your re-entry process after fact, you can take a few simple steps now, just in case you do have a chance to take more than clothes that are on your back. Implement these ideas TODAY, so you will be better organized and prepared for an emergency when and if it happens. 1. Create a notebook to capture all important household and family informational details. Include things like birth dates, social security numbers, health history, and every aspect you can recall. Many products are available that require little more than filling in blank for each item for each person. 2. Keep your household information notebook current so you have what you need when you need it. Store notebook in a place you can grab easily without having to search for it. 3. Put one complete change of clothes for each member of your household into a pile for quick access. Store entire pile in one large cloth tote bag or box, or in individual ones for each member of family. If you choose an individual bag or box for each person, put a few other vital or precious items that will be valued by that person into their respective container. 4. Keep a supply of collapsible crates and large cloth tote bags at ready. When you're packing in a hurry, there is no time to find boxes. The tote bags and collapsible crates can be stored flat and take up minimal space when they are not being used.
| | You're Having A Party!Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
Fall - a fantastic season with Holiday Party Season just nipping at its heels! What makes a good party and how do hosts/hostesses get through anxiety, worry, and how do they take care of all those details and bring it all to a successful conclusion? A few tips for some really great parties. As a caterer, there are many tips, tricks, and so-called survival techniques. Here are a few: The first thing you do when you would like to have a party is decide on occasion or theme-is it an anniversary, a birthday, a Halloween costume party, or an After Raking Leaves get-together for family and neighbors? Then decide on how many guests to invite. This will greatly affect your table arrangements, menu, etc. More importantly, you must take into account space you have available to comfortably entertain (even small spaces can be used effectively,), and your budget. With regard to theme, once that is chosen your menu becomes easier. The food should directly relate to event. A Trimming Tree party could have fantastic cocoa beverages, while your Hawaiian Luau would make this very inappropriate. A buffet is easier than a sit-down dinner, but space becomes critical. If guests are asked to serve themselves, then they must have somewhere to place their plates, sit, converse, and enjoy themselves. Invitations follow your initial planning. A printed invitation is a more thoughtful way, then a mere telephone call. The written version contains all essential inforamtion, so there are no mis-dates, time, or destination, especially if party will not be at your home. A simple schedule for you is next. Write down all details - decorations, menu, and amenities. This insures that "non" immediates are handled in advance and "immediates" such as fresh flowers, fresh produce, etc. are all last-minute items. Do as much as you comfortably can ahead of time. Make-ahead foods are great and give you a lot more time on last minute food items. Use foods you are comfortable with, but with a twist. In other words, an event is not a good time to try a new, never-used recipe. It will only add to anxiety and stress. Also consider food garnishments and touches. Use food to decorate food! If artificial items are used, they will need to be removed by your guests.
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