Christa Wagner

Last year I introduced my Meal Planning Made Easy system and its gotten really good reviews, but a common comment is…. “I still don’t know what to make for dinner.”  I understand getting dinner on the table is a challenge for busy Moms and families so this year I am going to help you get dinner on the table with my “What’s For Dinner?” posts. 

Now, I am not a chef and most of my recipes are just tried and true recipes from chefs or my favorite cookbook.  But that’s half the battle, if I tell you what I’m having for dinner, then you can use these recipes in your own home.   Using the Meal Planning Made Easy system, you can keep track of the recipe your family loves making meal planning easier each week. 

Both my husband and I are feeling a little under the weather so this evening, I am making my very Chicken Noodle Soup that always makes us feel better.   It’s my Mom’s recipe and you will love it.  It’s simple, warm and delicious. 

Chicken Noodle Soup: 

1 large can of chicken stock
Fill can with Water
1 chicken breast
3 stocks sliced celery
3 stocks sliced carrot
Handful of frozen spinach
Handful Rosemarina Rice Pasta or Large Egg Noodles

 Directions:

1. Place stock in large soup pan.  Add water to fill. 
2. Boil chicken in stock and water.
3. Add sliced celery and carrots and boil for 30 minutes. 
4. Remove chicken and cut into small bite size pieces.  Add back to pot.
5. Add spinach, cook for 45 minutes on medium.
6. Add pasta last 15 minutes.  

You can have homemade soup in no time; this is great served with a grilled cheese, a panini sandwich or on it’s own.   If you try it, let me know what you think. 

Vancouver Professional Organizer, Christa Wagner created Meal Planning Made Easy to help busines families and Moms get dinner on the table.  For information go to www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com. 

Welcome to January 1, 2010!  I plan to make this the best year ever! 

The first day of the year often means taking down the Christmas tree and holiday decorations.  As part of A Year of Letting Go, now is the perfect time to let go of any decorations you didn’t use this year, you don’t like and you don’t plan to use in the future.  We only have so much space in our homes, so make the most of it by only storing what you need, use and love.  John and I let go of tree decorations that we have not used in the last few years and that don’t reflect our style and personality.   We also let go of some knick knacks that I know we will never display (I am just not a knick Knack kind of girl.)  You can donate these items and someone will love them.

It’s the first day of the new year, kick it off by only keeping hoilday items you would proudly display in your home.  Happy New Year! 

Vancouver Professional Organizer, Christa Wagner offers organizing services and speaking engagements.

We are coming to those the close another year and I must admit this year has been a little more challenging than others.  I don’t want to get into the details, but it’s made me realize just as I tell my clients to let go of things they don’t need, use or love, I must also let go of thinking that won’t help me in the long run.   So starting in the New Year, I am going to kick off A Year Of Letting Go.  

I have been tremendously discouraged this past year trying to re-launch my business in a new city.  Although, it should feel exciting, it feels like a burden and I have become very angry at my situation.  Therefore, the first thing I will let go of is the “ain’t it awful club.”   In general, I am a pretty positive person, but this past year has made me a little cynical and even somewhat pessimistic.  I will let go of that in the coming year. 

I have no idea how often I will blog on this topic, maybe once per week or more often if needed.   I do know that my thinking has not been beneficial and I need to be mindful of all the wonderful things in my life and let the stars fall where they may.   I also know I am not alone here.  So many of you have so much to let go of too and I want us to help each other.  You may need to let go of feelings or stuff, but let’s do it together. 

So moving forward when a provoking thought comes into my mind, I am going to do my best to replace it with an encouraging, useful thought.  I truly believe what you what you think will, or won’t happen, will and so I want all of my thoughts to be optimistic and constructive. 

So here we go, it’s a new year.  I am closing the door on 2009.  Let’s make 2010 the best year ever!!! 

Vancouver Professional Organizer, Christa Wagner offers organizing services and speaking engagements.

Get Connected Media contacted me again to do a product testimonial for the new HP Officejet Pro 8500 A909g Series printer.  Wow, this printer is amazing.  I have been using the HP Officejet 6300 series for many years now so I am quite familiar with the product .  I love the all-in-one printer because it takes up less space and I get everything I need in one. 

I am only a few days into my product review, but so far I am loving this product.

• Easy set-up
• Simple installation; it does the entire installation on its own
• Prints from anywhere in my home
• Fax works
• And best of all, no wires!!

As an organizer people are always asking me what they can do with their wires.  You can tuck and hide them, but they never really go away so this printer is going to provide a lot of solutions.  More to come on my product review, but the outlook is good!

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer in Vancouver, BC.

Just recently I was reminded of how important it is to purchase the right office supplies.  Now, there are many ways to organized and lots of products and tools you can use depending on how you think and organize naturally.  That said, it is so important to purchase quality containers and office supplies to give yourself the best chance of success with your organizing project. 

Often times, I will see people use old and tattered office supplies that are falling apart and don’t support their needs.  What ends up happening is they take the time to organize using products that won’t give them 100% and the system falls down.  Now, I am not saying not to recycle, but if the metal strip is falling out of your hanging file folder, then its time for a new one. 

Happy Organizing! 

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer based in Vancouver, BC.

I read the funniest article yesterday in the Vancouver MetroNews.  It was called Bank On A Happy Holiday When You Plan Ahead.   I found this funny, because like the writer every year I tell myself I am going to Christmas shop throughout the year so I have little to do in December.  And every year this just doesn’t seem to happen.  I always manage to get it all done.  I think deep down I just love the hustle and bustle the last few weeks before Christmas. 

Now I know there are people who are done with their shopping and all their gifts are wrapped and good for you!  More power to you.  But for the rest of us here are a few tips to still have an organized and stress free holiday season – even though there is still more to do.

• Order holiday cards from Shutterfly.com.  There is nothing easier or less expensive than sending a holiday photo card.  It takes about 15 minutes to create and then all you have to is print labels and stamp.  Simple and easy. 
• Use Send Out Cards for a traditional holiday card:  I love this service and I can finally get birthday cards out on time.  You can send all your holiday cards in a few quick steps. 
• Print labels:  Using labels from any office supply store, print address labels right from your computer. 
• Take advantage of Amazon.com.  No matter what I am buying, I shop at Amazon first.  They have everything and from all different retailers.  This year I was buying something for my Mom from Wine Enthusiast.  I went to Amazon first and the price was 50% less and shipping was free since I was over $25. 
• Prepare Meals Ahead:  Not everything has to be done the day of the party or on Christmas Eve.  Create a menu and consider what you can make ahead of time and freeze.  Think about the entire meal so you can spend more time with your family and friends rather than in the kitchen. 
• Hire a personal chef or go gourmet:   Many people don’t want the hassle of cooking and baking.    Hire a personal chef and they will come to you and no one will know otherwise.  We recommend Maxime Personal Chef.  Or go gourmet and get prepared dinners at a local gourmet grocer near you.   

Maybe one of these days I will get my shopping done before December, but until then I will use these time savings tips to get organized ahead of time and join the crowds in the days before Christmas. 

We wish you a very merry holiday season and lots of luck in the new year!

I love Christmas season.  The time between Thanksgiving and New Year is so much fun, but of course, with the holidays comes a lot of work and preparation. I’m not going to say its easy, because I actually remember starting to cry when I finally got my first Thanksgiving dinner on the table, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. It should be fun and relaxing.

We know how challenging it can be to pull off a holiday party or dinner?  So here are a few tips to get you through.  Of course, a glass of wine always helps too! 

• Stick to what you know. This is not the time to whip up a special souffle you’ve never tried before. That is only going to stress you out. We recommend using our Meal Planning Made Easy system to make meal planning and shopping easier.

• Do as much as you can in advance. If you plan and prepare in advance there’s no reason you can’t be in the living room chatting with everyone else.

• Let guests pitch in. Who said you had to do it all? Let your guests help out. Let them bring the sides, desserts or appetizers. Having just one less thing on your plate can make a huge difference.

• Cut corners where possible. I’m not suggesting to skimp on taste, but do you really have to make homemade bread when we have fresh bread on every corner.

• Delegate to the family. There is so much to do. Cooking, cleaning, setting the table, doing this dishes, chopping, shopping, taking out the garbage, etc.  A holiday is like any other day; get the family involved. Delegate to your family and ask for everyone to contribute to a more organized day.

We want to wish you a very merry holiday season, but also want it to be organized.  For help getting organized this holiday season, contact us at 778.839.5792. Christa Wagner is a professional organizer based in Vancouver, BC.

A few weeks ago at the POC Conference in Calgary I listened to keynote speaker, Les Hewitt, author of The Power of Focus.  He was amazing and I learned a great deal listening to him.  One topic that really resonated with me was habits and how they determine your future. 

According to Les Hewitt, 47% of my everyday behavior is habitual and it’s extremely important to be aware of what habits are not working for me.   I need to remember I can change any habit if I really want to.  That’s the tough part. 

So I made a list of my bad habits and one of mine was focusing on what I didn’t want.  Isn’t that strange?  To focus on what you don’t want, rather than what you do want.  And I found myself doing it all the time.  So since the presentation, I have been focusing on what I really want and its amazing what happens when you focus.  Thank you Les! 

So what are your bad habits and what can you commit to letting go of in the new year?  We would love to hear from you. 

Savvy Solutions provides a variety of services that empower you to live a more organized and productive life.  Christa Wagner is located in Vancouver, BC.

It’s the perfect time to organize your paper and files for the new year.Attend this workshop, File Yourself to Freedom, and leave with files you will never have to re-organize again.   Attendees will learn how to use the filing product we use exclusively that will tell you where to put your paper and how long to keep it.  The FreedomFiler has a built in purging system designed to help you let go of paper once and for all. We love this product and you will too!

Title: File Yourself To Freedom

When: Dec 1, 2009 6:30 PM