Sometimes Clutter CAN be useful, to someone, somewhere. But it's rare, and not always worth the time and trouble saving something. A quick and effective way to guide a Client on an item's personal value is to suggest they give it to someone who may actually use it. Nice concept. It could be a relative, family member, neighbor or even a special charity the person is fond of. Try this technique yourself.
It was yours truly who accepted a very small gift last week, a magazine article about summer bbq's -- and my Summer-in-Cape Cod-in-Los Angeles-style BBQ was extra special because of it. A terrific recipe for fresh strawberries with brown sugar and crème fraîche from Susan Feniger of Border Grill fame.
While going through an enormous amount of magazines recently with a Client, we ran across the April 10, 2005 version of the Los Angeles Times Magazine with Ms. Feniger's "Spring Break" on the cover. It detailed how even busy chefs need to get outside and throw parties.
I had just eaten at Cuidad in Downtown LA with my old friend Marita about a month ago. And it was delicious (my favorite: the mojitos.) While going through the magazines, Client and I had a brief conversion about Susan and her business partner Mary Sue Millikan. Client and I had something in common: we live to eat. Client suggested I take the magazine and the recipes. As usual, I hesitated and declined. After some light pressure from Client, I said yes. And BOY, was I happy I did.
My parties are an exercise in simplicity-- at least that's what my guests think. I put an enormous amount of time into making "Simple Suppers" look easy. I love them but hate complicated ingredients. For yesterday's BBQ, I was struggling to come up with a dessert to serve while outside LA temperatures hovered around 90-degrees.
Susan Feniger's "Fresh strawberries with brown sugar and creme fraiche" was the ticket. Her advise for this dish: "keep it simple." No cooking. Nice presentation. Quintessential summertime treat. Simply dip the strawberries into the creme fraiche and roll a bit into the brown sugar. Delicious. Everyone loved it. It was so simple they didn't even have to print the recipe, just the picture.
So if you have unread magazines and know they should go bye-bye, consider giving them away to someone who can actually use them. Hospitals and thrift stores are a good source. After all, it's about using the things that matter most to you, and purging the things that cut down on your productivity. And of course keep this Professional Organizer in mind, too.
Do any OrganizingLA Blog readers care to share your own special recipe that keeps you cool, and lowers party stress during the lazy, hazy days of été?
