Goals and Getting Organized 2006

Every Year it is my goal to become more organized.
Ever since Griff and I opened the bakery, time
seems to be one of the most important things to me.

Our average work day is about 16 hours not
including the work we take home. We never talk about
the actual number of hours we work and you will
never hear us complain but the simple fact of the
matter is that free time is a precious and valued
commodity around our house. When I think about all
of the time it will save me to be organized it makes
it more important than ever for 2006. This year I am
determined to do it!

I am a firm believer that cooking (or baking in my
case) teaches many life lessons. (See former blog on
Baking is a virtue.)
My approach for getting organized is to think of it the
same way as baking. For one, I have to have the right
tools to get the job done.

Griff and I have been talking about what we think will
make our kitchen space more efficient and give it a better
flow. So we already got that started today.

We are off to a great start and I love the new set up.
It makes me feel like I am in a quilting bee with our tables
set up in the center. I also decided that I had to get my
cookbooks under control (Again).

I buy cookbooks for three reasons:
1. To collect
2. For Inspiration
3. As a resource.

I decided that I should only have ten that I use all the time
for inspiration or a resource as well as my own recipe book
at the bakery and I took the rest of them home. I took
home 31 cookbooks this time. Not an easy task. I will
save my top 10 picks for a future blog.

I got so many wonderful gifts for Christmas and one
of them is another great organizing tool that was a
gift from my sister. It's a beautiful book that will
help me begin organizing all of my "perfect" recipes.
I want to publish a cookbook some day so this will
help me to achieve my goal.

Next, I have to have a recipe or a plan. So I picked
up some new notebooks and I am making lots of lists
and setting goals and time frames for myself.
Instead of dreading it, I couldn't be more excited
about the process.

It's a new year and I am looking forward to enjoying
more free time. I'll keep you posted.