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I finally tackled the cord octopus! After buying 2 power strips at IKEA, I cut another hole in the back of my TV bench and moved all of my electronic stuff all into the same area. And all the cords are behind the bench. My top accomplishment of the week! :)
BEFORE:
Wireless router, cable modem, cable splitter, Nintendo Wii, and controllers were all in a tangled pile in the corner.

AFTER:
Now the VCR, DVD player and controllers etc. are in the left cubby, while DVDs, Wii, wireless router, cable modem etc. are on the right.

OK, I also bought a striped pillow today, but that’s small news compared to my new organized TV area.

I had the most deja-vu feeling while reading this book. Anyway, Speaking with the Angelis kind of a sampler of 12 authors all around the same genre (Fielding, Bank, Hornby) and edited by Nick Hornby. Each story is set in first person, so it runs along the same theme, but I really wasn’t as impressed with the collection as I am with several of the authors’ previous books.

The List: 52 Book | 52 Weeks

It’s good to know that Week 5 is the typical week to fall off the “Apartment Therapy Cure” wagon. Maxwell (Apartment Therapy author) posted that we should focus on what we’ve accomplished so far in the cure to try and motivate ourselves (and each other). So here’s what I have –and haven’t– done.

DONE:

Bones:

• The AT Self Style Questionnaire
• Repairs list
• Vacuum
• Fix 1 thing – kitchen shelf
• Clean kitchen from top to bottom
• Water filter
• Dust
• Clean entry
• Clean living room
• Clean office

Breath:

• Remove 1 item (bathroom storage shelf)
• Run hands over walls
• Clear space for outbox (hall closet)
• Clear kitchen into outbox
• Declutter entry/closet
• Recycle old catalogs
• Research landing strip
• Cancel unused subscriptions
• Declutter books/media
• Cancel catalogs
• Empty outbox
• Declutter files (goodbye receipts from 1999!)
• Tackle the cord octopus

Heart:

• Buy fresh flowers (every week)
• Determine style: eclectic organic modern
• Identify cool/warm rooms
• Apply 80/20 rule
• Confirm increase/decrease for color in each room
• Identify what will+/- softness in each room

Head:

• Sit for 10 minutes in a part of your home.
• Earth-friendly cleaning products
• Find a new recipe and cook
• Choose date of housewarming
• Cook 2 meals at home
• Design invitation (Evite)
• Cook 3 meals at home (several week)
• Send out invitations
• Read before sleep
• Wireless technology

NEED TO DO STILL:

Bones:

• Mop kitchen/bathroom
• Buy paper shredder
• Get rid of old computer

Breath:

• 1 day media fast

Heart:

• Choose hard/soft items to add/subtract

Head:

• Eat at home Sunday through Monday (excuses, excuses: this is hard to schedule!)
• Get to bed early

Yes, this does make me feel like I’ve accomplished a lot more!

It’s been a while since I did a food post. Part of week 5, for the Apartment Therapy Cure, is cooking 3 meals at home. So to round out my week, I tried a new recipe. It’s based on the Everyday Food recipe for Chicken Stir-fry wraps, but I used tofu instead. Even better than I expected and it tastes like ginger…

Tofu Stir Fry Wraps
Serves 2

• 1 package firm or extra firm tofu, cube
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, mixed with 1 tablespoon water
• 6 to 8 Butter lettuce leaves, (about 1 head, also called Boston or Bibb lettuce)

Directions

1. Prep Work: This recipe doesn’t take long to cook, so you need to have things ready to go. Slice the onion and bell pepper, have the garlic ready to “press”, grate the ginger, mix the cornstarch/water in a bowl, and wash the lettuce.

2. Cube the tofu, season with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat. Add the tofu; cook, stirring/flipping every few minutes, until almost golden brown, 4 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, set aside.

3. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil to pan, along with the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender and golden, about 2-3 minutes (reduce heat if browning too quickly).

4. Reduce heat to medium; add garlic and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Stir in soy sauce, and cornstarch mixture; remove from heat.

5. Add tofu; toss to coat. Serve in lettuce cups.

Based on the Chicken Stir-Fry Wraps recipe

Cook book: Everyday Food: Great Food Fast