Introducing the Portable File Cooler

By Frank Tierney | Published: June 18, 2009

Portable File Cooler, openedI was conducting my personal weekly review yesterday, when I empty my inbox and organize all of my commitments and to-dos (GTD style).  I have twenty some manila file folders that I use for financial records, paystubs, bills, receipts, and credit reports, among other things.  I quickly became frustrated after filing a few papers because the folders were just laying in a stack on top of my desk.  Filing just a few documents seemed like a chore because I couldn’t quickly find the folder I needed, and when I did find it, I had to separate the stack of folders, completely open the folder, insert the paper, rinse, and repeat.

Am I complaining?  Maybe a bit.  But I have enough problems with procrastinating during my specified weekly review time, and I don’t need an inefficient filing system holding me back anymore.  I thought to myself, “There must be a better way!”  You’re probably thinking, “Ian, how about a file cabinet or a portable filing system?”  Yes, that would solve my problem, but

a.) I would be spending money that I’d rather spend on things more important to me, and

b.) I wouldn’t get the satisfaction of repurposing something that’s already lying around the house!

So I grabbed an empty manila folder, left my desk, and began looking around the house for some sort of box that would be just the right size to hold the small but growing amount of files I have.  I couldn’t seem to find a cardboard box that would fit, and I was just about to give up when I saw it - the empty Igloo Playmate cooler that has just been sitting around in the house!  I put a single manila folder in there, and it couldn’t have fit any better!

I filed the rest of my papers in a breeze, smiling through the rest of my review because I hadn’t spent a dime and I’d put something to use that had been laying around!

Pack it up to go for a file picnic!

Pack it up to go for a file picnic!

Oh and don’t forget that the cooler is completely portable - if you need to take your files on the go, then just slide the top over the files, grab it and go!

P.S.: Mom and dad, let me know if you need the cooler back anytime soon…

OUTSOURCERS: Buy a file cabinet or folio to store your files.

INSOURCERS: Be cool (pun completely intended) and find something around the house like a Playmate cooler to store those files!

Posted in Household | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

DIY Magnetic Spice Rack

By Ian C. Anderson | Published: June 10, 2009
Photo by Ross C.

Photo by Ross C.

Yesterday, while I was in the process of making spaghetti sauce and meatballs from scratch, I became frustrated with how my spices are organized in the cupboard (or, more accurately, their lack of organization).  I’ve seen various blog posts about building your own spice rack, but when I tried to find them again I came across a unique and interesting solution for storing spices that saves cupboard space as well as preparation time.

Lance Vaughn had similar frustrations with his spices and decided to go the DIY route for spice storage.  His first attempt at the spice rack involved four metal cases that held the spice containers.  After actually putting the spice rack to serious use, he decided that there must be a better way, one that doesn’t involve opening four different cases and constant reorganization.  Also, the containers he used were not meant for spices, so they didn’t have any convenient openings for shaking or pouring.

Disclaimer: This DIY spice rack was built in order to improve kitchen workflow and organization.  Thrift was not a high priority, so if you’re looking for the cheapest solution, this is probably not for you.

His second attempt is extremely simple, organized, and efficient.  It involves mounting a magnetic whiteboard on a wall (or in his case, the back of his pantry door), magnetic metal containers, and a label maker (he used the same Brother PT-1280 that I have!).  All told, Lance said that he spent $200 on this project.  That sounds rather high, but keep in mind that this includes 56 magnetic containers, a whiteboard, and the label maker (including label refills).

For my frugal friends (not to mention myself), I found some cheaper alternatives to the materials that Lance used:

Read the original article for photos and additional insight:

Spice Rack 2.0 [vaughn austin]

OUTSOURCERS: Buy an expensive spice rack that may not suit your specific needs.

INSOURCERS: Determine  your exact needs, then build a custom design that improves your workflow.  Feel rewarded knowing that you brainstormed and executed a custom solution!

Posted in Food & Drink, Household | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Natural Remedies for Bee Stings

By Ian C. Anderson | Published: June 5, 2009
Photo by wolfpix

Photo by wolfpix

Summer is just ahead of us, and with summer comes beautiful sunshine, days at the beach, and maybe even a game or two of Ladder Golf.  However, the sunny season does have a few drawbacks, including high counts of allergens and the occasional bee sting.  For the latter, Lifehacker and Slate Magazine covered a few simple remedies to soothe the pain that a bee sting can bring.

  • Fresh-cut onion: An ingredient in onions breaks down the chemicals released by bee stings that cause pain and inflammation, according to Dr. Eric Block from the State University of New York at Albany.
  • Toothpaste: The tingling sensation caused by toothpaste on the sting can be satisfying psychologically and physically.  This is due to the alkaline toothpaste neutralizing the acidic venom from the sting.
  • Ice: Simple, effective, and practically free, ice is a known remedy for many skin irritations, especially bee stings.

Apply a Cut Onion to Soothe Bee Stings [Lifehacker]

For more remedies to try, see The Best Bee Sting Remedies [Slate Magazine]

OUTSOURCERS: Pickup some calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream from the drug store.

INSOURCERS: Keep your wallet full and your creativity flowing by using a time-tested remedy as simple as an onion or ice.

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Make Your Own Ladder Golf… it’s sweeping the nation!

By Frank Tierney | Published: June 2, 2009
Photo by navets

Photo by navets

In late honor of Memorial Day and BBQ’s across the country for the remainder of the summer, Insourcer has decided to enlighten you with a game that has taken the nation by storm.   That game is:

Ladder Golf.

You might know the game under a different name like Hillbilly Golf, or Bolo Toss.  I first discovered this game almost two years ago.  There is a family that lives down the street from me that spends every summer night outside drinking and grilling (I wish I could).  One evening they were playing this odd looking game…

Gameplay

The game involves two targets that are basically like small three-rung ladders.  These ladders are placed at opposite ends of the lawn, or 30 feet apart. Each rung is worth a different number of points, and point values seem to vary based on where you live.  The goal of the game is to throw a bolo, or two golf balls attached by a string, at the opposite ladder, hoping to have one of your three bolos wrap around a rung.  When this happens, you earn points.  The game continues until one side has 21 points, and you must score exactly 21 points. Read More »

Posted in Fun | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

DIY “Nickel” Marinades from Common Ingredients

By Ian C. Anderson | Published: June 1, 2009
Photo by woodleywonderworks

Photo by woodleywonderworks

It’s finally grilling season here in western Pennsylvania.  As any griller knows, a marinade can turn a mediocre piece of meat into a memorable meal (did you count the m’s?).  A simple marinade can bring tenderness, moisture, and flavor to a lackluster (and inexpensive!) cut of meat.

While you’re browsing around the grocery store to plan your next grill-out, you may be tempted to pick up a ready-made marinade.  Don’t do it!  Instead, mix your own marinade from scratch using some ingredients that you probably already have in the cupboard. Read More »

Posted in Food & Drink | Tagged , , | Leave a comment