Organizing Diva

Menu Plan Monday (9-5-11)

2011-09-06T03:33:00.000-07:00

Monday: Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenderloins, Corn on the cob, Grape salad

Tuesday: Crockpot Baby Back ribs, Wax Beans, Cheesy bacon mashed potatoes

Wednesday: Cheesy potato soup, French bread

Thursday: Spaghetti carbonara, Garlic sauteed spinach, Italian salad, Cheesy garlic bread

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Cooper's Birthday Party Menu:

Appetizers: Pan fried onion dip w/ Krunchers, Green herb dip w/ crudites, Salsa and tortilla chips, BLT bites

Main: Bacon cheeseburgers and Hot dogs, Pretzel salad, Awesome salad, Baked beans

Dessert: Birthday cake and ice cream

Linking up with Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday.

Rhubarb Cake

2011-06-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

I know it has been forever since I have posted here. I want to thank those of you who still follow me for sticking around. I thought things would be settling down now that summer vacation is here, but with swimming lessons, football conditioning, baseball, and golf I seem to be running around more than ever. I am planning on using this summer to get some organizing projects done around the house while balancing sports and fun activities with the boys. I plan on sharing lots of recipes this summer. We have already made three batches of homemade ice cream and I must say that my family is spoiled by my ice cream making prowess.

The other day my mom gave me some rhubarb. I have never made anything with rhubarb, but grew up loving a crumble that my mom would always make and a cake that my aunt makes. I decided to go my typical Allrecipes route when searching for an amazing recipe. That is my go to recipe sight and I always choose the most highly rated recipes.

Oma's Rhubarb Cake

Rhubarb Cake recipe adjustments:

1 1/4 cups white sugar (I used 1 c white sugar and 1/4 c brown sugar)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup sour cream

3 cups diced rhubarb (I used 4 c rhubarb)

1 cup white sugar (I used 1 c brown sugar)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

ground cinnamon, for dusting (I used my Mc Cormick cinnamon sugar grinder)

Here is a photo of what is left of the cake after last night. I have no idea why my iPhone rotates pictures sometimes (they come out flipped from how I took them). And I am now without my MacBook for the summer and have to use our Dell desktop that I loathe. To bottom line you, this photo is upside down and even though it is right side up if I look at the photo from my computer, when I post it in Blogger it's upside down. So I guess it is not my computer's fault, but some weird Blogger quirk. The important thing is that this cake is moist and delicious and must be served with whipped cream (IMO) ice cream is optional. Enjoy!

I am linking up to I Heart Naptime's Sunday Scoop link. Be sure to stop by for lots of fabulous ideas from some very creative bloggers.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

Monday: Grilled cheeseburgers, chips, fruit salad, chocolate malts

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Taco/nacho bar, fresh fruit

Thursday: Guinness corned beef, cabbage, boiled red potatoes, marble rye bread

Friday: Homemade french bread pizza

Saturday: Bacon wrapped turkey tenderloins, grilled potatoes, grilled veggies

Sunday: Garlic lime chicken, brown rice, corn, fresh fruit

2011 Week One Goal Review

2011-01-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is a list of my 2011 goals and I thought I would check in with all of you after the first week. I have been very busy with being back into school this week. I also went to the chiropractor three times this week (about 25 min from my home) so that took up a lot of my after school time.

I am laughing because looking at my goal achievement it would appear that beauty is my most important category. LOL Honestly yesterday it was after 4 PM and I had sat through two Rec BB games and Greg was starting to get dinner together and I DRAGGED myself to the nail salon (believe me it was COLD last night and I would have preferred to stay all nice and snug by the warm and cozy fire. I ended up getting a VERY long overdue pedicure and brow wax. It was so very necessary and I came home to a delicious home cooked dinner of cedar planked salmon, grilled potatoes, grilled romaine salad (if you have never grilled romaine you absolutely must, it is the bomb!), and garlic olive oil haricot verts. Not a bad menu for being on a detox, don't you think?!

As far as finances go we have been keeping all our receipts and really have only spent money on groceries, gasoline, hot lunch for Drew, and preschool for Cooper. We have to pay off our monthly balances on all our CCs so that is why we are really watching spending this month. It helps that I am doing the detox so we are buying nothing processed at the grocery store, but the fruits and veggies are not cheap this time of year. We loaded up on some things at Sam's club. Our Sam's bill was much less than normal because we only bought essentials.

We did our first family game night ever last night and it was a raging success. We played Busytown (Cooper's choice) and then Guesstures. The boys love Guesstures and it was lots of fun. They asked if we could do game night again tonight. :)

I do need to get on track with my Project 365. I want to remember the ordinary things in life, because they are soon forgotten, but so extraordinary when I look back on them as the boys get older.

Here are the goals and the check mark means I did that this week.

1) Spiritual:

*Attend church regularly √

*Visit at least THREE other Presbyterian churches to see if we can find one we like that is closer to us

*Say prayers before bed

2) Financial:

*Follow Dave Ramsey Steps

*Make a monthly spending plan and track ALL expenses √

*Use envelope system for certain spending categories

*Boys commission (chore charts)

*Monthly budget meeting

3) Fitness/Health:

*Do a month long detox (starting next week under the advisement of a nutritionist) √

*Chiropractor appts √

*Exercise 90 min per week

*Healthy eating √

4) Beauty:

*Morning/Evening routine √

*Manicures/Pedicures monthly √ (Pedi)

*Schedule brow wax every 6 weeks √

*Keep nails polished √

5) Home:

*Make home binders

*Keep house clean (daily tasks)

*Keep better laundry schedule

*Organize office and closets

*Make a list of decorating/painting needs and set a schedule

6) Career:

*Organize Module Binders

*Continue on BCT √

7) Family:

*Weekly date night with Greg √

*Family game night 3x/month (each boy decides plan for night) √

*Greg and Sherrie overnight getaway 2x/year

*Family vacation

*Plan thoughtful holiday/birthday celebrations

8) Personal:

*Blog regularly here at Organizing Diva and my family blog My Life With Boys

*Plan dinners out with GFs and Mom

*GNO monthly

*Dinner w/ friends

9) Hobbies:

*Project 365

*Scrapbooking-plan one night per month to scrap

*Take a class at the Scrapbook Store

*Organize scrap supplies and set up an area for scrapping

*Make 10 layouts for each boy for 2011

10) Menu planning:

*Monthly menu plan

*Weekly menus √

*Grocery lists √

*Inventory freezer

*Inventory pantry

*Clip coupons

I am really happy with my goal achievement for the first week of 2011. How did you all do on your goals?

Menu Plan Monday 1-3-11

2011-01-03T03:57:00.000-08:00

I am starting a detox later this week so trying to figure out a weekly menu plan was a challenge. I have a basic idea of what I will be able to eat, but won't know for sure what I am restricted on until my appt tomorrow. I still want to make meals that my dh and boys will enjoy. No sense in all of us suffering. ;)

Monday: Glazed meatloaf, Butternut squash puree, Baked potatoes

Tuesday: Turkey sandwiches, chips, veggies

Wednesday: Baby Back Ribs, Corn, Cheesy bacon mashed potatoes for guys (dinner out for me)

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Frozen pizza for the guys (salad for me)

Saturday: Salmon, grilled veggies, grilled potatoes, salad

Sunday: Garlic lime chicken, brown rice, corn, fruit

Shopping list:
Veggies for grilling
Fruit
Salad ingredients

Check out Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie for links to many menu plans. Maybe you will find a new recipe to spice up your menu plan.

Using Binders to Organize

2011-01-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

Some people are binder people and some aren't. I am definitely a binder person. I think my love affair with using three ring binders to organize myself began back in the early 90's when I started to organize all my teaching units in three ring binders. Old school teachers were using manila file folders, but not me. I instead chose to use a three ring binder for my school units. I couldn't even begin to count how many binders I have assembled/organized over the past two decades, but I assure you the number is great.

I am a bit anal when it comes to binder organization. You see I need everything in a sheet protector. Forget about three hole punching something and putting it right into the binder. Who wants the three punched holes showing up on copies? Not me to be sure.

Now everyone ~~is not as crazy~~ does not have to be as anal as me when it comes to binder organization. Remember the key is to do what works FOR YOU. I personally love to buy the four pack at Sam's Club. I already took the packaging off them so I am not sure the brand name, but if you shop at Sam's you will know what I am posting about. You get four one inch binders in green, blue, pink, and white. I don't remember the cost, but I think the pack is under $10. Of course any old binder will do, I just love the cute colors! I also always buy my sheet protectors from Sam's. I get the Samsill Non-Glare 200 count heavy weight sheet protectors.

I also purchased the Avery Big Tab Extra Wide Insertable Dividers (you can get 5 or 8 tabs, I always go for 8). I bought these at Office Max and was shocked that they cost $2.59 a set. I am not that big of a fan of Office Max, but there is one in my city so it was convenient to stop there the other day.

I have plans to set up several different binders to help me get organized in 2011:

*Household

*Coupons

*Gift Cards

*Recipes

*Financial

*Holidays

*Ben

*Drew

*Cooper

(I already have a binder for each of the boys to put important school related items, but I need to do a better job of using them, it would save lots of time looking for where important papers were placed).

I am starting to work on my Household binder first. I have two excellent resources for setting up a household binder the first link will explain the general concept, Organized Home's household notebook of setting up a household notebook. Printable pages you can use for your own notebook. I love that website and have used it for years. Another suggestion is Flylady's Control Journal. I know people seem to either love or hate Flylady. There are some valuable resources on her website to help you organize your life.

I suggest you spend some time perusing the links I have shared and decide what works for you and get started on your own household notebook (which I call binder). I spent some time this morning printing out things from all the links I shared and now will be putting together a hybrid of the two. I will definitely share my finished product and how I ended up setting it up. I will also share the other binders I have mentioned above as they get finished.

Please share with me if you do make any binders for yourself. I would love to see the finished products!

Life Goals 2011

2011-01-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! 2011, you have got to be kidding? Can someone just explain to me where the last ~~decade~~ two decades have gone? I am starting off the new year posting my goals for 2011. One of my goals is to blog regularly. Thanks for all of you who have stuck with me, through some big gaps in blogging.

I have to admit that I cheated a bit and used my Life Goals from 2007 (that I found while in the home office) as a starting point for this coming year. I promise to do a monthly Goal Review (and encourage you all to do the same) to assess progress.

1) Spiritual:

*Attend church regularly

*Visit at least THREE other Presbyterian churches to see if we can find one we like that is closer to us

*Say prayers before bed

2) Financial:

*Follow Dave Ramsey Steps

*Make a monthly spending plan and track ALL expenses

*Use envelope system for certain spending categories

*Boys commission (chore charts)

*Monthly budget meeting

3) Fitness/Health:

*Do a month long detox (starting next week under the advisement of a nurtrionist)

*Chiropractor appts

*Exercise 90 min per week

*Healthy eating

4) Beauty:

*Morning/Evening routine

*Manicures/Pedicures monthly

*Schedule brow wax every 6 weeks

*Keep nails polished

5) Home:

*Make home binders

*Keep house clean (daily tasks)

*Keep better laundry schedule

*Organize office and closets

*Make a list of decorating/painting needs and set a schedule

6) Career:

*Organize Module Binders

*Continue on BCT

7) Family:

*Weekly date night with Greg

*Family game night 3x/month (each boy decides plan for night)

*Greg and Sherrie overnight getaway 2x/year

*Family vacation

*Plan thoughtful holiday/birthday celebrations

8) Personal:

*Blog regularly here at Organizing Diva and my family blog My Life With Boys

*Plan dinners out with GFs and Mom

*GNO monthly

*Dinner w/ friends

9) Hobbies:

*Project 365

*Scrapbooking-plan one night per month to scrap

*Take a class at the Scrapbook Store

*Organize scrap supplies and set up an area for scrapping

*Make 10 layouts for each boy for 2011

10) Menu planning:

*Monthly menu plan

*Weekly menus

*Grocery lists

*Inventory freezer

*Inventory pantry

*Clip coupons

What are your goals for 2011?

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Plan and tablescape preview

2010-11-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Menu Plan:

Appetizers:
Salami/cheese/cracker tray
Crudites and dip

Dinner:
Turkey
Stuffing w/ golden raisins and walnuts
Mashed potatoes w/ gravy
Sweet potatoes
Green bean casserole
Corn
Cranberry sauce
Cranberry Fluff
Rolls

Drinks:
Wine
Sparkling grape juice

Dessert:
Pumpkin pie w/ homemade vanilla bean ice cream
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Twinkie Dessert

A little preview of the tablescape. Greg and I decided that we are going to use our formal china and flatware for Thanksgiving dinner this year. We got most of this for wedding gifts and rarely use them (we do use the crystal often). Please ignore the wrinkled tablecloth, I was just testing out the color combo. The table linens have been washed and will be pressed for Thursday.

Noritake Chandon Gold China

Noritake Vendomme Crystal

Yamazaki Ariana Gold Flatware

I will post a photo of the complete tabslescape later. I just wanted to give you all a sneak peak. I hope all your Thanksgiving preparations are going well. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because I love the food and hanging out with my family, without all the stress some other holidays bring. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is also my favorite show of all the Charlie Brown movies. :)

I bought the movie The Long Way Home for us to watch together as a family.

I am back with a recipe review Barefoot Contessa's "Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with warm cider vinaigrette"

2010-11-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

I have to apologize to all of you for neglecting this blog for so long. The simple fact of the matter is that I teach 7th grade math full time, have three very active young boys (two of which played tackle football and fall baseball this fall). That means we had two football every Saturday and two baseball games every Sunday until late October. We had a wedding in Chicago the second last weekend of October and then we spent three nights in Door County the last weekend of October. I spent the day shopping in Chicago the first Sat of November and last weekend we visited our beautiful brand new (one week old) niece Josie. That pretty much brings you up to speed of where I am at. My dh and oldest son are hunting this weekend and it is honestly the first weekend since last Spring that we I have no plans!

I promise you I have been spending loads of time cleaning, organizing, menu planning, doing laundry (some things never change), shopping, decorating, and getting us ready for the holidays. I also planned a birthday party in Sept for my youngest, and two parties for my middle in October (which included a sleepover and taking five third grade boys and my oldest two to the HS homecoming game... yeah I am either the best mom EVER or just plain crazy). I have had the opportunity to try out several new recipes and I will be sharing my feedback with you. I am anxiously awaiting my copy of my new book:

I love Ina and dream of the day that she invites me over to her house for a delicious home cooked meal. Until then I will have to settle for cooking her recipes myself. ;) I recently made a new recipe from Ina Garten.

Recipe review Roasted butternut squash salad with warm cider vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 (1 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch) diced
Good olive oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry
1/2 cup walnuts halves, toasted
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes.

While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts, and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enoughvinaigrette over the salad to moisten and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately. -Source Food Network

A photo I took with my iPhone of the finished salad.

The salad was delicious and I will definitely make it again. The flavors really seemed to work well together. It was a bit labor intensive for a salad, but we were eating it as our main course. I used cubed butternut squash from Trader Joe's which did save some time. If you decide to make the salad let me know what you think.

Twenty Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Sunday

2010-08-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

The following comes from the blog Marc and Angel Hack Life. As a very goal oriented person I think these questions would definitely keep me living my life in concert with my goals.

If you would like to maximize the benefits of self reflection, I have 20 questions for you. These questions should be reviewed every Sunday morning or sometime during the weekend when you have some quiet time to think. Remember, reflection is the key to progression.

What did I learn last week? – If you have trouble answering this question, it’s time for a change. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you should learn something new every week.
What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week? – Reflecting on your accomplishments is a healthy way to raise self confidence and contentment. It’s also an effective way to track your progress.
Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why? – It may open up your mind to new passions and goals, or simple pastimes worth revisiting.
What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week? – Everything else is secondary, and should be treated as such. Nevertheless, this question will also shine light on other noteworthy tasks.
What can I do right now to make the week less stressful? – Set reminders in your calendar, get your laundry done, fill the car with gas… organize yourself.
What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week? – The idea here is to learn from your struggles and better equip yourself for future encounters.
What was last week’s biggest time sink? – Steer clear of this in the future. Setup physical barriers against distractions if you have to.
Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped? – Physical clutter, mental clutter… eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may shine bright.
What have I been avoiding that needs to get done? – Pencil in a time to get these things done. For any 2-minute or less tasks, consider scheduling them first thing Monday morning.
What opportunities are still on the table? – If it’s still available and you want it, make a concrete plan to go after it this week.
Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to? – Regular communication can solve problems before they fester. Always keep an open line of communication to those around you.
Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’? – Take time each week to thank the people who have helped you. Your kind gesture will not go unnoticed.
How can I help someone else this coming week? – The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. If you help them, they will remember you when you need help.
What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years? – You’ll never make any progress in life if you don’t setup realistic goals for yourself.
Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals? – If the answer is no, something needs to change.
What’s the next step for each goal? – Knowing the next step is the key to accomplishing the whole.
What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week? – The answer can act as a great source of motivation. If nothing exists, schedule something to look forward to.
What are my fears? – Consciously address your fears each week and slowly work on resolving them. It’s all about taking baby steps.
What am I most grateful for? – It’s a smart way to keep things in perspective, and something you should never lose sight of.
If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with? – Another helpful reminder… Life is short. Spend more time with the people you care about.

Gazpacho

2010-08-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

If you follow my blog you probably already know about my obsession this summer with gazpacho. Just as I was obsessed with shrimp ceviche last summer, it seems to be gazpacho this summer. The good news is that this is so very easy, fresh, and healthy! It is a great way to get your veggies in. I cannot sing the praises of my gazpacho enough.

I have made three batches this summer and it is just so yummy! The first time I made it I used a food processor, the second time I only did a couple of the veggies in the processor, the third batch I chopped everything by hand. It is so chunky and delicious and a great way to get some veggies in. I was able to use cucumber, green pepper, tomato, and tarragon from our garden.

This is the original recipe I use with a few modifications. Gazpacho

I use two 11.5 oz cans of V-8 vegetable juice in place of tomato juice. I use a red onion, two or three cloves of garlic, no sugar, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, I sub cilantro (because I LOVE it) for the parsley, and I have been using fresh tarragon and basil.

My gazpacho:

Ingredients

2 11.5 ounce cans V-8 juice
1 red onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried tarragon (I use fresh)
1 teaspoon dried basil (I use fresh)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I use cilantro)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

The amazing cast of characters

You can see the coarse chop of the veggies.

With the herbs added in.

Fresh healthy fabulousness in a bowl!

If this sounds good to you I strongly urge you to make it. I need to make myself another bowl this weekend (it only lasts a few days).

Pantry Organization

2010-08-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well the family reunion/50th anniversary party was a raging success! We had such a great time and everything went so well. All the hard work and effort Greg and I have been putting in to getting the house and everything else ready was well worth it. People were completely impressed with the house and extremely grateful for us agreeing to host. My boys met their cousins from NY and MN and all got along fabulously.

I We did manage to get several organization/home decor projects taken care of this summer. I will be posting photos of several of the things we accomplished this summer so keep checking back for new posts.

Now on to the pantry! This project took took less than a day. I started by going through all the Tupperware storage containers and throwing things out that were outdated and consolidating things into the proper sized containers. The blue bins (I am not a fan, but my dh bought them and they work for now) hold snacks, baking supplies, granola bars, pudding and applesauce containers. We keep them accessible so the boys can grab snacks when we need them. Sorry for the quality of the photos as I used my iPhone, but you can get the idea of what the pantry looks like.

It is amazing how well the clutter can be hidden behind the pantry doors.

Ben wondered why on Earth I was taking photos of the nasty pantry and wanted to be in the photo.

Scary, I know!

Much bettter!

I love my tupperware containers! Yes we have an absolutely ridiculous amount of cereal (not all of those have cereal in them, but most do).

Look at those fabulous potatoes we got at the farmers' market. That empty shelf is where we keep our bread (as you can see we it was time for a trip to the grocery store).

It was such a necessity to get the pantry organized prior to having all our relatives descend on our home. That empty shelf was soon filled up after a trip to Sam's club and a major purchase for feeding all our company.

I am so thrilled that the pantry is looking so great. I love getting everything organized before school starts. Greg put up a nail so we can hang our plastic grocery bags that we end up using for all sorts of things. It is so nice to have them neatly organized instead of shoved in on the side.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of the newly improved pantry! :)

Menu Plan Monday 8-2

2010-08-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Monday: Butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage sauce (cheese ravioli for the boys), garlic sauteed spinach (beans for the boys), chopped salad, french bread

Tuesday: (GNO for me) Venison roast in the crockpot, mashed potatoes, wax beans

Wednesday: Garlic lime chicken, brown rice, corn, fresh fruit

Thursday: Dinner out before church

Friday: Frozen pizza, salad

Saturday: Grilled shrimp, grilled veggies, grilled potatoes, fire and ice salad

Sunday: Spaghetti and meatballs, italian flat beans w/ garlic, salad, french bread

Desserts:
Chocolate chip cookies
Homemade ice cream

Why does it take hosting a major event to get your house in order?

2010-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

The fun and games are over ladies. I start back to work in 24 days and the thought of it makes me want to cry! ;) It has been a wonderful summer here and we have accomplished quite a bit. I have also made sure to have lots of fun with the boys.

We are hosting a family reunion for my hubby's family as well as his parents' 50th wedding anniversary party. We will have *GASP* twelve houseguests for six days (as well as five others that will be joining us for meals, but staying in a hotel). Lucky them! ;) There will be between 40-50 people for a casual Friday night gathering and then the party on Saturday. The chorus that keeps running through my brain right now is Y'all gon' make me lose my mind up in HERE, up in here. Hosting this event is definitely stressing me out at this point. It's hard because this is my husband's family and he has three sisters, so even though the events are at our house, they are helping to plan them long distance. I have no doubt I could totally pull this off on my own (and it might be easier than getting so many different ideas), but I am walking a fine line here. Needless to say, the next week as we get ready for all of this is going to be a ton of work. The good news is that our house will look better than it ever has by the time we are ready.

Some major things we have done:
~Painted the den
~Bought new couches for the living room and den
~Bought new decor for the console in the foyer
~Bought new bedding for our oldest ds's room (he really needed it)
~Organized the boys' bedrooms and closets (God Bless Greg he did this)
~Organized the basement (well Greg and Drew did this, I don't do basements ;))
~The cleaning lady came Thurs so the house is clean and she will be back the day before everyone arrives

Work in progress:
~Paint touch ups
~Grocery shopping and menu planning for the meals and party
~Organizing the kitchen pantry- I have been doing that today and it's been SO not fun! ;)
~Organizing all kitchen drawers
~Getting all laundry done and prior to guests arriving

What we plan on still doing:
~Buying a new blender (ours broke)
~Buying some new pillows for the boys' rooms
~Buying new fingertip towels for the powder room
~Changing the bedding in Drew's room back to PB football
~Painting oldest ds's bedroom
~I am negotiating getting the other two boys' bedrooms painted because they desperately need it. They still have the craptastic flat builder's beige paint that shows EVERYTHING!
~Organizing the clutter corner of the master bedroom
~Organizing the master closet
~Organizing the office
~Iron and put back up the shower curtain in the boys bathroom
~Put up the valence in the boys' bathroom
~Frame the adorable prints for the boys' bathroom that I got YEARS ago.
~A ton of baking before people get here and a MAJOR Sam's club run for food.

Things that I wanted done that just are not gonna happen:
~Painting the white doors on the main level
~Painting the white trim on the main level
~Painting the master bathroom
~Painting the powder room (this actually has been painted, but I would like to choose a color instead of beige)
~Curtains for the living room and den
~New office furniture and painting that room (that seems to be at the bottom of the priority list).

I have been taking photos of some of my decorating/organizing projects and promise to post them sometime soon.

Summer Cooking

2010-06-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies. I have been a bit AWOL from the blog world, but I do assure you I am alive and well and enjoying spending every minute of summer vacation with my boys. Well let me rephrase that, I am enjoying spending the minutes the three of them get along, and refrain from fighting, arguing, and teasing each other. Those minutes seem to be few and far between on some days. :)

I definitely enjoyed the leisurely pace to my days this past week. My oldest had FB(that would be football not facebook) conditioning Mon and Wed mornings for an hour. He also had two nights of BB practice. The oldest two had golf camp Friday morning. Having one thing to do during the morning is perfect. It gets us out of the house, but doesn't overwhelm our schedule.

I have had lots of time to cook more elaborate breakfasts than we normally have. The favorite of the boys seems to be ham and cheese scrambled egg with bacon on the side. We had that one morning and another morning we had the same type of eggs with sausage on the side.

I have been stocking up on all sorts of fresh produce. We have had watermelon, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. The boys like to make fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits. I always have fresh limes and lemons for cooking, slicing up to flavor water, salad dressing, or baking.

I have purchased many fresh veggies for salads, lunches, and snacking. Staples in my fridge/pantry are lettuce, cucumber, tomato, avocado (I know that is really a fruit, but I treat it like a veggie), broccoli slaw, organic carrots, celery, peppers, onions. I haven't bought mushrooms, but those are a typical staple.

We like to keep a variety of potatoes on hand: baking, red, and yukon gold. I also like to have yellow(vidalia when in season), white, and red onions for cooking, salsas or pico, and salads.

I have been craving Gazpacho for awhile now and made the linked recipe last night. I cut it in half (good thing as it still leaked out of my cuisinart). I did not use the three herbs suggested, but added half a chopped jalapeno (no seeds), and lots of fresh cilantro. I have to say I was not dissapointed in the results. It was delicious as well as fresh tasting and refreshing.

We have a very extensive herb garden that we plant every year. So far I have been mainly using the chives and basil, but there are several herb I plan on incorporating into recipes.

I made these delicious Nectarine Muffins the other morning. I have made this recipe before and it never fails. I always just use nectarines. The other day I think I used three and then had enough batter to make 12 regular sized muffins. These are some seriously fabulous muffins and I highly recommend you try out the recipe.

I tend to a lot of sandwiches and salads for lunch for myself. One fabulous sandwich that I recently discovered and made several times this week, was an Arnold Sandwich thin round, ham, fresh sliced mozarrella (must some in the liquid), tomato, and basil with salt and pepper. This is so yummy and fresh tasting with the basil picked fresh. A side salad that I ALWAYS have the ingredients for is my Broccoli Slaw. I take that and add 1 T sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, and garlic olive oil with salt and pepper. I seriosusly never get sick of this and it's a great way to eat a veggie. We get all our olive oils and vinegars from The Oilerie. I cannot recommend them enough. I use the garlic olive oil ALL THE TIME! We usually hit the store in Fish Creek when we in Door County for a weekend, but we also can just go to the store in Brookfield. I use their balsamic vinegar too. We have many different flavors of both vinegar and olive oil.

We have been making a ton of different flavors of homemade ice cream, but I will do a separate post on that next week. I hope you are all being able to enjoy that fabulous produce available this time of year (we relish summer produce in WI).

Summertime Organization

2010-06-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Things have been very quiet on this blog due to the end of the school year. There has been lots of drama and tragedy at school, but I will not bore you with the details. Suffice to say that I am THRILLED to pieces that my summer break has finally arrived. Today is officially Day 1 of my break (not counting weekends) and I am definitely going to make the most of my time of to refresh, rejuvenate, and declutter.

We have been busy around the house (well mostly my husband Greg has been). A few weeks ago he painted the den. Here is a link to my other blog with photos. Just to prove we I haven't been a total slacker. I can't take credit for the painting, other than choosing the color which matches our accent wall in the living room.

Greg has also been busy trying to ~~throw out all the useless crap~~ delcutter and organize the basement. We are hosting his family reunion/50th anniversary party for his parents this August so we have a ginormous to do list for the summer and most of it must be done prior to the party. The good news is the house will look awesome with more rooms being painted, the bad news is all the work it will entail.

This week is kind of a transition week for me because the boys are attending VBS and our church is 40 min away so that involves lots of travel. Fortunately they can spend some time at my parents (who live 12 min from church), but we still have BB games they need to be home for.

I have set a goal for myself that I will spend 60 min daily organizing. This 60 min will not go toward normal cleaning/laundry, but will involve working on something that I have overlooked for a LONG time. My first areas of business will be the master bedroom, closets, and the office. Today I am attacking Mt Washmore so I will spend the 60 min challenge time going through things that have accumulated in our master bedroom (damn that large seating area that is just a clutter magnet these days).

I do plan on revitlazing this blog. Thanks for all of you that have been hanging on. I have been getting my life organized, I just haven't had time to blog about it while teaching full time. Gotta love summer break.

Menu Plan Monday 4-26

2010-04-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Monday: Sandwiches, Chips, Spinach salad

Tuesday: Balsamic roasted pork loin, Mashed potatoes, Beans, Arugula salad

Wednesday: Leftovers (Hair appt for me)

Thursday: Trader Joe's Ham and Gruyere Pizza

Friday: Pot luck at Church for Drew's Communion Milestone (haven't decided what I am bringing)

Saturday: Garlic lime chicken, Brown rice, Corn, Fresh fruit

Sunday: Cheese manicotti, Garlic italian flat beans, Antipasta salad, French Bread

Menu Plan Monday 4-12

2010-04-12T04:03:00.000-07:00

Monday: Sandwiches, chips, fruit and yogurt parfaits

Tuesday: Glazed meatloaf (last time I made two so I just have to take this out of the freezer), Baked potatoes, Maple Roasted Butternut Squash (Barefoot Contessa recipe)

Wednesday: Leftovers (Exec board meeting for me)

Thursday: Chicken fried rice, Toast, Citrus fruits (fresh from FL)

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Grilled pork chops, Grilled potatoes, Salad, Dessert: Fruit pizza

Sunday: Garlic lime chicken, Brown rice, Corn, Fresh fruit

We're home! Sunday To Do List

2010-04-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely fabulous Florida vacation. The weather was perfect and we soaked up as much sun and fun as we could before heading back to WI. Speaking of heading back to WI, the traffic on the way home was absolutely crazy. So MANY MANY delays. I thought I might go insane. After all the fun and games it is back to reality and my rather unglamorous to do list for the day. I cannot believe that April will be half over this week. I guess that's what happens when you start the month on vacation.

I plan on getting back on track with Project Organize Now. There will be TONS of organizing going on in our household this spring/summer as we get ready to host a family reunion of Greg's family (over 20 of us) that will go from Tues-Sun with a 50th anniversary party on Friday night/Sat for extended family (probably over 50). Thank goodness I have months to figure this all out (and of course Greg's siblings are helping with the party). His sister's family (SIX kids) and his parents will be staying at our house. God Help Me! ;)

Needless to say there will be lots of painting and some decorating to spruce things up in certain rooms. A new couch REALLY needs to be purchased for the living room and the basement needs to be decluttered. Greg has been working hard on that.

In the spirit of full disclosure my 40 day lent trash bag challenge was a FAIL. I probably through out 10 bags, so the effort was not for nothing. There was too much to do to get ready for out trip to FL an that was the first priority.

Today is all about getting back to the reality that is my non vacation life. Boo! We invited my parents over for dinner tonight so we can give them the goodies we purchased for them on the trip home (lots of citrus from FL and some Georgia pecans). We will cooks something simple for dinner. Cooper has missed them much and we skipped church this morning so we could get unpacked and organized.

Sunday to do list:
1) Laundry, laundry, and more laundry
2) Unpack, unpack, and more unpack
3) Grocery shopping
4) Weekly menu plan (after a 2 or more week hiatus)
5) Straighten up house

Florida bound

2010-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

I have been a busy busy girl for the past week getting ready for our trip to FL. I have all three boys packed. YAY! Tonight I went through my clothes and put together five outfits and about 20 pairs of sandals. I have a section of my closet devoted to possible clothes to bring on our trip and I need to keep whittling down what to bring. I have my to do lists so I make sure nothing is forgotten.

I had a meeting after school today and decided to do some baking for our trip when I got home. I had made the dough for some chocolate chip M&M cookies yesterday and baked them today.

I also made some Special K bars with some decorative sprinkles.

And also some rice krispy treats. Everything looks better with sprinkles. :)

I have all three boys packed up. Holla! I haven't had time to post any organization tips lately, because I have been focusing on getting packed up and organizing the house.

Planning for a road trip

2010-03-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

We have an upcoming road trip planned to FL and I am starting the process of organizing for the trip. We will stay at a hotel for one night on our way to visit my ILS.

Things to do before you pack:
~Make sure all laundry is clean and put away (this makes packing so much easier!) (√)
~Make sure the house is clean (no one wants to return to a messy house) (√)
~Make a shopping list for food/travel items/toiletries (√)
~Notify post office to have mail held (√)
~Cancel the paper while you are gone (√)
~Plan route on GPS or map (√)
~Get van serviced and fill tank with gas the night before you leave
~Make sure all bills are paid or set for auto pay while you are gone
~Download songs/shows to iPods
~Haircuts for boys (√)
~Get cash from ATM

Make a list of things you need to pack:
~We always pack our own pillows when we travel
~Each family member gets a list of things to pack (if your children are old enough have them make a list of the games/toys/books they want to make sure to bring)
~Each of our boys has a square carrier to keep their travel items organized in the van
~Food/snacks to pack
~Medications and first aid kit
~Pack one bag per person and then have one bag for all toiletries
~If you will be stopping at a hotel for the night pack one bag with jammies/clothes for the next day so you don't have to unpack every bag

Things to do before you leave:
~Change sheets the night before you leave so you come home to clean beds (√)
~Make sure your house is clean. It is so nice to come home to a sparkling clean house :)
~Clean out the fridge before you go and throw out anything that will not be good when you return (√)
~Water plants or set them up in a water bath before you go
~Notify neighbors that are keeping an eye on your house (√)
~Set the furnace where you want it

PON Week #5 "Organize Your Personal Information"

2010-03-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am following the weekly schedule found in the book:

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Week 5 is "Organize Your Personal Information" This is the first chapter of the section on Organizing Your Papers.

This Week's Goals:

~Decide where you would like to store this information. I have not decided where to keep my master list of where all information is stored. If I get super organized I will leave a copy with my parents so it anything happens they have a copy of the master list.

~Label each category so it can be easily referenced.

These are the categories the book lists: I added anything listed in blue
A) Finances
   ~Credit score
   ~Credit/Debit Card numbers and phone numbers to call if lost or stolen
   ~Bank account numbers
   ~All budgeting information
   ~Net worth statement

B) Health
   ~Allergies
   ~Blood pressure
   ~Health issues
   ~Cholesterol level
   ~Family blood types
   ~Insurance EOB forms
   ~FLEX receipts
   ~Immunization Records

C) Safety
   ~Emergency contact info
   ~License plate and VIN numbers
   ~Current photos of family members with height and weight info
   ~ Photocopies of passports

D) Just in case
   ~Measurements and clothing sizes

E) Other
   ~Children's report cards
   ~Important school papers/info (I keep these in a separate binder for each of my boys)

Important Documents that should be kept in a fireproof safe:
   ~Marriage license
   ~Birth certificates
   ~Adoption papers
   ~Auto titles
   ~Stocks and bonds certificates
   ~Wills
   ~Death certificates :(
   ~Household Inventory List
   ~Valuable contacts
   ~Passports
   ~Home deeds and titles
   ~Insurance info


I need to get myself on track with paperwork. It is definitely an area in my life that needs much improvement!

*Stay tuned for the chapter on "Organizing Your Trip" coming soon. We will be a doing a road trip to FL in April and I plan on posting about getting organized for the trip.

Menu plan Monday 3-15

2010-03-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Monday: Pizza hotdish (recipe follows), green beans, fresh baked bread, pineapple, pear, cherry side

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Guinness Corned Beef, cabbage, red potatoes, marble rye bread, irish soda bread

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Garlic lime chicken (recipe follows), brown rice, corn, fresh fruit We ended up having leftovers again

Sunday: Dinner at PF Chang's

Pizza Hotdish:
Brown 1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck in an electric frypan. I season the meat with Mc Cormick's Pizza Seasoning Grinder and also add sliced mushrooms. Cook one 12 oz bag of whole wheat egg noodles al dente while browning meat. Once meat is browned drain any fat and then add one 15 oz can of pizza sauce and parmesan cheese to taste. Mix in drained egg noodles. You can also add sliced black olives if you like at this point. Top with 8 oz shredded mozarella cheese and cook until melted.

Garlic Lime Chicken

Mix together:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp thyme

Sprinkle mixture on both sides of:
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

In a skillet heat over medium high heat:
2 TB butter
2 TB olive oil

Saute chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side.
Turn down the heat, remove the chicken (keeping warm) and add:
½ C chicken broth
4 TB lime juice

Whisk up the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Keep cooking until sauce has reduced slightly.

Add chicken back to the pan to thoroughly coat and serve.

Serves 6. Per Serving: 343 Calories; 11g Fat (31.1% calories from fat); 55g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 147mg Cholesterol; 612mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat.

PON Week #4 "Organize Your Priorities"

2010-03-03T15:16:00.000-08:00

I am following the weekly schedule found in the book:

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Week 4 is "Organize Your Priorities" This is the final chapter of the section on Organizing Yourself.

This Week's Goals:

~Make a list of your top ten priorities. Your priorities should reflect your core values. Post this list somewhere where you will see it often. This is a great idea. Greg and I did something similar when we did the Living Compass Programs during our marriage enrichment retreat.

~Make a list of all the activities in which you currently participate. Compare the list to your top ten priorities. Decide on activities that can be eliminated to make time for your top ten. Focus on cutting out activities that take your time, but don't bring you joy. It's amazing when you look at your priorities and you look at how you spend your time and they just don't seem to mesh. I am fortunate that I have finished up with graduate classes and now need to only take 6 credits every five years for my teaching license renewal. Not taking classes leaves much more time to spend with my family. YAY!

~Right now, schedule time in your planner to contribute to your priorities. Appointments may include:
   ~Phone call to a friend you need to catch up with
   ~Sit down dinners with your family
   ~Family movie or game night
   ~Exercise time
   ~A date with your partner
   ~Reading time for you
   ~Time to read to your children
   ~Craft time or time to work on a project
   I think scheduling things is really important if you want to make sure you actually do these things. We now have a weekly date night and it has been amazing after just three weeks. Before that I cannot remember the last time my dh and I went on a date. I need to start scheduling my exercise time because it seems that is the only way I will actually do it. Try this method out and let me know how it works for you.

~Learn to say no, especially when things do not align with your priorities. You don't have to say no to everything, but you also do not have to say yes to everything. Keep in mind what works with your core values,

~Honor your priorities each day. Amen! Some weeks I have less control over my after school time because of work commitments (i.e. committee meetings or PT conferences). There are some non negotiables in my job or dh's and we have to plan accordingly for that.

I have gotten lots of comments and emails from people wondering how I do it all. Trust me I don't do it all everyday. I have good days and bad days like everyone else. I fall short of my goals and do not always cross everything off my To Do list, but just by being aware of what needs to be done and keeping my thoughts and goals organized, I am accomplishing much more than I otherwise would. The more planned I am and the more organized and clean my house is, the happier and more content I feel. And you all know they saying, "If mama 'aint happy, 'aint nobody happy". :)

Just remember every step toward organization is a step away from disorganization. Good luck this week and let me know how it goes!

Master To Do List for March

2010-03-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

1) Spiritual
   ~Lenten Devotionals with boys
   ~Attend church every Sunday (√) (√) (√)
2) Financial
   ~March budget plan
   ~Track all expenses
   ~Pay healthcare deductibles
   ~File papers
   ~Set up accounts on Mint.com
   ~Make furniture payment
   ~$1000 emergency fund build up (in progress)
   ~Turn in school receipts for reimbursement
   ~File taxes (√)
3) Fitness/Health
   ~Exercise minimum of 4x weekly for 20 min
   ~Track EVERYTHING for WW (√)
   ~Follow good health guidelines (√)
   ~Take multivitamin daily (√)
   ~Start 30 day shred
4) Family/Marriage
   ~Attend Living Compass class at church (√)(√)(√)
   ~Plan Spring Break (in progress)
   ~Purchase bday gifts/cards for Greg and Dad (√)
   ~Friday night date night- dinner at Bacchus
   ~Make reservations at Bacchus for Greg's bday dinner (√)
   ~Celebrate Greg's bday with family (√)
   ~Celebrate Mom and Dad's bdays (√)
   ~RW Spring carnival (√)
   ~Start boys on chore charts (or chore jar) (move to April)
   ~Family game night
5) Home
   ~ Put up Easter decor (in progress)
   ~Select paint colors (move to April)
   ~Organize home office (in progress)
   ~Organize bookshelf in den (move to April)
   ~Organize bedroom closets (4) (in progress)
   ~Organize master bedroom (in progress)
   ~Organize pantry (in progress)
   ~Organize linen closet (in progress)
   ~Organize coat closet on main level (move to April)
   ~40 day trash bag declutter for lent (in progress)
   ~Purchase new living room couch (move to April)
6) Beauty
   ~Schedule facial
   ~Mani/Pedi/Brow wax
   ~Purchase skin care items
   ~Purchase hair care items (√)
   ~Purchase new nail polish colors (√)
7) Menu Planning/Meals
   ~Weekly menu planning (√)
   ~Try out five new recipes (√)
   ~Make two new dessert recipes (move to April)
   ~St Patty's Day dinner (√)
8) Laundry/Clothing
   ~Wash all new clothes purchased (in progress)
   ~Purchase clothes for FL trip (√)
   ~Purchase sandals for FL trip
   ~Organize closets (master closet-in progress)
   ~Dry clean clothes-coats/sweaters (move to April)
   ~Repair clothing items (move to April)
   ~Replace lining on black wool coat (move to April)
9) Career
   ~Finish up Middle School Review Committee work (√)
   ~Organize binders
   ~Organize shelves behind desk
10)Personal/Hobbies
   ~Scrapbook (move to April)
   ~Read one book for pleasure (move to April)
   ~March GNO (√)
   ~Mail Ben's thank you notes
   ~Mail Favorite Things Swap package (√)
   ~Plan get together with Gs (move to April)

Menu Plan Monday 3/1

2010-02-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

Monday: Ham sandwiches on bakery buns, bacon coleslaw, chips

Tuesday: Glazed meatloaf, baked potatoes, squash

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Pizza hotdish, green beans, fresh baked bread

Friday: Date night at Bacchus for Greg's birthday dinner

Saturday: Bacon wrapped chicken, Crash hot potatoes, Corn

Sunday: Greg's family birthday dinner out

Check out Menu Plan Monday for lots of menu plans!

PON Week #3 "Organize Your Cleaning Schedule"

2010-02-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

I am following the weekly schedule found in the book:

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Week 3 is "Organize Your Cleaning Schedule"

This Week's Goals:

~Make a list of all the chores that need to be done around the house. Break them into daily, weekly, and monthly activities. Create a chore chart and have a family meeting to delegate the jobs. Post the chart so everyone can see it on a daily basis. I have done this in the past and it has worked quite well. We are very blessed to have two ladies that clean our house top to bottom every other Thursday. Make no mistake though, having a cleaning service does not get you off the hook from having to clean your house. It just means that know know it will be deep cleaned every other week and you need to keep up with the day to day cleaning (and deep cleaning on that off week).

~Carry a basket around the house while you are cleaning. If you find something that does not belong where it is, put it in the basket. Just make sure you empty the basket out and it does not become a clutter collector! This a fab idea and I sort of do my own version of it. As I am going through the house picking up things I put anything that needs to be taken upstairs on the steps. When I am done cleaning I make sure that I take everything upstairs. You will not see clutter left on my staircase because that is the first thing that all visitors see when they come into the foyer. We definitely have our clutter hot spots; mainly certain counters in the kitchen and the laundry room of course.

~Take 15 min each night to straighten up the house. Make it a family chore by assigning each person a different room and list this on the chore chart. This is such an easy and simple concept, but one many people do not take the time to do. I LOVE the idea of everyone in the family being assigned a room. Either Greg or I make sure the kitchen is clean and we usually have the boys work on the living room and den. The spouse that is not cleaning up kitchen could make sure the laundry room is clean (that is where all our winter gear goes, as well as, the boys backpack so it is definitely a clutter magnet. My youngest is four and he tends to help out, but is not ready to do a room all by himself. The older boys are great cleaners (especially my middle son). I think if this becomes an expectation/habit you can set the timer for 15 min and it will become more of a game/challenge to see what each person can accomplish. We have used the timer method for years to increase the cleaning efforts of our boys, with great success.

~Clean one room or complete one chore each day. This will save you from wasting your entire Saturday cleaning. I LOVE this idea and would love for my family to buy into it more. My dh and I both work full-time so cleaning after a full day of work and making dinner/doing dishes, is sometimes the last thing we want to do. We definitely do much more cleaning on the weekends, but I would love to get into the routine of doing one thing each day to leave less for the weekends. Things are obviously easier to keep up with in the summer because I am not teaching.

~Assign each family member his or her own towel. Color-coding the towels is the easiest way to tell them apart. I actually thing this is a great idea. I want to purchase new towels sometime this year and picking out two different colors for the master bath will be easy. Right now the boys' bathroom is Pottery Barn Froggies and there is a blue and green that would be perfect, but I am not sure about the third color and think white is a mistake for little boys (well my boys anyway and I speak from personal experience). Anyone want to share a brand of towels you love and where you purchased them?

~Place a set of disposable disinfecting wipes in each bathroom. It's a quick way to keep the bathroom neat between thorough cleanings. I completely need to buy stock in Clorox wipes. Three boys, three bathrooms "nough said!

~Save space by minimizing cleaners. Start buying one all-purpose cleaner whenever possible. This makes sense. I know there are all sorts of homemade cleaners people use. We use vinegar on our hardwood floors. I use windex for the window and glass and myriad other uses. What are your favorite cleaners?

The author shares several great tips in this chapter and I will share a few on my faves:

~Make your bed everyday.

~Clean up the kitchen as soon as dinner is done.

~If you have small children write down jobs they can do on small pieces of paper and stick them in a jar. Each day have your child choose a chore from the jar and complete the task. This makes chores a bit more fun.

I think this chapter has a lot of great tips and ideas for getting yourself organized. Remember that being organized is a journey, not a destination. As soon as you get yourself organized everything starts over (like laundry). Every step you take in the right direction will help you feel more organized and at peace with your home and life. Good luck and please answer some of the questions I asked above.

Menu Plan Monday 2-22-10

2010-02-21T20:43:00.000-08:00

Monday: Chili in the crockpot, served with sour cream, cheese, scallions, pepper rings, crackers, and fritos

Tuesday: Crispy chicken, Corn, Baked potatoes, cranberry

Wednesday: Soup bar: Broccoli cheese, chicken wild rice, or tomato

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Bacon wrapped chicken, Crash hot potatoes, Prince Edward Vegetable Medley

Sunday: Glazed meatloaf, baked potatoes, squash

Check out Menu Plan Monday for lots of menu plans!

Weekend To Do List 2/20

2010-02-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Spiritual:

~Attend Fundraising Dinner/Auction Saturday night (√)

~Pick up Lenten Devotional (√)

~Attend church (√)

~Attend Adult Ed Class "The Peacemaking Church" (√)

Financial:

~Find receipts for school

~Organize 2010 bills/paperwork/receipts

Fitness/Health:

~Exercise Su

~Track all food in WW journal Sa/Su

~Drink daily water Sa/Su (√)

~Attend WW meeting Sat morning (√)

~Follow good health guidelines Sa/Sun (√)

Family/Marriage:

~Friday night date night w/Greg (√)

~Play board games with the boys

~Lunch out with family Sunday (√)

~Sunday dinner and family chat time

Home:

~Get rid of FIVE trash bags of stuff for Wed-Sun
~Organize linen closet upstairs
~Straighten house (√)
~Spend 30 min decluttering office (√)
~Spend 1 hour on master bedroom (√)

Laundry:

~Darks (√)

~Whites

~Bedding (√)

~Towels (√)

~Colors (√) (√)

~Bathroom rugs

Beauty/Accessories:

~Paint nails

~Organize jewelry

~Declutter/organize purses

Menu Planning/Meals:

~Get post read for Menu Plan Monday

~Plan lunches for school

~Grocery shop

40 Trash Bag Lenten Challenge

2010-02-17T08:03:00.000-08:00

I think this is a wonderful idea that Ann posted about on her blog. I am not Catholic (Presbyterian girl here), but whether or not you follow the challenge for religious reasons, the outcome will be fabulous either way. Can you imagine getting rid of 40 bags of stuff?! It would be a drop in the bucket of what I need to get rid of in my house, but it would certainly be a step in the right direction. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please follow the link and join in. 40 Trash Bag Lenten Challenge I am joining! If you join please let me know how it goes for you. :)

PON Week 2 "Organize Your Schedule"

2010-02-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

I will be attempting to follow the weekly schedule found in the book:

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Week 2 is "Organize Your Schedule"

This Week's Goals:
~Find ONE daily planner to use. I have been using my iPhone calendar app. I like it, but it does make me nervous to think that if anything happens to my phone I have lost my calendar. I also love google calendar and how they will send you a reminder through email. I need to find a great calendar/organizer app for my iPhone. Any suggestions?
~Sit down with your family and plan your week/month ahead of time so you can:
   *Schedule babysitters
   *Divide errands
   *Plan meals
   *Divide chores
   I think for us it would make sense to do this on a weekly basis. We obviously do our calendars monthly, but a weekly check-in as a couple would be great.
~Gather all To Do items from post-its and other lists and make one main list in your planner.
~Sort To Do tasks by:
   A) Tasks that need to be done today. Schedule these in your planner.
   B) Tasks that need to be done this week. Schedule these in your planner.
   C) Tasks that need to be done in the future.
   I am the queen of TO DO lists, but I really like the idea of breaking them into A,B, and C lists to prioritize. I used to have a TOP FIVE To Do list everyday and it really made me prioritize what the five most important tasks were that needed to be accomplished. I need to make more realistic To Do lists for myself. There are only so many hours in the day and sometimes my To Do lists are not realistic for the time I have available.
~Once you have tasks sorted into categories, number the tasks in each category, in the order they must be accomplished. Do you A (daily) tasks first, then B(weekly) or even C (future). If you don't get all your A tasks done, make those unfinished tasks top priority for the next day.
~Schedule dentist and doctor appointments for the next year.
~Make a long term To Do list. Use this list to write things down that you won't have to worry about forgetting. I need to get working on this.

Good luck focusing on Organizing Your Schedule this week. Please let me know how things go for you. I am still looking to get caught up after a late start on these weekly focus areas so stay tuned for another one coming this week.

PON Week 1 "Organize Your Mind"

2010-02-03T03:38:00.000-08:00

I will be attempting to follow the weekly schedule found in the book

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Week 1 is "Organize Your Mind"

According to the author the first step of organizing your life is organizing your thoughts and clearing your mental clutter. I know that mental clutter is a BIG obstacle in my life. I hold many important roles: wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister, friend, and coworker just to name a few. Each role has myriad responsibilities and sometimes keeping on top of everything can be daunting.

I think the author's point that your long to do list is not what causes you stress, it's the way you feel about it. If you start to feel overwhelmed you may procrastinate and then accomplish nothing at all. That is so me! My WW leader said it best, Perfectionism leads to procrastination which leads to paralysis.

Goals for this week:

~Get a sufficient amount of sleep each night. I am an early bird and if I go to bed too late it sets my morning off the wrong way, it can impact my whole day in a negative way.

~Make a daily to do list. (this is a HUGE necessity for me). I am much more productive if I have a list to follow.

~Limit TV watching. Another big one for me. At night TV is my relaxation. I do notice that during weeks when there are no new shows on, I am able to accomplish much more.

~Schedule time to exercise. I have so much more energy when I have exercised.

~Schedule more "me time". I do a fairly good job of scheduling "me time". I have a wonderful group of ladies that gets together every night for GNO. Much cheaper than therapy I tell you! lol I try and schedule manis and pedis on a regular basis, but I should do this more often. I also should try and make sure that my mom and I do a monthly shopping/lunch trip. We always have such a great time together. This past weekend I went on a retreat with other women from my church (my mom went too). It was a fabulous weekend of female bonding and spiritual renewal! Even taking time to read a magazine or book (or catch up on blogs) can be your special "me time".

~Eliminate energy drainers in your life. I really need work on this. There is clutter all over our house and looking at just drains my motivation. I need to work on the clothes in my closet/master bedroom, our office, and the bookcase in the den. These would be the top three areas I should start with.

~Take control of your time. Set goals and break them into daily TO DOs. I am a list maker. I swear if I don't have a to do list to follow on a Saturday I accomplish next to nothing. My to do list keeps me on track and it motivates me to use my time wisely.

This chapter gives lots of food for thought. I think it is important to be in the right frame of mind to get your life organized. Your attitude and motivation will be key elements to successfully organizing your life.

I will be doubling up this week and doing the next chapter because Week 1 was pretty easy. Good luck

Project Organize Now- Overview

2010-02-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

I will be attempting to follow the weekly schedule found in the book

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I thought it was a very simple and straightforward book that would be a great resource to try and organize your life one week at a time. I am a bit behind on the weekly time frame because I just recently purchased the book. I think what I will try and do is double up a few weeks here in the beginning to try and get things on track.

The book is broken down into the following sections of organization:
Organize Yourself (Weeks 1-4)
Organize Your Papers (Weeks 5-12)
Organize Your Things (Weeks 13-19)
Organize Your High Traffic Areas (Weeks 20-30)
Organize Your Personal Spaces (Weeks 31-37)
Organize Your Storage Areas (Weeks 38-43)
Organize Your Special Events (Weeks 44-52)

I may choose to switch around weeks if it suits my organization plan better. Feel free to post along with the organization challenges.

Menu Plan Monday 1-25-10

2010-01-25T02:59:00.000-08:00

Monday: Leftovers from BD Mongolian's

Tuesday: Parmesan crusted pork chops, maple glazed butternut squash,

Wednesday: Crispy chicken, baked potatoes, corn, cranberry

Thursday: BLTs

Friday: Frozen pizza (I will be gone at a church retreat)

Saturday: I will be gone at a church retreat, not sure what the guys will eat

Sunday: Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic italian flat beans, antipasta salad, french bread

Menu Plan Monday 1-18

2010-01-18T03:44:00.000-08:00

Monday: Glazed meatloaf baked potatoes, squash

Tuesday: Hair appt for me Tovers

Wednesday: Sloppy joes, chips, fruit

Thursday: Taking the boys to my parents for the weekend, not sure if we will meet them somewhere for dinner

Friday: Boys gone dinner out at Bacchus

Saturday: Boys gone; My staff Christmas party, lots of great food!

Sunday: Penne alla Vodka, Salad, French bread

If you are looking for more menu ideas check out Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie!

Weekend to do list 1/15:

2010-01-15T15:21:00.000-08:00

Spiritual:

~Find daily devotion book and start using it today

~Church Sunday (√)

~Attend Adult Ed Class "The Peacemaking Church" (√)

Financial:

~January budget

~Start using Mint.com

~Expense track

~Find receipts for school

~Organized 2010 bills/paperwork

~Organized household binder

~Find all gift cards and make not of bonus ones that expire

Fitness/Health:

~Exercise

~Track all food in WW journal (√)

~Drink daily water (√)

~Purchase and start taking a daily multivitamin

~Follow good health guidelines

Family/Marriage:

~Start planning Ben's birthday parties/set date (family/friend)

~Play board games this weekend with the boys

~Spend some one-on-one time reading or playing with Cooper

~Lunch out with family Sunday (√)

~Sunday dinner and family chat time (√)
~Have boys finish writing thank you notes (√)

Home:

~Work on home decor goals for 2010

~Finish packing away Christmas decor

~Put up Valentine's day decor

~Organize pantry

~Straighten house

~Spend 30 min decluttering the office

~Spend 1 hour on Master closet

~Spend 1 hour on Master bedroom

Laundry:

~Darks (√)

~Whites

~Bedding

~Towels

~Colors (√) (√)

~Bathroom rugs

Beauty/Accessories:

~Mani

~Pedi

~Brow Wax

~Organize jewelry

~Declutter/organize purses

Menu Planning/Meals:

~Get post read for Menu Plan Monday (√)

~Plan lunches for school (√)

~Try at least one WW recipe

~Try at least on Barefoot Contessa recipe

~Make grocery list for Trader Joe's and local grocery store (√)

~Clip coupons

~Bake (√) and frost snowflake sugar cookies

~Bake banana bread (√)

~Bake apple bread

I copied my list from last weekend and am hoping to accomplish quite a bit.

Menu Plan Monday 1-11

2010-01-10T19:22:00.000-08:00

Monday: Roasted pork panini with cranberry walnut chutney, arugula, and brie, bacon coleslaw, chips

Tuesday: Crockpot Baby Back Ribs, Corn, Baked potatoes, bacon coleslaw, applesauce

Wednesday: Exec board meeting for me, Chicken fried rice, toast, fruit They ended up having leftover ribs and bacon wrapped chicken

Thursday: Chicken fried rice

Friday: Penne alla Vodka, Salad, French bread We had frozen pizza: pepperoni, canadian bacon, and TJ's ham and gruyere flat bread pizza

Saturday: Venison steaks, mashed potatoes, creamed corn

Sunday: TBD

Check out Menu Plan Monday for lots of menu plans!

Weekend To Do List

2010-01-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Spiritual:
~Find daily devotion book and start using it today
~Church Sunday (√)
~Attend Adult Ed Class "The Peacemaking Church" (√)

Financial:
~January budget

~Start using Mint.com

~Expense track

~Find receipts for school

~Organized 2010 bills/paperwork

~Organized household binder
~Find all gift cards and make not of bonus ones that expire

Fitness/Health:
~Exercise
~Track all food in WW journal (Sat)
~Drink daily water (√)
~Purchase and start taking a daily multivitamin
~Follow good health guidelines (√)

Family/Marriage:
~Start planning Ben's birthday parties (family/friend)
~Play Clue this weekend with the boys (√)
~Spend some one-on-one time reading or playing with Cooper (√)
~Lunch out with family Sunday (√)
~Sunday dinner and family chat time

Home:
~Work on home decor goals for 2010
~Finish packing away Christmas decor
~Put up Valentine's day decor
~Clean out fridge (√)
~Organize pantry
~Straighten house
~Spend 30 min decluttering the office
~Spend 1 hour on Master closet
~Spend 1 hour on Master bedroom

Laundry:
~Darks
~Whites (√)
~Bedding- 4 bedrooms (√) (√) (√)
~Towels
~Colors
~Bathroom rugs

Beauty/Accessories:
~Mani
~Pedi
~Brow Wax
~Organize jewelry
~Declutter/organize purses

Menu Planning/Meals:
~Get post read for Menu Plan Monday
~Plan lunches for school
~Try at least one WW recipe
~Try at least on Barefoot Contessa recipe
~Make grocery list for Sam's (√), Trader Joe's-shop there next Sun, and local grocery store
~Clip coupons
~Bake and frost snowflake sugar cookies
~Bake banana bread (√)
~Bake apple bread

This is my to do list and I don't really plan on accomplishing all of this over the weekend. I like to have it written down as a record of all the things that need to be done. I will update my progress throughout the weekend.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

School End of Day Routine

2010-01-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

If I accomplish the following list of things before I leave school for the day, I am assured of starting off the following day of work stress-free. It also means if I have a last minute sick day (as happens with three young boys) I am completely prepared for a sub taking over my classroom.

I started following a list like this a few years ago and then really implemented it as a sort of check-out list when I had a student teacher. It was helpful for her to know what the expectations were of her prior to leaving school for the day. She worked very hard to always have things set up for the next day (in case she would not be there I would have to take over and I did not want to be left in a lurch). Obviously the list just stuck to school related responsibilities for her.

I strongly urge you to make some sort of list like this whatever your career may be if you work outside the home. Coming to work in the morning knowing you are completely organized and ready for the day is such a liberating feeling! (In the future I will share the afternoon list I use during summers/vacations when I am a SAHM).

School-End of the Day routine:

Write out assignment board for tomorrow.

Check tomorrow’s day file has needed copies.

Organize desk and straighten top drawer.

Straighten daily files and file today’s papers in binders/file folders.

Start a TO DO list for tomorrow including list of calls/emails to do.

Pack up laptop and cord.

Organize computer table.

Pack up stuff to go home: coat, lunch bag, computer, and purse.

Check in basket and put correcting/projects in order of priority for the morning.

Turn off lights.

*Unplug lights under window

Leave desktop in wonderful shape to welcome the morning.

Tomorrow’s daily file

Seating chart/class list binder

Lesson plan book

Teacher Edition

Menu Plan Monday 1-4-10

2010-01-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

Monday: Tex-Mex Turkey Soup, served with sour cream, scallions, cilantro, cheese, and tortilla chips
ETA: This soup was fabulous. It was a new recipe I made. It got 5 stars on Allrecipes.

Tuesday: Leftovers for guys (I have a meeting)

Wednesday: Balsamic roasted pork loin, Mashed potatoes, Maple-roasted butternut squash p. 158 barefoot contessa back to basics cookbook, Hot French bread ETA: The balsamic roasted pork loin was a hit and super easy. I baked it in my Le Crueset Cocoette. I will definitely add it to my menu rotation. The maple-roasted butternut squash was fabulous. YUM YUM YUM!

Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs, Garlic sauteed italian flat beans with julienne carrots, Antipasta salad, Garlic bread We ended up changing up the menu plan and just had ham and cheese or meatball subs. I wanted to use up the leftover french bread from Wed and some meatballs I had. Mission accomplished with much less effort and mess in the kitchen to clean up!

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Bacon wrapped chicken, Crash hot potatoes, Prince Edward Vegetable Medley

Sunday: Baby Back Ribs (recipe follows), Baked potatoes, Corn, Applesauce

Baby Back Ribs

4 lbs pork baby back ribs
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp ground oregano
1/4 tsp sugar
bbq sauce

Combine dry ingredients and rub over the surface of the ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker or crock-pot standing on their edge with the meaty side out. Cook for 6 hrs on low (8 hrs if crock pot is not powerful) Remove ribs from crock pot and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Here is the link to Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie. You will find MANY MANY links to menu plans. Enjoy!

The power of the TO DO list

2010-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Different personalities attack organization in different manners. It does not come natural to me, trust me. Being organized is something I have to work at constantly. I guess part of it has to do with my perfectionist personality. Often if I start a project I become obsessed with the minutiae involved and lose sight of the big picture. Perfectionism leads to procrastination to paralysis. Don't get bogged down by perfectionism.

I think a great way to accomplish things is with a TO DO list. When I have a day off I could easily waste away the day watching TV, being on the computer, and reading magazines and never accomplish a thing. It is important for me to start my day off with a TO DO list, especially on the weekends. I am a very list oriented person (not everyone is that way so whatever works for you is the method you need to use). I am constantly writing myself notes on my iPhone. I love that I have all my notes with me to refer back to when needed. Also that way if I am waiting around somewhere I can be productive thinking things out and putting together notes on whatever I need.

On weekdays when I am working my TO DO list is a bit different because there is not a lot of time to accomplish extra things (other than the day to day upkeep needed to keep our household running smoothly). I will be sharing many of my different Master Lists on this blog. Feel free to share any great tips or ideas you have in the comment section or through email. Also I would love to have guest posters here if you have an area of expertise. I think we all excel in different areas of organization (and need help in others).

Here is my TO DO list for today: I typed it on my iPhone on the ride home from church.
Laundry:
  Jammies
  Darks
  Whites
  Boys' outerwear
  Colored
  Towels
Now I will most likely not get all these loads done because we have a front load washer/dryer and our washer takes FOREVER, but at least I have the order I want to do loads and I will put one load in before bed tonight and then put it in the dryer tomorrow. I will put another load in tomorrow before school and then dry it when I get home.
Menu plan/make grocery list/clip coupons (one hour max)
Organize purses
Clean out backpacks
Pack away remaining Christmas decor
Organize master bedroom (one hour)
Declutter office (30 min)
Set up budget/expense tracking

January Menu Plan

2010-01-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

My January menu plan is basically the same as my December plan and I have to say that we did not make many of the meals listed in December. This month I am going to a better job of weekly menu planning.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Chili

Glazed Meatloaf (1/18)

Tacos

Pizza hotdish

Sloppy Joes (1/20)

Grilled burgers

Steak fajitas

NY Strip Steaks (1/2)

Garlic lime chicken

Crispy Chicken

Rotisserie Chicken

Bacon wrapped chicken (1/10)
Chicken fried rice (1/14)
Tex-Mex Turkey soup (1/4)

Baby back ribs (1/12)

Pork tenderloin

Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin (1/6)

Pork fried rice

Parmesan crusted pork chops

Spicy shrimp

Shrimp tacos

Swordfish salad

Venison roast

Venison steaks (1/16)

Cheese ravioli
Penne alla Vodka (1/24)

Macaroni and cheese

Homemade Pizza (1/3)
Frozen Pizza (1/15)
Homemade subs: ham and cheese or meatball (1/7)

BLTs

Grilled Cheese

Brats/Italians

Turkey dinner with all the trimmings (1/1)

No cost organizing-Tip #1 DECLUTTER

2010-01-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

With the new year here it is very tempting to try and buy your way to organized (I have fallen into this trap myself many times). Buying all the rubbermaid containers in the world does not mean you are organized (just check our basement). My husband loves to buy containers and build shelves. That is his solution to the problem of how to get organized and for some reason it just doesn't work that way. You have to be the person putting things in those containers and on those shelves in an organized fashio.

Now so you don't all think I am a hypocrite I will certainly buy things to help organized my life. Sometimes they are inexpensive and sometimes they can be costly (think CA closets in my dream world!). Today going to start a series of posts on NO COST organizing. There are so many things you can do around your house to make it more organized that do not cost a penny.

Today's tip is to declutter your home one step at a time. It costs nothing to throw things away. The more STUFF you get rid of the less containers you need to store things.

Set a goal for yourself to declutter everyday. My personal decluttering goal will be 15-30 min daily depending what is going on that day. Now this is just a daily declutter that I am hoping to form a habit (what does it take-21 days?). There are SO many areas around my house that could use a good declutter. Now do NOT mistake this for organizing. These declutter sessions are focused on getting rid of stuff that sits around your house taking up precious space. It is not about organizing (other than moving things to where they belong. Remember the more you get rid of the less you have to organize!

Label three boxes:
1) Give away: Anything you plan on donating to a group or individual. Have a space in your basement or garage to store this box and write a date on when you will get rid of it. I suggest you write a date 30 days from your first decluttering session (at the latest). If you know you will be going to Goodwill or the Salvation Army on a specific date write it on the box so your give away box does not become one more example of clutter in your house.

2) Throw away: Line this box with a garbage or grocery bag. After your decluttering session toss the contents of the box into the garbage and never look back!

3) Put away: This is for anything that does not belong where it is. Spend 5 quick minutes after your decluttering session putting things where they belong.

You may want to prioritize which room/area of your house in most desperate need of decluttering. For me it would be the office or basement. Set your timer for the amount of time you have to delutter and go to it. It won't be so overwhelming when you have an end in sight. I suggest 15-30 min, but if you can only spare 5 or 10 it is better than nothing.

I am now off to set my timer and head to my office. Try it out and tell me what you think.

2010 The year of the Organizing Diva!

2009-12-27T08:46:00.000-08:00

There are many areas of my home/life that need to be focused on and organized in 2010. Here is my master list that will be revamped along the way.

Budget/Bill Paying
(Dave Ramsey plan)
Filing System

Home
Cleaning
Decor
Painting
Maintenance
Organization
Landscaping/Planting

Laundry

Menu Planning
Menus
Coupons
Grocery lists
Recipes
Organizing recipes

Children
School
School Papers Binder
Homework kit
Chores
Commission

Paperwork

Personal life
Healthy Eating
Exercise

Professional life

Spiritual life
Church
Prayer
Devotion

Schedule
Calendar

Holidays
Birthdays

Vacations

Hobbies

Toys/Recreation

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all my blog followers. I promise to have lots of ideas in the works for 2010. I have a lot I plan on accomplishing in the new year and much of it involves organization around my home. Have a blessed holiday with your loved ones and stay tuned for some exciting things in 2010!

Christmas to do list:

2009-12-11T02:16:00.000-08:00

I have a huge to do list of Christmas prep this weekend.

Take photo of boys for Christmas cards (√)
Order cards (√)
Address and send cards (√)
Christmas shop: (√)
Mom (√)
Dad (√)
Greg (√)
Ben-(√)
Drew-(√)
Cooper- (√)
Jenny- (√)
Tom (√)
Ryan (√)
Jake (√)
Taryn (√)
Gabby (√)
Jeff and Diane (√)
Kim (√)
Mary & Linda (√)
Mr Fish (√)
Mrs Leuck (√)
Wrap gifts (√)
Bake cookies and other goodies: (√)

Make sugar cookie dough (√)
Rolo pretzel turtle/m&ms (√)

Rudolph cookies (√)

Finish inside Christmas decor:
Foyer (√)
Living room (√)
China cabinet (√)
Kitchen shelf (√)
Put bows on tree (√)
Decorate tree (√)

ETA: It's all done!

Menu Plan Monday 12-7

2009-12-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

Monday: Leftovers from BD Mongolian's for the boys and me (Greg at a meeting)

Tuesday: Homemade pizza w/ Trader Joe's dough and sauce

Wednesday: Chicken fried rice, fruit, toast (I have a meeting) *I think they had leftover pizza

Thursday: Spicy shrimp, biryani, arugula salad * We actually ending up going out for mexican at Jalapeno Loco with my parents after we picked my mom up from the airport

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Garlic lime chicken, brown rice, corn, fresh fruit *We had italians (sausages that is, not people)

Sunday: Meatloaf, baked potatoes, squash, green beans *We did the garlic lime chicken menu from Sat

December Menu Plan

2009-11-29T11:28:00.001-08:00

Spaghetti and meatballs (12/14)
Chili
Meatloaf
Tacos
Pizza hotdish
Sloppy Joes
Grilled burgers

Steak fajitas

Garlic lime chicken (12/13)
Crispy Chicken
Rotisserie Chicken (11/30)
Bacon wrapped chicken

Baby back ribs
Pork tenderloin
Pork roast
Pork fried rice
Parmesan crusted pork chops

Spicy shrimp

Shrimp tacos
Swordfish salad

Venison roast (12/1)
Venison steaks

Cheese ravioli (12/3)
Macaroni and cheese

Pizza (12/8)
BLTs
Grilled Cheese
Brats/Italians (12/12)

Turkey dinner with all the trimmings

NYE Dinner

Menu Plan Monday 11/16-11/22

2009-11-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

Monday: Rotisserie chicken, baked potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce

Tuesday: Chili w/ crackers or fritos, scallions, cheese, and sour cream

Wednesday: Pork Roast in the crockpot, mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Greg and Ben gone hunting. We will eat out

Saturday: Dinner w/ my mom

Life has been crazy

2009-11-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hi readers,

I know I have been slacking off on this blog, but trust it me it's because I have NOT been slacking off IRL. School started back up and I have been crazily busy with everything it takes to teach 7th grade math. I have a SMARTboard in classroom due to a grant I wrote last year. It is a fabulous piece of technology, but that also means I have a lot more work adapting all my lessons to use with the SMARTboard.

If that wasn't enough my two oldest boys played tackle football (practice started in Aug) and my oldest played on a fall baseball league. That meant that we had practice or games SEVEN days a week for the last couple months. CRAZY! Fortunately they both played their last football game yesterday. Can I get a YIPPEE!

I plan on getting myself back on track with menu planning among other things. I am hoping to do some posts on getting yourself organized for the holiday (although Halloween is now over and done with). Stick with me ladies and I will be bringing this blog back to life. I plan on doing a Menu Plan Monday for the first time in months.

School starts tomorrow and we are ready!

2009-08-31T14:46:00.001-07:00

I have not had time to keep up with both blogs and this is the one that suffers. I will tell you that I have been a busy bee getting things organized in my classroom and at home. I guess it is better that I am actually doing this rather than just posting about it on my blog.

If you are about to start school and feeling overwhelmed or disorganized here are a few tips for you. First of all start with laundry and menu planning. These both encompass two major areas in your life/household and if you can keep on top of them everything else should fall together.

When I say menu planning I am speaking of planning menus, grocery shopping, keeping a clean and organized pantry and freezer, and then actually cooking what you have planned. I made sure to clean out my fridge this weekend so we are starting with a clean and organized slate. Groceries have been bought and put away in an organized fashion. I am really lucky that my dh also was bit by the organizing bug recently and defrosted and organized our extra freezer, as well as, the pantry in our kitchen where we store canned goods.

I am still formulating my menu plan for the first two weeks of school. The biggest challenge is that my two oldest ds play football and have practice several nights a week (and not always the same night). August was a challenge to actually sit down together as a family and eat meals. With it getting darker earlier I think practices will end by 7PM and we will just end up eating later than normal, but at least we will have a nice dinner together.

One thing I did with the boys was go through the Sept hot lunch calendar and I had them choose what days they are eating hot lunch. Now this is not set in stone and they are free to change their minds, but at least I will know in advance what days they are taking cold lunch. I have to say there aren't too many cold lunch days for them in Sept which actually makes my life easier.

Moving on to laundry. I made sure that ALL the laundry was done prior to school starting tomorrow. I washed all the bedding and towels today. It is so much easier to choose outfits when there is a multitude of clean clothes to choose from. This afternoon I had each of the boys choose four outfits to wear this week. I hung each pair of shorts and t-shirt on the same hanger and that way they can choose whatever outfit they want in the morning. They tend to have inherited their father's lack of color coordinating gene. :) New tennies were purchased this summer and are ready to go tomorrow.

We took all school supplies along with them to open house the other night so their backpacks will be empty tomorrow. It's nice to have all that out of the way. School supplies are another post I never got around to typing.

Because tomorrow is my first day of school with students I will not be around in the morning. We are used to this routine and even though I would love to be around to send them off, I have my own students starting their first day. This morning we had our back to school breakfast because I had time to make it. I made pancakes, sausage, and bacon. They loved it and I made enough pancakes that they will be able to eat some later in the week for breakfast. We met dh at TGI Friday's for lunch.

Don't worry if your house is not as clean nor organized as you wanted it. At the very least take time before the first day of school to make sure your kids have an outfit picked out, backpack is all packed and ready to go the night before, and lunch is taken care of. Make sure they get to bed at a decent time.

I am feeling pretty prepared for our first week of school which starts tomorrow. Bonus that it's only a four day week! Wish they all were. :)

Back to school countdown to do list

2009-08-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

3 Weeks Before
School registration- pay fees, put $ in lunch account, buy special supplies from the school store (√)
Rent clarinet (√)
Get a family calendar
Put back to school night on calendar (√)
Go through clothing closets and drawers
Purchase school supplies (√)
Create a family binder
Make an organization plan for school papers (one binder per child)

2 Weeks Before
Sam's club run for snacks/breakfast bars
Wash backpacks and lunch boxes (√)
Label all school supplies (√)
Pack up backpack with school supplies (drop off at open house) (√)
Go school shopping for supplies and clothes (√)
Make a plan for bedtime and morning routines
Plan routines and rules for morning, afterschool, and evening
Plan cold lunch menus (√)
Set up a homework area
Put together homework kits
Plan Cooper's birthday party (his bday is Sept 9th and it's so much easier if I have it planned before school starts)

1 Week Before
Make menu plan for the first two weeks
Buy groceries
Make a rotation menu for breakfasts
Start practicing routines
Make schedule for homework and football practice
Get supplies that are missing
Definitely adjust bedtimes and waking times
Wash all clothes
Finish organizing closets

1st Week
Have lunches and outfits planned in advance
Start off with an organized routine
Organize boys' materials
Buy any additional supplies
Put all information on calendar and in appropriate binder
Fill out any additional forms
Stay organized and relaxed!

Summer Organizing Projects

2009-07-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the summer is half over and I have so many "summer projects" I have not even started. I am making a list of all I have to do here and will update with my progress on them.

~Office
~Kitchen pantry- my dad is going to build some slide out shelves for me
~Linen closet
~Drew's closet
~Ben's closet
~Cooper's closet
~Master closet
~Boys' dressers
~My dressers
~Nightstand drawers
~Kitchen drawers
~Den bookshelf
~Laundry room
~Recipe binder
~Basement pantry
~Upstairs freezer
~Bedding for bedrooms (need to purchase new sheets due to furniture shifting to different bedrooms)

The list is quite long and the common theme seems to be closets and drawers. I plan on getting this all done before going back to school at the end of August. I should have plenty of time for it, I just need to commit to accomplishing something everyday.

What are you attempting to organize?

Freezer cooking and a yummy recipe

2009-07-09T14:50:00.001-07:00

The other day I bought 6 lbs of ground chuck as it was on sale for $1.88/lb. I used my electric frypan to cook all six pounds with chopped celery.

I used 2 lbs to make Sloppy Joe Sandwiches. I have used this recipe before and love it! I like to eat my sloppy joe on a bun with extra garlic powder and a slice of cojack cheese. I will serve it with chips and a yummy fruit salad I made.

I froze the other 4 lbs in two 1 lb packs and one 2 lb pack. I can use the meat for several different things like, chili, pizza hotdish, or calico baked beans.

I was able to get three loads of laundry done today and plan on getting another load done tonight. I started decluttering/organizing Drew's closet and need to get all the size smalls put away into a rubbermaid container.

Home Decor summer to do list

2009-07-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

This coming October 1st we will have lived in this house five years. That is so hard to believe. Time sure flies. We have accomplished a lot with the house, but still have tons more to do. When we built we had the house painted by the builder. Everything was "accesible beige". If I had to do over I would have hired a private painter for the interior of the house, but we did what we thought was best at the time.

I have a long list of things that need to be done/purchased. This Spring we bought new tables for the living room and also bought a new bedroom set (as well as new bedding). Those were a major expense so we are focusing this summer on some less costly an simple things to do around the house (although I guess a new couch is neither simple nor less costly).

I need to pick out paint colors for several rooms. I do know what I want in the den, but that is all I have figured out at this point.

Here is my list of tasks I hope to accomplish this summer.

Kitchen:
New rugs ~purchased 7-4

Den:
Paint

Living room:
Drapes
New couch
Framed photos
Wall art
Decor for bookshelves

Powder room:
Paint
Fingertip towels
Rugs
Wall art

Master bedroom:
Paint
Drapes

Master bath:
Paint

Laundry room:
Paint
Rugs for floor

Pantry:
Paint
Build sliding shelves (courtesy of my father)

I'm going to start posting again

2009-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Be patient. I have tons of things to post about. Sorry I have not been around, but life is busy. Check back tomorrow (or tonight if I am ambitious) for a new post.

Menu Planning Monday 3-23

2009-03-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Monday: Pizza hotdish, green beans, fresh baked bread

Tuesday: Macaroni and cheese, spinach

Wednesday: Crispy chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry

Thursday: Brats, chips, fruit salad

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: T-bone steaks, baked potatoes, salad

Sunday: Spicy grilled shrimp, crash hot potatoes, creamy cucumbers

Menu Plan Monday 3-16

2009-03-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Monday: Pizza hotdish (recipe follows), green beans, fresh baked bread, fruit salad

Tuesday: Guinness Corned Beef, cabbage, red potatoes, marble rye bread

Wednesday: Garlic lime chicken (recipe follows), brown rice, corn, fresh fruit

Thursday: Ruebens, chips, fruit

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: T-bone steaks, baked potatoes, salad

Sunday: Brats or italians, chips, blue cheese coleslaw

ETA:

Menu plan changes for the week:

Monday: We ended up having leftovers and tacos for the boys

Friday: We went to Mc D's (yuck!)

Saturday: Grilled burgers, chips

Sunday: Cranberry grilled pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, roasted asparagus, fabulous salad

Pizza Hotdish:
Brown 1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck in an electric frypan. I season the meat with Mc Cormick's Pizza Seasoning Grinder and also add sliced mushrooms. Cook one 12 oz bag of whole wheat egg noodles al dente while browning meat. Once meat is browned drain any fat and then add one 15 oz can of pizza sauce and parmesan cheese to taste. Mix in drained egg noodles. You can also add sliced black olives if you like at this point. Top with 8 oz shredded mozarella cheese and cook until melted.

Garlic Lime Chicken

Mix together:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp thyme

Sprinkle mixture on both sides of:
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

In a skillet heat over medium high heat:
2 TB butter
2 TB olive oil

Saute chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side.
Turn down the heat, remove the chicken (keeping warm) and add:
½ C chicken broth
4 TB lime juice

Whisk up the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Keep cooking until sauce has reduced slightly.

Add chicken back to the pan to thoroughly coat and serve.

Serves 6. Per Serving: 343 Calories; 11g Fat (31.1% calories from fat); 55g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 147mg Cholesterol; 612mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat.

Menu Plan Monday 3-02

2009-03-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

Monday: Parmesan crusted pork chops , prince edward veg medley, salad, applesauce

Tuesday: My last night of grad class. YIPPEE!!!! Leftovers for the guys

Wednesday: Cheese ravioli, beans, salad

Thursday: BLTs, chips, sliced cucumbers, chocolate malts

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Greg's birthday dinner out at Bacchus

Sunday: Ham sandwiches, salad

Financial Peace University Week 3

2009-02-28T06:05:00.000-08:00

We attended session 3 of FPU Thursday night.

Cash Flow Planning
Unlock the secret of developing a monthly spending plan that really works.

You can get more info on Financial peace universityhere.

I am really enjoying the program. I would highly recommend it for anyone married or single. I have been wanting to do this course for a few years now and it never was offered at a location close enough to us at a time we could attend. We go Thurs nights 6:30-8:30 and they offer childcare for only $4 a night for the three boys. The boys actually love going and have a great time with the kids who do the childcare.

Homework for this week:
1) Complete the financial snapshot
2) Create a zero-based budget
3) Read Chpt 19 and 21

Other items on my financial to do list:
1) Make a will
2) Order FP Junior for the boys

Menu Plan Monday 2-23

2009-02-23T03:57:00.000-08:00

Monday: Glazed meatloaf baked potatoes, squash

Tuesday: Grad class for me (my second last one woo hoo!) Tovers

Wednesday: Steak fajitas w/ pico de gallo, chips and guacamole, fresh fruit

Thursday: Sloppy joes, chips, fruit

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Spaghetti and meatballs, sauteed spinach, chopped salad, breadsticks

Sunday: Celebrating March birthday w/ dinner @ my db's house

Menu Planning tips

2009-02-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

There are tons of menu planning tips and tricks out there. Whole websites are dedicated to helping you plan your meals. The most important thing IMO is to plan your meals. You don't have to get all fancy and organized just write down what you will make and then make sure you have the ingredients to make your meals.

My personal menu planning style is to start with the weekly sale ads. I have four main grocery stores I shop at. I don't hit all four stores every week, but if there is an exceptional sale I try and stock up. I am fortunate because we have a full sized stand up freezer in our basement. We also have a small fridge in the basement that stores soda/beer and an overflow of any refrigerated items that don't fit in our main fridge. One thing I love about my chain stores is that they now do an online grocery list that I can click on items and then print out what to buy right from the sale ad. Easy peasy!

We have a decent sized pantry in our kitchen and a large pantry storage area in our basement. I try to stock up on things when they are on sale and also on things we use frequently. I tend to plan my weekly menu based on what is on sale that week or what I want to use out of the freezer.

Menus for moms is a great website for menu planning. They have tons of tips and links to check out. I also love to print out their menu planner for my weekly menu.

Organizing junkie's menu plan Monday is a link to hundreds (I am not exaggerating) of weekly menu plans that people have linked. If you are bored or looking for something new you could spend hours perusing people's menus. Many people post recipes or links to recipes. If you are looking for some menu planning inspiration start here.

All recipes is my favorite website to search for recipes. You can type in whatever ingredient you are looking for and it will show you recipes for that. I always have them list the recipes by rating and have never made anything with under 4 1/2 stars. If you find a recipe be sure to read the comments as they can be quite helpful. All recipes is definitely my go to recipe site. There are many other great ones out there. What is your favorite?

Hopefully this gives you some ideas as a starting point for your menu planning. Please feel free to add any tips.

My washer and dryer

2009-02-20T17:03:00.001-08:00

I think one of the most important keys to an organized life is laundry. If you have clean clothes that are put away where they belong, you will always have something to wear when you need it. You won't be desperately searching for the last clean pair of underwear or socks if you keep up with laundry.

I live in a house filled with boys, three little ones and one big one. To say we generate a lot of laundry is quite an understatement. Managing Mt Washmore is really the bane of my existence. Anytime I feel like I have finally won the war against dirty laundry, a new battle emerges.

I know the sensible thing to do would be to do a load or two everyday, instead of having to do five or six loads on the weekend. I just cannot seem to get myself into the daily laundry routine during the school year when I am working. I am much better at keeping up with the laundry when I am home during the summer. Of course I am much better at keeping up with EVERYTHING during the summer when I am not working outside the home, but I digress.

And now without further ado let me introduce you to my washer and dryer. I love the dryer because it is so much quicker than my old dryer, but I do have to say that the washer takes FOREVER.

Model : WM2688HWMA

The LG SteamWasher™ with Allergiene™. The largest front load washer available.
The power of TrueSteam™ penetrates fabrics for optimal cleaning performance and also reduces allergens by more than 95% with LG’s exclusive Allergiene™ cycle.

Model : DLEX8377WM

The LG Electric SteamDryer™
The LG SteamDryer™ with TrueSteam™ Technology helps to reduce wrinkles and odors practically eliminating the need for ironing.

Only LG’s SteamDryer has exclusive features such as ReduceStatic™ which virtually eliminates static cling, and EasyIron™ which helps make ironing easier and more efficient.

Welcome to my new blog about organizing my life, home, and family

2009-02-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

This blog is the beginning of my journey to find peace and tranquility through an organized and well decorated home. Oh who am I kidding?! I live with a house full of guys. This is about maintaining my sanity by keeping order in our sometimes chaotic lives.

There are ten main areas of organization I will be focusing on:
1) Spiritual
2) Financial
3) Fitness/Health
4) Family/Marriage
5) Home
6) Beauty
7) Menu Planning/Meals
8) Laundry/Clothing
9) Career
10)Personal/Hobbies

Thanks for joining me and PLEASE feel free to post comments and questions.