Menu Plan Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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.