Archive for Monday Meanderings
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ANOTHER challenge? Aren’t I just wrapping up an exercise challenge and here I am back for more??
Yes. But I’M not running this one! =P
My favorite organizer has brought my favorite organizing challenge back by popular demand (or so I assume) and just in time because I. Need. It.
February is the month where I’m going to start dedicating more time to housecleaning and organizing to get us out of this little pig sty. During the month of January, while spending mucho tiempo building an exercise habit, I have also been working on building a few other habits. Like staying on top of the dishes, and trying to pay attention to when the kids bring stuff out and have them put it up as soon as they are done. You won’t believe this, but since I cleaned out my fridge I have wiped up every little dribble immediately and it still looks clean. It’s amazing how that works!
But now that February is around the corner it’s time to kick that up a notch. I have a lot of habit building, purging and cleaning to do! And also a bit of organizing.. which brings us to this challenge.
In a few months we’re going to be moving, and that house (unlike this one) actually has a home office! How nice will THAT be?! Right now I have a desk and printer stand in my living room, a file cabinet in my closet, a mail basket that has been moved from living room to dining room and back so many times I’ve lost count.. ahh!! At various points I’ve organized some of those pieces. But I’ve never done a complete overhaul on everything home office related. All of our paperwork and billing stuff, all of our office supplies and incoming mail. Not all at once. And with a real home office looming in the near future, it only seems fitting that I purge everything unnecessary BEFORE it gets moved over– don’t you think?
While I don’t want to go crazy buying organizational storage and whatnot before we actually move, what I DO want to do is organize each of the “pieces” to our puzzle as much as possible. I need to organize all our cd-roms and other computer related cds. I need a desk drawer organizer to hold pens and pencils and paperclips. That sort of thing, you know? Nothing over the top. But A system would be better than NO system, so that’s what I am going for. Oh! And this would also be a good time to get a small fireproof safe box for important documents, wouldn’t it?? I need to sit down and make a list of specific things I want to accomplish.
Well, who else is with me?? Surely you have a little project (or a whole room) that needs organizing?? And did I mention there are PRIZES? That got your attention, didn’t it!! Go check it out at I’m an Organizing Junkie. And let me know, and Laura know, what you’re going to be tackling. Because I’m nosy, and she.. well it’s her challenge and she’d like to know. =P
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Filed under: Cleaning & Organizing, Monday Meanderings | challenge, home office, Organizing|1 Comment
It’s been SOOOOO long since I have done this!! And not only is it so important for good meal planning, and for wise money budgeting but it’s also important for making sure that we eat right, too. So I’m hopping right back in and getting on the meal planning horse again.
As always, I’ll plan meals for each day, but we often switch things around a lot as our whims and daily activities desire. In the end all these meals will be stocked, prepared and consumed in a somewhat organized manner.
Sunday
- B~ Cereal, so we’re not late to church. ; )
- L~ Turkey sandwiches on 7 grain wheat, baby carrots, string cheese, chips
- S~ Breakfast for dinner: Wheat Oat Flax Pancakes with Blueberries & Almonds, turkey bacon
Monday
- B~ 7 Grain french toast, fruit, yogurt
- L~ Homemade “Lunchables” - ritz, turkey, cheese, apple wedges
- S~ “Super” Nachos with salsa fresca and guacamole (I leave out the meat, go light on the chips and go heavy on the fresh veggies for a healthier version)
Tuesday
- B~ Cereal & fruit
- L~ Chef salads w/egg & deli meat
- S~ 15 Bean Soup w/ Smoked Sausage, brown rice
Wednesday
- B~ Oatmeal & fruit
- L~ Bean & Cheese Quesadillas, with salsa fresca
- S~ Spaghetti w/ Ronzoni Extra Fiber Pasta & Salad (with carrots, cucumbers, spinach etc.)
Thursday
- B~ Eggs & bacon, toast & OJ
- L~ Turkey sandwiches, apple wedges, chips
- S~ Grilled chicken, corn, steamed broccoli
Friday
- B~ Cereal
- L~ Fried egg sandwiches, fruit
- S~ Porcupine meatballs, ranch beans, salad, bread
Saturday
- B~ Bread machine bicuits, gravy, turkey bacon, fruit
- L~ leftovers, etc.
- S~ “Salisbury steaks,” veggies, rice.
We have several fresh and frozen fruits to choose from with breakfasts and lunches so we can choose what we are in the mood for each day. We also have a snack every day and we’ll try to incorporate either fruits or veggies depending on what the menu for the rest of the day looks like. For snacks we have things like peanut butter and crackers, string cheese, fruit smoothies, yogurt and fruit, etc.
My version of “healthy” is a combination of eating more whole foods, increasing grains and fibers, eating a variety of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, eating balanced meals, monitoring portion control and limiting the amounts of processed foods and high fat or high sugar items. My husband still has certain foods/menus he refuses to give on so we often compromise where we can. It keeps things.. interesting. ; ) I think, though, that exercising regularly will allow for a certain amount of compromising here and there. We shall see. =)
This week I had to menu plan from the food I already bought, but next week I’m going to do it the other way around, and I’m going to revisit some of my healtheir recipes from the past to see I can get our menu even healthier than it is now!
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Filed under: Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings | Menu Plan Monday|1 Comment
I’m still on the prowl for frugal (and picky family friendly) recipes so if you have any good links leave them in the comments please!
Here’s what is on the menu for this week:
- Monday - Easy Peasy Crockpot Lasagna
- Tuesday - Lemon Pepper Chicken and Pasta
- Wednesday - Homemade Waffles, Turkey Bacon, Fruit
- Thursday - Family Casserole
- Friday -Tostadas
- Saturday - Beans, Smoke Sausage & Cornbread
Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura @ I’m and Organizing Junkie!
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Filed under: Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings, Sewing & Crafting | crockpot, meny plan monday, organizing junkie|1 Comment
My meandering thoughts, captured in print and somewhat organized. 5 things or areas, any areas I want to focus on. We survived our crazy week last week and got many things on our todo list done. This week is less crazy but still a bit busier than normal for us. Let’s see what we’ve got going on:
1.) My “Must-Do”s for today:
- School: Math & Science.
- Play date/ business planning for Saturday’s science fair.
- Some necessary chores before we go to the playdate.
2.) My Week:
- Princess’ Bday Wednesday!! - Girls’ day out with MIL (&Lil Prince)
- School: Math & science only.
- Work on science projects for Saturday.
- Plant seeds.
- Planning & prep for upcoming science/art fair
3.) This Month:
- Finalize new menu planning system (details coming soon.)
- Purge & organize filing system.
- Have a trial run Baking Day - something I’ve been wanting to incorporate into our routine.
- School a friend’s son along with our kids while she’s on a cruise with my mother in law for a week!
4.) Online To-Do:
- Finish blog customization for Hollie @ Groovewoman
- Finish re-design for Classic Housewife (sooo gonna be worth it!)
- Design graphics for my UBP winners.
5.) Menu Planning
- Sign up for the coupon sites Erin @ 5 Dollar Dinners recommended
- Research the stores in the nearest town, which days they have their sales, if they double/triple coupons, etc.
- Begin a chart for food expenses, coupon savings etc (so I can track how much I’m really saving and other details.)
This month is slipping away quickly - faster than I’m getting stuff on our to-do lists done! I think I always try to tackle too much and then rollover things to the next week and the next. I guess that’s not so bad if I get the most important things done first… This week is still going to be busy with a playdate today (so us mom’s can finalize science fair plans), a playdate tomorrow (with some friends who are moving VERY soon!) and spending all day with my mother-in-law on Wednesday to celebrate my eldest’s birthday. That only gives us the 2nd half of the week to finish our science fair projects - aaahhh!!! We don’t normally plan so many things. April just crammed itself full of things faster than I could blink - and I couldn’t really turn any of them down. 
We just gotta keep moving and keep chip-chip-chipping away at things. What gets done gets done and what doesn’t will still be there for next week. Or next month.
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Filed under: Monday Meanderings | Monday Meanderings|1 Comment
My meandering thoughts, captured in print and somewhat organized. 5 things or areas, any areas I want to focus on. It’s time to see where I am on the goals I set for April and to see what I can get knocked out this week.
1.) My “Must-Do”s for today:
- Get school done.
- Plant seeds.
- Pay bills.
- Finish printing off bank statements for 2008.
2.) My Week:
- Regular chores & school.
- Have a trial run Baking Day - something I’ve been wanting to incorporate into our routine.
- Purge & organize filing system.
- Planning & prep for upcoming science/art fair
3.) This Month:
- Finalize new menu planning system (details coming soon.)
- More work to be done on the financial records.
- I’m heading up our homeschool science fair - lots of work to do!
4.) Online To-Do:
- Finish blog customization for Hollie @ Groovewoman
- Finish re-design for Classic Housewife (sooo gonna be worth it!)
- Design graphics for my UBP winners.
5.) Menu Planning
- Sign up for the coupon sites Erin @ 5 Dollar Dinners recommended
- Research the stores in the nearest town, which days they have their sales, if they double/triple coupons, etc.
- Begin a chart for food expenses, coupon savings etc (so I can track how much I’m really saving and other details.)
Last week I went shopping for two weeks, armed with two weeks worth of menus, detailed grocery lists for both, and my coupon binder. Just utilizing the sale, my store card and my coupons I saved sixty dollars. On the other hand, my total (for a family of five, for two weeks of food and some extra on sale things, for cleaning supplies and toiletries and whatever) was 260.00 after my savings. My husband was about ready to flip - but I didn’t really spend more money than normal, I just spent it more up front. (And as far as I can tell, from talking to other people, spending five to six hundred dollars a month on food and everything else for a family of five is not unreasonable and over the top. Is it? What do you think?)
I would LOVE to see that number come down even more, using some of the coupon sites and by sale shopping at some of the other stores in the next town over. I’d like to make trips over there at least twice a month to get things like meat at lower prices than what I can get at our local grocer. Plus it should come down more as I build up our overstock allowing me to buy more things only when they are on sale and not at full price. That’ll be fun. Oh - and when my veggies start growing (so I don’t have to buy those at the store at all?) That’ll be MORE fun.
And now I’m off to chip away at my to do lists. It’s a busy, busy day!
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Filed under: Monday Meanderings | coupons, grocery shopping, Monday Meanderings|2 Comments
My meandering thoughts, captured in print and somewhat organized. 5 things or areas, any areas I want to focus on. This week, I’m reviewing my goals for the month of March, seeing what still needs to be done, what I can still get accomplished in the next few days. My original goals were interrupted a little by the rearranging and cleaning I had to do when I got the girls some new beds. So let’s see what’s left.
1.) My “Must-Do”s for today:
- Get school done.
- Get all the clean laundry folded and put away (about 3 baskets full.)
- Clean up the back porch.
I’m also hoping to sneak in some time for ironing 4 outfits for Big Daddy for the rest of the week as a surprise. It’ll be a huge gesture and something he won’t be able to not notice. =P
2.) My Week:
- Regular chores & school
- Sort, purge, organize box of papers on the piano (Never did get this done - still MUST get done!)
- Assemble my coupon binder.
- Prep and turn in medical forms.
With a playdate on Tuesday and a family outing on Thursday, we’ll have to see how much of this I can actually accomplish.
3.) This Month:
- Purge, reorganize filing cabinet
- Purge, organize and store away “pile o stuff” in Big Daddy’s office to make room for the exercise machine.
I’m gonna have to bump the filing cabinet to April, and after rearranging the living room, I decided not to move the exercise machine to Big Daddy’s office.
4.) Online To-Do:
- Finish blog customization for Hollie @ Groovewoman
- Finish setting up the page for my graphic design portfolio. (Done! See here!)
- Finish new blog design (Done! See here! Like my new blog? =D)
- Fix blog design for Classic Housewife - bump to April
- Submit posts for Digital Bliss. (Done! The first one is here.)
- Write post(s) for Inspired Bliss.
I’m still working on Groovewoman’s design and I’m still having writer’s block for Inspired Bliss. *sigh*
5.) Menu Planning
- Buy Sunday papers each week - I managed to buy TWO Sunday papers, out of FIVE Sundays…
- Check into getting a subscription for the paper?
- Sign up for the coupon sites Erin @ 5 Dollar Dinners recommended
- Research the stores in the nearest town, which days they have their sales, if they double/triple coupons, etc.
- Grocery shop this week for additional meat and produce to go along with all the pantry stuff we still have from last week’s shopping trip.
Well, I’m chipping away at my to do lists slowly but surely. But that’s the way to do it, right? One bite at a time.
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Filed under: Monday Meanderings | |No Comments
My meandering thoughts, captured in print and somewhat organized. 5 things or areas, any areas I want to focus on. This week I’m still working down my never-ending, always running “To Do” lists. I did get some of it last week. Let’s see what needs to get done this week, shall we?
1.) My “Must-Do”s for today:
- Get school done.
- Recover from the time change!
Really those are my two main objectives for the day. I’m not fretting about anything else!
2.) My Week:
- Get taxes ready to give to accountant (didn’t get this done last week.)
- Regular chores & school
- Sort, purge, organize box of papers on the piano (didn’t get this done last week, either - what DID I do? Hmm.)
- Exercise daily, creating the habit and building stamina, at least 30 minutes, working up to an hour.
3.) This Month:
- Purge, reorganize filing cabinet
- Purge, organize and store away “pile o stuff” in Big Daddy’s office to make room for the exercise machine.
- Prep and turn in medical forms
- Drama Queen turns 6!!
4.) Online To-Do:
- Finish blog customization for Hollie @ Groovewoman
- Finish setting up the page for my graphic design portfolio (almost done!)
- Finish new blog design (almost done!)
- Fix blog design for Classic Housewife
- Submit posts for Digital Bliss. (almost done!)
- Write post(s) for Inspired Bliss.
Hmmm… a lot of almosts here. I should fix that.
5.) Menu Planning
- Buy Sunday papers each week - I FORGOT yesterday! Darn, darn, darn.
- Check into getting a subscription for the paper?
- Sign up for the coupon sites Erin @ 5 Dollar Dinners recommended
- Research the stores in the nearest town, which days they have their sales, if they double/triple coupons, etc.
- Grocery shop this week for additional meat and produce to go along with all the pantry stuff we still have from last week’s shopping trip.
Gee, looking at this really makes it look like I didn’t get much accomplished last week. I didn’t accomplish as much as I wanted to, but we did have a very good week with schooling and I’m looking to build on that even further this week. Maybe at the end of this week, I can cross a few more things off. Slow and steady wins the race, after all.
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Filed under: Monday Meanderings | Monday Meanderings|No Comments
My meandering thoughts, captured in print and somewhat organized. 5 things or areas, any areas I want to focus on. My thoughts today are mostly To Do lists. If I can clear some of this stuff off my plate, well, I’ll have a lot less to do. =P
In addition to having some housework to catch up on, needing to re-focus in regards to school, having a lot of paperwork and bills type stuff to catch up on and a “bloggy” to do list as well,.. I’m trying to get into the habit of exercising - HA! We’ll see how it goes.
1.) My “Must-Do”s for today:
- Make sure the girls get their school done & their room clean
- Pay rent
- Dishes, mop kitchen, wash two loads of laundry, fold that plus the already washed laundry
- Grocery shopping
- Exercise
2.) My Week:
- Set up payments for upcoming bills
- Get taxes ready to give to accountant
- Regular chores & school
- Sort, purge, organize box of papers on the piano
- Exercise daily, creating the habit and building stamina, at least 30 minutes, working up to an hour.
3.) This Month:
- Purge, reorganize filing cabinet
- Purge, organize and store away “pile o stuff” in Big Daddy’s office to make room for the exercise machine.
- Prep and turn in medical forms
- Drama Queen turns 6!!
4.) Online To-Do:
- Finish blog customization for Hollie @ Groovewoman
- Finish setting up the page for my graphic design portfolio
- Finish new blog design
- Fix blog design for Classic Housewife
- Submit posts for Digital Bliss.
- Write post(s) for Inspired Bliss.
5.) Menu Planning
- Buy Sunday papers each week (did this yesterday!)
- Check into getting a subscription for the paper?
- Sign up for the coupon sites Erin @ 5 Dollar Dinners recommended
- Research the stores in the nearest town, which days they have their sales, if they double/triple coupons, etc.
- Grocery shop this week as normal, gearing up for sale/coupon shopping in a few weeks.
Dizzy? I am! But with lists we can conquer - right? Right??
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Filed under: Monday Meanderings | Monday Meanderings, To-Do|3 Comments
By the time you read this it will actually be TUESDAY and not Monday but, hey, we can’t be a step ahead of the game every week, right? Some weeks are just, one day at a time. And Y’ALL. This could be one of those weeks. I actually got more than half of my Must Do list for last week completed. I think this week’s list should look a little easier. Here’s my plan for this upcoming week:
1.) Menu Plan Monday
I’m still working on my new menu planning system in which I basically create 6 individual weekly plans, complete with shopping lists and then I mix and match. I’m hoping to move to a system of grocery shopping for 3 or 4 weeks at a time but if I do, I’ll probably have to shop for that in the middle of the month. In the meantime, here’s the menu for this week.
- Monday -Bagles & Cream Cheese; Lunch w/Friends; Cereal; Super Nachos
- Tuesday - Bacon Sandwiches, Grapes; Chicken Tenders & Mac N Cheese; Yogurt & Fruit Cocktail; Spaghetti & Salad
- Wednesday - Cereal & Orange Wedges, Sandwiches & Chips; Apples & Peanut Butter Dip; Chicken & Pasta
- Thursday - Sausage Egg Biscuits; Mini Cheeze Pizzas; Carrots & Dip; Rice, Beans & Cornbread
- Friday - French Toast, Sandwiches & Carrots, Yogurt & Granola, Salisbury Steaks & Veggies
- Saturday - Breakfast Casserole, Orange Wedges; Granola Bars; Beef Enchiladas, Spanish Rice
- Sunday - Cereal; Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle; Homemade lunchables; Biscuits, Gravy & Turkey bacon
Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie!
2.) Bible Study: Reading through my chronological bible in the mornings. Still working on GETTING UP EARLY in the mornings to do this! Other Study: Reading through my book of the month, The Excellent Wife throughout the day as I can. I’m about a third of the way through the book. GOOD BOOK.
3.) “MUST Do” List:
- Stick to my daily schedule (as God allows) for morning devotions, taking care of the home and home-schooling.
- Get copies of bank statements from bank and enter into Quickbooks.
- Begin purging and organizing papers and filing system (Collecting 08 papers together and creating places for 09 papers.)
- Work a little more on updating the Home Management Binder.
4.) Taking Care of My Home:
Same as last week! “This week we mainly need to focus on scheduling. Making sure we eat breakfast on time, get our morning chores done on time, begin school on time, eat lunch and have naptime on time. Time Management is key to a more smoothly running home.” Only this week it looks like a Mess Monster puked all over my house (how did THAT happen?!) so you can better believe chores are going to be kicked up a notch to make sure it doesn’t get any worse and hopefully actually gets better.
5.) Training My Children:
Also same as last week:
- Training their habits by focusing on time management this week.
- Training their work ethic by involving them in chores and teaching them to do their work agreeably and well.
- Training their minds by getting the school work done.
- Training their hearts by spending time with them, loving them, reading to them.
- Training their souls by praying with them, exemplifying Christ to them, and disciplining them in truth and love.
{Please note, this is my aim - I’m not yet claiming to hit the mark on each of these targets all of the time.}
By the way, if you haven’t already, hop over to my giveaway and enter to win!
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Filed under: Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings | granola bars, Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings, peanut butter dip, the excellent wife|3 Comments
I used to participate in Monday Meanderings back when Tiany at Less of Me, More of Him used to do this regularly. I don’t think she does this anymore, but I’m going to be returning to this habit, for this week at least, to try to organize my thoughts and intentions for the coming week ahead. Let’s see how it works, shall we?
1.) Bible Study: Reading through my chronological bible in the mornings. This means I need to, you know, GET UP in the mornings. To read it. It sort of works that way. Other Study: Reading through my book of the month, The Excellent Wife throughout the day as I can. I’m about a third of the way through the book. GOOD BOOK.
2.) “MUST Do” List:
- Stick to my daily schedule (as God allows) for morning devotions, taking care of the home and home-schooling.
- File sales taxes for last quarter of ‘08, by TOMORROW.
- Close down my Etsy store.
- Install Quickbooks and begin working on taxes.
- Make doctor and eye appointments for the kiddos.
- Begin purging and organizing papers and filing system (Collecting 08 papers together and creating places for 09 papers.)
- Work a little more on updating the Home Management Binder.
3.) Taking Care of My Home:
My new daily chore system is a lot easier than it has been in the past. Proof positive that if you keep working on your habits they get easier and easier. This week we mainly need to focus on scheduling. Making sure we eat breakfast on time, get our morning chores done on time, begin school on time, eat lunch and have naptime on time. Time Management is key to a more smoothly running home.
4.) Training My Children:
- Training their habits by focusing on time management this week.
- Training their work ethic by involving them in chores and teaching them to do their work agreeably and well.
- Training their minds by getting the school work done.
- Training their hearts by spending time with them, loving them, reading to them.
- Training their souls by praying with them, exemplifying Christ to them, and disciplining them in truth and love.
{Please note, this is my aim - I’m not yet claiming to hit the mark on each of these targets all of the time.}
5.) Menu Plan Monday
I’m working on a new menu planning system that I can’t WAIT to tell you about! I’m about halfway done with the prep work so I’ll plan one more week the “old” way and next week I’ll reveal the new way! It’s going to save me SO much time, effort, thought, and hopefully some cold, hard cash, too.
- Monday - Cinnamon Toast, Nachos, Peanut Butter & Crackers, Pizza & Salad
- Tuesday - Oatmeal & Raisins, Baked Potatoes, Sliced Apples & Yogurt, Rice & Beans & Cornbread
- Wednesday - Canned Peaches & Yogurt, Tuna Salad & Crackers, Carrots & Ranch, Chicken & Dumplings
- Thursday - Cereal & Orange Wedges, Bean & Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit Cocktail, Chicken Fried Venison Steaks & Veggies (I’m going to try to really cook those this time.)
- Friday - Buttermilk Pancakes & Eggs & Bacon, Sandwiches & Chips, Carrots & Ranch, Vegetable Stew & Cornbread
- Saturday - Biscuits, Gravy, Turkey Bacon, Orange Wedges; Pizza Pasta and salad; Apple Slices & Granola Bars; Porcupine Meatballs & Veggies
- Sunday - Cereal; Tacos & black beans; Chips & Salsa; Breakfast for Dinner
Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie!
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Filed under: Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings | bible study, chores, chronological bible, excellent wife, granola bars recipe, Menu Plan Monday, Monday Meanderings, organizing junkie, quickbooks, taxes|No Comments
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