Month: December 2011

  • New Years....New Beginnings..

    The presents are unwrapped and life is slowing and returning to normal, but my house a mess. Time to find a home for our new toys and our old toys to find a new home where they will be loved.  The new year always has me wanting to de-clutter and organizing our home.  I just love getting things in order for the New Year!!

    I have the habit of wanting everything to be perfect immediately, which usually has me burnt out and unable to complete the organization of the whole house, which is a huge project. A proverbial elephant, if you will.

    eating-an-elephant  Best way to eat an elephant??? One small bite at a time..... We all know this saying, but fail to apply it to our lives. In our house, we apply this idea to paying down debt as well as cleaning our house.  If you view the elephant as the big goal your life depends on, you will be very disappointed.  Instead if you focus on smaller goals, you are able to maintain focus and celebrate each sucess, which helps you stay motivated!

    Years ago I found the  "Cleaning Grand Plan"  at the Organized Home webpage.  The Cleaning Grand Plan was written by Katie Lackey. This is a plan to clean and organize your entire home in 14 weeks.  By breaking the areas of the house down this plan allows you to complete everything without burning out.

    I plan on embarking on the journey through The New Year's Cleaning Grand Plan in 2012. By doing this, I will have my house organized and clean by April!  This allows me time to spend outside when the weather warms up.  I honestly hate spring cleaning....I don't want to clean in the spring, I want to be outside and enjoying the Minnesota Spring!  So since I have to be inside during the winter, why not get the cleaning all done during those winter months.

    Ready, Set, Let's start the new year off right with a plan to clean/organize our house!!  I challenge you to join me in participating in the New Year's Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge at Organizedhome.com!!

    The Fourteen Weeks of the New Year's Cleaning Grand Plan from Organizedhome.com:

    Week 1: January 1 - Gather Your Tools!
    Week 2: January 8 -  Entry/Foyer
    Week 3: January 15 - Living Room
    Week 4: January 22 -  Kitchen/Pantry
    Week 5: January 29 -  Dining Room
    Week 6: February 5 -  Family Rooms
    Week 7: February 12 - Bathrooms
    Week 8: February 19 - Master Bedroom
    Week 9: February 26 - Guest Bedroom or Pick your Room
    Week 10: March 4 -  Kid's Room
    Week 11: March 11 -  Attic/Basement/Storage
    Week 12: March 18 -  Garage/Storage
    Week 13: March 25 - Front Porch
    Week 14: April 1 - Finish Up Week!

    God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
    Proverbs 31:27

    Wishing you a Happy New Year!
    Jen C
     

     

  • Saturday 24 - Christmas Eve Appetizers Galore

    Goat Cheese, Various Havariti and Garlic Pita Chips
    Artichoke Dip - http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/appetizers.htm#ARTICHOKE_HEART_DIP_
    Shrimp Cocktail
    Various Breaded Shrimp
    Asian Chili Chicken Wings
    Brown Sugar Smokies
    Meatballs
    Crab Spread

    Treats
    Pumpkin Ribbon Bread - http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/breads.htm#RIBBON
    Chocolate Oatmeal Drops - http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/candy.htm#CHOCOLATE-OATMEAL_DROPS_
    Sour Cream Cookies

    Salted Peanut Caramel Bark

    2 lbs. chocolate melting bark
    ...
    2 cups of peanuts (I used dry roasted)
    1 cup of caramel bits (found by the chocolate chips in the baking section at the grocery store)
    Sea Salt

    Melt the chocolate and stir in the peanuts. Let cool for a couple of minutes and then add in the caramel bits. Stir well and then spread out on waxed paper or a Silpat mat (love those). Sprinkle the top lightly with Sea Salt. Put in the refrigerator until the chocolate has set and the bark is easy to break into smaller pieces.

    Christmas Morning
    Spinach Bacon Quiche
    Monkey Bread

    Christmas Dinner: Prime Rib, Dutchess Potatoes, Mushrooms and Green Beans

     

     

  • Menu Plan Monday - 12/19/11

    MPM_Button

    Menu - 12/18- 1/1/11

    Sunday 18 - Baked Pork Chop/ Squash Risotto / Broccoli (E-Mealz 407)

    Monday 19 - White Fish/ Rice / Carrots

    Tuesday 20 - Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole & Veggie

    Wednesday 21 -  Chilli (crockpot)

    Thursday 22 - Stir Fry

    Friday 23 - Chicken Fingers, Garlic Bread, Fries

    Saturday 24 - Christmas Eve Appetizers

    Sunday 25 - Christmas Prime Rib, Dutchess Potatoes, Mushrooms and Green Beans

    Monday - 26 - Leftovers

    Tuesday 27 - Chicken Divan - Steamed White Rice - Mandarin Spinach Salad (Emealz 404)

    Wednesday - 28 -  Unstuffed Cabbage

    Thursday - 29 - Roast and Vegetables

    Friday - 30 - Fish and Chips

    Saturday - 31 - New Years' Eve Appetizers

    Monday - 1 - Going to Red Lobster

    For more Menu Planning inspiration stop by and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie. and participate in Menu Plan Monday.

    Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

    Happy Cooking!!

  • First Party of the Holiday Season...

    Let the planning start..... Exchange this weekend!!

    Appetizer Menu
    Easy Crab Dip
    Artichoke Dip
    Sun-dried tomato spread
    Shrimp
    Sour Cream Puff
    Veggies and Crackers
    Deviled Eggs 
    Brown Sugar Smokies

     

    Magnuson Christian School Bake Sale

    Original Chex Mix

    Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

    Must make these bars....