Everything this week is going well. I had a mishap this morning with my extra freezer in the garage, IT QUIT. So I've been bringing in food & reorganizing the kitchen freezer (again) so I can fit all the food in there! My apologies for being late in writing my blog.
1-Still haven't touched a smoke!!!
2- family time is working PERFECTLY. I love having the kids to talk to while I cook.
3- anyone got any ideas for a 4 year old room? Still haven't found anything I like.
4-Eat Healthier- started making my own bread! Thus way I know EXACTLY what goes into it!
5-Dying for spring to get here! I want up be outside so bad!
6- Reading more- read a couple of canning & preserving books. that sounds like a lot of work! I also read Self Sufficiency by Abigail R. Gehring this book has awesome ideas, recipes & even activities for little children to do & over 400 pages. This book provides advise, tips & more! I am BUYING this book!
7- Brain Games- I'm addicted to Logic Games, it's a free app in the App Store. It's kind of like Sudoku. I also found Ruzzler in the App Store (free)but you have to play against someone, (you can purchase the app to play alone)my screen name is cpappleby if anyone wants to play! It's like a word find game! I also love Chain of Thought, it's great!!!! Can't forget my favorite app Sudoku!! Oh did I mention my 4 yr old is addicted to Flow Free. It's helping her match colors and use her brain to figure out the path, without crossing over another path!
8- I'm still blogging!
9- positive thinking - this has really changed the way I view & do things. Staying positive is probably the hardest thing to focus on. No matter how bad my day is going, just thinking that today is not permanent. I choose what happens!
10-still working on a craft. We have done a little if the planter sticks to label the plants in the kitchen.
11-music- hasn't gone well this week. I've been reading so many books on canning and preserving.
12- no chemicals- making bread & coffee creamer. They taste so much better then store bought!
13. Gardening- taking a challenge this week. I'm going to see if I can grow African Violet shoots! I'm going to try it!
I researched them & supposedly if you cut off a branch/stem with a leaf attached, then cut leaf in half. Then cut stem down to 1 inch below leaf. Place stem in pot mix up to the leaf, then put plastic bag over it to create greenhouse effect. In 4-6 weeks you should see shoots and then transplant to its permanent home.
Sorry this isn't more in depth, but trying to deal with a freezer not working didn't help me today. Next week will be more exciting.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Week 3
This week has been a little busy. It has been another successful week! I'm VERY proud to say my #1 goal for 2013 has been accomplished, I QUIT SMOKING!!!! It wasn't easy, but I did it. I haven't had a cigarette since January 12th!!! So here we go for what goals have been accomplished this week...
1- Quit smoking- DONE- It was easier then I thought. I kept my mind and hands occupied. I also left my cigarettes in the car! That way they were not so easy to get to. Living in Tennessee, its a little cold here right now, so to me it wasn't worth going to the car to get a cigarette, when the temp outside is 28 degrees!
2- Family time- This has been working out well. I tried an idea this week (and I will continue with this because it worked out so well) when I start cooking dinner about 4:30-5, I call all the kids in the kitchen with me. My oldest (who is 14) and my youngest (who will be 4 next month) both come in the kitchen with me. My oldest sits at the table with her books to study for school. We TALK about what she learned in school that day. She will open her books to the lessons and read the "study questions" from the lesson that day, and I engage her in discussions about her lessons. The more she repeats and studies the better she does on her tests!!
For the youngest she tries to help me with cooking dinner. She made Parmesan biscuits the other night! I opened the store bought biscuits, but she took over from there! She dipped the biscuits in melted butter, then patted them into the Parmesan cheese, and put them on the cookie sheet! She had a wonderful time. When I do not have anything she can help with, she sits at the counter and colors in her color books! She hears me and Sissy talk about history and science, etc. She will actually stop and ask questions too! So Sissy will stop and answer her. So everyone is learning and talking to each other.
3- Get Organized- The kitchen is complete! See my previous post Operation Kitchen Reorganization to see what I did. I am getting ideas for doing my youngest's room.
4- Eat Healthy- We are doing great with this! I made homemade banana bread, and sourdough bread this week in my bread maker! I haven't used my bread maker in years! I found it at the back of the cupboard when I was organizing the kitchen. So I am not putting it to GOOD use! Since I quit smoking I have a better appetite!
5- Get in shape- still working on my stretching and yoga. I can't wait until it gets warmer outside so I can go for walks! Last weekend we had unusually warm weather( in the 70's) so all of us got out in the yard and played! We also started weeding the front flower beds.
6- Read More- I have read 6 books this week on gardening in containers! Finding out what flowers do well in pots, and what plants prefer to be free. I also learned about herbs! I found two books that I really liked, it gives you "recipes" for planting beautiful flowering containers/pots. One is called Container Garden by P Allen Smith and Gardening without a garden by Gay Search. I was able to find both books at my local library. So this puts my book count week to date +3. (I was -1 last week) So I have read a total of 7 books.See all the books I have read
7- Brain games- loving my crosswords and word searches. I sit in the morning with my coffee and try to do one before I start my day. I saw an advertisement for an app on my phone for Lumosity, I did download the app, but haven't tried it yet. When I downloaded the app it shows up as Brain Trainer. I also found a cool app from the NRA called Practice Range in the app store. The app is free, it gives you a "shooting" range and different weapons to shoot. What I like about this app is you can look up local gun laws, discussions, etc for your area from the app!
8- Still Blogging-
9-Positive thinking- this is awesome. When thinking in a more positive light everything is possible!
10-Crafts- I'm looking for ideas to make the plant labels, and decorating pots for garden.
11-Music- I did a few sessions this week, not as many as I would have liked. But something is better then nothing.
12- No Chemicals- I have done well with this. I'm still making my own coffee creamer, fabric softener, Air freshener (Febreeze), and made my own bread!
13- Gardening- read all those books about gardening, weeded front flower beds Created a little shelf from shoe rack the seedlings are just now coming through. See week 2 about show rack.
HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!!!
1- Quit smoking- DONE- It was easier then I thought. I kept my mind and hands occupied. I also left my cigarettes in the car! That way they were not so easy to get to. Living in Tennessee, its a little cold here right now, so to me it wasn't worth going to the car to get a cigarette, when the temp outside is 28 degrees!
2- Family time- This has been working out well. I tried an idea this week (and I will continue with this because it worked out so well) when I start cooking dinner about 4:30-5, I call all the kids in the kitchen with me. My oldest (who is 14) and my youngest (who will be 4 next month) both come in the kitchen with me. My oldest sits at the table with her books to study for school. We TALK about what she learned in school that day. She will open her books to the lessons and read the "study questions" from the lesson that day, and I engage her in discussions about her lessons. The more she repeats and studies the better she does on her tests!!
For the youngest she tries to help me with cooking dinner. She made Parmesan biscuits the other night! I opened the store bought biscuits, but she took over from there! She dipped the biscuits in melted butter, then patted them into the Parmesan cheese, and put them on the cookie sheet! She had a wonderful time. When I do not have anything she can help with, she sits at the counter and colors in her color books! She hears me and Sissy talk about history and science, etc. She will actually stop and ask questions too! So Sissy will stop and answer her. So everyone is learning and talking to each other.
3- Get Organized- The kitchen is complete! See my previous post Operation Kitchen Reorganization to see what I did. I am getting ideas for doing my youngest's room.
4- Eat Healthy- We are doing great with this! I made homemade banana bread, and sourdough bread this week in my bread maker! I haven't used my bread maker in years! I found it at the back of the cupboard when I was organizing the kitchen. So I am not putting it to GOOD use! Since I quit smoking I have a better appetite!
5- Get in shape- still working on my stretching and yoga. I can't wait until it gets warmer outside so I can go for walks! Last weekend we had unusually warm weather( in the 70's) so all of us got out in the yard and played! We also started weeding the front flower beds.
6- Read More- I have read 6 books this week on gardening in containers! Finding out what flowers do well in pots, and what plants prefer to be free. I also learned about herbs! I found two books that I really liked, it gives you "recipes" for planting beautiful flowering containers/pots. One is called Container Garden by P Allen Smith and Gardening without a garden by Gay Search. I was able to find both books at my local library. So this puts my book count week to date +3. (I was -1 last week) So I have read a total of 7 books.See all the books I have read
7- Brain games- loving my crosswords and word searches. I sit in the morning with my coffee and try to do one before I start my day. I saw an advertisement for an app on my phone for Lumosity, I did download the app, but haven't tried it yet. When I downloaded the app it shows up as Brain Trainer. I also found a cool app from the NRA called Practice Range in the app store. The app is free, it gives you a "shooting" range and different weapons to shoot. What I like about this app is you can look up local gun laws, discussions, etc for your area from the app!
8- Still Blogging-
9-Positive thinking- this is awesome. When thinking in a more positive light everything is possible!
10-Crafts- I'm looking for ideas to make the plant labels, and decorating pots for garden.
11-Music- I did a few sessions this week, not as many as I would have liked. But something is better then nothing.
12- No Chemicals- I have done well with this. I'm still making my own coffee creamer, fabric softener, Air freshener (Febreeze), and made my own bread!
13- Gardening- read all those books about gardening, weeded front flower beds Created a little shelf from shoe rack the seedlings are just now coming through. See week 2 about show rack.
HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!!!
Books I have Read in 2013- update week 45/46
These are the books I have read so far this year. As the year progresses there will be several different types of books. I will label out in categories as the list gets longer. I will update the list throughout the year!
So far I'm up to 27 books I'm a little behind but I have the confidence that I will make by goal for the year!
You can look at my 2013 goals on my first week's Blog. 26 educational, 26 pleasure books.
I've got 17 educational/informational book done!
I've got 10 pleasure books done!
In September....
27- One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. This was fabulous!!! Loved the book and movie!!
24,25,26- I've read the Fifty Shades of Grey series- I LOVED IT! (Besides the obvious sexual content which is not a big deal to me) I loved how the story had a real purpose. 2 people who have issues and learn to work through them. I just had to see what all the hype was about. I really liked the actual story throughout the series! Which leads me to my next question of HOW are they going to turn this into a movie? Cause 75% of the first book Fifty Shades of Grey is sexual content. So it will be interesting. Oh & after reading the books I can NOT picture the cast they have hired for the roles in the movie.
23-Breakfast at Tiffany's by James Patterson. This is not your typical James Patterson book. This is a book about an imaginary friend and how they become real. It was a slow but enjoyable book.
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ROMANCE-
22- "Perfect Fling" by Carly Phillips - It was funny & romantic(a few exotic parts), I loved it!!! Great plot, and characters were life like! Ups and downs great book & would read it again!
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So far I'm up to 27 books I'm a little behind but I have the confidence that I will make by goal for the year!
You can look at my 2013 goals on my first week's Blog. 26 educational, 26 pleasure books.
I've got 17 educational/informational book done!
I've got 10 pleasure books done!
In September....
27- One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. This was fabulous!!! Loved the book and movie!!
24,25,26- I've read the Fifty Shades of Grey series- I LOVED IT! (Besides the obvious sexual content which is not a big deal to me) I loved how the story had a real purpose. 2 people who have issues and learn to work through them. I just had to see what all the hype was about. I really liked the actual story throughout the series! Which leads me to my next question of HOW are they going to turn this into a movie? Cause 75% of the first book Fifty Shades of Grey is sexual content. So it will be interesting. Oh & after reading the books I can NOT picture the cast they have hired for the roles in the movie.
23-Breakfast at Tiffany's by James Patterson. This is not your typical James Patterson book. This is a book about an imaginary friend and how they become real. It was a slow but enjoyable book.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROMANCE-
22- "Perfect Fling" by Carly Phillips - It was funny & romantic(a few exotic parts), I loved it!!! Great plot, and characters were life like! Ups and downs great book & would read it again!
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MURDER/MYSTERY-
21- Malice by Lisa Jackson, AWESOME
20-Suspicions by Christine Kersey- this was OK, written for ALL reading levels (in my opinion) little too simple for me.
19-Swim by Jennifer Weiner VERY SHORT e-book, not worth the time, only 40 pages
20-Suspicions by Christine Kersey- this was OK, written for ALL reading levels (in my opinion) little too simple for me.
19-Swim by Jennifer Weiner VERY SHORT e-book, not worth the time, only 40 pages
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SOAPMAKING-
18-Soapmaking for the first time by Linda Ortin- This is a simple starter book for those looking to make your own soap. Its for "first time" soap makers and a great book! Its on my "buy list" but I can't find it anywhere.
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FOOD-
17-The best of Top Secrets Recipes by Todd Wilbur- Who doesn't like to make their own McDonalds Big Mac, Taco Bell Nachos, KFC Fried Chicken, at least this way you KNOW whats in your food! Love this book and BOUGHT IT!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OILS-
13-Best of Instructables vol 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GARDENING-
12-Tips for Container Gardening from Fine Gardening- This was great for flowers, not too much info about vegetables
11-The New Self Sufficient Gardener by John Seymore- This book was GREAT! Great tips!
10-The Weekend Homesteader by Anna Hess- This gives you month by month steps on how to prep everything. It was OK. A few tips and some good kid activities.
9-The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible by Edward C Smith- AWESOME book, I bought it! Explains in detail the soil types for your veggies, depth of pots, what plants you can grow together and the plants you should keep separate!
2-Homemade by Readers Digest- GREAT & BOUGHT IT- lots of "homemade solutions" for your everyday life.
1-The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegal-Maier This is an awesome book, I went out and BOUGHT it! Lots of homemade "recipes" for all the cleaning supplies needed to clean your home.
SOAPMAKING-
18-Soapmaking for the first time by Linda Ortin- This is a simple starter book for those looking to make your own soap. Its for "first time" soap makers and a great book! Its on my "buy list" but I can't find it anywhere.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOD-
17-The best of Top Secrets Recipes by Todd Wilbur- Who doesn't like to make their own McDonalds Big Mac, Taco Bell Nachos, KFC Fried Chicken, at least this way you KNOW whats in your food! Love this book and BOUGHT IT!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OILS-
16-Aromatherapy Massage by Clare Maxwell Hudson- This is a wonderful book for your basic oils and massage techniques.
15-Aromatherapy Handbook by Erich Keller -This book is a little older (1990's) gave some great recipes for homemade beauty products.
14-The Complete book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood- BOUGHT THIS BOOK! This is a "natural" book of 600 + "recipes" for most health issues, common cold, upset stomach etc.
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MISC-
13-Best of Instructables vol 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GARDENING-
12-Tips for Container Gardening from Fine Gardening- This was great for flowers, not too much info about vegetables
11-The New Self Sufficient Gardener by John Seymore- This book was GREAT! Great tips!
10-The Weekend Homesteader by Anna Hess- This gives you month by month steps on how to prep everything. It was OK. A few tips and some good kid activities.
9-The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible by Edward C Smith- AWESOME book, I bought it! Explains in detail the soil types for your veggies, depth of pots, what plants you can grow together and the plants you should keep separate!
8-Container Gardening by P. Allen Smith
7-Gardening with out a Garden by Gay Search
6-Container Gardener Rupert Golby
5-Homemade by Ken Braren
4-The No Garden Gardener Jane courtier
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEANING-
3-Cleaning by Real Simple & Kathleen Squires - this didn't give me the information I was looking for. I thought this book would give me homemade cleaning solutions to the commercial brands. All this book gave me was a "schedule" (daily, weekly, monthly, annually) of what to clean in my house.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEANING-
3-Cleaning by Real Simple & Kathleen Squires - this didn't give me the information I was looking for. I thought this book would give me homemade cleaning solutions to the commercial brands. All this book gave me was a "schedule" (daily, weekly, monthly, annually) of what to clean in my house.
2-Homemade by Readers Digest- GREAT & BOUGHT IT- lots of "homemade solutions" for your everyday life.
1-The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegal-Maier This is an awesome book, I went out and BOUGHT it! Lots of homemade "recipes" for all the cleaning supplies needed to clean your home.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Week 2
Hope everyone has had a great week! I know I have been challenged this week. 8 days on the kitchen was fun and exciting. Well onto the goals that I have done!
1. Smoking- I fell off the wagon for 2 days this week. But I'm back down to 4-5 cigarettes a day.
3.Organizing- my "new" kitchen looks great. I was able to save so much space! When I open my cupboards now they almost look empty. Me being a couponer, I had stockpiles of everything! Now it's all condensed down into containers. No more stuff falling over in my cupboards. I even put my cookbooks into categories (breakfast, dinners, desserts, etc) so no more searching for the right book! Look for my previous post Operation Kitchen Reorganization. I think next month I will do Adyson's room gathering ideas right now.
4. Healthy eating- coming along great. I made HOMEMADE Stroganoff the other night, I only have a few "dinner helper" boxes left.
Homemade Stroganoff
1/2c dry/powered milk
1/3c cornstartch
1.5 tbl beef bouillon cubes crushed
1 small onion chopped
1/2 tsp each-basil-thyme-pepper-parsley-
1tsp garlic powder
2 c egg noodles
1.5 lbs hamburger
3.5 cups water
1c sour cream
mix hamburger & onion, brown & drain fat.
whisk cornstarch and 1/2 c of the water together until mixed well. Then add everything to pot EXCEPT sour cream.
Bring to boil - reduce heat, cover & simmer 15-20 minutes until noodles are done, stirring occasionally.
Just before serving add sour cream. I chose to add sour cream separate-on top of servings, this way I can freeze leftovers, since sour cream doesn't freeze well. I froze leftovers in quart size freezer bags. Don't forget to label & date!
This was awesome!
5. Yoga- still going great! researching now to find new moves for my yoga ball. If anyone has a suggestion to a magazine or book for this let me know!
6. Reading- I have read HomeMade by Readers Digest. Its a great book I bought it on my NOOK Color, so friend me & I can lend it to you. Teaches you to make a lot of your own homemade cleaners, beauty stuff, gardening tips, etc. So right now I am only 1 book behind!
7. Brain Teasers- I think the last 11 days of dealing with the kitchen were a brain teaser enough. So I got out the Suduko book & its sitting on my night stand to work a puzzle tonight.
8. Blog- Still going! or you wouldn't have anything to read!
9.Positive- Been doing great at having a "Can Do Attitude" the kids are starting to pick up on it too!
10.Crafts- Did 1 craft that went with my kitchen about creating my own cookbooks out of all the recipes i found laying around. I took spiral notebooks and labeled them and added recipes. Some recipes I stapled (if they were already on recipe card) and some I wrote in.
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| I still have to make them "pretty". Thinking of using wrapping paper to cover ? We shall see what works, or old pieces of fabric? |
12. No Chemicals- has been working out great. I made my own coffee creamer this week, and the Homemade Stroganoff.
Coffee Creamer
1-14oz can of sweet condensed milk
2 c milk (what ever you normally use)
This make a good "base" to start with. You can make it sweeter if you would like. Take 1/2 c milk heat in microwave about 1 min. Then pour in your sugar, mix until sugar is dissolved let it cool! Then you can add it to the rest of the batch.
You can add flavorings or extracts to it & get a flavor you like. Mine is Cinnamon!
1.5 tsp cinnamon extract
1/2 tsp Almond extract
1 tsp Vanilla extract
13. Gardening- I had a great idea for starting plants indoors. I already had soil, starter pots, most of the seeds. I did go buy a wire shoe rack & assembled it. Put it near back door (now that I have room in my kitchen) it cost me $10 it also collapses for storage! Yes I know its early to plant, BUT when we waited and planted indoors in Feb, the plants were only 2-3" tall come April. NONE of those plants survived. So this year we are starting a few weeks earlier, so the plants can be 6-8" tall by April.
Labeling for now I stapled a stick to the seed pack. Adyson & I are looking into "cooler" ideas for labeling. I planted....
HERBS
Rosemary-basil-cilantro-oregano-tarragon-thyme-sage-parsley
VEGTABLES
Cherry toms- Slicing toms- cucumbers-Kohlrabi-green peppers
FRUIT-
Watermelon
So far this year has been awesome! So 11 out of 13 goals started!!! I need to get better about Music and brain teasers! Much better then last weeks 7 out of 13!!! Now since my attention has been focused on the kitchen the last week, its time to show some TLC to the rest of the house, dust, vacuum, etc....
Until next week, I hope all of you are achieving you goals for 2013!
Operation Kitchen Reorganization
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| Finally all my oils, vinegars, syrups in 1 cupbaord! |
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| Here are all my containers. I purchased them from Walmart.com because I could buy them in 4pack or 6 packs. (PS look at the top of my cupboard at all that JUNK! ) |
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER This entire project took me 8 days. It was VERY detailed |
Day 2- I went through and double checked my measurements, researched containers and moving stuff. I this was the day I started having piles of stuff on my counters & table. You may notice the orange post-its on the top cupboards, my notes of measurements, how many containers needed, & what is going in those containers.
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| This is what my kitchen started looking like about day 3-4.... :) |
Day 3- I went through ALL of my cookbooks. I was so tired of searching for the right book. So they all got organized my category- breakfast, lunch, snack, desserts, etc. They all got a good dusting and set aside. Then I found all those pieces of paper with recipes on them. So I found a spiral notebook, labeled the front and wrote or stapled recipes in them.
I chose to have all the books a different color so I could "grab & go" by color.
Day 3-4- When I found all those recipes I chose the ones I know I would cook, and tossed the rest! So I spent the rest of day 3 and most of day 4 writing/ stapling into my own cookbooks. By the end of day 4 my containers had come in.
Day 5- As I was pulling EVERYTHING out of my cupboards I found 2 wine bottle holders. We don't drink wine so who knows why I had them. But I got creative! I bought those decorative pebbles (cheap at the dollar store, $1 a bag, used 2 per wine bottle holder) this gives it weight to hold up my cookbooks!
Also as I finished day 5, I noticed that my kitchen doesn't make sense. I had oatmeal & poptarts in cupboard, but cereal on top of fridge. I had pudding in one cupboard but other lunch snacks in other cupboards. So EVERY cupboard in my kitchen now holds a "category" of food. I chose what fits ME! Be creative with your cupboards and make them fit YOU!
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| Beans, canned veggies |
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| Dinner boxes, rice, salad toppings. The other cupboard is spices. Like my beautiful display of my cookbooks on top of my cupboards? No more junk on top |
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| Seasoning packets, broth packs. You guys get the idea. I organized according to what fit ME. |
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Now ALL breakfast in on top of fridge. 5 boxes of oatmeal fit in a large container. 2 containers of cereal, 1 healthy & 1 for
kids. 1 container of the breakfast shakes, my protein powder, 1 box poptarts. All the "extra" boxes of cereal now fit stacked toward back of fridge
|
 |
| Look at all that empty space! It was COVERED in all my stockpiles. Now the only thing up there is what goes in the cupboards below it. So proud. |
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| In large container is ALL 7 packs of puddings/fruit cups. In the smaller red lined is the cracker packs, green lined is granola bars. Drinks to the right. In the back of cupboard on shelf is all the snack/lunch bags of chips. So when I make lunches every morning, EVERYTHING that goes in them is in this cupboard. The kids also know this is for LUNCHES ONLY. The "home" snacks are in a different cupboard! |
Day 5-6- Washing/dusting everything and putting the stuff in its new home! I did have 1 box that went into the garage. It was full of stuff I only use once a year during the holidays such as my Christmas serving platters & trays, deviled egg holders, Christmas baskets, holiday cookie cutters, why keep all this stuff in your kitchen if you don't use it on a regular basis. I understand some people may not have that ability to do this, but I do so I am taking advantage of it!
Day 6-7 Putting away more stuff. So all food now has a proper cupboard to go into. I have made a Baking cupboard & drawer. All my mixers & bread maker, special cake pans fit into 1 cupboard. In the drawer was all my measuring cups/spoons, cupcake holders, cake decorating kit, candy thermometers, spatulas, etc.
I have all my "frying" stuff together, my Deep Fat Fryer, griddle, George Foreman grill in a cupboard together!
Day 7-8 getting the table cleared off, the poor table, it was the "catch all" for the entire process. The box packed properly and taped and put in garage. Sweeping & mopping.
I'm glad I did it! I was able to go start to finish. The whole project cost me about $150. So to me that's not bad. Especially for all the space I now have in my cupboards! I really feel like I need to go grocery shopping, after having stockpiles/boxes of stuff all over my kitchen for the last couple years and to look at my kitchen now with all the extra/open space (even though I only took 1 box of holiday stuff to garage) feels weird!
HAPPY ORGANIZING!!!!
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Friday, January 4, 2013
Week 1
So far it has been a wonderful 1st week of 2012. On Jan 1, I posted my 13 goals for this year. I must say most of them have been started! Throughout the week I have felt like I can't set enough done. I am trying to take everything 1 step at a time to avoid "burn out" but I am so excited at the same time that I want it all done already, HAHA...
1. Quit smoking- This is going great. I'm down to about 5 cigarettes per day. I can't believe what I can accomplish with the "extra time" from cutting out all the cigarettes.
2. Family time- This hasn't been started yet. Poor Brittany hasn't felt good this week, and I have been BUSY with goal 3.
3. Get organized- This month I am concentrating on the kitchen. I have ordered all my needed containers from Walmart and they should be here next week. So during the week I have been going through EACH cupboard & shelf and wiping it down and stacking. I even put Post-It notes on the outside of every cupboard telling me what containers are needed and what shelf it goes on. So right now the outside of my cupboards are "decorated" with bright orange Post-Its! I have also been going through my stack of handwritten recipes. Throwing away ones that I will NEVER cook, & creating my own cookbook (using spiral notebooks & labeling the front, "Dinner", "Soups", etc). I have been cutting, & writing recipes for 2 days! I didn't realize how many recipes I had laying around, but I am almost done.
4. Eat Healthy- So far I have not bought any "junk food". There is still some left in the house, leftover Christmas candy, etc.
5. Get In Shape- So far this is working. While watching TV at night, I get out my Yoga ball & weights and do about 30 minutes! Can't wait til it gets warmer so I can go walking!
6. Read- This has not been started. I've been too focused on getting the kitchen done. Going to find a book today!
7. Brain games- Haven't started this either. But I must say my brain is in over drive over the excitement of organizing. I lay awake at night thinking how everything will look!
8. Blog- I have started this one or you wouldn't be reading it!
9. Positive- Been looking at things in a more positive light all week! Doing good!
10. Crafts- Haven't even thought about this yet. But I have a craft tub set up with lots of stuff in it.
11. Music- Haven't started this yet. But working in sometime over the weekend!
12. No Chemicals- I have made 2 HOMEMADE solutions! I did make my own Fabric Softener & Febreeze! It was very simple.
FABRIC SOFTENER FEBREEZE
1 cup conditioner (cheap stuff) 1/4 cup Fabric Softener
1 cup vinegar 2 T Baking Soda
2 cups water HOT water to fill 27oz spray bottle
Mix well & use Mix well & shake before use
1/4 cup to start & adjust as needed may separate a little.
13. Gardening. I have been saving my egg cartons to plant seeds next month. I have all the bulbs I need to start my flower garden and researched what I need for trees in the back yard!
So I guess I am going great. 7 out of 13 goals already started, within the first 4 days of the New Year New You!!!!
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1. Quit smoking- This is going great. I'm down to about 5 cigarettes per day. I can't believe what I can accomplish with the "extra time" from cutting out all the cigarettes.
2. Family time- This hasn't been started yet. Poor Brittany hasn't felt good this week, and I have been BUSY with goal 3.
3. Get organized- This month I am concentrating on the kitchen. I have ordered all my needed containers from Walmart and they should be here next week. So during the week I have been going through EACH cupboard & shelf and wiping it down and stacking. I even put Post-It notes on the outside of every cupboard telling me what containers are needed and what shelf it goes on. So right now the outside of my cupboards are "decorated" with bright orange Post-Its! I have also been going through my stack of handwritten recipes. Throwing away ones that I will NEVER cook, & creating my own cookbook (using spiral notebooks & labeling the front, "Dinner", "Soups", etc). I have been cutting, & writing recipes for 2 days! I didn't realize how many recipes I had laying around, but I am almost done.
4. Eat Healthy- So far I have not bought any "junk food". There is still some left in the house, leftover Christmas candy, etc.
5. Get In Shape- So far this is working. While watching TV at night, I get out my Yoga ball & weights and do about 30 minutes! Can't wait til it gets warmer so I can go walking!
6. Read- This has not been started. I've been too focused on getting the kitchen done. Going to find a book today!
7. Brain games- Haven't started this either. But I must say my brain is in over drive over the excitement of organizing. I lay awake at night thinking how everything will look!
8. Blog- I have started this one or you wouldn't be reading it!
9. Positive- Been looking at things in a more positive light all week! Doing good!
10. Crafts- Haven't even thought about this yet. But I have a craft tub set up with lots of stuff in it.
11. Music- Haven't started this yet. But working in sometime over the weekend!
12. No Chemicals- I have made 2 HOMEMADE solutions! I did make my own Fabric Softener & Febreeze! It was very simple.
FABRIC SOFTENER FEBREEZE
1 cup conditioner (cheap stuff) 1/4 cup Fabric Softener
1 cup vinegar 2 T Baking Soda
2 cups water HOT water to fill 27oz spray bottle
Mix well & use Mix well & shake before use
1/4 cup to start & adjust as needed may separate a little.
13. Gardening. I have been saving my egg cartons to plant seeds next month. I have all the bulbs I need to start my flower garden and researched what I need for trees in the back yard!
So I guess I am going great. 7 out of 13 goals already started, within the first 4 days of the New Year New You!!!!
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Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Make 2013 count!
Now that is Jan 1, I am excited to say I have MANY goals and resolutions for the year. New Year New You!! I have thought long and hard about the goals for this upcoming year. I have a wonderful family and support system I know I can accomplish all my goals this year!
1. QUIT SMOKING- I started at 15/16 years old, at first it was a habit, but now its becoming an addiction. An addiction that I don't need in my life. Quitting will be one of the hardest of all of my goals this year. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!!!!
2. CREATE & MAKE FAMILY TIME- We have such unusual schedules for a family. We forget how important family time can be. Kids grow up so fast, and I want my kids to look back on memories of fun times instead of having nothing. Adyson got plenty of board games for Christmas. Brittany got a Wii game that we can all play as a family. LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!!!
3. GET ORGANIZED- I'm taking 1 room per month and organizing it from top to bottom. I have already started on the kitchen. I will post pictures at the end of the month of my "Newly Organized Kitchen". I am excited!
4. EAT HEALTHIER- We eat pretty good now, but I want to challenge myself in 2013. I am going to meal plan this year! I want all my meals planned out for the week, and gradually work up to planning for the MONTH! It saves time, money and is less stressful when everything is planned out.
5. GET IN SHAPE- Yes, I know some of you are thinking "You are thin enough!" But this isn't about being thin, its about getting in shape. I know my smoking has a lot to do with me not being able to keep up with the kids. I am going to start Yoga at home. I have bought the big Yoga ball and a 2lb & 3lb set of weights. I am also going to do dance moves from the Wii dance games we have for my cardio workouts!
6. READ MORE- If I don't start reading some of the books in my 3 bookcases, I think my husband might just start throwing them out! HAHA I want to encourage my kids to read more as well.I want to start reading to Adyson at bedtime too! I want to read 26 informational/educational books, and 26 pleasure books. I just have to hurry and choose a book so I can start. I will post weekly about my readings/findings! If anyone has any suggestions let me know!
7. 10 MIN of BRAIN EXERCISE DAILY- I have about 10 little Crossword & Sudoku books in my bedside table. So I am going to fill them up!
8. BLOGGING- I want to make a weekly goal of blogging my progress of my resolutions.
9. THINK, BE, ACT POSITIVE- I want to create a more positive life. Start thinking, being, acting more positive.
10. CRAFTS- I want to do a monthly craft. There are a TON of ideas on Pinterest for cute home decore ideas that are fairly cheap to make and look wonderful. There is also a TON of ideas for Adyson to do. So I will plan to do them!
11. MUSIC- As most of you know I got a keyboard for Mother's Day in 2012. I have learned a few songs but the "newness" wore off. So I am going to try and schedule music time in for me and the family! I hope to be able to play plenty of songs by the end of 2013!
12. NO MORE CHEMICALS- I have bought 1 book already(on my NOOK no more paper books for me!) and looking at several more to start making my own stuff such as cleaning supplies, lotions, laundry soap,even spices, etc. I spent money on products that I can make myself in minutes and COST LESS! I will keep you posted about how this works out.
13. GARDENING- I want to grow a vegetable & flower gardens this year. I have been doing my research on the flowers that do best in my area & have purpose, such as mint helps repel insects from your garden, same with marigolds! So I am going to give it my best shot at gardening this year!
So there are my 13 goals for 2013. I hope all of you have a happy and wonderful new year! I will be posting my reactions, issues, and resolutions weekly so stay tuned!
Courtney
1. QUIT SMOKING- I started at 15/16 years old, at first it was a habit, but now its becoming an addiction. An addiction that I don't need in my life. Quitting will be one of the hardest of all of my goals this year. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!!!!
2. CREATE & MAKE FAMILY TIME- We have such unusual schedules for a family. We forget how important family time can be. Kids grow up so fast, and I want my kids to look back on memories of fun times instead of having nothing. Adyson got plenty of board games for Christmas. Brittany got a Wii game that we can all play as a family. LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!!!
3. GET ORGANIZED- I'm taking 1 room per month and organizing it from top to bottom. I have already started on the kitchen. I will post pictures at the end of the month of my "Newly Organized Kitchen". I am excited!
4. EAT HEALTHIER- We eat pretty good now, but I want to challenge myself in 2013. I am going to meal plan this year! I want all my meals planned out for the week, and gradually work up to planning for the MONTH! It saves time, money and is less stressful when everything is planned out.
5. GET IN SHAPE- Yes, I know some of you are thinking "You are thin enough!" But this isn't about being thin, its about getting in shape. I know my smoking has a lot to do with me not being able to keep up with the kids. I am going to start Yoga at home. I have bought the big Yoga ball and a 2lb & 3lb set of weights. I am also going to do dance moves from the Wii dance games we have for my cardio workouts!
6. READ MORE- If I don't start reading some of the books in my 3 bookcases, I think my husband might just start throwing them out! HAHA I want to encourage my kids to read more as well.I want to start reading to Adyson at bedtime too! I want to read 26 informational/educational books, and 26 pleasure books. I just have to hurry and choose a book so I can start. I will post weekly about my readings/findings! If anyone has any suggestions let me know!
7. 10 MIN of BRAIN EXERCISE DAILY- I have about 10 little Crossword & Sudoku books in my bedside table. So I am going to fill them up!
8. BLOGGING- I want to make a weekly goal of blogging my progress of my resolutions.
9. THINK, BE, ACT POSITIVE- I want to create a more positive life. Start thinking, being, acting more positive.
10. CRAFTS- I want to do a monthly craft. There are a TON of ideas on Pinterest for cute home decore ideas that are fairly cheap to make and look wonderful. There is also a TON of ideas for Adyson to do. So I will plan to do them!
11. MUSIC- As most of you know I got a keyboard for Mother's Day in 2012. I have learned a few songs but the "newness" wore off. So I am going to try and schedule music time in for me and the family! I hope to be able to play plenty of songs by the end of 2013!
12. NO MORE CHEMICALS- I have bought 1 book already(on my NOOK no more paper books for me!) and looking at several more to start making my own stuff such as cleaning supplies, lotions, laundry soap,even spices, etc. I spent money on products that I can make myself in minutes and COST LESS! I will keep you posted about how this works out.
13. GARDENING- I want to grow a vegetable & flower gardens this year. I have been doing my research on the flowers that do best in my area & have purpose, such as mint helps repel insects from your garden, same with marigolds! So I am going to give it my best shot at gardening this year!
So there are my 13 goals for 2013. I hope all of you have a happy and wonderful new year! I will be posting my reactions, issues, and resolutions weekly so stay tuned!
Courtney
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