My six year old daughter’s response to the yummy open-faced stroganoff sandwiches that we had this week. . .
“Mom, I didn’t even gag. . .all I had to do was to squeeze my neck!”
Quite the compliment, wouldn’t you say? Gotta love her. Funny girl.
Funny Girl!
My six year old daughter’s response to the yummy open-faced stroganoff sandwiches that we had this week. . .
“Mom, I didn’t even gag. . .all I had to do was to squeeze my neck!”
Quite the compliment, wouldn’t you say? Gotta love her. Funny girl.
More on Organizing in 2008
When I lived in Dallas I was a MOPs leader at our church and I loved it. One of my favorite things about it was the awesome speakers that we had. Once, we had a speaker and professional organizer come in to talk about getting our houses organized. Her name is Debbie Miller and I believe she took some of her ideas from a lady named Patty Chirico. I posted one of the ways that she said to go about this yesterday on Works for Me Wednesday. She had several principles to go by and I really find myself going back to this information when I am ready to take charge of an area or even a room.
First, grab a timer and a bottle of water. You’ll need trashbags, grocery sacks, zip lock bags, a marker, paper and music. Once you have that then let’s get started. These are all her principles and she based them on the book of Genesis. . .but I have a hard time thinking that God thinking of cleaning out your closet when he authored Genesis. Hmmm. . .so we will just take the way she organized rather than the Scripture that she coupled it with.
1) Pick a room or area and say the amount of time you want to spend on that. Set the timer and when it reaches that time either take a break or step away from it for a day or so.
2) Separate everything into 3 categories
a. keep b. give-away c. throw away
Pray for discernment and courage to do this. This is where the trashbags come in :)
3) Combine everything into like and similar items. Categorize where they will be used. This is where you break out the zip locs and even some baskets or containers.
4) Evaluate high and low priority as well as high and low usage
5) Assign: Find a place for everything based on what works best for you.
6) Take Authority over your paper work. This is where yesterday’s post came into play.
I hope these few simple tips help. When I am tackling something I go back to the sheet she gave us that day and focus on that. It really has helped me to stay focused and to really declutter some areas. If you don’t know, I am a pack rat in recovery. . .still attending meetings though! Hope this works for you and gives you a great start to 2008!
First, grab a timer and a bottle of water. You’ll need trashbags, grocery sacks, zip lock bags, a marker, paper and music. Once you have that then let’s get started. These are all her principles and she based them on the book of Genesis. . .but I have a hard time thinking that God thinking of cleaning out your closet when he authored Genesis. Hmmm. . .so we will just take the way she organized rather than the Scripture that she coupled it with.
1) Pick a room or area and say the amount of time you want to spend on that. Set the timer and when it reaches that time either take a break or step away from it for a day or so.
2) Separate everything into 3 categories
a. keep b. give-away c. throw away
Pray for discernment and courage to do this. This is where the trashbags come in :)
3) Combine everything into like and similar items. Categorize where they will be used. This is where you break out the zip locs and even some baskets or containers.
4) Evaluate high and low priority as well as high and low usage
5) Assign: Find a place for everything based on what works best for you.
6) Take Authority over your paper work. This is where yesterday’s post came into play.
I hope these few simple tips help. When I am tackling something I go back to the sheet she gave us that day and focus on that. It really has helped me to stay focused and to really declutter some areas. If you don’t know, I am a pack rat in recovery. . .still attending meetings though! Hope this works for you and gives you a great start to 2008!
Paper Clutter Organization
This is a notebook that a professional organizer at my church in Dallas showed us to stay on top of all of the paper clutter. She takes this everywhere she goes-even in her car! I have had this notebook for a couple of years and it really helps me to stay organized. You can take even a couple of these subjects to stay organized in the areas where you need it the most. I think I found my notebook at Wal Mart. It has eight pockets. You may be able to get them at Target as well.
The subjects for my notebook are as follows:
1) Bills To Pay:
2) Sales to act on: Grocery/Home
3) Kids: School-Notes to sign, etc.
4) Invitations: to parties, weddings, etc.
5) Holiday Shopping: I refer back to this section every year; this could be altogether another notebook for you
6) Holiday Foods/Cooking: This reminds me of what I make every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas
7) Receipts to Keep/Rebates To Act On:
8) Take Out Food/Menus/Coupons for Food:
If you liked this idea and would love to have more like this, please comment, as well as, check out Shannon's blog at Rocks in my Dryer!
2008 New Year's Resolutions
I am blogging on this basically for my own accountability and reminders of what I am working on! It never hurts to share your deepest passions with all of cyberspace when you need a little accountability. Cheaper by the Half Dozen started this blog topic and has some great resolutions if you need help thinking of something. :)
I am reminded in a post by Wellblog on the subject of New Year’s Resolutions. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV) I am keeping that in mind as I think of all that I want to do this year.
She also added in her post that they are doing a Bible study curriculum (Faithlink Dec. 30, 2007, copyright Cokesbury) and it had this quote: “While a lot of people who make New Year’s resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.” (Quote by John Norcross, a researcher at the University of Scranton).
Spiritual Goals: How do you measure closeness with Jesus? My only guess is that you look more like Him each day. That’s the goal. The ways that I might attain this. . .
1) Consistent Quiet Time – my time is before bed because I usually hit the hay before hubby
2) Memorizing Scripture with my family through Awana
3) Praying without ceasing
My vertical relationship will impact my horizontal relationships: reaching out and ministering to others
Family Goals:
1) More Time with my Hubby (You know . . .time)
2) To play with my kids. . .you know to get down on my hands and knees in the floor and play. . .they don’t want presents, they want my presence!! That is going to be my reminder this year. Presence not presents!
3) I would say to clean my house better. . .nah!! Not important, right!? Maybe I could get a house cleaner in 2008! Woo Hoo!
4) Continue to pray and seek the Lord for wise counsel on our school decisions for next year.
5) Continue with my meal planning because they save everyone from chaos during the week. It also saves our family money when I am able to think ahead.
6) Take a family vacation somewhere. Celebrate our 10th anniversary somewhere tropical even if I have to decorate the bedroom like a rain forest!
7) Remember my family’s birthdays and try to get a card to them on or before their birthday. We will start with family first and then work our way to friends. Baby steps!
Physical Goals:
1) Continue with my crazy exercise program; it not only benefits me physically, but emotionally, mentally as well as socially! Wow, now that’s a keeper!
2) Eat well. Look for healthy alternatives to my faves: chips and dip and cookies!
3) Drink water. Like a camel. I will look young when I am 100. Now that’s for thinking ahead!
4) Run or walk in at least one 5K like the Race for the Cure. . .possibly a summertime 5K as well would be fun.
5) Look for ways to push myself physically-like buy a bikini and look in the mirror every day with it on. Never mind. . .erase that mental picture!
Personal Development Goals:
1) Possibly take classes to get my teaching certificate back
2) Continue blogging at least 3 times a week.
3) Work hard and diligently at my job with Apartment Life. Look for ways to honor God and help others in what I do. Take every thought captive when working with applicants.
4) Garden this Spring throughout the fall. Very enjoyable. Very rewarding.
Looks like a wild year. And my God always brings on a couple of extras in there. My hope is that my security will lie in Him only this year. . .not things, people or any other distractions. . .only in Him!
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV)
I am reminded in a post by Wellblog on the subject of New Year’s Resolutions. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV) I am keeping that in mind as I think of all that I want to do this year.
She also added in her post that they are doing a Bible study curriculum (Faithlink Dec. 30, 2007, copyright Cokesbury) and it had this quote: “While a lot of people who make New Year’s resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.” (Quote by John Norcross, a researcher at the University of Scranton).
Spiritual Goals: How do you measure closeness with Jesus? My only guess is that you look more like Him each day. That’s the goal. The ways that I might attain this. . .
1) Consistent Quiet Time – my time is before bed because I usually hit the hay before hubby
2) Memorizing Scripture with my family through Awana
3) Praying without ceasing
My vertical relationship will impact my horizontal relationships: reaching out and ministering to others
Family Goals:
1) More Time with my Hubby (You know . . .time)
2) To play with my kids. . .you know to get down on my hands and knees in the floor and play. . .they don’t want presents, they want my presence!! That is going to be my reminder this year. Presence not presents!
3) I would say to clean my house better. . .nah!! Not important, right!? Maybe I could get a house cleaner in 2008! Woo Hoo!
4) Continue to pray and seek the Lord for wise counsel on our school decisions for next year.
5) Continue with my meal planning because they save everyone from chaos during the week. It also saves our family money when I am able to think ahead.
6) Take a family vacation somewhere. Celebrate our 10th anniversary somewhere tropical even if I have to decorate the bedroom like a rain forest!
7) Remember my family’s birthdays and try to get a card to them on or before their birthday. We will start with family first and then work our way to friends. Baby steps!
Physical Goals:
1) Continue with my crazy exercise program; it not only benefits me physically, but emotionally, mentally as well as socially! Wow, now that’s a keeper!
2) Eat well. Look for healthy alternatives to my faves: chips and dip and cookies!
3) Drink water. Like a camel. I will look young when I am 100. Now that’s for thinking ahead!
4) Run or walk in at least one 5K like the Race for the Cure. . .possibly a summertime 5K as well would be fun.
5) Look for ways to push myself physically-like buy a bikini and look in the mirror every day with it on. Never mind. . .erase that mental picture!
Personal Development Goals:
1) Possibly take classes to get my teaching certificate back
2) Continue blogging at least 3 times a week.
3) Work hard and diligently at my job with Apartment Life. Look for ways to honor God and help others in what I do. Take every thought captive when working with applicants.
4) Garden this Spring throughout the fall. Very enjoyable. Very rewarding.
Looks like a wild year. And my God always brings on a couple of extras in there. My hope is that my security will lie in Him only this year. . .not things, people or any other distractions. . .only in Him!
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV)
and the conversation went something like this
Setting: Me at Kroger
Time: 7:30 am
Ideal Bread Guy: Good Morning!
Me: Good Morning, how are you?
Him: Ideal, how bout yourself?
Me: Great, thanks! Me walking off. . . giggling!
Someone told me that the Ideal bread guys say that when asked how they are doing, but I forgot until after he said that!!
Also, another funny thing happened at Kroger. One of the guys who works there at Kroger asked me where the Parmesan cheese is!!! Oh my! All of this before 8 am. . .too much!
Time: 7:30 am
Ideal Bread Guy: Good Morning!
Me: Good Morning, how are you?
Him: Ideal, how bout yourself?
Me: Great, thanks! Me walking off. . . giggling!
Someone told me that the Ideal bread guys say that when asked how they are doing, but I forgot until after he said that!!
Also, another funny thing happened at Kroger. One of the guys who works there at Kroger asked me where the Parmesan cheese is!!! Oh my! All of this before 8 am. . .too much!
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - steak (on sale at Kroger), loaded baked potato, broccoli and cheese, rolls (kidless- woah!)
Tuesday - Open Faced Stroganoff Sanwiches; one of my friends taught me how to make these and to me they taste like "po boys cheese steak sandwiches." I use swiss cheese instead of cheddar.
Wednesday - back to school and work!! Need to put that crock pot into action! Roast, potatoes and carrots
Thursday - helping with Becky's Bible Study; making ham and cheese sandwiches on hoagie buns, chips, pickles and drinks; need some cookies- how about No Bake Cookies
Friday - Chicken Packets; my daughter (6) loves to help me make these and even better than that she loves to eat them!!
3 oz cream cheese
3 T melted butter
2 cups diced cooked chicken (I use my mini food processor)
1/8 tsp salt and pepper
1 T chives
1 pkg crescent rolls
1/2 c. Italian breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350. Blend cream cheese plus 2 T butter until smooth; add next 5 ingredients; mix. Separate crescent rolls into triangles. Spoon meat mixture into center of each triangle. Pull corners together and twist slightly and seal edges. Brush tops with reserved butter and roll in Italian breadcrumbs. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown. This can be make in advance and frozen; thaw for 1 hour before bakin gor cook at lower temp for 30-35 min.
Saturday - celebrating Christmas with extended family - how long can we draw this out???
Sunday - taco, taco salad!
Happy New Year!!
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