Menu Planning & Time Management

January is the month for hunkering down and getting things in order.  It's the start of a new year and with it  hopes and dreams.  A clean slate, a time to focus on our dreams and hopes for this upcoming year.

This is the month for organizing, planning, and laying out our plans.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

This year I want to focus on time management and one of the biggest time thieves is not having a plan.  I can plan almost anything but my nemesis has always been meal planning.  This year I want to be more intentional about meal planning.

Edie, who is a rock star and a mentor to so many of us in blog land, has given us one of the best meal planning tools ever.  The best part is that it is so easy once you get started.  This has been available to us all along.  Google calendars will be your favorite tool in implementing a meal plan.  Edie has posted a tutorial on her blog.

You'll find that you love it once you get started.  My favorite piece is the fact that you can add the recipe to the calendar. Everything in one place makes it easier when supper time comes around.

Second favorite~you can repeat the meals.  Once you input your meal you can edit and choose how frequently you would like the recipe to repeat.

I have started on my menu and it is far from being complete but it is a start.  I have never had a menu plan that I stayed with.  I would start it but, usually within a month, I would stop.  The beauty of this is that once you have your favorite recipes in and you choose how often to repeat them, soon enough you will have a year's worth of meal plans.

While I was working on my menu plan I decided to go through my many recipe pins and bookmarks.  I spaced these new recipes through out the month.  Once I've tried them if they are keeper I will go back and edit it to repeat.  I will adjust the frequency according to how much we liked it.

Having a plan in place is such a help.  No more wondering what's for dinner at the last minute.  Rushing to thaw something and being disappointed in yourself.

Thank you sweet Edie for sharing this nugget of wisdom with those of us who have failed miserably with menu planning.

Word for the Year

Although we are well into this new year and the month of January, I wanted to share with you my word for the year.  I am a bit behind due to the flu but quickly catching up.

My goal and purpose for this year is to live my life day by day intentionally.  Too often I pass my days away just doing but not being intentional about what I am doing.  Imagine the difference I can make in our home if i do even the most mundane tasks with a purpose, with honorable intentions.

I love these definitions from Webster's 1828 dictionary:

 INTEN'TION, n. [L. intentio. See Intend.]

1. Primarily, a stretching or bending of the mind towards an object; hence, uncommon exertion of the intellectual faculties; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness. Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness and of choice, fixes its view on any idea, considers it on every side, and will not be called off by the ordinary solicitation of other ideas. (emphasis mine)

This says it all.  I will fix my view on being a blessing to others, finding joy in the moment, doing the daily tasks of housework with a heart of joy and thanksgiving for the blessings that God has given me.  Keeping my attention fixed on what is important.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2. Design; purpose; the fixed direction of the mind to a particular object, or a determination to act in a particular manner.

A determination to act in a particular manner~what could this mean in day to day living?  That no matter what happens, little or big things, stresses and unwanted surprises, I will determine to act in a manner that is pleasing to God.  I will allow the leading of the Holy Spirit in me to guide my every action, thought, and words.  

I am praying that this year is a year of restoration and blessing for our family.  A year of God's promises being fulfilled.  

I will be linking up here.

Neglected Spaces

Shortly after Christmas I came down with the flu.  I had not had the flu for about 14 years and completely forgot how horrible it really is.  It took me out of commission for quite a few days, and even when you start to feel better it leaves you feeling so weak.  It had taken some time to completely recuperate and start back with a schooling schedule.  Things are returning back to normal pretty much and I have missed blogging.  There were posts I want to complete for the New Year but they were completely forgotten about.  My only goal was to not feel so weak.

This post is about some slightly neglected areas of our home that finally received a dose of tlc.  

The first is in our bedroom.  I do have further plans for this room but that will be in a future post.

For now, I replaced my awful, on sale Target nightstand with a sweet little find.

Well hubby and I were on a date at this little village not far from us we found this little treasure.  

I need to get some baskets for the shelf to better organize it.  It is on the to do list.

We picked it right up.  I love the shape and finish on this piece.  The distressing is perfect and the price was almost too fabulous to believe.

I love the shape of the legs.  The shelf is already full of books on my must read list.

This area at the top of our steps was the second neglected spot.  It is the second floor landing of our home.  Not sure what happened to the picture.  The armoire does not have that color distortion in real life.

There was only one lonely chair there and I knew it needed something else.

My mom found and picked up this sweet little table at Home Goods.  I love it and how much better this space looks now.

I am much happier with this space. 

I need to add some art work to the bare walls and then it will be perfect.  The yellow is hubby's color choice.  I would have loved something a little more neutral but he likes it.  The picture below is the true color.  Up top is a bit too bright.  Not sure what happened with these pictures.

Next post will be my 2013 goals for our home.  Better late than never.

I will be linking up to these great parties.

Fall Festival of Color

One of the perks for living in New England is the display of autumn color.  The air is crisp, no more humidity, sunny days with cool nights when you can snuggle in.  Unfortunately, this year we have had quite a rainy fall.  In addition to the busyness of life, we had not had an opportunity to venture out and enjoy fall's festival of color.  This weekend hubby and I decided we had to go.  With Hurricane Sandy barreling our way we knew there wouldn't be any leaves left when she was done with us.  So we headed out.

 It is not peak color but still beautiful.

 We traveled the route that dear hubby takes to work daily.

Already the skies were warning of the impending storm.  This was early afternoon on Saturday.  Sandy truly wants her presence known.

 A storm of this magnitude heading in our direction at this time of year is unusual.  It is a surprise we could do without.  

 Thankfully, we are not in the direct line of the storm.  My heart goes out to those who are in the direct line of this storm. Here we are praying for the best.  Settling in and waiting to see what she will bring to our area.  Remembering Tropical Storm Irene, which did not seem to have an enormous impact on the day it happened but we were left without power for eight days.  Praying God keeps everyone safe throughout this ordeal.

Restoration

It has been too long since I have posted.  Through this time I have been mostly absent from blog land.  I have been seeking the Lord and His will for our lives.  Life is unpredictable.  God may take you through places you never would have imagined.  Some difficult places, filled with unknowns, places that will make you rely completely on Him.  It is His desire, after all, that we live in His will because it is what's best for us.

Thankfully, by His mercy, God has restored our home to us.  I count it all joy to see the work the hand of God has done and continues doing in our lives.  I trust in Him as we face the future and hope in Him alone.

Dear Hubby is starting a new job.  Still with the same company but in a completely different role.  It's a season of newness here.

Our daughter has started her second year of college, first year of the nursing program.  She is working toward her goal and we cheer her on.

Our son is in his second year of high school.  We are still homeschooling and hitting the books hard.  He is definitely a right brain, artistic learner and we are working on incorporating that for better learning.  He looks forward to art school and I am looking to see what is necessary for acceptance into this type of program. Signing up for PSAT's and driver's education.



I am currently reading the Odyssey and participating in the Classical reading book club hosted by the fabulous Edie at Life in Grace.  Still crocheting and creating, in desperate need of finishing some projects and starting to revisit my blogging friends who have been sorely neglected during this absent period.

The summer came and went in a flash and I still find it hard to believe we are halfway through September.

Looking forward to reconnecting with blog land and sharing the work God is doing in our hearts and home.

God bless you!!

Life These Days

Life has a way of taking unexpected twists and turns.  You don't know where you will be tomorrow or how your circumstances may change.  At this time I find myself in a place where I never thought I would be.  I'm am not sure what tomorrow will bring and I rely on my Heavenly Father for support to carry on.  Each day is an opportunity to witness His hand and provision in mine and my children's lives.  Due to circumstances in our lives, we have had to leave our home.  Leaving most of our possessions behind.  It has been a difficult month.  We have grieved over everything we lost, over the uncertainty of our future, and over the pain we have felt in our hearts.  But during this time, we have experienced many blessings and God's provision.  We were able to celebrate with my sister as she received her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology.  I am so happy for her!!  It has been a long and tiring road for her. We are celebrating my daughter's acceptance to the nursing program.  She has completed her first year of college and I am so happy and excited for her!!

I am so thankful that God has blessed us and kept us through these difficult days.  We are on a new journey, unsure of what we will face in the upcoming future, facing the challenges that lay ahead of us.  Taking each day as a new and glorious blessing from our Heavenly Father.

My Faves

Where have I been?  There has been a lot going on here.  Much like everyone else.  The days are swallowed up in what seems like mere seconds.  It has been nothing more than the daily grind here.  We are working on finishing our homeschool curriculum sometime before July.  It is the first year of high school for my son.  He is completely right brained and an artist and I am trying very hard to incorporate that into a Classical Education model.  He was participating in an amazing art class but his teacher had to drop the class. It was quite sad for him.  She was a perfect fit.
Samples of his work:

Portraits of characters from the tv show Smallville.  He is mostly self taught in portraits.

Some comic book art

This is his passion.  He enjoys creating and has started working on some custom figures from his favorite comic books.

Although my posts have been scarce I have been spending some time reading some amazing blogs.  One of my favorite bloggers is Edie from Life in Grace.  She is a rock star and her every post is filled with amazing insight.  Her posts are as chic and eclectic as her home style and I am continuously blessed and inspired when I read her blog. She is my go to on what to read next.  A professed C.S. Lewis fan, she chooses some of the most amazing books and I am continuously challenged by her reading lists.

From Edie's blog I was introduced to Paige's blog, Simple Thoughts.  Many of you may be familiar with her blog and her story.  It is truly amazing and I have been so blessed to read her posts.  I have been reading through the archives.  Her blog is filled with beautiful photos, thought provoking posts and words to inspire.

Following links on Paige's blog I was blessed to find Sibi's blog, Pearls and Grace.  Her blog is filled with stories of God's grace and goodness towards us who are so undeserving.  Her story is a true testimony of God's unfailing love, even when we feel alone and abandoned, He is there and knows our every pain.

Last but certainly not least is Jaime of Crafty, Scrappy, Happy.  Her blog is filled with so many good things. Complete eye candy.  She shares amazing projects that turn her house into a home and inspires me with her style.

These are a few of my favorites.  My go tos.  The ones I can't go without.  I hope that you take time to visit them.  What are some of your favorites?  Who or what inspires you, challenges you and encourages you?

A Trip to Mark a Milestone

On Tuesday I celebrated a milestone~the big 40.  Dear hubby treated me to a weekend in New York to celebrate.  I haven't been to New York in years and was looking forward to going.  I love the city.  It is so vibrant and full of life.  I could sit and people watch for hours but there was so much I wanted to see.

This was our hotel.  

We were right in the heart of Times Square.

The hustle and bustle had not yet started.  It was quiet on this weekend morning.

The magnificent architecture in the city leaves me wanting to stare at each building for hours, trying to take it all in.

The New York Public Library is astounding.

Another example of the classic architecture on the Upper West Side.

Dear hubby treated me to my first Broadway show.  It was spectacular.  I love The Phantom.  It recently celebrated it's ten thousandth show, making it the longest running show on Broadway.

The Marriot Marquis has a restaurant called The View.  It is on the 48th floor and revolves giving you a complete view of the city.  We went up just as the sun was setting.

The Empire State Building~it had been cloudy and raining all day but cleared up just in time for the view.

Rockefeller Center early on Sunday morning.  This was our last stop before we headed home.  I enjoyed every moment in the city.  I could people watch all day.  It is a fascinating place.

On Wednesday our little guy had surgery.  Doesn't he look so precious.  He is usually a very active pup but was not himself.  

He has won our hearts with his spirited play and sweet moments when we can snuggle him. He is already feeling more like himself.  Running around and trying to get at his incision wound.  Our husky had major surgery in February.  She had a large cyst that spread almost completely around her neck.  The incision was so large and we were quite alarmed when we picked her up.  She looks so unlike herself because she had to be shaved quite a bit.  Half the trouble with the cyst was that it was hidden under all the husky fur.  It had spread quietly without detection.  Hopefully, this is the end of her health troubles.  She has had a tough year so far.  She is a good sport but gives us quite a bit a trouble staying away from her stitches.  

 Our husky had major surgery in February.  She had a large cyst that spread almost completely around her neck.  The incision was so large and we were quite alarmed when we picked her up.  She looks so unlike herself because she had to be shaved quite a bit.  Half the trouble with the cyst was that it was hidden under all the husky fur.  It had spread quietly without detection.  Hopefully, this is the end of her health troubles.  She has had a tough year so far.  She is a good sport but gives us quite a bit a trouble staying away from her stitches.  She has scratched the stitches and caused bleeding a couple of times.  We are trying to keep her from scratching and are quickly running out of ideas.  I promised her no pictures of her in her sad state.

Linking to:

Furry New Baby

We had a very fun weekend!!  Saturday we went out for a wonderful breakfast to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday.  Then we visited the pet store.  I can't believe that it happened but a little puppy won my heart.  He is just so sweet and lovable.  Here he is sleeping in his crate with his toy.

He is a cairn terrier.  The same kind of dog as Toto on the Wizard of Oz.  We were trying to keep him out of the way and used a laundry basket but it wasn't working.  

He is so tiny.  Just over three pounds.

We had to get the little guy a sweater because he was shivering.

The transition has been tough.  He cries and barks in his crate at night.  Last night he was going crazy and not resting at all.  But look at this little face.  Isn't it precious???  Wouldn't his little face just win your heart??!!

So tiny but so full of energy.  We are working to crate train him and maybe he will settle down for the night.  Any and all tips are appreciated!!

Other than this little fellow the weekend was pretty quiet.  We watched the Patriots game on Saturday night and it was great.  

Sunday was a quiet day.  

Monday we took the holiday off from homeschooling.  Unfortunately, our son was sick, too.  Later in the evening our husky got sick.  So now we had to quarantine her so the other doggies don't get sick.

Today no school work as our son recuperates.  I feel like I'm coming down with something and haven't gotten much sleep the last couple of nights.  

Never a dull moment.

I'll keep you updated on the little guy's progress.

What is this fridge saying?

Visiting the most fabulous Ms. Edie's blog this morning she challenged us to post some pictures of our refrigerators.  I loathe cleaning out the refrigerator.  I'm not sure why but it is definitely on the put off until you can't anymore list.  Well that day came when we lost power for seven days thanks to Hurricane Irene.  I had not choice but to go through everything and discard most of it and since they were empty I managed to give them a thorough cleaning.  We have two fridges~one is just not enough to store everything.  Maybe if it was one of the new side by side with freezer drawer but we don't have space for such a large unit.  One fridge is in the kitchen the other in the basement.  This makes for great cardio exercise because I am always forgetting something and having to run up and down the stairs repeatedly.

Welcome to fridge 1:

 We usually have quite a bit of leftovers which make for good lunches.  I love to have fruit cut up and ready to eat.  It's a nice, easy and healthy snack.  There are water bottles, half and half, organic chicken stock, and of course Starbucks coffee.  The orchard chicken salad is so yummy.  I saw the commercial for Subway and decided to make it myself.  So yummy!!!  The crispers are full of fruits and veggies.  We also have plenty of yogurts in many different varieties and flavors.  Peeking out behind the milk are two of my favorites Ed Hardy Sangria and a bottle of Coca Cola.

Welcome to fridge 2:

I know what you're thinking~That's a lot of beer but it is left over from our 4th of July cookout and we've given quite a few away.  There is butter, butter and more butter, more yogurts, bagels, puddings, applesauce, and eggs.  Along with some celery, english muffins, more milk (can never have enough).  Yes it is whole milk, we don't do lowfat milk.  It's just not the same.  There is also some kale hidden in here to make a Portuguese green soup which tastes much better than it's name.  My brother and I love this and I will have to share it with him when I make it tomorrow.  On the opposite are the Pepsis.  Now I am a total Coke girl but my brother is a Pepsi guy and he says he works for Pepsi.  So I always have to have some on hand in case I need is help with a project, which is all the time.

Well, there it is.  They should look better but I am not good at fridge organizing.  It's not my thing.  But they are clean~scrubbed from top to bottom just two weeks ago, thanks to Hurricane Irene.

Share what's in your fridge with us.