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.

Inspired Organization

Inspired by Edie's 31 Days to a Heart of Hospitality, I decided it was time to make the best use of my kitchen space.  We have a small, galley style kitchen and space is limited.  Once I saw these posts from Edie here, here, and here.  Our kitchen has no where near the space of Edie's but I knew I needed to make better use of the space we have.

This is the top part of our slide out pantry.  These two shelves are very deep and do not pull out.  Because they are up so high they tend to become very messy.  I have wanted to reorganize them for a long time and finally was inspired to.

From big mess to:

order.  I used some small baskets and glass jars to hold pasta, cupcake liners, decorative sugars, and extracts.  Unfortunately, you can't see all the way into the cabinet but it is all contained and organized. Now I just need a few more glass jars to put things in, then there won't be that awful bag of brown sugar sticking up in the back.  I did use a lot of glass jars I already had.  They mostly hold all the varieties of pasta.

This cabinet is above our coffee pot.  It was a combo of so many things and in desperate need of help.

Now this has become of beverage center.  It is located above the coffee pot so it makes perfect sense.  Too bad it took me so long to realize this.

The top shelf contains a basket that holds assorted cooking tools I don't use as often, it also houses all of our medicines.  The next shelf contains our mugs, and the last one is for different beverages.  The enamel canisters hold a variety of teas and the basket holds different ciders.

This cabinet is to the right of the beverage cabinet.  It was so disorganized and made it difficult to find what I needed.

Now it contains all of my cooking sauces, seasonings and spices.  Directly below are my canisters which hold sugar, flour, and rice.  Next is labels.

These changes may not seem significant but have definitely been an improvement the chaotic disorganization in my cabinets before.  I am thrilled with them.
I am thankful for the new layout of my kitchen and the additional cabinets since we remodeled.  This change has long been overdue and now I am making the best of use of the new space.
This organization comes at the perfect time.  I am hosting Thanksgiving and there will be a lot of holiday baking from now until the new year.

Linking to the great parties listed here.

The Kitchen Finale

I am so excited.  The kitchen work is just about complete.  It has been a long process.  No one could have told us that when we started this project in July that we would just be finishing up now.  There were many obstacles.  We were working with the existing space and trying to make it more functional, updated and eye pleasing.  We encountered many different obstacles along the way, including pipes where we never thought there would be any.  It made for some interesting and stressful moments but we've made it.  My brother has been the hardest worker on this project and I can't thank him enough for all the work-blood, sweat and tears-he put into it.  We could have had this without him.  

The entry way-half way through-will we gut this archway too?  He wasn't too sure.

 The back entry before we began

 back entry looking into our living/dining room before:

After

Kitchen before any work began-it certainly was in desperate need of work.  Unfunctional and cluttered 

 The beginning of the project where we tore down the first archway

 The before of the living room looking into the back entry to the kitchen

After

In the spring we will be repainting the living room.  New trim will be added around our windows similar to what was added on the kitchen windows.  We are also thinking of redoing our fireplace.  My brother has some great ideas and we can't wait to see what the final decision will be.  Stay tuned..

Completed kitchen-except for two heater covers my brother is building

I am so completely happy with our new kitchen.  It looks amazing.  So much easier to keep things organized. The space functions so much better.  Just in time for some holiday baking and treat making.  My family is looking forward to many goodies and treats.

The Work Goes On

We work and work and work.  Someday this kitchen will be completed.  I am looking forward to that day.  It has been a long process but the end is in sight.  

There are so many wonderful changes.  The kitchen is much more functional.  My brother is a genius.  His help has been invaluable.  Our kitchen is always in use and he has always been mindful of leaving things useable until he can work again.  We started the kitchen remodel on the last week of July, these months have been a blur.  Many days of work, painting, plastering, etc.  Most of the work is done one day a week when my brother is off of his real job.

This is the back entry before we started.

The back entry after we took out the arch (it was identical to the one you see behind the open door).  I love this open wall. It is so much better. Love it all trimmed out.

This is the left side of the kitchen before work began.

 Right side of the kitchen before work.  The doorway opened to our bedroom.  I have wanted this doorway closed off since we moved in.

Some of the painted cabinet doors, hung and with hardware.  An idea of the final product.  There are still plenty of doors to paint. It takes some time to paint them top and bottom, letting them dry well between coats, and finding space to lay them all out without disruption.

This is the opening of the dining/living room to the back entry and kitchen (notice the archway).

Here is the opening now.  We have taken down the archway and the wall. It opens it up beautifully to the kitchen.  I love the openness. 

Left side of the kitchen.

Our granite counters have been installed.  All of the cabinets are now installed,  new faucet, sink, and lights.

The before of this left side.

Small desk area on the left side.  I am looking for new desk top set.  I don't like the big basket.  It is too large for this area.  

This side is almost complete.  I need to paint two more doors and the drawer fronts.

New lighting above the sink and fan.  There is new trim around the windows.  I love the cleanness of the windows now.

Finishing the wall to the living room is the assignment for this week.  I still need to pick a tile for our floor, that will be the last big project.  The end is in sight.

Kitchen Remodel

We are living in a bit of chaos while this kitchen remodel happens.  The progress is a bit slow because my brother is working on it when he has time off from work.  It is exciting and scary all at once.  


The previous post contained many of our before kitchen pics.  I want to share some of our in progress pics.  I am loving it already and there is more to come.

This is the view from the living room to the back door entry and into the kitchen.  Notice the archway~there was one parallel to it about 5 ft away.  We took that down.  Previously this space was enclosed and too small.  I love how open it is now.

This is the opposite wall in this area.  We are considering taking it down, too.  It may require some extra work due to pipes for the heat, electrical outlets and the placement of our fireplace and chimney.  For now it's a dream.  We will see how the rest of the kitchen work goes before we tackle it.

The refrigerator will be relocated from this side to...

this corner.  There will be an 18 in x 84 in pantry beside it.  The cabinets that are currently on the side of the sink will move next to that.  A new dishwasher will be installed in their place. The portable dishwasher will be passed on to my sister in law.

The stove has been turned.  New sheetrock is up and we are well on our way.

Due to a small budget we are not able to purchase all new cabinets.  I was able to find extra cabinets in a style similar to ours.  I will be painting the old and the new cabinets antique white and applying antiquing glaze to the doors.  Our cabinets are on order and we have chosen our counter top.  It is a granite counter and I think it will the icing on the cake in this space.  


This is a large project and the rest of the house is a bit upside down while it houses the things that were in the kitchen.  Most of it is in storage in the basement.  The microwave and toaster oven are in the living room along with some dishes we use daily.  My biggest fear is when I lose the sink.  Doing dishes in the tub does not sound like fun.


This is a huge job and we are plugging away at it a little at a time.  I keep envisioning the completed kitchen.  It helps me to plow through.

Flying Summer

I'm baaaccckkk!!  Hope you missed me.  I've missed all the pretty and delightful inspiration in blog land.  

What have we been up to?  Where have I been?

Summer is always a busy time for us. Beginning with May, there are plenty of birthdays and throw some holidays in there.  It is all a whirlwind.  I feel like I'm spinning like a top.

From the time of my last post we have celebrated Father's Day along with our daughter's seventeenth birthday.  She was actually born on Father's Day and she loves it when they fall on the same day.  It is still hard to believe that she is seventeen.  One more year and she will be starting college.

We also celebrated my brother in law's birthday, followed by a Fourth of July party and our son's thirteenth birthday the following day.  Unfortunately, he was a bit sick and we kept it low key.  Tucked into all this excitement was my dad's birthday.  

Catching my breath does not seem to be on the agenda these days.  I have been painting the last of the trim and doors in our bedroom remodel.  It is almost done.  

And, drumroll please....

We started a kitchen remodel!!!!

Remember these pictures (I hate to have to share them again!!!!  WE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING!!!)

They are all changing!!!!!!!!!!!  

The open doorway from the kitchen to our bedroom has been closed off.  On the other side is our spectacular new closet.  

Unfortunately, these pictures are all looking into our kitchen.  The back entry way was very closed off  from the kitchen.  There was an archway identical to this one:

This living room arch opened into the back entry and created  a small area, about 5 ft by 7 ft., followed by another arch opening into the kitchen.  We have knocked down that arch and framed it to open the kitchen up.  There is now a much larger opening framed off.  The entire back entry is gutted.  There are even a couple of holes in the floor due to fireblock that had to be taken out.  We are doing this project with my brother, usually when he is out of work, one day a week and a little extra.  It is being done in stages so the kitchen is semi-functional.  Because of the closed off wall we are now able to relocate the refrigerator to the other wall.  There will be a tall pantry cabinet beside that.  The stove will be turned so it is facing out.  

This is so exciting and scary at the same time.  I have hated this kitchen since the day we moved in.  We could not afford to pay a contractor but thanks to my amazing brother it is finally getting done.

The theme this summer has been declutter.  When you are home, homeschooling and basically spend almost all of your time here you tend to accumulate clutter.  I have started getting rid of so many things that are unnecessary and not good to keep in a home as small as ours.  The kitchen was decluttered as I packed up almost everything to put in the basement.  We have had one yard sale and have piles started for another.   It will feel like a whole new place when this is complete.  I am anxiously awaiting the big reveal.  Holding my breath and waiting to share it all with you.

Fresh Out of the Oven

One of the best smells to fill a home is bread fresh out of the oven.  I have wanted to make my own bread for a long time.  A couple of years ago my mom bought me a bread machine.  She thought that this would be a great way to get started.  It was ok.  I made many different types of bread but it wasn't right.  Something was missing. 

Last year, my friend Ronna sent me a sourdough starter all the way from Nevada.  She has had this starter for over ten years.  It survived the trip cross country and I was thrilled when I could make bread with my own hands.  I know long ago this was a necessity to me today it is a comfort.  I feel great when I am baking my own bread.  

I made many loaves of bread through the winter and spring this year but then the weather turned warm.  The garden was calling and my starter sat neglected in the back of the refrigerator.  Many times I meant to store it in the freezer to preserve it but would inevitable forget.  Once fall arrived the family was all talking about my bread.  When would I make it again?  I decided one day to bring out my starter and try to revive it.  It did not work.  My first two attempts were total failures.  I felt terrible.  I thought the starter was ruined for sure.  The bread was not rising and it tasted extremely sour.  

Figuring I didn't have anything to lose, I poured most of my batch of starter down the drain.  Saving only about a half a cup.  I poured it into a bowl, washed and sterilized its container and started again.  It worked.  The starter is completely happy and the bread I made last week was fantastic.

Here is the sponge that I started the night before.  It is happy and bubbly.  Just the way it is supposed to be.  When I removed the towel and saw how happy it was I was thrilled.

Here are the loaves after I kneaded the dough and left it to rise.

This is the fresh out of the oven bread.  So wonderful.  

I can't think of anything more comforting than baking your own bread.  To me it is like therapy.  This is a homemaking art that has been lost for a long time.  It is now becoming more popular.  It is a nourishing for body and soul.

I found great tips and recipes here.  This is the artisan sourdough bread.