Week Goals…Keep the Family Fed…

Happy Monday, I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

This week is going to be an extra busy week. Our town wide garage sales start Thursday, run through the weekend, and are also next Thursday and Friday. Needless to say, I am not as prepared as I wanted to be. (Hopefully I can share a garage sale tips post later this week.)

I also have a test to take and clinicals to register for (hopefully this is my semester to start). We also have four softball games, and three baseball games.

My goals are actually to-dos this week. Things that I have to do. I’m not even going to pressure myself with anything extra this week.

Weekly To-Dos

• Garage Sale (this involves a huge list of to-dos)
• C.N.A. test
• Keep up on housework, and keep the family fed.
• 2 blog posts.
• Write guest post for July.

The same goes for the menu, Keep It Simple Silly. This week we are eating from the freezer, and utilizing the crockpot.

Menu

• Monday- Crockpot Turkey Legs
• Tuesday- Turkey/Rice/Veggie Casserole
• Wednesday- Tacos
• Thursday- Steak and Potatoes
• Friday- Meatloaf
• Saturday- Leftovers

Do you have those weeks where ‘feeding the family’ is on the to-do list? If so, what are your simple meals? I feel a little stupid putting this on my to-do list, but I also know myself. Busy weeks like this week, I forget about dinner until six or so, half an hour after we usually eat. Then my poor family is stuck eating peanut butter and jelly for dinner five nights in a row.

Muscle Tee Sneak Peak, Menu, and Goals

It’s official. Baseball/softball season is in full swing. My stepson had a game Wednesday night, and a double header Saturday. Hubby had a double header yesterday. And my stepdaughter decided she wanted to play softball this year. We are so glad she had changed her mind and decided to play, but in another week we will have two more games a week added to our schedule.

Whew… does reading this make you as tired as it does me? Needless to say, things may be a little slower around here until I figure out another routine.

Here’s a peak at the boys’ summer shirts (finally, right):

This weeks menu:

• Sunday- Hot Dogs
• Monday- Pork Steak
• Tuesday- Leftovers
• Wednesday- Meatloaf
• Thursday- Turkey
• Friday- Turkey/rice casserole
• Saturday- Birthday Dinner!

My goals for this week:

• Go through kitchen
• Go through my clothes
• Try to find time to put fence around garden (may not get done this week)
• Finish Listings (take pictures)
• Post Muscle Shirt How-to
• Sew: 2 muscle shirts, 2 pair of shorts, 2 pair of p.j. shorts
• Stencil game shirts for boys
• Type up 31 by 31 list
• Clean out freezer
• Make dishwasher soap and laundry soap

What are your dinner plans this week? I have been in a rut lately. We need quick, easy, and sometimes portable meal ideas.

Have you set any weekly goals? My list looks a little daunting this week, but I know the majority of things won’t take too long.

Weekend Review, Menu, and Goals

We had such a busy weekend! We celebrated an eleventh birthday. The birthday girl’s dinner choice was steak and potatoes. She also requested a vanilla cake with strawberry lemonade frosting. (A different request, but accomplished!)

I used this cake recipe (its egg-free), minus the raspberry filling. Absolutely delicious! The frosting also turned out pretty yummy, look for a post in the future.

We took the family and four extra girls (aged 9-11) swimming at the Y. (Are we crazy or what!) They had a blast. Then we all came home and continued the birthday celebration. Our weekend was finished off with the birthday shopping tradition.

I love celebrations and having friends and family over, but my goodness am I glad to see Monday!

Want to know what we are eating this week?

• Monday- Clean out the fridge (we have so much food left over from this weekend)
• Tuesday- Spare Ribs
• Wednesday- Spaghetti
• Thursday- ? Chicken maybe.
• Friday- Fish
• Saturday- Easter get together with my family, ham and cheesy potatoes
• Sunday- Dinner at husband’s parents

Goals:

Last Week Update

1. Work on etsy shop. I have been putting this off for too long, I really need to get moving on it.
2. Post 3 blog posts, work on two others.
3. Work on baseball tee tutorial.
4. Clean/purge attic.
5. Make some lunches for the freezer.
6. If I find time, peel wallpaper border from living room, and wash walls.

This Week:

1. Easter presents/baskets.
2. Post 3 blog posts.
3. Finish all unfinished projects on sewing table.
4. Clean/purge spare bedroom closet

This looks like a short list, but oh my do I ever have the pile of half-finished sewing projects building up. I plan to finish these this week, and spend the rest of the time working on Easter stuff.

Do you have any Easter gifts to finish up this week (or are you like me, and just starting them)?

Monday Menu and Weekly Goals

If you have been following for a little bit, you know Mondays are usually the boring post days around here. I try to post a menu for the week, and my weekly goals. (Although I haven’t been very consistent with goals lately.) So here’s what I am planning this week:

• Monday- Chicken Fingers
• Tuesday- Chicken Fried Rice
• Wednesday- Tacos
• Thursday- ??
• Friday- Steak
• Saturday- Party food

Goals/To-Dos

1. Work on etsy shop. I have been putting this off for too long, I really need to get moving on it.
2. Post 3 blog posts, work on two others.
3. Work on baseball tee tutorial.
4. Clean/purge attic.
5. Make some lunches for the freezer.
6. If I find time, peel wallpaper border from living room, and wash walls.

What are you eating this week? Do you have any goals this week?

Stop back tomorrow for a twin tip! And thanks for sticking through the accountability posts!

Crochet Creation, Menu, and Goals

Weekends fly by around here. Actually time in general flies around here. The good news is that I think I am out of my winter slumps.

I haven’t posted any of my crochet creations lately (mainly because I have forgotten to take pictures before giving them to their new owners). Here is my latest:

Ms. Multi-Personality Grey”

This is the second hat that I made like this (I wish I had taken pictures of the white one). The hat pattern is from Red Heart. I really wish I would have taken notes both times I made this. I had to change the increases, then frog it because it was too big, do it again, and on and on. I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn. Please don’t ask what size hook, that’s how early I quit taking notes…

I made up the small red flower, so no pattern. The pink flower is from this pattern. I used this tutorial as inspiration for the white flower (I didn’t stack the flowers, just made a larger center and crocheted both layers into the center). The larger red flower is made following this pattern.

I sewed a button to the finished hat. When making the flowers I used a chain 6 ring for the center. This ensured the flowers’ centers were the same size, and large enough to fit and stay on the button.

And because I have to, here’s the boring stuff:

MENU

• Sunday- Chili
• Monday- Red Beans and Rice
• Tuesday- Asian Chicken
• Wednesday- Spaghetti
• Thursday- Tuna Noodle Bake
• Friday- Pizza
• Saturday- Leftovers

*A little note about our menu: You may notice that some meals carry over from the previous week. My goal for our menu plan is to have everything in the house for 5-6 meals at the beginning of the week. Another goal is to have easy meals planned for busy nights (like nights of step-son’s basketball games). Usually I make way too much, so that meal turns into two, and another meal gets pushed to the following week. It’s what works for us.

GOALS

• Finish minimum of 3 etsy listings
• Make spare bedroom toddler-friendly (or at least walk-through-able)
• Clean out my closet
• Deliver maternity clothes
• Spend 30 minutes/day sewing
• Blog 3 times this week

Your turn, go make some goals.

Hope your week is wonderful!

Back to Basics, Menu Planning and Goal Setting

At the beginning of this blogging adventure, I used to post my weekly goals and menu plan, you know my to-dos. I stopped doing this because I felt it was monotonous and boring for anyone who did happen to read this blog.

After looking at my 30 by 30 list, and having an ‘I’m not getting done what I should get done’ feeling lately (not to mention “what’s for dinner” panic) I have decided to start posting my goals/menu again. Hopefully this can help my direction throughout the week. Thanks in advance for bearing with me!

MENU

• Sunday- Crockpot Steak (used for quesadillas)
• Monday- Leftovers
• Tuesday- Mini Meatloaves (from the freezer)
• Wednesday- Tacos (freezer/crockpot)
• Thursday- Ginger Chicken (freezer)
• Friday- Pizza
• Saturday- (?) Spaghetti or Soup

GOALS

• Start cleaning/purging/organizing spare bedroom
• 3 blog posts
• Work on Etsy listings, at least 3
• Start boys’ journals
• 1 refashion

What are you having for dinner this week? (We LOVE new recipes around here!)

Lil’ Monsters, and Christmas Plans

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I hope you had a good holiday. Ours was wonderful! Oh yeah, sorry for being M.I.A. this past week (not that you probably noticed, but anyways…).

Here’s a little peek at a couple of past projects, my lil' monsters:



These hats are what started my most recent crochet hat obsession. I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn, and this pattern. I had to add a strap to the green hat because boy 1 kept pulling it off.

Onto other things…I have been thinking about Christmas gifts. Bought some goods to make them, tried to stuff into one of my ‘hoarding spots’- and got completely overwhelmed. I have TOO MUCH CRAFTING STUFF! I know for my sanity that now is not the time to effectively deal with this though. So I’m just closing the door until the holidays are over.

Here is a glimpse of my Christmas crafting plans:

1. Faux fur and flannel blanket
2. Card Table Playhouse
3. Christmas Stockings
4. A personalized camo fleece blanket, per hubby’s request
5. Coffee mug cozies

I hope to at least finish the blankets, cozies, and stockings this week.

Wish me luck! Have you started Christmas crafting?

Weekly

I have a confession...I get distracted easily.

What! You already knew that! Hmm...  As long as we are on the same page.

So where have I been and what have I been doing? I have been working on my to-dos. I have been experimenting in the kitchen (looking for egg-free recipes that taste good, so stay tuned). I have been sewing and crocheting. The cleaning (bare-minimum) has been getting done. The girls and I have been crafting. Whew, I'm exhausted!

Anyways, how did I do on my goals this week?

1. Resume!  This is a scratch off the list because it is not something that I have to do, and it just depresses me that I haven't done it yet.
2. Make journals for the men in my life. Well...I pulled out the notebooks, just have not wrote in them yet.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Involve the family. I needed to start on this, so I started brainstorming (writing things down fast, then I may have misplaced my list...). I have a list of about 12 meals, and many more to jot down.
4. List items in etsy shop. Have not done this yet.
5. Finish computer room. I have not touched the computer room after my long session a couple of weeks ago.
6. Make journals for my men.  Oops, looks like I didn't proofread too well last week. Guess I get to scratch something off :)
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make. I cut a bunch of bibs and burp cloths out. I sewed about 4 or 5 of each. The girls wanted to make headbands, so I'm counting those too. And I made a dress! Not 100% from scratch, but I made it and I wear it!
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths. I crocheted 2 and a half. Just need to weave in ends. (Such an easy job yet I always put it off.) 
9. Continue reading to the boys everyday. Did not do too well this week.
10. Make 2 Christmas presents. I did not do any Christmas presents this week. We did work on my bead and fabric stash. I think crafting with the girls is a good excuse for not crossing something off my list. (And I gave them ideas of Christmas presents they can make.)

This weeks goals:

1. Write in journals.
2. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths.
3. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
4. Read to the boys everyday.
5. Work on meal list, and organizing recipes.
6. List something in etsy shop.
7. FINISH computer room.
8. Use up massive zucchini that were given to us. Document recipes that work.
9. Go through one shelf of bookshelf.
10. Get up by 6:30 each weekday morning.

Do you make weekly goals? Any tips for accomplishing them?

p.s. monthly checkup will be posted tomorrow

Last Weeks Shortcomings, Goals for the New Week

I have a confession.

I woke up this morning with a deep seeded desire to rush through last weeks' list of goals. Then I thought about just telling you that I finished them. Nobody will know, right?

I couldn't do it. I started this blog to help me recognize my problem areas, organize my to-dos, and most importantly corral my have-to-get-dones. Fibbing, or rushing through the job isn't going to help me at all.

While I can't actually cross anything off of my list, I did get things done. That is important to me. I had the opportunity to spend time enjoying my family, and the beautiful weather God blessed us with. This is also important to me.

Another thing I gained this week, insight. I waste too much time on the Internet. Unproductive time. So, the new week is here. I have to forget last week's shortcomings and start fresh (keeping in mind the Internet sucks my time like a hungry mosquito).

Here's a repeat:

1. Resume!
2. Make journals for the men in my life.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Involve the family.
4. List items in etsy shop.
5. Finish computer room.
6. Make journals for my men.
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
9. Continue reading to the boys everyday.
10. Make 2 Christmas presents.

(Good thing is, I am inspired to get off the computer and mark some things off before breakfast!)

Do you have weeks like this?

Goals and Menu for the week

We had such a wonderful weekend! Hubby got home Saturday afternoon. Say the family was excited to see him!

What did I learn? Being a single parent is hard! He was only gone a week. A long week. Nonetheless, I am so thankful that I have a husband that after a hard day of work jumps right to Daddy mode. Hugs, kisses, games, diapers, baths, feeding- yup he helps with it all!

How did I do on last weeks goals?

1. Work for 15 minutes a day cleaning computer room. I did 15 minutes a day for the first couple of days, then Wednesday I worked on it during the boys' two and half hour nap time, and after they went to bed. Still needs much work.
2. Refine my own chore chart. Nope. I know having it in my head isn't helping me. This week I am committing to writing it down, even if it is only a basic routine.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Again, things don't work so well if I keep them in my head.
4. Make journals for the men in my life. Procrastinator!
5. Read to the boys everyday, take reading charts to the library. We read, but didn't go to the library (vehicle problems).
6. Continue to get up between 6:30 and 6:45. Doing great, think this is a habit now.
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths.  *Find dress to make.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths. Didn't do this week.
9. Work on etsy shop. Worked on, need to get over my fear of imperfection and just list items!
10. Get resume together. Nope.

*I did get a lot of my unfinished projects finished this week.

This week:

1. Resume!
2. Make journals for the men in my life.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Involve the family.
4. List items in etsy shop.
5. Finish computer room.
6. Make journals for my men.
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
9. Continue reading to the boys everyday.
10. Make 2 Christmas presents.

What we're eating:

Our pantry and freezer are a mess (this seems to be a continuing theme in my life). Hubby made the suggestion that we focus on eating what we have this week to clean stuff up. So this may be a mash-up month.

• Monday- venison steak, beans and rice
• Tuesday- hamburger (or tuna) helper. Yeah, I know this stuff is gross and unhealthy- but we are not the throw away food type of people.
• Wednesday- chicken on the grill
• Thursday- roast
• Friday- homemade pizza
• Saturday- eating with friends
• Sunday- chicken fried rice.

Do you make weekly goals. If so, do you have suggestions on getting them done?

Weekly goals

Hubby is out of state for work this week. This is our first time truly spending time apart. This is also the first time hubby has been away from the boys. I have an awesome husband, and the kids have a wonderful father. He not only goes to work every day so I can stay home with the littles, but once he comes home he jumps right in to daddy/hubby mode. I am so fortunate to have a hubby that helps cook, changes diapers, helps with baths, maintains the yard, well- the list goes on. I have a feeling I will appreciate his presence so much more after this week!

What are my plans? Get stuff done!

Last week I didn't do that good with my goals, so I am starting from that list- and adding on. I have so many projects around here that are unfinished- and I just need to get em done.
This weeks goals (actually last weeks list, re-posted):

1. Work for 15 minutes a day in the computer room. Didn't do once last week.
2. Refine my own chore chart. Started working on morning and night routines, then the season changed.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Did not do
4. Make journals for the men in my life (hubby and twins). Again, did not do.
5. Read to the boys everyday, take boys' reading chart to the library. Was much better at this. Still need to take chart to the library.
6. Continue to get up between 6:30 and 6:45. Yes! (although I really did not have much of a choice some days.)
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make. No sewing done.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths. Done!
9. Work on etsy shop. Did minimally, so like all other goals staying on list.
10. Get resume together. Nada.

Whew. Lots to do. On top of that hefty list, I hope to finish the boatload of unfinished projects I have around here. This seems to be an ongoing theme in my life. Oh, well.

Off to the printer, maybe having my list posted will help. Keep you updated.

Routine with Twins?

Nap time!

I have been focusing on getting up earlier these last few weeks. Its been going great.

There are a few reasons I have been focusing on getting up earlier. One reason is so I can see hubby for a few minutes before he leaves for work. I make him an iced coffee, and get a big water jug ready for him while he throws his lunch together.

After hubby leaves I usually have an hour to hour and a half before the boys get up. I have been trying to use this time to get some housework done, clothes on the line, shower, and dressed for the day.

This past week, all week- the boys have been waking up between 6:30 and 6:45, even earlier a couple days. Now, this doesn't bother me one bit. It is actually nice because hubby gets a chance to see them before he leaves for work. The only problem is that my routine needs to change, again.

For me this is the toughest part of motherhood. I like to have a routine. For the last year, I feel I have established a routine, then the boys let me know its not right for this time in our life. Sometimes I feel like a hamster, spinning on my wheel and getting nowhere.

Don't get me wrong- we have been very fortunate so far. The boys have slept through the night most of their life. They go to bed fairly easy and early most of the time. They are calm, happy, healthy little boys. We have been lucky!

I just need to accept that things are ALWAYS going to be changing, and learn how to ride the wave. Does anyone else have a hard time dealing with a lack of a routine?

Weekly Goals and What We're Eating This Week

I like lists. I like the visual a list gives (things look achievable when written on a list). I also like crossing things off the list. But... no matter how long or short my lists are, I have a problem finishing them (and throwing it away). This is a habit I am committing myself to- Finishing.

This weeks goals:

1. Work for 15 minutes a day in the computer room.
2. Refine my own chore chart.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list.
4. Make journals for the men in my life (hubby and twins).
5. Read to the boys everyday, take boys' reading chart to the library.
6. Continue to get up between 6:30 and 6:45.
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make.
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
9. Work on etsy shop.
10. Get resume together.

This weeks menu:
Sunday- pork steak
Monday- venison
Tuesday- leftovers
Wednesday- homemade mac and cheese
Thursday- chicken of some sort
Friday- ???
Saturday- Going out to eat

Does anyone else have a hard time focusing? Any tips on getting back on track?