Dinner Plans

The menu board has been working great! I have been properly utilizing it for almost a month now. I am happy to say we haven't wasted a ton of food, bought a bunch of take out, or even had to buy too many groceries. Now, sometimes we don't follow it perfectly, but it is working for us.

Here's our plans this week:

Sunday- Grillin; brats, corn, potatoes, etc. (this was supposed to be dinner Sat, but we had a banquet I forgot about.)

Monday- Stuffed Peppers Leftovers

Tuesday- Pork on the grill (getting moved to next week) Stuffed peppers

Wednesday- Homemade Pizza

Thursday- Beef Burgundy (crock pot)

Friday- Grilled Chicken

Saturday- Roast (crock pot)

Does The Laundry Ever End?

The boys LOVE laundry day!

Its Monday. I actually like Mondays. To me Mondays mean getting back to our routine. It may not seem (or look) like it, but I love routine. Don't get me wrong- we love our weekends around here, but Mondays mean things actually slow down somewhat. Instead of running from place to place and event to event I get to look forward to laundry, housework, cooking, and all the other daily to-dos that keep this family running.

Monday is laundry day. I try to do a load a day the rest of the week, but Monday is laundry all day. It is probably easier to just do a couple of loads a day, every day; but my family is not consistent at putting their laundry down the chute as soon as they take it off. Sure, I could pick up after all of them. But I don't.

I instituted the Monday morning laundry rule to help alleviate the Thursday morning "I don't have any jeans" drama. If they want clean clothes they need to put it in the laundry chute by Monday morning. If the dirty clothes do not get put down by Monday morning, they may not get washed until next week. This caused a little drama for the first week or too, until they realized I was serious. Now the laundry may not get put down the chute every week, but we also do not hear "I don't have any clean clothes!"

Today's list of six:

1. Laundry
2. Vacuum
3. Mop
4. Dining Room (I really want to see that table!)
5. Clear Bar
6. Package and freeze meat

Also: change air and water filters, and bake something with those ripening bananas

Off to work...

Repaying thoughtfulness

We try to live frugally. I can't say that we are on a budget, because we are not. It may happen someday, but not today. In the meantime, we save wherever and however we can.

One way we save is scouting previously loved baby stuff. We are not ashamed to take used clothes, equipment, and toys off of peoples hands (if we have a need for the item).

One friend gave us a ton; crib, two high chairs, pack'n'plays, double stroller, clothes, toys, and much more; refusing payment of any sort.

She has mentioned a couple of things she likes, and I know I can make them. I have been keeping a to-do list, so I can let her know how much our family appreciates her thoughtfulness. Well, a list means nothing unless you take action. She is leaving for vacation in less than two weeks, so I need to get crafting!

Here are my plans:

• A couple of flower hair accessories
• ID wallet
• Passport wallet
• Luggage ID
• Time permitting- Slouch hat

I will update with photos, and links as soon as (or if) I finish.

Time to get to work.

Tuesday Twin Tips

It is a challenge raising twins. I have yet to find an adequate instruction guide to these precious little things. (While I was pregnant I read every book about twins and multiples that I could get my hands on.)

I am going to try to post a twin tip each Tuesday. This are tips that have worked for our family, but please keep in mind that every family is different.

Remember Biology class? Well, all that talk about 'adaptation' and 'survival of the fittest' makes much more sense now that I have twins. At our Well Check this week the pediatrician asked how I grocery shop. I had to laugh, it seems like second nature to me now.

Here's what we do (and have done since the boys were born):
I bought stroller hooks, much like these ones. I use reusable shopping totes, fill em up as we shop, and hang from the hooks. I felt weird at first, like people thought we were shoplifting. I got over that fast, now it is a way of life. (Next time we go shopping, I'll take a photo of this phenomenon.)

This is one adaptation I have made since being a mommy.

*This may be common sense, but please do not fill bags too full, or your twins will be popping wheelies through the grocery store. (Don't ask how I know.)

What's for dinner this week?

This past winter I made a dry erase menu board. It is can be very helpful when used. I have trying to get the hang of this meal planning business.

This is what I have been doing: Our menu goes from Sunday to Saturday. On Saturday I look in the freezer and pantry for dinner ideas. Then I ask hubby, "What sounds good for dinner this week?" I wipe the board clean, and write down our plans. Then, if needed, I find recipes and stick with a sticky note so they are easy to find. Next I write our shopping list, buy the goods, and we have a home-cooked meal most nights of the week.

We have a very busy household, our son is currently in track and baseball, and our daughter is in softball and pom-pom. If I know everybody's schedule, I can try to avoid costly takeout all week. I try to do easy dinners, or crock pot meals (LOVE my crock pots) on the busiest days. Actually that is what I do most days, but it still helps to have it wrote down, another to-do.

Here's our plan this week:

Sunday: Crock pot Mac n Cheese
Monday: Jambalaya
Tuesday: Enchiladas
Wednesday: Tater Tot Casserole
Thursday: Crock pot Italian Chicken
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Grillin! (Burgers or Brats)

No focus without a list...

Wow! This week ran away. I did manage to some stuff done, but not too much. The boys have started standing on their on this week. Now they pull themselves up on everything, reach for everything, and prefer standing to anything else. Needless to say I have been busy learning the ropes of this new skill.

Good news is that hubby has today off, so I'm planning on catching up on all the housework. I would also love to de-clutter some more, but we'll see what time allows.

Here's to getting my to-dos done! (Am I the only one who gets excited when the spouse has a day off- so I can try to clean?)

Success does not happen overnight!

How did I do you ask? Well, I am a work in progress. Right?

1. Laundry- Everything is washed and dried. Everything except one basket is folded. The folded clothes are still sitting in baskets. Oops.
2. Vacuum- Done. Vacuum is back in closet.

3. Mop- Done. Mop is back in closet.

4. Potato Bread- Made the bread. Machine is still on the counter.

5. Ranch- Done.
6. Fill Diaper Box- Started, kinda. I found a couple of books to get rid of.

Today's list:
1. Laundry- put those darn clothes away. (Usually they sit folded in the basket until the next Monday when I need the baskets, that's when they get moved to the tops of dressers, eventually getting put inside the dresser or worn. I want to break this habit.)

2. Fill diaper box with things to rid the house of.

3. Clear dining room table.

How did I let this happen?

4. Clear bar and counters (this means putting away the bread machine).

There is that blasted bread machine...and the crock pot from last night's dinner, and my cup from this morning's coffee.

5. Clear breakfast table.

Now this one is not too bad. Keeping it cleared is not quite a habit yet, but getting there.

6. Go to post office and bank.

And just for fun- work on crocheted dishcloth, and make goodies (yet to be determined).