Follow-up Friday

This week went really fast but really slow.  The play date fell through because of illness in some of the people coming so I spent that day, okay truthfully, I've spent the whole week getting things finished up for the craft show.  My house shows it but no one is complaining so it must not be as bad as I think.  Through my eyes, we should be on an episode of hoarders because of the piles and random stuff laying everywhere and the bathrooms look like gas station bathrooms, you know, the ones you have to ask for the key before you can use it.  Anyway, next week I am going to focus on getting this house back in order.

Speaking of getting the house back in order...I read this post from orgjunkie about spring cleaning and I think that sometimes my house needs more of an organizing than a deep cleaning, because in reality, I clean all the time.  Ask my friends.  Growing up, my mom spring cleaned, but we had a wood/coal burning stove to heat our home and that put out a lot of crud.  We heat with electric/gas.  All I have is just regular ole dust.  And most of that comes from having carpet and big dogs and neither are leaving any time soon.  So all that to say, I am not spring cleaning this year!  I am not wasting every month to deep clean a certain area of my house!  I am just going to follow my motivated moms schedule and my house will always meet my approval.  (I will update my goals later in this area.)

I'm not sure what happened to me this week.  I had a great menu but I didn't fix one thing from it.  I cooked. I actually had really good meals but for some odd reason, I felt rebellious.  Oh well, I am allowed to do that.  I am the one that made the menu, I am the one who can break the menu.

So, I'm off here for now.  I need to get to the bank and get a bunch of change for the craft show and head to co-op.

Until next time, stay blessed.

March Cleaning Schedule

I know, it's almost the middle of March and I am just getting to this.  Sorry, I've already had a very busy month and it is only getting busier.

So, because of all my running and busyness I am not really going to focus on any particular cleaning project.  I just want to keep my head above water.  It seems like I do that a lot lately.

Next month, hold on because I am going to make sure that I get things done.  (I know, I've said that before).

For the rest of March I am going to spring clean the boys bathroom and my den/office.  Yes, this should've already been done but it's my schedule and I can do whatever I want.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Follow-up Friday

Monday:

• Motivated moms schedule
• school  check
• the obvious things  check
• work on the kitchen  check
• office day  check
• what's for dinner?--Ham and cheese quiche  check

Tuesday:

• Motivated moms schedule
• school  check
• the obvious things  check
• work on the kitchen  check
• what's for dinner?--savory chicken stroganoff  check  and the left overs were even better.

Wednesday:

• Motivated moms schedule
• school  check
• the obvious things  check
• work on the kitchen  check
• hobby day-I still need to stay busy for the craft show  check
• what's for dinner?--pork lo mein  Instead I made bbq pork chops because Scott is not a pasta freak and this recipe calls for pasta and I am already having it several times this week.

Thursday:

• Motivated moms schedule
• school  check
• the obvious things  check
• work on the kitchen  finished!

• what's for dinner?--Chicken Parmesan and penne  check

And here is the recipe for it:

Chicken Parmesan with Penne 

1 to 1.5 pounds chicken breast strips

26 oz jar pasta sauce

8 tablespoons Parmesan--divided

8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

16 oz penne pasta, cooked and drained

Combine sauce and 6 tablespoons Parmesan in 13x9 dish.  Fold in uncooked chicken.  Cover, bake @ 375* for 30 minutes.  Uncover, top with mozzarella and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan.  Return to oven to melt cheese.

Serve chicken and sauce over cooked penne.

I added to the pasta after it was finished cooking a small can of tomato sauce and about a tablespoon of sugar so the pasta wouldn't get all "glued" together.

Friday:

• Motivated moms schedule
• the obvious things  check
• THESIS  check
• what's for dinner?--Breakfast or leftovers

Until next time, stay blessed.

February's Organization/Cleaning Schedule

There are 28 days in the month of February.  I didn't have to tell you that but just in case you were wondering, we have a short month to get things done.  So I thought maybe if I put up a schedule it would be easier for me to follow.

So here it goes:

Week 1 (February 4-9):  Kitchen.  Wipe down cabinets, walls, trim and organize cabinets.  Clean fridge and oven and all small appliances.  Clean light fixtures. "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 2 (February 11-16):  Bathroom and Dining Room.  I know, what a weird combo but they are both small and don't really require a lot of work.  Wipe down and dust out China Hutch.  Wipe down walls, trim and clean windows.  Organize school stuff that isn't being used.  Clean the bathroom vanity out and wipe down walls and trim.  Wash shower curtain.  And of course, clean the toilet and shower.  Clean light fixtures.    "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 3 (February 18-23):  Office.  What a mess this gets every day!  It is the first room we walk into which means it is the room that "catches" everything.  Make better use of closet space.  File, file, file!  Make sure everything is where it is supposed to be.  Wipe down walls and trim, clean window and door.  Clean light fixtures.  "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 4  (February 25-28):  Living Room.  Clean out buffet.  Wipe down walls and trim.  Have boys clean out their baskets and put stuff away.  Clean windows.  Vacuum furniture and spot clean it.  Wash throw blankets.  Shampoo carpet.

Hopefully I'll be done by the end of the month.  It seems like a lot to do when I write it down.  The thing is this, whatever doesn't get deep cleaned this month will get it again in a few months since I am on a rotating deep clean schedule this year.  The goal is, once you get one area clean, keep it that way, always leave the room in "ready" position.

Until next time, stay blessed.

January 2013 Goal--Basement

I did it!  I finished the basement and I have a couple of days to spare.

Here are some before and after pics.

Yes, I can finally use the treadmill and bowflex.  You can't really see the treadmill but it is back there by the wall.  I guess I have no excuses now.  And now the shelf has all my Christmas decor on it so I don't have to sort through big plastic boxes to find stuff.  This is my workout section of the basement.

This the boys work out side of the basement.  They still have the weight bench and now all the weights are under the stairs (you can"t see them in this pic).  My laundry folding table is still there but now cleaned up so I can actually fold clothes on it.

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I already cleaned these two areas before I took pictures.  Sorry.  But they typically look pretty good because they are used every day and get cleaned up.  Seth is in the "family room" and the other pic is the dogs room.  The upright freezer will be leaving soon.  It goes to my dad.

There are 5 boxes of books to sell at the homeschool conference.  There are 2 boxes of stuff to go back to my grandmother.  There are 2 boxes of stuff for a friend.  There is 1 box of trash.  And 2 boxes of goodwill stuff.  I think I am going to get rid of most of this before I start on the first floor.

The basement won't get another deep cleaning until April.  Hopefully it won't really need much but the carpet shampooed.  

Hope you are enjoying your cleaning and organizing.  Get ready for February.  My deep cleaning goal is my kitchen, dining room, office, living room and boys bathroom.  I may post before and after pics because I didn't post pics after I painted.  One step closer to not spring cleaning this year.  Love it.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Operation 2013---Goals and Progress Report

I don't usually set  New Years Resolutions or any of that stuff because I feel like I am setting myself up for failure.  However, this year I want to do something different for myself.  I am going to set goals.  I don't set goals either for the same reason but for some reason, goals seem more attainable this time.  Maybe I'm maturing.  Maybe I am feeling more confident in myself and learning that I have the Holy Spirit to help me.  I don't know what it is but regardless here it goes.

I will probably be adding things to this list as the year goes on, we shall see.

• Read through the Bible.  I am going to be honest.  I have never read the whole Bible.  I am going to use the Message version because it reads more like a story and it isn't as thick.  Don't judge me.  I do that enough.  
• I am going to stick to the Motivated Moms schedule daily because I am tired of having a messy house.  I have high standards because my mom kept a very clean house.  My idea of messy won't be the same as your idea of messy.  But I don't judge your cleanliness when I visit you, so don't worry.
• I am going to deep clean a different floor of my house every month, that way I won't need to spring/fall clean.  It will always be done on a rotating basis.  And each time will be a little easier.  That schedule is as follows.
• January-basement, which consists of family room, laundry, storage, dogs, exercise equipment
• February-1st floor, which consists of den, living room, kitchen, bathroom, dining room
• March-2nd floor, which consists of master bedroom, master bathroom, kids bedroom
• April-kids attic bedroom
• After that each floor will rotate again.  I think you get the picture.  You know, May-basement, June-1st floor and so on.
• Project Peacock.  This is probably my favorite.  A few of my friends, Tammy, Charli, and I have decided to do something every day to make our husbands feel special.  It could be anything from fixing his favorite meal, to massage, to just keeping the house cleaned up, to...well you know..."the wifely duty".  (wink, wink)  Project Peacock came a blog post that I had read back on July 26, 2012 from hotholyhumorous, which by the way is a great Christian blog on "the wifely duty".  The reason we are doing this because our husbands work hard so that we can be stay at home moms and sometimes I know I take that for granted and I know that there are so many things that I have let go because I know that he loves me and will always come home to me.  That's sad and I want to show him that I really do appreciate what he does.  I figure there will be some really good things to come out of this.  Like, I will become less selfish for one.  And wouldn't it be really cool to fall madly in love all over again.  You know, that honeymoon stuff.  We are not doing this for any selfish gain or manipulation, it is just because.
• School needs to be a primary focus.
• I want to start doing more things with my friends and family.  Maybe once a month, getting together and fellowship. It is fun and sometimes we even do artsy, craftsy stuff.  But we always solve the worlds problems and have a great cup of coffee.
• I also want to lose 30 pounds or become a size 8 whichever happens first.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

And if you want to be involved in Project Peacock let me know,  we have a private page on facebook where we can share ideas.  And don't worry, it really is private.

Until next time, stay blessed.