Fire Escape plan

I just put one together for our family. I created a floor plan in Photoshop but you could just draw one by hand. Whatever you do make one and practise it with your family! It could save a life!

Make The Plan
Draw a plan of your house and clearly label windows, doors stairs and rooms.
With a brightly coloured marker, draw the escape route from each room. try to have two escape routs from each room.
Designate a meeting place outside.

Put the Plan in Action
Have a family meeting to discuss the plan and practise it.
hold drills at least twice a year. We will do one in winter and one in summer.

Dont Forget!
You should have at least one smoke detector for each floor of your home; one near sleeping areas and one near the kitchen. A fire extinguisher is also important to have in the kitchen.

Please do this! I found out that 70 percent of families in Canada do not have a fire safety plan. I hope you never have to use one but wont you be glad you had one if you ever have to?

Comfort Food Made Simply - Cabbage Roll Casserole

Today we got slammed with a bunch of snow. The very wet and heavy kind. It was so cold you could hear the house whistle reminding me that I still have to put plastic on the windows (But this is another blog for another time). I decided we needed something hearty delicious warming -comforting for our supper. I had a beautiful cabbage in the crisper so I decided to make cabbage rolls. Then I gave my head a shake. I had all three kids home and to be honest with you we had things to do that were not going to afford me the time to do all I had to to make those delicious traditional culinary bundles, so I turned it into a casserole! It seriously took 30 minute from the gather of ingredient to the first comforting bite.

The Recipe


1 tbs Olive oil
1 lb of ground pork or beef (I used beef)
1 large onion
1 19 oz can of dice tomatoes, drained
1 2 cups of tomato sauce
1 tbs oregano
2 tbs of brown sugar
2 tbs of white vinegar
1/2 half head of cabbage, shredded
salt and pepper to taste.


lightly oil pan with olive oil, add diced onion and ground meat fry until onions are translucent.
Add tomatoes, sauce, sugar, vinegar, oregano and cabbage. Season and cover.
Simmer while setting the table and washing little hands

Time to Face Facts

With us being in the middle of a snow storm watch, It is time to put the summer clothes away. I really need the closet space to be honest. I will do each person after I do their laundry. I will cull closets and dressers and put items that will work for next summer in their own seasonal bin. We are lucky because we have very high shelves here so these bins fit in the closet on a high shelf. anything that is in good shape but too small goes in the give away box and anything else that is damaged or worn goes in the clothing recycle bin. Summer Jackets and shoes go in a closet in the basement (It is a very dry basement) I hang the jackets up and the shoes go in pockets that hang over the door. In the summer the process is the same only the clothes trade spaces. I also switch out my bedding too.

I cannot say I mind terribly. I like my snugly flannel jammies! I don't mind winter, I just wish it was shorter. I love this time of year though. The Christmas Countdown at Organized Christmas has started. This task falls right in with get Organized week!

Lovely Laundry

I was thinking today how great it is to not have a Mount Washmore any more. I read about a laundry system on a Christian Home Schooler's blog several months ago and I adopted some of her suggestions and low and behold! I now have laundry under control! In a nutshell, I have each week day designated a laundry day and I try to get laundry in to wash during the morning routine rebooted to the dryer during lunch routine and folded and put away during early afternoon routine. I get my 7 yo to put her own clothes away and sometimes she will even put her own clothes in the machine, Each person has their own hamper for their laundry and I have hampers for towels and linens too, My Laundry days are:

• Monday: My and dh's laundry
• Tuesday:Children's Laundry
• Wednesday: Bathroom Laundry
• Thursday: Kitchen Laundry
• Friday:Bedroom and other Laundry.

It is such a great system that I have kept it up for over 3 months now and the best part- I never have to do laundry on the weekend! How great is that!

Holiday Countdown Begins!

OK.. officially it doesn't start until Sunday according to Organized Home but according to Fly Lady It started this week. Being the Christmas Junkie I am I was only too happy to have a head start, So far, I have set up my Christmas Journal (picture coming soon), gathered all of last years left over cards and wrapping and started a supplies shopping list. I am finding I have to pace myself though. I want to make my baking list, decide my menus, make decorations, plan parties, pick gifts.... This is the most important reason why I need to follow a plan! lol Keeps me under control. Please wish me luck!

Full DeClutter Mode!

I am rescuing my worst room this week. How do you rescuing a room? The way I do it is to first gather my supplies; a garbage bag (or few) for, you guessed it - garbage, a box for "Give Aways" and a box for "Put Aways". Then, I stand at the doorway and look to my right and going clockwise around the room I pick up each item in the room and decide where to "File" it. Once I have the three piles I will take out the garbage and put all the things that need to be given away by the front door of the trunk of the vehicle taking them away. However, I do not put anything yet. I do a full detailed cleaning first. I start at the ceiling and work my way down finishing with the floor I of course do all of this in Flylady fashion by doing it in 15 minute increments, pausing for a break and some water every hour. When every thing is done I like to enjoy my last break admiring what I have accomplished while enjoying a nice cup of Tetley.

A Tribute to My Friends

You are so very important to me. These last few months have been very trying for me and I am positive I would have crack up with out you. You lent me strength, supported me when I was the hardest on my self - and kicked my ass when I needed it. You were kind and wise and hilarious. You all are so beautiful!

Some of you I have hugged with my arms and some with typed parenthesis. Some of you I have known forever and some I met recently. You all deserve to be celebrated and so I dedicate this post to friendship.

Election Day

Thank goodness and end at last to ridiculous campaign ads and all those trees wasted on election literature. I feel bad for our neighbours south who still have 3 weeks to endure!

so to amend my To Do List I will Vote tomorrow. I hope you will too.

Meals on a Budget

Fly lady has a recipe on her site call Rubber chicken and I have adapted it to all sorts of roast. Basically it is roast beast with veggies on day one then wraps, rice, noodle bake or pizza with left overs then throw carcasses into crock pot after stripping them on day two. Add garlic carrot, celery onion a bouquet de garni and top with water and cook until next day. add more veggies and/or meat, bake some bread or biscuits and Volia! and sometimes I can get two days out of the soup! These meals work out to cheap shmeap!

Grocery List for Three or Four Days of Supper

Roasting Chicken ,beef, pork ham or lamb...can even work with a big fish! (I never pay more than 10 dollars)
5lbs potatoes
5lbs carrots
5lbs onions
2 heads of garlic
1 celery bunch
2lbs fav veggie like beans, Brussel sprouts, peas, swiss chard, spinach turnip whatever!
flour and butter eggs for dumplings or yorkshire pudding and gravy (optional)
tortilla shells or rice or noodles or pizza dough/premade shell for ease
cheese (swiss, cheddar, parmesan mozzarella)
any extra veggies needed like luttuce, tomatoes, green peppers mushrooms etc.
sauce (salsa, soya, bernaise, tomato)
spices and herbs for bouquet de garni)
recipe for bread or bisquits or buy some for ease.

there are the basics personalize to suit family but there it is in a nutshell. Never costs more than 50 dollars and feeds my family of 6 for 3 days so less that 3/person/meal.