Welcome to Cherie's Hearth

Don't want to forget this!

2011-08-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it — I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know — but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.

I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”

Virginia Satir (American Psychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)

Camping 2011

2011-08-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

CAMPING!!!!!

2011-07-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

We are off camping this week!
Just the children and I. Poor hubby has to work.(I think he is relieved actually) We keep it simple. Tent sleeping bag, bathing suit, hat, sarong, ,jeans and a hoodie in case it is cool at night. A campfire for cooking and my camping pots. We will eat amazing because that is what it is about for me - Good food! Most of the prep is done at home and much of it will be reheated. Here is our menu for the week.

Supper
M:Hot dog/s'more night
T:Veg Chili with cornbread and/or nacho chips and cheese,
W:Hamburgers and Poutine, bean salad, colslaw
T:Souvlaki and Tzatziki Sauce. Greek Rice
F:Steak and baked taters, corn on the cob, Cesare salad

Lunch: sandwiches (PB&J, Tuna, deli meat) Left over salads, Veggies and dip, granola

Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal, Yogurt, Muffins, Sugary boxed cereal that we only get when we go camping and fresh Fruit.

treats: Chips, Chocolate bars, ice cream, soda (It is a vacay after-all!)

Thinking 'bout....Me!

2011-07-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Did a little exercise (the results I will post below) where you take a minute or two and just write single words to describe who you are. It was rather uplifting and cause me to do some soul searching this week. I have been in a "State" lately due to some things that happen recently. I dare say I was depressed. I think I needed to be. I think my mind was telling me that this soul searching has been a long time coming and that I was going to to it know because I had time. I wallowed in it, explored it exposed, it dealt with it ...for now, owned it. am OK with it- fantastic with it!
So, who am I in single words:

mother
wife
sister
lover
friend
daughter
survivor
strong
smart
kind
resourceful
skilled
friendly
stubborn
tenacious
powerful
intuitive
messy
earthy
curious
artistic
sensitive
creative
determined
able
honest
Feminist
feminine
appreciative
empathetic
faithful
fun
natural
beautiful
playful
dynamic
spiritual
complicated
lovely
<3

Kid Free During the Day

2011-07-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

The boys have gone on holiday with their grandparents and the girl is enrolled in sports camp for the week, so I am free to do what I want during the day. Today I just chilled; played online, took a nap and read some of my new book. Now I am bored! lol I plan to use the next few days to get some decluttering done so that likely wont be the case for the rest of the week. I must say though, it was interesting to be bored. I did cook a turkey today- a 10 pounder. We will have roast turkey with veggies tonight for dinner and then I will slice up the rest of the meat for quick easy meals. We had a wicked storm here last night and that cooled things off a bit which made it possible to do this. It's supposed to heat up again for the rest of the week so I will be glad to have "easy fixin's" for the rest of the week. I think I will go work on the water bottle cover I am crocheting before I go get the girl. If I finish it tonight I will post a picture :)

Stay Cool!

Today I am supposed to do something nice for me.

2011-07-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

So today I will polish up my feet! Gonna soak in a foot bath and read the first chapter of my latest book Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire :Book One. Then gently scrub them with a pumice stone and lather them with peppermint foot lotion then spruce up the polish. I think I shall also make sure I have a tall glass of lemonade to sip too!

Seize the day and enjoy!!!

not posting about the proceedure today

2011-07-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

because it went terrible and I don't need the reminder.

Stuck in the house!

2011-07-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

so I am getting some things done that otherwise would be neglected. Things like the pile of bedding that is too warm for the next few months I washed weeks ago when we did the change over but it has remained on the folding table not touched since. So time to take care of that today.

I Have Joined Yet Another Commitee!

2011-07-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

But I am only a Member At Large. I joined this committee to get information. It is my community's association. I don't need to take a positions and I can volunteer to help with the odd event. I won't get too involved I will limit my activity. This will be good practise for me to not over extend myself....Right?

Seven Things!

2011-07-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

It has been a lazy Sunday so far.

We are going to go to the pool this afternoon.

I am drinking White Tea with lemon-balm and lemon grass this morning

I have a ton of laundry to do.

Thinking hamburgers for dinner

Kids want to watch Rango tonight

Hubby is making lunch!

Summer Time!!!!

2011-07-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

To my fellow Canucks! Hope you are having a fantastic Canada Day Weekend!

We are getting ready for some summer fun around here! I am so looking forward to that! First thing on the agenda is a house purge. I will start at the top of the house and work my way down. New summer time routines will be implemented. and the focus will be how to pack as much summer fun into the precious 8 weeks we have!
On the agenda for week one:

Swimming at the pool
Picnic with friends
Trip to the movies

These will be the first three items checked off the bucket list for summer. Also on the bucket list:

Art Gallery
IMAX
Museum of Nature
Museum of civilization
Canada's Wonderland
Mini Putting
Laser tag
bowling
movie
crafts
picnics
paddle boating at Dow's Lake
swimming (Local pool, wading pool, wave pool)
Camping
Golf
Lunch with Daddy

It seems so fitting that I reboot my blog (yet again) on the new moon.

Muffin Monday : Basic Banana

2011-04-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

had to use up some bananas so I made a basic banana recipe using flour that I bought on recent trip to Watson's Mill

Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar (other sugars will work too)
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.

3. Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.

Music to Clean by!

2011-03-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Nothing like scrubbing to the oldies! It actually makes the task seem ...fun. No, really! It is no secrete that I hate housework. I mean I love cooking and mending and crafting and decorating and menu planning and hosting dinner parties - that stuff brings me joy. But scrubbing toilets? ICK! but it has to be done. I like to put on some energetic music to get it through it. Today it is Abba, The Bee Gees and Elton John and just to add some modern, some Scissor Sisters.

Muffin Monday: Sweet treats - Buttermilk Cinnamon

2011-03-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature 
2/3 c. sugar 1 egg 
1 1/2 c. WW all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 
1/2 tsp. baking soda 
1/2 tsp. salt
 1/2 tsp. ground clove 
1/2 c. buttermilk 
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

toping: Cinnamon sugar made from 1 Tbs cinnamon and 8 Tbs sugar and melted butter to brush muffins

350°F. Oven prepare muffin pan (I make 12 mini muffins with this recipe)

combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the egg and beat well

In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cloves.

Add wet to dry and stir until moistened batter will be lumpy

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean,15 to 20 minutes.

Muffin Monday : Savoury Breakfast- Sausage and Cheddar

2011-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Sausage and Cheddar

Ingredients

2 cups WW all-purpose flour
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
4 sausage links, cooked and cubed
1 small red pepper diced
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne Powder (optional)
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup coconut oil

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a another bowl, beat the egg, milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Granola

2011-02-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
(This recipe can easily be halved for smaller batches)

6 cups of old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup whey

3/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 cups of "additions such as coconut, raisins, cranberries, banana chips, dried pineapple, any dried fruit really, nuts, seeds...use you imagination!

Directions

1. Mix together all of the above ingredients - except for the additions.

2. Cover the bowl of the sticky mixture, and let it sit out on your counter overnight. (Let it sit for 7 to 30 hours.)

3. Mix the oat mixture, and spread it out on a large baking pan.

4. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, then stir the mixture, then bake it for another 15 minutes.

5. If the mixture has turned light brown or golden, then it's done. If not, then mix it and put it back into the over for 15 more minutes.

6. Pour the mixture into a bowl, and mix in the additions. Let it cool.

This is so good and good for you! I like to make yogurt parfaits by layering yogurt, granola, and fruit. It is also good eaten like boxed cereal

Sanity Sunday!

2011-02-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday is Preparation Day around here! I often joke that I would love a Sunday for every day of the week but Alas! I have to make due with the one that I have.

During the school year I have noticed that a routine has evolved while I was unaware. It happened out of necessity. There are a few things I need to take care of on Sundays or I am guaranteed a stressful week. In order to avoid this, I need to make sure I have:

A week's worth of outfits for everyone

Healthy School snacks for the week (often requires baking something)

A menu plan for the week including breakfast, lunch after-school snacks and dinners

Healthy School snacks for the weeks

Having these things in place maintains the harmony of the house. This week I am making an Apple Spice Cookies (see recipe below) and cutting up veggie sticks for school snacks. For after school I have cheese and crackers, bagels and yogurt cheese, fresh fruit slices and yogurt dip for the children to choose from.

My Menu plan for the week is:

Roast Pork with rutabagas, sweet potatoes, green beans and coleslaw

Pork Fried Rice

Sweet and sour Chicken Thighs with buttery egg noodles and spinach salad

Potato Leek Soup and multi-grain buns

spaghetti with marinara sauce

Of course during the course of this day we also plan some good quality family fun! On this day we plan to go for a toboggan on the hill in our neighbourhood. On that note I better get to it! I have a busy day!

Happy Sanity Sunday everyone!

Apple Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup honey
2 eggs
2 cups flour (can be spelt, or whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves and nutmeg
2/3 cup apple juice
1 cup chopped walnuts (I will omit these for use as school snacks)
1 cup shredded apple
1 cup raisins (soaked for 20 minutes in water to soften, drain well)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 375F. Grease Cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Smooth the coconut oil and sugar. Add the eggs and combine fully. Slowly add the flour, baking soda and spices, combine until smooth. Add apple juice and stir again. Stir in nuts, apples and raisins until well combined. Drop cookies onto sheet with a big spoon.
Bake for 12 minutes.

Christmas/Yule Countdown - Week 2

2010-11-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is my list of Prep for this week. This week we have one of my favourite activities! Christmas Lights Across Canada. This is when they turn on the christmas lights at Parliament Hill for the first time. It really is magical! After the ceremony we we head to the Byward Market for a hot chocolate and a beaver tail- Don't know what that is? Stay Tuned!

Gift n Giving Week: : November 28- December 4

To Do This Week

• Write and address one-forth of the Christmas card list
• Finish all catalog shopping. Record tracking numbers and save receipts.
• List all gifts to make Jot down needed Materials and add them to the master shopping list
• Work on “To Make” gifts. You must make one-fourth of your gifts each week.
• Set up wrap and mail center.
• Reserve baby sitters for December nights out.

To Buy This Week

• Continue gift shopping
• Buy materials and supplies for “To Make” gifts

Yule/Christmas Countdown!

2010-11-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

I have decided to blog about my Yule/Christmas prep to help me stay on task.

I break my Holiday prep into 4 stages: Organization, Gifting, Cooking, and Celebrating. This plan is inspired from what I learned from Flylady.net and Organized Christmas (To give credit where it is due) I have a list for each week. It contains action items and a shopping list. I have all of these list in my Holiday Preparation Planner. My planner is made with a Pocket Folder. I will post a picture of it shortly. Here is an excellent example of what I am talking about.

This weeks List (I will post them on Monday from now on

Get Organized Week: November 21 - 27

To Do This Week;

Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.

Set up your Christmas Countdown Organizer in a notebook or binder.

Make a holiday calendar.

Begin at the beginning: review your family’s holiday traditions. Record your findings on Holiday Traditions* page.

Start a Master Gift List*: Record purchases and home-made gifts

Begin a Christmas Card List.

Are you traveling? Make Travel arrangements and reservations this week Will you host house guests? Make arrangements for overnight guests.

Arrange for family photo sessions for Holiday gifts or cards.

Make a holiday budget*.

Divide Christmas card list into 5 groups. Write and address one group this week.

Print Master Shopping List for errand days.

Set up Holiday House Work Plan. Post Chore Check List; determine who is responsible for what chore.

Check Holiday wardrobe for family. Put to buy items on list.

To Buy This Week:

Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas Letters

Postage Stamps

Begins Christmas shopping Divide master list into 5 sections Buy one section a week. Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Keep a running total of gift expenditures on budget form.

Purchase any holiday clothing needed for family members

Today I am going to love myself

2010-10-08T05:05:00.000-07:00

Today I will start the day with a little prayer

Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I will not berate myself for falling behind or pressure myself to catch up. I will instead, live in the moment.

I will enjoy my family because that is what is most important to me.

Sunday "Preparing for the Week" Day

2010-09-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today is Organization day. I have started doing this because I find myself much busier lately. I have evening commitments where I didn't have any before so I have had to adapt somewhat. I have started using this day to catch up on items on my daily list that I may not have completed during the week. This week I need to catch up on Laundry. I also use this day to bake school snacks because I have stopped buying them in favour of more healthy options. This week I plan to make some Carrot Muffins and granola bars. I will soak the granola bars the NT way but the carrot muffins I make will be a traditional recipe. I will post the Granola bars at the end of the is post. I am also hoping to use the snack making as an opportunity to spend time with my daughter in the kitchen. I better go get busy! :)

Cherie's Nut Free Granola Bars

Ingredients

Mix together in non reactive bowl:
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of whey

Soak for 8-20 hours. Then stir in:

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Coconut oil
about a cup of additions like raw coconut or chocolate chips or other dried fruit.

350 degree Oven

Line 9X13 pan with parchment. Press mixture into pan and bake for 30 minute or until golden at edges. Cut while warm.

Friendship and Preserves

2010-08-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Before I make this post I just wanna say I have an awful lot of draft post. I think I might look them over and see if there is anything worth saving and posting. Not surprisingly, I get sidetracked fairly often lol

OK! the post today is about friendships I am extremely blessed to have amazing friends. Tonight I will test the strength of two of my friends as we attempt to make and can Salsa! lol The recipe we are using is from here http://belleadorn.blogspot.com/2008/08/best-salsa-recipe.html

I have all of my supplies ready I am so excited! I will post how it went...I promise!

Master Summer Schedule

2010-06-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Only one more week until school is out and everyone will be home all day. I am really excited about this. We have a lot of fun in the summer. Last year we started using a Master Schedule and it really helped the children and myself get the most out of summer break and have a whole lot of fun. The Master Schedule is an important tool for helping us stay on track. By no means is it is carved in stone nor do we strictly follow it every day. This is basically how a "Typical Week" will look. I am putting it here as a record for me but also to share it with anyone who might be looking for a way to organize their own summer. I know many folks who prefer not to have so structured a day but for our family it was necessary to avoid hanging out in Pjs all day watching T.V. and wondering where the summer went.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
08:00	Morning Routine	Morning Routine	Morning Routine	Morning Routine	Morning Routine
09:00	Park Play	Field trip	Park Play	Park Play	Park Play
10:00	Snack Art Activity	Field trip	Snack Learning Activity	Snack Journalling Activity	Bookmobile Snack
11:00	Tidy up and story time	Field trip	Tidy up and Story time	Tidy up and Story time	Tidy up and Story time
12:00	Afternoon Routine	Afternoon Routine	Afternoon Routine	Afternoon Routine	Afternoon Routine
01:00	Swimming	Field trip	Swimming	Swimming	Swimming
02:00	Swimming	Field trip	Swimming	Swimming	Swimming
03:00	Snack	Field trip	Snack	Snack	snack
04:00	End of day Routine	End of day Routine	End of day Routine	End of day Routine	End of day Routine
05:00	Dinner Table chores	Dinner Table chores	Dinner Table chores	Dinner Table chores	M soccer
06:00	Daddy time	Family time	Mommy time	Family time	Dinner
07:00	I’s bedtime Quiet time for M&E	I’s bedtime Quiet time for M&E	I’s bedtime Quiet time for M&E	I’s bedtime Quiet time for M&E	I’s bedtime E Soccer
08:00	M&E Bedtime Routine	M&E Bedtime Routine	M&E Bedtime Routine	M&E Bedtime Routine	M&E Bedtime Routine

Getting the Kids Ready for Summer!

2010-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! Summer vacation starts a week from Friday! We are planning to have a bit of structure but only to make it as fun as possible. What we have found in the past is that we hang out in our pajamas until way past noon and the day is over before we know it. This year it is gonna be different! This year we will have routines! This week I will go through the process of getting us organized for summer. We will purge the school year first. I have a wall dedicated to the children's art work. We will be putting favourite pieces in a scrapbook and completely empty the wall for our new summer creations. next we will reboot the bulletin board. This is the place where I post our routines, schedules, meal plans and calendar of events. When I get them set up I will post a picture (I have a camera now!)

The routines are guides. They are what we do on a "typical" day. Of course not all days are typical. Some parts will always be the same like the morning routine because we have to get up and get ready to get going everyday. But sometimes we will have field trips and sometimes we will stick close to home all day. The routines I will post below is for such a day. I cannot stress enough how much easier and stress-free life is since we have started using routines. Here they are for you to see and maybe get inspired to start your own. I promise you won't regret it!

Children’s Morning Routines

• Get up and make your bed immediately
• Go to the dinning room for breakfast.
• Do Table Chores (see schedule for duties)
• Get dressed brush hair, brush teeth and wash face.
• While you are in the bathroom; pick up after yourself.
• Check your calendar for today’s activities.
• Morning meeting at dinning room table

Children’s Afternoon Routines (if at home)

• Tidy up Morning activity
• Wash up for lunch
• Have lunch
• Do table chores
• Prepare for afternoon activity

Children’s End of day Routines

• Empty back pack put items away
• Put hat and sunglasses away
• Wash up for supper
• Quiet activity until dinner (reading, TV, etc.)

Children’s Bedtime Routines

• Gather items needed for next day and put on bench
• Go through house and put any belongings out of place where they belong
• Have bath or shower
• Brush teeth
• Put on pajamas
• Hugs and kisses and get tucked in for the night!

Back to Routines

2010-06-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

I will be resuming my routines today and man! does it feel good! I already have my meat sauce in the crock pot and I am going to attempt a traditional Italian bread to go with the spaghetti dinner. I made the starter last night and will finish it later today. I will also make a nice garlic butter to go with it.

I have planned my menus for the week and will be sweeping floors when I get off the puter. The project I am working on is our Summer Routines. School doesn't get here until June 25 so I still have a bit of time but I want to do them this week in case they take longer to figure out than I anticipate.

It also looks like it might be a beautiful day so a trip to the park may be in store!

Have a great day!

Get the Funk out!

2010-06-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed by how funky the washer gets. I mean you use it to wash things should it not stay clean? I think the biggest problem for us is that the washer and dryer live in our basement and it is super dusty down there. Oh well! To complain would be pointless. For this task I will take a bucket fill it with how water and a cup of vinegar grab a cloth and a tooth brush for detail cleaning. I start with the outside and work my way in. rocking tunes belting out of the player helps too. Today I am scrubbing to the Beatles, Ramones, Rem, Sheryl Crow, Bare Naked Ladies, The cult and Howard Jones. When I am done I am going to reward myself with a Chai Latte made with the best Chai tea I have ever tasted available from Take Charge Tea

Still Taking it Easy

2010-05-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

I had a minor surgery last Wednesday and it has put me out of commission! I am glad I have my Home Journal. Anyone can come in to help me and know what I need to do each day. I have all my schedules and the tools I use listed in there. It proved to be very helpful! It will also be helpful for me when I am ready to resume my household duties. In the meantime I will continue to take it easy and get better. :)

I finished my shawl!

2010-05-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

I don't have a picture of it to post but it turned out great! it is a light knitted shawl that is a jade green colour. I love it! I think I may make some more in various colours to give away as a gifts. Yes I am already compiling my "To Make" Christmas/Yule gifts. I think my Sister-in-Law would really like one. I am creating a new label for my blog called gift Ideas because I often post idea and then forget them. If I post them on my blog and tag them then I wont loose them and I might actually help someone else looking for an idea.

I love Saturdays!

2010-05-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

I love shutting off my alarm clock. I love taking my time getting out of bed. I love lounging over my warm morning beverage while listening to my children create their fantasy worlds that they explore during their play. The are so creative! This morning they were wizards making potions and concoctions and then getting me to try them. They were designed to make me bigger than life and faster than light! lol fun stuff! Actually, it occurs to me that they had all this fun without stuff! They just used their imaginations. I love that!

Knit knite

2010-05-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am having my monthly Knit Night this evening. I am currently working on a shawl. I got the inspiration for a dish cloth pattern of all things! knit 2 yarn over knit to the end. continue until shawl matches arm span then do one row of *knit 2 yarn over knit 2 together knit one* repeat ** to the end then knit one row and bind off the next. I am doing this on size 10 needles so it looks pretty lacy without trying.

I really love Knit Night! We are an eclectic group of amazing woman. We each of different backgrounds and lifestyles. We have been getting together each month at my house for a few years now. The sisterhood we have created is like nothing I have ever expect to encounter. One of the woman refers to it as our "Red Tent" in reference to way back in biblical times when woman would come together while experiencing their moon-time . I truly think these kinds of traditions now excluded from modern life would benefit many women so much. It is important to discover versions that apply to life today. For me it is Knit Night. The sharing of ideas, comfort, listening and advice I receive on these evenings have saved me from years of therapy I am sure!

Sunshine on my Shoulder Make Me Happy!

2010-05-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

Today my daughter is singing in the choir with her school. I am going with her two little brothers. They will be performing at the Tulip Festival I am really looking forward to it!

This week my pamper mission is going to be a soak in my foot bath. It is one of those fancy numbers with massage and whirlpools. I got it as a Birthday gift from my husband. and then a pedicure. Summer is comming and I want to wear sandals!

Weeding Wednesday!

2010-05-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

It is a gorgeous day here in the Nation's Capital! We are spending time outside. I am getting some weeding done in the precess. Traditionally May long weekend is the when I put in my garden plants that I have grown by seed or purchased at the nursery. I like to get my garden beds ready before but I am lagging a bit behind. This year I am putting in some perennial bulbs that I got through the school's Vesey Seeds fund raiser. I really hope they come in before the weekend!

This afternoon I am going to try my hand at making bagels! I hope they turn out! While my bread proofs I will be scrubbing my bathrooms. Looking forward to my bubble bath tonight!

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

2010-05-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

There are so many cleaners on the market today that choosing one can in itself be an overwhelming task. I have a couple of criteria that helps me a lot; cleaning solutions must be kind to the earth and they must not cost a lot. The best solution I have that meets all of these standards is to make my own. there are recipes all over the net for making your own solutions. I will share the best of what I found but by all means experiment until you find what is right for you.

SUPPLIES

Liquid Castile Soap
Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil

1 empty detergent bottle
6 clean spray bottles
2 glass jars

DISH DETERGENT
Mix 2 cups castile soap with 1'4 cup of water and shake

CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough castile soap to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.

WINDOW CLEANER 
1/4-1/2 teaspoon castile soap
3 tablespoons vinegar 2 cups water Spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. Use as you would a commercial brand.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER 
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of castile soap 
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a rag.

FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Tile Cleaner

2 teaspoons tea tree oil 
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.

Meal Planning

2010-05-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

I love to meal plan. I really do! I feel it is an act of love on my part toward my family. I have a lot to consider when I do this task; likes, dislikes, dietary concerns, allergies. I am blessed not to have picky eaters but I think this is due in large part to offering a varied list of foods, insisting they be tried and tried again a few months later if it is disliked the first try. I do have a family member with a strong dislike for rice which happens to be one of my favourite foods. This dislike actually turned out to be a fortunate thing however because I had to get creative and I discovered new foods that I otherwise may not have experimented with. We also have growing bodies and *ahem* aging bodies to consider. Fat, salt and sugar content are carefully monitored. The growing bodies need good fats and the aging ones need less of it. Salt and sugar needs to be moderated for both body types. Allergies in our family are more like sensitivities and usually just require that they be cooked a certain way or limited in the amount we eat.

I usually make my menu plans on Sundays. I plan 5 suppers for the week to allow for leftovers or dinner out and I have a 2 week breakfast plan. For lunches I take requests as my brown baggers make their own. For supper, usually have 1 part protein 2 part vegetable and fruit and one grain or starch for example tonight's dinner is Trout Grenobloise With garden salad, baby carrots and cous cous. My breakfast plan is a post on it own. Watch for it soon!

I try really hard to make a favourite of each family member at least once a week. I do put a lot of thought into my meal planning. It is one of the ways I like to take care of my family.

A family who eats together...

2010-04-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Meal times are really important around here! As it should be! When else can you get everyone together sitting face to face with full attention on family. This is when we share how our day was. This is time when we connect with one another. without this time I think it would be really easy for members of the family to loose touch with each other or worse, not develop a relationship at all. I see many families who do not take time to share a meal together - sometimes because they have no choice- and I wonder what they do to make up for the lost face time. We as a family have other times that we do spend together but most of the planning of these times takes place while we are eating dinner. I think if we didn't make a point of eating together we would also miss out on some of the other times. I know when on occasion my husband has to work late for a few days in a row he begins to feel out of touch with the family. Thank goodness this doesn't happen too often.

I love meal times. Cooking delicious nutritious meals allows me to feel like I am nurturing my family. I really pour my heart into it! But what I love the most about meal time is being able to look at each of my family members and soak in their sweet faces and enjoy what they are saying and witness them growing and discovering while I squeeze the hand of my partner or share a knowing glace. Really there isn't much that compares with that feeling.

I can't wait for dinner!

Living Kitchen: Kombucha

2010-03-31T06:45:00.001-07:00

I am enjoying a glass of my second successful batch of Kombucha! I was inpired by what I read in Nourishing Traditions. I used a S.C.O.B.Y. that I got from a friend and a really big glass jar I bought from Ikea. I boiled 20 cups of water and poured it into my glass container. Then, I added 6 Tetley tea bags and a cup of sugar and stirred until the sugar dissolved and let it cool to room temperature. When the tea was cool enough, I added the S.C.O.B.Y on top and put a cotton towel on top, secured it with an elastic band, placed it in my brewing cupboard and forgot all about it for a week. When the week was up I tasted it and it was done and it was good! To me it tasted similar to ginger ale. I am not going to comment on any of the benefits to drinking it but if you do a google search there is tons of information out there. I just wanted to post that I made it and it was easy.

Purging

2010-03-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

Massive de-cluttering going on over here! It feel amazing! I have purging my mental and my physical space. I have been collecting boxes of clutter in the basement for years. I am finally getting rid of them. It is causing an amazing thing to happen! I am developing this sense of peace within that I hadn't realized was missing before. That clutter was robbing me! I have read FlyLady testimonies before that describe this but I didn't fully grasp what was meant. I am figuring it out now though! removing all this clutter is making room for me to feel peace

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Spring Cleaning!

2010-03-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I am going to post about my body and spirit as well as my house and home. I am following a new to me blog called Domestic Witch that is going to help me with this I think. She is running a 12 week series that I am really excited about. Each week has a theme and this week the focus is on our home's exterior and our health. I am bit behind as I just started today but I will be on track in no time. The first task is an excellent one! We are to go to each room of the home and create a list of what repairs and maintenance needs to be done. I plan to take time to do this tomorrow. I will put this list in my Home Journal when I am done.

The second task is to create a similar list only for myself. I will list any health concerns I have and make a plan to address them. I will also write down exercise or other lifestyle goals I have and make a plan to accomplish what I want to in those areas as well.

Anyone wanna join me?

When Life Presents Its Challenges

2010-03-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to get hung up on problems and wallow in the bad feelings when life is kicking you in the head. Try to remember to take a break from time to time to enjoy something you love. It is a huge part of self care. When you take time to do this it is amazing how much more manageable problems seem to be and how often we discover solutions after take a break and coming back to it with fresh eyes.

Home Journal Update for 2010: Weekly Schedule

2010-03-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

I started this in January (really only three posts back) and now that I am back to post regularly again I feel I would like to continue. I have reviewed my weekly schedule and I have discovered that it still works for me exactly as it is so I am not going to change anything but I am out of practice and I will put this list to use again. Each day is posted on the right but I thought it would be good to post the whole week to show you how it looks. Reminder: These are guideline and not carved into stone. If I don't follow it perfectly I do not beat myself up. They are meant to help not not make me feel worse!

Sunday: Renew Your Spirit Day!

Monday: Menu and Mop Day

Work on menus and grocery list for next week>

Feed sourdough and make buttermilk

Make sure refrigerator is clean

Dust and Mop all floors

Work on project

Wash my clothes

Tuesday: Grocery/Errand and Surface Clean Day

Double check list and put in purse

Clean inside windows, mirrors, tv/monitor screens

Get Groceries

Go to Post Office

Go to Library

Wednesday: Kitchen and Bath Clean and Partial Desk Time

Clean all toilets

Clean bath tub

Clean bathroom sinks

Shine kitchen sink

Do children's laundry

Make Bread

Cut Children's nails

Work on project

Work on Budget

Write thank-you notes

Thursday: Free Day

Water plants

Gather all Garbage to put out

Do Something nice for me

Friday-Paperwork and Large Appliance Clean

Be Romantic today!

Do bedroom laundry

Pay and file bills

Clean large appliances

Clean laundry room

Inventory laundry supplies

Clean out purse

Saturday: Family Fun Day!

Do some reading

Do yard work

What is in your Purse?

2010-03-05T05:56:00.000-08:00

Today is the day I clean out my purse. It has occurred to me that what is in my purse is a strong reflection of what stage I am in life. Currently I have a wallet, a change purse, my planner with Dr. appointments, parent council activities and various activities of children, a few diapers, a package of baby wipes, hand cream, a camera a bottle of water, a package of crackers and sugarless gum. Clearly a mom's purse right? I remember a time when my purse was a lot different lol I have had a teen's purse - gaudy make-up, hairspray, a hair brush, notes from class I am hiding from my parents, concert stubs. Career Girl - wallet with a lot more disposable income lol and condoms! Planner with appointments to the salon, dates with friends/hot random guys (Ok, maybe not)

I have also noticed that what I carry my purse items in has changed often over the years as well. I have used a disco purse-barley large enough to hold keys and money, a fashionable backpack-perfect for holding personal items along with school books, a diaper bags way back when I was a new mom and had to bring half the house along with me just in case baby needed something, a quilted bag for outings that required me to bring a selection of entertainment and nourishment for toddlers and now my current handbag that my mother got me for Christmas because she wanted me to have something nice. I am sure at some point I will probably change to something else again to suit my current needs.

Today I shined my sink...again.

2010-03-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

A few personal trials have taken my attention away from this blog...yet again but the good thing about that is that it is still here when I return.

So I am back to basics again. Routines, Thank Maud for routines! I just open my Home Journal and there they are! This week my focus is on Recovery. This is what I do when I fall off the Home Management bandwagon. This could happen for many reasons - illness, family tragedy, whatever! All it means is that for the next few weeks I will do an intensive "Getting Things Back in Order Protocol". Here is what it looks like:

Step 1: Re-instate Routines

This is simple usually because they are already written down for me in my Home Journal. Sometime an adjustment needs to be made due to whatever kept me from doing them in the first place but for the most part I just have to jump in where I left off.

Step 2: Declutter (While continuing with routines)

This step is often the begest. I start at the the top of the house and with three boxes and a timer I enter a room and file all the clutter that doesn't belong in that room. The three files are "Put Away", "Give away", and "Throw Away". I set the timer for 15 minutes and start at the doorway and work my way around the room for 15 minutes at a time. When the timer goes off I file the items in the boxes.

Step 3: Re-instate Projects (while continuing with missions)

Which really means a return to normal

When I follow this plan it usually doesn't take me more than 3 weeks to get back into my groove and return my serenity!

January

2010-01-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

This is a month of reflection for me. I will be spending time updating my Home Journal. I will be posting about this as I accomplish this. My Daily Routines still work beautifully so I will not be changing them but my Daily To Do Lists need tweaking however, so I will be changing those. I have also developed a new Menu plan system because Menu 4 Moms no longer offers a free weekly plan :( The plan I have now does require a bit of work in the beginning but benefits (reduced stress, money saved etc.) totally make it worth it! I am really excited to share this with you!

To recap, January will be about Updating the Home Journal. If you do not have one but would like to build one, the posts labeled Home Journal describe how I built mine.

Home Journal Checklist for Updating

√Routines (posted in the bar at the right side)
Weekly Schedule
Cleaning
Menu Planing
Children's Section
Pamper Section
Budget
Fire Safety Plan
Important Numbers
Home Maintenance Schedules

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is the last day of this decade and what a decade it has been! I got married, gave birth 3 times, Moved to 3 different homes, got a couple college certificates, learned a lot about my self. I have had the best things and some bad things happen to me. I will bid it farewell with fondness I think.

For the nest decade I have a few goals. I want to spend as much time enjoying my family as I can. My children are growing so fast I can see how one needs to make it a priority before it slips away. I want to explore my creative side more. I know I have so much inside that wants to get out and be expressed. I want to take full advantage of each moment and value it for it`s preciousness. I want to give of myself more to my loved ones and also to charity. I want to be better. I want to laugh more, dance more, sing more, love more, appreciate more.

I wish for you the very best of what the new year has to offer. Great health and happiness to you!

Cherie

I know I know! I am terrible!

2009-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

My camera doesn't work so I haven't been posting. I have asked the man in the red suit for a new camera so if he comes through for me I should be back in business soon, I like blogging. Even if no one reads, it is beneficial to me because I think it keeps me accountable because it is out there.

Holiday Countdown Begins!

2009-11-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have indeed started prep for Christmas! I have decided that this will be the focus of my blog for now to help me get prepared for a stress-free holiday. Each day I will post about the steps I take to achieve this goal.

The first step I will take is to create my Holiday Management Folder. I use a pocket folder that I fold length-wise in half to create 4 pocket folder. Each pocket will contain a section for each part of my holiday prep. Special Dates & Holiday Cards, Gift Giving, Decorating and Feasting My inspiration for this comes from here:

http://christmasplanner.com/tour-christmas-planner/pocket-planners

I will post a picture of mine when I get batteries for my camera.

I do not make mine Christmas-y at all because it is for my eyes only so I do not wish to make it attractive to prying eyes.

There you have it, my Christmas prep goal for today. Tomorrow I will show you the pages I plan to put in it.

Goals for this week.

2009-10-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

This week I plan to get the house ready for Canadian Thanksgiving. This is also a short school week so it means I have 4 days to prepare until the children are all here 24/7 and I want to spend the time having fun with them! I am going to do work in all my Zones to prepare.

Monday: Front Entrance and Kitchen
Tuesday: Bathrooms
Wednesday: Bedrooms
Thursday: Living Room and Dining Room.

I will be doing a general clean up in these areas and switching spring/summer items out for fall/winter ones. Hard to believe it is that time already!

It is that time of year again!

2009-10-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have begun my crafting projects for Christmas/Yule. I try to make something for everyone on my list. I am thinking slippers for all the ladies and toques for the gents. Here is a picture of the first pair of slippers I Crocheted. Sorry for the photo quality. I took it with my phone`s camera.

Monday Morning Muffin

2009-09-28T18:18:00.001-07:00

This morning for breakfast I made buttermilk Chocolate chip muffins. What a sweet way to start the week! I admit they have a lot of sugar but I figure a treat is OK now and again. I suppose one could use a sugar alternative...if one wanted to.

CHOCOLATE CHIP BUTTERMILK MUFFINS

4 tbsp. butter
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. unsifted all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 large or 24 small muffin pan cups. Place butter in a small skillet and melt; remove from heat.
2. Beat eggs in a small bowl, using a fork, rotary beater or hand mixer.
3. Using a flour sifter or a large strainer, sift flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together into a large bowl. Using a large spoon, make a "well" in the flour mixture and add buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter. Mix gently, just enough to moisten all ingredients.
4. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into muffin pan cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on rack, then remove muffins from cups with small spatula while still warm. Serve warm with butter.
Makes 12 large or 24 small muffins.

Calendars

2009-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

A must when trying to keep everyone organized. They record Dr. Appointments, Work/School Activities, Family Events, Birthdays whatever you need to remember. That is, as long as you use them. There are a lot of different electronic calendars available usually for free with your Operating System on your computer, or you can spend lots of money on fancy leather bound planners or you can draw a grid on paper and write in the days of the weeks with their corresponding dates - Whatever! There are a ton of options. Last year I used a calender I got for free for spending money at Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, a toy store near my house. This year the Dollar Store had one that was magnetized so I could stick it on my refrigerator for everyone to see and update as needed. It has really big squares for each day, a handy feature for writing in information. I also carry a personal planner that I can fit in my purse for recording things when I am out that I can later transfer onto the Master Calender. After trying many systems this is what works for our house. So simple really! I am sure this is why it works.

Today`s Project: Sock It To Ya!

2009-09-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

or away from ya ...whatever! lol I am sorting and getting rid of the odd socks! Some I will keep for crafts but holey, odd and worn ones are outta here!

It Figures!

2009-09-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Just as I am getting back into the swing of things I go and tear my Rectus Adominis muscle while picking my 4 year old up to sit on a 19th century bicycle. I really do mean to update this blog regularly but life keeps getting in the way! I have been on bed rest since September 4th. I am on the road to recovery. First I must have an ultrasound to ensure all is healing nicely then I need to work on strengthening my core. The doctor recommended Pilates. I was thinking maybe I might take this up someday and now I will make this a priority. You may hold me accountable. Actually, feel free to join me!

Autumn arrived tonight. It was very apparent as a flock of Canadian Geese flew past me in an obvious migration pattern - not the clumsy <">We are just practicing. of weeks past. Someone also has a fire place going in the neighbourhood. I love that sent of burning wood but I am not sure I am ready for winter. We hardly has summer! Oh Well! No sense whining about it.

The Launch Pad

2009-09-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you with children in school you already know how important this is! The Launch Pad is the place where everything you need that day is placed ready for you before you walk out the door. At our house each school-aged child has a bench in which book bags, musical instruments and sport equipment(of the small variety)can be placed the night before as part of the before bed routine. In the closet is a shoe rack with one shelf dedicated to baskets that hold hats, scarves, mitts, sunglasses, umbrellas or what-ever else is needed before leaving the house. I have a coat rack that I use to hang my purse and/or backpack for the day. The coats, sweaters and hoodies are hung up and shoes go on the bottom shelves of the shoe wrack. This set up seems to work really well for us. The before bed and Morning routines along with the launch pad have made it so that we can be out of the house within an hour of waking up and it is done with no stress! The nice thing about being organized like this also allows me to not think about it. If you knew what kind of morning person I am you would know this is a very good thing. :D

Back to School- Back to Routines

2009-08-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my three oldest children go back to school. This means the care free days of summer are replaced with the routines of the fall. I have to say I am looking forward to it. I like routines. When I was living in utter CHAOS I swore I hated them, that they were incompatible with me. LOL Boy oh Boy! Do I know better now! Routines are helping to bring me out of the CHAOS; they are my lifeline. They give me that place to start and keep me from getting overwhelmed. I have three that I use daily. In their most basic form they are as follows:

Evening

Brush teeth
Layout clothes

Morning
Make bed
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Brush teeth

Afternoon
File mail
Read to children
Make dinner

This is the very bare bones of my routines. I also review them and update if needed this time of year. I will be posting my updated routines this week. If anyone is reading this and wishes to share a link back to their blog where they have posted their routines that is certainly welcomed.

Spring Project- Culling and Storing Winter Clothes

2009-05-14T06:18:00.000-07:00

I started working on this last week and I am nearly done. This is an important job because it gives lots of space in the closets back which in itself helps to keep things tidy. It also gets rid of clutter that I do not need. I do one child at a time to not get overwhelmed by the job. I gather 1 recycle box, 1 donation box 1 to be repaired box and 1 rubbermaid container. I put all of the child's winter clothing on their bed and I start the process. I pick up each article and ask a series of question and follow the flow chart. It really looks a lot more complicated than it is.

			Is it in good condition?

		YES		NO
		Will it still fit next year?		Can it be repaired?

YES	NO				YES	NO
Put in rubbermaid storage container.	Put in donation box.				Put in To Be Repaired box	Put in Recycle Bin

Once everything is sorted the rubbermaid goes in storage until next Fall, the recycle box goes out to the bin and the donations go to their launch pad for delivery ASAP. I cannot express how satisfying it is when the job is completed

I`m Back!

2009-04-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have a new puter and updated software! I am so excited to be getting back into the swing of things! I have missed blogging so much!

And Everything in it`s Place

2009-02-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Never has the old saying A place for everything and everything in it`s place made more sense to me. As I am on the journey to organising my house I have learned a lot of nuggets of good information; tips for cleaning, Ideas of how to store things, ways to plans what needs to be done. If I had to sum up the whole process in one line however, this would be it! Really it is what it is all about isn't it? So simple and I have always know this too! I cannot even remember the first time I heard this phrase! Through Flylady I learned that before I brought anything in the house of when I decluttered to ask myself "Do I need this?" " Do I love this?," " Do I have one already?"." I now ask myself "Do I have a place for it?" By doing this I have eliminated several ignitions of my hotspots. This is really big because the hotspots were a huge deal here. Mess would just be shoved from spot to spot until we were overwhelmed with it. So there you have it! One of my new mantras: A place for everything and everything in it`s place!

HAPPY FAMILY DAY!!!!!!!

2009-02-15T17:17:00.000-08:00

A day off to hang out with the people you love! What could be better? Nothing I tell you! We are going to start ours off with a big breakfast of fruit salad, omelets and bacon orange juice and coffee. Then we are going pull on our long-johns, extra pants sweaters, snow-pants double knit mitts and toques (and take them off and put them on again because someone needs the bathroom), grab our skates and head to the rink for some fun. When we are done we will come home for hot chocolate, chicken soup and home made beavertails! Then I hope to spend the afternoon engaged in a rousing game of Cranium. I think I will find a good crock-pot meal so that I can play too. Then after the kids are bathed and pajamaed, we will tuck in for a bed time story. Then mom and dad will cuddle on the couch and likely pass out from our fun day with our little bundles of endless joy and energy. I love Family day!

I know some of my readers are from Ontario. Tell what will/did you do for Family 2009?

My Poor Little Sickies

2009-02-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

My children are all at various stages of a nasty flu. It is heart breaking to see my babies so miserable. The menu on days like this is. chicken soup, tea and popsicles.

I make my soup from scratch. I save all the bones from the roast chickens and when I have at least 3 carcasses I put them in the crock-pot with 3 washed onions that have their tops and bottoms cut off but the skins left on. Next I add a head of garlic, a bunch of carrots and 6 ribs of celery treated the same way as the onions. I put my bouquet de garni (usually tarragon, savory, sage and parsley) in a tea diffuser and place it on top of the mountain of food goodness. Then I cover the lot with cold water and a splash of vinegar, turn the crock on low and let it go about 24 hours. When it is done I strain it. If the patient is experiencing tummy issue then I will serve as is in mug but if sustenance is require I will add chopped chicken and fresh peeled and chopped veggies and rice or noodles. I will often make a loaf of bread to go with it. I swear you can see the colour return to their little faces!

Fun Things to do in Cold Weather

2009-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Winter is getting me down! Especially with how cold it has been! We are back to -30C (-22F) Needless to say playing outside isn't always an option. I have decide to list some of the things we do to cope. I hope those reading this will list any ideas they have too. As you can imagine we ae starting to get bored with what we do. So here they are:

Have a Pajama Day!

Usually only possible on weekends. We do not get dressed we stay in our jammies. Yummy snack food and hot chocolate is a must and so is a stack of favourite movies. In heavy rotation currently, Alvin and the Chipmunk, Arthur and the Invisibles, kung Fu Panda, The First Star Wars trilogy

Games, Games and More Games!

Again yummy snacks are needed but they cannot be the type that make your fingers messy, We have a huge stack of games we can choose from - Monopoly, Connect 4, Battleship, Snakes and Ladders, Checkers, Chess, Trivial Pursuit, Cribbage, etc.etc. Our favourite thee days is Cranium! We have so much fun!

Arts and Crafts

This is usually reserved for when Hubby has to work. I will usually have an idea but really I just dump supplies in the middle of the table fire up the glue guns and let the children have at`er!

For those days when we might get a reprieve or we just cannot take another day inside...

Skating on the Canal

Long johns, snow pants, balaclavas and warm mitts and skates are required. We are so lucky to live in Ottawa where we have the amazing Rideau Canal lined with wonderful shacks that contain the delicious treat we call a beavertails

Do You Take Time Out Everyday For Exercise?

2009-01-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

This is my new habit for February. At least 15 minutes a day of physical activity. I promise myself that I will walk, swim, dance, workout, skate, or whatever other activity I come up with each day . I will use February (which happens to be Heart Month) I made Januarys Habit to eat properly and I m happy to report that I lost some weight and I an back in a single digit dress size! Yay me!

Monday Monday...

2009-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

I am so ready for warmth. It is so cold out there today. -25C (13F). That isn't even the coldest it has been! I love Canada! I really do, but I wish we were rich enough to go elsewhere warm this time of year. I will have to pretend i guess. If the day is sunny I can do this in my living room. We have large southern windows there that suck in the sun and heat. I can stretch out lazy and feline-like in the sunbeam and forget my cares for a while. I can even ignore the snowplow rumbling by shaking the foundation! hmmm What I need is a glass of sunshine to to complete the fantasy!

Sunshine in a glass

Shake together equal parts pineapple juice, orange juice and lemon juice. Strain over ice cubes, top with ginger-ale and splash in a little grenadine. Garnish with a slice of pineapple, or a pineapple chunk and a cherry on a stick, drink with straws. umbrella mandatory!

Crafting Challenge! Complete One Project a Month

2009-01-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

I am challenging myself to complete one project a month. I thought it would be cool if others would join me. On the first Monday of each month I will post a photo of my completed project. If you post a comment with a link back to your completed project your name will go into a draw for a small prize. Because it is already the end of January I am not expecting too many to sign up this month but I hope you will join me for the rest of the year. I will be posting my first complete craft on February 2.

Friday Night-Date Night!

2009-01-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

Many happily long married couples I have spoken to all seem to have a version of regular date nights in common. Is it the reason they stayed so happy? I cannot say for sure but I have heard equally as often, from those not so fortunate that one of the main reasons their marriages failed was because they grew apart. Often the early years of marriage are the busiest, with busy careers and child rearing taking most of the precious time. Time together often is neglect if couples don't make it a priority. My husband and I recognize this and this why we have scheduled Date Night each week. Tonight we are going to see a movie. We do a variety of things for Date Night. We will go for dinner with friends or invite friends in for cards or board games, we will rent a movie and cuddle while watching it after the children are in bed... it doesn't matter as long as we are doing something together. I love Date Night! It gives me something to look forward to each week. It is grown-up time, which is very much appreciated. I hope it is a tradition we still have 20 years from now when we are empty nesters.

Making a Play Room

2009-01-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

We are making our children a play room. We have a huge master bedroom with a huge closet and a huge south/west window for lots of sun shine. (sorry no picture due to camera mishap ) This play room will require storage for crafts, storage for toys, an area for a queen mattress we use for jumping, and a place to make and display art work. When tackling a job like this I need to make a plan. I outline my steps then decide what I need to do to accomplish them. This is so important for a few reasons. It helps me stay on task, keeps me from getting overwhelmed and lets me see what I have achieved so I don't get discouraged. I thought I might post the steps today and then describe each task in future posts.

Empty Room

Clean Room

Paint Room

Decide Window Treatment

Create Floor Plan

Set Up Art Closet

Set Up Play Room

I`m Back!

2009-01-21T05:52:00.001-08:00

I know I disappeared for a while but I had so much on the go I was starting to feel the stress of keeping it all together so I took a break. I have a computer that is really out dated and that also contributes to my lack of desire to blog! I do have a new computer. but my hubby needs to set it up for me ...in his free time. I also dropped my phone which is also my camera and my MP3 player into the toilet, so I have been in mourning.

I can`t promise daily posts but I never did that anyway. I miss blogging and I have many ideas for posts now ...so those of you asking about me that is where things stand. I also want to thank you guys for making me feel like someone actually reads this blog!

Tackling My Elephant - one bite at a time!

2008-11-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

I have completed my 15 minutes for today. I actually filled a whole rubbermaid container! In the process I found some treasures. a box with all the hospital bands from when my children were born, Mothers Day presents, and Anniversary Cards. All these items are evidence to me of how truly blessed I am! I love that my job is to take care of my family! I am so grateful that I can do this without having to take on a money job. I thank my hubby for that.

I cleared a spot in the living-room that was an out of control hot spot for clutter. Adopting the &quo;Just do it! &quo; mantra has really helped. It is funny how the task is never has bad as you think it is going to be. I am learning a lot of neat things like this as I slowly pull things together. It is amazing what you can do when you just worry about the step before you.

She`s Crafty....Now organise her!

2008-11-16T17:22:00.000-08:00

Knitting, arts and crafts with the kids, Water colours, scrap-booking, sewing! Activities I love but I really need help with organising them. This is my project for late November/December and will likely take me through January (I have a lot of craft stuff) I have a plan to get there. I will divide the job into many steps so I do not get overwhelmed. I think once I do this my crafting experience will be so much better and be more productive. There are so many things that I could have made for Yule/Christmas this year but I didn't get anything done because of the chaos that is my art supplies, This is really sad!

Here is my plan:

Gather supplies from all parts of the house.
I will start at the top and work my way down. I will collect everything in rubber bins. I have chosen to sort everything in the basement so when I fill a bin I will put it there. I will set my timer and do this 15 minutes each day until everything is gathered.
Declutter and Sort all supplies

I will sort one bin at a time. I will use a garbage bag a give away box and put what I am keeping in each craft specified bin example: Arts and craft supplies in one bin, knitting in another, sewing stuff in another etc.

Design the set up

I have an idea in my head of how I want it to look but I want to look for other ideas for how to best set up the space (suggestions are more than welcome)

Put it together

The next 2 steps will be the most fun because they will just be amatter of putting things in their place.

Put supplies in their place.
See step 4.

Now that it is written out the job doesnt see so big, especially broken into smaller jobs. I can do this! I am actually excited about it too! Anyone else want to join me setting up their craft area?

Taking Time for Me

2008-11-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

I am going out with some girlfriends tomorrow night. There will be wine and cheese and laughter. I am very excited! This is my favourite kind of pamper mission. I cherish my friends.

I make time for me each week. I have to schedule it like any other task. If I don`t it doesn't happen. I am not alone in this am I ladies? Why don't you plan something special just for you? Do it now!

Dear Santa

2008-11-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again when we have the children reflect on their year and see which goals they accomplished and set new ones. They could be for school behavior or a new skill they want to acquire. Oh.! They also make make a request of the fat jolly man in the red suit. This year I decided to find some stationary to make the task more fun. I printed stationary from here: http://multimediadesignbysandy.com/christmas/xmas_home.htm. We will do this after we watch the Toronto Santa Clause Parade while we dig in to a mug of hot chocolate and a sample of the first of the holiday cookies. I like this tradition for the Obvious reasons but also because I think it is good for to set goals and to be striving for self enhancement. It always turns into a really good family moment.

Kitchen Declutter

2008-11-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am purging my kitchen. When I am done I hope to have a kitchen inventory similar to the one below. I also have a wish list. on it is a Microwave and a Kitchen Aid. One I should have no problem acquiring in the near future, the other may have to wait until a milestone anniversary or we win the lottery! lol

1 spice rack
1 colander
1 coffee maker
1 grater
1 toaster
1 food processor
1 hand mixer
3 plastic mixing bowls
1 crock pot
1 measuring cup set
1 blender
1 ice cream scoop
10 piece cookware
1 measuring spoon set
5 pieces of bake ware
1 cooling wrack
1 set of tongs
2 cookie sheets
2 ladles
broiler pan
3 mixing spoons
2 muffin tins
2 serving spoons
loaf pan
1 serving fork
13 piece knife set
3 rubber spatulas
4 piece dish set for 8
4 plastic spatulas
5 piece flatware service for 8
1 spaghetti server
8 ea. wine, rock, tall, & beverage glasses
8 placemats
2 serving bowls
1 garlic press
1 ea. sugar bowl and creamer dish
1 cheese slice cutter
1 serving plate
5 speed mixer
1 tea kettle
1 wire whisk
2 glass measuring cup
1 can opener
1 food storage set
1 bottle opener
1 nut cracker
1 potato peeler
1 potato masher
1 corkscrew
1 water pitcher
3 cutting boards
1 pair of scissors
4 hot pads
1 fire extinguisher
12 dish towels
1 garbage can
1 silverware tray
1 broom and dustpan

Absent With An Excuse!

2008-11-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have been working on my Christmas Plan. You may view it here. I have also been coping as a work widow these last few weeks. My hubby has been super busy at work. Alas! There is light at the end of the tunnel - so he tells me. lol

This is my favourite time of year. I will be blogging about my holiday preparations. I hope to get some comments about what folks do to prepare for theirs. I will share some of my family’s favourite recipes and traditions and I hope people will comment about this too. Todays mission on Flylady.net is a Fling so I will be doing this in the kitchen gadget drawer of my kitchen.

An now for your viewing pleasure. Our Halloween Costumes this year.

Fire Escape plan

2008-10-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

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.

October’s Projects

2008-09-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Each week I try to complete a project around the house. It can be a seasonal chore or something that only needs to be done once a month. this month my projects are sorting the playroom toys, cleaning the oven, putting away summer clothes, and shampooing the furniture.

To sort the toys I will use a trash bag a give away box and the dish washer and/or washer. I will pick up ever item and decide which category fits. It go in the trash if it is broken, the give away box if it is still in good shape but no longer enjoyed and to the dish washer or washer if it is staying. Another thing I will do is store seasonal toys.

The reason I do the toys now is because the Ottawa Le Leche League has its Kids Giant Garage Sale This is a great way to to find new homes for items that the children have out grown. The key of course, is to not buy more stuff while you are there! lol

Creating a Home Journal: Step 8 - "Me" Section

2008-09-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

n Thursdays I like to schedule "Be Good to Me Time" The idea is to have it be something where I get to relax and de-stress. Let's face it- If mama ain't happy ain't no body happy! lol seriously though, as the mamas we really do set the tone for the home. We have to make a point of taking care of ourselves as we take care of our families. Make a list of things you find pampering and put them in a section of your Home Journal that is just for you. I also use this section to make my wish lists and hobby journals. This section can also be used to track goals and personal projects. Have fun with it! To get you going I have made a list of pamper mission I like to do.

Arrange for an undisturbed shower or bubble bath
Girls Night Out/In
Manicure/pedicure
Trip to the spa
Weekly exercise class
Indulge yourself with a yummy treat and a good book

I hope you get the idea. For more ideas you can visit Flylady's web page.

http://flylady.net/pages/pamper1.asp

Whatever you do, take some time today to do something nice for you!

Thanksgiving Plan 2008 -Part 2

2008-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Gathering Week

There are a lot of little things that go into making an extra special Thanksgiving Dinner. Sure there is the meal and really that is all that is required but the extra details can help make the memory even brighter and really that is what life is about isn't it? Making special memories. Putting it all together requires a little planning and that is what I have been doing these last few weeks. I made my plan. Wrote out all the steps I need to take to make it happen. decided the menu, the guest list, the decorations and table setting. One of the important details for me is that all the food right down to the condiments be as fresh as possible and homemade too! I canned pickles, relishes and fruit preserves last week. This week is about gathering any supplies I can. I will get out the linens I want to use, make sure they are clean and in good repair and replace anything that needs it. I will make sure I have all the equipment I need to make the meal and arrange to borrow or buy anything I am missing. I will also gather all the supplies for the center pieces, napkin rings and any other decorations I want to use.

This task is probably the most fun part of the plan because it means the children and I get to go on a walk to gather pine cones, colourful leaves or whatever else strikes our fancy.vI will pack us a lunch to have while we are on out nature walk. We will walk along the Ottawa river where our backdrop will be the gorgeous Gatineau Hills and it is just breath taking! I promise to post pics!

So this is what I am up to this week If any of you are following along with me to I wish a Happy Gathering Week ;)

Thanksgiving Plan 2008 -Part 1

2008-09-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

Time to kick off holiday season! In Canada Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October. It is a celebration of the harvest and a time to express ones gratitude. I start preparing 6 weeks a head of time. Each week has a theme assigned to it. They are as follows:

Week 1:Planning
Week 2:Canning
Week 3:Gathering
Week 4:Decorations
Week 5:Baking and Cooking
Week 6:Celebrating

Last week I thought of who I would invite and invited them, planned my menu, made my grocery list and decided how I wanted to set the table. This week is about canning. I actually got a head start because we went Apple picking last weekend. I made apple butter! I must say it turned out very tasty! I made apple pancakes for supper tonight with some of it. I also plan to make some mustard pickles and zucchini relish this week. I use the recipe for my apple butter. from Pick Your Own.org It turned out amazing.

Master Schedule

2008-09-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

To help me stay on track with what I need to do in the course of a day I have developed a Master Schedule. I have seen other post about using this and wondered if it would work at out house. It totally does! It is a guide so there will be some days it isn't followed perfectly. This is a typical day for us though by following this schedule I am less inclined to waste time. I keep this schedule in the front of my Home Journal.

	me	7yearold	3yearold	1yearold
Early Morning	Make breakfast After-meal routine* Empty dishwasher Start dinner in Crock Pot (if needed) Get dressed for the day Make beds and tidy room Start laundry	Eat breakfast After-meal routine*	Eat breakfast After-meal routine*	Eat breakfast
Late Morning	Walk 7 year old to school run errands and/or playdates	Walk to school	Walk 7 year old to school	Walk 7 year old to school
Lunch Time	Make and eat lunch After meal routine	@school	Eat lunch	Eat lunch
Early Afternoon	Finish laundry Sort mail Daily chores Take out recycling Pick 7 year old up from school	@school	play help with recycling	Naptime
Late Afternoon	Make snack Read to children Finish dinner	Eat snack Homework or Listen to story Tidy for dinner	Eat snack Listen to story Tidy for dinner	Eat snack Listen to story Tidy for dinner
Dinnertime	Serve dinner After dinner routine	Eat Dinner After Dinner Routine Time with Daddy	Eat Dinner After Dinner Routine Time with Daddy	Eat Dinner After Dinner Routine Time with Daddy
Early Evening	Supervise children’s bedtime routine QuickTidy the house	Wash For bed put on pajamas Lights out	Wash For bed put on pajamas Lights out	Wash For bed put on pajamas
Late Evening	Time with wonderful Husband Shower or bubble bath Brush Teeth Lay out clothes for next day Read a chapter or two from a good book Lights out	Sleeping	Sleeping	Sleeping

Things for which I am greatful...

2008-09-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

The health and happiness of my family
That I am loved
That I love
The bounty of tomatoes, zucchini and peppers I have this year
The sweet smell of my baby`s head
Apple pie.

Routine Adjustment for Today

2008-09-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are usually Family Fun Day but I needed a day to regroup and reorganise a few areas in the home. So Daddy will have a fun day with the children while I accomplish this.

I am really not happy with my Paper Handling Center so I want to reconstruct it. This is the place where mail and school communication is sorted. To do this I need to decide an appropriate place for it, then put it together. I am going to use a cart beside the computer in the Home Office I have a cart to store everything I need. By everything I mean the in and out boxes, the supply caddy where I keep pens highlighters stamps paperclips, stationary etc., a calender, an address book, a folder for take out menus, a recycle bin, and trash can. I will also store my Home Journal on the cart.

After I finish the project I want to go through the boys clothes to update the inventory list to reflect culled clothes and add the new additions thanks to a friend passing on some wonderful outfits.

Once I am done all of this I home to pamper myself in some way. I think I will go to the mall and enjoy a nice cup of Timothy's and my new Chatelaine magazine.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Back to Routines!

2008-09-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am feeling so good about this! I seem to thrive on them. I think the children do too. I know the house does! lol. Don't get me wrong- I do like spontaneity but I have found that when the routines are in place and the house is in order spontaneous events are more likely to happen. I can decide to invite a friend over without having to worry about the state of the house. We can take off for the day because I have a meal prepped to go into the crock before we leave. We can decide at a moments notice to go for a swim because I have clean towels and out swim suits are folded and in their drawer for when we need them. Such was not the case in the past. The house was a mess so we couldn't have said friend over, The day trip could not happen because I had to figure out dinner or worse I would blow my budget on the takeout we had to order because I had no dinner when we returned etc, you get the picture. Things are far from perfect but very much improved and getting better everyday. I know I am not the most eloquent of writers but by sharing my journey here I keep myself motivated and maybe inspire others to help themselves too.

Coming Soon:

Thanksgiving Day Planning.

Comfort Food

2008-09-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

We all have our favourites! Mac and cheese, tomato soup with homemade bread, hamburger casserole, Roast Chicken/beef/pork Dinner, meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, beef stew chocolate pudding (from scratch) are some of mine. With taters and gravy, it is the velvety feel of the food on my tongue and tomato soup and bread has a fragrance that takes me back to lunchtime in my mothers kitchen, Bread and butter pickles do this too.

As the weather is turning cooler I am finding myself craving these things. I am going to be making some of them and posting about them from time to time. Todays recipe is:

Hamburger casserole.

1/2 box of elbow macaroni
salted boiling water
1 pound lean hamburger
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, crush
1 green pepper, diced
12 sliced mushrooms, sliced
1 19 oz tin of tomatoes or equivalent fresh romas.
1 4 oz can of tomato paste.
italian spices salt and pepper to taste.
1 cup of shredded cheddar (optional)

put pasta on to boil.

fry hamburger, onion garlic, mushrooms and pepper until beef is well cooked and onion is translucent

add tomatoes, paste and spices. cook until pasta is cooked, drain pasta and add sauce. stir to coat.

toss with cheese if using.

I serve this in bowls with a salad and garlic bread.

Last Week of Summer Vacation! Part 2

2008-08-27T13:20:00.001-07:00

Changing of the Guard in Ottawa

My mom, daughter, youngest son and 2 nephews (older boys). I swear we are a happy lot! dunno why no one smiled for this. lol

Last Week of Summer Vacation! Part 1

2008-08-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

school starts on September 2 this year. We are looking forward to it! We had an amazing summer. We got to see much of the city we had not seen, had a lot of fun and also got to relax. This is the week to squeeze in anything we still haven't done. This week we will see a movie matinee, visit a museum and go for a hike. Below is small gallery of our summer this year.

Trip to Canadian Museum of Nature

Fun at the Water Park

Planning a Party!

2008-08-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

So my blogging has been sporadic at best but there is a good reason for this! I have been party planning! My youngest child turned a year yesterday (how is that possible!?), My sister turns 35 on Friday so I am having a birthday for her, and lastly my parents are having their 25th wedding anniversary the next day,vI am not totally responsible for the last one but I am helping a fair amount. I thought I would share how I party plan. Since I have developed this habit parties have become a fun activity for me rather than a stressful headache! This goes in the Misc. section of my Home Journal

Party Plan

1 month ahead for a formal party; 2 weeks ahead for a casual gathering

Decide on the date, place, and style of party.
Make up the guest list.
Plan the menu.
For formal parties, mail invitations. For casual parties, mail invitations or telephone your guests to invite them.
Decide what table settings, decorations, centerpieces, and music you'll use.
Make arrangements for any items you'll need to rent or borrow.

1 to 2 weeks ahead

Telephone any guests who have not responded to your invitations so you can get a definite guest count.
Do preliminary housecleaning, especially any time-consuming tasks. Make sure all appliances that you'll be using work. If you're grilling, don't forget to buy charcoal or fill the gas canister.
Compile your grocery-shopping list. Check on items such as matches, candles, and liquor, and add the things you'll need to your shopping list. Don't forget ice.
Check that table linens are clean and ready to go. Decide on tableware and serving pieces. Wash infrequently used pieces. If you're using disposable paper or plastic items, inventory what you have on hand and add the items you need to your shopping list.
Order any special flowers, meats, seafood, or other ingredients you'll need.
If you're making decorations or centerpieces yourself, now's the time to get started.
If possible, make some foods ahead and freeze them.

2 to 3 days ahead

Shop for everything but the most perishable items.
After you return from shopping, recheck your recipes to make sure you have everything you need.
Plan your timetable for cooking the foods.
If possible, make nonperishable items, such as snack mixes, ahead.

1 day ahead

Shop for perishable and last-minute items.
Reclean the house as necessary.
Decorate for the party. Prepare an area for coats and umbrellas.
If possible, arrange and set your tables and serving areas.
Prepare as many recipes and ingredients as possible. For example, chop vegetables you'll cook as part of a recipe. Some chores, however, such as cleaning salad greens, should wait until party day.
Thaw frozen items. If the items are perishable, thaw them in the refrigerator.

Party Day

Go over the house again for a final cleaning check. If necessary, move furniture.
Prepare the foods according to your timetable so everything will finish when needed. Wash dishes as you go along to save cleanup time later. Don't forget to run the dishwasher, so it'll be empty and ready for party dishes.
Make sure all foods and beverages to be served cold will be well chilled by party time. Last-Minute Details 1 hour ahead
Put all the finishing touches on the meal and tables.
Clear a spot for placing used dishes as guests finish with them, and provide an easily accessible place for garbage.
Set out cheese and nonperishable appetizers or snacks, if using. As the Doorbell Rings 5 to 15 minutes ahead
Open wine, if serving. Set out remaining appetizers and snacks, if using.
Light candles and turn on music, if using.

For:
Date:
Place:
Theme:
Table settings:
Decorations:
Centerpieces:
Music:

Guest List
Name	Address	Phone#

Menu Plan
Appetizers
Main Dish
Salads
Side Dishes
Bread
Desserts
Beverages

Grocery List

Produce

Meat

Bakery

Frozen

Deli

dairy

Grocery Items

Wine/Beer Store

Extra Notes

Creating a Home Journal: Step 8 - Children's Section

2008-08-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

In this section of my binder I keep all things pertaining to the children. Ever get asked "What do the children need?" or "What size is certain child?"by a grandparent or auntie? Well let me tell you it makes life so easy to flip to the children's section of journal and have all the info right there in the Clothing Inventory table.

CLOTHING INVENTORY
Name/Size
Shirts, Winter
Shirts, Summer
Pants, Winter
Pants, Summer
Skirts
Dresses
Light Jacket
Winter Coat
Snow Pants
Raincoat
Sneakers, Outdoor
Sneakers. School
Dress Shoes
Casual Sandals
Rain Boots
Swimsuits
Pajamas

Next in this section is School Information Our school request that we pay a flat fee at the beginning of the year and they provide school supplies. If your children's school doest do this, you may want to keep a list here. Blow is a blank version of the record I keep for each child attending school.

Child's Name			School Name
Room Numer		Teacher's Name		School Numer

Schedule
1st Period	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
2nd Period
1st Break
3rd Period
4th Period
2nd Break
5th Period
6th Period

Project/ Test Name	Date Assigned	Date Due

I also keep vaccination records in this section and any other medical information.

The next part has all the information for the children's activities including schedules, equipment inventory, fee/rental receipts/contracts etc.

This part has a list of each child's friends and their phone numbers and addresses..

I also keep a running wish list for each child. when I see there is something they would like to have or do I write it down in this part. This section comes in handy for Holidays and birthdays.

The last part of this section is Rainy Day Activities. I keep ideas for activities like crafts and, fields trip ideas and Schedules for the pool, library and play groups here.

There you have it. Eventually Id like to inventory he toys too. but I dunno if I will ever get that good! lol but you never know!

Please feel free to use anything posted here to help you create your children's section. :)

Lunch Box Quest

2008-08-08T11:10:00.001-07:00

I am searching for yummy recipes to put in school lunches, My children's school is changing their schedule to a Balanced Day so this means they will have two 20 minute nutrition breaks.

So from time to time I will make a post about lunch box ideas. I would totally love to hear about any ideas you might have. There is one rule and that is they must be nut free. Today I tried this recipe for zucchini muffins I wanted to try Gills recipe but I was out of carrots so I will try it next time.

What we thought:

Fantastic! We didn't put nuts or fruit in them and got 12 restaurant sized muffins. on the muffin bcale of 1-10 these were a 10!

Zucchinis!

2008-08-07T07:13:00.001-07:00

We Collected the first harvest today! I am going to make muffins and various side dishes with them. The were grown completely pesticide free and watered with only rain water. I used organic fertilizer too. I cant wait to taste them in muffins! I already ate one right of the vine and it was so good!

I am also waiting on tomatoes beans peppers and cucumbers. I think my cukes may have swallowed the peppers those so I don't have much hope for them. I have loads of green tomatoes though. Beefsteak and Romas. This is the first year I planted food other than tomatoes. I am really happy with the results. I have big plans for next year!

Motivation

2008-08-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just don't feel like doing housework. There! I said it! Today is such a day. The only thing to do is find inspiration. How do I do this? Blogging helps BIG TIME!! so does making a list and starting at the top. To set things in motion I also put together a good sound track. Here is todays:

And so it is proven to me once more just how important a home journal is!

2008-08-04T17:22:00.000-07:00

Our vacation has ended and it is time to get back to routines. Just to review, my morning routine is:

Make and eat breakfast

Tidy up after breakfast

Empty dishwasher

Start dinner in Crock Pot (if needed)

Make beds and tidy room

Get dressed for the day

Start laundry

I don't even have to think about it! It is all written down for me in my journal. I just open to my Weekly Schedule section and follow what it says. I do the same for my laundry too.

Now I must admit my house is in need of some rescue but it wont take too long to have things back in order. I wont get overwhelmed or discouraged becasue I have all the steps I need to take right infront of me, to follow one line at a time.

Going on vacation.

2008-07-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

I am off for 5 days to hang out with my mum at her trailor. I love it up there! I thought this might be a good opportunity to post about preparing for a trip. By writing it all down for review I can decide what I need to do. This way I don't get overwhelmed because all I have to do is consult my list. I rarely forget anything important now either!

I start with a list that looks like this:

Where are we going?

Do we need passports or visas or vaccines? (make photocopies of documentation to leave at home)

Do we need plane, train or bus tickets?

Who will collect my mail/water my plants/take care of my pets for me?

Do we need to stop any subscription services?

Next I make my packing list. For this camping trip we didn't need much because my mom usually takes care of meals and the trailer is all set up so we just have to show up with our clothes

Packing List

CLOTHES
5-changes of clothes (include one warm outfit)
5-sets of underwear
2-sleep shirts/pjs
3 pairs-shoes (beach, rain, hiking)
1-swimsuits
1-swim towels
1-hoodie/
1-raincoat

TOILETRIES
toothbrushes
toothpaste
deodorant
hairbrush
hair things
shampoo
kids' shampoo
bug spray
sun block
medications
nail file
shaving kit

FOOD
pasta salad
bean salad
fruit
veggies
juice boxes
hot dogs
treats (we are on vacation after all!)
healthy snacks

MISC
videos
cell phone, cord, charger My phone is also my camera)
books, magazines
pool and toys
large garbage bags for dirty clothes
cash

so now I know where I am going How I am getting there and any other special concerns like vaccines and I have cancelled the paper for while I am away. Now I make my last check list. My walk out the door check list

Unplug all electronics
set timers for lights unplug auto garage openers
Set air conditions up to 85 degrees
You should already have mail pickups and plant and/or pet care arranged
load luggage and purse
Insure you have house and vehicle keys
do one last walk around the house make sure everything that needs to be is turned off and/or locked.

Now you are all set to have a great vacation!

Knit Dish Cloths

2008-07-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

I love these! They are a quick project for when I need to feel like I accomplished something.I can usually make one up as I watch an hour of TV. Here is the pattern I used:

Diagonal Dishcloth

Supplies needed:
• 1-2oz. skein of worsted weight cotton yarn
• Knitting needles size 8 or size needed for gauge
• Gauge 8 st=2"
Finished size 9" square

Instructions:
Cast on 2 sts.
Row 1: K2.
Row 2: K1, inc. (3 sts).
Row 3: K1, inc., K (4 sts).
Row 4: K2, inc., K (5 sts).
Row 5: K2, inc., K2 (6 sts).
Row 6: K3, yo, K3 Continue working in this manner (inc. 1 st each row with yo) until you have 50 sts on
needle.
1st decrease Row: K2, K2 tog, yo, K2 tog, K to end of row.
Repeat this row; decreasing 2 sts each row and forming eyelet by yo until 6 sts remain.
Next row: K2, K2 tog, K2 (5 sts).
Next row: K2, K2 tog, K1 (4 sts).
Next row: K1, K2 tog, K1 (3 sts).
Next row: K2 tog, K1 (2 sts).