Holiday Countdown Begins!

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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.