Saturday, January 26, 2013

A Yummy Mistake

I decided to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday at the last minute. I usually keep all the ingredients I need for this recipe on hand at all times... not yesterday. After the kids "helped" me mix the sugars, butter, eggs and vanilla, I realized I didn't have enough all-purpose flour. Therefore, I improvised... 1 cup self-rising flour in place for 1 cup all-purpose. Ingenious! Best Soft Cake-Like Chocolate Chip Cookies ever! Click on the link to get the recipe!

Friday, January 18, 2013

New Year's Life Change

At the start of the New Year we all want to change something for the better. Do something that will improve your life or the lives around you for that year and the years to follow. For me that was making changes that would allow me to relax more and spend more time with my kids. But I can't just say, " I want to relax more and spend more time with my kids", I actually have to put some plans in place that would allow those things to happen. Peter has been complaining pretty much ever since he got back from his deployment that I never just sit and relax. I am always going, going, going! Which is true. But I feel like I can never get ahead. I always have stuff to do and I can't relax until my work is done. I began to realize that as a wife and stay at home mom this is just the way it will always be so I've got to learn to relax even when I still have things to do. I was also feeling guilty for having such along to-do list during the day that I was missing out on precious time with my kids that I would never get back! So I put a few rules in place to help me remember to relax and I made a few changes to my schedule that would allow me spend more time with my kid during the day.
Here are the rules:
1. No TV during the week for Peter & I - We can only watch our TV shows that we record on the weekend. We were just wasting time in the evenings watching TV and then staying up late. This made me not want to get up at 5:30 before my kids get up to do my Bible Study and exercise. She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. Proverbs 31:17 I need that time to myself in the morning to be a better Mommy!

2. Stop working at 9:00pm - I would stay up late trying to finish my to-do list and then in turn not get up early the next morning.  She also rises while it is yet night...Proverbs 31:15   now I stop all work at 9 and can either go to bed or do something relaxing... craft projects, read, pin things on pinterest... but only until 10. 10 pm is bed time.

New Cleaning Schedule:
Monday- Dust every level of the house
Tuesday- Laundry: Collect and sort the laundry on Monday night. Tuesday morning I start a load of laundry and put a timer on my phone for when it will be done. As soon as it's done I move it to the dryer and start another load and start my timer again. This ensures that all the laundry gets done. No wasted time.... wasting time is my biggest pet peeve. I would rather waste money than waste time!
Wednesday- Vacuum & Mop every level of the house
Thursday- Clean Bathrooms
Friday- Clean Kitchen & Organize something... You know, like the freezer or a cabinet that is a mess or the mail or the office or a drawer or kids clothes or your closet... the list could go on forever. But that is why I choose to do one a week so that eventually my whole house will be organized... or that's what I tell myself at least.
Saturday- NO CLEANING! SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY!
Sunday- NO CLEANING! WORSHIP GOD AND SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY!

I realized that on days I didn't have to prepare dinner in the evenings I was able to spend more time with my kids. So I needed to come up with a way to allow me to only prepare meals a couple of times a week. Hence, FREEZER MEALS! ... And provides food for her household. Proverbs 31:15