Desk Disaster

Cleaning Challenge

The Desk

Today I tackled cleaning and purging items on the top of my desk.  I set a timer for fifteen minutes and worked.  I did go over a little bit but that is only because for some reason the timer that I set on my phone didn't make a noise.  Also, the little monkey was taking a nap, so I didn't have a problem with me working on.  

                                                                              Before:

                                                                                  After:

I don't think that this is too bad after only fifteen or so minutes of work and I feel like I got so much accomplished in that short amount of time.  

I kept just the address book (The red Book).

• Threw away the white and small green notebook.
• Threw away the journal. 
• Put the umbrella by the door. 
• Gave my husband the blue notebook back.
• Put away the coloring book (yes I color :D)

I moved my green rock and put the fish food behind the green rock. 

I moved the green notebook over to the right side. 

In the middle side I put the white basket (which holds hats and scarves) near the shoes and umbrellas.  I also organized the papers. 

I have big plans for the green notebook.  I want this to be my Home Management Binder.  The Home Management Binder is one of my goals for March. 

The BIG thing that I have learned is that forward progress is better than no progress. 

 I have to stop beating myself up for not having in 100 percent perfect when I clean.  I did not make this mess in one day there is no way that I am going to clean up the mess in one day.  Even if I am able to clean this house in one day I have to maintain it or I will be sitting here frustrated in about a week.  

It will take more time in the beginning to get things where I want them and situate things how they need to be for me to be more productive.  Eventually though I will be able to spend less time cleaning and purging and will be able to spend more time 

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Four and a half years ago my husband and I moved to Boston MA.  It was a difficult transition not only from the cultural stand point but also in the size limitations of my home.  My sister has a a walk-in closet that is larger than my kitchen.  Going from a 1300 square foot home to a 525 square foot home puts a damper on the amount of stuff that you have.  We still have more stuff than our house can handle and the house is a complete and utter mess.  I have got to take steps to get things under control!

What Got Me to This Point?

Two months ago my dear daughter was born.  I cannot believe that it has been two months and what a roller coaster of emotions this has been.  This has been one of the best and one of the most trying times of my life.  I cannot believe that such a tiny person can require so much energy and time.  How people get anything done when they already have children in the house is beyond me and bless them!

What does this have to do with Cleanliness?  I have never been one to always have a clean house.  As a matter of fact, my house is in a constant state of disrepair.  When my husband and I clean we move a mess from one room to another.  But something changed in me with the birth of my daughter.  She deserves a clean home to grow up in.  I am not saying that it has to be perfect, but my monkey couldn't crawl on the floor right now if she wanted to because of the amount of dangerous stuff and dirt on floor. 

Thank goodness they don't come out ready to walk!  

So What Am I Going To Do?

There are a few things that I am willing to try and I hope that they will help me to make a difference in my home. 

• Find out what Chores are important for me to complete then
• Create a Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Chore Chart
• Be more meaningful with my time
• Set a timer when doing Chores

What are some chores that are important for you to do in your house everyday?  Leave your comment below!

Momma's Macaroni Pie

Momma’s Macaroni Pie

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is just around the corner.  One of the things that I remember doing as a child on these wonderful holidays is sitting at the kitchen table grating cheese for the big dinner to come.  When I moved so far away from home and had to cook a “big” dinner by myself the thing that I missed the most was Momma’s Macaroni Pie. 

I called her to ask her if she could send me an e-mail with the recipe and her response to me was, “I don’t really know what I put in there I’ve been cooking it for so long.  I can tell you what I put in there though”.  And so began the strangest conversation in cooking that I have ever had…

But after listening closely this is the best rendition that I came up with it is really close!

Cook elbow macaroni per the instructions on the box (Aldente).

Grate ¼ cup Pepper Jack cheese

¼ cup Muenster cheese

¼ cup Sharp Cheddar cheese

¼ cup NY Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese

When the elbow macaroni is done drain the water.  Do not rinse!

In an 8 x 10 or similar pan pour the HOT noodles in the pan.

Put ¼ cup butter, ½ cup milk and 1 cracked raw egg in the pan.  Mix until melted.  Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper (can adjust to taste). 

Take half of the cheeses and mix well into the hot noodles.

The remaining cheese evenly sprinkle on top of the noodles. 

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about thirty minutes or until cheese is nice and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Is there anything that you remember cooking and eating on special holidays?

Menu Planning

With the economy the way it is now we are all looking for a few new ways to save money.  I am still looking and willing to try something new.  Some of the things that I try are couponing, menu planning and cooking with as little red meat as possible.

One of my new favorite ways to save money is Menu Planning.  I have finally found a great menu plan that I enjoy and is set up almost perfectly! 

http://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2012/04/free-menu-planning-grocery-shopping-page.html

I have been using this page for the past few weeks and I have seen the last minute rush to scramble to find something for dinner drop dramatically.  I am creating my own personal calendar for 2013 (More on that to come!) and the only thing that I have changed is the start date is Monday and not Sunday.

It has been nice to have a plan in place for dinner.  I started menu planning by brainstorming some of my favorite meals.  I have about fifteen now.  I am waiting on the list from my husband for his favorite meals. 

With the list of my favorite meals I have been able to reference it before I go to the grocery store and make my meal plan instead of getting that crazy look and saying ”what is it that we like to eat”?

What are some ways that you guys save money at the grocery store?

A Journey of a Thousand Miles.....

            It seems like a lifetime ago that my then fiancé and I were discussing where our lives would take us.  The world was ours to have.  While we were deciding what direction we needed to bring our life I asked my husband if he ever regretted not finishing college.  After a pause that seemed to carry on for hours my husband replied that, “yes” he regretted not finishing college.

            It was with that one syllable answer that our lives turned into a whirl wind of action. We were married on a beautiful day in October in the lovely southern sunshine only a few months after that talk. For a little under a year we worked hard long hours, paid off most of our debt and saved as much money as we could.  With our life crammed into an SUV and a hitch along trailer we finally left for the journey that seemed to never arrive.

            On the first day of September 2009 we left the beautiful state of South Carolina.  Three days later and 1000 miles behind us we finally came careening into Boston…during rush hour!  We were so close yet so far from our final destination.  It took us another two hours to finally step foot into the house that had only been viewed online.  This is how a small town country girl is surviving and thriving in the BIG CITY.