1 year to an Organized Life - April Week 2

From Google Images

This week you can:

• grab a garbage bag and start pitching the junk
• consider hosting a product swap
• put the products you want to keep in categories
• design a morning routine to save you time
• start your bathroom product shopping list

I have seen the above pic all over the internet.....I also think I saw it in a magazine maybe, I don't remember.  I DO remember showing it to my husband and asking if he could do that for me.  We have our own bathroom in the master bedroom, but we usually get ready at the same time and that's a delicate dance between the shower and sink area.  I shower first, then do my hair, but by the time I'm ready to do my hair either he is in the shower or just out and we both want the sink area.  PLUS, by now I'm hot flashing again and starting to sweat, so how am I supposed to dry my hair?!  So I have started using the guest bathroom to do my hair and makeup.  It's cooler in there and then we both have elbow room.  But then I have appliances all over the sink area.  Something like this would be awesome to put my tools in when I'm done.  The only real space under the cabinet would be on top of the clean towels and who wants to use a towel that my flat iron sits on.  Let's face it, if you look really close at your curling/flat iron I bet it looks pretty gross with some caked on product!  Especially if it is as old as mine.  Yes I do clean it, but no not everyday!

Remember on speed elimination week that the secret is to work quickly, don't think to hard and don't get bogged down in what ifs.  I love speed elimination!  If you've been following along you know that I'm getting ready for a yard sale as I do all of this, so that's where some of my things will go, but some stuff belongs in the trash.  You'd be very surprised at what some people will buy at a yard sale, but don't put garbage out there!  Any eye makeup, unless you never used it should be tossed.  Any makeup that has expired should be as well.  I had a ton of makeup to throw out!  I've had some of this stuff for about 6-7 years!!  Makeup brushes too; some were brand new, but others I washed with makeup brush shampoo in very hot water, and those I'll put in the sale.  The other thing I had a lot of wash body wash, lotion and spray.  I have to get the great deal at Bath and Body, right?  So when I get "free" stuff is when I try the new scents.  If they are half full or more, I will put them in the sale as long as the bottles aren't gross from hard water stains or soap splashed on them in the shower.  AND as long as they aren't separated or have changed the scent.

So I have a pharmacy tech certificate and my sister has her doctorate, so I have to say something here about medicines.  These should never be kept in the same place where you take hot baths or showers. Moisture and temperature changes can break down a lot of medicines, rendering them ineffective or in some cases dangerous especially to people with certain sensitivities.  Please keep your meds in a cool, dry, preferably dark place.  The people in my family keep meds either in a kitchen cabinet far away from the stove, or on a shelf in the linen closet if it is in a hallway.  In my house, since I don't have either of those things, I keep them in a plastic tote on a shelf in the home office.  The meds that are taken daily or fairly regularly are in a decorative tray in the middle of the kitchen table.

I had to laugh when Regina was talking about her shower routine on page 109.  I too put out my hair goop and deodorant on the counter in the morning.  But for me it's not a gauge as to how close I am to being ready, it's so I don't forget them!!  When I was working I always kept a travel deodorant in my desk.  It was ridiculous how many times I forgot it!!

Happy eliminating!  Don't forget to make a list of anything you need to get to help you be more organized!

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Chocolate Angel Cups

1 1/2 C small angel food cake cubes

1 C strawberries, bananas or other fruit

1 1/2 C cold milk

1 pkg (4 serving size) chocolate instant pudding

1 C thawed cool whip

divide cake cubes and fruit evenly among 6 dessert dishes

in medium bowl whisk milk and pudding mix together until well blended

let stand 5 minutes

gently fold in cool whip

spoon on top of fruit and cake in dishes

chill at least 15 minutes before serving

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Cheater Pork Lo Mein

1 lb pork cut into strips or bite size
1/2 C bean sprouts
1 C broccoli florets
dash dried onions
1 Tblsp vegetable oil
1/4 C teriyaki sauce
1 1/4 C water
1 Tblsp soy sauce
2  3oz pkgs pork Ramen Noodles

in large skillet,cook pork vegetables and onion until pork is cooked through
add rest of ingredients, including seasoning packets from noodles
bring to a boil
reduce heat and cook another 5 minutes or until noodles are tender


Until Next Time....
Franny

Crock Pot Diet Coke Roast

3-4 lb rump or chuck roast
1 glove garlic, minced
1 small onion, sliced
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can diet coke (or any dark pop really)

(optional) brown roast on all sides
place onions and garlic on the bottom of a 5 qt crock pot
place roast on top
mix 2 soups together and pour over roast
pour diet coke over all
cover and cook on low 7-9 hours


Until Next Time.....
Franny

Menu #15 - Only 1 repeat so far!

Remember that these menus are not all inclusive.  I am giving you 5 dinner ideas, plus the occasional dessert and side dish.  For ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, snacks, and desserts check the "Menu plans" tab to the left or browse through the other category tabs to the left.  ENJOY!


Easy Pork Roast (crock pot) with a side of Potatoes Supreme

Meat Hand Pies made with Pork

Red & White Turkey Chili (crock pot)

Roast Chicken in Mushroom Gravy (crock pot)

Meatball Stroganoff

Random Dessert = Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares


Until Next Time.....
Franny

Chicken Marsala

1 pkg McCormick recipe inspirations Chicken Marsala spices (see pic below)

OR

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp marjoram leaves

1 tsp minced onion

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp basil leaves

3/4 tsp parsley flakes

1/3 C flour

1 tsp salt

6 thinly sliced chicken breasts, just over a pound

3 Tblsp butter, divided

2 Tblsp olive oil

8 oz sliced mushrooms

1/2 C chicken broth

3/4 C Marsala wine (DO NOT use Paul Masson, ick!)

mix flour with all spices EXCEPT basil and parsley

reserve 1 Tblsp flour mixture

coat chicken with most of the flour mixture

heat 2 Tblsp butter and oil in large skillet on medium-high heat

cook chicken until golden brown on each side

remove and keep warm

add mushrooms to skillet and cook until tender

mix broth and remaining flour mixture

add to skillet with wine

bring to boil and scrape up any brown bits

stir in rest of butter and the basil

cook until sauce is slightly thickened

spoon sauce over chicken to serve

sprinkle with parsley

Until Next Time.....

Franny

the Proverbs 31 Wife - Week Twenty Eight

myproverbs31life.com

Question #28:  Have you ever experienced something wonderful and you worried how it might affect your spouse?  Or your spouse did not share in your happiness or felt left out as a result?  How did you handle it?

I don't know that I had an experience that exactly goes with the way the question was worded, but I'll tell you the story of what came to mind.

About 4-5 years ago I was sent to a national conference by my employer.  It was 3 days long and I had to attend one session after another and then I was to report back what strategies we could implement to make our overall program better.  The conference was held in Charleston SC.  I LOVE it there, although this was the middle of July, I was still very excited to go.  My employer agreed that I could take my husband if I paid for the lodging.  So while I went to sessions all day long, my husband went fishing.  On the final day of the conference, they were giving away free registration to the big, huge national conference in Denver.

I won it!  I was in shock.  I'm one of those people who never gets picked for stuff, and I won this expensive conference.  I could see my role at work being intensified through this and all the benefits that would come with it.  I was so excited!  Plus, I'd never been to Colorado and was doubly excited to see the sights.  I thought I could take my husband again with me and we would have a great time.

I'm sure you can see where this is going.  He couldn't have cared less.  The first thing he said....the FIRST thing.... do we have to pay lodging and transportation?  I said yes, the "free" part only covered the cost of the conference itself, which was quite a bit.  They were going to have people famous to my field there and you get meals and materials.  He simply said we can't afford that, and started talking about the fishing he did that day.

Talk about feeling deflated!  No congratulations for winning, of course it wasn't like it took skill, but come on!  No, well let's see what kind of deal we can get, nothing.  He actually forgot all about it by the time we went out to get dinner!  Plus, it was right around our anniversary so I was thinking that would be our present to each other...the "fun" part of that trip.  You would think that I would have gotten mad....especially if you knew me....but I was hurt more than anything.  Like I wasn't worth it or something.

I didn't give up.  When we got back home I did research on flights and hotels and really found a pretty good deal.  When I presented my findings to my husband and explained exactly how we could afford it and that it was not really that expensive at all, he barley even looked at me.  He just said that we shouldn't spend the money, and went back to work on his computer.

So I had to go back to my employer and explain while yes, I won us a representation at this great conference, I couldn't go.  There were no funds at work for lodging and transportation, they almost never pay for that kind of thing.  My boss was disappointed, and while he was excited about what I learned at the SC conference and I got to present it, after a few months I wasn't asked to do anything else like that again.  I got a great evaluation on my work and presentations, so why not?  Just because I couldn't afford a trip?  Then on top of it, though we tried, they said the certificate was non-transferrable, so not even someone else who could afford the transportation could go.  Maybe that's why...because such a great opportunity was lost because of me.

I buried my feelings about this and went on with my life and career as best I could.  Now of course, I'm no longer working due to my health.  So how long would I have "stayed on top" of the training heap at my workplace?  Maybe two years?  That last year at work I was just a few steps above worthless, in my opinion.  So if I look at it rationally, even though it wasn't a ton of money, we did save that expense of something that wouldn't have benefitted anyone for very long.  So I guess it's a good thing.  I still would have liked to have seen Denver!  And I wish I would have gotten a better explanation from my husband.  But we are not promised a perfect and smooth life are we?  And in the broad scheme of things, I really don't have anything to complain about!

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Brownie Muffins

1 box devil's food cake mix

1 15oz can pure pumpkin

heat oven to 400

stir both together until blended, will be stiff

spoon batter into 12 muffin tin

bake 20 minutes

about 180 calories each

also good with a spice cake mix!

this was originally a Hungry Girl recipe I found a couple years ago.

Until Next Time.....

Franny

1 Year to an Organized Life - April Week 1

This week you can:

• devote yourself to uncovering the unconscious story of your life that you most like to tell
• learn how to write positive affirmations

This month we will be working on the bathroom.  (ooo, did I just see a lip curl?  c'mon, you can do it!!)  I chose the above pic as my dream bathroom mainly because it is purple and spacious!  I'm not entirely sure I would want to clean a bathroom that big, but it sure does look pretty!

As with the beginning of other months, we will start on ourselves and our thought processes before starting the actual work.  I like how she begins this chapter with a story of a friend who realized that the story we tell people about ourselves usually tends to be negative...as in some awful thing that happened to us and that's why we are the way we are.  So true that our experiences shape us.  BUT, we are the ones who can decide HOW they shape us.  Regina says on page 104, "If you change your tune, you not only encourage yourself to better your life, you uplift and encourage others."  

Beth Moore, a leading figure in women's ministry circles, says in the midst of her teaching that she could tell you a story but it would neither bless nor encourage you.  I like that.  Of course our natural curiosity wants to hear it, but if it is not going to be a blessing or an encouragement to ourselves or the people listening, it doesn't need to be shared!  I'm not saying that you can never share anything negative about your life, we all need to vent and get things off our chest.  I'm just saying be careful how you do it, and don't let it "become your story."

The rest of this short chapter is about how to write positive affirmations.  In other words how to take that negative story and turn it into a blessing and/or learning experience.

We will get started on the speed elimination next week.  Right now just take a deep breath and relax with your journal.

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Red Velvet Cookies

1 lb 1 1/2 oz pouch sugar cookie mix

1/3 C unsweetened cocoa 

1/4 C butter, softened

1/4 C sour cream

1 Tblsp red food coloring

1 egg

1 C cream cheese frosting

heat oven to 375

in large bowl mix cookie mix all ingredients except frosting

roll dough into 1 inch balls

place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet

bake 8-9 minutes or until set

cool 2 minutes

remove to wire rack

cool completely

frost cookies

store tightly covered at room temperature

Until Next Time.....

Franny