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Taking Time to Plan

Mar 11th, 2010 by Vanessa

One of the ways that I am able to manage any semblance of order around my house is to take time to plan. Sometime over the weekend, usually on a Sunday afternoon, I prepare for the week. This may include any or all of the following tasks:

1. look up meal plan from monthly plan and assign meals to nights of the week based on our schedule; pull meat, veggies, etc. from the freezer to the fridge for those meals

2. for each day, write down any important “to do” items

3. talk with Cole about any changes from the normal schedule that should be expected during the week (ie. after school meetings, family visiting, etc.) and make plans together

4. plan and prepare for the week on my blog (based on an overall monthly ideal plan)

5. choose clothes for each workday – it’s just easier for me to wake up and already know what I will be wearing without thinking or trying different clothes on

6. pray over the week and pray for strength to meet the challenges it will bring and eyes to see the blessings

I find that this time, usually between 30-60 minutes, sets me up for a wonderful week!

What about you? Do you plan your weeks? How do you prepare for the upcoming week?

Posted in homemaking, organization, simple living | No Comments »

A Typical Hoosier Day

Mar 4th, 2010 by Vanessa

I was asked to share what a normal day at our house looks like. That’s kind of a trick question, because everyday looks different, but here is a general idea:

5:30/5:45 – Vanessa gets up, shower and get ready

6:15 – read bible, pack lunches

6:30 – Cole gets up

6:30/6:45 – gather items for the day, hug and kiss Cole, and leave for work

7:00/7:15 – get to work, prepare materials for the day of teaching, collaborate with teachers

8:00 – work day starts (there is no “typical” for a work day in Kindergarten)

3:00 – kiddos head to their own homes

3:30/3:45 – leave from work (usually quite exhausted)

4:00/4:15 – get home, get mail, start dinner, wash dishes, change clothes

5:00/5:15 – Cole gets home, eat dinner, and talk about the day

5:30/5:45 – dinner done, kitchen cleaned, and time to start the evening

(our evening has no real plan – some nights we have bible study, some nights fun with friends, some nights I have class, some nights we have worship team practice, some nights we just relax at home or work on tasks here, etc.)

10:00-11:00 – head towards bed

That’s it – nothing fancy or even very organized, but that is how our days generally go.

Posted in organization, simple living | No Comments »

March Once a Month Cooking

Mar 2nd, 2010 by Vanessa

We don’t really do the once a month cooking anymore. I have worked out a really good system for doing food prep about once a month and then assembling meals as needed. But, I do have to get some good food prep done near the beginning of the month for this system to work well. This weekend I was busy in the kitchen:

- cleaned the whole kitchen and went grocery shopping

- ground/browned 12 pounds of beef
- separated nine pounds of cheese into two cup bags (Cole helped with this!)
- made 2 quarts of yogurt
- made 2 quarts of carrot juice
- made granola
- made smoothies for the early part of the week
- made a pint of spreadable butter

So, not a whole lot, but those tasks being done will be so helpful over the month of March!


This post is posted at Money Saving Mom.

Posted in in the kitchen | No Comments »

Playing is Learning :: Write in Shaving Cream

Mar 1st, 2010 by Vanessa

This is a great activity that kids love (and cleans up the desks and makes the room smell good!).

Spray a little bit of shaving cream on a table and spread it into a thin layer. Use your fingers and write in the cream. We practice making pre-writing strokes, writing our names, drawing shapes, writing letters and words, etc.

Posted in school & teaching | No Comments »

February Groceries

Feb 25th, 2010 by Vanessa

Well, this should have been posted about three weeks ago when the groceries were purchased. But better late than never. Here are the groceries (and a few extras) that were purchased on my grocery shopping trip for February for about $180.

If you are following our year in groceries:
January

Posted in frugal living, in the kitchen | No Comments »

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