This changes everything...

Every day I have a plan.  I make a list of the things I want to accomplish for the week and then keep adding to it.  Oh, I am a list making fool.  This is something I have done for as long as I can remember.  It's true. Ask my brother, who used to laugh at me because "get up" was always on my list.  OK.  So I really liked checking things off the list.  Now I have to write everything down or I will just forget it.  Andddd....I still like checking things off.

I have been WAY off schedule for the last week because we had a snow storm.  I mean, it was a snow storm for Richmond.  I had 2 glorious days off and then 2 more days that the kids were off.  It's amazing how a little thing like that gets your whole life off-kilter.  I had my list.  I had my plan.  Then we got 7 inches of snow.  And I said, "Well, this changes everything!".  And it did.

Sometimes our 'this changes everything' moments are good things, like snowstorms (ok, good for teachers and kids!) or a promotion.  Sometimes those moments are not so good things, like a major appliance dying at the worst possible time or getting laid off.  We need to be flexible, whether we want to be or not.  Because life can only be planned so much.  You can plan yourself to death but you need to realize you cannot control things.  God is in control and we are on one of those amusement park race car tracks where you pretend your are driving, but you're not really.  All you are doing is pushing on the gas pedal to make the thing go.

It's great to check things off our list.  But let's not kill ourselves, or worse, beat ourselves up over the things we don't get done.  Many times, we moms out there can't ever cut ourselves some slack.  Work too much, feel guilty for not spending more time with the kids.  Goof off with the kids, feel guilty the house needs cleaning.  Sometimes we just need to recognize that this is not the way our day was meant to go.  And that is okay.

I did a few things that I 'should do' on my snow days.  Some laundry got done.  Dinner got made.  But on that first "this changes everything" day, I made a new list.  This list had things on it that are never on any list...watch "Sound of Music" with my kids.  Make a puzzle.  Play outside in the snow. Make hot chocolate.  We had the best time making the list.  Why write these things down?  We wanted to make sure they got done.  And if they didn't?  Oh well ...we sure had fun planning it.

God makes things happen for a reason.  Some of us can take subtle hints (by us, I mean you guys).  Some of us God has to knock upside the head with a brick (by us, I mean me).  When things don't go according to plan, maybe there is a message.  Maybe we are being kept safe.  Maybe we are being told to change directions.  Maybe we are being told to slow. Down.

I am a really organized person.  I have a budget, a menu and a plan for every day.  But I also know when someone says "Who wants to sit on the couch and watch Godzilla movies all day?" on a Saturday morning, I am in. Because that, to me, sounds like an awesome plan.

Sometimes, you really need to go with Plan B~
K

Love, Love, Love....

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Some people get so stressed about Valentine's Day.  There really shouldn't be so much pressure to show your love on one day.  EVERY day is a good day to show or tell people how much you love them.  Tomorrow is never promised to any of us so really, what are we waiting for?

Love can mean so many things, as I told my third graders yesterday (Who wrinkled up their faces at having to write about who they wanted to be their Valentine!).  ANYONE can be your Valentine!  (So stop stressing if you don't have a "significant other"!)  I gave Valentines to my students, co-workers, kids, husband, and (later today) to my best friend and her family.  And each "Valentine" looked a little different.  Some were containers of strawberry shortcake fudge, some were red velvet cinnamon rolls and some were pig cupcakes!!

There are lots of small ways to show love to others.  Do an act of kindness for someone.  How friendly are you when you go out?  Do you smile at people or say hi?  When you see someone with an outfit you love, do you ever bother to give them a compliment?

Last year Team Holmes started a "Handfuls on Purpose" board (see "Unexpected Gifts" post on Jan 14 for more on that).

This is a place for us to put down something we wanted to do for someone else.  Maybe something we heard them say they needed or thought they would want.  Any act of kindness that came to someone in the family would go here.  Some of them are bigger things, but many are not.  We take heart shaped post it notes and put the "gift" on it.  Once, we 'fulfill' the gift, we move the heart to the back of the board so we can remember what we have done.  I find that we tend to think of things but then never act on them. Writing these ideas down helps us remember to 'make it happen'.  There is no joy like showing love to others.

I think the best way to show love is just spending time together.  Color with your kids today, help your husband with his project (or at least keep him company), make dinner for friends.

Looking for an idea on how to spend time with your kids today?  I found this really sweet book called "Will You Be My Valenswine" by Teresa Bateman.

It is about a little pig who can't find a Valentine until he realizes his mom is his Valentine.  I read this book to my daughter's 3rd grade class.  After the story, I told them I wanted to be their Valenswine and gave them each these adorable (super easy to make!) cupcakes!  Go to your local library and check out this book and make some cupcakes! What a really fun way to share some time with your kiddos on Valentine's Day!

All you need is:

• cake mix
• pink frosting (buy strawberry like I did or tint some vanilla)
• marshmallows
• chocolate chips
• mini chocolate chips
• strawberry wafer cookies

To make...bake your cupcakes and let cool.  Ice with pink icing.  Cut a marshmallow in half .

Add two miniature chocolate chips for the nose.

Add chocolate chips (upside down) for eyes.

Cut the pink wafers at an angle (you are making little triangles) and add for ears.

Now...how easy was that?  And how ADORABLE are these?!

One more thing.  Whether making pig cupcakes or just watching a movie ... when you spend time together, actually BE there. Not on the phone, not checking social media.  Many years ago, when I was pregnant with my first daughter (who is now 11), something happened that I have never forgotten.  We were in San Diego on vacation and waiting in line to get on a brunch cruise. There was a family of four in front of us, with two young girls. The mom's phone rang in her purse and the mom did not react at all.  One little girl looked at her and said, "Mommy, your phone is ringing. Aren't you going to answer it?"  The mom simply said, "No."  The little girl looked confused for a minute and finally said, "Why not?" and the mom said, "All the important people are here." Now I know I was pregnant then (I got very emotional!) but whenever I think of that moment, I still tear up.  I remember thinking, "Please let me be a mom like that."  A powerful lesson from a random stranger that has stayed with me for 12 years and will for the rest of my life.

I gotta go.  I have lots of important people waiting patiently for me!

All You Need is Love!
K

On Being Joyful

I try really, really hard to be a happy person.  Some days, it just seems so easy.  Some days, you have to dig a little deeper. Joy is not something we need to find.  Most of the time, it's right there in front of us.  It's just a matter of making a choice of what are you going to focus on.

We have to start by stopping.  Stop Complaining.  Complaining is the biggest joy sucker around.  Oh believe me, by no means am I trying to pretend that I don't complain about things. Sometimes I even do it a lot.  Because I find that once I get fired up, it's like that fire spreads and then I am complaining about everything.  And, like many things, complaining can become a habit.  So let's just stop complaining, right?  Riiiiight.  Easier said than done. How do you break this cycle?  You can start by trying to be aware of what is coming out of your mouth. Doesn't mean you will stop it, but at least you are aware of what you are saying.  That's a start. Really! Many habits are things we don't even realize we are doing.  Knowing is half the battle. We all know we can find something to complain about, no matter how good the circumstances.  So forget about what is wrong.  Try real hard to keep that mouth closed (for some of us, this takes Divine intervention!).  And focus on what is right.  And that's a whole lot more than you may think.

Now let's start.  Start being more grateful.  Be grateful for what we already have.  Not what we want.  Not what we are going to be happy to have in the future.  What we have right in front of us.  Right now.

Grateful - to be full of appreciation for something.  

This is one of the most powerful tools in the joy arsenal.  We take so much for granted.  Sometimes we are tearing through life, missing out on so many simple pleasures.  One of my favorite quotes ever is from the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker, "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."  Now, I don't really think God gets pissed off, but how much beauty and love and kindness does He lay out for us every day?  Can you even see it?  I started something with my girls years ago to remind us to take notice of the beauty all around.  If I see something like a beautiful morning sky, I will say, "Look guys, God sent us a postcard!"  Because it really is like He sent a beautiful picture just for you.  Just to say hi.  Just like a postcard.  "Wish you were here!"  Thing is, you are here.  Make sure you know that.  

There are two things I do to help focus on gratitude. The first way gets the whole family involved. Every night at dinner, we each say our "high" for the day and one thing we were grateful for.  These are often interchangeable.  Sometimes they make you laugh ("I am grateful my math test is over with") and sometimes they put a lump in your throat ("I am grateful for my family").  I am often amazed at what my kids come up with.  It is not only a wonderful way to consider what you are grateful for, it's also a way to positively reflect on the day, AND a much better way to get insight into each other's days than the standard, "How was your day?" (which will only elicit the dreaded response "fine").  Now, rule in our house is, people can say whatever they want.  So if my kids are grateful that Daddy made spaghetti (and they ALWAYS are), then they are grateful for Daddy's spaghetti.  It doesn't always have to be deep. In fact, that is the beauty of becoming grateful.  Noticing the small joys all around us.  Like spaghetti.

The second way I try to focus on gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal.  This is another thing I got from the Simple Abundance book all those years ago.  Go to the store and pick out a journal that you love.  One that is beautiful or makes you smile.

Get a nice pen.  A fancy pen.  A pen that you love using.  Keep both of these by your bed.  Every night, when you get in bed, write down 5 things that you are grateful for.  It might be really hard for you at first.  But it will become easier.  It's like you learn how to be grateful just by thinking about what you are grateful for.  Sounds crazy right?  And let's face it, some days are going to be better than others.  Some days you will write things like "I am grateful this day is over".  That's ok.  It IS really important that you write these down (not just think about it).  The simple act of keeping a gratitude journal will make you realize how much you have to be grateful for. And before you know it, you will be grateful for things like ...the smell of coffee...that green light on the way to work...to get hugs when you get home.  It's not the days that you get a new car or a promotion that make life worth living.  It's all the little stuff in between.  Little stuff you want to be sure you are not missing simply because you are not focused on it.

This year, I decided to add something new to the mix.  A Joy Jar.  I saw the idea on Pinterest (if I had a nickel for everytime I said that!) as a memory jar for the year.  I wanted to use it for the family to write down anything at all that brought them joy...something funny someone said, a good grade, an unexpected surprise.  The idea is that you fill the jar all year long with these notes and on New Year's Eve, we will sit down as a family and read through them.  What a great way to end the year, reflecting on things that brought you joy all year long!

 I have been wanting to tint a Mason jar and this was a perfect opportunity.  I thought about where I was going to put it (lesson learned from goals picture frame!) and decided to go with a kind of amber color.  All you need is a Mason jar, Modge Podge (I used gloss), waxed paper, a cookie sheet and food coloring.  Oh yeah, and an oven.

Mix together:

• 2 T Modge Podge
• About 4 drops of whatever color you want to go with (I used 4 drops red food coloring, 4 drops yellow and 1 drop blue to get "amber")
• 1/2 t water

After mixing well, pour into your jar.  Swirl this around until it is evenly coated.  Place your jar upside down on waxed paper.  Let drain for 10 minutes.  Then, place upside down on another piece of waxed paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Place in the oven for 20 minutes at 250°.  Then carefully move the jar over and bake for 25 minutes longer.  A lot of "gunk" is going to pour out of your jar.  It's ok.  Mine was not dry yet (I used a big ole jar) so I continued "cooking" right side up, for 20 more minutes.

When it was done, I tied some simple brown string on top.  I was going to do something fancier but I liked the idea that the "simple look" can remind us that most often, the joys in our life ARE the simplest things.

Someone said, "Joy is the echo of God's life within us."  I think that being joyful is the best way to say "thank you" to Him and for all you have been given.  You can't expect to receive more if you don't even appreciate what you already have.

And please take the time to notice the color purple.

A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way!
K

A Month of Meals

Don't you hate those days when it's been crazy and then you have to go home and figure out what to do about dinner?  Yeah, me too.  I was super unorganized in this department in the month of December and 3 things happened.  #1:  I spent a lot of extra money, #2:  I gained a lot of extra weight.  #3: I wasted a lot of extra time.  Sigh.

I normally plan out my meals one month at a time.  I get paid at the end of the month, so that's how it started happening this way (I used to do it every 2 weeks when I got paid like normal people).  I go grocery shopping once for most stuff and then have to go back once or twice for more milk or produce.  I do a lot of freezer meals, some months more than others.  I love to cook but I do not feel like doing it every day when I get home from work.  True story.

Here's how this all goes down...I love to cook and look at recipes and all month long I find recipes and start jotting them down.  I have a cheap paper calendar that I write my meals on.  Enter cheap, ratty calendar.  Just look at this pitiful thing.

I drag it around on my clipboard for a month like Linus with his dumb blanket.  It does take an enormous amount of time to menu plan, I am not gonna lie.  But I try to do a little at a time.  As I choose my recipes, I write down the ingredients needed.  I have a printed out grocery list that I add the ingredients to.  And....alright, don't laugh at me... it's in the order of the grocery store I go to.  OK.  Laugh.  But really, do you want to go shopping for a month with a list that is all willy-nilly?  I would be in there for hours.  And one thing you should know about me, I hate being inefficient (I haven't decided if this is a gift or a curse).  So, by jotting down recipes and ingredients as I go, hopefully,by the end of the month, I have a menu and a grocery list done.  Just in case you were compelled to try it yourself.  If not, relax.  I got this.

I find that I spend WAY less money on groceries if I am organized and have my meals planned.  I also do not like going to the grocery store.  At all.  So the less I have to go, the better.  I am in and out in 1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins MAX.  (A grocery list in order of the store doesn't sound so bad now, does it?)  I do not clip coupons but I do pay very close attention to prices and compare everything. Next tip, go to the grocery store early.  I am there for my monthly shopping by 7:30. A.M. The store is clean, well stocked and best part, no one is there.  I don't want to feel like I am in Disney when I am trying to compare prices of different yogurts.  I do go to Sams Club also but only for a few menu items.  (Generally chicken breasts and pork tenderloin and that is about it for my menu, about $50 worth of stuff, if that). People always ask me how much I spend for a month.  My budget for groceries is $400 a month, that is for a family of four.  I don't spend it all on that monthly trip.  I generally spend about $250-$300 at that time.  The rest is for things I need to buy later, that would expire in a month (fruit for lunches, milk, etc).  Oh.  And beer runs. Don't judge me.

My menu, as I mentioned, always includes freezer meals, which I consider to be one of the best things to ever happen in my life. I take care of these meals on the same day or the following day after grocery shopping.  I come back from the store, and remember it is still the crack of dawn, so after I have unloaded the groceries, I make myself another cup of coffee and label my ziploc bags for freezer meals.  You want to put the date, the name of the meal, and directions on the bag.
Now, if you are going to make freezer meals, and you never have, there are some things you need to know.

1. You need to figure out where you are going to put everything.  Clean out a spot/rearrange your freezer.  Most of the meals I make are in gallon ziploc bags, which take up hardly any room at all.  It works best if you can lay them flat in the freezer.  Sometimes I do things in aluminum disposable pans, which takes up more room.  I have a chest freezer in my outside storage so freezer space is rarely an issue for me.  Sorry.
2. Label your bags beforehand.
3. Print out the recipes.  Trust me on this one.  
4. Wear a short sleeve shirt.  Trust me on this one too.  Pushing up your sleeves constantly is a buzz kill.

So you've seen the blog posts where they put all their ingredients out on the counter and go at it? I can't work like that.  I think about my meals by the meat.  I work with the ground beef recipes, the chicken recipes, etc.  I like to start with the recipes involving the most work and get that over with.  Because let's face it, the coffee will wear off sooner or later and my body will realize I got up at 7 on a Saturday.  For this menu, that basically meant making the ground beef meals first.  I chopped all the onions I needed.  (I usually chop one extra cup at this time and put this in the freezer in a ziploc bag.)  Two recipes called for browning ground beef with onions.   I did those at the same time.  See the picture?  It's like dueling banjos.  But different.

Now I pull out all my ingredients for the recipes I am working with, which in this case is 2.  Recipes, not ingredients.  I like to put the recipes in front of me, under the cabinet doors and each set of ingredients goes under it's recipe.  I  can see everything and I don't get my recipes mixed up.  Like, literally open up your cabinet, set the recipe there, shut the cabinet, voila.  Recipe holder.  I made Beef Green Chile Taco Casserole and Honey Lime Enchiladas. I covered these with saran wrap and then aluminum foil when done. Using a sharpie, write on the aluminum foil.  Again, date, name of recipe, cooking directions.  Put these two in the freezer.  Done.  Have another cup of coffee.

Next, meatballs!  Super easy, makes 2 meals, gotta love it.  You are going to make the recipe and split the meatballs into 2 different ziploc bags.  I use a Pampered Chef large scoop for this job.  I love using this because they are all the same size and it is so much neater than using your hands.

If you think you will receive complaints about meatballs that are flat on one side, you can roll them a little.  Or you can tell the complainers exactly what you think.  Your choice.

Now, we are not cooking these so put them as close together as you can on a pan.

We are going to flash freeze these.  Which means, we will stick this into the freezer for about an hour (when they are not sticky, you are good to go).

Pull them out of the freezer and bag them in rows so they will lay flat in your freezer.

Alright, we have made 4 things for the freezer and grocery shopped for the month and had 3 cups of coffee.  How are you feeling?  Awesome?  Yeah, you do!  The good news is, the last 4 recipes are super easy and fast.  I wouldn't lie.  Give me just 15 more minutes.  Really.  Then you can go back to bed.

When you are making freezer meals in a bag, they are fantastic because you just dump everything in and then you are done.  No cooking.  I buy bags of frozen chicken at Sams Club (see back of counter)

I drop the number of chicken breasts needed into each bag.

I set everything out for all my chicken recipes and hang my recipes up (I am making 4 at once here!).

Dump everything in the bags (which are already labeled), mush the ingredients around so everything is covered and lay in the freezer.

4 more freezer meals.  BAM.  You are a rock star!  Now go back to bed.  Oh wait...you had 3 cups of coffee, you probably can't.  Hmm...sorry about that.

Without further ado, here is my list of monthly meals (the freezer meals are marked).  I have been working diligently on trying to post a calendar with links to all the recipes on it.  It's gonna be so cool.  Just as soon as I figure out how to do it. Since it is already the 4th, I decided to throw in the towel for this month.  I know, how disappointing.

Most days have a main dish and a side.  I should probably tell you at this time, I don't do "light" or "free" or anything of that nature.  I am southern.  It's kind of against my religion.  However, I do very little processed food and I have believed for many years that it's far better to eat something "real" than something um...let's just say, not so real.  That being said, if you want to make the main dish and serve a processed side, no judgment.

Monthly Meals (Sat is my eat out or have leftovers day!)

Week 1 
Sun    Buffalo Chicken Chili   Jalapeno Cheese Bread ( just use regular flour!)
Mon    Italian Sausage and Potato Soup       Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Tues   Pasta Carbonara                   Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Wed   Swiss Cheese Chicken           Creamy Garlic Shells
Thurs Three Cheese Jalapeno Ranch Chili            Corn Crisps
Fri      Make your own pizzas!  Pizza dough           Pizza Sauce

Week 2 
Sun    Luau Ribs
Mon   Caribbean Jerk Chicken Skillet
Tues   Honey Lime Enchiladas     Mexican Sour Cream Rice
Wed   Spaghetti and Meatballs     Best Green Beans
Thurs Cafe Rio Chicken                Seasoned Roasted New Potatoes
Fri      Make your own pizzas!  Pizza dough                         Pizza Sauce

Week 3 
Sun    Mississippi Pot Roast          Mashed Potatoes
Mon   Best Chicken Ever               Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Tues   Crispy Key Lime Chicken   
Wed   Beef Green Chile Taco Casserole    Salad
Thurs  Tortellini Pizza Bake
Fri      Make your own pizzas!  Pizza dough                         Pizza Sauce

Week 4 
Sun      Spicy Roasted Sausage Potatoes and Peppers
Mon    Jerk Pineapple Pork Chops with Cilantro Rice
Tues    Sweet Orange Ginger Chicken        Rice
Wed    Applesauce BBQ Pork Tenderloin   Parmesan Garlic Orzo
Thurs   Creamy Chicken Italian with noodles
Fri     Make your own pizzas!  Pizza dough                         Pizza Sauce

OK, in case you are really upset that my meals are not listed in a cute calendar, I have something that will cheer you up....drum roll please....the grocery list!!!  I know, you so love me right now.  Before you look at it, I will tell you, the ingredients are listed by meal.  Here's why I did that instead of one giant master list.  In all the menus or lists of freezer meals I have ever looked at, I have never once loved every recipe that person picked.  I mean, that would be crazy right?  What is this person, my kitchen soul mate?  So when grocery lists are given for the whole post and you want to just make a few things, you have to try to figure out what to take off the list.  Who wants to do that?  No one.  So...I have listed it by meal so you can pick and choose what you want to try out.  If an amount is not listed, that is because a very small amount is needed.    

Feb Menu Shopping List

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest!  I have lots of recipes.  One of my boards is "Cooking Smarter, Not Harder", which has lots of freezer and crock pot meals.  Or just cheat and use my menus.  It would be nice to know all this insanity was being enjoyed by many!

Happy dinner planning!
K