Monday, July 30, 2007

Monday Menu Planning (Week of 7-30-07)



I'm really going to be depending on my Freezer Chicks this week because I am working on soccer schedules & need to have them all completed by Friday. I am the League Commissioner for the Central Missouri Soccer League and one of my jobs is to provide a game schedule for all of the teams that register within the league. This season I have 75 plus team, they each play 10 games per season. That means I have over 300 games to schedule at 4 different venues! So, no cooking for this chick....just heat & serve!

Monday: Corn Dogs, Mac & Cheese & Green Beans

Tuesday: Chicken Night-clean out the frig of Chicken meals-Cranberry Chicken, Margarita Chicken & Sticky Chicken

Wednesday: Tuna Tortellini Gratin & Peas

Thursday: T-Bone Steaks on the Grill, Potatoes, Carrots & Salad

Friday: Out to Eat...will need it!

For more great recipes, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie's Blog.

Sending It in....


Remember this picture?

Well, I just sent in 15 rolls of film to Kodak Gallery. I can't wait to see what pictures on on these rolls of film!

I'm wanting to get all of the film developed by the end of September so I can start working on my scrapbooks. (which is one of my 40-before-40 goals!)

Saturday, July 28, 2007

My Life Plan...

Your Life Path Number is 4

Your purpose in life is to build your vision.

You are practical and responsible. You work hard, knowing that there are no shortcuts in life.
You work for a better life for yourself and those you love, but you are not an idealist.
Trustworthy and honest, you also demonstrate great courage. People can count on you.

In love, you are a loyal and committed partner. You are the ideal spouse.

You don't give up easily, and sometimes you can be too stubborn and unwilling to change.
You also can be too conservative at times. You sometime miss out on good opportunities.
Also remember that not everyone can work as hard as you, as disappointing as that is!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Congratulations to Dolly of "Just in Case"...

Dolly of Just in Case, is the lucky winner of my Dog Days of Summer Giveaway. She will receive a years subscription to "Real Simple" magazine.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment & visited my blog. I do hope you will stop back by and check out my progress as I journey to 40 years old! I hope to complete most of the items on my 40 before 40 list!

Again-congratulations Dolly!

Real Simple Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway

~~This is a sticky post & will remain at the top of my blog. Scroll down for new post. If you haven't enter my giveaway, do so by leaving me a comment. Only one entry.~~



I'm joining in on Shannon's Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway. It's Real Simple-To be entered in the drawing, leave a single comment (duplicates will be deleted) below. You must provide a valid e-mail address, but you do not have to have a blog. US & Canada participants only, sorry! I'll close comments at 12:01 a.m. this coming Friday morning, July 27, and I'll draw a random winner from the list. I'll announce the winner sometime on Friday.




What am I giving away you ask? It a years subscription to one of my favorite magazines....Real Simple. Here is an overview of the magazine:




"Founded in 2000, Real Simple magazine continues to be a leader in the category of women’s lifestyle publications. Its concise, useful strategies, coupled with a clean, inspiring design, focus on making busy women’s lives easier, from preparing a fast, healthy breakfast to getting a good night’s sleep. In essence, Real Simple helps its readers do what they need to do, so they have more time to enjoy what they want to do."




If you would like ways to help simplify your life...now is your chance to win a one year's subscription to "Real Simple" magazine. How simple could that be? Real Simple!


Check out more more giveaways at Rocks in My Dryer.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #16 (Favorite Songs-New & Old)

Today's TT had to be something quick & easy for me to post because I have a ton of things that I need to get done before tomorrow! I thought about posting what things I needed to get done-but I didn't want to do that!

Make sure that you have your sound on because you will be able to listen to some of my favorite songs while you check out my blog!

  1. Cool by Gwen Stefani
  2. 4 in the Morning by Gwen Stefani
  3. Back in Black by ACDC
  4. How to Save a Life by The Fray
  5. Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi
  6. Baby Girl by Sugarland
  7. Something More by Sugarland
  8. Lithium by Nirvana
  9. I Was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss
  10. Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani
  11. White Flag by Dido
  12. Who Says You Can't Go Home
  13. It's Your Love by Time McGraw & Faith Hill

There are a lot more songs in my playlist...a little bit of pop, hard rock & country!

Check out more TTs participants.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Tackle It Tuesday (Getting it All Done!)


After cleaning out the garage & working up in the attic, I discovered items that I was saving & those items got dumped into my downstairs family room. In addition to cleaning up this room I have several other things that need to be accomplished before I get up in the attic for my garage sale (yes-another garage sale) to get down items for Fridays sale. I don't have one major project to complete, instead, I have a bunch of projects that need to get done today (or by the end of the week). So my tackle my extend to the end of the week.

Here is my tackle-it-Tuesday's to-do list:

Housework:


  1. Finish laundry (2 loads)

  2. Pick up LR.

  3. Pick up FR.

  4. Pick up kitchen.

  5. Clean/make salsa, etc with tomatoes.

  6. Clean carrots.

  7. Clean bathroom.

  8. Put laundry away in bedroom.

  9. Clean off desk.

  10. Put away storage boxes-kids school projects, pictures, etc.

  11. Clean out refrigerator.

Projects:



  1. Sort teams for U8-Rec soccer.

  2. Work on venues/brackets for CMSL.

  3. Pull down clothes from attic-go through & get ready for garage sale on Friday.

  4. Fundraising letter ready for Dance.

I think this is all that I need to accomplish before the end of the week. Wish me luck in getting it all done!


Check out what other bloggers are tackling at 5M4Ms.


Monday Menu Planning 7-23-06

We have a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers & zucchini to eat this week. My Mom & MIL brought a lot of items from the garden to us this weekend.

Monday: (soccer practice) Tuna Tortellini Gratin from last week. We had so many leftovers that we ate on from Thursday to Sunday.

Tuesday: Sweet & Sour Chicken and Rice

Wednesday: (soccer meeting/practice) Roast in the crockpot with veggies.

Thursday: (dance meeting-boys home-hubby will cook) T-Bone Steaks on the grill, potatoes & salad.

Friday: Sloppy Joe's (using Where's the Beef? Beef from Freezer Chicks.

Not sure about Saturday and Sunday-CWH has Show-Me State soccer games.

Check out more Menu Plans at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Going for the Gold....


This weekend my oldest, CSH, played in the Show-Me State Games. SMSGs is a state "tournament" where teams from all over Missouri come & play their chosen sport, everything from soccer to basketball to track to gymnastics-well you get the idea-you name it & SMSG has it!


CSH has been playing in the SMSG for the past 6 years, we started the first year that we were switching from recreational soccer to competitive soccer. We have been matched up with the St. Louis Eagles, which is a team comprised of players from some of the best St. Louis teams & we have always placed 2nd or 3rd place each year. This year, it was my husband's personal goal (& my son's as well) to obtained the Gold medal because this is the last year that my husband will be coaching a team in the SMSGs at this age level. In the past, CSH has played for his club team but last year he put together a Mid-Mo Select team which comprised of buddies that he has developed a friendship with over the past years within the soccer community of central Missouri. The team comprised of some of the best players from Columbia, Moberly, Sedalia, Jeff City & Camdenton-truly a Mid-Missouri Select team.


Games started Friday evening, the Mid-Mo Select team played 2 games, winning 7-0 and 2-0. They didn't have to play any games on Saturday because they were seeded in the 1st place position & received a bye. We played the semi-final game Sunday morning winning 6-0. The final game was up against the St. Louis Eagles.


The game stated, my son, scored within the first 3-5 minutes. We were up 1-0. A couple of minutes before half time, we received a penalty in the box, the Eagles tied it up. 1-1 and half time. Second half, Nick scored on a direct kick resulting from a foul-it was a beautiful shot that went over the Eagles wall & straight into the upper near post. Mid Mo Select 2 Eagles 1. Eagles tied the game up again. The game was a very heated and physical game. Each team determined to win the game. Understand that if the game ended in a tie, we would have to go into overtime. BUT since there was a shortage of referees, no overtime would be played. Instead, we would go straight into penalty kicks. I was not wanting to go into penalty kicks. I would not have any nails or hair left!


With about 5 minutes of the game left, my son, scored the winning goal!


After 6 years of perseverance....we went out on top with the Gold medal....way to go Mid-Mo Select!!!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Happy Anniversary!



Today is my wedding anniversary, I married my high school sweetheart, Sean 16 years ago-we started dating on Valentine's Day in 1986! I have been cleaning out my garage & had a garage sale today and I came across a box of letters that I had written to Sean when he was at Navy boot camp. I pulled some of them out & found some poems that Sean had written to me & thought I would share what a wonderful writer he is....



"Thinking of You"


Days have passed
And the time closes near
Until that special moment.
When you are right here.

With me at last
We'll have a ball
Getting back together
and doing it all.

Touching & embracing
A never ending bond
A Special type of love to which
I have grown so fond.

A brand new day
As bright as can be
Nothing but true love
Will we both see.

You know-It's special
When nothing stand in the way
Of two young people
With loving words to say.

The strongest link
In miles and miles of chain
Has kept us together
To meet once again.


Until that moment
When that time finally arrives
I'll be here-thinking of you
Heart beating & still alive.

The love in living is being with you.

Sean




"To Misti With Love"


Years ago I met a beautiful girl
With hair of blonde & eyes so blue.
I knew as days did pass it was certain
Our love would soon grow true.

She was uniquely special
In her own little way
Loving & caring
Kind words she did say.

In her heart and
In her soul
Nothing impure
Could ever flow.

A gift from God
Given all to me
So that each new day
I would have beauty to see.

Never again will I find another
With these qualities-Oh so fine
This is why I'm so lucky
That this girl is still all mine.


I'm the lucky one....

Sign My Guestbook

Our 1st "Official" Garage Sale....


Okay-today is my first official garage sale in 16 years-I'm not counting the one garage sale that I had when we moved & sold mostly furniture-I don't think that counts. After a long weekend of cleaning out the garage & four days of sorting -I still have some boxes that I need to sort but I can do that tomorrow morning after we move some of the items out into the drive & I have some more floor space...




Check it out:


Everything on the four tables plus under the tables are on the sale as well. The big white thing is a sink & there is a vanity etc! Lots of stuff!



The stuff under the table is empty boxes and 2 buckets of balls-which aren't for sale!

I peeked up in the attic to see if there were things that I could easily get to & pulled down a couple of bigger items. Man, there is a gold mine up there! Can't wait to blog about what I find & show you the before & after pics.

After the sale on Saturday morning-whatever has not sold will be going to good will or to the library (donating books to them). Unless, I think it will sale on the next sale! I don't want to pack up & store anything that I have on the sale this weekend!

Wish me luck on my first sale!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #15 (13 Things on my Desk)


Thirteen Things That Shouldn't Be on My Desk

  1. 2 Empty Diet Dr Pepper Cans.
  2. A Christmas Coffee Mug.
  3. A Paint brush.
  4. Athletic Wrap.
  5. A necklace.
  6. An tennis ball container filled with marbles.
  7. A flower vase with no flowers-empty.
  8. A doll shoe & bottle.
  9. Fabric swatches.
  10. A container of bobby pins.
  11. A ponytail holder.
  12. A Christmas platter.
  13. A cross-stitch project.

Looks like I need to clear my desk off & place these items in their proper place!

Check out more TT participants!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

$300 Free Dairy Products

5 Minutes for Moms is hosting a giveaway for $300 worth of organic dairy products from Horizon Organics. They have got all the dairy products we could want, like cheese, yogurt, butter and cottage cheese - and for the fun stuff they even have products like cheese strings, yogurt tubes tubes and ice cream. And of course all the Horizon Organic dairy products are certified organic and meet the strictest USDA organic standards. That means they’re produced with no antibiotics, no added growth hormones and no dangerous pesticides.

Horizon Organics contain DHA. What is DHA? DHA is found primarily in fatty fish and organ meats, and most Americans, especially kids, don’t eat enough of these foods to get the recommended amount of DHA in their diets. But it is a tricky problem to solve - the FDA and EPA recommend that young children limit their fish intake to 3 servings/week due to potential mercury contamination. According to expert Dr. Greene, “Most American kids are not getting the DHA they need. The typical three-year-old needs about 150 mg of DHA a day. On average, they are only getting about 19 mg, a tiny fraction of what they need for optimal brain growth.”

Check it out!

Wordless Wednesday Update

Last week, I posted a picture of all of the film that I needed to process! Getting my scrapbooks caught up is on my 40 things to do before I turn 40 list. Well, I have been doing a little research about processing the Advantix Film, it's costly and discovered that Kodak Gallery, does this with film sent in:

Processing film at the Gallery:
Film users can enjoy all the benefits of digital photography - the Gallery can put your film online for just $5.99 per roll.

Here's how it works:

1. If this is your first roll, you'll need to request free film mailers. We'll send you three postage-paid mailers for your film.


2. Put up to five rolls of exposed 35mm color print film in a mailer, seal it, and drop it in the mail. We'll process your film, put your photos online at the highest possible resolution, and mail your negatives back to you at no charge.


3. When the film processing is complete, we will notify you with an email message that includes a link to your photos and the payment page.

4. Once you've paid the $5.99 processing fee, your photos will be stored in a secure online album in your account. You have 60 days after notification to pay for the processing. All major credit cards are accepted.

This looks like a great way to reduce printing photos that are blurry, have the head cut off, etc. I get the opportunity to view the pictures online & order only the ones that I want to print! What a great concept! I'm going to sent in 5 rolls of film & see what happens! Hopefully, I will discover a great way to get these rolls of film processed!

Works for Me Wednesday (Cooking Bacon)

I love the pre-cooked bacon that you can get at Sam's-especially this time of year because we eat a lot of BLTs. Everyone wants hot bacon & cooking BLTs for a family of six is very time consuming if you fry it up on the stove. I started buying the pre-cooked bacon BUT it is more expensive that route. Now, I cook my bacon in the oven (my good friend, Mindi said one day in conversation that she cooks her bacon in the oven & I thought "Wow, what a time saver!" Thanks Mindi!) ...


Bacon can also be easily baked in the oven, resulting in amazingly flat slices. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rack inside a baking sheet. Lay out slices and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on desired doneness level. Voila! Crispy bacon with no curls.

Just like the bacon that you buy at the store already pre-cooked. I usually buy 3 packages of bacon & cook it all up, layer it between paper towels to absorb some of the fat & store it in a ziploc bag for quick and easy BLTs, bacon for breakfast or on sandwiches!


Check out more Works for Me Wednesdays ideas, @ Rocks in My Dryer!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Tackle-it-Tuesday Updated-Complete (Cleaning/Defrosting Freezers)

My tackle for today is to empty out my freezers, defrost the deep freezer, wipe them down & re-inventory what I have in the freezer.

The Freezer Chicks, meet last Wednesday for our monthly food exchange and I know what I put in the freezer....I just don't have a good record of what's still in there!




I have posted a before and will post the after pictures after the tackle is completed! Check back later this evening for the completed tackle.

Check out more Tackle-it-Tuesday Projects, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

Project is completed:


1. Emptied out the freezer into coolers.


2.Power washed all out & defrosted it.


3.Returned to the freezer and organized everything back into the freezer by categories.


4. Inventoried what I had.


5. Put inventory on a spreadsheet.


6. Placed in Meal Planning Section of Family Notebook.


Still looks like a lot of items in the freezer but it's organized into sections & I now know what is in there and can plan my meals around what is in the freezer!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Crossing it off...40-before-40

Update: I have been able to cross off some items...

1. Clean/Organize Garage Starting this weekend (June 30/July 1)
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (I have lost 8 pounds so far!) Will lose 25 pounds by September 1st.
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)
5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Need to purchase a KitchenAid first for all that mixing...I've been hinting... working on..
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows.
8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)
9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks.
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!
12. Make a quilt.
13. Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23)
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs.
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. Go to a spa for a massage.
17. Get a pedicure. Update-have one scheduled for July 17th!
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off.
30. Take family to Disney World.
31. Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!)
32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Monday Menu Planning Week of 7.16.06

Our freezer co-op, the Freezer Chicks, just started our own blog This week I am sharing how I utilize my freezer meals into my menu planning, all main entrees are freezer meals from my co-op:

Monday- Ziploc Chicken in the crockpot, zucchini & salad

Tuesday- Italian Mac n cheese, salad & bread

Wednesday- Honey-Pecan Chicken, Rice, Peas & Salad.

Thursday- Creamy Burritos, Mexican styled-rice & salad.

Friday- Sausage Calzones, Corn on the Cob & Salad

Saturday- leftovers

Sunday- Tuna Tortellini Gratin, Green Beans & Salad.

What are you having for dinner this week? Check out more plans with I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Marriage Monday-Honor Post 7.16.07


My hubby and I had a very long weekend cleaning out our garage. And we actually got through the weekend without screaming and yelling at each other the entire time-I think maybe we had a few words early on but we managed to get a lot accomplished! We still have a ways to go but we managed to get a great start on the project. We will be celebrating our 16 year anniversary on July 20th and we have accumulated so much stuff over the years and we have never had a garage sale to get rid of things that we no longer use. We had a garage sale 9 years ago when we moved from a bigger home back into our first home & sold furniture that wouldn't fit back into the house. But that's all! Each time we moved, we just stuffed everything into the shed, attic and garage! So I'm thankful that we managed to get through most of this project without screaming and yelling at each other this weekend!
Goals that I'm working on to honor my husband:
Not thinking negative thoughts or saying negative things about him in front of my children-doing good. Every once in a way I catch myself getting ready to say something but instead, I pray or think about something else.
Last week started out really well & I got my quiet time in but by Tuesday after having a house full of kids (8) and staying up until 3:30 am, I didn't get my quiet time in. This week, I still have some big projects but I should be able to get my quiet time in sometime!
Hope everyone had a great week last week, I'm looking forward to getting a lot of things accomplished and goals meet! Check for my updated on July 20th-our anniversary-I will have some pictures of the last 16 years posted!
Check out Fruit in Season, for more information about this challenge.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

CWH is a....

You Are an Emo Rocker!

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing.
That doesn't mean you don't rock out...
You just rock out with meaning.
For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.

Garage Update plus my Hubby's New Toy!


Here are some more updates of my garage......everything is basically out, we power washed the floor & are waiting for it to dry.
Here he is on the deck..........power washing...

My hubby has enjoyed power washing. He power washed the workbench, the deck, the garage, the house, the climber, you name it, it has been power washed. He even commented on how much he liked it! We are using my Mom & Dad's power washer...I know what I'm getting him for Christmas!

We need to power wash it before we stain it. Which is another project that I would like to get down before the end of summer....repainting the house & staining the deck.

Here are some more updates of the garage...it's really exhausting work! But will be worth it in the end..












Saturday, July 14, 2007

Making Progress-My Weekend Tackle Update

Wanted to give you an update on the progress of my tackle...



We have cleared almost everything that was in this area. As you can see on the back shelf and the white cabinets...there is some organization but it got lost as I cleaned out closets. I needed somewhere to go with the items that were too good to throw away. The pile in the middle is a lot of trash.

After we get the garage empty...we are going to power wash the inside of the garage...

This will get the yuck off of the garage floor.

Then my hubby is going to install shelves like these:

Then, I'm going to go through the boxes and stuff that was removed from the garage on Monday, my friend-Tina, is coming over on Monday & Tuesday to help me! It will feel so good to the stuff out of my garage! I will vow to have a couple of garage sales each year so I don't have this big of a tackle 16 years from now!

Next will be the attic...if you thought my garage was bad...wait until you see the attic!! I have 4 sets of baby clothes, a couple of toddler beds, a cradle, 6 or more car seats...everything from the last 16 years of marriage stored up there. I hope to find some of the Christmas decorations I have been missing up there! Should be fun! Will be an adventure!

What Kind of Rocker Are You??

Thought this was fun!


You Are a Chick Rocker!

You're living proof that chicks can rock

You're inspired by Joan Jett and the Donnas

And when you rock, you rock hard

(Plus, you get all the cute guy groupies you want!)

S.M.A.R.T. Saturday Habits

How did I do this week on my S.M.A.R.T Habits Saturday goals?

Let's see...

1. Made bed-everyday, did great!
2. Swish toilet & wipe down vanity-good, missed a couple of days.
3. Workout-one day, it was hard to squeeze it in with family & the other obligations that I had this week. Plus I had late nights 3 nights in a row & I just didn't wake up early enough to get going in the morning.
4. Quiet Time-one day-same as working out.
5. Quality Time with hubby-okay, same as working out. We were so busy each evening it was hard to squeeze time together. Next week should be a little better.

New goals for this week? You bet,
6. One load of laundry each day-at least!
7. Load dishes in dishwasher everyday-will go to bed each evening with a clean kitchen.
8. Bubble bath in the evening before bed-at least every other day!

Check out other goals at The Lazy Organizer's blog for other S.M.A.R.T. Saturday participants.

Friday, July 13, 2007

My Big Weekend Tackle It Project

This one is going to take more than a weekend but we have the weekend free with no activities so no time like the present to get started!

MY GARAGE....SCARY!

First, let me explain....we have been married for almost 16 years (on the 20th of July!) and I have never had a garage sale so this is 16 years worth of stuff (I have a full attic too!)





Scary, huh?