tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70031880695411505152024-02-20T21:30:50.907-06:00Simplicity and InspirationA place to share ideas and lessons learned in this journey of life - as an individual, wife, mother, and homemaker. A place to gain inspiration and encouragement in your personal journey wherever you are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-85193602140155107722013-09-03T10:16:00.001-05:002013-09-03T10:16:10.974-05:00New Location<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am moving my blogspot site to a new location. Check out the new site at <a href="http://www.inspiretosimple.com/">Inspire to Simple</a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-46180298355003226032013-03-01T04:00:00.000-06:002013-03-01T04:00:00.504-06:00Let's Get Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Each month I choose a new habit to develop or solidify in my personal life and practice. These habits range from life style changes to housekeeping tips. The common element is it is something I want to see developed or improved in my daily life and practice. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This month, after a more personal growth habit last month, I am focusing on a habit that is more action oriented then attitude focused. As I have started to share more of what I am learning and doing on my blog, I have become acutely aware of the need to improve not only my writing itself, but way I write and how regularly I do so. </span><br>
</div></div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/03/lets-get-writing.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-899944773180896042013-02-28T14:11:00.000-06:002013-02-28T14:11:19.972-06:00A Month of Growth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Each month I choose a new habit to develop or solidify in my personal life and practice. These habits range from life style changes to housekeeping tips. The common element is it is something I want to see developed or improved in my daily life and practice.</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">A month of growth. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">That really is the only way to describe what this month's habit has been for me. I knew when I chose my habit of the month as working on my interactions with my husband that things would be changing and stretching for me. They have been. It has been good to see how the little, tiny, seemingly insignificant things (the way I greet him when he comes home, the tone of voice I use when talking with him, etc.) have made a big difference. It has not always been easy for habits are sometimes hard to change, but it has been good to see the difference it already is having. </span></div></div></div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-month-of-growth.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-75883929688114660652013-02-12T21:36:00.001-06:002013-02-12T21:57:10.427-06:00Watching My Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Each month I choose a new habit to develop or solidify in my personal life and practice. These habits range from life style changes to housekeeping tips. The common element is it is something I want to see changed or improved in my daily life and practice. </b><br>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This month my habit is to work on improving my interactions with my husband. You can read more about my <a href="http://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/marriage-challenge-and-my-habit.html" target="_blank">Habit of the Month here</a>. With the start of the new week, I am updating my habit focus a bit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week, I focused on responding positively when my husband reached out to hug or kiss me. Rather than being frustrated that he has halting what ever task I was working on, I want to be thankful I have such a great man to love me. This week, I will continue that aspect of my habit of the month, but am adding in guarding my words and the way I say things. </span></span></div>
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</div></div></div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/watching-my-words.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-44286332096526536262013-02-07T04:00:00.000-06:002013-02-07T04:00:11.507-06:00"The Confident Mom Weekly Planner" Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.theconfidentmom.com/services/classes-products/household-planner-sales-page/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wKwt-OxzlUoZ15asGca8DiIXHVNhsMgO1naBFG7PMhtntkxQVZbU4lDHkPO19QFpxTX2BUMpjb1JBg9eyAdZ-wx5kc1irCCTdkeKVnSRX_-v_lCGaRCEBnNl1PY2dtbpKvBIR6iXn-k/s1600/confidentmomplanner.jpg"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I received <i><a href="http://www.theconfidentmom.com/services/classes-products/household-planner-sales-page/" target="_blank">The Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner for 2013</a></i> as an e-book in a bundled package that I purchased at the beginning of the year. Though I had not intended to do a review on this resource, I thought since I had definite opinions to share this was a good way to do it.</span><br>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-confident-mom-weekly-planner-review.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-63857585231169258452013-02-05T04:00:00.000-06:002013-02-05T07:11:13.659-06:00Marriage Challenge and My Habit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had just settled on <a href="http://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-wonderful-husband.html" target="_blank">my new habit for the month</a>, and then I came across (through links in other blogs I read) the <a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/?s=marriage+challenge" target="_blank">Marriage Challenge</a> that is running over at </span><a href="http://www.womenlivingwell.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Women Living Well Ministries</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I know it is February, and many blogs are probably focusing relationships this month. This still seemed like a God thing, though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just love Courtney's comments on her initial post about the challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">"to </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">praise, encourage, inspire, admire, build up, thank and appreciate your husband"</strong></i></span></h3>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/marriage-challenge-and-my-habit.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-17987547444058971242013-02-04T04:00:00.000-06:002013-02-04T11:02:46.817-06:00My wonderful husband<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each month I choose a new habit to develop or solidify in my personal life and practice. These habits range from life style changes to housekeeping tips. The comment element is it is something I want to see in my daily life and practice. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have up to this point in my writing and blogging been very cautious about sharing too much personal information with "the world". That is going to change some this month for my new habit for February is very personal. It relates to my husband and my interactions with him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since February is so closely connected with Valentine's Day and thoughts of those you love, I tended to look for a habit that had to do with my family. </span></div>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-wonderful-husband.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-90985404983795523222013-02-01T04:00:00.000-06:002013-02-04T11:03:24.335-06:00Yuck! What a mess . . .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been trying for three weeks now to do meal plans for my lunches. This is one of the many steps I hope to make this year in discovering more real food and altering our family's relationship with food to be a bit better than it is. I did not think this step would be that difficult, after all I have been meal planning suppers for over a year! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boy, was I wrong. What a disastrous mess!!!</span></h4>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/02/yuck-what-mess.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-15368408633244042492013-01-30T14:56:00.003-06:002013-01-31T19:38:22.837-06:00Speech lessons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The goal I selected (or rather choose out of slight desperation) for my January habit is excellent speech. When I first wrote about my new habit, I had grand ideas of studying excellence in speech - what did that mean? how did it look in real life? what was I going to do to establish this habit? how was I going to teach it to my kids and encourage us all in the development of this habit? Well, my grand ideas and expectations were drowned in the busyness and ideas that I allowed to crowd my days over the last few weeks.</span></div>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/01/speech-lessons.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-45408920215262467812013-01-11T12:54:00.001-06:002013-01-31T19:38:03.966-06:00Easy Tomato Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am always on the look out for easy, good tasting meals; and this was so tasty, I just had to share. </span></div>
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</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/01/easy-tomato-soup.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-17994754054835774672013-01-11T10:19:00.002-06:002013-01-31T19:39:21.542-06:00Meal Planning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">I am following <a href="http://www.realfoodexperiment.com/2013/01/my-before-story/" target="_blank">Melanie</a> as she works through her <a href="http://www.realfoodexperiment.com/" target="_blank">Real Food Experiment</a> for this coming year. Since I have been wanting to change some of my eating habits and the overall food habits of our family, I am looking forward to using her experiments as a starting point for me to take some steps of change for myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">The <a href="http://www.realfoodexperiment.com/2013/01/experiment-1-meal-planning-and-how-bloggers-can-get-a-free-year-of-emeals/" target="_blank">first experiment</a> Melanie is doing is meal planning. I had initially thought that I might not do anything with this particular experiment, after all I meal plan our suppers and have for quite a while. It works well for me, and I do not see a need to change the way I am doing meal plans. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px;">However . . . .</span><br>
</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/01/meal-planning.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-34315290523121281242013-01-08T06:00:00.000-06:002013-01-31T19:40:07.983-06:00Excellent Speech<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The words we say have such great impact . . . on us and those around us. I have been impressed by the importance of the things we say and the way we say them. Both are so vital and reflect our heart attitudes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I have been contemplating a new habit for this month, the list of possibilities was rather long. In reviewing the possibilities, nothing seemed to be quite right. Then in the midst of yet another talk with God about the attitudes in our home, and how they are being reflected in not such good ways in our speech . . . </span><br>
</div></div><a href="https://simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/01/excellent-speech.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-9677784096746958932013-01-07T14:24:00.000-06:002013-01-07T14:24:00.280-06:00My Food Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the many things that are on my list for this year is developing better eating and snacking habits for our family as well as eating some foods new to our dinner table. This will entail some food learning for me. And I know I will need to work with foods that to date I have left on the shelves of the grocery store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a lot of trepidation about this goal.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I came across Melanie from </span><a href="http://www.onlyabreath.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Only A Breath</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'s </span><a href="http://www.realfoodexperiment.com/2012/12/welcome/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Real Food Experiment</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, I was very excited to be able to watch over her shoulder as she also journeyed in the area of real food and healthy eating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Melanie shares her experiments in real food, I hope to follow with her and share with you all my own food journey: what I am doing, learning, etc. I am not a food expert! I have no official training in food prep or nutrition. All I have learned has come from the people in my life, reading (reading, reading, and more reading), and experimenting (some successful and some not!). I am terrified of being overwhelmed by the amount I have to learn, the changes I feel we need to make in our family, and the resistance I may face from the others in our home. Yet, this terror while not stop me from proceeding!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about you?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have eating or food habits you would like to see change? Consider joining me as I make baby steps along the way. I plan to post a couple of times a month, specifically about my food journey. I will make baby steps as I grow in my food knowledge and practices this year. At the end of the year, I am determined to be in a different, hopefully better, place then I am today! </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-10023065617087818122013-01-03T04:00:00.000-06:002013-01-04T18:55:12.075-06:00Focus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Wow! It seems as if I was just setting about to find and define my </span><a href="http://www.simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-word-for-2012.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">One Word for 2012</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, now it is 2013 and I am being prompted to think of my One Word for the new year. Yikes! The ideas and possible word options are overwhelming. My brain is starting to short-circuit just thinking about all that I could choose: joy, praise, simplify, refine, patience, enjoy, etc. Do you get the sense I am a bit scattered . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last month or two of 2012 have been a weird blur of Holiday activities, sickness in our home, moments of family time, and just trying to juggle the normal routines of life in the midst of it all. I am starting the new year with projects calling to be tackled, work for my boss that needs to be completed, areas of my home that need some cleaning and pick up, a child who is sick and needing some extra loving, a body that is worn from activity and illness -- Ahhh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish it would all be quiet for minute so I can focus . . . a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nd there, in the midst of it all, my One Word is born. </span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG7czM3E5AuNASYBUMZF-btP43eddTWhSs2G-pngmgH58UnI50jMuLgJqoyi7nFfy6PC4WnFsFzUBb7tJ4YDaZPw_N06Eg8sA1RbvUsQMz1ybrp5uCDlXqIp4gXkZT-jdKahj7y8JP0Y/s1600/OneWord2013_Focus150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG7czM3E5AuNASYBUMZF-btP43eddTWhSs2G-pngmgH58UnI50jMuLgJqoyi7nFfy6PC4WnFsFzUBb7tJ4YDaZPw_N06Eg8sA1RbvUsQMz1ybrp5uCDlXqIp4gXkZT-jdKahj7y8JP0Y/s1600/OneWord2013_Focus150.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All the things demanding attention! All the projects and activities I want to work on or complete! All the people I desire to bless and help! In the crazyness of it all, my <i>One Word: Focus</i> takes its first breathes of life and slowly begins to grow. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the ever growing list of things I want to or need to accomplish in the coming week and month, not to mention the whole year of 2013, "focus" will be one my greatest allies and hopefully help keep me from being overwhelmed and overrun by it all. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.oneword365.com/" mce_href="http://www.oneword365.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7051" height="60" mce_src="http://oneword365.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ow468-look1.jpg" src="http://oneword365.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ow468-look1.jpg" title="One_Word" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about you? Is there one word that you can use to describe the past year? What about the coming year? Is there a word you would like to represent what you hope this coming year will be for you or your family? Check out the <a href="http://oneword365.com/community/" target="_blank">One Word Community</a>, read <a href="http://oneword365.com/about/" target="_blank">what they are about</a> and consider joining us as we seek to have One Word for all the days of this year that will describe what we hope to be and do. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-42616150410568644502012-12-31T10:09:00.000-06:002013-01-04T15:15:14.413-06:00Being Present<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.simplicityandinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/12/habit-of-month-being-present.html" target="_blank">Being present</a> was my habit to work on for this past month. Not living so focused on what was coming next that I missed the time I was in right now. Taking time to breathe and enjoy what I was doing, rather than rushing on to the next thing. I had hoped that this habit would help me to enjoy the moments of the Christmas holiday season and not be too distracted by my plans for activities and meals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well . . .</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This month has been a very weird blur of illness, holiday preparations and celebrations, and visiting time with family. As I look back at the month, it has been nothing like what I expected four weeks ago when I was looking ahead at it. I am finding it hard to evaluate how I did in the practice of my habit. Being present in the moment was a reality for me, not necessarily because of a conscience choice, though. The need to take things one day and moment at time was very real for me. With sickness in our home, plans for activities that relied on more than our family, and trimming down my holiday preparations so I was not overwhelmed; it seems as if I lived this past month in the moment by moment presence of each day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evaluating how I did with my habit is slightly underwhelming. A twinge of disappointment tugs on my heart as I consider how this habit effected me over the last several weeks. I am not sure exactly how I was envisioning being effected, but the practice of this habit of being present is not what I thought it would be. Not to be stopped by the disappointment, I am looking at what I have learned. All the planning and preparations and forethought in the whole world does not replace enjoying the moment you are in. You can so easily miss the simple and profound joys and lessons of life by being distracted by what is coming. And still you can live so much in the moment, that you fail to prepare and be ready for what is coming. Most of life requires some preparation, some planning and getting ready. Like so many things balance is so very important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think ahead and plan, prepare for what is coming and what you want to do and be, look to the future and work towards your goals. Yet in all your looking ahead, don't overlook that wonderful time you have now! Don't miss enjoying the single flower bloom because you are so distracted by the view of the field in before you. Prepare for what is coming, and at the same time enjoy what you have with you today!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-44601411361072109902012-12-07T08:59:00.000-06:002013-01-04T15:15:14.415-06:00Habit of the Month: Being Present<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New month, new habit . . . well, I struggled with whether or not I would do a new habit for this month of December. After all this month seems so full of activities, events, and things to do already; why add creating a new habit into the mix? The logic side of me reasoned: You would better be able to focus on a new habit once the new year started. What habit are you going to work on anyway? Maybe it would be better to wait. Then in the midst of sleepless nights due to a serious head cold and cough being passed around our home, surrounded by days of clamoring from my kids for activities and attention, my new habit idea was born. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Being present in the moment." </span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I considered waiting until after the busy-ness of the holiday season to implement it, but then what better time than Christmas time to practice some being present. So what exactly does "being present" look like?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">stopping what I am doing when my kids what to play a game</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sitting on the floor to enjoy the cookies we just baked with my toddler</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sitting with my husband while he works on his latest Christmas photo project</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">enjoying listening to Christmas music while drinking my tea or coffee</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sitting and watching the snow fall</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kneeling next to my six year old and she tells me about her latest adventure at school</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">focusing on what is happening now, instead of being distracted by what needs to be done later in the day or tomorrow</span></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess, it could all be summed up in "taking time to breathe." Slow down, pay attention to the moment I am in, and just enjoy being present mentally in the now. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-278435353013075582012-11-30T05:00:00.000-06:002013-01-07T14:28:55.314-06:00Habit of the Month Follow-up: Taking It Down A Notch<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This month has been a weird combination of time flying by and slow motion. Overall the month has been very enjoyable, and our family was able to celebrate a wonderfully calm Thanksgiving Weekend. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For the last month, the habit I have focused on has been one of reduction. </b> Taking my plans, ideas for activities, and to do list expectations and cutting them down a bit. For more of an idea of what that entailed for us, check out my <a href="http://snowhytemn.blogspot.com/2012/11/habit-of-month-taking-it-down-notch.html" target="_blank">original post</a> from the beginning of the month. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>So, how did I do at scaling back?</i> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I think pretty good. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our extended family's Thanksgiving was celebrated at our home for the first time in several years, with both sets of grandparents being able to come. What fun! I initially started off with some pretty big ideas of cleaning, decorating, and food for the special day; then, considering my Habit for the Month, I started crossing things off my idea list. Even after that, there were some family events that forced me to reevaluate what really "needed" to be done, and more cutting and trimming of expectations took place. Those coming to our home to eat made it very easy for me to delegate food dishes for them to bring, and everyone in our home pitched in to help clean and do some project things our home. I even got some Pinterest ideas put into real life for the occasion. Nothing fantastical about the event, but it was perfect for us. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so pleased with the results of this month's habit. Not only was I able to put to practical application a somewhat vague idea, but I was able to see the direct and indirect benefits of practicing my new habit. With the new month's approach, I know that I will continue to have opportunity to practice my new habit, and I anticipate that it will continue to be solidified in my long term life habits and the benefits will continue to be as enjoyable as they have been this past month.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-46300202078802036782012-11-08T04:00:00.000-06:002013-01-04T15:15:14.416-06:00Habit of the Month: Taking It Down a Notch<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a different sort of habit. Often habits we develop with intention are something we establish to make us better or to help us do more. This month's habit for me is to do less!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love, love, love planning - almost to a fault. When I get in planning mode, I can very quickly develop a plan that is so big or involved that putting it into action is difficult at best or impossible and stressful at worst. So for this month my habit is to take a step back and strike something from the plan - just bring it down a notch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I plan to run four errands today - move one to next week.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we get together to bake with Grandma, instead of making four types of cookies, maybe do two.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I wake expecting (planning) to accomplish five things from my project list - bring that down to two or three.</span></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My reasoning for the unusual habit - simply to reduce the stress and pressure I can put on myself and my family to accomplish more than is reasonable or possible while tending to all the routine things of life. If I am able to accomplish more great! Or maybe enjoy a few minutes of relaxation, go for a walk, play an extra game with the kids, etc. The idea is to just reduce the pressure and stress trying to cram more into the minutes of my day, just because I planned more than was reasonable. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going into the holdiays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's it is easy to get over busy. Running around and stressed so much I am not enjoying the moments is not what I want for this Season. So for this month I am practicing cutting out something(s) and slowing down just to enjoy some simple moments. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-17046212615944076992012-11-03T04:00:00.000-05:002013-01-04T15:15:14.409-06:00"Back to Routines" Follow-up<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I review what I wrote about getting back to routines in September, what a joy to see things that I expressed as being important to me becoming a reality! Pleasant mornings are more regular then they were when I fist wrote about routines. The skill of being able to see the big picture and how my daily activities are effected by my goals is developing in my life. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a good "getting back to routines" time, and I am happy with the overall relative calmness and confidence that has come as a result. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-82320779937708032542012-09-13T04:00:00.000-05:002013-01-07T14:28:55.323-06:00"Survival for Busy Women"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_WssiUPU_ma8XoM7fPWwPE0ZIMCcq4j-bTSOGBEkWu1dJCPrQI6HZIDjRWkpcBy8DiIva_vxHbelshLrRMc94ug_AYyQchD4L0zUY63V4r3s2u7B_m2nsZMy64z2Q3MGDgNEJogOIDS7/s1600/900a828fd7a0d8574e9f0110.L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_WssiUPU_ma8XoM7fPWwPE0ZIMCcq4j-bTSOGBEkWu1dJCPrQI6HZIDjRWkpcBy8DiIva_vxHbelshLrRMc94ug_AYyQchD4L0zUY63V4r3s2u7B_m2nsZMy64z2Q3MGDgNEJogOIDS7/s200/900a828fd7a0d8574e9f0110.L.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>Survival For Busy Women: Establishing Efficient Home Management</i></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> by Emlie Barnes is a good resource of advice and ideas for helping any woman learn how to better manage her home and life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life can be very busy or stressful and the suggestions and guidelines through out this book are practical how to's for those seeking guidance and help for life management. Lists and charts, project ideas, and organizational suggestions are scattered through out the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the easy reading of Emlie's writing and the format of this book. The ideas presented, though not new to me, where done simply and in some cases differently than I have seen previously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The edition of this book I read was published over twenty-five years ago and that fact could be seen in several of the tools she referenced. The ideas are still applicable, though. The concepts of life management do not change over time. An update of to this book is available, and I am looking forward to reading it to see if and how the author incorporates the tools technology has made available. I am curious to see if she has an new ideas or suggestions after twenty plus years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Survival for Busy Women</i> is a good primer for those seeking to be more efficient in their home management. Whether for a young person or a lady with much experience, I would recommend this book for the basic ideas, suggestions, and charts presented by the author. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-68791630679543252102012-09-06T04:00:00.000-05:002013-01-04T15:15:14.422-06:00Habit of the Month: Back to Routines<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have taken a break from writing and posting over the summer months. Now, as my girls are headed back to school and our schedule needs are changing, it is time for a "back to routines" evaluation. </span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Some times of the year just naturally lend themselves to changes in the routines of my day and a reevaluation of my time usage. The start of the school year and beginning of the fall season are one of those times. (Oh, how I love the fall! Maybe more on that in a later post.) The relaxed morning and evening duties/routines of summer do not assist in the smooth functioning of our family as a tighter schedule becomes necessary for school obligations. </span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mornings can be chaos and craziness if we don't have some sense of structure to them. Getting my family up and started on their days with a pleasant attitude in our home, is a priority for me. To help make this a reality, having a routine to our mornings is a must! Once we get into it, even on the weekends it seems the routine is followed, though at a slightly more relaxed pace. </span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Often repeated in organization and time management circles, is the concept that your morning really starts the evening before. When I first heard the idea I agreed a routine the night before that considers the morning coming would be helpful, though I really did not think it was that important. Well, I have been converted! Considering the next morning and day as you go into the activities for the evening is cornerstone in helping me to make the coming morning pleasant. </span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In addition to getting back to more structured morning and evening routines, evaluating my activities in the home, time spent out of the home, and where I am putting my energy is a big part of getting back to routines. Big activities, jobs, and events all trickle down into the everyday tasks and commitments. I need to be certain they are the priorities I should have and want. If I don't things quickly spin out of control. </span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, this month's habit: "Back to routines!" I am looking forward to the structured organization and different sort of relaxed feeling it will bring to my life and our home.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-90739274414212929202012-08-10T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-04T15:14:43.621-06:00"Large Family Logistics"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Large-Family-Logistics-Kim-Brenneman/dp/1934554499/ref=cm_cmu_pg_i" target="_blank">Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family</a></i> by Kim Brenneman is an easy, enjoyable read. Kim's ideas are encouraging and practical. She starts with the reality of where we may be as women and systematically presents principles and ideas that will help us grow.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsuWSNyNqNJ6lYcDaIdObyc2oL-wi6ySbQzOrvbVYezpBMtyVivUJYbuZPnZOAmKg_d7ZSGMQYOqmfyPBuyzomtj964nzuGEhFti67HQr6Ud5AAWqtCSZvouSXqONU_T89GJlpVNf7jIp/s1600/large+family+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsuWSNyNqNJ6lYcDaIdObyc2oL-wi6ySbQzOrvbVYezpBMtyVivUJYbuZPnZOAmKg_d7ZSGMQYOqmfyPBuyzomtj964nzuGEhFti67HQr6Ud5AAWqtCSZvouSXqONU_T89GJlpVNf7jIp/s200/large+family+book.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kim, mother of nine, and her husband run a farm and micro-dairy in Iowa. She home-schools her children and enjoys a variety of gardening and sewing activities. She offers a variety of ideas and suggestions for household, personal, and learning management. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kim starts her book with a section presenting principles that can help you be the women, wife, mother, and manager that is God-honoring. Her premise that we need to be grounded in Scripture helps to bring the focus back to the reality that all we do is for God - even the care of ourselves and our home. The second section of her book focuses on presenting ideas and plans for the organization and running of your home. She approaches everything with the idea that we are to be working together as a family and, as a mom, we have the responsibility to teach our children the maintenance of a home and family and allow them the opportunity to "practice" by working with their siblings to help mom and dad run the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the easy reading of Kim's writing. She wrote in a way that is very familiar and it was almost as if she was having a conversation with you. The chapters are fairly short, some only a couple of pages, which makes fitting a moment of reading in easy amidst everything else of life. She has excellent ideas and lays them out in a very understandable and easy to implement way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a few times where Kim's strong feelings about how something should be done, came across very clearly. It is important to remember in everything we read to measure it against the Truth and our own priorities. What she says is great! but if you are not sure of where you stand you could be lead to feel badly about where you currently are and choices your family has made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would recommend <i>Large Family Logistics</i> to most any wife and mother who is seeking to improve the management and function of her household. It is especially helpful to those who have a large number of family members and/or a variety of responsibilities. Her ideas can easily be translated and modified to apply in a smaller family setting as well. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-20008520187623396342012-08-09T22:38:00.000-05:002012-12-07T11:52:54.006-06:00My Newest Lasagna Creation<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love lasagna in our family (well, four of the five of us love it, one will force it down when required to do so and motivated by the thought of dessert). I have recently found a couple of different recipes for lasagna meals, and several weeks ago (actually months now) made an attempt at one of them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love cooking with my crockpot - the fix it and forget for the day idea works well with my brain, since I usually think about supper when I am cleaning up from breakfast. And I love the ability to easily get supper on the table in the evening when we are all very hungry and I usually have a toddler wrapped around my legs or am attempting to assist with homework studies.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The recipe I tried was very tasty, though more like chili. I added my modifications below and would even suggest trying it with a different large noodle next time. Also, watch the cooking time carefully. It burned easily along the edges once the noodles were done cooking. Of course, our cheese loving family topped each serving with a pinch of parmesan or mozzarella cheese. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lasagna Chili </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(modified from <a href="http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/easy-crockpot-lasagna-recipe/2/" target="_blank">Easy Crockpot Lasagna</a>)</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1+ lb. gr. turkey and sausage (½ and ½)</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ c. onion, diced</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 cloves of garlic, diced</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 – 26 oz. jar of Prego traditional pasta sauce</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ c. water</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1½ c. mozzarella cheese</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 c. cottage cheese</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 T. grated parmesan cheese</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 T. parsley</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 egg</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 lasagna noodles, uncooked</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ c. mozzarella cheese</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 T. grated parmesan cheese</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></blockquote><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: start;" type="1"><ol><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook ground turkey and sausage. Add onion and garlic until cooked tender. Combine with pasta sauce and water, simmer for five minutes and set aside.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Combine mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley and egg. Set aside.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 4-6 qt. crockpot pour 1 c. of spaghetti meat sauce. Place half of the noodles in, breaking them as necessary so they fit. Top with half the cheese mixture. </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Place remaining noodles and top with 2 c. of meat sauce, and remaining cheese mixture. </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Top with remaining meat sauce, and cook for 4 hours on low or until noodles are soft. (I would start checking it after 3 hours.)</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Top with mozzarella/parmasen mixture and let it sit for 10’ covered with the heat turned off. </span></li></ol></ol></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-8830706144304412392012-04-20T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-04T15:14:43.620-06:00"One Year to An Organized Life"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I enjoy reading and learning . . . probably the most of any of the more casual pastimes I have. Almost as much, I enjoy telling others what I am learning and sharing the ideas I read. So, here is the first of what I am hoping will be many reviews of the books I have or am reading. <br />
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My first review venture is Regina Leed's, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Life-Week---Week/dp/B004LQ0E4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334849435&sr=8-1" target="_blank">One Year to An Organized Life</a>. My sister-in-law gave it to me for my birthday last year and we have been reading it together. <br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This book is an excellent guide to organization and de-cluttering for those who want to act but are not sure where to start. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Regina Leeds is a professional organizer from Los Angeles area. She lays out an unique monthly and weekly plan to help the reader develop routines and break down tasks so that the organization of one's life is not so overwhelming. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are very few areas left untouched by the habits and methods taught in this book. Regina works through questions and journal writing to help the reader get to the core of why you do things the way your do. She systematically lays out an organization plan to help you see what you are doing that works well, discover where and why things are not working, and assist you in organizing more in line with what helps you function best. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sections of the book are broken down by month and each month is divided into four weeks of chapters. Each month's reading included some reflection or examination questions, ideas of how to organize or develop routines, and an assignment with a project that deals directly with the area being worked on that month. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This book is enjoyable to read. There is a lot of ideas to learn and implement. The projects can be big or little depending on your current situation and the area. Regina gives you much to think about as she encourages you to address some deeper reasons to why your organization is the way it is. If you read the book cover to cover it can be very overwhelming. </span><span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">I have chosen to approach this book like a class. Each week I read the appropriate chapter and do the assignment whether it is the journal questions, a quick purge, or a massive organization. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My sister-in-law and I have been working through the book for almost nine months now. Doing it together has helped keep me on track and we have been able to help each other with a project or two. As a mom with young children I found some of the project assignments very challenging and overwhelming. Time does not always allow me to stop everything for a complete day in order to focus on an effective overhaul of an area. However, there has always been some aspect of the assigned project I have been able to accomplish. Any step forward, no matter how big or small, is good. </span></span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I recommend <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Organized-Life-Week---Week/dp/B004LQ0E4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334849435&sr=8-1" target="_blank">One Year to an Organized Life</a></em> to most anyone looking to make changes in their organization. As for myself, this book is going on my bookshelf for future reference when I am done with it, and I am sure I will be rereading and revisiting aspects of it for years to come. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003188069541150515.post-69092493808776899112012-04-01T08:00:00.000-05:002013-01-07T14:28:55.317-06:00Just Finish Already!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This month's habit at first glance seems to be very applicable to me. The Habit of the Month is Completion: finishing the task or project I am doing before moving on to another. My life at times seems to be a constant string of interruptions. With family demands, housework that is never done, and my personal list of tasks there are days I feel as if I am moving from one thing to another with out never really finishing anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, this month, my attention will be to work on completing the project or task I am doing. Admittedly there will be times when that is not an option. If a screaming child calls from the other room or an appointment time comes, of course I will need to pause what I am doing to move on the another responsibility. The key will be coming back to and completing it when I am able to do so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I think about this habit, I am not sure how it will play out in my life this month. So, we shall see. I am curious to see how and if changes the way I do things. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would you join me this month is seeking to be intentional with completing the task or project at hand before moving on to another?</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com