I love cookbooks.  I love collecting recipes and I love trying new foods.  At least I thought I loved those things but now I’ve discovered I love something else more:  simplicity.  All that collecting and trying of new recipes meant that every week in the kitchen involved some new learning curve.  Even if a new recipe was simple I couldn’t just make it off the top of my head and if a recipe was complicated but only supposed to take an hour you could bet with 3 kids under foot it would take more than that.  Also, there were the inevitable failures.  Those nights when we had no choice but to pack everybody up and head out for pizza hoping that charred smell would be gone by the time we got back.  Enough was enough.  Now dinners are on a four week rotation, lunches on a one week rotation and breakfasts pretty much the same every day.  It seemed a little boring to me at first but I am surprised by how much my family (and myself) have come to enjoy the routine.  Here’s what it looks like. 

This master list I made in Excel because it was easier to see how all the meals worked together on a grid but I have since transferred the plan into my Outlook calendar giving each meal and snack its own “appointment”.  Seeing the meals right next to our activities helps me be realistic about what I can accomplish in a day.  For example, given how long it takes to prepare, I probably won’t be making Tika Masala and Naan on the day of field trip but I might do some preparation the day before or switch it out for a crockpot dish that month.

Other things might cause changes to the plan as well.  Someone might give me a bunch of tomatoes and I’ll adapt to that or we may be expecting company on hotdog day so I might do something a little more special.  Also, several blocks on the plan actually allow for choice (ie. pork chops OR chicken, nachos OR quesadillas) but having the skeleton has saved me so much time.  For one thing, since I order my groceries online I was able to create a master list of all the ingredients I would need in a given month and when it comes time to place my order each week I rarely go looking for anything.  I just skim through my list checking off items I need.

Other tips:

*If I find a meal that works really well then I either type the instructions or where to find them in the notes of that meal “appointment”.  I might also leave myself info like “works well with corn” or “1 pinch of cayenne is enough.” That way when the rotation comes back around that recipe (and any alteration) is right there waiting for me.  Conversely, if something doesn’t work at all then I make a note of that too.

*Knowing that most meals will swing back around within a month has also allowed me to do more freezing than I was before.  For example, Saving Dinner has a great Baked Ziti recipe which the whole family loves the first day but hates by the time we finally get through the leftovers.  No problem.  I now make half in a foil bake-n-take container to freeze and serve the other half.  The following month I set the container down in the fridge to thaw the night before and heat n eat that evening. 

On another note, lest you think I feed my family perfectly healthy food all the time, take a look at the lunches.  For dinners, I strive for well-balanced;  for lunches, when I’m alone with the kids, I strive for survival.  Just keepin’ it real, people.

I like to think we’re flexible around here and I try to go with the flow as much as possible (With 3 young children, how can you not?) but I am not a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of gal.  I like to have a plan and however much we eventually deviate from that plan I find that simply having it gives me focus and sense of control over our day.  ~~ That’s sense of control not actual control.  Please know that I understand the difference ;-)  Anyway, for what it’s worth here’s how I plan my week.

All of my actual appointments and possible appointments are kept in MS Outlook (I could use any calendar I suppose but this is what we have around here.)  By possible appointments I mean all of the fun/educational/interesting events I hear about that I might want to go to but don’t know right now if I’ll be able to attend.  (ie every event for the library’s summer reading program went in my calendar but by the end of summer we only actually attended 3 or 4 activities.)  This keeps all the clutter of notices and flyers from accumulating in my inbox or in my mind but also insures I don’t miss something fun when it comes around.

Also, in my calendar are “appointments” for Today’s Laundry and Today’s Cleaning Zone as well as for every meal and snack.  (More on how I’ve streamlined my meal planning and house cleaning in separate posts.) This way when I print my schedule for the week everything is in one place.

So, it’s Sunday night.  The kids are asleep.  The house is quiet.  I pull up my calendar for the coming week. Adjust my menu as necessary (making out my shopping list as I go), note any special appointments, delete any “extras” I know we won’t be attending, and click the print button.  This process takes about 20 minutes.  It used to take over an hour and wasn’t nearly as neat or clear in the end.

Here’s what this coming week really looks like.

Even with all of that done, I still need something to keep me focused each day.  So I created my own Daily Docket.  Originally, I read about this idea here when I was working on a home management notebook.  I have since shelved my home management notebook (using Outlook instead) and adapted the Daily Docket to fit my needs.  Why? Because it “is a marriage of scheduled routine and flexibility. It provides the skeleton for me to hang my agenda, but it allows for wiggle room because I fill out a new sheet each day.”

Here’s what my docket looks like before I fill it out.  You are more than welcome to copy it for you own use if it would be helpful.

And here’s what it looks like after.

Both sheets go on my fridge in the morning though by evening time I often find my Daily Docket is in my pocket filled with notes and scribbles from the days activities.  But that’s okay because after the kids go to bed I move those notes wherever I need them and fill out a new, crisp and clean Docket for the morrow.

So that’s it.  All you ever wanted to know and more about how I maintain my sanity.  Planning and prayer, people.  Planning and prayer.

A couple of months ago I bought some of these foaming soap dispensers from Amazon.  I got them from Amazon because 1) I heart having things delivered. and 2) It was a better deal on that brand than I could find locally.  The product arrived and I was pleased.  Then I got to thinking about replacements and how much plastic I would be contributing to eternity.  I also realized that the brand I’d chosen was not as wholesome as I’d thought.

~ Insert bright idea here ~

What if I made my own refill using truly organic ingredients?  Hmmm…. what if ….?

So I did and now you can too.

Start with a container of Dr. Bronner’s in your choice of scents … ignore the crazy label.

Find an empty foaming soap dispenser.  Be sure the lid will come off as not all of them do.

Pull out a large measuring cup. 

The ratio you are going for is 4:1.  So figure out how much total liquid you need to fill your bottle and divide accordingly.  Don’t forget you’ll need to leave some room for the pump to fit back in.

I used 1/4 cup castile soap and added

1 cup of water.  Add the water slowly because you don’t want your mixture to be too sudsy.

Pour the solution into your dispenser and

Ta da!  You just saved some cash and you kept a plastic bottle from the landfill.  

Go you.

I heart baking soda.  It is the epitome of a multi-tasking tool.  If you didn’t know this already go here and be enlightened.  My problem was not finding uses for baking soda but finding a way to use it easily.  Enter the parmesan cheese shaker.  I let this sit in my fridge to absorb odors and pull it out for a quick shake when I need to clean something.  No hassle cleaning on the cheap works for me.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday is hosted by Rocks In My Dryer.

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We’ve had flannel wipes in our home for quite some time now.  Purchased during a “green moment” they’re one of my  little contributions toward saving the planet and all that.  They are incredibly soft and surprisingly easy to use and maintain once you know few tricks.

Trick #1 - Stain Removal

I keep a bucket near my washer filled with water and a scoop of OxiClean.  Since I don’t use bleach for anything (which is a whole different post) any super soiled items go here to soak overnight before washing.  This includes soiled wipes.  I read about this tip here and like her, I’ve not had any trouble with staining.

Trick #2 - Wipes On the Go

Sometimes I need wipes when I’m out and about since I don’t want to throw away my flannel investment I carry two small sandwich bags in my diaper bag/purse.  In one I place a few moistened wipes.  The other is empty and clearly marked “for soiled wipes only.”  After using a wipe I simply store it in the “soiled” bag until I get home where I drop it in my wash bucket. (see Trick #1)  If you use cloth diapers you probably already have a wet bag that works the same way.

Trick #3 - The “Wet” Part of Wet Wipes

For a while I ran a wipe under water when I needed one which worked well enough but recently I whipped up this solution (It took about 3 minutes.) and poured it over my wipes so they are all pre-moistened.

2 cups water

1/8 cup baby oil

1/8 cup shampoo (The original recipe calls for baby shampoo but I use this.)

3 drops tea tree oil

Place all ingredients in a sealed jar and shake until mixed.  You could put this in a sprayer for use each time or you could do what I did and place your wipes in an airtight container then pour the solution over them.  I only used about half of the mixture.  The rest I’ve labeled and stored away for future use.

Trick #4 - Dispensing

I have an old Pampers wipe container that was designed for pop up’s so this is how I fold my wipes before I put them in.

Continue folding this way until you run out of wipes then place them in the container and use just like disposable pop ups.

Trick #5 - Making Your Own?

I didn’t do this but it occurs to me that if you have any sewing ability at all it would be no problem to make your own.  The ones I have are rectangular pieces of flannel that are simply serged around the edges.  If you’re like me and you work best from instructions check these out.  This lady seems to be an old pro.  Imagine all the cute designs you could have by making your own.  Sadly, mine are just plain white.  If you make cut ones let me know!  I’ll try not to be jealous.

For some time now (since the Sister can’t sleep phase) we’ve had a family bedroom.  I don’t have a picture of it but sufficed to say it was cramped.  Here is a picture that will simulate the feeling.

It’s not a bedroom at all.  It’s our den and it substituted as our family bedroom while the real thing was being deconstructed.  We didn’t really have a plan so how could I know when we started our bedroom switch-a-roo project that it would not only end in more privacy for the parents. (And angels descended from heaven singing, “Glory to God in the highest.”) but also result in my fabuloso craft room.  I am blessed.

Here’s a before picture not from the very beginning but about halfway through when the room was actually starting to take shape.  Both beds had to be disassembled, moved from another room and reassembled here.  Fun times.

Both beds are 3/4 bunk height so the children each have a special hideaway space of their own underneath.  Sister got creative this week and pulled out one of our car DVD players.  “Look, Mom!  Now my hideout has cable!”  She has plans to install a water gun security system and to train Serafina as a guard cat.  Also, I have a sneaking suspicion she might know where all the extra granola bars are hiding.  She’s nothing if not prepared.

I know closets are not that interesting but you will understand the significance if I first explain that since we have lived in this house (almost a year!) I have had to go to no less than 2 rooms every morning to gather all my clothing.  At certain points in that year Will has gone to as many as 3 rooms to get what he needs.  Ridiculous I know but closet rod space was at a premium so we did what we could.  The picture above represents the first step toward closet normalcy.

*coming soon when I get around to it:  “The Parents’ Get a Room of Their Own”

Today it rained and rained.  Then the sun gave up trying to come out and it rained some more.  We don’t actually live in the flood zone part of our city but with all this wetness it sure looks as if we do.  Sister has the sniffles so even though I typically let the children go out with boots and ‘brellas in weather like this, today was an indoor day.  All of us… indoors … all. day. long.  More fun than a barrel of monkeys, I tell you.  Actually it was rather like being indoors with a barrel of monkeys but that is neither here nor there.  What I wanted to tell you about was a non-monkey problem and how I solved it.

Most mommies will recall how the first trimester of pregnancy introduces a host of changes not the least of which is a heightened sense of smell.  By which, of course , I mean Mount Everest heightened.  This is a delightful asset as the flowers of spring begin to bud but not so delightful when one’s house is shut up by the rain and someone has dumped leftover taco meat into the trash and someone else failed to run the disposal after draining old milk into the sink and still another someone hasn’t quite got the hang of this potty training thing.  I took out the trash, ran lemons in the disposal and changed jr.  Still, random aromas persisted underlined by a subtle mustiness that comes of too much damp and not enough sunshine.  Between the waves of nausea I pondered my dilemma.  If only I had a good smell that would cover it all up.  This recipe for crockpot potpurri would work nicely… if only I had the ingredients.  A scented candle perhaps?  Pity the last one in the house was down to a nub with not even enough wick to temp a flame.  Think, woman! [insert nauseous wave] Think!

In an act of desperation and pulling inspiration from those hot plate looking candle warmers, I hacked up the last of my wickless candle and tossed the pieces into an empty glass jar.  The jar was placed in a small crockpot and left to ruminate with the lid off.  I waited … and hoped.

As the smell of pumpkin spice wafted through each room my nausea subsided and I knew this idea must be shared.

A couple of closing thoughts:  It occurs to me that a scented candle already in a jar could be placed directly in the crockpot.  Also, hubby suggested adding a bit of water in the bottom of the crockpot to keep the jar from getting too hot and breaking.  I didn’t have any trouble with breakage but it’s worth considering.

A non-Newtonian fluid is “a liquid that does not abide by any of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws on how liquids behave. Quicksand, gelatin, and ketchup are all non-Newtonian fluids.” And though I’d very much like for you to think of me as a genius-mom who can spew all sorts of facts and resources out at a moment’s notice, I must confess that this particular bit of information came from Joey Green who also provided the following super-fun recipe for slime.  (When your done here click on over for some slimy facts.)

Green Slime

What You Need

• 4-ounce bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All
• Two large glass bowls
• Water
• Green food coloring
• Large spoon
• Measuring cup
• 1 teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax
• Ziploc Storage Bag or airtight container

What to Do
Empty the bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All into the first bowl. Fill the empty glue bottle with water and then pour it into the bowl of glue. Add ten drops of food coloring and stir well.

In the second bowl, mix the borax with 1 cup water. Stir until the powder dissolves.

Slowly pour the colored glue into the bowl containing the borax solution, stirring as you do so. Remove the thick glob that forms, and knead the glob with your hands until it feels smooth and dry. Discard the excess water remaining in the bowl. Store the Green Slime in the Ziploc bag or airtight container.

What Happens
The resulting soft, pliable, rubbery glob snaps if pulled quickly, stretches if pulled slowly, and slowly oozes to the floor if placed over the edge of a table.

Why It Works
The polyvinylacetate molecules in the glue act like invisible bicycle chains drifting around the water. The borax molecules (sodium tetraborate) act like little padlocks, locking the chain links together wherever they touch the chain. The locks and chains form a interconnected “fishnet,” and the water molecules act like fish trapped in the net.

We didn’t have food coloring to make it green but even so the children had a blast and remained occupied for almost an hour.  Pretty good toy if you ask me.

On a similar note, I came by Joey’s slime via a search for Borax uses of which there are many.  If you don’t have box of this stuff in your house I highly suggest you get some.  Oh and this link is great too … if you’d like to know where borax comes from.

  I love a burning candle - the soft glow of a flickering flame, a light scent wafting through my home.  My kids love candles too.  At least they like blowing out my candles when they think I’m not looking. :)  I used to be a candle Scrooge, for lack of a better term.  I would buy candles galore or receive them as gifts and never burn them.  Happily I’ve mended my ways and discovered a few tips in the process. 

*Trimming the wick to 1/4″ before lighting is critical to candle life and prevents smoking but if you can’t (or don’t want to) buy one of these, use a spare pair of toenail clippers instead.

*A coffee cup turned upside down makes a good enough snuffer.  Of course you can always blow out your candles but watch for flying wax.  A wick dipper is the best choice for candle snuffing and you don’t even have to buy one if you have a wire hanger and a little imagination.

*Candles have a memory of sorts and will “tunnel” unless you let them burn long enough to create a pool of wax to the outer edge.  Also, most the the scent release comes from the melted wax so doing this can provide a stronger fragrance.

*Save yourself time searching for matches by placing small boxes or matchbooks near each of the candles you light most often.  (I use the candle on my piano almost every night so I’ve hidden a box of matches behind the sheet music stand.)

 *Candles made with paraffin are essentially made with petroleum and burning them releases carcinogens into your home.  Yuck!! Soy or beeswax candles are a cleaner (and healthier choice.)

*Soy candles though more expensive combine more readily with scents and will add fragance to a room even when they are not burning. 

*Beeswax candles though more expensive tend to burn longer and cleaner than any others and make the best choice for an emergency kit.

Other candle resources:

http://www.naturalhealthweb.com/articles/Nelson6.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeswax

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_candle

http://www.candles.org/about_tips.html

Click here for more Works-For-Me-Wednesday ideas.

If you have a young child (or two) your carpet may resemble this:

If at least one of those children is artistic and has access to a green crayon part of your carpet may look like this:

But if you have Arm n Hammer Washing Soda and a washcloth handy, then within a few minutes your carpets will look like this:

Not only will your carpets be clean but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you didn’t get them that way with chemicals that would kill a canary.

Oh, and you can use this stuff in your laundry too but please note that washing soda is not the same thing as baking soda.)