Life on Purpose

Yes, it is that time once again.  Time to think about 2013. Goals, planning, calendars, lists - all of the things that make a planner, like myself, happy.  A new year is a fresh start; a time to pick up again what we may have been successful with the year before or maybe, we dropped the ball.  Either way, it's a new beginning and, you know how it goes - if you fail to plan; you plan to fail.

Last Tuesday night I gathered with a group of women - a few I know well, some I meet at only gatherings like this and several new faces - to get a "pep talk" about being intentional with ourselves and our families and then actually have about 1 1/2 hours to plan for next year.

I'd like to share some of those ideas with you via photos.  If you would like an actually copy of any document, just leave me your e-mail address and I will send them as attachments.

One of the first things you need is a blank 2013 calendar.  Don't buy a fancy one for this since this is your planning calendar - you can usually find free, blank calendar's online and just print from there.  I would suggest using both a pen and a pencil.  Use your pen to fill in "set in stone" items like birthdays, school dates, or events already on your calendar, confirmed.  Use your pencil to fill in the things you want to happen such as family vacation, having a summer cook out etc.  You could even pencil in dates that occur every year such as Christmas Programs and Family Parties based on the date they are normally held so at least you have an idea of what is going on in any given month.  This allows you the freedom to plan your year now to ensure that your family comes first.  Maybe you even want to take one month and totally block it out as a "family month" (Like July) where nothing else happens that month except things with your family - a very laid back summer month.  My husband's family thinks I'm an over planner, I think, because I start asking about the family Christmas party in June .  .. when really, I'd like it on the calender in January so that it has a sure place.  This year is a great example - I asked several months ago and was told that no one wanted to talk about it yet.  So I told my husband I was just going to plan our holidays and they would have to work around us.  Guess when the big family dinner is?? The end of January.  We could have had it on the 8th of December but since it was just discussed a week ago it was felt that was too soon.  See why planning ahead is such a good thing???

Another great planning document is called "Fifty Great Dates".  This is a list of Things you want to do, People you want to spend time with, places you want to go, tasks you want to complete, foods you want to cook and more.  Brainstorm and just throw everything on here - then, take this list and back it up to your calendar above and plug it all in (in pencil). This allows you to see that in March you want to actually make corned beef and cabbage this year for St. Patrick's Day. (Yep, did it once and once was enough!) If you have kids that are upper elementary and above, give them this document and ask them to fill it out too - you can then pick items from each list to try and accomplish too.

The month-by-month plan is one of my favorites.  This is the place I write down all of the "big" items I need to remember in each month.  For example, in January I write down "Plan Darryl's birthday; Clean the basement".  Then in February I'll writhe, "Darryl's birthday; Valentines day" etc.  If I noticed one month is packed too full, I'll see if there is anything that can get pushed to another month to relieve some of the "pressure" on my calendar.  Pull this list out and the end of each month and look ahead so you can plan your month accordingly.

Most of the time planning is something that is proactive - planning for what is coming up.  This next document is new one to me this year and is REactive - looking back at the previous month.  It is way to look at each month and ask yourself the following:  In (January) we ... celebrate, eat, maintain, keep appointments, shop for, and prepare for.  I think that this first year, it is a place for me to make notes about what happened in each category including notes on what did and did not work and the financial aspect of those items.  Next year it will be a great stepping stone for my planning because I will see what we actually did last year instead of trying to remember. One of the ladies suggested modifying this for holidays to say "For Halloween we - Prepare, decorated, eat/bake, create, host/celebrate, Wrap it up".  I really like that idea because I tend to not always remember what we do year to year. (Don't you love the little hand? I had a helper!)

The last document is called "Life on Purpose" lists.  It is list of everything from Twelve Household Projects you would like to complete to Four things to do for "me", to dates you would like to have with each of your kids and your sweetie plus more! It is a great planning list and again, back this up to your calendar.  If one of your dates with you child is to go ice skating on a pond - obviously that needs to be scheduled in the winter.  If you don't plan for it, it won't happen.

One last challenge that I will actually be talking about on a different date is I "joined up" with a bunch of the women to write out 101 (goals) I want to accomplish in 1001 (days) - Known as 101 in 1001.  Yes, I have my list and you'll see at least some of it later but for now, this is the tease.  (Aren't I mean?)  I'm also working on my 2013 Theme Word and, something new, a Study Topic for the year - something to focus on learning about all year long.

Are you a planner?  If so, you understand this post completely; if you aren't, you probably think I'm crazy and that's ok :-)

Countdown with The Grinch

Last year I came across this great idea for a Christmas Countdown from Chica and Jo and shared it in a Too Cute Not To Toot

Of all of the various countdown ideas I found this is the one that really stuck with me and is the one I knew I wanted to do with my kids.  Why?  Because it is based on a fun book!!  Now, I purchased the over door shoe holder several months ago but, as is normal, I set it aside and didn't get around to doing anything with it until this past week. I used Green Ribbon around the outside and red sparkly ribbon on the holders.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Here is what mine looks like :-)  In the blog link above you will find the printable 24 cards with the story on them.  From there, I used my Cricut and cut out the numbers (but you could also use stickers or just markers) and, because I want to use this for years to come, I laminated all of the cards.

Here is a sample of the cards.

Lets be honest, buying 2 (and sometimes 3) little gifts can be expensive even at the dollar store.  Instead of doing fancy things each day, I picked one day each week for a bigger item.  Then I looked for things that were in bags (candy, army men, play dough) that I could put on multiple days (I.e. they get a little package with candy once a week, some army guys once a week, and a small tub of play dough once a week).  In the weeks to come, I'll be sharing what they opened each day.  For wrapping?  I just used tissue or crepe paper, depending on the item!  It's cheap and easy to use!

I could not find that grinch doll anywhere (I should have bought it last year when I first looked at this idea!).  For now, I made this stick puppet and will keep an eye out for a small Grinch Doll because I think it is much cuter to have that guy stuffed in the pocket!

Weekly Menu

I've been meaning to do this for weeks and finally took time last weekend to sort through my recipes and actually list those "family favorites" that are on the menu once a month (approximatly).  It is not life changing, it is just nice to have it one place.  This is not a set in stone list - already, since starting this process, a few recipes that we thought we LOVED have been moved to the "regular recipe" section.  I may try a new recipe along the way that will get added to this list but, from experience, I know those are few and far between.  Note:  The recipes that include two versions (recipe/recipe) I will rotate back and forth.  They are all versions of the same type of recipe just slightly differant).

Koll Family Favorites
Simple Stroganoff
Chicken Fried Chicken/Chicken Fried Steak
Root Beer Pulled Pork (this is a great freezer meal - I like to cook a big pork roast and then save half of it for the following month or for a quick meal if needed)
Tortellini Soup
Ham and Cheese Quiche
Cabbage Rolls
Chicken Parmesan (I need to also include my Spaghetti Sauce Recipe - I like to have batches of this in the freezer to use with this recipe along with a few others)
Beef Tips and Noodles
Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin
Old Fashioned Beef Stew
Coconut Chicken/Chick-Fil-Lay Nuggets
The Best Chili (Another freezer recipe plus we we like the chili on Oven Baked Chili Dogs)
Tacos with Homemade Taco Seasoning
Lasagna
Beef Drip
Meatloaf with Stuffing/Lemon Meatloaf
Beef Roast with potatoes and carrots OR Noodles

You might notice that we tend to be beef eaters :-)  Probably our favorite "meat" is really Pork but I don't have alot of really good recipes using pork . . .thus comes in beef second!  Chicken/Poultry is my third choice - the recipe has to be REALLY good for me to love it.

So, what are we eating this next week?

Monday - Honey Onion Chicken, Baked Beans, Layered Salad, Rolls

Tuesday -Simple Stroganoff, Noodles, Left-over salad, Cheddar-Dill Scones

Wednesday - Mexican Lasagna, Pretzel Salad, Rice

Thursday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Hashbrowns, Easy Cheese Danishes

Friday - Tortiellini Soup and Homemade Bread

Saturday - Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes, Cole Slaw, Left over Salads

Sunday - Today I have a concert so lunch is up in the air - not sure how we are doing transportation yet
(whether Darryl and the boys will go early with me or I'll ride with someone) and then we will get dinner after the concert. 

Food Friday - Cherry Cheesecake Dip

This week at Kellys Korner the "Show us your Life" Topic is Appetizers.  Just recently I tried out a recipe I've seen on pinterest and it was a big hit!

Cherry Cheesecake Dip
 adapted from The Oxford Place Diaries

I had seen this recipe all over pinterest and even had friends attest to how good it was but I just didn't have a reason to make it!  Well, finally, for ladies meeting last month with church ladies I decided to make it and it was a huge hit.  I only made one 8x8 pan and there was only a little bit left.  The only thing I ran into was everyone thought it was Cherry Cheesecake so I had to explain that it was a dip and that is what the graham crackers were for - do dip!.  I think next time I would put it in a round dish and place it in the middle of a large platter and put the crackers around it.  (And make a sign that signs "Cherry Cheesecake DIP" HA) 

Ingredients:

2 tubs of cool whip
1 small tub of Marshmallow fluff
8 ounce cream cheese (Softened)
2 cans of cherry pie filling
1 box of graham crackers
 
(2 8x8 pans OR 1 9x13 pan)

Directions

1) Crush one sleeve of graham crackers and evenly distribute between the two pans (or one 9x13)
2) Mix together the Fluff, cream cheese, and Cool Whip VERY well.   Spread this mix carefully on top of the crushed crackers.  You'll want to work "big" with this meaning drop big globs of the fluff mix all over the pan so you really just have to "smoosh" it into place - it won't spread well. 
3) Pour the Cherry pie filling on top.  Chill for a few hours before serving. 

This keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 full days so you can make it in advance without a problem. 

Foodie Pen Pals - November

This is my second month participating in Foodie Pen Pals over at The Lean Green Bean and it was once again a huge success!! 

This month I got a package from Jenny over at It's Sweet for Certain and she really sent me the perfect box!

 Above is everything she packed in my box.  Yep, it was very full!

 Let me just tell you, I had one very excited little boy when he saw the box - he kept saying "Mom, you got a present!  It is Christmas time AND your birthday" HA!

 In the box was this fun bottle of water - it is suppose to give you energy because it has extra oxygen in it.  I'm waiting for the perfect day to drink it :-)  (Actually I just like seeing it my fridge - I love the labeling.)

 I'm not sure if she read my blog but in the box was my "new"favorite obsession from last month, The Dark Chocolate covered Blueberries YUM!  The Chocolate Cranberry Crunch is fantastic too - I've been nibbling on both of those all month long.

 This little package came right on time.  It's filled with stuff for the flu and cold season and guess what we have all had in the past week??? Geesh! 

 Then this collapsible water bottle.  This will be fabulous to use for trips to the zoo and camping.  I've seen these and wanted one but never bought one - now I don't have too!

This was what the box looked like when I opened it (noticed to little boys hands on each side of it - they were thrilled!)  There were also some Kashi bars in the box and some energy chews - I took a photo of them but somehow that photo disappeared when I was working on them.  My 4 year old loves the Kashi bars (so do I) so I think I will have to pick up a box - they would make a great snack for him and his brother.

Normally, I would now list how YOU can be a Foodie Pen Pal too but for the month of December, the Foodie Pen Pals is doing something called Foodie Pen Pals for Charity and you can be part of that as well.  Just click on the link and read all about it. 

An Advent Celebration

I know I said on Monday I wouldn't share this until next week but, decided to share it today so if you want to do this with your kids, you have time to get everything together. 
 
Last year, I came across a great advent series to do with the kids called Truth in the Tinsel.

I purchased the downloadable book (only $7.99) and put it away to use this year.  It really is the perfect thing to do with the kids becuse it is at their level.  It includes a simple ornament craft that goes along with the days short devotional.  I also like the fact that there is a master supply list AND a daily supply list so you can make sure you have everything you need before you start.  I'm really excited to walk through this study this year with the boys and, honestly, we'll probably do it at least one more year if not two more years since repetition is so good for kids (And a whole year goes by anyway!).

This week, I'm working on gathering all of the supplies for the first two weeks of devotionals so we are ready to begin on December 1st.  We'll be hanging all of their ornaments on our little dining room tree.

Another idea you could do with older kids is to do a simple study on all of the names of Jesus.  Just created simple ornaments that are just those names and each day take time to read verses and talk about that name.  That is another idea I came across a few years ago but have put it "away" until the boys are a little older.

Too Cute Not To Toot!

This week I decided to take some ideas from Pinterest because several of the blogs I usually get ideas from are not doing their "Linky Parties" this week due to the holiday. 

Some day, I will do chore charts with my kids (I need to start this soon) so when I saw this idea from A Spotted Pony I really liked it but I also liked her post too.  I love that she got her kids their own little cleaning supplies :-)

My sister-in-law recently told me how she used to make activity books to give my niece and nephew over the holiday breaks to keep them busy while she cooked :-)  Well, I came across this idea from Playing with Words 365 for not only a cute Reindeer book but also a great idea for a game to go along with the book.  I think this is simple enough I can put it together for the boys to do in December. 

I really need a new tree skirt.  Mine is small and I'm tired of it.  I love the ruffled tree skirts that I've seen posted so I wanted to share this idea from Prudent Baby.  This is not a "No-sew" version but it still seems like it is over complicated and the tutorial is pretty straight forward. 

So I came across this idea by accident - I actually went to a blog for another post and saw this idea which comes from Just Crafty Enough and uses a tray table to make an easy ironing board. Considering the fact that the only time I iron anything is for crafts - this would make a great addition to my craft space.

Here is the idea I was looking for to begin with from Southern Lovely.  These stocking holders are great and I want to make them :-) 

Here's a great gift idea or just a memory game for the kids from The Idea Room. It has actually reminded me of two other photo projects I wanted to make for my boys for Christmas!

One last idea for this week from Familiy Reunion Helper.  With holiday parties going on I thought this simple game idea would be fun.  It is a simple idea and people always enjoy playing for candy especially if you do some of the candy regular size and some as giant bars :-)

Happy Crafting :-)