Monday, March 11, 2013

Early To Rise Challenge: 3/11

I decided to try the Early to Rise Challenge hosted by Money Saving Mom.  I picked a not so great day to start!  We just started the Spring Forward time, so it is going to be harder to get used to this time. 
I have a hard time getting up any earlier than I already do because my kids school bus comes so early.  I set the alarm clock on my Kindle for 6:30am most of the time we do not end up getting up until 6:45am because we push the snooze button.  I decided I could get up 30 minutes earlier.  So, I got up at 6am this morning.  I get my kids snacks and back packs ready and then wake them up.  This morning I was also able to post my menu and put in a load of laundry before waking my kids.  After my kids leave, I get ready for the day and wait for a phone call since I am a substitute teacher.  Then I have some more time to do what I want if I do not get called.

Some things I want to do in the morning:
1. Pack snacks and get back packs ready
2. Do a load of laundry
3. Read scriptures/ personal prayer
4. Read a fun book (at least 1 chapter)
5. Exercise
6. Make my bed
7. Drink my water

I might not get all of these things done,but I am going to take baby steps to try and start doing better in making my mornings help my get my day off to a great start.

I personally think to have a great morning, I have to get ready at night.  I plan to write out a plan each night of what I want to do the next day. (This will sometimes change if I get called to work.) 

This morning I also woke my kids up at 6:30am instead of 6:45.  This 15 minutes extra really helped.  We were not struggling to get ready in time for the bus and I actually had time to talk to my kids instead of screaming at them to get ready or they were going to miss the bus.

Money Saving Mom offers some great ideas on what to do in the morning in her post 15 things you can do each morning to make your day more successful. Check this out if you are trying to figure out some things you could do in the morning.


Menu Plan Monday 3-11 thru 3-17



Here's the menu plan for this week.  It's going to be a rough start with this new time change and we have championship games to start the week.  I am so glad cheerleading will be done for awhile! 

Breakfast

My kids eat breakfast at school during the week.
Weekday for me: choose from oatmeal with fruit, egg beaters ham and cheese omelet with fruit

Weekend: 

Saturday:Mom's Scrambled Eggs Suprise, Freezer Biscuits
Sunday: Cereal, fruit

Dinnners

Monday: Dr. Pepper Spaghetti, Homemade French Bread
Tuesday: Easy Enchiladas, Spanish Rice
Wednesday: Cracker Barrel Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, bacon
Thursday: Soup Beans, Mac and Cheese, cornbread
Friday: Homemade Pizza in less than 30 minutes,
Saturday: Crockpot Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, buttery bread machine rolls
Sunday: Brown Sugar Chili, cornbread

 

1 hour Freezer/Make Ahead Sessions

(When I don't get called to substitute teach, I try to help myself get ahead)
1. Apple Butter Muffins
2. Freezer Waffles
3. Homemade French Bread (This will be more like an all day project)
4. Freezer Biscuits

I'll be blogging about my 1 hour freezer sessions so come back this week.

For more Menu Plan Monday Ideas visit I'm an Organized Junkie.

Hope you have a great week!



Monday, September 10, 2012

Menu Plan Monday Sept 10-16


Here's the plan for my family dinners this week.

Monday:Spaghetti and Meatballs, salad, Low Fat Bread Machine Italian Bread
Tuesday: Chili Dog Casserole, chips
Wednesday: Fluffy Pancakes, Scrambled eggs, bacon, orange juice
Thursday: Weekday Lasagna, Low Fat Bread Machine Italian Bread, salad
Friday: Homemade Pizza ( using this recipe for pizza crust), salad
Saturday: Honey Chicken Thighs, Rice, peas
Sunday: Sandwiches (egg salad and tuna), chips

For more great menu ideas visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Menu Plan Monday May 29- June 3

Since Monday was such a busy day, I am posting this on Tuesday.  Here's the plan for the week.

Tuesday- Taco Junk from the freezer served with sour cream and tortilla chips
Wednesday- Weekday Lasagna with Bread Machine Low Fat Italian Bread and salad
Thursday- Crispy Chicken Drumsticks, green beans, rolls
Friday- Pizza with crust from freezer, salad
Saturday- Hot Dogs in a Blanket made with Hamburger/Hot Dog Bread Machine Bread
Sunday-  Eat out

Freezer/Make Ahead Plan for May 29- June 3

Here is my plan for filling my freezer and making items ahead for this week.  This is so important this summer since I have all the kids home!  I love having quick breakfast items on hand in my freezer during the summer for my kids to enjoy.

1. Freezer Friendly Waffles

2.  Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes

3. Make 4 loaves of EZ White Bread

4. Make 2 pizza dough

5. Make French Toast Sticks from 2 loaves of the homemade EZ White bread.




Weekly Goals For May 28- June 3

I have decided to have some weekly goals to help me get things done.  We shall see how this goes.  I usually set way too many goals for a day so maybe breaking them down into a week will help me!


Household

1.       Write my freezer plan and stick to it.

2.       Make my menu plan

3.       Organize and clean up the living room and kids bookshelves.

4.       Clean the oven

Family/Mothering


1.       Continue to take the kids to the weekly summer reading program activities at the local library.

2.       Take the kids to the park at least 2 times this week, weather permitting.

3.       Read 20 minutes a day with my kids.

Personal/ Weight Loss


1.       Finish reading Chance of a Lifetime: Kentucky Chances by

2. Start reading Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray.

 

       3.       Read my scriptures 15 minutes a day.

4.       Walk 1 mile a day for 5 days.

5.       Track my food intake

6.       Drink 6 glasses of water a day.


 

Blogging/Business


1.       Write 2-3 articles for another site.

2.       Post 2 -3 times on my blog.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Menu Plan Monday April 9-15

Here is my dinner plans for the week:

Monday: Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets (going to use up leftover ham from Easter) I'm using my Hamburger Bun Bread Machine Bread recipe)
Tuesday: Soup Beans, Saurkraut and winnies, cornbread
Wednesday: Mexican Pizzas, Spanish Rice
Thursday: Spaghetti CasseroleItalian Bread, salad
Friday: Sweet n sour Chicken, rice, peas
Saturday: Hot dogs, Mac and Cheese, Saurkraut for dogs
Sunday: Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese

See more menus at Organizing Junkie