Schedule

  • Our Unusual Toilet Paper Thief

    Our Unusual Toilet Paper Thief

    The other day I came home from grocery shopping and heard our robotic vacuum, Neato (or “Runner Runner” as the kids call it) beeping.  After further investigation I found it in the girls bathroom. I had to laugh at what I found!  It managed to catch the end of the toilet paper and stretch it out across the bathroom.

    I’ve had the vacuum for over a year now and this is the first time it has gotten stuck in the bathroom.  I guess it is inevitable that someone would eventually leave the toilet paper in its zone.  Usually it gets stuck on a toy or clothing article someone left on the floor.  Thankfully, it only sucked the toilet paper a couple inches before it stopped and started beeping.

    P1300744c

    The vacuum is awesome!  It does a thorough job so it’s not a big deal to come to its rescue when we happen to leave items in its way (even if it may be toilet paper).

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    It has been so much fun spending time with the family over the Holidays.  We have been enjoying extra time together playing, cooking, and doing a variety of Christmas activities.  It has been a week of great food as well as several extra treats.  This week we will be doing more traditional meals as we wrap up our final week of Christmas break.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Green Bean Tator Tot Casserole, Artisan Bread
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Homemade Pizza, Fresh Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Honey Mustard Chicken, Steamed Rice
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree):  Salmon Steaks, Steamed Broccoli
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Winter and Christmas break for the kids went by too quickly!  They are now back to school and the house is too quiet.  I loved having extra time with my girls.  A lot of fun times, games, activities, and memories have been made over the past couple of weeks.  Thankful for the extra time with my family.  God has been good and we are blessed.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read a variety of Christmas and Library Books my Kids Picked Out from Home and the local Library, including Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows – still reading Where the Red Fern Grows, but read all the other books to the girls (now to return them to the library)!
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming New Year Holiday Events
    4. Play a Game with the Kids – we played several fun games over the Holiday break
    5. Spend Extra Time with the Kids
    6. Celebrate our New Years
    7. Make Cookies and Goodies with the Kids
    8. Do a craft with the kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – there were a couple days I didn’t drink enough water when out and about on adventures with the kiddos
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – still taking me 2 days, but getting closer
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – our week was a little more off schedule so we remained flexible in the evenings this past week
    3. Clean House (Focus –  At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Gifts Wrap & Boxes Put Away, Gifts Put Away)
    5. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Finish Leaves) – working on it last week we had more rainy days than clear
    6. Pet Care (Focus – New Dog House for Skipper) – Skipper LOVES her new dog house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Where the Red Fern Grows to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Kids
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Winter Events
    5. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    8. Dr. Appointments for Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
    4. Clean House (Focus – House Cleaned Up After Christmas Decorations are Put Away)
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Christmas Items Back in the Attic)
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Blow Leaves)
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.

  • Recipes: Easy Shepherd’s Pie

    P1300651c

    The other day when I made Shepherd’s Pie for dinner I went ahead and made a big batch so I was able to make one casserole for dinner that night and put two in the freezer for busy nights later in the month.   The “Make 1 i& Freeze 1” recipes come in handy for those days when I cannot make a homemade meal from scratch.  It is great when I can plan ahead!  Shepherd’s Pie is not only easy to make it freezes well too.  The recipe below makes one 9×13 dish of Shepherd’s Pie, but I doubled it and split the second one into two 8×8 dishes to freeze for later.

    Shepherd’s Pie Recipe:

    • 1 pound Ground Beef cooked
    • 1 can Green Beans (used french cut, but any will do)
    • 1 can Mixed Vegetables
    • 1 can Black Beans
    • 1 package Brown Gravy
    • Mashed Potatoes (homemade or from package, your preference)

    Cook the ground beef and drain the excess oil.  Add all the brown gravy ingredients to the ground beef mixture.  Drain the vegetables and gently mix in the green beans, mixed vegetables, and black beans.  Let the beef and vegetable mixture cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring periodically.  Preheat the oven to 350 degree and grease a 9×13 pan (or two 8×8 pans).

    While cooking the ground beef and vegetable mixture start preparing your potatoes whether from scratch or from a box or bag. Once the potatoes and beef mixture is done you can put together your Shepherd’s Pie.  The bottom layer will be your beef and vegetable mixture followed by a layer of mash potatoes.  You can sprinkle bacon or cheese over the mash potato layer if you prefer as well.  Cover and bake the Shepherd’s Pie at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

    P1300653c

    We ate one Shepherd’s Pie for dinner and these two (pictured above) are going in the freezer to be eaten at a later time!

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    The kids are officially on their Christmas Holiday break – WooHoo!  Love getting to spend extra time with them!  We have a lot of fun activities planned and of course celebrating family Christmas this week.  It is hard to believe that 2014 is already wrapping up, but thankful for the many blessings this year.  I have the menu planned for this week, however, I am going to be somewhat flexible depending how I am feeling and if there are any last minute activities that change the schedule.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Crockpot Roast, Mash Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Hot Dogs, Fresh Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Chicken Fajitas, Fresh Vegetables
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree):  Spiraled Honey Ham, Green Bean Casserole
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    I was able to accomplish a good bit of items the first half of the week!  On Wednesday I got my second epidural steriod shot for my herniated disc so I was not able to do as much after that day.  Thankfully, this time around I bounced back much quicker and did better.  By the end of the week I was up and going again with some extra soreness and stiffness, but otherwise doing better.  Hoping that this week with be even better.  I am looking forward to spending extra time with the kids now that they are out of school for the Christmas Holidays.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Cat Who Came For Christmas by Cleveland Amory to the kids – decided to switch to a different Christmas book
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Events
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids – we weren’t not able to do this one due to the extra time of healing
    8. Take the Kids to the Library to pick out books to read over the Holidays
    9. Send out Christmas Cards – this is the first year in a LONG time I did not send out Christmas Cards, at first I felt really guilty about it (and still do some days), but Jake told me that with everything that has been going on these past couple of months I need to just let some things go because I cannot do it all, unfortunately this was one item I did not get done (my apologies to family and friends), hopefully next year we will be able to get back in the Christmas card groove again.
    10. Complete Our Christmas Shopping – still working on it, hoping to be done before Christmas if not I guess we’ll just spread it out a little bit more
    11. Finish Wrapping Gifts – working on it, Jake has pitched in and helped too (thanks Handsome)
    12. Ship Out Grandparents Gifts 
    13. Deliver Neighbor Gifts – the girls helped make the gifts and delivered them all to each of the neighbors, thankful for all their help this year!  Even though we live on a small street we still have 7 neighbors (all who are related except us) plus our mailman!

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – almost done with my 2014 bible reading plans!
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – still haven’t been able to complete everything in one day, but I am getting closer!
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Clean House (Focus –  At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree) – getting closer
    5. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Leaves) – my handsome man worked on this for us!  Isn’t he AWESOME!  There are still some on the side yard, but at least the front and back are done now!
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath) – she has managed to escape a bath with the cooler weather!

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – need to focus more on this specific task
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – went only 1 day, but went to 2 stores and went over the budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read a variety of Christmas and Library Books my Kids Picked Out from Home and the local Library
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Events
    4. Play a Game with the Kids
    5. Spend Extra Time with the Kids
    6. Complete Our Christmas Shopping
    7. Finish Wrapping Gifts
    8. Celebrate our Family Christmas
    9. Make Cookies and Goodies with the Kids
    10. Do a craft with the kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Clean House (Focus –  At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree)
    5. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Finish Leaves)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Skipper Dog Food Bought & Bin Refilled / Snowball’s Collar Battery Changed)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    There have been a lot of extra activities going on the past couple weeks as we prepare for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.  Last week a couple of the nights had to be re-arranged due to after school activities, work travel, robotics competition, and other items that came up.  This week is the kids last full week before Holiday break and they have a lot of items that they are wrapping up with school as well as after school activities.  The evenings will be full this week so we are going to try and make the week go smoothly by planning our meals in advance.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Top Sirloin Fajitas, Fresh Salad
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  French Bread Pizza, Fruit Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Chicken Enchiladas, Fresh Vegetables
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree):  Seasoned Salmon, Steamed Vegetables
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It was a whirlwind of a week, but I managed to get some projects completed during the week.  The kids had a lot of homework, school activities, work travel, robotic competition, and so much more all squeezed into last week! This is the kids final week of school for 2014 so I have several projects that need to be completed this week.  I want to make sure once they are out of school that I have more time to relax and spend with them enjoying the Holidays.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family – took the kids to see the Easley Baptist Hospital display of Christmas Trees, Lights, and Gingerbread Houses
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Winter Events
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items – this is going to have to be put on hold until after the Holidays since other items are taking priority at this time
    9. Dr. Appointments for Kids
    10. Finish Decorating for Christmas
    11. Send out Christmas Cards – hoping to get it done this week
    12. Complete Our Christmas Shopping – I bought my first gift (does that count!)  I actually started this week now that I am feeling better and moving more! 
    13. Start Wrapping Gifts

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – had a couple busy days that I didn’t do well with, but need to keep it up because I don’t want to be sick for the Holidays!
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – hard to believe I am almost done with my year of Bible Reading!
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – it took only 2 days this week, getting closer still cannot carry the laundry baskets so have to wait for assistance
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later) – with the extra evening activities this did not get done
    4. Clean House (Focus – House Decorated & Christmas Bins Back Up in the Attic)
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Clean Out the Pantry) – got pulled into other activities
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Blow Leaves Off Deck) – my amazing husband did this for me!  Thanks Handsome!!!
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath) – with it being cold and wet she managed to escape the bath this week

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – couple of business contacts I need to work through some exciting opportunities with this week
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Cat Who Came For Christmas by Cleveland Amory to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Events
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Take the Kids to the Library to pick out books to read over the Holidays
    9. Send out Christmas Cards
    10. Complete Our Christmas Shopping
    11. Finish Wrapping Gifts
    12. Ship Out Grandparents Gifts
    13. Deliver Neighbor Gifts

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Clean House (Focus –  At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree)
    5. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Leaves)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    I have a lot going on this week so it is important to stick to the menu.  There are a lot of extra activities and Holiday projects that need to get done this week.  Hopefully, having the menu will help us stay on track and use our time efficiently.   Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Hamburgers, Green Beans
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Chicken Quesadillas, Fresh Salad
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree):  Baked Tilapia, Steamed Vegetables
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Love It – Neato XV Signature Pro Vacuum (Robotic Vacuum)

    Neato XV Signature Pro Pet & Allergy Robot Vacuum Cleaner

    Last year for Christmas my husband got me the most AMAZING gift ever!!! Seriously!!!  I LOVE our Neato XV Signature Pro!  It has been the best gift that continues to be a blessing in our busy household.

    I never thought I would get so excited about a vacuum….until I had this one!  The Neato XV Signature Pro is a robot vacuum that has been a huge time saver for our family.  I absolutely love coming home to freshly vacuumed floors!  It makes me so happy!  🙂

    If you are looking for the perfect Holiday, Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, or another gift for that special someone I cannot recommend this vacuum enough.  We have been using it for a year now and it is still going strong as well as a huge help when it comes to cleaning around the house.

    I have been asked for more information and some feedback from various family members, friends, and guests who have seen our vacuum!  I LOVE the Neato vacuum Jake got me for Christmas!  As long as the girls pick up their little items like toy necklaces, bouncy balls, etc…. it works beautifully.  Occasionally, it doesn’t make it all the way back to the charger, but that isn’t very often.

    Jake did quite a bit of research prior to picking the vacuum he got for me – Neato website. He choose the Neato Signature vacuums because they are more advanced and have a more powerful motor than the other ones.  The ‘Signature” line is the one you’ll want to go for if you are looking at getting one.  He got the Neato XV Signature Pro for us which has been awesome!  The Signature ones only come in black.

    The Neato XV Signature Pro has an extra brush and filter (which gives you two types of brushes) – it basically adds the Pet & Allergy Upgrade Kit, but really any the Signature vacuums would work because they have the better motors.

    The Roomba’s are really popular too, but after reading a ton of reviews my husband went with the Neato (and I am glad he did).  Amazon has a lot of reviews which were really helpful if your trying to decide between different ones.I LOVE our vacuum!!!!  🙂

    I am not sure how well it works on the hardwood floors, but it has been AMAZING on our floors (carpet, tile, and linoleum)!  It has worked awesome for the carpet.  The kitchen floor gets more stuff on it so I still have to spot clean, mop, and do the edges at times, but it gets the majority of items off the floor.  It does a great job downstairs on the tile too.  I still need to do the edges with a broom or vacuum every couple of weeks, but otherwise it does everything for me.  Occasionally, it will miss something, but overall it is pretty thorough. I love having clean floors!

    The only real problem we’ve had so far is the first battery wouldn’t hold its charge for more than 30 minutes and it should last an hour or so.  We emailed them right away and got a new battery within a couple days.  Every once in awhile it will get stuck on an item (usually in the kids rooms) or lost, but that doesn’t happen very often.  I seriously have considered running it daily because I love having the clean floors.  Right now, we have it scheduled to vacuum 3 times a week, but you can have it vacuum any time in between those scheduled times as well.

    It does take it longer to vacuum than if you did it yourself, but it saves you time in the long run because you don’t have to do it yourself.  If company is coming soon it would be quicker to do it by hand or better yet plan ahead to have your Neato XV Signature Pro vacuum earlier in the day so it is it clean before company arrives. One positive result so far – the girls have been keeping their rooms cleaner and more picked up because they don’t want “Runner, Runner” (the name given to our Neato vacuum) to eat their toys, ha!

    I know you’d love it too!  It really is wonderful, now if we can only get a robot to cook meals, clean toilets, etc…!  Never thought I would be so excited about a vacuum cleaner, hehehe!  If you have any additional questions you can comment, contact me or check out the Neato website.

    Honestly, the biggest negative is the initial cost of the vacuum.   However, if you are already in the market for a vacuum it really is worth it.  Also, I have seen it listed on “deal” sites and Amazon has been known to have it on sale as well.  If you have some Swagbucks accumulated you can use them to help purchase your Neato XV Signature Pro from Amazon too!

    Hope you enjoy having freshly vacuumed floors as much as I do!  Now I am off to clean something else while our robot vacuum takes care of the floors for me!  Happy Cleaning!!!

    “Love It” is a series of posts on items that I use regularly in my household that I love!  There are some items in our daily lives that make life more enjoyable, efficient, or just plain fun.  I will be sharing with you some of the products that have been given to us (or to me) that have made it to the top of my list.  It’s my way of giving a huge thumbs up!