Events
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
It was a little better this week. Still healing, but continue to have pain, numbness, and my stomach hasn’t reset itself yet. Had another doctors appointment and hoping to have a better report soon. I was able to get up and move around more this week, but still haven’t been able to get to all of the items on my lists. At least some progress is being made.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids – still reading to the girls (we had a week of heavy homework)
- Plan one special activity with the family – had another family event come up on the calendar on that day
- Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips – waiting on approval from my doctors
Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with HomeworkAttend After School ActivitiesLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
Dr. Appointments for Kids– had an ENT appointment for one of the girls and picked out new glasses for both
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – my stomach hasn’t been happy with drinking water this week so this one has been a challenge
Continue my YouVersion plan(s)Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took me 3 partial days to get it done
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekDo at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)Clean out & Organize Refrigerator & FreezerClean House (Focus – Basement Floors)– my amazing husband helped get this accomplished for me (thanks, Babe!)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room) – didn’t get it done
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away) – still needs done
- Pet Care (Focus – Refill Goat Food Bin) – still needs done
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – making some headway
Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – didn’t have a lot of extra curricular activities this week
- Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes – making preparations
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car – working on it
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – paid an little extra this week
Pay Bills & File Paperwork- Earn some Creative Cash – working on it
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – the girls helped me at the grocery store this week and we had to go by more than one store because of the items that we needed this week
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
- Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
- Attend After School Activities
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
- Dr. Appointments for Kids
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
- Clean House (Focus – Bathrooms)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room)
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away)
- Pet Care (Focus – Refill Dog & Goat Food Bin)
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
- Pay Bills & File Paperwork
- Earn some Creative Cash
- 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.
Free Ebooks: Myth of the Garage, Favorite Christmas Cookies, Clean Food Diet, Prayer Changes Things, How to Ace Your Phone Interview, Genealogy, and more!
The price to download these books is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm prior to downloading). The ebooks are specifically for Kindles, however, you can click here and download the free application that allows you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
Download a free copy of The Myth of the Garage by Chip Heath
Download a free copy of Favorite Christmas Cookies by Ruth Cardello, Nina Bruhns, Donna Fasano, Rebecca York, Helen Scott Taylor, Patrice Wilton, Mona Risk, Annie Jones, Alicia Street, Mimi Barbour
Download a free copy of Clean Food Diet: Avoid Processed Foods & Eat Clean with Few Simple Lifestyle Changes (Free Nutrition Recipes, Natural Food Recipes, Special Diet Cookbooks, Vegetarian Recipes Collection Book 4) by Jonathan Vine
Download a free copy of Prayer Changes Things: Taking Your Life to the Next Prayer Level by Beni Jhonson, Don Nori Sr, James W. Goll, Elmer Towns, Morris Cerulla, Suzette T. Caldwell, Sue Curran, Mahesh Chavda, C. Peter Wagner
Download a free copy of How To Ace Your Phone Interview by Peggy McKee
Download a free copy of Best Christmas Cookie Recipes: Easy Holiday Cookies 2014 by Katie Cotton
Download a free copy of Protect Your Tech: Your Geek-Free Guide to a Secure and Private Digital Life by Michelle Slade and Rob Dix
Download a free copy of Genealogy – Family Tree Research Made Easy by Poppy Sure
Download a free copy of Lemon Remedies: 50 Clever Lemon Recipes to Heal Your Skin, Revitalize Your Hair, and Cure Many Illnesses (Lemon Cure, Lemon Cleanse, Lemon Tree, Lemon Grove) by Tina Salamnca
Download a free copy of Happiness 365: One-a-Day Inspirational Quotes for a Happy You (The Happiness 365 Inspirational Series Book 1) by Deena B. Chopra and KC Harry
Recipes: Homemade Apple Dumplings
Homemade Apple Dumpling Dessert
Jake made recently made this delicious fall apple recipe for dessert! Sometimes we go apple picking and other times we just enjoy the stores having some of our favorite apples on sale during this time of year. Every year we like to try different apple dishes. I am thankful for a husband who cooks and who will random surprise us with a tasty treat. The homemade apple dumplings would go very well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream too if you have some at the house!
Apple Dumpling
Homemade Apple Dumplings:
- 1 3/4 cups Water
- 1 1/4 cups Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons Butter or Maragine
- 2 1/4 cups Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2/3 cups shortening
- 7 tablespoons Water
- 4 Apples (small to medium size)
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
In a saucepan combine 1 3/4 cups water, 1 cup of sugar (save the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar for later), 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (save the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon for later), 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (save the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for later). Mix together, simmer with it covered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter or margarine. Set the syrup mixture aside.
Combine flour and salt. Cut in the shortening until all the pieces are about the size of a black bean. Add water a little at a time and mix until all is moist. Form the dough into a ball. Roll the dough onto an approximately 16 x 12 inch rectangle, cut into four 4 inch squares.
Wash, peel, and core your 4 apples. Place an apple on each of the 4 pastry squares. Mix together the brown sugar and raisins and put a small scoop in each apple where the core was removed. Mix the remaining sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together and sprinkle over the fruit. Moisten the edges of the pastry with water and fold the corners to the center on top of the fruit and pinch to seal it (see picture below). Place dumplings in a greased pan and pour the syrup mixture over the top of the dumplings.
Bake the dumplings on 375 degrees in the oven for 45 minutes or until the fruit is tender and the pastry is slightly brown. Prior to serving spoon syrup from the pan over the pastries and serve with vanilla ice cream.
The recipe is a delicious fall apple dessert! I recommend serving with ice cream or a glass of milk! Enjoy!
Ready to go into the oven!
The apple dumplings not only smelled delicious, they tasted amazing too!
Inside the apple dumplings!
Free Ebooks: Smart School Time Recipes, 9 Types of Copycat Girl Scout Cookies, Baking with Kids, Just Desserts, and more
The price to download these books is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm prior to downloading). The ebooks are specifically for Kindles, however, you can click here and download the free application that allows you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
Download a free copy of Smart School Time Recipes: The Breakfast, Snack, and Lunchbox Cookbook for Healthy Kids and Adults by Alisa Marie Fleming
Download a free copy of 9 Types of Copycat Girl Scout Cookies: Your Favorite Copycat Girl Scout Cookie Flavors by Prime Publishing
Download a free copy of Baking With Kids: Cupcakes, Cookies, and Just Plain Fun for Kids by Dennis Weaver
Download a free copy of Just Desserts by Kemberlee Shortland
Download a free copy of Easy Recipes for Back to School: A Short Collection of Recipes from the Cookbook Wholesome – Feed Your Family for Less by Caitriona Redmond
Download a free copy of Best Homemade Bread Recipes: Delicious Bread Recipes in Quick & Easy Ways by Olivia
Download a free copy of The Perfect Pie: A Handbook for Pie Lovers by Dennis Weaver
Download a free copy of Slow Cooker Recipes: 30 Of The Most Healthy and Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes by Stacey Turner
Download a free copy of Baking in Your Skillet: A Collection of Skillet Recipes by Dennis Weaver
School Projects: Science Current Event Articles
The kids recently did a school project for Science Extra Credit. They had to compile a variety of science current event articles. The articles were cut out of current local newspapers, Wall Street Journal, magazines, and more. They read the articles, glued them to construction paper, and wrote a summary about each one.
The articles were on the following science categories – Animals, Electricity, Plants, Space, and Weather. All the subjects are ones that the kids will be studying this year in school. The kids had one week to put together all their articles for science extra credit. The girls worked on their articles every day after homework, before school each morning, and even gave up some of their free time to do more articles.
We are so proud of how hard they worked all week. By the end of the week they learned a lot about the various science subjects they will be studying in school. They did more articles than we realized too. Between the two girls these are the number of science articles they completed in one week:
- Animals – 9
- Electricity – 7
- Plants – 8
- Space -10
- Weather – 8
Way to go kids! Thrilled that they love learning so much! It will benefit them throughout the entire year!
My Little Chef: Making Blue Raspberry Cookies
Mixing up the cookie dough!
When I am in the kitchen and Brina is around she is always willing to pitch in and help. She is becoming more efficient cook as she gets older. Recently, she decided to whip up some blue raspberry sugar cookies as a “Welcome Home” goodie for Jake who was arriving home that day from a work trip.
When he is away on a work trip we always try to make or pick up something special for him to have when he comes home. It is important to us to make sure he knows how excited we are to have him back home again. It is always so much better when the whole family is home together!
I am so thankful for kids that enjoy helping out in the kitchen. The girls have fun helping out in the kitchen and learning some great lessons along the way too. Grateful for my girls!
A batch of blue raspberry cookies ready to go into the oven!
Cookie rolled is blue sprinkles!
She made the perfect cookies!
Ready to eat and delicious! Thanks B!
Love It – PrintrBot Simple Maker’s 3D Printer
So excited to watch him open this gift!!!
After a few months of saving my spending cash I was able to get my husband the PrintrBot Simple Maker’s 3D Printer for our anniversary. I was surprised that it came in such a small package! 3D printers are starting to become more popular and this one was a little less expensive because you had to put it together. Jake and the girls thought it was awesome being able to build a printer!
Several of the pieces inside the 3D Printer had “Point of No Return” stickers which was kind of funny! They read – “The option to return your PrintrBot will self destruct after opening this bag.”
It came in pieces that needed to be assembled! Jake thought it was great!
It didn’t take him long to get it together and start printing some neat stuff!
It is a neat printer! The whole family has enjoyed it! The girls have even been able to make a few items for their school projects too!
You can pickup one of the PrintrBot Simple Maker’s 3D Printer for yourself or someone special at Amazon or from PrintBot! If you have been saving some Amazon Gift Certificates from Swagbucks this would be an awesome gift for that tech person on your list! Never tried Swagbucks, that’s okay it’s easy and you can get started today! If you are looking for ways to earn gift certificates to Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Cash via PayPal, and many other popular rewards check out my Swagbucks: Earning A Little Extra post to get you started!
“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!
Holiday Gift Giving: Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates
If you a looking for a wonderful and delicious gift to give this Holiday Season check out Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates! Everyone loves a sweet treat! It is the perfect gift and will help you check one more name off your list!
The best news is all of my readers will receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates when you order! Go to Mrs. Cavanaughs to order your chocolates today!
Promo Code: usfamily14
There was a time when Marie Cavanaugh spent hours in her South Dakota farmhouse each Christmas season making pecan rolls and homemade chocolates for holiday gifting. “It started when my aunt sent her pecan-rolls recipe,” Mrs. Cavanaugh recalled. “I gave the recipe my own touch and started making the yummy specialties. Then I began dipping chocolates. Our friends and neighbors loved these treats, encouraging me to start a candy business. Finally, I decided it might be a good idea.'”
Her husband George and children Carla, Lorraine, Calvin, Colene and Genise rallied, helping Mrs. Cavanaugh fill demands for her homemade sweets. In 1972, the family moved to Utah, leaving good friends and their beloved cattle ranch. “It was a difficult decision, especially for George,” Mrs. Cavanaugh said. “He was excited about making our new venture, which we chose to call Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candies, a great success. We felt Utah was blessed with good chocolates and that we would enjoy – and could compete with – those who pride themselves on making excellent chocolates.”
Millions of pounds of chocolates later, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s candies have earned a reputation for unquestionable excellence…. Ask chocolate aficionados. They will direct those seeking the best chocolates to the popular Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candies.
When you go to Mrs. Cavanaughs you can get Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates using the promo code: usfamily1
Fresh & Healthy: Fun Fall Fruit to Add to Your Kids Lunch
Are you are looking for a sweet and healthy Fall or Halloween treat to send in your kids school lunch? Grab an orange, draw a pumpkin face on it, and stick it in their lunch box. They will love it! It is a fun, sweet, and healthy food for them to eat. They will be excited to eat their fruit at lunch. Doing something as simple as adding a face to an orange can motivate the kids to eat more fruit!
Thankfully, our kids have always enjoyed eating their fruits and vegetables, but adding a little extra surprise (like a pumpkin face) during the various Holiday Seasons gets them even more excited. What are your favorite healthy Halloween snacks that you like to send in your kids lunches? Our kids get enough candy sweets around Halloween Holiday so offering more healthier food options is always something we want to encourage. Another bonus is the orange provides extra vitamin C which is perfect boost for the kids immune systems as we enter the seasons were colds seem to spread like wildfire through school.
School Projects: The Eye Ball Donut Creation & Writing Assignment
A tray of “The Eye Ball” Donuts ready to take to school
The girls recently had a writing assignment that they had to do for school. Brina came up with The Eye Ball Donut creation. For extra credit they could make their creations and share them with their classmates and teachers at school. We came up with a cookie creation using all the ingredients she mentioned in her writing assignment and they turned out fairly well. Instead of using cookies for Brina’s we used a powdered doughnut or in this case a munchkin for Dunkin Donuts. The donuts were a perfect treat to share with her classmates instead of cupcakes on Halloween. Karlie also did a cookie creation and writing assignment called Inside Your Feet.
The Eye Ball was super easy to put together and a big hit with Brina’s classmates.
Her tray of eye balls ready to be wrapped and delivered to school.
The Eye Balls did exactly what we wanted them to do – overnight the blue frosting that we used to attach the pupil part of the eye spread a little giving The Eye Balls blue colored eyes!
The Eye Ball Items:
- White Powdered Donuts (Dunkin Donut sells white powdered munchkins which are perfect for this treat, but you can make homemade if you want)
- Blue Frosting (we used the blue writing frosting but you could use brown or green, etc…)
- Edible Eyes (you can pick these up at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, etc…)
- Red Sprinkles
Once you have your white powdered donuts add a small drop of blue frosting and attached the pupil of your eye to your eye ball. Dip the bottom of the donut into red sprinkles and place on a tray. Let set overnight so the blue frosting will spread a little bit giving you a blue eye color.
The donuts turned out well and were a big hit with Brina’s class. It was a lot of fun putting these together with her and they were super simple. These would be an easy Fall or Halloween treat to do for a party or for fun.
