Menu Planning

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

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

    The girls and I made some traction with several big projects this week.  Both girls were a big help too.  Thankful for some time with the kids.  Jake has been busy with work and projects he is tackling too.  He was able to get some work done on the tree house fort a little bit too. We altered our menu schedule a little bit because some evenings were a little crazier than we anticipated so you may see some of the same meals this week.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Roast Beef, Mash Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Hamburgers, Steamed Vegetables
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Spinach Chicken, Fresh Salad
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Alaskan Salmon, Garlic Bread
    • 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

    Last week we were crazy busy, but were able to get a lot accomplished.  The girls were a big help and were troopers throughout our entire week.  Hoping that we will be able to have some more fun and get a lot done this week.  We enjoyed spending an evening with Jake’s co-workers at the Greenville Drive game even though it got canceled due to rain and lightening on Friday night.  Thankful for some extra time with the kids.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Lightening’s Last Hope by Joanna Campbell book to the kids – the kids got a cold than I got a cold so didn’t read as much this past week.  Hoping to be back up to my normal self soon.
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Family
    4. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks
    5. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    6. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities
    7. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    8. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Summer Break
    9. Ride Bikes with the Kids – it rained at the times when we could ride our bikes
    10. Work on special projects with the kids – cleaned out, organized, and sold items with the online garage sale as well as other projects with the kids
    11. Hang out at a park with Kids – we met friends at the park to have a picnic and play
    12. Go to the Library
    13. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids – we didn’t do this one with everything else going on this week
    14. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event
    15. Pick up Summer Clothes for the girls (Swim suit, shorts, sandals, pjs) – we are a little late getting swimsuits this year because the girls grew out of theirs, it was harder to find them, but we got them!

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – hoping to get this working on my new phone soon
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals – fell behind when I got the cold
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily – a little behind

    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 – Post Items to Sale and Take Items to Donate) – we sold a lot of stuff with the online garage sale and made over $250 which we will put towards debt, took items to donate, and was able to get some items cleaned up around the house.
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Girls Scrapbooks) – we have the items together, but hoping to start everything this week (the kids are looking forward to this project)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Seed Goat Pen)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – New Collar for Snowball, Hay, & Mineral Bucket)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers) – Jake is hoping to work on this soon

    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
    5. Research and Plan Out Business Goals
    6. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it (should be making another payment this week)
    2. Payoff Medical Bills – paid some more
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt) – working on it
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – I DID IT! 🙂 It was a busy week and we had run out of milk, but I made it to the store on Saturday!

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Lightening’s Last Hope by Joanna Campbell book to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Family
    4. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks (Week #4)
    5. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    6. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities
    7. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    8. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Remaining Summer Break
    9. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    10. Work on special projects with the kids
    11. Hang out at a park with Kids
    12. Have a picnic with the Kids
    13. Go to the Library
    14. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids
    15. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event
    16. Turn in our Summer Reading Logs

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily

    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 – Living & Dining Room)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Girls Scrapbooks)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Work on the Tree House Fort )
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Clean Out the Goat House)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers)

    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
    5. Research and Plan Out Business Goals
    6. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Medical Bills
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt)
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. 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: Everybody’s Happy Snack Mix

    P1460362c

    Everybody’s Happy Snack Mix

    I came up with this snack mix before a road trip.  Since it was a shorter road trip I wanted to make sure I had a snack item ready for when people got hungry along the way.  As I was looking through the cupboard I couldn’t figure out what to take for a snack because some things were sweet others were salty, some items the adults preferred more while other items the kids liked better.  While standing in front of the cupboard the idea hit me that it would probably be just as easy to make my own snack mix.

    It was perfect!  I used items that we already had in the cupboard.  I only had to take one Ziplock bag for the whole family instead of taking several snacks for each member of the family.  Any of the mix that didn’t go with us on the trip I divided up into snack bags to add to the school and work lunches the following week.

    The kids LOVED it!  The kids wanted to know where I found this snack mix and were surprised to learn it was just a mix of items from our pantry.   They thought it was great that they got sweet treats while I was happy they were eating the healthier items in the mix too.  It had a perfect blend of sweet and salty with a nice crunch.  The variety of shapes, colors, and tastes appealed to everyone in the family.  I came up with the name for this new snack while on our trip – Everybody’s Happy Snack Mix!

    This is perfect for school or work lunches, road trips, vacation, picnics, summer, outings, pool days, parties, and so much more!  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  If you don’t have all the ingredients on hand (no worries) just substitute it for something else you have in your pantry or remove it from the recipe.  It’s a simple and easy mix it together recipe.  No cooking required.

    Everybody’s Happy Snack Mix Recipe:

    • 2 cups Multi-Grain Cheerios Cereal
    • 2 cups Quaker Whole Heart Cereal
    • 2 cups Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists
    • 1 cup Dark Raisins
    • 1 cup Craisins
    • 1 cup Golden Raisins
    • 1 cup M&Ms*
    • 1 cup Chocolate Snow Caps*
    • 1 cup Cashews
    • 1 cup Almonds

    Directions are super easy: Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix.  Place in an airtight container or ziplock bag(s).  Happy Snacking!

    *If you are going to be storing these in a place where it may get hot (summer pool bag, car, etc…) I would recommend replacing the M&Ms and Chocolate Snow Caps with Skittles or similar item(s) that will not melt if left in the heat. 

    Travel Snack Mix - Summer - Recipe - Snack Mix - P1460358c

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

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

    Thankful for the extra time this week with Jake’s family.  This week we are back to our normal schedule and trying to get caught up on some things that we need to get done around the house and yard.  It will be nice to get some stuff done while squeezing in as many fun activities as we can as well.  Thankful for time with my family. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Roast Beef, Mash Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Homemade Pizza, Fresh Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Stuffed Chicken, Brown Rice
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Baked Tilipia, 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

    Last week Jake’s sister family spent the week with us.  The week went by quickly and we packed in a lot of activities during their stay.  It was fun spending some extra time and catching up with them as well as the rest of the family in the area the last few days.  On Friday the girls went to church camp for the weekend.  The house was really quiet after everyone left!  We celebrated Father’s Day last weekend since the girls were away at camp for a good part of Father’s Day.  Jake was super sweet and helped get our large pile of laundry started while the girls were away.  He also made the most amazing apricot and salmon recipe that I will be sharing in a few days.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Romona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary book to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family – went to Otters Creek Water Park with Mirm’s family
    3. Play a Game with the Family – played several this week
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Spring Events – Spring is done and now we are enjoying summer
    5. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks
    6. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    7. Spend Extra Time with Extended Family
    8. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities
    9. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    10. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Summer Break – wrapping up some later details
    11. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    12. Work on special projects with the kids
    13. Hang out at a park with Kids
    14. Go to the Library
    15. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids – we went to places we already visited before
    16. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event
    17. Get kids packed and sent off to Church Camp
    18. Celebrate Father’s Day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – running a little behind
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily

    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 – Vacuum & Dust)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Refrigerator)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Treehouse Fort) – working on it
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Treat Yard for Mosquitoes / Flies)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers) – hoping to get it done soon

    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 – another project to be done soon
    5. Research and pursue career goals
    6. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Medical Bills – paid more on a couple this week
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt) – working on it
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – went over budget with the grocery budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Lightening’s Last Hope by Joanna Campbell book to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Family
    4. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks
    5. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    6. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities
    7. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    8. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Summer Break
    9. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    10. Work on special projects with the kids
    11. Hang out at a park with Kids
    12. Go to the Library
    13. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids
    14. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event
    15. Pick up Summer Clothes for the girls (Swim suit, shorts, sandals, pjs)

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily

    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 – Post Items to Sale and Take Items to Donate)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Girls Scrapbooks)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Seed Goat Pen)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – New Collar for Snowball, Hay, & Mineral Bucket)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers)

    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
    5. Research and Plan Out Business Goals
    6. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Medical Bills
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt)
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. 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: Cashew Apple Chicken

    Chicken Recipe - Apple Recipe - Recipes - P1470550c

    Cashew Apple Chicken

    I love weekends at home for many reasons.  It is awesome spending some extra time with my family.  During the week typically I do most of the cooking do to everyone’s schedule being a more crazy, however, on the weekends many times my husband will cook our family meal.  He comes up with some of the most amazing and delicious dishes.  It is so neat to watch him look in the fridge to see what we have or what needs used up then whipped together a new and tasty meal.

    Our family enjoys chicken, apples, and cashews so this meal was a hit.  I am so thankful for a husband who cooks.  He has widen my recipe collections with the variety of dishes he pulls together.  Yes, I am blessed!

    Cashew Apple Chicken Recipe:

    • 4 Chicken Breasts (boneless and skinless)
    • 1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 2 Apples, cut up in equal size pieces (we used granny smith because we had them in the fridge)
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
    • 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup
    • 1 tablespoon Italian Dressing
    • 1/4 cup Cashews

    1.  Mix together the salt, pepper,  and cinnamon into a small bowl.  Sprinkle the chicken breasts for a pinch of this mixture and set the remaining spice mixture aside.

    2.  Add the olive oil to a frying pan and allow to heat up using medium heat for about 1 minute. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook.  Cook for 10 minutes on one side and turn to cook for an additional 10 minutes on the remaining side.  The chicken should be a light brown on all sides.  While the chicken is cooking on each side do steps 3 to 5.

    3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    4.  Grease a baking dish.

    5.  Dice up the apples and set aside.

    6.  Once the chicken is brown on all sides (see step 2) remove the chicken breasts from the pan and place them into the baking dish.

    7.  Add the Maple Syrup, Italian Seasoning, and spice mixture to the pan of oil and chicken juices.  Heat over medium for about 1 minute.  Add the diced apples and cashews.  Continue to cook for 3 minutes stirring gently.  Remove from heat and spoon the apple and cashew mixture equally over the chicken breasts.

    8.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

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

    Thankful for the extra time this week with the kids and extended family.  Jake’s sister and her family will be with us this week.   We also get a chance to catch up with his cousins in this the area as everyone gets together.  The week will be full of fun with everyone around.  Hoping that we have great memories with all the family members.  I am keeping the menu simple and most of the normal days are switched around as it will be a busy and different week for us.  They will be arriving on Monday.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Special Event
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Crockpot Roast, Steamed Vegetables
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Honey Baked Ham, Mashed Potatoes
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Walking Tacos, Fresh Salad
    • 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

    Last week was super fun with the girls home now on summer break. We packed in a lot of neat activities and got some projects done this week too.  The girls have been consistent on working on their summer workbooks and reading.  Thankful for extra time with the kids and a chance to do some exciting events together.  Jake has been busy with work and working on a big project for the girls in his free time at home.  He is such a great Daddy to his girls and comes up with neat activities for them from robotics to building items together and more!  This week Jake’s sister and her family are visiting us in South Carolina so the week will be a little different as we focus on spending time with them.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading School’s Out by Ken Brynildsen book to the kids (it’s an older book & couldn’t find it on Amazon) –
      finished it (the girls enjoyed the adventures in the book) and started on the next one that Karlie picked out
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Family – taught the girls Hand & Foot, played Golf, and more
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Spring Events
    5. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks
    6. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    7. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities – packed Jake’s work lunch and we had 2 days with picnic lunches when we were out and about
    8. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    9. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Summer Break
    10. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    11. Work on special projects with the kids
    12. Hang out at a park with Kids
    13. Go to the Library
    14. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids – went to Frankie’s Fun Park and went to the Candy Land Game Activity at the library
    15. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event – went to the Free Movies with the Kids
    16. Date Night with the Kids – I went with Karlie and Jake went with Brina

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – need to catch up
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – the girls are getting faster
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Clean House (Focus – 3 Bathrooms)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Kids Rooms)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Mow)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Mix Extra Vitamins in Goat Food)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers)

    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
    5. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Medical Bills – working on it
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt) – working on it
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. 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 Romona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary book to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Family
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Spring Events
    5. Spend time working on Summer Workbooks
    6. Attend Evening Activities & Events
    7. Spend Extra Time with Extended Family
    8. Lunch Bags Packed for Work & Errand / Outside Activities
    9. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    10. Prep & Figure out Schedule for Summer Break
    11. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    12. Work on special projects with the kids
    13. Hang out at a park with Kids
    14. Go to the Library
    15. Find a new local place to visit or new activity to do with the Kids
    16. Attend an extra-curricular activity or event
    17. Get kids packed and sent off to Church Camp
    18. Celebrate Father’s Day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily

    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 – Vacuum & Dust)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Refrigerator)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Treehouse Fort)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Treat Yard for Mosquitoes / Flies)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Girls Necklace Hangers)

    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
    5. Research and pursue career goals
    6. Prep, plan, and organize content for upcoming summer months while the kids are out of school

    Ministry Goals

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

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Medical Bills
    3. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, HVAC unit, and other debt)
    4. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    5. 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 Potato Wedges

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    Crispy & Delicious Potato Wedges

    Easy Potato Wedges Recipe:

    • 4 Potatoes
    • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
    • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt (we like Lawry’s Garlic Salt)

    1. Wash potatoes, cut into wedges.
    2. Place potatoes skin down in a baking dish.
    3. Mix the next 6 ingredients together and brush onto potatoes.
    4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    2.  Wash the potatoes.  Cut them into wedges.  Place in baking dish.

    3.  Mix the olive oil, pepper, paprika, and garlic salt together and pour over the potatoes.  Use a spoon to gently stir the potatoes so that they are evenly coated.

    4.  Bake for 40 minutes or until the potato wedges are cooked and tender.

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     Tray of Easy Potato Wedges

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

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    Glad to have the kids out for summer break now!  They have been busy and spent a lot of their time outside despite some of the rainy days we have been having lately.  They are excited about having some time away from school.  We have a lot of fun activities planned, therefore the menu will be pretty simple these next few weeks.  Lunches will consist primarily of leftovers or a packed picnic lunch for our days when we are out and about.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Beef Enchiladas, Steamed Brown Rice
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Hamburgers,  Fresh Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Special Event – Kids Date Night
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Pasta Casserole, 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