• What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    We are back to a more “normal” week around our house again.  We had a blast in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center, Disney, and Sea World.  The girls are in the last couple weeks of school and we have some busy evenings with events, school programs, and activities.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Special Activities (4 separate activities all in the span of 3 hours so squeezing in dinner on the run)
    • Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree): Korma Curry, Jasmine Rice
    • Wednesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Brina & Karlie’s Night to Cook Dinner
    • Thursday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Tomato Pasta Casserole, Caesar 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 pasta entree, Tuesday a seafood or pork 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

    Our family was able to spend some time in Florida, visiting friends and seeing the area!  We got to go to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney Magic Kingdom!  We had a blast visiting the amazing places and spending time with our friends.  Thankful for the awesome opportunities to create memories!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Prep for Summer Break – working on it 🙂
    3. Read at least one book to the girls every day – didn’t do this every day we were on vacation
    4. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    5. Plan & go on at least one family Adventure – went on a adventure to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney soooo much fun!
    6. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – almost made it
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House – work in progress
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – didn’t get home until the middle of the week and with everything going on so didn’t get this done
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group – emailed the updated schedule and information

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – working on it
    3. Save money for upcoming trips – starting it
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – work in progress
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects – on hold temporarily

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Prep for Summer Break
    3. Read at least one book to the girls every day
    4. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    5. Attend the Girls First Grade Program
    6. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends
    7. Swimming Lessons for the Kids
    8. Confirm the Schedule / Flights for upcoming Family Reunion

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Update my goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish The Hunger Games by Susan Collins (recommended by several friends)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up & cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group
    3. Feed & Serve Homeless – 1 John Ministry

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Save money for upcoming trips
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects

    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

  • Book: “No One to Call Me Home” by James Close

    As I was going through a stack a books we had in the house and trying to decide which ones to keep, sale, giveaway, or donate I came across this book.  I cannot remember where it came from and hadn’t read it before but it captivated my attention so I decided to read it.  The book is called No One To Call Me Home by Reverend James J. Close and it is about Reverend Close’s ministry at the Mercy Boys Home in Chicago.  His ministry provides a home, meals, clothing, and a loving environment for homeless teenage boys.  The boys typically range between 14 to 18 years old (sometimes they take in younger siblings).  There is also a Mercy Girls Home but Reverend Close lived and worked at the Boys Home so the majority of the book discussed not only the lives of the kids he impacted but some of their struggles as well as successes.

    Some of the stories he told brought tears to my eyes…..stories of some of the obstacles small children and teenagers had to face such as starvation, stealing, crime, abuse, drugs, alcohol, neglect and so much more.  None of these children asked to grow up in these families.   The Mercy Home has reached out to many of these hurt teenagers and provided them a safe and healthy environment in hopes that they will be able to encourage the kids to heal and become successful adults.

    As a parent this book made me not only appreciate the stable (although not perfect) home environment I was raised in and motivates me to pray for wisdom as I raise my kids as well as find ways to make a positive impact on the lives of other children.  The book is short and a quick read but touches on many areas of the heart.  Although I don’t have all the same religious beliefs as Reverend Close I think he is on the right track with providing a safe, stable environment for these teenagers.  Not every story he has is successful but it is encouraging to know that through their ministry they are making a wonderful impact on many individuals and families.  It really makes you think about the ways you can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

    A few quotes that made an impact on me:

    The Mercy kids are some of the most courageous and extraordinary persons I have ever met.  Many have overcome immense odds to succeed in life.  Others were not so fortunate.  But each of them taught me about life and made me grateful for the simple blessings to be found in each day.

    Our street was as big as the universe to me…..when it started getting dark, the other kids’ moms would lean out the windows and start calling to their kids – it’s time to come home.  I would stay out there and keep playing until I was alone. I was always the last one to come home.  I always had to decide when to go in. There was never anyone to call me in – to call me home.

    Our kids have so few of the simple family experiences that most kids have growing up, it nearly boggles the mind.  I’m not talking about ritzy family vacations and Christmas Eve around the fireplace.  I’m talking about food in the refrigerator and the same bed every night.

    If all you’ve known is disappointment, if all you’ve been told is what a loser you are, if all you’ve seen is poverty and life on the other side of the law – it is hard to believe things can ever change for someone like you.

    I’m a strong believer in the power of prayer combined with effort and love. 

    They are just kids.  They need a place to live and someone to love them unconditionally.

  • Free Audio Book: “Hearing God” by Dallas Willard

    For the month of June Christian Audio is offering a free download of an audio book .  This month the audio book is Hearing God by Dallas Willard.

    Being close to God means communicating with him–telling him what is on our hearts in prayer and hearing and understanding what he is saying to us. It is this second half of our conversation with God that is so important but that can also be so difficult. How do we hear his voice? How can we be sure that what we think we hear is not our own subconscious? What role does the Bible play? What if what God says to us is not clear?  (information from Christian Audio)

    If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in June.   Make sure to submit your order by June 30, 2012  to get your free audio book.  Thanks Christian Audio!

  • New Upromise eCoupons for June 2012

    Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of June 2012. Remember to activate your eCoupons to get additional savings. If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or directly at the Upromise website.

    This month they have 41 coupons you can activate for bonus savings. Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card or purchase the items at the store and the cash will be added to your account. You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!

    You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.

  • Kids in the Kitchen: Ham & Pasta Casserole Recipe

    The girls made dinner for us this week.  They wanted to try a casserole so Jake found a recipe from Better Homes & Garden and adapted it for the girls.   They got the items out of the fridge and pantry, measured, and added them to the casserole. I did help with getting it in and out of the oven but otherwise they put the casserole together on their own.  It turned out really well!

    Ham & Pasta Casserole:

    • 1 1/2 cups Milk
    • 1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (10 3/4 oz)
    • 2 cups diced cooked Ham
    • 1 cup dried Elbow Macaroni
    • 1 can sliced Mushrooms (4 oz)
    • 1/2 cup chopped Onions
    • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

    Grease a 8 x 8  pyrex dish and preheat oven for 375 degrees.  Mix the milk and cream of chicken soup.  Stir in the ham, macaroni, mushrooms, and onions.  Cover the casserole and bake for 40 minutes or until the noodles are tender.  Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole and bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  Let stand for 10 minutes prior to serving.

  • Review & Giveaway: Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger

    I am excited to introduce you to the new Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger that I have recently received PLUS I will be giving away 1 of the Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger’s to one lucky reader (details below)!  Watch the video above to see some of great features of the Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger.  At some point in life you’ll need to use a plunger, why not have one that works as well as remains clean and dry!  The Clean & Dry Plunger repels water with its unique NeverWet™ nanotech coating creating less of a mess.  Our family has used the Clean & Dry Plunger and we were pleased with the way the plunger worked as well as repelled the water.  I am thrilled to be giving one of these great Rubbermaid Clean & Dry to one of my readers too!

    Benefits of the Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger:

    • The Clean & Dry plunger head and pole is protected with NeverWet™ coating, which forms a protective shield around them that water cannot penetrate.
    • Repels water, germs and more
    • Like car wax, the water beads up and rolls off instantly
    • Minimizes the spread of germs and keeps consumer’s homes cleaner and more sanitary
    • Does not drip on the floor after use
    • Head plunges effectively and maintains NeverWet coating for thousands of cycles
    • The unique NeverWet™ coating is affected by the natural oils in your skin (touching the protective coating may impact the product’s performance)
    • Rubbermaid recommends cleaning the plunger with bleach and not with soap (washing with soaps can alter the performance of the NeverWet™ coating).

     

    The Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger worked well for my family, we were fascinated by the unique NeverWet coating and the way it quickly repelled any moisture on the surface.  Thankfully we don’t need a plunger very often in our home but my favorite part about this great product is that there is very little clean up mess.  If a few beads of water remain on the plunger once it is used all you have to do is gently spin and tap the handle of the plunger against your hand a few times and any remaining beads will run off.

    A plunger is one of those practical household items you need on hand (and hope you never have to use) but eventually you will need it so you want one that works well, remains clean and is sanitary especially after use.  Most plungers will pick up germs, bacteria, and more that grow as well as spread whenever it drips or is set on floors, cabinets, or wherever it is stored, however, the Rubbermaid’s Clean & Dry Plunger is dry once your done therefore eliminating any drips while keeping the home more sanitary.   It would even be a great gift itself or along with some other practical Rubbermaid containers or items for kids as they go off to college or to a newly married couple.

    Giveaway

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Rubbermaid’s great Clean & Dry Plunger I am hosting a giveaway!

    The winner of this giveaway will receive:

    • 1 Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger

    Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  You can sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best bathroom cleaning tip!

    All comments must be made by Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

    I encourage you to check out more information on Rubbermaid’s Clean & Dry Plunger if you are interested in finding a nice plunger that repels water, bacteria, and more which also helps keep your home environment cleaner and healthier for your family.  The Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger can be purchased at Rubbermaid’s website or in the cleaning aisle, plumbing aisle or on display at your local Meijer, The Home Depot, Menards, Target,  or Wal-Mart store.

    More information about Rubbermaid and the Clean & Dry Plunger can be found:

    I was given this product for free to write an informed review.  The product, specific product information, and pictures were provided by Rubbermaid, however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own.   I was not paid to write this post.  A special thanks to Rubbermaid for providing a Clean & Dry Plunger to review as well as one to giveaway to my readers! 

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our Autographed “Born Again” CD Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Tanesha

    for winning an

    Autographed Born Again CD by Newsboys!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy listening to Your New Born Again CD!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.

  • Our Black Lab – Skipper

    Skipper – “What! Can I help you?!”

    As I was thinking about summer and all the outdoor activities we have planned I decided to share a post and a few pictures about one of the girls best friends and playmates….Skipper.We are thankful for our sweet black lab puppy.  Well….I guess she is really not considered a puppy anymore since she is over a year old now.  We got her when she was a puppy, the first weekend we had her it rained all weekend and she had a blast splashing from puddle to puddle thus her name, Puddle Skipper Hayes.  She is always ready to play and there to greet you when you come home or outside.  The girls love playing outside with her and even though she is a fairly big dog she is really gentle with the kids.  I know she’ll be excited to have the girls home more often when school is out for summer break.

    Skipper, our sweet black lab

    Skipper can be found running around the yard, chasing squirrels (or any other animal that comes into our yard), and swimming in the creek.  Winter or summer….rain or snow……she will be swimming in the creek.   She is willing to do almost any outdoor activity from popping bubbles that the girls blow, to walking with me down to the compost, playing fetch, or taking a nap in the jungle gym.  Skipper is the only dog that we have had that will literally climb the ladder to play with the kids in the jungle gym, she’ll even sleep in the jungle gym sometimes.

    On guard and watching for any squirrels or other wildlife

    When she is not swimming, playing, or chasing the animals in the yard she’s chewing on something, one of her favorite chew toys is my garden hose (not sure how many patches it has in it at this point).   She’s a great watch dog too (although she’d lick you before biting you) but she has deterred several “sales” people from coming into the yard!  It is amazing how quickly pets, like Skipper, become such a wonderful part of the family.