• What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    Last week went by quickly and as we approach a new week it is another full schedule.  Thankful for a family who works and plays together.  We had a great weekend, but are preparing for another crazy week of school and work ahead.  The menu will be slightly different this week with everything going on, but I will try to stay on track as much as possible.

    It will be another busy week, but glad that the family is working together to get everything done.   This week I have some special events going on and I need to utilize the items in my pantry.  Trying to keep it healthy, yet simple since several nights we are tighter on time.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Sloppy Joe’s, Fresh Salad
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Sandwiches, Salads, Fresh Veggies
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Hotdogs, Baked Beans
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook): Crockpot Pork Roast, Mash Potatoes (we switched this night around last week so it’s back on the menu)
    • 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 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 a whirlwind of school, work, and activities!  We got a lot done, some unexpected items that became higher priorities, but overall it was a good week.  Thankful for being able to do so much and the time we have together as a family.  Very grateful for a husband who willingly steps in to help and encourages me in areas that I need to work on and improve as well.

    This upcoming week will be another busy one with school projects to tackle, work items that need to be done, house to be maintained, relationships to be built, and a multitude of other activities that call our attention.  Praying for wisdom to remember and focus on the right priorities as I attempt to balance everything that is planned as well as the extra activities that tend to come up throughout the week.   Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids – still reading it, but getting closer, if it was up to the kids I would read the book cover to cover (they love their reading time with the family – I enjoy it too!)
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family – have some fun stuff in the works
    6. Play a Game with the Kids – we tried to spend more time outside when we could this week to soak up the sunshine and get fresh air
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week – after school & work most days this week the girls and I spent a little bit of time with the pets, picking up sticks in the yard, soaking up the sun since people at work and school have been getting sick, and enjoying the fresh air as well as exercise
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments – Pediatric Eye Doctor Re-check

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – went over a couple days! 🙂
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – so close, did 4 days!
    4. Sign up for Women’s Ministry Bible Study Class
    5. Date and Couples Massage with Jake! XOXO
    6. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Hang Up Girls Souvenir Necklaces
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Storage Room
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes – have more to write and do
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – at the end of work, homework, family activities, dinner, etc….my body is tired so this unfortunately has not been done but I have made some progress in the right direction
    3. Work on a few special projects – got a start on a couple
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile – did a little but need to wrap it up
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog – wasn’t able to get to it this week
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team – working on it
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options – some good ones coming up

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – need to narrow done times on our schedules of when both Jake & I would be available to meet with them
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – working on it
    3. Pay down debt we owe – made a small extra payment this week
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – did decent, but still missed the goal

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments – Orthodontist

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Organize my Paperwork, Folders, and Projects Stack
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Storage Room
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night
    5. Remove most of the Spring / Summer items from Closets

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

    This week we are back to our “new normal” schedule.  Last week was a little different since the girls were out of school Monday for Labor Day and Tuesday and Wednesday for Teachers Professional Learning Days. LOVED having extra time with my sweet girls and Jake over the Labor Day weekend!!!

    We are gearing up for another full week of school, work and extra activities.  The girls are starting to have more club and after school activities starting this week too.  Along with a handful of appointments and other fun activities so it will be a busy week for the  whole crew, but looking forward to hitting a rhythm.

    It will be another busy week, but glad that the family is working together to get everything done.   This week I have some special events going on and I need to utilize the items in my pantry.  Trying to keep it healthy, yet simple since several nights we are tighter on time.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Chili, Corn Bread
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):   Tagliatelle & Garlic Pasta, Asparagus, Stone Ground Wheat Bread
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Sweet & Sour Chicken, Steamed Rice
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook): Crockpot Pork Roast, Mash Potatoes
    • 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 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

    We had a nice long weekend this past weekend.  It was great having Labor Day off for the whole family.  We packed in a lot of fun family events as well as tackled a few projects around home too.  The girls had off Tuesday and Wednesday too because it was Professional Work Days for their teachers so they enjoyed more time with Jake and I.  I was able to take off Tuesday from work and hung out with the girls.  We rode bikes, played games, and many other good activities together!!!

    Over the long weekend we started another fun adventure as a family.  We took a hike along the Appalachian trail and was able to get though a little chunk of it only 2,000 plus miles to go before we can say we did the whole trail, ha!  The girls (and their parents) were wondering if we would make it the first mile since it was a steep climb, but we pushed through and the trail was much easier once we got higher and could feel the breeze.  Thankful for the extra time with my family.

    Looking forward to another great week.  We have a handful of new events coming up, the girls with some more of their school clubs and activities beginning as well as more learning and growing activities for me as well.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids –we are reading through the book together (maybe halfway now)
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family – went for a family day hiking trip along the Appalachian trail
    6. Play a Game with the Kids – the longer weekend gave us more time to play  Yahtzee, Pet Detective, and Travel USA
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week – we went for a hike together along the the Appalachian Trial
    10. Spend extra time with the family over the Holiday Weekend

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day – friday night I crashed on the couch before the kids went to bed and when I woke up they were already asleep

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – did it some, but not quite 5 times

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Hang Up Girls Souvenir Necklaces – got the necklaces and labels on the necklace holders, but need Jake’s assistance to get them hung on the girls walls
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Work on yard projects – Picked up sticks, b0nfire, mowed lawn, and got some work done outside this weekend
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night – a couple of nights we didn’t get a chance to do it this week

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes – working on them
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – getting some of the summer trip adventures done
    3. Work on a few special projects – need to work on them more
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile – working on getting the items together to update it
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog – hoping to get more done this week
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team – work in progress
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options – narrowing down my choices

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – putting together a list
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – doing better
    3. Pay down debt we owe – made an extra payment
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – went a little bit over budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments – Pediatric Eye Doctor Re-check

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Sign up for Women’s Ministry Bible Study Class
    5. Date and Couples Massage with Jake! XOXO
    6. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Hang Up Girls Souvenir Necklaces
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Storage Room
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week was a busy week with a lot of activities going on.  Jake  was traveling for part of the week with work, the girls were busy at school, and I was busy at home as well as work.  Grateful for a great  family at home and a good team at work, while it makes for a busy week balancing everything every day I am reminded of how many blessings are in my life.   I am far from perfect, but glad for the opportunities to continuing learning and growing!

    Thankful for the Labor Day weekend and extra time together with my family.  We did some fun activities and also squeezed in some time to work on some projects at home too.    As I gear up for another busy week I am trying to not over committed myself, but want to stay on track.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry (I had this book, an 1954 version, when I was in 6th grade and it takes place near White River Junction, Vermont near where Jake’s grandparents and Mom live so the girls know the area fairly well)
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – didn’t make it to 10,000 steps everyday before crashing
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – the TV didn’t like working for me while Jake  was traveling for work….need to get back in my routine again

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Pantry de-cluttered and organized
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Give Skipper a bath this week
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – working on it
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile – started on it
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog – figuring it out
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team – getting into more of a rhythm still have some details I am working out

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – my schedule was a little different this week so didn’t get it done
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – doing better
    3. Pay down debt we owe – made extra payment
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Spend extra time with the family over the Holiday Weekend

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Hang Up Girls Souvenir Necklaces
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Work on yard projects
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

    We are starting to establish more of a school and work routine.  I would be lying if I said everything has gone completely smoothly, ha!  A couple of nights this past week after a full day at work, picking up the kids so we can do homework, dinner, get everyone settled into bed, I was exhausted and ready to go to bed as well.  Typically, I am good staying up late and love getting up early, but with the transition I have had to go to bed around 9 or 10 at night (for those who know me that is early)!

    Thankfully we are getting settled into the routine.  I think this week will be easier now.  This week I have some special events going on and I need to utilize the items in my pantry.  Trying to keep it healthy, yet simple since several nights we are tighter on time.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Beef, Tomato and Noodle Soup, French Bread
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):   Baja Fish Tacos, Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki Chicken, Steamed Rice
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook): BLT Sandwiches, Pasta 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 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

    We are off to a great start of the school year!  Now if only I can get fully caught up on all the fun projects I have going on at home.  Thankful for an opportunity to work, but always enjoy some time to refocus, spend time with family & friends, run errands, and tackle projects around the house.  There is always more to do then time allows, but I am super excited about some of the fun stuff in store the remainder of the 2016 year!!!

    In case you haven’t already noticed I am a  goal oriented, list driven, and more of a type A personality.  I LOVE learning new things, but also enjoy the comfort of the normal everyday treasures in each day as well.  When I take a moment to soak in what is around me I remember that I take too much for granted and that I am blessed beyond measure (which I don’t deserve).

    The time I have with my family is a priority to me.  I absolutely LOVE hanging out with my husband, the girls are growing up way too fast and it is always a joy sharing a special moment with them, it is refreshing to catch up with a dear friend, and mentally stimulating to balance a work, school, family, life, and everything else schedule…..  I get more wrong then I get right, but thankfully I have a forgiving and gracious Heavenly Father and people who are not afraid to speak truth into my life.

    One of my big goals this week is to start sharing with you a “taste” of the adventures our family enjoyed over the summer break.  We were able to catch up with people we love and experience some amazing memories together.  As I gear up for another busy week I am trying to not over committed myself, but want to stay on track.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Pick out a new Chapter book to read to the girls and start reading it – It is one I got as a girl when I was in 6th grade and read many times (the girls think it is awesome that I am reading a book to them that I received when I was their age).  They love their reading time and I hope to more time reading with them this week!
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids. All of Alan Zull’s “Bad Pets” short stories books have been a big hit with our kids!
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids. – working through them
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids. – continuing to learn along with the girls on this one too!
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night. – love this one-on-one quiet time with each girl…the only problem this week I was so relaxed talking with that a couple of times I fell asleep at the foot of their beds as I was chatting and either they or Jake had to wake me up, ha!  Obviously, I was relaxing a little too much!
    6. Plan one special activity with the family – we have planned some super fun day or weekend activities this fall (I can’t share yet….they sometimes read my blog…..shhh…..)
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Create Memories with the Family
    9. Spend Quality time with each family member
    10. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – wasn’t the best week I have had….
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Give Skipper a bath this week – will need to do it next week, other outside items took priority
    2. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – hoping to gain more momentum this week!!!
    3. Work on a few special projects – got a couple gearing up….

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – really need to buckle down and get this on our schedule soon
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – doing better now that we are in a more set routine
    3. Pay down debt we owe – made extra payments again this week
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – better, but not within our target range

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry (I had this book, an 1954 version, when I was in 6th grade and it takes place near White River Junction, Vermont near where Jake’s grandparents and Mom live so the girls know the area fairly well)
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Pantry de-cluttered and organized
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Give Skipper a bath this week
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

    It has been a whirlwind of activities around our house this past week with getting back from Alaska, work, transitioning the kids to a new school, friends visiting, and a large amount of other fun activities going on.  Thankful to be back home again and getting started on a more consistently (and somewhat) normal school again.

    Since this week we have a mix of activities on the agenda including school and work we’ll make it simple and easy.  I based our menu off some items that we need to use up from our pantry.   Hopefully once we get into our new regular routine I will be able to catch up on more long term projects around the house and yard again.  Our menu is going to be simple and easy.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Beef Pasta Casserole, Steamed Vegetables
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):   Homemade Individual Pizzas, Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Chicken Vindaloo, Homemade Naan Bread
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook): Pork & Vegetable Stir Fry, Udon Noodles
    • 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 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

    We are officially on the new school and work schedule starting this week.  The girls are now in middle school.  It has been a little bit more of an adjustment, but they (and their parents) are doing well.  Looking forward to seeing the schedule get into the new normal rhythm.  I a positive there will be a lot of fun and exciting events as we fly through these next few weeks.

    Thankful for a great summer.  We had a lot of great opportunities to catch up with family and friends across the county.  We were able to cover a lot of territory over the past couple of months.  Last week we had close friends staying with us for a few days which was awesome.  Grateful for friends who check in on our house and pets while we were traveling and that work was flexible with the slightly insane schedule.

    I am hoping to get back up, running, and staying on top of things more regularly with the house, blog, and personal goals.  You should be seeing some of our fun adventures over the summer break.  Hoping to ease back into some of these items so I am not over committed as I gear up for a busy week.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading The Forgotten Filly by Karle Dickerson to the kids  –  the kids loved this book and were looking up more books by the same author or if this one was part of a series
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids – these are fun, short stories that make the kids giggle.  We actually saw one of the locations where one of the stories took place when we were traveling through Alaska!  Very exciting!!!
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids. – somehow this set got placed in a random spot and didn’t go through it until later in the week
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids – these have been a fun learning tool for me too
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night – always love hearing the neat things they are thankful for in their days
    6. Plan one special activity with the family – spent time with our friends that were visiting from Maine
    7. Play a Game with the Kids – we did a Nerf war with friends while they are visiting all adults and most of the kids participated (Savannah slept through the whole Nerf game)
    8. Create Memories with the Family – thankful for great memories and special times together – I took off the girls last day of summer to hang out with them and our friends from Maine
    9. Spend Quality time with each family member – the girls did a slumber party with Bradley this week so we did not do one-on-one time with everyone this week
    10. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week – craft time and science experiment fun over the weekend

    Kid Goals

    1. Spend time Monday –Friday encouraging the kids to find creative ways to learn and grow their skills – lots of fun learning and being creative as well as attending the first few days of school
    2. At least 30 minutes of outside play, fresh air, or activity time a day – didn’t get this on a couple of the school nights

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water, wear FitBit, and do yoga (or at least stretch out) each day – I didn’t get all these goals accomplished this week.  Had some technical issues with the TV for yoga while Jake was out of town with work.  Did well on the water and decent on the FitBit though.

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Focusing on my Family not the “to do” list

    Business Goals

    1. Focusing on my Family not the “to do” list

    Ministry Goals

    1. Quality time with my family

    Financial Goals

    1. Focusing on my Family not the “to do” list

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Pick out a new Chapter book to read to the girls and start reading it
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids.
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    6. Plan one special activity with the family
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Create Memories with the Family
    9. Spend Quality time with each family member
    10. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Give Skipper a bath this week
    2. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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