Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mom Management Home: 3 Things to Simplify Family Life

The following post is taken from imom.  For more great articles, click here.

Your life is not about being a juggling act. It's about choosing what is most important to you and toning down everything else. Even the enjoyable things in our lives can distract us from what is truly important.

Life Is All About Relationships

And what is important? Relationships. Relationships with God, your husband, your children, your family and your friends. As you look back one day, it will be your time with your loved ones that you will truly treasure. And again, it's not that you should shun all other activities or careers or community organizations. But put your focus on your relationships, with everything else coming behind that as your time and energy levels permit.

1. Enlist Some Help Around the House

Are you the only one who bothers with housecleaning or cooking in your home? Maybe now is the time to discuss household responsibilities with your husband and children. If your kids don't have any weekly chores, start giving them tasks. Not only will that help your burden, but it will teach your kids how to be responsible.

2. Letting Go of Obligations

Perhaps you're a mom who loves to help others. You volunteer at your church, at your children's schools and even at the local nursing home. And volunteering is great -- people in this world need help. But if you find yourself spending more time helping people in the community than your own family, or if you find yourself feeling "obligated" to help and not enjoying it, perhaps it's time to cut back on some of those activities.
So when the PTA calls you up to lead a fundraising event that you know you don't have time for, don't feel obligated to put in the hours. It's OK not to help with every project that comes up. You know the phrase, "Just say no" -- repeat those words to yourself whenever you feel pressured or obligated or guilted into doing yet another activity you don't have time for.

3. Managing Your Hobbies

Having time for yourself is critical. You need that time away from your family to relax, to bond with friends and to stay physically fit. But if you find that you are over-committing yourself to spinning classes, tennis lessons and scrapbooking groups, you may find that your family time is suffering.
So if you find yourself always wanting to try something new -- a sport, a hobby or learning a new language -- tackle one new project at a time. Sometimes we get so excited about trying new things that we want to do them all at once. Unfortunately, there's just not enough time in the day. So choose one activity for now, and come back to the others later.
 The point of this article is simply: not overscheduling your family starts with you. Choose those relationships and activities which are most important to you and don't feel guilty about the rest of it.
© 2011 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Mom Management Home: 3 Steps to Dig out of Clutter


The following post is taken from imom.  Check out more great articles here.


Expert organizer, Sandra Felton, says you can stop the clutter cycle.  How?  Start with these three steps.
How to Begin
Sure, you feel overwhelmed. That's the way we all start. Let's simplify this into three powerful steps. You can start out easy, but you do need to start by doing something every day. If you follow these steps consistently, you will notice that little by little your life and your house will change.

Step One

Make a strong take-off every day. A good take-off sets the tone of the day. When you:
WAKE UP
JUMP  UP
MAKE UP
EAT UP
WASH UP
BRUSH UP
DRESS UP
LOOK UP
set a time
don't lie in bed, there's a wonderful world waiting
the bed immediately, automatically
something nutritious
bathe body or wash face
take care of your teeth
completely from head to toe including hair, shoes and makeup of some kind on your face
somewhere during the day you need to turn your ear upward to God
And any other steps you may need to add to your flight plan, like TAKE A WALK. They don't have to end with UP.

Step Two

Change habits one at a time. Let's start with The 30-Second Rule. "If it takes thirty seconds or less to do a job, do it immediately." This applies to putting up packages when you come in, putting the scissors (or whatever) back where you got them, hanging up the clothes you take off and other things like that.
The second powerful habit is this: when you get something out, put it back — and here's the kicker — right away.
Remember STOW AS YOU GO!
Commitment to these two habits will change the condition of your house immediately.

Step Three

Attack the mess — bless the house! We don't attack the house. We attack the mess that is hiding the wonderful possibilities of our house. Use one of the two methods below to get rid of the junk and organize the house.
Mt. Vernon Method
Get three BankerBoxes™, about 12 X 18 inches. Label each box, GIVE AWAY, THROW AWAY, STORE SOMEPLACE ELSE. Starting at the front door, go around the inside periphery of the room from drawer, to cupboard, to nook or cranny emptying the contents of things that don't belong in that area into one of these boxes. Organize neatly what does belong in that area and move on to the next area.
Mt. Vesuvius Method
Use if your house is a shambles, your marriage is in trouble because of it, you fear the health department or your landlord, your adult children are distraught about your place, or you face some similar emergency. Like Mt. Vesuvius, this is a quick and powerful method. It avoids the hang-up of decision making and clears the clutter quickly. What do I do with all of this stuff?
Go here for details on the Mt. Vesuvius Method.

Used with permission from Sandra Felton.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Communication: Explaining Your Needs and Desires to your husband

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!


By: Dr. Gary Smalley
Not every husband likes to be approached the same way, but, generally, Dr. Gary Smalley says this advice applies to most men.

1. Make a List

Make a list of the needs and desires you would like to see your husband fulfill. Divide your list into four categories: emotional needs, physical needs, spiritual needs, and mental needs. In some areas you may have an overflow of needs, and in others you may have to struggle to think of one need. But delve into your feelings until you believe your list is complete. Condense the list into the smallest number of vital needs so it doesn't appear overwhelming.
As you explain the list to your husband, remember to discuss one need at a time until you've covered each subject. Your husband may have trouble accepting the importance of some of your needs, so you may have to discuss the difference between men and women where sensitivity is concerned. But be sure to maintain the right attitude while explaining. When you appeal to him for understanding, avoid self-pity, jealousy, and whining. These approaches are repulsive to anyone, especially your husband.
Finally, as you begin to discuss your needs, be careful not to accuse or imply failure on his part; just explain how you feel.

2. The Worst Approach

One woman told me she was extremely discouraged about her husband's lack of interest in her. He had a tremendous drive and interest in his work, his friends, his pastimes, but almost no interest in her or their children. She talked on and on about how much she had tried to get him to change. Nothing seemed to work. When I discussed it with her husband, I found she had continually confronted him with his failures as a husband. He said she always seemed to choose the wrong time to talk about their problems -- "Just when I was trying to unwind." To top it all off, she came across as a combination of prosecutor, judge, and jury. Just before he went to bed, just as he got home from work, almost anytime he "let down" around her, she started condemning and reasoning.
I began to see that she had what I call a "contentious spirit," one that always contends for its own way. She was constantly pushing him into a corner, trying to make him see her point of view. Even the Bible describes the effects of a contentious woman. She drives out a man like the searing desert sun; she drives a man to the corner of a rooftop; she drips on a man like a steady rain (Prov. 25:24; 21:19; 27:15).
What perfect analogies. Around the house this woman's habits were as annoying as a constant dripping -- like a leaky faucet. Her contention was like the sun beating down on a wayfarer in the desert. No matter where her husband turned, he couldn't get away from it. He found no oasis of relief because she continually reminded him of his failures. Finally, her actions forced him to the corner of the rooftop with nowhere else to go.
Want to know what brought him down off the rooftop in a hurry? His wife got rid of her contentious spirit. Consequently, she inspired a tremendous change in her husband. Today she describes him as a much more loving husband who meets her needs in ways she never even dreamed possible.

3. Sharing Not Complaining

Explaining your feelings and needs is not the same as voicing complaints. One couple, who constantly bickered, determined to go through a whole week without voicing any criticism. Rather than argue, each time either of them became irritated, they wrote it down. Each time either was annoyed by the other's failure, he or she wrote it down. They placed each "complaint" slip in one of two boxes, a "his" and a "hers" box. At the end of the week, they planned to open the boxes. He would read her complaints and she would read his.
Saturday night finally arrived, and he decided to go first. He opened the box and began to read the dozens of little notes, one at a time. His eyes reflected the hurt and disappointment in himself as he read the complaints. "You've been promising to fix the screen door for six months, and it's still not fixed." "You never put your socks in the dirty clothes." "I'm getting sick and tired of having to pick up after you everywhere you go." He was sincerely grieved by all the ways that he had offended his wife.
Then it was her turn. She opened the box and pulled out the first slip of paper. She read it with a lump in her throat. The next note brought tears to her eyes. Picking up three more notes, she read them quickly and began to weep. Every note in the box read, "I love you." "I love you." "I love you."
Like many wives, you have been fooled into thinking that one day your complaints would finally remold your husband into the perfect mate. But I hope the example above clearly illustrates that unconditional love and tenderness, not complaints, can transform a cranky opponent into a humble, loving partner.
However, it is important to verbalize your feelings. One wife touched her husband's heart with the note she wrote him. He actually changed his weekly schedule to include more time with her. The note read: "Many days I feel like a shining little red apple -- one of the top ones in a barrel. Everyday you come by and choose one, but never me. Your hand comes close, sometimes you even lift me up, but always you choose another. I've got a little worm growing inside me, and each day I become less attractive. I long for the day that you choose me!"

Monday, March 26, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday March 26, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                         Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday March 27, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday March 28, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Todler Time - Cane Creek Rec Center 10:00a.m.                                            
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday March 29, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday March 30, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Health Benefits of Chocolate

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!



Do white chocolate and milk chocolate have health benefits?
Sorry, but, no. They lack the flavonoids that make chocolate beneficial. Flavonoids are the natural compounds that have antioxidant properties.

So is all dark chocolate good for you? 
Unfortunately, it's the healthy part of dark chocolate--the flavonoids-- that gives dark chocolate its bittersweet taste, so candy makers often remove them. And since manufacturers are not required to label the amount of flavonoids their product contains, if it doesn't say it has flavonoids, you can't assume it does. 

But, if you find a dark chocolate bar with flavonoids, studies have shown that it may help to improve your circulation, and lower your blood pressure. Some candy makers are now producing dark chocolate bars that are high in flavonoids to meet the growing consumer demand. 

How much dark chocolate do I need to eat for it to be beneficial?
The studies showed that as little as 4g is beneficial (that's about 1/3 of a Hershey's Dark Chocolate Bar). In the blood pressure lowering study, the patients ate the equivalent of 1.5 Hershey's Dark Chocolate Kisses.

So should my chocolate motto be, "the more the better?"
Regrettably, the answer is no. Chocolate has lots of fat, sugar and caolries that need to be accounted for in your overall diet.
Remember, as in all good things, moderation is the key!

Information compiled from studies reported in the American Heart Association and The Lancet medical journals.

Medical information within this site is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition. Please consult a licensed health care professional for the treatment or diagnosis of any medical condition.

Monday, March 19, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday March 19, 2012:  MOPS meeting!!!  First United Methodist Church 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                                         Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                         Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday March 20, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday March 21, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Todler Time - Cane Creek Rec Center 10:00a.m.                                            
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday March 22, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday March 23, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

7 Characteristics of Successful Parents

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!


1) Successful parents don't expect perfection either from themselves or their children.
Parenting is an art, not a science. Successful parents understand that, like themselves, their children aren't perfect either. This frees them to love their children unreservedly.
2) Successful parents don't fear occasional failures.
They understand that mistakes are a normal, even healthy, part of parenting. They make the best decisions they can and when they're wrong, they learn from their mistakes and try to do better the next time.
3) Successful parents don't expect to have smooth sailing.
Children have their own opinions, personalities and preferences. Inevitably, they cause us to say "Where did THAT come from" or "What WERE you thinking"? Our responsibility to provide them with limits and guidance will sometimes clash with their growing desire for independence. Successful parents aren't surprised by them; they expect them. But successful parents understand that their responsibility to their children is not to always please them or make them happy - it's to make the hard decisions that will be for their best in the long run.
4) Successful parents don't go it alone.
Successful parenting means trusting yourself, but not being a Lone Ranger. No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we've got them all. So successful parents aren't reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom along the way waiting to help them.
5) Successful parents try harder.
They face the same pressures we all do - demanding jobs, spouses and children who need them. But they live by this rule: "You get back what you put in." They have a clear sense of priority for their family and are willing to put in the time to achieve it. They give more than the "average parent" so their children will be more than just "average children." These parents work at nurturing and developing themselves to be the best parents they can be.
6) Successful parents enjoy being parents.
They enjoy parenting not because it's easy or instantly rewarding, but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you "they grow up so quickly." Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them - even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don't just LOVE their children; they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them.
7) Successful parents strive to be the person they want their children to become.
There are no formulas for parents. You can't just "program" children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them - their parents. So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children.
Taken with permission from AllProDad.com
© 2007 iMom. All rights reserved.

Monday, March 12, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday March 12, 2012: Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                       Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday March 13, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday March 14, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Todler Time - Cane Creek Rec Center 10:00a.m.                                            
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday March 15, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday March 16, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

14 Fun Weekend Family Activities

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!



  1. High School Sporting Event: Go to a local high school football, basketball or any other game. Games will usually cost anywhere up to  $5 and are sometimes even free for kids!  To make this even more fun, collect plastic bottles and any cardboard/poster board to make signs and noisemakers to cheer your team on. 
  2. Mystery Trip:  Take the kids on a mystery trip.  Give them clues about your destination as you get closer.  It can be something as simple as an ice cream shop or a playground, or a trip to a museum or amusement park.  The possible destinations are endless- just make it a surprise!
  3. Family Theater:  Put your child in the spotlight and put on a family play.  You can make this as simple or detailed as you want by creating costumes, props, tickets, and maybe even some yummy refreshments.  This is also a great opportunity to record a home video!
  4. The Family Restaurant:  Let your children prepare a meal and serve it to you and your husband restaurant style.  This is a great way for them to have fun in the kitchen and a memorable experience for everyone!
  5. Gardening 101:  Plant flowers (indoors in a flower pot or outside).  Let your child pick out what kind of flower he or she wants to plant and teach them how to take care of it. 
  6. Be Our Guest:  Get to know the family of one of your child's friends by having the family over for a cookout.
  7. Picture Perfect:  Let your kids take photos, print them, and make a photo album- then have the kids think of captions.  Photo albums are easy, fun, and serve as a great keepsake!
  8. Scavenger Hunt:  Have a fun, free scavenger hunt.  You can make up fun clues and even have a prize at the end!  If you aren't too sure where to start, look up some ideas on the internet to get you going.
  9. Bike Ride:  Go on a bike ride that ends with a picnic.  Map your route before you leave, choosing new and interesting destinations each week.  This day will be full of fun, food, and great exercise!
  10. Spa Day: (girls only!) Have a spa hour- paint each other's nails, do your hair, and let them put makeup on you.  To make your spa day even better, wear bath robes and put on some soothing tunes!
  11. Obstacle Course:  Build an obstacle course and let each family member compete for the best time.  You can even make certificates or medals for everyone.
  12. Garage Sale:  Have a garage sale and let your kids decide how to spend the proceeds on a family day.  Who says you can't have fun and tidy up the garage at the same time?
  13. Secret Serving:  Plan a secret surprise for someone in need.  For example, cook a meal for someone or mow their lawn without them knowing who did it.
  14. Back Yard Camping: Tell ghost stories, look at the stars, and enjoy some yummy s'mores all in the comfort of your very own back yard.
© 2011 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Monday, March 5, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday March 5, 2012: Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                       Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday March 6, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday March 7, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Todler Time - Cane Creek Rec Center 10:00a.m.                                            
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday March 8, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday March 9, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

3 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Bill

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!


Steve and Annette Economides are known as America's Cheapest Family, and they're proud to have that title!  They're latest book is Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half.  The following ideas for saving on your grocery bill are based on their method of doing their grocery shopping once a month.  But, you can still use them even if you shop more often.

Step One: Taking Stock of what you already have

Before we embark on our once-a-month grocery trek, Annette takes stock of what we have in our pantry and refrigerator and Steve inventories the freezer. Annette records items in a number of categories, noting what we'll need to buy in order to make it through the month. If you go shopping once each week or twice a month this step is still critical for making sure your pantry and freezer are fully stocked so you won't have to make a special trip to just pick up one missing item for a meal you are preparing (but you may not have to do a full inventory each time). Taking stock also helps us minimize duplicate purchases and "remind" us to use the things we already have in the house.
Using a blank sheet of scrap paper, we make note of the following items and quantities we have in stock (of course, your list will differ):
  • Breakfast Foods: Eggs; milk; juice; oatmeal; cold cereal; bagels; and ingredients for waffles, pancakes and French toast. She also makes sure our pantry is well-stocked with baking soda, flour, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon and commonly used spices.
  • Lunch Foods: Peanut butter and jelly; tuna; bread; lunch meat; eggs for egg salad; tortillas and shredded cheese for cheese crisps; hot dogs; cottage cheese; yogurt; salad fixings and plenty of fruit.
  • Dinner Foods: Steve basically takes almost everything out of our chest freezer and gets a count of the number of items in each of the following categories: pork/ham; sausage; chicken/turkey; beef; lamb and lunchmeat. He also notes how much margarine, bread and butter we have along with frozen vegetables. Finally we check our supply of beans, pasta and other items for meatless meals or side dishes.
Once you know what you have in your pantry and freezer you have two choices to make:
  1. Go on to the next step of reviewing the good ads so you decide where you will shop for the items you'll eat in the next week or weeks.  Or…
  2. Plan your menu from what you already have in stock and just go to the store to pick up a few of the things that you are out of.  The rest of your shopping trip will be to pick up items that are steeply discounted. Over time, as your pantry becomes well-stocked, your shopping trips will be focused less on buying food to consume this week or this month, and more for the future.

Step TWO: researching and listing sale items.

Once Annette knows what we have in stock, she carefully reviews the grocery store ads with a black marker in hand, circling items that we need and items that are at or below our "Buy Price." In our city, food ads from most of the grocery stores arrive either in the mail or in the Wednesday newspaper. If for some reason a particular store's flyer doesn't arrive, we review their ad on the Internet. But it's always easier for Annette to evaluate the sales flyers sitting at the kitchen table with all of the printed ads in front of her.
Once she has reviewed and circled all of the ads paper and writes a list of the best deals. But she doesn't just write one long list of items she wants, she lists the sale items by store. This is not our official shopping list, but simply a list of sale items broken down by store.  Just because an item is put on the list doesn't mean that it will be purchased- they are just written down as sale items, to note the price as a possible purchase or for easy price comparison.
She lists one store at a time on a sheet of loose leaf paper, recording the best sale items they are advertising under the name.
This list serves three purposes:
  1. It helps us determine the store or stores where we will shop. We usually shop two in one night. The first one for the bulk of our shopping and the second for loss-leaders.
  2. It allows us to see prices on the items we want easier without having to flip through numerous pages of store ads.
  3. If we are short on time, it allows us to go to Wal-mart and more easily ''Ad-Match'' the best prices from all of the other stores' sales.
In reality, some of the sale items purchased on this shopping trip will not be incorporated into the menu now, but will be saved for future months. This stockpiling concept allows us to always be eating food purchased at the lowest prices.

Step THREE: listing daily events

Having determined what sale items Annette will buy, she starts to create the month's meal plan by pulling out her calendar.  Why the calendar? Simple. She plans the menu based on our family's schedule for each night. She doesn't want to cook a roast on a night when the children will be out with activities. When nothing is scheduled for the dinner hour or after dinner, she'll plan a more complex meal like a turkey or roast. The bottom line is to plan meals that fit with the schedule.

Sample beginner menu

This is a simple beginner menu that Annette presents at our seminars. It's not perfectly nutritious, but it will give you an easy target to hit-so you start off being successful.
  • Monday: Tacos-lettuce, tomato, cheese, meat
  • Tuesday: Mac & Cheese, Carrots-cooked or raw
  • Wednesday: Hot Dogs, Beans, Pickles
  • Thursday: BBQ Chicken, Corn on Cob, Applesauce
  • Friday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad
  • Saturday: Hamburgers, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans
  • Sunday: Vegetable Soup with Muffins
Over the years, Annette has been transformed from being a culinary challenged cook to a menu planning machine. She isn't one of these women who just loves to be in the kitchen cooking from morning to night. She views it more as an exercise in efficiency, "I want to feed my family good tasting, healthy meals. So how can I achieve this goal without spending my life doing it?" It's not that Annette hates to cook, but that she has so many other things she wants to do with the kids and Steve that she wants to minimize the time spent preparing meals. It helps to break down meal planning into various components (veggies, starches and main dishes) so you can create nutritionally balanced meals.
Before you select your meals, it's a good idea to create a reference list of all the veggies, fruits and starches that are available for you to choose from. It's a lot easier to have a list in front of you than to have to try to remember all of your options.
The meal combinations are decided based on a number of factors:
  1. Seasonal: Almost all of the fruits and vegetables we eat are ones that are in season- and inexpensive. So if we have a hankering for asparagus or some other seasonal fruit or veggie, but the price is outrageous, we just wait for it to be "in season." That is unless we have previously purchased a fruit such as blueberries and stored them in the freezer. If you're not sure when particular fruits or veggies are in season in your area, consult with your local county extension service, they should be able to provide you with accurate information. Another great source would be to stop by a farmers market-they'll know for sure.
  2. Variety: We try not to repeat the same veggies or starches two days in a row. We once heard of a mom who just didn't like the idea of planning meals, so she fed her family the same meal every day for two weeks! We know that's an extreme example, but planning a little variety into your menu will go a long way to helping you really enjoy the process.
  3. Nutrition: Having a menu planned with three categories-proteins, starches and vegetables-provides a balanced diet and helps our kids understand the food groups so they can develop healthy eating habits from a young age.
 Another time saver in selecting the meals is to compile a list that contains all of the meals you currently know how to cook. Annette's list has grown over the years from just a handful of meals to over one-hundred. From this list, Annette selects and "plugs in" meals on her menu planner sheet always being mindful of the amount of preparation time required for the meal and the events of each particular evening. She even includes the judicious use of left-avers-knowing that many of the meals are prepared in large enough quantities to serve again. Planning the daily meals is probably the most time consuming and mentally intense part of menu planning. It's also the step that will give you the most freedom throughout the week or month because you'll have a plan, written down. With this step completed, you've just taken dinner out of panic mode and planned it to perfection.
Annette usually plans 15-18 dinner meals to be cooked on our once-a-month cooking day. (We view this much like our once-a-month food shopping trek-it is efficient and helps make the household run smoother throughout the month. These meals are stored in the freezer to be used later in the month when the menu calls for it. Once she has the freezer meals planned, she fills in the remaining days with leftovers or roasted chicken; pasta with homemade spaghetti sauce; pork chops; steaks on the grill or other meals cooked on the day they are eaten.
Can you see how having a written plan can really reduce your stress level? It's more like fitting together a jig saw puzzle-just getting the pieces to fit rather than creating some- thing from scratch.

Taken with permission from Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family by Steve and Annette Economides.    

Monday, February 27, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday February 27, 2012: Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                            Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 28, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday February 29, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                                   Todler Time - Cane Creek Rec Center 10:00a.m.                                            
                                                   Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday March 1, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                               Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday March 2, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Dr. Suess Week

It is Dr. Suess week!  What fun stuff are you going to do with your kids this week???  Here are a few ideas!


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There are lots of great ideas out there to help celebrate Dr. Suess week (especially on Pinterest)!  Have lots of fun this week!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

8 Outside-the-Box Date Ideas

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!



Couple time is important to your marriage, especially when life is fast and furious (and when is it not?). Making some one-on-one time for you and your husband can be tricky, given the family schedule and tight budgets. When the traditional dinner and a movie on Saturday night just isn't going to happen, try one of these fresh date ideas:
  1. Break a sweat together. If you can find a neighbor or friend to hang out with the kids for an hour (or two), go for a quick bike ride, run, or walk. The exercise will be a great stress reliever for both of you, and during the cool down, you'll have a chance to talk.
  2. Try breakfast or lunch, instead. If your work schedule is flexible enough to allow coming in an hour later once in a while, try going out for breakfast after the kids are off to school. You might find that you're even more tuned in to each other early in the day before fatigue sets in. Or take your lunch break together—the kids are in school (no sitter required) and everyone has to each lunch, right?
  3. Get lost together in a local museum or art gallery. It's fun to just wander and take in the exhibits with no particular agenda. What you see will often spark interesting conversation, and reveal more about your spouse and how he sees the world. Plus, many museums and galleries have no or low admission fees.
  4. Take on a project together. Make sure it's not too stressful or complex, but something that you can toil away on, side-by-side, often allowing a chance to talk and share along the way. Think planting a new flower bed, doing a jigsaw puzzle, or painting a room.
  5. Picnic in the park. If a sitter is no where to be found, there's no better place to keep the kids at bay while you reconnect than the park. Take a blanket and picnic, pick a spot where you can see the kids on the playground, and let them go. While they play, you can relax and chat.
  6. Participate in a couples' bible study or small group at your church. You'll likely enjoy the time with other couples, and many churches provide childcare for these activities.
  7. Take in the late show at the drive-in. Drive-ins are making a comeback in some areas, and it's a great option for parents of small children. Put them in their jammies and let them get comfy in the back seat, and they'll be asleep before the previews are over. Then slide over next to your sweetie and pretend you're 18 again. If you're not a night owl - and more of an early bird - you can catch the matinee, which is also a little cheaper! 
  8. Take a day off together. Your kids are at school, and you can hire a babysitter for the afternoon hours so you can just enjoy each other's company for an entire day.
© 2010 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What's For Dinner? {Chicken, Spinach, & Cheese Manicotti}

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I found this recipe at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/.  I was looking for something different to do with chicken, and I must say that this one turned out really good!

What You Need

1-1/2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken breasts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 container (16 oz.)  2% Milkfat Low Fat Cottage Cheese (or ricotta cheese)
2 egg whites
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
10 manicotti shells, cooked, drained
1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Make It

HEAT oven to 350°F.
COMBINE chicken and garlic in large bowl. Add spinach, cottage cheese, egg whites and 1/4 cup mozzarella; spoon into manicotti shells.
PLACE in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with spaghetti sauce.
BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until heated through. Top with remaining mozzarella; bake 5 min. or until melted. Sprinkle with basil.

I used ricotta cheese and parsely {instead of basil}.  I also added some garlic and herb no salt seasoning to the filling to give it a little more flavor. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday February 20, 2012: Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                            Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 21, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday February 22, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday February 23, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday February 24, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Yummy Recipe {Blueberry Lemon Muffins}

These are some of the best blueberry muffins I have ever put in my mouth!  I have to thank my Mom for sharing this recipe with me.  She found it at http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/.  I promise you will love these!


Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
Zest of 1 large lemon
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1/3 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Cream cheese filling:
3 tablespoons cream cheese
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon sugar
Turbinado sugar-for sprinkling on muffins before baking

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin pan or line pan with muffin liners. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
3. In a small bowl, add the sugar and lemon zest. Rub sugar and zest together, until fragrant. Add to the flour mixture and whisk again.
4. In a separate medium bowl, mix canola oil, egg, milk, and vanilla together.
5. Incorporate the wet ingredients into flour mixture. Add slowly and do not over mix. The batter will be lumpy and thick. Gently fold in the blueberries.
6. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, lemon zest, and sugar until smooth. Fill each muffin cup half way with batter. Next, add about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese filling to each muffin cup. Cover each cup with remaining batter so you can't see the cream cheese filling. Sprinkle each muffin with turbinado sugar.
7. Bake muffins for 17-20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Let muffins cool on a cooking rack.

This recipe makes 9-10 muffins, so I usually double it if there are more than 3 people eating them!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Getting Crafty {An Easy St. Patrick's Day Idea}

Now that Valentine's Day is over, it is time to focus on the next holiday!  Do any of you have any fun ideas for St. Patrick's Day???  Here is an idea I ran across the other day.  This would make a neat little surprise for a teacher or a friend who needs a little encouragement!

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

11 Mombligations and the Lies Moms Believe

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!


 

Moms sure can put a lot of pressure on themselves!  Not only are we actually doing the work of being mothers and wives, we make our work more stressful and less joyful by believing lies about how the work "must" be done. 
See if you have put yourself under any of these mombligations, which are really lies in disguise…
  1. I must be cheerful for my family at all times
  2. I must never admit I'm having a hard day
  3. I must focus on my kids 24/7
  4. I am only as good as the size of my jeans
  5. I must make every meal healthy, tasty and special
  6. I must make every day fun for my family
  7. I cannot go to bed until all of my "mom work" is done
  8. I must get everything "right" with my kids or they will be ruined
  9. I must keep my house pretty close to spotless
  10. I must say yes to every school or volunteer request
  11. I must berate myself when I fall short of these mombligations
© 2011 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

What's For Dinner? {General Tso's Chicken}

I don't know about you all, but we love chinese food in our house, but I do not like the way I feel after eating at a chinese restaurant.  I decided to search around and look for a better alternative to eating out at a chinese place, and this is what I found.

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The orignal recipe came from http://www.marthastewart.com/ and I adapted it to fit our family!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups long-grain brown rice
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 pound snow peas, trimmed and halved crosswise
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated and peeled
  • 3 tablespoons light-brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
  • 2 large egg whites
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower


Directions

  1. Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Add snow peas, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and red-pepper flakes; toss to combine, and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, remaining 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken, and toss to coat.
  3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Lift half the chicken from egg-white mixture (shaking off excess), and add to skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining oil and chicken, and set aside (reserve skillet).
  4. Add snow-pea mixture to skillet. Cover; cook until snow peas are tender and sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet (with any juices); toss to coat. Serve with rice.

Now for my modifications!  I did not have fresh ginger, so I used 1/2 tsp of ground ginger and I think it did just fine.  I also did not use snow peas because my family will not eat them.  Intead, I stemed some broccoli and served it on the side.  I also used a little more oil for a more "fried" version of the chicken.  This recipe was very yummy, and even m 3 year old ate it!  I definitely found a keeper with this one, and will be adding it to my dinner rotation!

Monday, February 13, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday February 13, 2012:  MOPS meeting!!!!  9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Cookeville FUMC
                                          Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 14, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday February 15, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday February 16, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday February 17, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

MOPS Meeting Update!

Hey ladies!  I know you are all getting excited about our MOPS meeting on Monday morning!  I just wanted to share a couple things with you.  Since it is the day before Valentine's day, we are going to do a bonus creative activity!  We will be creating a handmade Valentine card!  It will be masculine enough for your hubby, or can be used for anyone you like.  So, if you don't have a card yet for the big day, don't worry, we've got you covered! 

Also, I ended up making the doughnuts a few days early (just couldn't wait), and they turned out super yummy!  In fact, they were so good that I will be bringing some to the meeting for you to try yourself!

Ok, everyone can get back to their cold Saturday now!  See you all Monday!

DON'T FORGET!!!!!!!

Our MOPS meeting is Monday morning!!!!!  Please remember to be there on time at 9:00 so that we can get started.  I know it will be a fabulous meeting, and I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Yummy Recipe {Semi-Homemade Doughnuts}

I am so making these for my hubby for breakfast on Valentine's Day.  These look super easy and very yummy too!

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Here is the Recipe:

You need canned biscuits (anything BUT the flakey layer kind).
Melted butter in a shallow bowl(4 tbls per 8 biscuits give or take) 
Sugar & Cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
Veggie oil to fill your pan up to about 1/2in or so. 
Heat up oil for a few minutes on medium heat.
While it is heating up, cut holes in the donuts with a cookie cutter or some other circular object (or maybe a heart!!!)
When one side is golden brown, flip with tongs.  When that side is golden remove from oil and place on a paper towel lined pan or plate.
When the donuts have cooled enough to handle...using your fingers dip one side in the melted butter, let the excess drip off, dip in cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Get it nice and coated.  Flip over and repeat for the other side.  

There you have it!  Anyone else have any fun Valentine breakfast ideas???  Please share!


Thursday, February 9, 2012

Getting Crafty {More Kid's Valentine Ideas}

So, Valentine's Day is quickly approaching!  Do you have Valentines ready for your kid's friends yet?  If not, http://eighteen25.blogpsot.com/ has shared some great ideas on their blog for some fun Valentines!  Here is a sneak peak of one:



How cute is that????

Click here to check out the entire post!!  and have fun making some cute projects!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Quick and Easy Energy Boosters

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!


- When you wake up, shower with lavender-scented soap—the scent has energizing power.
- Don't skip breakfast, but don't eat lots of sugar either. Instead grab a mix of protein, carbs and healthy fat —   like an egg on whole-grain toast with a slice of cheese.
- If you need a pick-me-up, have a cup of fragrant herbal tea instead of coffee.
- Take a break. Sit quietly for five minutes, close your eyes and take deep breaths.
- If you're sliding into a slump, perk up with some citrus! Eat an orange, wash your hands with lemon   soap or put on some grapefruit-scented lotion.
- Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep. If you get enough rest every night you'll be ready to go the next morning.
- Exercise! Even if you don't feel like it at the time, getting up and moving will re-energize you and put you in a better mood for the rest of the day. And this can be a fun activity for you to share with your kids.
- Massage your scalp or temples to get your circulation flowing.
- Drink a glass of ice water – did you know you're supposed to have eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day?
- Have a healthy, high-energy snack. A mix of carbs and protein can provide a prolonged boost to your blood-sugar level, giving you energy for hours. Try nuts, dried fruit such as raisins, whole wheat bagels with peanut butter, or yogurt.


© 2011 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What's for dinner? {Chicken Crescent Rolls}

This is one of our all time favorite dinner recipes!  I have recently started making my own cream of chicken soup (which I will share the recipe at a later time) instead of using the canned soup and milk.  My next goal is homemade crescent rolls, but I'm not there yet.  I always serve these with a couple veggies as well to round out the meal!
Ingredients:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 can crescent rolls
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup shredded cheese

The first step is to take one good size boneless, skinless chicken breast and cut into cubes. Next brown it in a skillet on tkhe stove. Once you have done that, you can begin to stuff your crescent rolls.
After you have placed the chicken on the crescent roll, you can roll them up.

Place each stuffed crescent roll in a baking dish.




Mix 1 can of cream of chicken soup with a half cup of milk.



Pour the soup mixture over the crescent rolls.
Sprinkle 3/4 cup of shredded cheese over the crescent rolls and soup mixture.



Bake Crescent rolls at 350 degrees until soup mixture bubbles and cheese is golden brown.


Monday, February 6, 2012

What to do this week????

Here is a list of child friendly activities going on in the Cookeville area this week!

Monday February 6, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                                 Messy Monday - Cookeville Children's Museum 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 7, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Wednesday February 8, 2012:  Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.
                                             Picnic and Play - First United Methodist Church - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursday February 9, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
                                          Story Time - Putnam County Library (Cookeville Branch)  10:00 a.m.

Friday February 10, 2012:  Wiggle Time / Jumpville open from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We are working on compiling a more complete list of activities.  If anyone knows something else going on, please e-mail us at cookevillemops@yahoo.com and we will add it to the list!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Our Next MOPS Meeting!!!!

We are a little over a week away from our next MOPS meeting!!  Be sure to mark your calendars for Monday, February 13th!  The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m., and we are asking that everyone make a special effort to be there on time this month.  We have a wonderful speaker who will be sharing some great first aid information with us.  She will just be getting off work (from the night shift) and will need to get home to her kids (and bed) as soon as possible.  We will be adjusting the schedule this month to help her get home a little faster by allowing her to speak first (then we will enjoy breakfast, discussion, and creative activity time).  We hope everyone can make it to this month's meeting!  Tell your friends!  We still have room for more mommies to join us!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Yummy Recipe {Valentine's Chex Mix}

Who doesn't love chex mix???  And this looks like a yummy treat for Valentine's Day!  I found this recipe on Pinterest (who doesn't love Pinterest, too??), and the orignal recipe came from http://bettycrocker.com/.



9 cups Rice Chex® cereal (gluten free)

1 cup white vanilla baking chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup red, white and pink candy-coated chocolate candies
1/4 cup red or pink jimmies sprinkles

{STEP ONE}
In large bowl, place cereal. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.

{STEP TWO}
Place 1/2 of the cereal mixture in 1-gallon food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.

{STEP THREE}
Meanwhile, stir candies and sprinkles into remaining cereal mixture. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.

{STEP FOUR}
In serving bowl, mix both cereal mixtures. Store in airtight container.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

15 Minute, One Room, 4-Step Spruce Up

The following article came from imom.  To read more articles like this and other great encouraging things, head over to imom.com!



You'll need:
1. Broom or sweeper
2. Vacuum (if you have rugs or carpet)
3. Ability to kick it into high gear




Minutes
Action
1:00 - 4:00
Work clockwise around the perimeter of your room, straightening and picking up any items that belong somewhere else.  Put those items by the room's exit, to take on your way out.
4:00 - 10:00
If you have tile, wood or laminate flooring, sweep and mop (if you only have time for one of those – sweep).  If you have rugs or carpet, vacuum.    
10:00 - 15:00
Grab the items that belong elsewhere.  If you have time, put them in the rooms where they belong.  If you don't, put them in an out of the way place – or under a bed (LOL)!

Minutes
Action
1:00 - 4:00
Work clockwise around the perimeter of your room, straightening and picking up any items that belong somewhere else.  Put those items by the room's exit, to take on your way out.
4:00 - 10:00
If you have tile, wood or laminate flooring, sweep and mop (if you only have time for one of those – sweep).  If you have rugs or carpet, vacuum.    
10:00 - 15:00
Grab the items that belong elsewhere.  If you have time, put them in the rooms where they belong.  If you don't, put them in an out of the way place – or under a bed (LOL)!


© 2010 iMOM. All Rights Reserved. Family First, All Pro Dad, iMOM, and Family Minute with Mark Merrill are registered trademarks.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What's For Dinner? {Crock Pot Potato Soup}


Are you looking for an easy, yummy potato soup recipe???  This one is awesome!  I made it for a Sunday lunch, and it turned out fabulous!  The best part?  It is made in the crock pot!  Try it out, I promise you will love it!

Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds russet potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into 1/2 inch(ish) cubes
  • 1 medium/large yellow onion, diced
  • 10 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 64 ounces (8 cups) chicken stock or broth
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • optional garnishes: crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, green onions
Directions:

  1. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning, and chicken stock to slow cooker.
  2. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.
  3. Add the softened cream cheese and puree soup with an immersion blender until the cheese is incorporated and about half the soup is blended. (Alternately you could remove half the soup and the cream cheese to an upright blender, then re-incorporate).
  4. Stir well, top with your choice of garnishes & enjoy!


This recipe came from http://mamalovesfood.com/.  Feel free to check out some of her other recipes!

Happy Eating!