New Month Resolutions-March

Looking ahead to March, I am looking forward to warmer weather, hubby starting plants for the garden, and the kids being able to spend more time outside.  About this time of year I think we all start to get the spring cleaning itch.  There are so many areas that desperately need spring cleaning in my home.  It is hard to keep focused on little steps. 

Here are my resolutions for March:

1.  Continue to follow February's resolutions

2.  "Target Room Cleaning"  I have divided my home into sections to clean each day.  Here is my schedule (Sorry it is blurry.  I am not exactly sure how to insert a document):

3.  Pick 2 Popsicle Stick exercises to do each weekday. My exercise ideas are simple and include crunches, push-ups, arm exercises, jumping jacks.  I plan on having the kids participate as well. 

That is all for this month.  I am pleased with how things are going as I move to more order in our  home.  It is a satisfying feeling to look around and see things that have been cluttered or needing attention cleaned up.

Go pick a Popsicle stick.  :)
Di

February-New Month Resolution Check up

Two more days and I made it.

On January 31, I set some new New Month Resolutions (see earlier post).  I am happy to say that 98% of the time I was able to complete each task. 

Here were my resolutions and a little note on how I did (in bold):

1.  Set New Month Resolutions for March during the last week of February.  In the works.  Should be ready by Wednesday.

2.  Do one full load of laundry (wash, dry, fold, put away) every weekday and as much as possible on the weekends.  Do one delicate load on the days that are necessary.  I shocked my self at how well this went.  Mondays are hard after not doing much on the weekend.  I wash and dry in the morning.  In the afternoon the kids and I fold and put away.  Really has helped a lot.

3.  Complete one 10 minute chore (see http://stephanieodea.com/) each weekday.  This has been great!!  The kids are having fun seeing how quickly they can get their chore done.  I am pleased with how much I have been able to get accomplished in a short time.  There is still much to do!!! 

4.  Work on "after meal chores" with the kids (washing dishes, wiping table, cleaning under their chair).  My main focus with this one has been breakfast.  So far, so good. 

The Popsicle Stick Jars have worked great.  The kids have really "risen to the occasion" and helped out.  We have started some other things with the kids as well.including nightly bedroom checks before supper and new chore charts (a post for another time)...same chores new chart.  I feel good about the progress we have made.   I like little steps.  There is still so much to do, but I feel like we will get there...one little step at a time.

Enjoy the day!
Di

New Month Resolution Check-up-Week One

It wasn't a full week.  February started on Wednesday.  It was a challenging week to keep up with my resolutions.  Dentists appointments, home school chapel, a sick little girl leading to lack of sleep, not feeling well myself really pushed me to the limits.  On top of all that, I had the bright idea of organizing all of the kid's clothes I have in the attic.   I am talking 10 years plus of clothes here both genders.  What was I thinking!!!???!!!! 

I have to say I was able to keep up with the laundry as well as complete a 10 minute chore each day.  Since I didn't want to bring a coughing little girl to church she and I stayed home today.  That helped me stay on top of the weekend laundry.  There isn't much on the schedule this week, so I should have a better week. 

Working on the kids table chores has been a little inconsistent, but I am trying.

I made this little system to help with our 10 minute chores. I didn't come up with the idea on my own.  I am pretty sure a fellow home school mom told me about it many years ago.  The basic idea for 10 minute chores came from http://www.stephaniodea.com/ and http://www.flylady.net/.


1.  Get some Popsicle sticks.  Write one chore on each Popsicle stick. 

2.  Put Popsicle sticks in a jar.

3.  Each day pick one Popsicle stick and complete the chore written on it.  Remember this is a 10 minute chore.  The goal is to complete it in 10 minutes.  So, set your timer and get to work.  If your time is up and you haven't completed your chore you can keep working if you have time or pick up where you left off on the next day.   I made a jar for the kids too.  It will be a challenge to see who can complete their chore in 10 minutes.

4.  Store all of your jars in a basket.  I have a jar for me, a jar for the kids and two discard jars.  Some chores will go back into the jar when completed.  Some will go in the discard jar and after a month will be put back in the rotation.

5.  Do it.  I am a planner.  I love to write lists and make up chore charts.  The hard part is the action.   The last part of the 10 minute chore jar is action.  Pick a stick and get going. 

Some 10 minute chore ideas:

• Clean a section of a closet
• Sweep porch or deck
• Clean one drawer (kitchen, bath, bedroom)
• Dust the top of door jams and windows
• Clean of top of your washer/dryer or laundry area
• Wash the windows in one room
• Clean 2 kitchen appliances
• Wipe off light switches
• Clean out one linen closet shelf
• Clean out one kitchen cabinet
• Disinfect one garbage can
• Wipe off refrigerator shelf
• Dust random knick-knacks
• Wipe down kitchen cabinets, furniture
• Wash one bathroom wall
• Wash stairs
• Dust trim/corners

New Month Resolution

A new year means new resolutions for most...a clean slate, a new beginning, a fresh start. Three months later the new year is no longer new.  Resolutions have faded into the background and old habits have once again taken over.   Several years I ago while thinking this over I thought why can't every week be like this.  Maybe a week is too much, but what about every month? Why not?  Why not sit down on the last day of the month and set some monthly goals?  Maybe sit down with your husband and set some goals together.  Talk over what new things have worked during the past month, what goals (projects, habits, etc.) you want to accomplish/establish during the new month.  Discuss your children...behaviour issues, school situations, schedule time to spend with each one (a kid date).  Talk over the month's schedule.

So, what will my New Month Resolutions be? 

1.  Set New Month Resolutions for March during the last week of February.

2.  Do one full load of laundry (wash, dry, fold, put away) every weekday and as much as possible on the weekends.  Do one delicate load on the days that are necessary.

3.  Complete one 10 minute chore (see http://stephanieodea.com/) each weekday.

4.  Work on "after meal chores" with the kids (washing dishes, wiping table, cleaning under their chair).

God's plan for us is one of order.  God is a God of order.  The Bible tells us in 1Corinthians 14:40, "Let all things be done decently and in order."  The books of the law are full of order.  As Christians our lives should show order.  We shouldn't be running from one thing to the next leaving behind a trail of chaos.  We should have a plan, a purpose in everything we do.   A plan and purpose that is attainable. 

Quick Buttermilk Herb Bread

A friend of mine made this it was so good. Of course, I had to try it with some adjustments.  The is the original recipe.  Very yummy!!!!  The post that follows contains my experiment...my attempts to make this a white flour and cornmeal free recipe.  It came out decent.  It needs a little adjusting, but I think with those adjustments it will be a good quick bread base.  I served this  with quiche.  It not a sweet quick bread...more like a cornbread. 


Quick Buttermilk Herb Bread

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBL.  finely minced fresh rosemary
1 1/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 TBL. honey
2 TBL. olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray interior of 8X4 inch loaf pan with oil spray.

In large bowl, combine dry ingredients and rosemary.

In separate bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, honey and oil. Stir into flour mixture just until blended. Spoon batter into the baking pan.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool slightly on a rack.  Turn out the bread and cool completely on a wire rack. Serve immediately or store wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.

Quick Buttermilk Bread-Experiment

Quick Buttermilk Bread
(Experiment )

3/4 cup  whole wheat flour
3/4 cup  oat flour
1/2 cup almond meal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 TBL. honey
2 TBL. olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray interior of 8X4 inch loaf pan with oil spray.

In large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In separate bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, honey and oil. Stir into flour mixture just until blended. Spoon batter into the baking pan.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool slightly on a rack.  Turn out the bread and cool completely on a wire rack. Serve immediately or store wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.

NOTE:  Add more salt.  Try with ripe bananas, raisins, apples, applesauce.

Oat Flour Pizza Crust

I have been fairly successful in eliminating white flour from my diet while at home.  (With the exception of last week when I was sick and didn't care what I ate).  I came up with this pizza dough made of oat and whole wheat flour.  It was adapted from a regular pizza dough recipe.  I took my chances and the results were...ok...nothing spectacular.  It wasn't great, but not terrible either.  I am going to keep it as a base that needs tweaking.  It didn't rise hardly at all.  The final texture was not bad, but not pizza "doughish." 

Oat Flour Pizza Dough

2 cups oat flour
1/2-3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp. honey
1 scant Tbl. active dry yeast or 1 package
2 Tbl. Olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir honey into warm water in a large bowl.  Stir in yeast until dissolved.  Let stand for 10 minutes or until foamy.  Add flour, salt and oil.  Combine.  Knead for 6-8 minutes until you have moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.  Let rest for about an hour or so.  Lightly grease pizza pan.  Roll dough onto pan.  Top as desired.  Bake for 10-20 minutes uni done. 

NOTES:  All the mixing and kneading was done in Kitchen Aid Stand mixer.