Tips for Around the House

Here are some tips for house keeping in general that I like to use around my own home.

-Deodorize your carpet with baking soda.  Sprinkle the baking soda very liberally all over and let sit for 2 or 3 hours.  Then vacum up.  I like this because it can't hurt the baby or the dogs because it is natural and baking soda is a natural deodorizer.

-No storage for your tupperware?  Use a plastic laundry basket to stack those bowls and lids.  They are all in one place and you can store the basket at the bottom of your pantry or a closet near the kitchen.

-Use a white board that sticks on your fridge.  Keep a monthly calendar on it to keep track of chores, also use it to list your weekly menu, upcoming event, and keep track of meats in the freezer.  A blank whiteboard is really inexpensive and you can make the calendar by hand.

-Don't let those garden weeds get a chance to take over your garden.  Pick a day every week that is your weeding day.  I like to do Friday mornings...if it is done on a weekly basis it should really only take 15-20 minutes weekly.  Tip:  Use a meat fork to loosen up soil around a stubborn weed.

-Do one big glass cleaning trip a week.  Starting on one side of the house start cleaning mirrors, picture frames, windows, tv's, and other glass (including bathroom mirrors)...dirties only one rag or paper towel and this chore really takes only minutes to complete once you start.

-Laundry...keep your laundry on a cycle.  In the morning pull the clothes out of the dryer, fold and put away.  Place a load in the wash, switch over to the dryer at lunch...start over the next day.

Meal Planning July 6-12

Day 1 - Cowboy Casserole (recipe on 12/7/10 blog)

Day 2 - Pan Fried Pork Chops
             Scalloped Potatoes
             Cauliflower

Day 3 - Carne Asada Tacos
             Rice & Beans

Day 4 - Grilled Chicken
             3 Bean Salad

Day 5 - Chicken Tenders
             Mashed Potatoes
             Green Beans

Day 6 - Homemade Chili
             Cornbread

Day 7 - Roasted Veggie Soup (Recipe on 12/13/10 Blog)
             Dinner Rolls

Meal Planning June 29-July 5th

This week I only have 6 meals laid out for our weekly menu.  Plans are still not in stone about what we are doing on July 4th therefore I did not plan a meal.  If we end up BBQing then we will probably purchase the meat for that on Sunday so it will be fresh.  Happy 4th of July to everyone and may everyone remember the true reason for our celebration instead of enjoying just another day off.

Day 1 - Spaghetti
            Cesar Salad

Day 2 - Shepherd's Pie
             This is a very cheap an easy meal.  Layer in a casserole dish: prepared mashed potatoes, browned hamburger meat (or ground turkey), regular corn (some people use creamed corn but husband is not a fan), and sprinkle with cheese.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is super melty or in my families case a little brown on top.

Day 3 - Chili Dogs (my favorite family stand by meal for busy nights)

Day 4 - Baked Talapia
             Lipton Broccoli and Cheddar Rice
             Steamed Broccoli

Day 5 - Balsamic Chicken (Use thin boneless skinless chicken breasts, sprinkled with a little balsamic vinegar, some salt and pepper, and flour in a hot skillet in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil place the chicken.  Cook chicken on each side about 5 minutes each or until completely cooked through)
             Served with:
             Corn on the Cob
             Mashed Potatoes

Day 6 - Brawts and Sour kraut
            Potato Salad

Monthly To Do - July

This month is the month to evaluate clothing for start of the school year.  Make a list for each person in your family.  What do they need?  Socks, underwear, shorts, shirts, pants, shoes, uniforms, back packs, lunch bags, hair accesories, dresses?  This is also a good time to start stocking up on school supplies.