I am so excited!!!

`Okay not for myself, but for my son. Here's a little background. He is going to be entering third grade and is just slightly below grade level which for him is a huge accomplishment. He entered first grade unable to recognize the alphabet if that gives you any idea how hard he has been working. He is speech and language delayed, has a learning disability pretty much in any area that involves reading and comprehension, and has ADHD. Okay so now why am I so happy? He absolutely loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and anything that makes him love reading I love.

` So as I was researching the summer reading programs offered at Borders and Barnes and Noble I stumbled upon the fact that there is a fifth book in the series being released on November 9. I decided to check Walmart to see if they had better pricing and they did. It was $9 for the book and standard shipping was FREE. The best part about this deal is his birthday is in November. He is going to be one happy kid!!

Realistic Focus

` I am participating in Focus Check Friday at A Slob Comes Clean.

`Last week I was focusing on a paper purge. I was able to get to get quite a bit done, it is still a work in progress. I will continue to work on it this coming week.

` This week I want to focus on making truths out of the lies I tell myself. Number one I recently left my job to be a SAHM. (about four weeks ago) I thought once I was able to stay home I would have ALL this extra time. I vowed to have my house spotless and organized before school let out. I was going to volunteer more, visit friend and family more. In short I had a grand idea of how life would be, but now reality has struck. I have made headway on the house however I don't know where TIME goes to. I get the kids off to school. Do my morning clean up, work on whatever task is on the table for that day and before I know it it is time to pick up the kids again. I feel like I actually have less time than I did when I was working.

` Lie number 2. My husband drives truck for a living luckily it's regional, but from Sunday night til Friday night if he's home it's pretty much to eat, sleep, and shower. He is off Tuesday and Thursday during the day. I avoid doing much around the house for fear of waking him. In reality it's a good excuse to play on the computer without feeling guilty. After all I am doing it for him. A better use of this time would be reading. I attend a weekly bible study, but I am always rushing last minute to get the work done. Which mean I am not fully getting out of the material what I could be.

`Lie number 3. It is better to do nothing than to do something half way. I have found by at least doing something it's always better than it was. I have also found if I work up to at least starting a task it gives me motivation and I am more likely to end up finishing it.

`In short I need to focus on my time management and I need to be more realistic of what I expect of myself. I think I need to do a schedule :( I would say my focus has been building momentum, let's hope it continues.

Paper Purge Part 2

` Yesterday I worked on the need action now. This basket was not to bad. I bought a plastic accordion style folder that was slightly larger than a wallet. I figured this one could travel with me if I needed it to. I broke my bills down into week 1 and week 2. My husband gets payed every two weeks and it is never the same amount. I can find out two days ahead of time what he will be bring home, so I do my budget in 2 week intervals. I also put a file for things that needed to be done for the week like scheduling of apts, etc. Many moons ago in a different attempt at organization a friend of mine made me a folder and in the folder it has a sleeve for each month. That is where I put anything that has to be done down the road.

`The next basket is going to be the killer, since I do not have a filing system in order. I will work on that next week.

Paper Purge- Bonus Edition

`Let me start by saying this is my in laws cat. Due to unexpected job loss, they moved in with us in March. Our house (before I bought it) had an in law apartment so we kind of converted it back. Thier cat Tigger (in pic) likes to come visit my cat. My cat is older and although she likes the company, once she is done playing she does not want to be bothered and gets a little shall we say cranky. Anyways Tigger somehow got out in the middle of the night and decided he wanted to play. Binky did not. Hence there was a battle of epic proportions fought on my bed............ where I was sleeping......... at 5am in the morning. Tigger was not on my good side. When I found him sleeping in the to be filed basket it was very tempting. He's lucky he's cute!

( Disclaimer- no animals were harmed in anyway during the making of this blog post ;)

Paper Purging Part 1

` As I sit here, a small fraction of the way done, I wonder what possessed me to take this task on. It is a bigger problem than I imagined. I have papers hidden in every crevice of the house and I am sure as time goes on I will find more. This is definitely one of those projects that as I am doing it I am going to have moments of whining and head shaking, but when I see it completed it will all be worth while.

` I started by taking some advice offered in a comment of an earlier post I had written. I took three baskets and labelled them:

Basket 1 - Recycle/ Shred

Basket 2- To be filed

Basket 3- need action now

.....and then I ran around the house collecting all my drawers, baskets, and boxes filled with paper. This doesn't seem like much but it took me several hours. As I started going through my papers I discovered I needed a forth basket. For some reason all my pictures get tossed in with my paperwork.

Things that I tossed, and use your own judgement here, Tax returns that were more than 7 years old, pay stubs older than last years w-2, bank statements that were several years old (unless it had a tax bill listed on it), LOTS and LOTS of junk mail. Things I kept include all of my sons IEP's and services record (since I am continually asked what services he has received up to date) eventually I want to write a history and just keep the more recent info, this years utilities, house payments, student loan, credit card, auto loan, insurance info, pension info, and I am sure there is more I am not remembering at this point.

` Tomorrow I will break down Basket 2. Basket 1 is an easy one I recycled what I could and I am saving the shredding for my husband since he likes to do that.

What's hiding in your house?

` Last week I managed to go through all my clothes (including my dresser) in an attempt to clean and organize my closet. In the process I found $2.02, a certificate for a free dozen Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 4 certificates for free kids meals at Friendly's, and 5 certificate for the kids to get free Rita's Italian Ice. Not bad for a days work.

Losing momentum.......

`I decided to participate in Focus Check Friday over at A Slob Comes Clean.

Last week when I read Focus Check Friday, I knew I wanted to participate this week. I was going to Focus on the closet in my master bedroom. I even took before pics, well actually most of them are still now pics. I started the week off strong determined to feel accomplished. I started by cleaning up the main living areas of my home and the focused one day on my closet. I did get about 1/5 of it done and it took my the entire school day.

By Wednesday, I was done. Instead of cleaning I watched a season of a show. Where did my motivation go? I somewhat know the answer... I got sick of the hamster wheel. The laundry that is never caught up, the dishes that are constantly in my sink. I take care of both but every time I think I am done there's more hiding somewhere. Then there is the nightly Kidnado that strikes. Not to mention me. My house is in such disarray that my mind follows suit. It is as cluttered as my home. I keep jumping from one task to another never fully completing anything.

`So this week for Focus Friday I am going to concentrate on one thing and one thing only. (I will keep up the main living areas, but everything else will wait). My focus this week will be on the boxes and boxes of paper clutter. This week I want to make a command center.

` For all of you that have been on the decluttering mission for awhile, I would love to hear where you started. What were the beginning steps that helped you? Most days I feel overwhelmed and just shut down and find other things that "need" my attention.

Ravioli Lasagna

I love this cheap and easy dinner. It is one of my go to meals for Sundays when I have five adults and four kids to feed. The recipe can be found here.

Ingredients I use (I make mine a little bigger)

Cheese Ravioli's (I buy the Pede when they go on sale at Price Chopper BOGO cost-$2.49/2)

2 Cans Spaghetti Sauce (I use Hunt's 4 Cheese buy on sale for $1 cost $2)

1 8ounce bad Shredded Mozzarella (I stock up when they are $1/bag cost $1)

1 pound hamburg (cost @ $1.99)

Final cost $7.47 and I usually have enough leftovers for at least two people to have lunch. Add salad and bread and this is a great meal!

*If you don't need to feed that many people, instead of using less ingredients, why not make one for dinner and one for the freezer!!*

Lost in Blogland

` I am so loving checking out others blogs. What a wealth of information and helpful tips that is out there. I love reading about people that are experiencing things similar to what I am going through. I have found two that have inspired me to get my butt moving which I love. Isn't it funny how reading about someone Else's accomplishments can motivate you to do your own?

` The only problem is...... well okay I have stumbled upon two problems. The first being I read things I like, but when I want to go back to it I can't remember where I saw it. The second being I get consumed in blog hopping. It starts out on one blog then I find a link that looks interesting and end up on another blog and again and again. I remember staying home with my first born when it took a very long time to get on line and message boards were big. My family wasn't around much, my husband at the time was never around, my friends didn't have babies so I hardly saw them. I felt so alone and scared. I am glad that there is a community out there to share experiences, tips, advice, and encouragement. If this was around all those years ago my original experience as a stay at home mom might have been a little different.

Here I go again...

`So once again I have FAILED. I am normally not a manipulative person, but when it comes to smoking, it is amazing what I will put myself through and others. My poor husband, I know exactly which buttons to push, and lo and behold he will throw a pack at me. I manipulate myself into believing I can have just one and it won't bother me or make me start all over again. It usually goes something like, "wow I haven't smoked in three day, if I just have one it will settle my nerves and help me not to smoke." CRAZY........ yes I know as a rational adult this is just insane.

` I have decided to enlist some help. Mainly I emailed my doctor for medication. Although I feel like a big fat failure for not being able to do it on my own, I am determined not to give up. I can not tell you how much my behavior when it comes to smoking angers me. I wish I had more willpower. I envy those people who just quit and stay quit all on shear willpower.

May16-May 22 To Do

`Okay so last week did not go as plan, and it was all ME. No one else to blame. I did manage to do some of my to-do list but avoided the rest. I refuse to let that keep me from moving forward. I have had 3 cigarettes since Mother's Day, I want to make it through next week with none.

`I will do the bathroom 15 minute challenges all week.

`I will clean out my closet, which means, going through all my clothes. Hopefully my husband will jump on board with this and do his side.

` I will make more of an effort to do a nightly prayer with the kids. I need to put a reminder somewhere. I know that's sounds terrible, but it is something I am not used to doing, therefore I don't think about it. My meal plan I will do over the weekend. I plan on making some split pea soup, and chicken and rice soup.

` I need to renew my nursing licence this week. That is a big has to get done.

`I need to get everyones info together so hubby can add us to his insurance.

I don't want to over do it so that is it for the week!

Oh, Dear!

Dear Cigarettes,

` I would be lying if I said I didn't miss you. You are such a dirty little thing. I refuse to let you win this time. Your sweet talking if I just have one.... is not going to work. I saw what you have done to others, first hand, and I refuse to be your next victim. Go tempt someone else!

S

Dear Binky and Tigger (the cats),

` Next year when you start to lose your winter fur, can you take a lesson from the snake? It sheds all it's skin at one time. That would save me so much housework. I wanna know how the two of you can possibly produce so much fur?

S

Dearest oldest daughter of mine,

` When I ask for your dirty school clothes, I mean all of them, not just one outfit to get through the next day. It would make my life so much easier if you could help out with this. The weekly Monday night fight is just not working. We both have better things we could be spending our energy on.

S

Grocery Budget $75/week

Mainesource

5 lbs. American Cheese- $7.99

10 lbs. ground beef- $18.82

2 dozen eggs- $ 1.78

total- $28.69

Riccardo's

18 lbs dad's dog food

4 cans GG corn

2 cans tom paste

3 jars salsa

3 boxes taco shells

1&1/2 lb ground beef

total- $15.39 and $1 off next purchase

Giant

Goodlife cat food

12pk hot dog rolls

friskie party mix cat treats

1 bag tortilla chips

2lbs bananas

1 beef BBQ

1 Ham

2 bags steam veggies

2 16 oz coffeemate french vanilla creamer

4 boxes kelloggs corn flakes

total- $21.16 and $3 off next shopping trip

total $65.14 I am sure I will use the rest for milk and bread throughout the week. My total before coupons and sales was $111.21.

Free Summer Movies

I am so excited!!!! The theater by me is not having one free kids movie a week but 2! Here is the list. The only thing I am sad about is every couple of years they do The Wizard of Oz. I wanted to take time off of work to take the kids and never made it. I would love, love, love to see that in a theater.

Things to work on 5/9-5/15

Cleaning

According to flylady this week will be the kitchen so I coincided my extra cleaning objectives to take place in the kitchen.

Monday- Top of fridge

Tuesday- inside fridge and freezer

Wednesday- microwave cart drawer

Thursday- utensil drawer

Friday- stove and drawer under stove

Financially

Using Monday as a quit date, stop smoking. If I make it through the week I will use the money to go to yard sales on Friday. Which I will do armed with a list of stuff that I can use to help avoid the... Oh isn't that cute impulse.

Bringing God in and Quality Time With Kids

Today I read a blog about National Day of Prayer. I discussed it with my children and came to learn that although my oldest said she prayed at night, the two younger ones said they did not do this at all. For this week I will take 10 minutes a night and pray with my children. We will be attending church Sunday afternoon and then again Saturday evening.

Menu

Sunday- FIL is cooking Yeah!!! I have been cooking since I have been home. We have not eaten fast food once. That in itself has been a major accomplishment. I will be attempting homemade pretzels.

Monday- Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup with noodles

Tuesday- Sweet and Sour Chicken

Wednesday- Taco's

Thursday- Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Salad

Friday- Hamburg, Macaroni, and Tomatoes

Saturday- Chicken A La King

Learning

I want to devote more time to my bible study and this week I will attempt to learn how to make homemade bread.

Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork

` This is a family favorite. It is also a very cost friendly dish. I do cheat and use Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce which I stock up on in the summer when they go on sale 10 for $10. I generally cook for four adults and three children as a minimum and this is always plenty.

Ingredients

3 lbs pork (I usually use boneless roast or center cut pork chops whatever is on sale)

1 bottle Root Beer soda

1 small bottle Sweet Baby Rays

1. Place pork in Crock Pot.

2. Pour in Root Beer til pork is covered.

3. Cook in Crock Pot several hours til pork is tender enough to shred with a fork.

4. Drain Crock Pot leaving about 1/4 of the liquid in it.

5. Shred pork return it to Crock Pot with reserved liquid and 1 bottle sweet Baby Rays. Cook for about 1 hour on high or until ready to serve.

I usually serve this on hard rolls or potato rolls. I would like to try making my own buns eventually.

French Onion Soup

`I hate to see food go to waste and the produce I have been getting from the grocery stores lately does not seem to have a very long shelf life. Here is a recipe that I came across in a very old fund raising cook book (when I find it again I will list the name). I have made some changes to it. I like to buy the bags of yellow cooking onions, after I remove what I need for other recipes this is what I do.

Ingredients

Onions

1-2 TBSP butter

garlic

beef cubes

Worcestershire sauce

Peel and slice onions.

Heat Skillet. Add butter, garlic, and onions. Cook for about 5-10 minutes on medium depending on how many onions you have.

Transfer mixture to Crock Pot. Add water til onions are completely covered. For every cup of water you added add a beef cube. Add a few shakes of Worcestershire Sauce. Set Crock Pot on low for about three hours.

This recipe is a great way to use up onions before they go bad!!

Schedule

` Now that I made it through my sons 1st Holy Communion and party. which I hosted at my house, it's time to develop a schedule. I've been debating doing this, because part of me is overwhelmed by the whole idea, but I think things will go more smoothly if I bite the bullet here.

` I am going to start out with a weekly schedule that I will put together on Sunday's. I am going to add church, which I hate to say we have not been doing, and batch cooking. I would love to do the OAMC but with a weekly budget of $65.00/week and 4 adults and 3 kids there is just no way. I have also come to the conclusion that I am going to have to up my food budget until I get my pantry built up.

` Part of my weekly schedule is going to include my weekly budget. I messed up last week by not taking the cash out of the bank for his party, so now I have no real idea of how much I spent since I added the food to my grocery bill, etc. From now on cash it will be.

` As far as cleaning goes, I have been trying to do flylady. I had started it before so I kinda fast forwarded the baby steps and jumped in where I left off. I have also started picking one additional chore a day that I can complete in 15-30 minutes time.

` For cooking, which I am finding out, is taking up the majority of my time, I decided on Batch cooking. I am going to get some index cards and a box to put them in. As I add things to my freezer I will put it down on an index card. When it is time to menu plan for the week I will be able to go through my index cards of what I have made already and put them in the front of the box.

`I plan on posting my entire weekly schedule on Sunday nights for the following week. Hopefully this process is like the budget and will get easier as time goes on.