Menu Plans, Cleaning and Clutter Plans and Planning for the Holidays
It is Labor Day here in the United States and we will be driving home from a short family break. I have been relaxing in a different atmosphere which seems to have sooth my anxious mommy heart. You see once September hits….. the holidays are practically around the corner and dealing with this always requires tons of planning and squeezes the life out of my checkbook. I really hate that feeling, the feeling that I have to do something because that is just what everybody else is doing. Well, call me crazy, but I reckon enough is enough. I am a big fan of do what you can, with joy in our heart while keeping the jingle in your pocket. And that is all about budgeting your time, treasure while discovering you inner talents to create something out of what your already have with a little holiday boost.
This month I am going to search the World Wide Web for simple and super cost-effective ideas for decorating for the holidays. I am going to share the cream of the crop with you guys and gals as well as the simplest meal plans and the best budget friendly holiday memory makers I can either find or think up to make this holiday season, cheap, tasty with good nutrition as a focus and FUN!
Let’s Have a Grumpy Free Holiday Season!
Menu Plan
Monday – BBQ Chicken, Beans and Slaw with corn on the cob for the boys.
Tuesday – Tacos and a taco salad for me. I am tripling the meat for more meals in the future. Free range ground turkey cooked and frozen is a wonderfully versatile protein for any dishes including my yummy turkey chili recipe.
Wednesday – Crispy Chicken Thighs with Mustard Sauce, baked potato and green salad
Thursday – Summer Cobb Salad
Friday – Against the Grain Pizza with Nitrate Free Turkey Pepperoni, mushrooms and olives with fruit salad for desert. ( Family Meeting Night- post on this wonderful event coming soon.)
Saturday – DIY – Grilled Cheese or a turkey sandwich for the boys, soup or salad for me.
Sunday – Family Dinner Night – steaks and chicken, roasted veggies, creamed cauliflower, fresh salad and rolls.
Cleaning and Clutter Plans
Monday – Deep Clean Kitchen – Choose wisely on major appliance or area to deep clean. This I suggest cleaning and organizing the pantry. It is so much easier to put together a quick pantry meal when the pantry is well-organized and stocked with a few staples.
Tuesday – Bathroom – Give the bathrooms and good scrubbing, especially, tubs, showers, sinks and mirrors.
Wednesday – Dust and Mirrors and Windows – Dust all the furniture and doodads, shine all mirrors and windows on the inside.
Thursday – Bedrooms – Clear the clutter off the floors, beds and dressers, dust the knick-knacks and fluff the pillows. ( Now we are ready for some serious snore time!)
Friday – Declutter-one area or group of items for 10 to 15 minutes or catch up on anything that was missed during the week .( I am personally working on my kitchen for this and am nearly finished) Keep it simple, Friday is for family and fun!
Saturday – Linens and extra laundry. Don’t you love the idea of fresh smelling sheets and towels!
Sunday – Free Day – Family Day – Take a picnic lunch to the local park, enjoy a long walk and a leisurely lunch!
What’s on my kindle this week?
I read every day studying subjects that have to do with my job, my life and my personal growth along with a light-hearted book or two to keep my head from exploding. Here are my two favorites this week.
How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years
The find out guide for parents survived nightmarish tween behavior–and still raised great kids
Break the “nagging cycle,” give your kids responsibilities, and get results
Talk about sex, drugs, and alcohol so your kid will listen
Discover the secret that will help your child to disregard peer pressure and make smart choices–for life
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing.
This book is truly wonderful and has cleared spaces in my home that have long been just taken for granted and ignore because they were no longer inviting. I will be sharing some before and after photos this week of my newer Kon Marie adventures. The best book to get your house cleared out and organized before the holiday!
Have a rocking day folk!
Pam aka Momma
linking up over at orgjunkie.com
