Homemaking and Your Spouse

Please please please read this post over at Jennifer's blog JenniferDawnMcLucas:

A Master's in Marriage

Homemaking

Are you making your home a better place for your immediate family?

Are you making your home a better place for yourself?

Are you making your home a better place for others?

Staycation
Today I was going to round up some old posts that I wrote in 2011. Then I decided to tell you what my favorite Christmas gift was, but I'm going to make you keep on guessing about that {nope, it wasn't the loaf of bread from my funny son and it wasn't the fluorescent green duck tape. It wasn't the ivory soap or the listerine....}

Then I read a guest post over at BloggingWithAmy. Laura wrote {click over and read the whole post for it to make sense}:

Blogging is only worth my while when I take myself to my own office hours, ask hard questions, and formulate some answers. This means, my blog is an avenue to personal growth – not to money, fame, or power.

As I was reading that post I kept thinking that you could replace blogging and insert homemaking. So right now I'm asking myself some hard questions:

• What on earth am I a homemaker for? 
• Why don't I want to have an easier job? 
• Why don't I want to enter the workforce again? 

Honestly this is the hardest job I've ever had. Sometimes I long for the days that I would walk in the door at work and everyone would yell at me - THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS DOWN {you know back in the day of mainframe computer systems where hundreds of people couldn't work if the computer system was down.}

Sometimes I want my paycheck back. Sometimes I want to quit being responsible and go out to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes I want to run to the grocery store and buy whatever I want for dinner.

You know what? Even if I had "real job" {you know what I mean....outside the home} I would still be a homemaker. The grass isn't ALWAYS greener on the other side. I have figured out a few things along the way.....mainly this:

If you don't take care of yourself, it is almost impossible to make your home a happy place. 

Choose yourself first! If you don't know how to take care of your home and it's a wreck - start following FLYlady. She will show you how to get your house in order {not perfect} AND take care of yourself.

Occasionally when I read other homemaking blogs I get totally exhausted. There's NO way I could do everything they do and still be happy. Then I have to remember...when you read my blog, you only see a glimpse of my life. The put together part. You don't see the unmopped floor, the crabby mom that yells at her kids, the crumbs all over the floor or the laundry piling up.

You don't see the Starburst on the counter or the ice cream in the freezer. So when I talk about the primal or paleo diet please know that we eat junk food all too often, but a LOT less than we used to!

Sometimes I have to quit reading other blogs and focus on ME!

My kids are out of school this week so I'm going to continue on with my staycation. I'll be back posting after the new year...you will NOT read any New Years Resolutions here...you might see a New Years Non-Resolution though!

Go ask yourself some hard questions!

This post has been linked to We are THAT Family.

Just When I Think I Should QUIT Blogging ...

someone sends me an email thanking me for my blog. With tears in my eyes I think "okay...one more post."

Give a blogger a gift today ~ 

Leave a thoughtful comment on a blog post or send an email to them {not me, someone else.} After you leave a comment share one of their blog posts with 5 friends.

Pick 5 smaller blogs that you love and give them some encouragement.

Homemaking: Primal Eating

Image Credit

Primal Eating {primal "ish"}

This success story found at the PerfectHealthDiet made me re-think my decision not to buy the book "Perfect Health Diet". I was going to wait for a while, but when I found the Kindle version for $10 I think I might be getting an early Christmas present. Of course I don't own a Kindle {LOL!} but there is a free reader you can download. I might put it on my daughter's kindle and borrow hers.

The idea of adding rice and potatoes to our primal diet makes sense to me, but I'd like to read more about it in their book.

Here was the closing statement from the story regarding how he lost 80 pounds in about 8 months:

During the middle of my weight loss, I was at a restaurant eating a salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing, 8 oz steak, and a baked potato with butter and sour cream and some water with lemon, but without a dinner roll.  I paused and proclaimed, “I can’t believe I’m eating this and still losing weight! This is the BEST DIET EVER!”

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I started reading some of Dr. Kruse's blog last week. Fascinating info. Is he right? Who knows, but once again knowledge is powerful. He wrote this:

When you change for the better, the people around you will be inspired to change also….but only after doing their best to make you stop.

Wowzers!!!

Not sure what is going to be on the menu plan this week. Except check out these two things:
Christmas morning quiche and Roasted Veggie Salad  ~ YUMMY!

Please note this post includes affiliate links - thanks for supporting my blog!

Jesus is NOT the Reason for the Season

Unless of course the season you are referring to is your life here on earth.

When you are dealing with someone like me who is a total "rule follower" these are the questions I ask myself when I believe Jesus is the reason for the season:

• Was he really born on December 25?
• What about time zones....sometimes it's Dec. 25th here but Dec. 26th elsewhere
• So I can't have an X-mas tree unless I can somehow tie it to Jesus
• Oh wait, God gets mad if I say X-mas?
• So I can't give my kids and family members gifts unless I justify it and follow certain rules?
• I can't say Happy Holidays to someone who has different beliefs than I do? Okay, I better get rid of that stamp then!

I could spend some time trying to research all of these answers, but why? Is Jesus really the reason for just this season?

No!

I believe the Bible to be true and applicable today. I believe the Bible has a beginning, climax and an ending...Jesus died on the cross for me {JOHNLYN}... ME....really?!? me...the one who messes up ALL.THE.TIME...He died on the cross for ME! Christ then rose from the dead.

GRACE = even though you are a mess up,  if you believe in the death and resurrection of Christ you get to go to heaven.

So why should I focus on the birth of Christ only in December?

Some things are amoral...money....getting a dog....shooting down a Christmas tree....owning and displaying a nativity set. Of course our actions could be immoral, but the THINGS are amoral.

Do you know why people use an X? It's an interesting reason, but regardless do you think that God gets angry because we don't write CHRISTmas instead of X-mas? You know the God whose plan it was for his Son to DIE on the cross? Seriously people....don't get stressed about this. Celebrate the love of Jesus every day, not just during the season.

SANTA
Santa is MAGICAL to me....no one will EVER take Santa away from me. I told my husband when we got married 19 years ago {GULP!} that I will ALWAYS getting a stocking full of stuff. No, the stuff doesn't have to cost much, but it will be filled {either by him or me!} Good thing the man loves me and does this for me!  Does it take away my appreciation of all that Christ as done for me? How could it? It's a symbol of everything my MOM sacrificed for me while trying to raise 3 kids on a secretary's salary (or piddly paycheck I should say.)

Christmas is not about Christ for me...it's about traditions, family, fun foods, SANTA, gifts, symbols, SANTA, etc.

Every day life (including December 25th, but not limited to December 25th) is about Jesus. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. Jesus Christ ~ NOT one day a year, not one month and not one season.

If you are new to my blog please note that I very rarely post anything about religion or politics. Feel free to skip over this rant or leave a comment about how crazy I am...either way I'm glad you are here!

This works for me! Find other ideas over at We are THAT Family.

Homemaking: Menu Plan and Intentional Living 12/12/11

Getting a Christmas tree.

Winner of the giveaway ~ Sarah! 
Sarah - I sent you an e-mail with more information. Let me know if you don't get it. Using my very complicated system {see picture below} I grabbed information from three places for this giveaway. I've heard that random.org doesn't ever let person #1 win so I decided to do it the old fashioned way by cutting up pieces of paper and having my son pick a winner. You would never know that I have a degree in computers based on this giveaway.

Primal Eating {primal "ish"}

WOW! You should check out this primal eating Success Story from MDA, truly an amazing transformation.

One more success story for you...scroll down to barefooter's post (about half way down on my screen):

I was right at 300 pounds at my heaviest, though these photos are probably around 270s. In 2003, I lost 110 pounds (exercising and counting calories with a SAD) and then dropped another 40 in 2007 (giving up refined sugar, but not carbs in general). Two and half months ago, I started PB and experienced a redistribution of weight. I am still 150 pounds, but my clothes fit as if I were 5-10 pounds lighter.

How cool is that - her story and pictures brings tears to my eyes!

Last week I made Asian Beef and while it was good (the sauce was really good) I think I'll try a different cut of meat next time or let it cook on low a long long time. I would try this with ground beef as well. I didn't use the sugar either. After I posted my menu plan last week I immediately changed it. You'll see a lot of the same things posted this week.

Last week I bought a lot of things I shouldn't have. However, the tip I mentioned in my post "re-write the grocery list" is good for all of you to do ~ you know, do as I say, not as I do!

Menu Plan

Breakfast Menu Plan
Lunch - leftovers or whatever for me (kids eat school lunch and they typically provide lunch for my husband at work)

Dinners (we eat a primalish /paleoish diet  - limited grains/sugar):

1. KISS night (keep it simple silly - same thing every week).  Chef salads: spinach, romaine, chicken, bacon, thawed peas, cheese, green olives and hard boiled eggs .
2.  Qdoba's steak - SimplyRecipes over rice with salad.
3. Josie's Shepherd Pie with sweet potato fries.
4. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and roasted veggies
5. Fried potatoes w/ leftover roast beef (flop a fried egg on top) serve with green beans.
6. Cheesy Chowder with some kind of meat added {will be using arrowroot to thicken}
7. Hubby cooks - I always try to have meat on hand and he's great at whipping stuff up. Last week he bought pizza!!!

Hmmmm...there are a lot of potatoes on this menu plan so I may end up changing things out.

Other recipes I want to try:
Italian Cream Cheese Chicken,  Popper Potatoes,

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Homemaking Plan

Goal Setting posts:

• Homemaking Page 
• goal setting does NOT work for me 
• priorities 
• Goals vs. Priorities with an Action Plan

My "one word" goal this week:

Resolutions

Actually my goal is for you today. Resolve not to make any New Year's resolutions this year {I don't make resolutions}. Whatever you are putting off, decide to start now.

Want to be healthier? Read my post about all of the controversies. Don't have time to do that? Stop eating sugar. Go for a short walk...just around the block. Pass on the soda. It doesn't have to be a huge life changing thing. You just have to make different choices.

Small changes over time = great improvement.

Speaking of time...read my review of "Tell Your Time". No time for that? Decide to let go.

A few pictures from our Christmas tree hunt yesterday. It takes us about 15 minutes to get into the Black Hills so we can cut down a Christmas tree. Every year we talk about getting an artificial tree and every year we don't do it. The permit costs $10 and it helps keep our area safe by clearing out a few trees.

The tree is ginormous!!!
My husband is 6 feet tall. I think the tree must be 10 feet tall.

My son taking a running leap.

I really don't know what the word red neck means,
  does shooting down your Christmas tree count?

When that doesn't work, use the hacksaw.

Our 2011 family picture.

Check out other menu plans at:

Orgjunkie

11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven always has a lot of homemaking posts to read as well! 

Weekly Grocery Shopping 12/8/11 Trip and Tip

Be sure to sign up for the Discover Gift Card giveaway over at my blog WeeklyGroceryShopping.Com.

My weekly grocery shopping trip and frugal tip has been posted over at my blog WeeklyGroceryShopping.

Homemaking: Letting Go!!!

My 15 year old daughter "playing" Santa.

Be sure to sign up for the Discover Gift Card giveaway over at my blog WeeklyGroceryShopping.Com.

I wrote a post a couple of years ago titled "Don't Do It." While re-reading that post this sentence jumped out at me:

If something is taking the joy from your Christmas season, then stop doing whatever that "thing" is!

On my homemaking post on Monday I wrote that my intentional living goal this week is Letting Go.

1. What if you quit some of your holiday traditions?
2. What if you stopped baking so many goodies?
3. What if you you let go of your perfectionism and enjoyed your company instead of having the perfect house for your company?

What if?

I started writing this post yesterday and then I saw this over at SarahMarkley.

My family helped decorate my house. Would I prefer they help or would I prefer a perfect house? Helping means time together, laughter, fun...perfect means a crabby mom if someone messes something up...You can see what I chose by the following pictures {click to enlarge}:

Let go...it'll be okay.

Letting go Works for Me! Check out other ideas we WeAreThatFamily. If you want some cute decorating ideas check out ThriftyDecorChick.

Giveaway!!!

This giveaway is closed. Thanks so much for entering ~ the winner is Sarah!!!

Check out WeeklyGroceryShopping.com for information about the giveaway for my readers/subscribers.

Thanks for supporting me - I appreciate it very much {note: the giveaway ends at 10:00PM on Sunday, December 11, 2011.}

Johnlyn

Homemaking: Menu Plan and Intentional Living 12/5/11

Tomorrow (12/6/11) I will post the details about a $20 Discover Card giveaway over at my blog: WeeklyGroceryShopping.Com 

Photo Credit

FYI - My homemaking goal is listed below my Menu Plan.

Last week I wrote a post at WeeklyGroceryShopping.Com about creating a perpetual weekly grocery list based on the foods you want to serve your family. Weekly grocery shopping is much much easier now.

I made the Comfort Roast and Horseradish Sauce from OnlyPenniesAPlate. The horseradish sauce - TO DIE FOR!!! Seriously, it was very very good. The roast - it is sooooo very close to almost perfect. I'm not sure if I had a bad roast or what but it wasn't very tender so I cooked it longer than I was supposed to. Then of course I overcooked it. The texture was INCREDIBLE. I will definitely be trying that recipe again soon.

Menu Plan

Breakfast Menu Plan
Lunch - leftovers or whatever for me (kids eat school lunch and they typically provide lunch for my husband at work)

Dinners (we eat a primalish /paleoish diet  - limited grains/sugar):

1. KISS night (keep it simple silly - same thing every week).  Chef salads: spinach, romaine, chicken, bacon, thawed peas, cheese, green olives and hard boiled eggs .
2. Asian Beef over rice with sweet potato fries and peas.
3. Josie's Shepherd Pie serve with salads
4. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and roasted veggies
5. Fried potatoes w/ leftover roast beef (flop a fried egg on top) serve with green beans.
6. ??? Popper Potatoes, burgers, meat/beans and rice or chili from the freezer
7. Hubby cooks - I always try to have meat on hand and he's great at whipping stuff up. Last week he made BBQ chicken.

Other recipes I want to try:
Qdoba's steak - SimplyRecipes , Cheesy Chowder,Italian Cream Cheese Chicken

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Homemaking Plan

Goal Setting posts:

• Homemaking Page 
• goal setting does NOT work for me 
• priorities 
• Goals vs. Priorities with an Action Plan

My "one word" goal this week:

Letting Go

What what your holiday season be like if you just "let go"? 

Yes, that's a lobster and he's part of our holiday decorating...
more on that craziness this week.

Check out other menu plans at:

Orgjunkie
11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven always has a lot of homemaking posts to read as well!

Grocery Shopping: The Perpetual Grocery List

Having a perpetual grocery list will make your life so much easier! New post over at WeeklyGroceryShopping.Com.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Homemaking: Making FLYlady Work for You

Once you get rid of the clutter.

Once you have some routines in place.

You too will have time to water a plant,

 give a plant a "leaf cut" and dust a plant. 

The zone yesterday was the living room. I spent 15 minutes working on my plant and the area around my plant. I guarantee you that until I started following FLYlady , that wasn't possible.

I know some people get overwhelmed by the emails that are sent out by her, but just take it one step at a time. When I look at pictures from years ago I cringe at the clutter we had everywhere. Now that the kids are older we don't have the clutter anymore because they are so neat and tidy.

NOT!!!

Just this morning I found 10 items of my son's laying around. I've got to get him back in the habit of cleaning up after himself. But you know what else I noticed....MY clutter laying around. HMMMM wonder where he gets it from?

Mental note: Get rid of clutter!