this soup recipe is easy and much healthier than traditional potato soup. best part? it goes in the slow cooker, of course!! we had it last night with corned beef sandwiches. perfect for this rainy weather we are having.
slow cooker potato soup
6 c. chicken or veg broth
4 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4-6 yukon gold or red potatoes, sliced into 1" rounds (i used 6 med. yukon golds)
2 large handfuls of spinach (or other greens)
1 c. skim milk
combine all ingredients except greens and milk in slow cooker. cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8. vegetables will be tender when done. before serving add greens and milk, turn to warm. serve with grated cheese, if you like.
{if freezing: do not add milk until right before you serve}
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
virtual gardening clinic:: what ya'll should be doing and planting
in putting these virtual clinics on, i am assuming that the majority of the reading audience are novice or pseudo-novice gardeners. if my assuming makes an ass out of you and me...sorry. i am also not covering every vegetable on the planet. just the ones gardeners in zone 5 mostly grow.
the early warm weather and above normal soil temps has a lot of people scrambling this year. but, you know what? we can all relax. if you are new to gardening i firmly believe the best way to set yourself up for success is do what you can with starter plants. starter plants won't be available at most nurseries for a few weeks, at least. any nightshade plants, squash, melons, etc. are at risk of frost anytime before mother's day. i know this weather is making us all excited, though, so let's talk about what you all CAN be doing and planting.
getting the garden ready....
mike tilled 5 garden plots this weekend. he tilled in compost in almost all of them. this is the time, if you haven't already, to get those gardens prepped for planting. if you are doing raised gardens...get them dug, add compost (if needed), till, and build. decide what sort of fencing you need based on what the critter situation is in your area. it seems overwhelming to do all the planning and physical labor now, but it will save you time and heartache in the long run. i made the great decision {for the first time EVER} to add a bit of compost, dig up, and cover my raised gardens with hay last fall. as a result, my kale overwintered and it was super simple to remove the hay and plant this year.
chicken wire, lumber, stakes, deck screws, a drill, and staple gun can make some major things happen. if you are doing containers....get them now and fill them up. most hardware stores and nurseries are stocking the soil needed for growing veggies in containers now.
getting your seed and starting seed....
some veggies have to or really should grow from seeds. roots: carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and parsnips are some of those veggies. some say peas and cukes are the same way. i have had success starting peas and cukes and then transplanting them. and for container gardeners...this is really the only way. so right now the soil temp is about 56 degrees meaning that you can plant those root veggie, peas, and greens seeds directly in the ground. if you haven't bought any seed, but want to grow some of these...now is the time to buy them. if you have bought them and want to try to start them indoors before planting in a container...now is the time for the peas and greens. root veggies should be directly planted in the ground. the warmer veggie seeds like cukes, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, okra, & peppers can be put in seed trays in a week or two. even though the weather and soil are warm, i am still subscribing to the "wait until after mother's day" rule for planting these outside. i have been burned one too many times by hail and frost when i was a little too eager.
if you garden is prepped and ready to go....
if you have a prepped garden or containers and some experience {or a sense of adventure} go ahead and plant the following from seed: swiss chard, kale, lettuces, collards, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, arugula, spinach, peas, onions, potatoes, and broccoli. broccoli can be fickle when started from seed and not a plant, but it is possible. as a rule, i have found a lot of the brassicas to be fickle but it can be done...the cabbage needs warmer weather and the brussels need long stretches of cool weather {and i would only do a starter plant with these} the rest of these in a properly prepped garden with loose, rich soil should take right off.
here is some more information on what can be planted now....
GREENS
(cooking + salad: lettuces, kale, collards, chard, mesculans, spinach, arugula, etc.)
these can typically be planted in early spring and fall. some like collards, kale, and chard are pretty heat tolerant and will produce most of the growing season. others like arugula, spinach, and lettuces will bolt &/or burn when it gets too hot. some varieties, like spinach, come in a heat tolerant hybrid. i prefer planting greens in containers or raised beds because weeding them can be time intensive when planted in rows the traditional way. however, if you do choose to have a traditional garden then do not forgo planting in straight lines using stakes and twine. this will make hoeing and hand weeding easier. kale, collards, chard, arugula, and spinach are big producers since you can just harvest the outer leaves as needed. most lettuces like buttercrunch and frisee require harvesting the whole head. 4 - 8 hours of direct sun is needed daily, water at least 3 times a week, for most: expect a crop in about 35-60 days, cooking greens can be washed and frozen. all grow well and easily from seed however starter plants are a great was to set a first time gardener up for success.
ROOTS
roots like carrots, radishes, beets, and parsnips need very deep and loose dirt. containers can work, but i like raised beds best and they allow you to really pack them in. if going with a traditional garden do plant in very straight rows to help make weeding easier. not big producers (what you plant is what you get) so if you are planting to store them or love them than do succession planting. plant rows every week during the planting season. early spring and grow. roots produce in 35-65 days typically depending on variety. beets and radishes tolerate part shade. beet and radish greens are edible and delicious. carrots and parsnips need lots of sun. water at least 3 times a week. pickling and canning work great for carrots, beets, and radishes. carrots can easily be frozen, as well. root cellar storage is great for all root varieties.
BRASSICAS
these brassicas: cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts
grow best in the ground since they take awhile to grow, need room, and can become too heavy (i.e. cabbage) for a container. early sping is the time for them to be planted. doing a raised bed is also recommended. raised bed will also allow you to till deep for root brassicas like rutabagas and turnips. brassicas are not typically big producers. cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts starter plants are recommend. need 6-8 hrs direct sun. water at least 3 times a week. almost all can be frozen except cabbage. cabbage is wonderful pickled.
PEAS
sugar snap peas grow great in containers or raised beds. either way plan on training them up a trellis or cage of some sort. if they lay on themselves they begin to rot and stop producing. they are super prolific. they love cool weather, so plant in early spring. they will tolerate a bit of frost. full sun is needed and water at least three times a week. can be frozen.
ONIONS
onions grow best in traditional ground gardens or raised beds. spring is a good time to plant them. they do not store well, but can be using in canning and i have had success freezing. they also make good pest deterrents, so feel free to plant among other veggie and flower plants to deter critters from having a snack at your garden. do not over water. full sun needed.
POTATOES
potatoes grow best in barrels, containers, or tires because weeding them is very time intensive. do not over water. store very well in a root cellar. fun to grow in containers and nothing is quite as delicious as a homegrown potato. full sun needed.
.....
if you need help getting your garden planned or prepped, contact us for consulting, compost, or tilling. in any case, i really hope you choose to grow some food this year. it is so fulfilling and very possible for everyone. happy planting, friends.
the early warm weather and above normal soil temps has a lot of people scrambling this year. but, you know what? we can all relax. if you are new to gardening i firmly believe the best way to set yourself up for success is do what you can with starter plants. starter plants won't be available at most nurseries for a few weeks, at least. any nightshade plants, squash, melons, etc. are at risk of frost anytime before mother's day. i know this weather is making us all excited, though, so let's talk about what you all CAN be doing and planting.
getting the garden ready....
mike tilled 5 garden plots this weekend. he tilled in compost in almost all of them. this is the time, if you haven't already, to get those gardens prepped for planting. if you are doing raised gardens...get them dug, add compost (if needed), till, and build. decide what sort of fencing you need based on what the critter situation is in your area. it seems overwhelming to do all the planning and physical labor now, but it will save you time and heartache in the long run. i made the great decision {for the first time EVER} to add a bit of compost, dig up, and cover my raised gardens with hay last fall. as a result, my kale overwintered and it was super simple to remove the hay and plant this year.
chicken wire, lumber, stakes, deck screws, a drill, and staple gun can make some major things happen. if you are doing containers....get them now and fill them up. most hardware stores and nurseries are stocking the soil needed for growing veggies in containers now.
getting your seed and starting seed....
some veggies have to or really should grow from seeds. roots: carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and parsnips are some of those veggies. some say peas and cukes are the same way. i have had success starting peas and cukes and then transplanting them. and for container gardeners...this is really the only way. so right now the soil temp is about 56 degrees meaning that you can plant those root veggie, peas, and greens seeds directly in the ground. if you haven't bought any seed, but want to grow some of these...now is the time to buy them. if you have bought them and want to try to start them indoors before planting in a container...now is the time for the peas and greens. root veggies should be directly planted in the ground. the warmer veggie seeds like cukes, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, okra, & peppers can be put in seed trays in a week or two. even though the weather and soil are warm, i am still subscribing to the "wait until after mother's day" rule for planting these outside. i have been burned one too many times by hail and frost when i was a little too eager.
if you garden is prepped and ready to go....
if you have a prepped garden or containers and some experience {or a sense of adventure} go ahead and plant the following from seed: swiss chard, kale, lettuces, collards, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, arugula, spinach, peas, onions, potatoes, and broccoli. broccoli can be fickle when started from seed and not a plant, but it is possible. as a rule, i have found a lot of the brassicas to be fickle but it can be done...the cabbage needs warmer weather and the brussels need long stretches of cool weather {and i would only do a starter plant with these} the rest of these in a properly prepped garden with loose, rich soil should take right off.
here is some more information on what can be planted now....
GREENS
(cooking + salad: lettuces, kale, collards, chard, mesculans, spinach, arugula, etc.)
these can typically be planted in early spring and fall. some like collards, kale, and chard are pretty heat tolerant and will produce most of the growing season. others like arugula, spinach, and lettuces will bolt &/or burn when it gets too hot. some varieties, like spinach, come in a heat tolerant hybrid. i prefer planting greens in containers or raised beds because weeding them can be time intensive when planted in rows the traditional way. however, if you do choose to have a traditional garden then do not forgo planting in straight lines using stakes and twine. this will make hoeing and hand weeding easier. kale, collards, chard, arugula, and spinach are big producers since you can just harvest the outer leaves as needed. most lettuces like buttercrunch and frisee require harvesting the whole head. 4 - 8 hours of direct sun is needed daily, water at least 3 times a week, for most: expect a crop in about 35-60 days, cooking greens can be washed and frozen. all grow well and easily from seed however starter plants are a great was to set a first time gardener up for success.
ROOTS
roots like carrots, radishes, beets, and parsnips need very deep and loose dirt. containers can work, but i like raised beds best and they allow you to really pack them in. if going with a traditional garden do plant in very straight rows to help make weeding easier. not big producers (what you plant is what you get) so if you are planting to store them or love them than do succession planting. plant rows every week during the planting season. early spring and grow. roots produce in 35-65 days typically depending on variety. beets and radishes tolerate part shade. beet and radish greens are edible and delicious. carrots and parsnips need lots of sun. water at least 3 times a week. pickling and canning work great for carrots, beets, and radishes. carrots can easily be frozen, as well. root cellar storage is great for all root varieties.
BRASSICAS
these brassicas: cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts
grow best in the ground since they take awhile to grow, need room, and can become too heavy (i.e. cabbage) for a container. early sping is the time for them to be planted. doing a raised bed is also recommended. raised bed will also allow you to till deep for root brassicas like rutabagas and turnips. brassicas are not typically big producers. cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts starter plants are recommend. need 6-8 hrs direct sun. water at least 3 times a week. almost all can be frozen except cabbage. cabbage is wonderful pickled.
PEAS
sugar snap peas grow great in containers or raised beds. either way plan on training them up a trellis or cage of some sort. if they lay on themselves they begin to rot and stop producing. they are super prolific. they love cool weather, so plant in early spring. they will tolerate a bit of frost. full sun is needed and water at least three times a week. can be frozen.
ONIONS
onions grow best in traditional ground gardens or raised beds. spring is a good time to plant them. they do not store well, but can be using in canning and i have had success freezing. they also make good pest deterrents, so feel free to plant among other veggie and flower plants to deter critters from having a snack at your garden. do not over water. full sun needed.
POTATOES
potatoes grow best in barrels, containers, or tires because weeding them is very time intensive. do not over water. store very well in a root cellar. fun to grow in containers and nothing is quite as delicious as a homegrown potato. full sun needed.
.....
if you need help getting your garden planned or prepped, contact us for consulting, compost, or tilling. in any case, i really hope you choose to grow some food this year. it is so fulfilling and very possible for everyone. happy planting, friends.
Friday, March 16, 2012
stout corned beef with roasted potatoes, cabbage, and carrots
st. patty's is tomorrow. god bless the irish. however, when you have kids the celebration takes on another tone. and when you are married to a farmer and planting season is approaching...it takes on an even lamer tone. so tomorrow is a day of garden prep, planting, and spring cleaning around these parts. we will be having corned beef, though. i was going to make guiness chocolate cupcakes filled with jameson chocolate ganache and topped with bailey's buttercream frosting, but then i gave up sugar for lent. see? lame. so, instead hendrix and i went green AND healthy...dark chocolate covered kiwi pops. not so lame now, am i? you're welcome.
.....
in case you haven't made plans for tomorrow or you bought extra corned beef...here's my no-fail recipe and (weird!) it involves the slow cooker.
stout corned beef
1 corned beef, rinsed and patted dry (discard spice packet)
1 - 1 1/2 bottles or cans of stout beer (guiness is an obvious choice)
1 head of cabbage, sliced into 2" rings
4 - 6 carrots, cut into 4 inch sections
5-8 yukon gold potatoes, cut into quarters
olive oil
salt
pepper
caraway or fennel seeds
place corned beef in slow cooker and cover with beer. cook on low for 6-8 hours. an hour before dinner time, prepare veggies. preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease one baking sheet with olive oil. arrange cabbage rings on baking sheet with season with salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and a bit of oil. toss potatoes and carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. pour on another baking sheet. roast vegetables for 30-40 minutes or until tender. serve alongside corned beef and beer.
.....
in case you haven't made plans for tomorrow or you bought extra corned beef...here's my no-fail recipe and (weird!) it involves the slow cooker.
stout corned beef
1 corned beef, rinsed and patted dry (discard spice packet)
1 - 1 1/2 bottles or cans of stout beer (guiness is an obvious choice)
1 head of cabbage, sliced into 2" rings
4 - 6 carrots, cut into 4 inch sections
5-8 yukon gold potatoes, cut into quarters
olive oil
salt
pepper
caraway or fennel seeds
place corned beef in slow cooker and cover with beer. cook on low for 6-8 hours. an hour before dinner time, prepare veggies. preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease one baking sheet with olive oil. arrange cabbage rings on baking sheet with season with salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and a bit of oil. toss potatoes and carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. pour on another baking sheet. roast vegetables for 30-40 minutes or until tender. serve alongside corned beef and beer.
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| find printables here |
Thursday, March 15, 2012
catch up::prep
spring cleaning + organizing, beautiful weather, garden prep + planting, three year old birthdays, and time with my {baby}boy won out, my friends. sorry, dudes. i'm back. i swear.
here's what i HAVE to tell you....
tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller. tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.
compost: $40 for 1/2 a pick up load. mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job. contact us for smaller or larger purchases. this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious. great for containers, as well.
rain barrels: check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go. these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.
all natural, pest control: we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well. DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended. read more here. check out our craigslist posting. the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!
virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back. i promise. in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted. (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!) if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time. we'll talk more later this week.
container gardening: mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups. we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon. these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce. you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash. in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way. it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too. pictures and details soon!!
consulting: businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us. initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs. i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.
community: remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry. fresh produce should not be a luxury. also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden?? perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there. you will see our containers there, too. we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
.....
again, my apologies for a delay in posting. frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year. this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year. i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head. so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting. i will be back later this week with a clinic. thanks!
 |
| it is garden and rain barrel time!! |
tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller. tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.
compost: $40 for 1/2 a pick up load. mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job. contact us for smaller or larger purchases. this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious. great for containers, as well.
rain barrels: check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go. these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.
all natural, pest control: we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well. DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended. read more here. check out our craigslist posting. the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!
virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back. i promise. in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted. (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!) if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time. we'll talk more later this week.
container gardening: mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups. we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon. these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce. you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash. in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way. it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too. pictures and details soon!!
consulting: businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us. initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs. i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.
community: remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry. fresh produce should not be a luxury. also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden?? perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there. you will see our containers there, too. we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
.....
again, my apologies for a delay in posting. frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year. this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year. i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head. so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting. i will be back later this week with a clinic. thanks!
Friday, March 9, 2012
an open (love) letter to my son on his third birthday
dear lord. what happened this year? i just wrote a letter to you. you just turned two. heck, you were just born. no? my heart aches with joy and happiness at the boy you have become. you are everything i dreamed you would be and more. you are my heart.
in a year...
you have managed to speak complete, complex sentences; potty train yourself in a week, make new friends, be the life of any party, memorize every tool catalog ever brought into our home, be your dad's best buddy, slide down slides too high for my boy, and show me what mothering is really about. you rode on a ferris wheel for the first time. you rode in a dad's new tractor for five hours. you went to school for the first time. you started doing chores and earning an allowance. you went from a baby to a boy. you are the love and the light in this house. no one gives better hugs than you. no one is as kind to animals as you. your imagination and story telling abilities are spellbinding. your humor and dance skills are second to none. you can drive a tractor and farm like nobody's business.
it has been a joy and an honor to be your mother this year and always. it absolutely breaks my heart that you are getting so old so fast. i hope you are always a momma's boy. i am not sure if my heart could handle it if you weren't. every once in awhile i can close my eyes and it is march 13, 2009. you and i are sitting in sun filled, hospital room talking with our nurse. you are laying on the bed in your over sized onsie and i am telling the nurse that you look exactly as i had dreamed. hendrix, you are better than any dream. you are better than anything my meager imagination could of come up with...you are what true love is, my boy.
your father is and has always been enamored with you. you and him talk about how to spell words, what different tools do in your stihl catalog, and what bobcat you think he should get. he wakes each day and tackles each day to make life better for you. he once told me that he never wanted you to grow to be cynical like him. he wants you to have more faith in people and life. with him as your father...i have no doubt you will grow up to be a kind man with immense faith in others and yourself. he has only wanted the best for you since forever. you are a source of immense pride for him and always will be his little buddy. you are his right hand, farming man. please always listen and learn from your father. he is what all men should be made of. all he could say when you first saw you was how beautiful you were.
you are the greatest thing we have done. we wish the world for you. we wish you great happiness. we wish you had any inkling about how much we love you. happy birthday, my heart.
love,
your mommy
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
save time
it occurred to me last night while i was assembling today's dinner in the crockpot that i really had wished someone would of shared with me how much of a time suck the mundane, daily tasks would be....you know, like how much time mothers actually devote to meal planning & prep, cleaning, appointment making, childcare arranging, clothes shopping (because they grow out of stuff every.single.day), diaper changing, etc., etc. i spend so much time doing this stuff. it is insane. however, i have gotten pretty good at saving time in certain areas so that i can cuddle on the couch with the kiddo or the hubby, work in my art::workroom, or (better yet!) sleep.
here's what i got for you:
1. just do the dishes.
yes, i know they are sucking your will to live but they will be even more of a bastard in the morning. clean sink every night makes for a much happier morning.
2. prep dinner the night before.
if it is going to be a crockpot meal, assemble and stick in the fridge the night before. just set to room temp first thing in the morning and turn on before you are out the door. if it isn't a crockpot meal, still do your chopping and any assembling the night before. it will make dinnertime way more enjoyable.
3. put it away...asap
the minute we walk in from school, playdates, or errand running we put away our shoes, coats, bags, whatever. otherwise, it piles up in the entryway and kitchen table. and that blocks the sunlight to my soul.
4. 5 minute clean sweep
most nights (unless i am so tired, i want to die) i do a quick run through of the main floor and just pick up. that way, in the morning, things start out organized....notice, i said start out.
6. chores are glorious
i recently started a chore chart for mr. h. and it is awesome. that dude makes his own bed, puts his dirties in the basket, and picks up toys. all for $1 a week. if you can get the kids to do it...let them. i also still have him convinced that vacuuming is fun. and don't anyone tell him different.
7. break up the list
i used to do all the cleaning in one day. sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms - in one day. that was stupid. i thought i was going to die and spent too much time yelling at the kid and pets. now one day i do floors. another dusting and bathrooms. cat litter another day. it doesn't take that much time and allows me to keep the house semi-clean while hendrix has some sesame street time,
8. avoid the pile up...at all costs
i am guilty of letting the laundry pile up to several loads. like seven. that is dumb. because when i actually on my A-game...we have clothes to wear. peed through pj's are not the end of the world. you see where i am going with this. my friend, anj, once told me she did laundry every day. she has four kids and i thought she was nutso. then, i came to my senses. lady knows what she is talking about.
9. look at the big picture (in advance)
every month i make a list and attach it to my calendar. the list is for appts that need to be made, sitters that need to be arranged, deadlines for activity sign up, daylight savings time, bills, scheduled mommy time, & hubby appointments. it is my way of knowing what needs to happen and staying on top of it.
10. plan, plan, plan
i plan our following week's meals and activities (usually) every thursday. then on sunday i take out meat to thaw, print chore charts, get any outgoing mail(bills) ready, and write it all down on the white board next to my calendar. that is the most important part...writing it down. otherwise, nothing happens.
11. take inventory
i am a cheap a$$ so i typically only buy kids clothes at consignment or thrift stores. however, if you go when kids have really outgrown clothes...you won't find anything. it's how the universe rolls. so, twice a year, i take an inventory of hendrix's clothes (august/march) and make a list of how many pants & shirts i need. then, i go shopping (by myself!!) to get it all. i also check the clearance racks at target at the end of seasons to buy for the following year. shoes are the only thing i don't buy in advance or alone. i have been burned one too many times. kid has to try them on before i buy.
12. everything has a station
this year has been all about organizing and making a place for everything. it makes it much easier on everyone if everything is in the same place. diapers are always in the same place. the same with the tools, art supplies, coat hooks, shoe catcher, hats & gloves basket, toys in the playroom, and bathroom stuff. if it is not and you can't find your stuff....that is not my problem. hendrix had to wait for the snow to melt to find his toy shovel. when he finally did....he promptly placed on the porch where it belongs.
13. just let it go
the house will live on if it is not cleaned or perfectly organized every day. no one will die if you eat take out once in awhile. if someone shows up unannounced and it looks like a bomb went off...blame it on your housemates. that's what i do.
here's what i got for you:
1. just do the dishes.
yes, i know they are sucking your will to live but they will be even more of a bastard in the morning. clean sink every night makes for a much happier morning.
2. prep dinner the night before.
if it is going to be a crockpot meal, assemble and stick in the fridge the night before. just set to room temp first thing in the morning and turn on before you are out the door. if it isn't a crockpot meal, still do your chopping and any assembling the night before. it will make dinnertime way more enjoyable.
3. put it away...asap
the minute we walk in from school, playdates, or errand running we put away our shoes, coats, bags, whatever. otherwise, it piles up in the entryway and kitchen table. and that blocks the sunlight to my soul.
4. 5 minute clean sweep
most nights (unless i am so tired, i want to die) i do a quick run through of the main floor and just pick up. that way, in the morning, things start out organized....notice, i said start out.
6. chores are glorious
i recently started a chore chart for mr. h. and it is awesome. that dude makes his own bed, puts his dirties in the basket, and picks up toys. all for $1 a week. if you can get the kids to do it...let them. i also still have him convinced that vacuuming is fun. and don't anyone tell him different.
7. break up the list
i used to do all the cleaning in one day. sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms - in one day. that was stupid. i thought i was going to die and spent too much time yelling at the kid and pets. now one day i do floors. another dusting and bathrooms. cat litter another day. it doesn't take that much time and allows me to keep the house semi-clean while hendrix has some sesame street time,
8. avoid the pile up...at all costs
i am guilty of letting the laundry pile up to several loads. like seven. that is dumb. because when i actually on my A-game...we have clothes to wear. peed through pj's are not the end of the world. you see where i am going with this. my friend, anj, once told me she did laundry every day. she has four kids and i thought she was nutso. then, i came to my senses. lady knows what she is talking about.
9. look at the big picture (in advance)
every month i make a list and attach it to my calendar. the list is for appts that need to be made, sitters that need to be arranged, deadlines for activity sign up, daylight savings time, bills, scheduled mommy time, & hubby appointments. it is my way of knowing what needs to happen and staying on top of it.
10. plan, plan, plan
i plan our following week's meals and activities (usually) every thursday. then on sunday i take out meat to thaw, print chore charts, get any outgoing mail(bills) ready, and write it all down on the white board next to my calendar. that is the most important part...writing it down. otherwise, nothing happens.
11. take inventory
i am a cheap a$$ so i typically only buy kids clothes at consignment or thrift stores. however, if you go when kids have really outgrown clothes...you won't find anything. it's how the universe rolls. so, twice a year, i take an inventory of hendrix's clothes (august/march) and make a list of how many pants & shirts i need. then, i go shopping (by myself!!) to get it all. i also check the clearance racks at target at the end of seasons to buy for the following year. shoes are the only thing i don't buy in advance or alone. i have been burned one too many times. kid has to try them on before i buy.
12. everything has a station
this year has been all about organizing and making a place for everything. it makes it much easier on everyone if everything is in the same place. diapers are always in the same place. the same with the tools, art supplies, coat hooks, shoe catcher, hats & gloves basket, toys in the playroom, and bathroom stuff. if it is not and you can't find your stuff....that is not my problem. hendrix had to wait for the snow to melt to find his toy shovel. when he finally did....he promptly placed on the porch where it belongs.
13. just let it go
the house will live on if it is not cleaned or perfectly organized every day. no one will die if you eat take out once in awhile. if someone shows up unannounced and it looks like a bomb went off...blame it on your housemates. that's what i do.
Monday, February 27, 2012
monday. oy.
no matter what your job is or how much you love said job...it is sometimes hard to avoid a case of the mondays. and, boy, do i have it bad today. i am in the process of converting rooms to art::workrooms and walk-in closets. the entire upstairs is turned upside down. gathering up gumption is difficult. laundry is taking over. disciplining a soon-to-be three year old is a wear out.
but, alas, tomorrow is tuesday. the laundry is done....just looking for a home. i have a house to convert rooms in. the three year old is being much kinder today. in fact, he can make his own bed.
but, alas, tomorrow is tuesday. the laundry is done....just looking for a home. i have a house to convert rooms in. the three year old is being much kinder today. in fact, he can make his own bed.
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