Breakfast Idea: {Potatoes, Fresh Eggs and Wholewheat}

This is an excellent meal for growing children. It's full of protein, fiber and nutrients to carry them into their busy day of school and play! Enjoy!

Menu Idea

Cheesy-scrambled eggs

Fried potatoes

Waffles (no butter or syrup)

Since I made extra waffles yesterday (about 50) and put them into freezer bags, we used them this morning for an addition to our meal.  Plain, without anything, just warmed in the toaster. 

Prepare skillet with a little bit of oil, salt and pepper. Heat on medium while you clean, peel and cut potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place into hot skillet to cook until tender. 

Meanwhile, break eggs into bowl. Add a touch of milk, salt and pepper, and a snip of vanilla.  Whisk till blended; add a few tablespoons of shredded cheese.  Pour into small skillet and cook till done. 

Serve together with hot tea, coffee or orange juice. 

{HoMeMaDe} Waffles from scratch

Homemade Waffles-made from nutritious ingredients
Dry Ingredients

• 3 C whole wheat flour
• 1 t sea salt
• 1 1/2 t baking soda
• 2 t baking powder
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1/2 t nutmeg 
• 1/2 t ground cloves

Moist Ingredients

• 2 fresh eggs
• 1 C oil
• 1/2 C healthy margarine (your choice) 
• 1 t vanilla
• 2-3 C water/milk

Heat griddle on med-low, coat with non-stick spray.
Mix all wet ingredients, except 1 Cup water/milk, in a small bowl with hand mixer; set aside.
Mix all dry ingredients in medium-large bowl with whisk;
Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture adding remaining water/milk to desired consistency. Batter should be thick and somewhat lumpy, but not watery or pasty.

Using a measuring cup, scoop out batter and pour onto heated waffle iron/griddle. Cook and serve with homemade syrup. (recipe coming)
Add your favorite nuts on top of batter before closing lid, optional.

Working on the blogs

Simply put, it has been too much to maintain several blogs. I am currently working on consolidating the three blogs into just one blog.  I truly love the idea of having a home keeping type site and want to join it with my family blog.  So, getting the both of them onto one web address has been time consuming.

Thanks for your patience and I look forward to your visits.

You are welcome to visit my HOME at:

http://iitsaboutfamily.blogspot.com/

Part 3: Getting Clutter Out!

Ridding yourself of space-taking-items is the focus of this post. So get out your pen and paper and take notes!
You may not realize it, but clutter costs you a great deal.
--Clutter is anything that you own, that doesn't benefit, {enrich}, bless or beautify your life in some way and on a regular basis.
--Clutter hinders you from doing what you truly want to be doing.
--Clutter interferes with the enjoyment and pleasure of your life.
--Clutter keeps you working...[FOR IT].
--Clutter costs you time and energy.
--Clutter costs you financially.
--Clutter takes away your peace of mind.
--Clutter just plain collects, takes and doesn't give back.

So, how can we get rid ourselves of this thing called 'clutter'? 

First, take a look at your home right now.  Even better, take a look at the room you are in at this very moment. With pen and paper in hand, walk around the room and jot down anything you see that may fall into the clutter category. 

• too many collectibles
• can the decor be slimmed down a bit
• more furniture than is needed for this room
• not enough storage to accommodate your things, so items are 'stuffed' places
• room too small for what it's used for
• keeping sentimental items...for what?

Here are some examples of that sneaky little thing called clutter:
unused kitchen appliances, unused utensils, souvenirs, souvenirs, souvenirs, pet rocks, bargains you purchased and now don't use, musical instruments not in use anymore, clothes that no longer fit/in style, old jars, unused items from your wedding, old blankets, torn towels, candles that you no longer use, keys you can't identify, old batteries,magazines & newspapers, art, vases,   books that aren't interesting any longer, decor that is outdated, collectibles, chipped dinnerware, glasses or bowls...

Unfortunately the list could go on and on. Taking a few moments to quickly scan your rooms and jot those unused items down can be an easy way to start the decluttering process.  And it is a process.  There is no reason that you have to do it all in a day, a week, or even all in one month.  Sure, it would be great to be able to get all that done by the end of the month, but realistically, it is going to take some time to work on.  You want to get it done thoroughly and once you get started, you will be surprised at how much you begin to notice all the clutter sitting around in your home. When you begin to see it, getting rid of it will come naturally.   

{Can something be beautiful and functional at the same time?}
It's not that what we all have is bad, or that it's bad to have many things, it's just when we find ourselves working more for what we possess than for what we truly want to live for or even when what we possess doesn't "earn its keep",  we have lost the battle in the decluttering war! 

Some things to consider when decluttering your rooms:
-if I have to ask myself would/should I keep this...it's probably no
-have I used this in 6-9-12 months...if not, toss it
-remember items can be replaced...when and if needed
-ask yourself, "Why am I keeping this?", "Will this work for me/my family?", "Will I really have time to fix/mend/repair that?" , "Do I really need this?" ,"Is this going to benefit me/my family in any way at all?"
After you have considered the item(s), decide what you are going to do with them. 

1. Take to goodwill
2. Give to someone who needs it
3. Throw away
4. Keep for yourself and find a good, useful place for the item, remembering you will need to care for it, clean it, dust it, and look at it.

As soon as you decide what you are doing with those items, put them into boxes, bags or containers. If you are not keeping them for yourself, take them immediately out to the trunk of your car and then to their designated places!
Warning!!! Do Not Wait on this last step.  Do it quickly!

Then, go back into the room and take a look at it.  Take pleasure in your new room or area by organizing what is left in the room.  Move any furniture around and quickly sweep, vacuum or dust. Add only what you truly love to look at, use on a regular basis and what will benefit your life and your family.  Or organize the cabinets that are now full of space, because you just took out all those unused appliances, and kitchen items.  Lay some pretty, new shelf liner into your cleaned out cabinets and place with care your pots, pans, dishes and glasses. 

When you have completed this step, reward yourself in some way.  Have a break, cup of tea, read a chapter in a book you're currently reading.  Reward yourself without any feeling of guilt!  What you have just done is liberating! 

Part 2:Getting ready for the T-A-S-K of O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-I-N-G

Making the most of your organizing time is the focus of this post. 
--Have a start/stop time: allowing yourself to set a time to stop will not only help you get started, it will also help you be more productive during your work time.
--Designate what a space is for: set a purpose for each of the rooms you want to work in; make it easy on yourself and keep it simple.
--Eliminate unnecessary items from the designated space: either find an appropriate home for the items not used in this area or get rid of them permanently.  Don't feel guilty about ridding yourself of these items.  There will always be opportunities to get others, if you choose.
--Create a place for the items that remain: keep only the items that will serve a purpose for that space. 

Now that you have an idea of what to do to prepare, let's talk a little about how to begin and the tools needed for the job.
--A few days prior to actually beginning to organize, collect some baskets (large & small), boxes, crates, trays, zip-lock baggies, twist-ties, or even large bowls, shoe boxes, and Wal-mart bags to put some of your wanted/unwanted items into.  You will use these containers for temporary and/or permanent holders.  As you go through your room(s), it will be easier to place the items into their proper places.  
--Be specific about what you want to accomplish. Saying, "Today I will clean the kitchen", could cause disappointment. Give yourself a designated place to work today. Instead, say, "I will completely organize the refrigerator!"  Then, if time permits, you can continue on with another area of the kitchen.
--Dress comfortably, but not sloppy, in the event that you have someone drop by. Put on a pair of good work shoes and get down to business.
--Begin by just tidying up the room.  Make the bed, pick up clothes, general pick up(in case you don't do that regularly) It'll make the room look better almost instantly. 
--Start on one side and work in a clockwise order around the room. 
--Placing items in their proper places, into a designated container or otherwise tossing it out.  
--Be realistic!  Plan to organize, but get rid of the "Perfection" mentality! No one and no room is ever perfect.  Keep this in mind and it will save you a great deal of frustration in the end. 
--When you are about HALF WAY through your time frame, step back and look at your progress.  No matter how far you've come, be happy with what you have accomplished.  Remember you are starting from scratch and that you are now forming a new habit. Find contentment in what you are doing.  
--Go for it!!     

Part 1: Meal Planning {MaDe EaSy}

How many times have you heard this familiar phrase, "What's for dinner Mom?" 
And you freeze in your tracks. Your day has been so busy, you realize you haven't prepared anything for dinner.
"What shall I fix?" You ask yourself. Leftovers? Quick chicken nuggets and tater tots? Or maybe even breakfast and we'll call it dinner?? 
Well, you don't have to live like that any longer.  For quite some time now, I have been using a planning method which has worked beautifully for our family.  It's really simple and should take only moments per week to implement. I like using this method for several reasons:

1. I don't have to wonder what will be for dinner(or lunch or breakfast)
2. My grocery list is simpler to make out 
3. I stick to the budget better-saves us money
4. I don't come home from grocery with items I won't use
5. I can prepare meals that my family will eat and enjoy
6. It gives me more time to do what I really want to do 

There are two ways to approach this planning method: 

• 14 - day rotation menu
• 28 - day rotation menu

I have found that using the 14-day method is more beneficial for our family and lends itself very useful in that it fits our budget better.  Going grocery shopping may be one of your simple pleasures in life, but I will be honest, it's not one of mine.  I would rather be doing something else.  So, the less time I spend on it, the better. And when I am grocery shopping, I want to make the absolute most of my precious time while I'm there at the store.

[Get ready!] This is going to change your [homemaking] life!!

1ST STEP--gather your recipes
**Make a list of favorite meals and recipes
Start by using your family's {favorite} meals. These are the ones that YOU know they all enjoy and that won't have many leftovers afterward. Start by making a list of every possible dish that you all like.  Make a list for all breakfasts, all lunches, all dinners and then all snacks. Keep this list handy and you will use it every time you make out your menu.
>>Over a period of several weeks to a month, I asked every family member what things they most liked for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I asked them to give me 'REAL' food, not junk like corndogs or chips. I was quite surprised by the meals they came up with.  It helped me with ideas and also satisfied their appetites as well.<<
>>Some things to ask yourself when gathering your recipes:
--healthy/nutritious
--good taste
--affordable
--prep time
--look appealing

2ND STEP--plan the meals
** every meal doesn't have to be {gourmet}
The point is to make every meal work together for the benefit of your entire family.  Keeping in mind that taste & appearance are JUST as important to those finicky eaters, as nutrition & affordability are to you. Some dinners can be as simple as Parmesan Pasta with steamed veggies or as elaborate as you'd like them to be. 
>>Some things to do as you begin to plan:
--use a calendar, plain sheet of paper or chart you've created on your computer for days and weeks (use this to write meals on)
--lay-out 14 or 28 days
--label the days for your own convenience (I use a Thursday to Thursday week), you may want to use a Sunday to Sunday, Fri to Fri week, etc
--have your meal lists ready and handy

3RD STEP--make out your menu
**start out with dinner, then fill in lunch, then breakfast
I have a small pad of paper that lists the days of the week. Under each day there are three lines.  I fill in the first line with dinner, second with lunch and third with breakfast.  >>Yes, I know it goes backward, but it works for me. Dinners seem to be the most challenging, so I start with that and work toward the easier meals. 

**Now, before we start with the actual menu, let's talk about the [days of the week].The days of the week are important because we do certain things on certain days and if we plan to have a particular meal on, let's say Friday, when we are going out with friends, our plans will be {thwarted}. That meal could have been used on a better day, had we just taken the time to plan out the days along with the meals.  Does that make sense? I've learned the hard way. 
I follow a daily rule and it helps me to prepare, and also permits me to serve, those super easy, almost 'junk food' type meals without feeling guilty.  Here's an example of day planning: 
--Simple Sunday
--Meatless Monday
--Leftover Tuesday
--Casserole Wednesday
--Hearty Thursday
--Fun Friday
--Snacky Saturday
The daily names, above, apply to dinners (mostly). I give myself permission to serve 'leftovers' and then I don't feel bad about it. What else are we going to do with them.  Waste Not, Want Not, our Grandmothers used to say. :)
>>Others may include: Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Kid's night to cook, Dad's night to cook, Buffet night, Soup 'n Sandwich, Out to dinner, New recipes, Meaty Monday, Seafood night, and the list can go on!  You decide what to fix and when to fix it. 

Now, back to making out your menu plan. 
To start this step, take out your meal lists for dinner, lunch and breakfast along with snacks, if you made them.  On the first day of your week, pick what you want to serve for dinner and either do all the dinners for the week, then all lunches and then all breakfasts, OR do dinner, lunch, breakfast, then repeat each day of the week.  Suit yourself.
>>As you are planning out your week, pay attention to the meals as you write them. For example, you wouldn't want to have Baked Ziti for dinner and then serve Parmesan Pasta for lunch on the same day.  Break it up and add variety to your days. 

Here is an example of a 1-week menu:
*Simple Sunday
Crockpot Spaghetti w/carrots/brocoli
Turkey Sand/celery stix/pretzels
Sweet Oatie Muffins(made Sat)
*Meatless Monday
Fetticini Alfredo/squash slices/green beans
Salad Roll-ups/baked chips/fruit
Waffles w/cheesy scrambled eggs
*Leftover Tuesday
Crockpot Spaghetti w/chickn tenderloins/garlic bread/cold carrots stix
Grilled Cheese Sandwich/apple slices
Fried Potatoes/wheat toast w/jam
*Casserole Wednesday
Chicken Pot Pie/herbed brown rice/wheat bread
P B & J/tater tots/fresh veggies 'n dip
Bagel/strawberry jam
*Hearty Thursday
Steakburgers/Garlic Mash Potatoes/Green beans
Salad/1/2 Turkey Sandwich/celery & cucumber stix
Muffins/watermelon
*Fun Friday
Hotdogs/Mac'n Cheese/icecream
Chicken nuggets/ramen noodles/veggies
Ham'n Egg on whole wheat toast sandwich
*Snacky Saturday
Homemade Nachos/Refried Beans/Rice/Salsa
Left over burgers on a bun/fruit
Cereal/bagel or toast

Things to keep in mind:

• Keep your list(s) out where everyone can see them. That way you can add to them as you need to.
• Use your recipe cards. You'd be surprised at what you may find if you just go through them.
• Prepare for tomorrow's dinner, today.  Ex: if something is frozen, just take a moment, remove it from the freezer and place in the frig. 
• Adding to the leftover meal is simpler than preparing an entire new meal.  Ex: above I added chicken tenderloins to the Crockpot Spaghetti to make it go a little further.
• Enlist your children in the preparation of meals.  Not only are they a tremendous help, it's a perfect time for bonding and they learn something too. What a memory for them!
• One thing I prefer to do, is CLEAN ALONG THE WAY. I place a bowl in the sink and fill w/warm soapy water.  Then, as I use a utensil, pot or dish, I toss it into the bowl. Whilst something is cooking on the stove, I can quickly clean that item and put it away.  What a joy to sit down to my carefully prepared meal, knowing that I only have a few dishes to clean/place into dishwasher.
• One last thing: if possible, begin your dinner preparations shortly after breakfast.  It will be a benefit to you as you go through out your day. 

Get {ReAdY!!} Freedom's uh comin' ta {YoUr} house!

I am so {excited}!

I just have to tell you what has come over me...I have been using a fabulous plan and it has earned itself a place at the top of the list!! The last thing I 'feel' like doing is organizing anything.  I have 'ump-teen' things that require my attention..Don't You?!...and many more that need it.  But I just have to make time to share this with you.  I have been {Liberated}! And I am lov'n it-TOTALLY!!  

I will be posting a 10-part series on Home Organization.  This is going to radically change your home-keeping life, ladies!  It has totally worked for my family and I know it will work for you...if nothing else, I absolutely {KNOW} it will inspire you to find your own 'niche' to home organization. 

Topics include:

• De-cluttering from top to bottom
• Use it or loose it
• Panic in the frig!
• Menu Maniac
• Just to name a few. 

 So, get ready to {FEEL THE FREEDOM!!}    It's coming your way!

PS: if you are already S U P E R organized, G R E A T!!  I'd love to hear about how you've done it over the years!!  Share all you want or direct us to your site. Working together helps us all!