Category Archives: house management

house management, organization

Christmas Card Time

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So I received our first Christmas card of the season today! It is a delightful picture card from our niece (on NerdDad’s side) of her 2 cute little kids. But that brings up a time honored quandary. What do you do with all these cards? Of course you display them for the month and then what? Well, here is my multi step process that is very simple. The key is taking them fro the display and fully dealing with them.

The first thing you must, and I mean MUST, do is make sure you have the address of the sender in whatever permanent address book you have (be it day planner, outlook, or database) and then toss the envelope. One less piece to hold onto.

After Christmas I toss all plain cards into the recycling. Take all the letters and make any notes you need from the information (new baby birthdays, anniversaries, upcoming graduations, etc) in your planner. Then toss!

Now on to all those great pictures. Now this is a new area for me. You can toss, if you want but I am a girl so I am immediately invested;). First make sure that all the pertinent information is ON it some where. Now not on the face of the picture but the back, bottom etc. Make sure the year is on there also. Then we are onto a collection vessel. You can use a shoe box or photo box and put dividers in by year. The other option (the one I am going to use) is a scrapbook. You can get them cheap at any craft store and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Then just slap them in an write all the information next to them. You can go further if you want but I am just not that good.

That is it! All of the cards, their information and all their mess is dealt with! One less thing to worry about. Go and enjoy your cards.

Homeschoooling, house management, WFMW

WFMW: Tivo the Timesaver

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So I was trying to think of a great time saver in my life and I would have to say that it is my Tivo. You can list all of your desired programs regardless of when they are on. You just program it and let it go. You can set a season pass so it gets Heroes every week. Those movies that are on in the middle of the night, Tivo’s theres. Wishlist all Jane Austen movies, Tivos there. I even get Cable in the Classroom at 3 am. Then you can watch them commercial free when ever you have time. You can also hold onto them for as long as you have space on your hard drive.

Traveling and taking your laptop? Great, just install a Tivo desktop (free) and up load programs onto your computer. I took it to the hospital when I had my c-section and caught up on shows that were on summer hiatus.

I also love the fact that you can rate channels and shows for kids. Then when it sits 4 hours (or you turn it on) it kicks into KidZone and just lists the approved things. We have it set on preschool so only the preschool level shows are automatically on. Then we have added select cooking shows (NerdBug wants to be a chef). So if you want to send the kids in to watch something while you shower you don’t have to worry (at least not about the tv). I also have Wiggles, DoodleBops and JoJo’s Circus at my disposal. The Nerdling only watches while I cook dinner.

Then the newest thing is that there are select PodCasts so I can watch CrankyGeeks while I am cooking. Also, you can run it over your wireless network so it can play all my music stored on all my computers. The endless CD changer.

I love my Tivo because it works for me. And no, this wasn’t a paid post though if you are Tivo and you want to hook me up……

house management

Meal Plan Monday

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So here is this week’s menu and before you ask, asparagus and cauliflower are on sale;).

Monday: Pasta Carbonara, Roasted Cauliflower
Tuesday: Salmon, Asparagus Pasta
Wednesday: Crockpot Roast w/potatoes, Roasted Cauliflower
Thursday: Eggs w/ Asparagus and ham, Fried Potatoes
Friday: Beef Stew

I am planning on posting many of these recipes over at my new food blog so check back for links! If there are any in specific you are interested in let me know. Have a great week.

house management

Menu Monday

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Here is my menu “plan” for this week.
Monday: Pork Chops stuffed with Feta & Spinach, Brown Rice, Broccol (moved from last Friday)
Tuesday: Hamburgers, Roasted Cauliflower
Wednesday: Crockpot Beef Roast and Potatoes, Broccoli
Thursday: Chicken Kiev (freezer), Seasoned Fried Potatoes, Broccoli
Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine, Broccoli, Bread

See you next week!

house management

Frugal Friday: Grocery Shopping

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I have some very basic grocery shopping tips. First, make your menus so you know what you will be cooking. Second, always shop with a list and stick to it. Third, shop loss leaders (super sales) and match them with coupons. For example, Vons often has special sales on cake mixes so save all your coupons for those times only. If you go to a store with a free kids cookie, do it but decide about it before the kids ask. That also is the rule with the shopping. I never buy something BECAUSE my kids ask so they don’t. They will ask if it is on the list but never beg for anything. For those of you who think that will happen “someday”, someday has to be today. My kids are 6, 4, 2, and new and the 2 year old is already learning about begging and crying. I will blog more about shopping with kids another time. So there are my frugal shopping tips. Shop in good health.

UPDATE: For further clarification, I was thinking about comments that had been made about my kids expressing their desires and so I asked my 6 year old what he thought. I didn’t realize how much he does ask because I answer it based on everything and not just his asking but he knows that a fit won’t work. I will just say no and that is it without having to justify myself and actions to my kids. For example, I said make the free cookie decision before they ask so you don’t have to hem and haw in front of them about it. Usually I will let them have it (and even mention it before they do) but sometimes I say no. If I try to explain that we are eating early and I don’t think they will eat both the cookie and their dinner, they will naturally argue with me in an effort to convince me that they will. That is what I am trying to avoid.

As far as voicing their desires… I try not to do any shopping off the list (unless it is a surprise sale) based on my instant desire so I am trying to train them not to also. My kids are free to ask me to cook or buy any food any time I am home (and trust me they do) or making suggestions when I am making menus. Nerdbug and NerdPie probably ask me about recipes to make 2 times a week. Also NerdBug knows there are certain things I only buy on sale(like asparagus) and when he see a sale sign around them he mentions it and asks if we can get it. Please don’t think I am a Nazi about it because I am not. I just like to get in, shop and get out and with 4 kids that takes training on everyone’s behalf.