Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Upcycling in the Garden :: Tool Box Conversion, Part 1

People are always giving my husband things they no longer use or that don't work properly because they know he can resurrect the broken. I'm more of an Upcycler. For those who don't know, upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. This particular project combines both of our talents to produce a unique and useful Garden Caddy.
 
Originally, my idea had been to turn this somewhat abused tool box into a craft bin - a Craftman to a Craft Bin...don't you just love my cheesiness!
 
However, this particular toolbox was destined for life outdoors and I couldn't imagine ruining all my lovely crafty things in the elements. I thought for about 2 seconds and instead of holding ribbons and paint, the tool box would soon be housing potting supplies and gardening paraphernalia.
 
So, here it is...a little rusty, a few squeaky wheels, and definitely in need of a paint job.

 
 
 
Right off the bat, we removed the drawers, gave the tool box a good wash down ("Did you see those spider eggs???"), and fixed the squeaky wheels. By liberally applying White Lithium Grease to the wheel bearings, we were able to not only fix the squeak, but also ensured better wheel movement. 

 
 
A chrome handle was riveted to one side of the tool box, but had to be removed in order to paint the box. My husband gently drilled out the rivets and slid out the handle. I would have pried and pried at those rivets, but that's why he's helping me with this project or I would still be prying on those rivets!

 
 
Now you can't just spray paint over scratched and scuffed paint; well, you can, but it won't look nice. Luckily for us, there is this great product called Handi-Strip. It's available at hardware stores and comes in a spray can. Along with the Handi-Strip, we also used a paint scraper. When using the Handi-Strip, we followed the manufacturer's guidelines.

 
Immediately after applying the Handi-Strip, the paint began to bubble and peel. Jake wanted to start scraping right away, but I told him we really should wait the full 20 minutes to get the best results.

 
We waited, and we waited, and we waited. Finally, it was time to see how much paint we could remove. I couldn't believe how easy it came off. Note to self: Do not get Handi-Strip on fingers!

 
 
Here's a look at the tool box once all the paint was stripped off, well, at least all that was coming off the easy way!

 
Now, I know I said my husband is good at fixing things, but he really is, because he knows a lot of useful information. His suggestion to get the rest of the paint off the box involved 600 grit sand paper wet/dry, a bucket of water, and a little elbow grease. By wet sanding, the process of dipping sand paper into water and sanding, we were able to remove all the rust and the rest of the large paint chips.

 
While not all of the paint will be removed, as long as the edges have been feathered and the surface feels smooth, new paint should adhere well.  


 
 
Now, it's time to paint. We went with a Valspar Outdoor spray paint in Jellyfish. First, we painted a tack coat and then followed up with a full paint layer. Two cans were plenty to cover the tool box. 


While the paint dried, my husband cleaned up the chrome handle using a toothbrush and some water. He used Mother's Mag & Aluminium Polish to restore it to new.

 
We re-installed the chrome handle using self-tapping screws.


After a couple hours of work, our tool box is definitely looking better.

 
 
Check back later this week for part 2 of the Tool Box Conversion.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Weekly Goals :: 9/24 - 9/30/2012

Last week I posted a few of my weekly goals. I've crossed out some and added new ones to the goal list. Did you get your goals accomplished? Did you set new ones?


Weekly Goals 9/17 - 9/23/2012

Home:
1. Hang bulletin boards
2. Begin working on tool box to craft box conversion
3. Reorganize back patio - I'm also dreaming about lawn furniture and lighting...

Family:
1. Kids: 4H meeting, Church, JMG Class, Music Ensemble, Theatre Class
2. Quick Date night with Jake
3. Update clothing sizes in homemaking notebook
4. Check on the status of the boys' fall wardrobe


Community Service:
1. Teach the JMG class
2. LongviewWOW's Out of This World event (Saturday!)


Personal:
1. Drink cocoa and read : )
 
 
Weekly Goals  9/24 - 9/30/2012
 
Last week was amazing! I got a lot of things accomplished and had fun doing it! The tool box to craft box conversion has begun, but instead of a craft box, I'm opting for a gardening station. (More on that project to come!)
LongviewWOW's Out of This World was a great success - I'm absolutely tickled by the amount of children attending our event.
Looking forward to another great week!
 
Home:
1. Create garage sale and donation bins to streamline organizing
2. Download photos for organization and upload to social sites
3. Clean outdoor mini fridge and bleach
4. Weekly household chores
 
Family:
1. Boys to Church, Music Ensemble, Theatre class
2. Date night with Jake
3. Baby Shower
4. Register boys for 4H Harvest Festival
 
Volunteering:
1. LongviewWOW Board Meeting
2. JMG Garden Fundraiser
3. 4H Archery Meeting
4. Homeschool Field Trips
 
Personal:
1. Finish tool box conversion
2. Continue reading You Don't Know Me
3. Purchase pumpkins to decorate foyer
4. Write article for dandelion moms & work on advertising

Friday, September 21, 2012

Homeschool Freebie :: A Little House in the Big Woods Lapbook (ends 9/23)


 
Through September 23, 2012, you can download a free copy of the 90-page lapbook for Laura Ingalls Wilder's A Little House in the Big Woods from Hands of a Child. This download is available on Curr-Click when you enter the code freehomeschooldeals3 at check-out. This information was provided by Free Homeschool Deals.

Here's a description from the site:
“Once upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs.” The story, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, is a story about the Ingalls family in the 1870’s. Introduce your student to the Little House series by creating a lapbook with A Little House in the Woods Project Pack by In the Hands of a Child. This 90-page Literature Project Pack includes a chapter-by-chapter review complete with questions for discussion and 27 correlating hands-on activities to help your student comprehend the story and research what life was like for Laura Ingalls as a child. You and your student will also find mini units inside about Wisconsin, Animals of the Big Woods, and Corn Husk dolls. Pick up a copy of Little House in the Big Woods today and let your student create a Little House lapbook!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Win a Kindle Fire from Tracie Peterson. RSVP for 9/26 Facebook Party.

Celebrate with Tracie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 See what people are saying about Taming the Wind.

One winner will receive:
  • A Brand New Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
  • The entire Land of the Lone Star series by Tracie Peterson
Hurry, the giveaway ends on 9/25/12. Just click one of the icons below to enter. The winner will be announced at Tracie's "Taming the Wind" Author Chat Party on 9/26Connect with Tracie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Taming the Wind and join Tracie on the evening of the September 26th for a chance to connect with Tracie and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Enter via E-mail Enter via Facebook

The Review is In :: Tracie Peterson's Touching the Sky and Taming the Wind

Touching the Sky, Tracie Peterson, 978-0-7642-0616-0Taming the Wind, Peterson




















Acclaimed author, Tracie Patterson, continues her Land of the Lone Star series with novels Touching the Sky (book 2) and Taming the Wind (book 3). Much akin to her first book of the series, Chasing the Sun, Patterson's post Civil War Texas in the sub-sequential stories expand upon the struggles of her strong heroines in a ever changing country.

Patterson's second novel, Touching the Sky, reflects the historical changes taking place in Texas at the time and the sentiments of pro-Confederates in regards to the African American (colored, as they are referred to) troops of the Union, as well as the newly freed men and women. Alongside the underlying political challenges, Laura Marquardt's story unfolds. Set in the Gulf of Mexico town, Corpus Christi, Laura finds herself a pro-Unionist amidst Confederate backlash. Knowing her own desires, Laura seeks to educate the African Americans of her community while also creating harmony and unifying her town and her family. Along the way, Laura falls in love with the Union Captain Brandon Reid; whilst her sister, Carissa, brazenly marries her Confederate beau, Malcolm Lowe, much to Laura's chagrin.

Touching the Sky delves into the common realities faced by families after the Civil War, especially in Texas where life-long neighbors or friends may have chosen different sides during the war. Furthermore, Touching the Sky exposes those choices and their consequences. For Laura and Carissa, their personal choices endanger their relationship as well as one of their lives.

Patterson's third novel of the series, Taming the Wind, brings the Marquardt sisters together again. Patterson also reintroduces several characters (Tyler Atherton, William Bennett, and heroine Hannah Dandrige) from her first novel of the series, Chasing the Sun.

Wonderfully written in full-circle fashion, Patterson gracefully melds the characters of her first two books to yield a well carved story of love, marriage, faith, personal growth, and even villains. At the start of Taming the Wind, we find Carissa Lowe a widowed mother living on a ranch with Brandon and Laura Reid (her sister and brother-in-law). The Reid Ranch neighbors the Barnett Ranch where William, Hannah, and their children reside, as well as William's dear friend, Tyler. And so, the story of Carissa and Tyler begin. Faced with past issues of love and life, as well as the kidnapping of Carissa, Patterson's characters continue forth on their spiritual and personal journeys.

I truly enjoyed The Land of the Lone Star series and if I had to pick a favorite book of the three it would be Taming the Wind. Patterson's characters' personalities make her novels a delight to read as many authors' characters are lackluster. I especially liked Patterson's series due to its setting in Texas; as her writing created visual imagery of an antebellum Texas as I had never imagined.

Readers, if you're looking for something new to add to your shelf or
e-reader, than I encourage you to delve into The Land of the Lone Star.

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie's Web site at www.traciepeterson.com



You may purchase a copy of Touching the Sky here. Read an excerpt here.
You may purchase a copy of Taming the Wind here. Read an excerpt here.

For a brief review of Chasing the Sun, please visit this link.

{I was provided a copy of both books for exchange for a review by the publishing house, Bethany House.}



2012 Fall Festivals Across Texas

The cool breeze coupled with leaves turning yellow signals Fall is quickly approaching. Although, it won't be official until September 22 (only 3 days away!), I can hardly wait to begin gathering pumpkins and gourds for decoration.

Among my favorite fall activities, I especially enjoy partaking in festivals and events throughout the state. Here are a few of Texas' most popular Fall events:

The Pecan Street Fall Festival held in Austin September 29th and 30th, is a free, family event. The festival is the oldest and largest art festival in Central Texas, attracting over 300,000 people. Located on 6th Street (originally named Pecan) in the heart of Austin, festival goers can enjoy music, artisans, and much more.



For an adult get-away, search no further for the Gruene Music and Wine Fest should be exactly what you're looking for! Held October 4th through the 7th, Texans come together to enjoy great music, a spectacular wine tasting, and to help raise funds for United Way. Musical Headliners include Clint Black and Pat Green. Please visit this link for tickets.

A historical event, the Come and Take it celebration is held in Gonzales every year. This year's event will be October 5th through the 7th. The festival celebrates the firing of the first shot of the Texas revolution on Oct. 2, 1835, which took place near Gonzales.

The East Texas Yamboree held in Gilmer October 18th through the 20th features daily activities and nightly entertainment. As one of Texas' oldest running festivals, the Yamboree has it all: a Queen's Coronation, a Livestock Show, dances, music, a parade, a quilt show, a yam-pie eating contest, arts & crafts, a 5K, and lots more! Prices vary for different events so check out the website link.

Another popular East Texas event in the annual Texas Rose Festival. This annual event includes a Parade of Roses, the Queen's Coronation held at the Cowen Center, a Queen's Tea (free and open to the public), strolls through the Rose Garden, arts & crafts, floral shows, and much more. This elegant event attracts thousands every year. Held October 18th through the 21st, this year's theme revolves around Indochina : Year of the Dragon.




The Hot Pepper Festival held in Palestine on October 27th is a free, family event in East Texas. The Pepper Party will includes a parade themed “Back to the Pepper,” a bar-b-que and chili cook-off, salsa making contest, pepper eating contest, kid’s zone, arts and crafts, unique foods, and an awesome Texas Country music line-up; all with a county fair feel.

The Depot Museum in Henderson holds an annual Heritage Syrup Festival in which attendees learn how to make syrup, as well as view other folk artisans demonstrations such as basket weaving, spinning, blacksmithing, printing, rope making, and more. The festival also includes traditional folk music and arts & crafts on the Museum grounds. This event is held on November 10th.

A personal favorite, the Texas Renaissance Festival runs October 6th through November 25th from 9am to 8pm, weekends; school days are also offered in November. This is an amazing festival full of costumes, shows, jousting, amazing food, vendors, and more - in fact, it's too much to list! Please visit the website link for more information.



Monday, September 17, 2012

Cooking with Children :: Lynn's Cookie Bars



This morning, my youngest wanted to bake a treat for him and his brother to enjoy throughout the afternoon. I was pretty busy helping my eldest with school work and working on a few of my own projects, but, never one to stifle a want-to, I caved.

He found a cake mix and was already pulling items needed to make butter cream icing, when I remembered a very easy and most appetizing recipe ~ Lynn's Cookie Bars. Besides being absolutely delicious, this recipe is simple and requires very little adult supervision (with the exception of cooking the bars).

I pulled out the recipe card from my files and off he went! If you'd like to make these too, here's what you'll need:

1 box cake mix (any kind will work)
1 stick of butter, melted (I didn't say these were healthy, just easy!)
1 egg
about 2 Tbsp. water (maybe a little more if too thick)
and any goodies you would like to add (nuts, chocolate chips, etc)

First, open the cake mix and pour it into a medium sized bowl. Add the egg, the melted butter, and the water. Mix until it is all combined. If the mix is too thick add about 1/2 tsp more of water and mix again.

Choose whichever goodies you'd like to add into your bars. My youngest choose chocolate chips which complimented his vanilla cake mix quite well. Mix again.

Prep a baking dish with cooking spray and then evenly distribute the cookie bar mixture across the pan. Cook at 350 degrees for approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Allow them to cool, then cut into bars. Serve.

My youngest thought this was a great recipe. I thought it was great because of the minimal clean-up and time to "make" something.

I've made Lynn's Cookie Bars in the past for bake sales, pot lucks, and Christmas snacks, but they are fantastic anytime. Enjoy!

Weekly Goals :: 9/17 - 9/23/2012

Last week I posted a few of my weekly goals. I've crossed out some and added new ones to the goal list. Did you get your goals accomplished? Did you set new ones?



Weekly Goals 9/10 - 9/16/2012

Home:
1. Rearrange youngest's bedroom
2. Hang bulletin boards
3. Begin working on tool box to craft box conversion
4. Weekly chores
5. Reorganize back patio

Family:
1. Kids to 4H meeting
2. Field Trip to Newspaper
3. Eldest to Music Ensemble
4. Mail out Thank You note
5. Update clothing sizes in homemaking notebook
6. Check on the status of the boys' fall wardrobe

Volunteer:
1. Create harvest schedule for garden
2. Create a nature study sheet for jmg class
3. Out of This World Meeting

Personal:
1. Read, read, read!
2. Create Fall treats list
3. Start exercising with Jake in the mornings

Weekly Goals 9/17 - 9/23/2012

It's rained a lot this past week and it is still raining this morning. I'm not sure what it is about the rain and changing seasons that makes me want to read stories and sip cocoa, but it definitely makes it difficult to cross off the to-do list. Maybe I should jot down 'drink cocoa and read.' : )

Last Friday was really eventful for me and the boys. I think the best part of the day, though, was taking flowers to the nursing home. Our Junior Master Gardener program will start this as our continuing community service program and I can't wait to see the kids and the elderly interact!

Here's this week's not too crazy list!

Home:
1. Hang bulletin boards
2. Begin working on tool box to craft box conversion
3. Reorganize back patio - I'm also dreaming about lawn furniture and lighting...

Family:
1. Kids: 4H meeting, Church, JMG Class, Music Ensemble, Theatre Class
2. Quick Date night with Jake
3. Update clothing sizes in homemaking notebook
4. Check on the status of the boys' fall wardrobe

Community Service:
1. Teach the JMG class
2. LongviewWOW's Out of This World event (Saturday!)

Personal:
1. Drink cocoa and read : )

Friday, September 14, 2012

Dare to Dye :: Clairol's New Nice & Easy Review

Nice 'n Easy with Color Blend Technology

After recently being selected by Vocal Point and Clairol to try the new Nice & Easy Non-Permanent Hair Dye, I immediately reached out to my friends. I posted a Dare to Dye Challenge on Facebook and quickly received a response from my friend Carrie.

Carrie is a young homemaker who is homeschooling 3 of her 4 children. She's a busy lady taking care of her household. She is also like the majority of us Moms - slightly greying. Carrie has dyed her hair in the past using various hair products and was eager to try Clairol's new Nice & Easy Non-Permanent Hair Dye. When our schedules finally meshed, we had a dye date!

I had Carrie pick up the dye prior to me coming over; she ended up selecting a Golden Brown hue to help fade the grey away. Now, dying hair is no easy task with 6 children running around (I brought my two along), but we managed to get the job done!

First, I read through the directions to make sure I properly applied the dye. Wearing gloves, I mixed the two agents together to proof the dye. I must admit, I did bring my own gloves because I am not fond of the gloves provided in most dye kits.

What I loved the most about this particular dye was how nice and easy (no pun intended) it was to apply. The color did not stain my gloves nor did it have an awful smell. In fact, the smell was very pleasant, which says a lot considering I am very sensitive to smells. I also enjoyed how creamy the dye appeared to be. It made Carrie's hair extremely soft.

Once the dye had been applied, the two of us talked while we waited for the rinse. After about 15 minutes, we were ready. Rinsing was a little difficult. Where the dye was most concentrated needed extra scrubbing. After about seven to eight minutes, I finally had her hair rinsed. One of the best features of this product is that it did not stain any part of Carrie's skin - not her scalp nor her forehead.

The dye kit also came with a great conditioner to give Carrie's hair silkiness and shine. When we had finished with the entire dye process, Carrie blow-dried the roots of her hair for my after photo.

While Clairol's new Nice & Easy Non-Permanent Hair Dye did not completely cover the grey hairs, it did highlight them and give them a more natural look allowing them to blend in to Carrie's dark brown hair.
I saw Carrie the next day at the park with all of her hair completely dried and styled. It had a sun kissed appearance and looked fantastic!



Before

After
Clairol's new Nice & Easy Non-Permanent Hair Dye is expected to last for up to 28 shampoos. Clairol insists their exclusive Color Blend Technology,  layers tones and highlights to enhance the natural variations in your hair, for a shade that's true to you. This product can be found at a retailer near you!

A special Thank You to Carrie for allowing me to blog about our experience!

{This product was provided to me via Vocal Point and Clairol in return for a product review.}

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Staying Organized :: The Travel Binder



This summer, our family took a trip to Destin, Florida. A couple of weeks before we left, I created a travel binder which enabled me to keep our trip information organized.

Using a three-ring binder, I added simple dividers for an easy way to search through various information pertaining to the trip. I used what I had on hand for this project. If you wanted to make your binder cute and eye-appealing, a quick trip to Office Depot or Target might do the trick.

I placed a few sheet protectors behind each divider. By doing so, I ensured our trip's important information would not get ruined by accidental spills, rain, or the occasional child. I even included a sheet protector for pamphlets and maps we picked up along the way to better assist me in next year's plans.

The information I felt I needed to have on hand included the itinerary, reservation confirmations, directions to specific stops, any coupons or Groupons, our trip budget, etc.

I personally like including a "pack" list when I travel, especially when we camp. This ensures our family returns home with everything we brought and nothing gets left behind. The "pack" list became a standard feature to the travel binder after one trip to the Shenandoah Mountains in October. It was freezing and we didn't have the use of our cook stove as I had left a key piece behind.

During the trip, I made notations in the travel binder regarding clean bathrooms and great service at restaurants. I also like to list anything we've learned from the "locals" along the way so I don't forget for the next year.

A friend adds printable games to her travel binder for her children when they get bored. By placing the games in a sheet protector, they can be played over and over again when using a dry erase marker.

A travel binder is a useful tool and a great way to organize all of the stuff you need for your next vacation. If your family takes multiple vacations throughout the year, simply empty the contents of the travel binder into a file folder until you need it again.

Do you make a travel binder for your family vacations? If so, what else do you include in it?

Monday, September 10, 2012

Weekly Goals :: 9/10 - 9/16/2012

Last week I posted a few of my weekly goals. I've crossed out some and added new ones to the goal list. Did you get your goals accomplished? Did you set new ones?



Weekly Goals 9/3/ - 9/9/2012

Home:
1. Get the rose bed weeded
2. Clean out the gutters
3. Place older toys in the attic, the boys aren't ready to part with them yet!
4. Reorganize master bathroom cabinets

Family:
1. Reorganize youngest's room - We still haven't discovered the optimal organizing strategy for him
2. Set up a LEGO instructions binder for boys
3. Prep for Little Lego Club
4. Register youngest for theatre class
5. Complete second week of school

Volunteering:
1. Teach JMG class - The class was cancelled due to too much fun!
2. Complete group liability form
3. Finalize donation with Panera

Personal:
1. Write up weekly blog articles
2. Get in a nap this week
3. Continue reading Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson
4. Dye friend's hair for upcoming blog article
5. Test out a souffle recipe

Weekly Goals 9/10 - 9/16/2012

Home:
1. Rearrange eldest's bedroom
2. Hang bulletin boards
3. Begin working on tool box to craft box conversion
4. Weekly chores
5. Reorganize back patio

Family:
1. Kids to 4H meeting
2. Field Trip to Newspaper
3. Eldest to Music Ensemble
4. Mail out Thank You note
5. Update clothing sizes in homemaking notebook
6. Check on the status of the boys' fall wardrobe

Volunteer:
1. Create harvest schedule for garden
2. Create a nature study sheet for jmg class
3. Out of This World Meeting

Personal:
1. Read, read, read!
2. Create Fall treats list
3. Start exercising with Jake in the mornings

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Gardening :: How to Properly Care for Garden Tools

If you work in your garden, eventually you will find your garden tools are covered in soil, clay, or garden debris. It is important to properly clean your garden tools after use as to avoid rust and to prolong life of the tool.

My bulb planter was exceptionally dirty - in fact, it was caked with clay and needed a fair amount of cleaning.

 
Using a water hose with a high pressure nozzle, knock off the excess soil on the inside and outside of your tool (shovel, spade, hand rake, etc).

 
Once rinsed clean, dry your tool with an old rag as there will still be soil residue present. Then, using the rag, rub a small amount of the oil onto your tool. Make sure to also oil any wooden parts to keep them from cracking.

 
In the end, you will be left with a clean and shiny garden tool that will continue to perform as it should.



Monday, September 3, 2012

Simple Living :: DIY Microwave Popcorn

 

Our little household goes through popcorn like there is no tomorrow! My husband, Jake, can't stand the stuff, but the boys and I love it. After trying to find ways to cut our grocery budget, I realized we were spending $10 to $12 a month just on popcorn. Wow! (Hi, I'm Michelle, and I'm a popcorn addict.)

At the last park day, I asked the question about do it yourself popcorn. One friend suggested the Whirly Pop, which is a neat stove-top popper; another suggested making your own microwave bags. Since I was quite ready to purchase a Whirly Pop, I opted for trying it on my own method first.

Here's how to make your own DIY Microwave Popcorn:

Using a brown paper lunch bag, spray a little non-stick cooking spray inside. I like to use Trader Joe's Olive Oil Spray. Add 1/3 cup popcorn kernels and fold over the edge of the bag twice. Lay the bag on its side inside your microwave.

 
I used our microwave's popcorn setting, which is about three and a half minutes. However, everyone's microwave is different, so please watch your popcorn closely and when the popping slows stop the microwave. We don't want any fires!

When opening your brown paper bag full of yummy popcorn, be careful as the steam will be hot! You can season the popcorn to your individual taste or eat Au natural.

 
The boys love sea salt and Parmesan cheese as toppings!

Since this began as a way to help lower my monthly grocery budget, I wanted to give you a cost breakdown for this project.

1 - 2lb bag of popcorn = $2.89
1 - 50 count of brown paper sacks = $1.29

Using 1/3 cup of popcorn, I can make about 20 bags of microwave popcorn. Each bag would cost me only 15 cents to produce in comparison to the minimum of $1 per bag I had been paying. That's a huge savings! I mean, its not going to build our retirement, but every penny counts. Plus, this is an EASY way to save and it really is a simple process.

What flavor combinations do you use on your popcorn? My boys are dying to try some new flavors!

Weekly Goals :: 9/3-9/9/2012

Last week I posted a few of my weekly goals. I've crossed out and added to the goal list. Did you get your goals accomplished? Did you set new ones?



Weekly Goals for 8/27 - 9/2/2012

Home:
1. Get the rose bed weeded
2. Clean out the gutters
3. Weekly chores
4. Place older toys in the attic, the boys aren't ready to part with them yet!
5. Plan menu for next two weeks

Family:
1. Use coins from the Date Night jar to go on a date with my husband!
2. Complete our first week of the new school year
3. Take the boys to a 4H Shooting Sports meeting
4. Take eldest to Music Ensemble practice
5. Reorganize youngest's room - We still haven't discovered the optimal organizing strategy for him
6. Set up a LEGO instructions binder for boys

Volunteering:
1. Complete 4H One Day set-up
2. Deliver signage for LongviewWOW
3. Homeschool group items
4. Take a meal to church friends
5. Work on grants for JMG project: greenhouse and garden
6. Continue prepping and planting the JMG garden

Personal:
1. Meet my weekly workout goals
2. Continue reading Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson
3. Organize my school binder and cabinets

I really felt I got a lot accomplished last week until I read over this list today to update it for this week. I missed out on a lot! Hopefully, everything that isn't crossed off can move to this week and we'll conquer it all!

Weekly Goals 9/3/ - 9/9/2012

Home:
1. Get the rose bed weeded
2. Clean out the gutters
3. Place older toys in the attic, the boys aren't ready to part with them yet!
4. Reorganize master bathroom cabinets

Family:
1.  Reorganize youngest's room - We still haven't discovered the optimal organizing strategy for him
2. Set up a LEGO instructions binder for boys
3. Prep for Little Lego Club
4. Register youngest for theatre class
5. Complete second week of school

Volunteering:
1. Teach JMG class
2. Complete group liability form
3. Finalize donation with Panera

Personal:
1. Write up weekly blog articles
2. Get in a nap this week
3. Continue reading Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson
4. Dye friend's hair for upcoming blog article
5. Test out a souffle recipe

Here's to hoping I get more things crossed off of this week's list!