Blitz-It Friday # 7 survival blitz

Hey! It's time to blitz-it again. For those of you who are just blitzing for the first time, here are some great starting points.

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Originally, I wrote about the one hour blitz and staying focused.

You can choose any length of time to work and any type of chores to work on.  Basically, I am just trying to challenge my own ability to focus and be productive in the home.  You can join in the fun--it's easy!

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What I did this week:

This is one of those crazy weeks where I had the food purchased, planned and organized, but not enough time to be productive in the kitchen! What I did manage to cook left a huge wake in the culinary sea!  Rather than shovel all my dishes into the trash can, I decided to blitz the kitchen! 

 The last few weeks of school for co-oping homeschoolers is... nuts!!  So, while my kids were helping each other finish up their projects and homework for the co-op expose' "A Night at the Museum", I was trying to figure out how they were going to eat and transport themselves to the various activities without loosing a child or chipping a tooth.. Oh wait! The tooth was chipped this morning by a child who fell in the shower. So, add an emergency trip to the dentist in with the various things, and you've got our life. This sort of life leaves you with a messy house, as some of you may know!

So, I set the timer for an hour hoping to make a dent!

In one hour:

loaded dishwasher and ran it

handwashed everything

started a batch of black beans in the pressure cooker

put a load of dishrags in the washer/ ran load

swept and mopped the floor

turned off beans, let cool

and five minutes left:

folded a batch of towels and put them away!  

So, then I waited for my hubby to get home, and we had a light dinner of black beans, cheese, salsa and organic blue corn chips--yummy.  

So, let's link up and show off 'yer stuff

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Having guests over for dinner part 3

It just goes to prove the necessity of having a blog before you write the book, not that I'm actually writing a book or anything.  But IF I were to ever write a book on hospitality, I'll be glad I had this blog and the feedback through comments ahead of time!  

For example, in my last post, I took a guess and suggested a list of guests from: easiest to hardest.  All I can say is: thank you my gracious and honest readers for telling me how you felt! 

What I misjudged was the perception of who is easy and who is hard.  I was thinking in terms of physical preparation and chaos as a "hard" things; whereas, my dear readers seem to think of making conversations with people who are not at the same stage of life as they are as a "hard" thing.  Correct?  

So, if you are a social animal, like me, you don't think twice about making a conversation with your pet rock, let alone a human being--of any stage of life.  But.. dealing with 3 extra high chairs or an extra baby gate is more difficult.

If you are an introvert, there's no amount of preparation and moving of chairs and such that can compare with the anxiety of trying to make conversation with someone new, correct?  

So, with that in mind, I'm not going to tell you who or what is difficult, I'm just going to come up with a list of various types of guests and what you might potentially expect, physically and socially.  

So, where shall we start?  

If I have this correct, the EASIEST guest are those with whom you share a lot in common with naturally--same age, same stage of life, and same beliefs.  

So, let's say you are 20-30ish, have a few children, are a Christian family and homeschool.  You want to have another family over with basically the same standards/ lifestyle.   (Now, I realize that many of my readers may not be in this exact category, but the rules are basically the same)

PHYSICAL CONCERNS: 

1)FOOD:  With anyone you have over, you should ask about food allergies and preferences.  It can cause a lot of anxiety for parents of allergic children to wonder if there's going to be a peanut in something.  Also, ask if there's anything that the children or adults do not like.  

I once had a family over and made a nice big turkey, only to find out they couldn't stand turkey.

2) SEATING: Some people are fine holding baby on their laps, but others would prefer a high chair or booster seat.  Basically, try to find out what they prefer for their children and do accordingly.  If you do not approve of their choices (letting them be picky eaters or sitting on laps or whatever), this is not the time to bring it up--just be accommodating.  

I have not so fond memories of being berated by a hostess for letting my children not finish every morsel of food on their plate.  It's not something we practice at home, how can I expect it to be done when we're out?  

3) ENTERTAINMENT: Make sure to ask the parents if movie or activity xyz is permissible. It's better to have a few activities planned than to wait until chaos erupts and THEN try to think of something.  Keep the kids out of the bedrooms. If they have to play there, keep a close eye on everyone and the door open at all times.   It's nice to have the kids in the general vicinity than to try "find them" later on.   If you are a real control freak (like me), you'll insist that the guest children help clean up the messy areas before a movie or dessert or whatever. 

I have rules about my piano.  We have a very expensive piano that sits openly in the livingvroom. I tell the children that they are not to just walk by and plunk it whenever they feel like it.  If they are going to sit properly and play a song, that is permissible.  But just don't hit a key every time you walk into the room.  Kids do obey the rules, but you have to give them out right away with the parents listening in. 

So, now that the kids are happy, let's talk about adult conversation.  If your purpose is to have people over for Christian hospitality, we should try to include the Lord a little bit, don't you think?  

CONVERSATION STARTERS: You may need to prep yourself and/or your husband with a hand full of good starters.  Basically, We try to keep the first visit with someone we don't know very well very light and upbeat.  Even if you do know someone pretty well, small talk is a nice way to start.

For the man to the man:  "So, where do you work?" or "What got you interested in becoming a..   xyz ?"  

For the woman to the woman: "So, tell me about your children.."  or "Do you enjoy.. cooking, crafting.. gardening.. home business.. etc.?"  

These conversations are nice to have while the dinner preparations are being finished over a beverage.  I usually serve water to guests when they arrive.  I might have some chips or other appetizers if I know the dinner preparations take a while.  If the children have cups with their names already on them, their parents can help them get some water also.  

If things are going well, you may want to exchange testimonies and things you enjoy in common.

So, how did you get saved?  or What made you decide to homeschool? or really anything that comes up except for a few things like these:

WHAT NOT TO TALK ABOUT:

1) how much money you make or do not make, and why would anyone think to ask??

2) your sex life and how great or not great it is.. duh..

3) your birth experience and all the gory details of your episiotomy 

4) your sales pitch to get them to join the latest MLM or business adventure

5) how lame someone else is (who is not there).. gossip

6) how lame your spouse is--when he or she is sitting right there!

7) anything negative or critical about their church or beliefs.. this is not the place or time!

8) anything at all that you see as a difference and hammer away at it until you've won the argument.. 

Why not talk about these things?  First of all, I am playing it safe and saying that the purpose of your visit is for mutual edifying, and I see all of these as very negative in their outcome.  Now, if you go to someone's house for the specific reason for counseling on a particular topic, then of course you can talk about it.  

I can still remember my dear husband looking slightly green after hearing the details of a graphic birth story from someone promoting natural childbirth at our dinner table.  Afterwards he asked me, "Does everyone talk about that stuff in mixed company??"  Then again, I'm probably guilty of the same thing--only I make it into a funny story, minus the blood and guts.  

In effect, know your audience.  I'm sure I've broken every rule up there, but you don't need to! 

Hope this helps you to feel more relaxed about having a hospitality adventure!  

For the list of my hospitality posts, look here: high brow thoughts

This works for Me! For more works for me: We are that family.

Singing in the home

So, what makes my home sing?  Well, I like to sing.  I really do.  I may not be this gal: 

but she is such an inspiration, don't you think?  

She is described as a "church worker" from "the village" before she got famous overnight on Britain's got Talent, reality show.  She's so cute.  

I think what makes our home sing is just the ability to rejoice in super small things.  When I get all wrapped around the axle over stuff.. just stuff.. that won't matter too much down the road in a couple of years.. and then I wonder..

What was it that kept this little church worker (Susan Boyle) singing.. ?  Did she even sing in her church or was she just filing papers or something?  Maybe she was singing to the Lord all those years while answering the phone or cleaning the toilets?    I hope I can just keep singing to the Lord too... little organizing mommy who writes about how much fun it is to do one hour's worth of housework??  or make green pasta  or laugh at the most recent new best friend incident?  

Yes, I think I can.  I can keep singing.. here in my little world.  Read more singing homes at Moms the Word.

Menu plan and frugality example

Hey everybody!  This is my cute Mom, Judy.  She was here for a visit a few weeks ago, and she has agreed to be a regular guest here on organized everyday.  One of Mom's things that she does well is practical frugality.  She's wearing a free suit and holding up a great deal that she got from the Goodwill.  

When you look at my Mom, you don't think, "now there's a bargain hunter".. actually, you think just the opposite.  Mom never wears stained clothing or anything with a button missing.  Nothing gapes or hangs weird.  She looks classy, crisp and put together and great all the time.  So, let's learn from her, girls.  

So, Mom, when you think of saving money, what do you think of?

I think about needs versus wants.  My needs are: food, clothing, shelter, transportation.  In terms of wants, I think long term.  I think of delayed gratification, instead of instant gratification.   I saved up for a sewing machine or going to Disney.

that was fun, Mom.  How do you learn to stop being impulsive?

I ask myself: do I really need it?  The answer is always going to be: NO.

Is it always: NO?

Well, it has to be a part of the plan.  My needs are as simple as: I want to wear a white T-shirt to exercise class.  I have yellow stains in the armpits of my current shirt.  So, I go to the Goodwill and find something on the half-price rack.  (picture above)  It was $1.99.  I HAD to have a white  T-shirts to go with all of my other cute exercise outfits.

Like this one?

Yes, that was another good deal.  But just because something is cheap or free does not mean you do not take care of it.  Don't use bleach on it or scrub the floor on your hands and knees in your good free stuff.  

Did you always shop at thrift stores or second hand shops?

No, you talked me into it!  When I was working, I shopped at regular stores.  Now that I'm retired, I have more time to go to the thrift stores.

So, you are into coupons, aren't you?

Yes, coupons are an investment of time.  But I would plan my menu around the coupons and store specials.  

How much extra time does that take?

About 2 cups of coffee.  I measure time in coffee, you know.  I'm not a list writer.  If I wrote lists, that would help.  

Back to shopping.. how do you keep yourself disciplined when you are out?

My car and I have a deal.  If you have no money, you don't go.  no plastic.  

Do you ever shop retail?

coupon only.. 75% off and the senior citizen discount.  

Are you REally a senior citizen?

Your mother is 63, going on 64.  Senior discounts sometimes start at 55.  

Do you remember anything from your childhood that shaped a frugal mindset?

In the year 1959, my parents were traveling a lot and my grandmother would stay with us (three children).  She could get three meals out of one chicken.  The first meal was a roast chicken.  Each child got ONE piece, a lot of potatoes and vegetables.  The second meal was from cubed chicken: chicken a la king.  And the third meal was Chicken Napoleon (made from the bony parts.. boneparte)  It was a chicken soup with dumplings.  

Wow!  Thanks Mom for those great tips!  I think I'll incriminate myself by revealing my

 not-so-frugal menu plan.  But I AM inspired.   I am on week 2 of this fabulous/ no fuss menu planning resource from eco-busters.  

Menu for the week: 

Friday: grilled burgers, fries, fruit salad

Sat: pizza

Sunday: Thai pineapple rice

Monday: Ritz chicken casserole

Tuesday: corn chowder OR clean out the fridge soup

Wednesday: chicken lasagna, fumi salad

Thursday: Southwest chicken and rice 

for more menu planning: organizing junkie's MPM

So why is my underwear binding anyway?

So, I'm a little uptight, high strung, type A, whatever you want to call it.. and yes, I think, at times, my underwear binds.  

I've come to the strange realization that everyone who has these tendencies (including myself) can't seem to come to grips with the facts that others, particularly the children of aforementioned  individual, are not really interested in becoming their mother.  They, in fact, want to be themselves.  

Not my children, mind you.  nooooooooo.  

Someone else's children.  Someone else's children really do not get uptight when homework is late or not turned in at all.  Nor do they seem to get nervous when they may fail British Lit and not be able to register for classes for their senior year of high school.  After all, these sorts of people get into college based on their good looks, right?  Or perhaps their are specific colleges for people who do not wear tight underwear?  The boxer-shorts college of underachievers.  Come here where everybody's homework is great, even if it's late.  

Good.  I'm hoping that the recruiter for boxer shorts colleges of underachievers will saunter up to my door and hand us an application because no one around here is too uptight about it either way.  

Blitz-It Friday # 6

Hey! It's time to blitz-it again. For those of you who are just blitzing for the first time, here are some great starting points.

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Originally, I wrote about the one hour blitz and staying focused.

You can choose any length of time to work and any type of chores to work on. Not everyone has the physical stamina to "stay in the air" for an entire hour. Not to worry. You can make it a 10 minute blitz, every day for a week. (Hey that's 70 minutes!)

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So, this is "recovery week" for us.  We arrived on Monday at dinnertime.  Since we had exhausted ourselves on restaurant food during the week, I opted to cook, despite my dear husband's offer to eat out again.   So, we got the stuff in but not put away.  

The next day is Tuesday--our big co-op school day.  We made it out the door, at least those who weren't sick, and went to classes.  So, I didn't even start working on the Mt. Laundry until Wednesday.  

I don't know about you, but sometimes the blitz goes really fast, and I get a lot done.  This week everything went VERY slowly.  What I am about to report is not that impressive, in the sense of getting a lot done in a short period of time.  But I hope you, like me, rejoice in any form of work getting done in any length of time--especially when you are feeling tired!

It took two hours.  Instead of starting the laundry, I put all of the dirty clothes in the hallway and then took all of the clothes out of the closet.  Since I have a ton of clothes out anyway, why not change the summer/ spring clothes over?  So, here we are: summer clothes ready to roll.

summer shoes updated too!

Here's a bag of stuff that is being donated.  (It even left the house today!) Yeah!!  

So, just the sorting and moving of clothes took a 2 hour blitz.

Today, I did a one hour blitz folding the 5 +loads and putting them away, and getting the extra furniture moved out of the bedroom for the free Kirby shampooing.. (and free sales pitch) but We didn't buy!  I am still shocked at that. Here's the bedroom with the laundry put away and just the bed in the room...

Hey?  Who's that sleeping in my bed? 

So, let's link up and show off 'yer stuff

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Just a Meal Please, part 2

This is the fifth of many hospitality posts.  We are talking about hospitality in a series, if you are just joining us here are the previous thoughts on this issue.

Hospitality: a new series part 1

Hospitality, a mark of a gracious Christian part 2

Hospitality: just a meal, please part 1

In our previous post, all we talked about was getting an extra table and chairs to have people over for a meal.  What next?

Who should we start with?  My advice is this: start with someone easy.  An older couple with no kids at home is a great place to start!  Some couple who is about the age of your parents are going to be especially easy to entertain for one meal.  Here's why: They will actually probably help you out and give you encouragement along the way.  I have personally learned so much from the guests we have had in our home, while they taught us (indirectly) how to be a host and hostess.  I'm sure they had to veil their glory in order to make it look like we were serving them.  

Here is the progression of guests from easiest to hardest:

1. couple (older) with no children or health concerns

2. single person

3. couple your own age (no children)

4. couple with older children

5. older (infirm) couple or special needs

6. younger couple with children (small amount)

7. younger couple with many children

8. any amount of children in more than one family

9. any combination of anyone...

This is my opinion.  Your list may be different than mine also.  I've listed it this way so you can work up the scale from easiest to hardest.  Once you've gained confidence in one area, it is easier to go to the next level.  

What to serve for dinner: The actual dish itself isn't as important as the way you feel cooking it.  If you are going to be completely stressed out over the details of cooking, it is just better to have something simple, tasty and well rehearsed.  If you are an experienced cook and love trying new things, go for it.  Some people are really dependent on five or six "company foods" that they always serve for guests.  That is fine, if that is what you like to do.  

What do I serve?  Well, I think I have a PHD in "winging it" in the kitchen, and I rarely plan ahead for guests. I usually just serve a bigger quantity of whatever I would make for dinner.  It wasn't always this way.

I usually sat down with the cookbooks and carefully planned out a meal.  I've been doing this non-stop for 18 years now, but my first couple of years were a little more "planned".  The basic idea is this: you should feel comfortable with the food you are serving so you don't need to make endless excuses or apologies for it.  Just smile and serve.  

Things to think about:

1. Ask your guests ahead of time if they have food allergies, likes or dislikes, or any special needs.

2. Set up a time and confirm the time on the day of the meal.  Some people can forget!  Life gets busy, you know. 

3.  Enjoy the meal!  It's good food.  People enjoy a relaxed hostess, so try to enjoy yourself. 

What Works for you? More here at:  

We are that family 

We're HOME!! Yeah!!

So, here he is--Jamie--looking expectantly at the score board to see how his robot did during the match. 

The Georgia Dome was filled with 300 teams for the FIRST Robotics Competition, and our little team with only 8 students and a hand full of mentors was competing with all the big schools from Detroit and all over the world.  As a Mom, I am totally amazed at what these kids are doing.

I must confess that I have not been overly involved with Robotics until this competition.  But I knew that it was a great thing for our children to be involved in, I just never really understood it until seeing the big events.  These kids, parents, teachers, sponsors, and organizers are really trying to make a difference in teaching young people skills, innovative thinking, business practices, creativity, and gracious professionalism.  That sums it up right there--gracious professionalism encompassed everything they did this weekend. 

The most exciting moment was (for our team) was when we were picked by a team to be in the quarter-finals.  It was an honor to be selected for this, even though they did not make it to the semi-finals.  I don't understand enough about robotics strategy to understand why the other robots/ teams did better, but I know that I'm proud of our crew! 

Shawn and Jamie with the robot.

The local Atlanta businesses were very kind to us.  They opened the Georgia Aquarium for the robotics teams for a very reasonable price.  I don't think all 5,000 participants in the Robotics events went to the aquarium, but we did pack it out pretty well. 

Joanna took some wonderful photos.  This is so impressive.  You walk through a tunnel of water with the fish swimming overhead.  It was really great.  Emily loved this part of the vacation. 

While we were in the aquarium, I met a teacher (Brian) with his four students.  If you guys are reading this, HI from us.  It was fun meeting new friends! 

Speaking of new friends, we met a lovely family at a local church we visited.  Here we are with Helen Anne and John in an Italian restaurant for lunch.

Joanna took their little one (Nathanael) and our Emily outside to play and for a photo-shoot while the adults visited.

Thanks so much Jo-jo for the way you serve the Lord!

New best friends..

What a fun trip!!!  

Review of Organizing Supplies by Office Max

If you would like to get organized with your office clutter "straight-a-way" as the Australian native, Peter Walsh says, you need to consider the new line of IN-Place system by Office Max.

Designed by Walsh in conjunction with Office Max, the In-Place system presents a new twist on simplicity.

Clean, simple, versatile are three words that I would use to describe the system.

Read more of the review here: Office Max-In place systems.

Now all the links are up and running!  Now you can click on everything! 

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore..

We arrived home from our big and awesome day at the Robotics competition and the Georgia Aquarium.  Our team, 2039 did fair, but the big championship is tomorrow, if you want to watch the live stream on the website: usfirst.org.  

When we got to our hotel, everybody trudged in and headed up to the room.  I stopped into the bar for refill on my big water bottle.  They know me by now.  I show up several times a day for a refill.  

As I was standing there, I couldn't help but notice two elderly woman chatting over a cocktail.  In a strange sort of way, I thought, how nice that these two ladies have met here for a nice time out.  I can picture my grandma Jo enjoying one of her friends in the same way a few years back.  

But there was something odd about one of the ladies, and I couldn't quite figure it out.  For one, she had an unusually large abdomen, and for two, her upper half seemed sort of protruding and yet hangy at the same time.  The pilates teacher in me said, "she needs a good reformer.. or atleast a senior strength and stretch"  

But then I caught myself volleying between gawking and  general people watching, while I was waiting for my water.  I got my water and noticed there were two other ladies sitting on the couch in the lobby.  I recognized them as robotics moms, so I stopped to chat.  

Just then two other ladies walked in.  They were not quite as lumpy bumpy as the former two in the bar, but they had sort of a squarish quality to them.  Finally I had to say something because that's just the way I am.

Me: "I don't mean to sound critical, but those ladies look kind of unusual."

"Yeah.  except they're not ladies."

Me: "What? You mean none of those lumpy bumpy ladies are really ladies? Are they.. having a convention... here?  at this hotel?  right now?"

"It appears so.. Toto, you are NOT in Kansas anymore."

"Wait a minute! I need to get some tea."  

So, I popped back into the bar,  real natural like.. and asked for some hot tea.  Sure enough, all of Grandma Jo's friends had deep voices and thick fingers.  Some even had slight traces of facial hair.  Forget the bumps.  I think they had more than that under those dresses.  

So, I rush out with my tea and meet the robotics moms in the lounge.  

You're right.  I clicked my red shoes together and zoomed up to my room.  

Wish I had a camera. 

Vacation blitz-it Friday #5: pilates reformer with trainer

Hey! It's time to blitz-it again. For those of you who are just blitzing for the first time, here are some great starting points.

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Originally, I wrote about the one hour blitz and staying focused.

You can choose any length of time to work and any type of chores to work on. Not everyone has the physical stamina to "stay in the air" for an entire hour. Not to worry. You can make it a 10 minute blitz, every day for a week. (Hey that's 70 minutes!)

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My blitz for the week was something special.  I had a chance to take a personal training pilates session on the reformer machine.  Both Will and I did this together, courtesy of my great friend and trainer, Emily Condensa.  She was a fellow pilates teacher with me in Rockford and got me started teaching pilates.  Now she happened to move to Atlanta, so we are reconnecting during the visit!  Yeah!!   The pictures below are courtesy of pilates.com (where I got my training--Balanced Body University)  

So what IS a REFORMER? 

Well, a reformer is a machine that assists with resistance the strengthening of the body with the guided aid of a trainer.  It has springs, pulls, foot straps, headrests.. just about everything for specific issues.  It is often used in conjunction with rehabilitation, but it can be specified for any level of fitness.  

How is it different from a regular pilates class?

It's totally different.  In fact, it's so different that I did not "get it" and was a high maintenance customer (big surprise).  Will, on the other hand, who is a great listener and not such an over-achiever did everything perfectly, once they figured out how to get his 6'2"+ frame on the machine.   I had my ribs up or my legs overly turned out or something weird at any given time.  Finally, Emily said, "Will, I wish you lived here.  It would be great for the other guys to see a man doing this!"  Good for him.  He's good at everything.  

Not me.  I try really hard at everything, and then I'm usually average.  LOL.  When I do "get" whatever it is, I feel pretty happy about it, since I have to work hard for everything.  

So, working on a pilates reformer takes a lot of concentration and focus, so I'm counting it as a blitz.  It's not quite the same as cleaning up the hotel room or something productive.  

So, what sort of blitzing did you hard-working overachievers do? Tell me that your home is sparkling! Tell me that procrastination is being chased away by your eternal optimism and domestic blissdom-ness as well as a little blitzing-motivator!!  Tell me you tried something new and focused on something great for an hour. 

If you need, the blitzing post are directions here.

Let's link up!

We got here!!!

Reporting in from Ellenwood, GA.  We are staying with friends that we met three years ago during a work-related conference.  

I know you'll be insanely disappointed that I didn't throw anyone into a math tither by asking for 2/3 of anything. But, for my high brow readers, I know you'll rejoice to know that I precisely  completed 1/16 of a new knitting thingy.  And I started correcting one of my student's novels (finished apx. 1/12) And I ended up sleeping for about 1/6 of the trip.  And I drove for another 1/6.  

While we were almost here, my eloquent husband started trying out his Georgia-drawl on the fam.  Somehow, I do not think we'll be able to fake it. Accents are not willy nilly.  They are very specific.  They could probably tell that we are not from Kentucky or Nashville or Georgia, even though it would be so fun to talk like that for a day. 

 They will undoubtedly discern that we are from the Land of Lincoln or something north of the Mason-Dixon line.  And then they'll say sweetly, "Sugar, you aint from here.."  

Which reminds me of a funny story.  I have a friend who is a southern belle who married a military man.  Her husband, Rob was a pilot with Will back in our Air Force Days up in upper Michigan  (yoopers).  Rob's wife, Jane, took a teaching job in the local community off the base.  After a while, she realized that nobody understood her, so she tried to modify her speech so they could understand her.  Finally, after a few failed attempts to northernize her accent, the kids finally asked her,

Mrs. Hyde, are you from England?  

No why?

We were just wondering why you talk so funny.  

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Talking funny.... live from Georgia, y'all. 

Tackle it Tuesday: in the car.

So, here we are in St. Louis, visiting our fabulous relatives: Uncle Scott and Aunt Elizabeth and our bosom friends/ cousins: Jon Scott and Katie.  While everyone is relaxing with an action-packed movie next door,  I thought I'd get a little tackle blog in.  

The trip was fun and uneventful--only five hours.  We stopped at a Subway for lunch.  Did you know that our family eats five foot longs?  I guess we were hungry. 

 Somehow, I think the mere presence of our big family makes the servers a little nervous. 

 I may have befuddled my "sandwich artist" when I asked him to put olives and peppers on 2/3 of the sub.  He proceeded to put the items on what looked like 1/3.  So, I corrected him and said 2/3 not 1/3. 

 And then he said, "how about half?"

 Realizing that he had no idea what 2/3 of a sub was, I said, "it's a little more than half. 

 It ended up being 5/8 or so.  Really.  Next time I'll get it right: I'll ask for 9/16!!

I did some knitting on the way here. This is project I started TWO years ago.  I think I gave up when I ran out of yarn.  

Here is the sweater sleeve that I finished in the car.   Yeah!!  

For more tackles, visit: 5 Minutes for Mom.

Up and away to Atlanta!

I won't be posting a menu this week, since I won't be cooking much.  We will be going on a little family trip to Atlanta, GA this week for the World Championship of First Robotics.  

The picture below is the "drive team"

left (Adam, a mentor), Jamie (our son), Shawn, and Joe.

Our daughter Joanna is also on the team.  She's the one with the really long hair in the photo below.  

If you would like to read the article that came out in the Rockford Register Star it is here. 

You've probably noticed that I've stopped calling Jamie "Robotdude" and Joanna "Jo-snazz" because they don't seem to like the nicknames anymore.  I guess if your kids are old enough to be featured in the paper with their full names and pictures, it's probably safe to say that they are old enough to put their first names in their mother's boring blog.  Duh...  

I look forward to traveling to a warmer climate also.  Emily has had her bag packed for several days to quell her "pre-trip anxiety" that we both seem to get.  We have her little outfit laid out, complete with shoes, socks and underwear.  She has her pink "car bag" all filled with her favorite things.  She has no idea where or what Atlanta is except that she is soooooooo excited to go there... typical.  Is she my daughter or what?  

This afternoon I decided to do some "basement sewing".  It's a new hobby of mine, I think.  It's where you go down into the abyss of jumbled up fabric and supplies in the basement and you make something from what is already there.  I can't wait to show you what the project is.  Right now, my mother is helping me repair my basement sewing efforts, since there's a lot of creativity involved.. read (unconventional techniques).  

Oh, and I did almost finish the ULTIMATE gym bag on my Lake Geneva trip.  I'm not quite ready to sign a contract with NIKE yet, but I'll keep you posted. LOL.  

Organizing for Hospitality: just a meal, please!

This post is the third in a series of hospitality posts.

If you would like to read the others: part 1 and part 2 (hospitality, the mark of a gracious Christian.

So, you would like to start showing hospitality?  How do we do that in a very practical way?  

So, let's start with the basics.  Your small house is a mess, and even when it is clean, it's not that great.  You have several little ones hanging from your ankles,  and  you have very little money.  So, am I describing your situation?  

Good.  I thought so.  God likes to do miracles, so the greater the challenge, the more he can prove himself faithful.  If you take the biblical commands of hospitality literally and are determined to do them, then it's God's responsibility to do the providing.  

We do the obeying, and he does the providing.

So let's talk about what God is going to do, and what we need to do.

God provides the people to have over.  

God provides the physical blessings we share with them.

God provides the strength to serve.

God provides the blessings of service.

What we do:

We provide our willingness to share what we have.

We provide our time and resources.

We provide ourselves as a living sacrifice, in service to him.

We provide a good attitude, without grumbling or complaining. 

Now that our attitude is right, just look around your home for creative ways to accommodate for a few more people.  

Tables:

Do you have a card table? Do you have a picnic table? Do you have T.V. trays or other trays?  Do you have a children's play table?  Do you have some lumber or plywood and a tablecloth?

Seating:

Do you have folding chairs? lawn chairs? benches? can some sit on the floor?  

Once you engage in a hospitality mindset, a few things will happen,

1) you will see hospitality uses in almost anything,

2) and people will give you things, 

3) or you will find bargains all around the place.  

4) If you have a decent income, you may find that spending money on improving the home for hospitality will be more important than going on the next expensive vacation.  In other words, your priorities may change, and you may have more income for things like this.

But do not get caught up in the selfish mindset of : if God improves my home, then I will obey him.  That, my friends, is blackmail.  Just obey, and God will provide.  He is a good God, remember?  

I have served a few meals in places that I nicknamed "the sweatshop" (in Panama) and "the bachelor pad" (in Wisconsin)..  No, it wasn't posh, but it didn't change God's basic commands in my mind.  Who would have imagined the nice home that he's provided for us now?  In our 18 years of marriage and hospitality adventures, I have not regretted showing hospitality in our less than spacious places, but it has made it all the sweeter to have what he has provided for us now.  

So far, all we have accomplished is locating a table and some chairs.  I think I've given you  enough to do for one week.  Can you find enough things to have one family over?  O.K. let's just start there.  We'll talk more about food and such next week.

blessings until then.

Our oldest turns 17! Happy Birthday Jamie

So, Jamie, you've been the oldest child of a big family.. any likes or dislikes regarding this position?

Not really.  But you do get more work assigned to you, on the average.  I guess it's kind of cool being the oldest.  

Homeschooling.  What are your thoughts on it?

It's fine.  I like it.  It gives you flexibility.  It gives you a chance for a less cluttered education that you would get at a regular school.

Does it take more/less/ or about the same time as regular schooling?

About the same. 

What's your favorite class and why?

British literature, because it's the most fun.  Mrs. Furness is kind of fun, and some of the assignments are fun.  It's just that she assigns too many.  I don't have any math or science classes this year, so this is a really dumb academic year.

What are your other interests?  

robotics, radio-controlled vehicles, computers and playing outside with friends and family.  

Tell us about robotics.

 Well, we're going to Atlanta next week to compete in the championship.  I'm a driver, as well as team captain for two years.. which is kind of hard.  

Is it stressful being the captain? 

 Yes, sometimes if you are calling meetings and no one can make it.  So now, I only call a meeting if we have stuff to work on.

What role does God play in your life? 

 An integral one.  As the Lord, he deserves all my respect and effort.  

When do read your Bible? 

In the morning, about 5 chapters a day.  

Do you pray? 

 yes, usually, when I think about it. morning, evenings, mealtimes, etc. when I'm really in trouble.

Do you get in trouble a lot? 

no.

Any advice for people who are younger?

Titus 2: 11-13 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.  Teaching us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

You went on a Men's Retreat this week with your father, what was that like?  

It was a great experience, attempting to study the Bible more deeply and meet old and new friends. 

Were there any other young men there? Yes, I saw my friends: Samuel, Daniel, and Joseph.  They were 16-18.  The rest of the men were about 80.

Do you have any special plans to celebrate your special day?  Yes, I am going to Laser-quest with some friends, and then we will come back here and beat my grandma at "Four on the Couch".  

What is four on the couch?

(described by Joanna because Jamie is exasperated with this questioning)

  It's a game played by 8 people, split into two teams.  The game is played in a circle with 9 chairs.  Four of the chairs are designated as the couch.  The goal is to get your team on the couch.  Everyone's name is thrown into a hat, and then the players randomly pick them and that's their name for the game.  They do not tell anyone their name; it's a secret.  With the nine chairs, there's going to be one open chair.  The person to the left of the chair, calls out a name of someone in the group.  The player who picked that name out of the hat, moves to the empty chair.  This leaves a new empty chair.  Then, the person to the left of that empty chair, calls out a name.. and so on.   Also, if a person draws their own name, they keep it.  

As you can see, this is the perfect game for teenagers to prove that they really are smarter than us.  Hence, the adults play also.  

Blitz-It Friday #4

Hey! It's time to blitz-it again. For those of you who are just blitzing for the first time, here are some great starting points.

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Originally, I wrote about the one hour blitz and staying focused.

You can choose any length of time to work and any type of chores to work on. Not everyone has the physical stamina to "stay in the air" for an entire hour. Not to worry. You can make it a 10 minute blitz, every day for a week. (Hey that's 70 minutes!)

---------------------------------------------------

My blitzing for the week:

Today I did a one hour blitz when I got in from Lake Geneva--what a blast, by the way!

So, when I got home, we had the boys bring the suitcases in the house and I

1. brought all the suitcases to the correct rooms

2. put the dirty laundry in the laundry room

3. unpacked all clean laundry and put them away

4. put away all of the clean laundry that my mother did while we were gone

5. put away the cosmetics and bathroom stuff

6. put away the fabric and sewing supplies

7. Made a batch of hummus

(one minute left on timer)...

grabbed a diet coke, put my feet up and had a little hummus and tortilla chips! 

YUM.  And then... only then did I check my email and open the computer!  (self control, or what????)

So, what sort of blitzing did you guys do?  Tell me that your home is sparkling!  Tell me that procrastination is being chased away by your eternal optimism and domestic blissdom-ness as well as a little blitzing-motivator!!  

If you need, the blitzing post are directions here.

Let's link up!

Reporting in from Lake Geneva

I'm here at Lake Geneva Youth Camp with my husband and son, Jamie (Robotdude). All the rest of the kids and grandma are back home in Rockford. What are we doing in Lake Geneva? Other than just having fun, the men have a faithful men's Bible conference, and I'm just tagging along, hanging out. Originally, I was slated to serve food, but there was a miscommunication, so they really don't need us to do anything.

So, I'm here basically without responsibilities for three whole days. I've brought my sewing machine, and I'm working on designing a pattern for the ULTIMATE gym bag. We'll see how ultimate it is when I finish it.

We have a very slow internet connection here, so I may not be blogging much if this does not improve. We'll still blitz on Friday, so get ready for that.

I had to make a difficult decision regarding my tackle it tuesday job with 5 Minutes for Mom. Basically, I'm sort of a dunce, as far as computers go, and I was actually creating work for them by not being able to upload photos on their Wordpress program. So, this is my last week as resident tackler over there. They did not fire me; I just decided to quit and hope they find someone else who is a little more computer-savvy.

But, I will post as a guest tackler as often as they need it. So, that should be fun. Sometimes it feels good to drop a few things from the schedule. This month, I dropped three things. That is amazing for me. My goal is to keep the schedule clear from any new REGULAR committments. I still teach on Tuesdays, and I still teach pilates on Wednesdays and Fridays. But that is it. It feels good to lighten the load.

So, I may be unplugged for a few days, which may not be a bad thing.

Menu plan and a great idea!

For those of you who read organizing blogs, hoping to gain a little insight on your organizing habits, or lack thereof, are just hoping for a little thing:

How can I have more time?  

Well, making dinner, worrying about making dinner and fretting over not having the right stuff to make dinner are huge problems for mommy-bloggers.  I know, I've lived it. 

I've had to remind myself of the basics that I SAID but forgot recently here: getting started with menu planning for the hopelessly confused. 

Here is what I was doing: Plan the menu on Monday,  Put the trash out on Thursday night, AND then shop on Fridays, and again on Monday and pick up stuff on Wednesday too.  

Something about this is not right. Whadda ya think? 

I had this major thought this week.  Are you ready? drum roll pleassssssseeeeeeeeeeee.....

My menu planning week has to start on Friday.  I even photocopied sheets with FRIDAY at the top.  

So, the new plan is: Clean the fridge on Thursday, put the trash out, plan the menu and make the list.  Shop on Friday because I teach pilates right near the grocery store, so I get the groceries while I'm out anyway.  

Applause.. applause.  Send that Mommy to Harvard, I know. 

AND that once a month planning thing is UP and rolling.  So far, it's going well and it's only week 1. I did put a few more hours into tweaking it for my family.  Thanks, Econobusters for the great ideas. 

So, here's the fabulous menu... (they are all going to start with Friday)

Friday: stir fry chicken and veggies with brown rice

Saturday: soup out of leftovers

Sunday: spaghetti and meatballs and homemade pizzas

Monday: smoked chicken and smashed fingerlings

Tuesday: Martha's mac and cheese

Wed: Tacos/ taco salad

Thurs: chili blanco

And since I know most of you only check in once a week when you are planning your menu.

I worked hard on this post: what to do with forwarded emails.  You'll want to forward it to everyone you know. (You'll get the joke when you read it) 

For more great menu ideas, go to org. junkie's MPM.

Recipe: Smashed Fingerlings (potatoes)

Fingerling potatoes are really popular at this time of year.  I was able to find a mixed batch of: red, white and PURPLE potatoes.  They need to be washed and placed in a little water to cook until soft (20 minutes or so)

In a separate pan, saute onions and garlic in real butter, just until softened.  

Put the cooked potatoes in the onion/ butter mixture adding a little milk as needed.  Add salt and pepper to your liking.  Lightly mash.  You want to still feel the texture of of the potatoes, so I give them a half-mashing.

The purple potatoes really make this dish pretty and colorful.

Smashed Fingerlings sounds a little too much like smashed fingers, which does not sound delicious.  You'll have to try them.. might be good with Ham for a nice Easter dinner.

Funniest things of the week

I don't know about you, but if I don't write these things down, I'll forget them!!  So, the funniest thing of the week was said by my four year old, Emily.

Emily: Mommy, I'd really like to go down to the Brown's and play with Amos.

Me: Well honey, Mommy is busy this afternoon.  If Mrs. Brown invites you, you'll have to go by yourself.  Are you comfortable with that?  Jamie will drive you there and pick you up, but you'll be there all by yourself, without mommy or the other kids.

Emily: Well, can I come home when I'm done?

Me: Of course!  (No, you are volunteering to live there for the rest of your life!) 

Emily: O.K. I'll go then.  

(And she did!)  

After giving birth to four introverts, the fifth is definitely our EXTROVERT!! 

Here's another funny thing I found on the internet. It's a hilarious commentary of TWITTER.  (There is one swear word in it that I did not pick up until I listened to it 3 times)  It made me ROFL..  I'm still chuckling about it today.  

Favorite lines: I just TWOTED all about it.

Friends don't just randomly shout things into the darkness! 

And I know you are all dying to say something about my last post about forwarded emails.  You can say it here!!  

Just Delete it!

Here is a form of clutter that I have wanted to write about for a LONG time.

It's a forwarded email.  

Do this one Simple thing:  delete it.

Here's why.

First of all, these forwards are originally started from people you don't know or do not want to know.  They want your entire list of email addresses and other things from your computer. They want to spam you to death.  They want something FROM you.  They are not interested in helping you.  That is the basic motive for starting a forward.  

 They come in many different shapes and sizes and appeal to all sorts of random emotions. Shall we recap all of the crazy ways that people have tried to get you to forward things to your friends?  Can we look logically at all of the things that have been forwarded to us over the years?  

FEAR BASED FORWARDS:

First of all, some high-jacker in Columbia does not want your kidneys.  O.K. ?  If it were medically possible for him to anesthetize you without you knowing it, for the purposes of stealing.. a major organ (like your kidneys) why would he care enough to leave you in a tub of ice water with a phone number to call 911?  If you ever make it to Columbia with all of your organs, I hope you make it back in tact.. or at least stop by Mayo clinic on your way home!

PARANOIA BASED FORWARDS:  

Guess what?  If you do not forward this dumb email, 17 bad things will happen to you in 6 days.. etc. etc.  Who gives a rip?  Chances are 18 or 19 bad things will still happen to you no matter what you do.  You don't need to get all bad-lucky happy over not forwarding an email.. or anything else for that matter.  

EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN FORWARDS:

If you love the person who sent you this, send it back and to all of your friends too.  Sure.  Now the friend who sent it is sitting around wondering if you love them.  Guess what? we call this manipulation.  Don't manipulate your friends or let them manipulate you.  If you love your friend, send them a real greeting.  You can even talk to them in real life.. what a strange concept, I know.

PATRIOTIC FORWARDS:

These are hard for me not to forward, but it's still a forward.  If you love our great nation, forward this patriotic thing.. that wasn't really your idea anyway.  If you want to be patriotic, find a soldier or a vet and befriend them in real life.  That's patriotism. 

HUMOROUS FORWARDS:

You see these cute and funny things that you didn't write?  Aren't they funny?  Then why the obligation to forward them?  

GREED BASED FORWARDS

Here we go again.  Bill Gates is not interested in opening his wallet and dumping it in your lap. Somebody thinks you'll forward things based on greed.  I know these are hard to resist.  They look so real 

AUTHORITATIVE SOUNDING FORWARDS

These are especially popular right now.  You can sound very "smart" to your friends by telling them that someone got cancer from drinking water from a plastic water bottle that was heated up in the car.  If it is reliable, go to a medical source and the information should be documented there also.

WOW FORWARDS

Mr. Rogers was not a Navy Seal and Captain Kangaroo is not a marine, although that would be very interesting and Wow.  Trick photography makes almost anything possible, so you can't trust those wows either.  

There probably are some categories that I have totally forgotten, but I think you get the point.  You are being manipulated. If you want to pass on the information to friends, here's a better idea.

1. Find out if the information is really true. Document your source and be responsible for what goes out of your computer/ email bag.  Let your words be reliable. 

2. Copy the information and put it on a new email.

3. Blind copy everyone that you send it to so everyone's email stays private.

4. Don't suggest that they forward it.  Let it die where it lies.

If you get a lot of forwards from someone, you can send them here to read this post.  

Then you can all start an email-forwarding recovery support group together.

If you are new to blog reading, you copy this address and paste it in the email that you are sending to the person.  

See?  It was so easy to do.

I am closing comments just incase someone is hostile towards this post or they want to tell me that THEIR KIDNEYS REALLY WERE STOLEN!!    AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

Blitz-It Friday #3

Hey! It's time to blitz-it again. For those of you who are just blitzing for the first time, here are some great starting points.

Basically, blitzing is forcing ourselves to focus for a set period of time on hands-on tasks.

Originally, I wrote about the one hour blitz and staying focused. 

You can choose any length of time to work and any type of chores to work on. Not everyone has the physical stamina to "stay in the air" for an entire hour. Not to worry. You can make it a 10 minute blitz, every day for a week. (Hey that's 70 minutes!) 

But I like to do a full 60 minute blitz.  My natural tendency to stop a task is at exactly 19 minutes.  Do you know how I know that?  

When I set my timer for an hour, determined to keep working for that length of time, and I look at my timer when I feel like quitting. It always says: 41 or 44 minutes left!  

Then, you have to bear down and keep working.

It's like working out.  When you first start your workout, you feel like dying at the 5-7 minute point.  If you can make it through that first hurdle, you can easily double or triple your time on the elliptical or tread mill.  

So, the 19 minute point is my testing point.  In my mind, I console myself my saying this,

"We're only doing this for an hour.  One hour and then you can quit.  Just give me ONE HOUR" and I press on.  

I was at the pool this week, determined to swim 10 laps.  I don't love swimming, but I think it's good for me.  I told myself at EVERY LAP that I was going to reward myself with a (carrot-orange zinger: a freshly squeezed juice from the Y CAFE).  Yes, I need EXTERNAL MOTIVATORS TOO.  But it worked.  I did it.  And you can too.  

So, I'll get off my pulpit for a few minutes and show you the progress for the week.

My laundry room.  

Let's just say this.  On some days, I sit wondering what it would be like with a separate laundry room, and a separate mud room and a linen closet.. instead of having them all in the space of a hallway with a family with five children... but on this occasion, I thought I would use it as an opportunity to

1) be content

and 

2) think creatively and resourcefully with what I have

and

3) remind myself that I am not going to the laundromat and all appliances are working.

So, here's the space beforehand:

On the left are the washer and dryer.  On the right are hooks for: drying clothes, gym bags, winter coats and everything else under the sun.

)

In the hour, I removed everything hanging on the hooks and put it into piles on the floor in a different hallway. Most of it had to go in different places of the house, but some of it returned to the laundry room.

Finished!

I also had time to organize the cupboards above the washer/ dryer.

Before:

After: 

and: 

I also had time to refill my spot removal system bucket. I'll have to talk about that later.

I also: took all of the clean clothes out of the room and sorted and folded them

started a new load and got the laundry going

reorganized the cupboard with lightbulb replacements

swept the floor and wiped down the machines!

Yeah!  happy productivity!!  

If you need, the blitzing post are directions here.

Let's link up!