a tradition

Family Dinners

I don’t know how to begin this entry, but I want to give you the background of this {revived} tradition in my family….so here we go. 

{the inspiration}

Last year was an extremely hard year for the Hebert family. My family experienced a traumatic loss of a cousin, Joseph, in December 2012. The truth is 2013 isn’t proving to be any easier without him. Anyone who knows the Hebert family will be able to tell you this is a very special family. Joseph was a vital part of this family and it is an overwhelming challenge to understand how the Heberts move forward now. I think I can safely say that Joe loved his family more than anything in the world, his hugs alone were proof.  

I think when a family experiences a loss like ours has, it sends a shock to your system. It leaves you craving more time with your loved ones, or regretting being “too busy” last time they invited you somewhere. I think we have all promised to not let this happen anymore. We know we can’t realistically all get together every weekend but we do need to get together more than just Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we {the family} decided on a monthly dinner.

{the family}

The Heberts begin with Granny and Grandad and their children and spouses, then on to the grandchildren {the cousins}. As the family has grown up, it has expanded adding members by marriage, relationships, friends who have quickly earned the title “family”, and now one great-grandbaby. This is what I mean when I say “family” dinner…it is so much more than the traditional use of the word family.

{the location}

The cousins grew up in a very tight-knit family spending weekends {or even weeks} at Granny’s house playing in the large yard, building forts in the woods behind the house, even learning to ride their bikes there. It is only natural for our family traditions to still take place at Granny & Grandad’s. Their home is not huge but we manage to fit as many as 30 people in their dining room and living room area.

{the meals}

Once a month we meet at Granny and Grandad’s for a family dinner. It’s a come-if-you-can, no pressure event. Everyone brings something to contribute to the chosen theme for that month. I have tasked myself with being the organizer. I email everyone the date and theme and they reply to all with what they are bringing. I keep a running list and eventually reply-to-all with the menu. This allows everyone the chance to see if we are missing anything and remind them of what they signed up to bring. The day of the family dinner, we all show up with our cooked food and begin the potluck!

{the themes}

I’m a fan of themes or for organized parties in general. My family puts up with my silly themes but I think they keep us organized and help with menu ideas. Starting in January of this year we began choosing themes and planning the menu based on the chosen theme for the month.

January was Mexican food. We had four birthday’s to celebrate too!

February was Chinese food (for Chinese New Year) – one birthday in Feb, but we had to send her a care package cause she lives out of state!

March was Baked Potatoes and all the fixins – two birthdays in March! 

April is planned and will be a barbecue. This is risky because of the weather but we are doing it because we are all eager for summer!

Yes, if you're wondering I already have the themes/ideas for May and June, but I am sparing my wonderful family too many emails in their inbox from me. {I don't want to end up on their blocked lists!}

Now it should be said that the Heberts are all very good cooks, so potlucks are the obvious route for our dinners. If you don’t cook, try ordering something in, make everyone chip in for dinner! The point is, we are all very busy people hustling from one thing to the next, it’s hard enough to find time to sit down to eat dinner let alone with your loved ones. 

I challenge you to get together with your family and friends on a scheduled basis. You’ll be surprised how effortless it becomes. It’s good for the heart!

Organizing with a planner

That's right! You read that title correctly. I'm going old school....

I started the spring semester at college again {9 credit hours}. I joined a club at school {yes, a club}. I put myself in charge of planning family dinners once a month {more on this later}. I have my normal 8-5 job. I'm working on this blog {at least trying to}. I have set a pretty major fitness goal for myself {more on this later too}. Needless to say, I am keeping myself very busy lately. I am making every effort to stay on top of school-work, house-work, work-work, working out, and eating right to avoid getting stressed out.

So my solution for balancing all that I've signed up for, I am using a paper day-planner. Yes, in the days of digital everything, I am using a paper calendar. I still use my iPhone calendar for reminders but I love my written calendar. I see my whole week at a glance with out straining my eyes to see my tiny calendar on my phone. Plus, I enjoy using my color coded ink to keep track of projects and deadlines.

For me, the best way to grasp what my week holds, I sit down and write out my schedule on my calendar. I have always been a fan of calendars and date-books {I know that sounds as nerdy as I think it does}…I just never had enough going on to actually need a calendar/organizer. Well….I’m finally growing into my love {& need} of calendars.

Let me remind you that I am the sister that doesn't have children but my schedule is packed between work, school, blog, working out, and family stuff! Imagine what it will be like when I do have children...

{oh my goodness, that just overwhelmed me out for a second}

Anyway back to the calendar, I am using a new Erin Condren calendar but you can find a lot of really cute, very useful calendars at Target or any office supply store.

I like using different color ink for each area of my life. (this would be a great idea if you have children with their own schedules – a different color ink for each child?) Here is how I have color coordinated mine:

Red – Bills - due dates
Pink – Blog stuff - schedules and ideas
Orange – School - due dates, homework, class times, club meetings
Green – Fitness - work-out schedule
Teal - Personal appointments - hair, doctor, dentist
Blue – Food - meals, grocery needs
Purple – Special events - birthdays, anniversaries, holidays
Black – Work - scheduled meetings, due dates, deadlines

 

The way I see it is even if my schedule is getting full, I find it less daunting to look at a full schedule that is organized and colorful. How do you keep your schedule organized? Am I the only person who color coordinates their schedule? Share your ideas!

Random Acts of Kindness

I’m not sure where I first spotted the phrase “random act of kindness” or "RAOK", but I am seeing it more and more. I love this idea and I am jumping on this train!

In efforts to be completely honest I must admit...I genuinely enjoy doing stuff for people. When people are in need, I want to help them. I like surprising people with random gifts or services. I never finished reading that Five Languages of Love book, but I am pretty sure service or gifts would be my love-language.

I have compiled a small list of ideas that help inspire me to do random acts of kindness. I have divided the ideas into two sections. First a “Service” section which is exactly as it sounds, giving of your time or service just to brighten someone's day or lend a helping hand. Second is the section where it may cost you money, donations, or support in a monetary form. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that your time is not valuable, I just find it easier to divide the list this way. I also have boards on Pinterest devoted to gifts ideas and food gifts. If you are looking for ideas, the possibilities are endless! Here are a few ideas:

Time/service:   

Hold the door open for people - so simple but a kind act.

Allow someone to move in front of you in line - that mom with one item and an upset child.

Allow someone to merge in traffic - sometimes this is hard to do...

Clear snow off someone’s car - the other day after my class an older lady was clearing off her car with no gloves and in heels. I cleared my car and helped her with the other half of hers. It took almost no extra time (my car was warming anyway).

Shovel someone's driveway or sidewalk

Rake leaves

Pick up trash

Return your shopping cart to the store – or someone else’s for them

Compliment people - again, very simple but really could make someone's day

Help someone move

Call a friend or relative to say hi, ask how they are doing

Volunteer - there are so many opportunties to help if you're looking

Write a former teacher a thank you note - I need to do this!

Donate blood

Leave positive feedback on a blog - hint hint.... :)

Support a charity by volunteering/collecting - you can support your favorite charity in more ways than just donating money. You can fundraise for them. My family and I are doing our local Heart Run/Walk at the end of April to raise money for the American Heart Association. (This did cost me $20 entry though.)

Use your talent for good

Donate your time to teach someone your talent

Gifts:

Carepacks for homeless or for your local shelter

Pay for someone’s meal/coffee without them knowing - I've never done this but I really want to!

Thank you cards, gifts, food gifts for military, police officers, fire dept, emt workers, hospital workers. My family made Christmas care packages to thank the nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane for all they did for my husband's cousin.

 

Send a letter/card in the mail to anyone - think about it, we all love to receive mail that isn't a bill.

Adopt a soldier (and family)

Cook a meal for someone

Donate your unused stuff (clothes, toys, other)

Send flowers

Send a care package - I wrote about this one I did for D's family

Thank your mail carrier

Bake someone a cake, cookies, bread

Gift baskets - I am a big fan of gift baskets!

Bring someone a coffee

Leave change on a vending machine

Pay for someone’s groceries

Support a charity by donating money

Sponsor a family for the holidays

Sponsor a child

 

This is obviously not a list of everything you can do to be kind, but it's an idea list. I would love for you to share your ideas! Leave a comment

Thanksgiving care package

 

 

We have all had friends or family (or even ourselves) that have been in the hospital during holidays. I find myself asking "what can I do to help?".  I am obviously not going to do anything to actually help as I have no medical background, but I want to do something, something to show them that they are in my thoughts and prayers. I decided this Thanksgiving to send a care package to my family that has been relocated for some time while my husband's cousin recovers.

I mentioned in my previous post that my husband had been traveling back and forth to Spokane to see his cousin that is in the CICU there. Back in July, Joe went in for a heart surgery to repair his valves. He is in his early 30's and his father had just breezed through a very similar heart surgery and recovery, so we all thought Joe would be in and out of surgery with time to start recovering before his first niece was born at the beginning of August. Things with the surgery didn't go as planned, the doctor here in Alaska didn't expect his heart to have so much damage. To make a very, very long story shorter, he was flown via emergency life-flight to Spokane along with his mom. Since being in Spokane, he has had multiple steps forward followed by terrifying steps backwards. He had a mechanical valve put in his heart because his heart wasn't working, they planned to put him on the heart transplant list as soon as his other organs started coming back on board. We all can only imagine how life altering this could be but we didn't care, our Joe is alive.

Then a miracle happened...his own heart started working again! Even the doctors don't understand how or why but Joe's heart began beating on its own. After a few more scary surgeries, I am happy to report that Joe is on the recovery route again. His own doctor, his biggest cheerleader, says the laws of physics do not apply with in Joe's room in the CICU. More than once during this whole time period we have been able to say, "it's a miracle" or "the power of prayer is amazing!". We continue to pray for his organs to come back on board 100%, and he has a long road ahead of him but we all believe he is headed in the right direction! If you are a praying person, continued prayer for Joe's healing process would be greatly appreciated!!

Anyway, on to the care package. I knew that the family that is with Joe over the holiday would be missing their traditional Hebert Thanksgiving food (oh my goodness, I could go on and on about this family's cooking!). Since I can't pack up Granny's rice dressing or turkey to send to them, I went back to what I know. Desserts. Our family is a fan of fudge, chocolate pies, chocolate cakes...basically most things chocolate. Fudge seemed like the logical choice to send to Washington. So I made the fudge.

 

I gathered other items to add to the box.

 

 

The baby clothes are for Joe's niece who is just 3 1/2 months old. How could I resist these little turkey clothes? There is a little turkey on the bum of the pants...adorable!

 

 

 

I got these free printables from Pizzazzerie to add to the box. I love the coloring of the printables but also the verse. Our family has so much to be thankful for any normal year, but this year even more!

 

 

Using a large flat rate shipping box, I started packing. The fudge is the heaviest and largest, there is some pumpkin bread and chocolate covered pretzels in bags (with raffia to match the printables of course).

 

 

I layered in a box of black tea, more chocolates, the baby clothes (wrapped in tissue), and a card for the family and one for Joe.

 

 

I put the large printable on last so it will be the first thing they see when they open the box.

 

 

This is just a small, inexpensive way of sending some love (in chocolate form) from afar. We love and miss our family dearly! Next Thanksgiving we will be back together again!

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

-Amanda

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda's Fall Resolutions

I know, I've been M.I.A. for a while now. Honestly, I think I underestimated how much school work would go along with the three nights a week classes and working full time. Luckily, my three sisters have been busy blogging away about some really great topics and projects! I have really enjoyed their recent posts, have you checked them out yet? 

To catch you up on the happenings in my life: 

I got a new job! I ended my last job on a Friday and started the new job on the next Monday. I should have planned it where I had a little break in there! I have been at my new job for almost three weeks and am really enjoying the new environment and challenges! 

I am over half-way through my first "real" semester back at college! (I say "real" because I am actually going to classes at the university three nights a week).

My husband, David, has been to Spokane twice to visit his cousin that is in the CICU for major heart surgeries (remind me to tell you more about the amazing miracles this man has been through). 

We've gotten a little further on our kitchen remodel which includes getting a new dishwasher!!

And lets see, what else have I been up to? Oh, I officially started Christmas shopping and Christmas baking planning! I am trying to spread Christmas gifts out over more than just one paycheck this year. 

Anyway, it may not seem like it but we've been busy around here! The first things to start slipping when we are busy is our eating habits (we start eating junk that is quick) and we stop working out.  As a result, I've gained weight which makes me self-conscious and uncomfortable. I've decided to not wait until January 1st to make a resolution. I am making my fall resolutions today! Here are my official fall resolutions:

• Work out - cardio 3 days a week, weights 3 days a week
• Plan healthy meals and stick to it
• Pack my lunches - it is so much cheaper and better for me to bring my lunches to work
• Stay up on my homework - on nights I do not have class I should be working on homework but I make so many excuses to not. 
• Maintain a clean house by doing a little each day
• Keep up on blogging

Today, I got on the treadmill again! I am using the couch to 5k app by active.com. It's only day one but I like the idea of the app telling me what to do. 

I made a menu plan for the week and went to the grocery store for all the fixings. I even started on some of the meals for the week because some evenings we have no time to cook. Here is my menu plan for the week:

• Chicken taco salads - I will post the recipe if it's good. I have the chicken cooking in the oven now since it can be reheated the night we eat it. I will pre-make the salsa dressing when I am done with this post. Then all I will have to do is reheat the chicken and assemble.
• Lasagna Soup from a farm girls dabbles - I subbed italian turkey for the sausage. I have this done up until adding the pasta. I will reheat the soup and do the pasta the night we eat it.
• Baked chicken with twice baked potatoes. I have baked the potatoes and preassembled them. This way when David gets home from work, he can put it all in the oven. 
• Skinny Jalepeno Popper Chicken from skinnytaste.com 
• We will do left overs on one night. 

I am putting myself out there to have you (and my sisters) keep me accountable for taking care of myself, working out, and eating right. Alaskan winters are too dark and depressing on their own with out me eating horribly and not working out. So, who is with me? Need to recommit to your New Year's resolutions for 2012? Why not start now with me? Pretty please! 

I promise I will be back with more interesting things next time I blog! :)

-Amanda

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Well, it's fall. Any normal year, this is my favorite time of the year. In Alaska, we have a limited amount of time to enjoy the fall colors before winter gets here and I try to make the best of it. Alaskan scenery is gorgeous all the time, but I love when the leaves turn yellow up again the light blue sky. This time makes for some of the prettiest here in AK.

However...this year hasn't been cooperating. I believe I told you about the record snow fall last winter (beating out the record from the 1950's!)? Well, the record breaking winter was followed by one of the rainiest summers I have ever experienced, followed by a series of hurricane-force wind storms this fall. Winds were over 100 mph in the higher elevations. Thousands of people lost power which resulted in us losing our hot water heater for days. (Lucky for me my mom lives a few miles away and they had hot water!) I am blessed that the worst part of the damage for us was the lack of sleep and showers, others are still fixing the damages caused by the random Wednesday storm.

 These pictures are in our parent's backyard. Because the ground was so wet (record rainfall) when the wind started blowing at 80+mph the trees just tipped right over, pulling the root systems right out of the ground. The first picture is our dad, he is 6'3", so that shows you how tall those roots stood up.

 

 

 

THEN, this past Saturday, September 29th, that's right SEPTEMBER....I woke up to it snowing outside! I don't mean a little bit of frost on the ground that makes it appear to look like it snowed, I mean it was full on shaken snow-globe style snowing!

 

Determined that it is still technically fall (contrary to what the Alaska weather thinks), I made some yummy pumpkin snickerdoodles that I pinned from Six Sister Stuff. The snow eventually subsided, the sun came back out and there are minimal traces of snow left....for now.

Here is the recipe to make your house smell of wonderful fall:

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle
adapted from Six Sister Stuff blog

Ingredients:

For cookie dough
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 large egg
3 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

To roll the dough in:
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
Dash of nutmeg

-Cream together butter, shortening, and sugars.
-Add egg and pumpkin puree, mix until blended.
-Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon, mix until combined.
-Chill dough. (30 minutes in fridge or 10 minutes in freezer).
-Meanwhile, combine sugar, cinnamon and spices of your choice in a bowl.
-Scoop dough using cookie scoop of your choice, roll the dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place on cookie sheet.
-Bake for 7-9 minutes.
Cool and enjoy!!

What do you bake to make your home smell like fall?

-Amanda

"Kryptonite" Rice Krispies

The story behind the name of these addictive little treats:
I learned to make these rice krispie treats from my husband's grandmother. (turns out it is a Nestle recipe, but I still give Granny the credit) I started making them for most get togethers, including the ones with my side of the family.

My sisters had the same reaction to these ridiculously good rice krispies that I did when I first had them and now they are demanded at family get togethers.

Now, the real reason I call them "kryptonite" is that even my sister, Kristy (you know the one that eats perfectly, works out daily), will cave and eat too many of these. I will refer to them as "Kristy's Kryptonite" forever now, and she agreed with me when I sent her a picture of making them.

Last time I made these for two of my three sisters was this summer for the cabin trip over the fourth of July. They were both visiting with their families and we went to my parent's cabin. I made a 1.5 batch of the recipe below (a 15x10 pan). Before the end of the second day, Jeannie was hiding the rest of them from everyone else so she didn't have to share! (We think Jeannie has a hoarding food problem, but that's another day another post...)

If you'd like to make these, it's super simple!!

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup light Karo Syrup
1 cup white sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter (I normally make this a slightly heaping cup)
6 cups rice krispie cereal
1 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1 1/4 cup butterscotch chips

Here's how you make 'em:

Grease a 13x9" pan and set aside.
Put sugar and karo syrup on medium heat and cook until bubbling.

Remove sugar mix from heat when bubbling like the picture, and add the peanut butter. Stir this until mixed, and add the rice krispie cereal. Mix cereal in until well combined. Carefully pour this mix into the greased 13x9 pan and press out. (You may want to spray a little cooking spray on your fingers before doing this part, it will help keep the mixture from sticking to your hands) If you do not want to use your hands for this, just use a spatula to spread the mixture out in the pan.

Then is a microwaveable bowl, heat the chips until melted, careful not to burn the chocolate. (I would heat for one minute, then stir. If needed microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir in between until melted. Due to the kitchen remodel that started last year, I do not have a microwave. So, I use a double boiler method to melt my chips. And yes, I know it is crazy to not own a microwave in 2012...)

Spread the chocolate mixture over the top of the rice krispies and allow to set. WARNING: The chocolate will take some time to set up, especially if it's warm in your house. You can toss these in the fridge or freezer for a bit to set the chocolate but it's best if you don't leave them in there too long or they will become rock hard.

Cut them up and Enjoy!!

What is your "go to" dessert? Am I the only person who has dessert recipes memorized?

-Amanda

Cream cheese pound cake

This cake is dense, rich and moist all in one scrumptious bite. It's so simple to throw together, but give yourself plenty of time for baking. It's a long bake time of an hour and forty minutes, plus cooling time. BUT please don't let that deter you from trying this! I think it would pair well with fruit and maybe a little whipped cream. Or just do like I did and eat it plain. I ended up slicing the bundt up and distributing to family.

From Southern Living 2001

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
8 oz (1 pack) cream cheese, softened
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon good vanilla

Butter and flour a 10" Bundt pan
Cream together butter and cream cheese until blended.
Add sugar, mix until incorporated
Add eggs, one at a time. and vanilla (I crack my eggs into a separate measuring cup to watch for egg shell and put my vanilla on top of that, this way when I pour the eggs in the vanilla also gets incorporated)
Add flour and salt, mix until just mixed in. (consider stirring this last part by hand. Fold in the flour and salt mixer to not over mix your cake *over mixing causes toughness*)

Bake at 300 degrees for an hour and forty minutes.

 

 

Enjoy!

-Amanda 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I make cookies, I make regular chocolate chip cookies for David. He prefers chewy cookies with dark chocolate chips. Every now and then though, I want to bake something that I prefer (although, it's probably best that I don't make anything that I like because I just eat it all....in one sitting. Don't judge.)

Anyway...I worked at the Great Harvest Bread Co. during high school (best job ever!) This time frame is when I discovered my love of baking, and of food in general. I also developed a love for their oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. You know, those giant cookies the size of a salad plate? If you do not know these cookies, you should google  your nearest Great Harvest and try them! While you are there, try the cinnamon swirl bread, the cheddar garlic bread, the asiago pesto bread....mmmmm bread sounds really good right now.

Let's keep this story moving....I have been searching for a good, chewy oatmeal cookie that pairs well with chocolate. During my search I have found ones that turn out too crispy, too fluffy, too cakey but I have yet to find the right cookie for me. Until.....wait for it.....I looked on the lid of the Quaker Oats tube!!! Seriously! Right in front of my every time I open one of these tubes to measure out for another recipe, there was the recipe I needed to try.

Just chewy enough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies:

1/2 cup butter plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups Quaker Oats, uncooked
2 cups dark chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter and sugars until creamy
Add eggs and vanilla
Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt
Add oats and chocolate chips, mix well.
Drop rounded tablespoons on un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes (I baked mine for 9 and they were perfect!)
Cool for one minute on pan and remove to cool on wire rack.

Because I do not need four dozen cookies sitting around my house, I packed up two to-go packs one for my dad and one for my father-in-law.

Enjoy!!
Amanda

Ooey Gooey Dark Chocolate Brownies

Do you ever get a craving for chocolate and just have to make something chocolatey? Please someone say they do....

Well this happens to me. More often than it should. I normally keep baking supplies well stocked in my house so lucky for me, I *almost* always have the stuff to whip something up.

I searched Pinterest for the best dark chocolate brownies, I look at pictures and I decided these were the ones I needed to make! The link took me to Brown Eyed Baker (I was not surprised by this because I love everything I have made from her site already). Her recipe, here, is inspired by Baked: New Frontiers in Baking is rich, dense, ooey, gooey, chocolatey goodness. It's as simple as this:


1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9×13-inch glass or light-colored baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper.


2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cocoa powder together.


3. Put the chocolate, butter and instant espresso powder in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined, then remove the bowl from the pan. The mixture should be room temperature.


4. Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and stir just until combined. Do not over beat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.


5. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible.


6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Let the brownies cool completely, then lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve.


7. Store at room temperature in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.

Are you on Pinterest? Have you found great success with recipes on there? Come find me on Pinterest!

Enjoy!!!

xoxo

Amanda

Amanda's Cleaning Checklist

I am headed back to college starting this summer! Every semester when {D} goes back for his classes, I tell myself "you've got to go back and finish". Then I negotiate with myself and say "next semester". I seem to have conversations with myself like this a lot. I literally feel like one of those cartoons with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. I have mental battles every morning when the alarm goes off to get on the treadmill too.

Anyway, going back to school is a goal of mine that I need to start on so I can be done by the time we have children.

I'm really nervous about going back to school.

I will probably want to quit come Christmas time. BUT to help prevent this quitter mentality, I am trying to plan for all the excuses I can think of now. My first excuse I could think of is: I won't be able to keep up with the housework and laundry.

What better way to keep track of something or keep up on something than a checklist!

I created a checklist with daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly and quarterly tasks. I searched the web for other ideas and made it work into my own. I am going to print this off and laminate it. This way I can use a dry-erase marker to check the items off as I do them.

Daily:
Tidy Bedroom
Make Bed
Tidy Bathroom/vanity
Load/Unload dishwasher
Take out the trash
Laundry

Weekly:
Fold Laundry/put away
Wash Sheets
Sweep/mop floors
Vacuum House
Clean our refrigerator
De-clutter kitchen table (we collect mail here)
Clean/disinfect bathrooms
Empty trash (Sunday night we put the trash by the curb)

Bi-weekly:
Deep clean kitchen - clear everything off the counters and scrub
Dust house/furniture
Clean windows/mirrors - and anything else requiring glass cleaner
Organize - I normally have a project of some sort going

Monthly:
Wipe down walls - especially the kitchen and the bathrooms
Wipe/sanitize switch plates and door knobs
Purge magazines and other papers - homework and newspapers collect on my coffee tables
Wash throw rugs - I only have them in my bathrooms and kitchen

Quarterly:
Clean oven - it's self cleaning so really I just have to wipe it out
Scrub inside of refrigerator
Deep clean kitchen cabinets
Dust/clean moldings around house.

What do you think? Am I missing any obvious chores? I hope this will help me stay on top of things around the house as I venture back to school. What do you do to stay organized when your plate is really full outside your home?

-Amanda

About me: Amanda style

Hi! Amanda here… If you read the ‘about us’ tab then you know I am the third of the four of us Brooks Girls.  I am the one still residing in Alaska, (unfortunately for my parents, I am also the one with no children).

I am married to my best friend, David, he couldn’t be more perfect for me. He is my biggest supporter in everything I attempt. He is my sense of logic when I am dreaming.  He literally calms me just by being here. I love him so much!

I am a trained Pastry Chef, but I work a day job in the energy industry in Alaska.  I still bake, just not for a living. I hope to share some tips and tricks to help you make bakery quality sweets for your own house. I find baking to be calming, especially decorating cakes or cookies.

I am on a mission to be a strong individual both physically and mentally.  I want to be fit and comfortable in my own skin. The older I get the more I realize being thin is very different than being fit. I have started working out regularly, weight training and running. I have been at it for almost three months and I feel so much better already!

I love to craft, decorate my house, organize, rearrange, I am sure I am much better at all of this stuff in my head, but oh well. I find pleasure creating pretty spaces and making our house a home. We are remodeling our second house. The first was a total overhaul. This one is mostly cosmetic updates, you'll see more on that later. :)

One more interesting tidbit about me, when I married David, I married into a big Cajun family. They are a close knit family that gets together often and enjoys some amazing Cajun meals. I really enjoy cooking, so I had to learn to cook some of Granny's meals. I will share my successes and failures as I expand my cooking knowledge.

I look forward to rambling about all of the above stuff and more with my sisters! 

-Amanda