Creating a Greener Family: Peppermint Bark

Creating a Greener Family: Peppermint Bark: Years ago I was in Philly for a work trip and brought peppermint bark. I have loved it ever since, but could not find it. So I decided like ...

Weekly groceries bill under $60

Time to reduce the household bills so ends don't just meet they overlap - I'm going to start with my groceries and see if I can get it under $60 per week for a family of 4 - including my 2 teenagers.  I have done a base list of must haves for the week - which is basically cheap meals so I can spend more money on building up my stock.  Plan is to spend $40 on musts for the week and $20 on stock or things that will last longer than the week so I don't have to purchase them within the next weeks budget.  Plus I'm going to search items on sale and coupons to help me out.  Once I have done the shop (Saturday) I will post my list and recipes that I plan to cover.  It will be tough the first few weeks (Christmas day shop will not be included).  Plus I will be cooking with ingredients that I have in stock so that will help me out.  Currently I'm spending about $100 + on groceries so that has to stop.  If you know of any really good cost cutting recipes that I could use, please post them.  My children both buy lunch at school so I don't have to buy lunch stuff for them but my husband takes his lunch with him.  I will be looking at children's lunches down the road but everyone has to start somewhere - plus we have a dog so will be including dog food as well.

Christmas Shopping

How do you do your Christmas shopping - all at once, through out the year, last minute, online?  I have very few to buy for and tend to leave it to the last minute - I would love to do it earlier but usually budget plays a big part, so have to work it around this.  Plus get all the goodies for Christmas Dinner etc.  This year I have got one gift so far and the budget is very slim - I'm going to have to be a little creative - maybe you can to.  Doing homemade gift vouchers - not a lot of fun on Christmas Day but at least it is something that they can redem once the budget gets a little fatter.  Or if they have a special trip or event coming up next year you could give that in the form of a gift - Just make a little voucher up saying pocket money for basketball camp.  I know it looks like the cheats way out but sometimes you don't have a choose.  Plus you could go to a dollar store or Walmart and spend $20 to make a really fat stocking!  Lots of candy will do that.  What ever may happen I hope you have very happy holidays and remember it is not about the gifts it is about happiness and togetherness so enjoy.

Creating a Greener Family: Coffee Creamer

Creating a Greener Family: Coffee Creamer: I had dinner parties for years with two of my dear friends. We would go to each others place and one of us would cook all the dinner. Three ...

Saturday - Blog Research

Today I'm working on my blog and reading blogs - What blogs do you love reading?  Can you suggest your favorite blogs to follow?  I love reading so therefore I love blogs - you can pick up so much information on everything.  If you have never read a blog start today - it is easy and free to follow your favorite ones and believe me you learn so much - from cooking, travelling, housekeeping, holidays and much much more.  Better still you can start your own blog - it is a great way of share what knowledge you have weather it be photo's, art, tips, food etc.

Friday Housecleaning Day

I'm not great at cleaning the house - so the best thing for me to do is choose a day to clean the whole house at once.  I like Friday's as you will have a nice clean house ready for the weekend - if you work during the week you may like to choose Sat morning or one night during the week.

I grab all the tools I need so I'm not going back and forth etc.  I start upstairs in the main bedroom. 

Bedroom
1/ strip sheets, pillowcases etc - put in hallway
2/ put away anything that is out of place.
3/ dust - I grab a sock, pop it on my hand and dust away - start on higher items and move down.
4/ clean light switch, handles etc with a damp cloth.
5/ vacuum.

Move onto other bedrooms - clean in the same order.

Now that your hallway is a mess - collect up all the sheets and start washing them.

I like to have a coffee break for about 10 mins now - but if you don't have time keep going.

Bathroom
1/spray sink, vanity, shower down with an all-purpose cleaner.
2/spray down the toilet, clean with brush and wipe down outside of toilet and tank.
3/ clean mirrors
4/Now wipe down sink - scrub tight spots with toothbrush.
5/Wipe down shower and tub - take down curtain and put in hall with towels (only need to wash curtain every couple of weeks)
6/Mop the floor

Continue for all bathrooms - wash towels etc

Kitchen
1/Load dishwasher and start
2/Declutter - put everything away (if you don't know where it should go maybe you don't need it).
3/Wipe down counters
4/Wipe down appliances
5/Vacuum and mop floor.

Living Room
1/Declutter - once again put everything away - recycle old papers/mags etc
2/Dust - start high and work down
3/Window clean all the windows, wipe down lights switches etc
4/Vacuum

Almost done! Other rooms you can follow the living room steps.  Give hallways and Entrance way a good vacuum and mop.

Take trash out - make sure you recycle what you can.

Now during the week it should only take you about 10 mins to make bed/wash dishes etc each day. 

Well I must go and get the rest of my house cleaned!!

Snowing today

Well if you are in the North East you may have woken to snow today - just a lite dusting so not enough for a snow day.  Does look very pretty all the same.  Just a short post as I will be out the rest of today in the snow! 

My question for today is - what part of Christmas do you enjoy the most or hate the most???