Roasted Ratatouille with Spaghetti
I actually for once didn't change anything. Aside from the vegetable cutting, it comes together very quickly.
I made it exactly as described and it was a HIT. Even Three (my most picky eater) liked it alright. He didn't rave, but he rarely does. He ate it. So I count that as a "W."
Two and I took the leftover veggies and added brown rice and salsa for a take on fajitas the next day and they were delish too.
Recommend.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Wordy Wednesday: Housework Schedule
I know that I enjoy looking at other people's planning, as it oft times gives me a jumping off place. I love flylady's site, and my home used to be CHAOS. I've been a recovered CHAOS member for years now, thankfully, but still slip every now and then.
For me, I work an odd schedule, and so I have developed a plan that works for me.
Monday: Flylady's home blessing. Essentially, get rid of the junk mail that accumulated the week before, magazines you've read or aren't going to read, wipe down the doorknobs and light switches, vacuum, sweep, and mop living areas, and change the boys bedding. She also has "empty all trash cans" on her list, but we just do that whenever they are full.
Tuesday: Bathrooms. I clean both bathrooms top to bottom on Tuesday. Sinks, toilets, showers, and floors. Wash towels.
Wednesday: Bedroom. I change my own sheets, dust, and vacuum my room. Straighten up as needed.
Thursday: Kitchen. This is on Thursday because we have trash pickup on Friday morning so the leftovers get tossed, and don't sit in the trash can outside for days. Toss the leftovers, wipe out the fridge as needed, clean the stove, microwave, and floors again.
Friday: Living room. Vacuum again, dust, and straighten up.
Saturday: I do nothing. Not gonna lie.
Sunday: I do meal prep and planning on Sunday. It is usually the only day I have off work (although, since I got this newest job I will be working some Sunday's now as well.) This is when I make the breakfast items/baked treats for the boys for the week. Make sure I have the things I need for all the dinners for the week, etc. I don't do much cleaning though. Put away any laundry I didn't do earlier in the week, etc.
That's it. It usually doesn't take me more than a half hour to tackle all the housework each day, which is good because time is precious and I don't want to give it up this way. But it keeps the house maintained. It looks lived in but not disheveled. Like me. ;)
For me, I work an odd schedule, and so I have developed a plan that works for me.
Monday: Flylady's home blessing. Essentially, get rid of the junk mail that accumulated the week before, magazines you've read or aren't going to read, wipe down the doorknobs and light switches, vacuum, sweep, and mop living areas, and change the boys bedding. She also has "empty all trash cans" on her list, but we just do that whenever they are full.
Tuesday: Bathrooms. I clean both bathrooms top to bottom on Tuesday. Sinks, toilets, showers, and floors. Wash towels.
Wednesday: Bedroom. I change my own sheets, dust, and vacuum my room. Straighten up as needed.
Thursday: Kitchen. This is on Thursday because we have trash pickup on Friday morning so the leftovers get tossed, and don't sit in the trash can outside for days. Toss the leftovers, wipe out the fridge as needed, clean the stove, microwave, and floors again.
Friday: Living room. Vacuum again, dust, and straighten up.
Saturday: I do nothing. Not gonna lie.
Sunday: I do meal prep and planning on Sunday. It is usually the only day I have off work (although, since I got this newest job I will be working some Sunday's now as well.) This is when I make the breakfast items/baked treats for the boys for the week. Make sure I have the things I need for all the dinners for the week, etc. I don't do much cleaning though. Put away any laundry I didn't do earlier in the week, etc.
That's it. It usually doesn't take me more than a half hour to tackle all the housework each day, which is good because time is precious and I don't want to give it up this way. But it keeps the house maintained. It looks lived in but not disheveled. Like me. ;)
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Two for Tuesday: Back to school!
Back to the world of packing lunches. Back to the world of making sure backpacks are ready. Back to hoping my kids eat breakfast of some sort.
Today's links are going to follow suit. I'm sharing my favorite site for lunch prep...I HATE packing lunches. Mostly because Three doesn't like anything. Seriously. Lunch box approved items are limited to: pb&j, ham (NO cheese) and chips, or sandwich crackers. Yeah. See how this gets super old super quick? Four on the other hand will literally eat anything and everything you throw in there. However, this doesn't redeem his brother and the loathing he has created in me for this task.
125 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas a lot of different ideas, some things I hadn't thought of here!
Another big struggle in my house is weekday breakfasts. I'm already at work before the boys get up 4 mornings out of the week. I don't expect their sister, who is not a morning person but gets up to put them on the bus, to actually make them anything. That leaves cereal, pop tarts, and yogurt. Three doesn't like yogurt, let's all feign surprise, please. But he will drink a danimal *eye roll* Sometimes parenting is a compromise right?? Anyway, I don't like these being the only options. Not because their is anything wrong with them. Not because I'm sure there are families that only have these options. Not because I'm aware that lots of kids eat nothing before school either by choice or by necessity. It's just a personality issue. I used to be the "be all end all" everything from scratch mom, sooo it's hard for me! This year, the goal is to provide them with other options. Weekly I make one thing: breakfast bites, muffins, burritos, etc so they have an additional option. This weeks choice is a new one--
Pancake Sausage Bites They will simply have to microwave them, and dip them in some syrup.
Today's links are going to follow suit. I'm sharing my favorite site for lunch prep...I HATE packing lunches. Mostly because Three doesn't like anything. Seriously. Lunch box approved items are limited to: pb&j, ham (NO cheese) and chips, or sandwich crackers. Yeah. See how this gets super old super quick? Four on the other hand will literally eat anything and everything you throw in there. However, this doesn't redeem his brother and the loathing he has created in me for this task.
125 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas a lot of different ideas, some things I hadn't thought of here!
Another big struggle in my house is weekday breakfasts. I'm already at work before the boys get up 4 mornings out of the week. I don't expect their sister, who is not a morning person but gets up to put them on the bus, to actually make them anything. That leaves cereal, pop tarts, and yogurt. Three doesn't like yogurt, let's all feign surprise, please. But he will drink a danimal *eye roll* Sometimes parenting is a compromise right?? Anyway, I don't like these being the only options. Not because their is anything wrong with them. Not because I'm sure there are families that only have these options. Not because I'm aware that lots of kids eat nothing before school either by choice or by necessity. It's just a personality issue. I used to be the "be all end all" everything from scratch mom, sooo it's hard for me! This year, the goal is to provide them with other options. Weekly I make one thing: breakfast bites, muffins, burritos, etc so they have an additional option. This weeks choice is a new one--
Pancake Sausage Bites They will simply have to microwave them, and dip them in some syrup.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Manic Monday: Update
Well...I got another job. Truthfully, people think I'm crazy. But the honest truth is I've created a work schedule that allows me a lot of flexibility and that is currently what is the most important to me. I've had opportunities that would have given me this much income from ONE position but it would have ripped away the flexibility and it would have caused me to give up some things that I LOVE.
Currently, I get to take my boys to school one morning a week (better than none,) and I get to pick them up EVERYDAY. I get to spend the nights that they are home with me, with them and I work when they are gone.
Four. I'm on the payroll of four different companies. I work around 45 hours a week (and I'm barely making it financially, factually) but I get time with my kids. They will be grown up soon enough and won't care about my time and THEN I will change the way things are...but for now this CRAZY schedule I work allows me exactly what we all need.
Someday I may write about the romantic part of my life...I'll just say: It's complicated and crazy, but I'm currently in a good place.
Housework is manageable thanks to a return to flylady. I personally have developed a schedule that works for me by focusing on one room a day. I'll share more about this on Wednesday. As long as my kids are gone during the day, I can keep up. When they are home (and they were home all last week because of the hurrican aftermath in our area) it's a different story.
Currently, I get to take my boys to school one morning a week (better than none,) and I get to pick them up EVERYDAY. I get to spend the nights that they are home with me, with them and I work when they are gone.
Four. I'm on the payroll of four different companies. I work around 45 hours a week (and I'm barely making it financially, factually) but I get time with my kids. They will be grown up soon enough and won't care about my time and THEN I will change the way things are...but for now this CRAZY schedule I work allows me exactly what we all need.
Someday I may write about the romantic part of my life...I'll just say: It's complicated and crazy, but I'm currently in a good place.
Housework is manageable thanks to a return to flylady. I personally have developed a schedule that works for me by focusing on one room a day. I'll share more about this on Wednesday. As long as my kids are gone during the day, I can keep up. When they are home (and they were home all last week because of the hurrican aftermath in our area) it's a different story.
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