Chocolate Vegetables

 
 
I have struggled to both menu plan and buy according to the specials at the supermarket so I can save money.  In my opinion the issue comes about because of the advice to menu plan and make a shopping list before going shopping.

Here is my solution - menu plan in reverse.  I am sure you have favourite seasonings and methods of cooking in your family.  Make sure the necessary ingredients are always in your pantry.  Shop for them every week as they get low by putting them on your shopping list. 

When it comes time to go shopping, get the good prices on foods that are reduced by shopping at the time of day that means you are getting the stickered goods they are trying to clear out.  Remember though that bulk lamb chops are no good if someone in your family gets an upset stomach from too much lamb.  lol

Now go home, pack everything away and sit down to make your menu plan.  It is no good me making a menu plan with lots of chicken meals if it was only a "good" price yet the lamb was greatly reduced.  I know generally what my family eats.  I know the spices we use and the pantry staples I need.  We have a range of vegetables that we always eat.  I buy them in good quantities in plenty of variety.

I am finding it much easier if I menu plan after shopping for the specials.  Maybe this idea will work for you too.
 
 
When your children are very young the clock can seem to be your enemy.  Try this idea for managing your day.  Organise your day with the idea of routines inside bubbles of time.  

For example before and after breakfast routines that include making beds, cleaning teeth, getting dressed etc leading on to cleaning for you while he does independent play.  The amount of time for cleaning/independent play flexes to a longer or shorter time depending on his ability to play on his own that day or how long the earlier parts of the morning routine took.  End that bubble of time with morning tea at a set time of day.  

Use the same idea for the next bubble of time between morning tea and lunch and so on.

It gives your little one a sense of structure and familiarity to each day but you are not clock watching or forcing an activity to continue when it is a lost cause.
 
 

My ideas for packing for a trip away with my 3 children, who aren't old
enough to pack for themselves.  (from a post to a friend after a trip down to Sydney to Taronga Zoo in 2008 before ds4 arrived)

1. Dh and I have different areas. He always does toiletries and
bedding. I do food, eating utensils and clothing except dh's.

2. I make sure we are all up to date with washing and folding and
putting away at least 1/2 day before. Over here I hate running the
dryer, am so used to line drying but have to accept that at times like
this if it has been wet it has to happen. My dryer doesn't buzz when
finished btw so I really have to keep an ear out or an eye on the clock
so I can co-ordinate wet and dry loads.

3. I pack our clothes into a few big crates that stack or nest. Ds3
and my clothes go in one box, Ds1 and Ds2 in another. I go to each
person's drawers one at a time and start from the top - underwear ,
t-shirts, jumpers (pull overs?!), trousers and shorts, pyjamas. This
last trip was 3 days so I grabbed enough for each day plus 1 spare then
co-ordinated colours (trying to stick with only 1 or 2 colour groups for
the whole family so that a washing load can be all put in together, more
important when travelling for more than 3 or 4 days). I then grab one
item of unseasonal things just in case, eg in summer grab one jumper, in
winter grab one pair of shorts and/or swimmers.

4. The kids pack their own toys in a back pack each. My eldest and
middle are really good at choosing sensible things, even books to read
at bed time so I don't worry about that area any more.

5. Only one pair of shoes for each person for the whole trip (much less
likely to leave behind or lose if they are on feet already).

6. Depending on accommodation I take a towel for each child (can then be
used as a blanket in the car if necessary) and the adults. Also with
children the ages of mine (3, 6 and 9) there is always a chance someone
will have an accident or play too close to the water's edge so a towel
can come in handy. lol

7. After a couple of days I switch all the clean clothes to one box and
the other is used for dirty items. When we get home the dirty clothes
are easily taken straight to the laundry and if any clean clothes are
left they are returned to the drawers.

This last trip I wasn't quite as well organised as I would have liked.
I assumed the self-contained accommodation would have a good supply of
crockery and cutlery. It wasn't quite enough for our large family so
next time we travel I will assume the worst and take a fully stocked
picnic box. Our little picnic backpack was only originally packed for 4
and I have lost bits over time anyway so I think I will start a box
instead, fully stocked for a family of 6 and use the backpack only when
actually going out with only the bits needed for that particular trip.

One thing I do feel I did right was to prepack our rolled oats in zip
lock bags and made sure we bought milk as soon as we got there. I also
put in a big bowl for cooking it in the microwave (knew we would have
one of those but wasn't sure about a stove). It made the whole trip a
lot less expensive for eating out. Also I am fortunate my kids like
microwave meals so we bought those one night (total cost about $25)
whereas fast food would have cost closer to $40. There was only a bar
fridge in our room and not a very well supplied kitchenette.

I also had fruit in containers so it could be stacked in a bag without
fear of squashed grapes or apples, some baked snacks and some frozen
fruit juice boxes to keep the whole lot cool. We only bought a hot
lunch (3 pastas shared between the 5 of us) at the zoo and drank our
juice/water along the way. It was still a stretch on our budget (had to
rob Peter to pay Paul) but it could have been a lot worse.

 
 
I was asked the other day if I had any advice for new mums seeing as I have been breastfeeding for over 9 years and have tandem fed during that time also.  I have obviously birthed 3 babies and have almost toilet trained 3 children.

My advice:  I don't have much to give as I have found that each child is different and each time I was a different person so each situation was as if new.  

On a practical level I really couldn't give any advice because I have changed things each time due to personalities and circumstances.  

On an emotional level I have learnt one thing, this whole parenting thing is a roller coaster ride, hang on to your sense of humour and enjoy the ride.  I have tried to not get stuck on any one parenting idea because each time has been different but I have loved my kids with all my heart, gotten better at laughing at the horrible days and try to remember the big picture, that those bad days won't last forever and the big smiles and giggles can last as long as you keep smiling too.

So please realise I only share what has worked for me with each personality so that maybe you,  the reader, will find something worthwhile.
 
 
I have binders for all sorts of things.  Medical records, recipes - sweet and savoury, Christmas planning, Household management, School planning, School records, Finances.  Just about anything really.

White binders can get boring and I could never quickly locate a binder so I have started to decorate my binders.  I thought I would be able to use scrapbooking paper as inserts but there really isn't a great range of designs out there, for instance, no food ones that would suit my sweet and savoury recipe binders.  So instead I am using quilting fabrics.  At this stage I just cover the outside of the book then use card on the inside to cover over the cut edges.  It looks neat enough for my liking.  I am wondering about the whole ribbons, buttons, patches idea but I am concerned they will get wrecked with the whole being put on the bookshelf and being pulled out again.

The kids each chose a fabric and I am covering their school binder in that fabric and a small photo album that holds index cards with their daily tasks.  

I am not going to write on each binder as I am the sort of person who can get tired of a certain colour or theme so I am going to just decorate binders with fabrics that appeal at any one time and then swap them around if I get bored.  At least now my shelves will look a lot more colourful.  lol

Here are some places that helped me with covering my binders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BCsk8jBQB0

http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Put-Together-A-Household-Orgainizer_W0QQugidZ10000000001520436?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:3

http://www.geocities.com/beadfettish/projectsjune.html

This last one was a bit over the top for decorations for my tastes but her folding technique for the fabric on the inside corners was very useful.

I have had fun decorating them and it really does help me find the binder I want in my sometimes visually cluttered world.
 
 
I first got onto the idea of a home management binder from Flylady and then developed the idea of using binders for just about anything from Cindy Rushton.

I have set my Home binder with the following sections:
 - Calendar (not used often as I now carry a diary although I do have a page of annual events that is good with birthdays for the family and things like carpet cleaning, major bills and dentist check-ups noted),
 - Household routines (which includes my monthly rotation of cleaning duties),
  - Contacts (first page is always emergency contacts and quick reference contacts like the real estate),
 - Finances, and
 - Projects.

Projects is one of my favourite areas.  I have a page for each room in the house and then one for Household projects and one for Personal projects.  For example I have a reading room in this house so on its page I have listed to sort the books into order and paint the bookshelves.  In my bedroom I have to find a side table lamp with a pretty shade, make the top of my dresser pretty, design and build a wardrobe.  It is fun to dream and plan on these pages.  And when I do get a little money for my birthday or Christmas this is often where I go to look for ideas for spending it.

I must admit that it varies in how much I refer to my binder.  For me it can become just another piece of visual clutter but every so often I give it a good clean out and rearrange it to fit my current circumstances.  I use a 38mm 3 ring binder as I find they come out on special each school year for students and I like how the pages sit better in a 3 ring binder than how they tend to fall in a 2 ring binder.

Due to Cindy's influence I also use these binders for school planning, keeping the kids' school work together (at this stage one binder each), favourite recipes, and medical records.  My dh is not a well person and I download information off the net about his condition regularly like insulin resistance and obesity.  We keep copies of all his doctor's referrals in there and his test results too.  I am hoping that over time I can get a better picture of what is going on with his health and we can help him to get better.

And then yesterday I started a new one.  I am printing off the bank statements and writing notes all over them with the pays and the allowances left for various things like clothing and school.  This will help me keep better track of our finances.  My husband just laughed when he saw me pulling out the 3 ring punch and a binder.
 
 
My Roles
(written originally in August 2007 after reading First Things First by Steven Covey)

WIFE:  
    I make special time for our marriage each week and really go all out to make my dh feel special and loved.  I do this happily as I recognize that our marriage vows are important to me.

MOTHER/TEACHER:  
    I give my children healthy habits such as enough rest, enough exercise, healthy eating with no hang-ups.  I teach my children to respect their bodies and to want the best for themselves.  I guide them in the best ways of living so that their physical bodies do not fail them.
    I guide my children in being able to be themselves in a relaxed manner in any social setting.  I teach my children to have good manners such as Please, Thank you, I am sorry.  I encourage them to be courteous to women and the elderly.
    I teach my children to have a good sense of right and wrong that is internally enforced.  I encourage my children to have a faith and belief in something outside themselves that they can rely on in times of need.
    My children are open to learning and excited by the world.  I do what I have to to give them the best start possible along the path to higher education so that they can achieve their full potential financially and mentally .
    I encourage my children to be confident and to know their own mind.  I teach them to be able to express themselves clearly and honestly.  I teach them to be kind, considerate and to show empathy for others.

HOMEMAKER:
    I am learning to cook nutritious well balanced meals on a budget.  I am guiding my family in healthier heating habits and am doing my best to follow my suggestions also.  We eat an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
    I look after the health of my family with the meals I prepare and the cleanliness of my home.  I also make sure that the medicines are always current and that the first aid items are accessible.
    I make rules for my children that help them to stay safe.  I also make sure that I tidy up the house so that unsafe items are secure.
    I keep track of our finances and control my spending so that we are living with our means.  I am careful to be frugal wherever possible and am learning to look for the true bargain.  I accept our current financial situation and learn from it.
    I am regular with my cleaning of our home and self disciplined with regards to doing each chore when I have planned to do it.  The health of my family and the appearance of my home are dependant on my cleaning efforts.

INDIVIDUAL:
    I look after myself mentally by reading good books, having a positive attitude and associating with uplifting people; spiritually by attending church and continuing to learn more, having personal prayer time and reading my scriptures; physically by looking after my health with regular exercise and good food, and emotionally by finding healthy ways to express myself and get my needs met.


I have others but haven't managed to expand them out as much with statements.  My other roles include friend, family member, church member and community member.

Hope this inspires you to create your own.
 
 
My Values
(written originally in August 2007 after reading First Things First by Steven Covey)

FAMILY:  
    I have a family which is happy to be together, who build each other and who we can feel totally safe with.  I give my children a secure feeling that I will accept them no matter what and that I can always be honest with them.  My relationship with my dh is strong with lasting ties, not just the flimsy one of a ring but a deep hearted reason.  I am a person who binds my extended family together so that we all have more than just ourselves in a crisis.

FINANCIAL SECURITY:  
    I am able to pay bills on time and also live frugally so that we have funds to do the fun things like a holiday regularly and a big holiday overseas.  I want to manage our resources so that we have more than enough no matter how little or much comes into our household.

PERSONAL HEALTH:  
    I am healthy physically because I am going to live to 100 years old.  I am healthy mentally so that I live those 100 years contributing and making a difference, not just sitting around vegetating.  I am healthy spiritually so that I am more at peace as I get older, not grumpier with a life of regrets.

WISDOM:  
    I am able to teach others what I know and also am teachable.  I am a valued member of my family because I listen and have an accepting attitude.

EDUCATION:  
    I am using my brain to its fullest extent.  I do not waste my potential with my education.

CONTRIBUTION:  
    I am making a contribution to society, on a small scale in the groups and church I attend, and in my neighbourhood, and in the future on a much larger scale by creating a family farm where families can learn to be families when the world tries to tear them apart.

CHILDREN:  
    I am passing on my values to my children.  I am teaching them by my example and principles to be responsible, community minded adults who know the value of hard work yet keep their lives balanced.

FRIENDS:  
    I develop friendships with as many people as possible and work at being a supportive friend for my closer friends.  I am open to new friends and keep my current friendships strong.

Hope these inspire you to do up your own.
 
 
This is my version of using the Franklin Covey system.  Please realise I got my first planner in 1993 in the paper form, then converted to the electronic version on a Palm when my binder was stolen in 2001.  

First Things First was my main inspiration for the below method.  The way I do the steps may very well not mesh with Steven Covey's more recent publications.  I would love to read his more recent book about the 8th Habit but I am still stuck back at the Quadrant level of prioritising my day.  Ahh well, it has still improved my life and as a busy homeschooling mother with a new baby I am happy with my level of productivity right now.

Step 1 Discover what matters most to you by
  - clarifying your values,
  - identifying and defining your roles;
  - thinking about who you want to be,want to have, want to do; and
  - creating a mission statement.

Step 2 Plan what matters most with the following steps:

  a. Create goals - From what you want to be, want to have, want to do create goals, remembering the S.M.A.R.T. (simple, measurable, achievable, reward and have a time frame) system.

I create a master goal sheet/index card for each goal I know will have multiple steps.  At first I brainstorm them and the ideas are all over the place but then I write them out in order and put dates beside each step.  Click here to download my goal sheet.

  b. Monthly and/or Weekly planning - Maybe some of you can plan out a month in advance but in my world of changing children and other life intrusions weekly planning is the most useful time frame for me.  Once a week I go through my values, read through my statements linked to my roles and read through my goals.  I note down a list of things I would like to work on in the following week from my goals, add in a focus for any roles that have been lacking in attention lately such as time with my poor hubby without children interruptions and then turn to my calender.  On my big calendar (A4 page folded up inside my small file box of index cards) I note down days that may best suit actioning any of the items on my list.

  c. Daily Focus - On a daily basis I re-read my roles and values, my mission statement or inspiring thought then I check my calendar, write things down on post its to add to my routine, check my school plans and add those notes in too.  (If you have come to this post first in my blog please check out this blog post on how I put together my index cards and album.)

Step 3 Review - If I manage to have an end of day rehash time I cross off the things done from my goal cards, remove the post it notes and check that my actions matched my priorities in life.  Sometimes this review is ugly.  Actually considering these are my days with a new baby make that most days are "ugly".  lol

I hope these tips help your days to be more productive.
 
 
I have always read that philosophy of paying yourself first and thought that I would do that when I had enough money.

I went to bed late last night, too late to be able to have a fully functional day today.  The philosophy is almost the same, I should pay myself first in time by taking charge of how I use/spend time.  Then the idea could be expanded to food and health too.  Am I paying myself first?  Am I giving myself the cream off the top so to speak so that I continue to give to others?

When I don't take care of myself by spending my time wisely, by giving myself the first (or best) portion of food and exercise then I am not practising the principle of paying myself first.  It is all about caring for myself now in such a way that cares for me down the track too.

I don't have to wait to have enough money to pay myself first.  I have the same 24 hours everyone else has.  I can spend them more wisely.  I have the choice of what types of food I buy and eat and what activities I use my body for.  I can choose them more wisely too.  Then as I value myself more in those ways I will value myself enough to pay myself first with money too.