Menu Planning Calendar

What's for Dinner??

So, I'm trying to be better prepared this year. We've got football, confirmation...you know, the normal things that come with kids growing older. So, I sat down over Labor Day and made a month of meals. I started by making lists of dishes: crockpot, oven and stove top; side dishes. Once that was done I just started plugging them in, taking into consideration what would be going on any given day. The best thing about doing it on a Google calendar is the ability to make reoccuring events - woo hoo!!! Yes, we'll eat tacos often, they are easy to put together, so let's get that on every few weeks. You get the idea, right? On this calendar I also added in the URL's for online recipes just so I don't have to relook them up. Anway, look, enjoy. I hope you find something delicious to make!

So this will automatically put the latest month up...I apologize for the months it might not be completely filled out..keep checking back!

I am a bad blogger...I admit it. But thankfully I don't have a demanding following. I really used to try to blog, but life always seems to get in the way. Last May my parents were in a car accident and my Dad left us to gain his Heavenly reward. Since then it's really been a blur of...I'm not sure what. Summer, helping Mom, cleaning out things, then back to school. I'm teaching 5 days again this year which is fun, but at times overwhelming with my two kids, hubby and church commitments.

However, along the way I have tried to keep to my goals of living a healthy life as best as possible. I am not perfect, we do occasionally get fast food (as long as I am fairly sure of the ingredients). I did not produce much of a garden in the drought this past summer but have friends who were happy to share their bounty. I still got jelly/jam made and tried my hand at putting up tomato sauce.

Pinterest has been a great source for new foods, recipes and ideas. If you're not already on there...do it!

My latest commitment to healthy living has been to refocus on my household products. A long while back I started making my own cleaners with baking soda, vinegar and borax, but that's as far as I got. Friends got me re-interested in making my own laundry products, and two different friends even brought me some of their handmade laundry soap! I wasn't sure if I could use it in my HE washer, but I have had no trouble with it, and my clothes are really clean!

That, of course, got me thinking again about what I use as far as cosmetics, soaps and shampoos, so I bought a book recommended to me by my friend Sarah Anderson: Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett. You can order it from her website, I recommend it!

http://gingergarrett.com/books/beauty_secrets.php

She gives some good advice on how to use simple ingredients like olive oil, honey, and dry milk powder to make cleansers and toners. One thing I really love is that she also includes daily Bible studies to help your soul while you are learning to care for your body!

I really want to share this new information, so look for upcoming blogs showing how I've learned to make all of these new, wonderful products!