Chore chart/meal planning revisited

About 4 months ago, I started a chore chart to help me stay on top of house cleaning. I have also been attempting to do a better job of meal planning.

There were pros and cons to each system, and I've made a revision I hope I will love.

Last week, I was reading a photographer's blog and the post was about being organized in your work space. About half way down the post, it showed a few photos of 'workflow' charts .... which I have several of in my own office. It had the charts behind glass, however, and utilized dry erase markers to show progress. GENIUS!

Here's what I've done ....


I printed a new copy of my cleaning/chore chart. And put it in one of those certificate frames (which perfectly fit a piece of computer paper!). I'll just use a dry erase marker to cross things off when I'm done.

The frames beneath? Remember my meal planning? Well, I left a teensy bit extra room beneath each day/chore for a meal sticker.

I picked up new Post It notes .... they have ones that are sticky on the ENTIRE back. So I wrote some of our favorite meals on them and cut them up into small pieces. I grabbed 2-4x6 frames I previously displayed photos in and grabbed some wrapping paper to spruce it up some. I actually will probably snag a little scrapbooking paper from my sis to use, but this stuff is just filler. It's red b/c while the walls are pretty tan, we will probably bring in some red touches elsewhere in the kitchen. SO, I put the extra meals on these frames when not in use.

The frames before:


So there you have it ... I'm going to give this awhile and see how I like it. I have high hopes. :)

Closet organizing, followup

Remember THIS post where I talked about hanging all of my clothes hangers backwards to see what I wear and what I don't?


Honestly, I didn't plan for it to be almost 6 months, but it seems about right. Granted, I have yet to go through winter, but this is what I've done: I took all of the hangers still hanging backwards and took them out of my closet.

If I were a really good llama, I would've donated all of those clothes. But as I said, winter has yet to come and go. So I've hung onto them. I moved them into a spare closet that didn't have any clothes hanging. So if I need an item, I can go get it, but if around the first of the year I haven't worn the items, I intend to donate them (well, I have some shirts that might make their way into a t-shirt quilt, but they'll free closet real estate).

Sock drawer makeover :)

There's no "before" picture. Trust me. It was a tangled mess.


I proudly showed Erik: "Look, it's organized."

No it's not, he said.

Yes IT IS. I assured.

Nope, he affirmed.

We've agreed to disagree on the organizational level of my sock drawer. ;) Here it is from my point of view: all of the "summer" socks with no ankle are in the big thing, the seasonal are in the back and the ones that cover the ankle are on the left. See how organized it is? And the socks to keep my feet extra warm are in the next drawer. Total organization diva here.

Meal planning?

Let me walk you through an afternoon around here.

2 p.m. Erik has just left for work. I head downstairs to do some editing/computer work.
3 p.m. Hmm... I wonder what I should make for dinner. Oh well, I have plenty of time to figure it out.
4:15 p. Crike, we eat in about an hour. I wonder what I'm making for dinner. I'll think about it in a half an hour.
5 p.m. HOLY SCHNIKES!!!! Panic, looking through freezer, gotta throw something together for dinner.
5:30 p.m. Present dinner.

I tend to cook/eat based on things I like. This might lead to eating spaghetti and mashed potatoes together at the same meal (although that exact combo hasn't happened yet).

For example, last night, Erik ate a leftover stuffed pepper from Easter, I had meatballs, we both had cooked sweet corn and mashed potatoes. Odds and ends.

I couldn't help but wonder if I made sort of a "meal plan" list for a week or two if it'd help this chaos. Not planning EVERY meal, but maybe 3 dinners a week. I also wonder if it'd help at the grocery store. With shopping. For instance, I got the sweet corn last week and just used part of it. Also, I have broccoli sitting forlornly in the fridge, waiting for some love. Maybe if I knew what I was going to make, I'd get all of the proper ingredients and not rush? And maybe I'd have a plan for the sad broccoli?

Honestly, does anyone out there "plan" weekly meals? Some sort of a game plan? Does it work? Is it more trouble than it's worth? Let's hear some feedback, folks! (I especially am asking now because I'm heading into busy/chaotic season and I might have even less mental energy than normal to extend to cooking!).

Bye bye empty walls!

It's SO exciting to get our OWN art on the walls of Erik's ... er ... our house!


I ordered a nice 24x30 image of our e-session, as well as some detail shots of the pressroom to go along with it. Evidently, I didn't mention to Erik I got other photos, too. Oh well, he *gets* my vision and we both think it turned out AMAZINGLY!

I even cleaned the junk off the dining room table for the photo! If you're in the neighborhood, DO drop by! I am excited to show off our awesome walls!

Next up: painting. Erik and I have FINALLY agreed on a wall color for the master bedroom. YAY! But I think before it gets painted, the guest room is up. I need to get a sample to be 100% sure I like it. Hopefully, I'll get around to painting the guest room by the end of the month ... then the master bedroom by Thanksgiving! THEN I get to attack the master closet!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I'm SO jazzed to install a closet shelving system — one for E and one for K! Also, some extra shelf space and of course some drawers and MORE drawers!

A *few* people have asked if there's anything we still need ... and our answer is TARGET GIFT CARDS!!!!!!!!! We're getting ready to install our dream closet and any/all help is appreciated! Of course, once it's in, we'll never want to move (you'll see once you see the finished product!).

Love-hate relationship

This should probably more accurately be called hate-love relationship .... no, not with my cat ... with the pile of tax forms/papers she's sleeping in!


I've simly GOT to get more organized. Basically, my current method is to throw everything in a folder and not think about it until mid-January. I usually get uber stressed out and massively cranky, which no one appreciates.

Currently, I'm LUSTING after the Quick Books Pro program. I'm told it will simplify my life, but I simply have not had the TIME to order it/install it/learn it. UGH!

I can't wait until Heartland grows enough and I can just OUTSOURCE this!!!!!!