Crafty Org Tip #3: Buttons

Here's another crafty organization tip that I posted on my craft blog, Aspiring to Creativity.

While buttons in individual canning jars looks gorgeous, it takes up a lot of room! Here is my solution:

Click on photo to go to original post with supplies.

Click on photo to go to original post with supplies.

Crafty Org Tip #2: Ink Blending Foam

I recently started posting some craft room organization tips on my crafty blog, Aspiring to Creativity.

Although Tim Holtz indicates that you can use one ink blending foam per hue (e.g. all blues, all greens, etc.), I had already assigned one foam per color (with the exception of Fired Brick and Barn Door--they're so similar!).

Here's how I've organized them:

Click on photo to go to original post with supplies.

Crafty Org Tip #1: Patterned Paper Index

I've been tackling craft room organization for eons and I've finally started posting some tips on my craft blog, Aspiring to Creativity.

The following idea works for all patterned paper. You can organize it by paper pack or by color scheme.

Click on photo to go to original post with supplies.

Click on photo to go to original post with supplies.

Google Housework Calendar

As mentioned in this post, I also started using Google Calendar to track my housework and home maintenance. For now, I am tracking the kids' chores (ex: dusting) on a different calendar.



I have not listed daily things, such as dishes, sweeping the kitchen and laundry. Only weekly, monthly and quarterly things are included. I will be keeping this on the sidebar as well.

Google Menu Planning

Whew, it's been over a month since I posted here!

Even though I haven't completed or perfected my menu plan, I had to share my discovery!

Amy over at ManiakMadness posted regarding menu planning using Google Calendar. Uh, genius!!!

It was a chore for me to make up my menu plans on a weekly and (once) biweekly basis. My intent was to eventually have enough family favorites to come up with a rotating monthly plan. I hadn't gotten around to doing anything like it, though.

Enter: Google Calendar.

I won't reiterate Amy's marvelous post but allow me to show you my self-perpetuating menu plan!



I still have to put in recipe details and fill in a few gaps but the updated calendar will always be available on my sidebar.

My personal version of the Menu Plan calendar is color-coded: red = beef, yellow = chicken, green = vegetarian, blue = other (pork, sausage, pizza, etc.) and aqua = new recipe. If a new recipe is incorporated into the cycle, the color will be changed appropriately.

My menu plan loosely follows this schedule:

Monday = Mexican
Tuesday = Vegetarian
Wednesday = Chicken
Thursday = try something new!
Friday = Family Fav
Saturday = frozen pizza (I work these days and hubby's in charge of dinner)
Sunday = slow cooker (until 2013)

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on using Google Calendar for my housework!!

My 1st 2-Week Menu Plan

As I mentioned in my goals post, I'd like to eventually have a month-long menu plan. My intermediary step is a 2-week menu plan. I keep finding that I'd plan a week, buy groceries and then be scrounging for the next week until our next payday. Silly me!

I thought it'd be more difficult to coordinate a 2-week plan but all I did was go through my recipe binder and list some of the tried and true recipes as well as some of the recipes I've been meaning to try. From the list, I plopped meals here and there on my menu planner,* trying to space out meats (ie. beef vs chicken vs vegetarian) and genres (ie. Mexican vs Italian vs other) adequately.

*I usually use a paper that includes days of the week as well as a shopping list section before transferring it to the menu plan chalkboard in my pantry.

Sunday (yesterday) - Chickpea and Tomato Curry -- It was filling and tasted good but I'm not sure if I would make it again.

Monday (today) - Mexican Chicken Casserole -- This was a family hit the first time I made it but not so popular with the kiddies the second time I made it. Despite this, I'm going for it a third time!

Tuesday (Feb 7) - Quinoa Burgers -- This is a first-time try-out but I've heard great things from friends.

Wednesday (Feb 8) - Better-than-Ever Beef Enchiladas -- This is tried and true!

Thursday (Feb 9) - Cheesy Sausage Pasta -- A new one.

Friday (Feb 10) - Broccoli Quinoa Casserole -- Another newbie.

Saturday (Feb 11) - Frozen Pizza (I work during the day)

Sunday (Feb 12) - Taco Twist Bake -- A new try, though I won't be using ground turkey.

Monday (Feb 13) - Crockpot Chicken -- An easy go-to recipe.

Tuesday (Feb 14) - Best Ever Meatloaf -- A new recipe. I realized as I was typing this that this is Valentine's Day, though I sincerely doubt we'll be doing anything to celebrate it. If, by some miracle, we find a 'sitter and head out for dinner, this will still be what the kids are having for dinner.

Wednesday (Feb 15) - Pizza Quesadillas -- This is an easy tried-and-true and the kids never seem to tire of pizza.

Thursday (Feb 16) - Nacho Mac and Cheese -- Tried and true.

Friday (Feb 17) - Tater Tot Casserole -- A family-friendly go-to recipe.

Saturday (Feb 18) - Frozen Pizza

Pantry Update

I thought I'd share a bit of an update in regards to my pantry.

Here's what my lunch snack section looks like after purchasing a few bins at the dollar store:

*sigh* My husband and I both love it!