The Notebook-no not the novel...

The notebook that I use is a combination of a few different schools of home making and organization. They are The Virtuous Woman notebook pages (http://proverbs31sisters.avirtuouswoman.org/) where you can find blank printouts for your household notebook , Emilie Barnes' More Hours In My Day and the Large Family Logistics web site.


What you will need are (1) Large 3 ring binder (I have a D-ring binder myself) (2) index cards (colored ones but you can color the tops of plain ones in whatever color you like-that's what I did) (3) tabbed divider pages and blank tabs (4) printer (5)envelopes (6) paper clips and the most important thing- a few hours to sit down and do the notebook.

First off you will need to print off seven of the daily schedule pages from The Virtuous Woman website. Fill one out as to how you would normally spend your day. Now sit down and look at critically-see where you could arrange things for more efficiency, ease or what have you. This is probably the hardest part. Now that you have tweaked you schedule fill out five of the pages (m-f). The last two are for Sat. and Sun  - fill them out how you would like.

Take the tabbed dividers and place about a dozen in your binder. (we'll label them later). Place a daily schedule behind each tab. Now take your index cards and make six equal stacks using one card for each room each day( I have three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen, living room, laundry and deck cards{it may sound like I have a huge house- don't I have a bed/2 bath apartment lol!} On one set write Monday on the back, Tuesday on the next set and so on until you have done six sets. Place the Saturday set aside.

On top of the cards write a room i.e. Master Bedroom, Master Bath, Kitchen, Den, etc. Now decide what will be done in each room each day. For example my Master Bedroom cards read as follows:

Monday- Dust furniture. Vacuum

Tuesday- Blank

Wednesday-Vacuum

Thursday-Wash windows, sills and doorframes

Friday- Vacuum

Saturday-Carpet clean

Set the cards up the way that would work best for you. Now place these in five labeled envelopes and paper clip them to the tabbed pages.

The Saturday cards are for the first Saturday. This day is when all the "heavy cleaning" is done-carpets cleaned, fridge and stove moved to be cleaned behind, etc. Trust me that when I say it's worth it. On this day we order pizzas.

Now type up a simple page for each day that tell basically what will be done that day.

My Monday page says that it is vacuum/sweep and mop day. Tuesday is bathroom day, Wednesday is Laundry day etc.

Speaking of laundry day-definitely set aside a day for that chore. I do all laundry related things on Wednesday-wash, dry, iron, mending, etc. That day's dinner is done in the crock-pot-one less thing for me to worry about. I will do a load on other days if the need arises-it usually does with three active children. J

Put these behind the daily schedule pages.

Print put a stack of the menu pages-fill them out Saturday night for the upcoming week. Place this on the fridge where everyone can see it. That way there will be no surprises when it comes time to eat.

I also have a section entitled “personal” this is where I have printed a sheet and filled out with everyone’s information-name, DOB, insurance, drs, medications, etc. I have a section entitled “contacts” that have our friends and family information so we can contact them if need be. Arrang your notebook howevr fits your life best.

This notebook with some simple everyday chores should help you save time and send you on your way to being a better Proverbs 31 woman.

Blessings

Denise

Menu Plan Monday( okay so it's actually Sunday) October 17 - 23 2010

With the weather getting colder, I am now making heartier fare for the family. The dear husband and oldest son picked up a small pumpkin so I can make homemade pumpkin pie for dessert one evening. I have never done this so it will be interesting. I will definitely blog about when I do so.

I know it's supposed to be Menu Plan Monday but I plan my menu starting on Sunday and go thru to Saturday.
Sunday Oct 17- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Monday Oct 18 - Brown Sugar Meatloaf, Egg Noodles, Buttered Brocolli
Tuesday Oct 19- Pork Teriyaki, Steamed Rice, Veggies
Wdnesday Oct 20- Omelets, Muffins, Bacon
Thursday Oct 21 -  Baked Spaghetti, Tuscan Garlic Bread
Friday Oct 22 - Butter Roast chicken, Stuffing, Green Beans
Saturday Oct 23  - Hamburger French Fry Casserole

Lunch will be leftovers . Breakfasts will be cereals, biscuits with gravy, oatmeals and toast.

westboro baptist church, protests and my two cents on the whole deal

Unless you have been living under a rock or are totally oblivious then you have probably heard of Westboro Baptist Church. This is the church that is currently in front of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Synder vs Westboro Baptist Church.
Mr. Synder's son, Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder was killed in a non-combat vehicle accident in Iraq, March 3, 2006. Snyder alleges that the church members inflicted emotional trauma upon him and other mourners. The allegations stem from the funeral of his son, Lance cpl. Matthew Snyder, in 2006. The church held an anti-gay protest outside the funeral, as well as posting video of the event on their website with further harsh accusations and religious condemnation of his son.
Now I am all for allowing people to express the opinions and views but the members of the Westboro Baptist Church have gone WAY too far with their shenanigans. I feel that there are proper times and places to protest but not at the funerals of men and women who gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedoms. Apparently, Fred Phelps, doesn't realize that these brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so he and his band of misguided miscreants could have their protests.
 The Bible clearly states for us to read some verses regarding false prophets:
 Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves
 Matt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


The Bible also mentions in Genesis 1:26-27 (Contemporary English Version)


26God said, "Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures."
27So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women.
 Which in my own opinion means that noone is no better than his/her neighbor but in God's eye we are all equal regardless of color, nationality, size and how wealthy we are.


1 John 2 :1-2 (New International Reader's Version) shows us that Jesus stood up for us and He gave His Life for not only us but the whole world.
1 My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin. Then we have one who speaks to the Father for us. He stands up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. 2 He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world.


Until next time....


Dense

Menu Plan Monday October 4 edition

 I had made a menu starting with last night's dinner but since we ate a late lunch at the in-laws,we had a simple supper last night. I just took what was to be on tonight's menu and moved it up to Tuesday night, Tuesday became Wednesday and so on. We won't be home for dinner tonight.

M-Dinner out for hubby and I. Kids are at grandparents (pizzas)
T- Apple Butter Pork Loin w/ Down Home Baked Beans
W-Salisbury Steaks w/ Onion Roast Potatoes, Corn on the Cob
Th- Honey Pecan Pork Chops, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Broccoli
F- Fish Sticks w/ Garlic Butter Noodles
Sat-Philly Cheese Steaks w/ French Fries

Breakfasts are cereals, biscuits w/ gravy, etc
Lunches are leftovers from the night before