Welcome 2009--Thursday Thoughftulness

The holidays are over, the tree is down, and it is back to "life" for our family. But, as promised I am back on for 2009.

I was thinking today how most families today are separated by miles. How lucky we are to have amazing modern technology to help keep us in touch. I often think about people who left their families to venture to our great country, knowing that they would never see the family members they left behind again in their lifetime. Thanks to the Internet we can see each other while we talk, and thanks to cell phones we can text and ask those quick questions and get immediate answers.

Today, my "Thursday Thoughtfulness" is to use our modern technologies for good. Send a quick text message to someone you haven't seen in a while. Let them know you still think about them often and miss them like crazy. Or maybe you could use the Internet to send a quick email with a short message and some updated pictures of your kids to someone, who might just be wondering how you are.

No Post till 2009

I wanted to let you know that I will not be posting until after the first of the year so that I can spend time with my kids and parents. (yeah they are coming for a visit) I look forward to some great ideas that we can share in 2009. Happy Holidays.

Time Saving Tuesday--Ten Things To Save You Time

This is a great article that I found online. Hope you all enjoy!

By Marcia Francois

It seems like everywhere you go, you hear the same message. I don’t have enough time, I need more time, I’d love to exercise more, play more, __________ more (fill in the missing word) but I just don’t have the time.
Here are a few of my favourite time-savers.

1. Do your grocery shopping when the stores are empty I’ve started doing our weekly shop on Friday nights at 6.30. My favourite grocery store closes at 7pm so the store is not very full and all of us shoppers are in “accomplish” mode so not a lot of browsing and so on. We’re armed with our lists and get on with the job. I’ve saved at least an hour from doing the weekly shop on Saturdays like I used to do.

2. Whenever you cook, cook double I cook at least double of everything for the nights when I have coaching appointments in the evenings. It then takes just a few minutes to defrost the meals in the microwave and saves me about 30 minutes’ meal preparation time. You can freeze individual portions of just about anything – soup, rice, casseroles, etc.

3. When you return home from the shops, prepare all your vegetables immediately Yes, it will take a bit of time initially but it saves you time during the week when you’re busy. Remember, you can spend some time every night getting out all your chopping boards, knives, etc. AND cleaning it afterwards, or you can do it once a week. I vote for once a week. Do the same for your meat and chicken if you separate it out for different meals.

4. Set up a menu plan for the week The best part of using a menu plan for me besides saving money is that it saves me time. You don’t have the indecision every night of opening that fridge or cupboard and wondering what to cook. It’s already decided. Try it and see – you won’t look back. You can download a free menu planner off my website at http://takechargesolutions.org/downloads.html.

5. Choose your clothes in the evening This is another underestimated time saver. When you choose your clothes in the evening, you can see if your shoes need to be cleaned, if all the buttons on your shirt are still intact, and so on. Then in the morning, you’re set to go. And if you’re like me, you need all the help you can get just to get out of bed!
6. Pack your lunch in the eveningNot only does this save time, but it also helps you to remember everything. I have a little cooler bag that I use to pack my lunch while supper is cooking (or defrosting). I pack my sandwich, cereal, yoghurt, my cup-a-soup and my two fruits.

7. Use TV time for other mindless tasks I understand that TV is relaxation time but this works for me. I exercise with weights, wrap gifts, pack my handbag, update my diary, sew buttons, go through my old magazines, etc, etc. all while watching TV. The list goes on and on. At least at the end of a show, I feel like I’ve accomplished something instead of just being a couch potato.

8. Tape TV programmes and watch them on video later I’m a HUGE Dr. Phil fan and I tape the programme every day. If I had to sit and watch the programme live, it would take an hour. Because I tape it and fast forward through all the commercial breaks, it takes only 43 minutes. I also noticed that the reality TV shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and The Apprentice are usually only about 37 minutes long.

9. Batch routine tasks Keep all your filing together so that you file 5 pieces of paper at once. Make all your telephone calls at the same time. Write out all greeting cards for the month at one time. And wrap all the gifts at one time too – yes, in front of the TV!

10. Automate as much as you can Get your bank to automatically deduct your monthly payments. This is what I do with my business more and more, like automating my monthly newsletter, so I can focus more time on my core genius, coaching, organising, writing and speaking. If you put just two or three of these ideas into practice, you’ll save an hour every day.

What could you do with an extra hour every day? You could play with your children, spend some more quality time with your husband, reconnect with family or friends or take better care of yourself by joining the gym.
Make a small change today and start changing your life.

Monday Money Saver--Cooking vs. Eating Out

We all love to go out to eat. I know that for me, there is nothing like sitting down for a meal that I didn't have to cook nor clean up afterwards. However, the downfall to getting that meal is the cost. Although, there are some meals that are just as cheap to eat out then to cook at home. Here are a few (they aren't fancy, but they are cheaper and are great for those busy days)

1. Hamburgers--Thanks to the 99 cent menus at various fast food chains, (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's) you can eat a hamburger and fries for the cost or less than the cost it would cost you to buy and make it.
2. Tacos--If you want to go real cheap go to Jack In the Box 2 for 99 cents or you can suck up the other 50 cents and buy soft tacos from Taco Bel.
3. Rotisserie Chickens--These are the cheapest at Sam's Club or Costco (usually around $6.00) However, al ot of local grocery stores will put them on specials on certain days of the week. Serve it up with some corn and green beans or a fresh salad and Yum!
4. Pizza--Check online or in your local paper for coupons. If you are willing to go pick up the pizza, you can usually get a medium for around $5.
5. Subs--Subway has $5 foot-longs. If you cut it up you can serve a family of four with a side of chips or potato or pasta salad.

I know these are not the most gourmet meals, but it might help you on those days when you just need to eat out. Save eating out nice for date night or special occasions, it will taste even better!

However, remember that eating out can be high in fat and sodium.

Sunday Spiritual Thought--Scripture Study

My Grandpa Petersen had a Bible that he read out of everyday. My Grandpa loved to read his scriptures. He kept a small note card inside and always wrote down the last verse that he had read so the next day he would know where to pick up from. Over the years as his eyesight worsened, the number of verses he read everyday decreased. However, the lesson to be learned here is that he read everyday. We need to remember that it isn't always how much we read but how we read. Let me try to explain.

Picture the ocean off the coast of Hawaii. Standing in the water you see beautiful blue water and the white sand in between your toes. But, if you take the time to get a snorkel and a mask, you can see coral and small fish while still staying close to the top of the water. Buy,better than that is to take the time to learn to deep sea dive taking a boat out of the way and really submersing yourself into the total experience that the ocean has to offer, life kinds you can only imagine, sea plants more beautiful under the water than on land, and there find treasures to uncover.

So is scripture study...sometimes we think we are getting the whole experience by just looking it over, then there are times when we get a little more in tune and actually put our head into it, but better than that are the times, when you really submerge your whole soul into studying and reading. That, is when you get the real knowledge the real hidden treasures your soul needs.

Next time you starts to read your scriptures think about what you really want to get out of your reading. Do you want the view from the shore, or the view fully encompassed in the sea?

Saturday Spotlight--My Mom

My Saturday Spotlight for this week is My Mom, Rondi Petersen. My mom has always been one of the people that I have looked up too, that I have wanted to be like, and that I love with my whole heart.

Just like most moms and daughters, we had a wonderful butting head days, also known as teenage mother daughter relations. Thank goodness, I made it out of that stage, to realize that my mom loved me and wanted the best for me. Though I didn't think it at the time, I see now all that my mom saw in and hoped for me.

My mom is an awesome grandma. She loves her grandkids. I mean how many grandmas do you know that put unlimited texting on their cell phone so thier grandaughters can text them all the time.

My mom is a great example. She has her priorities and knows what needs to be first in her life so that everything else can be done and accomplished. She taught me that sometimes you just have to leave things as they are and play with your kids. (I am really good at that one!)

More than anything, she has taught me how to love and be the best person that I can be.

Family Friday--Cinnamon Ornaments

Here is an easy way to make homemade cinnamon ornaments. They smell great and look awesome too.

Here's what you need to make your scented cinnamon ornaments:

Dough
1 c. ground cinnamon (buy it cheap at the dollar stores or in bulk at your grocery store bakery)
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 c. applesauce
2 T. Tacky or Elmer's white glue

Cookie cutters
Paint, if desired for decorating (fabric paint works great!)
Red, green or white ribbon

Instructions:

Combine first 5 ingredients until stiff dough forms, kneading well with hands. Roll dough out onto cinnamon dusted surface, about 1/4-inch thick, then cut with desired cookie cutter shapes such as teddy bears, hearts, Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, candy canes, gingerbread boy (or girl), angels, etc...

Lay ornaments on a sheet of waxed paper and cut a small hole in the top (a plastic straw works well), then put in a safe place for drying. Depending on how dry your home is, it can take about 2-4 days for the ornaments to dry completely. Be sure to turn the ornaments over several times a day to ensure even drying.

When ornaments are dry, use fabric paint to decorate if desired (just like you would a cookie), then thread a pretty ribbon through the hole for hanging on Christmas tree, or all throughout the house!