Design to Shine: January 2010

Cherish Everything....

Word for 2010

Yes, I'm running late! Have ya read the past few blogs where life has really tossed in a few mishaps?

Several years ago, Ali Edwards began a trend in

the scrapbook world.

A single word to focus on for the entire year.

You can read about her process here.

The last 2 years my word has been 'shine'.

Go figure!?!

Last year I tried to embrace another word.

No other word came to mind.

Or felt 'right'. Know what I mean?

Reflecting on 2009, I now know why.

God had a lot more polishing to do with me,

in order to get me to the 'shine'.

A little quiet time this year and my word came easily.

~ C H E R I S H ~

To continue to SHINE.... I am Cherishing EVERY moment this year.

Every. LITTLE. thing.

Defining Cherish.

Well the dictionary says:

a: to treat with affection and tenderness; to hold dear b: to keep or cultivate with care and affection, to protect and love
to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

Treating others with affection, cultivating with care, protecting, loving is sure to bring out the shine!

Although to entertain doesn't really mean to entertain my family and friends; that most certainly will cultivate a feeling of being cherished to them.

So Cherish works for me in 2010!

~Cherish the moments, for they become a lifetime of memories.

~Cherish my children, for they have grown up so fast.

~Cherish a job, that I truly enjoy.

~Cherish that God has placed the right person in my life at just the right time.

And I FEEL cherished.

~Cherish the joy in my life.

Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it ~

Ninon de Lenclos

What will you Cherish today??????

I'm joining in on Your Life, Your Blog over at Real Life. Check it out!
It's a share your life, something about you blog party.

It's Broke !

And I can't fix it.

My ring finger on my LEFT hand.

The hand I write with.

Typing is difficult.

Oh how did I do it you ask?

Slammed it in a glass sliding door at home.

Not the brightest thing I ever did!

Ouch.

Building a Menu Master List

Crock pot roast and potatoes, with broccoli and rolls

In order to build your master menu list you need to first consider your lifestyle: Busy, hectic for most of us!

I'm a working mom, so easy, simple recipes rule the roost. I also enjoy using my crockpot for nights when I know I won't feel up to preparing a meal or when we used to run to soccer, band or those kid activities. I've also found a few recipes I can make The rule of thumb is to be flexible! If you have to rearrange your weekly menu or order delivery pizza...that is OK!

My daughter's favorite meal ~ Salmon patties, creamed potatoes, peas and biscuits

When developing my master list I asked the kids for their favorite meals. If you have a mate, then be sure to include their favorites too! Next, keep your recipes handy. I have many typed up in a file on my computer, pages marked in recipe books and new to try ones bookmarked online. I like tossing a few new recipes into the mix to keep us from getting too bored with the same tried and true ones.

Ranch potato wedges (new recipe and family fav!) with pull pork sandwich and slaw

My list is basically dinner menus, as we are out of the house for lunches and do quick breakfast items (cereal, pop tarts, bagels, etc). However, if your family is home for these meals be sure to add them into your master planning menu. I would like to say I'm more organized with this, however my master list is on a simple piece of school notebook paper! I have plans to do a small notebook to keep in the kitchen with the master list and a place for favorite recipes to be at my fingertips. This will help with making out my grocery list also.

My Master Menu List (click on the links for recipes)

Spaghetti, garlic bread (optional salad)
Crock pot roast with potatoes (add in carrots, if you like!)
Pinto beans and cornbread (a Family favorite)
Chicken and Dumplings (a simplified recipe using Egg noodles)
Chicken Pot pie
Salmon Patties, creamed potatoes, english peas and biscuits
Sloppy Joes with Ranch potato wedges
Taco Soup
Tacos, mexican rice and black beans
Homemade Pizza or Pizza Pockets/Rolls
Chili
Ranch Chicken
Vegetable Soup with sandwiches
Hashbrown casserole (great side dish to add to any meal)
Taco Salad (from leftover tacos, rice and beans)
Hot dogs, with either baked beans/chili and ranch potato wedges
Lasagna Roll ups, garlic bread (optional salad)
Brunswick Stew
Pulled pork sandwiches, ranch potato wedges and slaw
Panini sandwiches
Meat loaf, AuGratin potatoes, baked apples
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, sandwiches
Quesadillas - chicken/cheese (LOVE my Quesadilla maker!), yellow rice, black beans
Pork chops, veggies
Chicken and Rice (can be done in the Crockpot)

Recipes I still want to try

I usually try to add in a new recipe to try! If it gets 2 thumbs up, then I add it in the rotation. I love checking out the menu lists on Organizing Junkie on Mondays for ideas.

I also love to bake and have several favorite recipes. We love snacking on Banana Bread and Strawberry Bread.

Have you made your Master Menu list? SHARE your family favorite recipe in my comments! We all love getting new ideas and recipes to try. Have you Menu planned for this week? Try it, you just might like it! ;-)

Linking in to Tasty Tuesday at Beauty and Bedlam.

Menus by the Plan

Menu Planning can be simple or very detailed.

That depends on you.

Above is a photo of my grocery list and an inexpensive menu planner.
Click HERE for a link to printable menu plans.

I prefer a fairly simple method that works for me,

for our life, with a lot of flexibility built in.
A menu plan saves time!
A menu plan saves money.

By request, I am sharing how I menu plan, along with

some other tips from around the web that may start you on your way

to meal planning in 2010!
Ok so it's mid-January, but it's still the first part of the year. ;-)

Building my menu comes from different sources.
First I check my pantry and frig to see what I have 'on hand', planning meals from those items.
Then I check the Grocery ads.

Many times I will plan around meats that are on sale or simply stock up. I use a lot of boneless chicken because it's easy. Make a list of every ingredient you will need to complete meals. Ever just wander around the grocery store with that glazed over blank look trying to come up with dinner ideas? I have! But now I can giggle at those with the Deer caught in the headlight expression. Having a list will save you TONS of time in the grocery store! And extra trips back to town in the middle of the week for that one item you don't have to complete your meal. I've found planning also saves me money by keeping me out of the stores as often. I keep a running 'what we need' list on the frig. If we run out, we add it to the list.

If you eat leftovers (some people won't) then plan a next day meal from those. My favorite is a boneless pork loin. I have made several different meals from that one meat in a week. Roasted Pork, shred leftovers for BBQ sandwiches and brunswick stew. Enlist ideas from your family! The kids loved having their 'favorite' meals added into our menu rotation. Have some fun with it! Add in Breakfast for dinner, Snack/finger food night, around the world dishes (Mexican, Italian, Chinese nights). Another favorite at my house is Pizza night. Usually this happens on the weekend (Friday or Saturdays). This also allows for me to skip my night of cooking (order in). I've also found some easy and fun pizza variations. Our favorite is Pizza Rolls.

Photo from Cottage Sisters
Everyone gets to build their own from their favorite ingredients.

But Sherri, menu planning takes too much time!

Maybe the 1st time or two; after that it's 30 minutes or less!
How do I manage it in a short amount of time?
It is now a routine (habit forming).
I keep that running grocery list and just add to it what I need to complete the meals.
I recycle weekly menu plans and use meal ideas from our family favorites master meal list.
I get ideas and inspiration from the web!

Each week there are hundreds of ladies that share their menus, along with recipe links at Organizing Junkie.
Also linking into Works for Me Wednesday over at We are THAT Family, because this REALLY helps our household work easier!

So how about it? Will you TRY weekly menu planning?
I DARE YOU!
To help you out I will even post my humble master meal list.
Look for it sometime this weekend.
Now GO PLAN!