A Month of Meals eBook

How does this sound for dinner this week?



Monday - Potato Soup, Sandwiches
Tuesday - Stir Fry Beef & Veggies
Wednesday - Chicken Veggie wraps
Thursday - Spaghetti Pie
Friday - Baked Fish and Veggies


I've found a great resource to help with my meal planning! It's an eBook (which means I can read it on my computer while I'm sending email and blogging) called A Month of Meals by Jamie Ussher.


It contains a month-long list of healthy and tasty meals already planned along with a few recipes, ingredients, and shopping lists. It really makes sense to follow the mail plan suggestions because the weekly meals are based on using the same or similar ingredients so you don't end up buying and wasting items like I usually do. There are also extra tips with nutrition information, meal variations, and links to info on the web.





I like having my meals planned ahead of time. It's one less thing to worry about. And the meal plans are simple, unlike most meal plans I've seen in major magazines where you need to have 20 ingredients per recipe and spices I've never heard of. It's a simple plan, really. Makes me wish I had thought of it!


You can download a copy of the eBook for only $19.95. By following the plans, I am going to save more money than that each month on my groceries. And there's an 8 week money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the eBook. But, I'm sure you will be!





I have to thank Family Review Network for giving me a copy of this eBook. I'm saving time and money, and my meals are yummy!

Sunday Scrappin'

Pop over to Sunday Scrappin' and sign Mr. Linky if you have any type of paper crafting to talk about this week (or any week). We have people who scrapbook both digitally and traditionally as well as people who make cards and altered items, so won't you join us?

My Ta-Da's

14 gift tags. I'm only showing 13 of them because one of them wasn't picture-worthy.

8 Christmas cards. I'm only showing 7 of them!

Lots of digital pages (18) that I can print and use for gifts for both sides of the family. Some of them look like duplicates, but there are minor differences depending on which grandparent they are for.

My To-Do's

Try to keep up the momentum. I especially need to make a cover page for my mom's scrapbook Christmas album.

Challenge

Last week's challenge was a little different. Instead of Amy giving us a challenge, we were to leave a challenge for the person who commented after us. My challenge was to use the color brown in a project. I think I did that! The challenge that I left for the commenter after me was to hand-write journaling or a sentiment on a scrapbook page or card. I wonder if my challenge went to Rebecca or Krista?

This week's challenge is to complete a gift item for someone else (card, page, whatever) and share the pattern/ details with us along with your finished project, just in case we're inspired to try your project ourselves. I'll do the cover page for my mom's scrapbook!

The Laundry Room

One of my favorite blogs, I'm an Organizing Junkie has a monthly "round-up". Each month, we're supposed to organize a certain room in our homes. I've been able to participate several times this year. February was dedicated to the kitchen. In May, I did my son's room. In July, we were challenged to oranize under our bathroom sinks. And in August, we did the entryway.

November was the laundry room, and here is mine, such as it is. Not so much a room as a closet, in my opinion, and certainly not the laundry room of my dreams (is there such a thing?) But, I've had to be creative and use what I have to work with.

First we have the view of the left side, then a view of the center, and last, a view of the right side. I'm fairly organized as it is, but there were a few things I needed to do.

First, the whole room needed a good cleaning. I don't think the blinds had been dusted since I moved in 3 and a half years ago. Next, I needed to clean off the machines themselves. It's amazing what you'll find behind a washer and dryer, and not just socks (a ski glove? hangers! unbelievable amounts of lint)! I had to toss some things my step-daughter put in there when she returned from college last summer such as a pop up hamper, a disabled DVD player, and a picture she no longer wanted hanging in her room.


On the left, I refolded the extra towels and made a stack for regular bath towels, a stack for beach towels, and added a plastic container for extra blankets and pillows so they won't fall off the shelf. I still have my bar for hanging items that I don't want in the dryer.


On the right, we have three stacks: flat sheets (because for some reason, my children don't always like to use the flat sheet on their beds, and I just don't get this); full size sheets, and twin size sheets. I made labels for each stack. On the shelf underneath these I have pillow-cases, my refresh'n dryer towel, and a box of dryer sheets.

I wish there was some other place to keep the laundry detergent and bleach, but there is just nowhere else to put another shelf, so those have to stay on top of the dryer.

After I cleaned the floors, I was finished, and it feels good. Wonder how long it will stay this way?

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Ferrero - Share Something Sweet

I am a a Ferrero Rondnoir™ Dark Chocolates Personality: modern, tasteful, and complex - according to the cute "What Chocolate Are You" quiz I just took. Ferrero Rocher is one of the most popular candies in my family, those beautiful gold-wrapped chocolates that melt in your mouth. My mom and my 12 year old always ask for them for gifts. I'm definitely going to try the Rondnoir candies. I love dark chocolate!

I came across a website called "Share Something Sweet." This year Ferrero has donated $150,000 to Share Our Strength, an organization dedicated to making sure no child in America grows up hungry.

The Ferrero Company is giving us a chance to add to that donation. Right now, if you log on to Share Something Sweet and use it to "send something sweet" (that is, a customizable e-card), Ferrero will donate another $1 per e-card sent, up to $10,000. And for every person that joins the Ferrero Facebook page, "Ferrero Lovers Unite," Ferrero will donate another $1 to Share Our Strength (up to $1,000):

No giveaway in this post - just giving back. What are you waiting for? Let's help make a difference!

Purrrrrr! Great Gift Idea

Abby is the winner! Congratulations!

Look at this adorable book! What a perfect gift for the cat lover in your life. Or, you can get one for yourself. It's perfect for both adults and children.




Purry Logic by Jane Seabrook is a beautiful hard cover book with colorful illustrations and both sweet and humorous sentiments throughout.


My family has lots of cat fans! My mom, sister, and I all have kitty-cats that we adore. Mom and sis also collect certain types of cat figurines. The absolute MUST on my mom's Christmas list every year is a page-a-day cat calendar, which, of course, is the first Christmas gift I purchased. Now, I'm not sure if I should give her this book or give it to my sister. Actually, Mom's birthday is also right around the corner. I think I'll use it for that. Thanks for helping me decide!



Guess what? You can win this book!



Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59 PM, CST, December 2nd. One name will be drawn. Please make sure your blog is linked to your email or leave it in your comment. The winner will need to provide their name and mailing address as soon as possible after being contacted.



Once I draw a name and receive the winner's information, I will forward it to Family Review Network, and the sponsor will get your book out to you as soon as possible so you have it before the holiday. Good luck!