Sometimes dinner can be a challenge. With the allure of the outdoors, may I make some suggestions for a change of pace?
Dinner Al Fresco!
One of my new favorite things in the whole world! It's much easier then you think it is. I like to make little platters of finger food, and then just nibble away. For example, the other night, I had cheese, crackers, strawberries, carrots, peppers, and a few grape tomatoes. You might think that's a really light supper, but when you are simply nibbling, and enjoying it, you find that you eat the whole plate before you even realize it! Anyway, it's a thought. I enjoyed more then two minutes outside just taking in the day. Sometimes, that the best way to end a long day.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Weekends
These can be some of the busiest times of our week. Seriously! I know that often I put things off during the week saying, "Oh, I'll do that this weekend." Usually it involves some mundane things like mowing the grass, or taking out the trash. Laundry (the bane of my existence) is another favorite thing to put off until later. However, the more I practice the "Two Minute" theory, the easier it is to get these mundane things done during the week, or set a specific time/date when you ARE going to get them done. Then your brain wont keep reminding you of 17 hundred things that need to be done. Rather you will be able to focus on what is next on the list, and off you go. The more you get done during the week, the shorter your list of things to do on the weekend, the more pool time you get to enjoy! Boya!
Today's mission? Windows. I took the time to wash my porch over the holiday weekend. Not a large project, but one that needed to be done. In the process I "washed' the windows. Needless to say they were streaky. Well, streaky isn't the right word...more like...the left over water had dried in ribbons on the windows. Windex wipes (one of my new favorite things for a quick clean) served the purpose of wiping off the windows, and now the sunshine can come streaming through Monday morning!
*Please note: The Windex wipes are nice to have on hand for quick things, small corners that when you spray with regular Windex just fill up with the blue wonder liquid but you can't actually get the corner clean. However, they do leave little strands behind, which I find VERY annoying, and I end up using a paper towel to wipe down my mirror etc. when I am finished. What is nice? It's a VERY quick way to wipe down your mirror, and silver faucets when they get a little gunk on them. And yes, gunk is the technical term.
Today's mission? Windows. I took the time to wash my porch over the holiday weekend. Not a large project, but one that needed to be done. In the process I "washed' the windows. Needless to say they were streaky. Well, streaky isn't the right word...more like...the left over water had dried in ribbons on the windows. Windex wipes (one of my new favorite things for a quick clean) served the purpose of wiping off the windows, and now the sunshine can come streaming through Monday morning!
*Please note: The Windex wipes are nice to have on hand for quick things, small corners that when you spray with regular Windex just fill up with the blue wonder liquid but you can't actually get the corner clean. However, they do leave little strands behind, which I find VERY annoying, and I end up using a paper towel to wipe down my mirror etc. when I am finished. What is nice? It's a VERY quick way to wipe down your mirror, and silver faucets when they get a little gunk on them. And yes, gunk is the technical term.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
WHOOPS!
Okay so I haven't posted in a REALLY long time, but I did want to update on how things are going. I've been doing really well with my goal. Maybe not specifically doing 2 minutes worth of things, every day, but definitely taking two seconds here, four seconds there to put things away. Some strategies that I'm finding useful:
1) Put the dishes in the dish washer as you use them.
This tip comes with a little story. So we were learning about the ocean floor, and I asked the cherubs that I teach, to compare the bottom of the ocean floor with something that they knew. Well this of course, stumped them, until I gave them an example. What example did I think of? Well the only one that came to mind at the moment, happened to be the bottom of my sink. So I said, "The ocean floor is like my sink BECAUSE while I know what is IN my sink, I don't exactly know what's at the BOTTOM of my sink." This of course was met with noises of disgust and horror from my little ones (to my immense enjoyment). Needless to say, I came home and stacked my dishwasher. However, since then I've been very good about stacking as I go. It will save time, and if people come over unexpectedly you may actually have a clean kitchen!
2) Have people over about once a week. Even if it is just a good friend, it will cause you to look around for a moment, and straighten things up. A little bit every week goes a long way.
3) Pull out an old candle that you haven't burned in a while. It will have happy memories, and make your life a little more cheery.
4) Play more Scrabble. Or Skip-Bo, or Uno, or whatever makes you happy. It is nice to share a laugh with friends.
5) Eat Alfresco with a good book. Tonight's dinner dirtied only one knife! It included, cheese, crackers, fresh veggies (tomatoes, red/yellow peppers, snow peas), and some fresh strawberries. Easy, and quite satisfying while sitting on the porch with an inspiring read.
Speaking of inspiring reads, my mom just shared a fellow blogger's website with me. She is a 5th grade teacher as well, so maybe I find connections with the author easier to obtain. However, her notes are amusing, and today's was quite fun. What she says about games is totally true too! Haha! Thanks mom!
Enjoy my friends!
Taming the Bicycle
All the best,
Pattertwig
1) Put the dishes in the dish washer as you use them.
This tip comes with a little story. So we were learning about the ocean floor, and I asked the cherubs that I teach, to compare the bottom of the ocean floor with something that they knew. Well this of course, stumped them, until I gave them an example. What example did I think of? Well the only one that came to mind at the moment, happened to be the bottom of my sink. So I said, "The ocean floor is like my sink BECAUSE while I know what is IN my sink, I don't exactly know what's at the BOTTOM of my sink." This of course was met with noises of disgust and horror from my little ones (to my immense enjoyment). Needless to say, I came home and stacked my dishwasher. However, since then I've been very good about stacking as I go. It will save time, and if people come over unexpectedly you may actually have a clean kitchen!
2) Have people over about once a week. Even if it is just a good friend, it will cause you to look around for a moment, and straighten things up. A little bit every week goes a long way.
3) Pull out an old candle that you haven't burned in a while. It will have happy memories, and make your life a little more cheery.
4) Play more Scrabble. Or Skip-Bo, or Uno, or whatever makes you happy. It is nice to share a laugh with friends.
5) Eat Alfresco with a good book. Tonight's dinner dirtied only one knife! It included, cheese, crackers, fresh veggies (tomatoes, red/yellow peppers, snow peas), and some fresh strawberries. Easy, and quite satisfying while sitting on the porch with an inspiring read.
Speaking of inspiring reads, my mom just shared a fellow blogger's website with me. She is a 5th grade teacher as well, so maybe I find connections with the author easier to obtain. However, her notes are amusing, and today's was quite fun. What she says about games is totally true too! Haha! Thanks mom!
Enjoy my friends!
Taming the Bicycle
All the best,
Pattertwig
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