Gratituesday: Veterans

Tomorrow is Veterans' Day so today I am thankful for veterans and the those currently serving our country. Many in my own family served in some branch of the armed forces (my dad, grandpa, uncles). Some of those serving our country end up sacrificing their life and some a part of their body, but ALL sacrifice time away from their precious families.

So tomorrow thank a vet, hang your flag, and most importantly say a prayer for those who are currently helping to make this country a safer place.

Want to read more Gratituesdays? Head over to Heavenly Homemakers.

My Little Black Box

Here is another organizing tip! Everyone loves those! I visit a lot of websites. Often sites ask you to register so you can get special member only features or freebies or coupons. I used to frustrate myself by registering but then forgetting which email address I used to sign up, my user name, or password when I went back later.

To keep track I write down the info on a 4x6 index card. I file them alphabetically (by site) in an index card box. Now when I go back to a site and need to know my user name or password I just look it up quick instead of having to request the information by email. I also jot down any other info that might be helpful for that particular site (birthdays I used, security questions & answers, etc.).

My Black Box

with cheesy, fake example card

Another tip is to have the same password for all these sites. Now I am not talking about your online banking accounts here! I am talking about sites like BettyCrocker.com or sites that don't include important personal information. Pick one password and stick with it...that way you'll always know your password.

Sometimes your user name is your email address so if you plan on signing up at several sites create an email address just for that purpose. Having a junk email address keeps your regular inbox from being filled up with a bunch of special offers and ads.

I think I have mentioned this already to but just in case, I also don't use my real birthday when filling out those forms. I doubt anyone would steal MY identity but you never know maybe someone out there really wants six kids! I just add one to the month and date and leave the year the same. It is to the point now that I am starting to think my birthday really is June 26th!

My whole family uses this box for passwords and website information. We keep it in the cupboard right next to the computer so it is easily accessible.

To see my other organizing posts, click here!

Crockpot Lasagna

I threw this together yesterday for dinner and it turned out great! This recipe is super fast to assemble if you have frozen browned ground beef on hand. I have been buying ground beef in 3 to 5 pound packages. I brown all the meat at once in a large skillet with a chopped onion. Once cooked, I package each "pound" in a ziploc bag, make sure it's nice and flat, and toss it in the freezer.

This is a HUGE time saver. There are so many recipes that call for browned ground beef and the hardest part for me was always the thawing and browning. Now it's all done ahead of time. I just pop the frozen meat in the microwave for a couple minutes and I'm good to go for anyone of a billion ground beef recipes. Plus, as an added bonus, it saves space in the freezer...we really need a bigger freezer!

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Crockpot Lasagna
8 uncooked(!) lasagna noodles
1 lb. ground beef or Italian sausage
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup water
15 oz. ricotta or 24 oz. cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Break noodles to fit and place half in bottom of greased slow cooker. Brown and drain ground beef. Stir in Italian seasoning. Spread half of meat over noodles in slow cooker. Layer half of sauce and water, half of ricotta and half of mozzarella cheese over beef. Repeat layer. Cover. Cook on low for 5 hours.

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I was a little worried about the whole not cooking the noodles thing but they were perfect! I actually forgot to grease the crockpot too but lucky for me it didn't stick at all. I hate cleaning out a messy crockpot! I used ground beef but I think it would be really good with Italian sausage and I used cottage cheese because that's what I had. I am really fond of ricotta but I couldn't even taste the difference using the cottage cheese. This was just enough to feed our family with a leftover portion for my husband's lunch. Serve this with bread and a salad...YUM!

Household Notebook

If you decide to do only ONE thing to get organized this year...make a "Household Notebook" that ONE thing!

Two things get out of control fast at my house....laundry and paper. This really helps with the paper! My Household Notebook has been my most successful organizational tool ever! I honestly don't remember what I did before I had it. I've had it for several years now... maybe even ten!It is basically a binder that holds all the information you and your family want to keep handy. Address book, school notices, church directories, contact information, take-out menus...anything! It is completely customizable. You could actually file these items in folders in a filing cabinet but they change or are out of date often enough that it would be a pain to go through your files that often. Consider the household notebook a mini filing cabinet.

The best how-to for making your own household notebook can be found here at Organized Home. They even offer printables to help you get started or just to give you ideas.

I used a 3 inch ring binder and added tabbed dividers. Here are my notebook categories:

First page is RED and has our address, phone number, and emergency contact info. This is followed by a few phone numbers you might need fast like: doctors, poison control, police, sheriff, and/or utility company emergency shut off numbers. (It's especially helpful to leave the notebook open on this page when you have a babysitter.)

Tabbed dividers include:

• Phone numbers/addresses: basically an address book...written out on a printable page from Organized Home or typed in a document to make yearly editing and printing easier (this is my method).
• "Yellow" pages: our most used business phone numbers...again typed in a document to make yearly editing easier. I've also added clear business card pages.
• Church: directory, teaching schedules, AWANA calendar, youth group calendar/forms
• Clubs: recent newsletters, directories, etc.
• Utilities: phone numbers, garbage regulations/schedules, compost hours, etc.
• CHILDREN (one tab for each): important papers to save (work, ortho, church, school, sports, etc.)
• Restaurants/Fast Food: menus (hole punched)
• Menus: I keep the monthly menus I have been making so I can reuse them
• Holidays: Thanksgiving menu, Christmas card list, holiday coloring pages we love
• Gift ideas: for our family and those we give gifts to
• Masters: of forms I use frequently (menus, prayer requests, etc)
• Misc: all sorts of odd stuff that I might need in the future (how do deal with an injured bird, Radio/TV station list, brochures from parks/trails we like to go to)

The tabs are followed by large envelopes (hold punched) with:

• Fast food coupons: only for places that we actually go to!
• Non-food coupons: hardware store, car washes, etc.
• Medical: Appointment reminder cards (I put them on the calendar and then save them here for future reference) and prescriptions (meds, glasses)
• Campbell's labels and Box Tops: to save for church/homeschool group
• Gift cards/certificates: that have yet to be spent
• And last....one pocket page for odd items that can't be hole punched.

I am planning on adding a few new categories. I think I'm going to add:

• Cleaning: I want to make a more formal cleaning schedule for monthly/seasonal chores
• Budget: we check it often and it's in a file cabinet right now...maybe a copy to reference
• Sizes: everyone's clothing and shoe sizes...I just can't remember them all anymore!

Once you have it all assembled keep it handy...so it's easy for all family members to find and use. Go through it every so often to remove items you no longer need and update the information. I edit and reprint my address book sections once a year. (Usually after Christmas when I get address changes from people who moved.) I go through the coupon sections more often.

The beauty of the Household Notebook is that it's different for each family. It can be whatever you want it to be. Pretty or plain. Simple or complex. If you have one already or put one together I'd love to see it!

To see my other organizing posts, click here!

Inexpensive (Christmas) Gift Ideas

Want to save some money this Christmas? Try making a few gifts yourself this year! If you want to make a few things, you better get started soon so...here are a few ideas to get you thinking!

Bible Verse Name Frame
This could be for a first or last name. Pick several verses that reflect the person or family you would like to give this to and print it off on nice paper in an appropriate font then place the printout in a frame. Dollar Tree has quite a selection for $1. Here is an example of one I have made in the past:
Family Recipe Book or Box
Put all your recipes in one place! Type them up and put them in a binder (or put them on recipe cards in a box). While you're at it make a couple copies to share with a daughter, sister, or friend. I love tried and true recipes! My sister still uses the recipe book I made for her many years ago. Which reminds me...I should really update it for her since I have found many good recipes since I put that book together.

Photo Calendar
My favorite gift for grandparents is a photo calendar. They are available online at sites like Shutterfly or Snapfish. I make mine using iPhoto on my Mac and then take the .pdf file to Office Max to print out.

Or you can just bring in 12 photos of your choice and they'll do everything for you. Last year they were about $10 each which was the lowest price I had ever paid! I usually call the week after Thanksgiving and they have some kind of special going.

Books!
Make a book for a toddler/young child by getting a blank book and writing a story yourself. If you aren't a writer, make it a book of favorites (colors, food, etc.) or educational (numbers, letters, etc.). You can get blank books at Bare Books or at a local teacher supply type store. Or join Paper Back Swap! List some books you don't want anymore and get some to give.

Can you crochet? If not, it is easy to learn! Really! Google instructions or watch You Tube if you are a visual learner!

Fleece Blanket with crochet edge
I made this as a baby gift, but it could easily be modified for anyone depending on the fleece and yarn you choose. It is a fun twist on the no sew fleece blanket. Don't want to make a blanket? Check out the Lion Brand Yarn website for free patterns. There are so many cute things to crochet. I really like the Amigurumi patterns for little animals and play food. I am making this one right now (only in blue and cream):
They don't take much yarn so if you have a few left over skeins this would be a great way to use them up! If you need a simple gift for an adult they have a pattern to crochet a towel topper. If you bought a towel with a cute design and cut it half you could make two very inexpensively and quickly.

Dishtowel Angel
This is made from a towel/washcloth/potholder set. I got this one from a friend of mine a couple years ago. You can get these matching kitchen sets at many stores. (Watch Walgreens for a sale or check the dollar store.) I haven't made one myself but here are instructions.

Potpourri Light Jar
I have made many of these and everyone loves them. A mason jar stuffed with potpourri and a short string of (20 count) lights. Let the cord hang out and cover the top with a piece of fabric cut in a circle tied with a ribbon.
Potpourri and lights are usually available at the dollar store and check thrift stores for mason jars if you don't have any on hand.

Little Wreath
I made several of these a couple years ago using dollar store (again!) wreaths. A simple ornament in the center with some fabric scraps and buttons hot glued around the wreath as well. You can make little cinnamon ornaments or use cinnamon sticks as well on these. Which are cute and make it smell nice too.

Washcloth Lolly
How about something sweet? But not to eat! I made these for a baby gift as well, but again you could use a regular size washcloth. Maybe with a cute shaped bar of soap. Which is another idea... make soap in fun shapes!Gifts in a Jar
These are always nice. I like that you use them and they are gone. No clutter! There are several recipes available online. This site has recipes for layered baking mixes, brownies, cookies and bath salts. There are also several recipes for mixes on this site with printable tags included.

Gifts in a Mug
This is a twist on the above. There are many recipes for hot chocolate or spice teas online. Put a bag or two of one of these mixes in a mug. Maybe with a plastic spoon dipped in chocolate to stir! Or how about these recipes for cake in a mug...a great gift for a single person or college student!

Dish Towel Apron
A dish towel is the perfect size to make an apron for a small child. I have made a few with a towel (from...you guessed it...the dollar store!) and bias tape trim but this pattern makes it easier. A larger towel would make a larger apron for an older child, teen, or adult. If the dish towel is too long for your little one fold up the bottom and make a few pockets.

Ornaments
We have a family tradition of giving each child an ornament every year. My mom did this for me and now I have all the ornaments from my growing up years on my own tree. Instead of buying an ornament this year...make one! The dollar store (wow...again!) usually has little cross-stitch ornament kits that are quite cute. I found a nativity scene kit a few years ago and made several. (I would post a picture but it's packed away.) Here are several free patterns. Most of these would just take an hour or two to stitch.

Can't cross-stitch? How about these?

Get a package of old style clothes pins and make a snowman or angel. These are super easy...even the kids could make them! And they are unbreakable which is the only type of ornament we had on the tree last year. :) Fill your tree with several and as you have guests throughout the Christmas season give them an ornament off your tree!
If you are feeling a bit more ambitious try these light bulb ornaments. I got the instructions out of craft magazine several years ago. They take a bit more time but are really fun! Here is a similar pattern for a snowman and a penguin. Actually I think these are cuter...I might have to make more...

Well, I hope that gives you a few ideas. If I come across any more in my internet searches I'll try and post links to share! Feel free to share any ideas you might have in the comments!