CALENDAR IS FINISHED & BEEF STEW IS COOKIN'

Well, I have to say, the calendar turned out pretty good considering I never could draw a straight line even with the help of a ruler...lol... Now, it just needs a hanger hooked to the back and hung on the wall. I can't wait to show you all some pics. Still working on borrowing a camera. (I've been really good this year...maybe Santa will bring me a new camera :)

Now for something totally unrelated to the "home office" projects:

Since this colder weather has hit, I've been craving some beef stew and some biscuits straight from the oven. So this morning, I threw everything in the crockpot and by the time I get home from work tonight it should be ready. All I'll have left to do is through some biscuits in the oven. I love coming home from a long day's work to food that's already cooked, don't you? Here's the recipe I use. It's from the little cookbook you get in the box with your crockpot. AND IT IS DELICIOUS!!

BEEF STEW

1 1/2-2 LBS. STEW MEAT CUT INTO 1-INCH CUBES

1/4 CUP FLOUR

SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE

1 1/2 CUPS BEEF BROTH

1 TSP. WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1 CLOVE GARLIC, MINCED

1 BAY LEAF

1/2 TSP. PAPRIKA

3 CARROTS SLICED

3 POTATOES, DICED

1 OR 2 ONIONS, CHOPPED

1 STALK CELERY, SLICED

2 TSP. KITCHEN BOUQUET, OPTIONAL

PLACE MEAT IN CROCKPOT. MIX FLOUR, SALT & PEPPER AND POUR OVER MEAT; STIR TO COAT. ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND STIR TO MIX. COVER AND COOK ON LOW FOR 8-10 HOURS. (HIGH 4 TO 5 HOURS) STIR STEW THOROUGHLY BEFORE SERVING.

Well, guess I'd better get ready for work. Catch ya' later!

JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY TO SET UP OUR HOME OFFICE ON A THRIFT-STORE BUDGET

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I’ve posted last.  Between family issues, football, work, and small home improvements, life has been pretty hectic!   

BUT…I did make time (here and there)  to read some of my favorite blogs.   And while searching for ideas/tips to set up a home office/family command center,  I’ve also stumbled upon some new favorite blogs.   

I personally like using our home management binder.  It works for me, but it’s not working so well for DH and DS.  They need a system where it’s more “in your face…and out in the open” . 

So I took every page out of the home management binder and nailed them to the wall…just kidding.

I just want a place where I can pay bills, plan menus, post everyone’s chores, sort mail, drop off keys, etc., etc., etc.

So, let’s break it down and see what all we’ll need. 

First, we’ll need a large calendar.  I don’t care for the whiteboard calendars because they’re just so boring looking.  But I love these ideas:

I recently stumbled onto Just A Girl's  blog.  She has one of the prettiest Organization Station's  that I have ever seen.  Wouldn’t you agree?  And look what she did with an old wooden wall pocket.  (kicking myself for giving mine away…)

Then I came across The Creative Crate's $3 frame makeover.  How creative!

  

That would be perfect for our home office.  We are already using a similar setup for our daily chores.  I printed off our daily chores and put them in sheet protectors then hung them on the wall.  Then we use a dry erase marker to check them off as we do them.  But using picture frames would look so much prettier.  So, I’ll be on the lookout for a large cheap/free frame for our calendar.  YES!!!  I scored one tonight at Goodwill.  It was marked $8 but everything was 50% off today.  $4 is right up my alley!!!  …doing a happy dance…So one of tomorrow’s projects is to fix that calendar!

Next comes the mail.  It needs to be sorted immediately after it comes in the house.  No ifs, ands or buts about it.  So we’ll need a system set up for the mail.  Here is some very good info on that subject. 

I decided to use 3 baskets because, well, that’s what I had on hand.  To make them look like they go together, I had my DS spray paint them all the same color and then I hung little labels from them.  It’s a temporary fix, but I think it’ll work.  (I’ll see if I can borrow a camera and get some before, during, after pics )

Are you curious to see what else I’ll be doing? 

I guess you’ll have to check back in and see : )   

 

 

BREAST CANCER…WHERE CAN YOU TURN FOR HELP?

                            

MY MOTHER WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, SO IN ORDER TO HELP HER THROUGH THIS, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN ON THE SUBJECT.

BELOW ARE SOME LINKS THAT I HAVE FOUND VERY HELPFUL FOR THE PERSON DIAGNOSED AND FOR THE CAREGIVER.

FOR ALL OF MY FELLOW KROGER SHOPPERS, YOU CAN ALSO HELP. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE SECTION TITLED "WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP"  AND PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO EVERYONE THAT READS YOUR BLOGS.  EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!!

IF YOU KNOW OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO US, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE CAREGIVER:

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Support for Caregivers

CAREGIVERS OF WOMEN WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER THIS IS A 20 PAGE PDF BOOKLET

THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY HAS 10 TIPS FOR THE CANCER CAREGIVER

VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR SOMEONE WITH BREAST CANCER:

BreastCancer.Org

Inspirational Stories

COPING WITH THE COST OF CARE THERE IS A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO A 102 PAGE BOOKLET. IT IS FULL OF INFORMATION COVERING EVERYTHING FROM INSURANCE TO PLACES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUR CARE AND YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS. THIS IS A MUST READ!

WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP:

The Wellness Community provides professional programs of emotional support, education and hope for people affected by cancer at no charge so that no one faces cancer alone.

They are pleased to announce a new fundraising program that allows you to support TWC every time you shop at Kroger - at no cost to you!! You can go here “THE "FUNDING HOPE CARD" for more information.

YOU CAN DONATE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS HERE: SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE

YOU CAN DONATE YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY HERE: THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

TAKE A STAND!! From now through the end of October, show you're taking a stand against breast cancer by creating a customizable character in honor of someone special at http://www.oneaday.com/takeastand. For each character created, the One A Day brand will make a donation to a breast cancer cause selected by consumers. Breast Cancer Network of Strength is one of the selected beneficiaries so be sure to visit and select Network of Strength! One a Day will donate $0.10 for every character created and coupon redeemed with a combined maximum donation of $75,000.00. (see specially marked coupons in participating newspapers). There is also a $1 printable coupon on this page.

2 FREE OFFERS FROM ZIPLOC AND TASTE OF HOME MAGAZINE

Buy any two Ziploc brand products and get a FREE online recipe guide with more than 30 fall meal-planning solutions from Taste of Home and the makers of Ziploc brand products!  Go HERE  to type in your upc codes. 

 

You can also receive a FREE online recipe guide with more than 30 healthy lunch box ideas from Taste of Home and the makers of Ziploc brand products!  Go HERE to enter your upc codes for this offer .

A COUPLE OF FREEBIES

GO HERE TO GET A FREE SAMPLE OF HONEY NUT CHEERIOS AND A $1 COUPON

GO HERE TO GET A COUPON FOR A FREE BOTTLE OF COUNTRY BOB’S ALL PURPOSE SAUCE.  THIS STUFF IS GOOD!  YOU CAN USE IT ON STEAKS, HAMBURGERS, CHICKEN, FRIES ETC.  OR YOU CAN GO HERE AND TRY ONE OF THEIR RECIPES.  YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!

FREE MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

 

GO HERE TO GET A 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO GARDEN DESIGN MAGAZINE.  GARDEN DESIGN IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR HOMES AND GARDENS. 

THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED! 

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE COSMOPOLITAN, DISNEY’S FAMILY FUN, READYMADE,  AND WOMAN’S DAY AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A BILL. 

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