Saturday, March 20, 2010
Cleaning Schedule
-Clean Master Bath
*Counters & Toilet
*Fresh towels
*Windex Mirrors & Shower Doors
Saturday: Living Room, Kitchen, Guest Room & Bath, Dining Room, Bedroom
-Vacuum all rooms
-Dust all rooms
-Mop Kitchen, Foyer, Master Bath, Guest Bath
-Fresh Bed Linens
-Lots of Laundry!
Sunday's: Guest Bath
-Clean Guest Bath
*Counters & Toilet
*Fresh towels
*Vacuum, Mop
*Windex Mirrors
My cleaning schedule changed a bit this week as Thursday was an early release day and I was able to get the bathroom done a day early. Therefore I was able to relax Friday night after a workout and quick dinner. Today I was done pretty early and had the rest of the day to do whatever, while keeping the kitchen clean, of course. And tomorrow I'll tackle the guest bath, along with some bills and such. Yay! Have a good weekend!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Weekend Cleaning
Yes! It took 6 months and 4 interviews later, but finally got a job! I'll be working at an elementary school as an "academic mentor," or rather, a floating paraprofessional. I'm very excited but also a bit anxious for my first day on Monday.
Now I need a cleaning schedule to keep up with! Here is my first attempt.
Friday's: Master Bedroom & Bath
-Clean Master Bath
*Counters & Toilet
*Fresh towels
*Vacuum, Mop
*Windex Mirrors & Shower Doors
-Fresh Bed Linens
-Make Bed
-Dust Bedroom Furniture
-Vacuum
-Laundry, if needed
Saturday's: Living Room, Kitchen, Guest Room & Bath, Dining Room
-Vacuum Living Room, Kitchen, Guest Room & Bath, Dining Room
-Dust all rooms
-Mop Kitchen, Foyer, & Guest Bath
-Laundry, if needed
Sunday's: Guest Bath
-Clean Guest Bath
*Counters & Toilet
*Fresh towels
*Vacuum, Mop
*Windex Mirrors
I'm not 100% sold on Saturday's as today I had a lot of energy and was able to do a lot of cleaning. It may spill over onto Sunday's but that shouldn't be too bad. Yay! It actually feels good to have a structure instead of all the cleaning I do during the week! Now I'm off to try out a new recipe, Chicken and Bacon Ranch Pizza, from the blog Buon Appetito! Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Recent Updates & Purchases
I've also been searching for the perfect calendar to hang in the kitchen. Now that I've found some things to do (tutoring, subbing, volunteering at workshops, yay!), I have the burning desire to write.it.all.down. It makes me feel busy, which I haven't felt in a very long time! I went to Borders first to take a little look-see. Ugly, tacky, half-naked girls graced the pages. No thanks! Even the cute puppy calendars just weren't doing it for me. I ended up finding this cutie at Meijer! It has tons of space for me to write in my oh.so.busy.life.schedule and I can rip off each page week by week. I love it.
And now that brings to me to my Valentine decor! I don't have much as I don't go all out for Valentine's Day as I do for Fall, Halloween, and Christmas. I just have a few touches of love.
The teddy bear was a gift from the hubbs last year and the live, laugh, love vases are from Target's dollar section (although they cost $2.99).
On the mantle I have our pillar candles from Fall but they're a perfect color for V-day. In the center are two little bears kissing. The frame all the way on the right says "LOVE" in block letters- hard to see in the picture.
And that's it! There are also V-day towels hanging in the kitchen and a heart wreath on the door-too cold and dark out there right now for me to take a picture!
Do you have any V-day decor to share?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
This Woman Cooks!
This Woman Cooks!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Today's Thoughts: Cooking!
My desire to learn how to cook came a year or two before I got married. I've always wanted to be a good cook. I have different tastes from my parents so I didn't really look to there cooking as an inspiration. I became obsessed with watching Everyday Italian with Giada- she's gorgeous, first of all, and everything she makes looks like a gourmet meal! I still watch her cooking shows today as well as a variety of others. At the moment I am a HUGE fan of Rachael Ray. I never really was until I became an unemployed housewife- I had NO idea she had a morning talk show! I am inspired by many of her recipes and I've tried out a few, adding my own touch to them as I go.
Sooo. The first few recipes I want to try are some of Rachael's. I will be trying them out VERY SOON!
1. Baked Shells Casserole
You just HAVE to click on the link. Spinach, pasta, cheese? What's not for a girl to love? It looks sooo good!
2. Coconut Chicken Cutlets
I'm pretty sure I'll be making this one next week. I've never cooked with coconut before and it looked awesome when I watched her make it.
3. Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese
Another ingredient I have never experimented with in the kitchen- artichokes! Looks delicious!
4. Chocolate Overdose Cake
I found this AMAZING chocolate cake recipe on the Beantown Baker's blog today. It looks like it could be the best chocolate cake ever! Now I just need an excuse to make it!
5. Lemon Yogurt Cake
Yet another ingredient I fail to use; lemons. I looove anything flavored with lemon, especially Macaroni Grill's Lemon Passion cake! I've never made anything like this either and I'd really like to try it. :)
Be on the lookout- eventually, or soon, I hope, I'll be trying out all these recipes!!
What recipes are you looking to try out?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Today's Wishlist: Spring!
1. A flowy, flowery print blouse.
2. I don't think I've ever owned anything like this. How cute is it!
3. I am IN LOVE with these shoes. I have to have them!
4. Cute and comfortable. I'd wear it with a belt and jeans.
5. This list wouldn't be complete without a cute dress.
What's on your wishlist for Spring?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Spring Chicken Roll-Ups with Lemon Dijon Pan Sauce
- 2 (6-ounce) pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 thin slices provolone cheese
- 4 thin slices prosciutto (I used ham)
- 12 thin spears asparagus, trimmed of tough stems and blanched in salted water 2 minutes, drained
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock (I used water)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced (omitted)
- 1/4 cup chopped, flat-leaf parsley, a handful
Halve the chicken breasts horizontally separating each into 2 cutlets. Place each halved cutlet in an individual freezer plastic storage bag (with slider tab). Add a tablespoon of water to each bag and pound into1/8-inch thick cutlets. I used a frying pan to pound them very thin.
Arrange the 4 cutlets on work surface. Season cutlets with salt and pepper on the side facing up. Cover each piece of chicken with 1 slice cheese and 1 slice ham. Starting on 1 side of the breast, place a small bundle of 3 asparagus spears. Wrap and roll the chicken around the asparagus. Wash hands.
Heat about 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan, in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. When hot, using tongs, add the chicken roll-ups to skillet with seam side down. Season the roll-ups with salt and pepper. Cover the pan loosely with tin foil and cook 4 to 5 minutes, turn roll-ups over and cook and other 4 to 5 minutes. Remove cooked roll ups to a serving plate. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons flour Stir in the chicken stock and Dijon mustard, scraping up any drippings from the bottom of the pan, and simmer 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley and spoon over chicken.