Motivational Monday: Update Your 2010 Calender

To get ready for the New Year, today is the day I am changing out my 2009 calender called the Busy Body Book for the 2010 Busy Body Book. Do you have your new one ready to go?

In the back of the book there are areas to keep notes. I keep notes on each member of the family as well as the dog. This is a central location for me to keep these notes so that when I go to make appointments I can look back for easy reference.

• Kids school passwords
• Kids lunch id numbers
• Haircuts for each member of the family, to reference how long ago they got a haircut
• Dr. Appointments with yearly height and weight for the kids
• The dog and his vet appointments
• Books that I have read
• Books that I want to read
• Movies that I want to rent

The Busy Body Book is a necessity for those of us who live busy lives and need to keep some semblance of sanity!

To Joyful, Simplified Living

MS Simplicity

Christmas Menu Ideas

As the Christmas Holiday Season is fast and furiously approaching, I take my time to carefully plan out the menus for the days to come. I thought I would share with you some of my menus as well as the links to some of the recipes. I have not made many of these as I love to try new things. The recipes have all been printed off and are ready to go. Next up, making my grocery list and going to the store early in the morning, when no one else is there. I also try to make the dishes the day ahead if possible so that I can enjoy the time with my friends and family as the greatest gift you could ever give me is the gift of spending time with me!

Christmas Eve and Christmas party

Various Christmas cookies
Seasoned Pretzels
Bruschetta topped with Deb Jenkins Jalapeno Pesto
Jalapeno Dip
Asian Sugar Snap Peas which can be found in my November 23, 2008 blog post
Mini Caprese Bites
Meatballs
Pina Colada Dip
Spanakopita Dip
Hot Broccoli Dip
Pear Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Tart
Smoked Salmon Dip
Relish tray


Christmas Day

Pork Loin (already seasoned and purchased at Sam's Club)
Potato Gratin
Green Beans Almondine
Acorn Squash Soup with Pistachio Crostini
Pear and Pomegranate Salad

Drinks

Pomegranate Martini
Fruit Slush (non alcoholic)

Plan ahead now so that you can spend time relaxing!

To Simplified and Joyful Living,

MS Simplicity

Motivational Monday: My House is a Mess

This blog post is from one that I wrote one year ago on November 23, 2008 in which I explained how to throw a party. I was reminded of this post as my in-laws called yesterday telling us they were less than 100 miles away and we were in the midst of getting ready for church...so we had literally minutes to get the house ready before we were gone for the day. Here are my tips for getting it done in minutes.

Pay attention to the areas of your house that will get the most eye contact from your guests. Often times it is the entry way, the room where the party is going to be held and the guest bathroom. Focus 80% of your cleaning time in these three areas and spend the other 20% on the rest of your living space. Remember it is okay to shut doors to the chaos that may be lurking in some of those rooms! In our home, it is our master bedroom walk in closet that holds all of our secrets. In goes the extra clutter from the kitchen counters, my paperwork from current projects I am working on (my kitchen is also my home office), as well as back up supplies for the party.

Many people are so embarrassed by their home they don't even want to have people stop in. What I have found that life is too short, have those friends over, put on that kettle of tea. If your house is clean, most people overlook the clutter that you see. If it bothers you enough, hire a professional organizer...you would be surprised how much letting someone help you through that clutter becomes a life changing freeing experience (I may just know one for you to hire).

To Simplified, Joyful Living,

MS. Simplicity

Food Friday: Christmas Cookies

Well my Christmas baking is in full swing and the temperatures have dropped to below freezing. I need to wait until it is below freezing because I use my garage as my freezer for all of my baked goods to last for the month. This year I am putting together a container of cookies just for my boys. They can pillage that container and leave the other ones that I will need for holiday entertaining. I want to share with you the yummy recipes that I am using this year....I should have bought stock in butter this year. Good thing I am related to dairy farmers, so in reality I am helping them out!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. milk
40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.

Shift together the flour, salt and baking, set aside.

Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture, mix well.

Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup peanut butter
2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 lb. almond bark (I like the chocolate kind)

Melt butter and peanut butter, add powdered sugar and mix well.

Roll into balls.

Melt almond bark.

Roll balls in chocolate until covered.

Place on waxed paper to harden.

Nutty Caramels

2 cups sugar
2 cups whipping cream, divided
1 1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Butter sides of a heavy Dutch oven. Combine sugar, 1 cup whipping cream, corn syrup, and butter in pan. Stirring constantly, cook over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Using a pastry brush dipped in hot water, wash down any sugar crystals on sides of pan. Attach a candy thermometer to pan, making sure thermometer does not touch bottom of pan. Continuing to stir, increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Gradually add remaining 1 cup whipping cream.

Stirring frequently without touching sides of pan, cook until syrup reaches firm-ball stage (approximately 242 to 248 degrees). Remove from heat and stir in pecans and vanilla. Immediately pout into a buttered 10 1/2 by 15 1/2 inch jellyroll pan.

Cool at room temperature several hours. Cut into 1 inch squares using a lightly oiled knife. Wrap each candy piece in waxed paper.

Snow Balls

1 cup soft butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Sift together sugar and flour. Mix with butter. Add vanilla and nuts. Roll into balls the size of a walnut. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm and roll again in powdered sugar when cool.

Oreo Balls

1 package Oreos
8 ounces cream cheese
melted chocolate for coating

In a food processor, mix Oreos until they become crumbs. Add cream cheese in chunks and process until you have a dough. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Set in the freezer or refrigerator to harden for 1-2 hours.

Once Oreo balls are set, dip in melted chocolate and add decorations. Store in freezer and serve cold.

Carmel-Filled Chocolate Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
17 Tbs. sugar, divided
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, divided
1 (13 ounce) package Rolo candies

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition,. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda, gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup pecans.

Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each candy, forming a ball. In a small bowl combine the remaining sugar and pecans; dip each cookie halfway. Place nut side up 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.

Bake at 375 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until tops are slightly cracked. Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire cooling racks.

Pretzels wreaths

Circle pretzels
Hershey Kiss or Hug of your choosing (we loved the Caramel filled ones)
M & M's

Place a Hershey Kiss in the middle of each pretzel, bake for 2-4 minutes at 200 degrees. Pull out of the oven and place a M & M in the center of each, pressing down slowly. Let cool and remove from cookie sheet.



That is all for today....up next Spritz, Chex mix, Seasoned Pretzels, Pecan Pie bars, another batch of the caramels without nuts this time and another batch of the Caramel filled cookies....as they are disappearing fast!

Image provided by Bing Images

Wednesday Wisdom: Book Review The Not So Big Life

I am always looking for wisdom as I the older I get the more I realize what I don't know. So when I read a good book I like to send recommendation and give a few quick quotes from the book to hopefully make you understand your life a little more. The author Sarah Susanka really resonates with what I see some of my clients struggling with in their lives: Not enough time in their day and being too busy.

I was aware of my instant response when someone asked me how I was. "Too busy!" I'd say. Gradually it dawned on me that although I always thought the condition of too-busynes was temporary, it was in fact the most constant aspect of my world. And after a few more years of self-observation, I began to wonder if the condition was in fact my own creation. Was I somehow contriving my reality to be first and foremost too busy?"

This was one of those light bulb moments for me. When ever people stop me in a store and ask how I am, I often say "busy". It is just a quick response that I give without much thought. But what is that saying about me. I really am busy but I also have a great balance of my life with my family and work. I get that we are all "busy", but let's be honest and look at what we are busy doing.

• Are you "busy" driving kids to practice....find a parent to carpool with.
• Are you "busy" going to the grocery store every night trying to find something healthy to feed your family......make a list of meals and shop once, maybe twice a week.
• Are you "busy" working at a job that you hate......find your passion and start exploring it, could you make a career out of it?
• Are you "busy" with obligations that you want to say no to.....say no and pick the ones that you love!

I now am making an effort to listen when people say how are you, to not say "busy". I should be honest and say things like "my children are doing great and I am blessed to be able to support them in their passions in life". If that is too wordy, how about "I am happy because the sun is shining today". We need to be honest, and if we define ourselves as "busy", who created that for us? We have the option to change our life and do something small today to make our lives less "busy". I challenge you to make your life less "busy" and make "The Not So Big Life" for yourself!

To Simplified, Joyful Living

MS. Simplicity

Motivational Monday: Organize and Dispay a Hobby

When I work with organizing a client I really work to find out what they truely love. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard, but the only way to find out is to listen to what they are telling me. My clients always give me clues and it is up to me to figure the "puzzle" out. With a recent client I worked with on her walk in closet, she had a beautiful Harley helmet still in its box. I thought why not display it in her closet. I then asked what other Harley items she had, and low and behold a beautiful display was created by adding boots, a belt and a purse. I even imagine she could place a picture of her and the bike in there as well.

My point to all of this is to show off who you are when you organize. Everything does not need to be hidden in bins and baskets. Show off your hobbies and who you are. Now when my client passes by this display in her closet she remembers the good times she has had riding her bike and the future ones to come.

To Simplified, Joyful Living,

MS. Simplicity

Wednesday Wisdom: Clutter and Health

Today's tip comes from my favorite Australian organizer Peter Walsh in his book "It's All Too Much". In it he asks us to do a reality check on Clutter and Health.

Often people say that their homes aren't dirty, they're just cluttered. But clutter inhibits you from being able to clean your home well, as it's hard to clean behind and around things. Clutter promotes the buildup of dirt and allergens and increases your household's chances of respiratory problems. The health problems caused by clutter aren't just physical. In 1996, psychologists defined compulsive hoarding syndrome as a psychological disorder. In homes with severe cluttering, the residents nearly always suffer from anxiety or depression or both.

Is clutter holding you back from living your best life. There is a way out, start by asking for help.

To Simplified and Joyful Living,

MS. Simplicity