Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Mother’s Little Helper

No, I am not referring to chardonnay, but some of you might argue with me about that.

I really want to make more time in my day for doing the things that are important to me.  I miss chatting with my friends, and I have missed reading books on a regular basis.  But the thing that has just got to change is the lack of time I have had for sewing. 

I decided that I need help in order to fit in all the things that make life meaningful and enjoyable for me.  So just what kind of assistance is it going to take for this mother to squeeze in all her favorite pastimes?  I can't afford a housekeeper or a cook, so that is out.  No one is going to drop out of the sky and handle my household responsibilites.  My husband takes on enough with the cleaning and taking care of our two dogs Ozzie and Sophie, I can't ask him to do any more.  So what is my plan?

Well, being a lot more organized about meal planning and food preparation would be an excellent place to start, don't ypu think? 

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So, I got out some promising sounding cook books and made a meal plan for the week and a shopping list.  Chicken Jarlsberg Quiche, Corn Chowder, Pork Chops and Applesauce, and that great Chicken Piccatta Penne Pasta from last week.  DH and I piled into the Honda and headed out to our local big warehouse store, Costco. 

We stocked up on everything we needed and got most of the items I need for our dinners for the next two weeks.  I don't call Costco the Two Hundred Dollar Club for nothing.  Our grand total was $202!

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Here we are, home again, and it is time to put all this away.  Check back and see if being so organized is any help with my goals!

28 responses to “Mother’s Little Helper”

  1. BONJOUR NICOLE
    HA PAS FACILE DE S ORGANISER LORSQUE L ON TRAVAILLE IL FAUT C EST VRAI COURIR TOUT LE TEMPS ALORS JE VOUS SOUHAITE UNE BONNE ORGANISATION POUR POUVOIR VOUS ADONNER AU PATCHWORK
    POUR MOI LE TRAVAIL C EST FINI DEPUIS LE 1ER OCTOBRE DONC DEPUIS 2 JOURS A 54 ANS J AI QUITTER L ENTREPRISE OU JE TRAVAILLAIS DEPUIS 33 ANS ET MAINTENANT JE VEUX PRENDRE TOUT MON TEMPS ET RETROUVER LE PLAISIR DE FAIRE LES CHOSES DANS LE CALME MON MARIE AYANT 20 ANS DE PLUS QUE MOI IL FAUT MAINTENANT QUE NOUS PROFITIONS L UN DE L AUTRE APRES UNE VIE DE TRAVAIL
    JE VOUS SOUHAITE UNE BELLE JOURNEE NICOLE ET VOUS ENVOIE TOUTES MES AMITIES
    MARIE CLAUDE

  2. BONJOUR NICOLE
    HA PAS FACILE DE S ORGANISER LORSQUE L ON TRAVAILLE IL FAUT C EST VRAI COURIR TOUT LE TEMPS ALORS JE VOUS SOUHAITE UNE BONNE ORGANISATION POUR POUVOIR VOUS ADONNER AU PATCHWORK
    POUR MOI LE TRAVAIL C EST FINI DEPUIS LE 1ER OCTOBRE DONC DEPUIS 2 JOURS A 54 ANS J AI QUITTER L ENTREPRISE OU JE TRAVAILLAIS DEPUIS 33 ANS ET MAINTENANT JE VEUX PRENDRE TOUT MON TEMPS ET RETROUVER LE PLAISIR DE FAIRE LES CHOSES DANS LE CALME MON MARIE AYANT 20 ANS DE PLUS QUE MOI IL FAUT MAINTENANT QUE NOUS PROFITIONS L UN DE L AUTRE APRES UNE VIE DE TRAVAIL
    JE VOUS SOUHAITE UNE BELLE JOURNEE NICOLE ET VOUS ENVOIE TOUTES MES AMITIES
    MARIE CLAUDE

  3. Planning meals makes a huge difference for me. Not only do I waste less time, but I make healthier choices when I don’t have to rummage through the cupboards on an empty stomach. By the way, I LOVE the LaBrea Bakery Roasted Garlic bread!

  4. Planning meals makes a huge difference for me. Not only do I waste less time, but I make healthier choices when I don’t have to rummage through the cupboards on an empty stomach. By the way, I LOVE the LaBrea Bakery Roasted Garlic bread!

  7. Great luck with the meal planning. I have not had any luck in that area, but others say it works great for them. Your meal choices sound delicious!

  8. Great luck with the meal planning. I have not had any luck in that area, but others say it works great for them. Your meal choices sound delicious!

  11. Good luck on your plan. I admire your organizational skills. The Taste of Home cookbook is great also, as well as the Food Network’s online recipes.

  12. Good luck on your plan. I admire your organizational skills. The Taste of Home cookbook is great also, as well as the Food Network’s online recipes.

  13. I’ve recently done the same thing…and yes, this week it has made a huge difference! I did a two week plan and all the shopping for it…but I think next week I’m going to go for 4 weeks…and then I’ll have even more time for sewing!

  14. I’ve recently done the same thing…and yes, this week it has made a huge difference! I did a two week plan and all the shopping for it…but I think next week I’m going to go for 4 weeks…and then I’ll have even more time for sewing!

  15. nice job mom! I haven’t yet found my groove with workign 6 days a week. I am so tired by saturday and I can’t stand the idea of thinking or shopping. BUT that needs to change and I should follow your example.

  16. nice job mom! I haven’t yet found my groove with workign 6 days a week. I am so tired by saturday and I can’t stand the idea of thinking or shopping. BUT that needs to change and I should follow your example.

  17. As you try out new recipes you should blog about the ones you like and we can all benefit. If you don’t want to write them down for us, snap a pic of the recipe and post that! Have you gone to the 365 days of crockpotting blog? or checked out Allreicpes.com?

  18. As you try out new recipes you should blog about the ones you like and we can all benefit. If you don’t want to write them down for us, snap a pic of the recipe and post that! Have you gone to the 365 days of crockpotting blog? or checked out Allreicpes.com?

  19. Wow, I don’t think we’ve ever gotten out of Costco that cheap. I don’t take my hubby there often because he goes crazy! Do they have one of those Dinners My Way or Dream Dinners places near you. My friend swears by them. When you go by price per serving, they are not bad. You just go. Assemble your meals you have chosen and then come home and pop them in the freezer. I think they would be good suplements for regular meals. I’m going to try it as I don’t like to cook.
    Hope the puppies are doing well.

  20. Wow, I don’t think we’ve ever gotten out of Costco that cheap. I don’t take my hubby there often because he goes crazy! Do they have one of those Dinners My Way or Dream Dinners places near you. My friend swears by them. When you go by price per serving, they are not bad. You just go. Assemble your meals you have chosen and then come home and pop them in the freezer. I think they would be good suplements for regular meals. I’m going to try it as I don’t like to cook.
    Hope the puppies are doing well.

  21. I have the Fix-It-And-Forget-It cookbook and have found some really good recipes in it. We do both our meal planning and shopping list for the coming week while at Sunday breakfast. I have found that it relieves a lot of that “what do you want?” at meal time stress. Hope it helps you like it has for me.

  22. I have the Fix-It-And-Forget-It cookbook and have found some really good recipes in it. We do both our meal planning and shopping list for the coming week while at Sunday breakfast. I have found that it relieves a lot of that “what do you want?” at meal time stress. Hope it helps you like it has for me.

  23. Another thought, Nicole, is to *simplify*. I have made an effort to hone in on the easiest recipes,fewest ingredients, and double it soas to make leftovers. At this stage in my life, 55+, I’m done making anything ‘fancy’. I like the idea above also, blog anything successful!

  24. Another thought, Nicole, is to *simplify*. I have made an effort to hone in on the easiest recipes,fewest ingredients, and double it soas to make leftovers. At this stage in my life, 55+, I’m done making anything ‘fancy’. I like the idea above also, blog anything successful!

  25. I think everyone struggles with balance and finding time for the things we enjoy. Sometimes just making changes in 1 or 2 things makes a difference – at least that’s what I tell myself, LOL. Good luck and I need to go look at my Fix it and Forget it again. I’ve had a trunk load like that from Sam’s Club. Chardonnay anyone
    Hugs – Karen

  26. I think everyone struggles with balance and finding time for the things we enjoy. Sometimes just making changes in 1 or 2 things makes a difference – at least that’s what I tell myself, LOL. Good luck and I need to go look at my Fix it and Forget it again. I’ve had a trunk load like that from Sam’s Club. Chardonnay anyone
    Hugs – Karen

  27. I’m looking forward to trying the recipes you like. I enjoy the Fix-it cookbooks.
    I’m on a fill-the-freezer and/or make-ahead kick. Check out (cookbooks from library:): You’ve Got it Made; Make a Mix; Dinner’s in the Freezer; Dream Dinners; & Sleep on It. What a difference it makes to pull something from the freezer to take to work or have for dinner. I found it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so I’ve revised and only test & freeze a couple of new recipes a week, instead of trying to do 2 weeks or a month at a time. I had 7 days worth of leftovers (for 1 person) after my recent overkill cooking for a work potluck (South of the Border Vegetarian Bake from Make a Mix book; YUMMO!).

  28. I’m looking forward to trying the recipes you like. I enjoy the Fix-it cookbooks.
    I’m on a fill-the-freezer and/or make-ahead kick. Check out (cookbooks from library:): You’ve Got it Made; Make a Mix; Dinner’s in the Freezer; Dream Dinners; & Sleep on It. What a difference it makes to pull something from the freezer to take to work or have for dinner. I found it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so I’ve revised and only test & freeze a couple of new recipes a week, instead of trying to do 2 weeks or a month at a time. I had 7 days worth of leftovers (for 1 person) after my recent overkill cooking for a work potluck (South of the Border Vegetarian Bake from Make a Mix book; YUMMO!).