Being Proactive and Setting Goals = A Better Me.

Be PROACTIVE.  The first habit Sean Covey mentions in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Being proactive means taking conscious control over your life, setting goals and working to achieve them. Instead of waiting for opportunities, you go out and create your own events and opportunities.  Hmm.... The word has resonated in my brain the past couple weeks.  As I ponder this word, I feel powerful - like I can do almost ANYTHING! 

This has prompted me to start this blog: Aspiring To Be More.  I have talked myself out of so many things with excuses.   Maybe something is too hard or would involve too much work or money. Sometimes it is my own insecurity - someone does it better than me.  Well, I am being PROACTIVE - taking a step and launching the a blog!!  Whoo-hoo!

Along with the thoughts of being PROACTIVE, I am participating in the 3 in 30 challenge.  Working on 3 different GOALS during 30 days.  I am so excited!

These are my goals:
I will exercise 4 out of 7 days for at least an hour a day.
(Including biking, walking or exercise video) 

Finish 2 books.  1 - fiction  1- nonfiction

 (Already in my book collection at home.  So many books....so many UNREAD) 

Get UP out of bed by 6:45am .

(This time may be a shock to some of you, but I am a late night person.)  

Are there areas in your life you need to start being PROACTIVE in?  Do you have goals written out? Let me know, we can REACH our goals together.
We can encourage each other!

The Sweet Smell of Strawberries

Last week, the kids and I went out strawberry picking.  It was hard to leave, I wanted to keep picking!  The strawberries were beautiful and the smell....was delightful.  We came home and started making some jam with the pickings from the day.  Oh, the house smelled wonderful!

Making Jam - What You'll Need:

Strawberries

Pectin

Sugar

Water

Jars or containers to store the jam in

FIRST we SLICED and MASHED the berries.

We made two batches of jam.  Our low sugar recipe called for 4 cups fresh strawberries and the full sugar recipe called for 2 cups.  The back of your pectin box will tell you exactly how much sugar and strawberries you will need.

NEXT, we STRAINED the berries.

I don't care for a super chunky jam, so we poured our berries through a strainer.  We smashed the berries through the strainer which made for a smoother jam.

Next Step.  

We MIXED WATER, PECTIN, & SUGAR 

as directed on pectin box.

Again, each of the batches called for a different amount of sugar and water.  Check your pectin box to make sure you have the correct amount.  This is the part I messed up.  {giggle, giggle, grin}  I ASSUMED that both batches would use the same amount of water....NOPE.  It was too late when I realized I needed 3/4 cup (with full sugar recipe), not 1 cup (as called for in less sugar).  Oops....lesson learned. 

The jam is still edible, but in a more soupy form. We used some of it on ice cream, though, it was super sweet.

NOW....AFTER the pectin mixture has BOILED, you ADD the BERRIES.   

Quickly mix the berries into the pectin mixture.  Mix for 1 minute.

THE FINAL STEP.  POUR the jam into clean containers, giving 1/2 inch space at the top.  COVER with lid. Let SET.

I used ball freezer containers and Gladware plastic containers you can get at the store.  Whatever is freezer safe.   Let the filled containers set by leaving them on the counter for 24 hours.  The jam may be refrigerated up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to a year.

Mmmm....this was a fun, yummy project.  We don't eat too many PB & J sandwiches at our house, but it has made a comeback now that we have delicious homemade jam. 

Do you like PB & J??  Do you like more PB than J or more J than PB?

I'm No Extreme Couponer, but I DO LOVE Coupons......

This morning the kids and I did our shopping at Publix grocery store.  HONESTLY, I had $33 and whatever change was hanging out at the bottom of my purse, left in my grocery bill this week (and it's already Monday).  I was so worried going in, that I was going to be OVER and either have to put things back or dip into my weekly allowance.

After everything was scanned through including my coupons.......the total......$33.22 !!  Whoo-hoo!!  I was so excited I was able to keep everything I had on my list.  (plus a bag of 5lbs of potatoes)  I saved   $33.69 by using coupons!! 

Do you use coupons?  What stores do you frequent?  

5 Things I Like About My House

Last year when we moved into this house, I was  DEVASTATED!!  The house smelled like cigarette smoke...majorly. I cried and cried and tried anything and everything to get rid of the smell.  We painted, deep cleaned, sprayed air fresheners, set out bowls of vinegar and, don't laugh, I set out big bowls of charcoal in every room.  For some reason, I thought the charcoal would absorb the odor.

Fast forward 10 months. Every once in awhile I'll smell something - mostly if the air hasn't been circulating and I'll moan..."ugh...I smell it", but for the most part, I don't smell anything anymore. Yay.

1. LOCATION - I love WHERE we live  -  I am 10 minutes in any direction to great shopping - multiple Marshalls, TJ Maxx, 3 malls, 3 Targets, 2 different libraries and nice parks.

2.  MY DECK - The back yard of this house isn't very pretty, but it has plenty of shade.  The back deck has built in seating and is shaded by a big (sugar gum --- ugh) tree.  It can be 90+ and okay to sit out there for awhile.  Kaitlyn loves to eat lunch out there.

3.  ATTACHED GARAGE - It has been awhile since we have enjoyed an attached garage.  Though, it is not used for the cars, I like it.  It is a nice place for the kids outside things and can be used to get things out of the living area we don't use, like extra chairs....(or the treadmill & weight set).

4.  NEIGHBORS - On one side of us is an empty wooded lot which helps keep the backyard semi-private.  Next door is Mr. Billy and his fam.  He is home often during the day so we see him often.  The last couple weeks the kids and I have watched him mow 4 of the neighbors lawns (including ours).  He would start at one end and just keep going straight, cutting the grass of everyone's lawn.  Kyle has a friend who is just as much into sports as he is and Kaitlyn has a friend who enjoys being outside, just like her.  I love hearing the kids play outside with their friends.

5. THIS IS WHERE GOD HAS US -  I'd rather live in GA in God's will, than in MI, out of His will.  Though our prayer is that we make it back up to west Michigan sometime, I am happy here.  I can say, I'm happier NOW than I was 2 years ago.  The move to this area has been a breath of fresh GA air. 

So, all of you who are praying for us, thank you,  PLEASE, don't stop!    We know that as of right now, this is where God has us.  I am happy here...BUT I'll be ecstatic when God says it's time to go back home to Michigan.  :0)    Thanks for the prayers, guys!  Love you!

Cinnamon Rolls, Hugs & Kisses....What a GREAT Way to Start the Day!!

Fridays are our "special breakfast" day.  The kids and I will make french toast or pancakes together.  But the past few weeks, syrup has been overlooked when writing up the grocery list.  So, this morning, I decided to whip up a batch of cinnamon rolls before they were up....something, X-tra special. 

I didn't have an hour and a half to wait to make up dough from scratch.  So, I pulled out the Jiffy baking mix which made it SOooo quick and easy.

See the blob in back, under the "Happy Friday"?  Those are my end pieces from rolling & cutting the dough. LOL.  I know, they aren't the prettiest, but the kids didn't mind.  I was greeted with smiles, hugs and kisses.

  What a great way to start a Friday!!  Happy Friday, everyone!

Can You Read This? Thank A Teacher.

I love bloggers who share all their crafty talent.  I will sit back in awe of what they have come up with or how they put colors together.....they inspire me.  Teacher appreciation week was a couple weeks ago and there are some GREAT ideas out there to celebrate and thank teachers.  Even a simple thank you card, will mean so much to a teacher, so, please know, you do not have to use 1/2 of next week's grocery budget on teacher's gifts. 

 Teacher Subway Art by Gretchen

Check out Skip to my Lou   or  HERE (my crafty Sister-In-Law's site)  for some simple, thoughtful gift ideas to say "thank you" for a great year.

Happy Summer!!

Happy Chocolate Chip Day

What do you enjoy having chocolate chips in?  Pancakes, muffins, trail mix, cake, pudding, or do you enjoy them straight from the bag?  What KIND to you enjoy:  white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, I think there is a mint chocolate chip and even a SWIRL?!

To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day, we are making homemade cookies!!  This is the BEST cookie recipe.  The whole process went quickly with help from KK and a soapy sink to wash the dishes right away.
Yumm...a perfect way to celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day AND a great excuse to make cookies!

The Best of the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup granulated sugar
1 package (3.4oz) Vanilla Pudding INSTANT

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1pkg (12 oz)  semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven 375 degrees.  

Whisk flour with baking soda together in a medium bowl; set aside.  With electric mixer, or by hand, mix butter, sugars, pudding mix and vanilla until thoroughly combined.  Beat in egg and yolk until combined.  Add dry ingredients and beat at low-speed just until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Using a cookie scoop or spoons, you can either drop dough onto cookie sheet OR you can roll them into a dough ball and place them on the cookie sheet about 2" apart. 

Bake on center rack for approx. 8-11 minutes.  DO NOT overbake.  I take them out when they are a faint golden brown, I do not like crunchy cookies.  Let the cookies sit a couple minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.   

 

We baked up part of the batch to enjoy tonight.  The rest of the batch, we scooped up onto a cutting board and placed it in the freezer.  When each indiviual scoop was frozen (maybe 15ish minutes) I put them all in an airtight container.  Now, when a chocolate craving hits, I can run to the freezer and bake up fresh cookies. I'll just pull them out and bake (frozen form) 375 for 10-15 minutes.

The Moolah $avings Game

We are an one income family.  I will admit, sometimes it is not fun watching how the money is spent or saying, "no" to something the kids want. But I am so thankful for the opportunity to stay home with my children, that is priceless to me.  One way you can "have fun" watching our spending, is by making a game out of it.

How LOW can you get your weekly grocery budget?

Can you SAVE more than you spend?  (as shown on the bottom of many receipts)

Are there creative ways to cloth the kids?  Swap with friends?

How cheap can the whole family eat out?

Where are some areas we can cut costs?

 Before buying something, wait a week....do you still REALLY want it?

Try only buying items that are on sale or if you have a coupon.

Only eat out if you have a coupon to use at the restaurant.

Play the Moolah $AVINGS GAME.  Set a budget and see if you can spend LESS.  Whether you are playing to get yourself out of debt, save money for a family vacation or to just challenge yourself, get the whole family involved.

How does YOUR family save money when working with a budget?

Here goes.....

There are many people in life that inspire me.  Inspire me to be a better wife, mom, daughter, and friend.  I am so thankful God gave be people in my life to help me to better myself.  There is always room for improvement, at least in my life. - I am FAR from perfect.  This blog is here to share these things that have made me inspired to be better.  My prayer is that this blog inspires others. Has something inspired you?  Please share!

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

~Proverbs 27:17