Category Archives: Homemaker’s Journal

Mar 27

Spring Break (and thank goodness it is done)

I think the kids have only had about sixteen days of school this month. Spring break started on the 17th, and thank goodness, the kiddos went back to school today…

I know it sounds rotten, but Spring Break really took it out of me. We spent most of the time either at the store, in the kitchen, but we did get one day away. I was completely exhausted by the weekend, and the kids were pretty darn grouchy too.

Today I went to a few stores to restock the house, and I did a little cleaning. The house is still a huge mess, but I’ll get to it soon enough.

This evening the kids are a little grouchy too. I think that calls for early bedtimes for everyone.

 

Mar 18

Spring Break Has Arrived

Spring Break arrived yesterday, and the kiddos are out of school for the next ten days. The boredom already set in yesterday…

The weather is pretty good so far, so at least they can be bored outdoors. I’m already swamped in the kitchen. I’ve almost got all of the dishes caught up, and I just need to restock the fridge with ready-to-go snacks for the kids.

I actually have the laundry caught up, which, well, I really can’t remember that every being caught up before.

I hope that next week we get out of the house for a bit. I am desperate for a day away. Well I had better get back to it. I’ve got to go and get dinner put away.

Feb 11

Stockpile Building

Over Christmas break, I started noticing that we ran out of everything way too quickly. I was always in the kitchen cooking a meal, making more cookies, and then cleaning up another mess. The kids were hungry around the clock, and when we ran out of something I didn’t want to drag them to the store. That got me thinking about stockpiling…

I haven’t kept a decent stockpile, or a proper stocked pantry since Dylan was a baby. I haven’t once a month shopped since Thade was a baby. I also haven’t hadn’t kept a decent coupon binder since Agnes was a toddler. I need to get back to being better organized, and keeping a better stocked kitchen.

First I need space. Since I have a (ahem very) small kitchen, I started out by cleaning out the cabinets. I cleaned out a lot of clutter, and we gave some unused small appliances to a good friend of ours. Once I had a little more space to work with, then I started list making. List making is my favorite!

I’m building up my stockpile, one week at a time. I’m allowing an extra $10.00 – $15.00 per week on the grocery budget for items to stockpile. That way I won’t break the bank, or use up too much space.

Here is a little of what my list looks like (all prices are estimated):

Week 1:

  • BBQ Sauce (5) $5.00
  • Brownie Mix (5) $5.00
  • Pasta Sauce (5) $5.00
  • Cake Mix (5) $5.00

Week 2

  • AP Flour (3) $6.00
  • Broth (3) $6.00
  • Sugar (3) $9.00
  • Mustard (3) $5.00

Week 3

  • Spaghetti (5) $5.00
  • Ketchup (2-3) $5.00
  • Asst. Ramen Packets (10) $3.00
  • Black Olives (3) $6.00

Week 4

  • Dried Beans (4) $6.00
  • Rice 5 lbs $5.00
  • Mac & Cheese (5) $5.00
  • Re-fried Beans (4) $6.00

I pick an item or two per shopping trip, and add it to the pantry. So far it is going well. We are running out of Saltines a bit too quickly though. I swear my kiddos eat those non-stop. I’m trying to think of more non-perishables to stockpile that we’ll use.

It seems to be an ongoing battle in the kitchen with a tween, a teen, and one cute picky girl that doesn’t want to eat what the boys are eating. What about you… What do you like to stockpile in your pantry?

 

 

Jan 19

Thursday: Things to Throw Away

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Have I mentioned that the house is getting to me?!?

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Like really getting to me…

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While the kids were home on Christmas break the messes and piles started sneaking up everywhere. The dishes piled up from constant cooking, and the laundry was everywhere. Last weekend we ended up with a four day weekend, and again I looked around the house and saw messes everywhere. There is a giant pile of unopened boxes from Christmas in the office, papers are all over the dining room table, and don’t even get me started on the kids rooms.

I sighed, booted up my laptop, and started looking at homes on realtor.com . We could really use another three rooms, I could really use a dishwasher, and James needs a home office in a basement.  Then I thought about moving expenses, and rethought my cluttered life.

I’m taking it one mess at a time, and tackling one bag of clutter every Thursday. Today I set in on my unused craft supply dresser. I managed to get an entire full trash bag out of that small space. I gathered up the bag, and got it right out to the trash.

I also started a “donations bin” in the upstairs hallway for all of those clothes that the kids are outgrowing. Dylan has been really good about donating so far. I’ve removed a few more unused items from my closet too.

I would love to live the minimalist lifestyle, but with four other humans, a cat, and a dog, and a serious yarn habit, I don’t think that is going to happen. I’ll still dream of maybe one day moving to a new home, but for now I’m going to focus on what I can do around mine. At one bag a week, I think I can manage that.