46 Lists To Make When Life Feels Chaotic

I’ve always loved lists.

Have done since I was a teenager and wrote journals full of lists on everything from my favorite songs of the year, my all-time favorite movies, books to read, and my extensive bucket list. Lists were fun!

As I grew older, I turned to lists to get things out of my head, you know, like a brain dump type of list.  Be it to-do lists, goals for the year, things to pack, or bills to pay. Writing lists down on paper helped me to dig myself out of many procrastination loops and to decrease the clutter in my head. Lists gave me room to FOCUS and actually get things done.

There’s one thing that has never changed, and that’s the fact that lists help me deal with life when it gets overwhelming, because it does! Even for the most organized of us! I’ll be honest with you and say that I’m totally overwhelmed at the moment.

So here’s 46 ideas – 46 lists you can make when life gets overwhelming.

Some are just plain fun. Some are serious. Once you get started you may not be able to stop!

Regardless, when you’re ready to sit down and start ‘listing’, have fun with it. Crack out the colored pens and a nice notebook just for your lists.

46 Lists to Make When Life Feels Chaotic

1. Books you want to read in your lifetime
2. Books you have read AND loved AND would recommend
3. Books in series – I read a lot of series and often get lost midway, so keeping lists helps me keep track on what book I’m up to in said series. I also hate reading books out of sequence, so this helps me avoid any spoilers!
4. Things you are grateful for this week
5. Things that make you happy
6. A feel-good playlist. List songs that make you feel good
7. Things you love about yourself
8. Things you love about someone else
9. Your own list of writing or journaling prompts
10. Self-care ideas
11. Your travel bucket list – include the places you have been and take pleasure in ticking them off!
12. Bills to pay and due dates – map out a plan and prioritize those bills baby!
13. Your to-do list. Get everything out of your head and onto paper!
14. All of the things you have accomplished this year – so far
15. Things you have achieved in life – so far
16. Your happiest memories – so far!
17. Inspirational quotes
18. Recipes you want to try
19. A meal plan for the week – easy meals that are quick to throw together and won’t add to your feeling of overwhelm!
20. Restaurants and cafes you want to try out
21. Your all-time fave movies
22. Movies to watch. Why not include some classics?
23. Movies that make you laugh
24. TV series to binge-watch
25. Your all-time fave songs / bands / singers
26. Gift ideas for _____
27. Things you want to learn
28. Hobbies to take up
29. A house renovation list
30. Plan to decrease the clutter. List things to throw out!
31. A shopping list
32. Useful advice / words of wisdom for when times get tough
33. Your fave places and spaces
34. Your Christmas wish list
35. Things to pack when you go on holiday
36. Phone numbers and addresses. You’ll thank me the next time you have an issue with / break / lose your phone!
37. Ideas of things to draw or paint
38. Questions to ask your doctor the next time to see them
39. Key dates for the year – birthdays, appointments, concerts, public holidays, holidays, and more
40. Songs to download or add to your playlist
41. Appointments you need to make, like checking in with the good old dentist
42. Articles to read
43. Itemize all of your valuable possessions
44. Who are you favorite people in the wide world?
45. What are your values and why? 
46. Your priorities for … life? The year? The month?

Here’s some tips for your ‘to-do’ lists

• Set aside a special pen for checking completed items off your list
• Buy some pretty stickers and give yourself a sticker for checking everything off your list.
• Set yourself a reward for doing everything on your list. It could be a glass of wine, a new top, or a massage!

Happy Listing!!!!

September 2021 Goals

Happy September friends! It’s ALMOST socially acceptable to have all the pumpkin things, and put that fall decor out (given how this year is still going). Football season is here and the temps are starting to somewhat cool down. And home school is in full swing! It’s time for me to share my September goals with you guys.

 Personal Goals

• drink more water
• practice yoga 3x a week
• eat more fruits and veggies
• walk 10,000 steps every day
• Complete one Bible study
• read 2 books

Family Goals

• Have more game nights
  
• Create a better "after school" routine
• Revamp morning and evening routines
• Watch a movie at home with the girls

Blog Goals

• Post at least 3x per week.
• Make a new list of blog post ideas
• Schedule posts until the end of the September
• Create an editorial calendar for the fall (in progress)
• Start a food blog (in progress)

What are some of your goals for September?

 

Meal Planning Tips

Like many parents, spend a few hours a week (she's not involved in much right now) chauffeuring my daughter to her after-school activities, leaving very little time to cook at the end of the day. And of course, there’s the dinner crunch that happens as soon as we get home from her activities. She is starving and wants to eat as soon as she walks in the door. So, I’ve put together some meal planning tips that I hope will reduce the stress and help you get dinner on the table faster and more efficiently.

Meal Planning Tips

• a meal plan for the week based on your family’s scheduled activities. There will be days when you have more time to cook, and other days when you have almost no time. Even if you don’t follow the meal plan exactly, having an idea of what you want to make will take a load off your plate the rest of the week.

• Order your groceries online and have them delivered to your home. Once you have your weekly meal plan, come up with a shopping list for the week. I’ve saved about 2 hours a week in driving and shopping time by ordering groceries online usingWalmart's grocery pickup service.
• Make a double batch of recipes that freeze well. Roast two chickens and freeze one (save the bones for chicken broth). Chili and meatloaf freeze well, and are easy to make in a double batch.
• Repurpose leftovers. Turn leftovers into a “new” meal by transforming them into a different meal, e.g., use leftover roast chicken to make chicken quesadillas, Chicken Burrito Salad Bowl, Buffalo Chicken Salad sandwiches, Chicken Chili, or make fried rice with leftover meats and vegetables.

MEAL PREP TIPS

 PREPPING PARTS OF RECIPES AHEAD OF TIME AND TAKING A FEW SHORTCUTS WILL HELP YOU GET DINNER ON THE TABLE FASTER.

• Marinate meats the night before for quick and tasty baked or grilled dinners. Try this Baked Peruvian Spiced Chicken or Grilled Asian Flank Steak, for example.
• Make a batch of Stir-Fry Sauce, prep vegetables and marinate meats the night before for quick stir-fry dinners.
• Use a food processor to chop vegetables. Carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mushrooms and bell peppers can all be chopped in a food processor to save time. The trick is to pulse them until the desired size is achieved. You can chop multiple vegetables in the food processor by pulsing the hardest vegetables first until they’re chopped, then adding the more watery vegetables like onions and bell pepper and pulsing them. This works great for chili, bolognese sauce and soups when you want smaller pieces of vegetables for the recipe.
• Start dinner in the morning using your slow cooker. The slow cooker has been my best friend on many days when I know I’ll be out of the house the entire day.

COOKING/SERVING DINNER

Getting dinner on the table quickly can be a challenge when you have a hungry family. Here are some additional tips that have helped me feed my family almost as soon as they walk int he door.

Save

• Turn on the oven or put a pot of water on the stove to boil as soon as you walk in the door. This is a big time saver if you are baking/roasting something for dinner, or if you’re making pasta for dinner. While the oven is heating up or the water is waiting to boil, you can get the vegetables/side dishes ready.
• Make rice or grains in a rice cooker and keep it on the warm setting. A rice cooker is the perfect companion to a slow cooker because it keeps rice/grains warm for several hours (my rice cooker is supposed to keep rice warm for up to 12 hours), so it’s ready to serve when you get back home from after-school activities.
• Keep food warm in a slow cooker. Even if you cook something on the stovetop earlier in the day, you can transfer it to a slow cooker so that dinner is warm when you get back home from all the after-school activities.
• Pressure cookers are big time savers. On days when I get a late start on dinner, the pressure cooker cuts cooking time to about 1/3 of the time it normally would take. Almost anything you make on the stove or a slow cooker can be made in a pressure cooker. I don’t have an Instant Pot, but it’s supposed to have a pressure cooker setting. Give this Pressure Cooker Lentil Chili a try.
• Frozen vegetables work in a pinch. Frozen vegetables actually retain more nutrients than old vegetables. Frozen peas, edamame and corn work well.
• Serve raw vegetables. A simple salad or raw carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber spears and bell pepper slices are great vegetables that don’t require any cooking.  If I’m short on time, I’ll just chop up some romaine lettuce and top with shredded carrots or cherry tomatoes for a simple salad, or cut up some raw vegetables and call it a day.

I hope you find these meal planning tips helpful. Please feel free to share your own meal planning tips in the comments section.

August 2021 Goals

 Hi Lovelies!!

I can't believe that August is almost over and that we have been home schooling the kids for a week now. It's been a slow (we are still self isolating) and fun summer but I think we are all ready for more of a routine.

Today, I am sharing my goals for this month.

1.  Organize the kid's closets
2.  Create office space in the corner of the family room
3.  Begin work on my etsy shop and another shop
4.  Begin a new (slightly scary) venture with the Hubby
5.  Make at least 2 freezer meals a week
6.  Read 2 books
7.  Blog at least 3 times per week
8.  Menu plan consistently
9.  Use my planner consistently (my days would be less hectic if I would do this)
10. Eat more fruits and veggies

What are your goals?

 

Currently {7/17/2021}

Time and place: 7:00am  and I am in the dining room, typing up this post.

  
Eating: Nothing at the moment, but I am thinking about what I want to fix for breakfast

Drinking: A big glass of water (always)

Watching: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on Peacock TV

 

Reading: Sisterhood Everlasting

Loving: Being able to sit down after a long day of housework and taking care of my family and read my book for a little while/.

Working: I just started designing a meal planner. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! I'm so excited for this new project. I am also working on a weekly planner insert that I am excited about and a note pad that I have been wanting to design for a while now. I am also working on a monthly/weekly planner. I can't wait to see how these turn out. 

Listening to: my girls playing in the living room.

Buying: Groceries for the rest of the month and stocking up on certain items that are needed. I'm also looking at clothes and other household items that are needed. I am also shopping for my youngest's birthday presents.

Planning: I have most of my posts planned for the rest of July. I just have to write and schedule them. I am working on setting up some deadlines for my meal planner and other planners that I am working on. I am also working with my husband on designing a new website. I am also working on some planner inserts. This should keep me busy for a while!

 

I'm also planning my youngest's birthday, which is next month.

Wondering: can I pull it off? How will I pull it off?

Feeling: tired, but happy, always.

Currently {7/11/2021}

Time and place: 7:24pm  and I am in the dining room, typing up this post.

  
Eating: Nothing at the moment.

Drinking: A big glass of water (always)

Watching: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on Peacock TV

 

Reading: A Killer's Wife

Loving: Spending time with my husband and kids. 

Working: I just started designing a meal planner. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! I'm so excited for this new project. I am also working on a weekly planner insert that I am excited about and a note pad that I have been wanting to design for a while now. I am also working on a monthly/weekly planner. I can't wait to how these turn out. 

Listening to: my girls playing in the living room.

Buying: Groceries for the rest of the month and stocking up on certain items that are needed. I'm also looking at clothes and other household items that are needed.

Planning: I have most of my posts planned for the rest of July. I just have to write and schedule them. I am working on setting up some deadlines for my meal planner and other planners that I am working on. I am also working with my husband on designing a new website. I am also working on some planner inserts. This should keep me busy for a while!

 

I'm also planning my youngest's birthday, which is next month.

Wondering: can I pull it off? How will I pull it off?

Feeling: tired, but happy, always.

8 Things To Do Before 8am

We're always talking about how it would be great to have just one more hour in the day. We wonder how the uber-successful people in our lives find time to fit it all in, how they get as much accomplished as they do, and why they always seem to be one step ahead of everyone else.

Their secret might be simpler than you think, and with a little shift in how you lay out your day, you might be able to take advantage of the benefits of a well-orchestrated, intentional morning. So, get ready to feel energized, motivated and totally on top of your game. Here are the top eight things you can do to set yourself up for success in the morning:

8 Things to Do Before 8am

1. Move your body.

Before the many priorities of the day creep in, commit to moving your body. We're more likely to exercise—and commit to doing it regularly—if we fit it in before we're overwhelmed by to-do's. Even if it's just for 20 minutes, take advantage of this part of the day where there are fewer interruptions and kickstart your productivity with a big hit of endorphins.

2. Meditate.

No worries if your morning won't allow for sitting on a pillow and chanting for an hour. You can reap similar benefits with just a few minutes of quiet, mindful breathing. Focus on inhaling for four counts and exhaling for four counts as your mind settles and your body releases any panic about the day ahead. This isn't supposed to be an opportunity to solve problems; Rather, it's meant to reset the mind and create space for open thought and creativity later on.

3. Eat something and hydrate.

It seems simple, but eating and hydrating within the first hour of waking is a great way to set up your body and mind for success. A nourished, hydrated physical self will be less stressed, less tense and more focused throughout the day. Plus, you can avoid distracting hunger later on by pre-fueling. Aim to have at least three glasses of water before you leave the house, and power up with ample protein and fats to keep your cells running strong until lunch.

4. Stay positive, set goals, and speak intentions.

Starting the day on a positive note by checking in with goals you've set for yourself and giving yourself kudos for a job well done can set the tone for more successes and more goals realized. Set an intention for the day (“I intend to be focused”) and reflect on your goals (“Today I will eat well to nourish myself”) to keep your priorities in line. You can also jot down a few lines of gratitude. The more attention we pay to this, the more likely we are to continue to notice these moments all day long. This leads to more gratitude, more openness, and more satisfaction with the little things, which means less stress and feeling overwhelmed.

5. Strategize.

When we're clear on what we intend to accomplish in the day, and we craft a plan to realize it, we're more likely to make it happen. Using your morning hours to map out your day will help you stay on track and well prioritized. You can visualize or write these out, whichever works best for your mind. Consider your must-do's, where you need to be, how you'll get there, and who you plan to speak with that day. Factoring in things like travel time and anticipating challenges can also be helpful first thing. If you foresee them happening, you can preemptively develop a solution to work through them if they arise.

6. Tackle the tough task first.

While it can be tempting to procrastinate and tick off the 700 smaller tasks on your to-do list first, that larger more challenging one will loom over you all day (or all week). Email is often the biggest offender for tiny task takeover. Instead, scan your inbox quickly for anything urgent that could derail your day's trajectory, then close your inbox until you get to work. Focusing instead on the largest task at hand, and committing to getting it done early, will free up mental bandwidth and improve your mood.

7. Create a ritual.

Having something consistent and predictable to look forward to in the morning—a walk with the dog, a pot of tea and a gratitude journal, or a few minutes of stretching—is tremendously calming. Knowing you have something pleasurable to look forward to will get you out of bed and into an I've-got-this mindset early in the day. Particularly if this includes something creative, like coloring or music, you'll start your problem solving, artistic neurons firing first thing, priming them for easy use later on.

8. Get up an hour earlier.

The biggest hindrance to a productive morning is the snooze button. Even more so, leaving yourself just enough to time to get the essentials done isn't conducive to spacious, calm time to yourself (and without that, fitting in any or all of the above will likely just cause you more stress). Plan ahead for when you intend to get out of bed, set an alarm and rise when that alarm goes off, even if that's an hour earlier than you would usually get out of bed. How, you ask? Go to bed earlier. The quality and quantity of sleep will also play heavily into the next day's success!

Happy Homemaker Monday {7/5/2021}

  Good evening everyone and welcome back to my blog. 

I hope every everyone had a wonderful weekend and are ready for the week ahead. 

It's 10:00pm and I am just now sitting down to write this post. Today, I have finished 3 loads of laundry ( the last is hanging to dry), cleaned the kitchen for the last time tonight (who loves a clean kitchen at night?), and I have finally picked up the living from a hard day of playing and relazing. I just hope my week will be as productive as this day has been.

Happy Monday and have a wonderful and productive week!

Happy Homemaker Monday 

 

 The weather outside is:

HOT! HOT! HOT!All week long!

What we had for dinner tonight (instead of the breakfast plate):

Chicken and Au Gratin potatoes (in the crockpot) and green beans

As I look out my window:

It's dark with twinkling stars in the sky.

As I look around the house:

The living room needs to be picked up and then kitchen needs to be straighten.

What I'm wearing today:

A gray t-shirt and gray pants

Currently reading:

Sweet Valley High books on Kindle Unlimited.

On the TV this week:

Right now I am watching The Masked Singer, Call Me Kat, Blossom, shows on Hulu and Netflx (I'm watching Cobra Kai again)

On the Menu this week: (I'm still figuring out the meal plan for this week)

Monday- Chicken and Au Gratin potatoes (crockpot) with green beans

Tuesday- Sandwiches with chips and fruit

Wednesday- Tilapia with pasta and veggies and fruit

Thursday- Potato soup with rolls

Friday- Pizza with cheesy breadsticks

Saturday- Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and veggies

Sunday- Chicken and dressing

Inspirational quotes: 

 

 

Interesting Facts About the Fourth of July

    Since today is Independence Day (more commonly known as the 4th of July), I thought I would share some interesting facts about this fun holiday!!

We all know the Colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776  and we are already familiar with the fireworks, parades, barbeques and other festivities like picnics, fairs, and concerts that take place on this day, but there are many things that people don't know about the Fourth.

Disclaimer: All facts were taken from this website: Academic exchange

1. Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

2. Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the
others signed later.

3. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies.

4. The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45. The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr (27) of South Carolina.  The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania. The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.

5. One out of eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated at Harvard (7 total).

6. The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

7. The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.

8. The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. This was also the day that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public after people were summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

9. The White House held its first 4th July party in 1801.
  
10. President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth. Adams and Jefferson (both signed the Declaration) died on the same day within hours of each other in 1826.

11. Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who recommended the bald eagle.

12. In 1776, there were 2.5 million people living in the new nation. Today the population of the U.S.A. is 316 million.

13. Fifty-nine places in the U.S. contain the word “liberty” in the name. Pennsylvania, with 11, has more of these places than any other state. Of the 59 places nationwide containing “liberty” in the name, four are counties: Liberty County, Ga. (65,471), Liberty County, Fla. (8,276), Liberty County, Mont. (2,392) and Liberty County, Texas (76,571).

14. The most common patriotic-sounding word used within place names is “union” with 136. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118), Jackson (96) and Lincoln (95).

15. Fireworks are part of the tradition of celebrating this national holiday. The U.S. imported $227.3 million worth of fireworks from China in 2012. U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $11.7 million in 2012, with Israel purchasing more than any other country ($2.5 million).

16. In 2012, vast majority of imported U.S. flags ($3.6 million) was made in China.

17. Barbecue is also big on Independence Day. Approximately 150 million hot dogs and 700 million
pounds of chicken are consumed on this day.

18. Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped (not actually rung) thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.

19. Traditions place the origins of “Yankee Doodle” as a pre-Revolutionary War song originally sung by British military officers to mock the disheveled, disorganized colonial “Yankees” with whom they served in the French and Indian War. It is believed that the tune comes from the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket. One version of the Yankee Doodle lyrics is “generally attributed” to Doctor Richard Shuckburgh,a British Army surgeon. According to one story, Shuckburgh wrote the song after seeing the appearance of Colonial troops under Colonel Thomas Fitch, V, the son of Connecticut Governor Thomas Fitch.[2]

20. The tune of the National Anthem was originally used by an English drinking song called “to Anacreon in Heaven.” The words have nothing to do with consumption of alcohol but the “melody that Francis Key had in mind when he wrote those words did originate decades earlier as the melody for a song praise of wine.” http://www.colonialmusic.org/Resource/Anacreon.htm

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!!!!!

10 Interesting Facts About The Month of July

 Hi Friends!!!

It's hard to believe that it's already July and that the 4th of July is this Sunday! Where has the year gone? So..... a new month has begun, so let’s welcome it in with a few July facts.

1. The month of July is named after Julius Caesar by a decision of the Roman Senate in 44BC as July was the month of his birth.

2. Before that, it had been known as Quintilis (fifth) as it was the fifth month in the old calendar.

3. Until the 18th century, the word July in English had the stress on the first syllable and rhymed with duly or truly.

4. Although six months have passed, July 1 is not the mid-point of the year. The exact halfway point comes at 1pm BST on July 3 in a non-leap year.

5. No month ends on the same day of the week as July unless it is a leap year, when January does so.

6. Julius is not now in the top 500 names given to newborn boys in the UK, though Julia is 79th for girls in England and Wales and 74th in Scotland. Julian comes 326th in England and Wales.

7. July’s birthstone is the ruby, which is said to symbolise contentment.

8. Seven US presidents have died in July, which is more than any other month.

9. “The English winter, ending in July, To recommence in August, now was done,” (Byron).

10. In all parts of the UK July is on average the warmest month of the year.

4 Simple Steps to Clear Kitchen Counters

We have all seen them, those neat and tidy kitchens without a stray spoon or spatula in sight. Here are 4 simple steps to clean counters that I swear by:

1. Completely clear your counters. Remove everything and place it on your kitchen or dining room table.

2. Wipe your counters with your favorite cleaner ( I use a solution of 1 cup vinegar to one cup water with a 5-6 drops of Dawn dish soap), or you can use a sponge with warm, soapy water.

3. Look at your appliances that you placed on the table-- is there anything that you don't use daily that can be put in a different place, or in a cabinet or pantry? Is there anything you can donate or give away? Before you move everything back, take stock of your counters for a few minutes. If you only use your toaster or blender once or twice a week and if you have limited counter space (like I do) maybe it would be better stored someplace else. A little space on the counter is a good things, there is no need to clutter it up!

4. Now, put the remaining items back on your counters and think about zones as you are returning the items. For example, it you keep your baking goods (like flour and sugar)  on the counter, put them where you store your mixer and measuring cups. Put your coffee maker by the mugs and so on.

Once you have returned all of your items to the counters, make a conscience effort to keep them clean. After every meal put things back where they belong, don't pile dishes on the counters and empty your sink and/or dishwasher (if you have one). My number one suggestion to keeping your kitchen clean and your counters clear, is to develop a kitchen cleaning routine. This will help immensely and you will feel much better in the morning when you wake up to clean counters.