Spring Cleaning

For the past 2 weeks moneysavingmom.com has been listing one deep cleaning item to accomplish each day.  In 4 weeks the idea is that your Spring cleaning will be finished.

I am starting the list today... a little late, so I get to play catchup!  Today I was able to check off 3 items from the list.


Here is the list as of today:
Clean out purse
Clean out fridge
Clean out freezer
Clean under bed/furniture
Clean under all chair/couch cushions
Clean inside of both cars
Wipe down all baseboards
Wipe all doorhandles
Clean light switch plates
Clean all light fixtures (including lampshades)
Clean silverware drawer
Clean microwave, stove top, oven

Parker is still napping so here is my afternoon treat:

Vanilla iced coffee!

Creamy Vegetable Orzo

This post is dedicated to my sister, a faithful follower of Mrs. Faircloth.

1Tbsp. olive oil
1onion, chopped
1greeen bell pepper, chopped
1 cup corn (frozen or fresh)
3/4 cup Orzo pasta
14 1/2 oz chicken broth
1/2 cup chive and onion cream cheese (reduced fat)

Heat oil on medium heat in a large skillet.  Add onion, cook 4 min.  Stir in pepper and corn, cook and stir 2 min.  Add orzo, cook and stir 1 min.

Stir in broth, bring to a boil on high heat.  Let simmer for 10min or until orzo and veggies are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Add cream cheese, allow cheese to melt and stir until sauce is well blended.

Enjoy!!

Meal Planning

Meal planning keeps me sane.  It saves both time and money.  Once a week I plan our meals for Monday -Sunday and make a grocery list based on what I need to make those meals.  It doesn't take that long and is totally worth it during the week.  Here is the plan for this week:

Monday- Dinner with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law for Jason's birthday
Tuesday- Tilapia, rice, green beans
Wednesday-Roasted Chicken, sweet potato, broccoli
Thursday- Creamy Vegetable Orzo
Friday- Out to San Juan (date night)
Saturday- Chicken, Bacon, and Tomato Pasta
Sunday- Vegetable Pizza

How do I do it?  Normally I plan on a Thursday night/Friday morning for the next week.  I grab a pen, paper, planner, and cookbooks/recipes and start the planning.  When planning I keep in mind what we have going on the next week (that's why I use the planner).  This way I am able to plan a fast cooking meal on the days that we have a commitment and know what day we have free to go out or have a friend over for dinner.  As I look for good recipes I look in the pantry/freezer to see what I need to use, sometimes I base recipes off of that.  Whatever I don't have on hand I put on a grocery list. 

I have been meal planning close to 2 years and it only gets easier as time passes.  If you are just starting stick with it and it will pay off. 

Happy Birthday Jason!

A few weeks ago Jason and I, along with some friends, watched Courageous.  It was a fantastic movie and I recommend it to anyone, married or not.  The movie was about a group of men who decide (after a tragic accident) to stand up and start leading their families in the way the Bible calls a man to lead.  Without spoiling the movie I will say it included men in all different areas of life who were dealing with vastly different situations.  Here is just a taste of what the men resolve to do:

"I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

As we were driving home that night I was thinking about my husband.  I feel like so many women probably walked away from watching this movie and thought something along the lines of "I wish my husband would be more like those guys.", but I don't have the chance to say that. 

Jason is a man of honor in all circumstances.  He is honest, compassionate, hard working, and loyal.  All of that would be enough, but he is also hilarious, a wonderful story teller, and quite the looker.  I can honestly say it is only by the grace of God that I can be Mrs. Faircloth.  I do not deserve this husband.

Since we will be in the mountains on Jason's birthday to see my sisters and brother I threw a birthday party for Jason last weekend.  We gathered at a friends house and roasted marshmallows for smores.  I don't have pictures of the people who were there but this is how we set it up:

Date Night Ideas

Jason and I recently went to a marriage retreat put on by our church Crossway.  It was a great time full of both encouragement and challenges.  One (of the many) thing we were challenged with is establishing a regular date night.  Not just a time to be together and hangout, but a time of purpose that gives us a neutral and expected setting to ask, "How am I doing as a husband/wife?".  Then talk about ways we can improve or about the things that have gone well in the past week.  The idea is that this would be a weekly event.  In the past we have tried but, have gotten discouraged by either finding the time or by finances.  So, in an effort to overcome the discouragement we brainstormed some free/inexpensive dates and will choose an evening that we stick with.

It is just a beginning but here are the dates we came up with. 

Free Dates:

Cape Fear Museum (on the free day)
The park to play tennis
The park to play horse
Bike ride and picnic
Rent a movie from the Library
Plan for Italy @ home or coffee shop
Dinner @ home and a walk

Cheap Dates:

Attractions Book Dinner (a local coupon book that has tons of B1G1 Free dinners)
Beer and pool at Blue Post (a place downtown Wilmington)
Barnes and Noble Coffee date
Camping at Carolina Beach
Wine tasting
Beer and Baseball game at a local place (since we don't have t.v.)
Sharks or UNCW baseball game
Check out plays at Thalian hall


Also, I am making these tonight for Jason's birthday.  YUM!

4 Things

1.  Jason and I stayed up WAY too late last night watching Rhett&Link videos after his basketball game.  You should really check this one out:
http://rhettandlink.com/videos/#fastfoodfolksong

2.  About 3:30am I was up coughing (from a lingering cold) and couldn't sleep so I started reading this book:

I only got through the first chapter, but WOW... It's going to be a great challenge.!

3.  Today I am making my MIL this cake for her birthday:

4.  I LOVE planning parties, and I am working Jason's birthday party today.... hopefully it will all come together.  Here is some inspiration I am drawing from:

 

Winter Projects



Here are some projects I want to do in the next month or so:


A good way to use up scraps of fabric and decorate for Valentines day.

I can think of a few little girls I want to make this for :)



Valentines day garland



This skirt seems perfect for any season. Just add tights for a cold winter day or slip on some strappy sandals for summer!

Maybe this weekend I can start??

The hardest part of my day...removing my slippers.

My black slippers are black like my hair,
My black slippers are so much fun to wear.

They wait by my bed until the next morn,
And when I awake they keep my feet warm.

And when I come home to sit and read a book,
It is up toward the ceiling they always look.

When it the kitchen Jason's supper to make,
My good old black slippers don't let my feet ache.

And down through the years as I face the cold,
I know on my soles the faithful black slippers of old.

2012 Goals

I mentioned our 2012 goals in a previous post and thought if I wrote them down Jason and I maybe more likely to accomplish them!  We don't have many, but that makes me think the few we have will be that much more achievable.

1.  Finish Paying 50% of School Loans
We would like to pay down this debt by 50% or more in the next year.  If we could pay all of it that would be great!  This would free up more of Jason's salary for savings and we feel like it would give us more freedom to serve Our Great God.

2.  Invite More People into Our Home
We would love to open our home more often to neighbors, friends we don't see often, and college students.

3.  Cook through Giada De Laurentiis' cookbook
I want to try new recipes and in honor of our trip to Italy this seemed fitting.  I have tried 2 recipes so far and they were delish.  I have to pace myself because of the costly and fattening ingredients!

4.  Have a Sunday Night Devotion Time
So far we have met this goal for 2012.  Sunday night is a good time to relax, discuss the teaching from Church, and get charged up for the busy week ahead!

 

Wishlist

About a month before Jason and tied the knot we sat down together and made a wishlist of sorts.  It was a list of things that we thought we would need/want and knew we needed to start saving for.  A few weeks ago I ran across the list stuck in a study Bible and was struck by how God has provided ALL of the 14 things we had written down! 

The list is a compilation of both small and large things.  Here you go:

1.  Dresser
2.  Bedside table #2
3.  "Coffee table" (small table to hold our coffee pot/mugs that sits in our dining room)
4.  2 Curtain Rods
5.  Curtains
6.  Laptop
7.  Car
8.  Trip to Italy
9.  Side table for living room
10.  Bedframe/Headboard
11.  Mattress
12.  Canvass Photo
13.  Picture Frames
14.  Coat Rack

We have been married almost 2 years and will be celebrating with a trip to Italy.  I remember writing that on the list and actually doubting it would happen, but two weeks ago we bought our tickets!!  Many of the items on our list were given to us or we were able to buy with wedding money.  Seeing the list accomplished causes me to feel excited and hopeful about other goals we have set for 2012!