Choose to not be busy.

That’s it. Pretty deep, huh? Think about it. We are all grown ups. We make our own choices all day long. We choose to eat healthy, or not. We choose what to wear, what to say, who to call, what to do.

Why not choose to overcome busy? Or choose to do something else worthwhile? Why not make a conscious effort? 

January 1st, people make new year’s resolutions. All throughout the year, people start diets and workout programs. Most people fail at all these. Why? Because they really never made the choice to do it. They just arbitrarily decide something might be a good or popular thing to do, but they never really own it. When you choose it, it is yours.

So, go ahead. The choice is yours. What do you choose to do?

One of my favorite meats to freeze is ground beef. I prefer to brown the beef before freezing. Sometimes the thawing process can discolor and spoil uncooked meat, especially if you wait too long to freeze it. I like to freeze the ground beef one pound at a time in freezer bags. That makes it easy to add to recipes.

Easy Ground Beef Meal Ideas

Our family has a few favorite, easy dishes that I can whip up using one pound of frozen ground beef and just a few ingredients. It makes those nights when I don’t have a lot of time or energy a bit easier.

Chili – We make a simple chili like THIS one.

Tacos – I like to use THIS homemade taco seasoning.

Sloppy Joes – Just ground beef, ketchup and BBQ sauce

Unstuffed Peppers – Our family likes to make easy rice skillets like THIS one.

Mexican Orzo Skillet

• 1  pound ground beef
• 1  cup salsa
• 1/2  cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1  cup water
• 1  tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4  teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1  can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Since panic was my first thought, I decided I needed to ask the experts. I asked Overcoming Busy facebook fans what they would do. I thought it was interesting that the ideas where very similar. The common thread was to just take care of the main areas and do it quickly.

“pick up toys, wipe down kitchen, wipe down bathroom (just the main one), if time left, run the sweeper”

“Big huge plastic bag to clean up all the clutter. Hide the full bag. A quick wipe down of bathroom and spot vacuum where company will be.”

“Spray air freshner in living room area, by the front door & bathroom. Then, do a quick touch-up of the bathroom. Sink & Toilet.
And if you have boys, the floor and wall ALL Around the toilet. (Ask me how I know)”

“Vacuum,sweep, mop. I have a steam.mop it takes like ten minutes. Clean the toilet. If your nosey enough to look in the shower you’ll know we actually live here. Plug in the scentsy and call it even.”

“Potties, counter tops and my personal pet peeve: clean out the sink!!! The sink makes or breaks it–IMO!”

This comment had lot of wisdom -

“I try to keep my main living areas where 15-20 min is all I need”

And, this one just cracked me up because we’ve all thought of it at least once -

“Start coughing & pretend I’m sick…..wink”

 Would you do anything different?

In the Stop Pinterest Procrastination post last week, I gave you until today to pause the Pinterest pinning and actually create something! We all do it. We get inspired by a tutorial or photo and think “I can do that!” We add it to our collection of pins and then forget about it. Well, it’s time to put that inspiration into action! I did and I am thrilled with the result!

In our house we love dry erase boards. We have everything from the standard white boards to pretty ceramic decor pieces. What I really wanted was one to put in our dining area to list the dinner menu. I saw this project from www.makesandtakes.com on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect.

It looked easy enough, but you know I just never had enough time to create my own. I needed this challenge to be sure I made time. I stopped at Michaels while my daughter was at figure skating practice and picked up this frame ($4) and this pretty paper (20 cents).

The frame was 10 x10 and the paper was 12×12, so I did a little paper trimming.  Then, I just took the back off the frame. Put the paper up against the glass just like a photo and…

..if you’ll ignore the crappy photography, my lacking penmanship, and my fading dry erase marker…it turned out great! In just 5 minutes, I created my first Pinterest project! Yeah, the one I didn’t have time for. That seems kind of silly now.

In the few days we have used the new menu board, the constant question of what’s for dinner and the moans that usually follow have all but vanished. They enter the kitchen, read the board aloud and go back to what they were doing – unfazed. Who knew that my little decor project would bring peace at dinnertime?! I better get working on some more!

What about you??

Did you take the Stop Pinterest Procrastination challenge?

Well….link it up!!!

I don’t even need a recipe for this one.

Cut up some potatoes and an onion. Place the potatoes and onions in a stoneware pan, casserole dish or cookie sheet. It really doesn’t matter. Toss them with a little olive oil. Season them with your favorite season salt or steak seasoning. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 25-40 minutes, depending on how many potatoes you use, or until they are fork tender.

The potatoes get kind of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The onions are slightly charred and caramelized – full of great flavor. I like them just the way they are, but the kids like to eat them with ketchup. Either way, this dish is so good and so simple. Perfect for overcoming busy in the kitchen!

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Here’s my menu for the rest of the week. I’ll be linking up to Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday.

Chicken and Noodles

Chicken, broccoli, rice casserole

Mexican Pork Roast, green chile sauce, torillias, avocado

Homemade Pizza

Reuben Sandwiches, salad

What are you feeding your family this week?

Who doesn’t LOVE Pinterest?? Seriously. Pinterest has changed my online experience. I now find myself searching for ideas and subjects here before Google these days. The idea of having everything in neat little pictures is such music to my order and inspiration seeking little heart. Pinterest is THE place to go for inspiration, but now I need motivation!

At last count, I have 24 boards with 370 pins on my Pinterest page. So many ideas and projects I want to work on!

“How many Pinterest inspired projects have you worked on?” you ask.

Excellent question. I guess I’ve been too busy searching and pinning that I haven’t had made time to work on anything!

Sound familiar??

It’s time to stop Pinterest procrastination!!

Here’s some motivation. I’m giving us all one week to look at your Pinterest boards and actually “do” something! Get inspired by that organizing project you pinned 3 months ago. Make that fabric flower brooch you thought looked so easy and cute. Whip up that dish that made you drool on your keyboard.

Complete one Pinterest project and then link it up next Wednesday at Overcoming Busy. Let’s see what inspiration and motivation can do!

Can’t wait to see what you all come up with!!

First, cook chicken breast in olive oil in a skillet until golden on both sides.

Take a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles or a can of diced tomatoes and a tablespoon or two of canned green chiles and pour over the browned chicken.

Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve over white rice. Add a vegetable on the side or a salad and you’ve got a meal!

That’s my word for 2012.

FOCUS

It seems I can get a little scattered. There is a lot going on around here, even though I do a decent job at keeping it down to the essentials. Problem is, I get working on one thing and then another comes into my mind and…SQUIRREL!! I’m off chasing that thought and activity. It kind of slows down productivity.

For instance, we will be homeschooling when I remember I have a load of laundry that needs to be switched from the washer to to the dryer. I leave my daughter for “just a second” and head to the laundry room. Then, I remember there are already clothes in the dryer. So I put the dry clothes in the basket. Oh no! There are shirts in there that need to be hung up! I’m off to hang up the shirts.

After hanging up the shirts I notice my shoes aren’t all on the shoe rack in the closet. I re-arrange all the shoes. Oh yeah…I’m supposed to be changing the laundry. I head back to the laundry room, put the laundry in the dryer. That’s when I notice the dust and yuck on the top of the washer and dryer. I clean the tops of the washer and dryer.

Finally, I go back to my daughter who has finished the subject we were working on and is now in the middle of an impromptu art project that she wants to finish instead of starting grammar. Can’t blame her.

That starts a whole other focus issue.

Sound familiar??

I can get out of focus on other things too. How about online time? I’ll get on for just a minute and 30 minutes later… Or finances? I know I’m saving for this, but it won’t hurt if I just spend a little on that…. Or commitments? Sure I can take on one more little thing and keep all my other commitments. I’m sure I’ll have the time… Can anyone relate?

So…that’s why this year’s word is FOCUS.

What’s your word for 2012?

I’m not the only one with a word for 2012. Check out the Word for 2012 blog hop at Southern Institute.

I just may have the answer for you!!

Susan Heid at The Confident Mom just released the 2012 Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner. This planner will make completing your daily and weekly household chores a snap! It helps keep you on task and productive by giving  chore lists for each day of the year. This keeps housework from building up and becoming large and overwhelming. Most of the items on the lists can easily be completed in 3 to 30 minutes, and you can select appropriate items to delegate to family members. (Hey, no one said YOU had to do it all!) And nothing feels better than being able to check off those items as DONE!

Here’s a sample of the types of tasks you will find in this planner:

• Plan/cook dinner
• Make beds
• Clean out expired food in pantry
• Water indoor plants
• Clean bathroom sinks/shine mirrors
• Wash car
• Pay bills due
• Pamper yourself
• Plan cards/gifts for January birthdays/occasions
• Quiet time (Gen 4-6; Matt 2) (Note: A version without the Bible study is also available.)

You can even personalize the planner by adding special weekly tasks or notes to remember. A fun or inspirational quote is featured each week to remind you about the joys, and sometimes humor, of family and motherhood.

To see a sample page for yourself click HERE. You can download an entire year copy for yourself for only $9 or….

You can win one!!! ########CONTEST CLOSED########################

Leave a comment and you are entered to win! I will draw a name at random Friday January 6th and will announce the winner Saturday. That’s it. Easy peasy!  You are going to love this planner! Good luck!

In the mood to de-clutter and get organized for 2012?? Click on over to Today’s Housewife where I’m sharing some tips to make the task a little less stressful.