Simple Gifts - Part 3

Once you get in the habit, the gifts just keep coming!!  Here's the next installment:

A cup of hot tea

Tulips coming to life

Shells from the beach where my kids live

Got any more?  Just keep them coming - meversace@gmail.com 

Simple Gifts - Part 2

You sure are thankful readers!!  Here are some additions to our "Simple Gifts" list:

Flowers!

A Giant Cup of Coffee First Thing in the Morning!

Grandbabies!!!!

Thanks, everyone!!  Let's keep giving thanks for those simple gifts!

Simple Gifts - Part 1

It's no newsflash that we live in a crazy, upside-down world. Sometimes I think watching the news is like a horror movie. For me, it's important to enjoy the simple little "gifts" that are around me every day.  I take seriously the biblical command to "give thanks in all things" (I Thessalonians 5) and that doesn't leave room for complaining.  Ann Voskamp says that "simplicity is a matter of focus."  What do I focus on when I want to give thanks?

The simple gifts that God puts around me every day!

-My whistling, tea kettle - what a happy sound!  Then I know that steaming tea is on its way!

-The sun beaming through my windows in the morning - yes!

-A single bloom on my cactus

You might say, "Maria, who cares about these things?"  I'll quote Ann Voskamp again - "And when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me."  Isn't that a good goal?  I think so.

What are your "simple gifts?"  Send me an email and a photo if you can - I'll publish them here!  (meversace@gmail.com)

Make Your Mornings Easy!

Do you feel rushed in the morning?  Do you forget important things because you're always under pressure?  Well, here are a few hints to make your mornings go easier for you and everyone in your household.

First, if you pack lunches for children, make sure they are done the night before.  My boys and I always packed their lunches for the next day right after dinner when we were all in the kitchen cleaning up.  It didn't ever take long and it was never an issue in the morning.  It's good to think of anything else that can be done the night before (showers, homework, picking out clothes...) and get it over with - don't wait until the morning!

Next, make sure all your needed items are ready to go by the door.  I take a large bag with me to school every day.  At night it sits on a bench by the door with everything in it that I'll need for the next day, papers, books, etc.  I never have to run around in the morning to look for what I need.  This has been a great stress reducer!

Last, take just a few minutes to sit and collect your thoughts before you leave for the day.  My days start very early, usually around 5:30 am.  I leave my house at 6:00 am.  I don't eat, but I do take a few minutes and sip some hot coffee, check my emails and read my devotional before I leave.  I think it's important to guard those few minutes of quiet before the business of the day hits me!

How do you plan for a busy morning?

Lower Your Grocery Bill

Do you feel like you spend too much on groceries?  We all know that the cost of food is constantly on the rise.  How can we combat this?  I've got 3 simple tips.

1 - Before you buy lots of groceries, look in your freezer and cupboard and use what you already have!  That sounds simplistic, but I know plenty of people who have lots of cans and containers of food that just sit.  It may take some creativity and patience, but you can find a way to use those cans sitting in the back of the cupboard, or that leftover ham in the freezer.  If you have a computer, just type into the Google bar: "How can I cook pork and mushrooms?" or "beef and black beans?"  I guarantee you that dozens of recipe ideas will appear before you and you'll be inspired.  I bet some of the chefs on Food Network's "Chopped" do this on a regular basis to prepare for that cooking challenge!

2 - If you have leftovers - EAT THEM!!  Just tell everybody that it's the rule - leftovers must be eaten before new meals are cooked.  I've seen some really creative families make sure they eat all leftover food.  One family I know wraps meal-sized portions of leftovers in plastic wrap and then foil and freezes each "Mystery Plate."  When they have enough plates for a meal, everyone gets one, defrosts it, and has dinner. The foil hides the contents so nobody can cheat and only take certain foods.

3 - Instead of planning meals around cookbooks or fancy recipes, see what is on sale at your grocery store.  Plan your week's meals on the meat and vegetables that are lower in cost.  Again, this sounds too simple, but I'm surprised at how many people don't take advantage of this.  If I find Roasting Chickens or London Broil Steaks on sale, I buy several and freeze them.

So...if you are cooking for your family - pat yourself on the back!  That's always healthier and cheaper than eating out.  You are saving a bundle right there.  And if you try to use your staples, eat leftovers, and "shop the sales" then you'll lower your grocery bill for sure!

How do you use your leftovers?

Cleaning Baby Steps

I've climbed along a long, slow learning curve when it comes to cleaning.  When I was young, my mother did all the housework and I couldn't have cared less about any of it. When I got married I slowly realized that I didn't have a clue about most household cleaning jobs.  I understood how to wash dishes and clean a bathroom, but that's not saying much.

Fast forward a few years to when I started teaching full-time with young children and a house to take care of...panic!  I asked many teachers that I worked with how they managed everything and I got a lot of good advice that I still follow today.  Most of it involves Baby Steps, a little work at a time, just like my hero, the Tortoise, who beat the Hare in the end!

Tip #1 - Every evening try to get one small job done.  Sounds simple, but when you've got piles of laundry, an empty fridge, kids with homework needs, and a dirty house... "Just ONE small job???"  Yes, just one.  Believe me, the dirt isn't going anywhere.  You've got to prioritize, pick one thing every day and do it.  Maybe it's one load of laundry, dust mopping your floors, or cleaning one toilet.  Do it and then spend time where it needs to be spent - don't wear yourself out trying to be everything to everyone.

Tip #2 - Don't wait until Saturday to get errands and other jobs done.  If you work outside your home, you need time to unwind and relax.  Saturdays are precious and can be quickly filled up with grocery shopping, running here and there, and before you know it, you've had another work day instead of a day off.  I try to get all my running around done during the week so that I have time on the weekend to relax.

Tip #3 - Be proactive with dirt.  My Canadian friends taught me that most floor dirt is carried in on shoes, so we made it our habit to take off shoes at the door.  That way I didn't have to sweep as often!  And carpets stay really nice when street dirt doesn't get ground in.

Same rule goes for children eating.  We kept it simple - kids ate in the kitchen.  My small boys didn't walk around the house crunching on cookies and dropping crumbs everywhere for me to find.   Keep the mess in one spot and then it's easier to clean up!

What are your cleaning baby steps?

Chipotle Style Chicken Burrito Bowls

Here's a great recipe from another one of my talented friends, Beth.  She loves to cook and graciously shared her favorite gluten-free recipe with us!

I love spicy food and Chipotle is one of my favorite restaurants. Their website lists all of their ingredients and what dishes are totally gluten free, which makes it so easy to order food there. Unfortunately we don't have one locally, so I wanted to try to make a dish at home similar to my favorite. It's naturally gluten free, budget friendly and comes together in about 30 minutes. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your preferences. I hope you enjoy!

Chipotle Style Chicken Burrito Bowls -Serves 4

2 cups uncooked white rice

cooking oil

1/2 large onion

1 can black beans, drained, reserve liquid

salt, ground chipotle pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder,

2 limes

2 large or 4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 a small bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

any or all of these toppings: shredded lettuce, guacamole or avocado slices, salsa, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, hot sauce, extra cilantro

Prepare the rice according to the package directions, seasoning with salt. Put two medium sized sauté pans on the stove with a spoonful of oil in each to heat up. Mince the onion and split between the two pans. Sprinkle with a little salt and cook until soft. Take the onions out of one pan and set aside. To the other pan with the onions add the drained black beans with a little of the liquid to make a sauce. Add the chipotle, cumin and garlic to taste. Squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lime. Bring to a simmer, cover and start on the chicken. Season one side of the chicken with the three spices and salt. Add a little more oil to the empty sauté pan and place the chicken seasoned side down. Season the other side, being careful with the chipotle as it's quite spicy. Cook until each side is nice and browned and there is no pink left inside. Squeeze over the juice of 1/2 a lime and add the reserved onions. Let rest for a few minutes then cut into bite sizes pieces. When the rice is cooked add the chopped cilantro and the juice of 1 lime. Taste to see if it needs more salt. To serve, pile some rice onto each plate, top with beans and chicken. Add any or all of the toppings and enjoy!

Coconut Cream Cake

Are you a lover of coconut?  My husband is!  He can walk past every dessert, no matter how decadent it is, except this one.  It's not fancy, but it's oh sooo good!  Here's what you need:

1 Box Cake Mix, White or Yellow
(eggs, water, oil for the cake recipe)
1 Can Cream of Coconut
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Container Cool Whip
Bag of Sweetened, Flaked Coconut



Mix the cake according to the directions and bake in a 9 x 13 inch pan.





When it's cooled for 5 minutes poke the cake full of holes like this:




Mix the Cream of Coconut and the Sweetened Condensed Milk with a fork and pour over the cake. You'll think it's too much liquid BUT IT'S NOT!!  Cover and refrigerate the cake for about an hour.  

It will look like this when you take it out:

Smooth the Cool Whip over the top and cover with coconut.

I'll warn you ahead of time - this dessert is dangerous if you love coconut.  It's very rich, so a little is really satisfying.  And it just gets better if it sits for a couple of days in the fridge! You can make it ahead of time when you're having dinner guests!  (We found Cream of Coconut at the Strip District in Pittsburgh and on Amazon.com.)  

Let me know if you try this one!

The Power of a Little

I first read about this idea on one of my favorite blogs "Everyday Cheapskate" by Mary Hunt.  She has great ideas for sensible living.  So here's what I remember from that article.

What would you do if today, by some cosmic cataclysm, you could never go to a store again and buy toothpaste?  How much would you use on your toothbrush everyday if you knew that the only toothpaste you would ever have for the rest of your life was already in your bathroom drawer?  No, I'm not promoting bad dental hygiene, just think about that situation.

I think I would instantly value that toothpaste as important enough for me to only use the minimum of what I needed to get a good job done.  I wouldn't carelessly miss my toothbrush and slather a blob onto the sink, wash some down the drain without being used, and leave more smeared on the vanity for someone else to clean up.  That's the "Power of a Little!"

Now take that one step further.  How many everyday items do we waste carelessly just because we can?  And remember that those items do not "grow on trees."  Paper towels, plastic bags, shampoo, etc. must be bought with your hard-earned dollars!  Have you ever considered just how much of our money we literally throw away?

Do you know that we Americans are considered wasteful and selfish by lots of other nations?  In many cases I think it's sad but true.  So I love this idea of the Power of a Little, because I think it's sensible and smart to live conservatively.  In the true sense of that word, I try to not be wasteful, using what I have in every way possible before buying something new. This applies to everything from eating leftovers to watching how much milk your kids pour down the drain after the cereal is gone!

Do we really enjoy paying hundreds of dollars at the grocery store?  If we could cut that bill down by sensible use of what we have, wouldn't that be great?  I like to think about where I'd really like my money to go, not just to buy the stuff that we need.

So, where are you throwing money away when you could benefit from the "Power of a Little?"