Move it on Monday: Project 52 Update

So...one week in and where are we at?

2. The De-clutter calendar: I successfully screwed up the wireless printer when I tried to print this calendar...I am thinking that this isn't going to happen.  We still can't get the computers to talk to the printer and we have been trying for a week.

 3. Double the number of blog entries this year over last year... Only one week in and my page views for January are already ahead of January 2011 for the whole month.  Plus the new blog routine means more blog posts.
13. A new blog routine?  Done and posted on January 7th...yay, me!  Now, let's do it.
14. Two weeks in a row, the menus are posted, and in a reasonably timely fashion
29. New calendar was up before the kids went back to school (and everything else) on Tuesday, so I am one for twelve so far...
45. The new calendar and the new daytimer are here and hard at work.

I have also made a point of going around and visiting some of the other blogs participating in Project 52, and added myself as a follower...I am hoping others will follow suit.  My #53 on the list of Project 52 is to increase my followers to 100 this year...

Wow, let's see how we do this week.  Our skating club is hosting a skating competition the end of the month and somehow I am on the Local organizing committee.  this means the next two and a half weeks will be soooo busy!  (good thing the menu and the calendar are posted!).  Plus, our international daughters will be heading for their home countries in just a few weeks as well. Hopefully, the success of this week will give me the energy to plug away at some more of the list...
I am really looking forward to February...nothing but birthdays and Valentines to make...  Hahaha!  Who am I kidding, really?

Sunday Food For Thought

Another week is beginning...Or ending depending on your schedule. 
Here is another week of menus that just might inspire you along the way:

Suppers:

• Sunday: Roast Pork loin with roasted potatoes, steamed veggies (broccoli and carrots) and spinach salad.
• Meatless Monday (and also Dad's night in the kitchen): Tortellini with vegetable sauce and leftover spinach salad.
• Tuesday (sometimes Turkey Tuesday but not today): Ginger Pork stir fry with baby bok choy and peppers, and brown rice.
• Wednesday: Sausage and Peppers with whole wheat spaghetti
• Thursday: Sheperd's pie and salad
• Friday: Homemade pizza (with stuffed crust!)
• Saturday: Baked pasta with Green salad, and garlic toast

Lunches:

• Monday: Pork and Spinach roll ups
• Tuesday: Tortellini or turkey sandwiches with tomato soup
• Wednesday: Fried rice
• Thursday: "Meatball" subs (made with italian sausage and mozzarella cheese)
• Friday: Peanut butter bagels with bananas

Happy Packing!

Kim

Project 52

When I found Karen's blog about a week ago...and I wish I could remember which one it was (it was someone from the A to Z Blogging Challenge...  perhaps it was Arlee Bird over at Tossing it Out or  Alex J. Cavanaugh who has a  book coming out in February (check it out at his blog))...Regardless, but that is how I found out about Project 52.  Essentially, you make a list of 52 Projects for the year to come, and then on Mondays, you blog about your projects or your progress (or lack there of!).  Project 52 is hosted by Jenee Thompson   and Karen over at A Peek at Karen's World .

Last year, I only made one resolution and that was to keep a blog.  Well, today is my one year anniversary of blogging.  I thought this list was a great way to kick off a new year.

So, here is my list...It was easy to get to about 26, but then it got more difficult to come up with realistic projects and goals that were focused on me, or that I could have some control over.  I could come up with things I wanted to happen (or make happen) during the year, but sometimes they weren't really about me.  I could come up with things I wanted to get the kids to do, or that I wanted to have happen around the house, but since this was my list, I was hoping to try and keep within where I had most of the control.

1. Read 12 novels/books of short stories.
2. Follow the De-clutter Calendar successfully.
3. Double the number of blog entries 2012 over 2011.
4. Develop 5 ways to attract meal/menu planning clients.
5. Attract and maintain 12 meal/menu planning clients.
6. Sell all four pairs of figure skates in the crawlspace.
7. Take the full month of August off.
8. Go kayaking with K, at least once.
9. Pursue one copy-work contract each month.
10. Take the kids up to Mt Washington once more this winter.
11. Finish saving photos to flash drive from computer before February 28th, 2012
12. Call Meredith more than once this year.
13. Create a New Weekly Blog Routine. (07/01/2012)
14. Post the week's menu both on the fridge and on the blog, every week! 2/52
15. Floss regularly.
16. Read 12 non fiction books.
17. Have breakfast/coffee with Tine once a month, without children in tow.
18. Get a new kitten.
19. Make a photo book for Dad and Agnes.
20. Make a photo book for Mum (and she reads this, so now she will know I am hoping to make her one, so she will ask me until its done).
21. Get a puppy.  We promised the kids last year, that there would hopefully be a puppy this year.
22. Bike around Gabriola Island with the kids.
23. Develop one new recipe each month.
24. Buy that new dining room table...
25. Patch and paint the chips in Kate's bedroom wall.
26. Hang all the current pictures that are sitting around the house waiting to be hung.
27. Clear out the junk from D's bedroom.
28. Organize K's bedroom.
29. Post the new calendar for each month on the fridge at the beginning of each month. 1/12
30. Host one card class each month for 10 months.
31. Book one workshop for each of the months: February, March, April and May.
32. Sign up for one fitness class.
33. Attend and complete said fitness class.
34. Review three cookbooks for Andrew's website.
35. Complete three pages for each of the kids's scrapbooks.
36. Get Kate started on a scrapbook.
37. Get Duncan started on a journal.
38. Re-cover the wing chair in the living room.
39. Order new blinds for the big playroom.
40. Write to Hollie.
41. Send out the rest of the Christmas cards...lol
42. Complete another A to Z blogging challenge.
43. Finish setting up Lunch box website.
44. Create a mini Project 52 list for the beginning of each month.
45. Order new wall calendar and new daytimer.
46. Have one date night this year that doesn't involve our birthdays/valentine's day or our anniversary...so a total of three...
47. Take Kate's Tinkerbell poster to Costco to get it laminated.
48. Make enlargements of the kids pictures at Pipers.
49. Have birthday supper for everyone before it is time for the girls to head home.
50. Make cake pops for Valentine's Day.
51. Dig small vegetable garden for Summer 2012.
52. Ask for what I want.  Kind of vague, but something I am not always good at doing, but when I decide to do it, I usually do it well.

There!  Quite the list, and I don't think I will get through all of, but then I will roll it over into the list for 2013, that is all!
What do you think?  Are you making a list for 2012?  Are you making any resolutions?

Stay tuned for this week's lunch menu a la kids...

Happy Packing!

Kim

Sunday Food for Thought...Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Well, it would seem that we have all survived the Holidays, and my jeans still fit!  And we seem to have come through without anyone succumbing to any sort of gastro bug or cold...now to see how long it lasts...
I am bringing some changes to the blog in the coming weeks that I am excited about, but that is for tomorrow.  For today, I thought I would get you going with a bit of a meal plan for this week.  Our kids go back to school and activities this week (I realise that some of you out there still have another week off, so enjoy!  Take advantage of every minute.), so it is time to get back to routine, and that means groceries, meal plans, lunches...

• Sunday: Leftovers...We had friends in to ring in 2012 and say good bye to 2011, so there is leftover chili, hot dogs and  even some delicious Moroccan Chickpea Stew.  And of course, buns and bagels and veggies and dip
• Monday: since it is still a day off, Monday is filling in for Sunday this week...Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, spinach salad and roasted veggies.
• Tuesday: Back to work, back to school and back to the rink means homemade chicken vegetable soup with leftover spinach salad, and a little homemade bread.
• Wednesday: Pork stir fry with black bean sauce and brown rice. I like to use a couple of boneless pork loin chops for this.  Cut into strips and cook in skillet with a little bit of grapeseed oil and a couple of cloves of garlic.  Remove from pan and set aside.  Stir fry sliced red onion, a couple of bell peppers cut into strips, in a couple of tablespoons of oil, when peppers are bright add the pork back to the pan and add 1/4 cup of black bean sauce.  Cook for 4-5 more minutes.  Serve with brown rice.
• Thursday: Sausage and Peppers with linguine and salad.
• Friday: First week back?  I am really hoping for take out tonight...Maybe even from Saigon kitchen...salad rolls, pho, and some of their curry chicken.
• Saturday: Recipe test day...It's a surprise...come back and see what we make!

The kids are going to make the lunch menu tomorrow, since school goes back on Tuesday.  Don't worry, we won't forget to share...

Happy New Year!

Kim