Perfecting Imperfection

Okay ~ so you are looking for my menu for the week?  Umm...well...I forgot to do one!  I was a little busy this weekend.  :)




The cool thing is that I have enough meals I didn't get to in the last month to make up a quick menu or at least make it until Friday!

I know I have some fish that I never got to downstairs.  We have leftovers from the party and I have some meatballs that I made in the freezer.  We have some frozen pork chops - because I only used one package for dinner the other day.  :)

 In other news, the weekend went really well.  Danika got some REALLY cute clothes and Nate and I bought her these little princesses that have rubber clothes - which are a pain to put on, by the way.  She LOVES these little princesses.  She also got a new book for her Tag reader - Beauty and the Beast.  We are gearing up for Princesses on Ice next month!

The babies have been cranky the last two days - and to be honest with you, I haven't been feeling so hot.  I get so nervous when I feel icky and it doesn't feel like a common cold or something that I can explain away.  My mother thinks it's arthritis.  My joints are sore...my knees and toes, my fingers and wrists ~ especially first thing in the morning and right before bed.  I heard there is a big storm headed our way...so I guess it's possible but it sure does stink! I have WAY too much to do to  be out of commission or moving slow for more than a day.  So ~ here's hoping to that the rest of the week brings nothing but everyone feeling better and getting back on track!

Oh - and I'm contemplating heading to Punxsutawney tonight to threaten a ground hog...I need spring to be right around the corner in a bad way!

I've been getting organized with Org Junkie's 52 WEEKS of Organizing!  Head on over to add your organization stories and get inspired by others!

I have to make this one short but sweet because I am in crisis cleaning mode for a little get together we are having for my daughter's birthday party tomorrow!  We are having 2 parties - one here tomorrow that will have more kids than the other. . . but also my parents and sister.  Then we are having one at my SIL's because her daughter's birthday is Monday and we will celebrate both together with DH's family.  :)

Anyway - this week I tackled my bathroom.

When we bought our house, it was perfect for a family of 3 or even 4. . . we had no idea that we were going to become a family of 6 as quickly as we did.  (In all honesty, a family of 6 wasn't part of our plan at all - but here we are with 4 children).  Even though the house seemed to have enough room for us when we bought it. . . I always hated my bathroom.  I still hate my bathroom.  There is next to no storage and it is UGLY!!!  I did the best I could with what I had to work with.  I will say ~ that the little organizing that I did do to make the bathroom look just a little more picked up has made me start to look into ways to brighten it up and add some color I actually like!  Don't be surprised if you see some painting in my 52 Weeks once the weather warms up.  :)

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AFTER

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Before starting this project, I headed to the dollar store to see what kind of baskets they had.  I was mainly looking for one to corral all of the cleaning supplies.  I picked up that one and the one with the TP in it.  I also snagged the green ones that have cotton swabs and toothpaste stored in them.  :)

The little 4 bottled thing was an old desk organizer that I had hanging around - decided that I would try sticking our flossers and nail clippers in them so that they always have a place to go and aren't getting lost or falling all over the place!

Have a great week!

 It was bound to happen ~ because she has 3 brothers, I was bound to have a little Diva on my hand.  That is not to say that she can't handle herself...because she can...but my, oh my, am I in trouble.

Today my little Diva turned 4.  You should have seen her face when Mrs. S put her birthday crown on at school.  She was beaming!  She was so excited to have the focus on her and be the center of attention on her special day at school.

We are celebrating with parties all weekend - but had donuts and cupcakes and sang at Nana's tonight anyway!  :)

Danika with Nate on their first day of school this year

Danika at her Christmas Party at school

Daddy's girl

Dear Danika,


     Today is your 4th birthday and I feel like I wrote you a letter just last night about your 3rd birthday!  You have grown so much in the last year and continue to amaze me.  You have become such a little lady and would wear dresses 24/7 if I let you.  You would also start wearing make-up and probably be the one to drag me out the door to get our hair done and mani/pedis!  I look forward to those days ~ but I'm also enjoying the right now, where Mommy taking 10 minutes to paint your nails means you are the perfect little princess.


     You are an amazing big sister.  You are always looking out for your little brothers and hate to hear them cry or be upset.  You are the first one to try to calm them down and always ask me if they are okay even after they have stopped crying.  


     You are also an amazing little sister.  I can't believe how you put up with Nate sometimes.  He can push your buttons for sure - but you always go right back to giving him that unconditional love and forgiving him no matter what.  I hope that it is always that way!  


     I am looking forward to so many things that you will start to enjoy and be doing.  Nate is starting to get involved in things that Daddy likes - but I get to show you all the things I liked when I was little.  I was thrilled when you said you wanted to have a Strawberry Shortcake party because that is right out of my childhood!


     Your teachers all love you and tell me what a perfect angel you are in school.  They tell me all the time that you love to sing and I believe it because you taught your baby brother, Dean, how to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  When we had our parent/teacher conference with your teacher, she couldn't say enough good things about you and what a big help you are to your teachers.  


     You can be a handful at times when you are at home - but I would worry if you weren't.  I'm so glad you are who you are and I can't wait to continue on this journey with you to discover who you will become.


I love you,


Mommy

I've been blogging for a while...I've been blogging here at Perfecting Imperfection for a little over 2 years.  I had a blog before this, too.  Thoughts of the Mama.  So - I've been blogging for a while.  I've never done a Wordless Wednesday, though.  I've looked at a lot of Wordless Wednesday posts through my years of reading blogs and this morning I saw one that made me realize that I had to share these...

We're #1

I'm going to link up here and here and here and check out some other Wordless Wednesday posts!  Hope to see you there!

Monday - Tasty Chicken with Mixed Veggies and Rice

Tuesday - Chicken Nibblers with Peas and Fries (This is Jerry's day to cook - gave him something easy)

Wednesday - Pork Chop Slow Cooker Casserole (I will be out this evening - PM conferences at school - so I thought I'd make it easy on Jerry, again.  I'm too good to him!  hehehe)

Thursday - Leftovers or Eat at Nana's

Friday - Pierogi Casserole with Salad

Saturday - Danika's first of two parties...this one is at our house!  Making Ham BBQ, 7 Layer Salad, Hot Dogs and Buffalo Shrimp (maybe)  along with snacks and such...oh, and cake!

Sunday - Danika's second party - at my SIL's with my niece who is turning, *gasp* 17!!!!  Wow...the reality of that just hit me.  Haven't discussed food, yet, for this one.

There you have it.  If you want to check out more great meal plans and get more ideas for what to make for dinner, head on over to the link up for MPM at orgjunkie.com!  

Yesterday, I finished our book club selection for this month and just have to share my thoughts on the book with all of you.  The book was Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah and I loved it.

This week's project was one of the 2 China Closets I have in my dining room.  This one is built into the wall and we use it as book shelves/storage shelves.  We used it as a China Closet until my mother-in-law bought us her mother-in-law's dining room set that had a China Closet with it.  That China Closet is on my list, too...but I figured I would start with this one.  I was planning on organizing my pantry this week ~ but started this instead, so I went with it.

Here is my before picture:

BEFORE

AFTER

 Head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and find lots of other organizing ideas, projects and pictures!

Despite all the excitement this weekend, I made it to the grocery store yesterday and am ready for this week!

I was so excited about my total for the month so far, too!

We have budgeted about $450 for groceries each month.  This month (keep in mind this will last me until Saturday, January 22nd) we have spent $317.32!!!  I couldn't be happier!  Plus, we have been eating at home and not ordering out.  We have been packing lunches because we have had leftovers!  It's been a great month for menu planning and shopping!

Okay ~ so, here is this week's menu:

If you want to add your menu or check out some more great menus from other bloggers, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Monday ~ Turkey Tuna Melt Casserole (from Family Feasts for $75 a Week)

Tuesday ~ Chicken and Biscuits (from A Pinch of This, A Dash of That)

Wednesday ~ Baked Fish and Hashbrown Casserole

Thursday ~ 3 Cheese Kielbasa Bake (from Dinner on a Dime - this is from their Freezer Pleaser section and   will make 2...one for another week!)

Friday ~ Poor Man's Stoup and Pizza Pinwheels 

Saturday ~ Eat at Mom's - guys going to Penguin Game

Sunday ~ Eat here (maybe Spaghetti and Meatballs I skipped last week) with Mom - guys going to Steeler Game

As you can see...my hubby and Dad will have a busy weekend cheering the Pittsburgh sports teams on to victories - so I'm not planning anything to cook.  We are going to eat left overs and play it by ear.  :)

Have a great week!

Today started out like any other normal, average day.  Nate left for school and I fed the remaining kids and then hopped on the computer.  I posted a blog post.  I read some blog posts.  Made lunch and waited for Nate to come home.  My Dad dropped Nate off and told me about all the things he had planned to do this afternoon.  He told me about how he didn't respond to an earlier car fire because he knew that I wouldn't be able to go out and get Nate with such short notice.  He told me he was meeting Mom for lunch then doing some work at home before the kids came up to spend the night.  He had some stuff that he needed to get done so he could enjoy the Steeler game tomorrow.

I gave him a hug and kiss and thanked him for getting Nate and not making me get the kiddos all bundled up to rush out there to get him.  We laughed about me still being in my pajamas.

I went back to doing what I normally do.  I made sure Nate and Danika ate their lunch.  I changed the babies and carried them upstairs.  The babies weren't quite settled, so I decided to jump back online before I took my shower.  I was responding to an email when I thought I heard my doorbell buzzing.  The doorbell has NEVER worked.  It makes this clicking, buzzing sound but it's not always audible.  Then I heard banging on the front door.  I got up and looked out.  It was my next door neighbor's daughter holding their little dog, Baby.  She asked if they could come in because their house was on fire.  I looked out and sure enough there were flames shooting out of the basement and smoke EVERYWHERE.  It's a crazy thing how I remember every detail of my conversation with my Dad before the knock on the front door but the time from the knock to when we walked back into the house 5 hours later is just a big blur.

I called 911 and told them about the fire and then I called Dad.

I knew he would stop what he was doing and come to the house.  I knew he would know what I should do.  I knew he would keep me calm and make sure that the kids and the house were okay.  I knew that he would make me feel better and he did.

My neighbor's house after the fire

Damage to the side of our house

Between the two houses

Apparently, I called Dad as he was taking his second bite of lunch with Mom.  I don't remember exactly what I said to him.  I'm sure it was along the line of 'The neighbor's house is on fire and it's shooting flames out and there is smoke everywhere'.  He told me to get the kids dressed.  He was on his way.

When I talked to him later, he told me that he was already standing up and putting his coat on before he even said a word to me.  My Mom was looking at him with that panicked look someone gets when they are witness to a call like that but can't hear the person on the other end.

My Dad beat the fire trucks.  My Dad stood outside in the cold for 5 hours to make sure that the house was okay while I sat in a warm ambulance and at my Mother-in-Law's house with the kids.  My sister took the "big" kids so that they could play with their cousin and get their minds off of the fire.  My husband came home (he was the third call I made - and I must have scared the crap out of him because he kept saying, "You really didn't sound like yourself.  You didn't sound like you.").  We are back in our house tonight...but our neighbors won't be returning tomorrow.  :(

My Dad has been a volunteer fireman for as long as I can remember.  I've never actually thought about how scary fires are until last year when there was a fire down the block from us.  My Dad walked down in between what he was doing to check on the kids and let me know what was going on.

Today, he wasn't in his fire gear.  He said 50 people must have asked him about it and he had to explain that he came right here because I called...I don't think one of those 50 people thought twice about his answer because they know my father and if one of his girls calls then that's where he will be.  I will admit that I'm a bit of a Daddy's girl.  I love my mother and we really are lucky to have a great relationship.  There are things that I talk about with my mom, girl stuff and mom stuff and relationship stuff, that I wouldn't talk about the same way with my Dad because he wouldn't understand.  My Mom understands me.  However, my Dad is the one who I strive to make proud.  My Dad is the one that I always look to for approval and advice on the big things.  My Dad has always been my hero.  He was my hero today, too.

Dad with Danika ~ picture by Sofabean Photography

Danika and Dad ~ picture by Sofabean Photography

At the beginning of January, I decided that I needed to work on meal planning and getting our grocery budget into some kind of shape.  I read a few books.  I read a few blogs.  I started doing some research.

The first thing I discovered is that I plan meals ALL wrong.  I still haven't totally fixed this, yet because it is going to take a little while but I'm in the process of creating a bit of a stockpile so that I can meal plan from my pantry and buy items when they are on sale.

I also discovered that being a bit more organized when it comes to the things I need to help plan meals will make it a heck of a lot easier and therefore something I'm not dreading every Saturday (because Saturday is menu planning day here).

Okay - so this week I worked on getting a binder together to help me be more organized when it came to cooking and meal planning.  It's nothing spectacular - but it has already been a big help.  I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.

Oh wait ~ I did....just not in a way that made as much sense.

Here is my old system:




The next step was to divide the recipes.  I divided them by meal instead of ingredient at first.  I have a Breakfast tab.




 Then I added a tab for Soups and Stews and a tab for Desserts.

I still use cook books - I have a few that I have been trying out and adding meals to my "Meals We Like" section as I try them.  I've really been working on meals that are budget friendly.  I've been thrilled with how this has been going the last two weeks!  The funny thing is, we haven't eaten out or cooked any store bought frozen dinners for 2 weeks and we have eaten really well!  Plus, we have leftovers and there is food in my freezer and on the shelves of my pantry.  I'm also on budget for the month!

I truly believe that being organized when it comes to grocery shopping and menu planning is going to be a huge help!

I'm not sure what I'll be working on this coming week - but I'm thinking of sticking to the menu planning and cooking theme and maybe tackling my pantry and freezer...maybe!

Can't wait to see what you all did this week!

I thought I'd share some pictures I took yesterday while the "big" kids played with Jerry in the snow.  Jerry had to take the garbage out - which meant the kids wanted to go with him and play in the snow.  They were out there for about an hour...which was enough time for them to turn rosy cheeked and sniffely.