Works For Me Wednesday - Holiday Tip

This weeks WFMW theme is Holiday/Entertaining/Celebration Tips.

In Canada we have already had our Thanksgiving, so our next holiday is Christmas.

One thing I have done in the past and regretted is when I have a crowd of people over during the holidays and I end up being stuck in the kitchen making food the entire time.

We tend to do a large assortment of finger type foods for these events since we really don't have the room for a large sit down dinner. And since only so much will fit in the oven at any one time, I tend to be in there awhile.

This year I am going to premake as much as possible before the party. I will aim for more food that doesn't require cooking, such as veggies & dips and crackers & cheese.

As for things like meatballs and chicken wings that keep me occupied in the kitchen while others are chatting, I will instead make these a little before the party and simply keep them warm in the oven or crockpot.

I'm going to enjoy my guests and not feel so rushed!

For more WFMW holiday tips, pop over to We Are That Family.

November To Do List

Much of this is carried over from last month - oh well.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom.
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money!
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off.
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut
  
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Lose 5lbs
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J

New to list

• Work on J's striped crocheted blanket
• Buy new low-heeled dress boots for winter
  
• Design baby quilt
• Start baby quit (kind of early)
• Mail Tree Decoration Swap to partner (once I find out who it is) by Nov 12th
• Find & buy new foundation that doesn't make me break out
• Plan Christmas cookie baking - bake ahead & freeze what I can (any suggestions?)
• Start Christmas shopping
• Process 2 remaining pumpkins into pumpkin puree & roasted seeds
  

Oct To Do List - Final Results

In addition to what I previously completed, newly completed tasks are in yellow below.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom.
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry started
  
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Buy J a new winter coat & hat
  
• Buy J new soccer shoes
• Buy J some long sleeved shirts, sports pants & long johns
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money! This didn't happen between the kid & I being sick.
  
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off.
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Buy sashing, binding & backing fabric for Bright Hope quilt
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Make chili and freeze for lunches
• Make taco lentils & rice and freeze for lunches
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut & brow waxing (before they merge!)
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Post J's outgrown clothes on freecycle
  
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Finish crocheting striped blanket and tuck in all colour-change ends
• Lose 5lbs (not even close!)
  
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J
• Change sheets to flannel
  

So it looks like many of these items will get moved to the November To Do List :D

Chicken Breast overload

Ok so a couple weeks ago there was a fantastic sale on boneless skinless chicken breasts and I bought a TON.

So now I am bored with chicken breasts. We usually just grill them, saute them or add them to curry or alfredo.

I seriously need some great ideas what to do with these things. Any suggestions are welcome.

Any one try making their own ground chicken in a food processor? Think that would work? I am thinking maybe chicken burgers or chicken meatballs that way.

Photo Updates

I had promised a few photos previously.

Our new sofa. We also got a loveseat.

A close up of the pattern.

My striped crocheted blanket - finally finished.

The blanket I started for J once he stole mine - still quite a ways to go.

I made Peanut a pillow for her crate out of an old flannel sheet.
I think she likes it.

Weekly Update

I know I haven't been around much and I apologize. I have just been slackin off - not super busy or anything.

J has decided to go out as a zombie again this Halloween due to lack of imagination :D We bought 4 pumpkins for the front steps but have yet to carve any of them - I have to get to that so that I don't have all of them to do on Saturday at the last minute. I am thinking I may just cook one up for pumpkin puree for the freezer and carve the other 3. I am looking forward to making roasted pumpkins seeds. I LOVE pumpkin seeds.

I am going to be a great-aunt yet again! My oldest nephew and his wife are expecting their first child. I guess I have to start planning another baby quilt. I don't know if I will make it out of the flannel that I used for all the others (not enough left, would have to buy more) or use the fabric my mother in-law recently gave me, it is cotton in all primary colours and a huge chunk of a hot air ballon print in the same colours. Probably the cotton.

The new work project is off to a very slow start. Already bored but draggin myself to work so that I get paid.

A friend from my teenage years, that I recently reconnected with on Facebook, was in town to see family last week (from New Brunswick) so we got together for a couple hours. Was great to see her again and reminisce about the Good ole days.

After much searching I finally found a nice wool fall coat. It was getting too cool for my spring jacket and not cold enough for my winter coat. Of course once my new coat arrived (I ordered it from Sears), it warmed up a bit again.

Peanut has decided to become deaf. She no longer responds to Come. I let her out in the back yard to do her business and then call her. She will come close and then zip off again. She zings all around the yard (including through the mud patch) but will not come to me. Even treats will not entice her.

I finally have to go outside and then usually she will zip past me into the house, muddy paws and all. I think I have to start taking her out on her lead again for awhile.

Have a great week!

Mid-month Update - October To Do List

What I managed to get done so far is in red below.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom.
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Buy J a new winter coat & hat
  
• Buy J new soccer shoes
• Buy J some long sleeved shirts, sports pants & long johns
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money!
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off.
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Buy sashing, binding & backing fabric for Bright Hope quilt
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Make chili and freeze for lunches
• Make taco lentils & rice and freeze for lunches
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut & brow waxing (before they merge!)
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Post J's outgrown clothes on freecycle
  
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Finish crocheting striped blanket and tuck in all colour-change ends
• Lose 5lbs
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J
• Change sheets to flannel (will happen this weekend)