I am a geek or a nerd or whatever adjective you prefer to call my type. I was National Honor Society president in high school - don't get much nerdier than that! But I did NOT wear pocket protectors, ever - promise!
In that vein, I have always loved lists and forms to stay organized and remind me what I need to do. Even after I moved onto the computer and software, I kept using paper forms and calendars to keep me going - until the last year or so and the real reason I switched to online is as simple as Google.
I used Microsoft Outlook for years and years and always loved it, to the point that I really didn't think I could manage a calendar without it. But then my computer crashed and my husband had lost his job and I just didn't see how spending the money on Outlook was a valid expense when there were so many free calendar options available.
I tried a couple of different calendars, including Cozi, but I ended up using Google's calendar. It's good for a family because you can invite the rest of your family to share your calendar and see your schedule. This is a theoretical advantage, however, because granting them permission doesn't mean they will actually ever look at it. Maybe one day! I do tell my husband to check the calendar online when he asks me about dates, though.
It's also great because I can add the school holidays at home on my full keyboard laptop, and have it with me on my phone when I'm at the doctor's office and need to schedule a follow-up appointment. I don't have to remember to have my paper calendar in my purse!
But what about my to-do list, you might ask? To that I reply, Google Keep. It's like Post-It notes, but you can make lists or notes, and you can even put alarms on them. I use them for daily to-do lists, my grocery list, my errand list, and even a reminder of our safety deposit box number. I have one for each room of the house for decor needs I still have, in case I run across a good sale. And the notes can be color-coded. Again, they are online so they are available on my PC and phone, so as long as didn't forget my phone, I didn't forget my grocery list. Here's what my phone screen looks like now:
When you click on one one your notes, it blows it up so you can click off your done item (or type in an item that you did that wasn't originally on your list, just so you can click if off. I can't possibly be the only person who does that!)
Oh look, I have a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Class to go to on Thursdays! There's a tip for people who need some help with their finances - I very highly recommend checking it out - http://www.daveramsey.com/home/. Organizing our finances is another thing on my list.
So this ends today's topic. Hope it helps someone!
Karen
PS - Does anyone else ever type their name wrong half the time they type it? It seems like I am constantly typing Karne instead of my correct name!
This is my first recipe posting. I started making up recipes because I get in a hurry after work and I don't feel like finding the recipe, finding the ingredients and mixing everything together just right. Not only that, sometimes my children eat my ingredients as snacks before I get to the recipe, and then what do I do?!
My mother always made what I call Yankee Chili. I live in Texas (not really from here, but lived here since I was 11, so I feel like I'm from here) and Texans don't put beans in chili. But my mother's chili always had beans and ground beef. I followed her recipe, sort of, but my kids wouldn't eat it. So I played with it and tried it calling it soup instead of chili and finally came up with something they will eat. And I think it's great because all of the ingredients stay in the pantry so they won't spoil, and it doesn't take much time to make, so you can keep everything on hand to make when you are in a rush and don't have anything else to make!
I don't think it's terribly unhealthy (until I tell you how we serve it!). Here are the ingredients:
You may notice the corn chips. . . there may be some shredded cheddar cheese at the end as well . . .
So here's how easy this is:
1 can red beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large cans crushed tomatoes
1 can whole kernel corn with red and green peppers
1 T chili powder for mild flavor, or more for spice
1 t oregano leaves
1 1/2 t minced garlic
salt and pepper
Combine the beans,tomatoes and corn in a large pot. Season to taste. My kids do not like spicy food, but I don't like bland food. My solution is to cover the surface with the chili powder, which works out to about a tablespoon. It definitely provides flavor without much bite. You'll need a lot more than that if you want spice. I put in about 10 shakes of the minced garlic, a teaspoon or so of the oregano, and several shakes of pepper. I don't add much salt (because you probably noticed the corn chips. . . .)
Let this simmer for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can combine, and you're good to go. My son was impatient and ate it sooner, but the beans were pretty firm and there wasn't as much flavor.
You can serve this like we do, if you want to make your mouth happy. Put some corn chips in the bottom of a bowl, ladle on some chili, then sprinkle on some shredded cheddar. Yum, yum. Not healthy, to be sure, but definitely tasty. You can also serve it with cornbread, which may be a bit more healthy.
If you have some time, you can chop some onion and saute it with garlic and bell peppers, then add the beans and tomatoes to it. You might want to use plain corn if you do this.
If you try it, let me know what you think!
Karen
This is the first post to my blog, so I think I should introduce myself and my purpose. I'm Karen, and as I stated above, I have two children and my husband, who is also their father. I know that's not always the case these days, so I wanted to be clear.
I work at a local elementary school, in the office. I like my job - I love the little kids, my co-workers are great, and who doesn't like being off work most of the summer, two weeks at Christmas and a week for Spring Break?!
My husband works for a large bank in the technology department. He tends to work long hours programming mainframe computers. Yes, they still exist, though I know it's hard to believe.
The kids are both in middle school, which for them is conveniently located directly behind the school where I work. I get about one phone call a week from one of them needing something - lunch money, forgotten homework, their band instrument or whatever.
A couple of my friends told me I should start a blog because I have some good ideas about meal plans and recipes and gift ideas. I've been thinking about it, and decided I would give it a go. I learn by doing, so you should notice improvements as time goes on. I love Pinterest and have pinned many sites about improving your blog, but without a starting point, the lessons were sort of lost on me. So I hope you'll bear with me and focus more on what I'm trying to share and less on how I'm sharing it, until I figure this all out.
Please feel free to share your ideas with me as well! I love to learn and do hope this will be interactive, as I see other blogs end up being. I will make updates and corrections to my posts as needed based on comments I read, and I will respond to as many comments as I possibly can.
So thanks for checking me out, and I hope you decide to hang out with me and invite your friends as well. You can also follow me on Pinterest!
