Anti-Procrastination Tuesday #42

***Please, please, please read before linking.

There are 2 areas to link up, with 2 different themes.  Read more below and please link up in the right area.  Thanks!***

To learn more of what this is all about, read this post.

To read my original "Doozy List," read this post.

To read my "Summer Doozy List" read this post.

Hi Everyone! Welcome to AP Tuesday!

I am gonna start a mini-list right here!

I gotta get some stuff done by next AP Tuesday, so here it is:

Hotspot on bench in kitchen

Hot spot on desk upstairs

Paperwork sorted

Budget

Make phone calls

Deal with starred emails in gmail

Thank you notes

Decide on supplements to continue taking and what brand

Hang up clean clothes

Write posts for the week

Make some blog buttons on Picnik

Straighten study closet

Straighten my closet

Clean out refrigerator

Straighten pantry

Write list of post ideas

Room rescue sunroom

Write AP Tuesday post:)

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Last Weeks Most Clicked On AP Posts:

30 For 30 @ Simply Step Back

This is a great idea!  She picked 30 items to wear for 30 days.  If you visit her blog and click on home, you will see some of the super cute outfits she has made with her thirty items!  LOVE THIS IDEA!!

My Organized Schedule @ Home Made By KiKi

The cards are so cute and laminated, how great that they are a free download.  This could be a cute gift for someone tied with a bow.

Last Weeks Most Clicked On Flexible Posts:

3 Minute Chocolate Mug Brownies @ Frugal Christian Living

She makes mugs of brownies after snow play in place of hot chocolate.  Yummy fun!  Only a few ingredients to chocolate heaven.  I want to try this with coconut oil and sucanat:)

Rate My Space Little Girl Bedroom @ Thrifty and Fabulous

So cute, she submitted it to HGTV website and got featured!  Go vote for her!!

Be encouraged, Be Inspired, And Get Something Done!

 

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***Stop And Read Before Linking!***

I will have 2 different themes for you to link to.  Please choose the correct theme, or I will need to delete your link.  Thanks!

***Anti-Procrastination Themed

~things you want to accomplish (lists, goals, projects)

~goals you did accomplish

~thoughts on procrastination/ways you beat procrastination

***Flexible Themed

~Crafts

~Recipes

$10.00 for $20.00 Worth At Barnes & Noble!

Have you seen Groupon’s current deal?

 $20 worth of books, toys, games & more at Barnes & Noble for just $10! 

You can use the Groupon online or in-store.

If you’ve never purchased from Groupon before, it is easy to create an account.

Click this link to get the deal (you can’t find the deal from Groupon’s pages).

You won't regret signing up!  You will get a great deal, one per day, mailed to your inbox.  Todd and I have had many dates for free or at least half off thanks to Groupon!!  Love it.

Limit one Groupon / person. This deal is available until Monday (2/7).

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. Thanks!

Cancer Journey-Update

{**The following is an entry from my Caring Bridge journal.  If you would like detailed updates on my health, please visit my Caring Bridge site by clicking here.}

Thought I'd give you a pic of me with hair, in celebration of the fact that mine is growing.  I got about a half inch goin' on, and it is thickening up
It is also my husband, Todd's, birthday today, so I thought I'd put him up there too!
(*update--it is his birthday tomorrow...I'm laughing at myself b/c I wished him a happy bday thing morning when I was half asleep. I bet he thought I was nuts and had a good chuckle...CHEMO BRAIN!!)
Ready to continue on this crazy "up and down" ride with me??
My last post told you the lump my physical therapist recently found was bone and scar tissue.  This was checked by a nurse practitioner, by feeling, not a doctor.

I had PT therapy again yesterday morning, and again, she spent a bit of time feeling the lump area, with a puzzled look on her face.  We discussed the possibility of me visiting Dr. Hinze, my plastic surgeon, because he was the last one in there and may have a better idea if it is scar tissue.

As I left my PT session, I received a call from my good friend, Nancy, who gently told me a story of a friend of hers with breast cancer who also  found a lump shortly after her mastectomy and was told it was scar tissue.  It ended up being cancer, and she regretted not getting a second opinion.  She told me to follow my gut and was really encouraging.  

Those two things were enough to get me to call Dr. Hinze office.  They had just happened to have a cancellation for the following morning-- this morning.

So thankful I could get in right away.
God fits all the pieces for me.

I saw Dr. Hinze.  He could visually see the lump we were talking about and when he felt it, he agreed it would be good to check it out.  He was so very, very kind and reassuring...always has been.

His nurse, who also has been amazing every step, took me into her office to coordinate with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Rao, who I was supposed to see this coming Monday.  He is another doctor whose gentleness was so appreciated today. Even though we have not met yet, he has called me personally several times and has been so kind on the phone.  He asked the nurse to talk to me and he said "We are going to check this out.  We are all here for you and are going to take good care of you. We need to know what this is, as it may change the plan. I will call you the minute I get the biopsy results.  Try not to worry, everything will be ok"  He was so sincere.  I can't wait to meet him.

Doctors and nurses (and physical therapists!) have become my heroes.  I have been so blessed by them.The plan:
I will go to St. Elizabeth's Hospital Monday morning, to have the biopsy done.  Surgery is at 10:20.  It will be strange to be where I had my mastectomy again.  It is a quick procedure, I will be in "twilight" sleep.  

I am not sure how soon we will have the biopsy results back.  That is ok, I'm getting better at this waiting thing..

Today I feel...quiet.  Contemplative.

I feel so thankful that everything worked out so quickly.  I feel thankful that I was somewhat prepared for this day, because of the hard day that I told you about last journal entry. I feel so very taken care of by my medical "team" of doctors.  I feel the Lord's peace.

I also feel sad.  

But then I am reminded of this -- I read it last night.  It prepared me and gave me a visual of what the God of the Universe does with my tears.  

Menu Planning For The Whole Family

**This is a guest post from Lisa @ The Pennington Point

Not being a natural cook, I have to stay organized or most of our meals would consist of frozen corn dogs and ‘Nilla Wafers. By teaching myself to make a plan, make a list and write it all down I do much better in the dinner department.

Having several kids that are old enough to cook, you can bet I get them in on the work. I assigned them each a morning to make breakfast and night to cook dinner and they decide what they want to prepare. On Sunday they each give me a list of what they need for their meals. I have veto power, of course. Sometimes I change their plan, especially when their meal includes ingredients that cost more than our monthly budget.

Once I have their list, I figure out what we need for the rest of the week and head to the store. I do NOT let myself buy anything that is not on my list. Just making that rule for myself has saved me a lot of money, especially considering my weakness for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. If they are not on the list then I can’t buy them (Sometimes I put them on the list; I’m not a martyr).

Once I get home with the groceries, I write out the menu while the kids put everything away. I found a magnetic calendar that I keep on the fridge with the menu for the week. The one I use is not available anymore, but there are several on Amazon that would work just the same, or you can simply use paper. I write the whole week of meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, on the board.

With the menu on the fridge and the ingredients in the pantry, we all know what to expect. Anyone can look at the list to see what we are having any given meal. Another benefit, if Mommy sleeps late or is busy reading blogs the kids can just look at the menu and make their own breakfast….not that I would ever do that, but you know….other people might have that problem.

This simple system has saved me time, money and the headache of stopping at 5:00 and trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Each morning I look at the list and do the dinner prep in advance. If there’s soup for dinner, I can chop the onions during the day. I can toss bread in the bread machine or mix up the dry ingredients for cornbread any time.

I have a few helpers (besides my children) that keep the work load light. My rice steamer is a lifesaver. I can toss brown rice in the steamer in the morning and it stays hot until we eat it that night. My bread machine makes whole wheat bread, which is helpful when I haven’t had time to bake. I love my blender wand for making soups. If you could only start with one of these…I’d say get a steamer. You can get one at Target for less than $30 and it will change your life.

To sum up: meal plan (let the kids plan one meal), list, shopping, menu on the fridge. So, so, so easy. If I can make it work, believe me….anyone can!

Thank You, Lisa! 

 I love how you get your kids involved.  I was just thinking this week about how old my girls are getting and how important it is that I teach them how to cook!  I think the best way is to have them do it themselves on a regular basis, your post confirmed my thoughts.  

For More of Lisa please visit her blog, The Pennington Point.  You won't regret it.  I especially love her home decor, she is bold but tasteful, and so homey.  Isn't that piano to die for?  Yes, she is bold enough to paint her piano blue, and I LOVE IT!

THE PENNINGTON POINT--The experiences of mothering a large family on a budget, keeping a lovely home and training children Biblically

Lisa's Etsy Shop-- Personalized with a fresh perspective

Healthy Valentine Chocolate Mud Balls

I've posted this recipe here at New Nostalgia before.  It is a favorite of ours.  It is a great way to get a chocolate fix, and at the same time some wholesome goodness from healthy ingredients.  I had these miniature red polka dot paper holders on hand, and thought they would be a great holder for our Chocolate Mud Balls.  I think they make great little Valentine treats!

The original recipe calls for wheat germ, oatmeal, chocolate chips, sesame seeds, peanut butter and honey.  I was out of sesame seeds, to instead we threw some homemade granola into my food processor and gave it a whirl. I also didn't have enough peanut butter on hand, so I added some almond butter.  It worked out well, although I do think I should have added a touch more honey for a bit more sweetness.

Peanut butter & honey, melting together.  The spoon had some dry ingredients left on it, which is why you see some chocolate chips and lumps in there. :)

My youngest is really getting into cooking and baking lately.  It has been so much fun to have her in the kitchen with me.  She is confident and very independent in her skills, which is really refreshing when it comes to cooking!  It was her idea to make a homemade Valentine treat to take to our neighbors, so she got really into this project!

Adding dry ingredients to wet.

It is quite thick...takes some muscle.

No baking! Here is the finished product, rolled and packaged to hand out to our neighbors for

 Valentines Day.  You can find these containers at the Dollar Tree, 4 for $1.00 for this small size (6x6), and 3 for $1.00 for a round cake pan size. (8x8)  I have talked about these pans before, when I used them to package up  Christmas Cinnamon Rolls for our neighbors

.

We used this fun printed tape to secure the packages.  I found it on clearance at Micheal's for .50 cents.  Great deal.

My little one found a heart sticker and wrote a little love note on it.

She had a great fun delivering them to our neighbors.  It was so fun to see her walk in the snow delivering her gifts.  I was really proud that it was her idea and she followed through until it was complete.  She is my perfect lil' Valentine!

*I am thrilled to be linking up to these parties