Another of Abbie’s amazingly chewy chocolate chip cookies. This chewy chocolate chip cookie uses margerine and half a package of chocolate chips.
Abbie suggested making two batches this time so she had enough to take some chewy chocolate chip cookies to her teacher after her brothers horded all the cookies last time.
Preheat Oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)
3/4 cup margerine softened -> cream at HIGH speed
add:
1 egg
1 egg yolk -> beat together
add :
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
-> cream at HIGH speed (may be a tiny tiny bit lumpy )
In a big bowl mix:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon
1/2 package of chocolate chips
Add dry mixture 1/2 cup at a time while mixing.
Bake 7-12 min (varies by oven) until top is lightly golden.
Cool on baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Tomorrow marks the start of 2010 and this mom doesn’t do New Years resolutions. She sets goals and plans. I usually draw a Life Map, though I admit I haven’t in over 3 years. Which is probably a good indicator of why I am feeling stagnant.
So for this almost always organized mom (or never organized at the moment), it’s time to go back to the beginning and set some goals for 2010 and the next three years. I wanted to share some free and affordable tools I located online to help you set goals for yourself and as a family.
Mom Goals offers tips and steps for setting goals for moms.
101 goals in 1001 days. Offers a list of goal setting and goal tracking worksheets and printables.
Tony Robbins has a great article explaining how to set your Personal mission statement. A first step in goal setting. Click here
Of course there are a lot of great goal setting resources for moms over at ListPlanIt.com as well.
OK, I admit it. The year end is drawing near and I officially feel I have become the almost NEVER organized mom.
They kids have gotten older and they are wanting to do more ‘their way’, instead of according to my checklists. They are involved in more outings, field trips, classes, homework and I am having a hard time keeping up.
I am learning to let go a bit as a single parent I can only do so much. My salary isn’t high enough to hire the extra help to keep up the yard, the laundry, and having to take time off to run kids to the doctor, dentist, ballet, or pick them up from school on sick days has proven a challenge.
With the New Year approaching I am starting to think about goals, plans, and dreams for the upcoming year.
I know some of the things I did this last year didn’t work – so it’s time to start thinking about new strategies for managing my family, health, and spirit.
Setting goals for the new year makes more sense to me then setting New Years Resolutions. I think it’s time to start mulling over some 2010 New Year Goals.
Guest Post by Paula Constable
The state of the economy is on consumers’ minds again this Christmas season. Some spenders plan to reduce their budget, while others do not. I would like to suggest that the attention put on financials could actually be a positive. Yes, it might be a good thing…. for the spirit of Christmas and the Holidays.
I challenge you to move away from the “materialistic focus” of gift-giving to a “love focus.” Instead of giving stuff, give the gift of time, experiences and gratitude. Don’t buy a gift, just to get another person crossed off your list.
Clutter-free gift (CFG) giving is the act of gifting items that do not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipient’s home. Many CFGs also let the person know you were truly thinking about their likes, passions and interests.
Easy Action Steps to Clutter-Free Gift Giving
1. Make a list of those you would like to give a gift to.
2. Really think about each recipient. What are their likes and dislikes? What are their hobbies? What dreams have they talked about? Brain storm on paper or the computer and an idea or clue might pop up.
3. Make a list of your top 3 ideas for each person. Pick one for this year and file the list away for the next gift giving opportunity.
4. Add to your list throughout the year.
Clutter-Free Gift Ideas to Get You Thinking
• Experiences (indoor water park weekend, tickets to sporting event, spa day with your girl friends)
• Donations (food pantry, church, cancer research, local library)
• Consumables (gift cards, food, gift of the month clubs, gym membership)
• Time (offer to watch your friends kids while they finish up their shopping, volunteer at a soup kitchen)
• Expressions of your love and gratitude (a letter to your parents thanking them for all they have done for you, forgiveness)
As the Organizing Expert for Moms, Paula Constable works with busy moms and families who want to make their daily lives easier through organization. She provides her organizing services both in-home and via Teleclasses and workshops. Receive Paula’s free reports, The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide and 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips for Busy Moms, when you sign up for newsletter at www.stuff2borganized.com or visit her blog, Organizing Tips and Thoughts for Moms.
Guest Post by Paula Constable
“I just don’t have the time to do the things I want to be doing.”
“If I just had more time…..”
“Once I get caught up, I’ll have more time.”
Sound familiar? These are the types of statements I hear quite often from clients, friends, other moms and business owners.
Many people struggle with how to go about making sure the important stuff gets done and gets the attention they desire it to have. Here are some tips for you to help you make the most of your time.
1. How you spend your time will be determined by your priorities not your availability. Too often we forget to look at what is truly important to us and our families before we add another thing to our already busy calendars. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you and your family and write them down. Ask, “Do these requests of my/our time fit with my/our priorities?
2. Try to be proactive instead of reactive. In other words, plan ahead as much as you can. Plan your meals out for the week and then make your shopping list. Take time to plan your next day the night before. Planning also includes grouping like activities and tasks together to make the most of your time. For example, it makes sense to do all your errands on the same day. Read More→
