SISTER WISDOM : build a better life

Welcome to the first-ever Listing the Week Post (the new, improved, official Monday material here.) It's your chance to get yourself in order and your week planned out before it hits you (on Wednesday) that you don't have a clue. It's my chance to be motivated to get things down on paper, because that's what keeps my life in order.

Without further ado...

The Food List (What's in the Pantry, Menu Plan Monday, and other Food To-Dos and Ideas)

What's in the Pantry this Week?

(The Food List)

From the Food List we get to the actual eats for the week:

Menu Plan Monday

(The Dinner List)

Monday: Smoked Ham and White Bean Soup, Fresh Bread
Tuesday: Melt-In-Your-Mouth Sausages, Pasta
Wednesday: Butternut Squash Curry (except with acorn squash), Rice, Carrot Raisin Salad
Thursday: Winter Squash Soup ( this one with orange juice or this one), Chicken Salad, and Yeast Rolls
Friday: Ham Tetrazzini, Marinated Cucumbers, Fresh Bread
Weekend: Sweet Pepper Chicken, Roasted Root Vegetables
Lunch Options: Topped Baked Potatoes, Filled Yeast Rolls, Quesadillas, Shepherd's Pie (for Joe).

The Kitchen To Do List

Make bread and yeast rolls
Dry lemon balm and feverfew
Puree and freeze basil
Make oregano-infused oil
Run vinegar through coffee pot and dishwasher
Wipe down open shelves
Make a dessert (I never think of these, but Joe loves dessert.)

Upcoming Food Posts at Kitchen Craft:

(The Food Writing List)

What to do with Winter Squash
Quick Chicken Dishes
Make Ahead Dinners
Breakfast Options (quick, suitable for toddlers, filling)
Simple Vegetarian Meals
Preparing Vegetables (simple, nutritious, and tasty)
In Season Fruits (and what to do with them)
Preparing for Thanksgiving Food
Better Holiday Sides

What To Do in October (what's left of it...)

• Go for a hike in the nearest wildlife reserve or state park.

• Visit the zoo. The weather is great. Dress appropriately (think layers) and take your own thermos of hot cider, cocoa, or coffee as well as some bottled water. Leave them in the car if you can't take them in, and enjoy them with a snack (peanut butter crackers, apples, cheese, trail mix, cookies, granola bars) before you head home.

• Pack some food, a couple of big blankets, a frisbee... meet at the park after work one weeknight or go during the afternoon on a weekend. If it's chilly, take hot soup in a thermos, wear layers, and warm up by chasing the frisbee around or flying a kite. Take a walk. Take photos of the fall leaves. Take a family photo while you're at it (great for Christmas cards). Enjoy your meal together.

• Plant bulbs in the yard before the first freeze!

• Plant trees or shrubs now.

• Check out free activities in your area and make plans now. October, November, and December usually have lots going on, but schedules fill up fast. Decide what you want to participate in. Say no to the mediocre stuff. Spend your energy and time on what you enjoy.

• Take a drive, hike, or bike ride in an area with lots of trees and enjoy the view.

• Find some live music in your city, schedule a babysitter, and enjoy a great date with your husband. Eat dinner before you go, if you're saving money. Enjoy dessert or coffee while you're out. Hold hands. Think warm, loving thoughts.

• Figure out what you're doing for Halloween. Do you take your kids trick-or-treating, or do you prefer a harvest party, or do you choose not to participate at all? Make your decision, let your kids know the plan, and eat plenty of candy corn.

• Make chili. October screams for a big pot of chili.

• Sit down with your husband and firm up travel plans, holiday activities, etc.

• Decide on a budget and a gift list for this Christmas, if you haven't already.

• Wake up early after the first frost. Bundle up and go for a walk in the crisp, frosty air. It's invigorating.

Thanksgiving Food

(The Random List)

Turkey
Cranberry sauce
Chicken and Dressing (you may know it as stuffing, no chicken involved)
Cornbread
Green beans
Pumpkin pie
Sweet potato pie
Pecan pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake (my sister's... mmm)
Mashed potatoes
Green salad
Jell-O Salad (always... somebody brings one)
Gravy
Roasted vegetables
Yeast rolls
Sweet potato casserole
Pecans
Pineapple cheese casserole
Candy corn
Gingerbread
Turkey sandwiches
Fresh bread
Coffee cake (the “morning after” food)

What do you think of?

This Week's NOT TO DO List

No worrying.
No spending extra money.
No moping around!
No saying yes to everything.
No skipping my 'daily' walk.
No being sulky instead of telling Joe when I'm upset/worn out/overwhelmed.
No forgetting to call my friends back.
No fast food.
No more than two nights out between M and F.
No forgetting to eat/take a break during the day.

This Week's TO DO List

Finish painting storm door and front door trim.
Get fresh gas for mower so Andrew can mow and trim the yard.
Plant the remaining bushes and bulbs.
Get Joe to tape, mud, and sand the drywall.
Paint the drywall and the cedar in the living room and entry.
Get Joe to take closet doors down in master bedroom.
Write articles for Bright Hub.
Keep up with blogs.
Plan for the chili party.
Research high estrogen levels (which my midwife thinks I have).
Read with Mara and Robbie lots!
Answer emails.
Clean the house.
Oh, I think that's enough...

Image Credits: Menu Plan Monday graphic from OrgJunkie.com; the two fall trees from Athena's Pix; candy corn from 0595; Thanksgiving turkey from scubadive67; No sign from Neubie.