I’ve uploaded a video tutorial today for something cute for your Easter table. No fooling! =) Check it out below…
Thanks for stopping by for a peek from my country porch!
A Peek From My Porch
Category: Uncategorized
Stress-free Accomplishments
I’m not sure if there’s any better feeling than to have accomplished a long task list. The pressure is relieved, and the daunting tasks are finished! You can finally breathe!
But what about the hours, days, weeks or even months that led up to that accomplishment? Can they be stress-free as well? I’m here to say, YES, they can! Anything from months of planning for a wedding, preparing for a conference or an upcoming vacation, or desiring to spring clean your whole house – there is a way to get it done without stressing over it.
Let me share with you my step by step process to accomplish any task I have, relatively stress-free.
I’ll show examples for how I’ve planned out this week to prepare for having guests here for Easter dinner.
1. Write it down. Write everything that you need to accomplish by said date. Having it on paper is concrete and will enable you to remember what needs to be finished and what you’ve already completed.
2. Assign each task a date. Delegate a day/week/ or month to each task. Try to even out the tasks – don’t overload your schedule with more than you’ll really be able to accomplish in that time span.
3. Check it off. As you accomplish each task, check it off. I love seeing those check marks!
4. Do extra tasks if you have extra time. If you have extra time after completing the assigned task, do any other task you can. For instance, my Friday on the schedule above looks pretty empty, because I know I might be having a guest over that day. However, if I have extra time, I’ll go ahead and do a couple of the Saturday tasks, like making the tea or setting the table.
If you have a long-range event, write down what needs to be done. Work backwards. Go to the date of the event, and work back to today. Assign each task a date, giving each week or month a job on your list. Give yourself some “wiggle room” by planning to have things done a little before the exact date it’s needed. Cross each task off the list when it gets done. Do extra tasks as you have time. When the event arrives, you’ll realize that everything is finished, and you didn’t have to worry or rush to complete it!
A friend shared a quote with me from Adrian Rogers who said,
“There is enough time in every day
to gracefully do what God wants you to do.”
Jesus lived that out, didn’t He? He was never rushed, frantic or stressed. Plan so you won’t have to stress, but also rely on the Lord to give you the wisdom to know what to do and the grace to do it ~ Stress-free!
What do you do to lessen the stress in your life and accomplish your goals? Does my plan seem do-able?
With love,
What’s Cookin’ in the Country?
I like to make life as easy as possible by doing anything/everything as much ahead of time as possible. That’s especially true when it comes to simplifying my morning routine. When I recently found a recipe in Relish Magazine for muffin batter that could be frozen, I knew I had to try it! The result? A delicious muffin that was in the oven first thing in the morning and ready to eat in 20 minutes! No mess, no fuss, just hot, fluffy muffins, better than any Toaster Strudel or Pop Tart! This is a great way to simplify the day AND start the day!
You could add any kind of mix-in that you’d like. I made half Chocolate Chip and half Blueberry. You could use strawberries, nuts, blackberries, dried Cranberries, or a number of other choices!
Mix up the batter and divide it in half.
Toss a tablespoon of flour in with the mix-in so it won’t sink to the bottom of the muffin.
Fold in the added ingredient…
Pour into muffin tins, lined with paper liners, then place muffin tin in the freezer.
Freeze batter for several hours or overnight.
Place frozen muffin batter into freezer bags and store in freezer until needed.
Place as many as you need in a muffin pan and bake in 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes
or until golden.
Here’s the recipe for the batter:
3 cups flour
1 Tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
10 Tbl butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt (I used sour cream)
1 cup blueberries or chocolate chip or other add in of choice
I added a couple tablespoons of Orange zest and loved the flavor it gave both of the muffins!
Directions
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Place butter in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy using an electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla. Add flour mixture and buttermilk and yogurt alternately to egg mixture, beginning and ending with four mixture. Beat until just combined. Fold in blueberries.
- Grease 18 muffin cups. Spoon batter into muffin cups until about two-thirds full. Cover muffin tins with plastic wrap and place in freezer for at least 6 hours. Then remove frozen batter from the tins, place in a ziptop plastic bag, and store in the freezer until needed.
- To bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place liners in muffin tins. Place frozen muffin ” pucks” in the lined tins. Or cut 7-inch squares out of parchment. Center each square over a muffin cup and push the frozen muffin firmly into the cup, allowing the paper to fold up above it. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed. Makes 18
Whenever I have oranges, before I peel them, I zest the rind and place it into a small Ziploc bag and put it in the freezer to use in baking. You get double use from the oranges that way!
How’s that for simplifying your morning routine?!
What do you do to simplify the morning?
With love from my country kitchen,
Decorate Your Bedroom!
I love to decorate my house. Adding seasonal flowers, pictures and accents is just fun! If I buy something new, it seems like it’s most fun to put it in a place where everyone will see it. A lamp on the kitchen counter, a new rug at the front door, or a lovely candle burning in the living room will be enjoyed by family and guests alike.
So, why decorate a room that’s only seen by two people – like your bedroom? We might rationalize, “My husband and I are the only ones who will see it! Who cares?” Well, YOU should! How about if we look at it this way – your bedroom is the only space that the two of you share exclusively, so it needs to be special!
How about taking some pictures of your bedroom and then putting them on your computer screen so you can look at it objectively. It’s amazing what you see in a picture that you tend to ignore in person.
- Is the room inviting?
- Is it light and bright during the day and dark enough at night?
- Is it cluttered?
- Is the bed made?
- Is there a space to relax?
- What do you need to add to make it beautiful? Functional?
- Is there enough low light to read a book in bed?
- Do you love this space or sigh when you see it?
I recently looked at our room and thought that it was blah with color. There’s a lot of white in there with red accents, but I decided I needed to add another color that would make the room “pop.” I decided on turquoise. I’ve added a couple of things and am going through the house to add just a couple more touches. I’m thinking that another turquoise pillow on the bed and maybe a candle in that color. So far, I love it!
Can I encourage you to refresh your bedroom and make it a place you and your husband love retreating to? It’s a wise investment in your home…but most of all in your marriage!
Do you love your bedroom? What needs to change?
With love,
A Peek From my Porch
Last weekend I had the wonderful privilege of going to Kentucky to help my parents celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary! We had a dinner for them at a lovely restaurant in Lexington. The biggest blessing was that 25 of our 26 family members were able to come!
After our delicious meal, we all took the opportunity to share with my parents a memory we have of them as a couple. I’m so thankful we could recall those special times with them. There were lots of laughs and also some tears, but it was a really great to reminisce.
My memories of them stemmed from this verse ~
Proverbs 20:7 – The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
I saw integrity in my parent’s marriage in several ways through the years:They
- In every day life.
- They loved each other in little and big ways. They kissed goodbye and hello.
- My mom always fixed herself up for my dad.
- My dad always noticed my mom – his raised eyebrows were a silent compliment!.
- They had a little “code” for saying “I love you.”
- In spiritual life.
- Sunday was the Lord’s day. They took our family to church for Sunday school, and both morning and evening services.
- Both of my parents were in God’s Word faithfully.
- They both consistently lived their life for the Lord.
- In hard times.
- My dad moved our family out of state – from Michigan to Kentucky at a time when he felt the influence was negative on his family. My mom supported him, though they were leaving all their family behind.
- When our home was destroyed by a tornado, my parents stood together during the aftermath. Many marriages divide in a trial like that.
- During times of illness. When one or the other is sick, they support and care for the one who is ill with loving affection.
The last part of that verse says “their children are blessed after them.” That is the truth! All the 24 members of our family who have come after them, can rejoice in the blessing my parents have been! What a legacy we have to carry on! I pray the Lord will help my husband and me to be as faithful and full of integrity as my parents have been!
With love from my country porch,
