Spring Cleaning List

Apparently, I'm on a cleaning kick lately. One of the blogs that I read often had a great list for spring cleaning (The Hyper Homemaker, thanks Katie!) and I have adapted my list from that.

Kitchen:
-Empty and scrub down the inside of the fridge
-Empty and clean inside of the utensil drawers
-Scrub down the cupboard exteriors
-Clean the stove hood filter
-Clean drain (baking soda, vinegar, cover, sit, then add boiling water to wash it down)
-Shine sink
-Clean out pantry and reorganize
-Clean light fixtures
-Self-clean oven
-Clean out dishwasher and run cycle while empty

Bathroom:
-Launder shower curtain
-Clean out and reorganize medicine cabinet/vanity
-Shine sink

Bedrooms:
-Wash the inside of windows
-Launder pillows
-Sort through wardrobe to ditch or donate unused clothes/accessories
-Shampoo carpet
-Reorganize closets
-Change out winter clothes for summer clothes

Living Areas:
-Wash inside of windows
-Change furnace filter
-Clean and scrub down baseboards and molding
-Shampoo carpet

Basement:
- Shampoo carpets
- Clean out laundry room
- Organize storage

Entryway:
- Organize closet
- Put away winter coats
- Scrub carpet on stairs and hallway

Outdoor:-
Wash outside of windows
-Clean screens
-Power wash deck
-Clean out grill
-Clean and outdoor furniture and accessories
- Open the pool

Automobile:
-Clean out car
-Restock emergency kit
-Refill fluids

Weekly Cleaning Schedule

I am also starting a weekly cleaning schedule. Usually, I wait to do all my cleaning on the weekends. Our weekends are starting to get really busy though so sometimes I don't have time to do all the cleaning I want to. I plan on doing a few things everyday will help keep me on track! Some days are busier than others but as long as I finish the list by the end of the week, I'll be happy! Here is my list.

Kitchen:
- Wipe appliances
- Wipe off countertops
- Wipe out inside of fridge
- Put dishes away
- Vacuum floor
- Swiffer the floor
-Wipe off garbage can
- Clean sliding glass door


Living Room:-Dust all surfaces
- Put away dog toys
-Vacuum carpet
-Vacuum upholstery
- Clean windows

Bathroom: - Scrub the tub/shower
- Clean mirror
- Clean vanity
- Wipe out sink
- Vacuum
- Swiffer
- Scrub toilet
- Wipe toilet


Bedroom: -Change the sheets
-Dust all surfaces
-Vacuum
- Organize closet
- Clean off end stands/dressers

Misc:
- Wash/Fold/Put away laundry
- Clean out cars
- Iron
- Empty all trash cans
- Vacuum stairs

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

St. Patrick's Day is a familyaffair for me. My Mom's side of the family is Irish. We celebrated this past Saturday. Here are a few photos from that day!

Weekly Menu Planning

I have decided that I am going to start menu planning. I hate calling home every night and asking Justin what he wants to eat. The answer never changes and I don't know why I even ask anymore! Hopefully this will inspire me to try the thousands of recipes that I have saved on my computer! Here's the menu I'm planning for this week:

Monday: Cajun Chicken Pasta

Tuesday: Smothered BBQ Ranch Chicken

Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken Parmesan

Thursday: Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta Skillet

Friday: Chili


We usually eat out on the weekends so I will start with only planning on the weekdays.

Christmas Cookies!!!!

My Mom and I had our traditional Holiday baking day (dayS). We don't really make the cookies for a specific reason. We take them with us to all the get togethers we have over the holidays. It's just a fun time for us!

My dad and Justin had the hard job of testing out the cookies and eating the ones that turn out so perfect. A day of watching football, drinking beer and eating cookies.... really hard right?

My pups liked the baking as well. Cooper found his new love, powdered sugar! He ended up with it all over his nose!

Below are the cookies we made:

- Thumbprints

- Russian Tea Cakes

- Peanutbutter Blossoms

- Reeses Peanutbutter Cookies

- Lady Locks

Russian Tea Cakes

Recipe coming soon!

Peanutbutter Blossoms

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Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
3 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
Additional granulated sugar (about 2 tablespoons)
About 7 dozen Hershey®’s Kisses® milk chocolates

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.

2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press 1 chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.