Simple Home Living: 2/15/09

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Charley Bit Me

Friday, February 20, 2009

Girls Cook: Comfort Food From Lylah's Kitchen

There's just something very right about women getting together to cook dinner! They used to do in way back when and last Thursday we did it in my kitchen.

Molly, BreAnna, and daughter Candace joined me in making some comfort food. Kids were running around, messes everywhere - but it didn't matter with the results of woman to woman connection over cookin'.

Related Posts:
1. Women Helping Women
2. Cooking in Lylah's Kitchen
3. Comfort Food
4. Gaining From an Older Woman

This Makes Me Smile

This Little Guy Makes Me Smile!

Related Posts
1. Welcome Roman!
2. Grandma Peggy's Grandson & Mine Too!

Saving Money in the Kitchen

Home makers everywhere are trying to find ways to save money. I think the kitchen is a good place to discover some new ways.

One of the says that I save money and time is to buy bulk carrots and onions and then to spend about an hour using my kitchen aid to chop and dice the whole bunch and then freeze them in little baggies.

As I'm preparing dinner and my recipe calls for onions or carrots - I've already done the work - I just grab out a little baggy. Saves time and money.

10 Goals for My Kitchen Space

Spring Cleaning started a bit early this year and my kitchen area and pantry have been my first place of 'attack." As I've been re-organizing my pantry - developing a year long, well-equipped one, I decided it'd be good to also write down some of my goals for this year.

1. Monday Menu planning day and Wednesday's is coupon cutting day – allowing room for spontaneity. I always love to visit Laura's Organizing Junkie! Laura uses Mondays to inspire women to menu plan. I’ve recently started employing Google Calendar for my menu planning and I LOVE it.

About eighteen years ago I was a fan of once a month cooking, but weekly menu planning works best for me in this season of my life. Rachel writes about Batch Cooking here.

2. Maintain a well stocked and organized pantry.

3. Keep my linen closet neatly organized.

4. Plan, plant and regularly attend to our vegetable garden and incorporate the produce into meals.

5. Organize my recipes and evaluate my present system. I like what Lindsay has done here.

6. Keep my counter tops (working space) free of unnecessary stuff. De-clutter, de-clutter and do it again is my mantra.

8. Purge old spices and maintain the alphabetized organization. Develop a year long pantry (post coming soon).

9. Create beauty at my family table with colorful and delicious food – to have the display as wonderful as the food and the company around the table.

10. Keep it all simple.

Related Posts
1. Re-Organizing the Pantry - Part One
2. Cooking in Lylah's Kitchen
3. Making Home Peaceful

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Ode to My Chickens

A Step Toward a Stronger Marriage

Don't you think it's easy for those little nasty foxes to spoil the vineyard of love. Those little foxes creep in under the fences of the vineyard destroying the root system of the vine. When a root system is destroyed - it takes out the whole vine.

Foxes are a plenty and in order to preserve a marriage, those fox need to be caught and the vineyard protected.

What are the little foxes in marriage?
Little foxes can be any kind of marital stressors like financial difficulties, pre-marital sex, job pressures, physical injuries, pornography, unclear understanding of the biblical role of a husband or wife, lack of good communication skills, un-dealt with past emotional pain, father wounds, male-mother attachment issues, criticalness, the inability to resolve conflicts, exhaustion (sleep deprivation, sickness and . . .

How easy it can be, in this crazy and busy world, to become distant (slowly pulling away) from each other. It's easy to make other things like job, kids, outside pursuits a priority over the priority of a marriage than can sometimes be struggling.

My husband and I have found that not only having a weekly (we try hard at maintaining this) along with a purpose statement for our marriage has helped draw us toward each other rather than away. A purpose statement reminds us of the opportunity to be used by God

Why Develop a One Flesh Purpose Statement
Developing a one flesh purpose statement keeps us on track as we go for reward. We're reminded of our purpose statement which really anchors us to move together, rather than independently - which is can be a tendency of our self-protective, proud flesh.

We've discovered that our purpose statement draws the best out of us individually and it makes us powerful together.

The world is desperate to see a husband and wife love each other, show that respect and honor and actually like being together - serving together, moving together - it's a powerful testimony.

When we got married, God showed us that I (Lylah) was like red and Michael was like blue. Together, we became purple - royal.

Our purpose statement nudges us to move together instead of independently - thus displaying those royal colors to a hurting world. We protect our marriage, seeking to glorify Him as grow in that character.

A Weekly Marriage Staff Meeting
How many office staff have weekly meetings to calendar, discuss issues, have conversation about what needs to be changed and how to do "stuff" better? Most successful ones do.

So, why not have a weekly marriage staff meeting? We've developed a Weekly Marriage Staff Meeting agenda and if you'd like a copy email me at lylahledner@gmail.com.

We discuss finances, calendaring, date needs, individual needs, home front needs of repair and how we can practice hospitality better. It's that time to discuss any areas of neglect too.

Our Marriage Purpose Statement

The Ledner One-Flesh Purpose
We live to partner with or Lord,
expressing His Grace
first to each other
and then to others
seeking the double glory marriage where ever we go,
celebrating others,
opening our hearts and hour home
being willing, available and ready (WAR) to
serve others (and not ourselves) through:
Prayer
Care
and by Sharing
the biblical relationship principles
we have learned and practice.

How do you think this can help your marriage? Here's more encouragement.

Step 3 to Re-Organize Your Pantry - Facing Toxins

I started Spring Cleaning early in my kitchen -specifically my pantry. Part one is here and part two is here.

Part of "spring cleaning" the pantry is to evaluate IF your kitchen/pantry is well-equipped or IF you actually have toxins in your midst.

Today, I want to chat with you about toxins. Since July 2007, I've been reading about them - because I'm on a journey to de-toxify and I've been reading about toxins - what they are and where they are found and what they do.

I've been reading about the toxins in my food, in my clothes, in my bed, in my cleaning products, in my carpet, in my kitchen, in the air I breath, in the water I drink, in the plastics I use and bout 50 other places.

I'm reading and researching - not to get overwhelmed, or become obsessive or compulsive about germs or toxins, but so that I can be informed to make wise choices to change my lifestyle in those practical places that I can, and to inform other women who want to listen.

One of the books that has been a real eye opener is this book, Detoxify or Die, recommended by a friend's podiatrist. It's one of my resources.

I've discovered that toxins are everywhere: food, metal, dirt, plastics, our homes, in our pillows and more. "The plastic wraps swaddling your fruits, vegetables, and meats in your grocery cart look harmless enough.

The Styrofoam trays that holds your food from the grocery store and the plastic bottles for water, soda, milk, ketchup, fruit juice, and even infant formula. But the phthalates (plasticizers) that out gas from these plastics, so ubiquitous in our food and beverage packaging, leach into our foods.

In fact, we eat so may plastics each day that the government has established an average daily amount that we ingest. And once inside our bodies, these phthalates or plastics tightly hook onto our cell parts where they gum up the works." page 2 & 3 of Detoxify or Die

I've learned about dioxins - a man-made chemical family - inescapable in our foods. "Dioxins are created in part through through the manufacture of plastics, pesticides and other chemicals (U.S.D. H.S.S. 1998). They are spewed from industrial smokestacks, taken up into clouds, and rain out into the soils where they are taken up by plants that we use for food or animals and humans." page 3 of Detoxify or Die

Metals are another toxin that are hidden in our foods. "Mercury toxicity from bottom dwelling shellfish and fish (clams, crabs, lobster, mussels, oysters, flounder) and smaller fish that feed around the mouths of rivers, as well as large fish like swordfish and tuna that feed on the smaller fish, stockpile heavy metals from upstream industry." (Crinnion, S.S.F.D.A., Tollefosn) page 8 of Detoxify or Die

"Aluminum contamination, for example, contributing to the rising epidemic of Alzheimer's disease, is in baking powders (except for Rumford). We also obtain aluminum from the giant vats that processed factory foods are made in, as well as aluminum-lined juice boxes, cans, and other packaging, plus kitchen and commercial coffeemakers, hot water heaters, thermoses and aluminum cooking utensils. It's even an anti-caking agent added to sale and sugar (so that "When it rains it pours").

Just when we think our homes are safe, we need to think again. Two years ago, Michael and I did some home front renovation. For you curious types here are some pics: one and two. We tore up old ceramic tile floors and replaced it with hardwood floors.

The tear up dust was - well a lot of dust. The hardwood floors weren't particularly the issue - but for a season, the glue was. We also had all our trim and cabinetry sanded and painted. Paint is toxic. Then, if that wasn't enough, we pulled out all the carpet in the bedrooms and had new carpet put down.

"The average carpet out gases over a dozen chemicals, all of which are capable of creating disease. Anderson Labs demonstrated on TV just how toxic new carpeting can be. They placed a little patch of carpet in the bottom of a glass jar with some mice. In the morning the mice were dead. 4-PC was the chemical culprits: benzened, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, butadiene, styrene, methacrylates, and more (Anderson 1977)." page 14 of Detoxify or Die

As I have discovered the toxins that I live among, I realized that I have a choice: be and proactive and eliminate what I can or get overwhelmed and do nothing. I chose the first option.

Let's talk water. According to Detoxify or Die, the average city water contains over 500 different chemicals, one of which is flouride - deliberately added to water.

When my girls were little, the water in Tucson, AZ, had flouride in it. Dentists were amazed at how good their teeth were. What concerns me is what kind of effects might show up in them as adult women. "Flouride is known to cause excessive calcification not only in arteries but joints and ligaments, and contributes to many forms of cancer and osteoporosis. Flouride acts like a havy metal (even though it's a halogen) in damaging enzymes."

We've got a ton of chlorine in our Phoenix water. I know this, because on some days I can smell the chlorine when I turn the faucet on. "Chlorine turns out to be a free radical initiator that elevates cholesterol and accelerates aging."

Sometimes, though the water isn't the problem it's the source the water flows through. Many pipes are PVC, copper, lead or other toxic plastics.

So, before you get to depressed, I want to share the steps I've taken to take as much control as I can to detoxify.

11 Things You Can Do Now - To Take Control to Detoxify

# 1. Read and research. The Detoxify or Die is a fantastic resource.

# 2. Change what you can change. There wasn't anything we could do about the chemicals emitted from our new carpet, but there was something we could do about our water. Besides only drinking filtered water (and Detoxify or Die tells you what are the good kinds) we added a filter to our shower head.

# 3. Read this plastics list. Get rid of all your bad plastic. If you can't change it out all at once, do it in steps. Watch for sales, but change it out. Check out this site about plastics. Check out this site for other guides. Check out this site to know what plastic to avoid.

#4. Read labels. Don't assume you know what's in it. If there are names on the label that you've never heard of - then there's a good chance your body won't know what to do with it our how to digest it.

# 5. Nurse your baby. Please nurse your baby. Please get help from older moms to nurse your baby. Read this if you use formula. It's lengthy, but will give a mother something to think about.

# 6. Change out your cookware to stainless steel. Teflon is toxic. Read this to know more. Here's another important read.

#7. Change your diet. Most of what we eat is acidic in nature. When our bodies are acidic, they don't repair themselves, breakdown more quickly, decrease ability for the body to detoxify, make us more susceptible to disease. Get understanding why you need to eat foods that are more alkaline rather than acidic and know what foods are what.

# 8. Detox. Exposure to toxins, creates a heavy burden on our bodies. I've heard it said that "you are what you don't secrete." Toxins build up, they inhibit our ability to absorb nutrients. I'm dealing with that right now. I am not absorbing calcium. Being in my mid-fifties, I need to absorb calcium.

So, I'm proceeding ahead by doing two things: I'm going to do the Fast Track One Day Detox. And, I have committed to go with a girlfriend (you know - the buddy system) for our first colonic. If you don't know what's in your colon - read this . And, if you don't know about colonics, then read this. Read here for my experience.

# 9. Find out what's in your pillow. Many pillows are loaded with toxins like brominated flame retardant substance. If you can change it - change it.

# 10. Change your cleaning products to non-toxins. Read this and read this.

# 11. Know about fruits and vegetables that are on the dirty list.

I'd love to hear what you're doing to detoxify. What have you changed and how have you known it's benefited you?

Related Posts
1. Step One - Re-Organize Your Pantry
2. Step Two - Re-Organize Your Pantry
3. Methel Parabins & Killing Plastics

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Steps to Re-Organizing Your Pantry - Part Two

I love my kitchen. It's the serving center where I spend much of my day in and out of. I like to think that lots of love, life and creativity flow from this space into the others.

Yesterday, I started posting my steps to re-organizing my food pantry. I've been evaluating and researching how to make my pantry a FRUGAL pantry. Go here for step one.

Step Three
After you've completed those first two steps, next make a list of kitchen organizing products you've determined will help you with efficiency in the kitchen.

Get ideas from places from online stores like SurLa Table or Target and Ikea. I use mesh cutlery utility drawer trays to organize. I also use little plastic containers.

Besides counter, drawers and cupboards, what else needs attention? Does the refrigerator need cleaned out? Check expiration dates of all the food in the refrigerator and the freezer. Get rid of anything that looks or smells iffy.

Make a page in the Kitchen section of your Simple Home Notebook that says Grocery List and write down what is going to need to be replaced. Move older freezer food to the front and use that first. There are tons of blogs and sites to help you be creative with menus and dinner planning.

Step Four
What needs to be replaced? Again, mark these items down in your Kitchen notebook. Recently, I began to replace all my toxic plastics. I've gone to use mostly glass containers with a few from the non-toxic plastic list.

Step Five
Take a look at your food pantry. How's it working for you? Is it functioning well for time efficiency and is it stocked for some emergency situation?

Ask yourself: How can I re-organize it according to baked items, canned items, pasta, etc. What needs to be replaced or replenished?

The key to Simple Home Living is to begin small with little steps, get a girlfriends help and try to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

I know moms of little ones can find themselves overwhelmed. Be encouraged do the best you can, take one step at a time and enjoy those moments with those little people who always seem to be under foot. Bring them by your side for little moments of teaching. Teach them how to work by giving them little projects to do like putting the silverware or cups away. Give them a paper towel and have them "wipe" the refrigerator off while you wipe off the counters. Give them a little wisk broom and show them how to "sweep" the floor. Make it fun, not a chore. Teach them the value of sanctuary.

Before you get started on Part Two of Re-Organzing Your Pantry do these things (if you haven't already):
1. Make your bed.

2. Smile and tell God three things you're thankful for.

3. Clean your kitchen sink out - no dirty dishes allowed!

4. If you're married, go back down memory lane and reflect where you were the first time you "noticed" your husband.

5. Kiss your little ones and tell them how much you love them.

Aren't these pretty? This color makes me smile! Just thought I'd show you!

Look What I Can Do With Great Northern Beans!

I've been working for about a month setting up my year long pantry. Part of the "work" (which is so much fun for me) is finding new ways to cook with beans. I googled Great Northern Beans (since I have 50 # of them) and just LOOK what I found at Cooks.com! I've never been so excited about beans up until today!

Some of the beans in my new year long pantry.

GREAT NORTHERN BEAN STEW
1 #ground beef
1 c. coarsely chopped onions
1 c. thinly sliced carrots
2 c. chopped cabbage
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, undrained, cut up
1 lg. can Great Northern beans, undrained
1 c. water
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/4-1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. hot red pepper sauce
1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley

In large saucepan or Dutch oven, brown beef and onions; drain. Stir in all remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes. 6 (1 cup) servings.

GREAT NORTHERN BAKED BEANS
32 oz cans of Great Northern Beans, drained
1 ham steak cut into cubes
1 tsp. salt
1/2 lg. sweet onion, chopped
2 bottles of ketchup
1/3 to 1/2 c. of prepared mustard
3 c. of packed brown sugar

Combine ingredients. Cook in a uncovered crock pot 8 to 12 hours or overnight on low heat.

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS
2 ham hocks
1 whole onion
1 stalk celery, chopped
6 potatoes, cubed
4 carrots, sliced
2 tbsp. oil
1 chopped onion
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (14 1/2 oz.) canned tomatoes, chopped

Cook beans and ham hocks until tender. Salt and pepper to taste (I add a little red pepper). Add whole onion, celery and carrots. Cook about 15 minutes. Saute chopped onion and pepper. Add chopped tomatoes to onion and green pepper. Cook about 5 minutes. Put all together in beans and cook 30 minutes. Take ham off bone and add to the bean soup.

This recipe REALLY excites me because I grow Kale in my garden.

WHITE BEAN AND KALE SALAD
1 cup great northern beans, soaked overnight in 1 quart water
½ medium sweet onion, cut into thin half-moon slices
¼ cup pure olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 cups coarsely chopped kale
2 tablespoons currants
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon crushed red chili pepper
Ground black pepper to taste

Drain beans. Add 6 cups of water and cook over medium heat until tender, approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Sauté onion in large pan in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.

Sauté kale in large pan over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir while cooking to avoid sticking.Just before removing kale from pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Set aside in a medium-sized bowl. When beans are tender, remove from heat, drain, and place in refrigerator to cool. Once beans have cooled for 10 minutes, toss them with kale, currants, lemon juice, salt, chili pepper, and sautéed onion. Add black pepper and additional salt to taste.

BEAN AND BARLEY SALAD
3 cups water
1/2 cup pearl barley
1 can of chick peas, rinsed and drained
1 cup cooked pink beans, drained
1 cup cooked great northern beans, drained
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1 clove of garlic, finely diced
1/3 cup canola oil

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and add barley. Cook over medium heat for 40 minutes or until tender-firm. Remove from heat. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Drain again. In serving bowl combine cooked barley, chick peas, beans, onion, parsley and jalapeno peppers. In a separate bowl, combine vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic. Mix thoroughly.

Whisk in canola (I won't use canola - I'll use olive oil) until evenly mixed. Add to beans mixture. Toss gently. Serve immediately at room temperature. (May be store in a covered container in refrigerator for 24 hours). 11 servings.

Related Posts
1. The Simple Home Pantry
2. Tuscan Kale Salad

If you have any great bean recipes, please post a comment with the link to your recipe!

A Crisis in Masculinity - My Husband Says

Re-posted post from November 2007

I’ve heard it said that our national crisis is a consequence of the crisis in the home, and the crisis in the home is a crisis of male leadership. Men are appointed by God to be the authority and to lead their families. My husband says that when a man becomes passive toward leading his family in God’s standards all hell breaks loose.

I love learning from the wisdom of my husband. God has placed him over me to protect me and to teach me (and boy do I need it). In talking to my husband about the authority role given to the man by God, he says that men (generally) have no idea what it is to lead and he believes men (generally) are beaten down, battered, culturalized and paralyzed and that they have not moved into their God-given role as spiritual leaders in their homes, their churches and their communities.

He also says that, 'yes', there are men that have moved into that role, but more men than not, have neither understood nor clothed themselves with being the authority that God has called them to be. They just don’t understand what it means. He says it’s like the spiritual leadership suit is hanging in the closet never having been worn.

My husband says that every man has an eternal task for an eternal reward to do and that a man normally doesn't understand what his purpose is. He says that so many men don’t know what they are here for. They don’t know that this is a battleground, a time of testing, a place to invest in and a race.

God calls the man to be the authority in the home. I asked my husband what does ‘being the authority mean’? He says that it means that the man is the visionary of the home. He says that it means he is the one to pray for God’s vision for his family.

Planning means he must strategize in measurable ways to implement that vision. Then, the man must pursue the vision. Pursuing the vision for the family means he must work and sweat – persevere, provide and protect. He plans with the Lord. And, then walking in that authority, the man will come to the place of praising God for the opportunity to partner with Him as he rejoices in the victory.

He plans - she prays . . . they partner. For more on your man's vision go here.

Mini - Turkey Loaves for Dinner

I found this recipe for Turkey Loaves years ago and it's a quick and easy favorite of mine. This amount serves 4 - so double it and freeze half and in a pinch pull them out and you've got dinner ready!

Ingredients

1 # of fresh ground turkey

1 small onion - chopped

1 clove of garlic - crushed

1 egg - beat

1 tsp salt

1 pinch of pepper

1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup tomato juice (I've used tomato paste as well)

1/4 t hot red pepper sauce (I tend to add twice that amount, because we like the kick. If you've got little ones, stick to the amount given.)

Mix thoroughly—pat into 4 small mini loaves and place on a greased. Bake at 400 degrees for about 45+ minutes. Center should be cooked completely.

For a complete meal, add some scrubbed potatoes - and bake them along side the mini meat loaves and then for color - cook some green beans and if you have any left over bacon drippings, spice up the beans with that. Home made biscuits with honey would put a bigger smile on everyone's face.

Let me know how you like them!

Steps to Re-Organizing Your Pantry - Part One

My spring cleaning has gotten off to a big start - I mean a really big start. I've been evaluating and researching my food pantry and have decided that there would be some huge benefits for me to create a year long working pantry.

So, the past month, I've been charting, shopping, couponing, stocking, researching, re-organizing and re-thinking how I do food from my Simple Home Kitchen. I'll post more details about my Simple Home Pantry changes in future posts, but for now, I want to share how important my kitchen is to me.

My kitchen is the heart of my home and it's always been my starting place for spring cleaning and organization. I believe the kitchen is the focal point and that life flows into and out of the kitchen.

My kitchen is my main working station. Everything I need to manage my home and be a good steward as a home maker is centered in my kitchen area.

I know that organizing the kitchen can be a bit overwhelming so here are my Simple Home Living steps to Organizing your kitchen.

Step One
Get out a notebook (used or new) and mark it: Kitchen! Next,take a look around your kitchen. Look at your counter top, refrigerator top, open drawers, cupboards, and look under the sink.

What do you see? Ask yourself:
1. What needs tossed? Old plastics, tefelon pans that are peeling, broken equipment, etc? Well used wooden spoons (which need to be replaced every three months)? Cutting boards - don't use a cutting board that you've cut chicken or other meat on with one you use for salad. You're cross contaminating.
2. What needs cleaned?
3. What needs to be removed - because it isn't necessary or doesn't belong there or because you have too many of them?
4. What needs re-organized? (the knife drawer, cups, plastics)
5. What needs to be in a better spot? Is your counter top cluttered? Is everything on your counter or just what you use on a regular basis? Is your counter top space used effectively? Do you need cabinet organizers or shelves to make better use of space? Does your spice rack need attention?

Step Two
Write it down and start SIMPLE. If you feel overwhelmed, ask a girlfriend to help you out. A few years ago, my daughter Candace came over and re-organized all my cupboards. She had eyes to see things that I couldn't. That boost helped me to continue to make further changes.

In the past, my counter tops were pretty cluttered. My daughter, Jenni, helped me de-clutter the counter tops. In time I enjoyed and realized I worked more efficiency with a simple counter top.

I keep only what I use on a daily basis: French Press coffee press & bean grinder, a red pitcher that holds tools such as spatulas and spoons, and a two tiered Crate n' Barrel wired basket that holds my onions, tomatoes, garlic and other vegges or fruit.

Don't be afraid to make changes.
Do re-structure or re-organize your working station, your cupboards and drawers for the purpose of being productive, making good use of space, and having an efficiently working kitchen. You don't want to waste time looking for something. Remember, your kitchen is the hub of your home.

Start small but start
Maybe you need to begin with a small project like Lindsay's? Or you might need to take an hour or two and overhaul the kitchen cabinets like Laura did.

I did a fifteen minute project to organize all my spices in alphabetical order. That was huge a help for me and time saver.

Think about your different tasks: mixing, cutting and rolling and organize around those tasks. I also created specialized work areas storing my tools near those places that I thought would be most practical. For example, I put all my sharp knives and a cutting board within reach of the area nearest my stove/oven. It made sense for me to chop onions, carrots, celery, kale, potatoes, garlic, etc. to the right of my stove, because most of the time they're headed into a big pot that is on the stove.

The whole idea with kitchen organization is to get to the place where you create sanctuary and have a peaceful Simple Home and not a chaotic one.

I'll post the next set of steps on Wednesday. For now, go seize the moment and do the following:

1. Clean your sink - great principle from FlyLady

2. Make your bed - it's a must to start the day off right.

3. Read your bible - just one section - Proverbs 31:11-12

4. Hug your little ones and read them a little book.

5. Get started back in your kitchen with the above steps.

What I strive for my kitchen to look like.

This Puts a Bee in My Bonnet - List of Spending

I believe this to be accurate - if I'm missing something please email me.

The Stimulus Plan: A Detailed List of Spending

by Michael Grabell and Christopher Weaver, ProPublica - February 13, 2009 10:24 am EST

Feb. 13, 10:55p.m.: This post was updated to reflect that the Senate voted for the stimulus package.

The House approved the economic stimulus plan Friday afternoon with a vote of 246 to 183, followed by the Senate with a vote of 60 to 38. Want to know what's in it? You could read the 1,071-page gorilla that passed today. Or you could let us do the work for you. We’ve dissected the beast in two charts – one for spending below, and one for taxes.

The appropriations section of the bill details spending in excess of $311 billion for programs ranging from Pell grants for college students to clean water in central Utah to nearly $100 billion in new transportation and infrastructure projects.

Here’s our earlier chart comparing the differences between the House, Senate, and conference versions of the bills.

Program	Funding
Accountability	$323,500,000
Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General	$22,500,000
Department of Commerce - Office of Inspector General	$10,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Office of Inspector General	$6,000,000
Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General	$2,000,000
NASA - Office of Inspector General	$2,000,000
Defense Department - Office of Inspector General	$15,000,000
Department of Energy - Office of Inspector General	$15,000,000
Department of the Treasury - Inspector General for Tax Administration	$7,000,000
General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General	$7,000,000
Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board	$84,000,000
Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General	$10,000,000
Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General	$5,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Inspector General	$15,000,000
Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Inspector General	$20,000,000
Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General	$6,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General related to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology	$17,000,000
Department of Education - Office of Inspector General	$14,000,000
Corporation for National and Community Service - Office of Inspector General	$1,000,000
Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General	$2,000,000
Government Accountability Office salaries and expenses	$25,000,000
Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General	$1,000,000
State Department - Office of Inspector General	$2,000,000
Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General	$20,000,000
Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General	$15,000,000
Aid to People Affected by Economic Downturn	$36,910,807,000
Rural Housing Service insurance fund program account - direct loans and unsubsidized guaranteed loans	$11,672,000,000
Rural community facilities program account	$130,000,000
Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC)	$500,000,000
School lunch programs for schools in which at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced price meals	$100,000,000
Food bank commodity assistance program	$150,000,000
Temporary increase in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps)	$19,900,000,000
Food distribution program on Indian reservations	$5,000,000
Agricultural disaster assistance transition - Federal Crop Insurance Act
Farm operating loans	$173,367,000
Direct farm operating loans	$20,440,000
IRS health insurance tax credit administration	$80,000,000
Emergency food and shelter	$100,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs job training and housing improvement programs	$40,000,000
Indian guaranteed loan program	$10,000,000
Community service employment for older Americans	$120,000,000
Extra funding for state unemployment insurance	$150,000,000
State re-employment services for the jobless	$250,000,000
Child care assistance for low-income families	$1,651,227,000
Child care assistance for low-income families through state programs	$255,186,000
Child care assistance for low-income families to improve infant and toddler care	$93,587,000
Community Service Block Grant Program	$1,000,000,000
Social Security Act funding	50,000,000
Social Security Administration processing of disability and retirement workloads	$460,000,000
Aid to State and Local Governments	$58,355,000,000
State administrative expenses to carry out increase in food stamp program	$295,000,000
Economic development assistance programs	$150,000,000
Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs	$225,000,000
Office of Justice Programs state and local law enforcement assistance (Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants)	$2,000,000,000
State and local law enforcement assistance grants to improve criminal justice systems, assist crime victims and mentor youth	$225,000,000
Southern border and high-intensity drug trafficking areas	$30,000,000
ATF Project Gunrunner	$10,000,000
State and local law enforcement assistance to Indian tribes	$225,000,000
Crime victim assistance	$100,000,000
Rural drug crime program	$125,000,000
Internet crimes against children initiatives	$50,000,000
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants	$1,000,000,000
Justice Department salaries and expenses for administration of police grant programs	$10,000,000
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund for financial assistance, training and outreach to Native American, Hawaiian and Alaskan native communities	$100,000,000
Local and state fire station upgrades and construction	$210,000,000
Disaster assistance direct loans may exceed $5,000,000 and may be equal to not more than 50% of local government annual budget if the government lost 25% or more in tax revenues
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to avoid cutbacks and layoffs (82% must be used for education while 18% may be used for public safety and other government services. The latter part may be used for repairs and modernization of K-12 schools and college and university buildings.)	$53,600,000,000
Business	$870,000,000
Rural Business - Cooperative Service: rural business program account	$150,000,000
Small Business Administration salaries and expenses, microloan program and improvements to technology systems	$69,000,000
Surety bond guarantees revolving fund	$15,000,000
Small business loans	$636,000,000
Education	$48,420,000,000
State grants for adult job training	$500,000,000
State grants for youth job training and summer employment opportunities	$1,200,000,000
Dislocated worker job training	$1,250,000,000
YouthBuild program for high school dropouts who re-enroll in other schools	$50,000,000
Job training in emerging industries	$250,000,000
Job training in the renewable energy field	$500,000,000
Head Start programs	$1,000,000,000
Early Head Start program expansion	$1,100,000,000
Education for the disadvantaged - elementary and secondary education	10,000,000,000
Education for the disadvantaged - school improvement grants	$3,000,000,000
Education impact aid	$100,000,000
School improvement programs	$650,000,000
Innovation and improvement of elementary and secondary schools	$200,000,000
Special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	$12,200,000,000
Pell grants for higher education	$15,840,000,000
Institute of Education data systems	$245,000,000
Institute of Education state data coordinators	$5,000,000
Dislocated worker assistance national reserve	$200,000,000
School improvement grants awarded based on the number of homeless students identified in a state	$70,000,000
Student aid administrative costs	$60,000,000
Energy	$41,400,000,000
Energy efficiency and conservation block grants	$3,200,000,000
Weatherization Assistance Program (increases maximum income level and maximum assistance)	$5,000,000,000
State energy program	$3,100,000,000
Advanced batteries manufacturing, including lithium ion batteries, hybrid electrical systems, component manufacturers and software designers	$2,000,000,000
Modernize electricity grid	$4,400,000,000
Electricity grid worker training	$100,000,000
Fossil energy research and development	$3,400,000,000
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund	$390,000,000
Department of Energy science programs	$1,600,000,000
Advanced Research Projects Agency	$400,000,000
Innovative technology loan guarantee program	$6,000,000,000
Western Area Power Administration construction and maintenance	$10,000,000
Bonneville Power Administration borrowing authority	$3,250,000,000
Western Area Power Administration borrowing authority	$3,250,000,000
Leading edge biofuel projects	$500,000,000
Federal building conversion to "high-performance green buildings"	$4,500,000,000
Energy efficiency federal vehicle fleet procurement	$300,000,000
Health Care	$18,830,000,000
Indian Health Service information technology and telehealth services	$85,000,000
Indian health facilities	$415,000,000
Grants for public health centers	$500,000,000
Construction, renovation, equipment and information technology for health centers	$1,500,000,000
National Health Service Corps funding	$75,000,000
Addressing health professions workforce shortage	$425,000,000
National Institutes of Health grants and contracts to renovate non-federal research facilities	$1,000,000,000
National Institute of Health grants and contracts for shared resources and equipment for grantees	$300,000,000
National Institutes of Health fund to support scientific research	$7,400,000,000
National Institutes of Health Common Fund	$800,000,000
National Institutes of Health renovations of high-priority buildings at the Bethesda, Md., campus, and at other locations	$500,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research	$300,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research by the National Institutes of Health	400,000,000
Comparative effectiveness research by the Department of Health and Human Services	$400,000,000
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology	$1,680,000,000
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's regional or subnational efforts	$300,000,000
Department of Commerce health care information enterprise integration activities related to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology	$20,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services computer and information technology security	$50,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services Prevention and Wellness Fund	$1,000,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund immunization program	$300,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention strategies	$650,000,000
Prevention and Wellness Fund reduction in incidence of health-care-associated infections	$50,000,000
Rehabilitation services and disability research	540,000,000
State grants for rehabilitation services and disability research	$18,200,000
Rehabilitation services in independent living centers	$87,500,000
Rehabilitation services for older blind individuals	$34,300,000
Other	$2,147,000,000
Census Bureau programs	$1,000,000,000
Digital-to-analog television converter box program	$650,000,000
President shall establish arbitration panel under FEMA public assistance program to expedite recovery efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Requirement that Department of Homeland Security uniforms be manufactured and sewn together by U.S. fabric and apparel companies
National Endowment for the Arts grants	$50,000,000
Department of Labor salaries and expenses	$80,000,000
Additional awards to existing AmeriCorps grantees	$83,000,000
AmeriCorps program salaries and expenses	$5,200,000
AmeriCorps program administrative costs of expansion	$800,000
National security trust appropriation	$40,000,000
Social Security Administration health information technology research	$40,000,000
Filipino World War II veterans compensation	$198,000,000
Science and Technology	$13,142,000,000
Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses to maintain and modernize the information technology system	$50,000,000
Distance learning, telemedicine and broadband program	$2,500,000,000
National Telecommunications and Information Administration - broadband technology opportunities program	$4,690,000,000
National Institute of Standards and Technology scientific and technical research and services	$220,000,000
National Institute of Standards and Technology construction of research facilities	$360,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations, research and facilities	$230,000,000
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration procurement, acquisition and construction	$600,000,000
NASA science	$400,000,000
NASA aeronautics	$150,000,000
NASA exploration	$400,000,000
NASA cross agency support	$50,000,000
National Science Foundation research and related activities	$2,500,000,000
National Science Foundation education and human resources	$100,000,000
National Science Foundation major research equipment and facilities construction	$400,000,000
National Science Foundation - Office of Inspector General	$2,000,000
Veterans Affairs for hiring and training of claims processors	$150,000,000
Veterans Affairs information technology systems	$50,000,000
State Department technology security upgrades	$252,000,000
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) technology	$38,000,000
Transportation and Infrastructure	$98,325,000,000
Agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments	$24,000,000
Agricultural Research Service buildings and facilities	$176,000,000
Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed and flood prevention programs	$290,000,000
Watershed rehabilitation program	$50,000,000
Rural Utilities Service water and waste disposal program account	$1,380,000,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army	$1,474,525,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Navy	$657,051,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Marine Corps	$113,865,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air Force	$1,095,959,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army Reserve	$98,269,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Navy	$55,083,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve	$39,909,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air Force Reserve	$13,187,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Army National Guard	$266,304,000
Defense Department facilities operation and maintenance, Air National Guard	$25,848,000
Army research development, test and evaluation	$75,000,000
Navy research development, test and evaluation	$75,000,000
Air Force research development, test and evaluation	$75,000,000
Defense-wide research development, test and evaluation	$75,000,000
Defense Department medical facilities repair and modernization including energy efficiency	$400,000,000
Corps of Engineers investigations	$25,000,000
Corps of Engineers construction	$2,000,000,000
Corps of Engineers - Mississippi River and tributaries	$375,000,000
Corps of Engineers operations and maintenance	$2,075,000,000
Corps of Engineers regulatory program	$25,000,000
Corps of Engineers formerly utilized sites remedial action program	$100,000,000
Bureau of Reclamation water and related resources, including inspection of canals in urbanized areas	$900,000,000
Central Utah Project water programs	$50,000,000
California Bay-Delta restoration	$50,000,000
Non-Defense environmental cleanup	$483,000,000
Defense environmental cleanup	$5,127,000,000
Federal buildings and courthouses	$750,000,000
Border stations and land ports of entry	$300,000,000
Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation	$200,000,000
Customs and Border Protection non-intrusive inspection systems	$100,000,000
Customs and Border Protection tactical communications equipment and radios	$60,000,000
Border security fencing, infrastructure and technology	$100,000,000
Land border ports of entry construction	$420,000,000
Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactical communications equipment and radios	$20,000,000
Transportation Security Administration checked baggage and checkpoint explosives detection machines	$1,000,000,000
Coast Guard shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities	$98,000,000
Coast Guard alteration of bridges	$142,000,000
FEMA public transportation and railroad security	$150,000,000
FEMA port security grants	$150,000,000
Bureau of Land Management maintenance and restoration of facilities, trails, lands, abandoned mines and wells	$125,000,000
Bureau of Land Management construction of roads, bridges, trails and facilities, including energy efficient retrofits	$180,000,000
Wildland fire management and hazardous fuels reduction	$15,000,000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintenance and construction on wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries and for habitat restoration	$165,000,000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service roads, bridges and facilities, including energy efficient retrofits	$115,000,000
National Park Service facilities and trails	$146,000,000
Historically black colleges and universities preservation	$15,000,000
National Park Service road construction, cleanup of abandoned mines on parkland and other infrastructure	$589,000,000
U.S. Geological Survey facilities and equipment, including stream gages, seismic and volcano monitoring systems and national map activities	$140,000,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs construction of roads, schools and detention centers	$450,000,000
Superfund site cleanup	$600,000,000
Leaking underground storage tank cleanup	$200,000,000
Clean water state revolving fund grants	$4,000,000,000
Safe drinking water capitalization grants	$2,000,000,000
Brownfields projects	$100,000,000
Diesel emission reduction grants and loans	$300,000,000
Forest Service road, bridge and trail maintenance; watershed restoration; facilities improvement; remediation of abandoned mines; and support costs	$650,000,000
Wildfire mitigation	$500,000,000
Smithsonian Institution repairs	$25,000,000
Construction, renovation and acquisition of Job Corps Centers	$250,000,000
Social Security Administration's National Computer Center replacement	$500,000,000
Military construction, Army - child development centers and warrior transition complexes	$180,000,000
Military construction, Navy and Marine Corps - child development centers and warrior transition complexes	$280,000,000
Military construction, Air Force - child development centers and warrior transition complexes	$180,000,000
Military hospital construction and energy conservation investments	$1,450,000,000
Military construction, Army National Guard	$50,000,000
Military construction, Air National Guard	$50,000,000
Family housing construction, Army	$34,507,000
Family housing operation and maintenance, Army	$3,932,000
Family housing construction, Air Force	$80,100,000
Family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force	$16,461,000
Temporary expansion of military homeowner assistance program to respond to mortgage foreclosure and credit crisis, including acquisition of property at or near military bases that have been ordered closed.	$555,000,000
Veterans Affairs hospital maintenance	$1,000,000,000
National Cemetery Administration for monument and memorial repairs	$50,000,000
State extended care facilities, such as nursing homes	$150,000,000
State Department diplomatic and consular programs for domestic passport and training facilities	$90,000,000
International Boundary and Water Commission - Rio Grande levee repairs	$220,000,000
Additional capital investments in surface transportation including highways, bridges, and road repairs	$1,298,500,000
Administrative costs for additional capital investments in surface transportation	$200,000,000
Capital investments in surface transportation grants to be awarded by other administration	$1,500,000
Federal Aviation Administration infrastructure	$200,000,000
Grants-in-aid for airports	$1,100,000,000
Highway infrastructure investment	$26,725,000,000
Highway infrastructure investment in Puerto Rico	$105,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds distributed by states	$60,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds for the Indian Reservation Roads program	$550,000,000
Highway infrastructure funds for surface transportation technology training	$20,000,000
Highway infrastructure to fund oversight and management of projects	$40,000,000
High speed rail capital assistance	$8,000,000,000
National Railroad passenger corporation capital grants	$850,000,000
National Railroad passenger corporation capital grants for security	$450,000,000
Federal Transit Administration capital assistance	$6,800,000,000
Public transportation discretionary grants	$100,000,000
Fixed guideway infrastructure investment	$750,000,000
Capital investment grants	$750,000,000
Shipyard grants	$100,000,000
Public housing capital improvements	$3,000,000,000
Public housing renovations and energy conservation investments	$1,000,000,000
Native American housing block grants	$510,000,000
Community development funding	$1,000,000,000
Emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes	$2,000,000,000
Additional capital investments in low-income housing tax credit projects	$2,250,000,000
Homelessness prevention and re-housing	$1,500,000,000
Assistance to owners of properties receiving section 8 assistance	$2,000,000,000
Grants and loans for green investment in section 8 properties	$250,000,000
Lead hazard reduction	$100,000,000