I have not been as consistent writing lately as I’d like. There are a lot of thoughts in my head to write about but life seems to get in the way. There are so many things that require my time and I start to feel like I don’t know which of the many things should be taking priority. Do you ever feel like that? When you truly do want to do the right thing, and none of the “things” are wrong or unimportant, in fact, they are all extremely important and you WANT to do them all, but you can’t possibly do them all, and you can’t NOT do them all.

I should write to my Dad, or even better send him an hour-long cassette tape of me rambling. He would like that. I know he won’t be here with us long.

I should organize a family event so everyone can see each other.

I should go to a friend’s birthday party.

I should help my mother clean her house and yard and do her laundry and have coffee with her.

I should read some books and take a few online courses to better myself and my passion.

I should sell things we no longer need to clean things out and produce a bit of money

I should spend time preparing crafts and activities for the kids.

We should go to a wedding shower and a wedding that is coming up.

We really should make time to go for dinner with friends.

I should exercise.

I should post quality content on my Facebook group.

I should work on the book I am writing

I should work on the household system I am putting together

I should dehydrate the box of apples sitting downstairs.

I should make salsa with those tomatillos.

I should post quality content on my blog!

I should organize my craft supplies so I know what I have to work with this fall.

I should spend time camping with my family, practicing what I preach!

Those are just some of the things that are flying around my brain, screaming for attention. Not to mention the day-to-day duties and chores that have to be done and mouths to feed.

Those are some of mine. Yours are different, but we all have our “shoulds”.

For me, all those things taking up constant thought seem to create mental constipation! It’s hard to decide which “should” I should be working on when I do have a minute. When I finally decide what to work on, I start on it and all the other things come flooding into my brain and yell at me that I should have chosen them instead! All those thoughts and “shoulds” get all tangled up and I feel like I am not getting anything done very well. My thoughts feel all stuck in my head and nothing flows out. It makes it hard to accomplish anything at all, much less all that needs to be done!

Photo Credit: dorsetdivorcee

I can’t be the only one who feels this way at times, right? Normally I am pretty good at prioritizing and list making. I am not a “procrastinator” by nature. Lately, everything feels critical but I feel stuck and frozen.

I am grateful for the routines I have in place. During this time in my life of feeling a little “pulled six ways from Sunday”, it is so valuable to me to have a home where I can feel peace and order. That has helped me to stay grounded and gives me security. My routines are such habits that I don’t have to think about them. I do those on autopilot. My home has stayed clean and orderly which will help me to think clearly.

Photo Credit: quotesgram

I can’t say I have figured out how to do all those things I talked about or even in which order. I did feel compelled to write about it today though.

I am not complaining. I am grateful to have family and friends, a business and a passion that require my time and attention! It’s a good challenge to have!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. Life gets pretty crazy sometimes! The best way to keep yourself on track, keep at least one foot on the ground, is by continuing to do your morning and evening routines. If your house stays semi-clean and tidy it will go a long way to keeping you calm and help you through those times! It lets you focus on what needs to be taken care of.

Morning Routine:

*Make your bed when your feet hit the floor.

*Clean the bathroom before you leave it. Nothing major, just wipe the counter, sink and mirror and toilet seat.

*Empty the dishwasher and put any dishes in it.

*Take the trash out if necessary

*Get something out for dinner

Before Bedtime Routine:

*Start the dishwasher

*Tidy up the living room, put shoes away etc.

*Check the calendar and weather

* Pick out clothes for the morning

*Wash, moisturize and go to bed on time!

Those routines will keep your house in order when you feel your life isn’t!

I have been craving these meatballs lately and when chicken breast was on sale at my local grocery store I knew I had to make them!

I love using my Kitchen Aid Mixer and when I get to use attachments it’s even better! The meat grinder is so much fun and easy to use!

Of course, you can buy chicken already ground at the store, but I enjoy doing it and it is much cheaper.

I use an ice cream scoop to make my meatballs. Makes it so much easier!

I found this recipe on Day Dream Kitchen. It is absolutely fantastic! The bright flavor of lemon zest and the interest of the fennel seed (which just MAKES it and you don’t want to leave it out!) and the ooey gooey fresh mozzarella on top is just incredible. I may have eaten one or two all by themselves! I served mine over spaghetti noodles and a good marinara and garnished with fresh basil. To die for!

Here is my version of Chicken Parmesan Meatballs. Be sure to check out Day Dream Kitchen for this and all the other amazing recipes they have!

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Ingredients:

3 pounds ground chicken

1/2 large onion, chopped finely or ground with the meat

4 cloves garlic, minced or whole ground with the meat

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

1 lemon zest (zest from one lemon)

1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

1 cup Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs, whisked

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 (24-ounce) can marinara sauce

8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese cut into thin slices

fresh basil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

If grinding your own chicken, cut the chicken into strips that will fit into your grinder. Roughly chop the onion to fit as well. Put chicken, onion, garlic cloves, fennel seeds, and lemon zest through the grinder.

Using your hands gently mix in the bread crumbs, parmesan, salt and pepper, eggs and olive oil.

If using chicken already ground, mix gently with your hands first 11 ingredients.

Form approximately 2-ounce meatballs, using either your hands or a 2″ scoop. Place on a foil or parchment covered baking sheet that has been sprayed with oil.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

Remove meatballs from oven and cover each with a slice of cheese. Return meatballs to oven just long enough to melt the cheese.

Heat sauce in a small saucepan. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions.

Serve meatballs on top of noodles and sauce garnished with fresh basil and more parmesan if desired.

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One of the most consistent things you will see in a clean home is that everything has a home and everything is in it’s home.

You can have a disheveled room and pick up and have it clean in just minutes if everything has a place to live.

If an item has no place to live, it is wandering aimlessly around the house from one flat surface to another feeling out of place and awkward.

Imagine how that whatchamacallit you ordered from Amazon must feel. It got ripped from a shelf, shut into a box and thrown into a truck. After a few rough rides, air turbulence, conveyor belts and another truck ride, it landed at your front door hoping for a warm welcome and a good home. Alas, it’s been moved from coffee table to kitchen counter to dining table, never really fitting in. All it wants is a real home. A place where it belongs. Have a heart! Find your whatchamacallit a home!

In all seriousness, establishing where something will live eliminates frustration when cleaning, it also helps prevent procrastination. As a bonus, you will always know where something is when you need it! Which also means you can delegate when necessary because you know where things are!

Next time you bring something into the house, think about where it’s forever home will be and put it there. NOT a temporary home on the dresser for now.

You can have a clean home for a hot minute without a home for everything but it won’t be that way for long. An organized home has a home for everything.

Making sure nothing is left homeless will save time cleaning, make your home more stress-free and allows you to do more of what YOU want to do!

We are in the middle of summer here in North Idaho, but I am already looking forward to fall! I love fall! The cool crisp air, the beautiful leaves, the boots, scarves and pumpkin spice lattes! Yup, I am that girl.

Apples are another of my fall favorites. We go apple picking at a local farm every year. Our whole family goes together. Hot fresh apple cider warms your hands while you stand in line for the pumpkin doughnuts, the aroma alone is worth standing in the long line. Local vendors are selling their homemade goods. Kids scream with delight at the bounce houses and beg to get their faces painted. Wonderful memories are made there!

So when I stopped in a roadside fruit stand and found Honey Crisp Apple for $12.95 for a giant box I had to get them! I can’t wait to go pick them myself but just couldn’t pass them up at that price. So let the apple cooking, baking, eating begin!

One of the first things I did was make a fresh apple cake. Seriously one of my favorite “apple” things!

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I peeled four apples. I needed four cups of apples but these things are the size of my head so I ended up with eight cups! I put the other four cups in a ziplock bag with a couple teaspoons of Fruit-Fresh and some water and put them in the fridge for something else.

I used my really cool apple peeler/corer to peel the apples. Super easy and fast!

Yummy!!!! Warm with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is the way to go!

1 cup butter or shortening

2 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

3 cups flour

4 cups chopped apples

Topping

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter melted

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and brown sugar together. Blend in eggs. In a small bowl combine salt, soda, cinnamon, and flour. Stir into shortening/sugar mixture. Fold in apples. It will be very thick. Put in a greased 9×13 baking pan. Combine melted butter and sugar and sprinkle over top. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake in a 350 F oven for 50 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.
Serve warm or room temperature with vanilla ice cream.

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� DVO

Click on this picture to order Fruit Fresh from Amazon! This stuff is great! I cut up apples for my husband’s lunch, put a little Fruit Fresh in a ziplock bag and some water, add the apples and shake! No brown apples!