Back to the Future

February 21, 2010 was the day I committed to getting in shape.  I had peaked at a ridiculous weight and size.  I felt lethargic.  And I looked a mess.  In June I hit my {1st} goal weight.  I received lots of great inspiration and  encouragement from my family and friends along the way to make it happen.  And then I got sidetracked with back pain that turned out to be disc issues.  And I stopped working out.

Guess what?  No exercise = Over Eating = Weight Gain.

I watched the scale go UP instead of down.  And what's surprising is how easily and quickly I justified this gaining in my mind.  "I deserve to relax."  "It's only a pound or two."  "I can still get into my new clothes."  "I can eat how I want and not work out...  It's not ALL going to come back on."  "My friends say I look fine."

Before long I was UP several pounds and gaining each week.

Then the cooler weather hit and it was time to shop for fall clothes.  My "fat" clothes were still too big so I needed to begin buying new things.  And that was just the incentive I needed to get back on track full~speed.

Back to making good food choices and working out several times a week has led me to back to my {1st} goal weight today.  I hit the scale and am .6 pounds less than my June weight.  And now I can focus on getting to where I want to go.  But what a shame to have had to work so hard just to get back to where I was months ago?

Do you ever do dumb things like that?  No, I'm sure you don't.  It's probably just me.

So once again, I'm here to say that it really does work to watch what you shove in your mouth and to workout.  Crazy huh?

I think the best way to maintain a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle is through accountability.  Through family and friends who encourage you to be your best.  And who will not make excuses for you or with you, but will instead push you.

Recipes To Run On is in the process of moving from Blogger to WordPress.  At the same time we are also getting a new look.  {The reason for the lack of posting recently.}  Hopefully that will be launching in the next couple of days.  Once we are all set in our new digs, look for ways that we can come together in this online community to support, encourage, and push one another to be our best.

In the meantime, Happy Friday!  Don't you just love the weekend?  

What is something that you are doing for yourself ~ 

either a reward for a good effort this week 

or 

a push to keep yourself on track?

My "push" to keep myself on track will be a five mile run tomorrow morning.  My reward will be some delish Mexican food.  

And my motivation {as always} is my family....

{My sweet girl took this last weekend when we were having family pictures}

Tilapia ~ In a Hurry for Dinner? This is the Answer!

After our Hot Yoga class {my 1st Yoga class ever ~ that's a post for another day}, with just 15 minutes to spare before needing to hit the carpool and the inevitable "What's for dinner?" lingering, my friend Michele came to the rescue.  She shared a recipe idea and then led the charge through the grocery.  We popped into Whole Foods where we picked up three ingredients that turned into the easiest and most delicious yet totally nutritious dinner evah!

You MUST make this!  Today.  Seriously.  My family gave this a definite thumbs up.  And how often can something this nutritious do that?

I do not make fish nearly often enough.  Part of the reason is not having many easy to make recipes on hand.  This recipe takes care of that and I will make this on a very regular basis.

Michele's Tilapia

Tilapia Filets {1 per person}  ***I made 3 filets, so this recipe is for that amount.  Adjust as needed for your family.
3/4 cup Water {1/4 cup per filet}
Small Container Grape Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes
Spinach {I used about 10 oz.}
Lemons
3 TBSP Butter {1 TBSP per filet}

In a 12" skillet, bring water to a boil.  Add tomatoes and season with Red Pepper Flakes, to taste.

Lay Tilapia on top of tomatoes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cover and cook for 3 minutes.

Add spinach to pan.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cover and cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until fish flakes.

Remove fish and veggies from pan to a platter using a slotted spoon.  Reserve liquid in pan.

Add butter and juice of one lemon.  Cook until butter melts and sauce comes together ~ whisking to combine.

Pour sauce over fish and veggies to serve.

Weight Watchers Points Plus Value:  

This recipe makes 3 servings = 4 Pts+.  

***IF you omit the butter, then it's 1 Pts+.***

Cinnamon Rolls + Pancakes = Indulgence

How well have you eaten this week?

Have you made good choices?

How about exercise?  Did you prioritize some cardio and strength training?

I am in a battle this week.  I've packed on some weight that wants to stay glued to my lower extremities.  And my will power over food is a war.

So, why oh why do I share Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with you????

It's Friday.  We are about to embark on the weekend.  And in my book that means it's time to treat ourselves.  The reward for a week of working hard to watch the food intake.  A week of forcing ourselves to go out for that run or walk, to get to the gym, lift those weights.

And if you haven't done so hot this week in the food and exercise department?  Well, you may just be looking for a treat anyway.  Just so long as you get back on the wagon and don't let it last.

I made these on a Saturday morning as a way to treat my kiddos.  But, I'd be telling a total lie if I said I didn't scarf down a plate of these too.

So here's the deal.....  These are seriously amazing.  And it would be impossible to make these and not eat them.  So, if you are making these for someone you love and think you can handle the temptation with a strong will ~ think again!

My suggestion?  Don't wear comfy pj's while making and eating these.  Throw on some skinny jeans.  The ones that look good but are uncomfortable.  It'll help with portion control.  Because believe me, will power will melt under the pressure of these babies.

Any guess what pumpkin lovers?  Recipe Girl has just published a new version of these....  Are you ready?  Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Source:  RecipeGirl.com

For the Pancakes:
1 cup all~purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 TBSP canola oil
1 large egg, beaten

For the Cinnamon Filling:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 TBSP cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:
4 TBSP butter
2 oz cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

To make the pancake batter: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.  Add in milk, oil and egg, whisking just until batter is moistened {a few lumps may remain}.

To make the filling:  Mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Pour filling into a small zip bag and set aside.  {The consistency should be similar to toothpaste.}

To make the glaze:  Place butter and cream cheese in a bowl and microwave until melted.  Whisk the mixture until smooth and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla; set aside.

Over medium~low heat, heat a large skillet that's been sprayed with cooking spray.  Scoop 3/4 cup batter onto skillet {Side Note:  I made smaller pancakes using a 1/4 cup measure.}.  After snipping off the corner of the filling baggie, squeeze a spiral of filling onto the pancake. The pancake is ready to be flipped when bubbles appear on the surface.  Flip and cook until browned {1-2 minutes more}.  Transfer pancake to a warming drawer or oven until ready to serve while preparing the other pancakes.

Spoon glaze over pancakes just before serving.

Tip from Recipe Girl:  If filling gets too thick, pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften.

WW Points?  This is one of those recipes where I'd rather bury my head in the sand when it comes to points.  I chose to indulge and call it a treat.

Fiesta Rice

Here's the follow~up to yesterday's Enchilada recipe post...  This rice is the perfect accompaniment.

Fiesta Rice
Source:  RecipeGirl.com

2 tsp olive oil
10 oz. package frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 TBSP butter
1 cup chopped green onions
1 1/2  cups uncooked brown rice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp minced garlic
2 cups fat~free, less~sodium chicken broth
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
dash of salt
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with chiles, undrained
15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
1 TBSP fresh lime juice

Cook corn in oil over medium~high heat for 10 minutes or until the corn starts to brown.  Remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pan, melt butter.  Add onions and saute until tender.  Stir in the rice, cumin and garlic; cook for 1 minute.  Add chicken broth, pepper, salt and diced tomatoes; bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes ~ being sure to stir occasionally.  Remove from heat and stir in the reserved corn and beans.  Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.  Stir in the cilantro and lime juice.

Weight Watchers Points Plus Value:  6

Chicken Enchiladas

I wish I could say that I've been on~the~ball with menu planning.  But this is the busiest season for our family and I'm flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to dinnertime most nights.  Having quick resources and references to find meal ideas, make my grocery list, and be able to get on my way to dinner is so helpful.  I rely on my cook books and cooking magazines, but one of the best resources is...  of course...  food blogs.

When it comes to food blogs, I find that the ones I turn to the most are the ones with an easy to use recipe index.  I definitely don't want to page through every single recipe that's been posted.    That's one {of the many} reasons I like the Recipe Girl site.  

My love of Mexican food is no secret here at Recipes To Run On.  So when it's a Friday and I'm looking for something quick, easy and fun to make for dinner to kick off the weekend, Mexican food tops my list often.  I was looking for a new twist on enchiladas and came across two great recipes to try at Recipe Girl.....  one for enchiladas {today's recipe} and one for a great side dish {tomorrow's recipe}.

Chicken Enchiladas

Source:  RecipeGirl.com

10.75 oz can Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup

8 oz Light Sour Cream

1 cup Picante Sauce

2 tsp Chili Powder

2 cups Chopped Cooked Chicken {I used Rotisserie Chicken from Costco}

2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

10 {6"} Flour Tortillas

Preheat oven to 350*.  Coat a 9x13" baking pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder.

Combine 1 cup of the sauce mixture with the chicken and 1 cup of the cheese in a large bowl.

Spread approximately 1/4 cup of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, roll up, and place seam~side down in prepared dish.  Pour remaining sauce over tortillas.  Cover with remaining cheese.  Coat a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray and {placing sprayed side down over enchiladas} cover dish tightly.

Bake for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  

Serve enchiladas with tomato, onion, and guacamole if desired.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value:  4-6 per enchilada {depending on type of cheese and tortillas used....  I used low carb/low pt tortillas and low~fat cheese to get to 4 points each.}

Sheila's Killer Toffee Almond Brownies

Last Friday, as we were getting ready to head into the long weekend I was trying to put together a last~minute menu plan.  I knew I wanted to make a Mexican Fiesta that night.  But I also wanted to kickoff the weekend with a special treat.  The problem was time.  By the time I made my lists, checked them twice, and shopped for the groceries - it would be time to get my kiddos from school.  So I needed a homemade dessert that could be made in a snap.

I remembered seeing a brownie recipe that started with a box mix on my friend Sheila's blog, Eat 2 Gather.  I quickly printed it off....

Before I say another word, let me take the time to give this little PSA:

THESE ARE NOT DIET BROWNIES!  These are not brownies that I will bother calculating the  WW PointsPlus value for.  These are a TREAT.  These are DECADENT.  An indulgence.  So know that before you make them.  Be prepared to be tempted to eat the entire pan.  And have a game~plan for who you will share them with, because this recipe makes a 9x13" pan.

Okay, so on to the recipe.  If you haven't met Sheila, then you are missing out.  Truly.  She is such a fun gal.  She shares amazing recipes and great stories.  She's even been to Pioneer Woman's Ranch after winning a contest!  {And I'm secretly hoping I'll have the chance to come to her PW style CowGirl party one of these years.}

Sheila's Killer Toffee Almond Brownies

Source:  Eat2Gather.net

4 large (4.45 oz) Hershey Symphony Milk Chocolate Bars, with Almonds and Toffee Chips

2 boxes Brownie Mix {preferably Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix} 

2/3 cup water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350*.  Generously spray a 9x13" pan with cooking spray.  {If you wish to cut your brownies when cooled ~ as opposed to leaving them in the pan to serve ~ you may want to butter the dish.}

Mix all ingredients except the chocolate bars until combined.  Spread half the batter into the prepared pan.  Top batter with the candy bars.  Spread remaining batter over the candy bar layer.  Be careful to completely cover the candy bars.

Bake for 50 minutes or until middle is set and edges are pulling away from pan.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Invert cooled brownies and cut into 2" squares before serving.

Back to the Basics - Laundry

Laundry.  The job that's never really complete.  Even if there's nothing in the hamper....

just wait, because as soon as nighttime falls and everyone gets changed into pjs, the pile starts again.

Like all the other household things we've talked about in Back to the Basics, doing laundry is easiest when we manage to stay on top of it....

A great tool in my laundry room is this laundry sorter.  As the hamper gets full, I can haul it to the laundry room and get clothes sorted without having them spread all over the floor.  It's also handy because my kiddos have a place to sort their own dirty clothes.  It's got four sections: lights, darks, towels, and dryclean/delicates.

Laundry is a household chore that I like to start, but don't love to finish.  I love to get things picked up by sorting the laundry and getting it out of the way.  I love starting a load of laundry into the washer.  And even moving it to the dryer.  But that's where the fun stops.  I do not enjoy folding, hanging and putting away.  Good thing for me that I have little helpers for that.

Here's my favorite way to get my clothes smelling and looking fresh:

Step One:  Fight the Stains

I use a scoop of Oxi~Clean in every load of wash except towels.  I started doing this a couple of years ago as my kids were getting older and stains were getting worse.  I don't usually take time to hunt for stains and pretreat.  So using this ensures I get to them without much effort.  I buy Oxi~Clean at Costco {and usually stock up when the $4 coupon runs}.

I have an HE washer ~ and I pour the Oxi~Clean on top of the clothes in the washer {I do not pour it into the detergent drawer}.

Step Two:  Detergent

My family has been loyal Tide users for~evah.  I remember my Grandma Nini and my Grammie both using it, my Mom's always used it...  and yes I adopted it too.  When Tim and I were first married, I tried using cheaper brands, but the results were bad enough I switched right back.  I buy Tide in bulk at Costco usually {watch for coupons} and sometimes will use a coupon at the grocery.

Step Three:  Soften the Fabric

Five or six years ago I read a blog post from a woman passionate about the smell of Gain Fabric Softener.  She was believable enough that it made me give it a try and I haven't switched.  I too am now an addict of the smell!

Step Three:  Bleach

There is nothing worse than mildew smelling towels.  Most of us at one time or another have forgotten the towels in the washer and tried desperately to re~wash to get the odor out.  To combat the yucky towel smell, I always use 1/3 cup of bleach with the towels.  Most towels are color resistant and can handle being bleached.  I have never had a problem washing white and colored towels with bleach.  But, of course be sure to read the labels and be careful.

Step Three:  More Softening

I'm all about the smell when it comes to laundry.  So every load that goes into the dryer gets hit with a dryer sheet.  Gain and Bounce are my faves!

Step Four:  I don't iron.

My kids have seen my iron and ironing board only a handful of times in their lives.  I do my best to avoid ironing at all costs.  If time was plenty, then I wouldn't mind it at all.  But with the fast pace and busyness of life, it ain't happening at my house.  A product that I literally depend on is Downy Wrinkle Releaser.  I'm always terrified they are going to stop producing it because it doesn't seem to have a big presence on the market.

Step Five:  Love your Laundry Room.

I'm in the process of making my laundry room a place that's "me" and a place I'll enjoy being.  If we've gotta spend all this time in there, we might as well make it a good looking place to be.  When it's complete I'll post pics.  For now here's what I'm working on...

The walls are going to be "Pea Soup" from Porter.

{Click on photo for source}

I am looking for a lamp to add to the corner of my counter and have my eye out for something like this... but will wait for it to go on sale or will find something similar since the price tag is a bit steep.

{Click on photo for source}

One of my favorite {practical} additions was using this container from Crate and Barrel to store my Oxi~Clean.  It's functional and looks great.  Love it!

{Click on photo for source}

On the shopping list is a great rug and some sort of window treatment.  And I'm thinking of adding these next to the wall art {see top of post}...

{Click on photo for link to source}

What's YOUR favorite things to make the job of managing laundry more enjoyable?

None of the products/companies mentioned have any idea who I am...  

Just sharing my faves!

Back tomorrow with some new favorite recipes we made over the weekend....

Back to the Basics - Taking Care of YOU {+ Winner Announced}

As I was picking up Tim's folks from the airport a couple of weeks ago, I began my apologetic rant on what a sad shape the house was in.  Excuses.  Reasons why.  Somehow thinking I might feel better about the state of affairs if there were what sounded like justification for the hot mess I had allowed my house to become.

To which Tim's Mom replied with a smile, "Oh shoot!  And I forgot my white glove at home.".

It's good to surround yourself with friends and family who keep good perspective.

I don't know about you, but when I'm feeling behind on everything, I get lazy when it comes to my eating choices and exercise.  I don't know why exactly, but it all seems to snowball.  Quickly.

I can honestly say that I don't remember the last time I tracked my WW points.  I've been downing diet soft drinks instead of water.  Though I've had some back problems, there's no excuse for the lack of exercise I've been getting.  And the result = weight GAIN.  Yuck.

So as we talk about getting Back to the Basics, it seems only natural that we check in with ourselves to see how well we are taking care of....  us!  To be our best and to perform our best means doing all we can to fuel ourselves the right way.

I know I'm not alone in this.  In fact, my friend Aggie {from Aggie's Kitchen} recently did a great post that describes what summer has done with her routine.  And she shares her commitment to getting back in control of healthy eating and exercise habits.

Tim's Mom is a model of healthy eating and exercise.  So her perspective was a great kick start to getting me back on track.  We ran together over the weekend they were visiting and had a great time.  Having been sporadic with my runs this summer, and still feeling my way through how to train with the herniated discs in my back, it was such a thrill to get in 4 miles.  But, one morning after we took the kiddos to school, I felt like I should tackle the house.  She invited me to run and I declined, saying I should get going with housework.  As she was getting ready to go, she turned and said, "Are you sure you wouldn't feel better to take a little time to get a run in?".  Something inside clicked and I realized that it was a great investment of a relatively short amount of time.

And I was SO glad I did!

Getting Back to the Basics of Healthy Eating and Exercise:

• Join me in re~reading these posts on the weight loss journey.
• Water.  Water.  Water.  Soft drinks are considered a treat.
• Having had success with the program, I will begin tracking my Weight Watchers PointsPlus once more to keep awareness of what I'm eating.  It's amazing how quickly you can lose sight of all you eat.  If you are not on WW, start a journal. 
• Work hard to watch what you eat, and then allow yourself an allotted time each week to indulge.  For me, it's usually Friday and Saturday nights. 
• Exercise:  Anything is better than nothing.  Go for a walk.  Join a gym.  Play with your kids.  Use the Couch~to~the~5K program to start running.  
• Find accountability.  Confide in a friend or family member that you are committed to making these positive changes and ask for encouragement and accountability.

And now....

Announcing the winner of the $25 Starbucks Gift Card 

{number selected via Random.Org}:  

{I stole this beautiful pic from her blog.  Great profile shot!}

Cara from The Boys Made Me Do It.  Congratulations Cara!!!  

I'll email you to get your address and get your Gift Card to you.  

A big thank you to everyone who entered!

Back to the Basics - Coupons 101 with Bargain Briana

As I work on getting my home back on track by getting Back to the Basics, I couldn't help but think about ways I could be more intentional with my spending habits.  When things get chaotic, when we let ourselves get reactive rather than proactive, we can get lazy with money.  So, I've recently started clipping and using coupons.

And I gotta admit, that though it's a time investment, it's paying out.  My last trip to Target saw a savings of $33.70!  And, I'm learning to be wiser with purchases at Costco by using their coupons and stocking up.

As I was clipping coupons from our Sunday Paper, I was introduced to a blogger through an article ~  Briana from Bargain Briana.  Briana blogs all things COUPONS and is joining us today to share some tips.

Hi Briana! Welcome to Recipes To Run On.

How long have you been using coupons and how much do you save {on average} each shopping trip?

I’ve been a “hard core” couponer since 2006.  I strive to save at least 50% at the grocery store and 75% or more when I do my CVS/Walgreens shopping! 

For someone who has never used coupons before, is it something that anyone can easily incorporate into their normal grocery routine? Singles, Full~Time Workers, Family Managers, etc.?

Everyone can do it! However, your savings will vary on how much time you have to spend on it. If you are saving more than you were before using coupons, it is a win in my book!

Where is the best place to find coupons?

Sunday newspapers are the best resource to find coupons. I love printable coupons from sources like Coupons.com, RedPlum.com, SmartSource.com, and CouponNetwork.com. You can search for any coupon by using my FREE coupon database resource. 

For someone who wants to get started, it seems like organization would be a key to success in using coupons. Once we find our coupons, what's the best way to organize them?

My coupon organization system is always changing as I’m still trying to find the perfect fit for my lifestyle! I like to clip the coupons I know I’m going to use and file those in my couponizer or just some type of coupon envelope. Then I take a marker to the Sunday coupon insert with the date of the insert. I file the inserts by date and if I discover I need a coupon from that week’s insert, I can easily clip it. 

Do you make your weekly meal plan and grocery list around the coupons you have? Do you grocery shop weekly?

I normally plan my meals around my stockpile. I shop about every 2 weeks due to the location of my favorite grocery store. 

Do you shop the warehouse stores {such as Costco and Sam's Club} and if so, how do you take advantage of savings and coupons there?

Occasionally I will shop at warehouse stores because they may carry items that my regular store does not. Costco has their own store coupons you can use on products. However, neither store accepts manufacturer’s coupons, which makes your savings at traditional grocery stores or mega stores more appealing.

What's your best advice to those of us who want to get started using coupons?

Start slow. Pick a few stores to start couponing in the beginning. Don’t buy products that you can’t use or donate. Have fun!

Thanks so much for taking time to help us get started using coupons to save money! Is there anything else you'd like to share with us today?

Be sure to visit my Facebook Page → Events Tab to find the a “Extreme Couponing in the Real World” Coupon Class near you!

Remember to enter the Recipes To Run On $25 Starbucks gift card giveaway!

Back to the Basics - Start with the Heart of Your Home

When I first set up my home as a young wife, I always thought of house cleaning as something that took an entire day.  I'd get dressed in my most hideous sweats, skip a shower and get right to work.  Eight exhausting hours later, I'd have a clean house.

Now I don't know about you, but the season of life I'm in now doesn't allow many {if any} days like this.  And if I had eight consecutive hours of free time, rest assured I would NOT spend it cleaning my house.

But this week we're talking about getting Back to the Basics.  And today we are talking about how to tackle our house when it's turned into a mountain of mess.  What do you do if you're house is in chaos, and you're limited on time?

Step One:  Reset your thinking on cleaning!

Friday afternoons are usually the time our weekend kicks off.  During these busy weeks, I long for Friday afternoons.  It's the one night a week where I can take off my Drill Sergeant hat and just be fun Mom.  No homework.  No rushing to practice.  Just time to focus on fun.

But, last Friday I realized that if I didn't tackle the house, it may send me over the edge.  You know the feeling.  If I didn't get my house under control, I was going to have a nervous breakdown.  And I could already feel my mood being influenced by my frustration from the state of affairs of my home.

So, rather than trying to relax in the midst of the mess, I decided to take time to tackle what I could before dinner.  I decided I'd get done everything I could in the time I had {after school to dinner}.  Something is better than nothing ~ Take it one step at a time!  And the best place to start?

Step Two:  Start in the heart of the home:  The Kitchen.

Getting the kitchen cleaned will set the stage for getting the rest of the house in shape.   I started by getting everything off the counters that shouldn't be there.  I used my favorite counter cleaner for a quick clean.  Doing a deep cleaning and polishing would wait for another time.

Next up it's time to tackle the sink.  I never realized how important this step is until I was introduced to the concept by FlyLady.  Her article and belief in keeping the kitchen sink clean as it relates to keeping the rest of your home clean has made her an icon and an authority in home care.

For my stainless sink, I start with an SOS pad.  It's a great way to tackle the drain areas that tend to get stained as well as any other unmentionables that may be stuck on the sink.  Next, I scrub it with Bar Keeper's Friend.  It makes the sink have a waxed car appearance {water beads up}.  Finally, I give it a few shots of Windex and wipe it out.  Then, I stand back and take a picture.  Because it will only look perfect for a few moments ~ until one of my sweet family members get to it.  BUT, once it's thoroughly cleaned it's just a matter of wiping it out regularly with Windex to keep it looking great until the next cleaning.

I quickly vacume the floors, being sure to get around the edges of the cabinets with the hose to catch all the crumbs and dog hair that's been trapped.  Windex the inside of the microwave.  Clean the stovetop {it's a gas range, so that means I take off the grates and clean the top with my counter cleaner}.  And if there's still time:  I clean the outside of the fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher with stainless steel cleaner.

Step Three:  Put Your Feet Up and Keep Perspective

It's a start.  The rest of the house will follow.  But for now, grab something to treat yourself and think about why you want your house to be an inviting home.  Those very people who's necks you want to wring because of their messes are the very ones whom you love and want to bless with a beautiful home.  And chances are, you had a hand in the mess too.  Keep your heart focused on the right motivations.  Nothing makes a home messier than an ugly heart.

Stay tuned....  Tomorrow we are talking Coupons with a guest expert.

Remember to enter the Recipes To Run On $25 Starbucks gift card giveaway!

BTW ~ I've linked to my favorite products to share what I find works best in my home.  

Those companies have no idea who I am.