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  1. Lori K

    St. Patrick's Day 2024

    Wondering if any of you celebrate St. Patrick's Day. If so, what are your plans for this year? St. Patrick's Day in the Chicago area is a big thing. There are several "local" parades in the various Chicago-proper neighborhoods, and a big parade downtown. Some suburbs also host a parade, but...
  2. Lori K

    February 2024 Menu Plans

    Here we go, let's start a new month of menu planning!
  3. Lori K

    HGP – Week 18 – Celebrate the Holidays

    It’s finally here! Can you believe it? Christmas Eve (today), Christmas Day on Monday, and then we prepare for New Year’s Eve and the start of 2024. For now, we savor the Christmas holiday and celebrate our faith, family, and friends. However you and your family spend your Christmas time, know...
  4. Lori K

    Things to check in the New Year (2024)

    Thought I'd start a reminder of things to watch for / check in 2024, as related to Budgets and Bargains. As many of you know, my DM has mild dementia that is progressing, more quickly than in the past. Although we're not yet at the point where we will need to execute Powers of Attorney, as her...
  5. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- Week 17 -- Celebrate!

    This week brings us to a mere few days before Christmas. This week is time to finalize those last few tasks and take time out to celebrate the holiday. Maintenance tasks should be minimal -- a quick dust before company arrives, etc. It's time to celebrate the season. For meals, pull from...
  6. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- Week 16 -- Maintenance

    A little late, but we're almost there. It's Maintenance Week, time to do the "touch ups" to keep your household in tip-top shape for the holidays. Give the end tables a once-over, run the vacuum, swish the toilet bowls and wipe down the sinks. Just the minimum to maintain things. Instead of...
  7. Lori K

    December 2023 Menu Plans

    A little bit late getting this thread started, but I need to stay on track with my menu planning and shopping within budget. If I don't, it becomes too easy to make a quick stop at the drive-thru, and groceries don't get used. December 4 - 10, 2023 Monday: (planned) cavatapi, salad; (actual)...
  8. Lori K

    HGP 2023 – Week 15 – Finish Up Week

    Can you believe it? We’re only 3 weeks away from Christmas! This week is our final push to get everything we want done completed. It’s a chance to go back and look at those things we didn’t get completed and determine if it’s an essential task or if it can wait until after the holidays. Some...
  9. Lori K

    HGP 2023 – Week 13 – Dining Room

    It’s almost turkey time here in the USA. Is your dining room ready? This year, I’m not hosting, so there’s less stress. But I know time is tight for many of you, so let’s keep this one short. As with other weeks, start high and work your way down – a quick sweep of the ceiling corners, and some...
  10. Lori K

    HGP 2023 – WEEK 12 – Attic / Storage

    Week 12, we’re getting closer. Time to tackle more storage areas – the ATTIC and any other area where you store things. Time to give this area some attention. Break out your brooms and dust cloths, along with some window cleaner, if you’ll need that while in the Attic. I’ve never had an attic...
  11. Lori K

    November 2023 Menu Plans

    November already????
  12. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- Week 11 -- Garage-Storage

    Week 11, already???? Time to tackle our storage areas, including the garage. It’s where I have all my holiday decor bins stored, and I know I’ll want to be able to access them right after Thanksgiving. Additionally, with the colder weather in our area, I’ll want to make sure I have my winter...
  13. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- mid-plan check-in

    We're nearing the end of Week 9 of the 18-week HGP. That means we are half-way through the plan. Thought I'd post a mid-plan check-in. How are you doing this year? Are you on track to finish? Close? Or, do you need some motivation? I've bee working the HGP for probably more than 30 years...
  14. Lori K

    HGP 2023 – WEEK 9 – PANTRY

    Some people have a large butler’s pantry, others have a smaller area for food storage. I've got a broom closet converted to a pantry. Wherever you have your food stored, consider it your pantry. Having this area well organized will serve you well during the holidays and beyond. Being able to...
  15. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- WEEK 7 – GUEST ROOM

    Sliding into Week 7 – the GUEST ROOM. If you’re expecting overnight guest for the holidays, albeit Thanksgiving or Christmas, or any time in-between, you want your guests to have a good experience. So, let’s tackle the room where your guests will stay and make sure everything’s in tip-top shape...
  16. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- WEEK 6 – Kids Rooms

    Week 6??? Already???? It’s time to focus on the KIDS ROOMS this week, getting them organized, thoroughly cleaned, and decluttered. After all, they’ll need space to put all the new things Santa will bring, right? Like we did with the Master Bedroom, start at the top, dusting the ceiling corners...
  17. Lori K

    HGP 2023 -- Week 5 -- Master Bathroom

    Can you believe it? WEEK 5, already! We’re not quite 1/3 of the way through … but time is flying. We’re already at WEEK 5, and it’s time to tackle the MASTER BATHROOM. And, in looking at the HGP, this is the ONLY bathroom that’s on the schedule. What about the main bathroom that the kids...
  18. Lori K

    HGP Week 3 – Entryway / Foyer

    So, in Week 1 we tackled the front porch. Last week the focus was on the Living Room. And now it’s time for us to open our front door and tackle the ENTRYWAY. In addition, this may also be the week to focus on your mud room or the entryway that you use most on a daily basis. Begin by looking at...
  19. Lori K

    Sept. 2023 Rudy Day

    Welcome to September Rudy Day 2023. We’re only a couple months out! As we begin to delve into our Christmas preparation and planning, let’s get in the spirit! MUSIC TO GET YOU MOVING Need some energetic music to motivate you during your holiday cleaning? Crank up Christmas Party Songs, a...
  20. Lori K

    September 2023 Menu Plans

    Let's start planning our menu for the first BER month! Sept. 3 - 10, 2023 Monday (Labor Day in the USA): cheeseburger on the grill, oven roasted fries (in a foil pan on the grill), and I'll blend up a margarita (or two) in memory of a great musician and songwriter, and to some of the best...