Planner Overload….

November 25, 2018 | resumeofamother

Let me start by saying that I just love all my planners and I love planning. Recently I have found myself in a “planner overload”. I would not pick up my planner for days or even a couple of weeks. I became so “planned out” and almost felt done with my planner.

Then a few weeks into this….I missed sitting and writing in it. I missed confirming my schedule or just making some notes in it. I began to realize that my life had become so crazy busy and so overwhelming in general that I hadn’t even noticed how bad it had gotten. Then I realized it wasn’t my planner but just time in general that had become too busy and crazy and that I needed to slow things down and regroup. In doing this, I found that I needed to simplify my life in any area that I could.

Throughout the year I will switch from a ringbound, to an A5 Filofax, then to a mini or a Travelers Notebook …. and I enjoy them all. My planner is not only my “dailies”, but my calendar and also my journal, notebook, and A-Z files for just about everything that I do. Sticky notes and stickers have become my best friends as well and all the bells and whistles that you can add to your planner. But when life is busy this stuff is busy too to look at….or at least in my mind.

So what is a “Planner Girl” to do…..I decided to go simple for a while and use a Dollar Tree basic planner and planner inserts that I came across. They are basic and just perfect for where I am in life. I found that the simplicity of it keeps my mind clear of business in my planner and a basic and simple calendar helped too.

Someday I am sure that I will find myself back using my “chunky” planners with all the perks and goodies …. but for now simple is better for me.

How about you….do you change-up your planners? What makes you decide to change things around?

Lynn A. C. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Oreo cookie truffles… Quick & easy!

November 23, 2018November 26, 2018 | resumeofamother

Need a quick and easy cookie swap idea or a holiday treat for your table… Try these truffles out. This was the first time I ever made them, and it definitely will not be my last. They were so quick and easy… and they were a complete hit at our Thanksgiving dessert table.

Ingredients needed:

A bag of Oreo cookies or similar
One 8 ounce block of room temperature cream cheese
Candy melts of your choice of color
Sprinkles

How to assemble:

Take about 30 to 35 Oreo cookies and crush them in a bowl or chop them up in a food processor to the consistency of cookie crumbles.
Add in room temperature cream cheese and mix together
Place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes to chill
Take mixture and roll into small balls on a cookie sheet layered with wax paper
Please entire cookie sheet with rolled balls on top of the wax paper into the freezer for about 15 minutes
In the meantime melt down your “candy melts”
Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and dip each ball into the melted chocolate’s and place back on the cookie sheet.
Add sprinkles to the top of each chocolate covered truffle
Let cool for about 20 minutes… And it will be either ready to eat or ready to package up.

A side note… I totally dipped most of them in the melted chocolate and only a handful did I swirl chocolate on the top of the chocolate balls. Unanimously it was voted that the truffles that were completely dipped in chocolate came out the best.

Lynn A. C. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Instant pot… Turnip

November 23, 2018November 24, 2018 | resumeofamother

I absolutely love having turnip at our Thanksgiving meal and or Christmas holiday dinner table. This year I found some nice large turnips at one of the Amish farms, and as much as I love turnip I dreaded the thought of having to cook it once again.

So this year I decided to give it a try in the Instant pot. Never again will I boil it on the stovetop for what seem to be an endless amount of time.

Here is how I cooked it…

Cut the outer skin off very carefully with a sharp knife

Continue to cut until you have a clean turnip.

Once clean… Rinse off and start cutting into cubes.

Pour into the Instant pot and add a 1/2 to 1 cup of water, depending on how much and how large your turnip is.

Use manual pressure at 4 minutes, once done use the rapid release.

I use a plastic measuring cup in place of a steam cup when I do a rapid release.

Open the lid and carefully check with a fork to make sure they are as tender as you would like.

I add one stick of butter, and salt and pepper to taste.

Use a potato masher to break up the turnip to the consistency that you like.

Pour into your favorite bowl and enjoy as a delicious side dish.

Lynn A. C. Wilson Resume of a Mother

Planner and Craft Haul…

November 23, 2018November 24, 2018 | resumeofamother

I just love a good buy, especially when it is for crafts or my planner…how about you? We have a very small local shop that is so tiny in size but they offer some great craft classes on everything that you can think of. They also have some planner groups that meet there together as a group to work on their planner set-up and lay-outs.

A few times a year they offer a “craft” garage sale that you can either sell your extra supplies and do a “destash”….or buy some new and “new to you” goodies. I went shopping and I had a ball looking around!!! The items were so well priced…..5 packs of stickers for $1.00 (all new packages). They had some great planner supplies too. Here is a look at some of the goodies I picked up.

Love the hidden drawer for storage.

Have you all picked out your 2019 planners yet? I am really trying to decide which one to start with for 2019, a disc planner, ringbound, or a travelers notebook…..and then which size, personal, mini or A5.

Let me know down below what you have chosen for next year and why. Share with me your ideas to help me decide what to do for my planner for 2019.

Happy Planning!

Lynn A. C. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Fall Treats, Treasures & Decor!

November 22, 2018November 24, 2018 | resumeofamother

I think the fall season is my favorite time of the year! Pumpkin pie, fall spiced candles and of course the movie “You’ve Got Mail”.

I love to hit the Dollar Tree… Target Dollar Spot, thrift stores and any other local stores for some new fall decor and goodies for the house.

The house is usually filled with faux pumpkins, lots of fall scented spice candles… And white twinkling lights throughout the house. Candles are lit every evening, mood lights are turned on… and we sit and enjoy some pumpkin spice coffee while watching a good movie. I have quilts and throws over the chairs to make it a cozy home for us to enjoy during this season.

Here is some of my new goodies for this year that I will be using around the house as well as some fun Fall day trips, and some adventures of the season. I love watching some of my YouTube friends who I like to call my friends… and to see what they post on their channel, for some new Fall items that they get for their homes as well. It gives me some great ideas of what stores are selling each year and where they shop….before I head out to look for my goodies.

What do you use to decorate your homes? Do you have traditions that you do when it comes to decorating for the seasons? Send me some comments and pictures below so that I can get some ideas from you as well.

Lynn A. C. Wilson – Resume of a Mother