Journal of a Busy Mom

living one day at a time

End of the Year Tasks: No 1-3; CHECK!

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Yesterday I started my Seven End of the Year Tasks. I have already accomplished No 1-3.
1.  Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Email Lists.

2. Put Your Home Phone Number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

3.  Cut Down on Junk Mail by “Opting Out.”

So here is what is left:
4.  Purge Your Existing Paperwork. Go through your piles and files and shred!

I hate filing, I have a really easy filing system, but I just hate doing it. So I have a pretty good size folder of things to file. So instead of filing it all, just to go through it later, I am going to toss, shred and file it all at once. The question I always have is what do I save? So I did some researching and here is what I found:

Here is a list of things to keep from Suze Orman: Managing Debt

Here is another one called How Long Should I Hold on to my Old Bills & Documents.

This is something that will take a day or two, so hopefully I will be able to move on to my remaining items by Jan 1!

5.  Create a Cleaning Bin in each Bathroom.

6.  Reduce Toy Clutter.

7. Start Freezer Cooking. 

Simplify Your Life & 52 Week Organized Home Challenge

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Last year I participated in The Seven “End of the Year Tasks to Simplify Your Life” and even if it seems redundant, I am going to do it again!

Here are the Seven Tasks Listed in Order:

1.  Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Email Lists.

2. Put Your Home Phone Number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

3.  Cut Down on Junk Mail by “Opting Out.”

4.  Purge Your Existing Paperwork. 

5.  Create a Cleaning Bin in each Bathroom.

6.  Reduce Toy Clutter.

7. Start Freezer Cooking. 

Then Starting in January 2015 I will be doing this challenge:
52 Week Organized Home Challenge

I will be able to post my accomplishments here and then link them to the Hall of Fame.

I really like this kind of stuff because it keeps me on my toes!

Ligia

Christmas Baking: Gluten Free Snowflake Cookies

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Last year, I hosted a Gluten Free Cookie Exchange and this is one of the cookies we got to try and now love. This cookies are so soft and chewy. My husband likes them because they have no dairy.  We make them often. Here is the recipe:

The original recipe calls for Cup 4 Cup flour, which I guess you can buy at Crate and Barrel. I did not have this flour so I substituted Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Flour and then added Xanthum Gum. This recipe makes about 2 dozen, which was not enough for my family so I’ve doubled it every time.

Thanks to Celiac in the City for this recipe:

½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup white sugar
¼ c. oil of choice
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. gluten free flour
1 t. baking power
½ t. Xanthum gum
1/8 t. salt
½ c. powdered sugar

1. Mix together cocoa, white sugar, and oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and xanthum gum. Slowly add flour mix into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough and chill for 3-4 hours (overnight works best)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or use Silpat (not sure what that is?) Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or spoon and drop into powdered sugar. This is better than trying to roll them into balls first. After you’ve got them nice and coated, roll into balls and lace on prepared baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 10-12 minutes, depending on size.  You’ll know they are done when you press the middle and it doesn’t leave much of a dent. Let set on cookie sheets for a minute or two, then transfer to baking racks to cool.

I am sharing this recipe on Gluten Free Wednesdays.
Ligia