Cleaning Schedule.. and DEFINITION of CLEAN!

Ok, for this post, if you do NOT have kids, you cannot JUDGE! haha There is something about being a parent that makes your definition of "clean" change.. Maybe its the ability for your kids to empty a whole container in a matter of milliseconds, or the fact that you will NEVER be caught up on laundry because the second you are, someone spills or has an accident.  As a matter of fact, my girls are emptying an en entire tin of dominoes as i type and I don't care because they are entertained and having fun together! HA!  So the point of this post is for me to share what my definition of a "clean house" is and how I achieve it every.single.day! (well.. 6 out of 7 days a week)  It is VERY possible and a MUST  for my own well being!

The whole idea here is to follow a schedule.  I understand that not every mom chooses or has the opportunity to stay home but my routine seriously takes 30 min a day, which I think is very reasonable.

I have a list of chores that I do DAILY, WEEKLY, and MONTHLY.  

DAILY:

• Empty and load the dishwasher (its amazing how good you feel when you have an empty sink right?!)
• Wipe down all counter tops in kitchen AND bathroom! (Ill do a post on all my cleaners soon)
• Sweep kitchen and spot mop if needed
• Pick up and tidy every room in the house (this is what takes the majority of the time, especially if you have toddlers.. BUT just make sure toys and other things are in their appropriate room of the house.  If you do this everyday, you will be amazed how easy and fast it becomes)

WEEKLY:

• Monday: Vacuum 
• Tuesday: Dust and clean mirrors/windows
• Wednesday: Scrub toilets and tubs
• Thursday: Mop all floors
• Friday: catch up day/do monthly chore
• Saturday: Wash sheets and towels
• Sunday: Do all family laundry (you could do this on Saturday if you choose)

MONTHLY:

• 1st week: Clean out fridge and organize pantry
• 2nd week: Wash all base boards, blinds, and walls
• 3rd week: Clean kid's toys
• 4th week: Organize office/desk area and any closets that need attention

Yes there are some weeks when I need to vacuum more than once, or I skip a chore because I just don't have the time.  Sticking to this schedule and doing just a few little things a day makes me feel like I live in a clean home.  

Now onto my definition of clean and being a mom on 2 busy kids.. 
CLEAN: being dirt and dust free

Yep that's about it.. as long as my floors are not dirty with dirt and my shelves don't have dust on them and my house smells good.. I consider my house to be clean!  It is nice when I can have a clutter free home with no toys all over the floors but in reality, that very rarely happens with kids.  I came across a saying a few years ago and it replays in my head almost daily:

"If you have come to see me and my family, come on in! If you have come to see my house, please make an appointment!"

Southwestern Chili Con Queso Pasta Bake

Here is my very first recipe review and I have to be honest.. This dish was AMAZING!! Every so often I come across a recipe in a magazine, recipe book and the Internet and try it.  I love trying new things that I have never had before and I think it is important to expose your kids to those new tastes as well :)

I will be honest with you about this dish, though, it uses A LOT of dishes and leaves you will a sink full.  BUT I think it was totally worth it!

Here's the recipe:
1 lb penne pasta
1 lb ground beef
1 T ground cumin (I didn't put this in mine because I didn't want it to be too spicy for my girls..)
1 T ground coriander
2 T chili powder
1 Large onion, chopped (There is nothing I hate more than chopping onions, so I always use the powered onion.  I think it adds great flavor!)
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jalapeno (again I didn't want to make this too spicy so I used a small can of green chilies instead)
2 T butter
2 T all-purpose flour
2 Cups milk
2.5 C cheddar cheese
1/4 C fresh cilantro
1/2 C fresh parsley, chopped
1 14-oz can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

Preheat the broiler to high and position the rack 8 inches from the heat.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Cook the pasta according to box.

While water is coming to a boil, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the hamburger.  When the hamburger is almost finished, but still a little pink, throw the garlic, jalapeno, and onions and finish cooking until the burger is browned and onion is translucent.  Drain the grease from the skillet and mix in the cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Take off the heat.

In a medium sauce pot, melt the butter and add the flour to it.  Cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat and then whisk in the milk.  When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese, cilantro, and parsley.  When the cheese has melted, stir in the tomatoes.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it back into the large pot.  Add the contents of the hamburger and all the cheddar sauce, and stir to combine.  Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with a bit more cheese on top, and place under the broiler until just slightly brown.

This was a HUGE hit in my house!  Even with the amount we all ate, half of it is left over. So I would say it would easily feed 6 people :)  

On a taste scale of 1-5 (1 being horrible and 5 being the best) I give this recipe a 5
On an easy to cook with 2 little kids at your feet, I give it a 2.  It has multiple steps and again, it leaves you with quite a sink full of dishes!

ENJOY!!

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Jessica and I am a stay at home mommy of 2 beautiful little girls and a wife to the man of my dreams.  I absolutely love what I do and have decided to share some of my secrets, tips and tricks, and favorites of "Ordinary Mommy" things on this blog.  The posts will include everything from cleaning, organizing, recipes, parenting tips and pretty much everything that comes along with being a MOMMY! I am a full time student chasing her dream of becoming a nurse, so YES my plate is quite full but that is what life is all about and I love every single moment of it!