Adding sparkle

Aaah, my "new" Chandelier. Symbolic of me in so many ways. You see, it came with the house, functional but a little ordinary. So I embellished it - life is nothing without a little embellishment! I draped it with crystal strands rescued from the Christmas decoration box. Bought shades at 50% off which appeals to my frugality) to add a little drama. And then glued chrystals to them to remind me of theatres past. Now it speaks to me - drama, glamor, a little too much sparkle, and cheaper than you think!

Gifts from a Friend

A new friend arrives at my door
with flowers, chocolate and books
- a perfect manifestation of my favorite things.
The lilies have opened to full magnificence,
my hallway is saturated with exotic fragrance.
No need today for gourmet candles.
Every breath makes me grateful on so many levels.
Thank you
to that Portion of the Universe
known as Jennifer.

The Secret Weapon against Household Chaos

Have you ever found yourself frantically trying to defrost something edible at 5.30pm. Or piling a wailing infant and grouchy toddler into the car and fight rush-hour traffic to get to the grocery store. Do you find yourself reaching for the phone to order pizza again, even though you know that the family budget (and waistlines!) deserve something better? We've all been there - it's not pretty!

More and more studies are showing that families that meet round the dinner table, even a couple of times a week, are happier, healthier and generally more productive. We owe it to our children, our husbands and ourselves to bring dinner time back to the table.

So here's my major weapon against drive-thru's and out-of-control grocery budgets -

Menu Planning

Now before you go rolling your eyes and clicking away, think about it. Eating out is expensive; fast food isn't healthy; and it really only takes a few minutes each week to lower your stress level and your food bill.

So here's how it works -

• You're going to make two lists - one with the nights of the week that you're going to serve dinner on - I call it my Weekly Menu, and one to take to the store (shopping list).

• Pick a day of the week where you could go grocery shopping, preferably on your own. (Making it the same day each week makes life more structured and easier to manage, but it's not vital. Pick a time that suits your schedule )

• The day or evening before, do a quick check of your freezer, fridge and cupboards. See what you have that could form the base of a meal. (Remember that tray of chicken thighs getting frostbite, or those five boxes of pasta you got on special....)

• Decide what recipe you could make with it. Could be a family favorite or you could finally make that one you clipped from a magazine two months ago! Do you need any extra ingredients? Write them on your shopping list. Make sure you have everything you need, including side dishes.

• Then choose a night to serve it on and write that down on your Weekly Menu. Hint : Check your calendar for what's happening in your family that week. You don't want to plan a meal with a lot of prep time for a night that you only get home at 6pm. Those days call for a Crock Pot recipe!

• You might not have enough in your freezer for the whole week - but that's OK. Make a note on your shopping list (ie. Need dinner for Thursday) and see what's on special when you get to the store. Taking advantage of store specials this way saves a ton of money.

• Then check for side dishes - veggies, rice, etc - and write those down on your list.

Within about 10 minutes (seriously, it doesn't take more than that!) you will have a set of meals for the next week, and a full shopping list of everything you'll need. Plus you'll get to use up all those random things lurking in your fridge and freezer. And if you're really organized, you'll attached those coupons you clipped, to your shopping list so they're right there when you need them at the register.
Then off to the store to buy only what's on your list. You'll be amazed how much you save and you'll be in and out in no time, with money left in your wallet!

Each day, check your Menu to see what's for dinner tomorrow, and pull it from the freezer or do whatever prep needs to be done (soaking beans, etc).

You can do this - really! And it's so worth it.
You deserve a peaceful, organized home - menu planning helps. I promise.
Just give it a shot!
Jacqui

Tools of a Domestic Goddess

It's taken quite a few years, but I feel I can now officially claim the title of Domestic Goddess. It was not always this way, I can assure you, but these days I can honestly say that my home is welcoming, peaceful, organized and usually clean enough for company. There are scented candles burning, dinner is organized and I would not hesitate to invite anyone in.

I firmly believe that we all deserve a beautiful sanctuary and I thought I'd share a few tips and tools on how I create mine They're not the usual, but then neither am I!

The first one is the Fly Lady. How I wish I had found her when my kids were tiny and life was a lot more hectic. But really, the skills she teaches can be applied to any home, whether child-free or overrun with teenagers. And the whole thing is FREE! You just sign up for her email reminders and essays - warning here, there are a lot of emails, don't get overwhelmed! - and you just follow her babysteps. It really does work. Check out the site and let me know what you think. I wouldn't be without her.

The next one is The Secret. If you haven't seen the dvd or read the book, I recommend to do both! The difference learning about the Law of Attraction had made in my life cannot be over-emphasized. The crux of it is that you get what you focus on. You will bring into your life more of whatever you think and talk about most. So if, like me, you keep saying "I can't afford that." or "I don't have the time.", then guess what? You will keep not being able to afford the things you want, or have the time you need to do the things that make your life worthwhile. It's not just some New Age mumbo jumbo. I've just been to a conference for my scented candle company and every one of the really successful leaders used some form of the Law of Attraction. It works - just try it

Tomorrow, I'll tell you about my "Secret Weapon" in the fight against chaos and fast food!

Come back soon.
Till then, focus on the Good in life.
Jacqui

No Coincidences

Follow the path .....
Make a wish in 2008 to attract more like-minded souls, make more friends
Drawn to a picturesque bookstore in Olde Towne Woodstock
(FoxTale - could you be any more perfect?)
Develop bookclub and cultivate friendships
Drop in, unplanned, for a few minutes to browse and talk about books and candles
Meet another book-lover who also "dropped in", same time, also unplanned
Follow her website to a mesmerising blog
New friend!
No coincidences ....

Heeere's Jacqui!

Wow, what an amazing thing the Internet is! Isn't it awesome that I can sit here in my cozy livingroom and make a journal entry that the whole world can see and comment on?

As you can see from the photo attached, I have just got back from Las Vegas. This picture was the only cheesy touristy thing I did, besides losing $15.00 into the penny slots! I was there for a conference and training for my home-based candle company and I had an amazing time. There were so many different facets to the experience that I'll probably take a few days to write them all down. There's nothing like mixing with selfmade millionaires to make you realize that you could be one of them. More on the conference and making money later ...

But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Jacqueline Gates, usually known as Jacqui. I have been married to the Uenter of my Universe since 1982, and we have a daughter, and a son. Until May 1998 we lived in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This is also the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and, after he came to power in 1994, the attempts by the new government to correct the wrongs of the past made life a lot less certain for the White minority. Crime was escalating, education standards dropping, and job security practically nil. So my husband and I decided to search for greener pastures. We didn't really care where we went, we were just looking for more security and greater opportunities for our kids, who were 9 and 11 years old at the time.

The Centre of My Universe posted his resume on an international employment website, and we were amazed when we were contacted within a few weeks. In December 1997 we were interviewed by one of the recruiters, and by May 1998 we had sold up a five-bedroomed home down to eight suitcases (yes, just 8!) and arrived in Minnesota. The only person we knew was the lady who was to be Malcolm's new boss, and we had never even visited the US. It was an adventure to say the least! And for this tropical blossom that had never experienced temperatures below 35F, that first Minnesota winter was a huge shock! I very quickly learned to pay attention to the wind-chill readings, and just because the sun's shining, doesn't mean you can go out without a coat!

But what an adventure! We have never regretted it for a moment, and we are focussed on creating our piece of the American Dream. Truly this is the land of Opportunity, and finally after 10 years of searching and a few wrong turns, I have found the perfect opportunity for me to do that.

After nine long winters in Minnesota, we decided that we had had enough of dealing with the snow and the hassles that it brings, and looked to relocate to warmer climes. I had just read The Secret and watched the dvd everyday and I was determined to find the perfect house, and to have Malcolm and me be able to work from home. We created a vision board and focussed on what we wanted to see manifest in our lives. The Law of Attraction is an amazing thing. Within six months, everything I visualized came true. I am one very happy lady and now having experienced my first Georgia winter, I'm even happier. I am grateful everyday for highs in the 50s and for snow that just looks pretty for a day or two and then disappears!

Finally, I'd like to share my favorite quote:
"It's a funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the very best, you very often get it." Somerset Maugham

So, to those new to my blog, Hello and welcome. I'm pleased to meet you and hope that you'll post a comment so that we can get to know each other.

Till next time, wishing you a Bountiful and Beautiful Day
Jacqui