Quarantine Cleaning 101

The kids have been home for months. You and your significant other have taken over the dining room and turned it into an office. You feel stuck in a never-ending cycle of cleaning, putting things away, vacuuming, cooking, cleaning again, picking up toys for the 50th time, and, well, you know where I’m going with this. It feels like life has become rather redundant and there’s nowhere that we can really escape (unless we lock ourselves in our bathrooms with a bubble bath and wine…lots of wine).

I like to think of Quarantine Cleaning as spring cleaning but more frequently, because my family loves to leave socks everywhere (cue more laundry) and my kid can make a mess wherever she goes in the house…or the back porch. I have daily tasks and once a month, things get a deep cleaning. By keeping up with things on a weekly basis, the deep cleanings become less deep each time because things don’t get as dirty in between cleanings.

DECLUTTER & ORGANIZE

If you are like me then you are decluttering and organizing every other day. I can make piles appear out of nowhere. Mail, my daughter’s school work, magazines…you name it, I can pile it up. Before you even start making a cleaning schedule and delegating who will do what, you need to take a day to just go through ALL of your papers and throw out what you don’t absolutely need. Then make a filing system that works for you to keep the important papers organized and easy to find in case you need them.

Now that the piles are gone, those closets aren’t going to organize themselves. I have one day every other week where the refrigerator and pantry get cleaned out and organized, but it’s a good idea if you haven’t done this in a while to go ahead and get in a good cleaning and organizing of both the fridge and pantry. Seriously, I found wayyy old leftovers, expired snacks, and stale taco kits from last year when I cleaned mine out! Wipe down the shelves in the refrigerator, clean out the drawers, and don’t forget to go through the freezer, too.

To keep your refrigerator and pantry organized (and closets), check out these baskets from Amazon that I use in my pantry and master bedroom closet!

Hallway and bedroom closets can also be a daunting task. This would be a great time to get the kids involved with organizing. Find a few boxes/crates/bags and label them DONATE and THROW AWAY. Things to keep will obviously get put away in the closet, but things that you want to donate or throw away can be sorted as you go. Find old towels and bed sheets that could be donated to a local animal shelter. If you’re like me, your child is almost 10 but still has size 7/8 clothes hanging in her closet…it’s time to clean those out. See if there is an organization in your area that accepts clothing donations or take them to Goodwill.

Once you do the big overhaul on your refrigerator, pantry, closets, and piles, you won’t be doing it that extensively again for quite some time. Your cleaning schedule should help keep things orderly and from getting too out of control before the next declutter/organization day.

MAKE A CLEANING SCHEDULE

While it’s tempting to save the bulk of the cleaning for a weekend day, being home all the time means that I don’t have to save the cleaning for Saturday anymore. Teaching from home allows me to clean a little bit each day so that I don’t feel so overwhelmed on the weekend. Also, I have pets…pets that shed. I cannot go more than a few days without sweeping or vacuuming.

Making a cleaning schedule has been a lifesaver. From deep cleaning days to laundry days, creating a schedule is a great way to check off your to-do list without spending your weekend doing it. You can also put the name of the person in the household who is responsible for that task so there is no confusion or “I didn’t know I was supposed to clean that.”

How to Create a Schedule
1. I have a paper planner that has a monthly and weekly calendar and I use both. The monthly calendar is an overview of my whole month. The weekly calendar is where I can detail what is getting done each day and WHO is doing it. You can also create one on the computer and print it out (see my example below. I have a family of 3 so it fit on one page but you can easily create a calendar on two pages in a word doc!)

2. The first day of quarantine cleaning is deep cleaning day. I’m talking baseboards, cobwebbed corners you haven’t seen in years, and dust balls tumbling under the couch. Download this Deep Cleaning checklist to help you.

3. Designate a day of the week for each task that you have. I would suggest having 3-4 days a week that each person has something to clean. *Every family’s needs vary, so compile a list of tasks that you MUST have done around the house (sweeping and/or vacuuming, mopping, cleaning windows, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the kitchen, laundry, etc).

Here’s an example of my family’s weekly schedule:

SETTING UP A ‘FAMILY HUB CENTER’

Find a spot in the house where the whole family has access, like the kitchen, for your Family Hub Center. This space is where you keep track of all family business. It’s important that everyone have access to it so that they are all on the same page and aware of what is expected. All you need is some wall space and a small table or desk. If you’re tight on space, hanging everything on the wall works! Check out my Pinterest board for inspiration.

Here are some things to include:

Wall calendar
A spot to post important family reminders and notes
Grocery list for adding to throughout the week
Meal Planner- so no one asks “what’s for dinner?”
Job chart for checking off tasks as they are completed
Pens, markers, or other writing tool for marking on calendar and job chart

DELEGATE HOUSEHOLD NEEDS

The kids have been making you crazy. Between homeschooling, the never-ending snack demands, and the abundance of laundry that seems to have appeared, you’re busy enough with the kids. For children who are old enough, delegate a few of the household cleaning needs to them. This could be anything from watering the plants. washing dishes, or dusting. A little training can go a long way too. Show them HOW to clean so that you aren’t going back over their work.

For your spouse: Whether your spouse has been leaving the house to go to work each day or now has a dining room office, talk to them about finding a time that works to help contribute to the household needs. It may be grocery shopping (and then the kids put groceries away) or working on a home improvement project. They are trying to do their job the best they can in this new normal so be understanding of how they have to spend their time. Maybe weekends will still work best for your spouse, so take advantage of that and make it a couples project or get the whole family involved.

For the little ones: giving them the task of keeping their toys picked up is enough for me to consider it a WIN! It’s never too early to instill good habits like cleaning up when you’re done with something. This could be teaching your toddler how to choose a few toys at a time to play with, then putting them away and trading them in for a new toy to play with. It may take some time but once they get it, you will be thankful!

Check out this article about making chores fun for kids. Hey, they sound fun to me, too!

DON’T SPEND EVERY SINGLE DAY CLEANING, ORGANIZING, AND DOING THINGS!

You need to rest and that includes resting from prepping and planning as well. If need be, SCHEDULE IN one day a week where you do nothing. NADA. Zero things. Other family members can handle the household needs that day or it can be a Family Day Off type of thing where everyone spends time together without working. Go to the park for a picnic. Play some video games together. Take a walk through the neighborhood. Go exploring and find a new trail to hike. Set up the sprinkler and run through it! There are still six other days for the cleaning to get done and the memories that will be made are totally worth it.

What is a tip or trick that has helped you keep up with the demands of the household during this quarantine? Comment and tell us what has worked for you. Share your knowledge mamas!

My Skincare Routine

As someone who works out almost daily, I could not have been happier when Fré Skincare reached out to me to try their 123Fré line. This line is formulated for the active person who sweats and it leaves your skin feeling and smelling AMAZING! [Scroll to bottom of blog to find out how to snag your own set today!]

Here’s a breakdown about this company…

– Fré is passionate about empowering women & protecting the plant
– 100% vegan products, cruelty-free, and PETA certified
– Have a 100% satisfaction guarantee on their products…not happy? You’ll get a full refund!

Why is the 123Fré line so great?

– Formulated for skin that sweats, making it PERFECT for the active woman
– The line consists of 3 products that work together to showcase your best skin: PURIFY ME hydrating facial cleanser, PROTECT ME facial moisturizer, and REVIVE ME replenishing serum
– Every set sold helps to plant an Argan tree in Morocco to support the women who harvest the Argan oil
– These products build facial skin resilience and turn skin that sweats into a naturally glowing complexion
– It has a bright, citrus, pleasant scent
– Leaves skin feeling fresh and vibrant

How to use the line

Morning Routine: Wash face with Purify Me hydrating face wash. Follow up with Protect Me facial moisturizer.

Night Routine: Wash face with the hydrating face wash. Follow up with Revive Me rejuvenating serum.

HOW TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS STUFF…

1. Head over to this site and check out the 123Fré line plus many other amazing Fré products.
2. Use my code LANDL to receive 15% your order [and if you use my code on 4/20/2020, you can get 40% off!]

Processing the Change

I am a woman who wears many hats. First and foremost, I am a child of God and a follower of Christ. He matched me with my soulmate and made me a (soon-to-be) wife. He trusted me to become a mother to my beautiful daughter. He made me a bridge between people looking to change their health and fitness and the solutions to do so. He also trusted me to become a teacher to 28 crazy, loving third graders.

Out of all those hats that I wear, there is ONE that has been turned backwards…teaching. With all that is going on in the world and the fact that COVID-19 has changed the face of education currently, I am learning to process it all, make a plan, and execute it. It’s the processing part that I’m still stuck in.

You see, when I began my teaching journey I was older than the typical teacher starting out. After many career changes, I finally decided to go back to school at the age of 27 and graduated with my Bachelor’s degree at 29, when I immediately got a job teaching in the school where I did my student teaching. What a blessing that was! Because of this, I have a huge attachment not only to all the students that I have had, but to my coworkers who quickly became friends.

Last year I had such a great group of kids that I asked my principal if I could move up from second grade to third grade with them…and she said “YES!” Fast forward to this school year and you can imagine how close we have all grown. Even the new students that I got this year quickly became a part of our classroom family. We laugh, joke, learn, love, and work together. We truly are a family.

When the pandemic began I never imagined that I would not get to see my students again after leaving that Thursday, March 13th. I remember being tired at the end of the day and ready to sit down and send the kids home. I know I gave most of my students hugs goodbye, but I’m sure there were some that I simply waved to as they walked out the door. Had I’d known that would be the last time I’d see them this school year, I would have squeezed them a little harder and made sure that each kid left knowing just how much they mean to me. I know they know it, but I wish I had shown it more that day.

We started out with just one week of virtual learning. That quickly became two weeks. Right now we are wrapping up “spring break” week but two days ago we got the word that all Georgia schools were officially closed for rest of the school year. We will be virtually learning and teaching until the end of May. When I got the news I didn’t know how to feel. One part of me liked the fact that I won’t have to commute 1.5+ hours round trip each day (Atlanta traffic ain’t no joke!). But most of me felt sadness, frustration, and regret. Sad that I cannot do what I love in the way that I love. Frustrated that more than a handful of my students do not have internet access and will basically not get these last 7 weeks of content. Regret that I did not give each one of them a tighter hug and words of comfort.

Teachers become so emotionally invested in their students’ future, in their personal and academic growth. They are not just a body filling up space in a classroom. They are unique individuals who I learn from daily. They inspire me, motive me, push me to be my best. They tell me my drawings are awesome even when they aren’t. They help me remember all the things I need to do. They tell me jokes and make me laugh. They can’t wait until the bell rings at the end of the day to tell me all the little things inside their heads. They hug me for no reason. They see when I’m tired and frustrated and come give me a pat on the back and tell me it’s okay. I may have one biological child, but I really have 28 more children, too.

At first I could not process the school closures although I knew it was coming. I finally allowed myself to embrace the feelings that I was having, including shedding some tears. Change is scary when it is suddenly forced upon you but a close friend of mine reminded me that it is okay to feel what I feel, acknowledge it, and then turn it over to God. God is my ultimate comforter and the source of my strength. He reminds me daily that while I am definitely not in control of the situations swirling around me, I am in control of how I approach and handle them.

I’m sure people are conjuring up their ideas of what us teachers will be doing for the rest of the school year…sleeping in, sitting around in PJs, lazily checking student work online and posting things to keep them busy. Guess what? We aren’t. We are still expected to have “school hours”, participate in Zoom meetings throughout the week, and of course provide ENRICHING and RELEVANT lessons and activities for the kids to do at home all with short notice. And I would expect nothing less. This is not a vacation, it’s just a different way of teaching. I’m learning to roll with the punches and embrace the changes that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Who knows what the future holds, but one thing I do know is that I’ll continue to show up every day for my students. I’ll host virtual meetings so I can see their smiling faces and read them stories. I’ll continue to email back and forth with families so that they can best help their child at home. I will wake up every day smiling that I am still healthy and so is my family. And I…no, WE, will all get through this.

If you are a teacher looking for resources for your students, please check out my TpT page. I am having a sale in my store from 4/4-4/7 with everything 20% off and many of my resources are FREE. We are in this together and together we will build each other up and support one another through this time of change.

Check out my TpT store HERE!

Cheesy Sausage Egg Casserole

Who doesn’t love BREAKFAST for DINNER?! Check out this blog about how I found things that needed to be used in the freezer and refrigerator and whipped up my favorite breakfast casserole for a casual dinner.

Have you ever stood with the fridge and freezer doors open trying to see past the juice boxes and frozen veggies, hoping that something will show itself that you can make for dinner? You just spent $200+ at the grocery store yet it feels like there’s nothing to eat.

I’ve been in this boat far too many times, often falling overboard. I get overwhelmed because I’m not exactly the most enthusiastic or greatest cook in the world. Now baking, BAKING is my jam! I could spend all day baking and testing out my creations. But cooking is something I only do because, well, we gotta eat! I stick to what I know and don’t venture out of the comfort zone too often. If eating chicken cutlets every night was acceptable, I’d be the best cook around!

My fiancé Cody is a really good cook. He typically comes home from work, rolls up his sleeves, and whips up a delicious dinner. I am so grateful for a partner in life that works all day and comes home to cook a meal for our family. Cody truly enjoys being in the kitchen and I join in by preparing sides to go with our meal. But sometimes I want to have dinner ready for him when he gets home because he does that for me all the time.

Last night I was doing the blind stare into the freezer that is packed full of food to make, most of it being side dishes like mashed cauliflower or a frozen veggie medley or things for my daughter to eat. Then I spotted some sausage that we had leftover from a previous breakfast that we froze. I also saw some hash browns that needed to be used up, too. Then it hit me….BREAKFAST CASSEROLE FOR DINNER! I checked to see if we had shredded cheddar cheese. We had sliced cheddar but hey, it’s still cheese! [I ended up breaking up each slice into thirds and as I layered the casserole into the baking dish, I simply laid each piece of cheese on top of the sausage. It worked out beautifully!] Milk and eggs are staples in this household so I was ready to go to make this casserole.

This mouth-watering casserole is always a huge hit at brunches and I bring it in when we have all-day planning at school. My fellow teachers devour the whole thing! I love the versatility of this recipe and how you can add your own kind of sausage and play around with the amount of cheese you want on top. Here’s what you need and how to make it:

Cheesy Sausage Egg Casserole

This recipe will easily feed 3-4 hungry people. Since I made it with what I had left in the freezer, I had to cut my recipe down a bit as I didn’t have the full amount needed…but that worked out perfectly because the full recipe makes a HUGE amount! We still had leftovers and they made a perfect, quick, ready-to-go breakfast today! Waste not, want not…especially with the pandemic happening all over the world!

Ingredients

about 1 lb. breakfast sausage (I had used a bit of the sausage previously and froze the rest so it wasn’t a full package/pound but you can use a full pound)
1/2 package (22.5 oz) frozen hash brown patties, thawed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. onion powder
4 slices cheddar cheese (more or less depending on how cheesy you like it)
4 eggs
1 cup milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage until no longer pink. Drain off the fat. This will help the casserole from becoming to liquidy during baking.
Layer the bottom of a lightly greased 8×8 baking dish with the hash brown patties. You can crumble them up if you prefer or leave them as is. I have done both ways and like them equally!
Top hash browns with sausage and layer the cheese on top of the sausage.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour over the hash brown mix.
Bake, uncovered, for about 35 minutes. The cheese should be nice and melted and the edges are bubbling.
*If you want to, you can prep this meal ahead of time and COVER and REFRIGERATE after Step 5. Take out of fridge and bake according to directions.

ENJOY!!

Carrot Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins

Carrot Chocolate Chip Pecan muffins…say that five times fast! Maybe I should call them the Triple C Pecan muffins instead. No matter what you call them, they are top-notch, A+ muffins that are perfect topped with creamy nut butter and paired with a hot cup of tea. (Are you drooling yet?)

These gluten-free, low-carb muffins are made with almond and coconut flour. I prefer to bake with alternatives to all-purpose flour, like almond meal or coconut flour because I like the texture of the baked goods and they are healthier options. Here are some links to learn more about these flours.

Almond Meal (flour)

Coconut Flour

What’s inside these delicious muffins?

It’s hard to have just one of these bad boys. They are the perfect portion size, full of healthy-ish ingredients (if you omit the chocolate chips or opt for a dark chocolate or cacao nibs then BOOM, healthier!), and just downright YUMMY!

Ingredients:

2 cups almond flour
3 tsp. coconut flour
3 eggs
2 tbsp. coconut oil
3 tbsp. raw honey
1/3 cup mashed ripe banana
1/3 cup grated carrots
1.5 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. sea salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup chocolate chips (regular or mini if you prefer)
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Add wet ingredients and mix well.
Add in the grated carrots, chocolate chips, and pecans.
Grease a muffin tin (or use liners) and divide batter evenly into each slot.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins come out clean.

This recipe yields 12 muffins that keep for up to two days in an airtight container.

Perfect for kid’s lunches, afternoon snacks, or late night nibbles. Top it with nut butter or even Nutella! This muffin is sure to be a family favorite.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
– 1 Corinthians 10:31

Creamy Chicken Apple Sausage Farfalle

With the start of a new year comes resolutions of course. One of my resolutions this year is to try new things, whether it be food or experiences. You’d think trying something like chicken apple sausage isn’t a big deal, but there was a time that I would NEVER willingly pick out chicken apple sausage for a dish. Low and behold, IT IS AMAZING AND I WISH I COULD SHAKE ‘PAST ME’ FOR PASSING THIS STUFF UP!

Another thing I am aiming to do more of this year is create meals designed specifically for two people. I am always finding recipes for 4 or more people and while a lot of them can be cut in half, sometimes they are hard to make for just two people. OR I have TOO MUCH left over, even for us to eat again the next day. That is where this new series “Dinner for Two” comes in, showcasing original recipes and those I find on Pinterest and love.

In my search for new things to bring to meals, I decided to start with something that I know I wouldn’t mess up (at least not too bad)….pasta. As an Italian, I better be able to make pasta!

Knowing that I was cooking a meal for two, I wouldn’t need a whole box of pasta. Which is a good thing, because I found two open boxes just waiting to be used up. Penne or farfalle? PENNE? FARFALLE? It was a toss-up, but the farfalle won. And let me tell you, half a box of [mini] farfalle made MORE than enough for two people. We have lunch for tomorrow and I am not sad about it!

As my hankerin’ for a hearty pasta dish continued to grow, I looked through the refrigerator for other things to put together with the farfalle and chicken apple sausage. I love a creamy, cheesy sauce made from heavy cream and fresh parmesan. Lucky me, I had both in the fridge… I mean JUST enough cream! And I had recently bought some grated parmesan for a recipe earlier this week so there was still plenty left in the jar. (See below for the cheese I bought.)

This cheese is great and makes it so easy to enjoy freshly grated parm without having to buy a big block and grate it yourself.

Getting excited that I had so many ingredients on hand already, I continued my hunt for other things to add. WHITE WINE! Because, why not? An unopened bottle of white wine is the perfect thing to bring a nice flavor to the sausage and the sauce.

The sausage simmered in white wine, creating a burst of flavor in each bite.

I popped back into the pantry for some olive oil and chicken bone broth, which I always make sure to have 1 or 2 cartons of at all times. I chose to use bone broth for the rich flavor and benefits such as collagen and protein. Then I grabbed some salt and pepper from the spice cabinet and I was ready to rock and roll.

This recipe came together so easily. Did I mention it took maybe 15 minutes total?? YES PLEASE! Looking back, I wish I had put MORE sausage and next time I think I will add some yellow onion. But it was delicious just as it was and it would be super easy to brown up some more sausage slices to add to the pasta for lunch tomorrow.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 package mini farfalle (or regular size if you wish)
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 package chicken sausage, sliced into rounds
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup bone broth
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
parley and red pepper flakes for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: In a medium pot boil water for the pasta, enough for half a box. Cook according to directions on box.

Step 2: As pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large pan or skillet. Sauté the chicken apple sausage for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown.

Step 3: Deglaze the pan with white wine and reduce until most of the wine has evaporated. Add in chicken bone broth, heavy cream, and salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer.

Step 4: After pasta is done cooking, drain and toss into the sauce. Let the pasta cook in the sauce for another minute or so. Use tongs to make sure to mix up the pasta and sausage and coat the pasta really well in sauce.

Step 5: Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the parmesan cheese. You can garnish with chopped parsley and a some red pepper flakes for an added punch of flavor! Serve immediately.

Step 3- Deglazing the pan with white wine

Step 3- Adding heavy cream and chicken bone broth

Step 4- Toss pasta in sauce and stir it up

“Food is essential to life; therefore, make it good.”
S. Truett Cathy

If you enjoyed this dish, check out this other delicious recipe:
Baked Turkey Meatballs

Hey! Nice to meet you.

This is my first blog post on my newest site! I am passionate about faith, fitness, and FOOD. I live near Atlanta, GA with my fiancé and our daughter.

Why am I here?

It all started when I renamed my Instagram page, Lattes.and.leggings. It describes me to a T. I always have a coffee in hand and I would live in leggings if I could.

What do I bring to the table?

Recipes that I love from others, recipes from my own brain, and kitchen tips and tricks
Home decor ideas, indoors and outdoors
Fitness everything! From my favorite workout programs to my must-have products
All the in-betweens of motherhood from faith, parenting, organizing, and traveling, to pretty much any topic that I feel led to share!

Let’s collaborate!

If you have an idea, product, or anything that you want to work with me on, shoot me an email at fithealthymama28@gmail.com.

I can’t wait for you to join me on this crazy ride called life!! Here we go!