Menu Plan Monday & a Cheerful Command Center

But first....

Monday: Creamy Chicken Taco's

I made this in the crockpot yesterday to take as mini taco bites in Lay's scoops for a party but only needed a small amount so we'll be having most of it for dinner tonight. 

Tuesday: Shepherd's Pie

This is another easy meal to make for a large group and lifegroup is always a large group.

Wednesday: Red & White Tortellini and meatballs w. Salad

Thursday: Lasagna (in the freezer from my last batch made)

Friday: YOYO (you're on your own) - there will be spinach soup in fridge as well.

Paul will be away at a stag for a friend and I will be away in washington with friends stocking up on groceries.

Saturday: Easter Dinner

We are hosting an international student and family dinner at our house. My parents, the Maxwell's and us, plus Duncan, my sister's students and some students from Langara. There should be about 16-18 of us. 

Tara to make: 

Honey glazed ham

Roasted Veggies

Cold Green Bean Salad

Birdsnests

Jenna to make:

Chopped Salad

Buns

Dessert

Jory to make:

Jory's famous Mashed Potatoes

Sunday: YOYO - there will be spinach soup in fridge as well again

Paul and I will be at two family dinners this day!! I will most likely be bringing birdsnests to at least one of them. 

Ok, normally the food part of my blog is one of my favorite parts but today I'm so excited for this next section. It's been months in the making (meaning I've waited months to make it) but finally I had time and I have completed it. I started purchasing containers a while back - every time I saw something cheap and fun and efficient I picked it up. I haven't spent more than $20 on supplies and between free household stuff and fun target and dollar store stuff I am very happy with the look!

First for the tragic before photos:

As you can see it became a dumping ground fairly quickly.

It was time to gut and sort

This always takes a while but is vital to the process. You have to know what you have to know how to organize it. I sorted through pens, white outs, tapes, etc. At this stage I still haven't even sorted through the papers. Boy what a day that will be. ugh.

I had a stash of fun colored hanging file folder holders and file folders and didn't have a proper container to store them in...and then I saw this box. So I cut off it's lid, used part of the lid as a divider and voila! This is where my papers will be stored once I sort through them all. A super boring post to come later once this happens.

When I go to target on the weekend I'll swing by their wrapping paper section for a grey patterned wrap to wrap this box in, so it's slightly more exciting than it currently is.

And now, it's time for the reveal!

I labelled everything using a Chalkboard Roll from Micheals. It costs about $12 and has done all my kitchen cupboards, this job and I still have some left. For the bins that wouldn't take well to a piece of sticker I just cut out some cardstock, stuck the sticker on to that and then used double sided tape to get the cardstock to stick. 

And for one last before and after....

Oh the joy.

I find myself coming over to the command center and staring at it. 

Which by the way, Paul says you can't have a command center if you aren't planning to kill anything or take over anything. I told him I plan to conquer my world and he said that in no way counts. But since the blogger mom's and organizational guru's call it a command center I'm sticking with it!

Left to do:

1. Buy wallpaper to a) line the file box and b) line the back wall. Both in grey shades - I'm hoping for chevron for the wall and dots for the file box.

2. Sort through the papers and label the file folders appropriately.