Regaining Control

Well, it's been several months since my last post, so much has happened!
Baby boy, L, arrived quickly, safely, and right on time. We've decided to move, then not move, then move again, and now not. ;0)

I'm feeling a bit more like my 'sane' self again, and it's only because I've regained control of my role in the house. Everything runs 'more' smoothly around here when things are organized.

Behold! Easy menu planning!

Here are a couple reasons why I like this particular method of a magnetic calendar menu board.

1. I can rearrange meals depending on what we feel like eating, plans change, etc.

2. Having an 'inventory' of meal ideas really helps me when I just can't think of anything to make that we haven't had in awhile. Sometimes you just get in those ruts of eating the same few meals over, and over and over and...
3. It forces me to be conscious of how much of what we are eating. For example, carbohydrates, meat, fruits, veggies, you get it.

Making the menu board was super easy. Mostly because I didn't have to 'make' anything! I bought the magnetic, dry erase calendar (mine is made by Board Dudes), and the tiny meal magnets are actually a printable from Better Homes & Gardens (Special Interest Publications: Storage issue - I could flip through that issue all day - too bad it only comes out once a year). Just print it off on magnetic paper (yeah, I didn't even know that was a thing), fill it in, and voila! I printed off a few extra copies, that's why the side of my fridge is full of them, I like variety!
And don't lose your mind if you mess up writing on one of them, it's just like paper, use white out and write over it.

Another area of frustration: my baking cupboard. I'm very happy to have these glass jars.
My flouring and breading of foods is much tidier thanks to these bad boys. Also printable labels from BH&G. I know the labels are not perfectly centred, and that normally would drive me bananas, but I am trying to recover from my Type A personality. Every time I look at them now I think how things don't HAVE to be perfect. I'm trying to embrace imperfection. (Although, if the labels get all yucky I can put new ones on, that are centred, and then put clear sticky paper over them so the 'good ones' don't get yucky :0)


My life is so much easier if I just do things ahead of time. Procrastinating always comes back to bite me (you know where).

Here are a few of my favourite 'plan aheads'.

1. Aside from planning our meals ahead of time, it's so nice to make them ahead of time too!

That right there, folks, is chicken with capers, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, garlic, and white wine. Sometimes I switch it up and use my oven timer instead. Pop the food in the oven, set the timer to start, temp. and how long and I'm outta there!

I know what you're thinking, "that's a lot of cheese!" Looking back, maybe it was! But anyways, the point is, I really like these Lunch Bots because they are stainless steel and are divided. I like to pack these the night before, even if we are eating at home. It makes lunchtime so much faster and less drawn out. They are the perfect size for my 3 year old and 20 month old, and keeps them happy during church too. :0)

Jarred salads. These are my newest additions to my 'make aheads'.
Grocery shopping day is a full day priority now. I have to stick to reserving that day for prepping. The actual shopping part is really quick since I have a list and I stick to it (saving time and money). When I get home, I prep my ingredients for the meals that week. The first time I did this was a long day because I made pasta sauce, and that takes 4 hours to cook. I washed and chopped my fruits and veggies, boiled eggs, and grated cheese. I put together three Cobb Salads in mason jars and one large salad for dinner.
Let me tell you, grabbing a salad to go is awesome! It's the healthiest fast food you'll ever have. Some people put the dressing in the bottom and then layer the heartier veggies at the bottom and lettuce on the top.
I ended up eating these salads without any dressing at all because there was so much flavour already in them! Bonus!

So there you have it. My week made easier with one day's work (or a little work the night before).
If I just put in the effort, I save myself so much stress and time. Time is something I just never seem to have enough of with three children three years old and younger. They won't be little for long, so I need as much time as I can get to actually be with them, get down on the floor and play with them, sing with them, and pour into them.