5 Tips for Better Weekly Meal Planning

How do you get dinner on the table week in and week out, without getting bored? How do you stay energized and engaged with the art of cooking at home? These are some questions that you have to ask yourself when it comes to meal planning. Here are 15 tips for learning how to plan your meals.

What is meal planning?

What is meal planning? It's whatever way your organize yourself to cook a meal, whether it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is the plan that you make before you shop. Some people plan a month in advance, while other's wing it shopping for that evening's meal picking up whatever looks good to them. Meal planning is personal thing. What works for one person might not work for another person. The goal, I think, to find a process that is both, enjoyable and effective.

5 Tips for Meal Planning

1. Spend time each week looking for simple recipes

This may feel like an indulgence, but just let yourself do it. Browse blogs and websites for recipes that look delicious. Check out the blog, Skinnytaste. Pile up some cookbooks and reach fo the sticky notes. Get inspired!

2. Create a place to save recipes, and keep it SIMPLE

Do whatever works for you. Don't get caught up in a system, just use whatever works best and most easily. Personally, I like Pinterest because it's easy to visually browse what I've saved.

3. Ask your family what they like to eat

This might sound obvious, but it's easy to get caught up in our weeks and forget to ask our households what they would like to eat. I get extra inspired, too, when I feel like I'm cooking a meal as a gift — trying to please and delight the palate of someone I love. Be aware that this can sometimes backfire. If you ask your family to many times what they like to eat they might get upset with you. Believe me, this has happened to me several times.

4. Check the weather

Again, you may say, duh, but seriously. Right now, the weather is changeable in many parts of the country. Look at the weather forecast, and try to predict if you're going to be in the mood for soup (or grilled shrimp salad!) on Friday.

5. Keep a meal journal

One of my best inspirations is my own record of things I've cooked in the past. Take a look at what you were cooking a year ago, two years ago. It's a good way to remember things you used to cook, and still love. I do this my using a calendar that I write all of our meals on. This really helps to see what meals my family likes the best and what meals they didn't like so much.

What are some tips that you might have for meal planning?

Five on a Monday

Hi Lovelies!

It's the last of April, which means that are only a few weeks of school left. It's hard to believe that my first grader will soon be a second grader and than my one year old will be two the week before school starts. It goes by so fast!!!

Since Monday is almost over, I thought I would post 5 questions and answer them. So, here we go!

1. What are 5 songs that you would listen to for the rest of your life?

Livin' on a Prayer- Bon Jovi
Appaulse- Lady Gaga
Sweet Child O' Mine: Guns N Roses
Never Gonna Give You Up- Rick Astely
Shout- Tears for Fears

2. What are 5 things on your  Spring bucket list?

Plant a vegetable garden
Play in the rain
Have a picnic in the park
Go for a nature walk
Play in the rain

3. Which 5 celebs would like to hang out with for a day?

Reese Witherspoon
Jennifer Garner
Julia Roberts
Leah Remini
Gene Simmons

4. What are 5 things you always carry in your purse?

Wallet
Brush
Chapstick
Phone
Baby Wipes

5. What are 5 books on your reading list?

A Wrinkle in Time
Charoletts's Web
Little House on the Praire
Angela's Ashes
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Friday Letters

Hi Lovelies!!

TGIF!!! It's the weekend!!! Yaaay!!!! We have a lot going on this weekend, especially Saturday. We our Girl Scouts Day Camp and it's going to be so much fun.

Anyway, here is my edition of Friday Letters. Enjoy!!

Friday Letters 

Dear God, thank you for giving me another day.

Dear body, I really need to pamper you more often. You deserve it. You also need more sleep and I need to get you in much better shape.

Dear weather, please bring the sun back! Please bring the warm weather back.

Dear Paul, I know I drive you absolutely crazy some days, but I love you and I would be lost without you. You are an awesome husband and an awesome daddy to our girls. We love you so so much!!

Dear Girls, you light up my life with your infectious smiles and laughter. I love being your mommy!

Dear Netflix, Thank you for putting Party of Five on the website. I love this show!

Dear House, you need some serious TLC this weekend.

Dear Laundry, I loathe you.... why does it seems like you multiply everyday?

Dear Blog Friends, thank you stopping by and reading! I appreciate it!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Angie

April Goals

Hello Lovelies!!

I know we are two weeks into April and I am just now posting my goals for April. Life has been busy with Girl Scout meetings and trying to find businesses to advertise in our newspaper. Anyway, before I get started on reviewing my goals from last month, I thought I would share that I have a Facebook page for my blog. To like my page, please click here. Thank you!

I don't think I ever got around to posting my March goals, but I do know that I did write them down. So, here they are:

March Goals--

1. Read 2 books, this did not happen. I think I need to drop to reading one book. That may help.

2. Find a new bible study, still looking. Any suggestions?

3. Take a day trip during Spring Break, I can actually mark this off of my list!!!! We went to the Great Plains Museum and then we went to the Holy City and we also went on a hike (which was scary and fun at the same time).

4. Get ahead on blog posts, I can mark this one off too!!!

Now, on to my goals for April!

1. Celebrate Easter with friends.

2. Read at least one book.

3. Find and complete a new bible study.

4. Workout 3x a week.

5. Open new Etsy shop.

6. Become a Jamberry consultant, again.

7. Eat healthier

8. Drink more water.

What are your goals for this month?

Thankful Thursday

Hi Lovelies!

Tonight's post is going up a bit late due to the thunderstorm that just passed through and to two little girls who needed some extra cuddles due to said thunderstorm. So, tonight's post is all about being thankful and believe me I know that I have a lot to be thankful for.  Now, these are not ranked in any order..... here we go!

1. My awesome husband and my two beautiful little girls. They bring me so much joy and love.

2. The sound of the rain on the roof of the house. It is such a pleasant and relaxing sound to fall asleep to (except when thunder accompanies the rain).

3. Friends that I can count on.

4. A college education.

5. Netflix binges (Party of Five, 13 Reasons Why, How I Met Your Mother, Friends, Gilmore Girls).

6. Lazy Sundays.

7. Ice water.

8. The smell of freshly baked cookies.

9. The smell of freshly cut grass.

10. Pens that write well.

What are you thankful for?

Self Care Tips for Stay at Home Moms

I'm ashamed to admit, but I have been running on empty and my nerves are beginning to show it. Stress is rising and I need some relief. I sometimes have a short fuse with my husband and an even shorter fuse with my kids.

I am ashamed of myself for even thinking like this. I often apologize for this, but I realize that the damage is already done. Friends. I mess up too.

We are all in this together and I need grace just like you, so I am sharing my tips on how to implement some simple ways to keep yourself nourished so that you can be the mom your kids need and even the wife your husband desires.

So, here are my 5 Simple Self Care Tips for Stay at Home Moms:

GET OUTSIDE

It is important to get some fresh air. Try to make it a habit to get outside every day either alone or with your kids. Fresh air does a body good!!!!

EXERCISE

Pick your favorite! You can do yoga, stretching, or even walking. The point is to get your body moving.

TAKE A BATH

Just soaking in the tub is relaxing, especially with bubbles!! Soaking in the tub releases tension in the back, neck, and shoulders. 

TAKE A NAP

This is a great idea that I just recently implemented, Even resting your body for 15 minutes can make a difference in my perception of the day and how much energy I have until bedtime.

READ FOR PLEASURE

A good story is so refreshing. I love reading, especially suspense and mystery novels. I love when I can pick up a book and just lose myself in the story. 

So, that's my list. I try to implement these 5 self care tips throughout my day. 

What would you add to the  list?