Meal Planning and To Do Lists

You know your day couldn’t possibly get worse, when you start it out by forgetting to grind the coffee beans and/or even add the coffee to the coffee maker when you brew your morning coffee….

It’s Monday and right about now I am just grateful I survived last week. It was our first week back up in the Great Palouse and Panhandle of Idaho. I admit it is gorgeous and green up here. However unlike the rest of Idaho, this part is in the Pacific Time Zone. Trying to adjust back to the PST has been a struggle for my family, along with having a sick lil Dude.

I am never a big fan of Mondays. The weekends are usually so busy, running around doing things with the family. Trying to entertain a family and get things done over the weekend can be so hectic, by the time Monday arrives, you just don’t have it in you to do much. But can you take that break? Oh my, you sure can’t. Your family needs you to help get them ready for the day. Even on a summer day, they got you running around.

Today was however a big day for my Husband, he started his classes for his 3rd and final year of Law School. I am super damn proud of him. His morning hasn’t be easy either. Plus he is trying to make sure he can go back to Boise the first week of September to do a trial, pro-bono. Pro-Bono work is required and not many Law Students get the chance to go to trial. So far it is looking like he can go.

Kyle’s teacher already said he can go, and that means in 2 weeks, we are all headed back down to Boise for a week. Which means that I need to pack up my family again! No I am not looking forward to packing and unpacking. I still and going through things now.

Anyways, I usually try to set up my meal plan and my to do lists on Friday or Saturday for the following week. This does NOT always happen. I find it harder to find meals that my family really enjoy during the summer when it is so hot. While we had the central AC at our place in Boise, they we more open to different meals. Here in Moscow, ID., we do not have that luxury. In fact it is so hot and stuff, not only do you not want to eat but you would rather stare at your to do list, then do anything.

I am eager for some cooler weather and for Kyle to start Kindergarten. I think then I can be more active and will have more time to actually tackle my to do list.

So today, I am keeping my meals, light and simple for my family. For breakfasts, yogurts, smoothies and granola nut bars, seem to really hit the spot, plus some fresh fruit like grapes or bananas. Lunches are sandwiches, with cold veggies such as carrots and broccoli on the side. Dinner, also has been sandwiches, and light fun meals, like little smokies. I have used my crock pot to prepare meats for sandwiches for dinner. BBQ ribs or chicken with corn and fresh bread is always a nice meal. It can be hard to stick to a meal plan but you can rotate things around as needed. There is no reason to be too strict and not bend things to fit your day and how you or your family are feeling. The plan is there to help you budget out what you buy, keep track of what you have and helps you have a plan to go by for meals.
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As for my To Do List. I create a few. There is one with normal daily tasks full of things to do to maintain your home. I even make a list for my son. It’s simple, such as pick up toys in Living Room, put dirty clothes in hamper, etc. And yes there is a Honey do list I make, or he makes for himself often. I love it when he adds, to massage and pamper wife. (He is a good husband)

Steps When Creating A List:

Figure out how you plan to maintain your lists, spreadsheets, online planners, etc…
1. I personally use http://www.cozi.com/
Prepare a Daily List, a Weekly List, a Major Task List and Final Major Task List.
Organize your tasks under each list starting with Daily Tasks.
1. Daily tasks, can be picking up things left laying around, doing dishes, in other words, things that need to be taken care around the house every day.
2. Weekly tasks, can be your grocery shopping, vacuuming, laundry, cleaning out refrigerator, things that have to be done on a regular basis but not daily.
3. Major Tasks, usually are things that need to be done around the home, organizing the pantry, sorting through kids toy/clothes, cleaning out closets
4. Final Major Task List, I wish I had a better name for this list, but it is for those things you can do once the major tasks are done, such as decorating, realizing you need more storage space and getting it or getting more baskets to organize better. If you are in a small space, getting all that stuff BEFORE getting rid of a lot of stuff, you will have no room to clean things out or you may buy more stuff then you need to organize. Be frugal and thrifty and keep it simple. (Lessons I have learned the hard way!)
By sorting out your lists they are easier to tackle and manage.
Start with your Daily List and move on down.
Do not expect your Major Tasks to be done over night. Do not pressure yourself.
Get your family involved in these tasks and have them helping out. Kids can do smaller tasks and parts of major ones. Be creative.

Remember when going through your belongings and your children’s only keep in your home, what is being used and what there is room for. If you have storage space, to save keepsakes, or for another child not yet old enough for some things, store them properly in waterproof packaging not just a cardboard box, that can get wet, or be torn apart or eaten buy vermin.

Later I will post more on how to create more room in your home to store your kids toys, dvds and many other things and share, blogs from some of my favorite Mom’s and Author’s out there.

This can be found with more at Dee’s Ramblings