As we settle into the end of the year and the busy holiday season it is time to purge, declutter, and prepare for enjoying family more and things less. This is the time to be brutal in deciding what to get rid of- if you don’t love it or find it useful toss it out! Lightening up the load around the house isn’t just so you can load up on more for the holidays, it is so that you can worry about less, clean less, and enjoy more.

Most of these tasks can be done in 15 minutes or less but can have a huge impact on your home.  [Read more…]

Looking for meal planning ideas?  Here are 101 easy ideas to help show you how to meal plan and get dinner on the table with less stress while you are saving money.

Meal planning is something that everyone should use to help keep their grocery budget in check and their weeknights easier to manage.  Meal planning is one of the most simple ways to save money.  Money that you can then spend on other things that are important to you! You don’t have to feel overwhelmed by meal planning. There are tons of great tips out there for making your menu amazing, cheap, and something everyone in your family will love.  These tips are a great beginning to an amazing meal planning routine for your kitchen.  If you are looking for a meal plan template or printable meal planner, be sure to sign up for this how-to meal plan checklist including a weekly menu planning printable sheet.  I also include a special offer for a meal planning book. 

With back to school, I thought this would be a great time to think more about meal planning and how it can save you time, money and stress.

101 Tips For Meal Planning Success – Meal Planning Tips 

This list of tips includes links to our own posts with more details, as well as some basic concepts that work great for any menu type you choose.

1. Utilize already prepared menu plans to help you get ideas and have a grocery list on hand easily. One of our favorites is Eat at Home. 
2. Shop once a month for main ingredients and weekly for fresh fruits and vegetables
3. Limit new recipes to only 2-3 times per month
4. Invest in quality food storage like a Food Saver or Pyrex Freezer Bowls. See more must have meal planning tools here. 
5. Always label all freezer meals with date prepared, recipe name, and ingredients
6. Get your family involved in decision making to learn their favorite meals.
7. Add easy to prepare meals for your kids and spouse to make.
8. Don’t forget adding breakfast for dinner is a great option.
9. Use liners in your Crockpot to save time on cleanup.
10. Make double batches of breads, cakes, cookies, and brownies to freeze for future snacks or additions to meals.
11. Use limited leftovers to create casseroles by adding a pasta or rice and a cream soup base. Great with small amounts of veggies and chicken.
12. Make your own seasoning blends to cut back on expense and sodium in your meals.
13. Stick with seasonal foods to cut back on costs.  Buy when on sale and freeze for future meals during off-season.
14. Use your Crockpot or Instant Pot for cooking in summer to avoid heating the house with the oven.
15. Don’t overcrowd your freezer.  Foods freeze faster and healthier when there is air to circulate around them.
16. Use your Instant Pot for easy and fast last minute meals including roasts, chicken, soups, stews, and pastas.
17. Plan to use leftovers for lunches by creating larger portions.
18. Use theme nights to make planning easier: Taco Tuesday, Soup Sunday, etc.
19. Complete the full meal planning calendar by planning ahead for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
20. Make dessert a once per week treat instead of daily menu option.
21. Create easy breakfast freezer items like breakfast burritos, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and smoothie packs that work on any meal plan.
22. Never grocery shop without a list.  
23. Break your grocery list down by aisles of the store with notes of prices in sales papers.
24. Take help with you to make grocery shopping easier, and to keep on track so you don’t make unnecessary purchases.
25. Add leftover vegetables to a freezer bag to be thrown into soups or stews or later easy meals.
26. Don’t throw away marinades.  Reduce and boil to kill bacteria and use as a sauce for meats and vegetables.
27. Double check your pantry and freezer before shopping so you don’t buy something you already have on hand.
28. Clean your kitchen in advance when preparing multiple meals at once so you have all tools available and an empty counter and sink to work with.
29. Create freezer meals in big batches for less time in the kitchen throughout the month
30. Host a meal planning swap with friends who also use freezer meals.  This gives you extra hands to prepare meals and a variety of foods.
31. Create the ultimate meal planning pantry by stocking up on regularly used meal staple items like pasta, sauces, rice, and canned goods.
32. Organize your pantry for easy access and viewing so you aren’t wasting money on last-minute grocery items.
33. Buy extra shelves and baskets for your deep freeze for better storage
34. Defrost your freezer regularly so freezer meals are properly stored and you have more room for frozen foods.
35. Use the same ingredients in multiple recipes to cut back on costs.
36. Buy in bulk and portion items to save money when meal planning.  Meats, bulk grains, dry beans, and spices are often the best deals.
37. Take advantage of seasonal sales to stock your pantry and freezer with produce and meats at lowest prices.
38. Make double batches for easy leftovers.
39. Amp up flavors with fresh herbs.
40. If making freezer casseroles, invest in quality dishes that can go from freezer to refrigerator to oven with no problems.
41. Add healthier options gradually so not to overwhelm picky eaters and create wasted food.
42. Prep fruits and vegetables as soon as you get home with them so none go bad in your refrigerator drawers.
43. Batch cook meats and freeze in recipe portion sizes for faster meal preparation.
44. Cook dry beans in your Crockpot then portion and freeze for easy use in recipes.  This saves time, money, and reduces sodium.
45. Learn what foods freeze well to take advantage of sales (eggs, bananas, cheese, etc.)
46. Keep a menu plan visible in the kitchen for reference. 
47. Make sandwich nights a regular easy meal to give you a break from cooking.
48. Use your grill for batch cooking meats and vegetables easily.
49. Freeze meats in a marinade for even more flavor when cooking.
50. Create hamburger patties and separate with wax paper before freezing for fast meals.  This can also be used for homemade breakfast sausages.
51. Allow foods to cool before putting into the freezer to prevent condensation that creates freezer burn.
52. Lay bags of soup flat on a cookie sheet to freeze then stack like books to save space in the freezer.
53. Make double batches of soups, stews, and chili in the Crockpot to freeze for a second meal.
54. Cook roasts in the Crockpot then shred for BBQ sandwiches, tacos, or casseroles.
55. Cook baked regular and sweet potatoes in batches in the Crockpot to keep the kitchen cool in summer.  
56. Make your own homemade French fries and tater tots by preparing and par-cooking allowing to cool, then freezing for future use.  This cuts back on savings and time for preparing fresh foods at mealtime.
57. Drain excess grease from cooked ground meat before freezing.
58. Use apps for helping stay on top of your grocery list and meal plan.
59. Cook bacon in the oven in large batches then freeze for easy use in recipes.  This is faster and creates less mess.
60. Invest in the right tools for your kitchen like sharp knives, cutting boards, stockpots, non-stick cookware, and casserole dishes with lids.
61. Create your meal plans around the sales at the grocery store.
62. Plan one week of meals just from your pantry and freezer to properly rotate food stock.
63. Limit the addition of meat by adding beans into more casseroles, soups, chili, or tacos.
64. Shred vegetables like zucchini, cabbage, and carrots to freeze for future recipes.
65. Keep separate storage areas for ingredients some may be allergic to for safety in cooking.
66. Create a master recipe list of family favorites then break down ingredients to keep those items on hand at all times.
67. Add new recipes your family likes into a cookbook or recipe box marked with how often you will use for easy access later.
68. Keep a printed and digital copy of your menu plans for easy access.  Evernote and Dropbox are great tools for this.
69. Keep a list of ingredients, recipes, or styles of food your family doesn’t like so you won’t repeat in the future.
70. Watch the weather for best times to grill outside or bake indoors when the temperatures are lower.
71. Use Pinterest and Yummly on the go to create boards focused just on potential recipes for future meal planning. See some of my Pinterest boards here. 
72. Keep vegetable peels in a freezer bag to later use for creating a flavorful vegetable stock to use in soups and stews.
73. Invest in bag holders if creating freezer meals in large freezer bags.
74. Use dry erase stickers for freezer containers to save costs long term.
75. Wash vegetables and fruits in a vinegar and water rinse to kill germs and clean before cutting
76. Freeze cheese before hand grating.  This makes it easier to work with softer cheeses in large batches.
77. Save the butter wrapper to grease dishes with for baked goods.
78. Save water from boiling pasta or potatoes to add back in as you mix with sauces for more flavor.
79. Stock your pantry with ingredients for 3 meals that only require non-perishable items for emergencies.
80. Only add recipes to your meal planning rotation that are approved by 75% of your family.  Food waste isn’t effective in budget meal planning.
81. Follow food blogs and recipe groups for new ideas.
82. Keep the same day each week or month for meal planning and food prep for consistency so you don’t get off track.
83. Add one “clean out the fridge” night each week to help you cut back on leftovers being wasted.
84. Add one vegetarian meal to your meal planning each week to cut back on costs and improve health.
85. Calculate the expense of a ready-made meal plan prior to purchase.  Sometimes the cost far outweighs the frustration of locating recipes on your own and assembling a shopping list.
86. Freeze wine in ice cubes for easy portions to add to soups and sauces while cooking.
87. Prep fresh fruits and vegetables for freezing to use in recipes by cutting, patting dry, and allowing to freeze on a cookie sheet first.  You can then transfer to bags. This removes moisture and prevents freezer burn as well as clumping together in the freezer.
88. Portion leftovers when you put food away so reheating is easier for lunches and meals later.
89. When creating your grocery shopping list, list all recipes individually, then add duplicate items together to create the final total needed.
90. Cook pasta in sauces instead of separately.  It takes longer but means less cleanup and the flavor of the pasta is much better.
91. Create your own pasta sauce in the Crockpot then can for homemade cheaper sauce using fresh ingredients to stretch your meal planning budget and make meals easier to make.
92. Keep your knives sharp so prep is easier to complete.
93. Have a separate cutting board for raw veggies and raw meat for safety and faster meal preparation.
94. Always empty your dishwasher or wash dishes before cooking so you have less mess to clean up afterward.
95. Create semi-homemade meals using ready-made things like canned soups, frozen meatballs, or even cake mixes and add your own ingredients and twists to them.
96. Roast whole chickens and turkeys when on sale then shred meat and portion for use in future casseroles and soups.
97. Organize your refrigerator for easier use when preparing meals.  Keep like items together, and use extra shelves or bins to keep it organized as needed.
98. Always keep at least 2-3 bags of frozen vegetables on hand that everyone enjoys for a fast addition to any meat.
99. Always thaw frozen meals overnight in your refrigerator. Never thaw foods on the countertop. Follow FDA food safety guidelines for the health of your family.
100. Invest in the right tools for the jobs.  Things like food processors are great multi-purpose tools for preparation, and slow cookers in multiple sizes make it easy to prepare a large meal while you work or spend time with family.
101. Start slowly with just one week of meal planning at a time.  Once you get the hang of it, you can move to monthly meal planning.

Jump in with both feet and give meal planning a try using our tips above and in the listed articles we have created to break down some of the more difficult parts of meal planning for your family.

More Meal Planning Resources

How to Create a Meal Planning Pantry

Meal Planning with an Instant Pot

How to Use a Crock Pot for Meal Planning

Meal Planning Tips with Picky Eaters 

Meal Planning – Once a Month Meals

Must-Have Meal Planning Tools 

Restricted Diets & Food Allergies Meal Planning Tips

Wondering How to Make a Meal Plan?

Sign up for our simple tips and meal planning checklist that will make meal planning easy!

We are in the final weeks of spring and headed hard and fast towards summer! Time for vacations, leisure time, and all that summer brings. Let’s get the house ready for summer guests and summer activities that you can enjoy guilt-free because you are working so hard to clean and organize your home!

Kids will be out of school before you know it so we are going to focus on getting their spaces decluttered and ready for a technology light summer- indoors and out! This list will help you get ready for summer!  [Read more…]

Get your own Deep Cleaning House Checklist to help you organize your spring cleaning.

With the weather warming up, you may be considering tackling some spring cleaning. There is something about warmer weather, sunshiney days, and things growing beautifully outside that gets the cleaning bug really going. Here are a few things you may want to tackle when you get ready to spring clean your home. Additionally, we made a deep cleaning house checklist for you that you can print and mark off after you finish the tasks. There also is a deep cleaning calendar if you want to assign certain tasks to certain days. 

Here are a few more details for the spring cleaning list

Furniture

If your couch cushions have removable covers, take them off and throw them in the wash. Otherwise, use an upholstery cleaner to clean them well. Then remove the cushions and vacuum all of the crooks and crannies. This Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner looks like a great tool for this type of job. 

Strip your beds and vacuum and flip the mattresses. Now would be a good time as well to wash the dust ruffle and other decorative linens. While the bed is stripped, check underneath (if you dare) and see if there are dust bunnies that need to be evacuated. This is also a good time to replace your bed pillows. The rule of thumb is to replace your pillow every 1 to 2 years. Certain types of pillows last longer than others, due to the quality and construction of their materials.  

You most likely polish your wooden furniture with cleaner or a duster frequently, but now is a good time to remove everything from your shelves and furniture and thoroughly clean. Take a furniture pen and buff out all of the scuffed and marred areas. 

Kitchen

Kitchens are a great place to focus your spring cleaning efforts. Start with your pantry and food cupboards. Go through and check expiration dates and throw out foods that are no longer good. Donate foods to a food pantry that you don’t think you’ll ever use.

Tackle your utensil drawer – you know the one. The one that has a specialty tool for every kitchen job. If you’ve only used that hot dog slicer or avocado caddy once since you bought it, get rid of it. Organize all of your cooking and serving utensils. Get rid of orphaned food container lids. 

Thoroughly clean all of your appliances, both small and large. From your freezer to your toaster, make sure to get everything really good and cleaned. Clean your oven and oven door to get your statement appliances looking great.

Clothing

Now is the time to put away the winter clothing and pull out all of the summer items. Go through your children’s clothing before packing them up and donate or hand down items that no longer fit. Get rid of the items that are worn or threadbare. With the adult items, get rid of clothing that hasn’t been worn in a long time.

A good tactic for the adult clothing is to turn all of your clothing with your hangers hooked the opposite direction than they are supposed to. When you wear that item, place it back in the closet with the hanger in the correct direction. At the end of the season, any hangers that are still facing backward, that item gets donated. You may want to consider a capsule wardrobe to lessen the number of pieces of clothing you purchase. 

This is a good time of year to tackle any mending that needs to be done. Turn on your latest Netflix binge, or some great music, and sit and relax while mending hems and replacing buttons. Another clothing item that you may need to tackle is the dreaded sock basket. The same theory can apply – make it enjoyable with a movie or music. 

Miscellaneous

Decorative linens are another thing that you may not think to clean on a regular basis. A great way to clean curtains is just to take them down and toss them in the dryer with a dryer sheet for about ten minutes. It will get all of the dust off, the wrinkles out, and give them a fresh look and smell.

Make sure to wash all of your decorative throw pillows and blankets as well. This is a good time to get rid of any of those pillows and blankets that have become badly stained or worn throughout the year.

Electronics could also use a spring cleaning. Get a pack of canned air and use it to blow out all of the vents of your gaming consoles, television, and computer tower. Use the same product to clean your laptop keys as well. Use electronic cleaning wipes to give all of your devices a good wipe down.

These are just a list of some items that you may not have considered tackling during Spring Cleaning. Be sure to sign up below to get your printable spring cleaning checklist.

As I’ve gotten get older (and busier), I’ve learned that spring cleaning doesn’t have to to be a huge, time-consuming affair in order to be effective.

Even if you don’t have time for a deep clean, something as simple as throwing open the windows or wiping down the countertops with a spring-scented cleaner can breathe new life into a tired space.

To help you refresh your home, my friends at Grove Collaborative are offering a free spring cleaning set with your first order of $20:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray
• Grove Collaborative bubble-up brush
• Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges

Existing customers will receive free Grove walnut scrubber sponges — they’re sustainably made and perfect for all your spring cleaning tasks!

After a dreary winter, I always look forward to the return of spring and Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents: Mint, Peony, and Lilac. Mint smells just like the real thing — sweet and cool. Peony and Lilac are subtle floral scents that remind me of a spring garden in bloom.

To me, a clean home begins with the products you use — so I’m always looking for ways to eliminate toxins in my cleaning routine. All of Mrs. Meyer’s products are made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, so I can feel good using them around my family.

In addition to Mrs. Meyer’s soaps and multi-surface spray, the spring cleaning set comes with a limited edition Grove Collaborative bubble-up brush with a beautiful wildflower print. Not only does it look beautiful sitting next to my sink, it also makes the task of doing dishes much more enjoyable!

Now that sunny days are in the forecast, I’m all for anything that helps me get things done faster and have more time to enjoy the outdoors.

That’s where Grove Collaborative comes in! Grove makes creating a healthy, beautiful home effortless and affordable. They hand-select the best natural products and deliver them (carbon offset) right to your doorstep, on your schedule. Grove has you covered for all your spring cleaning needs.

After your first order, Grove will recommend a personalized monthly shipment so you never run out of the products you love. You can add or remove products or change your shipment schedule with a few clicks.  You are not required to get a shipment each month. You can change the shipment date to whatever works best for you and you can cancel at any time. 

When you sign up for Grove using my link, you’ll get the spring cleaning set for free with your first order of $20. Plus, if you spend at least $39, you’ll receive a beautiful stoneware tray for free! It’s the perfect size to hold your hand soap, dish soap, and bubble-up brush.

Once you’ve submitted your Grove order, you’ll be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial.  I love being a VIP because I get perks like free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales and personal service.

I absolutely love their kitchen towels. There are so well made. I want to throw out all my other kitchen towels and just use these.

Here is a great sample cart to get you to your $20 so you can get all the other items free. (You will need to just search kitchen towels and countertop cleaning set to find the items on their site)

• Two pack of kitchen towels – $9.95
• Countertop cleaning set – includes 28 oz Antibac All Purpose Spray, Set of 3 Microfiber Cloth – $11.99

When you sign up for Grove using my link, you’ll get the spring cleaning set for free with your first order of $20. There is no obligation to buy anything more and you can cancel at any time. I am hooked though and order every few months 🙂

I hope this helps you make spring cleaning easier.

If you are interested in getting cleaning checklists sent to your inbox each month, you may want to join our cleaning and organizing challenge. Where we give you simple cleaning and decluttering tasks to complete throughout your home each month. Take it one small task at a time throughout the year with our series and you can tackle at it all easily! We want to help you clean and organize your home the way that works best for you! Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes.

While spring is still a long way away we can still make it feel fresh, clean, and airy indoors with some deep winter cleaning. Take it a day at a time with these small tasks to clean and organize and watch your house sparkle!

Instead of spending a month breaking your back getting it all done instead we will help break it up into smaller tasks over the entire year. We even have a printable monthly checklist that you can laminate and hang on your refrigerator or slip into your planner. I will be sharing 365 simple tasks that can be done each day to help you get your house in order this year.

Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes. If it works for you do each task on the corresponding date, if not just use it as a list of tasks, some days you may get more than one done. You may wish to take off the weekend and double up on weekdays or vice versa. I want you to be successful so do what works best for you.

Sign up to get your free Clean and Organize List for February

Be sure to see the full list and helpful hints below the printable sign up!

Here is the full list of tasks with some links to tools that will help!

Clean and Organize February Task List

Thin out Takeout menus, condiments, and supplies – We all have one of those drawers or baskets that overflow with sweet and sour sauce and sporks. Weed out menus and condiments, wipe it down if needed.

Wash throw pillows throughout house, place in dryer with a tennis ball to help shape- Remove cases if pillows are not machine washable, this will really help freshen up the living space.

Wash throw rugs, hang area rugs outdoors to air out, spot clean as needed- Pound rugs with a sturdy stick to remove dirt if they can’t be laundered and attack spots left over from the holidays before they set in.

Wipe down kitchen chairs from top to bottom and table legs or base with wood cleaner- A dreaded task to be sure but toast crumbs and dust add on on these spots and they need it!

Go through 2 kitchen cabinets toss or donate unused mugs,etc..- Most of us have a cabinet filled with mom mugs and chipped saucers, let’s thin it out!

Run a vinegar then water cycle through your coffee pot- I run a full pot ( or about 2 reservoirs full for a single cup brewer) and then several water cycles to rinse.

Swap out 5 photos in the frames hanging up on your wall to freshen up the area- Changing things up just a bit creates a new area for your eyes and makes it feel updated.

Grab a garbage bag, set a timer for 10 minutes- Make a quick sweep filling with items to donate. Hit every room in your house and grab at least one or two items from each.

Scrub behind and at the base of your toilets- Let cleaner soak for 10 minutes before wiping away, use a toothbrush around the floor bolts to get in really good.

Wipe down all switchplates in your home with antibacterial cleaner- It’s a good idea in the middle of flu season to hit those forgotten areas and kill the germs.

Clean off the top of the refrigerator- Wipe with a good degreaser and avoid putting anything back if you can help it. Keep clutter to a minimum!

Go through t shirt drawer, get rid of stained, ill fitting, or unwanted tops – One drawer at a time and before you know it we will have the dresser in order!

Rub coconut or olive oil onto your wooden cutting boards to recondition them- Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil, work it in with a soft cloth and remove excess. This will extend their life and make them look pretty on your counters.

Season your cast iron pan- Seasoning your cast iron pan keeps it in top shape and will make your recipes turn out perfect everytime. Scrub cast iron with hot soapy water, dry well, rub with a thick coat of vegetable oil using a cloth, bake upside down in an oven preheated to 325 for one hour (place a piece of foil on the lower rack to catch drips).

Clean out under kitchen sink, safely dispose of chemical bottles- Toss out empty containers, add items you are low on like sponges to your shopping list.

Dust/Clean all TV screens throughout the house-  Dust builds up and while it is not as noticeable as the TV is running it shows terrible when it’s dark. This electronics cleaner can make the job easy!

Put a fresh box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer- If you haven’t changed it in awhile now is the time. This 1 minute job makes a big difference on the smell or lack thereof in your fridge and freezer.

Take 15 minutes to gather and organize tax information- Begin tidying and making a folder for your receipts and other documents you may need for taxes.

Wipe down all interior doors throughout the house with a damp rag- Use a magic eraser for stubborn marks and scuffs.

Have items waiting for repair or dry cleaning? Make a trip around town and drop them off, stop for an iced coffee or ice cream to treat yourself for a job well done.

Wash pet bedding and any clothing they may have, air dry- Your pets and your nose will really appreciate fresh clean smelling bedding. Add a comfy blanket to keep them cozy through the remaining winter.

Clean hair brushes thoroughly- Use a comb to remove as much hair and dust from brush as possible. Soak brushes in hot soapy water for an hour, rinse, and allow to dry.

Dust all pictures and decor on the walls- Use a telescoping handle to get high and cut the dust down on out of reach photographs. This microfiber duster set with extendable handle makes the job easy.

Wipe down window sills throughout the entire house- A quick swipe of the sills takes just a minute but will have a big impact.

Scrub the front door well, change out your winter wreath if you have one- Create a welcoming front door that sparkles.

Visit the kids closet and pluck out 12 items to add to your donation box- Clothes, toys, games, etc…Even if you did a Pre Christmas cleanout you can surely squeeze out a few more items.

Give couches , throw pillows, and drapes a good spray with fabric deodorizer-  I love this natural alternative to Febreze. After the many bodies that have graced your couches during the holidays( some sleeping on them all night) they need a good freshening up!

Spend 10 minutes on the game shelf, toss games that are missing pieces, donate those not played with. Treat the family to a game night tonight! Looking for fun new family games? We love Exploding Kittens and Apples to Apples.

Grove Collaborative has a special offer of a healthy home essentials bundle to help people keep their homes stocked with the best products…all while staying warm inside.  When you place your first order of $20 from Grove using my link, you’ll get:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap
• Seedling Paper Towels
• Seedling Bath Tissue
• Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges
• Free Shipping & VIP Trial

If you’re already a customer, you’ll get a free set of Grove walnut scrubber sponges, which are so pretty you won’t mind leaving them out by the sink.

Plus if you spend $39, you’ll get a beautiful stoneware tray for free! It’s perfect for holding your soaps and a sponge.

Check out this special cleaning offer

It is so handy to have cleaning products come right to your doorstep and they make it easy to cancel auto shipments so you can just order whenever you want or you can easily cancel.