Meal Plan Printable

One of the things I like the least that I have to do weekly is meal planning.  It takes me FOREVER.  

As part of being more organized this year, I decided I would make a weekly menu and make it cute!  That will make meal planning more fun, right? 

It helps me to have specific types of meals to plan for each day.   I also put a spot for breakfast and lunch because I base my grocery list off of the menu.  

Mine looks like this:

Mondays are crockpot meals.  (This is one of my busiest days so the crockpot makes it so I don't have to think about dinner prep!)  
Tuesdays are Soup/BBQ.  (Soup if it's cold-BBQ for warm days)
Wednesdays are brinner.  (Breakfast for dinner)
Thursday is Pinterest recipes (new or favorites-I usually try to pick a new one)
Friday is vegetarian meal. (makes the weekly grocery bill a little less expensive)
Saturdays are Pizza. (Usually homemade but not always)
Sunday we like to have a large super yummy dinner.  Almost holiday style, but not quite.  Just a time to gather around a super delicious meal and enjoy one another.

I have an extra box for extra things to make throughout the week.  Bread and chicken stock are typically here.  As well as special treats like cookies and what not.  :)

Here are some plain printables in lots of colors if you want them!  They don't have categories or anything so you can fill it out to your needs.  Enjoy!

Gray: Print it here.

Mint: Print it here.

Yellow: Print it here.

Do you have great meal planning tips??  Please share them with me!

Tracking Eggs! FREE Printable

I've been quiet on the ol blog for a little bit.  I've been busy sewing and keeping up with the kids.  But I can't wait to share my sewing project!  It's ADORABLE!  And a birthday pressie for Lil Bit.  Can't believe she is nearly THREE!  :(

In the meantime, the ladies (aka my chickens) have picked up on their egg laying.  FINALLY.  It's been pretty pathetic to get one or two eggs a week.  Then February came along and BAM!  Roughly two eggs a day.  So that's better.  Spring can't come quick enough and I'll be getting at least 4 a day!!  Hurry up Spring!!

I'm always curious how many eggs we get a month and I want to be able to see at the end of the year, what we provided ourselves with!  I made myself a chart of sorts.  I just keep it on the computer and it adds it all up for me.  (Thanks Hubs!) But if you like it and want to use it for your eggs, have at it!

Grab yours here.

I plan on making one shortly for our gardening things too.  What was planted and when and how much yield it produced.  

Looking forward to weather in the 60's this weekend!

Our Quiet Corner and FREE Printables

I've been working on getting the house more organized and it is making me oh so happy!

I'm starting with the kids' rooms-and more specifically, the girls.  I've been having the hardest time trying to figure out how I want things sorted and organized.  I have anywhere from 3-5 kids (ages 6 and under) during the week.  I want things accessible but not always out.

My first project to tackle with this in mind was BOOKS.  We adore books in this house.  We have so many books.  Without a designated book spot, just a couple shelves in the bedroom, it was getting out of hand and the books were getting beat up.  :(  Poor sad books.

I bought some spice racks from IKEA to set up in the girls room as tiny bookshelves. They are perfect for night time.  A few books in the bedroom that can be swapped out weekly.  Love it, but it was not enough.

I decided to bring their toy shelf cubby thing from Target out to the living room.  The perfect spot was in the corner.  Between the back door and side window.  Lots of sunshine, which is one of my favorite things about reading-snuggling up in the warm sun with a good book.  And plenty of space.  It fit perfect! Not all of our books would fit but a decent amount, so I was happy.

Now to add little details.  I do have the books somewhat organized so it's easy for the kids to find what they are looking for.  Easy readers, Mom and Dad read aloud, bibles and bible stories, classics and board books.  The basket on the side holds our library books.  To encourage independent reading, I put out some of our favorite lovies to be read to.  I also put out some quiet activities to keep hands busy while listening to read alouds. Some puzzles and blocks.

Even with the cubby there, the wall was looking pretty bare.  My good friend gave me the cutest picture that says "Enjoy the Simple Things".  I know she gave it to me for our master bedroom but it went so perfect right there above books, puzzles, and blocks.  :)  Then I browsed Pinterest for some printables.

I fell in love with these two bible verse printables.  I love that our children will have God's word to read right there, breathing life into them.

  

You can print this one for yourself here.  A black and white version is available as well.

You can get this one here.

I printed them on nice card stock and stuck them in some big white frames we had. I love the color these bring to the wall.  They make the books stand out more too.  

Now I just need to find a cute child size rocking chair and it will be all finished. I can bring my focus back to the girls' room.

How are your resolutions/goals for 2014 coming along?  Have you started any?