Family Home Evening Planner for Busy Moms

January 1, 2018 by Danielle

Who does a weekly Family Night? We’ve sort of tried to in the past, but I could count the number of times we actually followed through on one hand. Pretty sad! This year I want to really make a better attempt at it, despite our crazy schedules with dance, karate, school and work! I know I need to be a lot more organized to pull this off, so I pulled up this awesome Printable Family Home Evening Planner for Busy Moms from few years ago to use!

The colors & style match really well with our 2018 Free Printable Planner, so you can stick it right in with the other fabulous pages! This 2-page printable for Family Home Evening has spots for practically EVERYTHING I need to successfully plan and prepare for your fun night together! There’s sections for keeping track of assignments….

At the top you can put the Theme for that month, and there’s a handy NOTES section at the bottom of one page!

I love that there’s a cute section just for Family Goals, since we’re working on some things together as a family this coming year. Teamwork all the way!

On the right page of the spread, you can fill in each week’s specific TOPIC, so preparing the lesson will be that much easier!

I really enjoy quotes, so I even included a specific area where you can fill in a theme-appropriate (or just one you really like!) to give some thought and inspiration during the month.

Along the line of loving quotes….I put two WONDERFUL family quotes from Uchtdorf (one of my favorite speakers) and one from Thomas S. Monson along the bottom of each page!

I know this planner will be uber helpful this coming year, and can do wonders helping us keep up with our goal! It’ll take a little time getting use to it, especially when the younger kids have the lesson and need ‘some’ help. I’ll try to look at it as a great learning time and quality teaching moment, hopefully that’ll make me a little less short-tempered! I know it’ll be great, though, and can’t wait to start learning even more about the gospel with my sweet family!

Print Pages Here

Family Home Evening Planner – Left Side

Family Home Evening Planner – Right Side

Don’t forget to check out our full 2018 Free Printable Planner for busy moms!

20+ Free Cleaning Printables

December 28, 2017 by Danielle

Originally shared January 2015 – resharing because these cleaning and organization printables are super helpful, especially as we’re starting a new year! A new year means a fresh start! Here are 20+ Free Cleaning Printables to make life easier and your home happier.

I’m so glad to be here sharing with you a little cleaning inspiration. I’m a busy wife, mom, craft and DIYer, wanna be homesteader, blogger and small business owner, to name a few. Trust me, I have plenty of distractions from cleaning and on most days those distractions win. Yes, I’m the mom who does her best cleaning 20 minutes before someone gets there.

The problem is my family suffers (can’t find their favorite shirt) because of it, and not to mention the added stress it causes me when things aren’t where they should be. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t live in filth, but I wouldn’t go running a white glove over my baseboards. In all of the busyness, I have figured out the things I have to get done in a day to get by, but this year I really want to strive for more.

I’m hoping by being more organized with my cleaning schedule this year, I will be able to get the most done with the time I have. I know that things work better when you make a plan, so here are some cleaning printables that will help us (I hope I’m not the only mom in this situation) do just that.

Free Cleaning Printables

Weekly Task and a 2015 Planner via Busy Mom’s Helper

Fillable Cleaning Checklist for Daily, Weekly and Monthly task via Pinch a Little Save-A-Lot

Weekly Cleaning Schedule via First Home Love Life

Cleaning Cards for Kids via Clean Mama

Deep Cleaning Checklist via Cronerstone Confessions

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide and Checklist via Little Ms. Robinson

Daily Cleaning Schedule via Love and Marriage

31 Day House Cleaning Routine via Money Saving Mom

Winter Cleaning Checklist via Simply Designing

Monthly Deep Cleaning Schedule via 32 Turns

Fall Cleaning Checklist via Ask Anna

55 Simple Cleaning Recipes via Clean Mama

Homemade Cleaner Labels via World Label Blog

52 Weeks to an Organized Home via Home Storage Solutions

How to Create a Cleaning Binder with All the Printables via Clean & Scentsible

The Fastest Way to Clean a House via Fab ‘n’ Free

Age Appropriate Chores for Kids via The Happy Housewife

40 Day Summer Cleaning & Organizing Challenge via The Nest Effect

A Manageable Cleaning Schedule via A Time To Freeze

Free Cleaning Checklist you can Customize- 1 Year on 1 Page via Simply RebekahIf you are looking for more printables, be sure to check out these 25 Printables for Organizing your home and life.

You can find out more about me at Life After Laundry, where I share my love for homemaking, homesteading and all things crafty.

Free Printable 2018 Planner for Busy Moms

December 16, 2017 by Danielle

Okay guys, I know I usually have our yearly planners out at the start of the school year, but I’m SUPER behind this year. Better late than never, right? After hearing plenty of feedback from last year’s version, we stuck with the clean design with colorful accents, but tweaked our weekly tasks pages a bit to better go with what many of you were looking for. You can nab our Free Printable 2018 Planner for Busy Moms, and get your scheduling and to-do lists more under control for the new year!

Printable 2018 Planner

Yes, the planner download is FREE – but if you don’t want to deal with downloading, printing & binding all by yourself, you’re welcome to purchase it from where we get our own copy printed…

While I always worked with planners that started on Sunday, I heard a vast majority of you asking for it to begin on MONDAY instead – wish granted! Also, we have the days organized along the top of the page, and then several lines down, with AM, PM or EVE (evening) along the edge. This will give more freedom and room for writing down the many tasks we tackle each week!

Many of you said you didn’t care much for the dates for each day all year long, either – asking instead for it more general in case you need/want to make copies during the month. Again, we made that change! I’m really happy with the cleaner look and more lines and space for writing in.

For our monthly spread, we didn’t hear any big requested changes by the larger portion of you, so kept it the same. Large squares allows for writing in important dates or events, with a section along the right side for taking any notes.

At the bottom right corner you’ll find the previous month as well as the following month, so you’re not having to flip back and forth much while handling your planner.

We stuck with offering you the FOUR cover designs, since there was such a variety of preferences…

Each design can have a BLANK blue box, or have a little line/ribbon down it (I prefer this, so I write the year beneath and either my name or Busy Mom’s Helper above it)…

Here’s the breakdown of the printable 2018 planner covers

Top Left – Cover 4
Top Right – Cover 3
Bottom Left – Cover 2
Bottom Right – Cover 1

Since we’re so late getting this out this year, we didn’t worry about starting in August – after all, most of you won’t be going BACK to write things in for the previous few months, I assume. As such, this 2018 planner will go from January through December 2018.

In each pdf, it has the front cover with a blank back, then a 2-page NOTES spread. After that is the monthly spread of January, followed by the weekly tasks for January, then the February monthly calendar spread, then February’s weekly tasks spreads……and so forth through December. After the last week of December’s tasks is a 2-page NOTES spread, then 1 page of NOTES – then a blank page to be the inside of the back cover.

I designed these to be 8.5×11 in size – sorry, we don’t have smaller/different sizes this year as we had far too many people getting confused how to print them and getting upset with us because we couldn’t tell them how to work it on their own printer. We apologize for that, but we can’t possibly help so many people with all their different printers or programs. 🙂

To get your PDF download of our free printable 2018 planner, just sign up for our newsletter below – it’s one of our FREE subscriber exclusives!

I hope you love our free printable 2018 planner as much as we do! I know we can’t meet EVERYONE’S tastes, but we certainly try to appeal to the majority of our readers.

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Again, the download is FREE to all our subscribers, so you can sign up for our newsletter, download it free and print/bind it yourself – BUT if you don’t want to deal with all that yourself and want a professionally printed and spiral bound copy, you’re welcome to order it from the same place we purchased our printed copy:

Let us know your feedback in the comments so we can make the 2019 planner even better!

Check out our other products HERE

Family Home Binder

Unofficial Disney Activity & Autograph Books

Summer Camp Kits or Kid Activity Packs

A YEAR of Meal Plans plus Recipes – on a budget!

Tips for Sharing a Workspace at Home

December 4, 2017 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveYourPC #Intel8thGen #CollectiveBias

While hubby doesn’t work from home daily like I do, he does have a couple days a month – plus some evenings or weekends when he ‘brings work home’ with him – where he needs to use the office, too. I’m sure I’m not the only one who deals with the potential frustrations that come with having a co-office, sharing their work area with their spouse or significant other. Or maybe sharing with a child who homeschools or has more online work! Whatever the reason, it doesn’t have to be a huge headache – here’s some Tips for Sharing a Workspace at Home to help you out!

Tip #1: Have a Reliable & Flexible PC

Even before I became a full-time blogger (so I practically LIVE on my PC some days), I relied heavily on it for photo editing, online shopping, paying the bills, managing our spreadsheets and family calendars, and so much more. Since I can’t do without it for so many things – and often am multi-tasking on there anyway, I can’t handle if it’s slow or unresponsive, and don’t get me started on the frustrated of a PC that freezes on you! When hubby and I learned about the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on one because there’s a 40% performance jump between it and the 7th gen, plus 2x better performance compared to a 5-year-old PC. If you’re still dealing with that, it’s time to make the switch like us!

Maybe I’m just impatient for wanting things instantly in this modern life, or just want to utilize my time the best I can since us moms have SO MUCH TO DO, and effort can’t be wasted on old computers. Since Intel’s new 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor is designed to help you and your computer keep pace in this crazy digital world, it allows you to get things done fast and easy – plus you can shop with built-in security and even immerse yourself in leading-edge entertainment. We can’t ALWAYS be working when on our PCs, right? 😉

Our new ASUS ZenBook Flip UX370 we got from our local Microsoft Store, containing the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, was the perfect purchase for us in our dual-person home workspace because:

Exceptional performance – unprecedented power and responsiveness, which is crucial in a mom’s (or dad’s) fast-paced digital world
- Editing photos, creating videos, or multi-tasking on all the To-Dos on our list, it makes it faster, easier and more enjoyable to check things off!
- Instant wake experience means no more sitting around waiting for it to start up so you can begin your tasks
- Instantly sync to other devices, which is great for hubby to sinc from home to work!
Security is made simple – the built-in security adds a layer of protection to make password logins, browsing and online payments safe and simple
- The finger pad makes payments simple and secure
- Don’t gamble on old computers with your data – the built-in password and payment security features of the 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processor make logging-in and online purchases safer and simpler
Exciting entertainment – we both love the amazing entertainment hub, which can stream 4K UHD vidoes, power virtual reality and allows us to play our favorite games.
- Theater-like entertainment at home or on-the-go (airports will no longer be a bore – yay!) with a thin & light computer with a long batter life
- No more ‘buffering makes me sad’ or aweful lags
- binge watch Netflix or Hulu for up to TEN HOURS without plugging in (yes, go get one NOW and start that new TV show marathon!)

Tip #2: Have Separate File/Storage Areas

I have planners, bills and notebooks with random notes and thoughts galore – while hubby has software books and office letterhead documents. It’s a nightmare trying to find your stuff amidst the jumbled piles, so get some file folders, shelves, racks, paper towers, etc. so you can each have a spot for YOUR stuff. This way you know exactly where the thing you need is, saving you time (and sanity!). This also comes in handy for cords – like my camera cable – or USB drives. Random objects can easily to in ‘yours’ or ‘theirs’ baskets, keeping things separated. Marriage is often about joining, but some things are best kept separate – like your work and office accessories!

Tip #3: Keep it Mobile & Flexible

Remember when desktops were pretty much the norm, and if you weren’t at your desk then too dang bad? Since we use our PC for so many aspects of our work and home life, we rely on 2-in-1s and laptops because they’re so easy to take on-the-go when needed. When sharing a workspace at home, sometimes you just CAN’T make it worth with both of you at the desk at the same time. Or when I wanted to browse online to purchase hubby something for Christmas, I didn’t want him looking over my shoulder at the desk. My new laptop is perfect for just taking on the go – and I’m absolutely LOVING the flip feature, taking it into mobile-mode for some extra ease and fun!

Oh, and the pen/inking allows you to write, draw or erase as naturally as your creativity – maybe the next school science project will be done easily during a break at karate class, or editing family photos for Christmas cards done while waiting at the doctors office! When at home, if you need an extra monitor or larger screen, just get an additional monitor and plug it into your PC – best of all worlds!

Tip #5: Keep it Neutral While Still Adding Personality

Hubby doesn’t care tons for pops of color or decor, while it really helps my mood and productivity to have some attractiveness to my workspace. Try to find a good balance – a little pop of color on the big desk calendar, plus a cute mug for holding the pens, pencils and highlighters was a good compromise when we started sharing a workspace. You could also have different backgrounds on your PC, so depending on who logs in shows a different picture or image – mine’s a bunch of family photos, while he prefers a slideshow of artistic fantasy or sci-fi scenes. That helps keep your space YOURS, while still being just as good for the other person.

Tip #6: Clean Often & Keep it Simple

If I’m not careful, I tend to let papers, notes and printables take over my entire desk space, making it really distracting and difficult to be productive. Just like an old computer clogged with stuff from who-knows-when, a new PC with the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor can be simple and clean (making it that much faster and easier to work and find things on your computer!). Be sure to clean off your desk and work area often, and utilize filing systems or scanner – I love scanning things into my computer, then filing them accordingly. It saves so much space! And while you do need all your work accessories (pens, pencils, paper, markers and notes), try not to over-clutter with unnecessary stuff. If you let that happen with ONE person’s desk it’s frustrating – with TWO sharing a workspace, it’s just a total nightmare.

Tip #7: Don’t Be Afraid to Have YOUR Chair

For awhile hubby and I shared the same desk chair – which was an awful idea! He liked it to be free to lean all the way back, so when I got into it I’d about fall over when it startled me leaning back. He finds a different level of cushioning and back support comfortable than I do. It’s crucial that you feel comfortable when sitting at your work area, so don’t hesitate to get two different chairs that you can just switch out for whoever’s going to use the desk next. This could save a lot of arguments – and sore backs!

Having an organized, attractive and USABLE desk area can make a huge difference when you’re sharing a workspace at home – for both you AND your other half. Even though it may be frustrating at times, compromising and communicating well with each other will go a long ways to make it as hassle-free as possible. I love when my hubby gets to work from home, even if it does mean sharing my beautiful office!

What’s YOUR best tip for sharing a workspace at home?

Check out Intel on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to learn more about the new 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor!

Tips for Healthy Breakfast in a Hurry

September 5, 2017 by Danielle

Are you looking for breakfast ideas for your family that are both healthy and easy to make? Whether you’re a working mom or a stay at home mom, you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Here’s where these Tips for a Healthy Breakfast in a Hurry come to the rescue, giving you some super fast, yet still delicious and satisfying, ideas so you don’t skimp on the most important meal of the day!
Here are some healthy breakfast ideas in 1-2- 3

Mango Oatmeal Smoothie & Dr Pepper Donut Muffins

Scrambled eggs – Don’t have time to cook them on the stovetop? That’s OK! Beat your eggs and milk in a microwave-friendly coffee mug or bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and then microwave again for another 30 to 45 seconds or until the eggs appear done. Serve this breakfast with whole grain toast and a piece of fruit. Sausage Egg Surprise
Breakfast burritos – You can use those scrambled eggs to fill a tortilla shell. You can add veggies, cheese, and salsa if your child likes spicy food. Serve it with a side of fruit for a well-balanced meal!
Oatmeal – Microwavable oatmeal packets can be a great healthy breakfast option for your kid. To make this a healthy, well-balanced meal, you can slice some banana and/or strawberries over the oatmeal. For a healthy protein, serve with a side of yogurt. Peanut Butter & Banana Overnight Oats
Toast – This is quite possibly one of the easiest breakfast ideas for kids! Top your kid’s toast with peanut butter, bananas, and honey. You can serve it with a side of yogurt for some extra protein.
Muffins – You can bake some muffins ahead of time so that they’ll be ready for breakfast! Be sure to add fresh fruit to the muffins and opt for healthy or whole grain mixes or recipes. Serve with a piece of fruit and yogurt.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are just some quick, simple and tasty tips for having a healthy breakfast in a hurry – like before early school, or so you can fit in that workout before heading to your job.

What’s your favorite healthy breakfast?

5 Ways to Survive Busy Mornings

June 8, 2017 by Danielle

Thank you Little Debbie® for sponsoring this post about our crazy & busy mornings. As always, all opinions are my own. #Momsof7am #LittleDebbie #MiniMuffins

Okay, fellow ‘Moms of 7 a.m.’ – how do you do it? How do you wake up every morning (or at least on weekdays) early and get the whole family ready for school, work and whatever else? I’ve been doing it for years, but still don’t really know how I get through it because it’s mostly a blur of exhaustion and yelling ‘don’t forget your lunch!’ As I’ve thought about it, I think I’ve learned these 5 Ways to Survive Busy Mornings that’ve helped me get through – maybe some of these will help YOUR day start of better, too!

First of all, notice how I said ways to SURVIVE, not ways to make your morning amazing? Because let’s be real, for most of us mornings just suck. I’ve never been a morning person. At all. Have you seen that meme around that’s something like ‘I’m not an early bird or a night owl – I’m just some form of permanently exhausted pigeon’? That’s me every. Single. Day! So that leads us to Tip #1 for surviving busy mornings….

Set Realistic Expectations

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been super motivated, saying that I’ll get up early so I can have dishes done, some work out of the way and lunches packed even before the kids wake up. Then we can all have a nice, family breakfast together and get ready without rushing. That’s happened maybe once or twice in the 10+ years I’ve been a parent. Instead of setting myself up for disappointment and guilt at not accomplishing my impossible ‘early morning’ list of to-dos, I plan on the time I’ll actually wake up (not as early as I should – but it’s realistic), plan for delicious breakfasts that are convenient and EASY, and that everyone likes so there’s no battle over food, and avoid getting elaborate on their lunches or snacks as I pack them. Which leads us into tip number two…

Easy & Tasty Breakfast Options

One breakfast that’s always a winner – both because the whole family loves the taste and variety, and because it’s about the easiest breakfast possible for our weekday 7 o’clocks – are Little Debbie® Mini Muffins. With options in both blueberry or chocolate chip, it’s a sure way to please everyone’s tastes, plus all you do is open the box, hand out the baggies of mini muffins, and you’re good to go! These yummy baked goods are perfect for on-the-go, too, so even if it’s a ‘breakfast while you’re running out the door’ type morning, you won’t worry about anyone going hungry 🙂

Choose Outfits the Night Before

We have kids at two schools, and one of them has a uniform-type dress code with very limited options of colors. Since it can waste your entire morning arguing if an outfit is allowable or not, we just have the kids get out their clothes the night before so they’re all set and ready to go. This also helps us avoid the ‘all my khaki pants are in the laundry’, since we have that evening to hurry and do an emergency load of wash if necessary!

Simple Lunches & Snacks

The internet is full of amazing, themed lunches nowadays – but as much as I’d love to make my kids’ home lunch that fun and exciting, I know it’s just not gonna happen if I’m to maintain any level of sanity. We have about 6-8 lunches we rotate through, all very simple but include a variety of food so I know they’re eating how/what they should for the most part.

Snacks can sometimes be a big, long argument as to who wants what and if it’s ready to go or can be eaten in the short snack time limit they’re allowed – it’s a potential nightmare! Luckily I know ALL my kids love Little Debbie® Mini Brownies, and since they come with FOUR mini brownies in a convenient baggie (5 baggies per box), I can pack it and go in no time at all.

Don’t Forget Yourself

I admit, many mornings there’s so much going on that the last thing I want to do is worry about getting into ‘daytime’ clothes (yoga pants are often my bottoms of choice, I admit) or wash my face. Spending those 5ish minutes can really help me feel more awake, and in a slightly better mood when I’m dropping kids off and not getting strange looks from other adults. Well, I guess that last part depends on if I remembered to even brush my hair that morning, but let’s just do baby steps, ok? Take at least a few minutes to help YOU feel better, whether it’s getting dressed, enjoying a morning coffee, washing your face, or even if it’s just flipping through a magazine for 5 precious minutes of ‘you time’. You’ll be surprised what a difference it can make in helping you feel recharged, and make surviving the mornings just a bit easier!

Check out Little Debbie® on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest to see other tasty & convenient options to help save your busy mornings- plus videos of how other ‘moms of 7 a.m.’ make it through!

Printable Owl Planner Stickers

March 9, 2017 by Danielle

I have a big love – well, borderline obsession, really – of planners. I have my beautifully printed, spiral-bound planner (that you can get HERE) right on my desk and I write down EVERYTHING in there. Yes, I know there’s plenty of online calendars and lists, and while I do utilize those as well, it makes a world of difference when I have things written down in an easy-to-take place. If you’re also a fan, you’ll probably love these Free Printable Owl Planner Stickers!

I have several friends, and a dear aunt, who seriously LOVE owls, so these are just perfect for them! From the cute, mellow colors to the adorable owl in glasses (my favorite of these sheets!), these planner stickers are a great addition for organizing your schedule.

To make it super easy, we’ve included the cut files for those of you with access to a Silhouette. If you don’t, no need to worry because we’re also providing all 4 sheets in PDF format, so you can print it off onto normal sticker paper at home and cut it out as you like.

Download the 4 cut files Here

Download the 4 PDF sheets HERE

If you need a great planner, check out our colorful one with plenty of space for writing in appointments, dates, tasks, chores, menus and so much more!

2017 Planner

August 3, 2016 by Danielle

Many of you requested that we bring back our most popular planner design from a couple years ago – so we did! This is still one of my personal favorites, too – the bright colors, organized layouts and helpful lists make it ideal for time management or task planning. So without further ado, here’s our 2016-2017 Planner! Also available in just 2017.

Contains purchase/affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more info.

2017 Planner: PDF Download Only $2.99!

Goes from January through December 2017
140 Pages, plus front and back cover
Download comes with all 4 cover options included
Full-color
2-page spread with ALL months (in mini form) from 2016 and 2017
2 pages NOTES after mini months
Then the monthly and weekly spreads
Weekly spreads: days divided into morning, afternoon & evening for easy planning. Also spots for menu, chores and daily notes
4 more pages of Notes at the end

FULL download is just $2.99!

2017 Planner here

BUT – if you subscribe to our newsletter (you can find the link at the bottom of this post if you haven’t signed up already), you get a code for an extra $1 off! Yup, I love you, too 😀 Here we go with the planners (clicking on the product links below will take you to a Gumroad, a secure site, to finish the purchase)

2017 Planner Download

Check out our other fun products here – meal plans, Disney books and more!

5 Time-Saving Tips for Busy Moms

July 12, 2016 by Danielle

Being a mom is a busy gig – we often manage the kids’ schedules, the household chores, shopping and meals, some of us also have our own work to fit in. It’s madness getting it all done! I feel your struggle, and am here with 5 Time-Saving Tips for Busy Moms. We could all use a little help anyway, right?

Tip #1: Choose the Right Stuff for the Job

To get things done well and fast, we need the right tools. For showering, find the right razor & shaving cream (or razor that HAS cream on it) for quicker shaving. For getting ready in the morning, have a straightener that you also can use to curl your hair. Find the RIGHT make-up that you can apply quickly but still love the final look. Have shoes that are easily switched for multiple occasions or situations.

Don’t forget to get the best stuff for CLEANING, too – like a sweeper & mop combo for wood floors, multi-purpose cleaner for different surfaces from counters to chairs, etc. A duster that can do blinds, the piano or dresser and even the fireplace. Having the right products – especially if they can be used for multiple things – can really save time.

Tip #2: Stay Healthy

It’s enough of a challenge to get everything done when you’re feeling your best, toss a cold or flu in there – or even just tired muscles – and you’re really struggling to complete to to-do list. Trust me, I’ve been there, too! Staying healthy works to your advantage in so many ways – not only to FEEL good, but also be able to function at your best. Here’s some ways that may help keep yourself in better health:

Drink plenty of water
Exercise, but don’t overdo it
Get enough sleep
Take vitamins, supplements, whatever works best for you to aide your immune system
Wash hands often

Tip #3: Take time for YOU

I’m going to assume that, like me, this is one of the hardest things to do. I feel like if I’m not working, I should be spending time with my family or taking care of the household tasks. But as I’ve learned time and time again, I burn out after awhile of this. Taking time for yourself is super important, and can leave you feeling more refreshed, energized and even motivated to tackle whatever is in your day. Heck, it may even help you feel HAPPIER about your to-do list if you know you get time for a good book, massage, movie, girls/date night or just something you enjoy for yourself. Check out my post on why it’s important for busy moms to have a hobby!

Tip #4: Plan Ahead & Use Lists

I’m a MAJOR list person, whether it’s a shopping list, to-do list, budget, whatever – I love making lists and perform so much better when things are written out and planned. I use my own planner to do my monthly calendars, then spread out my tasks in the weekly spreads. This way I’m not stressing in the morning about ‘what do I have to do today, what can wait’ etc. Much easier!

Tip #5: Learn to Say No, and Accept Help

Aside from Tip #3, this one is my next most challenging – because I feel GUILTY saying no to too many things! I’ve been slowly learning, though, that it just isn’t possible to do everything by myself. There’s some work I have to turn away, some girls nights I need to not attend, even some fun family activities that are just too much for that week. Saying no to some things allows me to say YES to others, like a movie day or Six Flags with my kids, a date with Hubby or even a different thing for work that I’d enjoy more anyway. And as for accepting help – do it. Allow people to help you when they offer, but also don’t be afraid to ask. Nobody can do everything alone.

What’s YOUR best time-saving tip for busy moms?

Be Company Ready Even When You HATE Cleaning

July 2, 2016 by Danielle

This post was sponsored by P&G as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. #PGDetailsMatter

Does anyone here actually LIKE cleaning their house? I sure don’t – but I also don’t want a dirty home. I want it to look and smell nice. I also HATE that rush before company comes (or worry that occurs with unexpected company showing up) to get everything fresh. Luckily, there’s some great ways to just spend a few minutes to Be Company Read Even When You HATE Cleaning, and a few tricks to keeping it that way all week long!

I have 4 active kids and 2 big dogs. That means a LOT of sweaty clothes, bedding, even couches! This brings a whole new challenge to cleaning because sometimes even if it IS clean, it doesn’t smell that way. If I can incorporate a few things that REALLY make a difference to things looking AND smelling clean, then I’m all on board! While this stuff works all year long, with summer often comes company – family visits, friends in town, whatever. Time to bring that clean level up just a notch or two, right? Better swing by Costco to grab the P&G Household Needs products to help.

Isn’t my little helper adorable? He helped me get all stocked up – we have company coming for about half the month, so I don’t want to run out of anything!

Tip #1: Keep Supplies Stocked Up – Especially Essentials

In a family as big as ours, we definitely don’t want to be in a shortage of toilet paper – add in more company, and I better be ready. We keep our extra Charmin Ultra Soft fully stocked in every bathroom (we have four) – whether we use under cabinets or in our DIY Toilet Paper Holders. Then some extra packs go under our stairs, just in case.

Tip #2: Give Surfaces a Good Wipe Down

While paper towels have about a zillion uses, when we’re in a hurry to clean I just give my kiddos some Bounty Advanced sheets and have them wipe down all the surfaces really well. Our piano that shows every spec of dust, counters, stair railings – it all gets wiped down nicely.

Tip #3: Keep Things Smelling Fresh

Remember how I mentioned a bunch of active kids PLUS dogs? Ya, it can get a little musty smelling in our house. Yuck! I use Febreze Air Effects so often, my kids now will say ‘Mom, can you spray that stuff on the couch, it smells like the dogs’ or the same thing about their beds after a hot night. Or they call it the ‘flower bottle’ 🙂 Either way, I use it to help with our couches, beds, the playroom, and keep a bottle in each bathroom – just in case.

This was also a HUGE help last week – we got a new couch from a yard sale. We’d been needing a bigger one to fit our whole family, but didn’t have the budget for any we could find – until this one. $100 for a HUGE sectional that fills up our media room. SCORE! The bad part – it smelled like old people. I’m sorry, but that’s the best way I can describe it! I gave it a good spray, and it’s already so much better.

Tip #3: Get Laundry Clean AND Smelling Great

Maybe it’s a boy thing, but sometimes (especially when they’ve been out in the hot weather playing) I wash their clothes and they STILL have a little sweat smell on them. Same with their bedding – what gives?! I’ve started using Downy Unstopables to get and keep our clothing, towels and bedding fresh. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle and put them in the drum of the washing machine before the clothes. This has also been a HUGE help when washing the dog bedding and pillows!

These are just a few of the things that allow me to keep my house looking and smelling amazing – even though I hate cleaning and don’t spend a ton of time! When our company comes soon, it won’t be a mad dash getting things cleaned up, since it’s just a normal thing. Yay for easy cleaning!!!

Ready to Kick Summer’s Butt

June 20, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

The school year is rough – late nights, homework, packing lunches and rushed mornings. But as crazy as it is, the summer is downright insane! You’ve got camps, family visits, extra dance or sports, pool days, picnics, kids home All. Day. Long! Well, all day BESIDES when you’re running a million different directions with everything going on. It’s not even July yet, and I’m feeling a little beaten. But after some stubbornness and determination on my part, this is how I’m getting Ready to Kick Summer’s Butt! You heard that right – I’m ready to tackle whatever summer wants to throw at me! Now we’re doing dance twice a week instead of once? Got it. Dogs need a little extra attention and vet visits? Done. Last minute work trip for 3 days? No problem. Here are my 5 tips for a successful summer to help any other crazy mommas out there!

#1: Fake it Until You Make it I think I want to make this my new motto, because you’ll be surprised the wonders it does! I love wearing yoga pants and going bra-less when I’m at home all day – but I’ll admit I feel much more ready and confident when I actually get dressed! That being said, I hate fancy shoes. You ladies that can rock those heels or designer flats – double thumbs up because this unbalanced gal just can’t do it. I don’t feel comfortable or confident in them – but I’m planning to stock my closet with this Women’s Meditation Shooting Star Sandal because they are AMAZING. Comfortable – like I’m not even wearing shoes (the kind of comfort yoga pants give you!), sturdy so I don’t have to worry about whether I’m chasing kids at the park, racing through the grocery store with 4 kids in tow, lounging by the pool, or just waiting for the next dance lesson to be done. They’re sandals, but I feel totally confident in my appearance in them! Yes, I wear them to date night and will be wearing them at an upcoming work event because they help me feel THAT confident! Fake it ’till you make it – look ready, feel ready, be ready. I get totally nervous at work events or meetings, but act like I’m completely fine and know what I’m doing (half the time I have no clue). This helps it be successful! Such a silly thing, but it really works. Need some ideas? Instagram is awesome for that! #2: Put Your Best Foot Forward Okay, this can mean LITERALLY by wearing outfits and shoes that bring out your confidence, like discussed in #1 – but here I mean use your strengths to your advantage. Me, I’m a total list-maker. It’s annoying, but it IS one of my strengths. Instead of fighting it, I’m going with it and the lists are helping me manage this summer schedule of insanity my family has. For you, maybe your ‘best foot’ is talking – make friends and work out carpools. Chat in circles about tips for the best times for swim lessons or how to afford that summer camp. Perhaps your ‘best foot’ is cleaning – you’re nuts, and please come clean my house. No, really! Swap cleaning for babysitting or carpooling. Or it can even be cleaning your home so you FEEL more at peace and comfortable, even with all the hectic summer running around. #3: Reward Yourself You’re working hard, taking care of the family or job or the house. You’re running errands and handling appointments. Heck, you may even be in charge of the meals and shopping! You deserve a little reward – it can even be an incentive for some goals, or a little boost to get you through the week. Maybe it’s a pair of awesome new shoes from Famous Footwear – ones that will help you ‘put your best foot forward’ like in #2 and make you feel confident in your tasks like in #1. Maybe you’re earning a night out with the hubby, or a girl’s night to just be yourself and unwind with the ladies. You DESERVE a break! #4: Have Fun Summer is plenty of fun for the kids (despite the ‘I’m bored’ we hear constantly) with all their camps, activities, friends, parties, etc. – but it can and SHOULD be fun for you, too! Don’t be so focused on the errands and tasks at hand that you don’t enjoy yourself along the way. I’m not a big fan of swimming, but you can bet when we’re at the pool for the kids I’m having a fun time with them – soaking up the sun, laughing at their playing, just bringing out the best in it. We’re so busy, we forget to laugh. DON’T! Find the humor, the happy, the great moments. That’s what life’s about anyway, right? #5: It’s Okay to Say No You hear me right – it’s OKAY to say no. In some cases it’s encouraged! If you’re overwhelmed, exhausted or just can’t do another swim lesson – say no. It’s not the end of the world. You need to pick your priorities, and then arrange around THOSE. We were going to be doing swim lessons AND 3 extra dance lessons a week ON TOP OF everything we already had going on this summer. I took a good look at our situation and said ‘nope’ – well, it might have been a ‘heck nope’, but you get the idea. We’re already busy enough, we don’t need more. They’re fine without swim lessons right this second. And my Iron Man will be fine without starting dance lessons for a bit because we can’t commit to that many per week. You’re not Superwoman – you can’t do everything. Even if you could, doesn’t mean you should. Breathe, prioritize, and don’t be afraid of turning some things down so you can focus on what’s most important – your family, and YOUR health, too. This summer will go by and be crazy, fun, exhausting, exciting and memorable (hopefully in a good way). The point is it WILL GO BY, so don’t let it be so rushed that it isn’t worthwhile. And know that there’s a school year in site in a few short months to help! Let’s see what we can do to take the next few months and say ‘Hey Summer – I got this!’

Comment here and on @famousfootwear Twitter & Instagram what YOUR top shoe picks are that would help you put your ‘best foot forward’ and look/feel your best this summer!

Thriving Through The Dinner Dilemma

January 27, 2016 by Chellie Schmitz

The Daily Dinner Dilemma

It’s 4 o’clock, or maybe even 5, and you have no idea what’s for dinner. The children are restless, they’re tired, and they’re arguing. You’re breaking up fights and you have to figure out what to feed these people. Have you been there? Or is it just me? Today I’d like to share with you five tips on how to not only survive, but thrive through the daily dinner dilemma.

There’s really two challenges to over come here. The first is figuring out what’s for dinner, and getting it on the table, and the second is how to manage the chaos happening around you. I don’t understand what happens around four o’clock, but as mentioned above, I feel like the kids are in this restless state, and they’re tired, and it just comes out in negative ways. Whether your children are toddlers or school age kids, I’ve found this to be true. These tips will help you with both challenges. Are you ready to face the dinner dilemma head on?

Tip #1

Meal plan.

This really is the main key to the dinner dilemma. It’s the most important tip I have today, and I know you’ve heard it before. You know this, it’s just a matter of actually doing it. A long time ago, when I was in the corporate world, we use to have this saying, “if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail”. I think it holds true here too. It takes discipline. I have to schedule it to make it happen. But it’s so worth it!! Even just knowing what’s for dinner at the beginning of the day takes a huge weight off my shoulders. It’s kind of like exercise, I know tons of people that don’t really enjoy exercise, but I’ve never heard anyone say they regret doing it. Really, have you ever heard someone say “I really wish I wouldn’t have worked out today.” No! Of course not, and it’s the same with meal planning. You won’t regret it because although it takes a little time, it will make your life so much easier. Here’s a free printable for a weekly meal plan, and here is the planner I use.

Tip #2

Start dinner early.

A little meal prep will go a long way. If you can chop veggies or thaw meat early in the day, do it. Then when it comes to putting dinner together, much of the work will be done and it will come together quicker. If you’re having a casserole or lasagna or something like that, assemble it in the morning so all you have to do is put it in the oven. Plus, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished so much early on!

Tip #3

Play relaxing music.

We’ve moved into managing the chaos. Having soothing music on in the background will help create a calming atmosphere, for you AND the kids.

Tip #4

Light a candle, or diffuse some essential oils.

I’m a big fan of essential oils. There are so many different kinds and they have awesome benefits. You can actually diffuse something that will help calm people, or uplift them, etc. Lavender is probably my favorite scent and it’s known for calming and relaxing.

Tip #5

Plan an activity for the kids.

I like to pick something that isn’t too messy, and something they don’t get to have access to anytime. You might think about having a little bin full of a few activities that the kids only get to play during this time. If it’s “special” it’s more apt to keep them occupied during that time. The dollar store has these cute paint with water books where the paints are right on the page. My kids will often sit at the counter while I’m cooking and paint a picture. Oil pastels are another art medium that isn’t messy, yet it’s different than crayons or markers. Word searches or crossword puzzles are fun, and you can find those free online. Sticker books, or a special coloring book that only comes out at this time. Make words with scrabble tiles ( great way to practice spelling words). Write a gratitude list. A toddler can play blocks or play with your tupperware at your feet. Or, quiet time. Sometimes we all need a little quiet. So, why not give them a bedroom time/quiet time activity that they can do on their own in their rooms. Down time is good. They can look at books, or do a puzzle. They may not want to, but it may be what you both need. Have a different activity for each day of the week to make it more interesting.

Easy Dinner Ideas

Good bye dinner dilemma! Here’s some ideas to get you started on your planning.

Tacos~ who doesn’t love tacos? Make a double batch of meat and put half in the freezer so you’re ready for the next week. Mexican is fantastic because the same ingredients create many different recipes.
pasta night~use a whole grain pasta for added healthy benefits. You can change up the sauces each week and it feels like a new meal, yet it’s still pasta
Sandwich night~How about a hot sandwich for something easy but different. Ham and cheese baked in the oven. Melt some butter, mix it with chopped onions, mustard and a little honey, pour that over the top of the ham sandwiches, cover and bake. (Mouthwatering, isn’t it?)
Pizza Buffet~Top your own french bread pizza. Just have some french bread and toppings ready and let your kids choose. My kids love the buffet style dinner. You can do it with tacos, salads, rice or noodle bowl.
Soup, salad, baked potato night. A filling meal that comes together quickly.
Breakfast for dinner~pancakes, eggs, bacon and toast.
Meat and Cheese plate~Put assorted deli meats and cheeses out on a plate. Add bread, or crackers, fruit (dried or fresh), nuts and veggies.
Traditions~have a couple nights of the week that is always the same thing. For example, we always do pizza on Friday nights. Sometimes I make it, sometimes we order it. Sunday nights, we always have popcorn and apples for dinner (well, the kids do, mom and dad do take out after the kids go to bed EARLY. This is our “in-date” night)

How do you thrive through the dinner dilemma? Do you have any tips to add?

Need some recipes?

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