Do you plan your week? Do you use a paper or electronic planner? Do you plan your meals?
I am a planner. Sometimes it’s a blessing, but sometimes it can be a hindrance as I don’t do well with impromptu get-aways or even a last-minute date out. Don’t get me wrong, I always reflect back and realize I enjoyed them …after you drag me out of the house screaming and kicking, but it messes me up if it is not ‘in my plan’. Each night, I look over my plan for the next day and each week, I create a game-plan. I love organizing and admit I spend more time organizing than creating sometimes (OK, a lot of times).
I have shared some of my planning projects here before.
Birthday Keeper Book
Tags & Tabs – Organizing Cricut Bags
Thanksgiving Planner – Yes, I ‘plan’ big dinners and parties
Kitchen Menu Planner
I know I’ve been quiet here for a few weeks, but I’ve been on another organizational kick. After being gone from home traveling and teaching for 8 weeks, I needed some domestic time to put my house back in ‘MY’ order as well as get back into some of my routines. I’ll be sharing more later about some of these projects. I organized by Studio and can’t wait to share the new View in My Studio. I’ve organized my business files, and our personal files. I’m all caught up on laundry and have restocked the freezer and started couponing. (Created a cute coupon organizing box with the help of my Sizzix Eclips too). I’m going to share some of my favorite organizing/planner apps and systems over the next few weeks, but today I want to talk about Menu Planning.
I’ve tried writing out my meals plans. I’ve tried organizing them in a calendar. Even made the cute Kitchen Menu Planner. I’ve tried online planners but got frustrated by the time it took to retype my menus, plan shopping lists, etc. I’ve tried those where the planner plans your meals and shopping lists for you, but my family didn’t like a lot of the meals suggested. Then we get busy and end up eating the same things quite often OR…we eat out much more than planned and the food budget goes through the roof. My family is a busy family. I’m home working, but I am working and rarely do you find me being still at home (drives my family crazy, I know). My family is always on the go; work, gym, social activities, travel, etc. Unfortunately, we are late evening eaters around here because of those schedules. This contributes to the hand-up approach to grabbing dinner out.
However, the best thing I’ve implemented lately is my new Plan To Eat online dinner planner. I’ll tell you all the reasons I love this planner and have started using it:
- 30 day free trial. I loved that I had the chance play with it and see if it would actually work for me and my family before spending a lot of time or ANY money to try it. It comes with a few sample recipes, but you can add your own.
- Very affordable and has already SAVED me money. It only costs $39/year or $4.95/monthly. That is less than one appetizer out. (**however, read through for a gift to you**)
- So easy to use. I love the bookmarklet that lets me add recipes I find on the internet with a click of a button. I’ve been using Pinterest to pin recipes – my board for that is Good Eats – but I am now just adding them directly to my planner. I’ll still add some to my Pinterest board too
- I can add my own personal recipes by typing them in or copy/paste.
- Drag & Drop recipes. LOVE THIS!
- Shopping List is automatically created using the recipes you’ve added to your planner.
- Pantry – Items can be added to your pantry or meals planned based on items in your pantry.
- Friends – we can share recipes with friends. My user name is mrscherb – make sure to add me as a friend if you try Plan To Eat
- It is very customizable – it will work for any family and any eating plan or schedule.
Now for the good news. Plan to Eat is offering my fans and readers a 30% discount off an annual subscription – good until June 30th. (that makes it only $27.30 per year) Use coupon code OrganizedHome and click through one of my links here.
If you try Plan To Eat, please leave a comment and tell me what you think and if it helped you. The links I have provided are my affiliate referral link. However, I have been using this and really like it or I would not refer it for you. It has truly helped me and I hope it will help you too.
