Wednesday, June 22, 2011

My Top 10 Time Saving Tips for Busy Moms


I am a busy mom, as I know most of you are. I have 4 kids, 2 of which are still at home and under 10. One of my adult sons is in the Navy, the other has a son of his own which makes me a grandma too! I run the household, do the errands, and entertain the kids- Everyday. Did I mention that I also have a fiance, 2 cats, a blog, and I work from home?? Are you wondering how I juggle this and still have a bit of "me time"?

Here are 10 time savings tips for busy moms:

1. Make a list. I can't remember anything if I don't write it down. I have at least 2or more running lists a day, and you get a great sense of accomplishment when you cross something off.

2. Delegate. My children are assigned household chores according to their age. My 9 year old son is great at folding towels and taking out the garbage. I am killing 2 birds with one stone here,as this is a great life lesson of responsibility for him as well.

3. Organize. The household runs much more smoothly when I keep everything organized such as a place designated for mail, shoes, toys, and appointments. It also lessens the amount of times I hear, "Mom, I can't find the ...".

4. Plan ahead. Try to get all of your grocery shopping done in one trip for the week to eliminate additional trips. Make a weekly meal planner so you know what and how much to buy. Keep your pantry stocked with the basics; Sugar, flour, pasta, sauces, peanut butter, etc. If you can make multiple meals from cooking just once, that is great! It saves time on cooking.

5. Utilize a white board. I have a calendar type white board to write my appointments on with a space for comments. Everyone knows where they need to be and when. It is also helpful to remind hubby to pick son up from school, basketball practice, or take cat to the vet.

6. Fill idle time with something productive. If you are like me, we have doctor, dentist, and hair cut appointments frequently. I wish I had the patience to crochet a blanket, but I don't. So I clip coupons or create my meal lists while I am waiting at appointments. Smart phones are great for looking up recipes.

7. Scheduling. Try to schedule hair and dentist appointments the same day for kids. Then you are only going once and not making another trip.

8. Food prep. At the beginning of the week I will slice, dice, thaw, or peel whatever is needed for the week ahead. It makes meal time and snack time a breeze by having everything prepped and ready. I clean and cut apples, carrots, and celery just about every week. I keep diced onions in a container in the freezer as well as spaghetti sauce that I make ahead in batches.

9. Network. Talk to the other moms at dance class or football practice to take turns with transportation to and from. This frees up time for yourself or to shampoo rugs while kids are gone.

10. Relax and slow down. By the law of nature, things go faster and more smoothly when you are calm. Getting worked up and upset only sets everything back and could lead to other time consuming problems. Remember, you are not super mom and nobody expects you to be. Live, love, and laugh everyday with your family and reflect on the positive things.

So there you go. I know there are tons more time saving tips for mom, but these are ones I practice almost daily. Please share some of your time saving tips in the comment section below.




“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here."

Wordless Wednesday 6/21



~New life and the dependence on Mama- All Mamas~


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer is Here!



I am so excited for it to be officially summer, but that also means each day from here on becomes shorter... ugh! I don't know if it is my age or what, but I dread winter more and more each year. I seriously would consider living somewhere nice all year around. The kids are enjoying their summer break. We have been to a near by lake, the public pool, and even had a picnic. We visited a carnival, but it was too expensive to entertain 2 kids on a budget there, so we left after an hour with goodies in hand. It got me thinking about the rest of the summer activities and how they will fit into our tight budget. I am considering a yard sale to make a little extra money for a fun getaway.

How do you all plan for your extra activities in the summer? I would love to hear your ideas and share them with others!

Enjoy your summer vacation... if you have one!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wordless Wednesday 6/15



~My Dad~
Is an awesome father, grandfather, and great grandfather.