Monday, June 29, 2015

Monday Meal Plans

It is no secret that I appreciate organization. If I am being totally transparent, I haaaaave to be organized- it is 100% an obsessive need.  In my younger years, I used to hide this obsessive compulsive need because I was embarrassed by it. I didn't want to have to explain to people why I couldn't do anything without making a list first. I was embarrassed that I couldn't fall asleep until my room/apartment/house was picked up. People didn't understand my need to put everything in boxes with labels I had made on my personal label maker.

As I grew into my personality, quirks and all, I began to accept that this was just who I was. Being organized was a major part of my personality and quite frankly, I liked it. It helped me get things done and done well. Sure, people still poke fun at me for it and I get a lot of side eyes when I am in the 'zone', but my lists, labels and boxes keep me happy. Those closest to me have learned that these lists, labels and boxes also help keep them alive happy.

Fast forward to marriage and motherhood... obviously I have had to let some of these things go. Troy, my husband, is not an organized person. He appreciates my organization, but it does not come by him naturally. Not. At. All. Add in motherhood and the many ways it pulls you and just naturally something has to give. Our home may be a bit more cluttered at times, my regimented schedules may fall by the wayside and sometimes my best laid plans do not always get executed *gasp*. 

There are still many things that I do, which certainly help us navigate through life easier. I hope to share those things with you all through my blog, over time. They aren't any real new ideas, but perhaps they might make your lives a bit easier, as well.

One thing that helps is to plan our dinners for the week. I plan them sometime on the weekend and try to grocery shop Sunday or Monday morning. I also limit the grocery stores I have to go to. There was a time when I would shop around- that was pre-Emma. I limit the stores to 2 per week. Obviously 1 is better, but that doesn't always work out... I am picky about produce and meat.

Our weekly meal plan for this week is... (drum roll)

Monday- Chicken Sausage Pasta



Thursday- TROY

Friday- Mom's Taco Salad 

There are no meals planned for Saturday and Sunday this week because we have family events to go to. We don't even have to bring anything along, just our hungry tummies. BEST family gatherings in all the land!

Oh and I should mention a couple of other ways we keep life easier around here.

* I fire up my crockpot on days that I know I will be too busy and therefore too tired to be whipping up a meal at the end of the day. I use my crockpot at least twice a week!

* I start my week strong and taper off towards the end. I put my more complex (but let's be real, they are still not complex) recipes at the beginning of the week when I am full of energy at the end of the day.

* I assign Troy a night to be in charge of dinner. It is almost always Thursday. Emma and I spend that entire day with my Grandpa and I take my bodypump class that night. Maybe we are home for an hour before it's dinner time. Usually he picks something up for dinner on his way home and I am fine with that!

I linked the crockpot recipes for you and your family to enjoy. I plan to share my Mom's taco salad recipe with you sometime this week... it is one of my favorite summer recipes and it is silly easy!
 

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