Do you suddenly just feel very busy?
I want to encourage you to take a little time to plan your menus around your activities — easy meals on running-around days, more labor-intensive ones on days you are at home.
Listen, don't go running to other places for menu planning! No one else will tell you this:
I'm sorry to say that only you can do it, because only you know which days you are running around and which days you are able to spend more time cooking. Only you know you have half a ham in the fridge and yams in the pantry.
Only you know when you have time for a casserole and when you need to grill some burgers.
But it's actually fun and easy if you use my method. Check out all my posts and resources on the sidebar on how to get this done once and for all, using not my ideas of what my family likes but your very own family's tastes and preferences and special diets.
In fact, your family does the hard work for you! No one else tells you that 🙂
Save a step and tuck a few key things in your freezer.
Personally, I just get very tired if I have to do too many things in one day, or if I have to be on my feet for too long. I can't manage a marathon in the kitchen, but I can do a little extra preparation a few days a week to make my life easier most of the time.
If you go from not really shopping according to a menu plan to planning menus — not even trying to go by your store's flyer or the really intensive saver's multiple store-hopping method — I promise you that you will cut your grocery bill by at least one third. That doesn't even count the money saved from emergency takeout and eat out food.
Could you use that extra money? I bet you could.
But even more than the money is the peace of mind that you get knowing that your children are not subsisting on spaghetti and pizza alone.
How about getting the house moderately clean? {Read from the bottom up.} Now (or in two days, if you live in the Northeast where it's weirdly hot right now) is the time to get a rhythm in your home, rather than booming and busting as a housekeeper.
Mentally divide your home into zones, and deep clean only one zone at a time, maybe once a month.
The second level is the moderate clean, and your busiest rooms need this a few times a week, the others maybe once a week. The rest gets a quick putting into order so that the whole thing is at least not a pit.
If you devote one hour a day most days, with one heavy cleaning day a week, your house should be presenting a cheerful, reasonably clean and tidy appearance!
Don't start in the kitchen or you'll never leave! (But soon I will give you my secrets on the kitchen and bathroom.)
Want to know where to start? Your bedroom! Every day, leave it with the bed made and things picked up. When you start your deep cleaning, start there.
If you do these two things — know what's for dinner and know that you will get through your house at least once a week — oh, and the laundry, don't forget that —
Yea, if you do these three things, you will have a deep satisfaction in your home life.
Your worries, frustrations, and discontents will abate. You will not yell as much (did you know that you yell because you think someone else should be dealing with the situation? You think your kids should deal with the disorganization of your life!).
You will have peace, because no one can be happy when things are messy and there's nothing to eat!
If any of these ideas have helped you, would you like to share how you used them in the comments? I'd love to hear from you, and I bet it would help someone feeling a little overwhelmed right now!
Thanks!
XOXO
Thanks to Nester for the link! It's always fun over there!
Lacey says
I am working on the menu planning plan. I have my whole bank typed up and even just that has really helped. I'm working on Parts 2-4 at the moment. Thanks for all your ideas, encouragement, and advice!!
lena says
thanks for the tips. i'm definitely feeling overwhelmed and am in need of order. i hope to pull an all-nighter tonight to get a jump start on my neglected home. i'm praying that my 4 mo baby will cooperate.
pax Christi – lena
_Leila says
Auntie Leila says no!
No all nighters! You will end up with a breast infection and then where will you be??
Trust, rest, do a little…you can get a lot done in a day (but not a night).
Rachel says
Thank you. I am waiting on those kitchen secrets. I am moving soon, so I am going to try really hard to do better.
Amy says
Thanks for this post. I really need all the help I can get with organizing, meal planning, housekeeping, and laundry. I am a mom to a 2 1/2 year old and 20 month old twins (10 1/2 month age difference) and am often crazed at my lack of organizational skills. Any good suggestions, other than reading your previous blog posts? I am really enjoying your differnt posts and look forward to reading more!
The Nester says
All of your ideas have helped me so much. I'm actually mentioning you and linking to you in my intro to my 31 Days to a Less Messy Nest series next Friday. Your first Reasonably Clean House post and the ones following really prompted me to think about my own home.
The Happy Mother says
Hi Mrs. L. I also have been loving your blog for a while (my dad is friends with your husband, btw. And you were at my wedding back in 1998. In Dover- if that gives you a clue. :-)) This is a really helpful post! I have a discussion group with some friends about homemaking, and this year we are starting on meal planning. I will share your blog with them! Here is some advice I received from a college friend: by 10 am, I need to do three things: 1. make my bed (and those of my children not old enough to make their own), 2. start a load of laundry and 3. know what I am making for dinner. Meal planning really is the key. My life is so busy right now with a husband and 5 children that not only do I meal plan for dinner, I also plan breakfast and after-school snack. Meal planning can sometimes be a hassle, but I try to do it on Sunday nights while watching TV, so it is a bit of “quiet time” for me. I also try to involve my husband in the meal planning, so I make sure I am not just making things that I like. And if he is involved, he can also warn me of evenings when he won't be home for dinner.
_Leila says
Dear Miss J-as-was, thanks for chiming in! Five kids! It seems like yesterday that you were a bride 😉
Don't forget to check out the sidebar for breakfast and lunch ideas! I couldn't agree more about asking the hubby for his input. Ask them all!
Jamie says
I just had a baby 2 weeks ago and this post was very encouraging! Thanks..I'm new to your blog and have been really liking the discovery.
Suzanne says
I yell, I so wish I didnt yell……………..but I do yell……………
_Leila says
We all yell. Only the control freaks don't yell and they scare their children something terrible. Just try to yell about stuff like sledding off the roof of the barn and not stuff like why are they playing in the clean living room, because they can't help themselves. Well, they can't help themselves either way…
Suzanne says
When my living room is clean again………….lol…I promise I will not yell at them for playing in there…
x
Leah says
Oh! I have been SO overwhelmed this week! I watched 3 extra kids on Monday and Tuesday (which gave me 6 kids 6 and under), watched the nursery at church Tuesday, lead a bible study Wednesday, rushed the baby to the ER Wednesday afternoon after he tripped & gashed his head (he's fine. They actually glued his wound instead of stitching it), and then baked, decorated & sold 2 cakes to the restaurant downtown. Let's just say my house is not looking pretty right now. I was feeling bad about not keeping up with things at home, but this morning was terrible. We woke up &I realized my daughter's favorite pants that she was planning to wear to preschool for purple day were dirty, the boys had no clean pants at all, and there was no food for breakfast. Sigh. I need to learn to say no. This morning after the chaos settled down a bit I actually thought about your blog. The first thing I did was wash my hair. Then I sat down, made a menu and went grocery shopping. I feel SO much better. The house is still messy and we still don't have many clean clothes, but I have a plan. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
priest's wife says
Okay Auntie L- You have convicted me! Off to fold and put away the laundry in our bedroom!
deidrar says
“…no one can be happy when things are messy and there's nothing to eat!” Truer words have never been spoken. 😉
Cary says
I have made my Master Menu plan, without really knowing that was what it was, so many times and never put it in one place. I am going right now to clean my bedroom and tonight will be sitting my family down to write the list once and for all. I do have a question: I am having difficulty in downsizing menus after the biggest eaters have left, a college junior and freshman (boys, could you guess). Any tips? Maybe it will just take some time to adjust, but I haven't had to cook much because we eat a lot of leftovers!
_Leila says
Ha ha! I am awash in leftovers. The other day I thought, hmmm, we need veggies — and bought enough broccoli and asparagus to feed a small army.
I'm working on the downsizing thing myself!
Rachel P. says
Okay, I know what's for dinner, the laundry is done and my house is on a cleaning schedule, yet my kids are determined to thwart my efforts. The two year old smears berries on the carpet which the seven year old gave him while he is insistent the mess on the table is a vital work in progress and the baby has just spit all over my clean bed and again on the sofa. Any advice how to get them on the same page as me?
Josie says
I had a minor to others, major to me, revelation about keeping up with the house and necessary duties with little kids and nursing babies, just last week (we have 4 kids the youngest is now 4 months). I just posted it on my blog. It would be best to read the latest two posts in reverse order-I'm not tech savvy enough to link to my own writing in the blog…but, enjoy in case it helps anyone! I did it one day and it was great. I actually look forward to it tomorrow. God bless!
margo says
I just wanted to put in a plug for keeping the routine of laundry, moderate clean, and meals going when there is trouble going on in your life. I went through some difficult times in my life and at the time I thought it was strange that I wanted to clean the bathroom or make a meal, but now I realize that I trying my hardest not get sucked down in the darkness and my household routines (still a bit wet behind the ears) were helping me dig in my toes. I adore that slogan from WW II: keep calm and carry on.
So, yes, even though a well of blackness threatens me again, I'm going to start up my cleaning and laundry and cooking again tomorrow.
Pam says
Dear Leila,
Thank you for inspiring me to get back on track, again! Today is the first time that I have set up a menu for the week since our home flooded the first weekend in May. We moved back in 2 1/2 weeks ago. It feels so good to be getting my home and meals back in order.
I'm also trying to rebuild my freezer again. It was upended during the flood, so everything was lost from my deep freeze, fridge and fridge freezer. Once you get going with this type of system, you really miss it when your stock is gone!
God is good. He has taught us much and continues to grow us and provide for all our needs.
Love you,
Pam ” target=”_blank”>http://www.RealWomenQuilt.com
Karen says
I have to whole heartedly agree with not starting in the kitchen!! I did, and it seems to be a never-ending job of organizing, re-organizing and on and on. With several different kiddos helping to put away dishes, they are never put in the same spot. Even if I tell them where it goes, correct them when they put it in the wrong place, etc. I decided to leave the kitchen, per Leila's advice and start in my bedroom which had become a catch-all. Now my room is nice and clean, the bed is made daily and I have a room I can periodically gaze at during the day which seems to give me the energy to tackle the rest of the house. :0)
I love coming here and reading your advice, Leila. You are very inspiring and helpful to me in so many ways. Thanks for everything you do here at LMLD.
Have a great day!
~Karen in Ohio
Layne says
Just discovered your blog ~ awesome and so many inspiring ideas. So glad I stumbled into it. It will be bookmarked!
Layne says
Perfect post ~ Perfect timing
theresa says
Your site is EXACTLY what I needed at this point in my life. Our oldest is 7 and we’re expecting our 5th this summer…all-of-a-sudden I feel the need to get and keep my house organized (specifically laundry and meals).
I was going to start in our bedroom as mentioned but my husband is starting his own business and his office is in there due to the size of house…so I tackled the 5 (gasp) loads of laundry on the floor….then got rid of a whole garbage bag of my kids’ clothes before putting them away.
Usually I start deep cleaning in the kitchen but I let it go and cleared off every flat surface in the house – oh my. Miraculously I still had time to do the dishes at the end of the night.
I love your style of writing – such wisdom. Thank you so much – off to give a bunch of my kids’ toys away (again). Who gives them all of it anyway!
April Griffin says
Thank you for saying not to start in the kitchen. Every single plan I’ve started has me starting in the kitchen and with all the traffic and every day life, nothing gets done so I just give up. I always felt like a failure because I couldn’t follow the plans.