One of the most difficult parts of behavior plans is finding reinforcers that are effective and long-lasting. Many times I hear in meetings that the behavior plan worked for a couple of weeks, but…
We’re all short on time so here are 10 ways to speed up the weekly planning process (while still keeping your planning looking cute!) 10 Ways to Plan Faster 1.Use Planner Stickers Header stic…
As you may know, I've talked about menu planning a few times on this blog. What you don't know, is that it is a constant battle for me to keep up with my menu planning. My biggest problem is time, but couple that with the fact that I loathe menu planning, and it's practically a recipe for disaster. Well, a couple weeks ago the broccoli really hit the fan when we got our taxes done, and I realized that we have been spending way too much money eating out two and sometimes three times a week. That had to stop. So I sat down with my monthly menu planning calendar and I got to work. I've been using this system for over a year now, somewhat intermittently. In spite of what some people think about teachers and their supposed part-time jobs, I regularly spend ten hours a day at my teaching job. Add to that a couple more hours a night that I've been spending lately on the yearbook, volunteering my time, and it's all I can do to keep the vomit from pooling in the back of my mouth when I hear about my cushy schedule and summers off. Although I wouldn't say that teaching is the hardest job on the planet, it is definitely the hardest job I've ever had. That being said, I, and I'm sure every other mom out there as well, need every time saver available to me to manage my responsibilities. Eating out just can't be one of those time savers anymore. So, as I was saying, last year I posted about menu planning and this laminated menu planner that I could write on and wipe off. The only problem with this system, for me anyway, is that our schedule seems to always be in flux and I would need to move things. Then I would have to apply spit to a Kleenex to wipe off the menu plan for the day, so glamorous, I know, and have to rewrite that menu item elsewhere. Such a chore for me and my impatient self. My problems are so enormous. Quickly I took to using mini Post-It notes to write my menu plans on, because they could be quickly and easily moved around. The only negative to that system is that the Post-Its didn't fit perfectly into the the menu squares, so I had to trim them to fit neatly in the squares. Because I'm anal about things like that. Again, I have such enormous problems. This enormous problem has led me on a quest to design a magnetic menu planning calendar that could work for me. I have seen some pretty brilliant menu planning calendars out in the blogosphere this year, but none of them were a fit for me. The biggest problem being that I don't have any usable wall space where I can post a magnetic menu planning calendar. Any menu planning calendar that I use has to fit on the side of my refrigerator. Enter the Cricut Lite Chore Chart Cartridge. This cartridge was the springboard for my inspiration. I've been thinking about a potential solution for months, and I had decided that I needed to create a calendar grid in vinyl right on the surface of my refrigerator. The problem being, how do I cut the vinyl for a calendar grid and keep all the lines straight and in proportion? I'm sure some of you reading this could do just that with only your Cricut and possibly a program such as Sure-Cuts-A-Lot, or the Silhouette, without using another expensive Cricut cartridge, but my skill set does not extend that far. As it is, I already wasted an entire sheet of vinyl trying to figure out the correct size to cut for my available space. For my first calendar grid, I used the Fit to Page button on my Cricut, not 100% sure of what it was going to do. I loaded up my $5 sheet of vinyl and pressed the Cut button before I could chicken out. Then I screamed and watched in horror as the Cricut cut a calendar fit for Ginormica, knowing that hitting STOP couldn't save that piece of vinyl that was already soiled. Plus it had to be done anyway, because I needed the numbers to set up a proportion problem to figure out how big I had to cut my calendar to fit in a 16 inch wide section on my refrigerator. Listen up people, the next time you open your mouth to say "I've never once had to use algebra in all my life, blah, blah blah" this is a prime example of how useful algebra is. I want you to come back here again, bring your children and your children's children, and show them exactly how Algebra is Useful I'm going to make a vinyl sign. Who wants one? Don't all jump at once. The ginormous calendar that I originally cut with the Fit to Page button ended up being 11.5 inches by 19.75 inches, which was 3.75 inches longer than my available space of 16 inches. Enter algebra and the following simple proportion problem: 11.5 = x 19.75 16 Solving for x, I found that my calendar should be 9.316455696 inches high, which I neatly rounded to 9 inches. Sir Cricut can only cut in 1/4 inch increments anyway, so what's the harm in taking it to a nice round number? No harm. Now I will stop with the numbers. So scary to some, yet friendly to all. So, before I show you the end result, here is one of the problems with the Cricut Chore Chart cartridge. It cuts the "C" and the "H" for the "Chore Chart" title with the calendar grid. I just amputated them with my X-acto knife. Easy fix. Then I pulled away the vinyl parts that weren't needed. And there were so many. It wastes a lot of vinyl, but I couldn't see any other way around it. It turns out that my first wasted cut would have been wasted anyway because I forgot to set my blade pressure to LOW, so it cut right through the vinyl and the sticker backing paper. Doy. I was able to correct that for my next calendar. Here is my calendar ready to have the transfer paper applied. By the way, I see no way to transfer this grid without the transfer paper. It's the only way to keep the lines straight and keep the calendar from becoming distorted through stretching. I didn't take pictures of me transferring the transfer paper to the design because that stuff is like fly paper, and I don't have three hands. I know, excuses. I was a little excited when I was pulling my excess vinyl away, and I made this little boo boo. Not to worry, it can be fixed later. I just need to fit a small scrap piece over the cut and no one will ever know. I'm calling this picture "Man Does Multi-task." It's Peanut Head eating a doughnut while helping me to tape the calendar grid up so it's level. Here I'm getting ready to pull the sticker backing paper away and slowly apply the calendar grid. It doesn't pay to rush this part. S-l-o-w-l-y, slowly said the sloth. Pretty slick, eh? You may have noticed that this calendar grid only covers three weeks. That's really not a problem for me, as I have no plans to add numbers for days or even a month label. It will simply serve as a plan as I go menu plan, and just having three weeks done at a time will keep me super happy. If you wanted it to be four weeks, you could easily cut little vinyl strips to extend the boxes into the area left for a title. I'm not planning on using that part anyway. In fact, I just amputated it. It just takes up space. I know it's my menu plan, I don't need a title on it. Space is precious on my refrigerator. Next, I cut out days of the week and put them on. It's a little squished in the Wednesday region, but it's such a cumbersome day of the week, isn't it? The last step was to make my menu choices. I just typed six choices to a 4x6 print, layered on top of digital scrap booking paper, then cut my squares to 1.75 inches, mounted them on a layer of card stock, and laminated them to protect them from kitchen mishaps. Then I applied a piece of magnet left over from my bazeeeeeellion magnetic bookmarks, and I was in business. Pretty nifty, eh? Now I think I'm ready to conquer the whole World Peace problem. Since I first posted this, I have found someone will make this menu grid for you for just $9.50. If you want to buy one for yourself, go read this post for the details. If you want a way to store your extra menu magnets instead of on the fridge, go read this post.
Planning an Easter brunch menu? Check out these tips for keeping a balanced menu when you love all the breakfast breads ever invented
Since moving to Florida this summer, Mark and I have taken the initiative to create a bit more structure in our lives…from the food inside our cabinets, to our exercising, and now…to our meals! Menu planning is one thing we both agreed would not only make our lives easier, but so much healthier. We’ve never...
Save all your recipes (digital and hardcopy) in one place so you can easily organise and find them, create meal plans, and grocery lists. Here's how to use Evernote for recipes.
Do you meal plan? I asked about menu-planning on my personal Facebook, and that question garnered more helpful comments than any Facebook post in the past. I got some awesome tips, advice, and suggestions. And it made me feel like menu-planning is possible and not the […]
I have another little booklet to share from General Mills, Inc. and Betty Crocker from 1943. The booklet is aimed at the woman of the ho...
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.To create healthy meals you need some kitchen pantry staples and a stocked refrigerator. In this first cooking 101 class I will give you a pantry food list….these are my must have items to have on hand. Keep reading to find out about my online cooking …
Learn How & where to shop in Clovis, California to reduce your grocery bill to $50 per week in this weeks $50 Weekly Menu Plan help across the USA
Learn 10 steps to save money on your groceries. Plus a downloadable meal planning template and a sample $125 monthly grocery budget for two.
I’m always on the lookout for a great pre-printed grocery list.
I have another little booklet to share from General Mills, Inc. and Betty Crocker from 1943. The booklet is aimed at the woman of the ho...
Menu Plan Monday features weekly vegan, gluten free dinner menu plans that make meal preparation and batch cooking organization fun!
Organized Chaos: helping music teachers embrace the chaos of creativity through purposeful organization and simple ideas!
Nombreux sont ceux qui sont à la recherche de planning vierge pour faire leurs menus pour la semaine ! J’ai fais quelques recherche, et je vous ai trouvé quelques modèles que vous pourrez imp…
If you've ever struggled to stick to your meal plan, these new ideas are guaranteed to simplify meal planning so that you can eliminate the stress of getting dinner on the table.
Here is how to get the entire family involved with doing chores and organizing the home for the school year and all year!
The Military Diet is an effective way to lose weight fast! The Hub explains the Military Diet and provides some example meal plans.
I have found the absolute best recipe organizer app and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you! Oooh, plus it's FREE! I have finally taken all my recipes from my mom, cookbooks,
I visited orgjunkie.com this morning. This is the site that hosts Menu Plan Monday, which is always so fun to visit. She also has great organizing tips and is extremely encouraging. But . . . she’s one of them. You know, the people who actually get excited over organizing something. They buy adorable little organizing […]
At one point in my college career, college and stress started to coincide and mean the same thing. Being on my own and gaining new independence is what college is all about, right? Let’s not forget to add the juggling of numerous exams, assignments, projects, social life, relationships, extracurriculars, laundry, a budget and more. A
So we're talking all things Trello and today, I'm going to walk you through the steps to "pin" from Pinterest directly to your Trello meal planning board. So when you pin a new recipe, it
The exterior of this exclusive modern, 3-bedroom, farmhouse plan has a welcoming porch, board and batten siding, and timber accents.The desirable, open-concept layout connects the great room and kitchen, along with providing more intimate spaces to retreat to for quiet and solitude. A vaulted ceiling in the great room provides a feeling of spaciousness and double doors on each side of the fireplace allow natural light to permeate throughout and lead to a screened porch with attached deck. The oversized island in the kitchen provides plenty of workspace and a large, walk-in pantry helps with organization. The dining room is steps away for your convenience. Your first-floor, owner's suite rests on one side of the home and features a vaulted ceiling, french doors to the back deck, a 5-fixture, owner's bathroom, and two walk-in closets. Expand above the garage and get a second gathering area if desired. Building out the bonus level as shown adds 832 square feet of heated living space to the home. Built-in lockers in the mudroom maintains order when entering from the 2-car garage side-entry (standard) garage. A front-entry garage is available as an upgrade from the options menu. Related Plan: Get an alternate version with house plan 46401LA.
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.26.5″ custom_padding=”8px||0px|||” fb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.26.5″ _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.26.5″ _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.29.3″ hover_enabled=”0″ _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″][/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”Century Gothic||||||||” header_font=”Flawless||||||||” header_font_size=”42px” _i=”1″ _address=”0.0.0.1″] powered by Sounder Hi Friends! Today we are joined by Morgan Tyree, founder of Morganize with Me and author of the new book Take Back Your Time (available at Amazon,...
Need help planning your dinner menu? Check out our FREE Weekly Meal Plan for Week 4! Includes 6 dinners, 2 side dishes, and 1 dessert.
Nie wiesz jak zorganizować sobie czas i jak rozdzielić obowiązki. Pomogę Ci - stworzyłam pliki, które możesz wypełnić po swojemu. Harmonogram sprzątania
Bereits die Schwangerschaft hat bei mir eine Ernährungsumstellung mit sich gebracht. So richtig haben sich meine Kochgewohnheiten aber mit dem Kind verändert. Wo ich früher gerne lange… Weiterlesen
This list of 10 unique meal planner ideas has something for everyone - you'll find something in this round up that will work for you!
Today’s competitive and fast-paced global business environment requires talented, multifaceted leaders at every level of […]
I have had a few readers ask me how I meal plan. I hope you are ready for a novel, b/c I wrote one. :) While I was pregnant with Ellis, I would always find myself trying to imagine what life would be like when she got here. I was curious how I would feel once she made her arrival, subsequently making me a 'Mom'. Would I be tired all of the time? Would I care about my career anymore? Would Logan and I ever 'go out' again? Well, now that she is here (and 17 months in) I can answer all of these questions. No, I am not tired all the time. Yes, I still care about my career. Yes, Logan and I get time away, if we make it. Having a clild has taught me many things. It has taught me how to love (& worry) more than I ever thought possible. It has taught me patience and how to function on little to no sleep. It has also taught me a whole new level of multitasking. Having a child, especially as a working mom, creates a whole new kind of crazy in your life. Crazy isn't staying out too late or waking up with a hangover and barely making it to your studio class on time. Crazy is trying to figure out how to get a child ready for daycare, make it to work on time, get everyone fed dinner by 7pm, keep a clean house, and have enough energy to talk to your spouse at the end of the night. (This goes for Logan and myself - we are a team.) You figure it out as you go. You learn what you have to let go of and what you keep. It's all about making room for what you love and care about and cutting the things you can do without. We might not stay out late with friends as much anymore, but I wake up at 5am every morning to either prep food for that night's dinner or get in my morning run because those are the things that are important to me. And now, after that long (and probably way too serious) intro, I land on the subject of meal planning. Just because life is busier than ever, doesn't mean I have to sacrifice taking care of myself and cooking heathy meals for my family. I refuse to be the person who swings through the McDonalds drive thru after work and pick up dinner to go. So, I guess I just had to figure it out, right? Well I think I have a pretty good system. At least it is a system that works for me. Whether you already have a system, are in dire need on one, want to save money, or cut nightly trips to the grocery store for last minute meals, you might find this post useful. So here it is, my bible of meal planning to get healthy meals on the table, snacks in lunch boxes and reserve meals in the freezer. This is my routine every other week. So yes, I feel it is totally doable two times a month. Trust me, it will save you time and money. #1 – Create two Pinterest boards: Start pinning. I am a huge fan of cooking healthy, so I follow certain people who I know also appreciate a veggie packed dinner. Skinny taste is one of my favorites. Really, the girl never lets me down. Pin your recipes to your "Recipes to Try" board. #2 – Review your "Recipes to Try" Pinterest board and pick the following to place on your menu board. (adjust to number of people in your family) 2 snacks 5 meals 1 freezable meal For example: Baked Oatmeal Cups (snack) Energy Bites (snack) Greek Yogurt and Honey Dijon Chicken Salad (meal) Thai Quinoa Salad (meal) Homemade Pizza (meal) Falafel with Avocado Spread (meal) Chicken, Broccoli and Quinoa Casserole (meal) Southwestern Egg Rolls (meal – freezable) #3 – Review all of the ingredients in the recipes and put whatever items you need on your shopping list. Rewrite the list in order according to your route through your grocery store. (this will save you so much time in the grocery store!) #4 – Write all of the meals you have picked on a menu board that is visible in your kitchen. Mine is a large chalkboard that hangs on a wall in our kitchen. Yours might just be a notebook that is always on your kitchen island – whatever works for you. Write your list in this order: Snacks Freezer Meal All of your other meals in order according to what ingredients will spoil first. Note: This picture doesn't really show the meals in the correct order. Hey, I live on the wild side, sometimes breaking the rules. ;) I usually meal plan the night before I plan on going to the grocery store. It takes me a total of 45 minutes to an hour to find all the recipes I want, write down the ingredients I need, and re-write them in the correct order for my shopping trip. I usually do it while watching TV and winding down for the night. #5. Grocery Shop. Every two weeks I make an early morning (and I mean EARLY…. like before anyone in the house is awake kind of early) trip to Woodmans for most of my items. I, also, sometimes make a trip later in the week to Trader Joe's for a few organic options. I am sure you have your favorite grocery store. Do whatever works for you. #6. Set aside a chunk of time and cook up a storm. Make both snacks, the freezer meal, and the dinner for that night. You will make the rest of the meal options throughout the next two weeks. This many meals last us two weeks b/c there are only two of us and a toddler and we live on leftovers. What we don't finish of that night's dinner, goes straight into glass containers to be packed in our lunches for work. We, also, are not home every night for dinner. Sometimes we are at a friend's house or my parent's for dinner. We do not need a fresh cooked dinner every single night. That just isn't realistic for our family. There are some nights we might just have leftovers for dinner (as well as lunch) or make something simple like 'breakfast for dinner' or chicken on the grill. Plus, that is what the freezer options are for. They are for the nights when you really cannot get anything made. I love always having a stocked freezer. Making one freezer meal a week usually keeps it pretty packed. Throughout the two weeks, make the meals on the list from top to bottom, making sure to make the ones that require the freshest ingredients first. You want to avoid wasting your money on spoiled ingredients. This system will also nix all those last minute grocery store trips b/c you have planned out every meal. #7. Wrap up and evaluate. When all the meals on the board are crossed off, it is time to decide what recipes you would make again and what ones you wouldn't. Go back to your Pinterest boards and transfer all of the ones you liked to your "Tried & True" board and delete the ones you wouldn't make again. Let's face it, not all Pinterest recipes are a win. When meal planning, I now pull from both boards. I have a good mix of 'tried & true' recipes and new ones. I always try at least two new ones every two weeks. It keeps it exciting! ;) This system might sound a little over the top, but it really works for us. I hope some of you might be able to take some of these tips and integrate them into your own routine. Let me know what you think. Do any of you have any other good meal planning tips?
I have another little booklet to share from General Mills, Inc. and Betty Crocker from 1943. The booklet is aimed at the woman of the ho...
In day-to-day life, how can you protect yourself from this virus? Here are just a few ways you can keep safe.
I am so excited about the upcoming homeschool year and...
Meal planning is one of the easiest things you can do to set yourself up for healthy eating success and saving money. Get the beginner guide and save.
This is how I make a super quick & painless meal plan, especially when I'm out of time! Free printable with lots of meal planning theme night ideas on it!
Happy New Year, my friends! It’s great to be back in the swing of things. If you are looking to get organized and make your life easier for the New Year, menu planning is one of the first steps. We have a couple years worth of Monthly Menu Plans for you as well as Weekly Menu Plans. As
I have another little booklet to share from General Mills, Inc. and Betty Crocker from 1943. The booklet is aimed at the woman of the ho...
If you read our article on dopamine last year, you know that those with ADHD can struggle with dopamine regulation. Research has indicated that, in ADHD brains, dopamine's role of providing a surge of positive feelings and motivating task completion is disrupted [1], [2].To help support those struggling with this disruption, Tivers [3] and McCabe [4] developed the dopamenu, which includes space for different types of dopamine to act as external sources of pleasure and reward (as we outlined in m
