Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 7 of 7

7.) Sort-It and Season-It

Whenever you bring meats home from the grocery store, try to get in the habit of prepping them before you put them into the freezer.

Take time to rinse, season, and divide into meal size portions before freezing. It just takes a few extra minutes in the beginning, but it’s sooo worth the convenience in the long run.

I love reaching into my freezer knowing that I can always fall back on a bag of chicken breast that have already been sliced and seasoned.

Just pop them in the microwave for a quick thaw, and they're ready for the pan, grill or oven.

What are some of your tips for sorting and re-packaging your meats?

Cutting The Morning Madness and Getting Your Kids Out The Door On Time - Part 2

5.) Pre-pack Lunches - Preparing and packing lunches the night before can save you a ton of time and stress the following morning. Everyone can easily grab what they need from the fridge that morning and head straight for the door.

6.) Pre-select Clothes - Get kids in the habit of picking out their school clothes each night before bed. Make sure they include EVERYTHING. Honestly, can you even count how many times you've been late because someone was searching for a shoe? Plus you get the “What to Wear Wars” out of the way and plenty of time to deal with rips, wrinkles, or anything else that could cause a morning meltdown (theirs or yours).

7.) Set The Breakfast Table - Take a few minutes after dinner to make a quick mental note of what to prepare for breakfast and set the table accordingly. Whether you’re a “just add hot water” kind of family or egg scramblers, keep it simple during the week. Save the freshly squeezed O.J. and homemade cinnamon rolls for the weekend. lol

8.) Stagger Wake-Up Times - Staggering wake-up times can be especially helpful if you are limited to one bathroom, have more than one child, have a large family, or all of the above. This technique really helps to cut down on traffic jams and bottle necks.

By making just a few small changes in your normal daily routine, you’ll save yourself a ton of stress and get your family out the door prepared and on time.

How do you keep the morning mayhem to a minimum in your home?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 6 of 7

6.) Pressure Cooking - Fast and Furious

Pressure Cookers have come a long way since the 1950's horror stories of spattered ceilings and flying lids. Today’s pressure cookers are much easier to use and safer than ever.

They are the perfect tool for busy moms with busy families because of the incredible amount of time they can save.

Foods that would normally take hours to prepare, cook in 1/3 the time of conventional cooking methods.

So give it a try the next time you're strapped for time and need to get a super quick meal on the table. Just add your liquid and ingredients, and… Voila, dinner in no time!

Stay tuned for Part 7 of this 7 part series.

What are some of your favorite recipes to prepare using your Pressure Cooker?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 5 of 7

5.) Plan Your Meals For The Week Ahead

Organize your dinner menu for the week ahead and you will be surprised at how much time you can save.

No need to run screaming into the night here ladies, it doesn’t have to be anything complicated.

Pasta on Monday, turkey cutlets on Tuesday, etc. Just something to use as a basic guideline to help curb the dinner time crunch. Why not start today?

Stay tuned for Part 6 of this 7 part series.

What are some of your favorite meal planning tips?

Cutting The Morning Madness and Getting Your Kids Out The Door On Time - Part 1 of 2

Frazzled, grumpy and running late. Does this sound like a typical morning in your household?

A simple way to relieve stress and streamline your families morning routine is to prepare what you can the night before.

Check out the tips listed below.

1.) Bathe The Day Away - Encouraging children to bathe before bedtime can be a huge time saver. Not only can it cut down on bathroom time in the morning, but it can also help them unwind, sleep easier and maybe even a little later.

2.) Early To Bed, Early To Rise - Set an age appropriate bedtime that allows 8-10 hours of sleep for each child, and Stick To It! Hitting the sack at 10:00 one night and 7:30 the next can be tough on their little bodies.

3.) Mom, Get Your Rear In Gear! - Consider getting a jump start on your morning routine before your children are awake. You will have plenty of time to get showered, dressed, and maybe even squeeze in a cup of coffee before anyone needs your attention. Use this quiet time to collect your thoughts and prepare for the day ahead.

4.) Pack Those Sacks - Encourage school aged children to pack their schoolbags somewhere between completing their homework and bedtime.

This is also a good time to…

• Pack money for lunch/field trips
• Record important school events on the Family Calendar
• Replenish supplies
• Sign permission slips, notes, etc.

You can even go as far as having them put their backpacks at the front door where they’ll be ready and waiting for them in the morning. Just grab and go!

Check back later for Part 2 of this article.

How do you curb the morning chaos in you household?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 4 of 7

4.) Make The Most Of Your Mornings

Whenever possible, prepare what you can ahead of time.

While the kids are enjoying breakfast, take a few minutes to marinade meats, chop veggies, grate cheeses, form patties, prepare a dinner salad, or anything else that you can do to get a head start on the dinner hour.

A few morning prep tricks can speed up the dinner process later that evening, and help get your meal on the table in less time.

Stay tuned for Part 5 of this 7 part series.

How do you use your mornings to get ahead of the dinner rush?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 3 of 7

3.) Double-Up - Cook It Once and Eat It Twice

One of the best ways a busy mom can save time and money in the kitchen is by doubling recipes.

Give it a try the next time you make something simple like pasta sauce or chili. Simply double your ingredients. It takes very little extra effort for such a big return.

Serve half that evening and freeze the other half for a quick meal next week or maybe even next month.

Be sure to let the second half cool down before pouring into a gallon size freezer bag. Squeeze the air out and lay it flat in your freezer to save space.

Whether you choose to thaw in the fridge the day before, submerge in water that evening, or pop it in the microwave for a quick defrost, having a few home cooked meals waiting in your freezer ready to heat and eat will surely save you time in the kitchen.

Stay tuned for Part 4 of this 7 part series.

What are some of your favorite meals to double up on?

Organizing Kids Rooms: 3 Simple Steps To Conquering The Clutter - Pt. 3

Step Three: Maintain Order (No, really)

Ok, so now that the hard part of clearing the clutter and stowing the stuff is out of the way, it’s time to set some simple ground rules to help make staying tidy and organized a part of each day.

In addition to the usual "put it away when you're done", I find that having a "Morning Pick-up Routine" and an "Evening Pick-up Routine" really helps us a lot.

This will help them to stay ahead of any messes that would have otherwise accumulated during the week making it one large project to tackle over the weekend. That’s no fun!

Speaking of “staying ahead of messes“, here’s a tip inside of a tip.

Set up a "Donation Station" in a place where everyone has access. Whatever works best for your family, a hall closet, laundry room, garage, etc.

Whenever family members come across something that they no longer want or use, it goes into the “Donation Box“. When the box is full, drop it off at your local donation center.

Your family will benefit in 3 ways:

1.) You enjoy a less cluttered home
2.) You help other families
3.) You get a tax deduction (just be sure to ask for a receipt)

Everyone’s a winner!

Don't worry if your child’s bedroom doesn't exactly look like a page torn from the latest Pottery Barn Kids catalog. (A girl can always dream right?)

That's not the goal. What’s important is that they learn to be responsible for their own things. A valuable lesson that will serve them well for years to come.

What's your secret to helping your kiddos stay organized?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 2 of 7

2.) Crock Pot Cooking - Just Set-It and Forget-It!

Jumping jelly beans! The kitchen’s on fire and you can only grab one item. What would it be? I’d have to say my beloved crock-pot. There she is, I call her “Old Faithful”.

Crock-pot cooking is a fantastic way to prepare a no-fuss dish that’s sure to delight. Simply toss in your ingredients in the morning before heading out, and you’re in business. This one-pot-wonder does all the work for you.

Imagine returning home and being greeted by the wonderful smell of a slowly simmered home cooked meal. Mmm… just plate and serve.

So dust off the old crock-pot and put her to work. This is hands down my go-to method for pulling together a melt-in-your-mouth meal for my family on those super busy days.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this 7 part series.

What are some of your favorite recipes to prepare using your Crock Pot?

Organizing Kids Rooms: 3 Simple Steps To Conquering The Clutter - Pt. 2

Step Two: Stow The Stuff

Now that you've cleared the clutter, step two involves organizing and storing what’s left using kid friendly storage items such as bins, bookshelves, clear containers, cubbies, hooks, etc. Every item will need a place to call "home”.

The key here is finding an easy system that's right for your child and will motivate them to be and stay organized.

If you find that even after the big purge your child still has too many toys and books or you just want to limit the amount of stuff in your child’s room in general, rotate them. Just pop a few of them into a box and stash them away.

After about a month or so, pull them down and trade them out. Rinse and repeat. They’ll get a real hoot out of re-discovering their "new" old toys.

Be sure to stay tuned for Part 3 of this series.

What are some creative ways that you use to keep your kiddos clutter contained?

Save Time In The Kitchen & Get Dinner On The Table In A Hurry! - Part 1 of 7

1.) Breakfast For Dinner?

Why not? Dinner time doesn't have to mean dinner food, especially in our household. Mix things up a bit the next time you’re in a pinch and need to get dinner on the table in a hurry.

Remember that nothing shakes up a boring week night meal like having breakfast for dinner. The kiddos will love it!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this 7 part series.

Does your family enjoy having breakfast for dinner now and then?

Organizing Kids Rooms: 3 Simple Steps To Conquering The Clutter - Pt. 1

Let's face it, where there are kids clutter is sure to follow. Kids are natural born hoarders whose rooms are notorious for being a cluttered mess.

At times you may have even wondered if a tornado had just ripped through their bedroom or if perhaps it was possibly burglarized while you were loading the dryer. One never knows.

As much as we would like to, we will never completely eliminate the clutter. But, there are a few things that can be done to get it under control and make life much easier for everyone.

Avoid the impulse to tackle this project all on your own, instead use this as an opportunity to teach them responsibility and the basics of organization.

Believe me, the time you invest now will pay huge dividends in the long run.

Step One: Clear The Clutter!

The very first step towards bringing calm and order to the chaos is getting rid of the clutter.

Start by sorting through everything in the room and remove as much as possible that doesn't NEED to be there starting with the floor. Well… you do NEED the floor, but you get what I mean.

I find that using three large bags or boxes marked donate, trash, and keepers works well for making quick work of this step. Just grab the item and toss it right into it’s new home.

Yippee, we can see a floor again!

Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 of this series.

Do you enlist your kiddos in the conquering of the clutter?