Full & Simple

  • About
  • The Farm on the Hill
    • Beekeeping
    • Gardening
    • Chickens
  • Recipes
  • Decor
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Other Reviews
  • Ponderings & Inspiration
  • Contact

Why You Need to Start Planning Your Fall Garden in April

April 25, 2016 by Erika

Full & Simple- Why You Need to Plan Your Fall Garden in April

Last fall was the first time my husband and I had tried to grow a fall garden.  Some things did extremely well, like the arugula and kale, and some things didn't come up at all, like my carrots, shallots and leeks.  When things didn't work out, I did additional research.

Vegetables like leeks, shallots, and Brussels Sprouts are considered fall harvest veggies, but here's the thing; they need to be planted now!  I didn't start my seeds for these until July last year (about the same time I started my seeds for kale and cauliflower).  My leeks didn't even sprout last year, and I blame that on the fact that it was too hot on my deck.  I have started all of my seeds indoors this year and so far so good.

Full & Simple- Planning the Fall Garden in April (8) 

Brussels sprouts mature 80-115 days after TRANSPLANT, not from planting the seeds.  I planted the Brussels sprouts last week indoors.  Seeds take 5-10 days to germinate, and then you don't transplant for another 6-8 weeks.  This should give me a harvest sometime in September for this batch.  I'm going to try to plant some more seeds in a week so that I have a staggered harvest.  Plus, Brussels sprouts are said to be sweeter if they are out in a frost, so the second planting should go through one frost at least.

Full & Simple- Planning the Fall Garden in April (9)

Leeks take even longer after transplant to mature, at 110-135 days.  I planted my leeks a few weeks ago and then again last week, for another staggered harvest.  They should be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date, which in my area of Indiana is May 5.  You can find out what yours is by visiting your state's extension service website.  I find a lot of helpful garden information and planting guides at Purdue's Extension website.

Shallots also need a very long growing season.  Seedlings mature about 100 days after transplant, which should be done 1-2 weeks after the last frost date.  I may still have started mine too late by starting them this month, but we will see.  Shallots also need a lot of fertilizer and mulch to keep the ground moist.  

Full & Simple- Planning the Fall Garden in April (4)

Besides the fact that there are some fall harvest vegetables that need planted now, you want to start thinking about your fall garden as you plan the layout of your summer garden.  Last year, we had many plants like our tomatoes and spaghetti squash still in the garden when the time came to plant the fall vegetables.  This caused us to have to fill in with our fall veggies in odd places.  If you know that you will have certain things in the garden for a long time, you can create a more intuitive layout for summer.  Planting as early as possible will also help to get the summer harvest completed sooner, freeing up space for fall spinach, kale, Swiss chard, etc.  Planting the fall seeds too late may increase the likelihood that you'll have duds....like my fall planting of carrots.

If you've ever been on the fence about trying out a fall garden, I HIGHLY recommend you try it!  Last fall we supplied salads with greens from our garden at Thanksgiving and I was still picking spinach and kale in December!  There is nothing like fresh vegetables straight out of garden, and having a fall garden extends your ability to enjoy them.

Full & Simple- Why You Need to Plan Your Fall Garden in April

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Gardening, Uncategorized Tagged With: Brussels sprouts, fall gardening, garden planning, gardening, leeks, shallots

The Bee-Friendly Garden

April 9, 2016 by Erika

 

Full & Simple Book Review The Bee-Friendly Garden

Since we started keeping bees last spring, I have been wanting to add more flowers and plants for the honey bees to eat on, so I was very excited when I found The Bee-Friendly Garden.

The one thing that surprised me, was that it was not focused on honey bees.  I assumed (You know what happens when we assume....) that it would be because we raise honey bees and that is my focus and because honey bees are a big focus in today's world with colony collapse disorder being widely talked about.  However, this book reminded me that there are over 20,000 different species of bees in the world and we really need them all.  And here's why, honey bees do not and cannot pollinate everything that needs pollinating.  They are not big enough to vibrate the pollen loose on tomato plants.  I don't know about you, but I love tomatoes, so I'm thankful that the big bumblebee is around to take care of pollinating tomatoes for me.  This books gives suggestions on how to plant for native bees as well as honey bees.

The Bee-Friendly Garden large

This book is also incredibly in-depth.  The authors cover everything from different bee species to why some flowers appeal to some bees more than others based on the flower's structure and the bee's features.  Like, did you know that bees prefer flowers that are blue, pink, white or yellow because they see in the ultraviolet end of the color spectrum?  They break down the types of flowers that bees are attracted to into annuals, perennials, trees, vegetables and shrubs.

The Bee-Friendly Garden Inside page

As you can see, I have several pages marked with useful information so that when I head to our local nursery I will know what I'm looking for!

The other bit of information that I found extremely helpful was in the back of the book where the authors break down what native plants are good for different regions of the United States.  The reason, I learned, that you want to try to plant mostly native plants in your bee garden is to reduce the need for chemicals in your garden which we all know is harmful to the bee population.  Because native plants have grown to withstand the climate, soil and pests, there should be less need to use pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers.

Anyone, and really it should be everyone, that is interested in how they can help our bee population should pick up this book and plant bee-friendly flowers.  The authors show large gardens as well as small urban ones, so a small area is not an excuse for not doing your part!

The Bee-Friendly Garden small

You can find out more about the authors here.

You can find out more about the book here.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  The above post does contain some referral and affiliate links which means if you use the link and decide to purchase an item, I receive a little money from the company, at no extra cost to you, to help keep the blog going.  Thank you for supporting the blog!

 

 

 

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Beekeeping, Book Reviews, Gardening, Uncategorized Tagged With: bee-friendly garden, beekeeping, bees, book, book review, flower garden, gardening

Hand-Picked Peach: Week 36

April 8, 2016 by Erika

You're a Peach

Have you heard of Jamberry?  Jamberry nails are a new and innovative way to avoid nail polish drying time, chipping, and pricey visits to the salon. They are a DIY DREAM. They come in over 300+ designs (plus a nail art studio where you can design your own!), lasts up to 2 weeks on fingernails and 6 weeks on toenails, and WILL NOT CHIP. They are a vinyl adhesive wrap that is heat activated and pressure sealed to the nail. They will NOT damage your nail when removed properly.

Jamberry Nail Wraps (1)

I will admit that I wasn't sold on the idea of Jamberry at first.  I tried the wraps once using my hairdryer.  It seemed to take a while and then they didn't last as long as I had hoped.  So when my cousin asked me to try them again, I was hesitant, but I promised to give them a fair shot.  Let me tell you that the right tools make all of the difference!!!

If you use the Jamberry Mini-Heater then the process is MUCH faster and more effective.  My hairdryer just did not get the wraps hot enough, I don't think.  My cousin also showed me an even better way of applying the wraps using the TruShine Gel Enamel System.  The Gel Enamel System allows you to get the salon gel polish done right at home!  But paired with the wraps, you have a ton of possibilities.

Jamberry Nail Wraps (2)

Aren't these popsicles so cute for summer...even though it's freezing here in Indiana?

You simply apply the gel base coat.  Then apply the wrap of your choice (or your TruShine color).  Finish with the gel top coat.  I loved this way of applying the wraps because I like that after the top coat, my nails still feel "painted."

My stylist is Sarah Riggins.  Shop here and let her know you heard about Jamberry from The Farm on the Hill to help me out on my online party.

Disclosure:  The link above is an online party link, so if you order through the link I do get hostess credit.  However, the opinions in this post are my own.

Jamberry Nail Wraps (3)

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Hand-Picked Peach, Other Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: gel enamel, Hand-picked Peach, Jamberry, Jamberry nail wraps, manicure, pedicure, product review, TruShine

How to Organize Papers

April 4, 2016 by Erika

Full & Simple How to Organize Papers

My goals in March for Simple 2016 were to not drink any pop, start seeds for the garden and to finish up the paper section of the KonMari method.  I got several seeds started and I have kale, eggplant and cauliflower already sprouting up.  I didn't drink pop at all until the 31st when I had these party slushes with ginger ale at book club.  AND I finished the paper section of the KonMari Method.  It took a little over a week of working on it whenever I could spare a minute, but I'm so relieved to have gotten it finished.

Files Before-Bottom Drawer
Files Before-Top Drawer

The first thing I did was go through EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE OF PAPER.  I pulled out all of the files that we currently had and looked at every single thing.  This took the longest.  I had bank statements from 2006!!!!  When I finished my shred pile was about seven inches high and my trash pile was about three inches high.

 

IMG_8768

My shred pile after sorting through all of my files

IMG_8767

My shred pile is toward the bottom and my trash pile is toward the top

After I cleared out all of the junk, I started to decide what files needed to be separated (We originally kept all of our tax information in a singe file, but now each year has its own file. and what files could be merged.  And I came up with this color system:

Black Folders

  • Bills
  • Banking
  • Income

Purple Folders

  • Taxes
  • Retirement Information

Red Folders

  • Medical
  • Health Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance

Yellow Folders

  • Home information
  • Home insurance
  • Auto information
  • Auto Insurance

Blue Folders

  • Memberships
  • Licenses
  • Miscellaneous

Now everything is easy to locate and we don't have to sift through irrelevant papers to get the item we need.  I kept way more than Kondo suggests in her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but I was leery of keeping less.  It is my plan to go through the files every January to keep them tidy.  I did, however, take Kondo's advice and put all manuals in plastic sleeves in a binder instead of just having them lying around or in a file.

The next thing I did was decide on a system to organize papers that don't get filed or that I don't have time right away to get to.

I bought these magazine holders from Target.com and I love the vintage vibe they give to the office.  As you will notice from my pictures, the office has not been painted since we've moved in and our office furniture is secondhand, but it is my vision to turn this room into a vintage manly(ish) study/library.  I think these magazine holders will fit in nicely even after I make the changes I want to make.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

I also bought this wall-mounted magazine holder for magazines and any mail that I haven't had time to sort through.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

It is my goal to try to sort the mail everyday and get it in the right place to be dealt with, but I have designated Tuesdays as "Paper Day."  This way, one day a week, I take time to deal with all of the unsorted mail, take care of any actionable items and file away anything that needs to be filed.  I thought this was an appropriate day since I already do a lot of other paper related tasks on Tuesdays like meal plan, coupon, and write out the grocery list.

Here are a few links that I found especially useful in setting up my paper organization system:

  • A Bowl Full of Lemons- Paper Organization
  • A Bowl Full of Lemons- Filing System Organization
  • Life Hacker- What Documents Should I Shred and What Should I Keep?

I hope that this helps you set up your own paper organization system!  I think that having a way to take care of our important documents takes away a lot of stress which is one of the key components to living a simple life.

 

 

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Decor, Decor, Simple 2016, Uncategorized Tagged With: #simple2016, decluttering, farmhouse decor, file management, file organization, goals, KonMari, Marie Kondo, organize, paper organization, simple 2016, simple living, simplicity, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Hand-Picked Peach: Week 35

April 1, 2016 by Erika

 

Hand-Picked Peach Post Header Web

A few weeks ago I decided to try out The Grove Collaborative based on the recommendations of a few trusted bloggers.  They had a special going on, so that didn't hurt either.  The Grove Collaborative is a delivery service that provides members with eco-friendly cleaning and personal hygiene products.

Grove Collaborative Mrs. Meyers Candle (1)

You can find your favorite brands like Mrs. Meyer, Method, Toms, and many more at discounted prices for members.  I'm a doTERRA essential oil user, and I am becoming more and more leery of all of the chemicals that we allow into our homes and bodies.  I love that I can get natural products delivered right to my door with the Grove Collaborative.  Plus, they carbon offset 100% of their shipments and save 25 square feet of rainforest per shipment through their partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation

One of my favorite items so far is the Grove Collaborative Glass Spray Bottle.  It is beautiful as well as practical, so I don't mind it sitting out where it is easy to use.  I actually bought two of these spray bottles.  I use a spray bottle on all of my seed starts because other watering methods can displace the seeds or be too rough on new sprouts.  The other bottle is to hold my doTERRA On Guard Cleaner.

Grove Collaborative Glass Spray Bottle Close

The Grove Collaborative offers a free 60 day trial in their VIP program.  After that you pay $39.99/year to have the discounts and free shipping.  Plus you can earn shopping credits by referring friends!

If you are like me and you want to keep as many chemicals as you can away from the tiny hands in your home, take a look at The Grove Collaborative...and doTERRA.  Both are great natural ways to take care of our homes and bodies.

Grove Collaborative Glass Spray Bottle

Disclaimer: The above post does contain referral links which means that at no cost to you, I will receive compensation from the company if you use my link.  I only use referrals and affiliate links for things I believe in and all opinions are my own.  Thank you for helping to support the blog!

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Hand-Picked Peach, Other Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: delivery service, doTERRA, glass spray bottle, Hand-picked Peach, natural cleaning, natural products, The Grove Collaborative

A Woman of Intrigue

December 14, 2015 by Erika

Why are Women Virginia Woolf

I recently started watching White Collar on Netflix and I have become enamored with Neal Caffrey.  There is something about his confidence, style, intelligence, and sophistication that draws me in.  The same qualities make Raymond Reddington from The Blacklist, Agent Rossi from Criminal Minds and Dr. Henry Morgan from Forever (Sidenote: I'm still completely bummed this show wasn't renewed) men that I love to watch.  But its not just the men.  It's the world and people that they surround themselves with.  It's a world full of culture, style and sophistication.  It's a world that I've always wanted to be a part of (not any of the criminal aspects).  I'm also fascinated by the leading ladies to these men.  They are intelligent and quick-witted, stylish and slender, and they seem to constantly be put together, something that as a mother of two I rarely seem to feel anymore.

And that brings me to reality.  I am a stay-at-home mother of two gorgeous (if I do say so myself) and amazing little people.  And I love trying to be the Pinterest mom.  I admittedly love to try to do all of the crafts and DIY costumes and birthday decorations.  But all of that does not fit in to the worlds that I described above.  And that, I think, is the struggle.  It is hard to define who we are.

I have always been very good at compartmentalizing.  My parents divorced when I was very young.  And I became very good at "switching" from mom's house to dad's house.  I knew that there were certain attitudes and behaviors that were expected at dad's and different ones expected at mom's.  The key was allowing myself some time to acclimate when going from one house to the other.  Now, as an adult, I find that I am still very good at compartmentalizing,  I can easily turn off my other personas to be a mom, but I have a hard time turning mom off and putting it back into its little box so that I can be wife, friend, and just Erika.

The world wants who we are to fit into these perfect little boxes.  Even in the blogging world, one of the first things that any potential blogger is told to do is "find your niche."  So when I started I thought that I would focus on our gardening and small farming efforts, but I found that once I started writing and sharing...I have so much more to share and say!  And in the television shows I mentioned above, the characters are written with all of the qualities I listed and "complicated" backstories, but they are still very neat and tidy.  Can you imagine if Neal Caffrey had kids?   How would that fit into his lifestyle of expensive wine and suits?  Or could you imagine Raymond Reddington liking literature and the theater, but also raising his own chickens?  Nope.  Neither can I.  So how do we do it?  How do we be real and true to ourselves?  How do we let all of the personas out to coexist together instead of letting the world or ourselves define us by just one of those personas?  How can we manage to be a "woman of intrigue" when we are wiping dirty bums and putting away our husbands underwear?

This is where I'm supposed to give you the answer to the question I've just posed.  Unfortunately, I don't have the answer.  I am working on it.  Part of my goals to complete before turning 30 are meant to bring me closer to the answer.  And I have big plans for 2016 that I will share after Christmas.  What I do know is that God made me and you unique.  He gave us all certain gifts and talents and affinities for specific things.   Psalm 139:13 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."

I especially appreciate that the verse says, "you knitted me together."  God didn't box us up.  When something is knitted, it is connected through a series of stitches.  If you unravel a knitted item, you'll get one long piece of yarn or string.  I believe that is how we are meant to live our lives, not compartmentalized, but continuous.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  How do you live a life of "intrigue" while still attending to mundane, real-life tasks?

 

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: balance, goals, intrigue, motivation, stay-at-home mom, turning 30

The Liebster Award

November 30, 2015 by Erika

Source

I have loved blogging and I really hope that this blog is inspiring to you all out there, so it was a lovely surprise when I found out that this weekend Lauren over at Hole Food Family nominated the blog for the Liebster Award!!

I'm not going to lie, I didn't know what a Liebster was, but I was beyond thrilled that someone liked my blog enough to nominate me for ANY award!  For those of you who also do not know what the Liebster Award is, it is an award for bloggers given by other bloggers to give encouragement and to promote each other.  The award only exists on the Internet, so unfortunately you will not be seeing a red carpet post from me any time soon.  I am honored to accept the Liebster award and pass it on as well.  

When someone nominates you for the Liebster, they ask you a series of questions.  Below are my answers to Lauren's questions.

1. What originally got you blogging?

I started staying home earlier this year after having my second child, but I still wanted something professional in my life.  While, sometimes blogging doesn't feel like work, other times it does, but no matter what blogging is forcing me to stay engaged in adult things instead of just cartoons!

2. What do you most enjoy about blogging?

I love that when I feel that I'm lacking inspiration, I'm forced to do something or learn something in order to give my readers valuable content.  I think blogging is making me become more of the person I've always wanted to become.

3. Who or what, is your biggest inspiration in life?

I know that answer here is supposed to by my mom, and don't get me wrong, I LOVE my mom.  She is amazing and has always been able to love me as I am (I'm not a big hugger and she just gets it!), but I think that this really changes with where I am in life or what role I'm fulfilling.  As a blogger and business woman, I look to women like Shannon Ables, Claire Trost, and Jess Connolly.  I look to Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze for financial guidance.  As a woman of God, I'm inspired by Jess Connolly, Shauna Niequist and Jamie Ivey.  And as a mom and wife, I look to my mom and women like my best friend and my older cousin.

4. Who or What, are you most grateful for?

I'm most grateful for my life (which allows me to be thankful for more than one thing. LOL!).  I have the life I always dreamed of as I was growing up.  I married a good man.  I have beautiful babies.  I have a lovely home.  And I have wonderful friends and am part of a great community.  God has blessed me beyond measure.  As Dave Ramsey says, I'm doing "better than I deserve."

5. Where would you most like to be right now?

I'm taking this question as a destination I would like to be at right now, but I guess it could be where I want to be in my life....

If I could be anywhere right now, I would want to be in Italy with my family.  Italy is my bucket list vacation.  I want to tour, eat, and drink wine.

6. Do you have hopes or aspirations for your blog?

YES!!!!!  I want my blog to be a place of inspiration for other women.  I want to provide new and valuable insight to women.  And I would like this blog to lead to a full-time income at some point.  I'm not sure if the blog itself will be the income source or if I want the blog to simply be a stepping stone, but I have BIG dreams.

7. Do you write anywhere else?

No, I don't currently write anywhere else.  I've started to look at a few blogs that use contributors to see if I would fit in there and possibly apply to be a contributor.  If you are reading this and want to work together, let me know!

8. Who would your 5 fantasy dinner party guests be?

First, Jesus.  I know its cliche, but I just have so many questions!  Second, I would have to be Audrey Hepburn.  She is lovely in every sense of the word and exudes elegance.  I just discovered Jess Connolly, but I think she would be the funnest friend.  Plus, she is an amazing woman of God.  I think we can all use a friend that can show us that being a Christian doesn't mean we have to be somber or boring.  I would also invite Kate Middleton, because she is pretty much the modern Audrey.  And last, but certainly not least, Dave Ramsey.  I am a HUGE fan.

9. What would you cook for them?

I should probably want to serve them something simple and just good so that I can enjoy their company, but I would probably try to create some sort of five course masterpiece.  I'm over-the-top that way.  We would definitely have wine (and I hope someone would toast.  I think that it is so cool when people make toasts, but its just not something my group of friends does.) and I would want the garden to be in full glory so that we could have something with garden tomatoes.  Maybe my caprese stacks for an appetizer?

10. What advice would your 80 year old self give you right now, for the future?

She would probably tell me to live in the moment more, watch less TV and stop worrying about all of the little things.  I was talking to my cousin this weekend about my apprehension to have L help me cook because of the mess she made during the first time I attempted to let her help me bake.  My cousin said, "It's ok to make messes."  I think my 80-year-old self would tell me that.  It's ok to make messes in the kitchen, in your home and in life.  That's how we learn. (Now I just have to get the OCD tendency in me to agree!)

11. What advice would you give your 16 year old self about your future?

You know nothing.  I think that would be the best wisdom I could give.  Just surrender to not knowing and then go out and try to discover and learn.  Also, stop being so scared.  I missed out on a lot of opportunities because I was scared to try them or because I didn't think that they fit in with my "life path."  Well, my life path has taken many twists, turns and re-directions.  Seize the opportunities that you want to.  They don't all have to fit into the larger goal.  Sometimes a great experience is a goal in itself.

To continue the Liebster Award tradition, here are my nominations:

"It's Not as 'Posh' as It Sounds"

The Blog Bloom

Life at the Dahl House

Binks and the Bad Housewife

 Merry Magpie Farm

Pervasive Joy

Want Some Honey

Growing Up Millennial 

 Jess Connolly Blog

The Simply Luxurious Life

Pinch of Yum

If you accept my nomination, here are your questions:

  1. What originally got you blogging?
  2. What do you most enjoy about blogging?
  3. What is your go to resource to learn more about blogging?
  4. Who or what, is your biggest inspiration in life?
  5. Who or What, are you most grateful for?
  6. Do you have hopes or aspirations for your blog?
  7. Where is your ideal vacation spot?
  8. Who would your 5 fantasy dinner party guests be?
  9. What would you cook for them?
  10. What is your favorite podcast?
  11. What is your favorite book?
  12. What is your favorite vegetable?

Rules of “The Liebster Blog”

  • Create a blog post answering the questions above.
  • In your post, link back to the person who nominated you. (That’s me!)
  • After answering my questions, add a section for your nominees.
  • Nominate 11 other bloggers with under 200 followers (I'm sure that a few of mine have more than 200, but I love these blogs so I decided to give you my favorites despite the followers). Provide them with instructions and give them 11 questions to answer.
  • Notify your nominees and provide them with a link to your post.
  • When you’re all done, comment below with the link to your post. I’d love to read your answers!

 

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: award, bloggers, inspiration, Liebster

And We Have a Winner!

October 4, 2015 by Erika

Winner

Drumroll, please!   

Congratulations RaShell Southerland for winning the Squooshi Filling Station!

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: giveaway, Squooshi, winner

Five Tips to Meal Plan More Effectively

August 3, 2015 by Erika

IMG_1797

Sitting down with a cup of coffee to make out the grocery list.

As Dave Ramsey fans (I'm secretly hoping if I mention his name enough, he'll see my blog and ask me to write for him. LOL!)  we follow a budget every month and we use the envelope system.  Last week we were working on our budget, since this coming Friday will be my last paycheck and then we become a single income household, and this got me thinking about all the things I've started doing since we embarked on our debt free journey.  The one thing that helps the most in our daily lives is meal planning.

Meal planning allows me to make the most of my grocery budget and still make sure we eat.  It also makes me less likely to say, "Let's just order pizza."  So today, I want to talk to you about what meal planning isn't and how to meal plan effectively.  I even have a printable for you too!

First, meal planning is NOT just writing down what you want to eat that week.  When I first started "meal planning" before trying to get out of debt that is what I did.  I'd just look through cookbooks (I wasn't on Pinterest yet.) and decide what I wanted to eat.  As a person that never shies away from a complicated recipe, this created a problem.  I ended up with a lot of wasted ingredients that I only used for one recipe.  I also ended up with a huge grocery bill when I hit the checkout.

Once we started our journey out of debt, I started putting a few ideas into practice. I do still like to experiment with fancy recipes, but now I try to make the most of all of my ingredients.  Here are my five tips for what you should do if you are trying to meal plan and prevent the waste of food and money.

1. Establish a grocery day.

Having one day a week that you do all of your grocery shopping does a few things.  First, it saves you time and gas.  You aren't making a hundred trips to town to buy one or two items.  You make all of your stops on one day so you are ready for the week.  I'm lucky enough that my mom watches my kiddos one day a week for me so that I can do my errands and grocery shopping in peace.  I recommend shopping without the kids if possible.  It's hard to focus when you have a toddler throwing a tantrum.  This is a sure-fire way to forget something.  Maybe your husband watches the kids one night a week after work so you can shop in peace.  I even have a friend that makes her runs to the store after the kids go to sleep so her husband can still relax but she can shop in peace.

2. Take inventory

Look in your fridge and pantry.  What do you have that needs used up quickly?  Any lingering produce or fresh herbs?  What about dairy?  Plan your meals around items that you already have that need used.  Also, plan these meals to be made in the next few days.  If you have tomatoes about to go bad, you want to plan a meal to use them for the day of or one day after shopping day, not four days from now.  We have a garden that gives us a lot of fresh produce during the summer (and hopefully fall this year).  I try to plan a lot of my meals to include the veggies we grow in order to save money and eat seasonally.  If you don't have a garden but shop local farmers markets, then I suggest you set your grocery shopping day for the day after you buy veggies at the market so you know what produce you have to use for the week.  Planning around what you already have will prevent waste and save money.

3. Plan meals that use similar ingredients.

Don't plan a meal that uses a half cup of ricotta and then not have an idea of how you're going to use the rest of the container.  Plan a meal for later in the week that also uses ricotta.  Have roast chicken one night and then make a soup with the extra chicken the next.   Between this step and step #2, I've prevented a lot of waste and really been able to trim our grocery bill.

4.  Plan EVERY meal.

This is a step that I didn't really do until I started staying home.  I never really planned breakfast or lunch when I was working.  I just always tried to make sure we had cereal and random supplies (yogurt, string cheese, chips, etc.) to pack our lunches for the weekdays and then we usually made grilled cheese for Saturday lunches.  When I first started on maternity leave, L and I had peanut butter or grilled cheese so often that when she got hungry around lunch time she started asking me, "What do you want? Grilled cheese or peanut butter?"  It was about this time that I realized I needed to plan for lunches and breakfasts too.  There are days that I plan for grilled cheese because it's L's favorite, but we have days where we eat fish or leftovers.  And that brings me to my last step...

5. Make sure you plan for a few "clean the fridge" nights.

On a clean the fridge night, we get out all of the leftovers and try to eat them up.  You don't have to eat them the way you originally fixed them either.  Make a quesadilla with that leftover roast or chicken.  The other day I had leftover alfredo sauce and instead of making more noodles, I warmed it up and served it over fresh garden tomatoes.  It was delicious!  I usually plan a "leftover dinner" on nights that I know will be busy.  One night a week my husband attends a men's Bible study, so I know I won't get help cleaning up after dinner and that he has to eat quickly when he gets home in order to make it to Bible study on time.  It's a perfect night to clean out the fridge.  You may have kids in sports.  Plan leftover nights when you know you have to be out the door quick or you'll get home late.

Use the link below to download my menu planner sheet.  Each week before my shopping day, I print a new one off and sit down to plan all my meals for the next week.

FullSizeRender (5)

Menu Planner

I hope that you find these tips helpful.  What about you?  Do you have any additional tips or tricks that you use?

Erika
Influence Network
Food Lovers Devotional

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Follow Me

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: budget, meal plan, meal planning, plan meals, printable, save money

Copyright © 2021 · Full & Simple on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in