Oh September.
Does anyone else kind of feel like this month is sneaky CRAZY? I mean, we all expect to be busy come the holidays but September with it’s schedules, lunches, and forms is JUST A LITTLE MUCH. This is the first time I have had two little ones in “school”. That means double the class emails, play-doh month contributors, teacher gifts…add in some soccer, golf lessons and birthday parties and we are exactly the parents I never thought we would be…
However, since things aren’t getting any simpler around here, I am trying out a few new routines to help simplify things and keep my sanity this fall.
ONE- Meal Planning
I will have very limited time this year with no kiddos, and I have VOWED to stop going to the grocery store every day because I can’t get my act together to think past one day. I am working on a 4-week meal plan with the intent to shop for groceries for a one or two week period. So far, I have made some major improvements but I haven’t been able to completely pull this off because I still always manage to forget something. I am hoping a little practice will help with this? If you have figured this one out, I would love your tips.
TWO- Capsule Wardrobe
A few weeks back I shared that I am putting together a fall capsule wardrobe this season. So far, so good. Although it has been a bit hot to really wear most of what I assembled (lots of sweaters and vests) but the lower temps should be arriving in a few weeks and I will be ready!
THREE- Weekly Date Night
This was something we were pretty good at last spring but lost momentum over summer with schedules being so sporadic. The Big Sweet and I are back on with weekly date nights and it really does help keep us connected… and keep my sanity.
Watch | Necklace | Rug (mine was actually a DIY inspired by this one, tutorial coming soon) | Neutral Clutch
FOUR- Lunches Made Easy (or easier)
Ah yes, the dreaded daily morning lunch packing process. I was sick of piecing together lunch boxes and thermoses so I finally decided to order some matching lunch boxes, ice packs and food containers. It was an investment but I figure it is one that will pay off in the long run- remember this is all about santity. This one is so small but really does help to make me smile in the mornings. #itsthelittlethings
Also, notice how everything is blue or green… I assigned a color to each boy. One is green and one is blue. This has definitely helped in reducing the amount of sippy cups and toothbrush confusion. #sanity
Lunch Box, Ice Packs, Lunch Box Containers, Water Bottles
Do you have any new routines you are trying? The big one for me I wish I could commit to is the 6am wake up, but this one I have yet to accomplish.
If you are trying to get into your routine this fall I have a great way to help you stay on track. You may have noticed my new Wood Watch in the images above? It’s a Jord Wood Watch in Zebrawood and Maple. Well, I am excited to have partnered with them to be able to give away one to you as well. (it’s really easy to enter!) You can see my watch here and the other options here.
I am not kidding when I say complete strangers have come up to me to tell me they like my watch.
The contest will close 9/25 at 11:59pm.
Have you tried any of the meal planning online options such as savingdinner.com, hello fresh, blue apron, etc….I am sure there are many more that can streamline the meal planning and then provide you with a shopping list which is what saving dinner does where as the other two I mentioned will actually send you the recipes and food directly to our house. I think you would be surprised at how reasonable they are especially if you are making daily trips to the grocery!
Trying to make sure my son is up and ready for school in time, that’s new for me this year. We’re both adjusting as best we can lol.
I just had to write a quick comment to share…the lunch box photo literally made me laugh out loud. About 15 months ago we assigned a color to each kid. Our oldest is green, the middle is blue, and the baby is purple. We have those exact same lunch boxes, with the exact same water bottles, and the same ice packs. We must have some great minds!! Also, if you can get in the habit, pack lunch boxes as soon as the kids get home from school. SO much easier than trying to deal with it in the morning. We just started doing that this year and it makes mornings a little bit less hectic.
Heather,
Sounds like you have your act together! I think it is very important to have a weekly date night with hubby. Glad you can incorporate that into your week. 🙂
Very pretty and unique watches, thx for giveaway!
Heather, I did not see how to enter the contest to win the watch.
Always love your ideas and I think Baby having Blue and Little P having Green is working out great. They know their colors already! I wish I could do the clothing capsule thing, but I have too many to choose from AND I have been purging! I am trying to stick with just a few colors and it is helping. Also staying out of the stores helps! You will figure out the meal thing…It takes time! Keep some staples in your pantry and you won’t have to run to store all the time. Especially ones you would use a lot…black beans, pasta sauce, kidney beans, vinegar, etc. Glad to see that you are back to date nights!
“Meal planning” has really helped me. I have a list of about 15 meals that we eat regularly. And don’t forget about the frozen pizza option, for the nights that you just cant. Then I pick 5 or so, depending on the week. I look through the pantry and fridge/freezer to see what I have. Add the stuff I don’t to my grocery app. Plus o add stuff to the app as we run out throughout the week. Then, I have a plan and purpose when I head to the grocery. I certainly forget stuff regularly, but it’s really helped. AND… I barely throw any food away any more, because it has a plan of course you need your breakfast and lunch stuff too, but that seems easier to me. Good luck mama.
I love your system. You really inspire me when together, especially with how you just deal with your little guys allergies like a champ. xoxo