It sure doesn’t feel like Monday to me. David traveled last week and really wasn’t home until Saturday night, which made yesterday seem like a Saturday. Not the most fun way to feel mixed up, but hey, it is what it is!
On the bright side, I accomplished a lot this weekend with the extra nap and after-bed solo time allotted to me. I’m caught up on the organization challenge and going strong!
Our shoe closet wasn’t terrible, but it sure needed a good clean out and reorganization. The before was cluttered with items that didn’t have a proper home. I’m finding that’s the route of all chaos. All items need to have a designated spot or they get thrown haphazardly into a corner and haunt you.
After sending 3 bags to Goodwill and getting a small basket for hair tools, the space felt so much more simplified.
I also checked off the items of tidying the front porch, but am not wild about posting pictures of the outside of my house, so you’ll have to take my word for it. I also cleaned up the bathrooms and rid them of excess magazines while stocking with toilet paper and soap. Pictures of that aren’t all that exciting. However, the car… that was exciting.
My car looked like the quintessential mom car. It was cluttered, messy and littered with snack foods. Yes, I’m embarrassed.
A thorough clean-out and an intense vacuuming made it feel like a new car! I think moms with toddlers should be required to do this once a month for their own sanity. I can’t remember the last time Hailey ate a Cheerio, yet I vacuumed up a handful. Ew.
The pantry is picture-ready too, but more of that later this week.
This organization focus is proving to a lot of work, but by taking it in bite-sized chunks, it’s manageable. I feel like I’m falling in love with my house again and feeling like the organized, collected woman I’ve always wanted to be. I’m determined to not let things get so out of hand again. Fingers crossed!
The good feeling I have makes up for life’s everyday messes. Like when the dog gets into the pantry when you aren’t home and destroys the cocoa powder. Ugh.
It’s like having a rebellious teenager. We’re working on it.
I also got all meal planning done Saturday and am excited for this week’s meals.
Sunday– David’s Famous Chili & Cornbread
Monday– Roasted Salmon over One-Pot Kale & Quinoa Pilaf
The pilaf is easy and INCREDIBLE. I highly recommend trying it out one night!
Tuesday– Birthday boy’s choice! Homemade Chicken Nachos Supreme
Wednesday– Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Roasted Broccoli
Photo from PreventionRD
Thursday– Slow Cooker White Bean Soup with Andouille Sausage and Collard Greens
Friday– Homemade Pizza (of course)
I found time to do some simple food prep consisting of washing and chopping all the greens. Plus, a few more tomato paste blobs ready for the freezer.
Now it’s all systems go, ready for another week!
What is one thing that you do over the weekend that makes you feel prepared for the upcoming week?
No doubt, it’s meal planning and food prep for me. Having laundry under control helps, too!
Kristen says
Your menu this week looks awesome! that soup sounds incredible!
Brittany Dixon says
It’s a first time recipe for me, so I have my fingers crossed that it is as good as it sounds!
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl says
I so agree with you on cleaning out the car. It always makes me feel so good. I’m going to try that kale pilaf…. looks yummy.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
My daughter’s birthday is just a day after your husbands! Have fun celebrating this week. Ohhh, that cocoa mess… there’s always something, huh? 🙂
Danica @ It's Progression says
Meal planning definitely helps me feel prepared for the weekend – I actually do a lot of homecooked meals over Friday-Sunday so that there are a ton of leftovers for the week ahead. It works out really well! Plus it gets rid of any temptation to eat out over the weekend 🙂
April says
LOVE homemade pizza on Friday nights!
Your home organization challenge has definitely inspired me to de-clutter the hidden areas of my home. Your car looks amazing!
When we still had a dog, he would pull things from our pantry a lot… the worst one was the time he gnawed the lid off of a bottle of buffalo sauce on our cream carpet!!!
I usually do NO prep on the weekends and save it all for Monday. I need to step it up. 😉
Brittany Dixon says
Buffalo sauce on cream carpets?! I would have cried! Did you get it out?
Even with just the cocoa, I sent David a picture and said I’m just going to buy a new rug (ha!). Luckily it came up fairly well!
Danielle says
One time my (13 pound) dog got into the pantry and ate nearly an entire 2 pound bag of walnuts. He pooped walnuts for almost a week 😉
Meal planning, grocery shopping, and cleaning are all things I have to get done in order for the week not to feel like chaos, but also getting all my uniform items washed and put back together and ready to wear is a big thing. And surprisingly time consuming. I hate ironing!
Jessica says
Meal planning/grocery list for sure. My 18 month old son is usually always with me when I do our big shop so its crucial I am super organized or I end up going to the store every 2-3 days and spending a ton more.
I meal plan, make my list in order of the path we take through the grocery store, and then clip coupons if there are any I can use. This usually takes me at least 45 minutes but it is So. Worth it. I’m almost 22 weeks pregnant with our second and I got out of the habit in the first trimester. Feels so good to do it again.
Your car looks great! A breath of fresh air.
Brittany Dixon says
Wow, I’m so impressed with your organization! Coupons is one thing I’m terrible at but would like to learn more about.
And congrats on being 22 weeks! I hope you’re enjoying the second tri as much as I am 🙂
Jessica says
I am enjoying it, thanks! I never miss the first trimester. 🙂 Its a much different pregnancy than with my son. I am more tired and she is calmer movement wise.
I TRY to be organized. I have to be hard on myself about it because give me an inch and I’ll take a mile when it comes to that. 😛
Kim says
Great job with the organizing! I’m pretty well organized here myself, but want to try a better strategy in our kitchen cabinets this week. Laundry and meal planning for the following week over the weekend always makes me feel more on top of things!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Great job on all of the organization! I finally got around to going through and organizing the pantry last week. It felt SO good! I love to meal plan and make my grocery list over the weekend. It makes me feel prepped for the week and ready for the grocery store on Monday.
Mike @ Midwestern Bite says
You need to teach my wife a little more patience with our dogs. (OK, my dog.) She’s… uhm… spirited. And if Jo posted about Sadie getting into the pantry (again) the internet would be shocked by her torrent of profanity.
Brittany Dixon says
Have no doubt that David gets to hear the full on first reaction of Koda’s antics (Daaaviiddddddd ughhhhh KOD-AHHHHHH!!!) haha. She’s never been like this, so the only thing that makes me feel bad is that I feel like it’s out fault for lack of attention.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Definitely meal planning, shopping for the food, and cleaning the house. All those things help me feel prepared for the week ahead! Oh no, Koda got into cocoa powder?! Hope she felt okay afterwards!
Brittany Dixon says
At first I couldn’t find her and was running around frantically scared out of my mind that she was sick. When I saw her bouncing around playfully, that’s when I got mad! Luckily she is a-ok, but need to get better on doggy discipline. We’re back to crate training for now!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
aww…Poor Koda! She must be going through some weird stage. Ryder is in his “terrible 2’s”. which isn’t too bad, except he never wants to come when we call him in the house. He just looks at us like “you really want me to get up from this bed…are you crazy?”
Ali says
I clean the house! I hate starting the week with the house a pit. I also decided to take your 30 days to organization plan, tailor it and do it for the short month of february!
Jen says
I’m so impressed by your organizing! Now please send some motivation my way! 🙂
Dawn @ OfficeGymRepeat says
Awesome organizing skills. I meant to get around to reorganizing my bedroom closet but it just didn’t happen! I did do some kitchen prep work for the week though… that has to count for something 🙂
Maria says
My car is always immaculate and still smells new even though I bought it in 2010. My mom friends say “just you wait!”. Haha.
I try to have all my laundry done by Sunday night so that come Monday morning, I’m not staring at everything in my closet and moaning.
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, you might be just fine! My car was never immaculate (given it was never this bad either) before kids, so you might just get to show me up 😉
Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift says
Having meal prep done (or at least all my produce washed and chopped!) and my bedroom and desk clean and tidy is CRUCIAL for me. I work from home two days a week, so I need my “office” space ready for business.
And can we talk about how I’m dying over that chicken salad sandwich? Holy moly!
Lauren B. says
Definitely meal planning and stocking up on groceries are the two ways I get ready for the week. I’ve recently decided that I can only do the shopping on Saturdays, because the store is a zoo on Sunday and monday!
Those homemade nachos sparked a craving in me- might have to add them to my plan this week!
Matt @ Runner Savvy says
Please come and organize for me!
Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run. says
We did some meal planning and prep over the weekend as well, but what is most exciting was the cleaning and organizing we did! I took a page from your book and we spent 6 hours on Sunday morning tidying up. The kitchen is all organized now, as well as all of my “gear”, the living room and the office (plus paperwork has been gone through and shredded if not needed)! We feel so much better with it all done and not seeing any little clutter piles all over anymore.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
Your meals look delicious! The Buffalo chicken salad sandwich looks like a tasty lunch 🙂