If you are Mom to anyone in your life, whether the role came to you because you gave birth to a passel of kids, or you took on the role for someone who needed it, you know that even though Mother’s Day has been set aside as your official day off, chances are, you are still going to be doing a lot that day. Breakfast in bed may be part of the tradition, flowers may be delivered, or someone may be taking you out for a nice meal, but in between all the celebrating and pampering, you know you still have a hundred different things on your mind that you want to get done. Whether it is Mother’s Day, or any other day of the year, you have a lot to do and never enough time to do it all!
So in honor of Mother’s Day for women everywhere, we’d like to offer these simple tips to make your life easier, or to make a task you do every day go more quickly.
Meal Planning
No time to shop for dinner? Have breakfast for dinner. Serve up a quick morning favorite…scrambled eggs, pancakes, fruit salad…whatever you’ve got on hand.
Prepare make-ahead dinners. Prep and freeze crock pot ingredients in a freezer bag. When you need a quick meal, place the bag in the fridge the night before to thaw. Place in crockpot in morning, add liquid, and cook according to directions. You’ll get home to a ready-to-serve, home-cooked meal for everyone.
Make-ahead for a quick breakfast. Clean and chop smoothie ingredients like kale, then add mixed berries, sliced bananas, and freeze. Toss in blender with yogurt or juice for a healthy smoothie on the run.
Simplify seasonings and sauces: Make-ahead herb butter to use for cooking veggies or meats. Chop your favorite seasonings such as fresh garlic, scallions, basil, rosemary, and parsley. Mix with butter, or butter/olive oil mixture. Chill, slice, and freeze for use anytime. This tip alone can save you 10 minutes of prep time for most meals!
Save the wine! Don’t open a new bottle of wine every time you need some for cooking. Freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays for use in recipes on another day.
Don’t settle for hard, lumpy brown sugar. Instead, just add 1-2 large marshmallows to a bag or box of brown sugar to stop it from clumping.
Leftover cake? Add slices of bread to the cut side of the cake to keep it moist and fresh without all that foil and plastic wrap.
Time Savers for Household
Save dryer time: Keep your dryer lint screen clean. Wash with soap and water. Your dryer will be more efficient and dry times shorter.
No more stinky sponges: Place used sponges in the dishwasher to disinfect the easy way.
Broken glass on the counter or floor? Use play-doh or clay to pick up the smaller shards, wrap up carefully before throwing away.
Clean and freshen your microwave with lemon. Slice in half and squeeze juice in a microwave safe bowl with water. Add lemon halves, microwave for 4 minutes. Then wipe down your steam cleaned and fresh microwave.
Keep lint brushes handy. Use lint brushes to clean up lampshades, upholstery, plant leaves, even touch up area rugs when a hurry.
Freshen up the kitchen or bathroom fast. Place pop-up cleaning wipes under every sink in the house and be ready for quick touch ups.
Make dish duty easier. After dinner, rinse and place the pots and pans, or any items that don’t go in the dishwasher, in a hot soapy water sink. Get back to it a bit later after taking care of other evening chores or a favorite show. It’s a lot quicker and easier to clean after soaking.
Organize To Stay On Time
Wasting time trying to get out the door? Have a place for your keys, sunglasses, wallet, any items that you are scrambling to find daily.
Avoid paper piles. Keep all school papers requiring attention in one spot. You won’t have to go through piles of mail and paperwork to find what you’re looking for.
Use lists! Stay organized with smartphone apps… or an old fashioned pen and paper.
Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee. Get a coffee maker with an auto start timer and set up the night before.
Be gym ready! Keep your gym bag stocked, clothes, snack, water bottle, whatever you need. Keep in the car or at home where you won’t forget it.
Sorting sock insanity? Buy one brand specific to each child or family member. Laundry sock sorting will be so much easier!
Sheet searching? Keep matching sheet sets together by tucking folded sheets into the pillowcase. Makes storing simple.
