Well, it’s December, the last month of the year. Although I’m still getting things ready for Christmas, I also like to take time this month to prepare for the year ahead. I thought I’d share some things I do to try to make the year less hectic. Over the years I’ve found many services and blogs that are full of helpful things to help make a planning ahead easier. Hopefully y’all will find some of them helpful too!
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Organization
My home is usually chaotic by the time Christmas is over. There’s always new things coming in and old things that need to leave. A few years ago I discovered the blog Home Storage Solutions 101. Taylor has a 52 Week Organized House Challenge every year. There are little things to do every day that only take about 15 minutes. She has a printable calendar that list each task and it’s broken down room by room. The best thing about it is if you have more time you can do a little more that day. There are some weeks that are for rooms I don’t have at my house, like a garage or basement. If a room in my house needs more attention, I work in it on those days. Head on over and sign up for her emails to get the monthly calendar delivered right to your inbox. You and your house will be thankful for it!
Meal Prep
I’ve mentioned this one before and I’m saying it again – Once a Month Meals! Even if you only get a few items in the freezer it will make your month go so much easier! I used this service when I worked full time because they do all the planning for you. I still use the pie dough and pizza dough recipes to this day. The site has really grown in the past few years and there are so many options!
They have menus and recipes for 7 different types of dietary needs.
- Traditional
- Paleo
- Gluten Free/Dairy Free
- Egg Free
- Real Food
- Vegetarian
- Diet
They have resources for:
- planning menus
- making a shopping list
- how to prep the meals for the freezer
- how to freeze and reheat the meals
You can access most of their resources for free, but if you become a member, which is $16 a month, you can customize and save your menus. Try one of their December meal plans to see how you like it!
Home Life
I really like doing things myself, in case you can’t tell! My family has always made jelly and put up produce for later use. I have a husband that hunts so he brings home most of the meat we use. Taking care of my family in my own way is very important to me.
If you’re into this kind of thing, then Molly Green Magazine is for you! It’s an online magazine that offers way more than any other magazine subscription I have seen. They have resources for everything you need to know about home keeping
, home steading, home schooling, and home industry.
You can get a membership for just $3.95 a month! That’s a steal because this is what you get access to:
- Back issues of the magazine, all the way back to 2009!
- eBook collection
- Perk partner offers
- Planner collection
- Printables
- Media Libray
- Plus much more!
That’s a whole lot of resources for such a small price! They have a “challenge” calendar for each month which is really fun. It has different activities for each day that just help build family time. I always find something useful here and the price can’t be beat!
Personal Growth
I don’t mean to sound like a self help guru (because I’m certainly not) but you have to take care of YOU before you can take care of anyone else. It’s easy to get lost in taking care of a household, a family, and working full time. Taking time for yourself is important so you don’t feel like you’re losing your identity. This can create tension and unhappiness in yourself which spills over onto those you love. These are some great places to find inspiration for taking care of yourself!
Self Motivation
I’ve recently discovered Whippy Cake. No, it’s not a delicious desert, but a person! Not only does her site have great advice on hair, fashion, and beauty, but she also has a Girl in Progress series. This is an awesome place to find some self motivation and self care tips!
Exercise
It’s also important to take care of your physical health. I am not a physical fitness junkie, so this one is hard for me! Since I’ve lost my thyroid it’s become even harder. I discovered Blogilates earlier this year and I really love the monthly workout calendar. It’s something different every day, so I don’t lose interest as easily. Plus, it’s mostly pilates, not so much cardio, which is easier on the joints. This is something I try to keep up with, but definitely need to work on! Just sign up for the emails and get access to the calendar – simple!
Beauty and Fashion
Something I’ve learned over the years – if you look good, you feel good. Dressing in a way that makes you feel like a million bucks increases your self esteem. When you feel good about your outward appearance, it makes you feel better on the inside. It doesn’t have to be rocket science to look put together. In the picture I’ve simply paired a swing dress and blanket scarf from Cents of Style. Add some cute boots and you’ve got comfortable style! By the way, these blanket scarves are on sale for $12.95 with free shipping this weekend! Just use the code BLANKETGIFT16 at checkout.
I’ve recently found a Mary Kay consultant that I love! She is personal, helpful, and makes me feel like I’m talking to a friend. I tried their CC cream and I’m hooked for life! My skin is very pale with lots of freckles. Anything I’ve tried in the past just did not blend in well. This cream blends in great, is light weight, and doesn’t leave me with a dreaded makeup line. You can find her at http://www.marykay.com/lynnwalls7264.
Okay y’all, I think I’ve bent your ears for long enough today! See you back here on Monday! Have a great weekend!
