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The pace of the world just keeps getting quicker and quicker. Moms and Dads are so busy trying to keep up with work, school, afterschool activities and keeping our kids fed and clothed. To add to the overwhelming schedule you still have to keep up with house cleaning and organizing, dirty laundry and so much more.

I am going to share with you my favorite helpers for time management, planning and cooking meals, decorating and organizing without breaking the bank.  I really feel that with solid planning, great kitchen helpers and a organized and lovingly created  home  we can create a place of refuge and renewal for everyone in our families (even us, the overwhelmed moms).

Time Management

I use Calendar on my Imac for our family schedule and print it out on Monday mornings so that we are all on the same page for scheduling. I love this particular application because it syncs with my phone, ipad and the computer I use for travel. I try to use the same brand of communication electronics, mainly because  it is just easier to sync files especially contacts and email.  If I were a Windows gal I would for sure use Google Calendar it has apps for several platforms and I can’t think of very many people who do not have a Gmail account at this point in time.

Email takes up tons of time not only at work but at home as well.  I am in shopping mode for the best all-around program. I am not super in love with Mail on Mac…  Google Mail is looking pretty darn good and so is Microsoft Outlook.  Right now I am using Outlook for Mac and it does have a learning curve for this MADE FOR MAC girl but that is okay I love a challenge. One must have for  email programs is the ability to create folders and an easy way to deal with JUNK email. Outlook seems to work pretty well for this one and I have heard nothing but good things about Google Mail in this aspect.  I will update this ASAP. But for now, if you love what you have, then stick to it.  

I also keep a large grid calendar above my desk to give me the heads up on any holidays coming up.  I really love this one.

I use my Daily Agenda Sheet each morning to plan my day and each evening I jot down notes for the following day, especially unfinished tasks that did not get completed that day. I love my new version and you can grab it free by subscribing to Mommamcan.com

Here is where to sign up and  receive access to Free Printable Daily Agendas with Journaling Block and email updates!

Books I love For Productivity

Getting Things Done –  The Art of Stress Free Productivity  by David Allen – Honestly the best book ever on work and life organization.  The first time I was introduced to the David Allen method of productivity I was hooked.  I listened to the Audio CD and then bought the paperback to take notes.  I truly love it. You have to apply it to your life, just like any other method but it can do wonders to your time management.  Check out my post on Every Momma Needs  A Big Fat Inbox which was actually republished on  the GTD Blog a few years back.

Eat That Frog –  If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. Mark TwainThis quote from Mark Twain pretty much sums up the honest motivation you read in Brian Tracy’s book Eat That Frog. With over 1.5 million copies sold there is clearly some kind of  antiprocrastination magic happening. Learn how to tackle those TO DO lists like a pro and accept that there is not a magical method to complete 60 page TO DO lists but you can tackle that one nagging task that eats at your sanity so that you can move down the list like a wagon rolling down hill.  I really enjoyed this read and “eat my frog” every morning while drinking my second cup of coffee.

The Power of Habit “A first-rate book—based on an impressive mass of research, written in a lively style and providing just the right balance of intellectual seriousness with practical advice on how to break our bad habits.”—The Economist —-  I had to share the quote from the economist first because it really shares what the book is about in a nutshell. But I also need to share that once upon a time I was a smoker. I tried everything under the darn sun to quit, including patches, gum, begging for help, praying for help and whatever I could think of because I knew if I did not quit it would greatly affect my quality of life later.  This book was the key to my success and I have been a non-smoker now for four BEAUTIFUL years.  I did use the patch and chewed the gum for a while but eventually I just let the gum go and enjoyed my hot teas and hot baths that replaced that nasty, scary habit.

Time for Mom Me

What Successful People Do Before Breakfast

Many of the books above would rock Audible – which is one of my great escapes as I drive to Target for Mom-Me Time.  🙂

Videos/Movies This Live as a Busy Mom

• Mom’s Night Out – A Mom film that actually feels like a hug.  A really good one for stay at home moms and home school moms.
• Joy – Because deep inside we want to be Joy and rock the world with our awesome invention and mop the world with a big smile on our face as we take that cash to the bank.

Kitchen Helpers and Meal Planning

I plan my meals a week in advance.  It saves time, money and headaches. I try to make sure  the majority of the meals I cook are liked by the whole family within reason. I mean we cannot survive on chicken nuggets and fries every day so at least one person in my family is learning to broaden his palate. 🙂  (Not naming names here. lol)

Click here for a free printable weekly meal planning PDF with doodle spot for notes and fun.

My Favorite Foodie Books

The Whole 30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom
The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body’s Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast
Against All Grain
100 Days of Real Food
Eat To Live
Betty Crocker 

My Favorite Organizing Books

The Complete Book of Home Organization – I look at this book daily. 

The Life- Changing Magic Of Tidying Up – I did this program and really let go of quite a bit of clutter. However, I do not fold my socks or some of the other suggestions and I am doing pretty well in controling clutter. 
Please stay tuned. This page is a loving work in progress.

I hope you found the list helpful thus far, I will be adding to it frequently over the next week or so and am so excited to moving forward on several projects to help moms and dads starting saying Yes!

Yes to making cookies!  Yes to dinner at home! Yes to less clutter and more family time!