Summer Planning Questions

summer planning
I have been wearing flip-flops all week.
And it’s 82 degrees outside as I write this, which is amazing for Oregon in early May.
But I’m getting excited about summer!

Usually around this time of year, my husband and I sit down, look at the calendar and do some Lord-willing-planning for the summer ahead of us.
Keeping in mind that…

“The point is fruitfulness, 
not efficiency.
You should want to be fruitful 
like a tree, 
not efficient like a machine.” ~D. Wilson

And remembering that my favorite summer was probably–
The summer we didn’t do anything.

But just in case you’re a-bit-of-a-planner, like I am,
or even if you just want to be a bit more intentional about this next summer…
I wanted to share our summer planning questions with you.

And in the comments below, I’d love to hear some of your fun summer ideas!

 

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring… Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ~James 4:13-15

 

boots

Summer Planning Questions to Consider:

What places would we like to visit locally this summer?

What specific educational goals do we have for each child?

What 3 books (or more) would I like to read this summer?

How am I going to spend time in God’s Word?

What am I hoping to study in the Bible?

Are there any friendships we’d especially like to invest in this summer?

What household tasks do I need to keep up on?

Are we planning to take any extended trips or vacations?

What reoccurring weekly activities would we like to include?

Are there any specific skills we’d like our children to learn over the summer?

How am I going to invest in my marriage this summer?

What are some easy (or new) meals that I’d like to make this summer?

What specific character traits or heart issues do we need to work on with our children or as a family?

Are there any specific skills I’d like to work on over the summer?

How can I make sure we have down time?

Are there any fun movies we’d like to watch together?

How/where will we celebrate any birthdays, holidays or special occasions?

What will hospitality look like for us this summer?

Is anyone coming to stay?

Who do we want to invite over?

Does my husband have anything that is important to him to include?

Do we have any house project goals?

What will our kiddos’ summer chores include (now that they’ll have a bit more free time)?

What are some “fill-in” activities that we’d like to do more often (Legos, reading, painting, nature walks)?

Are there any schedules I need to collect to keep with my summer calendars (libraries, farmer’s markets, community theaters)?

How are we going to serve in our community, church, and/or neighborhood?

Do we have any other goals for the summer that I haven’t included elsewhere?

We’re getting close to June !!!
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…

And please share your summer plans or ideas below!

Love,

Kara @The Chuppies

Bi-Weekly Meal Plan for April 1-14

Welcome to The Better Mom’s bi-weekly meal planning schedule!

Strawberry-Feta-Salad-TNH

FEATURED RECIPE: Strawberries are now in season and this delicious Strawberry-Feta Salad is the perfect way to showcase their sweet flavor. Beautiful salads are easy to create when you use a glass trifle bowl. Simple layer the ingredients in a pleasing pattern to create a stunning salad that looks as fabulous as it tastes! This is just one of the many delightful recipes featured in this week’s meal plan.

As women striving to serve the Lord and our families better, meal planning is a wonderful strategy to help you provide a healthy,
 home-cooked meal with the awesome added benefit
 of saving time, money and stress!

In addition to the two meal plan charts below, is a list of links to many of the recipes featured.
 Our hope is that this will be a great resource
 and encouragement for you whether you’re just getting started with meal planning, or are a seasoned expert.

We’d also like to provide you with a free meal planning template perfect for creating your own weekly meal plans. Select from the following two options:
• Meal plan template PDF

• Meal plan template EXCEL

To learn more about meal planning, please check out my FREE Video Course: Mastering Meal Planning(To print the meal plans provided below, simply click on the images and they will open into a new window for easier printing.)

New Meal Plan 44aNew Meal Plan 44b
Recipe Links for Week of April 1:

(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free

(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, April 1
• Dinner: New–Hawaiian Chicken(GF), Wild Rice & Asparagus and Sourdough Rolls
• Lunch: Greek Hummus Dip w/Raw Veggie Kabobs & Grain-Free Crackers(GF) and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Pineapple-Coconut Muffins(GF) and Eggs Over Easy

Tuesday, April 2
• Dinner: Turkey Joes(GF), Apple-Carrot Coleslaw(GF) and Cultured Pickles • Lunch: Hawaiian Chicken(GF), Subs and Raw Veggies w/Ranch Dip(GF)
• Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Leftover Pineapple-Coconut Muffins(GF)

Wednesday, April 3
• Dinner: Fettuccine Alfredo w/Balsamic Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad w/Raw Honey Mustard Dressing(GF)
• Lunch: Leftover Turkey Joes(GF) and Coleslaw(GF)
• Breakfast: Cinnamon-Maple Crunch Oatmeal(Gluten-Free Option) and Boiled Eggs

Thursday, April 4
• Dinner: New–Strawberry-Feta Salad(GF) w/Leftover Balsamic Grilled Chicken(GF)
• Lunch: Chicken Salad(GF) Sandwiches and Clementines
• Breakfast: Homemade Granola(Gluten-Free Option) w/Dried Fruit, Nuts & Almond Milk

Friday, April 5
• Dinner: Minestrone Soup(Gluten-Free Option), Leftover Salad & Rolls w/Butter
• Dessert: New–Nut Butter Cookies(GF)
• Lunch: Strawberry Cream Cheese Roll-Ups and Raw Veggies w/Ranch Dip(GF)
• Breakfast: Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt(GF) and Boiled Eggs

Saturday, April 6
• Dinner: Grilled Veggie Quesadilla Sandwiches w/Guacamole(GF), Lacto-Ferm Salsa(GF) and Cultured Sour Cream
• Lunch: Leftover Minestrone Soup & Rolls w/Butter
• Breakfast: Healthier Cinnamon Toast, Scrambled Eggs and Clementines

Sunday, April 7
• Dinner: Grilled Shrimp & Veggie Kebobs(GF) and Saffron Rice(Gluten-Free)
• Lunch: Grilled Turkey Reubens and Cultured Pickles
• Breakfast: Power Pancakes w/Berries, Scrambled Eggs and Nitrate-Free Bacon

Recipe Links for Week of April 8:
(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free

(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, April 8
• Dinner: New–Crockpot Stuffed Pepper w/Ground Turkey and Mashed Potatoes
• Lunch: BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado & Tomato) Wraps and Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Berries
• Breakfast: Honey-Cream & Berries Oatmeal(Gluten-Free Option) and Boiled Eggs

Tuesday, April 9
• Dinner: Grilled Herb Chicken(GF), Leftover Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
• Lunch: Turkey, Spinach & Raw Wrap and Fruit Salad
• Breakfast: Leftover Power Pancakes and Boiled Eggs

Wednesday, April 10
• Breakfast 4 Dinner: French Toast Casserole, Sausage Patties and Fruit Salad
• Lunch: Avocado Egg Salad(GF) and Cucumber-Tomato Salad
• Breakfast: Buttermilk Biscuits and Eggs Over Easy

Thursday, April 11
• Dinner: Veggie Stirfry(Gluten-Free) w/Leftover Grilled Chicken
• Lunch: Nut Butter, Banana & Raw Honey Wrap and Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Diced Pears
• Breakfast: Sausage & Egg Biscuits and Fruit Salad

Friday, April 12
• Dinner: Italian Sausage & Bean Soup(GF), Mesclun Salad w/Raw Honey Mustard Dressing(GF) and Sourdough Rolls w/Butter
• Lunch: Tuna Salad(GF) w/Grain-Free Crackers(GF) and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Mixed Berries, Granola & Nuts and Boiled Eggs

Saturday, April 13
• Dinner: Pesto Pasta(Gluten-Free Option) w/Sliced Nitrate-Free Sweet Italian Sausage and Mesclun Salad w/Ranch Dressing(GF)
• Dessert: Hot Apple Crisp(GF) w/Vanilla Ice Cream
• Lunch: Leftover Soup, Salad & Rolls
• Breakfast: Apple Pie Breakfast Porridge(Gluten-Free) and Boiled Eggs

Sunday, April 14
• Dinner: New–Savory Salmon Cakes, Sweet Potato Fries and Steamed Broccoli
• Lunch: Carrot-Cheddar(GF) Sandwiches and Pineapple Slices
• Breakfast: Cheesy-Basil Eggs(GF) and Toast w/Butter

Always a treat to share ideas and healthy recipes! Let’s give thanks to the Lord for providing us the opportunity to nourish our families in this way! See you in two weeks!

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

Bi-Weekly Meal Plan for February 4–17

Welcome to The Better Mom’s bi-weekly meal planning schedule!

Cookie-Boys-Stirring

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: Spending time in the kitchen with your kiddos not only enables you to teach them valuable cooking and healthy eating skills, it’s also just plain FUN! That’s why we’re featuring a few simple, classic recipes that are certain to get your kids excited about cooking. Each of the Kids in the Kitchen recipes are marked accordingingly in the recipe links below. For more fun ideas and kid-friendly recipes, including a FREE Cooking with Kids of All Ages printable, visit “The Nourishing Home.”

As women striving to serve the Lord and our families better, meal planning is a wonderful strategy to help you provide a healthy,
 home-cooked meal with the awesome added benefit
 of saving time, money and stress!

In addition to the two meal plan charts below, is a list of links to many of the recipes featured.
 Our hope is that this will be a great resource
 and encouragement for you whether you’re just getting started with meal planning, or are a seasoned expert.

We’d also like to provide you with a free meal planning template perfect for creating your own weekly meal plans. Select from the following two options:
• Meal plan template PDF
• Meal plan template EXCEL

To learn more about meal planning, please check out my FREE Video Course: Mastering Meal Planning. (To print the meal plans provided below, simply click on the images and they will open into a new window for easier printing.)
New Meal Plan 40aNew Meal Plan 40b

Recipe Links for Week of Feb 4:
(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free

(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, February 4
• Dinner: Taco Salad(GF), Crockpot Pinto Beans(GF) and Guacamole(GF), Lacto-Ferm Salsa(GF) and Cultured Sour Cream
• Lunch: Turkey, Spinach & Raw Wrap and Fruit Salad
• Breakfast: Cinnamon Streusel Muffins(GF), Eggs Over Easy and Fruit Smoothie(Kids in the Kitchen)

Tuesday, February 5
• Dinner: Turkey-Veggie Guacamole Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries(Kids in the Kitchen) and Carribean Carrot Salad(GF)
• Lunch: Leftover Taco Salad(GF) and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Greek Yogurt Banana Splits(Kids in the Kitchen) and Toast w/Butter

Wednesday, February 6
• Dinner: Veggie Penne Sauté(Gluten-Free Option) and Mesclun Salad w/Honey-Mustard Dressing(GF)
• Lunch: Mini-Turkey Burger Sliders and Leftover Carribean Carrot Salad(GF)
• Breakfast: Toad-n-the-Hole(Kids in the Kitchen) and Strawberries w/Vanilla Yogurt(GF)

Thursday, February 7
• Dinner: Lemon-Garlic Chicken(GF), Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
• Lunch: Nut Butter, Banana & Raw Honey Wrap(GF Option) and Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Diced Pears
• Breakfast: Soaked Oatmeal w/Ripe Pear & Raw Honey and Boiled Eggs

Friday, February 8
• Dinner: Fish Tacos w/Guacamole(GF), Black Beans and Basmati Rice
•Dessert: Apple Streusel Cake(GF)
• Lunch: Greek Salad Wrap and Cultured Pickles
• Breakfast: Mixed Berry Muffins(GF) and Poached Eggs

Saturday, February 9
• Dinner: Stone Soup(Kids in the Kitchen), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF)
• Lunch: Pesto Pasta and Raw Veggies w/Ranch Dip(Kids in the Kitchen) 
• Breakfast: Veggie Egg Scramble and Leftover Mixed Berry Muffins(GF)

Sunday, February 10
• Dinner: Shepherd’s Pie(GF), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF)
• Lunch: Leftover Stone Soup, Rolls and Salad
• Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Coconut Flour Pancakes and Mixed Berries

Recipe Links for Week of February 11:
(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free

(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, February 11
• Dinner: Minestrone Soup(Gluten-Free Option), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Ranch Dressing(GF)
• Lunch: Carrot-Cheddar(GF) Sandwiches and Pineapple Slices
• Breakfast: Cheesy-Basil Eggs(GF) and Toast w/Butter

Tuesday, February 12
• Dinner: Grilled Herb Chicken(GF), Wild Rice and Green Beans
• Lunch: Leftover Minestrone Soup, Rolls and Salad
• Breakfast: Baked Apple Oatmeal(Gluten-Free Option) w/Walnuts and Poached Eggs

Wednesday, February 13
• Breakfast for Dinner: French Toast, Homemade Sausage Patties and Fruit Salad
• Lunch: Chicken Salad(GF) Sandwiches and Fruit Salad
• Breakfast: Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits(Kids in the Kitchen) and Boiled Eggs

Thursday, February 14
• Dinner: Veggie Stirfry(Gluten-Free) w/Leftover Grilled Chicken
• Lunch: Avocado Egg Salad(GF) and Cucumber-Tomato Salad
• Breakfast: Leftover French Toast, Sausage Patties & Fruit Salad

Friday, February 15
• Dinner: Crockpot Turkey-Veggie Chili over Basmati Rice and Organic Cornbread
• Lunch: Tuna Salad(GF) w/Grain-Free Crackers(GF) and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Homemade Granola(Gluten-Free Option) w/Mixed Dried Berries & Almond Milk

Saturday, February 16
• Dinner: Personal Veggie Pizzas(Kids in the Kitchen)  and Garden Salad w/Ranch Dressing(Kids in the Kitchen) 
* Dessert: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies(Kids in the Kitchen) 
• Lunch: Chili Dogs and Carribean Carrot Salad(GF)
• Breakfast: Strawberry Shortcakes w/Vanilla Yogurt(GF) and Boiled Eggs

Sunday, February 17
• Dinner: Grilled Fish Provencal(GF) and Wild Rice w/Steamed Asparagus
• Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches and Homemade Applesauce(Kids in the Kitchen) 
• Breakfast: Nuts for Pumpkin Bread, Poached Eggs and Vanilla Yogurt(GF)

Always a treat to share ideas and healthy recipes! Let’s give thanks to the Lord for providing us the opportunity to nourish our families in this way! See you in two weeks!

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

Bi-Weekly Meal Plan for January 21 – February 3

Welcome to The Better Mom’s bi-weekly meal planning schedule!

crockpot-beef-stew

FEATURED RECIPES: This week’s meal plan features some delicious homemade soups and stews perfect for those chilly winter nights. In fact, each week this month, you’ll find a new favorite Wintertime soup & stew recipe at The Nourishing Home, which we’ll be sharing here in the bi-weekly meal plans as well.

As women striving to serve the Lord and our families better, meal planning is a wonderful strategy to help you provide a healthy,
 home-cooked meal with the awesome added benefit
 of saving time, money and stress!

In addition to the two meal plan charts below, is a list of links to many of the recipes featured.
 Our hope is that this will be a great resource
 and encouragement for you whether you’re just getting started with meal planning, or are a seasoned expert.

We’d also like to provide you with a free meal planning template perfect for creating your own weekly meal plans. Select from the following two options:
• Meal plan template PDF
• Meal plan template EXCEL

To learn more about meal planning, please check out: Mastering Meal Planning. To print the meal plans provided below, simply click on the images and they will open into a new window for easier printing.
New Meal Plan 39a New Meal Plan 39b

Recipe Links for Week of January 21:
(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free
(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, January 21
• Dinner: Lots-O-Broccoli Soup(GF), Garden Salad w/Ranch Dressing(GF) and Sourdough Rolls w/Butter
• Lunch: Greek Hummus Dip(GF), Raw Veggie Kabobs, Grain-Free Crackers(GF) and Pear Slices
• Breakfast: Pumpkin Pie Muffins(GF), Boiled Eggs and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Tuesday, January 22
• Dinner: Grilled Pineapple Chicken(GF) w/Pineapple Salsa(GF), Crockpot Black Beans(GF), Rice and Fried Plantains
• Lunch: Apple-n-Cream Cheese Roll-Ups and Raw Veggies w/Ranch Dip(GF)
• Breakfast: Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt(GF) w/Jumbleberry Jam(GF) and Leftover Pumpkin Pie Muffins(GF)

Wednesday, January 23
• Dinner: Spaghetti w/Turkey Meatballs(GF) and Mesclun Salad w/Raw Honey Mustard Dressing(GF)
• Lunch: Chicken Dunkers “Lunchables” and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Apple Pie Breakfast Porridge(Gluten-Free) and Boiled Eggs

Thursday, January 24
• Dinner: Grilled Fish w/Leftover Pineapple Salsa(GF), Scalloped Potatoes(GF) and Steamed Broccoli
• Lunch: Avocado Egg Salad(GF) Egg Salad Sandwiches and Cultured Pickles
• Breakfast: Eggs Over Easy and Leftover Pumpkin Pie Muffins(GF)

Friday, January 25
• Dinner: Toasted Sourdough Turkey Meatballs(GF) Subs and Carribean Carrot Salad(GF)
• Lunch: Nut Butter w/Homemade Jam Bagels and Fruit Salad
• Breakfast: Homemade Granola(Gluten-Free Option) w/Dried Fruits, Nuts & Almond Milk

Saturday, January 26
• Dinner: Black Bean(GF), Rice & Cheese Burritos w/Guacamole(GF), Lacto-Ferm Salsa(GF) and Cultured Sour Cream
• Dessert: Thumbprint Cookies w/Chocolate instead of jam (yum!)
• Lunch: Grilled Turkey Reuben w/Cultured Sauerkraut and Leftover Carribean Carrot Salad(GF)
• Breakfast: Veggie & Cheese Mini Omeletes(GF) and Toast w/Butter

Sunday, January 27
• Dinner: Crockpot Beef Stew(GF) and Garden Herb Biscuits(GF)
• Lunch: Open-Face Tuna Salad Sandwich(GF Option) and Apple Slices
• Breakfast: Leftover Veggie & Cheese Mini Omeletes(GF) and Shortcake Biscuits(GF) w/Jam

Recipe Links for Week of January 28:
(GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free
(Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, January 28
• Dinner: Sweet-n-Spicy Crockpot Chicken(GF), Soaked Brown Rice(Gluten-Free) and Steamed Broccoli
• Lunch: Whole Grain Bagels w/Turkey Slices & Cult. Cream Cheese and Leftover Carrot Salad(GF)
• Breakfast: Lemonberry Muffins(GF) and Eggs Over Easy

Tuesday, January 29
• Dinner: Pulled Pork Sandwiches(GF), Apple-Carrot Coleslaw(GF) and Cultured Pickles
• Lunch: Leftover Chicken & Rice and Raw Veggies w/Ranch Dip
• Breakfast: Healthier Cinnamon Toast(GF Option), Scrambled Eggs and Clementines

Wednesday, January 30
• Dinner: Homemade Fish Sticks(GF Option), Herb Potatoes & Carrots(GF) and Leftover Apple-Carrot Coleslaw(GF)
• Lunch: Pizza Bagel Lunchables  and Apple & Pear Slices
• Breakfast: Soaked Oatmeal(Gluten-Free Option) w/Dried Fruits & Walnuts and Boiled Eggs

Thursday, January 31
• Dinner: Whole Grain Blender Waffles, Nitrate-Free Bacon, Cheesy-Basil Eggs(GF) and Mixed Berries
• Lunch: Carrot-Cheddar(GF) Sandwiches and Pineapple Slices
• Breakfast: Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Mixed Berries, Granola & Nuts and Boiled Eggs

Friday, February 1
• Dinner: Oven Baked Fried Chicken(GF Option), Leftover Herb Potatoes and Buttermilk Biscuits w/ Honey Butter
• Lunch: BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado & Tomato) Sandwiches and Fresh Melon
• Breakfast: Open Face Waffle Sandwich and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Saturday, February 2
• Dinner: Potato Corn Chowder(GF), Garden Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF) and Sourdough Rolls w/Butter
• Dessert: Pumpkin Swirl Bars(GF)
• Lunch: Turkey & Apple Quesadillas and Pear Slices
• Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Sunday, February 3
• Dinner: Pulled Pork Enchiladas and Basmati Rice
• Lunch: Leftover Potato Corn Chowder(GF), Salad & Rolls w/Butter
• Breakfast: Huevos a la Mexicana(GF) and Toast w/Butter

Always a treat to share ideas and healthy recipes! Let’s give thanks to the Lord for providing us the opportunity to nourish our families in this way! See you in two weeks!

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly @ The Nourishing Home

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