Here’s something to make life a little easier!
My Meal Planner!
I have everything I need to plan meals (even take out meals) with this new notebook set up just right for our family. Sometimes there are organizational gadgits for sale that are supposed to help you out, but they might not work just right for you and your family!
Take a look at what I did…
I started out with an old take out menu folder that was falling apart and a recipe book with recipes stuffed inside it in a not so organized fashion.
When you open my meal planner up there’s a great little pocket for extra recipe cards or coupons. This is a Post-It Pocket and I think it works out perfect for this spot!
Then I have a Menu page so that I can plan ahead. Tim made me the coolest pages in the perfect color! The month and days can be added along with your meals for the day.
There’s a shopping list right there to keep it all in one spot!
Now for the recipes!
I printed out blank recipe pages (that I designed) onto card stock paper. The card stock should help keep the pages nice and sturdy. I plan on keeping all my recipes in here to make meal planning easier. I took printouts and copies of recipes from my old book and glued them on the pages.
Then I used clear plastic sheet protectors for each menu and put them all neatly in a ”Take Out” section in the back. Maybe it’s more like the “Last Resort ” section?”"
This book is all I need to help keep my meals a little more organized and I should be able to find my favorite recipes for years and years! No more flipping through 3 or 4 cookbooks trying to find what I made a few weeks ago.
Sections:
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Menu
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Shopping List
-
Recipes
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Dinner
-
Breakfast and Lunch
-
Desserts
-
Holidays
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Recipes to Try
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Take Out
With all the new recipes that I’ve found through the Tasty Tuesday links, I thought I better get a little more organized!
Customize it to fit your family’s needs and save money by making it yourself.
That’s what Works-For-Me this Wednesday! Check out We are That Family for more great ideas! And visit our home page for wonderful recipes to fill it up!
If you like the Menu Calendar and Shopping List pages, we put them here for you to download! Enjoy!
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I will be printing this and using it. Thanks for sharing.
Tonya’s last blog post..~Udderly Smooth Cow Udder Cream for Eczema~
Thanks for your comment, I totally have the same “shoe” problem, I love my flipflops!
I love your menu planner idea, I was kinda on that track with mine, but then I just kinda threw everything in my binder….so now you have given me inspiration to go back and organize it nicely, thanks!
Alison’s last blog post..WFMW – Flylady
Oh my, do I need help with meal planning! Thanks!
Holly’s last blog post..WFMW–Get Rid of Hard Water Build-Up
I love the “take-out” or “last resort” section!
It Feels Like Chaos’s last blog post..Works for me Wednesday: Great Children’s Books
Wow! I can’t wait to show my wife. That would be fantatstic to have it all in one place!
Dave Roller (Home School Dad)’s last blog post..For reluctant writers!
This is fabulous! I think I just may have to copy your idea! I have my things orgazized, but this is much better than what I am doing right now!
Angie @ Many Little Blessings’s last blog post..Selling and Buying Ads on Blogs
3 ring binders and page protectors are awesome! It’s an inexpensive way to organize in one location. I started a system like this last year. I have one for recipes. I also broke down my remodeling and decorating inspirations (articles or pictures I come across in magazines, pamphlets, etc). I use cheap copy paper to glue pictures or recipes to so I can fit alot of small items in one protector. Some of the binders I have are recipes, gardening, kitchens, baths, masterbedrooms, kids bedrooms, living rooms, etc. It’s so handy to just add new articles or pictures when I come across something inspiring!
Thanks for the inspiration to go back and tidy my recipe binder up:)
JanMarie’s last blog post..Caltagirone…..a town on three hills
I am queen of the binders!! I love this idea:-) I do the exact same thing except online:-) I am now planning meals with things that are on sale at the grocery store! It’s time and money saving:-)
susieshomemade’s last blog post..Biker Chick
I love being able to plan meals and have a set up shopping list. It makes it so much easier!
Sherry’s last blog post..Hot Breakfast Week 2 – Maple Oat Scones
Thanks for this idea! I sure need help in this area so I’m going to give it a try! I’ll have to bookmark you so I can refer back when making my folder!
Kim’s last blog post..The Newest Member of our family!
I love your menu/recipe binder! I am currently working on mine right now. I am trying to decide if I want to type the recipes on cards and from newspaper clippings, magazines, etc, or just glue them on cardstock like you did…..some of them are written on the back too.
I can’t wait to have a finished product like yours. Love the “last resort”, I mean take out section!
Roan’s last blog post..Works For Me Wednesday
Oh, it’s so pretty it makes it motivational to stay organized. And how thoughtful of you to share your pages!! I love those!
Thanks for the inspiration!!
Suzanne
suzanne’s last blog post..Heart felt ideas……
What a great idea. You are obviously a great cook and an organized one. Thanks for stopping by my site and leaving a note. I linked my site to yours. I think the moms that cruise through my blog would love to see what you have to say! BLESSINGS.
Great idea, Kim! I have been meaning to get more organized with my recipes. Printing your pages on card stock is a great idea, too!
Gayle’s last blog post..Chicken Curry Recipe
I totally love binders, and already use them and sheet protectors for my recipes. I do like your idea of printing recipes onto card stock. They would last so much longer!
Jerri’s last blog post..The Simple Woman’s Daybook – February 9, 2009
I have the same type of thing for my decorating favorites that I find but I will have to try this!
Laura Ingalls Gunn’s last blog post..A bit of pink and red
Kim,
Thanks so much for this great idea! I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while and this made it so much easier. When I was reading your post I was wishing that you had a way to share your menu plan sheet…lo and behold you put the pdf at the end of the post! Whoo hoo! Thanks!
Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home’s last blog post..Works For Me Wednesday: Romantic Strawberries
I have a binder for my menu plans , budget and etc… But I actually saw a few new ideas that I really like on your blog. Thanks for sharing
What a fantastic idea–this is right up my alley! If I can get things looking nice and neat and organized (and looking cute is a bonus!), then I’m more likely to use them. Thanks for sharing.
Kristin’s last blog post..Cute {Cheap} Craft Storage
I love this. I really need to get my recipes and such organized. I had planned on picking up a binder this weekend and now you’ve given me some great ideas for organizing it. Thanks.
Buffie’s last blog post..Works For Me Wednesday – Sugar Dispenser
pretty and practical!
Brooke’s last blog post..Mr. Right meets the parents
Wonderful idea! It turned out beautifully, and I can only imagine how helpful it is. Now if I can just run with the inspiration!!
Thanks!
Raise Them Up’s last blog post..Works For Me Wednesday:Valentine’s Day Opportunities
I have a binder for all my cut out recipes, but I am a recipe aholic and have way toooo many to do this with them all-but I doooo love binders and page protectors!
And anything that makes life easier in the kitchen is a plus for us busy moms.
Blessings
Chris’s last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday
Thanks for posting this I have set a goal for this summer to set up a book like yours.
Diane’s last blog post..free books and free time
This is great! I have a very similar system at home with my own recipe book, it works for me too!
Elodie’s last blog post..Natural healing Part 3: Homeopathy
Great idea, and so well organized! Thanks for sharing, I can use all the help with meal planning that I can get!
Kimm at Reinvented’s last blog post..Containing Kid Clutter
I had never thought of glueing the recipes to card stock. Perfect and maybe I can find organization with my recipes.
Amanda’s last blog post..WFMW – coupons
Wow, you must be super organized! I love it! Makes life so much easier. Great post and pictures
YOU are sooo organized! I can’t believe what a wonderful job you did. I bet it works so well for you. You know just where you are at…thats great.
Are you this organized with everything in your life? Good if you are!
come by and visit sometime…I will be back too.
Judi
Judi’s last blog post..Judi Doesn’t Live Here Anymore…..
Brilliant! I have problems with the ‘information all over the place’ scenario, digging through 3 cookbooks for a recipe or 4 drawers for the menu to our favorite Chinese place. Thanks!
Em.’s last blog post..WFMW: Condiments Galore!
I love it! Great job! I have something like it, but not so indepth and designed as beautifully as yours. Way to go!
CountryMama’s last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday- Consignment Shops
I love this. I’m always trying to organize my recipes. I’ve been working on a book at the moment. Scrapbooking some of my favorite recipes.
Patti Cakes’s last blog post..Outdoor Wednesday
that is a fabulous idea. i already know how i might tweak it to fit just for my family. this would be a great tool to help my kids who each week take on a greater responsibility in the kitchen. thanks so much for the idea!
jenn’s last blog post..a peek into the mind of a teenager
Thanks for this great post…I love to make lists and menu’s each week..and it’s so organized…
Sue’s last blog post..SCENE AROUND GEORGIA………some pictures to ponder.
Kim, bonjour… It’s a nice idea for those that need to be organised. Personally, I prefer to pick one of cook books off the shelf, open it at a random page, and prepare that meal… life is full of culinary surprises.
Kevin’s last blog post..Now Fluoride can be added to our Food
Hey Kim, I wanted you to know I forgot two links to lunch note love on my post, and since you already commented, I thought I’d let you know. This is even cuter!!! I tried to email you , but couldn’t find out how. Anyway, the links are http://www.bellapink.typepad.com and http://www.squidoo.com/printablecards
See ya!
Suzanne
suzanne’s last blog post..Lunch box love……
I love this! A similar idea has been floating around in my head for a while, but I couldn’t quite conceptualize it. Thanks for getting me over the hurdle.
Jen’s last blog post..Tough Love
What a great idea! I’ll admit, I’m not always the best about planning meals far in advance
, but I love the idea of streamlining everything into one planner!! Would make for easy finding of recipes! Great job, and it looks too cute to boot! 
Stacey @ The Blessed Nest’s last blog post..Creating a Welcoming Home Thursday
I love the idea of a menu plan binder! I’m going to have to do this. I’ve never seen one like this before. Thanks for the idea!
Linda’s last blog post..Works For Me Wednesday – Coupon Binder
WOW now that is organized!!! My meal planner goes something like this….Hey honey…wanna do takeout? Yours is so much more impressive lol
nikkicrumpet’s last blog post..~♥~ I WISH WEDNESDAY ~♥~
What a great idea! I need something to organize my recipes and menu planning, and I think this would be a great solution! Thanks for including the downloadable pages….that’s so helpful!
Allison’s last blog post..Don’t Lose Your Memories
That is BRILLIANT! I’ve been thinking about of the best way to organize my recipes, and I think I found it! Do you mind if I post a link to it on my blog?
Julie @ Organizement’s last blog post..Functional Furniture
This is amazing!! Incredibly organized. It is frustrating (and ultimately time-wasting!) to have recipes scattered between a 4×6 box, several cookbooks & sheets of paper.
This will have to go on my list of projects to do. . .
Do you update it each time you find a new recipe that you like? I am still so new at this, I’m finding new recipes that I want to try almost every day.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Becky’s last blog post..Valentines Treats
You are a genius, you should work in government show them how to run things!
simon’s last blog post..David Nieper Pretty Sleeve Nightdress now just £58.23
I love this idea!
Awesome idea! It totally makes sense! I’m guessing you don’t find yourself struggling at the last minute figuring out what to cook, right? I’m trying to do meal planning but I’m not doing a perfect job of it.
I remember when you originally posted this. I was just looking for it and could not find it. Thanks for reprinting it in the best of wfmw. This time I really will show it to my wife.
Dave Roller (Home School Dad)’s last blog post..Calculating my Tips
I love how you’ve created your own customized menu book! I have a bit of an obsession with cookbooks and recipes, so I’m afraid I would need several books!
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates’s last blog post..Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Instant Oatmeal Mix Again
I really like the front “pocket” in this, it’d be really handy to put the weeks recipes in!
mub’s last blog post..Homemade Yogurt
This is so cool and beautiful and functional. I’ll be copying your idea. I imagine it will take me a couple of hours to put together but it will be a good investment of my time if it will make my meal planning easier. Thanks!
MamaKuripot’s last blog post..Make Money With Bank Bonuses