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Best Planners for Moms

January 1, 2020 By Autumn Rose Reo 294 Comments

Getting organized for the New Year or Back to School? Get it Together with these Best Planners for Moms.

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The beginning of the year is our mental reset button to get it together. Get a wrangle on things for you, your family, your meal planning and whatever else with an organizer/planner/agenda. Then carpool, after school activities, athletic practices and science projects that are suddenly due the next day can stay in stay in check (at least as much as possible!)

Before you click out of this browser because you’re running from reality, slow down, take a deep breath and take these next few weeks to get prepared and most importantly organized.

Maybe you’re a digital woman who swears by the Google or their Outlook calendar. Click away, my friends. But for the more lady who literally needs to “pencil something in,” here the best mom planners and agendas that will make this year a piece of cake.

Best Planner: CARRIE ELLE // Website

What started as a blog and meal planner, has turned into a brand and a storefront dedicated to making life a little more beautiful and organized. From your 21-Day Fix, family meal planning, budgeting, a full 12-month agenda, digital downloads and now even journals for bullet journaling, Carrie Elle is a mom that has taken her best practices and made them easier for the rest of us with her favorite prints, inspirational quotes and more. that And because your job often includes meal planning, groceries and how to get it all done, make sure to check out the Meal Planner from Carrie Elle for her specially formatted book to help you look at meal planning and grocery shopping in a whole new way with perforated lists, calendars and ideas.

Best Planner: INKWELL PRESS // Website

From the moment you open the box your inkWELL liveWELL planner, you know you’re not just getting a planner, but a new lifestyle. Designed with the goal of educating women to empower themselves through organization, these planners aren’t just a cute worksheets and tabs, but actually supplied educational resources to help you customize your inkWELL Press products (meal planning, exercise, etc.) to suit the specifics of your lifestyle. From videos, free downloads and weekly emails, you are armed and ready to create a better life with this planner. (Plus the couple behind the brand are SMU alums, so I’m biased for a little local.)

[See this special look at the Inkwell Press liveWELL planner.]

Best Planner: ERIN CONDREN // Website

These planners are relatively new, but have quickly become a favorite amongst women in all walks of life. Whether you’re a freshman starting out in college or the mom of a cute kindergartner or the kindergarten teacher, these life planners are the perfect way to stay organized in style. Erin Condren planners can be purchased in either read to ship options or you can customize it to your specific needs. Start the creative process by choosing from dozens of covers, from metallic golds to classic prints, or upload your own design. Agendas are available in 12 month, 17 month, and basically however you need it. Weekly layouts can be made vertical or horizontal and includes a section for notes, to-dos or weekly goals. Planner accessories from sticker books to pop up markers, elastic bands and more can be purchase to add personality to your daily organizer.

Best Planner: GIGI NEW YORK // Website

For the ladies who are searching for a little of sophistication in their planner, look no further than the Gigi New York Notebook. The ultimate in style and fashion with embossed python leather notebook planners are handmade in a factory in Long Island and feature month and week-at-a-view appointment pages. The covers come in several classic and jewel tone colors and be personalized with your initials if available. The premier brand for datebooks, Gigi New York makes notebooks for major retailers including Barney’s, Neiman Marcus and Henri Bendel.

Best Planner: TOOLS 4 WISDOM // Website

A Tools4Wisdom 2017 Planner has been crafted for this purpose through question-driven planning and daily schedules that emphasize on the essential. Each planning page serves as a compass to plan on doing more of what we love – and less of the opposite. These calendars give you at-a -glance insight about your daily schedule, next appointments, and events. A desktop organizer is a fast and simple tool to keep your office schedule organized, all year round. Not only will you have a 2017 planner handy at all times, you’ll also have an ample and comfortable journal for writing.

Best Planner: OLIVIA SOPHIA // Website

Named after her daughter, Olivia Sophia is a line centered on sharing faith, world empowerment and love through paper. With several products from wedding planning to gift bags, each is an expression of beauty. One of its biggest products is the Marriage & Grace planner. “PERFECT for the wife that loves to include date nights, meal planning and weekly prayer request into your schedule. It include budget sheets and family meeting pages. It’s the planner that leaves no one out and helps to keep you on track while staying focused on God first, marriage and family second and grace as the standard.”

Best Planner: MOM AGENDA // Website

This agenda is sleek, stylish, and functional day planner and organizer for moms, and all women in general, to help you feel relaxed, at peace and in control of your whole life. momAgenda is on a mission to help organize busy moms everywhere with unique day planners and other organizational products. momAgenda has been featured in Real Simple and The New York Times and has even been featured on The Today Show. Celebrity moms like Felicity Huffman, Cindy Crawford, and Reese Witherspoon rave about momAgenda! The unique layout helps moms manage multiple schedules and features space for mom and up to four kids (or one for your spouse.) This planner features two ribbons to mark important places, monthly and weekly views and writing space for to—do list and notes like meal planning, movie night, party planning and more.

These are just a few agendas available to help you get started with your planning. Most of these are in high demand, so make sure you order one before they sell out!

Rock it: Best Tips for Getting Back to School

August 26, 2018 By Autumn Rose Reo 7 Comments

Got back to school under your belt? Now’s the time to get the rest of your school year rollin’ with these tips for getting back to school!

Affiliate links may be included.

Back to school.

That time of the year when you’re just about to start enjoying the summer time and then you look at the calendar and see that “Meet the Teacher” is next week.

That time of the year when you’re out to scavenge through all your kids clothes to see how many more days you can make that one pair of shoes work before your kid’s toe actually peeks out.

That time of the year when you have to all have to get back in a routine of the morning marathon to get to school before the first bell rings.

So we’ve put together the Best Tips for Getting Back to School to help you make the rest of the year rock and roll!

You Go First

This may seem to contradict everything, but before you the fire drill started, make time for you! Yes, get yourself up, get dressed, get your coffee and then press go. If you are hitting the floor feeling like you’ve already lost the game, you will. Start off the day ready to take it on full steam and the rest of the family will take that on, too.

Make Time for Meals

Don’t skip breakfast!

Without a little healthy fuel to get things going, you’re setting up their day (and yours) for full-on suckage. So make sure they get something in their belly – even if it’s eaten in the car or walking to class.

Here are several of our go-to recipe favorites for back to school breakfast.

Use your slow cooker to create breakfast the night before. Oatmeal, egg casseroles, and even french toast are A-MAZING in the slow cooker. (Actually, the slow cooker is a super friend for every meal!)
Use Sundays to make your breakfasts and then freeze them for the whole week including pancakes, muffins, and even donuts!
For those even harder mornings, have a few items around that are you’re go-tos. Go for easy items that you can grab and go or even leave in your car (great for snack times later.)
- Jimmy Dean Egg Scramblers make morning meal time easy – all the ingredients are together, so you just cook and go.
- GoGo SqueeZ applesauce and yogurtZ that don’t have to be refrigerated, so you can keep them in your purse for those last-minute surprises so you always have something healthy handy.

Added Nutrition: Banana Bread made with yogurt or applesauce (Check out this Banana Bread recipe)

Plan for lunches and snacks in advance!

Don’t ever wait until the last minute to fill up the lunch box.

I have the kids immediately after school make/ their meal for tomorrow so we don’t forget for the next day. When you’re done, I check it to ensure a healthy lunch box.
When it comes to snacks after school, have healthy ones stocked up so the kids make good choices. Preparing healthy snack stations in the fridge, in the pantry, or even your car will help keep the kids sustained until dinner. (A lunch/snack station is a handy way to put it all together and teach them how to do it – with a little guidance!)

Prep and Plan

Prep the Wardrobe

Start off the week by setting out clothing or working with your child to pick outfits for the whole week. Place them in an organizer like this to make it easy to pull out each day. They not only learn responsibility, but also team work with you. Plus it will save you so much wasted time during the week with “what do I wear mom?”

Since kids need to change sizes almost every three months, what’s the need to stock up the closet more than one season in advance. Buy what they need for that time and alternate. Also, save lots of dollars by sharing with other families who have kids only a year older than them to pass on their clothes with they outgrow them and always make use of consignment events like Just Between Friends Fort Worth.

Plan your work, work your plan

I cannot recommend to you more the importance of a good planner to organize your family’s schedule. Whether it’s paper or electronic, having a planner that works for mom and the rest of the family is crucial. This also includes organizing all the important info you need in one place like a family binder to keep your information at the tip of the finger.

I like online organization including Google Calendars (I have 12) plus always having a notepad handy when I need to make notes and keep thoughts organized.
For the paper people, there are so many options available. This planner has people buying it left and right! And planning doesn’t just mean putting in the appointments. You’ll want to meal plan, I suggest this Meal Planner from Carrie Elle with perforated lists, meal plans and much more!

Get it Together

Homework It

Homework isn’t fun for anyone, so streamline the fights and keep it focused with a Homework Station. This will make this less-than-fun activity easier for all of you. Outline expectations, have an area set up with pens, paper, sharpener, light, and with no distractions. If the kids have to be on the computer, make sure there’s no way to have them get on other activities like YouTube or another social media. And remember, if they’re old enough, take away the phone.

Then here’s the biggie: sign what you need to, check the homework, and then pack up the backpack for in the morning. This way all you have to do is grab and go!

Time it Out

Setting up a routine and assignment chores isn’t just for you – it will make it easier for them know when and what things are going to happen. Using this template, you can set up the rules and stick to them for bedtimes, wake up times, and chores!

Click here to download your customizable template.

However, the two biggest things you need to remember to really be a rockstar parent:

Say no – there’s no need to try to do everything, everywhere and all the time!
Sundays are your friends for making the other 6 days rock and roll!

How to Save on Back to School Clothes

August 14, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 6 Comments

Back to school time means getting the kids ready with everything from new supplies and of course, new back to school clothes.

If you have smaller elementary-aged kiddos, you have to buy clothes every year because hey, they grow like weeds. And if you have older kids in middle school or high school, they are probably way too good to wear last year’s wardrobe. As if!

So to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket and keep smiles on your kids’ faces, here are a few options of places to shop for this year’s clothes. And the best part — many of these help you save by smart surfing on the internet or you can pick up right now!

thredUP // website

This online consignment shop specializes in providing high quality like-new clothes at reliably low prices for baby, youth and moms! You can score top brands like J. Crew, Gap, Zara, Gymboree and Janie and Jack and more for up to 90% off. You can also send clothing for consignment for consideration as well with this easy kit and they pay the shipping!

thredUP has partnered up with Adopt-a-Classroom to recognize those special teachers for Raise a Hand for Teachers. Now until Aug. 23, nominate a teacher to win $2,500 for classroom supplies and many other prizes…learn more about this great program.

Sign up for thredUP though mamachallenge.com you’ll get $20 off your first purchase with this link!

Schoola // website

schoola offers quality clothing at up to 70% off retail and 40% of proceeds benefit kids by funding music, art, PE and more. school. Any school or family can participate, just get your free donation bag to organize a drive. They make it easy by going on the website. Plus, they offer the best fundraiser with savings going back to families and the benefits too. Brands including Adidas, Gap Kids, Justice, OshKosh B’Gosh and others are available.

Sign up for schoola with CODE and get 30% off your first purchase!

Just Between Friends // website

Twice a year parents and grandparents in the know make plans for Just Between Friends. This is THE children’s, teens’, and maternity consignment sales event for everything (clothes, toys and furniture) where you get 50-90% off retail. (You can score great Halloween and other seasonal items here, too!)

Want to save big? The secret to this event is to have a plan! Think ahead and bring a basket, bag, or rolling hangar cart while you shop for this season and next. And definitely think in seasons for each of your kids. Create your plan by downloading this free printable checklist to keep you organized and on budget for big savings at JBF!

There are several JBF sales throughout DFW, but the first and the largest is the Just Between Friends Fort Worth at Will Rogers Memorial Center – Amon Carter, Sept. 3-13. Consignors and first-time parents and grandparents get early access by signing up on the website. Also new this year, there are free passes for teachers and homeschoolers, so make sure to sign up OR get a free admission September 6 with this coupon!

Kid to Kid // website

A full time store with 15 locations around the Metroplex, Kid to Kid is how I first began saving money. Needed a toy or a new outfit for my kiddo, I went to Kid to Kid for anything and everything. Bring in your kids gently used outgrown items, shop around as it gets appraised and receive cash or credit on the spot. Stores are locally owned and locally stocked = Plano, Bedford, Rockwall, Grapevine, Arlington, Garland, Allen, Frisco, Lewisville, McKinney, Burleson, Fort Worth, Lake Worth, Greenville and Weatherford. They also own Upscale Cheapskate for teens and adults.

Facebook Garage Sales // website

Forget the driveway, post, find and buy all kinds of items from clothing to furniture to toys and book on the Facebook Garage Sales. Sales are usually local and organized by homeowners associations, PTAs, school groups and other organizations. Garage sales are private and free for users.

ebates // website

Start here before you shop online (period.) Right now they have a special tab just for back to school with huge rebates from 4 – 12%. Also there’s a toolbar to install to get you there even faster and so you don’t forget to use ebates. Every 3 months, you’ll receive a cashback payment (at least $5) for purchases posted during the previous quarter – call your BIG FAT CHECK. And if you do other promotions or coupons, there’s no problem using ebates either. This site is perfect during the holidays if your outlet doesn’t have a free shipping option.