Time Saving Tips for Moms

So much to do and so little time. How is it possible to fit everything we need to do into one day? 

It's not possible, because a women's work is NEVER done!  All we can do is work smart and be happy with what we ARE able to do.

Although our "to do" lists are never ending, we must keep our priorities straight. This is something we will constantly need to evaluate (see video at the end of this post). It's so easy to get caught up in less important things. That's why I believe we need to be praying constantly that our priorities and goals are inline with God's will.

People are constantly asking me how I have the time to do what I do. This is a question us moms are ALWAYS asking each other, right?  For some reason we tend to think other moms are doing it better, or doing more than we are.  First of all, lets STOP comparing ourselves. I know this is hard. I'm constantly doing it myself. We need to just focus on doing OUR best, and that should be enough.

Today I'm going to share some tips as well as reveal to you that I am NOT super women. I'm just like you. I try, I fail, I get tired and overwhelmed. My house is not always clean, kids are not always bathed, and homework is not always done.  I sometimes yell and get mean which is a sign I MAY be obsessing a little too much on keeping the house clean, or getting carried away doing a project and have no tolerance for interruptions, which is impossible when you have kids. So just know, that I too struggle.

Now let's get down to business. These tips are a compilation of my own as well as my lovely Facebook and Instagram friends who commented on my post last week. Thank you all for your awesome tips! They were so helpful for me.

 #1 TURN OFF THE TV

"Stop watching TV. Sometimes we still have the TV on at night, but I don't actually watch it. I snuggle with my kids and work on my phone if they are watching something. I started building my side businesses and have continued running 3 side companies during the time most people watch TV. I don't miss TV at all and I get a great return from those few hours a week."
-Abbey Karel

This is a great tip! I don't usually watch TV, but at night Sean and I do like to watch about 30 minutes together to help us unwind from the day. I know for some, the TV gets you wired, but for Sean and I it helps us turn our brains off. You know what they say, "watching TV will turn your brain to mush", haha.

#2 HAVE KIDS HELP

"I always have my kids help with daily chores. Moms think they have to do everything. They don't. My kids are amazing with helping. My youngest who is 8, folds 1 load of laundry and puts away on everyone's beds, this is daily. That way my laundry does not stack up. It is done fresh out of the dryer. Only takes him about 15 min.

We also eat on paper plates at dinner, clean up is quick and easy. And done before I know it. My oldest helps me sweep and mop the house. Usually once a week. Right now I am currently dusting. With my kids helping me with light chores I am able to workout at night once they go to bed, and this gives me more time to relax with them when they get home from school. I mix veggies a lot of times to make it one side that is cooked and then the main course. It saves on dirtying dishes.
My oldest prepares all trash and takes to the road the night before of trash day. Usually, right before his shower time.
My kids both make their own lunches. They are allowed one sweet snack, then fruit and cheese. This lets them choose what they want. They both put them in the fridges along with their ice packs.

We live in the country so my youngest rides the bus oldest drives. Every morning I make the cereal, it is ready for them when they are ready. I don't pour milk till they sit down. Every night they make sure their room is neat and lay out their clothes. It keeps from a hassle of a messy bedroom. FYI - my kids got smart! Their beds are made at all times! The sleep on their made beds with a blanket, lol! I just can't do that, but that's how they roll!"
-Oliver Kelsey

"It took me a couple of years to realize that my kids are capable of helping out around the house. I used to do it all and I was burned out! I can't tell you how teaching my kids to empty the dishwasher or keep their rooms clean will free up my day. They are much more capable than I gave them credit for!"  
-Adrienne O'Brien 

 "Starting when my kids were young and teaching them to be self-sufficient has been one of my greatest time-savers and one of my greatest joys. I always kept them with me when they were little, and they had fun helping me with cooking, gardening and other chores. When they were older and the tasks didn't seem as fun anymore, they still did chores using a chore chart system. One of their "chores" was to look for something that needed to be done and do it. When their chores were finished they had to ask, "Is there anything else you'd like me to do?" Now that they are all in high school, they have completely internalized what they learned when they were young. I love walking into the kitchen and seeing them cleaning up without being asked. Or seeing them do their own laundry without me telling them to. Often times, Marc and I will come home from a business trip, and the house will look like we never left. Not only have we taught them how to cook, clean and sew, but we've taught them how to do Quickbooks, spreadsheets for our taxes and other office work. They are all extremely bright and talented... and self-sufficient. AND ready for the real world. All that to say... it's completely worth it to spend time with your kids and teach them! So rewarding in every way."
-Jeannie Schulman

#3 CLEAN EATING

This is definitely one of THE most important tips! Having the ENERGY to move fast and be productive is key. Mental Clarity and being able to focus definitely contributes to the amount of things you are able to check off your list. You all know how passionate I am about health and nutrition, it's become my mission in life. I want to educate people on the importance of what goes into our bodies. Please email me if you are interested in learning more about what I do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can also comment on this post and I will be sure to get back to you.

"I think eating well (clean, energizing foods) are also key in making sure we have enough fuel and energy to navigate through our days. Eating junk adds stress and burnout!"
-Jennifer Glydon 

#4 MEAL PREP

Always make double or triple when ever making meals, then freeze the rest for another night later in the month. 

It's the best feeling when my fridge looks like this! All stocked and meals prepped for the week. This means I have fruit and veggies all washed, chopped, and placed in stackable tupperware all neat and organized. This way everything is ready to throw together with different meals. Saves me a TON of time at dinner. 

Seriously, don't you love looking at something when it's all organized?? Or is it just me? Sometimes I'll just open the fridge just to admire the neatness. 

No? 

You don't do this? 

Hmmm, okay. Moving on. 

I like to pre-mix all the dry ingredients of this gluten free pizza crust. Also, I usually BBQ a whole bunch of chicken to have ready to add to different recipes during the week. My favorite is BBQ chicken pizza. YUM! 

And like I said, if you take the time to prep all the veggies then this meal is very quick to assemble. 

I also like to have these green smoothie bags all ready to throw into the Vitamix. Really saves me a lot of time, plus, I don't have to worry about my spinach going bad. My favorite smoothie recipe is, spinach of course, strawberries, a banana, a little splash of vanilla extract, one lemon slice (with the peel, is SO good for you), some ground flaxseed, cinnamon, and homemade unsweetened kefir. I'll show you how to make kefir someday. I love that my kids are getting all their probiotics. They won't drink my Kombucha.

"I saved the baby food containers, & I prepped both (mine & Ronin's) "chocolate milks" = Isagenix protein shakes on Sun.
The night before I prep the shaker, water, "choc milk" & clothes - in the morning... we are out the door!!"
-Aimee O'Conner

#5 SIEZE EVERY MINUTE

"Don't waste tiny pockets of time.  When I pump gas, I clean out the car.  When I am waiting for kids to get in the car from soccer practice, I get some business calls in or something to that effect.  There are many, many pockets of time each day that go wasted.  I think about what little things I need to get done in the morning and write them on a card that I throw in my pocket or purse.  Then when a pocket of time comes up, I pull the card out and get stuff done!!"

-Kelli Taeoalii 

 "Workout over your lunch hour or with your kids. My office building has a full gym. It is so easy to work through lunch, but working out during my lunch gives me a boost of energy and reassurance that I can get my workout done. When I have a busy day or on the weekends, I get active with my kids. When they are playing soccer, I play with them. When they are riding their bike, I ride with them. When we go swimming, I swim with them. "

-Abbey Karel

#6 WAKE UP EARLY

Must wake up early! This one has been a hard one to adapt, but once I finally got used to waking up a couple hours before the kids, my days go SO much better. It gives me time to do some personal study and prayer, exercise, then get ready for the day. 

#7 CHARTS FOR KIDS

I just LOVE lists and schedules. May be a tad obsessed😬. 

Anyway, making these charts has really helped everyone. Things go a lot smoother because now instead of CONSTANTLY telling them every little thing they need to do, ALL day long, now I just say, "go check your chart". There are rewards and consequences. Has made my life easier and now I don't feel like I'm always the mean drill Sargent. 

#8 PLAYDATE SWAPS

Do a play date swap with a couple neighborhood friends you know and trust. I have Brooklyn go to a friends house once or twice a week so I can run some errands (always easier with less children😜), then I'll put Owen down for a nap and work on a few household chores, and a little #isagenix fun (some call it work, but I think it's fun). Then I will take a turn and have Brooklyn's friends come play at my house for a while on a different day of the week. 

#9 CRAFT CADDIE AND BUSY BOX

Having this craft caddie all ready to go has really been helpful when I'm busy making dinner or cleaning up. I just pull out some paper and set them up at the counter with the caddie and they are ready to get creative.

These bins are full of busy bag ideas I've created and found on Pinterest. 

#10 SET YOUR TIMER

Set your timer. It's easy to get carried away working on a project, then before you know it, the baby is awake or the kids are home from school and your window of "to do list" time is over. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I also like to use a 20 minute list on some days. I just write down all the things I need, want, and SHOULD do, then set my timer and work down the list, giving myself 20 minutes for each task. This method helps my brain I guess you could say. I know I SHOULD be playing with my kids, but then I see messes everywhere and I can't seem to focus on playing. This way, the list is telling my brain, "don't worry, you can get to that in 20 minutes, focus on your kids at this moment". Am I just crazy? Or can anyone relate?


"Have a weekly/daily cleaning task list to break up household chores throughout the week so that it's not all packed into one day."
-Julie Danielson 

"We have designated weeknights of the same dinner during the school year - every Monday is crockpot chili, Wednesday pasta, and Friday pizza. Oh, and Thursdays are leftovers. I meal plan (or intend to) every Saturday or Sunday before I grocery shop (yes I created a"form" with each dinner's entree, side and salad). I also use the help of apps for organizing whenever possible. So a future tip: we all have phones since I work full time. We use the cozi app for our daily family calendar. I can add each child's activities, and they can select their own name and see what their schedule is. It also has a grocery list and anyone in our family can add to it. It's awesome!"
-Sally Tantilla 

#11 PICK OUT OUTFITS FOR THE WEEK

I like to pick out my outfits too☺️. It's not just for the kids. 

I found these cute printouts on Pinterest. Isn't it great!!!

#12 VITAMIN ORGANIZERS

This is a great way to stay consistent with having the kids take vitamins. They think it's fun too. I just set them out for them at breakfast time. 

#13 MULTIPURPOSE YOUR PURCHASES

"Multi-purpose your purchases. Instead of towels for each bathroom and towels for the pool, we consolidated and got these awesome towels for all purposes. They are super absorbent, never stink, and you can was 15-20 in 1 load! Most everything in our home can be used for a variety of things, so we have much less clutter and we don't spend time looking for a single use product."

-Abbey Karel

#14 AUTOSHIPMENTS

"Find out what you like and put it on your schedule of auto-shipment! We save time AND money by having the bulk of our shopping done automatically!  This means, no waste and more family time. 

Our essentials auto-shipped from Amazon

Our fresh, healthy and easy-to-make dinners from Hello Fresh and Blue Apron. We used to have all of our fresh groceries delivered by Peapod, but it is no longer available in our area. You can just re-select your basics and they are delivered to your front door. No wasted groceries and perfectly picked produce, meats, and all other groceries are delivered right to your kitchen.

Our breakfast shakes are auto-shipped from Isagenix.

My favorite skincare is auto shipped from Rodan + Fields.

My clothes are on auto-ship from Stitch Fix (there are companies that have this for men, children and athletic-wear, too)!"

-Abbey Karel (Ask her about her skincare)

#13 AMAZON

I just LOVE Amazon. I save myself HOURS by shopping online instead of driving all across town searching for different items I need. I'm sure most of you are aware of Amazon prime (free shipping) by now. It's pretty awesome. 
Throw back to 4 years ago when I did a presentation on BALANCING life as a mom. 

Week #3 Work Out Program

I've FINALLY finished week #3 of my 4 week work out program. If you missed the first two here they are:
Week #1
Week #2
This is part of my 52 Weeks of Balance Project. All of these printout inserts go with the Wanna Be Balanced Day Planner, you can buy yours HERE.

Click HERE to print.

Little Pooch

Here's a picture of my belly. Yah, I know I'm only 7 weeks, but this is exactly what happened last time too. I started showing as soon as I found out I was pregnant, it's like my brain just starts telling my belly to pop out even though the baby isn't even the size of a grape yet.

You can find this short sleeve side button sweater at Impel.

Or it could be the fact that I'm eating donut holes by the dozen, and sitting around all day cause I'm too tired to do anything else.

I better get crackin on this 4 Week Work Out Program. Click HERE for week one.  Here is week two.

Click HERE to print.

Oh and I thought I'd let you know that Impel is having a sale on all their jewelry and Jeans. Just click on this little icon and it will bring you right to the website. The jeans are only $37 right now and they are SO cute!


Okay, now I have some fun and exciting things planned for the blog. This month my goal is to do more videos, as well as go through all my home videos and put them all on DVDs. I started going through them last night and I already have some funny stuff I will most definitely be sharing, Sean may kill me for doing so, but it will be worth it. Plus I've been working on a couple new videos I plan to post very soon.

Next week I will be sharing pictures of my nursery.  I'm thinking about changing the theme for the new baby. What I need is some inspiration, so I thought it would be fun to host a Baby Nursery link up party.

Here's how it works:

#1.  Email me pictures of your nursery and I will post them here for all to admire. Email them to:
       crystal@wannabebalanced.com

#2.  If you want to share them on your own blog then you will have the chance to link up here, making it                         possible for everyone to visit your page. Mark this date on your calendars so you can be prepared to link up your blog post. The date is next Friday the 20th.


#3.  I will be randomly selecting a winner for everyone who participates. The prize is this:

This Bosch Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Silk Silver ($130 value). I actually won this in a giveaway, and thought I could use it for tea, but it didn't work out that way. I don't drink coffee, so I would like to give it to one of you.

I hope you'll all join me cause I REALLY want to see some of your nurseries.

4 Week Work Out Program

Exercising is like marriage...
You've got to spice things up to maintain the passion.


I've been diligently working on a new 4 week work out program as part of the 52 Weeks of Balance Project. You can add these pages into your Wanna Be Balanced Planner.

This program is all about mixing things up to prevent boredom and to keep your body guessing which is ideal for maximum results.

Are you at the point where you feel like nothing's working for you? No matter what you do, that muffin top remains. I hear ya girl friends. It's called, LIFE AFTER KIDS.

Don't give up hope though, there is a way. I'm going to share exactly what I do to keep my weight in check. Although I won't exactly be joining in now that I'm with child. I'll be there cheering you on while stuffing my face with carbs on top of carbs, yum :) Now's my chance to eat what I want right?  I'm trying not to go over board because I tend to think I'm literally eating for two. We like to say that don't we, but we all know it only takes an extra 300 calories to keep that baby growing healthy and strong.

Let's just pretend we didn't hear that okay?

I'm eating for two and I don't care what you say!!!

These four week's we'll be incorporating MIND BODY and SOUL to keep us feeling energized and balanced as we get our bodies back to where they were meant to be.

It's no secret that diet plays  a major role in getting the kinds of results you're looking for. So for the next 4 weeks, try replacing breakfast with an Isagenix meal replacement shake, for lunch, you should eat a 400-600 calorie meal (use google for ideas), and for dinner have a small portion of what ever you're making for the family. I don't think it's necessary to eat perfectly ALL day. Enjoy a nice yummy meal with your family, just don't over do it. Try using a smaller plate to trick your mind into thinking you've got a full plate.

Here's week one!

                                        Click HERE to print.

Just so you know, I'm fully qualified to give you fitness advice. Seriously, I used to be an aerobics instructor ya know...

Well, not legally, but I was.

Let me just tell you that story real quick.

I was about 20 years old, living in Hawaii with my mom. We were living in a small town called Hilo, population- 40,000. Fitness has always been a major priority in my life. I'm not one to work out more than 30-40 min. on average, but I do make it a part of my daily routine. So anyway, I found the nearest gym and first thing I thought was, I wonder if I could get a job here and get a free membership.
So I asked the person at the front desk (which just so happened to be the owner) if they were hiring. It went a little like this...

Owner:  Well yes we are, but we need an aerobics instructor, can you teach aerobics?

Me:  Um yah... I mean, I'm not certified or anything, but I've been to enough aerobics classes to know how to teach one.

Owner:  Okay, come in tomorrow and show us your routine.

Me:  Uh, okay... ya... um, sure sure I can do that. Great, thanks... see you tomorrow.

I walked away thinking, WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST DO?

I was excited but felt major pressure to come up with a good routine. I worked all night on it, wrote it down and practiced it over and over.

I came back the next day for the "audition" I guess you'd call it. Did my routine in front of all the other instructors and was totally embarrassed because I really had know idea what I was doing.

Well, I got the job and taught my class 3 times a week for 4 months (then I left on my mission). Is there anything better than getting paid to work out?

Um no...

Someday I'll tell you about when I was an aerobics instructor on my MISSION. Yes, I'm being serious, but I'll have to save that story for another day.

Tortillas Soup PLUS Another Planner Giveaway!!!

As most of you already know I've developed a day planner I like to call the Wanna Be Balanced Planner.  Inside this planner you'll find all kinds of useful organizational tools as well as 3 months of meal plans WITH weekly grocery lists. My goal is to make 12 months of meals, so far I have 5. You can buy the additional months as they become available.

I've borrowed recipes from all over the web, but now my new goal is to start creating my own. I usually add my personal touch to basic recipes anyway, so I thought why not share them with you.

Another thing I'm working on to go in the day planners is a 4 week exercise program with meal plans catering more towards weight loss. This can be purchased separately as well. It should be ready to present to you within the next couple of weeks.

Last week I made some delicious Tortilla Soup ( recipe is included in month 5 of the planners). I'll share the recipe first, then below I'll give you the details on the giveaway. You'll all have a chance to WIN one of my specialty day planners.

Here are ALMOST all the items you'll need for the soup. Later I decided that the consistency was too soupy for my liking. I like soups to be on the thicker side, so I added a can of tomato sauce.

Chop the onions WITHOUT tearing up in the process.
Man I think my eyes are just so sensitive because every time I cut onions my eyes are burning so bad to the point where I'm cutting with my eyes closed.
I'm known for my brains :)

Chop 3 cloves of garlic, then saute them in a tablespoons of olive oil.

I really hate measuring, so I usually just guess, but I would say that a couple teaspoons of chili powder would do the trick.

Then a couple sprinkles of dried oregano...

Add a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies...

A can of chicken broth...

Then a can of rinsed black beans and a can of corn...

Chop up some fresh cilantro and add it to the pot. About 1/4 cup.

I really hate cooking chicken. Handling it raw just grosses me out and I never seem to cook it right. Either I don't cook it enough and the middle is pink which of course makes me lose my appetite and end up throwing it out, OR it's extremely dry.  So in my opinion, buying the rotisserie is the way to go:) It saves time, is cooked to perfection and tastes incredible!!!

Just start pulling it apart with a fork and adding pieces to the soup.

Now here is where I noticed I needed to add the tomato sauce to thicken it up.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes or so. While it's simmering you can get your garnishes ready.

Crushed tortilla chips, avocado's my favorite, green onions, Monterey jack cheese, and sour cream.

Isn't it beautiful!!!!

Okay, now for the giveaway!!! One of you lucky ladies now has the chance to get one of these for FREE. Just help me spread the word by doing some of these things below, then you can leave a separate comment in the comment section of this post for each thing you do. Be sure to leave your email address if it's not already public in your profile. This way I have a way of contacting you if you're the winner. Giveaway ends 3-25. The winner will be selected using Random.org.

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Next week on Wanna Be Balanced Mom

*Turning 30
My dreaded 30th birthday is on Monday. Can we just skip that day?

*Spring Fashion
I'll be posting some cute spring finds for ya.

*Purse Pics
What's in your purse? If you'd like to submit your purse pics then email me at crystal@escoweb.net. I'll be sharing your pics next week. If you don't know what I'm talking about, refer to this blog post for the details.
http://www.wannabbalancedmom.com/2011/02/whats-in-your-bag.html