Meal Plan Part 1 - Recipe Book
I was determined to get a meal plan organized for my household before my maternity leave came to an end. With a toddler to include in mealtime and a baby to distract from mealtime, I felt it was important to have an organized method to go about getting us all fed a decent meal each night. No more coming home and saying, "What's for dinner??"
I am happy to say that our meal plan did indeed get implemented just before my leave came to an end and it has been working great for several weeks now! It makes cooking and grocery shopping alike so much easier!
I'm going to present our meal plan to you in 3 parts.
This is part 1!
It seemed like we were always cooking the same old thing. One of the main reasons for this is that we cooked things that we knew from heart. It was too much trouble to go digging through a ton of recipe books to find things to make just to make up the grocery list. Who has that kind of time?
So I decided to make my own recipe book so that all of our favorite meals that we don't have memorized are all in the same place and thus easy to find.
I started with a blank chipboard album (from 7gypies).
I covered it front and back with scrapbook paper that would match my kitchen decor.
(All scrapbook paper was adhered to the album with Mod Podge.)
I wanted to dress it up a little so I made little tag using scrapbook paper and alphabet stickers. I sealed it with Mod Podge. The jewels are from Teresa Collins. I like the extra bling! Both the tag and bling are attached to the album by some scrap fabric that I tied around the front cover of the recipe album.
I also threaded some sheer black ribbon through the binding to help mask where scrapbook paper ended.
Inside I added more scrapbook paper to the pages of the album. I made my own recipe cards to put in the book.
I used clear corner tabs to keep the recipe cards in the albums.
This works great for two reasons. 1) If a recipe takes up more room than the front of the card will allow, I can write on the back and easily take the card out of the album to read the extra directions. And 2) I might find a recipe I like better and replace the one I currently have. Its happened before!
You may have noticed that my recipes are tabbed. They correspond to a master list of meals that I will share with you later in the meal planning process.
So that is my new recipe book!
Not only is it cute and functional for our meal planning, but the album acts as its own easel so I can easily put it anywhere on the kitchen counter and read the cooking directions!
Love this! Thanks for linking up with Sew Woodsy!
This is super cute!! Thanks for sharing!
I'm hosting a party tomorrow & would love it if you'd come link up!!
http://formamas.blogspot.com/
Chrissy
It's functional and beautiful. Rare yet wonderful combination.
We have a link-up party going on - Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. I would really appreciate if you'd link up some of your awesome posts there. Hope to see you at the party.
http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-4.html
great idea! It looks beautiful too!
I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training! Plus there is a fun giveaway too! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com
These would make such great gifts for family members - love the design on front! Stop by to enter my General Mills giveaway!
Very cool idea! I love the details you put into it.
Please feel free to link up to my new Make Yourself Blog Hop!
-Jamie
For Love of Cupcakes
I love your recipe book...I have had doing something like that on my list for..um..ever now! You did a really nice job. Congrats on the new baby, too:)
Awesome idea! Can't wait to see how it all comes together. New follower 🙂
I love this recipe book!! I would love for you to enter this post into my new Saturday link party at http://rustic-crafts.com
Great idea! Love how pretty it is.
Rebekah
Coming over from TaterTots and Jello...What a great idea not only is it functional but it is most certainly Beautiful...which leaves you with a WINNING combination..
This is a great way to store upcoming meal recipes! Would you mind sharing this at my blog party simply creative over at 365days2simplicity? I'm all about meal planners over there!
Angela
http://365days2simplicity.blogspot.com/
You know how one idea leads to another? Your adorable recipe book reminded me of a dear friend who collects recipes like most women collect shoes. Because of your idea, I've offered to embellish her recipe binder anyway she wants.
Thanks for sharing.
Hopping over from Somewhat Simple's Linky Party to invite you to link up this fabulous project with us too….hope you'll visit…:)
Tracy
http://www.craftjunkietoo.com/2011/08/tgif-linky-party-22.html
darling!
{love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
This is fantastic! I am so happy that this is working so well for you 🙂 Could you come to my house and help me get a jump start on doing this for my family ??? lol
This is darling, Michele!! I love the tabs. I so need to make something cute and then be sure I don't splash food all over it! 🙂 I'm excited to see the rest of your meal plan!
What a terrific little recipe book! Love the colors! What a great gift that would make!! I'm anxious to see next week's post!
Have a lovely day!
I love this Michele!! It is so cute - and I love the idea of it too!! I am not so organized - I need to come up with something that works for us too!
Those little beads on the front are tooo cute!! Do they stick on? Did you get them at a scrapbook shop? Could I ask more questions in this comment? 🙂
Your recipe book is SO cute! I've got everything stuffed in a box I picked up at WalMart 9 years ago. Probably time to show my collection a little love!
I'm being inspired by all of these meal plans I'm seeing pop up. Right now though, my 'meal plan' is whatever Lean Cuisines are in the fridge. Sad, no?
Great idea....I am beyond impressed. My meal plan is something like this...it is 5:30 pm..."what's in the freezer?" I try - this is a great idea to get organized...I may even be able to manage it!
What a great idea...I love how you made it to match your kitchen! Maybe if I did an little recipe book, I would like cooking dinner a little more:-)