In Case You Missed It... Free Printable: Weekly Dinner Menu Plan

Mixed in with my home management binder series last week was a new free printable. Download the weekly dinner menu plan here.

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University of Utah School Spirit Wreath

Today I went to Michaels with no real plan on what I was buying. For some reason I decided I wanted to make a wreath and I wanted it to be something that I could leave up all year. What better than a school spirit wreath?

Both Chris and I attended the University of Utah and Chris is still a huge Utes fan. A few months ago I made a Ute clock for the living room. I have recently seen a lot of fall themed wreaths on Pinterest made with yarn. I decided to give it a try...

The supplies I bought were:

• a wooden wreath frame
• (2) bundles (is that what they're called? lol) of white yarn
• glue sticks
• red & black Martha Stewart Satin Paint (I've seen it on a bunch of blogs lately and wanted to try it -- it's awesome!)
• red, black, & white ribbon (I didn't end up using the white on the wreath)
• (2) wooden letter U's (they didn't have 2 of the same, go figure)
• paint brush (I didn't like the way it painted, so I didn't use it.)
• black chipboard letters (I also didn't end up using them on the wreath)

The supplies I had already and used were (not pictured):

• glue gun
• red and white twine
• white paint pen
• sandpaper
• foam paint brush
• spray paint primer (safe to use indoors)

#1 - Sand both wooden letters so they'll be easier to paint. The white U has a crack in it, but you can't tell once painted.

#2 - Use primer spray paint on both letters.

#3 - While the primer dries, tape one end of yarn to the back of the wooden wreath frame, and start wrapping. Keep the yarn pulled tight and just go around and around...don't worry about wrapping it perfectly. Seriously. I had a hard time with this, but it was the best idea because it took me about an hour to completely wrap the whole thing...and that was just wrapping any way it would go.

Here's what it looked like after one whole bundle of yarn. It was covered pretty well, but in spots you could still see the frame through the yarn, so I decided to get the other bundle and keep wrapping. I guess I could have painted the frame white first, that would have made it easier and then I could have used less yarn.

#4 - Once the frame looked how I wanted it to, I stopped wrapping. (I didn't use all of the 2nd one...maybe 3/4 of it.)

#5 - Once the primer is dry, paint the wooden letters with a foam paint brush. It will need two coats of paint -- wait one hour between coats.

#6 - While the paint is drying, (carefully) tie small pieces of ribbon to single pieces of yarn.

#7 - Wrap twine around opposite side in a pattern. (I felt that the other side was too plain and wanted to add something without over doing the ribbon.)

#8 - (I forgot to take pictures of this.) Once the paint is dry, hot glue the letters to the wreath. To make sure I put the hot glue in the right place on the letters, I placed them on the wreath, then flipped it over, while holding the letters in place, and traced the outline of the wreath onto the back of each letter. This allowed me to see what areas would be on the wreath itself and that's where I put the hot glue.

#9 - I needed a way to hang the wreath so it'd hang straight. Tying ribbon to the wreath didn't work out because the wreath is heavier on the side with the letters. I used a soda pop tab, washer, and screw to hang the wreath. I placed it slightly off to the side where the letters are, so it'd hang straight. It worked great and it's hanging straight -- no issues.

#10 - I wanted to "of" between the U's, but couldn't figure out a way to do it without it looking awkward. I used my white paint pen to "dot" the word "of" on the black U.

I love it (and Chris does too). It will look great in our apartment all year long.

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Do You Like The Nest Effect on Facebook?

I recently added a free printable download to The Nest Effect's Facebook page. Once you "like" me, then you can click the image to download the printable for free! If you're already a "liker", then you just have to visit the "exclusive free printable" tab on the left side under The Nest Effect profile picture and click the image to download.

I may change the download from time to time, so go save the current printable while it's still available! =]

Home Management Binder: Home & Family and Birthdays, Holidays, & Gifts Categories

Recap: On Monday I posted about setting my home management binder up. On Tuesday I showed you my first two categories: calendar and cleaning & organizing. On Wednesday I showed you the next two categories: finances and shopping. On Thursday I showed you the grocery & menu planning and health & fitness categories. Today I'm showing you the last two categories: home & family and birthdays, holidays & gifts. I apologize for the pictures in this post -- it's raining today, so the natural light was terrible when I took the pictures.

All of these documents are available for purchase through my etsy store. Some are available for free on my blog. To access the documents, click on the link found under the corresponding picture. As a promotion for this week since I'm doing home management binder posts, you can save 10% on everything in the store with coupon code HMB0911. This coupon code will expire on Sunday, September 18 @ midnight (MT).

My important account numbers sheet is blank because a.) I decided I'd rather type it all up since it's not going to change often. and b.) I'm not going to put my info out there. =] But this idea came from my awesome customer, Ann Marie. I love it because now I can keep all of my account numbers in one place -- credit cards, insurance, loans, etc. I'm keeping a copy in my safe as well just in case.

important account numbers :: part of the home management set (all editable)

I receive a ton of magazines in the mail each month. Most I am subscribed to for free from participating in survey/research panels. And some I've just gotten 100% free. And others I've received really great deals on. I'm a magazine junkie, and that's one form of clutter I'm not going to give up. Having this log in my HMB allows me to quickly look to see what magazines are about to expire in case I want to resubscribe. This copy is blank because again, I decided I want to type it all up since it won't change often.

magazine subscriptions :: part of the home management set (all editable)

The pet information log allows me to see Jazz's vet visit record and medication record (if he ever needs any). Since we live in Utah and he's an indoor pup, we don't give him heart worm medicine. Supposedly it's not common here (according to the vet). He's doing fine after 2 years without it.

pet information :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

I get so annoyed when I have to look for software registration keys to reinstall or "verify ownership" of software. Microsoft Office's key is inside the packaging. Norton AntiVirus is in my email. System Mechanic is in the account online. Etc., etc., etc... Now they'll all be in one place...as soon as I type it up. =]

software registration keys :: part of the home management set (all editable)

The vehicle maintenance log isn't so important for our Ford Fusion...but for my Jeep Grand Cherokee, it's a must. No more scheming me when I get an oil change Jiffy Lube! This girl knows what maintenance has already been done to her car...beware. They try to get me...every time.

vehicle maintenance checklist :: part of the home management set (all editable)

The birthdays, holidays, & gifts category is new to my HMB. I think I'm going to love it though. Living 2000 miles away from the only people we give gifts to makes a mind forget what's already been given. Ya know, someone who's not as into the University of Utah as we are probably doesn't need 20 U of U t-shirts. Never again.

First in this section is the dates to remember log. Birthdays, anniversaries, whatever. Not forgotten any more. (Also available vertically.)

dates to remember :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

Now this is genius. Two people per page. Name, birthday, hobbies & interests, shoe/shirt/pant size, favorite color, and gifts given. I'm sure my dad gets annoyed when he has to tell me in November (for her birthday) and again in December (for Christmas) what size shirt my step-mom wears.

gifts given & idea tracker :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

I plan on making a Christmas planning set. This gift tracking & budgeting list will be included. I think it's genius. I think Christmas is too expensive. My husband thinks we need to buy for everyone and their uncle. Unfortunately we're broke. So we have to budget out, every year, what we're going to spend on each person, blah blah blah. And this year we're not going to Pennsylvania for Christmas...*gasp*...first time ever. It will be strange. But I'm not too keen on shipping a bunch of different boxes to each household for a Christmas gift of a DVD or something...the shipping will cost more than the gift with the way I shop. lol This document may just save our marriage this holiday season. =]

gift tracking & budgeting list :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

And for a freebie for following along with this home management binder series, I'm going to release the child's chore chart for download for a limited time. This chore chart is editable so that you can type in your child's name at the top and type in the chores in the left column. Laminate it and use a dry erase marker to check off completed chores if you want to use it over and over again every week. Download now and save it to your computer because the chance to get it free expires on Sunday, September 18.

chore chart :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

I hope you enjoyed glancing through my home management binder. I've been wanting to show it off forever. Seriously. I just never wanted to post it on my other blog because it doesn't belong. And due to creating the sets for some customers I got to totally revamp my HMB. As I create more and find more other printables on the 'net to add to my binder, I'll share. =]

All of these documents are available for purchase through my etsy store. Some are available for free on my blog. To access the documents, click on the link found under the corresponding picture. As a promotion for this week since I'm doing home management binder posts, you can save 10% on everything in the store with coupon code HMB0911. This coupon code will expire on Sunday, September 18 @ midnight (MT).

Home Management Binder: Grocery & Menu Planning and Health & Fitness Categories

Recap: On Monday I posted about setting my home management binder up. On Tuesday I showed you my first two categories: calendar and cleaning & organizing. And on Wednesday I showed you the next two categories: finances and shopping. Today I'm showing you the grocery & menu planning and health & fitness categories.

All of these documents are available for purchase through my etsy store. Some are available for free on my blog. To access the documents, click on the link found under the corresponding picture. As a promotion for this week since I'm doing home management binder posts, you can save 10% on everything in the store with coupon code HMB0911. This coupon code will expire on Sunday, September 18 @ midnight (MT).

This full page recipe document is one of my faves and I actually use them in my recipe binder rather than my home management binder. My mom sometimes emails me recipes from her collection and I don't like writing them on small recipe cards. With this document I just type everything in and print it out. It's easier to read and nicer to look at.

full page recipe :: part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable)

I keep my blank categorized grocery lists in the front pocket of the grocery & menu planning section. Having a categorized list makes shopping easier and faster at the store.

grocery list :: single document (editable) OR part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable)

This is the menu planning page I use most often. I keep it in my magnetic fridge filer in the kitchen so I always know what's for dinner this week. I'm able to sit down and write it out and make the grocery list on the side. And because of the way that I am, I like to rewrite everything onto the single page grocery list that I take to the store with me. I only write down the ingredients needed for dinner on this list and menu plan.

grocery list & dinner menu plan :: single document (editable) OR part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable)

And for those weeks that I don't feel like making a bunch of full blown meals (like this week), I use this simple menu page to plan dinner. You can download this new printable for free here.

weekly dinner menu plan

Our favorite meals is an incredible document that was the idea of one of my customers (thanks Ann Marie). She asked for a document that she could write down her family's favorite meals and their ingredients so that when she's planning her menu plan each week, she can quickly look at which ingredients she needs to add to her grocery list. No more searching through a million recipes just to find that one for the potato, broccoli, and sausage skillet (that we have monthly) and the ingredients I need to make it. Grocery list making is so much easier now. The version shown below has 10 boxes for recipes with 5 rows in each (for 5 ingredients). There is another version that comes in the grocery & meal planning set that has only 4 columns on the page, but allows you to include up to 16 ingredients.

our favorite meals :: part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable)

our favorite meals close-up

Dinner ideas makes menu planning easier too. Here I can list all of the meals we could have for dinner, even those that I don't need to use the favorite meals document for because it's obvious what ingredients I need (like for BLT sandwiches). I just started this list, so it's not very long yet, but it was helpful for planning dinner this week when I didn't feel like doing it. Also available in the grocery & meal planning set are documents for breakfast and lunch ideas.

dinner ideas :: part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable)

A big part of smart grocery shopping is being conscious of what items you already have in stock at home. Before I started taking inventory of everything I have stocked up, I was buying way too much. For example, I have enough hand soap to last me for 5 years I think. Same goes for toothpaste...too bad it expires within 3 years though. I admit, I go a little nuts when I find deals with coupons that are under a dollar. And the toothpaste -- all free. I have finally learned to stop buying it, even if it's free, since I don't have the room for it anymore. With the inventory documents (also available in this set are refrigerator, freezer, spices, pantry, and household product) I simply make a slash in the box for what I have and an "x" when I've used it or put it out to be used. All of the slashes are unopened items that I have stocked up. I keep a list of the things I may want to stock up on if the sale is right in Google Docs because I can access it from my smartphone while I'm shopping. [The pantry inventory is available as part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable) OR part of the inventories set (all editable).]

personal product inventory :: part of the grocery & meal planning set (all editable) OR part of the inventories set (all editable)

I don't have kids yet, but this medication tracker is perfect for anyone with kids so you know when they last took their medication. That way mom and dad don't accidentally double dose the kid from miscommunication (I've seen it happen when I worked at the preschool). If it's documented, then everyone knows when the next dose is due.

medication tracker :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

Because I just made this doctor visit log (a dentist visit log is also included in this set), I haven't been able to fill it out myself yet. No doctor visits in the future as of yet either. The dentist visit log will be something I'll be filling out soon though since I'm due for a cleaning in a couple months!

doctor visit log :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

I fell off the exercise wagon after the wedding and became lazy. I'm disappointed because I was doing so well and feeling really good...and then I crashed into depression about the job thing...and blah blah blah. No excuses. I need to get back in the game. And when I do, this exercise log will be my best friend for motivation.

exercise log :: part of the family & party planning set (all editable)

 I printed this nutrition facts explanation from Nothing Is Impossible.

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And I printed some other weight loss and fitness information from Downtownn.

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I also have a bunch of Biggest Loser meal swapping ideas printed off that I got from when I was subscribed to The Biggest Loser Club, but due to copyright stuff, I can't show y'all a picture.

I'll be back tomorrow with the last two categories in my binder: home & family and birthdays, holidays, & gifts.

All of these documents are available for purchase through my etsy store. Some are available for free on my blog. To access the documents, click on the link found under the corresponding picture. As a promotion for this week since I'm doing home management binder posts, you can save 10% on everything in the store with coupon code HMB0911. This coupon code will expire on Sunday, September 18 @ midnight (MT).