https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 00:47:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490794 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:23:19 +0000 looch 2490794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do outfits, rather than to group things by type and I will make sure I have at least 5 outfits ready to go for the week down to the tights and shoes.</p> <p>We also have a rolling sorter we use for laundry. We do 2 loads of clothes a week for the three of us, plus linens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490788 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:21:16 +0000 LindsayLou 2490788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: We use a similar system to what gingerbebe has set up. We have a small master closet, and neither of us likes dressers, so we got creative. We have one bookcase we use for clothes storage, two closet rods in our closet, and a platform bed with drawers.</p> <p>My husband has socks and underwear in one bed frame drawer, with a divider, and short and long sleeve shirts in another drawer. Two shelves of the bookcase hold his folded jeans, work pants and pajamas. One shelf has 3 baskets for me, with my underwear, bras and socks. The closet has my hanging stuff, and everything else is folded in canvas hanging shelves. So tank tops in one cubby, jeans in one, etc. I love that everything has a spot and I don't have to open any drawers to see everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490752 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:04:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2490752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: DH just sent me pics of my closet. Like I said, its super basic. As you can see from the green bins and overflowing hamper, I'm trying to incorporate this for our bed linens too (king size pillowcases, standard pillowcases, etc). </p> <p>And as for what we do for ACTUAL laundry, we keep 2 huge vertical hampers in the hallway next to our washer dryer. We only sort darks and lights, everyone's clothes gets washed together, we use Tide free and gentle, and no dryer sheets. I usually run a load of each every single day. </p> [attach=1472/16/o3ud81.600x450.image1.JPG] [attach=1472/16/o3ud82.450x600.image2.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490734 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:54:35 +0000 MrsBrewer 2490734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Wow you are awesome! Thanks for explaining in such great detail. I love that idea for the kids room also!! I think I may have to look into those hanging bins. I love the ones with the small canvas drawers in them too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490730 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:52:03 +0000 gingerbebe 2490730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: Yes, my closet is bigger than a standard bedroom closet and DH has his own. But DH has wayy more clothes than I do (he got the walk-in) and I think my system only uses about 1/2 of my closet space, if that. The way my closet is set up, there is a shelf about waist high on one side of the closet, plus a shelf above the closet rod. So the cubes just sit on the waist-high shelf and the hampers sit on the floor. </p> <p>But if you had a standard bedroom closet, I imagine you could accomplish a similar situation by getting those hanging storage cubes to hang off your rods that have drawers (like what I did for my son) for the small things like socks and underwear and put hampers on the floor.</p> <p><a href="http://www.pbteen.com/products/7558104/?catalogId=88&#038;sku=7558104&#038;bnrid=3780801&#038;cm_ven=Google_PLA&#038;cm_cat=Shopping&#038;cm_pla=Feed&#038;cm_ite=Google%20Base&#038;kwid=productads-adid" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbteen.com/products/7558104/?catalogId=88&#038;sku=7558104&#038;bnrid=3780801&#038;cm_ven=Google_PLA&#038;cm_cat=Shopping&#038;cm_pla=Feed&#038;cm_ite=Google%20Base&#038;kwid=productads-adid</a>^91506294328-device^c-plaid^136502568088-sku^7558104-adType^PLA</p> <p>My son's closet is a standard size closet and in addition to the over-the-rod shelf across the top, the previous owners installed 3 super simple plain wooden shelves on either end of the closet. I imagine they kept their shoes there but something like that could easily fit a few canvas storage cubes. I do have a picture of that.</p> <p>Its a split screen that shows either end of the closet. One side for DS, the other is for the new baby due in May. In the center I have a plastic 3-drawer rolling cart that holds off-season clothes for DS in his current size, plus a hamper. Above that is where I hang his few hanging things like his coat. I imagine something similar could be done for adults using larger storage cubes (DS' are the kid sized ones from Land of Nod). </p> [attach=1472/16/o3ucmr.600x600.closet.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490717 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:42:34 +0000 petitenoisette 2490717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I'm trying out this month is meal planning a month at a time (I used to do per week). My husband and I came up with a list of 10-12 meals relatively simple meals (using mainly meals we already regularly eat) and then I just input the meals on my google calendar. Anything more complicated on the weekend, a crockpot meal a lot of Mondays that we get ready on Sunday, taco Tuesdays always! Something with rice and then the next night fried rice, etc. </p> <p>Anyway, we did this because we're trying to go a month without going out to eat or getting take-out and so far we're doing really well! If I end up not making a meal I just adjust the calendar accordingly. I did a big shop for the month and will just go to the store for more perishable items as necessary so I think it's going to save us a lot of money too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490696 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:33:12 +0000 MrsBrewer 2490696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Do you have a pretty big closet? Do you and your DH share a closet? Most of my stuff doesn't need to be ironed either, but I really need to purge! I suck at organizing, but this seems like a super easy and efficient way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490693 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:30:48 +0000 gingerbebe 2490693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: </p> <p>I'm at work so no pics, but its super casual. I just went to the Dollar Tree and literally bought 12 or 14" canvas storage bins like this:</p> <p><a href="http://amzn.com/B001E95R0Y" rel="nofollow">http://amzn.com/B001E95R0Y</a></p> <p>And small round laundry hampers. Everything was a $1 each. </p> <p>And I placed the cubes on the shelf in my closet. I haven't labeled them yet (which will help DH when he puts away my clean clothes), but each cube houses socks, tank tops, panties, bras, hosiery, and miscellaneous accessories like belts or mittens or hats I don't wear often. </p> <p>The round hampers are bit larger and they are on the floor of the closet. They hold casual clothes I wear at home, like t-shirts, PJ pants, jeans, and athleisure type clothing. I use a large rectangular laundry hamper to hold my folded work slacks/bottoms, another hamper to hold my work tops, I keep a small round hamper of loose open cardigans, and anything that wrinkles like dresses and suits get hung, but I don't have many of those.</p> <p>I think the reason this all works is because I don't buy clothing that requires ironing anymore and because I just purged my closet. So I don't have a lot of clothing to begin with! Once this baby is born, I'll be able to put my work clothes and maternity clothes away for a while, pull out the nursing clothes, and just have a few hampers of casual clothes for putzing around the house during maternity leave.</p> <p>My purses live in a Rubbermaid bin in their storage bags in the corner. Shoes live in the garage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490655 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:17:33 +0000 MrsBrewer 2490655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I would love to see what you mean about your closet and the bins! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490577 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:48:34 +0000 KayKay 2490577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Different things have been helpful for me at different points of life (WOH vs WAH vs SAH; 1 vs 2 kids, etc), but the things that have most recently helped me the most are:</p> <p> - meal planning in 2-week increments so i only have to do a major grocery trip every other week. the one in between, i can get by picking up things i forgot or we ran out of, or some weeks making do without going at all. </p> <p> - hiring a sitter to come once a week on a weeknight. it gives DH and i some time during the week to make sure we connect and gives us something to look forward to during those crummy weeks when you're working a lot or the kids are being crazy. it's a lot easier to have a consistent sitter during the week, since who has plans on a random tues or weds night? -- and it makes it really easy on both the sitter and the kids too because they get to really know each other and the kids expect the sitter then, etc. we don't always go out for anything fancy...some nights just walk to the local pub...and most nights we are only out for 2ish hrs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490445 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:15:35 +0000 SweetCaroline 2490445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: you are amazing and I always find your posts useful and helpful! Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490386 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:52:07 +0000 gingerbebe 2490386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do a lot of what you already do, but I'm trying to be super consistent about doing them every single night so my life doesn't derail in the morning. (I'm just not a morning person). We just stick to a daily routine that changes rarely. </p> <p>I also have stuff ready for DS' dinner cut up in small tupperwares so I can just reheat and serve it to him as soon as I get home. I make veggies and carbs and have some quick prep proteins all ready so I just need to microwave for a few seconds.</p> <p>I prep DS' breakfast before bed. I get a sectioned plate and put in some cut up frozen pancakes drizzled with butter and syrup, turkey sausage, and a banana and stick it in a gallon size ziploc bag. DH just nukes the plate for a few seconds, adds the banana, and breakfast is served.</p> <p>We also cook ahead after DS goes to bed or on weekends and reheat so I'm not trying to cook with a toddler underfoot. I aim to cook 3x a week and eat leftovers once or twice. I also cook things I can remix into different meals without much effort. That covers 5-6 meals a week.</p> <p>I also make sandwich packs for DH's lunches (I eat leftovers). I get a quart size ziploc bag, add 2 slices of bread, a piece of lettuce wrapped in a paper towel, and some lunch meat and pickle slices that I've stuck in a snack size bag. This keeps the sandwiches dry and fresh all week and he just carries a bottle of mustard in his bag. I also keep snack baggies of baby carrots and mini hummus in the fridge, so its a matter of grabbing a sandwich, some carrots, a granola bar and a clementine and DH's lunch is ready to go. Saves us a lot of money and takes me 10 minutes.</p> <p>I pack the daycare bags and put them in the car at night and also keep a dry snack and a sippy of water in the cupholder to hand DS to and from daycare. We keep a pair of DS' shoes in each car and don't put them on until we arrive at daycare and take them off before we pull him out of the car so we're not running around looking for shoes. We keep a hooded towel in the car that we drape over him as a blanket/mess shield in the carseat and then wrap him in the towel when walking him back and forth to daycare in the rain.</p> <p>I lay out everyone's clothes at night, including DH's. I shower at night and just deal with weird hair in the morning. </p> <p>We also have multiples of everything, including things like a million loveys, a million pairs of PJs for DS, back up sunglasses in the car - it keeps things running smoothly. We have Tile on our keys so we can find them quickly in the morning if they get lost.</p> <p>DH and I synch everything on our Google calendar and try to send ETA messages on Waze so we can keep an eye on each other's commutes. </p> <p>I just reorganized my closet so that instead of clothes in drawers and dressers, I just have a series of canvas bins and small laundry hampers where I toss my clothes after they are washed and folded. I have very few things that need to be hung up and nothing that requires ironing, so I just have like a bin for tank tops or a bin for bras and just throw them in there. Its not aesthetically the most pleasing thing, but its hidden in my closet and it saves me time instead of trying to find room in a cramped dresser drawer. I've done something similar for DS' clothes - I bought Land of Nod hanging canvas storage with the drawers and labeled them like "TOPS" or "BOTTOMS" or "SOCKS" and just dump all his seasonally appropriate clothing in there so we can just grab and go.</p> <p>I also hoard things. I have a chest freezer and a spare fridge in the garage so we're never out of things we need routinely. I also usually keep like 2 months of cleaning supplies, wipes, diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, and toiletries around. Nothing throws off my daily schedule like running out of allergy medicine or something stupid, drives me nuts. Costco is my friend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490362 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:38:55 +0000 LindsayLou 2490362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only work part time, and get to bring LO with me (I'm a nanny). So I have more time at home to get stuff done. </p> <p>What I do:<br /> -pack baby's bag for work days the night before<br /> -set out my clothes and baby's clothes the night before work. This is surprisingly helpful.<br /> -recycle junk mail before it even gets inside<br /> -buy small prepackaged snacks (fruit leather, crackers, yogurt, etc) for my husband and is to take for lunch<br /> -bake a batch of muffins Sunday nights for breakfasts throughout the week<br /> -quick cleanup of kitchen every night, so I don't wake up to a mess<br /> -cook a good leftover dinner (spaghetti, chili, soup, etc) on the weekend, so I have leftovers for lunches </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490328 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:22:34 +0000 SweetCaroline 2490328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: such good ones! I need to be better about prepping more meals in the weekend.</p> <p>2016 has been my year of self care and also for pushing for me and DH to have dates.</p> <p>We don't have a dishwasher (*yet*) and it's the bane of my existence! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490308 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:12:56 +0000 catlady 2490308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here are some of my tips!</p> <p>Food: We only cook meals on weekends (when we have extra time) or after she is in bed. On weekdays for dinner, we either reheat food that we have made the night before or we eat out (we allow ourselves to eat out twice per week).</p> <p>Cleaning: We clean after everything we do. Dishes go into the dishwasher after every meal, and are run every day. Toys are picked up immediately after playing. LO has noticed and now helps out too, which is great. Doing this keeps our house pretty clean with minimal time.</p> <p>Taking a break, taking care of yourself: Our life got so much better after we got a regular babysitter (we only use her about once per month) and once we started asking family for more help. Also, DH and I started working out again recently and we both feel so much better. We switch mornings (he works out one day, I work out the other) so it's manageable even with LO's early wakeups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490304 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:08:22 +0000 SweetCaroline 2490304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: Yes, we have someone come in every other week. That helps a TON!</p> <p>To be clear, I don't do all these things all the time, I just strive to do as many as possible! When I do most or all, life is better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490298 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:04:37 +0000 Autumnmama79 2490298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Wow you're already doing so many great things! I also WOH full time. Do you have someone coming in to help with cleaning? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490255 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:46:28 +0000 SweetCaroline 2490255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-Age old, pack everything at night!<br /> -Fill 5 gallon ziploc bags with DD's complete outfit plus a diaper for week day mornings<br /> -I drink prepackaged protein shakes for breakfast<br /> -I start a load of laundry every AM, put it in the dryer when I get home, fold before bed<br /> -cut up food for DD on the weekends so it is ready for daycare lunches and snacks<br /> -Toss junk mail the minute it enters my house</p> <p>I'll add more as I think of them!</p> <p>ETA: I have multiples of everything. This could be good or bad. This is at my husband's insistance and enables us to continue our routines if a bottle, container, coffee mug, sweatshirt, etc. Is left at work or daycare.</p> <p>I also try to do as much as possible on the weekends, including prefilling out food labels for daycare </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/motherhood-survival-tips#post-2490249 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:43:38 +0000 SweetCaroline 2490249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you do to make your life run more smoothly? I am a FT WOH mama and working excessively right now. It's just a season, but I can use all the organization/orchestration tips I can get!</p> <p>There's so many lovely ladies on here I'd love to hear how you do it! </p>