Author: Julie Meyers Pron

As I worked on updated last year’s October Menu Plan from last year to make sure all the recipes were up to date, I reflected on how much I love this menu. It’s definitely one of my favorites because it includes the right mix of meal types–chicken, beef, seafood, pork, and veggie meals, mixes in seasonal foods, and includes a good mix of last-minute meals, slow cooker meals, and dinners that require a little extra prep time. Enjoy the October meal plan for your family dinners! Bring on November! View the November Meal Plan here. If you’re new to meal…

Now that we’ve been back in school for about a month (and many of you more), you’re finally getting to the point of a routine… or maybe close to one. Or, perhaps, you’re dying to get there and need a little guidance. To help, I pulled out some of my most popular menu and meal planning strategy, as well as family organization posts. Many of the posts listed below use momAgenda products. If you’re already set and comfortable with your calendar system, it’s easy to mesh with the tips below. But if you’re looking for a new system, MomAgenda fits so very…

There was a large butternut squash sitting on my counter for a few weeks, taunting me. So, Sunday, as I prepared Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving Dinner, I decided to create a soup. Because I made baby food when the kids were babies, pureeing it was something I’ve done before. All you need to do is cut a squash in half lengthwise, spoon out the seeds and strings, and place it in a baking dish, skin side down, filled about a 1/4 way with cold water. Bake your squash for about an hour at 350. When finished baking, spoon the…

I know. I make it sound easy, right? I plan my meals each Sunday, shop each Monday, and I’m ready and prepared to cook dinner each night. Well, you know? It’s true. That has made it much easier. Before I meal planned, dinners were so rough. 4:00 would roll around, and I’d be at a loss for ideas. What should I cook? What can I throw together to make a healthy, good meal? Goodness. Running to the grocery store at 4 every day to figure it out wasn’t working. So. I started menu planning. And it has made my life…

With the start of the Back to School season, there’s an ideal opportunity to start personal parenting routines. Everything from getting the kids off to school to grocery shopping becomes simpler when you have it down to a system. The problem is finding and sticking to a system so that it becomes a habit. Here’s how I organize my week. Keep a calendar. In the past, I used an Agenda Desktop Planner, and it was fantastic. Each child had a section for his or her events and appointments. And I loved how the week was spread out in front of you. Last…

The weekly meal plan is back! I heard you all, and I know that a lot of my readers do enjoy the meal plan calendar, so I’ll keep it as posted. But more people seem to rely on the weekly menu that they can find by searching, and, to be honest, I missed having it, too. I still plan to post recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning thoughts each week, but part of the value of a weekly meal plan is timely planning which takes into consideration the weather, time of year, and your weekly activities. Planning a month in…

November is like the old October, isn’t it? Saturday, we were outside at a soccer game in t-shirts and shorts. Sunday, we bundled up for the same field in jeans and sweaters. Brrrr! We got in one last night on the grill this weekend… thinking that will be it for a while. This month, I’ll start off each meal plan post with a nod to my favorite kitchen product (or two), offering gift ideas for those who love to cook. I can’t imagine not starting this Kitchen Gift Guide without the two listed below. Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/2-Quart…

While exploring the scenery, the excitement, and learning a tiny bit about betting on horses was all in the fun of my first day at Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks) in May, a memorable experience of the day came when we entered Millionaires Row — where we were wined   Lilied and dined with buffet, drinks, and gambling, not to mention an amazing view from way up high and good times with new friends. Lilied? One taste of the Grey Goose Lily and the Huz, and I knew that this would be our drink of the summer. We came home,…

To purchase any of these must-read books that I loved so much, I had to share them with you or add a book to your Amazon Wishlist; please click on either the image or the blue, underlined affiliate link. Thank you for supporting Julieverse. You, like a zillion of my friends, are looking for a great next book, yes? You want a can’t-put-it-down masterpiece that gets your mind moving, inspires you and loses you. You want a book that makes you feel feelings. Perhaps you’ll have hours at the pool, in the sand, or by the lake. Maybe, you just…

It’s the most anticipated question of the night. The one everyone preps for and crosses her fingers that the next book chosen will be one she’s dying to read or one that she’s never heard of but can’t put down. For a little over a year, I’ve been featuring books that I’m hearing book clubs love or books that I’m inspired to read and trying to keep up with reading them. (Links to my book lists are at the end of this post.) Here are the ones that I think your book club should read next! Recently, a few friends…