Time Management – Balancing family time and time for mom

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timemanagement

Recently, I’ve taken on several more projects – including a new part-time job and becoming a contributor to the Happy Wives Club – in addition to the mountain of work I’m already responsible for. Some ask if maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew – being a mom, working 2 jobs, contributing to 2 blogs, etc. Maybe have… Or maybe they just don’t know my secret – time management.

Considering the title of my blog is “Blissfully Chaotic Life” it’s pretty much a given that I like having a chaotic lifestyle, but in reality my life isn’t as chaotic as most would think. It’s all about time management. No matter how much or how little I have to get done on any given day, I like to face it with some kind of game plan. It’s not always written out – mostly it’s a mental game plan – and some days I don’t stick to it perfectly, but I strive to get everything accomplished.

Usually at the beginning of the week I know what projects and deadlines need to be met and I set out the time necessary to get these tasks accomplished. Although my family always comes first – providing for my family is just as important as spending time with them. After I have my work scheduled out, my remaining time needs to broken down into time spent cooking, cleaning, family time, writing and finding time for myself - because let’s face it, if I don’t I would ultimately lose my mind.

Here are some tips to help you manage your time:

  • Keep track of any deadlines and due dates
  • Prioritize your to-do list - make sure the most important tasks are completed and let the insignificant little tasks go if you don’t have enough time (so the dishes don’t get put away, big deal! There’s always tomorrow)
  • Multitask – tidy up the kitchen while cooking or let the kids help out with chores around the house and make a game of it.
  • Set aside time for yourself – too much work and no play makes for a very unhappy and burned out mommy! Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, set aside some time that’s just for you – read a book, have a glass of wine, get in a little tube time – whatever it may be, give yourself a little break. You deserve it!

Some days are harder than others, but if you face each day with a game plan and good time management, there really isn’t much you can’t accomplish!

Question: What time management skill do you use to balance your time at home? Do you ever feel guilty for not getting everything done?

Southwest Chicken Soup

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I was a little frazzled this weekend and was not sure what to make for dinner. I had everything planned out, but life gets in the way and my plans don’t always come to fruition. I had intended on making mini chicken pot pies with a side salad. When I got home from all my running around on Saturday, I just wasn’t in the mood to do all the prep work for the pot pies. I was really in the mood for some chicken tacos. The chicken had cooked all day in my crock pot and were fall off the bone ready. So I tossed in some homemade taco seasoning and some pico de gallo and let it simmer for while longer.

Long story short, I never got around to eating my chicken taco. Instead, my husband came home and made rice and beans for a side and put all the leftovers in the fridge. The following day, when looking through the fridge to see what I could make for lunch, I found all the components of the night before’s dinner that I never ate. Only thing I hadn’t expected to see was that my husband never drained out the stock I cooked the chicken in. Instead he pored the stock into the same Tupperware with the shredded chicken.

I took the left over rice and beans, poured the taco chicken “soup” overtop and heated it up. Oh my word, was it delicious! Completely not what I was expecting. I couldn’t stop eating it and I knew it was something I had to share with you. I love when unexpected dishes come together so well. This doesn’t happen all too often for me, so when it does I’m over the moon excited. I couldn’t wait to share my new recipe for what I like to call my Southwest Chicken Soup.

Southwest Chicken Soup

Ingredients

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup pico de gallo (or you can substitute fresh salsa)
1 1/2 tsp Goya Adobo
1 1/2 tsp homemade taco seasoning
1 cup brown rice
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 1/2 cup water

1. Place chicken breast in your crock pot. In a separate bowl add chicken stock, pico de gallo, Adobo and taco seasoning. Stir until taco seasoning is incorporated into stock. Pour over chicken and set crock pot to 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

2. In a saucepan or frying add water and rice and bring to a boil uncovered. Add black beans and corn. Reduce heat and cover, letting the rice mixture simmer for 20 minutes. Once rice is done cooking, turn off heat and let sit for 10 minutes (may be left longer but not less than 10 minutes).

3. Remove chicken from crock pot and allow to cook for several minutes. Add rice, black beans and corn to crock pot and stir. Shred chicken and return to crock pot. Stir once more. If your crock pot has a warming setting, allow your soup to warm for about 15-20 minutes. If not, you can turn your crock pot back on to high or transfer your soup to a pot to reheat.

And there you go! It’s even great topped with sliced avocados or garnished with tortilla strips.

If you try out my recipe, I’d love to hear what you think about it! It really is very easy to make and it freezes well too.