As a working mom, these things make my life easier every day.
I’ll be honest. I am exhausted most of the time. The idea of having to make breakfast, pack lunch, and prepare dinner is draining. I’ll be the first to admit that my kids do not eat as healthy as they could in the morning. Their breakfasts usually consist of frozen pancakes or waffles, cereal, or oatmeal and they are fine with that. For now, it works. I’m sure one day I will get around to preparing more healthy breakfast options for my kids, but from now, this is what works.
For me, however, I often forget about myself and end up starving when I get to work. Between getting myself ready, getting the kids ready, packing lunches, and getting everyone out the door, there are a few things I have found that have helped calm the chaos during this time.
Over the Sink Colander
When I say this is a kitchen staple, I mean that it almost never leaves my kitchen sink, except for when it is in the dishwasher. I am lucky enough to have two sinks in my kitchen, so this colander hands out over our prep sink located on our island. The sink is smaller, so it fits over it in its collapsed form.
We use this for daily needs, like washing fruit for lunch or preparing vegetables for dinner. It also extends and fits over our main sink as well. I use it here on grocery days when I will wash our fruit in bulk in preparation for a week of packing lunches.
Simple Modern 40oz Tumbler
Where are all my Stanley people at? I am not here to hate on the Stanley Tumbler- I actually own two Stanley products of my own and I do like them. However, I am very partial to this Simple Modern tumbler because of the color (Sage green- Hello!) and the sleek design. It is also a much more cost effective purchase for essentially the same product.
This tumbler is perfect for home and for work (teacher in a classroom- I need to stay hydrated). One of the things I have been trying to do is drink more water, so I typically fill it up in the morning with a Liquid IV, and then refill with water at least once, sometimes twice, a day. Yes, I pee more, but there are definitely positive benefits as well.
The downside is that this tumbler is large. Yes, it fits in a cup holder, but that is typically where it stays. It feels awkward to carry around from place to place and since it keeps drinks cold, it usually stays in my car if I am out and about.
Another mention from this brand are these cute guys that my kids have. They have so many different colors and patterns and partner with Disney which is an added plus. They are very affordable and keep drinks cold.
Simple Modern 14oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler
If you are looking for a water bottle for your kiddo, this is a great recommendation. My kids are getting these in their Easter baskets to take to Disney this spring.
Hamilton Beach Portable Blender
I have had this thing for years- I think I bought it for $12 on sale. Recently, however, I have been using it every single day. It is so easy to make a protein smoothie every morning before I have to run out the door.
Hamiton Beach Portable Blender
The best feature is that you can blend and drink from the same cup! Less mess, less clean up, less time. It is pretty powerful and much more affordable than some other brands on the market. It is pretty darn powerful too!
DASH Rapid Egg Cooker
Anyone else have trouble keeping hard boiled eggs in the fridge? I cannot be the only one! Between myself, my husband, and all 3 of my kids, we go through dozens of hard-boiled eggs a week.
We eat eggs other ways too- it’s just that when they are hard boiled, they are a healthy and convenient snack.
I am not a cooker- this is not the first time you will hear me say that. Not that boiling eggs is cooking. But, it still requires planning and supervision in the kitchen.
With this egg cooker, all you have to do is fill it with a small amount of water, place eggs in the cooker, close the lid and push the button. A lovely chime will alert you 16 minutes later that your eggs are ready- no need to watch a pot boil.
This has been the easiest way to cook eggs and keep them stocked in my house.
Glass Meal Prep Containers
Being a teacher, I have to pack my lunch every day. I don’t have the luxury of going to pick up food or make lunch at home. I used to make salads for the week every Sunday, but I got so sick of them and needed something new.
These containers serve multiple purposes in my household. I use them to pack lunch-usually some form of chicken or ground turkey, rice, and a vegetable. They are microwave safe so I can heat as is and it makes for less clean up later on.
I have also begun to use these for meal prepping fruit on the weekend. I wash and cut up strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and store them in these containers with a paper towel. It keeps the fruit fresh much longer and having washed fruit readily available makes breakfasts and packing the kids lunches much easier.
We also use these for leftovers. Again, the fact that they are microwave safe means less dishes and makes my life easier. I love leftovers and will eat the same thing for days, so these are perfect for me.
Honorable Mentions
Dyson V8 Cordless Vaccuum Cleaner
Okay, okay. So this is not necessarily a kitchen gadget. But- I use it in my kitchen daily. 3 kids = big messes. And this is used multiple times a day to clean up all the crumbs and endless messes made by my kids in the kitchen,
Six months ago, I still used an upright, corded stick vacuum as my main vacuum in my home. I HATED vacuuming. It was such a hassle to drag it out of the closet it was kept in, constantly move the plug around the house and up and down the stairs, and then wrap the cord back up. My husband will tell you, I despised that part! I hated it so much that I just used a broom to clean the kitchen floors most days and only dragged the vacuum out for the weekly carpet cleanings.
Then, we moved into our new home that had absolutely no carpet- NONE. There was hardwood floor throughout the whole house and a lot of it. I knew I could not sweep the floor with a broom on a daily basis- I would drive myself crazy. So I did what any normal person would do and I purchased my first Dyson.
HOLY MOLY- why did I wait so long? This machine is a game changer. It is so easy to maneuver and clean that I am vacuuming now more than ever, which is good because I never realized how dusty hardwood gets. I purchased the smaller version of the upright stick vacuum and it is perfect for me. It is not too heavy and has the perfect amount of suction. My only complaint is that it does not hold a charge long enough to vacuum my whole house. I usually have to do one floor at a time between chargers.
If you invest in one cleaning tool for yourself, this is the one. You won’t be sorry.
Clip-On Silicone Colander
This little guy gets a lot of use too. I have never been a big fan of the big bulky colander, mainly because our sink was usually filled with dirty dishes and there was nowhere for it to go.
This colander is made of silicone, fits on any size pot, and just pops in the dishwasher to clean. Couldn’t make life easier.
I do not have it all figured out and am just trying to make my life easier most days. These things have worked for me so if they can help anyone else tame the madness of the mornings (or afternoons), that’s a bonus in itself!
XO,
Emily
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