Right now I am solidly in the “busy mom” phase of life, where I spend my days trying to balance all the things while making the best decisions I can for my family.  For many of us moms, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  So today I’m sharing with you a few simple mom hacks and must-haves for your kitchen to help you keep your sanity & save time in the midst of your busy days!

Mom Hacks & Must Haves

for the Kitchen:

Mom Hack:

Have your kids help you with simple tasks in the kitchen.  This is a wonderful way to teach them responsibility, while also spending quality time with them.  Instead of having my kids zone out in front of a screen, I invite them to help me in the kitchen.  Sometimes they are happy to do so, while other times I’m forcing them to turn that device off (moms, I know you know what I’m talking about!)  But it’s such a fun thing to work side by side with my kids and have a conversation while we prepare dinner, unload the dishwasher, or set the table.   I often find that they divulge even more about their day during these moments.  So it saves me time because I have helpers, and it’s a bonding experience as we work together and have conversation.   Win, win!  Plus, I am 100% confidant that my future daughter in law will appreciate the fact that my son knows how to help out in the kitchen.  You’re welcome, you lucky lady.

Mom Must-Have:

Use simple cleaning products that are easy and safe for your family.  My must-have dishwasher detergent is Cascade Pure Essentials because it is made with bio based ingredients and it cleans my dishes reliably every time.  It doesn’t have phosphates or chlorine, so I feel good knowing that my dishes are getting clean without a harsh chemical residue being left behind on my kids dishes.

Mom Hack:

Last week I shared how I didn’t have a pantry and I was surprised to find out how many of you don’t have one in your home either!   One of my hacks for those of you who are pantry-less is to openly display produce, snacks, and baking supplies on open shelves or counters in your kitchen.  Place fresh fruit in a bowl, or fill a basket with kids snacks, or use glass jars to store baking items in a stylish yet functional way.  This helps to solve the short-on-space dilemma in a practical yet stylish way.

Mom Must-Have:

Slow cookers are a busy mom’s best friend.   Throw a bunch of ingredients into it early in the morning, forget about it all day, and then magically have a delicious dinner at your fingertips when the kids are hangry and whiny at 5:00.  I love using my slow cooker year round, and one of my favorite recipes is for this Roast Beef & Potato meal.  There are also meals you can prep ahead and freeze, and then you can just pull it out of the freezer and place it into the slow cooker when you’re ready.  Talk about efficient!  Seriously, if you’re a busy mom and you don’t use one of these, I highly recommend it.

And there you have it…a few time saving tips to make mom life just a bit easier!