Honeybee Home Helper

Hope the luck of the Irish is with you today.

My client was looking for a makeover for his utility closet. He needed space for pantry items, tools, as well as seasonal items such as coolers and camping gear.

We removed the large shelving unit that was currently in use as it was oversized and didn't allow easy access to the back of the closet.

We replaced this with two smaller shelving units in order to create zones. Tools were organized on one shelf and pantry items and cleaning supplies on the other. Seasonal items were stored on the upper shelf.

My client was thrilled with the results and was happy that the layout would be easy for him to maintain.

Multi-purpose closets can become a catch-all for items that you don't use a lot or don't have a home. By creating zones and containing items in bins, utility closets can be a functional storage space in your home.

Swipe to see the before and after!

Do you have a loved one who is in need of a little extra support in order to remain in their own home? Are you struggling to find the time to manage your own home and theirs? At Honeybee Home Helper, we understand how stressful this can be and we are here to help.
We offer a variety of services to support seniors including light housekeeping, laundry, food preparation and running errands. Let us help lighten your load and ensure that your loved ones receive the support they need. Call today for more information or to book a no-obligation consultation.

The cost of groceries has skyrocketed and this makes meal planning a way to help keep the grocery budget under control. Here are some budget-friendly tips for planning your weekly meals:

1. Plan your meals around foods that are on sale. Check the flyers before heading out to shop.
2. Include plant-based meals at least once a week.
3. Shop your pantry and freezer to use up what you have on hand first.
4. Enjoy grains more often. Include rice, pasta and couscous to bulk up your meals.
5. Avoid recipes that have special ingredients that you may not use again. Try to plan your meals around similar ingredients to avoid waste.
6. Shop for seasonal produce; take advantage of local markets for great prices.
7. Plan to use leftovers in sandwiches, stir fry and soups.
8. Cook in bulk and freeze for quick meals in the future.
9. Avoid convenience foods.
10. Buy cheaper cuts of meat and be creative with recipes
11. Buy frozen or canned fruits and vegetables.
Meal planning will help you stay on budget and will ensure that you and your family have healthy meals ready to go when you need them.

No time for food preparation or meal planning? Contact Honeybee Home Helper today to find out how we can support you.

Looking for quick and easy lunches? Here are 5 delicious, go-to ideas to get you started.

1. Buddha bowls- I love this versatile lunch solution. It’s a great way to clean out your fridge and you can mix it up in order to have a variety of bowls each day. First choose your protein, then add a grain and then pile in all kinds of chopped veggies. Add some hummus, your favourite dressing or even roasted veggies. These delicious bowls can be made ahead of time to grab in the morning on your way to work.

2. Honey sesame chicken – This quick and easy dish can be portioned to make several lunches. The recipe for this yummy dish can be found in the comments.

3. Chopped chickpea salad – This Mediterranean salad is low-cal and takes only 15 minutes to prepare. Find the recipe in the comments.

4. Butternut squash soup- I love this simple, but satisfying soup. Begin by roasting the butternut squash until tender. Chop one onion and saute in olive oil. When soft, add the cubed squash. Add your favourite seasonings and cover with vegetable broth. Simmer for 30-40 minutes. Puree until smooth then add cinnamon and a splash of maple syrup. This soup freezes beautifully and is great with fresh, warm bread.

5. Spinach and turkey pinwheels – such a fun lunch idea that will be a hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Find the recipe in the comments.

By prepping one or more of these delicious recipes at the start of the week, you have grab and go lunches that are packed full of nutrition and deliciousness. Enjoy!

Want to make the food prep even simpler? Buy pre-washed, pre-cut veggies, use a rotisserie chicken and buy pre-made dressings or dips to make prep and clean-up a breeze.

Comment below if you gave one of these dishes a try. I’d love to know if you liked them.

Now that you have made your meal plan and done the shopping, it’s time to meal prep. This can seem overwhelming for a beginner, but these 5 tips are going to help you to get started.

1. Prepping Ahead – to kick start your week, any prep that you can do in advance is going to make your dinner hour simpler. Washing and chopping produce, cooking proteins and making grains are all ways to get ahead of the game.
2. Batch Cooking – this simply means cooking in large batches. So, if you need bacon for a recipe, cook the entire package and freeze what you don’t need to grab for a quick breakfast one morning. If you are making a casserole, double the recipe and pop one in the freezer. If you are going to the trouble of making something, make a lot and utilize the leftovers for another meal.
3. Sheet pan Meals-these one pan meals make clean up a dream. Prep the ingredients, pop them on the pan, place in the oven and forget about them. Dinner is ready. Search for these types of recipes for a quick and easy dinner solution.
4. Overlapping Ingredients- when meal planning, try to find recipes that utilize similar ingredients. This will allow you to prep that ingredient once and will reduce waste if you don’t need all of it for one dish. This might include produce, proteins or grains.
5. Use your freezer-your freezer is going to become your best friend when it’s time to prepare dinner. If you have batch cooked, prepped ahead and ensured that you have leftovers, all of these tasty dishes can be frozen for another day. When you know you won’t have a lot of time to prepare dinner, just pull out one of these dishes in the morning and you will be all set to go.
Stay tuned for more tips to simplify your life.