They say there are two sides to every story. Well, the flip side to Spring’s sunny warmth and beauty is its fickle weather and jam-packed calendar. Between the First Communions, graduations, baby showers, and end-of-year events, it’s enough to make you wistful for the days of long underwear and parkas again or maybe that’s just us.
Well, snap out of it, people! You don’t need an arctic blast from the not-too-distant past; you need a plan. There are lots of ways to wrestle Spring down to a size that’s manageable again or at least stop wanting to fling it from an overpass. Here are 7 ways you can make your spring a little less frenzied . . .
1. Make your crockpot your friend.
Whether cooking for a crowd or just trying to avoid the drive-thru lane every night for dinner, our trusty crockpots make dinner happen even in the midst of a busy night. To make your life even easier, we’ve got some favorites and we’re not afraid to share ’em. Every one of these recipes come approved by both of our families.
If you don’t currently own one, we recommend at least a 6 quart crockpot for a family of four or larger with a removable, easy to clean insert. It should also be programmable to really make your life easier. This slow cooker 
2. Grab a buddy.
Nothing is more valuable than your carpooling peeps during these busy months. We lay out how to find a fabulous posse and how to keep from becoming persona non grata in the neighborhood, but just know that you will treasure these folks beyond measure for making your life work week in and week out.
3. Be prepared.
Channel your inner Boy Scout. We have said it before that Spring is a two-faced mean girl. Warm and inviting one minute, cold and blustery the next, Spring can be hell on your wardrobe. The key is to have what you need when you need it. Dymowskis keep a bin in the back of the van with extra sweatshirts and t-shirts. And socks. Lots of socks. Hmmm, maybe that’s where all the mates have gone.
4. Keep it simple.
Pare it down. Spring steals time like a sneak. If you want any time at all to smell the flowers, now is the time to lock down your extra commitments. Never forget if you have school-aged kids, that spring is the heyday for all the events. With a calendar packed with field days, band concerts, spring dances, and end of year celebrations, you will barely have time to breathe, so steer clear of the lady with the clipboard begging for your help. Even if it’s Erin.
5. Pray for rain.
No, seriously. When Mother Nature throws you a blessed night off, take that gift and run with it. Dust off that dining table and have a meal together. Pull out the cards. Watch a show together. Take a moment to just be the special thing that is your family. You’ll be happy that you did.
6. Plan a trip.
Nothing like thinking about all the fun things you are gonna do when you take a break from your everyday life to make the slogging, flogging, calendar-clogging Spring days feel a little less harried.
Yes, please.
7. Take a hike.
Literally or metaphorically, this one works on many levels. Whether you are just taking a break from some of the things on your to-do list or actually hitting a trail, you’ll be grateful for the fresh air, change of scenery, and chance for a little time together.
See? Hope really does spring eternal. Here’s to warmer weather and time to enjoy it!
-Erin and Ellen
This post contains Amazon affiliate links because we don’t just really like crockpots but food to put in them.
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