The scene is all too familiar…
Kids dancing wildly, madly, and loudly around my legs, saying that they’re starving—while I stand frozen in front of the pantry or freezer, hoping something jumps out and says, “I am dinner!”

Welcome to my Crazy Patch.

More times than I’d like to admit, this would lead to a quick SOS call to our local Thai restaurant to save the day—and let’s be real, save me from the chaos. But with a new goal to spend less on our food bill, I knew there had to be a better way.

And sure enough, there was.
I noticed the weeks that flowed more smoothly—less stress, less overwhelm, more presence—were the ones where I’d carved out time on the weekend to get ahead. I’d plan out our meals, do a grocery shop, prep a few things for the freezer… and suddenly the week had rhythm and ease.

So now, to avoid the Crazy Patch, I’ve created the Planning Patch.

My Sunday Planning Patch

This is the heart of the whole system—the secret sauce that makes the week work.

Here’s what my Sunday Planning Patch looks like:

  • Check the fridge & pantry: What do we already have that needs using up?

  • Write a meal plan based on what’s on hand and what’s needed.

  • Create a grocery list (and stick to it—no extras!).

  • Do the grocery shop while the kids head to the park with their papa.

  • Organise the fridge and pantry: Toss anything old, wipe down shelves, and unpack fresh food straight into the fruit bowl, fridge, or pantry.

  • Bake something for lunchboxes: Muffins, muesli bars, or a batch of biscuits.

  • Prep one or two freezer-friendly meals to pull out on those chaotic afternoons (instead of relying on Thai takeout).

  • Reset the home: Vacuum, mop, and do a quick bathroom refresh—because in my experience, a clean and organised home always leads to a calmer week.

My Daily Planning Patch

Each morning, I start early:

  • I pack school lunches and make a head start on breakfast before the kids wake up (and yes, 6:30am is now what I call a sleep-in).

  • If time allows, I even get dinner going—maybe a tagine bubbling on the stove while we eat breakfast and finish getting ready.

When dinner’s sorted early, the whole day feels lighter.
We can linger at the park a little longer, come home to a calm kitchen, and best of all—I usually hear fewer “I don’t like it!” complaints because they’re actually hungry and ready to eat. Bonus.

So, when could you carve out a Planning Patch this week?
Even just a small window of intentional time can turn chaos into calm. I promise—your hectic week will roll out more smoothly with this gentle rhythm in place.

To help you start strong, I’ve included one of my favourite go-to breakfasts below.
It’s nourishing, simple, and fuels both you and your little ones for whatever wild and wonderful moments the day brings.

Because when the morning starts well, you’re better prepared for anything—even the Crazy Patch.

DELISH overnight oats

For a delicious twist of this recipe – use orange juice instead of apple juice. It can easily be made dairy free by using coconut yoghurt.

3 cups rolled oats

500 mls milk (or nut milk)

250 ml cloudy apple juice

2 tbsp raw honey

2/3 cup of sultanas

4 tbsp dried apricots

1 1/2 cups natural yoghurt

2 medium apples (grated)

flaked almonds and fresh seasonal berries to serve

DIRECTIONS

  • Combine oats, milk, juice, honey and sultanas in a bowl. Cover and refridgerate overnight.
  • The next morning stir through apricots and yoghurt and grated apple.
  • Serve with a dollop of extra yoghurt, seasonal berries and flaked almonds.