http://www.HoneybeeHomeHelper.ca/

Honeybee Home Helper, Kitchener, ON (2025)

03/17/2024

Hope the luck of the Irish is with you today.

03/13/2024

Living a minimalist life means cutting down on the amount of stuff you bring into your space. By definition, a minimalist lifestyle is all about becoming rich on experiences, not on belongings. If this is something you long for, here are some tips to get started:

1. Determine your necessities. What can you live without?
2. Next, declutter your space and eliminate items that you don’t use.
3. Pare down your wardrobe. Consider a capsule wardrobe as an option.
4. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” all the time.
5. Invest in quality rather than quantity.
6. Use the one in, one out rule when making purchases.
7. Start small. Give yourself time on this journey.

The benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle are many. You will save time, save money and enjoy deeper relationships as you invest in experiences with friends and family.

Comment below if this is something you are working on. I’d love to here about your experience.

03/12/2024

Putting the house to bed means preparing for a better morning. No one likes to wake up to a messy kitchen. It just starts your day off on the wrong foot. Here is my nightly routine to ensure a stress-free next day.

1. Empty sink by washing dishes and loading and starting the dishwasher.
2. Wipe down kitchen surfaces.
3. Check meal plan for tomorrow’s dinner and take out any frozen items to thaw in the fridge.
4. Prepare coffee maker and decide what’s for breakfast.
5. Make my lunch for the next day.
6. Tidy living room, straighten pillows and cushions and relocate items where they belong.
7. Lock up and head to bed.
Follow for more great tips on home management.

03/11/2024

March break is here and that means the kids are at home 24/7, so it is time to up your snack game. They are going to be saying, “I’m hungry” all day long so being prepared will mean they will be reaching for healthy snacks when they need them.
A little pre-planning will ensure that they can grab-and-go when necessary. Here are my go-to tips for being ready for the feeding frenzy:

1. Wash, chop and portion fruits and vegetables and add small cups of dip, hummus or tzatziki to entice them to choose this option.
2. Make mini muffins and pop one or two in containers or Ziplocks for a fast and healthy snack on the run.
3. Get the kids involved by making a yummy trail mix with all their favourites. Again, portion these up and have them ready to go.
4. Popcorn makes a quick and healthy snack. Make a big batch ahead of time and fill up small, colourful paper bags for individual portions.
5. Try this energy ball recipe for a fun make-together activity
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup nut butter
• 1/4 cup flaxseed
• 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients and roll into balls.

Having snacks on hand for your children to grab when they need them will save time and make for a more enjoyable March break for all. Happy snacking!

03/01/2024

New month, new me. What are your goals for March?

02/28/2024

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!

02/27/2024

Laundry piling up? No time to tackle this weekly chore?
Honeybee Home Helper is your first choice for in-home laundry support. We offer wash/dry, fold/put away and ironing. When your laundry is out of control, give us a call and we will take care of it.

02/25/2024

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.

02/23/2024

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.

02/21/2024

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.

02/14/2024

Happy Valentine's Day! How are you celebrating today?

02/13/2024

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.

02/12/2024

Looking for a gift for a new mom, a loved one recovering from surgery or a stressed out friend in need of support? Honeybee Home Helper now offers gift certificates. This is the perfect way to lend a helping hand. Contact us today to learn more.

02/10/2024

Here’s how to make a weekly meal plan:

Step 1: Take an inventory of your pantry, fridge and freezer and try to utilize these ingredients in the meals you plan.
Step 2: Review your schedule for the week and determine how many meals at home that you need to plan for.
Step 3: Search through your recipes and select what you want to prepare. Try to stick with old favourites and perhaps one new recipe to try. Remember to incorporate ingredients that you already have on hand and those that are on sale at your local store
Step 4: Create a shopping list and purchase what you need for the week.
Step 5: Prep as many ingredients ahead of time as possible. Washing and chopping produce, pre-cooking proteins, making grains, can all be done in advance. This will make the evening dinner rush so much smoother.
Step 6: Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Here at Honeybee Home Helper, we love to help with meal planning and food prep. Contact us today to find out how we can support you with meal planning.

02/09/2024

5 Things to Consider When Meal Planning

1. Time-be sure to give yourself enough time to search for recipes, take inventory of your pantry, make a shopping list, purchase the food and prepare it for the week ahead.

2. Schedule-review your schedule for the week and factor in any special events, children’s activities or work commitments that might impact your dinner routine for the week.

3. Energy level-be sure to balance quick and easy meals with those that will take more time to prepare. Your Sunday self may be more energetic than your Thursday self.

4. Leftovers-try to build in use of leftovers into your weekly plan to avoid food waste.

5. Budget-Shop the flyers before planning your meals to try to take advantage of what’s in season and what’s on sale. This will stretch your budget further.

Need help to get started? Honeybee can offer support with meal planning, food preparation and batch cooking. Reach out today to find out more.

02/07/2024

What is meal planning?

Meal planning involves creating a weekly menu of meals based on your schedule, what’s in your pantry and in season and how much time you have available for food preparation. This plan then allows you to shop, food prep and have a readily available dinner at hand when you get home from your busy day.

What are the benefits of meal planning?

1. Meal planning takes the stress out of the daily question, “What’s for dinner?”
2. Having a plan for what you are going to eat cuts down the number of trips to the grocery store and how much time you spend there.
3. Meal planning means less food waste so this is good for your budget.
4. Those who take the time to plan their meals, generally eat healthier.
5. Knowing what’s for dinner means you are less likely to order take out.

This week I will share lots of tips for how to meal plan effectively and within your budget. Like and share with someone who needs help to get started.

Are you a meal planner? Comment with a 👍 below if you love to plan your weekly menu in advance.

02/06/2024

This week is all about finding balance. I have been struggling with a back injury for 3+ months and though I’ve tried to push through, I recognize that it is time to rest. This week I am at home, doing desk work, and following my doctor’s orders to give my back time to heal. I’m a go go go kind of person so this won’t be easy. Anyone else dealing with chronic back pain?

02/04/2024

Managing your own busy household and trying to support your aging parents can feel like a juggling act. This adds to your already stressful and busy life and leaves you feeling pulled in too many directions.
Honeybee Home Helper understands and can take over some of these responsibilities by providing support with daily household tasks. We can provide food preparation, light housekeeping, laundry and errand support for your elderly relatives. This will give you peace of mind and free you up to spend quality time with your love ones.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and to develop a plan to allow your parents to remain independent as long as possible.

Honeybee Home Helper