Instead of a resolution this year, what about setting some goals?

One of my goals for 2011 is to plan weekly menus and meal plans. This will help my family save money because I'll be more likely to cook whats on the board instead of ordering pricey takeout. To help me get organized, I'm going to make a menu board for the kitchen.

Most of the supplies for this project are available at Kmart in Edgewater. I also used items left over from previous crafting projects.

Aside from a ruler, glue and scissors, you'll need:

• framed corkboard (I used an 11" x 17")
• black Sharpie™
• Post It™ notepads
• push pins
• cardboard
• patterned paper
• ribbon
• embellishments
• vinyl letters (any letter stickers will work or you could just use your sharpie to write in your labels).

First, I divided the corkboard into 6 even squares, marking off the squares with a Sharpie. Then, labeled each square to represent a day of the week, omitting Sunday.

Cover a piece of cardboard with patterned paper and use letters to create a title for the menu board. I labeled mine "Let's Eat!".  Since this is a title, feel free to go big.

While that's drying, place the corkboard face-down. Cut a piece of ribbon more than twice the length of the board. Center the ends of the ribbon on the back of the board and staple it to create a half loop.

Turn the board back over and apply the cardboard "Let's Eat" sign to the front with glue. (Tip: use the ribbon as a guide)

Apply embellishments as you like. For mine, I dabbed a little acrylic paint with a stamper to match my kitchen decor. I also added stickers to each corner and a banner for a little character.

Now comes the fun part. Select a menu for the week. Ask family members to each pick a dinner and add it to one of the days on the board. Write choices on Post It™ notes and stick to the board with push pins. If you're adding recipe cards, pin those to the board as well.

There's no reason why one of the meals can't be "pizza" night or "takeout" night. 

Once the meals are planned out for the week, making a shopping list is especially easy.

Short on ideas for what to make? Try the Edgewater Library for cookbooks and recipe ideas. Let your kids help pick out recipes to try, and have them help out in the kitchen when you make the meal they picked.