Menu planning and grocery list folders

Today's post is a companion to yesterday's menu board. It consists of three folders and one envelope and get this... cost me exactly zero dollars to make! Basically because I had all the materials already. And you probably do, too.
First I found this very cool menu planning/grocery list on Pinterest (http://www.lifeinyellow.com/2012/03/meal-planning-and-a-free-download/).

It's ideal for planning what my family is going to eat. Plus below each day I can write the list of ingredients that I will need to buy for that recipe. And below that is a space where I can write the other things I need for the week. Since the template only has four spaces, I print out a front and back copy.

Now on to the folders...
Here are the items you will need for the menu/recipe folder:

• Three manila folders
• Three pages of scrapbook paper
• Glue stick
• One letter size envelope

First, cover the front of each folder with a different sheet of paper, bending the paper around the sides. I used two different patterns and put the odd one in between the matching ones.
Second, glue each folder together, creating pockets.
Third, glue the folders to each other, leaving ample room for the pretty paper (and the menus) to be seen.

And finally, cover the envelope flap with a scrap piece of paper and glue to the front folder. This envelope will hold scrap paper to write your items for the menu board.

 My first folder is for the current week's menu, grocery list and recipes. The second folder is for the next week. And the third folder is for the third week... when I'm in a really energized menu creating mood :D
When planning our menu, I look through my massive amounts of cookbooks (Oh, did I mention I LOVE cookbooks?), find recipes I want to try or think my family will enjoy. Then I either write down the book and page number of the recipe, or if it's in my myriad of recipe binders, simply pull the page out.
Each week, I put the recipes for that week behind the menu so I don't have to dig through or try to remember where I found the recipe.
When I find a recipe that our family likes, I put it in our "Mozingo Family Favorites" recipe binder. One of these days, I'll post about that.
And that's that!
So here is my completely finished project, hanging up and looking so cute above my aprons on a kitchen wall.

Tomorrow... Stir fry pasta! Yum!