5 Kid-Friendly Recipes Every Busy Working Mom Will Love

Easy Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce - You could easily make this sauce ahead of time and just make the pasta right before dinner is served. This is an easy recipe to freeze for later as well!

Bacon Broccoli and Ranch Chicken Salad - This could be meal prepped for easy grab and go lunches or to serve for a simple dinner over a bed of greens.

One-Pot Chicken Sausage, Spinach, and Rice - This is a 30-minute, one-pot, gluten free recipe that checks all the boxes for me. My kids love chicken sausage and I’m excited to make this 30-minute recipe this week.

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Asparagus - Another 30-minute meal that the whole family can enjoy and include a vegetable your kids might not have often.

Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowls - This high-protein recipe looks so good and I love that you can use frozen corn. It uses a lot of basic ingredients you probably already have and I know my kids will love it.

This yellow cardigan is so chic and has me excited for warmer days! Could easily dress this up or down and perfect for the office.

Something like a cutting board seems so mundane and boring but if you’re like me and cook almost every meal every day, you need a product that is sleek, high-functioning and non-toxic. This checks all the boxes so I can’t stop talking about it. Use code ANNWOO20 for a discount!

Everyone loves a waffle knit and this jogger is no exception. Perfect for cozy hanging around the house or running errands, I love the material and this brand is one of my faves of 2025.

Okay cool working mom alert! This sweater will make you look so put together without even trying. I love the pop of denim in the collar!

My friend had this scale and I am so impressed. It tracks so many different metrics like muscle gain, fat loss, metabolic age, and more that a “regular” scale couldn’t do and as someone who is obsessed with data, it gives you everything you didn’t think you could know.

Age: 33

Kids: 3 year old and 9 month old

Job: Integrated Marketing Lead

Yearly salary and bonus: $106k, 10% bonus

First salary and how compensation has changed over your career: $55k. I’ve moved roles and industries every 2ish years. Always asking for more money and keeping my eye on industry averages.

Side hustle: On and off. About $500-1k

Spouse’s salary: $85k, $15k bonus

Household income: ~$200k

Household net worth: All in, I believe $700-800k

Own or rent: Own, $3.6k

Childcare or daycare expense: $3.5k for 2 kids, 5 days, 8am-330pm

Recent purchase you regret: Our couch. $1.5k. It gets destroyed and difficult to keep clean. Need recommendations!

Splurge and don’t regret: Replacing our high chair. We chose the mockingbird, $250. It’s so much nicer!

Best “mom sanity” splurge: Spin class. $100 for a 4 pack and I go 1x a week.

Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $50-100. Little gym, dance class. It’s more in the winter. Next to nothing in the summer. We go to the beach!

Weekly spend on groceries: $150-200

Most spent on a kid party: $500 for the first birthday. This year we’re doing a small friend dinner at our house

Purchase that you don’t tell your partner about: Little treats with my daughter. We stop at a local bakery and don’t tell dad.

Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes! $50 a month for each and grandparents contribute for holidays.

Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: Budgeting. It’s still a struggle to stick to.

Managing family budget: You need a budget 🙏 it’s a great app!

Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Hand me downs and Facebook market place.

Money advice for other moms: Having a quick 5-10 minute weekly ‘finance’ meeting with your spouse helps keep everyone on track. I’m the spender in our relationship. He keeps me accountable but it’s also a great time to catch up or plan ahead.

Work/life balance: I’m honestly really satisfied with my work/life balance. My company gives 1/2 day Fridays so I get 3 hours to myself every week to recharge. I love bringing the kids places and spending time with my husband. So, so thankful.

Most stressful thing as it relates to kids and money: Daycare expenses. I love our daycare but I am counting down the days until they can go to public school. There’s so much more we can do with that money for our family each month.

Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow _______.” Find a way to go on vacation.

Bonus tip: If it’s something you use daily, invest in a good version. Vacuums, coffee machines, shoes. There are certain things you shouldn’t skimp out on.