I typed up my menu plan with links and a pretty picture, just like I always do. But somehow, it got sucked into cyberspace and lost forever! That made me think this would be a good chance to give you the real skinny on my menu planning.
I have this magnetic planning pad that sticks on the fridge. (I used to use the odd scrap of paper until I found this for $1 at Walgreens). Whenever I'm poking around the kitchen and a meal idea comes to me, I write it on the planning sheet. When Thursday rolls around, I check to see that I have 7 days of meals and all the ingredients to go with them.
We do not necessarily eat the meals in the order they are written. In fact, the only definite plan is Monday Crockpot Night. After we eat a meal, I cross it off the calendar. That way, I have some flexibility to eat what sounds good, or what best fits our schedule for the day.
I've tried lots of different menu planning techniques, from a rigid full month plan to keeping a running list of all the possible dinners I could create with the ingredients I had on hand. This loose system of organization turns out to be the most managable for my family.