Simple Savings - Build-A-Bear

My kids love Build-A-Bear. And I mean LOVE. They play with their BAB "friends" every single day. If they get to pick a place to spend their birthday money, it is always BAB. We go 3 or 4 times a year, and every experience is always a special memory.

Now I know that sounds indulgent. Those stuffed little critters can get expensive really fast, especially when the kids want to add sounds and scents and a wardrobe that is more stylish than my own. But this mama always has some tricks up her sleeve. Our BAB trips are usually half off the normal prices, which means I can get two fully dressed stuffed friends for my kids for the price of one. So what is my secret to these great savings? Planning. With these few tips, you can save a ton.

1) Before you do anything, use your Costco or Sam's Club membership (or find someone who will let you use theirs) and buy discounted gift cards. You can get 4 $25 cards for $79.98. On Black Friday, they are usually $69.98. These cards can be used in-store or online and in conjunction with any sale or reward certificates you have. Occasionally the store will also offer a $10 gift card for $5 depending on the amount of your purchase. This is a great deal too, but since there is a minimum purchase requirement, you can accidentally spend more just to save $5.

2) Sign up for the e-mail list. They send out sales alerts and coupons. Some coupons are $10 off a $30 purchase or for a free outfit or accessory. The important thing is to read the fine print for the expiration date and to see where the coupon can be used.

3) Sign up for Build A Bear Rewards. You earn 1 point for every $1 spent. After 100 points, you get a $10 Reward that can be used on anything. Keep track of your membership number because you will need to input it when you order online. If you make a purchase in the store, you can give the clerk your phone number you used during registration.

4) Watch the sales! While the store does offer some friends for as little as $12 each, the deluxe animals, especially the licensed characters and holiday exclusives, are usually $20-27 each. The store regularly offers 2 for $35, however, this doesn't always include all of the animals, such as the Star Wars characters. So go online to read for exclusions. If you can wait for a sale, all of the animals will eventually go on the 2 for $35. This is usually in July or August when the store isn't receiving any holiday traffic.

5) Shop online. Did you know that you can order the skins (animal bodies) unstuffed? Once you receive them, you can take them to your favorite BAB store and let your child have the whole experience. By shopping online, you can take advantage of sales and stack multiple coupons when it is convenient. I ordered 4 skins on Black Friday so I could save them for birthdays and summer vacation. The website always offer free shipping with a $40 purchase BEFORE coupons and rewards.

6) Check out the clearance sections online and in the store. Outfits and accessories can be discounted 25%-50%.

Thrift BAB Storage - zip-tied file crates

The last time I purchased BAB's, I purchased two My Little Pony characters with their matching outfits. Because I followed my savings rules, I was able to knock down the cost from $81 to $37 (before tax). I ordered online, and Prairie Daughter was still able to visit the store for the full experience.

My final tip is one that is more about personal finance with kids than it is about savings: Let your kids buy the extras. Even though our trips are for special occasions, we have a rule: Mommy will pay for the skins and one outfit, but the kids have to purchase any scents, sounds, or other accessories. They budget out of their allowance how much they can spend. Prairie Daughter is 7, and she is great at planning, so her first question is usually "Do you have any coupons I can have?" Prairie Son is only 3, so I help him plan his visit. By planning, this also helps put some boundaries on the visit so the kids don't get disappointed. They know they can't afford the whole store, and they are contented to find the items on their lists.

I have to admit, I love Build A Bear almost as much as my kids do. Not only is it a fun activity, but the customer service is amazing. If your stuffed friends get a lot of love like ours do, you can take them back anytime to have stuffing added or have stitching repaired free of charge! Have a problem with a soundbox? They will fix that too. Our favorite BAB store at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Texas has handled a lot of repairs for us, and they never disappoint.

Have questions? Feel free to comment. I don't consider myself a Build A Bear expert (yet), but we have had a lot of great experiences, and I will help any way I can.

Meal Plan Monday - February 27 - March 5

Remember how I thought last week would be a normal week? I was wrong. As soon as everyone got over the flu, allergy season hit. We mostly laid around with tissues and ate whatever remnants we found in the pantry and freezer. That means this week I need to do a big grocery shopping trip!

This week I need to do lots of cooking because we are out of almost everything except ketchup and soda, which we only got because we finally got to have Prairie Daughter's birthday party. So look for lots of home-cooking this week. And if anyone has a favorite dinner recipe, please post it in the comments!

Disclaimer: We deal with sensory disorders and immune deficiencies in our house, so not everyone eats everything I prepare. I am OK with that because it is our normal.  Sometimes Mommy is in survival mode, and we just have to do what works.

For my menu plan, I loosely plan breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, but I get more specific with dinners. I may assign days for specific meals, but that is always subject to change.

 Breakfasts 
Chocolate chip pancakes, plain egg omelets, bacon, fruit 

Lunches
Dinner leftovers, chicken breast, mac & cheese, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Jambalaya with chicken
Tuesday:  Crockpot roast and potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday: Lentil pasta with meat sauce, green peas, garlic toast
Thursday:  Crockpot chicken tacos on corn tortillas
Friday: Potatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini & smoked sausage sheet pan dinner
Saturday:Burritos from Chipotle
Sunday:

Snacks
Smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, leftover cupcakes, chips/salsa

Simple Sundays - Purse Cleaning

It has been a rough two weeks for us with illnesses and allergies. But even when times get tough,  I still try to keep up with my routines to maintain simplicity. If I skip routines, I fall behind, and that just creates chaos.

The entire contents of my purged purse

On Sundays, along with making my weekly lists, I also clean out my purse. This task can be tiny for time people and huge for others because what we choose to carry varies. I am a mom, so I usually have snacks and clothes floating around in my bag, especially when we have had an out-of-town trip. I don't need last week's supplies hanging around for this week's business! 

Here is a quick checklist to help you purge the contents of your own bag:

*Remove receipts and file accordingly

*Remove expired and unnecessary coupons and old shopping lists and fliers

*Remove multiples (I found two hand-sanitizers in my bag!)
*Remove trash and anything soiled (anyone else find kids' clothes?)

*Remove anything that you don't have to take with you everywhere you go!
*Check expiration dates on food, medications, and make-up
*Check expiration dates on credit cards, driver's license, and insurance cards
*Check your ink pens to see if they work
*Charge your cell-phone

After an initial purge, it should be easy to keep your purse simplified and always ready to grab. I try to limit myself to just the basics in my bag so I don't have too much to dig through when I am out and so my bag doesn't get too heavy and cause shoulder strain.

Meal Plan Monday - February 20-26

Sometimes plans go off track. This is what happened to me last week. In the midst of celebrating my Prairie Daughter's 7th birthday, both children and I came down sick. We have been in survival mode for 4 days. I think we are gradually getting better, so hopefully I am back on track with the blog this week and we can get back to our regular scheduled simple life!

This week I will still be trying to survive while playing catch-up. My meals are going to super-super simple! We had to rescheduled the birthday party, so that is why it is appearing again. I also had to cancel some of last weeks dinners because of all the illnesses, so those are being used this week.

Disclaimer: We deal with sensory disorders and immune deficiencies in our house, so not everyone eats everything I prepare. I am OK with that because it is our normal.  Sometimes Mommy is in survival mode, and we just have to do what works.

For my menu plan, I loosely plan breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, but I get more specific with dinners. I may assign days for specific meals, but that is always subject to change.

 Breakfasts 
Double chocolate banana muffins, hashbrowns, plain egg omelets, bacon, 

Lunches
Dinner leftovers, chicken breast, mac & cheese, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Take out pizza
Tuesday:  Cod fillets, steamed spinach, carrots
Wednesday: Pork veggie-loaded meatloaf with mashed potatoes
Thursday: Jambalaya with chicken
Friday: Hamburger patties and corn, okra, and tomato stew
Saturday: Pizza party for Prairie Daughter's 7th birthday
Sunday: Slow cooker beef and broccoli with brown rice

Snacks
Smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, pumpkin pie

Simple Tasks - Celebration Supplies Week - New Cards

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is a fun holiday for young and old alike, but for those of us who prefer more minimal celebrations, it can be a little overwhelming. Cards are popular for the holiday, especially with little kids. And unused cards seem to accumulate year after year because we just *know* we will use them eventually.

Personally, I have found cards from past anniversaries and Father's Days that I meant to give to my husband, but I never got around to them. It wasn't because I didn't want to give them. What I wanted to do was write something really meaningful inside, but that takes time and thought, and we we have two kids, so you can imagine how much time I get to think! If we put thought into selecting cards though, they usually say it all for us, so when we get them, we need to give them. Giving away cards helps us to cut down clutter while making others happy.

Today is a great day to gather all of those brand new cards that stack up. This is NOT the day to go through cards you have received - those items are very sentimental, and a holiday is never a safe time to think clearly about sentimental items. We are strictly looking at cards that are still in the "supplies" category.

Think about when and why you give cards. Do you like to give cards but it just doesn't happen? Have you discontinued certain traditions like Christmas cards? Have you switched to virtual cards for birthdays and thank yous? Think about what you need before you decide what you need to eliminate.

When you gather up cards, be sure to include those tiny Valentine's Day cards that your kids didn't use and all of the envelopes that either accompanied the cards you have or the cards you have already given. Don't look through your supplies until you have everything gathered, then you can go through our checklist:

*Eliminate anything that is dirty, torn, and bent. Cards are meant to make people feel special, so we need them to look good.
*Eliminate envelopes that won't seal. Glue dries out overtime.
*Eliminate envelopes that don't have a card. Envelopes have a way of multiplying; you really don't need to keep all of them.
*Eliminate cards for which you no longer have a recipient. Sometimes we purchase cards for specific people and miss our timeline for giving them, then they don't seem appropriate to give to anyone else.
*Eliminate random leftovers you no longer need - Christmas cards from past seasons, leftover Valentine's, unused wedding thank you notes, etc.

After you go through this list, make another quick pass through your cards and sort them by category (holiday, birthday, anniversary, sympathy, etc.). Eliminate what you feel is excessive. You know how many cards you give, so be honest with yourself. And then do the hard part - give the cards!


Once you have made your elimination stack, recycle cards that can't be used. Usable cards and envelopes can be donated to thrift stores, school art programs, hospitals, churches, and nursing homes. Give away those cards to bring simple happiness to others!

Simple Celebrations - Valentine's Day

Treats for my sweets!

I love Valentine's Day. I love sharing love with others. I also love to keep things simple.  The day doesn't have to be overdone to be fun. So today I am sharing some of our traditions for a little inspiration.

Beanie Baby Love

I put up our decorations a week before the holiday. I put up a holiday garland and a couple of sentimental items on the kitchen counters. Our house is open, so this is the best place to decorate. I also put up some Beanie Babies on the piano. If the kids want to touch them, I know they can't break anything!

Grandparents' treats

My husband and I usually go out for a quiet dinner. We rarely go out to eat alone, so this is a real treat. It doesn't have to be anything over the top. In fact, we usually go to the Chinese buffet where we had our first date 12 years ago. We exchange cards and sometimes have a small surprise. My husband loves dark chocolate, so he is easy to shop for!

We always have a few treats for the grandparents. The kids make their own cards, and I try to get flowers and a few snacks. We keep it healthy if possible.

The kids get a small treasure each and a small package of candy. There are few types of candy they can eat without having reactions, so it is exciting when they each get their own bag.

Valentine's Storytime

Cards for friends

During Valentine's Day, we read Valentine's books and make crafts. Stickers are always a big hit in our house. We also make cards for friends. Nothing beats a handmade card!

I don't stress over Valentine's Day. I like to enjoy the day. So keep it simple, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Meal Plan Monday - February 13-19

Happy Valentine's Week! We keep our Valentine's celebrations pretty simple, but the hubs and I do get a dinner out while the kids go the grandparents' house.  This is also a special week for us because our little girl is turning 7!  We will be doing a lot of celebratory, so we will be eating out more than normal. But I do have some great treats in my menu plan.

Disclaimer: We deal with sensory disorders and immune deficiencies in our house, so not everyone eats everything I prepare. I am OK with that because it is our normal.  Sometimes Mommy is in survival mode, and we just have to do what works.

For my menu plan, I loosely plan breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, but I get more specific with dinners. I may assign days for specific meals, but that is always subject to change.

Breakfasts 
Waffles, hashbrowns, plain egg omelets, bacon,  pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
Lunches
Dinner leftovers, fish fillets with green peas or spinach salad, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Valentine's Date at Taste of China
Tuesday:  Lentil pasta with meat sauce, green peas, garlic toast
Wednesday: Heat and eat takout from Sprout's Market in Frisco, TX
Thursday: Pork veggie-loaded meatloaf with mashed potatoes
Friday: Slow cooker beef and broccoli with brown rice
Saturday: Creamed tuna and peas over noodles
Sunday:Pizza party for Prairie Daughter's 7th birthday

Snacks
Pumpkin applesauce, smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, Valentine cookies

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Comprehensive Checklist

This week we had 4 simple tasks to help us tidy up our bathroom spaces by decluttering towels, first aid items, decor, and makeup. While these four items may make up the majority of our bathroom clutter, they don't cover all the categories. For those of you who really want to feel like your bathroom is completely tidy, here is a checklist of categories to declutter. If this list overwhelms you, skip it! We will come back to our bathroom spaces and work more on them later. Decluttering is a personal journey, so do what makes you comfortable. You should never be stressed or risk suffering decluttering burnout.

Bathroom Items to Declutter:
*Towels, washcloths, and hand towels
*Shower curtains and bathmats
*First aid supplies, medications, and vitamins
*Expired toothpaste, old and excess toothbrushes, other dental care items
*Skin creams and facial masks
*Perfumes
*Makeup, makeup brushes and applicators, and vanity mirrors, metal tools (tweezers, eyelash curlers, nail files, etc)
*Nail polish nail creams, and polish remover, nail clippers
*Hair brushes, hair ties and clips, and electric hair tools
*Razors and blades, shaving creams and soaps, and shaving brushes
*Feminine hygiene products
*Traveling bag and products
*Bathtub toys and children's bath supplies
*Wall hangings, decorative figurines, toothbrush holders
*Excess organizing baskets
*Cleaning supplies

A bathroom space should be a place where you can care for your self in a peaceful and relaxing way. By decluttering, you will know what supplies you have on hand, and you will be able to find them quickly and easily. So keep your bathroom simple!

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Makeup

Have you been keeping up with decluttering your bathroom through our simple tasks? I hope it has made your daily routines simpler! Today we have our last task for bathroom decluttering for this week. Tomorrow I will post an in-depth bathroom decluttering and cleaning checklist for those who want to take the next step. If this isn't for you though, don't worry! As we cycle through the different areas of our homes, we will come back to the bathroom with more tasks.

Makeup is an important category to declutter for the sake of our health. Old makeup can lead to unsightly infections and reactions. I learned the hard way that eye shadow doesn't always stay usable even if you have a half-full palette. I suffered from eye eczema for a month before discovering that my eyeshadow was the cause!

When decluttering your makeup, consult this handy guide from marieclaire.com to determine if your makeup is too old. If you struggle with remembering how old your makeup is, grab a fine point permanent pen and jot down the purchase dates on items as soon as you bring them home. If you are like me and have super-sensitive skin, you may need to toss old makeup even sooner, so consider changing your makeup with the seasons to help simplify keeping up with dates. When the season changes, I toss my mascara and eyeshadow so my products stay fresh and I keep my eyes healthy.

If you find yourself tossing tons of expired makeup, take time to establish how much makeup is essential for your most used looks. Do you really need 20 lipsticks and 10 eyeshadow palettes? Probably not all at once. When you freshen up your makeup collection for the season, that is a great time to try new, seasonal colors, especially for lipstick and nail polish. And even though nail polish may not "expire," it can still get clumpy and messy, so check those bottles.

Don't forget to check your makeup tools! If your brushes are losing hairs or your sponges are ripped, let them go. These items need to be kept clean and fresh so they are good to your skin.

A note to dance moms - My daughter dances, and even at 6, we acquire makeup for recitals and competitions. I know it gets expensive, but don't try to reuse eye products from year to year. It isn't worth a rash or infection, especially when your little one is in the spotlight!

As always, keep it simple, and stay healthy!

This is all of my makeup. When spring rolls around, the eyeshadow palettes, mascara, and lipstick will be replaced.

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Bathroom Decor

I have a child with severe mold allergies. It does not take many mold spores to cause a severe reaction.This forces me to keep my bathroom clean and well ventilated at all times. Because of this, I limit my bathroom decorations.

For today's task, take a look at what decorates your bathroom and consider 1) How often you fully clean the space and 2) How easy it is to clean.  Do you find yourself avoiding wiping down that counter because there is too much clutter? Remove items that get in your way and that do not serve a functional purpose.

Also examine if you need to replace some items to make them easier to clean. Fabric shower curtain liners and 100% cotton rugs can go into the washing machine and last for years. Although the initial investment may be more than their non-washable counterparts, they will last much longer.

Finally, look at the walls. If you already have decorative towel hangers and robe hooks, you may not need much more decoration. A couple of framed pictures can add color and be easy to wipe down as long as the backs of the frames are not cardboard. Cardboard absorbs moisture and results in mold! Sculpted wall plaques can also be problematic if they are difficult to dust. As dust accumulates, it can also draw moisture and breed mold spores.

A clean bathroom can be an inviting and relaxing space. Clear surfaces and walls help us keep it clean, so keep it simple.

I keep my children's bathroom neat and simple so it is quick to clean.

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - First Aid Supplies

Yesterday we looked at decluttering towels. I chose towels first because they are often the largest source of bulk in a bathroom, and decluttering them first can make the biggest impact. But what is the most important thing to examine in a bathroom?

First aid supplies.

In the event of an emergency, you need to be prepared. You don't want to be searching through bandages that don't stick, salves that have expired, and wraps that are missing their clasps. You also don't want to come up short with supplies!

Gather all of your first aid items together, even if they are in separate areas of the house. Unless you have everything together at once, you won't know exactly what you have and what you are missing.

First, eliminate items are that expired. First aid creams and skin glue lose their potency over time, and they can also become contaminated and result in irritation and infections! If you are tossing necessary items, jot them down on this week's shopping list so you can purchase them when you go to the store.

Next, eliminate anything that just don't work. Have you had the same Barbie bandages since your now-teenage daughter was 3? They probably aren't so sticky anymore, and if even they are, germs can still have permeated the wrapping. Do you have ACE bandages that have lost their stretch or are missing their clasps? What about wrist and knee braces that have lost their form? These types of things have to be in good condition to help provide support.

Finally, note any items you were missing for your first aid supplies in the beginning. Do you have sting-relief remedies? What about aspirin for heart attack victims? If you are unsure about what you may need in your supplies, refer to these handy lists from REI and the American Red Cross. You don't have to have everything on their lists, so decide what is relevant to your climate, family, and living situation. 

When you are finished sorting your supplies and making your shopping list, decide if the bathroom is the best place for your first aid supplies and if your supplies should be kept all together or dispersed to different areas of your home.  The problem with keeping first aid supplies in the bathroom is that they are repeatedly subjected to high humidity. This can affect the potency of medications and ruin adhesives. If you do decide to move your first aid supplies, inform all of your family members so they know where to find supplies in the event of an emergency.

Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Towels

How many towels do you have? 5? 10? 20? 50+? Towels are one of those items that seem completely necessary, so why would we ever purge them? But a better question might be why do we need more than we can use in a week?

The general consensus among professional housekeepers and organizers is that a household should have 2 towels and 2 washcloths per resident plus 2 towels and 2 washcloths for each guestroom. So if there are 3 people living in your house, and you have 1 guestroom, you would have 8 towels and 8 washcloths.

For some people, especially those who reuse their towels, this is perfectly acceptable. They wash the towels once or twice a week without being overwhelmed, and that's that. Personally, my family needs at least 3-4 wash cloths per person, and my part-time farmer husband needs 4 towels for himself. The key to determining how many towels and washcloths you truly need comes down to two things:

1) How many do you use each day?
2) How often do you wash them?

Based on my twice a week wash schedule, I need approximately 12 towels and 24 washcloths for my family of 4 to be comfortable but not overwhelmed. Realistically, few people need 50 towels. When we have a surplus of something, we tend to use it until we run out. Do you really want to wash 50, or even 20, towels at a time? Probably not.

After you determine how many you need, how do you decide which ones to keep? Here are some things to keep in mind:

*Which size towels work the best for you?
*Do you need all of your towels to be identical to simplify the laundry routine?
*Do any towels have any unsightly stains or unraveling?
*Do your towels fit in your designated storage space?
*Do your towels actually absorb water when you dry off?
*Do you actually like the towels you have?

If you declutter threadbare towels that don't absorb water, toss those in your rag bag for textile recycling. You don't want to frustrate others with something that doesn't work! If your towels are usable but just unsightly, donate them to the local animal rescue. They go through a lot of towels with injured animals! And finally, if your towels look good and work well, donate them to your local homeless or women's shelter. Remember, always donate with dignity!

Simple Treats - Slow Cooker Pumpkin Applesauce

It doesn't have to be fall for my family to enjoy something made with pumpkin. They could eat pumpkin bread every day. They also love pumpkin applesauce. This delicious treat is super healthy and can be a great snack or dessert. My kids ask for it over ice cream! As a bonus, your house will smell amazing while this cooks all day.

Raw honey adds a rich flavor

Ingredients
5 pounds fresh apple, fuji or gala for the majority
1 can of pure pumpkin
Apple juice
Honey
Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Begin by washing the apples, especially if you plan to leave any traces of peels. Soaking in a sink full of water + 1/2 cup white vinegar for 10 minutes helps remove residue. Then just rinse and dry. Then peel the apples. They don't have to be perfect. Even if your family does not like apple peels, the peels won't be noticeable after the apples are cooked and blended. Leaving some peel in the sauce will make it heartier and add more fiber. When the peeling is done, chop the apples in 1" pieces, removing the seed cores and stems.

Chopped apples with honey

I use a 6 quart slow cooker, but a 4 or 5 would be sufficient. Keep in mind though you may need to adjust cooking times because larger cookers will cook faster. Add just enough apple juice to your slow cooker to cover the bottom of the crock. Slow cookers need moisture to help distribute heat, and by using apple juice instead of water, your sauce will maintain a rich flavor. Then add your apples. Add a drizzle of honey for a little sweetness. I recommend starting with a tablespoon, but it will largely depend on the season and how sweet the apples are. You can always add more later. Set the slow cooker to low and leave it for 2-3 hours.

When the apples begin to soften, stir them vigorously or use a potato masher. Cover and let cook another 2 hours hours until the apples have turned completely mushy and golden. Now add your can of pumpkin and the spice, stirring to completely incorporate the new ingredients. Start with 1 tsp of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice and adjust from there depending on your family's preference. Cook for another hour on low, then turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool.

My batch made 4 pint jars

If your family likes chunky sauce, you can stop here. If they prefer a smoother texture, put the sauce in a blender, add another splash of apple juice, and blend until smooth. This a great way to help kids, and adults, who suffer with sensory impairment while eating. Just be sure to taste test the sauce before you blend it in case you need to add another touch of honey or spice.

This sauce will keep for about a week in the refrigerator, although ours never makes it that long. You should yield about 1/2 gallon of sauce.

Keep it simple, and enjoy!

Meal Plan Monday - February 6-12

Confession: I love meal planning. I love knowing what is coming so I can prepare. That said, I don't always fully accomplish my meal plan for this week (I do have a husband and two kids who have a knack for throwing off a schedule) but hey, that's life.

This week is what I call a "normal" week for us. The kids are homeschooled, so we try to stay home during the day as much as possible so they can complete their lessons. We don't have special activities outside of our normal dance and library classes this week either which means we will be spending A LOT of time at home. A lot of time at home means we need a lot of food!

Disclaimer: We deal with sensory disorders and immune deficiencies in our house, so not everyone eats everything I prepare. I am OK with that because it is our normal.  Sometimes Mommy is in survival mode, and we just have to do what works.

For my menu plan, I loosely plan breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, but I get more specific with dinners. I may assign days for specific meals, but that is always subject to change.

Breakfasts 
Waffles, sausage patties, hashbrowns, apple bran muffins, blueberry lemon loaf

Lunches
Superbowl leftovers, dinner leftovers, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Potatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini & smoked sausage sheet pan dinner
Tuesday: Crock Pot Whole Chicken,
Wednesday: Crock Pot pinto beans, sausage, spinach
Thursday: Lentil pasta with meat sauce, green peas, garlic toast
Friday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice
Saturday: Take out tacos
Sunday: Leftovers

Snacks
Pumpkin applesauce, smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables

Simple Sundays - Planning Ahead

Sundays are days of rest. We need rest so we don't suffer from burnout, especially when we are working towards achieving a more simple lifestyle. In all honesty, transitioning to simple can be overwhelming! So today we take a break and lay out a simple plan for the new week ahead.

Sundays are the days that set the tone for the upcoming week. We want to greet Mondays looking ahead, not feeling like we are already behind. One way to do this is to set up lists to help us plan. They don't have to be fancy or on special paper. You can type them or hand-write them. You just have to commit to making them!

Using one notebook for lists can help keep you organized!

What lists should you be making? As always, let's start with something simple. Today we are going to start with simple activity and meal-planning lists. Activity lists are pretty easy to master - you just have to know where you will be in the coming week. And if you are unsure about some activities, you can jot down reminders about who you need to call in order to confirm your plans. Share your list with your family so they know what is coming even if they aren't involved in the activities!

Our other list is our meal plan for the week. Again, keep it simple! If you eat cereal every day for breakfast, just write down "Breakfasts - cereal." For lunches and dinners, don't feel obligated to assign a particular meal to a particular day. Life happens, and you may forget to thaw the chicken for Tuesday, or you may have a late meeting on Thursday, so you can't make lasagna. Always have a wildcard day for those emergencies.

The most important part of meal planning, besides making the list, is checking to see if you have what you need. If you write down cereal, make sure you have enough cereal. If you don't, add it to your shopping list. Shopping should be included in your activity list because it is something you know you will have to do during the week.

On Mondays, I will be sharing my meal plans for the blogging community's "Meal Plan Monday." This is just another way to share ideas about how to keep life simple and also share some new recipes. If you want a recipe and I haven't shared it yet, just ask!

SImple Tasks - Clothes Storage Week - Dresses/Suits

Are you still holding on to your prom dresses? Do you keep a cocktail dress in the back of your closet because you might need it "someday"? Is your best suit 20 years old and has seen better days? We all have these things lurking in our closets. They are expensive pieces, and that makes them difficult to purge even after they have served their purposes.

When you look through your dresses and suits, the most important thing to consider is this: Does it make you feel good about yourself when you wear it? If the answer is no, that is all the reason you need to release it from your closet. Special pieces have to make us feel special, so sometimes we have to let go of our frugal ways. Clothes that barely fit and went out style before our children were born are not going to help us display our best selves at special occasions like weddings, parties, and job interviews.

If you have prom dresses and tuxedos lurking in your closet, contact your local high school to find out if they have a prom closet for kids who cannot otherwise afford to go. Afraid your dress is too old for the prom? A high school or college theater group can still use it in their costume shop. If you have professional attire, contact your local women's shelter or church clothing drive so they can get the clothes to people going on job interviews.

Simple Tasks - Clothes Storage Week - Tank tops

Tank tops, camisoles, undershirts. Call them what you will, but we all have them. These shirts usually serve as a base layer under our nicer tops, so they seldom go totally seen. But that is no reason to neglect them! Tanks are still subjected to stains, discolorations, stretching, and shrinking, and these things can cause us to avoid wearing them and result in more clutter. An incorrect fit can also cause your over-shirts to ride up or look slouchy!

Today, gather all those tanks together. Spread them out and group by color so you can see exactly how many you have of each one before you examine them. Then ask yourself

*How many of each color do I need?
*Do any have stains that will show through?
*Are white tanks turning yellow/brown?
*Do they all fit appropriately?
*Are any of them threadbare or overstretched?

If your tanks are still wearable, donate to a clothing drive or thrift store. If they are stained or have holes, throw them in your bag for fabric recycling.

For the tanks you keep, decide how you want to store them. Does hanging or folding work better for your storage space? And how should a tank be folded? Check out this video from acclaimed organizer Linda Koopersmith.
 

Simple Treats - Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie

My husband likes to say that I buy ingredients instead of food. And he's right. Keeping raw ingredients on hand can provide limitless recipes, and they don't have to be complicated; they don't even have to be shared!


Today I am sharing my secret. Sometimes after I put the kids to bed, I like to indulge with my favorite single-serving treat - a microwave chocolate chip cookie. This tasty treat is quick to mix up and even quicker to bake.



Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie 

1 T. melted butter
1 T. sugar
1 T. brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp. vanilla
4 T. Flour
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. baking powder
2 T. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix everything together in a 2 cup ramekin or Pyrex bowl. Cook for 1 minute in the microwave. If it isn't perfect on the first try, :don't give up. You may need to adjust the recipe to accommodate your microwave and household climate. If your cookie is a little too try, shorten the cooking time by 5 seconds and add a tiny bit more butter. If you prefer a less fluffy cookie, you can omit the baking powder and baking soda.

This recipe does make a really big cookie, so it is totally shareable. Although if you just need to indulge, you may want to keep this one a secret.

Simple Tasks - Clothes storage week - Sweaters

We are more than a month into winter, or what is supposed to be winter anyway. By now we have cycled through our winter clothes and picked our favorites. Cardigans and pullover sweaters are sure to be in some of our winter wardrobes, but are we wearing them? And mor importantly, do we like them?

Sweaters are problematic for wardrobes. Most need to be folded to avoid stretching, but a folded sweater is bulky and difficult to contain. Sweaters also tend to lose their shape and stretch. They accumulate unsightly pilling, and the fibers become coarse with repeated washing. These are all things that can keep us from wearing even our most favorite sweaters.

When sorting your own sweater collection, ask yourself the following about each piece:

*Does it fit without pulling tight?
*Is it comfortable?
*Is the color still vibrant?
*Is it over-stretched in the bodice or arms?
*Is it still soft?
*Can you store it so it will not be stretched?
*Do you like how it look on you?

Keep sweaters you love and wear. Being happy in your clothes can help you live simply!

Simple Tasks

If you are visiting from our Facebook group, you are familiar with our "daily tasks," but if you are new on the prairie, prepare for a little challenge! 

Our daily tasks, now dubbed "Simple Tasks," are small challenges that help us remove excess from our homes so we can simplify our spaces. In others words, we are decluttering. Simple Tasks will continue to be announced in our Facebook group and the official blog Facebook page, but explanations and examples are moving over to the blog. This will allow me to keep Facebook posts simple and organize our tasks so it is easier to refer back to them.

To help focus but not get bored, we will focus on a different space each week. If you don't finish a space, don't worry - we will come back to it! Tasks will be posted 4 days a week so that we can avoid burnout - and because life happens! We all have meetings, family commitments, illnesses, and socializing, and these things have to take priority. However, I know some people like to press on, so watch for "Simply Advanced Spaces" guides for those who want more of a challenge,

Please remember these tasks are always optional and only meant to inspire. Everyone is on their own journey, so I am not here to judge what another person should keep or purge. These tasks will also only be a part of the blog, not its single focus, so watch for more simple content coming soon.