Simple Health - Allergy Relief

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I sell essential oils. I am merely sharing information about a remedy that has been a blessing for my children. Please consult your own healthcare provider before trying any remedy you find on the Internet to ensure that it will work with your body chemistry.

Pollen season is not our friend. Truthfully, there really isn't a time of year that is our friend as far as allergens are concerned, but the initial spring bloom seems to be a little tougher than the rest of the year. The kids have had allergy testing done, and we know that grasses and trees cause havoc in their little bodies. Since they also deal with immunodefiency, over-the-counter medications can be difficult for them to take. My daughter says Benadryl just makes her feel "out of the world loopy."  Benadryl also crosses the blood-brain barrier, so it can be especially hard on anyone who has suffered any neurological trauma. Because of this, we have had to try a few other methods, but in an emergency, our go-to remedy is our "allergy bomb."

Lemon, lavender, and peppermint oils

This remedy was recommended by our pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology.  She understands that sometimes traditional medications can cause more problems for some kids, so she utilizes essential oils when science supports their use. For allergies, she recommended an allergy bomb, which is 5 drops of lemon, 5 drops of lavender, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oils mixed with 100 milliliters of water in a diffuser. Within minutes of running our diffuser, my kids start to breathe easier. Congestion clears, breathing regulates, and runny noses dry up. It has also helped several times when my son has had spasmodic croup attacks in the middle of the night.

One of our diffusers

While our pediatrician sells Doterra oils in her office, I have found that the Now Foods brand works just as well, and the cost is much lower. Our doctor is fine with this too, and since she is about 90 miles away, using the Now Foods brand is also more convenient because I can order them on Amazon. We also have 3 InnoGear diffusers from Amazon so our whole house is covered (after all, when do children ever stay in one place?).

We have been using this method to help control respiratory allergies for over a year now, and our entire family has seen improvement. Nights have been more peaceful, and as an added bonuses, the house always smells fresh and clean which is important to me since I can no longer use any air fresheners or scented cleaners. This method also helps keep our allergy control simple because if I see the pollen counts are projected to be unusually high, I can run the diffuser and usually prevent any major allergy attacks. This gives me great peace of mind along with a simple routine.

Meal Plan Monday - March 27-April 2

Last week was a good example of how a meal plan can go awry. I had good intentions, and I had all of the ingredients. What I didn't have was time or a functional schedule. I also had a broken washer and dryer, a flat tire, and a sick child. But it's all OK. Since I did have so many ingredients on hand, I was still able to throw together easier meals, and we had take out several times. This week I'm going to assume things will fall apart and probably schedule in more take out if for no other reason than because we have a lot of activities coming up.

We did try one a new recipe, and it was amazing. So here's a review!

Green Chili Chicken Bake Over Rice With Spinach
I found this recipe for Green Chili Chicken Bake while surfing Pinterest in the middle of the night. One reason why I picked it was because I already had everything on hand, so I knew if I needed to swap meals some night, I could do it pretty easily. The base recipe is easy enough to throw together: mix up the cream cheese and green chilis with the spices, spread it over the chicken, top with cheese, and bake. Cook the rice and spinach (which was my addition) separately. It was fantastic. It tasted like a chicken enchilada which I just love. With that in mind, I did make a slight modification, and next time I will make one more.

I subbed in pepper jack cheese for the monterey jack because the hubby likes his food spicy. I didn't think it was very hot, but it did add a nice flavor. I also agree with the author that name brand chilis are needed. I found a can of generic in the cabinet (when did I buy those?), so I used them, but they weren't as delicate as the name brand. Next time, I think I could also mix in my 10 oz. package of frozen spinach (after it was thawed and drained) with the cream cheese mix before spreading on the chicken. This would save some time and help blend the flavors. It would also help soak up the residual sauce that we laddled out of the pan. This time we just layered rice, spinach, then a chicken breast with extra sauce spooned over. It was delicious though, and the leftovers were just as good. I will definitely make it again.

This Week's Meal Plan
This week I am going to hope for the best and plan for this worst.  I'm hoping I can get around to trying the Complete crockpot steak dinner, but I may just be lucky to survive on coffee Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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. I can't wait to review my new finds next week!

Breakfasts 
Muffins, frozen waffles, plain egg omelets, sausage, fruit 

Lunches
Dinner leftovers, Creamed tuna and peas over noodles, chicken breasts, mac & cheese, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Sausage, potatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini sheet pan dinner
Tuesday:  Crock pot turkey breast, broccoli, carrots
Wednesday: Homemade pepperoni pizzas
Thursday: Oven pork chops, potatoes, and green beans
Friday: Takeout tacos
Saturday: Leftovers or takeout after community egg hunt
Sunday:  Complete crockpot steak dinner

Snacks
Slow cooker pumpkin applesauce, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, chips/salsa, Choc-oat-chip cookies

This blog links up with the orgjunkie.com Meal Plan Monday linky party!

Simple Home - Why I Declutter Every Time I Do Laundry

Laundry is easier to control when you declutter each time.

After 12 years of hard use, my washer and dryer simultaneously died. They'd been subjected to abuse when I cloth diapered two babies. Then they'd suffered even more when we found out that we needed to obsessively wash everything in our house to help deal with immunodeficiencies. So it was their time. In the meantime, I've been waiting almost a week for my new set to be delivered. To get by, my wonderful mother has helped with whatever I couldn't wash and rinse by hand (Of all the prairie-style routines I have employed over the years, handwashing bothers me the least). While I've been doing this, it has reinforced my ideas about the need to declutter with every load.

I declutter every time I do laundry.
I declutter every time I do laundry. It isn't a major ordeal, and most of the time, I don't even notice I'm doing it. My daughter has also picked up the habit when she helps me sort and fold. So why do we do this? Because it keeps our clothes and linens simple, usable, and fresh. I rarely have to do a massive declutter for those things because they don't have time to build up in closets and drawers. I know what I have and what condition it is in at all times.


I wash everything before I declutter it.
Even though I make mental notes while I sort the laundry (holes, stains, rips, too small, etc.), I always wash everything before I declutter. Then it is ready to be sorted into decluttering categories. I believe in limiting my household waste, partly to help the environment, and partly because we don't have trash pick up. If something can be donated or recycled, I make sure it gets to the right location. Holey socks and dance tights and stained t-shirts can be recycled if they are clean. I always have a bag ready for anything that can no longer be worn. When it is full, I drop it off at the local thrift store that accepts textile recyling.


I know how things fit right before they are washed.

If it's too little, it's gone!

Here's the thing about kids and clothes: Kids are constantly outgrowing things. If I declutter each time I do laundry, there is less risk that an ill-fitting outfit winds up back in a closet or dresser. Jeans are too short? Time to donate. Skirts are too tight? Throw them in the donatation bag as well. This also saves my kids some frustration because they know whatever they pick out to wear will most likely fit.

I don't have to worry about seasonal changes.
It's already been in the 70s and 80s at my house. That means its time for the winter clothes to be packed up. But kids don't usually wear all of the same clothes from one winter to the next (there's that growing thing again!). So as I have been doing to the laundry this month, I have pulled out the winter pieces that I know won't fit next year. I have them bagged and labeled and waiting to be donated in September, unless I know someone I can give them to right now. Why don't I donate them now? Because thrift stores and volunteer organizations are ready for spring too. They don't need a lot of out-of-season clothes cluttering up their storage space.


I don't have to put away as much laundry.
I have to admit, this one is kind of my favorite. When I do a load of laundry, I don't always have things to toss, and that is great. But when I do find things I know we can no longer use, I can just toss them in a bag instead of working to hang or fold them just the right way. It saves a lot of time when I am only putting away things that are good and usable. It also keeps our clothes storage thinned out. We don't have to worry about cramming things into drawers or coming up short on hangers because we never have excess.


I don't like surprises.
Probably the most important reason why I declutter with every load is because I don't want to be caught off guard. If I remove a pair of my husband's stained up jeans, or downgrade them from work clothes to farm clothes, I know I need to purchase a new pair of jeans for him. Or if I tossed several holey socks and pairs of underwear in the recycling bag, I know it is time to pick up some more. It's not an infallible system, but we rarely have a clothing emergency because I know our supply so well.

Getting started in this process can be tricky if you are not used to it. You have to make it a habit. It may take a few extra moments in the beginning, but soon it will become routine. You'll also find your spaces tend to thin themselves out without you having to do a major clean out.

What do you prefer, decluttering little by little or all at once? Leave a comment, and let me know what works for you!

Meal Plan Monday - March 20-26

Happy Spring! We are having lovely weather on this 1st day of spring, and it has given me a renewed sense of vigor. I love these warm days that seem to last forever after coming out of a dark, cold winter. It has also made us quite hungry! We tried two new recipes last week that will be on our menu plan again this week.

Homemade Pizza
My kids absolutely loved this one. They always want to help in the kitchen, and they were able to make their own pizza with very little help. We used this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough recipe for the crust which Prairie Daughter was able to mix up on her own. We mixed it in a stand mixer with a bread hook to make clean up easy. We also recommend putting a little olive oil on your hands when you press out the dough so it won't stick to your hands, and it will add a little flavor to your crust.

We used jarred sauce since this was our first attempt at homemade pizza, but we might investigate some homemade recipes when time allows, especially when our garden starts giving us fresh tomatoes. Then we grated some mozzarella and topped it off with pepperoni. 17 minutes of baking time was just right for us, although I suggest keeping a thermometer in the oven because oven temperatures can vary, especially during season changes! The crust was so soft which made this pizza so much better than any frozen pizza. Our only problem was that the dough recipe was for only 1 pizza! Next time we will double it.

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
My daughter loves coffee cake from Starbucks, but she can never finish a whole piece since it is so dense. I went looking for an easy quick bread recipe that would replicate the flavor with a lighter texture. I found this recipe for Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread that was wonderful! My only changes was that I used melted butter since I generally don't use vegetable (soybean) oil because of allergies, and I added a tablespoon of vanilla for a boost in flavor. The bread came out light and airy and completely delicious. Both of my kids loved it, and I thought it was fantastic with coffee.


This Week's Meal Plan
This week I am going to be looking for a new baked good recipe because we love muffins or scones for breakfast. I'm also experimenting with the Complete crockpot steak dinner since we have a lot of rib-eyes after having a cow butchered.

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. I can't wait to review my new finds next week!

 Breakfasts 
Muffins, frozen waffles, plain egg omelets, sausage, fruit 

Lunches
Dinner leftovers, Creamed tuna and peas over noodles, homemade pizza, chicken breasts, mac & cheese, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Spicy turkey and cabbage soup
Tuesday:  Crock pot chicken, potatoes, onions, peppers, squash
Wednesday: Mini turkey meatloaf and green bean sheet pan dinner
Thursday:  Lentil pasta with meat sauces, broccoli, garlic toast
Friday: Green chili chicken bake, rice, corn
Saturday: Leftovers or takeout after community egg hunt
Sunday:  Complete crockpot steak dinner

Snacks
Smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, chips/salsa, Cinnamon swirl bread 

This blog links up with the orgjunkie.com Meal Plan Monday linky party!

Simple Homeschool - Our Schedule

There are a lot of ways to homeschool. There are also a lot of ways to plan (or not plan) a homeschool day. I have always been the kind of person who loves lists and schedules, so when we started our homeschooling adventure 5 years ago, I went looking for a "perfect" schedule template. But as we have progressed, I have learned that the best learning happens unscheduled, and there is no perfect schedule. This is why we use a loose, flexible schedule for our day.

We wake up slowly.
I'm a night owl. So is my husband, and so are our kids. No matter how hard we have tried over the years, we always revert back to staying up a little late and sleeping in a little. Our brains just function better later in the day and things are easier. Since I am a believer in working with the natural rhythms of our bodies, I embrace this as part of our homeschool life. We wake up, usually one at a time, between 7:30 and 8:30. The kids have breakfast and play and maybe watch a PBS program. There's no shock of an alarm clock, and there's no rushing to meet a deadline to be ready. We just enjoy each other and the morning. We also don't suffer from sleep deprivation  because the kids still sleep 10-11 hours every night.

We use checklists to start our daily routines.
I want my kids to develop good hygiene and housekeeping habits. I also don't want to nag them to do each step. To smoothly start our day, I use a checklist system for me and the children. The kids have checklist cards for hygiene and chores so they can prepare for the school day. I also have a housekeeping checklist that I work through over the week. Around 9:30 or 10, we begin our checklists. These usually take 30-45 minutes to complete. Prairie Daughter is in charge of supervising Prairie Son to see that he gets ready and tidies his room. He assists her with chores since he is learning to take over her chores as she progresses to more complex tasks.


We have required subjects for every school day.
We start our lessons with seatwork around 10:15 or 10:30, depending on when the checklists are finished. My kids love worksheets, but they can get tedious, so we like to get them out of the way. We start with writing, reading comprehension, spelling, geography, and science for my daughter and shapes, colors, letters, and numbers for my son.  I do let my kids choose the order in which the work is completed so they are more comfortable. They each have a desk which we sometimes keep in the living room and sometimes in their neighboring bedrooms. It is easy for me to go from one to the other and help as needed even though they are on different levels. If the kids start getting wiggly before they are done, they have a snack break, and maybe a dance break too!

We utilize "couch time" for learning and resting.
My kids can sit and listen to me read for hours. They remember so much by me reading to them, so we use that to our advantage. After seatwork and snacks, we have listening time around 12 or 12:30. We have our serious Bible time first. Sometimes we have coloring pages or projects to go with Bible time, like crafts or planning volunteer work.  After this, we break for lunch around 2. After lunch, we have some fictional reading (storybooks, fables, fairy tales, chapter books). As time goes on, my daughter is doing more of the reading, but she still likes to listen a lot. We also read our science and history textbooks on the couch. I want the kids to enjoy learning these subjects, and when they are relaxed, they absorb so much more. 

We use "table time" for projects that can be done together.
It can be tricky combining working for kids who are 3 1/2 years apart. After couch time, we use table time for science and history projects based on our reading. We stay here until we are finished which is sometime around 3. My 7 year old may be filling in fact sheets, labeling charts, or making complex crafts while my 3 year old colors appropriately themed pages. They just like to know they are working on the same subjects. We round out table time with our math lesson. While my daughter would be in 1st grade in public school, she is almost at the end of a 2nd grade math curriculum, so her work includes complex addition and subtraction problems along with some multiplication and division. My son still chimes in with counting, naming 2D and 3D shapes and coins, and solving pattern puzzles.

Learning is more important than following the schedule.
Some days we venture away from even this loose schedule. If the science reading is incredibly interesting, we may keep reading, pull out some flashcards, look up YouTube videos, and make a plan for using the telescope that night. Or if the kids love the chapter book we are reading, we may read until we finish it and skip science. If history requires a big art project, we might skip the science reading and cut math a little short. I try to follow the kids' lead. We eventually get through the curriculum I have lined up, but we do it in a way where they love it and retain it. And even though we start our formal work later in the day, we get a lot more hours of schooling in over the course of a year because my kids want to work on schoolwork on the weekends and holidays, and we do a lot of projects in the evenings that tie into school lessons.


Play is learning.
From the time we start our morning checklists, I don't allow individual screen time until we are finished with lessons for the day. If my kids need a break, they can play individually or with each other. We have all kinds of blocks, play dough accessories, animals, dolls, etc., and I know kids learn from play as much as they do from books. Not only do they learn problem-solving skills, but they also learn how to communicate, and they get in that absolutely adorable brother-sister bonding time - most of the time.


Learning never stops.

When we finally allow screen time in the evenings, my kids are more likely to ask for an educational show based on what we learned during the day. It may be a documentary on recycling or a kids' program on space. Even Disney movies like Mulan and Pocahontas get viewed through an educational lens as my daughter separates fact from fiction. And I love it. I love seeing how learning is affecting their choices and how they subconsciously continue our school discussions.


Our homeschooling days usually aren't perfect. And usually even a loose schedule can break down when someone is sick or when we just feel burned out. But it does help to keep me accountable. I don't want homeschool to be a reason to ever be lax, so I like having an order for our list of subjects to cover. We usually spend 3-5 hours a day on our formal schooling (worksheets, projects, textbook readings), but the learning can continue all day and night, and I wouldn't want it any other way.




This blog links up with the Hip Homeschool Moms linky party!

Simple Home - Buffet Storage

I have a horrible time making decisions. Seriously. It can literally take me years to decide where to hang a picture. Case in point, we have lived in our current home for almost a year and a half, and up until last week, our dining area wall was empty of furniture because I couldn't decide what kind of buffet I wanted. And then I stumbled upon Southern Shab on Facebook, a small business in Caney, Oklahoma that specializes in repurposing furniture and building custom farmhouse tables.

Before

The "Before" picture caught my eye. I knew it would be the perfect kind of storage for me because of the number of small drawers. Since I do have such a horrible time making decisions, I sent a picture of the rug that I use for the color palette for our house along with pictures of our open Great Room/Kitchen. And this gorgeous piece was delivered a few days later! I just love it! Thank you, Southern Shab!

After

I love this piece for two main reasons. 1) It is a refurbished piece. I have always been an environmentalist, and I love the idea of giving something that is old a new life. I want to add my own story to it. Bonus - it can be a lot cheaper to have an old piece made to look like new than it is to buy a newly manufactured piece.  And 2) I love the shallow drawers because they work for my needs. Because I'm not using this buffet in the traditional way to hold my table linens and other dining accessories. I am using it for my homeschool center!

Previously, I had many of my supplies in my closet. And to get to that closet I had to go through my bedroom and then the bathroom and then sort through the walk in closet. That's just not practical storage! We do a lot of work at the dining table, so keeping items in the buffet is optimal for our family. And it works with my personal organization rule: store things where you use them!

Math manipulatives

Art supplies

The shallow drawers allow me to break down my homeschool supplies into small categories so everything isn't mixed together. I have a drawer for flashcards, a drawer for stickers, a drawer for notebooks, etc. I don't keep our textbooks here because they are heavy, and I have them in one basket in a cabinet near the table. After just one week, I have seen a great change in our homeschool structure because I am not constantly running from the room to grab supplies. I can set up the 2nd grade math activities and simultaneously grab a Pre-K alphabet puzzle without any hassle. 

Don't be afraid to organize your house in a way that may not seem traditional. Each family is different, and we have to do what works best for each of us!

Simple Beauty - Black Soap

I love a good hot shower, especially when I am stressed. But hot water can dry out skin, so I have to be careful how I cleanse. I also don't like complex beauty rituals, so when I find a product that can solve several issues at once, I gravitate towards it. My latest obsession is African Black Soap.

African Black Soap is just what it sounds like - a black bar of soap, and the recipe originated in Africa. While it was originally created from plantains to nurture Nubian skin, it has been found to be fantastic for those of us with super fair and sensitive complexions. It helps control acne, improves eczema, and it moisturizes. It is even gentle enough to use on your face.

I am at the age where acne and wrinkles meet. Since I began using the black soap, I have noticed that that my skin is not as dry and flaky, my wrinkles have slightly smoothed, and my blemishes have decreased. I still have to use a moisturizer after I shower, but it is for maintenance. I no longer feel like my skin has to be soothed directly out of the hot water.

Soap stored upright in a cup

I also love the black soap because it is free of a lot of additives and it doesn't have any synthetic fragrance. Since one of the main ingredients is plantains, it has a faint banana smell. The soap does make black lather, but don't worry; it won't dye your skin or your bathtub. Just remember to rinse your tub well after using it or you may be scrubbing later if you are like me and don't like stray marks!

Black soap isn't as cheap as the national brands. At about $1 an ounce, I want to make it last as long as possible. To keep soap from melting away, I store it vertically in a cup so it can dry as completely as possible between uses. Storing it in a tall cup also helps to keep it dry while the shower is on so my soap bar isn't being washed down the drain.

My children are just as fair skinned as I am, and I have used the soap on them occasionally when they had eczema outbreaks that I felt like were from environmental factors. I noticed great improvement with just one or two uses.

I picked up 2 8 ounce bars from Amazon for $15.95. Target has 3.5 ounce bars for $3.97, and I noticed that Wal-Mart is getting ready to stock it. Look for this soap in the skin care aisle, not with the nationally branded soaps.

Have you ever used African Black Soap? If you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment!

Simple Tasks - Kitchen Week

*Welcome to this week's Simple Task assignments! A Simple Task is a quick decluttering job that only takes 5-15 minutes. It is meant to work into your daily life so you can declutter without being overwhelmed. Categories change every week, so jump in wherever you are comfortable! Keep it simple, and be happy!* 

Welcome to my new format for Simple Tasks! I hope this simplifies the work for everyone. Starting today, I'll be posting 3-4 details Simple Tasks. These are not meant to be done all at once! Choose one a day so you can give it your full attention, and so it can blend in seamlessly to your regular cleaning. The most successful methods for decluttering should relieve your stress, not cause more of it!


Before you get started, you need to establish what you will do with the items you declutter. Plan to donate? Grab a box or bag and label it Donation. When that container is full, don't forget to actually donate it! Also check your trashcan so you have room to trash what can't be used any longer. Don't donate your trash. And if you plan on recycling, you can bag your recyclables in leftover grocery store bags. Now let's get started!

Serving utensils are necessary if you host family dinners.

Serving Utensils - Serving utensils are one thing that some people use all the time, some use once a year, and some wonder why they have them at all. The important thing to remember is to consider if you use them and how you use them. I use mine occasionally, but I need them all about 6 times a year for family dinners, so I have to keep them around. Check your utensils for damage (cracked plastic, warping). If you are going for a streamlined look when you host dinners, look for odds and ends that don't match. If you can get by without them, let them go.

Wooden Utensils - Treated correctly, wooden utensils can last a long time. But being subjected to heat and moisture can be tough on on wooden utensils, especially those manufactured more recently because they use lighter woods that aren't meant to be durable. Check your utensils for splintering and mold. Once mold gets into wood, it is impossible to completely remove. Toss anything you don't use or that isn't usable. Because of the difficulty in cleaning, I don't recommend donating these.

My kids each have two cups a water bottle.

Kids' Cups - Kids' cups tend to multiply! In our house, everyone gets a fresh cup first thing in the morning, and we keep that cup all day long, rinsing as needed. This cuts down on the number of cups we need. With kids, it is also important to remember that certain types of plastic can leech endocrine disruptors. I recommend only keeping those labeled as #5 plastic. If you don't want to use plastic at all, metal cups are a great alternative! Recycle any plastic cups you want to toss because donation centers get overrun with these.

Water Bottles  - Just like kids' cups, these tend to multiply! My husband brings them home from work promotions, and we get them when we run 5Ks. Since we already have reusable metal water bottles, we donate any new ones we receive. When you declutter yours, decide which ones you will use based on size and material. Recycle plastic bottles that are warped, cracked, or discolored. If you have new bottles that you don't want, and they are #5 plastic, donate them to your local homeless shelter so the homeless can have an easy way to refill at public fountains.

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Feel the need to keep on decluttering and streamline your kitchen? Check out my comprehensive Kitchen Decluttering Checklist! It is detailed to help you declutter the 7 major types of kitchen items. Don't want to keep going? Don't worry! We'll be back to the kitchen area soon with more Simple Tasks!

This blog links up with the http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com linky party.

Meal Plan Monday - March 13-19/Blog Announcement!

Whew! What a day. While other Oklahomans are on spring break this week, my family is hard at work with homeschool and spring cleaning. We also have a few playdates and activities scheduled since we don't have dance classes. If you haven't caught on yet, we are always busy! And busy is good. We do what we love.


Because we are always so busy, I have an announcement about the blog.


Starting this week, I am revamping the post format for the blog. Writing takes a lot of time, and I want to do it well. There are also a lot of topics I want to cover, and it has felt like I spend a lot of time on some and not enough on others. So in order to simplify, which is my primary purpose, I am going to be follow a post schedule. Watch for the following topics on their scheduled days:

Mondays - "Meal Plan Monday" will continue, and in order to motivate myself and vary my writing, I will be including at least one new recipe a week along with some reviews of what worked and what didn't the previous week.
Tuesdays - "Simple Tasks" will be changing! On Tuesdays I will post all of the detailed tasks for the week (3-4) along with the checklist. This way you can work at your own pace, and other readers won't feel like this is solely a decluttering blog.
Wednesdays - "Simple Beauty" or "Simple Heath" will rotate with my tips on small changes you can make to look and feel your best.
Thursdays - "Simple Home" will feature ideas to simplify your home life with everything from laundry to decorating.
Fridays - "Simple Homeschool" will showcase how we run our homeschool, what curriculum and schedules we follow, and what fun activities we include. Learn about how we learn as a family!
Saturdays - "Simple Savings" and "Simple Family" will alternate with tips on how to easily save money and how to have fun family time.

Sundays will be my day off to plan for the next week's posts, but I may pop in from time to time if I come across something that is simply fantastic!


I hope everyone enjoys the changes and finds them beneficial. If you have a topic that you want me to write about, please comment on the blog or the Facebook page!

And now on to the meal 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 
Double chocolate banana muffins, frozen waffles, plain egg omelets, bacon, fruit 

Lunches
Dinner leftovers, tuna sandwiches with chips, mac & cheese, cheese/crackers, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit, tomato soup

Dinners 
Monday: Creamed tuna and peas over noodles
Tuesday:  Oven roasted pork chops and green beans with mashed potatoes
Wednesday: Salsa Chicken and black bean soup with tortilla chips
Thursday: Roasted red potatoes, green peppers, onions, and zucchini with smoked sausage
Friday: Make-your-own pizza
Saturday: Race Day! We are doing a family 5K/fun-run, so any food we want from anywhere!
Sunday:  Pork veggie-loaded meatloaf, mac & cheese, spinach

Snacks
Smoothies, yogurt, fresh fruits/vegetables, chips/salsa, chocolate chip cookies

This blog links up with the orgjunkie.com Meal Plan Monday linky party!

Simple Beauty - 30 Day Water Challenge

Spring brings a sense of renewed vigor for me. I just have a great desire to improve my home, my activities, and my health. So while searching Pinterest for a little inspiration, I kept seeing posts about water challenges and how they could change a person's life. They could improve skin and digestion, improve circulation, and even help with weightloss with no other effort other than drinking a gallon of water a day. Well, that sounds like a great deal to me!

But there was a problem. Link after link showed no follow up to the challenge. I don't know about you, but I like empirical evidence. I want to know that someone else has tried something before I put myself through the agony. Because of this, I am going to be your guinea pig.

That's right. For 30 days, starting today, I am going to drink a gallon of water a day. I am going to photograph my face each morning to see if there are any visible changes. I will also document if I notice any other side effects like weightloss or energy or digestion improvement.

This isn't going to be without a little suffering on my part. I stay pretty busy with my family, so it's going to take concentrated effort for me to drink that much water. I also have quite a bit of traveling coming up, so I am going to have to work around that. But I'm will to do it if for no other reason than to have some documented evidence about how this challenge works for someone.

*Disclaimer - I am not a physician, and I make no recommendations for anyone's personal health.

Simple Tasks - Office Supplies Week - Comprehensive Checklist

This week I focused on office supplies so I could prepare for receiving a very special piece of furniture. I ordered a custom buffet for my dining room. It was originally an old dresser that was refinished in a lovely antiqued green with a dark stained top. How does a buffet relate to office supplies? I am using it for my homeschool center! I believe in organizing thing where they are used, not necessarily in their traditional storage spots, and we do most of our schooling at the kids' desks in the living room or at the dining table. And since these spaces are combined in a "great room," it makes sense to keep the supplies next to the dining table.

But back to office supplies.

I wanted to declutter my supplies before I received the buffet so that my decluttering was separated from my organizing. I needed to know what supplies I was keeping so I would know how to arrange them in the new storage space. And it worked out perfectly. I had just enough space with a little room for growth.

If you want to keep going with decluttering your office supplies, here is the comprehensive checklist I used to help me prepare my own supplies:

My new buffet that is housing my office supplies!

*Pens
*Pencils
*Markers
*Erasers
*White-Out
*Tape
*Paper Clips
*Binder Clips
*Staples/Stapler
*Tacks
*Rubber Bands
*Magnets
*Scissors
*Hole punches
*Rulers/measuring tapes
*Glues
*Label Maker
*Notepads/Notebooks
*Folders
*Envelopes
*Calendars

Some people may have additional categories, and some people may not have things for every category. Both are OK! The important thing to remember is that you keep what you need and use. If your lifestyle has changed since the last time you decluttered your office supplies,  you may not need to keep things for every category. I used to be a college English instructor who worked from home, so I needed many more office supplies than what I use now. Even though I teach homeschool everyday, I need fewer "adult" office supplies. So declutter for the life you have now.

And remember to donate usable supplies to the organization of your choice! Libraries, schools, nursing homes, boys and girls clubs, and more can benefit from your donation.

Next week I will be changing up how "Simple Tasks" are listed to make them more simple for everyone (including me!). And remember to keep simple, and be happy!

Simple Savings - Discounted Meats and Produce at Target

I love Target, and not just because it tempts me with clearance sales and seasonal decor. Target is one of my favorite places for saving money on food.  Even though I prefer to buy locally produced foods when possible, that isn't always an option, especially at the end of winter. During these times, I rely on store sales.

My local Target store isn't a super center, so that means the selection is small, but it also means the turn-over is fantastic. I am there 1-2 times a week, and I see the employees working in the grocery department, marking and restocking. They are especially diligent about ensuring meat and produce are fresh, and this is how I find some of my biggest discounts. The meat department offers a variety of beef, pork, and chicken, and the produce that gets discounted is already bagged, so it is clearly marked and easy to grab.

There are three ways to save on meat and produce at Target:

1) Weekly Sales -  When the sales circular comes out for the week, it is worth a glance. There is usually a variety of meat on sale averaging 25% off. This puts prices in competition with other mass chains like Wal-Mart and Kroger. These sales are already in the computers, so there is nothing you have to do besides make your purchase as normal.

2) "Special Today" coupons - These coupons are basically clearance stickers for meat and produce. They identify what products have reached the week of their "Use or freeze by" date so they will move quickly and minimize financial loss for the store. They range in demonstrations of $1-$5 with greater amounts usually given to larger packages and items that are the closest to their "Use or freeze by" date. And the best part is that if a product is already on a weekly sale, the coupon is deducted from the sale price, so you can double dip your savings! There is no limit on how many coupons you can redeem in a trip. Markdowns are done in the morning, so you have to get their early for the best selection. 10 AM has always been a good time for me because everything is marked and there is still plenty available, but this will vary by store, so it may take a few tries to find your best shopping time.

3) Cartwheel app - I never shop without my iPod because it has the Cartwheel app (and Target has free Wi-Fi!). The Cartwheel app allows you to add digital coupons to a single barcode that is scanned at the checkout. These coupons are usually percentages off although some are for dollars and cents. These can also be used in conjunction with weekly sales and "Special Today" coupons for a triple dip. Be sure to read the fine print for each coupon; there is often a limit of 4 uses. 

At checkout, discounts are usually done in the order that I have listed. For example, I once purchased 1 pound packages of organic ground beef that were normally $7.99 each. They were on a weekly sale for 25% off with $3 Special Today" coupons on each package with an extra 15% of on Cartwheel. This meant each package was:
$7.99 - 25% = $5.99 - $3 = $2.99 - $0.45 = $2.54 per package

If you do plan to stock up, I recommend freezing everything as soon as you get home, so make sure you have plenty of room before you shop! And finally, don't forget to compare prices per ounce when you considering different sizes of the same product. It may be to your advantage to buy smaller packages if there are better discounts available, so keep your calculator ready when you are shopping.

I grabbed these pork chops this morning. They were marked $4.99, so after my coupon, they were only $1.99!



This post is hooked up with the ohmyheartsiegirl.com linky party!

Simple Tasks - Office Supplies Week - Paper Fasteners

*Welcome to today's Simple Task! A Simple Task is a quick decluttering job that only takes 5-15 minutes. It is meant to work into your daily life so you can declutter without being overwhelmed. Categories change every week, so jump in wherever you are comfortable! Keep it simple, and be happy!*

Before

Thursdays are our long days for dance classes, so I had to have a super-simple task today. Continuing with this week's category of office supplies, I decided to tackle all types of paper fasteners. Our drawer wasn't very full of fasteners, but it was full of lots of other things! I broke down my supplies into the following categories:

*Staples and stapler
*Paperclips (small and large)
*Butterfly clamps
*Binder clips (small, medium, and large)
*Binder rings (small, medium, and large)
*Brass fasteners

If you have more types, create more categories. It is best to separate them by type so you can compare them and eliminate any that are no longer usable. There are really only three things to keep in mind for decluttering these.

1) Do you use them in your current life? I don't use many things from this category anymore, so I only kept what I think I might use in the next two years. If your job or lifestyle doesn't require much paper fastening, consider cutting back.

2) Are they bent beyond use? Paperclips get bent up for reasons beyond clipping papers together (anyone have to pop open a CD drive lately?), and many times they can be bent back into shape. Some can't though, and we need them lingering and getting in our way if we can't use them.

3) Are they rusted? Paperclips and staples rust. When they rust, they become brittle, which can make them ineffective, and they can also stain your papers. Be sure to use good lightening for this category so you can throw away anything with rust damage. Don't forget to check the inside of the binder clips where the paint has worn off!

After

When you look at my "After" picture, you may notice some things appeared that weren't there before. That is because this isn't my organizing stage - this is only my decluttering stage. After I have decluttered all of my supplies, and when I receive my new workstation, I will be able to organize everything. Many people try to organize while they declutter, but the problem is that when you are constantly reducing, your organizing needs change.  For right now, I have all of my "paper manipulation supplies," aside from the stapler and tape dispenser, in one draw, and they are all decluttered and usable.

If you're saving up donations for your favorite organization, remember to donate only what is excessive to you and is still usable to others. Unusable supplies should go straight to the trash.

Simple Tasks - Office Supplies Week - Writing Utensils

Before

This week I am focusing on office supplies for two reasons. 1) I'm getting a new piece of furniture! We're having an old dresser refinished into a buffet which I will use partially use for my work station (talk about repurposing!). I don't want to fill my new piece with clutter, so I am going through what I use and narrowing it down. And 2) This time of year, organizations see a drop in donations. Schools and libraries are in constant need, especially when it isn't Christmas, so I want to encourage everyone to go through their supplies and make a donation. You probably don't need all of those pens and notepads you have stuffed into your desk, but a teacher or librarian could put them to good use!

I'm starting with writing utensils because they like to multiply. We see them on sale and throw a pack in our basket. We visit a fair or trade show and they are stuffed into goody bags. Our kids bring them home from workshops. But how many of these do we really use? Writing utensils can be quite personal because we tend to select our favorites and use them while abandoning those that don't make the cut. These are the ones we need to bag up and donate.

We you go through writing utensils, break them down into categories:
*Pencils (regular and color)
*Pens (black, blue, and color)
*Markers (permanent, highlighters, dry-erase, and washable)
*Crayons (regular and twistable)
*Utensil accessories (white out, erasers, sharpeners, lead refills, etc)

Next, do the test. This is really a great job for children since it helps with fine motor skills and classifying. Let them test each utensil to see if it still marks. If it doesn't, trash it! For pencils, don't forget to check erasers. A pencil without an eraser isn't very useful.

After

After you have eliminated the trash, decide what you use and like. Even when items are usable, they won't get used if they aren't our favorites, and this is how we get clutter. If you find things that don't belong in your writing utensil storage space, re-home them for now. As we work through each area, you'll find that we eventually get through everything. And don't feel the need to keep all utensils together - keep them where you will use them! I moved my dry-erase markers to our school supply drawer because that is the only thing I use them for.

Once you're done, don't forget to drop off those donations! But remember to ask your intended recipient first just in case they have had an influx of donations lately. If they aren't in need, ask them if they know of anyone who might be, like youth centers or women's shelters.

Simple Sensory - Play Dough and Shells

I have a child who is hypersensitive (sensory avoiding) and a child who is hyposensitive (sensory seeking). To help even the playing field in our house, we do a lot of simple sensory activities. These activities use items from around the house or they are available at the dollar store. Sometimes I make them up, sometimes I borrow from Pinterest. When they are a hit, I am happy to share!

Tonight we watched Moana. The kids have dreamed about seeing it again ever since we saw it in the theater. But sitting through a movie, even at home, makes them both wiggly. So instead of sending them to bed with the wiggles, we pulled out a simple sensory activity that went along with the movie: play dough and shells. We always keep play dough on hand, and I had picked up a bag of shells at the dollar store, although if you have a jar of shells from your beach vacation, those will work too.

The kids loved pressing the shells into the playdough to create imprints. They buried the shells so they could "dig for treasure."  The also used the shells to make faces and form letters. They even used the play dough as "glue" to combine shells to form creatures.

These activity sounds as simple as it is, but it is effective for sensory therapy because it engages varying textures and bright colors. Sensory seeks feel drawn in while sensory avoiders can manipulate the activity in a way that doesn't overwhelm them.We ended the evening on a calm note with two tired littles who were ready for bed, and they loved having "Moana shells," so I think this sensory activity was great. The only thing I would change would be to find some of the "sand playdough" to make the playtime a little more realistic and challenge my hypersensitive child to combine more textures.

Simple Homeschooling - Why We Homeschool

We love homeschooling. Really love it. I can't imagine our family unit without it. In the beginning, I thought I was doing it for me. I have always loved teaching. I have B. A. in English Education and a M. S. in Library Science with a certificate in Youth Librarianship. I taught English and information literacy for 10 years at a public university, and I taught private piano lessons for 5 years. I just love the idea of directing others to information and knowledge. So when my own child came along, I knew I wanted to teach her, at least in her preschool years.  But over the last 5 years, I have realized that homeschooling has benefited all of us.

I want to have a cohesive family unit that inspires each other and encourages learning.
Homeschooling is an integral part of who we are as a family because it blends seamlessly into our days. Sometimes it is hard to define where schooling starts and ends. It doesn't matter if I am teaching the kids how to measure the ingredients for cookies or if Prairie Dad is teaching us how to use the telescope to see constellations - learning, fun, and family are all integrated into what I consider to be a steady stream of happiness. But I think that is the way it should be. Children should always be learning and craving activity. They should be able to develop their natural curiosity in a safe environment. And they should be encouraged whether they are studying or playing.

I believe schooling is for learning, not taking tests.
In our day-to-day schooling, we work on each subject until the children understand and show that they have retained knowledge. We may do some unit tests that come with the curriculum, but I don't rely on them to gauge what my children know. The children demonstrate with their willingness to keep learning. They also aren't intimidated if they don't understand something. They know we will work until they do understand. I don't think there is any standardized test that can accurately gauge a child's knowledge, and I don't want my children to be subjected to the kind of pressure that is required in today's schools. I want them to maintain their youthful innocence and curiosity as long as possible.

I want the children to pursue what interests them and fits their learning styles.
Prairie Daughter loves to listen, and she can retain most of what she hears. She likes to sit on the couch while we study history books and science charts and read aloud novels. While we do use worksheets, she doesn't always need them. Prairie Son, however, loves worksheets. He likes to be hands on and experience his lessons with crafts and experiments. I do what works for them. I also let my children help choose the curriculum. If they want reading/writing time to focus on animals, we incorporate some zoology lessons. Last semester they took a great interest in fairy tales, so we read the originals and viewed several adaptations of each one. When it came time to plant our garden, we read dozens of botany books, and the kids helped to plant the seeds and harvest the crops.

I want my children to advance at their own speeds.
My kids are impatient. Once they master something, they like to move on. They don't appreciate constant review or having lessons presented in overly-cutesy formats. They are down-to-business. With homeschooling, once they master a lesson, we move on. If I feel they don't understand, we keep working on it. I move at their speed, and I don't dictate a stopping place. Because there is no stopping place. Learning is never-ending. Prairie Daughter loves this constant journey, and it causes her to pursue knowledge constantly. While she should be in 1st grade based on her age (she just turned 7), she is on a 2nd/3rd grade level. I don't want to slow her down when she is the one asking for one more lesson or one more book. There is a sparkle in her eyes when a new schoolbook arrives, and that is the way it should be.

I don't want my kids to sacrifice school or their activities.
As my children have grown, so have their interests in extracurricular activities. They both dance and they both love to take classes at the library. They also love participating in art and building workshops. Prairie Daughter attends a class at the local nature refuge each month, and she has taken up running with me and likes to participate in fun runs. Homeschooling allows us to do all of these activities without suffering burnout. If we have an activity, we can cut back on the schoolwork for the day, or we can take a day off before a big trip.  Since we have school to fit our schedule, we can have school on weekends and traditional break times so we have free days for activities.

We have health issues.
Both of my children have incomplete immune systems. This means that they are sick a lot with a string of constant viruses. While none have been severe, they still require rest and recuperation. Prairie Daughter needs two full weeks to recover from the flu or a stomach virus. If she were in public school, she would never make the attendance requirement. With homeschooling, we can keep working at a pace that is comfortable and still provide ample rest time. We can also avoid accumulating more germs so we can limit the chance of a setback.


Homeschooling might not be for everyone, but it works for us. Even better, I feel like it enhances our lives and adds strength our family. While my children are growing and clearly developing their independence, there is a unique bond in a our family thanks to the fact that we don't have to differentiate our school life from our home life.

This post is linked up with the Hip Homeschool Hop linky party. 

Meal Plan Monday - March 6-12

This is a busy week for us. Both of my children dance, and this week we have an extra session at the dance school because they are taking pictures for the recital program. This week I have to keep it quick and easy with meals based on what I have and what I can either throw in the crock pot or make quickly.


Prairie Daughter did receive two new cookbooks for her birthday, and I have promised her that we will try some recipes, so if we do, we will post our results and the recipes! She is anxious to start cooking meals especially after reading about Beezus and Ramona's cooking experience in Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

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, frozen waffles, plain egg omelets, bacon, fruit 

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

Dinners 
Monday: Roasted red potatoes, green peppers, onions, and zucchini with smoked sausage
Tuesday:  Crockpot whole chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, peas
Wednesday: Lentil pasta with meat sauce, green peas, garlic toast
Thursday: Leftovers/frozen pizza
Friday: Slow cooker beef and broccoli with brown rice
Saturday: Pork veggie-loaded meatloaf, mac & cheese, spinach
Sunday: Pinto beans, ham, cornbread

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

Simple Beauty - Product Review - Cliganic Jojoba Oil

I have sensitive skin. It's oily and dry and prone to eczema, especially when juniper trees or ragweed are blooming. Almost every conventional beauty product I try causes some sort of reaction, especially if I leave it on for too long, so for a long time I either avoided wearing much make up or I had to remove it almost immediately after I got home. But after discovering organic Jojoba Oil, those problems are gone!

Jojoba oil is produced by the seed of the  Simmondsia chinensis plant which is native to North America. It is high in vitamin E, so it is excellent at repairing skin and healing wounds. It is also close to skin's own sebum, so it does not clog pores like coconut oil can do. Jojoba oil is also a great base if you apply essential oils. 

I love jojoba oil because it removes makeup while soothing irritation. For a long time I couldn't even wear eye makeup during allergy seasons because my eyelids would swell with eczema. But the jojoba oil removes eye-shadow, eyeliner, and mascara easily (even if it's waterproof!) and it soothes the eyelid to decrease and prevent swelling.  It also helps to heal acne and it soothes irritated skin after tweezing (goodbye uni-brow!).  

If you have never cleaned your face with oil before, be prepared for some skin adjustment. It can take some time for oil production to regulate, so you may experience a few extra blemishes during the first week of use. After that though, be prepared for a beautiful glow! If the jojoba oil agrees with your skin, you should find that your skin is softer, your acne has decreased, and your fine lines have diminished. 

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any jojoba oil company or any included links. I have not received any compensation for this post. I merely love to share what works for me!

Simple Tasks - Children's Toys Week - Dress Up Clothes and Accessories

My children love to play dress up. They dress up every morning before we start school. They dress up to match whatever movie they are watching. They dress up at night when they want to dance to whatever music I am playing in the living room.

Playing dress up so much means that the clothes and accessories get a lot of wear and tear. Because these types of "toys" are made so cheaply, they don't always last a full year. And even if they basic structure lasts, I may need to remove embellishments, hem fraying pants or skirts, or toss some broken accessories. Let's break down how to clean out the dress up stash:

*Check the fit. Eliminate costumes that are too short or tight. These are not comfortable for play anyway!
*Toss broken jewelry and accessories. They can become dangerous when little plastic pieces are flying.
*Look for stains and periodically launder whatever you can. But beware - some items are intended to be single use and may fall apart in the wash.
*Remove anything the kids avoid. If they aren't wearing it already, they probably won't, and unused pieces just wind up as clutter the prohibit kids from accessing what they need.

Costume sleepwear is washable and comfy

If you want to avoid constantly tossing out things from the dress up boxes, consider buying dress up sleepwear instead of costumes. These very closely resemble actual costumes but they are more durable, and they can be laundered! The Disney Store and Target often feature gowns for girls and pajamas for boys that closely resemble movie characters. Our Elsa nightgown and Darth Vader pajamas get a lot more wear than our actual costumes anyway because they are more comfortable. Don't get in a hurry to buy though - these items go on sale just like other clothes, so when you know what you look, just watch for a sale, especially when the stores are transitioning for the season change.

Finally, be careful with costume jewelry.  Kids' accessories are usually made in China, so they are very cheap. Personally, I have tossed anything that is plastic that is made to look like metal for one important reason: these are the items that usually have the highest lead content. A prime example is plastic beads from dollar stores, the same ones thrown out at Mardi Gras parades. These beads are produced in great quantities and need to be cheap, so lead is often one of the ingredients. Costumes sold at Halloween are also cause for concern because of the use of lead and plasticizers. These can cause reactions in children with allergies and asthma.

The best thing to keep for playing dress up is imagination. Let kids create their own costumes out of old clothes and jewelry that you feel is safe. Let them make necklaces and crowns during craft time. Not only will this encourage imagination, but it will also expand their playtime. So keep it simple and keep them happy!

SImple Tasks - Children's Toys Week - Puzzles

Before

Today's task is one for kids or kids at heart because I know many adults who love puzzles. Puzzles are great when you need to keep hands as busy as minds. The problem with puzzles is that after a while, children memorize how they go together, so the challenge is lost. Children also outgrow puzzles very quickly. In our house, last year's two year-old who struggled with 12 piece puzzles is now a three year-old who can assemble a 24 piece puzzle in just a couple of minutes.


When we go through puzzles, we want to consider the following:

*Is the puzzle too easy?
*Does the puzzle have all of its pieces? (Nothing is more frustrating than a missing piece!)
*Has the puzzle been completed so many times that it isn't challenging?
*Is the puzzle damaged? (Bent, water damaged, print peeling)
*Is the puzzle moldy?

I know you're probably curious about that last statement. Here's the deal: Puzzles are made from paper, and paper attracts moisture. Closet tend to draw moisture, so puzzles absorb it. If you notice that your puzzle pieces seem too pliable or have a musty order, it may be time to toss them. You're going to notice in my writings that I am adamant about eliminating mold. That is because I have an extremely mold-sensitive child, and even a few spores can cause a dangerous reaction in her.

After

A final note that applies to decluttering any children's toys: always consider your children's feelings. I know it is difficult for parents when children don't want to let go of anything. We like for those bedrooms to be tidy. But children have strong feelings associated with their possessions. Always ask for input from them. If your child isn't ready to let go of something, that's OK! By working decluttering into your daily routine, like with my Simple Tasks, your child will come to see it as normal and not a sporadic, sometimes traumatizing event. Let your child ease into decluttering so they understand how to value and respect their toys.

Simple Tasks - Children's Toys Week - Outdoor toys

It feels like spring in Oklahoma this week which means we are starting our spring cleaning. My kids are used to spring cleaning. They know that we will sort out their winter clothes that won't last another year, purge broken and forgotten toys, and donate old blankets because they have grown up doing it - and they are just 3 and 7! Even if you haven't had such routines with your kids, it is never too late to start. The first time may be rough, but eventually they will find comfort in the tradition and start to see the benefits of tidy, refreshed spaces.

This week for our Simple Tasks, we are working on toys. Prairie Daughter just had her birthday, so she acquired several new, age appropriate toys, so this is a great time for her to clean out things she has outgrown. We started with outdoor toys so that when allergy season subsides, we will be ready to run out and play. This is also a great time to clean out larger items because families are preparing for the new season and looking to purchase used bikes, playground equipment, and sports equipment.

What all is included in outdoor toys? And how do you decide what to eliminate? Here's today's checklist:

*Check that bikes and scooters are the correct sizes. Using equipment that is too small can pose safety hazards. We donated 3 bicycles/tricycles that were too small. At the same time, check your helmets and pads to make sure they still fit. A bigger bike isn't much good without an appropriately sized helmet!
*Also check skates for correct sizes and damage. Those Fisher Price skates won't last forever!
*Toss old bubbles and chalk that were opened last season. Not only can they lose their potency and consistency, but they can also breed bacteria! Ew!
*Check sandboxes for bugs and other critters. We change our playsand twice a year because bug can lay eggs even in covered sandboxes.
*Check battery life in electronic toys and look for corrosion in toys that haven't been used for last summer. Batteries can leak and burn skin. If you have a toy that has been damaged by corrosion, consider trashing it to avoid further risk.
*Toss anything with irreparable damage - deflated balls with holes, damaged tennis rackets, torn volleyball nets, holey kites, etc.
*Take an inventory of how many of each type of thing you have and establish how many you need to accommodate your children and any who may come over to play. Do you need 10 jump ropes and 20 different kinds of balls?

Finally, consider repurposing those old water tables or sandboxes that don't get much use! As pictured, we brought in our water table, cleaned it up, and turned it into a sensory table. It provides a lot of fun on rainy days or days when the pollen counts are too high to go out. Right now we have colored rice and similarly colored objects in it, and the kids can't get enough of it.

Do your kids play outside a little or a lot? What are their favorite outdoor activities? Share in the comments!