Tag Archives: clean-and-simple

How to Have Real Food for Dinner on Crazy Busy Weeknights

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We have been in the midst of a very busy season around here. The kiddos have a summer full of family visits, sports practice, and fun camp experiences, against a background of our two full-time jobs and managing the homestead. I’d love to be able to say that eating a healthy dinner in the midst of all that running around is our number one priority, but can I be honest for a moment? Our #1 family wellness goal in this season has become just not eating fast food every night! … Continue Reading…

How to Pack for Overnight Summer Camp (with FREE Checklists!)

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Well, it’s summer camp time again! The time when I buy new socks and boxes of Ziploc bags and start the sorting and organizing for the kiddos to head out to church camp for a week. Do your munchkins go to overnight camp? Our kiddos head off for a week each summer with their church group. Sometimes the different age groups go at different times, but this year all 3 of our farm kids are heading off together–that’s a new stage for us! {smile} Our first year I did a … Continue Reading…

Lunch Gear When You Pack Every Day! {School Days Series}

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We’re getting ready to head into yet another school year in just a few weeks, and I know a lot of folks are already in school or full-on back-to-school mode. I’m still sorting and organizing to get us ready right now, and I thought this little {School Days} series might help any busy mommas new to the school scene–or frustrated because what they’re doing just isn’t working. In addition to managing clothes, chores, homework, and school supplies, there’s this whole time slot of our daily life that revolves around lunches. Yep, lunches. … Continue Reading…

Spring Cleaning is Overwhelming (Here’s a Few Helps)…the Daily Farm Adventures {78}

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I’ve written before about all the Spring Cleaning we do around the farmyard. Well, this weekend I was busy with the traditional kind of spring cleaning. The house. Ugh! I’m not much of a cleaner, more of a straighten-upper–which I realize every time I start doing any deep cleaning. {sigh}So I made sure to take a lot of breaks to walk the dogs. And feed the dogs. And just watch the dogs. Did I mention taking a lot of breaks? Oh yes, and if you don’t follow us on Facebook, … Continue Reading…

Organizing a Smashbook Box…and More Journaling Pages

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I mentioned last year that I was really enjoying the new “smashbook” form of scrapbooking and journaling. It works for me, my style and my time limits. Well, I’m still crazy about it. I have one journal filled, and I’m working on two others. I’m moving in a generally chronological order with the family books, and I’m fitting about 4 months into a book. But they’re not restricted to that. Some pages are more personal journaling if I find an old picture I love, or want to tell and old … Continue Reading…

Feeding Sheep and Cleaning Cabinets…the Daily Farm Adventures

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Winter’s not over, but around here the snow is. For the moment. (I heard there might be even more on the way!) Rather than face the muck in the yard at the moment, I thought I would share a few more lovely, white, snow pictures! Snow makes everything look so fresh and clean…at least for the first few days! Other than having to water bucket-by-bucket, there wasn’t much change to the daily chore routine around here. Feed and water in the morning. Gather eggs. Feed and water in the evening. … Continue Reading…

Less Clutter, More Grace…Thankful Thursday #2

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So…I’ve been simplifying around here. Meaning–getting rid of lots of stuff! I’m tired of coming home to a messy house that takes hours to clean–we have too much stuff if we can’t keep up with it in a half-hour a day during the week. (“Deep” cleaning can wait until the weekends!) And I’m a major  clutter culprit here! So I’ve been pitching stuff and donating stuff left and right! Today I’m thankful for… 1. A patient husband! Yes, he complains about the clutter sometimes, but he’s been awfully good about … Continue Reading…

Everything Organization {BLOG HOP} — Favorite Simple Products

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Hello Reader-Friends! I’m back again on this steamy, humid summer day with another Mom-Tested, Family-Approved BLOG HOP for ya! This month, as we’re closing out summer and  gearing up for the school year (our school year starts on August 17th!!) we’re sharing Everything Organization! And who doesn’t love a lot of fancy organization tools and techniques? Well, actually, me for one. I’ve had to learn to embrace my inner not-Type-A personality and let go of all my Pinterest-addict tendencies and embrace simplicity in our household organizing. I have discovered that, … Continue Reading…

10 Little Daily Routines for the School Year

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I have to admit, I love daily routines. I’m not a detail person, so having a solid routine keeps me from being stuck dealing with details all the time and leaves me to think big thoughts and make big plans and dream big dreams. {In contrast, Mr. Fix-It takes “fly by the seat of your pants” and “taking the scenic route” to new and undiscovered heights!} This year’s school change has been really big for our household. Really big. It’s completely changed up our household routine and made it much … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Organizing Back to School…Fresh Routines and Learning Lifestyles

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Well, this first week of back to school has just been exhausting–but joyful too. The Ladybug brought home her first math paper and it was…PERFECT! I don’t think we had one of those in math all year last year. No one was sent to the principal’s office, and Speedracer ate at least one thing on his plate at lunch all week. Only one, but at least he’s not starving! {grin} All week I’ve joined with 21 other bloggers in a 5 Days of Organizing and Cleaning series, and today I’m … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Organizing Back to School…Simple Wardrobes {with Printable Checklists}

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This week is our first week back to school, and I’m joining 21 other bloggers in a 5 Days of Organizing and Cleaning series. Monday: It Starts at Home Tuesday: Supplies and Gear Wednesday: Food and Meal Planning Thursday: Simple Wardrobes Friday: Fresh Routines and Learning Lifestyles.   I’ve posted on and off all summer here and over on the Walking in High Cotton Facebook page about my frustrations with finding appropriate clothes for the Ladybug. Modest clothes. Clothes that let her express herself without exposing herself. It’s harder than … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Organizing Back to School…Food and Meal Planning

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This week is our first week back to school and I’m joining 21 other bloggers in a 5 Days of Organizing and Cleaning series, so for the next couple days I’ll be talking about organizing for the school year. Monday: It Starts at Home Tuesday: Supplies and Gear Wednesday: Food and Meal Planning Thursday: Simple Wardrobes Friday: Fresh Routines and Learning Lifestyles. There will also be some sweet GIVEAWAYS throughout the week–so be sure to check out the links at the end of my posts each day! (Hint, Hint…there’s cash!) … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Organizing Back to School…Supplies and Gear

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This week is actually back to school week for us (yesterday was our first day of school–my eyes are still red and swollen!) and I’m joining 21 other bloggers in a 5 Days of Organizing and Cleaning series, so for the next couple days I’ll be talking about organizing for the school year. Monday: It Starts at Home Tuesday: Supplies and Gear Wednesday: Food and Meal Planning Thursday: Simple Wardrobes Friday: Fresh Routines and Learning Lifestyles. There will also be some sweet GIVEAWAYS throughout the week–so be sure to check … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Organizing for Back to School…It Starts at Home

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This week is actually back to school week for us (yes, today is our first day at our new school!) and I’m joining 21 other bloggers in a 5 Days of Organizing and Cleaning series, so for the next couple days I’ll be talking about organizing for the school year. I’ll be sharing thoughts on gear and supplies (do your kiddos need a nap mat?), food and clothes (do you use uniforms?), and creating a “learning lifestyle” at home. I’ll also be sharing some specific tips on getting off on … Continue Reading…

Building Homes, Building Arches

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I’m working my way through my little stack of books, and I’m working my way through our house, piece by piece, to get things in better order. I have a pretty good cleaning schedule and daily routine in place. But sometimes we just get off track and into maintenance mode rather than intentional homemaking and we’re just getting the minimum done every day. I’m not actually sure that one of my current books was on the list, but it’s been on my shelf for a while and I needed a … Continue Reading…