When it is Halloween, I can be whoever I want, go to places I would never go, and do things I would never do. When it is Halloween, I can be a witch or a mermaid, or even a swimming pool. My son can be a ninja or a ghost or whatever he pleases. My daughter might be a movie star or Indiana Jones. Maybe we could be a family of pirates. My husband can even be my Hawaiian groupie, complete with coconut bikini top, while I am Don Hoe. How silly.
When it is Halloween, I can do what I want. I can put spiders around the house and save dusting for later and make blood red syrup for my kids, so gross they cannot even eat it. When it is Halloween, my husband will hide behind the tree and jump out to terrify us all.
When it is Halloween, it is getting cooler and darker outside and somehow that is quite exciting.
When it is Halloween, we knock on the doors of people we don't see all year long and we all laugh together and chat. There is always someone who is unkind, but that is so rare that it is all part of the fun.
When it is Halloween, countless strangers and friends pass each other on the sidewalk and sometimes the street, laughing and ooooohing and aaaaahing. The rustle of costumes and the loud voices of teenagers are all in the air.
When it is Halloween, we are all a little different, our doors a little more open, our hearts a little softer, our silliness a little grander. How wonderful.
This is Halloween week and we have so many frightening things happening in our beautiful country. Maybe just for this week we can all remember to keep it simple. Buy the good candy, wear costumes and revel in the costumes of others, be silly and scary and full of life and remember the joy of opening our doors to each other.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Halloween!
Maria
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
3 Easy Halloween Tricks to Save Time, Money and Aggravation
Simplicity Values
3 Easy Halloween Tricks to Save Time, Money and Aggravation
C. Box
If you have kids, or if you don’t, keep a costume box. We have a giant one that we only take out for Halloween. It is full of kid and adult costumes. We have so many Halloween events; our kids like to wear different costumes depending on their mood and event. The box is like a magic box, full of anything we can dream up. It is great for creative play and accidental spills and last minute guests who need a costume.
Super tip. Wait for about a week or 10 days after Halloween and you can get costumes from places like Target for 90% off! These make wonderful Christmas gifts or ideas for the costume box next year. Just get the next size up! Along the same lines, you can pick up great decorations for next year as well. Hey, why not save 90%!
Drink well
Have fun! Buy those plastic spooky cups you can get at Walgreens and use them all month! About $5.00 could buy your family a whole lot of festivity! Make that $.50 if you buy it in advance.
Super tip. Put the new decorations in a gift bag and pop it in the Halloween box for next year. If your memory is anything like mine, I bet you will be surprised with the festive decorations one year later!
Candy Smart
The best trick for getting candy is just to keep a look out in your supermarket and your local pharmacy or discount store. Start watching about 2-3 weeks out. No big deal. Just look for the sale and always, always check the size of the bag! It might look good, but take 2 minutes and make sure the sale is a good one. This year, I got the really good candy, about 150 pieces for only $11.00; right in my supermarket while I was getting groceries. Considering I can easily pay $25 for the same amount, it wasn’t bad at all!
Super tip. After you buy the candy, hide it, hide it, hide it. Hide it from yourself if you have to. I can tell you stories of how we went through all the Halloween candy long before the 31st. You know what I am talking about; the candy just sitting there, luring you into ripping the bag open. With our family if the bag is open, it is as good as gone. Hide the bag.
Have a great Halloween and remember to make the moment happen!
3 Easy Halloween Tricks to Save Time, Money and Aggravation
C. Box
If you have kids, or if you don’t, keep a costume box. We have a giant one that we only take out for Halloween. It is full of kid and adult costumes. We have so many Halloween events; our kids like to wear different costumes depending on their mood and event. The box is like a magic box, full of anything we can dream up. It is great for creative play and accidental spills and last minute guests who need a costume.
Super tip. Wait for about a week or 10 days after Halloween and you can get costumes from places like Target for 90% off! These make wonderful Christmas gifts or ideas for the costume box next year. Just get the next size up! Along the same lines, you can pick up great decorations for next year as well. Hey, why not save 90%!
Drink well
Have fun! Buy those plastic spooky cups you can get at Walgreens and use them all month! About $5.00 could buy your family a whole lot of festivity! Make that $.50 if you buy it in advance.
Super tip. Put the new decorations in a gift bag and pop it in the Halloween box for next year. If your memory is anything like mine, I bet you will be surprised with the festive decorations one year later!
Candy Smart
The best trick for getting candy is just to keep a look out in your supermarket and your local pharmacy or discount store. Start watching about 2-3 weeks out. No big deal. Just look for the sale and always, always check the size of the bag! It might look good, but take 2 minutes and make sure the sale is a good one. This year, I got the really good candy, about 150 pieces for only $11.00; right in my supermarket while I was getting groceries. Considering I can easily pay $25 for the same amount, it wasn’t bad at all!
Super tip. After you buy the candy, hide it, hide it, hide it. Hide it from yourself if you have to. I can tell you stories of how we went through all the Halloween candy long before the 31st. You know what I am talking about; the candy just sitting there, luring you into ripping the bag open. With our family if the bag is open, it is as good as gone. Hide the bag.
Have a great Halloween and remember to make the moment happen!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Simplicity Quote of the Week!
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A little silliness now and then is valued by the wisest men.
Roald Dahl
Halloween is upon us! Halloween is a perfect time to be someone you normally wouldn't, to hand out candy or create spooky designs or carve a pumkin. Halloween is about living in the moment and enjoying the mystery of life and the connectedness of us all. So grab the witches hat or the spider ring or just bask in the joy of children visiting your door full of life and excitment and possibility.
Enjoy your week!
Maria
---------------------------------------------------------
A little silliness now and then is valued by the wisest men.
Roald Dahl
Halloween is upon us! Halloween is a perfect time to be someone you normally wouldn't, to hand out candy or create spooky designs or carve a pumkin. Halloween is about living in the moment and enjoying the mystery of life and the connectedness of us all. So grab the witches hat or the spider ring or just bask in the joy of children visiting your door full of life and excitment and possibility.
Enjoy your week!
Maria
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Simplicity Values - Turn off the Tube
Okay, we have all heard it before, we watch too much TV. Really? Not me. I mean, just because I have seen every single HGTV show and episode multiple times, doesn't mean anything, right? Well, here is the reality, simplicity saves on many levels, but it does come with some sacrifice. There is nothing wrong with TV. I absolutely love it. But there is watching and there is passive trance-like watching. There is a big difference between putting on your favorite show and putting the TV on when you get home. Did you know that we use less energy watching TV than we do staring at a wall? Yipes! Hey, we save money when the TV is off, too. Electricity, for one, but more importantly, don't minimize the impact of advertising on our mindsets and wallets. Finally, TV should be like all our electronic advantages, used to our benefit. Consider taking charge of the TV, enjoy it when you want, but be active about turning it off when you are done. Decide how much you are letting TV in to your life. You will be more energized, more focused and may even save a few dollars....like when you "pass" on the latest and greatest invention, because you haven't seen the ad 25 times!
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
To get Simply Put Together, click here.
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
To get Simply Put Together, click here.
Simplicity Quote of the Week
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There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Mahatma Gandhi
What one thing can you do today to stop and enjoy the moment?
Enjoy the week!
Maria
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There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Mahatma Gandhi
What one thing can you do today to stop and enjoy the moment?
Enjoy the week!
Maria
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Surviving Houseguests!
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House guests are wonderful....until miscommunication, hurt feelings and no privacy start to suffocate us. Check out this article at life learning today with straightforward tips and tools for guests and hosts! And get ready for a great visit!
Click here to read.
Have a wonderful week!
Maria
Get organized, motivated and enriched today! Click here to check out my planners.
House guests are wonderful....until miscommunication, hurt feelings and no privacy start to suffocate us. Check out this article at life learning today with straightforward tips and tools for guests and hosts! And get ready for a great visit!
Click here to read.
Have a wonderful week!
Maria
Get organized, motivated and enriched today! Click here to check out my planners.
6 Tips For Surviving Driving
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This article I wrote was published in little dumb man! Click here to read!
Enjoy and be safe!
This article I wrote was published in little dumb man! Click here to read!
Enjoy and be safe!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Finding Nemo - Dory's Guide to Life
"In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip."
Daniel L. Reardon
When I came across this quote, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite movie characters, Dory, from Finding Nemo. Now, this is a good movie. Not only is it fantastic animation and a wonderful children's film, this is a movie we can all enjoy. Dory is the memory challenged side kick to one of the main characters, Marlin. He is the classic worrier. For the entire movie he is fearful and anxious, always anticipating the negative. Dory, on the other hand, is this goofy, free spirited, and a bit lost, soul. She has a heart of gold, but one of her strongest traits is her view toward the world. She just goes with the flow and makes the best of where she is in her journey. In the story, you can see that Dory has gone through hard times. She is alone and a bit sad, but she keeps plugging-and keeps hoping.
Throughout the movie you watch as Marlin and Dory go through trials and adventures, everything from sharks to sea turtles to jelly fish to fishing nets. Somehow, they get through, both the good and the bad. Marlin is riddled with anxiety, waiting for the worst and anticipating not getting through each trial. Dory, on the other hand, just keeps "swimming." Initially, she appears the simpleton. But by movies end, it's Marlin who has learned valuable lessons from Dory about the simplicity and strength in not being controlled by fear.
You have to laugh at Dory. She is so silly. But as you watch her on screen, you can't help but take a little peek in the mirror and wonder - who am I most like? Am I more Dory or Marlin? Do I go through life living in fear, anticipating the worst or do I go with the flow? Lets face it, most of the things we worry about one day are gone the next. Maybe Dory is the wise one after all. She seems to understand that problems do get solved and worrying about them doesn't necessarily help. When in the belly of the whale, Marlin and Dory both landed safely out the blowhole, but Dory saw the exit as a roller coaster while Marlin cowered in fear. This week, look at your life and your attitude toward the world around you. Can you go with the flow and enjoy the adventure? Can you learn from Dory and let go of some of your fear? Life is a roller coaster, it's up to you if you are going to let the ride terrify or electrify you!
Good luck, have a great week and try and enjoy the ride!
Make the moment happen!
Maria
Daniel L. Reardon
When I came across this quote, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite movie characters, Dory, from Finding Nemo. Now, this is a good movie. Not only is it fantastic animation and a wonderful children's film, this is a movie we can all enjoy. Dory is the memory challenged side kick to one of the main characters, Marlin. He is the classic worrier. For the entire movie he is fearful and anxious, always anticipating the negative. Dory, on the other hand, is this goofy, free spirited, and a bit lost, soul. She has a heart of gold, but one of her strongest traits is her view toward the world. She just goes with the flow and makes the best of where she is in her journey. In the story, you can see that Dory has gone through hard times. She is alone and a bit sad, but she keeps plugging-and keeps hoping.
Throughout the movie you watch as Marlin and Dory go through trials and adventures, everything from sharks to sea turtles to jelly fish to fishing nets. Somehow, they get through, both the good and the bad. Marlin is riddled with anxiety, waiting for the worst and anticipating not getting through each trial. Dory, on the other hand, just keeps "swimming." Initially, she appears the simpleton. But by movies end, it's Marlin who has learned valuable lessons from Dory about the simplicity and strength in not being controlled by fear.
You have to laugh at Dory. She is so silly. But as you watch her on screen, you can't help but take a little peek in the mirror and wonder - who am I most like? Am I more Dory or Marlin? Do I go through life living in fear, anticipating the worst or do I go with the flow? Lets face it, most of the things we worry about one day are gone the next. Maybe Dory is the wise one after all. She seems to understand that problems do get solved and worrying about them doesn't necessarily help. When in the belly of the whale, Marlin and Dory both landed safely out the blowhole, but Dory saw the exit as a roller coaster while Marlin cowered in fear. This week, look at your life and your attitude toward the world around you. Can you go with the flow and enjoy the adventure? Can you learn from Dory and let go of some of your fear? Life is a roller coaster, it's up to you if you are going to let the ride terrify or electrify you!
Good luck, have a great week and try and enjoy the ride!
Make the moment happen!
Maria
Simplicity Quote of the Day
______________________________________________
Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.
David O. McKay
Pay attention to your thoughts.
Make sure they are giving you strength.
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.
David O. McKay
Pay attention to your thoughts.
Make sure they are giving you strength.
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
Simplicity Values - Go Old School in the Kitchen
This is a stress, time and money saver for the kitchen. Most of us have such busy lives, the thought of making great homemade meals every night conjures up nothing more than a giggle, or for some of us, a boisterous guffaw. Really? We work, have outside activities and commitments, many of us have children. Please. Well, here is the tip of the week, guaranteed to save you $$$$ and time.
When getting gorceries, get a large container of meat, chicken, etc. Whatever you usually cook with. When you buy in bulk, it is almost always cheaper. At home, on the day of shopping, invest one hour and do the following. Cook all the chicken. My husband just puts some spices on it and tosses it on the grill. At the same time inside, we make a triple sized vat of meat sauce or chili or stew or soup. You get the idea. After the chicken is done, it is sliced up, tenderloin size, medium little cuts, put into double plastic bags in one pound increments and frozen. The sauce or stew or whatever is put into one pound containers and frozen, too. So, here is the thing, all week, you pull out the pre-cooked item. It takes no time at all to thaw. It is so easy to add simple sides, like cous cous and veggies. The food, becuase it is quickly frozen, tastes fresh. Even fancy gourmet meals are easy to put together. I cut off about 20-30 minutes a night. Its more fun. The hard work of raw chicken or browning meat, yuck, is done. Just have fun with simple spices, save money, save time and relax with a great meal!
Here is a quick gourmet chicken meal modified from my friend, Renee.
Apricot Chicken with spinach and cous cous
Thaw your chicken and toss with apricot jam in microwave bowl. Heat till warm.
Cook cous cous on stove top.
Steam fresh or frozen spinach with a bit of garlic or garlic salt.
Lay a large amount of steamed garlic on plate.
Cover with cous cous.
Pour chicken and apricot mixture over the top.
Add some almond slivers to the top.
When getting gorceries, get a large container of meat, chicken, etc. Whatever you usually cook with. When you buy in bulk, it is almost always cheaper. At home, on the day of shopping, invest one hour and do the following. Cook all the chicken. My husband just puts some spices on it and tosses it on the grill. At the same time inside, we make a triple sized vat of meat sauce or chili or stew or soup. You get the idea. After the chicken is done, it is sliced up, tenderloin size, medium little cuts, put into double plastic bags in one pound increments and frozen. The sauce or stew or whatever is put into one pound containers and frozen, too. So, here is the thing, all week, you pull out the pre-cooked item. It takes no time at all to thaw. It is so easy to add simple sides, like cous cous and veggies. The food, becuase it is quickly frozen, tastes fresh. Even fancy gourmet meals are easy to put together. I cut off about 20-30 minutes a night. Its more fun. The hard work of raw chicken or browning meat, yuck, is done. Just have fun with simple spices, save money, save time and relax with a great meal!
Here is a quick gourmet chicken meal modified from my friend, Renee.
Apricot Chicken with spinach and cous cous
Thaw your chicken and toss with apricot jam in microwave bowl. Heat till warm.
Cook cous cous on stove top.
Steam fresh or frozen spinach with a bit of garlic or garlic salt.
Lay a large amount of steamed garlic on plate.
Cover with cous cous.
Pour chicken and apricot mixture over the top.
Add some almond slivers to the top.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Simplicity Values - Weekly Wallet Check
Organization saves time and money. This weeks tip is an easy one. Commit to clean out your wallet or handbag every week. Make sure the bills are organized, the reciepts are filed somewhere important and the gum wrappers are gone. This takes about 5 minutes a week. Guaranteed, you won't lose that receipt, you will keep track of how much cash you have and won't be humiliated every time you pull out your wallet at the checkout counter.
Tip: I look for "wait times" to do this chore, like at a doctors office or waiting for one of my kids to finish an activity. Its easy and guaranteed to be a time and money saver!
Tip: Put it on the calendar. Assign it a time each week, either the same time every week or attached to one of those "wait times" we all experience regularly.
Have a great week!
Maria
Want simplicity and organization every day? Check out my annual planner, Simply Put Together.
Tip: I look for "wait times" to do this chore, like at a doctors office or waiting for one of my kids to finish an activity. Its easy and guaranteed to be a time and money saver!
Tip: Put it on the calendar. Assign it a time each week, either the same time every week or attached to one of those "wait times" we all experience regularly.
Have a great week!
Maria
Want simplicity and organization every day? Check out my annual planner, Simply Put Together.
Simplicity Quote of the Week
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"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Christopher Robin to Pooh
A. A. Milne quotes (English Humorist, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, 1882-1956)
You are strong and can do what you need to do this week, even if it is removing a "splinter."
Enjoy the week and remember to make the moment happen.
Maria
Get simplicity every day! Simply Put Together
If you didn't get to read my "Splinter" e-letter, sign up here.
_________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Christopher Robin to Pooh
A. A. Milne quotes (English Humorist, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, 1882-1956)
You are strong and can do what you need to do this week, even if it is removing a "splinter."
Enjoy the week and remember to make the moment happen.
Maria
Get simplicity every day! Simply Put Together
If you didn't get to read my "Splinter" e-letter, sign up here.
_________________________________________________________________
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Out Bag
Each week I will share a little blurb on an item that will help you save....time, money, stress.....simple stuff that works.
The Out Bag!
Keep a canvas bag by your entry. Fill it with anything that is headed out of the house. Library books, mail, things to return to friends. Whenever you head out the door, bring it along with you. As you are doing your regular errands, you will find it easy to "knock off" many of the items in your out bag, without much effort!
I use an oversized bag a friend once gave me. I love it, but would not use it as a handbag. The beautiful art on the bag inspires me and hides the miscellaneous items inside. But use whatever bag you choose. The canvas shopping bags you can buy at discount and grocery stores are great, usually about a buck and can be thrown in the washing machine!
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
Get Simply Put Together today click here
The Out Bag!
Keep a canvas bag by your entry. Fill it with anything that is headed out of the house. Library books, mail, things to return to friends. Whenever you head out the door, bring it along with you. As you are doing your regular errands, you will find it easy to "knock off" many of the items in your out bag, without much effort!
I use an oversized bag a friend once gave me. I love it, but would not use it as a handbag. The beautiful art on the bag inspires me and hides the miscellaneous items inside. But use whatever bag you choose. The canvas shopping bags you can buy at discount and grocery stores are great, usually about a buck and can be thrown in the washing machine!
Have a great week and remember to make the moment happen!
Maria
Get Simply Put Together today click here
Simplicity Quote of the Week
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Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.
Anonymous
Decide to take care of it today. See how free you feel when you take care of what needs to be done.
To purchase your own copy of Simply Put Together, click here.
Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.
Anonymous
Decide to take care of it today. See how free you feel when you take care of what needs to be done.
To purchase your own copy of Simply Put Together, click here.
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