Q & A time!

I am reaching out to you guys!

What questions do you have about simplifying your lives?

What products would you like reviewed?

Are there any services or online resources you love or would love to read more about?

Tell me!

image via weheartit.com

It's getting cold!

Do you know about Alice?

No not this, Alice...

This Alice!

Www.alice.com Is a wonderful resource for anyone looking for a little help in their shopping!

With the weather turning colder here, there are many days where I just don't want to leave my warm cozy house but I know I desperately need toilet paper or laundry soap etc..

With alice.com you can bookmark all of your favorite products and get the best prices on them, add them to your cart and have them shipped to your home with FREE SHIPPING, that's right...

FREE.

You can even tag your products and have them automatically sent to you on a specific date, weekly, monthly or whenever you need a re-order!

It's a great resource for simplifying your life, check it out today!

Holiday Cards

{image found via tinyprints.com, style- joyous contrast}

It's that time again!

Time to start thinking about your holiday cards!

I have some great and easy options that will make creating and sending unique holiday cards a snap.

One of my favorite places to create a unique and cute invite, announcement or card is

www.tinyprints.com

They have a great sale of 25% off of Holiday cards through 11/9 using the code hol25

Another great one is through a friend of mine, Vanessa Warren of

Butterfly Sparks

We used her for our holiday cards last year and I loved them! She has great prices and adorable items. She e-mails you a jpeg of your design and you can have them printed anywhere that prints pictures.

Another great option is Shutterfly, they have some great designs and they are printed through Shutterfly which makes it a one stop shop!

Shutterfly

Go out there and get creative!

Great new book!

I firmly believe in planing out your week before it even starts.

This includes grocery shopping, meal planning and even day to day to do lists.

Since finding out we were expecting,

I have been battling some serious morning ( read random times of day) sickness.

It has been hard for me to grocery shop because looking at food was gross and to do lists seemed endless since getting up meant nausea.

So for the past few months I have been pretty off my game.

As of last week I have been feeling much better and as that came I stumbled across

Double Delicious

It's the new book out from Jessica Seinfeld and it's wonderful. It is full of food that is actually easy to make and tasty as well! All of the recipes are loaded with veggies as well, some hidden and some in plain sight.

I plan on making the chicken enchiladas one night which include sweet potato puree!

You can find the book on amazon.com or in Costco which is where I got it!

Featured!

Today Simple Life is being featured on findmyorganizer.com !

You can check out the posting here

Be sure to check back this week for holiday decor ideas,

a great dinner recipe and my favorite new book!

Tidy Tuesday ( and a little catching up!)

Welcome again to Tidy Tuesday!

As I sit here and type this, my house is a mess, there are dishes piling up in the sink

and I have three pairs of boots lying next to my bed.

But I couldn't be happier.

We shared the last four days with our amazing friends

from California.

All four of us shared our tiny one bedroom apartment and the mess is

just proof of the amazing time we had.

I tried to clean the kitchen many times but to no avail.

So in honor of my messy house, and impending deep clean,

I thought I would share some of my favorite cleaning products with everyone.

I am really big on all natural cleaning agents, but some can be complete duds.

For a great all purpose cleaner I turn to Simple Neutral's "Strut Your Shine"..

You can find it by clicking this link

Cleaner

It not only smells wonderful, but kicks serious dirt and grime butt in your kitchen, bathroom and anywhere else you need to clean.

Being non toxic I can spray away and not be afraid of brain tumors!

My next favorite is the Swiffer Sweeper

I have wood floors throughout 90% of my home and they gather dust faster than anything!

The swiffer is super easy to use and picks up all of it, no problem.

They have a dry or a wet option for the cloths and they both work great.

My third and final favorite helpful cleaner is The Magic Eraser

It really is magic.

We have white walls with a really matte paint on them that scuffs really easily.

So to avoid having to repaint all the time I pull out the magic eraser. Takes the marks right off.

I also love to use it to clean the tub, the sinks, my stove and my fridge.

It cleans it all so easily and doesn't even need to be combined with any cleaners.

So there you have it!

Anyone out there have any really great cleaners that they love?

Tidy up friends!

Sweet things from Ikea

It's no secret.

I love Ikea.

What's not to love? It is perfectly organized, clean and they serve $1 frozen yogurt?

Win.

I entitled this post sweet things from ikea, and I mean it!

Here are my top 5 "sweet things" I found at Ikea that can help make your life more simple.

Coat rack!

At $29.99 this coat rack is affordable and adorable!

If black isn't the color you need for your home, this coat rack would look amazing painted any sort of bright color as well!

A glass jar!

There is endless uses for a great glass jar, this little beauty comes in three sizes and ranges in price from $2.99-$3.99 so you can buy as many as you need!

{ Idea: use them to store dry noodles, rice, or other dry pantry goods.

They are also great for off season eye shadow pods, a quick flower vase and even loose buttons!}

Magnetic Containers!

I am over the moon about these little guys. I first spotted them at my mother in laws house and knew I had to have them.

I use them to store sprinkles in for handy spur of the moment

I have to bake something right now!

moments.

But they are also useful for spices, office supplies, and anything else that will fit!

Cake Stand!

This little thing would look more than perfect gracing your table filled with sweet treats or fresh cheeses!

It's perfectly priced as well.. $19.99, can't beat that!

Drawer Compartmentalizer

This little fella is a lifesaver.

Keeps your make up drawer from getting cluttered and out of control, but also looking pretty.

So there you go!

Go get something sweet.

And a frozen yogurt.

Homemade...

Does the word homemade make you feel...

squeamish?

Overwhelmed?

Don't be!

As a big fan of The Pioneer Woman I can honestly say I am sometimes overwhelmed by her recipes.

That is until I tried her chocolate sheet cake.

I decided to make it into cupcakes, because cupcakes make the world better so why not?

The recipe was so easy and the cake was SO good.

The best chocolate cake ever

If you are looking for a simple, easy homemade chocolate cake, look no further!

Let me know how it goes!

Out and about!

My apologies for the lack of updates, I have been out and about!

Tomorrow there will be new and exciting things to read about here at Simple Life...

Stay Tuned!

Tidy Tuesday!

Welcome to Tidy Tuesday!

I have recently discovered Mabels Labels, and I am in love!

She sells labels for your clothing, shoes, bags, lunch boxes and everything in between!

If you or your little one is often losing things, or you have to keep track

of who owns what,

this is your solution!

My personal favorites are the household labels

Having all of my spices, ingredients and etc. labeled in my kitchen helps cooking and preparing meals go much smoother, and it looks so much nicer!

The clothing labels are designed to be washing machine safe and ready for any fabric.

If your child has allergies or special food needs, this is the perfect solution to send them with.

Make a label with their specific food or medicinal need and it eases a lot of the worry!

Mabels Labels is an affiliate of Simple Life, simply click on the logo to the right and you will be guided to their store!

Have fun!

Menu for the Week

I have had the great privilege and honor of working with Dawn from menufortheweek.com

She is a wonderful woman with a knack for developing and creating meal plans that will satisfy everyone in your family!

My family has been using meal plan for a while now, and not only does it help keep our food budget under control, but it allows me to shop once a week for everything I need.

She has offered 20% off to all of my readers if they book using the code

SIMPLELIFE

(enter the code when prompted at checkout)

Use the link to the right of the page, or simply follow the link!

Her subscriptions come 6 months for $25!

Please head over to her site now www.menufortheweek.com to get started!

fun and wacky ideas

The other day I was having a conversation with a girlfriend about

how to avoid blisters when wearing new shoes. She told me a friend of hers suggested cutting a

panty liner in half and sticking it to the inside of your shoe, brilliant!

So this lead me on a quest, to find more wacky items that can be used in different ways.

Here goes nothing..

Did you know?

You can clean up a cracked egg with salt?

Just sprinkle on, and wipe up!

You can use the sticky side of a post it to clean the inside of your computer keyboard?

Run it along those pesky cracks to pick up debris and dust!

You can keep your costume jewelry looking shiny with clean nail polish?

Brush it over the jewels and it will keep them shiny!

You can rub a dryer sheet over your hair, and your fly aways are gone!

Do you have any wacky ideas for everyday items?

Please share!

This week in organizing

Here are some of the top stories and articles on keeping your life simple from this week!

How to stock your pantry, around your families allergy needs

Get rid of those summer clothes, and make a difference!

Dealing with e mail overload, the new google priority inbox

A delicious, and easy pizza for a fun weekend evening

7 "secret" home remedies for your little ones

Enjoy your weekend!

Back to School

It's time for all those kiddies to get back to school, and for a lot of Mom's, this is a busy time!

I came across this freebie this week that I think a lot of Mom's will enjoy.

Notes for your little ones lunch box

It's important to remember to send your love with your kids as they head back to school.

They have had a full summer of your constant love and adoration,

now send some in their lunch pail with them!

Tidy Tuesday!

Welcome to Tidy Tuesday!

Each and every Tuesday I will be bringing you a tip to help you stay tidy in your everyday life!

Today's product is featured from KangaRoom

An amazing place with all sorts of fun organizing gadgets!

This is the Over the Door Organizer

It has been featured in O Magazine and also in Beauty's Spot

This little gadget will help keep your bathroom tidy, and your morning routine running smoothly.

Happy Tidy Tuesday!

And the winner is...

AMY!

" OH! MY! GOODNESS!

This would be SO helpful. talk about a woman needing organization... I work full time, have two boys, and live an hour away from my office. Time is at a premium and being able to get in and out of the grocery store quickly with little thought would be WONDERFUL!

pick me! pick me!"

Congratulations on your win Amy!

E. Mail me with the best address to send your prize to!

{Winner was chosen at random, be sure to check back daily for inspiration, and the first Friday of every month for more freebies! }

Freebie Friday!

The first Friday of every month is Freebie Friday!

Today's featured freebie friday product is by one of my favorite companies

Real Simple!

The "Time to Get" List is a constant in my home, and on my fridge.

It allows you to mark off the items you run out of and write down the extras you might need,

all while remaining on your refrigerator.

All you have to do is leave a comment below on why this would be helpful to you!

Deadline is Saturday at midnight, winner will be announced Monday morning... good luck!

Healthy Habits

As an avid vitamin taker and a regimented exerciser I am perfect at keeping my health in check.

Ok, the only check I need here is a reality check!

Keeping your health in line takes some work, and some organization.

My new found love is from an old love, moleskine.

They have developed a 240 page book to keep track of personal goals, exercise, doctors appointments, diet vitamins, new recipes and more.

I recommend keeping it in your kitchen next to your

vitamins so you can record what you take and when.

It has been so helpful in allowing me to see when I remembered to take my vitamins,

what my last exercise session was like and when the last time I drank my greens was

(Yikes, three weeks ago!)

This item can be found here and was featured here this month.

{ If the price makes you feel a little less than "well" stay tuned for a DIY version tomorrow!}

Grocery Shopping.. Made Simple!

Grocery shopping can easily become a stressful and overwhelming experience.

"What did I come here for? "

"Wow, those brownies look delicious!"

"Do I have tomatoes at home already, or do I need to buy some?"

Ever feel like this when you show up at the supermarket?

It doesn't have to be this way!

An easy way to keep track of your groceries, is to carry the Supermarket Smarty

Described as:

" Supermarket Smarty is an Eco-Friendly Healthy Grocery list that is dry erase and reusable. It has preprinted grocery categories that you can simply check off making planning your next trip to the market a snap!"

Some of the most amazing parts of this list are:

coupon pocket

dry erase retractable and refillable marker

meal planning insert

built-in magnifying lens perfect for reading

fine print on packaging and nutrition labels

At only $7.99 through September 30th, this is a must have..

Follow the onlineorganizing.com button to the right to purchase!

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Welcome!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to Simple Life!

My name is Katie, and my passion in life

is to make things beautiful, unique and wonderful all through the art of organization.

I grew up in sunny Southern California and am now awaiting the arrival of my first baby alongside my darling husband. 

I started Simple Life in order to teach others the art of organization

and to show them how being organized and prepared can help life become more fulfilling!

I wasn't always this way!

I grew up as a pack-rat, diagnosed at an early age with add, I was a child who struggled with

deadlines, cleaning and organizing. I was constantly procrastinating and

I believe my life suffered because of it.

The day I moved out onto my own I realized the benefits of being on top of

your life and being in control of everything you own.

I believe that when you are organized, put together and ready to take on everyday life,

that your life will be more fulfilling and much easier to enjoy!

As a Professional Organizer I am equipped to provide organizing services in everything

from remodeling the contents of your pantry, to organizing the details of your wedding.

The mission of Simple Life is this...

{Life doesn't need to be complicated. But sometimes it's the little things that get in the way of experiencing all that life has to offer. That's where I come in. As a professional organizer, I am ready to take on the clutter in your life: whether it's organizing your home, revitalizing your health, streamlining your office, or planning a celebration! Your life should be about YOU. So let me take care of the details.}

Thanks for stopping by!