SIMPLE LIVING // SIMPLE LIVING. Living a simple yet fulfilling life.

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, Daily, REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

That Summer Feeling

long weekend vibes beach carrying throwing rocks beach side fun what's your summer bucket list? #summerbucketlist The long weekend in May always has me itching for summer days, basically just more days like long weekend days. And now that the long weekend is over, oh hello Tuesday that feels like a Monday! I’m thinking maybe the best way to get over this long weekend hangover is to just go on and look ahead to summer — since we are all already looking that way anyways, am I right?

I like to be rather anal retentive about our summer plans, our summer bucket list usually gets entered into my sunrise calendar (best calendar app by the way) so I have a loose plan for each-and-every summer day. That way my anal retentive brain can a)make sure the bucket list items actually get checked off, b)everyday is just equally awesome and c)I can figure out how to fit in my work schedule, in-between all the fun somewhere.

I added “make summer bucket list” to my weeks plans, but thought I’d ask you all what’s on your list — off the top of your head! I can tell you that tan my bright like the sunlight legs and feet will be on that list and probably some more rock throwing and beach hanging, because well obviously.

What’s on your summer bucket list? Shoot me with your ideas!

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, Daily, REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

Those Times When You Only Have One Free Hand

sandwich hands | when you have one free hand to hold 99.9 times out of ten (I know my math is a tad flawed) I don’t always have two free hands to hold my kids two little hands. There are many times in the day when the moment calls for me to hold my kids hands; when stepping into the subway, crossing a busy street, but we live in the city so in-reality “many moments” mostly means all moments. There are also many times in the day when the same moment leaves me with only one free hand, sometimes no free hands but usually I can wiggle at least one free when I’m stuck. Does this happen to you?
My bag of choice is already a backpack, and the reason is pretty much to make the whole two hands free thing, more of a possibility. But still, sometimes one hand is all I got and I have two little kids hands to hold — so the math just doesn’t work.

So we developed this system/game, called “sandwich hands“. It’s basically exactly what you see, a sandwich of hands — I just call out “sandwich hands!” when I need two hands but only have one of my own to give. It’s only good for short distances (crossing the street, getting into subways, making your way through a small but dense crowd, etc) and it often results in some kiddo bickering (but really what doesn’t?) mostly about who get’s to be the cheese or the bread.

The next time you only have one free hand to hold (or maybe you have two free hands but need to hold 4 little hands?) try “sandwich hands”. PS. I went on a field trip with Harlow’s class the other day and sandwich hands, also worked like a charm with the kiddos I was taking care of.

plus also. How To Make It Through The Day When You’ve Had Zero Sleep + Big City Living, Even If You Don’t Live In A Big City

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, Daily, SIMPLE LIVING

Mind Space / 02

mind-space-02 I am not one of those people who can sit calmly when the red bubble hovers with any number above that inbox icon. Having a full inbox (with read or unread messages, doesn’t really matter) is a total brain suck. Emails, the administrative task of answering them and clearing out your inbox is usually not the task that makes it to the top of your to do list on its own. I mean, do you like having a clean, organized inbox? Probably. But do you like actually cleaning it and organizing it? Probably not. So if you work from home, work in an office or just have a messy personal inbox that makes you crazy — here are a few tips/life hacks for taking control of that beast and gifting yourself a bit more mind space.

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, Daily, The Lazy Girls Guide

The Lazy Girls Guide to iPhone Photos

Lazy Girls Guide because; who has time for that anyways, short and sweet is always best and it shouldn’t be complicated it’s not rocket science. Basically my reasoning for the name and most things in life—though the name is not crazy original, it fits too well not to add it to the H+H line up.
For all the reasons listed above, The Lazy Girls Guide will hopefully become a regular occurrence around here—covering a wide range of topics I personally want to know more about but just don’t have time to learn rocket science. If you come around here often you know I like life to be very uncomplicated, but also enjoy it when it’s perfect (or my version of perfect)—which I assume you do too, if you are coming back.
And hey, iPhone photos are no different so here is my really quick (3 step) lazy guide to getting great photos with the iPhone. READ MORE

Filed Under: SIMPLE LIVING

Clear Your Mind Space / 01

clear your mind space 01 When I have a full to do list, things that I know I need to do, tasks that overwhelm me at the thought, or circumstances I just can’t get out of my mind they literally drag me down. Even the smallest tasks sometimes take up highly sought after real estate in my brain (really it’s expensive real estate). In order to get to the important and often really creative tasks on my list (or mind) I need to cross off the smaller ones so I can gain some focus back.

In an effort to help everyone clear out the dust, the negative, the often put off items and the sometimes peace of mind items that are taking up precious brain space, there is a new series for that. Most likely these posts will be short and pretty simple things we (because ME TOO) can do or start over the week or weekend, a long list would just add to the clutter – no?

Make Actionable To-Do Lists

Start with 3 lists: Home, Work and Dreams.
Write tasks you need to get done under each, make each point short and actionable. Each point should be a single step in a long task, instead of the whole high level task – make it easy to cross off/give yourself a break. The simple act of cross things off lists, frees up a bit of mind space and it gives you “yes I’m flipping awesome” to move forward and do more.

Break down those 3 lists (even more): Into a Weekly or Daily list (whatever works best for you) where you spread out the actionable tasks you just wrote down, over days and weeks.
Make a plan and try to stick to it. Many times there are items that move from list to list day after day (or week after week), till you can cross it off. But at least it’s moving? Every night go and cross things off and scribble a quick list of things that need to get down for the next day. Make sure to include dream things, don’t wait till your to-do’s are free and clear to start those – just add them in, those are easily as important as the day-to-day tasks.

Many might say this all falls under “anal retentive list making” and hey, they probably aren’t wrong. But guess what, it works – well it helps keep things focused rather than thinking about all the 10 million things you need to do. The act of writing something down, gets it out of your mind and helps to clear some space. Right now my mind is congested and sick, so hopefully this makes some sense!

Figured I’d start the week with a bang, Happy Monday! What do you guys think? Looking forward to some tips to clear your mind space? Do you have anything special you do that would be a great addition? I always love your input.

You should also check out: The Year to Take Care of You, How to Catch Optimist Syndrome, How to Make Your Mornings Better and How to Get Yourself Outta a Funk.

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, Daily, SIMPLE LIVING

HOW TO MAKE YOUR MORNINGS BETTER

Similar to the How To Make Mornings With Kids Run Smoothly post, except this one is all about you. Since this whole year is all about you-ish, right? If your morning is better, everyone else in the house will at the very least have a pretty great head start on the right morning track too – unless there happens to be some wrong side of the bed waking up, then you’re probably just a little screwed. Before starting I should add I am naturally a morning person, BUT even if I wasn’t I think these things might help me to like the morning maybe even a teeny tiny bit more, but really what do I know.

Heart and Habit

That Summer Feeling

Those Times When You Only Have One Free Hand

Mind Space / 02

The Lazy Girls Guide to iPhone Photos

Clear Your Mind Space / 01

Make Actionable To-Do Lists

HOW TO MAKE YOUR MORNINGS BETTER

DAMN, THESE POSTS ARE GOOD!

CULTIVATING YOUR
SIMPLE, STYLISH AND
CONTENT EVERY DAY.

Make Actionable To-Do Lists

DAMN, THESE POSTS ARE GOOD!

CULTIVATING YOUR SIMPLE, STYLISH AND CONTENT EVERY DAY.

CULTIVATING YOUR
SIMPLE, STYLISH AND
CONTENT EVERY DAY.