Sweet Simplicity

Spring brings extra work with it

As I type this column, the weatherman is predicting 70-degree temperatures. Spring is finally making an appearance! As much as I love the long hours of daylight and the boost to my daily Vitamin D intake, the spring season brings a lot of extra work and worry. Spring...

March forward, nice and simple

I don’t know why, but March might just be my most challenging month of the year. The hope of snow is virtually faded, and spring is not yet here — and for me, that makes for a long and slightly unmotivating month. It also reminds me of the dreaded day three years ago...

Serve up a time-saver for dinner

You may find this hard to believe, but whether you love to cook or prefer to keep a nice stash of take-out menus, meal planning for your family can truly simplify your life in ways you never imagined. You know that question “what’s for dinner?” that you must answer...

Look for self-improvement in 2023

Welcome to the New Year! While many of us are still in post-holiday blues, January can be a season of happy beginnings and fresh starts. I always find myself in the mindset to make the changes that I neglected to make the previous 11 months of the year. Whether you...

Take your decorating up a notch

Haul out the holly, deck the halls and get ready for a whole lotta jolly! December is here, and the holiday season is here — whether we are prepared or not! Every season, I have grand plans to cover my house from floor to ceiling with a combination of twinkling...

Filling holiday void from family loss

Every year when the calendar turns to November and the countdown to the holidays begins, I seem to enter a particular season of thankfulness. From the time the leaves begin to change color, I enter what I affectionately call “Hallowthankmas” season, and it has always...

Stress-busters, time-savers are a must

I’m not sure how life gets so busy but no matter what I do, I feel like we are working more, playing less — and feeling the results of such an overscheduled existence with constant feelings of stress and chaos. While I love having a family to tote to various sports...

Organization washes out busy chaos

This summer went by so quickly I think if I blinked, I might’ve missed it! While we are embarking on my favorite series of seasons and the beloved (or dreaded depending on your perspective) “Hallowthankmas” series of holidays, September and the months to follow...

Tech aids for simplification

Did you know that the average American owns 10 electronic devices? I am pretty sure my family — especially my tech-savvy teenage children — each exceed the average for this particular statistic! While many electronic devices and tech advances may seem overwhelming in...

Slow down and embrace summer

Is there anything better than summer? Between the fresh fruits and vegetables that abound at our local produce stands to the wonderfully long stretches of daylight, I am pretty sure there is nothing better than summer. One of the things I also love about summer is the...