What I Learned from the Ideal Week Exercise (And I Didn't Even Do that Much of It)

I got intrigued about the "ideal week" when I heard Jess Connolly (2025) talk about it on her podcast. What was this ideal week, and was there any way to craft such a week for myself? My time sure felt out of my control, and if I could do anything to infuse some joy back into my life, I wanted to do it!

After some Google searching and blank template finding, I finally discovered an article on this so called "ideal week." I am not sure who coined the idea, but I skimmed the article at Full Focus and printed out the template (Hyatt, 2024). The idea I took away was to block out my week and then try to make myself more efficient. Well, I only got so far as to block out my work days and commute time. On a 5 am to 9 pm schedule, that left very little margin. (I get up at 4:30 or 5 am and got to bed between 9 and 9:30 pm.) What stood out to me, though, was that commute time. If I had to commute, what could I do with the time?

The first thing I discovered was that I could use the drive home to call my parents. I am a routine girl, but after my parents moved out of state, I had not found a new regular time to connect with them. Enter the commute: not the best time for a call, but better than nothing. 

I also realized that some days, I have power about how long that commute is, at least in terms of minutes. I like to get to the office at 8 am, and sometimes I have to do so. Traffic is thick at those times, which makes the commute longer. Some days, however, I have choices: I can go in late and make up the time later, or I can work from home and commute at an off-peak hour to save time. A few days of less fighting traffic reduces at least some of my stress.

Besides that commute, I don't really have a lot of other things to move around right now. Sure, I could probably optimize my work day a little bit, but overall, my life is just one of wake up and attack the day, except where I create my own margin. That is what the ideal week exercise showed me: that I have a little more control and power over my time than I exercise. Time is not the master, I am (and hopefully, Christ in me).

The optimal time to do things rarely comes along. The second best time is the time I have. I can play. I can rest. I can work. Rarely can I do all of these at the same time. I can make the best of the time I have, though. It's not ideal, but it's the deal I have, and I have to make or break it.

References:

Connolly, J. (Host). (2025, February 2). Episode 67: Hobby girls. [Audio podcast episode]. In The Jess Connolly Podcast. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jessconnolly/episodes/Episode-67-Hobby-Girls-e2u8frg

Hyatt, M. (2024, December 12). How to better control your time by designing your ideal week. Full Focus. https://fullfocus.co/ideal-week/

The Simplified Life (Year in Review)

I set out to simplify this year. I would say I have done anything but. It is not that I have purposely complicated things, but rather that this year has been full, very full. Still, I think that starting with this intention, and revisiting it each month has been helpful. I did prioritize more. I did enjoy more. I did live more. That's important!

As I wrap up this year, I settle on the competing phrases: Less is more, and sometimes more is less. Focusing on a few fewer things has been helpful. Sometimes having more things has helped free up more brain space. I am thankful for luxuries like integrated Apple products and AirPods that let me multi-task (even if that is not simplest for my brain). I realize how often I get caught up in things that don't matter (like those blasted monthly challenges in DuoLingo-I say I won't do them, and then spend hours getting sucked right back in). At the end of this year, I don't think I leave so much with a simpler life, but hopefully a more meaningful one, and that is what I want for 2025: more meaning, more passion, more fervor, more faithfulness to God and to the people around me.

To all who helped support me this year, thank you! To those who really matter and help me focus on the eternal, thank you! To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who did anything but the simple thing of incarnating Himself to come to earth and die on the cross to make a home for me in heaven, my debt is eternal.

If you want to read through all the months of my journey, I have shared the month-by-month links below:

The Simplified Life (An Update)

The Simplified Life (Month 2 Update)

The Simplified Life (Month 3 Update)

The Simplified Life (Month 4)

The "Maybe" Simplified Life

The Simplified Life (Vacation Edition)

The Simplified Life (July)

The Simplified Life (August)

The Simplified Life (September)

What's Simplifying My Life (October)

When More is Simpler (November Update)

When More is Simpler (November Update)

More with Less is the title of a cookbook. Sometimes simplicity does mean doing more with less. On the flip side,  sometimes having more is simpler. Take for instance, this past weekend. I traveled for three days, and each of those three days, I was in a different place. I had a small suitcase set out for packing, but I quickly realized that the space was limiting. I asked my husband for the bigger suitcase and just started throwing stuff in. More space meant less need to make decisions. Win.

When I initially checked the forecast, I thought it would be cold. When I checked it again, it looked warmer. I just added t-shirts to the stack of long sleeves already in the suitcase. More options meant less need to buy or borrow new clothes on the trip. It also allowed me to feel more comfortable in the variable temperatures I experienced.

I took a lot of snacks with me. I accepted more snacks from my mom and dad when I stopped by their house. Did I really need all those snacks? I did not think so. Did things work out where I ate most of the snacks? Yes. Although granola bars and other snacks do not a good diet make, they did help assuage my hunger when I lacked other options.

Do I always want to overpack for trips? No. Lots of times, this incurs extra fees and extra responsibilities. In the case of this trip, having more simplified my life and gave me a better trip, and I am grateful for it!

What's Simplifying My Life (October)

Kendra Adachi of The Lazy Genius Podcast has a segment every now and then called, "What's Saving My Life." In this edition of "The Simplified Life," I am sharing some things that have simplified my life, not things to buy per se, but uses for things I already had, and/or practices that are currently serving me. In no particular order, here they are:

Repurposing the ice cream scoop to clean out a pumpkin before baking [not my hack, but one from this roasted pumpkin recipe from The Minimalist Baker (Shultz, 2019).

A can opener that opens (thanks to my husband fixing ours)

The big IKEA bags for carrying in groceries: dump in as many bags as it will hold to reduce trips

Letting my husband find products when I do need to buy them (which saves me from the Amazon review rabbit hole)

Mesh laundry bags for anything that doesn't get dried (These make it easy to pull those items out of the load, rather than trying to remember which delicates I put into a load. It also makes it easier for my husband to do all of our laundry if that is the case for the day.)

Putting my entire running hydration pack into the fridge the night before I plan to use it (less time fiddling with it in the morning)

Overall keeping fewer food items on hand. It just makes eating and cooking easier!

I could probably go on, but let's keep this post simple, shall we? Please share below about what's currently simplifying your life. Let's learn from each other.

References:

Adachi, K. (Host). (2016-present). The Lazy Genius. [Audio podcast]. https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/lazy

Shultz, D. (2019). How to roast a pumpkin. The Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-roast-pumpkin/

The Simplified Life (September)

Sometimes, simple does not mean minimal. Sometimes simplicity has a cost. This month has been a case study in that.

For example, I recently decided to invest in a good pair of shoes for work. I had been reusing old running shoes as work shoes, as they aren't really that worn out, the foam has just compressed to the point of discomfort while running. Doing this worked, but only if I alternated regularly between pairs, so as to avoid foot pain from the lack of cushion. I got to a point where all the pairs in my work rotation were really bugging me though, and my husband encouraged me to buy one new pair, in a brand recommended by coworkers. Man did they cost a lot, but so far, they feel good! The purchase of new footwear reduced the number of shoes on our shoe rack (clutter), as I recycled the old pairs through which I had been rotating. Additionally, this purchase eliminated the decision fatigue of daily shoe choice. My comfort level has improved, which reduces body strain and fatigue. The weight of life overall feels lighter.

In my running journey thus far, I have primarily preferred to use fruit pouches for long run fuel. They are less expensive than gels, healthier, and easier to buy at the grocery store. After making a splurge purchase on running gels and trying them out, however, I am hooked. Running gels are much more concentrated, and take up less space, meaning I can transport them more easily. They give me energy fast, versus slow. (On the run, versus in real life, I want fast, rather than slow digesting fuel.) Yes, the gels cost double the amount of fruit pouches, but they are making my running life more enjoyable. My runs are also more productive, in terms of performance goals.

On that note, the cheapest place to buy gels for running is yes, Amazon. Other places have the same price, but require shipping fees. I considered an Amazon order, but realized it would mean buying flavors of gels I did not like. Would I save money doing so? Yes. But would it simplify life? No, not really. I would be complicating life by trying to force down fuel I don't like. So, I paid the extra $7.95 shipping cost and ordered from The Feed to get just the gels I wanted, and none of the ones I did not. Minimal cost? No. An easier, more enjoyable life? Yes.

I made yet another purchase to solve the problem of running gels littering the counter. I could spend my time continually rearranging the bags that came from The Feed, or buy an organizer. I chose the latter. Yes, it is another thing in our home, but one I can use for multiple purposes (eg organizing other kitchen paraphernalia, if not in a season where I have tons of gels lying about). Win on that front.

In terms of multiple purchases, I have discovered that my husband and I can use the same shampoo/conditioner (that is, I can use his product). It has a neutral scent, and as long as I add conditioner, it works. Why buy another product and add to the overwhelm in the shower? He's good. I'm good. Less products purchased there.

On the subject of multiple products to do one thing, I use lotion to remove eye makeup. Is it meant for that? No. Do I really care? No. In another life, might I buy a product specifically made to remove eye makeup and enjoy it? Yes. But right now, I am prioritizing my running, and my money and efforts are going there. While I may not be simplifying the number of things in my house as I invest more in more running journey, I am simplifying my priorities.

I continue to try to reduce decision fatigue by making decisions immediately. For example, when I got my hair cut this month, I scheduled my next appointment. Yes, I might overthink it later (wonder if I need it and want to spend the money), but at least it's done for now and I don't have to monitor my hair to figure out when to schedule next. I just have my haircut on a schedule. Rinse and repeat.

Did I spend a lot of money this month? Yes. Does my life feel more organized as a result? Yes. I've been choosing my battles, and this month, order mattered, so that's where my money went.

The Simplified Life (August)

Life is just never really that simple, is it? I have realized this month that some things are just about as simple as I want them. Still, my brain margin for other things is small, meaning I just have to simplify overall.

We only have two sets of towels and sheets, and we alternate between them. It does meant that these items get more use and wear out more quickly, but we also require less storage for them. I like it this way. I have a basic "uniform" for work of a t-shirt (short or long-sleeved) and jeans. That limits my choices. One day, I go to another location and actually have a work uniform shirt. I wear that shirt with the same black pants every day. I will need to change to longer black pants for winter, but still, it is an easy swap. We have less in our closets as a result of these lifestyle habits.

While I have not done such a great job at simplifying pantry stores lately, I still look for recipes that include ingredients we already have, or use regularly. I also substitute ingredients like crazy. This drives my husband nuts, as it can make cooking more difficult, but on the grocery buying and storing fronts, it is simpler.

My parents are moving and offered us lots of stuff. I took away only one box. It was all I thought I could go through, and having that limit was good. I scanned most of the papers I wanted and tossed a bunch more. I have what memories I can keep stored in my brain. Some of the rest of it just cannot matter anymore.

I think that is a lesson of life: that not everything matters, and that things that matter at one stage of life don't matter at another. So here's to continuing to focus on what really matters, simplified life or not.

The Simplified Life (July)

Whew! It's been a month. I don't know if it's the summer heat, or what, but the past few weeks have felt like a slog. Nonetheless, we keep pressing on.

I have felt particularly decision-fatigued this month, and have sought to routinize some of the decisions I make regularly. For example, since I now hold the "weekend plan" card for our household, I came up with a basic structure for the four weeks of the month: a craft, a social event, going out to eat, and hanging out at home. The specific weeks we do each activity vary, but now I do not need to reinvent the wheel for date night. I just choose from my "menu" of options.

Fair Play (2020) is not exactly simplifying life, but it is helping us communicate more clearly about household duties. It also helps us track them. That is simplifying in a way.

After reading the book Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel (2020), I have thought a lot about "completing the cycle." I do not always do this, but I am trying to focus on one thing at a time. Sometimes that bites me in that I get hyperfocused on a task and get stuck in it, which has negative consequences. (For example, my body hurt terribly after I sat too long at my computer working in a project.) Focusing on one thing at a time does help me simplify the things in my brain. It also helps me feel less frazzled.

Single tasking supposedly increases enjoyment of activities, too. [I read about this in a Greater Good article (Suttie, 2024)]. I am not good at single tasking, especially at night, but maybe that is an area for future simplification and growth.

All in all, simplification, for me, has come to represent prioritization and deciding what is meaningful to me. That changes with the seasons. What it means next month might be different than this one. We shall see.

Reference:

Bogel, A. (2020). Don't overthink it: Make easier decisions, stop second-guessing, and bring more joy to your life. Baker Books.

Rodsky, E. (2020). The fair play deck: A couple's conversation deck for prioritizing what's important. Clarkson Potter.

Suttie, J. (2024, July 9). How being distracted by lead to overindulgence. Greater Good.  https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_being_distracted_may_lead_you_to_overindulge

The Simplified Life (Vacation Edition)

The big event of our past month was our vacation. Although not simple, we did take some steps to simplify that time. Choosing to cruise was one of them. Once we purchased the cruise package, all we had to do was get to the airport. We even chose to simplify that process, booking a ride in an autonomous Way-mo car instead of trying to navigate public transportation with two backpacks and three suitcases. We lost some autonomy by letting the cruise line manage our travels, but we also gained some freedom. That decision was right for us, this time.

I thought about (and wanted) to buy new clothes for the cruise, but I wondered, "And then what would I do with them?" I have worked this year to decrease my clothing inventory to what I will readily wear. (I still have more than I need.) I looked through my closet and found that my running clothes could work as lounge wear, and I still like some of the dresses bought for my for previous cruises. I found it fun and nostalgic to pack those outfits again. Guess what? I still liked wearing them!

I tried to pack less this cruise, but I still overpacked some. That was after simplifying by removing some items when we discovered that the suitcase was overweight. Oh well. Live and learn.

I considered buying some specialty products for the cruise, but in the end, I decided that what we had worked. I could try to use up the face sunscreen I had. Spray sunscreen could work for everything else. When we got back, I had almost run out of my face sunscreen, and needed to buy more. I got some sport sunscreen, as it seemed like it would be good for sweaty summer running. I considered buying something else for everyday, but one product will do it.

We have eaten a lot from the freezer since coming back. I planned it that way, as I knew I would have less time to prepare. I bought a lot of boxes of pasta during a sale, but I bought them intentionally for the next few recipes in the (Good Housekeeping Family Italian Cookbook). That simplifies things in that it gives me several dinners for my future meal plan.

As I have written before, I do not think I will ever have (or maybe even want), a simplified life. As Kendra Adachi (2020) says in her book, The Lazy Genius, I can decide what matters. That can lead to a simplified life, and a life centered around what is important in this season. At this point, that is what I am going for.

Reference:

Adachi, K. (2020). The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace what matters, ditch what doesn't, and get stuff done. Waterbrook.

The "Maybe" Simplified Life

Our schedule has been anything but simple this month. With big celebrations, family visits, and lots of social engagements, there has been a lot of not even being at home. Still, I labor towards the goal of simplification, or at the least, prioritization.

I wanted to be present with family when they visited us, so I simplified food by prepping ahead and freezing. That led to more complexities on the front side (planning, shopping, packaging, etc.), but less in the moment, as I needed only to thaw and reheat to feed our guests.

I have had a lot of random ingredients I ended up overbuying. Since I still want to zero sum budget extraneous grocery items, I have ended up cooking big batches of the same recipe until the ingredient is gone. Sure, it is not the most creative use of ingredients, but it simplifies things. Win.

I still find myself overthinking things, whether menus or meal plans, or daily exercise, or scheduling. I am trying to stick with original decisions as much as possible (eg when it comes to meal choices) and actually listen to my intuition (eg with scheduling) instead of squashing it. That is not exactly a simple process, but it focuses on what matters.

My husband has finished school, which both simplifies and complicates things. He has more time, but that means more choices about what to do. It makes his activities a little more various and hard to predict (not like school and homework were predictable, either). It also makes my duties and responsibilities a little less clear in the home.

As another month passes, do I have a simpler life? Maybe, maybe not. I am learning that life ebbs and flows, and that I constantly need to adjust to focus on what is important. For May, that was family and celebration. What will June bring? We shall see.

The Simplified Life (Month 4)

After months of working at this, I do not think I am actually going to get to a simplified life, or even a minimalist life. I just want to simplify so that I can enjoy the life I have. I continue to work towards that goal.

In Our Home:

I go through spurts of getting rid of stuff. For now, I am piling it up to donate. I try not to contemplate items once I remove them. If I get nostalgic, I will want them back.

I recently weeded out and donated more paper books to our little free library. As a general rule, I now read e-library books. Paper books are great, but they require carrying, which means I read them less. Paper books I keep take up space at home. We have a small home, so I need to keep paring down, rather than building up. My library is one area in which that is fairly easy to do.

In the Kitchen:

I continue to try to pare down my pantry stores. I am realizing that, since I always like making new recipes, staples need to be minimal. No use stocking up on stuff I do not know I will use. Eggs, flour, milk, fruit, those I will use. Other stuff, I need to buy as I go.

While I like to make special breakfasts on the weekend, that has not been in the cards lately. What has been in the cards is Reese's mixes. Yes, mixes. My husband really likes Reese's chocolate, and we have been on a mission to try each and every new Reese's product. Since Reese's now makes breakfast coffee cake and muffin mixes, that has been the recipe for weekend breakfasts.

As I empty out pantry stores, I am discovering that I have too many storage receptacles. (Think the Costco peanut butter jars that are great for storage, until there are 12 empties lined up on the counter.) Therefore, I tossed some of the empties. I can also save more if I really need them.

I was making and freezing halves of recipes, to give us variety. At this point, that is just more work. If the pasta recipe feeds us for five days straight, no bother. I just won't cook for the week. Maybe this is not ideal, but it is working for us right now.

In the Realm of Personal Goals:

Having multiple goals was not working for me. Each month, I pick three things to work on, and I just have to let the rest go. I am also working to make SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (Boorgard, 2023). This month, I wanted to read seven books. That was not happening organically, so I moved to dividing the book's pages between the days of the week. Seven-hundred pages? Read 100 pages a day. It is not great to have to set goals like that, but they work.

Pat's Run went great, but I know I cannot do all the things. While I would like to run longer or do more workouts sometimes, I have to fit exercise into the time I have. If I run late getting out the door to start m exercise routine, that means I run shorter. I win some. I lose some.

In Relationships:

I stopped sending birthday cards about two years ago. I like celebrating people's birthdays, but writing is hard for me with my dystonia, so I stopped. I send texts or e-mails instead. A time has progressed, I have sent less and less snail mail. I send, "Thank you," texts or e-mails. I let gift messages sent with gifts be the cards. Hopefully people know I love and care about them. I'm just doing less.

My husband is getting ready to celebrate a big personal and professional accomplishment. I had big ideas, like taking photos and sending out announcements. None of that is happening. We are just celebrating with our parents and I purchased a special experience for him afterward. That is probably about all we will do.

Conclusion:

A simple life? I probably won't ever have it. I continue to work towards simplifying the life I have, though. I really do want to enjoy this one life God has given me to live!

Reference:

Boogard, K. (2023, December 26). How to write SMART goals. Atlassian. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals

Lent 2024

I didn't write much about Lent this year. It's not because I didn't do it, but because I simplified. Intensive, well-thought out fasts are good, but I have a tendency to feel like I always need to go bigger and better. This year wasn't the year for that. I went simple and small, engaging in fasting from two things from which I have fasted before: chocolate and Instagram. At first it was hard, as I usually indulged in both of these several times a day. Eventually, though, it just became force of habit.

The goal of fasting is supposed to be to focus on Christ. Honestly, I'm not sure I did that. I just simplified my life a little bit. Did that give me more time and space? Yes, and no. I still found myself wanting comfort food, and I sought it out. I still scrolled to zone out, albeit Facebook, news, and podcasts instead of Instagram. Basically, I am not sure fasting made much of an impact.

As I break that fast and introduce these things back into my life, though, can it increase my appreciation for Jesus? Will the joy of them remind me to joy in Jesus? I hope so, but we shall see....

The Simplified Life (Month 3 Update)

Y'all, life is anything but simple over here! Many people have told me to let more things go, but I just can't, or won't. Here's what I have been doing, though:

Continuing to pare down my food stores--

It taxes my executive functioning to constantly keep track of ingredients and try to keep them from going bad. Therefore, I keep trying to use more of them up. The more I use up, the more I can just cook from scratch, deciding once (a la The Lazy Genius), what to do with the next ingredients I buy. Though I value efficiency and saving money, I am also sometimes spending more to buy what I need, or closer to what I need, rather than the bulk version that is cheaper by unit. I am also trying to buy more multi-purpose than single use items (eg Greek yogurt that can work in several recipes versus sour cream that only works for one.) All of this means I can zero-sum budget by pantry more quickly, and keep things more fresh.

I am finding some joy return to cooking. If I have got to do it, might as well enjoy it! This month, I have made a lot of gourmet grilled cheese. It's been fun. It's been fresh, and it has used up more of my stashes. Win all around!

Simplifying dates--

I love a good adventure, and I love my husband and enjoy spending time with him. In this season, though, intense, complicated dates just aren't for us. Rather, our dates have be short, simple, and meaningful. We have to make use of the time that we have and make it quality, because quantity sure isn't here right now. Lately, that has looked like taking 20-30 minute walks around town, trying out a new pretzel shop, and even running errands together. As my husband says, time together is what counts!

And that's a wrap on this month. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Please feel free to share in the comments section!

The Simplified Life (Month 2 Update)

I am a little past month two on trying to live a more simplified life, but as my nana would say, "Que sera, sera" (whatever will be, will be). In terms of simplicity, I mostly find myself prioritizing more simplicity with cooking. It is a big part of my "job" at home, so it makes sense.

Several years ago, after listening to The Lazy Genius podcast, I started working through cookbooks, rather than googling for recipes. It decreases time and decision fatigue in men planning by a ton. Don't get me wrong. I still like recipe blogs and I do google recipes, but I do it less for our overall meal plan. Simplicity. I continue to do this now. Our main cookbooks now are:

Easy Vegetarian Slow Cooker Cookbook: 125 Fix-and-Forget Vegetarian Recipes by Rockridge Press

Good Housekeeping Family Italian Cookbook:185 Trattoria Favorites to Bring Everyone Together by Good Housekeeping

The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Fast & Healthy Meals by Laurel Randolph

Rise and Run:Recipes, Rituals and Runs to Fuel Your Day: A Cookbook by Shalene Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky

As I mentioned last month, I am cooking more and more in big batches. We eat some and freeze some, and then rotate in the frozen stuff again later. It's not new variety, but it's variety. 

I am seeking to do something akin to zero budgeting when I buy special ingredients: plan to use up all of them. Sometimes that means making even bigger batches of things. Sometimes it means finding multiple recipes that will use up all of the thing. While more complicated in the beginning, in the end, it leads to simplicity, because I am not tracking an extra item and its potential spoilage. 

I am trying to use up leftovers, too. It's not my favorite, but having too many leftovers, even frozen, means complication over simplicity.

I enjoy a good sale and saving money, but I am trying not to stock up so much. As things currently stand, we can find most things in the grocery store. I really stockpiled during COVID, and I pray I can keep away from needing to continue to do that.

Simplicity does bite me sometimes, like when we run out of things, or I am forced to pay full price for something that was on sale earlier. Oh well. Even simplicity comes at a cost.

Those are the main updates for now. Already into this next month, and we will see what the Lord holds in it.

The Simplified Life (An Update)

You know that word I chose for the year? (Simplify. Yes, it's also a form of my blog title.) I am realizing it has a lot more nuance than I thought. When I chose it, I imagined simplifying, paring down, doing less. I am realizing I don't really want to do that, or at least all of that. As of now, simplifying is looking more like prioritizing what is really important.

I like variety, really, I do! When I read about people eating the same breakfast every day, the inner me revolts (Becker, n.d.). Sure, I eat varieties of the same breakfast most of the time, but I also like to switch things up! When I read about minimalism and think about paring down, I get it, but I also don't want to do it. There are a lot of little used things that bring me great joy when I do use them (think bundt and doughnut pans in the kitchen), and I want to keep them. I have also come to the conclusion that some splurge buys are worth it, like random new flavors of things, which are totally a gimmick, but bring me joy, and little holidays things that just enhance the mood. [Thanks, Hungry Runner girl (2024) for reminding that "novelty can enhance our moods."] I guess, at least for right now, the minimalism version of simplifying is not for me.

So what am I doing? I am trying to prioritize. I'm trying to stop doing things that feel like have-tos, but really aren't. For example, I like doing a lesson of DuoLingo every day to keep my brain sharp, but why do I have to keep up with the quests? They just eat up my time and make me angsty. Next! I am also trying to reduce items in my fridge and pantry, not to get rid of variety, but to limit it so that it is less overwhelming. In terms of cooking, I am making larger batches of things and freezing them. This gives us variety, with a little less work. (Thank you, husband, for buying us a chest freezer and being willing to eat frozen and reheated food.) I am also trying to make less recipes that require me to buy unique ingredients. When I do buy those ingredients, I am trying to have a plan for using them up. Again, this results in less overwhelm and decision fatigue for me.

In terms of my closet, I am not trying to pare down to a capsule wardrobe. I have some single, or rarely used items that bring me great joy! I am trying to work through wearing everything in my closet, though. There are a lot of pieces that probably have neutral value and aren't needed (eg t-shirts), and when I find those, I am trying to set them aside so that I can consider getting rid of them. Things I have discovered? That though I have a lot of leggings and yoga pants, I have already worn them all, multiple times! Having less would just necessitate more frequent laundry. No thanks!

What will this journey towards a simplified life look like by year's end? I truly don't know. Whatever comes, may I be receptive to the Lord and what He has to teach me!

References:

Baron, J. (2024, January 26). Friday favorites! Hungry runner girl. https://hungryrunnergirl.com/2024/01/friday-favorites-259.html#

Becker, J. (n.d.). You eat less variety than you think. Embrace it. Becoming minimalist. https://www.becomingminimalist.com/meals/

Simplify.

I am not usually one for "Word of the Year" quizzes. Yes, I take them, and yes, I often pick a word for the year (or month, or day), but I'm not usually one to just take the word I get from a quiz and use it as my own. This year is different. When I did the word of the year quiz from Dayspring, that word fit, and I am running with it. Or maybe I should say, I am pondering it.

Twenty twenty-three was a year of hard stuff, for me, for my family, and for my friends. While I like challenges and proving to myself that I can do hard things, right now, it seems like life itself is hard enough. I am (for right now) kind of over forcing more hard stuff. I just want to be present, to focus on what matters, and to enjoy life. 

I have a few races on the calendar for 2024. I am training for them. How hard remains to be seen. We have a vacation scheduled for the summer. I look forward to these things, but I am trying not to over invest in them. I just want to be present here and now.

Challenges are good. Doing hard things is good. Right now, though, I'm simplifying. What that means and how far it goes remains to be seen. God knows, and I rest in that.

The Best Day

Sometimes I have a day I didn't know I needed. Saturday was that day.

As I headed out the door for my long run, the tag I put to help differentiate shoes caught my eye. "Live joyfully," it said. I thought, "Yes, that's what I want to do this season." Whether it was a Holy Spirit conviction, an intention (or both), I thought, "It's going to be a good day."

We had breakfast a little late, but my husband fixed pancakes. I REALLY like pancakes, so I could not complain. After breakfast, we chatted about priorities and ordered our Christmas cards. Then we headed out for shopping.

It takes a little bit to get from place to place in the city, but it felt like we had time. I tried on about four pairs of shoes at Big 5 Sporting Goods before picking a pair. With a coupon, they only cost $16. Woohoo! For walking/work shoes, these should do me just fine.

Walmart was crowded, but with my husband pushing the cart, it felt less arduous. We scored some things we needed (like shoe insoles $5 off because my mom gave me a coupon and another pair discounted for torn packaging) and some we didn't (sparkly nail polish and Christmas pajamas). We bought some gifts to contribute to a family in need. We considered more Christmas lights for our home (but ultimately decided to wait on them). We looked for some things we did not find, but they did not feel too urgent.

We came home in time for me to balance the budget and throw lunch together. I napped. We sat by the Christmas tree and crocheted and knit. I cooked a few things and we ate a dinner I made yesterday. We put together our gingerbread kit. It was a chill day, but a good day.

Sure, some things went wrong on Saturday. My husband and I started to get a little frustrated with other during our morning chat. We had to go back and forth across Walmart several times because we forgot things. Our Christmas card order was not ready. There were some sketchy people in the store. My husband's anticipated Amazon package didn't ever come to our house. We spent the day together, though. Chores did not weigh heavily. We had margin. We enjoyed our home. We enjoyed being together.

While not a momentous day, Saturday was a good day, a simple day, a sustaining day. Sometimes I look for big events for best days, but maybe best days are more about the small things, the little things, the time together that cements forever. Praise God for proof of that in Saturday.

Simple is Good.

We didn't invite anyone over for dinner. Well actually, we invited ourselves to my parents' house. They intended to invite some friends, but several of us felt under the weather, so we opted not to do so, in case our ailments were contagious. We had already decided to go simple, though.

This trip came on the heels of a quick trip out east, and what really mattered to us was being together. Instead of spending a long day prepping food, we went for a walk on the plains.

Instead of figuring out fancy place settings, we used paper placemats.

Instead of an extensive menu, we went with only our favorites: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans. (I did make the family cranberry relish recipe because it's tradition.)

Instead of a second dinner, we ate pie.

And then we went home and got back to life.

Super simple is not always best, but for this year, it was, and for that we are thankful!

Having a Muffin Moment

It probably started with the Rise and Run cookbook (2021) and its 24 superhero muffin recipes. I made almost all of them. Then I got to ones for which I lacked ingredients, and I kind of quit. But then I found more muffins recipes, and they just tasted so good that I just kept looking for and making recipes. Here are some recent good ones:

Banana baked oatmeal (Fit Mitten Kitchen)

Banana bread muffins (Fit Foodie Finds)

Healthy bakery style banana muffins (Rachl Mansfield)

Healthy carrot cake muffins (Health Nut Nutrition)

Healthy muffins (Chocolate Covered Katie)

Healthy oatmeal muffins (Running on Real Food)

Oatmeal muffins (Chocolate Covered Katie)

Oatmeal muffins (Happy Herbivore)

One pan baked oatmeal (made into muffin cups) (Eating Bird Food)

References:

Kopecky, E., & Flanagan, S. (2021) Rise and Run: Recipes, rituals and runs to fuel your day: A cookbook. Rodale Books.

Keeping Heads Warm

How it started...

I offered to make some ear warmers for my friend's daughter:

Crochet chained ear warmer (Easy Crochet)

Beginner friendly crochet ear warmer (Oombawka Design Crochet)

Crochet ear warmer (Stitching Together)

And I got a little obsessed with all the free patterns out there.

Puffed crochet headband (Easy Crochet)

Sophora headband (Burgundy and Blush)

Easy textured earwarmer (Simply Hooked by Janet)

How it's going:

I made myself an ear warmer, but it turned out child-sized.

Twisted crochet ear warmer headband (Sarah Maker)

Determined, I tried again.

Crochet twist headband (Easy Crochet)

This one actually fit!

So I made a few more:

Sailor's knot headband (Crafting for Weeks)

Easy summer headband (Crafting for Weeks)

Crochet headband with cross pattern (Joy of Motion Crochet)

Needless to say, I will have no problems keeping my head warm. And you know what? I had fun making these. All these took were a little internet research, scrap yarn, and time. A heart-warming endeavor, if you ask me.

Healthy Red Velvet Overnight Oatmeal

It's been a long time since I posted an oatmeal recipe. I know! I still eat it almost every day. I just don't experiment as much, hence no new recipes to post. This time, though, I have something for you: a way to get in your fruits, veggies, carbs, and protein all in one. Feel free to portion this recipe to meet your needs.

Ingredients:

1 c water
1 fresh beet
1 c unsweetened applesauce
1 c rolled oats
4 T cocoa powder
2 t cinnamon
4 scoops protein powder* 

*I use the plant protein powder from Winco and each scoop is about 3 T.

Directions:

1. Pierce the beet. Place it in a bowl and cover it gently. Microwave 5-10 minutes, or until done. Let cool slightly.
2. Place the beet and 1 c water in a high powered blender and blend until smooth.
3. Mix together the remaining ingredients and divide portions based on your needs.
4. Refrigerate overnight.
5. Top with vanilla Greek yogurt, if desired for a true red velvet experience.

This recipe was inspired by Flora and Vino's red velvet overnight oats with raspberry puree and Rise and Run's red velvet superhero muffins.