The Benefits of Planning

A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power. - Brian Tracy

To achieve success in life it's essential to be prepared and have a plan. From personal finance to fitness and everything in between you need a clear vision and a plan. 

Some may have the fortune of good luck on their side, but you can achieve your goals easier with a plan. That's why I like to use a planner. 

The Benefits of Planning

1. Break goals (or household tasks) into smaller goals. Lessens the need to overwork and feeling overwhelmed.

2. Frees up your energy for more important matters.

3. No need to try to remember everything just refer to your planner.

4. You can track your progress and see how far you have come.

5. It makes life easier. 

6. You can spread tasks out.

7. When the unexpected occurs, you can jump back in where you left off.

8. You are not always behind. You have planned and are prepared.

9. You feel more in control of your life.

10. Achieving goals builds your confidence and makes you successful.

You don't need a fancy shmancy planner. You need one that meets your needs and you will use every day! 

What benefits have you experienced by using a planner?

Tracy xo

Why Planners Are Necessary In Your Life

I *love* planners!

I love feeling in control of my life by having a plan. Of course life can, and does, throw us curve balls but if you have a plan, it is so much easier for you to get back on track.

I used to resist planning because I felt it squashed my creativity. But, I found the opposite to be true (once I stopped self-sabotaging).

Being prepared with a planner frees up my time and my brain! I'm not scrambling around trying to figure out what needs to be done next. I'm not overwhelmed because I plan my days so I am not trying to do too much in one day. I can create my schedule to suit me.

Planning my tasks and weekly menu helps me keep life simple. And I like checking things off my list as I complete them.

I created this new 2 page spread weekly planner which is now available on my Etsy! It is 11x8.5 inches and comes in four colors - as shown in the picture above. 

Are you as planner obsessed as I am? Let me know your thoughts!

Tracy xo

My Planner and How It Makes My Life Easier

I am using the new planner I created for my Etsy shop and I am loving it! And I am going to show you how I use it.

I love the simplicity of it and it is just what I need to keep things running smoothly and stop the brain drain.

- On this page I jot down my to-dos for the week - house work + yard work.

- I also jot down calls or appointments I need to make.

- At the bottom of the page there is my Don't Forget section. This may be upcoming things that I need to start thinking about or just additional planning tips to myself, like make potato salad and cupcakes on July 2nd because we are celebrating 4th of July on the 3rd when my daughter will be off work. ✨

This is my menu plan (in progress) for the week. I can write out breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every day. The star on Thursday is because I am starting it mid-week and that's the beginning of this plan.

- I note the date on each day to help keep me on track. I am becoming more and more forgetful these days!

- You may notice there is not Sunday listed. I just write down my meals below Saturday in the white space below. No biggie! 💁

This is the backside of the menu plan. This is where I write my grocery list! I don't see any need to make things complicated. After shopping I hang the menu on the fridge so everyone can see what I'm cooking for dinner. I loathe being asked "What's for dinner?" 😒

- The items with the * beside them are the items I have coupons for.

- I buy most of our groceries at Walmart with the exception of meat. I buy meat at our local Winn- Dixie grocery store. 

How it makes my life easier:
1. It frees up brain energy! I don't have to try to remember everything.
2. It helps me plan my week and spread the work out. Helps lessen the feeling of being overwhelmed.
3. I have meals planned for the week so no frantically trying to figure out what to feed the family.
4. Hopefully no one asks what's for dinner... 😁
5. I know what needs to be done. No more wondering. I can do it & check it off the list. ✅

If you'd like to try planning with my simplified weekly planner, please visit my Etsy shop.

Tracy xo

3 Myths About Simple Living

There are so many misconceptions about simple living so I thought I'd discuss three of them.

Myth #1: You need to have a very plain/sterile looking environment.

If that was the case, I would not be able to do it! I love colors and the feeling of coziness. There is no standard for simple living. It all depends on your preferences and what aesthetic you find pleasing. Just like every person is unique, the way you decorate your home will be also.

Myth #2: Simple Living is about self-denial.

Living simply is about choice. You choose to live a simple life to be happier. You choose it to have more freedom over your life. You can choose to buy whatever you desire but if you're drawn to a simpler way of life, more than likely material possessions are not terribly important to you. 

Myth #3: Simple Living is about retreating from the world and living secluded, like a hermit.

Many may choose to move to a more rural area, but not to retreat or hide away from society. Simple folks may prefer a slower pace of life.They may want more land in order to have gardens and farm animals not allowed within city limits. They may just long for the views and quietness of country life. You can live in a rural area and still have an active social life and attend social gatherings. It's all about the individual and their preferences.

Simple Living is all about choosing what is simple for you. It's about your preferences and doing what makes you feel happy and content. That will look different for every one because everyone is different.

What misconceptions did you have about simple living?

Happy Little Things

Photo by Hybrid on Unsplash

Let's chat about happier things, shall we?

You may be feeling bored and restless. Why don't you make a list of things you can do to keep yourself happily occupied? Here's what I came up with:

• Create a simple daily routine
• Focus on skin care (glow up)
• Walk & stretch daily
• Cook all meals at home
• Clean one room each day
• Go through all the courses I've purchased and begin to work through them & implement what I've learned
• Read books I already have - on my bookshelf & on my Kindle
• Craft with what I have on hand
• Write on my blog & Instagram
• Create new products for my Etsy
• Work on finances (How can I save more money?)
• Have a DIY spa day at home
• Learn more about something I've always been intrigued by
• Write out a bucket list

What about you? What would you put on your list?

💕 Check out the links in my bio (sidebar) to find e-books and affordable gifts, home decor, and organizing printables! Thank you for supporting small business! 💕

Pressing Pause & a Recipe

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Since life has come to a standstill for many of us for weeks now, I feel like reality is finally setting in. How much longer will this go on? 

I am a homebody at heart but I do like to go a few places occasionally. Now we have to plan to get to the shops before they close hours earlier than they used to and the places I do enjoy are closed completely. I have spent the past couple days resting mainly. I just needed a good time out so I pressed pause. 

Now I am just trying to happily occupy myself at home. Last night I pulled out a few old binders that had old blog posts I had printed out YEARS ago. One was just pictures of decor that I used to love - so frilly and pink. Think Shabby Chic meets Victorian. It amazes me at how much I have changed in the last decade. 

I have been cooking super easy meals. Tonight we had buffalo chicken burritos. 

Place 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in crock pot

1 packet of Ranch seasoning

1 package of cream cheese

1 cup (est) of buffalo sauce

Cook on high 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours

Serve on tortillas to make burritos or over rice or noodles

Super easy and the family loves it.

Don't beat yourself up if you feel the need to press pause yourself. We are living in trying times. It's okay to take a step back to rest and to keep things simple. Now more than ever....

💕 Check out the links in my bio (sidebar) to find e-books and affordable gifts, home decor, and organizing printables! Thank you for supporting small business! 💕

From my Instagram

Happy Sunday, y'all! 🌞

It's my husband's birthday today! 🎉 I'm baking him a cake 🎂 and have a roast going in the crock-pot with fajita seasoning, served on tortillas! A simple recipe that is so good! 🌯

Like everyone else, I'm feeling a little stir-crazy. All the places I like going to are closed: library 📚, hobby stores, and bookstores.

I try to stay happily occupied at home by reading books I already have, coming up with creative and inexpensive meals for my family, and learning about things that interest me. 💻

Of course, there are always little projects to work on - inside and out. 🌸 I am ready to start planting flowers 💐 and veggies 🍅. In times of uncertainty, I'm learning how to become more patient, use my creativity, count my blessings, and am reminded to slow down. 🙏

How are you doing today? 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @simple.life.happy.life

Live Beneath Your Means

Photo by NORTHFOLK on Unsplash

Tonight, we (husband and I) are going over our budget. We are looking to see what else we can cut out of our budget and reduce our cost of living. I want to make our money stretch as far as possible. I am a natural penny pincher. 

Now, more than ever, it's important to reduce your expenses as much as you can and live below your means. You don't want to be in the category of living above your means (on credit cards & loans). If you fall into the second category, you may have to make some tough choices in order to dig yourself out from the hole. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Decide what your goal is. Do you want to be debt-free, build up a buffer for emergencies, or pay cash for something you want, such as a down payment on a house or buy a car with cash?

Cut out services & subscriptions that you don't need or use. We just cut cable because we literally never used it. 

Call your creditors and see if you can get a better deal. There's no harm in trying and the worst they can do is say no.

Begin tracking your expenses for a minimum of three months. This will be an eye-opener as to where your money is really going!

Create a plan to achieve your goal. Regardless of whether it's paying off debt or building savings, don't cut yourself short in the process.  Then, you'll be forced to use credit or dip into your savings to get yourself out of a bind which kinda defeats the purpose.

Celebrate your successes no matter how small! Be proud of your progress....it all counts! 

What are your money goals?

Prepping On a Budget

Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash

I am a secret prepper. I believe we should all prepare for the unexpected as much as we possibly can. This virus outbreak just confirmed that for me. 

We don't know how long this is going to last or how it's going to affect our economy and food supply. I am not being paranoid. I am simply thinking ahead to what I can do to ensure my family's survival. I am thinking about this with a calm mind and a rational outlook. 

It's better to think practical rather than an overly optimistic outlook simply because we have never experienced anything like this before. 

So how can you prep on a budget?

1. Take an inventory of what you already have on hand.This will keep you from buying something you already have. Anything you don't need, sell and use the cash to buy what you need.
2. Get serious with your budget. Cut out all non-essentials for the time being. You need your          money to work for you: keep a roof over your head, food, and utilities. This is the time to get back to basics. You can add the extras back at a later time!
3. Decide how much you can spare from your budget to use to obtain prepper supplies. Even if it's only $5-10, it's better than doing nothing at all.
4. Buy foods your family will eat & are used to, otherwise you'll be wasting money and resources.
5. Stock up on sale items so you will get the most bang for your money. Use coupons if applicable.
6. For what you lack in money, invest time in becoming more knowledgeable about survivalist techniques. Learn basic survival skills and make it a family learning experience: how to build a fire, how to cook on an open flame, how to keep warm in winter with no power, etc.
7. Try yard sales, thrift shops, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace to get items you need inexpensively.
8. Dollar stores have things you can buy to build up your medical supplies for little money: rubbing alcohol, bandages, neosporin, pain relievers/fever reducers, etc. Also good for cleaning supplies and toiletries.

Again, do not panic buy. Stop and think about what you need and what can be improved. Then, make a plan on how you are going to do it. 

Garden, Anyone?

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

I've been thinking about starting a container garden and planting a few fruit trees since this virus outbreak has started. With people panic buying, it just makes sense to have access to fresh vegetables and fruits.

Why a container garden? I don't like to weed! We had a garden before and weeding was just the worst. I know me. I will not keep it up. 

It will take a little investment up front: pots, heirloom seeds, potting soil - but it will be a big help in the long run with the grocery bill and if there are food shortages in the future. I'm not trying to be extreme - I just think it is wise to be as prepared as possible. 

It's so rewarding to see the little seeds you planted growing real food that you can eat! We already have Meyer Lemons and Satsuma trees. I'm thinking about adding Apple and Peach trees.

Things you can grow indoors easily: 

•  Carrots
•  Kale
•  Mushrooms
•  Beets
•  Bell Peppers
•  Potatoes
•  Herbs
•  Micro-greens

Don't forget vegetables you can regrow in water:

* The bottom of the vegetable must be intact for this to work.

• Bok choy
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Green onions
• Fennel
• Kohlrabi
• Leeks
• Lemongrass
• Lettuce and heading vegetables such as Napa cabbage

   Also, please visit https://www.burpee.com/ to get more info for newbie gardeners and to order your seeds and fruit trees from. They have been in business since 1876 and have a non-GMO policy. I am NOT an affiliate, it's just a company I recommend.

   One more thing, don't plant things your family won't eat. That would just be a waste of time, money, and food. Start small and build upon it each year to avoid losing money. 

   We are going to try tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, and cabbage. Whatever cannot be used right away I will figure out how to save them with canning or blanching and freezing. The goal is no food waste!

   Will you be starting a garden this year? If so, what are you planting?

Stimulus Checks

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Let's chat about money and stimulus checks today, shall we?

From my understanding everyone who has filed taxes in the past should get $1,200 single and $2,400 couple as a one-time payment. If you have dependents 17 and younger, you'll receive an additional $500 per child. Unemployment compensation is $600/week for 4 months.

Unless you are an "essential employee", you are likely not currently working due to the virus outbreak, so what's the best plan of action for your money?

Personally, I would stock up on food. (Stock up, not Hoard.) Create a menu plan for at least a month.

Go through your pantry and freezer and make up a plan to use up everything you have and fill in the gaps with your shopping list. Stock up on baking supplies and canned goods. Use up those leftovers, rather than let them go to waste. You can eat them for lunch the next day. Bake your own treats rather than buy pre-packaged.

You want to make this money go as far as possible since it looks like we will be social distancing through April, possibly longer.

Next, I would pay my priority bills - rent/mortgage and utilities. Though these companies may give you a break due to the virus by not evicting/foreclosing or turning off your utilities at the moment - when this is over they will be expecting payment in full. 

This is NOT the time to buy new electronics or designer goods. Don't waste your money! Be financially responsible and ensure that your family is taken care of! 

How do you plan to use your stimulus check? Let me know in the comments!

Garden Dreams

How right it is to love flowers and the greenery of pines and ivy and Hawthorn hedges; they have been with us since the very beginning. - Vincent van Gogh

I love a beautiful garden. However, I do not like the act of weeding the garden! What's a girl to do?

Despite that it's only January, I can't help but to dream of Spring when the earth begins to unfurl from Winter's cold clutches and starts to come back to life. The sun's warmth feels so good on my skin. Colors seem more vibrant. Birds seem happy as they sing and flit about building new nests. 

I have a few things that I love in my yard: roses, monkey grass, and elephant ears. The only way I will be able to have a flower garden is to create one in pots. If that will keep me from having to weed all summer, I'm perfectly okay with that. 

There are so many ways to add beauty and color to your yard on a budget! Again, Pinterest is a fantastic resource for ideas, how-tos, and inspiration.

• Paint inexpensive plastic pots
• Make your own potting soil
• Make your own Miracle Grow
• Which plants attract hummingbirds or butterflies
• How-tos for growing flowers that tend to be difficult
• Make your own concrete pots
• Make a bird bath from clay pots
• The hardiest perennials for your area

Are you dreaming of Spring and gardens yet?

What plans do you have for your yard this Spring?

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Tracy x

The Heart of The Home: Kitchen

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home because that is where we create meals to nourish our family. We want to nourish them because we love them. 

Though the kitchen is the workhorse of the home, I believe in making it as beautiful as possible because we spend so much time in there. When you have a beautiful space you want to spend time in there and that makes the work seem a bit easier. 

How do we create a beautiful kitchen?

• Keep clutter to a minimum. 
• Everything should be useful as well as beautiful. 
• Paint is an inexpensive way to transform a space. Use the colors you love!
• Keep decor simple. 
• Have nice dish rags and towels. Replace as needed.
• Have nicely scented dish washing liquid.
• Use pretty decanters for oils and hand soap to replace the ugly plastic bottles.
• Streamline the counter top. Only keep what you use daily out. 
• Have pretty cookware, dishware, and glassware.
• Be organized. Put like things together and in places they will most likely be used.
• Add a pretty rug or two.
• Hang a few nice inexpensive art prints. 

If you don't know what your style is I encourage you to browse through Pinterest to glean inspiration that you incorporate into your own home. I have a few decor boards of my own which you are welcome to browse and follow if you so desire. You can check it out here:

My Pinterest

Hope this has been helpful for you. Let me know if you need help! 

Tracy x

The Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

I recently saw a graphic on Pinterest about the benefits of spending time outdoors. It stated that the 6 benefits of exercising in nature but I'll share 4 of them:

• Fresh air has more oxygen
• Greenscapes raise serotonin levels
• Increases feelings of well-being and lowers depression
• Sun exposure raises vitamin D levels and optimizes hormones

I know that when I spend time outdoors - even if it's just sitting on the porch - I feel more relaxed and happy. In the warmer months, it's easy to do. It's a bit more challenging for me to do in the winter since I hate being cold.

Thankfully we do have nice, warm days during the winter. Here in the south the weather fluctuates so much. It's freezing one day and can be warm the next. On those nice days though I like to be outside - sitting on the porch or working in the yard. There is always yard work that needs to be done. 

For the cold days, I need to invest in outerwear that makes being outside more bearable - a coat, gloves, and warm cap.

I think about the people in Denmark. Though they have long, dreary, cold winters they are the happiest people in the world. How is that possible? 

They embrace the outdoors - even on the coldest of days - and make the most of it. I think that is a great attitude to have. I try really hard to not grumble about the cold, but I'm not always successful! 

As with many things in life, it takes work and practice to improve. Our attitudes are no different.

The Danish people practice hygge.  Hygge is a Danish word for feeling happy, content, and grateful. It's feeling connected and making the best of things. It is the art of getting cozy. 

I think we could all use a little more hygge in our lives, don't you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Tracy x

A Bedroom Fit For A Queen

Pinterest

Years ago I named myself The Queen in jest, after seeing a Mary Englebreit pillow with the saying 'The Queen of Everything'. Oh, the family laughed in good fun, but it stuck. Now I'm known as the Queen. 

One of my goals for this year is to turn my bedroom into a beautiful sanctuary for my husband and I. A room befitting royalty. I want to work on this room first. 

People tend to work on the rooms that company sees - living room, kitchen, dining room, a main bathroom even. Meanwhile the bedrooms are looking pretty shabby. And I get it. But our bedrooms are meant to be restorative, intimate spaces. How much rest and intimacy can happen in a room that's haphazardly thrown together?

In November, I invested in new sheets, a king-size comforter, and curtains. But there is more work to be done. The room needs a fresh paint job. I need some shelves installed, paint my small antique 3 drawer dresser and replace the knobs, and get my husband to either declutter or organize his stuff. Hmmmm....

Being this is the year of my level up in many areas, I am declaring my bedroom as Home Project #1. This room is my top priority as far as beautifying and redecorating. 

Which room are you going to focus on first?

Have any decorating tips for bedrooms? 

Share below.

Listening, as always... x

Falling in Love with Simplicity

Simplicity - the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

One thing I know for sure is that today's world is anything but simple. In order to simplify your life it takes a conscious effort because you are going against the grain of what is considered normal in our modern society.

I tend to have a romanticized view of simplicity in my ideal life. I picture a darling little house with lush flowers gardens in which I meander about with a wicker basket and pruning shears to cut fresh bouquets to adorn my home. All the while, I'm wearing a white flowy dress....

Sigh, a girl can dream! 

But seriously, when you are starting out on the path to simplicity it can be a tad scary. All of your life you've been programmed to work more so you can earn more money to buy more stuff and then expand to bigger and better. 

What are you supposed to do now?

Well, this is where you will have to evaluate your life. 

• What's working?
• What's not working?
• What is causing you undue stress?
• What can you do to ease the stress?

For many, money is one of the biggest stressors. If you have been accustomed to living above your means, you have big changes ahead. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Begin tracking your spending. Note what you're spending on and how much. Do this for at least 30 days, but 90 days to get a better idea of where your money is going.
• Create a budget each month. Your income minus your fixed and variable expenses.  (Let me know if you need help with this and I'll make a separate post - or maybe a video - to help walk you through it.)
• Do you have money left over after everything is paid or are you living off your credit cards until the next pay check? Obviously, this will have to stop.
• Your variable expenses is where you can really reduce your outgo: gas, food, utilities, etc. so this is where you want to start cutting back.
• Don't drastically reduce your budgeted amounts immediately. Aim to cut 10% off and slowly work on reducing further in the coming weeks.
• Have money meetings each week with your spouse so you are both on the same page and can plan together and brainstorm if needed.

I used money in this example as the main stressor, but obviously there are other areas. Maybe your stressor is clutter and your constant embarrassment over the state of your home. We will get there, I promise! 

Share in the comments what is the one thing that stresses you out the most? 

Money stress?

Clutter?

I've been there, honey...

I'm listening. x  

Welcome 2020!

Welcome to 2020…

and to Simple Life, Happy Life!

I am Tracy - the blog creator. I am 45 years young and live in a smallish town in south Alabama, not far from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I live with my husband of 27 years, two Italian Mastiffs, and our three adult children - who are all currently at home with us.

I am a dreamer, a romantic, and a lover of all things beautiful. Thus, the creation of this blog. 

I am considering this year to be my level up years in terms of adding more beauty to my life while simplifying, adding self-care, and a lot more joie de vivre (joy of living).

The way I see it, we only have one life to live. I spent my younger years raising a family, sacrificing a lot of my desires for the needs of my babies. Now the babies are grown and it’s time for mama duck to become a swan. 

The second act of my life will be for me. 

Now, tell me about you and what stage of life you are in. 

Are you knee-deep in babies and diapers?

Have your babes flown the nest?

Spill it, sister. I am listening!