Emily Ley

Joy, Simplicity and What Matters Most

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  • February 23, 2018
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 96
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that are bringing us a little bit of joy this week: Simplified Retreat: Our whole team works remotely, and this weekend is the...
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  • February 6, 2018
    2018 Simplicity Challenge
    The process of simplifying your life is a BIG one. It's so freeing and exciting and it's HARD WORK. Our 31 Day Simplicity Challenge features one step for each...
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  • January 14, 2018
    Simplifying Travel
    Hi friends! My goodness. What an incredible few days it's been. I've been able to meet and hug so many new (and old!) friends in Lexington, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Birmingham...
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  • December 31, 2017
    Simplifying 2018, Part 4: Your Heart
    I saved this topic for last, on purpose. Getting your heart in the right place before embarking on a new year is so key. I love using my Power...
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  • December 30, 2017
    Brady's Target Debut
    If you've followed me on Instagram for some time, you've seen #BMakesAVideo. My oldest, Brady, is almost seven (HOLD ME) and he LOVES making videos. I tell you what......
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  • December 30, 2017
    Simplifying 2018, Part 3: Your Routines
    This is one of my most favorite topics to talk about when it comes to simplifying life. Creating routines that work is vital to ensuring your life, home, and...
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  • December 29, 2017
    Simplifying 2018, Part 2: Your Schedule
    Does anyone else feel like 2017 was jam-packed?! I know I did. Granted, it felt so much calmer than 2016, but it was still very full. This took a...
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  • December 28, 2017
    Simplifying 2018, Part 1: Your Home
    I’ve spent the last year of my life immersed in this topic. Decluttering, simplifying, cleaning out the old, the extra, the necessary and making way for the good, the...
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  • December 15, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 95
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Framebridge's Gold Mandalay Frame: A print framed from Framebridge (or a gift card...
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  • December 14, 2017
    Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Stocking Stuffers
    Moroccanoil Travel Set // Custom Silhouette Ornament // Beauty Blender Holiday Set // Sugarfina Bento Box // Gold Mini Roll // Pilot G2 Pen Set // Gold Tassel Necklace //...
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  • December 8, 2017
    Holiday Gift Guide 2018: For the Mamas
    Pearl Statement Necklace // Sugar Face Scrub // Electric Kettle // Tin Candle Set // Sophia Earrings // The Coziest Blanket // Crewneck T-Shirt // Monogrammed Blanket Scarf  This week, we're sharing...
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  • December 4, 2017
    Our Team's Favorite Christmas Cookies
    image via Pizzazzerie's Coconut Pecan Cookies We like to take time around the holidays to slow down, enjoy precious moments with our families, and savor the good stuff that we so...
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  • November 30, 2017
    Holiday Gift Guide 2017: For the Guys
      French Press // Patagonia Beanie // Leather Phone Case // Wayfarer Sunglasses // Waterproof Portable Speaker // Backpack // Ring Video Doorbell // Leather Smart Watch // Amazon Echo...
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  • November 29, 2017
    Simplifying the Holidays with Enstrom Candies
    Every year when the holidays come around, we have grand plans to accomplish #allthethings and make sure that our homes are decorated to Pinterest perfection and our traditions are...
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  • November 22, 2017
    Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Girlfriends
    Hand-Painted Canvas Pouch // Rose Quartz Earrings // Volcano Candle // Fresh Body Care Set // Faux Fur Throw // Tula Exfoliating Mask // Daniel Wellington Watch // A Simplified...
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  • November 17, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 94
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Work Hard, Love Harder Mug: We adore this mug from Lindsay Letters. It's...
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  • November 15, 2017
    Holiday Gift Guide - Our Shop Favorites!
      Family Favorites Recipe Binder // Gold Coffee Cup Paperclips // Art Prints // Magnetic Page Markers // Happy Stripe Pen // Weekly Simplified Planner // Daily Simplified Planner // Flag...
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  • November 10, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 93
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Weekly Simplified Planners: Our Weekly SP's are BACK! If you've been eyeing them,...
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  • November 3, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 92
    image via Pizzazzerie Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Pizzazzerie's Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies: This week on our Simplified Life...
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  • October 27, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 90
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Our Pineapple Pen Cups: One of our very favorite products that we...
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  • October 20, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 89
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Birdies Slippers: If you haven't tried these slippers yet, you need to! They're...
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  • October 13, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 88
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that we're loving this week: The AadenSage Birthday Project: Our sweet friend, Ashlee Proffit, created the AadenSage Birthday Project in 2013 as...
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  • October 6, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 87
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Emily's New Book: Introducing... A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living. In...
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  • September 29, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 86
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Gorgeous Plate Set: These plates are SO CUTE and dishwasher safe. We...
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  • September 22, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 85
    photo courtesy of Ashley Brooke Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Ashley Brooke's Fall Sale: Our friend, Ashley Brooke, is...
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  • September 18, 2017
    Simplified Planner Reviews
    One of our very favorite parts of launch week is seeing the excitement from our customers and being able to share that excitement with each and every one of...
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  • September 15, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 84
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that have brought us a little bit of joy this week: Sam and Scout's Simplified Planner Review: Our friend, Elizabeth, gave the sweetest...
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  • August 30, 2017
    Do What Matters: Helping Texas
    Hi, friends! We are heartbroken for our friends in Texas who've been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Today, my team and I sat down to plan for our big launch week...
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  • August 28, 2017
    Lilly Pulitzer APS Favorites!
    Our favorite sale of the entire year is here, friends! The EL team doesn't mess around when it comes to the Lilly Pulitzer APS. We're up early with coffee...
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  • August 25, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 83
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: The NEW Blush Baby Book: We're tickled pink over our new PINK Baby...
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  • August 21, 2017
    Simplicity Series: Keeping Tech from Taking Over
    Whether we like to admit it or not, technology is all around us. It consumes most of our days as we go back and forth between work emails, social...
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  • August 18, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 82
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Minty Blue iPhone Case: The prettiest case at a great price point! We...
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  • August 11, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 81
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Confetti Tape: How fun is this new Confetti Tape from the team over...
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  • August 7, 2017
    Simplicity Series: Organizing Photos
    If you are anything like us, you've probably found yourself overwhelmed by the amount of photos you've accumulated on your phone. Just the thought of sorting, printing, and organizing...
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  • August 4, 2017
    The Ultimate Companion to Your Home Base Binder
    We always say that our Home Base Binder is the perfect companion to your Simplified Planner. And now, we've found the perfect companion to accompany your Home Base...
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  • July 31, 2017
    Simplicity Series: SOS Philosophy
    Mamas of toddlers, you know it all too well. It can happen anywhere unannounced, but most often, it's between the hours of 4-6pm. Everyone starts to melt down, you're...
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  • July 28, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 80
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Weelicious' Frozen Yogurt Bark: A delicious summer treat that your little ones can...
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  • July 24, 2017
    A HUGE Pilot Pen Giveaway!
    Simplified Planner Start Day is NEXT week on August 1, and we couldn't be more excited! To celebrate, we've teamed up with our friends over at Pilot to give...
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  • July 21, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 79
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week:  Jessica McLain's SP Review: Our friend, Jessica, is talking about her Simplified Planner...
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  • July 17, 2017
    Simplicity Series: Systems and Routines
    We firmly believe that systems, habits, and routines make people feel safe and secure and like they belong, no matter how busy and hectic life may become. Repetition makes...
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  • July 14, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 78
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Herbivore Skincare: One of our favorite natural skincare lines! Read all about how...
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  • July 10, 2017
    Favorite Books for Summer Reading
    This year, we're focused on living well. Being intentional. Taking care of our bodies. Giving our brains regular breaks. One of our favorite ways to take care of ourselves...
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  • July 7, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 77
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Ashley Brooke's Summer Favorites Giveaway: Today is the LAST day to enter Ashley...
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  • July 3, 2017
    Team Favorite 4th of July Recipes
    July 4th with forever be one of our favorite holidays. Summer is in full swing, cookouts are happening in nearly every backyard, and communities join together for celebratory fireworks...
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  • June 30, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 76
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Our 100k Giveaway: We're celebrating 100k followers on Instagram with a giveaway and a...
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  • June 26, 2017
    Simplified Hospitality: Family Traditions
      Practicing hospitality begins inside the walls of your own home. It starts when we wrap our people in love and care for them in simple, meaningful ways. Knowing how...
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  • June 24, 2017
    Less is More
    It's been a long time since I wrote from my bed :). I have laundry at the foot of my bed waiting to be put away and the second...
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  • June 23, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 75
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: 100 Days of Real Food: Fast and Fabulous: 100 quick and easy (healthy!)...
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  • June 21, 2017
    Wellness, Part 1 - the "Vice Detox"
    As you may have heard me mention before, I was diagnosed with both Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Graves disease late last year. Both are auto-immune diseases affecting the thyroid. It's...
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  • June 19, 2017
    Simplified Hospitality: Hostess Gifts
    Every great guest knows that you never show up empty handed, but deciding what to show up with is often far more difficult than it has to be. Our advice? Keep it...
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  • June 16, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 74
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Our Best-Selling Baby Book: They're back! Shop our best-selling baby books today on our...
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  • June 12, 2017
    Simplified Hospitality: What Makes us Feel Welcome
    Our homes are one of the most special areas in our lives. They're our safe place-- where we raise our children and make special memories with friends and family....
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  • June 9, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 73
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: The Wellness Project: A must-read for anyone on a journey towards wellness. Learn how...
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  • June 5, 2017
    Simplified Hospitality: Loving People Well Inside the Walls of Your Home
    This month, we're taking some time to talk about simplifying hospitality. Learning to express hospitality well is vital to cultivating a joyful life full of meaningful relationships. But what does practicing hospitality...
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  • June 2, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 72
    photo via Sally's Baking Addiction Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake: We can't wait to try...
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  • May 26, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 71
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: The Ultimate Simplified Planner Pen Test: Yesterday, Emily did the Ultimate Simplified Planner Pen...
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  • May 25, 2017
    The Ultimate Simplified Planner Pen Test!
    Today over on Facebook Live, Emily did our most comprehensive pen test to day! Below are the pens that Emily tested and her full review of each. Le Pen Set Sipa Pen Sharpie Pen Sharpie Highlighter PaperMate...
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  • May 22, 2017
    Simplified Schedule: Family Routines
    When we talk about ways to simplify our schedule, implementing routines and systems is always at the top of our list. We believe that routines, systems, and habits help to create a...
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  • May 17, 2017
    NEW Academic Simplified Planners are Here!
    HOORAY! Happy Launch Day! Our NEW 2017-18 Academic Simplified Planners are officially here! Our team has been anticipating this day for MONTHS. These Simplified Planners are a labor of love, and...
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  • May 15, 2017
    Simplified Schedule: 2017 Bucket List
    We're big believers in making lists and writing things down, and not just when it comes to our daily to-do lists! One of the pages at the very front of...
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  • May 12, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 70
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: New Simplified Planner Covers: Hooray! 2017-18 Simplified Planner cover options are here, and we...
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  • May 10, 2017
    NEW Academic Simplified Planner covers revealed!
    Hooray! The time is finally here! We're THRILLED to share our NEW Simplified Planner covers (and format!) with you! (As a reminder, we have two launches every year....
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  • May 8, 2017
    Simplified Schedule: Making "Me Time"
    Carving out time for yourself in your schedule each week is one of the most essential parts of taking care of yourself and the ones you love. You can't be good...
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  • May 5, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 69
    Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Recipe Binder Sale: We shared our favorite gifts for mom this week on...
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  • May 3, 2017
    Emily Ley Mother's Day Gift Guide 2017
    Mother's Day is almost here! We believe moms are some of the most special people on the planet, and they deserve to be pampered a little bit this month. We've gathered...
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  • May 2, 2017
    Details on our upcoming Simplified Planner Launch!
      Hi friends! We've been getting lots of questions about our upcoming launch, so I thought I'd write a quick post to pull all the details together in terms of...
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  • May 1, 2017
    Simplified Schedule: Time Management
    The way you spend your time—  even those little moments each day that seem so trivial, is the way that you spend your life. Little moments add up to...
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  • April 28, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 68
    Happy Friday! Here are 10 things that brought us a little bit of joy this week:  All Good Things Collective: Amen Paper Co. is now All Good Things! Use...
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  • April 24, 2017
    Simplified Finances: Monthly Routines
    Having monthly systems and routines is one of the best things you can do to set your family (and yourself!) up for success. It gives you a place to start,...
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  • April 21, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 67
    photo via Ashley Brooke Designs Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Ashley Brooke's Travel Mugs: Have you seen Ashley Brooke's...
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  • April 17, 2017
    Simplified Finances: Managing Finances With a Partner
    Today we're talking about how to manage your finances with another person. With so many varying opinions and preferences on how to do things, it's often hard to find the best...
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  • April 14, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 66
    photo via Pizzazzerie  Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Easter Kids' Table Setting: Pizzazzerie has the cutest ideas for...
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  • April 11, 2017
    Coffee Break: When Entrepreneurship Becomes Unhealthy
    Beginning around 2008 / 2009, the number of female entrepreneurs in the world exploded. I don't pull that data from anywhere formal, just from what I noticed in my...
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  • April 10, 2017
    Simplified Finances: Money-Saving Tips
    Saving money can often feel like a daunting and overwhelming task. It's far too easy to overcomplicate finances in our minds, making it next to impossible for us to successfully build...
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  • April 7, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 65
    photo by @joffoto Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: The Mrs. Boxes: Dainty, personalized, and the perfect way to store...
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  • April 3, 2017
    Simplified Finances: Apps + Systems
    A new month means we're simplifying a new topic. This month, we're tackling a BIG one. Finances. That one little word can send so many women running the opposite direction as fast...
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  • March 31, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol 64
    Happy Friday, and Happy National Stripes Day! Here are ten (striped!) things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Happy Stripe Pens: We couldn't celebrate National Stripes...
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  • March 29, 2017
    Coffee Break: On Wellness
    This is a topic I could write on forever, especially at this point in my life, so ... expect many Coffee Break posts on this as the year unfolds....
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  • March 27, 2017
    Simplified Meals: Best Sources for New Recipes
    It's so easy to get stuck in a monotonous rut of cooking the same recipes over and over and over again (and that's okay!). We don't believe in reinventing the...
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  • March 24, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 63
    photo via Somethin' Southern Blog Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Mckenzie's Guide to the Perfect Charcuterie Board: If you...
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  • March 22, 2017
    Coffee Break: 20 Favorite Fiction Books
    Hey friends! I turned a corner on January 1 of this year - making myself a priority in many ways to take better care of my health - mentally,...
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  • March 20, 2017
    Simplified Meals: Kitchen Essentials
    What foods do you always have on hand in your kitchen? It's so much easier to meal plan when we have a few staple food items that we know are...
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  • March 17, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 62
    photo via @whitv Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: MayDesigns' Folios: Our friends over at MayDesigns launched a new product, and...
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  • March 15, 2017
    Coffee Break: Dinnertime, Toddlers, + Grace
    Hey Mamas, It's dinner time. Your littles are STARRRRRVING (or so they're squealing). You set down your carefully prepared wholesome, yummy meal - with everything cut into the perfect bite-size...
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  • March 13, 2017
    Simplified Meals: Quick-Prep Meals
    The key to successful meal prepping is to keep it simple. We all have busy weeknights where we get home later than we anticipated, are rushing out the door...
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  • March 10, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 61
    photo via Pizzazzerie  Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Pizzazzerie's Skillet Queso: The best queso recipe for dinner parties or...
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  • March 7, 2017
    ONLY LOVE TODAY
    Friends. Today is such a treat. One of my absolute favorite authors of all time sat down with me to talk about her journey as a mom and as...
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  • March 6, 2017
    The Simplicity Series: Meal Planning on a Budget
    Today we're talking about meal planning on a budget. It can be so hard to stick to a budget for meals, especially when you're trying to feed a large family...
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  • March 3, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 60
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Dapper & Darling Watercolor Silhouettes: These are the absolute sweetest silhouettes, and the...
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  • March 1, 2017
    Coffee Break: Repeat Meals
    Happy March!! How is it March anyway. Also, WHY is meal planning so daunting. I'm newly thirty-four (as of yesterday!) and I think I've finally figured out the answer: We...
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  • February 27, 2017
    Simplified Style: Investing in Your Wardrobe
    Do you ever wonder which pieces in your wardrobe are worth splurging on, and which pieces you should save money on and buy at Old Navy or Target? Sometimes spending a little...
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  • February 24, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 59
    photo via @whitv Happy Friday! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Kendra Scott's Nail Lacquer: We just love these gem inspired nail lacquers....
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  • February 22, 2017
    Coffee Break: Make a Skin Care Checklist
    Do you have a drawer of skin-care stuff (creams, moisturizers, serums, tools, etc)? You know you do. I used to. Maybe you purchased each one (and I bet some...
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  • February 20, 2017
    Simplified Style: Go-To Beauty Products
    With so many products out there on the market, it's hard to narrow down which products you need (and will actually make a difference in your appearance!) and which ones...
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  • February 17, 2017
    Weekly Top Ten: Vol. 58
    Happy Friday! Here are 10 things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: Luxe De Mer: Organic skincare products with no harsh chemicals or hidden ingredients....
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  • February 16, 2017
    Simplicity Series: Rachel Pearl
    Hi, I'm Rachel! I'm the founder of August & Co., a stationery and lifestyle goods brand based in Melbourne, Australia. We create elegant and playful products that are designed to...
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  • February 15, 2017
    Coffee Break: Love your body, lady
    We're embarking on a year-long journey to dig deep into the twelve areas of life we women struggle with and care about the absolute most. And we're starting out...
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  • February 13, 2017
    Simplified Style: Wardrobe Essentials
    Over the years, we've come to the conclusion that striving for slow, rich, meaningful days is so much better than striving to achieve perfection. With so many distractions pulling us...
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  • February 10, 2017
    Weekly Top 10: Vol. 57
    Happy Friday, friends! Here are ten things that brought us a little bit of joy this week: 'Sweeter Than Honey' Coloring Book: Our favorite adult coloring book to date! Lindsay's...
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  • February 6, 2017
    Simplicity Series: Chelsey Wang
    My name is Chelsey Wang. I am 33 years old & married the love of my life, Rob Wang. We have a 1 year old son, named Keely Mac....
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