Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Seems my yard is getting in on the act, “wearing the green,” with this lovely patch of green clover.
Remember, spring is just around the corner.
Have a wonderful day!
My Simple Solution to Mail Clutter
Inside: Organizing incoming paper doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with a decorative storage basket. Curious? Check out my simple solution to mail clutter.
*This post contains affiliate links. Click here for disclosure policy.
Got Mail Clutter?
Is your kitchen table cluttered with mail? Be honest. Bills. Catalogs you’ve been meaning to look through. Coupons. Advertisements. Newspapers with assorted sales inserts. Invitations. Fliers.
Or maybe your kitchen table looks great, but your counter is a mess? Or maybe you’ve just got papers strewn everywhere?
If the answer to any of the above questions is no, then I’ll save you some reading. Visit our fudge recipe to make and celebrate your savvy organizing skills. Way to go, oh organized one! We salute you.
If the answer is yes, then settle in for the short read. . . And maybe check out the recipe after you read this.
Finding a Simple Solution to Mail Clutter
I’ll let you in on a little secret: It wasn’t long ago that all those above mentioned pieces of mail–plus other papers that found their way into our house–sat in sloppy piles at the end of my kitchen table, threatening to spill on to the floor. A holiday would roll around, and I’d find the nearest Amazon box and start inserting assorted (and unsorted) paper items into their new large cardboard home, only to be placed in my catch-all room. But soon I’d see those piles forming again, small and innocent at first, until I had the same large stacks, precariously balancing on table’s end, only to have the cycle repeat itself over and over and over.
Last fall I signed up for an organizing summit (different online presenters discussing a topic) over at I heart planners with Laura. I took lots of notes that week, and I can’t remember who to thank for this tip, but one of the presenters showed her system of dealing with all the paper coming into her home. She had a large box with a few file folders in the back of it, and, basically, she merely dumped everything into the box. Period. Once a week she’d sort through the box and file items away into the folders or discard them.
Having a place to dump all of the paper made sense to me, and so I bought a functional, nice-looking container. So now into my box it goes–everything from clothes catalogs to coupons. Papers that need our attention, such as license renewals or bills or checks to cash? Into the box. Random old photo? Homemade card from my nephew? Find your spot inside the confines of my lovely decorative container.
Throughout the week, as I have time, I dip into the box and sort. Like while I’m waiting for my cup of coffee that’s heating in the microwave. I place checks, coupons, and other very small snippets of paper on the right side of the box, vertically. On the left go bills, folded but standing upright against the inside of the box. In the middle are things like sales papers, clipped articles, fliers, and catalogs, which lie flat. In the back I place large manila envelopes with important materials, such as tax papers that I need to work on, and magazines, standing on their sides, as it looks more confined that way.
While I can understand the benefits of the folders, that’s a bit too much work for me. I like to keep it simple, and this unsophisticated system works for me. I feel so much better about the space!
A Few Tips
Choose a box or basket you love. That way you’re more inclined to use it. I found some attractive-looking boxes and baskets on this page that you might like.
Make sure it is rectangular shaped and large enough for the amount of paper coming into your home. Because it’s just the two of us now, we don’t have near the amount of paper as we once did with a school-age child in the house.
Look for handles, which come in handy (no pun intended) for moving the box (temporarily) out of sight when company comes. But don’t leave it there!
If you’re into folders, by all means, go for it!
Oh, and one more thing. I don’t get down to zero contents. Sometimes I have an item (or several) that I haven’t yet decided what to do with. The point is, I know where to find it, it’s not falling on the floor, and it looks neat and straightened.
Small Changes Yield Big Results
It’s funny how small changes can sometimes yield big results. This simple purchase of a decorative box has made me feel better and not as stressed. While a few piles of clutter might not seem like such a big deal, even the little things tug at you. This is one less thing. The space is ordered and functional. I like sitting around my kitchen table again.
One small step for a rural girl. A big leap for creating a peaceful environment.
Resources and related posts:
2018 Decluttering Challenge, Day 4: Paper
2018 Decluttering Challenge, Day 1: The Kitchen
Posts from a year ago:
Uprooted, Seeing Green, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
25 Ways to Be Good to Yourself
From two years ago:
Trending Spring, Garden Talk, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Our Very Simple Valentine Tart
Inside: What’s quick, simple to make, has only five ingredients, and celebrates Valentine’s Day? Our Very Simple Valentine Tart, that’s what!
*This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
Admit it, Valentine’s Day snuck up on you this year. You need something quick, easy, and fitting the occasion. Something that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or preparation. Something that can be somewhat healthy–or defiantly not—with some flexibility in the recipe.
Enter our Very Simple Valentine Tart. It’s crispy. It’s fruity. And cinnamon-y, too. What’s not to like?
So let’s get to it, shall we? Here are some step-by-step, easy-peasy instructions with pics. The recipe follows.
How to Make Our Very Simple Valentine Tart
Here are the ingredients you will need.
Fold one tortilla in half.
Cut into a heart shape. Kitchen scissors work great!
Ta da! A heart! Now spread a 1/2 tablespoon of butter evenly on one side.
Sprinkle a 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon and sweetener (or sugar) over the butter, covering it.
Now flip tortilla over so the buttered side is down. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread 3 – 4 tablespoons of your favorite red preserves.
(I used my homemade plum.) Bake for 10 more minutes.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with powdered sweetener or sugar!
- 1 large whole wheat Carb Balance tortilla
- ½ tablespoon of butter
- ½ tablespoon of cinnamon/sweetener (or sugar) blend*
- 3 - 4 tablespoons of your favorite red preserves
- powdered sweetener or sugar for dusting (optional)
- *Cinnamon/sweetener (or sugar): 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sweetener or sugar
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
- Fold the tortilla in half and cut to shape like a heart.
- Spread butter evenly over one side of the tortilla.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sweetener or sugar over the butter and gently flip the tortilla over, making the buttered cinnamon side the bottom of the tart.
- Bake for five minutes and remove.
- Spread the preserves over the top of the tart and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Cool and dust with powdered sweetener or sugar if desired.
- Enjoy!
Recipes Notes
While I usually post keto and low carb recipes, this one isn’t particularly so. Yet it’s not terribly unhealthy, either. There is a lot of flexibility within this recipe. For starters, you can choose your type of tortilla–regular, low carb, white, whole wheat.
You can choose sugar free preserves, though I have not tried this, so I’m not sure how that will work. I use reduced sugar preserves, which have fewer carbs than regular jam but taste better than sugar free. You can also use fewer tablespoons of preserves, though the tart might not look as pretty. As for what flavor to try, I have used plum, cherry, and strawberry with success. You can also use different colors. (Peach is really good as well as apricot.)
You might also get really creative and try raspberry jam with a drizzle of chocolate. If you do, leave me a comment. I’d love to hear about it.
Make our Very Simple Valentine Tart today, for your special someone–even if that special someone is you!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Resources and related posts:
Mission Carb Balance Large Whole Wheat Tortillas
Make Our Keto Red Velvet Mug Cake for Valentine’s Day
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 9: Tortilla Cinnamon Rolls
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 2: Spiced Nuts
Post from a year ago:
What’s in my Winter Wellness Kit
Butternut Beer Brats Soup Revisited
From two years ago:
How I’m Finding Time to Read and Other Worthy Pursuits
Birdwatching Birthday, Photography Lessons, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Weekly Frames, Simple Update, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Inside: My weekly photo challenge, an update on my simple life, and thoughts on hunkering down. Check out all the latest fresh from the farm.
*This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
My Weekly Photo Challenge
It invariably happens when I’m talking to a friend or relative that the subject rolls around to, “What’s new with you?” Often I’m at a loss and answer, “Nothing new, same old same old.”
However, this time I have something to tell. I’ve started this weekly photography challenge called 52Frames. They describe themselves as a “worldwide community of photography enthusiasts from all walks of life (ranging from novices to experts).” Basically they post a challenge and participants must take a photo within that week. For example, the gnome was taken during the “Shoot from Above” challenge for week 5.
For me, the point of signing up is to learn and grow in my ability to take pictures, mainly for this blog. Also, it’s fun to meet the weekly challenge and see what other photographers did with it. Folks are kind and encouraging, and the front man of this whole wonderful idea is a guy named Yosef Adest who does an amazing job of putting it all together! So glad I signed up!
Not to worry, though. I promise I won’t inflict all my shots on you. Just some of them. Like this “Fill the Frame” shot below from week 4.
Stay tuned!
An Update on my Simple Life
We’re now into February, so I’ve been walking out this year’s word, simple, for over a month. While I live a simple life by nature, I have been surprised how this tendency has increased even more so over the last several weeks.
Back in December I had this dream that we moved the coffee table over to the side wall, leaving a large open space in front of our electric fireplace and television stand. I thought it was odd in that it was so normal, as dreams usually aren’t. But it got my attention, and while I had to wait for the beginning of the year because the Christmas tree was taking up that space, I couldn’t wait to try it out. Once I moved the coffee table against the wall, the space seemed strange, and the distance between the television and couch seemed awkward. But it quickly grew on me. It’s more open, easier to clean, and uncluttered. I’m really liking it!
Another example: my diet. I’m trying this high protein, eat five small meals a day diet. My food choices are limited, and for now that’s okay. It’s freed me up from excessive meal planning and made grocery shopping easier and cheaper! Mike and I have cut out our daily low carb dessert to save calories. We’ve also decreased the amount of supplements we’re taking, and, speaking for myself, I haven’t noticed a difference. The ones I’m still taking are the most important–omega 3s, turmeric, multivitamin, and minerals (always minerals!).
Each day I try to accomplish one major thing, curbing the need to list every little item in my planner. If I think of some small task that needs doing, I just do it. I’ve learned that I can easily become overwhelmed, which, at times, can be paralyzing. Paying attention to how I work best has been freeing. Days feel less stressful, more focused, which leaves me more time to be present for those in my life.
Already a student of simple living, I find I’m digging deeper into the subject. I’ll be sharing what I’m learning as I go, and if you have anything to add to the discussion, I’d love to hear it!
Thoughts on Hunkering Down
Last Wednesday the National Weather Service had us preparing for a winter storm. We’d been warned, which meant buying groceries to last for a few days. In our area, that seems to be bread, milk, and eggs, for some reason. (French toast, anyone?)
Mom texted and asked if I’d meet her up at the barn to help move a heavy sack of feed and turn on the space heaters in the pump house. She wanted to get it done, she said, so she could hunker down for a few days.
For my own part, I was tempted to text Mike to stop by the store on his way home from a short work day (early dismissal due to weather) to pick up ingredients for soup. Mentally I was preparing to hunker down myself. Break out the fuzzy warm socks. Make sure coffee and tea supplies are plentiful. Have something ready for binge-watching.
The threat of a snowstorm will do that to a person.
And then, surprise, surprise, no storm! A powder sugar sprinkle of snow, a little bit of sleet, and that’s all she wrote. While part of me was relieved we missed the 4 – 7 inches forecasted for our area, the other part was a little disappointed. There is something so cozy about being home with nowhere you have to be, hunkering down with the ones you love.
Granted, that sentiment changes with the frequency of snow. For some reason, though, I have an inkling we’re going to miss the opportunity this year. And that’s okay, too.
There’s always next winter.
What’s happening in your neck of the woods?
Resources and related posts:
One Thing at a Time: 100 Simple Ways to Live Clutter-Free Every Day by Cindy Glovinsky
52 Frames Weekly Photo Challenge
How I’m Finding Time to Read and Other Worthy Pursuits
Posts from a year ago:
What’s in my Winter Wellness Kit
Butternut Beer Brats Soup Revisited
From two years ago: