Let it begin | 4 Ways To Dominate the Back-to-School Shuffle

I spent today hunched over my computer as I dredged through a backlog of email so impressive I could star in my own episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive - Virtual Edition. Classy. I'm doing my best to get caught up before school starts and all hell breaks loose. If you've followed along, you probably know that I'll …

One Year with a Planner, Still no Plan | Plum Paper Year 2

It's been a year since I started using my Plum Paper planner. I think I fall more in love with it every day. I mean, I have a completely reasonable relationship with this inanimate object...cause that would be weird. When I first introduced you to my planner in November, I'd already been using it for a …

day 14 | Climbing Kilimanjaro

I get deeply invested in (read: obsessed with) Vacation Bible School. 2015 marks my 5th consecutive year as the Pre-Primary Director (3-5 year olds). During my tenure, I've learned more than a few things about coordinating a week's worth of lessons, crafts, and activities. To get through the week without pulling my hair out, organization is the key. …

day 2 – We need a list, and other shenanigans

Tell me what is more satisfying than the kind of exhaustion that comes after a day of accomplishment. I dare you. On a recent Saturday, just before my mom headed out of town on a business trip, we had one such day. In an effort to encourage each other to complete all of the small …

Monday Musings: of vocabulary lessons, office overboard, and a world of nope…

Happy Monday! 1) My mom and I spend a lot of time together. I mean, a lot. Which means we talk a lot. So much, in fact, that it's a wonder that we have anything to talk about anymore. I guess the secret is talking about really inane things. At a recent dinner out, we were discussing...I …

Have hot glue, will travel.

I've been home for 3 days in a row because of the ridiculous weather we've had. We're two weeks away from the official start of spring and there is 5" of snow on the ground. Ugh. I'm also holding down the fort for a week while my mom is visiting David & Maggie on the West …

Step 1: Admit you have a problem.

May I just share something with you, without the inevitable scrutiny and eye-rolling? Probably not. I'm going for it anyway. I, Simone, being of sound mind and relatively sound body admit that I did knowingly and with intent spend in excess of 2 hours rearranging the pins on my Pinterest boards. *Shame* But it felt so good. …

But it’s Color-Coded!!!!

Half a dozen times in the past couple of weeks I've been complimented/called out/mocked for the same reason: I carry a paper planner. In the technological age in which we live, it may seem ridiculous that I tote around a spiral bound, 9x7", 2" thick notebook in which my whole life is contained.  I mean, I can't …

If this is going to ruin our friendship, just walk away…

So Emily has this problem.... I call it "Waytoomuch(stuff)ititus". Between moving from home to school and back again and trying to keep her ever burgeoning wardrobe under control, she's in way over her head, and has been lamenting her plight to me all summer.  So last week I finally relented and offered to help.  We …