Last week’s almond and coconut topped butternut squash soup was so delicious that I want to make more soups! I think I’m going to try making one different soup each week. Most of my recipes this week will keep me warm as it gets colder, but I did throw in a salad because I’m not quite ready for winter yet! Here are this week’s recipes:

Monday
Spicy vegan black bean burger Spring the recipe!

Tuesday
Tomato mozzarella basil salad Spring the recipe!

Wednesday
Beef and snowpeas with pan-fried noodles Spring the recipe!

Thursday
Hearty vegetable soup Spring the recipe!

Friday
Mushroom risotto Spring the recipe!

And for a special treat
Peanut butter blondies Spring the recipe!

Spring the whole meal plan!

I can’t believe it’s already November! This year has gone by so fast. After enjoy the last few warm days, it’s really starting to feel like fall. Most of my recipes this week are fall-inspired – warm and delicious! (Speaking of warm and delicious, last week’s apple pie was phenomenal. I’ll definitely be making it again soon! Maybe for Thanksgiving…) Here are this week’s recipes:

Monday
Turkey with maple mashed sweet potatoes Spring the recipe!

Tuesday
Mango pork tacos Spring the recipe!

Wednesday
Last-minute lasagna Spring the recipe!

Thursday
Almond and coconut topped butternut squash soup
Spring the recipe!

Friday
Cornflake chicken Spring the recipe!

And for a special treat
Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing Spring the recipe!

Spring the whole meal plan!

I’m really excited about desserts this week – the blueberry fool I made last week was so good!  I’m trying out a new apple pie recipe and hoping for the best.

Monday
Baked shrimp in tomato feta sauce Spring the recipe!

Tuesday
Tortilla soup Spring the recipe!

Wednesday
Lentil sausage ragout Spring the recipe!

Thursday
Salmon with pineapple salsa Spring the recipe!

Friday
Mexi-licious egg scramble Spring the recipe!

And for a special treat
Apple pie Spring the recipe!

Spring the whole meal plan!

Does creating a weekly meal plan simplify my life? Absolutely!

Last week’s Tom Yam Chicken turned out really well – I’m definitely going to make it again soon! Here’s what I have planned for this week…

Monday
Pumpkin turkey chili Spring the recipe!

Tuesday
Bow tie pasta with creamy garlic chicken and bella sauce
Spring the recipe!

Wednesday
Taco stuffed shells Spring the recipe!

Thursday
Thin seared beef with tomato jam and potato hash
Spring the recipe!

Friday
Butter paneer masala Spring the recipe!

And for a special treat
Blueberry fool with pistachios Spring the recipe!

Spring the whole meal plan!

Does creating a weekly meal plan simplify my life? Yes!

Quick tip: Know when to ditch your beauty products from Real Simple.

A couple of things I didn’t know:
- Nail polish is only supposed to last for a year.
- Perfume will keep for longer when stored in a cool, dark place.
- Liquid eyeliner shouldn’t be used for more than 3-4 months.

Yes, the cost of replacing your expired (or just used) makeup can add up quickly, so why not try making it yourself? Check out these recipes…

Homemade lip color Spring the recipe!
Homemade foundation Spring the recipe!

I just moved into a new apartment and am overwhelmed by my abundance of clothing, half of which I forgot I owned. Though I love shopping and constantly ask my friends for clothing advice, I’ve accumulated quite a lot of stuff. In addition to logging my favorite outfits,  I’ve decided to start using the Wardrobe Tracker from springpad.

The wardrobe tracker has been very helpful: I cataloged all of my dresses, tops, coats and pants into separate categories. Plus, I can add photos and notes to help me keep track of everything – colors, brands, and cleaning instructions. I modified the basic template to add some other cool sections – check it out!

Spring My Wardrobe Tracker!

Has the Wardrobe Tracker simplified my life? Definitely! It’s a great way to keep track of my existing clothing so I don’t buy duplicates!

This week is National Simplify Your Life Week.  So we’re bringing you a round-up of some of our best, simplest posts over the last year!

August 2008:  Organize your home redecoration project

September 2008: Drink more water for your health & to save money

October 2008: Shampoo your hair every other day

November 2008: Save time sorting dirty laundry

December 2008: Organize your kitchen pantry after the holidays

January 2009: Low on energy? Try a caffeine nap

February 2009: Get the perfect table at your favorite restaurant

March 2009: Delicious recipes can be simple!

April 2009: Save money on beauty products with these homemade tips

May 2009: Send reminders to your mobile phone

June 2009: Keep your purse organized

July 2009: Boil your pasta and vegetables together to save cooking time

I love having dinner parties and hosting guests, but eventually the cost of large meals starts to add up.  So what’s my solution?  Potlucks.

Not only do you still get to have everyone over, but you cut costs by having each guest bring something – whether it’s a main dish, a salad, or drinks.  Plus, you get to sample everyone else’s cooking and save yourself time and stress!

We’ve been hosting potluck dinner parties nearly every week at my house.  This week I’m making Roasted Potatoes with Herbed Goat Cheese and Thyme

Does hosting potlucks simplify my life? Absolutely.

Quick Idea: Boil your vegetables and pasta together from The Kitchn.

“Boiling your vegetables with your pasta isn’t going to give you layers of different flavors and textures, like adding roasted vegetables would. And it works best if you’re just adding one vegetable, so you aren’t tossing in different things at different times, all while making sure your pasta won’t overcook.”

This is a great idea for a quick and easy dinner! Fewer pots on the stove, less to clean up… you may have to pay a little more attention to the timing, but it sounds like it will work for me!

Managing laundry isn’t something that many people get excited about.  But, I’ve been trying a new system & am pretty pleased with it. It has not only saved me time, but has gotten rid of the need to buy a “presentable” laundry hamper to keep in the bathroom.

Here’s what you do:

1. Buy 3+ laundry baskets that are oval-shaped & are about the size of one load of laundry, which depends on your washer
2. Line them up in your closet
3. As you accumulate dirty clothes, drop them right into the appropriate basket – darks, lights, whites
4. When one of the baskets is full, pull it out, replace with an empty basket & wash that load (keep an empty basket stacked under one of the full baskets)

Spring the task list!

Doing this will eliminate the annoying process of digging into a hamper just to sort loads.  You’ll also reduced the likelihood of washing loads that are too small or too big.

Why buy laundry baskets in bulk? (6 at a time, in my case)

1. It’s really nice to have them stack neatly, whether in the closet or the laundry room
2. They crack, break & melt, so you will need to buy new ones eventually
3. It’s usually cheaper – I ordered mine from Ace Hardware (Did you know that they have free delivery if you have your order delivered to the local Ace?)

Did buying new laundry baskets simplify my life? Yes.
Check out the results.