simple tips: magazine overload

i am a total magazine junkie, from the cheesy gossip magazines to home decor. with that being said, sometimes you can have way too many lying around. my simple solution is to keep a folder and as you are flipping through the magazine tear out the articles, recipes, etc that you want to come back and read then throw the rest of the magazine in the recycling. 

got a clever, helpful or simple tip you wanna share?

email: simplelivingeveryday@yahoo.com

simple life: blackberries

i am so exited!

the blackberry bushes are lookin' good! 

about 3 years ago my husband's uncle gave us blackberry starts. and woo-lah 3 years later we will have tons of blackberries. 

so that means...

blackberry pie, homemade blackberry ice cream, blackberry jam, blackberry muffins...

got any other ideas for blackberries?

simple money savers: recycle your frozen dinner trays

if you eat frozen dinners like smart ones and healthy choice then save those containers! they make perfect disposable plates for the little ones! they bowl up on the sides and are small enough for their little hands to grasp. also you can use them a few times and pitch them (in the recycling of course!).

or if your having movie night and everyone wants chips and dip these are perfect! 

one side for your dip & one side for your chips!

sometimes we have to think outside the box when it comes to saving money and reusing items.

look for ways in the home to repurpose, reinvent and recycle before you go out and buy new. and this was one of those times when i was thinking about getting some cute little chip & dip bowls i saw at the store and figured out this little gem...

 money saving and cute for chip & dip bowls!

simple tips: box tops

okay so i hate cutting out all those box tops i save for my daughters school.

my solution is to hang a baggy with a magnet on the side of the fridge and rip 'em off and toss them in. this is handy for me, otherwise i would forget to rip them off or forget where i put the baggy.

when the bag gets full i take them out and cut them all out at one, put them back in the baggy & send them to school with her.

i do it when the baggy gets full, usually takes me just a few minutes to snip them all and i just do it while i'm on the phone. :)

simple tips: bacon

i had the hardest time pulling the bacon apart in nice strips (since the strips would always stick together and rip) but all you have to do is roll the bacon (while still in the package) back and forth and you get perfect pull-away bacon strips every time!

if you have a simple tip to share email it to me @

simplelivingeveryday@yahoo.com

simple time savers: plan ahead breakfast

one thing that helps our morning routine is to make up breakfast ahead of time.

this week our little girl has been eating corn hex for breakfast so to make her life and my life a little easier i made up her bowls ahead of time with a pinch of sugar.

so now i just pop the lid off, pour in the milk, she grabs a spoon and ta-da breakfast is served!

this is a great time saver!

simple money savers: 10 way to save gas $

with gas being $4 a gallon...enough said!

here are some helpful hints to save you @ the pump...

1. air it up!

make sure your tires are inflated correctly. tire pressure is important to gas mileage.

2. got junk in your trunk?

having extra pounds of junk in your trunk can burn up the gas, so clean out that car.

3. got a lead foot?

stick to driving the speed limit. driving over the speed limit does take a toll on your gas mileage.

4. got spark?

replace your spark plugs regularly because this can also cause you to use more gas.

5. hot momma?

if you're just driving across town leave the air conditioner off. believe me you're not going to melt.

6. get in & get gone!

before you start your car make sure you have what you need (hag bag, sunglasses, drink etc) so you don't leave it running idle while you run inside 3 times because you forgot something.

7. shade tree where art thou?

if your able to, park in the shade so your car doesn't heat up as fast and take longer to cool down.

8. fill 'er up!

if you're able to, fill up your car so you don't make extra trips to the pump.

9. these boots were made for walkin'!

if you live in an area that you can walk, then girl get out there and work it! if you live a block or two from the grocery store then don't drive to get that loaf of bread, just walk it. 

10. hitch a ride!

if you have a friend or neighbor that is driving to walmart or wherever then just tag along. and if you have a coworker near you trade off driving days.

most important tip:

put off today what you can do tomorrow!

if you know that you have an appointment the next day then put off your errands for the next day. consolidate those trips so your on the go everyday burning up that liquid gold gas. make every trip worth it!