Make RealSimple.com My Homepage|Simply Stated|Newsletters|Real Simple Rewards|Photo Galleries
Featured: Adventures in Chaos| Nearly Wed| No-Obligation Book Club
Categories: Food & Recipes| Home & Organizing| Beauty & Fashion| Holidays & Entertaining| Health| Work & Life| Technology


Everyday Life
A few things I wish for you in 2009:
Posted on Dec 23, 2008 3:21:39 PM  |  By KristinVanOgtrop

A $20 bill in your purse at all times An organized bedroom closet A full tank of gas Children who don’t argue about taking out the trash A government you can believe in Clutter-free kitchen counters Good coffee Someone else to fold the laundry Time to exercise A partner who doesn’t assume you will answer the phone every time it rings, especially if he is sitting closer to it, not that that ever happens to me At least one decent vacation A good night’s sleep at least 75% of the time At least one coworker who really makes you laugh...

Comments (14)|Continue Reading »



Family | Holidays
Which of your holiday traditions are non-negotiable?
Posted on Dec 19, 2008 3:36:19 PM  |  By KristinVanOgtrop

I was in a meeting with a work colleague this morning who was up writing Christmas cards at 11:30 last night. Her husband walked into the room and said to her, “I can’t believe you’re sending Christmas cards out this year!” I didn’t even ask the logical follow-up question, which is why he thinks they should not be sending them out. I honestly didn’t care. Because, you see, sending out holiday cards is one of my non-negotiables. Every year I buy them from the incredibly charming stationery store owned by my friend Ann Marie; every year I custom order them;...

Comments (30)|Continue Reading »



Everyday Life
Christmas music has taken over my life
Posted on Dec 11, 2008 10:25:21 AM  |  By KristinVanOgtrop

I love Christmas as much as the next person (well, maybe not quite as much, because The Next Person may not be on stress level code red the entire month of December, as I always seem to be--idiotically, I must add). And I love FM radio as much as the next person, which might explain why I do not listen to CDs or my iPod or even satellite radio in the car, but instead the eight or so stations that have been magically pre-programmed (by a husband/nanny/kid/car dealership/elf) in our car. But because I only listen to these eight stations,...

Comments (26)|Continue Reading »



Family
Why won’t my son wear a winter coat? (And other battles not worth fighting.)
Posted on Dec 1, 2008 1:01:48 PM  |  By KristinVanOgtrop

I know there are some teenagers who wear winter coats, because I see pictures of them in catalogs and even see them occasionally walking down the street in my town. They seem to be nice, intelligent kids, and not giant dorks as my 13-year-old Eldest would have me believe. This still does not answer the question, however, as to why my own son will not wear a coat. First, a history of the battles he and I have fought over the years: BATTLES I HAVE WON --take your muddy shoes off at the door --no t.v. during the week --no...

Comments (39)|Continue Reading »






Subscribe

Enter your email address to get updates:

Get the RSS feed
Subscribe by Category


Previously on Simply Stated


Advertisement




Search Simply Stated




Contributors

Archives

Advertisement

Sites We Like


Featured in Alltop