#195: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part IV

I'm sharing ten simple shifts that made our home calmer, kinder, and more joyful, from fall break routines and kid chores to one-pot dinners and paper cycle tracking. The theme of this episode is gratitude!

1. Long fall break without school rush
2. Kids stepping up with dishes, sweeping, resets, laundry
3. Monochrome gym uniforms to cut decisions
   • Favorite cropped tee
   • Plum quarter zip
   • Navy quarter zip
4. Building a small real-clothes capsule
5. Early mornings with Scripture and prayer
6. One-pot curries, rice on repeat, frozen ginger cubes
7. Habit stacking coffee maker and feeding sourdough starter
8. Boxed pumpkin bread as a seasonal shortcut
9. Page-turner thrillers to restart reading joy
10. Paper cycle tracking with daily body cues

#44: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part I, #115: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part II, #131: 10 Things Simplifying My Life Right Now, Part III

Blog Post

www.daraboxer.com

Transcript

Framing Gratitude and Simplicity

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Raw on the Cooked, a weekly podcast that provides simple routines around the home plus raw and honest book reviews. My name is Dara. I'm a Midwestern stay-at-home mom to four young kids, and I thrive on simplicity. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode. Today I wanted to do another installment of 10 things that are simplifying my life right now. This will be part four. The three other episodes are episode number 44, episode number 115, and episode 131. If you wanted to go back and see what was simplifying my life back then. But I actually think that today is really it really should be named 10 things that I am incredibly grateful for just because my heart still feels really full and just I feel very very happy and abundant. Like like life is good right now. And so I'm going to just run with that. Okay, so they're kind of organized, but they're also like a little bit all over the place. So just bear with me. Okay, so the first thing is that my kids have essentially been on fall break since October 1st, between back to back to back Jewish holidays, and they don't go back until the 20th. So I mean that is like a nearly a full three weeks of break. And it's also been really nice. I know a lot of parents are like, oh God, I can't wait till they go back, or like this it's just such a long break. And I have been having a fantastic time. There are no lunches to pack, no backpacks to reset, no morning and after school snack to pack in the backpack, no homework to do to check, no rushing out the door, ensuring that my older two kids are dressed, fed, teeth have been brushed, and their shoes are on by 7:45. It's just nice to exist and just be. And we've also been doing a lot of fun activities. We've done the zoo, we did an indoor swimming day at the gym. We went to some of our favorite play spaces, both indoor and out. And we've just been on a very relaxed but beautiful schedule. It's just been great. It's just been really nice having them home. And I don't know, I miss them when they're in school. So I've just I've really been enjoying fall break so far. Uh number two is that I I had mentioned last week that my husband broke his foot, which sort of it was like it's a blessing and not even in disguise, like it's a blessing in like some weird, convoluted kind of way. I did talk about it in last week's episode. But my three big kids have seriously stepped it up with household chores, and it has been so life-giving. Not after every meal, but after most meals, if I catch them, I'm like, okay, you know, you're bringing the plates up to the sink, you're sweeping, you're spraying and wiping down the table. They are, they have been so good about resetting rooms and tidying up before we leave the house or before I turn on a movie for them in the afternoon or before bed. It's just been great. And they are helping with laundry. Like it is just, it's been wild. Even my three-year-old is like, what's my job? Can I spray the table? I'm like, yes, you can. Absolutely. So it's that it's just been like amazing. I didn't even know. I mean, I guess we've like reached the next level of parenting, right? Like my kids have always been really good about putting away their own clothes and bringing their dirty clothes to the hamper and bringing their plates and cups and everything up to the sink. Like, I think for their ages, they definitely do a lot around the house. But the fact that we have like reached this new level is just I I don't even know what to say. Like, I feel like I'm still in shock because it just feels so much easier around here. So that's been great. Um, number three and four have to do with my clothing. So, number three is um I splurged at Athletia for monochromed gym clothes, gym outfits, I should say, for the fall. Right now, I am able to squeeze in two gym mornings into my schedule, maybe three if I'm ambitious, uh, but I really wanted to go with like fun monochromed outfits. My two colors this fall that I'm just like going full hard on are magenta and navy. Those are just like two jewel tones that look really good with an autumn, a soft autumn complexion, which I have. I have hazel eyes, I have really dark hair and really fair skin with freckles. Like I'm very pale. And so jewel tones look very good. And so I was like, you know what? Let's drive that home. So Tuesdays are for my navy leggings, my navy signature rib crop tee, again, athleta, and a matching navy pullover. Thursdays mirror that with a magenta signature rib crop tee, magenta quarter zip, and magenta leggings. Although I think technically they call it plum, but whatever, I'm calling it magenta because it's like, it's like, yes, it's plum, but it has like like it's also like on the brighter side, but still subtle and like goes well with like a very fairer complexion with like dark hair. Anyway, so I'm I'm loving it. I'm gonna link um the different uh pullovers and the crop tea that I'm really into in the show notes, just in case you wanted to check it out. It's been so fun, and it's really nice to know that on Tuesdays I wear navy and on Thursdays I wear magenta, and like that's it. I according to the gym, I have like two outfits, and actually that's kind of carrying over from the summer because I had the same like two or three monochromed outfits, but like instead of the like the full-length leggings, they were just like biker shorts with like the signature crop tee. Um, I had a teal, uh I guess it's like yeah, like another jewel tone, and then same with the magenta. So those three outfits, and I also have like a black and white, but I feel like it's like not jewel tones, it's like not like fun, so I don't know, I wouldn't count it. But anyway, the point being I'm really into monochrome and I'm really into having like a designated day that I wear something, it just kind of like cuts down on decision fatigue, especially in the mornings. Like I just do not want to think about it. And so, number four, speaking of my clothing, now that I'm mostly back into my pre-baby weight and my old clothing size, I'm trying to wear real clothes on non-gym days. I have sort of put together like a little capsule for myself, and I'm really trying hard to avoid black leggings and a sweater in the fall, which is typically what I do when I'm postpartum or I'm pregnant. It it's just been like my signature fall look for the last like seven years, ever since I started having babies. And so, like, we're done. Um, you know, I don't know what God has planned, but according to my husband and I, like, you know, four is good. We're happy with four. So I really want now that I'm like back to my old size, I want to wear like pants again. And ironically, every time I've like lost baby weight and like back to my old size, the pants that I had like before I got like they're not in style anymore. Like the last time, like I just feel like and I I try to keep up with like the pat the pants and like the fashion trends, and I just feel like I can't get it right. So I'm still struggling a little bit, and I don't know if I'm gonna like carry on with these. I just feel like I've like accrued so many different styles and cuts of jeans in the last like eight years, just because like nothing has been the same fashion-wise for pants. So it's been a little overwhelming. But this summer slash like early fall, I wanted to prepare myself because you know the baby weight's gone and whatever, like I'm gonna get like in-style pants. So I have a handful of different like wide leg or like boot cut or like whatever, whatever the style is. So I'm excited about that. And then really my tops, I feel like I've paired it down to like five that I just like love so much. I have two button-down blouses that I love. One is like a really pretty floral print from Bowdoin. Another one is actually a maternity button-down. It's from oh gosh, what is that? I can't remember the company, but it's like so soft. It's silk, it's like a very subtle like blue stripe over like a white shirt. I just love it so much. So I'm still wearing it. I mean, I don't know why anyone would brand a shirt maternity that's like a button-down, because you know, you can obviously like anyway. And then I have a really pretty dark blue navy blouse, also with flowers that I've had forever. I have a black and white stripe tee that I've had forever, and a couple of other outfits that I have like thrown together and alternate between the pants that I have, and it's been good. I have a couple of like really pretty sweater tees that I splurged on over the summer, and I'm really into it. And what I've decided to do is just take everyone's fashion advice that's like ever fashioned. And they say when you put together a good outfit and you like the way you look, you feel good, you feel like you look put together, take a picture of yourself with the outfit so you don't forget. And next time you're kind of like in a pickle, you can like mentally go back and be like, oh yeah, like that shirt and these pants look really good. I feel good in it, and they go great with these shoes. So that's kind of what I'm doing right now. I've like put together a couple of outs. It's been a little hard uh because of the weather. I know that sounds like really silly, but we are halfway through October and it's still really warm. Like there are still some days where we're like we're in the mid 80s, and so some outfits that I want to wear and have earmarked for fall, like I can't quite wear, which is a little frustrating, but we'll get there. We will have no shortage of months where it is just like cold and I'm like all set for wearing these outfits. So at some point I want to get to a place where I have put together like this is what I wear on Mondays, this is what I wear on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, because you guys know I already do my uh monochromed athleisure on Tuesdays, Thursdays. Um, but I kind of want to just like get like a solid idea of what I wear every single day of the week. Again, just to cut down on on just the decision fatigue, right? Like Steve Jobs and you know, his like uh oh gosh, what's what's her name? Elizabeth Gilbert, who like, or no, not Elizabeth Gilbert. Elizabeth Holmes, no, is I uh too many Elizabeths, whatever. The woman, the woman who like had the blood company that was like a complete fraud. The two of them, they like loved their black turtlenecks and jeans, and like that's all they wore ever, right? Like one outfit. I'm not totally at the I I love fashion too much to get to that point, but I want to get to like a like like step two B of that, like essentially like a black turtleneck for like Wednesdays, right? Like I want to get to a place where I'm like, okay, it's Monday, this is what I'm wearing. Okay, enough about clothes. Number five. So even though we're on school holiday, I am still getting up before the kids. Mainly the cat, the cat. He just wakes me up early. So it's mainly his fault. But I am getting up well before the kids, I'm feeding the cat, I'm starting a load of laundry, and I'm grabbing a cup of coffee, and I'm either sitting outside in our succa or in our living room and I'm reading the Bible. I'm currently three-quarters of the way through Exodus. And after I read a chapter or two and think about it and kind of sit on it, I just pray to God for the day. And right now it is mainly just saying thank you for the abundance he has given me. Like more than half of my prayers these days are just sheer gratitude, just thanking God and asking what I can do to serve him better. And it's the days that I make it that far, because you know, again, I just like never know when the baby's gonna wake up. So sometimes I have like well over an hour to read and pray and just like be alone with my thoughts and like finish a whole cup of coffee while it's still hot, just like amazing. And other times I can't even get through one chapter because like she's waking up early for some reason. So it's you know, it's hard. And I know we'll get to a place where like it's not like okay, so yes, the baby is very unpredictable of when she wakes up. In fact, all my kids are. Like, I never know it's like what kind of day or morning it's going to be. But the difference is is my three, five, and six-year-old, even if they get up at like 5:45 in the morning, they'll just play in their rooms until they're ready to come out. So that like they don't need me, which is just like so amazing and just such a change. Um, so that again has been like a breath of fresh air to know that like we're not that far off from that kind of morning. So just holding that in my brain and in my heart, I feel like is gonna get me through the next like year and a half of babyhood with our fourth and final. Okay, so number six that I'm just like incredibly grateful for. Uh, one pot curry recipes, or like just maybe curry isn't the right word, but um, I found a really delicious butter chicken meatball recipe. I found a chickpea and spinach curry, and I have been making my Thai chicken with red peppers and onions lately. All of it's just like super warm and delicious, has like butter and coconut milk and just like just so yummy. And I usually just add a humongous heaping spoonful of rice and freshly chopped cilantro, and it's just so good. These are one pot dishes. Well, technically two, because you have to make the rice, but rice is typically one of those items that I make very regularly, like hard-boiled eggs. So I'm like never not making rice. So to me, it's not that big of a deal. There's always rice in my refrigerator. Um, so if you don't count the rice, it's a one-pot meal. And it's really good. Um, speaking of which, this is like a part B of this is that I finally gave in and started buying Trader Joe's frozen grated ginger cubes. It's like a pack of 20 frozen teaspoons of grated ginger. I think they also add a little bit of lemon in there, if I remember the ingredients correctly. But basically, it's just like someone else grated it, peeled and grated your ginger for you. And it's just like, it's so good. It's so good. And like, yes, I can absolutely peel and grate my own ginger, but I don't want to, you guys. I I I have four kids and a husband with a broken foot. Like, I don't, I don't want to peel and grate ginger anymore. I'm just, I can't. I'm not, I'm not going to. So I I have given in and I am buying frozen grated ginger. And it's been, it's been good. Okay. Number seven is habit stacking by resetting the coffee maker for the next morning and feeding my sourdough starter together at the same time. Like mentally, I am telling myself that it is the same chore. So if I reset the coffee maker for the next morning, I've I have to feed my starter. Like it's one task in my brain now. I used to feed my sourdough starter when I fed my kids breakfast. Um, but as you can imagine, that quickly became a terrible option because I would either forget or ignore it because mornings and mealtimes in general are just like really chaotic over here. So that wasn't working. And then I it would go, it would be like two days before, and then I would just like remember that I hadn't fed it, and it was just like it was just like a mess. I can't believe it hasn't died um with like all the neglect. But finally, a couple of months ago, I made the decision just to habit stack those two items because they like are close together in the kitchen anyway. And so that is what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and my my starter is thriving. So I feel really happy about that. I don't really have a specific like habit stack for putting together a loaf and like letting it rise and when I'm baking it. So that's kind of all over the place. At some point, I'd like to systemize it, but just like uh it'll come with time, I guess. Okay, so number eight is another Trader Joe's win, and it is their pumpkin bread mix. It's like it's boxed, and all it requires are eggs, oil, and water. I use avocado oil and I add in a little bit of vanilla extract and chocolate chips just because, and it's so good. Currently, we are just plowing through two boxes a week, and I don't even care anymore. I I consider myself a pretty decent baker. I really have not done boxed cake or boxed cupcakes in years. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I used a box for anything. Like, I I used to be very proud and felt like I was like above it, but not right now. Not right now. I have four small children and one who is just like hellbent on doing dangerous shenanigans at the top of the steps. We're talking about my baby here, and a husband with a broken foot. So again, a boxed pumpkin bread all the way. And like, do I have a fantastic pumpkin bread recipe? Yes, I do, but I do not have the bandwidth to pull out all the ingredients. So Trader Joe's box mix, it is. I highly recommend it. You should try it. Another brainless item on my list is number nine, and it is just books, murder mysteries that are, I guess you would call them popcorn thrillers. Like they're good to read and you don't really care how the outcome is, but they're just like gripping and you just want to stay in bed and read. Uh, I went through this phase a couple weeks ago where I really had no interest in reading anything other than just like Bible-centric books. And um, anything else that I would pick up or read just felt so like empty and pointless. And I'm still kind of there a little bit, but I feel like right now it's uh The Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. It's sort of like taken me out of that. So I'm gonna just like thank Alice Feeney and her books for me, she's like a very hit or miss author. Like, I feel like some of her books I really love and others not so much, and I quit like 50 pages in. But this one I can tell it's probably going to be really stupid and very disappointing, but it's a page turner and I'm into it. So thank you, Alice Feeney, for like bringing me out of my, I guess I don't want to call it a Bible slump, but my whatever the blockage was. And then the last item on my list, number 10, that I'm just like really grateful for. I had mentioned a couple episodes back that I am tracking my cycle in my actual paper planner. I deleted the app that I was a subscriber for for over 10 years. No, 13 years. I don't know. It's a it's been a very long time. And I would notice with it that I wouldn't always just because like I don't want to like open the app and like track things and like I never had like a designated time to like track all my symptoms, and so I wouldn't. Um, but now I am every single day since I opened my paper planner anyway, I am tracking um five things. I'm tracking whether or not I pooped, and if if so, I sorry, I love poop like a lot. If so, like was there anything unusual about it, right? Like, was there constipation, was it diarrhea, or was it normal? I am tracking whether or not I moved my body, whether it's walking or doing um like a circuit of upper and bot lower body workouts. I am tracking my energy, which I think is really important. I'm tracking whether it was like a high energy day or a low energy day. I am tracking uh types of discharge, because that's also important, like whether it's sticky, creamy, egg white, or dry. Um, sorry for any males that are listening. Um, but again, cervical mucus is a really important tracker to like see when your fertility is peaking, like your fertile window. Um, I'm number five, like sex. Like I'm tracking, like, you know, just just in case there's like a whoops that wasn't planned, I can, you know, easily pinpoint back to that date, um, which again I think is also really important. Um I know the date of conception for all my children, and like I mean, I don't remember it, but like yes, it was there. And I'm also tracking whether or not like there are any symptoms like headaches or cramping or heaviness or just like you know, symptoms you'd want to track, like irritability or um like a craving, whether it's salt or sweet, um, and just like getting to know my body a little bit better. And not that I like don't know it very well, but I feel like tracking my cycle and all the symptoms and all the things I just described on pen and paper, I feel like I'm within six months, I'll be able to get like a pretty good idea of what's, you know, normal for my own body, especially now that we're done having babies. Um, I don't, you know, it's it's so the cycle is just such a mess postpartum. And when you're nursing and pregnant and it's just like a whole thing, or I guess you don't have a cycle when you're pregnant, but you get where I'm going with this. So now that I'm like my body is like more than a year out, I'm like in a good place to start tracking and pinpointing and just like seeing what that looks like. So that that concludes the 10 things that um are simplifying my life, but also just bringing me so much joy and happiness. So thank you guys so much for tuning in today, and I will catch you back here next week.