Sunday Prep Vol. 19

The week where we let debate candy corn and celebrate TLOAS.

The Birthday Bag

Start a “Birthday Bag” that lives in a closet, cabinet, or drawer. Stock it with a few celebration basics: a couple of blank cards, tissue paper, a neutral gift bag, and 1–2 small gifts like a candle, book, or sweet treat. This way, when a birthday or special occasion sneaks up, you’ll have everything you need on hand—no frantic last-minute store run required.

Something to do today:

Give your phone a quick wipe-down. It’s one of the germiest things we touch all day, yet we almost never clean it. Use a cloth with a little rubbing alcohol (or a phone-safe wipe) and take 30 seconds to freshen it up.

Something to do this week:

Try a new recipe that feels seasonal or cozy. Think pumpkin bread, a pot of soup, or a warm apple crisp. It doesn’t need to be fancy—just something that makes your home smell amazing and reminds you to slow down and savor the season.

Pumpkin Muffins

Page 47 in The Simplified Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 1 (15.25 oz) box spiced cake mix

• 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin

• 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 12 cup muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Mix cake mix and pumpkin together. Divide batter evenly among muffin tins.

3. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of each muffin.

4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.

Get ahead of your week & make time for the things on your agenda!

1. Get pumpkins at the farmers market

2. Plans to exercise

3. Appointments – doctor, dentist, eye

4. Go apple picking

5. Car wash & vacuum

👇What else are you putting in your planner this week?

Things our team is talking about this week …

1. Lindsey wrapped a baby gift in Happy Stripe wrapping paper this week and has now decided she’s obsessed. She said she’s planning her holiday decor around it. Try organizing your wrapping paper in a basket this year so it’s not all over the place!

2. Cardigans are IN. This one will be on repeat for all of us the rest of the year.

3. Laura just bought this pretty set of a classic game, and her fam is loving it. We’re in our analog era!

4. We’re swooning over Lake’s collection with Meri Meri. These are what Sugar Plum Dreams are made of!

5. Brittany is still inspiring and encouraging everyone to try the new pretzel bread at Chick-fil-A. Lindsey gave it a 10/10 this week!

   

6. Designer-inspired flats at a more affordable price. We suggest sizing up! Love that these go with everything.

7. You had to know our team would be talking about Taylor this week. What are your thoughts on the new album?

   

8. The perfect fall dress. Flattering on everyone!

9. First off, does anyone here like candy corn? Second, do you mix it with peanuts?! Our team has some polarizing thoughts. Third, are you team twizzlers or red vines?

   

10. We were talking about the joy decor brings us and our children this week. These ghosts are so fun for Halloween!

Each week, we're answering your real-life questions—about routines, meal ideas, work-life balance, favorite movies, and everything in between. Got a question? Leave it in the comments!

Q: “What did you choose to let go of to simplify your life? Was it a standard of perfection? A specific task? Something else?”

Emily: I let go of travel sports for my kids. They play on their school’s sports teams and love it. That travel lifestyle just didn’t work well for us.

Brittany: I let go of caring too much about what most people think of me. Close friends and family, I consider those views for sure. But on the whole, I’m 39 now and feel confident in the person I am and how I treat others and view the world.

Whitney: I let go of the need to be on every social platform and aware of every new thing. Some days I feel like I live under a rock, but protecting my peace is my priority.

Dusty: I let go of keeping up with every trend, home, fashion, or otherwise. My closet (and my brain!) feel so much calmer.

Laura: I let go of keeping up with getting my nails done at a salon. In this season of life, I just can’t justify that time away from home. Thank goodness for the Olive and June at home gel mani system!

Carly: I let go of my need to DIY or be frugal about every single thing around the home. Working a lawn care service into our budget has truly saved my husband’s and my sanity this year! The investment has paid back tenfold in how much simpler it is to care for and enjoy our outdoor space.

Lindsey: I let go of the idea that I can’t change my mind. At this point in my life, making decisions that felt too final was overwhelming. So instead, I’ve given myself permission to grow, and to let my choices grow right alongside me.

Liz: I let go of the pressure of maintaining a million friendships. I used to think having the biggest group of friends was THE goal. But in this season of life, I just can’t. I want to pour myself and my time into my family and friendships that make me better. I’ve found a lot of peace in nurturing my small circle of people.

🩷 Have a question for our team? Leave it in the comments and your Q might be featured next week!

1. SNEAKY little peek at something coming later. We love beautiful paper. That’s all we can say.

   

2. It’s basically December over here. We’re in the thick of planning holiday content, and it’s so joyful. Can’t wait for y’all to see!

3. We take Secret Santa very seriously on our team, which is probably surprising no one. Dusty sent out our names way in advance so we can be sure to have the perfect gift for our drawn names. Let the shopping begin!

   

Download and print our Celestial Stencil to take your pumpkin decorating to the next level! Just cut out each shape to make a stencil and paint directly onto your pumpkin.

Download here.

What’s one thing I’d like to leave behind in September, and one thing I want to welcome in October?

Get your journal for the season here.

Thanks for reading this week’s edition of Sunday Prep! We hope you have the best week! Can’t wait to chat Wednesday in our next Post! 💕