Sunday Prep Vol. 62

The week where we send birthday cards and take notes for next summer.

Take Notes for Next Summer

Before the summer schedule completely fades from memory, take a few minutes to think about what worked well and what felt harder than it needed to. Consider camps, childcare, travel, meals, activities, and the overall pace of your days. Write down a few things you want to repeat and a few you would do differently next year. These notes will make planning next summer much easier.

Something to do today:

Choose three outfits for the week and make sure everything is clean and ready. One less decision makes busy mornings easier.

Something to do this week:

Choose one evening to put your phone away and read for thirty minutes. Finish a summer book or begin one you’ve been meaning to start.

Sheet Pan Parmesan Chicken & Broccoli

Page 162 in The Simplified Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 1 (12oz) bag of frozen broccoli florets

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup bread crumbs, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place broccoli on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Cover chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound them out until they’re roughly 3/4 inch thick.

4. In a bowl, mix most of the Parmesan cheese and all the mayonnaise, reserving a little cheese for topping.

5. Top each chicken breast with cheese mixture and then with breadcrumbs (save a little of these too).

6. Add chicken to baking sheet next to the broccoli.

7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees.

8. A few minutes before everything is done, sprinkle the rest of the breadcrumbs and cheese on top of everything.

Pro Tip: Throw some quartered petite potatoes in with the broccoli at the beginning. Yum!

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

1. Send out birthday cards for upcoming August birthdays.

2. Leave cold drinks out for your delivery drivers

3. Create a back-to-school prep list

4. Empty and clean your ice maker

5. Replace air filters (especially if your AC is running hard!)

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

It’s time to get those homework stations in check! Fill this rotating organizer with fresh school supplies to make afternoons a little more productive.

It’s also time to organize your fridge and pantry for lunch-making season! We love these storage bins and baskets for keeping snacks and lunch staples easy to see and grab.

Whitney says this is the world’s most supportive sports bra, and she wouldn’t enjoy running nearly as much without it!

This new Molly Yeh Collection is so adorable! We love the idea of mixing and matching an assortment of the dessert plates.

We’re still talking about this cooling pillow. 10/10 for a good night’s sleep!

Loving the stripe on these bath towels! They’re still classic and simple in white, with just the right touch of color.

Speaking of striped towels, this hand towel is so cute! Add a monogram to make it an extra-special gift.

This sleeveless sweater is exactly what August and September call for! It’s perfectly lightweight while still looking stylish.

Lindsey wanted to join in on all the back-to-school shopping, so she got these for her fall sneakers! We LOVE the ivory!

2026–2027 Planners are now 25% off! It’s the perfect time to grab a Softcover Planner for your kids to stay organized through the entire school year.

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: “How do you keep your Planner helpful instead of overwhelming?”

Emily: Honestly, I use it as a brain dump first and a schedule second — once everything’s out of my head and on paper, I can actually think.

Brittany: I leave the appointments and meetings on my iCal and don’t bother duplicating them on my planner. Using a dual-planning system helps me keep things simplified and streamlined, and my planner is my companion for work tasks, brain dumps, and any personal to-do lists.

Whitney: Mine is just what I need to do or remember for that one day. I don’t pre-plan the week or month in my planner but use it as a tool to stay focused throughout the day so it doesn’t start to feel like a chore.

Dusty: I keep my planner helpful by giving it a clear job instead of expecting it to hold everything. I write down what truly needs to happen and let the rest live in my head or on another list. White space is just as important as what’s written down. When planning feels supportive instead of crowded, I know I’m doing it right.

Laura: Keep it simple. Get everything I need to do out of my head and cross things out one by one. And I don’t worry about making it pretty or perfectly color-coded. It’s gotta be stoopid simple for it to stick.

Carly: I don’t put pressure on myself to keep things consistently pretty or perfectly organized. Some weeks are cute and colorful, some are barely filled in, and some look like a mad woman’s scribbles. And they all work for me, depending on the week I’m having!

Lindsey: I’m with Emily! I use my Planner as a daily and weekly to-do list more than a schedule, and it helps me remember that, right here and right now, this is what I can control. I use our Monthly Acrylic Wall Calendar for my schedule!

Liz: I use my Planner as a guide, not a rule book. I try not to let it stress me out when my day doesn’t go according to plan. If I have to scratch meetings out that get rescheduled, all good. If I didn’t cross off a few things on my to do list, no biggie — I just move them to tomorrow. I try to keep the big priorities at the top of my list and tackle whatever else I can.

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

2026–2027 Simplified Planners have officially started, and we are so excited! We’ve each set up our Planners to work for our individual planning styles, schedules, and WFH routines, and we’re ready for a great work and school year. Happy August and Happy Planner Start week!

Liz is getting all our marketing ducks in a row for Fall Launch! She’s also gearing up to refresh lots of existing content, including our email and SMS flows, to make everything feel new and fun!

Brittany is processing lots of new wholesale orders this week and reviewing production proofs! Tell us in the comments: Where would you love to see Simplified in stores?

The August Journal Challenge

Take a few minutes each day this month to slow down, check in with yourself, and put your thoughts on paper. There are no right answers and no rules. Write a sentence, fill a page, or simply make a list!

1. What do you want August to feel like?

2. What is one small thing making you so happy right now?

3. Describe your perfect fall day from beginning to end.

4. What has this season of life been teaching you?

5. What is something you loved as a child that you still love today?

6. Where could you use a little more breathing room?

7. Make a list of ten things you’re grateful for today.

8. What is one goal you’d love to make progress on this month?

9. What song always puts you in a good mood, and what memory does it bring back?

10. What is taking up more of your energy than it deserves?

11. What is something you’ve changed your mind about recently?

12. If you could plan a completely free day, how would you spend it?

13. What is something you’re proud of yourself for handling recently?

14. What routines are helping you right now? Which ones are not?

15. What would you put in a time capsule from this summer?

16. What would be included in the starter pack for your current season of life?

17. If you could make one recurring plan with someone you love, who and what would it be?

18. Make a list of your favorite little luxuries that don’t cost much, or anything at all.

19. What do you wish you made more time for?

20. Describe your dream dinner party. Who is there, what are you serving, and what music is playing?

21. What is one expectation you’re ready to let go of?

22. What does feeling organized look like for you right now?

23. Write down five compliments you would give yourself.

24. What is one piece of advice you didn’t understand until you got older?

25. What is the first fall plan you want to put on the calendar?

26. What would your current season of life be called if it were a book chapter?

27. If someone handed you a plane ticket for Labor Day weekend, where would you go?

28. Where have you noticed growth in yourself this year?

29. What do you always say you’ll do when you have more time? Where could it fit into an ordinary week?

30. Write a note of encouragement to the version of you who started this month.

31. What do you want to carry with you from August into the month ahead?

What 2026 summer moment do you want to remember forever? Describe every detail.

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! 💕