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The Simple Interview: Lisa

by Lisa in In The Office on November 13, 2015

Hi belles! Every season we like to find a way to get to know you more, and to share our hearts. To dovetail with our current Cozy Fall focus, each of the Southern Weddings gals will be sharing our favorite ways to simplify and get cozy in our home lives over the next few months. We hope our ideas are helpful as you work to streamline and simplify your own lives for what matters most!

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Katelyn James

Say howdy to: Lisa Kirk, our editor

Favorite simple beauty routine or product: I’ve always struggled with breakouts, which means I’m no stranger to caking on much more makeup than I’d like to be wearing. Is it dramatic to say that Clinique’s Even Better foundation compact changed my life? The coverage is the best–instead of layering on liquid foundation, concealer, and powder, I can easily just use this foundation. Less products used and less time putting makeup on? Win-win!

Favorite simple fall activity: Fall is still a bit of a novelty to me, since almost every place I’ve lived has felt like summer year-round! I’ve loved going for runs in the crisp weather—the changing leaves make my usual routes feel totally fresh and new!

Favorite tech device/app/strategy that simplifies your life: I LOVE the Offline app for finding restaurants, activities, and events in the area and then checking them off. If you live in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Charlotte, Atlanta, or Nashville, it’s a must! Sign up here :)

Favorite morning routine that simplifies your life: My daily devotional is sent right to my inbox every morning at 6 A.M.. Seeing the notification on my phone (personal email is the only app I get notifications from) makes it so easy for me to start my day with prayer instead of social media.

Favorite evening routine that simplifies your life: I picked this up from my mom and didn’t even realize I did it until Dave pointed it out! I can’t go to sleep without a clean kitchen—dishes washed, counters wiped down, and appliances put away. It makes such a big difference in how I feel when I wake up. I also love that Dave gets our coffee ready every night so that all we have to do in the morning is press the button. (Next step: figure out the timer option!)

Favorite trick for simplifying your schedule: This may be really basic to folks who have been married for much longer than I have, but setting expectations about our schedules has been really helpful now that Dave and I are under one roof. We try to give each other plenty of notice about plans with friends, work events, etc. so that we can try to coordinate any plans that keep us apart. For example, while I was at Bridal Market for five days, Dave rounded up a few friends for a hiking/camping trip in the mountains!

Favorite simple weeknight recipe: There are few recipes I love more during the cold months than Gimme Some Oven’s crockpot white chicken chili. It is SO delicious (don’t skimp on the toppings—we love diced avocado, Greek yogurt, cilantro, and green onions) and ridiculously easy to throw together in the morning. I timed it one day and it took me exactly six minutes to prepare. Six!!

Favorite simple date: Our apartment complex has a rooftop porch, and we love bringing dinner up there when the weather is nice. Since we ate literally every meal outside while on our honeymoon, dining al fresco now always reminds us of Italy! I’m thankful to live in the South where eating outside during the fall is still a possibility :)

Favorite simple way you love on your beau: Physical touch is both mine and Dave’s primary love language, so whether we’re driving to the grocery store, watching TV, or taking a walk, we always hold hands! After FaceTime-ing our way through our long distance dating days, we like to joke that “If we’re not touching, it doesn’t count!”

Next up: Lara!

In case you missed a gal…
Emily’s simple favorites
Kristin’s simple favorites
Nicole’s simple favorites
Marissa’s simple favorites

Written with love by Lisa

Maureen November 13, 2015 reply

I have Lisa to thank for sharing her daily devotional with me. Blessed Is She is now delivered to my inbox every morning too and I agree I love starting my day that way.

I’ve also started having monthly sisterhood dinners with girlfriends to talk about our faith and have gotten several of them reading it too.

Thanks Lisa!
- Lisa November 13, 2015 reply
  
  Maureen! That is so awesome. I wish I could come to your dinners!! Xoxo!
Alyssa Furr November 13, 2015 reply

Love these simple and sweet recommendations, Lisa! I can’t wait to implement some of these with my husband (chicken chili)! I especially love the devotional email…I’ve already signed up! Happy cozy fall to you & the SW gals!
- Lisa November 13, 2015 reply
  
  Thanks Alyssa! Can’t wait to hear how y’all like the chicken chili–it’s so good! And I hope you love Blessed is She, too! :)
Rachel Nordgren November 15, 2015 reply

That rooftop porch sounds LOVELY, Lisa! Also, I’m the exact same way…going to bed with a clean kitchen (especially on Sunday nights right before the week begins!) is so important to me, too!
Dana November 16, 2015 reply

yay Lisa!

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The Simple Interview: Marissa

by Southern Weddings in In The Office on October 22, 2015

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Photo by Blue Ribbon Vendor Katelyn James

Favorite simple beauty routine or product: Y’all, I am such a product junkie. I love to try new hair and beauty products, so I have a laundry list of favorites. Currently, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Philosophy Purity face wash are at the top. I put my makeup on rather early in the morning and don’t have time for touch-ups throughout the day, so the primer helps everything go on smoothly and stay put all day. I’m also religious about taking my makeup off at night, and with a toddler, everything has to be done quickly. Purity takes off mascara and everything in one swoop.

Favorite simple fall activity: The pumpkin patch! This was the first year EK actually knew what was going on at the pumpkin patch, so it could not have been more fun! Though we got caught in a Florida sun shower on the hayride, picking out our family pumpkin, as well as EK’s mini pumpkin, was a blast.

Favorite tech device/app/strategy: When it comes to work, Dropbox, but when it comes to my personal life, Carousel! I have a bajillion photos of my girl on my phone–I am the mama who can’t delete those sweet shots, even the ones where she’s not even looking at the camera. I love how Carousel syncs the photos to my Dropbox, so I don’t have to worry about losing them.

Favorite morning routine that simplifies your life: Instant grits and Kodiak Cake Minute Muffins. EK is going through a phase where she’ll only eat grits for breakfast (I know, #Southernbabyprobs), so I always have a pack of instant grits on hand to make our mornings a bit easier. And the minute muffins? They’re for me. So cozy and so quick. Perfect for busy fall mornings!

Favorite evening routine that simplifies your life: Our dishwasher has a delayed start that I am pretty smitten with. After dinner, we clean up the kitchen and load the dishwasher, and I set the delayed start for the middle of the night. I love that this means the dishwasher doesn’t steal EK’s hot water for bath time, but I won’t forget to start it. Let’s just say forgetting to start the dishwasher has happened more times than I’d like to admit.

Favorite trick for simplifying your schedule: Saying no. It’s so simple, but sometimes, the easiest way to clear your schedule is to just say no. It’s easy to burn the candle at both ends. I’m definitely guilty of trying to jam-pack everything into the weekend because I had a busy week, or trying to go to the grocery store at 8 at night, but sometimes, “no” to whatever is cluttering your schedule is the right answer.

Favorite simple weeknight recipe: Does calling for takeout count? No, really! I’m not much of a chef. However, BDK and I are obsessed with Target’s parmesan breaded chicken. It’s so good, and you buy it pre-made, so it’s the perfect kind-of-home-cooked supper after a busy day. We keep a pack in the freezer for nights when we know we might not have tons of time.

Favorite simple date: Sushi and a movie in. BDK and I have always been movie-night-at-home kind of people–we used to walk to our local Blockbuster when we were in college! I know, Blockbuster! Now, we order “the usual” from our favorite sushi place and pick a movie or TV series to watch on Netflix. I’m known for falling asleep during the movie, so BDK has to tell me the ending in the morning. It’s kind of a tradition.

Favorite simple way you love on your beau: Sleep! I am positive that sleep is one of BDK’s love languages. On the weekends, I get up early with EK and we grab breakfast and dine al fresco on the porch so that BDK can sleep in.

Next up: Lisa!

In case you missed a gal…
Emily’s simple favorites
Kristin’s simple favorites
Nicole’s simple favorites

Written with love by Southern Weddings

The Simple Interview: Kristin

by Southern Weddings in In The Office on September 25, 2015

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Photo by Blue Ribbon Vendor Katelyn James

Say howdy to: Kristin Winchester, our Client Relations Director

Favorite simple beauty routine or product: My first thought was my shower cap (ha!). I am an infrequent hair-washer (y’all would be shocked), and I love having something that keeps my hair from getting wet. And clearly a good dry shampoo goes hand-in-hand with my shower cap! Simplify and extend a good hair day a few more days? Yes, please! Also, taking care of my skin is important, especially as I get older. Insert my favorite Clarisonic brush to get all the makeup off at the end of the day and a good night cream (currently Philosophy Nighttime Hope in a Jar) to plump up my skin while I’m sleeping!!

Favorite simple fall activity: Two words: Apply Cider. It’s not officially fall in our house until I make the first batch of apple cider. In terms of simple and fall, this might take the cake. I combine a jug of organic apple juice and Williams-Sonoma mulling spices and let it simmer on the stove until our house smells amazing and I can’t wait one more minute to pour myself a glass. I store the leftovers in a glass jar in the refrigerator, and heat up a mug at night while we are curled up on the sofa watching television.

Favorite tech device/app/strategy: Admittedly, I love how Em uses the native Notes app and I have similar lists of things I need handy. I am a big fan of a few apps that help me execute things saved in my Notes–think restaurants to try (Open Table), favorite coffee orders for friends (Starbucks) and books to read (Kindle).

Favorite morning routine that simplifies your life: We make the bed every day (except Sundays). I think that this sets the mood for the day, and I really love turning down the covers and climbing in bed at night. I’m also a BIG advocate of eating breakfast and love having easy-to-grab (healthy-ish) breakfast options at our finger tips. A few of our favorites: Oatmeal Bars (can be frozen and thawed in the microwave), Baked Oatmeal, and Luna Bars with a side of fruit.

Favorite evening routine that simplifies your life: Besides wiping down the counters and loading the dishwasher to leave things fresh and ready for the next day, we set the coffee pot timer and put out our mugs. It’s one less thing we have to do in the morning and waking up to freshly brewed coffee feels so fancy, yet it’s so very simple. Also, if you love fancy coffee but want a DIY option, go buy this kitchen gadget, add some vanilla to the milk, and magic: a fancy, frothy coffee.

Favorite trick for simplifying your schedule: Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan! And it doesn’t have to be gourmet (we have a few go-to meals that we rotate through each week and always keep breakfast for dinner as an available plan B). It’s amazing how much less stressed I am when I know what we’re having for supper at the end of the day. With our current schedules, I love to meal plan and grocery shop on Sundays, and typically do another quick run on Wednesday to pick up fresh bananas and any other miscellaneous fresh produce/meat we might need to finish out the week. My Emily Ley planner/app keeps me on track with what I’ve planned so I don’t forget.

Favorite simple weeknight recipe: When time is limited, and I need to get supper on the table in a hurry, my go-to trick is to get everything ready that morning: the crockpot + a few chicken breasts + salsa + 6-8 hours on low = perfectly pulled chicken for instant tacos, burritos, Mexican salads, etc. You can warm up a can of black beans and some tortillas and have a near-instant meal! These are three of my non-crock pot favorites: Pad Thai, Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries, and DIY Pizza (with pre-made dough from the grocery store)!

Favorite simple date: Y’all know I love a good date night. We Winchesters love ice cream and recently discovered a little dessert shop near our house that makes the best milkshakes. It’s quite a treat for us to have a weeknight, post-dinner adventure to get a sweet treat and sit and talk about our week or our plans for the weekend ahead. We happily substitute fancy decaf coffees when the weather turns cooler (plus one for FL, where it is ice cream weather almost 365 days a year)!

Favorite simple way you love on your beau: I make sure there is always chocolate milk in the refrigerator! Taking a page from the 5 Love Languages book, I have learned simple ways to show KPW love through service, which includes making sure I pick up a few of his favorite foods during my weekly grocery store run.

Next up: Nicole!

P.S. Check out Emily’s simple favorites, too!

Written with love by Southern Weddings

Rachel Nordgren September 26, 2015 reply

Kristin! First of all, it was an absolute JOY to meet you at the Influence Conference last weekend! You’re the bee’s knees, lady! Also, my husband and I are huge fans of making our bed first thing in the morning – I agree, it makes turning down the covers so much more luxurious at night!
A Simple Fall September 30, 2015 reply

[…] favorite ways to simplify and get cozy. You can check out their current interviews here and here. I love this series and thought it would be wonderful to share my own ways to simplify and […]