Simple Living Archives -

10 Cozy Gift Ideas for Women

If you’re still shopping, then I have 10 cozy ideas for you today! I chose items to promote slow, cozy, comfy moments. It’s a great time of the year to rest and renew, and I hope these gifts help you or a loved-one do just that!

Feel free to click on the item name or picture to get further details about each gift idea!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Fuzzy Slippers

These fuzzy slippers are so cute and look super comfortable!

Cozy socks

Cozy socks that come in 13 different color choices? Yes, please!

Electric Tea Kettle

I have this electric tea kettle and love it! Stove top kettles are also an option.

Stash brand tea set

I absolutely love tea. With this set containing 40 tea bags and 20 different flavors, the tea-lover in your life is sure to be pleased! If you want it in a bamboo gift box, that option is available too.

Throw Blanket

A warm flannel fleece blanket makes for a great gift idea!

Cozy sweatshirt

This cozy sweatshirt/jacket combo comes in 9 different colors.

Heating Pad

There are thousands of positive reviews on this heating pad.

Marble Ceramic Mug

There are plenty of size and color options available. The YETI mugs are also a good option for those that like to take their drinks on the go. I have and love this style.

Thick Knit Infinity Scarf

This infinity scarf comes in a variety of styles with dozens of color options.

Fleece Pajama Set

Nothing says cozy like a fleece pajama set. This one comes in 4 different patterns.

What about you? What gifts say “cozy” to you? I hope you found something on this list that inspires your gift-giving. Feel free to share in the comments below!

If you missed my tween/teen gift guide, feel free to check it out!

If you’re curious to see gift guides from past years with plenty of fun ideas, you can look here!

Until next time,
Charissa
The Not So Busy Mom

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The Perfect Twin Mattress for Under $100!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)

Buying a Mattress

It’s no secret that I am a fan of online shopping. I find it to be a simple way to make my life just a little easier. I do a majority of my grocery shopping online, and I tend to do much of my household product and gift-buying there, as well. I am guessing you probably do a little of the same. But what about shopping for a mattress online? That sort of sounds like a bit of a stretch for some, but for me, it seemed like the right option.

I have actually never tried out a mattress before buying it. My parents chose my mattresses as a child. When I was in college, it was provided for me. Post-college, my roommate purchased a mattress for me. My husband picked out our current mattress.

Perhaps it’s because of my past experiences that I wasn’t scared away by the idea of purchasing a mattress online. All 3 of my kids were in need of a mattress. My youngest was moving out of her toddler bed, my oldest had been sleeping on my old mattress, and my middle child was sleeping on a horribly uncomfortable mattress.

An Inexpensive Option

Replacing 3 mattresses seemed like an overwhelming task because of the money that would be spent to make that happen, but then I started looking online. One of my first options was Amazon.

I really wasn’t looking to spend much money, so I looked for the most inexpensive twin mattress with great reviews. An option from Linenspa popped up, and I loved what I was reading in the reviews. I also really loved the cost at $99.99.

We decided to just purchase one and see what we thought. Here’s what it looked like upon arrival!

Unwrapping and allowing the mattress to breath for a few hours was an exciting event for my children. It really only took a few minutes for the mattress to come to size, but the packaging does say it can take up to a few hours.

We all tested the mattress even before it went on my daughter’s bed, and we were all very impressed with the comfort of this inner spring/memory foam design.

2 weeks later I decided we might as well buy mattresses for my other kids as well. We ended up purchasing 2 more.

The mattress is still a winner in our books. My husband is quite particular about mattresses, and even he says it’s quite comfortable.

This might be our pick (in a queen size) when it comes time for my husband and I to update our own mattress.

Might be a great choice for your family too

I was so very pleased with our experience buying a mattress (make that 3 mattresses) online. I realize this might not be for everyone, but if you’re inclined to buy items (even big purchases) online, then I would completely recommend this one.

I suppose only time will tell how long this holds up, and if we will continue to love it, but I do know they have a 10 year warranty.

A comfortable twin mattress for just $99.99 shipped to my door?! Yes, please!!

What about you? Would you buy a mattress online? What unexpected item have you successfully purchased online? I would love to hear from you, so drop me a comment below.

Until next time,

Charissa

Keep It the Same to Keep It Simple

Keep it the same to keep it simple

They say, “Variety is the spice of life.” And yes, I can agree, taking chances, making changes, and trying new things can be a very good thing, but I also strongly believe that keeping things the same is a good thing. In fact, I think that keeping it the same is a great way to keep it simple.

Consider 3 areas in your life where you might keep it the same to keep it simple.

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Food

Almost every day I eat a salad for lunch. I shared this little tidbit in a previous post called 7 things I do to make my life a little easier. Instead of staring into the fridge or rifling through the cupboards, I get out my salad greens and various toppings to create my tasty lunch salad. Boring? Not to me. Simple? For sure!

food1

When it comes to my kids’ school lunches I also keep it the same. Their lunch containers have handy dividers that help me pack with a consistent system: a waffle or bagel sandwich in one, fruit in another and veggies in the third. Throw in a water bottle and a bonus item, and there you have it! A simple lunch is complete! I don’t have to try to overthink school lunches each day. I keep it the same to keep it simple.

For meal prep & more check out these posts:

Meal Planning 101

Why My Kids Bring Their Lunch to School

The 5 Tasks You Should Do Before You Grocery Shop

Clothing

Have you ever heard of the 10 item wardrobe? It’s essentially a seasonal wardrobe consisting of 10 key items paired with a few extras. It’s a popular minimalist approach to clothing. Why is this approach so appealing? It simplifies things. You have a small assortment of items that fit well and make you feel good. No more standing in front of an over-stuffed closet for the better half of the morning (while still) complaining that you have nothing to wear. No more ill-fitting clothes that remain in your wardrobe “just in case”.

de-clutter

Although I don’t have a 10 item wardrobe I have been trying to be more intentional about what items I add to my closet. I have also been quick to remove items that don’t look good or ones I no longer wear. A more minimalist closet is a type of “keeping it the same”. If you know that a certain style of jeans look good on you then get rid of the other styles. Keep it the same. If you love to wear t-shirts and cardigans then get rid of the button downs that are shoved in the back of your closet. Keep it the same. If you have 30 pairs of shoes but consistently wear the same 3 then get rid of the other 27. Keep it the same.

For more on clothing, check out these:

$10 credit towards your first thredUP clothing purchase

Got 15 Minutes? Bedroom Closet Organization

What I Do with the Clothes I Purge from my Closet

Daily Routines

Daily routines seem to be the most basic way you can keep it the same to keep it simple. I’m a big fan of routines. Routines are not as rigid as schedules, in my opinion, but they do provide a rhythm to your day. Do you have a morning routine? An after school routine? An evening routine? In my last post I shared 5 tasks to do before bedtime to prepare for the next day; those tasks are basically an evening routine. Doing them each evening is keeping it the same. If you have not implemented some general routines into your schedule, taking one part of the day and choosing 3-5 things you do each day around that time might be the perfect place and way to start! A routine is a way to keep it the same. Keeping it the same is a great way to keep it simple!

declutter 2

These are just 3 areas in your life where you might begin thinking about keeping it the same. Keeping it the same keeps things simple. And keeping things simple is just one of the many ways to make life just a little less busy.

What about you? In what areas of your life are you keeping it the same to keep it simple?

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Until next time,
Charissa

5 Simple Meals

Sometimes you just need a simple meal. I might even argue that more than sometimes you just need a simple meal. Don’t shy away from meal planning because you think every meal has to be extravagant. A simple meal can still be tasty and enjoyable. I hope the following ideas inspire you to add a simple meal into your weekly menu.

Note: I will not be including serving size and amounts of ingredients needed for each meal. These meals are so simple that you will be able to determine (for example) how many pita pockets your family needs to sufficiently satisfy the rumbling bellies.

Pita Pocket Pizza

Ingredients: pita pockets, pizza sauce, pizza blend shredded cheese, various toppings of your choosing (pepperoni, peppers, onions, etc). Directions: Assemble pizzas and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Crock pot Chicken over Tortilla Chips

Ingredients: chicken breasts, salsa, black beans, frozen corn, tortilla chips. Directions: Place all the ingredients (except for the chips) in the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours. Spread tortilla chips on your plate and cover with a large scoop of the chicken from the crock pot.

Cheese Quesadillas

Ingredients: tortilla wraps, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, salsa. Directions: Place a large handful of cheese in between two tortilla wraps. Warm/brown tortillas on the griddle or in frying pan on low heat. Turn once to evenly brown both sides. Remove from the griddle and cut into four triangles with a pizza cutter. Garnish with sour cream and salsa.

Baked Pasta

Ingredients: pasta of your choice, pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese. Directions: Cook pasta according to box leaving it less firm than done. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add pasta sauce to pot and mix with the pasta. Pour pasta and sauce into a 13×9 pan. Cover with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.