5 Ways to Simplify Your Week

This post is sponsored by Smith Brothers Farms. All opinions are my own.

Where do the weeks go? With a job, two kids and a dog, I feel like I’m always running around– between buying groceries, ferrying the kids to their activities, sports and playdates, it seems like I spend most of my life in the car. One day as I was making my third round trip of the day to the soccer field, I thought to myself, “This is silly. I need to simplify my week!” So I thought things through and made up a plan! Here are five things you can do to streamline your time and make your life easier.

1. Get Your Groceries Delivered: There are certain staples we all buy every week. For my family, it’s milk, cheese, bagels, cream cheese and coffee. But multiple trips to the store can be a major time waster. That’s why I signed up with Smith Brothers Farms delivery (their service area is the Puget Sound region) to get those items dropped off right to my door! Best decision ever. It’s so quick and easy to start delivery service. Scroll down for a special offer!

Here’s how it works. First, go to SmithBrothersFarms.com.

Then you sign up for delivery here.

You just fill out some basic info…

Then you simply shop the site and add products. You can choose to have them delivered weekly or every other week.

Smith Brothers Farms has an awesome array of products, many of them are made here locally in Washington state. In addition to milk, you can also get eggs, juice, tea, bagels– even meals and sides! YES! Score one for Mom. There are over two hundred products available. After you place your order, you get put on a regular delivery schedule. We get our items delivered on Thursdays.

Your driver leaves this nifty refrigerated box on the doorstep– things stay fresh in there for up to eight hours! So even if you aren’t home when you groceries arrive, your items will be fine until you get home.

My milk, bagel, cheese, cream cheese and coffee were placed neatly inside, along with a friendly note from my driver Ron. What a nice personal touch!

Here are the staples I get each week. Super duper easy and convenient!

A Special Offer for You from Smith Brothers Farms

Smith Brothers Farms wants to extend a special deal to you. Use this promo code: YESTERDAY to receive a $10 credit to Smith Brothers Farms… Woo Hoo! The best part is, you will get to spend your time doing other things while your weekly staples get brought to your doorstep.

2. Organize a Carpool: As soon as your kids are signed up for a sport or activity and you get that email confirmation from the coach or teacher– scan the list for families who live near you. Reach out to the parents about forming a carpool and even write up a proposed schedule. Having a carpool is an win/win situation for everyone. You can save hours week this way.

3. Buy Gifts in Bulk: In the past, I have spent a ton of time running around, buying birthday presents for kids who my children are friends with. If you know about a hot toy that most kids would like… buy a few! Just ask for gift receipts and tape them on the present for easy returns. When you child gets invited to a birthday party– you will smile knowing you already have the gift covered.

4. Have a Daily After School Routine: Get your kids in the habit of hanging up their coats, cleaning out their lunch boxes, and going through their papers (both for parents and any homework) as soon as they walk through the door. There have been times at 8:30 pm that we realize one of my kids has lost an assignment and then we are scrambling to figure out what it was. Having the kids get organized as soon as they come home, means if there’s a problem– you can start working in a solution then, when it’s easy to connect with other classmates. Also, by having them clean out their lunch boxes and put them on the counter you are saving yourself from having to dig them out in the morning– another time zapper!

5. Bundle Your Errands: If you have a ton of stops to make, take a moment to think through where things are. For example, if I’m driving to the soccer fields, I know the post office and pet food store are nearby, making it time efficient to run those errands too. Sometimes just thinking through where you need to stop can help save you time and gas.