Written by Lela Davidson of After the Bubbly, ARWB Miss September 2013
Back to School (and Work) Supplies I Cannot Live Without
Last month brought back to school for the kids, and back to work for me. After years of working from home, I decided to rejoin the world of people who actually put on pants and go to an office. Every day. It’s been an adjustment. How am I coping with all the change? Here are my go-to supplies for this new season of life:
Green Smoothie
I try to start every morning with my green smoothie, at least every weekday morning. My health tonic may be all placebo effect, but I swear the pureed lettuce, spinach, apple, pear, and banana give me energy and erase the sins of stuffed crust pizza and creme brulee. (Not that I eat those things together. That would be gross.) There is comfort, too, in the ritual of making the smoothie. As with making coffee, I enjoy the rhythm of chopping the greens, coring the fruit, and blending in the right order to get the desired murky consistency. Especially in this time of extreme change, I’m finding the routine soothing. And then there’s the whole one-less-decision to make in my day. That helps, too.
Hyper-Organized Bag
I adopted a new handbag organization system over the summer. I’d like to say I invented it but I’m not quite that delusional. I did, however, come up with a system that works for me, and all my crap. Gone are the days of searching for something in my bag. Now I know where my lipgloss is, always have a pen when I need it, and I can switch from bag to bag without sorting through bottom-of-purse debris and linty gum. My family teased me relentlessly about my “system” when I started to part things out into handy zippered pouches. Maybe because I spoke incessantly about said “system” for several weeks and beamed every time I eyed my organized bag. They have stopped mocking me. Maybe because now we [almost] always get out of the house on time.
Go-To Apps
I’m not an early adopter. Ask anyone. I didn’t get a cell phone until they were smart. Netflix is new at our house. I held out as long as I could on skinny jeans. When it comes to technology I’d rather someone else figure it out and then walk me through it like a 5-year-old. But I’m starting to use more apps. I can’t live without my yoga podcasts. CamScanner is an absolute revolution in scanning docs. And since I’ve recently bought a new home that needs some decor and landscaping love, I’m mildly obsessed with Houzz. And then there’s VolunteerSpot, the free online sign-up organizer that can help anyone plan a party or craft a carpool schedule that works. (Even someone who’s been blacklisted from the PTA.)
eMeals
Hands down the best decision I’ve made in years was subscribing to eMeals. Food is very important to our family, not even so much the food part, but the sitting down together for dinner as often as possible part. I started my job the same day as the kids started school, which was great timing, but also an abrupt change to our collective schedule. I did not want our family to become regulars at the drive through or the pizza buffet. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) I opted for the crockpot plan on eMeals. After dinner I assemble the next day’s meal, put it in the fridge overnight, and start the crockpot in the morning. Voila. Dinner on the table (or at least in the pot) when I get home.
Yoga Mat
The lowest of the low tech provides the most benefit. I’ve been trying for years to cultivate a home yoga practice. I don’t want to jinx it, but I feel like I’m finally getting there. Twenty minutes is all it really takes IF I put them in consistently. Every day is best. On the days I really don’t want to practice, the mat seems to reward me the most—with relief from pain, with peace of mind, with flexibility–mental, emotional, and physical. No fancy studio required. Just me and my mat and my phone. (Okay, so there’s a bit of tech involved. I use Yoga Download.) I can do anything for twenty minutes and I’m betting you can, too.
So, now you know my must-have supplies. What are yours?
Amy James, 
