Sorry for the lack of a post last night.  I had very good intentions, but no electricity, due to a thunderstorm.  So you'll get two posts today.

Living simply in the summer can start with your house.  Take a hard look at things and ditch some of the clutter.  After all, who wants to spend a gorgeous sunny day dusting knick-knacks.  You can also pack away heavy comforters, extra carpets, and the like.

You do want to keep your necessities handy — including a wind-up alarm clock, candles, flashlights, and extra batteries in case of power outage — as I discovered last night! I also keep handy my craft bag and some of the magazines I've been meaning to read.  I can sit outside on a lovely day or work and read inside if it's raining.  When I'm ready to travel, I have things to keep me busy while waiting.

If you have kids, you may want to simplify even further.  Whenever you do laundry, add a simple step before putting the clothes away:  match up shorts, a T-shirt, socks, and underwear. (You can put them in one of those plastic bags they deliver the newspaper in or a large zippered bag.)  When you travel or just on a busy morning, all you need to do is grab a bag and go.  Packing and getting ready are so much simpler!