The fall season is quickly approaching here in the northeast.  I love this time of year but I try not to say it a lot because people always say, yes but winter is right behind it.  So true, but I do not like that negative attitude, so I don’t want to hear it.  The changing seasons are why I choose to live in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  So when fall/winter approaches I like to find ways to cozy up our home.  With cold weather and heating bills we are likely to spend more time at home inside, so I really like to make this an enjoyable time.  Pick a room that you spend the most time in as a family, or choose your bedroom for a peaceful respite.  Do a serious de-cluttering and cleaning process and when that is out of the way you can get to the fun stuff.  Just stick with one room so you will not feel overwhelmed or break your budget.  Put up some new thermal backed curtains in a fresh color, get some new throw pillows for the sofa or the bed.  Add a few soft, fuzzy throws for the back of the sofa or the end of the bed to cover up with for an indulgent nap on a chilly day. 

Pick a night of the week for movie night with the family.  Make up movie baskets loaded with popcorn and other goodies.  Stock up on flavored coffee, tea and hot chocolate with whipped cream. My personal favorite is hazlenut, yum-.  Stock up your pantry and spend lazy Sunday afternoons making chili, soups and stews, spaghetti sauces, that you can enjoy all week.  Look forward to enjoying your cozy nest instead of dreading the season ahead.  If you picked your bedroom, stock up on some wonderful reading material.  Make a pampering basket with scented soaps and lotions, fluffy towels, and anything else that says luxury to you.  Burn some softly scented candles and sip a glass of wine in the bubble bath.  What could be more relaxing than that?  So, I hope I have given you some ideas to expand on so that you can make the most of this wonderful season ahead of us.  Grab yourself a big glass of fresh apple cider and a big doughnut, put on a jacket, sit out on the porch, deck or whatever you have, and just enjoy the crisp fall air and the beautiful leaves and see if you can appreciate the simple wealth of this moment.  Happy Autumn!

Nothing says “summer” to me like a new pair of flip-flops.  Not the be-dazzled bling types now on the market for $12.99 and up.  I am talking about the plain old rubber/plastic kind you wore as a kid running under the sprinkler.  Every summer we spent at our cottage at Lake Ontario, all I wore were flip-flops or bare feet.  So you may be wondering what this has to do with “simple wealth”? 

I came home from work the other day and sitting by my reading chair was a bright, sunny yellow pair of brand new flip-flops with the price tag of $2.00 still attached.  My husband had been shopping at Wal-mart and noticed the yellow flip-flops and bought them for me.  He said, “I know how much you love your flip-flops and your favorite color of yellow, so I thought you would enjoy these.” Now take a moment and think about what a thoughtful gesture that was on his part.  Every day when I slip my feet into these color of the sun flip-flops, I have to smile. One, because I love them and had I seen them, I absolutley would have bought them for myself. And two, because my Husband takes the time to know my likes and dis-likes down to my favorite colors.  Sure, he could have bought me an expected, predictable piece of jewelry on an important occasion such as an anniversary, birthday etc., (we will be discussing that subject in the near future),  but those flip-flops will always rank right up there with one of the greatest gifts he ever bought me.  They were a total surprise and exactly what I like.  So the moral of the story is, you do not have to spend a lot of money to brighten someones day and that $2.00 gesture will never be forgotten.  That is what living the “simple wealth” way is all about.