I’m all about maximizing: time, money, effort, you name it. I’m a full-time working mom of two kids with limited space and resources, so I want our clothes to be versatile, our snacks to be plentiful and our space to be flexible. While I’m happy to observe back-to-school and spring cleaning seasons, I’d argue that fall prep is under-celebrated and deserves more attention.
Now that summer travel has waned, I’m relishing the start of cool-weather activities, prepping for upcoming holiday hosting and curling up on the couch at night. School is in full swing and we’re settling back into our routines. There’s a buzz in the air – or maybe that’s just the humidity finally dropping below 90%. Either way, I’m ready to be cozy and well fed, to make sure my house feels like home and to look and feel good while I’m at it (Preferably bundled up in a chunky sweater with a soup on simmer.)
With so many fall deals at Walmart coming in under $60, this is the perfect time to reevaluate home, pantry and wardrobe essentials for an effortless autumn. Here are 10 items I recommend for making the most of a busy fall season.
10 deals under $50 to consider
If you don’t already have a slow cooker, then pray tell, how do you get anything done? This is one of my single greatest secrets to success and sanity in our house. I make soups, homemade bone broth, fall-apart pork shoulder and so much more while multitasking around the house. When I meal-prep on Sundays, I’ll toss four chicken breasts and a can of salsa into a slow cooker and set it on low for six to eight hours. Then I’ve got several days’ worth of shredded chicken that I put in salads, wraps, quesadillas and rice bowls for the whole family. You’re welcome. I like that the removable stoneware crock is dishwasher safe, has a locking lid (for when you bring it to a potluck, of course) and offers three temperatures: cook, simmer and keep warm.
Between the two children and our 85-pound golden retriever, our house has high potential for a variety of smells. One of the ways we keep this at bay is with candles. But I need them to look nice and I want my fragrances to be complimentary. For example, I’d choose no more than two scents in adjoining spaces so as to not overwhelm the olfactory system of my guests. Noble Fir and Pine might work well with Warm Leather and Amber. Soft Cashmere Amber could bring a nice, refreshing balance to Farm Apple Pumpkin. The sleek design and sophisticated color palette ensure they look good in any room – and $5 is an incredible deal.
When I’m a guest in someone’s home, it always makes me feel so special when they stock the bathroom with everything a person might need: cotton balls, towels, an extra razor and, of course, plenty of skin care essentials. Because of this, I always make sure that our guest bathroom is packed with products, and it’s a great idea to include fragrance-free skin care. Everyone responds differently to new products. This Native facial cleanser and moisturizer is formulated for sensitive skin and is also free of parabens, silicones or dyes.
For the love of all things fashion, I cannot let you sleep on this deal. Over $100 in savings is such a deal that I need to shout this from the rooftops. And everyone needs a full-length mirror, especially one as sleek as this one. With a simple frame and a substantial size, this BEAUTYPEAK mirror would be a beautiful addition to any home, and at $59, it’s a steal.
Is it even fall if you’re not wearing corduroy? And rust-colored at that? Everyone in my family (read: my husband) knows that I have a preferred color palette, which includes earthy tones à la the desert. Fall is excellent at embracing these hues – mustard, burnt orange and varying shades of beige – and at just $20, this corduroy jacket is perfect for layering over t-shirts and under coats.
There are days when my three-year old comes home from school looking like a ragamuffin and I think, “What do they let you do there?!” Mulch is woven through her hair; there is dirt on her face and undistinguishable debris smeared across her shirt. Everything in her closet is machine washable, including her jackets. I love that this London Fog jacket can get tossed in the wash, but is still cute and functional with a hood, elastic cuffs and side seam pockets. Double points for its cozy fleece lining.
One of my criteria for buying new clothes is that each new piece that passes my closet doors must be extremely versatile. I need it to go from school drop off to date night, Zoom call to happy hour. This oversized long-sleeve cardigan sweater is perfect for that reason. During the day, throw it on with jeans and Birkenstocks. At night, pair it with a slinky, satiny black column skirt and a bold red lip. If you think neutrals are boring, team it with hot pink accessories. That’s the beauty of black and white!
Since having children, my patience for hunger has become nonexistent. When I need a snack, I need it now, which is a prevailing commonality between my three-year-old daughter and me. I always have protein- and fat-filled foods on hand like string cheese, nuts and beef jerky, but I also need to appeal to the sensibilities of my daughter. She loves edamame, so these edamame snacks are a no-brainer. And because she attends a nut-free school, I’m always looking for fun snacks to spice up her lunch box.
I can convince my three-year old to eat almost anything if it has chocolate chips in it – and I will eat almost anything cookie dough-flavored. We also primarily only buy foods that everyone in the family will eat, with the exception of a couple kid-specific treats. I love these TruBar snacks because they are a great option for adults and kids. Even at her age, we talk about which foods will and won’t make our tummies feel full, and with 12 grams of plant-based protein and 190 calories, these are easy, filling snacks to keep in our go-bags when hunger strikes.
These protein bars have nuts, so we keep them to at-home treats and family outings.
When I worked for a food magazine, I got into the habit of drinking a seltzer every day at lunch. That was more than a decade ago and I’m still reaching for bubbles come noon. Since then, however, I’ve started to pay more attention to what I eat and drink, and in what order, to alleviate discomfort and keep my blood sugar from dramatically spiking. If I’m craving mid-day bubbles, I like that Poppi includes prebiotics to help foster a healthy gut, and a can contains less than 25 calories (and just 5 grams of sugar). It’s also something my daughter could have in lieu of juice.
