A Taste of Tradition: Why the Annual Carr Girls' Cookie Bake is a Life Simply Planned Event
Hello, friends! As the owner of Life Simply Planned, I know how easily the holidays can become overwhelming. The calendar fills up, the to-do list grows, and sometimes, the simple joy gets lost in the shuffle.
But I also know the deep, simple joy that comes from creating meaningful traditions—especially those that bring specific family members together for a little quality time!
For the Carr women, the festive season isn't complete without our annual Carr Girls' Cookie Bake Day. What started as a small kitchen project has blossomed into a cherished tradition that perfectly embodies my mission: making complex processes simple so we can focus on connection.
The Simple Secret to a Stress-Free Day (Just for Us!)
The beautiful thing about a tradition is that it creates its own rhythm. But even the best rhythms need a plan!
As the owner of Life Simply Planned, I approach this day the same way I approach organizing a client’s home: Break down the overwhelming into manageable, organized steps so the focus is on joy, not jumble.
1. The Organizer's Principle: Dedicated Stations
When only the "girls" are baking, we need to maximize our space and minimize conflict.
Prep the Workspace: I clear the kitchen and dining room counters completely the day before. This ensures we have the maximum working area for our assembly line.
Designated Stations: We create clear zones to keep things moving and prevent sprinkles from taking over the house:
The kitchen table is the Decorating Station (where the magic happens).
The kitchen island is the Dough Rolling & Cutting Station.
The dining room table is for Cooling the Cookies.
This simple organization hack minimizes bottlenecks and maximizes laughter, ensuring we all get quality time together; because there is always a race to be the first batch in the oven; Aunt Ally it’s on!!!!
2. The Organizer's Hack: Prep is Power
This tradition is about spending time together, not spending time prepping ingredients.
Dough is Done: I always have the dough logs made and chilled (or even frozen) days in advance. Why? Because the heart of this tradition is the decorating and catching up, not the mixing. This single step saves precious time and allows us to focus on conversation and cookie-cutter choices.
Ingredients Simplified: I skip unwrapping the many Hershey Kisses and purchase the already unwrapped ones!
The Simple Swap: Pre-Cute 9x13 Parchment paper; game changer! Use the scissors for something else!
This tradition is pure love and simplicity. Each Carr girl arrives with her own containers, ready to take home her creations to share with family and friends. And every year, we remind ourselves that the cookies don’t need to be perfect — they just need to be made with love, together. That’s the heart of it all. Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating space for moments that feel peaceful, joyful, and easy.
And that’s exactly why Life. Simply. Planned. exists. When the holidays get chaotic, and the lists start stacking up, sometimes all you need is someone to help break things down, create order, and make room for the parts you actually want to remember. These little traditions shine even brighter when the planning feels lighter. If you ever need that kind of support — during the holidays or any season — that’s where I come in. Life. Simply. Planned. is here to help you hold onto the joy and let go of the overwhelm.