The Write Prepper’s Prep & Plan program is an ongoing blog series to help those of us who procrastinate get things done so we can protect those we love. By building a proper mindset around the concepts of prepping and planning, this series knocks down all the crazy myths about peppers and focuses on practical, low-budget things you can do in order to be ready when the unexpected happens. No one can dispute that not only do bad things happen, they usually happen when you least expect them. But, with the proper mindset, we’ll be able to plan for and meet all challenges whether they are weather-related, illness-related, or any other life-changing event.
A Winter Apothecary
We’re in the middle of cold and flu season, but it’s not too late to update your pantry with foods and herbs that help strengthen your immune system. So here’s a list of items to help you build up a winter apothecary of your very own.
Prepping for Winter Storms
Although it’s not snowing here yet, it’s freezing and I still have so much to do to get ready for Christmas. But it’s never too late to prepare for more storms coming later this winter. Here’s a list to help you get started.
Traveling in Winter: An Emergency Plan
Today’s post is another update on how to prepare for winter travel emergencies, including getting stuck in a snowstorm on a highway for hours or overnight. This list includes information about how to how survive a winter car emergency. And it includes snacks.
‘Tis the Season for Planning
It’s December 1 but despite the world tells you, there’s still plenty of time to begin planning for meals, guests, and gifts and still enjoy the season. This post includes two free printables: A Holiday Planning Schedule and a Holiday Meal Portion Planner that you can adapt for your own needs.
A Thankful Table
Thanksgiving on a budget doesn’t have to feel like cutting corners. Here are creative, heart-centered ways to celebrate with warmth, connection, and story without overspending.
A Plan for Thanksgiving
Although Halloween is a week away, it’s time to start preparing for those November holidays that are loaded with family, fun, and food.
Prepping the Fall Garden
Let’s prepare our vegetable garden and flower beds for fall and early winter. From soil care and mulching to planting cool-season crops, these garden prep tips will keep your plants healthy and ready for spring.
Restocking the Autumn Pantry
It’s time to get our pantries fall-ready with cozy seasonal staples and emergency essentials. From soups and spices to power-outage prep, here’s how to stock your shelves for comfort, cold weather, and peace of mind.
The Joy of Drying Herbs
Since it’s time to harvest, dry, and store fresh garden herbs for winter, here are some easy tips for keeping herbs flavorful for months.
Preparing for Fall
As summer fades and fall approaches, now is the perfect time to adjust your disaster preparedness plans. From updating emergency kits to prepping your home for colder weather, this guide will help you shift your preps from summer into fall with confidence and peace of mind.
Power When it Matters
Let’s prepare for and stay safe during power outages with this preparation guide. I’ve included trusted government resources, safety tips, and practical advice to protect your home, health, and loved ones with a generator during a power outage.
Prepping for Hurricanes
Let’s prepare for and stay safe during hurricanes with this preparation guide. I’ve included trusted government resources, safety tips, and practical advice to protect your home, health, and loved ones during the most dangerous hurricane months.
Prepping for Tornadoes
Let’s prepare for and stay safe during tornadoes with this summer survival guide. I’ve included trusted government resources, safety tips, and practical advice to protect your home, health, and loved ones from these sudden and often deadly storms.
The Joy of Midsummer Gardens
Think it’s too late to start a garden? It’s not! So let’s plant a thriving midsummer garden that beats the heat and grows strong into fall. Perfect for late-season veggies, flowers, and pollinators!
Stock Up for Spontaneous Picnics, Storms & Sweet Nights In
Stock your summer pantry with charming, shelf-stable essentials perfect for spontaneous picnics, cozy storm nights, and sweet summer moments. From charcuterie favorites to comfort food must-haves, this guide blends romance with practicality.
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Prepping for Heatwaves
Let’s prepare for and stay safe during a heatwave with this essential summer survival guide. I’ve included trusted government resources, safety tips, and practical advice to protect your home, health, and loved ones from extreme heat.
In Case of Wildfires
Get wildfire-ready with this roundup of expert resources from Ready.gov, Firewise USA, and more. Whether you live in a fire-prone area or are just passing through, this guide offers essential tips on prevention, evacuation, and home protection to help you stay safe this wildfire season.
Summer Car Travel Preps: Updated
Summer travel this year has been a wild ride, so I compiled an updated list of FEMA, NWS, Ready.gov, and other sites/links with current advice on how to stay safe on the roads this summer.
In Case of Power Outages
Prepare for summer power outages with these essential tips on staying cool, safe, and connected during blackouts. Includes resources from FEMA, American Red Cross, USDA, and Ready.gov.
Updated Summer Airline Travel Rules
Now that summer travel has kicked into gear, the airlines are changing all their rules… again. It’s exhausting and complicated so I’ve tried to organize it here in this post.
Creating a DIY Herb Garden
Basil, mint, and a little magic 🌿—create your own summer herb garden in a windowsill, porch, or even a thrifted teacup!
Packing for Summer Travels
Planning a summer vacation? This summer travel packing guide covers everything you need—from clothes and toiletries to road trip essentials and airplane must-haves.
DIY Summer Cleaning Supplies for a Fresh, Clean House (That Smells Like a Romance Novel)
Ready to give your home a summer refresh? These easy DIY natural summer cleaning recipes will make your space feel light and breezy
Prepping for Summer
Get your home, family, and business summer-ready with this ultimate seasonal prep guide packed with tips, checklists, and creative ideas.
Where Are We Going Next?
TSA changes, Real ID rules, packing hacks, and seasonal advice to make your Spring travel adventures smoother and stress-free.
The Beauty of Pollinator Gardens
Want to bring your garden to life—literally? Creating a pollinator garden is one of the most rewarding ways to support local wildlife, improve biodiversity, and enjoy a thriving, colorful yard.
2025 Spring Gardening Resources
Even though the March winds are still blowing, it’s time to start thinking about my garden. So I’ve compiled a list of my favorite gardening YouTube videos, books, and blogs that are suitable for gardeners of all levels.
Family Emergency Plan
In light of all the disasters that have happened recently, today we’re discussing the Family Emergency Communications Plan meeting and why it’s so important not to wait to have it… and get organized.
Emergency Binders for Unthinkable Events
Talking about disasters is never fun and not easy, but today we’re discussing the Importance of a Family Emergency Binder and a small home safe to grab in case of an emergency evacuation.
Time to Pack Up & Put Away
It’s January and it’s snowing and it’s time to put the decorations away. Even if you’ve already cleared Christmas away, it’s not too late to look for holiday storage solutions for next year. Everything is on sale now!
Winter Storm Home Emergency Plan
It’s snowing! And although the storm is already here, it’s never too late to prepare for more storms coming later this winter. Here’s a list to help you get started.
Winter Travel Emergency Plan
Do you know what you’d do if you got stuck in a snowstorm on a highway for hours or overnight? If not, here’s an updated list of what you need to survive a winter car emergency. And it includes snacks.
Prep & Plan: Early Thanksgiving Preps
Although it’s not even Halloween yet, it’s time to start preparing for those November holidays that are loaded with family, fun, and food.
Prep & Plan: A New Beginning
Prep & Plan is a new/edited blog series to help those of us who procrastinate to get things done so we can protect those we love.
Winter Car Emergency Plan: An Update
Do you know what you’d do if you got stuck in a snowstorm on a highway for hours or overnight? Well, today we’ll discuss what you need to survive a winter car emergency. And it includes snacks.
Prep & Plan: Disaster Review
A lot of unhappy things have happened in the world. Things that prove that any one of us, at any time, may have to deal with a disaster and be forced to rebuild our lives.
Prep & Plan: Summer First Aid Kit
It’s time for Summer travel and today we’re building a DIY First Aid kit that can travel with you anywhere and possibly save your life or the lives of those you love.
Prep & Plan: Summer Road Trips
What would you do if you got stuck in a on a highway for hours on the hottest day of the summer? Or had to sleep in your car overnight? In this week’s Prep & Plan post, we discuss what you need to survive a Summer car emergency.
Sweater Weather is Here!
Sweater weather is here and I’m reposting a short primer on how to care for your favorite knits, both old and new.
To Plan A Year
It’s that time of year again! Time for my End of the Year Ritual that gives me permission to set aside time to so I can reflect on the past, offer gratitude for the present, and dream about the future. And I don’t know of any better way to both end one year and begin a new one.
Prep & Plan: Updated Holiday Planners
Although it’s December, there’s still plenty of time to begin planning for meals, guests, and gifts. This post includes two free printables: A Holiday Planning Schedule and a Holiday Meal Portion Planner that you can adapt for your own needs.
Prep & Plan: Regroup Week
Thanksgiving is over, but it’s now time to review the holiday and make any notes for the rest of the holiday season as well as for next year’s feast.
Prep & Plan: Autumn Garden Tasks
It’s that time of year again, at least for most of the country. Frost is looming (if not already here) and it’s time to do a final clean up in the garden. Below I’ve listed some of the top tasks to consider in order to protect your garden from the winter and to prepare it for the spring.
Prep & Plan: Firewood
It’s that time of year again! The time of year where we build up fires in our outdoor firepits, bonfires, indoor fireplaces, and wood stoves. That means it’s also time to check and restock your wood supply for the winter, if you haven’t already done so.
Prep & Plan: Thanksgiving Preps
It’s after Halloween and I’m behind on my Thanksgiving planning. Life and deadlines took over the past few weeks, but it’s never too late to so some pre-planning for Thanksgiving (and maybe other holidays like Christmas and Hannukah
Prep & Plan: Travel Safety Tips
Tips for keeping yourself and your family safe while staying in a motel, hotel, or short-term rental.
Prep & Plan: Traveling with Pets
It’s time to hit the summer road and today’s post offers a checklist of things to remember when traveling with your beloved pets.
Prep & Plan: European Travel Tips
Traveling to Europe this summer? This post is loaded with some of my favorite travel blogs, podcasts, and advisory sites to keep you safe and help you have the time of your life.
Prep & Plan: Travel Packing Lists
It’s time to travel and that means it’s also time to pack. So what’s a busy person to do on the eve of making a long-haul flight to Europe? Pull out a packing list.
Prep & Plan: TSA Travel
It’s time to travel again and this week’s Prep & Plan post is about TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, two federal programs that make airplane travel easier and more efficient.
Prep & Plan: Saving Sweaters
Since we’re storing winter clothes, today’s post is about making sure our sweaters are both clean and itch-free. It’s an unusual remedy, but it works beautifully and will keep you sweaters soft while in storage.
Prep & Plan: Summer Sweater Care
It’s that time of year again! It’s time to go through the previous season’s clothes and store them properly so they’ll last until next Fall.
Prep & Plan: Ironing & Pressing
It’s still Spring Cleaning time and today we’re talking about how to clean you iron so you can press your summer clothes as you take them out of storage.
Prep & Plan: Herb Gardening
It’s time to think about the garden, and one of the easiest gardening projects is also one of the tastiest: Herb Gardens. I’ve included a list of the easiest plants to grow as well as a few resources for the novice gardener.
Prep & Plan: Spring Garden Resources
It’s time to hit the garden, so I’ve compiled a list of my favorite free gardening YouTube videos and blogs that are suitable for gardeners of all levels.
Prep & Plan: Spring Cleaning
It’s National No Housework Day! To celebrate, I’ve listed a number of FREE resources to help you plan for Spring Cleaning.
Prep & Plan: Cleaning the Kitchen
Now that the pantry and refrigerator/freezer are clean, it’s time to tackle the rest of the kitchen. Have a clean, organized kitchen will help you with your long term food storage plan.
Prep & Plan: Cleaning the Refrigerator & Freezer
Last week we handed the pantry, and today we’re tackling the fridge and freezer. It’s not as hard as it sounds!
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Prep & Plan: Cleaning the Pantry
Today is the day we tackle the pantry. So grab your Legal Pad 2 and let’s get to work. I promise, once this is done, Spring Cleaning will be so easier to face.
Prep & Plan: Digital Storage
In this Prep & Plan article, we’re discussing how to protect your digital data from cyber warfare. It’s easier and cheaper than you think.
Prep & Plan: Home Emergency Binder
To continue our work with protecting our documents during an emergency, today we’re discussing how to build a Home Inventory for our more valuable possessions.
Prep & Plan: Family Emergency Plan
Being prepared is a mindset. But building up this mindset also comes with work and meetings. Today we’re discussing the Family Emergency Communications Plan meeting and why it’s so important not to wait to have it.
Prep & Plan: Spring Cleaning Routines
Today’s Prep & Plan post is all about Spring Cleaning! Although it’s still February, it’s never too late to work n the cleaning schedule so that when Spring hits, we won’t be overwhelmed.
Prep & Plan: Family Disaster Plan
Talking about disasters is never fun, but today we’re discussing the Importance of a Family Emergency Binder and a small home safe to grab in case of an emergency evacuation.
Prep & Plan: Disaster Plan Review
Today we’re beginning our Disaster Preparedness Plan with a review of the disasters that have happened or could happen and what we’d save if we have the time.
Prep & Plan: Winter Car Emergency Kit
What would you do if you got stuck in a snowstorm on a highway for hours or overnight? In this week’s Prep & Plan post, we discuss what you need to survive a winter car emergency.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Storage
It’s January and the decorations are put away, but now is the time to look for holiday storage solutions for next year. And today we’re talking about great ways to keep things organized.
Too Many Planners? Never.
It’s a new year and it’s time for all the new planners. Do you use planners and notebooks to keep track of your life and goals? Or do you just wing it?
Prep & Plan: Week Eleven
Christmas is over, but there are still leftover cookies to enjoy. So grab your favorite treat and let’s work on our Family Holiday Notebook so we can regroup and plan ahead for the 2022 holidays.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Planning
In the next installment of the Prep & Plan series, we’re taking about how to organize and store holiday wrapping paper and all the supplies that go with it.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Budgeting
I can’t believe the holidays are here, but those who prep & plan never stop working towards their ultimate goal of emotional and financial freedom from the noise of this world.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Notebook
Thanksgiving is over and it’s time to review what worked, what went wrong, and consider what changes need to be made for next year–all in our Family Holiday Notebook.
Sweater Care for Cold Weather
It’s finally sweater season and I’ve written a short primer on how to care for your favorite knits, both old and new.
Thrift & Thanks
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is an important day in our house. It’s the day we head to the mountains to shop and drop off clothes at our favorite thrift shop and then give thanks at a local Revolutionary War-era pub.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Planner
The holidays are upon us and it’s time to begin planning for meals, guests, and gifts. This post includes a free printable Holiday Planner that you can adapt for your own needs.
Prep & Plan: Holiday Plans
I can’t believe it’s week seven in the Prep & Plan series. Today we’re discussing short term storage solutions for our winter and holiday preps as we try to beat the supply chain shortages.
Prep & Plan: Winter Supplies
It’s time for week 6 in the Prep and Plan series! This week’s homework is to go through all the winter clothes and figure out what needs to be fixed and replaced before the snow hits and the shelves empty.
Prep & Plan: Winter is Coming
It’s week 5 in the Prep and Plan series and this week we’re talking about preparing the household for winter in spite of the supply chain shortages.
Prep & Plan: Thanksgiving Preps
It’s week 4 in the Prep and Plan series and this week we’re talking about
Thanksgiving and other holiday plans we can prepare for now before the big rush!
Prep & Plan: The Holidays are Almost Here
Prep and Plan Week 3 is back with some ideas to jump-start your holiday meal planning.
Prep & Plan: Week Two
It’s time for week 2 in the Prep and Plan series! This week’s homework is much easier so we can all catch up with last week’s assignments.
Prep & Plan: The Beginning & a Muffin Recipe
Prep & Plan is a new blog series, just in time for National Preparedness Month, to help those of us who procrastinate to get things done so we can protect those we love.
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