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When An Ordinary Monday is Anything But

October 9, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

It was an ordinary Monday. Our family plans included work, errands and a math quiz. My son headed off to the bus stop. His swim bag packed for practice after school. Dad went into work early. And I left with a car full of donations and my grocery list. An ordinary Monday. Or so we thought. So when the school's number popped up on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. It was my son calling from the nurse's office. I could hear in his voice he didn't feel well. His stomach hurt. I asked all the usual mom questions and drove to pick him up. Why I'll Never Win Mother of the Year He hunched his back and held his stomach as we walked to the car. The nurse mentioned he was like that all morning, unable to get comfortable. It turns out I didn't answer the first time he called. Nor did two other emergency contacts. He waited and the pain got worse. "How was your quiz?" I asked. "Are you stressed about it?" "Nervous about the musical tryouts?" It had to be stress right? In …

Notre Dame’s Fire Reminds Us of the Importance of Travel

April 22, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

I watched with the rest of the world as Notre Dame burned. I cried as I thought about the beauty and history of this iconic cathedral, lost. As I listened to the broadcaster explain how difficult it was to access Île de la Cité, I recalled the countless times I crossed those same bridges. Chris Freind said it best...."Those fortunate enough to have lived that experience now have a hole in their heart that simply cannot be mended. And those who were going to see Notre Dame, be it in a week or simply “some day,” feel absolutely, and justifiably, robbed. One of the world's great treasures was taken from them. Notre Dame wasn’t a tourist attraction, but an unparalleled symbol of faith, strength, and unity." I felt helpless and saddened as the flaming spire fell, knowing it would never be the same. But overwhelmingly grateful for the 4 months I called Paris home. During college, I studied at a French university and lived with a host family in the 8th. Our apartment was just steps from the …

Where to start? Your Clothing Closet

February 14, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Overwhelmed with clutter? Too much stuff everywhere!? Where to begin? I often suggest clients start with their clothing closet. Here are some tips and a video for how to simplify and organize your closet. If you're new to the decluttering game, remember: Start With Your Own Stuff Start Small - You didn’t acquire this stuff overnight, so... Daily Spaces - Declutter everyday spaces. Enjoy the immediate freedom of less. Start with your own stuff Your purse, briefcase, or car are all great options. If this isn’t enough of a challenge, then move on to your clothing closet. Below is a video of how I organize my clothing closet. All my clothes are in this regular sized master closet, including coats. I use one hanger style to maintain a cohesive, clean look. Like-colored items hang together while casual clothing rolls neatly in the drawers. You can achieve this same result with bins. But be …

What If We Owned Just One At A Time

January 29, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

I was chatting with a friend about the number of items I own such as towels, shoes, and books. She asked. So I offered guidelines to help her get started. Not rules or mandates, just successful practices that help me live better with less. She stared at me in amazement but pressed for more answers. She appreciated the logic of my decisions and realized how overwhelmed she was by her own excess. I don't profess to know the perfect number of items. Minimalism isn't about that. While people have certain possessions in common, like cups and plates, our circumstances dictate the appropriate number to own. But in my experience, duplicates always lead to more missing items. I could never find a pair of scissors when I needed them! Minimalism challenges me to question every category from housewares to hours on the calendar. And when I say I own one pair of gloves, it really means that I own One At A Time. This is true of many items in my home. Owning one does …

Why Getting Rid of Books Will Make You Read More

January 9, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith 5 Comments

Over the years, books generate the most passionate discussions. Very good arguments are made to keep book collections. I wonder if people fear they might lose the knowledge gained from the book if they give it away? Actually, I think they want to keep the feeling they had when they read the words. There is a sentimental attachment to books. Especially the ones we get lost in. Books you cannot put down. The ones for which you will ignore work, spouse, and children. I have no idea what happened during the days I read Water for Elephants. I was unable to speak or look up during that time. Then, I was sad because it ended. I felt this way about The Help, The Nightingale, Half-Broke Horses and The Harry Potter Series. And yet, I keep reading. Because I will find more like this. Books that challenge me to grow. Ones that inspire my writing. Others that teach me new things. Reading is good. Owning is the problem. There was a time when I was reading less and yet my collection was …

Would You Like to Play the Minsgame?

October 29, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

At least once a year, I play the Minsgame, usually by myself. A few months ago, I challenged the family to join me. The conversation went something like this. Me: What if we play the Minsgame? Son: What's that? Me: Day 1, get rid of 1 item, Day 2, 2 items and so on, up to Day 31. Son: Mom, now you're talkin' crazy! Me: Ok, what if we did this as a family competition? Son: What would be my reward? A new video game? Mom, you can get a new phone! What about the Bahamas? Me: (Ok - clearly I have some work to do here.) Well...Mom doesn't need a new phone. And we'll need to discuss the budget with dad but I think a digital download game could work. Should dad join the game too? Son: Of course. So Mom, how much stuff will this be when we're done? Me: 496 items per person in 31 days. Which means nearly 1,500 things we won't have to clean, maintain, organize or take care of! That's my reward. Let's talk to dad. (As he rattles off 3 or 4 …

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