Growing up in a generous family there were gifts for every holiday. More was always more! I carried this mindset into college where I met my husband Steve. After graduation, we got married and moved to Washington DC. We were checking off all the boxes: fast-paced careers, new cars, travel and buying a house. All part of the American Dream right? Or so we thought for many years. The Famous Clutter Comment I’ll never forget Steve's comment as we were packing to move into our ‘starter’ home. The Clutter Comment as I've called it for over 20 years. It would eventually be the catalyst for my desire to embrace a simpler lifestyle with less. We owned a large display of 20+ picture frames that showcased our life together. Photographs of family, friends, pets, and travel were neatly arranged (or so I thought) on top of our piano covering nearly every square inch. Steve commented, “It looks so cluttered.” I Don't Have …
Living Simply
6 Easy Tips To Host a Simple 4th of July Picnic
July 4th is right around the corner. Maybe you're planning a picnic to celebrate. I hope so! Because I have some suggestions for hosting a simple picnic that won't leave you scrambling to do all the things and never enjoying the event. Shop Early Buy beverages and paper products in advance. I prefer to handle this labor-intensive shopping trip early. Drinks are heavy! Last-minute errands will arise for forgotten items. So deal with the non-perishables early and save time. During my weekly shopping trip, I shop for my meal plan and the picnic. I stock up on items like onions, garlic, butter, olive oil, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. I also buy the hot dogs and ground beef and store them in the freezer until picnic day. Let Guests Help Everyone asks this question, "What Can I Bring?" This time, be ready with an answer and make the party fun for you and your guests. Plan the menu, make a list, and delegate items to your guests when they ask. Be specific and make it easy for …
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Why You Need to Take a Minimalist Vacation
Two of my favorite things are minimalism and travel. So naturally, I enjoy a minimalist vacation. In early 2020, I spent 5 glorious days in the sun and sand. Nothing could have been better for my health and wellness. In hindsight, we were lucky to sneak this trip in before the world fell apart. There's something about a view of the ocean. It was a couples-only trip to Jamaica. My husband and I were so excited because we had not been back to the island since our honeymoon. A lot has changed in 20+ years. Not just on the island, but for us too. We are indeed older, wiser, and living more simply, even on vacation. Old-Amy On Vacation The Old Amy had some pretty bad vacation habits. She tried to stay connected to work, family, and friends. She was tethered to all of it as if she never left. Old Amy packed a large suitcase and carried on a work laptop to be productive during the flight. And she even sacrificed vacation time to take conference calls and respond to emails. Her …
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How to Organize Your Pantry
I often hear that the pantry is the most disorganized spaces in your home. Am I right? Well, you can tackle it one shelf at a time! Since we simplified, I can empty and reset my pantry in 2 hours or less, including cleaning the shelves and updating labels. My pantry is a cabinet, not a walk-in space. I think that is a blessing. It might take you longer and you may need to tackle one shelf at a time. My Step-by-Step Approach for how to organize the pantry can be used over and over again until you've taken care of all the pantry food and contents. Give it a try this week! Remove everything from the cabinet or shelf Clean canisters, shelves, and containers Declutter expired items and poor quality ingredients Group items by category Vinegar/Oil Flour/Sugar Canned goods Snacks Pasta and Rice Repurpose extra food storage containers for organization Remove items from multi-pack plastic or trim boxes for easy access Granola bars …
How to Declutter and Recycle Old Electronics
Our electronics become obsolete quickly as technology is constantly changing. And yet, we have a tendency to hang on to old phones, printers, and cords. When I declutter homes, I often find unidentified cords neatly coiled and unopened. Just in case we need them, right? If a cord is unknown and unused, it is highly unlikely you will use it. Simple Steps to Declutter and Organize Electronics Inventory Write a Household Electronics Inventory of devices you use at least once a month. Here's a sample list to get you started. iPhone iPad MacBook Laptop Desktop Computer Printer Scanner Kindle Wireless Headphones Bluetooth Speaker Gaming System DVD player (I doubt it) Collect the Cords Aggregate all the cords and chargers that go with these devices Choose a central location for the family to access. Label each cord with a Sharpie or label maker. Keep charging cords in a basket. Use rubber bands to wrap cords neatly. …
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9 Ways to Shop Smarter for Clothing
Do you have a closet full of clothing but nothing to wear? Have you tried shopping for new clothes only to find items unworn with the tags still on them? Or maybe you're holding on to things hoping you will fit into them again in the future. This is pretty common with the closets I declutter and organize. Learning to shop smarter is key. The very first closet I organized was my own. But it requires maintenance and good shopping habits to keep it that way. All my clothing fits in one closet. Every season and yes, socks and underwear too. Getting ready is a breeze because my entire wardrobe is in one place. And when the seasons change, I can transition to the appropriate clothing easily. I no longer drag bins of clothing up and down the stairs to perform the seasonal swap. This saves me two weekends a year. And my guest bedroom closet is ready for guests instead of filled with extra clothing. But this was not always the case, I've come a long way and learned to shop …