Amy Slenker-Smith

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Books and Read More

January 6, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

Over the years, getting rid of books generates the most passionate discussions. I wonder if people fear they might lose the knowledge gained from a book if they give it away? There is a strong sentimental attachment to books, especially the ones we get lost in. I have no idea what happened during the days I read Water for Elephants. I felt this way about The Great Alone, Small Great Things, The Nightingale, Half-Broke Horses, Educated, Refugee, The Harry Potter Series and so many more! Reading is good. Owning is the problem. There was a time when I read less and bought more. But I renewed my interest in reading when I purged nearly all of them. I felt a weight lifted. And was free to read new titles. I even joined a book club and set an annual reading goal in Goodreads. At any given time, I am reading 4 books. One non-fiction, one devotional, one personal development and one on audible. The best part...I take them everywhere on my Kindle, Kindle …

How to Romjul – Guide to the Week between Christmas and New Years

December 25, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Every year, we look forward to winter break, especially the week after Christmas (a.k.a. Romjul). We often spend it at the beach with friends. After nearly 20 years, they are the kind of people who feel like family. And together, we have raised our kids.On one of those trips, we stumbled over the term, Romjul. Romjul accurately describes our experience between Christmas and New Year's Day. And now, we have a word for it.Romjul is a Norwegian holiday that refers to the week as a tranquil time to spend at home with friends and family undisturbed by the outside world. And a great time to rest, recharge and reset for the new year. The British equivalent is Boxing Week and I love the Danish term, "Yule Vacation."According to several articles, Romjul is more than a week on the calendar, it’s a mindset, a time to cozy up with loved ones, take long restorative walks, slow down and reflect on the past year. It gives us a reason to snuggle up on the couch and watch Hallmark. Awesome! I'm in!Our …

5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Unwanted Gifts

December 17, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

I return, regift, and donate unwanted Christmas gifts. Go ahead. Call me Scrooge. It’s ok. Because even with my well-documented desire to own less, I receive many things I cannot use. But I express gratitude for all the gifts. Once received, I use, return, or donate. Because the nature of a gift should be offered without strings. Receiving a gift means you now own it and can decide what is best for you when it comes to keeping it or not. Every year, shoppers buy $9B in unwanted gifts. So chances are good you received unwanted gifts this holiday season. And if getting organized is your New Year's resolution, I recommend starting with gifts. The average American home contains 300,000 things. We are drowning in clutter. And the holidays compound this problem as we figure out what to do with clothing, gadgets, and tchotchke. Typically, these are items we do not need, did not ask for, and will not use. Here are five ways to ensure that unwanted items don't turn into …

7 Secrets to Host a Successful Party

November 25, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

It’s party time! Perhaps you're getting ready to host Christmas Eve or a New Year's bash! Every year, we host our annual holiday party in December. 75+ people attend each year. It’s our labor of love for the holiday season. This year, we celebrate our 24th year. Suffice it to say, we learned a few things along the way. Keep It Simple No surprise, we simplified. We do less. In years past, party preparations consumed days and I scrambled right up until the last hour. No more. I completed my decorating in a few hours last week! Many rooms in our home used to require a significant amount of decluttering and rearranging. I had to create a pathway for guests through our maze of possessions. Tables and counters had to be cleared of “stuff.” Then, the items boxed and stored in the closet. Why didn’t I just pass those on to GoodWill? Bins used for Christmas decorations were refilled with my “regular decorations” so as to make room for the holiday season. No More. Minimalist homes …

Unlock Your Home’s Potential with the Magic of Margin

November 18, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Did you know that being organized isn’t really about stuff? It’s about the empty space between the stuff called margin. The magic of margin comes from the white space, breathing room, and buffer. No matter the name, margin allows our possessions to move in and out of a space freely and stay organized too. When I design organizational systems in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will be stored in the space. But I also consider how often they are used. I strive to create margin every time. No matter what space you’re working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. It’s the margin in these spaces that has the most impact, especially when it comes to staying organized. Because when you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes it more attractive. Did you know the margin on a piece of written work is approximately 37% of the page? …

How to Celebrate a Different Kind of Christmas

November 4, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 6 Comments

Christmas is different. Everything is different since I began my journey to own less. A few years ago, I wrote about how a single decoration was displayed in my house, and yet there was no panic or stress. Quite the opposite. I had a level of confidence that the task of decorating could be completed with very little effort. And that it was enjoyable now that the volume of decorations we owned was less. Each year, I remove 4 boxes of decorations from the storage closet. I unpack and display their contents, and return the empty bins to the closet once more. All of this can be done in one evening. Some years, we went to a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania and cut down a Fraser Fir. Other years, depending on our travel schedule, the ornaments stay in the box and we used a small table top tree instead. Also, I donate 10-15 ornaments each year. Because I know that donating them will bring joy to another family. When my decorating is done, I feel a wave of …

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