Amy Slenker-Smith

How to Host Simple Kids Birthday Parties

July 25, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 8 Comments

The House Party Years ago, I met a friend for coffee. We chatted about our kid's upcoming birthdays. She shared how her daughter was made fun of for her birthday party. The school friends asked, "What kind of 'house party' will you have this year?" Implying it was less of a celebration. Mom and daughter were already excited about their plans, so thankfully the comments had little effect. The New Norm for Birthday Parties But we were shocked by the response and discussed the new norm for children's birthday parties. Party expectations start with 10-15 kids, food, cake, goodie bags, entertainment and more. She mentioned attending an indoor skydiving party at iFly. Over $1,100 for 12 people. Yikes! And that's just the flying part! To be fair, I'm all for experiences. In fact, I'm a huge fan of experiences, not stuff especially travel. But I fear we're setting unrealistic expectations for our kids with extravagant parties and gifts. I was once very guilty of this. …

How to Organize Your Storage Space in 3 Simple Steps

July 19, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

I’m not a fan of big storage rooms with endless shelves and bins. But we all have storage needs and it's important to keep it organized. Storage rooms, attics, and garages are where clutter goes to die. And more space simply means more stuff. Most storage rooms I visit are jam-packed with no organization and the floor can't be found. Worse yet, useful items are buried under stuff you do not need. But with intentional planning, you can create an organized storage space. Our storage closet is small. But it holds the following: holiday decorations, extra paint, banker boxes of files, ski equipment, extra flooring and tile, and sentimental items. It is a 4x8 unfinished space that extends under our stairs. So, anything at the back of the closet is small and rarely used like the flooring and tile. Likewise, the more frequently used items are upfront. I resist the urge to fill the entire space and keep the floor clear. Having room to move around and open bins …

7 Proven Strategies to Declutter Your Home

July 10, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

I'm passionate about owning less because it saves me time and money. So, I've established daily strategies to control clutter and create order. Adopt these habits and reclaim hours in your day with less stress and more time to do what you love. Check out my 7 proven strategies to organize your home. 7 Strategies to Organize Your Home 1. Stop Shopping With love in my heart, I really mean stop shopping. Question every purchase before you make it. Wait 24 hours before you click "order." Turn off one-click and avoid stores where impulse buys occur. Consider a shopping moratorium. I resolved to go 6-months without clothes shopping and found it easy to extend to 8. I still remember the first item I bought and I didn't love it. A few months later, I donated it. 2. Borrow, Repurpose, Reuse, or Do Without Save time and borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor. Or maybe a power washer or crockpot? I love to build community through borrowing. Several of my …

Why You Need A Landing Spot Right Now

July 1, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Perhaps you attempted to leave the house today, but couldn't find your keys. And then ran back inside for your phone. Finally, you were set to drive away and remembered a package to mail or an item to return. At last!! You're in the school kiss-n-ride line but your son isn't wearing shoes. :) Sound familiar? If so, you need a landing spot, right now. Did you know in your lifetime, you will spend a total of 3,680 hours (153 days) searching for misplaced items? And on average, you lose up to 9 items every day—or 198,743 in a lifetime. (The Daily Mail) Let's stop the madness. Before decluttering, I was late for everything and struggled to get out of the door. Times have changed since I got the volume under control and set up a landing spot. This simple habit helps me feel more organized and starts the day off right! So, let's add some hours back to your life too. Exit Strategy Identify which door you use to exit the house. Is it the front door or through …

A Minimalist’s Favorite Things

June 17, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

My favorite things are not things. They are people, places, and experiences. As a minimalist, I'm often accused of throwing everything away. Not true. And I do have a few really useful items that I plan to keep, as long as they serve my needs. Here are some of my favorite things and why they work for me. Minimalism doesn't mean owning nothing. It is different for everyone. And I thought you'd be relieved to know that I own some stuff. But more than that, there's intentionality behind each and every item and why I acquired it and also why I keep it. More importantly, I have chosen the best of the best because it's easier to identify what I love instead of weeding through a pile of stuff I don't. If you are struggling to downsize, write down your favorite things and then look around. You probably see a lot of things not on the list. But if you still feel overwhelmed, try tackling one drawer or one shelf at a time with the keep-approach. Experience the freedom of …

How Many Dishes Do You Really Need?

June 3, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 26 Comments

Only three people live in our house and yet we have a lot of dishes. Owning more dishes means more to wash and put away. Is a 12-piece place setting really necessary? What about all the entertaining platters and bowls? With a little work, and my step-by-step guide, you can downsize or better yet, rightsize dishes to serve the needs of your family on a day to day basis.CollectionsI’m embarrassed to admit we own three different types of dishes (everyday, china and Christmas). My husband loves our china so we use it often. But we reduced each set and agreed we won't keep the wedding or Christmas china forever. Neither of us wants our possessions to be a burden to our son. Dishes are a relatively easy place to start. The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home so keeping it clutter-free and organized saves time and money. With clean countertops and organized cabinets, it's also much easier to cook dinner and resist the urge to order takeout. Step-by-Step Guide to Downsize …

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