Amy Slenker-Smith

3 Habits To Combat My Struggle with Screen Time

April 21, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

1 house, 3 people and 17 devices I have three devices. Eight more screen-like devices, belonging to my husband and son, are available for my use. And let’s not forget three TVs, two gaming systems and an Apple TV. Seriously? Thankfully, our desire to simplify encourages conversations about what we really need. (I use that term loosely). Because each device has a cost long after their initial purchase including subscription services, protective cases, chargers, accessories, data plans, replacement, and maintenance...just to name a few. 5 years ago, we cut the cable cord. Initially, it encouraged us to be intentional about TV watching. And with so many streaming services and advertisements for new shows, our streaming costs could exceed the former cable bill if we didn't follow a budget. When was the last time, you checked in on your subscriptions? Thankfully, I'm not much of a TV person. My best guys, on the other hand, can binge-watch like it's their job. But I have my …

How to Set Up Your Spring Capsule Wardrobe

April 8, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Now is the perfect time to set up your spring capsule wardrobe. As you figured out, the "in-between seasons" make it difficult to decide what to wear. Right now, are you searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing? Instead, consider how much easier it will be to get ready, if everything lived in one closet? I use one closet (no dresser) but that wasn't always the case. Here's how I downsized my wardrobe into one simple closet. Experiment with Less First, I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week. This exercise was inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 Experiments Against Excess. During this week, I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and always in clean clothes. Second, I developed a spring (and then winter) capsule wardrobe of a limited number of seasonal pieces. By following Courtney Carver’s Project 333, I selected my favorite spring items. And moved the rest to our guest closet. I dressed …

Guide to Easy Spring Cleaning with 5 DIY Cleaners

April 1, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 11 Comments

Spring Cleaning can be daunting, especially in a large home. But many hands make light work, so enlist some help from your family, set a reasonable timeline, and plan multiple days if needed. Studies show we are more productive when we break large projects into small, manageable tasks. Plan of Attack Eat a good breakfast and fill your water bottle Start upstairs. Bedrooms first Clean top to bottom to avoid re-cleaning Dust first, vacuum second Wash towels and sheets as you go Bathrooms last, then a shower-reward! Homemade Cleaners I use natural homemade cleaners for most of my cleaning. Homemade Cleaners are non-toxic, less expensive, and very effective when used properly. It also simplifies my shopping list and reduces plastic waste. Try my favorites below. Choose just one or two to get started. And be sure to use your existing inventory of cleaning products first! 1. All-Purpose Cleaner The All-Purpose Cleaner is anti-bacterial and great for doorknobs, …

7 Easy Ways To Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Home

March 18, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

March 18 is Global Recycling Day. I'd love to celebrate but we've reached a point of no return. Not only should we reduce plastic waste and use, we simply have to. This is no time to celebrate with statistics like this: The equivalent of one garbage truck of trash enters the ocean every minute The North Pacific Gyre (aka Great Pacific Garbage Patch) is twice the size of Texas 1 Million single-use plastic bottles are sold every minute. Americans use 50 Billion water bottles per year. Only 3 out of 10 are recycled. Studies show that 93% of bottled water contains microplastics in the water itself. Also, plastic is now in our food supply. By 2050, the ocean will have more plastic than fish by weight. I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of these statistics and saddened for our world. Something has to change. But How? Start small. Just start! Like decluttering, start with your own stuff. Make a few simple changes and set the example for others to follow. The best way we …

How to Create a Clutter-Free Home Office

February 12, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 66 Comments

I'm going to guess that your home office might be the family dumping ground. And it has piles of paper everywhere. Also, the space is overwhelming because every flat surface is covered and you don't know where to begin. Plus the filing cabinet is filled with who knows what. And all this clutter robs you of productivity and focus. Does this describe your home office space? It is so uninviting you rarely work in it The bookshelves are cluttered and looming over you You sit at the dining room table with your laptop instead Well, today is the day to change all of that. In this post, I've written a step-by-step plan with 7 steps to declutter and organize your home office. Because a clutter-free space is a productive space and you can do this. Just take it one step at a time. Your Dream Home Office Before you dive in, take some time to dream about how you’d like your office to look and function. Search online for ideas and inspiration. I pinned some …

3 Easy Ways to Recycle Old Trophies

February 5, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Kids collect trophies, ribbons, plaques, medals and paper plate awards by the buckets! My young son’s collection is manageable but we are less scheduled than your average family. Fewer activities definitely means fewer items to display and store. Inevitably, empty nesters and their adult children will find themselves digging through boxes of ribbons and trophies wondering what to do with old trophies. And what I usually hear is that no one wants the stuff. Especially the children who actually earned the awards. As an organizer and minimalist, I encounter this often with my clients. And it tends to be more difficult for the parents to part with the items. If you find yourself struggling to let go of these items and with adult children who just want you to throw it all out, take a breathe. I encourage you to respect their decision and give them the items to handle as they see fit. And yes, that may be the trash can. Sentimental Items When it comes to all sentimental stuff, …

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Amy Slenker-Smith

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