Blog

How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows

January 3, 2022 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a snow day activity? My dear friend Danielle shared this recipe with me years ago. And it's now part of our New Year's gifts. My husband and I create gift bags for the neighbors including hot cocoa, taco seasoning, homemade vanilla extract, brownie mix, and sugar bath scrub. But everyone notices if their hot cocoa does not include Homemade Marshmallows. Yes...you can make homemade marshmallows and it's kinda fun. I customize each gift bag to the recipient and don't always make everything. That defeats the purpose of a simple, homemade gift. Just think of the list as options to consider. You can google recipes for all of them. But first the cocoa, it's easy. Hot Cocoa Just 4 ingredients, mix in a bowl, done! 2 C Dry Milk 2/3 C Sugar 2/3 C Cocoa 2 tsp Cinnamon Fill any sized Mason Jar or container of your choice with cocoa. You can make as many or as few gifts as you’d like by portioning the mix. Print this cute tag and attach …

Have You Ever Wanted To Skip Christmas?

December 7, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

A few years ago, I watched a movie based on John Grisham's, Skipping Christmas. In Christmas with the Kranks, Tim Allen proposes that he and his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) take the $6,100 they normally spend on Christmas and go on a Caribbean cruise. He arrives home with the flyer, ready to buy the tickets. Since their only daughter won't be home, he makes a strong case to skip all the work and expense of a traditional holiday. Wouldn’t a real vacation be better? Imagine lounging in the sun, umbrella drink in-hand! Sign me up! Is Skipping Christmas possible? But it made me think? Is Skipping Christmas really possible? Maybe. I already skip parts of Christmas, like obligatory events and tasks. But I kept the parties and experiences. Do you see the difference? When my to-do list held only chores and errands, I found myself rushing to just get it done! Now, my list is filled with holiday experiences. Here’s how it changed over the years. …

How To Set Up Your Fall Capsule Wardrobe

October 11, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

"In-between seasons" make it difficult to figure out what to wear. A capsule wardrobe can help. For many people, finding a suitable outfit involves searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing. Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Learn 5 Habits of Clutter-Free Families Perhaps you are experiencing this right now? I do not have this issue. My wardrobe lives in one closet. But that wasn't always the case. For most of my adult life, I spent two weekends a year swapping seasonal clothes into my main closet. As a part of my minimalist journey, I eliminated the swap and reclaimed precious time and space. Now, all my clothing lives in just one closet. Yes, even coats. Experiment with Less Along the way, I experimented with less clothing. I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week; (inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7) I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and was always in clean clothes. …

3 Important Spaces Where Margin Can Make You More Organized

July 26, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

Guess what? Being organized isn’t about the stuff. It’s about the empty spaces between the stuff which I call margin. Others refer to it as white space, breathing room, buffer or empty space. Regardless of the name, margin allows items to move in and out of spaces freely and stay organized. I strive to create margin every time I declutter a space. When I create organize in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will live and be stored in the space.I consider what items are used most often and create easy access to those. No matter what space I'm working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. When you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Because it’s the margin in these spaces that’s the real game-changer, especially when it comes to staying organized. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes them more attractive. Did you know that the margin on a piece of written work is 37%? …

5 Helpful Ways to Simplify Your Jewelry Collection

July 20, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

Since becoming a minimalist, I wear the same jewelry 95% of the time. This necklace and earrings match everything. Once a week or so, I change it up to wear jewelry that uniquely complements my outfit. But most often, it's about getting ready easily and without much thought. Decision fatigue is real. Decision fatigue is when you tire from the need to make so many decisions on a given day. On average, we make 35,000 decisions a day from what earrings to wear to which road to take. It especially affects people when a large project is present in their life, such as a home remodel, moving, or job change. But when we reduce or eliminate simple decisions then we're better equipped to handle the big ones. Many successful people wear a "uniform" to make head-space for the most important decisions which improved the quality of their work. My jewelry is nearing uniform-level. But simplifying my collection is an ongoing process because many pieces are laced with sentimental value. …

Not Enough Hangers Or Too Many Clothes

June 28, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 14 Comments

You have enough hangers. However, I'm guessing they do not match and this alone can make a closet look disorganized. But by now you know I am not an organizer who encourages you to buy stuff. I will always suggest that you declutter first to figure out what you really need. It's always less than you think. But when it’s time to replace broken hangers, I like these. In the meantime, try these decluttering and organizing tips for your closet. How to Reduce Hangers and Clothing Remove Empty Hangers - Return metal ones to the dry cleaner. Recycle plastic store hangers. Sort Clothes by Season - If possible, move current season clothing to the front. Or utilize a spare closet to store offseason clothing while you downsize. Sort Clothes by Color - Create a visually appealing space by grouping colors. Shoes - Use the 1-In/1-Out Rule. Or 1-In/5-Out Rule. :) Turn Hangers - To face the back of the closet. When you re-hang clean clothes, turn them in the …

« Previous Page

Blog

Footer

Not ready to talk yet? Start here.