Health

How to Get More Done with a Clean Kitchen Counter

August 28, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 6 Comments

I love my kitchen counter. Because it is always decluttered and ready to work. At the end of the day, I reward its efforts by putting things away and cleaning it. Empty counters clean up easily without appliances and decorations to move. The benefits of a clean kitchen counter are endless, not to mention that they are a space where your eyes can rest at the end of the day. Imagine coming home after work and feeling relaxed as you prepare dinner. Instead of the stress of a messy kitchen and then ordering takeout. Once upon a time, our cabinets and pantry were filled to the brim. Being an "organized" person, I found myself reorganizing the pantry every weekend. The top shelves housed just as many dishes as their lower companions. Counters were cluttered with appliances, canisters, and decorations. Doing anything in the kitchen required rearranging. I said to myself, "It shouldn't be this hard." Then, I looked inside the cabinets. It was pretty obvious we could …

How to Improve Your Sleep with a Clutter-Free Bedroom

February 13, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

We travel a fair amount. Often sleeping in a spare bedroom and living out of suitcases. But when we return home, I sleep like a baby! Clutter and Noise While away, we often sleep in rooms with clutter and little free space. Excess furniture lines the walls of the room. Knickknacks cover the dressers, affording no room for our stuff. Often the knickknacks rattle during the night and I can never find the culprit. And with all the furniture and our suitcases, a trip to the bathroom in the dark is treacherous, to say the least. Having time away is something to look forward to, but I realize how blessed we are to have a clutter-free home. A clean and calm space to come home to every night. Additionally, we find our home to be a place of rest, with a bedroom that feels like a true sanctuary. The bedroom is uncluttered and peaceful. We can close the armoire doors and block light from the television. In the future, we plan to remove the TV …

A Simple and Healthy Meal Plan for Busy Moms

February 28, 2022 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

We value time for family dinners, together. To ensure we eat healthy and sit down as a family, I create a weekly meal plan. A meal plan saves time and money Every Sunday, I build a meal plan and prep ingredients from my arsenal of simple healthy recipes. The recipes are organized and searchable in Google Drive. I like the ones that turn into several meals and create leftovers for lunch. Here's how. Grab my FREE Meal Planning Template +5 Weeknight Meals HERE. Mom! What's for dinner? Now, you have an answer. Use Existing Inventory First, check the fridge and freezer for proteins on hand. Veggies? Are there any likely to spoil soon? I clean and cut fruits and vegetables. Make muffins from overripe bananas. Defrost meat. And I also keep a stash of frozen veggies for a quick side dish. With a little prep work, veggies are ready for snacking, steaming, or sautéing. Spinach and romaine on hand for smoothies and salads. Snacks pre-portioned into …

Why I Love My Simple Morning Routine

January 25, 2022 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

Peaceful and Centered I love my morning routine. I relish the stillness of a sleeping house, alone, with a very hot cup of coffee. This week, I get to wake up to this view. We're spending time with our dear friends to ski, hike, play cards, and recharge. Plus, a little work for each of us. I love watching the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is nothing like it. This morning, the mountain range was blanketed by pink and orange. Then, this sliver of red. The sharp line grew as the sun broke through the horizon. I watched the moment when the day began, and I soaked it in. What if my days always began this way? Perhaps not in the mountains, but what if I took the time for a peaceful and centered start? The house was still quiet so I stretched out on the floor for some yoga as sunlight poured in the large windows. My journal called me to write a few notes and reminders about the day, but then I sat still in the silence with my eyes closed. Just breathe. We …

10 Rules for Happiness

April 2, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Happiness and Gratitude - Even In the Valleys The Happiness Project inspired my Rules for Happiness. These rules are 10 priorities with a posture of gratitude and contentment by living simply. My values set the foundation for these ten rules. Follow Christ My faith journey and my journey to simplify are deeply intertwined but I didn’t realize how much until I wrote My Story. Without question, God had a plan for me. Be Generous Remember the TV show ER? (Yes, I'm dating myself.) Anthony Edward’s character Dr. Greene was dying of cancer. In his final hours, he implored his daughter to “Be Generous”. I am most content when I am generous with my time, talents, possessions, money and words. Gratitude I'm grateful for what I have because it's Simply Enough. A name that so accurately describes this life I get to lead. I appreciate the peaks and the valleys. Because in the valleys, my blessings abound, even when happiness does not. Gratitude shows me the silver …

How to Work from Home Effectively with Kids

March 21, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned our world upsidedown. As families quarantine and practice social distancing, they also struggle with how to manage endless downtime. I love slowing down and embrace the margin in our schedules. We're free to do things like play a board game, try a new recipe or plant an herb garden. #coronatime But I recognize that working parents are trying to figure out how to work from home and simultaneously entertain and educate children. Workspaces and Homeschool Spaces A few years ago, I homeschooled my son. Most of the time, we traveled but here's the room I used for several weeks. I simply adjusted the height of my existing desk. We didn't buy a new desk. My son worked here for 1-2 hours a day and preferred to be near me. Repurpose or Reuse - Do Not Buy Perhaps your kitchen or dining room table is the answer to this temporary situation. Don't rush out and buy something that will become clutter. Flat surfaces are notorious for …

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