Living Simply

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 …

Empty Nesters: 10 Simple Tips to Help You Declutter and Downsize

July 9, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 9 Comments

Empty Nesters We're officially empty nesters. We launched our son a year ago, and so far, so good. With this experience, I feel even more connected to my clients who are already empty nesters. And to those who can see that their kids won't be living under their roof much longer. I think I always knew that the "days would be long and the years would be short." But I guess I didn't realize how very short they are. I have sincerely loved every phase of raising a family and building a career, two careers actually. But I firmly believe that living a life with less stuff and more contentment made it all the better. So as we embark on our third act of life, I plan to declutter and downsize even more. And help as many empty nesters and working women as I can along the way. Decluttering and downsizing is a daunting task, especially if you're just getting started. A few years ago, I moved my in-laws to a retirement community. They had to downsize 70% of their belongings. Like …

How Many Vases Do You Really Need?

January 27, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 6 Comments

How Many Vases Do You Really Need? Well, that depends. I love spring and summer when all the flowers are in bloom. It's a beautiful time of year and a welcome break from winter. While it's nice to display flowers in vases, I really prefer to enjoy them outside. (And so do my allergies!) During the winter I find myself drawn to candles for a hygge feel. Set a Boundary for Your Collection Over the years, I've worked in many garages, basements, and kitchens and routinely find enough extra vases to supply a large wedding reception. Vases are an item that people accumulate without much thought. Flowers arrive. Flowers die. Vases are washed and put in a cabinet. It doesn't seem to matter if its a vase you like or have room to store. The default response is to keep all the vases we've ever received and find space to store them throughout the house. And this is why I suggest setting a boundary for every category throughout your home, like dishes, books, and vases. When it came time to …

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 …

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 …

What Do Minimalists Want for their Birthday?

October 28, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

It's my birthday month! And it frustrates my family every year. Surprise...I do not want gifts. Not stuff at least. I appreciate consumable presents so my best friend shops all year for the perfect item. She goes to a lot of effort to choose such thoughtful, consumable gifts. I am grateful. Another friend texted an emoji card. I love it because it's free and there's no clutter! My husband gave up buying cards years ago but still makes an effort to celebrate the day. Last year, he decided to sing Happy Birthday every time a card arrived. And he drove 25 miles to get me my favorite coffee and donut at the beach. All that said, my son and husband, celebrate their birthdays very differently. They do not need to adopt my version of minimalism. As a family, we live simply but minimalism is unique to each person. It will look different for your family as well. Hubby loves funny cards and ice cream cake. My son typically asks for an experience or a party with friends. When …

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