Living Simply

After a Year of Bullying, Here’s What Matters Most

April 29, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 8 Comments

I can't sugar coat this. Several years ago, my son was bullied in school. To his credit, he tried to handle it himself. After all, he has two type-A parents who model self-sufficient behavior and rarely ask for help. Neither did he. Thankfully, he has picked up some of our good habits as well. Feeling Alone at School Eventually, he told me how there were times he sat alone at lunch. And that he had no close friends in class. Years of building close friendships met with an influx of new students, sent his good friends scattered to other homerooms. He felt lost. By early spring, he couldn't take it anymore. I think it bubbled up inside and exploded. We got a call about an incident at school. He finally defended himself against the bully. His emotions poured out as he cried over the phone. I was out of town. His tears filled with regret and remorse for his actions. I think the months of bullying coupled with my travel were the straw that broke the camel's back. He internalized the …

6 Habits to Live Like a Minimalist Family

April 28, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 5 Comments

We are a minimalist family and yet we have some stuff. But minimalism is more about habits than stuff. However, I've been told I'm not a real minimalist. I guess I missed the memo on who can join the club. And while the "average American home has over 300,000 items,” we do not. So that's a good place to start. Of course, no checklist works for everyone. But as I studied our home, there are six habits that make a difference. You will find these habits helpful as you declutter and simplify. Trash Throw away trash immediately. I’m not talking about messy stuff. I mean annoying stuff that accumulates like receipts, wrappers, mail, and packaging. We pick stuff up off the floor, immediately. I recycle as much as possible including junk mail, toner cartridges, and plastic bags. Trash will clutter a flat surface quickly. Guard your flat surfaces because clutter attracts more clutter! Don't forget about the largest flat surface in your home, the floor. Strive to store …

7 Tips for How to Declutter Sentimental Items

April 22, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

The most common question I answer is "How do I declutter sentimental items?" As I learned the hard way, memory-laced stuff is the most difficult to let go of. And many people don't realize they are having trouble letting go because the item is sentimental. Through conversations with my clients I can quickly spot an item that is being held onto for sentimental reasons. What not to do I had a few childhood items that were sold without my permission. Understandably, the seller expected I would not want them. While this is true, we all need time and space to process sentimental items. Time to reminisce about the memories and take photographs. And the opportunity to decide where the items should go. Perhaps passing them on to someone or somewhere specific. So, I won't be selling my husband's Hess Truck collection anytime soon. I'm also accused of not being very sentimental which is completely untrue. I am just very intentional about the sentimental items I keep. The items that …

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, …

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