Travel

Why You Need to Take a Minimalist Vacation

June 12, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 6 Comments

Two of my favorite things are minimalism and travel. So naturally, I enjoy a minimalist vacation. In early 2020, I spent 5 glorious days in the sun and sand. Nothing could have been better for my health and wellness. In hindsight, we were lucky to sneak this trip in before the world fell apart. There's something about a view of the ocean. It was a couples-only trip to Jamaica. My husband and I were so excited because we had not been back to the island since our honeymoon. A lot has changed in 20+ years. Not just on the island, but for us too. We are indeed older, wiser, and living more simply, even on vacation. Old-Amy On Vacation The Old Amy had some pretty bad vacation habits. She tried to stay connected to work, family, and friends. She was tethered to all of it as if she never left. Old Amy packed a large suitcase and carried on a work laptop to be productive during the flight. And she even sacrificed vacation time to take conference calls and respond to emails. Her …

How to Improve Your Sleep with a Clutter-Free Bedroom

February 13, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 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 …

Experiences Not Stuff

November 5, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

The trip can be the gift Experiences, not stuff, that’s my motto. Winter break offers an ideal time to travel and often allows trips to be our primary Christmas gift. This year we plan to ski because it's an outside sport and one we love. Traveling is a treat for all of us. And while we plan to drive this year, my son navigates airports like a pro as he's been flying since age 3. I’m smiling as I look back on the whirlwind of travel in late 2016, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Each memory equally strong and precious because the experiences will stand the test of time and outlast any Christmas present. No tangible item compares to the time I had with husband, son, and parents. Little Things and the Starbucks Effect Through daily life, we intentionally sacrifice stuff for experiences…prioritizing game night, family dinners, and movie night. But we also budget travel in lieu of weekly trips to Target or expensive Christmas gifts. The "Starbucks …

Notre Dame’s Fire Reminds Us of the Importance of Travel

April 22, 2019 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

I watched with the rest of the world as Notre Dame burned. I cried as I thought about the beauty and history of this iconic cathedral, lost. As I listened to the broadcaster explain how difficult it was to access Île de la Cité, I recalled the countless times I crossed those same bridges. Chris Freind said it best...."Those fortunate enough to have lived that experience now have a hole in their heart that simply cannot be mended. And those who were going to see Notre Dame, be it in a week or simply “some day,” feel absolutely, and justifiably, robbed. One of the world's great treasures was taken from them. Notre Dame wasn’t a tourist attraction, but an unparalleled symbol of faith, strength, and unity." I felt helpless and saddened as the flaming spire fell, knowing it would never be the same. But overwhelmingly grateful for the 4 months I called Paris home. During college, I studied at a French university and lived with a host family in the 8th. Our apartment was just steps from the …

It’s Okay To Just Be Still

May 25, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

It was Day 3 of our two-week adventure to Hawaii. As a family, we love active vacations making the islands an ideal location. That said, sometimes my son hits a wall and just cannot keep up. Our morning activity included snorkeling at Hanauma Bay where the sharp coral scratched his leg and nearly scared him off forever. I realized that we had crashed into that proverbial wall as I led him back to the beach and tossed the gear aside. I wish I could tell you that I'm really good at recognizing these moments. That I am calm and compassionate. Or that I plan for them and always schedule rest days and early bedtimes. I do not and I am human. :) Thank goodness for grace! Like many moms, I make mistakes and sometimes don't even realize it until we're reduced to tears. My son was excited, overstimulated and jet lagged. We filled every hour of those first three days. After the crash, he and I sat on the beach, snuggled and slowed down. The beauty of the bay encircled us with …

Please Note We Are Not an Overlook Family

May 24, 2018 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Experiences, not stuff. How many times have I uttered this phrase?! It even affects the way I approach aspects of travel like overlooks and photos. Here's what I wrote last year about limiting picture taking: ...a weight lifted when I decided to not take so many photos. I recalled another trip when I had to download, organize, edit and save 1,352 photos from just two weeks of travel. With this memory (nightmare) in mind, I suddenly looked forward to scaling back and enjoying the ride. Roadtrip If you’re new to Simply Enough, our family of three traveled the US in Spring 2017. We homeschooled my son, took time off of work, worked from the road and simply made it work. Life is too short to spend it buying a bunch of stuff. I’ll choose #experiencesnotstuff every time. I know. You have 100 reasons why you could never do this. I beg of you to consider it. Don’t just write it off. Curious how we did it? Read more here. Traveling from Utah to Sedona, Arizona, we stopped at the …

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