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 …
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How to Romjul – Guide to the Week between Christmas and New Years
Every year, we look forward to winter break, especially the week after Christmas (a.k.a. Romjul). We often spend it at the beach with friends. After nearly 20 years, they are the kind of people who feel like family. And together, we have raised our kids.On one of those trips, we stumbled over the term, Romjul. Romjul accurately describes our experience between Christmas and New Year's Day. And now, we have a word for it.Romjul is a Norwegian holiday that refers to the week as a tranquil time to spend at home with friends and family undisturbed by the outside world. And a great time to rest, recharge and reset for the new year. The British equivalent is Boxing Week and I love the Danish term, "Yule Vacation."According to several articles, Romjul is more than a week on the calendar, it’s a mindset, a time to cozy up with loved ones, take long restorative walks, slow down and reflect on the past year. It gives us a reason to snuggle up on the couch and watch Hallmark. Awesome! I'm in!Our …
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How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Every year, I make Homemade Vanilla Extract as Christmas gifts. It’s a hit with friends and family and super easy to make. The only catch….it takes time to steep. About 4-6 weeks before you can use it in baking. And the longer the better! So, now is a great time to get started! Want a Simple 🎁 Gift Tag for your Homemade Vanilla Extract? Click HERE for your FREE digital download. And if you are reading this in December, you can still make it. One year, I told recipients to wait 4 weeks before using it. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good. I like to order supplies in early November. Needing to make this gift early actually helps with the holiday crazy. Vanilla jars sit happily in the pantry, while I carry on managing the December calendar. Shopping List Vodka - I choose a mid-priced brand of good quality Vanilla Beans - I like these Glass Bottles - I prefer this style for a tall vanilla bean Pint or 1/2 Pint Mason Jars work well and are …
Why I Stopped Organizing Legos
When my son was young, a fellow mom asked how I organized his Legos? I paused and said, "I don't." Being clutter-free does not mean perfection. Toys were not neatly stowed every night, certainly not Legos. I learned pretty quickly that organizing Legos was unnecessary. In our house, we love Legos. The benefits far outweighed the clutter and our loose organization system worked well. The LEGO Group The LEGO Group makes a high quality, fair trade product. My son would request a special set for Christmas or his birthday from his grandparents. Legos are what I call a "work-horse" toy because they stand the test of time. They also encourage friends and siblings to play together. But I learned that the more toys my son had to clean up, the less he played. And the fewer toys he had, the more he would play. With Legos, he was creative and content. He played with mini-figures from Marvel and Harry Potter at the same time. Sometimes all in one body. We did not stress …
Why You Need A Landing Spot Right Now
Perhaps you attempted to leave the house today, but couldn't find your keys. And then ran back inside for your phone. Finally, you were set to drive away and remembered a package to mail or an item to return. At last!! You're in the school kiss-n-ride line but your son isn't wearing shoes. :) Sound familiar? If so, you need a landing spot, right now. Did you know in your lifetime, you will spend a total of 3,680 hours (153 days) searching for misplaced items? And on average, you lose up to 9 items every day—or 198,743 in a lifetime. (The Daily Mail) Let's stop the madness. Before decluttering, I was late for everything and struggled to get out of the door. Times have changed since I got the volume under control and set up a landing spot. This simple habit helps me feel more organized and starts the day off right! So, let's add some hours back to your life too. Exit Strategy Identify which door you use to exit the house. Is it the front door or through …
How Many Dishes Do You Really Need?
Only three people live in our house and yet we have a lot of dishes. Owning more dishes means more to wash and put away. Is a 12-piece place setting really necessary? What about all the entertaining platters and bowls? With a little work, and my step-by-step guide, you can downsize or better yet, rightsize dishes to serve the needs of your family on a day to day basis.CollectionsI’m embarrassed to admit we own three different types of dishes (everyday, china and Christmas). My husband loves our china so we use it often. But we reduced each set and agreed we won't keep the wedding or Christmas china forever. Neither of us wants our possessions to be a burden to our son. Dishes are a relatively easy place to start. The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home so keeping it clutter-free and organized saves time and money. With clean countertops and organized cabinets, it's also much easier to cook dinner and resist the urge to order takeout. Step-by-Step Guide to Downsize …