SIMPLE LIVING Archives - Page 2 of 3

HOW MINIMALISM BENEFITS KIDS

As my husband and I move in a conscious direction toward minimalism and a more simple lifestyle, our entire family is being impacted. We have seen huge positive changes in our children. Today I will discuss the top ways I have observed that minimalism benefits kids.

Many think of minimalism as a trend for adults wanting to take a breather from the fast paced, over-cluttered life they had been stuck in. In actuality, however, it is a lifestyle that benefits all generations. The youngest members of a family, the children, may in fact be the most impacted by minimalism. The habits they form early in life will set them up for success in a variety of ways.

HOW MINIMALISM BENEFITS KIDS

One of my resolutions for this year is to look for inspiration from those who have gone on this journey before us. By reading about other families experiences, and observing our own children through this transition, I have found the following to be the top ways that minimalism benefits kids.

FEWER DISTRACTIONS

We all know that spending time in a clean space can lead us, as adults, to be productive. When children live in a clean home they are also better able to better focus on tasks. Homework, for example, is much easier to tackle when the child isn’t tempted by a mountain of toys or variety of video games.

Distractions can present in a variety of ways. Though we think most often of physical distractions, other obstacles such as worrying can divert just as much attention. The stress that is relieved by not having to deal with, clean, and keep track of un-necessary items or events is important to note as well.

Fewer distractions also means that there is room for focused attention. Your child may find that they have a knack for sewing, a love for reading, or a passion for acting. By eliminating the unwanted distractions in life, they can better focus their energy on the things they love.

LESS LIKELY TO LOSE THINGS

How many times have you been ready to leave the house when your child complains that he or she can’t find a shoe or backpack? The sudden scramble to find the missing item quickly escalates into hard feelings between parent and child. Feelings that can easily be avoided.

It’s no secret that items are easier to find when they are given a ‘home’ and are returned there after each use. This is a technique that parents can set up and encourage their children to follow. Of course, there will be some trial and error, but the benefits of this habit are worth the effort.

A child is more likely to take better care of, and track of, their personal belongings when they see them as being important. One shoe missing of fifteen pairs owned probably won’t seem like a big deal to them. Grabbing a different pair out of the pile is easy. But if the child owns only two or three pairs, the loss of a shoe will make a much larger impact.

MORE CONFIDENT DECISION MAKERS

It is easy to become overwhelmed when faced with a lot of choices. As adults, we are faced with many decisions each and every day. What should we wear? What should we eat? Is this event something I want to attend? When children are given too many options they can become mentally paralyzed, worrying about making the right choice.

In this way, fewer choices can actually help children become more confident in their decision making. Choosing one shirt to wear from four options is much easier than choosing from a pile of forty. Each successful decision made will add to the child’s confidence. This confidence will then spill over into more important life decisions, such as choosing relationships that are healthy and behaviors that are productive.

BLOSSOMING CREATIVITY

One of the most frequently listed minimalist benefit for kids is their ability to be creative with the things they have. Children have the amazing gift of imagination. Surrounding them with too many play things that ‘entertain’ them actually hinders and stunts their ability to be imaginative.

Some of the best toys that you can have on hand for your children include those that promote open ended play. Wooden blocks that can become roads, towers, or dining plates. Art supplies that can be manipulated into endless creations.

Many minimalists also note that with fewer toys their children spend much more time outdoors. Outdoor play has many benefits, including the access to fresh air and natural vitamin D. Creativity also blossoms in nature, especially in the use of large motor skills. Fort building, scavenger hunts, or an exciting game of hide and seek in the woods are just a few examples.

IMPROVED SHARING ABILITY

Minimalist children tend to be less possessive and have a lowered sense of entitlement. That’s not to say that they won’t still admire items when walking through a store, for example. The difference is that though they may voice their pleasure of an item, they don’t long for it in an unhealthy way.

Because they understand that things are just things, it isn’t as difficult for them to share with their siblings, for example. They know that even if the item breaks or gets damaged in some way, it won’t be the end of the world. Kids who grow up in a minimalist environment learn early on that happiness doesn’t come from what you own.

STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS

When it comes right down to it, I firmly believe that the main goal of minimalism for most people has less to do with belongings and more to do with relationships. And so, it is wonderful to note that one of the greatest benefits that minimalism affords children is a stronger bond to those they are close to.

That age old sibling rivalry of making sure everything is ‘fair’ begins to break down. No longer are they concerned about having more, because they realize that more doesn’t always mean better.

The time commitment that parents may have been spending handling all their belongings is lessened through minimalism. Those hours are re-allocated as quality time with their spouse and children.

These stronger bonds create a more open dialogue between all family members. Since it is no longer the norm to hide junk behind cabinet doors or under the bed, the hiding of secrets or emotions isn’t commonplace either.

FAMILY MINIMALISM MOVEMENT

There are many families who are shifting their focus to live a more minimal lifestyle, in an effort to regain time with each other. These families realize the importance of their relationships over belongings. I have teamed up with a group of blogging moms who are on this journey and have seen how minimalism benefits kids. Check out their blogs and social media accounts for additional tips and encouragement!

Not Your Average Fox | Minimalist Hospital Bag Essentials

Little Me + Family | Minimalist Baby Play Area

Faith and Family Farmhouse | Becoming Intentional With Toys

This Corbett Life | Embracing Minimalism Through Motherhood

HOW MINIMALISM HAS BENEFITED (OUR) KIDS

In this video I discuss examples of some of the ways our own five children have benefited from a more minimal and simple lifestyle.

We are excited to continue on this path, especially as we move into our new home, Arrow Hill Cottage. This home has been designed to meet our basic needs in an efficient way. Any luxuries that it includes have been well thought out and deemed beneficial for individual family members as well as the family as a whole. Moving into this new home will mark a major, pivotal shift for our family. I would love it if you could follow along with us on this journey. We should be breaking ground and begin construction in just a couple of months!

WHERE TO START FOR KID MINIMALISM

It all starts with you. Behavior modeling is so important and impactful for children. They will see your mood change as you clear the clutter. They will realize how much more time you have for them. When mom and dad are no longer arguing about all the junk laying around, they kids will notice.

And at some point along the journey, the kids will realize that this isn’t just something that parents do. It is something that families do. Families that care more about each other than material items. And they will ask what they can do to pitch-in on the effort.

Then, help them go through the toys. You will likely be blown away by how easily your children are able to choose which items to keep and which to part with. The truth is that, for most kids, many of the items they claim as theirs came by way of your pocketbook. Their attachment to them is only surface deep. Either they play with it, or they don’t. Let them make these choices and you will see a snowball effect when it comes to other categories, such as clothing.

PIN THESE INSIGHTS

Thinking about a more minimal life for yourself and your family? Use these insights about how minimalism benefits kids as motivation to take the leap! In the end, you will end up with fewer things, yet so much more overall.

NO SPEND MONTH | UPDATE + TIPS

In this post, I discuss important tips for a successful no spend month. Our family just finished one and, although there were some big challenges, it was a great learning experience.

I spent the month of January, along with my friend and fellow blogger Shannon Torrens, focusing on not buying anything new. It was a logical step to take, while we work on decluttering our rental house – in preparation for our big move. Later in this article, I will give an update on how our month went. First though, I want to encourage you if you are thinking of doing a no spend month for yourself.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL NO SPEND MONTH

Before you embark on your own no spend month, I recommend that you take into account the following tips.

CHART YOUR TYPICAL EXPENSES

Whether you budget or not, it is going to be important to have an idea about how much you spend in a typical month. This information will be especially helpful at the end of the month, to see how much you saved. Knowing that you are saving money might give you a boost of motivation.

In a future post, I will discuss how our family does budgeting using the free app Everydollar. Most of our budget categories don’t change, dollar wise, from month to month. The four categories that are the most variable for our family include: auto/gas, groceries, restaurant, and miscellaneous. Because of this, we chose to chart the expenses for these four categories before going into our no spend month – with the hope that we would see some savings.

SET THE RULES

It is unlikely that anyone’s ‘no spend month’ actually means not spending a single cent. That would be basically impossible. Rent needs to be paid, utilities have to be kept up to date. And, of course, you and your family are going to need to eat. The great news is that you can make up your own rules for a no spend month.

Our rules were pretty simple. You can read about them in this post. Essentially, our main goal was to bring nothing NEW into our home. That meant that we were free to spend money on food and restaurants, if we chose. It also meant that consumable items, such as shampoo and toilet paper, could be purchased.

START WITH AN OPEN MIND

Knowing that you COULD be purchasing something, yet holding back, can be a difficult thing to do. For that reason, I recommend that you think about this month as a learning experience above anything else. An experience that will help you understand your buying patterns.

If you start the month simply thinking about all the restrictions that lay ahead, you may find yourself more frustrated than you need to be.

Likewise, it is important to note that things won’t go perfectly as planned. If unexpected purchases arise that you simply can’t avoid, or if you slip up and buy something that you weren’t supposed to, don’t despair. Know that one false move shouldn’t derail the entire plan. In those instances, be prepared to pick yourself up and start again. This is where having an accountability partner is key. They can help you stay on the path to success. Shannon was mine, and it was great to take on the challenge together.

OUR NO SPEND MONTH

As I mentioned earlier, during the month of January, our family worked hard to not spend any money – specifically on any new THING. There were a few hiccups along the way, but ultimately we learned a lot of useful information about our spending habits.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Starting this challenge on the first of January seemed to be a logical choice. With Christmas over, we knew that our expenses would probably be down. In addition, the start of the new year gave us an extra boost of motivation.

Unfortunately, the month of January also brought with it severely cold weather to Minnesota, where we live. And it just so happens that only two days into the challenge, the battery in one of our vans was found dead when we went to start it. Ironically, two weeks later our other van’s battery also needed replacing. In total, we ended up spending over three hundred dollars on replacements.

Though it wasn’t fun dealing with those unexpected expenses, the batteries were indeed necessary. And delaying the purchase of them was not an option.

I also had a minor purchase slip up. A friend of mine started selling handmade watercolor paintings, and I purchased one for the girl’s bedroom. It wasn’t until after I sent her the money that I remembered that this would be considered a breech of the rules. Thankfully, she was kind and told me she would hold onto the art piece until the challenge was over – as not to add an extra item to the house.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

From the start of the month, we kept a record of any item that was a potential purchase. It was our intent that we would keep the list, to make the purchases in February. Interestingly though, quite a few of those items ended up getting crossed out. We either realized we didn’t actually need them, or found something similar that could be used in it’s place!

We were very careful to stay out of the stores. I actually think that is one of the biggest keys to success during a no spend month. I typically have a habit of going into one of the big box stores for one of two consumable products, and then becoming distracted. Suddenly, I find myself leaving the store with quite a few unnecessary items. During the month of January, I am happy to report that I did not enter Target a single time – and Walmart only once!

Even the kids got in on the action. They had received gift cards from family at Christmas. While normally they would be begging us to take them to the stores, this time they were much more patient. They recognized that we were holding off on making purchases and figured they could too.

In fact, when the month was up we went into the stores to do a little window shopping. Only one of our five kids ended up making a purchase. The rest decided to save the money for something they really want. It made us happy to know that the no spend month was a great learning experience for them as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you have read this far you may be asking yourself one question. How much money did you save? Because we tracked all of our expenses, I am able to break that all down for you!

Essentially, we were looking at our four most variable categories: auto, groceries, restaurants, and miscellaneous. Here are the details on how the month of January compared to an average of the three previous months (December, November and October).

AUTO

As mentioned earlier, this budget item was most affected. Those two car batteries were large ticket items we definitely weren’t looking at spending money on.

Auto budget average over past 3 months: $202. Amount spent in auto budget during January: $468

That means that we overspent in this category by about $266. A bummer, yes. But like I mentioned, they were necessary purchases. The good news is that the batteries are high quality, and should last for quite a while.

GROCERIES

Our grocery amount stayed pretty consistent throughout the no spend month. One thing I did try to do was use up pantry items and canned goods. In the end, we were ahead in this category only slightly.

Grocery budget average over past 3 months: $815. Amount spent on groceries during January: $790.

A tiny savings of $25 in this category.

RESTAURANTS

Because we have a large family, we tend not to eat out very often. It is just too expensive. One meal out can be over one hundred dollars easily. That being said, we do enjoy the occasional treat night out and do keep a line item in our budget for restaurant expenses.

Restaurant budget average over past 3 months: $146. Amount spent on restaurant food in January: $130

Another tiny savings of $16.

MISCELLANEOUS

This is the meat and potatoes portion of this challenge. Where the other categories do not typically involve ITEMS to purchase, this category has a lot of wiggle room. The miscellaneous budget includes toiletries, clothing, kid field trips, and a whole slew of other things. It is the category that has the most grey area, and the budget item that gets the most abuse each month if we aren’t careful. It is easy to overspend in miscellaneous.

I was happy to see that making more intentional purchases really made a difference in this category during our no spend month.

Miscellaneous budget average over past 3 months: $890. Amount spent on miscellaneous items in January: $330.

That is a HUGE savings of $560!

With all the categories added together, we ended up saving $335 during January, simply be being more mindful of our purchases. In our household, that is a big chunk of change!

GOING FORWARD

We had friends who wondered if taking on a no spend month would simply result in a spending binge directly afterwards. In effect, erasing any progress that was made.

At fifteen days post challenge, I have definitely seen a more relaxed feeling around spending. However, our resolve to be more intentional is still going strong. We were never looking at this experiment as being a one and done event. Rather, we felt that the no spend month could be a jump start to a life long habit. As with any new habit, it will take a while to figure out what works best for us.

We will continue to keep a list of potential purchases, and waiting a few days or even a few weeks before committing to them. I also plan to be careful about sticking to the shopping list when entering those big box stores!

PIN THESE NO SPEND MONTH TIPS

If trying out a no spend month is something you are interested in, be sure to save these tips! I definitely encourage you to give it a try!

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM

Ever wonder what it might look like to have three boys share a bedroom? In this post I give a quick tour of our minimalist shared boys bedroom. I also discuss some of the reasons why are not concerned that the three boys will continue to share a bedroom in our new home.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

When we first moved into the rental farmhouse, we checked out all three of the available bedrooms to see where the boys would fit best. No room had enough floor space for three beds, and so we knew that we would be bunking them. The room they ended up with is the only one that had the ceiling height to accommodate the bunks.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM

Bedrooms, in our home, are considered calming and relaxing spaces. Because of this, we are careful not to fill them with too many things. Having an uncluttered space, we believe, helps our children to settle their minds when it is time for sleeping. While our family is on a journey to become more minimal, the bedrooms are possibly the only spaces that don’t need a lot of decluttering. They have always been kept that way.

THE BEDS

Two of our boys share the bunk beds. Our youngest son sleeps on the bottom bed, and our middle son sleeps on the top. I think that bunk beds are great for younger, smaller kids. To be honest though, they aren’t as comfortable for our boys now that they are heavier and taller. And, I’ll admit that bunk beds are a bit of a pain to make up in the morning. For these reasons, we are all very much looking forward to all the beds being on the floor at the new house.

Our oldest son’s bed is actually positioned in the room’s closet. When we first moved into the rental house, I spotted the closet and thought it would make a perfect little ‘sleeping nook’. You can see the location of the closet/ sleeping nook in the photo below. Because we re-purposed the closet, the boys clothes are instead stored in a small built-in cabinet, in the bathroom.

It has been great for him, as the oldest, to have his own space that has a bit more privacy. For a more in depth look at his space, and how we have it decorated, please read this post.

STORAGE

We think it is very important, especially in a shared bedroom space, for each child to have a spot that is all their own. Because of this, we gave each boy a place to store their own personal belongings.

Our youngest son has this little side table next to his bed. It is half of a vintage vanity that my husband’s grandmother owned. Someday, we hope to refinish or paint this piece – but for now we are loving the patina! It keeps his football cards, special craft projects and photos safely tucked away.

Our middle son has a a shelf at the head of his bed, which holds two small baskets. He is a lover of stuffed animals, which he keeps in one. The other is filled with books and mementos.

‘LITTLE ROOM’ STORAGE

In his little side room, our oldest son also has plenty of storage. Because his space is larger and more private, he has more storage than the other two boys. The side table next to his bed is the other half of the vintage vanity. On it, he keeps a lamp and an alarm clock, as well as his new five year journal. If you are a parent of teens or preteens, I would definitely recommend this Q&A journal. It is filled with great, thought provoking questions. Through the five years, it will be very interesting to see how his answers change as he ages. They make one for moms that I am considering purchasing for myself!

A floating shelf near his bed showcases his love of aviation, with a collection of airplane books and models.

He also has a small desk and shelf on the other side of the space. The desk holds a few Legos and drawing/writing supplies. The shelf has fabric bins that store airplane figurines, football gear, and other miscellaneous items. As we continue our decluttering and simplifying, we are aware that his need for the desk and shelf are not likely a priority. He rarely uses either.

His bed has built-in storage underneath also. Primarily, the drawers are used to house our collection of VHS kid’s movies. Old technology, I know. But the boys do have a TV/VCR combo in their room that they use on occasion.

ACCESSORIES/ DECOR

This TV was given to me as a Christmas present nearly 25 years ago. It has sort of become a novelty at this point. I’m not really sure what will happen to it or the VHS collection when we move. The truth is, we don’t use either often enough to justify keeping them – but our middle son in particular seems to be very fond of it.

The nightlight is a little Christmas village fire station that we purchased when my husband first joined the fire department. It gives off just enough glow for our youngest to feel comfortable in the room. I’m not sure it will hold a place at the new house either, except maybe as a Christmas decoration.

Their room has a small bookcase in the corner which holds almost all of our family’s collection of children’s books – including our vintage golden books. The bottom three shelves are books that we own, and the top shelf is where we keep the books we pick up at the library.

There are a couple places the boys can sit while reading their books. The reclining chair is a comfortable choice, as is the blue and white striped ‘pouf’. Though it was originally filled with Styrofoam beads, it began to sag through time. We eventually removed all of the beads and now use it as a place to store the boy’s sleeping bags. This has been a very useful and functional storage option for us. This product is similar, and is designed to store stuffed animals. Genius!

You might notice that the wood flooring in the room is painted. When we first moved into the rental, all of the upstairs flooring was covered in wall to wall carpet. It was very old and dusty, and thankfully we were able to talk our landlords into letting us tear it out. Because we didn’t want to put the time and money into refinishing the floors, we decided to instead apply a chocolate brown colored porch paint. In the four years we have lived in the house, we have been very happy with how the painted floors have held up. Only a few areas, where furniture has scraped, are showing wear.

A vintage globe serves as the only real decor item in the main room. It sits atop a closed off laundry chute. Red curtains add a bit of color to the room, and also block the light quite well when it is time for sleeping.

Our minimalist shared boys bedroom is quit simple and efficient, and is a great space for our sons to relax and settle into sleep at the end of a busy day.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM DESIGN

Our boys will once again be sharing a bedroom at Arrow Hill Cottage. We aren’t concerned about this, for a variety of reasons.

One, our sons have always shared a room. It is what they are used to and what they actually prefer. They enjoy knowing that their brothers are nearby at night.

The second reason we aren’t concerned is because they will each have their own little space within the larger room itself. Because they are approaching their teen years, I was very careful to design the room in such a way that they will each have a sleeping nook. This will give them a bit more privacy, and also allow them to add their own personal touches.

Lastly, we actually believe that sharing a room is a good life lesson for kids. Learning to compromise at times and to cope with each other regardless of differences is very important. Better for them to learn these things now than when they are sharing with a college roommate or spouse!

Visit this post for more details about the design for the boy’s bedroom at the new house.

MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM VIDEO TOUR

I hope you enjoyed the photos of our minimalist shared boys bedroom. It is always easier for me to understand the layout of a room by seeing the space in person though, and so I created this video tour as well. Enjoy!

ADDITIONAL MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOMS

Check out these bonus inspiring simple space ideas!

happy home fairy

balancing home

life of family and home

PIN THIS MINIMALIST SHARED BOYS BEDROOM

INTENTIONAL FAMILY VALENTINE’S DAY IDEAS

This post discusses tips on how to create an intentional family Valentine’s Day, including the ideas we plan to implement for our own holiday, making it a simple time that we can connect as a family.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. And this year, we are looking at things a little differently. We are in the final days of completing a spend free month challenge. A challenge that has been wonderful, and difficult, all at the same time. We have learned a lot as a family, and grown in our abilities to be more intentional about our spending as well as our time.

And so, as we continue our commitment to simple and minimal living, I have thought a lot about what it might mean by way of holiday celebrations.

I can’t say that Valentine’s Day has always been one that we have most anticipated. Like most people, I believe, this time of year we are still a bit tired from all the hustle and bustle of back to back Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Sure, in the past, we have sent the token candy filled valentines to school friends. We have purchased a few fresh flowers. But that is about it. And I have to admit that even those simple acts have felt more like an obligation than anything else.

A MORE INTENTIONAL IDEA

This year though, we are looking at Valentine’s Day in a whole new light. While advertisers would have us believe that our kids won’t enjoy the day without a ton of sweets, or a giant stuffed teddy bear. And that our spouse will be upset without new jewelry and chocolates. We are challenging those notions. Instead, we are preparing for a holiday that has us connecting and enjoying each other’s company.

The following tips and ideas are what we plan to implement in order to make this a simple and intentional family Valentine’s Day.

INTENTIONAL FAMILY VALENTINE’S DAY

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

DECORATION IDEAS

Decorations have a way of setting the mood of a space. Kids especially enjoy the change of scenery and will pick up on the fact that something special is about to happen. There is definitely no need to go overboard in this department, however.

In fact, I would suggest that you don’t spend any money. Instead, look around your house to find items that might be useful. Red, pink, and white are the classic Valentine’s Day colors – but other accents can work great as well. You might be surprised at the things you find that work perfectly as decor!

I have a few large plastic apothecary jars that I have used for birthday parties in the past. Filling them with red ball ornaments from my Christmas decor stash really brought them to life! A red fabric pillow case was used to anchor the centerpiece to the table.

I also love to find holiday appropriate books to decorate with. You may have a few favorites around the home that you can pull out and use in a display. If not, I suggest visiting your local library. Ours had a wonderful selection of titles with beautiful covers.

Since we don’t have a fireplace in our rental home, the restored cabinet in our dining room served as a makeshift mantle. The books look so cheery sitting on top.

Just Because You’re Mine | Guess How Much I Love You | I Heart You

ACTIVITIES

Having a few fun activities on hand to do together as a family is a great idea. Think about the ages of your children when determining what is appropriate.

FOR YOUNGER KIDS

My two young daughters saw me decorating with books and immediately began asking if I would read them the stories. Of course, reading to children is a great activity to build imagination and vocabulary skills. The bonus is that by sitting down to read, you can get in some extra cuddles!

Other fun activities for younger kids may include blowing bubbles for them to run through, playing tic tac toe, or working on coloring pages together.

FOR OLDER KIDS

Older children may enjoy something a bit more advanced, such as a craft project. Keep costs down by looking through your personal stash of supplies instead of running to the store. Lay all of the items out on the table and let your kid’s creativity run wild!

Most important of all, be sure to sit down with them while they create. Just having you there with them makes it that much more fun for kids. They will enjoy your company, and you are sure to have a lot of fun too!

Some children may be required to make Valentine’s Day boxes for school. This is another fun project that you can help with. Check out these creative box ideas:

Robot Valentine’s Day Box

Hungry Monster Valentine’s Box

Kitty Cat Valentine’s Box

If you really get into the groove, consider also helping the kids make handmade cards to gift their classmates. They are so much more fun than the standard store bought variety. Making them candy free would surely please the other parents as well. The following printable valentines are candy free and oh so cute:

I Spy | Seek + Find

Tic Tac Toe

Bookmark to Color

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FAMILY

There are many fun ways to enjoy activities together on an intentional family Valentine’s Day. If the weather is warm enough, plan a walk or a trip to the park. Volunteer to hold and care for animals at your local Humane Society, or work together to create a delicious four course meal!

FOOD IDEAS

They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m convinced the sentiment also applies to children. Ours, at least, can’t resist a snack.

For Valentine’s Day, consider cutting food items with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Experiment with different foods. Toast, sandwiches, and even fruit can easily be given this fun shape. Dying foods with natural colors is also a fun idea.

I have found that another easy way to make a snack more special is to serve it in a different way. Try placing the simple snack on the ‘good china’ for example, or letting the kids drink from glass jars with straws. These fancy containers have a way of making the eating experience more fun.

These other fun Valentine’s Day snacks are healthy and interesting eats for kids:

Apple Slice ‘Doughnuts’

Pink Yogurt Parfait

Homemade Heart Tortilla Chips

If a sweet treat is what you’re after, consider making this yummy Valentine’s Day popcorn!

WORDS/ ACTS OF LOVE

Of course, the most important aspect of an intentional family Valentine’s Day is letting everyone know how much you love and care for them.

Offer up plenty of hugs and cuddles. Older children and spouses will appreciate finding small notes of love. Writing on cut out paper hearts adds a special touch and is sure to put a smile on the face of the receiver.

Sitting together as a family and discussing what you love about one another can also be a fun activity.

One of the best ways to show love is by giving your family your time. By simplifying the holiday so that it isn’t such a huge burden, you are allowing yourself more freedom to be fully present.

OTHER INTENTIONAL VALENTINE’S DAY IDEAS

These blog posts have additional tips on how to create an intentional family Valentine’s Day. Be sure to check them out!

What is Valentine’s Day? | Life On Mercedes Drive

Valentine’s Day Made Special | Hydrangea Tree House

DIY Valentine’s Mugs | VanBoven Vintage Farmhouse Living

Creating a Valentine’s Day Everyone Will Remember | Faith + Family Farmhouse

8 Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special For Your Spouse | Making it Home

DIY Valentine’s Gift Idea | Homemade on our Homestead

PIN THESE VALENTINE’S DAY IDEAS

If you are wanting to make the switch to an intentional family Valentine’s Day, be sure to pin these ideas!

NEW MINIMALISM | BOOK REVIEW

Looking for an inspirational book to read? I might have just found the perfect one! This review of the book New Minimalism discusses the overarching topics and tips presented by the authors. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

As part of my recent New Years goals, I am looking for inspiration. In particular, in regards to our family’s journey toward minimalism. I know it will be helpful to learn from others who have gone before us. By seeking out people who have been successful in a similar situation, we can be encouraged to continue on.

Right before Christmas break from school, I took our five children to the city library. It was my intention stock up a good supply of reading material to use during the cold days indoors. As we walked in, I noticed a small table set up with books about goal setting, organizing and intentional living. Within that grouping, I spotted the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. This book has been on my reading wish list for a while now. I quickly grabbed it and put it in the library bag.

Then, I saw another book. One I hadn’t heard of. The book was New Minimalism, written by a pair of friends – Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici. The subtitle of the book drew me in. ‘Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living.’ Yes please! Into the bag it went.

AUTHOR BACKGROUND

Cary and Kyle met through carpooling. Both ladies were beginning their journeys toward a more simple lifestyle, and spent their drive time comparing notes. Through the following months, their friendship began to blossom. So too did their commitment to providing others with this newfound information they had regarding minimalism. Ultimately, the pair began a home organization business that grew into an online presence.

Their website newMinimalism has helped countless clients declutter and organize their lives. Simply put, these gals know what they are writing about. More important than that, they have a passion for their mission.

THE PREMISE OF THE BOOK NEW MINIMALISM

Right from the start of the book, the authors make it clear that they wish to dispel a common misconception about minimalism. That SIMPLICITY was synonymous with SACRIFICE and DISCOMFORT. Through their many years of experience working with people from all walks of life, they have found quite the opposite to be true.

By removing unused items from their lives, their clients have experienced peace and saved money. They have felt liberated and more joyful, and developed more meaningful relationships. I’d say those are all great reasons to embark on a more minimal life!

Throughout the book, the authors are encouraging their readers to look at the aspects of new minimalism as a way to understand your personal values. And, in turn, observing how those values are reflected in your physical space. They offer their clients a simple statement and question.

Your external space reflects your internal state. What does your home say about you?

THE FOUR ARCHETYPES

While working with a variety of personalities through their years as home organizers, Cary and Kyle have recognized four distinct patterns of behavior, or archetypes.

They are careful to note that these archetypes are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they are what people tend toward, depending on the situation. However, you are likely to find that one behavioral pattern is your personal default most of the time.

I found this section of the book particularly insightful and helpful. Understanding the habits that you tend toward will make it easier for you to more effectively minimize clutter in your life.

ARCHETYPE 1: CONNECTED

This person generally has a hard time letting go of personal items that have memories tied to them. They tend to be great listeners, reliable friends, and compassionate. The connected individual is highly sentimental.

Connected people have a hard time letting go of : gifts, handwritten cards, and souvenirs.

ARCHETYPE 2: PRACTICAL

Practical people are logical, data-driven, and methodical. They have a factual way of looking at the world. They find joy in finding creative ways to improve a scenario or solve a problem.

Practical people have a hard time letting go of: art + craft supplies, scrap materials, and anything that might be useful for a future situation.

ARCHETYPE 3: ENERGETIC

This person is creative and in a constant state of learning. A go-getter who has a hard time saying ‘no’ to a anyone who needs help. New projects are irresistible to them.

Energetic people have a hard time letting go of: projects, personal and social commitments.

ARCHETYPE 4: FRUGAL

This person tends to plan for the future, while rooted in the present moment. Frugal people tend to be very intentional about not only how they spend their money, but also their time.

Frugal people have a hard time letting go of: anything with monetary worth or perceived rarity.

This particular part of the book was very eye opening for me. I immediately knew that I fit the Energetic Archetype perfectly. I am often eager to start a new project, but will admit that following through is sometimes difficult. There is just something in me that loves the thrill of the creative beginning of a project. The finishing of the project isn’t as exciting. To be honest, often times by that point in the process, I am already looking toward the next new thing that can be started.

The second archetype that I align with is Practical. Because I love starting up new projects, I like to have supplies readily available. This is why my craft room is a giant mess, and in need of a major declutter.

I read the above descriptions to my husband, and he claims to most relate to both the Practical and Frugal archetypes. Absolutley, I agree.

The authors do a wonderful job of providing questions you can ask yourself while you are decluttering and minimizing, based on what behaviors you tend toward. By knowing your archetype, I truly believe you will understand how better to simplify your life.

THE DECLUTTERING PROCESS

The authors of New Minimalism offer a process of decluttering your spaces. Similar to the KonMari method of decluttering, this book recommends that items be dealt with by category. Seven specific categories are outlined. In addition, they recommend that items be dealt with in a specific order. They always start client decluttering sessions with clothing and end with furniture and home decor.

Their reason for the particular order is outlined in the book. Each category is given a section of the book, full of tips and best practices.

The authors also discuss how to be successful in the overall decluttering process. They offer encouragement on preparing, both mentally and physically, for the task at hand and include tips on how to enlist help.

CLEANING PRODUCT SOLUTIONS

Through their years in the industry, Cary and Kyle have encountered a wide variety of cleaning products. What they have come to find is that simple products are often the best. As a result, they have developed their very own formulas. Recipes for homemade wood polish, shower + toilet scrub, and an all purpose cleaner are all available in the book.

I definitely want to make the switch to a more natural way of cleaning, and will be giving these recipes a try! It would be amazing if I could make my cleaning routine at Arrow Hill Cottage toxic free!

NEW MINIMALISM DESIGN PRINCIPLES

This book offers up twelve design principles to think about when putting your new decluttered space back together. I won’t be writing them all here, but I do want to share the two that I love most.

The first is that we should redefine our definition of ‘full’. New Minimalism defines ‘full’ as a state when the confines of a drawer, cabinet, or closet have ample space to be seen and can be accessed with ease. Be mindful that when you overfill your spaces, items will be easily forgotten and, therefore, not useful. For example, I witnessed this firsthand when decluttering our linen closet. It was shocking to me that a very personal and special item was hidden below piles of unused towels and blankets. Never again.

The second principle that I plan to practice is to ‘allow one to stand for many.’ In a nutshell, this principle is addressing meaningful keepsakes from our past. The authors challenge their readers to seek out pieces that represent special memories, instead of trying to save everything.

There is a wonderful quote in the book by decluttering expert Karen Kingston. She stated: “When you are surrounded by more than 50 percent of belongings that remind you of something from your past, you will continue to live in the past.” That’s a powerful statement!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK NEW MINIMALISM

This book is a thorough approach to decluttering and simplifying your life. It is not your average organizing book. The fact that it offers holistic insights to the WHY behind the clutter makes it so much more. The authors are insightful and clear on their thoughts. However, they also recognize the dynamics of human nature.

I very much appreciate that the book isn’t laid out as a ‘one size fits all’ formula for each and every situation. We are all unique and, as such, our journeys toward minimalism will look different.

In conclusion, I most definitely recommend this book. It is one of the best I have read in this genre!

VIDEO BOOK REVIEW OF NEW MINIMALISM

Watch me talk about my thoughts on this book. I am planning on implementing what I have learned in my own life, and go into that more deeply in this video.

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If you are considering a minimalism journey of your own, I highly recommend this book. Pin this image as a reminder to buy this book, or borrow it from the library. It will be worth your efforts, I promise!

Again, the book is New Minimalism, and can be purchased HERE.

MINIMALIST RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

A new year means a new perspective and goals for the future. Today I am outlining five minimalist resolutions that I am setting to start 2019 out on the right foot!

I have just finished up a four week series of declutter challenges. The process was hard work, but I have to admit that the house is looking pretty amazing. It’s impressive to see what even just one month of focused intention can do! I want to keep the momentum going into the new year, and have come up with a series of minimalist resolutions to help me reach my goal.

FIND INSPIRATION

Since we are just at the very beginning of our minimalism journey, it can be daunting at times to think about how far we have to go. Reading about others who have gone before us and seen success is going to be key. Finding inspiration is the first of my minimalist resolutions for the new year.

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases*

BOOKS

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I have been wanting to read this book for a while, as it has received many great reviews. The author, Marie Kondo, was the one who developed the KonMari decluttering method. I used that method for one of my declutter challenges and found it quite effective.

Marie’s philosophy on decluttering has to do with keeping only the items that bring you joy. She has partnered with Netflix to create an eight episode mini series, where she teaches others to use her techniques. The series starts on January first, and you can be sure I will be watching!

Minimalism for Families. Because we are a large family, I am particularly interested in techniques to help our brood along on this journey. This book got good reviews not only because of the practical tips that are offered, but also because it helps the reader understand the ‘why’ behind reducing clutter.

BLOGS

The Minimal Mom: The writer of the blog, Dawn, is a fellow Minnesotan. She and her husband are raising 4 kids, and I feel like she is super relate-able. They have gone through an extreme decluttering process that has resulted in a new and more simple way of life for their family. Dawn also has a great YouTube channel with many videos that further explain the techniques they use. I definitely recommend you check out their laundry system video – a unique approach that works for them!

YOU TUBE

Break the Twitch: Of course, there is a ton of videos about minimalism on YouTube, and it will surely serve as a source of inspiration in the new year. One channel that I have recently subscribed to and am loving is Break the Twitch. Anthony uses humor to teach about why mimimalism is effective. He shows his audience that mimimalism is more than just eliminating physical clutter. It also has to do with a mindset shift in order to live intentionally.

NO SPEND MONTH

My second resolution is in collaboration with another amazing YouTuber. Shannon Torrens and her family have been walking down the path toward minimalism for the past year or so. It is really impressive to see all that they have accomplished in such a short time! Follow along with their journey by visiting her channel.

Shannon and I both recognize that a challenge can be a great motivator to reach a goal. Because of this, we decided to make January a ‘no spend month’. We will attempt to buy only consumable products such as food and toiletries for the entire month of January.

Doing this for the first month of the new year will be a great way to reset our spending habits. It is also likely to be quite eye opening. I will be recording how many ‘want items’ went un-purchased as well as the amount of money that was saved.

I am personally calling this our ‘Happy (NO) New Year Challenge’. Feel free to join us!

I’m excited to have Shannon as my accountability partner this month. Be sure to view her personal New Years resolution video and blog post, and check back here at the end of January to see how we both did!

FINISH DECLUTTERING

Of all of my minimalist resolutions, this is likely to be the most challenging. We have lived in our rental farmhouse for over four years now. There are still boxes that remain unopened from our move, sitting in a storage closet. And, of course, we have accumulated more items during the time we have lived here. Because Arrow Hill Cottage is smaller than the rental house, we need to be very diligent about which items we decide to keep.

I would like to have the declutter process finished by the time we break ground on the new house. This adds a bit of urgency to this resolution. We should be breaking ground in the spring – April or May. That gives me only 3 or 4 months to get the job done.

Thankfully, the December challenges gave me a great jump start. I definitely plan to use some of the techniques I used to tackle the rest of the rooms in the rental house.

GARAGE SALE

My husband really hates garage sales. He doesn’t feel that they are with the effort. However, with all the decluttering that is about to happen, we will have plenty to sell!

I finally got him to accept the idea by mentioning that the proceeds from the sale could be used toward items for the new house. And so, the fourth of my minimalist resolutions is to have one big garage sale near the end of the summer.

It is likely that we will be preparing to move near the end of the summer, or early Fall. That just happens to be prime garage sale time in our area. We are currently storing all the items for the sale in a large upstairs closet we have lovingly named ‘the sell room.’ Everything will be moved out to the garage for the sale. Items that don’t sell will be immediately donated.

Not having to pack everything into boxes and move, then sort again at the new house, is considered a win-win in my book!

ONE IN ONE OUT

After the whole house declutter and massive garage sale, we need to move forward by keeping things clutter free. It would be the biggest disappointment to put in all the hard work only to fill up the new house.

And so, my final minimalist resolution for 2019 is to practice the one in / one out rule. Essentially this means that before bringing any new item into our home, I will think about which item it will be replacing. The replaced item will then be donated, so that we do not continue to accumulate over time.

Items should be of like value or type. For example, purchasing a brand new power tool and eliminating a small hair accessory would be bending the rules. My year round capsule wardrobe will be easy to keep in check, since I want to keep it at the same number of items.

It would be really extreme to catalog and number every single item in our entire home. Instead, I plan to always be mindful of the things we do own, so that we don’t end up with duplicate items that serve the same purpose.

Of course, there will be a period of time while we are setting up the new house with bedding, curtains, and some new furniture. This will be the exception to the rule however, and for the most part this process should be complete within a few months of moving in.

I’m excited to see how the one in / one out mentality helps me to think critically about which items are brought into our home.

THOUGHTS ON MY MINIMALIST RESOLUTIONS

We are filled with hope and anticipation going into 2019. Our family has been dreaming about building our forever house for years and years. Knowing that it is finally going to become a reality is beyond exciting.

Not only will the house be a special tailor-made place for our family to live, it will also be a clean slate for us. A chance to start over in some respects, and to create the family life we have been craving. A slower paced, intentional outlook on life – where we have deeper connections with one another. As our kids grow, these connections are going to be even more important.

I am hopeful that this year’s minimalism resolutions will be a jump start into even more positive changes in the coming years.

OTHER NEW YEARS GOALS

I have heard before that a goal is just a wish unless you write it down. And so as an effort to keep these things at the forefront of my mind, I am leaving them here to look back on when I need motivation.

FOR MYSELF

Taking more time to rest, and enjoy the simple things in life

Saying ‘no’ to events and commitments that add unnecessary stress

Waking up each day with a positive attitude and clear mind

Cooking healthy meals for my family

FOR MY FAMILY

Spending more quality time together

Craig had an awesome idea, which we will be implementing on January 1st. We are calling it ‘Screen Free Saturday’. On the first Saturday of each month we will shut off all of our devices and connect as a family. We envision cooking all of our meals together, playing board games, and just getting to know each other better. Everyone in the family is really looking forward to this!

Reading books together

Leading up to Christmas, I read an advent story book aloud to the family. The kids all enjoyed it so much that they were constantly asking for me to read extra each night. I think it would be fun to start a book series that all of our children, ages 5 to 12, could understand and be interested in. One option I have thought of is the Little House on the Prairie Series. If you have any recommendations for captivating books in this age range, please let me know!

Celebrating the value that each member brings to the family

As a large family, it is sometimes difficult for each member to find their place. Even though it isn’t intended, some members definitely receive more attention than others. I would love to do some family exercises that could help us each recognize that even though we are all different, we bring something unique that helps our family as a whole.

FOR THE BLOG

I am hopeful that the things I have learned in 2018 will help me to grow the blog even more in the coming year. More specifically, I am going to be working on putting out great content that will be helpful to my readers. This minimalism journey that our family is on will be a big source of topics for the blog, but I will also be writing about healthy meals, organizing tips, and of course home design ideas.

Are you making New Years Resolutions? If so, I would love to hear about them and encourage you throughout the year! Here’s to a wonderful 2019!

MINIMALIST RESOLUTIONS VIDEO

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CAPSULE WARDROBE | DECLUTTER CHALLENGE

Clothes have a way of sticking around and cluttering closets and drawers. This week I attempted to build my very first capsule wardrobe, as the fourth challenge in the December Declutter!

Welcome back to the fourth and final week of the December Declutter Challenge! This month I have already completed a Konmari declutter of our Christmas Decor, a speed declutter, and a deep cleaning of one room, top to bottom. Today I am sharing how I decluttered my clothing in an attempt to create my first capsule wardrobe.

CAPSULE WARDROBE PRINCIPLES

The main idea behind the capsule wardrobe is to fill your closet with clothing items you like and that you like on your body. Though the term was coined in the 1970’s by Susie Faux, the concept has become even more popular in recent years. With people busier than ever, overwhelmed by their lives and jobs, minimalism has gained recognition as a way to slow down and simplify. Capsule wardrobes are in line with minimalism techniques.

A typical capsule wardrobe includes between 25 and 50 pieces. Some include enough pieces for year round wear, while others offer a seasonal selection only. The great thing about a capsule wardrobe is that it is personalized to fit each individual. As such, the rules can vary from person to person.

MY CAPSULE WARDROBE RULES

Because we live in the Midwest, we experience dramatic temperature changes with each season. My wardrobe has to incorporate shorts as well as sweaters. For this reason, I opted to allow my capsule to include the maximum number of fifty pieces.

This will be a full year capsule wardrobe. I chose not include jewlery/scarves, pjs, or outerwear (coats, snow boots, etc.) Even so, I attempted to minimize the number of items in these categories to a combined twenty. Undergarments were not included in any item totals.

My long term goal for this challenge is to actually use the clothing I have. To create different outfit combinations with a minimal amount of items. I want to get to the point that I love everything in my closet.

CLOTHING CLUTTER (BEFORE)

My husband and I share a teeny tiny closet that is built into the eaves at our rental farmhouse. It was pretty well stuffed to the brim on the hanging bar.

We also had some bins on the closet floor that held bulkier items such as pants and sweatshirts. And I had one dresser drawer plump full of workout and lounging clothes.

SORT THROUGH THE CLOTHING

I used a method outlined on the website The Penny Hoarder when sorting through my clothing. The first step involved gathering all clothing items and footwear in one area, similar to what is done in the KonMari method.

Taking every item out of the closet, drawer and bins and laying them all on the bed was a huge eye opener to me. It was a massive pile of clothing. Considering that I can only wear one outfit at a time, I would say it’s obvious that I had far too many clothes.

The next step in the process is to sort all of the clothing items into three separate piles. One pile for items that you love, your favorites. Another pile for items that you like, and a final pile of items that you are certain you no longer need. Clothing that doesn’t fit properly or has stains/tears should go into the third pile.

Even if at one time the pieces were your favorites, if they don’t fit or are damaged do you really want to include them in your minimal wardrobe?

After my sorting was complete I was left with quite a few items that were destined to be sold or donated. I went ahead and bagged them up straight away. In this way, I wasn’t tempted to go back through those items searching for something to keep.

FINE TUNE THE SELECTIONS

The two remaining piles including clothing pieces that I love, and those that I like. At this point I needed to do some more critical thinking. I thought about which items could be used in multiple ways to form various outfits. I thought about how many seasons each piece would be useful in. Further sorting through these two piles back and forth, I was able to narrow down my capsule wardrobe to the pre-set 50 pieces.

HANG UP FAVORITES

My favorites were then hung back into the closet. I tend to arrange my clothing in color categories and by sleeve length.

Because this is my first capsule wardrobe, I decided to keep a ‘back up’ of 16 items that were from my maybe pile. These clothing pieces were placed into a bin and are stored in the back of my closet for the moment. If, after 365 days none have been needed, they will be moved into the donation bags.

While I am learning the ins and outs of my particular capsule wardrobe, I am giving myself lots of flexibility and the freedom to make fine tuning decisions. For example, I may find that I need fewer long sleeve/ winter items but more short sleeve options.

Each time a new item is added, either from my back up pile or purchased new from a store, one of the items in my capsule must be set aside. This will allow me to keep the item count consistent throughout the year.

I am hopeful that after a full year using these fifty items that I will have a good handle on what I need and use most often.

WATCH ME CREATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE

Take a virtual tour of my clothing before, and watch me declutter my clothing to create my very first capsule wardrobe!

MY CAPSULE WARDROBE SELECTIONS

I will admit that this was probably the most difficult of all the challenges I was faced with this month. Perhaps it has something to do with the intimate nature of clothing, which causes a person to become attached more easily.

Even still, it was an exciting exercise. I personally am really looking forward to knowing that everything in my closet fits and is useful. My final capsule wardrobe includes the following 50 items:

FOOTWEAR

7 pairs total: 2 flats, 2 boots, 1 casual canvas, 1 nicer pair of sneakers, 1 pair of running shoes.

BOTTOMS

8 total: 4 pants/jeans, 1 Capri, 2 shorts, 1 yoga pant

TOPS

27 total: 6 tanks, 3 short sleeve, 1 vest, 1 cover/wrap, 4 cardigan/pull over, 6 long sleeve, 5 sweaters, 1 dress

WORKOUT

8 total pieces: 3 bottoms (1 short, 1 Capri, 1 pant), 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 short sleeve shirt, 3 tank tops

ADDITIONAL ITEMS (not included in the capsule wardrobe total)

20 total items: 1 swimsuit, 1 pair of snow boots, 2 winter coats, 1 spring/summer jacket, 1 poncho, 4 PJ pieces, 5 scarves, 3 necklaces, 1 pair earings, 1 ring.

OUTFIT OPTIONS

Probably my favorite part of the entire challenge was coming up with different outfit ideas with the smaller number of pieces. These are just a few of the options that I am excited to wear!

I love how most of the items can be either dressed up or down depending on how they are paired and with different accessories. For example, a basic t-shirt can be worn with a pair of shorts or yoga pants for a comfortable casual look. The same shirt can also be dressed up with a scarf and nicer shoes.

I plan to print off index card sized pictures of outfit options. These cards can then be placed on a binder ring and stored in my dresser. That way, if at any time I feel that I have ‘nothing to wear’, I will have visual outfit inspiration!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE

This challenge was eye opening for sure. If you had asked me before how many total clothing items I had, I doubt I would have thought I owned even fifty total. The truth is that I had nearly two hundred. Essentially, this exercise cut my wardrobe in less than half.

While having a final item count might seem restrictive to some people, I actually found it useful. Knowing that I couldn’t go over my predetermined number caused me to really think about which pieces I wanted to hang onto.

I also found it surprising that the items I chose to keep in my capsule wardrobe shared a lot of similarities. Apparently, I enjoy wearing comfortable pieces that are generally plain or have small patterns/prints. There are also quite a few striped items that made the cut. Color wise, there is a definite palette of favorites – something I never realized before!

My side of the closet is in order and looking awesome. Perhaps for this reason, my husband has given me the green light to tackle his wardrobe next. I call that a declutter win!

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Are you ready to tackle a clothing declutter and create a capsule wardrobe of your own?

KONMARI DECLUTTER – CHRISTMAS DECOR

Join me as I begin a four week decluttering challenge for the month of December. My first challenge is a KonMari declutter of our Christmas decorations.

It’s no secret that this time of year gets busy. Extra busy. In years past, we have been right in on the action. Buying all the gifts. Attending all the parties. Hanging all the twinkle lights. This year though, we are attempting to slow down and be truly mindful of the special nature of this season.

Our family is on a journey toward simplicity in all aspects of life. Because of this, we are also attempting to be more mindful of the things that surround us. We want to be faced with less stuff, so that we can enjoy more life.

For the month of December, I will be attempting one declutter challenge each week. It is my hope that by the end of the month, and the start of the new year, we will have cleared our spaces and our minds a bit.

I am starting in week number one with a pretty obvious first step, the Christmas decorations.

DECORATING IN YEARS PAST

Each year, our typical first step to decorating for Christmas is pulling all of the items out of storage. Multiple bins are hauled into the room where the tree will be set up. Then, we proceed to dig through each one, in an effort to determine which items will brighten up the room and the tree.

Ironically, but maybe not so coincidentally, we almost always go for the same things. Year after year, our favorites make it out of the bins. The rest is put back into storage.

NEW TECHNIQUE TO TRY

This year, I decided to go through all of the items BEFORE the decorating session begins. Once again, I pulled the items out of storage, but did so while the kids were at school. Without all of their little hands rummaging through the bins, I was able to slow down the pace a bit. This allowed me to hold each and every piece and give it consideration.

I used the Konmari declutter method. This organizing technique was developed by Marie Kondo and is quite popular among minimalists.

Ms. Kondo recommends that all items of a similar type be grouped together and laid out on a flat surface. This allows you to see the large amount of items that all serve essentially the same purpose. In my case, with the Christmas decorations, it was a pretty obvious visual that we had accumulated far more than was necessary for the job of decorating for the season.

Most organizing methods have you asking yourself which items can be thrown/ given away. A KonMari declutter is different in that you are supposed to focus instead on which items to keep. The end goal is that you will choose the items that bring you the most joy.

OUR JOYFUL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

With everything laid out in front of me, my focus was immediately drawn to my favorites. These items bring me the most joy or have the strongest memories.

I knew for sure that our Willow Tree Nativity Set would be kept. It is usually the first of the decorations to be put up each year. We love the simple details of each piece. And, it is the perfect visual reminder for our family of the true meaning of Christmas.

Another favorite item that I found is this antique angel Christmas tree topper, which was my absolute favorite as a little girl. I have plans to remove her wiring, and turn her into an ‘Advent Angel’ – the Christian alternative to Elf on the Shelf – as a new family tradition.

SORTING THROUGH THE ORNAMENTS

We had an entire box full of ornaments, most of which haven’t made it up on the tree for many years. Using the KonMari declutter method, I picked up each and every ornament. A quick decision was then made whether it would find it’s place in the keep pile, or the donation box.

While sorting, I found many precious ornaments that hadn’t been used for years because they were hidden. For example, this collection of fire department related ornaments.

My husband was on the fire department in our city for ten years. The department gifted him a special ornament each Christmas. We have always said that we would like to have a small tree to display the collection. Unfortunately, we have never actually done it. They will be saved, to be used at our new house.

WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT’S LEFT

After the KonMari declutter was complete, two large boxes of decorations were ready to be donated. In turn, we were left with only a handful of Christmas decor items, and a small bin of ornaments.

I decided to keep two vintage suitcases, one of which was my grandparent’s, to store the decorations in. Because they are hard-cased suitcases, I was able to discard most of the protective packaging for the breakable items. I opted instead to wrap them in light-weight bubble wrap. All of our decorations, minus one large basket and the Christmas tree, fit in these two suitcases.

They will be easy to store, and bring out each year when we are ready to decorate. Another benefit to having fewer items is that we will not be digging through multiple bins anymore.

DECORATING WITH LESS

A very interesting thing happened when the kids got home from school and were ready to decorate. Though the items that remained were far less, they were not at all upset. Instead, rather than rushing through the task in an effort to be the one who put the most ornaments on the tree, they slowed down. They took the time to observe each individual piece before finding it’s perfect place.

This alone made the KonMari declutter worth it to me. They truly seemed to enjoy the decorating even more than in years past. In turn, I did too.

WATCH ME KONMARI DECLUTTER

I documented myself sorting through all the Christmas decorations, to share the process with all of you. I’m still pretty amazed at all I was able to get rid of, without regret!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS CHALLENGE

This was my first time using the KonMari declutter method. I have to say that although laying everything out was a bit more work upfront, it was beneficial. Seeing all those like-items together made it easier for me to spot our favorites.

I could see this method being used for all types of items – from clothing to kitchen gadgets. It is likely I will try to declutter this way in the future.

Above all, I learned from this challenge that the intentions behind your actions mean more than the action itself. Decorating with 200 items doesn’t mean that you enjoy or love Christmas more than someone who decorates with 20 items. And so, with that in mind, going forward, I plan to focus on the right number of decorations for OUR family. Because we know our intentions at Christmastime, and they may not always match up with what society says.

Join me next week, when I take on a new challenge for the December Declutter!

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BLOG GROWING PAINS

When you are learning something new, there are bound to be growing pains. My blog is going through some of those at the moment, as I discover what this world is all about.

There’s a whole lot to learn about when starting a website and blog. Analytics, Content creation, and the all important SEO. Yep, that’s right, SE… Okay – I still have no idea what I’m talking about. Basically it has to do with how people find my little corner of the web. The more people who visit my blog, the more possible it will be to grow.

To be honest, I have been a bit discouraged that I consistently write what I think is great content, and yet do not get many page views each month.

Knowledge is power, and I made the decision to sign up for a course on some of the more technical aspects behind building a good website. It has been pretty eye opening already and has proved that over the last year I have done quite a bit right. On the other hand, I am also now more aware of the mistakes I have made and why people haven’t visited my blog.

The good news is that by reversing some of those mistakes, I can send things in a positive direction. The bad news is that the reversal won’t be easy.

WHAT NEEDS CHANGING

Without getting all technical, I will just say that the basic framework of the website itself needs some re-working. The layout isn’t as user friendly as it could be.

In addition to that, a good number of my past posts will need to be edited so that they are more easily found.

It goes without saying that these changes will take time. Unfortunately, time is something that I tend to not have much of these days. Because of this, I will be scaling back the amount of new posts I put out each week.

I have consistently been able to add two new posts each week for the past year. Typically, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Going forward until I get caught up, I will have a new goal of posting only once per week, on Thursdays.

CONTENT FOCUS

Our house build should begin in about 5-6 months. Though I have the basic floor plans finally nailed down, there are still a lot of details that need to be worked through. Interior finishes, furniture selections, kitchen cabinet layout, etc.

In order to be fully prepared for our build, I plan to develop mood boards for each space. My posts will be reflective of this part of the design process. While this will be super helpful for us to look back on as the house is being built, I am also hopeful it will be useful for others. When possible, I will try to list our material and product sources.

The posts will also document the house construction while that is happening. It should be good insight for those of my readers who are considering their own new home build.

GOING FORWARD

This blogging course has challenged me to take a closer look at my overall goals. Where it was initially started to share our design process, it has slowly been evolving into more of an overall design blog.

I’ve written about design trends, residential architecture home styles, and building tips. I have even shared some of the design work I have done for clients.

Writing a general home design blog has been fun! Once Arrow Hill Cottage is actually built though, a whole world of possibilities will open up. I will have an entire home to decorate and learn how to manage. There will be closets that need organizing and floors that need cleaning. I would love to learn to garden! And develop healthy recipes for my large family!

That being said, I foresee my blog focus turning more toward the subject of Simple Home + Simple Living.

I am super excited about this decision and, with this focus in mind, I will be making my website changes. The title bar will likely get a sprucing up, as might the logo and branding. Just be aware that my end goal is in mind!

There you go friends, that’s my update for today. Tune in next Thursday for the first of my newly focused posts to go live! Once again, thank you for your support and encouragement on this journey!

THOUGHTS ON REST

The past few weeks have been a rough go for our family. First, my uncle passed away suddenly at the age of 59. We gathered for his funeral to celebrate the life of a man who loved people and music, and tearfully said our goodbyes. Only a few days later, my cousin had an unexpected medical emergency that eventually required a liver transplant.

And, just this past Saturday, our own little {L} was in a freak accident that slashed one of his tendons and broke his pinky finger. After an ER visit and a night in the hospital, he is now the proud owner of a purple cast and is expected to make a full recovery.

Scary stuff – Life changing events

I display many ‘type -A’ personality characteristics. I’m a perfectionist who likes to accomplish tasks and keep busy, a hard worker who sees things through. I’ll be the first to admit, though, that I am not good about taking time to rest.

I will make to-do lists and check the items off as I go. Subconsciously, I think to myself ‘once the to-do list is finished, I will rest.’

But then another item comes up that needs to be added, and then another. The list is seemingly unending, and, while I am generally good at multi-tasking, there inevitably comes a point when it all builds up and becomes too much. I call those moments ‘spinning’ – when there is so much to be done and coordinated, that I bounce from one task to the next, without making any real progress on anything. My brain simply can’t catch up.

If a thought bubble was visible above my head during a ‘spinning’ moment, you would probably see a throbber.

Just like a computer, my ‘spinning’ is an indication that I need a good re-start or refresh. The events of these past weeks have made this go-getter realize something very important.

Rest is needed, even when you’re not overwhelmed

Life is precious, and finite. It can change course in a matter of seconds. It shouldn’t take an overload to make a person slow down and reset. We tend to find time for all sorts of things: work, exercise, eating, even social media – yet forget to rest. In reality, rest is something that should be worked into the everyday, so that life can be enjoyed, not endured.

Sure, with five young kids it isn’t like I can trade in all of my responsibilities for relaxation, but I can make an effort to truly rest a bit each day. To take a step back and smell the crisp Fall air, read a good book, or snuggle with my kids and my husband.

If you’re like me and need to make a conscious effort to rest, I encourage you to take on this daily approach with me. I’m convinced that only good can come of it.