Is there a particular task that you’ve been putting off over and over? I have a task like that. We went out to brunch with friends about a month ago. While we were out, my toddler covered my wool coat in sticky, greasy handprints. My coat was basically un-wearable as it was. Because my coat is made of wool, I couldn’t just toss it in the washing machine.… Continue reading
simplify
Simplify Saturday: Coat Closet
Springtime in the mountains of Colorado means that we’re as likely to encounter snow as we are to experience shorts-wearing weather. This means that our coat closet is currently stuffed to the gills with all sorts of light and heavy jackets. However, there are also items in our closet that shouldn’t really be there, such as some costumes and outgrown items.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Collections
Yesterday I was talking with a friend who felt frustrated about her partner’s vintage toy collection that is growing too large for their space. He has so many items in his collection that they are present in every part of their home. One of the issues with this is that they have a small space, and this space is filling up with things that are meant only for looking and not for using.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Kid’s Art Decluttering
Whether you’re an adult or a kid, paper seems to accumulate. This week I’ve been going through [mostly paper] items in my 6-year-olds room. He makes prolific amounts of art (I wrote about it HERE), and it tends to accumulate on every available surface: the floor, the table, the dresser, on his shelves, and in his closet. So we’ve been sorting through big piles of art, deciding what he wants to keep, what he wants to gift to other people, and what he’s ready to recycle.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Evaluate your Commitments
Over the last couple of weeks, it seems like we’ve been invited to take on a number of commitments for the upcoming months. Most of these sound great, but I don’t know that all of them are the best use of our time.
I have particular goals for our family and for our boys. My boys have interests that I want to foster.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Exit Cabinet
Today I’m setting up an Exit Cabinet, a place to store all of the things that I need to take with me when I leave the house.
Right now, the items I need to gather and bring with me are scattered about. My bag is on the floor of the coat closet. The deposits I need to take to the bank and the items I need to mail at the post office sit in a pile on my desk.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Decluttering Plastics
Today I am again aiming to eliminate clutter around our home. In light of my post on the The Problem with Plastics, I set out to remove at least ten plastic items from our home. As with my other decluttering escapades, it was easy to find more than ten things to remove.
I encourage you to also remove at least 10 items from your home.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Clean as you Go
As you go through your day, clean up little messes as you make them. Wipe up spills right away. Put the junk mail directly into the recycle bin. Rinse your dishes and immediately put them in the dishwasher as soon as you’re finished with them, instead of leaving them to pile up in the sink. Place your dirty clothes in the hamper as soon as you’ve taken them off of your body (or hang them up if you plan to wear them again).… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Media Sabbatical
Today, unplug. Take a media sabbatical for yourself.
Media is a near constant presence in our lives. It creeps in to all of those quiet places and fills them with noise. Some media is helpful, beneficial, and even necessary. But much of it is simply noise.
Browsing online is not doing nothing. Listening to music is not doing nothing. To truly see what is inside our minds, to truly give ourselves space to think unfettered thoughts and to dream amazing dreams, we need to give ourselves space and to give ourselves quiet.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Donation Box
This week I set up a donation box in my closet. Now, every time I see something that I’m ready to part with, I can immediately take it and put it into the box. This should help eliminate the, “I’ll remember to grab that the next time I’m gathering a bag of things to give away.” Instead, I can take care of it immediately.… Continue reading