Honest Simplicity

my winding road to a simpler life

Tag: declutter

April 3, 2015

Spring Cleaning Bug

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The spring cleaning bug bit me this week and took hold.  I’ve vacuumed up dust bunnies and the insides of drawers, removed tiny toys hiding out under the living room furniture, tossed books and clothes unapologetically into my donation pile, and recycled other odds and ends.  It all feels very gratifying.  Admiring one tidy shelf is quite satisfying.  Emptying out an entire drawer is even better.  Just because I have (share) 6 dresser drawers doesn’t mean I must fill them all.  Don’t you love walking into a room that is free of clutter?  It is soothing to the soul.

How about you?  Have you started your spring cleaning yet?  Do you know where to start?  Identify which area of your house Read the rest of this entry »

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August 22, 2014

Young Minimalist in the Making

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I think I have a young minimalist on my hands (at least, one in the making).  I’m speaking of my creative, energetic, chatterbox 8-year old daughter.  One morning this week, I stumbled into the kitchen, half-awake, to make myself some coffee.  Before I could reach the teapot, this sprightly daughter of mine bounced into the room announcing she had a pile of stuffed animals she’d like to part with.  “Uh….ok…that is great!” I mumbled, caught off guard by her radiating energy so early in the morning.  I Read the rest of this entry »

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August 2, 2014

Owner’s Manuals…Goodbye!

Today, I opened a box labeled “owner’s manuals and parts” which was tucked away in our basement closet.  What is even in here and do we need all of it? I wondered.  My husband and I started going through it and quickly found manuals to items we no longer owned.  Those papers went directly into the recycling bin.  Then there were the manuals to items we do still own.  But, do we need a manual telling us how to install a ceiling fan, which we’ve already installed?  Do we still need to hold on to a manual showing us how to operate our toaster?  Life will probably go on without those.  We noticed that many manuals can be found online for appliances and electronics such as our washing machine, t.v., microwave, etc.  Realizing this, we tossed the contents of the entire box.  Goodbye box of owner’s manuals, and good riddance!

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July 9, 2014

Home as a Sanctuary

I’ve been clearing away clutter and simplifying over the years, but still have plenty of work to do in that department. It has been a slow, but purposeful process.  Is your home a sanctuary or a stressor?   So often, we vacation to escape our busy complicated lives only to return back to the chaos.  When did vacationing become a need rather than a want?   Simplifying my life helps me to create spaces of comfort and peace within my own home.  I look forward to the day when returning home from vacation means returning to a place of rest and relaxation instead of returning home to a long list of to-dos and visual clutter demanding my attention.  It pleases me that I am on that path.  What could you do today to make your home a sanctuary?  What distractions could you part with to make room for peace?  Courtney Carver, who I find to be a wonderful inspiration, speaks on this topic in her blog Be More With Less.

Here are a couple of spots in my home which bring me peace of mind:

I find my kitchen to be a peaceful place in my home (when there are no dirty dishes)

I find my kitchen to be a peaceful place in my home (when there are no dirty dishes)

I love a clutter-free countertop

I love a clutter-free countertop

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July 2, 2014

The Coat Closet….Eeeek!

At the back of our house, we have a closet.  It looks nice enough on the outside, right?

outside of our coat/broom closet

outside of our coat/broom closet

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