When Christmas Isn’t How You Wanted
December 10, 2008 in Simplify
Photo by RedWillow / Lisa
While I listened to the song “Away in a Manger”, it occurred to me that even though the song is lovely, the setting was probably not what Mary had in mind.
I’m sure she would have preferred to stay home, instead of traveling by donkey at nine months pregnant.
She would have wanted to [...]
Look Forward to Simpler Gift-Giving This Year
December 5, 2008 in Simplify
Photo by chatirygirl
A simple Christmas means not focusing so much on gifts, that’s certainly true. But considering the time, expense, thought, and effort involved, it’s only natural to hope the gifts we do give and receive will be good ones.
I asked a panel of wise women for their advice in gift-giving, and they shared much of their [...]
Making Christmas Traditions You Like
December 3, 2008 in Simplify
I want our family’s traditions to be truly ours, and not what’s recommended by a magazine’s “must-have” list. I’m trying to let the joy of Christmas sink in, not put on an exhausting one-woman show.
Read more...Come As You Are: Christmas Without the Frenzy
December 1, 2008 in Simplify
I’m not getting organized for Christmas this year. I think I’m just going to show up for it. I don’t want to be so busy preparing for the holiday that I get distracted from the real meaning of it.
Read more...Finding Contentment Where You Are Right Now
November 24, 2008 in Simplify
Finding contentment even when everyone around you has a nice house. A house doesn’t solve any problems, and there are benefits to renting.
Read more...Simplifying versus Stewardship?
November 10, 2008 in Simplify
Photo by sporkist
It can be painful to let go of things that you paid good money for, that still have some use left in them, or that you might need in the future. You just never know! But are those things worth keeping around just in case?
I received an email from a reader named Brittney who asked [...]
The Difficulty of Doing Less
October 22, 2008 in Simplify
Photo by conejoazul
It seems like it should be easy to do less, but I find it to be pretty hard.
It’s so much easier for me to throw out an old pair of shoes or give away a shirt, but to declutter my commitments? That’s not quick and easy.
Some of the things I need to do [...]
How Often Do You Declutter?
October 20, 2008 in Simplify
How often do you declutter? Let’s take a poll.
Read more...Trading Down to a Smaller Home
October 6, 2008 in Simplify
After we downsized our home, we found that a good layout on a smaller house is better for everyone.
Read more...What Motivates Us: Inspiration to Declutter
September 26, 2008 in Simplify
When a home is crowded with stuff, it goes beyond cozy and starts to look messy. If my home is a mess then I feel overwhelmed and stressed.
Read more...
