Inside: Here you’ll find our packing lists, itinerary, highs, lows, and lessons learned as we traveled lightly for 12 days in Europe. * Packing Like a Minimalist My kids and I just returned from middle school retreat. I had the privilege of tagging along as one of the school nurses. This was my first time attending, but I now see why my kids always come home like zombies. It was insanely fun, but unbearably exhausting. Prior to our departure, as I skimmed through their bags to make sure they had packed all they needed, my eleven-year-old daughter said this to me… “I spent twelve days living o ..read more

“I’d rather schedule a surgery than ever move again.” These were the words of my dear friend and frequent mover. They say moving is one of the top life stressors a person can experience. If you’ve ever moved, then I’m sure you can testify to this fact. As for me? I’ve lived in the same home-sweet-home for my entire adult life. Eighteen years to be exact. But this winter, we’re officially moving. Our new home isn’t really all that far from where we currently live, but it puts us on the side of town where we tend to spend the majority of our time. We’re certainly going to miss our little su ..read more

Inside: Decluttering your home is one thing, but maintaining it is next level. Here are 5 strategies to help you maintain a clutter-free home. I wouldn’t call myself a “runner” by any stretch of the imagination. However, one thing I really start to miss this time of year is a morning jog as the sun rises. A couple weeks ago, my husband and I had the pleasure of visiting our friends in Florida. While it’s been a relatively mild winter here in Michigan, there is nothing quite like sticking your toes in the ocean during the middle of February. On our very first morning in sunny Florida, I eagerl ..read more

Inside: Here you’ll get an inside look at 5 items I decluttered for good after going minimalist. Today marks exactly six years since I went minimalist. In one serendipitous Wednesday morning, I learned minimalism wasn’t just a lifestyle reserved for 20-something globetrotting singles; it was for messy, midwestern moms as well. That day, I decluttered over half of the clothes in my closet and continued to prune the rest of my home over the next twelve months. Since then, we’ve let go of so… much… stuff. My once overstuffed home now contains plenty of room to breathe. It’s delightful. In honor o ..read more

Inside:  If you find yourself drawn to clear spaces and articles about simplifying your life, minimalism might exactly what you’re looking for. Here you’ll find 5 reasons minimalism might be for you. Minimalism isn’t a trend.  Well, it may be for some and advertisers have certainly jumped on board to convince you their products will help fast-track your way to a clutter free home. However, while minimalist design may be “trending” right now, minimalism is timeless. It’s a lifestyle that has been around long before you and I ever even  took a breath. I didn’t learn about the c ..read more

Inside: Here you’ll find why and how to pack lightly + an inside look at what’s inside my backpack for my eight-day trip to Italy. My sister called me up in April to ask, “If I buy your plane ticket, will you come with me to Italy?” My answer, of course, was exactly what you’d expect. “Yuuuuup!” For the record, I’d have gone even if she didn’t pay my way, but shhhhh. Don’t tell her that. I did, however, give her one more stipulation. “I’ll go, but only if you agree to pack lightly. Carry ons only.” To which she very reluctantly agreed. April has quickly turned to September, and we’re heading ..read more

Inside: Here you’ll learn why I actually agreed with a negative-ish book review and what it is that drives us into minimalism. A few weeks back I read a Messy Minimalism book review that referred to the introduction as “trite.” I had, of course, to Google the exact definition “trite” because all I could picture was the tripe sandwich I ate in Florence, Italy a few years ago. Sorry Florence. It’s a 1 star from me for the tripe sandwich. Do not recommend. As I read the definition of “trite,” I actually found myself nodding my head in agreement. She was right. The story of how I found minimalism ..read more

Inside: Here you’ll find 3 strategies to help you not just survive a busy season, but to thrive in one. “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” -Bob Goff Every year I forget about May. Year after year she shows up on my doorstep like a book I preordered on Amazon months ago, but totally forgot I ordered.  “Wait, what is happening?” I stumble through, wondering how I’ll ever make it when suddenly June arrives. Like a breath of fresh air, school lets out and summer lightens my load. It’s as ..read more

Inside: Here you’ll find five tough love decluttering tips to help you not only declutter your home, but live a clutter free life. We’ve all got that one person in our lives, or at least we all should. You know, that one friend, or perhaps a sibling, you can count on to just tell you like it is. They don’t waste time beating around the bush or coddling your feelings. Instead, they listen to your problem and then smack you right upside the head, figuratively of course, with the very tough love advice you need to hear in that moment. I know which friend to call when I want to vent and be reas ..read more

Inside: Here’s an inside look at how we display, save and trash our kids’ artwork and school projects. If you’re a parent, it can be incredibly difficult to let go of the stuff your kids make. You love your kids. You love their creativity, innovation and unique ideas. However, you also highly value a clutter free living space. So, how do we rectify the two? How do we create a living space that accommodates both our budding artists and our need for clear counters and white space? How do we find the balance between embracing the messiness that comes with their creativity while creating a home ..read more