If you haven’t heard, the new decluttering trend these days sure is a cheerful one: Swedish Death Cleaning. 

Pleasant, isn’t it?

Being the decluttering freak expert that I am, I had to look into it.

I started with a web search and also read the book, which was actually charming at times. Leave it to the Swedes to find ways to incorporate balance and harmony into an otherwise dreary topic. The author, Margaretta Magnusson, lives in Stockholm and is in her 80’s or 90’s and has undergone the “death cleaning” process three times. I’m not gonna lie — a good portion of the book is her reminiscing about events in her life that she was reminded of during the process of death cleaning. I almost felt like I was sitting down for a cup of tea with my great-grandmother, patiently waiting for her to get the point of her story. I suppose it’s a little charming… if you aren’t in a hurry! read more

I’ve scoured the internet for ways to keep my home cleaner. I keep coming back to the analogy that cleaning a home with kids is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. But after much trial and error, I think I’ve come up with a surefire plan to help us moms keep our homes spotless.

How to Keep Your Home Spotless with Kids

#1 – Always clean up one toy before moving on to another. If the kids can’t manage this, they probably don’t need toys.

#2 – Limit your toy collection to 1-2 per child. Less is more, right? Oh, and try to avoid toys with a lot of pieces. (I’m looking at you, blocks.) read more

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There’s something about the Christmas season that drives me crazy. Don’t get me wrong — there are aspects I enjoy with all my heart, like spending time with family, indulging in too much junk, and pausing to feel the joy of Christ in my life.  But, I always seem to get wrapped up in consumerism way more than I would like.

When it comes to avoiding over-consumerism, last year was one of the best Christmases I’ve had.  It was sweet and simple, thanks to a new rule we’ve adopted. read more

We’re almost halfway through November.

(I’ll pause for a moment to let that settle in.)

Soon we’ll find ourselves in the bustling Christmas season. And while it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness, I think it’s important to remember that this is a season for us to really be present with each other and *enjoy* the moments we have together.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by encouraging loved ones to pursue a slower and more intentional lifestyle through the gifts we give. This year, I anticipate many of our gifts having a theme of minimalism and hygge. read more

why it’s so hard to be a productive mom

Mom life is a struggle! Just about every mom experiences challenges trying to be the most effective and productive mom as possible. Because let’s face it, we moms have a lot going on.  Every day is a balancing act, and it can be quite the challenge to keep track of it all and be a productive mom.

We juggle our little ones’ needs and nap schedules, the endless tasks of running a home (cleaning, laundry, dishes, errands), and hopefully leave some space for ourselves (exercise, showering, or even just eating).  On top of this, some moms even add office work to the mix. read more

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.  If you haven’t read it, it’s one of a handful of books I completely recommend.  Especially if your home is in need of some order.

Note: This site contains affiliate links. 

Top 9 Konmari Tidying Tips You Need to Know

Here are my top 9 tidying tips from the Konmari method:

1. Start with a vision. And realize that your home doesn’t need to look Pinterest-perfect to bring you joy. Instead, consider how you want your home and life to look. For example, I desired a home that felt clean, airy, and uncluttered.  I also wanted to pursue a more minimalistic lifestyle. My son’s nursery encompasses this perfectly for me. read more

Is anyone else as excited for autumn as I am?  We’ve been experiencing a bit of a heat wave lately, but the nights and mornings have been cooling down beautifully.  With the crisp air and the shorter days, I can’t help but think ahead to the holidays. This is already such a sweet and special season, but I plan to relish in it even more with a little bit of hygge.

What is hygge?

Perhaps you’ve been living under a rock (or raising little ones — same thing) and haven’t heard the term. read more

My heart is broken and I am sickened. Another horrific act of senseless violence.

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I’m shocked.

And yet, I’m not. Because this just keeps happening, doesn’t it? Our world seems to be growing more volatile by the day. read more

Why the Best Marriages have Irreconcilable Differences

It’s 7:55pm. I’ve just put the baby down for what I hope will be the night, while Grant tucks Lily in. I’m indulging in a cup of tea after a rather uninspiring week.

I open the cupboard and smile to myself at the label on the box of tea.

My husband.

A few months ago, we got Lily an activity book, boasting more than 100 stickers.  (Yay ~ more to pick up off the floor!)

Some of those stickers were labels, meant for older kids to apply to the corresponding image.

Well, since Lily was too young to read (or to really care about labeling at all), my husband found a better use for them. read more

Kids don’t need a lot of toys. They are gifted with wondrous imaginations that only expand when their toy options are strategically limited.

I love watching my daughter pretend that her wooden blocks are tea cups, sandwiches, and cookies.  Or seeing her use scrap PVC pipe as a microphone. She doesn’t need to be told to imagine. She just does.

With that, I try to be somewhat minimalistic in the toys (etc.) we buy for our kids. I’ve made many purchases that I later regretted (and donated). Here’s my list of keepers. read more