Simplicity Relished

minimalism for the adventurous heart

Archives for February 2015

2 NYT Op-Eds that Inspire Simplicity

NYT op-eds that inspire simplicity

I’m a regular reader of the New York Times (and can I just say– tough reads lately), but I don’t often get to the op-eds. I should though, because there were two pieces in the past couple of years that have really inspired me.

When we think about pursuing simplicity, we often are unsure of where to start. The word “simplify” theoretically inspires a sense of calm, but paradoxically, it can make one anxious.

Okay, I want to simplify. But how? When? Where?

There is more to simplicity than just throwing stuff away or clearing our schedules. There’s a mindset, a philosophy, and a likely counter-cultural spirit behind it….Continue Reading

5 Goals For A Capsule Wardrobe

Last week, I introduced my Spring capsule wardrobe and talked a bit about why I’m doing it. The main principle behind this simple wardrobe project is this:

Clothes should be made for the body, not the body for clothes.

Pretty straight-forward, right? I’m coming from the perspective that our possessions should serve us while we pursue the things that matter most deeply (hint: not our possessions). But oftentimes we find ourselves subject to our possessions– organizing them, buying them, pursuing them, and then getting rid of them.

But there are lots of different reasons why you might want to try a capsule wardrobe, and I want to share them here. There’s no point in trying a project without end results, and I bet that some of these goals might even impress you!

5 goals for your capsule wardrobe- reasons to try #minimalism in your closet! …Continue Reading

Why Our Careers Don’t Define Us (and what really does)

Me: Hi, I’m Daisy.

New Friend: Hi! I’m John. Nice to meet you.

Me: Nice to meet you as well!

John: So, what do you do?

Me: I’m a private educator. What about you?

 

Sound familiar? One of the very first things we tend to ask people when we meet them is, what do you do?

And understandably so. Theoretically, everyone does something.

But so often the spirit of that question is more evaluative than it appears. It’s not seeking to know what one does for fun, or what one does on vacation, or even what one enjoys reading or watching.

The question, in so many contexts, is intended to evaluate a person’s professional, educational, or even financial worth. What is your role in society? Are you important?…Continue Reading

7 Reasons We Buy Things We Don’t Need (and how to avoid them)

Here’s something I’ve done frequently.

I go to the grocery store for one item, and I come back with five. Or, I go to the mall to replace something that has ripped or fallen apart, and I come back with a few new pieces of clothing. Or maybe I’m ordering something online, and free shipping makes spending $50 seem like a good idea.

Why do I do this? Well, mostly because I give myself reasons to. And Amazon doesn’t mind!

Lately, I’ve been avoiding shopping. My weakness is Whole Foods, where I can’t seem to stop purchasing new spices, dried goods, bulk items like nuts and seeds and beans, and random bits of produce. None of this stuff really goes to waste, but I should be able to walk into a store and walk out with only what I planned to purchase. Right?

So, I thought about the reasons that I give myself whenever I end up buying more than I planned (or budgeted) for. And now, every time I hear myself stating these reasons, I’ll pause and think twice.

Reasons we buy things we do not need and how to avoid them

…Continue Reading

Wardrobe Simplicity: 40 Pieces in 90 Days

We shouldabsolutely love all of our clothes. But so often, we don’t.

We should be pleased when we look at our wardrobes. But sometimes all we want is something new.

Our clothing should make us feel fantastic. And yet, it frequently doesn’t.

It’s time for a new approach to building a wardrobe. It’s called a CAPSULE WARDROBE.

A capsule wardrobe allows us to simplify our closet, eliminate the amount of time folding, organizing, buying and washing our clothes, and guarantees that we’ll always love what we wear.

I’m launching my capsule wardrobe today: 40 pieces in 90 days.

Capsule Wardrobe title photo …Continue Reading

Learning to Love Silence

Silence

We don’t live in a culture that loves silence.

There is very little time between the time that silence commences and our powerful need to fill it. When with friends, we feel awkward when silence falls between us. When alone, we seek to stimulate our minds whenever we’re awake. Nothingness is uncomfortable. It makes us feel vulnerable….Continue Reading

Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Cabbage, Carrots and Peanut Sauce

I’ll be honest. I’m crazy about this salad. And it really wasn’t that long ago that I finally realized salads do not have to be limited to Spring Mix lettuces, spinach or even kale. Collard greens make amazing salads (like this one). And so do brussels sprouts.

What was it about brussels sprouts that made everyone hate on them in the 90s? People would say “brussels sprouts” with such contempt, like would you rather do your homework or eat brussels sprouts?

Well, we’ve gotten over that, because brussels sprouts are practically on every restaurant menu now. Every menu.

Peanut slaw with brussels sprouts, red cabbage and carrots …Continue Reading

5 Areas of Our Lives that Need Simplicity

If you’re like me, then you’re on a journey to simplify. You’d like to spend less time having to make useless decisions, organizing unnecessary items, and carrying out unimportant obligations.

Despite having a strong sense of what I care about and don’t care about, I still spend a good part of my daily life rearranging, organizing, choosing, rescheduling, and planning. And while none of those things are bad per se, I would like my life to be a bit more streamlined. A little less complicated.

But when we think about it, simplicity can be a pretty abstract concept. We might desire simplicity but not know where to start.…Continue Reading

Into the sunlight

I don’t live in a concrete jungle, but I don’t live in a lush forest either. So I can become so accustomed to seeing very little green and very little nature from day to day.And I can forget how much joy it brings me to go outside– not just down the street to the public library, but into a space where creation is thriving.…Continue Reading

Refocus: Minimalism

Sometimes we need to step back and seriously think about what we’re doing. And that’s what I’ve done here with Simplicity Relished.

You see, when I wrote last month that I would be blogging less than usual, it was in part because I felt unsure about what exactly I was so committed to. So I’ve given it all some thought. I’ve given my own life some thought. …Continue Reading

How To Make Almond Milk (and a little chat about almonds)

When I was little, I used to think that milk should be on tap. I drank about as much milk as I did water– and who could blame me, I was a 90’s kid! Calcium was so trendy.

Nowadays, though I drink it less than I used to, I still drink milk. And as it turns out, Whole Foods’ 365 Organic brand is actually organic, humane, and totally affordable (source). We buy a whole gallon of it practically every week.

But I digress.

What about almond milk? It’s super popular among people who can’t or prefer not to consume dairy, and it’s often used as a nutritional and culinary substitute. But what is almond milk? What’s the story behind it?

How to make almond milk at home, a rich, delicious and vegan milk alternative …Continue Reading

5 Reasons to try Community-Supported Agriculture (and a few tips on meal planning!)

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA: have you heard of it?

Here’s how it works. For a relatively small fee, individuals and families subscribe to their local CSA program. Most CSA’s will source fresh, organic produce from local farms– whatever is freshest, ripest and in season. Every week, CSA subscribers pick up their box of produce from a local stop.

Rinse, cook, enjoy, repeat.

But why would you want someone doing your grocery-shopping for you? In fact, isn’t it a bit of a drag to meal plan when you’ve got a boxful of random vegetables, some perhaps you’ve never seen before?…Continue Reading

This February: Decisions Abound

February can be a strange month. For some of us, the winter chill is far from gone; while others bask in the advent of spring flowers.

You can probably guess what weather we’re having here in Southern California, but my memories of frigid temperatures around this time of year are not buried yet. It was so fun to see photographs of friends who actually enjoyed their time in the recent New England storm. That’s the odd thing about snow– once it’s done its damage, it’s hard to ignore the fact that it’s beautiful….Continue Reading

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Disclaimer: Simplicity Relished is a for profit blog. Any company that I collaborate with is chosen by me and chosen because they fit the theme and readership of my blog. Copyright: If you see something you like here, please be encouraged to share it along with a link back to my site. All of the images and content here, unless otherwise noted or linked, is my own original work.