Archives for March 2015

My 3-Minute Messy Bun

March 31, 2015

A few of you have asked me how I whip up my hair into a carefree messy bun, so I thought I’d share! It’s been a while since my last beauty post and I want to write more about my simple everyday routine.

First, I’m really not a “hair” person. I have pretty plain, straight dark hair, and I’ve never been that good at doing fun things with it. But, I’ve always liked the idea of messy, “I-don’t-care hair.” Unfortunately most of the tutorials online are anything but quick, which I think is a bit ironic for the end result. If it takes time and skill to accomplish, then it can hardly be a real “carefree” look.

The tips I’m sharing today are for creating a genuine I-don’t-care style that literally takes minutes. (I timed myself– it took less than 3 minutes to get my hair together this morning.) My hair is medium length, so this is pretty much doable with any hair that will go back in a ponytail….Continue Reading

From Concrete to Sandstone: Why I’ll Be Returning to the Wild West

March 30, 2015

For most of us, the Wild West is a thing of the past. It must be, because even the first movies made about the West are “retro” now. Those of us who grew up in coastal cities might think it strange to happen upon a real-life cowboy, complete with spurs, hat and free spirit. We know that the American West was a defining feature of our country at some point, but we hesitate to distinguish between myth and reality. We hardly think one can ever go back.

This past week, I went back– sort of. The charming town of Moab, Utah is nothing like what Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid must have encountered, but the spirit of the West can hardly be contained by buildings. Instead, it’s in the earth. It’s in the mesas and buttes, the muddy Colorado River and dusty wind. The Wild West may refer to an era past, but its pieces remain….Continue Reading

How Minimalism Allows Us To Travel More

March 25, 2015

If you’ve been around Simplicity Relished for a while, then you know that minimalism is a lifestyle approach that is dear to my heart. Living with less by buying less, accumulating less and doing less means that I am less likely to trip over all the mental and physical clutter that gets in my way. We hope that a minimalistic lifestyle will help us to have more time and energy for the things that really matter to us– friends, family, community, and faith.

We also love to travel, and are strong believers in traveling a lot, whether it means exploring new local destinations or jet-setting somewhere overseas. But travel, however it is defined, is no small feat for anyone. And believe me, we are not jobless twenty-somethings with an endless credit line. We’re real people, and we know that travel requires resources, free time and lots of emotional stamina.

So when people ask us how to travel more, the answer is pretty simple.

Home On The Range

March 24, 2015

Friends, within a few short days I think Utah has done something to me.

There’s something so wild and uncanny about the landscape here that really wends its way into your heart. I don’t know if it’s the dramatic red rock towers or the ubiquitous dust that is now permanently stuck in my hair, but there’s a part of me that I’m letting go of, and Utah is helping.

That part of me is perfectionism.

I’m under no delusions that I am perfect in any way, at least not in any conventional way. I’m well aware of my flaws, but there’s a part of me that still desires to be perfect. Or at least, the image of perfection….Continue Reading

Utah: Wilderness Adventures

March 23, 2015

Happy Monday, friends! I’m spending this week traveling with family in southern Utah and I am so excited to share all of our best rock photography throughout our travels. After planning this trip with the excellent help of the Internet we are finally here in a rural town called Moab.

The view from our room at Sorrel River Ranch!

Our trip got off to a rocky start on Saturday when we missed our flight to Salt Lake City. It was one of those I-could-have-sworn-the-flight-was-at-7:40-not-7:10 moments, and we were on our way to the airport when we realized our plane was about to take off. Whoops.

In a frenzy to still make our connection, we redirected ourselves towards a different airport, repurchased tickets to Salt Lake, only to find that the flight was delayed. I found myself sprinting like a maniac through the Salt Lake City airport only to barely see our plane to Moab back away from the gate. Darn.

So, in an effort to make it to our hotel by nightfall, we decided to drive to Moab instead. It would take 3.5 hours– no problem.

We took turns driving. I was the last of course, and not far into my stretch of the drive I see blue and cherry lights twinkling at me. A curt, blue-eyed officer asked me if I was aware that the speed limit was 55. No, the last sign I saw said 65. Without a sign of sympathy he wrote me my very first speeding ticket. Great.

There were no mishaps that followed, and we did make it to our rooms at Sorrel River Ranch by nightfall. And today we explored our first national park: Arches.

Capsule Wardrobe FAQ’s

March 20, 2015

The capsule wardrobe is a simple concept, but there are lots of details that are easy to get hung up on.

Now that my late-winter-early-spring capsule wardrobe is in full swing, I’m ready to answer some questions that surface often.

But first, this outfit! It’s a new favorite. The sheer blouse (similar) is the perfect piece for our relatively warm SoCal “winters,” and the black maxi skirt keeps me cool and casual while still being appropriate for work….Continue Reading

Lessons I’ve Learned About Working Freelance

March 18, 2015

You may or may not know that I currently work freelance as a private educator (think tutor). This means that I’m my own boss, I set my rates and my hours, and I pay for my own expenses. And today I’m sharing about what I’ve learned so far.

I never expected myself to be a “freelance-r.” The idea of working freelance has often reminded me of that sleazy blond guy in The Devil Wears Prada who seduces bright-eyed Anne Hathaway in Paris. “Freelance” seemed to mean “dilettante,” and not in a good way. Who wants to write that down as their career?

But, while I am by no means an expert, this almost-year of working freelance has humbled me and forced me to grow– as a professional, an adult, and an educator.

How To Sell Your Gently-Worn Clothing

March 13, 2015

One major incentive for me to thoroughly clean out my closet was the prospect of selling my gently-worn items. These are the things that I purchased but, for one reason or another, rarely ever used. They’re perfect candidates for re-sale, and the extra cash was a great opportunity to choose better spending habits.

The first thing to remember when selling your clothes is that you will never earn back what you paid– ever– without being dishonest.

In fact, what you earn from clothes you sell will be a small fraction of what you paid. (Think about that before you make your next purchase!)

The reason is, as soon as we purchase clothing, its value decreases. It’s kind of like buying a car– its dollar-worth takes a nose-dive as soon as money exchanges hands.

With that in mind, just remember that you won’t make a fortune selling the stuff in your closet, but you probably will earn something. Here are several easy options for doing so.

What Minimalism Isn’t: 5 Misconceptions

March 11, 2015

I’ve been talking a lot about minimalism lately, and I realize it can be a pretty intimidating term.

While a minimalist might pride herself on how she’s un-fancy and un-busy, the commitment can feel like a judgment on how others live. Somehow, that concept of “living with less” can really make others feel inadequate. Instead of I have too little, they might feel the opposite: I have too much.

The truth is, minimalism is quite broad and should be a space where almost everyone can feel at home. It’s one of those “truths” with a lower-case “t”: to be used and altered and reconstructed in order to fit the individual’s needs. Think pragmatism.

As I myself explore minimalism, I realize that it is more like a tool for reaching something great rather than an end in itself. The purpose of minimalism– whether in our closet, our schedule, our home or our heart– is to help us reach for those things that truly matter to us. The capital-T Truths.

So, if you’re wondering whether minimalism means you have to move into a 200-square-foot home, or sell your electronics, or pare down to one pair of shoes, then this is for you.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. (via)

And then there’s what it’s not….Continue Reading

On Borrowing Hope

March 9, 2015

I met up with some new friends this weekend, and somehow the topic of “borrowing hope” came up. It’s nothing complicated– simply the idea that when one is low on hope, hope can be borrowed from one’s friends and community. Others who experience more hope can share that hope with those who are downcast.

Hope has been on my mind lately. On a global level, I can say we live in an incredible world, but it is also a world that is broken by violence. Whatever hope we have in this world must lie beyond what we see right before us. And on a personal level, my efforts to simplify my life are reminders of where my hope is. My hope is not in my things and my distractions.

Capsule Wardrobe Tips (and $200 to get you started!)

March 6, 2015

Some people find the idea of a capsule wardrobe intimidating. A limited number of clothing pieces for a set amount of time? How do we even begin to choose which lucky pieces those will be?

I wrote a few weeks ago about wearing 40 pieces in 90 days (click here to see all what I selected) and I am LOVING it. It really comes down to choosing the pieces wisely, so I’ve put together a few tips on how to do that.

What Are We Saving For?

March 5, 2015

We often think of saving time and saving money as virtues to be proud of. Especially if we grow up in a culture or community that prizes frugality, it’s easy to think that saving resources is an end in itself.

But, while we all might have different approaches to our finances and our time, I think it’s important to have goals when it comes to saving. If our goal is to just have more, then I’m afraid we won’t actually experience the value of more. As someone who believes that having is not an end in itself, I find myself reassessing exactly why I want to keep what I keep– and save what I do save– for the future.

5 Benefits of Unstructured Free Time

March 2, 2015

We like to live life “to the max”. And in this to-the-max lifestyle, our tendency is to fill all empty spaces with something– anything.

We like to fill silences with words, music or television. We like to fill empty buffet plates with mounds of food. We fill our closets with clothing, our shelves with books and our walls with decorations.

And we fill our free time with activities, commitments and obligations. Sometimes we even feel guilty for not filling up our time. As though it means we’re lazy.

But, despite the rush of importance we feel when we open up our Google Calendars and see more color than white blanks, we might be missing out on something every privileged human should enjoy: free time….Continue Reading

Archives for March 2015

My 3-Minute Messy Bun

From Concrete to Sandstone: Why I’ll Be Returning to the Wild West

How Minimalism Allows Us To Travel More

Home On The Range

Utah: Wilderness Adventures

Capsule Wardrobe FAQ’s

Lessons I’ve Learned About Working Freelance

How To Sell Your Gently-Worn Clothing

What Minimalism Isn’t: 5 Misconceptions

On Borrowing Hope

Capsule Wardrobe Tips (and $200 to get you started!)

What Are We Saving For?

5 Benefits of Unstructured Free Time

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