minimalism for the adventurous heart
It's funny the way that your childhood home shapes the way that you perceive that concept for the rest of your life. My childhood home was nestled in the hills, a peaceful getaway from the busy-ness of school and activities. It was the perfect place to grow up. ...Continue Reading
Gratitude: I'm working on it. It seems that outside the month of November where Thanksgiving is nestled, our culture isn't a particularly grateful one. We're consumers by economy, and as a result we're constantly told to want more, acquire more, dream of more. While there is nothing wrong with more-- of the right thing, that is-- it can often lead us to feel dissatisfied with our now. Aaron and I recently decided to sponsor a child through Compassion International-- a program that connects vulnerable children with people who desire to be a part of those children's journeys. Compassion's ...Continue Reading
A question people sometimes ask me is, Why do you like to travel so much? To be honest, it never really occurred to me that travel was a preference; I always considered it a luxury and opportunity that everyone would take if given the choice. As it turns out, I do have a hard time staying in one ...Continue Reading
I've been really enjoying digging up old travel photos and sharing them here on the blog! Last week I posted a few snapshots from a winter 2011 trip to Yunnan Province in China. This week I'll be starting to share about my summer 2011 trip to France! Oh, Nice (pronounced like "niece" in ...Continue Reading
I have never been a roll-out-of-bed-and-look-fabulous kind of person. I've always needed my morning time. Almost every day, I eat a full breakfast, drink hot coffee, get myself ready, check my email, plan my day, and chat with my husband. Somehow if I don't do all these things, then the whole day ...Continue Reading
It's so easy for me to think that I need all the perfect conditions in order to thrive. I have often told myself that if one aspect of my life were improved, then I would excel, be content, or achieve everything that I wanted to. But the truth is, conditions are rarely perfect. Our lives are ...Continue Reading
There is something terribly dangerous about resting. That state of absence where we are not obliging our bodies or minds to any activity can mean relinquishing any opportunities that might come our way. Resting means we give up control-- if but for a day or a few hours-- and we allow the world to ...Continue Reading
I've not blogged for that long, but I have traveled, and I want to start sharing some special photos and stories from the pre-Simplicity Relished days. There probably aren't enough photos to turn this into a series, but I hope you enjoy! It's hard to characterize China with a single word. It is ...Continue Reading
There is nothing that says SPRING better than the ability to start dining al fresco. Granted, here in SoCal good weather occurs almost year-round, but outdoor dining is still something we tend to save for spring and summer. And now that we're officially in April, it's time to start hosting ...Continue Reading
I hadn't defined myself as a minimalist while we were planning our wedding, but there was one thing I was sure of: that I did not want to accumulate tons of stuff that we would have to lug around for the rest of our lives-- stuff that we did not really use or need. At the risk of sounding ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
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. ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
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. Our trip ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
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 ...Continue Reading
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