Welcome to Simplicity Relished.
Hello! I’m Daisy, a social entrepreneur, writer, and fellow adventurer. I’m here to help you finally follow your heart, explore the world, and live courageously.
What will change this world?
A quick thought for today, because I'm drowning in Japan photos and traveling till the weekend. (Join me for snapshots on Instagram, though!) The news has grieved me this week. Reading about Charleston while thousands of miles away was a bit surreal. Throughout the...
Japanese Charm: Countryside Villages, Shops and Gardens Galore!
Happy Tuesday, friend! Our adventures in Japan continue beyond Tokyo to the countryside via shinkansen, the fastest train I've ever ridden. Off to the historical villages we went-- just northwest of Tokyo to the cities of Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa. These...
Tokyo Travel: 10 Things to Love About Tokyo
I did not expect to like Tokyo. Not only did I find it intimidating, but I also thought that it was mostly for high-fashion shoppers and electronics geeks, neither of which I am. However, there is nothing better than to make an initial splash in Japan here— at its...
Why Perfectionism Might Be Stealing Your Joy
My definition of perfectionism has gotten a whole lot bigger. I used to think that perfectionism meant looking good all the time, performing well at everything, and creating an impenetrable facade of, well, perfection. As it turns out, perfectionism is a lot more...
Introducing Wanderlust Stories: A Group Board for Travel Bloggers!
Pinterest is rapidly becoming my favorite media platform. It brings exposure to excellent content and photography, and is a wonderful way to connect with others with similar interests. So I thought, why not start a group Pinterest board for travel bloggers? I'm an...
6 Ways to Simplify Your Summer (and make the most of it)
Our culture surrounding summer can be a bit ironic. On the one hand, we picture ourselves sprawled out on the sand with a beach read and mint mojito. On the other, we end up creating bucket lists, scheduling events, and signing up for commitments of all sorts. Soon...
7 Superlatives from Our First Year of Marriage
June 7th, 2014: I remember it fondly. It was a whirlwind weekend of wedding gatherings, events and lots of amazing food. Loved ones traveled from near and far to celebrate our wedding as friends cheered us on. Nothing could be greater than launching our new adventures...
6 Ways To Stay Curious (no matter what job you have)
This is a sad truth. Most millennials I know are either bored or stressed with respect to their jobs. One of the hardest lessons I learned after graduating college is that no one is going to force you to stay curious. If we are to maintain a sharp intellect and desire...
Advice For My 18-Year-Old Self
I thought I knew what I was doing when I was 18. But, until Jenny at Stuff I Love shared the advice she would give herself at 18, I had not thought about the painful-- and somewhat endearing-- naïveté that plagued me then, or what I would say to myself if I could. We...
10 Highlights On Our Upcoming Japan Itinerary
Our trip to Japan is in less than 2 weeks... It's hard to believe. Aaron and I are both somewhat drowning in work at the moment, so our Japan adventures still seem far off. Sometimes I feel as though I'd like to sleep for a week when work finally lightens up. But as I...
Weekly Capsule: 2 Outfits from my Summer Capsule Wardrobe
Two outfits this week, because it's been a bit of a struggle over here. I'm feeling subdued. Not down-- just absolutely exhausted. I can't even fake excitement in my writing voice right now. I need some time to rest this weekend, and of course I'll be trying to be...
10 Reasons to Toss FOMO Out the Window
FOMO: the fear of missing out. The popularity of this acronym has always puzzled me. I suppose that, as a generation, we are more susceptible to FOMO than any other. Three seconds on our smartphones and we can ogle someone else's photographs in great detail. We can...
Queenstown and Milford Sound, New Zealand
The first time I ever wished I were a backpacker was when I went to Queenstown, New Zealand. I realized something then that I had never realized before: that when you carry your stuff on your back, you're able to see things that other people just don't get to see....
Weekly Capsule: 5 Outfits from my Summer Capsule Wardrobe
Last week I shared my summer capsule wardrobe, and I'm already loving it. The weather has been a bit chilly here in Southern California (and by that I mean cloudy 50s and 60s...), so it was good to have included some cardigans! If you're new to the whole capsule...
Strawberry Lime Chia Seed Jam
Is chia seed jam all the rage or what! It's a brilliant idea-- to use the natural gooey texture that results from combining chia seeds and moisture-- as a way to give a fruit spread all of its gooey potential. Since strawberries are in season, I decided to try my hand...
5 Simple Photography Tips for the Hobbyist
Photography can be intimidating. There are hundreds of different cameras, techniques and editing programs. Serious photographers have also developed their own style, mood and Lightroom actions. So where is the non-professional hobbyist to start? This post was...
New Zealand: Marlborough Sounds
It's no secret that New Zealand is one of the most naturally stunning countries ever. And I'm pretty sure the filming of the The Lord of the Rings sealed the deal for that reputation. And why not? With picturesque coasts, rugged mountains, jade-green fjords and...
Where were you? A look at global poverty and violence
It's not fun to talk about violence. We would much rather give clean water, sponsor a child, donate books and invest in microloans. We would rather not talk about slavery. But according to International Justice Mission founder Gary Haugen, we have to talk about...
My 40-Piece Summer Capsule Wardrobe (and a step-by-step guide)
Summer's just around the corner, so my summer capsule wardrobe should be filled with tank tops and short shorts, right? Wrong. Creating a summer capsule wardrobe can be pretty challenging, depending on what's on your calendar. If you'll be spending any time at work--...
Farmer’s Market Vegan Lettuce Cups
Like most people, I often find myself trying-- and struggling-- to "eat more vegetables." Ever since we started subscribing to our community-supported agriculture, we've been up to our ears with fresh, organic produce. But have we been great about eating them? I'll...
Snapshots from Greece (and a new blog design!)
When I was 17, I traveled to Greece with my high school. Due to my academic foray into the Classics, I was able to look at columns and rocks and actually know-- if only just a bit more than the average tourist-- what it all meant. Wandering through ancient ruins in...
Lessons I Learned While Working in Addiction Recovery
After I graduated high school, I did not go straight to college. Instead, I packed my bags in San Francisco and boarded a flight to New Hampshire. A year later, this is what I had learned. The Back Story... I had planned to take a gap year between high school and...
8 Purchases That Actually Make You Richer
Is it possible to spend money and become rich? Yes, if you're willing to recognize "richness" beyond the dollars in your pocket. Most of the time, I try not to spend money unless I absolutely have to. Last week, I wrote a post about how Minimalism helps me save, and I...
Plant Parenthood: How To Avoid Killing Your Succulents
I might be writing this post prematurely. I love indoor plants, I really do-- but you would never know it by looking at my track record with them. I have a knack for killing succulents. Once, my husband (then boyfriend) sent me 30 succulents to share with friends when...
5 Reasons to Travel within the U.S.
It's easy for Americans to overlook the beauty of their own country. Many of us might consider the U.S. to be culturally and aesthetically vapid, but it is anything but. During our time in Utah, I realized that there is still so much richness within American borders...
Eating Organic for $50 a Week: 7 Tips
I wish healthy, clean eating were possible for everyone. What I think most people don't realize, though, is that it actually might be possible for them. Eating organic does not have to mean purchasing hundreds of dollars of groceries every week. Simple, all-organic...
This Summer’s Travel Plans… Revealed!
I've been aching to get out into the world again. These past few weeks have been laden with our apartment move, recovering from sickness, unsuccessful meal planning, full schedules and general tiredness. I suppose that's one of the big lessons of adulthood: no...
6 Ways to Stay Focused & Achieve Your Short-Term Goals
If you're like me, then you're just now realizing that we are nearing the end of April. If you're a lot like me, then you're wondering where a third of this year has gone. The worst part is, we can look around and see other people who know exactly where this year has...
Nepal Relief: 5 Organizations to Consider
During my lifetime, the world has seen several devastating earthquakes. The deadliest of these felled up to hundreds of thousands of people: Japan in 2011, Haiti in 2010, China in 2008, Indonesia in 2004. Nepal's recent earthquake has taken over 3000 lives, and...
Monet’s Giverny & Creating Spaces that Inspire
Among the Impressionist painters, Claude Monet was a relatively stable one. And why wouldn't he be-- he curated a thriving garden that continued to inspire him until he died at the ripe old age of 86. Giverny in France, just west of Paris, is where tourists can still...
Provence, France: Slow Travel
I love slow travel. Even in my earlier days when overachieving was an attractive endeavor, I rarely enjoyed vacations that were just go, go, go. The "Go Slow" movement has already been around for years now. Alistair Sawday popularized slow travel with his picturesque...
5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money
I don't tend to talk about money on this blog. I prefer to write about ideas over numbers: minimalism, travel, and a handful of other passions. For whatever reason, sharing cold, hard numbers on a blog is scary to me, and I admire those who do. As a proponent of...
Why You Should Comment on Blogs (whether you’re a blogger or not)
There are bloggers who have blogging down to the numbers. They've figured out where their readers live, what their readers click on, and even how old their readers are. Thanks to trusty Google Analytics and the occasional reader survey, lots of these figures are...
Lessons I Learned From Traveling as a Child
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...
Nice, France: The Perfect Seaside Getaway
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...
How to Get Ready In 10 Minutes
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...
Monday Inspiration: Bloom Where You’re Planted.
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...
The Courage to Rest
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...
Yunnan Province: Experiencing Old China
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...
Simple Spring BBQ Menu (& a few tips on stress-free hosting)
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...
7 Tips For Planning A Clutter-free Wedding
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...
My 3-Minute Messy Bun
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,...
From Concrete to Sandstone: Why I’ll Be Returning to the Wild West
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...
How Minimalism Allows Us To Travel More
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...
Home On The Range
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...
Utah: Wilderness Adventures
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...
Capsule Wardrobe FAQ’s
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...
Lessons I’ve Learned About Working Freelance
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...
How To Sell Your Gently-Worn Clothing
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...
What Minimalism Isn’t: 5 Misconceptions
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...