simple saturday.

In the last quarter of 2013, we got rid of half of what we owned, moved to a smaller house, and are focusing on simplicity. Each Saturday, I will document some of the ongoing changes we are making to simplify, step off the consumerism wheel, and open more space for experiences rather than things.

Some of the questions we are asking include:

What am we buying on a regular basis that we don’t need to buy or can make at home more inexpensively? 

How can we reduce the numbers of chemicals we are bringing into our home?

What small changes can we make that will have a positive impact on the environment?

What is the difference between want and need, and how has that been distorted by American consumerism?

How can we simplify our lives, either by eliminating unneeded items, stresses, or processes–or by streamlining the processes we do need.

Please note that NONE of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” I don’t participate in affiliate programs. If I like something, I write about it, plain and simple.

Eating

This caught my eye: 22 Ways to Start Eating Healthier This Year

Working

Since August, I’ve created and have been using a “Bullet Journal“ and after years of experimenting with note-taking, both digital and analog, I’ve found a solution that works for me.

The Email Game has enlivened my inbox cleanses immensely. Unroll.me helped me clear out old email subscriptions I no longer read.

I use Audacity to edit audio recordings from my classes, then I use The Levelator to balance/even the sound, and then Switch to translate the wav file into a smaller Mp3 file for posting.

Living

Hardwood floors are gorgeous. And with 3 cats and 2 dogs, they are apuff with hairballs. We invested (and I mean invested) in a Dyson animal vacuum cleaner a few years ago and have never regretted the money it cost. But I needed another option–a mopping option. And I finally found exactly what I needed: Bona. If you had told me when I was 18 years old that I would be waxing poetic (no pun intended) about a floor cleaner (mop + cleaner) in 36 years, I would deny it. But here I am. Lightweight mop with spray. Boom. I also use the mop with their tile spray for the bathrooms and entryway in my house.

This is my favorite weather app. I add (and delete) cities where Emma is traveling, where I am traveling, and where friends and family live.

In the comments below, share your thoughts and suggestions for creating systems and simplifying living in the process so we can learn from each other.

Love,

 

 

 

(painting by Dennis Wojtkiewicz)

See past Simple Saturday posts:

Jan 11, 2014  Jan 4, 2014