Note: I created a new tab for Minimalist[ish] Living ❤

If you’ve been with the blog for a while now, you’ll know that I have been posting more about minimalism and living a simple life.

It’s a big part of my approach to life (especially with family and fitness), so I want to continue to talk about it.It’s a subject that I am very passionate about.

I’ve been a minimalist ever since I was about 11 years old. It’s my first memory of wanting less stuff. I think it has to do with living in smaller spaces and when I was 11, my parents bought our childhood home.

I wanted the smaller bedroom, but my mom said no that my brothers were still young [and messy]. I finally got the smaller room when I was 15 as a Christmas gift.

I was so happy. 

People would call me weird, overly frugal or cheap. But I just really didn’t like stuff, it gave me anxiety. I wasn’t able to focus when I had a lot of stuff. In 2016, at 28 years old, I saw the documentary “Minimalism.” As I was watching it, I thought wow they are describing me! I’m not the only one who thinks this way and I am not that weird.Now I am not criticizing people who love shopping or having lots of stuff, but that is just not me. I do have things (that I value) and my kids have plenty.

I just rather have more money for experiences and for the future of my children. We live in a small house and I love it that way. Most people ask me when I am going to get a bigger house, but truly I don’t want a bigger house. We will add an addition to make a bedroom/ sun room for us [and give our bedroom to our son] since we only have two bedrooms. But that’s it.

I decluttered a lot when we moved into this house and I paired down many kitchen items. Did my kids need 4-5 bowls and plates a piece? No.

Now they each have one tray, one plate and one bowl. The silverware we lose for some reason so I do have extra of those. My oldest was gifted a Peppa Pig plate set, so that is our extra we have (they also have 3 types of cups a piece).It makes doing dishes easier and faster that I don’t even feel the need to get a dishwasher anymore. Less cleaning, means more time to spend with my family.

Growing up it was the love and experiences my parents gave me that I remember the most. Not the money, toys or big house.

I decided to delete Facebook [for 30 days] and unfollow a few mom vloggers that are always shopping. One comment that stuck with me was “I’m going to Target to see IF they need anything.”I do get it, it is part of their job.

I just don’t need to be bringing my kids store to store just to buy things to try to make me happy, I want them to be outside as much as possible. I just didn’t like that some would say here is how you can work from home or have six figures… “it’s easy or “you can do it too.”

I don’t want to work from home, nor do I need six figures to be happy. You have to find the life that you want to create, not what others tell you to strive for. ❤

“If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.”

–Greg McKeown 🌿

If you missed my previous post on my favorite [minimal] cleaning products, click HERE!