It’s been over two months since I (somewhat spontaneously) deleted my Instagram account. I’d been thinking about it for over a year, and one day I just went through with it. Annoyingly, Instagram doesn’t permanently delete your account for an entire month in case you change your mind–but February 22nd came and went and finally my account was gone for good.… Read More »
Osoji: A Deep Clean to Welcome the New Year
Last month, in the midst of my own major post-holiday declutter, I learned a new-to-me term: osoji, which Google tells me literally means “big clean” in Japanese. It’s not a new tradition at all, however–it dates back to circa 800 A.D. At that time, the Imperial Court was ritually cleansed of soot at the end of each year to welcome the deity of the new year (source, source).
Keeping my home free from unused items does have a spiritual component for me. It feels respectful to my family to maintain a decluttered home in which the kids can play and Eric and I can efficiently live our lives. It feels respectful to the environment to thoughtfully pass on items we don’t need, and to receive an annual reminder to be intentional about the things we bring into our home. I even have more mental space to focus on what matters in life and to be intentional about my own spiritual practice when we aren’t overwhelmed by unnecessary stuff.… Read More »
Self-Care Tip: Embrace Uncertainty
When I’m in a slump in parenting, relationships, or life in general–it’s usually because I’ve forgotten to embrace uncertainty. It’s so simple, but so easy to forget.
When I’m anxious–it’s usually because I’m feeling resistant to the uncontrollables and unknowns of life. But being anxious doesn’t change those things.… Read More »
Beyond Stuff: Eliminating Clutter Hotspots from the Home
Happy December, friends! Can you believe it’s the last month of 2024? This year absolutely flew by for us–pregnancy and election notwithstanding–and I’ve just about wrapped up my holiday shopping 🙂 I’m ready to settle in for a month of festivities with (ideally) low stress and Christmas to-do’s.
Speaking of the holidays… another project I’m working on at the moment is our pre-Christmas decluttering. With four kids, generous grandparents and extended family, holiday craft projects from school and two winter birthdays after the holidays, things can get seriously messy in our house during the winter.… Read More »
Living a Balanced Life: Make It Do…
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. I’m very into the idea of cutting back lately. Not just in the obvious ways (buy what’s on sale! Ask around for hand-me-downs!) but also questioning what I feel like I/we NEED to buy for one reason or another.
When I was little, my mom was quite frugal. Not because my family was struggling, thankfully, but because my parents were good stewards of their money to save for what was important to them: funding our college accounts, living in a suburb with well-ranked schools, traveling to Europe every two years.… Read More »
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