Happy Simple Mom
Simple, Clutter-Free Living
You’re on vacation. You’re feeling the magic. Then, there it is… a gift shop. Then another. And another. It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s something new to buy: mugs, T-shirts, trinkets, toys, even towels. It’s easy to feel like bringing something home is part of the experience. A souvenir feels like a requirement, proof …
Decluttering sentimental items from your kids is one of the hardest parts of simplifying your home. It’s not the stuff. It’s the memories. The dolls. The baby blankets. The tiny shoes. The birthday gifts they begged for. When your kids outgrow their toys, you aren’t just decluttering plastic. You’re facing the reality that a season …
Is there ever a time you shouldn’t declutter something? Absolutely… especially when you’re just getting started. In the beginning, it’s hard to know what to keep and what to let go of. Emotions run high. You start down memory lane, or you get stuck spinning your wheels, working hard but seeing no visual progress. It’s …
If you’re feeling motivated to clear things out after Christmas, don’t ignore that feeling. This is when things actually get done — if you have a plan. Here’s how I reset our home after Christmas in a way that’s efficient, realistic, and finished — not dragged out until February. Christmas is over, the decorations are …
Declutter what doesn’t make you happy. Boundaries and decluttering will both simplify your life! I broke up with Walmart. Not because of politics. Not because of working conditions, ethics, pricing, or even quality. I broke up with Walmart for one simple reason: I never left the store feeling good. It was a slow build. A …
Sometimes the smallest, simplest decisions make the biggest difference in your sanity! What are Simple Decisions? Simple Decisions are the go-to routines, habits, and repeatable choices that reduce the number of things you have to think about every day. They help you declutter your brain, create consistency, and ease decision fatigue, especially when life feels …
Learn how Simple Decisions can take away decision fatigue and make your life easier! It’s like decluttering your brain, which will always make you feel better! Have you ever felt like your brain was just… full? Not because anything dramatic happened, but because you had to decide what to wear, what to cook, whether to …
The other day, I almost dropped one of our last remaining drinkware glasses from our honeymoon. I was putting it into the cabinet, and it slipped; somehow, I caught it midair with ninja-like reflexes. We used to have two glasses. We accidentally broke the other one years ago. This one (the one that almost slammed …
“Can I sell my clutter?” Letting go of clutter is tough enough already—but add in the guilt of how much money you spent on that stuff, and suddenly, decluttering feels downright impossible. If you’ve ever found yourself holding a barely used purse or looking at a stack of clothes with tags still on them and …
There are a lot of silly ways you could be wasting your money. It usually happens slowly, over time. As we make more money, we slowly start to spend more money. Before we know it, even though our incomes tend to increase over the years, our savings don’t always grow to match that rate. Why? …
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a big project or goal? Whether it’s starting a garden, decluttering your home, or simply trying to keep your day-to-day life organized, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is, you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Tiny efforts, done consistently, can lead …
One of the biggest reasons people don’t declutter their homes is because they are afraid of decluttering too much. I remember the day I packed up the last of my scrapbooking supplies and shipped them off to my mom. As I was stretching the packing tape over the top of the box, I was also …
Living clutter-free can feel like a vacation. When was the last time you went on vacation? Where did you stay? We recently went on our annual family vacation, and we rented a very tiny studio condo. I will admit it. I was partly dreading the tiny condo. We booked it over a hotel room because …
I’m always looking for ways to save money on groceries. Groceries are expensive – especially when feeding a family wholesome, clean foods! Every first quarter of the new year we take on a grocery no-spend challenge. The dates vary, depending on our annual vacation, but inevitably, I’ll try to squeeze out at least thirty days …
Inside: Tips on how to create a simple Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is a beautiful time of reflection and practicing gratitude. It’s also often a time of overwhelm and stress. The pressure of an extravagant, over-the-top Thanksgiving can often overshadow the true meaning of getting together and feeling grateful for our blessings. Use the following …
Are you feeling overwhelmed by housework? Maybe you are thinking, what is wrong with me? Why can’t I stay on top of housework? First, take a deep breath. It’s going to be OK. It’s just housework. 🙂 There are far more important things in life, and sometimes, we are in a season that doesn’t let …
A note from Happy Simple Mom: We celebrated my husband’s birthday last weekend. We had a bonfire, a few friends over, and lots of laughs. Simple birthdays are my favorite. Nothing beats a sweet card, a homemade cake, and precious memories made with those you love to celebrate another year around the sun. Trips are …
Inside: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng book club discussion questions Little Fires Everywhere is the official book club selection for September 2024 in the Happy Simple Mom Book Club. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The book touched on complicated mother-daughter relationships, which I imagine any parent or child could relate to …
Is your bathroom messy? It could be as simple as clearing the bathroom clutter. Learn how to easily transform your bathroom into a calming place. Bathroom Clutter is Making Your Bathroom Messy I used to be the girl who kept everything on top of her bathroom counter that I needed to get ready every day. …
Deep clean your bathroom like a pro with this step-by-step guide. Let’s face it—bathrooms are one of those places that need regular TLC, but it’s easy to put off deep cleaning when we’re juggling a million other things. The good news is, with a simple step-by-step plan, you can get your bathroom looking fresh and …
Here are 40 things you should be buying secondhand. You might be surprised! Decluttering and living simply often means making smarter choices about what we bring into our homes. You can be mindful about what you bring into your home AND save money. Before you turn up your nose at the thought of buying used …
A note from Happy Simple Mom: My kids recently started back to school, and so my days have opened up significantly. I’m using this new season of life to catch up on Happy Simple Mom, the house, and my self-development. This week I’ve vacuumed my car (for the first time in an embarrassing long time), …
There are some things no one warns you about before decluttering a house. The dream of a clutter-free home is so appealing, but the journey to get there? Not as glamorous. When I first decided to declutter, I was overwhelmed and ready for change. I thought controlling the chaos would be the answer, and ultimately, …
A note from Happy Simple Mom: My kids just finished their second week of school, and we are all TIRED. You see, when homeschooling, we often slept a little later than we are now. 🙂 Over the past few weeks, we’ve had to adjust our systems and schedules, which has involved comments like this from …
