Soul Sharing ~ Simple

I've never been one for making resolutions; but regardless of what title you give them, sometimes changes need to be made in our lives. Recently I have been noticing a shift in my own actions towards simplifying. I have always been good to keep my possessions thinned out and not hold on to things that I don't use or love. But, as is usually the case, there are always those exceptions to the rule.

I got to thinking about this subject when reading an old magazine clipping I had that talked about having a signature color of wrapping paper. How simple would that make gift giving? Choose a paper and ribbon color combo and stick to it. That would sure beat my bin full of rolls of paper and baskets jammed with tangled ribbons. But gift wrap is only the beginning. I also noticed that I had already started to simplify other things in my life without even being aware that I was doing it.

I love bath and body products and I buy them recklessly. I keep an average of 8-10 different lotions and regularly cycle through all sorts of makeup and face creams. But what's the point? I am now on a mission to find what works best for me and stick to it. I have discovered that Aveeno lotion does wonders on my skin and will make it my lotion of choice from now on. No more masses of scents and tubes of potions past their prime. And I am working on the rest of my beauty stash along the way.

I also have a tad bit of an addiction to magazines. But after years and years of being an avid magazine subscriber, I am finding less and less to be excited about in many of the publications that frequent my mailbox. I have been letting the lesser of the subscriptions lapse in an attempt to only receive magazines that I truly enjoy and that I feel enrich my life in some way. (even if it's just feeding me beautiful fashion.)

Just think. How many times do we let these sort of things clutter up our lives? How many blogs are on your feed that you don't even look at? How many perfumes are on your dresser that you never use? How often do you buy something with good intentions, but never actually get around to?

It may not be a resolution, but I am hoping that simplifying becomes a regular part of my life and who I am. Not only does it reduce clutter, decrease wastefulness, and make things run smoother; it actually clears up a little more space in your mind, too. And that is something I am sure we could all use.


*photos from here, here, and here.

Clean Up

I'm in the mood to do some cleaning.
I have that unstoppable urge to get rid of things. I think this happens every year around this time. It must be my brain's way of simplifying things before the holidays. Regardless of what it is, I need to clean up!

I think it's about time to have a big ol' sale over at the shop. I am sick and tired of looking at all this stuff. I want some peeps to take this loot home with them! This is my goal for the week, friends. Put everything in the shop on SALE! It may take a few days....but this is the plan.

Thanks for tuning in. I'll catch up with you again this week, I hope. ;)

*pic

Keep it Simple

I was so thrilled to read all your thoughtful comments on "simple pleasures". I love hearing from you. Your words are also a simple pleasure. They never fail to make me smile. Thank you.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if you put a big bunch of us bloggers at a table together (maybe with some pie and ice cream, like above). Would we all break out into lively conversation and go on like old friends? Or would we sit with polite smiles and wait for someone else to say something? Are we more confident, witty or creative when hidden behind a computer screen? Or would our personalities bubble forth like a pot of boiling water?

It's an interesting thought, wouldn't you agree? I think that regardless of where we are, what we share is pretty special. We may not get to meet up for lunch in reality, but in a way, maybe we do. I meet with many of you for a little break in the afternoon, when my energy and attention are waning. You share with me your thoughts and inspirations and I instantly feel much better. Even if you like feeling anonymous, would you honestly leave comments for anyone if you didn't think that they enjoyed reading them? I wouldn't. Sometimes I find myself not commenting on blog posts because they already have like a billion comments already. It feels impersonal, like my comment will just be floating around out there in a sea of others.

But its nice to be acknowledged, isn't it? Its always a good feeling to sign in to your blog and see that you have such and such number of comments to be moderated. It means that someone heard you. And I, indeed, love hearing from you. So keep on blogging and keep on commenting. And have some pie and ice cream ready. ;)

*photo from Pottery Barn.
*P.S.- five more posts to go before I do my first giveaway! Don't miss it.

small things

What a beautiful Sunday. The sky is blue. The sun is shining. And the day has moved at a pleasantly lazy pace. I just finished a little cream of wheat break on my front porch. I needed a little something to eat before going to a birthday bbq this evening.

Its nice to be reminded that sometimes the simplest of things do the most for us. I love the luxury of sitting on my porch and enjoying something to eat. It is one thing that I miss dearly when winter rolls around.

Yesterday I went for a haircut. Nothing major. Just a good trim and the addition of a few layers around the face. Some long sweeping bangs. No big deal. But as simple as it was, it made a huge impact on how I felt. As does a little sun on my skin. I suddenly feel fresher and more vibrant.

If you really think about it, the things that usually make the biggest impact on our state of mind are the small things. What small thing has changed the way you feel lately?