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I was sitting at a cafe a couple weeks ago with the kids… feeling ungrounded… spiraling as per usual with all of my creative ideas.

I firmly believe my brain transforms into the egg scrambler ride sometimes: I’ll have an idea I’m excited about and then another idea and then a to-do list item comes to the forefront and eventually they all circle their way back- front and center.

So to help myself feel grounded during this particular chaotic spiral… I found myself grabbing a piece of paper and a pen (a comment card to be exact because that’s all that was around) and I got to organizing.

It’s my go-to process when I’m feeling overwhelmed:

* Write down what I’m thinking about.

* Clear out any clutter that’s no longer serving me.

* And with less in front of me… I can breathe again and focus on what matters most.

I circle back to this minimalist practice often… and instead of adding to the wild ride … it slows the ride down (typically to a stop.)

As I was going through this process I ended up drawing a little diagram.

An ecosystem of sorts that helped me understand my creative impulses. And it felt like an exhale.

With this diagram in mind now, creating feels so much more relaxed and grounded. I can visually see the rhythm that intuitively drives me. And I don’t feel the urge to force myself into that rhythm for consistencies sake… Instead this simple guide has helped me realign myself when I’m ungrounded.

And I wanted to share this process inside our co-op so you can access this exhale too↓

Staying Minimal: A series focused on on maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Join us to unlock thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: creativity, decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

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…. I’ve never really cared much about the snow.

I’ve lived in Ohio most of my life, so:

* I’m used to it.

* It doesn’t bother me….

* buttttt I’ve always been a “give me a white Christmas and then bring on the warmer weather” kind of girl.

Until I tried snowboarding last week…

As I’ve been sharing this latest obsession with friends and family, it dawned on me just how much everything is always working out for us.

We’ve lived elsewhere before and chose to move back to our hometown.

While traveling certainly makes new things appear when we come back. Throwing this new love into the mix has made me realize, more than ever, how lucky we are to live here. Right where we already are.

It’s like I’m seeing all the possibilities that were already within arms reach for the first time.

I think that’s what’s been so magical about this experience. That everything was already right here for me… before I even knew I wanted it.

It’s comforting to know that sometimes the right things find us…even when we don’t see them (for years) or know where they will fit.

Ultimately it made me soften, to feel excited and grateful for what’s around me and has inspired me to open my eyes more. To trust more and keep following those intuitive nudges.

Have you ever felt this sensation?

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Before sharing my intentional, creative life here- I had my own wardrobe styling company.✨ (If you’re curious about it- here are some articles on my styling days.)

It’s why my friends + family often ask my thoughts on outfits and fashion.

But the biggest compliment is when Collin asks me for help. He (actually) trusts me to equip him with high-level advice (instead of just dressing him) so he can confidently choose pieces that excite him.

He recently decided to invest in his wardrobe too, but after shopping online he felt a little scrambled and like something was missing.

He asked me to:

* take a look at his shopping carts

* see how versatile the pieces he picked are (i.e. do mix + match well?)

* confirm what was worth investing in

* and let him know if there’s anything else he needs

It was a “put me in coach!” kind of moment and afterwards I realized that the approach I took to help him find his answer… is a universal principle I use to make decision making simpler throughout my day.

So I thought I’d share the 3 step approach I took to intentionally add to his wardrobe (+ how it translates into my every day life) inside my Staying Minimal Series↓

Maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Join us to unlock thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

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What books did you read and love this year? Share some recs here so we can all save them for 2026!!

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In a previous life… my world was: fashion.

I was a:

* wardrobe stylist

* mobile boutique owner

* personal shopper

* and closet cleansing maniac

And my closet reflected that (in my own way.)

But one thing I didn’t focus on at the time was longevity.

I bought well but I didn’t invest. I didn’t think about how many years I could take care of a piece. How it would support me long term. I just thought about what matched my style at that moment.

And then I met this little silk dress… and everything changed. I’d never felt so good in something. I put it on and was like “woah….” I looked at myself differently. And it got me thinking about investing… in pieces that last longer than a season or one event.

It shifted the way I looked at my wardrobe… and left me with an urge to fully invest in it.

To stop buying fast fashion that works just for this season and start thinking “like a Parisian.” Like someone who sees wardrobe-building as a lifelong curation, not a constant sport of shopping.

So here’s what I did about it:

- Want to see the 32 things I recently got rid of? Click here

- Rose 2-Way Cardigan | White Bodysuit | Navy Cardigan | Striped Sweater

- Bennet Fur Lined Boots | Evelyn Heeled Booties

- The other brand I considered was Blundstone but felt like the Toms style was more me.

- I also grabbed these cute new tennies to replace my worn out ones.

- I was at a trade show for my mom’s business and came across this amazing booth.

>> I’d love to here your take in the comments <<

P.S. Are you a minimalist or an aspiring one? Curious about: Maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Then join us inside the paid tier to unlock my latest series: Staying Minimal.

Filled with thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

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There’s no better time (for me) to maintain my minimalism practice than during the holiday season. It feels like my version of “the big game.” 🤣

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… minimalism has always given me MORE not less… we still do gifts- we just focus on less so they can enjoy them more.

And after staying up until 1am the other night- getting intentional about what we want the holidays to look like this year… I think I’ve unlocked a new level🔓

I thought you might be interested in the list and how I’m maintaining my minimalist lifestyle this season…

You can find all 25 days of experiences plus ways to celebrate as a couple AND decorate for Christmas morning (with what you already have) inside my latest series:

Maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Join us inside the paid tier to unlock thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

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We just got back from trying on van life in Florida to celebrate Sophia’s 5th birthday and boy…. did we learn a lot.

I was SO excited for this trip after becoming obsessed with the idea of traveling with a home on wheels.

* I envisioned it.

* I felt it.

* I was open to it not being a fit for us.

* But secretly… I was convinced the trip was going to be perfect.

And before the trip even started… our plans changed

We’ve tuned in (😉) this year and realized we’ve been living the standard American life but prefer a more unconventional one- hence the getting intentional and living life without shoulds (like a talk about here.)

As I processed the internal conflict I share in this episode over the course of two days, toggling between our adventurous van life trip and comfortable hotel stays, I was reminded that maintaining my minimalist lifestyle also includes: decluttering my old narratives.

Somewhere along the way, those stories had stopped being guiding values…and had started becoming rules…. Rigid ones. Heavy ones.

Minimalism isn’t just about owning fewer things.

It’s about releasing the beliefs that weigh down your life just as much as clutter does.

The truth is… choosing the aligned thing *in that moment*… that’s the definition of a minimalist lifestyle. Of one filled with what matters most to you.

It’s not about rejecting one idea over another.It’s about staying honest about what actually supports the life we’re building.

So I wanted to share this aha with you

* how I’m maintaining my minimalism in regards to our lifestyle

* And a few prompts that helped me identify the narratives that needed to be decluttered.

You’ll find those inside↓

Maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Join us inside the paid tier to unlock thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

Click here for the journal prompts

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Lately, I’ve been obsessing a little bit a lot a bit over tricked-out ‘Sprinter’ van conversions.

Like I mentioned in my recent decluttering post- we love traveling + how it supports our minimalism practice…. plus worldschooling is our preferred way of learning.

So we decided to try on the van life concept (for travel- not full-time living) by booking a camper van that we’ll travel around sunny Florida in for Sophia’s birthday.

So I thought it’d be fun to share my latest obsession with you- van designs:

Mentioned

- The Sandy by Jorvik Van Conversions

- Crozier Campers

- pop top like we’ll be trying in Florida

Your turn! What have you been obsessing over lately?😍

View the Pictures + Join the Conversation Here

Every time we travel… I come home and am ready to halve our possessions. And that’s exactly what happened when we got back from our recent trip to Gatlinburg.

Isn’t it funny how quickly our perspective can shift from a few days away?

I often purge unnecessary items when I’m feeling overwhelmed. (You know that frantic…. That’s it! I can’t clean these walkie talkies and 20 pairs of kids socks up again! It’s gone!)

…. That’s how our “If it’s on the ground it’s out of town” phrase was born🤣

So I was surprised when we unpacked from our trip that I naturally started piling items up to donate.

And then I thought about how much sense that made. The contrast between living out of a backpack and having the best time and then coming home to a house full of things that need me- makes for the perfect intentional motivation to clear things up.

So I thought it’d be fun to share this new habit + everything I’m letting go of- post our recent trip

- the perfect way to kick off my Staying Minimal Series!

Maintaining less, to access more of life’s simple luxuries.

Join us to unlock thoughtful prompts + candid conversations around: decluttering, financial minimalism, time stewardship and intentional decision making to support the daily rhythms you desire.

For intentional creatives craving not just a simpler home, but a simpler way of being — where your actions align with your dream life.

Join the Staying Minimal Series Here

Join the conversation here

What does creating on Substack as a Worldschooling Mom of 2 really look like?

THIS: https://youtu.be/MhaSXaIooVw?si=nuCItREfYUGfsDaL

Freedom:

* To create what I want

* Where I want

* At the pace I want

Substack sees the writing, videography, audio, community…. whatever you’re creating as what’s important.

Supporting:

* The nuance

* The slowness

* The conversation

* The resonance

»Not content for marketing sake but creation for impact’s sake. «

So now… I have the freedom to create what I want.

* Some days it’s writing + audio

* Others its more video focused

But most importantly: it’s at the pace I want.

It looks like: A slow practice that builds… one piece at a time.