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Holiday

I’m dreaming of a light Christmas

I just wanted to wish you all a lovely and serene holiday!

We’re keeping the season as simple as possible here—a “light Christmas,” if you will. We’ve decorated our little cottage with a fresh tree and wreath, lots of twinkle lights, and some ornaments handmade by my daughter (my baby just turned 7, can you believe it?).

We’ve hung up our stockings, which Santa typically fills with some decadent consumables we normally wouldn’t buy for ourselves (like artisan coffee, soap, chocolates—here’s what I got last year). And the little one will receive one special gift from each member of the family; a robotics kit, a chemistry set, glitter markers, jewelry beads, and a kitten are on her wish list this year.… {Read more}

Happy Holidays + An Update

Hi everybody! My sincere apologies for not posting over the last few months…Plumblossom stopped napping, and somehow my 7 hours of “free time” each week while she’s in preschool became filled with the errands, chores, and other to-do’s that are much easier to accomplish without a little one underfoot. But even though I haven’t had much time for writing, I enjoy and appreciate all your comments, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping this little community going in my absence.

So what’s new? Plumblossom just turned 3 (where has the time gone?!), and is a sweet, inquisitive, precocious little girl.… {Read more}

Give

A story so sweet I had to share…

This morning my husband was heading out to work, and put a bag of unwrapped presents (meant for a charity that serves underprivileged children) by the front door. Plumblossom, our always-curious almost-2-year-old, made a beeline for the bag.

“No,” my husband said. “Those gifts are for other kids—kids who don’t have any toys to play with.” I sensed he was bracing for a toddler-style protest.

Instead, Plumblossom took off for her room without a word. She returned a few minutes later, and dropped an armful of toys and an empty bag of seaweed salad at my husband’s feet.… {Read more}

A Minimalist Mother’s Day

Fortunately, my Plumblossom is too young to shower me with knick knacks or other gifts this Mother’s Day—she’ll be sticking with some sweet smiles and little coos (all I could ask for!).

But infants aren’t the only ones who can honor their mothers in minimalist fashion; so for the rest of us, I’ve put together a list of no-clutter ways to show our love:

1. Cook your mom a delicious meal. You can put together breakfast-in-bed, an elegant brunch, or a special dinner (even if you’re not a culinary whiz, she’ll appreciate your efforts!)

2. Take your mom to the park, or local horticultural center, to admire the spring blooms.… {Read more}

Minimalist Holiday: Give Hope

As we gather with friends and family this holiday week, many of us will find that despite the hardships of this economy, we are truly blessed. If you’re reading this blog, it’s pretty likely you have a roof over your head, a warm place to sleep, and plenty of food on the table.

We must remember, however, that others may not be so lucky. Too many homeless are sleeping on streets tonight; too many children are going to bed hungry; and too many people are losing their struggle for survival due to a lack of basic medical care and supplies.

Minimalism isn’t just about decluttering our closets and living with less; it’s determining when we have enough, so we can do something good with the excess.… {Read more}

Minimalist Holiday: Declutter-Gifts

For many aspiring minimalists, a certain temptation arises at this time of year. On the one hand, you have the urge to purge your household of unwanted things; and on the other, you may be expected to produce gifts for friends and family. It seems like the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone; but can declutter-gifting really be pulled off with panache?

It’s tricky, but I think it can be done—as long as the declutter-gift meets one of the following standards:

It’s an heirloom. And by heirloom, I don’t mean the velvet Elvis that’s been sitting in your basement for the last twenty years.… {Read more}

Minimalist Holiday Decor

One thing I’ve never liked about the holiday season is the proliferation of store-bought décor. Plastic trees, mass-manufactured ornaments, and objects emblazoned with Santas, elves, and reindeer are not only a drain on our planet’s resources; they’re also extra things that must be stored, unused, for eleven months of the year.

I’m certainly not against decorating for the holidays; I simply think we can do it in a lighter, more elegant, and more environmentally-friendly way. Here’s some ideas:

Decorate with nature. Spread evergreen branches across your mantle, or spruce up your table with sprigs of holly. Gather pine cones into a bowl, or place a few poinsettias around your home.… {Read more}

Minimalist Holiday: The Gift of Time

There’s one gift that’s more valuable than anything bought in a shop; more appreciated by its recipient than anything wrapped in pretty paper; and sure to be remembered for years to come. The best part: giving it won’t require a trip to the store, harm the environment, violate workers’ rights, contribute to the commercialization of our holidays, or clutter the recipient’s home.

What is this fabulous gift? Your time.

This holiday, offer your presence—instead of presents—to friends and family. You can even make it formal by giving the recipient a handmade certificate for specific services, such as the following:

* Provide a free night of babysitting for a friend’s kids

* Help an elderly relative with household chores or repairs

* Spend an afternoon (chatting, having coffee, or walking through the park) with someone special

* Teach someone something you know—like how to cook, do yoga, or speak a foreign language

* Offer your expertise with a task, be it fixing someone’s computer, doing their taxes, or hemming a garment

* Take a niece or nephew on a cultural excursion, such as a trip to a local museum

* Help someone declutter their closet, basement, attic, or garage

* Cook someone a delicious meal, like breakfast-in-bed, an elegant brunch, or a special dinner

* Help with a home improvement project, like painting, tiling, or planting a garden

* Offer to run errands for someone who has trouble getting around

* Take a day off from work, to spend exclusively with your spouse or child (let them pick the day’s activities)

* Offer your creativity—help someone design a web page, redecorate their living room, or put together a scrapbook or slideshow of their favorite photos

If your cup of generosity runneth over, go a step beyond and offer your time to someone you don’t know—by participating in a volunteer project.… {Read more}

One Less Gift – A Holiday Gift Exemption Certificate

Tired of holiday consumerism?

Give a “One Less Gift” Certificate to someone special.

Instead of exchanging presents, you’ll both have one less gift to worry about, saving time, money, and the planet’s resources.

Click here for the full-size certificate in PDF format: print it off, or email it to friends and family!

Consider these less-material ways to celebrate the holiday with your loved ones:

1. Spend time together. Schedule a lunch, walk, or coffee together. Plan it around a holiday activity—like strolling through town to admire the shop windows and Christmas lights—for a particularly festive atmosphere.

2. Make charitable donations. The money we spend buying each other gadgets, knickknacks, and tchotchkes can do a world of good for those less fortunate.… {Read more}

Happy Holidays!

This year, I’ve decided to give myself a very special Christmas gift. Don’t worry: it wasn’t bought at the mall, and it won’t clutter my closet – in fact, it doesn’t take up any space at all.

I’m giving myself a digital sabbatical.

From now until January 10, I’ll be completely unplugged from the internet: no blogging, no Twitter, no email. I also won’t be logging in to moderate comments. If you’ve commented in the past, your new comments should be published automatically. Otherwise, your comments will stay in the queue and be published as soon as I’m back (I apologize for the delay, but it’s necessary to keep things spam-free!).… {Read more}