miss minimalist logo

minimalist

Extreme Minimalism: Wardrobe

Let’s wrap up the Extreme Minimalism series with a topic that’s always popular: clothing!

It’s been over a year since I wrote More Minimalist Wardrobe Musings. In that post, I asked, “So (laundry concerns aside), what if you could have one perfectly-comfortable, perfectly-designed outfit that you could wear everyday — and nobody cared, or ridiculed you for it? I’m not talking scrubs, or military dress, or a UPS uniform, but something you looked fabulous and felt great in. Would you want that?”

For me, the answer is an emphatic yes! Although I haven’t adopted one yet, I’m completely smitten with the idea of a uniform.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Brenda Woolner

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, I’m pleased to feature Brenda Woolner, who tells us about her minimalist lifestyle in Nova Scotia.

Brenda writes:

My name is Brenda Woolner and I live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. I discovered this blog a few months ago and it is great to feel part of this online community.

I am 54 years young and have been living a minimalistic lifestyle for many years. I was raised with parents who lived a simple and frugal lifestyle.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Polythene Pam

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week, we have an inspiring contribution from Polythene Pam, who tells us how her plastic boycott is leading her down a minimalist path. Visit her blog to learn more.

Polythene Pam writes:

Boycotting disposable and unnecessary plastic has led me down some strange roads; I am now a composter, a jam maker and even, on a good day with the wind behind me, a crafter!! But lately, I have found myself wondering …is it possible …could I be …a minimalist?… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Ashley

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, Ashley shares her perspective on minimalism—explaining that it’s not about the number of possessions you own, but how they suit your lifestyle.

Ashley writes:

I’ve heard a lot of crazy things regarding minimalism lately: counting your items, owning a set number of things (usually 100), being vegan, doing yoga, etc.

Well, I feel like the time has come to finally speak up.

I have always been a minimalistic person by nature.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Ellen

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week, Ellen tells us how dealing with her grandmother’s possessions inspired her to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle.

Ellen writes:

My minimalist journey has slowly unfolded over the years, marked by a few distinct occurrences that have shifted my path away from the acquisition to deacquisition of stuff. As a child, I was constantly bothered by the piles of old magazines, paperwork, and junk mail that accumulated on every flat surface in my mom’s house.… {Read more}

My Minimalist Dream

When I first began my minimalist journey, my dream was to slowly rid myself of all possessions, until I could live nomadically and carry what I owned in a single bag. I’m happy to say I achieved that when my husband and I moved to England in 2009; we drifted for several years, with the barest of essentials.

Of course, while on the road, we sometimes yearned to settle down—noisy sublets, less-than-spotless hotel rooms, and the hunt for laundry facilities can eventually take their toll. So after our daughter was born, we bought a house; to be honest, I couldn’t imagine having another housing crisis with an infant in tow.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Vappu from Cat’s Meow

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, I’m happy to feature Vappu from Cat’s Meow. An unfortunate situation recently reduced her possessions to a single bag; but as a long-time minimalist, she’s handling it with grace. She blogs about minimalism with kids at www.lifeshouldbethecatsmeow.blogspot.com.

Vappu writes:

I’m what you would call a natural/born minimalist. Even as a kid I fancied being able to carry everything I own in a bag with me. As a student living alone, my apartment was spartan, and I have to admit I actually got rid of something I had to later replace.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Anne S.

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week we have an inspiring story from Anne S., who’s trying to recreate her own carefree, minimalist upbringing for her two young children.

Anne writes:

I was born into a minimalist family. We never used the word minimalism that’s just how we lived our lives. The only furniture in the living room was a love seat, chair, and a side table with a lamp. We had a small TV in the corner which we hardly ever watched except for movie night on Fridays.… {Read more}

Possessions as Promises

When Plumblossom was just a few months old, I bought an infant swing. I never thought I’d own such an item—but desperate to get my daughter to nap, I went online and discovered this “solution” to my problem. It promised to calm my little one with its gentle rocking, and send her off to sleep in no time flat; the Amazon reviews confirmed its efficacy (“My baby naps 3 hours in this!”). I couldn’t part with my money fast enough.

My enthusiasm to acquire this new thing made me think: what are our possessions, really, but a bunch of promises? That dress promises to make us look stylish; that smartphone promises to keep us tech-savvy and connected; that cookbook promises to make us a culinary whiz; that moisturizer promises to take years off our face; that heirloom china promises to help us remember our grandmother.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Robbie Leonard

Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, Robbie Leonard tells us how minimalism helped him embrace his true calling as a writer. Please visit his blog to learn more.

Robbie writes:

Hi, I’m Robbie Leonard from Carpinteria, California currently living in the San Fernando Valley. I’m a writer determined to bring wisdom to the masses. The spirit of minimalism grasped a hold of my life a few years ago; I had an epiphany.

I started to write a book about my life experiences in high school but I strongly believed that a high-paying career pursuit was a higher priority, ignoring my calling as a writer.… {Read more}