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How a Minimalist Loses a Vase

I travel quite often, and rarely bring back souvenirs from anywhere. I’ve learned that once something has memories, it can be a bear to declutter later on; so I save myself the trouble and typically return only with digital photos and some leftover foreign coins.

However, when I visited Oslo, I found myself in a chic Scandinavian design shop—and couldn’t resist bringing home one of its wares.

Before I continue, let me give you the backstory. On our first Christmas in the UK, a dear friend sent us a beautiful bunch of white tulips. My husband and I were 3000 miles away from friends and family, and her wonderful gesture really brightened our holiday.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Jonathan Chapman

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, Jonathan Chapman tells us about his journey into minimalism. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can relate to his eBay experience!

Jonathan writes:

I am a 27 year old male and I live in the UK. This is the story of how I became a minimalist.

I moved into a city centre apartment in November 2008. As I shifted all my stuff, I noticed floor space was quickly disappearing behind box after box.… {Read more}

Minimalist Inspiration from Millionaires

A few days ago, a reader sent me a wonderful article from The Seattle Times: Young tech millionaires keeping 1-bedroom lifestyle. It focuses on some of Silicon Valley’s most successful young entrepreneurs, and how they’re rejecting traditional status symbols like mansions and luxury cars. Why? They find more value in funding startup ventures and social causes than engaging in conspicuous consumption.

For example: Aaron Patzer, the founder of Mint.com, who sold his company in 2009 for $170 million. He lives in a 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment, and recently replaced his 1996 Ford Contour (with 150,000 miles) with a $29K Subaru Outback.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Robert Hickman

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 we meet Robert Hickman, who’s found a wonderful way to reconcile his creative pursuits with his minimalist journey.

Robert writes:

Being mildly autistic, my interests and life choices could never be considered normal in any regard. Nor have I ever aspired to follow that path. The whole concept of buying large houses, mountains of clothes and overly expensive cars always seemed mad to me. Yet still I found myself weighed down by a disproportionately large amount of stuff.… {Read more}

One Less Thing: Microbeads

I love a good exfoliating scrub as much as the next gal—but did you know that every time you wash your face, you may be pouring plastic down the drain?

Yes, that innocent-looking cleanser may be hiding an environmental hazard—usually touted on the label as “microbeads” or “microspheres” or “microcrystals.” Whatever fancy name they’re given, they’re nothing more than tiny globules of plastic (polyethylene) that give an abrasive texture to soap. And once they’re done polishing our skin, they go right down the drain and into our waterways.

What’s so bad about that? Plenty, according to this article on Slate.com:

1.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

Minimalist Lessons from a Tea Ceremony: A few years ago, I participated in a Japanese tea ceremony. It’s a beautiful ritual, and—in my opinion—a wonderful analogy to minimalist living. In a nutshell, chado (or Way of Tea) is the ceremonial preparation and serving of matcha, powdered green tea. Guests enter the teahouse after walking through a small, contemplative garden and symbolically purifying their hands and mouth with water from a stone basin. To enter the tearoom, they must bow their heads to fit through the small door—meaning all are equal in tea, regardless of social status or position…{read more}

7 Steps to a Minimalist Wardrobe: When I decided to pursue a minimalist lifestyle, one of the first areas I tackled was my closet.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Canis Voda

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 hear from Canis Voda (“water dog” in Chinese astrology), who has decided to embrace minimalism in many different ways. Read on for a wonderful perspective on freedom from stuff!

Canis Voda writes:

About 6 months ago, I decided to get rid of superfluous things, since I live by myself in an apartment that is 260 sq.ft. When I moved there, I had to get rid of about 60% of what I had originally.… {Read more}

My Minimalist Bathroom

Earlier this year, when we were living in a hotel, we had a TV for the first time in two years. We rarely turned it on, except for a few days when sidelined with the flu—at which time we managed to catch some episodes of House Hunters on HGTV.

I’m always amused when buyers on such shows complain that a bathroom doesn’t have double sinks or a Jacuzzi tub. As a renter, I’m just happy if it’s clean, the toilet flushes, and hot water comes out of the taps. It’s a special bonus if it’s not covered in garish-colored tiles, or sporting fake wood cabinets.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

On Not Collecting: I often wonder if the urge to collect is hard-wired in the human race, or just something encouraged by our society. When I was a child, I remember my friends building collections of dolls, coins, baseball cards, comic books, and pop culture/movie memorabilia. I always felt a little left out. I don’t know if it was due to a lack of interest, short attention span, or early minimalist tendencies, but I had zero desire to participate in the collecting trends that were popular at the time (I won’t date myself by naming them!)…{read more}

City Life vs.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Apple

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, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Apple. In their quest for simplicity, she and her husband have made some big changes in their lives. Read her story, and I think you’ll be inspired!

Apple writes:

I am a born minimalist. As a child I loved tidying my room, my favourite activity was packing my backpack for holidays and then living out of my bag. I remember feeling overwhelmed after receiving more than one present for Christmas or the frustration of having to keep unused clothes, superfluous room decorations, bulky pieces of furniture in my room.… {Read more}