Speed Cleaning | Mudroom Spring Refresh

Today I want to share how I tackled the spring cleaning of our back entryway / mudroom space. With speed. This Spring speed cleaning means that we are now set up for the warmer weather ahead. Bring it on!   SPRING SPEED CLEANING It’s that time of year. When transitioning from one season to the…

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  • Jen

    Great tips! We don’t have a mud room per say but a half bath by the garage so I can definitely apply some of these tips to keeping that space clean because it’s also the bathroom for guests.ReplyCancel

  • I wish I had a mudroom!! You got so much accomplished in sixty minutes! Great idea to just set a timer!!ReplyCancel

  • My mudroom is my arch nemesis…like it has made me cry!  I am happy for you building your own cottage, an attached garage as you said in a previous comment is such a great idea.  I would love to add that on to our home some day.  A mudroom/laundry room sounds like a good idea, but really it is just a frustrating laundry room!ReplyCancel

    • I have a feeling that attached garage is going to be a game changer for us!ReplyCancel

  • Val

    You got a lot done in the hour, good job ! Thanks for the tips 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Looks great!  Our mud room is a constant disaster and it’s our laundry room too and ahhhhh ReplyCancel

    • I totally hear you! I am genuinely excited that our new house will have an attached garage, where most of the ‘mess’ can stay!ReplyCancel

Money Saving Tips for families

Raising a family is difficult enough without having to worry about money challenges. Today I share the money saving tips that our large family uses to relieve the pressures.   We are a fairly frugal family. In part, because, for many years we have relied solely on one income for our day to day expenses….

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  • Happy Budget Nerd here!!!!! These are many of the things that we’ve incorporate over the years as well. Great tips!ReplyCancel

  • Hi Angela! Since my wife and I came to the conclusion that I’d be much happier writing a blog than working in construction, this past 10 months have been a struggle financially.  Finding ways to stretch a budget is always a welcomed topic of discussion.  I think I’m most intrigued with the “dropping cable.” I just talked with my wife before writing this comment, and it’s true, we hardly watch most channels. And we also have Netflix.  We are definitely going to rethink that unnecessary expense.  Btw, Cameron Connelly is my pen name.  Please check out my site, Callemonit.com.  I would absolutely love a comment. Thanks, MarkReplyCancel

    • That’s awesome! Doing what you love makes all the difference! Dropping the cable is easier than ever now, with all the different options available! Definitely check out the Young House Love post that I have linked. They thoroughly review all the choices! Best of luck with your blog! It’s hard work for sure, but so rewarding!ReplyCancel

  • These are all fantastic tips!! I started doing a detailed budget almost ten years ago and it has literally changed our entire financial future. Just knowing the money is going is huge! ReplyCancel

    • Yes! Budgeting is really the first step – and helps you really take a look at what you have to work with, and decide where it would be best allocated!ReplyCancel

  • Good post! Dumped cable TV years ago. Such a waste of money!ReplyCancel

    • absolutely! It feels like robbery! Especially now that there are a ton of different options that are commercial free!ReplyCancel

  • Val

    Thank you for the eye opening & tried tips . I should have watched the video before I shopped today 😬 will implement them in the future.ReplyCancel

  • Lots of great advice!  We are finishing up a no spend lent and we’re shocked by how much we spend on silly thingsReplyCancel

  • Lots of great tips here!ReplyCancel

    • thank you!
      I know you have a big family as well – do you have any tried and true money saving tips? I would love to hear!ReplyCancel

AROUND HERE | MARCH 2019

Around here we have been…   USING our creativity to keep ourselves busy. The beginning of the month saw quite a lot of snow and yucky weather, which meant more time indoors. The kids did a great job of entertaining themselves with various activities such as dress up, and creating art. They also had a…

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JEWELRY DECLUTTER | HOW ORGANIZING SMALL THINGS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT

This week I spent some time doing a jewelry declutter. I thought that it would be a quick process, and in a lot of ways it was. But, it also got me thinking – even the small things can make a big impact when it comes to decluttering and organizing. I’ve never been much of…

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  • Great post! I went through my jewelry back in the fall and I got rid of all those I matching earrings, and cheapo bracelets I had been holding onto for years! It felt so good to get it all cleaned up! ReplyCancel

    • awesome! yes… pretty sure I don’t need multi-packs of earrings that I haven’t worn since high school! ha ha! WHY in the world do we hold onto these things?ReplyCancel

  • Good for you!  If it doesn’t spark joy, let it go!ReplyCancel

  • Great post! I’m currently needing to go through my jewelry again. I love wearing all sorts of jewelry so I’ll need to find a different system for organization, but keeping only the things I love and wear will be a great first step in organization and making space!ReplyCancel

  • You encouraged me to jump on cleaning out my jewelry! A friend at my church takes donations and ladies repurpose item an sell for a battered women shelter!  I need to get on this and find out what ”sparks joy ”.  LOLReplyCancel

  • How sweet!  Great ideas. I never wear jewelry but also have a lot of it, so I need to do this!ReplyCancel

    • Do it! Even this tiny bit of excess removed from my house is freeing!ReplyCancel

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bites

As a busy mom of five, I am always looking for healthy snack alternatives for my kids. This recipe for strawberry frozen yogurt bites fits the bill so well. It is a healthy and quick snack that’s so delicious they feel like they are having a treat. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon…

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  • Jen

    My kids would definitely enjoy these!ReplyCancel

  • Can’t wait for fresh strawberries to be in season; these look great for a mid-morning snack!ReplyCancel

  • Definitely will try these!  My kiddos love yogurt anything!  I love the molds too!ReplyCancel

  • These look delicious! I know my boys would love them! Thanks for sharing! ReplyCancel

  • These look amazing. We have family friends visiting this weekend with their 4 kiddos. I will be trying these then!ReplyCancel

  • These look yummy and easy!  Special occasions treats for sure! Love fun treats like this! Great job👍🏻!ReplyCancel

    • thank you! I definitely like the words ‘easy to make’ and ‘healthy’ put together!ReplyCancel

  • looks delicious!  my kids would definitely eat these, even the yogurt haters!ReplyCancel

    • yes! I have a couple who aren’t huge fans of yogurt, and they love these little bite side goodies!ReplyCancel

  • Val

    These look delicious ! I like the idea of using candy shape molds for the yogurt .Flower shapes  for spring , & heart shape molds  for Valentine’s Day . Even could use the larger popsicle molds for a Summer treat 👍 This will be on my agenda for a healthy snack to make with the Grands next time they are here 🙂ReplyCancel

SCREEN FREE FAMILY DAY | DAY IN THE LIFE

As part of our journey to simplify life, my husband and I have been trying very hard to be intentional about the time we spend with our family. In this post, I share how we have been implementing screen free family day as part of our transition to a more peaceful household. At the beginning…

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  • Great post!  This is one area that we have had to be extra diligent.  We are super tight with the privilege.  Our kids, especially the older ones have been looked at as super weird because they don’t have phones.  Oh well, they know they will be better off for it, but I know it isn’t easy to be different.  Keep up the good content!ReplyCancel

    • Our oldest is 12, and has zero interest in owning a phone. I’m totally okay with that! ha ha!ReplyCancel

  • This is fantastic!! Although we do consume way too much media we have begun regularly playing board games on  weekend nights and my teenage boys are loving it! They look forward to playing with mom and dad and that makes me happy! Great video too!  ReplyCancel

    • That’s great! especially for teenage boys! Something we aspire for as well!ReplyCancel

  • This is such a great idea. We try to limit screen time, but it’s so easy to slip when life gets busy. Every year for school my kids have a screen free week where they are encouraged to read more instead of be on screens. It’s always been a beneficial week. I love the idea of at least one day every month like you’ve done with the focus on family.ReplyCancel

    • Wow! that’s incredible that they have an entire week screen free! It has been really awesome to see how our kids are beginning to now anticipate our screen free day and suggesting ideas!ReplyCancel

  • I loved and needed this post.  I struggle with this so much!  I have three and they are all addicted and I always promised myself I would never raise my kids that way!ReplyCancel

    • I totally get it! Once electronics become a ‘helpful tool’ so that we can have some peace and quiet, it is really hard to break the cycle! Try a screen free day and see how it goes! Good luck!ReplyCancel

  • Val

    What a Great idea as a family & as empty nesters I am looking forward to trying that also , screen time truly can ‘isolate’ a person , sharing screen free time together or just the ‘quiet’ I can see how it would be beneficial 🙂ReplyCancel

    • Yes! I was amazed at how much my mind was craving the ‘quiet’ and stillness of a screen free reset day!ReplyCancel

HOW MINIMALISM BENEFITS KIDS

As my husband and I move in a conscious direction toward minimalism and a more simple lifestyle, our entire family is being impacted. We have seen huge positive changes in our children. Today I will discuss the top ways I have observed that minimalism benefits kids. Many think of minimalism as a trend for adults…

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  • Val

    As a Grandma, I had to get on board too with fewer gifts for birthdays, Christmas and gifts for no reason! It’s been hard but also freeing for me. ReplyCancel

    • Yes, and wasn’t the ‘no gift’ Christmas just so amazing?! Loved it!ReplyCancel

  • Katie

    Very interesting to hear your thoughts on this.  My kids have a lot of toys mostly hand me downs and gifts.  Of course they play with hardly any!ReplyCancel

    • That’s exactly what we were dealing with before – tons of toys received as gifts that they would play with for a few days, and then go back to their favorites!ReplyCancel

  • Wendy Walker

    These are great tips! We raised our kids to be outside and not on electronics. They were in 4H which kept them very busy and they were able to learn lots of responsibility. ReplyCancel

    • 4H is so great for that, we have definitely considered getting our kids involved in that program!ReplyCancel

  • I so wish minimalism was something that was talked about when my kids were little! This could have benefited our entire family! Thanks so much for such great information! ReplyCancel

    • I am so thankful that we are simplifying life now, when our kids are still pretty young.ReplyCancel

  • Very interesting to read your perspective on the advantages of minimalism. Raising children who feel loved and supported is important. It’s great that you try to incorporate them in making choices.ReplyCancel

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM TOUR

The girls shared bedroom in our rental house is a small and simple space, which both our daughters love. Today, I want to give you a little tour and explain a few of the ways we made the room functional and fun! This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying…

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  • This room is so wonderful. The bird cages are swoon worthy. I am Now going to be on the hunt for old ones to mimic what you’ve done. So inspiring. ReplyCancel

  • What a beautiful space. It looks so fun, warm, and inviting. ReplyCancel

  • Such a sweet little room!! Love it! ReplyCancel

    • thank you! Excited to add the same level of charm to their new room!ReplyCancel

  • What a sweet room.  You have a really knack for minimalism still looking warm. ReplyCancel

  • Love the video and how you recycled the crib into your daughters headboards! ReplyCancel

  • Wonderful job. Just precious. Wish we had girls! Maybe one day, God willing!  Love the white decor with pops of color. ReplyCancel

    • Thank you! I love the aqua and pink combination, and it works great for little girls! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Val

    Very pretty room , so cozy too. I love the ‘special touches’ from artwork to furniture pieces from family members ❤️ Removing dresser drawers & using baskets is a great idea, especially for younger children 👍ReplyCancel

    • Thank you! We are excited to add the same touches to their brand new bedroom very soon!ReplyCancel

AROUND HERE: FEBRUARY 2019

Around here we have been… SPENDING a lot of time indoors. The weather this month was not favorable at all. If it wasn’t snowing, the temps were well below zero. There were quite a few school days that were either late or cancelled completely. We found things to do inside – playing with kinetic sand,…

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  • Val

    Wonderful activities & memories made .  Years later you will be even more pleased that you have this documentation.ReplyCancel

KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST + TIPS

Kitchen cleaning can really be a chore. Though keeping the kitchen clean is something that is ongoing, a deep clean session is required every so often. This article provides a kitchen cleaning checklist, plus tips on how to get the job done well. Be sure to read until the end to see a video of…

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  • Erika

    What did you use to clean your cabinets?  Mine are in desperate need of of a good scrub but not sure what’s safe to use without ruining the wood.ReplyCancel

    • I use Mrs. Myers cleaning products – for the cabinets I used the Multi-surface everyday cleaner, in the Lemon Verbena scent 😉ReplyCancel

  • You’ve given me something to ponder with your decision to not install a dish washer. I raised six kids and we ran the dishwasher daily. Now that we are empty nesters of sorts my husband and I regularly just hand wash the few dishes we use. And I hate the dishwasher in our house. It takes like two hours to run through the entire cycle and it’s so loud. We regularly talk of replacing it. A cupboard would be much more useful.  Hmmmmm.   ReplyCancel

    • I think because neither of us had a dishwasher growing up, we never really knew what we were missing. Then we bought a house that had one, and really never used it. In fact, we used it so infrequently that the seal dried up! :/ oops! With our very minimalist kitchen, the cabinet will definitely be more useful! Good luck on your decision!ReplyCancel

  • Jen

    This is such a great checklist! I have a goal to have the kitchen straightened up each night before bed, but a deeper cleaning should definitely be on the to do list.ReplyCancel

    • It just feels great knowing that there isn’t chaos hiding behind the doors!!! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • How inspiring… I know when my kitchen is clean, the whole house feels clean.  There is nothing more depressing than a dirty kitchen! ReplyCancel

  • Great tips!!! I recently did this and it just felt so good to give my kitchen a good scrubbing! ReplyCancel

    • It really does feel great! I’m hoping it can stay clean for a good long while! 😉ReplyCancel

  • Val

    Wow ! The kitchen looks Great 👍 cupboards shiny , countertops cleared & everything organized behind closed drawers & doors 🙂 the cleaning tips are helpful.  Nice to see you had helpers for the day long project . Anytime one can get a child understanding the process ( or a husband) it is time we’ll spent 😉ReplyCancel

    • True! I was glad to have them helping me out! Made the job go quicker!ReplyCancel

  • The kitchen is always the worst to tackle!  Looks like you have some good helpers! You had som great ideas!  Great job:)ReplyCancel

    • thank you! I agree… it is a monumental task to take on, but the end result is that much more satisfying!ReplyCancel

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