Hello Reader, It's time for a slow, gentle December. I'm thrilled to announce that this daily, holiday e-mail gift program is back! Learn more about 31 Days of Gifts and how to share it with friends and family. We can't wait to share these gifts with you! Every day throughout December, you'll receive a gift in your inbox. At the end of each daily email, you'll find links to the gifts that came before. If you join after we get started, miss a gift, or want to revisit one of your favorite gifts...
1 day ago • 5 min read
Weekend Wisdom: When you wake up, instead of mentally running through your to-do list, consider the possibility that the day holds. I've been thinking about these words from Rumi lately, "When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain. From this I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me. There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I love my mornings. Usually, they are slow and soft. Before I get to work, I light candles and turn on a gentle playlist. Then it's time for coffee, reading, journaling and chatting with my daughter. That wasn't always the way! Before I simplified my mornings, I was often running late and feeling stressed (my poor snooze button). In today's article you'll find 8 practical (and powerful) tips that will help you enjoy your mornings and set the tone for the whole day. How To Create...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, A health diagnosis inspired me to simplify my life. I made the decision to eliminate as much stress as possible from my life. Clutter was part of that stress. Not only did decluttering lower stress and improve my health, it came with many other benefits. I didn't declutter everything though. I mostly share what you should declutter (and it's almost everything). Still, there are a few things that I recommend holding onto. You shouldn't declutter these 7 special things. 7 Special...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Weekend Wisdom: Create more ease by putting your hands on your heart before you put them on your phone each morning. I'm writing this in a jam-packed coffee shop on a chilly morning. In between words, I'm sipping my drink (cortado with a splash of vanilla and a dash of cinnamon), watching the trees bursting with color, leaves falling to the ground and thinking about my post-work walk in the sunshine. I've been slowing my life down for many years for this. Now I get to enjoy moments like this,...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, We need to clear up the misconceptions about boundaries so we can learn how to communicate them with grace (and without apology). When done right they can improve your relationships or identify the relationships that are healthy for you or not. Let these quotes about boundaries inspire you to start honoring the boundaries that are most important to you. If setting boundaries has been a struggle for you, be gentle as you challenge yourself to be clear about your needs. 10 Quotes...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, We all have a bad habit or two that feel hard to break. These 5 bad habits cause us stress, anxiety and can affect our health in a negative way. Let's declutter them by the end of the year. These might not apply to you but if they do, take a look and imagine what would change, and what benefits you'd experience if you decluttered these bad habits by the end of the year. 5 Bad Habits to Declutter By The End of The Year xo, Courtney
14 days ago • 1 min read
Weekend Wisdom: You don't owe anyone your all. Save some for you. After a short trip, I'm thinking a lot about the energy and attention our stuff requires. My stuff is pretty pared down and yet, it still feels like a little too much sometimes. When I'm packing it and unpacking it and then making it work in a small hotel room, repacking it and then unpacking again, I just think, "do I really need all this stuff?" I'm going to hold onto that feeling moving into the holiday season when...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, If you've ever started a decluttering project in the past, chances are high that you discovered there's no “one-size-fits-all” decluttering solution. Depending on your time, energy, ability, and overall interest, you may have to experiment with a few different decluttering methods until you find one that works for you. Let me know if you find a new favorite in today's article. 5 Decluttering Methods to Create a Clutter-Free Home xo, Courtney
19 days ago • 1 min read