Shows
Her Pursuit - Motherhood, Habits, and Intentional Living028 Jenna Arvidson on How to Clear Your Calendar and Make More Time For What MattersWelcome to part 3 of the Spring Cleaning Series! Today we're looking at the area of time. My friend Jenna Arvidson comes on the show to talk to us about cleaning out our calendars and making more time for what matters to us as busy mamas. How can we align our calendars with what matters most to us; what we value? What does that look like and why does it matter? We'll also discuss:Simple living for today's mamaWhere to start tackling your calendar when it's super packed and fullHow to decide what your calendar should be full ofWhy...2022-04-1937 min
Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, MotherhoodTaking Photos of our Family Intentionally: Be Present, Get Photos You'll Cherish, Plus Tips for Family Photo Day with Jenna ArvidsonToday I'm talking with professional photographer, Jenna Arvidson, all about photos of our family: the ones you take and the ones taken of you.Most of us have a smartphone which can make us feel the pressure of constantly capturing the moments of our kids and lives in general- but sometimes the phone/photos can be a distraction and keep us from being present, and almost always we take about a million but only print out a few. Today, Jenna gives us tips on how to get the photos we will actually cherish of our families and...2021-07-1446 min
Minimalist Moms Podcast | All Things Minimalism, Intentionality & Simple LivingEP175: You Don’t Have to Document Everything with Jenna ArvidsonOrder Your Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting with Simplicity----Do you feel like you need to write in every line of your child’s baby book? Are there days when the camera doesn’t leave your hand? Or do you intentionally keep it tucked away on some family outings? As with most things in life, it’s all about balance, right? Join me and fellow podcast host & photographer, Jenna Arvidson as we talk through the idea of over-documenting our days. We discuss what made Jenna begin to think about over-documentation, how to decide what to...2021-06-0136 min
The Simple Home085: Real Motherhood, Saving Money, and Living Intentionally with Amber of The Unhurried HomesteadThere's so much information out there about living intentionally and enjoying motherhood, but what I want to hear is:how real moms are making simple changes in their life to find space and balance and actually make the intentional living thing possible. That's why I enjoyed this talk with Amber from The Unhurried Homestead SO much. She is a mom of 4 who's found ways to make motherhood flow. And while she agrees that motherhood is busy, she's focused on her priorities and raising kids in a slow, intentional manor. 2021-02-1851 minThe Simple HomeThe 2-2-2 Meal Planning Method For Busy Moms (Interview with Andrea from Adventures in Feeding My Fam)Do you ever feel like all you do is feed your family and then clean up the mess from cooking and eating. I hear you! Some days I'm not sure I did anything else. Motherhood and life are full of different seasons. Your kids are constantly growing and changing, your schedules are growing and changing, and you are hopefully growing and changing as well. Learning how to meal plan in each season and choosing the right meal planning method can make your life fee...2021-02-1132 minThe Simple Home083: Make It Easy To Put Things AwayThe key to organization is to make it easy to put things away. Have you tried to buy all the pretty tubs, label everything, and still find yourself creating piles around your house, just steps from where the item is supposed to go? The problem is, the resistance that’s been created.In physics, resistance is defined as a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. If you take off the part about the electrical circuit, and define resistance as the measure of the opposition to current flow, it...2021-02-0413 minThe Simple Home082: Decluttering Your Motherhood (Interview with Rachel from 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms))The act of letting go of your physical items can allow simplicity in so many aspects of your life. While I talk a lot about decluttering your belongings on The Simple Home Podcast, the purpose is not just to have a tidier home. My hope for you is that letting go of clutter affords you more space in your mind to simplify other areas of your life. In this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, I Interview Rachel from 3 in 30 Takeaways for moms, which is a podcast and community I love! Rachel is an e...2021-01-2838 minThe Simple Home081: Parenting with Connection and Kindness (Interview with Wendy from Fresh Start Families)Parenting is hard! Right? We’ve all heard this a million times and felt it just as many, but it’s just the truth.Raising little human beings who have been so beautifully and uniquely created isn’t easy.Learning to understand their personalities, hold firm boundaries, and parent with love and kindness, can feel like an impossible task.But with positive parenting, we see a new way of viewing the parent and child relationship. It’s not about giving into our children’s every desire or permissive...2021-01-2139 minThe Simple Home080: Small Steps to Lasting Change- Organize Your DayIf you’ve ever woke up feeling motivated and ready to take on your day and then by 8:30 you’ve lost track of everything you needed to do and lost all motivation, I think you’re going to love this episode!A few weeks ago, we talked about how to simplify your daily or recurring tasks and today we’re going to talk about small steps you can take to organize your day. As you learn to organize your day you’ll find time you didn’t know you had. You’ll figure out how to set...2021-01-1419 minThe Simple HomeSimplified Goal Setting for the New Year- Edit and DeleteSetting Goals for The New Year It’s that time of year again where you start to reflect on the previous year. The things you accomplished and the things you wished you’d accomplished. You may have set a few goals for the new year or chosen one big new year’s resolution. Or, if you’re like most of us, you have a list of a million things you want to do, accomplish, get better at. “This year I’m going to finally lose the baby weight, organize my house, learn t...2021-01-0715 minThe Simple Home078: Saving and Investing Simplified (Interview with Laurie from Her Wealth Coach)I know you have a lot on your plate. I know the topic of saving and investing tips might not be top on your priority list. It may even bring some feelings of fear, shame, or uncertainty.But just like our physical clutter, mental clutter hinders us from being our best selves and money is often a primary source of mental clutter. No matter what your circumstance is right now, you have the power and authority to change it. Whether you're struggling with debt, trying to make ends meet on a m...2020-12-3144 minThe Simple Home077: Small Steps to Lasting Change- Simplify Your Family Budget and SpendingThis episode is the 4th in a series I’m calling, small steps to lasting change and today we’ll talk about small steps you can make when it comes to your family budget that will have a lasting impact and hopefully simplify some things for you too.Alright, let’s get right to it! These steps are not in order so take what works for you and start wherever will have the biggest impact on your family budget right now. I want you to know a few things about me and my relatio...2020-12-1721 minThe Simple HomeSmall Steps to Lasting Change- Living Clutter FreeWelcome to the third episode of the series, small steps to lasting change. This has been such a fun series so far and I’m so honored you’re listening in this week. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes in this series, make sure to check them out after you listen to this one about making small steps towards living clutter free. Small Steps to Lasting Change- 3 Small Mindset ShiftsSmall Steps to Lasting Change- Simplify Your Daily TasksIn the first episode we talked about mindset and shopping. Then we talked about small steps i...2020-12-0317 minThe Simple Home075- Small Steps to Lasting Change Series- Simplify Your Daily TasksThis episode is the second in a series I’m doing called small steps to lasting change. Hopefully each of the topics we talk about will help you cement these small steps into your life so you feel the changes you’re making. If you didn’t listen to the first episode, they don’t necessarily go in order so listen to this one first, but make sure to go back to episode 74 because we talk about mindset and shopping. With the holidays coming, this is an important one to think about!Today we’re talking...2020-11-1919 minThe Simple Home074: Small Steps to Lasting Change Series- 3 Small Mindset ShiftsThis podcast and my mission with sharing tips with you each week is not about your stuff. Although I talk about stuff a lot, my real hope is that you find a way to let go of the excess things in your life (both physical and mental) so you can live your life. I don’t want you to spend all your time managing your belongings and rushing from place to place. Instead I want you to create space for actually living life. I also want you to hear me when I say...2020-11-0526 minThe Simple Home073: Living Clutter Free with Kids (Interview with Joshua Becker)This is one of my favorite interviews and one of the most popular episodes to date. I decided to bring it back to life so it wasn't buried deep in early episodes and could reach more people.If you’ve ever felt like living clutter free with kids is impossible, this episode of The Simple Home Podcast is for you.Minimalism with a family is possible and as we learn during this interview with Joshua Becker, it may even make the other parts of parenting a bit more enjoyable. Being a m...2020-10-2242 minThe Simple Home072: SHR Workshop Day 4 How to Maintain Your Clutter Free HomeCreating a simpler life is one thing, but learning how to maintain your clutter free home is where the real magic happens.Have you ever wondered how you got so much stuff in the first place? Then you purge and organize, only to feel like you're drowning in your stuff again just a few months later.So many of us struggle with this. It's because getting rid of stuff doesn't solve the root cause of why you've accumulated the stuff you have.2020-10-0830 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Teach Your Young Kids to Play IndependentlyIf you have young kids, you know how hard it can be to encourage them to play independently. Some kids might enjoy being by themselves, but some crave your constant attention. This can deplete your energy, your patience, and fill you with guilt.In today's bonus episode of The Simple Home Podcast, I'll give you 4 actionable tis you can try today to get your kids to play independently. Being able to be by yourself, learning to self motivate, and finding valuable ways to spend your own time, are life skills, I think we...2020-09-2910 minThe Simple Home071: SHR Workshop Day 3- Make Your Life Easier, One Routine at a TimeIf you’ve listened to my podcast before or spent any time around my website, you know I love routines and systems!The bulk of what we do everyday can be automated, creating more time and mental energy for the things you really enjoy.When I say automated, I don’t mean you’ll be living a life that feels robotic. When you start to implement routines into your day, you’ll realize that you’re getting many things done without much thought. This saves those prec...2020-09-2440 minThe Simple Home070: SHR Workshop Day 2- An Organized HomeHaving an organized home can change everything!If you come home from the grocery store and don’t know where to put the items, it feels stressful. You may just shove things in where they’ll fit. Then you go to make dinner or create a meal plan and finding what you want or cooking in a crowded kitchen feels overwhelming. You continue to move things around, try different meal plans, but the whole process continues to be successful. If you have a place for each item and room to spare...2020-09-1738 minThe Simple Home069: SHR Workshop Day 1 - Conquer Your Stuff, Decluttering For Busy MomsWhat’s your why for simplifying? More time? Money freedom? Less stress? All of the above?I don’t believe that just getting rid of stuff will make your life simpler and more peaceful, but I do believe it’s the best place to start. Our belongings cover up the life we want. It takes up our time, our mental capacity, our finances. Stuff causes us stress and keeps us from thinking clearly and taking action on the things we want. If you feel overwh...2020-09-1150 minThe Simple HomeGet More Done in Less Time With This Time Saving StrategyYou know those tasks you have to do every day or every week to keep your house running and keep your family alive?Sometimes it feels like that’s all there’s time for. A couple years ago, I learned a strategy in business that has helped me tremendously. Without it, I’d never be able to run this podcast, my photography business, and be mom to my kids.This strategy has been equally beneficial in my personal life. Finding any extra time in...2020-09-0318 minThe Simple Home067: Simplifying Your Life During Busy TimesDo you wish you could simplify your home and simplify your life, but just can’t figure out how you can make time for it? You are not alone. Not having enough time is the number one obstacle I hear from people who want to simplify.With everything else you have on your plate, I understand how this can feel impossible. However, if time is what you need more of, if life feels too overwhelming, then simplifying is what you need most. It’s the only way to get more...2020-08-2721 minThe Simple Home066: How to Find Your Identity in Motherhood (Interview with Amanda Bennett)The transition into motherhood is a life changing event. We all go into it with expectations that have likely been building based on what we've observed from other mothers our whole lives. Expectations that may not be realistic, but are very real. Somewhere along the journey of becoming a mom, taking care of a house, working or staying home, you may have found yourself feeling overwhelmed, underwhelmed, elated, frustrated, sad, lost...and possibly like you're the only mother who doesn't have this thing called motherhood figured out. You may have lost your identity in motherhood....2020-08-2046 minThe Simple HomeWhat to Do When You Just Don't Want to Get Rid of Something + Fun Things HappeningWhether you're just starting to declutter your home or you've been doing it for a while, you'll definitely come across items you don't want to get rid of. These can be items that are sentimental, items you think you might need in the future, or items you just love having.I'm sure you can think of items right now. Is it your craft supplies? Your cd collection? There's something in your house that you don't want to let go of.I get this question all the time, "What do you tell people if they just...2020-08-0626 minThe Simple Home064: Simplify Your Days by Opening and Closing Your House Like a BusinessI used to work at a recreation center as a closing manager. Occasionally I would open as well. The person who trained me was a master of efficiency. She had it down to a science. She walked me through exactly what needed to be done each night in order to make it easier for the opening staff. She kept it simple and gave each department their own list. We could close down the entire rec center in under 20 minutes. Think of your house in this way. How can you begin and end each day to make things...2020-07-3013 min
Gotcha MamaCapturing and Organizing Memorable Moments with Jenna ArvidsonSo, we've talked about clutter and meaningful inspired actions in the past two episodes. And in this episode, we talk about something that's at the intersection of BOTH decluttering and meaningful moments... PHOTOS! In the mission to try to simplify, declutter, and organize some of our life, photos might be an unlikely culprit for that "clutter stress". I talk with my guest, Jenna Arvidson, about how to both capture and organize those precious moments with your kids so you aren't overwhelmed and you have photos that actually mean something to you. ...2020-07-2800 minThe Simple HomeHow to Help Your Kids Declutter (Interview with Deanna Yates)I know I’m not alone when I say that helping kids declutter is hard. Toys accumulate and collections start to build without much effort. This can be a major stressor if you’re trying to declutter your home. I saw this quote on Instagram from Zoe Kim from raising simple that said, “I’m not raising minimalist kids. I’m raising kids in a minimalist home.” This has really helped me put my kids clutter in its place. It’s also helped me communicate with my kids the...2020-07-2329 minThe Simple HomeWhat Minimalism is and Why it's About More Than StuffThe word minimalism used to hold me back from pursuing a life with less stuff. I felt the pressure to get rid of everything and if I didn’t want to I felt a bit of guilt.What I’ve come to realize is that Minimalism is about more than just getting rid of stuff and it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. You can still own things you love. You can keep your books, your over stuffed couch and your stand mixer. It’s about being intentional about what you...2020-07-1617 minThe Simple Home061- How to Handle Your Photo ClutterMost of us have hundreds, if not thousands of photos in our phones and on other devices creating overwhelming photo clutter.Gone are the days when you had to be intentional about how many photos you took with film cameras. With the invention of digital cameras and the unbelievable tiny cameras we carry in our pockets, the number of photos you can take is basically limitless. But photo clutter, both physical and digital, can take a toll on us. It's just like any other clutter in our lives, plus, it holds our...2020-07-0926 minThe Simple Home060: Living with Less Stuff- Making Permanent ChangeLiving with less stuff, living within our means, and staying intentional. When my first baby was 6 months old we moved to a town with lots of young families. I quickly realized that these moms had their kids signed up for all the activities and had since birth. I was already behind. So I jumped in with two feet and got him in mommy and me swimming, mommy and me art class, mommy and me music class, and allt eh other mommy and me classes I could find. I al...2020-07-0228 minThe Simple Home059: Modern Day Homesteading and Cooking From Scratch for Busy Families (Interview with Stephanie)I want to be a 'Martha Stewart' mom. You know the moms who make everything look easy. The ones who make homemade meals each night, sew their own clothes, always look put together, and get enough sleep every day. Before having kids, I actually thought that was possible. Haha! Now I know just how unrealistic that was. I've let go of being the perfect mom who can do it all. I've found simplicity in all things gives me more freedom and joy in motherhood. With that said, simplifying has allowed me to focus on things...2020-06-2529 minThe Simple Home058: Making Early Learning Simple (Interview with Alison and Lisa from Learning Begins at Home)Early learning is wildly important when it comes to setting your kids up for academic success. But who has time to search Google and Pinterest and create elaborate learning activities for their young kids?The good news is, early learning doesn't have to be complicated. With a few clever ideas and the things you already have around your house, you and your child can build a solid foundation. On this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, I chat with Alison and Lisa from Learning Begins at Home. They teach us simple ways to include learning i...2020-06-1839 minThe Simple Home056- How to Use Essential Oils for a Healthier Home and Life (Interview with Amy Wadlington)Living simply is about more than just getting rid of stuff. It's about finding ways to improve your life. It's about creating space in your life for what matters most. It's about learning to live with intention. Part of this journey for me has been about taking care of myself, my family, and our planet with more intention. Honestly, I had no idea the true power of essential oils just a year ago. The more I've learned, the more I want to learn. I've learned that these powerful, natural oils can help our...2020-06-1126 minThe Simple Home057: How to Talk to Kids About Racism with Special Guest Inez BayardoMy name is Inez. I am a mom, children’s pastor, digital creator and advocate for anti-racism. I run a podcast called Mocha Mamas where we lead conversations about race, culture, justice and social change. I am super excited to be taking over today for Jenna. Jenna, I love your heart in muting yourself today and sharing your platform to address this important topic. Jenna asked me if I would share with you some tips on how to talk to your kids about racism. This is not a...2020-06-0415 min
The Ali Damron ShowJenna Arvidson on Simplifying Your Home and Life with Kids For A Healthier You - 170Jenna Arvidson help moms live differently and simplify their lives so they can enjoy motherhood. In this episode, we talked about the importance of simplifying our homes, schedules, and motherhood so we feel more peace in our lives. She gave us tactical tips and strategies to start the process as well! https://www.athomewithkids.com/ www.instagram.com/jennaarvidson www.facebook.com/groups/alidamron www.alidamron.com www.instagram.com/alidamron2020-06-0245 minThe Simple Home055: Practical Holistic Health and Wellness for Busy Moms (Interview with Ali Damron)Do you have trouble sleeping, feel tired when you wake up in the morning, have difficult periods, feel stressed or anxious, or just not feel your best?Did you know all of these symptoms and more can be related to your hormones?Ali Damron has been a licensed acupuncturist and a certified personal trainer for over 11 years. She specializes in women’s health including everything from painful periods, fertility, hormonal balancing, weight loss, pregnancy and postpartum all the way to menopausal symptoms.On this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, she gives us pr...2020-05-2833 minThe Simple Home054: How to Take Beautiful Pictures of Your KidsThis episode is going to be a little different. If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that I’m a photographer and I teach moms how to use their cameras so they can capture the sweet moments of motherhood. You can hire a professional photography to get good family photos, but you're the one with your kids during the in between moments, The silly, messy, precious moments that you don't want to forget. I want you to be able to take beautifu...2020-05-2117 minThe Simple HomePractical Budgeting for Busy FamiliesThe American dream has long been buying a home and a car and maxing out our financing to have the best one we can afford. As we earn more money, it’s often encouraged to upgrade to a newer, nicer version. But I think we’re starting to see a shift. More and more people are yearning to be financially free so they have time, not stress. However, it can be a hard shift to make when most of the messaging we see and hear entices us to spend...2020-05-1436 min
This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizersep 179 - Organizing Digital Photos with Jenna ArvidsonHi Friends! At the time of this recording, we were Pre-COVID, and although our day-to-day lives have changed, the topics discussed on this episode remain relevant. Today I am joined by Jenna Arvidson, founder of athomewithkids.com and host of The Simple Home podcast. Jenna is also a mom & photographer who thrives on organization and a slower, simpler life (can I get an amen!). She’s taught hundreds of moms through online courses and in person workshops how to take, curate and organize their photos. I invited Jenna on the show to answer one of the questions that I get asked th...2020-05-1235 minThe Simple Home052: What Minimalism Really Looks Like with a Family (Interview with Rachelle Crawford)Minimalism with a family seems idealistic, at best.Especially if you’re looking around your house with kids running all around. But the idea of living a bit simpler also sounds freeing. Is it possible to live with less clutter and less to do when you have a family? Or is it only possible to live this way if you live in a modern city apartment by yourself. I asked myself these questions when I first started to feel overw...2020-05-0731 minThe Simple Home051: 10 Things You Can Do Every Night for Easier MorningsHave you ever felt like mornings are too rushed?This has been a struggle for mine for years, but more so since I've had kids. It feels like we're just rushing around, I'm nagging everyone, and our day starts off on the wrong foot.I've done a lot of thinking on why this happens and what changes we can make for a more peaceful home in the morning and I've found a system that works for our family.There are a lot of small tasks that need to be...2020-04-3016 minThe Simple Home050: How to Create a Simple Home (Even if You're Busy)I want you to stop living from mess to mess and meal to meal. From figuring out breakfast, doing laundry, putting the dishes away from the day before, picking up breakfast as your kids make another mess in the living room, you pick up that mess, throw the laundry in the dryer, clean up the accident that just happened in the bathroom, think about what you’re going to have for lunch, all while your kids are asking if you’ll play with them. And on and on it goes until bedtime. Yes, l...2020-04-2324 minThe Simple Home049: How to Stay Organized as Your Seasons Change (Interview with Laurie Palau)Trying to stay organized as the seasons of life change is challenging, especially if you have kids. The amount of stuff that comes into our lives on a daily basis is almost mind blowing sometimes. One of my biggest struggles in motherhood is being able to manage the different kinds of clutter as my family grows and changes. On top of the clutter, our routines are always changing as well. If you can relate to this, you’re going to love this episode of The Simple Home Podcast. ...2020-04-1629 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] 2 Quick Tips for Stress Free Meal PlanningGetting meals on the table can be one of the biggest challenges of raising a family, but it doesn't have to be. Like many things, we overcomplicate the whole process of cooking for our family. These 2 tips will help you simplify your family meals and the thought that goes into them. 2020-04-1407 minThe Simple Home048: Get Kids in the Kitchen (Interview with Megan Dague)Sometimes the thought of having my kids in the kitchen, cooking with me, makes my heart pump at an almost explosive rate. My mind starts thinking about all the prep work and the mess and the amount of extra time it will take if they help. Not to mention, the sibling bickering and my lack of patience at this time of day. But Megan has a different view on cooking with kids. Megan Dague runs The Kennett Kitchen in Pennsylvania and has an online membership opportunity for those who are...2020-04-0926 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Minimalism is the Art of EditingI've been obsessed with this idea of editing lately. Maybe it's because we have an opportunity right now to focus on what really matters. Maybe it's because many things I used to take for granted have been 'edited' out of my life, at least for a while. Whatever the reason, I think it's incredibly valuable to spend time editing every aspect of your life. Take out the things that don't add value or serve you in a positive way so you have the time and capacity for what God has called you to. In this ep...2020-04-0305 minThe Simple Home047: How to Declutter Sentimental Items (Interview with Diane Boden“Clutter is just postponed decisions” Hemphill This quote is true of all clutter, but especially accurate when talking about sentimental clutter. It’s hard to make decisions about items we feel connected to at a deeper level, but not making the decision just prolongs the amount of time the clutter will stick around. Getting Stuck When Decluttering Sentimental Items No matter where you are in your steps to declutter your home, I’m sure you’ve run into a snag when it comes to sentimental items. Even th...2020-04-0232 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Simple Organizing Tasks you Can Do TodayIf you've been wanting to get rid of clutter and organize your house, but the timing hasn't worked, I encourage you to use some of your time at home right now to get a few things done. Once you have small wins from decluttering, you'll start to feel the impact it can have on your life and you may never find yourself with this amount of time at home again. In this episode of The Simple Home Podcast i give you a few easy areas you can get started with that won't take long, but will have a...2020-04-0107 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Keep It Simple- Not Just A Catchy PhraseI'm wired to be productive. I am always looking for ways to be more efficient and get more done in less time, but that's not always the best thing. I often have to remind myself to keep it simple. While many of us are stuck at home, I see moms trying to do all the things and 'make the most' of this time. I want you to enjoy the extra time you have at home with your family, but slow down. Don't try to play every game, bake every cookie, hike every trail, organize your whole house, p...2020-03-3106 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Listener Question: How do I keep my kids occupied all day?This is a question I get often from parents, but especially right now as families are finding themselves at home all day, trying to work, and school they’re kids. Although this may feel like a overwhelming task, my answer may surprise you. You don’t actually have to keep your kids busy or entertained all day. In this episode of The Simple Home Podcast I talk about the freedom and benefits that come from not occupying your kids all day and how to make this a reality at your house.2020-03-2709 minThe Simple Home046: My Favorite Decluttering Advice From Experts I AdmireDecluttering Advice I Live ByThere are so many different ways to go about decluttering and what I've found is it's not a one size fits all thing. It's about finding the decluttering advice that resonates with you and continuing to put tips into practice until you feel good about where you are. That's why I've collected my favorite decluttering advice into this episode of The Simple Home Podcast. Over the last several years I have been seeking a simpler home. It's like peeling an onion, but the more layers that come off, the lighter I...2020-03-2620 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] The 2 Minute Rule + Time Blocking for HomeschoolOne of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is to commit to the 2 minute rule. This simple switch has changed the way I look at daily chores and helped me create consistent habits and routines that simplify day to day life. On this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, you'll learn how to implement the 2 minute rule in your life so you can get things done with less effort and enjoy more time to do the things you really want to do. I also discuss my method for keeping my schedule...2020-03-2506 minThe Simple Home[Bonus Episode] Creating Intentional Routines While You're Stuck at HomeFinding the time to make intentional choices about your day is nearly impossible when you're trying to get to work, get kids to school, manage your house, get food on the table, and run from one place to another. Being stranded at home because of Covid-19 may not be ideal (and I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy right now), it does provide us with time. Time that we usually only dream of having. In this short bonus episode I talk to you about using that time with intention to...2020-03-2407 minThe Simple Home045: 12 Things You Can Do to Lighten Your Load in MotherhoodI bet you’ve heard the quote, “The days are long, but the years are short.” from a well meaning person reminding you just how fast your kids will grow up. There are days when I can’t wait to lay my kids down to bed so I have some “me” time, but as soon as I do, all I can think about are the precious moments of the day and just how quickly they’re flying by. No matter what season you’re in, taking care of your family, there’s no...2020-03-1927 minThe Simple Home3 Steps to Get Out of Survival Mode in MotherhoodMotherhood is too short a season to be living in survival mode. How to make Simple Parenting a reality.If you find yourself running through the days on autopilot, going from one cleaning task to the next, and exhausted at the end of every day, then this episode is for you. Learning how to slow down and be intentional with your days will get you out of survival mode and back to a place where you can enjoy the little moments with your kids. I used to...2020-03-1219 minThe Simple Home043: Where to Start with Toxin Free Living with a Family (Interview with Megan Mikkelsen from Detox by Design)Toxin Free Living- Where to start with a familyThere’s so much information out there about the toxins that are in our everyday products. The products we use to clean our house, our personal products, our beauty products. But like everything, it’s hard to know what information to listen to and where to start if you want to make some changes and live a toxin free (or less toxin) life.On this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, I talk to an expert on the topic of creating...2020-03-0535 minThe Simple HomeTraveling Light with KidsDoes the thought of traveling with kids feel overwhelming?The first time we flew with all three of our kids, we had a 3 year old, a 1 year old, and an infant. We thought we needed car seats, diapers, a pack in play, snacks, clothes, strollers, a baby carrier, and all the other things. I remember thinking, are we sure about this? Traveling with kids might just be too hard. Maybe we should just wait until they get bigger. But we knew this would be the only time we’d be able to take our...2020-02-2720 min
Minimalist Moms PodcastEP107: Let's Declutter Some Toys with Jenna ArvidsonThis week, I bring you my conversation with fellow podcaster, Jenna Arvidson. Jenna teaches moms how to create rhythms and routines to organize their home and life so they can enjoy raising their kids. She is the host of The Simple Home Podcast and has taught hundreds of moms through her online learning community, workshops, and in-home consultations. Today we will discuss toy decluttering: where to begin, what to keep vs. what to toss, setting boundaries with our kiddos and how to keep toy clutter from returning!! Find all the resources mentioned in this show: ...2020-02-2531 minThe Simple Home041: Organization Comes Down to This One ThingHaving an organized home isn’t as hard as you think.I know there are people out there who put things back right where they go, every single time. My husband is one of these amazing people. I wish I had this super power, but I don’t. I struggle to get things back in their place and used to think it was because I was lazy or chronically unorganized. Are you anything like me? Before you label yourself as a messy or lazy person, listen to this episode of The Simple Home Podcast. It’s not your fault th...2020-02-2022 minThe Simple Home040: Chores for Kids- Age Appropriate Chores and How to Get StartedKids chores don’t have to be as complicated as we make it. Kids don’t need a super long list of things to do. Instead, think of kids chores as a way to help teach kids routines and consistency, as well as self discipline and time management. I like to include daily and weekly chores into our regular routines to build good habits in each of us. I'll teach you how to do exactly that in this episode. Key Takeaways from this episode...2020-02-1330 minThe Simple Home039: Becoming an Intentional Mom: Gracefilled Days, Contentment, and Having Less Stuff (Interview with Desirae Endres)Being an intentional mom doesn’t mean you have to be present every moment. It’s not about perfection. It’s about finding ways to make the most of each season so you can enjoy your kids as they grow. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one in a daily struggle, trying to keep your house managed, raise your kids, and keep it all together, but most moms are feeling the same stresses. Today I talked to Desirae Endres from The Minimalish Podcast about what min...2020-02-0642 minThe Simple Home38: What to do When You Get Stuck DeclutteringThere’s no doubt that you’ll get stuck when you’re decluttering your possessions. You might start out super excited and realize that the task feels massive and you don’t have enough time or the stuff is just too hard to part with. So, what do you do when you get stuck decluttering and how can you push through the tough spots to get to the finish line? First, you have to identify the reasons you get stuck. Once you understand what’s hard for you, you’...2020-01-3023 minThe Simple Home37: Create Daily Habits that will Transform Your DayWe often go about our day on autopilot. We want to make changes, work towards goals, and become a better version of ourselves, but we do the same things everyday without giving much thought to how we’re spending our time. Let’s talk about how you can create daily habits that will simplify your day and give you more time for the things that are important to you. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t get out the door on time in the...2020-01-2328 minThe Simple Home36: Active Spaces, Drop Zones, and Paper ClutterThere are problem areas in every house.Areas where you constantly drop items instead of putting them away. Areas where you and your family are coming in and out of frequently. Areas that collect items quickly and haphazardly. I like to refer to these areas as active areas and drop zones. Active areas and drop zones can be the hardest to declutter because the clutter just keeps building up.In this episode of The Simple Home Podcast we’re going...2020-01-1638 minThe Simple Home9 Ways to Make Time for Decluttering Your HomeLearning how to make time to declutter is the first step to gaining the momentum you need to declutter your house. Getting started with decluttering can be very difficult.Decluttering takes time and time is something most people are lacking. No matter how excited you might be to declutter your house, you will likely get stuck, not knowing when to get it done. In this episode of The Simple Home Podcast, we’ll talk about 9 different ways to find time to declutter. Making time for declut...2020-01-0919 minThe Simple HomeSetting Goals for the New Year- Designing a Home and Life You LoveAs you look to the new year, you’re likely setting goals and dreaming of what the new year will bring. It’s always fun to have a fresh start and the excitement can help you accomplish a lot. But setting goals for the new year is more than just coming up with the ideas. How do you create a life you love and set goals that help you get closer to that life? It all starts with getting clear on what that life looks like for you. Th...2019-12-2627 minThe Simple Home033: 15 Things I Simplified This Year to Move Towards Simple LivingSimplifying your house and your life is a journey that takes time.It’s like peeling an onion. You can do it layer by layer. As you get rid of the first layer, you get more confident and are able to try the next layer. Over the past few years we’ve been working hard to simplify our house and make our lives feel lighter and more intentional. We’ve decluttered a lot of our stuff, down sized our home, created routines and rhythms that make for a smooth...2019-12-1829 minThe Simple Home032: Overcoming Perfectionism and Finding Yourself as a MomPerfectionism and comparison in motherhood is a common struggle. Mom guilt can rob you of the true joy of being a mom and paralyze you from growing into the mom and woman you're made to be. Jamie Weisler, from Divinely Equipped, shares her story with this struggle and how she got to the other side on The Simple Home Podcast today. She shares how she found herself to be frustrated, overwhelmed, yelling and nagging, and this became her normal. Now Jamie supports othe...2019-12-1130 minThe Simple Home031: Create A Lighter, More Enjoyable Holiday SeasonDo you ever get to the end of the holiday season and feel like you missed it all? You spent too much money,said yes to too many obligations,packed in too many activities,brought mounds of new items into your home and can't find a place for them,and you feel exhausted. Rather than a simple holiday season with family and friends, you ended up running the rat race with everyone else. This year, let's change that. Let's create a lighter holid...2019-12-0532 minThe Simple Home030: Find balance and simplicity in the chaos of motherhood- Interview With Shanna From Hello Beautiful ChaosWe’ve all heard the saying, “I was a really good mom before I had kids.” Balancing motherhood and life is hard and can often feel overwhelming. You’re trying to take care of your kids, manage a house, get meals on the table, take care of yourself, be present, be a good wife, be a good friend, be a good mom, and on and on. It’s no wonder that many of us feel like we’re failing and can’t keep up. It’s easy to feel...2019-11-2833 minThe Simple Home029: Theresa Haddow On Family Time, The Importance Of Art, And An Amazing Non-Toy Gift For KidsI think we would all agree that the reason we want to simplify our lives is to enjoy more quality time with the people we love, doing the things we want to do. But we look at Pinterest and Facebook and see all the activities we’re supposed to be doing, that even family time feels overwhelming. It’s impossible to keep up and do it all. With that said, you probably do want to enjoy a few crafts or other activities with your children from time to time. ...2019-11-2034 minThe Simple Home028: Paper Clutter And Kids- What To Do With Schoolwork, Artwork, And Other Kid PapersI know I'm not the only parent who gets piles of papers from my kid's school every week. From notes to fliers, to artwork, and school work. It is a constant source of paper clutter that I'm battling daily. Even if you don't have school age kids yet, I bet you get paper from the library, the dentist or doctor, artwork your child does, stuff from daycare, and more. The paper clutter that comes into our homes from our weekly mail is a lot, but add on the pape...2019-11-1436 minThe Simple Home027: The Secret To Getting Your Time Back As A Busy MomIf you're anything like me, you struggle to get everything done in a day and often feel like you can't fit in the important things. You need a way to find more time in your week! This week on the Simple Home Podcast I interviewed Jamie Dadant. She's an expert when it comes to finding extra time in your day and setting your priorities so you can feel good about what you've accomplished by the end of each week. She breaks down 5 simple steps yo...2019-11-0738 minThe Simple Home026: The 6 Phases Of Successful Decluttering And OrganizationHave you ever been in the never ending cycle of organizing and reorganizing and putting things in new containers, and moving things to a new room and organizing again? It feels like it never stops, doesn’t it? I know this all too well from my own experience. Decluttering and organization can be never ending. The terms, organization and decluttering, often get confused. Or the decluttering phase gets overlooked completely. 2019-10-3128 minThe Simple Home025: Create And Maintain A Clutter Free Toy SpaceCan I tell you a secret? I’ve bought way too many toys for my kids. Creating a clutter free toy space has been a challenge for me at times. I’ve purchased toys for them that have never been played with. I’ve had a hard time getting rid of things because I wanted so badly for my kids to love and play with, but never really did. If toy clutter is taking over your house, you’ve probably done the same thing. I...2019-10-2443 minThe Simple Home024 How To Break Your 'Busy' Habit- 20 Smart tips For Becoming Less BusyEver feel like you can't possibly do everything you need to do in one day and still have time for the things that really matter? We're all busy and it's becoming more and more common for parents to constantly be rushing from one thing to the next. In this episode of the Simple Home Podcast, you'll learn how to break your busy habit so you can live with intention. Being chronically busy has a negative impact on your whole family. You're less likely to eat meal...2019-10-1727 minThe Simple Home023 Our Debt Free Story- Becoming Financially FreeLiving with debt is stressful and exhausting. According to CNBC, the average American has $38,000 in personal debt. Not including a mortgage. Getting out of debt takes intention and hard work. No matter where you're starting, living debt free is possible. In this episode of The Simple Home podcast I'm going to tell you our debt free story. I'll start at the beginning, tell you how we had to change our mindset around spending and where we are now. Here's a peek a...2019-10-1029 minThe Simple Home022: How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe For MotherhoodCreating a capsule wardrobeClothes can add an unnecessary stress to your life. They take up a lot of your time, a lot of your space, and a lot of your money. Your wardrobe plays a big part in your life. Maybe a larger part than you realize. Learning how to minimize your wardrobe, create a capsule wardrobe, and simplify your closet can save you time, money, and energy. There are a lot of reasons we buy clothes and why we hold onto them. In this episode we d...2019-10-0332 minThe Simple Home021: How To Feed Your Picky EaterGetting healthy meals on the table is hard enough.But getting your children to actually eat it is even tougher. Some nights it feels impossible. I’ve had my share of frustration around how to feed my picky eater. There’s been nights when my kids didn’t eat anything, nights when we battled over every bite, tears and outbursts (from adults and kids!). Over the past few years I’ve learned to let go of the struggle and found simpler ways to feed my family and instill g...2019-09-2630 minThe Simple Home020: Morning Routines, Nightly Routines, And Daily Resets For FamiliesDo you ever feel like motherhood is just one big ground hog day experience? There are so many tasks you have to complete day in and day out, sometimes multiple times, just to keep the house running and the kids (and husband) alive. In order to thrive in motherhood, rather than feel buried or burdened by it, you need to set up morning routines, night routines, and daily resets. Starting your day off right and keeping the flow running smoothly is only possible if you have routines and rhythms in...2019-09-1933 minThe Simple Home019: Clutter Free With Kids- Why Family Minimalism Is So Important (Interview with Joshua Becker)If you've ever felt like living clutter free with kids is impossible, this episode of The Simple Home Podcast is for you. Minimalism with a family is possible and as we learn during this interview with Joshua Becker, it may even make the other parts of parenting a bit more enjoyable. Being a minimalist isn't about owning a certain amount of items or living in a perfectly clean house. Minimalism is about owning the possessions that bring you life and getting rid of the excess. It's about lett...2019-09-1241 minThe Simple Home018: How To Get Your Child To Sleep Better So You Can Too (Interview with Lindsey from Sleep Little Lamb)Where did the phrase, "sleep like a baby” come from? I'm not sure I've ever met a parent who looked or felt well rested. It can feel exhausting to try and figure out how to get your child to sleep better so you can get the sleep you need too.Baby's don't just come out of the womb sleeping on our schedule and they seem to grow and change so rapidly it's hard to get a good rhythm and routine for family sleep. Just li...2019-09-0533 minThe Simple Home017: How to FINALLY get organizedI used to organize and then reorganize and then organize some more. I can't tell you how many countless hours of my life I've spent organizing stuff.Even when I was little, I remember trying to organize my room. I used to collect everything. I was very attached to the things I had and never got rid of anything. I would get new tubs to put my things in and stack them up in a new way. I'd reorganize my bookshelf to include my new things. I'd fill every inch with...2019-08-2919 minThe Simple Home016: How To Set A Budget, Stick To It, And Avoid Common MistakesDo you know how much money you make each month or how much you spend? If not, you’re not alone. Setting a budget and sticking to it might be one of the hardest tasks we have as adults, especially if we’re raising a family. In this week’s episode of The Simple Home Podcast we talk about how to set a budget and stick to it so you can be in charge of your money. Now if you’re running away screaming at the idea of budgeting, stick with...2019-08-2228 minThe Simple Home015: 8 Difficult Areas To Declutter And How To Get StartedHave you ever started decluttering your home and found yourself completely stuck right away? You may be trying to declutter an area that is just too hard in the beginning stages of the process. In this episode we talk about 8 difficult areas to declutter and I give you some tips on how you can get started so you no longer feel stuck. Give yourself some grace as you listen to this episode, but also challenge yourself to get rid of things you’re having a hard time with. All...2019-08-1530 minThe Simple Home014: Easy Ways to Save Money Every MonthHaving kids means you're probably spending more money and it can be hard to find ways to save money every month. But having some left over money each month can ease your stress greatly. If you've made the decision to live a simpler life, then saving money should go hand and hand with getting rid of excess stuff. Getting your finances in order is about giving yourself freedom and the peace that comes with it. As you declutter your things and your time, your money will naturally get easier to handle, b...2019-08-0838 minThe Simple Home013: How To Keep Your House Clean Using Anchors And RoutinesDo you struggle to keep your house clean, but just haven't found the right system yet? I've tried every cleaning schedule I could find on Pinterest and have failed at 99% of them. Something happens to me when I put restraints on myself. If I mess up once, I can't get myself back on track. You may have unreasonable expectations on yourself when it comes to keeping your house clean, especially if you're trying to raise a family at the same time. This episode is no...2019-08-0120 minThe Simple Home010: How To Get More Time In Your WeekNot having enough time in a day is probably the biggest complaint I hear from moms and parents in general. How are you supposed to get everything done and still have time to be present with your kids?Why are your kids growing so fast and why does it feel like you’re missing it all? I’m going to give you some tough love here. What it often comes down to is how we spend the time we have. The only way to take a good...2019-07-2524 minThe Simple Home012: How To Parent With Less Stuff And Less Stress With Denaye BarahonaMotherhood can feel a wee bit exhausting at times. With all there is to do and manage, finding the space to enjoy our kids can be nearly impossible. That's why I find such value in today's conversation with Denaye Barahona. She gives amazing insight into how to parent with less stuff and less stress. Her practical advice is both easy to listen to and easy to implement into your day to day life. Just like many things in life we often overcomplicate parenting. But when you're deep in the clutter that often comes wi...2019-07-1848 minThe Simple Home009: The Mental Load Of Having Too Much StuffClutter can have a negative impact on your brain and the way you are living your life. This is one of the most important reasons to take a look at the excess in your life and decide if it’s time to make a change. There are so many reasons why we have a tendency to accumulate ‘stuff’. It’s different for everyone and so is our tolerance level of how much stuff we can have around before being impacted. Science is pretty conclusive that the a...2019-07-1120 min