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Real Life Minimalists: Monica McCarthy

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. (Note: the schedule is now full until May — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)

This week, we have a wonderful contribution from Monica McCarthy, who explains how minimalism has helped foster her creativity. I love her tips for fellow Artsy Types!

Monica writes:

My journey with minimalism began right here at Miss Minimalist! I have no idea how I first came upon this blog, but it spurred on a love affair with minimalism I never expected!… {Read more}

Minimalist Home: Adding Warmth Without Adding Stuff

The most frequent criticism I hear about minimalist homes is that they’re “cold,” “sterile,” or “uninviting.”

Of course, such criticisms usually come from people who aren’t minimalists; and in the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about your home but you.

However, sometimes our decluttering efforts can suck the warmth out of our space. We’re so focused on elimination, that we forget about our aesthetic needs—those little visual cues that make us (and our families) feel comfortable in our homes.

Never fear: your living room doesn’t have to look like Pottery Barn to have charm and character. Here are some ways to cozy up your space without adding more stuff:

1.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

Minimalist Food: One Bowl Eating: I’m intrigued by the idea of eating all of my meals out of a single bowl. Not only would it reduce the tableware in my cabinets; I think it would make me more mindful, and more appreciative, of what I put in my body. My ideal one bowl menu would look something like the following…{read more}

Minimalist Living & Spirituality: On my recent trip to Hong Kong, I visited the Wisdom Path on Lantau Island. This outdoor “sculpture” consists of thirty-eight wooden columns inscribed with the Heart Sutra, a text treasured by Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Robert Wringham

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. (Note: the schedule is now full until May — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)

Today, I’m happy to share this contribution from Robert Wringham. He tells us how he’s pared down to the essentials, and how his minimalist lifestyle has enabled him to start his own business. Very inspiring!

Robert writes:

Hello! I’m Robert Wringham. I’m a writer and performer and I’m the editor of a magazine called New Escapologist.… {Read more}

100 Possessions: Little Black Dress

Sometimes people ask me if minimizing your wardrobe involves ditching all your old clothes and buying sleek new ones. Certainly not! In fact, some of the oldest items in my closet are my favorites.

For example, this little number here. I purchased it from J. Crew in…{drumroll, please}…1998!

This little black dress is the closest thing I have to a uniform. During the summer, I wear it at least once a week—usually on its own, but sometimes dressed up with a scarf or jewelry. In colder weather, I pair it with a cardigan, tights, and my knee-high boots.

Why do I love it?… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

To Drift Like Clouds and Flow Like Water: My husband and I spent the last ten days traveling through Southeast Asia, spending a few nights each in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. As usual, we packed only our small carry-on bags, giving us the freedom to wander between and throughout these places without the burden of heavy luggage. It was a wonderful trip. Our friends tend to view our vacations as something between exhausting and crazy (particularly as they are often planned less than two weeks in advance). To us, however, being “in motion” seems perfectly natural. We feel at peace, and at home, when we are on the road…{read more}

A Little Travel Talk: Since I mentioned my recent trip to Southeast Asia in my last post, I’ve received several requests for more details about the experience.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Karen Johnson

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. (Note: the schedule is now full until May — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)

I was thrilled to receive this story from Karen Johnson, who proves that you can indeed be a minimalist even if you have kids (she has nine!). To read more about her family’s journey, please visit her blogs, Crunchy Minimalist and Be-Encouraged.

Karen writes:

The roof blew off my sister-in-laws house, the storm destroying it & much of their possessions including my mother-in-laws stuff as she lived in the basement suite.… {Read more}

The Year of the Butterfly

.Today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, which according to their lunar calendar is the Year of the Rabbit.

Well, I’d like to propose a special New Year for us minimalists: let’s make this the Year of the Butterfly.

Why? Let me explain with an excerpt from my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide:

When we overconsume, we’re like bulls running through a china shop—leaving a destructive path of downed forests, dirty waterways, and overflowing landfills in our wake. In our quest for more goods and unfettered growth, we break the Earth’s fragile ecosystems, shatter the lives of indigenous peoples, and leave future generations to clean up the mess.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

Minimalist Wardrobe: The Power of Accessories: I’ve noticed something funny. I can wear an ensemble that someone has seen me in multiple times; yet if I pair it with a scarf, unique necklace, or interesting pair of earrings, they’ll invariably comment on my “new outfit.” Such is the power of accessories. They freshen up an “old” look in no time flat, and better yet, demand very little storage space…{read more}

Minimalist Life: How Many Keys on Your Keychain?: I’ve decided that my goal is to have as few keys on my keychain as possible. To me, the less keys on your keychain, the less responsibility you have—and the more freedom!… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Lisa Fine

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. (Note: the schedule is now full until May — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)

Today, I’m pleased to introduce you to Lisa Fine. She’s the blogger behind Lisa’s Foods on the Move, where she moves towards simplicity through unconventional eating, and tracks her minimalist and other ventures, including baking her own bread for an entire year.

Lisa writes:

When I think about all of the ways I can make my life more minimized, food always seems to come to mind (besides giving away, selling, and throwing all kinds of items I no longer need, which I’ve been doing plenty of the last few months).… {Read more}