Abundant Life With Less - From an Abundance to an Abundant Life
Menu
Skip to content
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About

Holiday

minimalist toys
Posted in abundant life, Family, Holiday, minimalism, minimalist family

Is There Such a Thing as a “Minimalist” Toy?

Inside: Is there a difference between minimalist toys and not-so-minimalist-toys? Plus, here you’ll find a list of our family’s favorite toys. This post contains a…

Read More

too many christmas presents
Posted in Family, Holiday, minimalism

How to Help Family Stop Giving Too Many Christmas Presents

Inside: Grandparents are pretty notorious for giving too many Christmas presents. Here you’ll learn the best strategy for encouraging grandparents to give more intentionally this…

Read More

minimalist gifts
Posted in Holiday, minimalism, motherhood

12 Best Clutter Free Minimalist Gifts for Mom

Inside: Here you’ll find 12 perfect clutter free minimalist gifts for her. Minimalists love gifts that leave us with less to do and manage. These gift…

Read More

minimalist christmas
Posted in Family, Holiday

A Minimalist Christmas: Our Before and After Story

Inside: There are a lot of expectations when it comes to what a minimalist Christmas is supposed to look like. Here’s a look at how minimalism…

Read More

Latest Pins!

  • I went minimalist and everything changed | Declutter your home for good | Less stuff= Less to manage | How to become a minimalist family | Minimalism with kids | minimalist mom #minimalism #declutteryourhome #declutteryourlife #homeorganization #storagesolutions
    I went minimalist and everything changed | Declutter your home for good | Less stuff= Less to manage | How to become a minimalist family | Minimalism with kids | minimalist mom #minimalism #declutteryourhome #declutteryourlife #homeorganization #storagesolutions
  • How to Declutter Your Wardrobe | Declutter Your Clothes | How to Purge Your Closet | Questions to Help you Declutter | Declutter Like a Minimalist | Becoming a Minimalist | How to Declutter Your Life | How to Become a Minimalist
    How to Declutter Your Wardrobe | Declutter Your Clothes | How to Purge Your Closet | Questions to Help you Declutter | Declutter Like a Minimalist | Becoming a Minimalist | How to Declutter Your Life | How to Become a Minimalist
  • Gift ideas for the minimalist dad or the dad who has it all! Father's day gift ideas. #minimalistgiftideasfordad #fathersdaygiftideasfordad #fathersdaygifts #minimalistgiftideas #Minimalism
    Gift ideas for the minimalist dad or the dad who has it all! Father's day gift ideas. #minimalistgiftideasfordad #fathersdaygiftideasfordad #fathersdaygifts #minimalistgiftideas #Minimalism
  • Minimalism and Christianity | 4 Ways Minimalism Reshaped My Christian Faith | Unclutter Your Life | Biblical Minimalism #whatisminimalism #minimalismwithkids #declutteryourlife #feelingoverwhelmed #declutteryourhome
    Minimalism and Christianity | 4 Ways Minimalism Reshaped My Christian Faith | Unclutter Your Life | Biblical Minimalism #whatisminimalism #minimalismwithkids #declutteryourlife #feelingoverwhelmed #declutteryourhome
Follow Me on Pinterest

Abundant Life With Less

Abundant Life With Less

Instagram

I always thought the reason a  tradition was a “tradition” was because it was done every single year, the exact same way, at the exact same time, with the exact same people.
.
As you can tell I was suuuupper flexible 😬 Don’t I sound fun? 🤦🏻‍♀️ .
.
Once I loosened my grip on those traditions I found myself better able to enjoy each season for what it IS, rather than stressing about what it’s SUPPOSED to be.
.
This year Christmas is going to feel different. A few key players won’t be in attendance and a long standing Christmas Eve tradition is on hold.
.
Rather than feel discouraged or resentful about the change, I’m kind of looking forward to it. Yes, I’ll miss those who can’t be there this year, but it gives us the chance plan for something new. ❤️🎄❤️ .
.
Any suggestions? 🤔 I’d love to hear how you plan to celebrate Christmas Eve this year?
They say there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. I’m really banking on that being true this winter.
.
First, let me start by saying this is not an ad. Not because I’m principled on the subject, but because @landsend and @sorelfootwear have no idea who I am. 😉 I mean, girl can dream though.
.
This minimalist bought a new winter coat and boots this fall. That’s right, even minimalists need to buy stuff now and then. After an entire lifetime of HATING winter 🥶 I’m determined to love it this year.
.
So far I’m thrilled with the items I chose. Though the weather hasn’t dropped to polar vortex temps as of yet, I did manage to help build an “Olaf” ⛄️ and remain toasty warm in the process.
.
Thanks to the many recommendations from my #instafriends And lots of research, I went with the long down coat with faux fur from @landsend (the one that falls above the knee) and the @sorelfootwear Torino II boot.
.
Quality, cute and cozy ❄️❤️❄️
Now don’t get me wrong. I love finding a good deal on something I really need, but that’s not always what happens on Black Friday.
.
If you’re out there this weekend friend, stay focused 👀 and avoid those mindless impulse purchases. 💪Get what you need, and then get the heck out! After all, less really is more.
.
If you could use a little inspiration when it comes to simplifying the holidays, don’t miss episode 179 of the @simple_families podcast and episode 38 of the @sageparenting podcast. Learn how other minimalist mommas have traded their clutter and chaos for purpose and peace during the season most known for excess.
3 years ago we almost moved. Not because we had to.
.
My husband hadn’t taken a new job somewhere else and there wasn’t anything deeply wrong with our home. There was really no good reason forcing us from the home we helped build.
.
We simply believed that we’d “outgrown our space.” .
.
Every closet, nook and cranny was full of stuff and we could barely maneuver through the “storage room” in our basement. My kitchen was bursting at the seams and don’t even get me started on the toy situation!
.
We discovered minimalism just in time and it gave us back the home we love. .
Now I can’t say we will NEVER move, but it won’t be soon and it certainly won’t be to accommodate more stuff.
.
If you’ve been trying to declutter your home, but feel just plain stuck, I’ve created a FREE resource for you. It’s called UNSTUCK!...Get it? Get it? 😉😍 .
.
It’s a 3 day email series addressing 3 common obstacles that keep us stuck in our clutter, even when we know it’s GOT to go!
.
You can sign-up through the link in my profile. Day 1 will arrive within a few minutes🙌 and you’ll be on your way.
.
Remember, “You’re home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it!” - Peter Walsh
There are exactly 5 weeks until Christmas folks!! Now, if that last sentence made you want to climb back in bed 🛌 for the rest of the year, take heart!
.
Christmas around here used to look like mad chaos and absolute overwhelm 😱. It was full of wasteful spending 💰, unrealistic expectations, the accumulation of such excess 🧸, all followed by complete and utter exhaustion😴. I figured after all, ‘tis the season right?
.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
.
You do not have to let Christmas hijack your sanity, joy and peace. It really CAN be the most wonderful time of the year. An imperfectly perfect Christmas is the way to go!
.
If you’re looking for some practical strategies for simplifying the holidays I’ve got a couple of great resources for you.
.
First, I’m a guest on today’s episode (number 38) of the @sageparenting podcast with Rachel Rainbolt ❤️ and we are talking all about how we cut back on all the obligations to prioritize the things that really matter during this season. We talk decor, traditions, gift giving and boundaries.
.
On top of that, last week I joined Denaye on the @simple_families podcast episode 179 along with Zoe from @raisingsimple and Erica from @thelifeonpurposemovement to talk about simplifying the holidays 🎄 as well. I just love these ladies and I’m so grateful to call them friends. 😍 This episode is a great combination of light hearted conversation as well as inspirational and practical strategies, giving you permission to do holidays in a way that best suits you and your family❤️ So good!
.
Oh and spoiler alert, we talk about Santa 🎅 in both episodes so be sure your littles are distracted!
.
Don’t miss them!
Ever feel like you’re the only one struggling to get uncluttered? Does it seem as though everyone else has it all figured out or that it just comes naturally to everyone else.
.
New on the blog today, “9 Minimalist Bloggers Answer the Question, What’s the Hardest Part About Minimalism?” .
.
I couldn’t be more excited for this one. As you may know, I’ve been doing a monthly Q&A series on the blog called, “Ask a Minimalist.” A few weeks back I received a thought provoking question from a reader named Priscilla (Thanks Priacilla🤗) It went like this.
.
"I'm curious, what is the hardest thing you've had to do on your minimalism journey? Or what part of minimalism have you found to be the hardest?" -Priscilla.
.
On top of sharing my own response, I’ve also reached out to 8 other minimalist bloggers for insight into their hardest parts as well.  Thanks to Courtney Carver of @bemorewithless @Joshuabecker of Becoming Minimalist, Denaye Barahona of @simple_families Zoe Kim of @raisingsimple Jay Harrington of @lifeandwhim Erica Layne @thelifeonpurposemovement Emma Scheib @simpleslowlovely and Melissa Coleman of @thefauxmartha for their contribution to this article.
.
Link in profile. Don’t miss this one!❤️❤️❤️ .
.
What part of minimalism have you found to be the hardest?
I used to hate being home. 🏠 Now I can’t get enough of it. ❤️ It’s almost a problem...almost.
.
No, my home didn’t get a major face lift or undergo extensive renovations. We simply got rid of our piles, and unstuffed all the closets, nooks and crannies. We’ve even got room to spare.
.
I used to think space was for filling, but now I know it’s simply for being.
.
I’m my best self in an uncluttered space. Minimalism has given me the tools to make my home the antidote to stress, not the source of it.
Friday introduction😜 This is my little family ❤️ .
.
Paul, me (Rachelle) Jameson 9, Raegan 7, and the “not a baby anymore” baby of the family, Amelia 4.
.
I painted these as a Christmas gift for Amelia last year. She loves them ALMOST as much as I do 😍 Each of us are wearing an outfit we own and love...For the record, I’m in jeans 👖 NOT a jean skirt🤷🏻‍♀️ .
.
Our favorite activities as a family include waterfalling, reading, 📖 roller coasters 🎢 rock hunting, boating, 🛶 fishing, 🎣 building couch cushions forts, playing scrabble and movie nights with LOTS of popcorn...🍿I’m talking almost too much popcorn. It’s a problem really.
.
Our home is loud, dinged  up, somewhat out of “style,” and often, well, sticky. We wouldn’t trade a bit of it for more a “perfectly curated” version. This home has seen...it...all and it’s as broken as we are.
.
I too am loud, certainly dinged up, never EVER in “style,” often painfully awkward, a little weird and sometimes even, well, sticky...I do have 3 kids after all.
.
I just want to encourage you, if you’re always with the awkward, a little weird and looking pretty dinged up, join the club and #ownyourcrazy . Know that really, WE ALL ARE. 🤗 .
Ever wonder what makes a toy a “minimalist” toy? Is there even such a thing?
.
New article on the blog today, Is There Such a Thing as a “Minimalist” toy? (LINK IN PROFILE) .
.
Inside you’ll find a list of the 20 most played with toys 🧸 in our home 🏠 .
.
“It doesn’t matter if a toy is battery free, educational, and ethically made from high-quality, natural products. If your kid doesn’t play with it, it’s just another clutter inducing waste of space time and money.” .
.
What are the most played with toys in your home?

Follow