Photo by WordRidden

Simplifying Summer Meals

Posted on July 20, 2011 by LJ Earnest

Ah, the lazy days of summer. The warmth, the sunshine, the fresh produce. And if you are in charge of preparing meals in your household, it can also mean the unwelcome heat and steam of the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong. I love my casseroles, hot dishes and baked goods. But during the summer, I want lighter food that won’t heat up the house. Here is how I simplify summer meals.

Photo by Peter Blanchard

Simplifying and Saving With a Clothesline

Posted on June 30, 2011 by GuestPost

Air drying your clothes can do a lot of things: save energy, lower your carbon footprint and save wear and tear on your clothing. Today’s guest author talks about the benefits of air drying and how to get started.

Photo by zimpenfish

Simplifying the Reading Backlog

Posted on June 29, 2011 by LJ Earnest

I have books. Everywhere.

In fact, when faced with a problem or wanting to learn about something, my first reaction is to buy a book.

I have made some progress. I was able to get rid of two full size bookcases worth of books in the past five years. But my reading corner is still packed with books.

So I’m going to publicly announce how I’m going to simplify the reading backlog.

Photo by stevendepolo

Simplifying Children’s Birthday Parties

Posted on June 22, 2011 by LJ Earnest

Two words strike terror into the hearts of many parents: birthday parties. The thought of having hordes of children running amok under your supervision and in your home can be downright scary. Add in all the things that parties have started to “require”: entertainment, bouncy houses, treat bags, activities and more, and most of the parents I know will run for the nearest all-inclusive package at the local laser tag building. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Birthday parties can be simple and easy, and still be enjoyable. Here’s how…

Photo by visualpanic

Keeping It Simple

Posted on June 8, 2011 by LJ Earnest

Have you ever tried to do something you thought was straightforward, just to find yourself mired down hours later in the same task? There are two causes for this: either the task was way bigger than you thought, or that you over-complicated what needed to be done. The bad news is that over-complicating things can be a by-product of focusing on productivity. We try to do just a little bit more…and BANG! complication, and decreased productivity. The good news is that it is easy to break this cycle.

Photo by MrsMinifig

When Duplication Simplifies…And When It Doesn’t

Posted on May 25, 2011 by LJ Earnest

Simplicity generally means paring down. We get rid of junk we don’t use, and find ways to use tools for multiple applications. Most people involved in simplicity and uncluttering will also tell you to get rid of duplicates.

But I think sometimes having duplicates is a good thing.

Photo by JD Hancock

Essentials

Posted on May 16, 2011 by LJ Earnest

A new reader wrote to me and asked where to start with productivity. Since the last time I tackled this was in 2008, I figure it’s time for an update.

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

Simplify…With Enough

Posted on May 4, 2011 by LJ Earnest

I have a tendency to over-pack. Whether I am packing for work, a day at the beach or a camping trip, I bring along way too much. I don’t know if it’s the Girl Scout in me (“Be Prepared”) or what, but I end up lugging stuff around I never use.