Learning to Simplify and Shopping Small

Hi friends! Last month I shared with you that I was loving the idea of having a word of the year and a verse to go along with it.  Well I have finally narrowed it down! This year my word is simplify and I have decided on the verse from

1 Timothy 6 :6-8

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

Learning to Simplify…

These last few weeks I have really been trying to simplify all areas of my life. The first area has been our finances. Over on Instagram I joined a group of ladies in a January spending freeze challenge. The intent was to be more thoughtful on what you choose to spend money on. This month long journey taught me a lot. It taught me that I don’t need anything else and just like the verse above, we can’t take any of it with us! I am learning to find contentment in the simplicity and boy does it feel good.

 

Simplifying in Action…

Two weeks ago I went through the house like a mad woman with garbage bags in hand and was able to collect 7 bags to take to Good Will.  It was just a start but it sure felt good to declutter. The crazy thing was that it was mostly clothes and toys! I intend to be a whole lot more intentional on future clothes and toy purchases that’s for sure!

I have also really been thinking a lot lately on what furniture pieces we have in our home, how I can simplify our furniture and if they are timeless pieces. I’ve been focusing more on what my style is and trying to work with what I already have. Interestingly enough after talking through my “style” of decorating with my awesome mom we came to the conclusion that I have been leaning more towards French Country Cottage with a small bit of coastal and farmhouse flare. So surprising! All this time I thought I was more coastal cottage farmhouse style. Ha! Really I am noticing that I just love to mix styles while incorporating old and new pieces of furniture and decor. And guess what? I am totally fine with not having a truly defined style and totally fine doing what makes me happy and this house a home.

Shopping Small…

OK, I know I was just chatting bout my January spending freeze but it’s February! So… If you have followed along with me here on the blog for awhile you know I love to shop small and support my maker friends over on Instagram. One of those friends is Beth from Up Yonder Designs. She hand makes these custom one word pillows like the beautiful one gracing my pew! It is beautifully stitched and has a darling black and white check on the back. Doesn’t it look amazing on our pew? It’s the perfect daily reminder for me to simplify! The best part is that she is offering my blog readers a coupon code for 15% off in her Etsy shop!  Just enter  “Pew15 ” for this awesome discount and make sure to take a peek at all the other amazing items she makes!

simplify pillow
Hand stitched SIMPLIFY pillow by Up Yonder Designs
This is the darling back of the SIMPLIFY pillow!

Simplify…

So honestly this word and this verse are both huge challenges for me! I am just starting out on this journey and I hope you will come along with me this year to see how I incorporate them in to other areas of my life.  Do you have a word for the year or a verse? Or a focus or goal? If so I would love to know! Just let me know in the comments below. Also if you have any simplifying tips or good books to read let me know…I am always in the market for a good book!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you were able to find some takeaways and a lovely new small shop to support! Blessings on your week!

xoxo,

 Kelly

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8 Comments

  1. Hi Kelly I love this post! My word for the year was simplify too but I’m so happy you gave me a verse to go with it I hadn’t gotten that far. I have a mix of styles and I think that makes a home interesting. I don’t want to be influenced by Instagram so much that I lose my own personal style but I have to admit sometimes that’s hard. Let’s face it whatever is in style today will change in a few years and I don’t want to get caught up in that trap, I want to be a good steward of the money God has given me so I’ve painted so many things to change their look and I just love them now. Oh what a gallon of paint can do 😊. Thank you for this blog it is an encouragement to me to stay on track plus your home is one of my favorites you can just feel the love.

    1. Barbara you have made my day! thank you for your kind comment! It is so important to be good stewards of money and to stay true to who we are. This seems harder and harder these days! I love that we share the same word and thank you for following along with me here on the blog as well as Instagram!

  2. This was a wonderful post Kelly! What a beautiful challenge to set head of all of us to simplify more in our lives, not just in finances but in every area as you described. And these pillows are so beautiful indeed! Have a blessed day my sweet friend!

  3. My One Word for this year is MERCY. I have a friend who makes jewelry out of vintage silver spoons. She stamped the year and my Word on a spoon and every time I sit at the table with my coffee, I can use the spoon and think on my Word.
    Great post,
    *Smiles*

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