A Quiet Simple Life with Sallie Borrink

Cozy and Simple Living, Homeschooling, Faith, Homemaking, & Books

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Life is Too Short for Ugly Stuff

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This was originally posted June 25, 2005. I'm reposting it today because I think it is still true. I hope it inspires you to beautify your life.Last weekend my husband and I went shopping in a number of small local businesses in my parents' hometown. We enjoy going through unique shops because it feeds the artist soul in each of us. We don't have to purchase anything - it is enough just to look at the design, the fabrics, the packaging, etc. It really does refresh us!While we were surrounded by so many beautiful things, it drove home to … [Read more...] about Life is Too Short for Ugly Stuff

AQSL 005: Bringing Peace to Your Life and Home

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I define a cozy life as one that brings greater peace, understanding, joy, beauty, and faith to you and your loved ones. Today we're going to take a look at peace, the first item on the list.We'll look at a definition of peace and the specific parts of our life that it includes. I'll share five choices we've made over the years that have brought greater peace to our home, including one that might surprise you! Hopefully at the end, you'll be inspired to make some changes that will bring greater peace to your life and home. Listen to the … [Read more...] about AQSL 005: Bringing Peace to Your Life and Home

From My Book Pile – Emilie Barnes Edition

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If you are over a certain age, Emilie Barnes will be a familiar name to you and this post might be like a walk down memory lane that sends you scouring the bookshelves of your home for your own Emilie Barnes books. If you are younger, you might not be familiar with her at all. During the 1980s and 1990s she was a prolific and very popular Christian author who wrote lovely and encouraging books on making a home, family, home organization, saving time, etc. She interested me far more than someone like Martha Stewart because Emilie Barnes seemed … [Read more...] about From My Book Pile – Emilie Barnes Edition

Making Peace with Your Creative Child’s Clutter

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One of my blogging friends, Jimmie, wrote What My (Messy) Artist Daughter Has Taught Me. I totally got that post as I had been thinking about the struggles of being a neat person who likes everything in its place when your child isn't anything like that. It sounds like my Caroline and Jimmie's Emma are a lot alike. Creative, empathetic, and funny describe Caroline for sure.Jimmie wrote: But Emma is not bothered by messes. In fact, she says she likes to have all of her possessions visible (on the desk or on the floor) so she can know where … [Read more...] about Making Peace with Your Creative Child’s Clutter

AQSL 002: Creating a Quiet Simple Life

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Are you ready to create a quiet simple life? If you are looking for encouragement and ideas, you are in the right place. In this episode we are looking at both quiet and simple. We'll examine what they mean and what they can look like in our home.Please feel free to leave a comment about the content or ask a question. I'd also love to hear what you found particularly helpful or encouraging. Listen to the Podcast My podcast is available to play right … [Read more...] about AQSL 002: Creating a Quiet Simple Life

Use it Up Challenge

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The Use it Up Challenge is a fun adaptation of the famous saying "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without." In fact, this challenge covers two of those because it encourages you to not only use it up but also to make it do. And have fun in the process!This is part of the Creating Your Cozy Life Free Planner because it encourages us to bring peace to our home by using things up and saving money in the process. So if you are ready to use up the things in your home in order to save money and be a better steward of what you have, you are … [Read more...] about Use it Up Challenge

Clear It Out Challenge

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Is it time to do a quick reduction of the number of things in your home? If so, the Clear It Out Challenge will be great for you! This is a quick attack, not a deep clean. The goal is to move quickly and easily eliminate as many things as possible.The Clear It Out Challenge will encourage you to jump in to make a quick and noticeable difference in your home. This is not a drag everything out and ask if it sparks joy for days on end type of challenge. This is a focused and quick attack to make a real difference. Clear It Out Challenge You … [Read more...] about Clear It Out Challenge

Getting Rid of 1000 Things

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One of my goals in raising Caroline is to demonstrate a healthy attitude toward material possessions - to be thankful and wise stewards of what we have without keeping things we truly don't need or want any longer. This year I'm removing 1000 items from our home after being inspired by Mavis at 100 Dollars a Month who did a Get Rid of 1000 Things.I guess it could have been one of those things I posted about at the start of the year, but it's only January 15 so I figure this is good enough. We are fairly good about not keeping a bunch of … [Read more...] about Getting Rid of 1000 Things

A Busy, Messy Home and Homeschooling Stress

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Is your house busy? Is it messy? I suspect for many families this is a significant area where they need to make changes in order to overcome homeschooling stress. However, this is one of the stress factors that is easy to identify and can be acted upon rather quickly in most homes.The bottom line is this.:Find a way to clean out your house. Find a system to keep it cleaned out.I know that sounds simple, but it will never fix itself. You must attack it ruthlessly. Get Rid of Half of What is in Your House I'm not joking, but … [Read more...] about A Busy, Messy Home and Homeschooling Stress

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

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I've just finished reading Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I learned of the book in a Facebook group when someone shared two videos in Japanese that were made about it.After watching the videos, I wanted to read the book. Does it spark joy? The basic premise is to only keep those things in your home that make your heart throb with joy. Kondo has a very specific order when it comes to helping her clients with their mission of tidying up. You go through discarding and … [Read more...] about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

The Last Push – 7 Day Declutter Challenge

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It's our last day!Time to push toward the end!I still have a ways to go on my goals and have company coming today. I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I know that I've cleaned out quite a bit this week.If you feel like you just don't have time...Try to do just 5-10 items for a few minutes.Find some things to throw away.Sometimes just getting started will get the ball rolling!How are you doing? Have you made some good progress this week? Even if you haven't started, jump in today! You can share with us … [Read more...] about The Last Push – 7 Day Declutter Challenge

Old Hobbies – 7 Day Declutter Challenge

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When I first started decluttering in the spring, I decided something that had to go was the piles of unopened scrapbooking products. Before I developed neck and shoulder issues and then had Caroline I was a fairly steady scrapbooker. But once my life took a significant change, the scrapbooking fell to the wayside.I had a lot of Creative Memories products that were still in the original packaging. I knew that there was no way I was going to use them any time soon, if ever.And so I sold them all on eBay.I still do have some … [Read more...] about Old Hobbies – 7 Day Declutter Challenge

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