Finding Happiness with Less

Book Review: Organizing for the Rest of Us – 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control

2025-07-02

If you’ve ever looked around your house and thought, How did it get this bad?—you’re not alone. I recently stumbled across Dana K. White’s blog, A Slob Comes Clean, after seeing it mentioned in a comment on the r/declutter subreddit. And let me tell you, it was like finding a kindred spirit.

Dana calls herself a “slob” in recovery, and I totally relate. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t notice clutter or mess until it’s absolutely overwhelming. So when I heard she had written a book called Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control, I knew I had to check it out.

This book isn’t your typical Pinterest-perfect organizing guide. It’s practical, honest, and completely doable—even if you feel like cleaning and decluttering just aren’t in your DNA. Dana shares real-life, tried-and-true strategies that helped her take control of her home, and she breaks everything down in a way that makes sense (and feels totally judgment-free).

One of the key takeaways for me was her “Container Method”—a game-changer if you struggle with having too much stuff and not enough space. She also talks about setting non-negotiable daily tasks that help keep things from spiraling (you know, like dishes and laundry actually being done).

What I love most about Organizing for the Rest of Us is that it doesn’t promise perfection. Instead, it offers realistic home organization tips for people who just want their spaces to feel more manageable. It’s been a huge inspiration in my own decluttering journey, and I honestly think anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by mess will find something valuable here.

If you’re looking for a compassionate, no-nonsense guide to getting your home under control, this book is 100% worth a read.
June Decluttering Recap: 359 Items Gone and a Closet I Love Again

2025-07-01

This month, I finally started tackling the clutter in my home. Now that I’m nearly 8 months postpartum, I felt ready to take on a big one—my clothes.

Let me paint the picture: my wardrobe was packed to the brim. Same for my dresser. Oh—and the spare bedroom wardrobe, plus its dresser. I even had a bookshelf in my room filled with clothing. Meanwhile, my partner had only half the wardrobe and half of the dresser in our bedroom. Yeah… a major declutter was overdue.

I started by going through every single item of clothing. My goal was simple: if it doesn’t fit or I don’t love it, it goes. I did keep a few favorites—about 10 sentimental or “maybe later” pieces—which are now tucked away in a drawer in the spare bedroom.

The rest? Most of it was donated. Anything too worn out was responsibly tossed.

I followed the container concept by Dana K. White, which made the whole process feel manageable. For example, in my main wardrobe, I only kept as many clothes as I had hangers for. Once the hangers were full, I had to start making some decisions. It helped so much with setting limits.

In total, I decluttered over 359 items in June! Not just clothes—there were a few random knick-knacks in the mix too. But wow, it feels so good to have breathing room again.

I’m honestly loving how everything looks now. My closet isn’t just cleaner—it’s more functional. I’ll be writing a detailed post soon to share how I organized everything, especially for anyone going through a similar postpartum transition.

If you’ve been thinking about decluttering but don’t know where to start, I highly recommend beginning with your wardrobe. It’s one of the most satisfying places to make space.
New Laundry Routine That’s Actually Working for Me

2025-06-29

Laundry has always felt overwhelming. I’m pretty good at washing all the loads within a day or two—but folding and putting everything away? That part can take me over a week! By the time I finally get through it, the hampers are full again and the cycle starts all over.

The problem? While the clean clothes are waiting to be folded and put away, they just sit around, cluttering up my space. I don’t have a dedicated laundry room, so I end up with three or four laundry baskets spread out across my bathroom floor or piled on the guest bed. Not exactly ideal.

But a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try something new—a laundry process that’s actually working for me so far.

Here’s what I’m doing now:

I don’t start a new load until the current one is completely done. That means washed, dried, folded, and put away. Only then do I throw the next load in the washer. It’s a simple shift, but it’s made a huge difference. Folding doesn’t feel so overwhelming anymore, and I’m not dealing with baskets of clean clothes just hanging around for days.

So far, I’m loving this new routine. It feels more manageable and keeps my space a lot less cluttered.

What’s your laundry routine like? Does it work for you—or are you still trying to find a system that sticks? I’d love to hear how you handle it!
Recommendation: The Minimalist Moms Podcast

2025-06-25

Since having my daughter, I’ve gotten back into the habit of listening to podcasts—especially during stroller walks, car rides, or while winding down at night. It’s become a calming routine for both of us.

As part of my effort to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle, I recently discovered the Minimalist Moms Podcast. It actually launched back in 2016 and is still going strong, which means there’s almost a decade of content for me to catch up on!

What I love about this podcast is how relatable and down-to-earth it is. The episodes are full of practical tips and honest conversations about motherhood, intentional living, and simplifying life at home. If you’re a mom looking to declutter your space, your mind, and your schedule, I can’t recommend it enough.

Whether you’re just starting your minimalism journey or looking for fresh inspiration, the Minimalist Moms Podcast is a great option.
My Evolving Relationship with Material Possessions: From Overbuying To Mindful Living

2025-06-25
My Evolving Relationship with Material Possessions

I’ve always loved shopping. Accumulating things used to bring me joy. As a teenager, I was an avid reader (and still am, though « adulting » leaves me with less time). My bedroom boasted a bookshelf filled with over 500 books. My favorite place to buy them was BookOutlet, thanks to their incredible discounts—I placed several orders every year.

Shopping More, Using Less

Things changed after I graduated from university and landed my first full-time « adult » job. Suddenly, I had disposable income and a long list of hobbies I wanted to try. The problem? I would buy all the gear but rarely follow through.
- I bought a quality Canon camera to explore photography. It now collects dust in the basement, unused since a trip to Vancouver almost three years ago.
- During the pandemic, I tried baking bread from scratch. After two loaves, I bought a proofing gadget—which has now sat unused for nearly five years.
- I thought I’d take up sewing, especially after my late grandmother gave me her machine. Sadly, I never learned. I finally decluttered it this spring.
The Running and Triathlon Phase

A few years ago, I got into running and even completed a triathlon. I bought multiple pairs of running shoes—they were so affordable on The Last Hunt’s website! I also purchased a triathlon bike after my first race, but I got pregnant that fall and have barely used it since. However, I’ve resumed cycling this spring and plan to continue recreationally with my new family priorities.

My Current Hobby: Coloring

This winter, I spent a lot of time breastfeeding in a rocking chair and got pulled into the TikTok world of adult coloring. I bought alcohol markers, acrylic pens, Disney mystery color-by-number books—you name it. While I do enjoy it, I now realize I went overboard and will never use all of it.

Learning to Let Go and Simplify

This journey has taught me something important: I need to figure out which hobbies truly bring me joy—and what I can realistically manage with a growing family. Decluttering and creating a more minimalist home will give me more time and space to enjoy what I truly love.

Key Takeaways
- Buying gear doesn’t equal doing the hobby.
- It’s okay to let go of hobbies that no longer serve you.
- A clutter-free space can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Weekend Plans: Family Help, Dog Care, and Prepping for Paternity Leave

2025-06-20

It’s Friday, and we’ve got a busy weekend ahead! My parents are heading off to the Îles de la Madeleine for a full week starting Sunday, and I’ll be taking care of our family dog, Bono, while they’re away.

To help manage everything, my aunt will be staying with me from Monday through Friday to assist with both Bono and my daughter. Then, my sister will take over from Friday to Sunday next week. I’m incredibly grateful for the support—it really does take a village!

Meanwhile, my partner has a demanding work week ahead, with five 12-hour shifts. It’ll be his last stretch before starting paternity leave, which will last through mid-August. We’re all really looking forward to having him home for the summer.

Weekend To-Do List

Here’s what’s on my agenda for the weekend:

• Clean the spare bedroom

• Wash the sheets in the spare bedroom

• Go for a bike ride on Saturday while Grandma babysits

• Tidy up the entryway

• Pick up Bono on Sunday morning

It’s going to be a full and fulfilling weekend—just the kind I like. Looking forward to some quality time with family, a bit of fresh air, and getting everything in order before the new week begins.
My Journey Toward a Minimalist Lifestyle: Why I’m Choosing to Live with Less

2025-06-19

I decided to start this blog to share something personal and important to me—my journey toward a minimalist lifestyle. Over the past six years, my partner and I have been living in a cozy bungalow-style house. Like many people, we slowly filled it with more and more things. With three bedrooms, it was easy to keep adding, until one day, I realized every room was full.

When I became pregnant, everything shifted. To make space for our daughter’s nursery, we had to relocate my partner’s home office, and even more stuff came into the house. It started to feel overwhelming.

Since welcoming our daughter last November, I’ve become much more aware of how much time and energy it takes to manage all our possessions. I found myself constantly cleaning, organizing, and feeling distracted—pulled away from what really matters to me. That’s when I started exploring minimalism and the idea of living with less.

Now, I’m on a mission to declutter our home, simplify our lives, and focus on what truly brings joy and meaning. This blog is where I’ll document my progress, share tips on decluttering and organizing, and reflect on what it means to live more intentionally.

If you’re curious about minimalist living, or just feeling overwhelmed by too much stuff, I hope my story resonates with you. Thanks for being here—I’d love for you to follow along as I continue simplifying and creating space for what matters most.
My 2025 vision board

2025-06-19

A little late to the trend (mid-year), I decided to create a vision board for 2025. Granted, the beginning of the year mostly consisted of breastfeeding and contact naps…

My focus for this year: family, simple living, get back to a healthy lifestyle.

Here’s to 2025!