McDonald’s turned the phrase, “You deserve a break today,” into marketing gold. The idea that we all work hard and deserve a treat was incredibly successful. You’ve heard it countless times in stores, as shoppers talk themselves into purchases. You’ve probably used this line yourself a few times. I know I have.
I doubt I [...]

Yesterday, I wrote about how pets can help us learn to be selfless. Today, I’m going to hit on ways two and three that dogs–or any pets–can improve our lives (even while mercilessly complicating things).
#2: Dogs require you to be social.
Want to curl up with a book all night and get lost in your own [...]

Don’t believe the hype about simplicity. If the idea of voluntary simplicity makes you imagine monks or the Unabomber, it’s time for a reality check: read on!
You have to live an ascetic life to enjoy simplicity.
Not every person who practices voluntary simplicity lives in a spartan log cabin or a minimalist Zen haven. Similarly, it’s [...]

Part of a conversation with a soon-to-be 11 year old:
“I have $800!”
“Wow! Save that money!”
“Well, I don’t get it until I’m 18, but I want it now!”
“Yeah?”

“I need, um… makeup! I need lots of makeup! And clothes, and shoes…”
Of course she does. Sigh. This is a pretty normal response from a tween, but I [...]

“It’s been… what? Two years since I saw you? Three? What’s new with you, mister?”
“Well, I’ve got a house being built in Idaho, so I’ll be heading out there in a couple months. You know, stay with my parents in the meantime.”
“Yeah? That’s exciting for you. Well, the house I mean, not the living [...]

photo credit: bucklava
For my husband and I, financial independence is the cornerstone of the simple life we want to live. That means we work very hard to save money in the hopes of being able to retire sooner rather than later. We can’t wait to be at the stage of life where [...]

I’m all about simplicity and constantly look for shortcuts. However, I’m also a big proponent of making your own things, from cooking to sewing. Do these two values contradict each other? Isn’t is simpler just to buy something instead of making it? I don’t think so, and I’ve got a few reasons [...]

photo credit: Athenamama
Storage stores seduce you with promises of simplicity, order, and decluttering bliss. The truth? It’s just more stuff. Even worse, it’s more expensive than the stuff you put in it half the time. That Container Store catalog? Consider it organization porn.
What Is Meta Stuff?
So what is Meta Stuff? Meta [...]