Today I have a Holiday Q&A to round out the last of the Quarterly Q&A episodes this year! I pulled a few of your questions from instagram, and talk about the following in this episode: How do you deal with the overwhelm of so much stuff coming in? What are your favorite traditions? How do you find rest during such a busy schedule What are some things you don't do for the holidays because of minimalism? This was a fun one to record, so I hope it you enjoy listening! You can grab the holiday decluttering challenge I mention at desiraeendres.com/holidaygift - you'll get a four day decluttering challenge, a clutterfree gift ideas list, and a list of links to holiday minimal-ish podcast episodes from this year and past years! Grab Your Minimal-ish Holidays Follow Desirae on Instagram: @minimalish.desirae Sponsors: Apostrophe: Get your first visit for 5$ at desiraeendres.com/minimalish using code minimalish at checkout. Indeed: Get a 75$ credit when you sponsor your job post at indeed.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing you a message that has been on my heart for a while now - we're talking all about the false promise of the perfectly tidy home and what actually matters more. How do we allow ourselves to rest when we've been so used to spinning our wheels to become "more minimal" or find the best systems for our home? We also talk about the cost of all the magic making during the holiday season, and I bring you a quick black friday pep talk. This episode is my holiday message to you! I hope you enjoy it and find yourself encouraged by it! Links: Your Minimal-ish Holidays Desirae on Instagram Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Go to betterhelp.com/minimalish to get 10% off your first month. Thank you to TN Dickinson's for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're getting back to basics and talking all things organization, with decluttering being an important step in the process. Janelle Williams is my guest today. She's a professional organizer, published author and speaker, and she really brings us mindset shifts when it comes to getting and STAYING organized. Today's episode will give you a deep why for inspiration along with steps to help you get started. This episode is perfect for beginners and those already in the midst of their journey. We also touch on having a less cluttered holiday season! Links: Janelle on Instagram Janelle's Book Janelle's website Your Minimal-ish Holidays Desirae on Instagram Sponsor: Get fit and feel your best - go to go.mycopilot.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is the perfect episode to press play and do a 20-30 minute mini decluttering session along with me! We're talking about decluttering the toys, and I also go on a little rabbit trail and share my recent decluttering project with you: my entry way, which also included some toys. Like each Declutter with Me episode, I walk you through my own decluttering, and then I share some tips for your decluttering session. Today's episode is a special edition, because I actually read through Day 12 of Your Minimal-ish Holidays, my 30 day holiday guided journal. This is one of the six days of the decluttering challenge that is included in the journal, and it of course focuses on toys. I hope you enjoy today's shorter, yet actionable episode! If you want more on toys, here is an episode to listen to as you continue your decluttering journey: Decluttering WITH Your Kids Links: Your Minimal-ish Holidays Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsors: Thanks to Indeed for sponsoring today's show! Get a 75$ job credit when you sponsor your job post at indeed.com/minimalish. Terms and Conditions Apply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we get intentional about the way we give (and even receive) our gifts as we get closer to the holiday season? Today I'm talking about this topic with Rachael Classi, founder and CEO of Tiny Earth Toys. Rachael shares about Tiny Earth's toy rental subscription which is a great way to get intentional about what's under our trees, but we also talk about our own experiences with gift exchanges with extended family, the struggle of worrying our kids will disappointed when our gifts under the tree align with our values (aka, there's not a ton of them), and how we've tried new things and chosen to be more intentional throughout the years. I hope you come out of this episode with new ideas for gift giving in a way that won't stress you out and will align with your values this holiday season. You can also grab a copy of Your Intentional Holidays to help you out with planning this aspect of the holidays, among with making the entire season more intentional. Links: Tiny Earth Toys Tiny Earth Toys on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Your Intentional Holidays Podcast Website Sponsors: Today's episode is sponsored by Better Help. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/minimalish. Thank you to TN Dickinson's for being a sponsor of today's episode. You can find their products on Amazon and at major retailers including Walgreens, Walmart, Target, CVS, and Rite Aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I have Joey Odom, Cofounder of Aro, on the podcast to talk all about the importance of changing our habits with our phones. Many of us know our habits with picking up our phones and scrolling so often are harming us and our relationships in some way, but it can be difficult to change these habits. Joey brings plenty of research to this conversation to help us build a deep why for working towards real habit change in this area. We talk about practical tips for changing the habit in ourselves, but also in our older kids if they are struggling with their relationships with their phones as well. This conversation is full of hard truths, but also tons of grace. As parents, it's so important that we get intentional about our phone usage and create an example for our kids. I hope you'll listen in and be inspired and encouraged today in this extremely relevant topic. Links: Your Minimal-ish Holidays Aro Website Aro Podcast Aro on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by Better Help: Get 10% off your first episode at betterhelp.com/minimalish Thanks to Factor for Sponsoring today's episode: Head to factormeals.com/minimalish50 and use code minimalish50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have a hybrid episode: part solo episode/ part guest episode. I'm bringing you all of my tips for a minimal-ish postpartum, and I'm also bringing on a guest, Dr. Nicole Sparks, board certified OBGYN, to talk about simplifying postpartum care and her biggest tips for new moms. We go through the four pillars of Minimal-ish living and apply them to postpartum life in today's episode. If you're going through the postpartum period, or will be postpartum in the near future, I hope this episode brings you some helpful tips in what can be a difficult season! Links: TN Dickinson's Witch Hazel Dr. Nicole Sparks Website Dr. Sparks on Instagram Dr. Sparks on Tiktok Desirae on Instagram Podcast website Get a copy of Your Minimal-ish Holidays: A More Intentional Season in 30 Days Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are talking all about having more fun! My guest, Catherine Price, is the author of How to Break up with Your Phone and The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again. Catherine's Website and Courses - Use code MINIMALISM15 for 15% off! The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again Podcast Website Desirae on Instagram Your Minimal-ish Holidays Launch Team Sponsors: Copilot: Start feeling your best today. Use the link go.mycopilot.com/minimalish to get your 14 day free trial! Indeed: Get a 75 dollar credit when you sponsor your job post at indeed.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have a special edition of "Declutter with Me." I'll be walking you through my problem areas in my own kitchen and my thought process when I come across items I'm unsure if I want to keep or declutter. I'll also guide you through a kitchen maintenance declutter before we get to the holiday season. The kitchen is not only the heart of the home- I'd argue it's also the heart of the holiday season. What makes this a special edition of the "Declutter with Me" series? I'm reading an excerpt from Your Minimal-ish Holidays, a holiday guided journal that I'll be releasing on October 17th. This excerpt is, of course, on kitchen decluttering and is part of the 6 day decluttering challenge that can be found in the journal. Links: Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Join the Your Minimal-ish Holidays launch team! Love journaling? Check out Simple Morning Lists Sponsor: Mylio Photos: Organize your photos with the free Mylio Photos app at mylio.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have a minimalism story from Korie Veidel, a wife and mom to two who was propelled into minimalism through a series of really devastating events in her life. As she first started out in minimalism, she and her husband went to the extreme. They even lived in a tiny home as they were starting their family. As her family grew, her view on minimalism shifted. Today she shares her story including how and why she lives with less, what she has learned from minimalism throughout the years, her journey with social media, her tips for getting started with minimalism, and more. I hope you enjoy this conversation and are as encouraged by it as I was! Links: Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsor: Factor: Head to factormeals.com/minimalish50 and use code minimalish50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is Minimal-ish's 200th episode! It's time to stop and celebrate, as we have quite a few milestones to celebrate! At the beginning of September it was Minimal-ish's 5 year birthday, we crossed 3 million downloads, and now we're on our 200th episode! In today's episode, I'm sharing the story of minimal-ish - how it came to be, the valleys and mountains along the way, and where it's going. I'll also share the top downloaded episodes, my favorite moments on the show, and 5 things I learned about minimalism in 5 years. I loved recording this episode and I am beyond grateful for you for being here! Thank you for listening in. Minimal-ish would not exist without you! Links: Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Top Episode Links: -Declutter with Me - Your Clothes -Declutter and Organize Your Closet with Me + 6 Questions to Ask Yourself to help you Declutter Anything -Why is minimalism so life changing? -Simple Ways to Start Changing Your Shopping Habits (Bring Less into Your Home) -Benefits of Minimalism for Parents -Impactful mindset shifts for minimalism with Dawn Madsen of the minimal mom Simplifying "Sticking to" your Budget + Tips for Your Grocery Budget Woes with Carly of Debt Free Mom How to Hygge this Winter + Holiday Season with Diane in Denmark How and Where to Start Decluttering (even when you're busy) with Joshua Becker - Minimal-ish Replay #1 Peaceful Productivity & Planning our Days around Our Priorities with Jess Massey Messy Minimalism: Make Minimalism Your Own (without the perfectionism) with Rachelle Crawford My favorite Episode Links: On Letting Go of Old Seasons and Embracing the Next with Shauna Niequist Connecting with our Kids through Learning + Simplified Early Homeschooling with Erin Loechner Episodes with Kat Steck / Junkyard Journals Minimalism Stories Episodes Mentioned: Leah Franklin Mary Simpson Emily McDermott Sponsor: Mylio Photos: Download the free app at mylio.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing you a solo episode/ guest episode hybrid to talk all about photo organization and decluttering. This has been a highly requested topic, and I am far from an expert. When I look at digital files and photos, my mind just goes blank on where to start. I knew I needed help in this area, so I went in search of photo decluttering tools and discovered Mylio. I've been grateful to partner with them after using their software to help me get started in an overwhelming decluttering journey. Today I'm bringing you some general decluttering tips in getting started and chipping away at a very cluttered camera roll, and then I'm sharing some of how I use Mylio to help me do it, though many of these tips could be applied to any way you choose to declutter your photos- with or without an accompanying photo software/ decluttering tool. Then, David Vaskevitch joins me to share how Mylio's tools more in depth and how he declutters and organizes not just his digital photos, but also his paper clutter, physical photos, and more. Thank you for being here and listening in! Links: Mylio Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Juliana Ong of Stories of Play is my guest, and we talk all about the importance of play for our kids and how we can foster creative, open ended, independent play. While this is a fun, somewhat light hearted topic, it's also one where intentionality can make all the difference. I can vouch for this because after my conversation with Jules, I changed a lot about our family's play space and the way I approach and view play in our home, and I've seen so much more focused play from my girls. Jules has so much knowledge when it comes to this topic and she gives us permission to simplify things as she brings a wealth of ideas for us to implement to get started in simplifying play. Links: Jules Website Jules on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsor: Indeed: Get a 75$ credit when you sponsor a job post at indeed.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today my guest is Tyler Moore of Tidy Dad, and you're not going to want to miss this conversation! We dig into Tyler's story and his reason for tidying up his life, and he shares about how physical decluttering lead to emotional decluttering. He also brings practical tips on what it looks like to "surthrive," layer routines, and give yourself grace in the midst of transitions. This episode brings encouragement for any season, but it's certainly a great one for the back to school season. I hope you listen in and enjoy! Links: Tyler on Instagram Tyler's Website Desirae on Instagram Desirae's Website Sponsor: Mylio Photos: Download the Mylio Photos app for free at mylio.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are finishing off our back to school series with a solo episode all in the name of reflecting and setting ourselves up for an intentional season. We reflect on our back to school yeses and nos, and we apply the four pillars of minimal-ish living to the start of the school year. I'm excited about this episode as I love talking through these four pillars with you, and the school year always holds a special place in my heart! I hope you enjoy it (even if your kids aren't school aged) - reflecting as a new season starts is always a good idea (in my opinion, at least!) Links: Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Simple Morning Lists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I have Mandy Davis as my guest as we talk all things back to school with a focus on homeschooling. Mandy shares her story of why she homeschools (coming from a background with several years as both a teacher and principal), along with how we can simplify learning at home. If you homeschool and you've felt overwhelmed by the massive amount of resources and ideas on the internet, this episode will be a breath of fresh air for you. Links: Mandy on Instagram Mandy's website Desirae on instagram Sponsor: Mylio: Organize your photos and digital files today - download the free app at mylio.com/minimalish (and get 25% off of Mylio+) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is part one in a two part back to school series! It's that time of year when a shift in the routine is coming for many of us. Diana Rene is my guest today, and we're focusing on systems that can simplify some of the most overwhelming parts of the season, like the influx of paper that comes into our homes or the amount of school lunches we have to pack over the next several months. We also talk about simplifying getting out the door in the morning. Stay tuned for next part two of the series, where we'll approach a similar topic but from a homeschooling point of view. Links: Diana on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsor: Indeed: Start hiring now with a 75$ sponsored job credit at indeed.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have another episode of our “Declutter with Me” series! I am in the process of tackling our basement, which is where we put everything as we moved into our home. I got several requests to talk about storage spaces of some sort or another: the garage, basement, attic, etc. While I was hesitant because this topic is probably the worst of decluttering, we’re doing it! I take you through my basement situation, how I’m tackling it, and tips for you as you create a game plan and tackle your own storage area. Links: Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsor: Factor - Head to factormeals.com/minimalish50 to get 50% off with code minimalish50 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is another edition of minimalism stories! I have Leah Franklin of Leah's Simple Life on the show to share her story of how her family has been pursuing less clutter and a simplified life for the past 10 years. She talks about how they keep a 1200 square ft home clutter free with a family of 6, using spacial boundaries, seeking inspiration on the journey, and more! Leah is such a fun, warm, inviting soul- I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Links Leah on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Sponsor Olive and June: Get 20% off your first mani kit at oliveandjune.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I could barely figure out a name to this episode because my guest, Claudia Erickson, and I talked about so many things packed into one episode when it comes to unplugging to connect with the people in front of us. From helping our kids create better screen habits, to modeling those habits ourselves - Claudia brings a wealth of ideas to keep us and our kids off our phones more. If you find yourself or your kids on your screens more than you'd like to be and you're feeling the negative effects, this episode is bound to bring you some takeaways and leave you inspired to connect with the people in your community more. Links: Unplug Collaborative Content decluttering Challenge Unplug Collaborative on Instagram Desirae on Instagram Podcast Website Get in touch with Claudia at claudia@unplugcollaborative.org Sponsor: Olive and June: Get 20% off your first mani system at oliveandjune.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices