We’re right on the edge of summer here, and I can feel it, not just in the weather, but in our laundry baskets. My 5 and 7-year-olds are starting to need their warm-weather clothes, and for us, that means it’s time for what I call active maintenance decluttering.
It’s super simple now, after more than a decade of living this way. They share a closet, so as I do laundry, I’m naturally pulling out things that are too small or too worn (like my youngest’s hand-me-down jeans with a hole from the knee to the pocket). Then I shift the 7-year-old’s outgrown-but-still-good pieces into my youngest’s wardrobe and see what’s left to fill in. It’s low-stress, easy on my budget, and honestly kind of fun.
In a few weeks, when the weather really commits to summer, we’ll pick out a few new tanks, tees, and shorts together. Just a handful. Enough. That’s the beauty of simplifying. We buy what we need, we enjoy it fully, and when it’s time, we let it go.
This is why I love teaching decluttering. Because motherhood is too short to spend it overwhelmed by laundry piles or overspending on stuff we don’t need. Clothes are meant to be used, loved, and passed along. And when it’s simple, it’s so much easier to enjoy the moments that really matter.
I’ve stopped trying to build a wardrobe based on guesswork and sales racks. I buy fewer clothes, but better clothes—things I actually wear, that actually match, and that actually get used.
That’s why I’m such a fan of the Frump Fighters What-to-Wear Outfit Calendar and their Interactive™ Style Platform.
It’s not about being trendy. It’s not about buying a whole new wardrobe. It’s about using what you already own—better. So you can open your closet and think, “Oh hey, I do have something to wear today.”
Whether you're decluttering, trying to avoid another aimless Target run, or just done feeling stuck in the “leggings again?” rut, the Outfit Calendar gives you a complete system. One that tells you what to wear (based on what’s already in your closet) and helps you actually see the gaps in your wardrobe—so when you do shop, you shop smarter.
My Favorite Thing This Week
Let’s talk about the Bark Phone for Kids. If you’ve been stressed about giving your child a phone but want to keep them safe and connected, this is the game-changer. The Bark phone lets you monitor their activity without hovering, giving them independence and keeping your peace of mind intact. Seriously, I wish I had this sooner!
Even though it’s not quite planting time, I can feel the itch—spring is coming, and I am SO excited to get my hands in the dirt again! A few years ago, I never would’ve guessed I’d be this eager to grow my own food. I assumed gardening was complicated, that I needed tons of space, live in the perfect climate, or that you had to be born with some magical green thumb.
But then I actually tried it. And you know what? It’s way easier than I thought.
I love Grow-It-Yourself (GIY)—it takes all the guesswork out of gardening. If you’ve ever wanted to grow food but felt overwhelmed, this program makes it simple. Step-by-step guidance, a super supportive community, and even 1:1 mentorship mean you’re never left figuring it out alone.
And I have to give a huge shoutout to Nicky Schauder—she is amazing. Nicky learned to garden not just for herself, but for her six kids, making sure they had fresh, homegrown food right from their backyard. She turned what seemed impossible into a thriving family garden, and now she teaches others to do the same. I love her heart for helping people grow food, and she breaks it down in such an easy, doable way.
