Tsh Oxenreider - Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living

Organized
Simplicity

The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living

by Tsh Oxenreider

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living. Copyright 2010 by Tsh Oxenreider. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The content of this book has been thoroughly reviewed for accuracy. However, the author and publisher disclaim any liability for any damages, losses, or injuries that may result from the use or misuse of any product or information presented herein. It is the purchasers responsibility to read and follow all instructions and warnings on all product labels. Published by Betterway Home Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine Betterway Home Books are available from your local bookstore, or online, or direct from the publisher. Visit our website, www.fwmedia.com.

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Distributed in Canada by Fraser Direct
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Distributed in the U.K. and Europe by F+W Media International
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Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link
P.O. Box 704, S. Windsor NSW, 2756 Australia, Tel: (02) 4577-3555

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Oxenreider, Tsh
Organized simplicity : a clutter-free approach to intentional living / by Tsh Oxenreider. 1st
ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-4403-0263-3 (hardcover : alk. paper)
eISBN 13: 978-1-4403-1360-8
1. House cleaning. 2. Storage in the home. 3. Time management. I. Title.
TX324.O79 2010
648.8 dc22

2010019266

Edited by Jacqueline Musser; designed by Clare Finney; production coordinated by Mark Griffin. Photos on pages 36 and 186 by Tsh Oxenreider. Photos on pages 1213, 96 and 118 by Angie Warren. Photos on pages 166 and 167 by Rachel Meeks.

About the Author

Tsh Oxenreider is the creator of the popular blog SimpleMom.net and is the founder of SimpleLivingMedia.com. She is passionate about simplifying life and eliminating clutter so that the truly meaningful things in life can breathe. Tsh spends her days with her husband and three young children exploring the world, reading and learning, and being inspired by whatever surroundings their travels take them to. To learn more about her projects, visit TshOxenreider.com.

Dedication

To Kyle I wouldnt want to live life with anyone else.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to F+W Media for taking a chance on a first-time blogger-turned-author, and to my editor, Jackie Musser, for your ongoing support and encouragement.

Thanks, also, to the many fabulous people Ive been blessed to know online and who contributed in some way to the crafting of this book (even indirectly, just through their encouragement): Corey Allan, Maya Bissineer, Lisa Byrne, Mandi Ehman, Kara Fleck, Katie Fox, Barbara Jones, Marie LeBaron, Lisa Leonard, Shannon Lowe, Jamie Martin, Rachel Meeks, Melissa Michaels, Nester, Crystal Paine, Charlie and Sarah Park, Meredith Pelham, Heidi Scovel, Amanda Soule, Megan Tietz, Ann Voskamp, Emily Walker, Aime Wimbush-Bourque, Alli Worthington, and the many others with whom I am honored to share the blogosphere. I am better because of you all.

Thank you to Cheryl Carrell, Ali Glass, Lisa Henke, Kerin Hurley, Natasha Kohlmann, Heather Lewis, Melanie Lloyd, Rachel McAdams, Meena Matocha, Kristi Naizer, Clarisa Rhodes, Amy Scott, Ginny Tittel, Lisa Van Allen, and Brooke Wagen for your ongoing friendship. If I had it my way, Id put you all in one room and give you a giant group hug. I suppose that will have to wait until Heaven.

Thank you to Hannah Wheeler, who watched my little ones so that I could scribble away on this book. My kids love you, and because of you, this book actually happened.

Thank you to all the readers of SimpleMom.net, for providing me with a writing platform miraculously equipped with speakers. I am honored and humbled beyond measure that you would spend some of your day with me. I am so grateful for you.

Thank you to my family to Mom and Dad, to Josh, Joan, Nellie, Holden, Ed, Linda, Darren, Carly, Aaron, Ashton, and Carsyn. I am blessed beyond belief to have a family as supportive as you all are. Thanks for your encouragement, for your interest in my work, and for your inspiration. And thanks for loving me as I am.

To Tate and Reed, my little darlings who make me laugh, cry, and stand before God in awe: Thank you for the awesome privilege of being your mama. It is truly the best job on Earth. And to the little guy kicking inside me as I type I cant wait to meet you. You are forever welcome in this family.

Finally, to my biggest cheerleader, chef, chauffer, admin, comrade, friend, confidante, and life mate: Kyle, I still cant believe how blessed I am to be married to you. Thank you for your nonstop support as I wrote this book and put other things to the side for a season. You are a gift, and I love you.

Contents

Appendices

Introduction

Simple living is not easy, ironically. Its hard to know where to start, what steps to take, and what it really looks like. Most simple living books are inundated with theories, step-by-step plans, and experts who can tell you exactly what your simple life should look like.

This is not one of those books. Sure, there are checklists and tasks to help you on your journey toward a simpler life. But at the foundation of this book is the idea of redefining simplicity. You must understand simple living as something more than just a catch phrase, some pie-in-the-sky ambition, a trend. Only then will you find the motivation to create a simpler life that works for you, your family, and your home. I want to help you find what simple living looks like for you.

Personally, Ive always craved a simple life. As our culture progresses toward more busyness, more options, and more opportunities to make money, my heart runs the other way. Sure, I value working from home (I am a blogger and entrepreneur, after all). And Im thankful for the choices of cereals down the grocery store aisle most of the time. But adding more choices often only adds more stress to our lives. One hundred years ago, a housewife didnt have an endless selection of toothpastes. She probably had one option she could buy at her local apothecary, or she could make her own. And she didnt complain about her lack of toothpaste choices or flavors she didnt know any different because thats just the way life was back then.

Are we any happier today because we can choose from twenty different toothpaste brands and thirty different flavors between them all? Maybe our teeth are a bit healthier, but were not any more content as a culture. Were stressed.