It's lifestyle that was very much blossomed when I became a mom - even before my daughter was born. Most of the things around me seemed to lose their value around that time - it was like a switch turned on that didn't allow room for extraneous things. Time felt more precious with the arrival of my daughter, and I didn't want to waste it with, or constantly tending to stuff. It seems like early last year there was a real breakthrough though - understanding that there needed to be a goal, not just purging, and then regaining more things.

Ultimately, for me, my goal to simplifying is less things, less waste. Not just waste of resources, but also time. My time is better spent doing the things that I love and focused on the people I love, rather than with belongings.

The book Simplicity Parenting that I mentioned earlier felt like an extension on The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying-Up for parents, beyond just minimizing our belongings. It spoke on simplifying our environment and our daily routines, to find connection with our children, our spouses, even ourselves.

Speaking a little bit on how we keep things simple: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying-Up by Marie Kondo helped me with the process of refining what we had (I didn't follow it implicitly, but it helped a lot).

It's a large topic, but simplifying and minimalism relates greatly to the environment for me. I mentioned before that we buy used whenever possible - this choice isn't just good for the environment, but also helps us save to afford higher quality goods when needed. Alternatively, when items no longer have value to us (typically baby-related items) we sell, donate or lend them to others who may need them.

I try to consider each purchase that I make and the impact of it. I think about the materials, where they were made, how they were made, if it will last or go out of fashion, if it can serve more than one purpose. But all of that being said, I also don't think every item has to have a direct purpose - some belongings just make me happy! And having fewer things, especially those truly special items, helps me value the belongings that I do have more.

I share this William Morris quote often, because I think it's a great measure for the worth of our belongings: "Have nothing in your home you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."  

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9. Your blog is lovely. Why made you to start it and what does it mean to you?

There's no hiding that I love wooden toys - there's such a weight and quality to them that plastic just can't offer. The leaf puzzle and Tree Learning cards are probably my favourite. I love that with the puzzle you learn to recognize different wood grains, and with the cards you learn to recognize trees by their leaves - I'm always eager to enhance my nature literacy. I also love all the watercolour art featured in prints, cards and games. My husband is an artist, and I appreciate seeing quality work being offered to children in the form of a memory game, or animal identification cards.

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