Hidden Magnolias

Anyone who knows me, knows I am no minimalist. I love stuff – pretty stuff. Lots of pretty stuff --furniture, dishes, paintings, books, do-dads, knick-knacks, you name it. Nancy's Daily Dish Pinterest But recently, I have been intrigued by the minimalist movement. Mainly because so many of my friends say their children don’t want grandma’s china or silver or an old dresser set or any family heirloom. They are so disheartened – they gently saved and protected these heirlooms for years to pass along to children who now want no part of them.  Pinterest So, I had to investigate. What is a minimalist? The website The Minimalists gives their definition:        "Minimalism has helped us…   ...

I have recently read several blog posts, articles, etc. about Happiness. There are small things we can do everyday to increase our satisfaction with life in general. There is even a grassroots movement based on the book by Gretchen Rubin, called The Happiness Project . I haven't read it yet, but it is on my list. I want to share a few things that I do that I think increase my happiness. I am sure there are many more but I am limiting my list to five. 1. Make your bed. Making your bed makes the overall appearance of your room tidy. When you come home from a long hard day and walk into a messy bedroom, your whole attitude becomes one of defeat and despair. Just a made bed provides just enough visual organization to your room to prevent this feeling. And for me, the few times I haven't made my bed, seems like I have drop-in company. Grrr.... 2. Clean your sink. Years ago, I discovered Flylady.net . Her original web...