Cheers— to lazy days!

Today I wanted to share some pretty pictures or write something amazing. But that's just not how today feels. I'm fighting off some kind of cold/sickness/blah that Nick gave me and as much as I want to convince myself to be productive, in reality, all I've managed to do is setup a Facebook fan page for this blog.
But you know what? I'm okay with that! Although my entire body is aching and I can't breathe, I woke up feeling so happy and thankful. I looked in the mirror this morning at my dirty hair, chapped lips from being sick, and under eye circles and thought, "I look really pretty. . ." I could have been down on myself, but instead, I just accepted how things are and watched contentedly as Nick setup a Nintendo emulator. I could complain about being sick, or how terrible car shopping has been, or that I never get enough sleep. But in reality, I have an amazing + supportive partner, a great job, and a roof over my head— so I'm just simply happy.
I've been working on my stress levels lately and realizing that most of the pressure I feel simply comes from ridiculous deadlines and tension that I put on myself. I've slowly been learning to accept when things aren't "perfect" and that it's okay to ask for help when you need it. Mostly I'm learning that it's okay to have a sink full of dishes or a floor piled with clothes or a post that goes up a day or two "late". So here I am today in all my unproductive, unwashed, no make up glory— feeling better than I have in a long time. I feel truly good on the inside, like everything is just going to be okay. So cheers to finding happiness, embracing laziness, and playing video games all day long!
Ps. My super talented friend Julia made this mug— you can view her work here!

Resources for Simpler Living

It seems like nearly every goal list I have read so far this year has included something along the lines of simplifying life: cutting back (on spending, eating, online presence), focusing on quality instead of quantity, slowing down/focusing on the present. And while I think all of these are great, I know it can be pretty overwhelming to even know where to start. Now, I'm not going to pretend like I have become some sort of minimalist master, but I have read a lot of tips and articles on the subject and I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite resources that can help you simplify different aspects your life.
Do you see my mess of a life above?!  Well a lot of these resources have already helped me take care of the inexcusable photos above. (Yes, that is all my house. Yes, I am kind of embarrassed to post these pics. No, I will not make excuses for it. No, it doesn't look like this anymore— thankfully!) So check out the links below and let's transform ourselves together!

Getting Started/Inspired: 
When I first decided to overhaul my lifestyle, the single most useful + inspirational site I found was (and still is) mnmlst.com. It's a site by Leo Babauta about "how less is the answer". I read every single post he had ever written at the time, started following him, and haven't missed a post since. No matter what part of your life you are trying to simplify— he's probably written about it. Here are some of my favorite posts to get you started:

• How to Let Go of Possessions
• Consumerism vs. Minimalism
• Why Less Stuff is Better
• Fear

The Dreaded Closet: 

One of the first places I started to cutback and simplify was my closet. This is always a huge challenge for people and but I have found some help along the way. I'm not quite where I want to be yet, but here's some help to get you started: 

• Edit Your  Life, Part 5: Your Wardrobe: another article by Leo 
• The No Brainer Wardrobe: an ebook by Hayley Morgan 
• A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style: a book by Tim Gunn
• 8 Tips for Thrifting Quality Vintage: a guide from Secondhand Sundays

Helping Your Wallet:

I can't say that I'm a money pro or that I know how to do taxes, but I have paid off all my credit cards and am making headway on student loans. Money is a complicated topic and varies widely from person to person, but the things that help me most are to carry cash, live within your means/know your budget, and get a second job/hobby to help make extra payments on things. I'm also a big fan of using The Snowball Method to help get your debts/finances in order. 

What You Eat:  

Almost no goals list would be complete without a diet change, eh? I'm a big fan of food, not a big fan of diets. I much prefer that people practice self-love and body positivity rather than beat themselves up about an arbitrary number sewn onto a piece of fabric. But I do think most of us could use more fruits and veggies in our lives. I really love eating wholesome foods so choosing salads or smoothies isn't hard for me since I already think they are delicious.
However, I am terrible at food planning and smart grocery shopping. Now that I have a super adult 9-5 life, I really want to learn how to streamline my meals so that I can save time and energy every morning and during the work week. Two things that I think will help me are these diy pre-made fruit packs for fast breakfasts and these salad in a jars for lunch. I love food ideas that save time! 

Keeping You Inspired: 

These are some different sites and tools that I've found useful for providing me daily inspirations every week: 

• Things Organized Neatly and F*Yeah Minimalist Posters
• Follow the Dalai Lama or read his book The Way to a Meaningful Life

I hope some of these links can help you start a happy, mindful, and simple 2013. Do you have any additional resources or tips I left out that work for you? Share them in the comments so we can all learn how to have a life that allows us to do more of the things we love!