• It took five minutes for the television to warm up.
• There was an antenna on the roof of your house which was connected to rabbit ears on the top of your television.
• You had to adjust the TV’s vertical and horizontal holds to get good reception.
• Sometimes wrapping aluminum foil around the rabbit ears would give you a better picture.

• You had to get up and walk over to the television to turn it on and off. You also had to get up and walk over to the television to change the channel.
• There were only three TV stations, and they went off the air at night.
• The first TV program “in living color” was an event.
• Phones were black with rotary dials and party lines.
• You dialed “0″ on your telephone to get an Operator.
• Phone numbers had a word prefix like “DI(amond)” or “OL(ympic).”
• If you weren’t home and needed to call someone, you had to use a pay phone.
• Nearly everyone’s mom was home when kids got home from school.
• Nylon stockings came in two pieces, one for each leg, and had dark seams down the back.
• Females wore hats and gloves to church.
• No one owned a purebred dog.
• A mixed breed dog was called a mutt or Heitz 57, and nobody paid good money to buy one.
• A quarter was a decent allowance.
• You wouldn’t think twice about picking up a penny.
• A service station attendant pumped your gas, cleaned your windshield, and automatically checked your oil, without asking, free of charge, every time you went for gasoline.
• Laundry detergent came with free glassware, dishes, or towels hidden inside the box.
• You had to defrost the refrigerator.
• It was considered a special treat to go out to dinner at a restaurant with your parents.
• Diners and soda counters had table-top jukeboxes.
• Soda pop machines dispensed soda pop in glass bottles.
• Girls wore ugly gym uniforms.
• Male teachers wore dress shirts and neckties; female teachers wore high heels and had their hair done.
• Teachers threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed . . . and then did it.
• Being sent to the principal’s office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home.
• Spanking a naughty child was OK.
• A ’57 Chevy was everyone’s dream car.
• Cool guys wore leather jackets and jeans, had ducktail haircuts, and were considered “fast.”
• No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked.
• You had a key for your roller skates and wore it around your neck.
• You collected 45 RPM records and listened to them on your Hi-Fi.
• Stuff from the store came without safety caps or seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger.
• People went “steady.”
• Young lovers sat in the balcony of the movie theater where they could make out.
• You knew how to do the Jitterbug, Stroll, Bristol Stomp, Mashed Potatoes, Twist, and Pony.
• Girls word saddle shoes and bobby socks.
• You would lie on your back in the grass with friends and say things like, “That cloud looks like a . . .”
• Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
• You played baseball on back lots without adults to help with the rules of the game.
• When you played baseball, the captains of each team moved their hands up a bat to see which team went first.
• Summers were filled with bike rides, rollerskating, baseball games, hula hoops, bowling, visits to the pool, and Saturday matinees at the movies.
• If rain kept you indoors, you couldn’t wait to get out.
• A quarter would get you into the movies where you could sit all afternoon watching three horror flicks in a row.
• You could get a McDonald hamburger, fries, and a milkshake for under a dollar.
• The milk man delivered milk in glass bottles with paper bottle caps right to your doorstep.
• You would “double dog dare” someone.
• Decisions were made by using “eeny-meeny-miney-moe.”
• “Race issue” meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
• It wasn’t odd to have two or three best friends.
• The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was the cooties.
• Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.
• A foot of snow on a school day was a dream-come-true.
• “Oly-oly-in-free” made perfect sense.
• You played a game called “It.”
• When you went to your friend’s house, instead of knocking on the door, you sang, “Oh, [name of friend].”
• Packs of baseball cards came with squares of pink bubble gum in each that broke into pieces when you bit into them.
• Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.
• Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
• Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
• War was a card game.

"William L. Carlin House," mixed media, 2012

May 2012…. Tom and I awoke this morning to the sweet song of chickadees and morning doves cooing outside our bedroom window. It is near heaven on earth when the sky is blue and the air smells clean and fresh. We opened the windows to let gentle breezes and the scent of lilacs float through the house. Ah, lilacs . . . their fragrance is one of my favorites and calls to mind a gentle, more-romantic era. Recently, Tom and I enjoyed an historic home walking tour that took us back in time. Part of the tour was a huge, brick Victorian on Main Street (circa 1888), which we had passed many times on our drives through town. I always wondered what it was like inside. I was surprised and pleased. Restored to its former glory, its rooms are big, bright, and airy. Tall ceilings. Polished wood. Period décor and furniture. A lovely, gracious home where I can easily imagine ladies gathering for afternoon tea in the parlor.

April 2012…. Spring is officially here in Ohio, and we are enjoying sunshine and warm weather with the intermittent showers that come with the season. Around this time last year we were making final preparations for our trip to Wyoming. It’s a whole other world there. Spring arrives more slowly, and it’s not unusual for snow to fall in the mountains in April and May. Mother Nature takes her sweet time and can be treacherous. She paints the landscape in lustrous shades of green—emerald, chartreuse, vibrant teal, and forest— against a backdrop of red earth, rocky mountain ranges, and powder blue sky . . . and gives you fair warning. Dark clouds loom on the horizon, shrouding the highest peaks in mystery.

"Horses of Wyoming," watercolor, 2012

March 2012…. We are having an early spring with days that are unseasonably warm and sunny. Mother Nature is waking from her long winter sleep, and our yard is coming alive with color and wildlife. The air is fresh and clean. Birds are building nests, and the squirrels are coming out to play. Soon we’ll be seeing ducks and geese on our pond out back with their newborns. It’s time to do a little gardening, sit outside on the patio, and enjoy the simple pleasures this season of renewal has to offer. The beauty of spring is rebirth. Just as the Earth comes out of its winter sleep, my spirit is once again renewed and filled with hope.

"Spring Ducklings," watercolor, 2012

"Clare with Crayons," watercolor, 2010

February 2012…. There’s an old saying—you love your kids, but fall in love with their children. So true. Who is more loveable than a precious grandchild? Wide-eyed and innocent, full of wonder, smiles, and affection, their love is unconditional. They accept you for who you are without criticism or passing judgment; and they tug at your heartstrings without even realizing the power they hold. When I hear Clare (at my home office door) say . . . “Grandma?” . . . I am putty in her little hands.

January 2012…. In our neck of the woods, winter always brings blustery, cold days and snow, and a desire to curl up on the couch in front of the fire. Tom’s painting, “Amish Farm in Winter,” illustrates the stark reality of winter in Ohio. Cold. Peaceful. Barren. Beautiful. Truth is, when all around the world is white, it’s hard to tell where earth and sky meet.

Amish Farm in Winter, watercolor, 2010

(Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)

Maybe it’s just me being female and growing weary of the same old stuff, but my closet reminds me of that famous misquote from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink. In my case, I have a boatload of clothes, yet nothing to wear.

I’m at a point where I find myself opting for the same outfits day-after-day and ignoring the rest.

Take a look at your own closet. Is it loaded with clothes you haven’t worn for ages? Do you have trouble choosing what to wear in the morning? Do you have clothes that don’t fit, you don’t like, or can’t wear because they are ripped or stained? How about your clothes drawers? Are they so overstuffed you have to rifle through and toss stuff out just to find what you want?

If your answer to any of these is yes, it might be time for you, like me, to edit your wardrobe and simplify—toss, donate, or keep only what you love and need—getting rid of all items no longer worn for whatever reason.

Empty your closet

First things first, clear your closet. Take everything out. Put it all on your bed and go through items one at a time, deciding what stays and what goes. Use the keep-donate-toss method and follow these guidelines:

• Toss any item that is stained or torn beyond repair. Keep in mind, though, that t-shirts and other cotton clothing make ideal cleaning rags.
• Consider donating anything you haven’t worn in months, don’t plan on wearing, and are probably not going to wear again for a long while, if ever.
• Donate anything that no longer fits. Sure, you plan to lose 10 pounds to get into that outfit. Well, when you do, celebrate and buy yourself something new.
• If an item is out of style or doesn’t match anything else you own, donate it.
• When in doubt, put the item in a box or storage container and label with today’s date. If you ever really want to wear it, it’s still there; but if you never need the item for, say, a year, donate it.
• If an item you like to wear is torn and can be repaired, is missing buttons, or is stained and can be cleaned, put it in a bag to take it to a professional (or do it yourself). If that bag sits in your car or house for more than a week, chances are you’ll never do it. Just accept it and donate or toss.
• Keep everything you love and still wear.
• Keep anything you absolutely love and feel comfortable wearing, even if it’s torn, stained, missing buttons, out-of-style, or whatever. A stained t-shirt or torn jeans can be worn while gardening when you don’t want to worry about ruining good clothes. Your favorite, ragged sweat pants are great for lounging around the house, and there’s nothing wrong with curling up to watch TV in your comfy, old robe on a cold winter night.
• Think quality, not quantity. The fewer clothing you have, the nicer your closet will look.

Keep a box for things you’re thinking about getting rid of but aren’t sure you can part with. When the box is full, write the date on it and store it. After one year, if you haven’t needed or missed anything in the box, it’s time to toss or donate. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)

Clean . . . redo . . . organize

• Before you put anything back into the closet, clean it. Ceiling, walls, floor, shelving. Remove all dirt and dust. You want to make a fresh start.
• Be creative. Paint or paper the closet walls in a color you love. It’ll make you feel good every time you see it.
• Remodel, if necessary. Sometimes a closet isn’t configured in a way that maximizes space. Install an extra hanging bar or put in more shelving for a quick DIY fix. Or you can go pro and opt for built-ins and a custom solution.
• Glam up the lighting. Chances are you have a boring bulb or light fixture. Jazz it up with something romantic, like a small chandelier or glittering pendant; but check with an electrician about your choice first to be safe, not sorry.
• If you don’t have it already, install a full-length mirror on the wall, on the door, or somewhere in close proximity to your dressing area.
• Toss the wire hangers and opt for wood, molded plastic, or slimline metal. Use the same type of hanger for everything for a neat, unified look.

Not everyone can own a home with a large walk-in closet, but we can incorporate the same details that make closets glamorous into our own smaller spaces—fancy lighting, painted/papered walls, glass shelving, fun and funky décor (like the polka-dot upholstered bench or golden drama face wall hangings). This luxury closet by Jamie Drake has it all
and looks like a chic department store dressing room. (Photo: Traditional Home)

• Hang and organize your clothes. I like to organize mine by color. Keeping colors together makes items easier to find. For instance, I don’t have to search long for my favorite tan sweater—it’s right there with the other tan items. Some people, though, work best with their clothes organized into complete outfits. This is a personal choice; choose a system that works best for you.
• Use tie and belt racks. They are a good option for hanging silk scarves, too.
• Decorative hooks work well to keep necklaces and bracelets organized and accessible.
• Wicker baskets and decorative hat boxes are perfect for storing loose items and items that should be folded, not hung; and they look great on closet shelves.
• Put seasonal—winter or summer—clothing in a storage container and label it. When the season comes, break out that container. Or utilize the guest room closet for seasonal stuff. No use keeping clothes you are not currently wearing in your closet the whole year round.
• Put coats and outerwear—woolen scarves and gloves—in your entry closet. Use decorative boxes for smaller items.
• Shoes are best stored on shelves that tilt slightly forward so you can see the shoe. Or you can hang a shoe rack. It’s best to keep shoes visible and handy, especially those you wear all the time. If space is limited, you can leave shoes in their original boxes and stack them on a shelf; just be sure to take a photo of the shoes and stick the photo on the front of the box, so you don’t have to open boxes every time you’re trying to find the right pair. Consider purchasing clear shoe storage boxes for a more-uniform look.
• Hang handbags on purse hooks or let them sit on shelves. Put rolled tissue paper inside, like a shoe-form, to help them hold their shape.
• Keep the closet floor clear if at all possible.
• Be clean. Scent the closet with something fragrant and fresh; and keep the laundry basket, with your dirty stuff, in the laundry room.

Keep a donation hamper in your closet. Every two weeks select an item of clothing you haven’t worn in the past six months and throw it in. When the hamper is full, take it to a local charitable organization. —Peter Walsh, organizing expert and author of Enough Already!
(Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)

Keep things simple

• For a simple lifestyle, keep clothes that are simple in design and can be paired with anything.
• Refrain from buying unnecessary clothing and apparel.
• When you do buy something, stay in the same color scheme so that everything matches and you can mix and match with ease.
• When you buy anything new, toss something old out. This doesn’t have to be done every time; but continual vigilance will keep your closet neat and organized.
• Keep a “Donate” hamper in the closet, so you can toss items in the minute you try something on and realize you don’t want to wear it, don’t like it, and will never want to wear it again.
• Clean closets and edit your wardrobe every six months or so. You will be amazed how liberating—and joyful—it is to have a beautiful closet.

Each spring and fall, do CPR on your closet: Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange.
Carefully consider each item. If it doesn’t make you feel wonderful or look fabulous, it’s a no. Put it in the To Donate box, and put that box in your car. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)

For more closet ideas and inspiration, see Smart Ways to Declutter and Stress Less! and Clothes Closet Organization Solutions at Better Homes and Gardens.

Our stone bird bath, sitting quietly in the shade among rocks and herbs, in early spring.

It’s a lively scene when our feathered friends come to visit. The birds love the water and play in it to their heart’s content. We have sparrows, starlings, purple martins, robins, cardinals, and yellow finches; morning doves coo from the rooftop; and every so often we spy hummingbirds, with their rapidly flapping wings, hovering over flowers, as if suspended in air. The sparrows are especially active, feathering their nests and busily foraging around the yard for food and supplies. They’ve taken over the martin house and just about every other birdhouse we’ve hung in the trees. They are small birds, yet eat so quickly every bit of seed we provide, we wonder where they put it all. We have to fill the feeders often. Our lilac bush, lush and fragrant, is a favorite haunt for butterflies, and it’s not unusual to see a dozen or so at a time fluttering around the lavender blooms. Ducks and geese float with their young on the pond, basking in sunlight. Robins pluck at the grass for fat worms to take back to their nests.

Bailey le Chat sits at the patio door window, watching the scene . . . waiting . . . his tail swaying slowly back-and-forth. We always thought he would do damage if he could get at the birds—we bought him a feathered toy a while back, and he ripped it to shreds the minute we left him alone with it. But the first time we put him outside, the fraidy cat ran for cover, skittish and afraid of every little thing that moved. He spends most of his time outdoors now, his choice, and has made fast friends with the geese who gather around him when he goes down to the pond for a drink.

“The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth.
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
than anywhere else on earth.”
—Dorothy Frances Gurney

In the late afternoon, sunlight shimmers on our pond. Everything is quiet, and I am content.

I wonder if dog and ducks feel how peaceful it is?

Brammy-Kyprianou house in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo: James Knowler)

Kylie Brammy and George Kyprianou bought the small house in 1999.

“The rear of the original house was very dark, and functionally, the space just didn’t work. We love having friends and family over for dinner, but the tiny galley kitchen was only just big enough for two people to walk sideways past each other. There was only one bathroom—right next to the dinner table—so it was a bit uncomfortable when guests had to use it! We decided to open the whole rear of the house right up; it’s north facing, which here in Australia gives you beautiful sunshine all day long. We could see the potential in having a big, tall glass structure to let all the light and warmth in.” —George Kyprianou

A New Addition

click to enlarge

The original house had a very small footprint and was only 20 feet wide. With the help of Phil Harris of Troppo Architects and designer Susanna Bilardo of Enoki, Brammy and Kyprianou extended an additional three feet out to the property line and transformed the small Victorian into a spacious, modern retreat.

Beautiful and subtle, the addition is virtually undetectable from the street.
To meet local heritage requirements the roofline had to mirror neighbors on the laneway side of the house, so the new roof has a unique asymmetrical shape.

Cabinets and ceiling in the living room are black tulipwood. Koura pendant lights by New Zealand designer David Trubridge hang above the dining area. On the floor, behind the couch, is an underground wine cellar. (Photo: Simon Vaughan)

click to enlarge

Inspired by a local winery, George Kyprianou wanted a glass top on his subterranean wine cellar. The interior is lit, casting soft light into the living space at night and revealing the house’s 132-year-old stone foundation. The three-quarter-inch glass lid sits flush with the floorboards; it opens with an ingenious device that Kyprianou devised using a 12-volt air compressor and a remote-controlled switch. When you push the button, the glass lifts just enough to be removed by hand. [Dwell: Party in the Back]

The kitchen's cantilevered concrete countertop extends beyond the glass into the barbecue area.
At night, the Koura pendant lights glow and cast diamond-shaped shadows on the walls.
(Photo: Simon Vaughan)

The fireplace has a vintage look that works well with the modern décor. A hallway, to the left of the fireplace, leads to the first-floor guest bath and bedrooms in the original part of the house.
Upstairs is the master bedroom and bath. (Photo: Simon Vaughan)

click to enlarge

The addition made room for a new guest bathroom and laundry in the middle of the original part of the house. To get light into the space, the designers clad the roof over the guest bathroom with Danpalon, a translucent polycarbonate that brings in a lot of softened natural light. Walls and door are frosted glass. Says Kyprianou: “You can’t see much through the glass—just silhouettes—so our guests don’t mind!” [Dwell: Party in the Back]

Floating above the living area is the master bedroom with its glass walls and a spacious ensuite bathroom.
"Our bedroom is up on the mezzanine level, making us feel like we are in a suspended tree house," says Brammy. "At night we are so lucky to be able to see the stars and moon; we sleep so well up there."
(Photo: Simon Vaughan)

In the master bathroom, the builder kept the existing chimney upright when the walls came down around it.
"We love its wonky shape," says Kyprainou. (Photo: James Knowler)

click to enlarge

To reduce water consumption (Australia has strict regulations due to drought), a clever PVC “water bladder” from Eco Sac was concealed under the rear deck. It holds
3,000 liters of water, collected from the roof, for flushing the home’s toilets and running the washing machine.

The window seat was positioned in the northeast corner of the window so it would catch the last rays of the sun as it goes down. (Photo: James Knowler)

"I love our pool—it provides a yin element of cooling, moistening, and grounding to the house, in contrast to the warm and dry materials we’ve used elsewhere. I can actually touch the water from inside through the sash window at the end of the bench seat, which gives me a sense of serenity. Being connected to the environment is important to me…. As a physiotherapist, I realize the importance of life balance and our home helps to give this to us. It is simple, open, and flexible, and it supports our casual lifestyle.” —Kylie Brammy

The house opens to an outdoor deck and barbecue area. Since soil space is limited, Brammy grows her veggies, lemons, and oranges "secretly" among the other landscaping and espaliered along the fence that extends out behind the barbecue.(Photo: James Knowler)

Windows areViridian ComfortPlus glass, which is coated with an insulated film that is energy-efficient, reduces sound, and filters UV radiation. Other green features include: reclaimed timber and doors; the large-volume water storage tanks hidden under the outdoor decking; grey water reticulation; energy-efficient tap ware, sanitary fixtures and appliances; LED and compact fluorescent lighting; and natural oil finishes and low VOC paints.

Swedish fashion designer, Ulrika Lundgren, and her boutique hotel, Maison Rika.

I lo♥e this bag!

Lundgren, you may or may not know, is the creative force behind the luxury label, Rika. Since 2005, she has been wowing savvy shoppers across the globe with her edgy star-spangled bags and clothing line. High profile fans include Madonna, Scarlett Johannsson, and Helena Christensen, among others. I’m a fan, too, and I would love to own one of her bags; but the price is a bit more than I can afford to spend . . . over $700 for the tote I want.

Lundgren opened Maison Rika in November 2011. It’s a two-room inn and gallery centrally located in Amsterdam’s Leidseplein neighborhood, not far from Lundgren’s Rika Boutique. The guesthouse boasts a clean black-and-white color scheme with exposed beams, crisp white walls, and stained wooden floors. The window trim is painted black to match the flooring. It has a quirky style, but is beautifully put together to make her guests feel right at home.

The ground floor, referred to as the Gallery Boutique, contains carefully selected items for sale and is used as the setting for pop-up fashion, music, and art events. There's a nice mix of contemporary and vintage furniture. A French settee is upholstered in black fabric to coordinate with the black-and-white scheme. The floor lamp was designed by Paul Lelieveld.
Framed butterflies hang on the back wall next to the stairway.

Stairs, stained black, wind to the upper floors and two guestrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Rika's signature star and art work by friend and stylist, San Ming, adorn the stairway walls.

Second-floor guestroom décor is eclectic and comfortable with just enough edge for a trendy feel.
Black velvet drapes frame windows that offer excellent views of the Canal Herengracht.

Cozy corner has two small benches for guests to sit and enjoy the view.
The bottle lamp was designed by Maison Martin Margiela.

"It was fun to decorate the rooms," says Lundren, "I wanted guests to feel like they were sleeping
over at a friend's house" The wall art is by San Ming. The floor lamp, designed by Paul Lelieveld,
is the same as the one used in the ground-floor Gallery Boutique.

The largest guestroom on the top floor has a loft feel with exposed ceiling beams painted in white.
It's windows are also framed in black velvet and look out onto the Canal Herengracht.

[above] Guestroom décor is minimalist. A simple, upholstered bench offers a quiet place to sit and read or view the canal below.

[right] Another Maison Martin Margiela’s bottle lamp casts a soft glow on the exposed white ceiling beams.

Rika's signature star hangs from a guestroom key. I don't know what you have to do to qualify as one of Lundgren's Guests I Met and Liked, but I would love to see my name listed there. Other cool notebooks, in various bright colors, are available for sale in the Gallery Boutique.

Lundgren encourages local artists to display their work and hosts pop-up fashion, music, and art events. Besides featuring Rika apparel in the Gallery Boutique, other items that complement the Rika brand are also offered for sale, such as, Astier de Villate scented candles, Maison Michel headbands,
and Summerbird organic chocolates, to name a few.

From the outside, looking in. The front window was handpainted by Lot Madeleine.
Everything about Maison Rika is quirky and wonderful . . . O, and BTW, I lo♥e that starry scarf!

click to enlarge

Maison Rika

Oude Spiegelstraat 12
1016 BM Amsterdam
Netherlands

email: maison@rikaint.com
phone: +31 20 330 1112

The price is 200 euros for a night,
roughly $260.30 USD

For more information, visit Maison Rika.

When you’re trying to eat healthy,
eating can get complicated.
Simplify Your Eating Habits

Trying to eat healthier? Make lifestyle changes and have a weekly cheat day!

It can be a difficult thing to change our diets.

I’m not a big fan of being on a “diet” in the first place, especially one that restricts you to bland food and makes you feel like you’re suffering. These diets are doomed to failure, as they might work in the short term but we will always—always—fall off them. Trust me, I’ve tried and fallen off many: Atkins, South Beach, the Abs Diet, Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, and some you probably haven’t heard of.

As others have said before me, don’t go on a diet—go for a healthy lifestyle change instead. This means making changes that you can sustain for the rest of your life.

Here are some simple changes you can make to eat healthier

Substitute whole grains for refined carbs. Ditch white bread and eat whole grain bread (note that wheat bread and whole grain bread are different—the first uses enriched wheat flour, which is refined, and the second uses whole grain flour, which isn’t). Eat whole grain pasta instead of regular pasta. Eat brown rice instead of white. Whole grain bagels instead of regular. You get the idea. Whole grains are much healthier—more nutrients, slower to digest, more fiber. Refined carbs offer nearly no nutrition in exchange for lots of calories. And after a little while, you won’t want to go back. Whole grains taste better and are more satisfying.

Eat more fruits and veggies. Yes, everyone will tell you this. But it’s an easy change to make. Just stock up on them every week when you go shopping, and snack on them throughout the day. Have berries for breakfast. Snack on fruits at your desk in the office. Eat raw or steamed veggies with lunch and dinner. Fruits are a great after-dinner snack. Fruits and veggies not only provide nutrients and fiber, but they fill you up without giving you too much in calories and fat.

Eat leaner meats (or better yet, other forms of protein!). Switching beef for lean chicken or turkey is an easy change to make. You might love red meat, but it’s killing you. There are very tasty dishes you can make using lean meat. And even better is soy protein . . . or nuts and whole grains, beans and other such forms of protein. All the nutrients with none of the saturated fat! If this is difficult for you, try doing it one day a week to start with.

Cut back on sweets. This is my most difficult challenge. I have not been completely successful on this, but I have made progress by cutting back on the pastries and candies and other sweet desserts. I usually just have a little now, and find healthier treats to enjoy instead.

Go slowly for success

Implement these changes one-at-a-time—slowly and over a long period of time. Don’t start tomorrow by saying you’re going to drastically change your entire diet. You will have a difficult time, suffer, and fail within a few weeks. When the change is very drastic and restrictive, it is too hard for most of us; and it’s just a matter of time before we fail.

Give yourself a break sometimes!

A final tip: if you decide to cut back on sweets, or something similar, give yourself one cheat day a week. This will make it easier on you and give you something to look forward to. It will also increase the likelihood of your success.

Leo Babauta is a simplicity blogger and author. He created Zen Habits, a Top 25 blog (according to Time magazine) with 200,000 subscribers, mnmlist.com, and the best-selling books, The Power of Less and Zen To Done, as well as several eBooks. Babauta is a former journalist of 18 years, a husband, and father of six. In 2010, he moved his family from Guam to San Francisco where he leads a simple life. You can follow him on Twitter.

If you are a regular reader, you are probably intrigued by the idea of simplifying. In fact, you may have even given up many material things and actively live a very simple life. People who have adopted this level of simplicity, especially in the land of consumerism, are incredibly inspiring and fascinating.

But let’s be real here. In spite of embracing the concept of simplicity, most people really love their stuff, and they love acquiring more stuff. Like our attitudes about a healthy diet, our feelings about material things are complicated. We know what’s good for us, but we just don’t want to give up what we like. Our stuff makes us feel good.

Is it possible to live a simple life and still love stuff? How much letting go of stuff really counts toward simplifying anyway?

Living simply and detaching from material things will make you happier. There is real research and lots of anecdotal evidence to support the truth of this. But is it possible that some material things can add to our happiness, sense of contentment, and joy in life? If so, how do you go about deciding what’s good stuff and what’s bad?

Perhaps the deciding factor is motivation. Do the things that you own or wish to buy support your ego, or do they enliven your soul? Some material things can afford you a sense of warmth, coziness, beauty, fond memories, or comfort. There are other things that offer only that fleeting rush of acquisition.

If you infuse mindfulness into your ideas and actions around material things, you can create a gentle balance between loving stuff and living simply.

Sorting through the stuff you have

1. Look around your house now. Walk from room to room. Do you see things that you never use and don’t really care about? Why not give them away or sell them? Clear physical and psychic space by removing the “dead wood” in your environment. Someone else might really need these things.
2. Examine why you are hanging on to something. Is it truly useful or meaningful, or does it feed your ego in some way? Are you holding on to it just to impress others or to make yourself feel better or more important?
3. Look at how you spend your time. Do you have things you own for hobbies that you never pursue? Do you have a kitchen full of gadgets, but you rarely cook? If you truly think you will come back to a hobby or activity, box things up and put them out of sight until you do. Be realistic about how much time you have to use your extraneous stuff.
4. Are you in a career that is thing-focused? Decorators, car dealers, retailers and others involved in creating, buying, selling and marketing merchandise, can have a hard time detaching from material things because they are always surrounded by the newest and best. There is beauty and art in many things, but consider this: you don’t have to own them all to appreciate them. Eckhart Tolle once suggested to Oprah Winfrey that she not buy everything she likes or wants—just savor it for the moment in the store.
5. Consider experiences rather than things. On the whole, experiential purchases provide far more pleasure than material purchases. The memory of experiences improves with time, but material purchases are harder to think about abstractly. Experiences also encourage social relationships which provide long-lasting happiness. If you are itching to spend, spend on a great experience with someone you enjoy.

When you think about your things or want to purchase something new, consider whether . . .

You will know you are buying mindlessly if you . . .

It is possible to balance a simpler life with owning and acquiring material things. You can enjoy stuff without living the life of an aesthetic. The exact balance you create is a matter of personal preference. But realize there is a diminishing point of return with accumulation and materialism that undermines authentic joy and fulfillment in life.

Apply mindful purging to your current lifestyle and belongings, as well as thoughtful consideration to your future purchases. Carefully examine your motivations for keeping possessions or buying new things. Once you allow things to serve your soul, rather than you being a slave to your things, your life will evolve into an artful harmony between what you have and who you are.

Barrie Davenport is a mother, freelance writer, and author. She’s the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Brainstorm, creator of Live Bold and Bloom, and co-founder of A-List Blog Marketing. Previously in PR for over 25 years, Barrie provides career and life transition coaching, blog coaching and marketing, and courses in personal development. Her e-book, 7 Key Ingredients for a Meaningful Life, as well as her courses, Discover Your Passion: A Step-by-Step Course for Creating the Life of Your Dreams and The Bold Living Guides, are available online. You can follow Barrie on Facebook and Twitter.

I am woman-hear-me-roar. I sing this anthem joyously, not for any political reasons, but as a celebration of my own strength, courage, and determination.

When I found myself suddenly single after twenty-five years of marriage, I learned quickly enough just how difficult it is to be a single female in America. No longer wearing the title “Mrs” . . . no longer under the protective wing of a husband . . . my status dropped dramatically. Even though I was the same person—and a happier, more-relaxed person—society viewed me as a reckless, irresponsible, emotional single female.

It was a rude awakening during those first months of my separation from my soon-to-be-ex to learn my car insurance premiums were going to increase considerably simply because, as my agent explained, I was female, no longer married, and now considered a “volatile risk.” Utility companies told me a variation of the same thing. It didn’t matter to them that I had been employed full-time for over ten years at the same place or that during the last three years of the marriage—while my ex was blissfully unemployed—I had been the one paying all the bills. It didn’t matter that, in truth, I was the more mature, responsible, and trustworthy person. I was told, because I was female, I had “less earning potential” than my ex had and, therefore, was considered less credit worthy. If I wanted to get his name off the accounts—gas, electric, phone, or whatever—and put the accounts in my name, I would need to pay sizeable security deposits.

I heard it so many times, at one point I told the woman from the cable company to stop. I told her if she continued to tell me I had to pay more because I was female, arguing that it made perfect sense—Why couldn’t I grasp the fact?—I would sue the company for sex discrimination.

This double standard was annoying at the very least, insulting and degrading, and only served to strengthen my resolve to prove to the world . . . and myself . . . that I was responsible and worthy, a strong female, better than married, and more-than-able to make it on my own.

Female strength is all about self-empowerment. It’s about believing in yourself and knowing, no matter what the obstacles are, you do have the power to make positive changes in your life.

It takes courage, strength, and determination to rise above the low expectations others would place in your way. I dug in. I paid the security deposits, established credit in my own name, opened savings and checking accounts, and continued paying the bills on time, as I always had, like any responsible person, male or female, would.

I was able to jump the roadblocks with quiet strength without compromising my core convictions or belief in myself. It made me a stronger, better person. I am less anxious, more secure, and unafraid because I now know that no matter what should happen, I have the power within myself to do anything—to rise above what appear to be insurmountable odds and accomplish the impossible, if that’s what I need to do. This feeling of empowerment is liberating.

When I look back on the most fulfilling endeavors in my life, I can see that they were always challenges that moved me beyond my comfort zone.

I’m no longer bothered by society’s opinion of females, single or otherwise. I love being female. From pouts to purrs, my femininity is at the core of who I am . . . and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir, Cody, WY

Wyoming. Awesome and incredibly beautiful. Who knew?

Words cannot describe Wyoming. The landscape is other-worldly, almost surreal, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

It is a curious blend of arid desolation, lush wilderness, sand and sagebrush, imposing mountains, and astonishing beauty.

You can drive for hours-and-hours on endless stretches of highway without seeing another soul. Towns are few and far between . . . and so small, you pass through most of them in the blink of an eye.

We saw bighorn sheep, buffalo, elk, moose, and bear on the roads in Shawnee State Park and Yellowstone . . . cattle grazing on rolling land miles from the nearest town . . . cowboys in Cody, not just wannabes in boots and ten-gallon hats; but real, honest-to-goodness Marlboro men who ride broncs and the open range and live on remote homesteads and dude ranches in the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, winding through the far mountainous northwest region, is spectacular beyond description . . . even photos don’t do it justice. It has to be experienced—seen and felt—first-hand to fully appreciate its stunning beauty.

In the Big Horn Mountains, we drove 9,000 feet to the snowy summit. Amidst gently falling flakes, the air was crisp and clean . . . and silent. All you could hear was the babble of water flowing gently in a mountain stream. It was as if we were the only two people in the world.

“Wyoming has lots of elbow room and not much to obstruct the view. Its immensity is matched only by its diversity—rock-strewn mountains, rolling plains, windswept deserts, and pastoral valleys. In every region of the state you can climb to the top of a high peak, spin your gaze like a top, and see nothing but land, rocks, and sagebrush.” —Candy Moulton, author

The landscape of Wyoming is as diverse as anything you can imagine. Rolling, grassy plains. Dry prairies dotted with shrub-steppe, sagebrush, and ephemeral wetland. Rocky, jagged formations rising from the earth. Bluffs, buttes, mesas, and mountain ranges. Thick forests and open range. Colors blend one into the other in every imaginable shade of green—emerald, chartreuse, silver-gray sage, vibrant teal, turquoise, and deep forest green—with a backdrop of dusty sand, red earth, and snow-capped mountains against a wide, never-ending, ever-changing sky.

My lasting impression of Wyoming is that of a vast, open, unspoiled land with few people, abundant wildlife, stunning views, and a definite western flavor.

Scene in Wyoming

There is no one photo that definitively captures the essence of Wyoming. With every turn in the road, the landscape changes.

Heading west on a lonely stretch of highway in Wyoming.

American bison grazing among sagebrush and shrub-streppe.

Washakie Wilderness and North Fork of the Shoshone River in Shoshone National Forest.

Landscape painted in every shade of green—emerald, chartreuse, deep turquoise, and forest.

Rolling foothills of the Absaroka Mountains in northwest Wyoming.

Wind River Scenic Byway (US 20) winding through Wind River Canyon.

American bison relax, NE Entrance Road, Yellowstone National Park.

Fire damage on NE Entrance Road in Yellowstone National Park.

Palette of green is offset by deep red earth and snow-covered mountains on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Buffalo grazing among sagebrush and shrub-streppe.

Granite rock in the Big Horn Mountains.

Same day, an hour or so later . . . Big Horn Mountains at 9,000 feet.