17 tips on our 17th anniversary

Nick and I just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary yesterday!

It's gone by in a flash and he's still my favorite person. I would say I just got lucky, but honestly, I know it's the combination of God putting us together and us putting in the work.

So, if you're looking for some advice, here are 17 things we recommend for a happy marriage:

1. Say "thank you" about everything. I always do Nick's laundry, cook the meals, clean the house and run errands and Nick always thanks me for all of it. Nick always repairs the cars, takes care of the yard and works daily to provide for us financially and I always thank him for it. Daily, even if it seems like overkill, we thank each other. Basically, if we notice something our spouse did that made our lives easier, we say thank you.

2. Practice self-care. Think about how you looked when your spouse fell in love with you. How you dressed, how you did your hair, your perfume, your shape, etc. Your spouse was attracted to you. Although we naturally age, I'm always trying to do my best to impress Nick with my looks by taking good care of myself and dressing in clothes that he enjoys on me.

3. Hang out with friends, separately and together. It's healthy to have girls nights, guys nights, double dates, couples weekends, etc. Friends can help support our marriage by keeping things fun and giving us an additional support system, on top of mine and Nick's own friendship.

4. Take a vacation. We miss Ivy terribly, but Nick and I always feel closer after we take a vacation, just the two of us. It gives us time to focus on each other, reconnect and relax, dream about future plans and we always look forward to it.

5. Share a hobby. We've had hobbies come and go, but since we got married we've focused on a plant-based diet as much as possible. It's been fun to read books and discus what we learn, look for vegan restaurants while we travel and watch documentaries together. Find a hobby that gives you and your spouse a common goal and new conversation.

6. Communicate daily and tell the truth. We talk about our day, tell each other new plans to be added to the calendar, cover questions that need to be addressed, share what we did and who we caught up with, etc. It helps us to actively stay on the same page so there are few miscommunications and confused plans.

7. Be generous with compliments. The more Nick compliments me, the more I want to try to keep impressing him. It feels good to be noticed and makes the hard work worth it. If I'm working out and tidying the house daily and Nick notices, I'm much more likely to continue doing it!

8. Host your spouse like a guest. When Nick gets home, I try to remember to offer him a snack or a cup of tea and have a clean towel folded and waiting for him beside the shower. It's not much, but if I'd do it for a guest, why not do the same for my family so they feel treated to that extra touch of care.

9. Go to bed at the same time. This was a piece of advice given to us before we were married and we've stuck with it all these years! Going to bed together gives us time each day to come together, talk about our day, go over tomorrow's plans, bring up anything important, etc. It's also so comforting to turn off the lights, pray and fall asleep together. At a recent marriage event, a husband shared that he began doing this to keep from watching things he shouldn't after his wife had gone to bed. So, whether you need it for accountability or simply to feel closer to your spouse, it's a must-do in my book.

10. Never say anything negative about your spouse. My Grandma Jackson told me this before we were married and I wholeheartedly agree! No one wants to hear us whine about and trash talk our spouses and it does nothing for our marriages. Along with going to bed at the same time each night, this is another piece of advice I always give newlyweds.

11. See a counselor. And on that note, I don't mean that you can't talk about your marital problems. But if you need someone to talk to, go see a professional. If your spouse won't go, then you go alone. Counselors are amazing and I've always been glad I've gone to see one when I need an outside listening ear.

12. Be involved in your home church. Marriage isn't about our happiness. It's about commitment and growth and using our marriage to make an impact on eternity. When we are attending church and caring for missionaries together, we are working towards a common goal outside of ourselves and it keeps our perspective straight.

13. Budget. We took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University the year we got married, got out of debt as quickly as possible, created a budget that we both agreed on and stuck to it. We have weekly money meetings to talk about what we've spent and if there was anything unplanned that came up. Staying on top of the finances together has made for less arguments.

14. Get off technology. We both got off all of it and it's freeing. Less distractions. Less comparisons. More time. I hate when I go out and see people on dates, both scrolling their phones and ignoring each other. Or families out to dinner and everyone looking at their own screen. Or even individuals, sitting alone, head down, world tuned out. We need to look up, look in each other's eyes, be open to stillness and conversation, accept solitude and be ok with a little boredom.

15. Work out. Nothing's better than noticing some attractive guy across the gym and realizing it's your own husband. Working out looks good on us and it's loving to take care of your body so you're healthier for the person who loves you most and hopes you'll be around for years to come. Work out daily together so that you can grow old together. It's not convenient, but it's a great habit with lots of rewards.

16. Go on a weekly date. We can't always find a sitter, so sometimes we do a coffee date while Ivy is at preschool. Or we'll get take out and ice cream and have an at-home movie date. But as often as we can, we find a sitter and get out. It reminds us that, although we are parents, we are still just a couple that wants a little romance in our lives and it's showing Ivy that our relationship is important to us.

17. Create a Bucket List. We have a huge, evolving bucket list. We dream, save, plan and then go. Over and over. After 17 years, it's added up to a lot of crossed off countries, states and adventures. It's how we've gone on countless roadtrips to the west coast, spent months in South America, gone to friends weddings in Europe and taken our then 1-year-old daughter on a 2 month cross-country roadtrip. We've done more than any of our friends and it's brought us so much closer because we're in it together and proud of ourselves for making a dream come true.

Am I missing anything? Please comment below and share your marriage advice with me!

16 Ways To Replace Your Smartphone

A year ago, I quit social media and can honestly share that I feel less bothered, more peaceful and make better choices with my time. So, although this was originally a year-long experiment of life and business without social media, it's been so good for me that I've decided to stay off, indefinitely!

And to add to that, I've recently become more convicted over my smartphone use in general. The convenience of all the apps and staying organized on my one device has really made me question if my iPhone complicates my life more than simplifies.

In the past few weeks, I've "dumbed" down my smartphone to the absolute basics and now only use it for calls, texts, photos and maps. It's been a fun challenge and, in the same way that I was happy to live without social media, I've also been enjoying using my phone more like a good ole phone.

My Current Cell Screen!
Swipe left for texts, photos and maps

On that note, I've recently spent a lot of time remembering my smartphone-free years, trying to recall how I did it all without a smartphone in high-school and my 20's, and wondering what it would look like to get back to that again.

So, here is a list of the things that might been to be replaced if I chose to upgrade from my smartphone to a "dumbphone" in the future:

1. WEAR A WRIST WATCH - In my first days of university, a professor had a student go up on stage for a competition. He said if she could tell him the time within 10 seconds, she would win a prize. Trouble was, by the time she ran back to her seat, pulled her phone out of her backpack and checked the time, the 10 seconds were over and she lost. The professors point was that everyone should wear a watch and I've never forgotten!

2. USE A WALL CALENDAR / CARRY A CALENDAR - It may seem too simple, but I'm currently carrying a piece of torn-out notebook paper in my purse with plans written down and a wall calendar in our kitchen (so Nick can see all our family events and appointments). I found that when I used the calendar app, I had to continually check it because I couldn't remember our plans. But, once I deleted that app and started using a paper calendar, I can remember almost everything without having to constantly re-check plans.

3. USE A CALCULATOR - When Nick and I were first married, we were poor students who went to school full-time and worked all other waking hours. We would go together once per week to ALDI, walk around the store, put items in our cart and add it up on the calculator until we reached $50, which was our grocery budget. It's true that calculator was on our phones, but our phones were just the old bricks that cell-phone companies would give for free because they only made calls. For years now, I've been using my smartphone calculator, but I get sucked into other things on the screen and forget I even picked up my phone for the calculator. So, last week, I bought an inexpensive calculator to use from now on, to stop my accidental multi-tasking.

4. CHECK EMAIL FROM A COMPUTER - I don't get any interesting emails, but still found myself checking for new emails on my smartphone throughout the day. I decided to delete the app and only check my email on my laptop. Now on some days, I forget to even check because the emails are so boring and I'm now not sure what was drawing me into checking on my phone in the first place, except that it was there and I had the habit of checking.

5. QUIT ONLINE SHOPPING - Online shopping can turn into too much browsing and wasting time. I've decided that when possible, I'll just go in person to search for what I need, try it on and make decisions at the store. It beats waiting on shipping and then going out to make returns when most things don't work. Don't get me wrong, I have an Amazon account that I use for many things, but I try to limit it to simply logging in to make a purchase I already know I need, instead of shopping around to see what's available.

6. COMMUNICATE IN PERSON - Too often, I'd be with someone and plan to make plans, saying "I'll text you". Now I'm trying to make a conscious effort to slow down and talk it out and say what I want to say in that moment, so that I don't have to text later to finish up the conversation.

7. KEEP A NOTEBOOK AND USE STICKY NOTES - My thoughts are much more creative when I write them down as opposed to typing them out. So I'm keeping a notebook and sticky notes around to jot down my thoughts and let my mind wander more often.

8. READ BOOKS - I've had a Kindle for probably close to a decade and I can tell you that I read books differently on a Kindle than on a paperback or hardback. Maybe it's that I get my Kindle books free, so I just fly through them, almost skimming the entire story because there was no investment. But, when I'm holding a real book in my hand, I take more time to read slowly and enjoy.

9. TRAVEL WITHOUT GPS - Have you ever used MapQuest? That was how I got around until my late 20s! I would look up the directions, write it down on a piece of paper and head out. I'm directionally challenged, and paper directions don't reroute you when you miss a turn, so I spent a lot of time going backwards to where I was before I was lost and then following the directions again until I got them right. True, it took more time, and I often got turned around or lost, but I always ended up at the right place eventually. And without GPS, I was better about learning my way around. But these days, now that I have my smartphone with me, I'm impatient and don't want to waste time, so I use Maps, even when I could probably find my way. Instead of helping me, it's actually made me even more directionally challenged because I've lost confidence in being able to figure it out on my own. Although I still have the maps app, I use it as little as possible and have considered a Garmin if I do end up getting rid of my smartphone!

10. BRING A CAMERA TO SPECIAL OCCASIONS - Check out this blog post I wrote years ago about the 5 reasons why I think we should stop taking photos.

11. KEEP PHOTOS IN YOUR WALLET - Each time I'm with someone who wants to show me a photo, I watch them pull out their smartphone and scroll forever to find that one. Just last week this happened and it reminded me of when we would just pull a photo out of our wallets. It's there, ready to share and very special because it's the only one. Photos feel less sentimental to me now that we have smartphones and can easily accumulate a hundred photos in one day-trip or event. What if we avoided taking photos, but maybe snapped just one special one to mark an occasion?

12. CREATE PHOTO ALBUMS - Ever since our first year of marriage, I've created a photo book per year and even an extra book for some special trips. It's been a lot of time and money invested into these, since now I have over 20, but I love to look back on them and remember the fun times we've had, places we've been and friends we've spent time with. And now that we have our daugther, Ivy, she loves to look through our books. It means a lot to me to show her the 13 years before she was around that Nick and I were already living a great adventure. I want her to grow up knowing that we had a wonderful life and marriage before her and that she has been a fun addition to our already full life.

13. DON'T REWATCH SHOWS AND MOVIES - I've already seen most of what I watch. Rewatching brings comfort to me because I don't have to worry about any surprises and I can tune out. But I feel better when I give myself some quiet, instead of always filling my downtime with background noise. So, I've considered making a "rule" for myself that I can only watch something I've never seen. Since only so many movies and shows that interest me come out per year, it would drastically cut down on my screen time. But, I have to admit I'll probably still make an exception for Gilmore Girls and holiday favorites like ELF.

14. REPLACE TEXTS WITH CALLS - For the most part, I try to only text when I'm making plans or in groups where it's just more convenient than calling each one of my 9+ family members. I'd rather save my catching up for in person because it's so much more fun and helps motivate me to make plans with people I want to keep up with. Yes, it's easier to keep an ongoing text with someone to stay in touch, but it's much more fulfilling to call and catch up. I have a few girlfriends that I only speak to about once a year when we FaceTime, but those few hours of catching up are so much fun and keep me going until the next FaceTime date we plan.

15. STEP OUTSIDE TO CHECK THE WEATHER - In high-school, I lived in a valley in the Andes mountains and would sleep with my windows open, my fan on and the cool air flicking my white eyelet curtains back and forth. It was so relaxing and I still think about it. My alarm would go off, I'd grab a shower, walk around and wake up my family and then head back to my room to hold my arm against the window screen and look at the sky to determine the weather and choose my outfit. Instead of check my weather app, I've started to let my dog Lucy out to use that bathroom while I stand on my back porch, feel the air and look at the sky to determine the weather and my outfit. True it might change, but usually dressing in layers works out and if you want more of an actual number, consider an outdoor thermometer.

16. SEND SNAIL MAIL - I actually have always loved sending snail mail. Grab some pretty cards and if you want to say something to someone and it's not urgent, consider sending them a card!

For years, I wanted to quit social media, but felt trapped. I was constantly reading blogs and books about others who had gotten offline and felt jealous, but didn't believe it was an option for me since I owned a business that I have grown 99% through social media.

Now that I've proven myself wrong, been off social media for a year, still earning money from my online business and enjoying being disconnected, I've become more confident in the idea that I could also quit my smartphone and be ok.

The more I disconnect from technology, the more I have connected to reality. I have more time for personal relationships, rest, time with God and in nature, focused workouts, time for local and church events, more fun traveling and less rushed as I go through my day.

I know quitting social media, and possibly smartphones, is not for everyone, but if you have considered it, just go for it. If you miss it, it'll still be there. And if you don't, you'll be happy that you challenged yourself to get out of your comfort zone.

I'm 39 - Here are my 39 pieces of advice

I turned 39 a few months ago, and the older I am, the more I like myself, so here are a few of my favorite tips for creating a life that you love:

1. Never say never.

2. Kill them with kindness.

3. Stop wondering and just ask.

4. Spend time with people you love.

5. Love the body you have.

6. Be generous.

7. Learn something new.

8. Go on walks.

9. Choose the best option in front of you.

10. Read daily.

11. Dress in beautiful colors.

12. Stretch daily.

13. Don’t spend what you don’t have.

14. Make SMART goals.

15. Find a hobby.

16. Plan girls nights.

17. Get off technology.

18. Eat real food.

19. Get a dog.

20. Do work you love.

21. Wear comfy shoes.

22. Cook homemade meals.

23. Get monthly facials or massages.

24. Live toxin-free.

25. Practice solitude.

26. Go outside as much as possible.

27. Tidy your home each morning.

28. Enjoy quiet nights at home.

29. Become friends with your neighbors.

30. Learn to Travel Hack.

31. Drink more water.

32. Get enough sleep.

33. Use lamps and candles for lighting.

34. Practice minimalism.

35. Kiss your baby too much.

36. Pray constantly.

37. Go on trips with friends and leave the kids behind.

38. Talk to a counselor.

39. Celebrate the age you are.

Please leave a comment with your own words of wisdom!

Why I'm turning my smartphone into a "dumbphone"

In 2016, I wrote this blog post, sharing the reasons I thought that every minimalist needs an iPhone. It was all for convenience: phone calls, calendar, quality camera, clock, GPS, notes and reminders, calculator, contacts, Kindle, email, music, Safari, weather, apps for blogging and social media, FaceTime, to be able to work online from anywhere in the world with wifi, to sync everything with my laptop and cell and with Nick's laptop and cell, etc.

In many ways, my smartphone made my life easier.

However, at the same time, the technology began to slowly (and really without me realizing it) take away my freedom when I lacked boundaries and contributed to a lot of anxiety because I felt trapped since I had built my entire business through social media and didn't see how I could ever part with it because of that. On top of my own reasons, I also couldn't stand watching how everyone around me was also glued to their own phones. It was like watching the movie Wall-E play out in front of me.

So, last November, at my 10-year-anniversary of launching my online business, I challenged myself to a year off of social media! I wrote this blog post explaining my decision, saying

"I was becoming more and more aware of my new daughters little eyes on me, wanting to copy everything I did.

I want her to read books, play with friends, help with chores, go on walks, spend quality time with us, learn about self-care and all the little things that are building her character, moment by moment. I don't want her to think screens and social media are the goal.

But, she wants to be just like me.

So, I have to be who I want her to be."

Eight years after arguing that every minimalist needs a smartphone, I'm now arguing that everyone should upgrade to a "dumbphone". I'm 11 months into my social media fast and not planning on going back. I haven't missed it and feel so much more peaceful. Instead, I plan to challenge myself further by using my iPhone like a good old fashioned phone as much as possible.

I'm cutting way back on texting, so call me if you want to get me. I'm paying more attention to the moment, while I take less photos to mark the occasion. I'm using my GPS only when I'm lost. And all my other apps? They're gone. No more googling, online shopping, browsing, listening to music or podcasts, checking the weather, reserving hotels and flights, paying off credit cards, keeping so many notes I never refer back to, checking email throughout the day or all the other ways I've found to waste time.

For now, I've got a very expensive dumbphone!

Once my iPhone quits working and needs to be replaced, I'll figure out the right phone purchase for me.  I'm hoping it'll be one of the old bricks or flip phones I used to love before things got so "convenient".

How about you? Have you ever considered upgrading your smartphone to a dumbphone?

HOW WE TRAVEL FOR (nearly) FREE!

     In the last 16 months, we've earned over $23,550 in free travel!

Let me tell you how...

In March 2023, I learned about Travel Hacking, applied for a recommended credit card and began putting all our spend on that one card, treating it like our debit cards and paying it off weekly so we don't accumulate debt. Between our personal expenses and our two businesses, Nick and I quickly hit the minimum spend and earned the sign-up bonus. Once we had done this with a few credit cards, we saved up enough rewards points to take our first paid-with-points trip. So we booked five nights in Clearwater, FL for July 2024!

Without Travel Hacking, we would not have been able to afford such a nice family vacation, so we were hooked and decided to keep using credit cards strategically to travel as often as possible.

Here is a breakdown of our free travel since July 2023:

5 nights with Nick and Ivy in Clearwater, FL

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

3 nights with my sister, Mary Ashley, outside of Atlanta, GA

1 night with my sister, Maggie, in Columbia, SC

1 night with my sister, Elizabeth, and our kids, in Charlotte, NC

2 nights with Nick and Ivy in Savannah, GA

2 nights with my friend, Emily, in Asheville, NC 

2 nights with same friend, Emily, in Charleston, SC

5 nights + flights in Cancun with Nick for our 16th wedding anniversary 

Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Cancun

7 nights + flights in Cancun with Nick and Ivy for Spring Break

2 nights with my friend, Emily, in Chapel Hill, NC 

3 nights + flights with my sister-in-laws in Key West 

1 night by myself in downtown Greenville, SC

3 nights + flights for family reunion in NJ

7 nights with Nick, Ivy and my parents in Panama City Beach, FL

6 nights with Ivy, my mom, 2 sisters and my nephew in Charleston, SC 

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

That's 50 FREE nights in hotels, resorts and all-inclusives in the last 12 months!

Also, many of those places, we also used points for flights and only had to cover taxes and fees from our own pockets!

Isn't that insane?

Plus, we've already booked another five nights in Cancun for our upcoming 17th wedding anniversary and seven nights to visit my cousin in London during Spring Break 2025, we have more points to spare as we try to decide what other travel we'd like to do in the near future and my credit score has increased!

Wild Dunes, Charleston, SC

If you're ready to save money, travel more and improve your credit score, I suggest you start with this personal credit card like I did. I love this one because you can transfer to Travel Partners like Hyatt and a handful of airlines.

Once you've hit the minimum spend with that personal card, I suggest you go through their business cards. This business credit card has an elevated offer right now of 120,000 rewards points!

Even if you don't own a business, you can still probably get a business card. Have you sold something on Marketplace? Count that as your business! Think of some way you've earned cash, even a side hustle, and use that to your advantage to sign up for some amazing business cards.

Finally, download the Travel Freely app to keep track of your credit cards and points earned and the Hyatt app to dream and plan how to spend your points!

This Impressions by Secrets is where Nick and I are spending our upcoming anniversary. I see that it costs around $1,000 per night and we are staying five nights for FREE!

Don't miss out on FREE travel...If you need help, send me an email at nickandemilystewart@me.com and I'll share my advice based on what I've learned about Travel Hacking since March 2023!

Key West

Why there's no such thing as "overnight success"

It’s said that it will take you 10,000 hours to become an expert in whatever it is you’re working on.  

Here’s what that looks like:

-Right under 5 years of working 40 hours per week.

-Or just about a decade of working part-time. 

-But at just one hour a day, it’s gonna take close to 30 years.

We often see people who have “made it” and forget the minutes and hours and days and weeks and months and years and decades they have put in.

It’s not really a matter of talent, but of grit. 

For over 2 decades, I've watched my sister, Mary Ashley, paint, sew, crotchet, bake, play piano and create jewelry. She's spent her fringe hours crafting and learning. Not only have I seen her improve, but I have the jewelry and artwork from her past and present that shows the visible growth she's made over the years.

Check out her table at last week's neighborhood event:

Her products are beautiful!

But she's not an "overnight success". She's put in tens of thousands of hours at this point. Which means that you can also become an expert in something you're willing to devote your fringe hours!

So, what’s something you want to achieve? Become a well-known photographer? Own a successful small business? Win an Ironman triathlon? Be a famous pianist? Write a best-seller?

What is it that you want to be really good at, maybe even the best? Are you willing, like Mary Ashley, to put in 10,000+ hours of work to get there?

The years will pass anyway...we might as well work towards our goals.

Comment below with your dream that you're willing to put in 10,000 hours to achieve.

To see and purchase from Mary Ashley, find her on Instagram @maryashleyowens and on ETSY

How to pack for 3 nights in Key West in ONLY a backpack!

As I booked our flights to Key West, I found out that I was going to be charged $60 for a carry-on! That's nuts. A personal item is allowed, though, so I decided I'd simply bring a backpack since it would be free and challenge me to pack light.

Next weekend, we have another flight that charges for carry-ons and will each be taking only a back-pack, so this was good practice to confirm it can be done!

Here's my Key West packing list:

• 2 dresses
• 2 shorts
• 1 pair yoga pants
• 2 tanks
• 1 long-sleeved shirt
• 1 sweatshirt
• 1 bra/2 sports bras
  
• 2 socks
• 4 underwear
• 2 bikinis
• 1 hat
• 1 pair birkenstocks
• 1 pair tennis shoes
  
• sunglasses
• waterbottle
• kindle
• airpods
• 1 pair pjs/cozy socks
• minimal toiletries/jewelry
• a mixture of Peppermint and Digize essential oils
• a mixture of Valor, White Angelica and other calming essential oils

All this fit in my old LLBean high school backpack and saved me from paying for luggage or carry-on! It was the perfect amount of items for eating out, shopping, paddle-boarding, boating and hanging out.

What's the lightest you've ever packed for a trip? Please share in the comments below!

I QUIT SOCIAL MEDIA

Yes, it's true. I quit social media.

If you followed me online, you may have been shocked (or wondering where I've been), but it was actually something I considered for years before I indefinitely signed out.

Since I didn't have a smart-phone until 27-years-old, I rarely used social media other than loading photos after trips. And by loading, I mean from my digital camera to my laptop to FaceBook...my, how times have changed!

But in 2013, I began selling Young Living Essential Oils and found social media to be the best way to do it! 99% of my business was done online, which, for a minimalist and traveler like myself, was a dream!

Even better once I became a mom in 2020 and wanted to stay home with my daughter, while still earning money.

However, years of being online and coming up with daily content began to wear on me and I found myself constantly googling things like "How to quit social media and still grow a business" as I tried to find a way out.

And it wasn't just that I was tired of posting, but I was becoming more and more aware of my new daughters little eyes on me, wanting to copy everything I did.

I want her to read books, play with friends, help with chores, go on walks, spend quality time with us, learn about self-care and all the little things that are building her character, moment by moment. I don't want her to think screens and social media are the goal.

But, she wants to be just like me.

So, I have to be who I want her to be.

Eventually, I woke up one morning last November with this unrelenting conviction to get off of FaceBook and Instagram and, though I fought it for a few hours, I didn't feel at peace until I followed through.

Since that day, I've increased how many books I get through a week, taken more afternoon naps, hung out more often with friends, kept up with my chores with a better attitude, tried new recipes, enjoyed vacations so much more without feeling like I need to be posting about them, spent more quality time with Nick, spent more time in Bible studies and in quiet thought, slept better at night, stopped procrastinating as much as I have done in the past and even enjoyed my time with my daughter, Ivy, so much more.

Even without social media, my business is still thriving, and I feel so much more at peace since I'm finally honoring my convictions.  I won't say I'll never get back on, but for now, you can find me here, sharing my thoughts on my blog.

Have you ever considered quitting social media? Please share in the comments below.

My Favorite Holiday Diffuser Blends

Did you know that scent is the strongest tie to memories?!

Maybe that’s why the smell of bonfires, Christmas trees, coffee and cookies transports me right back to the holidays!

Do you want to keep those holiday scents around? Here are some of my favorite combinations to throw in my diffuser lately:

Sugar Cookies:
4 drops Stress Away
4 drops Joy

Candy Canes:
4 drops Joy
4 drops Peppermint

Home Sweet Home:
4 drops Orange
4 drops Clove

Christmas Tree Lot:
2 drops Pine
2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
2 drops Idaho Grand Fir
2 drops Cypress
2 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce

Want to keep it super extra simple?

Simply diffuse a few drops Christmas Spirit oil on its own! It smells amazing.

Holiday scents hold some of our most treasured memories!🎄

What are your favorite scents during Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Comment below👇🏻

Use my Code SHAREYL for 10% off when you order through my link HERE!

The Rules of Minimalism

I've tried many different minimalism approaches over the years. There's lots of ways to get started, so here are some of my favorites:

90/90 Rule - Donate items you haven't used in 90 days and don't plan to use it in the next 90 days.

Unsubscribe, Unfriend and Unfollow - Stop getting updates that leave you with negative feelings.

The Rule of 1 - Only keep 1 of an item, like one pair of yoga pants, one purse, one vase, etc.

Let empty space stay empty - Don't fill a space just because it's empty.

Live within your means - Create a budget, stick to it and only buy if you can literally pay cash.

1 in / 1 out - Buy a new winter coat? Donate the old one. Buy a new set of towels? Donate the old ones.

Your house is for living, not storing - If you need storage bins to organize you stuff, you have too much.

1 calendar item per day - One you have one event scheduled, consider that day full.

Get rid of unused furniture - Create empty space by keeping only useful furniture.

Don't buy decor - Use hand-me-downs and gifts for an eclectic (and free) look.

Use your cell as a phone - Turn off all notifications so the only thing you hear is a phone call.

What's another minimalism rule you've heard and enjoy sticking to? Please share!

How To Have A Minimalist Christmas This Year

Do you have a minimalist in your life and still need to find them a Christmas gift?? Here are some ideas of things that they might love, but won't add to the amount of things in their home:

1. ENTERTAINMENT: give your minimalist tickets to the movies, theatre, or a concert, vouchers for dance or cooking lessons, tickets to a baseball game or something like it.

2. GETAWAY: take your minimalist to a spa resort, camping, on a short road trip, a day at the beach, play tourist in a new city or help them cross an item off their Bucket List.

3. PAMPER: gift your minimalist a manicure, pedicure, facial, hair cut or hair treatment, massage or something that would help them relax and feel refreshed.

4. DATE: take your minimalist out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or anything that's one-on-one and involves good food.

5. CARDS: give your minimalist a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant, iTunes, kindle books, etc.

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS: subscribe your minimalist to something like Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Netflix or a gym membership.

7. TREATS: treat your minimalist to homemade baked goods, their favorite toiletries, supplements, essential oils or make-up, flowers, fancy dark chocolates, local honey or anything that is edible or consumable.

8. SPOIL: pay for your minimalist's season tickets to a local theatre or favorite sports team, house cleaning, landscaping, home renovations.

9. UPGRADE: maybe your minimalist has everything that they need, but wouldn't mind making improvements.

10. SUPPORT: donate to your minimalist's favorite ministry or organization.

11. NEEDS: ask your minimalist what they need or want and gift them exactly that item!

If you have a minimalist in your life, it doesn't mean you can't give them gifts. Just remember that minimalists truly enjoy living simply and having less💕

PUMPKIN SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS

Preheat to 350

4 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk together and let sit for 5-10 minutes

Then, add in 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

Mix until you've got a huge ball of dough

Roll the dough out into a big rectangle. Cover top with two handfuls of brown sugar (about 1/2 cup) and then sprinkle on Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon until brown sugar is covered. At least do 1 Tablespoon of PPS and Cinnamon, but add more if you want!

Roll up, slice into about 10-12 rolls and place on baking sheet. No need to let rise, throw them in the oven now and bake for about 20-25 minutes. You might have to check the center of one to make sure it's cooked to your liking.

Now it's time to frost!

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon Vanilla (optional)

Now add in that Pumpkin Pie Spice until you're happy...I added and mixed until I got a nice mocha color. Be warned, I used so much PPS that the rolls had a kick to them (I think from all the clove). Also, don't be afraid to double or triple the frosting recipe if you like extra!

I promise these are super easy. I can whip them up in 20 minutes and by the time they've baked and are on our plates, it's only been an hour!

Try them this Saturday morning!

PS - if you're not into PPS, just use cinnamon in the rolls filling and leave it out of the frosting!

Let’s Stop Treating Men Like Children

I’ll always remember my Grandma Jackson refused to watch shows where men (specifically husbands) were portrayed as dumb.

Once she pointed that out to me, I realize how many shows do that!

It’s so disrespectful.

But it’s not just TV and movies, I’ve seen it happen, right in front of me, over and over again.

It’s so sad.

But this is what I’m sure of: Men can succeed at work, take care of their home, spend time with their family, be involved in church and cultivate meaningful relationships.

I see Nick do it well!

So, what if instead of treating men like they’re dumb, we show them we believe in them and watch them excel because of our support?

I always find that people turn out exactly how we expect them to, so let’s choose our thoughts and language wisely.

Why don’t we stop telling men how to do their jobs, rolling our eyes like they can’t care for things at home, quit calling it “babysitting” when they’re simply being a daddy, dragging them to events, setting them up on “play dates” with other men and not taking their advice?

I know, I know, it goes both ways and no one’s perfect.

But it’s got to start somewhere and treating men like men is a good place to begin.

How To Go Vegan TODAY

Going vegan wasn’t all that hard for me, but every now and then I’ll be reminded of something I used to enjoy. I know that I could eat that item again if I wanted to, but feeling good just feels so much better.

Have you been interested in going vegan but aren’t sure where to start?

Here are my tips:

1. Focus on what you can eat and don’t dwell on the few things you’re avoiding. You’re really only cutting out three things: meat, dairy and eggs. But, you can eat EVERYTHING else: all fruits, all vegetables, all nuts, all seeds, etc, leaving you with tens of thousands of options.

2. Fill up on what you enjoy. I love juiced oranges, sliced pineapple, dates and avocados covered in lemon juice and salt.

3. Be willing to experiment. I used to hate salads, but now I’ve figured out my favorite recipes and actually crave them.

4. Educate yourself. The more time I invest in learning about how food is related to health, the more I’m motivated to eat well.

5. Read labels and say no. Dairy (and other crap) is in everything and not everyone understands diet restrictions, so don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

I know it’s tempting to eat whatever is easy, whatever’s put in front of you and whatever you crave. I know. But, I promise that putting some boundaries on food will leave you feeling better in the long run.