Fall Simplifying Q&A
Answers to everything you want to know
Last week, paid subscribers had the chance to ask me anything their hearts desired about simplifying and organizing, and today, I’ve got answers!
Here’s a quick overview of what’s covered in this edition:
How I organize out-of-season clothing for myself and the kids
My favorite minimalist skincare and makeup products
A simple process for sorting through and digitizing physical photos
How we maintain and manage day-to-day clutter
How I decide what clothing and accessories to keep that I only use occasionally
I’m thrilled you’re here, and I appreciate every subscriber. As a reminder, answers to three questions are free for everyone. Paid subscribers get access to the full Q&A, monthly behind-the-scenes posts, and everything in the archives.
An annual subscription costs less than $3/month—though my goal is to save you much more than that by helping you rethink your relationship with stuff and find joy in owning less. 🤍
Ok, now on to the Q&A! Note: this one is long, so you may need to open it in a browser to read the entire thing.
I'd love to see some examples of how you organize your and your kids' out-of-season clothing. Do you remove and store off-season items somewhere out of sight or reconfigure where they are placed in dressers and closets?
With our simplified wardrobes, we’re able to keep all of our off-season items in our closets, so there’s no need to completely remove or store them elsewhere. This way, they’re easy to access if needed and less likely to be forgotten about. You can check out how I rotate and store my seasonal clothing in this recent behind-the-scenes. I keep most of my jackets and coats beside my off-season clothes and rotate them in and out as the weather changes.
As for the kids, I store hand-me-downs and clothes they’ll grow into in an empty drawer. I’m picky about what I hold onto, and this drawer provides a good boundary. Their outerwear and shoes are kept in a large basket at the top of their closet, so they’re out of the way but still within reach when needed.
I'd love to know what your favorite minimalist skincare and makeup products are. Thanks!
Here are the products I love and use regularly (no affiliate links, just honest favorites):
Exfoliant: I’ve used Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant for almost 20 years. It’s a very gentle, enzyme-based exfoliant that I use in lieu of a cleanser in the morning. A little goes a long way!
Cleanser: Caudalíe Vinoclean Cleansing Almond Milk. It’s light, creamy (non-foaming), hydrating, and an all-in-one face cleanser and eye makeup remover. My previous favorite was BeautyCounter’s Counterstart Cococream Cleanser—I’m hoping they bring it back later this year!
SPF: Caudalíe 50+ Vinosun Protect. It’s invisible, absorbs quickly, and is great alone or under your makeup. I highly recommend their other sunscreens, too!
Moisturizer: Caudalíe VinoHydra Deep Hydration Moisturizer. This is a new favorite I reach for whenever my skin feels dry. It’s incredibly rich and hydrating.
Tinted Moisturizer & Foundation: ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint is my go-to for a dewy complexion! If you’re looking for a bit more coverage than a tinted moisturizer but not a full foundation, ILIA’s True Skin Serum Foundation is also lovely and not the slightest bit heavy. I even use it as a very light under-eye concealer on occasion.
Bronzer: I’m finishing up my ILIA NightLite Bronzing Powder, which I’ve had for years but has sadly been discontinued. Next, I plan to try a stick cream contour or bronzer. Let me know if you have any recommendations!
Blush: I’m (finally!) nearing the end of the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush that I bought for our wedding 11 years ago (!!). It’s a great blush, but with my now more mature skin, I’m looking for a lighter, more sheer cream-based one next.
Mascara: ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara and Saie Mascara. Both are fantastic—I’m not sure which one I love more!
Eyeliner: For the last 15 years or so, I’ve used Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner to soften the line of the liquid liner. I have hooded eyelids, and this combo doesn’t budge, which is why I’m sticking with it!
Lips: Old Beauty Counter Lip Conditioner and gloss.
How have you dealt with the accumulation of photographs? I’m thinking digitizing is the answer. I’d like some help with the process.
Digitizing your photos is a great way to preserve memories while freeing up physical space, but it can take time and effort. Those files also need to be organized so you don’t trade physical clutter for digital clutter.
Start by sorting through your photos and only keeping the ones that truly matter—photos with sentimental value or memories you want to preserve. My mom did this for my brother and me, and after going through countless albums, we each ended up with just one shoebox of childhood photos (thanks, Mom!).
If you have hundreds (or even thousands!) of photos, break the task into smaller sessions. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day, or go through a small stack at a time. Once you’ve narrowed them down, do a final pass, organizing the ones you plan to digitize by date as best you can. Create a file-naming system that makes it easy to find them later. For example: YEAR/MONTH EVENT NAME
As for digitizing, there are a few options:
Outsource it to a professional service (easy, but it can get pricey).
Rent, borrow, or buy a high-quality photo scanner and do it yourself.
Take photos of your prints with your phone (remember that shadows, cropping, and naming/transferring the images can be challenging).
Once you’ve digitized your photos, you may want to invest in a digital frame to rotate through your favorites. That way, you can enjoy them instead of letting them hide in a folder.