Things I Buy as a Minimalist
My goal in life is to make room for the things that matter most to me. So much of life can be overwhelming & stressful, and often the items in our lives are part of the problem. Taking time to cut out unnecessary clutter and focus on having practical, purposeful, and life-giving things around you and your home can help redirect your attention back to the things around you that deserve your attention.
Before I take you through my list, I just want to say my list might look different from your list & that's okay, welcomed even. You're the expert in your life when it comes to knowing where there needs to be more & where there needs to be less. I hope these words will inspire you to think through your list…and who knows, maybe there will be some overlap.
Local Dairy Meat & Eggs
My journey towards a simple life goes hand-in-hand with my desire to live slowly. “Simple” and “slow” are terms that can exist in food too. Sure, it’s easier and faster to run to the grocery store when you need something(I still do it) but my appreciation for food has exponentially grown since buying from our local farmers. I talked to the woman that harvested my lettuce last week, I laughed with the milkman and I swear, my food tastes better. It’s not only because it’s seasonal and fresh, but it’s because I appreciate the work that happened in order to get that food in front of me.
Your best chance at finding these farmers is to attend your city’s weekend markets. Search and don’t be afraid to ask around too, that’s how we found ours!
Find Raw Milk near you here: https://www.realmilk.com/raw-milk-finder/
Non-Toxic Skincare & Makeup
Choosing to be intentional about the products I use on my skin and hair is essential to me. I know it’s not news to you that our skincare and makeup products are toxic, clean skin and makeup products are practically the new black. But be on guard for companies that just slap some trendy words on their products to fit in. “Vegan”, “green”, “mineral”, “plant-based”, “clean”, and “natural”, sound great, but the truth is on the back. Yes, I read that ish. Here’s who I trust.
Araza: I found them a few months ago and not only do I align with their mission for sustainability and transparency, but their products are some of the best I’ve used. They are clean, smooth, and nourishing…without stretching the truth in any of those areas, as many “clean beauty” companies do. I also use a bit of Beautycounter too.
My favorites from Azara are the foundation, bronzer, mango cream pot, and primer powder. You can use code Margaret15 for 15% off at https://arazabeauty.com/
Beautycounter: They are a great starting place for many making the transition to cleaner beauty. They still use some seed oils, which I’m not too fond of, but again, great place to start. They led the way for clean beauty 10 years ago and have played a huge role in changing this industry.
My favorite products from Beauty Counter are the Shampoo, Conditioner, All-Bright C-Serum, Foundation, Beauty Blender, Brow Pencil & Brow Gel. You can shop those here: beautycounter.com/margaretmatheny
Calendars & Journals
I’ve done cheap and I’ve done super pricey. The conclusion? Somewhere in the middle. Ha. Anticlimactic, but it’s the truth. I kind of mold to the quality of my journaling every morning. Messy and rushed? That’s how my day goes. Intentional, slow, and peaceful journaling in the morning gives me a much better chance of replicating it in my days. Papier(not affiliated) is a great journal. Quality paper, good binding, cute, all good things, all good things.
Home coziness & character
I am a minimally-minded woman, but I definitely invest in creating spaces in my home that are beautiful and comfortable because that's where I spend the majority of my life. I’ve invested and will continue to invest in timeless pieces that can stay in my family for generations. I don't want excess, but I do want character and beauty. These pieces include candle holders, frames, artwork, place settings, and even blankets and pillows.
Experiences & Memberships
This is what I’m talking about when I say “make room for the things that matter”. It includes doing things you love and visiting places that bring you joy. What experiences are you yearning for?
Ideas: beautiful parks or gardens in your city, gym memberships, museums, picnics with that good, expensive cheese you’ve been saving for.
Tate and I go on a date night every single Wednesday night. This allows us to invest in each other, our marriage, and our family. That and our botanical garden adventures are high on my list.
Books & audiobooks
Many minimalists give up books in their homes as it is an easy way to build up clutter. But I just cannot give up holding a book and flipping through its pages at the end of the day. I’ll give the book to a friend or donate it when I’m finished to avoid the clutter, but believe me when I say, my books are staying. We also love Audible. In this stage of life, with little ones, turning on a book in the car or while I’m cleaning is a joy. Not only that, but they are hearing more words, which I’ve been told is great for their developing brains.
I’ll link my favorite books below just in case you want to browse: https://www.amazon.com/shop/margaretmatheny
Supplements
Okay, just a short little section on wellness. At least I’ll try to keep it short. I have to prioritize healthy living and eating. I mean, I see no point in simplifying life if I don’t feel well to finally do the things I’m making room for. I need energy, stable moods, and good sleep. So I've done my research, and I invest in quality superfoods and supplements that help me feel good. There’s purpose and intention behind every single one. I’m not just following trends either. Been there, done that, never doing that again.
Mitigate Stress Master Mineral Drink: this is a liquid blend of magnesium, sodium, and potassium that helps to replenish your mineral stores. This is the supplement I take immediately in the morning after a poor night’s sleep(children up at night, etc). When you don’t sleep, your body can’t recover and when your body can’t recover…hello stressed system trying to catch up. Use code MARGARETMATHENY for 10% off.
Collagen, Gelatin & Bone Broth from Perfect Supplements is another go-to for me. Because of these 3, I've noticed a difference in my energy levels, nourishment, and skin & hair health for both me & my kids. They are just all-around great ones to add to your daily routine. Use code MARGARETMATHENY10 for 10% off.
Organic Olivia: My one-stop shop for all things herbs. Mane Magic and Peace Juice are my favorites and don’t sleep on her teas. Some of the best I’ve tried. *FYI, her products actually do what they say they are going to do.*
Quality Furniture
We are doing this overtime! Also, please know it’s impossible to control every little toxin that enters the home. My goal is to do the best we can when it comes to making intentional and purposeful furniture decisions. We started by swapping our couches, mattresses, & pillows. We have these beautiful, fluffy pillows filled with organic shredded rubber. Our couch is by Albany Park, pillows by Obasan, and the boy’s mattresses are Avocado. Nope, don’t have affiliates for you(yet), but those are companies that are doing the right thing when it comes to creating quality furniture that isn’t adding to the toxins in our air.
Music
We’ve got Spotify. We don't have a ton of subscriptions in our home, but this is one we love. Music is a big part of my life & our home. Good music helps us create a certain ambiance in our house that we love and allows us to enjoy our home and each other more. Also, a quality speaker is something I’d like to add in here. Tate and I bought this one for our anniversary this year and our music sounds so buttery and clear. I had no idea what I was missing!!!
Massages
The overall theme of this one is to invest in something fun, something you enjoy! Massages are one of those things for me. If I know I have a massage to look forward to, I can get through anything.
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I hope this list of mine encourages you to think through a list of your own. Ultimately, you know what needs to go & needs to stay to live a fulfilling life full of purpose and pleasure! I hope you enjoy that process, I sure did.