The Silver Thread

The Wisdom and Challenge of Simplicity

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:41:10 GMT

As I go about my Silverish Simplicity days, I've started mentally categorizing my activities and intentions. Is this a lightbulb moment? Is this extreme? Is this an add-on to an existing idea?

Since this is the time of year to look back while looking ahead, I'm sharing a few ideas in the categories below with the warning, dear readers, that they aren't for everyone—but no doubt there is wisdom and a challenge in each of them.

Epiphanies

After more than five years of downsizing and living more simply, I continue to have epiphanies as I go about my day. They come suddenly and are ideas I can't wait to try. Most challenge me to reduce, reuse, or repurpose and lean towards quality.

One recent example: splitting and gifting a gallon of Saint John's Abbey Maple Syrup (one of 24 gallons bottled last season) won in a silent auction. With handmade tags added to glass bottles I had been collecting, this small-batch, limited production liquid gold became perfect gifts for my children (all who have visited the sugar shack) and a few hostesses.

Extremes

Some things I do to help the environment or save money would make my own family roll their eyes. Toilet paper, for instance. I save dryer lint in empty toilet paper rolls to create fire starters for outdoor bonfires. Saving dryer lint was a trick I learned from a friend way before I was Silverish Simplicity. I added the empty toilet paper roll for a more contained starter (and to keep the lint out of sight). An extra: I challenge myself to use only three perforated squares rather than grabbing half the roll. The cost savings and septic system benefits are real. I won’t go into any greater detail!

... I continue to have epiphanies as i go about my day ...

Extras

My practices and intentions build on each other, so I often go a step further to make sure this is truly my lifestyle. A quick recap since I last posted:

Passing down Christmas décor (one more box emptied and gone after Christmas) along with books and other items.
Printing pictures and putting them in repurposed frames for gifts (a holiday chocolate box added to sweeten the gift).
Reading one more book of essays after a wait at the library: “A Hundred Lives Since Then: Essays on Motherhood, Marriage, Mortality & More” by retired Star Tribune columnist and optimist, Gail Rosenblum . I didn’t realize how much I missed her Inspired columns until I read her book.
Giving my youngest son my “Corporate Report – 1989” letter opener and Mont Blanc pen (with extra ink cartridges) for his birthday – from my early career office days to his early career office days. (More on this later.)
Setting aside old Explore Minnesota state maps to use as wrapping paper.

As we approach the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and reflect on the wisdom and challenge of a New Year, what lightbulb moments are waiting for you? What practice might others consider extreme but brings you joy or purpose? What extra step could transform an idea into a true sustainable lifestyle? Simple living looks different for each of us and remember, just smile and say “it’s not for everyone.” Happy New Year!

Silverish Simplicity Links

A Season of Foraging, Layering and Reflection

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:29:56 GMT

Five years ago, during the Covid season, my children came home to find tables of sorted items, empty storage closets, and the beginning of a life of simplicity and repurposing. Today, that simplicity—downsizing, repurposing, purchasing quality—continues. It's my go-to, my reset, my happy place. This fall and winter seasons have been busy, so here are some Silverish Simplicity insights:

Foraging – For several years now, I've foraged for my own fall and winter outdoor planter decorations: pines, dogwood, sumac, birch. This year was especially fun with the discovery of hard-to-find bittersweet and cutting down our own small balsam fir for the holidays. Best of all, I shared the love of foraging with my daughter and her husband.

Layering – I heard about "layering" Christmas décor rather than completely switching out your home, and it matched my intentions perfectly. This year I added touches of the holidays here and there without removing any existing décor. In the process, more than two totes of Christmas decorations moved on to family or Goodwill. With three children purchasing new homes this year, it was the perfect time to pass along items that matched their interests—from prints and books to snowmen and ornaments. It's fun to visit their homes and see these items being used, so it wasn't a complete farewell.

... A perfect time to pass along items that matched their interests ...

Reflection – Searching for my children's christening outfits for my first grandchild's upcoming baptism became an evening adventure. My husband and I brought down two pallet boxes from nearly 20 feet up in our shed and sorted through decades of keepsakes. I spent two days reflecting, purging, cleaning, and assembling final boxes for each child's home (eight more totes left our lives). Besides precious clothing, toys, and stuffed animals, I sorted through boxes of books and divided them by series: Arthur and Berenstain Bears for my oldest son, Froggy and Franklin for my youngest daughter, Bob the Builder and truck books for my youngest son, and our family's very first books for my oldest daughter. And yes—I found the baptismal outfits, ready for this special occasion.

This past year was full of adventure travel, a daughter's wedding, a new grandchild, and all of the related celebrations, along with helping with house cleanings and moves. And while there was investment of time and resources and sometimes not feeling like I’m living what I write about, the rhythm of simplicity continued. It remains my go-to. My reset. My reminder that life's biggest moments can be celebrated while I forage, layer and reflect.

Silverish Simplicity Discoveries Worth Sharing

Strangers Showed Us Their Notes App – I smiled when listening to this Washington Post Reports podcast the other day. This would make for a great conversation at a holiday gathering.
Handel for the Holidays – I purchased this CD on December 9, 2000, and now stream it along with other Philips “Set Your Life to Music” classical CDs by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, etc., that were released from 1992-2001 as part of a series of CDs.
Minnesota Public Radio Holiday Stream – An annual favorite festive and dependable holiday stream that I’m happy to promote as a 36-year MPR member.
Four Season Foraging – Rules and etiquette on foraging in Minnesota.
Pine Sol in Toilet Brush Holder – A cleaning hack I read in a home magazine article that I’m trying this season. (Yes, several of my magazines and articles have moved on as well.)

Stories in Small Moments: Essays and Simple Living

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 15:16:55 GMT

After nearly 30 blog posts about simple living, I continue to find enjoyment in downsizing and being intentional. This summer reinforced my commitment to simplicity in two ways: first, letting things move on—including my 55-year collection of Laura Ingalls Wilder books to my son's fiancée, a teacher, with whom I discovered a shared love of the series; and secondly, using groceries wisely, experimenting with what's on hand and increasing freezing techniques rather than waste (more on that later).

This intentional approach extends to reading, one of life's simplest pleasures. Some of my best memories and connections to people are through reading. Laura Ingalls Wilder's books read in the early 1970s remind me of home upstairs in the girls’ “dormitory” bedroom. The Sound of Music on a family road trip in a GMC motorhome in 1976 gave me moments of escape alongside five siblings. Kate DiCamillo, Gary Paulsen and the Harry Potter series remind me of my children as emerging readers and their well-worn books. Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig and Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner connect me to an early book club of serious readers and friends I still cherish today.

This intentional approach extends to reading ...

Now, as busy life seasons come and go, I've discovered essay collections and short story anthologies. Their bite-sized format fits into hectic schedules, and remarkably the books often arrive as gifts from friends who somehow know exactly what I need and when I need it! Two favorites stand out.

Thoughts of Home: Reflections on Families, Houses, and Homeland is an anthology of 44 essays that's funny, engaging, and beautifully written. A college friend gifted it to me — someone whose homes I've loved for nearly 40 years, from a tiny one-bedroom apartment in our late twenties, to the beautiful home where we now gather each Christmas season. She had researched and collected inspiration (folders of magazine clippings) for years before creating her own space, and this book is a reflection of her.

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil recently arrived with a note: "Margaret, this is a favorite of mine. Please feel free to gift it—I know you're committed to simplicity, which I admire." Once again, a dear nature-loving friend knew exactly what I needed: the author's personal stories woven through her connection to nature's wonders, from fireflies to narwhals.

These books have become a favorite way to read. They let me read in small moments and, in turn, set them down knowing a story is complete. I look forward to passing them along in the future to others for their busy life seasons.

P.S. On Nov. 2, 2024, I launched The Silver Thread website and wrote about Ann Patchett's story in The New Yorker , "How to Practice," as a source of inspiration. That same story appears in her book These Precious Days: Essays (2021). During Covid, Patchett spent her time writing and compiling these essays so she could finish the collection. In an interview with The New York Times , she said: "So if I write an essay, it's almost like sending up a flare saying: 'I'm still here, I'm still alive.'" It seems essays sustain both readers and writers alike.

P.S.S. Comparing the Laura Ingalls Wilder editions here's a fun fact: My 1971 edition of the collection was 95 cents a book. My future daughter-in-law's 2004 edition was $9 a book. The picture shows my well-traveled collection stacked next to and on top of hers.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Downsizing Without Losing Memories

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:47:54 GMT

With the State Fair and the new school year here, memories flood back — once captured on a paper calendar pinned to the bulletin board, then in spiral-bound weekly calendar (still my favorite, pencil only!), and later on desktop electronic calendar.

When we decided to downsize while preserving memories, I organized nearly 35 years of family dates into a single Google Sheet called "Family Important and Fun Dates from Margaret’s Calendars." This simple digital chronicle of our family’s journey, from our children's milestones to the activities and adventures my husband and I now enjoy as empty nesters.

tODAY, THERE IS JUST ONE GOOGLE SHEET ...

Gone are the 20-plus years of paper calendars, scattered electronic files and notes. Today, there is just one Google Sheet with three tabs: "Family," "Trips," and "Properties."

The "Family" sheet records memorable moments for each child — from my firstborn's first full sentence ("Getting my haircut is hard work.") to my youngest son’s high school graduation date, I have a record of their lives growing up at home. The "Trips" sheet chronicles family adventures — from Disney World to the national parks — plus our current empty-nester travels. And the "Properties" tab list the houses we have owned or lived in (I even list the house I lived in as an infant on Orkla Drive in Golden Valley, Minnesota.)

Creating this digital archive was meaningful in itself, and I love that's it's easily updated, referenced and shared in a format my children will appreciate. Google Sheets and Google Drive have become my go-to tool for organizing family items, from important dates to cataloging savings bond gifts by maturity dates.

While I miss my weekly calendar and pencil, and the memories created in our family home, I know exactly where they are to remember them all.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Saying Goodbye to Boxes, Keeping the Memories

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:40:16 GMT

Thirteen years, seven rental properties, and countless storage boxes later, my oldest daughter finally has a home of her own. Through college, medical school, and residency, we continued to store belongings that didn't fit or belong in the cramped spaces of her temporary living situations. Passing along her belongings felt like closing one chapter and opening another—most of all, it represented the end of her grueling training years and the beginning of truly settling down in a lovely home and neighborhood.

Her move got me reflecting on my own relationship with storage and my journey toward "Silverish Simplicity." In our former family home, we had one large storage area and two guest bedroom closets filled with plastic totes and banker boxes (see picture below). I even stored empty totes—a sure indication I was planning to accumulate more rather than less.

With our move nearly four years ago and the natural process of downsizing while launching our children into their first homes, the number of boxes and totes has dramatically decreased. More importantly, I have no reason to purchase new totes, and I celebrate each time I empty a box or bin and it moves on to family members who need them.

... THE NUMBER OF BOXES AND TOTES HAS DRAMATICALLY DECREASED ...

Beyond bankers' boxes with taxes and plastic totes for seasonal decor (five for Christmas, one for spring and Easter décor, and one for fall), the only archival boxes keeping our family photos safe and the cutest little boxes holding the smallest keepsakes—jewelry, special notes I can't part with, and sewing supplies—have a spot in our home.

While I'm glad most of these containers are gone, I have fond memories of some boxes. Like the excitement of changing seasons, I look forward to returning to holiday decor totes. I appreciate when the kids are home and want to go through their picture boxes (though I'll have to let go of those soon, too). Small mementos from my past and my parents' lives live in some of these special containers.

Summer also reminds me of personalized flip-top boxes I assembled for our children’s entertainment during family road trips. I was reminded of those fun containers (long gone now) when my nephew and his wife traveled back to Minnesota from Kentucky with four young children, a nanny, and a dog packed into the family van. I smiled remembering how I used to pack small totes for each of my young children with treats, little games, and activities. Every few hours on the road, I would announce, "Okay, you can get something new out of your box!" The anticipation on their faces was pure magic. Oldest son said: “I just remember being excited to see what you put in them! The smell was a mix of candy and markers.” Before movies and electronic games, those simple boxes created treasured family road trip memories.

No doubt my relationship with boxes and belongings has evolved but it’s easy to make the connection—fewer boxes means less stuff. Boxes that once overwhelmed me have been reduced to just a few small containers—proof I’ve let go and am finally living with less.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Next Needed Thing: Grandpa's Summer Visits

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 11:11:58 GMT

My spring and summer to-do lists fondly remind me of my father. When my husband and I started caring for our long-time family home and 30 acres, spring's excitement came with overwhelming feelings. Early there with four young children ages six months to five years, I found myself in tears facing all that needed to be done, including a large pasture that needed mowing. My dad — a master gardener and hobby farmer — saw my tears and what was needed and stepped in. This began a 15-year summer routine to help with pasture mowing.

Our family fondly remembers those early summer mornings when Grandpa arrived in his little tan truck, sometimes before 7 a.m. We'd chat over coffee at my kitchen table (youngest daughter remembering him sitting in "my chair"), then off he'd go to mow his adopted pasture.

He loved to mow and, like everything our energetic father did, approached it as if he were running out of time. Oldest son recalls: "I'd bring him lemonade, and he'd drink most of it quickly. Then, without stopping, he'd throw the almost empty cup back at me and keep mowing." Oldest daughter added: "He was so focused that when we delivered lemonade, I was scared he might run me over."

... SPRING'S EXCITEMENT CAME WITH AN OVERWHELMING FEELING ...

After completing the work, he'd leave quickly — grass clippings and dust covering his clothes, face, and sunglasses (“definitely his sunglasses,” added youngest son) — rushing to his own farm projects and leaving my mother to clean up my grass clipping mess!

Those summer mornings evolved over the years: young children on summer vacation waking to hear and see Grandpa mowing outside, then later, young adults heading to summer jobs greeting him on their way out.

Through his example, our father taught me to approach overwhelming projects with a "next needed thing" mindset. He didn't let big tasks overwhelm him but tackled them with vigor and purpose. He also taught me to see the benefits: "Margaret, if you keep this pasture mowed, the good clover grasses will emerge." And they did.

While we no longer have that large property, each spring as I prepare our home for summer enjoyment, I think of our dad and how much he loved these projects. As his abilities declined and he could no longer care for his farm or help with our pasture, he sadly told me, "Margaret, I'm sorry I won't be able to mow for you anymore." I assured him it was okay, but we miss him, those visits, and the example he set for all of us.

Next Needed Thing Reflection

Break down the spring and summer gardening chores and spread them over weeks rather than a few days and only take on what you can care for
Check, gather and prepare all the tools and supplies you need
Make lists of items to be resupplied before shopping to not over purchase (remember what you purchase or duplicate, you must store)
Chunk the work based on high-energy times (and the weather to determine if you are outside or inside with your projects)

Silverish Simplicity Links

Use a fabric wine bottle tote to hold hand gardening tools (see picture)
Make tools from recycled materials – I collect different size plastic containers to hold and scoop smaller and more manageable quantities of grass seed, fertilizer and mulch – from yogurt containers to five gallon buckets
Check first and collect and return good potting containers to your garden center for repurposing
Pop in a few n asturtium flower seeds mid-summer in your container pots for new growth and color
Next year adopt a “ No Mow May ” to support pollinators (a recent early June trip to Germany showed that the “No Mow” is very serious and went well into June)

A Happy Cleaner: Four Decades of Family Moves & Experiences

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 17 May 2025 10:00:21 GMT

When my four children were in elementary and middle school, an annual Christmas card and letter that arrived each year gave me a glimpse of the life stage that awaited our family. I recall the usual family news but what struck me about this particular holiday update was the amount of moves her four children made in those college and post-college years and the loving assistance she provided. Little did she know she was modeling how I wanted to be, and have been, for my children these past 13 years and 18+ moves (counting three for my husband and me).

From college dorm room to first apartments and now to first homes, I have had the joy of helping my kids settle into their spaces. What an exciting time it is for them! A key role I’ve played during these move-ins and occasional move-outs has been that of a cleaner. I like to clean – I mean I really like it. Not only do I enjoy the physical work I especially like the mental and organizational challenge and doing this domestic task better, deeper and, in the last three years, more sustainable.

A KEY ROLE I'VE PLAYED DURING THESE MOVE-INS ... HAS BEEN THAT OF CLEANER.

I enjoy cleaning and “resetting” so much that I mentioned to my husband several times during my public relations career that I wouldn't mind cleaning professionally. Eventually, this became reality. During a summer when I lived up north in the "year of temporary living," friends who owned a vacation rental property management company approached me about joining their team. After initially declining, their persistence paid off — they came back a third time offering flexible hours. I accepted and spent the summer learning invaluable lessons through vacation property turnovers (sometimes four in one day!) and caretaking stunning private homes along Lake Superior's shoreline. The summer flew by, and I added new practices to the 40+ years of taking care of my own spaces.

As my cleaning interests and techniques have evolved, I have compiled favorite tips for smart and sustainable cleaning discoveries. Cheers to summer and the joy of our family and friends’ spaces!

Gear – Organize a tote of cleaning supplies and cleaning cloths (microfiber and old kitchen flour sack towels). I use a gardening tote I received from a friend. It allows me to be on the go in the house or on the road. I can keep a few extra tools in the small pockets like:

Small screwdriver (pro tip: wrap the tip with a cloth to easily get into tight spaces and seams on appliances and cupboards)
Measuring tape (there is always a space to measure during a move or cleaning project)
Small glass scraper
Cleaning gloves
Scouring pads
A step stool

Sustainable tip: Take the scouring pad and cut them into quarters and use a smaller, easier-to-mange size for scrubbing to save product and money.

Products – Smart sustainable cleaning means you use less product and more natural and eco-friendly products. My favorites include:

Vinegar and water
Expired baking soda or Bar Keepers Friend for tough scrubbing
Denatured alcohol* added to Windex (one-part denatured alcohol to four-parts Windex mixed in a spray bottle for glass and mirrors)
Method products (see links below)
Multi-surface cleaner (see link below or a few squirts of Dawn soap in hot soapy water for all-purpose cleaning as an alternative)

Try to use up your existing cleaning supplies before purchasing new ones, and then streamline your products for both quantity and storage. When we moved from our large family home, I collected at least a years’ worth of product spread throughout the house and changed my ways after that.

Personal note: For disinfectant purposes, I still keep Soft Scrub with bleach on hand for kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Keeping Engaged – It is easy to keep engaged working and visiting with family or friends on special move or cabin cleaning projects. But most days I’m on my own so I often listen to audiobooks, podcasts or Broadway musical soundtracks (Wicked and Les Mis are favorites). I also stay engaged by catching up with my sisters, children and a few friends on the phone while cleaning.

Silverish Simplicity Links

An Earth Day Project to Last a Decade

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 19:05:53 GMT

Earth Day has significant meaning for me. Beyond falling during my wedding anniversary week (4.23), this global day has involved cleaning ditches with my children and outdoor spring projects. It's ideal for honoring Earth's wonders as nature awakens in Minnesota.

For a third year, my gift to Earth is a forest management project first shared last year on LinkedIn . My husband and I have tackled buckthorn eradication , transforming our woods to reveal 300-year-old oaks, black cherry, cedar trees and the land's natural contour.

While I attempt to embrace simplicity, this conservation project isn't simple! Eradicating this invasive shrub (and larger old trees) from our forest will take a decade or more. It demands physical work and resources, but the rewards extend beyond restoring native habitats in my corner of the world.

my gift to the earth is a forest management project ...

Time Outside – I spend several hours weekly outdoors during spring and fall, increasing my awareness of what’s around me while enhancing my physical and mental health. My routine includes preparing gear, cutting and treating plants, and piling downed trees and brush for later chipping.

Ongoing Learning – I've educated myself on land management, plant identification, proper tools and physical skills. Recently, I attended a Conservation Minnesota course on "Buckthorn: Today's Invasive, Tomorrow's Chalk" hosted by Stearns County Parks and discovered artists creating charcoal from buckthorn stems.

Community Development – I've connected with environmental stewards including a state forester, conservation groups and friends interested in outdoor work. I appreciate those who've joined me and value those who've taught me sustainability practices. This project also lets my husband and me collaborate – extending our Earth Day week anniversary celebration!

Though in a category I call "it's not for everybody," buckthorn removal gives me much to celebrate on Earth Day each year and for several years to come. Here's our progress as we participate in a cost-share program with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

10 acres of heavy infestation completed (June 2024)
5 acres treated with 30 goats for 30 days (September 2024)
4.5 acres of heavy hillside infestation underway; goats return fall 2025 or spring 2026!

Happy Earth Day!

Silverish Simplicity Links

Miles, Enduring Friendships and Loose Change

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:06:47 GMT

Last Sunday, three friends and I celebrated spring birthdays with a long walk and brunch. Though still brisk walkers as former "runner girls," we paused to appreciate the beautiful spring morning as we wound through streets, a wooded trail with frozen ground, and finally a shared-use path. Greeting passing runners reminded me of my younger self, but I've grown content with my natural walking habit.

Four years ago, I retired from decades of running for a consistent walking routine. I no longer feel compelled to justify my walking routine against running and have fully embraced this new habit and discovered unexpected treasures beyond the well-known health benefits.

EACH WALK OFFERS BRILLANT SUNRISES, UNIQUE CLOUD FORMATIONS, CHATTERING BIRDSONGS ...

Walk and Talks – Weekly, monthly, or quarterly virtual or in-person walks with sisters and friends provide concentrated connection time while enjoying nature. Like running, the routine is weather-proof unless there is lightning. Living rurally, this practice lets me maintain friendships as they walk city streets or beaches and I traverse country roads or a nearby golf course. What I reluctantly surrendered in running, I've gained in meaningful conversations and details that could be missed on runs.

Sights, Sounds and Smells – During our recent spring walk, we paused to admire moss (a friend planning to add to her garden), a towering stand of white pines (guessing we were older than the trees), and opening frozen waters (a celebration in Minnesota). Each walk offers brilliant sunrises, unique cloud formations, chattering birdsongs, and the scent of awakening earth mixed with remnants of chimney or outdoor bonfires smoke.

Unique Treasures – While keeping my eyes on the horizon and changing seasons, I collect simple souvenirs—turkey feathers, pussy willows, and surprisingly, loose change. Since COVID began, I've tracked found coins, averaging a few dollars yearly, mostly near town and our city ballfield. Also, following a cousin's example, I occasionally bring gloves and a bag to collect trash along my route and give the cans to a friend for recycling for money.

These walks enrich my life in countless ways but here are the top takeaways:

I have maintained connections despite distance.
Each season brings new experiences to appreciate.
Small treasures like loose change help mark the miles in a different way.

I also enjoy the sustainable practices of walking from simple gear, fewer miles in the car and picking up garbage (or treasures) along the way. Watch for more in the future – from stories to photos – about my solitary and social walks. Here’s to spring walking!

Silverish Simplicity Links

Warranty Wisdom: A Mother’s Lesson

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:03:50 GMT

While I'm not an expert on warranties, I am the daughter of a mother who took advantage of them for small home products. With three daughters in the house, she purchased a few blow dryers especially when her three teenagers cared enough to wake up early and style our hair. I remember our mother packaging up a non-operating Conair blow dryer and shipping it to take advantage of the product warranty at the time (today it’s three years). Decades before the internet, there is no doubt she kept the product literature to reference the important warranty and shipping information.

In her last months of life, she once instructed me to look up warranty and replacement information on her favorite Ottlite sewing lamp she had in her office that wasn’t working. She loved this lamp and was determined to have it in use again. I remember lovely conversations with the customer service person explaining the issue, what we should do next and even a friendly follow-up email!

In that spirit, and with the ease of the internet, I have taken advantage of a few product warranties. My research and approach are based on my love of the product itself and doing a quick cost-benefit analysis, including product quality, time and shipping costs. However, I have found the first step is to create a simple warranty tracking system for my favorite products – whether through browser bookmarks, email folders or paper files – just as I’m sure our mother did with her product literature as there wasn’t a piece of paper she won’t hold on to “just in case.”

"A Customer is never out of warranty, even if his product is."

Seth Godin

Every time a product falls short of its expected life span or promoted quality, I think of our mother looking for the warranty information, calling customer service and packaging and shipping the item back and patiently waiting for the replacement. In doing so, I am thoughtfully considering the product sustainability and quality promise and remembering her practicality and persistence.

Here are examples of items I have purchased and extended the product life through the warranty and my original investment that is helping me life more sustainably:

Ceramic knives – I wrote about my favorite Kyocera ceramic knives in an earlier post . Ceramic knives are wonderful to work with, but they can chip or the tips can break over time and use. I will continue to use and gift these knives as they are a family favorite.
I nsulated mugs – I received a Tervis classic insulated mug with collegiate branding as a gift and I’ve never turned back. These mugs keep a drink warm and have such fun designs – from your favorite team and nature to seasonal and Snoopy. Recently, curious about their lifetime warranty for an interior film that had developed, I took advantage of Tervis’ lifetime guarantee and was very pleased.
Wool socks – Over 15 years, I have purchased dozens of Smartwool merino wool socks for various activities and occasions, including as gifts. In that time, I have taken advantage of the product guarantee. As they mention on their website, the process has evolved. The process use to be returning the sock for a complete replacement. Today, you take a few pictures of the wear or tear and they will send you a digital gift card to purchase the replacement.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Repairing Gear is Cool (even for a boomer)

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 11:29:46 GMT

On a downhill ski trip this winter, I skied with three fellow boomers. One of the skiers was sporting the same lightweight puffer jacket I’ve worn and treasured for years. As we compared notes, we realized all three of us had the exact jacke t (color, style) circa early 2000s. We laughed about our shared attachment to our well-worn piece, each telling stories on why we wear the jacket today – a warm layer with a shell, a light work jacket, etc. While all of our trusty puffers had seen better days (a total of 70 years of use or more), we weren’t giving up on them.

Back at home, I sent these women a picture of my own jacket with it's repairs. Using patches, I’ve given my puffer a new life and a new look – and have created a few stares. The shapes, representing the outdoors, perfectly adhere to the tears to prevent the jacket from further disrepair.

... outdoor enthusiasts were keeping, repairing, and proudly wearing their well-worn gear ...

Knowing that these over 65-year-old outdoor enthusiasts were keeping, repairing, and proudly wearing their well-worn gear made me feel more connected to a similar trend I've noticed among younger adventurers. Far from hiding their fixes and patches (mostly made using versatile and convenient silver duct tape), they wear them proudly, like visible badges of outdoor experience and problem-solving. I think the younger generation is on to something and they are kindred “Silverish Simplicity” spirits in the area of repairing and repurposing their favorite gear.

Besides the jacket, which has more than a dozen repairs now from being outside and in the woods, here are a few more pieces I’ve kept, helping me live more sustainably and hang on to my gear a little longer:

Backpack chest strap break and repair – A Lowe Alpine daypack with miles of hiking, skiing and traveling. A constant companion that was tested by my daughter on an overnight camping trip with more gear than it was used to. I found a replacement buckle after studying and measuring the right strap and had a heavy-duty sewing friend do the repair.

Hiking shoe resole – The sole of my favorite New Balance trail hiking shoes separated after years of work. Since this was only one sole and the rest of the shoes were in great condition and comfortable, I took the shoes to a shoe repair store. The experts agreed. They were good enough to repair. They’ve carried me through a few more seasons of hiking. (I’ve seen duct taped shoes on the trail and I may need to bring that just in case.)

I have restored these pieces because I LOVE my gear. I have difficulty setting them aside or giving them away. They have become my favorites, and each of the repairs tell a story. I marvel at and appreciate the wisdom of a younger generation who are both practical and sustainable … and cool.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Repair Your Favorite Outdoor Gear
Washable Repair Fabric Patches
How to Repair Your Outdoor Adventure Gear , Explore Magazine
How to Repair Boots and Shoes , Gear Aid

Baggies to Batch Cooking: One Mom's Simple Living Secrets

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 10:41:01 GMT

While texting back and forth about The Silver Thread , I invited my friend Rita Meyer to write a guest post. Rita and I met when our children were classmates at Saint John's Preparatory School, but I knew of her life before then through her monthly column in our Catholic newspaper. Her approachable writing about home life, daily running routine, and adventurous spirit had always resonated with me. Before we met, I also learned about Rita and her husband Marv's impressive feat of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail.

After we became friends, I watched in admiration as their family of six embarked on a summer adventure, living in a motorhome in Alaska from the end of one school year to the start of the next. Leaving behind her home, gardens, and routine to capture precious time with her family exemplified living intentionally and simply.

Rita is a baker and cook extraordinaire for family, fundraisers, and events, a dedicated volunteer, and a kindred spirit. I'm delighted to share her perspective with you today.

Dear Silver Thread Readers,

I can so relate to trying to live a simpler life. A more sustainable life. A life of less stuff and more peace. Margaret has come to embrace what her mother taught by both word and action. I think our moms could have been besties, such similar values.

The more I read Margaret’s posts, the more I realize that I too have adopted a lot of my Mom’s ways and I am proud of this simpler lifestyle. Oh sure, my kids sometimes get on my case for reusing Baggies (for lunch pail packing, they definitely can be used more than once depending on the contents) or Ziplocks (didn’t know about the cool-looking wooden stand Margaret featured last week; I just put mine over water bottles sitting on the countertop) or even perfectly good containers (I buy the Quaker Oats at Sam’s Club and then pour it from the bags into the saved round containers from earlier days). Know what though? I think my kids get it and are replicating what they have seen and heard as they start flying out of the coop.

Our moms could have been besties ...

A few of the things that I do to save time and money when cooking for my family of six include:

Batch cooking . When I brown ground beef, I don’t just do one pound but rather 4-5 pounds at a time in my Dutch Oven…that way it’s ready to go for taco meat, spaghetti sauce, hot dishes, chili, whatever the week’s menu includes.

Stocking up when items are on sale. Ok, 15 boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats (they were only .99 cents a box…the “Family Size” box!) might have been a bit much but cold cereal is a staple in this house; the ultimate comfort food and nighttime snack.

Which brings me to my next point - proper storage is critical. A very large pantry, two chest freezers and two refrigerators are all put to good use in our house.

Parchment paper …another staple for me as I bake a lot (having people enjoy my bread brings me a ton of joy). I use it on my cookie sheets for all my yeast breads, buns, scones, cookies, you name it! But I don’t just use it once, I reuse it…again and again…and then if baked goods start to stick, I use it as the liner for my sweet potato “fries” (cut up fresh sweet potatoes sprayed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, cumin and Spanish Paprika…try it, you’ll like ‘em!).

Again, that leads me to another point - maximize your oven usage . I never bake just one thing. If my oven is going, both racks are being used. Roast some vegetables on a cookie sheet (the sweet potato fries are my go to) if you only need the top rack for baking bread, bars, lasagna, etc.

I’ve got other thoughts, tips, tricks but until Margaret asks me again, here’s to a simpler life!

Silverish Simplicity Links

From Mangle Irons to Modern Methods: Embracing Sustainable Laundry Practices

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 13:21:19 GMT

Growing up as part of a large family meant heaps of laundry. As the daughter of a home economist (now called family and consumer sciences), our home often felt like a laboratory. While some of our mother’s laundry practices remain with me today, others no longer suit modern lifestyle. After doing laundry for my family of six — before becoming an empty nester seven years ago — I've developed sustainable practices that extend the life of fewer, high-quality clothing items.

Patric Richardson , Minnesota-based author of Laundry Love and House Love and host of The Laundry Guy TV show, advocates investing in quality essentials year-round and adding a few seasonal pieces instead of fast fashion. He notes: “If you really love your garments, both classic and trendy, you’ll be more motivated to take care of them and make them last. In sum, you’ll be buying both more thoughtfully and less.”

I've learned ... laundry is more than just cleaning clothes — it’s about sustainability, simplifying life ...

While there’s plenty of consumer education about laundry care, my “home lab” goal is to accomplish this practice with lifestyle efficiency. Here are some of my favorite practices and a few that honor my mother with a smile but have been retired:

Today’s Practices

Gentle and proper washing of clothes – I sort by color, use correct water temperatures, and pre-treat stains while using half the recommended detergent amount. Express cycles serve for most loads and protective mesh bags for delicates. My simplified system of just "whites" and "darks" once or twice weekly has replaced our family’s four-category sorting system that required laundering three or more times weekly.
Less frequent washing – Most clothing (except undergarments, athletic and outdoor work wear) can be worn two to three times before washing, reducing fabric wear and workload. Our closet hooks are full of grab-again athlete-leisure wear and echo my parents’ practical approach – a connection I only recently realized.
Handwashing – Enter any runner girls’ house and you will see a bathroom full of running gear that have been handwashed and drying in the shower for the next use. In addition to running bras and tops, any piece of clothing that says handwash or that appears special, I take the time to wash and rinse in cold water.
Clothesline/air drying clothing – I mentioned this in a previous blog post . It’s a practice I’m passionate about and have a winter method with both a drying rack and a garment rack with hangers and a European-inspired outdoor clothesline . Richardson say: “Abrasion is the No. 1 enemy of laundry.” I avoid the dryer for most of my clothing and use the shortest amount of time if I do use the dryer.
Gentle and proper keeping of clothing – With fewer clothing items, it is easier to care for each item from washing and drying to folding and storage. Loosely using a version of Marie Kondo’s folding and hanging methods, I no longer stuff items in my closet or drawers and give them air to breathe. A final folding touch is to hand pressing the item before making the fold. To add more freshness to the closet or drawers, I add my favorite baking soda-based odor balls to shelves and drawers and cedar blocks for longer-term storage.
Annual dry cleaning for special items – Weekly trips to the dry cleaners to less than a handful of times a year, I have a practice of wearing special clothing more than once, researching and washing dry-cleaning items at home with gentle detergent and avoiding the dry-cleaning expense and more sustainability.

Practices Left Behind

Bulk dry cleaning – One of mom’s regular errands was dropping off "bulk dry cleaning"—a mountain of Dad's suits worn nearly every day. I still smile thinking of her meticulously cleaning pipe tobacco from his pockets before adding each suit to the pile.
Mangle iron – Our mother taught her three daughters to iron on a mangle iron, progressing from pillowcases and napkins to shirts and pants. Our mangle iron was with my parents for the duration of their marriage before finding another home.

As I reflect on these practices, I realize that much of what I’ve learned and still learning about laundry is more than just cleaning clothes — it’s about sustainability, simplifying life and preserving a few memories.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Styled for Simplicity: A Closet Edit to Let Go

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

Downsizing our family home in 2021 meant "editing" my wardrobe for a year shuffling between temporary housing, an overcrowded office, and storage space. To protect and move my wardrobe, I invested in quality storage bags that I still use today — just fewer of them!

Our new closet is one-third the size of our previous one. Despite initial downsizing, I still had work to do after leaving a long career, adapting to lifestyle changes, and holding onto special pieces too long.

The final step in organizing my closet was a virtual styling session with my niece Krysta, a professional stylist ( Styled x Krysta ). Thanks to Krysta my closet contains only items I truly want to keep.

This Closet editing journey taught me there's often more to let go ...

Her listening skills and natural talent made our work a joy and fun. Here's what I learned working with a stylist:

Determine your goals : I wanted to review seasonal clothing, shift to sustainable quality pieces, and get guidance on future purchases to eliminate poor decisions. Knowing your goals means understanding your style and what feels comfortable in your life.
Prepare your space : I spent a few hours readying my closet, using a rolling rack to access all seasons, and made initial "remove" decisions before our session.
Work together : Krysta expertly guided me through each piece with "keep" or "move on" decisions. Her styling suggestions gave me confidence about keeping certain items, while her gentle "time to move on" prompts helped create different piles.
Move forward : With Krysta's expertise, I developed a plan to own less, invest in quality, and avoid fast fashion. She created a visual board of wardrobe selections that match my style and can be added over time.
Final move-on decisions : For the six dozen items I removed, we discussed sustainable options including passing items to family, consignment shops, and nonprofits.

This closet editing journey taught me that even when we think we've downsized, there's often more to let go. I was genuinely shocked to find 72 more items (clothing and accessories) that needed to move on after I thought I'd already simplified.

With my newly curated wardrobe of pieces I truly love, getting dressed is simpler and more enjoyable. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your closet — even after previous efforts to declutter — consider working with a stylist. Sometimes an outside perspective is exactly what we need to recognize what no longer serves us and move forward with intention. The relief of having a streamlined wardrobe that truly reflects who I am today has been worth every decision.

... getting dressed is simpler and more enjoyable ...

P.S. Now that my closet edit is completed, I’m focusing on making old and new pieces last. Watch for next week’s post where I’ll share what I’ve researched and learned about properly maintaining the clothing worth keeping.

Silverish Simplicity Links

A Sustainable Practice Full of Memories

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 13:12:06 GMT

I have written about my mother’s everyday routines – quiet, small practices, some taught and some untaught. My father, a physician, had grand, energetic routines centered around gardening, travel and 35mm photography. I particularly remember his gardening this time of year as he waited for spring to arrive.

His gardening was prolific, with multiple flower and vegetable gardens at his different properties. For decades, until his early 90s, he planned more gardens, more bulbs to plant, more supplies to get and more ornamental and water features to place. A master gardener, his unceasing drive to create colorful views and conduct gardening tours for friends and family (and a reason to have a party) was unmatched. He made plans this time of year inspired by travels and by attending the spring Bachman’s Flower Show .

While his gardening wasn’t simple, a greenhouse he added at our family home was remarkably sustainable – saving and protecting plants year after year instead of replacing them. In a picture recently used for my younger sister’s milestone birthday, the greenhouse setting (see pictures below) perfectly captures those memories: fall crisp nights digging up plants, the humid greenhouse air with geranium scent, and the anxiety of freeze alarms during our parents’ travels.

... a greenhouse ... was remarkably sustainable ...

When the family home sold, he converted a screen porch and bay windows at his hobby farm house into “greenhouse” space, still wintering dozens of plants. My mother patiently deadheaded and cleaned fallen leaves year-round.

As he aged, watching his passion outlast his physical abilities became difficult. His children and grandchildren helped bring in plants and dig bulbs in the fall, and plant them again in the spring. In return, we received garden tours and fresh flower arrangements and remember his passion with stories (and some grumbling) and treasure the photographs of his lifelong passion.

When my own geraniums survived nearly to Thanksgiving this year, I planted them for wintering over in a heated shed. Though not as grand or beautiful as my father’s greenhouse, the plants with their unmistakable scent are thriving in the sun, being protected and saved, and waiting to return outside.

Sustainable gardening can include overwintering a few plants.
A family tradition can be adapted for your own scale and interest.
Visit a spring flower show for inspiration.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Humble Helpers: Six Kitchen Tools for Simple Living

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 14:12:56 GMT

At a recent social event, I met a woman who helps families downsize their parents' homes. We clicked instantly over our shared passion for simple living. Our brief conversation confirmed what we both knew: the kitchen is where simple living often begins — eliminating duplicate storage containers and saying no to large gadgets because of space, etc.

That conversation made me reflect on my own kitchen essentials – the simple tools that I use every day. I’ve discovered that humble little tools, not fancy hard-to-store gadgets, are the extraordinary helpers for simple, sustainable living. Many were inspired by, or came from, family and friends, and I treasure them, not only because of their purpose, but their small size and mighty reuse.

The kitchen is where simple living begins ...

My kitchen's most treasured tools, each with a short

description:

Elegant Wood Bag Dryer for Plastic Bags – I use this rack for drying my plastic storage bags (except those used for meats and oils). My goal is at least two safe uses.
Decorative Compost Bin – This decorative bucket with charcoal filters makes year-round composting easy and convenient (and easy to look at).
Silicone Bowl Covers – Perfect replacement for paper towels and plastic wrap when reheating and storing – a cost and waste savings, too.
Cloth, Insulated Tortilla Warmer – One of the best cooks in my life used this at my 60 ^th birthday dinner. Another paper towel saver. Where was this when I was cooking for six people every day?
Ceramic Knife – Years ago, watching my sister-in-law’s impressive chopping technique led me to this knife. I now have multiples, gift them often, use the product warranty (a future post on product warranties is coming) and watch for promotion codes (current code I've received is CRAFTLOVE).
Blue Mason Jar Storage – Our mother, a home economist/dietitian, canned while raising her large family. I cherish these blue mason jars – some from her, some from other sources. See her alma mater’s article on the proper vintage jar storage.

After decades of cooking for a busy family of six, I’m now drawn to (and more confident with) uncomplicated cooking that is healthier and less wasteful. These humble little helpers are with me every day.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Why Silverish Simplicity?

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 12:14:30 GMT

As I mark my 10th blog post, I'm grateful for the inspiration behind launching this blog. Three years into my simplicity journey, I now truly "see,” "feel,” and "celebrate" what less means.

I’ve been asked why “Silverish?” The term "Silverish" brightly captures my approach. The three letters "ish" explain that my simplicity is roughly parallel to my life stage - similar to the silver-like color of my hair and favorite jewelry, but not perfectly defined. Silverish allows me to embrace light and imperfection.

Frankly, this lifestyle isn't for everyone. While of late I've read more counterpoint-to-minimalism articles, I know this approach works for me. I believe at some point everyone will discover a need for simplification, whether through choice or circumstance like a late-in-life estate sale. And I'm simply enjoying this journey too much to not be part of it.

... everyone will discover a need for simplification ...

Inspiration has come from several sources:

A Mother: Her daily living and clever ways deeply influenced my perspective. She will always be “shimmers” in my blog.
A Friend: During a holiday dinner, she invited me to help her declutter her basement, turning simplification into a shared, reflective and enjoyable experience.
Colleagues: During a final client project (I now call it my farewell tour ��) a fun group of colleagues noticed my ongoing goal of a healthy and simplified lifestyle and were intrigued enough to encourage me to share more. They are still the “benchmark” inspiration for me today.
A Mentor: Rose, a professional colleague and friend, of the successful " Two Minutes Du Jour " blog, shared her gifts with me and taught me that creativity doesn't require perfection. Her blog is a "playground" for thoughts - much like my "ish" philosophy. Her friendship and inspiration were pivotal in launching my own blog.

And to those unmentioned and yet unknown sources of inspiration - unexpected conversations, random occurrences, etc. - I am grateful for the wisdom and perspectives you will bring to my continued journey of simplicity.

A few “shimmers” I’ve noticed recently:

Silverish Simplicity Links

Grandmacore – A way to incorporate pieces from a past era into your decorating whether you are a minimalist or maximalist.
10 Ways to Eat Better – As another reader said perfectly this is a balanced article on reality, science and good common sense.
My Home is Messy, and I Don’t Feel Bad About It – A case for messiness to support my disclaimer.

Lessons From a 16-Year-Old Austrian Exchange Student

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:22:05 GMT

Twelve years ago, we hosted, “Loodles” (not her real name but a family nickname her host brother loved to use), a 16-year-old Austrian exchange student from Melk Abbey, just as our eldest daughter left for college. She shared a room with our younger daughter becoming part of the sophomore class friend group and our family. Her perspective on sustainable living, shaped by her Austrian-Dutch upbringing, has influenced my daily habits.

Now a psychotherapist after traveling and teaching in the Congo and El Salvador, Loodles taught us valuable lessons about simplicity that remain relevant today:

Air Dry Clothes – Loodles shared how dryers are less common in Austria, showing us how her family hung clothes to dry inside year-round. I adopted this practice, saving energy while adding humidity during winter and extending the life of my clothes.

Rethink Single-Use Items – Her gentle critique of our K-Cup coffee maker created a lasting change – I switched back to a traditional drip maker focusing on sustainability over convenience.

Connect Through Art – During a trip to Chicago, Loodles researched one of her father’s favorite artists, David Hockney, at the Chicago Art Institute. While I knew of David Hockney’s work (mostly in the poster print format), she taught me to experience art as a way to connect with family across distances.

her perspective on sustainable living ... has influenced my daily habits ...

Find Beauty in Differences – Growing up in urban areas walking and biking everywhere, including to her school, Stift Melk, Loodles embraced our rural American lifestyle with genuine interest rather than judge it – from riding in a Chevy truck for 30 minutes to school every day to experiencing fall harvesting.

Embrace Emotional Depth – On her final Chicago L-train ride, Loodles shed tears, believing she'd never return to the city that had amazed her with its size and skyscrapers. This moment revealed both her sensitivity and remarkable wisdom.

These lessons from a brief cultural exchange continue to influence my choices years later. Through Loodles’ fresh perspective, I learned that sustainable living isn’t just about the environmental impact – it’s about finding joy in simplicity and remaining open to the world.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Everyday Life Hacks from Mom

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:45:06 GMT

After last week's longer “Year of Wisdom” post, I’m returning to quick and inspirational ideas on living simply by sharing a few ERW Life Hacks. ERW, my tiny and determined mother, lived a remarkable 93 years. Throughout her life, she quietly exemplified resourceful living, teaching our family through her daily example.

With family providing daily caregiving during her at-home 18-month hospice journey in the pandemic years, I observed some of her clever shortcuts and methods that made her daily living and efforts easier. While I’m sure she was using her life hacks through her life, watching more closely (and sometimes gently directed) during that time in her home helped me see and admire her practices and rituals.

... I observed some of her clever shortcuts and methods that made her daily living and efforts easier ...

I smile whenever I use one of her clever life hacks in my daily life. Though I drew the line at some of her more frugal practices – like washing and reusing her Kirkland Signature gray multipurpose gloves during the pandemic – her gentle wisdom lives on in these everyday moments.

Grapefruit Spoons as Combined Fork/Spoon/Knife – A grapefruit spoon is the perfect combination of a fork/spoon/knife. As my mother’s daily living tasks became more difficult, rather than retrieving three utensils she retrieved one – a grapefruit spoon! It was her favorite multipurpose meal tool and she had more than a dozen of them in her drawer.

Blanket Corner Small Safety Pins – Keep and reuse those small safety pins to mark the corners of comforters, quilts, spreads or blankets to easily orient yourself when making the bed. Nearly invisible, I learned from my mother that marking the corners saves time when figuring out which direction the bedding goes.

Pots and Pans Paper Towel Separators – Use a few pieces of paper towel as separators between pots and pans to quiet the stacking when putting away and to protect them from scratching against each other. I originally questioned why the paper sections remained in my mother’s cupboard or drawers and soon learned how nice it was to have a soft landing when returning the pots and pans to her cupboards.

Small Container Leftover Prep – To prepare for the next meal whether to heat up food or prepare a small dessert portion, breakdown leftovers into small, covered containers (microwave safe glass rather than plastic). As we were cleaning up, I observed how my mother’s daily ritual of using small containers to keep the perfect portion for the next few days saved time. I use a hack upgrade by adding a labeling system and freezing some of the containers.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Wisdom from Simple Things

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 12:28:08 GMT

Finding Silverish Simplicity during the holidays wasn’t easy for me but not in the way you might expect. Like the changing weather from snow, frost, rain and finally fog, the holidays were changing, too. Worrying took many forms: monitoring our children's travels, welcoming a great niece, saying goodbyes to a college friend, the beloved sister of one of my dearest friends, and my husband's cousin.

As I navigated my own illness alongside these events, I realized the overwhelming feeling wasn’t just the events themselves but the meaning and memories of each that created my own fog during the holidays.

But like a dear dependable friend, it was finding the wisdom of little things, simple things, my “go to” things that got me back on track to think about the end of the year and the hope of 2025.

The following insights are from a trusted "go to" source and one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to all year – “The Year of Wisdom” which aired on January 1, 2025, on The Daily, from The New York Times . In this thoughtful year-end episode, hosted by Melissa Kirsch, the deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle, Ms. Kirsch gathered wisdom insights from her New York Times colleagues and readers told in their lovely voices.

While I highly recommend listening to the full podcast , I'd like to share the moments that particularly resonated with me and helped me break through the fog. Consider this longer-than-usual post my way of making up for a missed week – and trust me, these insights are worth the extra reading time. Happy New Year!

... finding the wisdom of little things, simple things, my “go to” things ...

Philip Galanes , columnist of The New York Times “Social Q’s”

What Makes Good Advice

“The mark of really great advice is listening so closely that you’re almost the same person with the person who is asking for the advice. In my experience, the best way to do it is not to think, what should I do, but really, listening to (name here) telling me about her situation and thinking, (name here) and I have this problem. We share it now. What’s the most helpful thing I can say to her to help her march toward a solution that’s going to work for her?”

Thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions

“The most common one that I hear is about diet. So if you eat 10 crappy cookies, rather than saying, let’s reduce those cookies to zero, let’s instead find the best cookie you can possibly find at the best bakery. Let’s do the legwork. Let’s find the cookie that is really going to turn you on and eat two of those in a week."

Advice for Humanity for 2025

“Let’s make 2025 the year of listening, less talking, more listening. I think it really pays off, and it also pays dividends. And I’m going to try to listen more.”

Jancee Dunn , writer for The New York Times “Well” newsletter

Don’t Chew Ice

“I interviewed eight dentists and the majority of them — I think six out of eight — first thing out of their mouths — I said, what do you want people to know? And they said, don’t chew ice. It was overwhelmingly their number one tip.”

Decluttering Mystery Chargers and Cords

“This is about decluttering — always a hit in the early part of the year. Let go of that dusty box or bag of mystery chargers and cords. We all have it … separate everything into piles, and think of all the things in your house that have cords or chargers. Go through and try them. If they don’t work, it’s likely that they don’t. I don’t want to be presumptuous. Then it’s time to drop them off at a place that accepts electronic waste.”

Feeling Cynical? Collect Moments of “Moral Beauty”

“That is a concept that was created by a researcher named Dacher Keltner, and he wrote a book called ‘Awe.’ … if you’re losing faith in people, the world, politics, whatever, he says, to take 15 minutes out of your day and pay attention to the moments of kindness all around you … There’s a lot of that out there if you pay attention. And you really only need about 15 minutes, and you can collect 10 things. And they reset you and remind you that a lot of people are good.”

Excerpts of the best advice from The New York Times readers in The Year of Wisdom:

“… when someone says, thank you, just say, you’re welcome … actually accept a ‘thank you’ with ‘you’re welcome.’”

“… everything is temporary, and I hope that applies to the head cold that I have right now.”

“… keep a list of wins … for example, my parents are in their 80s, and each time I talk to them, I consider it a win, just to be able to hear their voice and talk to them.”

“… when you put on your lipstick, use your finger* to spread it over your lips. It gives a very fresh, natural, and pouty look. And it’s what French women do, apparently. I can’t believe it.”

“… If you focus on the wound, you will continue to hurt. And if you focus on the lesson, you’ll continue to grow.”

“…never be afraid to enter into a new venture, but always be aware that you’re going to pay a dumb tax.”

“… motion is lotion … the more active I am, the less my back bothers me.”

“…raise the child you have, not raise the child you want.”

“…Such chaos that we are living in now, but nature continues in all of her glory.”

Silverish Simplicity Links

My favorites from this week to start 2025:

The Power of Decluttering , MPR News with Angela Davis (December 30, 2024)
Gina B Designs , ‘Tis the Season to Say Thanks!
12 Balanced Living Ideas for a Great New Year , The Simply Luxurious Life (January 1, 2025)

P.S. Remember my post about local loyalty programs and Gold Bond Stamps ? Well, the simple joys of community connections continue! At the start of the Christmas festivities, I won the local meat raffle not once but twice in one night — proving once again that local contests bring the most delightful surprises and support good causes (in this case our local high school theater and activities). Fun and laughter with family were had celebrating the holidays including sharing and bringing home some Kimball-style winnings.

*Instead of your finger to spread the lipstick, use the Spatty I mentioned in November 9 post !

Hush, No Rush: Slowing Our Pace

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:40:52 GMT

While listening to a podcast at the beginning of the this year's Advent and Christmas season, I heard the phrase “Hush, No Rush.” The message arrived just in time to make the perfect goal of holiday simplicity. Despite entertaining, attending parties and running errands (mostly groceries), I found ways to embrace this mantra this holiday season.

Living in a small rural area naturally lends itself to a slower pace, with fewer retail and entertainment distractions. Still, I intentionally looked at our home and calendar for small changes but keeping the festive and fun spirit.

... A merry and silverish christmas!

For the past three Christmas seasons, I’ve taken a more deliberate simplistic approach, and this year was no different. Here are ways I have found a “Hush, No Rush” mindset during this holiday season.

Reduce holiday décor and bring in natural greens – Frequently advocated by minimalist experts, this practice has become an annual goal. I have reduced my holiday décor to only a few boxes, and will evaluate them again in a few weeks when I put them away. While some of the artificial décor went out the door, I brought in more foraged greens from my woods.
Choose simple entertainment for gatherings – This year, I hosted a holiday/retirement get together with a small friend group. I asked my friends to bring a childhood Christmas photo of themselves (under the age of six). Following my own rule, I shared one picture. But my friends went through their historic photos or printed them and brought dozens of pictures. We spent the evening laughing and marveling at our younger selves and our families.
Walk whenever possible – A regular walker, I combined exercise with errands – visiting the library (so festive during the holidays!), the bank and dropping off holiday cheer for friends. Beyond exercise, there is no better way to find natural quiet and slow life’s pace.
Enjoy calming holiday music – Our public radio station has a beautiful holiday stream. And years ago, my sister introduced me to UK's Classic FM years ago, and this year to the popular classical music new channel “Classic FM Calm” (thanks, sister number one!) Between this and Minnesota Public Radio’s “Holiday” 24-hour streaming option, there is calm music around to slow the pace while enjoying the holidays.
Embrace a new tradition – A favorite holiday party to raise money for an outdoor arboretum introduced me to Swedish Log Candles. Every few years, we celebrate the holidays or the Winter Solstice by creating Swedish Log Candles. This year will be one of those years. Bringing us outside, the simple, self-contained fire creates a beautiful contrast on one of the longest nights of the year.

As I write this a few days before posting, our first winter snowstorm has arrived – nature’s way of slowing our pace. The holiday errands are complete, chores nearly finished, and family is arriving to celebrate Christmas on Winter Solstice weekend. A perfect ending to a “Hush, No Rush” season. Merry and Silverish Christmas!

Silverish Simplicity Links

Precious Treasures, Little Lovelies: Embracing Simpler Holiday Traditions

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 12:20:54 GMT

Downsizing our home and lives has given me the chance to reflect on family and friends holiday traditions. While some traditions have naturally come to an end because of age and distance (a warm goodbye, St. Nick), new ones have emerged. I’ve enjoyed the research, creativity and simplicity these new traditions have brought, all while continuing my Silverish Simplicity practice of “light and variable.”

These practices have embraced a “take your time” approach allowing me to reflect, give with intention and celebrate meaningfully with family and friends.

Here are some of the learnings and highlights:

Precious Treasures Passed On – This year marks the fifth, and possibly final, year of passing down memorable keepsakes to my four children through holiday sorting and decorating and a family dice game . The treasures I’ve discovered while downsizing range from the silly to the significant — family games, formal silver service items from grandparents and cherished Christmas ornaments. Each item has meant enough to be intentional and not throw away, recycle, sell or donate — and they’ve triggered laughter and storytelling.

I also saw and seized a timely opportunity to include a significant regift with a client and friend, along with a small indulgence (more on that next). The item was a meaningful memento from a shared connection, and I hoped the message on it would resonate with her, given her current circumstance and the person who gifted it to me. It did! I received a note of appreciation about the meaningful gift.

Each piece, while used or regifted, falls into the category of precious treasures and has brought me simple joy as they leave my life.

... THey've triggered Laughter and Storytelling ...

Little Lovelies Under the Tree – My earliest memories of gift-giving, outside of an annual gift exchange with my three brothers and two sisters, were Secret Santa games with high school friends, college dorm mates, and work colleagues. Decades later, I recall the simplicity of those small gifts — used and enjoyed without concern for storage or excess.

Over time, gift-giving blossomed without warning to a more mature tradition with “small indulgences” like holiday ornaments, candles, candies, eventually leading to considerable gifts in terms of expense and storage. Today, however, I’ve returned to a simpler, more nostalgic approach — gifts that are small, useable, and full of cheer.

Gift ideas, which come into my life through travel or experiences, are now what I call my “little lovelies.” Spoiler alert: I’ve included a few from this holiday season below.

While I may no longer be a grand gift-giver during the holidays, I hope family and friends enjoy these small tokens of affection, each given with personal meaning, and they find use for them in their lives. I look forward to my ongoing “little lovelies” research for the next holiday season.

Silverish Simplicity Links

November: Gratitude In a No Spending Month

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:30:00 GMT

I made it through my “No Spend November” and it was a restorative reset.

After a few years of reading articles, books and podcasts about simplicity, I discovered an intriguing challenge: the “no-spend month.” One of my favorite pieces was by my inspiration and favorite author Ann Patchett titled “My Year of No Shopping.” I learned there are strict no spend months (only essential expenses like food and home bills) and categorical no spend months (allowing some flexibility).

A strict no spend month during a transitional period was relatively easy and quite freeing, as I had little desire to accumulate more while in temporary housing.

I chose this November for my second no spend month. I picked this month, partly for the playful alliteration, but mostly because I desired a reset after a busy summer and fall of spending on travel, family events and more and before the busy holidays.

I DESIRED A RESET AFTER A BUSY SUMMER AND FALL ...

Here are some learnings of a no spend month as an intentional financial strategy:

No spend “why” and rules are personal . A spending freeze is personal and what you want to achieve. My no spend month, a spending detox, was cleansing, but I didn’t miss celebrating special moments, including the purchase of an engagement gift for my daughter, while maintaining overall spending discipline.
Mindful purchasing is a decision reflection . While the impulse was there to add an item to my cart, I spent more time thinking whether I “really” needed it. I would pause, leave, return and then decided against the purchase. And I have learned the present decision not to put it in the cart also kept at bay, for now, a future decision about that item – where and how it leaves my life.
Desire to purchase was suppressed. Keeping a list of the items I passed on during November (seven personal items or services in the $800 range), helped me see that the urgency for those same items quickly dissipated. Here are some examples: a) an orange baseball cap for walking in the woods (I had an old one that was just fine); b) a new dress and a manicure and pedicure for a special wedding (I attended in a dress only worn twice and did a home manicure and pedicure); c) the “perfect” coffee tumbler my daughter showed me (again, I pulled out an old one that fit my car cup holder); d) cleaning a dry clean-only dress at home with a product that I researched and felt safe using.

A no spend month during a month that celebrates gratitude and abundance (and on the eve of a month of holiday spending creep) was challenging but also special as it had many lessons, including restorative appreciation for a simplified life and space that gives me joy and peace every day.

Silverish Simplicity Links

Holiday Mail Overload? A Simple Guide to Clearing Your Mailbox Clutter

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:11:11 GMT

Even in our digital age, print catalogs and direct mail continue to find our mailboxes. After two household moves, managing my parents' subscriptions, and wanting a simpler life, I've mastered a process that transformed my overstuffed mailbox into a manageable number that reflects my light and variable lifestyle.

Here's my strategy that started four years ago and still works today:

Shop Strategically Think twice before online purchases. Each new retailer potentially shares your information with others. I've narrowed my shopping to a few trusted catalogs, dramatically reducing the snowball effect of shared contact lists.
Take Immediate Action Handle catalogs the day they arrive. Remember – anything you "save for later" can be found more current online. For unwanted catalogs, move straight to removal.
Leverage CatalogChoice This free, nonprofit service became my secret weapon. Their dashboard tracks opt-out history, addresses, and household members. Through moves and life changes, it's proven invaluable for opting out of more than 120 company catalogs. For the rare catalog that CatalogChoice can’t find, a quick website search usually reveals more opt-out information.

I've mastered a process that transformed my overstuffed mailbox into a manageable number ...

Target Service Promotions For those window replacement and credit card offers, visit company websites to find removal forms or email contacts. A five-minute investment saves years of unwanted mail.
Handle Nonprofits Gracefully For memorial donation-triggered mailings, I take a different approach. I return their fundraising letter with a note requesting removal while acknowledging their mission and telling them to “keep up the good work.” It costs a stamp but saves them money in the long run and honors their work.

An Added Tip: Register with DMAchoice.org ($5 for 10 years) to reduce about 80% of national direct mail. Combined with the above steps, it's powerful.

While the occasional unwanted catalog still finds my mailbox and I'm researching another idea for the credit card offers, my system has reduced a small hill of paper to a manageable handful. Better for finding “Silverish Simplicity” and definitely better, I hope, for the environment.

A family footnote: Years ago, I assigned my eldest daughter the summer project of calling catalog companies to remove our address. Recently, she told me this "chore" made her feel grown up and taught her valuable communication skills. Sometimes, fighting mail clutter has unexpected benefits but fortunately, especially for her, we have progressed.

Silverish Simplicity Links

From Gold Bond Stamps to Today’s Simple Incentives: Where Memories and Savings Endure

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:19:45 GMT

For anyone growing up in Minnesota in the late 1950s and 1960s probably remembers Gold Bond Stamps in their homes, a loyalty program from area grocery stores and other retailers.

Next to recipes, newspaper clippings and school papers, my mother had booklets to be filled in with Gold Bond Stamps to be redeemed for merchandise. One of the chores she gave her six children was to sit at the kitchen desk, lick the currency-like stamps and place them on the booklet squares before mailing them with her redemption selections to the Gold Bond Stamp Redemption Center on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. Weeks later packages would arrive in the mail with merchandise she redeemed for her loyalty to her neighborhood grocery store.

When our mother passed away, some of the items we sorted through were Gold Bond Stamp redemption products, including full sets of silverware and dishware that are now in the homes of her children and grandchildren. Gold Bond Stamps was a regional program of the Carlson Companies that declined in the 1970s and early 1980s and about the same time we left our parents home for college. Today, loyalty programs are prolific because of online apps and promotions. While there is a simplicity to this practice today, the number of programs, remembering passwords, and the vastness of participants in the same program, are far from simple.

... my mother had booklets to be filled in with Gold Bond Stamps ...

I prefer entering simple, local incentive programs and contests because of the ease and small celebrations they create between neighbors and community. Recently, my husband called me from his office to tell me he heard from our local butcher that I had won a recipe contest from our local electric and broadband coop asking to submit a favorite fall recipe. I quickly located the cooperative newsletter and there on page seven was the winning Caramel-Crowned Pumpkin Squares recipe I submitted and for which I received $10 off my utility bill. This effortless task had some take aways:

Local or regional loyalty programs can be the easiest and most meaningful, i.e., a simple email to an employee who personally writes you back with: “Thanks, Margaret. These sound delicious!”
Entering a contest can create simple fun for you, your neighbors and family.
Winning can save money on bills.

I’m now waiting for a Thanksgiving contest I entered for our local propane company to get $25 off our bill and to celebrate the news with others. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the winning recipe!

Silverish Simplicity Links

Benedictine Lessons in Simplicity

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:31:24 GMT

I have learned about simplicity in some unexpected places. Simplicity reveals itself in the smallest gestures: using both sides of copy paper when printing, returning chairs to their proper place before leaving a conference room, turning off lights, carefully thinking about the lettering design and placement of signage. These are all examples of simplicity I observed and came to appreciate working for a Benedictine community. Although Benedictines don't formally commit to poverty in their vows, their founding document, The Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizes moderation and contentment with basic provisions … a simple lifestyle.

I first noticed the practices with a colleague who introduced me to repurposing the other side of copy paper surprisingly in a work setting for draft documents. Why not use the other side of copy paper until you are ready to present the final draft? This is a practice that I have kept for nearly 20 years and goes beyond recycling and reuses the blank side of the paper.

i have learned about simplicity in some unexpected places

With the same team, I was taught a form of Benedictine hospitality by pushing in conference and dining table chairs at the end of a meeting or lunch before departing. It seemed to not only show respect for the material furniture but greeted the guest who would use the space next. This practice – pushing in chairs after meetings and meals – taught me to see space as something we share with future users. Now I find myself pushing in chairs, tidying up areas in any space I’m in - meeting rooms, restaurants, hotel rooms, etc., - and find others following my example. The extra step ensures savings, kindness to the next group and simple respect for space.

As a marketing communications professional, preparing concepts, materials and campaigns for campus exterior signage and displays for approval became the purview of a monastic design committee. In our fast-paced world of viral content and disposable ideas, the monastics’ slow, deliberate approach to design and visual space can test your patience. Yet over time, I came to appreciate the community’s slow and deliberate process as the world moves faster and faster and things and ideas become so viral and disposable.

While I’m no expert in The Rule of St. Benedict, the values and people who embody them have deeply influenced my life. Beyond the community’s larger stewardship work and programs, it’s these small, mindful practices that are my daily companions. Look closely, you’ll see simplicity’s silver threads in every corner of your life.

Notice one space you use and how you can leave it ready for the next person.
Try the two-sided paper practice this week.
Keep an eye out for simple, thoughtful design. Did it still catch your attention?

Silverish Simplicity Links

Squeezing Out the Last Drop: A Memory and the Right Mindset

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:49:15 GMT

One of the routines I think of as part of my daily routine is my mother’s practice and creative challenge of using everything to the last drop before disposing of a container. A lotion bottle or toothpaste tube was cut open and examined for final contents before it was placed in the garbage or recycling. A condiment jar was scraped or mixed with a few drops of water to use the very last serving it could offer.

My mother would even go as far as asking for her daughters’ half-used lotion and makeup containers to make sure they were used to the last drop! My visits to her home often included bringing partially used products.

What I once thought was the end of a product could last a few more weeks ...

Even though I silently questioned the quality of these unwanted bottles and jars, they were gems to my mother. As I reflect on her habits, I have grown fond of her frugal intentions and now pay closer attention to using my purchases until the last drop.

While time has helped me discover the favorite products in my life, and I don’t abandon them as easily, I am thrilled to challenge myself to use everything up. What I once thought was the end of a product could last a few more weeks, months, or servings. Incorporating and honoring my mother’s practice to save money and reduce waste aligns with a simpler lifestyle, and helps me appreciate the value of what I have.

Silverish Simplicity links to a few tools to squeeze out the last drop:

The Spatty : A mini-spatula that will provide two more weeks out of an eight-ounce facial lotion bottle or a month out of the bottom of a lipstick container.
Smart House : A sturdy, durable toothpaste tube squeezer and holder that completely flattens the last drop of toothpaste.

A Risk But Keeping it Light and Variable

silverishsimplicity@gmail.com (Margaret Arnold) — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 16:47:21 GMT

Starting a blog feels like the opposite of simple. At any moment, I could talk myself out of it — it feels risky, so "not me." But each day, I find myself wanting to share thoughts, both old and new, about living a simple life. Rather than picking up the phone to share my ideas and new practices with friends and family who may have no interest in my thoughts and ideas, I’ve decided to take a risk and write them down in a new personal blog, The Silver Thread .

My inspiration comes, in part, from my mother and her daily practices I observed (and were no doubt passed down to her), my own learnings that have now become habits, and a deeper interest in simplicity by exploring literature and other content. One of those inspirations was the Ann Patchett's article and book and the charming book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter" by Margareta Magnusson.

The weather that day

was described as light

and variable

In May 2020, a few months into the pandemic, I sent a note to colleagues letting them know I was stepping away from my consulting work (only to return twice more ��) to help and be a caregiver for family, downsize our family home and move into a smaller home, and see a few volunteer projects through. The weather that day was described as "light and variable" which inspired the start of creating a light and variable lifestyle. Like the weather, I could imagine "it" immediately, but I just needed to start — like this blog.

What I didn’t know was that practicing a simpler life could truly be light and variable. Light, meaning you recognize it when you "feel" it and are attracted to return to it often — less belongings, less waste, less cost, and more time for meaningful connections. Variable, defined as lightening your load to allow for flexibility, change, and growth. Light and variable also describe the calm and unpredictably of working towards, achieving and returning to a simpler lifestyle.

Five top facts to know about my light and variable lifestyle that I’ll highlight and write about in future issues of The Silver Thread :

Space is at the center of the lifestyle.
Preparation and routine ensures success.
Cleaning and the right tools are part of the process.
Family legacy, health and moments are a priority.
Nature and cool things can inspire.

I’ve found that a life that is more light and variable has brought unexpected fun and challenge. It’s a practice I continue to refine, and one you may want to explore, too.

The Silver Thread

The Wisdom and Challenge of Simplicity

Silverish Simplicity Links

A Season of Foraging, Layering and Reflection

Silverish Simplicity Discoveries Worth Sharing

Stories in Small Moments: Essays and Simple Living

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Downsizing Without Losing Memories

tODAY, THERE IS JUST ONE GOOGLE SHEET ...

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Saying Goodbye to Boxes, Keeping the Memories

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Next Needed Thing: Grandpa's Summer Visits

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A Happy Cleaner: Four Decades of Family Moves & Experiences

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An Earth Day Project to Last a Decade

my gift to the earth is a forest management project ...

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Miles, Enduring Friendships and Loose Change

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Warranty Wisdom: A Mother’s Lesson

"A Customer is never out of warranty, even if his product is."

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Repairing Gear is Cool (even for a boomer)

... outdoor enthusiasts were keeping, repairing, and proudly wearing their well-worn gear ...

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Baggies to Batch Cooking: One Mom's Simple Living Secrets

Our moms could have been besties ...

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From Mangle Irons to Modern Methods: Embracing Sustainable Laundry Practices

I've learned ... laundry is more than just cleaning clothes — it’s about sustainability, simplifying life ...

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Styled for Simplicity: A Closet Edit to Let Go

This Closet editing journey taught me there's often more to let go ...

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A Sustainable Practice Full of Memories

... a greenhouse ... was remarkably sustainable ...

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Humble Helpers: Six Kitchen Tools for Simple Living

The kitchen is where simple living begins ...

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Why Silverish Simplicity?

... everyone will discover a need for simplification ...

Silverish Simplicity Links

Lessons From a 16-Year-Old Austrian Exchange Student

her perspective on sustainable living ... has influenced my daily habits ...

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Everyday Life Hacks from Mom

... I observed some of her clever shortcuts and methods that made her daily living and efforts easier ...

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Wisdom from Simple Things

... finding the wisdom of little things, simple things, my “go to” things ...

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Hush, No Rush: Slowing Our Pace

... A merry and silverish christmas!

Silverish Simplicity Links

Precious Treasures, Little Lovelies: Embracing Simpler Holiday Traditions

... THey've triggered Laughter and Storytelling ...

Silverish Simplicity Links

November: Gratitude In a No Spending Month

I DESIRED A RESET AFTER A BUSY SUMMER AND FALL ...

Silverish Simplicity Links

Holiday Mail Overload? A Simple Guide to Clearing Your Mailbox Clutter

I've mastered a process that transformed my overstuffed mailbox into a manageable number ...

Silverish Simplicity Links

From Gold Bond Stamps to Today’s Simple Incentives: Where Memories and Savings Endure

... my mother had booklets to be filled in with Gold Bond Stamps ...

Silverish Simplicity Links

Benedictine Lessons in Simplicity

i have learned about simplicity in some unexpected places

Silverish Simplicity Links

Squeezing Out the Last Drop: A Memory and the Right Mindset

What I once thought was the end of a product could last a few more weeks ...

A Risk But Keeping it Light and Variable

The weather that day

was described as light

and variable

Silverish Simplicity Links

You can find any books I suggest at your local library