Margaret Arnold • December 14, 2024
Precious Treasures, Little Lovelies: Embracing Simpler Holiday Traditions

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.

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Past Blogs

A tote bag is sitting on a counter next to bottles of cleaning supplies.

A Happy Cleaner: Four Decades of Family Moves & Experiences

By Margaret Arnold • May 17, 2025
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.

An Earth Day Project to Last a Decade

By Margaret Arnold • April 26, 2025
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 ...

Miles, Enduring Friendships and Loose Change

By Margaret Arnold • April 13, 2025
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 ...