Several months ago I found this YouTube video (skip to 6:05) that’s basically an episode-long compilation of some classic children stories by Eric Carle.

I’ve watched this video many times but it wasn’t until yesterday (the anniversary of the last time I saw my Dad in person) that one particular story brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me is more about the parent than it is about the little girl. My husband joked that his fear of heights would make him nervous about climbing such a tall ladder. The little girl wanted to dance with the moon. So her dad did whatever it took to get the moon.

If Papi could have given me the moon, he would have. He gave us the world instead and to us, he was the sun.

30 reasons why I’m lucky

Side note: Do I actually believe in luck as a Christian? I know some people will say that blessed is the right term (and they’re not wrong). But I like to say lucky because it denotes a happiness that is often missing in Christian circles and conversations.

The solution often and quickly offered is to “just be content.” But contentment isn’t a call to ‘suck it up’ and fake it until you make it. Maybe you wish life turned out differently or maybe you wish you had more time with a loved one before they died— me too. I used to mistake contentment as mere tolerance but to truly be content is to enjoy God and the life He gave you (as best as you can). Amid grief, look for God’s goodness and gifts all around you. (I’m preaching this to myself daily!)

A year ago I spent the first week of August in Mexico. I had no idea that would be the last time I would get to hug my dad or enjoy a meal with him in person. I was encouraged by a family member (a woman of faith who is no stranger to loss) to write a gratitude list whenever I become overwhelmed by grief and gut-wrenching thoughts like “I only had thirty years with him.”

I’ll always wish I had more time and memories with Papi. And yet, how lucky I am to have had the best 30 years with someone like him!

So this is my gratitude list of what a gift it was to have a father and friend like him along with what he gave me, just like the little girl and the moon. Because grief didn’t make me grateful— it made me finally see what was already there.

1. His faith— his greatest legacy… Papi was a man after God’s own heart.

2. What a gift it was to be baptized by him and another pastor when I was seven.His phone calls— always spontaneous and frequent just to ask how I was doing. I’m grateful I live in a time in which the internet, cell phones, and apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime exist.

3. His nickname for me— he would remind me that I would always be his “niña mosa ma chula ma” (beautiful baby girl) even after becoming a parent myself

4. His love of music (He taught me how to play my first song and that’s when my love of singing and guitar began.)

5. His voice— especially when he sang. If he was home, it was never quiet.

6. His prayers (whenever I was sick, sad, etc)

7. His ability to wing it in the kitchen and make the best salsas

8. His homemade pizzas (one of his first jobs in America as an immigrant was working at Dominos and then Denny’s)

9. His laughter

10. His sermons

11. His ability to joke so quickly after getting mad

12. His hardworking hands (he could do anything— some of my favorite childhood memories included when he would take my brother and I to his work from painting and cleaning carpets to replacing floors or roofs)

13. His accent when speaking English

14. His boldness to share the Gospel

15. His generosity

16. His forgiveness (and ability to not hold grudges)

17. His hospitality

18. His hat collection

19. His smile

20. His eyes and nose (I’m grateful both my son and I inherited the same Alderete genes)

21. When he would cry from laughing so hard

22. When he would get emotional talking about God’s love (the only times I ever saw him cry)

23. His silly obsession with YouTube shorts

24. His tough skin (the man was resilient!)

25. His tender heart (especially seeing him become an Abuelo/grandpa)

26. His storytelling (especially when he would bring out his briefcase full of photos and we would sit on the couch together)

27. His testimony (he’d often say he was shocked he made it so far and how God gave him so many second chances at life from addict to new creation in Christ)

28. His love for reading the Bible

29. His love of coffee (with two scoops of sugar and some milk)

30. His love for me— I never questioned if my Dad loved me. Every phone call ended with Papi always telling me how he loved me.

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

The nesting immediately started when I found out I was pregnant! Haha I’m barely entering my second trimester but I love any excuse to declutter and film it! Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see the process along the way— we just installed a dish washer and now we’re picking colors to paint our kitchen cabinets soon (hopefully). You can also watch my latest video— my weekly reset routine for a chore-free Sunday. Now that I’m feeling less nauseous, I can’t wait to back into posting more consistently on YouTube again. A closet clean out video is coming soon!

Are you in need of a summer refresh before school starts? I made this FREE cleaning checklist (use button below) to refresh and simplify your home this season! You can either do 4 tasks per day over the span of 7 days OR 7 tasks for a total of 4 days. I like to say the 7 days is the mom edition because decluttering will probably take place in shorter time blocks around or during nap schedules, meals, errands, etc! You can get my weekly chore checklist called Lighter Load on my website now for only $4.99!

Get free guide

A bittersweet announcement: I’m closing my paid membership on Substack for the rest of 2026. If you’re on Instagram, I shared more on this post! If you’d like to get full archive access to all of the my past decluttering workshops, pay a one-time fee of $10 by August 7th.

I’m wrapping up a series called Simplified Summer. June’s workshop was about simplifying routines and July was simplifying systems. I’ll share the last workshop this week: Simplify Your Calendar. 🗓️

Is less really more? What every 90s butter mom really wants and how simplifying leads to abundance. This is the heart of a simplified summer. Less hurry, more peace. Less comparison, more joy.

Read more on that:

Also, I’ve been writing over on Mother Maker. My friend and I started a community membership for Christian moms that work from and for the home. We offer coaching, strategy, and creative business support through our monthly newsletters and workshops. Take a look here! Mother Maker is FOR YOU if:

• You’re never quite sure to say if you’re a SAHM or a WFH mom (IYKYK) 🤪

• You’ve made about 3 or more Instagram accounts because you’ve got dreams and passion projects

• You miss the support, brainstorm sessions, friendship that can often come from being in an office or workplace

• You’re balancing A LOT from meal planning to emails and “office hours” all from your dining table

Books from my bookcase I finally started or am re-starting:
+ You’re Not Too Late
+ Special Providence for Anxious Souls
+ Eternity in Our Hearts
+ Create Anyway

Subscribe now

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

The method I use to simplify my life

Declutter Discontent™ is a 4-step Gospel-centered approach to declutter the home, heart, and habits. The four steps include: take inventory, refresh space, create system, and implement system and boundaries. Clutter isn’t just a home problem but a heart one too. This method helps you clear physical clutter, while also addressing the deeper issue: discontentment. Because peace and joy don’t come from a perfectly organized house or a seemingly tidy life (trust me, I tried!). True lasting peace, not just relief, can only be produced by the God of peace. I’ve got a beginner’s digital guide and a signature online course on my website to help you declutter discontentment and finally enjoy the life God gave you.

Step 1: Take inventory

To be honest:
I think we’re all overwhelmed or stressed for one or both reasons:

• We’re overcomplicating our systems

• We don’t actually have systems and rely on our mental lists to ‘wing it’ daily/weekly

Inventory questions to ask yourself:

• Which current systems are working? Which ones aren’t?

• What needs to be decluttered/removed? What needs to be done? What can be delegated?

• What would help me go from overwhelmed to organized?

• What would help me go from chaos to calm?

Step 2: Refresh systems

Time for a change
You wouldn’t wear snow boots in the summer so why we do try to create so hard to create and maintain the ‘perfect or ideal morning/evening routine’ and expect it to work all year? But the point is we all need routines and systems to thrive, especially during summer. Seasons aren’t just literal; they’re Biblical. There’s a time for everything under the sun, including a time to keep and throw away, a time to build and a time to tear down and start fresh. (see Ecclesiastes 3)

Ideas to refresh your system:

• Set a day of the week for specific chores (e.g. laundry, mopping, etc)

• Pick a morning when you’ll sit down to plan out your week (bonus: enjoy your morning coffee during that time) and try this system weekly at least for 3 weeks

• Try to task-batch certain chores like organizing your pantry every time you go grocery shopping so it’s more manageable

Step 3: Create a system

Keep it simple
You need different types of tools for these three categories of life to keep you organized. I love this wisdom from Do More Better by Tim Challies! It’s applicable for men and women, whether you’re a SAHM, college student, or young professional etc! He suggests picking tools for:

• Task management

• Information management

• Scheduling / Event management* (We’ll cover this in August’s workshop: Simplify Your Calendar)

Step 4: Implement system

Test it out
In my workshop, I share the step-by-step process for my home and work systems that keep my organized, especially as a WFH mom. Subscribe to keep reading this post and access this month’s decluttering workshop and printable digital guide below this paywall (only $10 if you subscribe here).

What’s Included:

• A 3-page printable guide

• A pre-recorded workshop

Join monthly membership

Read more

It’s been two months since we moved back to Kentucky from California. We’re pretty much unpacked but our guest room/home office has become a storage closet for the items that don’t have a home yet. Whether you’re near the coast or in a humid climate, you’re probably familiar with the term “June Gloom.” Well, we got a lot of thunderstorms and humid days. The skies were gray and whenever I struggle with seasonal depression, I try to remind myself that decluttering always helps boost my mood even just a little bit. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see the process along the way— we just installed a dish washer and now we’re picking colors to paint our kitchen cabinets soon (hopefully)! You can also my latest video— my weekly reset routine for a chore-free Sunday! A closet clean out video is coming soon!

Are you in need of a summer refresh? I made this FREE cleaning checklist (LEFT) to refresh and simplify your home this season! You can either do 4 tasks per day over the span of 7 days OR 7 tasks for a total of 4 days. I like to say the 7 days is the mom edition because decluttering will probably take place in shorter time blocks around or during nap schedules, meals, errands, etc!

Get free guide

Every month I share a digital resource with for paid members. What kind of resources you may be wondering? In May, I shared a printable color-coded chore checklist to simplify your home and lighten the mental load shared in this post (only $10/mo if you subscribe here). You can also enjoy the video version of my weekly reset over on YouTube here! I’ve also sent out goal setting guide, journaling prompts, workshops, and more. In June, I sent out a decluttering workshop all about simplifying routines.

If your attempt for FUN MOM SUMMER becomes ~StRessEd mOm SumMeR~ that means it’s time to simplify!

I’m hosting a series called Simplified Summer! Each month includes a decluttering workshop video and digital printable guide for ONLY $10 a month (which is basically the cost of 1.5 lattes!)

☀️ JUNE: Simplify Your Routines

📂 JULY: Simplify Your Systems

🗓️ AUGUST: Simplify Your Calendar

Read more on that:

If you’d like to join our monthly membership, use that button below.

Join monthly membership

Want to stop doom-scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It).

Podcasts I’m enjoying:
+ That’s The Point (Every episode keeps me laughing!)
+ Dial In (This episode is about abiding in Christ and it was so exactly what I needed!)
+ Radical Radiance (I got to chat all about decluttering in this episode with my internet friend Rebecca George!)

Shows I’m loving:
+ Fixer Upper
+ That Thrifting Show

Books from my bookcase I finally started:
+ You’re Not Too Late
+ Special Providence for Anxious Souls

Subscribe now

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

The method I use to simplify my life

Declutter Discontent™ is a 4-step Gospel-centered approach to declutter the home, heart, and habits. The four steps include: take inventory, refresh space, create system, and implement system and boundaries. Clutter isn’t just a home problem but a heart one too. This method helps you clear physical clutter, while also addressing the deeper issue: discontentment. Because peace and joy don’t come from a perfectly organized house or a seemingly tidy life (trust me, I tried!). True lasting peace, not just relief, can only be produced by the God of peace. I’ve got a beginner’s digital guide and a signature online course on my website to help you declutter discontentment and finally enjoy the life God gave you.

Step 1: Take inventory

An honest conversation on routines
We’re all overwhelmed or stressed and I’m pretty sure it’s because we’re overcomplicating our routines. The internet has lied and convinced us that we need certain products for our mornings or days to go ‘perfectly.’ If you’ve ever searched the phrase “clean girl skincare routine,” you’ll discover hundreds of thousands of tips in a matter of seconds. And these routines usually consist of 20 steps that could easily take 2 hours or more. I’m done with that!

To be honest, I’ve had a hard time having consistent routines for months now. From losing my dad unexpectedly eight months ago to moving across the country (again) to my second pregnancy (yay but currently in the first trimester with nausea and fatigue), life lately has felt like survival mode. But once I paused to take a quick inventory with these questions, I realized this: routines are meant to be simple and to help us exit survival mode into more stability and rest.

Inventory questions to ask yourself: Which current routines are working? Which ones aren’t? Which are life-giving? Which are draining? What needs to be decluttered? What would help me go from overwhelmed to organized? What would help me go from chaos to calm?

Step 2: Refresh routines

Time for a change
You wouldn’t wear snow boots in the summer so why we do try to create so hard to create and maintain the ‘perfect or ideal morning/evening routine’ and expect it to work all year? But the point is we all need routines to thrive, especially during summer. Seasons aren’t just literal; they’re Biblical. There’s a time for everything under the sun, including a time to keep and throw away (see Ecclesiastes 3).

Ideas to refresh your routine:

• Switch up your Bible reading plan (maybe pick a specific book of the Bible or topic to study during these summer months)

• Drink your morning coffee outside if weather permits instead of staying indoors

• Try an evening walk after dinner instead of morning since the sun sets later

• Enjoy one meal outside like a picnic (whether you work from home or not)

Simplify Your Routines (June’s Workshop)

Subscribe to keep reading this post and access this month’s decluttering workshop and printable digital guide below this paywall (only $10/mo if you subscribe here). Consider it a reset for your soul and summer. This workshop includes Biblical principles and practical steps on why and how to simplify your routines so that your summer is refreshing rather than stressful. We’re talking about how you spend your time is how you spend your soul and sometimes our chaotic souls needs some decluttering.

What’s Included:

• A 3-page printable guide

• A pre-recorded workshop

Join monthly membership

Read more

If you’re on social media then you’ve most likely heard of the 90s butter mom trend. It’s all about nostalgia, slower living, less screens, more analog and outdoors. Trends come and go— from ‘hot girl’ to ‘soft girl summer’ to ‘cottage core’ and now the 90s and early 2000s aesthetic, fashion, and music making its resurgence. For reference, aesthetic refers to a set of principles that guide the taste, style, and visual appearance of a movement, culture, or individual.

But I don’t want my life to be rooted in a trend but Truth instead. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to wear overalls, start a garden, and raise chickens in your own backyard. But there’s so much more to this trend at the heart of it. Rather than dismissing, here’s what I see: women want more and less simultaneously.

We’ve been sold the lie that retail therapy makes us happy and that minimalism gives us peace. It’s obvious that we’re all struggling with information overload, overstimulation, and worry. We fight a daily addiction to our phones while trying desperately to implement boundaries so we don’t raise ‘iPad babies.’

Notice how this 90s trend is our response to the girl boss hustle culture and overconsumption. The fast pace, packed schedules, and overflowing closets made the pendulum swing yet again to a desire for simplicity. Our houses are cluttered and so are our souls.

At the heart of the 90s butter mom aesthetic is a desire for peace and joy.

Decluttering as a Biblical practice

We’ve confused ‘living to the fullest’ with packed schedules and stuffed houses.

Clutter isn’t just a home problem... it’s a heart one too. A cluttered home is the symptom of a cluttered soul. And even a tidy home has hidden clutter. When I say clutter, I don’t just mean the physical stuff. Another type of clutter can be emotional or mental like information overload, stress, and anxiety.

Because peace doesn’t come from a perfectly organized house, your curated social media posts, or a seemingly tidy life (trust me, I tried!). True lasting peace, not just relief, can only be produced by the God of peace.

So what can we do? We need to declutter our hearts and simplify our lives. We need to quiet our minds and hearts (like well known theologian Thomas Watson and missionary Elisabeth Elliot wrote).

What if an abundant life is actually a quiet life? Abiding in Christ leads to an abundant life— not an abundance of stuff but rather peace and joy! As I sat with Jess Connolly and recorded this podcast episode, I described decluttering the heart as repentance rehearsed and abiding applied.

I love how this Bible verse mentions being refreshed by the Lord as a result of repenting— “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19-20).

Simplified Summer

I don’t want to romanticize, optimize, or upgrade my life. I JUST WANT TO ENJOY MY LIFE. That’s what this series is all about. Simplified Summer (June-August) will include a monthly decluttering workshop and a printable digital guide for paid subscribers (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Consider it a refresh for your soul and home. There are 7 women in our monthly membership and I’d love for you to join too! Each workshop will include the 4-step Gospel-centered approach of Declutter Discontent™.

What’s Included:

• Simplify your routines workshop

• Simplify your systems (for home management) workshop

• Simplify your calendar workshop

• The Art of Divine Contentment Book Club

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

We moved back to Kentucky from California at the start of May so to say I’m exhausted is an understatement. We are still very much unpacking but we are very grateful that after renting our house for a year, we are back and we’ve got lots of dreams, ideas, and projects in the works. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see the process along the way— like painting every room, finally replacing the blinds, adding a dishwasher, starting a garden, and getting some chickens!

For now, I’ve decluttered, organized, and rearranged our living room, featuring our lovely bookcase, which used to be located in our son’s nursery/home office in 2024 and now it’s really the star of the show in our living room. After our two cross-country moves, we decluttered 120 books (and what’s crazy is I don’t even remember which ones are gone and I don’t miss them)! May this be your sign to do some spring decluttering!

Speaking of spring cleaning, I made this FREE cleaning checklist to refresh and simplify your home this season! You can either do 4 tasks per day over the span of 7 days OR 7 tasks for a total of 4 days. I like to say the 7 days is the mom edition because of nap schedules, meals, homework, etc!

Download guide

This month’s resource for paid members is a printable color-coded chore checklist to simplify your home and lighten the mental load shared in this post (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). It’s a resource for women whether they’re type A, B, or C (with a dated and undated option) because I know some like structure while others prefer spontaneity. And it’s the perfect time to try it at the start of a new month and for summer.

Speaking of summer, I’m hosting a series called Simplified Summer! I’m tired of the online advice and noise about how to romanticize, optimize, or upgrade my life. I JUST WANT TO ENJOY MY LIFE. If you’d like to join, use that button below.

P.S. We’re also going to be doing a book club on The Art of Divine Contentment (it’s free on Kindle and it’s a short read)! Think— summer school but in all the best ways because we all could use less screen time and more time slowing down and growing in Christian contentment.

Join monthly membership

Want to stop doom-scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It).

TBR this summer (hopefully) as I plan to take a break from Instagram during July and August! I’d love to read a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. Let me know all about your summer reading list in the comments!

Books on my bookcase I finally want to read:
+ Habits of the Household
+ The Doctrine of Repentance

Books I borrowed from my church’s library:
+ When God Doesn’t Fix It
+ Pursuing Peace

Books I checked out from my local library:
+ Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (Note: This is the sequel. The first one is very much a light-hearted read/comedy although a murder mystery although the title seems otherwise. Think: Nancy Drew but the woman is a lovable yet quirky Asian elderly woman who is too nosey for her own good!)
+ What other fiction book should I read this summer?

Subscribe now

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

The UCLA Research Study found a connection between clutter and stress levels. Basically, more clutter means stress. Women experience higher cortisol levels because of clutter in their homes and lives (whether you’re type A, B, or C). Essentially, a cluttered home is a symptom of a cluttered soul. Women, especially mothers, are basically working multiple jobs as they have various roles and responsibilities. When I look back and reflect on my postpartum experience, the word that describes it best is: overwhelm.

Everything was overwhelming— from nursing my son and sleep deprivation to keeping up with my home and still trying my best to have somewhat of a social life. I remember many moments of looking at the dishes and sobbing. The clutter was adding to the mental load of being a new mom. I needed help! Eventually, I asked my sweet neighbor (a mom of 5) if she could clean my bathroom weekly. She was looking for some side gigs and offered to clean it for $10 weekly. I was shocked by her kindness and generosity! Only $10?! Eventually, life wasn’t so overwhelming and I was able to resume my chores. I realized a cluttered home didn’t mean I was a bad mom; I was just a stressed one. There is no shame in asking for help!

No more mental lists

I know personalities and preferences can differ but I think we can all agree that trying to remembering all the things in our brains won’t cut it. We need a system! For instance, I love using both a digital calendar (Google) AND a paper planner (Motherboard Press) for task and event management. Make a list of your tasks and chores (or you can download my weekly chore checklist when you become a paid subscriber)! Then categorize them and designate them as regular routines throughout your day and week. Repeating a task becomes a habit. A series of repetitive habits becomes a routine. Another word for a routine is a system to help keep your home, work, and life mostly manageable and less overwhelming! A schedule will help to minimize the feeling that you’re ‘decluttering all day everyday.’

Decluttering the home and heart

I started decluttering 6 years ago when I was only one year into marriage! I started decluttering because I learned (the hard way) that joy doesn’t come from retail therapy and peace doesn’t come from minimalism. My habits were symptoms of discontentment. I knew what I needed was a heart change, not just behavior modification or a better system.

This is why I started Declutter Discontent™ — a gospel-centered approach rooted in Christian contentment. This method helps you clear physical clutter, while also addressing the deeper issue: discontentment. Clutter isn’t just a home problem but a heart one too. This approach helps you declutter not only your environment but also the emotions you might not even be aware of going on. Because peace doesn’t come from a perfectly organized house, your curated social media posts, or a seemingly tidy life (trust me, I tried!). True lasting peace, not just relief, can only be produced by the God of peace. If you want to hear more, I was a guest on Jess Connolly’s podcast all about peace in our homes. You can actually watch the episode here on YouTube!

Resource for monthly members

This month’s resource is a printable digital checklist to simplify your home and lighten the mental load for paid subscribers below this paywall (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Consider it a refresh for heart and home. And it’s the perfect time to try it out this summer and start of a new month. I’d love for you to join!

What’s Included:

• A dated weekly chore checklist

• An undated weekly chore checklist option (highly recommend laminating it and sticking it to your fridge as a helpful visual)

• A daily checklist with my top 4 essentials to have a clutter-free brain and home
  

Join monthly membership

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

Read more

Mixed feelings on Mother’s Day

A year ago, my first Mother’s Day was bittersweet because of postpartum struggles and I was convinced that all I really wanted was a nice family photo. But the photos didn’t turn out like I had hoped and no gift can truly satisfy the heart. This year, our first Sunday back at our old church in Kentucky also happened to be Mother’s Day. The Sunday school lesson was on the topic of forgiveness. The sermon was on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis and his life very much was all about suffering, forgiveness, and God’s providence.

I held back tears on and off because the only thing on my mind was how much loss we’ve experienced. It was bittersweet to hear people say how wonderful it was that we were back and yet we miss our families, especially the loved ones that are no longer with us. How bittersweet to hear “Happy Mother’s Day” and yet feel like I’m waiting for the ‘happy’ part.

Lia Ross, an internet friend, briefly shared her heart on Instagram with a photo from her daughter’s birth back in 2020. She expressed gratitude for the gift of motherhood but also shared the reality of living in a fallen world impacted by sin. It stopped the scroll for a moment. She wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who don’t always find themselves seeing the ‘happy’ in this holiday.”

Her story inspired this post because I personally know many mothers currently experiencing loss like me. While the circumstances are varying, the heartache is present. I often have to remind myself that Christians are not immune to suffering and that I should not be surprised by sorrow no matter how shocking the pain is. I also have to preach these truths to my own heart daily:

I am loved and rich in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6).

I am not alone and I belong in the family of God (Ephesians 2:19).

This earth is not my forever home—heaven is (Hebrews 13:14).

And yet I have so many unanswered prayers and questions. I don’t know how God will bring about goodness from the trials (Romans 8:28) but I do know that God is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). And that is enough (easier said than done right but it’s true).

I’m also grateful for another online friend, Rebecca George. I started reading her book last night on Mother’s Day and it hit me— waiting is a universal experience.

She shares two types of longings: relational and vocational. She writes, “The world tells us: my joy depends on my longing coming to fruition. God tells us: Biblical joy only comes from abiding in Jesus.”

I’ve mostly heard the term ‘waiting on the Lord’ in reference to singleness (waiting for marriage) or infertility (waiting for children). Waiting looks like praying, hoping, abiding, and trusting God’s timing.

This is what I’m waiting for:
— Waiting for my business to flourish
— Waiting for texts from friendships I miss and lost
— Waiting for forgiveness
— Waiting for my family members’ salvation
— Waiting for my brother’s mental illness to finally get better
— Waiting for my dream house
— Waiting to see my dad again in Heaven one day
— Waiting for the grief to go away
— Waiting for healing from the trauma
— Waiting for restoration when Christ will make all things new one day

We’re all just really waiting for joy and Heaven.

Decluttering in the ‘waiting’ and grief

Biblical joy and contentment is found not in the longing fulfilled but in abiding in Jesus. The Bible instructs us to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). It’s so hard to believe this truth! So how do we find or choose joy? Here’s the simple answer: declutter every time you feel discontentment. I like theologian and Puritan, Thomas Watson’s definition in his book The Art of Divine Contentment (free on Kindle). Discontentment means wanting what you don’t have to the point of not enjoying what you do have. Joy starts now. Declutter your home and heart; enjoy the life God gave you.

I started decluttering six years ago and it transformed my life. Declutter Discontent™ is a gospel-centered approach with four simple steps: take inventory, refresh space, create systems, and implement systems and boundaries. Visit my website if you’d like to learn more about this framework and approach. I also offer a signature online course, which helps Christian women learn how to declutter not only their homes but also their hearts. If you’re looking for a beginner’s guide to do some decluttering and spring cleaning, download this free checklist below.

Download guide

In Case You Missed It 📣

I was a guest on a podcast by one of my fave authors! 🎧 You can listen to the The Jess Connolly Podcast on Apple or Spotify and watch it on YouTube!

Join my monthly membership 🤎
Each month, I share a decluttering workshop and digital guide download for The Junk Drawer members (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Be part of a community of Christian women declutter their homes and hearts. We’ve got 7 women so far in our membership and I’d love for you to join! Seriously, you’ll love it!

Join monthly membership

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment and maybe even share with a friend. This act of kindness helps share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more wonderful women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

Reflect

Taking inventory
I’ll be honest. This post was supposed to be an entirely different topic for the month of April. But I needed to take inventory of my heart rather than stuffing my emotions like a junk drawer.

April was bittersweet— filled with anniversaries both happy and heartbreaking. We celebrated Easter, I turned 31 years old, we mourned the 8th year since my brother’s traumatic self-inflicted burn injury that led to a hospitalization and the hardship that comes with having a loved one with severe mental illnesses, and lastly, the 6th month mark since losing Papi unexpectedly. We also packed and shipped up our entire lives into two U-haul pods on the 20th and started this cross-country road trip on the 30th. So… here we are.

But as I felt the overwhelm, it hit me and this thought came to mind— am I abiding in Christ? The clutter in our lives is an indicator of a cluttered soul. In busy and chaotic seasons, I often find myself reading the Bible and treating like a quick on-the-go snack instead of sitting down for meal with a friend. Is it abiding or a quick skim of Scripture to check it off my list? Is the spiritual discipline of reading God’s Word just a routine or a rhythm of meditating throughout the day (Psalm 1). So, in this post, we’re addressing our daily rhythms, including Bible reading and repenting.

Reframe

Decluttering as repenting and pruning
I’ve been asked several times, “What does it mean to declutter the heart?” As I sat with Jess Connolly and recorded this podcast episode, I described decluttering the heart as repentance rehearsed and abiding applied. I think of repenting and pruning similar to decluttering. To declutter simply means to remove. Sometimes the Lord is the one doing the removing through pruning and at times we need to confess and repent. It starts with repentance, which means to turn away from your sin and turn to Christ. Repentance is rehearsed over and over, confessing our sins to the Lord. He forgive and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And I love how this Bible verse mentions being refreshed by the Lord as a result of repenting— “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19-20).

Refresh

Abiding leads to peace
I love this definition of abiding by Robert Cheong, an author, friend, old boss, and mentor of mine. He writes, “Abiding in Christ is living by faith in His presence, promises, and power, resulting in the fruit of loving God and others.” Abiding in Christ means remaining connected to the True Vine, the source of life (John 15). And as you walk by the Holy Spirit or in other words, “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5), you produce fruit of the Spirit, such as peace and joy.

Declutter Discontent™ is a gospel-centered approach rooted in Christian contentment. This method helps you clear physical clutter, while also addressing the deeper issue: discontentment. Clutter isn’t just a home problem but a heart one too. This approach helps you declutter not only your environment but also the emotions you might not even be aware of going on. Because peace doesn’t come from a perfectly organized house, your curated social media posts, or a seemingly tidy life (trust me, I tried!). True lasting peace, not just relief, can only be produced by the God of peace.

Resource for monthly members

This month’s decluttering workshop and printable digital guide is all about decluttering burnout for paid subscribers below this paywall (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Consider it a refresh for your soul and the start of a new month. There are 7 women in our monthly membership and I’d love for you to join too!

What’s Included:

• A printable journaling guide with Reflect, Reframe, and Refresh (3 sections)

• A series of pre-recorded videos (3 videos, 5 minutes each)

Join monthly membership

Read more

The fours steps are take inventory, refresh space, create system, and implement system and boundaries. Check out my Declutter Discontent™ website if you’d like to learn more about this framework and approach.

Free guide for all subscribers 📋
It’s time to clear the clutter and start fresh. So…let’s have a little fun with it. Who doesn’t love a freebie?! As a thank you for subscribing, I made this FREE spring cleaning checklist to refresh and simplify your home this season! Download below.

Download guide

1. Take inventory
Taking inventory can be as simple as taking a moment to ask yourself these questions and answer them in a notebook or your Notes app! The UCLA Research Study found a connection between clutter and stress levels. Basically, more clutter means stress. Women experience higher cortisol levels because of clutter in their homes and lives. Assess your rooms and mood. A cluttered home is a symptom of a cluttered soul.
— Which room do you spend the most time in? Kids playroom, living room, or kitchen?
— How do you feel when you’re in it? Stressed, chaotic, overwhelmed? Let’s start there. We’ll prioritize the main living spaces first and then the spaces that have essentially become a catch-all like that home office or basement.
— How is it cluttered? Are there toys covering the floor? Are there loads of laundry that have yet to be put away? Is your desk covered in papers and books that make it unusable?
— How do you feel when you’re home? Is it manageable or do you find yourself cleaning and tidying all day long never fully finishing? Is your home conducive to rest, laughter, and enjoyment or do you find yourself wanting to get out of your house often to avoid it?

2. Declutter & reset space
To declutter means to simply remove clutter. Once you’ve picked a room to start with, set a timer for 15-30 minutes and start decluttering! Keep it simple with a junk drawer or one cabinet or area rather than attempting an entire home reset.
You can sort into categories like— keep, donate, trash OR need it now, next time, or never. Organize the “now” piles, store the “next time,” and donate the “never” items. Need a simple way to make an old item feel new and fresh? Rather than purchasing more decor, remove all the wall hangings and art around your home. Then try swapping items from one room to another. I also do this with smaller furniture pieces too like stools, decorative pillows, and area rugs. Bonus: fresh flowers and burning a candle after cleaning is a must for the spring!

3. Create System
Creating a system basically just means making a plan— like making a weekly cleaning schedule with assigned days and spaces along with ways you plan to declutter your heart of discontentment!

For your heart, try implementing a scroll-free Sabbath one a week. On Saturday evening, delete social media apps from your phone and wait until Monday to download it again! This is one way I personally declutter my heart of comparison and discontentment.

For your home, start with my FREE spring cleaning checklist to refresh and simplify your home this season. Download here. You either complete 7 daily tasks over the span of 4 days OR 4 daily tasks over the span of just one week!

4. Implement System & Boundaries

If you struggle with impulsive shopping, simple yet effective ways to implement your system and boundaries include deleting shopping apps, logging out of shopping websites, and disconnecting digital wallets from all devices. If you do shop, keep your closet clutter-free with this 3-to-1 rule. If one item comes in, three item must go out. If you’re looking to break free from the constant cycles of retail therapy or endless decluttering without seeing lasting change, I’d love for you to get my course.

In Case You Missed It 📣

I was a guest on a podcast by one of my fave authors! 🎧 You can listen to the The Jess Connolly Podcast on Apple or Spotify and watch it on YouTube!

Join my monthly membership 🤎
Each month, I share a decluttering workshop and digital guide download for The Junk Drawer members (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). It’s cheaper than Netflix! Be part of a community of Christian women declutter their homes and hearts. We’ve got 6 women so far in our membership and I’d love for you to join! Seriously, you’ll love it!

Join monthly membership

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more wonderful women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

The Stuff-Stack is my monthly list of things I’m decluttering, loving, enjoying, etc.

Life Updates 🤎

Happy spring, friend! I’ve got three life updates for you in April’s The Stack.

First, I was a guest on a podcast by one of my fave authors! 🎧

I was a guest on The Jess Connolly Podcast. You can listen on Apple or Spotify. You can also watch it on YouTube! I’ve got another 3 guest podcast episodes releasing this spring and summer with other podcasters. I’ll share the links once the episodes are posted. I also plan to share more behind-the-scenes of what the process was like— from pitching emails to content creation to writing and podcast prep and recording!

Keep an eye out for a very special announcement from me and my internet bestie . We’re creating a community for Christian mothers who work from and for the home. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not quite a SAHM… If you really need mom friends who can talk not only baby products, sleep schedules, toddler tantrums, but also offer encouragement for creativity and business support, please leave a comment/message me and we’ll add you to the waiting list. We are so excited to share more details soon!

Second, I updated my website! 👩🏻‍💻

I launched my signature online course in January and finally updated my website. I was able to re-launch thanks to my internet friend ! If you need someone to help you with copywriting, she’s your girl! She’s talented, organized, and detail-oriented. I was able to re-launch it right before my podcast with Jess Connolly was shared. I actually sold a few digital products and I’ve gained lots of email subscribers as the website traffic has increased lately. It’s worth investing in your website, dreams, and business. Check out Sarah’s website for more info.

Third, I celebrated a milestone! 🥳

I finally made it to 2,000 followers on Instagram. I made a reel on my birthday, which also happens to be the 100th day of the year. It’s been a very bittersweet season marked with grief and joy. I turned 31 last week and this week will be six months since losing my dad unexpectedly due to a heart attack. Please continue to pray for me and my family. We miss our Papi every single day!

Fourth, we’re moving! ✈️

We’re moving back to Kentucky. How do I feel? Mostly sad but somewhat hopeful. It’s really bittersweet. I plan to share more in a more in-depth blog type of post soon.

Why? We tried making it work as best as we could in California but the Lord made it very clear that we’re called to leave for now. I’ll share those God-moments and stories another time but He really did close and open doors. The cost of living is affordable as a single-income household, which means I can stay at home with my son and pursue Declutter Discontent™ full-time to really grow this ministry and business. I’m very grateful for how my husband serves, loves, and provides for our family and also how he supports my dreams and creative endeavors.

What next? We’ll be moving back into our old house that we rented out this past year. I’m looking forward to finally making that house our home like painting projects, finally replacing the blinds, adding a dishwasher, starting a garden, and getting some chickens!

In My Keep Pile 📁

It’s time to clear the clutter, and start fresh. So…let’s have a little fun with it. Who doesn’t love a freebie?! After all, spring cleaning is my Super Bowl. I made a fun reel all about it. As a thank you for subscribing and reading, I made this FREE spring cleaning checklist to refresh and simplify your home this season! Download below.

Download guide

In Case You Missed It 📣

I recently posted a goals workshop along with a 10-page interactive digital guide with reflection questions and journaling prompts for The Junk Drawer members (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Each month, I share a decluttering workshop and digital guide download. It’s cheaper than Netflix! Be part of a community of Christian women declutter their homes and hearts. We’ve got 6 women so far in our membership and I’d love for you to join!
More here —

Seriously, you won’t want to miss this! 📣 👀 ⬇️

Join monthly membership

In My Give Pile 📦

Last month, I mentioned my closet clean out and it’s become one of my new favorite quarterly rhythms. I’ve finally curated a closet of items I actually love because my clothes are cute and comfy. Also, I decluttered our book case and kitchen before packing for our cross-country move. Watch the process over on my YouTube!

📚 The Stack

Want to stop doom-scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It).

Subscribe now

💌 Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, I would be honored if you left a like or a comment. It helps me share the message of Declutter Discontent™ with more wonderful women like you!

🤎 For more content, follow along on Instagram or YouTube.

A goals reset 🗓️

Why a goal check-in?
I’m here to be your decluttering coach, accountability partner, and cheerleader when it comes to goals and resolutions! Most of us dread this conversation because it’s usually rooted in shame… If we’re honest, our inspiring dreams and goals from January become a forgotten dusty notepad by February. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something (your WHY) and a goal has a deadline to help you move in the right direction to actually bring your resolution to fruition (your HOW). In other words, a goal makes a dream into a reality! This workshop is for you to live a fruitful season as you set Spirit-dependent goals and abide in Christ. Want to join me? 🌿

What’s Decluttered:
🤎 Fears & doubts
🤎 Negative mindset & limiting beliefs
🤎 Perfectionism & unrealistic expectations

What’s Included:

• A printable guide with Reflect, Reframe, and Refresh journaling prompts

• A daily habit tracker for QTR 2

• A 35-minute pre-recorded coaching call

This month’s decluttering workshop and printable digital guide is all about decluttering a negative mindset, procrastination, and perfectionism for paid subscribers below this paywall (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). Consider it a goals reset! There’s 5 women in our monthly membership and I’d love for you to join too!

Upgrade subscription

Read more

🤎 Enter to Win a Dyson Vacuum + Receive 8 Free Gifts

Happy Spring, friend!

It’s time to clear the clutter, and start fresh. So…let’s have a little fun with it. Who doesn’t love a giveaway?! I’m hosting a Spring Cleaning Giveaway (along with some internet friends) — and everyone wins something. After all, spring cleaning is my superbowl. I made a fun video all about it.

From March 24–26, you can enter for a chance to win a brand new Dyson vacuum cleaner (yes, the dreamy one 😍), and every single person who enters will receive free digital resources from the participating authors to help you refresh your home and routines this season.

Here’s how it works:

• Enter between March 24 and March 26 at 11:59 PM ET

• One grand prize winner will receive a Dyson vacuum cleaner

• Every entrant will receive free digital gifts delivered to their inbox

Whether your “spring cleaning” looks like deep-cleaning your home, resetting your routines, or just tackling that one junk drawer you’ve been avoiding…this is your little nudge (and reward!) to reset and refresh. ✨

Use the button below to enter giveaway! That’s it! 🥳

Enter giveaway (to win a Dyson!)

Giveaway Disclaimer:
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and older. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Giveaway opens March 24, 2026 and closes March 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. One winner will be randomly selected to receive a Dyson vacuum cleaner and will be notified via email. All entrants will receive free digital gifts delivered via email after entry. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Dyson, Instagram, or any other platform. By entering, participants agree to receive email communication and may unsubscribe at any time. Void where prohibited.

Seriously, you should enter this giveaway! 📣 👀 ⬇️

Enter giveaway (it's not too late!)

📁 In My Keep Pile

A very exciting announcement… 🥁 🎙️ 🎧 I was a podcast guest on The Ashleigh Surratt Show! You can listen or watch it on Spotify! You can also listen on Apple Podcasts. I’ve got another 5 guest episodes releasing this spring and summer. I’ll share the links once the episodes are posted.

Also, don’t forget I share a monthly decluttering workshop for Joy Club members (only $7/mo if you subscribe here). The pre-recorded video also includes a digital guide with questions for reflection and application. It’s cheaper than Netflix! I’ll be sending out a 1st quarter goals workshop on Monday. We’ve got 5 women so far in our membership and I’d love for you to join too.

Join the Joy Club

📦 In My Give Pile

I recently decluttered my entire closet! Before moving a year ago, I decided to do a closet clean out and it’s become one of my new favorite quarterly rhythms. I’ve finally curated a closet of items I actually love because my clothes are cute and comfy. Watch the process— I’m doing a series over on my YouTube. The pile on the left is what I plan to sell over on Depop and the rest is what I donated.

📚 The Stack

Want to stop doom-scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It).

1. Your (Overcomplicated) Morning Routine

Do you feel frustrated most mornings? Whether we like to admit or not, the reason why our morning routine never quite goes according to plan is because it’s just too complicated or unrealistic. My friend and I joke that our ideal morning routines were around 2-3 hours long before becoming moms (from skincare to working out to reading etc). A helpful tip to declutter and simplify your morning routine is deciding and writing down your top 3 essentials/non-negotiables— I really like this method by Jess Massey from Hustle Sanely (listen to her podcast episode)!

2. Your (Overcommitted) Calendar

I know I’m overcommitted when I constantly feel drained. I need some time to decompress or just sit in silence to think and be creative. I started communicating this boundary that I’m only available to hang out on Fridays or Saturdays. It can be easy to try to cram coffee and play dates throughout the week as a WFH mom to accommodate other mom friends but I thrive with structure and creative projects (like this newsletter)! I think a lot of moms feel this way— they want to invest time into their creative business ideas but it can be hard to stay disciplined when you’re aren’t clocking in or out, you’re not getting paid (yet), and you don’t have a set work schedule. I love how Lauren Carlson calls it Free Fridays (see her weekly rhythms list)!

3. Your (Overwhelming) Weekly Routines

For a long time, I did our weekly grocery shopping on Monday mornings. But I felt exhausted and rushed trying to do a reset day filled with house chores and also make sure we’d make it home in time for my son’s nap. About two weeks ago, I decided to switch up our routines and go grocery shopping on Monday afternoons and my home reset day is now on Saturdays (reset digital guide coming soon)!

3. Your (Unrealistic) Goals

Studies have shown that 80% of people quit their New Year’s Resolutions by February— less than 50 days into the year! The good news is that we’re still only in Quarter 1 of the new year and the even better news is that God’s mercies are new ever morning. Decluttering your goals looks like reviewing your list and determining what needs to be removed, replaced, or renewed! Also, a really helpful and honest guideline for me is asking myself if my goals are rooted in glorifying God or people-pleasing. Back in January, I shared a mini-course resource I made along with a digital guide. You can buy it from my website or become a paid subscriber for only $7/mo and it’s included in this paywall below.

For more on these topics:

4. Your (Negative) Mindset

The other day my husband said what got him out of bed to go to the gym at 4:00am was a quote from a random Twitter video that said, “The only difference between a winner and loser is discipline.” Ouch! But sometimes that’s exactly the kind of inspiring quote we need instead of another cutie Pinterest graphic. But if you’re like me, then here’s a graphic too because I want both!

5. Your (Overflowing) Closet

I recently saw a video that said decluttering your closet helps minimize decision fatigue. When you have less options, it’s quicker to get ready for the day and that can really boost your mood. I’m also learning what I really like and what’s actually flattering helps minimize the need to follow trends or impulse buy, especially if you love to thrift like me! I’m a deep winter— find out yours too by using this free quiz. I’m doing a fun closet clean out series on my YouTube!

7. Your (Endless) To Do List

The Joy Club’s decluttering workshop for February was all about time management. You can buy it from my website or become a paid subscriber for only $7/mo. Taking inventory of your tasks and screen time (for work and recreation) is the first step to decluttering. Once you’ve made a list of all the tasks you’ve got for the week, determine if it can be delegated, dropped (because it’s not necessary), or done! I love this method by Tim Challies. Check out his free productivity worksheet.

🤎 Let’s get real:

Hi! There’s been a lot on my mind and heart lately (as it goes when you’re a stay-at-home-working-mom). I miss my Papi daily! March will be month 5 of this grief journey. I hope to share more over time when I’m ready but for now, please know that writing and creating on the internet is such a gift and joy to my soul. So, thank you for reading (and occasionally commenting). I love getting replies by the way!

Most mornings start slow then speed up and get loud as soon our toddler son wakes up. I have a cute decorative sign in his room that says, “Mothers of boys work from son up to son down” and that couldn’t be truer. As we were eating breakfast and about to start reading the Bible together, I told my husband I felt conflicted.

Long story short— I did a brainstorm/brain dump session with my husband, which is basically when he lets me talk/process and then asks a couple of really helpful questions. Here’s what he shared:

Is Declutter Discontent™ a ministry or business first?
Your philosophy will impact everything else when you answer that question first.

Pressure is off. I was letting the numbers and how-to-make-6-figures posts by online experts get to me. We each get to define what our version of success is. The ability to afford to stay home with my son, pursue my creative projects, and hopefully impact some women in the process— that’s success! I’m already rich.

With that being said, I decided to write out the names of new Substack subscribers and put them on this board to remember that they’re actual people. No, they’re not paid subscribers or clients, but nonetheless image bearers. Maybe their lives will change through the Gospel— one newsletter/workshop/video at a time. And that’s the kind of legacy Papi was all about. Smile, Jesus loves you!

👩🏻‍💻 Declutter Your Screen Time LIVE Workshop

If you’re a SAHWM/WFHM, then you know the entrepreneur life. And if you know what those acronyms mean, then IYKYK that you set your schedule, routines, rhythms, deadlines, etc. You’re the CEO, content creator, strategist, social media manager, and if we’re honest, it can be exhausting.

Maybe you don’t need more strategies or advice from content experts. Maybe you just need to do some mental and digital decluttering.

I’m hosting February’s LIVE workshop Declutter Your Screen Time this coming Thursday, February 26. Pay only $15 to join by saving your seat here (along with a recording and digital guide). It’s included for Joy Club members (only $7/mo if you subscribe here. It’s cheaper than Netflix AND you’ll keep getting the monthly decluttering workshops. So fun and fruitful!

This quote keeps coming to mind: A content life begins with a quiet mind.

That’s my paraphrased version.

Theologian and Puritan, Thomas Watson wrote, “Contentment lies within a man, in the heart, and the way to be comfortable is not by having our barns filled, but our mind quiet.”

We’re reading The Art of Divine Contentment for our quarterly Joy Club Book Club taking place in late March during Lent (become a paid subscriber to join)! It’s my favorite book that has impacted my faith and changed my life (and good news— it’s FREE on Kindle).

Join club

📁 In My Keep Pile

For most of you, February is very much still winter (and probably the hardest month of the year) despite whatever that influencer in your feed is sharing about her spring faves already. Your town probably just got another snowstorm or the freezing temperatures and gloom make spring feel so far away. Download and print my FREE Snowed-in & Simplified decluttering checklist. I got this text from one of my internet friends and it made so happy!

Download guide

📦 In My Give Pile

I recently decluttered and organized our shed! We share the space with our neighbors so I organized the right part of the photo including our Christmas decorations, keyboard, baby gear, and some furniture!

📚 The Stack

Want to stop doom-scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)…

A heart-to-heart conversation

Two weeks ago, I relapsed (not to be dramatic but it’s true).

I’m reading the book of Job right now in my Bible reading plan and it’s never resonated more with me than in this particular season.

Like an addiction, I stumbled again and went back to my vice of choice for relief only to feel worse. I went on Instagram at night right before going to bed (I broke my “office hours” boundary). I clicked on a friend’s Instagram story and saw a photo of her with another church friend. They were smiling and hugging and based on the decorations in the background, it was clear. She had a birthday party and I wasn’t invited.

When I saw the photo, I felt a wave of emotions from sadness to envy and anger.

As my husband comforted me, I sobbed and said out loud, “I hate it here. I hate my life. I want to go home.”

I don’t really know where home is for me. It’s been almost one year since moving and starting over. And it’s been four months since losing my Papi unexpectedly.

Unlike Job, I grumbled instead of lamenting. I let resentment take a root in my heart, which grew into bitterness. I relapsed. I went on Instagram looking for who knows what (maybe some validation, attention, or funny video to make me feel better), grumbled angrily, and complained against God.

Let’s start here. Who was Job?

He was not only rich with a large family but he also had an estate, including land and livestock. But more importantly, he was a man of integrity and devotion to God.

He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.

Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

What happens to Job?

And as the story goes, he lost everything… all of his children, servants, and animals died. He went from being a rich man to poor. He didn’t just lose his job; losing his livestock (source of income) meant his livelihood was devastating.

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life [will return there]. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything [ascribe blame to God].

Job eventually experiences suffering in his body too. Even his wife encourages him to get angry at God and grumble against Him.

His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

From my perspective, Job’s life was completely ruined. The severity of loss is truly unimaginable. Grief, poverty, and physical pain… And yet, this is how he responds.

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said [sin with his lips].

He confidently professes what he believes in his heart— God is still good and even the suffering he faces is a part of God’s plan (see Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28).

Imagine the weight of the loss and to make matters worse, Job was not comforted by his friends or spouse. He called them “worthless healers.”

His friends are quick to offer their solutions and answers, speaking confidently as if they know why God allowed the suffering and what would be the remedy, rather than just grieving with Job.

At one point, Job pours out his heart to his friend, saying:

I am disgusted with my life. I will give vent to my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, “Do not declare me guilty!”

Job grieved. He cried out to God instead of cursing God. To curse God is to abandon the faith. As he lamented, he walked toward God, not away.

What does Job’s story have anything to do with us?

In The Art of Divine Contentment by Puritan and theologian, Thomas Watson writes, “The difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint. In the one we complain to God; in the other we complain of God… Angry complaining is the daughter of discontent.”

That book changed my life and we’re reading it for our quarterly Joy Book Club (become a paid subscriber to join)! Also, this book is FREE on Kindle.

So, back to my moment of relapse and spiraling into a full-on discontentment tantrum. My husband prayed with me. I confessed my sin of envy and anger, deleted the app, and went to bed. (We did watch one episode of a light-hearted sitcom to help soothe me to sleep. I’ve noticed this helps when I become so overwhelmed with grief and crying.)

I don’t call myself a recovering shopaholic but a reformed one because to reform means to make a change– a change in direction.

It wasn’t just my home that needed decluttering. Decluttering the heart is repentance practiced– turning away from your sin and turning toward Christ.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ because those who are in Christ are made new (see Romans 8:1).

That’s what Declutter Discontent™ is all about and why I started decluttering five years ago. Instead of turning to retail therapy or doom-scrolling, try decluttering your home and in the process, notice how your heart is decluttered too.

Honest marketing

I’ll be honest. Yesterday, I worked on my newsletter and then closed my laptop. I don’t think it was imposter syndrome but a combo of discouragement and maybe hopefully a little humility too. I think about quitting all of this often— my decluttering services, social media, etc because who am I to talk about contentment?

But then I wrote today’s post and I remembered that I never claimed to be an expert on contentment. I also remembered that the apostle Paul literally called himself wretched and then immediately after gives thanks to God. That’s the whole point! I’m just a sinner who was saved by grace through faith learning the art/practice/skill of divine contentment. Instead of quitting, I’ll keep decluttering my own heart and home and tell you all about it too in hopes that these resources will help you live more joyfully and peacefully in Christ.

I know this is strange right? Maybe not but I’m calling it honest marketing. Here’s what I had planned to share yesterday but needed to get this (post) off my chest first.

+ Last month I launched my Declutter Discontent™ online course (along with a 40-page workbook, 12 pre-recorded lessons, and 1 live coaching call)!

+ I’m hosting February’s workshop Declutter Your Screen Time (LIVE) next Thursday, February 26 (it’s included for Joy Club Members) or you can pay only $15 to join!

+ Joy Club Membership (includes access to paid-only blogs/newsletters, a monthly decluttering workshop, and the quarterly book club— we’re reading The Art of Divine Contentment and we’ll meet soon in mid- March 12th) become a paid subscriber here for only $7/month

Subscribe now

Decluttering your screen time

From smart phones to iPads to TVs, we use technology for both education and recreation. We work and rest with our devices.

Most people admit they have an addiction to their phones. I hate to admit it but as a younger millennial, I was raised as a TV baby, which means my phone and laptop aren’t the only screens I need to break free from.

Theologian and Puritan, Thomas Watson wrote, “Contentment lies within a man, in the heart, and the way to be comfortable is not by having our barns filled, but our mind quiet.”

Essentially, a content life begins with a quiet mind. Want to be happier? Put your phone down (currently preaching this to myself).

We’re reading The Art of Divine Contentment for our quarterly Joy Book Club taking place in March (become a paid subscriber to join)! It’s my favorite book that has impacted my faith and changed my life.

A note for moms & screen time:
This post isn’t a conversation of screen vs no screen moms. I don’t want to add to the noise or contribute to any information overload or mom guilt. If you’re searching for a balanced approach to screen time for children, I really enjoy reading and learning from Joy Of by Lauren Carlson.

12 ways to BRICK your phone for free

In case you don’t know what a BRICK is… Their website defines it as A physical device that temporarily removes distracting apps & their notifications from your phone. Designed for simplicity. No subscriptions. No complex setups. Just more time for what matters.

1. Get a BRICK buddy: Phone a friend and ask for accountability (maybe a roommate or spouse). Ask them to make the password for your app screen limits so when you’re locked out, you stay locked out.

2. Delete & Download Rule: Only download social media apps when you have a plan to post. Yes, most of us creatives are on social media but that doesn’t mean I always have to be on. To avoid doom-scrolling, I delete the social media apps from my phone and download them only when I have a plan to post. No saving drafts! Create more than you consume and be present where you are.

3. Swap the Scroll Rule: Pick a book and only read it whenever you get the urge to check your phone (try doing this while your children play if you’re a mom)... I used to assume that moms were busy all the time but in my current experience, I have found that there are lots of 20-30 minute pockets of time throughout my day that can really add up fast and I don’t want to waste them scrolling anymore. Take the book with you on the go, especially if you have appointments.

4. Get a notepad to replace your Notes app. I keep mine in my purse so that I can quickly jot down creative ideas, to-do lists, etc when I’m on the go. I’ve been pleasantly surprised of how many ideas will come to mind as I’m driving in silence. I got my cute one from the Dollar Tree but I found a similar floral one at Target or this really fun one from Papier (if you’re okay with spending a little more). Less noise, more creativity! Less mental clutter, more peace!

5. Hobby & Happy Habit: My goal is to master the perfect pancake this year… Have you tried? It’s actually not that easy. It’s a way to make cooking actually fun for someone like me who isn’t really a sourdough mom (IYKYK). Maybe it’s knitting for you but I wanted to start with something low maintenance and low budget. A happy habit is anything you do JUST. FOR. FUN. (A loving reminder for my fellow Type A friends).

6. Morning Pages: I started doing this practice recently when I joined Caroline Lunne’s book cohort for The Artist’s Way. It’s also known as brain dump journaling.

PS — Joy Club members get to read the rest of this list below in the paywall section. Join us!

Subscribe now

Read more

📂 In My Keep Pile

Living in the gloomy and cold South for 5.5 years taught me lots of lessons on surviving and actually thriving (and one way to do that is by laughing… make sure you’re reading, watching, and enjoying content that is life-giving and light-hearted. No dramas allowed!)

Think of this list as my current faves and happy habits— especially when struggling with seasonal depression (SAD) or winter blues!

• The workouts that I actually enjoy and you can actually find some Barre3 free workouts online here

• The podcast by my fave influencer Sazan and you can watch it on YouTube (she also did an episode with my other fave influencer Kristin Johns from That’s The Point Podcast)

• The book that changed my life is FREE on Kindle and we’re reading it for our Joy Book Club (become a paid subscriber to join)! Our first call will be on Thursday, March 12th on Google Meet! I’ll send out more reminders as it gets closer.

📦 In My Give Pile

This is my weekly list of recommended resources to help you declutter your heart and home! Announcing my NEW and free resource… 🥁 📣

Snowed-in & Simplified decluttering checklist is for those of you going through the Snowmageddon right now! Praying for safety and peace (especially the stir-crazy kiddos and overstimulated mamas).

Download guide

🪩 The Joy Club Workshop

Right now, my online course + workbook New Year, Renewed You is free for Joy Club Members.

ALSO!!! I just shared January’s monthly workshop: Declutter Your Quiet Time along some interactive worksheets called the “playbook” (because we like to have fun and be productive around here)! If you want to join us, subscribe here (only $7/month and cheaper than Netflix!)

I’m thinking February’s workshop topic will be either decluttering your wardrobe or decluttering your routines. Let me know which one you’d like to see first by leaving a comment on this post!

BUT if you’re not quite ready for a monthly membership, you can now purchase the lessons and digital guide for only $15 on my website.

Join club

📚 The Stack

Want to stop doom scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)…

Update: I decided to change The Sunday Stack to The Stack and you’ll be getting this weekly newsletter on Mondays moving forward. This is where I like to share a list of things I’m decluttering, enjoying, reflecting, and listening/watching. Let’s help live JOY-fully by decluttering our hearts and homes! ❤️

🤗 My God-moment of the week

If you’re on social media, you probably noticed the 2016 trend of everyone sharing their photos and highlights from a decade ago! Long story short… For the past couple of months, I’ve been feeling really sad because I deleted my Facebook account before my dad passed away and I was heartbroken thinking about all the photos that I lost. And then I got a new phone so I’ve been uploading photos because I didn’t have them saved in the ‘cloud.’ I found these photos that were archived on my Instagram account from 2016 when I was a college senior visiting my home in Mexico. I cried happy tears! What a bittersweet moment— I miss Papi every day but I’m so thankful I found these photos that hold such a special place in my heart and will be framed soon for my home.

📂 In My Keep Pile

Think of this list as my current faves or happy habits— what I’m watching, listening to, etc that makes life a little more light-hearted and fun!

• The somewhat-hobby of finally making my a vision board on Pinterest instead of doom-scrolling (see the link!)

• The YouTuber (Libby) I’m following for fashion and style inspo

• This content creator (Caroline) & her Substack newsletters that help me keep going when I’m in a creative slump

📦 In My Give Pile

This is my weekly list of resources (some recommended and some personally made by me) to help you declutter your heart and home!

• Here’s my latest YouTube video I made called 25 things to declutter from 2025 (let go of the past and start fresh) to declutter your heart and home! Subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss any videos (and so we can get to my goal of 500 subscribers by March 2026)! I also post ‘reels’ over on TikTok if that’s more of your kind of bread and butter.

• The book that changed my life is FREE on Kindle and we’re reading it for our Joy Book Club (become a paid subscriber to join)! Our first call will be on Thursday, March 12th on Google Meet! I’ll send out more reminders and details soon.

• Right now, my online course + workbook New Year, Renewed You is free for Joy Club Members, so upgrade your subscription today to get the mini-online course!

📚 The Stack

Want to stop doom scrolling and read some more? Here’s what I’ve written recently and I think you’ll really enjoy it ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)…

🌈 The Joy Club

In honor of my Papi’s legacy, I decided to keep my Substack going and I added this paid subscription option so I can create and offer more resources how to declutter your heart and home so you can live joy-fully in Christ! I just shared January’s monthly workshop: Declutter Your Quiet Time along some interactive worksheets called the “playbook” (because we like to have fun and be productive around here)!

Here are the details:

• If you want to join us, subscribe here (only $7/month and cheaper than Netflix!)

• You’ll get access to the monthly pre-recorded workshop along with some interactive worksheets called the “playbook” like the ones I’ve included below this paywall (because we like to have fun and be productive around here)!

• We’ll have a quarterly book club and our first book is The Art of Divine Contentment. The first call will be on Thursday, March 12th on Google Meet! I’ll send out more reminders as it gets closer with the time and link.

• You’ll be added to a Substack group chat with other Joy Club members for encouragement, accountability, and community! Use the button below to upgrade your subscription. Smile, Jesus loves you! 🩷

  Subscribe now