Have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? While capsule wardrobes are often touted as the singular solution to closet overwhelm, many report that they can be restrictive, boring and, frankly, unrealistic in practice.

A minimalist closet is best served by first identifying the outfits needed to live YOUR unique life. On today's show podcaster Lauren Morley shows us how to streamline our wardrobes, say goodbye to clutter, and feel effortlessly put together every day by focusing less on capsules and more on a 20 outfit wardrobe, instead.

Here's a preview:

[5:30] Identifying exactly where and why capsule wardrobes fall short

[11:00] Why doesn't buying more clothes solve the problems associated with getting dressed? Conversely, why isn't decluttering the singular solution?

[16:00] Say goodbye to capsule wardrobes and hello to your 20 outfit wardrobe

[20:00] Getting to the root of our cultural reverence for bottomless closets

[28:00] The trend cycle is not your friend, so hop off that bandwagon!

Resources mentioned:

• The Closet Course
• Millennial Minimalists podcast
• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

In Scandinavia, daily interaction with nature has helped turn many people into passionate advocates for the environment. But there are forces at play in American society that divide humans from nature. To name just a few? Schools cut recess to make more time for academic instruction, cities boast sprawl over walkability, and our societal reverence for cleanliness prevents many Americans from getting outside and getting a little dirty.

Best-selling author Linda McGurk was born in Sweden and, later, raised her own children in the US. Linda is on the show to highlight the ways in which the two cultures diverge with regard to interacting with and respecting the natural world; she also offers both the encouragement and the how-to to get outside in all weather.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Nature isn't an essential part of childhood here in America. Why not?

[18:00] Not competitive, not motorized, and 3 other ways adults prioritize the open-air life in Scandinavia

[23:00] No such thing as bad weather? What about extreme, climate change-induced weather events?

[28:00] Revisiting our very-American need to be comfortable at all times

[32:00] American schools are slowly eliminating outdoor recess. Here's how to advocate for more outdoor time at your child's school

• There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids
• The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day
• Linda on Substack
• Children And Nature Network
• Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy (via Netflix)

• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

What is the "holiday season", really?

Savvy marketers have inserted gingerbread lattes, blow up lawn decor, and lots of gifts as synonymous with December. But we aren't in some made-up season of buying; instead, we are approaching the Winter Solstice. And when nature is our guide, living seasonally is less about shopping hauls and more about existing in pace with the changing seasons.

In a world where we can buy just about anything, it takes intention to live in alignment with nature. On today's show Bailey Van Tassel offers suggestions for weaving what's outside your front door — not what's in Target! — into your seasonal celebrations.

Here's a preview:

[11:00] Transitioning from commercialized seasonal living to interacting with nature at your feet

[15:00] The ways in which nature's pace complements modern life (if, of course, we allow it)

[19:30] Minimalists, unite! Don't buy more ultra-trendy seasonal stuff; do this instead

[25:00] Slow down your life by making your family traditions crave-able

[33:00] Connections between seasons of a year and seasons of a life

Resources mentioned:

• Kitchen Garden Living: Seasonal Growing and Eating from a Beautiful, Bountiful Food Garden
• Bailey on Instagram @baileyvantassel
• Chatpods: www.chatpods.com/?fr=SustainableMinimalists

• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.