I don’t often make my bed properly. I aim to, but there is usually a cat on it when I’m in a bed making mood so I leave it all undisturbed. I love the feeling of smooth clean sheets though and when a friend reminded me of this video I thought it would make a good mini challenge. Adm. McRaven …
Winning at Winter – make it clutter free, frugal, thrifty and fun
I’ve been working on a gorgeous collaboration with upcycling expert Vicky Myers and the very clever Claire Lyons who is the frugal family expert. Between us we have come up with a solution to make winter fun, frugal and environmentally friendly too. It is a workbook full of things you can do to make four winter weeks much better. Winning …
Feel the fear and draw in that nice new sketchbook
I don’t like or enjoy drawing. So, although I’m a professional designer in my day job I still feel a deep anxiety when I need to draw something. Despite my hatred of putting pencil to paper, I love new sketchbooks. My gut reaction with a new sketchbook is to hoard it away because it feels too good to use. This …
Writing a personal manifesto instead of making resolutions
The end of the year is nigh. Before the new year I want to reflect on this one, learn from my mistakes and celebrate things that have gone well. Next year brings some exciting changes – I’ve been accepted on a MA Design postgraduate course starting in September. It will take me 3 years part time and I could possibly …
Making Christmas easier this year and next
Christmas, which is meant to be a time of giving and gratitude can easily end up being really stressful instead. Lovely Dawn from the less-stuff Facebook group came up with the idea of a list of strategies to help cope with this Christmas, while preparing for the next. This post is written with help from Dawn, Anna, Toets, Su, Esther, …
How to choose the perfect notebook
At the start of each new year I begin a new journal in a notebook. I’m not restrictive about what goes in it, although it generally holds lists of things to do for work and notes from meetings. I sometimes scribble down recipes, ideas or just doodle in it. My journal goes with me everywhere and choosing the new one …
Why I pay for things I can get for free and what I do if I can’t pay
There is a lot of free stuff around, especially on the internet. This article explains why it makes me happy to pay for things when I don’t technically need to. What do I get for free I design websites on a platform called WordPress which is a huge database driven by things called plugins. Plugins do everything from annoying pop …
Random acts of zero waste kindness
I’ve been feeling a bit flat recently. I’m working hard and getting nowhere, and the car is about to snuff it. I was unrealistically hoping my most recent book would hit the best sellers list and I could give up the day job. Keeping control of clutter is easy enough but supporting hundreds of others to do it takes energy …
What being an ethical business means to me. Video with Jen Gale
In a nutshell – Ethical Business Coach Jen Gale interviewed me for a Facebook live as part of her ‘Meet the Changemakers’ series. I got to rant at length about integrity, why my design business is ethical (spoiler alert, I don’t overcharge and I am clear about my pricing). I spoke about working with clients on their websites rather than …
Real Life Bullet Journalling – when the Cat Pukes on February
In a nutshell – there is no need to be intimidated by beautiful to-do lists and elegant diaries. I use the bullet journal method to suit me. As well as running less-stuff I’m a self employed single parent with around 40 clients at Naked Website Design, an old house that needs almost constant maintenance, a son who needs to get …
Optimal Living Daily – little podcasts with lots of useful info
In a nutshell – Optimal Living Daily is a series of podcasts about productivity, health, finance and business. They saves you the bother of hunting out the very best authors who are read daily in short bursts. If you are at all interested in learning new ways to manage your time and life better, then I totally recommend the OLD …
Things to do for free on uninspiring winter weekends
In a nutshell – a few ideas for things to do on a uninspiring winters weekend. None of them involve money, some need no energy at all. I’ve added some to keep kids amused too! Staying warm: make a cosy winter corner with a comfortable chair and a warm blanket, settle in by the fire for a good read. nap …