Tsh Oxenreider (and no, her name is not misspelled) admits from the outset that she isn't a professional organizer or simple living guru. She's just a wife and mother who wanted to eliminate the needless complexity of so many modern lifestyles, and did. Organized Simplicity contains her observations and experiences achieving domestic simplicity, as well as practical advice for others looking to shake the yoke of busy-ness and materialism.
This isn't a rant against suburbia, the rat race, and American greed. Oxenreider is clearly not a fan of those things, but instead of dwelling on the negative she looks at positive steps to be taken that will cut down on spending, wasted or overly structured time, stuff ("our modern-day slave master"), and all the other things that get between us and the life we genuinely want to lead.
Part 1 is an introduction to simple living and its benefits. Families are encouraged to draft a family purpose statement, to determine what they want to accomplish through simplification and organization, to be creative and learn to be resourceful, and to recognize the joys of living without the self-imposed stresses and complications of modern life.
Part 2 is more specific and more practical: Oxenreider provides a ten-day plan taking readers through each room in their house to establish efficiency through removal of clutter, organization, and deep cleaning. Checklists help readers keep track of what they've accomplished, and reflection questions help you look objectively at your success and accomplishments.
Appendices at the back of the book include recipes (for everything from cleaning solution to toothpaste), inventory templates, home management notebook templates, and a final volley of the pros and cons of simplified living as applied to specific aspects (keeping your own garden, paying for cable TV, etc.). As inspirational as it is helpful, Organized Simplicity is nothing fancy, and that's the whole point.
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