Tag Archives: peace

The Beauty of Pseudo-Minimalism!

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Howdy from the great State of Texas! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. As for the Summer this year, we have officially returned to ‘Hell’s Front Porch’. This is more like the heat we’re used to, except for the last two years, which were a lie. A colleague of mine moved here from Denver, Colorado a year ago and said our Summers were delightful a year ago….as of this week, they’ve ‘taken it back’. It’s been so hot that my front porch has been perpetually shaded for the past 3 weeks because my plants were wilting and dying under the scorching sun. Anyway, let’s get back to today’s post. It’s a topic I’ve unknowingly been on a journey toward, but didn’t realize it.

What is Pseudo-Minimalism?

According to Google, Pseudo-minimalism is a flexible, intentional approach to living with fewer possessions—borrowing core minimalist principles without committing to strict, ultra‑minimal aesthetics. It emphasizes buying intentionally, reducing clutter, and using what you already have while still allowing comfort, personality, and warmth in your space.

Pseudo minimalism is described as a practical middle ground between full minimalism and a more lived‑in lifestyle. It avoids stark, empty spaces and instead focuses on intentional choices:

Be intentional with purchases
Live with less, but not necessarily little
Use what you already own
These principles help reduce overwhelm and environmental impact without requiring extreme decluttering

You got this!

If you’ve followed Periwinkle Starr over the last decade, you’ll realize that I was unknowingly walking on this path without realizing it. The thought of this realization brings me so much joy. When I look back at how far I’ve come, I can truly say that it has been and will continue to be worth it. The best way to articulate it is to take a full inventory of one’s life and prune out all the things that don’t really matter, that take up space or contribute to stress. I’m actually applying it to every aspect of living, and it’s been wonderful.

Life is meant to be lived and not survived. Time goes by so fast that so many of us get on this wheel, and before you know it, the years have gone by, and we don’t know where they went. The beauty of pseudo-minimalism is the fact that life gets simpler, the way it was always meant to be.

Dear readers, I hope this resonates with you, and if you’d like to embark on this journey, it will be worth it. Thank you for being here, and until I come your merry way again, I remain,

Periwinkle Starr

Finding You Again!

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Hello Y’all! Summer is officially here and we’ve just hit a cooler front with temperatures dropping about 12 degrees overnight. It has been an interesting couple of months, sometimes hectic and other times not as much. But in everything, I’m so glad to be sitting on my overstuffed couch with a zillion pillows and writing this post. It is planting season, so if you love to garden, this is the perfect time to get on with it. Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and I must say that this year was a bit lowkey than the last couple of years. The fireworks weren’t as loud and didn’t last as long. Still, I was glad for the holiday. Today’s post is one I’ve been meaning to write for two months now. I started it but just now getting to finish it. It’s been a journey I have been on for a while and felt now was the time to share it with you so, grab a comfy spot wherever you are and read on.

As time goes by, we change. Whether the change is by our surroundings, life events, circumstances, or through the people in our lives or those we interact with daily. We are a product of these factors. Thinking back to when I graduated and had my first internship, there were so many dreams and things I had planned that I wanted to do and be…but you know how it goes – there’s what you want to do and be then…THERES LIFE. Depending on what side of the coin you’re looking at, some things could be good and other things unpleasant but the goal is to never lose yourself completely. I liken it to holding onto your hobbies, love, hopes, dreams or ambition… even if it’s by a thin thread because if we let life, circumstances, people, or events take that from us, we begin to die albeit little by little.

Now, there are things that are considered wishes. There are things that are likened to literally digging for fool’s gold. What I am referring to here are the simple things that make your soul happy. The things that brought joy to your innermost being without a huge price tag. Those things my friends, are the things we must never lose no matter what life brings or throws our way.

I love to bake. I’m not a master baker or an expert. I just love baking. My love for it was inspired by my grandmother who was a regional chef/competitor/winner when I was little. She put a lot of love into baking and cooking, you could taste it in the food. It was different. Baking is something I do for close friends and family and not on a large scale but it’s a part of me and what brings little flutters to my heart whenever I make anything from a simple recipe to something complex and unknown.

Life Happens!

I liken life to the sea. Its waves are strong when the tide is high, it could be still when the tide is low but be rest assured, it’s always moving. The goal is to know when to fight and when to let the waves do their thing. To know when to be flexible and adjust and when to brace for impact. To know how to watch the tide, how to time it just right, and when to make a run for it.

As we mature, we attain a layer of sophistication which is part of maturity and a positive on every front. But never losing touch with who I am is one of the things that anchor me to the ground despite life’s roses or shenanigans. If you are reading this post and you’ve got this far, thank you for being here. Take a moment and think deeply. Liken your life to an onion with layers. As you peel back the layers, the wins, the losses, whatever it may be; when you get to core, are you still that person you were? Can you still indulge in the simple things that make your heart flutter? Can you still connect to that person? Is there any semblance between that person and you?

Folks, never let go of who you were born to be. Never stop finding ways to do the things you love and things that really fulfill you. Only then will we feel anchored, only then will we not forget who we are or lose sight of why we are here. If you’re far removed from your authentic self, you can always retrace your steps and find you again. It will always be a balancing act but without any of the pressure…just focus on the simple things. Until I come your way again, let me know your thoughts and comments and if this is a journey you would like to embark on.

Periwinkle Starr