Why don't we live like we're on vacation?

I recently decluttered my kitchen and put back almost nothing. Bare and plain. Usually I'm big on decorations and lots of little cute items being displayed. What I've noticed since decluttering is, it doesn't always look plain. It actually fills back up quick. I make dinner and all of the sudden the counter is full of things. Back when I had more things displayed it would look 10 times more cluttered and messy. Now, even though the counter tops are full while cooking, right after I clean up everything is bare and minimal again.

I say all of this to tell you how relaxing it is to start with a blank slate every morning. Simple, plain and clean. You feel more inspired to cook and clean when its spacious and you aren't being distracted with so many things to look at. It reminded me of being in a vacation home. The kitchen is always spotless and everything is tucked away. You can actually enjoy just being present when other things aren't filling up your mind.

I went to the mall to pick up something and decided to enjoy my favorite lunch while sitting on a quiet outside patio. There I was looking down at the beautiful courtyard area, the sun shining and keeping me warm.. I thought, "Wow, what a beautiful day, and how lucky am I to be here right now doing this and feeling so free and relaxed". It's magical when we stop and really think about all our blessings. A moment to myself in a beautiful place with my favorite foods and I WAS SO AWARE. Thank you lord I said!

"What else can we do to feel relaxed and more present", I asked myself. Why not apply this to more areas in life? Why not make time to feel more relaxed and like we're on vacation. It got me thinking. What are ways to feel more Zen and warm and free? That's what we crave on vacations. Warm places where we can relax and wear minimal clothing and swim freely in the ocean! Or some of us at least haha.

Below are a few things I have done to help me feel like I'm on vacation.

Bedroom vibes- Keep it simple. We got new bedroom furniture a while back and we had to empty out our bedroom completely to bring in the new. We had several small pieces and I remember thinking wow we have such a huge room! I didn't want to put anything back except the new pieces we got. We had much more space and the bigger furniture made it feel less cluttered. Feeling like you have plenty of space to roll out a yoga mat, and less surfaces to clean make life feel lighter. I vote to choose bigger and fewer furniture pieces instead of smaller items that require more to fill up the space. Less clutter = Less to clean. Think hotel when choosing bedding and decorate with real plants and let the natural light in.

Bathroom vibes- This is the space where water flows and you can make this space serene. I like to have what i call a Bathtub Nightstand in my bathroom. This is where I keep all the things to pamper myself for relaxing baths and my home spa days! On vacation I notice I like to hydrate my skin more and get ready for my day first thing. I feel like because the bathrooms at hotels or vacation homes are so spacious and clean like the kitchens, it just really motivates me. Having things to pamper yourself with each day, and displaying minimal decor will help you feel luxurious and relaxed. The point here is to keep things simple, and store away items that are not part of the decor. Try organizing your toiletries under your sink or in a cabinet. This will instantly make you feel those vacation vibes.

Kitchen and Self Care! - Declutter your kitchen! I have a blog on this already so go check it out! <3

Self care can look like many things, but think about your mental health here for a minute. What do you do on vacation? You eat, drink, sit, talk, laugh, nap, site see, enjoy nature etc. DO THAT AT HOME TOO! Sit and have lunch somewhere beautiful. Be present. Take a walk in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Meet a friend for lunch and have a fun drink! Wear your favorite outfit and go take pictures with a friend at the park! Why do we dress cuter for vacation??? LOL.

DO THESE THINGS OFTEN. Play like a child and walk barefoot in your yard. These are things that don't have to cost money. Its changing the way you view everyday things and choosing JOY. Tell yourself a different story today. Make yourself the leading character in your story. What we focus on we get more of.

Sending you VACA Vibes and a big Sunny Hug!

-Samantha

Disclaimer (it's sad it has to come to this lol) : Not everyone will agree with this blog. We will not all view life the same. Some of us have experienced different things in life and it has caused us to show up differently. Some of us have similar paths and some can't make sense of it. If this isn't for you, be excited to hear what others are experiencing and be grateful we are all part of a bigger whole and each one of us is unique AND THATS THE COOLEST THING EVER!

What I hope is that something I say will inspire a new idea for you. In your own way. Take what you like and leave the rest.

This is part of us shining our lights and not being afraid of how it shines... its light and that's all that matters. WE ARE LOVE AND LIGHT. xoxo

Bonus- Vacation music vibes

My personal anthem 😂♥️

https://youtu.be/7zok9co_8E4