Category: My Life

Baby Coming Soon! What’s Your Advice?

- Alexis 6 Comments
Photo by E.

I wanted to post a quick update to say that my posts will likely become a little more erratic and less frequent for a while as I prepare for the arrival of my little one. I’m getting very close to my due date and doing my best to wrap up some loose ends at work and at home before he makes his appearance. I do plan to continue blogging, but the schedule will probably look a little different for a while. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll subscribe so you can follow me on this journey!

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to do an open thread of YOUR advice. Readers who have kids, what are your words of wisdom for brand new parents? Share them in the comments below!

I Challenged Myself to the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Here’s How It Went.

- Alexis 2 Comments

Black and white monotype of interior with stools and plants

Despite paring down my possessions once or twice a year for at least the past eight years, including through six moves, I still often look around my house and feel like it is just too cluttered.  Too many knick-knacks means more to dust, too many surfaces to collect things means more time tidying when preparing for company, and all of this adds up to unnecessary stress.  I sometimes look at the white, bright, semi-sparse home decor photos trending on Pinterest or in magazine articles and think about how relaxing it would be to live in a more simply furnished, emptier space.

I’ve written before about my struggles with decluttering and owning too much stuff, and guest poster Courtney has shared her journey toward living with less, along with some great tips and inspiration.  The mood to declutter tends to strike me around January, both because of the symbolic fresh start of the new year and because I spend more time at home in the winter months.  So when I was invited to join a decluttering Facebook group and shortly thereafter heard of a 30-day decluttering challenge originally proposed by the Minimalists, I was motivated to once again assess my belongings and get rid of what wasn’t serving me.

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To My Parents on Their 50th Anniversary

- Alexis Leave a comment

Snapshot of the author’s parents, 2013

Today is my parents’ 50th anniversary.  On January 27, 1968, in a Russian Orthodox church in central Pennsylvania, an 18-year-old and a 22-year-old made a commitment to one another.  They upheld their vows to the very end.

It’s uncommon today for couples to marry so young and to stay together.  My parents came of age in a different time and culture, a world where starter marriages weren’t yet a thing and the median age of a U.S. bride was 20.8 (by 2015, the number had risen to 27.1).  Still, it’s pretty amazing that a teenage bride and a groom in his early twenties chose each other and stuck together for all those years. Read more

Happy Birthday, Alexigraph!

- Alexis 2 Comments

Photo of flowers in Santorini with the text “We’re 1!”

After just a few days of planning, I started Alexigraph on January 8, 2017.  It took me nearly a full day to set up the site, but then I made my first post and I was off and running.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been at this for a full year!  I love sharing my thoughts and experiences with you, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read them, respond, and share.

In celebration of one year of blogging, I’m rounding up some of my personal favorite posts from the past year (in no particular order).  I know, it’s a long list — I had trouble narrowing it down! Read more