What's interesting is that minimalism \ essentialism made me enjoy the shopping process more than impulse\consumeristic shopper I was in the past. How? Well, because I buy so little new stuff, and the process is much slower and well-thought, I really treasure whatever I get much more as it's a mindful and non-everyday experience. It also added to a quality over quantity approach plus a curiosity to discover interesting versions of a product.
I also hate the book slip covers. I gave myself permission to properly dispose of them for the books i knew i was keeping. The actual hard cover of the books with sleeves are actually very beautiful in a simple, minimal way. It almost gives it an antique look and it makes me happy looking at the books without the sleeves.
Hi from Canada 🇨🇦🍁 Have been a subscriber for about a year and in that time it’s become my number one go-to channel. In a world of noise, gimmicks, and hype this channel is an oasis of calm, balanced perspective. Thank you for being here, Vera. PS. Going to order the book now. It’s been on my list for a while.
Aw thank you Stephanie!! 🤗💕🌱 I really appreciate your kind words and I'm so happy you're enjoying my channel. Also cool about the book! Let me know what you think when you've read it :)
I do love the clean lines and muted colors of your home! I live in a very old farm house and aspire to open spaces up to be brighter and more airy (and less dated and dreary). So you inspire me!
I’m with you on pedicures. It is the one self-care expense that I find really worth it. I go once a month in the summer and every other month in the winter. I’ve been known to have an ‘emergency therapeutic pedicure’--it will set the world right when things aren’t going well. I’m currently recovering from ankle surgery and I can’t wait until I’m healed enough to have a pedicure - then I know I made it through a long recovery and it is time to celebrate
Ankles are slow to heal. I had a total ankle replacement--yes that is a thing! It is six weeks off my feet. I injured my ankle many years ago and then kept reinjuring it over the last ten years until my ankle was bone on bone. I'm a cautionary tale--please have ankle injuries properly rehabbed so the ankle become strong again and not weakened over time like mine has Everyday I'm very slowly getting better but it is a very long recovery
Love it and wishing you all the best with your ankle surgery recovery! Never knew total ankle replacements were a thing... Take good care and enjoy your pedicure when you can go again!
Yep, I think minimalism is all about intentionality and I also like quality over quantity. Also, as a yoga teacher, I think a quality yoga mat is worth the investment and nicer ones can actually be safer since they tend to be less slippery. I love my lululemon and jade yoga mats.
Yes exactly! Good point :) Also, let me ask you a question. As someone who's never been flexible in terms of muscles and stretching, I've never been able to get my heels to the ground in a downward dog. Also can't really touch my toes without a micro-bend in the knees. After doing yoga for like 6 years, there's no real progress here. (There is progress in other ways, before doing yoga I couldn't even sit up straight in a cross legged position for example, and there's progress in many different other ways as well.) I don't really mind actually, but I was wondering if that's something that can be learned? Or should I just keep not really caring about getting my heels to the ground? :)
@@SimpleHappyZen those are great questions, Vera. You might like to know that, after practicing yoga consistently for over a decade, my heels still don’t touch the ground in downward facing dog and that’s ok! Whether or not heels touch in that pose is really more of a structural thing that can vary for different bodies and, while sometimes may be achieved through time and practice, it also sometimes may not happen and that’s totally normal and fine. I would definitely focus more on getting into proper alignment in these types of poses than achieving any specific aesthetic. As for in standing forward folds, my hands used to not touch the ground and I needed to bend my knees and now I don’t anymore but that’s just how it went for my body and I do still bend my knees the first time in a day that I do that pose, just to warm up and make sure I’m giving my back enough space. I hope this answers your questions. Please feel free to ask me any yoga related questions you may have, I’m happy to help! ☮️
Hi Vera...I really enjoyed this video. I liked the idea of focusing on the things you do buy as a minimalist, rather than the usual 'things you don't buy'. I am not a minimalist, but I do embrace the idea of being intentional about the things we own. Buying things that we really love and that add value to our lives. I also don't like to be excessive. When I was younger it bothered me that I did not shop a lot and owned a lot of stuff like most women do. This was in part because I simply could not afford it. But now that I am older, and I have just a little more money at my disposal, I still don't own a lot of stuff, and it no longer bothers me. I prefer to spend money on travel, eating out, and social experiences, like a concert or hiking or gas for a roadtrip. Much love to you Vera❤❤
I agree with your splurge items! Mine are much the same…. But maybe in a different order now at this point in my life. Especially pedicures and skin/hair care! I also love good bedding, pillows, sheets, duvets. ❤️❤️❤️
Walden by Henry David Thoreau has a principal called gross groceries. It explains that if you are frugal in other areas you can afford extravagant things that add quality to your life. I read, cook, play guitar/bass. My personal space is just the things I need to do the activities and I use feung shui to order the items. I prefer to buy fewer but quality items that last longer and are aestheticly pleasing. I do concerts as well.
For undies recommendations, I love Woxer. I get their bras too. Sustainable fabric made from beech trees and so breathable with lots of style options from women’s boxers to more traditional undies.
Hi Vera! I hope life is treating you well. Thank you so much for this video- so many people view minimalism as self-deprivation and you were able to show us that it can mean living very well. I am with you on hotels- we would rather pay out on one and stay sane and safe than cram ourselves onto late night transport. I also hate those dust jackets on books, yeuch! Have a wonderful week and all best wishes from London! x
Thanks, we're doing well!! Hope you are too :) Glad you can agree on the hotels and stuff. About the book, I was tempted to get rid of the jacket, but then the cover is just plain yellow, and on the jacket it says all these cool things about the book and about Elaine Aron, so now I want to keep it haha. If I had known it had a dust jacket, I would've picked the paperback though... Haha! Have a great weekend and say 'hi' to London from me!
My new hobby is reading. I do get my books from the library. We don't mind spending a little extra on eating out for special occasions. Thank you Vera Hugs ❤
Thanks Lucy, glad you enjoyed the video! So cool that you ordered Yana 🥰🍵 Can't wait to hear what you think, let me know when you get it! :) And if you have any questions about how to make it or something, also let me know :)
I am right there with you on food. I try to buy the healthiest food, and am quite willing to pay more for it, now I do not go out of my way to pay more. I will buy wild caught Salmon, organic blueberries... list goes on. However, I think in the end because I am a minimalist in the way I buy them, I probably pay less than the average person on groceries, because I almost never throw anything out. If I buy it, it will be eaten within a couple of days. I think the average American throws out about half their food, and so my spending about 1.5X as much per unit probably puts me slightly ahead. I almost only walk to the grocery store. This forces me to limit the quantity of food I buy, and that ensures that it will get eaten quickly and saves gas. I very seldom eat out, and almost never eat anywhere where I have to throw something away.
I also recommend a high quality yoga mat. I already have been using mine for more than 15 years!!! And it still is in great condition. So it was very cheap purchase in fact 🤩. My other recommendation for a bit of luxury is a massage. I go every 2 weeks and it brings me both pleasure & healthier body. Great video, Vera, as always 👍Thank you ❤
Weer een fijne video! Minimalisme is inderdaad veel meer dan weinig spullen hebben, maar juist datgene hebben/aanschaffen waar je blij van wordt. Leuk om te zien waar je juist wat meer geld aan wilt uitgeven. Ik snap heel goed de keuze voor een hotelovernachting na een concert, zeker omdat het anders zo vermoeiend is, als je nog moet terugreizen. Zelf geef ik graag wat meer uit aan een mooie reis, aan apparatuur van een net wat betere kwaliteit en natuurlijk aan mijn konijntjes. 🤩
Inderdaad!! :) Apparatuur van betere kwaliteit is inderdaad ook een heel goed punt. Als we ooit een nieuwe blender kopen, heb ik ook besloten om er eentje te kopen van betere kwaliteit, zodat ik niet elke keer hoef te 'hopen' dat ie niet stuk gaat als ik er een bevroren banaan in gooi hahaha.
I like to splurge on everyday things like good quality food and skincare and hair products. If I'm buying something I know I'll have for a long time, like furniture, I also buy the best quality I can afford. On another note, I got to see Spirited Away, the Studio Ghibli film and the animation was stunning and I loved the music so much, I've been listening to the soundtrack. :) I'm so glad you shared that on your channel. :) Hope you're enjoying your weekend!
Very cool video. I also really enjoyed the "behind the scenes" shots throughout. I often wonder what the real life is like for the content creators I watch, and I always hope you all are doing well. I briefly dabbled in it many years ago and found it very stressful adn difficult, so those that do it and do it well (in my opinion) I am very grateful towards. You bring me positive ideas and joy, and I really appreciate it
Hi Vera, I'm really enjoying your videos. Your channel is named very appropriately for your peaceful nature. You mentioned in this video that you enjoy eating figs. I too eat a plant based diet. I recently learned that figs are not considered to be vegan, due to the way they are pollinated when grown naturally.
The Manduka yoga mat is awesome! I have the same one, unfortunately for me it's quite slippery so I bought a Jade Yoga one to do the hatha / vinyasa yoga styles. I use the Manduka for restorative and yin and it's an amazing cushion 🤩
Health is wealth. After having a bit of a recent health scare to me. I have decided that even though it is better I still want to keep my "specialist" appointment even though I dont need it now but, still want to do everything I can to hopefully Never go through it again.
I love your channel and your videos. Wama is hemp undergarments and reasonably priced. Organic Basics is another great place for reasonably priced and sustainable underwear. Hope this helps. 😊
Hello! Love your videos, you always keep me motivated to stay minimal, intentional and to take care of myself. Love from Canada 🇨🇦 😘 ❤️ 🍁 I would recommend Maddevintage. They sell pjs and underwear that are vintage/historical based, so I don’t know if the underwear would be ideal for everyday use but the pjs are absolutely beautiful and built to last. Most come in white but there are a few colours also, however u could dye the white too for whatever you want! I have only a few pairs because it is a lil more expensive but the quality makes it worth it in my opinion, and also - less is more!
Coming back to say that Ikkyu matcha is incredible! I bought it as a birthday gift for myself and I'm probably going to arrange some money in my budget for this. It's such a beautiful experience from start to finish! ❤Thanks again for the recommendation!
I would add good quality cooking equipment. You don't need all the gadgets but something like a cast iron pot will be useful for so many things, always look great and last a lifetime. Good knives too make preparing good so much quicker and easier.
You're absolutely right: never ever we should try to save money on account of health (especially dental care!) and food (of course if a person can afford not to do that). It's an investment in our future selves. My list of never-be-greedy purchases also includes good sneakers (of course you can always buy really cheap ones, but it's better for your feet to purchase something that lasts longer and allows your feet to breathe and feel comfortable in general), warm winter clothes, more expensive pet food for those who have pets (besides obvious humane attitude it also will pay off really soon because of vet expenses) and car maintenance for those who own a car (because it may save or on the contrary ruin someone's life).
Pj and underwear recommended brand ‘Noctu’ though they may be expensive. And of course ‘Organic Basics’. You could try to get a sponsorship with Organic basics so many youtubers have one. Maybe ‘Armed Angels’ or ‘Brook There’
Oh Noctu's stuff looks so comfortable! Thanks for the tip :) About organic basics, I actually have a few of their things, and I can confirm the quality is very high. They were offline for a while though.. so I don't really know what happened there...
big splurge for my cats (they are necessary) books (the library does not have the books I read) Bucket list going to Walt Disney World next year, direct flight, food i get organic, love figs, skin care, home furnishings, hair care,
This summer I traveled by planeet. We close not to go to Schiphol (in The Netherlands where I live) because there were a lot of troubles las year for passengers who had to wait lots of hours for their flight and still missen it. For us was Düsseldorf in Germany a lot better although it wouldnt be a direct flight. For hsp Riga and Tallinn are great and affordable. For pyjama's I use shirts from the second hand store or my old shirts. Cheap and eco friendly as well. I so love your house with the colors ❤️ My house is more vintage like. I made it more serene and I am thinking of a new color on one of the walls. I think a soft greyish green would work great.
If and when I buy candles, I always spend the extra to get natural ones - soy or beeswax, The thought of burning paraffin candles makes me feel ill now! My partner & I are both aligned in spending our money on experiences - mostly keeping our car running so we can go camping or spend the night in cute air bnbs in the countryside, like shepherd's huts or cottages, or saving for special holidays (booked far in advance for the best deals). I also get the most joy out of finding really high quality items second hand - my wardrobe is full of wools, linens, cashmeres, silks and vintage designer coats that I've found for a fraction in charity shops or on vinted, and I've taken the time to look after for years. Intentional spending gives me great joy, and learning to be frugal (without being cheap) is a skill I credit my parents for teaching me. The older I get, the more grateful I am to them. I know not everyone has this, so thank you for your videos, which go a long way to helping people shift their mindset, break out of these patterns, and learn these skills too
Thank you so much Carol! And about organic basics, thanks for the tip! I actually have a few of their things, and I can confirm the quality is very high. They were offline for a while though.. so I don't really know what happened there...
Books are my number 1 as well, but I love to hold the real thing in my hands so the paper version. Only if a book I really want to read isn’t available anymore I will buy an e-book version. But to be honest I can’t buy expensive books so I buy books when they are priced-down only.
Thanks for sharing Carlien! Books are magic :) When it comes to ebooks vs physical books, in my experience ebooks tend to be a lot cheaper, so that's another reason why I prefer them. But I agree the experience is different.
If your into sustainable period care, I highly recommend Saalt wear, it's high quality and very comfortable. I use their menstrual cup and period underwear. They give back 2% to donate period care products to people in need and education about them. Using menstrual cups/discs/underwear saves literally thousands of dollars over a lifetime and no waste.
Hi Francesca! What a coincidence, I just wrote a little bit about this in my newsletter :) Also, I do have a video about self care activities that I like to do when the cold season is around the corner, so can find that here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Xem_wrPaxus.html
Another great video. Thank you, Veral. I have bought for over 20 years the all cotton line of pajamas from Land's End and the all cotton bras and undies from Jockey. I have not found anything better. I am small framed so I don't use underwire. I hope this helps. I've always been pleased and they last for years.
Thanks for letting us know what you like. I purchase tops from Lands End and my underwear from Jockey also. Love those 2 brands. I will have to check out the PJ's
Hi Vera. You asked for some underwear and pajama recommendations. I don't wear pajamas but I can't say enough about merlino wool (often called smartwool) for underwear. I love it. It's a little more expensive but it doesn't itch like traditional wool and it's GREAT for travel because it goes for days and days without picking up any sort of smell. It's cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I particularly like the Woolly brand.
About the underwear question: I have finally found a brand that works for me! Unfortunately, it's not particularly ethical. It's the basic line by Intimissimi (called "Natural"). They have like 4 different styles of undies, many colors, and the fabric is super comfortable! They also don't wear out too quickly. I should say this only refers to underpants since I don't really wear bras.
Ah thanks for the tip, I'll check it out and see if I can find it here. If at least the quality is very high, I could buy them intentionally and make them last very long, which would also be more sustainable at least :)
Do you drink your green tea with breakfast? I tried matcha before breakfast one time and I threw up T-T the tannins did not agree with my stomach. I enjoy it in the evening though!
Tea question….are they certified organic? If not, how do you know they are not sprayed with anti fungicides and mold inhibitors as most teas are. Do they ship anywhere? North America?
Hi! Not all of their teas are organic, but I believe that when they are, it says so on the product page, that they have the JAS certification (Japanese Agricultural Standard) but if you want to know for sure, you can always email their customer service. They can help you out :) Also yes, they ship worldwide!
Love your interior design love, same here :) I am currently thinking about buying a big area jute rug, a bit more expensive but I adore natural materials in my home, makes me feel very good.
I love the look of jute rugs so much!! If you do get it, could you let me know how you like it after a while? I'm also tempted to get one eventually, but I'm worried that the material is a little hard or scratchy underneath your feet. Not something I want... But they're so beautiful :)
I really like Boody for underwear and leggings. Their bras are the most comfortable I've owned. They also have pajamas which I haven't tried yet, but they look very nice! :)
YES! Pushy sales people or hairdressers are the worst... Luckily the salon I go to now is very chill and no one pushes me to buy anything or to cut more than I'm comfortable with. But if you can cut your own hair, more power to you! 🤗🥰
I love your videos!!! When I saw it I quickly clicked on. I just gave up coffee due to stomach issues and now I am exploring caffeine free teas. Do matcha come in caffeine free? Thank for your boos suggestion, I was able to find it at my local library. Will be reading this tonight. ❤
Hi Maria! Thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed the video. :) I don't think IKKYU has any teas or matchas that are really 100% cafeine free. Some have more cafeine than others though, and you can click on the teas and see a tasting guide picture (like the little wheel) that shows you how much cafeine they have. But if you want truly 100% cafeine free, then I would recommend going for a rooibos or herbal tea instead. :) Also, enjoy the book!!!!
Hi!! Yes I've tried them, I actually have several of their pieces and the quality is undeniably high. Still in very good shape. Although a while ago they kind of seemed to go AWOL and I was confused about this... So I don't really know if I want to buy from them again. I also find the fits to be a little unforgiving...
Thank you Vera! Question: what do you recommend for a caffeine free tea? I’m making the break from coffee. I love most green teas, but have yet to be a fan of matcha. I’m eager to try your tea.
Hi there! I don't know if IKKYU has any teas that are really cafeine free (the way that herbal tea and rooibos are decaf) but they do have some teas that are lower in cafeine, like Kohei: shop.ikkyu-tea.com/products/kohei?_pos=1&_sid=d8063350c&_ss=r This is a gaba-tea, the flavor is quite different from the other green teas but I really like it and it's very soothing :)
If you like green tea, but don't like matcha, it's one of two reasons. You have the wrong technique making it or the tea that you got was a low grade. At the beginning of the video I believe she said her matcha was competition organic grade. That's important. 💖🌞🌵😷
@suzisaintjames Absolutely! With matcha, I really find that you get what you pay for, generally speaking. There are so many different kinds and different grades of quality out there. Some are just quite low, and they won't taste good at all :) But if you get a good one, they're magical :) Also, like you said the wrong technique (for example using piping hot water) can really make it taste bitter and less enjoyable. So a little research can help :)
I've been working with tech of some sort since at least the 80's so one might guess who still spends too much on tech items. Also, I never call a professional until I know I can't fix it myself, which is rare, excepting cars. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. On another topic, Tony Hillerman and John Nichols (authors of the Joe Leaphorn novels and the Milagro Beanfield War, among others) were having a discussion one day and agreed that they could only tell truth in fiction. These are just thoughts that occurred while listening (and watching on TV). 🤩
Hahaha I'm going to ignore the 'watching on TV' part 😂 Did they feel that way because you can be honest in fiction, and you don't have to beat around the bush when it comes to more sensitive topics?
Hi Janet! When you look on their website, all the tea's product pages have a 'tasting guide' (the circle picture) that also shows how much caffeine is in them 😊
Hi Vera: Another RU-vidr I watch buys Organic Basics. I haven't tried them myself but they look nice. Have you heard of them? Also: Is Japan on your bucket list? Or have you gone there already?
Hi!! Yes, I know of Organic Basics and I even have some of their things, but after a while their website just kind of disappeared, I think they're back again, but it all felt a little weird to me, so I don't think I'll be purchasing anything from them in the future. The pieces I have of theirs are still in very good shape though, so the quality was definitely there. :) Also yes, we've been to Japan three times :) But I definitely still want to go back sometime, maybe even to where these teas are produced so I can see them there :)
@@SimpleHappyZen Organic Basics has gone bankrupt, which is why the website has been down for a while. They were able to make a new start thanks to a new investor. As I understood, all the people who worked there also stayed. I therefore have the feeling that the products are still produced under the same ethical conditions. I have bras and T-shirts from Organic Basics, but they are from before the takeover. I am very curious about reactions/experiences from people who bought products after the takeover.
This content is enlightening; reminiscent of a book that enlightened its readers with similar themes. "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide" by Matthew Cove
Hello! What types of books do you read? I used to read a lot of fiction but I would get more sensitive after reading, so I don't read much fiction anymore. But am open to it if I can find something non-triggering, lol.
Hi there!! I read all kinds.. mostly fiction. And all kinds of different genres. :) I don't know if I can recommend anything, because of course I don't know what you would consider triggering or non-triggering. One book I really enjoyed recently is called Moshi Moshi by Banana Yoshimoto. Definitely very 'different' in many ways, but I thought it was beautiful. Maybe look up content warnings in advance to be sure :). Have a wonderful weekend!
@SimpleHappyZen Thanks for the recommendations! I looked up the description for the book and it looks like something I'd like. I love coming of age stories. I think I'm still trying to figure out what triggers me, lol. I think intense love stories are - years ago the Anita Shreve books got to me. Will need to avoid those. Have a great weekend as well!
Hoi hoi :) Deze heb ik gekregen van Osea, maar volgens mij kun je ze gewoon op hun website bestellen :) De levertijd is vrij lang, maar de spullen zijn fantastisch
Hi Jennifer! They have both organic and non-organic teas, and if you look on the product pages on their website, it says whether they're organic or not 🤗🍵
Whoops, should've finished the video before commenting-- as far as undergarments and pjs, I'd check out pact, coyuchi and garnet hill. Coyuchi and Garnet Hill are expensive, so a sale (or end of season) is a must-- but great quality.
Thanks for commenting when you see someone using a brand that isn't cruelty-free! Very important. :) In this case, I understand the confusion, but the brand I use is called Biodermal (not Bioderma). It's a Dutch brand and it's cruelty-free :)
hello from kyushu Japan ^^ 八女茶 is a famous high-quality one and named after the region/city, 八女. e.g., do you know of a Japanese business owner, ホリエモン or 堀江 貴文? he's from the city ^^
Hi there! I know Ikkyu also has lots of teas from Yame, and they are just so wonderful. I would love to visit Yame one day :) And Fukuoka as well. :) I don't know the other names you mentioned.
