Category Simplify

A thoughtful woman in a cozy sweater relaxing on a sofa while using her smartphone indoors.

Woman Says She Stopped Being…

Jan 10, 20265 min read

There is a quiet kind of heartbreak that comes from always being…

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Teachers Are Sharing the ‘Basic’…

Jan 10, 20266 min read

Across the country, teachers are sounding the alarm about a new kind…

woman in black long sleeve shirt sitting on gray couch

Woman Says She’s Afraid She’ll…

Jan 10, 20264 min read

A woman’s anonymous post about her husband’s nephew moving into their home…

A relaxing spring picnic with friends in a vibrant dandelion field. Enjoy a peaceful outdoor dining experience.

Woman Says a Simple Wave…

Jan 10, 20266 min read

A woman’s casual wave across the street can feel like nothing, just…

red apple fruit on four pyle books

These U.S. Cities Are Seeing…

Jan 10, 20267 min read

Across the United States, public schools are closing or consolidating at a…

a police officer standing in front of a police car

These U.S. Cities Are Seeing…

Jan 10, 20268 min read

Families with options are quietly rewriting the American map, packing moving trucks…

Close-up of a hand placing a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on a hotel door, illustrating privacy and service.

Things Hotel Housekeepers Beg You…

Jan 10, 202610 min read

Most people like to think they can “just tell” when someone is…

Person using pruning shears to trim a shrub in an autumn garden.

6 Daily Chores ‘60s Kids…

Jan 10, 20266 min read

Ask someone who grew up in the 1960s about childhood chores and…

Mother and daughter enjoying a sunny day at a Portuguese beach, sharing moments on a smartphone.

If Your Adult Child Uses…

Jan 10, 202610 min read

Parents of adults know the drill: they want to respect boundaries, but…

A dollar general store lit up at night

‘She Needed Help’: Dollar General…

Jan 10, 20266 min read

The girl outside the Dollar General looked like any other teenager cutting…

About Me
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Madison Cates

Mom, Wife, Minimalist.

Join me in my journey to declutter my life and live a simply beautiful life.

Gallery

Left: Instagram reel still of a woman in glasses writing at a table. Right: glasses and bottles on a kitchen counter (Unsplash photo by note thanun).
Two moments from an Instagram reel: a mom washing dishes while her kids play nearby, then two kids helping wash dishes.
Left: Instagram reel still of a mom crouching in a kitchen with a toddler. Right: a person holding a dirty pot over a kitchen sink (Unsplash photo by The Crown Choice).
red city bicycle beside brown woven basket
Left: TikTok still of a girl in a pink dress and sash on the first day of preschool. Right: an adult walking hand in hand with a child on an autumn path (Unsplash photo by Krzysztof Kowalik).
Two moments from an Instagram reel: a toddler in sunglasses outdoors, then her standing on stone steps.
Left: Instagram reel still of kids gathered in a living room. Right: baby items and a blank card on a table (Unsplash photo by elliot verhaeren).
Cozy Christmas living room featuring a beautifully decorated tree, wreath, and fireplace garland.
Two moments from an Instagram reel: a toddler buckling her own car seat straps, then her mom waiting at the car door.