Less is Fabulous. Living Simply in Las Vegas.
It sounds like the ultimate contradiction, but for me it’s a way of life.
I’m Tara Maras, and this blog is about choosing to live with less in the land of excess. It’s about the contentment I find in knowing that I can be at one of 16 Targets or three Tiffany & Co. stores in a heartbeat – but not wanting or needing to. It’s about the freedom that gazes back at me from my (mostly) empty closets and cabinets. It’s about focusing on what matters most in my free time – and not feeling obligated to watch DVR or premium cable (don’t have them or their bills!) to keep up with pop culture conversation. It’s about savoring a great meal out, but loving making homemade pizza with my husband the other 48 Saturdays of the year. It’s about donating most of my shoes, but keeping – and wearing – my favorites.
It’s about being on a first-name basis with the Goodwill truck guy.
It’s about pondering why I bought a pool table. And then moved it. And had it re-felted. And continue to dust it.
It’s about realizing I don’t need to spend hours organizing my sock drawer – if I have fewer socks.
It’s about cherishing memories, but ditching Girl Scout patches, a miniature collection and ceramics I made in high school.
It’s about minimizing and living in clutter-free bliss, and not believing it was possible until I tried it for myself. It’s about living what qualifies as a simple life for me, and not being self-righteous about it.
It’s not about being a monk, living in a van or wearing clothes from the Carter era.
That iconic sign doesn’t lie. Las Vegas is fabulous. I just happen to have my own definition.
You can too.
“Welcome to Fabulous (La Crosse, Laguna, Lancaster, Lakewood, Lansing, Laredo, Lexington, Loveland…you get the point)”
Drive carefully. Come back soon. I think you’ll like this place!
04/16/2010 at 10:15 am
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04/20/2010 at 9:06 pm
Thank you! I’m glad you appreciated the post. I use the Word Press theme “Treba.” I hope that helps you.
04/26/2010 at 9:34 am
You are awesome!! I followed you over from a comment you made on Ev’s guest post today. Didn’t think I’d run into someone else who was ‘simply-someone’.
I plan to return later and finish reading your archives. Looks like you’ve just been blogging a short while, so it’ll be a neat read over lunch.
I did hit a couple of your posts already.
I love peanut and banana sandwiches, too.
I, too, am hankering after a stainless steel mug.
04/26/2010 at 10:57 pm
Well thanks, I’m really glad you like the blog!
Simplytrece and SimplyMe – who would’ve guessed?!
You’re right, I’ve only been blogging since mid-March but I’ve got a lot to say, so stay tuned
05/01/2010 at 7:42 am
I just followed your link from your comment on Making This Home and am glad I did! I read a couple of your posts and find you very interesting! Am also working on paring it down – a simpler life is something I have been working on since my Dad passed away two years ago and we had to go through, oh, about 50 years of his pack-rattish accumulation of stuff. I decided right then that I don’t want my kids to ever have to do anything like that but only recently decided to get on the program. So, thank you for sharing your thoughts and I will be checking in on your blog regularly!
05/09/2010 at 9:45 am
I think we might be cousins! Here’s how I put it in an article called “Living ‘poor’ and loving it”:
“I’m no Zen master, but I can say that having less makes you that much more grateful for what’s in front of you. I’ve also learned that paring down possessions means a lot more room in your life as well as in your house.”
I’m bookmarking you.
05/09/2010 at 4:12 pm
Donna, I’m glad we’ve connected. Thanks for reading! Your summary above is dead on and I couldn’t agree more. From one non Zen master to another, here’s to living simply.
05/11/2010 at 10:17 am
Nice!
05/15/2010 at 10:42 pm
Hello may I quote some of the insight here in this entry if I provide a link back to your site?
05/17/2010 at 8:23 pm
Hello – thank you for asking. Yes, you may quote me if you attribute it to Less is Fabulous with a link back to http://www.lessisfabulous.com. Thanks for your interest!
08/02/2010 at 8:52 am
Just found you today – neat blog!
Your approach to writing about Minimalism is original, helpful and refreshing.