About - How To: Simplify

So, there you have it. That’s me in a nutshell. I also have an FAQ page where I answer all sorts of fun questions.

And, for those of you wanting more of the story…

I started this blog back in 2009 when I found myself in a new city and away from family and friends. I’m super close with my family and many of my family members were (and still are) in Michigan and I was living in D.C. (now living in Maryland). I soon found it difficult to stay in touch with them which was a growing frustration.

I’ve always loved to bake and cook, my passion is photography, I get so much joy out of writing, and I love to tell stories through my writing. So, I figured, why not combine writing, baking, cooking, staying in touch with family and friends, and taking photographs into one place? That’s when I started my blog. From 2009 – January 2015, this blog was all about food. In February 2015, I re-launched the site as a lifestyle blog that is all about a simple living lifestyle.

P.S. Check out the my eBook on ways to Simplify Your Home. It’s filled with checklists, hacks, tricks, and home solutions. It’s only $2.99 … you will love it.

Food Life:

I must admit, I have an insatiable appetite for baking and cooking. I absolutely love preparing sweet and savory dishes for family and friends.

My philosophy when it comes to creating dishes is — the more from scratch the better. However, I know that many of us find it difficult to create amazing and delicious dishes due to either budget, time constraints or fear of the end result. I’m here to show you that it’s possible by sharing with you tips and tricks, as well as simple recipes that require very few ingredients (many of which you probably already have in your kitchen) and only a small amount of prep and cook time. I’m all about making time spent in the kitchen simple and enjoyable!

Home Life:

Originally from Michigan, I moved to D.C. and eventually ended up in Maryland. I was lucky enough to marry my best friend and we share our home with our son (born in December 2013), daughter (born in December 2016), and two rescue dogs: a boxer mix named Caster and a lab mix named Tugboat. I love to decorate, clean, and organize the home at all times so I look forward to sharing tips with you.

Photography Life:

I fell in love with photography at a young age as the dark room started to become my second home. While studying journalism at Michigan State University, I enrolled in a photojournalism class, switched to digital photography, and traveled to the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic to study photography.

I have studied photojournalism, as well as documentary, food, portraiture, and landscape photography. Samples of my work can be viewed on my photography site, Jen Tilley Photography. Each day, I’m learning, growing, and experimenting with photography since it is a true passion of mine.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoy what I share and embrace a simple living lifestyle.

To contact me, click here.