I found an interesting post via a link from Heidi, the Minnesota Mom.

I am an observer and reader of many “simple living” and frugal-oriented blogs—but not necessarily someone who has bought into the whole lifestyle.

You claim it is simple to do X, so why does it take 10 hours and cost $100?

It’s the appearance of being simple that is valued in certain circles today. There, I said it. Someone who truly lives a simple life would find it ironic and embarrassing to write about being simple.

My takeaway from most of these blogs is that simple living is quite complicated. Still, I find the idea inspiring and awfully photogenic with the quilts and cakes and cakes on quilts. Who isn’t drawn in? I am. I won’t stop reading them and bookmarking recipes I’ll never make. It’s toile and molasses porn, it’s dreams of holding a bento box just once and knowing what the heck to put inside.

P.S…If you really think about it, complicated living is very simple: You know you have to go over the top, be shiny & expect to die young from clogged arteries and plastic poisoning. Easy peasy.