Hello Friend!
I am a preaching artist and the founder of Riverside Anabaptist Collective.
Welcome to the conversation!
I’m also a cancer survivor and an antique car enthusiast. I live with my gent and sweet dog in Staunton, Virginia.
NEW: Introducing our “Good Foundations” series for small groups.
Riverside is also a great resource for small congregations that have a people-focused campus pastor. Learn more at RiversideAnabaptist.com or contact us for a conversation! We look forward to meeting you.
Collective members get a teaching video for use in their worship gathering released Friday mornings. These come with music suggestions and discussion questions.
Our Tuesday Shepherds Cohort begins in the fall of 2025.
Subscribe to our Substack to get these great resources in your inbox. A subscription is free at this time, and the 12 part “Good Foundation” series will always be free.
The first four sessions of our “Good Foundations” series are here:
Episode 1: The joy and power of being a haven for each other.
Episode 3 – Exploring Four Stories from the life of Jesus that are all about Power.
Episode 2: The Lawyer and the Good Samaritan.
Episode 4 – Early Anabaptist peace theology and sowing and reaping peace.
BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
I started to realize how many other women are cancer survivors. Then I decided to write about my healing journey on my blog. It’s pretty raw and real. I believe you will find honest resources here. They will help you in your own journey. This applies whether you’re in treatment or not.
Before chemo my hair was the longest it has even been. I was very intentional about the way I released my hair.
Also, I found it really therapeutic to blog about my cancer story here at Shenk.blog.
Visit my breast cancer playlists on YouTube:
My handsome gent was with me through it all!
It took me two months from diagnosis to bald. Here are some steps on that journey from my blog:
BOOKS
Kitchen Simplicity provides a road map for going tiny, embracing simplicity, and eating well, even when your kitchen is small. My simple living philosophy demonstrates how simplicity can be a liberating choice, not a hardship. I’ll help you move past the marketing-fed privation mentality to a place of purposeful simplicity. This helpful, inspiring, and earth-friendly book will empower you to savor your tiny space. It will help you build intimate connections with friends, family, and guests. Revel in your tiny haven-home. Learn more…
Kitchen Simplicity and The Simplicity Mindset are green books made with paper saving techniques. Please enjoy your print copy. Then write your name on the list of readers at the back of the book. Then pass it along to a friend. Check my favorite book seller ThriftBooks.com for your print copy or get your Kindle copy here.
The Simplicity Mindset: Living Purposefully in Contentment
This little book explores the 10 mindsets. These mindsets made living in a micro home a transformative experience for us. We discovered autonomy, gratitude, contentment, and so much more. You won’t find the nuts and bolts of how to downsize in this book. However, you will find the foundational mindsets. These mindsets will help you make the move that is right for you. Learn more…
SIMPLICITY RESOURCES
Curating your Capsule Wardrobe for YOUR body type, your best colors, and your signature style. This practical masterclass helps you do the work once. You will be prepared and put together from then on. No more opening the closet in the morning and wondering what to wear. It’s easier than you think! And it’s now completely FREE!
LIVE TINY ~ EMBRACE SIMPLICITY ~ EAT WELL
If you’re looking for help with your kitchen, try right-sizing your kitchen. Visit the “Tiny House Foodie” collection of helpful resources. If you are searching for ways to live more frugally, there is help here. There are also videos and blog posts that will help you live in an earth-friendly and zero-waste manner. PLUS RECIPES! And who doesn’t love a good recipe?! For example: here’s my recipe for “The Focaccia Bread that Ruined Everything!” Mmmmm… (so good!)
The story of our Skoolie is about a turtle shell transit turned RV tiny house. We called it “Vinnie,” short for Vincent, my Van that Goghs.
Simple Recipes from the Tiny House Foodie Kitchen. Don’t miss the recipe for the Cast Iron Cookie!
Explore my Helpful Guide for Simple Kitchen Dishware. Plus a delectable and amusing Tiny House Thanksgiving feast!
Curate your self care routines for intentional non-toxic earth-friendly quality products and processes. The class is free and comes with a PDF of recipes.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes and Simple Frugal Household Solutions. This free class includes 2 PDF pages of recipes you can download and print out.
Unlock the four keys to living in Simplicity in your life and home. Understand why simplicity is so powerful by exploring its motivators.
Here are helpful thoughts that will support you as you face challenges to living simply. Topics include conformity and having a positive money mindset. They also cover letting go & holding on and fluidity. Last, but certainly not least, is contentment. Challenge your mindsets and live more intentionally. This helpful video workshop is free of charge.
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Carmen Shenk 