Simplify is a family business built by faith and determination, specializing in handmade and homegrown items that we need and want. :) Easy, right?
Simplify is owned and operated by Mike and Kara FitzSimmons and their family. Mike and Kara both grew up on family farms in rural Good Thunder, MN. Mike’s family raised pigs and crop farmed with green machinery, while Kara’s family raised dairy cattle and crop farmed with a mix of red machinery…the controversy will never end. ;)
Mike and Kara met in grade school (on the bus route actually), but d
idn’t date until years after high school (things just might have been too simple otherwise…and everything happens for a reason). In 2007 Mike asked Kara (and her three boys) to marry him (God bless his soul). After much conversation they decided to combine their wedding and honeymoon and take their small family on a trip of a lifetime. In October 2008 they became a family of five in Maui, Hawaii. In November 2009 their family grew by one. They decided it was best for their family if Kara became a stay at home mom. Kara loved this title but was used to being busier. She had always dreamed of owning her own business so she decided to create a business doing what she loved – organizing, crafting and being a mom. Mike had a decent job, but it was just that, a job. Its overnights and early mornings didn’t lend themselves well to being a father with active kids. He missed out on a lot and struggled to get enough sleep to safely drive his semi. They spent many nights, weekends and daytime phone calls talking about how they could improve their life. They longed for the family farm lifestyle they both grew up with, although it was next to impossible for farming to be in their future. They tossed around ideas, listed strengths and interests and came up with some plans. Little did they know they weren’t prepared for this yet. They had a lot to learn yet about themselves and life in general. This learning took them on a roller coaster ride through loss, blessings and heartache…and they now understand that ride is never going to end, it’s just life. God has a plan for them and their little family of eight now. They have come to understand that life isn’t lived on the mountaintops, but rather in the valleys between. However, if they have faith as small as a mustard seed maybe the mountains will move so the valleys aren’t so deep or long between. With faith, nothing is impossible. They are so close, yet so far away from their dream. Day by day, little by little they work towards it hoping that one day they will find out they are living the dream they set out to achieve. Mike and Kara built a house in 2012 in rural Good Thunder, not far from where they each grew up. This house has become their home in which they raise kids and pumpkins. It is also the heart of their business. Their business started out on Etsy, expanded with occasional shop sales out of their garage, tried a dedicated shop, went back to occasional sales and is moving to consignment and online sales, at least until their new location is ready. They create and find items that will help you organize and simplify your life so you can enjoy more time doing the things you enjoy with the people you love. While most of the items they create and find serve a function, other items are here just because they like them. Organization and function are necessary in life, but there is no reason it can’t look nice. It’s their mission to create and find items that are functional, fashionable and inspirational. They hope you enjoy them as much as they do. Mike and Kara love to hear from you. You can call, text or email them. While they try to respond to each message in a timely fashion, please remember that life with six active kids can be fairly hectic. If you don’t hear back as soon as you’d like, please re-message them. :)
