tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58649878066745938632024-02-06T19:27:23.074-08:00unstuffingmy journey to minimalism, one step at a timeJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-19876092957513274242013-10-14T07:10:00.002-07:002013-10-14T07:10:45.326-07:00It's time to move on....Obviously this blog has come to the end of its usefulness. In the next week or so I'll be moving the posts to my main blog, <a href="http://piecefulewe.blogspot.com/">The Pieceful Ewe</a>. Please follow me there as this blog will self destruct in 7 days (or so).Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-258772642275941592012-10-10T14:35:00.003-07:002012-10-10T14:35:51.614-07:00Sense of Accomplishment?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E72Pc7PB3TzuUjZVEIftFIgRgY9kEcsTEr2tx11ot0UTkJznFejrEMZAmD_TI4HROTDKbPwgiN2Lmvlts6poGz03PVtrPPphm8T5WxMDgDJx96ceFBQdSJN-HXHsyG5TjAoU71RT95yk/s1600/DSC02585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E72Pc7PB3TzuUjZVEIftFIgRgY9kEcsTEr2tx11ot0UTkJznFejrEMZAmD_TI4HROTDKbPwgiN2Lmvlts6poGz03PVtrPPphm8T5WxMDgDJx96ceFBQdSJN-HXHsyG5TjAoU71RT95yk/s320/DSC02585.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't fall for the lies in your head - you are accomplishing more than you know.</td></tr>
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When I looked forward to being at home for a little while, when still at work, I planned out how I would spend my time. This was good to be pro-active in what I wanted to accomplish. My mind would dream up images of me working hard, accomplishing things in the first week. </div>
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So far, I feel like I haven't accomplished much. While decluttering under the kitchen sink, I found a leak. That leak led to the back of the fridge's ice maker. Which led to having to clean out the other cupboards to string the hose through. And while we're at it, why not fix the faucet that has needed attention for now. And then there's other time eaters such as phone calls, 2 1/2 hours at the doctor's since they were way behind, a cute dog that wants to play. </div>
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But I knew that some of these things would take away to get traction on. Here's what I have accomplished so far:</div>
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<li>5 loads of laundry</li>
<li>3 breakfasts with God </li>
<li>Sheets changed</li>
<li>Dusting</li>
<li>Vacuuming & floor mopping</li>
<li>Bathroom clean</li>
<li>Windows & mirrors cleaned</li>
<li>Walks with the dog</li>
<li>Fridge cleaning</li>
<li>Desk time - filing, writing notes, scheduling, etc.</li>
<li>Decluttering most of kitchen, some of office</li>
<li>Errands run</li>
<li>2 hours of editing my book</li>
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I guess that's not such a small list after all. It just doesn't feel as if I have done that much. But slowly, slowly things will all fall in place and be swept through. </div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-63578271119439210292012-10-08T10:35:00.001-07:002012-10-08T10:35:11.793-07:00First Day Home<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXjDwIjn-1UGtpGWuA8AxRkWEtKVDKM99cGvp-GLNyMLyR7WQ32l2FF6HRB4S35VUibS-vYwJkLnmSJrRyiGZEYNbFBpeGO9RJCTzmToqMTMG4QN_VXAhuRHzuG-tWO0D3BQKQHty4KuK/s1600/DSC02688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXjDwIjn-1UGtpGWuA8AxRkWEtKVDKM99cGvp-GLNyMLyR7WQ32l2FF6HRB4S35VUibS-vYwJkLnmSJrRyiGZEYNbFBpeGO9RJCTzmToqMTMG4QN_VXAhuRHzuG-tWO0D3BQKQHty4KuK/s320/DSC02688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who wouldn't want to spend the day with a puppy like this?</td></tr>
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Well, today is the first day in a long time that I don't have a job, or one coming up. Probably since the age of 16! I've spent my morning cleaning and doing my routines, a modified version of the Flylady's routines. In the afternoons, I will write and exercise and whatever else I feel needs to be done. So far, so good.</div>
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The charity pick up came and picked up 2 boxes today. Afterwards, I found 3 more boxes that could have gone, plus 2 small decor/furniture items. Time to re-schedule them to come. </div>
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My goal for the next couple of weeks will be to keep my routines up, which will slowly declutter and keep my house clean. At the same time, to focus on the office downstairs which is right now a storage room. My craft room will be after that, but I'm putting the office first for now since my hubby works from home and is currently using the downstairs living room as his office. It will be nice to have him in his own room, with all the stuff in one place, with a door that closes. </div>
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And so, it begins.</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-26918835741961321802012-10-05T08:49:00.001-07:002012-10-05T08:51:24.953-07:00Last Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn2Be3K5Kyk9ridecpkLRrUDlGoB8-GuMwiEsAr57qFiVJ5WJMGMoh7LSLOTzbxmgkLh4WGmJ08kv2Uudnl3qNlOgG5elpuhA2DV8gypHDR7i2DHr_tr-4PA__SJrCu0pElxyHBVCaGZt/s1600/Chrysanthemum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn2Be3K5Kyk9ridecpkLRrUDlGoB8-GuMwiEsAr57qFiVJ5WJMGMoh7LSLOTzbxmgkLh4WGmJ08kv2Uudnl3qNlOgG5elpuhA2DV8gypHDR7i2DHr_tr-4PA__SJrCu0pElxyHBVCaGZt/s320/Chrysanthemum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today ends 5 1/2 years working for my church. It ends similar to my first day - alone in the office with me directing my own time and work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My first day at this job was by myself, the other office person was on vacation and the pastoral staff had Mondays off. The second day started by finding and disposing of a spider for a co-worker. And also, my first week was the last week of the former youth pastor's employment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I am mostly by myself and able to say that I have completed my job and left it better than it was before. No longer is our church calendar on a desk blotter, or the church records in a stage between Excel worksheets and an under utilized database program. This is also the first week of the last days of our senior pastor, I didn't know it was in the works until we were asked to send out a letter this week. And so I slip in and out of my job here, between pastoral staff changes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though I have enjoyed my time serving the church in this way, it does feel as if a burden is lifting. There is some weight to a position in ministry when your paycheck comes from the sacrificial giving of others. I don't regret these last years, it is just time for the next stage of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am looking forward to having a break from work and putting my time and energy into our home and things that went to the sidelines this last year. There are ideas percolating for the next stage but I am holding them lightly, and listening to where God wants me to go next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Soli Dei gloria.</i></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-3653402157588167422012-10-01T07:59:00.001-07:002012-10-01T07:59:35.244-07:00Home Parties<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_OalP8ip_wp2DYetFE6dZPWvPkzC66h1A4Kj4I4OTXP-4BSaNFQ8BF10z8JtEt_p0RA_1jUaiVzoHJXEgF2y0OAyvvxJbjqg-G81ylIFOPrZwZ6tCPfvbFefS7TtrEuYOwwstTSWWvS2/s1600/Penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_OalP8ip_wp2DYetFE6dZPWvPkzC66h1A4Kj4I4OTXP-4BSaNFQ8BF10z8JtEt_p0RA_1jUaiVzoHJXEgF2y0OAyvvxJbjqg-G81ylIFOPrZwZ6tCPfvbFefS7TtrEuYOwwstTSWWvS2/s320/Penguins.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watcha gonna buy?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last Friday I was invited to a home party. You know, one of those multi level marketing to women things where they say it's all about the fun time with friends, but it's often really about finding the cheapest thing you can live with in their catalog to support your hosting friend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If I sound cynical, I have reason to be. I used to be a Mary Kay Consultant, and though Mary Kay in my opinion is a good company besides the home party thing, I've also hosted other parties for kitchen stuff, jewelry and others. It's really not about the fun night with women, because if I wanted a fun night with my friends, I wouldn't make them feel like they should buy stuff they don't need or want. In some instances though, the products are pretty good and possibly not available in other ways. But in the case of last Friday night, meh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The show was about bags. Bags to put everything in, even some large enough for your kitchen sink. Bags for babies, kids, cars, bags to organize, to keep your food cool, all in a large assortment of colors. I looked down at my favorite Vera Bradley bag, and it far outshone anything that was being offered at the party. What was I supposed to buy to support my friend?</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I didn't like the purses, though I love purses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cooler bags seemed unecessary as I just use a quilted tote bag for hot or cold items, which can double as a regular bag</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't want huge organizing bags because that means I have to fill them (the thought of accumulating enough stuff for the largest bag for traveling stressed me a little, to think of unpacking it)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I'm not their target audience - anymore. I did find a small zippered pouch to put some things in for my upcoming trip to England. So yeah, I found one of the cheapest things in the catalog that I could live with. I chalk it up to a lesson learned - no more home parties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I used to enjoy going to these things and supporting friends. But I realize that I no longer with to accumulate stuff in this way. If I want or need something, I will go out and find it myself. I will be declining home parties in the future, which will also free up time too. </span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-78410213635757426702012-09-26T07:38:00.002-07:002012-09-26T07:38:51.565-07:00What I've Been Up To<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two days ago, I decluttered something pretty big from my life, my job. I put my 2 week notice in. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The events leading up to this is why I've been quiet the last week. Pretty soon I'll have a bit of time to declutter the rest of my home.</span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-85318776567974383712012-09-13T07:51:00.001-07:002012-09-13T11:45:29.173-07:00Simplifying the Wardrobe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvPi8FlYDAZWJ-oXxiHlkKl7qXJ0c4bDB_bPONrknQsS1Z6SxwUy43sY80d7ckBXHjQZ6HVsqZzLFcp9g5eUJhYqPsSh4FVU2rOcptDLJxqpMSpBjQ0rG6pJ2No55TaCguGKWJb2eSMHw/s1600/celebrity-pictures-cushing-vader-leia-clean-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvPi8FlYDAZWJ-oXxiHlkKl7qXJ0c4bDB_bPONrknQsS1Z6SxwUy43sY80d7ckBXHjQZ6HVsqZzLFcp9g5eUJhYqPsSh4FVU2rOcptDLJxqpMSpBjQ0rG6pJ2No55TaCguGKWJb2eSMHw/s400/celebrity-pictures-cushing-vader-leia-clean-room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Leia had only 1 dress color, style and harido. How much simpler can you get?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love having less clothes in my closet and wearing them on a weekly and monthly basis. It's so much easier to figure out what to wear in the morning when I don't have to weed through hangers of the clothes of my past dreams, past lives, and even future hopes. It's just stuff that I love to wear. But it wasn't always that way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Newly married and just out of college, I tried hard to have a closet full of clothes that would reflect me and the latest trends. But we couldn't afford to buy much or store much. And then I heard a story on the radio about a woman who had simplified her wardrobe more drastically than any other person I had known. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This woman had decided long ago that she would only wear 1 color - cream. She didn't need to buy a lot of coordinating shoes and accessories and everything went together. I was floored at the concept and toyed with the idea for about 10 seconds. I love wearing color, and as a "winter" complexion, jewel toned colors love me too. But I was inspired.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided that I would wear neutral bottoms - pants, shorts, skirts, etc. and wear color on top. No more buying trendy pants or skirt colors and having to find the shoes, stockings, socks, etc. to match. I would stick to blacks, browns, creams and whites for my shoes and socks. This concept worked so beautifully and I never missed my navy blue pants or even that pair of red capris that were probably an unfortunate idea anyway.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few years ago, I improved on my idea. I decided that I would no longer wear brown since that color didn't look good on me anyway. I no longer had to find brown shoes, stockings or socks. And I also nixed gold tone jewelry, save one set that was from my mother's things. Silver looked much better - so why not just wear what really looks good?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This last year I once again pared down my choices. I decided that my jewelry drawer which resembled a junk drawer, had to go. I would have 1 pair of earrings that could go with about everything and wear them all the time. There would be a few other pairs for other occasions but I would put them away out of sight. I got a necklace tree and limited my necklace and bracelet choices to what fit on there. Gone were the worn, broken and unloved things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another benefit of these choices is streamlined shopping. I can zero in on what I can put in my closet and easily turn down those things that I've said no to. Gone are the afternoons at the mall where everything is a possibility! Limits really do improve our lives. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All these things have helped me to keep only what I love and need in my closet. It's been a process over time and it still continues. I still haven't limited my pairs of shoes or dress scarves. But it all came down to knowing myself; what I liked, what looked good and what I was comfortable living with. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I'm taking another bag to the consignment store today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-74806008122390002242012-09-12T13:05:00.002-07:002012-09-12T13:05:13.710-07:00Gone Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeNCARWajc8URK0C8zvQ6K14_5Um9hfq9qRdnw3DEbId9OT6srfNl6364xJSGmNvMqLO7CFCiEOhfmrOyWWhhMBp179cS5B3U9ZysV9bR37YYPRbk3_bc3UQZeOwrQBBstCCiO1d4uu7a/s1600/DSC00172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeNCARWajc8URK0C8zvQ6K14_5Um9hfq9qRdnw3DEbId9OT6srfNl6364xJSGmNvMqLO7CFCiEOhfmrOyWWhhMBp179cS5B3U9ZysV9bR37YYPRbk3_bc3UQZeOwrQBBstCCiO1d4uu7a/s320/DSC00172.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today I:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Closed my account at swapacd.com</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cleared out a cupboard at work - and got rid of more than what is left.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taped up 2 more boxes to go to charity. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Deleted an ebook that I finished and realized I wouldn't want to read again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Feel a little restless and tired at the same time. </span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-41145668296874157912012-09-10T19:40:00.004-07:002012-09-10T19:40:47.930-07:0027<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's how many pairs of socks I destashed tonight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ufdah.</span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-42952744648395871862012-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:002012-09-10T13:41:03.235-07:00Downside of Being A Minimalist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-APsmPZb2xXgBrl3RuNkCoJ4DugPhzkzzWLDlChp5Q4baMOkU4ljL3xyUjQRR3ysucGy-_fcoJaU9YU8T17U6VSmxsm9PgDbK72aflVYH7a_tti8Up8vougiwzf7NLBLRDYYHVLy0qrP/s1600/doublefacepalm_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-APsmPZb2xXgBrl3RuNkCoJ4DugPhzkzzWLDlChp5Q4baMOkU4ljL3xyUjQRR3ysucGy-_fcoJaU9YU8T17U6VSmxsm9PgDbK72aflVYH7a_tti8Up8vougiwzf7NLBLRDYYHVLy0qrP/s320/doublefacepalm_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple months ago I heard a news story that people who eat organic are less nice than those that eat unhealthy foods. The reason is that those who eat organic already feel like they did their good deed and basically used up their niceness. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The same can be true for some Minimalists. I've been reading a couple minimalist blogs and saw quite a few judgemental comments. Comments telling the blogger how they could do it better, differently, shouldn't do that or have that if they are a minimalist. Perhaps Minimalists have already used up their "nice" energy by feeling good about their lifestyle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can see how one can get to this point. A person could focus in on their lifestyle and viewpoint and dial down so much, they can't understand why others don't do the same. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I felt myself dipping my toe into this attitude, last weekend. Comments such as "that's why I want to become a Minimalist" and advice given to a friend to not accumulate stuff came out of my mouth. These were meant nicely but could have been taken as judgemental. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I must remember that my life choices are my own choices. They aren't for everyone nor should they be prosthelytized to those whose hearts are not open to the same.</span></span><br />
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-49500955938835041152012-09-09T18:20:00.001-07:002012-09-09T18:25:41.987-07:00Unshopping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Vmn_GWYSEMfUVmFhB__HhYmok7gJWM1DUt7FldKqEkM1PbGfuojmvCI1zS94fU485S9QvMNyRHaywVVhu2suMP2wIxlTmQi4gyTWnQidgI3ABShDeYYFjKsNbgq0Z9YmO5joeHSFc6ns/s1600/DSC05691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Vmn_GWYSEMfUVmFhB__HhYmok7gJWM1DUt7FldKqEkM1PbGfuojmvCI1zS94fU485S9QvMNyRHaywVVhu2suMP2wIxlTmQi4gyTWnQidgI3ABShDeYYFjKsNbgq0Z9YmO5joeHSFc6ns/s320/DSC05691.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had a couple of incidents this last weekend that made me realize that I no longer had the desire to shop. On Saturday, my husband and I drove around to do some errands and get some things for the house. We went to a town that's 45 minutes away, so he asked me where else I'd like go since we were out there. I thought about the normal places that I like to shop and couldn't think of one place that I wanted to buy anything in, except for an organic grocery store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, a friend wanted to go shop at Goodwill with me. We've done this before and I used to purchase name brand purses to put in my shop booth. Instead, I took the opportunity to bring in the 6 boxes, 1 bag and stereo that I had decluttered, and brought them to Goodwill. Inside the store, I talked myself out of the 1 thing I was tempted to buy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But in a weak moment, we stopped at a garage sale on the way home. I found a set of 3 nesting bread pans from a specialty name brand for $7.50. They were new and since I had our loaf pan earmarked for replacing, I thought this was a good thing to get.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not a bad trade at all, today. I unloaded 6 boxes, 1 bag, a stereo system for a set of 3 nesting loaf pans. And I don't feel like I need to go shopping at all, except for groceries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our old loaf pan is already in the next giveaway box. </span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-14000253642294930942012-09-08T09:51:00.000-07:002012-09-08T09:51:14.730-07:00Longarming The Craft Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB_D2QD1pp1jlIRyIpcAdaTealYmXQIsoV9hhyphenhyphensrAnXC4_4eOyWRVD_ffqZVF2L5mb2DGU2lIsL46m-q9-zuW2cAEtzLqSlv3TK3IGd7I2G9a9VpALMOEfvHp8HZFJtwe03SbmWkr3gN-/s1600/Millie5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB_D2QD1pp1jlIRyIpcAdaTealYmXQIsoV9hhyphenhyphensrAnXC4_4eOyWRVD_ffqZVF2L5mb2DGU2lIsL46m-q9-zuW2cAEtzLqSlv3TK3IGd7I2G9a9VpALMOEfvHp8HZFJtwe03SbmWkr3gN-/s320/Millie5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My focus on decluttering has been the craft room this last week. It's pretty bad in there. I won't post pics yet - but to give you an idea, yesterday I celebrated the fact that I could take 2 steps without my feet hitting any clutter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's in there that takes so much space?</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Knitting, spinning, needle felting, weaving, fiber arts materials</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Quilting supplies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Photos and family memorablia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Stuff that we stored a long time ago for a garage sale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Stuff we stuffed in there when there was no other room for stuff </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Huge dining table from my growing up years used for a sewing table (overkill?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Metal cube shelving for craft supplies - 2 sets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bookshelf with stereo on top</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Reach in closet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Iron & board because I ironed my fabric more than clothes</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I came across a box of stuff that I knew was there, but forgot was there for awhile. It was the paperwork for when I had a Longarm & Custom Quilt Making business. I haven't had this business since maybe 7 years ago. When I stopped the business to get a more stable job, I just boxed things up in case someday I'd want to convert a room for the business again and purchase a $15,000 - 25,000 longarm machine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's not going to happen in this house anymore. The longarm and quilt business dream is gone, so I recycled the files and saved a few things to sell or give away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This exercise was refreshing. I was able to put a part of my past behind me and firmly decide that I would never again go back to that business. A little therapy, and a lot more clutter gone.</span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-51331637430923246402012-09-07T11:59:00.000-07:002012-09-07T12:00:43.028-07:00I Want<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LusM61qm0ATmtiQFtGYGSXHP60aoPToi7ynIyNeHHz37X_CAlRyBEUEUamKeKy0z3m5PZEh1NlZkuJ-U0bE0d96pkQHO1hYMdTep2rtvjBiZZE9mOoVcBNsSUN2JjEIM7IaMctfQUwPZ/s1600/DSC00091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LusM61qm0ATmtiQFtGYGSXHP60aoPToi7ynIyNeHHz37X_CAlRyBEUEUamKeKy0z3m5PZEh1NlZkuJ-U0bE0d96pkQHO1hYMdTep2rtvjBiZZE9mOoVcBNsSUN2JjEIM7IaMctfQUwPZ/s320/DSC00091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This minimalism thing isn't easy. Lately, I've been wanting things like:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">an Oberon cover for my kindle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">bamboo shades for the bathroom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">new rugs for the bathroom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ikea Expedit shelves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">new tray for keys</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, I am trying to go with the adage of "make do and mend." Instead, I am trying to be content with:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">the old kindle lighted cover, even though it's heavy and the prongs are starting to bend and make my kindle re-set a bit. But I now want the new paperwhite kindle, so a new cover would be silly to get now.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Vera Bradley bath towel hanging in the bathroom window. We used to have a different curtain, but then we got new windows and the old won't fit the same way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Mainly the shower/bath rug. I am making do with a white towel folded in half.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Do I need these? They will just cause me to store more stuff.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Use the old one until I can find something around the house that I like better.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I think the only thing on the "need" list is the bamboo shades. I have about $12 that I made from the consignment shop last month, so maybe next month I'll have enough for the shades. </span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-2066186855603126822012-09-07T09:24:00.000-07:002012-09-07T09:26:54.751-07:00What is Minimalsim, Anyway?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXM5dIG5KWY2d6hZ38GXe4eDZ_4ABrg4g__j4K7HVbrgdkah9TIOhpSkSk2RMpzu6MEaUnds4wqVSb34Zj7pNlGsdGz-rSc_H9aKfg_-SsFSTWSPj8vvPEeFzWwSHVUSKhVRMkmDbJvaf/s1600/DSC00092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXM5dIG5KWY2d6hZ38GXe4eDZ_4ABrg4g__j4K7HVbrgdkah9TIOhpSkSk2RMpzu6MEaUnds4wqVSb34Zj7pNlGsdGz-rSc_H9aKfg_-SsFSTWSPj8vvPEeFzWwSHVUSKhVRMkmDbJvaf/s320/DSC00092.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm doing this whole blog out of order - but that's part of being minimalist to me - letting go of what I think is perfect, for what I am able to do. And so after a few posts in, here's my thoughts on what Minimalism is. I've done some searches on the internet and they all point to one thing:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Minimalism is simply, living happily with the least amount of stuff needed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What the "least amount of stuff needed" is really up to the individual. From those who live out of backpacks, to those who live in cozy suburban homes, can vary quite a bit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are some more words and phrases that relate to minimalism:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">simplicity</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">uncluttered</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">living lightly</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">intentional</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">focused</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">quality over quantity</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">economy</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For me, minimalism is getting rid of the stuff that distracts me from living the life I was meant to live. </span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-49443800063042904382012-09-06T08:27:00.002-07:002012-09-06T08:51:03.322-07:00Closet Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7vUVO5XeS4dr85568Gh_c6wqz83cmjyqzspu6fm7i7p3xi123sLsllIzXIPOqtn_iEkKpBu-znDkMxye4YoTnWWR36eVPMzda0TLGiwmr35Si14t2VfWTMLGPHo4rQFUWbt77xSfr9AB/s1600/add_toon_info.php1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7vUVO5XeS4dr85568Gh_c6wqz83cmjyqzspu6fm7i7p3xi123sLsllIzXIPOqtn_iEkKpBu-znDkMxye4YoTnWWR36eVPMzda0TLGiwmr35Si14t2VfWTMLGPHo4rQFUWbt77xSfr9AB/s400/add_toon_info.php1.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am convinced that to really get control of your closet doesn't start with a clever organizer, or a method, it starts from within. When you can really look at yourself at be okay with your body, your limitations, your assets, your style - then you can really know what you need in your closet. There's a whole lot more I could say on this subject - but I'll save that for another time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a basic middle class suburbs style 70's home with reach in closets - the kind that spans a wall with 1 rod, 1 shelf going the length and bi-fold doors. A new closet construction would require a bit of work and money so we make do, and I think I have made do very well. My husband and I share our bedroom closet, I get 3/5, he gets 2/5. Here is a breakdown of what we fit in there:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closet rod with his shirts, my shirts, pants, dresses, seasonal wear, dress scarves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Organizer drawers for necessaries, night clothes, occasional wear like swim suits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cube storage on middle top shelf to divide and keep organized - our pants, sweats, etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Extra blankets and pillows on the shelf in the back</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">My shoes hang in a cloth organizer on the back of our closet door. Everything we need to wear, with the exception of some outdoor wear, fits easily for both of us in our reach in closet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to wish for a large walk in closet with special organized places, but I have made peace with my reach in closet. If I had more room, I would want more stuff. This forces me to pare down my things to what I really wear and love. I've learned that limitations increase creativity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday I decided to go further in my closet limitations and have limited myself to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 tops for work and going out (current season) - 2 weeks worth</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">5 tops and 5 bottoms each for working out (if I ever use them all up before washing clothes, it will be a miracle)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 pairs of pants or jeans</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have the winter season's clothing to go through yet, and my skirts and dresses. But I will be paring them down as the season winds down. This morning, my system already started to work. I had 6 shirts in my "workout tops" section so I got rid of one, into my open box for charity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The closet is a work in progress still, but as I limit myself to what I really need, what I love best will be what I am left with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-82709110622686221322012-09-05T18:08:00.000-07:002012-09-06T08:50:43.862-07:00Advantage - No More Garage Sales<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnF7WBUQuKSIQVoyLX5Lvg5Zau5ruKI7hTIFWzzNp2Z8908jaDhXcGgiOwDGf_l-VD3wpVcfzWSU-uvxhLAtS5itaD5fnhhbZ9aJZVV8IbITyt3vAz1lWu-kwDeh2flqtSJduWzgX2Qai/s1600/DSC00523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnF7WBUQuKSIQVoyLX5Lvg5Zau5ruKI7hTIFWzzNp2Z8908jaDhXcGgiOwDGf_l-VD3wpVcfzWSU-uvxhLAtS5itaD5fnhhbZ9aJZVV8IbITyt3vAz1lWu-kwDeh2flqtSJduWzgX2Qai/s320/DSC00523.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Garage sale Treasure?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was raised by a mom who had a radar for garage sales. With a husband who made about $300 a week and 5 kids, it made a lot of sense, and she made it fun. Garage Sale-ing has been a boon to me in my own time to get stuff for cheap, if you know how to shop them. But now becoming a minimalist, they look different to me. I stopped at couple on my way to work and couldn't find a single thing that I wanted. How could I buy more stuff when I have plenty that I don't want at home? The thrill of the hunt was gone, and I wondered why I was wasting my time. No more garage sales, at least for now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the reverse side, I saw how how little business they were making and realized that I no longer wanted to host a garage sale either. All that work to display my junk to others just doesn't seem worth it anymore. Charity pick up is the method of choice.</span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-91822864459777648092012-09-04T15:00:00.001-07:002012-09-06T08:49:55.144-07:00freecycle magic<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iD3KqiOoI0l91HMs70cE0X_CuKH6wOfaUuUQHA_BGnu51klM_XgKTFLeV-SqKLKUwagOfgH3PH1YGC4wsfBJUHT8mbP13SGMWTRO7PO1gk6nZvQl2z2OjNMsTzRaIpxAKAuLDDvhgAKO/s320/DSC09797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iD3KqiOoI0l91HMs70cE0X_CuKH6wOfaUuUQHA_BGnu51klM_XgKTFLeV-SqKLKUwagOfgH3PH1YGC4wsfBJUHT8mbP13SGMWTRO7PO1gk6nZvQl2z2OjNMsTzRaIpxAKAuLDDvhgAKO/s320/DSC09797.JPG" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Need a Croquet Candle set?</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few years back I heard about this wonderful yahoo group called freecycle and found one in my county. It's a great place to give and get stuff for free. Today, I use it to get rid of stuff fast. Since it's an active community, most things go within a day or so. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last night I listed 7 things to go out on freecycle. I left the stuff out for those who wanted it before I went to work. This afternoon when I got home from work, 4 of those things were gone. Magic! It's kind of addicting. Maybe I'll try to list 7 things each day and see what happens. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Or maybe not, I usually rebel against numbers.</span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-13468948938827738542012-09-03T19:54:00.000-07:002012-09-06T08:46:25.926-07:006 Boxes and 1 Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg78lS6GfumH2hzQSdgg6t1HhSWSAtj2rFzGx7oIBx9IgYPOquWUjkcGmdUxqjAWESpkI4uds1MBLPP9k1Bg9uKVIQna0W_JyNFqHXR0_Dzgp2VdIlkOFeWOkSREQ6vpjS1SBLRZ_iOmO/s1600/DSC09786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg78lS6GfumH2hzQSdgg6t1HhSWSAtj2rFzGx7oIBx9IgYPOquWUjkcGmdUxqjAWESpkI4uds1MBLPP9k1Bg9uKVIQna0W_JyNFqHXR0_Dzgp2VdIlkOFeWOkSREQ6vpjS1SBLRZ_iOmO/s320/DSC09786.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Friday was a charity pick up day. I gathered up 6 boxes, a bag and a clock and it was gone before I got home. What an amazing feeling to have that unwanted stuff gone! Some had been in my spare befroom for awhile, waiting for that garage sale that just wasn't happening. I hope someone else will be blessed by this stuff - there is quite a few nice and useful things there, just no longer wanted or needed here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also started a couple of pages to keep my craigslist sales and my freecycle giveaways more organized. That way, people can see pics of what is available in one place, fall in love with the stuff and give it a new home. It's like the Island of Lost Stuff - stuff just waiting for a new person to love them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only downside to this, is that it really doesn't feel like I've scratched the surface yet. One step at a time, though, one step at a time.</span></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-76226169202057299662012-08-30T08:32:00.001-07:002012-09-06T08:45:40.745-07:00In the Beginning...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTmQ_KZW1o7GaHqH7cQy7uIfdKpEQolC1zEyyeC2ENrLk6jLlFPmE0TeTOhZiWR_8vqVS6PVBUx12_vjFRbSicp5Z6qfrX_9RUzWwsQijo2l1qtZiiY-zVha_wPVGoZEAXfVCACVWwfQ3/s1600/Yurt-Treebones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTmQ_KZW1o7GaHqH7cQy7uIfdKpEQolC1zEyyeC2ENrLk6jLlFPmE0TeTOhZiWR_8vqVS6PVBUx12_vjFRbSicp5Z6qfrX_9RUzWwsQijo2l1qtZiiY-zVha_wPVGoZEAXfVCACVWwfQ3/s400/Yurt-Treebones.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Yurt - My ultimate Minimalism Lifestyle Dream</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know when the allure of minimalism started for me. In my growing up years, I was enamored with the Victorian era with their stuffed homes full of frilly things. Minimalists were uptight people who lived in uncomfortable houses that were barren of personality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The married years came and with it, our combined stuff and stuff given to me when my dad downsized and my grandmother passed away. We were saving up stuff for when we could moved from apartment to house and our place was packed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The house came along and we filled it within a couple of years. It continued to fill up and now, there are more than a couple rooms that seem like storage rooms. Phrases like "let's burn it all and start over" and "let's throw it all away" started entering our lives. Minimalism sounded very nice now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last few years, we have been more willing to let go of things. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">No saving up stuff in case the next house needs it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">No children to pass things onto.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have SABLE - Stuff Accumulated Beyond Life Expectency</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">It takes too long to clean - and some places didn't get clean very often because of stuff</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everything is more complicated because of having to move stuff or look around stuff too much</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I remembered the "good old days" when I could sit in my apartment and have a feeling of being done with cleaning and paperwork. Everything was simple then and on a smaller scale. I realized that my personality was such that I couldn't function in a consistent and healthy way with so much stuff to take care of anymore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Minimalism became my goal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last couple years have seen small steps taken in that direction. If you looked at our home though, the word "minimalism" wouldn't be the first thing you'd say. "Cluttered" and "stuffed" would be more appropriate. But small steps lead to big changes. Now is the time to take a bigger step forward and take minimalism to the forefront.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog is a recording of my journey toward Minimalism and Unstuffing our lives. I hope you will join me and share the journey with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-20529378593238640232012-08-30T07:42:00.002-07:002012-09-06T08:42:03.628-07:00Open Bag, Open Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguh3BK3ro2zub4_38KzlMjrxVkevdQu8zQqesPBig3Tf-leM6JfkFcW6wteDmCs9H6OGXDvAALQ98MNLeXreKnXkaRXA-I3YcaiVAVPWySBV6GfErwzWjg0OnMB0CLp-QzBhGniG08KW3O/s1600/DSC04629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguh3BK3ro2zub4_38KzlMjrxVkevdQu8zQqesPBig3Tf-leM6JfkFcW6wteDmCs9H6OGXDvAALQ98MNLeXreKnXkaRXA-I3YcaiVAVPWySBV6GfErwzWjg0OnMB0CLp-QzBhGniG08KW3O/s320/DSC04629.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a bag in my car today to drop off at our local consignment shop. Not only do they take clothes, but also household items. I love the ease of dropping things off vs. managing shop inventory. No price tagging, inventory lists or arranging of the goods. I just pick up a check every month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is always a bag in my closet to put in things I no longer want or need. This makes it easier to get rid of stuff - to always have a bag ready. I also always have a box open to put in stuff for charity pick ups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe that the practice of having an open bag and an open box are invaluable to getting rid of stuff. They willing swallow my sacrifices of things - and give me back more space in my life.</span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-47975630353208472682012-08-29T09:11:00.001-07:002012-09-06T08:37:00.238-07:00Boxing Up<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I went home last night and sorted through the rest of the boxes from the shop booth. And I bit the bullet and packed up most everything. There were a few things I did keep out:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4 items to sell on Craigslist</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2 teacup pincushions which I will keep 1 for myself and give one to my MIL for Christmas. I used to make these a lot and they sold like hotcakes.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Teacup saucer hanger - which I will put on my wall in my kitchen to use </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3 designer hand bags that I bring to the consignment shop to sell</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a crystal water pitcher that I can't seem to give up.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I made a loose rule that if the item can be valued over $10, I'll try to sell it first. The list of what's for sale is listed now on the upper right corner of this blog. I put it there so I could find the stuff, so thanks for bearing with me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">About that crystal pitcher. I found it at Goodwill and fell in love with it, it was made in Sweden and has a simple elegance. I love the minimalism of the design, but will I ever use it? I think that if it fits in my glass fronted shelves in the kitchen, I'll label the bottom with the date and see if I use it. Otherwise, it's getting boxed up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two more things that don't fit in boxes are left from the shop; a dress form torso and a tea cart. The dress form is going on Craigslist. The tea cart will be offered to my siblings, since it was my mother's. If no one wants it, then that will go to charity too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think my mother would have been a minimalist if she had known what it was. She was always getting rid of stuff and I don't think she'd want us to hold onto things like the tea cart if we didn't need them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And voila! The inventory of a shop booth is gone in days.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-8965686803855678272012-08-28T13:01:00.001-07:002012-09-06T08:36:25.600-07:00Closing a Shop Booth<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhOFXWHO_V_c5QsM9nd_ZitkSk6RRg3wYegblsP9qCzN6f5U90SCtKPV7woOqq0wc7ja2RkmX-Ki2Ie34R85kmzzhSGnMSYytwRCvfNA52luoMvHPdWOyIBTxWkuRlPhfGGdlqCEdbSRB/s1600/DSC04979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhOFXWHO_V_c5QsM9nd_ZitkSk6RRg3wYegblsP9qCzN6f5U90SCtKPV7woOqq0wc7ja2RkmX-Ki2Ie34R85kmzzhSGnMSYytwRCvfNA52luoMvHPdWOyIBTxWkuRlPhfGGdlqCEdbSRB/s320/DSC04979.JPG" width="180" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shop booth last winter</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've had a little shop booth in our downtown area, our town is the home of the original occasional sales so we get a lot of weekend traffic too. With recent family crisis, I've decided to close it indefinitely and last night I hauled everything home. Talk about going backwards in decluttering!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fortunately, I had a 75% off sale the last couple weeks so there wasn't a lot left. I had 5 medium sized boxes, a tea cart and dressmaker form torso. That's it. But I didn't have the heart to bring that stuff in the house all at once, so I left it in my truck to take a box out at a time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am making an inventory list of each box as I donate it to charity. Probably not needed, but you get a better tax record that way. Just a little prep work and it's gone. Unfortunately, I am finding a few things that I don't want to donate. These are either things that I want to keep or sell elsewhere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why?!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No one wanted this stuff at 75% off.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I already decided awhile ago that I didn't want this stuff back.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All this takes time away from other things, and an untidy pile in the living room.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just need to pack it all up, no matter what. Or else I'll be "playing" with my semi-wanted stuff for a long time to come.</span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864987806674593863.post-48456564808776160722012-08-22T15:19:00.002-07:002012-09-06T08:35:21.623-07:00In and Out<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jumping right in without an intro post....I just got in from the yarn shop. I've decided that if I take the time to purchase something and bring it in my home, I must take the time to get rid of something similar.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3 skeins of yarn in...at least 3 skeins out. Putting them out on the Wright County freecycle <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wrightcofreecycle/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wrightcofreecycle/</a>list as a free offer. Sometimes it's just easier to give things away.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07325703551591281508noreply@blogger.com0